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The Hindu : y>International tie-up for multi-brand car service

Roadworx India is a multi-brand car service centre set up in collaboration with Germany-based OneStone International.

A regular car showroom, Roadworx services cars in addition to sellingspares and accessories. Currently, the service centre operates in Mumbai and Delhi.

Plans are afoot to open such centres in other cities. According to Imran Hassen, chairman, Roadworx India,the centre has been designed to deliver low-cost and efficient vehicle servicing and maintenance.

The accessories section will stock aftermarket brands such as Hamann, Lorinser, Milotec, Foliatec, RDI, AZ Alloy Wheels and Auto Kelly, which will be sold with a warranty.

The servicing centre with multiple service bays, will take care of base level preventative maintenance, comprehensive preventative maintenance and accident repairs.

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The Hindu :

Sculptor Sudarshan Sahoo uses classical execution for contemporary and creative ideas

etched out Sudarshan Sahoo’s work is the result of 50 years of travelling and thinking

He uses black granite, wood, red sandstone, green, grey and white stone, is inspired by scriptures and epics of Hindu mythology and is a practising Buddhist. This 1988 Padmashree awardee and 1981 National awardee for stone carving Sudarshan Sahoo from Orissa wants to bring carved stories from temples to statues for the public.

Rabi Sahoo, his son also a sculptor says, “My father wanted to carve out stories in sculptural forms for all to see. This is art and people have the right to see, appreciate and criticise.”

In 1969, Sahoo met Fujii, a monk who came to India and had stayed with Gandhi. “Inspired, he wanted to depict the story of Buddha in murals in terms of his philosophy and bring it to India at the Dhauli Peace Pagoda near Bhubaneshwar.”

Sahoo was born in the traditional sculpting area of Puri and was influenced by temples that not only reminded one of tradition and myths, but also of living history. He began sculpting as a hobby at 13, before it became a full-time profession. He started the Sudarshan Crafts Museum at Puri in ’77 and in ’91, the Sudarshan Arts and Crafts Village in Bhubaneshwar. He teaches students to be good human beings first, and encourages them to push their imagination in their craft, and inculcates a vision to rise above.

“This is an effort of 50 years of thinking and visiting different places”, says Rabi of his father’s ongoing exhibition of 40 works. Sahoo uses the classical execution in the artistry with contemporary and creative ideas.

“The classical dissemination of sculpting has its boundaries, but the public can easily understand the stories carved out in his sculptures unlike modern art which needs deciphering,” Rabi says.

From the white-stoned…More

The Hindu :

When a drive feels like a picnic

For those in Mumbai, the road to Gujarat is synonymous with National Highway No 8 or NH8. It is much better now than it was a couple of years ago. It is part of the Golden Quadrilateral.

There is no longer a serpentine queue of trucks as the road is now double laned.

Also thanks to thisdevelopment, Parsiscan now go to Udwada, check into a hotel, put on their milk white clothes, offer prayers at the fire temple, indulge in some authentic Parsi bhonu and be back in Mumbai well in time for dinner.

The turn off for Udwada is a little after Vapi if you go there via NH8. But if you have the time and inclination, you can pack in some relaxation into this spiritual trip.

There is a lovely coastal road that runs from Dahanu to Udwada via Dahanu, Golvad, Sanjan and Devka and this could easily be termed as the Bawaji trail(people from thecommunity live in the area).This was their gateway into India. In fact, a memorial to their landing spot stands tall amidst beautifully manicured gardens in Sanjaan.

An added attraction is the road that is bordered by palm trees and beaches. Here there are villagers who will wave out to you. You can stop by the beach and watch fishermen at work, stop by a little rivulet and watch a shepherd give his flock a bath.

There is immense peace on this road, a lot of old world charm and it actually feels like being out on a picnic rather than on the road to get somewhere.

Though the stay options are not greatly attractive, there are comfortable places to stay at Dahanu, Golvad, Bordi, Devka and Udvada. Of all these, Devka boasts the best option as it is so close to the sea.

It is in Daman, which is in the heart of Gujarat. So…More

The Hindu :

Check out what is in vogue this party season

The colour purple One of the hot hues this season

It’s party time and time to check your wardrobe. The natural look is in. Bollywood stars like Gul Panag and Neha Dhupia have consistently maintained that minimalist look in social gatherings and also in the characters of the film they worked in. The latest to flaunt that ‘no-make-up, natural look’ was former Miss Universe Diana Hayden in the popular reality show “Big Boss-2”.

“Fashion to me is an extension of one’s personality. But it’s important to go with what suits you the best. My fashion statement for the season is ‘be comfortable’,” Diana says.

Believing in the same fashion mantra is Telugu film star Bindu , the lead actor of the latest flick “Avakai Biryani”. “I believe in the fashion mantra of casual style with no makeup. But I love to play around with accessories,” says the bubbly actress.Haute picks

The New Year line includes knee-length halter neck dresses and short skirts. This year, the colour palette is a combination of bold and light. Peacock blue, orange, purple, pink and other pastel shades are in. Avoid wearing white, black and grey. Structured evening dresses replete with sequins in georgette and chiffons, metallic shimmer shirts and textured jackets.

Knee-length skirts with drapes in metallic tones with lots of embellishments are quite haute this season.

The stress is on volume: the bubble skirts are still around. Accentuate the girly feel of chiffon, cotton-blend skirts with a scarf that’s making a big comeback. Draping a scarf in various styles around your neck is drop dead stylish.

Throw a stole around your neck or tie up your hair with a raw silk or chiffon scarf. Prints with floral themes, tinted with pastel colours and block prints in earthy colours are making it big this season. If you want a toned-down look, there…More

The Hindu :

Two decades after he serenaded Rekha, Shekhar Suman continues to surprise

Photo: R.V. MoorthyAbout time Shekhar Suman: ‘I was at the right place but not at the right time’

Versatility is his middle name. Actor, stand-up performer, judge, commentator, singer… There is nothing like over exposure with Shekhar Suman. “Sounds clichéd, but I keep on rediscovering myself every few years.” As he gets into the “Movers and Shakers” mould all over again with Still Moving, Still Shaking on NDTV Imagine Shekhar says he detests the word comedian attached to stand-up. “It is a stand-up performance. The show is not meant to make you laugh. It is something called observational humour, where you present a perspective which is hard hitting but witty.”

Shekhar candidly admits he has a team of writers who bring in the desired punch. “I subscribe to the point of view. It is more difficult than playing a character because here I have to play Shekhar Suman. Since it is a one-man show, the responsibility of all the comments lies with me. As always I am ready to take the brickbats.”

Destiny, he insists, has played a major role in his career. “Looking back, had my so-called failure in Bollywood not happened, I wouldn’t have got to do so much diverse work. Failures make you realise the importance of success. Also at that time Bollywood was looking for heroes and not actors. I was at the right place but not at the right time. But as I said I have no regrets. It was their loss.”

Then he painfully remembers how his son’s demise shattered him. “At the time of tragedy, I was offered some of the best roles of my career. Such is life, you see. I recovered from my personal loss through work.”

Of late, it seems he is spreading himself thin. He cut an album where he tried to impress through…More

The Hindu : y>Teachers in Australia have been asked to refrain from using red ink to grade students’ work. NEETI SARKAR wonders if the same should be applied here as well

Photo: Murali Kumar K.Make a mark Students feels marking in red should be done away with at graduate level

Education systems everywhere are getting vociferous in their stand about being child-friendly, less strenuous, more fun… the list goes on. The latest development is Australian teachers have been asked to stop using red pens to mark students work as it can harm their mental health! Apparently, the colour red is seen as being aggressive.

What works on one side of the globe need not necessarily work in our country just as well, feel most of those in the education sector. Santosh Kanavalli, a school principal says: “Using a red pen has become a part and parcel of education especially at the school level. It is a necessary evil. There have been discussions and debates about whether there needs to be a less harsh way of correcting papers. Using another colour, purple for instance was one of the suggestions made. However, in the Indian context such things don’t materialise not because of slackness on the part of the system but because we also observe positive results on using red ink.”

Political Science teacher Tarana Mohsin feels, “As far as the use of red ink affecting the mind’s mental health is concerned, Indian students seem to have more mental resilience and so the question of a similar ban does not arise.”

Most students here seem to concur. Chirag Panjabi, an eighth grader says, “I don’t mind my papers being corrected in red ink. However, seeing a lot of red marks in my book irritates me.”

For some the story is different. Renitha, a 15 year old says, “Teachers must not use red ink to correct our final submissions especially the practical work…More

The Hindu : y>Maruti comes up with Ritz, anupmarket hatchback

Based on the Swift platform, the Maruti Ritz (the Splash in Europe) will be more practical than its sporty cousin. You get a choice of two engines.

The first will be an all-new 1.2-litre petrol engine, which is expected to be smoother and more fuel efficient than the current 1.3-litre powerplant doing duty in the Swift. There will also be the Swift diesel’s 75bhp 1.3-litre DDiS motor.

The Ritz has more space than the Swift and feels more user-friendly thanks to its cheery interiors, high seating position and light controls. Tall and wide door apertures and a high seating position ensure it is a better family car than the Swift.

Maruti has aimed the Ritz at the higher end of the hatchback market, so expect it to come with a feature-loaded variant.

Pricing will be marginally more than the Swift.

And no, it won’t replace the Wagon R which will continue to be sold as well.

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The Hindu : y>

Festive spirit Enjoy goodies delivered at your doorstep

Gati Limited has initiated a special service, Gati Santa Goodies. This service would help you send delicious Christmas cakes to your loved ones, delivered at their doorstep.

Gati Santa’s Goodies are packed with utmost care.

The flavours offered are black forest and pineapple. A kilogram of both these cakes is available for Rs. 699.

Gati’s Santa Claus will deliver the cakes on Christmas day in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and Kottayam.

For doorstep delivery of the choicest Christmas cakes, log on towww.gati.com or send an e-mail atgatihappiness@gati.com.

You can also call at 180 – 0 – 80 – 4284 or 09860354284. Orders can be placed till December 22.

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The Hindu : C.K. MEENA

You can’t keep second-guessing a terror strike. Take a large swig of the old Indian karma juice, very good for mental health

Photo: PTIStrike one For the first time the terrorists had targeted the rich

Heard of HVT? Not heavy transport vehicle as in the “HTV prohibited” traffic sign, but high-visibility target. Part of the new vocabulary of terror. Like 26/11 – a term that should be banned, and soft target – which reminds me of a bull’s eye painted on a well-fed posterior.

A former student invited me for a weekday afternoon of loitering in a shopping arcade I’d never visited. “It’s HVT, ma’am” she said, not so much in warning as in defiance. Like so many middle class people this past fortnight she had the post-blast jitters. (I’ve heard others say “I don’t think I’ll go to that handicrafts exhibition, not on a weekend anyway” or “There’s a good film running at the multiplex but I’m scared to go”.) She wanted to conquer her fear. I merely went out of curiosity. The fake-Manhattan towers had been grabbing me by the eyeballs, and quite painfully so, ever since they’d been erected. This was as good a day as any to check them out.

Honestly, the fear of being blown to bits has never hampered my movements. It didn’t after the low-key Bangalore blasts earlier this year. It didn’t after the most recent Mumbai attack; I met someone at a five-star hotel the day after. The whispers are gaining strength: after Mumbai, Bangalore’s next. And it won’t be firecrackers this time. So what am I supposed to do? Avoid crowds? It’s a meaningless exercise, for a city by very definition is crowded. By the same token it is pointless to cancel or put off events – cultural fest, music fest, whatever. The attackers too read the papers, you know. They’ll strike when we…More

The Hindu :

Nothing will deter BonifacePrabhu from achieving his dream of being a champion in wheelchair tennis

Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.Getting high Boniface Prabhu: ‘Once I started playing tennis, it became an addiction’

A wheelchair has not deterred Boniface Prabhu from achieving his goals, on the tennis field and outside it. Prabhu has emerged a true champion in wheelchair tennis, and is currently ranked 18 in the world. He says, “My aim is to finish at the top.”

Prabhu always was a keen sportsperson. “I always liked sports. My first foray into sports was in the late 1990’s when I participated in international athletics tournaments. I was the world champion in 1997 in the para athletics. I have also played cricket with Venkatesh Prasad at the junior level.”He feels India did not offer much support to disabled persons in sports. “Initially I thought disabled people could only make a mark in sports such as shot put, disc throwing or javelin. It was much later that I discovered many people were pursuing tennis. Once I started with the game, it became an addiction. I loved every moment I spent on the field.”

He is bitter however, about government apathy. He rues, “There has been absolutely no support from the government or the State sport bodies. All my needs including special wheelchairs and practice areas have been made possible due to my sponsors Allen Solly. They have played a vital role in shaping my career.”

He is currently taking a break, before starting an intensive training regime, created by his foreign coach Noel David, prior to his title defence of the Sydney international trophy. Prabhu explains, “I am back from an intensive tour of Europe, where I managed to win the Belgium open and secured a semi-final berth in the French open. Talking about fitness regimes and coaches, Prabhu grins and relates an anecdote, “When Noel had started helping…More