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The Hindu : y>

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Nagarjuna Vidyaniketan, Yelahanka, bade farewell to its students of Std. X. Ali Khwaja, chairman, Banjara Academy, delivered the valedictory address. He told the students to spend time judiciously and write examinations with confidence. The Principal Shobha Bhat, told the students to bring laurels to their alma mater and also wished them a successful future. The directors Sowjanya and Desikachar were present.

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The Hindu : SUDHINDR.A.B.

Times have changed, tales have changed, but the charm of stories has not.

Tastes have changed, but the joy of listening to stories has remained the same

Nothing like grandparents’ stories: …bringing life to characters.

Story-telling is an art and, generally grandpas and grandmas are great story-tellers. They bring life to characters. Whether they are fairies, angels, gods or demons, they take shape in the imagination. Kids listen to them attentively and enjoy the story.

Although television watching is popular among children, they thoroughly enjoy listening to stories, especially when it is told by their grandparents. While children’s preferences and tastes have changed over the years, the joy quotient of listening to a story has remained the same.Changing needs

Yes, grandparents too have adapted to the changing needs of children. While children of yesteryear listened to stories of kings and queens, the present generation wants to know more about Superman and Spiderman.

“We grew up listening to stories on demons, kings, queens and simpletons. The characters too were simple and led a modest life. But, now when I narrate a story to my grandson, I have to modify many things. A bullock-cart is replaced by a car or a motorcycle. Otherwise, I need to prepare for a volley of questions from him,” says a grandmother.

Abhishek, a high school student says that during holidays he visits his grandparents, who live in a town. Though most of his time is spent playing with his cousins and friends, at night, he says, he is with his grandmother.

“She narrates some lovely stories. The characters are so funny. I make her repeat the conversations of the characters,” he says.

His sister Aishwarya too shares the same feelings. “When I return to Bangalore after the holidays, I narrate these stories to my friends. They too enjoy them and we have a hearty laugh. I think there is no end to my grandma’s…More

The Hindu :

Ekta Chaudhary, Miss India Universe on winning the title

Photo: PTIDREAM RUN Ekta Chaudhary

Ekta Shivangi Chaudhary, the current Miss India Universe, is one girl to watch out for in the Miss Universe contest to be held later this year in the U.S. Born in Baghdad and brought up in New Delhi, Ekta reveals: “Since 1994 I have wanted to become Miss India and represent my country on the world stage. I started modelling two and a half years ago in Delhi. Modelling gave me confidence and my overall personality developed.” After she won the Nivea Visage Princess title, there was no looking back. This was her first accomplishment, which acted as a stepping stone to the Femina Miss India Contest.

She realised her dream of becoming Miss India Universe this year, when she was crowned the Pantaloons Miss India Universe. Her parents have been very supportive of her. “Being the only child, my parents completely supported me. They always told me to give my 100 per cent in whatever profession I chose.” After becoming Miss India Universe her life has completely changed. “There has been a 360-degree turn in my life. I am jam-packed with work and the responsibility is a lot more. I have to travel a lot and meet new people. I have now shifted to Mumbai and am living alone.”

On being asked about her future plans she says: “Right now I am only concentrating on the Miss Universe event and want to give it my best shot. That is my priority. I am very different from other Miss India’s as in — I have short hair and tattoos, I am not planning to join the Bollywood bandwagon.

AADITI ISAAC

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The Hindu :

Enjoy the flavour of celery and almond soup

Celery has become a household staple along with carrots, onions and potatoes. Its crunchy texture and distinctive flavour makes it a popular addition to salads and many cooked dishes. Although it is available throughout the year, you get the best taste and quality during the summer months when celery is in season.

It is a biennial vegetable belonging to the Umbelliferae family whose other members include carrot, fennel, parsley and dill. While most people associate celery with its stalk, the leaves, roots and seeds can also be used as a food and seasoning as well as a natural medicinal remedy.Medicinal benefits

The whole plant is gently stimulant, nourishing, and restorative; it can be liquefied, and the juice taken for joint and urinary tract inflammations, such as rheumatoid arthritis, cystitis, or urethritis and for nervous exhaustion The seeds, harvested after the plant flowers in its second year, are the basis for a homeopathic extract used as a diuretic. The extract is believed to help clear toxins from the system, and is especially good for gout and arthritis. .Culinary uses

The most common use of celery is for its thick, succulent leaf stalks that are used, often with a part of the leaf blades in soups, cooked dishes and salads for the Western style kitchen. Celeriac or turnip-rooted celery is mainly used as a cooked vegetable in stews and soups but is becoming increasingly popular grated as a raw salad. Leaf celery, also called smallage, is chopped and used as a garnish and for flavouring. Celery seeds can be used as a flavouring or spice either as whole seeds or ground and mixed with salt as celery salt. Celery salt can also be made from an extract of the roots.

Now, for a recipe.Almond and celery soup

Ingredients

Almonds: 50 gm

Celery: 1 shoot

Carrot: 1

Spring onions: 25 gm

Asparagus tips:…More

The Hindu : y>

The story continues Lost returns with Season 4

The Emmy and Golden Globe Award winning series, “Lost” season four takes the series to new heights as the survivors of Flight Oceanic 815 have a tryst with hope to return to civilization. It brings all the exciting twists and turns in thetale of these passengers as they get ready to leave the island. But is there a place like home?

The series showcases the quest of 48 passengers on board Los Angeles bound flight after an air crash on an island in the South Pacific. The story is woven with the mystery of the island and a specific incidence in each character’s life.

Adding to the mystery, this season will be the advent of new characters including Daniel Faraday (Jeremy Davies), a brilliant physicist, Charlotte Lewis (Rebecca Mader), a cultural anthropologist, Miles Straume (Ken Leung), a spiritualist with an attitude, and Frank Lapidus (Jeff Fahey), a helicopter pilot who was supposed to fly the ill-fated Oceanic Flight 815. Meet them in the all new episodes of “Lost” starting Thursday at 10 p.m. on Star World.

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The Hindu : y>Dinchengfa Boruah feels that Slumdog Millonaire spreads hope

Why did I like “Slumdog Millionaire”?

Because — 1. It got eight oscars. 2. Critics say it’s good. 3. It’s about India 4. None of the above.

My answer would be 4. I did not like “Slumdog…” because it bagged eight Oscars, nor because critics are going gaga over it, nor for its setting in India. I liked it because it truly touched my heart.

For those who say, we should not celebrate the Oscar win since it depicts the ugly side of India. They must realise that it has provided greater recognition to talented people like A.R. Rahman and Resul Pookutty.

I liked “Slumdog Millionaire” because it made me think, made me shiver with fear and also made me cry. It was a movie that gives the message of hope that is needed in hard times like these. When Jamal says, “If it were not for Rama and Allah, I would still have my parents”, it makes us think about the millions of innocent Indians, who have been affected by communal violence.

When an old woman pleads with Jamal to win the show on behalf of all of them, I was moved to tears. The life of the young kids, happy and gay even without proper food, clothing and shelter gave me hope that we could be happy, in spite of all our troubles.

It is a far better movie than many Bollywood flicks with unrealistic storylines.

In a country like India with more than 300 million people below the poverty line, we need more realistic movies like “Slumdog Millionaire”. It managed to strengthen my determination to work for a better India.

Do you have anything to say? About the state of the world, the city, your angst?

Pen it stylishly and you might get it published.And dash off your piece with your photograph. Email it tobangmetro@gmail.com…More

The Hindu :

It might seem just like a game of cards. But bridge has high educational value, helps people socialise and sharpens their analytical skills

PHOTO: MAHESH HARILALPLANNING TO PURSUE A MINDSPORT? Learn bridge

It challenges young minds with its high educational value, affords an active social life for the elderly, sharpens the strategic insights of managers and is an entertaining pastime for everybody. It is called bridge. A game you play with cards.

For those who play bridge, it’s the ultimate indoor game. They quote studies that prove bridge-playing kids get better scores in tests of basic skills. For a long time, IIT-M has had a flourishing bridge culture. Its Computer Science professor Deepak Khemeni is an avid player. Most bridge teams have IITians. “We saw our seniors playing,” said Vinod and Guthi Rajasekar, ex-IITians. “Learned it out of curiosity and got hooked.” Prajwal, a third-year student followed his dad’s cues into the game.“We play at least an hour online every day. Week-ends we have bridge orgies, marathon sessions,” they said. On Wednesdays, they are at the Mylapore Club looking for different challengers.Improves concentration

“My concentration is better, academic performance has improved since I started taking bridge seriously,” claimed Prajwal. Rajasekar and Vinod agree bridge sharpens analytical skills, but point out it is “co-relation, not causation.” The guys have been taking part in Open events, and played at the Beijing Mindsport, that followed the Olympics.

They totally believe bridge should be encouraged in school. Just like chess or carrom. “PT rooms should have packs of cards,” said Vinod. “School libraries should stock bridge books. In bridge, you learn Math and strategy, both essential skills.” Asked Rajasekar, “Every kid in India is taught chess, why not bridge? Bridge has an extra layer. It is a team game. All you need is basic multiplication ability.”

“And passion,” said K. R.Venkatraman, the bridge icon of Chennai, who has been…More

The Hindu :

This fortnight at indiaplaza.in

Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Sacha Baron Cohen, Timothy Spall Director: Tim BurtonScreenwriter: John Logan (from the musical by Stephen Sondheim) Composer: Stephen Sondheim Production design: Dante Ferretti

Director of photography: Dariusz Wolski

Rs. 599

Now my arm is complete,” says Sweeney Todd holding his beloved razor to the light. His arm is complete and so is his transformation from the simple, naïve barber, Benjamin Barker, to the fiendish Mr. T., the demon barber of Fleet Street bent on revenge.

Barker was a happy barber living with his wife and beautiful baby daughter till the lascivious Judge Turpin turned his covetous eyes on Mrs. Barker. He has Barker banished on a false charge. After many years of hardship and privation Barker returns embittered to Victorian London only to find out that his wife killed herself and his daughter is a captive of his old foe Judge Turpin.

Barker, now going under the name of Sweeney Todd feels he only has vengeance to live for. He rents his old rooms from the sinister Mrs Lovett and sets himself up as a barber and waits for Judge Turpin to make his appearance on his chair. The path to Turpin is strewn with corpses of all the unfortunates who dare cross Todd’s path.

For the disposal of the bodies, Mrs Lovett’s hits upon the novel idea of converting them into mince pies.

Based on the hit musical by Stephen Sondheim, “Sweeney Todd” marks the sixth collaboration between actor Johnny Depp and director Tim Burton.

The team, which gave us visually stunning, quirky films from the adult fairy tale “Edward Scissorhands” and the picture-postcard perfect tale of the headless horseman in “The Sleepy Hollow” to the singularly creepy adaptation of Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” where Depp’s Willie Wonka with his violet eyes and chalk…More

The Hindu : y>Corduroy suits just about anybody. It’s an eternal favourite, writes NEETI SARKAR

Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.YOURS TRULY Corduroys aren’t too formal or too casual so you can’t really make a mistake with them

Winter has long said its goodbyes and spring has announced its grand entry already but this isn’t reason enough for you to stop wearing your favourite pair of corduroy trousers as this item of clothing appears to be an eternal favourite.

Richaa Agarwal, a mass-media student and ardent fan of this fashion says: “The very texture of corduroy apparels is what makes this style look and feel good. Also, corduroys aren’t too formal or too casual so you can’t really make a mistake with them.”

Apart from the fact that a pair of corduroy pants is super comfortable, it is also very shapely. “You needn’t worry about the fit anymore. Cords these days are tailor-made to suit different body shapes and sizes so one doesn’t really get flustered about finding the right pair to purchase unlike in the case of skinny jeans,” believes fashion designing student Karuna Rampal.

Fashion designer Ameetha Mathew feels: “Although corduroys are not a particular or current favourite among designers, this fashion appeals to college goers as well as corporate employees. And the good thing about corduroy trousers is that your flaws are almost always hidden.”

The corduroy jacket also has quite a fan following, especially among the men. And for women who want to beat the heat but can’t do so in a pair of corduroy trousers, the skirts and the shorts are a good substitute for casual wear, of course.

As far as colour goes, black and brown are most popular. However, navy blue, olive green and beige are not uncommon. Why, even the pinks and reds are all over the place!

What you have got to bear in mind when it comes to wearing a pair of cords is…More

The Hindu :

Omair Ahmad’s The Storyteller’s Tale is rich with mythical aspects

PHOTO: BHAGYA PRAKASH K.PART OF US Omair: ‘We are to some degree, an output of the story’

In writer Omair Ahmad’s house, poetry was recited and stories told. Omair used to watch “Alif Laila”, the TV series, which he feels was a combination of “Panchatantra” and “The Arabian Nights”. “As a child growing up in Saudi Arabia, I was exposed to folklore — Greek and Roman mythology, Islamic stories and while at boarding school, I read a lot of the Bible.”

He says that unlike his first novel, “The Storyteller’s Tale” which is based loosely on the 18th century poet Mir Taqi Mir, is very different. “My first novel was contemporary, written in the firstperson and has no aspect of the fable. “The Storyteller’s Tale”, a novella is published by Penguin is set in 1700s where the forces of Ahmad Shah Abdali have destroyed Delhi. The Delhi-based writer says that stories told to him in his childhood were deeply influential. “The stories read out to me stayed in my mind. And we are to some degree, an output of the story.”

Delhi, he says is a city where there is an exchange of stories. “Immigrants, who come to this large cosmopolitan city, come with their stories. “From the 8th to the 18th centuries, it has played host to people who have come from different parts of the world. In this, it has heard different stories that have combined and merged.” He says in this exchange of stories, a new reality is created. “Delhi is like a woman that a poet courts. It is a very open city that recognises talent of confident people.”

Omair feels that now, people are not willing to hear stories or the other side of the story. “From the late dictators of the world to modern-day foreign policies…More