Big Bull Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-promoted Akasa Air is set to take wings in the summer of 2022. How is the ultra low cost carries planning to negotiate such a competitive market?
Domestic low cost carrier scenario is set to get more crowded next year, with the Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-promoted Akasa Air set to take wings. The airline has just crossed its first hurdle. It has received the initial clearance from the civil aviation ministry. The clearance was received by SNV Aviation, the parent company of the Akasa Air brand.
The company recently said in a media release that it has received a “no objection certificate” from the ministry and expects to begin flights across India in the summer of 2022.
The media has quoted Vinay Dube, CEO of Akasa Air, as saying: “We are extremely happy and grateful to the Ministry of Civil Aviation for their support and for the grant of the NOC. We will continue to work with the regulatory authorities on all additional compliances required to successfully launch Akasa Air.”
Unveiling ‘The Rising A’ of Akasa Air Inspired by elements of the sky, The Rising A symbolises the warmth of the sun, the effortless flight of a bird, and the dependability of an aircraft wing. Always moving upwards. Always inspiring to rise.
This is set to be an ultra low-cost airline, and billionaire Big Bull Jhunjhunwala has a 40% stake in the company. As per initial reports, the airline plans to operate around 70 planes in the next four years and talks are on with Boeing for its B737 Max planes. At the same time, Airbus is also in conversation with Akasa for a procurement deal possibly for its A320 series – according to Airbus’ Chief Commercial Officer Christian Schere.
The company has experienced hands on board, with aviation industry veterans such as former Jet Airways CEO Vinay Dube and ex-IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh expected to run the airline. While Dube is the CEO of the company, Ghosh is expected to be on the board as Jhunjhunwala’s nominee.
“The Rising A is inspired by elements from the sky. It symbolises the warmth of the rising sun, the effortless flight of a bird and the dependability of an aircraft wing. ‘It’s Your Sky’ is the brand’s promise to embrace everyone and to create an inclusive environment for all Indians regardless of their socio-economic or cultural backgrounds. It is a powerful pledge of ownership, promise, and possibilities that accompany each traveller on their journeys,” Akasa Air said in a statement.
Within the crowded airspace, how does Akasa expect to stand out? The promos of the company showcase it as an “endeavour to be the nation’s most dependable, affordable and greenest airline”. The men at the top are experienced airline hands, aided by the financial brain of Jhunjhnwala.
Vinay Dube
Within the ULCC (ultra low cost carriers) airline business model, the company intends to focus on keeping operating costs even lower than typical budget airlines like Indigo and SpiceJet. How will that be possible in a pricey market? The company wants to unbundle certain amenities that are usually associated with the full-service airline experience — like seat selection, food and beverages, etc. however, these are facilities that aren’t available in regular low-cost budget airlines operating now either. So there has to be a model which saves on every penny.
There will be unbundling of services like checked-in baggage, cabin baggage, etc. that means every aspect of the airline facility will be charged, such as usage of overhead luggage areas – possibly even coin or card operated and checked in baggage will surely be chargeable, it seems. Hence this will not be bundled into the fare. The government authorities will have to look into this for non-violation of basic rights.
Who is Rakesh Jhunjhunwala? According to Forbes, he is an investor “with a Midas touch,” and is often referred to as India’s Warren Buffett. He is the son of an income tax officer (commissioner) and started dabbling in stocks while still in college. He began investing with $100 in 1985 when the Bombay Stock Exchange Index was at 150.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala
His most valuable listed holding is watch and jewellery maker Titan, part of the Tata conglomerate. Jhunjhunwala also has stakes in privately held companies such as Star Health Insurance, Metro Brands and Concord Biotech.
He is the 36th richest Indian (2021) and the 665th richest in the world. Recently the 61-year-old saw his net worth more than double to $5.5 billion (at this point it is said to be in the region of $ 6.1 billion). That was the time when he placed the $35 million bet (for 40% of the stake) on Akasa.
He is from Rajasthan, but lives in Mumbai, is married and has three children. He became a chartered accountant, after his B.Com degree from the University of Mumbai. His privately owned stock trading firm Rare Enterprises derives its name from the first two initials of his name and his wife Rekha’s name.
Jhunjhunwala is the chairman of Aptech Limited and Hungama Digital Media Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. and sits on the board of directors of Prime Focus Limited, Geojit Financial Services, Bilcare Limited, Praj Industries Limited, Provogue India Limited, and Concord Biotech Limited, Innovasynth Technologies (I) Limited, Mid Day Multimedia Limited, Nagarjuna Construction Company Limited, Viceroy Hotels Limited, and Tops Security Limited.
NCR’s air pollution issues never seem to abate. Pollution improved during the extensive Covid lockdown, but now is back at its worst. Every year, as winter approaches, the governments of the states, as well as the one at the Centre promise us better air quality. And then, when they cannot maintain even the basic standards, they start passing the buck. When air quality plummets to severe and even toxic, stubble burning issues come into play, when the Diwali fallout excuse gets stale.
As constructions and repairs were allowed all over again, the dust created a deadly zone for the lungs. It stays that way, every year. There seems to be no relief.
The government apathy about protecting the lives of the people is so stark that recently the Supreme Court had to issue a warning of strict action, including a 24-hour ultimatum to the Centre, Delhi, and neighbouring states to act against industrial and vehicular pollution. These are the other main creators of pollution in cities.
Even as the government claimed otherwise, Delhi’s air pollution worsened, and the top court was rightly miffed at the bare minimum measures taken over the last few weeks. Chief Justice NV Ramana had said during a hearing: “We feel that nothing is happening and the pollution keeps increasing. Only time is being wasted.” The court had enough reason to be aggrieved.
It was the fourth straight week of hearing about the air pollution crisis in the national capital and in nearby cities on a petition by Aditya Dubey, a 17-year-old student from Delhi who had approached the apex court, aggrieved by the deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR.
Then there is the issue of whether the schools are to remain open or should shut down. With the schools having been on prolonged holiday due to the long covid pandemic, it was imperative, in a way to commence proper classes, but not at the cost of children’s health. But, as the Delhi government shut down schools after the top court said that “three-year-olds and four-year-olds are going to schools but adults are working from home,” there were some adverse remarks in the media as well.
The court’s decision was not liked by a section of the press and the bench of Chief Justice Ramana and Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant said: “One thing what we observed is, whether intentional or unintentional, some sections of media portray us as the villains who want to close down the schools. On your own you (Delhi government) opened the schools. But see today’s newspapers.”
Shree Laxmi Narayan Temple
The villain in the piece is not the court, but the lackadaisical governments and a media with a short fuse. For the record, recent record of the air quality index (AQI) moved between 378 and 429. That is ‘very poor’ and worse. Understandable, that calm winds will not allow the pollution to disperse, but how was the pollution allowed to grow to such levels in the first place?
The other important trend in the pre-election atmosphere has been the return of the mandir-masjid issue. It seems that governments, especially of Uttar Pradesh, are not happy showcasing their several achievements of the state on the social and economic fronts. As it looks, the government believes that the only way to sway voters is to recreate the earlier religious frenzy.
Why else would Mathura’s Shri Laxmi Narayan Virajman become an issue now, placed before the court, demanding the Sthan Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi validation? The petition seeks to invalidate the agreement between Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi and the Shahi Masjid Idgah, over a dispute of 13.37 acres of land that is claimed by Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi. The argument is that the place where Shri Krishna’s birth place is today was Kansa prison five thousand years ago.
This is an old dispute, with the first trial between Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan and Shahi Masjid Idgah having begun in 1832. Since then, there has been much litigation on various issues, but the victory has always been for Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan. True, but is now the time to bring it all back into the limelight?
One is not contesting the veracity of the claim. That is for the courts to decide. It is strange, though, that issue has been blown up to huge proportions as the elections approach. Last time it was Ramlala, this time Lord Krishna. God is eternal. God cannot act as an election arbitrator. This should not have happened.
Also, let us not have any election within a religiously charged atmosphere. There is risk to life and limb, there is risk to humanity. We need to appreciate this.
As Jack Dorsey, the founder of the mass social media messenger app Twitter resigned from his post as CEO, Indian origin techie Parag Agrawal, who has been with the company for around a decade, was promoted from his position as Chief Technical Officer to CEO. This creates a sort of history, with several international tech giants now being headed by Indian origin people.
Agrawal, who grew up in India, is an IIT Bombay graduate. He joined Twitter in 2011. After his graduation, he went on to complete his PhD in Computer Science at Stanford University.
As of now, almost all prominent tech companies of the world are headed by Indians, especially IIT alums. These companies are Google (Alphabet) chief Sundar Pichai, Microsoft head Satya Nadella, Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora. Twitter adds to the garland of Indian-origin celebrities.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted: “USA benefits greatly from Indian talent.” Indian industrialist Anand Mahindra jokingly called this the “Indian CEO virus”.
Trump set to launch a TRUTH platform Donald Trump back at it again, this time wants to get back at Twitter and other social media apps that have dared to show scant respect to the former US President. And, displaying another unique Trumpism, he has decided to launch his own social media network, called TRUTH Social. Trust Trump to unleash the truth. And that is not tongue-in-cheek, BTW.
“His platform will “stand up to the tyranny of big tech”
His bile comes from his own idea. Says he, his platform will “stand up to the tyranny of big tech”. He says opposition voices were being silenced, his own, likely. He does carry a grudge.
Donald Trump
He was banned from Twitter and suspended from Facebook after his supporters stormed the US Capital. Then Twitter and Facebook even dared to delete some of his posts or labelling them as misleading. Of course, Trump had said in those that Covid was “less lethal” than the flu. And he had said: “We live in a world where the Taliban has a huge presence on Twitter, yet your favourite American President has been silenced.”
Now he will have his own voice heard, to whoever will care to listen.
Nick for Bolly as Priyanka goes for Hollywood Even as Priyanka Chopra gets busy with acting stints in big Hollywood movies, her American singer-actor husband Nick Jonas seems to be going the Bollywood way. Nick, who recently was quoted as saying that Bollywood was a ‘phenomenal’ film industry, has seemingly spoken about the possibility of making his debut in a Hindi film.
Nick-Priyanka
Nick’s love for Bollywood, it seems, had started way before his marriage with Priyanka, if we are to believe him. He has said that his love affair with Bollywood only grew, as he became more familiar with the Indian industry in the last couple of years through Priyanka. He has talked about his many friends here and has also said that the work, too, is inspiring. Hmm. He has said that if the right project came his way, he would be willing to sign up. That is as open an invitation as it gets.
Nick’s love for Bollywood had started way before his marriage with Priyanka
He also digs Bollywood music. He says he finds them amazing and listened to them quite a lot when he was in India and during their destination wedding in 2018. He said that it is the best kind of music to dance to and that they play them at their house parties.
I accept big time golf is over for me: Tiger Woods The acrimonious divorce hadn’t ended it, his loss of sponsors did not, but a near-fatal car accident did. Tiger Woods has recently said that he will “never” play golf again, full-time, following the accident. This could be because of the multiple leg injuries that the accident left him with.
Tiger Woods
In an interview to Golf Digest, the 45-year-old looked ahead to his career in the sport and admitted that he has come to terms with the fact that he will never be the same player he once was. “I think something that is realistic is playing the tour one day, never full-time ever again. It’s an unfortunate reality, but it’s my reality. And I understand it, and I accept it.”
He had added: “I don’t have to compete and play against the best players in the world to have a great life… I can still participate in the game of golf. I can still, if my leg gets OK, I can still click off a tournament here or there.”
‘I don’t have to compete and play against the best players in the world to have a great life’
The gold superstar met with the accident on February 23 as he lost control of his vehicle in Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff, “The first contact was with the center median, from there then crossed into the opposing lane of traffic, hit the curb, hit a tree, and there were several rollovers during that process.” It was surprising Woods lived. He wants it to stay that way.
Halle Berry will now be a producer too Oscar winning superstar and Bond girl Halle Berry is venturing into production. She has said that she will produce and star in multiple films for Netflix and has signed a new agreement. This is her next step after her directorial debut, Bruised.
Bruised, with Berry as director, debuted on Netflix and quickly became the No. 1 movie of the week on the platform. It currently stands as No. 4. She has celebrated her success on Instagram with a video of herself dancing to H.E.R.’s “Automatic Woman” from the Bruised soundtrack.
“When you find out the night before that your film is #1 in the U.S. and #2 globally and you start drinking to celebrate this is bound to happen. #tipsy,” Berry wrote in the caption. On Twitter, the actress wrote “Grateful” about her new future at Netflix.
Halle Berry
In Bruised, Berry, who also produced the movie, acted as Jackie Justice, a disgraced MMA fighter who finds redemption and the courage to face her demons when her son re-enters her life. She has told the media: “My directorial debut, Bruised, was a labour of love and I knew that Scott [Stuber] and Ted [Sarandos] would treat it with great care. The Netflix team has not only been collaborative and creative, but extremely passionate and a delight to work with. I am beyond grateful for the partnership and look forward to telling more stories together.”
Madhya Pradesh is one of the most historic and scenic place of India. Its topography is unique, so are its people, its flora and fauna. Added to that is mystique and thrill of history as you hear stories of the days when dacoits infested the Chambal ravines. This is a place to go now.
Before we venture in, here are some travel regulations in the time of the Coronavirus.
Covid-19 Prevention Measures -There would be no lockdown in MP -No separate approval/e-pass will be required for interstate travel. -All the ASI monuments and religious places will remain accessible to travellers. -Tourists may download Sarthak Lite App to avail COVID-19 related medical assistance. -For any tourism related assistance call 1800 233 7777 -For any query do call on MP State Helpline -104 or 1075
Madhya Pradesh, state of India. As its name implies Madhya means “central” and Pradesh means “region” or “state”. It is situated in the heart of the country. The state has no coastline and no international frontier. It is bounded by the states of Uttar Pradesh to the northeast, Chhattisgarh to the southeast, Maharashtra to the south, Gujarat to the southwest, and Rajasthan to the northwest. The capital is Bhopal.
Madhya Pradesh’s history dates back to the prehistoric times when life on planet Earth was still in its nascent phase. This region belongs to Gondwana land which was a part of super-continent called Pangea – which existed about 300 million years ago.
Pre-Historic Era:In the pre-historic times, this region was inhabited by the primitive people. Fossils, pre-historic paintings, and sculptures are the evidence of their presence in the region.
Various paintings can be seen on the walls of ancient caves and rocks. Caves near Hoshangabad, Bhimbetka.
Chalcolithic Culture:The early civilization used copper and stone. It flourished around 2000 BCE in the valley of Narmada. This civilization was contemporary to the Harrapan civilization.
Aryans: The arrival of Aryans marked a change in the history of civilization of India and Madhya Pradesh too. They resided mostly in the Malwa plateau. Malwa has been ruled by many rulers from time to time in history. With roots in the Neolithic period, Malwa was established as one of the first powerful empires in the region, ‘Avanti’.
Mauryan Empire:Around 320 BCE Chandragupta Maurya united north India and established the Mauryan Empire. The rock edicts of Ashoka have also been discovered from many parts of Madhya Pradesh.
Post Mauryan:After the decline of Mauryan dynasty, Sungas and Satvahanas ruled Madhya Pradesh. Till 100 BCE the Satvahanas ruled the region. During this time Shakas and Kushanas also ruled here.
Sunga:Pushyamitra Sunga overthrew Mauryans and became the new king of Magadha. His empire extended to the Narmada and included Patliputra, Ayodhya, Vidisha. Merutunga incorporated Avanti into the dominions of Pushyamitra.
Gupta Period:In the 4th century CE, Samudragupta emerged as a great power in Central India.
Hunas:After the decline of Guptas, many rulers attacked the region and ruled for some time. Hunas were one of them. Around 530 CE Yashodharma, son of Toramana, defeated the Hunas and ruled the region till late 5th Century.
Rashtrakutas: In the 7th Century after the rule of various small empires like Mahismati, the Rashtrakutas came to the power. Their capital was Vidharba and they further conquered Malwa.
Gurjara-Pratiharas: In the 8th Century, Gurjara and Pratiharas came into power.
Kalchuris: These dynasties ruled from 10th-12th centuries.
Paramaras: From 946 CE Paramaras started to conquest Madhya Pradesh.
Chandela: The temples of Khajuraho were built by the rulers of Chandela Dynasty between 900 and 1130 CE.
Madhya Pradesh witnessed rise and downfalls of various empires from time to time. It has always been a perfect place for any kingdom to flourish. Chandelas and some few small rulers were last one to rule the Madhya Pradesh in the Ancient period of history.
Sanchi pillar
The sultanate of Malwa was founded by Dilawar Khan Ghuri, the governor of Malwa for the Delhi Sultanate, who asserted his independence in 1392. Most of Madhya Pradesh came under Mughal rule during the reign of Emperor Akbar (1556–1605). After the death of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1707, Mughal control began to weaken, and the Marathas began to expand from their base in central Maharashtra.
In the 18th century, the Maratha Empire began to expand and gained large amounts of territory. The Battle of Bhopal was fought in Bhopal in 1737, where the Marathas defeated the Mughal forces. Large tracts of land in Malwa were ceded to the Marathas.
The Shindes (Scindia) of Gwalior ruled most of Gird region; the Holkars of Indore ruled much of Malwa.
British Colonial period (1858-1947) and after Independence: British dominion extended to Madhya Pradesh with the fall of Marathas and most of its regions became princely states of British India. After independence, it attained the true stature of an Indian state in 1956.
The states of Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh and Bhopal were incorporated into the state and the southern region of Vidarbha was conceded to the Bombay state. It emerged as the largest state in India, with Bhopal as the capital. In November 2000, the present day Madhya Pradesh came into being, when the south-eastern region of the state was carved out to form the new state of Chhattisgarh.
Chambal: The area of Chambal lies between three states of India, namely Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, and is thus named due to the river that flows by: the Chambal river. The call of the Behad retained a stronghold on peoples’ imagination and the Baghi continued to be seen as a victim of the system, a person of honour who had taken up arms as a last recourse against an unjust and unfair enemy. The Baghis’ survival depended on the sympathy and complicit support of the local population. The emergence of organized gangs, caste based vendettas and kidnapping for ransom led to an erosion of this support base.
Chambal
The Baghi lost the high moral ground and became more of a common thug, losing his place of honour in local folklore. The late 20th century saw several rehabilitation programmes combined with relentless law enforcement. Appeals to surrender by the social activist Vinobha Bhave and by Jayprakash Narayan yielded results and the 1970’s saw mass surrenders by former dacoits.
WHAT TO SEE National Chambal Sanctuary The National Chambal Sanctuary is sheltering a wide array of avian, aquatic, and other wildlife with its pristine air, water, and landscape. It is also known as the Chambal Gharial Sanctuary for the rich population of gharials found here.
Bhimbetka Cave paintings dating back to approximately 30,000 years. Rock shelters that were home to humans, millennia ago. And a rich flora and fauna surrounding these, indeed, make Bhimbetka a gift to us from our earliest ancestors. The Bhimbetka Rock Shelter has the oldest-known rock art in India, as well as is one of the largest prehistoric complexes to be seen. An archaeological treasure, Bhimbetka has around 243 rock shelters.
Khajuraho Khajuraho is an ancient city known for magnificent temples and its intricate sculptures located in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. The splendour of the intricate statues is one of the reasons that make it a popular site to visit among tourists. Built between 950-1050 AD by the Chandela Dynasty.
Khajuraho
Orchha The historic town of Orchha, nestled on the banks of river Betwa, was founded in the 16th century by the Bundela Rajput Chief, Rudra Pratap. Here, the river Betwa splits into seven channels, also called the Satdhara. Legend goes that this is in honour of the seven erstwhile Chiefs of Orchha.
Sanchi The Stupas of Sanchi were constructed on the orders of Emperor Ashoka to preserve and spread the Buddhist philosophy. Sanchi has been protecting these beautiful and sacred architectural wonders, just the way these wonders have been safeguarding ancient history and art of the Mauryan period. The numerous stupas, temples, monasteries and an Ashokan pillar have been the focus of interest and awe for global audiences as well. In fact, UNESCO has given the status of ‘World Heritage Site’ to the Mahastupa.
Panna National Park Panna National Park boasts of seven different species of vultures. This National Park is an ideal place to spot these in their natural habitat. You will also come across a variety of flira and fauna here.
Kanha National Park The largest national park in Madhya Pradesh with 941sq. km expansion, Kanha National Park is considered to be one of the best administered and managed parks in India. It is one of the Navratanas of the ‘Project Tiger’.
Hunting ground to leopards and wild dogs, Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh also shelters over 350 species of birds and 1000-plus species of flora.
Kanha National Park
Ancient City Ujjain This city is considered the Greenwich of India, with the first meridian of longitude passing through it. Known as the temple city for its numerous temples from different eras, and the major attraction is Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga. It is one of the 12 jyotirlingas, where Bhasma Aarti is a daily ritual that you must attend. In order to attend the aarti, make sure to follow the dress code if you wish to go inside the sanctum and participate in Abhishek.
Chitrakoot Known as the ‘Place of Many Wonders’, Chitrakoot nestles in the northern Vindhya range of mountains and has enchanting places to visit. Chitrakoot mountain range includes Kamad Giri, Hanuman Dhara, Janki Kund, Lakshman pahari, and Devangana which are famous religious mountains. It is believed to have got its name owing to the presence of ‘Cheetal’ (deer) in the region.
The city is known to be of great religious and connection with Ramayanya. According to folklore, Lord Ram and Sita spent eleven of their fourteen years of exile in the deep jungles of Chitrakoot.
Amarkantak It is a well frequented Hindu pilgrimage centre that is popularly known as “Teerthraj” – “the king of pilgrimages”. It is the meeting point of the Vindhya and the Satpura Ranges, with the Maikal Hills being the fulcrum. Three rivers – the holy Narmada, the Sone and the Johila emerge here from the womb of Amarkantak.
Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga Omkareshwar, the sacred island, is shaped like Om – the holiest symbol of Hinduism. It is adorned with lofty hills, between which the river Narmada forms a serene pool. The Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga shrine tops the list. Popularly known as ‘Omkar Mandhata’, it is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines in India. Pilgrims in unimaginable numbers visit the shrine every year, seeking the blessings of Lord Shiva.
Gwalior Fort The Gwalior Fort is considered one of the gems of Indian forts. It is also known as one of the most colourful forts in India because of its intricate craftsmanship of turquoise tiling with a hint of glistening yellow.
Jahaz Mahal, Mandu The architecture of Jahaz Mahal best captures the medieval royal romance of Rani Roopmati & Baz Bahadur. Another tale has it that the mahal was built by Ghiyas-ud-din to serve it as a harem for 15,000 women of his court.
Dhuandhar waterfalls, Jabalpur The waterfall has been named so because of the smoky appearance of the water falling off the cliff with utmost force.
Dhuandhar waterfalls
Kapildhara waterfalls, Amarkantak The holy waters of river Narmada plunge from a height and look beautiful. This is one of the most popular spots here to plan an outing with your family and friends. You will feel instantly rejuvenated by seeing the beauty around.
CUISINE The state of Madhya Pradesh is known as the heart of India, not just because of its geographical location, but also because of its rich culture and history, as well as a vibrant cuisine.
Poha Jalebi Poha Jalebi is the favoured breakfast dish of MP and is even famous in a lot of other North Indian states. Tangy poha topped with namkeen accompanied by crispy sweet jalebis are the perfect way to start your day.
Poha Jalebi
Dal Bafla Crispy wheat baked wheat balls are dunked in ghee and eaten with spicy daal, pickles or curry.
Bhuttey Ke Kees This dish is only made in Madhya Pradesh and is a healthy and yummy food that is made with grated corn kernels cooked in spices, coconut and skimmed milk. Mustard seeds and green chillies are added to up the spice factor of the dish.
Bhopali Gosht Korma The dish is part of the something called the Nawabi cuisine and it’s made by slow cooking mutton chunks in a rich and spicy gravy. The result is a melt-in-the-mouth mutton dish that is fit of feasts of the very special kind.
Rogan Josh Rogan josh is an aromatic lamb dish of Persian origin, which is one of the signature recipes of Kashmiri cuisine, but Bhopalis also have quite the preference for it, so much so that, it has become one of the best places to get a plate of spicy rogan josh.
Indori Namkeen Ratlami sev are one of the most known regional namkeen in India.
The Caribbean island nation of Barbados has finally realised that kneeling before a while queen, that too of Britain, the country’s long-time oppressor, had been a foolish act for 55 years since the country gained its independence from the colonisers. Good sense has finally prevailed, and on November 30, the country declared itself a republic. Now they call themselves “We the people are Barbados”, and the country’s first president, Sandra Mason, is proud of it.
The change happened at the stroke of midnight, and from December, the little, happy country, is happier. It took a while a rather long while, actually but now the remnants of British rule has been wiped out and Queen Elizabeth is not more the head of state.
This Queen fetish has remained with 17 countries, including Australia and Canada, despite a section of Australians having vehemently demanded a separation for long. The psychology behind this fetish remains unexplained. Whether there is financial gain, or political gain, or just a fetish, requires deep introspection, but it certainly has not been a healthy one. To put things in perspective, there is no British ‘empire’ anymore; it is an almost laughable concept today.
What is strange is that while these countries 17 of them do, still carry the symbols of the colonialism, how they exist in their minds, alongside memories of violence and inequality is a mystery.
Barbados did that for a time too long and finally decided that it just had to cut off the strings that existed through 400 years under the British Empire and then 55 years even after that. The trade links, the forcible commerce, the depletion of local raw materials and the oppression, plus complete subjugation of human rights and freedom of speech and basic rights of people. It was a nightmare that simply had to be forgotten.
This was a good time as any, though the pandemic has somewhat crippled the economy, and the fetters of slavery now finally done away with, the country has the ability and the responsibility of judging themselves by their own standards, developing with own hopes and aspirations. What the country has also realise in these times is that having the queen as the symbolic head of state has provided little succour to the country, providing zero impetus to any effort at economic growth or personal freedoms.
Moreover, the hope that a symbolic alignment with the British Isles would provide business opportunities proved to be a mirage. The situation reminded the Barbadian of the times when Britain prospered at the cost of Barbados’ ill-fate, how enterprise was snatched from the local people, how hollow the self-esteem of the locals was made out to be by the ‘masters’. If Britain is still a wealthy nation today, that is in no small part the contribution of its colonies; colonies that the empire ravaged and looted.
Remember the Hong Kong handover of 1997? It was symbolic, and no amount of British guile worked later. In the changing of Barbados to a republic, Charles Windsor, next in line for the British throne, attended and supported the celebration. It is said that this was an effort from the throne, as well as from the British government to ameliorate the hundreds of years of pain that the empire had heaped on the Barbadians. Whether this little symbolism will work or not is another matter, but, at least, this is a sign that new beginnings are possible; new alignments, new trade alliances, new line of credit on proper terms and a new respect for the self realisation of a new nation.
Memories are difficult, especially such cruel memories. The British Royal family, for example, made a substantial amount of money from the slave trade. Now reparations are a part of the demands, and decency says that should be allowed.
Remember our own Sashi Tharoor at the Oxford Union debate? He talked about reparations. But he said ‘we don’t want your money; we want an unconditional apology.’ How hard is that to give?
Twenty one years ago, the world was astounded by the idea presented by the movie The Matrix and a theory of the world they lived in. The idea was such a massive hit that several spin-offs of the idea appeared soon after. Following a super successful series, the movie was given a decent burial. Or was it?
Now comes The Matrix: Resurrection,a movie which is being termed as not a remake, or a reboot or a reimagining. It is being called a revival. It should showcase a new world of the matrix, maybe not quite as one has seen it before. Of course, Keanu Reeves survives, because he IS the icon called Neo. Also, for Indians there will be the pleasure of watching Priyanka Chopra again in a Hollywood super movie, this time as a sort of soothsayer.
Before that, we need to look at Neo. Now he wears the John Wick look, something today’s viewers are more accustomed to. Also back will be Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity, and Pinkett Smith is back as Niobe. Niall Bernhardt is as Agent Johnson from The Matrix Reloaded, and Lambert Wilson returns as Merovingian, a smuggler of information, from Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions.
Priyanka will be in a role originally featured as a child in ‘The Matrix Revolutions’. She will be playing the grown-up version.
The trailer hides more than it reveals, though it is understandable that Neo, is again summoned by Thomas Anderson, and returned to the Trinity Matrix program, but they do not remember each other or their past lives.
Anderson’s psychiatrist is prescribing a steady supply of blue pills. When Neo stops taking the pills, he begins to notice that things are not as they seem. The Alice in Wonderland allegory makes an aggressive return not only there is a background song of Jefferson Airplane and a broad reference to Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, the book given to Anderson by Priyanka Chopra, a soothsayer of sorts. The Resurrection adds new faces, such as Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Watchmen, Candy man and Iron Fist’s Jessica Henwick.
Review Entertainment Weekly called The Matrix “the most influential action movie of the generation. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 88% based on 155 reviews; The Matrix is a smartly crafted combination of spectacular action and groundbreaking special effects.
Release: At Theatres (December 22)
Star cast: Keanu Reeves as Thomas Anderson; Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity; Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Sati; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Laurence Fishburne; Jessica Henwick as Bugs; Jada Pinkett Smith as Niobe; Lambert Wilson as The Merovingian; Daniel Bernhardt as Agent Johnson; Eréndira Ibarra as Lexy.
Director: Lana Wachowski
Producer: Grant Hill
Writer: The Wachowskis
Music: Johnny Klimek, Tom Tykwer
Production House: Village Roadshow Pictures, Wachowskis Productions, Silver Pictures
Filming Location: The Matrix Resurrections was shot in San Francisco and Alameda, California, USA. Filming also took place in Berlin, Germany, and Chicago.
The media did not report the incident as it should have. The passing of a fearless journalist should be as much news as the incidents he reported/commented upon. Vinod Dua died early he was just 67 and leaves behind a body of work that will forever inspire young aspirants to the noble profession.
He was old school, even in late days he referred to handwritten notes, and he was meticulous in his references. Never had been any reportage in which he resorted to sensationalism. There are lessons in that.
Dua is survived by two daughters, the comic-actor Mallika Dua and Bakul Dua, a clinical psychologist. He was hospitalised in Gurugram along with his wife, radiologist Padmavati Dua, following a Covid infection during the second wave. Padmavati Dua passed away in June and Vinod Dua has struggled with his health ever since.
This information was provided to the media by his daughter Mallika. Last week he was moved to the Intensive Care Unit of Apollo Hospital in Delhi on the advice of doctors.
On her death Mallika said in her Instagram post: “Our irreverent, fearless and extraordinary father, Vinod Dua has passed away. He lived an inimitable life, rising from the refugee colonies of Delhi to the peak of journalistic excellence for over 42 years, always, always speaking truth to power. He is now with our mom, his beloved wife Chinna in heaven where they will continue to sing, cook, travel, and drive each other up the wall.” The cremation was held at the Lodhi crematorium in the Capital.
Dua, during his four-decade long career, revolutionised election coverage in India. NDTV’s Prannoy Roy, said: “Vinod is not just one of the greatest. He is the greatest of his era”.
Mr Dua specialised in Hindi journalism, and has stints with Doordarshan and NDTV. Recently, he was known for his political commentary over digital media platforms The Wire and HW News.
In 1996, he became the first electronic media journalist to win the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award. He was awarded the Padma Shri for Journalism in 2008 by the Government of India and in June 2017, for his lifetime achievement in the field of journalism, Mumbai Press Club awarded him the RedInk Award, which was presented to him by Devendra Fadnavis, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Even as an astute political journalist, Dua held art, culture, music, and even food dear to his heart.
On NDTV he hosted ‘Khabardar India’ and ‘Vinod Dua Live’. He was also a specialised election commentator as his voice was one of sanity, among the biased broadcasts of the day. He was never scared of asking uncomfortable questions, while being polite.
If you travel a lot with you music and you hate headphones, then the best alternative is the Bluetooth speaker, paired to your favourite device. Here are some portable Bluetooth speakers can be an essential accessory, even at home and also suit your budget.
These speakers can connect wirelessly via Bluetooth, NFC or even via aux cables, and deliver decent audio. They are also powered by batteries that should last through a day’s worth of usage. Some categories of portable Bluetooth speakers under Rs 10,000 are also water and dust-resistant, making them all-round portable speakers for various users and enthusiasts.
(NOTE: Please also re-check prices.) Boat Stone 1500 This is capable of producing great sound and offers a peak power of 40W. This speaker features an equally large body and delivers good bass. The speaker features a full range driver that provides an impactful bass response. It comes with onboard controls for music playback. There’s also a TWS feature that allows users to pair two Stone 1500s together. The speaker also has Twin EQ modes that provide appropriate sound profiles for both Indoors and Outdoors.
Boat Stone 1500
The company also claims that the speaker has a rugged, shock resistant build.
Sony SRS-XB23 This is a portable Bluetooth speaker under Sony’s XB (Extra Bass) line-up, so you can expect some punchy and dynamic bass response from this speaker. It comes with IP67 dust and water resistance rating, making it an excellent option to use outdoors in places such as pools, treks, hikes, and more.
The speaker supports the Party Connect function where up to 100 compatible speakers can be connected with Bluetooth to play tracks in unison.
JBL Flip5 Equipped with an IPX7 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker with Party Boost splash resistant rating and voice assistant support, the JBL Flip 5 comes with solid build quality and powerful sound output. The speaker is available in numerous colours including some interesting and unique ones such as Combo, Squad and Sand. The speaker houses dual external passive radiators and a racetrack-shaped driver. It comes with a feature dubbed Party Boost that allows users to pair two JBL Party Boost compatible speakers for stereo sound, or even link multiple speakers.
Specifications Price: Rs 8,998 Battery: 4,800mAh Playback Time: 11 Hours Power: 20W Bluetooth: v4.2 wireless connectivity Warranty: 2 Year Available at: Amazon; Reliance Digital
Bose Soundlink Micro The speaker sounds decent, though its most lucrative features are the compact size, IPX7 rating, and a robust build. The speaker is available in three colours – Black, Bright Orange, and Dark Blue. It also comes with a tear-resistant strap, making it easily portable. The speaker has a built-in microphone for taking calls and to give commands to voice assistants such as Siri and Google Assistant.
Overall, the speaker is robust, compact and lightweight, making it a good portable option.
India is happier during its winters. The rate of diseases plummet we are talking about those beyond the coronavirus category the weather is healthier, the food is better, the sky is really blue and the flowers are prettier. India is a place for flowers, of hundreds of varieties, of smells and feelings.
This is the time to look at some of the better winter flowers of India. As the temperatures drop, it becomes the happiest time for all the gardening lovers in northern India. As the heat subsides, the delicacies of flowers take root.
Petunias Let us start with the most innocent, yet the most vibrant ones, the Petunias. These flowers come in so many special colours that it is always a gardener’s favourite. These are not the big tag flowers, but surely the show-stealers. These flowers are big, with vibrant colours and bloom in bulk. These are the flowers that can decorate the railings, as well as hanging planters.
Four species of petunias include hundreds of cultivars and offer a perfect addition to the home landscape: Grandiflora petunias are the most common type of growing petunias. This species features 3 to 4 inch (7.5 to 10 cm) blooms which often grow upright, but may spill over the side of your container or window box. Multiflora petunias have smaller flowers and a more abundant bloom. Milliflora petunias are miniature versions of growing petunias; they are compact and re-blooming. Spreading petunias are only 6 inches (15 cm) tall and can rapidly cover a selected area to function as a blooming ground cover.
Petunias
Rose The most common flowering plant found in almost every Indian house, roses are naturally placed first on this list. While the most commonly found colour is red, this weather is great to add a number of pinks, oranges, yellows and shaded roses to your garden.
Rose bushes come in a variety of forms, from climbing roses to miniature rose plants. Old roses also called “old-fashioned roses” and “heirloom roses”are those introduced prior to 1867. These are the lush, invariably fragrant roses found in old masters’ paintings.
Modern hybrid roses, introduced after 1867, are sturdy, long-blooming, extremely hardy and disease-resistant, and bred for colour, shape, size, and fragrance. The hybrid tea roses, with one large flower on a long cutting stem, are one of the most popular hybrids.
Species, or wild roses, are those that have been growing wild for many thousands of years. These wild roses have been adapted to modern gardens and usually bloom from spring to early summer. Most species of roses have single blossoms.
White Rose
Hollyhocks The stalked flowering plants are one of the most underrated plants in India. If grown with proper planning, they can be the highlight of your garden. They can grow to a height of more than 5 feet and are usually perfect for landscape gardens. They are very hardy plants that come in a variety of colours as well as structures including single and double petals.
Hollyhocks
Calendulas The vibrant mustard and orange flowers are the easiest to grow and can bring a lot of contrast to any garden. They make for great pot plants as well as look stunning when planted on borders along with other winter beauties. The flowers are not just aesthetically pleasing but also have a lot of health and beauty benefits.
More Varieties of Calendula: ‘Candyman Orange’ calendula; ‘Daisy Mix’ calendula; ‘Spring Surprise’ calendula.
Calendulas
Dahlias Officially the ‘king of winter flowers, the huge blooms of dahlias can transform any garden. They come in different varieties that range from single-petalled to multi-petalled, dwarf as well as button. They are very beautiful flowers that are the main attraction for butterflies and birds.
Dahlias
Marigold An Indian staple and a must-have in every Indian garden, marigolds are the most easily available plants around in India. They are loved by everyone and are great for bees. They bloom profusely, adding a rich burst of yellows and oranges wherever they are planted. They are considered auspicious in Indian households and can be used for various purposes.
Height : Plant height varies with the cultivar. Marigolds cover a full range of sizes from about 6 inches to 3 feet tall.
Ornamental Features : Marigolds have cherry, pom-pom, anemone, or daisy-shaped inflorescences in colors ranging from yellow and gold to orange, red, and mahogany. Some unique cultivars have striped, bicolor, or creamy white blooms. The two main species grown in home gardens are the French marigold (Tagetes patula) and the African marigold (Tagetes erecta).
Of the many culinary delights emanating from the nawabi kitchens of Lucknow, the Tunday Kebab is a specialty. It spreads its charm alongside other famous kebabs, such as Galouti, Boti and Chapli and, along with the famous Lucknow hospitality, adds to the many succulent dishes that India can showcase to the world. The Tunday Kebab is a product of exotic Awadhi cooking, traditions coming down from the exotic times of Wajid Ali Shah and others.
Mince meat dishes have been a specialty with Muslim rulers of our country, and its incorporation in staple breakfasts started in the 14th century Awadh. However, it was only in the 17th century that the kebabs of Awadh saw a revolution of sorts, aimed at pleasing a toothless king. What transpired was that the somewhat coarse kebabs before the 17th century, containing meat improperly minced, was not to the liking of Nawab Asa-ud-Daula. This was a Nawab who regarded his food as seriously as his court affairs.
As the Nawab grew older, his teeth failed to keep up and dropped on the wayside. The Nawab, however, was bent on enjoying his meat, and his khansamas (cooks) were ordered to make His Highness happy. The Nawab wanted the softest kebabs, that required no chewing, that would virtually melt in the mouth. This, the cooks had to achieve without any compromise on the taste.
It is said that to achieve this, the Nawab set up a contest. He declared that the maker of the softest and most succulent kebabs would henceforth enjoy royal patronage. It was a big challenge for the khansamas and several tender and succulent kebabs came to light and before the palette of the Nawab. It is said that the melt-in-your-mouth galouti kebabs were an outcome of this contest. As years passed, kebabs became even softer, finally yielding the Tundey Kebab.
The famous Kebab shop by Haji Murad Ali came into being around the end of the 17th century. It is said that the kebabs made here continue to follow a closely guarded secret family recipe. It is rumoured that the women of the family make a special masala for the kebabs that use 160 different spices.
The Nawab set up a contest. He declared that the maker of the softest and most succulent kebabs would henceforth enjoy royal patronage.
Tunday Kababy was established in 1905 in the lanes of Chowk area by Haji Murad Ali. It still exists. The best point with Tunday Kababy is that the food point has miraculously preserved the original taste and flavour of its kebabs.
Making Tunday Kebab – Heat some ghee in a wok and roast the chana dal. Powder it in a food processor and sieve the dal chana roast.
-Crush and soak the saffron in some milk. Mince the mutton until really fine. Add the fried onion paste, fried cashew paste, ginger garlic paste, raw papaya paste, spices, chana dal, saffron, and salt. Rub well with your hands. Keep aside for 30 minutes.
– Heat a small piece of coal till it starts burning. Put it in a metal bowl and keep it in the center of the vessel containing meat. Add some ghee and put cloves (laung) and green cardamom (Choti elaichi) in it. This will release pleasantly aromatic flavour and flavoured smoke into the meat. Quickly cover the vessel with meat and burn coal with a bowl or foil so that meat absorbs all very earthy flavour of ghee and coal. Leave it covered for about 15-20 minutes. Smoke with cloves and hot embers for 10 minutes.
– Mix the pastes well and prepare uniform dough. Divide the meat mixture in even sized balls. Flatten with wet palms and shallow fry in a flat pan. Heat Ghee/Butter in Pan and shallow fry till golden brown and serve hot with Salad and green chutney.
Preparing Tundey kebabs on Charcoal Flame
Ingredients -500grams minced mutton
– teaspoon galouti kebab masala powder
-1 teaspoon raw papaya paste(with skin)
-1 teaspoon garam masala powder
-1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
– teaspoon fried cashew nut paste
-1 teaspoon fried onion paste
– 1 teaspoon finely chopped coriander leaves
-1 teaspoon gram flour (besan)
-1 teaspoon rose water
-1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder
-1/2 teaspoon saffron (mixed in warm water)
– Salt
Instruction: Making Galouti Kabab Masala
– Dry roasts all the spices in a pan for a minute on a very slow flame.
