As the New Year knocks on the door, its time to draw a list of fresh trends and consider new opportunities involving art, architecture and cultural trends of the society. Architects need to know that trends play an important role in design work. The clients who come to them usually want unique designs and are influenced by the features they see in magazines or the homes of their friends or family and their desires. New collaborations, sustainable solutions and industry innovations are subtly changing the architecture of communities everywhere.

The following are some important trends that may be seen in 2018:

n Mixed-use development: This entails extreme operations integrated together to function coherently. Such type of urban planning blends multiple categories of development together to integrate both physically and functionally. This compact development emphasises a stronger neighbourhood character.

n Affordable public infrastructure: The upcoming trends for improvement of public infrastructure include re-development of railway stations, bus depots and low-cost airports. Due to the high concentration of mobility especially during the rush hour, the need for better utilisation of infrastructural networks forms a prerequisite for the economy. Affordable public infrastructure could be targeted through cross-subsidisation by means of revenue generation being integrated into the present scenario.

n Sustainability: A holistic understanding of sustainability and its expression in architecture is the key to contemporary living in modern times. The understanding of the Indian interpretation of sustainability enables us to lay emphasis on the local sustainability principles. Sustainable architecture strives to minimise the number of resources consumed in the buildings construction, use and operation. Sustainable features like a green roof, intelligent facades and solar architecture are environmentally sensitive designs with energy and ecologically conscious approach to the design of the built environment.

n Digital facades: The aesthetically striking digital facades offer a visual expression for modern cities. They provide an interactive platform for the citizens via lights and screens to share data, news and updates. A growing practice all around the world is to illuminate cities after dark.

Its been three days since Zoey Johnson - the oldest child in black-ish family, played by Yara Shahidi - departed for the fictional Cal U. And already, her father is a shell of a man, begging her to come home for the weekend. "Whyyyyyy???" Anthony Anderson, as the paterfamilias Dre, wails from the confines of his walk-in closet. "It hurts so bad."

"What hurts so bad, Dad?" Zoey asks with equal parts loving tolerance and eye-rolling disdain.

"My soul!" he whimpers.

But Zoey? Shes definitely too cool for school in grown-ish, a spin-off of her own that premiered on January 3. Until shes not. "In the very first scene, she is like every other moment: extremely confident in who she is and still kind of annoyed by her father," Shahidi said. "But pretty immediately its revealed that she has no clue what shes doing in college, and we kept Zoey amid that crisis. I think thats what the show really is about: how one forms relationships and their personal ethics in this new time."

Its a time that Shahidi, who turns 18 in February, is preparing for during a gap year before heading to Harvard. "Ive been acting since kindergarten," she said, "so I found it really important to take my time in this next step of my journey and appreciate it." Here are edited excerpts from the conversation:

When did you learn about the spin-off?

Its a funny story because I had just finished my college applications when my mama turned around to me and said, Oh, by the way, Kenya (Barris, the black-ish creator) called with an idea for a spin-off. And I looked at her twice - Did you just say what I think you said? - because I had never in my wildest dreams imagined a spinoff. But what I appreciate from a creative point of view is just how flawed Zoey can be.

What can we expect from grown-ish?

Zoey is battling pretty immediately with drugs and alcohol on campus. And later on were discussing safe spaces within diverse communities, and how do we ensure that we all feel protected when we talk about the differences in our experiences?

Will your TV parents be crossing over?

Yes, you do see my TV parents, and you see me on black-ish as well. grown-ish is very distinctly Zoeys journey, but its not as though she is some lost child.

Not only are you going to Harvard, but also Michelle Obama famously wrote a college recommendation letter for you.

Mrs. Obama knew how much of an advocate I am for girls and STEM in terms of equal access to education, and I was able to be a part of the White House Science Fair. And on the International Day of the Girl (we were) Skyping girls from Peru, Jordan and Tanzania. So, Ive been really fortunate in not only having a platform but a fantastic support system.

Your father is Iranian, your mother is African-American, and youve called yourself "black-ish." How has that affected your career?

As a biracial person, youre told that youre half of both, and being half is a really odd feeling. The way Ive approached it is that Im fully Iranian and fully black, and they coexist in one body. Ive seen myself within both cultures, and I feel inspiration from both. At the same time, Ive heard from many a person that I cant audition to be an Iranian person - people just dont see me as one. And a lot of times people that look similar to me are the representation of blackness in the mainstream media, and it can be very exclusionary. My goal is to not only do my best to represent but then to be a part of the other sides of the narrative in terms of expanding peoples view of blackness and not making it monolithic.

The New York Times

The Polka King

It is directed by Maya Forbes and Wallace Wolodarsky and arrives January 12. As it stars Jack Black, ones first surmise might be that its Blacks patch on John Candy and Eugene Levys Schmenge Brothers, polka-musician characters first seen on SCTV. It is not. Rather, its a fact-based comedy-drama about Jan Lewan, already the subject of a 2009 documentary, who combined music with a Ponzi scheme to realise his ambition to rule polka and make more money than anyone who had previously ruled polka had ever dreamed of. The movie was well received when it played at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.

Step Sisters

On January 19, theres Step Sisters, a collegiate drama directed by Charles Stone III. Its plot linchpin is, yes, step dancing. Stone did a pretty good job with the 2002 Nick Cannon film Drumline, which was about a marching band, so he might do the trick similarly here.

A Futile and Stupid Gesture

It is a movie title born of a phrase well-known to devotees of the 1978 comedy milestone National Lampoons Animal House. It was coined by Doug Kenney, a comedy wunderkind with a genuinely unusual personality who was one of the movies screenwriters and a founding editor at National Lampoon. Fittingly the phrase serves as the title of Kenneys biopic, directed by comedy stalwart David Wain. Based on the book by Josh Karp, it stars Will Forte and features a bevy of contemporary comedy figures playing the real-life performers who went on to fame with Animal House and Saturday Night Live. Joel McHale plays Chevy Chase, Natasha Lyonne is Anne Beatts, Thomas Lennon portrays Michael ODonoghue and Seth Green is Christopher Guest. The movie has its premiere on January 26.

When We First Met

Directed by Ari Sandel and starring Alexandra Daddario and Robbie Amell, When We First Met looks quite a bit more ordinary. The plot hook for this rom-com fantasy is that Amell, after what he considers a perfect first night with Daddario, is upset that he is relegated to "the friend zone", but he gets to travel back in time to alter the situation.

Benji

March brings a revival of the Benji franchise, with a brand-new film directed by Brandon Camp, the son of the series originator Joe Camp. Its produced by Jason Blum, who founded Blumhouse Productions, a company best known for horror pictures such as Get Out, Paranormal Activity, Sinister, Insidious and the attendant sequels. I doubt the prospects for a cute-dog-horror hybrid, though, and suspect a pre-emptive move to get a good childrens franchise going before Disney establishes its own streaming service.

Roxanne Roxanne

March and April bring a couple of films with African-American themes and stories. Roxanne Roxanne, which played at 2017s Sundance Film Festival and is scheduled to hit Netflix sometime in March, is about Lolita Gooden, who became a force in hip-hop under the name Roxanne Shante. Newcomer Chante Adams plays the rapper, while Nia Long plays her mother. Also featured are Mahershala Ali, who won an Oscar for Moonlight, and Adam Horovitz, the Beastie Boy known as Ad-Rock. The writer-director of this movie, Michael Larnell, also directed the well-received but little-seen 2015 film Cronies.

Come Sunday

Come Sunday, debuting April 13, stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as the Rev. Carlton Pearson, a graduate of Oral Roberts University whose ministry in the Pentecostal Church of God in Christ was jeopardised by his Gospel of Inclusion, which, among other things, cast doubt on the concept of a hell of eternal torture. Adapted from Heretics, an episode of This American Life (one of the movies producers is Ira Glass, the host and executive producer of that radio programme), the movie is directed by Joshua Marston, whose earlier pictures include Maria Full of Grace (2004) and The Forgiveness of Blood (2011), both of which showed a commendable sensitivity to cultural diversity.

The New York Times

Harmany at Harmonium habba

Harmonium is effectively used alongside Indian classical music. It is a popular, widely used accompaniment and occasionally we also hear Harmonium solo recitals. Many of our Hindustani vocalists are also harmonium players and it is widely used in semiclassical,
devotional and light music also. Stalwarts like Vittal Rao Koregawankar, Panchakshari Gavai, Puttaraj Gavai, Vasanth Kanakapura, Seshadri Gavai - are
some of the prominent Harmonium players of yesteryears.

So also in Carnatic music we had Arunachalappa, H Bhima Rao, Palladam Venkataramana Rao and in stage music artistes like Seshagiri Rao, R Paramashivan - have rendered yeomen services.

Pandith Rambhau Bijapure, a state Academy Award winner, was not only an outstanding harmonium player but also a great teacher. His birth centenary was celebrated last week by the Bijapure Harmonium Foundation, in a unique way. A Hundred Harmonium Ensemble (Shatha Samvadini Vaadana) lead by Dr Ravindra Gururaj Katoti - was probably the first of its kind and a fitting tribute to a great maestro.

Duet, trio, a quartet of harmonium, lecture demonstrations, a release of publications and CDs and felicitations were also held on the occasion.

Duet, ensemble, apart from solo harmonium recitals were held on Saturday evening.

An interesting duet of harmonium and sarangi were presented by Deepak Marathe and Sarfaraz Khan.

They chose rag
Rajeswari which attracted with its lilting melody. Kedar Naphades choice was popular raga Yaman.

He skillfully played it in teen thaal.

Tanmay Devthakke had selected Kaphi Sindhura
for his harmonium quartet.

They played with ease and confidence. In the final concert of the evening, senior advocate cum musician Ravindra Manes Janasammohiny was pleasing, throughout.

Divinely abled students
exhibit talent

Hamsakuteera Foundation is a rare institution serving the divinely abled (differently abled) children. Under the direction of Dr Geetha Bhat, a child mental health practitioner and a veena player, differently abled students are being trained in a scientific way. She is enriching their (differently abled) lives through music - especially through vocal, veena and rhythm. In the annual festival Naada Prayathna several such students exhibited their talent at Seva Sadana, on Saturday morning.

The ensemble of differently abled students opened their programme with a popular bhajan Shudda Bramha Partpara Rama. It was followed by a few well-known devotionals like Narayannathe Namo Namo of Annamacharya which helped to spread a divine-serene atmosphere in the auditorium.

Hari Hara Ninnana Mechisabahude was with meaningful lyrics in a satirical tone in the raga Sindubhairavi.

While Bhajamyaham was in the raga Hamsadwani, the Ramanamamu was tuned in Athana.

A bhajan of Bharati Teertha Swamijee and Namadeva were also included. Indeed, they sang in unison aligning well with sruti.

Pleasing
vocal and
veena ensemble

Among other students Dwadasha Gayakaru (12), sang Kamakshee Varalakshee pleasingly. Young Anasuya rendered evocatively a composition of Swati Tirunal in the raga Kaapi, 16 member ensemble opened their Veena recital with an attractive Pancha raga swarajathi followed by a piece in Mohana.

Kambodhi Swara Jathi(of Veena Seshanna) and Jalandhara of Jayachamaraja Wodeyar - were the choice of the veena trio.

Dr Geetha Bhat elaborated Shanmukhapriya, which was proof of her talent and good training.

J K Sridhar, S N Narayana Murthy, Prema V Dutt - accompanied on violin, mrudanga and rhythm pad, respectively. The Hamsa Kuteera deserves all help from the government and society.

Mysore V Subramanya

In a first of its kind study in India, scientists from Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) and National Institute of Solar Energy, New Delhi, conducted a detailed survey at 51 locations across India to check for the degradation in the performance of photovoltaic modules. This study, aimed to establish the reliability of these modules, could help India achieve the ambitious dream of 100 GW of solar energy by 2022. Researchers observed that photovoltaic modules degraded faster in hot places, on rooftops, and in installations of smaller size.

Cold climates ideal

Investment in solar energy in India is large and it is essential to evaluate the long-term performance of photovoltaic modules, since the energy yield over the years would determine the return on investment. Hot climate may cause yellowing and failure in solder joints, and improper handling of modules may cause micro-cracks in solar cells.

Such degradation causes energy yield to reduce. "The important thing is not just how much power is installed (GW), but how much energy (GW-hr or kWh) the photovoltaic modules generate over the estimated 25 years of their life. If the modules degrade more rapidly than expected, they will generate less energy than planned," says Professor Juzer Vasi of IITB and co-author of the study.

Juzer, his colleague Professor Anil Kottantharayil and team performed multiple tests including current-voltage characterisation and infrared thermography and tested for interconnect breakage and insulation resistance. They inspected 1,148 solar modules spread over 51 locations across the country and estimated the degradation in their performance over the years.

The chosen locations were grouped into six climatic categories: hot and dry, warm and humid, composite, moderate, cold and sunny, and cold and cloudy. Locations that enjoy good sunlight for many days of the year are good for setting up solar plants. Many plants are coming up in such locations in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

But researchers observed that installations in hot and dry locations showed larger number of solder joint failures and yellowing of the encapsulant materials. "Ideally locations with cold climate and a lot of sunlight are best suited for installation of solar modules. In India this
happens only in Ladakh, where we do not have connectivity to the rest of the Indian grid, nor good local connectivity," says Juzer explaining why we have no option but to stick to hot and dry areas with good sunlight.

Ensuring least degradation

Another important observation was that the rooftop installations degrade faster than those in large power plants. Of the planned 100 GW, 40 GW is expected to come from roof-top installations, so this observation is very significant. "Since we see that rooftop installations are degrading more rapidly than the large power plants, maybe it will be a good move to reduce the target of 40 GW for rooftop, and instead increase the 60 GW target for large ground-mounted plants," says Anil.

Since installations in India will be in hot and dry areas, ensuring that initial quality of modules is good, is important. This needs to be accompanied by good handling and best installation practices. It may seem initially costly to use high-quality photovoltaic modules with few or no cracks or to employ trained personnel during installation, but it is essential to ensure least degradation in the long run.

Given that India has already invested a huge sum in the field of solar energy and is about to make heftier investment in the coming years, studies like this become all the more important. "Many recommendations can be (and have been) made based on the survey, and if taken up by the government and power plant owners, they would ensure a good long-term energy yield," says Anil. With further surveys planned in 2018 and 2020, these scientists plan to generate more extensive and reliable data.

(The author is with Gubbi Labs, a Bengaluru-based research collective)

If you love space and astronomy, 2018 will be an exciting year. A successful test of SpaceXs Falcon Heavy rocket this month could be an important step towards demonstrating the companys ability to send spacecraft beyond Earths orbit, perhaps even to Mars.

India and China both plan to land on the moon in 2018. Indias Chandrayaan-2 may blast off in the first half of 2018. Chinas Change 4 may land at the moons South Pole-Aitken Basin region later in the year.

Private companies are also competing for the Lunar XPrize, which is sponsored by Google. The first to land on the moon with a rover able to complete a series of tasks could win $20 million. The prizes current deadline is March 31. Contenders include Floridas Moon Express, Indias TeamIndus and Japans Hakuto.

January 31

Supermoon

There will be a total lunar eclipse, when the earth crosses in front of the sun and makes the moon glow a reddish-brownish colour, visible in North America, northeastern Europe, Russia, Asia, the Pacific and Australia. It will also be the second supermoon in a month for people in certain parts of the world. When there are two full moons within one calendar month, the second is colloquially known as a blue moon.

March 20

TESS spacecraft

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite is the successor to NASAs Kepler space telescope, which surveyed the Milky Way for planets orbiting other stars. Covering a larger area of sky than Kepler, it will examine 2,00,000 stars, and scientists expect it to catalogue more than 2,000 potential planets.

April 22

The Lyrids meteor shower will peak

Starting in the eveningof April 22 through the next days dawn, you might be able to catch a glimpse of the Lyrids meteor shower.

May 5

Spacecraft to Mars

InSight aims to listen to the deep interior of Mars, potentially offering clues about the planets seismic activity. This is the opening of its launch window, and it is expected to land on Mars in late November.

May 6

The Eta Aquariids meteor shower will peak

Starting in the evening of May 6 through the next days dawn, you might be able to catch a glimpse of the Eta Aquariids meteor shower.

June 1

Hayabusa-2 reaches the asteroid Ryugu

Launched by Japans space agency JAXA in December 2014, this spacecraft will arrive at the near-Earth asteroid Ryugu and study it for about 18 months, attempting to collect a sample from its surface before returning in 2020.

July 27

Total lunar eclipse

»In a lunar eclipse, the Earth blocks the sun, making the moon appear reddish. This is the second such event in 2018, and will be visible in South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

July 31

NASAs Parker Solar Probe

To study the suns corona and investigate the solar wind, this toughened-up spacecraft will fly within four million miles of the suns surface. With a series of flybys of Venus between now and 2024, it will steadily get closer to the sun.

August 17

Osiris-rex arrives at the asteroid Bennu

Launched in September 2016, Osiris-rex will collect a sample from the asteroid Bennu and bring it back to Earth. On August 17, it will complete its nearly two-year trip to reach the asteroid and begin its mission.

October 1

BepiColombo mission will head to Mercury

The European and Japanese space agencies are collaborating to launch this spacecraft, which would be only the third to visit the planet closest to our sun. When it arrives at Mercury in 2025, its two probes will separate to gather information that could help explain how the rocky planets in our solar system formed.

December 21

The 50th anniversary of the Apollo 8 launch

Before astronauts could take a giant leap for humankind on the lunar surface, Frank Borman, James Lovell Jr and William Anders went round the moon and back in a lunar orbit that set the stage for 1969s Apollo 11 mission.

More isnt always better

Sumatran tigers cant seem to catch a break. A new study containing good news about the population of this endangered cat also carried a disclaimer that there was probably no cause for optimism. The study, published in Nature Communications, relied on images from more than 300 trap cameras as well as data from decades of similar studies. The authors reported that tiger density in Sumatras three largest protected forests increased 5% per year from 1996 to 2014, suggesting that Indonesias preservation efforts are slowly working.

However, the increase was probably caused by an influx of tigers fleeing unprotected forests on the large western island in the Indonesian archipelago, where their numbers are dropping rapidly, the researchers said. That means small gains in the protected areas are probably dwarfed by the species overall decline.

"Densities have increased, but that has not reduced the threat of extinction because the habitat is being cut down and fragmented," said Matthew Luskin, a research fellow with the Smithsonian Institution in Singapore and an author of the study. "Youre basically packing more tigers into smaller areas." Though no one knows exactly how many Sumatran tigers remain, estimates range from about 400 to 500, down from 1,000 in 1978.

Agricultural fungicide attracts honey bees

When given the choice, honey bee foragers prefer to collect sugar syrup laced with the fungicide chlorothalonil over sugar syrup alone, researchers report in the journal Scientific Reports. Fungicides are among the top contaminants of beehives and can interfere with the bees ability to metabolise other pesticides.

The puzzling finding comes on the heels of other studies linking fungicides to declines in honey bee and wild bee populations. One recent study, for example, found parallels between the use of chlorothalonil and the presence of Nosema bombi, a fungal parasite, in bumble bees. Greater chlorothalonil use also was linked to range contractions in four declining bumble bee species.

Other research has shown that European honey bees have a very limited repertoire of detoxifying enzymes and that exposure to one potentially toxic compound - including fungicides - can interfere with their ability to metabolise others. "People assume that fungicides affect only fungi," said University of Illinois entomology professor and department head May Berenbaum, who led the new research with postdoctoral researcher Ling-Hsiu Liao. "Fungi are much more closely related to animals than they are to plants. And toxins that disrupt physiological processes in fungi can also potentially affect them in animals, including insects."

Changing population of the Gyps vultures

Populations of the white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Indian vulture (Gyps indicus) and slender-billed vulture (Gyps tenuirostris) declined rapidly during the mid-1990s all over their ranges in the Indian subcontinent because of poisoning due to veterinary use of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac, says a new paper.

This paper reports results from the latest in a series of road transect surveys conducted across northern, central, western and north-eastern India since the early 1990s. Results from the seven comparable surveys now available were analysed to estimate recent population trends. Populations of all three species of vulture remained at a low level.

The previously rapid decline of white-rumped vulture has slowed and may have reversed since the ban on veterinary use of diclofenac in India in 2006. A few thousand of this species remained in India in 2015. The population of Indian vulture continued to decline, though probably at a much slower rate than in the 1990s. This remains the most numerous of the three species in India with about 12,000 vultures in 2015 and a confidence interval ranging from a few thousands to a few tens of thousands.

Flying Monsters

Two hundred million years ago there was an extraordinary development in the history of life: an ancient group of reptiles made a giant evolutionary leap into the skies. In Flying Monsters, David Attenborough travels back in time to discover how and why these creatures took flight, and why after 150 million years of aerial domination they vanished.

With the help of a team of scientists he unravels one of palaeontologys enduring mysteries, how did lizards the size of giraffes defy gravity and soar through prehistoric skies? Driven by the information he finds as he attempts to answer these questions, Attenborough finds that the marvel of pterosaur flight has evolutionary echoes that resonate even today. To watch the documentary, visit www.amzn.to/2EwsVV4.

A new study by researchers at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) has proposed a new approach of working with local communities and other institutions, towards restoration of the Edeyarhalli-Doddasampige Wildlife Corridor (ED corridor) near Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve. Very often, wildlife corridors are devoid of monitoring, and are subject to fragmentation and degradation, as local communities depend on them to obtain forest resources like timber, firewood, food and medicine.

The ED wildlife corridor is one such critical wildlife corridor in Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve. It connects BRT to adjoining protected areas in the Mysuru-Nilgiri region. It also provides physical connectivity between the Eastern and the Western Ghats and is inhabited by 15 mammalian species including the Asian Elephant, Bengal Tiger and Indian Gaur.

Soligas, an indigenous tribal community, and a few other non-tribal communities are the major inhabitants of this region, and they depend on the ED corridor for livelihood and sustenance. "The reserve has a unique characteristic of being a successful tiger reserve where locals cannot be deprived of their rights and resources. Therefore, community-based corridor restoration would be the practical conservation strategy in this area," says Dr Paramesha Mallegowda from ATREE, who is involved in the restoration project.

Involving local communities

Though there have been many restoration projects in India, what sets this project apart is that it has considered the dependence of local communities on forested landscapes, and hopes to change that trend by addressing both ecological as well as social well-being. The restoration project works mainly on three objectives: corridor restoration, involvement of grass-root organisations, and creation of sustainable livelihoods for local people. These objectives are aimed to improve the habitat quality of the corridor, support wildlife movement, reduce crop depredation by wild animals, and lessen the dependence of local communities on forest resources.

In 2007, to widen the existing ED-corridor, adjacent private land of around 25.5 acres was purchased from local farmers by Wildlife Trust of India, International Fund for Animal Welfare and US Fish and Wildlife Services, and handed over to the Karnataka Forest Department. Then in 2015, the research team at ATREE surveyed the corridor and its adjacent habitats, to find the most suitable local plants species for the restoration initiative, which would be useful to the resident communities, as well as wildlife. The team also interacted with local communities to develop ideas for the restoration initiative.

Initially, 5,000 saplings of 10 suitable local plant species were selected and maintained in local community-run nurseries, to reforest 25.5 acres of degraded land. Locals, as well as institutions like the Village Panchayat, Tibetan Association, Parisara Premi Sangha and Raitha Sangha have been participating and encouraging the restoration initiative. Some of the other key stakeholders and grass-roots organisations of the restoration initiative are the Soliga Abhivruddi Sangha, Eco-Development Committee and Large-sized Adivasi Multipurpose Cooperative Society.

The restoration programme will initially be handled by ATREE, and later handed over to the Corridor Conservation Committee (CCC), comprising members from the local communities, grass-root organisations and other stakeholders. The benefits of having a CCC-run restoration initiative are many.

Firstly, the multi-stakeholders participation will work towards a common goal of restoring the degraded corridor landscape and enabling sustenance for local communities. Secondly, improving the connectivity between protected areas will facilitate a more usable habitat for wildlife, hence creating a sort of win-win situation for all stakeholders.

"In the Indian scenario, wildlife corridor conservation has not gained much importance compared to individual charismatic animal conservation," remarks Paramesha. Thus, it is only logical that a different and inclusive approach be taken towards restoration of degraded corridors in this landscape. This study seems to have struck the right chord on that note.

(The author is with Gubbi Labs, a Bengaluru-based research collective)

South African authorities long had eyes on Rogers Mukwena. They knew the former school teacher was wanted in Zimbabwe for poaching rhinoceroses and selling their horns, which can command hundreds of thousands of dollars. Hed jumped bail and fled to northern Pretoria, but it was vexingly difficult to catch and prosecute him - until a scientist helped make the case against him with rhino DNA.

His subsequent conviction resulted from a new tactic in wildlife preservation: the genetic fingerprinting methods that have been so successful in the criminal justice system are now being used to solve poaching crimes. First, researchers in South Africa had to build a large database of genetic samples drawn from African rhinoceroses. The DNA would be used to match a carcass to a particular horn discovered on a suspected poacher or trafficker, or to rhinoceros blood on his clothes, knives or axes.

To make that possible, Dr Cindy Harper, a veterinarian at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and her colleagues collected DNA from every rhinoceros they could find - more than 20,000 so far. They have taught park rangers how to retrieve blood, tissue or hair samples from every rhinoceros that is killed, dehorned or moved. The rangers have learned forensic crime-scene principles and the importance of the so-called chain of custody to ensure that the samples are not corrupted.

Sophisticated tool

Cindys lab performs the analysis and stores DNA fingerprints. The scientists database, which they call Rhodis, is modelled after Codis, the FBI system used to link the DNA of suspects to evidence at a crime scene. The approach is promising, said Crawford Allan, senior director of Traffic, which monitors illegal wildlife trade at the World Wildlife Fund. A poaching scene is a crime scene, he said, "If you want to get through detection and investigation and prosecution, treat it as a crime scene and use forensics."

Poaching has escalated exponentially in the past decade, Crawford noted. More than 7,000 rhinos have been killed in the past 10 years. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that 20,000 to 30,000 African elephants are killed each year for their tusks. Their tusks and horns are trafficked through experienced criminal networks. "You really need sophisticated tools to help solve these crimes," Crawford said. The rhino project provides "a cold hit database," said Stephen J OBrien, referring to the identification of a perpetrator by DNA when there are no other apparent clues.

Stephen, an expert on DNA fingerprinting and chief scientific officer of the Theodosius Dobzhansky Centre for Genome Bioinformatics at St Petersburg State University in Russia, is co-author of a new paper, published recently in the journal Current Biology, describing the anti-poaching effort.

A similar attempt to use DNA to convict poachers is led by Sam Wasser, director of the Centre for Conservation Biology at the University of Washington, USA. His groups focus is African elephants. Over a period of 15 years, he and his colleagues have collected and analysed DNA from dung to create a map of the ranges of
various elephant groups based on their genetic differences. It helps show where ivory seized from poachers originated.

The project has not linked specific carcasses to specific tusks recovered from traffickers. But the analysis has provided valuable clues about the regions in which poachers are operating. "To our surprise, the ivory was consistently coming from two areas," Sam said.

Tusks from savanna elephants were initially coming from southeastern Tanzania and northern Mozambique, the data showed, but the illegal trade then shifted northward to southern Kenya. Tusks from forest elephants originated in a small triangular area in northeast Gabon, northwest Republic of Congo, and southeastern Cameroon. "Instead of focusing everywhere, if we really want the big criminals we should focus on those two spots," Sam said.

The sale of ivory and rhino horns is hugely lucrative. Rhino horns may bring $60,000 or more per kilogram. A horn generally weighs a few kilograms, but a few have been as heavy as 10 kilograms, or about 22 pounds.

Disrupting criminal networks

"Pound for pound, a rhino horn is worth more than heroin or gold or platinum," Crawford said. And prosecutions are so rare that the risks for the traffickers are "very low." The poacher sells horns to a trafficker, who disguises them and ships them to destination countries, mainly Vietnam and China. Some horns are carved into jewellery while still in South Africa, which can make it extremely difficult to trace them. Most horns are ground and used as medicine in Asia, believed to cure cancer, impotence - or, Crawford said, "you name it."

More recently, people in Asia have begun wearing beads or bangles made from rhino horns thought to have curative powers and to be status symbols. Some horns are made into ceremonial cups. Elephant tusks currently sell for $1,000 a kilogram, Sam said. Unlike rhino horns, which are shipped in relatively small volumes, traffickers typically collect and ship at least half a tonne of ivory in a container. Some seizures have uncovered as much as seven tonnes of ivory in a single shipment, Sam said. Ivory is primarily bought by collectors or as an investment.

Sams primary target is traffickers, not poachers. Even when poachers are caught and convicted, he said, "there are 10 more waiting in line to replace them." But traffickers form the basis of the business that makes poaching profitable. "The analogy is, are you after a serial killer or a one-time murderer?" he asked. To catch a serial killer, Sam added, authorities require "intelligence-based forensics to prevent future crimes."

Cindy also hopes to disrupt the criminal networks shipping contraband - in this case, rhino horns - to destination countries. So far, the rhino database has been used to convict hunters and traffickers in South Africa, Namibia, Kenya and Swaziland. But the group has not disrupted the criminal conglomerates at the top of the chain, she said. The rhinoceros project began in 2010, when poaching was skyrocketing. Thirteen were poached in South Africa in 2007; more than 1,000 are now killed each year.

I have never suffered loss in farming; nor have I taken loans from banks or money lenders. Integrated farming methods have helped me achieve self-reliance," says M R Shashi of Seebanahalli in Channapatna taluk.

He has gown a variety of crops in his nine-acre farm. Tiptur variety groundnut is grown in three acres with toor dal as intercrop. While mulberry and finger millet are cultivated in two acres each, vegetables are grown in the coconut farm. Horticulture crops like mango, jackfruit, cashew nut, tamarind also find a place in the farm. "It is not just the crop diversity that brings stability to farming but also related activities like dairy, poultry, fish farming and sheep rearing," Shashi points out. Not to mention, Shashi has taken up all these activities.

"Appropriate crop selection, judicious use of natural resources, proper farm management and good marketing skills are key to success in farming," he says. While all the family members actively engage in farming activities, they also make use of farm equipment. "In this way, we are able to manage in spite of the shortage of farmhands," says Shashi. University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore acknowledged his efforts and honoured him with the progressive farmer award recently. One can contact him on 8861155985.

An early morning walk among the majestic trees is a recipe for much needed calm before a busy day. For the past few days, I have been exploring the by-lanes of the agraharas and keris in the old parts of Mysuru. As part of my morning routine, I stroll through the serene campus of Maharajas College and soak myself in the fresh air.

The campus makes for an ideal place for a brisk walk as it offers a fascinating view of heritage structures among a variety of trees with colourful flowers. Renowned author R K Narayan once said, "The Maharajas College was built in the early French style and its arched windows gave on to intoxicating views of the landscape." The building is situated among a variety of trees, some dotted with colourful flowers. Vibrant Bougainvilleas soar up against the early morning sky, showcasing a natural mix of pink and green; while the chirping of birds is musical, alongside a vibrant flutter of butterflies and bees.

This apart, morning walkers are strolling across the campus with their friends, chatting about worldly affairs. Some people are performing yoga and some are meditating. There are a few people feeding the stray dogs and others carefully dropping a pinch of sugar in the ant-holes. On the other hand, the religious ones are seen circumambulating the neem or the banni tree. They paste a small amount of kumkum on its trunk and tie a thread with a flower, around the banni tree. In the quieter corners, there are students preparing for their exams, alongside a few cows placidly chewing grass from the meadows.

The well-grown trees make the campus green and refreshing, with green walk-ways and canopies sheltering a variety of birds â€" parrots, egrets, mynas, etc. Perhaps, this campus is the only one in Mysuru that boasts of such a large variety of trees. It is said that the University of Mysore functioned from here soon after its formation in 1916, before the Crawford Hall was built some three decades later. The foundation stone for the college was laid by the Prince of Wales, Prince Albert Victor, in 1868 when Chamarajendra Wadiyar X was the ruler of Mysuru.

While many exotic species were planted in the campus, only a few remain now. Among the trees that catch attention as one walks across the interior of the campus are mandara, tapasi, tabebuia, kakke, bage and more. The commonly found trees include copper pod, rain tree, gulmohar, ashoka, tamarind and mango.

Mandara (Bauhinia purpurea) is an exotic tropical tree with beautiful fragrant flowers. Indian Elm or tapasi (Holoptelea integrifolia) is a medicinal tree, its bark is used for treating rheumatic swellings. It is the favourite of bees and birds. Tabebuia (Tabebuia argentea) is a tree with gold-coloured flowers. It is suitable for median and avenue planting.

Cassia fistula, also called kakke in Kannada, is a tree ideal for landscaping. In the blooming season, it gets covered in yellow flowers that create a beautiful contrast with the landscape. These are some among the variety of trees in the Maharajas College campus. They are a visual delight during a leisurely walk. Planting more rare species of trees can enhance the beauty of this heritage campus and make it eco-friendly.

The conception of Nataka Benglur initiative seems like a scene straight from a play. One evening in 2008, some Kannada theatre personalities including R Nagesh, A N Ramesh, Shashidhar Bharighat and Nagaraja Murthy had gathered in the premises of Ravindra Kalakshetra. They were recalling theatre activities in the 1970s and 1980s, said to be the golden period of Kannada theatre. They also reflected upon the reasons for the lack of new plays and experiments.

Before they departed for the day, they had come up with a blueprint for the revival of Kannada theatre with stress on innovation and relevance. To ensure this, an annual theatre festival where both old and new troupes would be given opportunity was planned. It was decided that only new plays would be staged in this event.

"When we started this, we didnt imagine that it would last this long. Though we hoped that it would be a theatre movement, we were also aware of the challenges. We always planned like the proverbial one more step and it has brought us till here," says Shashidhar Bharighat. After a decade, Nataka Benglur has made its mark, with around 200 new plays and some 2,000 shows being staged so far at the annual event.

Over the years, the Bengaluru-based initiative has evolved as a brand. Though it could not develop into a theatre movement as planned, it has definitely provided the much-needed platform for many aspirant directors and troupes across the State. The fame of the event is such that both beginners and veterans plan their productions well in advance for the event.

While new theatre groups and avenues are opening, the enthusiasm of audiences has remained encouraging. Many plays staged here for the first time have got good response later. Some of the plays that were first staged in Nataka Benglur and had a good run afterwards include Agnivarna by Dakshayani Bhat, Shivaratri by K V Nagaraja Murthy, Narigaligeke Kodilla? by N Mangala and Male Mantrika by GPO Chandru.

The plays are staged at theatre spaces like Rangashankara, Kalagrama, K H Kalasoudha, etc. The festival is generally scheduled for 20-25 days and every day a new play is staged. Though the Department of Kannada and Culture sponsors a majority of the plays, in some cases the troupes pool the resources on their own.

The initiative also pitches in to celebrate cultural milestones. For instance, when Ravindra Kalakshetra celebrated its golden jubilee, Nataka Benglur presented 50 new plays. "There was no limit to my excitement when I was told that I would be directing a play for Nataka Benglur. It is a rare opportunity as many talents from the field will be out there watching the play," says Sitara, a budding director.

This year, the works of major Kannada personalities like Samsa, P Lankesh, B V Vaikunta Raju, Prasanna and B Suresh are being staged. Dakshayani Bhat, Suresh Anagalli, Nataraja Honnavalli,
S V Kashyap, etc are directing the plays. This year, the event is being held at Kalagrama from January 1 to 23. "It is not like we offer remuneration to the troupes. We book the theatre, get the tickets printed and publicise the event. The teams come forward in great numbers to participate in the festival. It is their dedication and perseverance that helped the festival reach greater heights," adds Shashidhar.

Indeed, there is a magic in theatre. It is that magic that keeps it ticking. Theatre does not just entertain, it makes you think, it teaches you to question, it makes you observe and analyse. In this virtual dark age it is the theatre that helps us brighten up our lives.

The unpretentious tin hut located on the outskirts of Yellapur in Uttara Kannada district doesnt give a hint of the exquisite craft being created inside. A series of intricate wooden sculptures are lined up inside contrasting the modest exteriors. One can see works of art at different stages of making while the artisans are busy giving shape to their imagination.

Welcome to Bikku Gudigar Kalakendra established by the Bikku Gudigars, known for their wood carving legacy. This family of Gudigar community has taken the fame of the traditional art of wood carving to a new level by becoming the preferred carvers for initiatives at national and international levels. In recent times, this workshops popularity reached its peak when it got an international carving assignment.

True to their distinction as temple artisans, the family members have made wooden sculptures to many of the structures of religious and spiritual importance across the country.

Rich legacy

The art of wood carving, which is rooted in Uttara Kannada and Shivamogga districts, has a rich legacy. The thick forest that covers a major part of Uttara Kannada district led to the establishment of wood based industries in the region. The first sawmill was started at Kannigeri in 1845 near Yellapur. The availability of raw material and favourable atmosphere helped the craft to flourish in the region, with the Gudigars excelling in the art of wood craftsmanship.

Folk researcher Jyotsna Kamat describes the art, history and tradition of Gudigars in an article published in 2006. The word gudi means temple in Kannada, and the Gudigars are known to be temple artisans. Jyotsna states that the Gudigar families migrated to Shivamogga and Canara coast from Goa, after the Portuguese invasion, and were employed by the kings of Kannada dynasties. Keladi rulers in Shivamogga, particularly Keladi Dodda Sankanna Nayaka, promoted this craft and encouraged artisans to excel. The Gudigars claim Kshatriya heritage and they worship Lord Vishwakarma. Vitthal Shet and Samba Shet are two earliest-known master artisans of the community.

The community is concentrated mainly in Kumta, Yellapur, Sirsi and Honnavar towns of Uttara Kannada district. Some well-known sculptors like Jade Manjunathappa and K G Shantappa who introduced the concept of Gitopadesha on sandalwood and sandalwood garlands respectively, hail from Sagar and Sorab taluks of Shivamogga. Ashok Gudigar from Sorab, Devidas Shet from Honnavar, Raju Gudigar from Sirsi are some other eminent Gudigars who excelled in their art.

It is estimated that around 140 families are engaged in the craft in Uttara Kannada currently. While Lord Ganesha is the favourite theme, the Gudigars are also adept at making idols of Trimurti, Lakshmi and Saraswati. The Holy Cross and the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ are the most sought-after themes with the Catholic community. Sandalwood jewellery boxes are also in great demand.

To preserve and promote this tradition, Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation (KSHDC) started a two-year certificate course in stone and wood carving art in 2011. Apart from encouraging the younger generation to continue the tradition by nurturing their skills, the course also aims to make Gudigar women self-reliant. Gudigar women are experts in making garlands, coronets and trinkets.

KSHDC has established Srigandha Sankeerna (Sandalwood Complex) in many places including Sirsi to support the artisans. Here registered artisans can buy sandalwood at subsidised rates. KSHDC purchases this raw material from the Forest Department. With the depletion of natural resources, the department is finding it difficult to supply required quantity of sandalwood. Hence, the craftspersons have now shifted to other premium woods like shivani (Gmelina arborea), jack and rosewood. KSHDC sells the products made by these artisans at its outlets.

Showing the way

In spite of all these efforts and the availability of talent, the artisans are struggling to cope with changing times and preferences. Youngsters are gradually shifting to jobs that have better prospects. Under these circumstances, the efforts of Bikku Gudigar family assumes significance. Interestingly, all the members of the family are involved in this occupation in one way or the other. While one brother is a master carver and sculptor, the other one is a fine artist and the elder one manages marketing and related aspects. Women and children in the family also join hands in the work.

Formed in 1989, Bikku Gudigar Kalakendra has been encouraging talented artisans, both young and old , by giving them assignments on a regular basis. Through this, the centre is creating livelihood opportunities, nurturing talents and in turn, preserving the art. Currently, the Kalakendra is managed by brothers, Santhosh Gudigar and Arun Gudigar. The number of people employed here depends on the work at hand. Right now, around 20 artisans work here. Though formal training is not imparted at the centre, the artisans feel that the space offers a favourable atmosphere for them to learn and explore.

Festival seasons like Dasara and Ganesha Chaturthi are the most busy periods for these artisans. They start making clay idols months before the Ganesha festival and it is the only time when they make clay idols. Otherwise, they do only wood carvings. They do all types of carvings, including sculptures of deities, and mantapas and chariots for temples. They are specialised in sandalwood carvings, while they also carve on teak wood. They are sought after during annual temple festivals to decorate the temple and the deity.

"Carving is in our blood. We learnt the basics of carving, from holding the chisel to making the sketches, from our father. While we want to keep up with the tradition, we also want to explore new designs to stay relevant. The urge to do something new has made us innovative. We make use of electronic gadgets to finalise the designs," say the Gudigar brothers. Such constructive initiatives are bringing the Gudigar tradition on the revival path.

From bell sleeves to off-shoulders, from capes to shimmery frills, 2017 has seen it all. Its time to take it up a notch this year. This upgrade to your ethnic closet is going to be the it thing in 2018.
Heres a forecast of what the new year has in store for you in terms of ethnic Indian wear.

Sweeping, floor-touching sleeves

Flared, bell, ruffled - 2017 was the year of sleeves. But it doesnt end there.
Sleeves are reaching new heights (and floor length). You now know how to make a statement this wedding season. Now you can basically mix sleeve designs, from puffed, belled to flared all the way to the floor.

Last years cape is this years poncho.

Whether its with distressed weaves or distorted symmetry, we think ponchos are going to be the highlight this new year. Trade your capes and crop tops for a poncho, and take your long skirt game to a whole new level.

Mulmul- the fabric of the season

Once exclusive to Indian royalty, mulmul has gained popularity all over the world for its fine qualities. Its often referred to as woven wind for its lightweight quality. Add as many flares as you want without them weighing you down.

Empowered saris

Were planning to replace the good ol petticoat in 2018 with churidar pants. Walking in a sari now is easy and all the more stylish. Pant saris can be the ethnic pant suit when done well. You can pair a sari and a pant with a belt and you are good to go.

Ruffled lehenga skirts

We loved ruffles on our sleeves in 2017, so we replicated that on our lehenga skirts. But we think its time we add some waves to our ethnic long skirts as well. Pair them with your basic white shirts and statement neckpieces for the perfect fusion outfit.

Front-facing dupattas

Struggling between a jacket and a dupatta? Opt for a sheer dupatta and let it fall forward from your shoulders.

Shararas replace palazzos

Collect all your ethnic palazzos and pack them in a trunk. Shararas are back and here to stay. Take your kurtas for a fashionable spin with a pretty sharara and a pair of juttis this year.

Power shoulders (super size)

Off-shoulders on our blouses are just so 2017! Instead of baring them, add some volume with shoulder pads or fur. Theyll give you a feel of royalty and power.

Colours of 2018

The colour of the year for 2018 is a vivid purple, according to Pantone, much in line with other vibrant hues that make up this summers bright palette. Unique shades convey themes of energy, sophistication and serenity. While some are multi-dimensional and grounded, others exude a vibrant breath of fresh air. Pinks, purples, lime green, ultra violet, spiced apple, cherry tomato, palace blue are all colours to go for this season.

Shloka Sudhakar, a finance graduate who had no plans of becoming a full-time fashion designer,has now successfully established her fashion brand all over the country.

After showcasing her collections at Bengaluru Fashion Week over the years, the designer is now set to launch a number of collections with various brands in Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Shloka, who is currently working on a brand new collection to launch at the Mumbai Fashion Week, talks about the inspiration behind her brand, her fashion predictions for 2018 and more in a conversation with Asra Mavad.

How did you get into fashion designing?

Even when I was pursuing my degree in Finance, I used to try designing clothes once in a while. Once I put up a bunch of my creations for sale at an exhibition and these ended up being quite the crowd favourite. So, after this I started putting up stalls at other exhibitions. This how I started fashion designing, but just as a hobby. Later on, this hobby of mine turned into my career.

Can you tell us what you are currently working on?

Right now Im working on my new collection for 2018, that Ill be launching at the Mumbai Fashion Week. Im very excited about this collection but am also a little nervous since this time Im trying something Ive never tried before. Out-of-the-box is what perfectly defines my upcoming collection.

What is the inspiration behind your brand?

Instead of actors or designers, I tend to gain inspiration for my designs from the environment around me. This is why a lot of my designs are centered around animals, trees, birds etc.

Do you plan on going beyond Indo-Western fashion?

Definitely! I really want to get into proper bridal couture. Its something Ive been wanting to do for quite a while now and this might be the year I do it.

Your fashion predictions for 2018?

In my opinion bling is going to be a huge trend, not only in India but all across the world. Other than this I believe metallic fabrics and metallic embroidery are going to be used a lot. Floral is most probably going out of style and well be seeing a lot of abstract designs inspired by birds and animals.

Any advice for aspiring designers?

Always remember to be original. Copying other designers and brands might help you make quick money but I can assure you that wont last a long time. If you want to leave a mark in the industry and be known for your work, then be creative and come up with new ideas.

Recently, Priyanka Chopra broke the internet when she sported the stylish demi-denim trend. And of course, fashionistas and fans were left in awe as she slayed this denim skirt-jeans hybrid. She teamed this skirt pant with a black turtleneck top, a black leather jacket and completed her look with a pair of red ankle-length boots.

A few designers talk about what they think of Priyankas innovative
denim avatar. Shweta Bose of BoseCut says, "The distressed skirt pant denim looked comfortable yet very fashion forward. The red boots broke the monotony of the outfit and added a pop of colour. It definitely protects you from the cold. It lends a casual vibe but when paired with a classy top, it changes the look and also inspires a rugged layered look."
She says that denim, in general, can be considered an ideal winter wear. So, to avoid bulky wool coats, she says that one can look forward to wearing denim jackets by layering it with inner wool wear.

Designer Archana Manchala of the label Archana & Puneeth says that Priyanka rules the trend when it comes global fashion. It was a never-seen-before silhouette which she absolutely nailed. With the kind of attention the outfit is getting, this trend is here to stay.

She says, "Denim is a classic favourite for winters and it can create a statement on its own. Be it the washes, the distressed or the embellishments. Priyanka definitely slayed it with her evergreen persona."
Puneeth adds, "She has created an uproar with this uber chic skirt juxtaposed with the denim pants and the leather jacket. The combination is first-of-its-kind in the fashion realm. The Marsella crocodile leather boots infused
the perfect colour."

An interesting twist to her look was the ripped baggy jeans with a denim skirt effortlessly connected to it. Though this outfit could have easily been a fashion disaster, Priyankas confident personality gave no room for second thoughts.
Throwing more light on how confidence is the key to any trend, Vanshika Choudhary, founder of the brand Knya, says, "Priyanka is bold and theres hardly anything shes not capable of. Being known as a woman of confidence, she has never taken the backseat when it comes to experimenting with her outfits. I think this denim look that Priyanka has pulled off with such ease is just a reflection of herself and I really admire that. Its bold, sharp, firm and cool. And thats what she is."

With Priyanka Chopra breaking the internet with her recent avatar, the
denim-on-denim trend is sure to raise the temperature this winter.

Growing up, I had no idea that I would be entering the field of baking, that too professionally. Although I used to help my mum bake as a kid, I never really took it seriously, it was just a way for me to spend some time with my mum. My favourite memories as a kid would be my sister, mum and I baking at home; those were such happier and simpler times.

I actually gained interest in baking later on when my little sister started baking. She used to be so engrossed in her little baking world, always experimenting and coming up with new flavours and ideas that
even I started baking along with her. This is when I started baking passionately, I even started using my degree in design to make my bakes more interesting.

What I like best about baking is the creative challenge that it offers. It allows me to think freely, use my talent and come up with new ideas. I believe the creativity that goes into my specialities is what helped me establish my baking business.

Turning my passion into my profession is the best decision Ive ever taken, Its so much fun being able to wake up everyday and do what you love most.

However, its not always a bed of roses, there are times when you mess up. Once I ended up confusing two orders and another time, I tried making a bouquet of cupcakes for my aunt on her birthday and it initially didnt turn out the way I wanted it to.

But its important to remember that its all part of the game and no matter what everything will work out in the end. My recipe today is that of Chocolate Orange Cupcakes. It is very dear to me not only because they are delicious but also because when I started baking, these cupcakes would never turn out the way I wanted these to. I spent a lot of time perfecting the recipe. Now that I have perfected the recipe, Id like to share it with others.

Recipe:

Chocolate Orange Cupcakes
Ingredients
180g flour
100g powdered sugar
85g brown sugar
30g cocoa powder
1/2 tsp soda bi-carbonate
Pinch of salt
1 tbsp finely chopped orange zest
1/2 cup orange juice
125g melted butter
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

For the icing
(Chocolate ganache)
250g dark chocolate
200 ml cream
1 tbsp finely chopped orange rind

For the decoration
Cream biscuit
Orange food colour

Method
For the cupcakes
Preheat oven to 180 degrees.

Line a cupcake tin with paper cases.

In a large bowl, sift the flour, baking soda and cocoa powder together.

Add salt, both the sugars and orange zest. Mix well and set aside.

In a large measuring jug, melt the butter. Add in the orange juice, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla extract.

Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and pour in the liquid mix. Whisk together until evenly mixed without any lumps. Spoon in cupcake cases till 3/4th full. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let it cool completely before icing.

For the ganache
Finely chop the chocolate and set aside.

Heat the cream and orange zest in a medium saucepan till bubbles start appearing on the edges. Do not let it boil. Pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate. Cover and set aside for two minutes. Then mix until the mixture is uniform. The mix will be fairly liquidy. Set aside to cool.

Once cool, spread or pipe onto cupcakes

Decoration
Gently twist the cream biscuit to open it. Using the side that has the cream, paint an orange segment design using a new paint brush and orange food colour. Use these to top the cupcakes.

Namita Baindoor

A landmark structure in the city, Russell Market will soon be given a makeover of sorts with the BBMP and Russell Market Traders Association proposing to install cameras, streetlights and have round-the-clock security guards. While the traders say that it has been long overdue, customers feel that it will make the market a cleaner and safer place.

The proposal to beautify Russell Market has been in the pipeline for a while now but little has been done to translate it into reality. Heaps of garbage, stagnant water and uneven walkways are a common sight in and around the market.

Shakeel Ahmed, chairman of the BBMP standing committee on town planning, points out that garbage is being dumped in the rear end of the market. "The backyard of the market has turned into a dumping ground. Waste from markets in the surrounding areas such as Vasanthnagar, Fraser Town and Johnson Market are being dumped here. A few hotels from Brigade Road also throw their waste here. Our latest initiative is not only to beautify the market but also to prevent further dumping of waste here," says Shakeel.

He informs that 15 cameras and 15 to 20 LED lights will be installed in and around the market. "We will also depute eight security guards who will prevent people from dumping garbage and ensure that the premises is clean and safe. We have also proposed to erect a gate around the market to prevent strangers from entering. All the 487 shopkeepers in the market will be given a spare key and only the owners will be allowed to use it," informs Shakeel. He adds that this project is estimated to cost anything between
Rs 40 and 60 lakh. He also says that if this project is successful then it will be replicated in other markets across the city.

Regulars to Russell Market have welcomed the initiative. Deepali M K, a swimming coach, dreads taking her children to the market because of the unbearable stench. "The idea to install cameras and LED lights is great because this will ensure that the place is well lit and safe. The cameras will also instil a sense of security in shoppers," says Deepali. She also thinks good lighting inside the market will help old people move around the place better.

Markets are an important part of ones daily life, feels Usha Ranganath, a homemaker. She says that she has always shopped only in markets. "Theres a sense of contentment in buying fruits and vegetables from markets and thats precisely why these spaces must be rendered clean. Online shopping for fruits and vegetables may have become a fad among youngsters but I can never relate to it. I still want to visit a market, walk around and make my purchase," says Usha. She feels better facilities and clean surroundings will encourage more people to come to the markets.

Traders say that they cant wait to see the market being given a makeover.
Salauddin Pasha, a fruit vendor who has been in Russell Market for the last 25 years, says "The stagnant water, garbage and stench has affected our business. The regulars havent stopped coming but the new customers will certainly think twice before coming here till the premises is cleaned. The number of tourists have also reduced," says Salauddin.

It was her job through campus placement that brought Manjari Narayan from Ranchi, Jharkhand to Bengaluru a few years ago. She fell in love with the city and knew that this would be her second home.

Soon after their marriage, her husband Vikas Naiyar who hails from Indore, Madhya Pradesh also moved here. Vikas now works as vice-president (technology division) with Morgan Stanley and Manjari is a technical lead with Wipro Pvt Ltd. They live here with their five-year-old daughter Manavi.

The couples journey in the city has been an adventurous one. From the people to the food, they have embraced it all and explored their passion for travel here.

"One can explore different places when living here, which is a good thing. We love going for long drives to Ooty, Puducherry, Kodaikanal and Yercaud," says Vikas.

He adds that even in the city, the family loves to get away from the humdrum by heading to spots which are a few kilometres away from Electronic City or Sarjapur Road. "There are many quiet places around. We go there, have some local food and then head back," he adds.

Its not just the travel options that the duo are charmed by. Having worked in Mumbai, Vikas observes that the pace of life is relaxed here. "While I missed the nightlife initially, the smooth pace was encouraging. Life is a breeze here," he says. "In Mumbai, everyone is caught in the mad rush," Manjari pitches in.

The duo have strong cultural ties from the North but they love the perfect cultural mix here.

"In our apartment complex, people from across the country live in harmony. We celebrate all festivals. The city has proved to be a great learning platform for our daughter," says Vikas.

Manjari adds that the citizens make the adjustment process smooth for anyone. "Bengalureans are genuine and they reach out to one when they need it," she says.

Vikas recollects a couple of incidents where they realised that they were in safe hands. Once, on the occasion of Deepavali, when the couples family was visiting, a cousins child received cracker burns.

"For a few minutes, everyone was in panic. An elderly lady in my apartment complex came with first aid and helped us, just like a family member would. This was a heart-warming incident," remembers Vikas.

Wanting to indulge in the cultural celebrations here, Vikas recently asked
a friend about where he could take Manavi for kite flying.

"A while later, a gentleman from another locality reached out to us and invited us over to his locality. Before we knew it, we were enjoying breakfast with him and flying kites. We didnt feel like outsiders at all," he says.

Manjari too loves several elements of the city. "It is so easy to travel in the city, especially with the public transport system in place. One can take a BMTC bus to go anywhere in the city. The buses are clean, well-maintained and most passengers stick to the rules," she adds.

Safety is another advantage of the city and Manjari says that everyone can
safely walk on the streets here. "Being a mother to a daughter, I am glad I live in a safe city."

The couple cannot imagine themselves anywhere else. "We intend to be in Bengaluru for ever. After all, there is no place like home and this is home for us now," says Vikas.

It has been a while since the first look of Yash-starrer, KGF, was unveiled but the actors makeover in the film continues to be the talking point. The teaser gives an insight into the making of the film and the vigorous character played by Yash.The actors long hair and unkempt beard has garnered a lot of eyeballs. It took more than a year for the actor to attain a natural look for his character in KGF.

He dubs his latest venture as a hero-centric film and says that it is sure to keep people entertained.
In an interview with Nina C George, Yash talks about why KGF is special for him.

What impressed you about KGF?

I play a very challenging role. It is a powerful character and the story documents the journey of a man who revolts against a system. It takes a look at how he faces the toughest of situations with ease.

Your look in the film has attracted a lot of attention. Tell us about it...

I make sure that I work on sporting a new look in every film. My look with long hair and an overgrown beard suits the character. I experiment with my looks in every project because it will help people remember it better.

Were you able to relate to the character?

Yes. In fact, I tend to adopt a lot of things from every character that I have played so far and use them in my real life. I pick up the good in every character and take it with me.

What makes KGF different?

It is an action-oriented film with lots of interesting action blocks. It will be a unique movie experience because we have worked on strengthening the technicalities and the treatment of every character is different. It is being made on a grand scale. Its more like a Hollywood film. The action sequences are realistic.

Did you have the freedom to make changes to your role?

My character and all elements in the scripts and screenplay are always discussed before the final take. But eventually, it is the directors vision that holds forth

Your character appears to be larger-than-life...

The small additions to the character have made a big difference. Change in body language, costumes and small modifications in the character traits has made this character special.

How do you balance your profession with your social work?

If theres a will, theres a way. We have rejuvenated and revived a lake and have supplied water to 250 villages across the State. I have a few more projects in the pipeline.

KGF will be your first release after your wedding. How has Radhika encouraged you in this project?

Radhika has put up with my beard and that is the biggest support (laughs).