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The Hindu : SUDHINDR. A.B.

Students past and present reflect upon their school days

The SILVER JUBILEE ANNUAL DAY WAS AN OCCASION TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO ALL THOSE WHO HAD TIRELESSLY WORKED FOR THE SCHOOL.

Performing with enthusiasm: Celebrating school life through music

Kendriya Vidyalaya, Rail, Wheel and Axle Factory (RWF), has reached a milestone. The school, which was started in 1984, is celebrating its silver jubilee this year. The silver jubilee annual day was celebrated recently and it was an occasion to express gratitude to all those who had tirelessly worked at keeping the school’s flag flying high.Nostalgia

It was nostalgia time for former principals, headmasters and students. One could witness a greatdisplay of emotions at the function. The former students and teachers walked down memory lane. The school’s music group presented soulful melodies. Former students shared their experiences of school days. They explained why teachers are the pillars of society. “They hold the yesterdays in the form of memories, and wield the wand that makes the tomorrows materialise,” said a former student.

Performing with enthusiasm: Celebrating school life through music

The chief guest, Mr. Umashankar, expressed his happiness and lauded the effort of students. The former principals and headmasters were felicitated. Lalitha Umashankar gave away prizes to meritorious students.

The Principal S. Radha Mahalakshmi presented the school report. She said that the students had done well not only in academics but also in co-curricular activities.Rich entertainment

This was followed by a variety entertainment programme. The tiny tots amazed the crowd by expressing the spontaneity of childhood through their dance. The music enthusiasts filled the place with a feast of melody.The high school students carried everyone into a world of fantasy by tapping their feet to the combined tunes of East and West.

Performing with enthusiasm: Celebrating school life through music

The children, through their presentations, depicted the rich cultural heritage of the country. The programme culminated…More

The Hindu :

Paddy’s Pages, a concept developed by K.P. Muraleedharan, will air as a 52-episode TV series for pre-schoolers

Photo: S. GopakumarAnimated career K.P. Muraleedharan believes that children enjoy playing the protagonist in their world of fantasy

Softspoken and shy K.P. Muraleedharan becomes animated the minute you talk to him about cartoons and stories for children. His fingers sketch characters in the air and his eyes sparkle as he reels off impromptu stories, one after the other about animals, birds and children.

Murali, a designer and concept artist at Kerala-based Toonz Animation is puzzled why India does not have stories for children that are based on the local culture and folk tales.

“We have so many captivating stories for kids. But think animation, and our mind races to popular Disney characters, POGO and so on. Although some of our beloved mythological heroes have been animated we still do not have characters like, say a Mickey Mouse or Tom and Jerry.”Children and their environment

However, recently one of his characters, six-year-old Paddy, hit the headlines when Toonz Animation signed an agreement with Canada-based Spectra Animation to co-produce an animated television serial called “Paddy’s Pages” at a cost of $ 7 million.

Targetted at pre-school kids, the 52 episodes of “Paddy’s Pages” takes children on an enchanted journey that introduces them to the pleasure of reading, helps them discover their environment and hone their problem-solving skills.

“It was Atul Rao, who was creative director in Toonz, who saw the potential of one of my concepts and called it Paddy. It was sent to the Asia Television Forum for the Singapore Pitch where it won the third prize. That enthused us at Toonz and we got down to make a pilot episode,” recalls Murali.

The episode (available on YouTube) shows Paddy reading a huge book filled with colourful animals.

Finally, noticing the predicament of one of the characters, Paddy enters the book and…More

The Hindu : y>Ashutosh Varshney tells SANGEETA BAROOAH PISHAROTY why Salman Rushdie is important

Photo: V.V. KrishnanIn sync Ashutosh Varshney co-edited Midnight’s Diaspora — Encounters with Salman Rushdie

We are, as I’ve often said, storytelling animals, the only creatures on our planet, as far as we know, that use story — narrative, history, gossip, philosophy — as a way of understanding ourselves.”

This is Salman Rushdie adding weight to a truism, which catapulted him to the world stage as a storyteller worth his salt at a rather young age. India-born Rushdie, now with strands of greying hair at 62, is also the most controversial author of our times.

With a fatwa over his head forcing him to lead a life of hiding and high-security cover, with glamour dolls on his arm who seem to change almost every season, he is sensational enough to draw the masses. And then, with his singular ability to transcend the customary confines of storytelling to import contemporary politics, philosophy and history to the pages, Rushdie is a cerebral author worth the time of the classes.A literary force

Such celebrityhood for an author in itself is a fascinating story worth documenting but thosewho follow his work closely would rather save his celebrity status for the footnote. For, Rushdie is, they underline, a significant literary force, a political voice that has the capacity to document the present with insight and foretell the future with precision, a history maker for South Asian literature in English who opened the way for the younger generation of writers to make a mark on the world stage (read the West) with their regional distinctiveness. Ashutosh Varshney, professor of political science in Brown University, Rhode Island, U.S., delves further into the arguement: “He has the unusual capacity to weave in history and politics into fictional characters. He may be an author, but there is an intellectual in him which appeals…More

The Hindu :

Singer Kailash Kher revisits his road to glory

PHOTO: V.V. KrishnanSuccess is sweet For singer-composer Kailash Kher, music is a way of life

Kailash Kher is known to wear his heart on his sleeve and if you are all ears, a pause is out of question. “I have earned success the hard way. I used to ask people what it takes to get published in a newspaper and was told, bada kaam karna padta hai. Do you thinkI have now done that bada kaam or those who get published every day have?” Well, he could be innocently profound, very much like his songs.

Kailash revisits his road to glory. “I was born in Meerut but when I was a child we moved to Delhi. My father was a practising pandit and was the family astrologer of a select few. During festivals, he loved singing devotional songs on his ektara and I used to accompany him. That’s how I got into the public glare and got infatuated with stage.However, the society I lived in didn’t approve of singing as a career. My father was supportive but wanted me to follow it only as a hobby. But the local fame had gone to my head. I left home but promised him that I will complete my education. I learnt that if you have to make a mark you need to have a guru. But wherever I went people said I have a powerful voice but not suited for classical music.”

He changed about a dozen gurus. “At times it was my fault as I was not regular. It was only Madhup Mudgal and Sudhanshu Bahuguna who really supported me. It was not much in terms of singing because they felt I have an original style and should not be tampered with. That gave me the confidence to stick to my terms even when I achieved success….More

The Hindu : y>Ananya’s four-day youth music festival begins tomorrow

Ananya’s Youth Music Festival “Sangati” — Celebrating Music of Youth will be held between May 20 and 24 at Seva Sadan, Malleswaram, Bangalore.

The programme will be inaugurated byVidwan M.S. Sheela on May 20, 6.30 p.m. This will be followed by vocal concert byM.S. Vidya accompanied by Venkatesh Joiser, B.S. Anand, and Tumkur B. Shashishankar.

Continuation of Sangati is marked by a vocal recital by S.V. Narayan accompanied by B.K. Raghu, Tumkur B. Ravishankar, Bharadhwaj Satavalli on May 21, 6.30 p.m; Flute recital by Narasimha Murthy accompanied by Mathur Srinidhi, B.R. Srinivas and B.J.Kiran Kumar on May 22, 6.30 p.m. and vocal recital by Vasuda Keshav accompanied by Jyothsna Manjunath, Mysore A. Radhesh, Bhagyalakshmi Krishna on May 23, 6.30 p.m.

Valedictory function of Sangati and Ananya Awards presentation will be held on May 24, 10 a.m. onwards.

Young artists comprising G. Ravikiran, Vinay Sharva, Mathur Srinidhi, B.K. Raghu, Amit Nadig, Ashwin, Adamya, Adarsha Shenoy and Krishna will present a music ensemble between 10 a.m. and 11.30 a.m.

This will be followed by award presentation.Ananya Puraskara will be given toKurudi Venkannachar.Shastra Koustubha award will be given to T.S. Vasanthamadhavi.

She is a B high vocal artist of All India Radio and a well-known teacher with a large number of students.She is an exponent in both lakshya and lakshana. Ananya Yuva Puraskara will be given to M.S. Vidya.

M.S. Vidya is a first rank holder in Vidwat and has M.A. (music) degree. She was awarded scholarships from both state and central Governments. Ananya Yuva Puraskara will be given to G. Venkatesh Joiser, a young violin exponent. Venkatesh Joiser is B high artist of AIR. He has performed at various national and international stages.

Ananya Yuva Puraskara will be given to B.S. Anand,who is a second rank holder in Vidwat, a HRD scholar and a recipient of many prizes. Ananya is pleased to honour him with Ananya…More

The Hindu :

Brocade is making a big time fashion statement now

Photo: BY AUTHORRich and in vogue Patchwork brocade blouses

Brocade made a comeback, a while ago. There was the odd brocade patch or the ensemble in the store or maybe an antique brocade sari that was mutilated by a sentimental daughter or granddaughter. But now most retailers and boutiques have varieties ofbrocades… the synthetics, the fakes, the originals and the antiques.

“Brocades have been in vogue for almost a year now in the north but it is now that it has become such a huge thing here,” says Shalini James of Mantra. Earlier there was the element of kitsch attached to brocade, therefore there were reservations about it since it was traditionally seen as a “wedding” fabric and that too strictly for the bride. It was seen as just too glitzy, shimmery in a gaudy kind of way. But these preconceptions and notions are a thing of the past.

Rather than wearing brocade as brocade, the tendency is still to use it as an element for detailing, the odd yoke or the blouse/choli. The reason why, probably, many designer now work with the fabric is that it lends itself to be adapted with several other fabrics as combinations or in combinations.

For instance, if it is a yoke it goes well with silks and if it is the lighter silks such as georgettes or crepes or chiffons then as blouses or even borders these make a perfect contrast of textures. “I have been designing brocade blouses for the last year-and-a-half and these are very popular. Women, I know, who traditionally wore subtle colours are now wearing more of colours. The popularity of brocades can be attributed to the fact that people dress up more,” says Lata Pottakulam, a designer.

There are “monotones” in terms of being single-colour cholis and then there are patchwork cholis which are extremely…More

The Hindu : y>Naren Damodaran feels that the railways provide a microcosm of life in India

The railway stations in the city are a microcosm of society. Invariably, you will be caught up in a mass of humanity, wrestling for space. It is every man for himself, with an occasional cow and dog thrown in for equal measure. For this is India, where man, beast and everything else is supposed to co-exist. .

As we slowly pull out of Bangalore, already running an hour late, someone pulls the emergency chain. As is the general apathy of the fellow travellers and the staff, no one really wants to find out what is the problem. The offence committed by these ‘miscreants’ shall be stuff of office legend, with many a conversation in office tables across the city blaming them for the massive delay.

We chug on, into the cesspool called Bangalore’s rural development. Houses, stairwells, toilets, paths and roads all vie for that hallowed inch of space between the railway tracks and shelters.Life takes on a different meaning beside the tracks. Mongrels,and little naked children bark and wave at the passing steel .

The sights and smells of these shantytowns linger on in the passageways, as if to remind us of the poverty and squalor we cannot ignore. Does any government official even bother about these people hidden behind railway lines and scanty roofs?

The slums gradually give way to a searing mass of infected water, geographically referred to as a river. The small whirlpools of sewage mixed with industrial waste makes one wonder if the WHO has even considered a trip to India.

By the railway line, you would see an enormous quantity of plastic throwaways – bottles, plates, bags, etc. The railways in India also serve as a garbage distribution system and makes one wonder how educated and culturally sensitive people can throw waste out in the open.

At most stations,…More

The Hindu :

Young entrepreneur Shivakumaar brings the Weber range of grills to India

Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.NEW FOOD EXPERIENCE Shivakumaar

Good food, wholesome fun and a great deal of family bonding — the barbecue way is how Shivakumaar sums up the objective of his company, Great Indian Leisure and Lifestyle Company Pvt. Ltd. He calls it GRILLCO, a complete solution in barbecue.

“It is about bringing fun to your backyard, of open-air healthy grilling and enhancing bonding with family and friends and loads of fun”, the entrepreneur adds.

He brings the American brand Weber-Stephen range of charcoal and gas grills, considered to be the last word in grilling and barbecuing, to add joy to gourmets in India. The premium range of barbecue grills and accessories, including charcoal briquettes and chimney starter manufactured in the Chicago factory is now available across the country, from Coimbatore to Delhi. “In conservative grilling, food gets burnt because there is no control on fire. Weber changed it all with its closed lid cooking.” There is a saying that goes ‘the caveman discovered fire and Weber perfected it’, he quips.

Outdoor cooking is the word, he insists. “You just have to trust this machine. And it’s ‘no peek’ cooking so that it gives you time to socialise. This kind of cooking encourages family get-togethers, and while the man of the house dons the chef’s hat, the rest of the family can bond and de-stress. You don’t have to be a Mr. Perfect, because with Weber your barbecue experience can never go wrong,” he says confidently.

And the going has been great in Bangalore, the first market for Weber barbecue grills. “There is great demand for Weber Q, our range of balcony barbecue grills (available in charcoal and gas options), where space is not a constraint,” he adds.

The Coimbatorean, who calls himself a grilling enthusiast wants to spread the word that barbecue is about…More

The Hindu :

A pampering facial at Aristo Spa is a great way to relax and get a natural glow

A jolly indulgence At Aristo a sense of calm and contentment fills the interiors

“Switch off and allow us to pamper you” reads the pamphlet that I go through at the relaxing bay of Aristo Spa, located at the posh Mercure Homestead Residences in Koramangala.

A sense of calm and contentment fills the interiors and the uplifting aroma adds to the peaceful feeling. A team of therapists float about flashing a smile before disappearing into one of the rooms.

The pleasant host Ramitha Shetty takes me through an array of salon services offered at the Spa. She recommends an aroma facial and glides away. In the next 10 minutes herbal lime tea arrives accompanied by a bowl of honey.

“You can add as many spoonfuls,” she tells me, flashing that infectious smile. As I sip my tea, she introduces me to my therapist Kunjeshuree. There are facials to suit five skin types— oily, dry, normal, sensitive and mature skin. They have seasonal facials too and for the summer it is honey and cucumbers.Basic facial

Kunjeshuree examines my skin (which is a combination of oily and normal), so it’s a pampering facial for me.

A basic 60–minute facial, this is an introduction treatment and it involves cleansing, scrubbing, toning and moisturising, accompanied by a relaxing massage to the face, neck and shoulders. It prepares the skin for the next level of specific treatments, for instance tackling pigmentation or black heads.

It is reassuring to learn that all the products are 100 per cent natural, sourced from the head quarters Serena Spa in Mangalore.

My therapist switches on some soothing music and begins work on my face as I switch off and relax.Facial scrub

First is cleansing and the best part is the massage that accompanies it. She wipes my…More

The Hindu : NAMITA JAIN

Walking is the simplest form of exercise and is the best work-out for the whole body. It is a low impact activity. Make it adaily habit

An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.

-Henry David Thoreau

Walking is the simplest form of exercise, it is the most convenient and the least expensive. It suits any age, any place, indoors and outdoors. It is versatile.

Why walk? Walking works the whole body! Walking works all your muscles, improves your balance, stabilises the abdominal and back muscles, improves posture and tones the arms, shoulders, torso and legs. It increases physical fitness, strengthens the heart, lungs and bones, improves the cognitive process and reduces the risk of breast and colon cancer. Above all, it is a low impact activity with a low potential for injury.

Make it a daily habit; walk at least five days a week.

Short brisk strolls on weekdays, long leisurely walks on weekends. Both burn calories — long walks promote endurance, brisk walks build aerobic conditioning.

Increase gradually to an hour, if weight loss is your goal.

Try to total 10,000 steps a day.

Did you know?

Walking is the nearest activity to perfect exercise because it is a low-impact cardiovascular exercise!

One minute of stair climbing is equal to three minutes of walking!

Just five 30-minute walking sessions of approximately two miles each week can reduce the risk of heart attack by more than 25 per cent.

Weight loss: A regular walking schedule helps you burn calories when combined with a well-balanced diet. Include fruits, vegetables, whole grain cereals and sprouts to your diet to feel fit and energised.

Walk watch: Walk a mile and burn 100 calories! Walk five miles a day, and you will burn one pound in a week or 3,500 calories.

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