July 2012

EVE’S TIMES July 2012 1

July, 2012 ` 50

EVE’S TIMESYour Voice is our Inspiration

ZAP & SNAP A DEALPAGE 24

Whatever happens never quitPAGE 1

DESIGN CONCEPTS FOR AGED CARE

PAGE 73

PROPERTY LAWS FOR SILVERS

PAGE 80

INVESTMENT FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

PAGE 85

BUCK UP! THE RUN IS NOT OVER YET

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BUILDING A NEW INDIA

EVE’S TIMES July 2012


Changing Entrepreneurial Dynamics

We have come a long way from the single goal in our minds to snare a lucrative job after graduation. We then moved on to difficult times when the pressure on the youth was to prepare right from school to go to IIT, Engineering or Medical colleges, when these were the only careers seen as worthwhile by

the parent and teacher communities. Well, these pressures still exist. More than resulting in the proliferation of multitudes of ‘coaching’ centres with hardcore commercial motives, the trend of ‘grooming’ kids to prepare for these careers also resulted in the death of the dreams of many talented young men and women.

Today, we are fortunate to live at a time when the most productive years of youth are being expended on building enterprises, with myriad young minds delving into the intricacies of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is no longer the prerogative of scions of entrepreneurs. Many young professionals and those in lucrative careers are chucking their professions and launching into diverse areas of entrepreneurship bringing new dimensions to the means of carrying business. Many expatriates and youths who have studied or worked abroad are returning to India with chockfull of dreams of building a new India. Given that our country is enriched with a huge intellectual and talent pool, this would augur well for India to emerge as a country of influence in the global arena.

Yet, the hazards of importing global cultures into our nation seem to be leading to upheavals in our long established and strong social units and systems. Individualism is the gift of globalization. But it should be differentiated from the ‘I, Me, My,’ culture, which would only lead to a nation of soulless people. What distinguish us from the rest of the world are our rich social and familial bonds that satiate the needs of belongingness in us. While it is important to give up on social evils and obsolete practices and customs, equally important is that we must cherish the richness of our culture that teaches lessons of love, acceptance, tolerance, diversity and unity. A judicious blend of independent thinking and the essence of Indian culture will lead to a mature nation that can contribute globally. If India has to emerge as a leader in the global business world, we need to retain and spread our values globally. We do not want to undergo the throes of pains the western nations are going through, by adopting notions and practices that have led to the greatest economic slowdown the world has ever witnessed.

We need to ponder whether a nation known for its own flavor and aroma of coffee needs to import the ‘Starbuck’ culture. When nations like Ethiopia can resist competition to their in-house industry, what is stopping us from deciding in favour of our own markets and our people? Are we looking forward to the evolution of a culture when we have to go to a hypermarket like Wal-Mart to pick up a small product like toothpaste? Are we ready for a culture when young men and women storm out of their houses in the wee hours of the morning, wait in queues for picking up their coffee from Starbucks and rush to their workplaces, pick up their ‘instant’ foods and daily necessities in hyper market after work and go back to empty homes, after ‘fun times ‘ with ‘friends’ who are transient people in lives? Or would you like to go back to the rich aroma of ‘kaapi’ and love, where our loved ones eagerly wait for us to return home? The choice is left to our young scions, who can be leaders or choose to follow customs that have not proved to be beneficial for any set of people in the world!

Ciao!

Swati Amar

EVE’S TIMES www.evestimesonline.comCEO (Global Operations) : NischintaEditor-in-Chief : Swati AmarDeputy Editor : Namrata AmarnathAssociate Editor : Malini ShankarHead, Graphics & Design : Ashwini RajePhoto & Design Coordination SivaProduction Executive : B.SabithaMarketing Coordination: SivakumarAdvertising & Mktg:R.RavichandranPrashantKirthivasanCirculation: Jaganathan, JamesExpert Panel:Karti ChidambaramPadmashri Dr.V.MohanM.R.VenkateshMallika BadrinathBrinda JayaramanDr. Priya SelvarajVijaya ChamundeeswariUsha SubramaniamWriter’s Panel: Nischinta (New York)Namrata (Jodhpur)Sumati Ramkumar (Holland)Gayatri T.Rao (Mumbai)Chandrika Radhakrishnan (Bengaluru)Priyanka Sakhamuru ( Hyderabad)Prof. N.NatarajanPadmini NatarajanMalini ShankarKanchana RaoKirthi Gita JayakumarMalini ShankarValsala MenonNirmala SubramanianGeeta Canpadee (China)Radha Chandrasekar (Singapore)Nikita Nevgi ( Singapore)Nagamani ( Malaysia)Shailaja Mehta (Delhi)Kshitij ( London)Amit Desai ( London)Eve’s Times GroupVolume 7 Issue 186 for the month ofJuly 2012. Price Rs. 50/-Reg Off : # 18/1 2nd Cross Street Dr.RadhakrishnanNagar, Tiruvanmiyur,Ch 41E Mail: [email protected]: 91 44 24526739/ 91 44 24521813Printed by K. Elumalai at Sakthi Scanners (P) Ltd.,No 7 Dams Road, Chindadripet, Ch 600 002Published by Smt. Kamala BalachandranOn behalf of Eve’s Times Group.Editor-in-Chief Lata Amarnath.All rights reservedReproduction in any form is prohibitedEve’s Times Group does not take the responsibility for returning unsolicited publication material.

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For July 2012Content

COVER STORY

09| Enterprising Endeavours

Young India is on the move and how! It is heartening to see that entrepreneurial dynamics are changing with young and innovative minds introducing myriad facets of entrepreneurship in the country. Global education and experiences and the advent of MNCs and FDI have also played a role in bringing about a change in the ambience. Young entrepreneurs are busy setting new trends and introducing new methods and modes of conducting business, adding another facet to business- the online medium. A peek into the life and times of new era entrepreneurs.

10|Building a New India- The opportunities offered by the construction industry unveiled by Aswin Ramkumar, head of a leading construction company in Chennai.

12|In Pursuit of Success Tips for aspiring entrepreneurs by an international consultant.

14|Marketing a Dream Reasons on why you should start a marketing enterprise.

16|Creative Solutions for Enduring Careers

Tribute to SilversRedo your homes to accommodate silvers, understand the seniors- their insecurities, pains and happiness. All they need is a wee bit of love and what you get in return will enrich you. Get to know your seniors better!

67|Heaven on Earth Story about how the pioneer of old age homes in Chennai , Savithri Vaithi runs a charitable aged care home , cremating and performing last rites for unclaimed bodies, if necessary.

73|Design Solutions for Aged CareMake your home senior friendly using the design concepts meant exclusively for aged care.

What are the intricacies of making a will?

80|Laws for Senior CitizensWhat are the benefits for Senior citizens in the country?Plan your finances for twilight years.

Regulars59| Jus’ Ask Brinda

92| Salt ‘n’ Pepper Korner

88| Health & Fitness Clinic

96| Citizen’s Voice

100| Story

TeenMag

44| Say No to Drugs –The Way Forward.

46| Get Gadget Savvy – Use Apps and progress.

49| Who’s my fave President? –What the youth think.

Disclaimer

We recommend that readers make proper enquiries and seek appropriate advice before remitting money, incurring any expenditure, acting on any medical recommendations or entering into any commitment in relation to any advertisement published herein. Eve’s Times will not vouch for any claims made by the advertisers of products and services. The Printer, Publisher, Editor and Owner of Eve’s Times shall not be held liable for any consequences , in the event such claims are not honoured by the advertisers.

Jinal Patel Joseph Aloysius Fatema Vadnagarwala S.Subitcha Poorani

Teen Mag Regulars48| Jest 4 Laughs

52| Kreative Korner

51| Teen Kooks

54| Tweet Beats

56| For Ur Eyes Only

We Did It!

We are the brains behind the concept and editorial coordination of Eve’s Times and TeenMag this issue! Thanks for reading! Do send us your feedback to [email protected]


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Parent’s LoveTears masked my eyes when they scanned through the ‘Bonds of Love’ stories of your June issue. It is amazing to see how fathers contribute to the upbringing of their children. “My daughter, my lodestar,’ is a masterpiece which depicts the angst of a father in search of his daughter. One thing that comes out from this story as well as my bundle of joy is the courage and conviction of single parents, the bane of today. But the fact that these parents try to give their best to their children and at the same time give them the freedom to grow and think independently shows that modern day Indian parents are combining the best of modern thought and traditional values to bring up their children. By the looks of it, if this is true, we can expect some outstanding future citizens who can contribute nationally and globally as citizens of the world. Kudos to Eve’s Times for bringing out the feature on parent-child relationships today.

Bharat Mahadevan, Chennai

Summer SizzlersWow! Your summer and ‘bonding special issue was simply superb. July issue had a lot for readers – what with the various dimensions of parenting and the different shades of summer, it was indeed a visual and intellectual treat. Summer travel made interesting reading, bringing to me nostalgic memories of our own travel experiences. When our family had gone to Mauritius last year we had the experience of walking along with lions in a forest, which was a thrilling experience. Tourists are taken along with chaperones for a walk into the forest. While we took photographs with

Letters to editor

the lions, the fact that tourists were given instructions on how to handle any exigency instilled fear in all of us, though we put up a brave front standing close to the lions for photographs. Tours are indeed occasions for extraordinary experiences that enrich your lives. The fact that people take travelling seriously will play a major role in broadening mental horizons and help us understand places, peoples and cultures.

Kritika Venkatachalam, Chennai

Thin is in but not on!The thought provoking article on how women today are pressurized by the society to refrain from eating a healthy meal is a tragedy that has overtaken the world. Women are nurturers of future generations. It is very sad that they are forced to give up food whether they hail from economically poor backgrounds or come from affluent families. When young girls start neglecting their health and stop eating balanced meals , they are paving the way for a unhealthy future generation, be it their children or when they become senior citizens. No country can allow their women to starve. It is high time the government took up the initiative to lay down rules for models and actors and ensure that our women look as they should look. No point following western women who would do anything to stay in limelight. We should create a culture where women look happy, healthy and relaxed. Don’t you think it is inhuman to let our girls starve, however strong a commercial motive we may have? Stop exploiting women !

Rachna Johri, Bengaluru

Better Late than NeverI entirely agree with Dr.Priya Selvaraj whose ‘Never too Late….’ In your May issue is an eye-opener for working women. Time was when women conceived easily… the result of what we see today- a population of nearly one and a quarter billion people. Yet, the increasing infertility rate is a matter of great concern. As we all know late pregnancies may result in children with birth defects. If we have to nurture a healthy generation, it is important for women to realize that if they desire to have kids they must make up their minds well in advance and also plan the time when they can take a sabbatical and start a family. It is extremely difficult for

young women who take up lucrative jobs after doing well in professional courses , to give a break to their career to start a family. I feel this is an important decision in a woman’s life and the society should lend her a helping hand. This is where the government and the corporate sector

should step in. While many changes are seemingly being made by the government, it is not wise to ignore the needs of half the contributing citizens of the country who raise future generations. It is not as if a woman can conceive without a man!

Considering that a child is as important for a father as it is for the mother and for the society, women who decide to start families should be able to join back whenever they are ready and move ahead in their careers as if there has been no break. Women who can work from home or do flexi time assignments for the company they work, can do so. It is time some rules were laid down not only to help women contribute intellectually to the country but also to think of ways to offer them safe options for the best possible baby care. If India does not do this soon and our women are left to fend for themselves and their kids, this has and will continue to be a major factor for breaking up of families as the stress of starting and raising a family affects both men and women. Will the corporate sector and the government act fast?

Sumati Raja, Chennai

Quality Food, ?We live in a country where a billion people are unmindful of what they eat. Next only to a few underdeveloped nations, India is one country where food is sold from stalls and shanties situated right over the gutter. It is easy to dispose of the garbage! Dump right next to your stall and the matter is finished! It is amazing how people flock towards these kai endhi bhavans or dhabas during the lunch hour. It doesn’t matter that the plates are washed by dipping repeated in an old grimy metal bucket of dirty water or the chef cum bearer cum peddler digs his dirty hands into the batter and deftly spreads it over a girdle which might have never been washed. It is horrendous to see them swat the girdle with a broom! Half hearted measures of covering fruits and cool drinks with a flimsy net have been adopted by some odd food vendors. Step into even the most modern sweetmeat shop or a jazzy outlet in an airport. If you don’t spot flies, mosquitoes or other strange insects hovering over the food, ask me. Is there any organization that monitors the quality of food sold in the roadsides? What are the so called food inspectors up to? Carrying food packets home to their families in return for overlooking these gross transgressions? When I went to Singapore recently, I was invariably asked by all cab drivers if I were an Indian. Even as I nodded my head with pride, the immediate response was,” Are you from Chennai? It is such a stinking, dirty city! And there are too many people.” I was at a loss for words. Tinged with humor, Padmini Natarajan brings out the grim realities of the food vending practices in our country, which is at best woeful, in your May issue!

Avanthika Bhushan, Chennai



You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win – Zig Ziglar

nterprising ndeavoursE

Entrepreneurship is an exciting journey. Entrepreneurship is about creating something new of value. The

intrinsic desire to excel oneself, to rise above all challenges and shackles impel a passionate entrepreneur to steer his caravan toward the destination he has chosen for himself. The exoticism associated with vanquishing the myriad impediments that arise during the course of the adventuresome sojourn is addictive. For the creative and the dauntless..... entrepreneurship is an endless journey toward self actualisation!


Alongside the independence of India in 1947, the foundation of a construction enterprise

was laid without much ado in Chennai, which has garnered reputation for its engineering excellence and quality. Hailing from a family of four generations of engineering contractors, young and enterprising Aswin Ramkumar, Director-Projects, KSV Constructions, is breaking

new grounds, steering the company forward.

For over six decades, KSV Constructions has established a name for itself as one of the leading contractors in the state and certified as Class I Engineering Contractors executing prestigious projects

for major organizations. Aswin leads a team which has a combined strength of over 170 engineers, professionals and skilled operators and over 1500 construction workers.

Aswin’s foray into construction was pre-ordained. “I grew up visiting construction sites as a child. Construction has been the field of choice for us in the family. No one ever contemplated any field

other than construction,” says Aswin matter-of-factly. Aswin completed B.E Civil Engineering from SRM Engineering College, Chennai and went on to complete M.S. Construction Engineering & Management

from Stanford University, USA.

Building a New IndiaSwati Amar

Enterprising Endeavours


“When I joined engineering college, there were 25 students who took up Civil Engineering. Today there are 300 students! Given the phenomenal growth of infrastructure in our country, there is great scope for this field,” says Aswin. Global learning has sharpened his acumen, infusing in him the finesse to create further value in their job through enhancing productivity and efficiency. The company strives to achieve this through a combination of highly advanced IT, team building and grass roots level initiatives.

One of the most successful projects accomplished by Aswin happened in the beginning of his career when they completed a project for Ford Visteon in a matter of 6-7 months, despite stringent standards insisted by the client company. “This was a zero-injury project with no Lost Time Injury or Medical Treatment Injury,” recounts Aswin, “My greatest challenge was to inculcate safety standards as a part of work progress. Safety is a part of our culture now. We have Health, Safety, Environment & Community Policy. We aspire for zero harm to people. We are committed to efficient use of resources, reduce and prevent pollution if possible and product stewardship. We strive to be valued corporate citizens in our community,” says Aswin.

There is a huge divide between the highly professional clients that are mammoth organizations, MNCs and global companies and the large unqualified, unskilled labour force who have to deliver. This is the greatest challenge in the construction industry.

Aswin feels that over and above the Bureau of Indian Standards that outlines health and safety standards, we need independent agencies such OSHA or Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA is a part of the United States department of Labour and is the main federal agency charged with the enforcement of safety and health legislationBottom of Form

No construction that does not meet the OSHA’s standards is allowed to continue. Given the fact that our construction industry is characterised by constructors with no qualification or experience whatsoever at the lowermost rung to the most qualified, engineering contractors with global learning and experience at the other end of the continuum, it is essential to have a third party agency to monitor the quality of constructions.

While KSV are primarily into contracting, Aswin’s penchant to exploit their talent and experience and foray into the entire gamut of the activities associated with construction, including design and architecture has led to the establishment of KSV Developers, which is Aswin’s initiative. He is quite excited about the new project KSV Developers will be launching soon. For their first real estate project

they will be incorporating new design concepts. Their project will be eco friendly, will blend with the surroundings and will be offered at the right price. This will be the first Platinum LEEDs project in the city.

According to Aswin the major challenge for engineering contractors is getting good labour to meet the specifications of the industry. Also, given the huge demand for construction activities in a short time, the quality is bound to drop. “This is where engineering comes in to play. Many contractors may not have engineering qualification or at least some engineering background. At the other end are a few companies like ours that stand apart. Of course, there is a price to pay for that,” he says.

Chennai has grown tremendously, but the growth is not holistic. It has grown much in the north and south directions. Aswin hopes that the advent of the Metro Rail will foster development of projects towards the outer ring roads, elevated highways around the beach and bring about social amenities in the growing areas surrounding Chennai.

“Despite the slowdown in other industries, there can be no slowdown in the construction industry. Today the national ambience demands a huge development of infrastructure, including the power sector. Civil engineers will always be in demand. Huge projects are going on across the country including roads and highways, commercial complexes and huge residential projects, malls etc in metros and Tier 1 cities. We have only tapped the tip of the iceberg. We have not yet reached the towns and villages. There is still a tremendous amount of work to unearth. We at KSV hope to contribute to building the city by building homes, factories and other infrastructure.”

Aswin opines that integrity is the prime ingredient for success in this industry, followed by hard work. The most defining quality that young civil engineers must develop is to bring about a change in the quality of contribution they will be making to the industry and the country. “Today the younger generation is exposed globally through the television, social media, internet and travel and knows how things are in the other parts of the world. There is a fire in everybody’s belly to do things without having to give up their moral values. It is a long fight. But with inspiring leaders who have come up today, there is hope in all of us. Society is the best judge. If there are unscrupulous elements, it is a matter of time before the society decides to withdraw its acceptance of such people. Considering that we come from Tamil Nadu which has a rich heritage and a strong value based society, I am sure the future is bright for youngsters willing to work hard with integrity and vision.”


In Pursuit of

Starting your startupSuccess

Donn S. Kabiraj, an astute Business Strategist and a Management Guru is the Founder and CEO of Donn Corporation, which provides Business Strategy Planning and Business Facilitation Services across the globe. The company also

helps in forming Strategic Alliance, acquiring Joint Venture partners, appointing suitable Franchisees, launching of Franchisee Operations, Distribution Networks etc. for various businesses and brands worldwide.

One of Donn’s key achievements has been inventing the DNA-Compass™, a direction finder that defines the natural agility of any company. Listed and named in America’s Premier Experts as a Business Strategist, Donn S. Kabiraj is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management (IIM-Calcutta).

Donn is the recipient of the prestigious ‘Lifetime Achievement Award,’ from UWA conferred on him by Dr. Rakesh Mohan, Global Adviser to McKinsey and Professor of International Economics & Global Affairs in the Yale School of Management (USA) for his excellence as an “Outstanding Sales and Marketing professional”. He has also received special recognition from the Chairman and

CEO of PepsiCo for his critical contribution towards the World Debut of ‘Aquafina’ (bulk water).

Donn Corporation has won the most esteemed ‘Udyogshree Award’, in 2012 from the ‘Council for Industrial & Trade Development’, India,for achieving ‘Excellence In Business Management & Strategy Planning’.

Donn Corporation in now offering mentoring programs for aspiring entrepreneurs. Donn believes increase in women-entrepreneurship will enhance the momentum of economic development of our country. Author of innumerable articles on diverse subjects ranging from ‘Women’s Liberation’ to ‘Cybernetics’, this global marketing professional avers, “Every business is in essence a marketing venture! Flexibility in approach is a must today to respond and maneuver in the present dynamic market condition”.

To know more about Donn and how you could benefit for your entrepreneurial venture,

Visit:www.donncorporation.com

Action is the key to succeed! You have to start somewhere. The earlier the better.

http://www.donncorporation.com


You of course know about celebrity entrepreneurs like Bill Gates of Microsoft, Steve Jobs of Apple Computers, very recently Mark Zuckerberg of

Facebook etc., who have taken the global business scenario by storm. Also back home, I’m sure, you have heard about how Dhirubhai Ambani had built the ‘Reliance’ company from scratch. He was a daredevil entrepreneur. The company is now a US$ 89 billion* (Rs. 44, 7000/- crore in revenue) conglomerate and ranked as a ‘Fortune 500’ company. If you are contemplating on starting up your own business and jump into the bandwagon of entrepreneurs, then here are few important lessons picked up from the sack of experience that would come in handy during your entrepreneurial journey.

Offer SolutionsBeing a business consultant, lots of people keep asking me to give them some new or hot business ideas which can bring in the big buck to their kitty. Keep in mind, your venture must provide a solution to something or someone. It must be conceived with the idea of alleviating pain or enhance pleasure for somebody who would be your potential clients or customers! I would say, it is the power of observation combined with relentless quest for solutions that can bring out the best of business ideas and raise you to the podium along with the distinguished entrepreneurs in the world.

Add Value As far as ‘hot’ business is concerned, I say, there is no ‘hot’ business as such; it is the ‘value-adds’ you offer to your customers that make your business more sustainable than that of your competitors! Value-adds are basically meant to bestow additional value for your products or services over and above its baseline value. This way you offer more value to the customers for the money they pay you. And you stand out to be the ‘most-preferred’ in the herd of competitors. Remember, it’s not you, but your customers who should find value in your value-adds! Your value-adds could be complementary or non-complementary services, few added advantages or some extra benefits that are important to your customers. Some examples may be free shipping by a book seller, free-maintenance-offer for a limited period by a car dealer, arrangement for an onward journey by a travel company, 24 hours helpdesk support by a software company etc. If you have zeroed in on the right value-adds for your product or services and are confident of

pitching them as your USP (unique selling point), then you are already one step ahead.

Get StartedAction is the key to succeed! You have to start somewhere. The earlier the better. You just cannot keep planning endlessly such that you finally kill your fantastic idea through ‘paralysis-by-analysis’. Start acting on your vision now; don’t wait for a fool-proof plan. You would eventually invent a better plan while on it. You need to be there, doing it fully with complete involvement to manifest your vision.

Believe in YourselfYou have to be prepared to walk through that difficult phase. No matter how small or big you begin, there would be challenges along your way when you strive to reach your goal. Nobody has seen his future; you can only act in the present to make an impact so that you secure your ‘perceived-future’! So you need to have loads of faith in yourself to take a call on various issues based on your gut feelings; but just make sure not to be whimsical and delve into mindless pursuits in the name of gut feeling!

For an entrepreneur with limited resources, it is better to choose a business based on the line of your own expertise; pick something that you already know how to go about it. You can save valuable time by avoiding the learning curve. It would also reduce your uncertainty to some extent and you would get a much clearer view of the road ahead!

Go for your startup now. Dream big and be positive. Sky is not the limit. Bingo! Founder and CEO of Donn Corporation,


For a person who started his career as a copy writer in the advertising field and eventually got into marketing, leading various marketing communication

teams for Wipro Technologies, iGATE Global Solutions, Hyundai Motors, SSI and Medimix the choice of entrepreneurship came naturally. Meet Vinod Harith, Co-director and founder of CMO Axis, India’s first Market Process Outsourcing Company. CMO Axis is positioned to deliver to fast

changing business and marketing needs. With a combination of business insights, strategic marketing expertise and execution bandwidth, CMO Axis is able to offer integrated solutions that make business sense to both business and marketing leaders. Mr. Vinod Harith shares insights into his life starting from copywriting to marketing manager and as a director of an MPO company. Excerpts from an interview on his entrepreneurial venture and the challenges he faced.

Since you graduated in Chemistry how you did get interested in marketing and communication? Who or what impressed you to choose this field?

I was very interested in writing. I wanted to become either a journalist or a copy writer. I wanted pursue Visual Communication in my undergraduate programme. Unfortunately even Loyola college didn’t have Viscom at that time. So I did a credit course in Mass

Marketing a DreamJoseph Aloysius

Photograph Shravan Reddy


Communication and journalism in Loyola during my UG. Eventually, I went into copy writing. I did my internship in an Ad agency and became a copy writer. That’s how I went into marketing. I got into agency the side of marketing. Then I moved to brand management of Medimix and then Hyundai.

CMO Axis is the first Marketing Process Outsourcing (MPO) company in India. How did you get this innovative idea? Elaborate on the challenges you had to encounter to execute the idea and establish the company?

The pain that I was going through as a marketing person triggered me to think of this innovative idea. During the past 16 years before CMO Axis, I understood the marketing eco system. We have various agencies like Ad agency, PR agency, Content writing, online developers, digital marketing, etc. But none of these agencies take the bottom line responsibility of increasing business outcome. Project managers are dealing with too many people to get one task accomplished in marketing. But other functions like finance and accounting are out sourced by one single company. So it struck me that when finance and accounting can be outsourced, why not marketing? When we established the company one significant challenge we faced is lack of awareness of the possibilities of outsourcing marketing. We went through great pain to explain to our clients about what we were able to bring to the table. How it would be very different from what they were getting all these years. But now with the help of people like you (media) we are able to get across our message better.

You were heading the marketing and communications department for various well known organizations like Wipro Technologies and leading the marketing teams. How do you think that work experience has been helpful to you? In what ways do you think work experience in an organization will be helpful for an aspiring entrepreneur?

An entrepreneur needs training and experience to reach a significant margin in a market. If you look at us we are able to walk into any big organization and meet the CEO or CMO. It gives us the ability to say that “we have been ‘there’ and done ‘that’ in the past”. The biggest problem today 90% of agencies has not experience or understanding about how big organizations work. So for them to walk into a company and talk about business results is really difficult. Because today all the large companies ask for past experience. The biggest advantage we bring to the table is that we have this so called experience.

To be an entrepreneur in the MPO field what are the unique skills and attitude one should possess/cultivate?

The most important skill for an entrepreneur is an understanding of how marketing can deliver a good result. So the understanding of how to run a marketing program that results in good business is critical. There are enough of specialized agencies out there. How can an MPO be different? The understanding of how to make an impact on the core of the business is the essential skill for an entrepreneur in the MPO field.

As it is a new alternative for traditional approach to marketing, how has been the response of SMEs and corporates toward this new trend set by you? How difficult or easy was it for you to garner clients?

In any organization there will be a huge focus on marketing and a small improvement in marketing can impact the bottom line of the company. People are constantly struggling to improvise and get better outcomes. Make marketing more efficient is every leader’s agenda in an organization. So the biggest thing which is working for us is we go there and connect with them and tell them how we can run their marketing more efficiently to deliver better outcomes. So that makes people sit and listen to us. After the education none of our clients said we don’t need help with marketing. The challenge for us is to come up with right engagement model and delivery model. We are dealing with large as well as SMEs and each organization needs different models.

What is the scope for MPO nationally/globally? Would you encourage other young entrepreneurs to enter this field?

Yes, definitely we encourage young entrepreneurs and even seasoned entrepreneurs because as I said earlier the market is wide open and we need experienced people to enter this field. We produced two entrepreneurs during the last four years from CMO Axis. Regarding scope nationally we have generated a lot of interest. We recently entered global markets and have been active during the past six months. MPO has quite a lot of scope even outside India.

One of your interested areas is managing the online medium for marketing. Today for marketing why it is important to communicate through new media or to have online communication though there are lots of communication channels?

Actually we concentrate on all the channels of communication whatever is suited for

the client. If a business is predominantly done offline we won’t suggest online communication for them. Online medium is required more as a support channel in most of the business areas. Customers today do research online like comparing, checking reviews etc before buying a product. We look at this medium as one of the important channel but it is not necessarily a ‘must to do’ function. We look at the marketing in a holistic way. We believe marketing has to be integrated.

Traversing the success path for four years, what major lessons have you learnt?

Initially we thought we understood customer needs from past experience. But we realized every client has unique needs. Marketing is looked as segments, which means people are trying to put companies and people into board segments. But later we understood every organization we were dealing with had unique requirements. This kind of generalization doesn’t work. So today we respect each and every organization as an individual organization and offer marketing solutions.

Being siblings, entrepreneurs, co-founders and directors of CMO Axis how are you able to manage your personal relationship as well as professional relationship with your brother, Pramod Harith?

Though it’s not easy I feel we are lucky that both of us come from the same back ground. Both of us have the same risk aptitude and vision. It is good that we both take a lot of things together to achieve. But at the same time we are strong critics of each other. That actually helps our business. Once we step into office we try to keep our personal aspects outside and try criticizing each other. The best part of it is certain things you can take from your brother and walk away, which you will not be able to take from an outsider. We look criticism more objectively. We are happy to share our vision together forever.

What is your message for upcoming entrepreneurs in the MPO field?

I want more to enter this field. We would like more young people to come to us, work and learn as well. That way we are very open because our vision is about focusing at a larger level. The market is wide enough for hundreds of other players. We want more people and will be happy to train them. We would like to be a part of an incubation centre for people who would like to eventually do something.


Saundarya Rajesh is a pave-maker of not just her career but also a million other women in India. The reigning founder president of Avtar Career Creators, a talent strategy consulting firm, and FLEXI Careers India, a social enterprise focusing on creating sustainable careers for women, based in Chennai city, Saundarya is an epitome of entrepreneurial zeal. With the establishment of Avtar in 2000, it has remained a fulcrum in the work-life balance of women.

Early days

Saundarya Rajesh hails from Pondicherry and is a gold medallist in English Literature from Bharathidasan Government Arts College for Women at Pondicherry. She then proceeded to do her MBA from School of Management, Central University, Pondicherry. She kick-started her career at Citibank N.A and went on to manage Merchant Services at the bank, which she continued even after her marriage. It was only after the birth of her son and her break from work at the bank, that she realised the inconvenience married women or those with families faced working in the industry. Between the years 1992-95, she worked as a producer and compere for All India Radio and Doordarshan, and also anchored brief start-up projects.

Creative Solutions for Enduring Careers

Fatema Vadnagarwala

Photograph Shravan Reddy

http://www.flexicareersindia.com/

http://www.indianmba.com/pondicherry/p1/p1.html

http://www.indianmba.com/pondicherry/p1/p1.html


In the year 1995, Saundarya took up the opportunity of working as a part time lecturer in management at M.O.P.Vaishnav College for women. While she taught, she also associated herself with a local recruitment agency and used this opportunity to obtain placements for her women students. The first seed for what was to emerge as a pioneering venture offering job opportunities for women was sown during this time, which germinated and grew into an enterprise.

The venture progressed rapidly after her break from lecturing, when she was diagnosed with infected nodules in her vocal cords in early 2000. The second break from her career nailed her passion to create jobs for marginalized, talented women and hence in December 2000 Avtar was born.

Avatars of Avtar

AVTAR Career Creators started functioning in Chennai in December 2000. A talent strategy consulting firm, AVTAR works in the area of on-ramping strategies, just-in-time recruitment solutions and contingency hiring. With over 7 verticals, each focusing on a separate industry specialization, AVTAR is among the first few organizations to manage end-to-end recruitment turn-key projects. Realising the pressing need to help women seeking a re-entry into work and career, Avtar created Avtar I-WIN in the year 2005.

AVTAR I-WIN is an abbreviation of AVTAR

Interim Women-Managers’ Interface Network. This service was created with the vision that India needs to harness its women managerial talent fully by providing enablers, which will help them to stay engaged to their careers. Being India’s first career service exclusively for women, AVTAR I-WIN is a networking, skill-building and career enabling initiative. It has 26,000 registered members and has provided work-life integrated career options to over 3500 women, across metros, cities and towns of India.

FLEXI Careers India, the social enterprise arm of AVTAR launched the SEGUE SESSIONS in December 22, 2011 realising that women seeking a transition in career, faced challenges that became strenuous to handle. Realising this, the session trained 1000 women professionals across Chennai, Mumbai and Bangalore to make a fierce come-back in the industry. The sessions are proposed to be conducted across the country in the future.

Beacon of Inspiration

Awarded the FCCI FLO Women Entrepreneur of the Year Award in March 2012, and many others, Saundarya is an entrepreneur whose journey into making a sustainable career of her own is an inspiration by itself. Stomping confidently in changing lives of 1.5 million women with unsustainable careers, Saundarya is a harbinger of a new trend for women employment in the country.

With over 7 verticals, each focusing on a separate industry specialization, AVTAR is among the first few organizations to manage end-to-end recruitment turn-key projects.

http://www.mop-vaishnav.ac.in/index.html

http://www.mop-vaishnav.ac.in/index.html

http://www.avtariwin.com/


Stay focus Stay organized.” Following the words of Steve Jobs two computer geeks share their web developing experience with Eve’s Times.

Ronald Paul and Christopher are founders of Prominence Technologies Pvt Ltd. Ronald Paul from Coimbatore, nicknamed as ‘computer babe’ in Loyola College, Chennai partnered with his class mate, Christopher from Africa, after completing Bachelor of Computer Application in 2010.

Both of them became close friends in Loyola hostel. They spent a lot of time discussing about the computer field and their future. The seeds of a web developing company were sown during these introspective contemplations. Initially it was decided to be a part time venture because Ronald had plans to do his masters in Computer Application.

Every misfortune paves way to fortune

Ronald did not get admission in MCA in Loyola College. So he joined MCA in St. Joseph’s College, Trichy. Circumstances were not as expected and he decided to drop out. He came back to Chennai and launched the web developing company in a small scale as a full time business venture along with Christopher. Leaving home town and native country and starting a business in another country is a great achievement. For Christopher, the impetus to start a computer business venture in India was the belief that India is a country of computer professionals, which offers the advantage of not only constantly upgrading one’s knowledge in the field but also enables interactions and networking with other professionals, which is important for a business to thrive.

Joseph Aloysius

Prominent

Technopreneurs


In 2011 January the duo started Prominence Technologies Private Limited. But for an entrepreneur learning never ends. The duo joined MBA twining program offered as a distant learning programme by Pondicherry University.

Every experience becomes a lesson

“Like any other start up, it was a hard time for us in the beginning. We had nothing but a laptop in our hands. Today without depending on our family, we are able to live on our turnover. We bought four PCs and appointed a technical assistant,” says Christopher. In a matter of just one year in the field, both of them became richer through many lessons learned and several exclusive experiences for business persons in this field. The most important lesson they learned according to Christopher was the first lesson that taught them to be completely prepared before meeting a client. The encounter with their first client was an eye opener when they were put to test by the difficult questions he asked them. Their lack of preparation put them in a fix. Since then they do their homework well.

Beginners in this field have to circumvent many challenges. Due to lack of human resources, most of the chores related to the business have to be handled by the entrepreneur himself. But this is in itself a great learning experience, because the first hand experience brings with it all round knowledge about the business that helps transform entrepreneurs into expert team leaders who can guide their team members later when they develop teams.

Weaving Music into Enterprise

“One can think of venturing into an enterprise only if he is willing to take risks because rise is a part of any business. An entrepreneur should be able to handle critical situations dauntlessly to enable him to survive,” says Ronald. Both seek solace from Music as a stress buster. Music lovers that they are, Christopher spends his free time listening to music or watching music albums while Ronald plays the keyboard. He has completed three grades in music from

the Royal College of Music.

Prominent vision

Competition in the field of web development calls for an extra edge over competitors. The two technopreneurs do not depend on their talent alone to outwit the competitors. They bank on their risk taking abilities, their attitude toward balancing the ups and downs and handling crises with focus and clarity. “One needs a clear vision to advance in this field,” says Ronald. They have cast their net worldwide snaring international clients from countries like China and Africa.

Ronald and Christopher are not just good website builders but they are good web users. They involve in a lot of web-related activities. They say that they develop their personality, spiritual maturity, language skills and professional skills through various top-rated blogs, websites and online forums. Unlike other youngsters they login to social networking sites very rarely. They say it steals their time. That shows their clear understanding and proper use of the web medium.

Idols who Inspire

Both have their own role models who inspire them. Ronald admires the simplicity of both Steve Jobs and Bill Gates while Christopher gets inspired by the hard work of the Indian entrepreneur, Sarathbabu Elumalai, Founder and CEO of Food King Catering Services Pvt Ltd. Christopher is inspired by the rags to riches background of his idol.

“Whatever we receive we will give back to the society”

“We are thankful to all our clients. Whatever we receive we will give back to the society in the form of service and through other social activities. This thought impels me and my partner to face every challenge and helps us grow,” says Christopher. Let wish them a bright future and hope that all their dreams come true. We can reach them through their ‘

website www.prominencetechno.com

“Like any other start up, it was a hard time for us in the beginning. We had nothing but a laptop in our hands. Today without depending on our family, we are able to live on our turnover.”

Ronald Paul & ChristopherFounders of Prominence Technologies Pvt Ltd.


JMV Infrastructure Private Ltd is a diversified business house in Chennai in the arena of real estate, construction and engineering. Heading JMV Infrastructure is young and vibrant Vikram, Managing Director. Having completed Mechanical Engineering and following it up with an Executive MBA from Loyola Institute

of Business Administration, (LIBA), and Vikram is known for employing the latest technologies and techniques to offer high quality and service standards in the infrastructure industry. Vikram talks about his foray in entrepreneurship and his recent project, “The Opulence”.

The first thing one notices as one enters the office precincts is the lush greenery all around, the décor enriched with verdant bamboo shoots. It comes as a surprise as young construction entrepreneurs today focus on aesthetically pleasing interiors, eschewing greenery in favour of ultra modern architecture. Hence the interview commenced with his passion for the colour Green.

BuildingGreen EnvironsJoseph Aloysius

I am very much impressed by Donald Trump and by his negotiation skills. I would like to laud his deal-making talent.

Vikram, Managing DirectorJMV Infrastructure


Why do you focus on nature and environment in your construction business?

It is my very attitude. I work best in green calm and environs. That’s why I chose this location in Anna Nagar. Our business supports the environment and we execute eco-friendly constructions. We are a member of the ‘Indian Green Building Council.’

Since you set up this company and office immediately after your MBA, how have you been able to develop a good team to carry out your projects?

I believe in creating an active and participatory team. I am flexible with my staff. I believe in entrusting responsibilities to my team members without having to push them to do their work. I focus on the completion of the deadlines rather than insisting on their presence in office so much so that they can chill out with their friends on Saturdays. All I want is that the work should be completed on time and progress of the work has to be communicated properly. A manager should be flexible and friendly with his workers.

How did you hone your leadership skills at a very young age?

Right from my school days I have been the class leader. That has taught me a lot about leadership qualities. I even participated in a competition on an entrepreneurial project against a ten-member team and my project was lauded at school. My teacher used to motivate me saying that I would be adept at providing work than doing work myself. That has been an inspiration.

Handling a single business successfully today by itself is a great challenge. It is rare to see a young entrepreneur involve himself in diversified businesses. Who is your role model?

My role model is Dhurubai Ambhani. When we look at his life history, it is inspiring to learn that a petrol pump attendant built a refinery of his own. Back then, Reliance’s 25 million ton oil refinery, the largest grassroots refinery in the world commenced operations in 1999. He had been able to build this refinery because he decided not to settle for anything else. He subsequently diversified into chemicals, petrochemicals, plastics, power etc. Many people used to think that he shifted his focus from oil refinery to other fields. But in actuality, to develop and sustain in the oil refinery industry he diversified his business activities. Likewise we are also open to all businesses. But there are lot more personalities who inspire me.

Can you mention any other idol and the quality that inspired you?

I am very much impressed by Donald Trump and by his negotiation skills. I would like to laud his deal-making talent. Whenever he went to make a business deal he negotiated in a manner that he would get the contract for sure. Through his negotiating skill, he got himself myriad opportunities in real estate business.

Do you believe that you have acquired any major skill or learnt an important lesson during your entrepreneurial sojourn?

Yes. The lesson I learnt and am following is commitment. It is one of the main essentials for business. Not just me but everyone in my office follows this. Here every one gives his best. That is our USP. As for professional skills, earlier I was very straightforward and used to avoid issues that irritated me, especially negotiations. Entrepreneurship has infused in me the importance of negotiations which I am perfecting today.

If you not forayed into construction what would you have become?

I would have become an architect. I am very much interested in fine arts, especially in drawing and sketching. I won various awards and prizes in painting and sketching. I received a gold medal in an all India painting competition. But I think I have been fortunate to choose this field, because I have the guidance and counsel of my father. I have gained a lot of experience working in this field under him.

Ample samples

After the interview, he showed me some of his drawings and sketches, which he had uploaded in his Facebook account. Sketching continues to be his passion and hobby. Most of his works are related to landscape and sceneries, which reflect his interest in nature. “This was the one I drew during a very boring meeting,” he said and laughed as he showed a beautiful scenery. But this passion helps him in his profession as he gives a lot of conceptual ideas for the computer aided designs of his apartments. Vikram personally designs all the print ads for his company. He showed some of print ads which he designed, which were very creative. Vikram stands testimony to the multifaceted and multi talented young entrepreneurs of the modern era.


Dr. Kannan Pugazhendi, sports physician, is one of the best kept secrets in town—sometime or the other everyone has benefitted from his treatment!

He consults and counsels at Sports Performance Assessment Rehabilitation Research Counselling Institute (SPAARC), Alwarpet and conducts workshops all over India on a regular basis. He also teaches at the YMCA College of Physical Education in the YMCA.

Sports Medicine Speciality is something that has become a rage in India over the past decade. Sports medicine focuses on the medical and therapeutic aspects of sports participation and physical activity. Sportspersons prefer to consult those who have experience treating athletes. Dr Pugazhendi, after his MBBS, came to this field by chance.

Dr Pugazhendi passed out with the first batch from St Michael’s Academy, Adyar where he shone as an athlete in the 400m

and also played basketball. In his pre-final year in medicine at MMC he began to read up on sports medicine. He began to train with a coach at the YMCA College of Physical Education. He started his practice by seeing injured athletes who were staying in the YMCA Sports School. “This was excellent hands-on experience training as there were no teachers or anyone else to tell me how to go about treating sports injuries. In fact people laughed, derided and ridiculed me about my choice of practice. There was no word of encouragement at all. I watched and helped in the training after the official coach left YMCA. This was a great opportunity as I was exposed to the four important aspects of sports—injury, nutrition, training and the psychological impact on the minds of the athletes. This was the best combination of different aspects of sports that moulded me into a sports physician”.

Sports medicine is not part of orthopaedics—the latter is concerned with disorders or deformities of the spine

and joints and entails surgery as well. Sports medicine has become a fashionable qualification to add to a doctor’s expertise.

Dr Pugazhendi accompanied the cricket team in 1989 for 69 days during their tour to the West Indies. “It was Mr Venkatraghavan, the Manager of the team, who got me this assignment and this experience encouraged me to take up this speciality. I stepped into the shoes of Ali Irani and the tour with Vengsarkar as the Captain was an unforgettable one”.

Again in 1996, Dr Pugazhendi accompanied the Indian Hockey Team to the Atlanta Olympics. “It was the best exposure that I could have. Of course, this year I am going to simply watch and pray,” he says with a laugh. He has also treated many national athletes. Bhaichung Bhutia was under performing because of a nagging hamstring problem in his right leg. Desperately wanting to be “fully fit” for the I-League’s match against Mohun Bagan, he came to Chennai to be treated by Dr. Pugazhendi. Bhutia called the

The Indispensible

Sports EntrepreneurPadmini Natarajan


doc ‘a magician’ after he treated him for a similar problem during Mohun Bagan’s 2006 Federation Cup triumph. Tripti, who won the National Championship in Badminton has had her injuries managed and trained for fitness at SPAARC’s sister concern in Bangalore, DENDRITE. A bevy of dancers and stars are his patients as injuries in both these professions are rampant. In fact, Dr Pugazhendi has worked on many patients with chronic problems, including joints and back injuries and helped them avoid surgeries.

In 1999 Dr Pugazhendi went to Australia to do his Masters in Sports Medicine, a special medical program for doctors. “This program augmented my training. I had most of it in place already but the course helped create systemised program for sports and related injuries. It needs a very holistic approach. Usually a sportsperson wants to play the very next day. That seemed to be a major handicap that impelled me to look at alternative medical systems seriously. Today I incorporate Varmam, acupuncture, Uzhicchal, yoga, tai-chi, chikung, reiki and pranic healing in my treatment. Do you know today in the USA, a medical degree can be obtained only after completing a course in any one alternate medical system? Acupuncture was a part of our culture thousands of years ago....take the scene of Bhishma on the bed of arrows in the battlefield of Kurukshetra in the Mahabarath. That was acupuncture.” Dr Pugazhendi was involved with rugby in Australia. “It is such a rough game and very injurious. I really learnt a lot about injuries and how to treat them with this game”. Injury Management in Indian sport is still in the nascent stage. “We are the most intelligent people but completely undisciplined. If we can bring in discipline in all we do, we will be unbeatable”.

Dr Pugazhendi is learning all about parenting with hands-on experience with his three year old son Pradyum. His wife Sujatha was a physiotherapist and they met on the job. Romance and marriage followed and as the Managing Director Sujatha looks after SPAARC.

Dr Pugazhendi has had different kinds

of experiences treating injuries of sportspersons. “I have had injuries caused because of lack of mechanical technique. Sports are all about bio-mechanics. We are not looking at age, skeletal maturity, mental strength, experience and maturity of our athletes. In fact no athlete below the age of 20 exhibits maturity, both physical and mental, that a western sportsperson does. In the US they are focussed on how to reach excellence in their careers. In India our kids develop this state of mind quite late, which I think is due to the impact of our culture. P T Usha came into her own only at 22 and lasted for ten years after that”.

“Women are curbed and their focus from childhood is on setting up a home after marriage. Whatever their education and achievements the focus is diluted. Men are trained to look at options and to take decisions. This has to change,” he says.

A patient who comes to SPAARC is first subject to a detailed health assessment. Especially patients with health problems like diabetes, arthritis or blood pressure, or those with injuries need guidance and more specific and targeted training. The physiotherapist, specially trained in Dr Pugazhendi’s methods, gives the patient hands-on treatment by finding the triggers of the pain, relieving them and gradually introducing the body to stretches and exercises. The next stage is rehabilitation where the patient is taken through a whole series of exercises to build up the lazy or weakened muscles and to bring mobility to the limbs and body. They monitor the workout as the technique is very important to prevent further injury. Then the patient continues the exercise regime at the centre or at home and is encouraged to come for regular reviews so that problems, if any and corrections to exercises are all handled.

The wonderful relationship that the staff at SPAARC build up with the clients, not necessarily their own, is heart warming. Arjun Azhagappan is the GM of the institute and can be seen in the foyer interacting with patients and looking after the admin. The job satisfaction that the physiotherapists and trainers have is reflected in the joie de vivre and bonhomie that exists in the premises. The entire team treats the clients with affection and firmness. The heart warming thing is that you can see them as patients too as they are afflicted by twinges and catches that come from their own exercise regime or professional hazards.

Student physiotherapists come to do an internship with Dr Pugazhendi. Qualified Physiotherapists with Bachelor degrees are then recruited and undergo six months of training with SPAARC. Dr Pugazhendi is already working out of three centres in the YMCA, Alwarpet and Anna Nagar. Other centres in Thiruvanamiyur and Nungambakkam are shortly being commissioned. He has franchises in other parts of South India and in Delhi.

Dr Pugazhendi has also taken a special interest in training physical trainers from other organizations. “Exercising without proper training leads to injuries and then I have to step in. So I am conducting programs for personal trainers, teaching them to do assessments and to use a holistic approach for clients.

“When I came back from Australia I was empowered with the concept that sports medicine is not only injury management but also the art of keeping healthy people healthier. From paediatrics to geriatrics we are involved in preventive medicine. We are in the business of teaching people how exercise can make a permanent change in the lifestyle of people and keep them healthy. In many cases we have managed to prevent surgery” says Dr Pugazhendi.

The continuous stream of patients who walk into his institute with limps, strained backs, cold shoulders, dance injuries, congenital defects, challenged children with muscular infirmities and the gradual improvements they gain in mobility and flexibility are testimony to the success of Dr Pugazhendi’s magical touch. Of course there can be a benefit only if the patient has the conviction and the staying power to go through his the exercise with faith!


In cahoots with the teeming traffic in the city and endless work-hours to sustain oneself in a much unsustainable environment, Gokulraj G.K and Balaji Gopalan are your angels in disguise. This team of young men are subsequently the founders of ZAPstore.com, an eCommerceweb portal

that allows you to shop right out of your couch. To make life easy for the shopaholics, ZAPstore is the site you log on toget a holistic experience of fun, gaming and entertainment. The e-store offers electronic gadgets like cameras, mobile phones,music players, tablets, accessories and a growing portfolio.

ZAP awaySince its inception in the summer of 2010, Balaji Gopalan a student of MBA finance at the University of Texas along with his college mate Gokulraj G.K pursuing his masters in engineering management battled the daft officials in India and launched an ecommerce site on the 6th of December 2011. As much as spending a majority of the year in building a robust chain of supply from the distributors, the venture is just a fragment of a bigger vision.

“The bigger vision is to make online shopping fun and an intuitive

With the gaining popularity of online shopping over the last few years, many young entrepreneurs are turning heads towards India to set up eCommerce ventures.

Fatema Vadnagarwala


experience using game mechanics and letting the user control the price at which he / she wants to buy the product by enabling game dynamics,” says co-founder, Gokul. Compounding their vision, the site offers products at a market price with every consumer getting an option of buying the product at an exclusive price by ZAPPING the original price. Imbibing the concept of an options market, the customer has to register with ZAPstore.com and avail the offer of two free ZAPs. At every zap the price drops below the market price and remains exclusive for the consumer. However, the fun part of this is that the consumer is given 10 seconds to make his/her decision on purchasing the product. This engages game mechanics, and while you are zapping prices for the best one, you are also being timed to make your best grab. For every zap after the first two, the consumer pays a premium of Rs.15 to avail the product at a discounted price. Interesting, isn’t it?

Smile that lasts

With the gaining popularity in online shopping over the last few years, many young entrepreneurs are turning heads towards India to set up eCommerce ventures. While most of the eCommerce sites give consumers the pleasure of purchasing products at discounted rates or shelf attractive offers, very few or none give them the opportunity to select their own price. When asked if the Indians affinity to bargain had inspired such a venture, Gokul replies, “Indian’s fancy about bargaining is not our Inspiration. It’s part of the solution that we offer. We believe that eCommerce has become monotonous and boring. We want to have a fun filled website where consumers would smile at every point of the transaction. From the design of the website to the way we communicate with our consumers we ooze out youthfulness and fun.”

Well, of course. The manner in which they communicate is sure to make you reach out and bag down offers. To talking bikinis and men guzzling beer, the duo is a perfect combination of a seller who is open minded and welcoming. Thanks to their outright friendliness with the consumers, these young men save your day from grumpy, half-a-mile chasing salesmen who breathe down your necks than allow you to indulge in a stress-drowning shopping orgy.

A step ahead from the crowd

Internet is the place to be and with most of the tech and non-tech savvy realising it, the competition in the cyber world for the retailers get tougher. To stay a step ahead from the mundane the duo has a line-up of game mechanics strategies to attain their goal. Apart from zapping prices, the first working gaming strategy, they have a fanatic Customer Support, a Delivery System as fast as delivering products the next day in all major cities, 100% Warranty, Safe Packing, Free shipping etc. True to this, the store in its current form, six months after its establishment, is a squad of 10, including full time designers, developers, customer support representatives and logistics personnel and ship 50 to 75 products per day across India from rural villages Bihar to Hill stations in Jammu and Tier 1 cities like Delhi and Bangalore.The cherry on their still baking cake is that, they are the first e-store to retail ‘Beats by Dr.Dre’ headphones which range from Rs.12000 to Rs.32000 and among the few that retail iPad 3.

Here to stay

The economic upheaval in the country does little to dampen their spirit of expanding their venture. The nascence of the eCommerce

tasking in India is probably playing out to be an advantage in experimenting with the buying prowess of the Indians and infusingacceptability through innovation in the online retail business.

Since entrepreneurship is an ally to fate as well as chance, for Gokul it plays out to be both. Asked if he had to don a different profession, he says,“I would (be) working in Ford, USA for a couple of years and would have headed back to India to start some venture as I have always been inspired by my dad’s entrepreneurial journey.” Well, an entrepreneur once stays one forever.

“The bigger vision is to make online shopping fun and an intuitive experience using game mechanics and letting the user control the price at which he / she wants to buy the product by enabling game dynamics,” says

Co-founder, Gokul.


NOT A HOT

POTATO

A new solution to a common problem: Got your army of cousins visiting, with palates for Chinese, Continental, Indian or Italian? Dial 044-

4552 1111 and get connected to Yo! Potato, a food delivery service that allows you to order any kind of food from any restaurant in the city. Started by a male duo, Krishna Chidambaresh and Showkath Jamal, the service helps you customize food, and spend an interesting outing right inside your home. And what’s more, you pay absolutely nothing extra for your doorstep delivery. A chat with Krishna reveals how these young men with an ironclad determination to transform the world, are steadily holding the reins of Yo! Potato.

Who are Krishna and Showkath and how was Yo! Potato conceived?

We are friends since high school and belong to the same neighbourhood. We have done a lot of stuff together from running our music band in school, to treks, to doing some exciting ventures. I am an engineer and

Showkath used to be a practicing lawyer. We were doing our own thing until we thought it was time we did something together and started an outsourcing consulting business about 6 years back. You know how it usually works right? A bunch of guys meeting at the local tea shop after work and brainstorming a zillion ideas that can change the world. It was always about finding exciting problems to solve and making a huge impact. We must have tried about 10 ideas in the last 4 years and then one night, not too long ago I had an epiphany of a concept that turned into Yo! Potato in about a week.

Yo! Potato is a novel idea in the city and the uniqueness of it has somehow attracted good response. Did you expect such an appraisal when you made your debut?

We did expect the response to be good but not to the extent we are seeing. It’s been a fairy tale so far!

The name of your enterprise has a funky ring to it. Who or what inspired you into

this venture and why the name Yo! Potato?

Back in 2007, we were flirting with the idea of setting up an Online DVD rental platform and named it “Lazy Genie”. We thought we’ll stick with that name for the food delivery concept. Fortunately for us, our friend Madhumathi is one of those top creative people alive and runs an Ad agency. She helped us rethink the brand name. After a dozen cups of coffee and each of us pitching a name, she came up with Yo! Potato and it instantly stuck. Conclusion - Yo! Potato is cool and coffee really does work!

At the start of any entrepreneurial venture, it is natural to be faced with difficult situations. Which has been the most gruelling and how did you overcome it?

When you have an idea that’s well received, you need a lot of capital to match the customer demand. We are doubling in size every two months and that’s not easy. The biggest challenge thus far has been in getting investors, making them believe in

The problem in India is that, there are really only a handful of people who believe in creating real value and hoping that will turn into wealth someday.

Fatema Vadnagarwala


the validity of the concept and getting the funding. A lot of folks on the investment fraternity are pretty short-sighted and can’t see the light if they can’t see where the money is coming from the next month.

There have been requests to diversify into various cities from your clients. Do you see it expanding that far in the future?

Absolutely! All of us love food except for some sadhus in Himalayas who can survive without it for years. But, for the rest of us, Yo! Potato’s got to be there. That’s the goal!

Most people in Chennai are comfortable dining in restaurants especially during an occasion, with family. Did you ever contemplate this to be a deterrent in setting up your enterprise?

Eating out is good. But, the trend is changing. Things are a little different today. The traffic is a nightmare. Yo! Potato’s customers are smart enough to take advantage of what we offer. If you can call one guy and order anything you want from any restaurant you want with no minimum order or delivery charges, you are practically eliminating most of the reasons for stepping out. I am not saying you don’t eat out but just for the right reasons!

From which part of the city do you get your regular share of clients and why?

This needs to be a little discreet for now.

With the increasing traffic in the city especially after the mushrooming of metro rail construction, delivering orders to clients would be difficult. How do you manage it?

It is. Add to that, unpredictable one-ways everywhere. It’s a tough job to be aware of the best routes and the changing landscape. But, the good thing now is that you have someone whose whole business is to get your food delivered. So, we focus like no one else can and do a better job eventually, than any other existing alternatives.

How willingly have you been welcomed by restaurants to help you run your service?

It’s been relatively easy since most restaurants instantly understand that delivery is a huge headache they want to dump it on someone else who can do a better job at it. A lot of really good restaurants are not providing home deliveries and they benefit immensely by partnering with us since we take care of getting them customers and delivering it for them. It’s plain Plug and Play stuff!

If you had to reverse roles, with you being the client, what would be your suggestion to the founder of such an enterprise?

This is what I’ll tell the guys behind Yo! Potato if it’s someone else doing it, “A lot of us are banking on you to continue doing what you do. Do what it takes but SURVIVE!” In fact, this is what we hear all the time from others

Every entrepreneur is also an experienced teacher. What is your message to the young who are looking at entrepreneurship?

It’s better to fail doing something spectacular than to succeed doing something trivial. Remember that. The amounts of time you spend with a small boring idea or a huge exciting idea are the same. Dream big! Leave money out of your ambition and focus on making an impact. If you dream big and do big, you will find the right people to help you make your idea work. Like Mahatma Gandhi said “Find the purpose, the means will follow!”


Name of the ad agency: Carbon Media Works.

Clients: Bisleri, Cipla, Novartis, Capital Foods, Cox & Kings, Asus, Bosch and Lomb, A faqs etc.

Owners: Varsha Sandesh Bamugade, Manisha Ganpatye and Amit Patel.

“Whatever Happens

Never Quit!”

The Beginning: It all started 3 years ago. All three of them were media students. They had decided that after college they would start their own media agency together. They initially worked in other agencies as employees and studied their working and then planned their own agency. But there was no financial setup or an office ready for them. They used to sit at local railway stations with their laptop and work. There they would correspond with their clients and fulfill those orders.

In fact they did not have the money to go to their first client’s office for their first

presentation. They had railway pass from Thane till Byculla and then they walked the distance of 3 kms till the client’s office in Bombay Central. Varsha broke her shoe and her handbag in the process. They could not even invest money to mend them let alone buy new ones.

Strategies: Sincere work is their major investment strategy. Varsha affirms, “I guess, our service is our strategy. If we are loyal with our clients and we provide good service, they stick with us. Initially, people did not accept our service, because they had big agencies like Mudhra in their panel.

The 3 youngsters decided to name their agency Carbon because it is the essential element of everything and so they felt Carbon should become the medium for basic communication.

Gayatri T Rao


During that time, we did a continuous follow up and whatever work they had, they would give us. After we did sincerely the little work we got, we would get more orders. Now, if we are coordinating with someone in a given company and he shifts to another one, we get orders from the new company. Since we retained the good will of the old company, we would still get orders from them. This is how we have expanded.”

Division of Labour: Initially, when they set up the agency, they did not have employees working under them. Amit and Varsha have basic designing skills, so they would design the ads. Now the girls majorly handle the marketing. Amit handles the administration. Currently, they also have staff handling the designing part. The three of them are aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses and depending on that they divide the work. For e.g. Manisha is very good at follow up. Varsha on the other hand is very short tempered. If there is any situation where the latter might have a tiff with a client then Manisha comes into picture and handles the client. Sometimes when Varsha, being married, cannot stay at the office for production-related work all night then Amit takes over. Everything boils down to mutual understanding.

Challenges: They have gone through challenging times. Of those times, Varsha gets nostalgic, “Apart from financial problems, we faced problems from the family. The three of us are from middle-class families. We did not have the family support. They told us to first work in another agency and start the business only after collecting enough money. We spent a lot of time

convincing our families that our decision was right. Now I am proud to tell you that last year I got married with my part of the money we got as profit from this business. Many girls get married with money from their parents.”

Success: Varsha says that they are very successful because they are working in an environment in which they are very comfortable. According to her, in media the basic thing is timing. She says, “Sometimes we leave the office at 4 PM if there is no

work. Other times we have to work till 11 PM. Since I am married, I have to take care of both my home and work. Now I have the support of the family. Our families are now proud and happy with us.”

Future: The 3 youngsters are ambitious in a different sense. Varsha insists, “We have currently 4 employees. We need to expand to 100 employees. Instead of earning a lot of money, I want to create an environment where my employees will be comfortable. I want to become a good employer, where my employees should be proud that I am their boss. My family should feel proud of me. I don’t want to become a rich person but I want to become a good person in life.”

Their message to others: Varsha’s advice, “You should first decide what you are interested in. Find out if you are going to work in the same work environment. You should like and enjoy the work. Self-satisfaction is the key word.”

Manisha says, “I would like to say that if people are working in big companies, they should be happy with it. They should not think that their company is boring. If they are not happy with their company they will not be able to give their 100% efforts to their company.”

Amit responds with “The message is simple – just don’t quit. Because initially when we started our agency in 2009, we were not even sure that the people would accept us. They are big companies who usually don’t work with small agencies. But we were persistent, faced various challenges and then there was no looking back. Eventually we made it.”


We really have come a long way from the days when entrepreneurship was considered a risky plunge, to this day, when it all boils down to doing what one loves the most. Most of us work for a good 40 years of our lives. Imagine waking

up each day and dragging yourself to a workplace where you don’t feel completely satisfied, doing a job that doesn’t challenge you enough and earning money for a person up in the hierarchy who oftentimes doesn’t even know you exist, let alone work for him! I say this out of experience. I took the opportunity to interview 4 budding entrepreneurs for this article, who were bold enough to stay away from a corporate job and dared to dream and acted to make their dreams come to life.

ThinstrokesThinstrokes, a custom-designed products company was started in November 2011 by 3 design and engineering graduates from IIT, Mumbai- Nikhil Pande, ShaswathVaidyanathan and BharathJataki. Currently based out of Nagpur, they are looking at soon making their presence felt in other cities as well.

ThinStrokes was born out of a vision to provide excellent designs on high quality products. A unanimous inference from their prior experiences of the trio was that custom-designed products have either or both of the two major drawbacks, which are: lousy designs and sub-standard quality. Further research led to the conclusion that companies providing custom-designed products, either lacked

differentAnuradha Ganesan


in expertise or the inclination to provide both- mind-blowing designs and the best quality. Designers with great skills, who come up with original and innovative designs, very often get their products made by local manufacturers and this results in low quality products which do not last long and cannot carry the design. Conversely, there are agencies which produce high quality products but they do not deal in customized designs. At Thinstrokes, the intention is to bring the two together and provide end-to-end solutions for custom-designed products. This led to the “To Create Something Awesome” motto that is at the core of each person associated with Thinstrokes. By their own admission, this inspires them to add new product lines, come up with cooler designs, innovate manufacturing processes, smoothen logistics and add more smiles everywhere. With a dedicated team of designers and a network of trusted manufacturers across India, Thinstrokes has been able to do just that!

To date, the Thinstrokes team has designed and delivered custom-made T-shirts, sweat shirts,

corporate merchandise such as caps, mugs, pens, bags, key-chains, wallets etc. The team is in the process of expanding their portfolio and bringing in newer and more exciting products. And can you believe all this is self-financed?! WOW!

With a long range of products in the offing, a smart and sustainable marking option is surely required. As a self-funded start-up, how does Thinstrokes market their expertise and their existing portfolio? Apart from direct marketing, Thinstrokes has a full-fledged website (www.thinstrokes.com) and also has its social media presence on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Thinstrokes). A little over a

month after they started off with their page on Facebook, they have over 1100 people following their page actively! Also, their satisfied customers have been spreading the good word and letting other potential clients know about them.

Specializing in custom orders, the Thinstrokes team ensures that all orders get dispatched and delivered on time. All a client has to do is call or send a short write-up on their website, detailing their story and requirement, and leave the rest to the team! Do you want to be their next customer? Are you looking for customised apparel, corporate merchandise, accessories or even wall paintings? Or, do you have an idea for a custom-designed product that you are looking for?

Contact Thinstrokes at [email protected] or call Nikhil at 9561004049.

The dedicated Thinstrokes team aims at becoming the numero uno in design product companies in India, in the next couple of years. Here’s wishing you the best from the ‘Eves Times’ Team!

At Thinstrokes, the intention is to bring the two together and provide end-to-end solutions for custom-designed products. This led to the “To Create Something Awesome” motto that is at the core of each person associated with Thinstrokes.

http://www.thinstrokes.com

http://www.facebook.com/Thinstrokes

http://www.facebook.com/Thinstrokes

mailto:[email protected]



Now, isn’t that a very masaledar name? Spicy, indeed! What started as a hobby is now a young outfit, exactly a year old. The brainchild of Artist-Interior designer Sandhya Vaidyanathan, Masala Popsicles is a refreshing amalgamation of Kitsch and fine art,

combining artefacts, designed and hand crafted with much love, from her home studio in Bangalore. Each piece is uniquely hand-crafted to perfection and make for a one-of-a-kind conversation starter.

Sandhya started a few handmade projects at home, to keep herself busy. Painting on pots that she had at home and creating terracotta artefacts as home décor seemed like a good way to do something constructive in an alien city. Her simple, yet much sought after designs and innovations were an instant hit with her family and friends and to her much surprised husband, who had no clue she could paint! By her own admission, it was her husband who inspired her to promote her work through a Facebook page. Her hobby now had a brand name and MASALA POPSICLES was born and launched on 11th June 2011 and since then there has been no looking back.

The name Masala Popsicles was an inspiration from the colors that Sandhya noticed on a street-side Gola-vendor’s cart which connected well with her very-Indian products that burst with colour! Sandhya says her driving force is her love for creating unique, personalized hand-crafted products which can be treasured and the joy that she gets when she sees a smile on the receiver’s face.

Sandhya understands the importance of promoting local artists; she works with and designs products that are then created by skilled

artisans to make personalized gifts, that are unique and one of a kind, in turn also providing exposure to the crafting hands that would have otherwise remained behind the scenes.

Masala Popsicles has a wide range of products starting from. Customized earring stands terracotta Ganesha idols and lamps, bottle art, jewellery, home decor, personal accessories, accents and is funded by Sandhya herself! Be sure to check out their Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/MasalaPopsicles). You may place orders on her Facebook page, email her at [email protected], visit her online store on Shopo.in (http://shopo.in/shop/mpops) , or if you are the kind that would rather have a direct conversation, pick up the phone and call her at +91-8147299663.

Sandhya has interesting plans for Masala Popsicles, which includes adding a range of handicrafts that include fabric, wood, metal, paper mache, etc. She also hopes to set up a store in the city someday. On behalf of the Eves Times team, Sandhya, wish you all the very best!

Her simple, yet much sought after designs and innovations were an instant hit with her family and friends and to her much surprised husband.

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http://www.facebook.com/masalapopsicles

https://www.facebook.com/MasalaPopsicles



http://shopo.in/shop/mpops

http://shopo.in/shop/mpops


Sudha Sekhar from Chennai, started TheBowtiqueShop in 2010 as an extension of her love for making something with her own two hands for her pretty li’l girl. She realised that there are a lot of other mothers out there who might not be skilled

in creating such lovelies for their daughters. Sudha found that the concept of making exclusively designed custom made accessories for girls and made-to-order bags/pouches had a huge potential in India, as there are not too many designers catering to this segment. That is what led to the birth of TheBowtiqueShop which has some beautiful little girls and their

mothers as its client!

Sudha funds herself and most of her clients come from word-of-mouth and through her Facebook page. She makes a range of Headbands, Snap Clips, Flower accents, Flowers as Brooch, Flowers for shoes and bags in different shapes and sizes in what she calls ‘drool-worthy’ fabric! And they are sure to make you greedy for more! Are you looking for custom-made accessories that match an outfit your girl adores, and some booties to go with it, for everyday wear or for a special occasion? How about some accessories as return gifts? Sudha mainly works on custom orders that reflect every client’s personal tastes and requirements. Order yours at

[email protected] or call her on 9444940188.

In the near future, Sudha plans to make her work available on a bigger scale through online retailing. Watch out for it. Follow her Facebook page and you can stay updated on what’ s cooking!



Curious Craft was started early in 2008 when Ginelle Sequiera and Dhvani Shah were still in college. What started out as a hobby was registered as a partnership in February 2011 in Bengaluru. For Dhvani and Ginelle, Curious Craft is now a way of life!

According to Ginelle, Curious Craft is a product of procrastination. As besties and college mates, Dhvani and Ginelle decided to sell their products to friends and family and market them through word-of-mouth. The response was overwhelming and there was constant demand for more products they enjoyed making, gave them the confidence to convert what was then just a hobby into a full-time self-funded brand!

Curious Craft has just one rule, and that is creativity. Whatever Ginelle and Dhvani, the ‘Curious Crafting’ duo makes has a touch of elegance, beauty, uniqueness, neatness and quirkiness to it. The duo noticed how many people wanted to own a brand, but had very little patience to come up with new ideas, execute them professionally and cash in on the opportunity. They strongly believe that when one does something one loves, one will never feel like one has worked a day in one’s life. True that! The Curious Crafting duo focusses on customization apart from the range of standard products that they have on offer. They are inspired by their motto ‘You think, we make!’ The standard products include knots and crosses cushion covers, pouches, notepads, recipe books, hand mirrors, combs, handmade cards and bookmarks. You could custom order for party decorations according to theme, personalized gift items, towels, take-aways, scrapbooks, bags, thermocol standees, invitations, etc. Incredible, isn’t it?!

The duo admits that marketing has been one of their biggest challenges so far, as they have no prior experience in this field.

However, they have learnt a few tricks over the years and now market their products through several diverse channels. The Curious Crafters stock their standard products at various physical stores across India, apart from selling through online retailers and through their Facebook page. They also participate in various flea markets in Bangalore to make their products more accessible to the not-so-internet-savvy crowd who loves in touching and feeling a product before making a purchase.

Ginelle and Dhvani soon hope to expand their branches not just to other major cities in India, but also overseas and are working on their dream to be as big as Martha Stewart! One wishes them all the luck! Keep at it, girls!

Curious Craft has just one rule, and that is creativity. Whatever Ginelle and Dhvani, the ‘Curious Crafting’ duo makes has a touch of elegance, beauty, uniqueness, neatness and quirkiness to it.

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Ananyah officially began in February of 2012. It was more an extension of my hobby of making handmade kitsch than a full-fledged business and it is not there, just yet, but I’d say, I’m well on my way.

I had a love for the arts and crafts from when I was very young, thanks to my mother. It is genetic, really! As a kid, summer vacations were all about

spending hours drawing, painting or sketching. But as I grew older, I became more and more detached with that side of me. Though, I still accumulated inspirational pieces from the internet or just about any media thinking “I’ll recreate that, one day!”. More recently, when I had a long, dull phase in a depressing job, I started crafting and sketching again and realized it is a side of me that was screaming to be let out.

More research and lot of time spent on creating things first as a practice piece and then with quality material, led to some amazing results. The products were liked by my friends and family and I decided to put my work up on Facebook. I started my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Ananyah.Medley) in September last year but never made it public because I was still in the process of making things to put up and also writing the content. I made my first post in February and have been able to make quite a few sales through the page.

I participated in a flea market in Bangalore on the 6th of May and though I had very few items as compared to all the other vendors, the response was overwhelming. I had my visiting cards for people to pick up at the market, so the ones who wanted custom orders can write back later. To this day I have people who visited the flea market writing back for orders. For a first timer, with that kind of response, I am on top of the world! It has been a delight.

My USP is paper products- gift tags, lamp shades, greeting cards and even jewelry in standard and custom designs! I currently have sales happening though word-of-mouth. In the near future, I plan to have my products up on sale through online retailers and flea markets. Anyone who wishes to order can look up all the products on Facebook and write to me at [email protected] for orders or just a quick hi!

Words by Anuradha Ganesan

Ananyah

I had very few items as compared to all the other vendors, the response was overwhelming.

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VishuddhiValsala Menon

ata Manohar’s boutique “Vishuddhi’situated in Anna Nagar, Chennai is truly unique. It does not flaunt arrays of salwars and ready made suits in racks. What strikes one on entering “Vishuddhi’ is its simplicity, charm and warmth of Lata, who greets every one with a ready smile.

Lata had always wanted to be an entrepreneur and she was motivated to go into business with her father’s support and encouragement. At 17, she enrolled for a course in dyeing, printing and block printing with The Weaver’s Service Centre in Chennai. She created a few samples of her own and contacted the export firm Hamosons, way back in 1982. Dinakaran of Hamosons was impressed by her work and he in turn contacted his boss in Sweden. She was duly impressed and insisted on meeting Lata in person. On meeting her, Lata was asked to create a sample of her designs in five meters. She truly gave it her best shot and the export firm was impressed with her work. They ended up placing a huge order with her.

Lata teamed up with a friend of hers and executed the order successfully. Their best efforts were rewarded amply when they received a cheque for Rs 16,000, which was indeed a tidy sum of money in the ‘80’s. Elated and inspired beyond measure, they decided to start a unit of their own, with this sum as the investment.

Lata set up her own printing and manufacturing unit and designed her own salwar suits. In 1986, Lata got married and she had to take a year off from work. The next year saw her venturing out again with the manufacture of designer salwar suits, which were marketed exclusively to the wholesale market. “Kerala was my main market. I concentrated on Kottayam, and Ernakulam. I conducted exhibition cum sales all over the state. People used to flock to buy my designer suits which were sold under the brand name ‘Shree,’ says a proud Lata.

By 1987, Lata was billing close to one lakh per month from the sale of designer suits. In 1994, she ventured into exports. “I used to do job work for a company where I designed a lot for the European

market. W e did hand printing and embroidery by machine and hand. From 1998-2004, we did extremely well. Some of my designs were used in the Armani collection and were featured on FTV,” Lata reminisced with pride.

It was Lata’s unique idea to paint the corners of silk material with lac, wherein they get sealed; stones are then embroidered on to them. With these experiences to aid her, Lata set up “Vishuddhi’. Here, fabrics are designed and sold, customized tailoring undertaken, hand and machine embroidery done and sarees designed. Block printing orders too are undertaken.

“For a short stint, I have worked with the Indo German Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Claire was impressed with my enthusiasm and it was a dream of mine to be able to contribute towards buying our own home and I did it! I was able to pitch in with my own 20 lakh for our dream home, ” smiles an elated Lata.

She agrees that her work, though slightly on the expensive side, does not compromise on quality. At Vishuddhi, materials are stacked tastefully on shelves that are artistically designed. Lata weaves her own magic out of these, particularly suited to each client.

Some of her creations are truly awe inspiring. A simple Kerala sari was magically and beautifully transformed into a designer wear . Give her two different pieces of material and Lata, with her innate creative spark, designs a beautiful sari out of it. She uses her own add-ons and embroidery to embellish and beautify her materials.

Lata has her own stitching unit with five tailors to help her out. She is adept and proficient at designing Western attire and her clientele is spread out over both India and abroad.

“We enjoy redesigning saris, ghagras, and exclusive wedding saris,” smiles Lata , “Ladies are welcome to bring in their old silk saris and we rework on them to make them exclusive designer wear; you would never recognize your old sari”- assures Lata.

W e are duly impressed, Lata is creativity and vitality personified.

L


Anuradha Prabhudesa i ,

one of the founder-directors says, “Disha is into both personal

as well as career counseling.”

It all started when four dynamic ladies started DISHA Counseling Centre in Mumbai right after completing their graduation. Disha has completed 13 years. They regularly help children and

adults to cope with stress connected to daily life. They are also involved in social service for riot victims, indigent children etc. Disha women have written books on various types of disabilities and how to cope with them.

Behind the idea of this mental health set up lies the urge among the founders to do something different in the area of mental health. Besides, working under somebody never appealed to them.

Mughdha Bavare elaborates, “Disha is a mental health set up. Among us, 3

DISHA-The

Right Direction

directors are counseling psychologists and one of us is a clinical psychologist. We have 6 psychologists working for us. At Disha, we cater to the psychological needs of the clients. The main functions of Disha are aptitude testing and career guidance, personal counseling, psychometric assessment, IQ assessment, assessment for differently abled children,

conducting workshops for students, teachers and parents on careers as well as on personality development. We also conduct workshops in organizations for the employees and their children. Disha also runs mental health set ups in various schools, colleges and management institutes in Mumbai.”

Co-founder-director, Shital Ravi explains, “Disha specializes in psychometric assessments, clinical assessments and child, adolescent, family and marital therapy.”

Samindara Sawant, another founder-director elaborates on their motto, “It’s a mental health center dedicated to psychological and emotional health and

Gayatri T Rao


well being of children, adolescents and adults. Our motto is: Helping you to help yourself.”

Their future projects include

1) Starting an online portal where students and professionals can appear for psychometric tests and get instant results.

2) Starting support groups for special populations like autistic children, gifted students, etc.

3) Disha Publications - in house publishing house which is presently in its infancy stage.

Disha, requiring full-time commitment can create problems in work-life balance for women founders. But, the women are enthusiastic as they elucidate, “This has always been a challenge, especially as all four directors are women, of about similar ages. So responsibilities at home take equal

precedence. We have worked through this by adjusting our schedules such that at any given point in time, at least one person is in Disha. We distribute the workload based on the present home situation of the four of us. Being close friends helps immensely, as resentments and misunderstandings don’t set in. And all four of us have small kids so it becomes all the more difficult at times. Among the four of us we have divided the responsibilities and allotted tasks to each of us. This way all of us do not expend energies doing the same thing. Also we have an efficient staff which further takes on responsibilities. However, having said this it is quite a challenge at times to manage at both the professional and personal front. It is our long standing friendship that holds us in good stead at such times and the understanding that we have built over the years. Also a good family support system has helped immensely.”


Not every day, do you walk into an educational institution and get engulfed by its warmth. Not every day, does the

sounds and clatter of classroom noises make you want to root and enjoy it all. And certainly not every day, do you, a stranger, get endearing smiles from a school’s inmates. Walking through the portals of Vidyasagar makes you mellow, transfixed and content.

Formerly known as the Spastics Society of India, Vidyasagar, Chennai is an abode for the disabled. The institution was started in 1985 by Poonam Natarajan, a mother of a disabled child, Iswar. The institution offers a holistic development from diagnosing disabilities, to providing education and therapy, to making them self-sufficient. Vidyasagar not only helps the disabled learn and survive but also makes them contributing individuals of the society.

Kalakkal Kadai

A small kadai at the entrance of the institution draws you towards to it, not because of its decorum, but because 28-year old Janaki Raman, manager and caretaker, beckons you with an engaging smile. Kalakkal Kadai, is a marketing initiative which is part of the youth programme that Vidyasagar has launched. This programme

addresses the needs of the disabled youth in the city from leisure, higher education, employment and entrepreneurship. It does so, by bringing to display the handmade and homemade products of their alumni and other small-scale entrepreneurs with disabilities, who do not have a platform to showcase their products. On display are woven dhurries, batik textiles, laminated products, paper products, leaf ware, food products, lamp shades, candles and more. The institution conducts workshops with professionals to hone existing skills and help them in packaging, budgeting etc to ensure market appeal. Anupradha, special educator and employment officer says, “When it comes down to marketing and business, even for a disabled, a lot of care has to be taken to do it right.” With the meticulousness of a business venture sans the rocketing profit margins, Kalakkal Kadai is a non-profit setup taking care of all earnings being rightly sent to the craftsmen. “We insist on their having bank accounts and every month, based on their products sold, a cheque is sent unfailingly into their accounts,” says Anupradha.

An eco-friendly environment

Though the kadai is made of cement and bricks, the interiors are awe inspiring. Inaugurated on the 20th march of this year the kadai is still under construction. But what catches your eye are the colourful

Making a Difference

The Spastics Society of India, Vidyasagar, Chennai is an abode for the disabled. The institution was started in 1985 by Poonam Natarajan, a mother of a disabled child, Iswar. The institution offers a holistic development from diagnosing disabilities, to providing education and therapy, to making them self-sufficient.

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“Joseph Aloysius


slabs used for displaying items. On closer inspection you realise that the slabs are made of paper torn into pieces and pressed into a pulp to form rectangular planes. “The tearing of paper is part of the vocational activity which the younger students, below the age of 18 learn at the institution, to make them adept at paper technology later.” Apart from slabs there are also boxes of varied sizes and files made of the same.

A well-accommodating production unit

Apart from showcasing products of entrepreneurs the kadai has a section showcasing products made by their own students. A mechanized production unit inside Thakkar Baba Vidyalaya Camp in T.Nagar has students above the age of 18 working at weaving looms to make customised, boutique-made dhurries. The patrons of these products so far have been corporate and private firms placing bulk orders, the working and administrative staff of the institution and parents. Their products are also showcased in the kadai and in the corporate world the dhurries are a hot favourite among buyers. Recently, an order by Le Meridien has been placed for their cake boxes.

The expertise of making dhurries is looked after by Vimala, a weaving professional from Madurai. She has been working in the unit for 3 ½ years and has learnt the art from her parents. “Working here is most satisfying. I feel great pleasure in passing down the skills of my profession to them (disabled) who I know will greatly value it.”

Beside the rooms with weaving looms, are machines for making bahunia leaf ware. This job is carried out in an assembly line with every individual is given a specific job to do. This instils a feeling of team work to obtain good results. Like the corporate world, the individuals are not bored working constantly but are given hobby-oriented and recreational activity to let relax them from their routine.

Other ventures

The institution has trained its students in setting up and maintaining two paper cup units and a paper bag unit specialising in making tamboolam bags with a permanent

order from the Sai Samaj Academy. Apart from training them to emerge as entrepreneurs, it also trains them to work in factories doing repetitive patterned jobs, in IT sectors and as assistant teachers in schools for those who have completed graduation. A former student of the institution, Lakshmi Prabha has also started a play school of her own. Kalakkal café, an experimental café for the disabled has been opened recently to provide an entertaining environment for the inmates. The café is user-friendly and is open to the youth in the city to spend time and know them better.

Love and cheer

If you are among those who love to make others around you happy, walk into the store and pick up anything you like. Your one gesture is sure to elate an expectant heart. Vijayashree Ramesh, Co-ordinator, Employment Education Sector says, “We are not looking for help or charity from any of our patrons but what we need is the recognition that such individuals can also be active contributors to the community.”

Captions for photographs (with Joseph Aloy)

Sridhar and Malini work on the weaving loom stringing and binding colourful boutique made mats and rugs. They revel in their job at hand and talk using the pictorial charts to convey specifics. Like all others they are happy that they are given a break from their 10am-3pm working schedule during weekends.

26-year-old Swami is a hardworking young man and does not like to be disturbed while at work. He weaves rugs of larger dimensions, completing 25 inches every day. Swami takes a week to complete one rug.

Poorna Chandra is a naughty lad but also the most enthusiastic craftsman. He demonstrates how to place the foot on the pedal to bind and mould the bahunia leaf plates.

A mechanized production unit inside Thakkar Baba Vidyalaya Camp in T. Nagar has students above the age of 18 working at weaving looms to make customised, boutique-made dhurries.

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TEENMAG

There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeat4ed age. Sophia Loren

SAY NO TO DRUGSPAGE 44

GADGET SAVVYPAGE 46

MY VOTE FOR

PRESIDENTPAGE 49

FOR UR EYES ONLYPAGE 56

Modern Laws of NaturePAGE 58

Mod

el K

aran

Kha

ttar

r


Ten years ago, a history lesson at school on the Second World War and a lost opportunity to participate in a Model UN session owing to a health setback decided the career front of the funny trajectory that is my life. I decided I would join the United Nations.

The lure was magnetic- I would stand as a representative of my country, or of an oppressed people. I would work with grass-root organizations and proffer them the benefits of humanitarian aid and assistance. I would be their voice. I would be their advocate. I would fight for them. I would ensure they would get justice. Ten years later, I found myself somewhere near my goal. Without the requisite educational qualification of a Masters’ Degree, I had something like a foot in the United Nations through some volunteering opportunities. I soon grew to become part of feminist organizations that worked for women’s rights.

And that is when the true essence of action- the grain of true activism separated from the chaff of jingoism- smacked me hard in the face. I learned the importance and imbibed the practicality of being a vehicle for change, a face for action for the person in need, and not for the already empowered woman in greed.

I travelled in my research. I went to war stricken Afghanistan where women bear the brunt of living a crippled life- facing domestic violence, honour killings, rape and an abject deprivation from their every right. I went to DR Congo where women still bear the brunt of Sexual Violence aplenty, and suffer indignities in the hands of the very society that should protect them. I went to different parts of India, where I learned of girl foetuses being killed in the womb because they were girls, where tribal women are forced to dance naked to be able to get a meal. I travelled to parts of the Middle East where women are the property of their men, and could even be killed or raped, with no one asking. I went to Nigeria, where girls are subjected to the harsh malpractice of genital mutilation, and their cries were too loud, that they were silent. I went to Pakistan and Palestine, where women are subjected to the awful nightmare of murder in the name of protecting their familial honour. I went to South East Asia where girls are born into brothels, and lived their lives there, without knowing that they were made slaves. I travelled to Kosovo and Houston, Texas, where their dirtiest secret is the filthy game of human trafficking has many a woman under its fold. I went to Latin America where “poverty has a woman’s face”.

I learned, quite simply, that there is something intricately linking the backbone of society and humanitarian endeavour. The power of action is immense – spur yourself on. Do something. Be the change that you want to see in the world around you.

Kirthi Gita Jayakumar

Be the Change

From Kirthi’s Desk ..... TEENMAG


eople experiment with drugs for different reasons. Many first try drugs out of curiosity, to have a good time, because friends are doing it, or in an effort to improve athletic performance

or ease another problem, such as stress, anxiety, or depression. Use doesn’t automatically lead to abuse, and there is no specific level at which drug use moves from casual to problematic. It varies from individual to individual. Drug abuse and addiction are less about the amount of substance consumed or the frequency, and more to do with the consequences of drug use. No matter how often or how little you’re consuming, if your drug use is causing problems in your life—at work, school, home, or in your relationships—you likely have a drug abuse or addiction problem.

I am 25 years old and presently working in a software company. Years back I was a victim of excessive drug usage. I turned into an alcoholic by 17. Smoked my first cigarette when I was 18,

On the occasion of Anti Drug Day commemorated on 26 June we bring to you the real experience of a former drug addict. Say NO to Drugs!

THE WAY F RWARD


and started using all kinds of hallucinatory drugs in the following years. The fact that I was put in college and my parents were in another state gave me immense freedom. When I had reached an extreme stage, I had started realizing that I had moved so far from the society and have been lagging behind in all my work. I had become lazy and developed an ‘‘I don’t care’’ attitude to anything that happened around me. I called it the, ‘The ladder of death.’ Yes I climbed that ladder, and thank God I realized the dangers involved before completing the climb. I had to change. Change back to who I was earlier.

When you’re struggling with drug addiction, sobriety can seem like an impossible goal. But recovery is never out of reach, no matter how hopeless your situation seems. Change is possible with the right treatment and support, and by addressing the root cause of your addiction. Don’t give up—even if you’ve tried and failed before. The road to recovery often involves bumps, pitfalls, and setbacks. But by examining the problem and thinking about change, you’re already on your way.

I tried to quit many times. I could push without drugs for a maximum two days. I needed professional help. I consulted many doctors and every one of them recommended that I approach a rehabilitation centre. There was one doctor who told me that I just needed to take a snap decision to quit drugs and have the will power to stick to it. He said if I cooperated, he would prepare me for a full time

recovery. Here are the rungs of ‘My ladder back to life.”

Remind yourself about the reasons you want to change.

Think about your past attempts at quitting, if any. What worked? What didn’t?

Set specific, measurable goals, such as a quit date or limits on your drug use.

Remove all reminders of your addiction from your home and workplace.

Tell friends and family that you’re quitting and ask for their support. This may sound simple, but trust me, for an addict it would be the most difficult task in the world. Yes, it was my sheer determination and the discipline of following the steps the doctor provided me that helped me return to a normal life like rest of you. Now I work, I am content; I do not regret my past. And I feel proud of myself for having done something that few consider impossible.

Drug abuse often stems from misguided attempts to manage stress.

Many people turn to alcohol or recreational drugs to unwind and relax after a stressful day, or to cover up painful memories and emotions that cause us to feel stressed and out of balance. But there are healthier ways to keep your stress levels in check, including exercising, meditating, using sensory strategies to relax, practicing simple breathing exercises and challenging self-defeating thoughts.

Do

n’t

Ruin

UrG

oo

dne

ss

DARE to resist DRUGS!

TEENMAG


Today we like to be smart by owning smart phones. We don’t want to lose the way so we use a navigator. We don’t want to miss a friend’s status update; we use Face book app. Today there are more than 4 lac 25 thousand applications available in the Android market. Being the proud owner of a smart mobile does not bestow smartness but it is the use of smart apps that will make you

a smart person! Every month more than one billions apps get downloaded. Let’s get an overview of some of them which will be the best for us. Be smart to tap today’s trendy apps.

Wanna be a gym boy or a slim girl?

Today in every nook and corner there are myriad gyms and fitness centres. Some of us have gyms in our homes. But very few trained coaches are available. Hiring a coach is expensive. Here is an app that will help you whether you are doing body weight workouts at home or weight lifting workouts at a gym. Skimble’s workout trainer app will help you with thousands of free workouts. The best thing in the application is that it is synchronized with its web site. So you can track your progress online.

App: Workout trainer

Android iphone

Free Free

“Omnipresent and organized”

Mama wants to do this, papa asked to do that, class surprise test, assignment submission etc, etc. How much can our small brains remember? This an ideal app to make our things organized. Ever note app creates to do lists and records our voice reminders. It can be your 5- subject note book or used for more subjects. You can take notes; capture the class work on the board. The highlight of the app is it operates in cloud computing. So your notes are completely searchable anywhere and everywhere across all the devices you use. It is a winner of the New York Time’s ‘Top 10-must have app’.

App: Ever note

Android iphone

Free Free

Tap the trendy apps

Trendy Apps

Apps freak, Joseph Aloysius


What is today’s Special?

Are you a person who loves to cook every day, who experiments with new dishes every day? Have you tried Eve’s Times recipe of the month and still want to dish out more delectable recipes? There is an app called Epicurious Recipes. This app has 28 thousand recipes which are taken from renowned magazines such as Gourmet, Bon Appetit, and from top chefs and popular cook books. Do you want to try a dish which you heard about from your friend? Through voice search you can get? Download the app and go ahead with a new dish for the day.

App: Epicurious Recipes

Android iphone

Free Free

Love networking

Today we share a lot in our Facebook and twitter. Sometimes we don’t want to share everything with everyone in FB. There are things we love to share with our loved ones only. With this app called Between, we can create our own private networking community. This app provides a quick chat; a photo album and message function for exchange between dear ones. It gives space to gather and save our important days and valuable moments. Unlike other social Networking sites your privacy is guaranteed. The contents shared through this app are fully protected through encrypting.

App: Between

Android iphone

Free Free

I’m your well wisher

Every one of us wishes to have a well wisher within us. It is always good to have personal mentors for us. There are times we feel lonely. We need to share our problems, feelings with someone who cares for us. This is an app called Pocket psychologist. You can text to Pocket Psychologist about what is bothering you. Pocket psychologist will have a conversation with you and make you feel better.

App: Pocket psychologist

Android iphone

Yet to come $0.99

Paint your nails

This is an interesting app to paint and glamorizing your nail. The app is called How to do your own cute nails? This app provides video tutorials, tips and tricks for doing creative nail designs. Today you can make your nails pretty without going to a beauty salon and spending much time or money. This app also provides guidance and tips for nail care.

App: How to do your own cute nails

Android iphone

Free Free

Obsession overruledAre you a user of E-gadget in any form? I am sure the answer would be a chorus YES! .The advent of digitalization developed the addiction to it as well. People are getting hooked towards the technology and they can’t live without their devices importantly, their computers, ipads, iphones, ipods, palmtops, subtops, laptops, sybians and androids. The addiction to gadgets is an epidemic in some countries. Our appetite for gadgets may result in ‘Energy Poverty’ says a survey.

Gadgets nowadays are designed so effectively that they offer anything and everything the user desires. A gadget like a mobile googles and finds restaurants, coffee shops, ATM’s and pubs for its master. The global games are huge in number so that it creates the feel that the player plays with people worldwide. Gaming is produced exclusively so that it can keep its players hooked. The gadgets perform the fictional stuff that cannot be performed in real world, they are colorful and eye-catching - reasons why people become gadgetolics.

Gadgets have now lured young children keeping them enclosed in a virtual environment for long hours. The E habit precludes outdoor play, which will lead to bad consequences in the long run. Healthy outdoor play has been replaced with experiences in an imaginative world in which they may fail to grasp the real world stuffs. In essence, they miss their real world life. Moreover they get habituated to use gadgets all the time.

It is important to balance use of gadgets in our lives. We should not let ourselves enslaved by gadgets that may divert us from goals and meaning in life. So have you decided to overrule your obsession or are you willing to be overruled by your obsession?

Subitcha Poorani.S

TEENMAG


est 4 Laughs

J

Kuttappa was bragging to his boss one day, “You know, I know everyone

there is to know. Just name someone, anyone, and I know them.”

Tired of his boasting, his boss called his bluff, “OK, Kuttappa

How about Tom Cruise?”

“Sure, yes, Tom and I are old friends, and I can prove it.” So Kuttappa and his boss fly out to Hollywood and knock on Tom Cruise’s door, and sure enough, Tom Cruise shouts, “Babu! Great to see you! Come right in along with your friend and join me for lunch!”

Although impressed, Kuttappa’s boss is still skeptical. After they leave Cruise’s house, he tells Kuttappa that he thinks Kuttappa’s knowing Cruise was a sheer dint of luck.

“No, no, just name anyone else”, Kuttappa says.

“President Obama,” his boss quickly retorts.

“Yes,” Kuttappa says, “I know him, let’s fly out to Washington.”

And off they go. At the White House, Obama spots Kuttappa and motions him and his boss over, saying, “Babu, what a surprise, I was just on my way to a meeting, but you and your friend come on in. Let’s have a cup of coffee first and catch up.”

Well, the boss is very shaken

by now, but still not totally convinced. After they leave the White House grounds, he expresses his doubts to Kuttappa who again implores him to name anyone else.

“The Pope,” his Boss replies.

“Sure!” says Kuttappa. “My folks are from Poland, and I’ve known the Pope for a long time.” So off they fly to Rome.

Kuttappa and his boss are assembled along with the masses in Vatican Square when Kuttappa says, “This will never work. I can’t catch the Pope’s eye among all these people. Tell you what, I know all the guards so let me just go upstairs and I’ll come out on the balcony with

the Pope.”

And he disappears into the crowd headed toward the Vatican. Sure enough, half an hour later Kuttappa emerges with the Pope on the balcony.

But by the time Kuttappa returns, he finds that his boss has had a heart attack and is surrounded by paramedics. Working his way to his boss’ side, Kuttappa asks him, “What happened?”

His boss looks up and says, “I was doing fine until you and the Pope came out on the balcony and the man next to me said, “Who’s that on the balcony with Kuttappa?”


Presidentialpoll sizzlers

TEENMAG

Vigneshwaran

“APJ sir is an ideal for millions of people across the world and

so for me. So my support is for him. “

Sabareesh Babu

“I guess Pranab ji will win the race as he has immense

political experience for several years. But who will be our

finance minister then?

R.Bharathi Rajkumar

“We hail from the same hometown, Ramnad and my

vote is for Kalam Sir.”

Shabbash Khan

“Pranab has most of the party’s support, Kalam should not contest .Omar Abdullah has said that Kalam had been the most successful president and the whole country loves him . But given the present scenario, it is better for Kalam not to

contest, let Pranab be selected unanimously.”

A. Chandra Pradeepan

“Kalam sir is good I too support him only but he won’t contend I think. So there is a

possibility for Pranab.”

V.Vaishnavi

Any eligible, experienced contender is fine. Anyhow in our nation the core power is vested with Prime Minister.

Francis Jeevanandham

“Well...We need educated Indians at the helm of affairs.

APJ sir is best choice . Also he is one who encourages and motivates students to dream

and succeed.”

Mamata Banerjee’s shot for pre-election poll in cyber world like the most reputed facebook is super- new in this presidential election. She used facebook to gather firm support for Kalam. Though it is an indirect election people are watching the election with great interest. Most people would like to have Dr.Kalam yet again , especially the youth who have taken to his quote, “Kanavu kaanungal.”

Compiled by Subitcha Poorani.S



ARE WE FREE?FROM CORRUPTION?

FROM FEAR?

FROM EXPLOITATION?

FROM FAVOURITISM?

FROM CASTE/COMMUNITY/RELIGION/GENDER DIFFERENCES?

LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF INDIA

NE XT ISSUE After

60years ofINDEPENDENCE ARE IN NS HAPPY?

WHAT PRICE DO INDIANS PAY FOR ILLUSIONARY

FREEDOM?


reative orner K M

ahima Khanter and Nikita Sakaria, young entrepreneurs, inspire young adults to do something big. “We need determination and a perfect partner to make it big and I have both,” says Mahima. Today this 21- year old duo have their own crafting studio called, ‘Its Cute…Get Crafty’ where they offer hand crafted photo frames, gift envelopes,

gift tags, baskets, greeting cards, paper bags, key chains, gift boxes and trays, candy sticks, flower vases, candle stands and many more customised gift items for various occasions. “We were in college when we came up with the idea of owning a craft studio and to mark the beginning of our business venture we had a stall of all our hand crafted items, put up at the college bazaar, and thus our journey began, ” says Nikita. “Age is no barrier, when it comes to doing something big,” she says.

From Mahima and Nikita’s treasure chest: Let’s learn, easy to make – greeting card

Things needed:Readily available invitation cards

or handmade paper

Colourful quilling strips

Coconut coir rope

Quilling tool

Glue

Safety scissor

Decorative paper flowers (readymade)

Pearl or any other decorative stone

Plucker tool

Choose any part of the readymade invitation card/handmade paper where you want to place the decoration and apply some glue.

Steps

12

Now place one end of the coconut coir rope on the glue and keep twirling until it is as big as, shown in the image and then cut out the extras.

Kreative Korner

Kajal Jaiswal


34

5

67

8

Next, take any colour quilling strips and using the quilling tool shape the strips into petal shape and stick the end using glue as shown in the image.

Make 5 petals, 2 heart shapes, 1 loose

circle, 3 tight circle and 1 scurl

shaped quills ( in scurls the

ends are not stuck, but let

loose)

After the shapes are ready place the circle and petal shaped quills, arranging them on the coir disc in such a manner that it looks like a flower as shown in the image.

Place the scurl diagonal to the flower pasting it’s one end to the flower as shown above.

Now place the heart shaped and

leaf shaped quills randomly.

Use readily available paper

flowers to decorate the other

parts of the card.

Place fancy stone/pearl using

the plucker and glue, on the flower

for decorative purpose and set

aside to dry.

Greeting card is ready for use.

TEENMAG


TWEET beat

Barack Obama@BarackObama

FACT: Thanks to health care reform, 105 million Americans no longer have lifetime limits on their insurance coverage.#

Rajdeep Sardesai@sardesairajdeep

Manipur, Jharkhand, Haryana, the new power centers of Indian sport. Metro kids too soft I guess.


Deepika Kumari’s father drives an auto rickshaw in Ranchi! There is more to Ranchi than MSD!


Marykom puts her entire salary as a policewoman into her boxing academy in Manipur. Corporate India, where are you?

SHAH RUKH KHAN@iamsrk

ok for no reason at all feel like being questioned. ask and u shall be confused with my replies...please don’t ask the name of my next film

Salman Khan@BeingSalmanKhan

Sign the online petition in support of Sarabjit’s release.http://www.facebook.com/beinghumanonline

Retweeted by Bipasha Basu

Amitabh Bachchan@SrBachchan

T 790 -’If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This the principal difference between dog and man’~ MT

Ashok Malik@MalikAshok

The average Indian is far less cynical than the media and far more optimistic than Twitter. I think there is a salutary lesson there

Retweeted by Amitabh Bachchan

Susy McPhee@susymcphee

If you think you’re too small to make a difference, you haven’t spent a night with a mosquito.

Retweeted by Chinmayi / Chinmayee

https://twitter.com/sardesairajdeep



https://twitter.com/iamsrk

https://twitter.com/BeingSalmanKhan

http://t.co/FrjsnOOT

https://twitter.com/SrBachchan

https://twitter.com/MalikAshok

https://twitter.com/susymcphee


TWEET beatPriyanka Chopra@priyankachopra

RT @bipsluvurself Friendship is a selfless relationship! Make friends and rejoice with them!@mubinarattonsey birthday

Bipasha Basu ‏@bipsluvurself

Family makes you, who you are !

SHILPA SHETTY ‏@TheShilpaShetty

Stepped out of the house fr the 1st time after 40days to take Viaan to the temple today. How time flies..strangely didn’t miss goin out!:)

Preity zinta ‏@realpreityzinta

Plus there is the added stress of sleeping with ur mouth open Hahahah ! After working 16 hours this is my plane story :-) Ting ! Bachaao !

Preity zinta ‏@realpreityzinta

I’ve always felt wierd when I’ve slept before, during & after take off on a plane! The person next to U always wonders if Ur alive or not !

barkha dutt ‏@BDUTT

The medicine needed for economic illness is a question that has divided the Congress as a whole. Not about exit or entry of individuals

A.R.Rahman ‏@arrahman

Clarifying the report on the Olympics track I am composing... It’s a track in Punjabi celebrating the Indian..

subhadra ‏@subhadra_72

The * homemaker * has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only - and that is to support the ultimate career !! :-) Retweeted by Chinmayi / Chinmayee

pallavi ghosh ‏@pallavighcnnibn

Bizarre india; punjab assembly says stray dogs of punjab shld be sent to north-east, as people eat dogs there..absolutely disgusting Retweeted by Rajdeep Sardesai

TEENMAG

https://twitter.com/priyankachopra

https://twitter.com/bipsluvurself

https://twitter.com/bipsluvurself

https://twitter.com/TheShilpaShetty

https://twitter.com/realpreityzinta

https://twitter.com/realpreityzinta

https://twitter.com/BDUTT

https://twitter.com/arrahman

https://twitter.com/subhadra_72


I am a college going girl. I like to spend a lot of time with my friends. I am a people’s person. My pesky lil’ sister however spoils all the fun. She keeps bullying my friends, or creating situations where I have to stay at home and look after her or take her out. She is in class VII. How do I handle my sis?

Aradhana, Chennai

Hello Aradhana!

Firstly, I would like to extend my heartfelt sympathies to you because I have also

endured similar situations in my life. Growing up with an inquisitive younger brother was never easy going. Younger siblings have a knack for being your tail or having their ear pressed against the door while you try to have a personal conversation in the privacy of your room. My friends and I have spent many hours during school pondering as to how to get rid of these adorable little menaces. After many years and playing several rounds of hide and seek with our siblings it finally dawned upon us that the answer was always right in front of us.

Escaping your sibling will never help. The

best thing to do would be to keep them right in front of you all the time. I know this may not sound as great as it should but a good explanation follows.

I’m sure I’m right in saying that you are always held responsible for all the wrong things that your little sister does but this is the opportunity to get into the good books of your parents as well as to create rapport with your sister. You have to understand that your siblings look up to you and the first lesson they learn are the ones that are taught by you. Aradhana, you also have to understand that your sister doesn›t intend to trouble you or your friends but wants to be in your company because to her you are a star. Believe me when I say this for I’ve heard it from my own brother. I don›t know the exact age difference between you and your sister but my brother and I share a seven year gap and for me it was never easy. What we see as annoyance is actually a craving to be in the ‹elite› crowd, and you my dear are elite for your little sister.

Coming to the situations where you have to babysit your sister instead of being able to hang out with your friends, maybe the reason why you have to stay at home is because when your parents ask you to take her with you, you may oppose and that is perfectly natural, you need your own time and space. My solution to this problem is that, you build a relationship from scratch. Like those small building bricks we all played with as children, start with a good foundation. Get to know your sister and why she craves to be in your company so much. After you have established a good rapport, aim at making deals with her. By deals I mean, making her understand when you need your alone time and that you will take her out as a treat. This will help build trust and a good partnership. You may be wondering why you need a good partnership with your sister. Well you will need someone to share your secrets with, to depend on and maybe a little later in life, you will stand for each other as a good support system.

Aradhana the most important suggestion to you is, give it some time. Understand each other and you will realise what you were missing all this while. Another important factor is not allowing outsiders (friends and peers) to have a negative opinion about you or your family. For example, when someone says your sister is annoying, what comes naturally is bad mouthing our own. However, this is wrong and should be avoided at all costs. Supporting other people’s negative opinion about your family will only reflect on you and your family. Therefore as I said before, understand and get to know your family and especially your sister. No matter what, family always sticks together, after all as the saying goes, ‘blood is thicker than water’.

Alexandreena Sneha Radhish

For Your Eyes Only

This is a fun column, a friendly exchange between you and your friends. If you feel like opening out your heart to someone, our young friends will to lend you a helping hand to put things in the right perspective. This may help sort out confusions and you may be able to take decisions boldly. Remember, this is not professional help but just a little bit of sharing and caring among the youth commune. Those of you who are interested in offering solutions or those who seek the support of their young friends to sort out their issues can dash a mail to [email protected]. Friends offering their time and thought to help out must also send in their pix.

You can ask her anything under the sun… but this column is meant only for the teens…ADULT ALERT!

TEENMAG


The humdrum of the school-goers is now set into full gear. While the little and the fussy ones racquet around their mothers, the older, health-

frenzy teenagers have a way out to crunch their ratty hunger. To get a refill of nutrition into their after-school quenched system, Crunchy Bhel is the right snack to munch on. Apart from honing a teenager’s skill in chopping vegetables, it provides an interesting solution to the wearily-eyed cornflakes at the breakfast table. Here’s how you plunge into healthiness.

Ingredients

2 cups cornflakes

1 large tomato, deseeded and diced

1 large potato, boiled and sliced

1 large cucumber, deseeded and diced

1 medium onion

1 cup apple, peeled and diced

2 tbsp raw mango, chopped

2 tbsp fresh coriander leaves, chopped

1 tsp chaat masala

2 tsp lemon juice

Salt to taste

Teen Kooks

Method

In a large bowl combine tomato, potato, cucumber, apple, salt, chaat masala and raw mango and toss to mix well. Add coriander leaves and lemon juice and toss again to mix well. Transfer the mixture in a serving bowl and sprinkle onion and cornflakes and serve immediately.

Tips

You can use also use fruits like pomegranate, orange and sweet lime.

Sprinkle cornflakes just before serving to ensure it stays crunchy.

Crunchy BhelV. Batul


Laws of Nature

!hese laws are simple and universal, especially in the case of teenagers. And the great news is you don’t have to learn them by heart… Just a few rules that rule our lives, despite our hardest

endeavours to thwart them. If you are able to break even one rule, hats off to you!

Lorenz’s Law of Mechanical Repair:

After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch.

Anthony’s Law of the Workshop:

Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

Kovac’s Conundrum:

When you dial a wrong number, you never get an engaged one.

Cannon’s Karmic Law:

If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tyre, the next morn-ing you will have a flat tyre.

O’Brien’s Variation Law:

If you change queues, the one you have left will start moving faster than the one you are in now.

Laws of Nature

!Modern

T BELL’S THEOREM

When the body is immersed in water , the telephone rings.

RUBY’S PRINCIPLE OF CLOSE EN-COUNTERS

The probability of meeting someone you know increases when you are with some-one you don’t want to be seen with.

WILLOUGHBY’S LAW

When you try to prove to someone that a machine won’t work, it will. (Especially to your parents or teachers!)

ZADRA’S LAW OF BIOMECHAN-ICS

The severity of the itch is inversely pro-portional to the reach.

BREDA’S RULE

At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle arrive last.

OWEN’S LAW

As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do some-thing, which will last until the coffee is cold.

TEENMAG


JUS’ ASK BRINDA

I am a new mother. Being sensitive by nature, I have a constant fear that my ten-month-old daughter who has just started walking, will get hurt. So I am always running after her, clearing her way. My husband is cool. He feels that the baby should be left alone in a relatively safe environment. I am tense all the time. What is the right way handle an infant on the move?

Anasuya Arvind, Anna Nagar West, Chennai

I see the love and care of the new mother. It is very comfortable for the child to have a lovely mother like you. But don’t hold on to her because your motherhood loves it! A 10-month-old baby is curious about everything around her; exploring independently is more exciting to her. How can she contain herself? Let her explore, as your husband said, in a safe environment, so that sensory experiences teach her more than what you can. Three aspects are important for the emotional growth of a child: Development of adequate self esteem, (to be confident) plenty of sensory experiences (in childhood they broaden the nerve receptors, essential for cognitive development) and self-expression (to facilitate ventilation). Please do not forget that her successes and the positive strokes she receives from key care-givers contribute significantly to her self esteem. If you run behind her, she is not going to develop confidence that ‘she can’. You will be giving her the message, ‘You can’t; that is why I am with you.’ Never miss an opportunity in your role as a mother in providing sensory experiences. Meddling with ‘roti’ dough ia an exciting experience to the kid. What you experience is anxiety about the kid and not sensitivity. Parental anxiety would interfere with a healthy growth of a child. Relax and enjoy this stage of your child.

BrindaEve’s Times is happy to announce that Family Therapist and Parent-Teacher educator Brinda Jayaraman will answer any query you want to ask relating to family and interpersonal interactions. Send in your questions to [email protected] or to our office directly.

I am an employed woman belonging to Chennai with modern views. (This does not mean the much misconstrued ‘modern’-as in women competing with men in smoking, drinking, having affairs etc.)My parents feel it is time for my marriage and I too don’t mind entering into matrimony. I am looking for a man who I expect would be a person I would love, respect and grow together with. I am looking at a partner who would not have stereotypical notions of a homemaker-cum-working woman- expecting her to complete all the household chores, take care of children and just go to work. I have a lot of ambitions and dreams and would like a person who would be a partner in this enterprise as much as I would like to be his partner in his endeavour to grow and evolve.

My problem is that I have not found a single such person despite my education in countries abroad. I find most men boring and laidback or chauvinistic. They are not able to understand that a woman too can have ambitions. All they expect from family life is good food, sex, travel and entertainment, good children to be taken care of well by the woman. Of course, they would like to be considered magnanimous to ‘permit’ their wife to work. Neither are their parents open-minded enough to accept a girl in their family with her own independent likes and dislikes. I am disillusioned and am seriously considering looking for a man from the west. During my interactions with men from the west I have always been

surprised by the respect they give to the woman. No man would even think of touching a woman without her permission. My interactions with Indian men, even those studying in Ivy League institutions or holding respectable jobs in MNCs in India or abroad have been very disappointing. Most men want to jump into the bed at the first opportunity , have their fair share of affairs, dump girls and then scour around for a ‘virtuous’ girl arranged by their parents when they want to start a family. Of course the ‘booty’ that comes along is a great motivator too. I am disillusioned. Sometimes I think I should not marry and just adopt a child. Will I ever find a truly humane man and a great family? I am a people’s person and would offer my best to the man I would marry and his family.

Many Indian girls who venture to look for a match go through this frustration these days. We still cannot claim that Indian women are liberated. By ‘liberation’ I don’t mean a chauvinistic woman. A woman looks for equality and respectability in a man-woman relationship. By and large, it does not happen. I am not surprised that you could not find the ‘right type.’ Keep in mind that one in thousands gets an ideal partner. Narrowing down your list of expectations by giving up some unrealistic ones, would probably help. Concluding that western men are good alternatives, sounds like a biased view point to me, as male chauvinism is not absent there and battered women do exist in those countries too. Marriage is a gamble and there is a certain amount of risk involved while you make your decision. Preferring to remain single also has equal risk factors. Leading a life without a companion can be scary to some. Please don’t lose hope. Keep searching until your heart falls for someone. When you in love, other differences won’t matter at all! Marriage is not about finding the right mate; but it is about being the right one.


A Tribute to SilversWhether sixty or sixteen, there is in every human being’s heart the lure of wonder, the unfailing child-like appetite of what’s next, and the joy of the game of living. In the center of your heart and my heart there is a wireless station,; so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheers, courage and power from men and from the infinite, so long are you young- Samuel Ullman


In the last decade, much has been written, discussed and analysed about the emergence of the nuclear family in urban India. The breakup of the traditional joint family system has

been deplored and mourned as women in the middle class have gained economic independence and refused to kow-tow to the diktats of the domineering multiple-layered women-in-law. Transfers, job opportunities and shifts to other parts of the country as well as international migration have also been a major influence on the breaking up of the joint family. The result is the setting up of nuclear family units in little flats and apartments.

The older generation is being left alone to cope with their daily needs and problems that are getting to be onerous with the onset of old age, immobility and reduced incomes. The other alternative that has even been a popular theme for films like ‘Baghban’ (gardener) has been the move to close up the older couples family unit and parcel out the parents, by turns, to the various siblings and offspring. Some parents like the Srinivasan’s move around spending some time between each of their children. In some families, infirm elders stay with one child as Rukku mami does. She just lost her husband and her daughters and other sons talk to her regularly. The only problem is that she is hard of hearing and has to be warned that she has to talk on the phone.

The widower finds it difficult to adjust to living with offspring. In the son’s home, Giri

is well looked after by his daughter-in-law. She has her own interests though and goes out often leaving Giri alone. He has not learnt to even make his cup of coffee and she leaves his tiffin and flask of coffee on the table. He has to serve it himself and he misses his wife’s services greatly. When he visits his daughter, the old fashioned feelings about not being cared for by son-in-law kicks in and he feels uncomfortable. So he spends his time shuttling between his kids and feels like a nomad.

Some families have been wise to rebuild their homes into multiple family units. The Padmanabhan’s have done just that. They have their daughter’s and son’s family in separate apartments. Another spare apartment was sold off during development, to a nephew. Many families buy apartments near each other in the same complex too. The Ramanathans’ moved out to the suburbs after living for years in the heart of the town. They are one of the few occupants of the huge complex and are waiting for it to fill up. The vista is amazing from their apartment and they love the peace. Their only son lives nearby in the next block and their grandson spends time with them. This system has allowed the older couple to have their own space. The support of both generations is beneficial.

Feelings, emotions, personal preferences play a major part in people trying to live together. There are three generations of men living in one apartment—the Raja’s. The oldest is a nonagenarian who moved

in with his eldest son when his second wife had died. Second generation Venkat has been a caregiver first to his wife who had dementia and then passed away a couple of years ago. He has taken over the care giving of his father, even though he himself has had problems with mobility and joint replacements. The third generation male is represented by Venkat’s son, Gopi who is divorced. He has various partners who come over but will not marry again, he says. This is an all male household with the only woman being the cook and general factotum, a part-time lady who sweeps in and rushes out like a 10 to 5 office goer. Thank god for the fact that Venkat loves to cook and dishes up tasty meals when Ms Jeeves decides to take time out.

The washing machine is a great boon, just as white goods in a kitchen help people simplify their style. Similarly, online shopping, supermarkets and the little grocery store that does home delivery in answer to a telephonic request has made life simpler for the elderly.

A Tribute to Silvers

FAMILIES, GENERATIONS AND CAREGIVINGPadmini Natarajan


Raghavan had a huge house in the suburbs. His three children have all migrated to the US and he and his wife Sudha spend over six months there. Now they have a green card and decided to cash in on the big plot of land. He had a redevelopment plan and was offered two flats. His children did not want a share so he cashed in on the second apartment and used the interest to buy expensive health insurance for both of them to live in the US without any worries about falling ill. “It is an experiment that we are going to try for a couple of years. We do have a bolthole in Chennai and can always come back”, he says.

Many women like Revathi and men like Balan prefer to live a solitary life running their own homes. They are able to employ house help, drivers and have learnt to use internet banking and paying bills online. They travel, visit the kids and yet maintain their independence. A family of four siblings, the Swaminathan’s have decided to live next to each other in villas in Coimbatore’s senior citizen’s facility. Their kids are scattered all over India and the world and this is the best way to be supportive of each other during old age, they say.

The euphemistic senior citizen’s home has begun to make its presence felt and occupancy rates in these establishments is now reaching over a 100% with the demand increasing day by day. These old age homes are today catering to different economic levels from ordinary dormitory boarding and lodging to five star comforts and luxuries of Retirement villages.

Shankari was widowed young and had

brought up her children in her parental home. Her only son lives in the US. She did not want to live with her son, Ravi’s family, so he got her an apartment of her own ten minutes away from his place. As she became older, she could not drive herself anymore and she did not want to live a lonely life depending on her son’s family for even buying a carton of milk. She chose to come back to Chennai and got herself a studio apartment in a Senior Citizen’s community even though her daughters live in the same city. Finally, after having spent a lifetime being called a difficult person and finding herself uncomfortable under the care of different relatives, she is happy in her small space and enjoys interacting with people her own age and social standing in the senior citizen’s community.

When generations age together, it is becoming more and more difficult to be caregivers. When children live out of the country, taking care of illnesses in parents is really becoming an issue. Ashok’s father has been in hospital. His sister is away in the US and he lives in the Gulf. He is now commuting weekends to be around the hospital routine. His mother and uncles are taking care of the day-to-day care giving. Expenditure, effort and trauma are difficult to handle in these circumstances.

Chandar is a lonely man. Having looked after his ailing wife, after her demise, he still clings on to her presence amongst the things in the apartment they lived in. His health is shaky and he cannot be left alone. Any attempts to move him out to the son’s or daughter’s place are kept on hold till the first death anniversary rites are performed.

His children and grandchildren take turns to come and check him out a couple of times during the day and to sleepover in the night.

Sita and Kannan had chosen to cut off from his family due to interpersonal in-law issues. His mother wanted to see him before she died, but he did not come. A few years later, he returned to India as the US pensions go a long way in Indian markets. He has tried to bond with his other siblings but they have not been able to forgive him for disappointing their mother—his callousness as they perceive broke her heart. He joins them in performing the yearly shraadh, but they look on it as hypocrisy. The fissures go deep but politeness is maintained during family occasions. He leads an isolated life remorseful about his earlier choices.

In Tamizh there is a saying that every household has a doorstep, that there are any number of stories hiding behind front doors. That is life but in a feverish pitch to adopt Western customs, norms and family patterns, India is losing its most vibrant and solid family value systems. Many youngsters are caught up in the peer dependency and sacrifice their own needs and dependency on family support. Life expectancy, especially with affluence and medical intervention is becoming higher in modern times. Finally, youngsters forget that they too will be old and infirm in a few decades and how life will treat them is something that is in the hands of the Gods!

All names have been changed for privacy.


grandmother is the quintessential Paati, with a kind heart always eager to feed you till you burst. To me, my grandparents have always been silver-haired, it was hard to imagine otherwise. But as I grew older and slowly inched above them in height, when they regaled me with tales of mischief, innocence and a childhood in simpler times, my understanding of their life and times grew abundantly.

For the person that I have become today, I have my parents and grandparents to thank for. Thatha shaped me as a person, pruning my frugal knowledge, love for history and politics with a sense of dedicated teaching. Afternoon lessons in science were never boring – with Thatha, I learned the art of writing in invisible ink, making glue at home, recycling paper and making a small fire with a simple magnifying glass. With Patti, I learned how to be a girl with values, a simple, yet curious person. My tryst with tradition, the knowledge of my religion and its practices has all been because of Patti. Games galore peppered our times together, as round after round of Pallankuzhi and Dayakattai kept us in best of spirits. What I love best about my grandparents is their resilience, and their innate ability to pick up nuggets of knowledge with ease.

I watch Patti logging onto Facebook on her Samsung Galaxy Tab. I see Thatha taking in the day’s news with earnest interest. In that one moment, I opened a little door in my mind, where memories are no longer just wispy filaments of silvery grey, but colours, smells and textures. A meal together, sleeping on my grandmother’s lap, watching science in action with my grandfather, plotting a prank with an uncle, deviously stealing crisps with a cousin, shamelessly singing nonsense with another. And before I knew it, I’m here today, when all of those are just yesterdays. But isn’t that the essence of life? That in each moment, you make memories – some that you would cherish, some that you would abhor, but each that will make you who YOU are? That in each of those moments, there’s a story, an emotion, a reason, a life? That in each of those moments, there lies a chance to live to the fullest?

That’s what my grandparents have done for me. Sprinkled my life with stardust.

ove..ToGrandparents withL

When I was about four or five, I remember distinctly believing that life before colour photography was

black and white, that people in those days were in black and white. I wondered how they learned what blue, red, yellow, green or brown looked like. The charm of photographs of those days had me hooked – until this afternoon, when I sat back at home with my mum and grandparents, looking through reams and reams of photographs from the good old times. The sepia coloured 90s, a cup of tea, a rainy afternoon, static on the radio amidst sudden spurts of the classics, red-bound books with gold lettering, big square glass frames...

Many a time, I’ve wondered if we live for a purpose, if we have any meaning in our existence, or if we’re just a crazy race that runs about without any direction or reason, and I’ve been inclined plenty of times, to believe the latter. But sitting down with

Thatha and Patti, I walked through the labyrinthine columns of memory, of a time when I was someone else, something else, in some other time, from some other era, in some other place. They have a way, these memories, of slowly growing bigger, and bigger, erupting in a burst of flames like a phoenix, and falling into ashes. And then they lie in wait inside the corner reserved for them in the puzzling enigma that is the mind, ashes, waiting to regenerate sometime later.

I have sat down with my collection of photos, built over the years. I gaze at them with wonder as photo after photo chronicled my life so beautifully. And the most significant part of those moments were the ones I’ve shared, and continue to share, with my grandparents. My grandfather is the typical anthropomorphic version of an encyclopaedia – ask him anything on any topic, and you’ll be shocked to find him belting out facts as they are, right up until the most recent turn of events. My

Kirthi Gita Jayakumar


The very concept of an old age home is not new to India. An old age home is usually an abode for the aged who have no one to look after them or for those who have been thrown out of their homes by their children. The place is of course like home where the inmates get all the facilities for a routine living, like food, clothing, and shelter.

Abode for the Aged

Jinal Patel


Even if all these necessities are taken care of, the much-needed love and care of loved ones are of course sadly missing; for, how can outsiders provide solace? In these homes, it is very interesting and even touching to talk to the silvers.

“We are fully equipped with all the amenities desired by senior citizens. State-of-the-art facilities and amenities such as senior-friendly architecture and fittings are there, ensuring greater safety. For example, corridors are so wide that they allow a wheelchair to swivel. And if someone is in a state of emergency, then someone will assist that person soon. Also, everyday, events such as cookery contests and ladies’ coffee break are organized to bust stress and boredom,” says Minal Gandhi, worker at Keshav Nandhan, an old age home in Ahmedabad. Despite the import of the western concept of old age homes, even today in our nation, leaving the silvers to the care of old age homes is not considered as an acceptable predicament. In the West, since two generations never stay under one roof, the situation may not be heart rending but India has been a country where not just two but three generations live together under one roof. Hence, this recent concept of nuclear families with the elders ousted is just a hard fact to accept.

“Children today want to have a small family and feel that staying with elderly parents who do not contribute to the family kitty is a burden on them. This culture has come from countries abroad where children step out of their homes at the age of 18 to become independent. But India has treasured joint families for ages which have contributed to its priceless values and humanitarian culture. It is shameful that we have to start such homes and live in them too,” says Kantilal Jha, a resident of an old age home for twelve years.

The emergence of nuclear families that replaced joint families has led to the burgeoning of old age homes to cater to the needs of the elderly. Besides this, since the women have started working out of homes, there is now, no one to look after the routine needs of the elders at home. Also, there has been a change in the attitude towards the elders. More and more working women do not accept the responsibility of taking care of the elders, considering it as an added burden.

“My daughter-in-law, after she got married slowly started creating fights between me and my son. My husband is a heart patient. Due to frequent fights I never spoke. I took care of myself and my husband and did all the household chores when no one was there. But one day my son asked us to pack our bags. I was scared wondering what was going on. But he was smiling when he said this. So I thought it must be a holiday or a temple visit. But to my surprise he brought us to this old age home and left us here. He didn’t speak to us since then. If my relatives ask about us, he says they wanted to live there so I left them. He has never come to meet us but pays money regularly for our expenses,” says Meera Raju, a 62 year old, resident at an old age home, sadly.

No matter how well they are looked after in these homes, a single visit to an old age home begets melancholy and depression as no one seems to be happy there.

The inmates live in these homes, not for the love of being away from home or to be independent but, because there is no better alternative left for them, because they are neglected and unwanted in their homes by their own children.

Today there are over 500 NGOs that grant-aid and provide services like old age homes, day care centers, medical facilities etc for the aged.

“The way I was treated in my own house was horrible. So one day I decided to leave. I packed my bag and told my son, ‘before you leave to office take me to some old age home or anywhere. I don’t want to live with you.’ My son was shocked and he refused. But I stood out of the house and told him that if he didn’t drop me I would take a rickshaw. My son started crying but he then dropped me in an old age home which was near our house. He was like, ‘come back home fast.’ But I knew if I went back I would be ill-treated in front of his friends. I also felt that I should give them their space and privacy. Now- a-days if senior citizens sit in the living room when friends come visiting, it is not liked by family members. Why feel restricted? Old age homes need talkative people like me to infuse some life in the milieu. Today I do visit my house sometimes but I enjoy living here with my new friends,” laughs Mohan Bhave, living for over 3 years in an old age home.

The only solace during their twilight years is that silvers get their daily requirements of shelter and food; if not the bonds of love from the family.


But today there are over 500 NGOs that grant-aid and provide services like old age homes, day care centers, medical facilities etc for the aged. They campaign for free health care for senior citizens, decreasing the age limit for pension, greater, respectable living allowance , change in the eligibility criteria so that even if the combined family income is Rs.8,000 the senior citizen is entitled to pension and creation and implementation of a social security scheme etc.

Old age homes are a necessity in the present day scenario as the

younger generation do not have the time or in many cases the resources to meet their needs like medical expenses, special food etc. But old age homes should be considered only as a secondary option. Elders in the family are definitely an asset. It is they who can impart the much needed ethical values and code of conduct in the younger generation. Old age homes as an option should be considered only for the betterment of the senior citizens by way of better physical and mental status, greater possibility for social bonding. The aged should never be made to feel that they are a burden and hence turned away.

Is the increase in the growth of old age homes in India a good sign?

Pankti Shah, Student

Yes, sometimes, it is better that old parents live in old age homes to avoid humiliation from their children. But not all old age institutions are good and very best cannot be afforded by the poor and the middle class.

Pratap Bhan Singh, IT professional

More old age homes seem to be a good trend. But I personally feel that it is good to have your grandparents at home. They teach their grandchildren and revel in small moments of joy with their grandchildren and children. Even today I am greatly moved when I see the movie Baghban. The youth must realize the importance of having their parents at home. Sadly, many keep their parents at home so that they can baby sit or pick up their children from home and generally take care of children and the home. A real pity.

Sangeeta Yadav, Advertising Professional

Yes, Even parents have a right to decide whether they wish to live with their children or not. Now-a-days many people have already invested in institutions that will take care of them permanently whenever the need arises. But even in the case of children taking their parents abroad to make them baby sit their children, it is an amicable compromise between the children and the parents.

Samata Baheti, Student

No. Considering the warmth and love we receive at home, to replace that with an apathetic ambience is sinful. Maybe the seniors do develop friendships in these homes but it cannot be a replacement for the love they expect from their near and dear. The sad truth is children forget the love and care their parents gave them in their pursuit of success, money and their compelling need for privacy.

What they Say:---


“We are like football. In the football ground, which is the society, we

get kicked around. We have now reached a peaceful haven, the Vishranthi,” sighs an old inmate of Vishranthi, a charitable old age home for destitute women. Today it is a model old age home for other old age

homes. The name ‘Vishranthi’ means eternal peace. Says another inmate, “We are living in heaven. We don’t have to worry about anything. Everything is provided to us. Vishranthi means heaven on the earth.”

Vishranthi does not just provide a roof for them. But it provides 360 degree care for every inmate. It is worth visiting and knowing about Vishranthi. If you get a

chance to visit Vishranthi don’t miss to have a chat with the dynamic yet humble Savithri Vaithi who is “Amma” (mother) for 120 grand mothers in Vishranthi and the Chairperson cum Founder of Vishranthi.

Vishranthi came into existence in 1978 when a voluntary organization called the Monday Charity Club decided to start a home for the aged. They started with one

Heaven on

Joseph Aloysius


inmate in a rented house in Chrompet. Today it has 120 inmates and spread in one acre plot at Palavakkam.

This tremendous growth has been possible due to the tireless efforts of Savithri Vaithi. When we ask her what motivated her to pioneer a home for the aged in Chennai, she launches into reminiscing incidents from her past. When Savithri was sixteen due to family circumstances she had to take up a job. She joined a welfare organization for poor women in a slum area of Chennai. That job exposed the difficulties and

challenges of downtrodden people to her. At that young age she made up her mind to stand for destitute women, which has led her to undertake this journey for more than 33 years.

Vishranthi gives shelter to all poor people at no cost. It also accommodates some seniors with partial payment and some with full payment offering additional facilities. Vishranthi provides Ayurvedic check up and medication for inmates once a week. Apart from this, it has an in-house clinic. It also has an intermediatory nursing home

with all facilities for outsiders. Savithri Amma says hygiene and health care are the main issues in old age homes. Food is the main determinant for health issues. She continues, “We stopped providing vadas during celebrations for two years as fried foods are not good for seniors. Everyday we provide nine cereals like Bajra, Oats, Maiza, etc., which have high protein content. We encourage donors to sponsor fresh foods for inmates”.

Due to old age, many senior citizens develop psychological problems like fear of death,


independent and keep themselves busy with some activity or the other like Savithri Amma. They volunteer to help in the kitchen, keep the premises clean and help in washing though Vishranthi has exclusive staff members to take care of these chores. In return, Vishranthi encourages them by rewarding them for work.

Vishranthi also runs Malarchi, a home for kids with single parents since 1990. This ensures bonding of the senior citizens with children. The grand old ladies of Vishranthi enjoy spending time with the girls, treating them like their own granddaughters. Vishranthi is not an abode that takes care of the biological and social needs of the inmates but it elevates their minds to higher pursuits. Following the example of Savithri Amma, every inmate volunteers to donate her eyes after death. Till date, Vishranthi has donated 210 pairs of eyes to the society. It gives a great sense of satisfaction and meaning to the inmates as they feel they are providing light and life to a human after their death.

Vishranthi is the first old age home to undertake performance of last rites for its inmates after their death. Probably, Savithri is the only woman in the world who performs the last rites of the aged

inmates when they depart. She shares her first experience about how this practice started. When one of their inmates passed away she informed her relatives to take the body for cremation. When she reached the graveyard, she saw that no one had turned up! She was very upset and decided to do the cremation and perform the last rites herself.” Today there is no such issue as we do cremation in an electric crematorium,” she says.

Savithri has seen people who never once visited their mother or relative even during their death but later come asking her for the ashes to perform the rituals. Savithri shows them out of the door. “It’s not just the fault of the younger generation. Seniors are also responsible for this pathetic situation. During old age, especially after retirement, they feel insecure and inferior to the upcoming generation. They are not able to accept and adjust to the new order and gain the recognition of their family members. They interfere and dominate the younger members of the family, often leading to friction,” she reasons, “The solution is to accept the realities of life and not interfere in the affairs of the family members. If the seniors are actively engaged in useful pursuits, they will command respect from the family members and will gain their love and acceptance. Vishranthi encourages inmates to engage in various activities like making handicrafts and encourages them to sell on their own by establishing stalls for them in exhibitions. Other than that there are a lot of recreational programs conducted by Vishranthi. Inmates are busy during festive seasons like Navarathri and Christmas. Vishranthi conducts various competitions like Making Golu, Rangoli, singing, dance and drama. They organize music concretes and talks from outside.

Do we need homes for aged care?

Critics opine that aged care homes encourage younger generations to live away from their parents. But Savithri feels strongly that there is a need for old age homes. In India, the population of senior citizens is ever growing. Due to various reasons like migration of the second generation to other countries for employment or economic problems, sons and daughters would like to keep their parents in safe abodes. Instead of letting them fend for themselves or turning them out into the streets, aged care homes can provide them safe shelter during their twilight years. Despite this, Savithri still emphasizes the concept of joint families. She has written books on aged care and joint family system.

Photograph Joseph Aloysius

delusion, insomnia, etc. Vishranthi provides counseling to inmates regularly. It also has a special section for people who are cured from mental illness and do not have families to take care of them. Savithri Amma spends time interacting and communicating with the inmates regaling them with stories that dispel fear of death and infuses in them the courage to accept the reality about death with equanimity.

At 82 running an old age home with hundred and twenty inmates and thirty staff members is remarkable. When we asked her about how is able to be successful and what are the challenges she faces in administration, she replies “With the help of good people and support from Vishranthi Charitable Trust and its trustees I am able to manage. There are no big challenges or difficulties. I have to be careful about managing the staff. It is important for them to be honest while handling and managing money. The staff employed in the kitchen should not pilfer products, which usually happens in hostels and hotels. Nurses should not get irritated with the attitude of the seniors. Well, right now we are blessed with best staff in all the sections. There are no such issues here.”

The inmates of Vishranthi try to be


Personified

“Our sons hate the idea of us moving into old age homes. In fact, our son Siddharth got us this flat so that he can be close to us.”-

Srinivasan.

Grace Vasala Menon

oise and grace best spell Saraswathi Srinivasan, a septuagenarian residing at VGN Minerva, Nolambur, Chennai. A retired teacher by profession,

Saraswathi and her husband Srinivasan were based at Ahmadabad until very recently. A practicing cost accountant, Srinivasan decided to move down south to Chennai in order to stay close to his son Siddharth and his family.

Saraswathi and Srinivasan are a very charming couple, a few minutes of conversing with them leaves you feeling pleasantly surprised; you would never be able to come across a more young-at-heart couple if you happen to search high and low.

“Initially I was very upset when we had to move to Chennai. Both of us hail from this state, we had made Ahmadabad our home for more than forty years. It was with a heavy heart that I decided to move down to Chennai. Having worked as a teacher there for so many years, most of my students are very well placed in good jobs and professions and I miss their love and affection, and of course my friends too,” Saraswathi says with deep emotion.

This lovely and charming couple is blessed with two sons- Siddharth and Ramesh. While Siddharth and his wife reside here in Chennai, Ramesh and his family reside in the US. On being queried as to how they feel about their son living abroad, Saraswathi replied with a twinkle in her eye, “ Yes of course, it’s a lot hard sometimes, having to get accustomed to the fact that your kids are living so many miles away from home. We too as a couple went through the ‘empty nest’ syndrome and had a tough phase. But slowly we got reconciled to the fact that we

need to let our kids soar as high as they want to fly. Life doesn’t come to an end with children leaving home, we just need to focus on our long –shelved interests and hobbies and rekindle them back to life. We are blessed not only with two loving sons, but daughters too. I consider my daughters-in-law as my own daughters. I never interfere in their lives and till date, we remain on the best of terms. Recently, on my birthday, it was my daughter-in-law who walked in first with gifts and cakes. She had organized a lovely get together for me that day. It was indeed a lovely surprise,’ dimples Saraswathi prettily.

The couple is all set to visit Ramesh and his family in the US very soon and are busy getting ready to leave. “Once in a while, we visit them abroad, stay for around three months, enjoy with my son and grandchildren and come back refreshed, ” explains Srinivasan.

A soft-spoken, unassuming gentleman that he is, Srinivasan is truly a pillar of support and encouragement for dear Saraswathi. “ Dedicated, sincere to the core and caring- that best describes my husband,” smiles Saraswathi.

The duo has a very tastefully decorated flat at Nolambur. While age may act as a deterrent to others, it has only helped to add grace and poise to Saraswathi. Indeed they are role models to emulate on how to age gracefully and with dignity.

“Weekends are devoted to cooking all my son Siddharth’s favorite dishes as he and his wife drop in to visit us on Sundays,” explains Saraswathi. On other days, she reads widely on a variety of topics, both in Tamil and English. Name just about any author and she


“I love gardening and greenery. I have always had my own garden. I felt sad having to leave behind all my well tended plants in Ahmadabad,” says

Saraswathi, “

can quote extensively from books written by them. She is an ardent and versatile member of the book club that operates out of her residential complex. “It is a pleasure listening to Saraswathi Ma’am speak on a variety of topics, ” quips one of her book club buddies.

Music, yoga, meditation, cooking, gardening, and a lot more fascinate her. “I love gardening and greenery. I have always had my own garden. I felt sad having to leave behind all my well tended plants in Ahmadabad,” says Saraswathi, “ In fact, I had to part with a huge collection of my books too.”

“Sometimes I do feel that it would have been better to have gone into an old age home, so that I can get out of routine cooking,” laughs Saraswathi in jest, “But it’s definitely not because our sons do not dote on us. They do; they are perfect sons. But not many are as lucky as we are- my neighbor has an invalid husband who is assigned to a wheel chair and needs extensive care. They too have sons residing abroad but the poor lady has to toil day and night with just a maid to assist her. During these times, I do feel that children can be a little more merciful and assign their lone parents to old age homes so that they can be better cared for.”

“Our sons hate the idea of our moving into old age homes. In fact, our son Siddharth got us this flat so that he can be close to us,” opines Srinivasan.

The well maintained and tastefully decorated flat sports a balcony which is arrayed with pots of plants sporting flowers in full bloom in varied hues. She has a good collection of cacti as well.

“Yes, we do have health issues but thanks to the Divine, nothing drastic. I do yoga and meditate regularly. I take care to maintain my interest in all that I do and I always retain a positive frame of mind. I vibe well with my neighbors , enjoy making friends, love chitchats and going out to dine or go on sightseeing sprees. I am glad to have been blessed with a doting husband and we enjoy each other’s company immensely. And our in-house book club and green club keep us actively engaged too, ” says Saraswathi.

Saraswathi and Srinivasan are indeed a unique couple who have proven beyond an iota of doubt that aging is all in the mind. As long as you have a young and active mind, life is beautiful right through till the very end.

Good luck and prayers galore for the health and longevity of this lovely charming duo.

Family ties


HEALTH AND MENTAL ISSUES AT THE ONSET OF THE

AGING PROCESSAging is not to be looked on with apprehension.

Vasala Menon

As you grow older, there might be physical aspects that need to be considered and also, exercise routines need to be chosen carefully. Aging may

have made you more sedentary, plumper or maybe even turned you into a bit of a stick-in-the-mud. Regular exercise and fitness do have greater rewards for older people. Not only does it go a long way in bringing health advantages, but it will also recharge your energy supplies, and if you are not sleeping well, it helps you to get a good night’s sleep as well.

As you get older, you tend to become more forgetful which is absolutely infuriating when you find you can’t even recall the simplest things. To keep your mind fit, it’s important to ensure that you get plenty of sleep, fresh air, and physical exercise. Giving your brain a bit of a daily work out too will help to boost your memory power.

Exercise your brain. Get into the regular habit of doing crosswords, Sudoku, word puzzles or number puzzles. Don’t give up easily on books or articles that are complicated- struggle on with them. Learn a

poem or a verse over a period of days. Look at a picture, and then turn it over and try to recall as many facts as you can remember about it. Play games that test your skills of recall such as scrabble.

Obviously old age, past seventy, brings with it vulnerability to poor health with the body being less efficient, less immune to diseases and less supple. The cardio vascular system continues to weaken and bone density can start to reduce. Along with sight and hearing deterioration, there are many other conditions such as osteoporosis and senility that may start to be evident. Most of the negative aspects of aging can be countered by being aware of them and taking positive action to counteract them with informed health monitoring, exercise and diet.

Sunitha Menon, a practicing psychologist in the city has this to say about senility. “ Senility, also known as senile dementia, is a slow, debilitating condition that eventually results in permanent mental impairment. Irreversible senility occurs in about 15 percent of the over-65 population. The first sign is forgetfulness, followed by a loss of judgment. Typically such people

have problems coping with his or her environment. Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of irreversible senility. But there is yet hope. The expectation of senility is harmful to an aging person’s self esteem and can cause serious medical problems to be overlooked. For every 100 older persons who have been diagnosed with senility, 30 have senile behavior that normally disappears with proper medical treatment.”

Old age can be a time of great intellectual growth and achievement. A number of well known artists and business professionals have done their best work after the age of 60. At 80, the Spanish painter Goya drew a picture of a very old man with the inscription , ‘ I am still learning.’

Aging is not to be looked at with apprehension. Rather, the process is to be enjoyed, taking each day as it comes, striving to live life fully, with unsurpassed joy, enthusiasm and positive attitude. These go a long way in countering the negatives of aging.


Senior citizens have different needs and hence their environment has to be different from that of the others. In countries like Australia, UK, US etc, aged care is a major industry by itself with the government playing an important role in the care of the aged. In

Australia for e.g., there is a special Ministry for aged care. There are specific guidelines for designing residential complexes for senior citizens who want to live independently and for aged care homes. In India too we have a National Building Code, but there do not seem to be instances of these being implemented in aged care homes.

Designing living quarters for the aged should first begin with the toilets because that is where most accidents happen, sometimes proving fatal. Toilets should be fitted with slip resistant flooring and must have a calling bell so that help can be at hand if someone has had a fall. The calling bell is usually connected to a string which can be pulled in case of need. Homes in these countries have toilets with doors that have special hinges such that if someone has been locked in you can open the door from outside. Sometimes, observation panels are also fitted on the doors, especially in cases where the person has disabilities.

Design Solutions for Aged Care Swati Amar

Based on an interview with Arjun Vijaykumar, Managing Director of GA Architects Private Ltd., is a registered architect in New South Wales and India. His expertise lies is in retail, health, aged care, commercial and institutional design.


1. Staircase-electric-chair

2. Chair lifts-for-stairs

3. Grab rails in toilet

4. Slip resistant flooring

5. Sensor taps

6.Elevator-in-House- without machine

7.Australia Panroom fitout

8. Fit out

Design Solutions for

Aged Care

The hardware in the toilets is different too. Taps don’t have sharp edges. They are usually blunt with clear demarcation of hot and cold water taps with symbols and colors clearly indicated to prevent scalding from hot water taps or freezing water affecting the hand during winters. Sensor taps are smart choices and ideal for Indian homes because they are affordable and safe. Sensor urinals and dual flush are other good and water saving options. Toilet and bath areas are fitted with grab rails for senior citizens to hold when needed. Special shower units are available for senior citizens with a seat, a calling bell, grab rails and space for the care giver. Aged care

homes abroad also have common bath areas like the Jacuzzi where people may be carried for special baths. The homes usually have toilets with sliding doors for easy handling, aiding in self-operation for those in wheel chairs. These doors can also be opened from outside in case of need.

In places like Japan and Australia there are mechanical lifting devices whereby the person is moved, without the care giver touching the patient physically. These devices usually work on a pulley system where a string is wound around the patient’s waist and he is lifted

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from one seat to another. If a care giver hurts a person, there are legal implications in these countries because they have a system where everybody is liable.

Nurses are also trained differently there. They are not just paraprofessionals but are people who give care to a person. It is more about building a relationship with the person you are looking after.

In these countries, for people in semi retirement working part time or for a few days a week and live in independent homes, the houses are near normal. You have a normal kitchen. But the moment you need help you go to a facility, which is not independent. You might go to a building with studio apartments which still gives you the independence you desire. These complexes usually have a centralized kitchen, laundry facilities and a warden who takes care of the place. When a person needs more care he is moved to a dormitory or a room with two people. Two people to a room works out better as they are company for each other. At each level, the design changes accordingly. The aged care facility does tend to have a hospital feel sometimes; but is somewhere between a hospital and a hotel.

For senior citizens who are living in independent homes and need to climb up stairs, ‘no-machine-room’ lifts are available abroad which carries them up. In India it is not an affordable proposition as it costs about Rs. 30 lakhs. Seating devices next to the stairs are also an option. Stairs are designed in such a way that the height of each stair is not more than 150 mm. A stair that is 300 mm high will be very difficult to climb.

Aged card homes have rooms and corridors fitted with grab rails all around. You can look at the same solution for your home if you have a senior citizen around or you are over sixty years. Parryware in Chennai offers standard hand rails or you can also have them made to order. Care is taken about the flooring which is fitted with slip resistance vinyl sheets. These sheets are available in different patterns and colours giving you an option for aesthetics as well. Colour contrasts and gradient changes are also implemented in the flooring to guide the senior citizens to more around. Abroad, the preference is for sober, pastel shades for flooring. In India vinyl tiles are available, but are mostly imported. These slip resistant tiles are also smoke and chemical resistant and tested for electrostatic properties.

Safety devices are important, especially if senior citizens are living alone. Devices to enable you to see the person outside the door including the magic eye, audio-visual devices, CCTV or a camera are the options. Help buttons or call buttons are usually available in all health facilities for help during emergency, which can also be used for independent homes. Fire safety is an important issue. Sprinklers and fire extinguishers are a must in such facilities abroad. In India, they are still options. But you are taking a risk on the life of senior citizens. Aged care homes abroad also have wireless access control devices which alert the paraprofessional and a control room if any senior citizen strays out of the safety zone or if an intruder makes his way into the facility. One can also use an autodial that can be operated by pressing a button to alert people during emergencies. With so much of software development happening in Chennai, we can develop more effective and affordable security systems for aged care.

Assistive technologies such as card controlled entry or finger print

entry are available in aged care facilities abroad. Such technologies can be implemented in India too to ensure the safety of citizens. Also the staff working for senior citizens are thoroughly scanned and trained by the police, which should be started here too. There are alert devices such as motor sensors which cause instant illumination when an intruder finds his way to a home. Cameras are cheap and can be used by our senior citizens. Also, they must ensure that their houses are illuminated at nights to keep intruders away. Balconies can have bars all around to prevent falls. They can be aesthetically designed to prevent a caged feeling for children and senior citizens.

The governments in western countries respect the concept of community care and living. If you are a senior citizen living in your own house, the government will come to help retrofit your home. They will give you ideas to change your house and provide a care giver who will come to you for a few days a week to help you with chores like cleaning, shopping etc. It is big expenditure and is implemented through government funding. Your house will be retrofit with modifications in the toilet, grab rails and stair lifts.

People with disabilities and those in wheel chairs cannot be discriminated against according to Disability Laws. They have to be provided equal opportunities as others. Buildings and public spaces have to therefore enforce certain guidelines to facilitate their movement and safety. Most shopping malls have risers with gradient difference to indicate that there is a change in the gradient level of the ground, such as when a ramp or stairs begin or end. There are tactile indicators too for those who have visual impairments. Shopping malls have concealed sprinklers, and fire safety devices to handle exigencies.

The idea behind aged care homes is to ensure that the senior citizens have a lifestyle that is not too different from what they were used to. Hence they are located in the heart of the cities and allow senior citizens to go out whenever they desire. There are transport facilities that take senior citizens out and drop them back. Most aged care facilities allow the senior citizens to personalize their rooms and do their own interiors. They offer facilities like the saloon, laundry, medical care etc. They also have sporting rooms, swimming pools for therapeutic water exercises and textured walkways with rails and slip resistant tiles. There are libraries and even mini-cinema halls in some facilities. Corridors have fire safety mechanisms and emergency exits. Aged care facilities abroad do a drill annually to evacuate people in case of emergencies. This is taken seriously and guidelines are followed meticulously. After all, senior citizens are a source of immense wealth to us in terms of their intellectual assets as well as their experiences. A smile on their faces and their wise counsel will not only give us our much needed solace but will help spread a pleasant ambience in our homes and teach us the value of love and care. Suffice to say that designing homes that are silver friendly will give us much return on our investment.


Homes for Seniors

SafeT

Swati Amar

he ability to live in one’s own home is healthy for seniors who can enjoy a better quality of life when compared to aged care homes. For many whose children are abroad, moving in with them is not an option. Given very few quality retirement communities, the expenses of which are prohibitive, one’s own home seems to be the only viable alternative.

But how smart are we in incorporating senior citizen friendly features in their homes? This is the right time to plan for designs that can ensure a barrier-free, safe and assistive environment for the elderly. Here is a list of products that can be included in the home of a senior citizen who can lead independent lives with reduced risk of accidents.

Bathrooms Anti-Scald Devices

Portable / fixed Grab bars near washbasin,

Bathtub – tubs with a ledge, bath stools, bath tub rails, anti scald device for the tub

Showers - Hand held shower, shower units with built in taps and floor

Toilets – Raised ones with security frames.

Telephones with amplifiers


KitchenGood grip utensils - cutlery, multipurpose openers

Light weight utensils

Pan holders

Long loop scissors

Long handed dust pan and brush

Fire extinguisher at easy to reach place

Sinks – low pressure, water controls and anti scald taps

Touchless trashcan which opens before one bends

Microwave – with touch pad controls and with a shelf nearby

Big watt lights / bulbs with easy switches

Main entrance Wide doors with lever handles

Shelf outside the main entrance

No magazine stands or furniture near the main entrance

Door watch camera

Key turners

Pepper sprays

Living room Portable trays, which can be fixed anywhere

Light weight reacher

Book holders

Mobile tables

Furniture kept at even distance

Battery run bug swatter

Bedroom Closets – height of rods from floor, motorized clothing carousel, walk in closets

Easy slide drawers

Raised bed with grips

Reading lights

Spectacle stand

Laundry shelves

Products for the whole house Fire Extinguishers

Portable door knob turner

Smoke Detectors

Good Lighting with rocker switches, easy to turn off lights


The concept of silver friendly homes is yet to catch up among the middle class living in metros like Chennai. Though Chennai is a booming metro

in many sense, it does take some time to catch up with global lifestyle changes. Being used to the harsh ways of life, the middle class lives a life of acceptance, compromise and resistance to change. While there is a burgeoning community of youth that has embraced highly westernized ways of living, thanks to the IT boom, as far as the middle class senior citizens are concerned, they still prefer to live cosseted in the warmth of their families or blend comfortably in exclusive communities for senior citizens where the aura of classical music, dance, spiritual pursuits reigns supreme.

Hence, it comes as no surprise when Mr. Subramaniam, residing in an independent cottage in a silver friendly community retorts, “You are talking about western concepts which are alien to us and we are not even looking at such a cultural change.” This was his reply to a poser about what were the changes they had incorporated in their homes to adopt a comfortable and convenient way of living.

The least that middle class senior citizens seem to adopt to help themselves is to go in for a western closet in their toilets. And of course, some try to spruce up their pooja rooms! Other than that life is all about spending your twilight years in as uncomplicated and serene manner as possible.

Mr. Subramaniam, who refuses to divulge any more details about himself, his family or community lives in a residential complex for senior citizens which started off as a community exclusively for them but is now a mixed bag. Residents live independently, managing their own affairs. The complex is away from the city and they have an association which runs an office and helps residents with certain mundane chores such as paying electricity bills and maintaining the precincts including a small garden space around each cottage. The dwelling places are single storied. Food can be prepared by the residents themselves or is supplied by a caterer. There are maids who come from the neighbouring villages and work in two or three homes. There is a walkway with ‘ rough’ tiles as he calls the skid resistant

A life of peace and solitudeSwati Amar


unwanted and thwarted by the society.

Clasic Kudumbam is a little different though, from the run of the mill, aged care homes and residential complexes for senior citizens. It offers full service retirement communities to senior citizens looking for a comfortable and secure option after retirement. The apartments are given to couples as a non-transferable life time lease on an either or survivor basis.

According to the promoters of Clasic Kudumbam, it features a scenic campus located in the suburbs of South Chennai at Sholinganallur on the Old Mahablipuram road, about 20 minutes drive from Adyar. It is convenient to enjoy cultural events such as the Chennai Music Festival, visit the many Sabhas in the city and a multiplex nearby. And yet it retains a sense of community spirit and the warmth of a small community. They offer a variety of amenities such as laundry facility, library, locker room, prayer and meditation atrium and open courtyards which are connected to the apartment homes by sheltered walkways. There is a paved driveway for outdoor walking. They also provide 24 X 7 security, professional housekeeping services, access to manned front desk besides good, clean vegetarian meals served at their dining hall as a part of the standard service package.

Several resident-run groups and events are organized here apart from speeches by visitors on a variety of subjects. There is an on-campus consultancy clinic with a visiting general physician everyday. Consultation and regular health checkups are included

in the monthly cost. The community is committed to providing the residents with all the medical and nursing assistance they may need in the future at an additional cost. The community is well equipped for any medical emergencies and has contacts with all major hospitals nearby. A physiotherapist visits thrice a week to attend to the residents.

Maintenance is not an issue with the senior residents as they offer all the maintenance of the apartments. From appliances to the shingles on the roof, the residents do not have to worry about finding the manpower to do repair works. For the convenience of the residents all utilities including water (other than drinking), sewerage disposal and garbage disposal are included in the basic monthly fee. Each apartment is equipped with an intercom facility to directly contact the front desk at any time. A variety of scheduled programs are held round the year. There is a well equipped library and a reading room and access to indoor games such as carom board, chess and other games. There are secure, individual open parking spots in the campus. A Bank style locker is provided to residents to safe keep jewels, cash and important documents. Residents are connected to the rest of the world through access to broadband in a browsing centre in the campus.

Clasic Kudumbam also offers paid services for existing residents for bathing, shaving; family correspondence etc., at an additional cost. Laundering of personal items is available on a paid-for-service basis. Automatic self – use washing machines are provided within the campus too. Their resident handyman can provide a variety of assistance from hanging pictures to moving furniture or running errands for petty purchases on a paid basis. Apart from these, transport services are available from a trusted third party service provider on a pay and use basis. They also provide guest suites to accommodate visiting friends and family on a pay and use basis.

The minimum age requirement to move into the retirement community is fifty years Clasic Kudumbam is run by the Raja Kalyani trust. The entire community is approved by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority. Senior Hospitality Institute of U.S.A has also recognized and certified the community as India’s only retirement resort for active retirement living built to world-class standards.

tiles and is used by a few who like to take walks. Occasionally, bhajans are organized by some senior citizens in their homes. The only luxury these senior citizens seem to allow themselves is a little peace and a morsel of food for which they don’t have to fret about.

Same is the case with Mr. Raghavan who is the General Manager of another residential community for senior citizens in Chennai. He refuses to divulge any details about his living space and says that he has to seek the permission of the promoters before he speaks to the press. For most of them, their children are living abroad. These senior citizens have chosen a life of solitude, living away from the city and adopting an austere, but simple way of living.

It is up to the media and the promoters and of course the government to initiate the senior citizens to the idea that they are entitled to as normal and as productive a life as anybody else and that they must adopt a massive attitudinal makeover to revel in their well earned sabbatical.

Foray of Silver Friendly Residential Communities

While a major chunk of middle class families, especially those of senior citizens is still slumbering in the comfort of simple homes, a new development that seems to have raised its head in Chennai is the sprouting of community living residential complexes for senior citizens. Unfortunately, most such complexes are away from the ‘hustle and bustle’ of the city, leading to a situation which only magnifies the feelings of being


The Law is an Ass, or at least, so said parochial Mr. Bumble in Charles Dickens’ immortal work, Oliver Twist. Having just put down a copy of his book for the sixth time (my bibliophilic ways are responsible), I’m inclined to wonder if his words make sense in a day like today. Laws have aspired to work as a tool of social engineering, and have helped order the course of conduct of human

beings. In conjunction with the same objective, a plethora of laws have been enacted.

Sadly, though, India has no legal instrument that offers any attention to Senior Citizens – a segment of society that hasn’t just been neglected by the Law, but by society at large. Save for the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, there hasn’t been anything more. Livelihood is a difficult prospect for many a senior citizen, especially when they are abandoned by their offspring, forcibly driven out of the very homes they painstakingly built. Homes for the Aged have cropped up – but even in that, there is disparity. Those with the good fortune of having saved up enough find themselves in a better position to access the well-maintained homes, while those that left all their wealth for their children to enjoy with squat remaining in their credit, are forced to live at the mercy of lesser equipped homes. It is doubtless, though, that these “Homes” are far from being precisely that.

Under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, senior citizens aged above 60 are the ones catered to. When a parent, or a senior citizen is not “maintained” – the word implying being provided the basic necessities to live a life with dignity, they may petition to the specially constituted Tribunal under the Act. The senior citizen can either apply to a Tribunal where he resides or where his son or daughter or

Outlaws?Kirthi Gita Jayakumar


his near relative resides from whom he or she claims maintenance. An uncared for or a childless senior citizen, though he or she possess property but does not derive any income from it, can seek maintenance from his son or daughter or from his relative or relatives, who will inherit his or her property after his or her death. The senior citizen can either apply in person or through a person authorized by him or through a voluntary organization registered under the Societies Registration Act. The Tribunal can pass an order granting a maximum sum of Rs. 10,000 as maintenance to senior citizens. The maximum amount is subject to regulation by the concerned state government. The person against whom an order for maintenance has been passed has to comply with the order within one month, failing which the Tribunal can imprison him or her up to a period of one month. The maintenance amount shall also carry an interest varying between 5 % and 18 %.

Besides these provisions, the Act provides for the establishment of old age homes for the senior citizens by the concerned state governments. Preferential treatment is to be given to the senior citizens in the hospitals such as providing them with separate queues, treatment, offering medicines and also promotion of research in the geriatric medicine. If a person who has been looking after a senior citizen forsakes him or her, he or she will be punished by the Tribunal. A senior citizen can seek maintenance for the purpose of his or her food, shelter, clothes, medical facilities and recreation. A senior citizen who has transferred his property either to his son or daughter or near relative, by virtue of a will or gift, can now get it cancelled by applying to the Tribunal, if he or she is neglected by the recipient of the gift. A senior citizen cannot be represented by a lawyer.

Although the Act is a commendable advancement in bridging what was obviously a huge gap, it is not without its own inconsistencies and flaws. The exclusion of a

lawyer is itself a ridiculous prospect, for a senior citizen cannot be expected to know every nuance of the law, nor be able to attend and argue on his own.

Besides these legal provisions, there aren’t any laws that cater to senior citizens specifically. To maintain one’s parents is a moral duty, one that cannot and should not be shirked. Did your parents abandon you when you were a dependant? Did they not drop everything just to cater to your every need – be it picking you up from school, or seeing that you had everything you needed, in order? Arguments are powerful in augmentation of the legal system’s take on senior citizens – that a law should be enacted to ensure that they are taken care of. But arguments on the other side are a painful caveat – what if, the families are grudgingly practicing what the law asks them to? Would it not put senior citizens through double the trauma?

There are a hundred shades of grey, and there is frugal respect for silver.

An uncared for or a childless senior citizen, though he or she possess property but does not derive any income from it, can seek maintenance from his son or daughter or from his relative or relatives, who will inherit his or her property after his or her death.


Senior citizens today are enjoying a much better life when compared to their parents and grand-parents. And, why not? After many serious years of taking on responsibilities,

discharging duties and slogging hard, all for the ultimate goal of a pleasant and tension free retired life, they deserve certain benefits to aid them lead such a life. Indian Government has provided some such benefits in various sectors, a list of some of which has been given below.

Benefits for Senior Citizens under the Government of India

Benefits for Senior Citizens

Transportation:

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways:

i) Reservation of two seats for senior citizens in front row of the buses of the State Road Transport Undertakings.

ii) Some State Governments are giving fare concession to senior citizens in the State Road Transport Undertaking buses and are introducing Bus Models, which are convenient to the elderly.

Ministry of Railways:

1. Indian Railways provide 30% concession

in all classes and trains including

Rajdhani/Shatabadi trains for both males and females aged 60 years and above.

2. Indian Railways also have the facility of separate counters for Senior Citizens for Purchase / booking/ cancellation of tickets.

3. Wheel Chairs for use of older persons are available at all junctions, District Headquarters and other important stations for the convenience of needy persons including the older persons.

4. Ramps for wheel chairs movement are available at the entry to important stations.

5. Specially designed coaches with provisions of space for wheel chairs, hand rail and specially designed toilet for handicapped persons have been introduced.

Ministry of Civil Aviation:

1. Indian Airlines is providing 50 per cent Senior Citizen Discount on Normal Economy Class fare for all domestic flights to Indian senior citizens who have completed the age of 65 years in the case of male senior citizens and 63 years in the case of female senior citizens subject to certain conditions.

2. Air India is offering a discount of 55% to senior citizens of 60 plus on flights to USA, UK and Europe on economy class. Further, Air India has now decided to reduce the age of 60 plus for discount on their domestic routes as well with immediate effect. For Identity card, 2 passport sized photographs have to be submitted along with the form.

3. Jetlite offers a discount of 50% on economy class for citizens of 65 years or above. One passport sized photograph required on the form along with age proof.

4. Jet Airways offers discount to senior citizens of 65 years or above.

II. Telecommunications:

i) Faults/complaints of senior citizens are given priority by registering them under senior citizens category with VIP flag, which is a priority category.

ii) Senior citizens are allowed to register telephone connection under N-OYT Special Category, which is a priority category.

Kanchana.Rao


iii) MTNL in NCR offers a discount of 25% on Rs. 250 per month Plan. Age limit is 65 years or above.

III. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution:

i) Under the Antyodaya Scheme, the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families which also include older persons are provided food grains at the rate of 35 kgs. per family per month. The food grains are issued @ Rs.3/- per kg. for rice and Rs.2/- per kg. for wheat. The persons aged 60 years above from the BPL category were given priority for identification.

ii) Under the Annapoorna Scheme being implemented by the States/UT Administration, 10 kgs. of food grains per beneficiary per month are provided free of cost to those senior citizens who remain uncovered under the old age pension scheme.

iii) Instructions to State Governments for giving priority to the Ration Card holders who are over 60 years of age in Fair Price Shops for issue of rations.

IV. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare:

Separate queues for elderly persons in hospitals for registration and clinical examination.

V. Income Tax (Ministry of Finance):

1. For senior citizens the exemption limit is Rs. 2, 25,000 upto which senior citizen pays no income-tax at all. The benefit of higher exemption limit for a senior citizen is available only when a person has completed 65 years of age.

2. The senior citizen should also take full advantage of section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961 whereby deduction upto Rs. 1.00 lakh is available for investment by way of insurance premium, repayment of the housing loan or investment in Senior Citizens Savings Scheme as also the Bank Fixed Deposit.

3. Similarly, the citizen can also take advantage of the Mediclaim Policy. In case senior citizen or any member of his family suffers from serious medical problem or suffers from some disability he can claim certain other deductions under the tax law.

VI. MINISTRY OF SOCIAL & EMPLOYMENT

1. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is the nodal Ministry responsible for welfare of the Senior Citizens. It has announced the National Policy on Older Persons which seeks to assure older persons that their concerns are national concerns and they will not live unprotected, ignored and marginalized. The National Policy aims to


strengthen their legitimate place in the society and to help older people to live the last phase of their life with purpose, dignity and peace. The National Policy on Older Persons inter alia visualizes support for financial security, health care and nutrition, shelter, emphasis upon education, training and information needs, provision of appropriate concessions, rebates and discounts etc. to Senior Citizens and special

attention to protect and strengthen their legal rights such as to safeguard their life and property. The National Policy on Older Persons confers the status of senior citizen to a person who has attained the age of 60 years.

2. The Ministry is also implementing following schemes for the benefit of Senior Citizens:

a) An Integrated Programme for Older Persons (Plan Scheme) – This Scheme has been formulated by revising the earlier scheme of “Assistance to Voluntary Organisations for Programmes relating to the Welfare of the Aged”. Under this Scheme, financial assistance upto 90% of the project cost is provided to NGOs for establishing and maintaining Old Age

Homes Day Care Centres, Mobile Medicare Units and to provide non-institutional services to older persons

b) The Scheme of Assistance to Panchayati Raj Institutions/ Voluntary Organizations/Self Help Groups for Construction of Old Age Homes/Multi-Service Centres for older persons (Non Plan Scheme) - Under this Scheme, one time construction grant for Old Age Homes/Multi-Service Centre is provided to non-governmental organizations on the recommendation of the State Governments/ UT Administrations.

VII. Ministry of Rural Development:

1. Under the National Old Age Pension Scheme, Central Assistance of Rs. 75/- p.m. is granted to destitute older persons above 65 years. This Scheme has been transferred to the State Plan w.e.f. 2002-03.

2. Under the Annapurna Scheme, free food grains (wheat or rice) upto 10 kg. per month are provided to destitute older persons 65 years or above who are otherwise eligible for old age pension but are not receiving it.

VIII. NATIONAL OLD AGE PENSION SCHEME (NOAP)

Central assistance to provide old age pension to an elderly is available to those applicants who are destitutes in the sense that he/she has no regular means of subsistence for his/her own source of income or through financial support from family members or other sources. The amount of old-age pension is different in different states. The scheme is implemented in the state and union territories through panchayats and municipalities.

IX. House Tax:

MCD offers a discount of 30% on house tax for senior citizens for 200 sq.ft or more.

X. Miscellaneous:

i) Courts in the country accord priority to cases involving older persons and ensures their expeditious disposal.

ii) Under the Old Age Pension Scheme, monthly pension is given at variable rates to the destitute old by various State Governments/UT Administrations.


The title, Senior Citizen confers a unique status on a person. It indicates that s/he has covered many milestones and has finally arrived at the evening of life.

He is eligible for instant respect from the society. The Income tax allows some tax exemptions to a senior citizen. Banks offer an additional 0.5% interest to Senior citizens for their fixed deposits. The railways offer a hefty concession in train tickets. Until a few years ago, Airlines too extended concessional fares. In public transport buses a couple of seats are reserved for him. Now and then charitable NGOs run special health check up programmes either free or at concessional rates. Altogether the society bows to a senior citizen for the services rendered by him in his active years. When you are on a visit abroad, you discover that there are even more privileges available to senior citizens in many other countries.

Thus old age is meant to be a period of privileges and facilitated life. Yet it also poses problems of financial insecurity and health deficiency. Both the problems can be eliminated or minimised by careful planning during the earlier active life.

If you are a salaried person and you approach your retirement, it is more likely than not that you will start worrying about your survival and try to calculate your financial viability when the monthly pay check stops. Retirement is a trauma for many. It is a double whammy. The power and authority vanishes and the monthly earnings stop or shrink abruptly. What adds to this is the factor of inflation, which is currently touching double digits again. At least if you are a retiring government servant you are insulated 100% against inflation through the mechanism of Dearness Allowance. All other salaried persons have no such protection.

How can you ward off or minimise your financial distress as a senior citizen of 60 years or more? The first principle is that even when you are very young, you should cultivate the habit of regularly saving and putting away some money for your old age.

Provident Funds

If you are a suave investor, the two avenues open to you are approved Employees Provident fund (EPF) and/or the Public

Provident Fund (PPF). Both routes give you safe assured returns of over 8% per annum. Contributions to these funds have income tax benefits, subject to ceilings announced in every year’s Union budget. Both routes give you an astronomical accumulation on your retirement if you contribute uninterruptedly.

Assume that a person is 25, is drawing a salary and DA of 16000/- pm and has started contributing 12% to EPF. This contribution together with the employer’s matching contribution and the probability that his salary plus DA will rise by 6% per annum can give him a corpus of Rs 1.6 crores when he is 60. If one decides to switch jobs midcareer, the EPF account can be transferred to the new employer and contributions can continue uninterrupted to make you a crorepati and more.

With effect from November 2011, the rate of interest on PPF accumulations has been increased to 8.6% per annum. The good thing about Provident funds is that the interest accumulates year after year and it is also free of income tax. The tax exemption for the deposit and the interest yields a

Accrue Financial Benefitswith Prudent Planning

Finance Matters

Prof N.Natarajan


dramatically high return. In an emergency you can withdraw or borrow from the accumulations subject to some limited constraints. If you are able to contribute Rs 50,000 per year to PF/PPF, you may well find at the end of 25 years that your contribution of Rs 50, 000 per year totalling to Rs 12.5 lakhs would have grown to Rs 40 lakhs. That is the power of compound interest. If tax savings are taken into account, the effective savings is really huge!

There is something even more interesting about PPF. You can open a PPF account in a Public Sector bank or Post Office in the name of your spouse and children too. Such contributions in the case of children do not entitle you to a tax rebate, but the yearly interest on such accumulations is free of income tax. Thus you can start your children’s accounts very young, in fact as soon as they are born. Imagine the accumulations in their accounts when they too retire, especially if they continue to contribute to it when they begin to earn! Their tax planning too can commence immediately upon their birth. Thus PF/PPF is a must for you if you wish to have a financially secure retired life. It should also be the saving which you dip into as a last resort when in a financial distress. The very name ‘Provident’ means providing carefully for the future.

Savings Accounts

If you are left with surpluses after PPF, you need to look at other forms of savings and investments. At all times you must put away a buffer in the form of liquid cash for your regular expenses in a savings account. Till recently a savings accounts in banks fetched only a very small interest of 4% per annum. People had to maintain a decent balance compulsorily in savings accounts. However

in the last 3 or 4 years Banks have started offering a flexi account, in which you can keep most of your balance in a fixed deposit in multiples of Rs 1000/-yielding a decent interest. The required amount will be transferred to your savings account as and when required by partially breaking the fixed deposit without any penalty. The balance amount will continue as fixed deposit with the same rate of interest as before.

Recently RBI has removed the restrictions on payment of interest on savings account. Many banks are now offering 5 % to 7% interest on Savings accounts. Hence when you receive a large amount on maturity of bonds etc., you can temporarily park it in a savings account till you decide how it should be reinvested.

Bank Deposits

The next safest avenue for investing your savings is a bank deposit. Banks offer a reasonably high rate of interest on fixed deposits. If there is no need for regular inflow of cash you should opt for cumulative deposits of 2 to 5 years’ tenure to take advantage of the compounding of interest, depending on the interest offered. If however you do need cash inflow regularly, you can opt for quarterly or yearly payment of interest.

Senior Citizen Savings Scheme

Banks are well regulated and audited in India by the RBI and external auditors. Moreover up to Rs 1 lakh deposit is insured. Once you have crossed 60 years and become a senior citizen, you have the option of investing upto Rs 15 lakhs in the 5 year Senior Citizen Savings Scheme introduced by the Government of India in 2002. This yields an annualised interest of 9.3% per annum. It has a lock in period of 3 years. But you can withdraw the amount after a year by paying a small penalty.

Public sector and Private sector Bonds and FD’s

Next to bank deposits, come the secured bonds issued by Public Sector and Private sector companies. For reasonable safety, you should invest only in bonds floated by reputed companies who have been rated very safe by rating agencies like CRISAL. Those in the high tax brackets will find Tax free public sector bonds very attractive. By investing very large investments in such tax free instruments, they can stay out of the 30% tax bracket.

The fixed deposits accepted by reputed companies with rating of at least FAA+ can also be considered. These too come with cumulative and regular interest options.

They carry a higher rate of interest than bank deposits to account for the fact that they are more risky. The simple principle is that reward is proportional to the risk you are willing to take.

Mutual Funds

People who have a greater appetite for risks can invest in the Mutual Funds. Even within this avenue of investment, there are many options. The safest option will obviously give you a lowest return. FMP or Fixed Maturity Plans are somewhat like fixed deposits. The mutual fund collects money from investors and invests the corpus in a debt instrument with fixed interest and maturity. You can opt for monthly or quarterly payment of dividend (Monthly/Quarterly Dividend Plan) or receive the entire amount on a fixed maturity date (Growth Plan). FMPs are more attractive to persons who are in the higher income tax bracket.

Mutual funds are safer than the stock market. There are scores of mutual funds. Basically there are three types of funds. These are

Debt funds that invests most of their collections in bonds and debentures and give you regular returns

Balanced funds which distribute their corpus evenly between debt and equities and give you regular returns and some capital appreciation

Equity funds which place their investments mainly in the equities for capital appreciation.

Retail investors are generally advised to invest in mutual funds after taking suitable advice from financial advisors and opt for SIP or Systematic Investment Plans, wherein you do not invest in several regular instalments for a year or more and not in one bulk. Advisors will recommend when to enter and when to exit a certain fund. Many investors are tempted or induced to invest in new fund offers at par. This is not a wise option. Generally it is better to invest in a fund that has a record of good performances. A word of caution about financial advisors must be given. At least some of them are pressurised to canvas a certain fund and you should be wary of such advice.

Stock Markets

If you have a risk appetite, are confident that you understand the stock market and have studied it well you can straightaway invest in stocks directly and hopefully reap rich rewards by staying invested for a long term of 3 to 5 years. The timing of entry and exit are crucial. You need to have a short


portfolio of up to 10 or 15 stocks, study the performance reports of those companies and monitor the stock movements at regular intervals. These precautions will help you to maximise profits during good times and cut losses during unfavourable times. You can also employ a competent, dependable finance manger to manage your portfolio.

Roof over the Head

When a person retires, he needs a dependable roof over his head. Due to the imperfect pricing of land, property prices are rising steeply. It is virtually impossible for a retired person to acquire a residential property. Moreover banks do not give housing loans to senior citizens. Hence it is necessary to plan your investment and acquire a suitable residential property at a much younger age, by obtaining a bank loan and paying back the loan instalments before retirement. If that property is not suitable for final retirement, it will still be possible to rent it out and use the rent to hire another property for your settlement. In the alternative you can sell the property and buy another suitable property with the sale proceeds. Hence investment in a property is a must. Today the concept of senior citizens home is also gaining momentum. Nearer to retirement, you should also look at the possibility of purchasing a senior citizens home.

Gold

Golden ornaments are always a favourite with Indian women. On festive occasions and marriages, they like to wear diamonds, gems and gold. Golden ornaments are also preferred by the bridegroom’s party as part of the bride’s trousseau. Probably historically there was an important purpose behind such a practice of owning gold. In the good old days, when there was no insurance and no banks, people simply exchanged their savings for gold coins and stored it away in a safe place. Gold came in handy in times of extraordinary need. People could pawn their gold to get cash and retrieve it when the trouble was over. Similarly, when travelling if one suddenly ran out of money, he could sell his gold to tide over the problem.

In the current scenario however, physical possession of gold poses its own problems. It can be stolen. Chain snatchers have become rampant resulting even in murders. Moreover conversion of gold into ornaments involves making charges and wastage charges billed by jewellers. When you sell back your ornaments, you

suffer a loss. However, as an investment proposition, gold is still considered an important component of your portfolio. Gold price has risen tremendously in the last 18 months.

The right mode of investment in gold is the Gold Equity Traded fund (Gold ETF) floated by UTI and some other organizations. Gold ETF is traded in the market like shares. The units are held in DEMAT form. At any given point in time during the trading hours, you can buy or sell units of Gold ETF. Your ETF holding notionally represents the amount of gold owned by you. Unlike physical gold, no wealth tax is payable on your holdings of ETF units. Nobody can steal them. The units are totally liquid and except for a small brokerage you lose nothing when you buy or sell the units. Hence you should consider Gold ETFs as at least a small percentage of your total investment portfolio.

Life Insurance

Until a few years ago, LIC was a government owned monopoly in the life insurance

business. It was a ‘must’ for everybody to have a life insurance policy. Policies were offered by LIC with a thick sugar coat of tax exemptions. It was mainly used by the public as a savings instrument in the absence of other avenues. Everybody took one or more policies thanks to effective canvassing by agents. Most of the policies yielded poor returns. Yet insurance was in the portfolio of every salaried person and businessman. Of course the policies gave you protection in case of death and disability caused by accidents. Moreover some savings products were introduced by LIC in the disguise of insurance to entitle the buyer to avail tax benefits. Bima Nivesh was one such attractive product, giving a tax free return of 9% per annum.

Today the insurance scene has changed dramatically with a large number of companies in the fray, ending LIC’s monopoly. Unfortunately however, a plethora of insurance schemes are on offer, without sufficient clarity about the real benefits.

You need to note one thing carefully. It is absolutely necessary to cover your life adequately keeping in view the debts you have contracted and your liabilities to your family, such as your children’s education, repayment of housing loan etc. This will be best done by taking a suitable term policy. Here you pay a small fixed premium every year for a period of say 20 to 30 years in the full knowledge that it will not be repaid to you. But if you die within the period contracted, a handsome lump sum will be paid to your successors.

The primary purpose of life insurance is to cover your risk against death. However rarely will an insurance broker or agent or advisor will be keen to sell pure term policy. This is because his continuing commission will depend on the premium paid by you year after year. From your point of view you should take a term policy when you are very young. The younger your age at entry, the lower will be the annual premium. Moreover you are likely to be very fit and healthy at that age and more insurable.

Once you have taken a term policy for an adequate amount, you need not revisit it unless at some stage in your life you find that given the inflation and your additional liabilities, you need to enhance the policy or take another supplementary policy. Once this is done, you should evaluate any other insurance offer purely from the point of view of investment and compare it with the pros and cons of other avenues of investment. Usually the agent will try to explain away a low return by pointing out that his product covers risk

as well. There is no need to fall for such explanations. With a straight face you can tell him that your life is already covered adequately, and that you are only concerned with the return on your investment.

Health Insurance

Finally you need to think about your health insurance that should be taken at a young age when the premium will be low. Unfortunately the health insurance industry is still in the stage of evolution and there is not much on offer for those who are already senior citizens. The situation is gradually changing. In another 3 to 5 years it is hoped that senior citizens can select some interesting policies. For the time being, it will be prudent for senior citizens to set aside a decent amount for their old age ailments from their savings, before they distribute their accumulations to their family members or give them away in charity.


Are you all seasoned senior citizens? Or are you the honoured but cornered ones? Most of the time the reason for being left out of enjoyable

things like a family tour, a friendly walk the talk, a ball game with kids or grandkids, a swim in the waters or a climb to an awesome place, is not because you are not wanted anymore but because you cannot anymore. Physical fitness is not always found in the genes, it is an acquired and cultivated necessity. Yes, age does catch up and there is no escaping from it but you need not look grizzly or moth eaten with your feet already turned towards the grave- ready to tumble into a pit already dug in your mind.

All that I am going to say is just old wine in a new cask. Any article on fitness will be the same run over story, yet we love to read about them, why? Because when we begin to read we feel so filled with knowledge and the more we read the more enriched we feel. We talk about it or rather brag so much about the latest fitness trend, myths busted etc; that we actually DO NOTHING. All the accumulated knowledge gets constipated in our brains and we can only burp them out as words. It is like a cream doughnut that has nicely coated the gut and got so sticky that anything and everything clings on to it. No nutritional absorption or toxic elimination occurs.

I think I have grumbled enough so let us get to some serious work- work outs. Some familiar complaints answered -

I cannot sleep enough or as sound as I used to?

Hit the bed early and get up by dawn. Sleep will find its way in automatically. Make it a point to get up early whether you slept enough or not; see how sleepy you get by 10pm. It might not happen the very first day but in a few days it will. May be you were not active or tired enough to feel sleepy! Do a run through of your activities of the day and make an improvement the next day.

I cannot go out for a walk……can’t get my bowels to move .What if I feel like it midway while walking?

This is a very common problem as age advances. Muscles of the intestine too get slackened so there is a need make them work too by feeding them with a lot of fibre. Too much fibre again produces gas and bloating so moderate it. Surya Namaskar learnt under able supervision really helps. There are a lot of simple variations that can be followed according to your own fitness level like the sitting suryanamaskar on the mat or the one done on a chair. The abdomen needs to be literally kneaded like dough. Throughout the day, try to avoid sitting or lying down too long. Simple tasks like fetching a glass of water or bending over to pick up something; turning or twisting with care keeps the circulation going and maintains suppleness.

Tips on twisting and turning safely: Tummy sucked in and spine lengthened upwards. Twist from just above your hips keeping the hips stable. The neck moves with the torso and lastly turns over the shoulder. Now reach out with your hand to fetch or simply look behind depending on what the intention might be. The reason for so much explanation for this is to avoid an unexpected catch which is so common. If you cannot twist the right way just turn around as a whole.

I have not enough energy anymore to go shopping or take the kids out.

We Indians do very little walking compared to westerners thanks to our roads that are not only narrow and traffic jammed but filled with unattended garbage, potholes and unfinished repair work. Mall walk is a pleasurable one especially if you can take your kids \ grandkids along and leave them in the play area. What about parks? Where there is a will there is a walk way. We are spoilt by servants trailing behind us carrying shopping bags. Never miss out on a chance to strengthen your arms and shoulders by

Health & Fitness Clinic

The Run Is Not Over Yet!Buck up


carrying them yourself. Muscles grow at any age.

I avoid going to places where there is no lift. My knee aches or buckles while climbing.

Please make stair climbing part of your walking routine. If it feels too tiresome to do it all together do it in parts. With due respect to doctors, who simply ask to avoid certain activities that lead to pain, let me explain the same. Only when there is an inflammation or an injury or a surgery to recover from do we need to avoid moving that particular joint. It is the thigh that needs to be strong to climb stairs, so develop the strength in them. How? Ironically it is again by climbing stairs. We strengthen the hamstrings when we press the feet on the step to climb and the quads when we lift the knee up to place it on the next step.

Place your full foot on the step before you attempt to lift the other foot to climb. Tighten the thigh muscles of the leg on the step and consciously press the foot in its entirety and then lift the knee up. Common mistake is to press the forefoot on the edge of the step and climb which puts undue pressure on the knee joint.

The banister can be held just for security and not to haul you up. This means you are not using your inner abdominal muscles-your core-your transverse abdominus, which stabilizes your spine. Now you know why even our back hurts when we climb stairs. You do not use it and so end up losing its strength.

I have a tendency to trip or fall most of the time. Bathroom falls, stair case falls. Happens with advancing years?

No... No …no! It is not the age but lack of awareness. It is, not knowing your equilibrium and centre of gravity. Practicing balance forms a memory path in the body which helps with quick reflexes that can manage to avoid falls. Again, it takes a lot of core strength too, to support the body in different positions that it is challenged into.

Play balance games with the lil’ ones at home. Both of you need it to tone the inner muscles. Walking with a book on the head, lemon and spoon race, standing on one leg like a stock, number the tiles in the house and try calling out the adjacent number but in different direction to step on, balancing a bowl of water on your tummy while lying on your back ---just have some fun with fitness.

I cannot sit down or get up from the floor.

Who is to blame? It is because you yourself stopped sitting down. Place all your Gods on a low stool on the floor and sit cross legged for pooja. Place the cutting board on a low stool and sit with one leg stretched out and the other folded to cut vegetables. Maintain a clean bathroom. Sit down and have a leisurely bath rubbing every part with care. The reach and scrub will take

care of your flexibility. Just take care not to slip while getting up by holding on to railings or using a non slip mat.

I can write pages and pages on this but then they will stay right there. I want you all to pull the rabbit of knowledge out of the bag of books and do the magic. Elders do not

have to be led by the hand always, but stay beside them to make them feel secure. Make them feel confident and independent. Now, who exactly are the ones who come under geriatric fitness? The fifties? Sixties? Or is it seventy and above? Watch out! It could even be the twenties or thirties. If you cannot climb 3 flights of stairs without panting or tugging at the banister; if you hesitate to walk to the parallel street to shop; if you need to sleep or lie down whenever possible; if you are constipated; in other words if you are LAZY you come under geriatric fitness. We have 90 year olds doing a marathon and five year olds driving a car so let us not find age to be a concern to get fit.

Buck up people …..The run is not over yet. If you see Yama riding towards you on his buffalo befriend him and play skipping or tug of war with his rope. Giddyup and lasso yourself into fitness.

CHEERS TO ADVANCING YEARS!

Vijaya Chamundeeswari Fitness Consultant - Certified by The American Council on Exercise (ACE),Reebok, Integral Yoga Institute (IYI),Pilates Institute of America (PIA).


Srimathi Sundaravalli Memorial Residency “ Subashaya” – A home for senior citizensAddress: New Perungalathur Post Alapakkam, Moppedu Road, Srinivasa Nagar, Chennai – 600063.

‘Subhashraya’ was started on 30th April 2006, with 16 Residents and 18 staff members. Today there are 271 Residents and 250 employees. Shortly the Residency will have an optimum occupancy of 360 Residents. The Residency in an area of 15 acres of land has all the facilities. Their Residency has been recognized worldwide as a peaceful place for honorable living of senior citizens. Most of Residents are in the age group of 60 to 100, majority of them are hale and healthy and a few are in the twilight zone of their life. Comfort, honor and peaceful living of seniors are their aim and goal. Late Smt. Sundaravalli, was the founder and managing Trustee.

Mahathmaas RishiaalayamAddress: A-69, 6th Street, Periyar Nagar, Chennai -600082

Mahathmaas Rishiaalayam is an exclusive home for senior citizens, offering nursing and special care for bedridden, terminally ill, stroke patients, dementia & Alzheimer patients. Mahatma Group of Homes, which includes Rishi Aalayam in Periyar Nagar, Mahatma Home in Chinmaya

Nagar, Suryalaytam in Virugambakkam are specialized homes with all amenities and facilities to take care of the aged who are also sick. They are spacious home with all basic facilities such as TV, Geyser, purified water etc. They offer authentic south Indian vegetarian food , routine doctor check-ups and maintenance of personal medical record for every resident, close circuit television in every room to ensure safety and security, air-conditioned rooms and tiled attached bathroom with every room. Residents also are provided with newspapers and magazines. Uniformed staffs and nurses provide care and support for elderly residents round the clock. Kitchens are well equipped kitchen and the surroundings are clean, free from insects and flies for a hygienic environment. They received the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi award for excellence in service in all of the above categories with a special mention for expertise and care of the bedridden and terminally ill.

Aged Care Homes in Chennai


Goldage Ashram Address: 1/5, Murthy Nagar, 2nd Street, Satyalok Road, Porur, Chennai -600077

Goldage ashram is one of the nation’s leading, nationally respected network / chain of Goldage homes providing elder care. They provide inmates with a strong sense of community and family like atmosphere. Their services are delivered through an interdisciplinary approach by a team of licensed and certified medical care providers. Goldage is the right place for elders who seek medical, psychological or moral support. They serve at almost 8 branches across India. Personal interaction with each and every patient in the hospital helps them to understand the inner feelings of seniors and thereby help in motivating and inspiring them to actually live their life. The focus is on improving the ability and skills of each patient in a warm, caring environment. Through a wide range of therapies, physical, social, recreational and nutritional, they provide the support and tools to help the residents realize their potential for health and happiness.

Charus Home for AgedAddress: 10, Abdul Azeez Street, T.Nagar, Chennai -600017

Jesus the Way Trust, a charity and educational trust was registered on 14 January, 2008,

with the objective of providing relief and solace to the poor and needy by imparting education and social welfare in India. The trust has more concern about the elders and mentally ill. With the motive to help the elders have a peaceful place to stay the trust has opened an old age home, “Charu’s home for elders” in T. Nagar. They provide all basic amenities to the inmates. The Trust proposes to play a role in rural upliftment, old age care, Education and Relief operations by involving the local community.

Idhaya Vaasal Elders’ Home Address: 1-C, Velachery Main Road, Nagendra Nagar, Velachery Check-post, Chennai 600042

Presently they have 18 residents and average age of elders is 75+. Aarathy Trust offers relaxation programmes for the mentally retarded and patients in various hospitals and charity homes every week in selected NGOs. During natural disasters Aarathy helped organize food for the affected people. They also organize creative programmes for children, special/challenged persons and senior citizens during weekends. The home, run by the trust offers a homely ambience where all elders are treated as equals. The focus is on providing peace of mind and comfort during their stay here. Medical attention, if required will be take care of

by the relatives of the residents. Relatives may visit residents any time, bring food and take them to their homes during special occasions.

Jeevan Care CentreAddress: 1/81, Anna Main Road, Kolappakkam, Mangadu, Chennai -602101

Jeevan foundation is a non-profit community based organization registered under the Tamil Nadu trust registration act. It is run by R. Prasad who is a social worker. Prasad, the Founder Trustee fell prey to alcoholism at a very young age. The sufferings and pain he went through triggered him to enter into the field of social service after when he came out of substance abuse.

Aikya Care - Senior Citizen Day Care & Recreation CenterAddress: 14/55, Ground Floor, Pillayar Koil Street, Rajaji Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai -600041

Chennai Aikya Care provides a homely atmosphere for senior citizens, to spend some time in the company of others apart from doing things that they enjoy. This also is a forum to meet other people and exchange thoughts and experiences.


Salt ‘n’ Pepper Korner Make your kitchen experience exciting using Mallika Badrinath’s wise counsel. Mallika has recipes for everyone; even bachelors and children can turn out a delectable meal using her guidance. So go ahead with your kitchen queries and prepare healthy, tasty meals with the help of the Cuisine Queen of South India.

What is the right method to make good cutlets at home? My family complains that they do not taste like the ones you get in hotels. I too feel that sometimes I get the smell of gram powder. What is the mistake I am making?

Kokila Kannan, Chennai

There is no need to add gram flour in cutlets. Steam cook all the grated vegetables like carrot, beetroot and potatoes. Heat oil, fry onions and then add mashed potatoes with steam-cooked vegetables, squeezing them out properly to remove excess moisture. Add salt, chilli powder and garam masala. Fry well and allow to cool thoroughly. Mix maida with little water to make a paste. Keep dry, fine breadcrumbs separately in a plate. Prepare balls from the vegetable mixture, roll on breadcrumbs, shape like cutlets and shallow fry using oil.

While heating butter to make ghee, how can we avoid the bad smell that sometimes accompanies the process?

Rajeshwari K., Coimbatore

We should add a pinch of salt when we heat the butter to lessen the bad smell that comes when we make ghee. By adding salt, the consistency of ghee

will be good and it becomes grainy like sand. It also enhances the taste. We cannot avoid a little bad smell that will come when we heat the butter. We can add a betel leaf or some drum stick leaves when the ghee is made and you are removing the pan from the fire. This enhances the fragrance of the ghee.

How can we get home made badushas that are crisp and come in layers like you get in the sweet stalls?

S. Sashikala, Chennai

While making badusha, the most important factor to consider is the proportion of the flour and the fat. You have to mix exactly half the quantity of fat with one portion of the maida taken. Melt the dalda and mix it well with the maida. Add two pinches of cooking soda and knead well. Kneading is very important, the more you knead the better the badusha. This is what will give you the layers. Keep the sugar syrup ready. The syrup should be hot. Make balls out of the maida, flatten them on your palms and fry them till golden brown. Remove from oil and add to the sugar syrup. After immersing for 2-3 minutes in the syrup, you can remove the badushas and serve.

Mallika BadrinathThe name “Mallika Badrinath” is familiar to most homemakers in South India. Till 1988 , she too was a homemaker ; now she is an internationally acknowledged culinary expert, with an eager audience latching on to every word she has to say about food and cooking in her television shows. Her books are sold like hot cakes across the world. She is a symbol of women achievers of India. Hers is a success story that has been an inspiration to many women.


Ingredients

2 tablespoons boiling water

1 tablespoon instant espresso coffee powder

¾ cup whipping cream

1 tablespoon light-color corn syrup

8 ounces special dark baking chocolate or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped (about 1-1/3 cups)

1 16 ounce loaf prepared or frozen pound cake*, thawed

¼ cup orange juice or 2 tablespoons orange juice with 2 tablespoons orange liqueur

1 cup whipping cream, whipped, or 2 cups frozen whipped dessert topping, thawed

½ cup pistachio nuts, chopped

Preparation

In a very small bowl, combine boiling water and espresso powder. Set aside.

For chocolate sauce: In a small heavy saucepan, combine the 3/4 cup whipping cream and the corn syrup. Bring to boiling; remove from heat. Stir in espresso mixture. Add chocolate all at once. Let mixture stand, covered, for 4 minutes. Whisk until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.

Cover to keep warm.

Cut pound cake into eight 3/4-inch-thick slices.* Poke each slice several times with the tines of a fork. Drizzle orange juice evenly over cake slices.

For a charcoal grill, place cake slices on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium-hot coals. Grill for 2 to 4 minutes or until toasted and heated through, turning once halfway through grilling. (For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium-high. Place cake slices on grill rack over heat. Grill, uncovered, as above.)

Serve grilled cake slices with whipped cream, pistachio nuts, and chocolate sauce. Makes 8 servings

Smile Easy Recipes

Turn out delectable desserts to pamper your tongue after a hot and hard day at work or delight the kids at home with these tongue ticklers.

Grilled Pound Cake with Espresso Chocolate Sauce

Grilled Pound Cake with Espresso Chocolate Sauce

Kajal Jaiswal


Mango KulfiIngredients

2 Slices of bread (white only),

1 Tin Condensed milk (chilled),

1 Tin (Evaporated milk – chilled), 1 cup Khoya,

1 cup cream,

2 cups of Mango Puree (Cut fresh mango into cubes and pulse in blender),

5-6 cardamoms powdered,

2 teaspoons of rosewater,

1 drop of yellow colour,

few pistachios for garnish

Preparation:

You can get ready-made khoya – or if you want to make at home – try this method. {Take a cup of milk powder – add 1-1/2 tablespoon of ghee and ¾ tablespoon of water and make a paste.

Cover and microwave for 30 seconds about 4 times. Stir after each 30 seconds. The end result is a dry residue with no moisture…your Khoya is now ready}.

Put all together (except the Pista) in a blender and pulse till well mixed. Fill in Kulfi Moulds and refrigerate till set.


Health & Fitness Clinic

Healthy skin is an essential part of health and natural beauty. Good skin is a reflection of inner health. Without good health, no amount of beauty treatments will help one’s skin as much as it will when one

is healthy internally. A good lifestyle, well-balanced diet and exercise go a long way in giving one good health and glowing skin. Fresh blood supplies nutrients and oxygen to the tissue and flushes out the toxins thereby leaving the skin glowing. Dr. Pai continues, “Therefore, exercise should be an important part of your daily regime. Be more regular in your regime set aside for your specific skin type. Use a sunscreen every 3 hours; the thicker the coat, the better. Make small changes in your lifestyle that will help fight ageing. The cosmetic industry is coming up with various treatments every day making it possible for all to not just reverse the signs of aging, but also maintain it that way.”

The common cosmetic problems for which people approach her are acne, acne scars, open pores and excessive facial hair. According to her, these are the most common problems in the younger age group i.e. 12-25 years of age. She says, “People in the 30+ age group more commonly face the problem of melasma or dark pigmented patches on the skin. Usually these patches appear post pregnancy and are often hereditary. Hormonal changes, excessive sun exposure can aggravate the pigmentation. Treatment involves application of skin-lightening creams containing Vitamin C, kojic acid, arbutin at night and using sunscreen every 2-3

hours during the day. Multiple sessions of glycolic peels or lasers like Intense Pulse Light can lighten up the patches to some extent.”

Vitiligo or Leucoderma (white patches on the skin) is an auto immune disorder, which is generally hereditary in nature. Application of creams

like tacrolimus ointment, placentrex lotion and phototherapy helps bring the colour back into the white patches. The white patches could also be

camouflaged by using waterproof make-up or by undergoing permanent cosmetic make-up in which coloured pigments are tattooed into the white patch.

Permanent make-up is a cosmetic technique where using the principle of tattooing, coloured pigments are used to impregnate colour resembling topical application of colour cosmetics. To give a subtle appearance, the pigment is tattooed very superficially. Hence as time passes by, the pigment gets lighter and there is a need for touch up. Immediately after the procedure the skin can

become red and swollen. Complications are rare but can include infection or allergic reactions from the tattoo dye. Antibiotic creams are

prescribed to reduce the risk of infection.

Gayatri T Rao


Amidst the myriad scams and deplorable incidents assailing our nation, the tennis skirmish seems to be another major irritant that may place India in bad light globally. Till the last minute, it kept AITA in tenterhooks. Considering that the Indian tennis stars Mahesh Bhupati and Leander Paes have tirelessly worked on their pairing for several years despite difference, choosing to break a winning partnership doesn’t seem to be in good taste. A sport is an arena where sportspersons put aside their personal interests and combine forces to represent the nation. What are the views of sports lovers?

Abu Bakker, Chennai

TENNIS THE

MENACE

These kinds of skirmishes and differences are very common in all forms of sports all over the world but this in particular has been handled badly and people are washing their dirty linen in public. It is a great dishonour to the sport that individuals have given priority to their own needs rather than trying to garner medals for their country. Politics are rampant and it is now being brought to light by the media. The teams should be decided based on the personal choice. If Mahesh Bhupati doesn’t want to play with Leander Paes it is his personal choice and he loses since this is a big chance.

Vaibhav Kapoor, Ahmedabad

Citizens’ Voice

Jinal Patel


It is a black mark to Indian sports where people are found playing for themselves and not for the country. Today it is difficult to see sportsmen who love their game and have true sportsmanship. In this it is more evident that money and personal differences hold an upper hand over the actual game. Forcing the best players to team up is still going to result in failure at the London Olympics. Instead, why participate? It is better to fund other players who can represent India and not place their emotions, ego and greed before the country.

These kinds of skirmishes and differences are very common in all forms of sports all over the world but this in particular has been handled badly and people are washing their dirty linen in public. It is a great dishonour to the sport that individuals have given priority to their own needs rather than trying to garner medals for their country. Politics are rampant and it is now being brought to light by the media. The teams should be decided based on the personal choice. If Mahesh Bhupati doesn’t want to play with Leander Paes it is his personal choice and he loses since this is a big chance.

Vaibhav Kapoor, Ahmedabad

It is so shameful. How can anyone put himself before the country? This is so disheartening to see. Each and everything can be bought by money and political power now. It seems that they can try and buy a pair or pair them up as a team by giving them gifts. But they sure won’t be able to buy a medal or respect in the hearts of the people again. India has so much talent and it is not correct to compel two people who are not interested to play with each. It is a waste of money and effort when you know they are going to come back empty handed. They should allow two teams to go from India if they have the authority. We have Rohan Bopanna who is also an excellent player and if Mahesh Bhupati wants to pair with Rohan Bopanna then Leander Paes should also suggest who he wants to play with. This can at least give us some hopes about the game.

Pawan Pawar , Mumbai

Whatever has happened is absurd. Sportsmen should have the sportsmen’s spirit which they seem to be lacking these days. It is sad that such issues are brought to the notice of the public. Players should keep in mind that they are playing for the country and whatever they do affects the image of the country. We do have well trained players who have the potential to win a place in the Olympics. But the real team will have to be disciplined and place his country before this personal ego. Politics should be kept away from all this as it only ruins the spirit of sports . Payers should be comfortable and perform and not embarrass the country by displaying differences in the field if sent for international sports.

Satvashil Shinde , Pune

Never heard of such differences between any sportsmen before. It is a shame. They have put their personal interest before country’s interest.

Both shouldn’t be allowed to participate as their action doesn’t show they would play with patriotism. If there will be no unity, there will be

no triumph.

Arpit Shah , Chennai


ur country has had presidents like Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr.Radhakrishnan who won global respect and India was respected due to the stature of the first statesman. Unfortunately today the scenario and the people are different altogether. The president can be elected in such a manner that he can go along with the interests of the ruling party.

We need to change this system. To earn global respect, we should have a good political system with a man of stature as our Head.SUBASH KRISHNASAMY(owning a website drumsoftruth.com)

The President one who should be one who is well experienced and adept to be the Head of our nation and who will represent India among all other countries. He/she must not act as if they are just the figure head. The president must do something unique so that it may help in the effective development of India. APJ Abdul Kalam is my favorite president as he targeted the youngsters. He stands testimony to the possibility that our president need not be from a political background. In India so far none of the presidents have played a significant role in governance; but in future it may change.

Geetha Maragathavel (Home maker)

The head of the nation should be just and impartial. He should not be seen as a simple figurehead, which he is not meant to be according to our constitution. Primarily, he has to approve the decisions made by the cabinet ministers. Hence the choice of a president is very important. My favorite amongst presidents is APJ sir

Thiyagarajan (S/W Engineer)

The key eligibility to become the president of India is he should know the effective usage of his power and must have sound knowledge about India. He/she should not be just like a keyed doll. The President must put the country first in every decision. Dr.Kalam is my favorite president so far. Because he has a good

conscience and is intelligent too. I feel the president should not belong to any political party. APJ Abdul Kalam played a significant role in governance and also motivating the youth of India.

Subramanian (Business man)

According to me, the president should be a person who is not biased towards any political party. I suppose if IT wizard Narayana Murthy is selected it would be a whole different thing for India. But in our country the main clout is vested wholly with the prime minister and the cabinet. The masses get an impression that Presidents are only meant to tour the world with their families. Yes, I do believe that so far Indian presidents have not had a significant role to play in the governance of our country. It’s all because of our political system.

Abinaya (Systems administrator)

Whatever might be their own quality, often the President seems to depend on the ruling party. Rajendra Prasad- freedom fighter is my favorite president among all. I feel the president post and the powers should be like the one in U.S.A.

Arun kumar (Engineering student)

The presidential candidate must have a clean background. He or she should not to be seen to be belonging to one group or the other but must be acceptable to all sections of the society. He must be a learned person, with a vision and the ability to guide the government properly. The President of India is not a figure head and he / she has an important role to play. When a situation arose when Sonia Gandhi was considered seriously for the role of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abdul Kalam used his decisive powers to intervene when a controversy erupted in this regard. I agree that we need to choose a person who can elicit respect and the admiration of foreign countries. But the respect and admiration must stem from respect to the country and not the other way round.

Jayaraj (Senior Manager, Canara Bank)

WHO CAN BE OUR PRESIDENT?

VOX POPULI

Subitcha Poorani.S

OPranab Mukherjee

P A Sangma

Dr.A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

Narayana Murthy


Story Club

he city of Kolkata is unique in that it straddles both the archaic and the modern with ease. On the one hand this city is a cauldron of bustling progress while at the same time;

bitter-sweet memories of the bygone era as well as the priceless bequests of ancestors are treasured with supreme reverence.

It is therefore no wonder that the sprawling mansion of Brigadier Majumdar, that had witnessed better days, still stood proudly amidst the innumerable sky-rise apartments that dotted the city’s skyline.

“Madhobi Mansion” rose majestically above the verdant expanse of a huge garden that had myriad varieties of flora and fauna. Morning usually dawned here on a pleasant note. The generous fragrance of the Mogra and Chameli flowers wafted in the gentle breeze while the chirping of the beautiful, petite winged creatures that visited the garden would fill the milieu with sweet music. The excited marathon of squirrels

GREEN was an every day occurrence. The squirrels had a good run over the century old mango tree that was the pride of Madhobi Mansion.

Is was this “Baba Tree” that ensnared the youngsters from the nearby apartments. There were strong rumors that Brigadier Majumdar was a typical, austere army man and he would spare no one who set eyes on his priceless green mangoes. Yet, Bunty, Mun Mun, Ria, Mrinmoy, Dinu and Piya were undeterred. So what else could they do in this hot and humid weather? Schools were closed. They were tired and sick of watching the latest movies in pirated CD. TV programmes were a big bore. The children of Lake Gardens were lucky because there was at least one villa with a huge garden in the vicinity. Modern apartments never had a garden where children could be one with nature and enjoy the rusty smell of the earth, or stomp around over the wet grass and chase butterflies. And the succulent green mangoes from Majumdar uncle’s garden were simply superb! On

Swati Amar


many occasions when the octogenarian was having an afternoon siesta Bunty and his gang had laid their hands successfully on these mangoes. Garnished with hot and spicy masala powers, the half-ripe, yellow-green mangoes that were cut into long slender pieces tasted heavenly!

Unfortunately for the gang today, the day portended disaster even as the in-fighting became aggressive while deciding who was to climb the sturdy old Baba Tree. Finally, all fingers pointed toward Bunty, who reluctantly climbed the huge compound wall that was made of mammoth sized hollow bricks. Bunty had managed to amass quite a few mangoes in the folds of his long T shirt when he heard a loud grunt and the sound of footsteps scampering away. His friends were leaving him! In a panic, Bunty dropped all the mangoes and tried to jump off the wall, when he lost his balance and fell right below the “Baba Tree”! He had

twisted his ankle. Even as tears stung his eyes, he raised his head to look into the glaring eyes of Brigadier Majumdar.

“Ho! So you came to steal mangoes, is it? I have been waiting for long to catch the culprit!” he bellowed.

Bunty shut his eyes tight, waiting for a whip from the old man’s walking stick. Instead, a pair of kind and shriveled hands helped him up.

“Ha! Ha! Ha!” the old man guffawed. “Do you know what punishment I will give you? You have to come everyday and listen to a story from me!”

Bunty rolled his eyes in surprise.

“Don’t worry, you can still steal mangoes. There is a jar of masala in my kitchen. Sprinkle the masala on the mangoes and eat them. But I will not spare you from my

story sessions. After all, who wants to listen to a dying old man? During our days, our houses resonated with the majestic voices of our grandfathers and grandmothers from whom we learnt a lot about our culture, art, beauty, Mother Nature and so many other values. Today, there are no sounds of the wavering footsteps of these sentinels who form the pillars of a family. They are left to fend for themselves in senior citizens’ homes. Well, well, who can escape the maya of the media and maddening pace of modern life?” Sighed the old man.

So it was a summer vacation well spent for Bunty and his friends. They learnt a lot about Indian mythology, wars, places and of course, stories of compassion and kindness. There would be no dearth of matter to pen down their composition on summer holidays!


With tears rolling down his cheeks, eyes crunched up the youngster runs out to hug his widowed

mother in gratitude and happiness. She in turn hugs him tightly congratulating him with a tearful voice and at the same time looking up heavenwards to silently offer thanks to her dead husband. The visual is powerful enough to bring tears to anyone who is watching.

No doubt it is a reality show, designed to draw large viewer audiences and advertising opportunities. And in all probability, the winners are fixed and prize monies are huge. Yet visual moments like these make it a show with a heart. Because such scenes bring many youths close to the fact that they indeed have to honour and respect parental aspirations, aim high and have a sensible following. Should they do that, they are rewarded with success beyond their wildest imagination and have the wonderful opportunity to make a huge difference in the lives of people around them.

At least that is what shows such as Indian idols seem to propagate. And judging by the number of youngsters who aspire to become what is called the Indian idol—a person who is not only talented but also shows enterprise, displays a willingness to

change mindsets and be determined to work hard to achieve dreams and goals.

To the teeming millions of the youngsters that the country is composed of today, fame and hard work goes hand in hand if the show is anything to go by. Indian idol may have started off as an entertainment show with figures and ratings but somewhere along the way the show is becoming synonymous with the Indian dream of becoming someone and something in life.

The enterprising spirit is awakened when this primarily singing show sieves out the best performer who is not only a good singer, but a dancer, a social activist and someone who India is proud of associating itself with. As the journey from the initial selection to its completion of being chosen as the top singers starts there are many elements that are thrown in to motivate the youth to become worthy citizens of this country. Patriotism, a spirit of sharing and caring, of starting and supporting noble ventures, trying to preserve some of the essential values of Indian living and many feel good elements are introduced so that the show not just propagates talent but a wholesome individual who will eventually become the ideal Indian.

While this show has probably not impacted the south as much, a glimpse into the

ReferenceThe Idol of

Echo

auditions show how remote corners of India throws up determined youngsters who travel long distances to the venue and try their skills out. Rajasthan, Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand... the state names are endless as boys and girls as young as 8 and 10 try their luck. And ferrying them to the audition venue are sombre looking fathers and mothers who support these children to the last mile. The sight is unfailing emotional, to say the least. It would not be out of place to say that anyone who watches such scenes remains dry eyed.

So does the channel exploit feelings through such programmes? Perhaps. But at the end of the day if in this multitude of impressionable youth, some good values and the culture of hard work and determination are instilled then one can afford to overlook this aspect-- and not ignore the woods for the trees or throw away the baby with the bath water! Good and bad coexist. Of that there is no doubt! What a growing intelligent audience could do is to sift the grain from the chaff and see how relevant values are instilled in the youth today so that we grow a nation of hard working, motivated individuals who ultimately seek to make a difference.

Let this medium at least do that!

Chitra Mahesh


Agada Diabetes CareNo.8, Dr. Nair Road, T. Nagar,Chennai -600017, India

Email: [email protected] , [email protected] Ph: 91-44-3013 3721

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