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The Hindu : y>Michelin comes up with a new range of tyres

Michelin recently launched Primacy LC (Luxury Comfort) tyre which will replace the Energy XM in its model range. With the Primacy, Michelin claims most of the carbon (which is added to the rubber during the manufacturing process) has been replaced by silicon. This has resulted in the Primacy being more durable and lighter, in addition to having a lower rolling resistance.

The company says the new Primacy LC will be priced five per cent higher than the existing Energy XM road car tyre. However, the slightly higher price is expected to be offset by better fuel efficiency, which, all factors being equal, Michelin claims can be improved by 20 per cent. Also, the lifespan of the tyre is longer, so it is cheaper to run in the long term.

Primacy LC is available in a wide range of sizes from 14 to 16 inches, and will be available in stores by the end of August.

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The Hindu :

Khushwant Singh Ahluwalia highlights Sikh success stories abroad

GRAND TALES Khushwant Singh Ahluwalia at the launch of the book

Indians have been making their mark abroad, especially in the U.S. and the U.K.

The Sikh community has acquired a major chunk of the success in these countries. So much so that it prompted Delhi-based 35-year-old freelance journalist Khushwant Singh Ahluwalia to pen down their success stories. And thus, he made his debut as an author with “Sikhs Unlimited”, a sort of travelogue from Delhi to Los Angeles via London, containing accomplishments ofover a dozen people from the community. The book, published by Rupa, hit the stands recently.

Khushwant, who comes from a farmer’s family, has been largely writing about issues related to agriculture in leading dailies. He was greatly influenced by the stories of success and failure of his near and dear ones settled abroad. Hence, his book carries minute accounts of the lives of the Sikhs who made it big in their respective fields. Fourteen of these successful Sikhs covered in the book include record holder marathon runner Fauja Singh, world famous Bhangra pop musician Harcharanjit Singh alias Channi, filmmaker Gurinder Chadha, an outstanding chef, a stand-up comedian, a space-tourism entrepreneur, a teenage girl in the US Army, and one of the founders of the BPO industry in India.

Khushwant relates the experience, “This book wasn’t child’s play, as manypeople Iwanted to focus on initially weren’tco-operative. Gurinder Chadha asked me to get out right away as I approached her.”

Emigrating to the West in the beginning of the 20th Century,the Sikhs carved out a place for themselves in the world, feels Khushwant. “It is because of their sheer hard work and vision that Sikhs have been able to shine in a foreign environment. They have been immenselycontributing to their adopted country’s economy which once ill-treated them. But their link with India has remained strong,” says…More

The Hindu : y>

Luxury carmaker Bentley launched its stunning new Continental Flying Spur and its sportier cousin the Continental Flying Spur Speed recently in New Delhi. The cars are priced Rs 2.25 crore and Rs 2.45 crore respectively.

The Flying Spur is powered by a massive W12 engine that puts out 600 bhp, which ensures that drivers get a powerful and engaging driving experience, typical of Bentley.

The Flying Spur Speed is the most powerful four-door Bentley ever made and incorporates subtle design cues to distinguish it from the Flying Spur. For example, its front grille and lower air intakes are dark-tinted chrome, while at the rear, wider rifled sports exhaust tailpipes hint at the performance potential of the Speed model.

It also sports new 20-inch multi-spoke wheels available in both bright silver or darkened tungsten fitted with bespoke Pirelli PZero tyres introduced on the GT Speed model, which provide the car with excellent grip and feedback.

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The Hindu :

Nineteen year old Julian Clef from Kerala delivered a stunning performance

Photo: Murali Kumar k.Clever fingerwork, calm composure Marked Clef’s concert

The audience settled down and eagerly anticipated the maestro to come on stage. After a hushed silence, they rose to their feet as he stepped into the stage lights, took a humble bow and sat down on the Kawai grand piano. Breaking into a crescendo of well-executed scale progressions, the musical genius awed the crowd right away as he expertly delivered one of Beethoven’s greatest piano Sonatas- No. 21, Op.53, also known as the “Waldstein”.Dramatic style

This world renowned pianist is 19-year-old Julian Clef! He was in the city for a recital organised by The Forum for Teachers of Western Classical Music. Exuding a confidence uncommon for his age, Julian weaved an intricate design of rhythmic notes and scale progressions as he played one of Beethoven’s most technically-challenging compositions.

The rich tone of the seasoned Kawai piano added flavour to Liszt’s Liebestraume no. 3 when Clef skilfully played the contrasting piece with dextrous finger work. Its melody hung in the air as he climaxed into a final chorded section. Breaking into his wider stylistic affinities, Clef went on to exquisitely perform John Ireland’s London pieces “Chelsea Reach”, “Ragamuffin”, “Soho Forenoons” and “Equinox” — all of which received thunderous applause.

This was followed by a brilliant performance of Frédéric Chopin’s “Grande Valse Brillante” in E-flat major, Op. 18. The intense waltz work was delivered with strong emotion and elegant technique that emphasised on Clef’s dramatic style and control of dynamics.

Another Chopin composition trailed the waltz; the “Fantasie” in F minor Op. 49. Clef masterfully balanced the tempo of the sudden changes in volume and key of this work. Deftly migrating his fingers along the black and white keys, Clef charmed the audience with his enthralling harmonies, colourful tones and passionate finger movements.

Clef maintained the…More

The Hindu :

Sudha Pillai moved from journalism to filmmaking but found her true calling in photography

Photo: Bhagya prakash k.PET SUBJECTS Sudha Pillai’s fine art photography covers pets, people even the ongoing Namma Metro work

“The way I became a photographer is still like a dream, for I hated it,” says Sudha Pillai. “It all started when I was a child. My father, an amateur photographer, would always make me his model. We would take off to mountains and places of scenic beauty where he would click away on his analog camera. I hated it for it would take so long and also that I would miss out on all the games with my friends,” recalls Sudha.

As she grew up, she became more averse to it when her father tried teaching her the art. “I was 14 when he got himself a new camera that had improved features and he tried to teach me. But I would just ignore him. When he was dying he wanted to gift me his camera. That was the last thing I wanted. He was sad to part with it, and finally sold it,” says Sudha, who then went on to become a journalist and worked with various magazines and newspapers. But she never got rid of the camera’s haunting presence in her life. “It was ironic how I would be surrounded by photographers and cameras for every story I worked on.”

One fine day Sudha decided that she would call it quits and try her hand at film making, and started making documentaries. She made one on the Indian Independence and a one-minute film on disability.

It was in 2008, she says, that she “woke up with this strange desire to simply click pictures. I ignored it and went about my daily tasks. But the strange urge continued. On an impulse I went and got myself a camera. With the…More

The Hindu : y>Networking sites let you look for more than long lost friends and high-school albums, they can get you a dream job as well, discovers PRABALIKA M. BORAH

Photo P.V. SivakumarYou’ve got mail Networking sites are a good option to keep us updated

You tweet or get linked, you drop a scrap or invite friends to a community, networking sites are letting users to look for more than old friends and life partners. While a few late lateefsare still discovering friends through Orkut and Facebook, early birds have not only started advertising and doing business, but seem to create job opportunities through them. How? Name any networking site and Human Resource managers of most organisations are already there, checking profiles. So does it mean it’s giving job portals a serious competition?

“In a way, yes. HR managers visit my profile through linkedin and get in touch with me most of the times. Networking saves us money and lot of hassle. Networking also allows one to communicate about job requirements in a very casual manner. And if I don’t fit that profile I can be referred to someone else,” says Narrendiran, a communication professional.

So is it enough to be registered in one site? “No,” says Aditi, a HR manager. “The more, the better are the chances. Also most of the times it’s the same people we meet in these sites, we are aware who is offered what or who is networking with whom, which helps us to offer irresistible bait,” she says.

Orkut, Facebook, Ryze, linkedin, zaabiz, bigadda and what not. In their bid to specialise recruitments, some of these networking sites have also gone for specialisations. So how does it score over job portals? “It is convenient. Openings spread through social communities and you are linked to so many people through your profile. Moreover, some networking community sites offer the option to get recommended or recommend…More

The Hindu : y>APS launches upgraded power package for Golf GT

Automotive Performance Services (APS) announces the launch of a new Sportec Stage 1 ECU upgrade package for the latest version of the 1.4-litre TSI MkVI Golf GT.

In standard form the turbo/supercharged 1.4-litre TSI Golf MkVI GT produces a respectable 160bhp. Sportec’s careful recalibration of the fuel, ignition timing and boost pressure settings via an extensively proven ECU remap sees power output leap to 200bhp at 5000rpm, delivering marked performance improvements which greatly increase the driver enjoyment of the smaller engined Golf. To put things into perspective, the TSI’s 0-100 kmh (0-62mph) acceleration time is reduced from 8.2 to 6.8 seconds!

By comparison the new range topping MkVI Golf GTi produces 207bhp and 207lb.ft, which highlights the effectiveness of Sportec’s work, as this cost-effective upgrade transforms the performance of the turbo / supercharged 1.4-litre TSI variant into a true small engined ‘hot hatch.’ Emissions compliance is retained, as is the 1.4-litre TSI’s excellent fuel consumption, which increases slightly from 44.8mpg to 42mpg, although the conversion does require the use of higher octane Super Unleaded fuel.

A full range of Sportec Golf MKVI performance and styling enhancements, including exhausts, suspension and braking components (showcased on Sportec’s SC200 1.4 TSI demonstrator car), is now available in the U.K.

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The Hindu : C.K. MEENA

Politeness is highly overrated. It can conceal insincerity. Beneath the polish lies the spit

I walked into a popular restaurant one afternoon and asked the waiter for kesari bath.

He curled his lip contemptuously and shook his head. The gesture said, as loudly as if he’d spoken, “What kind of a brainless vegetable are you, asking for kesari bath in the afternoon when the whole city knows you get it only for breakfast?”

A few restaurants do serve this dish at any time, but clearly this wasn’t one of them. I scanned the 10 items on the menu and chose a savoury.

Again that head-shake accompanied by a weary shutting of eyelids. “Only bread-butter bread-omelette,” he stated. After a pause he conceded: “And bread-jam.” Three out of ten wasn’t bad. I ordered the last-mentioned item, and after the first bite I wished I hadn’t. But the coffee was good.

The point of this story is not that rude waiters denote low-quality food. On the contrary, the surliest of proprietors have been known to produce the tastiest of food. My point is that the concept of rudeness is itself a subjective one.

I’ve always believed that politeness is highly overrated. It can conceal insincerity. Beneath the polish lies the spit. You might tell someone to have a nice day while wishing he’d fall down a flight of stairs. You might coo “It’s perfectly all right” while wishing ill-luck upon seven generations of his family. Politeness might be considered necessary for smooth social interaction but its indicators are culture-specific. Remember the survey, years ago, in some international magazine, on which city in the world is the least polite? It made no sense at all. Western gestures of courtesy are not universal.

We Indians can often be found verbally abusing our friends. Cursing is a sign of affection among equals, a marker of complete confidence in the closeness of the…More

The Hindu :

Novelist Ali Sethi says the circle of hope and disillusionment is a constant of his country’s history

Photo: V. SudershanOUTSIDE IMAGINATION Some things have to go through the non-fiction route, says Ali

Ali Sethi’s debut novel, “The Wish Maker” (Penguin, Rs. 499) tells the story of young Zaki who returns from the States to Pakistan for a family wedding. The fluid narrative moves back in time to Zaki’s growing up in the Eighties in Pakistan, even as the country grapples with democracy after years of military rule.

Ali, who made a whistle-stop tour of the country, after similar tours in the U.K and theUS, is more than willing to take time out to talk about the book, writing, the public and the personal.

Ask him about the fairly recent phenomenon of writers as the new rock stars, and the 25-year-old considers for a moment before saying: “I don’t know whether publicity tours are a necessary evil. Writers such as J.D. Salinger and Harper Lee never did book tours. However, it helps when it is your first project and it is rewarding to talk about your book to an aspiring writer. “Talking is more spontaneous as opposed to writing, which is more meditative. I don’t like talking about the book because I tend to edit what I speak and that I am sure is very annoying. I haven’t been asked to dance yet, so I don’t know about the rock star bit,” he concludes with a smile.

Ali started work on the book in 2006. “During reading for my thesis on the legend of Anarkali, I was struck by the fact that in times of social change, nostalgia is always in the voice of a tragic female figure. This tradition continued in Hindi film as well. In times of turmoil, the division between private and public is played out in the woman character’s life as it…More

The Hindu :

Hamlet the Clown Prince came tantalisingly close to offeringa radical interpretation ofthe classic

Photo: R. RavindranJust clowning around Is not enough

Rajat Kapoor’s “Hamlet, the Clown Prince” produced by Cinematograph Productions begins with an exquisite piece of theatre: a haunting music score swells on a smoky blue stage as footlights reveal a sinister figure poised upon a simple, elevated platform. But why, despite the wide, red painted smile upon his chalk white face, does this clown appear so sad? Atul Kumar’s mesmerising prologue bodes a performance full of melancholy and a sinister ghostliness. Here is Hamlet simultaneously possessed and dispossessed, restlessly shuttling between father and son, actor and character, death and life.

The spell is broken in the next scene when we are introduced to the motley crew of clowns who have travelled to the city to perform “Hamlet”. Briskly setting up the frame of a play within a play, the clowns proceed to narrate the story of Hamlet. Each evening Kapoor’s production morphs and transforms in ways that address the particularities of its location, audience and situation. In doing so, it reiterates the instability of the Shakespearean text itself.

In the true spirit of commedia dell’arte, the performers directly engage the local audience and the specific context, and prepare to offer us a glimpse of the tragic prince through the lens of a clown. But this, unfortunately, does not happen. What we are treated to instead is a spoof on Hamlet, ribald, rib-tickling, if sometimes sophomoric, which has the audience in splits, and offers a reading of “Hamlet” from the ground up. But in all the cleverness of the rather too talkative performers, the figure of the clown begins to fade away. That clown hovering between humour and pathos, so wonderfully evoked in the opening, re-appears fleetingly throughout the play.

The haunting doubleness of the clown re-emerges in a few key scenes, especially the…More