NOVY KAPADIA// Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura of Senegal is the first woman and first African to be appointed as the new secretary general of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). This is a positive sign, since it shows FIFA means business by bringing in a newcomer who is not tainted by any sordid money deals or association with the past corruption in FIFA. When a 45- year-old Swiss Giovanni Vincenzo Infantino or Gianni Infantino replaced an 80-year-old Sepp Blatter as FIFA president in February 2016, it did not guarantee a change of culture. Infantino has worked as deputy general secretary of Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) (2007-09), and general secretary of UEFA (2009-16), so he was not directly associated with Blatter. However, he was very close to Michel Platini, the banned UEFA president and so there were doubts that there would be changes in FIFA.
However by appointing a woman and a newcomer as the new secretary general, Infantino shows that he means serious business and wants a change of culture.
Fatma and Infantino have to initiate several reforms. The most important is to replace the executive committee with a 36-member FIFA Council, which includes a minimum of six women. Also they have to ensure that the FIFA president and other top officials are limited to three terms, each of four years. Fatma can be successful if she initiates such reforms.
As part of his election campaign, Infantino had promised an expansion of development cash and a 40-team World Cup. If he can ensure more money is delivered to various countries but there is also accountability on how it is spent, the clean-up act in FIFA will be noticed and taken seriously. Structural reforms must be taken quickly before FIFA's image changes. A newcomer Fatma, and Infantino, with his legal background, are best suited to restore FIFA's credibility.
When Infantino was elected, there was hope he would use his legal background to sort out the new challenges in Zurich. To restore the credibility of FIFA is his most important task, he started on a positive note.
Infantino’s first formal trip as FIFA president saw him fly to Bristol for the annual meeting of the International Football Association Board with budget airline EasyJet rather than Sepp Blatter’s preference for a luxurious private jet. This sent the right signals that FIFA is on the reforms path, especially when Infantino said all officials should optimise the costs.
He also attended a conference, Women in Football, and the premiership match Swansea City vs Norwich City, dressed casually and without a tie. This was also significant as it stressed Infantino was serious about resurrecting FIFA’s image. He wants FIFA officials to behave like fans and not like politicians. Small steps like these have started restoring FIFA's credibility. It shows that Infantino is not getting distracted by the luxury, importance, perks and privileges of being FIFA president.
Another important decision he has taken is to reduce his salary. Sepp Blatter as executive president of FIFA was top of the pay scale. But Infantino as president has accepted a pay scale much less than that of Blatter.
Infantino and Samoura have to take more bold steps. The most important being that commercial decisions must be taken by professionals hired by FIFA and not by the FIFA council. It was when decisions regarding lucrative TV rights and choosing a host for the World Cup were decided by the select FIFA council that members became susceptible to corruption. Not just that, this culture of corruption had been allowed to fester unchecked throughout Blatter's 18-year reign.
The image of corruption in FIFA has to be removed so that sponsors can regain trust, which will lead to an increase in revenue stream.
GHAUS MOHD// Despite charges of bribery, match fixing and corruption, FIFA stands like a mountain. None can match it in status and stature. In fact, its election is no less than the United States Presidential election. Countries vie to have their representatives hold the highest position. But corruption takes a toll on most of them. In 2011, Bin Hammam of Qatar stood for the race but had to bow out as he faced suspension on bribery charges. He was later banned for life on these charges.
Hammam was Sepp Blatter’s strongest contender and was also instrumental in securing the 2022 World Cup Football in Qatar. Ironically, Blatter, and one of the greatest footballers and UEFA president Michel Platini, two of the most powerful figures in global football, have been barred from FIFA for eight years.
Clichéd yet true, the world is round. While Blatter enjoyed Hammam’s suspension, the beneficiary was Gianni Infantino, the current FIFA president.
Blatter was instrumental in the World Cup being held in South Africa, Brazil and Russia, and the one to be held in Qatar in 2022, despite opposition from European nations. He may have obliged some members to get favourable votes to organise these tournaments in Asian countries such as Qatar. But then what’s wrong with that? It is in the interest of the Asian countries, since most European countries anyway feel the World Cup is their right.
It is all well and good if Infantino feels the new Secretary General Fatma Samba Diouf Samouracan brings transparency and accountability to FIFA. But there is many a slip between the cup and the lip. FIFA funding countries to promote football is a fine gesture but once the federation parts with the money it never looks back to see how the funds are being used. It is satisfied by the reports provided by a member. Is that enough?
For instance in India, where football was peaking at one time, the situation is not so hunky dory. The introduction of license certificate courses by FIFA/ Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has brought down the standard of football. Now only the players who pass these licensed courses are looked at. Gone are the days when coaches used to pull out outstanding players from the grassroot level.
India had immense football talent in rural areas. Except in the north east, where local sports coaches manage to find hidden local talent, the sport and footballers are non-existent in Punjab, South, Rajasthan and many other parts of the country.
I feel along with institutional football, tournaments or leagues should be held at an all- India level. And if these players are not given jobs under sports quota in public and government sector nothing much will change for them. And the game will be the loser.
FIFA should also leave the privilege of selecting coaches for clubs and national teams to the member countries. This way, a lot of local talent will get a platform to prove their prowess. I feel FIFA should not force coaches to pass license course since this could be a deterrent for many suitable candidates. The new secretary general should see how funds are used by member countries and whether it is helping raise the standard of football. Merely changing the officials is not of importance. What is important is to ensure that the deep-rooted problems are addressed and corruption erased from the system. It is a long haul but it could spell good times from countries like India too. Jai Hind!
Every day is a new beginning, a new struggle, a new story to be written. Looking at the possibilities and not what is restricting you. These can be words of encouragement for anyone looking at disability employment.
In the Indian context, however, this encouragement isn’t enough and the picture gets grimmer due to poverty, ignorance, societal prejudices, illiteracy and lack of proper education to make the disabled skill-worthy. A cursory glance across different industries will reveal the low number of employment figures of the persons with disabilities (PWDs). Many dreams are left unfulfilled due to lack of proper training, skill sets or even awareness of the jobs available in the corporate world.
The truth is PWDs can work in all areas of workforce, just like people without disabilities. All they need is a barrier-free environment and a right workplace solution. In order to have this, it is important to take into account the person’s disability and make any appropriate or reasonable adjustments to the work environment to accommodate them.
Addressing this challenge of employability of PWDs in the corporate sector is EnAble India, a Bengaluru-based NGO that has strived to develop a training methodology by changing mindsets of stakeholders and the society at large. The organisation focuses on providing “economic independence” and “dignity” for PWDs through their employability models and workplace solutions comprising of different pre-employment services, supplemental education, counseling and support services, consultancy and training for other institutions and NGOs and technology services.
Making a difference
Started in 1999 by software engineers Shanti Raghavan and Dipesh Sutariya, EnAble India has brought about changes in attitude towards the disabled. For Raghavan, her personal experience with her brother (who lost his vision) taught her that given the right training and opportunity, a disabled person can establish himself as a professional of high caliber and be a productive employee. The disabled do not need sympathy, but a supportive environment (created together by families, the government and the society at large) to grow and fulfill their needs, potential and dreams.
Since its inception, 4,500+ persons with disabilities have found gainful employment directly, and 1,000+ through consultancy and capacity building of partner NGOs. This includes those who are visually impaired, hearing impaired, have cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, mental illness, learning disability, multiple disabilities and more. Persons with severe and multiple disabilities such as deaf blindness are included in the workforce. About 81 per cent of people with disability working in the urban area are financially supporting their families.
And over 3,000+ people across the country are beneficiaries of EnAble India’s tools, publications and content. It is also the official placement cell for the Government of Karnataka for PWDs. According to their research, more than Rs 1 Crore per person with disability is saved by PSUs, with their inclusion as a productive employee.
For their innovativeness and hard work, Raghavan has received the National Award for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, 2010, from The President of India. She has also been awarded the Ashoka fellowship by Ashoka Foundation, which believes in investing in social entrepreneurs who are practical visionaries and whose drive and creativity have the potential to bring about large-scale social change. In 2012, EnAble India won the prestigious Manthan award (South Asia and Asia Pacific 2012) for ICT enabled innovation in the e-inclusion category.
Lessons on the way
The organisation’s focus has always been to build a skilled workforce that could quickly become economically independent. This was given a boost by the higher demand for skilled workers and growth of MNCs with higher attrition rates in India. The reason behind the success of EnAble India lies in its approach, wherein through their business solution a business case is presented to companies for each candidate and the hiring managers are made aware of the factors that make the employment of PWDs viable option. Advantages of hiring a disabled person means promoting a diverse workforce, widening of the candidate pool, creating a more inclusive organisation and realising the CSR as discussed with the company.
Questions about disabilities (Will I need to spend more time training and supervising the person with disability? Do they always need someone to help them? Will persons with disability take more sick leaves because of their disability? How will they perform a specific task? ) are treated as normal reaction of an individual who has not understood disability and is not looked at with disdain.
Take the example of their collaboration with Madura Garments, which opened up jobs for visually impaired persons in the garments sector. “Traditionally, non-IT sectors have been a difficult job market for visually challenged people, with many not even getting an interview call. With this model, EnAble India could train eight people out of 16 and placed with Madura garments as box maker, buttoner, packer and so on. Four others got placed in other garment companies.
Another instance is of Thomson Reuters, who has more than 50 PWDs successfully employed in departments like market analysis, data entry, accounting and management, and recruitment.
Till date, the NGO has developed 50+ workplace solutions to help PWDs to work effectively and efficiently on par with their colleagues. According to Raghavan, these solutions and models of inclusion built for PWDs benefits all sections of society.
A collaborative platform
Over the years, EnAble India has developed its livelihood framework that has models to address the needs of all disabilities in different geographies and demographics. The organisation follows different models for catering people in non-computer and computer placements.
The NGO also came out with an “entrepreneurship development programme” after studying the local requirements in the rural sector. Training was imparted with the help of mainstream entrepreneurship training centres.
Another big shot in EnAble India’s arm is its new initiative called EnAble Academy — India's first online collaborative community initiative for mainstreaming livelihoods of persons with disabilities which is managed by visually impaired employee of EnAble India. It is a platform to bring together PWD jobseekers, companies wishing to employ, NGOs and provides different training tools, courses, certifications, tutorials and publications in the PWD space under one space. (The beta version of EnAble Academy was launched in February).
Making a difference
Boney Thomas from Thomson Reuters has been managing the creation and billing of the company’s products in the admin systems as well as training new recruits in his team. This company also provided him with easy communication tools such as Reuters Messaging, Outlook, and so on, which helped him easily interact, learn and share knowledge with people across the globe Deepa Narasimhan from Emc2, is 75 per cent disabled due to spinal muscular atrophy. Confined to a wheel chair since she was 10, Narasimhan has strength left only in her wrist and fingers, which she preserves through physiotherapy. A self-trained graphic and web designer, she has designed presentations and developed websites.
Looking back, Shanti describes this 15 years journey as full of learning, which helped change so many mindsets and development of various models to create solutions for the future disabled workforce. “In the process of working for people with disability we have realised that we are able to give motivation on how they can solve their own challenges. A person with disability becomes a change agent. By doing this, he has chance to change society’s behavior not just about disability but about dealing with challenges and being solutions oriented,” she says.
An acclaimed film, television and theatre actor, Pankaj Kapur, needs no introduction. He has established himself as one of the most diverse performers in the country. Unlike his contemporaries, Kapur has always chosen to do different and flamboyant roles and has tasted success in whichever genre he performed. Born in Ludhiana, Punjab, Pankaj Kapur completed his engineering but interest and destiny brought him to the world of drama. He joined the National School of Drama (NSD) in the late 1970s and became active in theatre; his moment of recognition came in 1982 with Gandhi, a movie directed by Richard Attenborough, in which Kapur played the role of Gandhi’s second secretary, Pyarelal Nayyar. But he made his screen debut with Arohan, directed by Shyam Benegal in 1982.
After that, Kapur turned towards art films that came under the umbrella of the parallel cinema category in Bollywood and worked with leading art films directors, starting with Shyam Benegal in Mandi (1983), and Kundan Shah’s comedy Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro in 1983. This was followed by Saeed Akhtar Mirza satirical Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho! (1984), Mrinal Sen’s Khandhar (1984), and Vidhu Vinod Chopra's suspense thriller Khamosh in 1985.
Meanwhile his tryst with art cinema continued, he also did many commercially successful films as well. Unlike his many contemporaries, Kapur hasn’t broken the vow to work only in good art and independent projects in his entire career. He has also portrayed some of the most difficult characters with equal élan and conviction. He didn't hesitate to portray either a terrorist in Mani Ratnam’s Roja, a miser father in Chameli Ke Shaadi or a struggling scientist in Ek Doctor ki Maut (probably his most flamboyant role of all). The actor will also be remembered for playing King Duncan (William Shakespeare's Macbeth) inspired character in the critically acclaimed Maqbool.
The recipient of the prestigious National Film Awards thrice, Kapur became a household name with his TV series Karamchand in the 1980s, where he played a detective. In the 2000s, he worked in a comic satire, Office Office, which talked about the prevalent corruption in India. Kapur played the role of a common man, Musaddi Lal Tripathi, who is left at the mercy of some corrupt officials. The television series made Pankaj Kapur a favourite amongst the younger generation as well. He can aptly be called the “Walking Acting School in India”. His power-packed performances, character portrayal, intense presence, comic timing and his chemistry with the camera can leave you speechless.
Over the years, as a director, he has done Mohandas B A L L B, Wah Bhai Wah, Sahabji Biwiji Ghulamji and Drishtanth, Kanak Di Balli, Albert's Bridge and Panchvan Savaar. Kapur shifted from theatre almost two decades ago but made a comeback on the stage in 2016 with a novella, Dopehri, which is written by him. Kapur chose his native karmabhumi for his comeback and performed a dramatised reading in the 16th Bharat Rang Mahotsav, a yearly theatre extravaganza organised by NSD. When asked why he chose a novella reading, Kapur said he wanted to test the waters before coming back whole-heartedly; plus he likes to experiment and desires to bring in a novelty factor in the world of Indian theatre. “In the last 40 years, I have never followed any league and like to create my own niche and style. I wanted to read the novella because it is written by me and I wanted to deliver it to my audience as a writer,” says Kapur.
He also shares that when he tried to contact the theatres in Mumbai, his idea of a dramatised reading was not taken well as they believed that this kind of performance will not interest the audiences.
Dopehri is a story of an old woman living alone in her haveli in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh and how she discovers herself with the help of people around her and emerges as Mumtaz Siddiqui. Amma Bi’s son and daughter-in-law live abroad and come to meet every few years but the loneliness has started daunting her. It was getting difficult for her to spend time, though she has a help called Jumman, who is an important character in the novella.
Kapur’s reading was convincing enough to allow the audiences visualise the entire scene in front of their eyes. With the exact Lakhnawi dialect and subtle body movements, it was an impeccable show put together with the help of coordinating lights and music. The act was co-produced by Supriya Pathak Kapur, who played a vital role backstage.
When asked about spending time with family, Kapur shares he likes to go on holidays with family and makes sure that the entire family goes together at least once in two years. His idea of a perfect holiday is pure relaxation. “My agenda of a holiday is to not have any agenda at all and spend your time the way you want,” says the Karamchand actor. He also shares that he never reads while on his journey but likes to look around and enjoy the scenic beauty and nature outside.
THE LATEST OFFERING from the pen of journalist Jaskiran Chopra Memories of Another Day harks back to times when the author spent her childhood in the Doon Valley. The book is a collection of personal, interesting anecdotes that take you on a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
Divided into five sections — Footfalls of time; Seasons in the sun; Vanishing world; Memories lost and found, and Notes on nostalgia — the book contains 11 short chapters that brings alive memories of the past.
Chopra dips her pen into the ink-pot of memory bringing to life a world that has gone by. It is a world of familiar sights, sound, taste and smell.
In the chapter Vanished Landmarks, she writes, “Doon was once a city of canals and the disappearance of almost all of them has taken away much of the character of the city. Most of the clear, bubbling canals have now become roads; the expansive fields of fragrant basmati have turned into concrete residential colonies. This unhurried, friendly town of tongas, litchi orchards and sprawling bungalows has changed into a crowded, rushing city. The world has finally caught up with Dehradun,” she laments. “But then, old places like Prabhat, Natraj and Orient cinemas, Hotel White House, Kumar Sweets, Joshi’s “Buffet” and the Chaat wali gali are still going strong!’
How one wishes the pictures could have matched the elegance of the prose. And the photo-editor could have done more work and trawled the photo agencies for more iconic images of this city of “green-hedges and grey-heads”.
WE FIND RENOWNED author Vikram Seth doing something he usually doesn’t agree to very easily. After all, it isn’t exactly easy for an author concentrating on a much-awaited work to find time and agree to do a book launch for someone he hasn’t met or read any previous work of. But then some situations demand going out of the way and Zarina Bhatty’s book happens to be just one of them. For, it’s not every day that you have an enthusiastic octogenarian Muslim woman, who happens to be the former President of Indian Association for Women's Studies and also that of Young Women’s Christian Association write about her struggles, fighting many stereotypes along the way. Her memoir, Purdah to Piccadilly hit the stands this month. This work took two years to come together and chronicles the life of over eight decades, penned down beautifully by the author. As for the title, Bhatty says, “Reflects my life journey from a burqa-clad young girl who got two degrees from the University of London; Piccadilly really refers to London.” Over 200 pages narrate, among other things, the political and social conditions of undivided and post-Independence India. “I wanted to be honest and just share my story as it were”, says Bhatty.
And honest she has been. In the Preface she writes, “Even after 50 years, I cherish the memory of the day when I was sitting in the Royal Albert Hall and my name was called out. It was an international gathering of students, most of who belonged to the privileged classes, including those from royal families worldwide. I got up to receive my degree from the British Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth, who was then the Chancellor of the University of London. I could not help recalling my humble past as the daughter of a middle-class family who had an illiterate grandmother and a mother who had no schooling and was taught only Urdu at home.”
Purdah to Piccadilly is divided into 14 chapters, begins with the author’s family living in Rudauli, Uttar Pradesh, and is interspersed with personal anecdotes and nostalgia. It gives the reader a glimpse into the mundane life of young Bhatty and her interesting journey that concludes with her moving to Mussoorie, and finding a home in the hills.
No stranger to the written word, Bhatty’s first book, Women’s Role in Beedi Industry was published a decade ago, and was sponsored by Internal Labour Office, Geneva. As for her latest endeavour, she states, “It took me nearly two years to write, as I wrote several drafts,” she tells us while nursing a fractured wrist. “I faced the common dilemma that I suppose most writers of biographies face; that is, how honest must one be in writing about one' family and friends. To respect intellectual honesty, should one risk the displeasure of dear ones?” she asks.
Bhatty, the latest entrant to the growing list of authors who have penned their work living in Landour, Mussoorie, gives fascinating accounts of sheer grit, perseverance and determination of a Muslim lady preand post-partition India. What would have made the book even more interesting is if there were more photographs and images to compliment the writing, which is a must-read for those who want a flavour of the times gone by.
The city of Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is both — charming and fascinating. There’s so much to discover and explore, and so much to learn. That’s true of any place, you might think. There is, however, something genuinely so special — and spectacular — about Seoul. What strikes you the moment you arrive is the neatness, the cleanliness of the city, with residents taking immense pride in keeping it absolutely spic and span. And you appreciate the city simply because it is overcoming challenges and obstacles, paving the way for tremendous opportunities and whatever it takes to make it look good.
Not surprisingly, this “good-looking” country unfolds itself to you with a tremendous sense of wonderment and awe. With its numerous sights and sounds, and remarkable tourist attractions, this is a destination worth exploring, worth experiencing.
Interestingly, dear reader, now is the best time to visit this charming country. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom and several of the national parks of South Korea are carpeted by a blushed pink colour, a sight you wouldn’t like to miss. In fact, if there would be a survey of sorts on “the best views of nature in various countries”, the richly coloured cherry blossoms would be on the top of the list. Such is the warmth, the glow of these cherry blossoms that simply viewing it is considered one of the favourite pastimes of the locals. Filmmakers from all over the world, globally renowned photographers and tourists are known to visit South Korea simply to capture the beauty of the cherry blossom trees.
It’s also relevant to understand why these cherry blossoms are important in understanding the culture of South Koreans, given that a growing number of them follow the philosophy of Buddhism, which emphasises overcoming obstacles, seeing them as opportunities and turning poison into medicine. In the case of cherry blossoms, for instance, you need to know that the flowers have to undergo harsh winters to blossom beautifully during the spring season. The more severe the winter (read, challenges), the better colour there is when the cherry trees flower and blossom.
The city of Seoul — and other parts of South Korea -- wrapped in the warm glow of white, red and pink cherry blossoms, serves as a perfect backdrop while you explore the city to understand what gives it its unique identity, making it vibrant and so alive. It’s a city that’s packed with adventure, heritage, culture, creativity and inventiveness. If the numerous lanes and bylanes of the Myeong-dong market, packed with some of the most extraordinary cosmetic brands, is an invitation for you to sample the luxury market of skincare and cosmetic industry, the Cheonggyecheon stream, a 3.6 mile stretch, is an example of how, if a nation wants to achieve restoration to newer heights, a dirty, clogged drain with shanties around it, can be converted into a free-flowing clear stream.
Then there’s the uniquely designed Lotte World, the largest indoor amusement park in the world. While there’s an outdoor amusement park called Magic Island, Lotte World also consists of an artificial island inside a lake linked by monorail, shopping malls, a luxury hotel, a Korean folk museum, sports facilities, and movie theaters. Some of the rides are not for the faint-hearted but this place is a must for those visiting with children.
The five grand palaces of Seoul, including the Gyeongbokgung Palace, the first royal palace built by the Joseon Dynasty, mesmerises you with its rich architecture and history. The palace, built in 1395, is also the largest of the five grand palaces, which served as the home of the kings. Though destroyed by raging fires in a war, it was restored later, becoming, eventually, a fitting tribute to the architectural principles of ancient Korea.
The similarities between the palace and the temple architecture get clearer when I experience a temple stay programme in Jingwansa, a traditional Buddhist temple in Seoul. As I delight in the simple, delicious temple food, including deep fried seaweed, steamed tofu chunks served with kimchi, a bowl of clear soup, sticky rice, among other delicacies, I learn about the significance of Jingwansa Temple — one of the four major temples around Seoul, dedicated to Preceptor Jingwan in 1010 BC by King Hyeonjong, the 8th king of the Goryeo Dynasty. Though it was destroyed and reduced to ashes during the Korean War (fought between North and South Korea from 1950-1953), a decade later, the various buildings in the temple complex were painstakingly restored.
From amusement parks to temple stays to shopping sojourns, a vacation in Seoul exposes you to the character of the city.
A walk through Nanji Island is a must-do, which used to be Seoul's landfill site for 15 years until 1993 (and filled with about 92 million tons of garbage), and was converted into an environmentally-friendly World Cup Park over an area of 272,000 sq meters. The World Cup Park, in turn, is made up of five smaller parks. As you breathe in the clean air, watch the trees in a dazzling yellow hue (Japanese Dogwood), a white spectacle of cherry blossoms, gorgeously inspiring sunflowers, you find it hard to believe that this place was once an unforgiving dumping zone.
And that’s the magic of Seoul. It’s the city that charms and welcomes you with open arms, in all its beauty and grace. This vacation, be nowhere else but in Seoul.
Here’s another benchmark in luxury and exclusivity. Noida’s first five-star deluxe property, The Radisson Blu MBD Hotel, Noida, has established the finest and the most revered hospitality benchmark with the launch of the MBD Privé Collection, which offers the highest level of luxury and comfort way beyond your expectations. The ultimate uber luxury experience unfolded on May 14 at the luxurious property amidst guests and media.
The Privé Collection comprises of 33 elaborately designed rooms that are tastefully decorated and lavishly furnished to ensure an unprecedented level of luxury and hospitality experience for the guests, with bespoke personalised services catering to their individual needs.
Presenting an exotic treat of leisure, each room in this brand new collection defines uber luxury as it emulates the fashion and impeccable interiors of rococo style while staying true to its Indian roots by blending it with heavy lush embroidery and authentic dabka work on draperies and cushions. The rooms have been designed in the best Venetian and French traditions as the decorative scheme encapsulates centuries with styles alternating between those from the Victorian to the most contemporary, which makes its appearance timeless and eclectic.
Each furniture piece is bespoke and finished meticulously with gold carvings that date back to the 1800s. All the decorative lights, including goosenecks, table lamps, chandeliers and standing lamps are hand-picked for their unique character and presence to heighten the elegance of the elaborately designed rooms. Quintessentially, the features in the new range include rich fabrics, high beds with footstools, elegant bathroom fittings, modern amenities and neoclassical carpets. The detailed craftsmanship in ceilings and walls creates interesting design elements at the MBD Privé Collection.
Describing the design aesthetics of the luxurious property, Monica Malhotra Kandhari, Managing Director, MBD Group, said, “When we decided that the theme of the new range of rooms in our MBD Privé Collection is going to be a fusion of the world-famous Venetian and French traditions with an Indian touch, we did extensive research to make sure each room in this brand new collection defines uber luxury. Not only did we focus on the architecture, we made sure each furniture piece is bespoke and fits perfectly with the elegance of the elaborately designed rooms.”
Satish Bala Malhotra, Chairperson, MBD Group, played a key role in each aspect, to the extent that a few of the colonial paintings you see at the Privé floor have been done by her to make the appearance timeless and eclectic! An avid painter, Malhotra’s works also adorn the interiors of the Radisson Blu MBD Hotel, Noida and The Radisson Blu Hotel MBD, Ludhiana.
The calmness of the interiors is inviting while the freshness is introduced by refreshing green adorned with subtle wallpapers at the corridor level. Adding to the royal charm, the rooms have POPcarved frames around colonial paintings, which are well complemented by the floor with contemporary Italian wooden and stone finishes. Each element has its own peculiarity while retaining design cohesion through different eras thus making it ageless and offering the best of both worlds. All the guest rooms and suites have a collection of antique finish furniture with elegant bathrooms and a range of impressive reclaimed beds and emperor beds with intricate gilt bed wall canopies and bed throws. Such a synergy of timeless craftsmanship and modern engineering has made the MBD Privé Collection a unique address for discerning travelers in Delhi- NCR.
Commenting on the extravagant collection of rooms, Sonica Malhotra, Joint Managing Director, MBD Group, said, “We have been in the hospitality industry for several years now and were essentially the first 5-star deluxe hotel in Noida. So, the idea behind our all-new Privé Collection was to introduce our esteemed customers to an entirely new level of extravagance, and that’s how we decided to redefine the experience of hotel stays and make it more about luxury with an enhanced level of service and convenience. Our aim is to become the favorite hospitality benchmark in Delhi-NCR for anyone travelling for business and pleasure by providing them a chance to indulge themselves in a royal experience like never before, at our hotel.”
To provide the exquisite and unique touch, the MBD group has also created a special Privé Lounge, which is an exclusive area that makes for a perfect space for an extravagant lunch or an exuberant networking dinner with complimentary cocktail hours, lavish evening amenities and a well-stocked library for passionate readers. The guests can choose from amongst 33 rooms and get an exotic treat of leisure in the royal style.
To the most astute global travelers, the MBD Privé Collection presents a lavish experience including a personal butler, access to the MBD Privé Lounge, signature amenities, signature aromas, moodlighting, in-room technology that cater to personal specifications and much more for an effortless and luxury stay experience. With this new addition, the Radisson Blu MBD Hotel, Noida has redefined luxury and comfort and is soon going to become a favorite residence in Delhi-NCR for anyone travelling for business and pleasure by exceeding the expectations of those looking to indulge themselves in an effortless, regal and opulent stay experience!
Nor any drop to drink.
When I read the poem “Rime of an ancient mariner” in school, I thought of it as an extreme case of exaggeration. Later, I felt it a bit much to consider some experts warning that the third World War would be fought over water.
How could it? There always seemed ample water around. And so I dismissed the thought as silly and pushed it to the back of my head. Until recently, when I saw images of the 50-wagon Jaldoot Express pulling into Latur Railway station. It carried not just 25 lakh litres of drinking water but also a semblance of normalcy to the 4.5 lakh of population of the hometown in Marthwada district, Maharashtra. Was the water war already taking seed slowly?
First the municipal water supply came once in 15 days, then once in a month and before they realized, the people of Latur were staring at the “worst ever” water crisis in decades.
The plight of Latur should be like a lesson of sorts, a wakeup call for every city and town of India. For we might celebrate Earth Day and Environment day with enthusiasm, but the fact is that we all forget to understand the true essence of why these days are observed.
The irony is that Mother Earth is giving us enough signals. Chennai last winter saw floods like it never had, Bangalore this year touched a never-before high of 40 degrees and the hills are witnessing innumerable forest fires.
The answer then lies with the young men and women of this country who have the capability to think out of the box.
One young man who did think different way back is today a wise man who we are honoured to have on our Cover. For Rana Kapoor has shown what it takes to say ‘Yes’ to many a young entrepreneur’s dreams.
Also in this issue is an exclusive interview with a favourite author across generations, Ruskin Bond. Bond often finds his inspiration in Mother Nature.
So go on, read and think!
WEATHER// Summer is here and how! Intense heat conditions are being seen across India with high temperatures being experienced in states like Odisha, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. Coastal regions are suffering with the absence of any cooling breeze. Odisha is one of the worst affected states with temperatures soaring above 40°C regularly. Titlagarh in Orissa has been experiencing especially scorching heat and recorded a temperature of 48.5°C a few days ago. The state has decided to close schools early due to the extreme heat.
Meanwhile, nature, it seems has a cruel sense of humour. While much of the country is sweating it out, north-eastern India is facing floods. It has been raining steadily in the region and six districts of Assam have been affected by floods. Movement of people from place to place was affected as roads and rail networks were either under water or cut off by landslides.
TRAGEDY// Over 100 people were killed when a fireworks display at a temple in Kerala went wrong last month. Hundreds of others were injured as the blasts sent material flying around, causing injuries.
A festival celebrating the Hindu goddess Kali was to end on a Saturday night at a temple in Paravur in Kerala. The festival usually ends with a fireworks display. Even though permission for lighting fire crackers was not given by the local government, the temple went ahead with the firework show that lasted many hours and was still going on during the early morning hours of Sunday.
That’s when tragedy struck. A spark from a rocket fell on an auto-rickshaw and a nearby storeroom where more firecrackers were stored. This set off a series of explosions and a fire broke out. The blasts sent rocks, bricks and big pieces of the building itself flying and these flying pieces wounded and killed many. The temple roof also collapsed.
The temple was clearly wrong in conducting the firework display without permission. The rule of no fireworks after 10 pm was also broken. The police are right now investigating the role of the people who run the temple and those in charge of the firework display in causing this tragedy.