Unique Times-January2013

Managing Editor

Ajit Ravi

Editor

Jebitha Ajit

Associate Editor

Bejoy George

Legal Advisor

Adv. Sreelatha Parameswaran

Correspondents

Dr. Thomas NechupadamTressa VargheseDenisha SahadevanSheela AbrahamSreerekha R. Nair

Creative Design

Ashique KGilsha Bindosh

Marketing

Pramod

PhotographerJinish, Photogenic

Our Patron: Mr. V.P. Nandakumar

Printed and Published byAjit Ravi

PegasusL5-106Changampuzha NagarKalamasserry, Kochi-33

Printed at

S T ReddiarP.B. No: 3627Veekshanam Road, Cochin

Contact

Ph: 0484 3242220, 3292223, 3046432Mob: +91 98460 50283, 94470 [email protected]

Cover Photograph:

Ravi Menon

RNI Reg. No: KERENG/2011/42633

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Our PatronMr. V.P. Nandakumar

12 The Micro- Entrepreneurship route to financial inclusion

V.P. NandakumarMD & CEO, Manappuram Finance Ltd.

16A Lot of business over a cup of coffee

18

C o n t e n t

24

Manappuram Miss South IndiaCurtain Raiser

Interview withRavi Menon

08Unique Diary

32 Travel

38Auto Focus

30 40

C o n t e n t

Gadgets

44

Books

Interview withDr. Madhulika Guhathakurta

50

MovieReview

52Ask thesmile expert

62

C o n t e n t

56

What'sGoing On

60

LifeManagement

Interview with

Aishwarya Devan

The Calendars are being changed; new diaries are organizers are in front of us waiting to be

opened. New Year Resolutions are being decided on. Every New Year brings with it a lot of hope

and excitement. Hope that the New Year will also bring great success to you.

There is small anecdote which the character played by Christopher Walken says in the film Catch

me if you can. “Two little mice fell in a bucket of cream. The first mouse quickly gave up and

drowned. The second mouse, wouldn't quit. He struggled so hard that eventually he churned that

cream into butter and crawled out. Gentlemen, as of this moment, I am that second mouse.” A story

that tells us about the hard work we have to do before we attain success.

Miss South India, one of the best beauty pageants in India will be held at Lulu Convention Centre,

on the 9th of January 2013. Unique Times will cover this elegant show in a comprehensive manner.

Tune to our online edition for instant updates.

This edition we have an interview with Mr. Ravi Menon, Chairman of Sobha Group. In the interview

Ravi speaks in detail about his company. We also have an interview with Dr. Madhulika

Guhathakurta who is an astrophysicist at NASA as well as the Lead Program Scientist for NASA’s

initiative called “Living with a Star” (LWS).

Also we have our regular articles; V P Nandakumar writes about the micro-entrepreneurship route

to financial inclusion. Sree Rekha writes about Aurangabad in her travelogue. We also have an

interview with Aishwarya Devan, a leading actress in South Indian films

Cruise well through the New Year and enjoy your reading.

Ajit Ravi

Editorial

Unique Diary

08 January 2013UNIQUE TIMES

Polar Bears Extinctionhough for a millennium, white polar bears have roamed the frozen lands T of the Arctic, according to two Russian experts, Nikita Ovsyanikov and

Masha Vorontsova, the “monarch of the ice” could be extinct in 25 years time

due to human incursions into their traditional habitat. Their present

population is 20,000-25,000 globally. Both of the scientists feel that hunting

and the trade in body parts are the most serious threat facing in the polar

bear. The polar bear has been hunted by the indigenous Arctic people

including the Inuit and Eskimos in Alaska and Canada and Yupiks, Nenets,

Chukchis and Pomors in Russia. “A high percentage of cubs are lost. Females

can’t breed. Individuals become famished. Also, there is pollution, oil drilling

and increased susceptibility to diseases,” said Ovsyanikov. “What is needed is

more lobbying for the endangered animals,” he added.

Apple v/s Samsungpple Inc’s request for a permanent injunction against Samsung Electronics’ A smart phones has been denied. Apple and Samsungs struggle for industry

supremacy as they have been involved in the patents dispute. In August it was

found that Samsung had copied some of the critical features of the iPhone and iPad

upon which Apple had been awarded $1.05 billion in damages. For most of the year,

Apple had been successful in its U.S. litigation campaign against Samsung by

convincing U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California to impose sales bans

against Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy Nexus. In October, a federal appeals

court reversed the ban against the Nexus phone, ruling that Apple had not

presented enough evidence that its patented features drove consumer demand for

the entire iPhone.

V/S

Nokia�s Lumia Sell Outes, you might have seen Nokia’s Lumia Smartphones being sold out in many Y stores across Europe and America, however it’s just too soon to lay a bet that

Nokia is on the road to recovery just yet, as the retailers are saying that supplies

have been short ever since the lunch of the Lumia. The positive online reviews of

waiting lists for the 920, as well as Nokia’s sales deal with China Mobile, have helped

Nokia shares rise over 40 percent in the past month. The Lumia 920 and 820 which

was launched just last month was a “make or break” deal for Nokia, who used to be

an undisputed leader in the mobile phones industry. However analysts are saying

that there is no proof that Lumia phones are making significant inroads on market

leaders Samsung and Apple or that CEO Stephen Elop’s risk strategy of betting the

company’s future on Windows software was paying off.

Chocolates&

09January 2013 UNIQUE TIMES

Women id you know that warning women that eating chocolate can make them fat D may actually drive some to eat more? The joint study of the University of

Western Australia with the University of Strathclyde in Scotland found that low

restraint eaters meaning those that are not on a diet showed to have a strong

impulse to eat chocolate when presented with negative messaging, including

warnings that chocolate could lead to obesity, reported News.com.au. This is so

because those not on a diet are less preoccupied with regulating their food intake.

Researchers found that the dieters shown the ads featuring thin models prompted

an increased desire to eat chocolate coupled with greater feelings of wanting to

avoid consumption, or indulged in higher consumption and ultimately felt more

guilt. This reaction of a warning having a contrary effect is known as “reactance,”

according to lead author Professor Kevin Durkin.

Tattoos Used for Identificationccording to a provincial minister the terrorist groups A in Pakistan have been using tattoos like skulls and

horns in order to identify themselves. “One of the terrorists

killed recently also had a tattoo on his back,“ said

Information Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province

Mian Iftikhar. Due to the timely action of security forces, a

number of terror plots, including a plan to take over an air

base, were foiled, Geo TV quoted the minister.” The

terrorists are neither Muslims nor Pakistanis, and they do

not deserve to be called humans,” he said. He told

reporters in Peshawar that “U.S., Pakistan and Afghanistan

Queen Elizabeth II ueen Elizabeth II, scripted history when she attended a Q cabinet meeting in 10 Downing Street, becoming the first

British monarch since George III in 1781. George I ceased to chair

cabinet in 1717. According to BBC’s report the Queen’s father, King

George VI had attended war cabinet during the Second World War.

Prime Minister David Cameron greeted the 86 year old Queen at

the door of Number 10. Once inside, the Queen was introduced to

each of the government’s senior ministers who presented her with a

gift to mark her Diamond Jubilee after 60 years on the throne. After

the Queen and the cabinet had taken their seats, Cameron formally

welcomed her to the meeting and outlined the agenda. The

meeting started off with Chief hip Sir George Young talking about

the change to royal accession rules, to allow a first born girl to

become head of state even if she has a younger brother.

Unique Diary


Man�sEscape fromNAGGING

Wife

36 year old restaurant owner with the surname Bai, came up with an A idea which was sure to get him arrested and taken to a nice, quiet

prison, reported The Star. Bai went to a supermarket in Taichung city, Taiwan

where he clearly stated his plans. He shouted “I am here to rob. Call the

police!” he shouted, according to the newspaper. The Man kept yelling and

pleading with the workers to call the police. The so called “robber” then

bought a pack of cigarettes and went outside. When the police arrive they

found him waiting for them in front of the store while having a smoke.

Unfortunately for Bai, his plan failed. The police released him once they

realized his intention was not to commit a crime that he only wanted to

escape his nagging wife.

Naseer HussainBlasts India after Loss

fter India’s 2-1 series loss to England in the fourt-match series former A England captain feels that India paid the price of thinking that preparing

turning tracks could be enough to beat England in the just-concluded Test series

as the visitors had better tweakers to exploit the dustbowls. According to Hussain

“the tourists were fitter, both physically and mentally, and hungrier for Test cricket.

India would not have been able to take four wickets late in a day, after two

sessions without a wicket, as England did. India went one up and just thought they

could prepare a turning pitch and England would crumble. They showed too much

bravado. And England made them pay very heavily indeed for that.”

Messi, Puyol & HernandezStay On arcelona has announced on their official website that they B have reached an agreement with Hernandez Xavi, Carles

Puyol on a contract extension until the summer of 2016, while Lionel

Messi will stay with the club until 2018. Puyol’s previous deal was

due to expire at the end of the 2012-13 campaign, but now it seems

that the 34 year old defender will remain for three more additional

seasons. Xavi, midfielder originally had a contract with Barcelona

until the summer of 2014, and now has reached an agreement for

two more seasons. Messi who was initially under a contract with the

camp Nou side until 2016, however after his impressive

performances in 2012, Barcelona offered him a new deal till 2018.

The Argentinean player scored his 89th and 90th goals of the

calendar year in a 4-1 rout of Altetico Madrid to extend his world

record haul and cement his status as the world’s top player.


All Futures forBritain Imaginable

ritain’s Prime Minister David Cameron has admitted for the fist time B that he can indeed imagine Britain quitting the European Union

(EU), The Sun reported. Cameron talked of how the prospect of Britain

pulling out of the EU after MP’s grilled him about last week’s Brussels

summit. When asked if he could envisage Britain leaving the EU,

Cameron said “all futures for Britain were imaginable. We are in charge of

our own destiny, we can make our own choices.” Cameron, however

stressed withdrawal was not his “preference”. He wanted Britain to stay in

the EU and to renegotiate relations with the EU (based in Belgium) to

seize back key powers.

Two ProbesCommanded to Crash

pair of the NASA moon mapping probes smashed themselves A into a lunar mountain on Monday, ending a year long mission

that is shedding light on how the solar system formed. The Gravity

Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft had been flying

around the moon, enabling scientists to make detailed gravity maps.

Out of fuel as it edged closer to the lunar surface, the probes were

commanded to smash themselves into a mountain near the moon’s

north pole, avoiding a chance encounter with any Apollo or other relics

left on the surface during previous expeditions. On December 6, the

probes nicknamed Ebb and Flow, had flown down to about 7 miles in

order make one last detailed map of the moon’s youngest crater.

Sachin Tendulkarachin Tendulkar, without question the world’s best batsman S announced his retirement from One-day Internationals. The

batsman from Mumbai ends his career with 49 hundreds, 18,426 runs, 463

appearances, and 96 half-centuries and a world cup win to add to his

glory. Sachin will turn 40 in April, exited the 50-over-format rather quietly.

The Board of Cricket Control in India’s website announced that Sachin had

his decision to the board’s president. The announcement of his

retirement was surprising for his fans. Earlier media reported that Sachin

had made himself available for selection for the upcoming games against

Pakistan.


V.P. NandakumarMD & CEO, Manappuram Finance Ltd. Finance

ne of the surest ways to

O promote the objectives of

financial inclusion and inclusive

growth is to kick start micro enterprises

and empower our micro-entrepreneurs

who struggle against great odds. How can

this be done? Let me talk from my

experience with the gold loan customers

of Manappuram Finance who increasingly

happen to be small shop owners, traders,

the self employed etc. These are the

people who belong to the class of what

may be called micro-entrepreneurs.

We are familiar with typical micro

enterprises like small shops and retail

establishments, push-cart vendors,

grocery stores, service and repair outlets

etc. In fact, micro enterprises contribute

directly to society by improving the quality

of our lives (e.g. we get to buy fresh

vegetables at our doorstep). Moreover, by

standing on their own feet, they are not

dependent on the government, and don’t

strain the social welfare budget.

People come into micro entrepreneurship

by inheritance, by emulating the examples

of others around them, or because of a

sheer lack of alternatives. The process of

starting a micro enterprise is always

informal and it can even be a spur-of-the-

moment decision. Micro enterprises

cannot get started when complexities are

imposed, like preparing project reports, or

compliance with many statutory

requirements etc.

Therefore, for micro-entrepreneurship to

take off and thrive, it is essential that entry

barriers be lowered. When the entry

barriers are high, people low on skills and

education are easily deterred. Indeed, the

only requirements that may reasonably be

expected of a micro-entrepreneur are

access to some capital, some contacts,

some idea about the business, and a

measure of confidence.

The other important point is that the

major investment of the micro

entrepreneur is not capital but time.

Therefore, the make or break factor is not

ROCE (return on capital employed) but

what may be termed ROTE (return on time

employed). This is a crucial distinction that

must be made before any meaningful

discussion on financial inclusion. Too

often, with our focus on ROCE, we assume

that the cost of capital is the significant

TheMicro-Entrepreneurship route to financial inclusion


constraint faced by micro enterprises and

that a solution to their woes lies in reducing

the cost of capital. This is a fallacy.

A vegetable vendor borrows Rs.500 in the

morning to buy vegetables for the amount.

A day’s hard work nets him a profit of

Rs.250, i.e. 50% returns in a day. Work out

the return over a period of one year (with

300 working days) and it’s a staggering

15,000%. No MNC, not even monopoly

businesses, earn these kinds of returns.

Indeed, a financial analyst looking at these

numbers would say this is a great business

to be in, but we know better than to go by

these (misleading) numbers. Look at the

return on his time instead. If he works for

ten hours a day, it turns out his fabulous

return of 15,000% p.a. is worth exactly Rs.25

for every hour of effort. In such a scenario, if

he pays an interest of Rs.50 every day on

the amount borrowed, the rate would be

calculated as 10% per day, or 3,000%

annualised! Is that a crippling burden?

When you consider that it still leaves him

with Rs.200 in his hands, enough to take

care of his family, maybe not.

In a micro enterprise, the capital required to

get going is always modest. At the same

time, since those who take to micro-

entrepreneurship are usually quite poor,

they may not have even this modest

amount with them. That’s why one of the

biggest entry barriers to micro-

entrepreneurship is access to capital. But,

it’s not the cost of capital, measured by its

annualised rate of interest, that matters,

rather its timely availability. Every day lost is

earnings for the day lost. The promise of

cheap loans entangled in bureaucratic

procedure is no help. Indeed, it can even kill

the enterprise. It follows that if access to

small loans can be eased, you are

automatically promoting micro-

entrepreneurship.

Until fairly recently, it seemed that

microfinance was the ideal way to fill this

gap. However, recent developments have

belied the promise. Is there anything else

that would work? Consider this. On Nov.30,

2012, the Economic Times carried a front-

page article with the title “Entrepreneurs

Bond with Yellow Metal”. It featured the

story of Aneesha Binu, a woman

entrepreneur in Idukki District (Kerala) who

runs a beauty parlour. Aneesha had set up

her business with money obtained by

pledging her jewellery. Aneesha,

incidentally, is a customer of Manappuram’s

Rajakumari Branch, and we have come

across thousands of examples like hers.

We are familiar with how mobile telephones

made things easier for small businesses and

services. Earlier, the cost of renting a shop

or office space, and waiting for the

telephone connection to materialise was a

huge stumbling block to the common man

who wanted to start off on his own. Now,

with a mobile phone, anyone can operate

from home and be in business overnight.

Likewise, many have dreams of starting

something on their own but arranging for

adequate working capital is a hurdle. With

access to hassle-free gold loans, they can

get started immediately, without having to

go chasing after a bank.

Gold loans promote micro

entrepreneurship. In a country with low

levels of financial literacy, micro-

entrepreneurs require access to small loans

that are readily available without elaborate

paperwork and procedure. A gold loan is

ideal for this purpose. Aneesha’s example

proves that gold loans lower the entry

barriers to micro-entrepreneurship.

That’s why, today, about a third of

Manappuram’s gold loan customers

belongs to the micro enterprise

segment—traders, shopkeepers, the self-

employed etc. They use gold loans as a

hassle-free source of working capital to

meet the requirements of day-to-day

business.

In a country with low levels of financial literacy, micro-entrepreneurs require access to small loans

that is readily available without being tied up in paper work and procedure.



A lot of

businesscan happenover a cup of coffee

Entrepreneurship

ndia was known as the country

I of tea lovers, but of late coffee

lovers are growing in number,

thanks to new lounges and cafeterias

which serve varieties of Coffee. The

coffee culture is much prevalent

among the young generation.

Students and young professionals

throng coffee outlets and spend

their free time in the company of

their friends. The coffee market is

worth more than USD 230 million

and as per industry experts, by 2017,

the market will be around USD 410.

Starting a coffee chain may be the

best decision you can now make. As

the disposable income in the hands

of young generation increases, the

more will they spend on.

There are several factors which drive

the coffee business ahead. First of all

the enhanced purchasing power of

Indians over the recent years and

most of the families go out

especially the young ones. The new

generation of India, do not bother to

spend some extra money for an

expensive coffee from an expensive

outlet. Coffee shops also become

points of social gathering, especially

for the techie young generation, free

Wi fi and similar connectivity options

make these places quite attractive.

Apart from social meetings

entrepreneurs and businessmen find

it attractive to sit in coffee outlets

and discuss business. These outlets

help them to get a meeting place,

with all facilities at a rather small

price point. Consider the cost of

renting a place and two cups of

coffee. These people find this ideal

place to meet and finalize a deal.

The franchise model helps the brand

owners to spread their brand far and

wide. The world over franchising

methods help Coffee brands reach

more customers and the only

important factor is to replicate the

brands quality and service standards

to all locations. Training teams are

made and recruitment is done at a

central level to maintain the quality

and service standards. Almost all

major brands operate on a franchise

model.

In India many brands are share the

market, but are mostly concentrated

in the metro and urban areas. Cafe

Coffee Day and Barista are present

nationally. Starbucks recently started

their first outlet in India. Even this is

a lucrative business there is much

competition and challenges. Over

the recent years several Cafe’s

sprang up sensing in the

opportunity and thus diluted the

market. Many brands could not

sustain the service demands of the

customers and closed down. Another

major problem looming is that of an

economic slowdown.

People like to go out, sit with friends

and talk about what is happening in

the world. Friends like to meet up in

some place and share their

friendship. Businessmen will need a

place to sit and talk. As long these

basic needs are there, Cafe’s will be

thronged with people. The only thing

you need is to sustain the service

levels and quality. The smell should

be there not only on the cappuccino

cup, but also on your faces. A smile

can bring you business like a Coffee.


The new generation of India, donot bother to spend some extra money for an

expensive coffee from an expensive outlet.

Watch the beauties bring

fire from the heaven and lit

up the ramp during the most elegant beauty pageant in South India

Events

Manappuram

MissSouth India

2013

A CurtainRaiser



T he 10th edition of Manappuram

Miss South India 2013 will be held

at Lulu Convention Centre, Thrissur

on 9th of January 2013. The Pageant aims to

discover the freedom of expression and

talent of the women of India. This edition of

the pageant will bring together the youth of

South India and showcase it in its entire

splendor, its exciting blend of culture, tourist

destinations and natural beauty to the entire

world.

The Miss South India pageant is conceived

and executed by Pegasus event Makers.

Pegasus was established in the year 2000 as

a proprietary firm. Initially the firm was into

the event management alone. The idea of

conducting beauty pageant under the title

Miss South India was conceived in the year

2002 and the said title was crowned for the

very first time in the same year.

The final event of the pageant consists of

three and a half hour program with three

sequences and cultural extravaganzas and

will be directed by Ajith Ravi Pegasus. The

Event would be judged by Miss World 1st

runner up Ms. Parvathy Omanakuttan, South

Indian Actor Mr. Babu Antony and Actress

Ranjini (Chithram fame), Famous Tollywood

Actress Ms. Nikitha Narayan, Famous

Mollywood Actress Ms. Aishwarya Devan,

Famous NRI fashion designer Mr. Sajimon

Parayil and Media Personality Mrs. Toshma

Biju,

In this edition of Miss South India, 16

contestants will walk the ramp on the grand

finale. The grooming sessions will start on

the 5th of January at PJ Princess, Vypeen,

Cochin. These sessions will consist of yoga,

meditation, personality development,

catwalk, beauty tips, Photo shoot,

Interaction, Talent search, etc.… This will

help the contestants to enhance their

strengths and overcome their weaknesses.

Grooming section will be completely

focused on the culture and tradition of

South India. The girls are groomed by an

expert panel of fashion choreographers and

trainers - Mr. Arun Ratna of Fashion Runway,

Mr. Sameer Khan of Elite Model Flattt; Ms.

Valentina Ravi of Valen’s Model

Management, Former Miss South India 1st

runner up Ms Geethu Tony Chungath, yoga

trainer Ms Nuthan and Jebitha Ajit, MD,

Pegasus.

The stage for the eve is made to the reality

by the team headed by Mr. Diliip of Akshay

inco. The handmade Ribbon for the

contestants, subtitles and title winners are

designed by Mrs. Christeena Jomy, MD of

X’tina’s design.

The winners will be getting a gold plated

crown designed by Mr. & Mrs. Prakashan

Parakkat. The title winner will win a Lakh

rupee sponsored by Manappuram Group,

the first runner up with Rs.50, 000/-

sponsored by Riti Jewellery and second

runner up with Rs.25, 000/- sponsored by

MAcare. All the subtitle winners will be

given with gifts.

Apart from the title winners, the other

subtitles to win are Miss Beautiful Hair, Miss

Beautiful Smile, Miss Beautiful Skin, Miss

Beautiful Face, Miss Beautiful Eyes, Miss

Congeniality, Miss Cat Walk, Miss Perfect 10,

Miss Talented, Miss Viewer’s choice and

Miss Photogenic. The three sequences

include the designer saree round, Casuals

and Black & black. The subtitles will be

judged by a panel of expertise headed by

Dr. Thomas Nechupadam.

Yoga, meditation, personality development, Catwalk, beauty tips, photo shoot, interaction, Talent search, etc.�

You are in fashion

www.asiavogue.in

You are welcome to the world of FASHION

MODELS PHOTOGRAPHERS GROOMING PROFESSIONALS

CHOREOGRAPHERS MAKE-OVERS HAIRSTYLISTS

ASIAVOGUE

Auditions in Mumbai Delhi Kolkata and Bengaluru

Entries are invited

be theMiss Queen of India

Win 2 Lakhs &

www.pegasusindia.org

www.missqueenofindia.com


Interview


LEGACY AHEAD

Ravi Menon:

SOBHATaking the

avi Menon joined Sobha Developers in June 2004 as a Director and was

R designated the Vice Chairman in January 2006. He was appointed the Chairman

this year in June 2012. Born in Kerala, he did his graduation in civil engineering

from Purdue University, USA with a distinction. In a span of eight years, as an executive

member of the Board, he has contributed significantly to product execution which has

resulted in the Company’s delivery levels increasing from 6 Million Square Feet in the

financial year 2004-05 to over 50 Million Square Feet in cumulative during 2011-12, a

new milestone in the history of the Company and the construction industry in India as a

whole. During the same time, the turnover of the Company increased from Rs. 6,248.34

Million in the financial year 2005-06 to Rs. 14,144 Million in the financial year 2011-12,

an increase of around 125%. He has played a pivotal role in devising the corporate

strategy, diversifying through product lines and entering into new geographies thereby

strengthening the foundation of the Company. He has been actively responsible for the

launch of new product lines and attainment of the highest standards of quality. Under his

leadership, the Company has consolidated its operations and become a widely

recognized and acclaimed brand.

A man of details, he has brought about tremendous value addition to the organization in

terms of creating Project Management Information Systems, detailed Technology

Manual, elaborate Quality Evaluation Procedure, Customer Care Structure, Innovation

Culture, and Sobha Academy, which is focused on the Technical and Behavioral

development of all employees. He has been instrumental in strengthening the execution

by focusing on micro level tracking of cost, quality and time. Highly organized, he aims

to transform Sobha into a system driven organization by documenting each and every

process of the Company. His objective is to transform Sobha Developers into an

organization of the future. For his dedicated service and achievements, Ravi Menon has

been bestowed with the ‘Young Achievers’ Award’ at the Real Estate Awards 2012 and

the ‘Star Realty Magnetic Young Icon’ award at the Star Realty Awards 2012. Ravi Menon

in a conversation with Bejoy George talks in detail about Sobha and what makes his

company distinct.

Sobha is known for its quality. How do

you ensure the same?

Sobha Developers was established in

1995 with a clear vision to transform the

way people perceive quality. Today 302

projects later, Sobha is a brand trusted for

perfection.

Sobha has an in-house Quality & Safety

Department, comprising experienced

German master craftsmen, that ensures

the quality of the product at every stage

of construction.

It is our assiduous attention to details,

constant innovation, meticulous

execution and strong adherence to

international standards that helps us

differentiate from others and add

significant value to our products.

What are Sobha’s broad product

verticals?

Sobha is primarily focused on residential

and contractual projects.

The Company’s residential projects

include presidential apartments, villas,

row houses, super luxury apartments,

luxury apartments, semi-luxury

apartments and plotted development

along with amenities such as a clubhouse,

swimming pool and shopping complexes.

In all its residential projects the Company

lays strong emphasis on environmental

management, water harvesting and high

safety standards.

On the contractual side, the Company has

constructed a variety of structures for

corporates including state of the art

offices, convention centres, software

development blocks, multiplex theatres,

hostel facilities, guest houses, food

courts, restaurants, and research centres.

Some of Sobha’s prestigious clients

include Infosys, Taj, Leela, Dell, HP,

Timken, Biocon, Institute of Public

Enterprises, and Bosch amongst others.

We understand Sobha has constructed

over 50 million sq. ft. of space. Can

you provide us with the latest data in

terms of completed projects?

As of September 30, 2012, in the past 17

years, Sobha has completed 81

residential projects and 221 contractual

projects covering about 53.73 million sq.

ft. of space.

How many projects are in the pipeline

as on date?

The Company currently has 39 ongoing

residential projects aggregating to 24.54

million sq. ft. of developable area and

17.35 million sq. ft. of super built-up area,

and 41 ongoing contractual projects

aggregating to 9.93 million sq. ft. under

various stages of construction.

Please elaborate on Sobha’s backward

integration model.

The backward integration model is one of

the key competitive strengths of Sobha.

This literally means that the Company

clearly has all the key competencies and

in-house resources to deliver a project

from conceptualization to completion.

Backward integration includes an interiors

division with one of India’s largest

woodworking factories, a metal works

and glazing factory, and a concrete

products factory.

The Interiors Division is engaged in wood

work and manufacturing wood or wood

based products of international quality,

superlative finish and incredible durability

Sobha's backward integration literally means that the Company clearly has all the key

competencies and in-house resources to deliver a project from conceptualization to completion


including doors and windows, wooden

floorings, ceilings, panels, pillars and

staircases, and custom built furniture for

commercial and residential use. In

addition, this division also includes an in-

house wood working design studio and a

dedicated design team that provides

interior design schemes and production

specific drawings.

The Glazing & Metal Division carries out

metal fabrication work such as aluminum

windows and doors, structural, and

architectural glazing. The fabrication

activities are carried out at the factory

premises, whereas assembly and the

installation are carried out at the project

sites.

The Concrete Block Making Division

manufactures concrete blocks, pavers,

kerbs, water drainage channels, paving

slabs and related landscape products.

What is the architectural design

expertise that Sobha has?

Architectural Design is the process of

integrating the Client’s functional

requirements with the Architect’s ideas

and the environment. Sobha’s

Architectural design studio comprises of

Architects, Graphic Designers, Model

Makers and 3D Visualizers and is

equipped with the best of technology.

The design process begins after the

technical feasibility study of a potential

piece of land. Once found feasible,

conceptual plans are prepared. On

approval of concept plans, drawings for

marketing and statutory purposes are

prepared.

This is followed by the preparation of

good for construction drawings, which

entails preparation of a comprehensive

set of drawings, comprising of

architectural, coordinated structural

engineering and services drawings.

On an average, the count of the total

number of drawings for a typical

residential building would range

between 350 to 400 numbers. And, in

order to prepare these drawings,

approximately 2800 man hours are

spent.

Detailing is the key to the success of our

projects. Many of our details are

standardized and well documented.

Interestingly, about 40 percent of the

total set of drawings are detail drawings.

And it is these details that help our

engineers to precisely construct all the

finer components that make Sobha’s

buildings truly world-class.

Please explain the measures you take

to ensure environmental friendliness

in your projects and the different

Quality certifications that Sobha has

obtained.

We try our best to bring in eco-friendly

measures at every stage of development.

Our commitment to sustainability comes

to life through a well-structured

management process that is pivoted

around the PDCA principle “Plan – Do –

Check – Act”.

Our attempt is to ascertain the Genius

Loci, i.e. ‘the guardian spirit of a place’

during the initial stages of identifying

land parcels. We observe and identify

the specialties of that place and its

surroundings and make every attempt to

retain the inherent character of the land.

Our buildings are planned along natural

contours in order to minimise earth

cutting & filling. We, in fact, capitalise on

Detailingis the key to the

success of our projects


the contours available to create different

levels in our plan. This prevents not only

soil erosion but also reduces pollution.

In all our projects, we lay strong emphasis

on environment management practices

like rain water harvesting and recycling of

waste. More than 40% of our construction

area is dedicated to green spaces. A

Sobha home is designed for maximum

ventilation and natural lighting, thereby

curtailing the use of electricity during the

day. For instance, the size of the window

and its orientation is planned in a manner

that reduces the requirement of air

conditioning and prevents the glare

through direct sunlight.

We use solar lighting, water efficient

fixtures, energy efficient lifts &

equipments, reflective ceramic tiles,

insulation materials, heat-resistant paints

and heat-repellent glasses that are in

synergy with the environment. Storm

water management techniques are also

used to prevent soil erosion. Many of our

developments subscribe to the green

guidelines laid down by IGBC (Indian

Green Building Council) and LEED

(Leadership in Energy and Environmental

Design). Such initiatives are highly

appreciated by our customers.

We were one of the first companies in the

industry to obtain the ISO 9001

certification. We have also received the

OHSAS 18001:2007 and ISO 14001:2004

certifications for our Environmental,

Health and Safety Management System.

How do you interact with your

customers?

Sobha has an in-house Customer

Relationship Management (CRM) team as

well as a unique Customer Care Cell (C3).

The CRM team keeps customers informed

about the progress of our projects and

provides any other after-sales services


that the customers may require after

the completion of the sales process.

The C3 provides support to

customers during the one-year

warranty programme.

Our focus on customer relationship

management has yielded significant

results over the years, in the form of

satisfied customers, higher levels of

transparency to customers and

improvement of internal processes

to deliver a better customer

experience. The outcome of this

concerted effort is high referral

sales.

How do you train your workforce?

Sobha nurtures its talent pool with a

myriad of skills and capabilities. It’s

the only company in the real estate

sector to have a full-fledged training

centre - The Sobha Academy. Set up

at Bangalore, it is a unique centre for

learning that offers both the

management staff and workforce

specially designed skill development

programmes.

In order to make Sobha’s staff more

proficient, the Technical Training

Department at Sobha designs and

coordinates modules which relate to

the various aspects of technical

operations. These training sessions

aim at providing all-round,

functional training of the various

processes that are followed at Sobha

sites, with specific emphasis on

critical tasks and detailed

procedures.

The Sobha Academy conducts

courses for tradesmen, who are the

key resource of the Company’s

project sites. Fresh recruits are given

intense training to make them adept

in specific work skills like tiling,

granite masonry, gypsum works,

water-proofing, electrical, and

plumbing works.

The Technician Supervisor Model

adopted by the Company for on-the-

job training at the sites stresses on

the importance of hands-on-

experience.

The comprehensive in-house

construction handbook on building

construction activities communicates

the best construction practices to the

execution team across the

organization at all the project sites.

Additionally, a knowledge

management system also offers

learning opportunities to the

employees.

Sobha is known for serving the

community. Can you throw some

light on Sobha’s CSR initiatives?

The Company believes that for the

overall well-being of the society, a

comprehensive and sustainable

development of rural India is a must.

It is in this context that

Graamasobha, a unique social

developmental programme was

initiated by the organisation in 2006

in two grama panchayaths -

Vadakkenchery and Kizhakkenchery -

in Palakkad district of Kerala. The

programme covers key human

development verticals like education,

health, employment, water, sanitation

and housing besides various social

empowerment measures.

Various social institutions have been

established for the development of

the rural poor.

The Sobha Academy has been

created to empower the rural poor to

break away from the vicious circle of

poverty, ignorance, deprivation and

exclusion by providing their children

high quality education comparable to

the best anywhere in the world.

The Sobha Health Care Center has

redefined the limits of a primary

health care institution run anywhere

in the country.

Sobha’s Hermitage is the epitome

of humanity, tendering love, care and

support to the neglected segments

of society - senior citizens as well as

young widows and their children.

Sobha Vocational Training Center

(SVTC) with its advanced resources

and facilities aims at providing

functional vocational training.

The Sobha Community Center’s

core purpose lies in organizing social

functions and feeding the poor,

several of whom are fed free every

single day.

In the history of Indian villages, our

initiatives are perhaps the first of

their kind, undertaken with so much

investment in designing, developing

and delivering state-of-the-art

infrastructure to the poorest of the

poor. Graamasobha stands as a

successful model for others to follow

to usher development at the village

level.

The company has a full-fledged training centre - The Sobha Academy


iPad

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he iPad Mini is a mini T tablet computer designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. It was announced on October 23, 2012, as the fifth major product in the iPad line and the first to feature a reduced screen size of 7.9 inches, in contrast to the standard 9.7 inches. It features similar internal specifications as the iPad 2, including its display resolution. It was released on November 2, 2012 in nearly all of Apple's markets

he Samsung Galaxy T Note II is an Android Smartphone marketed by Samsung and noted for its combination of a large display, and software optimized for an integral self-storing stylus. Because the display places the device at the large end of the Smartphone and small end of the tablet size ranges, the Galaxy Note II has been called a hybrid of a phone and tablet, or a phablet.


Top Gadget Launches of 2012

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he iPhone 5 is the sixth T generation of the iPhone and succeeds the iPhone 4S. The phone is a slimmer, lighter model that introduces a higher-resolution, 4-inch screen in the series with 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio support. The phone also includes a custom-designed ARMv7 processor called the Apple A6, an update to Apple's mobile operating system known as iOS 6, and support for LTE.

okia Lumia 920 is a N Smartphone developed by Nokia that runs the Windows Phone 8 operating system. It was announced on September 5, 2012, and was first released on November 2, 2012. It has a 1.5 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Krait CPU and a 114 mm (4.5″) IPS TFT LCD display, as well as a high-sensitivity capacitive touchscreen that is covered by the curved Gorilla Glass. It supports inductive charging and is compatible with Qi Inductive Charging; further, it features an 8.7 megapixel PureView camera with optical image stabilization for still images and videos. It comes with 32 GB internal storage.


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icrosoft Surface is a M series of tablets designed and marketed by Microsoft. It was announced on June 18, 2012, by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer at Milk Studios in Los Angeles. The Surface comes in two versions: one with Windows RT and another with Windows 8 Pro. The Windows RT model uses an ARM CPU, while the Windows 8 Pro model will use an Intel CPU. Both models are able to install new applications via the Windows Store, however only the Windows 8 Pro model allows the installation of traditional third-party desktop programs.

he Samsung Galaxy T Camera is a point-and-shoot camera which combines the photographic capabilities of a small super zoom camera with the versatility and connectivity of a small tablet computer with 4.8 inch screen, running on Android 4.1.. Samsung announced the camera in August 2012 with the slogan "Camera. �Reborn." The camera also features Wi-Fi, GPS and also has 3G capabilities to share the photos from anywhere to anywhere. The Samsung galaxy camera features a 16 Mega Pixels CMOS sensor and 21x zoom.

Top Gadget Launches of 2012

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he iPad is a line of tablet T computers designed and marketed by Apple Inc., which runs on Apple's iOS operating system. The first iPad was released on April 3, 2010; the most recent iPad models, the fourth-generation iPad and iPad Mini, were released on November 2, 2012. The user interface is built around the device's multi-touch screen, including a virtual keyboard. The iPad has built-in Wi-Fi and, on some models, cellular connectivity.

he MacBook Pro is a line T of Macintosh portable computers introduced in January 2006 by Apple Inc., and now in its third generation. Replacing the PowerBook G4, the MacBook Pro was the second model, after the iMac, to be announced in the Apple�Intel transition. It is also the high-end model of the MacBook family and is currently produced in 13- and 15-inch screens, although a 17-inch version has been offered previously.


LIVING WITH THE

STARDr. Madhulika Guhathakurta

Interview


eing the daughter of a RBI Banker, the late Mr. Suchandra Guhathakurta and B Mrs. Rani Guhathakurta, Dr. Madhulika Guhathakurta is a Kolkata born

Indian native who is an astrophysicist at NASA as well as the Lead Program

Scientist for NASA’s initiative called “Living With a Star” (LWS) . Having grown up in

an intellectual environment where there were more books in the household than

there were furniture, and with a father who was a mathematician by training and a

philosopher, Dr. Guhathakurta is an admirer of Tagore’s poetry, and of the night sky

which has fascinated her since her childhood. After having received her Masters in

Astrophysics from the University of Delhi, she moved to the U.S. at the age of 22 in

order to pursue her PhD in Physics at the University of Denver. In 1993 she joined

NASA, and in 1998 she begin working at the NASA headquarters, and throughout

her career she has had the chance to work as a scientist, mission designer, instrument

builder, directing and managing science programs and teacher and spokesperson for

NASA’s mission and vision in the Heliophysics Divison. Having achieved much

throughout her career, we sit down for a chat to find out more about her and her

success as an astrophysicist at NASA. Dr. Madhulika Guhathakurta talks with Denisha

Sahadevan about her life and experience in NASA.


WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY HERE

AT NASA?

I am an astrophysicist by training

and at graduate school I specialized

in just one star, the Sun. In my

research career I expanded this

specialization to include the study of

sun’s effects on earth. And today I

am the science manager of a

program called “Living with a Star”

(LWS).

HAVE YOU GOTTEN TO DO

ANYTHING UNIQUE WHILE

WORKING FOR NASA?

I have done a lot of things that you

may call unique!

From 1993-1998 at NASA’s Goddard

Space Flight Center, I was the project

scientist on “White Light

Coronagraph” (WLC) experiment

which was part of a payload on

SPARTAN (Shuttle Pointed

Autonomous Research Tool for

Astronomy) 201 missions. This was a

free-flying payload that studied the

solar wind and the sun's corona to

increase our knowledge of sun’s

effects on the Earth. This was truly an

unique experience in that I was able

to work in a laboratory for

instrument and spacecraft

development as well as interface

with astronauts who were assigned

to deploy this payload. In addition

the science from these series of

missions and Ulysses mission

established the beginnings of sun-

earth connection science.

At NASA headquarters, since 2001, I

have been the Lead program

scientist for a program called “Living

with a Star” (LWS) within NASA’s

Science Mission Directorate. This

program is quite unique in that LWS

plan consists of flight missions,

supporting targeted research and

technology, and small space

environment test-beds (orbital

laboratories for new LWS concepts),

all with the objective of providing

science with societal impact.

NASA’s LWS program gave rise to

another initiative know as

“International Living with a Star”

(ILWS) where all the space faring

nations (27) of the world come

together to cooperate and

collaborate on the system science of

sun-earth and sun-solar system

connections. I served as the chair of

this group for the past four years

and remain as a member on its

steering committee.

With the help of LWS program I was

able to produce three advanced

graduate school level text books,

(Heliophysics Vols I, II and III)

published by Cambridge University

Press. These are first of its kind text

books to articulate the system

science that LWS program strives to

understand and to address the

science of space weather. This new

science is called Heliophysics.

Can you please tell us about the

field of study of heliophysics?

Heliophysics wasn’t even a subject

when I studied at the university. It is

a brand new discipline which we

have developed. It encompasses the

study of the system composed of

the Sun and its interaction with the

planets and other objects in the

solar system. It is a combination of

many different sub-disciplines, solar

physics, space physics and plasma

physics. These are all very traditional

sub-disciplines in our field that were

all pursued separately, and

heliophysics combines all of these

different physics into one single

discipline. Heliophysics can be

described as an environmental

science, a unique hybrid between

meteorology and astrophysics. It is

the science behind “space weather”

which is weather outside of our

atmosphere.

What weather phenomenon do we

observe outside the Earth's

atmosphere?

We live in the outer atmosphere of

the sun. All objects in the solar

system experience space weather

created by the Sun. Space weather

can be described as conditions and

phenomena in space and specifically

in the near-earth environment that

may affect space assets or space

operations. Most of the time the

Earth’s atmosphere and its own

magnetic field protect us from the

more violent effects of solar storms.

But our communications, TV,

weather, scientific and military

satellites as well as our space

explorers are subjected to the effects

of space weather. Like weather on

the Earth, Space weather comes in

different forms and different

strengths. However, space weather is

governed by an 11-year solar cycle

that allows us to predict, at some

level, when effects are likely to be

most severe. This period is called

‘solar maximum’ and is likely to occur

between 2012 and 2015.

Modern society depends on a variety

of technologies that are susceptible

to the extremes of space weather.

These events can disrupt the

Heliophysics wasn�t even a subject when I studied at the university. It is a brand new discipline which NASA developed.

operation of power grids, railway

signaling, magnetic surveying and

drilling for oil and gas. Magnetic

storms also heat the upper

atmosphere, changing its density

and composition and disrupting

radio communications and GPS

units. The storms’ charged particles

can be a hazard to the health of

astronauts and passengers on high

altitude flights.

What impacts will Living with a

Star Program have on our

understanding of space weather?

Until recently, forecasters could

barely predict space weather in the

limited vicinity of Earth.

Interplanetary forecasting was out of

the question. This began to change

in 2006 with the launch of the twin

STEREO probes followed almost four

years later by the Solar Dynamics

Observatory. These three spacecraft

now surround the sun, monitoring

active regions, flares, and coronal

mass ejections around the full

circumference of the star. No

matter which way a solar storm

travels, the STEREO-SDO fleet can

track it. This has improved our

ability to predict space weather

with longer lead time.

Can you please explain further

the importance of knowing about

the space weather and its

relationship to Living with a Star

Program?

As I mentioned earlier, more than

500 active satellites circle the Earth.

We rely on them for TV, telephone,

internet, GPS navigation and weather

forecasting; all are vulnerable to

space weather. Humans orbit Earth,

too, onboard the International Space

Station. The ISS is located inside

Earth's magnetic field, so it enjoys a

degree of protection, but future

astronauts en route to the Moon and

Mars will be outside the magnetic

bubble. Their spaceships are going

to be in direct contact with the sun's

atmosphere.

NASA's Living With a Star Program

was formed in 2001 to deal with this

reality. If we're going to live inside

the sun's atmosphere, we need to

learn more about it—especially how

to predict the storms, The basic

strategy is the same as weather

studies on Earth: We're going to

launch a fleet of 'weather stations' –

spacecraft that observe different

aspects of sun’s atmosphere and its

impact on Earth. LWS has four

missions in various states of

operation and development.

Together they will surround and

explore the sun-earth system in

ways no spacecraft has done before.

The Solar Dynamics Observatory

(SDO): Launched in February 2010 it

is providing HDTV quality

photographs of sunspots and solar

flares, revealing the onset of storms

in never-before-seen detail.

The Radiation Belt Storm Probes:

There's no point in studying the sun

if we don't understand what it does

to Earth. Launched in August 2012,

this mission makes the crucial Sun-

Earth connection. Wisps of the sun's

atmosphere can become trapped by

Earth's magnetic field, inside

radiation belts, where energetic

particles lie in wait for astronauts

and satellites trying to leave or

simply orbit the planet. The

Radiation Belt Storm Probes (two of

them) will explore these regions and

discover how they are populated


and energized by space weather.

Solar Orbiter Collaboration: Solar

Orbiter is a mission from the

European Space Agency which will

station itself at an inclination of

about 30 degrees from the sun's

equator, providing the first truly

polar view of solar magnetic field.

The equatorial view from Earth limits

studies of solar polar magnetic

field—a problem Solar Oribter will

remedy. It is in development for

launch in 2017.

Solar Probe Plus: This is the most

exciting mission of all. It is a heat-

resistant spacecraft designed to

plunge deep into the sun’s

atmosphere where it can sample

solar wind and magnetic fields in

situ. No spacecraft has ever been as

close to the sun as Solar Probe Plus

will go, only 7 million km from the

surface. That's unexplored territory,

and we expect to learn a great deal

about the sun's atmosphere by going

there. It is in development for launch

in 2018.

You came to the U.S. as a student

to do your PhD in Physics, was it

easy or tough for you as a

student?

I went to a relatively small school

where I was the only female

graduate student in a class of 10-15

graduate students. Before my fellow

graduate students got to know me,

they were really upset with me

because my grades were typically

higher than theirs. This was a difficult

situation but in about five months

they got to know me as a person,

LWS has four missions in various states of operation and development. Together they will surround and explore the sun-earth system in ways no spacecraft has done before.

and we became friends. While in

India at Delhi University during my

M.Sc., I never experienced this sense

of resentment from my male

classmates because I did better than

them in exams. So the first time I felt

discriminated as a woman was in my

first few months of graduate school

and I thought to myself that I have

come from a third world country to a

first world country and this is where I

feel my first gender discrimination”!

But since then I learnt to navigate

the situation and never felt

discriminated under any

circumstance. What I realized is that

once you get to know people all of

these pre-conceived notions about

people/gender etc dissolve and this

is true in every situation in life

whether it’s religion or race or

something else, once you make the

effort to get to know someone none

of these barriers matter because

ultimately we humans are allmore

alike than not in our dreams and

desires and pursuit of life.

India and China seem to be taking

more of an interest in the space

programs nowadays than the

usual players such as U.S., Russia,

and France. What is your opinion?

I think I am really glad that space is

now becoming an international

frontier. U.S., Russia, Europe, have

already advanced in this area and

India, and China still have to catch

up to that. So the fact that these

countries are taking interest in space

science research and leading

scientists, and engineers is a

wonderful thing. With limited

resources in every country I think we

need a lot more players in this field.

After all space doesn’t belong to any

one country, it belongs to all.

What are your thoughts regarding

India’s space program?

I am pleased to see that the Indian

Space Research Organization has

made great progress from an

engineering standpoint with great

achievements. Now I think that the

country needs to enable it’s

scientists so that they can be in the

fore front of space science research.

Would you please tell us about

the space cooperation between

the U.S. and India?

Well there has been the Chandrayan

Mission, where there was

cooperation with the NASA and

ISRO. There is a future dialogue

going on for Mars mission and in

general there is a good dialogue in

space science cooperation between

India and NASA.

Have you always aspired to be an

astrophysicist?

When I think about it the answer is

yes, I was always interested in

science. From my very early years

when I was a little girl in Kolkata I

was absolutely fascinated by the

night sky and always wondered

about the stars. My aunt told me

that when someone dies that person

becomes a star in the sky and I

wondered about where we came

from and where are we going. These

are just very fundamental human

questions which I have always been

intrigued by. I love the night sky.

Whether your career had given you

one particular highlight?

I don’t know about one highlight.

But I think what my career gave me

is working with some of the best

minds in the world. You know

interaction with them on a daily

basis. For me it is stimulating. And I

don’t work with only NASA people,

right? I have also been Chair for

ILWS for four years and work with

people all over the world, and they

are about as smart as they get. I

have loved sharing some of my

knowledge with the general public.

That is something that if I were just a

pure researcher I wouldn’t have time

for. That has been extremely joyful.

At NASA, we are privileged to see, to

know so many things that ordinary

people don’t get a chance to

experience – some of our imagery! I

came up with a story line to share

the LWS program and show some o

these exquisite imageries. I helped in

the creation of two major

planetarium shows, “Cosmic

Collisions” and “Journey to the Stars”

in partnership with American

Museum of Natural History in New

York and National Air and Space

Museum in DC. I also helped in the

production of a 3D IMAX and

planetarium show featuring the

STEREO mission, “3D Sun”. These

shows are running all over the world.

Children, general public, older

people, are learning something

about the cosmos that they had no

way of knowing otherwise. So these

are some of the highlights, I would

say.


Avoid BlameGame and be

Responsible


''If you take responsibility for yourself you will develop a hunger to accomplish your dreams.'' Les Brown

Life Management

Sheela Abraham

oday, our society is being T infected by an illness that

could be dangerously

contagious and eventually seriously

affect our entire nation. It’s nothing but

the irresponsible “blame-game” we all

tend to do every time. .This can

weaken any one which would reflect

on our nation in due course of time.

We see people not being responsible

on what they do. For instance, for

failing in any situation, people often

put the blame on others. Irresponsible

parents blame teachers when their

children do not do well in academics.

Politicians blame the opposition party

for everything. No one is ready to

accept personal responsibility for their

own failures.

When we fail to accept personal

responsibility for our actions, we

inevitably fall into the blame-game

trap. As long as we do this, we will

never resolve our personal or national

problems

A story about some sea gulls in a

fishing village is worth mentioning

here. For many years, they were fed on

the scraps the fishermen left and when

the fishing industry in this area was

closed, they had forgotten how to find

food for them. In the end, these sea

gulls died of starvation. The same

principle applies to us too. When we

are over-dependent, we destroy our

growth and maturity.

One of the great principles we need to

stress on to keep our society healthy

and productive is the principle of

personal responsibility. It's a principle

that needs to be programmed and

etched into our belief system from our

childhood. It has to start from the

family teaching how to demonstrate at

every phase of our lives. This will

reflect in our behavior and manners.

Though we are not responsible for our

upbringing, we are fully responsible for

what we become. It is interesting to

see how people view responsibility

now days. Following examples will

make clear what I am trying to convey.

"If a man cuts his finger while slicing a

mango, he blames the Knife.

"If a person is a chain smoker for many

years and die of lung cancer, the family

of the victim blames the tobacco

company.

"If a person crashes into a tree while

driving home drunk, he blames his

vehicle or the median on the road.

"If children are unruly and

irresponsible, the blame falls on

television.

This is the pattern of our life. We are

reluctant to accept the responsibility

for our choices and accountable for

our actions. We are comfortable to be

in ‘’not my fault’ status.

It is important to know, two of life's

greatest abilities are dependability and

responsibility. Both are closely related.

When Dependability keeping the

commitments we make, Responsibility

is realizing that we are responsible for

our actions.

No matter what happened in the past,

we are responsible for what we do

about it and for what we become. As

another has wisely said, "I may have

been a victim in the past, but if I

remain a victim, I am now a willing

volunteer."

As long as we fail to accept personal

responsibility for our lives and blame

others for the difficulties we have, we

will never overcome them. No matter

what situation we are in, we are always

contributing something to it. Our

responsibility is to see what that is and

to correct it.

It is true that people who take

complete responsibility of their 'life'

experience joy and confident in any

circumstance. They are able to make

right choices and be accountable for

them. We are responsible for our Lives.

This is the fundamental principle one


This is the fundamental principle one

must adopt if plan for happiness and

success in life. In my profession

, I have met many who are reluctant to

take responsibility for their not up to

the mark performances and failures.

According to them, everything is

someone else's fault. No one can live

your life for you. When we repeatedly

do anything for others that they can

and need to do for themselves, we can

make and keep them over-dependent,

immature and irresponsible. It is not

the loving thing to do. It is being

irresponsible. You are in charge and

each event in your life is the result of

choices you made or making.

So, empower yourself behaving

responsibly to make life meaningful.

Here are some steps you can take to

become a more responsible person

Listen to the experienced

Don't nose around in other

people’s business

Stop making excuses

Do any work assigned gracefully

and timely.

Give hundred percent

commitments in whatever you are

asked to do.

Be genuine in everything you

involve.

BE trustworthy

Listen to yourself.

Try to be the best and shine

wherever you are.

Be accountable for everything.

Some of us are prone to believe that

our failures are created by others.

What we need to understand is that

YOU and I are responsible for what we

become. Need of the hour is nothing

but personal responsibility.

You are in charge and each event in your life is the result of choices you made or making

Let Justice Be Done

??52 January 2013UNIQUE TIMES

Nechupadam Dental

I had undergone orthodontic treatment 7 years back but there are some spaces

left in my upper and lower jaw. Some of my teeth look shorter while others are

longer/ larger. I am a professional model but I am not able to smile confidently as

my photographers always like my non-smiling picture. I do not have time for

braces as I am busy with my career. How can I improve my smile? How long it will

take without braces?

The size and shape of the teeth can be altered by gum contouring and veneers to

give you a better smile. The spaces between teeth could be closed by nano

ceramic restorations in a single appointment. The gum contouring and veneers

may need 2 appointments and maximum of ten days to correct the problems. You

can have smile simulation prior to the procedure to understand what can be done

for your teeth.

My father 78 years old has lost most of his teeth. He has been wearing a removable

denture for quite sometime. Recently we changed the denture as the old one were

loose. Now he looks different and older and complains that he is not able to chew.

Can you fix the teeth permanently. Is it necessary to take out all teeth before

doing dentures?

When you replace an old worn out denture you will have a fresh look. If you can

get the photographs of your father during his younger days, we can try to make

the approximate facial profile while making the new denture. The existing healthy

teeth have to be preserved to get better retention and support. You may choose

to go for implants to permanently fix the teeth to the jaw, if your father has no

medical complications.

GCDA Complex, Marine Drive,Kohci - 682 031Cont: 93872 77213www.smiledotcom.com

Askthe

SmileExpert

For Amanat, India's brave daughter, Our humble homage.Let justice be done now.

54January 2013 UNIQUE TIMES??What's causing my toenail fungus?Toenail fungus is actually athlete's foot (often picked up from shared showers or

borrowed shoes) that has spread into your toenails. The most effective treatment

is a prescription antifungal pill, but be warned: These treatments are only 70 to 80

percent effective at best, and even when they work it takes nearly a year and a half

for the toenail to fully grow out. Prevent a recurrence by wearing shower slippers

every time you rinse off at the gym and by not borrowing shoes.

How can I get rid of dark circles?Here are some natural remedies for dark circles under the eyes: one is bananas—

the potassium helps eliminate circles under your eyes; the second is by using real

lemon juice and honey—it’s a natural lightener as well. Mix one tablespoon of

lemon with four teaspoons of honey. Smooth on dark spots or under eyes, wait 15

minutes, and rinse!

Askthe

BeautyExpert

Tressa VargheseDirector,Phoebe International


Interview

How would you describe yourself to

be?

I am a very silent person when it

comes to my work place. I hardly speak

to people on sets. It takes some time

for me to open up when am working

with people whom I haven't worked

with before. People call it my attitude

but that's how I am, but I see to it that

whoever works with me should feel

that I am a sweet girl. Otherwise I am

a fully outgoing person, I live up to the

fullest with my family and friends.

What was it like working with

Director Bala in the movie The Hit

List?

I knew Bala as an actor. He is hard

working, and talented as well, being

able to work with him was too good of

an experience.

Please tell us about your experience

in working with Mohanlal sir in the

movie Karma Yodha?

Working with Lal ettan was my dream

and I must thank director Major Ravi

sir for making my dream come true

through the movie Karma Yodha. I

didn't have much combination scenes

with Lal ettan but still there was so

much to learn from the bundle of

talent like him. It was definitely a

learning experience.

Of the movies which you have done so

far do you have a personal favorite?

Karma Yodha. I think this film is where I

get to prove more as an actor than a

heroine. The role which I have essayed

has so much to perform.

Could you please share with us as to

what it was like working with

Prithviraj sir in the movie

Simhasanam?

Prithviraj is very hard working and very

professional as an actor. He is very

friendly. Working with him was a very

good experience. He was very helpful

on sets as I was new to the Malayalam

industry.

Which directors/actresses/actors do

you aspire to work with in the

future?

I would love to work with directors like

Renjith sir, Lal Jose sir, Aashiq Abu, and

Gautham Menon

AishwaryaDevan

By Denisha Sahadevan

s a humanities student studying at the Kendriya Vidyalaya NAL in Bangalore, the daughter of Mr. Devan, a bank A employee and Mrs. Devan, a homemaker, Aishwarya Devan a fashion fanatic had originally dreamt of becoming a

fashion designer. But when a Telugu movie director approached her through Facebook asking whether she was

interested in movies everything changed as it led to her taking the first steps into the world of Indian cinema. Having made her

debut in the film industry through the Tamil film Yuvan in 2012, this well to do talented actress has already had snatched roles

in around six films within the year. She has already worked with big time actors like Prithviraj and Mohanlal, and now her

dream is to become a Bollywood queen.


It was my dream to work with Lal lettan

and through the movie Karma Yodha it

came true. I would like to work with

Mammootty sir and Jayaram sir. I

admire Shobana madam, so I would

love to work with her.

What do you find to be the most

captivating about the acting world?

What is it that drew you into the

world of acting?

An actress. I think actresses are

something which the film industry is

incomplete without. I feel Heroines pull

in people towards the acting world and

I am glad that I am a part of the

industry which I feel is overall

captivating. The glamour, and fame

drew me in. I used to watch TV a lot

when I was a kid, and I wanted to be

like every other actress or model. I

wanted people to know me when I

step out.

What are some of your favorite

movies?

Manichitrathazhu, Chithram , Amaram ,

Black. A recent would be 22 Female

Kottayam.

How supportive is your family when

it comes to your acting career?

My family is fully supportive to the

profession which I have chosen. They

totally understand every aspect of film

industry. Especially my mother. My

mother was, is and will be with me in

every stage of my life.

What differences have you found in

your life after having entered into

the film industry?

After entering into film industry I have

become much more responsible,

careful, and independent in my life.

Life is more colorful. I am enjoying it to

the fullest.

Who would you say is your

inspiration in life?

My mother.

Do you have any other interests

other than acting?

Other than acting I love singing.. I love

Indian music.

Have you signed on for anymore

upcoming projects?

As of now I haven't signed any. I will

take up projects only after January.

I used to watch TV a lot when I was a kid, and I wanted to be like every other actress or model. I wanted people to know me when I step out.


The King of event managementreaches the tinsel town


Movie Review

by: Cherry Mathew Philipose

ng Li’s Life of Pi is a visual treat and has to A be savoured in its full glory in the darkness

of a theatre with those 3-D glasses on. No

other type of viewing would do justice to that

experience. When Ang Li decided to adapt Yan

Martel’s 2001 book of the same title movie goers

would not have expected anything less than this. The

book that Ang Lee terms as ‘fascinating and mind-

blogging’ posed a challenge in terms of screen

adaptation; however, in the words of the Yann Martel

Ang Lee had this capacity to capture the ‘small and

the intimate as well as the large and the spectacular’

with equal felicity.

Movies are not meant to be preachy and Life of Pi,

though handling a complex subject about the

existence of God, too toes the line. Is there a god and

does that god care are questions left to the audience

to ponder.

Life of Pi is the story of a sixteen-year old boy Pi Patel

in a life boat castaway in a sea where he has to

survive with a tiger for over two-hundred days. The

3D technology is brilliantly exploited to visualize what

goes inside the mind of Pi. It captures the journey of a

person in relation to the nature, to the self.

The film is in the form of a flashback. The opening

sequence takes us through a wonderful private zoo

with a tamil lullaby in the backdrop. Once the title

credits are done we’re carried away to the living room

of the adult Pi who’s entertaining a Canadian writer.

The writer is experiencing a writer’s block and was in

Pondicherry where he heard met ‘mamaji’ through

whom came to know that Pi has a wonderful story to

tell. So he came all the way to listen to that story and

the story unfolds – of how Pi got his name, his

childhood, his early trysts with religions, his life at

Pondicherry. Over the course of the day the wonderful

story of Pi is told and along with the writer the

audience is all awe-inspired about the story. In the

end, at the behest of the Japanese insurance company

Pi tells a new story that really catches everyone off

guard.

The US official trailer terms it as a life of adventure,

hope, and triumph. The book that talks about faith,

illusion, and hope was once dubbed as not suitable

for the screen. However, in the hands of Ang Lee that

ruling has to be taken back. The very fact that the

director can engage the audience with a movie that

predominantly has only a sixteen-year old boy and a

tiger at sea scene after scene itself bears testimony to

the craft of one of the greatest directors of our times.

The adult Pi is played by Irrfan Khan and through him

the transitions in the movies are well played out. He is

like the ‘soothradhar’ found in Indian theatre tradition

– helping the audience in finding their feet in this epic

saga where faith and hope are put beyond its normal

tests and have to meet their spirituality counterpart.

The character of sixteen-year old Pi is brilliantly

portrayed by Suraj Sharma who with his innocent, lost

looks brings out that coming-of-age of a boy whose

trip half way across the globe turns out to be a

personal journey of introspection.

The film that took four years to make already has

three golden globe award nominations to its credit

and might make it big on Oscar night.

The book that Ang Lee terms as ‘fascinating and mind-blogging’ posed a challenge in terms of screen adaptation


hough this year’s pop charts have been Tdominated by the younger singers in the

industry, it is the veteran music stars, led by

Madonna, who are commanding big money in

the tour ticket sales, according to a new

Billboard list released on Tuesday. Earning an

estimated $228.4 million in ticket sales from her

sold out ninth worldwide tour in support of her

12th studio album “MDNA,” Madonna, has

topped Billboard’s List of Highest grossing live

tours. The top five highest grossing tour acts of

2012 included Bruce Springsteen, E Street band,

Pink Floy’s Roger Waters, Crique Du Soleil’s

homage to the late Michael Jackson, and

Coldplay.

Madonna in the Lead

ctress Vidya Balan and Disney UTV Amanaging director Siddharth Roy Kapur

were married in a quiet ceremony which wove

together Tamil and Punjabi rituals. Both the

Tamil and Punjabi traditions kept in mind for

their exchange of vows in what was a

completely privat affair, according to close

friends of the couple. The ceremony tok place

at the Green Gifts bungalow inupscale Bandra,

and was only attended by the couple’s family

and close friends. The bride looked simple, and

said to have changed her wedding attire thrice.

Vidya Balan

sin has enjoyed a success rate of over 80% Ain the film industry, and five of her six

Bollywood releases have turned out to be

successful, however instead of signing some

more films, Asin has decided to take a step back

and take a break. A source close to the actress

said that “she has taken a break and would be

reading new scripts after her holiday.”

Understandably, after enjoying a good record in

Hindi as well as South cinema, she has now

declared that her role has to be really

substantial before green l lights a film. “Till

someone comes to her with a meaty role, she is

staying away. Neither does she wish to get

repetitive nor does she want to do a part just for

the sake of visibility,” said a friend of Asin.

Asin Takes a Break


What's Going On

his director believes that he understands the Ttaste of the viewers so well that he is

confident that his films will never fail. Sajid Khan’s

three ventures “Heyy Babyy”, Housefull”, and

“Housefull 2: The Dirty Dozen did brisk business at

the box office. He is very much sure that his next

film “Himmatwala” a remake of 1983 will follow to

be a hit as well. “I have learned films by watching

them, and I make films as an audience member. I

know what the audience wants, and that is why

my films will never flop,” said Sajid. He has

guaranteed that “Himmatwala” will run full house

and people will not get tickets for three days.

Sajid Khan

niversal Pictures and Walden Media Uannounced that Academy Award winning

actress, director and producer Angelina Jolie is

in talks to direct the WWII drama “Unbroken.”

The film is based on Laura Hillenbrand’s 2010

best seller “Unbroken: A World War II Story of

Survival, Resilience, and Redemption,”

chronicling the life os Olympic athlete Louis

Zamperini, who was captured by the Japanese

navy and detained at a prisoner of war camp

after having suffered a near fatal plane crash

and surviving on a raft for 47 days.

Jolie to DirectWWII Film

irector Michael Bay debunked the D“Transformers 4” rumours, saying that the

leaked scrip is not his film. The Plot details from

“Transormers 4” emerged on the internet recently.

With Bay dismissing the reports, he says only he and

screenwrier Ehren Kruger are in possession of the

story. “Some internet sites reported that some

document recovery guy has found a legitimate 120

page script of “Transformers 4”. I can absolutely 100

percent say this is completely false,” Bay stated. “The

upcoming installment of the action movie will

feature Mark Wahlbery in the lead role, replacing

former star Shia LaBeouf. The movie is due to be

realsed in 2014.

Leaked Scrip Fake


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