Spice JUNE 2018 ipad pdf

VARUN DHAWAN | EDUCATION SPECIAL | JODHPUR
spice
www.spiceroutemagazine.com
Volume 12 | Issue 06 | June 2018
THE INFLIGHT MAGAZINE
INTRODUCING

FROM THE
CMD’S DESK
Dear Readers.
Welcome aboard SpiceJet!
The airline industry is fiercely
competitive worldwide. Large capital
investments, rising fuel cost and huge
operating expenses can leave companies
with wafer-thin profit margins. The success
lies in winning passengers by providing
safe, on-time and delightful journeys along
with quick turnaround times.
At SpiceJet, we have made a big
difference to people’s flying experience.
Despite offering the lowest air fares and
the highest consumer value to pricesensitive
passengers, we have been able to
record our third successive profitable year
and 13th consecutive robust quarter.
With your patronage, we have been
able to script one of the biggest aviation
turnarounds and record our highest-ever
annual profit in the past 13 years that we
have been flying.
While some other airlines have seen
their profits decline, SpiceJet’s net profit
for FY 18 grew by 32% to Rs 566.7 crore as
compared to Rs 430.7 crore in the previous
year. Our profits for the January-March ’18
quarter grew by 11% to Rs 46.1 crore from Rs
41.6 crore over the same period last year.
From clocking the industry’s highest
load factor to having one of the best ontime
performance and least cancellations,
SpiceJet has transformed air travel for the
masses and emerged as India’s largest
regional operator. For three years in a row
we have flown with loads in excess of 90% -
a global aviation record.
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, SpiceJet is
setting up the SpiceStar Training Academy
to facilitate skill development for potential
cabin crew members. We are looking
for smart, dedicated and hard-working
youngsters who aspire to build a progressive
career with us. The first batch will graduate
in 2020-21 and SpiceJet is committing 100
per cent placement to candidates.
The new cabin crew members will join
SpiceJet’s experienced pilots, engineers
and maintenance crew who go through
rigorous training to make your air
travel comfortable and a refreshingly
efficient experience. This is in line with
our ambitious plans for the future as we
continue to add seat capacity on existing
routes, identify new destinations with pentup
demand and nurture a healthy growth
in passenger traffic to absorb significant
increase in fuel costs.
In the near future, we will start flying
to Kanpur – a bustling industrial and
commercial hub in Uttar Pradesh with a
population of 3.6 million – and Pakyong
which is a picturesque town in east Sikkim.
The Pakyong airport recently got the licence
for commercial operations and will be the
100th functional airport in the country.
Located 4,500 feet above sea level amid
mountainous terrain, it is an engineering
marvel.
SpiceJet is the only airline to have got
permission to fly from Kolkata to Pakyong
under the government’s UDAN scheme,
which aims to put remote regions on the
aviation map. We will take you there soon
for a ‘Red. Hot. Spicy’ experience in the
foothills of the Himalayas.
Tailwinds and Happy Landings!
Jai Hind!
Ajay Singh
Chairman & Managing Director
2 ||||| AUGUST 2016

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IN DELHI - NCR +
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Also Received Grant of Rs. 10 Lacs from DST
A GLBian showcasing her project to the Honourable PM of India
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TECHNOLOGIES
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THE BEST ENGINEERING INSTITUTE IN INDIA (NORTH) AWARD, 2018
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June Cover.indd All Pages
www.spiceroutemagazine.com
Volume 12 | Issue 06 | June 2018
VARUN DHAWAN | EDUCATION SPECIAL | JODHPUR
THE INFLIGHT MAGAZINE
31/05/18 3:15 PM
spice
JUNE 2018
www.spicejet.com
INTRODUCING
CONTENTS
GROOMING TO PERFECTION
As it celebrates 13 years of an incredible journey, SpiceJet launches
SpiceStar, its in-house cabin crew training academy that will take
off with the grooming of potential cabin crew
56
IF IT’S KAMSHET, IT MUST
BE PARAGLIDING
Nestled in the Sahyadris,
Kamshet is a tiny rural outpost
that seeks to thrill. One of India’s
finest paragliding locations, a
two-day introductory course
here is the best way to get
acquainted with this aerial sport.
62
THE VOICE ON THE METRO
A familiar news reader during
Doordarshan’s golden era,
Shammi Narang now provides
the Hindi voiceover for all major
Indian Metros.
50
14
JUNE 2018

CONTENTS
66 BEHIND THE FACADE 82
From the ancient world’s
aphrodisiac to prohibition era’s
secret ingredient for great
cocktails, mild-mannered celery
has an exciting back story
THE AFFABLE STAR
Varun Dhawan expounds on
his last release October, telling
common man stories and
honesty in acting.
72
INSPIRING WITH
CLEANLINESS
Sundara is using the humble
soap to improve lives in Indian
slums and villages.
SPICEJET INSIDER
Social media 20
SpiceVacations.com22
Spice products24
News168
My town 169
Mobile apps170
Stars of SpiceJet172
Onboard menu174
SpiceJet add-ons175
SpiceJet fleet176
Route map178
16
JUNE 2018

CONTENTS
spice
JUNE 2018
5 MUST-DOS IN JODHPUR
There is much more to the second largest city of Rajasthan than just
being known as the Blue City.
152
90
EDITOR
RAJU BIST
rajubist@mwspiceroute.in
ART DIRECTOR
AMIT NAIK
DEPUTY ART DIRECTORS
HEMALI LIMBACHIYA
TANVI SHAH
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
VIDHI DOSHI
PRODUCTION MANAGER
MANGESH SALVI
SENIOR DIGITAL MANAGER
JAYESH V. SALVI
AD SALES
MUMBAI
VINOD MOHITE
+91 9323554207, vinod@mwspiceroute.in
RAHUL MUKHERJEE
rahul@mwspiceroute.in
NEW DELHI
TANVEER AHMAD
+91 9555098401, tanveer@mwspiceroute.in
MUDIT SRIVASTAVA
mudit@mwspiceroute.in
CHENNAI, PONDICHERRY, HYDERABAD
CECIL S KOTEY
cecil@mwspiceroute.in
BENGALURU
ANURADHA KUBER
anuradha.kuber@mwspiceroute.in
KOLKATA
PULAK GHOSH
spicerouteeast.advt@gmail.com
KERALA
SANJEEV NAIR
MODE MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS PVT LTD.
sanjeev@modemedia.in
GUJARAT
SANJAY CHAWDA
sanjaychawda@gmail.com
For international advertising contact
Vinod Mohite (vinod@mwspiceroute.in) 9323554207
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18
JUNE 2018

SPICEJET
INSIDER
@flyspicejet Undoubtedly the best
domestic airline. Staff behaviour and the
inflight meal options are very nice.
@flyspicejet Very
impressed with SpiceJet.
Flew with them four times
in a week. All flights were
on time, one was even
early. Professional staff
and service.
@LifevsZindagi
@MujMash
@flyspicejet Yay! Thanks for your prompt service
in locating my Kindle.
@ajay_289
@flyspicejet We were travelling
from Delhi to Patna when my wife
lost her gold chain and diamond
pendant. I dropped a mail to the
customer service department of
SpiceJet. I was pleasantly surprised
when we got back the ornaments. I
have no words to express my
feelings. I appreciate the honesty
of SpiceJet employees.
@CHITRANJAN7419
@flyspicejet
Not bad... The
inflight menu is
lovely. Great
going!
@shwetabahl
BUZZ ON
SOCIAL MEDIA
@flyspicejet Best airline.
Takes utmost care of its passengers.
@VPSujithKumar
@flyspicejet Thank you for taking good care
of senior citizens. My mom travelled from
Hyderabad to Goa.
@SaraswatPrakash
@flyspicejet Flew Delhi-
Bangalore. The food served
was fresh, piping hot and
delicious. Best food had in
a while in the domestic
sector. Keep it up guys!
@flyspicejet I misplaced my boarding
pass. Thanks to your Madurai team
for arranging a duplicate.
@QuiescentKJ
@flyspicejet It was a great experience flying from
Bangalore to Patna by flight no. SG-768. Excellent
service on all counts. I am impressed.
@rohitsingh3280
@DrNiraj20
FIND YOUR FAVOURITE AIRLINE ON @FLYSPICEJET ON TWITTER & FACEBOOK
20
JUNE 2018

SPICEJET
INSIDER
SPICEVACATIONS.COM
GREAT DEALS ON HOTELS AND PACKAGES
PLAN YOUR HOLIDAYS WITH SPICEJET’S UNIQUE INITIATIVE
SPICEVACATIONS.COM, A PLETHORA OF END-TO-END TRAVEL SOLUTIONS, MAKING
YOUR TRAVELS NOT JUST CONVENIENT, BUT ALSO RED. HOT. SPICY
Now book your
hotel as soon as
you land
SPICEVACATIONS.COM is a one-stop
shop for hotel bookings and customised
travel packages, offering services
beyond the ordinary. Take your pick
from a vast network of domestic and
international holiday destinations, and
book your flights with the right bundle
of services to ensure an effortless
journey. Carefully hand-picked hotels,
quick car rentals, and travel packages
created in association with local holiday
experts – you have much to benefit
from SpiceVacations.com. On the
website, you can choose between
cheap, budget and luxury vacations;
search for the best hotels across India;
and have a great experience while saving
money. In addition, backpackers can add
some comfort to their travels without
lightening their pockets. For those who
haven’t booked their hotels, you can
book your hotel as soon as you land.
With SpiceVacations.com, you can
make changes in your itinerary online, at
every step of the trip. For instance, if you
want to opt for a bigger car even if the
package entails a smaller one, you can do
so with ease. You need to simply decide
on the theme of your vacation, such
as pilgrimage, honeymoon, heritage,
wildlife, beach or hills, and the platform
throws up a wide variety of deals in
terms of location, hotel arrangements,
local sightseeing tours and car rentals,
among others.
With this unique initiative by
SpiceJet, you have the flexibility of
booking a package at a minimal amount
and can pay the rest later through
various EMI options that are made
available along with other regular
options on offer.
As the website is powered by
SpiceJet, you can enjoy great flight
and hotel deals. All these culminate in
smart, convenient and detailed travel
packages. In keeping with the times, the
new product will also be connected with
SpiceJet’s mobile app but this will be
done at a later stage.
So, travel the world with SpiceJet’s
enviable travel packages and experience
the perfect holiday.
SHUTTERSTOCK
22
JUNE 2018

SPICEJET
INSIDER
INNOVATIONS FOR
COMFORT
& CONVENIENCE
AT SPICEJET, we believe that customer experience can always be improved upon. In
keeping with this philosophy, we are constantly looking for ways to make travel not
just a hassle-free experience, but also one that passengers will remember.
Our slew of innovations reflects this: a product that rewards travellers who travel only
with hand baggage; another that makes life easier for those who carry heavy baggage,
but not heavy enough to be checked-in; yet another that offers a bigger choice of
meals on board; a product that provides seat and meal of your choice; products to
please those who are always on the lookout for extra legroom; a prepaid card that
allows passengers to make cashless transactions; and finally an add-on service that
allows the flexibility of cancelling or changing ticket(s) to suit your travel plan.
24
JUNE 2018

SPICEJET
INSIDER
1SpiceMax
SpiceJet’s SpiceMax provides more comfort and
convenience. With extra legroom and greater
personal space, passengers can travel with ease.
Apart from significantly extra legroom on
board, fliers can also enjoy other
added ancillary products such as
priority check-in, complimentary
meal and beverage, priority
baggage handling and priority
boarding (aerobridge gates) at
dedicated SpiceMax counters at the
airport for a modest add-on fee per
sector. The ease with which fliers can opt
for this product enhances the experience.
When booking a connecting flight with a
stop-over, passengers can purchase SpiceMax
seats separately for the two flights.
3
Hot Meals
and cup noodles) are also served.
Passengers have a wide
In addition, dhokla is available
variety of meals to opt
as a gluten-free option for
for on SpiceJet flights.
pre-booking on Q400 flights.
Those flying Boeings
Pre-booking a meal offers
are spoilt for choice. There are
other choices and benefits,
two choices each of breakfast,
too: the option of a gluten-free
lunch, dinner, snacks and
hot meal; dhokla preparation;
sandwiches. Eight Chef’s
a menu with Thai, Continental
Choice menus are available
and Indian options;
24x7 (Boeing and prebooking
only), including
to onboard prices; passengers
discounted rates compared
Grilled Chicken Breast
can wish their loved ones on
with Mushroom Sauce, Yellow Rice,
birthdays and anniversaries
Sautéed Carrot & Beans Baton in
mid-air with a cake on select
non-vegetarian and Vegetable Pasta
flights; and a takeaway Kids’ Meal
in Neapolitan sauce in vegetarian.
bag, shaped like an airplane.
Passengers taking Q400 flights can
In addition to hot meal,
choose from two different types of
passengers also have an
sandwiches. Hot beverages (tea and
option of enjoying a Jain
coffee) and ready-to-eat products
Cold sandwich when
(like dal chawal, veg biryani, upma
they pre-book.
2
Seat + Meal Combo
This provides seat and meal
of the passengers's choice
at discounted rates. The
product can be purchased
for `399 on the Domestic and `499 on
the International Sector. It is on a per
passenger, per sector basis and can be
availed of by guest and SpiceClub member.
A passenger can purchase the product by
clicking on the Add-On’s Page/Seat Map
Page on www.spicejet.com at the initial
booking stage or by clicking on Manage
My Bookings tab after the booking has
been made or minimum six hours prior to
the scheduled departure.
PRE-BOOK NOW!
Pre-book your meals to make your
journey with us a more comfortable
experience. You can enjoy exceptional
discounted rates. It makes purchasing
food and beverages onboard an entirely
cashless affair. You can pre-book at the
time of booking your flight, or add it later
through ‘Manage My Booking’ on the
website, www.spicejet.com.
4
You 1st
Helping you make your travels
smoother is this special offering
from SpiceJet. For just `399, you
can now get a combination of
priority check-in as well as preferred bagout
by availing of this unique product. For
passengers catching ex-India flights, it is
available at `499. Passengers availing of this
service will have to check-in for their flight at
the airport check-in counter, as Priority-Check-
In. The booking, made via the SpiceJet website
(www.spicejet.com), can be availed latest up
to two hours before the scheduled departure.
25
JUNE 2018

5
My Flexi Plan
Planning a trip will be easier
than ever with SpiceJet’s
new innovative add-on
service, My Flexi Plan.
Passengers can now enjoy the flexibility
of cancelling or changing the ticket(s) to
suit their travel plan. If they are certain
about travel but not about the dates,
then they can book a ticket by opting
for this service. Customers can opt for
this add-on at the time of booking done
through reservation team by paying a fee
of `1,500 for domestic travel ticket and
`1,750 for international travel ticket. The
service will be applicable only for one
change or one cancellation per ticket.
7Carry More On Board
Making air travel even more
convenient, SpiceJet’s
‘Carry More On Board’
is a service for travellers
with heavier cabin baggage. It is
targeted at passengers who carry
cabin baggage heavier than 7 kg,
and do not want to check-in. Fliers
can carry bags weighing up to 5 kg
extra, a maximum of 12 kg on board,
while paying a nominal fee for each
kg above 7 kg. Bags can be heavier,
but not larger, and the standard free
baggage allowances remain as before.
Customers can opt for this product
during airport check-in and at airport
ticket counters
SPICEJET
INSIDER
6
Priority Check-In
This service provides the passenger a hassle free and comfortable
check-in experience at the airport with SpiceJet’s dedicated priority
check-in counter. The passenger can buy Priority Check-In while or
after making the booking. It can be bought latest up to two hours
before the scheduled departure. The service is available only on www.spicejet.
com or via SpiceJet’s Reservations. The pre-paid service can be bought for per
passenger, per sector of the journey, on the payment of the non-refundable fees.
A Priority Check-In for flights within and/or originating from India costs `200. For
flights originating from out of India, the fare is `300. The fees are refundable if the
booking is cancelled by the passenger or the flight is cancelled by the airline. There
is no additional fee applicable for infant passengers. Passengers who have bought
Priority Check-In will have to check-in for their flight at the airport check-in counter.
8
Hand
Baggage Only
This is another unique product that offers a discount to those
passengers who carry only hand baggage. Available on most direct
domestic flights, this fare has a minimum 15-day advance purchase
period, and no free check-in baggage allowance is permissible.
Bookings for this can be made on www.spicejet.com, at airport ticket offices, and
through select online travel portals. Passengers should keep in mind that hand
baggage allowance does not change. Those who book these fares, but decide to
check in luggage later, will have to pay more.
26
JUNE 2018

OPENING SHOT
HERITAGE
ON THE UPKEEP DRIVE
THE JURY IS STILL OUT ON WHETHER the recent handing over of the Red
Fort to a business group was a retrograde step or a correct one with the aim of
preserving historical monuments. But that is not stopping the Ministry of
Tourism from going ahead with its `Adopt a Heritage’ project. Private and
public sector companies as well as individuals are being invited to bid for the
development of tourism friendly amenities at 93 ASI (Archaeological Survey
of India) monuments. Among the key ones are Fatehpur Sikri (Agra), Rani Ki
Vav (Patan), St. Francis Church (Kochi), India Gate (Delhi) and the cave
temple complex in Badami. The Tourism Ministry mandarins have even
coined a term for the company/individual adopting any one of the attractions
— Monument Mitra!
Clockwise from left: Rani ki Vav, Fatehpur
Sikri, St Francis Church, India Gate and a
temple in Badami
30
JUNE 2018

OPENING SHOT
MUSEUMS
NOW FLYING
SpiceJet flies to Chennai. Log on
to www.spicejet.com for details
TREASURES OF THE SOUTH
OFTEN OVERLOOKED BY TOURISTS while
soaking in Chennai’s attractive beaches,
temples and shopping areas is a unique
museum, a living museum no less. Located
just 25 km away from the city centre,
Dakshina Chitra displays art, architecture,
lifestyles, crafts and performing arts of
South India. It houses 18 authentic historical
houses, each holding a contextual exhibition
within its premises. Visitors can also
participate in public programming like craft
workshops, special activities for students
and children and attend seminars. In
addition, there is a restaurant, open air
theatre, ceramic centre and crafts bazaar.
RAJU BIST
32
JUNE 2018

OPENING SHOT
STATES
CALLING ALL
ADVENTURERS
MAHARASHTRA HAS ALWAYS BEEN
RATED very highly by tourists for its ancient
pilgrimage centres, colourful festivals,
sprawling national parks, stunning hill
stations and majestic forts. Now the
Maharashtra Tourism Development
Corporation (MTDC) is all gung-ho to
heavily promote its varied but largely
unreported adventure hotspots. And there’s
a lot on its plate. There’s river rafting on the
Kundalika river at Kolad. It’s USP: you can
indulge in the sport for most part of the year
since the river is fed largely by water from
the gates of the Bhira dam that are opened
up every day. If you have a yen for wildlife
spotting, then head to the Tadoba Andhari
Tiger Reserve. Tarkarli on the Konkan coast
is ideal for snorkelling, scuba diving and
speed boat rides. Parasailing is also a
popular activity on some of the Konkan
beaches. Finally, if it is paragliding that gets
your adrenalin rushing, then Bhandardara,
Panchgani, Chikhaldara and Kamshet are
just right for you.
See our detailed story on paragliding at
Kamshet in this issue (page 56 onwards).
From top: Paragliding in Kamshet; tiger
spotting in Tadoba; and speed boat
riding in Tarkarli
ALAMY & SHUTTERSTOCK
34
JUNE 2018

S U M M E R
R A R E R A B B I T

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alliance with Amity University, one of India’s top-most universities, offers you a
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www.spicestaracademy.edu.in
info@spicestaracademy.edu.in
+91 98110 00067 (Spice Star Campus)
Spice Star Academy, 340, Udyog Vihar Phase 4, Gurugram 122016 Amity University, Sector 125, NOIDA 201313

MELANGE
EVENTS
HOT DATES
DANCE // MUSIC // THEATRE // ART
CINEMA
BHAVESH JOSHI SUPERHERO
Our very own desi superhero film, with Harshvardhan
Kapoor among the leads. Directed by Vikramaditya
Motwane, of Udaan, Lootera and Trapped fame. Music by
the very talented Amit Trivedi.
When: June 1, 2018
Where: All over
ART
NEW CONFIGURATIONS
The Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) is presenting a
special exhibition of modern and contemporary masters and
displaying new acquisitions alongside vignettes from the
permanent collection. Featured will be several important works
like Krishen Khanna’s Pieta, Mrinalini Mukherjee’s Van Raja and
Nalini Malini’s Ecstacy of Radha. KNMA’s permanent collection
has over 4,000 masterpieces by 400 south Asian artists.
When: Upto July 31, 2018
Where: Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), Noida
CONCERT
MAGIC PIANO
Magic Piano & The Chopin Shorts is being presented for
the first time in India. This ‘Screen & Score’ experience
synchs the music of Frederic Chopin performed ‘live’,
with a set of unique animations. The main feature, Magic
Piano, tells the story of Anna & Chip - Chip’s adventure
of discovery aboard a magic, flying piano.
When: June 12 to 17, 2018
Where: Mumbai
38
JUNE 2018

MELANGE
EVENTS
MUSIC
BAPPI LAHIRI RETRO
'Yaad Aa Raha Hain Tera
Pyaar', an evening of old
Bappi Lahiri hits is sure to
delight Bollywood music
aficionados. The king of
synthesized disco music in
Indian cinema in the 70s
and 80s is remembered
even today for his footstomping
musical hits
like I am a disco dancer,
Tamma Tamma Loge, Pag
ghungroo baandh and
Yaar Bina Chain Kahan Re.
When: June 8, 2018
Where:
Shanmukhananda,
Mumbai
WORKSHOP
ACTING AND DANCE
The workshop is being conducted by actor and Chairman of the
Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Anupam Kher’s An
Actor Prepares school. Established in 2005, An Actor Prepares is
aimed at budding writers and actors.
When: June 16, 2018
Where: Santacruz, Mumbai
SPORTS
BADMINTON
The Junior Pro-Shuttler is back at the world-class Manav
Rachna Sports Academy, Sector-14, Faridabad. Organized
by Born To Play, the boys and girls will display their skills
across four categories: under-11, under-13, under-15 and
under-17.
When: June 23-24, 2018
Where: Faridabad
40
JUNE 2018

MELANGE
EVENTS
JUNE LISTINGS
2 3 8
What
Beach camping
Where
Kashid, Alibaug
What
Filmcity tour
Where
Goregaon,
Mumbai
What
Pankaj Udhas
show
Where
Ghanekar
Natyagruha,
Thane
9What
Shiamak Davar
event
Where
Sirifort, Delhi
11 13
What
Rambo Circus
Where
Virar
What
Segway tour
Where
Rajpath, Delhi
14 15 16
What
Bike trip
Where
Manali-Leh-Ladakh
What
Fort trek
Where
Raigad
What
Trekking
Where
Roopkund,
Uttarakhand
23 24
29
What
A R Rahman Live
Where
Kochi
What
Food Fest
Where
Royal Orchid,
Bengaluru
What
Modelling
workshop
Where
Chennai
SHUTTERSTOCK (EID)
42
JUNE 2018

ESTD :2001 College code : 133 | 273 (for MCA) www.niet.co.in
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www.niet.co.in

MELANGE
INFORMATION
WHAT'S NEW
RAJASTHAN’S NEW TOURISM
PROMOTION CAMPAIGN TAKES
OFF •
Launched just a few months ago, Rajasthan
Tourism 3.0, the state government’s new
tourism policy, is now in full swing. The
multimodal, multinarrative and multicrore
global campaign to galvanize tourism aims
to raise the number of tourist arrivals in the
state to 50 million by 2020. A new logo and
brand identity for the campaign have also
been launched. The campaign also includes
a new website and print ads, TV and outdoor
spots which are aimed at attracting both the
seasoned traveller and the youth.
REDISCOVERING HYDERABAD WITH HERITAGE
WALKS •
Hyderabad, the enchanting capital of Telangana, is on the mustvisit
list of many travellers, lured by tales of its glorious history,
spectacular monuments and rich art and culture. Since there
is so much to see and do in the city, the Tourism Department,
Government of Telangana, has been organizing heritage walks
as a delightful way to explore the charming city. The walks —
there are four of them — have now been revamped to cater to a
younger target audience.
HOTEL TAJ MAHAL PALACE LEADS THE WAY •
It came as no surprise when one of Mumbai’s best-known
landmarks recently bagged an important honour. The Taj Mahal
Palace was declared as a `global legendary hotel'. The title
was bestowed by TrustYou, a leading global guest feedback
aggregator. In the fray were urban hotels all over the world
with more than 200 rooms. The Taj Mahal Palace scored very
high on various parameters including location, check-in, guest
experience, facilities, check-out and quality of rooms.
SHUTTERSTOCK

MELANGE
INFORMATION
GLOBAL CRUISE TOURISM
ON DUBAI'S RADAR •
Dubai will look beyond the harbour
for its next phase of development
— the emirate plans to become a
global cruise tourism hub. Two cruise
terminal buildings will be erected
totally covering 30,000 sq. m. In the
second stage, two more terminal
buildings will come up. Once the
whole project is in place, six cruise
ships will be handled simultaneously.
The cruise plan is an important
component of Dubai Tourism Vision
2020, which aims to attract 20 million
visitors a year to the emirate. The idea
behind the hub: make Dubai the start
for cruises to exclusive destinations.
ALL EYES ON MAJOR THAI GOLF TOURNEY •
If you are in Thailand this month, and if golf happens to be a passion,
do take some time off to attend an important event in the region. The
Mercure Pattaya Ocean Resort 2 Ball Championship 2018 is being held
between June 17 and 23. You can play at Pattaya’s world class golf
courses with all the trappings of a major professional tournament. A
Golfer Package includes six nights’ accommodations in Pattaya, four
rounds of championship golf at Siam CC (Plantation, Old, Waterside)
and Laem Chabang, daily breakfast, welcome dinner, return airport/
land transfers and a chance to win lucky draw prizes worth US
$10,000. There is also a non-golfer package.
RELIGIOUS TOURISM PICKS UP IN INDIA •
According to a recent study conducted by a leading travel
search engine, religious tourism is turning out to be an
important segment of Indian tourism. The top four attractive
religious centres are Puri (Odisha), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh),
Tirupathi (Andhra Pradesh) and Shirdi (Maharashtra), in that
order. One offshoot of this boom is that hotel bookings are on
the upswing in these places. Other upcoming places on the
Indian religious tourism map are Somnath Jyotirlinga (Gujarat),
Ranakpur Temple (Rajasthan), Velankanni Church (Tamil Nadu)
and Rameshwaram's Ramanathaswamy temple (Tamil Nadu).
An important finding of the study is the growth in the number
of young adults seeking to connect with their spiritual roots.
SHUTTERSTOCK
46
JUNE 2018

Powered by
SPICE STAR
ACADEMY
A SMART DEGREE AND
A HANDSOME SALARY.
THAT’S ADDING
TWO FEATHERS
IN YOUR CAP.
Spice Star Academy is all set to give wings to your dreams. The Academy in
alliance with Amity University, one of India’s top-most universities, offers you a
unique ‘Earn while you learn’ degree programme. A certificate in In-flight
Management is included in the programme and you can complete it in the first
six months of enrolment. This unique programme gives you an edge over
peers, opening up avenues in the aviation industry beyond cabin crew.
So go ahead, spread your wings and shine like a star.
COURSE
OFFERED
BACHELOR OF BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION CUM CERTIFICATE
IN IN-FLIGHT MANAGEMENT
FAST-TRACK YOUR CAREER
GUARANTEED
JOB
STARTING
SALARY OF
`8 8 LAKHS+ UPON
GRADUATION
SALARY OF
`3.5 LAKHS+
WITHIN 6-12 MONTHS
OF ENROLMENT
TRAINING BY
INDUSTRY
EXPERTS
22 DAYS OF
RESIDENTIAL
PROGRAMME
AT AMITY
ACCESS TO
INFRASTRUCTURE
OF BOTH SPICEJET
AND AMITY
www.spicestaracademy.edu.in
info@spicestaracademy.edu.in
+91 98110 00067 (Spice Star Campus)
Spice Star Academy, 340, Udyog Vihar Phase 4, Gurugram 122016 Amity University, Sector 125, NOIDA 201313

GROOMING FUTURE LEADERS
AS IT CELEBRATES 13 YEARS OF AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY, SPICEJET LAUNCHES SPICESTAR, ITS IN-HOUSE
TRAINING ACADEMY THAT WILL TAKE OFF WITH THE GROOMING OF POTENTIAL CABIN CREW
50
JUNE 2018

COVER STORY
SPICESTAR
The figures speak for
themselves. According
to the Economic Survey
released early this year
by the Department of
Economic Affairs, Finance Ministry of
India, India is the world’s third largest
domestic aviation market (in terms of
the number of tickets sold). The Survey
also revealed that the government has
set aside a whopping Rs 4,500 crore for
the revival of 50 un-served and underserved
airports/air strips. The
renovations are expected to be
completed by December 2018.
Furthermore, according to the India
Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), a
Trust established by the Department of
Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and
Industry, Government of India, the
country is expected to become the
world's largest aviation market by 2030.
Clearly, there is a lot of action taking
place in the sector and hence the logical
corollary: a massive spurt in the
demand for aviation-related jobs.
SpiceJet, one of the fastest-growing
aviation companies in the world, all set
to meet this growing demand, has now
launched its very own cabin crew
training academy, SpiceStar. The
academy offers programme
participants a degree recognised by the
UGC (University Grants Commission)
from Amity University, the numero uno
A rapidly growing economy has
led to unprecedented boom in
the travel and tourism industry.
SpiceJet was born 13 years
ago and has emerged as the
country’s favourite airline that
made flying affordable for more
Indians than ever before. We
operate over 410 daily flights
to 48 domestic and seven
international destinations with
a fleet of 37 Boeing 737s and 22
Bombardier Q400s.
MR. AJAY SINGH, CMD, SpiceJet
not-for-profit private university in the
country. Candidates will be able to fasttrack
their career with a 22-day
residential programme at Amity and
have access to the infrastructure of
both, Amity and SpiceJet.
The launch of the SpiceStar
Training Academy could not have come
at a better time for SpiceJet, f lying high
with a very profitable year just behind
it. The airline’s profits for the financial
year ending March 2018 grew by 32% on
the back of an increase of 26% revenue.
Its passenger yields (Revenue per Seat
Kilometre) went up 9%.
SpiceJet also boasts of the highest
passenger load factor among airlines in
India. Its average load factor for the
January-March 2018 quarter was
95.4%, and for the full financial year,
94.7%. The airline has now flown with
the highest loads in India for three years
in a row — its loads have been in excess
of 90% for this period, which is a global
record.
51
JUNE 2018

COVER STORY
SPICESTAR
THE SCREENING CRITERIA FOR
THE INITIAL SELECTION OF
STUDENTS
• Nationality: Indian
• Age: Minimum 18 years and
maximum 27 years
• Marital status: Unmarried
• Height: Minimum 155 cm for women
and minimum 173 cm for men
• Weight: In proportion to height and
within the BMI range (18-22 for females,
21-25 for males)
• Eyesight: Normal (Acceptable
limit: +/- 3)
• Language: Fluency in Hindi and
English
• Appearance: Clear complexion; no
tattoos, marks or blemishes on any
visible body part
• Each student(s) must have
successfully cleared/completed their
higher secondary examination (i.e.
10+2) from a recognized board
• Selection subject to medical tests
at registered aeromedical centres as
mandated by DGCA
We have drawn ambitious
growth plans for future. We
plan to expand our reach
and operations on domestic
and international routes. We
are launching the SpiceStar
Training Academy to facilitate
skill development for smart,
dedicated and hard-working
people who aspire to build a
progressive career with us.
MR. AJAY SINGH, CMD, SpiceJet
There have been notable
achievements on other fronts too.
SpiceJet has bagged 20 routes in the
second round of UDAN (Ude Desh Ka
Aam Nagrik, the regional connectivity
scheme launched by Prime Minister
Shri Narendra Modi in April 2017). It
now operates to six destinations under
the well-received UDAN.
A major plus with SpiceStar is its
impeccable parentage. Time and again,
SpiceJet's many achievments have been
lauded, and recognition has often come
by way of some notable awards along the
way.
These have included the ‘Best
Domestic Airline’ award at the
prestigious Wings India Awards for
Excellence in the Aviation Sector;
Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Civil
Aviation Sector for the Decade award
for Mr. Ajay Singh, from The Airline
Passengers Association of India; and
the Best Corporate Governance India
Award from Capital Finance
International.
“In May 2018, SpiceJet celebrated 13
years of an incredible journey. From
scripting one of the biggest aviation
turnarounds to three successive
profitable years, record aircraft orders,
industry’s highest load factor and high
on-time performance, the airline has
indeed come a long way and emerged as
the country’s largest regional operator,”
says Mr. Ajay Singh.
“Despite rising fuel prices, SpiceJet
continues to record profits and has
recorded the highest annual profit in its
history. With the fuel efficient B737
MAX joining our f leet, we will continue
to expand at home and abroad and strive
to improve profitability and operating
performance,” he added.
52
JUNE 2018

COVER STORY
SPICESTAR
The launch of the new state-of-theart
training centre in Gurgaon comes on
the back of a huge proposed expansion
at the airline. SpiceJet is expanding its
operations manifold. In all, 205 Boeing
B737 MAX aircraft (extendible to 255)
have been ordered, along with 50
Q400s. The first lot of deliveries are
expected to start by the end of this year.
A large chunk of the new academy’s
faculty will come from SpiceJet and the
first batch of the programme will
graduate in 2020-2021. Parents of
potential students, first year college
students, fresh school pass-outs and
students appearing for their 12th
standard board exams, are expected to
be drawn towards SpiceStar. There
could not have been a better choice for
flagging off the new academy and its
courses. For the cabin crew are, in a
manner of speaking, ambassadors for
any airline and the staffers who not only
come in maximum contact with the
passengers, but also ensure their safety,
welfare and comfort.
The selection of the students will be
based on screening criteria that will
access, among other things, age, weight
and appearance (see box). If selected, a
As a second part of the training
programme, the students are bound to
complete the remaining semesters with
Amity University, which boasts of
teaching more than a lakh students at its
various campuses in India and abroad.
Selected students will be enrolled in a
three year, online degree course in
Bachelors in Business Administration
student will undergo
(Online) to be conducted by
training that will be split
Amity. The BBA degree will
MODULES OF
over two segments. The
also include 22 days of Amity
first part will consist of a THE INFLIGHT campus study. Here is a
six months mandatory CERTIFICATE wonderful opportunity for
training at the SpiceStar
potential recruits to earn
COURSE
Academy. The modules
while they learn. After the
• Communication
here will include
skills & successful completion of the
communication skills &
diction training, grooming
and safety management
(see box) as required by the
DGCA (Directorate
General of Civil Aviation).
diction training.
• Grooming.
• Safety
management.
• Regulatory
training - First aid.
six month certification, the
students will be offered an
internship with SpiceJet as
cabin crew. They can
simultaneously continue
studying for their online
This first semester of the
• DGR - degree. As interns, the cabin
Dangerous goods.
course basically doubles up
crew will be entitled to a
• Aviation
as a Certification in
security.
stipend which is bound to
In-flight Management.
increase with tenure.
Here is the USP of the programme:
the students will be offered a confirmed
employment with SpiceJet after the
completion of their three year course,
thus allowing them to shape up their
career. This will entitle them to all
terms and benefits of a full term
employee, with a starting salary of up to
Rs. 8 lakh pa. The combined course fee
for the three years at Amity will be Rs.
3.75 lakh. The students will start flying
as soon as they clear their six month
inflight certification course. They will
thus be able to recover the invested
amount in the first year of flying itself.
The launch of the new academy is
a major milestone in SpiceJet’s
remarkable history. It is also a
revolutionary step in ensuring that
India’s leading private airline virtually
has the whole aviation ecosystem
within its fold.
HOW TO APPLY
Prospective candidates can log on to
spicestar.edu.in for details
54
JUNE 2018

IF IT’S KAMSHET,
IT MUST BE
PARAGLIDING
NESTLED IN THE SAHYADRIS, KAMSHET
IS A TINY RURAL OUTPOST THAT SEEKS
TO THRILL. ONE OF INDIA’S FINEST
PARAGLIDING LOCATIONS, A TWO-DAY
INTRODUCTORY COURSE HERE IS THE
BEST WAY TO GET ACQUAINTED WITH
THIS AERIAL SPORT. TEXT AND
PHOTOGRAPHS BY: PARIKSHIT RAO
PHOTO FEATURE
ADVENTURE
SpiceJet flies to Pune,
50 km away. Log on to
www.spicejet.com for details
A tandem ride will definitely help you get
a taste of paragliding but the real fun is
being able to glide on your own
Having your head in
the clouds means
different things to
different people.
The art of flying,
however, was perfected through the
ages — from the misadventures of
Icarus to the Wright brothers —
enabling us to zoom across continents
in an airplane. At Kamshet, flying
means paragliding. Situated 110 km
away from Mumbai and a mere
50 km from Pune, Kamshet’s gentle
hills, climate, and wind conditions
have made it a first-class paragliding
site. Since the mid-’90s, a large
number of experienced pilots and
enthusiasts have flocked here during
the flying season. This is where I
earned my flying stripes through
Nirvana Adventures, a reputed
paragliding school.
56
JUNE 2018

PHOTO FEATURE
ADVENTURE
Located in the Sahyadris, Kamshet's
low-rolling hills make the town highly
suitable for paragliding
A glider canopy is spread out as learners are
taught how to fold and unfold it.
A pilot waits for his turn to take to the skies
at Tower Hill
“Pull harder! Run! Run!” yelled
Sandip, my instructor, as I struggled to
give the glider some lift. The glider
wanted to soar, and I had to stop it from
taking me along. It was immediately
apparent that even a weekend-long
introductory course was no walk in the
park. I had landed at the Native Place —
the school’s groovy lakeside guest house
— just that afternoon. Now, it was
evening and we were a bunch of novices
learning ground handling at Ashram — a
vast grassy bluff with several halfconstructed
buildings in ruins.
Paragliding starts with
understanding the equipment and how
its various parts (canopy, harness and
controls) function jointly with each
other. Some upper arm strength is
definitely required. Ground handling
lessons cover this aspect thoroughly and
I gained a clear understanding of the
physics of flying along with building
strength to launch forward by tugging
the glider behind me. Although
exhausting, this session helped us
immensely the next day.
The second day started early. At
around 7 am, I had already started
walking towards Shinde Hill — one of
Kamshet’s low flying sites perfect for
beginners. Amateurs usually stick to the
lower slopes and launch from 120 feet
above ground level, where gentle
thermals abound. Nirvana’s instructors
ensured that we revised our previous
day’s ground handling lessons and
performed mandatory checks on our
equipment, before we were let loose.
My first taste of free flight came in
the form of Bunny Hops — a series of low,
short-duration flights (lasting about
15-30 seconds). Launching forward, my
feet left the ground instantly and I
couldn’t believe how easy and exalting it
was to fly all on my own. During those
58
JUNE 2018

PHOTO FEATURE
ADVENTURE
Taking off from Tower Hill gives you
panoramic views of Kamshet
A paragliding pilot demonstrates the
forward-launch technique
beautiful moments I became one with
the glider and controls. The slightest tug
at the lines lent direction, controlled
speed, and provided lift to the canopy
that was playfully picking up each strand
of wind to gain lift. I was constantly
receiving instructions on my radio from
ground staff below, which helped in
landing as well. Almost all paragliding
experts emphasise that landing safely is
more important than taking off into the
air. Every site has a landing zone bereft
of trees or other obstacles which could
severely threaten a pilot’s life. With its
bare hillsides and rolling landscape,
Kamshet scores high when it comes to
safety.
Apart from being highly addictive,
paragliding is a serious aerial sport.
People commonly experience this sport
on a tandem ride, which is just a joyride
where you have no actual control.
Signing up for a course means you aren’t
a casual tourist but an interested
student. Nirvana’s friendly instructors
will rigorously encourage you to learn
flying and landing safely through all
days. There are advanced courses on
offer as well, but the two-day
introductory course is perfect for
beginners to get a first-hand feel of
paragliding over a single weekend close
to the city.
Although Kamshet has a few other
paragliding schools, I chose Nirvana
Adventures for its safety record and
affordable packages that include
accommodation and meals in their lovely
guest house. Overlooking the scenic
Vadivali Lake, the property’s location is
stunning and the homely atmosphere is
complemented by native trees, vegetable
gardens, hammocks, picnic tables and
friendly staff. The Native Place is equally
open to host travellers who just want to
spend an idyllic weekend in modest
luxury, including open-air dinners and
BBQs under a canopy of stars. The guest
house remains open during the nonflying
season as well, making it a winwin
situation when you decide to spend a
weekend in Kamshet.
At around 870 feet above ground level, Tower
Hill is Kamshet's highest paragliding site from
where scores of pilots take off
60
JUNE 2018

DIPR/ 616 /DIS/2018
Commissioner of Tourism, Tamil Nadu Tourism Complex, No.2, Wallajah Road, Chennai - 600 002. Tamil Nadu, India.
Ph: 91 44 2533 3333 / 3857, Fax: 91 44 2533 3385. Toll Free: 1800 4253 1111, Visit Us: www.tamilnadutourism.org

PROFILE
SHAMMI NARANG
THE VOICE ON THE METRO
A FAMILIAR NEWS READER DURING DOORDARSHAN’S GOLDEN ERA,
SHAMMI NARANG NOW PROVIDES THE HINDI VOICEOVER FOR ALL MAJOR
INDIAN METROS. BY SARBANI SEN
Every time a passenger
steps into the Delhi
Metro and several other
metro train services
across the country, a deep
baritone, but a friendly, male voice in
Hindi welcomes the person. The voice
guides millions of travellers, many
regulars and some first-timers,
informing them about the destination,
stations on the way, safety precautions
and even warning about pickpockets.
Popularly known as ‘Metro Uncle’
many may not have seen Shammi
Narang’s face. At least not the
millennials. But for those who can recall
watching Hindi news on Doordarshan in
the ’80s and ’90s — when it was the only
TV channel around — Narang is a face
that they recognise even today. Standing
tall at 5 feet and 11 inches, Narang, 60, is a
familiar figure in the tony Hauz Khas
area of New Delhi where he has his
office-cum-studio. He looks like he
hasn’t aged at all over the years. He may
not be in his trademark bandhgala with a
red rose popping out from his breast
pocket, but that trimmed dark
moustache is still in place.
Like many things in his life, Narang
says that voice-over for the Delhi Metro
happened “just like that.” It was in 2001
that the Delhi Metro headed by the
legendary engineer E.Sreedharan
approached him saying that he was their
choice for the Hindi voice-over on the
Metro system. He agreed immediately.
He is chuffed about it even today. “Being
part of the Delhi Metro has been one of
the biggest turning points in my life,” he
claims. Initially he along with Rini
Simon Khanna, for English, recorded for
the shorter route between Shahdara and
Tis Hazari.
Eventually they became the voice of
not just all the routes on the Delhi Metro
but also the Rapid Metro Gurugram as
well as all the major cities in the
country. His company, Pindrop, handles
most of the Metro announcementrelated
projects. “We get scripts from all
the Metros and we record them in Hindi,
English and other regional languages.”
How often he takes the metro ride?
“Not that frequently. But once I was in
the Metro and a young boy was imitating
my voice. My brother, who was with me,
introduced me to the family. The young
boy was almost star-struck,” he shares
with a laugh.
Born and bought up in Delhi, Narang
is a strongly believer in destiny. He
presents himself as the evidence of that.
For instance, the value of his voice was
not known to him until he was 20. It was
while pursuing mechanical engineering
from the YMCA University of Science
and Technology, Faridabad, that he got a
break in the Hindi division of Voice of
America, the radio station.
Narang recalls, “I was standing in
one corner in college when a foreigner
asked if I could do an audio check. He
heard my voice and immediately asked
me to come and give a test.” Narang got
selected and started recording for Voice
of America. He earned Rs 200 per day.
“After my college hours, I would record
news in Hindi which was played at late
night. Rs 200 was a fairly big sum of
money at that time,” he remembers. The
journey continued for almost six months.
62
JUNE 2018

PROFILE
SHAMMI NARANG
In the meanwhile,
Narang completed his
engineering and also
got a job with Larsen &
Toubro. But the voice
bug had bitten him
badly and he was
enjoying doing voiceovers
for jingles,
reading news, and he
had even started
composing music.
But the biggest
break was joining
Doordarshan as a
Hindi newsreader in
1982. Doordarshan
then was the lonely
giant straddling the
television world. As
luck would have it,
among the aspiring
10,000 candidates,
Narang was the chosen
one. “I used to admire
famous newsreaders
With wife, singer Dolly Narang
like Salma Sultan.
Never ever in my
wildest dreams did I think that I would “Once my co-anchor Avinash Kaur Sarin
sit next to her and read news,” he says screamed in fear in the middle of reading
with a sparkle in his eyes.
the news. I couldn’t understand at first
Narang himself soon had a huge fan and with a serious face continued
following. With no Internet or mobile reading. Later she said that a mouse had
phones, he used to get hundreds of letters run over her feet,” he laughs.
from across the country. Scores of
He is not a fan of newsreaders or
marriage proposals too. “Unfortunately, anchors these days. An “invitation to
I was married,” he laughs. Narang’s blood pressure” is how he describes
signature style was tucking his pen in his news watching. “In our days, we were
shirt pocket towards the end of the news asked not to be personal. We, the newsreaders,
were a bridge between the
bulletin. “One particular female fan kept
repeatedly requesting if I could keep the incident and audience,” he says.
pen down one day instead of putting it in Besides reading news on
my pocket. She wanted me to do this to Doordarshan, Narang had branched out
show that I acknowledged her
into a creative business of his own in the
admiration. I did it once just for her after form of a digital recording studio called
my colleagues pestered me to do it at Pindrop in 1998. He was deeply involved
least once,” he says. Remembering his in commercial jingles and compering
DD days, he shares many such anecdotes. shows for various public events. As
satellite television
started invading
India, the prima
donnna status of
Doordarshan began
to gradually
diminish. Narang
eventually left the
channel in 2001. “I
was so involved in
the studio that I
wanted to focus more
on my work,” he says.
Narang dubs for
Hindi films and he
has done a bit of
acting too. He was in
Vishal Bhardwaj’s hit
film Maqbool. He is
fairly scathing about
himself as an actor.
“We broadcasters
are very bad actors.
This is because we
are so conscious of
our voice,” he says.
Narang played the
role of Bhonsle in
Maqbool (2003). Some of his other films
include No One Killed Jessica (2010),
Sarabjit (2016) and Sultan (2016).
Pindrop Studio is now also into film
production. His son Dishant, a graduate
from the London School of Economics,
now handles the load along with Narang.
These days, Narang also pens lyrics and
short stories. He wants to do something
for children and it may happen in a big
way very soon. “With smartphones
around, the habit of reading is fading
among children. I wish to record stories
by major writers and preserve them for
children.”
Narang has many years to look
forward to and achieve greater things,
but looking back he seems a happy
man content with what he has achieved
so far in life.
64
JUNE 2018

dukeindia.com
in

STAR BUZZ
VARUN DHAWAN
I ALWAYS TRY TO BE AN ACTOR FIRST’
VARUN DHAWAN EXPOUNDS ON HIS LAST RELEASE OCTOBER, TELLING COMMON MAN STORIES
AND HONESTY IN ACTING. BY AARTI KAPUR SINGH
VARUN DHAWAN is
perhaps one actor who
straddles the dual worlds of
being a seductive star as well
as the cheerful and
effervescent boy next door.
His biggest strength is his
easy vibe and affability — a
fantastic connect with
whoever he meets — whether
it is journalists, fans or just
anybody else. It is his
sincerity that shines through
in his conversations. And this
also reflects in his
performances — whether
feted or flawed.
In one such easy
conversation, Varun Dhawan,
the son of producer-director
David Dhawan, and brother
of director Rohit Dhawan,
talks passionately about his
cinematic choices, and many
more interesting topics.
GETTY
66
JUNE 2018

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Steel

STAR BUZZ
VARUN DHAWAN
Varun Dhawan (right) poses with his newly
unveiled wax figure at the Madame
Tussauds Wax Museum in Hong Kong
Congratulations on October and the
butterflies in my stomach. That is how
October. We shot it in 37 days — and it was
brave choices that you are making. Is this
October happened. I actually signed this
very intense. I wasn’t doing any shows,
change of gear a conscious decision on
film before Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya and
not attending parties — not being happy
your part?
Judwaa, so people shouldn’t feel I am
at all — and completely immersed in the
Thank you. I won’t say that I am lucky,
doing off beat roles because some of my
film. I was thinking like Dan and being
because sometimes I do have to chase
films have succeeded. And this is in
Dan. I have never been so vulnerable on a
film makers to do these films. Like I
response to your second question. I am a
film set. After a while, it stopped feeling
chased Shoojit Sir (director Shoojit
lover of cinema. I take great inspiration
like shooting. When you know that this is
Sircar). I make no bones about the fact. It
from all sorts of cinema. So I like to watch
acting, it’s a film, there’s a block, that is
started with Yahaan and then Vicky
as well as be a part of as many different
okay. But when it stops feeling like acting
Donor. I was very jealous of Ayushmann
types of films as possible. Shah Rukh
and feels like real life, then the floodgates
(Khurrana) and I have told him that.
Khan has done a Maya Memsaab.
open. There was a part when I started
Then of course Piku. I was itching to work
Aishwarya Rai has done a Choker Bali.
crying on the set, and it wasn’t the hero-
with him. But I thought this guy will
Actors make certain choices to test
type crying, it was the one that makes you
never work with me. I was surprised he
themselves.
embarrassed. It was for five-six minutes.
saw Badlapur. I even went with a script to
It was strange. Then Shoojit Sir came,
him — he politely told me that he chooses
What was the whole experience of
patted my back and said, ‘Give me a shot’.
his own scripts. And finally I get a call
shooting for October like?
I changed my walk, the pitch and the tone
from him saying if I wanted to read this
script that he felt I could do. I had
Oh it was taxing — and liberating. I was
not in a happy space while shooting
which I used while acting in other films.
It was hard, but then it was all worth it.
GETTY
68
JUNE 2018

STAR BUZZ
VARUN DHAWAN
Varun Dhawan while promoting October at a Delhi college
You are shooting Kalank with an
ensemble cast. This year will also see you
in Sui Dhaaga. This will be a busy year for
you?
Kalank has actually been in the works for
a long time. Karan (Johar) had been
wanting to make it for several years. I
cannot tell you much but I can only say it
is a period film. October was a heartbreaking
film for me also. So it was hard
for me to live in that film for very long.
We started shooting for Kalank recently.
And I was happy I had another film to
Playing Dan gave me happiness — in a
example, it has set the benchmark.
dive right into — that was the only way I
world where selfishness is encouraged in
could have got over the mixed feelings of
the garb of individuality. I am lucky that
But in most of your movies, you have
October. So yes, it is a breath of fresh air
this film was offered to me. If this film
appealed to… how do I put it… the masses?
that these opportunities are coming my
had not been offered to me, I would have
remained ignorant of the true meaning
How do you see yourself — as this ‘mass
hero’?
way. Sui Dhaaga is also commercial. But
in a very different zone. I loved its
of love. I am never at one place because of
It is difficult, having been born and
director Sharat Katariya’s Dum Laga ke
my commitments and shooting
brought up in Mumbai. But I do feel
Haisha and I am glad I am working with
schedules and during such moments you
organically attracted to these characters
such a varied set of talented people.
tend to lose track of what should be your
as I feel those are the stories that need to
priority as a human being.
be told. Right from my childhood, while
After six years in the industry and nine
watching Amitabh Bachchan or Govinda
hits, do you consider yourself to be a
Is it unsettling that you can’t predict
or Salman Khan films, I would get
celebrity, a star or an actor?
audience tastes these days? The movies
attracted to them. One of my favourite
Today, a celebrity is of different kinds.
you did were the ones that fit the bracket
films of my dad is Swarg where Govinda
There are social media celebrities, celebs
of masala films (Judwaa 2, Badrinath Ki
played a servant and goes on to become
who get famous doing good things and
Dulhaniya).
an actor. Who doesn’t love the hero-
others who are famous for notoriety. A
Like I said, I love good films, whether
underdog story? I am glad to tell the
star is someone who is obviously very
indie, commercial, regional or whatever.
common man stories because that is the
celebrated and loved. He must be loved
And I believe if a film is good and
strength of India or any other country.
by people if he is a star though that comes
connects with the audience, it will do
with its own riders. But — and I strongly
well. Movies like Lipstick Under my
Speaking of your father, how does he react
believe this — if you want to be a star, you
Burkha and Hindi Medium did
to your choices in cinema?
have to be an actor. Any guy who is a
immensely well. But at the same time, a
My dad is the most commercial producer
superstar today is also a very good actor.
Golmaal 4, Judwaa 2 and Tiger Zinda Hai
there can ever be. So I do discuss a lot
Because acting is also the ability to
did outstanding business too. Post
with him too. I have inherited my love for
connect with people. If you are not
Bahubali, big, commercial masala films
cinema from him. He has never told me
charismatic, if your eyes are not saying a
now have to be event films with a huge
to not do a film — I have now come to
story when you are mouthing your lines,
canvas. Today, with Netflix and
realise this is because he wants me to
if that honesty is not there, you won’t
Amazon, you get your regular, casual
films easily, you don’t need to go to a
undertake my own growth path. I think
he is fine with me making mistakes
connect through a screen to the millions
watching you. I always try to be an actor
theatre to watch it. The need of the hour
because he wants me to learn. See I have
first. A star is something that people
is to merge technology into storytelling
and make good films. Bahubali is a fine
just turned 31. It is nice to be told by my
parents that I am maturing.
make you, you can’t make yourself a
star, right?
GETTY
70
JUNE 2018

FOOD
CELERY
EACH SPICEJET AIRCRAFT HAS BEEN NAMED AFTER
A PARTICULAR SPICE. IN THIS ISSUE WE TALK ABOUT
THE BENEFITS AND USAGE OF CELERY
Celery and spinach soup
BEHIND THE FACADE
FROM THE ANCIENT WORLD’S APHRODISIAC TO PROHIBITION ERA’S SECRET
INGREDIENT FOR GREAT COCKTAILS, MILD-MANNERED CELERY HAS AN EXCITING
BACK STORY. BY MADHULIKA DASH
A FEW YEARS AGO, when seasoned
bartender Yangdup Lama (Co-owner,
Speakeasy & Cocktail) began infusing
classics with stalks, the idea was not only
to create an interesting, even “healthier”
way to enjoy the drinks, but, says Lama,
“to highlight the role of the ingredients
that were till then seen as mere
garnishes.” Remarkably, the first drink
that made the cut was the iconic Bloody
Mary, and the stalk was celery.
Though, continues Lama, “celery
was never a part of the original cocktail
recipe, the way this mild-mannered herb
ups the drink quotient is fascinating,
even in its salt-flavouring version.”
Interestingly, this wasn’t the first time
that celery — which back in 5 AD Asia
was used as an antidote to relieve pain
and exhaustion — rose to the limelight
for its flavour value. In ancient Egypt,
celery was an essential culinary herb to
wellness and longevity. Such was the
regard for this beautiful wild,
ornamental herb that it was one of the
ingredients that was packed in plenty for
King Tutankhamun’s afterlife journey.
Celery was also a favourite of the
Romans and the Greeks who used it to
freshen up the wine and food —
especially cured meat and pottage. And it
was served alongside hot rum to sailors
to fight the nausea of a choppy sea. For
the Chinese, celery was the single
flavourant needed to create a nourishing
bowl — and was part of a trader’s sack.
Fascinatingly, by the turn of the last
century, celery’s fame — thanks to food
lore — was as a passion promoter and is
said to have been the secret to Madame
de Pompadour’s long tenure as mistress
of Louis XV at the French court, and the
72
JUNE 2018

From above: Celery quinoa salad
with plucked vegetables and lemon
dressing; and Celery & apple salad
FOOD
CELERY
legendary 18th-century lover Giacomo
Casanova’s stamina.
Celery’s other memorable royal
engagement was with Henry VII’s court,
where the “gentleman herb” was the
chosen brush for baste meat and an
accompaniment with all fish dishes. In
fact, celery soaked water was known for
its vitality inducing property — and often
used to cleanse water while travelling.
The herb reached Indian shores as
part of the Vietnamese soup Canh Ngot
Ca Mu, says Chef Neeraj Rawoot
(Executive Chef, Sofitel Mumbai BKC).
Known today for its subtle aromas and
sophisticated flavours, it was a simple yet
nourishing fish soup made with
tomatoes, spring onion, celery stalks and
greens. In fact, adds Chef Rawoot, “It
was one of the few dishes where all parts
of the celery were used to give the soup
its aromatic flavour and also complement
the poached fish.”
What gives celery its unique appeal?
“The thing that works for celery,” says
Chef Sabyasachi Gorai (Owner,
Mineority By Saby), “is that it s an
extremely light herb with that
interesting crunchy, earthy freshness
that constantly clears the palate so you
enjoy the subtlest of flavours in the other
ingredients, and that is imperative when
you are using subtle ingredients in your
dishes.”
The mildness in fact, says Chef
Pawan Bisht (Corporate Chef, Verandah),
“makes it a foolproof ingredient to play
around with. It works wonderfully with
soups, salads, dips and lightly-flavoured
seafood and even vegetable as well.” Chef
Bisht’s Celery and Spinach Soup
showcases how the herb works with an
equally delicate ingredient.
Agrees Chef Ajay Anand (Culinary
Director, Pullman), who uses celery
widely in his menu in Pluck where he
presents a revision of Indian food made
and served with French techniques. And
the secret to the multi-faceted use of the
mild herb, says Chef Anand, “is the
understanding of how the herb changes
as it matures as a plant. While in its
tender stage, celery may be mild, a grown
celery often is a subtle version of radish
with that interesting pungency that goes
very well with fruits (fleshy ones
specially) and with a mature cheese
platter”. His version of the Classic
Waldorf Salad is a fine example of
celery’s different acts at different ages. In
fact, adds the culinary wizard, “one of my
favourite use of celery is in juices and as a
relish. The leaves work beautifully to
wed two different fruits together.”
It was this ability of celery to play
matchmaker that made it the single best
choice to be a part of a wide range of
classic drinks including the Celery
Nectarine Fizz (Treasure Island) and
Nectarine, Celery, Black Pepper Shrub (a
popular 19th century drink and
discomfort relieving potion) to name a
few. No wonder celery is one of the
bartender’s favourite these days, with
mixologists like Aman Dua (Philtre)
creating an entire drink menu dedicated
to showcasing the flavour profile of the
“gentleman” herb.
But it isn’t the cocktail world alone
that is rediscovering the beauty of celery.
74
JUNE 2018

CELERY YOGHURT CAKE WITH
STRAWBERRY AND RHUBARB
INGREDIENTS
CELERY YOGHURT CAKE
Flour
60 gm
Almond powder 50 gm
Sugar
85 gm
Butter
105 gm
Egg white 3 nos
Celery juice 35 ml
Dehydrated
yoghurt powder 25 gm
Vanilla pod 1 no
RHUBARB GLAZE
Fresh rhubarb juice
Sugar
60 ml
30 gm
Pectin
Gellen
FOOD
CELERY
Classic Salad Waldorf
6 gm
2 gm
GARNISH
• Whipped vanilla yoghurt, Sliced
strawberry, Almond meringue,
Edible flowers
METHOD
• Mix all the dry ingredients
together.
• Shorten the dry ingredients with
butter and add the celery juice.
• Beat the egg whites along with
vanilla pod extract and sugar till soft.
• Fold this into the flour mixture.
• Bake at 178 degrees C till done.
FOR GLAZE
• Mix the sugar and the pectin
together.
• Mix the gellen into the rhubarb
juice.
• Bring it to a boil and slowly add the
sugar into the juice.
• Cook for two minutes.
• Allow it to cool to 50 degrees C
and pour it over the cake.
• Garnish with sliced strawberries,
almond meringue and edible flowers.
(Serves 8)
Chefs too seemed intrigued by the
wonders of this “mostly water
containing” herb. Says Chef Mir Zafar
Ali (Executive Chef, The Leela Palace,
Bengaluru), “Celery’s versatility stems
from the naturally occurring glutamate
that makes it such an interesting flavour
add-on in stocks, soups and stews. As a
matter of fact it is this element at work
that lends the braised and pot roasted
meat dishes its inviting flavour and the
Umami quotient.”
The other thing that has catapulted
celery into a game-changer in the cuisine
realm is the realisation that it could be
used as a low-calorie flavourant in many
places. One such interesting aspect of
celery is its use for crunch and freshness
in Celery Quinoa Upma with Plucked
Vegetables and Lemon Dressing. It gives,
says Chef Anand Panwar (Executive
Pastry Chef, Roseate), “the regular
quinoa upma an interesting earthiness
that goes very well with the greens and
root vegetables, especially carrot and
turnip”.
Agrees Chef Ali, who uses it as an
effective companion to apples for crunch
and juiciness like the Tarte Tatin, and as
the refreshing undernote provider in his
breakfast shooters: “It just gives the
mouth a fresh feel and a sense of satiation
after a meal.”
But it wasn’t till the time the culinary
genius created the multi-flavour-layered
Celery Yogurt Cake with Strawberry and
Rhubarb (see box) that he discovered the
obsession that the ancient world had
with this aphrodisiac herb. “For the mild
herb that it is, celery can very ably bring
out the finer notes of a dish that has
contrasting flavours to make a perfect
bite. The cake is an example of this where
it not only works as a palate cleanser but
infuses the curd with its earthy
freshness that helps it combine with
rhubarb.” And all you need, Chef Ali
concludes, “is just a few sprigs thrown in
parts at the right time.”
76
JUNE 2018

VIEWPOINT
YOGA
THROUGH THE
MYSTIC EYE
RANKED AMONGST THE FIFTY MOST
INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN INDIA,
SADHGURU IS A YOGI, MYSTIC,
VISIONARY AND BESTSELLING
AUTHOR. SADHGURU HAS BEEN
CONFERRED THE “PADMA
VIBHUSHAN” BY THE GOVERNMENT
OF INDIA IN 2017
UNFORTUNATELY FOR MOST
PEOPLE, the deepest experience that
they have in their life is pain. Suppose
you see someone with tears in their
eyes. Your first conclusion is he may
be suffering from something — a pain
or an insult or anger or whatever. The
moment you see tears, you think there
must be some suffering, isn’t it?
Because for 90% of the people in the
world, the deepest experience in their
life is pain and suffering.
Tears do not come because
of pain or suffering. If any
experience becomes or goes beyond a
certain level of intensity, tears will
come. If you become very joyous,
tears will come; if you become
extremely loving, tears will come; and
you will see, if you go into deeper
dimensions of meditation, if you sit
meditating for two hours, tears will
just be flowing for two hours — just
the intensity of the peace becomes
like that.
Tears come because of the depth
of the experience and since, for over
90% of people, the deepest experience
is pain and suffering, they assume
tears mean suffering and pain. Their
joy, their love, their peace, nothing
else has ever been so deep. Suffering
is the deepest experience in their life.
So people seek suffering — some of
them consciously but most of them
unconsciously — because it takes
them to some depth. It is an
unfortunate way, but with a lot of
people, it is a reality because they
want to know some depth of
experience somehow. Otherwise,
everything is so superficial. I would
like to change that. I would like to see
the deepest experience in your life is
your blissfulness, not your suffering.
It is possible.
SpiceJet welcomes its passengers to ask Sadhguru questions on yoga, health, wellbeing, and other topics of
general interest. Select questions will be answered in forthcoming issues. Please email your question to
mediarelations@ishafoundation.org. For more of Sadhguru’s wisdom, visit isha.sadhguru.org
80
JUNE 2018

CARING
SUNDARA
INSPIRING WITH CLEANLINESS
SUNDARA IS USING THE HUMBLE SOAP TO IMPROVE LIVES IN INDIAN SLUMS AND VILLAGES. BY PALLAVI MEHRA
ERIN ZAIKIS, A 28-YEAR-OLD GIRL
NGO in a remote area of Thailand. At
FROM THE UNITED STATES, is making
this NGO, she met underprivileged
soap a household name in Indian slums
children who didn’t know what soap
and villages through her non-profit
was. “When I asked the children at the
Sundara Charitable Trust. Sundara,
school where their soap was, they had no
which translates to beautiful in Sanskrit,
idea what I was talking about, even when
lives up to its slogan of “Soap with a
I tried to mime it out. It was heart-
mission”. Sundara recycles old hotel soap
breaking to see that they didn’t have
into new hygienic soap bars, which it
access to something so basic,” says
distributes for free to communities in
Zaikis. After further delving into the
Sundara has conducted hygiene
classes for more than 40,000 children
need. Along with free soap, Sundara also
offers free hygiene education classes.
Moreover, it employs local women to
recycle the soap providing them with a
livelihood.
Erin was motivated to start Sundara
in 2013, when she was involved with an
issue, she found out that there was no
shop in the village that sold soap. Due to
this lack of hygiene, numerous children
in the village were dying of diarrhoea
and pneumonia.
Zaikis couldn’t believe that she had
lived her whole life assuming something
HEMANT PAWAR (HAND PUMP)
82
JUNE 2018

CARING
SUNDARA
as basic as soap was universal. At the
orphanage forced her to confront her
same time, soap seemed like a simple
relative privilege and to think about how
solution to her, as she knew how to make
she could help others with this privilege.
it in her kitchen. That’s when she
On a personal level, Zaikis finds working
realized that she could make a difference
in India extremely challenging and
and founded Sundara. She thought to
enjoyable. Says she, “The friendliness
From above:Community hygiene ambassadors
distribute soap; Erin Zaikis (third from right, top
row) was motivated to start Sundara in 2013
herself, “Here is a problem that I just
might be able to do something about!”
She started Sundara in 2013 in India.
Sundara’s journey began when she won a
LinkedIn pitch competition in the
United States and got an initial $10,000
investment. She chose to start Sundara
in India as she was comfortable here and
realized that there was a huge need for
Sundara’s activities in India. Previously,
she had volunteered at an orphanage in
Mumbai and felt that it was the single
most transformative experience of her
life.
She claims that her experience at the
and caring I experience from friends and
strangers alike in India is unmatched -
plus I’m always learning more about the
various cultures that make up this
incredible country.”
According to reports, every year two
million children worldwide die of
diseases such as diarrhoea and
pneumonia. But washing the hand with
soap reduces diarrhoeal illnesses by 48
per cent. Moreover, Zaikis found out
that India leads the world in numbers of
preventable hygiene-related deaths and
disease in children under five. According
to the Indian Ministry of Health, 13
HEMANT PAWAR (GROUP PHOTO); SHIRISH GHATE (SOAP DISTRIBUTORS)
84
JUNE 2018

䴀 愀 瀀 氀 攀
䴀 愀 瀀 氀 攀
一 漀 眀 挀 漀 洀 攀 猀 椀 渀
一 漀
挀
眀
甀 猀
挀
琀 漀 洀 椀 猀
攀
攀
猀
搀
椀 渀
⠀ 氀 愀 挀 焀 甀 攀 爀 ⤀
挀 甀 ǻ 猀 渀 琀 椀 漀 猀 洀 栀 攀 椀 猀
攀 搀 ⠀ 氀 愀 挀 焀 甀 攀 爀 ⤀
ǻ 渀 椀 猀 栀 攀 猀
䄀 琀 爀 甀 猀 琀 攀 搀 戀 爀 愀 渀 搀 戀 礀 䄀 爀 挀 栀 椀 琀 攀 挀 琀 猀
☀ 䤀 渀 琀 攀 爀 椀 漀 爀 䐀 攀 猀 椀 最 渀 攀 爀 猀

CARING
SUNDARA
children under five die ever hour in India
and Unilever estimates that there are 70
million Indians who have never used
soap.
Ironically, India produces more than
enough soap for all of its citizens. It’s just
that most of it is ending up in landfills.
India has some of the finest hotels in the
world, which are producing large
amounts of waste. Sundara takes old bar
soaps from these four and five-star
hotels that are usually tossed in the litter
bin, repurposes this waste and
distributes it to the communities most in
need.
Currently, Sundara is operational
pan-India, with centres in Mumbai,
Palghar, Pune and Ashte, a small tribal
village on the Maharashtra-Gujarat
border. The Sundara team is in the
process of opening a fifth centre in
Bengaluru later this year. Sundara has
also operated in Uganda and Myanmar,
but they are in the process of winding
down their involvement in both
countries. Sundara envisions a world
where no child will grow up without
access to basic hygiene materials and
education. The goal of Sundara is not
only to educate children about hygiene
but also give them the tools to protect
and empower themselves.
Additionally, Sundara helps local
communities by employing local women
to run its centres. The team employs
unemployed and under-employed
women to do this work. Some of these
women are widows, single mothers or
survivors of domestic violence. These
women are paid a fair wage and provided
benefits such as health insurance.
Furthermore, these women are trained
as community hygiene ambassadors who
distribute soap, along with lessons on
hand and body hygiene to schools,
hospitals, orphanages and community
centres in urban slums and rural villages
nearby.
At the moment, Sundara is focusing
on perfecting the soap recycling process.
The team has also trained their hygiene
ambassadors to make higher-end Indian
soaps, which include local ingredients
such as neem and tulsi. The ambassadors
sell this soap to tourists and people who
visit Sundara’s workshops. It’s a great
way for people to bring the Sundara story
home with them.
Since its inception in 2013, the
Sundara team has grown from three
hygiene ambassadors to over 30 women.
It has recycled thousands of kilograms of
soap, brought regular soap deliveries and
hygiene classes to over 40,000 children
and has impacted 380,101 lives. Zaikis
and the Sundara team hope to continue
this growth in India, reaching new cities
in north and south India. Sundara’s
founder concludes, “It has been such a
privilege to work in India and make this
crazy dream of mine come true. I could
have never done it without an incredible
team behind me and the generosity and
support of so many Indian people I’ve
met on this journey!”
Sundara offers free
hygiene education classes
SHIRISH GHATE
88
JUNE 2018

VACATION
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5
TRAVEL
DESTINATION
MUST-DOS IN JODHPUR
THERE IS MUCH MORE TO THE SECOND LARGEST CITY OF RAJASTHAN THAN JUST BEING KNOWN AS THE BLUE CITY.
BY BINDU GOPAL RAO
ADMIRE THE ARCHITECTURE AT
UMAID BHAWAN PALACE
In the limelight for hosting some of the most
high profile weddings, this palace is actually
the residence of the royal family too. With a jaw
dropping 347 rooms, it finds place among the
largest private residences in the world. Built in
the Indo-European style of architecture there
is also a small display of vintage cars here. It
was built by Umaid Singh in 1929 to counter a
famine, was designed by renowned British
architect Henry Vaughan Lanchester and took
16 years to complete. The private museum here
has a special exhibition on Maharaja Umaid
Singh and the making of the Umaid Bhawan
Palace. The lifestyle gallery here will take you
back in time showcasing how the palace was in
the 1940’s and 50's and has interesting display
of art deco furniture, dining and writing sets
and a special sporting section., ‘The Legacy
Continues’ gallery is dedicated to the current
royal family and their interests.
WALK UP TO THE MEHRANGARH FORT
The fortress of Mehrangarh dominates the
landscape of Jodhpur and is set on a rocky ridge
with eight gates at a height of 125 metres. This
historic fort has stood the test of time and many
a battle and you can see the imprints of
cannonball attacks on its second gate. The fort
is majestic and houses many smaller halls
within its impregnable precincts. The entrance
to the fort itself gives a sneak peek into the
architecture. The latticed windows (photo) ,
carved panels and wall paintings are intricate
and stunningly beautiful. There is an elevator
to go up as well, but being crowded, it is better
to walk it up. At the foot of the fort is the
Chowkelao garden that is about 200 years old
and has been recently restored.
BINDU GOPAL RAO
90
JUNE 2018

ENABLING TRANSITION THROUGH DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Today we are witnessing a radical
transformation in the technology
industry. We are on the cusp of
technological revolution and
experiencing the digital
transformation shift across multiple
aspects of every business. The pace
of change is exponentially high and
to adapt to the fast-changing world,
organizations need to evolve and
address challenges in the changing
business landscape. To remain in the
forefront of this revolution,
organizations are working with new
technologies and innovative ways to
enhance customer experience,
increase profitability and accelerate
time to market.
Xebia, an IT company headquartered in The Netherlands, is enabling Digital
transformation by focusing on accelerating software development by utilizing its
expertise in the latest, and cutting-edge technologies to customers advantage. This
facilitates businesses to leverage the strength of technology to remain at the forefront
of their business. With Xebia’s strong passion for in-depth technology in combination
with Lean, Agile and Scrum practices, we ensure that such Digital transformation
initiatives are embedded in the fabric of your ecosystem resulting in sustainable and
inclusive development for all stakeholders. Our services and solutions address Digital
strategy, Agile transformations, DevOps & Continuous Delivery, Big Data & Data Science,
Cloud infrastructures, Agile software development, Quality & Test automation, and Agile
software security to enhance customer experience and provide an edge to customer’s
business.
Apart from its wide gamut of services, Xebia has a strong suite of products under the
XebiaLabs brand. We have world class products viz. XLDeploy and XLRelease which
helps customers in Deployment & Release automation leading to faster time to market
for applications and with much better visibility & control.
DIGITAL LEARNING DONE RIGHT
Rapid changes in the field of
technology are driving organizations
and their workforce to be more
versatile and agile. Continuous
learning coupled with innovation are
key driving factors for organizational
and individual growth.
Xebia has a strong presence in training through Xebia Academy, its training arm. It
offers a comprehensive training program on Agile, DevOps/CD, Big Data, Data Science,
Full Stack Development and Testing in the wide range of technologies, including Scala,
Docker, and JS. Our tailor-made training programs cover a wide spectrum of domains
to meet specific needs of corporate clients as well as individuals from the industry. The
sole objective of these L&D solutions is to fulfill domain-specific training requirements
of organizations and individuals. Our qualified and experienced trainers are amongst
the best from the industry and we work in close collaboration with pioneers and experts
in their respective fields.
Preparing for a Digital Tomorrow
The rapid evolution of technology is creating an ever-widening gap between industry expectations from its workforce and the
talent pool made available by the academic institutions. Xebia, with one of its core values of 'knowledge sharing' decided to
partner academic institutions to help bridge this gap. Xebia University Alliance program delivers industry-focused courses on
emerging tech e.g. DevOps, Big Data, Data Sciences, Machine Learning, AI and Digital Transformation. We enable the faculty
through a mix high-quality learning content and hands-on practical labs. The students learn Xebia courses in a unique agile
learning environment, through regular seminars, knowledge sharing sessions, and professional networking tool. The Student can
also participate in hackathons and receive a Xebia certification upon successful completion of this program. Students also
eligible of internship and placement assistance with Xebia or one of its partner companies.
Xebia has already partnered progressive Universities like UPES and Manav Rachna to offer these specialization courses.
www.xebiaacademyglobal.com
www.xebia.com

Consulting
Software
Services
Product
Development
Training
Digital Strategy
DevOps
Cloud Infrastructures
Big Data & Data Science
Agile Software Development
Quality & Test Automation
User Experience Design
Agile Software Security
Agile Transformation
Blockchain
www.xebia.com

TRAVEL
DESTINATION
RELAX AT THE PLACID KAILANA LAKE
A lake that is an ideal picnic spot, Kailana Lake
also offers boating facilities through the
Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation.
Located on the western side of Jodhpur, this is a
manmade lake spread over 84 square kilometers
and was built by then Prime Minister Pratap
Singh in 1872. A favourite with locals and tourists
alike, this place is also a birdwatchers’ paradise
and used to be an erstwhile hunting ground for
the royals. The water body attracts several
migratory birds including the Siberian crane.
Swimming is prohibited in the lake and the
adjoining garden with Babool trees is a great place
to simply relax and enjoy the simple pleasures of
nature. If you are here towards evening, you will
be treated to beautiful sunset views. Or if you are
the early bird, catch a magnificent sunrise here.
SPEND TIME AT THE MANDORE GARDENS
The erstwhile capital of Jodhpur, Mandore has several
cenotaphs of Jodhpur’s former rulers built using the
architecture similar to Hindu temples. The Mandore
Gardens is where you will see these cenotaphs and there is
a government museum, a ‘Hall of Heroes’ and a temple to 33
crore Gods here too. The museum displays many artifacts
and statues found in the area that clearly reflect the
architectural splendour of an era gone by. The buildings
are spread across the landscape and are primarily built in
red sandstone with intricate detailing and sculptures of
Hindu Gods and Goddesses on the exterior. Do not miss the
ornate doors and windows as well as the beautiful arches
on the walls of the buildings when you are here.
SHOP AT THE MANY LOCAL MARKETS
Ghanta Ghar or the clock tower built by Sardar Singh Ji of
Jodhpur is in the midst of the bustling Sadar Bazaar. This is a
market place that is abuzz with activity and the evenings are
when the clock tower is lit up in different shades of light so you
can get pictures that look different each time! This is a local
market and has over 7000 stores that retail everything from
spices to miniature camels and elephants, Rajasthani textiles,
clay figurines, marble inlay work, silver jewellery and even
vegetables. There are many old buildings in the vicinity like
the Pal Haveli which also houses a roof top restaurant and
gives you a bird’s eye view of the clock tower and the market.
BINDU GOPAL RAO (KAILANA LAKE); GETTY
94
JUNE 2018

HOSPITALITY
HOTELS
WHERE
MODERNITY
MEETS
TRADITION
IDEALLY LOCATED FOR BUSINESS
TRAVELLERS, MERCURE CHENNAI
SRIPERUMBUDUR SHOWCASES
ART AND REGIONAL CUISINE IN A
SEDUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT.
BY NIVEDITA JAYARAM PAWAR
SpiceJet flies to Chennai. Log
on to www.spicejet.com for
flight details
Mercure Chennai is
so much more
than a comfortably
bland hotel with
nippy Wi-Fi. For
starters this business hotel with its
proximity to major corporates and IT
companies in Sriperumbudur has real
character as it draws from the deeprooted
cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu
and its rich corpus of literature. The
double height lobby is a sensational
setting for the dynamic ‘walk of life’
artwork and temple paintings. The
wallpaper in the guest rooms is adorned
with the writing of celebrated Tamil poet
and philosopher, Thiruvalluvar.
Apart from that the hotel is a sultry
den of masculinity and refined design,
with sleek, dark mahogany and miles of
soft, toffee-butter leather. Omnipresent
throughout the hotel is the theme of the
lotus as a symbol of creation. Alluring
complimentary in-room perks that range
from fresh fruits and house-made cookies
to chocolates, enhance the stay.
Food is an essential element of
Mercure Chennai with three F&B outlets.
The all day dining Melange merits a few
relaxed dinners to acquaint yourself with
the wide selection of quintessential local
delicacies and an array of international
cuisines.
Do try executive Chef Sathyaseelan’s
exquisite Murungakkai Mutton
Kuzhambu (mutton with drum sticks)
and the Kanchipuram idlis. The latter is
tempered with mustard seeds and curry
leaves before being steamed in copper
tumblers. Don’t miss the variety of podis
(spicy dry chutneys) and the filter coffee
ice-cream.
Hybrid Sports Bar is the perfect place
to unwind after a long day with a fine
curry leaf mojito and basil prawns. There
is also Anahata, the hotel’s alfresco
poolside restaurant that serves grilled
delicacies. For event and social
gatherings, the hotel features six meeting
rooms with state-of-the-art audio and
visual systems and banquet facilities.
The key to Mercure’s success is the
ability of its close-knit team to make this
stylish outpost feel welcoming. Who
could be left unmoved by the cheery
salutations as the staff swings open the
main doors? Or the Marketing Head who
personally chalks out a city tour with
local attractions and throws in a few
secret shopping jaunts?
Considering that the staff at this
ultra-new hotel are still cutting their
teeth, they do a good job of welcoming
guests, remembering names and
providing everything they might need.
96
JUNE 2018

SPOTLIGHT MANGALORE
MYRIAD
ATTRACTIONS
A COASTAL CITY NESTLED BETWEEN THE WESTERN GHATS
AND THE ARABIAN SEA, THE PORT CITY OF KARNATAKA
STANDS OUT FOR ITS BEACHES, SPIRITUAL DESTINATIONS
AND UNIQUE CUISINE. BY BINDU GOPAL RAO
BEACHES IN AND
AROUND THE CITY
The coast line of Mangalore is
home to several beaches within the
city limits as well as around it. The
Tannirbhavi beach is a relatively
quieter beach and is the place
to head to for a fabulous sunrise
especially if you are an early morning
person. This beach is accessible
by road and also by ferry from the
Gurupura River at Sultan Battery.
The calm and secluded waters
of this beach make for a quiet
getaway. Located within the city,
two kilometers away from New
Mangalore Port is the Panambur
Beach, a favourite with tourists
and usually bustling with water
sport activities. It has some street
food options as well. The annual
International Kite Festival that
takes place here every January
sees the beach transform into
a hub of activity.
Close by at Ulal is the
Someshwara Beach that has a
stunning light house, a large rock
formation called Rudra Shilas and
the ancient Someshwara temple
that is visited by several devotees
every day. This temple is said to
have been built during the reign
of Queen Abbakka Devi who
was a warrior queen who fought
against the Portuguese. The Ullal
Beach next to the Someshwara
Beach is a water sports hotspot and
offers some stunning sunset views
from its shores lined with casuarina
groves.
About 25 km from Mangalore is
the lesser known Sasihithlu Beach
that is a less crowded yet lovely
beach that you can see too. The
Kaup Beach in Udupi near Mangalore
has an old lighthouse and a ruined
fort that offers stunning views of the
surroundings.
Further ahead is the Malpe Beach
hugged by green palm trees and well
known for its three rocky islands and
a hub of activity for boating, fishing
and sea surfing. When you are here,
a visit to St. Mary’s Islands is a must
- an interconnected set of four small
islands (Coconut Island, North Island,
Darya Bahadurgarh Island and South
Island).
98
JUNE 2018

SPIRITUAL SOJOURN
SHUTTERSTOCK
Mangalore is ideally located from
several important places of religious
significance and hence becomes a place
that is an automatic point to connect
to various locations courtesy its top
notch hospitality services. One of the
most revered of these temples is at
Dharmasthala on the banks of the River
Netravati that is home to the temple of
Manjunatha a form of Shiva. If you are
here during the November-December
time period you can be part of the annual
Lakshadeepa when the town is lit up.
Located 60 km from here is Kukke
Subramanya nestled in the greenery
of the Western Ghats, known for its
temple dedicated to Lord Subramanya
worshipped as the Lord of Serpents
here. The Ashlesha Bali puja and Sarpa
Samskara puja conducted here are all
related to warding off any problems from
serpents. About 60 km from Mangalore
is the temple town of Udupi well known
for its Krishna temple. Dating back to the
13th century, this temple was founded by
Saint Sri Madhavacharya.
At Karkala, a small town in Udupi
district you will see a huge statue of
Gomateshwara that towers at a height
of 42 feet and is an important site of
Jainism. Karkala also has 18 Jain basadis
including the Hiriyangaddi Neminatha
Basadi, Chaturmukha Tirthankara
Basadi and Anekere Padmavathi
Basadi. This apart there are several
temples, mosques and churches like
the Ananthapadmanabha Temple.
The Mahamastakabhisheka, a festival
celebrated once every 12 years, is
when the statue of Gomateshwara is
anointed with milk, water, saffron paste,
sandalwood powder, turmeric and
vermillion. When you are in Karkala see
the local folk dance Hulivesha or Tiger
Dance, experience the Bhuta Kola and
also witness the Kambala or buffalo
racing, Korikatta or Cockfighting and
Nagaradhane or snake worship.
The well-known
Dharmasthala Temple
in Dharmasthala
Udupi Krishna
temple
99
JUNE 2018

SPOTLIGHT MANGALORE
GASTRONOMY
BECKONS
If you thought that Mangalore was
all about beaches and spirituality,
think again. One of the most loved
aspects of the city is its cuisine and
the best part is that there are unique
dishes that are native to the city and
its surroundings for both vegetarians
and non-vegetarians. A mélange
of influences including the Bunts,
Billavas, Goud Saraswat Brahmins,
Mogaveeras, Mangalorean Catholics
Broasted Mangalore Chicken
and the Muslim Bearys makes
Mangalorean cuisine a gastronomic
delight like no other.
Distinctly spicy, the cuisine is
coconut based and makes extensive
use of curry leaves, ginger, garlic
and chili. Being on the coast, it is
well known for its sea food and the
Mangalorean Fish Curry is a popular
dish here. Fish Pulimunchi is another
traditional Mangalorean dish where
the fish is cooked in authentic local
spices with coconut and tamarind.
Also the Bangude Pulimunchi made
from spicy sour silver-grey mackerels
and Neer dosa or wafer thin ricecrêpes
are popular here. The Chicken
Ghee Roast made with clarified butter
and spices and Chicken Sukka made
with a dense paste and coconut
are other must tries. Kori (meaning
Mangalore Fish Curry
chicken) rotti a combination of redchili
based chicken curry and crisp
dry wafers made from boiled rice is a
Mangalorean Bunt specialty.
If you like snacking the Mangalore
Buns - a sweet, soft, fluffy puris made
with ripe banana and plain flour
served with spicy coconut chutney
and sambar - are a must try.
Also sample the Goli Baje, a
popular snack. Made with flour, curd,
chopped onion, coriander leaves,
coconut, jeera, green chillies and
salt, this is deep fried and delectable.
Kadubu is a steamed idli cooked in
a jackfruit leaf mould that gives it a
distinct taste and flavour.
AIMIT IS A COLLEGE WITH A DIFFERENCE
AIMIT, the new campus
of St Aloysius College
(Autonomous), Mangalore,
is located at Beeri, Kotekar on NH
66 about 11 km away from the
main campus in Mangalore. The
sprawling and green campus with
state-of-the art infrastructure is
the centre for Management and
Information Technology, offering
post graduate degree programs
under the Autonomous scheme
and affiliated to Mangalore
University.
Master of Business Administration
(MBA): Dual specialization in
Marketing, Finance, Strategy,
Human Resources and Business
Analytics.
MSc (Software Technology): This
course was introduced in 2007
and curriculum is of high standard
with high-end modules like Cloud
Computing, Business Intelligence,
Social Media Data Science &
Big Data Analytics, Mobile App
Development, Augmented Reality,
Internet of Things and Data Mining.
MSc (Big Data Analytics): This
programme is designed to provide
students with a comprehensive
foundation for applying statistical
methods to solve real-world
problems. They will have a broad
knowledge of the application of
statistical tools, techniques, and
methods, as well as the ability
to conduct in-depth analysis,
synthesis, and evaluation.
MSc (Bioinformatics): This
course was introduced in 2004
considering the demand for IT
professionals in Biotech industry.
St Aloysius College is the only
college which offers this program
which leads to research, jobs in
Biotech industry or even software
industry. With a revised syllabus
this course aims to prepare
biological science students for
quick analysis and interpretation of
biological data using information
technology resources.
MCA (Master of Computer
Application): The MCA program
was the first PG program which
was started in 1999. This course is
of three years duration, offering
the best of new information
technology with revised syllabus
in keeping with the needs of the
software industry.
100
JUNE 2018

SPOTLIGHT EDUCATION
DIGITIZATION OF
EDUCATION
The changing face of education can be seen in the technological
innovations spotted in the sector. By Bindu Gopal Rao
For a long time distance
education was driven by
reading material that used to
be sent by post. However, technology
has opened up a whole new world.
Now teachers can train distance
education students online. Naturally
course material has to be put online
too. Hence the increasing need for
digitization.
But simply digitizing old material
is not a great idea. Universities and
institutes have to create audio visual
material, which is engaging, easy to
understand and apply. “Many of our
courses are full of checklists, mindmaps
and templates that can be used
for actual work rather than just text
material or recorded videos. Also, we
ensure that while studying students
can ask questions, discuss issues and
interact with each other within the
learning environment,” says Ramanuj
Mukherjee, CEO, iPleaders.in. “Let's
say you are studying a specific point
in a corporate law course and have
a doubt. You mark that portion and
ask a question. Then others can come
and discuss. Experts can reply to your
query. Now that discussion also became
a part of the study material for those
who will read it in the future. This is
how the studying experience gets even
more enriched.”
The digitization process involves
scanning or photographing materials
and putting them on a website.
MERCEDES-BENZ TIES-UP
WITH NIET, GR. NOIDA
The emerging competition
in the field of higher
education has raised the
demand of innovative and focused
approach of different engineering
institutes not only to fill their seats
but also to support the students
in fulfillment of their career
aspirations. The students join a
college with lots of expectations
and it is the responsibility of
the college to live up to their
expectations. Noida Institute of
Engineering & Technology, Gr.
Noida is one of those successful
colleges who have always worked
towards bridging the gap between
industry and academia; and to
provide students with the best
of facilities. One such recent
effort taken by the Institute is
the collaboration with Mercedes-
Benz India, to start a unique
Advance Diploma in Automotive
Mechatronics course for
developing vocational competence
that enables students to learn the
modern automotive technology
and make them skilled personnel
in the global market. NIET is one
of the first institutions to have
tied up with Mercedes-Benz India
for the renowned Mechatronics
course. This type of course is not
included in current educational
syllabus. The collaborative course
will enable students to be trained
as per the highest standards of
modern automotive technology
and thereby will bring added
synergies between technological
innovations and market demands
for skilled personnel. NIET is setting
up a dedicated lab in the campus
featuring a Mercedes-Benz
C-Class sedan.
102
JUNE 2018

SPOTLIGHT EDUCATION
Digitization helps ensure that
preserving and continuing digital
materials are available as technologies
change. “Digitization can be a tough
project to embark on, but there are
many benefits to digitizing the course
materials. It can provide easy exposure
to the digitized materials, can help
you share course materials with
other organizations, and showcase
your knowledge base to wide range
of students. Digitization of course
material also improves student's
education by enhancing interaction
between schools as well as parents and
providing data-driven decision support
system,” says Satish Modh, Director,
VESIM, Vivekanand Education Society.
Dr. Sarika Lidoria, Vice-President
- Enterprise Systems, ITM Group of
Institutions, adds, “By dissolving the
barriers of time and space an online
library makes it possible for students
and teachers to be connected, at almost
no cost, to resources literally at the
other end of the globe. It ushers a cost,
space and time efficient alternative to
the traditional pen and paper, brick and
mortar form of education.”
Digitization of course materials
open up a host of opportunities for
adding a richer learning experience for
students. “For example, in a course on
high school geography, if a module is
devoted to how volcanoes work, along
with the explanatory text one could
have a video showing the pressure
building up under the volcano and
eventually leading to an eruption.
Standardized lectures could be recorded
and played back by students at their
leisure. Worksheets could be automated
to give feedback to students on a real
G.L. BAJAJ STUDENTS GET PLACEMENT
OFFERS FROM INDUSTRY GIANTS
Students studying at G.L.
Bajaj have been among the
top choices of recruiters
over the years. Hence, campus
placement at G.L. Bajaj has been
a big success with around 1200
plus placement offers for Batch
2018. Till April 2018 the campus
hosted around 130 companies
and students found recruitment
opportunities in sectors ranging
from IT to management, from core
companies to multinationals and
even to e-commerce and startups,
including Fortune 500 companies.
“Hauling out the latest
industrial practices has been one
of our major focus. Therefore,
since the first batch of students
who have graduated in the year
2009, we have been witnessing
unparalleled placements. In the
current batch, in spite of having
adequate time to finish this
academic year, we already have
1200 plus placement offers for
the students and placements are
still continuing,” informs Mr. Pankaj
Agarwal, Vice-Chairman of the
institute. “Batch 2018 have got
1200 plus offers from industry
moguls including Capgemini, TCS,
IBM, Saint Gobain, Ashok Leyland,
NTT Data, Bosch, Infogain, KPIT
Technologies, United Health Group,
Mindtree Ltd., etc.” Commenting
upon this incredible success,
Pankaj Agarwal, Vice Chairman of
the Institute, says, “This sustained
demand of G.L. Bajaj students can
be attributed to its ability to ensure
its teaching methodology remains
industry-relevant and by providing
additional certifications like MTA,
PTC, Cloud Computing, Java,
Networking, Artificial Intelligence,
Big Data, etc. Hence, the students
get additional advantage at G.L.
Bajaj educational institutions.”
104
JUNE 2018

SPOTLIGHT EDUCATION
time basis eliminating the need for a
teacher to have to grade worksheets”,
says Arjya B. Majumdar, Associate
Professor, Jindal Global Law School.
British Council offers ‘myEnglish
Workplace’ an online and interactive
platform for young professionals
to develop their English language
and business communication skills.
Combining online resources with
live digital classes imparted by
internationally qualified teachers,
myEnglish Workplace offers top quality
learning in a flexible and interactive way
and helps jobseekers and professionals
enhance their career prospects.
Technology has been at the helm
of rehashing business and customer
experiences. Learning has been no
different as innovation and technology
are changing the paradigm in onthe-go
experiences and practicality
of the concept being discussed. “We
TECHNOLOGY HAS
BEEN AT THE HELM OF
REHASHING BUSINESS AND
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES.
LEARNING HAS BEEN NO
DIFFERENT AS INNOVATION
AND TECHNOLOGY ARE
CHANGING THE PARADIGM
IN EXPERIENCES
at SCMA have focused on skill based
learning via our digital methods of
teaching and assessment. The right
skills and knowledge met with the
demands of a constantly changing
environment of enabled learning and
improved retention. Knowledge is very
prominently associated with retention
when we discuss the applicability of
learning and the millennial era of
knowledge is a combination of text and
visual based learning that empowers
sustainability in the learning tangent
and a modem of quicker recaps,” says
Udit Karan Chandhok, Marketing
Manager, SCMA. With Big Data, AI,
AR and VR making giant strides in
education, India is at the threshold of a
great societal change.
“I think digitization holds great
promise both inside and outside the
classroom. Learning becomes engaging
in the classroom with simulations,
JAIPUR’S
UEM MAKES
ITS MARK
The sun is shining brighter in
Jaipur this summer and the
University of Engineering
& Management (UEM) Jaipur is
getting more and more visible to
people across the globe. It has now
been rated the topmost university
of Rajasthan, ranked by the NPTEL
examination initiative of the
Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India.
The university never feels as much
pride of its enormous accolades,
as much as it does for the topmost
quality of 1000+ students that
have passed out in the seven
years that it has been around.
Students of all passout batches
of UEM Jaipur have ensured more
than one job offer for themselves.
They are passing out with even
six job offers in 2018, with some
of them being offered the highest
salary of more than Rs 10 lakh per
annum. The highest job offer for its
parent institute IEM reached Rs 40
lakh per annum in 2018 (offered
by Adobe). Alumni of the parent
institute IEM are present all across
the globe in Google, Microsoft,
Adobe, Amazon USA, and are
also present in all top universities
of the world including Columbia
University, Carnegie Mellon
University, Stanford University,
Harvard Business School, etc.
106
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SPOTLIGHT EDUCATION
audio-visual content, activities and
interactive assessments. Outside
the classroom, learners can access
material anytime and anywhere,” says
Beas Dev Ralhan, Co-founder and
CEO, NextEducation. In a survey
conducted by statista.com, 92 per cent
of the student community worldwide
has shown an ardent interest in
digitalization and its practice. “In a
developing country like India, with
200 million internet users, one can
only imagine the effects of digital
learning. Digital tools are used not just
at colleges or university level but also at
schooling level,” says Karan Sachdeva,
Co-Founder, MereExams.
In the K-12 arena, schools are
making major strides towards blending
traditional course formats by utilizing
online course delivery platforms in
addition to digital materials which
allows teachers and students to connect
and learn beyond traditional ideas
of the school day. Access to quality
teachers and practitioners has become
possible due to online learning. Vikas
Gupta, Managing Director, Wiley
India, avers, “Immersive learning is the
future, learners today look forward to
participating in project-based problemsolving
learning experience. This has
also fueled the emergence of virtual
learning environment that enables peer
learning and mentoring in a highly
productive pedagogy. The mode of
accessing information is dramatically
shifting, even when it comes to learning
and skilling. Content is now accessible
round the clock and few clicks away
and terms like Digital Libraries, Hybrid
Libraries, and E-Learning, are floating
around the news media.”
Digitization of course materials
and online delivery of courses solves
the problem of access and reach of
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
AT SISTER NIVEDITA
UNIVERSITY
Sister Nivedita University
(SNU) at New Town, Kolkata,
has been inspired by the
teachings of Swami Vivekananda
and Sister Nivedita. SNU aspires
to be a “university of choice” for
students who seek an experiential
learning that is value-based and
holistic. The curriculum focuses
on various disciplines with one
overarching goal: transform
lives, one student at a time. The
degree programmes are designed
to attract students from all
facets of life. SNU is committed
to empowering women and the
disadvantaged, and plans to
emphasise on entrepreneurship
to transform educational
opportunities in West Bengal and
India. SNU’s curriculum is researchbased
and constantly upgraded
to include contemporary global
development. It has a holistic
approach towards education
which is discipline-based.SNU
encourages faculty and student
interactions and has in place an
industry-designed curriculum
that facilitates job placements
and internship for students.
SNU provides an educational
infrastructure that is state-ofthe-art,
conducive to intellectual
growth and quality research, and
which promotes effective exchange
of ideas and free thinking. SNU
courses are designed by industry
experts like TCS, BSE Institute
and many more which makes the
student industry-ready from Day
1. The courses are approved by
UGC, AICTE and NAD. The various
courses can be undertaken at the
following SNU Schools of Study:
School Of Engineering, School
of Business, School of Natural
Sciences and School of Humanities
& Social Sciences.
For more details, log on to www.
snuniv.ac.in or call 1800 2588 155.
108
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SPOTLIGHT EDUCATION
quality educational content to students
across demographics and geographies.
“Today, students residing in smaller and
remote towns and villages of India can
get access to quality education from
a well-known university or college,
which they otherwise would not have
considered given the financial and
proximity challenges. For the urban
learner too, digitization of education
has its advantages, convenience being
the prime factor. In addition to access
to course material at any time and
from any place, students have the
liberty to learn at their own pace and
in a geographical location of their
convenience,” says Karthik Kadampully,
Co-founder & CEO, AEON Learning.
Rupal Dalal, Executive Director,
JD Institute of Fashion Technology
says, “Recently we did a web telecast
of a master seminar that saw stalwarts
of the design industry like Rina Dhaka
and Sonali Bhagwati. The seminar was
addressed to an audience of 400 plus
budding designers providing practical
knowledge. The seminar was shared
with over 2000 students across centres
of JD Institute of Fashion Technology
through live streaming video
technology. With cloud computing
technology, our students can access the
content of the seminar anytime from
our official sites.”
E-books are integrated with
features such as annotation, select
and highlight, addition of notes or
reference and extraction of specific
passages to create own learning trail.
“As special content get created E-books
will bring multi-media content with
colour, dimension, audio, video and
even interaction through touch and
type. E-books and documents come
with various advantages of being easy
to produce, update, store, search and
DIGITAL RESOURCES
• www.swayam.gov.in
• http://nptel.ac.in
• http://www.vlab.co.in
• https://www.inflibnet.ac.in/ess
• https://www.khanacademy.org/library
• https://www.coursera.org
• https://www.udemy.com
• http://www.vidyaonline.net/index.php
THE
RAMAGYA
GROUP
REFORMS
INDIAN
EDUCATION
Ramagya Group of
Institutions is a pioneer
in the education industry.
With a history spanning more than
15 years, the Ramagya Group has
established itself as a beacon for
expanding educational access
and is a leader in instructional
innovation. Under the ambit of
Ramagya Group of Institutions lie
various schools, sports academies
and coaching institutes for higher
education, both as classroom
teaching and online support.
Ramagya School, the frontrunner
in their portfolio, needs no
introduction in Delhi-NCR. Ranked
amongst top 30 Great Indian
Schools by Forbes India magazine,
it has been constantly ranked
among the top 5 senior secondary
schools in the region by ToI. With
a sprawling WiFi enabled campus,
spreading out to more than 3 acres,
the infrastructure is unmatched.
Ramagya School also boasts of
having a curriculum designed as
per globally accepted standards.
While the school takes care of
the formal education of students,
Ramagya Sports Academy hones
the physical capabilities of the
students. Ranked among the top
10 leading sports academies
across the nation, Ramagya Sports
Academy caters to individuals
of all ages. Physical well-being,
sportsmanship and team spirit,
among other virtues, continue to
bloom under the expert guidance
of the mentors at Ramagya Sports
Academy. While the schools and
sports academies provide the
much-deserved nourishment
to students early on in their life,
Ramagya offers more. Ramagya
Institute prepares students to
excel in competitive exams.
110
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CERTIFIED QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
(Affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore)
Quality
Accreditations
NAAC ‘A’ GRADE
N A B H
ISO
9001-2015
NABH HLACT(UK) IAO(US) ISO(9001-2015)
The Best Health Care
Professionals of Tomorrow
Central Research Lab
On Going
External
Funded
Projects
RGUHS
Projects
ICMR
Projects
VGST
Projects
Courses
M.B.B.S
MD / MS Courses in All Specialies
Super Speciality Courses
DM ‐ Cardiology
M.Ch. ‐ Urology
M.Ch. ‐ Plasc Surgery
M.Ch. ‐ Pediatric Surgery
Allied Health Sciences
B.Sc Cardiac CareTechnology
B.Sc Perfusion Technology
B.Sc Renal Dialysis Technology
B.Sc Respiratory Care Technology
B.Sc Anesthesia Technology
BSc. Optometry Technology
B.Sc Imaging Technology
Contact
#202, Kambipura, Mysore Road, Bengaluru ‐ 560 074
Tel: +91‐80‐2929 2929 Fax: +91‐80‐2843 7393
Email: info@rrmch.org, enquiry@rrmch.org Website: www.rrmch.org

SPOTLIGHT EDUCATION
DIGITIZATION OF TEXT
BOOKS ALONE DOESN’T
NECESSARILY HELP
STUDENTS. IT ONLY HELPS
WHEN THEIR LEARNING
IS COLLABORATIVE AND
INTERACTIVE IN NATURE.
TODAY EVERYONE IS MORE
INVOLVED WITH THE
DIGITAL WORLD
research, retrieve, carry, hold and read.
With advanced encryption and security
it is possibly even more effective than
paper in preventing unauthorized
duplication,” says Prof Mahadevan
Subramaniam, TAPMI.
Digitization of text books alone
doesn’t necessarily help students.
It only helps when their learning is
collaborative and interactive in nature.
“Students get the flexibility to make
their work more comprehensive and
detailed with the availability of content
online. Further, you will need devices
that students work on both from
home and in school,” says Christopher
Hanvey, Director Operations, Genesis
Global School, Noida. Today, everyone
is more involved in a digital world,
and the traditional brick and mortar
systems of learning have caved in to
digitization. Students benefit in many
ways as they would not have to make
those errands to classrooms or even for
on boarding one such course.
“The entire process right from
admissions to examinations and
also alumni enrolments can be done
online. Digitization of course materials
have facilitated better consumption
of content as students learn from
these modules as per their schedules,”
opines a spokesperson from MeritTrac
Services. Major textbook producers
continue to expand their offerings by
providing digital textbooks that allow
students to interact with content
beyond traditional print. “Digital
textbooks provide content through
media like video, simulations and
data visualization which help students
engage with course content on a
deeper level. Digital textbooks offer
even augment traditional studying
by including interactive assessment
that provides students and teachers
REVA EXPO–2018 SHOWCASES
TALENTS OF TECHNICAL STUDENTS
REVA University organized
a two day event, REVA
EXPO-2018, to showcase
ideas and talents of technical
students through project exhibition
and poster presentation on April
27 and 28, 2018. REVA EXPO-2018
was inaugurated by Dr. Keshav
Dattatreya Nayak, distinguished
DRDO scientist and Director of
Advanced Numerical Research
and Analysis Group in Hyderabad
along with Dr. P. Shyama Raju,
Chancellor, REVA University.
There were 250 stalls installed
in the REVA University campus,
where more than 500 science
and technology oriented projects
were exhibited. The REVA EXPO
witnessed projects related
to automobiles, agriculture,
autonomous robots, agro-based,
smart infrastructure, mechanisms
to test the structures, alternate
materials for roads and building,
soil testing, innovative ideas of
cloud computing, optimization of
process parameters in computing
and modeling. In addition to the
project demo by students, PSUs
like ISRO exhibited all models
of satellites, BEL on defense
products, BEML on heavy duty
earth moving machineries, and
NAL and ADA on various fighter
flights and their developments.
SLN Technologies exhibited several
defense and DRDO based projects
for the benefit of students. Few
of the successful startups also
showcased their products at the
startup pavilion. The Aero Show
was organized by Airytails at
REVA University premises. An
exquisite display of miniature
aircrafts whizzing around and
performing enthralling stunts
and synchronized sequence left
everyone in awe. This event created
enthusiasm in students and also
had fun elements added to it.
112
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SPOTLIGHT EDUCATION
with critical feedback,” says Dr. Beverly
Sortland, Head of School at Stonehill
International School.
Overcoming the major milestone
of high costs involved in establishing
online education, India has successfully
been able to adopt the path of digital
education since the past decade. “This
phenomenon has thereafter contributed
in improving the quality of education
and made learning an interactive
experience. With more people
demonstrating adaptability, even the
rural parts of India are now developing
acceptance for online education,” says
Pratish Nair, MD and Founder, PKSBE.
Digitalization is a positive step and
it is only improving every day. With
rising demand for digital education,
the classrooms are being changed into
interactive rooms for education.
“The growth of online education in
India will be driven by a combination
JOINT MD OF ST. ANGELOS VNCT
VENTURES WINS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD
The CREDAI-MCHI Woman
of the Year 2018-2019
award was given to Ms.
Geetha Nagu, promoter and joint
managing director of St. Angelos
VNCT Ventures for developing
the White Villas across multiple
cities of India and the White
Villas at Shahpur near Thane
and Mumbai, designed by Ms.
Sussanne Khan. This clearly
defines woman power. Ms. Amruta
Devendra Fadnavis, the wife of
the honourable Chief Minister
of Maharashtra, was the guest
of honour who handed over the
prestigious award. The awards
ceremony was held on May 5,
2018 at The Dome, NSCI, Mumbai
and was attended by hundreds
of developers and real estate
connected vendors from across
India. Ms. Geetha Nagu was thrilled
with the award and felt that her
hard work and focus had paid off.
She expressed that these are the
moments which define the course
of action for further achievements.
The directors of company
were thrilled with the recognition
and the award and expressed
satisfaction for the work they do.
Mr. Agnelorajesh, the chairman
of SAVV, said, “This recognition
makes us more responsible for our
commitments and also motivates
us to do better.” Mr. Nagu, the
Managing Director, said, “It’s our
dedication and thought process
which differentiates us from the
others. And we will keep excelling
in what we do.” Sugra Athaide,
director of SAVV, felt proud with
the recognition and mentioned
that she would always work
towards goals which would benefit
the customers and create new
levels of satisfaction for them.
114
JUNE 2018

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SPOTLIGHT EDUCATION
GROWTH OF ONLINE EDUCATION
Online learning can be an essential tool
and platform for student education.
The Indian online education sector in
India is showing promising growth and
is estimated to grow at a compound
annual growth rate of 52 per cent to
reach $1.96 billion by 2021, according
to a joint study by Google and KPMG.
The online education sector in India is
growing massively and now government
bodies are also promoting online
education.
“The key factors that are actually
driving the inclination towards online
education are the convenience,
increased reach and the personalization
of course offered in online modules,”
says Dr. Mun Mun Ghosh, Deputy
Director & Head, Academics, Symbiosis
Institute of Media and Communication,
Pune. UGC is also coming up with its
online courses regulation.
Kunal Choudhary, Founder, DSIM,
says, “The online education market
in India right now remains at USD 247
million and is likely to see an 8x growth
over the next five years. Seeing comfort,
adaptability with beginning and varieties
of study material are key motivational
factors to approve online channel.”
of demand, supply and macroeconomic
drivers. E-learning and test
preparations are leading the market,
but in future gaming and application
of technologies like Virtual Reality and
Artificial Intelligence is going to make
an impact in the culture. India has
exciting opportunities in the ed-tech
sector with rising young population,
increasing internet penetration and
acceptance of online learning as a cost
effective channel,” says Eric Wei, Senior
Sales Director, ViewSonic Asia-Pacific.
Naresh Babu Challagulla, Founder,
Studymonitor, concludes, “The true
revolution in education can only be
achieved via digitization of education
so that students can learn at their own
speed both within and outside the
classroom. Their learning upgrades
while they carry on to advantage from
fostering, mentorship and direction of
their teachers.”
NEW AGE CO-EDUCATION
AT VIJAY BHOOMI
Nestled at the foothills of
the Sahyadri mountain
range, in the village of
Jamrung, Karjat, Maharashtra,
Vijay Bhoomi International School
(VIS) India, is set to embrace all
open-minded individuals seeking
to realise the benefits of combining
a good head and heart with a
balanced mind and healthy body
into making a positive difference
within society. Surrounded by hills
on three sides with a sublime valley
in the west, VIS is a testament
of its love for the elements of
nature. The primary school will
follow the time-tested Singapore
curriculum. Later the IGCSE and
IB Diploma programmes will be
offered. The school offers one
of the best boarding facilities in
South-East Asia for boys and
girls between Grades 3 and 12.
These include full-time boarding
facilities, week boarding and day
boarding facilities. Being mid-way
between Mumbai and Pune, weekly
boarding is an ideal choice for
young aspirational working couples
in Mumbai and Pune. Given the
promise of academic excellence,
a strong sports programme
and a range of co-curricular
activities, VIS promises benefits
of an educational system with an
international edge in a peerless
and secure learning environment at
an affordable price.
ADMISSIONS OPEN For boys
and girls into grade 3-6.
For details visit http://www.
vijaybhoomischool.com
118
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IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
SPRINGFIT’S VERSATILE PROACTIV COLLECTION
SO, YOU’RE IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW MATTRESS, but have
no idea where to start. The seemingly infinite number of options
is nothing short of dizzying. With beds to satisfy almost every
need from the budget-friendly essential to the luxurious wave,
Springfit’s ProActiv really are worth all the hype. ProActiv
mattresses are hybrid foam constructions, which combine
different foams together for maximum pressure relief and
support. ProActiv is noteworthy for the sheer range of firmness
present within as it epitomizes what a good mattress should
be in that it achieves a superb balance of pressure relief and
support. This feel is going to do wonders for a wide variety of
sleepers and is sure to keep you satisfied for years to come. The
ProActiv collection offers four exclusive products: ProActiv Plus,
ProActiv Jump, ProActiv Back and ProActiv Flip with features
likes Springfit’s Aero Sleep Technology which regulates air flow
keeping your mattress cool all night. Other benefits includes
Springfit’s Premium HR comfort foam with open cell structure,
Springfit’s Reactive foam base to provide adequate support for
your neck and back, premium quality of 3D fabrics and every
mattress come with Springfit’s quality assurance stamp.
119
JUNE 2018

IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
TAJ-INSPIRED
COPPER ENAMEL
RANGE FROM
BAAYA DESIGN
SHIBANI JAIN, FOUNDER & CEO, Baaya
Design, was always inspired by the
resplendent marble inlay work on the
walls of the Taj Mahal. She and her team
of designers took on the challenge to
bring the rich colours seen in the inlay
work into a totally different and equally
rich craft — that of copper enamelling.
This is a painstaking process and is a true
test of the dexterity of Indian artisans.
Circular plates or bowls are created on a
dye to a precise depth. The wire work is
fastened through an initial process called
flux work. The base wire work is created
in such a way as to support the intricate
floral motif work. The wire work is precut
to create the motifs. These completed
designs are then placed and adhered to
the copper surface by firing the entire
piece at a temperature of 850°C. Once
cooled, coloured glass powder is applied
to the surface using a paint brush and
the whole piece is re-fired to create the
final enamelled piece. It is cleaned with
an acidic solution and then biffed. The
final pieces show off the rich glass enamel
colours and motifs. Shibani Jain’s keen eye
for detail is what has sustained Baaya over
the years and made it a treasured name
in the interior design and crafts industry.
Baaya is the first organization of its kind to
truly work with grassroot artisans to uplift
and sustain their livelihoods by generating
a market for their skill.
BUNNY BATH IS
BY ADAB’S NEW
LUXURIOUS BATH LINEN
COLLECTION
BE BATH READY WITH BY ADAB’S Bunny
Bath range of lavish bath linens. By Adab, a
renowned name in the bed and bath linen
domain, presents its aptly named Bunny
Bath collection comprising of Bath Towels
(Medium and Large), Bath Robes, Face
Towels and Hand Towels. Constructed
with 100 per cent virgin cotton with
Perfect Zero Twist Technology (for the
first time in India) and as soft as a bunny,
The Bunny Bath is the most comfortable
and luxurious towel for a perfect and
healthy bath. The product isaAvailable in
exotic shades and The Bunny Bath from
By Adab is used worldwide by the elite.
Ultra absorbent owing to Perfect Zero
Twist Technology, these towels are ecofriendly
(free of any harmful chemicals),
Anti Allergic and Anti Bacterial. They are
extremely light in weight and their soft
texture results in utmost natural feeling.
Add a touch of luxury in your bath with
adding By Adab’s Bunny Bath range for
your daily use. The product is available
at the By Adab store in Greater Kailash I,
New Delhi as well as online at the website
www.byadab.com
120
JUNE 2018

IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
PURE INCENSE LAUNCHES SUPER FOOD BLACK GARLIC
GARLIC HAS BEEN USED AS A MEDICINE
SINCE ANTIQUITY, in virtually every
civilization including ancient Egypt,
India, Rome, China, Korea and Japan. It
is only now that scientists from around
the world have identified a number of
bioactive substances in garlic and this
could open up and lead to a revolution in
the alternate medicine treatment system.
Modern research recommends Black
Garlic to boost your immunity against
disease and infection, support to prevent
Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia and
reduced symptoms and development
of chronic disorders. It treats type 2
diabetes and helps to repair the liver.
Jewish slaves in Egypt were fed garlic to
increase their strength and productivity.
In India, garlic has been associated with
the healing process and was used in
ancient medical treatment in Tibbi, Unani
and Ayurveda. A prominent ancient text,
Charaka-Samhita, prescribed garlic for the
treatment of heart disease and arthritis.
The Koreans developed Black Garlic. As
such, Black Garlic is a very prized food,
rich in anti-oxidants and a wide range of
phytocompounds. Black Garlic is produced
by fermenting its bulbs in a complex,
humidity-controlled parameter with
temperatures ranging from 60 to 85 degrees
centigrade. This process of fermentation
and oxidization can take from 90 to 120
days. Though the process often referred
to as “fermentation” is not so in the real
scientific sense, as the transformation
does not involve microbial processes
and enzymatic breakdown and only the
“Maillard” reaction is responsible for the
caramelization of the sugar content, dark
black colour and its complex flavour profile.
Black Garlic is fermented and
packed by Pure Incense Pvt. Ltd. For
more information please visit www.
blackgarlichasarrived.com or mail to
info@blackgarlichasarrived.com or care@
blackgarlichasarrived.com
DUKE LAUNCHES EXCITING
NEW RANGE
DUKE HAS ESTABLISHED AN IMPRESSIVE COLLECTION of
various styles, colours and sizes in shirts, trousers and denims in
its summer ’18 collection inspired by the fashion culture of New
Zealand. Effortless, chic and suave dressing creates a look of style
and luxury. The collection includes a complete array of fine-crafted
washed cotton shirts and formal trousers involved with a unique
and creative design process. Duke shirts and trousers revolve around
several interesting concepts and promises to offer a global fashion
statement and can be worn either to work or casually. Duke is known
for its standardized fits, superior quality, wide range and 'fashionright'
styles in its segment, making it the trusted brand amongst
consumers. The range caters to the needs of young men by offering a
range of clothing for daily office wear which can double up as smart
casuals for an evening out later on. This range showcases bright and
effected colours in formal shirts which have snug fits and tailored fit
comfort, fine detailed garment and these shirts provide the comfort
and convenience of cotton, and yet are easy to maintain. There are
button up shirts, available in cotton or poly cotton fabrics in breezy
tones that sets the mood for those who love to go casual.
122
JUNE 2018

IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
ONE DESTINATION FOR ALL
KINDS OF TRAVELLERS
Bengal tiger in total awe.
Laknavaram
Laknavaram is a trending picnic spot about
70 km away from Warangal. A manmade
lake which is the epitome of natural
serenity, Laknavaram is surrounded by
green hills dotted with 13 scenic islands.
LET THE SHOPAHOLIC IN YOU REJOICE
Laad Bazaar
This bazaar, situated next to the renowned
Charminar, showcases the famous
Hyderabadi Bangles, which are moulded
out of pure lac and studded with glittering
and beautifully cut glass pieces of various
colours.
TIME HAS HAD MANY NAMES FOR
TELENGANA. Names that have been
inspired by legends, kings and Gods.
Blessed with a rich treasure trove of
history, lush nature, fine cuisine and
shopping; Telangana offers unique holiday
destinations for every globetrotter.
TRAVEL BACK IN TIME, LEAVING NO
STONES UNTURNED.
Cave paintings of Edithanur
Depicting the lives of men and women in
the Neolithic ages, the Edithanur cave
paintings are estimated to have originated
between the years 2300 BC to 900 BC.
Warangal Fort
Estimated to have been built in 1261 AD
by Kakatiyan King Ganapati Deva and his
daughter it is reputed for its architectural
magnificence.
Golconda Fort
With walls ranging from 17 to 34 feet
broken by 87 semi-circular bastions, some
reaching 60 feet in height, and built on
a granite hill that is 400 feet high, the
Golconda Fort remains as one of India’s
most magnificent fortress complexes.
FALL IN LOVE WITH THE MIRACLES
OF NATURE
Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary
Spread over 136 sq. km. of dry deciduous
teak forests on the banks of river Pranahita,
visitors can catch glimpses of the Sloth
Boar, Tiger, Leopard, Langur, Rhesus, Palm
Civet, Indian Otter and a variety of birds.
Nagarjuna Sagar Sanctuary
The Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger
Reserve is the largest tiger reserve in India,
where you can watch the majestic Royal
Jummeraat Bazaar
This is the ideal flea market in a historic
city with antiques sold at throwaway prices.
It combines antiquity with the best bargains
and offers a pleasant concoction of the old
world charm.
Shilparamam
Shilparamam is an arts and crafts
exhibition hub, in the form of a village
set up located in Madhapur, Hyderabad,
Telangana.
MEDICAL TOURISM
Medical tourism has been an emerging
market in India with patients from across
the globe touching down in India, in
search of solutions for their ailments and
general health care. With entire wings in
the hospitals dedicated to international
patients, medical services ranging from
treatment of cancer, organ donations and
likewise are undertaken with utmost
precision and care.
A BUSINESS EPICENTRE
Named Asia’s best MICE city in 2012,
Hyderabad is a city that offers unlimited
business opportunities to national and
international business organisations and
professionals. 6
126
JUNE 2018

Powered by
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IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
SANKALP’S DIVERSIFIED SUCCESSES
AN ESTABLISHED BRAND IN THE FOOD
INDUSTRY and restaurant business,
Sankalp is the brainchild of Dr. Kailash
Goenka, Chairman & Managing Director
of The Sankalp Group. The Group
today has more than 150 successfully
operating restaurants across the globe.
It is a highly diversified entity with
interests in Hospitality, Packaged Foods,
Manufacturing & Distribution, Exports,
Hoteliering and Real Estate.
Considered as one of the fastest
growing companies in India, the Group is
spearheaded to becoming a major player
in the economic scenario of India. Apart
from India, it has a strong presence in
countries like U.S.A., Canada, U.K., U.A.E,
Australia and Thailand. Sankalp’s journey
began in 1980 with its first restaurant in
Ashram Road, Ahmedabad. Very soon it
became India’s best South Indian cuisine
restaurant chain. With changing market
trends, Dr. Goenka has also successfully
introduced two more brands ‘Sam’s Pizza’
and ‘Saffron’ in 1999 and 2001 respectively.
Another famous well heard brand of the
Sankalp Group was initiated in the year
2010 with the grand opening of Hotel
Ramada in Ahmedabad. The Group now
brings a new dimension and variety to
its restaurants by adding Screamery, its
innovative ice cream boutique. Apart from
making a mark in the hospitality sector, The
Group also diversified into the packaged
food sector with a wide range of innovative
and delicious easy-to-use products. It aims
at making quality Indian food products
accessible across the world in easy
consumable packs. Under the leadership of
a man such as Dr. Kailash, it was hard for
the Sankalp Group to impede just at this
and so its rich legacy has extended to the
field of construction.
ADVANCED HAIR
STUDIO INTRODUCES
NEW TREATMENT
PROGRAM FOR HAIR
RETENTION
ADVANCED HAIR STUDIO, world
Leaders in hair restoration and
the company that pioneered the
Advanced Laser Therapy program,
now introduces another major step
forward in hair regrowth and hair
loss prevention - The Advanced
Hair and Scalp Program AHS HP.
Scientifically designed, the Advanced
Hair Studio Home Program is the
next generation hair program,
clinically proven for safe and efficient
treatment. Combining the FDA
cleared advanced Laser Helmet with
Convenience, Light Weight, Cool,
Comfort and ease of use, Advanced
Hair Studio home program is the
first FDA approved OTC wearable
clinical strength Laser Hair Therapy
for home use.
130
JUNE 2018

RAK Ceramics introduces GVT
Collection of next gen,
technically superior, Vitrified
Floor Tiles inspired by Nature.
This exquisite range of over
110 designs, in an expansive
size of 598 x 1198 mm will
turn your home into a place of
grace and beauty and make
your senses come alive.
It's strength and durability lets
you beautify residential as
well as commercial spaces.
After all, some good things
should last forever.
GVT Collection | FLINT GREY | 598 x 1198 mm
RAK Ceramics India Pvt. Ltd.
19th Floor, Commerz II, Oberoi Garden City, International Business Park,
Mohan Gokhale Road, Goregaon-East, Mumbai-400 063, India.
Tel.: +91 22 62505100/120 Website: www.rakceramics.com
Toll Free: 1800 3070 6107

PARX, THE CASUAL LIFESTYLE BRAND
FROM THE HOUSE OF RAYMOND, has
announced the launch of its new Spring
Summer 2018 collection, themed ‘Vacation
Download’. The exciting new collection
encompasses a vacation-inspired modernist
range with quirky patterns, prints and
IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
PARX LAUNCHES LATEST SPRING-SUMMER COLLECTION 2018 IN CHENNAI
finishes, with new-age styles, elevated
by vibrant colours, for a truly shining
summer look for parties and everyday
hang-outs. Developed keeping in mind the
comfort and style quotient of a vacation,
the new collection is characterised by great
functionality and bi-stretch fabrics, for easy
movement. With anti-wrinkle properties
weaved into the garments design, the new
Parx collection is easy to maintain and is
a great choice for everyday wear. The key
highlights of the collection are Yoga Chinos
and Denims, Aroma T-shirts and shirts
and Reversible shirts along with vacation
inspired quirky prints.
Commenting on the launch of the SS’18
Collection, Pragati Srivastava, Brand Head,
Parx, said, “At Parx we are thrilled with
the launch of our new Spring Summer 2018
collection; a perfect blend of innovation
and new-gen fashion, with fresh new
styles and fabric blends, a true reflection
of the new and dynamic Parx. A value for
money proposition, the new collection is
high on quality, style and performance,
for enhanced vacation vibes of relaxation,
travel, play and party.” Parx SS’18 collection
also contains Seersuckers, Mosaic, Tropical
prints, Vivid leaves, Tencel, Modal, Linen
blends, Animals Motif shirts, Digital
Graphic Interface t-shirts, Accessorised
trousers and Sports jackets making Parx a
coveted choice of today’s fashion embracing
and tech savvy youth. The Parx Vacation
Download Spring Summer’18 collection is
available at all exclusive Parx Stores, across
leading online portals, The Raymond Shops
and leading fashion outlets across India.
CD SLIM SHIRTS BY CHARAGH DIN
NOTHING COMPLEMENTS A TONED BODY LIKE A SLIM SHIRT.
Designed around the slim and fit physique, you will find all your
troubles disappearing as you slip into one of these exceptions.
Go deep within yourself as you enter the heart of every party.
Make all eyes turn your way as stripes, patchwork prints, turn-up
sleeves and stud button shirts form an ethereal mélange around
your persona. Pair them up with sharp jackets or just wear them
solo. Choose from hundreds of edgy CD slim shirts. Be a part of
the slim-fit cult. Shop online at www.cdshirts.com or walk in to
The Charagh Din Store at 64, Wodehouse Road, Colaba, Mumbai
400 005 or call 91 22 6152 2300. Follow Charagh Din on facebook
at http://www.facebook.com/cdshirts
BIG MONEY WON ON STARMAKER
KARAOKE APP
CALLING ALL SINGERS OUT
THERE. If karaoke singing
is your passion, then you
could stand a chance to win
about Rs 6 lakh as prize
money in the next 10K Grand
Challenge on the Starmaker
Karaoke app. It is an online
singing contest held every
two months and the last four
editions so far have seen
almost Rs 67 lakh been given away as prize money. What makes
the Starmaker singing contest so appealing is its unobtrusive
format. You can sign in from any place in the world you like,
sing your heart out and stand a chance in the competition. The
schedule does not interfere with your work and study time. Says
singer Lesle Lewis (photo), one of the celebrity judges in the
last competition, “The ‘unadulterated’ format of judging is a big
appeal of the Starmaker contest. Here contestants are not judged
on their appearance, popularity of their showmanship, etc. It’s
pure talent voting for the most talented voice.”
134
JUNE 2018

BOOKS
REVIEWS
READER'S CORNER
What the serious bookworm is checking out this month
UNHURRIED TALES
Ruskin Bond
Unhurried Tales: My
Favourite Novellas brings
together, for the very
first time, Ruskin Bond’s
favourite (and finest)
novellas. These stories
by one of the most
endearing writers around
speak of a world that
has long vanished, but it
is a world that has lost
none of its power to
enchant. Whether we are
accompanying Sita on
her perilous journey
down the angry river or
Bisnu as he gets the
better of a dangerous
leopard, whether we
delight in Binya’s joy at
owning her blue
umbrella or are
saddened by the fate of
the last tiger, whether
we laugh uproariously at
the antics of the
eccentric guests at the
‘hotel’ in Shamli, get
involved in the
adventures of the boys
in Pipalnagar or plunge
into the various goingson
in the ‘backwater’ of
No Suggestions, we are
always entertained,
always charmed. All the
stories unwind in an
unhurried way, even
those that are filled with
death-defying thrills.
HEMIS
Madhu Tandan
Swati believes Akanksha,
Ajay’s colleague, hovers
as a ‘third’ between them.
Ajay is certain his
faithfulness is beyond
question, yet it has
upended his relationship
with Swati. With his
marriage at risk, Ajay
decides to go for a trek in
Ladakh, only to be
stranded, as the region
experiences the worst
floods ever to consume it.
Forced to seek shelter in
a remote monastery in
the Hemis Sanctuary, he
meets its charismatic
abbot, a man unlike any
other, and Anna, a young
scholar, who is in search
of a lost manuscript on
the ‘missing’ years of
Jesus. Gradually, the
uncertainty over Ajay’s
marriage turns into an
exploration of love.
Evocative, soulful and
reflective all at once,
Hemis is a powerful
reminder that nothing
defines us more than our
capacity to love. Madhu
Tandan has lived for
seven years in a remote
Walden-like Himalayan
monastery with a simple
philosophy where every
experience was viewed as
an opportunity to grow.
ALL THE LIVES WE
NEVER LIVED
Anuradha Roy
From the Man Booker
Prize-nominated author
of Sleeping on Jupiter,
The Folded Earth, and An
Atlas of Impossible
Longing, a poignant and
sweeping novel set in
India during World War II
and the present-day
about a son’s quest to
uncover the truth about
his mother. The story
revolves around Myshkin
and his mother, Gayatri, a
rebellious, alluring artist
who abandons
parenthood and marriage
to follow her primal
desire for freedom.
Though freedom may be
stirring in the air of India,
across the world the
Nazis have risen to power
in Germany. At this point
of crisis, a German artist
from Gayatri’s past seeks
her out. What follows is
her life as pieced
together by her son, a
journey that takes him
through India and Bali.
Excavating the roots of
the world in which he was
abandoned, he comes to
understand his long‐lost
mother, and the
connections between
strife at home and a
war‐torn universe.
RACE COURSE ROAD
Seema Goswami
Set largely in the Prime
Minister’s official
residence, the Race
Course Road complex,
Race Course Road is a
fictional narrative
revolving around the
aftermath of the
assassination of a sitting
Prime Minister and the
battle for succession that
ensues within his family,
with the elder son and
heir, Karan Pratap Singh,
trying to fight off the
challenge presented by
his charismatic half-sister,
Asha Devi. As the search
for the murderer
continues, many scandals
surface, revelations about
dodgy arms deals rock
India and rival TV anchors
shout and spar even as
the country undertakes
one of its most bitterlycontested
general
elections ever. Who will
get to live in Race Course
Road once the votes have
been counted? Who will
get to rule India for the
next five years? Who will
be the new Prime Minister
of India? The ultimate
insider’s political thriller
tries to find out - after all,
Goswami is one if the
most seasoned journalists
around.
WHY I AM A HINDU
Shashi Tharoor
In Why I Am a Hindu, one
of India’s finest public
intellectuals gives us a
profound book about one
of the world’s oldest and
greatest religions.
Starting with a close
examination of his own
belief in Hinduism, he
ranges far and wide in his
study of the faith. He
talks about the Great
Souls of Hinduism, Adi
Shankara, Patanjali,
Ramanuja, Swami
Vivekananda,
Ramakrishna
Paramahamsa and many
others who made major
contributions to the
essence of Hinduism. He
delves deep into
Hinduism’s most
important schools of
thought (such as the
Advaita Vedanta). He
explains, in easily
accessible language,
important aspects and
concepts of Hindu
philosophy like the
Purusharthas and Bhakti,
masterfully summarizes
the lessons of the Gita
and Vivekananda’s
ecumenism and explores
with sympathy the
‘Hinduism of habit’
practised by lay believers.
136
JUNE 2018

IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
AMBRANE LAUNCHES
INNOVATIVE 3-IN-1
RIDING HIGH ON BEING A
LEADING PLAYER IN POWER
BANKS, AMBRANE, one of India’s
premier IT brands in computer
peripherals and mobile accessories
further brings the range of innovative
devices with the launch of its latest
3-in-1 ‘PST-11 Speaker–Torch-
Power Bank’, that will charge your
gadgets, work as a speaker and
even a flashlight in SOS situations
– a device that does it all! The multifunctional
Bluetooth music torch
design is best suited for outdoor
riding, cycling, camping, etc. Paired
with a torch holder it can easily be
installed on the bicycle which not
only makes it convenient and useful
for illumination, but also can be used
to enjoy music when cycling. The
speaker provides rich bass stereo
audio play effect with 2600mAh
battery that can provide long time
music play of up to six hours. The
torch comes with MicrosD card
playback and also has silicone
buttons to control the several modes
while being used. The torch also
enables Support Calling feature with
Bluetooth Handsfree, built in high
definition microphone with noise
reduction technology, that provides
more clear call quality and liberates
your hands, bringing convenience.
Speaking on the launch of device, Mr.
Gaurav Dureja, Director – Ambrane
India saids, “Yet another first timer
from the house of Ambrane, we are
excited to bring products that shall
truly use technology for making a
difference.”
137
JUNE 2018

SECTORS
REAL ESTATE
FULFILLING
MILLENNIAL
ASPIRATIONS
THE RISING DEMAND OF NEW AGE
BUDGET AND COMPACT HOMES
MATCHING THE PRICE BRACKET OF
THE ASPIRATIONAL CLASS HAS
LED TO MANY UBER LUXURY
DEVELOPERS OFFERING
SIGNATURE RESIDENCES WITH
WORLD CLASS LIVING AT DREAM
PRICES.
BY DEVANG VARMA
Leading Indian metro and
non-metro cities have
recently undergone major
metamorphosis with
premium developers taking
a plunge into the luxurious budget and
compact boutique offerings. In doing so,
they are fulfilling new age millennial
aspirations to own a world class living
lifestyle matching their budgets. Today,
Tier 1 & 2 cities are seeing a rising number
of premium developers offering 1, 2 and 3
BHK compact boutique apartments with
luxurious amenities for world-class luxury
lifestyle living.
The development of the offering is
premium apartments which are new agegated
communities - new working class
professionals who are also globetrotters
having experienced world class luxury
living and aspiring for the same in their
new homes. The rising demand of new age
budget and compact homes matching the
price bracket of the aspirational class has
resulted in developments by many uber
luxury developers, offering signature
residences with world class living quotient
at dream prices.
However, the parameters or definition
of these so-called budgeted boutique
homes in the Indian context varies
substantially based upon the micromarket
dynamics. For example, both a sub-
Rs 50 lakh house in tier-2 location as well a
sub-Rs 1 crore house in Mumbai would
symbolize budget category apartment
with a premium offering.
The scope of growth in either market
is tremendous as a growing percentage of
home buyers across pan India are seeking
homes as per their living quotient. Mumbai
remains one of the most preferred
destinations for home buyers as compact
and boutique homes are drawing higher
traction, the reason being an attractive
proposition of world-class lifestyle within
the budget and that too developed by a
premium developer.
The aspirations of young working
professionals to own a house of their own
in the city near their workplace is driving
the demand for boutique homes which not
only matches the buyer's essential lifestyle
asset and budget. Today, developments
which are seeing larger interest are those
which are closer to the workplace with
end-to-end connectivity offered by
premium developers only.
With increasing awareness and rising
aspirations, today’s new millennial is
investing in an asset class which not only
suits their purchasing power but offers
defined luxury lifestyle quotient. This mix
of affordability factor and luxurious
lifestyle aspiration has paved way for the
emergence of larger gated communities
with boutique luxury residences offering
world-class luxury lifestyle amenities.
For example, in Mumbai’s micro
markets located closer to key CBD’s
(business districts) and city highways, the
customer today is demanding world-class
lifestyle living but within their budgets.
The new age young professional buyer is
keen to opt for a living space which offers
amenities and services for the world-class
138
JUNE 2018

SECTORS
REAL ESTATE
State-of-the-art
construction, technology,
design & eco-friendliness are
the pillars of homes designed
today. Homes are more
space-efficient now, unlike
earlier days
living experience. The buyer’s choice
today is a gated community offering
luxurious lifestyle amenities against
living in stand-alone apartments with
zero amenities.
Today, the so-called gated
communities offering budgeted boutique
apartments that come with a host of
amenities such as swimming pool,
clubhouse, health club, theme parks,
crèche and children play area, as well as
academies for music and culinary art to
laundrette service. This is attracting
traction among the home buyers albeit
within the reasonable budget. In key
markets such as Mumbai especially, we
are witnessing the successful advent of
efficient and compact homes offering
complete world-class lifestyle experience.
With rising demand for budgeted
boutique apartments, more and more
‘branded’ developers are now considering
moving or expanding into a portfolio to
fulfill the rising demand. This move by the
developer of offering boutique homes,
makes it an attractive proposition for both
developers and consumers as the demand
is huge and largely unmet. In cities,
affordable housing buyers are being
wooed by amenities such as a clubhouse,
concierge service, pools, walkways, gyms,
community halls, which would usually be
found only in luxury projects. Some are
even marketing top-of-the-line
construction and fitting materials being
used in these projects as USPs.
According to one estimate, India will
need more than 18 million affordable (as
per cities) housing in urban areas by 2022.
The affordable housing segment is now
growing at a very rapid pace of 30 percent
annually and is likely to be a $100 billion
per annum market in the next five years.
With the rising prices of real estate, it has
become imperative that every square
centimetre of space be put to efficient use.
This has led to the advent of ultraefficiently
designed homes. Besides,
growing environmental concerns and
need for energy conservation measures
have led to more innovations and better
homes.
State-of-the-art construction,
technology, design & eco-friendliness are
the pillars of homes designed today.
Homes are more space-efficient now,
unlike earlier days, when there used to be a
lot of wasteful space in passage area, odd
corners, unnecessary lobbies, larger
toilets or kitchen. Today, a lot of emphases
is laid on how to utilize every inch of space
in the house optimally - by using
intelligent, modern design techniques.
Research alludes to the fact that an
individual spends most of his time either
in the living room or the bedroom, so a lot
of emphasis is being placed on how best to
add value, especially in these spaces.
Today’s home buyer is aware, well-read,
well-travelled and is environmentallyconscious,
more than ever.
(The author is Promoter-Director of
Mumbai-based Omkar Realtors &
Developers, India’s leading redevelopment
and boutique luxury housing company)
140
JUNE 2018

HAPPY
WEEKENDS.
ENJOY 50% OFF* ON SPICEMAX
WITH HDFC BANK CREDIT CARDS.
PROMO CODE: HDFCMAX
Offer valid on www.spicejet.com
and SpiceJet’s Mobile App.
Choose SpiceMax and enjoy:
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Complimentary meal and beverage
Priority check-in
Priority boarding (At aerobridge gates)
Priority baggage handling
Offer valid every Friday,
Saturday & Sunday.
*T&C apply.

HOSPITALITY
RESORTS
AN ARTY
STAY
THE NEWLY LAUNCHED PARK
BAGA RIVER GOA IS A
REFRESHING GETAWAY WITH
PERSONAL TOUCHES THAT
WILL GIVE YOU AN
EXPERIENCE THAT IS
‘ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY’
AS THE BRAND PROMISES.
BY BINDU GOPAL RAO
SpiceJet flies to Goa. Log
on to www.spicejet.com for
flight details
A
rather long drive of close
to 80 minutes from Goa’s
Dabolim airport gets me
to The Park Baga River
Goa and my journey stress
evaporates when I see a bunch of smiling
faces waiting to welcome me. I am first
handed a coconut to break at the entrance,
a traditional welcome and offered a
welcome drink – tender coconut. Then, I
am straight away led to my room – The
Terrace Suite and all check-in formalities
are done in the room itself.
The Park Hotels is known for being a
design-centric brand and this property
takes this philosophy several notches
higher. My suite is a great example with
bird cage inspired lights, high chairs and a
practical design that gives me space and
comfort with a high degree of luxury. The
interiors reflect Portuguese influences
with bold accents of yellow and art work
from local artists are part of the décor. My
room has two balconies and a terrace area
too, all furnished with outdoor seating and
a large bathroom with a separate bathing
area and a bath tub. Incidentally this
property is located adjacent to the
beautiful Baga River so you see water but
also abundant greenery and coconut palms
that you can see from the 28 rooms.
All your meals here are at the 24-hour
restaurant, Saltwater, that offers a curated
selection of Indian, Continental and Goan
cuisine. An alfresco pool-side dining space
and an elegant lounge area to relax are also
part of the premises. The restaurant serves
a buffet breakfast and a-la-carte menus for
lunch and dinner and is done up in vibrant
hues of yellow and blue with funky light
fixtures and overlooks the garden. A small
board room is also available for smaller
get-together’s.
Leisure activities here include the
swimming pool and early morning yoga
sessions. While the spa is not yet
operational, you can avail of some services
like foot massage, head, neck and shoulder
massage and a sitting back massage
between 4 and 8 pm on prior appointment
142
JUNE 2018

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HOSPITALITY
RESORTS
by the poolside. As part of the turn down
service, there are chocolates and sweets in
the room as well as a choice if two oils –
Peace Oil (a blend of jasmine and geranium
to destress you) and Dream Oil (a blend of
Ylang Ylang and Lavender to relax you).
Dab them on your pulse points, pillow or
use them in a bath and you are guaranteed
a good night’s sleep.
Designed by Anil Badan, all the art
displayed here has been handpicked by
Priya Paul, Chairperson, Apeejay
Surrendra Park Hotels Ltd. She says,
“Designed with The Park’s signature
contemporary, cool style and open only to
guests above 18 years, the hotel is a cultural
hub, a place of escape for those who need
some luxurious time off or a cocoon to rest
after a day or night enjoying Goa’s beaches
or night life.”
When you are here do check out the set
of 10 colour photographs by Atish Saha, a
young photographer and performance
artist based in Dhaka, called ‘Open
Wound’ that depicts an artist dressed as a
melancholic clown, wandering the streets
of Panjim looking for love. Harsh Kadam
from inkbrushme Studios in Pune has
created a 56 foot long mural running along
the poolside whose vivid turquoise hues
recall the refreshing scent and colours of
the Arabian Sea just minutes away. You
will also find art from the likes of Veenu
Shah, Siddharth Kerkar, Mahesh Nair,
Arunkumar H.G. and Valay Mulji Gada at
the property.
‘Anything But Ordinary’ experiences
are available at an extra cost if you want to
do something offbeat. If you are like me
and want to understand your surroundings
better, head to the nearby hillock that gives
you stunning views of Arpura and Baga. If
you are here during the evening, you can
even catch a stunning sunset over the sea.
While Goa is known for its beaches, I
recommend that you stop at the Baga river
that overlooks the property. Surrounded
by mangroves nestled on the edges of the
beautiful river that is inhabited by several
native and migratory birds, this is a side of
Goa that is often unexplored.
The hotel also organizes photography
and cookery workshops, and art classes
with renowned Goan artist, Subodh
Kerkar as well as yoga, kickboxing, surfing,
sailing and romantic river cruises. It also
helps that a fleet of local taxis are parked
right outside the hotel, so you can easily
hop into one of those to explore the place
on your own. While in Goa a visit to the
Friday Mapsua market is also a good way to
explore the local sights and sounds.
Amidst a cacophony of sounds, there is still
an underlying sense of organization here.
144
JUNE 2018

IN FOCUS
MONTAGE
SUSTENANCE FOODS
INTRODUCES HANDCRAFTED
GRANOLA
SUSTENANCE FOODS HAS INTRODUCED HANDCRAFTED
GRANOLA THAT IS GLUTEN FREE, packed with nuts and seeds,
100 per cent natural and sweetened with locally sourced organic
honey. Each batch is hand mixed and baked in small batches at
low temperatures to give it a nice crunch and toasty flavour. The
granola is available in three flavours: cranberry & pistachio, fig &
walnut and chocolate & hazelnut. A unique blend of wholesome
and all natural ingredients have been used. Its gluten free, vegan,
100 per cent natural and refined sugar free makes it a healthy
choice. The granola is wonderful when paired with yogurt
or milk, spooned over ice creams or sprinkled on salads. It’s
perfectly delicious to eat straight from the jar as well. It makes
for a wholesome way to start the mornings, pre or post workout
snack to give the energy boost needed or to deal with the mid-day
slump. ‘Sustenance Foods’, a boutique gifting studio presents a
range of delicious artisan food that are handcrafted and made in
small batches. Whether for a special individual or volume gifting,
Sustenance works closely with individuals or corporates to design
unique gifts perfect for every occasion.
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JUNE 2018

FOOD
HEALTH
Sweet Potato Gnocchi at
Olive Bar & Kitchen
THE NEXT BIG
NUTRITION TREND
EVERY YEAR, THE HEALTH FOOD
POWERS-THAT-BE PUT OUT A LIST OF
THE TOP HEALTH FOOD TRENDS FOR
THE YEAR. THIS YEAR, FERMENTED
FOODS ARE TOPPING ALL LISTS.
BY NIVEDITA JAYARAM PAWAR
Fermented foods have been
inching into the spotlight
lately as more and more
people learn about their
inherent probiotic health
benefits. This ancient food preparation
technique offers a salty-savoury flavour
that complements many different dishes.
Popular worldwide, fermenting is used
to make everything from cheese to bread
and sauerkraut. Kimchi, a popular
fermented food, has helped elevate
Korean cuisine to the “it” food it is today.
Even beer and wine fall into the
fermented food category.
Fermentation is often classified as
one of the oldest forms of food
preservation. But it’s more than that.
“When we ferment batter or dough the
natural yeast from our environment
predigests the grains making it not only
easier for our body to digest, but also
making the nutrition more bioavailable
to our system,” explains Moina Oberoi,
wellness chef and founder of MO’s, a
health food company that specializes in
kefir, a yogurt-like drink. Our immune
system, which encompasses our overall
wellbeing, predominantly relies on our
gut health. Fermented foods provide
different types of good bacteria to our
gut, and this bacteria acts as the fuel to
our gut engine keeping our immunity
strong and functional, she adds.
Some foods (like beans, milk and
cruciferous vegetables) are hard to
digest. The act of fermenting starts the
breakdown of the components that make
digestion difficult. For instance,
someone who has trouble digesting milk
may respond well to kefir because it’s
fermented and almost 100 per cent
lactose-free after the bacteria has
metabolized the milk sugar. The same
goes for cabbage. Sauerkraut, a finely cut
cabbage dish, is much easier to digest
because the fermentation process breaks
down the carbohydrates. “Fermented
foods are gaining in popularity now as
consumers are trying to find ways to get
back to eating more whole foods,”
explains nutritionist and dietician
Nmami Agarwal. “There are numerous
health benefits of fermented foods from
improving digestion to boosting the
immune system and they may even help
us to shed weight. Also, fermented foods
are ideal for people with chronic
constipation,” adds Agarwal.
Yogurt is a flagship fermented food,
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FOOD
HEALTH
Cauliflower & Leek at Olive Bar & Kitchen
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE
Not sure where to begin? There are
many common fermented foods
that contain healthful bacteria
Natural yogurt: Have it plain or
mix it with granola or blend it with
fruits for a smoothie.
Kefir: A yogurt-like drink (photo).
Sauerkraut: A dish of finely
shredded, fermented cabbage.
Kombucha: Fermented tea.
Miso: A paste made from
fermented soybeans and a rice or
barley type of grain. It is commonly
used as a base for soups.
produced by the bacterial fermentation
of milk. Pickles are more popular than
ever, and we’re not just talking raw
mangoes and lemons. All sorts of
vegetables take to the pickling concept.
Another fermented food that has created
a frenzy lately is kimchi, a spicy-hot
fermented cabbage dish. Kombucha, the
fermented drink that is now widely sold
in bottles next to other flavoured teas
and juice drinks has become one of the
lead horses in the fermentation
movement.
Other fermented foods that seem to
be gaining acceptance include kefir milk.
“Most of the fermented foods like idli
and dosa are cooked through some form
of heat like steaming, baking, frying, etc.
The heat kills all the active culture, also
know as probiotics that help repopulate
our gut with good bacteria. There are
very few fermented foods in Indian
culture that have active bacteria, curd
being the most common one. The main
difference between fermented foods like
idli and beverages like kefir and
kombucha is active versus inactive
bacteria; or as I like to call it, dead or
alive foods,” explains Oberoi. Studies
suggest that probiotics can help treat
everything from diarrhea and irritable
bowel syndrome to more serious
conditions such as heart attack and
hypertension. Though more research is
needed, current evidence still gives
consumers good reasons to consider
getting a daily dose of probiotics from a
fermented food source.
Currently the trend is gaining
traction in restaurants with chefs taking
a deeper dive with fermentation tools
and foods to create more flavours.
“Fermentation lifts the taste of a simple
ingredient to another level, adds natural
acidity and works really well with
different cuts of meats or vegetables,”
says Rishim Sachdeva, Head Chef at
Olive Bar & Kitchen. One of the signature
dishes at Olive - Cauliflower and Leek - is
a great example of a fermented dish.
Here, both cauliflower and leek are
fermented which brings out a wonderful
and interesting flavour profile. Another
popular dish here is Sweet Potato
Gnocchi.
Fermented foods like kimchi offer a
salty, savoury flavour that appeals to
umami – the fifth taste. Though kefir is
an acquired taste, some do prefer the
distinct flavour. The pumpkin smoothie
with peanut butter, kefir milk, jowar
flakes and fruits at The Pantry in
Mumbai is a stellar dish to ease into the
distinct taste of the fermented milk
drink. “Adding it to your smoothies gives
them a nutrient boost as well as
texture compared to regular curd or
other fermented drinks,” adds Chef
Subhash Shirke, Executive Chef, The
Pantry. Kefir is available in many
flavours, from blueberry to
pomegranate. For new kefir drinkers,
Oberoi recommends adding a little bit to
their morning cereal to get used to the
taste instead of drinking it by itself.
Chef Sachdeva even uses nine-month
old culture of kefir to add acidity to his
lamb ribs and to the BBQ Chicken
Appetiser at Olive.
147
JUNE 2018

SPORTS
CRICKET
THE FLAMBOYANT CRICKETING LEGEND
A WELL-RECEIVED BIOGRAPHY OF FORMER INDIA OPENER M.L. JAISIMHA CAN NOW ALSO BE BOUGHT ONLINE. AN
INTERVIEW WITH ITS AUTHOR, HYDERABAD-BASED SPORTS JOURNALIST A. JOSEPH ANTHONY. BY MKM FAIYAZ AHMED
Why a biography on ML Jaisimha?
ML Jaisimha was a hero to many,
such as Microsoft’s CEO Satya
Nadella, Sunil Gavaskar and VVS
Laxman. A lot many have been
influenced by his approach and
thinking on cricket. A fair
amount of Mumbai players who
may not be willing to admit it,
have gained immensely from his
cricketing wisdom. He was not
only a test player and a committed
cricketer but also a very good
human being respected by players
from all across the country and
even around the world. In fact,
when Sir Garfield Sobers came to
Hyderabad, he would make it a
point to meet Jaisimha as almost
all the West Indies greats were
very fond of him. Moreover, he
was a very colourful personality
in the way he talked and lived his
life. I had an interaction with him
for about a year and a half before his
demise and he came across as a very
articulate and knowledgeable man. The
original idea of a biography came when a
Delhi publisher wanted to do his
biography and I was asked if I could do it.
I was all too willing because I had seen
him at close quarters and found him to be
extremely warm and good human being
not just with the media but with
everyone else right from the ground staff
to corporate captains.
What is the best thing that you liked about
Jaisimha as a player?
Jaisimha was a very passionate cricketer
on the field and off it he had friends in all
teams. You could say he was a diehard
for non-cricketing reasons. So, I
definitely think he should have
been given more opportunities
and maybe a biography of the man
will be in some way a tribute to
him and his cricketing acumen
which the book discusses in some
detail in conversation with so
many leading cricketers.
Jaisimha with Gray Sobers Is there a tendency to focus more
on his off-the-field flamboyance
than on it?
There were some journalists in
his playing days who were critical
about his appearance with collars
up and the tight trousers he wore
which some saw as a fashion
statement. But, it was not
necessarily so. I have seen him in
impeccable whites when he was
Hyderabad’s coach and he was
particular that the game’s
Hyderabad's three musketeers: Jaisimha,
tradition should be upheld. If
Abbas Ali Baig and Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi
somebody came with slippers or sandals,
he would not take it easily. So, the team
and hardcore Hyderabadi cricketer but under him was also very traditionally
off the field people from Karnataka, dressed and when they came to the nets
Delhi — or anyone in the world — they even a day before the game, he made sure
all liked him. In fact, for his benefit that they were in whites and he himself
match there was a gathering of star had set an example by coming in whites.
players like Imran Khan, Zaheer Abbas Maybe as a coach his greatness made the
and Sarfaraz Nawaz.
fact that he wouldn’t expect his players
to do something he couldn’t do.
Do you think he did not get his full due as a
player?
Have you seen him play? Which is the best
He did get chances. But the book
knock of his that you remember?
discusses some episodes in his career I have not actually seen him play. But
that showed how the cricket
according to me the best knock of his was
establishment at that time was unfair to in Brisbane against Australia in 1968
him especially in the prime of his
when he replaced an injured B.S.
prowess as a cricketer as he was dropped Chandrasekhar. In fact, when he was
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SPORTS
CRICKET
dropped, he was very disappointed.
He gave away his kit and was on the
verge of quitting but manager
Ghulam Ahmed and captain
M.A.K. Pataudi were keen to have
him. He took a long flight from
Madras to Singapore to Perth to
Sydney to Brisbane. Despite all
that, he did well and got a century
in that test match and actually got
India very close to a historic test
victory which was unheard of back
then. Jaisimha scored 74 and 101
and was the last man to be
dismissed. Australia won the
match by just 39 runs. Jack
Fingleton, one of the greatest
Australian cricket writers, who
was also in Don Bradman’s
invincible team, said, `Jaisimha’s
bat came down like a pendulum
and he was playing very straight.
His footwork was extraordinary.'
Fingleton was surprised that Jaisimha
was dropped and was not in the original
side. He wondered if India could drop
somebody like Jaisimha then they would
be having an abundance of talent.
Apart from being the first batsman to play
on all five days of a test match, what are
the other Jaisimha records that stand out
for you?
There was a test match where he scored
99 but in the team’s interest he was asked
to bat slowly. The team needed to
preserve wickets and wanted somebody
to just stay there. That is one common
denominator between ML Jaisimha and
VVS Laxman. Whatever the team
requires, they will play accordingly. If
you need to speed up the scoring rate,
they would rise up to the occasion and it
was always team above self-records.
Jaisimha never played to set records and
enjoyed the game immensely. His
observations on the games were just
phenomenal and as a journalist when we
Quite a pair:with admirer and close friend Tanuja
With Roger Binny
went to talk to him, he would give you
such inputs that you didn't have to do any
homework. He would tell you about the
pitch, the opposition team’s strengths
and weaknesses. I remember once when
I went to see him for a preview which we
had to do a day before the game and he
gave it in just about two-three minutes.
He was extremely warm and cordial to
me. Interestingly, that particular day I
was late and he had already finished his
media briefing but he liked me so he
asked the groundsman to get a chair.
While having tea, he started telling me
about the next game and what would
happen over the next five days. The kind
of inputs he gave was fantastic. He was
always a media delight and when
journalists interviewed him he would
pause in between the sentences so that
they could take down notes. That’s why
when he died, the coverage he received
was fit for royalty. It was full page
coverage simply because he had so many
friends in the media not just in
Hyderabad but all other places too. In
The Hindu where I then worked, we
are generally very conservative but
on that particular day the whole
page was dedicated to him.
How many people did you speak to
for writing the book?
I made a list of about 50 to 100
people who were close to him. I
interviewed Mansur Ali Khan
Pataudi in Delhi, Abbas Ali Baig in
Hyderabad and Salim Durrani in
Bombay. Salim Durrani was
spectator-friendly as he smashed
for sixes exactly where the crowd
wanted. That was one very good
trait about Salim Durrani, ML
Jaisimha and his idol Keith Miller.
Miller had a very interesting view
of cricket. He said, because
spectators have spent so much
money to watch the game, give
them their money's worth. Salim
Durrani and ML Jaisimha were also in
that mould. They respected their fans
and spectators which lots of cricketers
don’t do.
Jaisimha played his first test match in
1959-60. Is there an awareness about him
now especially among the younger
generation?
Yes, among cricketers and the cricketloving
public who are willing to read a
little bit of history. People who want to
know how this game has evolved and
how it has become a rage in India, they
will definitely know about Jaisimha.
When he passed away in 1999, it was
40 years after his first test match. But,
still he had that aura and that charisma
about him.
(My Way – The Biography of M.L.
Jaisimha by A. Joseph Anthony with
Jayanthi Jaisimha, with a foreword by
Sunil Gavaskar, is available on Amazon
for Rs. 199. There is also an e-version)
151
JUNE 2018

TRENDS
LEISURE
WHEN THE
DISCO GOES
SILENT
BYPASS NOISE ORDINANCES
AND ORNERY GUESTS BY
JIVING AT A SILENT DISCO.
BY AARTI KAPUR SINGH
Think of the history of a party
from a guest’s perspective.
First there was the live band.
Guests had no choice in the
type of music or the songs that the band
played. They also had no control over the
volume. Because of the volume issue,
party planners had to be careful when
and where the party was — or the cops
would show up to shut it down. Next,
there was the DJ playing pre-recorded
music. Suddenly the listener’s choice of
songs and styles had exploded. One band
could only play the songs they knew
while the DJ could play any song ever
recorded. Likewise, while one band
could only play their own style of music,
a DJ could play any style of music as long
as they had the record.
The historical trend clearly was
towards more music options and more
listener empowerment. And it is bearing
this guest satisfaction in mind that a new
concept is fast taking over the nightlife
scene in India. If you’re stuck at a
venue with a noise ordinance or if you
love Kendrick Lamar but know that your
girlfriend will be offended by rap, you
have a solution: the silent disco.
If the term doesn’t give it away, silent
disco is a unique and different way to DJ
a party. Instead of the emcee blasting the
music through speakers set around your
venue, the music transmits to Bluetooth
headphones that your guests wear. They
can choose from two to four channels
(depending on the set-up). So so some
guests can boogie to Beyoncé, others can
shimmy to Ed Sheeran, and another set
can do the balle balle to some Punjabi
tracks.
Imagine a room full of dancing
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TRENDS
LEISURE
bodies, jumping and smiling late into the
night, while a DJ is at the front of the
venue providing the atmosphere. Instead
of live music being sent through loud
speakers, it is broadcast into headphones
worn by each attendee. To an outsider,
the event would look like a room full of
people dancing to complete silence
Imagine a DJ spinning, but without
the speaker set-up. The floor is filled
with thousands of people, all with
headphones. But there’s no actual music
from the DJ being played aloud. Instead,
the music is playing into the ears of the
attendees, who have the ability to switch
between one DJ and the other. They get
to choose the beats that move them.
A silent disco is where you put on a
special pair of noise-cancelling
headphones and gather with others who
have done the same. Then, as individuals,
you can tune into one or multiple
channels of sound, while simultaneously
and indirectly combining energies with
those around you. This results in a lot of
ALL ABOUT THE SILENT DISCO
Silent disco is clubbing for people
who don’t want to be subjected to
the will of one DJ for the evening.
Since the wearer controls the volume,
it is ideal for people who don’t want
ringing ears and sore throats the next
morning. Here are some advantages
of attending a party at a silent disco.
• Multiple channels of music instead
of one: This means you get a choice.
Also there is no more feeling guilty
about liking a song different from your
dancing partner’s.
• Volume control: This means you
get a choice. No more feeling bad
about wanting the music louder or
softer than your dance partner. And,
you can also actually talk!
• Option of taking a break from the
music: This may be the biggest win of
all! Especially for people who want to
talk to each other at parties.
singing and dancing like no one’s
watching.
The first mention of a headphone
party was in the Finnish film Ruusujen
Aika (1969), where the characters in a
scene of the film wore headsets at a
party. In 1994, Glastonbury, the popular
international music festival, took note of
the popular trend of silent party
headphones as being the ideal solution to
stop the problem of noise curfew that
they were running into.
Not wanting to miss out on the
exciting headphone dance party
craze, BBC Live Music held their
own silent gig with the band
Rocketgoldstar along with a few DJs, in
the Chapter Arts Centre located
in Cardiff, Wales, UK, in 2000. In 2002,
at the Museum of Contemporary Art in
Chicago, an outdoor club was created
where wireless headphones for silent
disco were worn, so that the party-goers
could listen to the DJ performing.
The phrase “silent disco” got
properly established in 2005 with
the Bonnaroo Music & Arts
Festival advertising an event that
mentioned how several different DJs
would be performing that evening and
how silent party headphones were being
provided for the audience to wear. In
2008, HUSH concerts (originally known
as Silent Frisco) produced the first silent
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JUNE 2018

TRENDS
LEISURE
disco tour that went around America.
They were the first company to have
a wireless headphone party on the beach,
along with a silent rave on a boat.
In India, after Goa became the
torchbearer of the silent gigs, nightclubs
in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and
Kolkata are now creating a silent
revolution with élan. The theme of silent
gigs was introduced by Silent Noise - The
Club in Palolem beach, Goa to cut the
clamour of high sound effects on beach
parties and reduce sound pollution. The
silent disco trend started to gain steam
and entered the Indian public’s
consciousness through Karan Johar’s Ae
Dil Hai Mushkil, which featured the
characters of Anushka Sharma and
Ranbir Kapoor grooving to the
beats in a silent disco.
Silent discos are not only a way
to provide varied guest
experiences, it also allows older
guests to sit out on the action and
visit with one another without
having to shout over the loud
music. It’s a win-win
situation! "Silent discos are a sign
of the times, and of our generation.
They allow us the freedom to
choose. Give us a chance to break
the rules and question what’s normal,
and it is so liberating! Silent discos create
a platform in which advanced
technology can engage, and
paradoxically, bond us. Because of this, it
doesn’t matter if it’s digging deep in our
own souls or the act of coming together
in silence that’s so powerful,” shares DJ
Anshul of Gold, JW Marriott Kolkata.
“Clubbing with a silent noise is a
brilliant concept; it helps to relax your
taxing senses to a great extent. I don’t
want the party revellers to go elbow-toelbow
while grooving, and similarly
space recreates the mood. It also has a
fun factor, when I see people are dancing
to their own rhythms as they are
listening to three different genres at the
same time,” adds the DJ. One of the most
active players on the scene has been the
swanky restobar Headphones which has
opened its second silent disco in New
Delhi’s upmarket GK2 area. The first
one, incidentally, was in Punjabi Bagh,
where you can traditionally get as loud as
you want — and be proud of it! Divij Bajaj,
the man behind Headphones, recollects
that it was an experience of a silent party
in UK that convinced him that he had to
get the concept to India.
“I have always been amongst the
people who hate it when they can’t talk in
clubs due to the loud music. A headphone
is a perfect party solution where you can
talk when you want to and zone out to
an all-party space when you feel like
dancing. It’s like nirvana for party
lovers like me who go with friends to
chill talk and party! I feel it is going to
change the way people party,” says
Bajaj. And it isn’t that only silent discos
are a rage. No noise raves started
gaining popularity across the seas — in
places like Europe — years ago. They
have now hit India and are popping up in
most popular cities, festivals and venues.
Whether indoors or outdoors, quiet
clubbing seems weird yet liberating,
immersive but euphoric. But it isn’t
imposing, which makes it quite possibly
the coolest thing ever. “It’s an amazing
feeling to tune out the hoopla, and tune
into the sounds that you enjoy,” says
Nikita Grover, a regular patron of
Headphones in Delhi.
Viewed in this light, a silent disco
does not seem futuristic at all! In fact,
it seems like a concept that is only going
to grow.
154
JUNE 2018

STYLISH BATHROOM RANGE FROM ARTTD’INOX
ARTTD’INOX, A PREMIUM BRAND FROM
THE HOUSE OF JSL LIFESTYLE LTD,
launches their latest bathroom range.
Infuse elegance in the bathroom by
displaying these stunning and artistic
creations from the brand ranging from
hand wash holder, toothbrush holder and
soap case to towel tray. An unconventional
blend of Zen, inspired by Japanese concept
with traditional Jodhpuri detailing, the
collection has organic curves derived
from river stones which is an epitome
of tranquillity. Crafted in ceramic with
stainless steel, these opulent pieces exude
minimal patterns all over the accessories.
Available in striking palette of blue and
white, the range infuses soothing affluence
to the bathroom setting. Designed
with finesse, these stunning bathroom
accessories are a must-have for the season.
155
JUNE 2018

MELANGE
TAROT
YOUR FORECAST THIS MONTH
BY SRINIVAS IYER
Aries
Creativity is at it’s
Taurus
Your intellect is
Gemini
Creativity,
Cancer
This year is an
Leo
Professionally
Virgo
Your siblings do well
peak. Your social life is
sharp and hence
renovation and
important phase
things will do well.
and your financial
expanding and this is
it is natural that
new launches are
of your life and
You are lucky and
situation improves to
due to your conscious
students do well in
lined up for you.
this has been so
your hard work
a great extent. You
effort. Short business
their examinations.
Luck and blessings
in the last few
brings in results.
are in the comfort
travel is foreseen. You
So do professionals.
in all forms are on
months too. Avoid
Be thankful to the
zone till August 2018,
embark on creative
Goddess Lakshmi
the cards for you.
lending money,
powers-that-be
after which things
pursuits and these are
showers her
Romance flourishes
huge investments
for this beautiful
will change. Mother’s
beneficial for you.
kindness on you.
and bonds with
and loans.Marriage
phase. You will
health could come
You may visit
Creativity is at its
your loved ones
is foreseen for the
interact with the
under focus.
religious places.
peak for you.
strengthens.
eligible ones.
public at large.
Avoid stress.
Libra
The good phase of
Scorpio
This is a testing
Sagittarius
You continue to be
Capricorn
Home life is good
Aquarius
You are intuitive by
Pisces
Writers, journalists,
the last one year is
time on the financial
in the public light
and auspicious
nature. You boldly
media professionals,
coming to an end in
front. Your wisdom
for more time. You
events happen
express your love to
actors, dancers and
the next two months.
of the last few years
are likely to act out
at home. Family
others. For some,
all others in similar
This month is still
is being put to test.
your emotions and
relationships
new relationships
fields will do very well
great. Finances are
Patience will help
hence be aware
expand and
are being indicated
this month. Marriage
good and so is the
and will enable you
of your words
celebrations are
which will turn out
is indicated for the
business situation.
to succeed. Maternal
while addressing
indicated. On
to be long-term
eligible ones. Some of
Women do well in
relatives will help
a gathering.
the work front,
ones. Meditate on
you may have doubts
their relationships.
you, though there
Romance and
responsibilities
the powers-that-be,
about your romantic
Spiritual practise will
could be some
marriage are
and the scope of
whenever the time
life. Think twice before
surely help you.
strain too.
indicated.
influence increase.
permits you.
you act.
The above is based on the sun sign and planetary transits thereof. It is general in nature. For specific readings, seek out expert advice based on
your individual chart. (Astrologer Srinivas Iyer is based in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. He can be contacted on shrinivaasiyer@gmail.com)
156
JUNE 2018

TRAVEL
PLACES
5
GREAT DESTINATIONS
FOR SOLO WOMEN
TRAVELLERS
LET US RAISE A TOAST TO ALL THE FEARLESS
AND STRONG WOMEN OUT THERE. To women
who are not afraid of being themselves, to women
who shine a light to the world and make things better just
with their smile and presence. And to women who are not
afraid to tread new and unknown paths all on their own. If
you are one such woman who loves to go on adventures all by
herself, here are some offbeat destinations that you can
conquer next.
BY ADITI BALBIR , CEO & FOUNDER, V RESORTS
Mountains form a majestic
backdrop in Mashobra
BHIMTAL
Visit Bhimtal to shut the physical and mental noise
stopping you from embracing your inner self.
There’s not much that happens at Bhimtal. Except
the chirping of a hundred odd vividly-coloured
birds, or the rustling of leaves by the gusts of a cool
Uttarakhand breeze blowing through the pine and
fir trees, or the sound of water emitting from
Bhimtal lake as and when a conical wooden boat
passes through it, making concentric waves.
Of course, there are touristy spots in Bhimtal
like the ancient Bhimeshwara Mahadev Temple,
MASHOBRA
Start your day with a long nature
walk along the windy Himalayan
effortlessly drives you away from the
noise and crowd of the city while
also keeping you close to its
dedicated to Lord Shiva, or the Folk Culture
Museum, or the Bhimtal Island aquarium which
houses fish from faraway countries. Small markets
offering wooden artefacts, jewellery, carpets,
candles, and Garhwali paintings can also keep you
engaged during your stay in the small town. In case
you crave some hustle-bustle, Nainital is just 41
minutes away.
ALAMY(MASHOBRA) /GETTY(BHIMTAL)
roads lined by tall pine trees. Or
liveliness. The gorgeous town of
maybe, hire a bicycle and hit the
road, taking in the chilly Himalayan
Shimla is just 40 minutes away.
If you plan to stay in Mashobra
Flowers bloom and fill the
landscape around Bhimtal Lake
air. Barmain- Basantpur Road is one
all the time (we totally recommend
popular trail among bikers. Stop for a
that), go for a birding tour. The
rhododendron juice and a meal with
Reserve Forest Sanctuary, rich in
the locals. Himachali delicacies,
water and marshes, is touted to be a
being rich in lentils, will provide you
heaven for bird-watchers.
the vigour needed for your
Pheasants, partridges, and
adventures. Look out for madra,
Himalayan Eagles are among the
siddu, and dhaam, the complete meal
avian species that can be spotted
as it is called. And when you are done
here. Not into birding? Choose a trek
exploring the land, soar through the
trail (Shali Tibba is one of the
skies with a paragliding session and
popular ones). Spending your night
taste the thrill at its best. The best
at a camp and gazing at the stars isn’t
thing about Mashobra is that it
a bad idea.
158
JUNE 2018

TRAVEL
PLACES
Jahangir Mahal, one of the
many ancient sites in Orchha
ORCHHA
There are ornate palaces and majestic forts,
ancient temples and royal chhatris
(cenotaphs). Apparently, every inch of this
small town of Madhya Pradesh boasts of
historic tales of kings and queens, battles
and kingdoms. Located on the bank of river
Betwa, Orccha offers enormous displays of
Mughal-influenced Rajput architecture.
Visit the Orchhat Fort located on an island
in Betwa River, or go animal-spotting at
Orchha Wildlife Sanctuary. Or just marvel
at the rich architecture of the 14 chhatris,
constructed beside the Betwa River. The
cenotaphs speak about the pomp and
grandeur of the Bundelkhand dynasty. The
historical town of Jhansi isn’t too far either.
At a distance of just 17 km, the town opens
for you another plethora of stories from
times gone by.
GHANERAO
Not too far from The Great Wall of India, Kumbhalgarh Fort, Ghanerao is
a small village located in the Pali district of Rajasthan. Hidden from the
eyes of a majority of tourists, this offbeat location houses a 500-year-old
castle. The royal family still resides in the castle; you can too. Exquisite
jharokhas, wooden artefacts, and a gorgeous candlelight dinner space by
a splendid blue swimming pool make it one unmissable destination.
A clear starry sky ensures that you have a dreamy experience in the royal
state of India. And when you are done exploring the castle, step out to
spend some time with artisans living in the nearby villages. Sit with them,
try your hands at shoe-making, pottery, and painting. Crave some time
alone? Head to the step-wells Ghanerao has been preserving for years.
The spot will effortlessly give you hours to spend in solitude.
Kumbalgarh Fort
near Ghanerao
A spice farm in Goa
GOA
What’s off beat about Goa? Apparently, a lot. Ever
jumped into a well to celebrate the Sao Joao festival?
Taken a spice farm tour? Done kayaking in the
backwaters? The sunny state in the western India is a
treasure trove of offbeat experiences never even heard
by many. This time, plan a solo trip to Goa. Hire a bike
and get lost in the numerous lanes and bylanes of Goan
villages; Olaulim is one among them. Stop at a small
bakery and eat bebinca (a layered Goan dessert) and
freshly-baked pois (breads). Go island-hopping.
Explore a lesser-known fort. Spend away your days
reading your favourite title soaking in the sun by
a swimming pool at a quiet villa.
ALAMY(GOA) /GETTY(ORCHHA,GHANERAO)
160
JUNE 2018

HOSPITALITY
HOTELS
BEYOND COMFORT
NOVOTEL KOCHI INFOPARK IS LOCATED IN AN UPCOMING IT ZONE BUT IT
ATTRACTS THE LEISURE TRAVELER TOO. BY BINDU GOPAL RAO
A
visit to Kerala is
SpiceJet flies to Kochi. Log on
to www.spicejet.com for flight
details
always something to
look forward to and
the recent launch of
Novotel Kochi
Infopark was a perfect reason to go back
to God’s Own Country. Located in Kochi’s
IT belt, this is the first international hotel
in the Kakkanad IT hub and is away from
the humdrum of the city.
This property is a
partnership between
AccorHotels and the
Muthoot Pappachan Group
and is a 40 minute drive
from Kochi International
Airport.
When I arrived here I
was given a traditional
welcome by the hotel,
keeping in mind the
Novotel philosophy of ‘home away from
home’. The welcome drink was
interesting too. Called Kulki Sherbat, it is
a pineapple drink flavoured with ginger,
lime, green chilli and basil seeds and was
just what I needed to refresh myself. The
128-key hotel, with signature in-room
amenities and Wifi, also includes eight
suites and a room designed specifically
for the specially-abled. The décor is a
perfect mélange of local and international
art elements of the city. The reception is
large and airy and the colour comes from
the wall décor as well as the bright-hued
cushions on the sofas.
My room on the fourth level was a
Superior Room and at 330 sq ft was
spacious and felt just right – not too large
or small. Apart from a comfortable kingsize
bed and a 49 inch smart television,
there was a work table, a sofa and a small
side table where I saw some local desserts
and chocolates waiting for me. The room
was well furnished with a cupboard,
minibar and a spacious bathroom with a
separate shower cubicle. The views from
the room were great with undulating
greens that are a sight for sore eyes. The
other categories of rooms here include
162
JUNE 2018

HOSPITALITY
HOTELS
Premier Rooms and Suites. The suites
come with a separate living space and
larger bathrooms with bathtubs.
Since I was quite hungry after my
flight, I headed to The Square, the all-day
dining restaurant that offers a wide
selection of quintessential Malabari
delicacies with a mix of local and
international cuisines. The large 106
cover restaurant is bright and airy and has
a nice ambience courtesy the natural light
that comes in through the large French
windows here. The restaurant has a
buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner as
well as an extensive a-la-carte menu.
There are live action stations where you
can see how your food is being made,
including a pizzeria that makes fresh
pizza and bread too. Executive Chef G.V.
Ramesh says, “As this area has several
restaurants that serve Kerala food, I
decided to keep the food choices as a mix
of international and local fare. Of course
being in Kerala, there is local food too but
we have ensured that the food has a good
selection of Western dishes as well.”
There is also Hyderabadi Biryani as part
of the a-la-carte menu. After all, the Chef
is from Hyderabad!
Opposite the restaurant is The Bar
that serves a range of single malts,
cocktails, mocktails and spirits. However
to enjoy Kochi evenings, head to The Sun
Deck Bar on the sixth level where you can
tuck in lip-smacking Indian culinary
creations and live grills and enjoy a dinner
under the clouds by the poolside.
Incidentally, this 35 cover space is cozy
and intimate and can also be hired for
private pool parties and dos. Do have at
least one dinner here and it is guaranteed
to be an experience like no other. The
grills served are quite amazing and are
sure to have you feeling well-fed! The
Sunday brunch is extensive and with a
live band playing, it is a wonderful way to
spend your holiday.
The hotel has a swimming pool on the
sixth level as well as the 24/7 gym
Balance — so health freaks will be happy.
In fact the gym offers nice views of the
city too so there in an extra motivation to
exercise. There are three banqueting
spaces that can accommodate about 200
people and a boardroom that can host 14
people. This hotel is also great for families
and offers a 50 per cent discount on the
second room for two children below 16
years.
There is a special kids menu and a
kid’s corner too so children will not be
bored here. Also this is an ISO 14001
certified hotel so you know they care
about the environment too. Speaking at
the launch, Sachin Maheshwary, General
Manager, Novotel Kochi, said, “As a
growing IT hub and a travel destination,
Kochi is an ideal location for travellers
whether they are here to explore the city
for a weekend getaway or a family retreat
or for business.” And you know exactly
why when you are here.
While you are here in Kochi find the
time to explore the city’s eclectic culture
that is a motley mix of Portuguese, Dutch,
Arab, Chinese and Japanese influences.
And the best way to do this is to head to
Fort Kochi that is steeped in Portuguese
and Dutch history. This quaint locale has
a mix of sights including the famed
Chinese nets. These nets are supposed to
have been introduced by Chinese traders
way back in the 14th century. This area is
also home to St. Francis Church where
Vasco-da-Gama was originally buried
and Vasco House, his former residence.
Stand at the waterfront and see the
fishermen throw the nets and bring their
catch to the shore. The sunsets against
the nets are magnificent too so it is a good
idea to make it here towards the evening.
When in Kochi do not forget to stock up
on your fill of spices especially pepper and
cardamom as well as the famed banana
chips. In the summer months, jackfruit
chips are a must too. So pack up and head
to Kochi – a wonderful time beckons.
164
JUNE 2018

INSTITUTION
SCHOOLS
EDUCATION FOR LIFE
THE INDIGENOUS CURRICULUM AT THE ARDEE SCHOOL ALLOWS ANALYTICAL
AND CRITICAL THINKING VIS-À-VIS ROTE LEARNING.
Established in 2003, The
Ardee School is located in
Delhi, Gurugram, Noida
and Goa. The New Friends
Colony, Cambridge-affiliated K-12
school was set up in 2017 and offers a
secular, child-centric, co-educational
day-boarding school environment. It
follows the International Cambridge
Curriculum. The pre-primary school
follows the International Montessori
Program, followed by the Cambridge
curriculum across grades 1 to 10
which culminates with the IGCSE
examinations. At the Cambridge
advanced level, the school offers
Cambridge AS and A Levels. The
school weaves the best practices and
methodologies of various curricula to
create an indigenous curriculum
which allows analytical and critical
thinking vis-à-vis rote learning.
The school is committed to:
• Providing quality-driven education
to students of ages from 18 months to
18 years
• Providing an environment for
exploration that goes beyond the
confines of conventional classrooms
• Inculcating in each child the spirit
to celebrate success and learn from
failure
• Creating avenues for every child to
consider the world as a classroom and
get enriched in experiences and learn
to appreciate diversity
• Creating an environment where the
child can connect concepts with
experience and intuition
• Empowering each child to take
independent decisions
• Developing each child into an
independent learner who is ethically
and environmentally aware
• Encouraging each child to be
upright and creating a spirit of daring
to be the change
Inbuilt in the school curriculum
are unique programmes for
stimulating the students’ interest and
mind. Each child’s day is meticulously
planned to ensure a judicious blend of
curricular and co-curricular
activities alternating between indoor
and outdoor environments.
Skill-based learning is provided
through unique programmes like:
• Flipped classroom
• College Bridge programmes
• Experiential exposure at visits and
camps
• Interschool competitions and
collaborations
The Ardee campus embodies the
spirit of innovation and aspiration to
define new standards in design of
urban campuses in a city like New
Delhi. The Ardee School, NFC has
recently won the Ed Tech Review’s
award for the Best School
Architecture of the Year (North
India).
The new campus at New Friends
Colony is poised to become one of the
greenest schools in Delhi and is
blessed with lush green open space
where pupils enjoy the ambience and
beauty of a city school. Some of the
excellent school facilities which are
provided within this picturesque
school campus are:
• Makers Lab based on STEAM
• Observatory
• Art & Music studios
• Digital Resource Centre
• Workout gym
• Outdoor and indoor sports facilities
• Technology-aided classrooms with
state-of-the-art Promethean smart
boards
All the staff members at The Ardee
School share the school’s philosophy
and are passionate about respecting
the child’s potential; aiding the child’s
self construction without
interference; inculcating independent
thinking in the child; helping the child
to discover his/her inner discipline;
and motivating and guiding the child
to develop the dignity of labour.
166
JUNE 2018

ARTS
TRADITION
ELEGANT
AND
ETHEREAL
CHIKANKARI EMBROIDERY GOES
BACK CENTURIES BUT ITS BEAUTY
HAS SEEN THE CRAFT EVOLVE
AND POPULARITY SPREAD OVER
TIME. BY BRINDA GILL
While most
traditional
embroideries
across India —
kasuti, phulkari, mirror-worked and
kantha, among others — derive their
appeal from the colours of the threads
used and the hue of the fabric on which
the stitches are worked, traditional
chikankari is distinct for its
`whitework’ or white embroidery on
white fabric.
Though worked at different
centres, chikankari has long been
synonymous with Lucknow, where it
blossomed under the patronage of the
Nawabs of Awadh; Lucknow was
established as their capital city in 1775.
Chikankari typically features floral
motifs and paisleys, though designers
and artisans now create a spectrum of
motifs reflective of their creativity, and
also use coloured threads and work on
coloured fabrics using traditional
stitches. Each motif is designed — in
terms of size, shape and placement —
on attire to create a harmonious
composition. Even when worked as a
self-coloured thread embroidery (the
colour of thread and cloth being the
Ranbir Kapoor in
sherwani with
heavy chikankari
and dupatta at a
charity event
same), a variety of stitches create
different textural and visual effects on
a single textile/attire thus creating a
unique garment with understated
elegance.
Some of these stitches are worked
on the surface of the fabric, some from
the reverse, while others pull at the
threads to create a delicate net. The
rendering of fine stitches on very fine
muslin makes the embroidery appear
as if part of the fabric. And being
typically worked on light cotton, it is an
ideal technique to be worked on
summer attire.
Perhaps the most identifiable
chikankari stitch is bakhia that is the
herringbone stitch, worked on the
reverse of the fabric. The stitch is used
very effectively to fill space such as
petals or leaves of a flower. The result
is that it casts a soft shadow on the
main face of the fabric with only the
outlines of the motif appearing in the
form of a neat back stitch. This has also
given the stitch its common name:
shadow work.
The other common stitches are
taipchi, a long running stitch (that
is apt for all-over flowing motifs
and for being worked on finer
fabric as it appears like a
continuous stitch through the
cloth); the khatao, fine appliqué
work, wherein small pieces of the
textile are neatly cut and shaped
according to the motifs; the
phanda, akin to a French knot, that
gives it an embossed, relief effect;
and the murri, like a stem stitch
with the needle returning to
execute small stitches wrapped
around the main stitch creating a
relief effect.
The most delicate of stitches is
the jali, worked by neatly
separating the threads of the fabric
with a needle and making small
stitches that tighten the threads to hold
them apart for a lace-like net effect. No
threads are removed for the jali; they
are only separated by small stitches,
which creates a filigree-like effect. The
effect of the jali may be enhanced by
rendering the stitches in a different
colour to that of the fabric.
The beauty and appeal of
chikankari has seen the craft evolve
and its popularity spread from retail
stores to the ramp, from traditional
attire to fashion garments, and to
different parts of the country.
Chikankari is worked on a range of
attire including salwar-kameez and
churidar-kurta ensembles, saris, tops,
kurtas, stoles and Western attire; on
attire for women and men; on different
fabrics (not only cotton); and using
coloured threads and one-coloured
fabrics. Some designers embellish with
elements like crystals and some select
certain chikankari stitches for thicker/
winter wear thus giving the traditional
craft a wider appeal.
GETTY
167
JUNE 2018

NEWS
SPICEJET
INSIDER
SpiceJet announces 10
new domestic flights
SpiceJet, the country’s favourite
airline, has announced the launch of
10 new flights on domestic routes.
Deploying its Bombardier Q-400
aircraft on these routes, SpiceJet will
strengthen its network across south
India with new flights and additional
frequencies. The airline is introducing
daily direct flights on the Chennai-
Mangaluru-Chennai sector from June
16, 2018. SpiceJet will operate on the
Hyderabad-Rajahmundry, Chennai-
Kozhikode and Bengaluru-Kozhikode
routes with an additional evening
flight on each of these sectors and
introduce its third flight on the
Chennai-Hyderabad route. The new
flights introduced on the Chennai-
Hyderabad and Chennai-Mangaluru
sectors will be operational daily.
SpiceJet flags off daily direct Delhi-Adampur-Delhi flight
SpiceJet has launched daily direct services between Delhi and Adampur in Punjab.
The first direct flight was flagged off from Delhi airport’s Terminal 2 to Adampur by
Shri Jayant Sinha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, and Mr. Ajay Singh, Chairman
and Managing Director, SpiceJet. The first passengers were welcomed and gifted with
mementoes by SpiceJet. In line with the aviation tradition to mark key milestones, the
flight which came from Delhi, was greeted with a grand water cannon salute upon its
arrival at Adampur. Mr. Ajay Singh said, “SpiceJet is proud to connect Adampur with
Delhi and multiple domestic and international destinations on our network like Dubai
and Bangkok."
“SPICEJET HAS YET
AGAIN RECORDED THE
HIGHEST PASSENGER
LOAD FACTOR (PLF) IN
THE INDUSTRY. FOR
THREE YEARS IN A
ROW SPICEJET HAS
FLOWN WITH LOADS IN
EXCESS OF 90%. WE ARE
EXTREMELY PROUD OF
OUR ENTIRE TEAM
FOR OUTPERFORMING
THE INDUSTRY MONTH
AFTER MONTH.”
SHILPA BHATIA, CHIEF SALES AND
REVENUE OFFICER, SPICEJET
SpiceJet clocks third
successive profitable year
SpiceJet reported a quarterly profit
of Rs 46.1 crore for the traditionally
weak quarter ended March 31,
2018, making it the 13th successive
profitable quarter for the airline.
Net profit for FY 2018 stood at Rs
566.7 crore, making this the third
successive year of profitable growth.
The airline’s record of profitable
growth comes on the back of its
continued focus on nurturing a
healthy growth rate in its passenger
traffic by adding capacitates on its
existing routes while identifying new
destinations with pent-up demand
across the country. The company
has demonstrated a strong revenue
performance backed by an increase in
yield and record load factor and as a
result could absorb the significant rise
in fuel costs. In terms of operational
parameters, SpiceJet had the best
passenger load factor amongst all
airlines in the country during the
quarter and the year. The average
domestic load factor for the quarter
was 95.4 %, and for the year 94.7%.
For three years in a row, SpiceJet has
flown with the highest load factors.
168
JUNE 2018

SPICEJET
INSIDER
MY TOWN
Our ongoing series in which we look at various Indian cities through
the eyes of SpiceJet staffers. This month, Ankita Anand, Customer
Service Executive, Ground Services, holds forth on Patna
From above: Remains of Nalanda University;
Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya; and the Dalai
Lama at the inauguration of Buddha Smriti Park
SpiceJet flies to Patna. Log on
to www.spicejet.com for details
Connection to the city: I am
originally from Patna and have
been brought up here.
Best thing about Patna: The
quality of life here is good, a
perfect blend of the traditional
and the modern. It is a safe
place for women. People from
all communities live peacefully
with one another. They are
very social by nature.
Favourite eating place: I am a
foodie and I like exploring new
eating places. My favourite
eating place in Patna is the
Mayuralok locality. I like the
street food there — batata
puri, sev puri, gol gappa, I
love each one of them. But
my favourite dish here is litti
chokha , famous for its rustic
taste. It is a Bihari delicacy
made of whole wheat flour
and sattu flour.
Local attractions: Watching the full
moon at Ganga Ghat is an enjoyable
experience. Buddha Smriti Park, spread
over 22 acres, was inaugurated in
2010 by the Dalai Lama. Among the
attractions here are a stupa, meditation
hall and museum. Another beautiful park
is the Eco Park, also known as Rajdhani
Vatika. It houses more than 3,000 plants
and has many attractions for visitors.
Golghar and the Takht Sri Patna Sahib
are also worth visiting.
Recommended places nearby: Bodh
Gaya is a very important Buddhist
pilgrimage centre. It is said that the
Buddha attained enlightenment under
a sacred Bodhi tree here. Nalanda was
home to the first residential international
university of the world. In the past, apart
from Buddhism, Jainism, Sufism and
Hinduism had flourished in this region.
Rajgir is a major sacred region for
Hindus, Jains and Buddhists.
How Patna compares with other places
that you have stayed in: I have stayed
in Delhi. Compared to Delhi, people of
Patna are very social and live a balanced
lifestyle. You can have the actual fun of
festivals among the people here.
169
JUNE 2018

SPICEJET
INSIDER
FLIGHT BOOKINGS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
SpiceJet’s popular mobile app offers never before convenience and speed for customers on-the-go
With SpiceJet’s new mobile
app, customers will find it
more convenient than ever
before to make and manage bookings,
check flight status, and receive
exclusive offers on their mobile devices.
The interface is so simple that even the
origin of journey helpfully gets autofilled
thanks to inbuilt geo-tagging.
The app also allows customers to
book or add exciting SpiceJet add-on
products such as choosing premium
SpiceMAX seats, in-flight meals and
Priority Check-in. Customers can also
pre-book excess baggage at discounted
rates through this app.
The payment gateway of the app
offers a variety of options like Quickpay,
credit card, debit card and Internet
banking. The Quickpay option ensures
instant booking with just a single click.
You can download the official
SpiceJet app from Google Playstore
and App Store.
Spice First Check-in
SpiceJet has raised the
bar of customer comfort
and convenience with the
effective integration of
technology into its services.
In a first of its kind initiative
by any airline in the country,
the carrier has launched
Spice First Check-In. This
enables customers to get
their boarding pass on their
smartphones at the click of
a button. The service will
be initially introduced at
Hyderabad as a pilot project.
The airline which has
set a new benchmark in
the country by launching a
slew of customer-friendly
and innovative products
and services has effectively
incorporated Near Field
Communication (NFC)
and Beacon technologies
with its mobile application.
This enables customers
who have booked tickets
through the SpiceJet mobile
app to receive boarding
passes directly on their
smartphones. Customers
will thus be relieved from
standing in long queues
thus further enhancing their
travel experience.
STEP: 1
The main
menu screen
offers four
options. To
book a flight,
select Flight
Booking
170
JUNE 2018

SPICEJET
INSIDER
ENJOY EXCLUSIVE OFFERS
With Spicejet’s hot new mobile app, one can not only book flight tickets on the go, prebook
spice add-ons, check flight status and manage one’s bookings, but also get access to
exclusive discounts. Book through the mobile app and get up to 20% discount
on flight tickets.
STEP: 2
Choose the required field. Fill in
the details and click on the Search
Flights options
STEP: 3
Flights options according to date of
travel are displayed. The fare details
are at the bottom
STEP: 4
On selection of the button, the
detailed fare sumary is displayed
STEP: 5
Once the required flight option
has been selected, fill in your
contact details
STEP: 6
Fliers can choose numerous add-on
options that will make the journey
hassle-free
171
JUNE 2018
STEP: 7
Customers can pay via Credit or
Debit card. QuickPay option saves
transaction time

SPICEJET
INSIDER
ST RS OF SPICEJET
Meet SpiceJet achievers from our inflight department, who have stood
out for their outstanding work
ADESWARI ROY
CHENNAI
Customer appreciation: This
is one journey I will never
forget, thanks to the “service with smile”
attitude of Adeswari. I’m going to feel safer
next time if she is on the plane. In troubled
times, she assured me peace of mind. I’ll
definitely prefer SpiceJet in future too. We
find such gems only on rare occasions.
Experience with SpiceJet: I am soaring
above the clouds in such a dynamic
profession since August 2016 with one of
the major airlines in India. I have learned to
smile seeing others happy on board even
with thousands of problems and that is
what feels great at the end. SpiceJet has
given me the wings to fly high in the sky
with a perfect work culture. I have gained
skills and experience that I never imagined
before and have got great people around
in the form of friends and colleagues.
CHANCHAL
SHARMA
AHMEDABAD
Customer appreciation:
I flew SpiceJet recently and found
your cabin crew to be very good
as well as well-groomed. Cabin
incharge Chanchal had a very good
command on the entire crew. She is
a good leader and has got excellent
managerial capabilities. Her planning
skills and efforts at making passengers
comfortable in all ways were very
visible.
Experience with SpiceJet: My love for
aviation has been born and nurtured in
SpiceJet. The company has opened up
a new sky of opportunities for me. I am
very happy when I see my passengers
contented. It is wonderfuI working here
thanks to the all-round support. I would
like to be associated with the company
for many more years to come.
INFLIGHT
ANCHAL GILL
AMRITSAR
Customer appreciation:
I recently took flight
SG 054 from Dubai to Kozhikode.
This was the first time I was flying
with SpiceJet and it was a wonderful
experience. Your crew member Anchal
was very courteous and provided
assistance throughout the flight.
Kudos to your inflight team and keep
up the good work that you guys are
doing.
Experience with SpiceJet: It’s been
four amazing years with Spicejet. I feel
so blessed to be a part of this great
airline. Over the years, while working
here, I have gained knowledge and
confidence. I am grateful to all my
colleagues who push me to achieve
new goals and to all the passengers
whom I feel happy to serve every day.
SUCHI KITROO
AHMEDABAD
Customer appreciation:
I had an amazing
experience when I flew to Bangkok from
Ahmedabad recently. Your cabin crew
Suchi stood out with her exemplary
professional service. She took very
good care of all the passengers she
came in contact with. It was a delight
watching her at work. I hope to fly with
SpiceJet once again very soon.
Experience with SpiceJet: Flying for
Spicejet has tremendously changed
my life and I have grown day-by-day,
professionally as well as personally. I am
grateful to my seniors and colleagues
for all the co-operation that they
have provided me. SpiceJet has given
me acheivements beyond measure. I
feel hounoured to be part of such a
company which has raised the bar of
customer delight in the industry.
172
JUNE 2018

SPICEJET
INSIDER
ANJU RAJIV
KOCHI
Customer appreciation: I
recently travelled on SG 608
from Chennai to Port Blair and was very
impressed with Anju’s professionalism.
Before the flight took off she politely
requested a passenger behind me to keep
his seat upright. He became rude with her.
But Anju managed the situation that day
very well. She kept her calm and was very
polite throughout her conversation. Hats
off to her.
Experience with SpiceJet: It has been a
wonderful journey with SpiceJet. I have
learned a lot from this company. It has
always been a great pleasure to work with
SpiceJet. I am very glad to be a part of this
airline and am looking forward to learn
more things and gain rich experience.
INFLIGHT
PIYALI BASU
KOLKATA
Internal appreciation:
I appreciate Piyali’s
performance on flight SG-272 (Delhi-
Kolkata). She was wonderful with the
hospitality and courtesy that she extended
to all the passengers. She showcased the
spirit of SpiceJet by providing exemplary
customer service. I whole-heartedly
appreciate her endeavour to keep the
passengers comfortable.
Experience with SpiceJet: It feels like my
six and a half years at SpiceJet have just
passed by in the blink of an eye, as I have
been enjoying what I always wanted to
do — fly. Thank you SpiceJet for giving me
the wings to fly high. I am blessed to be in
such an excellent organisation and work
with such a wonderful team.
CHAITRALI
MELKUNDE
PUNE
Customer appreciation: I
travelled on SG 52 from Dubai to Pune
and was happy by the very warm and
friendly welcome. Your crew Chaitrali was
very helpful and the service she provided
was amazing. She had a cheerful face
throughout the flight and this made the
journey pleasant. I would love to fly with
SpiceJet again in future and I will surely
recommend it to my friends and family too.
Experience with SpiceJet: I have been
working with SpiceJet for the last four and
half years. It has given me a platform to
achieve growth in my career. I am thankful
to SpiceJet for providing me with this
opportunity. There is a very friendly work
environment here which I like the most.
GAVIN DSOUZA
MUMBAI
Customer appreciation: It
was a pleasure travelling
from Bagdogra to Mumbai by SpiceJet
with the humble, caring and cheerful inflight
crew Gavin in attendance. It was our
son Shubham’s birthday and Gavin truly
made it special for him. We look forward to
flying on SpiceJet again, and hope to meet
more such wonderful and enthusiastic
people. Thank you once again Gavin for
making our flight memorable. Stay blessed
and achieve new heights every day.
Experience with SpiceJet: I would like to
thank Mumbai Base for all their motivation
and encouragement. I give my 100 per
cent on every flight making sure that all
passengers leave with a smile on their
face. I am very honoured to work with a
wonderful team and crew which makes me
feel proud to be a part of SpiceJet.
BIKRAMJIT D
MUMBAI
Customer appreciation:
I recently travelled from
Mumbai to Patna by SpiceJet SG-376.
I was travelling with my parents
and we had a good flight. I would
like to convey our special thanks to
your cabin crew Bikramjit who took
good care of us and made us feel
comfortable on board.
Experience with SpiceJet: The
constant advice given by my mentors
at the Mumbai Base has helped me
in achieving 100 per cent of my
potential. As an individual I would
love to contribute more to the
company and give the best of my
utmost ability. I wish to be associated
with SpiceJet for a long period of
time and not only grow as a part of
cabin crew but also as a human being.
KUSH SHARMA
DELHI
Customer appreciation:
I would like to appreciate
the sincere hospitality and courtesy
extended by Kush on flight SG-946
(Delhi-Port Blair). He was excellent with
the hospitality and customer services
delivered on board. You have a very good
staff which treats passengers like family
members.
Experience with SpiceJet: The seven
years that I have spent with this beautiful
family called SpiceJet has been full of
knowledge and new insights. Each day has
been extremely eventful where a realm of
new possibilities was created for me by
my mentors. Every interaction with my
co-workers, passengers and managers has
been an amazing learning experience. I
owe a lot to SpiceJet for shaping me on
both, professional and personal fronts.
173
JUNE 2018

SPICEJET
INSIDER
THE MID-AIR MENU
SpiceJet’s `pre-booking only’ menu offers Continental, Thai,
Chinese, Italian and Indian options
SPICEJET’S INFLIGHT MENU will leave flyers delighted with their onboard experience. The ‘Hot Meals’ section will
bring a warm smile to your face. From filling breakfast options to lip-smacking snacks, from sumptuous lunch and dinner
options to vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies, SpiceJet offers a multitude of meal choices on pre-booking. In
addition, special meal categories such as Jain meal, Navratra meal, meal for diabetics, gluten-free meal and cakes are also
on offer. All in all, SpiceJet’s menu is a red, hot, and spicy treat for your taste buds.
TAWA PANEER
KHURCHAN
Enjoy traditional and
mouth-watering homelike
food up in the sky
CHICKEN MASALA IN
TORTILLA WRAP
Pre-book a meal and enjoy
many other choices and benefits
o
o
o
VEGETABLES IN
RED THAI CURRY
You can now even prebook
a menu with Thai
and Continental options
MASALA DOSA WITH
TOMATA ONION
UTTAPAM AND
KANJIVARAM MINI IDLI
The inflight menu has
a choice of filling
breakfast options
o
Pre-book a drink and get a 50% discount
174
JUNE 2018

SPICEJET
INSIDER
ADD-
SEAT SELECTION DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL
SpiceMax Seats M 600/1000/-* M 1200 /-
Know more
about
SpiceJet’s
innovative
products
and services
Preferred Seats - on Boeing /Airbus
Ahead of exit row window /aisle M 300/- M 450/-
Ahead of exit row middle M 250/- M 400/-
Behind exit row window /aisle M 200/- M 350/-
Behind exit row middle M 99/- M 150/-
Preferred seats Q400
Front half of cabin window /aisle M 250/- M 400/-
Rear half of cabin window / aisle M 150/- M 300/-
Seat + Meal Combo
Combo Price M 399/- M 499/-
PRE-BOOK EXCESS BAGGAGE
5 kgs M 1425/- M 2450/-
10 kgs M 2850/- M 4,900/-
15 kgs M 4275/- NA
20 kgs M 5700/- NA
30 kgs M 8550/- NA
PRIORITY CHECK-IN M 300/- M 400/-
Preferred Bag Out
1 Bag M 100/- NA
2 Bags M 200/- NA
3 Bags M 300/- NA
YOU 1 ST M 399/- M 499/- (Ex-India flights)
CARRY MORE ONBOARD (FREE ALLOWANCE 7 KG; BUY UP TO 5 KG MORE)
Pre-book M 250/- per kg M 450/- per kg
At Check-in M 350/- per kg As per current excess baggage rate
At boarding gate M 350/- per kg As per current excess baggage rate
MY FLEXI PLAN (EFFECTIVE FROM DECEMBER 21, 2017) M 1500/- M 1750/-
HAND BAGGAGE ONLY FARE - CHARGE AT AIRPORT
Fare type change fee if checking-in bag at airport
after purchasing HBO fare
Up to 15 kgs -
M 400/-
NA
SPICE CAKE M 750/- M 800/-
SPICE LOUNGE (Delhi/Bengaluru/Hyderabad/Kochi/ M 750/- M 1400/-
Varanasi/Guwahati/Jaipur)
VALUEPACK
a) Pay M 499/- and get a SpiceJet voucher worth M 1999/-
b) Pay M 999/- and get a SpiceJet voucher worth M 3999/-
*SPICEMAX SEATS OFFER SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LEGROOM, PLUS COMPLIMENTARY MEAL, PRIORITY CHECK-IN, PRIORITY BOARDING
(AT AEROBRIDGE GATES), AND PRIORITY BAGGAGE HANDLING. *BASIS AIRCRAFT TYPE/SECTOR **NA STANDS FOR ‘NOT AVAILABLE’
*THE ABOVE MENTIONED PRICES AND FEATURES ARE ACCURATE AS AT THE TIME OF MAGAZINE PRINTING, AND ARE SUBJECT TO
CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE
175
JUNE 2018

SPICEJET
INSIDER
Boeing 737 - 700/800/900ER Series
Interior arrangement of Boeing 737 - 700 (149 Passengers)
Interior arrangement of Boeing 737 - 800 (189 Passengers)
Row 1 -32
Entry / Exit
Row 1 -26
Emergency Exit
Entry / Exit
Entry / Exit
Emergency Exit
Entry / Exit
Row 1 -20
Passengers
(single class configuration)
*
BOEING 737-700
3
149
BOEING 737-800
BOEING 737-900 ER
BOMBARDIER Q400
28
4
22
189 212
78
6200 km
5,600 km
5000 km
2000 km
0.79 M (840 km/h)
0.79 M (840 km/h)
0.79 M (840 km/h)
666 km/h
Speed unit M denotes Mach Number; 1 Mach is equal to the speed of sound.
*These numbers exclude wet lease aircraft.
BOEING 737-700
BOEING 737-800
BOEING 737-900 ER
BOMBARDIER Q400
112 ft 7 in (34.3m)
93 ft 3 in (28.42m)
117 ft 5 in (35.7m)
110 ft 4 in (33.6m)
41 ft 2 in (12.5m)
11 ft 7 in (3.53m)
107 ft 9 in (32.83m)
24 ft 4 in (8.34m)
8 ft 2 in (2.49m)
The above mentioned descriptions are accurate at the time of magazine printing.

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Toll free: 1800 425 3595 | Email: contact@transteel.com
Website: www.transteel.com

Jaisalmer
Jodhpur
Leh
Adampur
Belagavi
Hubli
Colombo
25 th May, 2018
Dibrugarh

DISTRIBUTION / CORPORATE GIFT ENQUIRIES:
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DISTRIBUTION / CORPORATE GIFT ENQUIRIES:
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R.N.I NO:DELENG/2015/63282