A tradition that needs reviving
Children, they say, are like soft clay. And come to think of it, the idiom could not be more correct. I am sure we all have special memories from our childhood. That particular “ma’am” in your primary school who wore a comforting perfume and saw you address her ma or mumma, accidentally. Or h...
With Goonj, Anshu Gupta has shifted the focus from donor's pride to the receiver’s dignity. That he has also built a modest, frugal and articipative culture of working, is invaluable to the cause of social change On the outskirts of Bhaktapur, the once-known historical city in Kathmandu which is ...
FAILED DIPLOMACY: INDO-PAK NSA TALKS COLLAPSE
DIPLOMACY// Planned talks between the National Security Advisors (NSAs) of India and Pakistan collapsed under the weight of intense diplomatic acrimony, with New Delhi insisting the meeting must focus on terrorism, and Islamabad saying parleys with conditions would serve no purpose. It also marked t...
MODI IN UAE: TALKS INVESTMENT, VISITS MOSQUE, MEETS DIASPORA
VISIT// Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the United Arab Emirates in the first Indian prime ministerial visit in over three decades, with boosting trade and investment on top of his agenda. Modi, who was there on a two-day official visit, was received by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed ...
Sensex crashes most in seven years; 4th biggest in history
IPL// The blood bath on Dalal Street continued unabated, with the benchmark Sensex now crashing more than 1,624 points, but stock market experts are not painting any bleak picture for local equities yet, and instead see steady growth prospects and weak global commodity prices to aid sharp revival in...
ACHIEVEMENT// Saina Nehwal made history as the first Indian woman to make it to the finals of the World Badminton Championships played on Sunday at Jakarta in Indonesia. However, she lost in straight sets to Carolina Marin of Spain and had to settle for the silver medal. Marin was the defending cham...
Rajapaksa concedes defeat, UNF claims victory
ELECTIONS// Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to take oath again after leading his party, the United National Front, to a victory in parliamentary elections, defeating the opposition led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. "Let us together build a civilised society, build a co...
Kumar Sangakkara retires a hero in Sri Lanka
CRICKET// In the world of cricket, names don’t get much bigger than Kumar Sangakkara. The 37-year-old Sri Lankan player has earned accolades from just about everyone in the sport. He retired in August after the second test match against India after an illustrious playing career. Kumar Sangakkara h...
WORLD POPULATION SET TO CROSS 11 BILLION IN 2100: UN
STUDY// There will be no end to world population growth in this century, says the UN, adding that the world's population will increase from 7.3 billion people to 9.7 billion in 2050, and 11.2 billion at the century's end! Asia, with a current population of 4.4 billion, is likely to remain the most p...
You know you can’t go wrong in a country where two new restaurants open each day. Seriously, Singapore means food. MOVING COUNTRY in the middle of a stable career does demand a well thought-out plan. It’s neither easy for grown-up kids nor for a family to pitch the tent in a new country. Howeve...
Why a boring investment strategy works in the long run When you are too obsessed with finer details, you sometimes miss the big picture; which could be much better than what it looks like when seen with a microscope. Remember the story of blind men made to feel different parts of an elephant and a...
Mind over matter? Or matter over mind? You'll never know till you try mindfulness YOUR MOTHER! Thus began several of Amma’s stories. The recipient was the son, in various stages of growth from toddler to surprisinglynot- angsty teenager, to calm-andcollected adult, the family anxiety genes having...
Guarding the south-east oceanic routes is paramount THE INDIAN Ocean was a region of extreme significance for the British economy and the strategic integrity of the “empire”. In the Indian oceanic system, the determination of the segment lying between the Straits of Hormuz and Straits of Malacc...
HERE’S ONE FOR THE WATER BABIES
It’s great for your joints, your lymphatic system and a complete mood-lifter. Workouts inside water are gaining popularity, with Aqua Tango being the newest fad Any workout you do in a fitness centre can be done inside the pool as well — yoga, Pilates, kickboxing, Zumba, step aerobics, aerobics...
A few minutes of interaction is enough to gauge this down-to-earth and soft spoken actor’s thirst for knowledge and a deep passion and commitment towards his art. Known for his intense and serious roles, one also sees glimpses of his stand-up comedy roots during a discussion about his acting journ...
LIFE IS A DANCE, DANCE IS LIFE
For Bhabananda Barbayan, dance is not just passion. As he continues learning to excel in the age-old Sattriya nritya, he finds it’s an act of spiritualism, a mission, a thought process, and a journey into discovering the self It’s breathing,” he tells me, when I ask 38-year-old Bhabananda Bar...
What is the filmmaker’s role in the debate on society influencing cinema or vice versa? CinemA iS a product of culture. It is also something that contributes to it. Populist cinema, because of its mass appeal, has a strong influence. Indian masses seem to be particularly swayed by movies due to t...
There is something about the mountains — something inspiring and moving; something .that which makes a person pick up a pen and write down something that makes a mark in the world of books. Shivdutt Sharma did just that with his first book, The Hill Billy. It’s a book full of nostalgia about his...
VATICAN CITY IN THE LORD WE TRUST
This maze of wall-to-wall immense structure is something that you have to see it with your own eyes. No camera does it justice. No write-ups suffice. Yes, you can’t deny the religious overtones in the Vatican City. And why would you want to, when you’re visiting a place that is ruled by the Bis...
Ever dreamed of cooking a gourmet meal at home? Food start-ups now offer you pre-boxed ingredients for a top-notch dish. All you need to do is don your chef's hat and cook your dream meal Have you heard of TV dinners — where you get a pre-plated meal, ready to eat? All you need to do is bung it i...