Best of both the worlds

February 24, 2016, 3:12 am

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Some people choose a certain course because of its popularity and because of the immense career prospects available upon completion. Then, there are people who choose a course simply because they are passionate about the subject. I fall into the latter category, as Electrical Physics has been my subject of interest since I was in high school.
The beginningsAfter completing my schooling from Rajhans Vidyalaya, my search for universities offering the desired course in the subject began. I came across a host of universities that offered the course but none appealed to me.

Then I got to know that the UK's University of Southampton had recently launched a campus in Malaysia which offered the course I was looking for — MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering. What cinched the deal for me was two factors. The first was the fact the university was a leading institution for electronics and computer science. The second was that Malaysia was near and could easily come home if I were homesick.

I also got a 25 per cent scholarship on the basis of my 12th standard results. Furthermore, there was also a 20 per cent scholarship that was being offered for Year three and four when students get to study at the UK campus after the first two years in the Malaysia campus. With a provision of an economical option for study without compromising on the quality of education, I enrolled for this course.
Feeling at homeHaving spent my entire childhood in Mumbai, I was a little apprehensive about relocating for a number of years to a different country and culture. But when I landed in Malaysia, I immediately felt at home as I could see a large number of people from my country living there.

Our EduCity is located on the outskirts of Johor Bahru and is about 30 minutes by road from Singapore. The EduCity itself has cafes and a sports stadium for students, and there are shopping centers nearby. Also, the food is not expensive and caters to all kinds of tastes with multi cuisine offerings such as Chinese, Malaysian, Indian and Western food.

I clearly remember the Freshers' Week that I had attended two years ago as it was packed with activities which included building a moving robot from basic materials. There were orientation sessions about the programme and the University.

Additionally, there were also some activities in the city of Johor Bahru as part of the Iskandar Education Project and some activities in the EduCity itself to give us an insight into the student enrichment experience. The week ended on a perfect note with a barbecue night at Puteri Harbour.
Hands-on experienceThe University of Southampton's four-year MEng degree allows me to specialise in my field of interest in the final two years with a hands-on experience of working in the electrical industry. The cherry on the cake is the fact that I will also get an opportunity to study at the UK Campus for a part of the course.

This means that I will get a truly cosmopolitan education and gain an in-depth understanding of the Asian market coupled with an exposure to the way things work in the UK. I have already completed the first two years of study wherein my experience has been challenging yet fun. That feeling of joy after achieving the end result makes me forget the long hours of lab activity and tutorials.

I have worked on three design projects so far. The first one involved using Digital Systems logic design and System Verilog code to implement a 4 bit multiplier. The second one was designing a Boost Converter using a self-made Inductor-Capacitor-Op-Amp circuit and then controlling using Embedded Programming through our microcontroller, Il Matto.

I also worked on a project in Advanced Programming in Semester 2. The project was to build a white board chat environment between two Raspberry Pis and communicate between them using the GPIO pins.

At the UK campusAfter finishing the first two years of my course in Malaysia, I moved to the UK campus in September 2015. Coming here has made me realise how much effort the University has made to synchronise the infrastructure and pedagogy in both the campuses.

Everything that was being done in Malaysia corresponded with the UK campus including assignments and exams, which are held in the evening in Malaysia so as to be at the same time as in UK.

Faculty from the UK campus fly in from time to time to give guest lectures. The in-house faculty include those who have years of teaching experience at the Southampton UK Campus.

The labs and equipment provided are a replica of the ones in UK which shows that there is no disparity between the two campuses, both in terms of education and facilities.

I highly recommend anyone who has an inclination towards Electrical and Electronic Engineering to study at the University of Southampton Malaysia Campus as they not only offer a number of scholarships but also give opportunities to students to experience two different worlds and cultures.

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Connectivity can scale up enrolment

February 24, 2016, 3:18 am

≫ Next: Learning to manage water

≪ Previous: Best of both the worlds

On 24 June, 2015, the UGC (University Grants Commission) circulated 20 themes for the formulation of a new education policy. Suggestions and inputs were requested from various stakeholders on the themes. However, an analysis of some of the themes provides a fair estimate of the direction and its possible impact. The new education policy is an ambitious resolution of Government of India to transform India's education system.

Through this new policy, the Indian higher education system will ensure that the universities will be able to provide better learning solutions and enhance the students' skills to become more employable. The integration of technology to boost students' enrolment in the higher education universities will be necessary step to do.

Making students employable While this is a good step ahead, there are other meaningful steps which will also encourage the students' academic talent, skills and innovation to improve the growing workforce of India. Here are some of the ways that can be beneficial to the students: *Integrating skill development in higher education: MoHRD has finally hit the nail on its head with the proposition to ensure that every student graduating out of our universities is skilled enough to take up employment. The proposal to ensure that a vocational programme is tagged along with the standard graduation programme can be quite rewarding in the current context and has the potential to make our students employable.

*Promoting open and distance learning (ODL) and online courses: It has been accepted publicly world over by academia and the industry that the proper use of IT and ICT can fill up the gaps in the higher education infrastructure and improve the learning outcomes too. As flipped classrooms and many other interventions have demonstrated, ICT Tools can have a significant positive impact on learning outcomes. The use of ICT learning tools like Digital SLM's, Video based lectures, formative assessments in the form of unit end quizzes, if made available to all ODL students, in addition to the current printed SLM and contact classes, it can dramatically improve learning outcomes. In addition, the online courses can be positioned as a viable and effective alternative to the currently popular ODL programs. Online courses have the ability to improve upon the learning outcomes with use of limited resources. However, in the Indian context, efforts must be made by Universities towards offering the Online Courses in English and also in Vernacular medium.

*Opportunities for technology enabled learning: Owing to its huge potential knowledge capital, India has the ability to be one of the world's leading economies. The ever growing Indian youth population has the potential to feed into the growing demand-supply gap of skilled manpower across the world. However, the manifestation of this potential solely depends on our ability to train our youth largely residing in the rural fold of the country. However, to make them employable beyond basic literary skills, the higher education infrastructure of the country needs a lot of over hauling.

Virtual educationKeeping in mind the efforts and time required to build up the physical infrastructure, the virtual, online medium of education can quickly fill up the void without compromising on the quality of education. Various reports published across the world are corroborative of the fact that the ICT based audio-visual medium has immense potential, if delivered well, to deliver high quality, highly interactive, yet highly flexible learning to the masses.

A large number of the universities are facing challenges in recruiting qualified, trained teachers at their remote locations. The UGC may consider providing a guideline to all universities and institutions to use ICT effectively to meet the gaps of availability of good quality faculty.

A number of students can benefit from this tool immensely, if provided with additional facilities such as video-based lectures, formative assesments in the form of quizzes, and podcasts as well to complement the classroom learning. Additionally, universities should consider using the mobile platform optimally use to remain in continuous communication with the students and also use it as a base for learning as well.

Sustaining student support systemIt is imperative that universities put up and implement some sturdy and sustainable student support systems. The system should be able to capture the requests from the students and provide them with accurate and timely information. Universities must strive to put across a multi-modal form of student support. The various initiatives that can be undertaken in this regard are:

*Student information system - This is a system that will capture details of the student at the time of enrolment and maintain updated information about the student. This would be used and updated by various arms of the university.

*Student support call centre — The adequately manned call centre should be supported by the required technology to be able to ingest, route, distribute, log and record all incoming calls.

*Student support software — The software should be able to record all incoming complaints and the details regarding resolution

n Self-service portal — Universities must strive to create a student self-service portal which shall be used by the students with their unique user name and passwords to retrieve all required information

n SMS and e-mail based support — Universities should set up a rugged mailing system and a SMS base student alerting system for effective communication with the students

Private sector partnershipUniversities should engage in meaningful partnerships with the private sector as service providers during this capacity building.

The private sector may have a significant role to play in assisting the university build its technology platform, create audio-visual and other electronic content, create a sustainable student support system.

A PPP model with experienced service providers, where the risks and fruit are equitably shared, may be a viable option. This would reduce the investment required and align the private partner efforts with the desired outcomes.

Globalised educationUniversities, who build up their capacities, with the help of ICT and service a larger student base should be allowed to offer their courses to students abroad. Internet has come as a great opportunity and leveler for educational institutes.

Indian universities who are allowed to offer online courses that does not require the creation of physical infrastructure in foreign soil, should have the permission to enroll students irrespective of the geographical boundaries. These courses can target the Indian diaspora residing across the world and help them improve their qualifications. In many countries such as the Middle East, there are no avenues available to Indians to study further.

There are also vast opportunities in our neighbouring SAARC countries and Africa where Indian education is highly regarded and Indian universities can offer cost-effective education. Keeping this in mind, there is immense potential and avenues that the universities can tap into to enable students to become more employable and be future ready.

(the author is CEO and Founder, Schoolguru Eduserve. )

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Learning to manage water

February 24, 2016, 3:25 am

≫ Next: The pros and cons of choosing the right pre-school

≪ Previous: Connectivity can scale up enrolment

Water is an economic, social and environmental resource. Over the past two decades, there has been a shift in the way we look at the water resources. From a mere local issue in the mid-20th century, water problems have attained a dimension from a trans-boundary regional problem to that of global concern. Today, there is a growing realisation that water is central to many other challenges that we are facing today. It has a direct link with poverty alleviation, regional development, gender issues, health, food, energy and environment, conflicts and geo-political equations.
Water issues have spatio-temporal scale that can attain different character in various geographical regions, which is getting increasingly adverse due to climate change. No wonder the United Nations General Assembly recognised water as an 'instrument of peace' in the year 2013 and appealed for cooperation through an interdisciplinary approach bringing in cultural, educational and scientific factors, as well as religious, ethical, social, political, legal, institutional and economic dimensions. Since then, water is in the agenda of nearly all development organisations' activities, multi-lateral and bi-lateral funding organisations' charters and a priority for national governments.

The Government of India initiated a number of flagship programmes related to water like Namami Gange, Swachh Bharat Mission and the inter-linking of rivers among other such initiatives. It is also making serious efforts to improve relations with its neighbouring countries to iron out contentious water sharing issues and support development activities including completion of stalled hydro-electric projects. This clearly reflects large volume of activities and funding available in the sector through several central and state government ministries and departments. The public-private partnership model, huge Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding and a push towards international cooperation for joint activities in the water sector, both in terms of expertise sharing and monetary support, will fuel serious activities on water resources for many decades. These activities will renew impetus on social, economic, regulatory, legal dimensions of the issue to guide policies in water sector.

Expanded to mainstreamUntil a few years ago, interest in water issues was thought to be the domain of 'environmentalists' and governments. Today, this realm has expanded to include mainstream segments such as consumers, financiers, managers and corporate houses. Several factors have facilitated this shift. The most basic one is the rising frequency and intensity of water problems, catalysed by rapid industrialisation and urbanisation in the recent years. A recent update by Environmental Justice Atlas, an online interactive portal that maps exemplary cases of peoples' resistance against climate change and environment degradation, has reported that India tops a list of 11 countries in ecological conflicts and environmental injustice. Conflicts related to 'water management' account for most cases with industrial units appropriating water sources.

These have brought into focus not only the negative health impacts on human beings and the natural habitat, but also the spectra of resource scarcity, accompanying water resource degradation. As a consequence to this, there is a growing sensitivity towards water problems, resulting in judicial activism and frequent public interest litigation against governments and corporate bodies. Water mismanagement has the potential to not only hurt corporate reputation, but also disrupt business operations in a major way. Therefore, business collaborators, suppliers, consumers, and distributors consider water as a component of business sustainability and industries are proactive in engaging experts in order to reduce water footprints of their activities and products.

Specialised approachWater skills available in India have mainly come from institutions offering civil engineering and allied postgraduate programmes where students are trained to assume that water infrastructure development alone can address nearly all water issues. Few intuitions offer specialised programmes related to economic and social aspects of water challenges. This pool of skilled force though important, but is not sufficient to meet the aspirations of today's employers who need water professionals that have collective skill sets — technology orientation, scientific temper, legal, economic and social perspectives so that they can tackle the water related challenges in a holistic manner.

India needs water professionals who have a basic degree in disciplines like science, engineering and urban planning, and have gone through an interdisciplinary post-graduate programme to apply their knowledge in solution space such as impact assessment through use of mathematical modeling, and infrastructure planning with due consideration of economics, social and legal perspectives, agriculture and urban water demand management. This knowledge can then be used to optimise and support a water agenda and champion regional water to promote water cooperation.

(the author is professor and head, department of regional water studies, TERI University)

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The pros and cons of choosing the right pre-school

February 24, 2016, 3:28 am

≫ Next: 'The biggest challenge is the rising cost of maintenance'

≪ Previous: Learning to manage water

It's that time of year again when many parents of 1.5- to two-year-olds are feverishly trying to arrive at a decision on where to enrol them. Big city parents get busy looking up literature on pedagogy and reading parent blogs. Discussions over coffee often veer towards the topic of selecting the right pre-school for their child. Newspaper pamphlets have been collected and kept filed for future reference.

It's not very different in a small village near the outskirts of Bengaluru where young parents start looking at options available to them. A neighbourhood school just conducted their annual day with much fanfare. Some schools are offering early bird offer on registrations.

According to a study that HSBC conducted, India has the highest proportion of parents — a staggering 88 per cent. According to the same study, the most important goal that Indian parents have for their children is that they build successful careers in their adult life.

Now how does this play out with young parents seeking formal learning environments for their two to three year olds? What plays on the parent's mind as one makes an attempt to choose the right pedagogy or the right school for their child?

High aspirationsSpeaking to parents across the spectrum reveals a common thread - parents have high aspirations for their child, they want to provide their child with a good head start, they want a safe and secure environment, and many want to compensate for what they could not get when they were young. Many no longer have family support systems; they expect the pre-school to fill that gap. The pragmatic ones want to admit their child to a pre-school that guarantees admission to a much sought-after high school. Distance from home and transport options weigh in as well. And last but not the least, is the fee. All parents are willing to stretch and apportion a fair amount of their income on pre-school.

Well educated parents attempt to make well informed decisions - they attempt to understand the difference between a Montessori and a playway and are more or less stumped by the lack of discernable difference that some "premium" operators profess.

What typically comes to aid is the infrastructure that the preschool provides and the visually discernable quality of the materials used in the classroom. Parents like to meet the teacher and gauge if she is experienced enough to handle their child.

The teacher's ability to converse fluently in English plays a major role too. Word of mouth references play a major role as the pick draws close. One negative opinion is enough to make the young parents wary. The profile of the parents who have already enrolled their child to a pre-school plays a major part. Parents find comfort in their child interacting with children from similar socio-economic backgrounds.

Wish list to decision makingIt is interesting to note that what starts off as a parent wish list, turns into a decision making process based on options available. The wants are often set aside as parents set off to take 'practical decisions'.

Where parents find a decision difficult, the fee plays a decisive role. If parents find two options equally affordable, they typically place their bet based on their spending habits. Some choose the more expensive option hoping to get more from their investment; others go for the more cost effective option pleased that they got value for their money.

(the author is associated with Hippocampus Learning Centres)

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'The biggest challenge is the rising cost of maintenance'

February 24, 2016, 11:35 pm

≫ Next: A French chateau Picasso fell for

≪ Previous: The pros and cons of choosing the right pre-school

In a chat with Bindu Gopal Rao, Sangeeta Banerjee, co-founder and CEO, Apartment ADDA, explains how apartments can be managed to turn them into more meaningful neighbourhood spaces.

ApartmentADDA is an online software for managing apartment complexes. Their recently launched solution Buzzar is a marketplace for home service providers that offers ease of access when it comes to availing any essential household services, background verification services etc. The firm's CEO, Sangeeta Banerjee, talks about the use of new methods for
effectively managing apartment systems.

With the focus on smart cities, how do you see the market changing?

I look at an apartment or villa complex as a microcosm of India — facing the same issues with water, security, waste management etc. as faced by a city or country on a larger scale. Today, many smart communities are coming up, where neighbours are getting together to find innovative solutions to issues plaguing them. These are small-scale implementations, which can be extended to a larger scale to develop smart cities. Many forward-thinking societies have made pioneering work in the water management space from water metering, rainwater harvesting, waste water recycling and reuse.

Initiatives run by apartment complexes in Bengaluru have later gone on to become City-wide laws. Many apartment complexes are implementing innovative ways of tackling the waste problem. Quite a few societies undertake tree plantation together; there are also many examples where neighbourhoods have formed public private partnerships (PPP) to plant trees, repair roads, develop parks etc. Many apartment complexes are doing specific welfare initiatives for domestic staff.

What is the present state of housing management in Bengaluru?

Bengaluru is one of the frontrunners in taking neighbourhood-related initiatives. It typically has a higher population of tech-savvy residents in housing societies. Therefore, they can very easily adopt and use online cloud-based housing management solutions.

Is the market ready to outsource housing management?

As far as ApartmentADDA is concerned, a lot of housing management processes are automated. So there is no need to outsource. Apartments can function successfully with minimum involvement of management committee members and a manager. However, some bigger apartments with 1000+ apartments outsource housing management to facility management companies.

There are several portals that offer housing management services. Where do you see these headed in the future?

Most apartment and villa complexes that started their association using best practice processes are now reputed and highly valued for best maintained facilities. For instance, in the enterprise resource planning space, though there are several players who provide solutions, organisations looking for a robust solution opt for SAP. Similarly, in the housing management space, apartment complexes looking for a robust, foolproof housing management solution typically opt for management services.

What are the kind of reforms you wish to see in the realty sector?

Most reforms today focus on making real estate investments more transparent and regulated. The Real Estate Bill when implemented will be a great step toward this. The same approach needs to be taken for lifetime ownership of the property as well as for redevelopment. Issues that plague apartment communities — being treated as bulk generators (same as factories) when it comes to waste management; cess and service tax being applied even on the amount collected from residents to pay common area electricity bill — are approaches that unreasonably increase total cost of ownership of an apartment and discourage apartment buyers. The Real Estate Bill must also cater to the conveyance of land to the association, which remains a grey area across the country.

The learnings you have had that others could benefit from...

Learnings have been several. From apartment management by-laws to best
accounting practices and the best way to calculate late payment interest on maintenance bills. We have also learnt much from conducting workshops for management committee members, where city administration, SMEs and also our experts share their experiences and best practices with our users.

The many challenges in housing management...

With ever increasing sophistication in amenities provided by the builder to make a property attractive, the biggest challenge is the rising cost of maintenance. To top that, many of these amenities like party hall and sports facilities are underutilised by residents and do not fetch the additional income to augment maintenance collection.

What are the new-age technologies that will change how buildings are managed?

* Usage of robust mobile apps for inclusive decision making, instead of mandating all owners to be physically present at meetings, will help.

* An online payment gateway combined with fully automated maintenance billing process eliminates manual assistance and errors. This is being done for high-value items like maintenance, sinking fund, water bill, electricity bill, piped gas bill, facility booking charges as well as for event dinner coupons.

* Usage of a robust Android app for visitor management will not only eliminate the need for bulky hardware and cameras at security gate, but also help residents participate in making the security engine more robust.

* Usage of Radio frequency identification (RFID) car stickers for automatic boom barriers will eliminate major challenges that modern apartments face with respect to parking.

* Green technologies such as in-house waste recycling and solar lamps in common areas are fast becoming popular even in traditional housing societies.

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A French chateau Picasso fell for

February 24, 2016, 11:43 pm

≫ Next: Spruce the bedroom right

≪ Previous: 'The biggest challenge is the rising cost of maintenance'

Elisabeth Higonnet Dugua describes how a chateau in France, that has Picasso's indelible mark, was revived.

You may not even notice it behind plane trees, cypresses and cork oaks, driving along the Departementale 981 from Uzes to the Pont duGard, past the village of Argilliers, in southern France. Doric columns and white oleander trees line the drive leading to a perfectly proportioned three-storey mansion of sand-coloured stone, with tall French windows flanked by pale blue shutters. Like the old Provencal houses, the chateau faces south, its back to the Mistral wind. On the ground floor, a peristyle winding along the front facade and around the east and west sides supports a terrace. A second balustrade runs around the cornice of the roof, echoing the one below. No wonder the mother of the current owner succumbed to its magnetic charm. Picasso had fallen in love with the property before her, but failed to persuade the British art critic Douglas Cooper, who owned it at the time, to sell. The artist did, however, leave an indelible mark in the form of five sculpted murals now listed on the register of protected monuments by the French state.

The estate, known as the Chateau de Castille, is on the market with Sotheby's International Realty for 8.9 million euros, or $9.9 million. The property, 29 km from Nimes, is a three-hour TGV train ride from Paris, while Montpellier/Mediterranee
international airport is an hour away by car.

Built on the 13th century foundations of a fortress, the chateau was entirely remodelled by Gabriel Joseph de Froment, Baron of Castille, who was born in Uzes in 1747. He gave it its soul and its ubiquitous columns, which would become his trademark; this innocent mania, contracted during a trip to Italy, earned him affectionate teasing from his friends, who
nicknamed the home the chateau with a thousand columns.

A true son of The Enlightenment, the baron was nonetheless arrested during The Terror. Spared by the timely downfall of Robespierre and the end of The Terror, in 1794, the Baron was released and welcomed with open arms by the villagers, who paid back the rent owed during his imprisonment. Gabriel De Froment devoted himself to charitable endeavors: His construction works, with yet more columns, created employment and alleviated the community's suffering through periods of scarcity and hardship.

Tales of deterioration

After Gabriel de Froment's death, in 1826, the estate entered a long period of decline. Shortage of staff, unscrupulous owners who succeeded the family in 1924, greed and time took their toll on the chateau and its park. In 1929, an administrator of the Sauvegarde de l'Art Francais (Preservation of French Art), arguing for desperately needed financial support, wrote to the Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts that recently relocated farmers' livestock had made a home for themselves in the castle ("there are rabbits in the boudoir and cows in the main salon").

In 1950, Douglas Cooper, the art historian and collector — and friend to Paul Klee, Nicolas de Staël, Picasso, Georges Braque and other members of the European art scene — bought Castille, giving the castle new life. In Barcelona, Cooper had admired Picasso's drawings engraved in concrete by Carl Nesjar at the Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos using the Betograve technique. During a visit to Castille, Picasso had exclaimed "Give me a wall!" on which he would design such a work of art. Thus five drawings by Picasso, inspired by David's "The Rape of the Sabine Women" and "Le Dejeuner sur l'herbe" by Manet, were engraved on the wall of the eastern veranda in 1963 by Nesjar in collaboration with Thorbjoern Ulvoden, Leif Johannessen and the sculptor Erik Hesselberg.

Revival stories

When the mother of the current owner, who does not want to be identified, bought the chateau, she entrusted the decor to Dick Dumas, an influential interior decorator and antiques dealer. His work is a creative tribute to the spirit of the place, where balance and harmony are everywhere evident, creating a sense of intimacy and nobility through colour and volume. Warm shades reflect the garrigue and Provencal landscape, especially the seasonal changes in the surrounding vineyards and almond trees.

In the drawing room, terracotta-red Roman blinds attenuate the strong Mediterranean sun to a pinkish hue. French windows, topped with fan-shaped sections, expand the view onto the gardens. A soft-yellow carpet leads into the library, where the ochres, browns, reds and greens of leather-bound books on floor-to-ceiling shelves are counterbalanced by whitewalls. The recurring colours and patterns from the walls of the drawing room reappear on the upholstered modules of the library furniture, unifying the two rooms.

The three stories of the chateau can function as separate units, each with its own kitchen, providing privacy and independence, whether for a family of four or a party of 12. The towers have been fitted with small bathrooms and an intimate reading room. The upstairs windows afford views of extensive gardens, a maze and extraordinary moss-covered paths in the woods, all the painstaking creation of the current gardener.

Two of the focal points on the ground floor are the long dining rooms, conjoined by a portico, one of which is decorated with a 64-square-metre, fresco, specially conceived and executed by Naman Hadi, an Iraqi painter, in 1977. The owner — with whose family Naman is still friends — had requested only that the work be ready for the wedding of her daughter.

In his Paris studio recently, Naman recalled teaching local masons to help create the plaster and materials needed for the mural, and told of completing the fresco in two months of arduous labour on a giant scaffold. The mural is the artist's personal interpretation of the Arabian Nights: Ivory-painted arcades and pointed arches supported by slender columns unfold along the walls, opening into the rooms of a regal house where on a background of blues, soft golds, Indian-rose pinks and muted browns, yellows and greens, women, a child and a man holding a dog seem to draw an observer in to the peace and quiet their demure poses inspire.

The Chateau de Castille epitomises Locke's and Burke's definition of beauty: It exudes joy, cheerfulness and calm. Responding to an observation about the serenity of the chateau, the owner says: "Yes, yes. It's not a chateau. It's a home."

NYT

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Spruce the bedroom right

February 24, 2016, 11:52 pm

≫ Next: Bring in the sunshine

≪ Previous: A French chateau Picasso fell for

Your bedroom can be seen as an extension of your personality. So, why not let it reflect the real you? By choosing the right accessories and furniture, you can do it so easily, avers A Dyuti.

Emphasising that the bedroom's focal point is the bed is stating the obvious! Sure, you've selected one with great care. But, have you ever paid attention to other accessories to spruce up the bedroom? Do they uplift your room in any way? If you are intending to beautify your bedroom with accessories, here are a few guidelines for you to consider:
The right proportionAvoid a mismatch of accessories and artefacts with the bedroom's overall theme and scale. In other words, all the elements that are in your bedroom should be in proportion to each other — that is the size of the bed, furniture and accessories should be in proportion to the size of the room.

And if your room has a monochromatic scheme, break it with some contrasting
elements. However, ensure that it is not garish in nature. Likewise, don't go on a contrasting spree. Plus, clutter and shabbiness nullify tastefully chosen accessories and furniture.

Clutter-free space

Having a bedside table is mandatory. If storage is your priority, choose one with drawers. Keep it simple with a one-drawer stand or if you are confident of maintaining an uncluttered space, go in for bedside tables that have open shelves. Today, there's a wide variety of bedside tables available in the market. These range from classic to contemporary and uber chic designs. Choose the one that will gel best with the bedroom's overall decor theme.

Some of the tables that you can choose from include a minimalist design in wood, a rustic cut, a round-topped one with a wrought metal base, a table with vinyl panelling for the drawers, a low night-table, a box night-table or a plain-topped one with slim legs. Remember, the table should be spacious enough to accommodate a few books and a night lamp.

Clocks are bedside table denizens since time immemorial. However, a Zen bedroom recommends dismissal of electronic items from the bedroom for undisturbed sleep. Also, ensure your desks and/or bedside tables don't court countless knickknacks, office-files, pens, stationery or toys. Retain only the most indispensable objects on your bedside-table — a book, pen and a glass of water, perhaps.

To enhance storage space in a loft bedroom, supplement beds with drawers,
ottomans and plain steel racks to place wicker baskets on. Don't ruin the contemporary look with conventional, heavy furniture. Skylights can help bring the natural light inside. Supplement with accent lighting in contemporary style.

Bespoke lighting

Apart from the bedside lamp, ceiling lamps, floor lamps and accent lighting for your bedroom, any artfully designed piece is recommended. Do select a unique bedside-lamp. Designers today even use lowly-hung little chandeliers to act as bedside-lamps. Mini-chandeliers can also be hung over the bedroom.

Vintage-style table-lamp, ripple-glass lampshade with dangling crystals, contemporary lamps in a crystal urn or metal band designs or marble and rectangular shades made of linen are only a few examples from an enormously wide range of table lamps and lampshades that are available for your bedside table. However, going for creative
designs for all your bedroom lights is sheer overkill.

Decorative wall space

Canvas art posters, wall-stickers and wallpaper are some ideas for decorating the wall area above the bed's headboard. Grouping small artwork pieces together could work. But, a huge, single work is recommended for that breathtaking effect. You could also pick other pieces like ornate mirrors, tapestries, quilts and architectural trim for this area.

An excellent alternative to artwork would be a photo wall, which is a well-chalked out display of multiple photographs. Display photographs along the window's top level all along the bedroom walls. Print only copies for display, retaining the originals safely. The quality should be good enough to allow blowing up of the photographs. You could easily heighten your photographs' beauty using image-manipulation software.

Black frames ally best with black and white photographs. If you're choosing coloured ones, coordinate or contrast them with the wall colour. Using mats for display facilitates constant changing of photographs. If natural light is scarce, make up with enhanced accent lighting like wall sconces.

A romantic touch

Hooks and hangers, candles and tea lights in charming designs and shapes, uniquely designed mirrors and vases, photo-frames, bookends and bookcases are other accessories to adorn your bedroom with.

While candles undoubtedly lend a romantic ambience, scented ones can emit harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. So, make do with soy candles or burn beeswax instead. Leaving the window slightly open is another safety measure to adopt while the candle is burning. Chaise lounges, ottomans or bean bags could serve as supplementary furniture.
A stylish canopy, a colourful throw blanket folded up and placed at the foot of the bed, toss pillows and bolster cushions spice up the bed. An area-rug and/a carpet are other accessories to be selected with care. Spread the area-rug underneath the bed such that a substantial part of it is visible beyond the bed's edges.

Flaunt the knick-knacks

Put up some personal knick-knacks for display since the bedroom is your own intimate space in the house. Place an indoor plant where it doesn't obstruct foot-traffic. But, water the plant only when the surface of the soil is dry. Else, over watering and stagnating water in an under-tray will breed mould spores that can trigger off allergies.

With the right planning and choosing the right accessories, your bedroom can turn into something that you have perhaps always dreamt of!

↧

Bring in the sunshine

February 24, 2016, 11:58 pm

≫ Next: Second tallest in the world

≪ Previous: Spruce the bedroom right

For those looking to infuse the home with a lot of natural light, there's no need to look further than skylights, states K S Someswara.

Today, when we design our homes, we look for ways that can make it more eco-friendly, whether it's in the choice of materials or methods used. And one of the first things we look at is how we can reduce our dependency on artificial lighting. A simple method of doing this by incorporating skylights in our home wherever we can. This is one of the easiest way to bring in more natural light into our homes and reduce the dependence on artifical lighting.

Skylights are essentially a light-transmitting fenestration that form a part of the roof (or in some cases, takes up all of the roof space). These include roof windows, tubular daylight and slope glaze. The materials used are transparent or semi-transparent, which facilitate sunlight to come into the interiors.

Natural light makes a space look bright and cheerful, making it appear larger. Skylight provides an unusual view of the sky, especially on bright starry nights and during full moon days. Security grills can be easily fixed wherever necessary, as per convenience.
There are several studies that have indicated the benefits of skylights. For instance, one's work performance is known ito improve significantly under natural lighting. Additionally, sunlight is a natural disinfectant that can reduce the build up of mould and bacteria in our homes.

Spoilt for choice

Skylights are traditionally made of either glass or plastic infill systems. Glass infill skylights are made using insulated glass units (in pairs where one is of low emission). This gives a balancing effect to ensure optimal solar heat gain efficiency. On the other hand, plastic infill systems are usually thermally-formed domes. They are UV stabilised and may also have additional features to improve thermal properties.

There are many varieties and sizes of skylights to choose from, according to your home's needs. As they are integrated into the ceiling or roof construction, they can be installed in any space such as the living room, kitchen, or even the corridor.

Some of the popular varieties include:

* Roof windows: These are more like a large window suitable for studios and penthouses with a slope ceiling. They are also useful in reading and writing spaces. A roof window in a bedroom makes it appear larger.

* Sun tunnels: It is a good alternative to traditional skylight. This allows natural light into the bathroom, hallway and closets. They are easy to install.

* Tubular daylighting device (TDD): A light tube that is installed at the roof level, it transmits light to a particular place inside. It is able to transmit visible light through opaque walls and the roof with the help of modern technology. Here, the tube itself is a passive component consisting of either a simple reflective interior coating or a light -conducting optic bundle. They are frequently capped with a transparent roof-mounted zone called 'light collector' and terminated with a different assembly that lets daylight inside and distributes it evenly.

* Heliostats: In this type of skylight, moveable mirrors automatically reflect sunlight as the sun moves across the sky. This is fast gaining popularity as an energy-efficient lighting.

* Smart glass: Here, the materials can be switched between a transparent and an opaque state. Translucent reflectors or retro-reflectors will provide natural lighting. Switching is done by applying a voltage to the material or by using optic fibre cables embedded in the
concrete walls.

* Hybrid solar: A roof-mounting light collector with large optic fibres, it uses modified, efficient fluorescent lighting fixtures that have transparent rods. This is essentially a non-electric utility in day lighting.

* Solarium: It is basically a glass-enclosed porch or room, it includes greenhouses, sun rooms, etc.

Sense of openness

Skylights are the best ways to highlight certain areas in your home. For instance, placing a sheet of glass over the courtyard can work wonders. This allows immense natural light to flood into the home. Not only does this create a sense of openness at home, but also provides protection against nature's adverse conditions.

If you want to get creative, you can use skylights made of stained glass, slightly tinted glass or glass blocks. When the light falls on the design, it will give the space a decorative and distinctive look.

With so many materials and options available today, incorporating a skylight into your home is among the best ways of enhancing your home's appeal immensely. So, what are you waiting for? Let the light come in, naturally!

↧

Second tallest in the world

February 25, 2016, 12:12 am

≫ Next: Beirut's stacked residential tower

≪ Previous: Bring in the sunshine

The tallest building in China and the second tallest building in the world, designed by the American architecture firm Gensler, has been completed. The Shanghai Tower in China was ready towards the end of 2015 and stands 632 metres tall, becoming only the third building in the world to achieve the 'megatall' (600-plus metres) status.

As Shanghai is on a seismic belt and the construction site is in a river basin, a firm foundation for this skyscraper was critical. To firm up the ground, engineers put 980 foundation piles underground and then poured concrete to set a 20-foot-thick baseboard for anchoring the main building.

As the third tower in the trio of signature skyscrapers at the heart of Shanghai's Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone, the Shanghai Tower embodies a new prototype for tall buildings. Placed in close proximity to Jin Mao Tower and Shanghai World Financial Centre, the new tower soars high above the skyline with its curved facade and spiralling form. But its twisting form goes beyond just creating a unique appearance; wind tunnel tests confirm a 24 per cent saving in structural wind loading when compared with a rectangular building of the same height. The tower twists about one degree per floor to offset the wind effect at higher altitude, helping the tall building withstand Shanghai's frequent typhoons.

The tower also incorporates numerous green architecture elements, and its owners have received certifications from the China Green Building Committee and the US Green Building Council for the building's sustainable design.

The Shanghai Tower sports two glass facades, an inner one and an outer one, like overlapping 'tubes'. The space between the two tubes varies from three feet to 33 feet,
providing more public space inside the building. The space also functions as a heat insulation layer like in a thermos flask.

↧

Beirut's stacked residential tower

February 25, 2016, 12:16 am

≫ Next: Scots high on wind power

≪ Previous: Second tallest in the world

Dutch firm Orange Architects recently completed work on a distinctive residential tower in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Rising to a height of 50 metres (164 feet), The Cube comprises 14 stacked volumes that rotate 90 degrees per level, offering generous sheltered balconies to its residents.

Based in a suburb east of the ancient city, The Cube is quite interesting structurally. It consists of a fixed core which contains the elevators and staircases, crossed by concrete girders. There are no constraints on the layout of the apartments due to the fixed core with lifts and staircases at the heart of the building, explained the firm, stating that the floors run straight from the core to the facades. Both the crossing girders and the core serve to stabilise the tower, an extra challenging task in a seismologically active area, they added.

The Cube comprises a total floor space of 5,600 square metres (60,277 sq feet), which is split between 19 luxury apartments. The homes range in size from 117 to 234 square metres and boast of large terraces with views of the Mediterranean and the city's skyline.
Parking is provided in an underground garage, while a large section of the building hangs impressively over the main entrance. The Cube was commissioned by Lebanese developers Masharii. Construction began in May 2011 and was completed in October 2015.

↧

Scots high on wind power

February 25, 2016, 12:21 am

≫ Next: This locality sure holds promise

≪ Previous: Beirut's stacked residential tower

Wind generated enough power to supply the electrical needs of 97 per cent of Scottish households during 2015, figures published recently have revealed.

Analysis by WWF Scotland of data provided by Weather Energy found that a record final month of 2015 ended a "huge year" for wind and solar power in Scotland in which the contribution of wind power was calculated to be up by 16 per cent on the previous year.

For the month of December, wind power generated enough power to supply over 100 per cent of Scottish households on 29 of the 31 days. It also generated the equivalent of 63 per cent of Scotland's entire electricity needs (including homes, business and industry) for the month. When looking at data for the whole of 2015, wind turbines provided a record amount of electricity to the National Grid — enough to supply, on average, the electrical needs of 2.34 million homes. This represents an increase of 16 per cent compared with 2014.

It also provided enough power to supply over 100 per cent of Scottish household needs during six out of the 12 months and generated the equivalent of 41 per cent of Scotland's entire electricity needs for the year.

WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said that the use of renewables in Scotland had curbed millions of tonnes of carbon emissions, and called on all political parties to put forward policies to make Scotland the European Union's first fully renewable electricity nation by 2030.

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This locality sure holds promise

February 25, 2016, 12:33 am

≫ Next: Something about bamboo...

≪ Previous: Scots high on wind power

Despite the many problems that plague Mahadevapura, this area has a lot of potential for overall growth, thanks to its location and demographics, finds out Pooja Mahesh.

A decade or so ago in Bengaluru, no one would have ever given a second thought to investing or living in its outskirts. However, with the IT boom, a few of these outskirt areas have expanded and developed beyond recognition. One such area is Mahadevapura, which is located close to Whitefield. From an industrial space, this area has transformed into a prime residential and commercial space for the IT workforce. As a result, Mahadevapura has become a go-to residential place and houses a multicultural mix of residents.

The locality first gained prominence during the mid-90s, when the International Technology Park, Bengaluru (ITPB) developed. As a result, the locality witnessed rapid growth and became one of the preferred locations for both IT companies and their workforce. "Hence, the real estate in this locality and large land parcels of agricultural land were converted into multi-storied buildings that soon became IT parks, commercial complexes and residential apartments," explains Arvind Kapoor, director, India operations at Colliers India.

Furthermore, its close proximity to Whitefield attracted a lot of interest from both developers and buyers. "With the area being close to areas that have a high density of IT hubs like Marathahalli, Sarjapur and Indiranagar, it made Mahadevapura a preferred residential micro-market," adds Shveta Jain, MD - residential, Cushman & Wakefield.

Most of the area's residential growth can be attributed to the large number of BPO/IT/ITeS employees needing accommodation in and around areas near their workplaces. Due to this, the real estate sector in Mahadevapura has grown significantly in a very short time. "When ITPB began in 1996, the land prices were around Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 per sq ft.
Today, the same is being sold at Rs 7,000 to Rs 10,000 per sq ft," states Arvind.

"Purchase-wise, a two-BHK comes in the range of Rs 70 lakh onwards and a three-BHK starts from Rs 80 lakh," adds Suresh Hari, secretary, CREDAI. If you are looking to rent, the price varies between Rs 20,000 and Rs 30,000 for a two-BHK and between Rs 30,000 and Rs 45,000 for a three-BHK. It is very rare to see independent homes here due to the large scale development that has taken place already.

Root cause

Much of the infrastructure development, both social and commercial, that has taken place is due to the emergence of the IT sector in this part of town that has significantly changed the locality's landscape. With constant changes taking place for the better every other day, there is always something new that the area presents. These developments include schools such as Brigade International School and Euro School, hospitals such as NationWide Primary Healthcare Services and Prakruti Hospital, and malls such as Phoenix Market City, Inorbit Mall and the recently opened VR Mall. For groceries, there are several supermarkets present in and around the vicinity.

One of the biggest advantages that Mahadevapura offers is connectivity. It is easily connected to various parts of the City via the ITPB Main Road and Outer Ring Road. Furthermore, prominent areas such as Indiranagar, Whitefield, Marathahalli, Sarjapur Road and MG Road are all within a 10 km distance from Mahadevapura.

Additionally, the proposed construction of the Whitefield metro station will significantly help in the area's growth and increase its connectivity. There is also excellent bus connectivity at frequent intervals to all the major areas of the City. However, not all bus stands are ideally located.

Problem areas

Travel has also been made a bit more arduous by the recurring menace that plagues almost every part of Bengaluru — traffic. This is compounded by the lack of proper roads and an inefficient traffic management system. "The sudden increase in the population in the area and also of those travelling to Whitefield has made it a commuter's nightmare. Traffic snarls of the area are now impacting the corporates as well as home buyers, giving a good dent to realty appreciation. These changes have occurred due to lack of planning and are posing serious threats to the residents here," opines Pratik K Mehta, managing
director, Unishire.

However, when the proposed Mekhri Circle-Hope Farm junction signal-free route is implemented, it will ease commute to some extent and offer some relief to commuters.

As the locality developed rather rapidly over a short period of time, it has resulted in congestion and water scarcity in some regions. Also, as the area faces acute traffic during the peak hours of the day, noise pollution is another menace. However, despite the problems that plague Mahadevapura, the area holds promise and is expected to grow better.

It is also expected to see a traditional growth realty-wise. "With global economy seeing signs of improvement, the connected investments in various sectors will improve the market sentiments overall. Holding on to the investment will be wise due to expected increase in the next couple of years," advises Suresh. So, hold on tight, as Mahadevapura looks to prosper for the better and overcome its faults.

Resident speak : Himanshu Kumar

'We need a proper traffic management system'

I have been living in Mahadevapura since 2013. The area is centrally located between major IT hubs like Whitefield and Outer Ring Road (ORR), and is close to the KR Puram Railway station as well. Connectivity to all major corners of the City, like Electronic City and the International Airport is excellent via the ORR.

People who stay here are mostly software professionals who work in the nearby IT companies in ITPL, Whitefield and Marathahalli.

Although there are a few aspects that can be liked, overall, the area has been badly designed and ill-maintained. Since I have moved in, the roads have deteriorated and have taken a turn for the worse.

As Mahadevapura connects ORR & Whitefield, most of the motorists use it to avoid the peak hour traffic that occurs at the Kundanahalli Junction. It's a nightmare to drive or even walk on the road, as there is no pedestrian walk.

We need to get the roads asphalted, have a divider and proper traffic management system in place. Although the area is very close to ORR, the nearest BMTC stop is around two kilometres away, which makes it difficult for the residents to use the services.

There are no good parks or educational institutes in the vicinity. However, there are a few supermarkets and malls in close proximity.

Some upcoming residential projects

* Ozone Promenade - Ozone Group
* Samudhrika Sunshine - Rahman Builders
* Elegant Four Seasons - legant Properties
* Vibha Samruddhi - Vibha onstructions

↧

Something about bamboo...

February 25, 2016, 12:43 am

≫ Next: A fetish for fitness and food

≪ Previous: This locality sure holds promise

A natural, eco-friendly material, bamboo is used today in just about everything, from furniture to cutlery. However, if you are wondering how it can work for your home, Indrani Mukherjiee has some worthwhile suggestions to offer.

Our relationship with bamboo spans several centuries, and cultures as well. The way we approach and use bamboo has evolved over the years, although the reach of bamboo is in every facet of our life. Today, even in the 21st century, this tall grass is considered to be a symbol of friendship in India. In the vedas, it is known as the plant of eternity or kalpabriksha.

Bamboo is highly versatile and has a higher compressive strength than wood, brick or concrete and a tensile strength that rivals steel. Additionally, it helps in control of soil erosion and produces more oxygen (around 20 per cent) and absorbs more carbon dioxide than any tree.

Myriad uses

Not only does it promote eco-diversity, bamboo is also environment friendly when used as a furniture option. If you are unsure as to how bamboo can be used at your home, here are a few ways to help you get started:

* Lucky charm — According to Feng Shui, bamboo plants represent the
elements of water, wood and earth. This plant is one of the most recognisable and popular feng shui cures. Also, it is said that it can attract auspicious chi energy. Since the bamboo plant is strong, it can energise your home.

* Kitchen favourite — Bamboos have long been a favourite in kitchens in its many forms. One of the most popular forms to enter the kitchen space is the bamboo cutting board. Apart from helping knives stay sharp, these boards are incredibly stylish and are much easier to clean than the regular plastic ones. Bamboo is also a popular material that is used in traditional Asian kitchenware such as steamers and cutlery sets.

They are also used to make the skewer sticks that hold the barbecued dishes together and the popular Asian cutlery, chopsticks. Other bamboo-based wares include spatulas, turners and forks that are largely used in southeast Asian countries, including India. As opposed to the plastic-based kitchenware, those made of bamboo are completely natural and hygienic to use.

* Popular staple — Don't let its tough exterior fool you, as bamboo shoots have been a popular food staple in Asia for centuries. They are served either fresh, dried, shredded, pickled, braised or curried. In fact, bamboo shoots are considered a delicacy in Coorg, Karnataka and northeast India. Also, bamboo shoots are rich in protein.

Bamboo rice is another popular food (particularly in southeast Asia), where-in the rice is cooked in a freshly cut bamboo, known to be rich in vitamins.

In India, there are many tribes who have been cooking chicken and seafood in bamboo for many years.

* Putting away odours — Bamboo charcoal is a versatile material that can be used as an air freshener. When finely ground, it naturally kills odours in refrigerators and other closed places such as closets or cabinets. Given that the percentage of pores in bamboo charcoal is high, it is ideal for water purification too.

* Furniture & decor — This is perhaps one of the most elegant and chic ways to use bamboo. In terms of furniture, there are bamboo sofas, dressers and so much more. Due to its natural look, it is much sought-after by many homeowners. In fact, bamboo is the most economical material available today and makes for a great investment.
If you are looking for something beyond the traditional furniture, you can take a look at bamboo bags and smaller craft items like pen stands and flower vases for your decor. Another decor option that is worth considering is bamboo light fittings. Although they are available in many designs in the market, you also have the option to customise them according to your choice.

* Affordable flooring & blinds — Bamboo flooring offers an affordable and stylish option. This type of flooring is known for its durability, strength, eco-friendliness as well as its natural resistance to insects and moisture. Additionally, it is easy to maintain.

Bamboo roll up blinds are a versatile addition to any window, as they fit in with every decor and are available in a wide variety of sizes. Besides, they are easy to hang and operate.

* A place to party — In case you are considering dedicating a portion of your garden or terrace into a party area, bamboo is the ideal material to build a miniature gazebo, sit-out or tikki bar. And with that, you can showcase a unique party place that everyone is sure to love.

* Fencing — Traditionally, nothing looks as great as a bamboo fencing (which has been our choice for ages). The unavailability of skilled manpower and the restrictions in cutting and selling bamboo has almost pushed us to look for alternatives. Also, rapid urbanisation has erased the beauty of bamboo fences from our minds. In the West, there are readymade bamboo fencing rolls available online as a DIY kit. It's high time we get a similar solution for the Indian market.

These are just a few ways in which bamboo can be incorporated into your home. However, with something that is as versatile as bamboo, it can be made into almost anything! Blessed as it's with so many eco-friendly and tensile features, it is time to look at bamboo as a better alternative to the traditional materials we use at home.

(The author is co-founder & MD, feelbambu.com & Bamboooz)

↧

A fetish for fitness and food

February 25, 2016, 12:56 am

≫ Next: Apt for the solo traveller

≪ Previous: Something about bamboo...

My weekends usually start at seven in the morning (that is if I am not shooting), which is followed by my regular gym sessions. Even though I work out everyday, on the weekends, I make it a priority to eat right and exercise — be it cardio, pilates, weight training or attending dance classes.

I have to do something on one of the three days, it doesn't matter if it is a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

I feel good even when I know that other people are partying away. And if I want to cheat on my diet, I would do it on a weekday rather than on a weekend. I avoid parties and alcohol and prefer a cleaner, healthier and relaxed weekend where I can rest and sleep well before I start a busy week again.

Since I live away from my family, spending time with friends takes most part of my weekend. I am not a party person, so I prefer staying at home reading scripts or usually meeting friends. They come over to my place or we all meet up at a friend's place.

Ilove watching movies. If I'm at home, I catch up on the old films that I have missed. If I have company, I go to a theatre and watch a recently-released movie. Moreover, now that we have Netflix, it's pretty cool since we can watch as many shows and movies as we want. Since there are three cinema theatres in the same vicinity where Istay, Iam usually seen in one of them every weekend.

My ideal weekend would be about going on a nice drive out of the city, or doing something adventurous like skydiving. I look for places in and around Mumbai where they have paintball or similar activities and go for it.

Being a foodie, it is always good to have a great meal. Italian cuisine is my favourite but I believe that it is the most fattening as well. Even when it comes to their desserts like gelato, they are insanely fattening. Nevertheless, nothing can take away my love for it. I think if I have to cheat on my diet, Iwill either have 'Uncle Chips' or go to Italy and have a 'four cheese pizza' in Rome. Food is my life. As friends are all I have in Mumbai, Ihang out with them in malls most of the time. This doesn't mean that shopping occupies most of my time. Unless Ihave something particular to buy, I don't like to spend time shopping.

During weekends when I have all the time for myself, I do a lot of cooking. What Ihave realised is that healthy cooking should be done on our own. I love making mushrooms, quinoa and salads, they are healthy.

Apart from cooking, I love reading (my favourite authors are Sidney Sheldon and Paulo Coelho), horse riding and swimming. I really like to indulge myself in these activities during the weekends.

I also engage myself in a lot of research (if you tell me about something now, like a story, I will go back home and do a research on it) and watch a lot of documentaries. I believe you don't get knowledge just by education. After I did a movie with Saif Ali Khan, I realised that there are still a lot of things that I am not aware of, which is a good thing.

Being ready to learn something new always is a positive outlook. Saif has inspired me to learn more and know more. Back home in Delhi, we have two dogs but unfortunately, I don't have any pets in Mumbai since I stay alone. Our pets Crystal and Nawab are family to us. So when I am in Delhi, it is definitely a party scene. I go out shopping with them and my days are spent in their company. I know that when my sister gets married, Crystal and Nawab's names are going to be on the wedding card for sure. My family is crazy enough to do that.

Since Idon't get enough time to spend with my family, I visit them whenever Ican, even if it is for two or three days. There have been times when I have gone to Delhi and come back the same day, because I hadn't seen my family for over eight to nine months. But I don't want them to come to Mumbai, I'll get distracted!

On a weekend, when I am not working, I just keep doing different things. Ilove to
constantly keep myself engrossed with something or the other.

A few of my favourite things

* Hand sanitiser
* Lip balm
* Laptop
* Books

(As told to Surupasree Sarmmah)

↧

Apt for the solo traveller

February 25, 2016, 1:01 am

≫ Next: 'My best is yet to come'

≪ Previous: A fetish for fitness and food

The popularity of the solo travelling concept has gained further traction in the virtual world, with specific mobile apps launched to offer people easy connectivity. The closely-knit group of solo travellers can now converse with like-minded people, by accessing travel apps like 'WeTravelSolo', 'Wandermates' and 'Bagpackers'.

Whereas travelling apps are plenty, each is trying to carve its own niche. Especially the domain of solo travelling has attracted not only the app visualisers, but also most travellers. These applications have taken solo travelling to a level where it is possible to fuse travelling and socialising. The thrill-seeking solo travellers utilise these apps, in order to fetch like-minded strangers, who could possibly accompany them in their next travel venture.

Skyscanner, a global travel search company providing free search of flights, hotels and car hire did a survey on solo travellers in 2015.

The survey revealed that 70 per cent of Indian women travellers have either gone
on a solo trip or are planning one.

The survey, which studied the travel habits of Indian travellers, highlighted that 37 per cent of Indian women travellers have done a solo trip while 33 per cent are open to the idea of travelling solo.

Priyanka Gera, 33, a real estate professional, has been travelling in solo and in packs since she was 18. Recently she started using apps to fulfil her travelling plans. She used the 'WeTravelSolo' app, consecutively five times in the last year.

What 'WeTravelSolo' does is sort of not what the name suggests. It is not for people travelling solo, but rather uniting different 'lonely' travellers going to one destination.

"It is encouraging to see that Indian women are increasingly breaking stereotypes and travelling alone. The results reveal that Indian women solo travellers prefer domestic destinations as much as overseas ones. At the same time, there is an opportunity to further promote Indian destinations to solo travellers all over the world," says Kavitha Gnanamurthy, senior marketing manager, Skyscanner India.

This is yet another opportunity in time of virtual connectivity — taking it beyond the social media circle interaction.

The smartphone use has only made it possible for all the travel junkies to connect through the many apps.

"I love travelling, sometimes I just like to do it alone. Through the app, I connected with a guide who on my request helped me craft my tour," says Priyanka.

She says it was different than travelling completely alone, which has its own perks. "Through these apps you can meet like-minded people. Many times people ask what is like-minded and how'd I know. I figured that these apps are designed in a way that only people who love travelling and share likings to know more about a place, join it. That is the least common attribute you can share with the other solo travellers," explains Priyanka.

According to her, the adventure and exploration becomes four folds if one meets likeminded people.

"You can meet someone in a party for a night, but you cannot share the same amount of knowledge and experience as you can share while travelling together for two days or more," she adds.

The guide provided or rather chosen by the clients from 'WeTravelSolo', helps
to break the ice amongst the solo travellers such that within a day they are paly
and chatty. Priyanka adds, "At the same time, one can remain completely solo if they prefer so."

Deepak Sharma, 32, also took a few trips with 'WeTravelSolo', which is more prominent in India for the purpose of meeting 'likeminded people' to travel with. He says, "They don't have a strict schedule and also craft your trip in a way that helps you save more money."
Priyanka, who previously used platforms like 'MakeMyTrip' and 'Yatra', says, "The itinerary is so rigid unlike the ones designed by the new players in the market. They don't decide for you, they suggest but you can actually make a much more relaxed and cost-effective trip."

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'My best is yet to come'

February 25, 2016, 1:05 am

≫ Next: Riding on the dunes

≪ Previous: Apt for the solo traveller

Sonam Kapoor's portrayal of Neerja Bhanot in biopic 'Neerja' has been hailed as her finest performance so far but the actress, who felt a close affinity with her character, says her best is yet to come.

"I have a lot to learn. I hope and pray that this is not my best yet. I want my best to be much later because otherwise then there will be a crescendo," Sonam said.

The actress says playing the young flight attendant, who died trying to save the lives of 350-odd passengers on a hijacked Pan Am aircraft in 1986, was an emotional journey.

"When I started shooting for the film, I never thought Neerja is someone else because if I would have thought that, I would have never done justice to the role. It was more of a catharsis for me. I was always thinking 'How would I have responded in such a situation'. There are certain things which she stood for and I also imbibe them."

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Riding on the dunes

February 25, 2016, 1:14 am

≫ Next: Interesting acts on stage

≪ Previous: 'My best is yet to come'

It takes decades to unravel the mysteries of India, but as travel bugs, my husband and I like that challenge. Also, our hectic software jobs give us reason enough to get away from the City. We aim to explore one state every year on our bike. A bike trip to the monument-dotted Rajasthan last year remains evergreen in my memory.

We flew to Jaipur and collected our bike, a Thunderbird Bullet, 350 cc, from a friend's place. Our first stop was 'Jantar Mantar'. The collection of architectural wonders, built a century ago for astronomical purposes, made me think about the advancement of our civilisation. We covered 70 km the next day travelling to Amber Fort, Jaigarh Fort, 'Hawa Mahal' and Nahargarh Fort — all in Jaipur.

Located in Amer, Amber Fort's cobbled paths took us to 'Diwaan-e-Khaas' and 'Sheesh Mahal', known for its exquisite glass work. 'Jaigarh Palace' was another treasure house for it has the world's largest wheeled canon with barrel measuring about 20 feet.

After a hearty lunch, we left for the 'Hawa Mahal'. Though intricate and beautiful from outside, we didn't find anything really impressive about the interiors. The sunset at Nahargarh Fort, a fort which scales through the old town of Jaipur and up the hill, was like a bride dancing in the pink sky. I feel sunsets bring out the artist in every person and this holds true for the Pink City.

We also witnessed an evening procession at 'Moti Dungari Ganesh Mandir' and strolled through the markets of Jaipur. From there, we went to Jodhpur via Ajmer and Pushkar. We also visited a famous 'dargah', explored a Brahma temple and stopped at the holy ghats in Jodhpur after which we rode to Pokhran and gorged on 'mirchi vada' and 'chai' - the most loved breakfast of Rajasthanis. Mehrangarh Fort, which sits majestically above the blue city of Jodhpur, is also a sight to behold. It is surrounded by a sizable number of houses in blue and the Fort has artefacts of a bygone era.

A Rajasthan trip cannot end without visiting Jaisalmer. So from Pokhran, we paid a visit to the war memorial, about 25 km ahead of Jaisalmer. The memorial commemorated the Indo-Pak War of 1971 and there, we saw war artefacts too. Interestingly, we experienced our first rain in a desert as well.

The Jaisalmer Fort is a splendid structure and the only live-in fort in Rajasthan. It houses guest houses, restaurants, shops and the palace. We also visited the glorious 'Pathwon Ki Haweli' and had a glimpse of how the Pathwon community celebrated life. We were already drunk on historical stories but were ready for more. So we went to Tanot. Legend has it that during the Indo-Pak War, several bombs were dropped over the area but the bomb which fell on the 'mandir' didn't explode. The Indian Army, it is said, believes in the supernatural powers of the Goddess. In Jaisalmer, we went on a 'desert' safari and visited the abandoned Kuldhara village and a natural lake which never goes dry! A camel took us deep into the dunes and after a nice sunset. We slept here with no fear, listening to Rajasthani folk songs rendered by caretakers. Next morning, I woke up to the silence and again got ready to explore the place. We had an authentic Rajasthani 'thali' and visited 'Bada Bagh', the royal cemetery. Our day ended with a wonderful puppet show at the Desert Cultural Center and Museum. From Jaisalmer, we rode to Kumbalgarh. It was our longest ride wherein we covered 460 km in a single day! Since the route from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer was in a good condition, we decided to ride back on the same path to reach Kumbalgarh. About 100 km after Jodhpur, we saw a change in vegetation. Lush green fields with flowering plants and streams were everywhere! On our way, we also saw many people in pink. It seemed like they had played 'Holi'. Later, we understood that it was the annual procession of 'Charbhujnathji'. We took a detour to experience it. After that, we rode out to Kumbalgarh and had to stay in a damp dormitory but enjoyed being in the thick Aravalli Hill ranges. Next morning, we visited Kumbalgarh Fort. Although none of the royal artefacts are available for public viewing, the views of the hill ranges around is reason enough for people to pay a visit. Our final destination was Udaipur. After some 'khakras', 'pakodas' and ginger tea at our friend's place (where we stayed), we set out to explore Udaipur. True to its name, you had to be a royalty to enjoy all the places. It was a costly place. The City Palace had the most royal artefacts than any other fort we had visited and the paintings were worth the price. In the morning, we visited the 'Fateh Sagar Lake', a tranquil locale, and headed to the Monsoon Palace on the hill top. We had a taste of some splendid folk performances at 'Shilpa Gram'.

The most memorable event in Udaipur was the folk show at 'Bagore Ki Haveli'. Ever since we were in Rajasthan, we had heard the refrain - 'Garh-on mein garh - Chittorgarh!' So we were curious to see the fort in Chittorgarh. It has more stories and legends than any other place in Rajasthan. The stories of Queen Padmini, Meera Bai, Panna Dai and Jauhar made us imagine how courageous the dynasty of Chittor was. On our way back to Bengaluru, we rode through Baroda, Lonavala and Belagavi and brought with us a bag full of memories and some souvenirs. It was magical how a part of history still lives on in a corner despite the progress it has made.

How to get there

* We took an IndiGo flight from Bengaluru to Jaipur. The fare was Rs 3,750 per person. The rest of the trip was on bike. We approximately covered 3800 km.

Where to stay

* Umaid Bhavan Hotel, a four-star hotel in Jaipur. The tariff per night was Rs 5,000 for two people.
* Surya Guest House in Jaisalmer. The tariff was Rs 500 for two for three nights.

(For details, email ashwini.ganapathibhat@gmail.com)

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Interesting acts on stage

February 25, 2016, 1:20 am

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Theatre artistes Roy Sinai, Vandana Prabhu and Swetanshu Bora will present director Arundhati Raja's production, 'At Home At The Zoo', across the City as part of The Deccan Herald Theatre Festival.

Originally written by Edward Albee in 1958, it was first rejected by producers in New York. The play premiered in West Berlin in 1959 and subsequently in an off-Broadway production in 1960. Since then, it has been a perennial favourite with theater companies and has been performed throughout the world.

The plot reflects life. These reflections are distorted and the plot questions the very idea of happiness.

The first act, 'Homelife' talks about the character Peter, who has a comfortable job as an editor in a publishing house.

He and his wife Ann have a good marriage and the duo are happy until Ann walks away. In the second act, ' The Zoo', Peter decides to go to the park to regain some comfort and meets Jerry, who is full of stories and looking for someone to talk to. The plot revolves around Peter's life which is turned upside down after his marriage.

Members of 'Gnatak' will perform 'The Leader/ Krapp's Last Tape' on February 27, 7.30 pm, at Chowdiah Memorial Hall. Both plays are directed by Michael Joseph. 'The Leader' is originally written by Eugene Ionesco and 'Krapp's Last Tape' is written by Samuel Beckett.
'The Leader' is a satire on mass adulation of political leaders. The play revolves around the group of people who are waiting for their leader. The announcer leads the celebration. He awaits the leader and calls out his mundane actions through the use of character typage. The play highlights absurdist and existential teams of non-personalisation and loss of identity.

'Krapp's Last Tape' is about a man called Krapp, who on his 69th birthday, reviews the year gone by recording his reflection on an old spool tape. Unable to bear the present reality, he submerges himself in the past. Through this play, Beckett paints a portrait of impotent desire by capturing the futility of Krapp. It revolves around the juxtaposition between technology and human emotions and how absurd life actually becomes.

The play will be staged on February 26, 7.30 pm, at Ranga Shankara, JP Nagar and on 27 and 28, 7.30 pm, at Jagriti Theatre, Whitefield. Tickets are available at the Deccan Herald office, www.bookmyshow.com and at the venues.

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Allaying the fear factor

February 25, 2016, 1:56 am

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It's that time of the year when students have their heads buried in text books, preparing for their 10th and 12th standard Board examinations.

While some seem pretty confident, there are others who are a little nervous as these exams are considered the 'most important exam' of a student's life. During such stressful times, it is always helpful to take advice from someone more experienced and 'talk it out', be it with parents, teachers or someone one trusts.

Airesh Bhat, a second Pre-University student of AECS Magnolia Maaruti PU College, says, "My aim is not to score 100 percent. I am aware of my capabilities and I don't want to stress or pressure myself. I have set a time table and there are targets that I have to achieve. In case I cannot complete my target, I make sure to complete that the next day, before I start on the other subjects."

A Science student, he finds Chemistry a little challenging as he is not very fond of theory. However, Mathematics and Physics are subjects he loves.

Understanding the importance of sleep, he adds, "Imake sure I sleep for six hours a day and take ample breaks in between. When I take breaks I listen to music and relax my mind. I have been preparing for the IITentrance exams as well so in between my Board Exam preparations, I dedicate three hours to study for JEE."

Mathematics teacher Prakasha UR of Cambridge Public School adds, "Ihave prepared my students in the best possible way — making them revise last year's question papers and looking into sample question banks. Apart from this, Ihave given three preparatory tests for my students."

While teachers are doing their bit to prepare their students, counsellors are helping the students cope with various situations that accompany exam preparations.

Kala Balasubramanian, a counselling psychologist, says, "It's important for students to mentally prepare themselves. I have come across many youngsters who imagine the worst possible scenarios and stress themselves out further. It is basically peer pressure and pressure from parents that makes them anxious."

To help students prepare for their exams, she says, "There are plenty of ways students can prepare for the exams. Managing time is the key to everything. They should keep some time for every subject; this will help them complete on time and also give them time to relax. There is nothing called as 'last minute preparation', this is time for revisions." She also suggests some learning methods like making notes, mind maps, diagrams and creating mnemonics that can be used while studying. These methods are colourful and attract attention.

Sleep plays an important role. Apart from this, deep breathing techniques and intake of lots of water (not aerated drinks) can help a student calm down.

Dr Chittaranjan Andrade, professor and head of Department of Psychopharmacology at National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, says, "We get a lot of cases where parents come to us about their child, who aren't able to concentrate or learn the study material. This is not as simple as it actually is. Many a time, it is a case of learning disability or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. They visit us right before the examination, which is the wrong time as ideally, they should see us months before the exams. This happens because teachers and parents are unaware of the issue."

Suggesting coping mechanisms to deal with the stress, he adds, "The most important thing is to get good sleep and take breaks in between study sessions."

The most effective way to learn is to break up a chapter and study in chunks rather than memorising the entire chapter at one go. Rotation in subjects, he says, also keeps the mind fresh.

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A visual tale

February 25, 2016, 2:00 am

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An imaginative storyteller, Supriya Suriyanarayanan discards words when weaving tales. Instead, she allows her photographs to speak for themselves. They aren't your usual 'pretty pictures' that flood the online space; her frames are an articulate narrative of her travel experiences, the people she's met and their lives.

Unlike many, she doesn't walk around with a bucket list, ticking off places as and when she visits them. She'd rather forego the opportunity to visit a new country than miss the chance to get intimate with one area. "It's not about how many places I visit but how deeply I can understand the people, culture and values of one place. I'd rather go back to Ladakh and Spiti Valley many more times than somewhere new," she explains.

Ladakh and Spiti Valley hold a special place in her heart as, she says, these places 'blew her mind'. "I didn't like USA that much, though it's known for its scenic beauty, because it is nothing compared to Ladakh and Spiti Valley." And she plans to go back this year because, "Most people go to these places to take beautiful pictures but the locals in the pictures never see what has been taken. I want to go back and give them the pictures I took of them and see how they have changed."

But this doesn't mean she hasn't travelled far and wide. In fact, it's this wanderlust that brought her close to photography. "I bought my first DSLR last year, after I quit my job and decided to travel. As I am married, I couldn't take six months off at a stretch so I went to different places according to the season." Supriya lived the Portland for three months, which is when she and her husband explored the West Coast of the US — Portland to Los Angeles — and visited Big Sur, Redwood National and State Parks and more.

Last year, she found herself in different parts of Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Cuba, Portugal and most of South-East Asia. "Everywhere except for Laos, which I hope to visit this year. I also want to go to Portugal (again) and Spain." Narrating a funny incident, she says, "I visited Ladakh with a photography group and while everyone was busy taking pictures, I spent my time talking to the locals. One woman invited me to her house for some 'chai' and we started talking about random things. When I told her I like Shah Rukh Khan, she made a face and said she prefers Ajay Devgn. I don't think I've ever met anyone who likes him that much. She also asked me why I don't have kids even though I'm married and what I'm doing with my life!"

That wasn't the first time she was asked 'what are you doing with your life'. "My family wonders what my husband and I do because we have no savings as such, we spend it all on travel. And this is something I don't regret. We plan to retire by 45, have two beach side houses and travel!" More of a summer person, she wants to explore the world as much as possible, whenever she can.

But that doesn't mean she's going to turn photography into a career. "I love it too much to make it my career. I enjoy taking pictures as it's not just about the photographs, but the interactions I have with the people in them." She makes sure she listens to everyone's stories and gets to know them before memorialising them. Her camera acts as a medium to connect with people of all ages.

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