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NewDelhi, January 17 Page 4

Democracy intrudes a tribal heartland

PAGE 2

Review
Turning 30

PAGE 4

Sport
Rajsthans journey in Ranji
by Atikh, Anmol and

P4

Arun

THANK YOU

Gaza activists give aid, bring back hope

DIPANKAR GHOSE
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 17

Muslim men offered Friday Prayers at the same place where the Noor masjid stood before it was demolished by DDA after EXPRESS PHOTOS the HIgh Court orders. The Waqf Board claims that the land belongs to it.

RTI empowers illiterates

Armed with the RTI a group of uneducated women from a Delhi slum take on the government, in a bid to improve their lives
BAISHNABI MONGER
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 17

t was an unbelievable experience, and hopefully we accomplished something, said Feroze Mithiborwalla, co founder of the Asian People's Solidarity for Palestine. Mithiborwalla was amongst a 50 member strong delegation that had embarked on a road caravan to Gaza in support of the Palestinian movement which had set off on December 2. The expedition traveled across Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt, entering Gaza-Palestine through the Rafah Crossing. Having returned to India on January 8, Mithiborwalla and the rest of the group seem encouraged by the results of their expedition. We've always been looking at

Guerilla warfare will not work against the military might of the Israelis, maybe Ahimsa will do better.
When asked about whether they suggested a solution to the problem to the Palestinians, Mithiborwalla said, We talked about it but I think it would be a little presumptuous to tell them what they need to do. They've been living in the middle of a storm for decades now and several treaties have come and failed. A solution they will have to come up with themselves. We did take the message of Gandhigiri across to them though. A huge problem of the Israel-Palestine conflict has been the massive loss of life and property, so we

&
Mr. Prabal Mandal

s the metro grinds to a halt in Jahangirpuri, a different world takes over, a far cry from the glitzy surroundings of the metro; a dumping ground for waste and 20,000 people who were evacuated from various parts of the city, ten years ago. A typical slum ; heaps of waste, filthy roads, pigs and people sharing the same shelter. What makes Balaswa different are a group of illiterate woman armed with the RTI and a will to fight for their rights. Spearheading the movement is RTI activist Pushpa on a mission to end poverty. I started this lok shakti manch independently on September 2008, I have been teaching the people to file RTI to give them a tool against inequality, says Pushpa. Since the launch of the movement the people of Balaswa have

belonged to the Balaswa community, they initially filed 300 applications to the civil supply department but no action was taken. Therefore in 2009 they collectively gathered the previous 300 applications and filed an RTI for the problem. They got their replies and within months had their cards renewed. Most of the slum residents do not have access to LPG. The ration shops had denied 114 households the kerosine oil that the An activist of Lok Shakti Manch works with women BPL families are entitled to, which is used for cooking. So initially begun to seek answers through the Roshannara had filed an RTI in RTI. The RTIs that they have filed 2008 to address the issue but no satmostly pertain to the PDS (Public isfactory reply was given, so she filed Distribution System) on the rations an appeal with the CIC (central Inthat the BPL (Below Poverty Line) formation Commission), the CIC then took action and immediately a people receive. Their efforts seem to be bearing report was given on 17 April 2010. fruit. Pushpa recalls that during the Now at least 63 households have rerenewal process of the ration cards ceived approval for this particular in 2007, around 1,70000 ration cards appeal, but what to do it has taken were cancelled. As most of the cards more than two and a half years to

get what we wanted. said Roshannara, adding to the narration. While most of the RTI's filed concern the PDS, RTI's have also been filed to various departments ranging from the Judicial department regarding the welfare of primary schools to issues regarding resettlement and lack of electricity. In the past 2 years the women of Balaswa have filed more than 300 RTI's. What is particularly striking is that the woman are taking efforts to spread the movement to other slums in the city. Sheetal, another resident and member of the Lok Shakti Manch says, On 1st January we trained 25 women in Holambi Kala to file RTI and how to use this as an effective tool against inequality. While the RTI may have empowered the women, much like the other parts of the country it has had it's pitfalls. I've been threatened many times but it doesnt deter me. We will fight on, says Pushpa.

Pradyumna Jairam with Palestinian activists in Turkey enroute to Gaza

The ambit of Xerox copies grows; introducing Phokatcopy

BAISHNABI MONGER
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 17

The Xerox machines turn out plain photostat papers inside the IIT-Delhi campus. It shrivels up the paper as it reproduces the paper entered. Please give me your papers, I am running short since yesterday, cries Ramesh Kumar, who runs the photostat machines in the campus. He is shouting instructions at a group of people who have started the lucrative business of providing photostat for free. Hence, the name Phokatcopy. Phokatcopy is an enterprise started by IITians in Delhi. Its founder Harsh Narang, a final year student in IIT Delhi conceptualised the concept of providing free

Every student requires xephotocopies to the student rox copies for exams, therecommunity in 2009. Narang fore the advertisement prosays, The concept emerged vided on one side of the when I participated in Vishist, paper will be noticed and a business plan competition remembered by everyone in the campus and it gave me while flipping through the impetus to start the business. pages. The primary goal of the enterThe students in IITprise is to generate revenues Delhi and other colleges from advertising companies are enjoying the free serand provide photostats at a vices that are being prosubsidized rate for the college vided. The plan is simple students. The Phokatcopy paPhokatcopy team ;Aspiring engineers turn entrepreneurs and conducive to the stupers that are used for xerox, dents grins Priyankar contain advertisements from different companies on one page said, We have worked with com- Agrawal, another business develand the other page is used for pho- panies like Ecko, Vodafone, Fast opment manager. He further adds, tocopying any material required. Track, Apple and many more. We A student gets a scratch card Sidhak V, a business develop- focus on providing 'call to action' worth Rs 8 for twenty pages that he ment manager with Phokatcopy advertisement for the companies. photocopies. We charge 40 paisa

for a side which adds up to Rs 8 for 20 pages. They get the scratch card number and the students punch it in our website along with their names. Their points get accumulated and at the end they can reimburse it with a recharge voucher. Suman Kasana, a student from SRCC said, The photocopies that they provide is for free which is exciting and convenient. But I hope they start using recycled papers in future, as I am concerned about the environment too. However, the ink that is used in the papers is biodegradable and the papers can be sent for recycling. The concept is environment friendly, say the phokatcopy team collectively.

the conflict from afar and even then it had affected us all very deeply. The feeling when we reached Gaza on the 3rd of January was intense. We were standing on the land that has been central to the geopolitics of the world for a while now. And I think we made a difference, said Pradyumna Jairam, a participant on the expedition. Jairam went on to explain, This is one of the most complex, brutal and long standing conflicts in history. Israel's occupation is in clear violation of international law. And as citizens of the world we cannot just sit back and saythis is their problem. We need to stand up for what's right. So all we did was basically give the people of Gaza some medical aid, but more importantly we let them know that they are not alone. We told them that the people of Asia are with them in the struggle for freedom and we helped make them smile.

suggested to them the ways of Gandhi. Guerilla warfare will not work against the military might of the Israelis, maybe Ahimsa will do better. While the expedition did come across its fair share of hurdles along the way, it was interesting to see the the amount of importance was given by the countries the expedition passed through. We did have problem with security. Governments especially Pakistan were largely suspicious of a large contingent on their way to Gaza. We had intended to reach Gaza on December 28 but we only got there on January the 3rd. But the exposure we got was unbelievable. President Ahmedijinad came to address us when we were in Iran, said Mithiborwalla. Overall the response we got was fantastic, enough to tell us that this will not be our last attempt to lend our voices to the movement.

Steiner based pre-nursery school celebrates its 30th anniversary

PRAKR0ITI BOSE
NEW DELHI , JANUARY 17

W
Rudolf Steiner, founder of the anthrophosophy, believed learning is interdisciplinary, integrating practical and artistic approach

hen the Norwegian Prime Minister was asked What did Waldorf education do for you?, Jens Stoltenberg replied, It encouraged me to always strive to become a better human being. Celebrating Waldorf , a distinct way of education -an approach that combines analytical as well as imaginative thinking,The Study a pre nursey school in the east of kailash celeberated its 30th anniversery with a sense of pride and optimism in the generations of students and teachers it has inspired over the years. Hemant Pasrich, principal of The

Study remminiscing the golden past says, With all history behind us, I must admit that the 30th anniversary is an emotional event, not only on the account of my association with The Study as a Director but also as a parent...and now as a grand parent several Studyites have come back to us with their own children and may be some day we will have the third generation. I for my part feel privileged to see the confidance of two generations in the school. Amongst the renowned pre nursery schools like Mothers pride, Children's World and Kangaroo Kids, The Study is the oldest and the most valued kindergarden school from the yesteryear's. With no frills and advertisements masking the city it exudes its own charm and recipe of es-

tablishing a broad based foundation for the child by providing a rich experience of activities. The Study's method of teaching is distinct as they follow a combination of Froebal method of teaching( according to which each student has a unique capability and need) descending from well established schools in U.K and Canada, Montessori equipment along with some values that have been incorporated from Waldorf Steiner's humanistic approach to teaching. Waldorf education is based upon Anthroposophy, a movemnet founded by Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner in the early twentieth century, according to which humans possess an innate spirit which prepares itself for reincarnation and the task of the teacher is to

help each child's soul and spirit grow. What is interesting about the approach of The Study is the absence of blackboard teaching , inclusion of sports like golf with emphasis being laid on speech and instilling self confidence in children. Establsihed in 139 Golf Links on the 5th of January1972 with a batch of a few students that included Parmeet and Simran Sawhney, Amar Khosla and Rajesh Thadani The Study has also been the foundation ground for Congress General Secretary, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra.'The association with the Gandhi family continued for a long time and Mrs Indira Gandhi graced our small school's Annual Concert on more than one occasion, said Hemant Pasrich. We also had the blessings of President

Fakhruddin Ahmed and his wife Begum Abida Ahmed, she added. What adds a feather to their cap is the loyalty of the staff as well as the service offered by them. Many of them have devoted fifteen to twenty years of valuable service providing the children with a sense of compassion as well as discipline which today education as an institute has failed to equip students with. In these times when the need of the hour is qualitative education, let us hope that the three magical remedies, according to Steiner, which lie in the soul of education and teacher- reverence, enthusiasm and a sense of guardianship gets acknowledged and celebrated by teachers and students alike.

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EXPRESS INSTITUTE OF MEDIA STUDIES

Page 2 NEW DELHI MONDAY JANUARY 17 2011

Scrap is Useful; A Greenobin initiative

BAISHNABI MONGER
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 17

a welcome intrusion

Long forgotten :

THE Raddiwala's (scrap collectors) usually take care of office waste and dump the refuse in some landfill, is a convenient answer to give when a corporate firm is asked about its disposal mechanism. This process however neglects the larger need for the gradual reduction of landfills in Delhi that are fast reaching unhygienic proportions. In light of this, Greenobin Pvt Ltd. has emerged with an environmental friendly method to recycle and reuse the waste accumulated in offices every day. This enterprise was started by Nitin Goel a young aspiring entreprenur, in 2009. This concept came about after constantly using paper and then realising the worth of paper wasted at work said Goel. He said, Our objective is to recycle and reuse the scrap collected from offices and at the same time to improve the recovery rates from the waste and not to compete with any raddiwala's or scrap dealers in the city. Office waste usually contains degradable items like printouts, letters and envelopes, vending cups, newspapers, paper packaging, and tissue paper that can be recycled and further used.

With the increased awareness on environmental concerns the Greenobin team collects waste material from corporate firms using an exchange system. Sunaina Shenoy, a part time contributor to the firm

tionery is produced by Jan Sewa Ashram, their associate partners, she added.

dard Chartered, Appolo Tyres, Microsoft, KPMG and many more. said Mr Goel. He further added that the market potential of this business is humungous with only 25-30 % of the annual consumption of paper being recovered by small scrap dealers and other waste paper traders. While Greenobin currently operates with the corporate firms in the city, they are likely to expand their business in the near future with their residential service. On trial currently, the service aims to engage the household sector into thinking and acting green.

said, Instead of cash we repay the corporate firms with recycled paper products like copier paper, handmade

Deep in the western ghats, bordering Tamil Nadu, Keralas first tribal grama panchayat comes to terms with democracy
ARUN SUBRAMANIAN
KERALA, JANUARY 17

From top right-Nitin Goel, CEO Greenobin, recycled folders and pens made by GREENOBIN their associate partner Jan Sewa Ashram.

recycled paper products and paper body pens. The sta-

We have worked with corporate firms like GE, Stan-

Jamghat is all about bringing in street children together for a better life,empowering their lives, to nurture self confidence in them.
AMIT SINHA, FOUNDER JAMGHAT

Jamghat- a lively gathering of street children

Creating home for the homeless.

midst the savannah grasslands, below the mist covered mountain ranges that encompass South India's highest peak, Anaimudi, a narrow trail leads into the dense Shola forests below. A nervous herd of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr gaze curiously at the intruders. Four hours later, the weary path leads to the first signs of habitation. Barking dogs and roosters signal the arrival of outsiders. Hidden among the foliage in Thenparakudy( tribal settlement), part of a cluster of 28 tribal settlements that make up Edamalakudy, Kerala's first tribal grama panchayat. Earlier, the 12th ward of the Munnar Grama Panchayat, Edamalakudy was made a separate panchayat for these elections. With 1,412 voters spread across 656 households Edamalakudy has been divided into 13 wards with the presidents

Baishnabi Monger, Atikh Rashid

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 17

T the beginning of this new year, when the mercury was likely to stay below 4 degrees; 40 youngsters were exposed to the extreme cold. It was 10 at night when the youth entered the shivering streets of old Delhi. The plight of the homeless was unbearable, the pavement did not provide any warmth with some half asleep and the others struggling. Moved, the youngsters from varied backgrounds came together to distribute blankets to the sufferers of this dreadful winter. The youths were united by an organization called Jamghat, for an awareness programme called 'Night Walk'. Jamghat is an NGO established by a group of street children in 2003 pioneered by Amit Sinha, a trained theatre artist, who started this NGO after he was handed the responsibility of performing a street play for Prince Charles visit to India in 2003 by Action Aid India, an NGO. He brought together 14 street children and theatre artists. The play was such a success that it traveled to various parts of India and as well as outside the country in the next 3 months after performing for Prince Charles. Jamghat is all about bringing street children together for a better life and empowering their lives, to nurture self confidence in them, says Amit

are also active in street theatre. It also runs an outdoor programme by running a daycare centre for 50 street children providing them basic amenities and counselling. Irfan who became a part of Jamghat, when Amit approached him on the streets of Connaught Place in 2003 is an example of a success story and now handles the outdoor programmes. He says, I ensure that the street children are bathed, fed, educated and happy. I also coordinate activities for them and I feel pleasure doing this. It also conducts awareness programmes such as 'Night walk', a monthly programme. The walk is usually a four hour long walk aimed to sensitize public to the needs, dangers and fun of being a street child. It also organizes theatre workshops in schools, colleges and organizations to build understanding of self and society. Priyanka, a student of DU and a volunteer with the Jamghat adds, I have been associated with this organizations for two years now, and I am inJamghat removes the stigma of being a street volved with the various activities rekid and helps build respect for street children. lated to this organization. The goal of Jamghat is to build respect for street who previously used to live on the streets children within society until the street where these children receive basic ameni- identity is removed and the children are ties, healthcare and counseling along with active participants in a world that previeducation and vocational training. They ously chose to ignore them. Sinha. Despite the lack of funds initially, they were determined to stay together and start Jamghat, a lively gathering. After these humble beginnings Jamghat today runs a home for 15 boys

ceased Congress matriarch. I don't know much about Indira Gandhi but my elders tell us there is no leader like her today. I voted for the hand.(Congress), said Ganapathy,24, a tribal from AndavanKudy. While Edamalakudy is generally considered a Congress bastion other parties are beginning to make inroads. Infighting and lack of development seems to be the main causes for the loss of support. In fact the LDF won the Edamalakudy seat the last time it was part of the Munnar grama Panchayat after a split in Vibhoshanan- the head man of the UDF. Earlier if one didn't vote for Sheddukudy. Arun the Congress the individual would be ostracised. Things have changed now. The each other out, he went on to add. The new panchayat has also Congress doesn't take care of us now. Even the BJP fielded candidates, says managed to bridge the party divide. Ganeshan, a tribal congress party worker. Even though we dont have majority , I'm Nearly 2 months after the elections, really pleased we have a panchayat. We that is the least of the worries of the Con- willing to do whatever it takes to bring gress members of the Edamalakudy pan- some development, says Madhan a chayat under president Kaniammal, a CPI(I) member of the panchayat from tribal woman from Puthukudy. Top of Ambalakudy and former member of Edamalakudy Panchayat when it was part of the Munnar Grama Panchayat. Earlier funds meant for tribals had to be shared with the other settlements and Edamalakudy got a paltry sum and we couldnt do much. Now things will change for the better, he went on to add. The tribals are also optimistic that with the creation of a new panchayat their concerns will be addressed. We are like the lost children. Everyone seems to forget us and our problems. Hopefully this will change things, said Ganeshan referring to the new panchayat. Echoing his sentiments is another tribal from Puthukudy, Thangarasu, Everyone talks of tribal rights but they send us scraps. There is no education or even proper drinking water. Atleast now something will change. While democracy may usher in the changes, for now atleast the tribals hold on to their customs. Candidates were chosen after council meetings with all tribals from a particular hamlet pre-

A typical Muthuvan tribal settlement, this one at Edelipara.

Arun

Hindu college set to host International event

Over 40 teams including colleges from Pakistan to compete in the 8th Premchand International Debate an hour and a half over 6 speeches and an interrogation session so it gives the teams time to really thrash an issue out. With the growing interest has also come increasing professionalism.Over the years, debates have become more and more organized. The amount of prize money is getting bigger, which is reflected in the kind of sponsors college debates are attracting, said Ritwik Agrawal, Chief Adjudicator of the event. The budget for this years Premchand debate is close to 4 lakhs with the main sponsor of the event being Microsoft. The innovations that various colleges are resorting to in order to gain popularity are also growing by the minute. This year, we have made a website for the event. This will help show sponsors in the future we are a professionally run event. The website is www.premchanddebates.in. Please go check it out, said Tewari. Speaking about the organization that goes into an large scale event such as this, Devika Dutt General Secretary of the Debating Society Hindu College said, There's a lot that goes into it. From the planning stage like sponsorship meetings, to the arrangement of hundred of bottles of water on debating days. The toughest part is getting the visas for the international participants especially since they are from Pakistan. Those need detailed work till the last minute. The difficult bit is that a lot of work has to happen while exams are on, but we manage. This is important and well, its fun. All of this effort will result in what will be an intriguing four days for participants with fierce competition. Premchand is one of the biggest debates of the year. The prize money is great, the motions are fantastic usually. It is going to be fantastic, said Aditya Sareen, a debater from Ramjas College.
DIPANKAR GHOSE
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 17

IN one of the most awaited events in the Delhi University College circuit, the Hindu College Debating Society will host the annual Premchand Memorial International Parliamentary Debate from the 17th to the 20th of January. The debate will see the participation of close to 40 teams from 20 colleges with teams from all over the country, with 8 teams from Pakistan also coming in. Explaining why the Parliamentary debate format is so popular with students, Neelakshi Tewari, President of the Hindu College Debating Society said, This is the only format which ensures true debates and arguments. Its a two on two format, where the two teams get the motion on the spot and then get twenty minutes to prepare. The debate carries on for nearly

post reserved for a woman. Edamalakudy is populated mainly by the Muthuvan tribe, considered the most reclusive forest tribe in the state. While there are other tribal settlements in the district like Lakham kudy, Edamalakudy stands out because of its inaccessibility and relative backwardness. Edamalakudy is inaccessible and most backward when compared to the other tribal settlements in the region. The other tribal settlements have easy access to the roads and thus have benefited from development. We urged the government to set up a separate panchayat, said S Rajendran,CPI(M) MLA of Devikulam constituency in Idukki district, explaining the need for a separate panchayat for Edamalakudy. Its the opposition in the state, however, that has made the maximum gains in the recent panchayat elections. Nearly 26 years after bullets from her bodyguards felled her, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has Indira Gandhi to thank for gaining an absolute majority in Kerala's first tribal panchayat. The UDF captured 9 seats while the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) won the remaining 4. Indira Gandhi granted us this area in 1951. We are indebted to her. I will always vote for the congress, said Nagappan, a tribal from Thenpara Kudi. Even the younger generation seem enamoured by the de-

the agenda is drinking water, building a road and thwarting crop raiding elephants. Wild elephants are such a nuisance. They damage the cardamom crops and are a threat. We need ways to control them, said Lakshman of Pathumkudy. Its not an exaggerated claim as 2 years ago the tribal settlement at Yelapara was demolished and the inhabitants had to be shifted to other areas after wild elephants constantly targeted the settlement.

We are like the lost children. Everyone seems to forget us and our problems. Hopefully this will change things.
In a region rife with problems the members of the new Panchayat have their task cut out. We've met thrice so far. Its just the beginning. We discussed water schemes and about building houses , said Silambai, a tribal elected from Ward number 8. Most of the members elected are illiterate with the most educated having studied till Std 10. That does not seem to dampen their spirits. I havent studied much but I know the problems afflicting the people and hopefully we can do good things, said Chinnan, an elected member from ward number 4. We read the documents before we sign them and help

Silambai, Panchayat member Arun from ward 8.

sent. The hamlet chose me to stand for elections. I had the blessings of the elders, said Silambai. Even the Headman of the tribals don't see a threat to their system of governance. The Kani ( tribal headman) will not lose his power. Even the elected members ask for us for advice. They respect our views, said Viboshanan, headman of Sheddukudy whose daughter is an elected member. With a plethora of problems from acute poverty( NREGA being the main source of income) to lack of education and drinking water to handle, the members of Kerala's first tribal panchayat embark on a journey to usher in change.

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EXPRESS INSTITUTE OF MEDIA STUDIES

GAZEBO

page3
NEW DELHI I MONDAY I DECEMBER 13 I 2010

A Yellow Brick Road to some news and delightful food

Driven from heart, art on wheels

A menu from the Taj hotel that speaks out to the customer needs
month looking at events and needs of the customer. The facts and stories are collected by the hotel staff, selecting from various journals, books and newspapers. A special font called Vedanta is used specially for this menu. Designing work is taken care of by a local designer. The restaurant incurs a cost Rs 10 on each menu and orders 500700 copies semi-annually. The entire process involves one month of meticulous work and brainstorming. The last menu was dedicated to the Commonwealth Games and detailed the development taking place in Delhi, routes to be taken and instructions on essential items to carry on an outing. Making an exception to the hotel policy of not revealing their clients, this reporter was told that the English Commonwealth Organising Committee, were so impressed by the menu that they tucked it in there bags for further reading. We play hosts to many guests who travel alone, by adding these features to the menu we provided them information and entertainment that leaves more than a good taste. a beaming waiter said. A condensed map of Delhi in the menu turned out to be a blessing in disguise as foreign guests started to carry the menu with them as a guide and interesting read. The map at the back helps find my way around the city, the menu is more than just food, Steffy Keifer, a German customer said. Over the years this menu has been perfected to meet the tastes and needs of the customers. Earlier the menu contained a full page of facts and quotes but with the proliferation of good quotes and funny facts websites we have discontinued this practice. On the hint of any foreseeable change into a more conventional hard bound menu for the sake of financial feasibility the manager shakes his head and says this is a tradition we are more than willing to keep. Believe me, any change would lead to a backlash.

ANMOL ARORA
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 17

s you enter the Yellow Brick Road, talking on your smart phone, the vibrant colors of the place immediately arrest your attention. The light green chairs, yellow tables and playful panoply of shades reminds one of the smearing water colors at the festival of Holi. So it comes as a surprise when the waiter offers a black and white newspaper. On further reading it turns out that the 12 page newspaper in hand is in fact the menu of the restaurant cum coffee shop. The dishes are written in white color over a black background. The only sign of color being the red and and green dots under a square- the first of which denotes veg and the second non-veg dishes. But the oddity doesn't end there, the menu contains a plethora of information, facts and interesting stories that help devour the usually difficult phase of anticipation of food. Details on the aroma of coffee beans, facts like chewing

Yellow Brick Road after the renovation

agency

gum while peeling onions keeps you from crying and a one of its kind chef column in which the head chef of the hotel gives away one of his coveted recipes. Our menu was a crucial part of change we wanted to bring in the way Delhi approached dining, says Varun Bharadwaj, the man responsible for sales and marketing of YBR. In September 15 of 1997 when this restaurant was inaugurated, eating out was a formal and sophisticated experience. Through YBR we tried to make this more intimate, he adds. The entire menu is refashioned every 6

Decoding the myth of mid-life crisis

A rural scene embelished on the rear of the truck Agency ATIKH RASHID
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 17

In Dhaula Kuan rape case, one of the most critical clues that helped police nab the criminals was surprisngly the name 'MUSKAN,' written on the rear guard of the tempo used for abducting the girl on the fateful night. Decorating of vehicles especially trucks, tempos and rickshaws with colorful designs, quotes and

Rear side of trucks have all the wisdom one needs in life
names is an age old practice in India. We live in a country obsessed with colours and intricate designs as displayed in forts, palaces and temples. Color and designs are involved in almost every aspect of our lives. A truck provides a large surface as a canvas to express the philosophy of the owners life as well as the things he longs for. While it is a fixed pattern in the trucks, it differs in its manifestation from region to region and also varies based on faith of the owner. The nature and extent of colouring depends on the individuals choice and financial constraints. A lotus flower on the rear guard is a regular occurrence. Along with a coconut kept on the pot, the symbol of the swastik, peacocks and Kumbh Kalash offer an insight into the owners likes. Trucks are also decorated with ribbons, suspended chains and increasingly now a lustrous ribbon at the front glass. Mr Tegi Painter, a truck artist who has been painting trucks, lorries and rickshaws for 30 years now, says, It doesn't matter if they are believers or not everybody wants to paint some religious symbols on the vehicle. He charges Rs 300-400 for each vehicle which includes a package of painting a scenery, quote, vehicle number on four sides and names on the front glass. positions used the four instruments, at times the iano and drum being the center of attraction and the guitarist stringing in later. The best performance was that of Tarun Balan ( the drummer), whose passion for Jazz reflected in his composition 'Belief' and ' Some beautiful definitions of life' in which there were strong beats highlighting the meaning of 'belief' and soft beats with melodious piano tunes blending with the latter. Each musician had a composition of their own which highlighted the areas of their talent. The composition by Sharik Hasan( the pianist) named 'Nocturnal' engripped the audience with the story of the 'darkest night of his life in Paris' when Hasan got mugged and lost his ipod which he never found. His composition has a lot of fast and slow piano tunes, and soft drum beats and reflects how each one of them have tried to connect

Kaminey, Ishquia, Anjaana Anjaani dealt with shy men and demanding women, Turning 30 continues with the new trend of gender role reversal
PRIYA TALWAR
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 17

Agency

Is the new 30 in womens lives35 or 40? Or is it that 30 is a mere number and life goes on irrespective of your age? For Naina (played by Gul Panang), a creative director in an advertisement agency, turning 30 is a synonym for a 'settled' life. Unfortunately, four days before her 30th birthday, things begin to fall apart when her lover dumps her for a rich girl to save his parents' business and as she faces the risk of unemployment during the 2009 economic meltdown. The movie takes us through Nainas breakup, the growing anxiety about her age and her

body and her attempts to cope with the consequent loneliness. Amidst this instability it is only when she embraces and acknowledges the chaos of her life that she decides to fight back. Turning 30 is exceptional in its portrayal of gender role reversalsit is not the woman who marries a rich man for financial stability, not the woman who looks for emotional commitment but a man. And it is the woman who is promiscuous and demanding in bed wanting to satisfy her physical needs sometimes even overlooking the feelings of the man. Surprisingly, Turning 30 is not a movie meant only for middle aged women. The story has

strong male characters too- Mr. I am not your post break up sex toy, commitment phobes, the baddies who steal corporate ideas and take the credit themselves, the tall dark handsome guy who has no idea what he wants for himself and others who genuinely sympathize with Nainas misery. Gul Panang convinces us of Nainas inability to deal with a heart break way better than the recent performances by Priyanka Chopra in Anjaana Anjaani and Kareena Kapoor in Jab We Met. But the star of the movie is not Gul. Just like Love, Sex aur Dhoka, Turning 30, rests on the shoulders of all the new actors who bring

the story alive. Purab as Jai, the guy who needs emotional commitment as much as sexual, is a pleasure to watch as he moves beyond his cute image of a dimpled VJ. Jeneva Talwar, Tillotama Shome, Anita Kanwar as Naina's friends are representative characters yet seem to be one of us. Moreover, the story is not merely about Naina. The sub plots- the coming out narrative of a bisexual, about contemporary life choices- of having to choose between family and career are equally relevant. Unlike most mainstream Hindi movies, the director takes a realistic approach towards scenes of physical intimacy and tries to represent the new Indian woman

who is increasingly asserting her right to be sexually satisfied. Kacchawa(camera) righly uses extreme close ups and middle shots enhancing the complex emotional and rational dilemma that Naina goes through.The movie is good as far as the characterization and plot goes but is unforgivable for its bad editing ( for about 3 seconds in the movie the screen is blank) and also for its lack of appropriate background music and improper dubbing. Though the movie fails to entertain the audience throughout the time frame, it is a commendable approach towards depicting the changing gender dynamics of our society and is a one time watch for sure.

Its not only the outer surface which is worked upon but also the interior of the truck. The seats and the roof are made smooth with glossy covering material that provides for a matching ambiance and supplements the music. 'Horn Ok Please' is one of the popular phrases with the owner, some other popular quotes are , 'Dekho Magar Pyar Se' (see but with love), 'Ghar Kab Aaoge'(and the legendary 'Boori Nazar Waale Tera Moonh Kala'(sinner be condemned to disgrace) that you would find on almost every other truck. The rear side of these trucks have almost all the wisdom of life. The truck drivers travel with shipments for weeks and sometimes for several months. So 'Ghar kab aaoge?' is one of the most common themes accompanied by the picture of a woman awaiting her husband. Some of the enthusiasts don't stop with a sentence and give full expression to there feelings with complete paras like Samay se pahle aur bhagya se jyada kabhi nahi milta.' or 'chalti hai gadi udti hai dhool, jalte hai dushman to khilte hai phool'. These quotes even talk of the religion of the owner of the truck, Hindu trucks will commonly sport a 'Shubh-Labh' and the picture of Swastika with Kalash Kumbh while Muslims trucks will have '786' on the hood or a 'Masha allah'. Pakistani truck art is way ahead of its Indian counterpart. In Pakistan, owners spend as high as Rs12 lakh. in making bodies of their lorries. They decorate there trucks like brides and give special focus to the long and elongated hood. Recently the magazine 'Granta' had recognized this trend by publishing articles and dedicating its cover to this creative phenomena. Indian trucks, it appears, are following the trend. Biswas Gaud, the driver of a beautifully decorated truck comments, We rely upon the truck for our livelihood. Shouldn't we take as much care of it as we can? Its my companion, home and temple. with the emotions of people. All their compositions are an exciting blend of the spontaneity and harmonic interplay of Jazz with the sheer intensity of melodies and rhythms influenced by Indian Classical/Folk Music, and various other musical traditions of the world. The group has had four performances in India even though they started playing internationally in the 2008. 'The Collective' rendered jazz with a whole new meaning and vision. Fortunately, for all those who thought jazz was synonymous with slow pace and boredome, 'The Collective proved quite the contrary- jazz can be slow yet omnipresent. Moreover, their youth was not confined to their age or attire but was reflected in everything from the way they interacted, their thoughts and the passion with which they tuned their compositions.

VRISHALI SARAOGI

The T Collective A jazz band that soothed the audience with its rythms

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 17

he Collective' is a World Jazz ensemble which was presented by a group of talented musicians from countries across the globe at the India Habitat Center. The music and the titles reflected the youth and the vigor of the musicians, a bunch of Berkely graduates who expressed their imagination through the genre 'Jazz'. Classical, Rock, Techno and Hip-hop are the popular tunes in Indian Music CD's. But for someone who has little knowledge about Jazz Music, 'The Collective' definitely redefined the beauty of Jazz Music. They used selective instruments such as a guitar, a bass guitar, a piano, and a drum and the classic part was that each instruments tune was distinctly defined in the 'ear panels'. The group proved that they were young

Composition by Sharik Hasan' engripped the audience with story of the 'darkest night of his life in Paris

and fresh by getting in different names for their compositions and significantly, their music tries to connect with the world and their titles are a strong example. Jazz music, usually concieved as slow and serious expected a certain age group of people in the band only to surprise people more when a group of college pass-outs entered the stage to perform. Aditya Balani was the lead composer and his composition 'Prarthana' ( Prayer for peace) was one of the finest. He played three different guitars in the concert for various tunes. All com-

Aditya Balani the lead guitarist and composer

Vrishali

THE SOURCE

A SPORTING TALE

page4
NEW DELHI I MONDAY I DECEMBER 13 I 2010
New Delhi, January 17

From Nadir to Zenith

Once a team distracted by mangement conflicts , lack of confidence and sense of identity, Rajasthan has surpassed its own expectation winning the Ranji trophy - in the process becoming the first team in the history of Indian Cricket to take the quantum leap from plate division to the elite and finishing as itseventual winner. Their 10 previous attempts in the final did not yie ld success and last they came close to the glory was 27 years ago. The Source looks at catalyst of this turnaround and how the likes of like H. Kanitkar and Aakash Chopra mentored the potential of youngsters like Ashok Maneria, Deepak Chahar to see Rajasthan past the boundary line.

The former Maharashtra skipper proved an able leader to the Rajsthan team, taking them from the bottom of Plate division to the top of Elite division. His confident stride forward and back to back centuries in the quarters and semi-finals provided the base for Rajasthan to build upon.
After beating fancied Mumbai, there nemesis in many previous attemps, Rajsthan showed that it was no flash in the pan by defeating a strong contender Tamilnadu in the semis.

Delhi discarded him. Rajasthan picked him. Delhi didnt make the knockout. Rajsthan won the Ranji Trophy. Says volumes about the resurrection of the former Indian opner.

The left handed, Ashok Maneria former U-19 Indian captain joined the party only in the knock out stages but made his presence felt with centuries in the quarters, semis and the finals.

With the emergence of the 18 year old, Deepak Chahar and the experienced Pankaj Singh(top)Rajasthan found pace & swing in their opening bowling attack. Chahar destroyed Hyderabad, taking 18 wickets on his debut and announced himself as one for the future.

QUARTER FINAL
Beat Mumbai by virtue of a maasive first inning total of 589 runs

SEMI FINAL
Defeated Tamil Nadu with help of a 167 runlead.

FINAL
The trophy came by the smallest of margins with 33 run first inning lead against Baroda