While there is no doubt Narendra Modi has changed the course of political, economic and social debate in the past year, has it taken the desired direction, too?

tridiB raMan // In his early days as prime minister, Narendra Modi was pretty excited about his Health Care Plan. Today, a year later, the government doesn’t have adequate funds for it. The five-year project needed $18.5 billion. Today, India’s public health gets just one per cent of India’s GDP, even though a vision document by the health ministry says the sector should aim at getting 2.5 per cent of the country’s GDP. The quality of government health facilities is constantly slipping. On the other hand, private healthcare facilities are mushrooming everywhere and they are backed by political forces. A mere 17 per cent of India’s people have access to health insurance.

During his election rallies in 2014, Narendra Modi gave several pointers on how India’s economy, growth and prosperity can be achieved. However, in his one year of leading the government, the prime minister has not come up to the common man’s expectations. Remember the surge of hope when he took over as the prime minister in Delhi? Well, that hope has dimmed now. Despite his pro-corporate and pro-capitalist image the corporate world seems to be disappointed with him. Industrialists feel the government is neither assisting the corporate world with tax and notices, neither is it making good on its promise of delivering.

There were five or six key points Modi had highlighted during his election campaign. He talked about his commitment to bringing back all the wealth that is resting in foreign banks as black money. Now the government is singing a different tune and is citing several international rules and procedures on the black money matter.

Modi also mentioned “Har haath ko rozgar” (Every hand will be employed) in his election rallies to target young voters. Recent statistics reveal the number of unemployed in India has crossed 40 million. He also talked about taking active measures for women’s safety and security in the country. But the number of crimes committed against women in the past 11-12 months has only increased!

Modi had raised his voice loudest when it came to inflation with the slogan, “Bahut hui mehengai ki maar, abki baar Modi Sarkar”. (Enough with inflation, it is Modi Sarkar this time). But how successful the government has been in controlling inflation is for everyone to see. Modi had promised there will be an end to Pink revolution – that the export of beef will be reined in. But Modi’s Minister of State Nirmala Seetharaman has agreed to the fact that the national exchequer has earned nearly Rs 17,000 crore from export of beef, and that the export has doubled during Modi’s tenure. Although chief ministers from the saffron party in states such as Maharashtra and Haryana have taken the initiative of banning cow slaughter, but for now it is being looked upon as a political move. Similarly, to gain confidence of the minority communities, Modi told the Muslim community that in his party’s rule, the Muslims will have the Quran in one hand and a computer in the other. Now it’s a different picture. BJP ally Shiv Sena says voting rights should be taken away from the Muslims, BJP Member of Parliament Yogi Adityanath wants to stop Muslims from bathing at Har-ki-Pauri, while Sakshi Maharaj wants them to have vasectomy. Modi stays silent on controversial issues such as Ghar Wapsi.

Remember when Modi had thrown so many challenges to Pakistan before elections? Now Pakistani flag is being hoisted on Indian soil but what action was taken? The BJP would cry itself hoarse about Common Civil Code and Section 370, and has formed a coalition with a party that has a soft corner for terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.

Till the BJP was in Opposition, it was against foreign direct investment (FDI) in railways, insurance, defense and retail sector. But it is a different story now. Despite the Make in India catchphrase, the future of the manufacturing sector seems to be undecided. That is because the labour reform issue is on the backburner.

r c rajaMani // It’s not easy to evaluate the first year of a debutant prime minister. You also have to remember it’s just the end of the first year of a five-year term. For me, the remarkable aspect of the first year is that it has been free from corruption, which had reached the very roots of government during the UPAII years of 2009-14.

A sense of confidence is permeating the nation with the presence of a prime minister in complete control after 10 long years of Dr Manmohan Singh. Modi may be lucky to be the PM of a majority government, but he also doesn’t have any excuse to justify underperformance. He also has to deal with some fringe Sangh Parivar elements and a few loose cannons in his Cabinet.

A brief report card shows Modi made major inroads on India’s external relations, especially with neighbours. It was visible on the very day he took over as he was able to persuade Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to attend his swearing in ceremony. Barring Bangladesh, all other leaders of SAARC attended the event. He also chose to visit India’s neighbours first, starting with Bhutan. He went to Sri Lanka and even visited Tamil families in war-devastated Jaffna. He has visited the US twice, many parts of Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Because of Modi’s presence in these countries, India’s image as a confident nation has been established in the minds of their leaders and people.

On the economic front, the general Budget and the railway budget have been hailed as being positive and future looking. The conclusion of the coal and spectrum auctions has shown that transparency is possible with political will. Distribution of the LPG subsidy through direct bank transfers shows the success of the government’s strategy to help the poor.

Though there was some disappointment in meeting short term growth targets, global institutions such as the IMF, OECD and others have forecast better growth potential in the coming months and years. India is, thus, back on the global radar.

Throughout the past year, Modi has not been apologetic about asking people to join in the task of nation building. He also believes in the power of the common man. Even as he has emphasised the duty of every citizen in nation building, Modi had a stronger message and a louder call for the people’s representatives. He has even announced a scheme named after the Parliamentarians, “Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana”. Every MP has to develop one village in his or her constituency into a model village under this scheme.

He is the most communicative prime minister India has had. Pandit Nehru, Vajpayee and Indira Gandhi may have been eloquent and effective speakers, but what sets Modi apart from the rest is his astounding timing and keen sense of occasion.

His immense reach to the educated class through the social media is amazing. His Hindi is common man’s Hindi and so he carries his message across effortlessly. He has also displayed somewhat unsuspected facility in the use of English.

Perhaps the biggest challenge for Modi personally is his low rating in the Muslim community. It was good that Modi met leaders of the community before he left for France and Italy in April, and promised his full support in addressing the grievances of all sections of Muslim society. He discussed concerns including “increased radicalisation and emerging threat of terrorism.”

The Muslim leaders reiterated full support of the community to the Prime Minister in trying to ensure speedy economic growth, promoting communal harmony and peace and strengthening national security.

To achieve all that he has set out to, Modi needs support, not only from the Opposition but also from the extended family of the BJP.

Dehradun-based Forest Research Institute has developed a village into a role model village showing what it takes to make a difference

Shyampur village is just one of the many that dot the outskirts of Dehradun. Some 13 km from the heart of the state capital of Uttarakhand, it nestles in the lap of the first foothills of Himalaya of Sahaspur block. This small hamlet’s claim to fame – its Arcadia Gramsabha is India’s first model village adopted by the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, in liaison with the Bagwan Gramodyog Samiti, a nongovernment organisation.

In 2008, as per the guidelines of the World Bank Project of Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education, a project proposal was put together by the FRI to develop a demonstration village in the vicinity of Dehradun. All this was part of a unique initiative to showcase the technologies developed by respective divisions of the FRI. Shyampur was identified and a MoU signed between the FRI and Bagwan Gramodyog Samiti. This was to mark the beginning of a new era for the village.

What followed in 2008-2009 was a marathon of awareness programmes and training for the locals, but not limited to them alone. Women and unemployed youth from surrounding villages were invited to partake in the training as well. Like most villages in the region, Shyampur too was dependent on wheat and paddy agriculture for its sustenance, but its liaison with the FRI was to change all that. Under this initiative, the focus of the villagers shifted to more lucrative crops such as cherry. Training was also imparted in raising nursery for cultivation and multiplication of forestry, medicinal and herbal plants such as aloe vera and stevia. On-site poplar tree cultivation was also taught.

Paramjit Singh, Extension Division, Sr F Scientist, under whose guidance the MoU was signed, takes great pride when he says, “What started as a small project has, at present, grown in leaps and bounds.” He recounts how in 2008, a plant nursery, along with a mist chamber, a composting unit and a green house was established by the Extension Division of the Institute. A training shed was also constructed on a priority basis to conduct various training courses in Shyampur. But that was just the a glimpse of what was to follow as expertise was taken from scientists from the Chemistry, Silviculture and Forest Products Divisions in nursery raising techniques of forestry, as well as medicinal; herbal and aromatic plants. Today the results are there for all to see.

Keeping themselves updated with the times, the villagers have taken to horticultural products like fish to water. They have learnt the skill of making pickles and juices as well as rearing honey bees and selling bottled organic honey. A perennial vermi-compost unit has been developed by the villagers for those who need compost for their crop any time of the year. They have done away with pesticides and fertilisers all together. What has caught the fancy of the women trainees, on the other hand, are bamboo table lamps, lantana furniture and LED bulbs.

Quite recently, mushroom cultivation in Ganoderma and Pleurotus was taught by scientists of the Pathology Division which, in turn, saw a lot of trainees returning to their farmlands to put their training to practice.

Today, Shyampur is walking on new turf as it explores and widens its scope. It has made the villagers self-sufficient and financially independent. Efforts such as these ensure that a big impetuous is given to the otherwise dwindling socio-economic status of the villages, which results in mass exodus from the hills. A total of 2,700 people have so far been trained in various fields. The numbers will, of course, only increase in the days and years to come.

As T S Bist, Founder of the Bagwan Gramodyog Samiti, puts it, “This liaison with the FRI has taken Shyampur to new heights. It is not only the villagers who have gained from these trainings. We have trained close to 3,000 people from not only Dehradun but from all over the hill state and those who came from as far as Manipur and Kashmir. Dignitaries such as Agatha Sangma, Digvijay Singh and R K Tolia have visited Shyampur to get a glimpse of our work. We feel privileged to be part of this process.”

Here’s wishing more power to such projects which have brought back a new way of life and livelihood to villagers who were otherwise set to join the mass exodus in search of a better future far away from home.

Singer Neeti Mohan has been in the film industry for quite a while, but her voice as Rosie Noronha in Bombay Velvet is smooth, silky, bold and oh, so, jazz

She had walked into the recording studio wearing casuals — a smart tee with a pair of jeans, and flats. When the music director saw this young singer, he asked her to go back home, open her wardrobe and come back wearing what a jazz singer would have worn. This time when the singer came back to the studio, she was wearing a shimmering long gown, stilettos, sporting a gorgeous 60s style hairdo, and the right amount of makeup.

Why, even the recording studio was given a makeover; getting converted to a makeshift jazz bar with tables, dim lighting and select crew members who doubled up as listeners. Clearly, the look gave her the attitude, the attitude made her voice bolder, and that’s how Neeti Mohan became the voice of Bombay Velvet’s Rosie Noronha.

With the film’s jazz score by Amit Trivedi and lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya, it is Neeti Mohan’s singing that has particularly touched the hearts of many listeners. The song Dhadam, for instance, highlights Mohan’s sheer talent, what with her voice booming melodiously on the big screen, showcasing the vulnerability and helplessness of Rosie Noronha when the love of her life, Johnny Balraj, thinks she has cheated on him.

In the journey of her singing career, Bombay Velvet, Mohan agrees, is a milestone. In the course of our conversation, we laugh and joke about how the young singer will be talking to her children and grandchildren about this soundtrack. “There was intense preparation that went in for this film. I got the songs two months in advance, before we started recording [a rarity], we did the recording in two phases, first doing the ‘rough scratch’, and then polishing it further as we went along,” explains Mohan.

What’s more, to get into the skin of the character of Rosie Noronha, the young girl from Goa who runs away from her disturbing past to reach Bombay, Mohan, along with Trivedi and Bhattacharya, read the entire script of the film. “We went to Goa, sat by the beach for three days while reading the script. It helped me understand Rosie Noronha better. It allowed me to express myself freely through my singing,” she says.

Additionally, she learnt the nuances of opera and jazz singing from Celia Lobo (choreographer Ashley Lobo’s mother) in Pune for the film. Her only grouse: “Not being able to go to Prague where Amit [Trivedi, the music director of the film] recorded much of the film’s soundtrack live, complete with world class musicians.”

For Mohan, the entire “study” and the making of the jazz score in Bombay Velvet has become a turning point in her career. For the Delhi girl who was singing in school and college (she did her schooling in BITS, Pilani, before completing her graduation from Delhi University) and was listening to music, both Indian classical, semi-classical and western, her repertoire was growing. And while she was enjoying singing — encouraged wholeheartedly by her parents even though they were not from the entertainment industry — the turning point came a little over a decade ago, when she was selected as the winner of a reality show Popstars on Channel V.

Mohan, in fact, is a perfect case study on how television reality shows can create stars and success stories. “I didn’t know how to pursue my passion, my dream of singing. And when I saw the advertisement of Channel V Popstars, I auditioned for it and eventually got selected,” Mohan tells us. Sponsored by Coke, and hence called Coke [V] Popstars, this journey led to the creation of Aasma, a four-member band, in 2003. But where so many promising talents are lost — or get derailed — post the journey of reality shows, Mohan used the opportunity to fuel her singing dreams further. She shifted base to Bombay, and although Aasma disbanded quickly, she continued working, auditioning and even participating in other singing-based television shows. By this time, her family had moved to Mumbai and her sisters (Mukti, Kriti, Shakti) had also started their professional journeys in the entertainment industry.

Mohan’s big break came when she auditioned to be a part of music director A R Rahman’s troupe about eight years ago. Rahman was looking for a young voice for his live gigs to render some of his hit numbers and Mohan fit the bill among the thousands who had tried their luck.

“When I was in school; I used to tell my friends I wanted to sweep the floor of Rahman sir’s studio, just to be able to listen and watch how he created music. Being part of his troupe was — still is — quite surreal,” Mohan tells us. With him and other members, Mohan has travelled the world and sung at prestigious events and given world-class stage performances.

In fact, for anyone who has seen her perform live [as this writer did at an A R Rahman live concert in New Delhi in 2007], it is Mohan’s ability to sing effortlessly and perform dance moves with supreme grace, and connect with audiences, encouraging them to become a part of the entire live act, that shines through.

Although she had done some playback singing earlier in 2008, the young singer’s big break as a female vocalist in the film industry came with the chartbuster Ishqwala Love, that lilting melody from Student of the Year (2012) and followed it up with Jiya Re from Jab Tak Hai Jaan, also released in the same year. From the romantic notes of Saadi Galli from Vicky Donor to the dance, foottapping Tuney mari entry (Gunday) to even singing in other languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Bengali and English, Mohan’s voice is increasingly in demand in the film industry.

What’s the secret sauce for making each song of hers a success? Riyaaz (practice) is non-negotiable, she feels. She learns Indian classical and thumri from Rajashree Pathak, a Mumbai-based music teacher. Mohan also listens to a wide range of music. For her preparation of Bombay Velvet, Mohan was listening to Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone. But what lies at the heart of her flawless singing ability is the attitude with which Mohan approaches each song.

“I just feel responsible towards the song I sing.” Now, that’s the right note to strike if you want to win.

One can almost imagine Shashi Tharoor sitting with a glint in his eye and a smile on his face, as he narrates his experiences

After fAlling agonizingly short in his attempt to be the United Nations’ Secretary General in the 2006 elections, Dr Shashi Tharoor ended his 29- year-long stint with the UN as a career diplomat, and slowly edged his way into Indian politics. A refreshing change from the typical Indian politician, it was quite easy to see why Tharoor was instantly adored by the Indian middle class and despite his somewhat elitist appeal, his easy smile and suave demeanour made him a favourite on all television channels for any matter worth debating.

Tharoor’s own personality is unerringly on display in his latest book — India Shastra: Reflections on the Nation in our Time — a collection of 100 essays that have been amalgamated from his day-today writings for various publications.

The book is divided into eight segments, the first two of which are largely dedicated to Modi-bashing.

If any doubts remained whether Tharoor was a secret admirer of the current Indian prime minister, these are quickly laid to rest in the first 22 essays, most of which lay thick into Narendra Modi, predominantly criticising him for being a man who talks big, but has achieved little in his first year in office.

The third section of Tharoor’s book, titled “The Legacy” is easily the best part of his book. In addition to taking every available potshot at the British Empire, Tharoor also eulogises Gandhiji, Sardar Patel, Swami Vivekananda and Rabindranath Tagore. The second half of this section becomes a bit of a Congress sales pitch, but the superb quality of storytelling make up for any disappointment the reader might have felt thus far. His story on Tagore in particular is arguably his best essay in the entire book.

Section IV — Ideas of India — is another interesting read since it looks at Indian politics largely from an impartial standpoint, and examines our democratic system in a scholarly fashion. Section V — The Pursuit of Excellence — is also expertly written, with his chapter on the education system in particular a must-read for anyone who wishes to express an opinion on the subject.

The second half of Tharoor’s book is filled with anecdotes and personal experiences, most of which enrich the message he is attempting to convey. While there is undoubtedly a pro-Congress tinge to the book, his knowledge of diverse subjects and an unerring desire to express an opinion (or two), makes it an enjoyable read even for those who aren’t necessarily fans of his political party.

Barring the odd need to pick up a dictionary, Tharoor’s book is an easy read, filled with wit and humour, and one can almost imagine him sitting there with a glint in his eye and a smile on his face as he narrates his experiences.

“I am born with a set of good and bad/ Would have made all good, if another chance I had.”

told through the eyes and minds of two young women aspiring to break through the stereotypes in Indian society, this one is scarily close to the perceived reality of what would probably be true of so many corporate-criminal-neta nexus.

The author tries and succeeds in bringing to us the dilemma of right and wrong. For isn’t this the singlemost important question every human mind faces on a daily basis, and which has the power to change the course of lives that we may or may not touch personally? But then we also have our compulsions, which may be created internally or by our wants, fear, greed and so on. We abide by these compulsions, thinking life is a by-product. This book talks about these very fears and compulsions and what they can make us think, feel and do.

Funny moments are few but these add up to the build-up that will befall and the unhidden missing links are finally revealed. Poems in the book add to the mystique and are, in a way, the only white in this really dark tale of lust for power and fear of freedom.

Personally, I would have liked the book to be double the length it is, since that would have given the author to add more meat to the characters and incidents. Racy though it is, it also seems to have the effect of missing the slow thinking provocation that a thriller and scheming saga needs.

VISITING CANNES IS LIKE STEALING A SLICE OF LIFE FROM THE RICH AND THE FAMOUS

Just down the Mediterranean Coast on France’s Cote d’Azur (the French Riviera), Cannes is more than just another city. Pampered with luxurious climate, seaside glamour, sybaritic yachts along the marina, the swanky cruise ships in the blue water, upper crust shops and waterfront hotels, Cannes had all the elements that I expected. This was my third stop on the trip to south of France. I took the train from Nice for this short haul of 30 km. The massive hoarding with a clock, outside Gare de Cannes railway station, proclaims that you are in the city of Cannes.

Out of the 15 km of Cannes coastline, there is seven-and-a-half km of sandy yellow beach, and Cannes spent almost one-and-half-million euro to reclaim 25,000 cubic metres of sand from the sea. Interestingly, there is a 550-meter long underwater barrier, acting like a coral reef, to prevent massive waves that hit the beach along La Croisette devastating the restaurants and washing away tonnes of sand in the winter. Cannes has planted scores of palm trees on the public beaches to provide welcome shade to the visitors. The beach restaurants are an important part of the town’s image. Of late, the government is hell bent on closing down these restaurants between October and April.

The Mayor, however, has a point in battling to save them. These restaurants are needed to support the 300 days of conferences that the town hosts. Apart from being a vacationer’s hub, Cannes is a preferred destination for business tourism. Environmental extremists are in no mood to ease out on this blanket rule, though. Cannes has a few public beach strips along La Croisette in the Rade de Cannes that remain filled with tanned, lithe bodies soaking in the sun. History dates it to the late 1960s when monokini was invented here, although the trend is now declining because of the many restrictions that have come over the years. My advice would be to wear glasses, else they will know you are a tourist.

It is not just the beaches that keep the visitors interested. Exotic cars attract serious attention, too. Maseratis and Porches blow through the streets like pollen; and only the very latest models of Ferrari and Lamborghini are spotted. If you go, carry all your credit cards since Cannes prices are stratospheric.

On the Boulevard de la Croisette is The Carlton Intercontinental, a gracefully built hotel that deserves a prominent place in the Cannes skyline. In a town where everyone is finely tanned and wears jewels to breakfast, this white and marble massive structure patronises royalty. Supposedly one of the most well photographed buildings in the world, it is a trademark of Riviera glamour and one of the top three luxury hotels you should visit in your lifetime. And now, the information worthy of passing on is the history of this hotel and the two-pointed domes on the top. The hotel’s official literature has it that these domes were inspired by the breasts of Carolina “La Belle” Otero, a 19th century French courtesan. It is also famous for the movie French Kiss; if you can afford to stay here, you’re in for a treat. During the Film Festival be warned that something as basic as dry martini would run you around 30 euros.

Speaking of the movies, I was there just a week before the Film Festival. Even without the glittering presence of the stars, the place looked hip. Preparations were on in full swing. The atmosphere was dizzying. The ongoing success of its Film Festival (as famous as Hollywood’s Academy Awards) has further glamourised the place.

Cannes is synonymous with this annual event that captures eyeballs from across the world. The Palais des Festivals is an impressive complex of buildings that hosts the town’s moment of glory every year in the month of May. Celebrities descend on the red carpeted steps leading to the auditorium amidst all the glitz and glamour and stars posing for photographers is a part of the Cannes folklore.

Today it is the most prominent film festival in the world and was opened on the French Riviera on September 20, 1946, in direct response to the Venice Film Festival that was started in 1932. The opening of the Cannes Film Festival was scheduled for 1939, but eventually got delayed by World War II.

While the earlier editions of the festival was primarily a social event where almost all films were awarded, the appearance of the film stars from all over the world and increasing media attention earned it the tag of an international festival of high repute. Over the years, the festival took on a professional dimension with the introduction of various platforms such as Producer’s Network, Short Film Corner and the Doc Corner introduced in 2012.

Cannes is a cinematic experience in every way during the festival. You might catch a glimpse of Hollywood stars such as Brad Pitt, Sharon Stone, George Clooney, Woody Allen or even Aishwarya Rai, a Cannes Film Festival regular for the past decade. A whole week of paparazzi, parties, interviews and haute-couture outfits mesmerise the place. The Palme d’Or prize is awarded to the best film of the year.

Cannes also hosts other festivals such as the Games Festival and the Sony World Photography Awards, which exhibits work by some of the best contemporary photographers in the world. Is Cannes a Film festival with a town inside it? Because that’s how it holds the world’s attention. Because this is where the stars come down!

MBD Radisson Blu's Rare Eastern Dining is a hotpot of contemporary flavours from China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, says VIDYA DESHPANDE

The most popular cuisine in India, after desi food, has to be Chinese: from the greasy “chowmien” offered by food trucks to the Punjabi- Chinese variety of “chilly paneer” and “gobi manchurian”, to the more subtly flavoured genuine dishes available at up-market restaurants. Yes, Chinese cuisine has a large fan following in India, but not surprisingly Thai, Malaysian, Japanese and Korean flavours, too, are finding their way into restaurant menus. And with the local taste buds accepting more international palates, you can actually get food that is more realistic and closer to the original, than just Indianised versions.

And that’s exactly what R.E.D, the pan-Asian restaurant at the Radisson Blu in Noida, has done. It has an eclectic mix of eastern cuisines to cater to Indian tastes, but thankfully without the chilly paneers or the gobi manchurians on its menu. “Although these items are not on our menu, I never say ‘No’ if a customer asks for these dishes,’ Says Chef Raymond Sim, who is the master behind this restaurant since its inception in 2003. The menu is replete with alternate options; for instance, the stir-fried vegetables are a simple, yet tasty combination of Chinese greens tossed in a wok, with their umami flavours standing out. “Most authentic Chinese dishes have subtle flavours that don’t suit Indian tastes,” says Sim. “I have to step up the salt and chilly flavours to make them more suitable for my clients,” he admits.

To sample what he was referring to, Sim whipped up a deep-fried lotus stem tossed with black pepper and flavourings. The dish was simple, yet tasty and the crispiness of the lotus stem gave it a crunch. “This dish works well as an appetiser as well as part of the main course,” says Sim. Another dish that he served was wok-tossed greens such as broccoli, asparagus and pak choy, Ching Chao Ri Shuchi. Simple, with no-fuss flavours that appeal to all taste buds.

R.E.D specialises in an array of unusual appetisers. I sampled some sushi that is on the menu. The Dynamite Roll, with prawn tempura, wasabi mayonnaise in a tobiko reverse roll, is a house specialty. The tempura prawn gives the roll its crispiness, while the wasabi mayonnaise gives it a sharp tanginess. The other one I sampled was the Sushi Tempura Roll, a fried sushi roll made tempura style, with salmon and tuna: simple, yet delicious. At Chef Sim’s insistence, I also sampled some of the dumplings: the Chicken Hot Pot Sticker and Prawn Sui Mai. Both light on the palate, and his special in-house Nonya-style chili sauce, which took the taste buds to another level.

But the crowning glory of the appetisers I sampled was chef’s special creation: espresso spare ribs. “I get the coffee from Singapore, as I want a certain kind of flavour to the dish that I can’t get with local coffee beans,” he says. The caramelised ribs are prominently sweet with the nutty aroma of coffee, making it a dish with a twist. Another popular dish in the exhaustive appetizer section is the Kung Thord Krathiyam, crispy fried prawns, wok tossed with crushed black pepper and garlic, finished with fried shallots. The dish is Thai in origin and is suited to Indian likes.

After the wide sampling of appetisers, Chef Sim sent some clear chicken soup of the table to clear my palate before the main course. The main course was kept simple — an egg fried rice with steamed fish, Nonya Style, and stirfried prawns in a Indo-Malay chilisambal sauce. Chef Sim is reluctant to do his home country’s famous Chilli Crab, although it’s there on the menu; he does not dish it up often since he is not happy with the quality of crabs available in Delhi. “Although crabs are available in the market, I mostly don’t find them up to the mark. Many times, the claws have more water than flesh, leaving clients disappointed,” he says. So on a day he gets good quality catch, that’s when he would recommend trying the Singaporean Chilli Crab. Chef Sim also does not do the famous seafood hotpot available in most Oriental restaurants. He ascribes the same reasons of poor quality seafood in the city that take away for the quality of a good hotpot.

Chef Sim likes to cook in Nonya style, which is a blend of Chinese ingredients with spices from Malaysia and Indonesia, and is popular in Singapore. Nonya ingredients include galangal, shallots, kafir lime, coconut milk, tamarind juice, lemongrass and shrimp-based condiments, among others.

And finally to finish the meal, a simple litchi ice cream with fresh cut Alphonso mangoes, made for dessert. It was refreshing, especially considering the outside temperature was at its peak of 42 deg C, while I was lunching at R.E.D.

What makes the dining experience special at R.E.D is Chef Sim interacts with most of the tables; he finds out what his customers would like to eat, and goes out of the way to cook even if it’s not there on the menu. The restaurant also offers diners the option of using the induction tables to cook for their guests or you can pick your ingredients and catch and watch the chefs in action in their show kitchen. Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate the meal at R.E.D at 8.5.

“Hitch your wagon to a star”, the idiom from an 1862-Ralph Waldo Emerson essay, has made a permanent place in my heart and mind.

I believe that it is only when we dream high and aspire higher that we get the courage to stick our heads out and fight for it. It is also important to hang on to your dream, no matter how far or tough it seems. For, only when we chase that dream will we get any closer to it.

If someone has been showing what it means to chase a dream and how to do it, it is our sportspersons. They have truly shown what it takes to focus on your ambition in an environment that hardly favours your plans. In March end, Saina Nehwal became the world’s number one singles badminton player. Sania Mirza is the first Indian woman to be crowned the world’s top-ranked doubles tennis player. Not too long back, Sardar Singh, the Indian hockey team captain, made India proud in its national game. Under his captainship, it was for the first time that India beat the world champion Australia in a series in their own country.

All these sportspeople made it to the global stage despite personal and professional setbacks in the past, and overcame numerous everyday challenges, the least of them being self-doubt creeping in at times.

What better way to celebrate the world’s number one badminton player’s victory than have her on the cover to share her story of trial and tribulation with you, dear reader. Nehwal shares with us what it took for her to chase her dream, no matter how difficult it looked at times.

And while we talk of chasing dream, it’s worth reading our Looking Back section. Author and scriptwriter Advaita Kala shares the story of following her heart. Despite having exciting assignments in some of the best properties in the hospitality industry, the writer managed to stay true to who she really is — a free spirit. She listened to her inner voice and look where she is!

So go on, chase your dream — Hitch your wagon to a star.

And happy reading!

Gutsy, hardworking and extremely focused. World Number One woman badminton player Saina Nehwal is a source of inspiration for India’s youth

Saina Nehwal says badminton is her first love. Given her dedication, diligence and sheer hard work, however, one can hazard a guess that she would have excelled in anything she put her mind to. The world number one women’s badminton champion was equally good in other sports discipline, too, but she chose to pursue the former. “Never be a jack of all trades and master of none. Choose one thing that you are best at and work on it. Results will follow,” says Nehwal.

And master she indeed is. In late-March this year, she became the world’s number one woman player in the sport. She lost the title briefly after her semifinal finish in the Malaysia Open Super Series, but reclaimed her position when she won the Indian Open Grand Prix Gold last month. Nehwal is the first Indian woman to have achieved this milestone and is the second Indian after Prakash Padukone to reach the top rank in world badminton.

She is also the first Indian badminton player to get a medal at the Olympics; she won a bronze at the London Olympics in 2012. The first Indian to win the World Junior Badminton Championships, Nehwal also clinched the Super Series tournament by winning the Indonesia Open in 2009. “I love badminton because it does not limit my horizons in the conservative boundaries of caste, creed, religion and nationality,” she says.

The face of Indian sports, Nehwal’s journey from Hisar in Haryana to London and China is a study in grit and one-minded focus to realise one’s dreams. The second daughter of Harvir Singh and Usha Rani, she showed the makings of a champion from an early age — something that her parents identified and encouraged. When Nehwal’s father worked in Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University, Hisar, she finished her first few years of schooling at the Campus School there, and the family later shifted to Hyderabad. Her health conscious parents found playing badminton an excellent way to work-out.

Centre position

However, Nehwal didn’t play badminton when in Hisar. When the family shifted to Hyderabad in 1998, she was eight-and-a-half-year old. There she attended judo classes and later joined a summer training camp in badminton for kids at Lal Bahadur Stadium, Hyderabad under the banner of Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh. “In 1999, my coach Nani Parsad Rao told the media how I, a nine-yearold girl, will be a top badminton player of India. Today, with his blessings and by the grace of god I have become world’s number one,” says Nehwal with emotion.

Most of her early memories revolve around badminton. Since she did not attend school or college regularly, there’s not too much she can talk about when it comes to classes and playing truant from school. Her parents, however, made sure she finished her schooling from Osmania University, Hyderabad. “I was later invited as the chief guest for a sport function there. One of my schools has also honoured me by naming a block in my name — it is a three-storied building for intermediate students,” says Nehwal, with childlike excitement.

Drive serve

When Nehwal’s teenage counterparts were partying, crushing on boys, studying for unit tests, she was sweating it out on the court, day after day, week after week, dashing from one tournament to the next. “But I have no regrets,” she emphasises, “I found my best friend in badminton. The recognition I received because of the sport has only made the bond stronger.” Persuaded by her parents to give it a shot when she was just eight years old, Nehwal doesn’t label badminton as a profession.

“I take it as my duty and also enjoy it thoroughly,” she says, adding, “I have also been helped by the sacrifices that my family has made, the hard work of the coaches who sharpened my skills, the support of the financiers, love of fellow countrymen and, of course, blessings of the almighty.”

Follow-through

Encouragement and assistance aside, you can’t underestimate Nehwal’s hard work. In her words, “Only constant practice and fitness can transform an ordinary player into a world-class beater.” She works on her game practising in two to three sessions, each lasting two to three hours. According to the training schedule planned by Nehwal’s coaches, she divides her time between staying indoors playing badminton, working out in the gymnasium and doing shadow exercises. “If it’s outdoor training, I run, play football and cricket, and swim,” she says.

Apart from gruelling practice sessions and living a strict disciplined life, Nehwal had other practical problems to take care of. Initially, there was a dearth of finances and lack of good sports equipment, and excellent facilities to play were limited. Thankfully, help came in the form of OGQ Mumbai, and some other corporate houses, along with SAI and BAI, who encouraged her to concentrate on her game while they took care of the finances.

Match point

Ever since she started as a professional badminton player, she has been consistent. Nehwal wants to maintain that momentum and is especially happy she was able to beat top-class Chinese players who have ruled the roost for years. “Ranking helps in tournaments, although sometimes the number one gets beaten in the quarter-finals and fails to play with other higher ranking players, she says. But it definitely helps in showcasing your strength in the badminton world. “Being number one or two is decided by data analysts. No one can deny the importance of ranking — it matters,” she feels.

Straight games

Despite winning accolades and awards, however, Nehwal wears a good head on her shoulders and is extremely level-headed. “It is my duty to remain focused as a player. If I don’t, my game will go and I will be nowhere,” she emphasises. Not to say she doesn’t speak out; Saina belongs to the league of players who speak their mind and are not wary of airing their feelings. She expressed her displeasure at being ignored for the Padma awards despite fulfilling the criteria. At present, however, she maintains her distance from the controversy, saying, “No controversy, it is the government’s job to look into it and I have nothing to say.”

Toss serve

It there any one award that is particularly special to her, I ask. “One of my finest memories is winning the gold medal in individual category at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. The London Olympics bronze and runners-up at the All England 2015 are memorable events of my career,” she says. We also come to another issue in her professional career, which amuses her now, but must have irked her in the beginning — coming out of the shadow of being called as “Sania” Nehwal.

In the beginning of her career, people would often confuse her name with that of Sania Mirza, the tennis player who also hails from Hyderabad. However, Saina has carved a niche for herself and now only the very unaware make that mistake. But Nehwal is candid enough to say it might have worked in her favour in the beginning. “There’s no doubt hard work pays. If you’re starting your career and you have a name that is similar to a celebrity, it gives you an added advantage. She was an established player when I started and I might actually have been helped by her name in the past. But now that I too am doing good work, people know me as Saina Nehwal and it feels great,” she says with a smile.

As Nehwal grows from strength to strength, Nehwal nurses some regrets, too. “Beijing 2008 — my quarterfinal loss to Maria Kristin Yulianti where I was leading 11-3 in the third game was one of the most unforgettable and painful moments in my life,” she says in a low voice.

At such times when she feels low, she derives a lot of inspiration from the world of sports and is an ardent fan of Sachin Tendulkar. “Sachin sir is my ideal, but my mother and father as motivators and path crusaders for me,” she says.

OVER 2,500 FEARED KILLED; ANOTHER 4,500 INJURED MANY TRAPPED IN DEBRIS; MORE THAN 60 DEAD IN INDIA

CALAMITY// A massive earthquake of magnitude 7.9 on the Richter scale hit large parts of Nepal on Saturday, April 25 2015. It was strong enough to be felt all across northern and eastern parts of India, Bangladesh, China’s region of Tibet and Pakistan. The epicenter of the mainshock lies approx. 80 km north-west of the city of Kathmandu and the aftershocks spread south-eastwards over a distance of 150 km. More than 2,500 people have been feared killed and another 4,500 people (at the time of going to press) severely injured. These figures are likely to rise in the coming days. This was followed by another aftershock of 6.7 magnitude within 24 hours the next day which rattled the people of Kathmandu. People were seen running into the streets as they saw buildings sway. This was the worst to hit Nepal in 80 years so much so that it also touched off a deadly avalanche that hit the base camp of the climbers bound for Mt. Everest and killed another 24. Sixty one people have been injured as more bodies are being recovered. Nepal’s worst recorded earthquake in 1934 measured 8.0 and all but destroyed the cities of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan.

“As a result of these earthquakes, Nepal Himalaya has lurched southwards with respect to India. Our understanding is that this present event will be followed by a sequence of aftershocks over the next several days to weeks and warrants extreme caution”, warns Professor Supriyo Mitra, Department of Earth Sciences, IISER Kolkata.

India responded quickly to the disaster with rescue and relief operations in Nepal following a high-level meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi where he said “Nepal’s pain is our pain.” The Indian embassy in Kathmandu was also damaged as the entire complex collapsed.