dressing

Transcription

dressing

PEOPLE
COL DR BRL DHAMMI
DLF UPDATE
FIRE SERVICES WEEK
` 50
POWER
DRESSING
Experts Share
Mantras That
Help You Make
A Style Statement
ENTERTAINMENT
LAST WORD
May 2016 Vol. 10 Issue 2
Citynews
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connecting gurgaon
RNI No.: DELENG/2006/19254
Editor*
Vinay Jha
Design & Production
Asia Media Design
Associate Editor
Meenakshi Sharma
Senior ASSISTANT EDITOR
Dikhya Tiwari
Senior FeatureS Writer
Reena Dhankher
Contributor
Rahul Ahuja
Photos
The Deep Pictures
Marketing, Ad Sales & Distribution
Touchpoints Marketing Services
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under the PRB Act)
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Letters:
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Dressing is not just about style, it also about
making a strong statement at the workplace.
From suits to trendy western wear to the traditional Indian
including the sari, people are leaving nothing to chance as
they dress up to impress. In our Cover Story on power dressing, we speak to experts and office goers to get a feel of what’s
in vogue these days.
The Millennium City is a happening place not just for the
youngsters. It’s a fun city to be in for everyone who’s young at
heart. The elders settled here are making sure that they bond,
socialise and go out on trips together to have the time of their
lives! In a special feature, we bring you face to face with
senior citizen groups who have rediscovered the art of enjoying themselves.
Our People’s section continues to bring you stories which
impress and inspire while we catch up with the latest from
Bollywood and Hollywood in Entertainment. Our regulars
also include a column on pet care and snapshots of interesting happenings from around town.
Cuisine from across the world continues to appeal to the palate of foodies from across the city and the NCR. But, as we
find out in Wine & Dine, some innovative chefs and restaurateurs are now raising traditional Indian food to a whole new
level.
VINAY JHA
Editor
@DlfCityNews
DLF City News
Citynews.dlf
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Citynews
I May 2016 I 03
I N S I D E
A R
T O
F
A D
D Y
06 08
29
36
59
61
65
Half Marathon
Gauhar Jaan
City Update
Guest Column
Helpline
The City Elders
Movie Previews
Citynews
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+91 9958553111
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May 2016
38
Active, agile and independent, Gurgaon’s senior citizens are a sociable and sprightly lot who are
rediscovering their passions
10 Mr India
Cycling Grace and fitness were all on
display as handsome young men
competed for the Mr India title
at the Mega Model Hunt 2016
At 61, Col Dr BRL Dhammi has
completed 20,000 kilometres
and has more dreams to fulfil
12 Young Achievers
Women rally enthusiasts display their passion for driving
while observing discipline on
city roads
Underprivileged children from
Lotus Foundation creatively convey road safety rules by making
animation films
MUST
READ
30 Fire Services Week
Paying respect to 66 lost
lives of fire officers in Mumbai
dockyard, DLF observes Fire
Services Week
16
MUST
READ
44 Social Quotient
DLF Foundation organises
Annual Scholars Conclave
32 Women’s Car Rally
34 Golf Expo
Better infrastructure and
more facilities were topics for
discussion
Travel Talk 43
A royal visit to the Taj Mahal
put the focus back on timeless
love and made Agra the flavour
of the month
People Inderbir Kaur Sandhu
18
Making a difference by training, Inderbir, moderately
dyslexic, is working to help “Gifted Children”
Wine & Dine
48
Traditional Indian food gets a
much-needed makeover with
modern presentations that add
to its international appeal
DLF Phase 1, Gurgaon 122022
Faces
Feature Senior Citizens
The Bristol Hotel
VOL 10 Issue 2
Wine & Dine Japanese Food Fest 52
Indonesian Chef Aryanto does a mean Indo-WesternJapanese fusion and creates flavours that appeal
66 Last Word
Fans ensure a whopping Box Office collection for SRK’s latest
62 Chef John Park
The delicacies bowl over the foodies while he
discovers a fascination for his home cuisine
64 Bollywood Talk
Trailers create ripples and generate interest as
they become an instant hit on social media
04
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I May 2016 I Citynews
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Marathon With
A Difference…
As government agencies and environmentalists
work for a cleaner atmosphere, this marathon
tried to do its bit to reduce pollution for
runners in its own unique way
by DCN Bureau
In the fitness conscious Gurgaon, runners sweating it out at various marathons
is not just a common sight but also part
of the local lifestyle. While Gurgaonites
have set a fitness benchmark by now, the
recent Amity Gurgaon Half Marathon
was one of its kind as it attempted to give
fitness freaks of the Millennium City a
cleaner air to breathe, thanks to the use
of Cloud Tech Dust Suppression system.
Arranged by Otrivin, the unique con-
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cept tried to reduce pollution, temporarily though, by using mist cannons which
extract suspended particulates from the
air just before the marathon. The dust
suppression system enables high pressure
water fogging with turbo air flow. The tiny
water droplets released from the cannons
absorb the smallest dust particles from the
air and fall to the ground without creating
any moisture on the surface.
The organisers said that the idea was to
create a pollution-free corridor to enhance
the healthy experience of runners in a
Runners seen enjoying the marathon as mist
cannons reduce pollution
city which is considered highly polluted.
Saurabh Nandi, Marketing Lead, Pain and
Respiratory, GSK (GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare), said, “The marathon is
extremely relevant for us to partner with
as runners need clean air to breathe as
they run, more so, in a city like Gurgaon.”
Needless to say, the event witnessed a
huge participation in various categories
of the marathon - 21km, 10 km and 5km.
While the serious lot of runners enjoyed
the 21 km run, the 10 km was more of a fun
race.
Interestingly, it was the 5-km category
which saw large participation of kids.
The trend of holding marathons seems
to be pulling in the young ones who
follow a sedentary lifestyle with increased
engagement with computers and mobile
devices.
One of the runners, Romila Sangwan,
felt the marathon was a refreshing experience. “It not only helped us experience
the cleaner and cooler air. It was a very
creative idea and we liked it,” she told
DCN. ø
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SNAPSHOTS
THEATRE
Gauhar Jaan Mesmerises Gurgaon
Rajeshwari Sachdev seen enacting Gauhar Jaan’s
role to perfection
by DCN Bureau
Theatre lovers across the city were
in for a treat when Gauhar Jaan, a play
based on the life of the legendary singer, was staged at Epicentre recently. Directed by theatre and film actor Lillette
Dubey and presented by Bombay Times,
the play received a standing ovation from
the audience for the brilliant performances put up by its actors.
The play beautifully captured the story
of Gauhar Jaan, a lady who lived life on
her own terms despite going through a
painful and devastating phase at a very
young age. Gauhar was raped when she
was barely 13 and just as she was trying to come to terms with it, she faced a
heartbreak which pushed her into years
of depression. However, she still managed to carve a name for herself in the
music arena with her golden voice and
knowledge of classical music. The play,
therefore, was a perfect mix of music
and emotions.
The lead role was played by well-known
theatre actor Rajeshwari Sachdev who
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brilliantly portrayed the character of
Gauhar Jaan, who incidentally was the
first lady to sing for a record. The Gramophone Company of India had taken her
voice to millions who were totally in awe
of her talent during that period.
Rajeshwari sang with so much passion
that it was difficult to believe that she
was not trained in classical music. She
emoted and danced with grace leaving
the audience spellbound with her act.
After the play, Lillette Dubey addressed
the audience and said, “It feels so good to
see the interest and love for theatre that
people have in Gurgaon. I have always
felt good here. Epicentre is one of my
favourite places to perform and I saw a
wonderful audience.”
Nilima Khanna, an ardent lover of theatre and a resident of DLF Phase 1, told
DCN, “The touching story and performance of Gauhar Jaan brought tears to
my eyes. I particularly loved the scene
where she reduces an entire raag to
two-and-a-half minutes with her talent
as required by the record company and
then goes on to introduce herself, ‘I am
Gauhar Jaan’. That was my favourite
scene! It was a wonderful play”. ø
SNAPSHOTS
MR INDIA
Glamour and
Talent at
Mega Model
Hunt 2016
A bevy of celebrity judges scored 23 contestants in a model hunt
Some of India’s best looking men participated
in a challenge to represent the nation at an
upcoming international event
by DCN Bureau
The young lady who was emcee at the
Mega Model Hunt at Hotel Anya at Gurgaon, was very candid when she said that
despite the air conditioning at the hotel,
things were hotting up! She was light
heartedly referring to those 23 well built,
handsome and effervescent young men
who took centrestage for the finale of the
event in a bid to win the Rubaru Mister
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India 2016 and a host of other titles up for
grabs.
Sparks did fly and the mercury rose up
a few notches when some of India’s best
looking men participated in a challenge
to represent the nation in an event for
which they were handpicked after a nationwide selection process. Deserving
participants were part of the grand fi-
nale that was held on 24th April 2016.
The evening saw these 23 handsome
males competing in every department
– from their introduction round which
was videotaped and displayed to the traditional ethnic wear round, followed by
the peppy swimsuit round and finally the
more formal western wear round.
A series of dance performances which
included a beautiful salsa and Bollywood
medley by dance group ‘Moving Souls’
succeeded in adding even more glamour
and glitz to an exciting evening.
The judging panel comprised the winners of Mister Model International Pageant 2015, Melvin Roman from Puerto
Rico, celebrity doctor, Dr Varun Katyal,
internationally renowned tarot card
reader, Dr Seema Midha, personality
development expert and grooming guru,
Rita Gangwani, famous designer, John
Uche Jesus from Nigeria, social activists, Manju Sharma and Simmi Harding,
the owner of wellness care Anammya,
Ashma Khanna Sachdeva, famous dermatologist, Amit Bhasin and the vice
president of All India Body Building
Federation Anuj Chaudhary.
Prateek Baid from Rajasthan was declared Mister Global India 2016 and will
be seen representing India at the upcoming Mister Global pageant to be held
in Thailand this May. Mudit Malhotra
was declared Mister International India
2016 and will represent India at Mister
International 2016 pageant. The other
winners who would represent India in
different international pageants included Anurag Fageria - Mr Model International (India - Host Country); Akash
Choudhary - Mr Worldwide India (Brazil); Parmeet Wahi - Mr Universal Am-
bassador (Bangkok); Mohit Singh - Mr
United Continent India (Philippines);
Abhishek Shah - Man of the Year (Myanmar); Sanju Ray - Mr Tourism World;
Ravi Prashar - Mr Real Universe India
(Ecuador) and Sid Juvekar - Mr Pancontinental.
The event was also graced by former
Rubaru titleholder, the dashing Dheeraj
Sharma. He represented India at the
Mister United Continents 2015 held in
Philippines and brought glory to the
nation by clinching the fifth runner up
position. Miss Eco India 2016 Sophiya
Singh mesmerised the audience with her
beauty and charm.
The event also witnessed the presence
of some prominent Indian personalities
which included Narendra Bhaskar,
head of promotion of India News,
Suraj Pal Amu, spokesperson of BJP
(Haryana), Sanjeev Kakkar, owner
of Meribus.com, Ashish Soni, Marketing head Anya Hotels, Ravi and Tejinder
Singh, owners of Thukral’s Ethnic Wear
who were also the official ethnic wear
partner for this year’s contest.
This year, the theme echoed the international community’s commitment to
prevention of crime against women and
saw models come out in support of a safer world for women.
Organiser Sudesh Chawla explained
how Rubaru has been organising
the Mr India contest since 2008. From
2008 to 2011, the contest was called
Ru-Ba-Ru Mr North India. In 2012, the
organisation renamed the pageant to
Ru-Ba-Ru Mr India Global, with the
first edition being held in Tivoli Westwood in New Delhi. ø
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Citynews
I May 2016 I 11
PEOPLE
YOUNG ACHIEVERS
In a Vehicle to Animate,
On a Road to New Life
Children of Lotus Foundation grab a golden opportunity
to make films on road safety
by Reena Dhankher
Son of a vegetable vendor, 15-year-old-Armanur Rahaman
had never in his wildest of dreams thought that he would get an
opportunity to be part of a project that could give him recognition internationally! A member of the Lotus Foundation, Gurgaon, Armaan along with many of his friends at the foundation
were recently trained in making animation films on road safety.
And, now one of their films is all set to be screened at the VAFI
international film festival. Lotus foundation is a charitable
trust which works towards creating an enriching environment
12
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for the under-privileged.
The idea of organising these animation film workshops was
initiated by Maruti Suzuki Ltd, which has been making sincere
efforts to create awareness about the project. The workshops
put children in groups and they made short animated films
on traffic rules and road safety under the supervision of Nitin
Dhonde, who has been teaching animation film making in leading schools across the country. His work has also featured in
National Geographic All Roads Film Festival in Hollywood.
PEOPLE
YOUNG ACHIEVERS
DCN spoke to some of the children from the foundation who
were a part of these workshops to know more about their experiences.
THE FILM IN MAKING
BEHIND THE SCENES
Earlier this year, Maruti Suzuki Ltd had given the children
of Lotus Foundation a fair insight into road safety. Educating them on various traffic rules, the idea was to train them
and boost their confidence. And, that’s the reason they happily issued as many as 700 challans in the summer workshops. While Mansood Sheikh and Navin Kumar enjoyed
training at the police camps, Sana Ali did not allow a lady to
talk on her cell phone while driving and of course she made
sure to issue a challan too. Rahat Aslam, on the other hand,
faced a hilarious moment when a fat man could not wear a
seat belt as it did not fit him! All these experiences fuelled
their creativity regarding adherence to traffic rules.
14
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The foremost activity that each group of five children did was
conceptualisation of the basic story idea. Sharing her excitement, one of the children, Sanima Roy, says, “The workshop
gave us a chance to highlight the most painful traffic accidents
which can be avoided if we follow rules”.
Remembering the ‘making’ days, Armaan says, “Each group
would sit and brainstorm ideas to create a story. Often, the story we wrote would end up being too long and we would then
have to edit it into a crispier one”.
Once the story idea was done, it had to be depicted. “We had
no idea how an animation film is made. So, we were taught everything step by step. We were asked to depict our story with
pictures, a work that for sure stimulated our creativity. We had
to literally visualise the characters,” explains Salim Sagar.
Sanima loved the concept of colouring various characters and
objects. The children were left on their own to experiment with
their creativity so that the outcome could be both fresh and natural. Often, the children would keep delaying their lunch since
they would be too engrossed in the project, their imaginations
running overtime to judge the perfect backgrounds, size of
their main characters and most importantly, the logic behind
all of it.
“Once we had everything ready, we were asked to stick the
characters. But then came the bouncer, when Nitin sir asked us
how they would move! For a moment, I was left thinking what
is he trying to say? I then realised that the characters have to be
flexible to move. We then, with the help of blue tac, pasted the
characters. It was crazy,” says Armaan.
The next job was to focus on backgrounds. “We not only had to
imagine the placement of objects like tree, road, the characters;
we also had to visualise their movements. It was not tough, in
fact it was exciting,” points out Salim.
To this, Dhonde adds, “You see the process of making an animation film involves story writing and ideation, after which the
comic book is created to which dialogues that appear as blurbs,
are added to the world of visuals. The film then is edited with
music and finishing touches before ready to be viewed”.
He further elaborates, “This style of animation is called cut
out animation or stop animation and is most coveted in international film festivals. At a time when the world is rushing
towards commercialisation and choosing machines for everything, creative people like us want to focus on manual ways and
that’s the reason we went for hand drawings and physical movements. After all, art should be a personal interaction with your
medium”.
MOTIVATING FACTORS
‘Making a difference’ was the biggest motivation that helped
the children give their best during the workshops. “Even if one
person after seeing our film, starts obeying rules, our aim is
achieved. So many times when one car jumps a signal, others follow setting wrong examples. That needs to stop,” says Armaan.
doesn’t know what’s happening. ‘If you do this,
Similarly, Pratima Roy shares, “Accidents always
YOUNG &
I won’t let you drive on the road,’ says the
leave a deep impact on our minds and we want to
CREATIVE
alien police. It’s a simple story but with a
prevent them. But instead of feeling helpless, I
“We had no idea how an animadirect message. And, aliens, as it is, are
think we should try doing something about it.
tion film is made.
popular among children,” he further exAnd, such initiatives can help.” To this Satish
So, we were taught everything step
Kumar adds, “The entire process was fun. It
plains.
by step. We were asked to depict our
was like a chain. We were ourselves learning
While the ‘Alien Police’ had humour in
story with pictures,
about traffic rules after which we were
it,
the most touching one was a mother
a work that for sure stimulated our
trying to educate others.”
asking her son to wear a helmet, which
creativity. We had to
literally visualise the
Making cartoons was the toughest job
he ignores promising to return soon but
characters”
but the children practised till they achieved
he meets with an accident and dies while
perfection. Sanima shares, “I was a little
the mother is still waiting with the helmet.
nervous whether people would get the message
For this particular film, the contribution
that we were working on so hard.” To this, Satish
of Wangshi Jamir, a young girl who has a deep
adds, “We had a time constraint too, for completing it.”
rooted passion for art and craft, was extremely appreDhonde elaborates, “Each film took 20 hours in the making. If
ciated. Jamir has assisted in the production of several animayou see, the first part of each film is slow. Then it gains momention films. Helping in conducting 30 animation workshops on
various subjects like ‘Save the girl child’ and ‘Bapu’, she also
tum as children get used to the process”.
contributed significantly to these workshops.
He further adds, “We took an age group of 12-16 years and
She helped the children convert their stories into comic books,
since this section of the society is either on foot or cycles, their
develop original cartoon characters and draw the background
interaction with roads is most natural. We just gave them a meframe by frame with animation and camera work. Jamir, in
dium to express and they performed beyond expectations.”
fact, wants to make her own animation film someday based on
the art and culture of her hometown Nagaland.
No wonder, with such dedicated trainers, the children left
While all the films conveyed various emotions, the one that has
no stone unturned to give their best and what emerged were
been selected out of 3700 entries from all over the world to be
amazing films on traffic safety, which will always be treasured
screened at the festival is ‘The Alien Police’, informs Dhonde.
as invaluable masterpieces created by a bunch of hard-work“A school bus crosses the red light and the alien police takes
it up into the clouds! All the children are howling and driver
ing children. ø
THE FINALE
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Citynews
I May 2016 I 15
PEOPLE
COL DR. BRL DHAMMI
Young
At Heart
At 61!
A cycling enthusiast
who recently
completed 20,000
kilometres, Col Dr. BRL
Dhammi now plans to
cycle all the way to
his dream destination
by Reena Dhankher
16
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tinations close by to prepare myself for
the trip,” he points out.
He owes his fitness levels to the Indian
Army that inculcated discipline in him.
He recalls what his PT Ustaad, Naik
Dhuni Chand from the Armoured Corps,
once told him – “The more you use this
body, the more it will shine. If you leave
it, it will be rusted”. This is a mantra he
follows till this day and, not surprisingly,
it has helped him stay fit.
Retirement is from a job not life. This is
something which Colonel Dr BRL Dhammi (retd) is often heard telling people.
At 61, this retired army officer-turnedcycling enthusiast who has pedalled over
20,000 kilometres since 2011, has now set
his sights high, literally! He plans to cycle all the way to Leh and is determined
to do so in the near future.
PASSION UNLIMITED
His passion for cycling dates back to the
days when he was posted at Mhow. He
would cycle regularly to give joy rides to
his daughter. Eventually, he developed
a liking for the sport. When he came
to Gurgaon and saw the rising interest
for cycling among people, he decided to
pursue it all over again. “Initially, it was
like a fitness activity but them it turned
into my passion,” says Dhammi, who has
been with DLF since 2007.
With a lot of excitement, Dhammi
bought a hybrid cycle, a combination of
a road and mountain bike, in 2011. And
he hasn’t looked back since. Currently,
he has one of those latest bikes, which
also has a computing system by Sigma
that gives him the distance and temperature.
Dhammi was also a part of the ‘Pedal
Yatri’ group but soon discovered that
‘solo’ was more his cup of tea and he
therefore decided to be his own master.
Sharing his experiences, he says, “Those
who don’t get up in the morning and
move out are missing something in life.
I have enjoyed lovely moments in summers, when the sun is about to rise, a hue
of different colours on skyline makes
you feel so pleasant. It’s a photographer’s
delight. In winters, when the fog hits
your face, the freshness is so refreshing
and nice, as if you are piercing through
a white blanket”.
The first milestone for him was completing 4,000 kilometres after which he
did 10,000 and then 12,656 kilometres, the
diameter of earth. “I have now completed 20,000 kilometres and feel extremely
thrilled about it. It took me four-and-ahalf years. I am actually preparing for
a dream that I wish should come true. I
want to cycle up to Leh. It requires technical support and backup and I am working towards it,” he explains.
Dhammi has participated in various
MULTIFACETED MAN
DIVERSE
PROFILES
After serving the Indian
Army for 27 years, Col Dr
BRL Dhammi completed a
PhD in Management from IIM
Lucknow in September 2015.
He has also been part of the
faculty of Management at DIT
University, Dehradun. A
trainer, he also conducts
workshops on personality development.
cycling events like the Hero Cyclothon
2012 in Connaught Place and India Gate,
Godrej Eon Tour de India 2013, ‘Firefox
Firestorm Gurgaon 2014’ cycling in the
Manger Forest Area and the ‘United India Ride 2014’ organised at DLF Cybercity, Gurgaon. He is now busy convincing
his family for the Leh trip. “I have told
them that I am a soldier and therefore I
want to fulfil this dream of mine. I am
already planning to cycle to various des-
Dhammi is a man with a hard exterior
and a soft interior. On February 7 this
year, he cycled 50 kilometres to raise
funds for visually impaired children in
‘Tour de Vision 2016 (Miles for Smiles)’,
an event organised by NGO Esha. He has
also been involved with the ‘Teach India’
initiative of the Times of India for two
years, wherein he has taught economically under-privileged children.
Dhammi loves to read books, fiction or
non-fiction. “At the moment, I am reading Not an Easy Day. I am fond of reading Chicken Soup for the Soul as it builds
my positive attitude for the day besides
the column How I Start My Morning in
Times Life on Sundays,” he says. Reading apart, few of his papers on management have been published in international journals.
Dhammi also loves to cook. “I love cooking Indian and continental dishes. Biryani, Russian salad, chicken ... I have done
a course in catering so I can cook almost
anything!” he says confidently.
Another interest, which is also a part
of his job, is training people in soft
skills and personality development with
positive attitude. “I believe in the saying that 10 per cent is what happens to
you and 90 per cent is what you do about
that 10 per cent that happens to you,” he
points out.
He loves Gurgaon. “This city is buzzing with life. I love spending evenings at
DLF CyberHub at least once a week. My
favourite joints are Beer Café, Hard Rock
Café and Quaff, that has opened recently.
Beer is my favourite drink,” he adds.
Dhammi lives on a simple quote which
he read at TGIF Fridays that said, ‘You
are not as young as yesterday and you are
not as old as you will be tomorrow, so enjoy your life and be happy…’ ø
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Citynews
I May 2016 I 17
people
DR INDERBIR KAUR SANDHU
It was just one of those typical days in
college when she was browsing through
the books in the library in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia when she stumbled upon
a book, which answered questions that
had been disturbing her for a long time.
That one book changed the life of Inderbir Kaur Sandhu. It not only made her
realise that she was ‘gifted’, it also gave
her a purpose in life.
HER EARLY YEARS
Her father’s favourite and the second
of the four siblings, Sandhu was a carefree and happy child. But she could not
perform like a genius even though it
was expected from her, both her parents
being teachers and siblings topping all
the time.
“I changed four schools as I was seen
as a difficult child but could not concentrate and kept moving around restlessly
feeling bored. Though a keen aesthetic
learner, I still wasn’t doing well academically and was always compared to my
siblings. Teachers even called me stupid,” recalls Sandhu. She would often tell
teachers that ‘the words are breathing’
but no one could understand let alone believe her. She somehow found a “method”
that worked and started doing well from
middle school onwards and ultimately
topped the school. Unfortunately, she did
not get admission into Law even after
topping in the district and was instead
offered Linguistics – which she accepted.
But destiny had other plans for her. It
was during that time period, she came
across this handbook on ‘gifted educa-
A Fighter and
A Winner!
18
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Gifted but also
moderately dyslexic,
Inderbir Kaur Sandhu
not only crossed
her own hurdles but
also turned into a
successful expert to
help ‘gifted children’
in the society
by Reena Dhankher
Identifying Gifted Children
A
child is born gifted. One cannot make a child gifted. In
India giftedness is often understood as special, but of the
other extreme. Usually an IQ of 130 and above places an individual in the gifted range. Gifted children are ones who are
extremely intelligent but may require differentiated learning
to perform. This can only happen if they are identified. Unfortunately teachers are unable to recognise this, which can also
be very hard for parents as they see their children getting frustrated. They need to learn differently and at a different pace as
they master concepts much quicker and need more stimulation
before boredom sets in. At times, they can become rebellious
because they are misunderstood. These are children we must
nurture as they are the assets to any country if there is an educational-ability match. Apart from subjective checklists, the
single best predictor for identifying giftedness is through an
intelligence scale (e.g., the Wechsler’s or Stanford-Binettests).
-Dr Inderbir Kaur Sandhu, PhD
tion.’ The brand new book, which no
one had read in the library (since it had
never been issued), caught her attention.
And, as she started reading it, she said to
herself, ‘this is me’!
“I still remember how very emotional I
became after reading that book. I could
completely relate to it. The questions,
which had always haunted me, were finally answered. It was a blessing in disguise,” recalls Sandhu.
A small town girl, Sandhu, who had
known the world through books, a curious mind and a deep sense of understanding, was well aware that the concept of ‘gifted’ education was relatively
new during that time but she wanted
to probe deeper. Upon graduation, she
decided to delve deeper into the subject
and applied for a course in Psychology
with specialisation in gifted education
at Cambridge University and as destiny
would have it, she was accepted with full
scholarship.
Her confusion about being different
was further clarified when her supervisor told her that she is dyslexic. “I was
overwhelmed when my supervisor, who
is dyslexic herself, confirmed it. So
much clarity after all that poor coordination, clumsiness, difficulty gauging
direction, and of course, “breathing”
words! Indeed, I am on both sides of the
spectrum – gifted with a learning disor-
der; twice exceptional as categorised today,” confides Sandhu.
Soon after, she lost her father. “When
my father passed away, life took a different turn. He had always believed in me
and wanted me to be the best that I could
be in life and his dream became my primary goal and a persuasive obsession. I
decided to live that dream and soon completed my studies with flying colours,”
she recalls.
Today, Sandhu has a PhD in Psychology
(Gifted Education) from the University
of Cambridge, UK. She has been working with individuals of high abilities
since 1996. She was formerly a university
professor in Malaysia and Singapore.
At present, she is the consultant for the
NAGCM (Malaysia) and the Advisory
Board of Abacus and Vedic Arithmetic
Study (AVAS), India. She now provides
services for intelligence and creativity
assessments; trains in giftedness, critical thinking, positive psychology, consulting and counselling for parents, students, schools and the corporate world
through her consultancy services.
CHALLENGES
& MOTIVATION
Her biggest challenge in life was during
her growing years when she felt it was
necessary to fit in and be like everyone
else. “There was a lot I tolerated from
people, thinking that if I appeased them,
I wouldn’t be isolated. But then I realised
I had to fight my own battle to be myself
and to help others understand and accept
gifted individuals,” says Sandhu.
Sandhu always tried to stay positive in
life and her father was her biggest inspiration. “He knew something was different with me but he stood by me, always
encouraging and telling me that I was the
best. That simply boosted my confidence.
He encouraged me to strive towards my
goals however incredible they may be
and his words continue to be omnipresent. The love and support one gets from
parents is very important in life,” says
Sandhu, getting nostalgic.
Today, when she deals with gifted children, she feels her passion stimulates
her to perform better. “I realise their
needs as I have been through it. When
parents come to me, I advise them to encourage rather than force them to learn.
Gifted children need to be loved and understood. They can be very sensitive and
have a strong need for stimulation and
meaningful learning,” informs Sandhu.
Although even today, she has trouble
tearing sachets or tying shoe laces, Sandhu knows she has an important gift of
God…..the courage to emerge a winner.
And yes she has also proved that ‘the
winner takes it all’! ø
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Citynews
I May 2016 I 19
PEOPLE
FACE OF THE MONTH
zoravar KALRA
MD & CEO of Massive Restaurants
K
alra has
reinvented
Indian cuisine
with Made In Punjab,
Masala Library and
the Farzi Café. An MBA
from Boston, he is the
son of Jiggs Kalra who
gave Maurya Sheraton
its legendary Dum
Pukht restaurant
Describe the ‘Jiggs Kalra’ legacy and your
entrepreneurial journey?
Being the son of Jiggs Kalra has been an amazing
gourmet journey. We travelled the world and were
exposed to the best of flavours from around the world
to get an evolved palate and love for international
cuisine. When I was in Class 10, we travelled to
Scotland and Wales on a road trip and stayed at nine
bed-and-breakfast inns. Our hosts plucked fresh
produce from their backyards in a first of ‘Farm to
Fork’ experiences that I will always cherish. With
such a culinary background, I knew from my early
teens that I wanted to be a restaurateur. The sole
reason I pursued an MBA at Boston University was so
I could learn how to run a restaurant business.
You have established your identity by modernizing
Indian food. What inspired you?
I experimented with Indian cuisine before the
floodgates opened up because I was fascinated by the
stories behind the food. I realized that Indian food was
in danger of dying out globally if it was not
reinvented. Young people enjoy food that looks cool.
My son for instance, will refuse to eat palak paneer
unless it is presented interestingly. I knew our cuisine
needs to be innovative, not jaded. So at Farzi, we
embraced modern technology and presentation to
make it cool Indian cuisine, The Farzi Café which
recently opened in Dubai has become very popular in
a city which is so cosmopolitan. Even Made in Punjab
has revamped the menu to keep it earthy and rustic
and yet be chic.
Share your association with Gurgaon and the
customers in the city.
In July this year, it will be 10 years in Gurgaon for me,
so it is my home. This city has a cool vibe and has
transformed from a village town to a global city. I am
proud to be a Gurugram-ite. This city has fabulous
customers with sophisticated palates, disposable
income and good culture. It is truly the New York of
India
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Citynews
I May 2016 I 21
COVER STORY
POWER DRESSING
Dress To Work,
The ‘Power’ Way!
With power dressing playing an important role in your
professional success, DCN brings you tips from experts to
do it right and with confidence
by Meenakshi Sharma (with inputs from Reena Dhankher)
Whether you are embarking on a new
job or have that important board meeting
in your old workplace, you know how important it is to look the part. Power dressing today assumes great significance for
corporate professionals who want to fit
in, yet stand out for their sartorial skills.
And in a city like Gurugram which is
considered the corporate hub of the
country with over 250 Fortune 500 companies, the denizens love to dress for
success. DLF City News meets young
professionals, designers, retailers, image consultants and skin experts to understand how power dressing gives this
city that competitive edge.
ALL ABOUT PERFECT
COMBINATION
“When you dress up, it should be like
a seamless poetry, where you may not
always rhyme, but there is a rhythm in
your dressing,” says Sheena Agarwal,
Director Urbanista and an image consultant who has been helping people
dress to perfection. For Sheena, power
dressing is all about getting the colours,
designs and fit right. “A perfect combination that helps transform your personality into a commanding one, that’s power
dressing,” she points out.
Elaborating on colours, she says that
light-skinned people should always wear
a contrast. “Such people would need
22
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darker colours to look more authoritative. On the other hand, if you are dark
skinned, lighter colours will work more.
However, when you want to be approachable, you need to wear colours in sync
with your skin colour. If you are dark,
wear dark and vice versa. Look at Barack
Obama for instance; when he became
President, he had dark hair which eventually turned into salt pepper. His black
jacket accordingly converted into a grey
jacket. There was a thought behind that.
He went the amiable way. He wore his
body design colours to be visually more
approachable,” explains Sheena.
Also, in colours there is a theory of creating a triad; if you are wearing a red
and blue, then a yellow would go with
it. In fact, the Sikhs do it well using a lot
of colour combination to their benefit.
There are various ways of combining
colours as Sheena points out, “The primary rule if you are working in a formal
environment, is wearing a third piece.
The third piece for a man is a jacket however for women, there are a lot of options.
Our Indian saree is a third piece which is
why in formality, it ranks first. A scarf
is your third piece. Even in salwar suits
without dupatta is every day look but
with dupatta, it becomes formal.”
Suman Aggarwal, Director ICBI (Image
Consulting Business Institute), has
another point to make when it comes to
colours. “Light or bright colours on top
and dark colours below help in keeping
the attention intact around the face as
attention always goes to lighter/ brighter
colours and hence they must remain on
the upper body,” she explains.
Talking of patterns, she points out,
“Elements of design for power dressing
in men include straight lines, angular
shapes, darker or duller colours with
dark light contrast, geometric patterns
and firm textures. When you look powerful, you feel powerful as the external is
internalised. For women, they can work
with a larger variety of patterns - geometric prints in place of florals, firm fabrics instead of pliable and dark colours
instead of light ones.”
POWER DRESSING IN MEN
When it comes to clothes and combinations for men, Aman Yadav, store manager at Black Berry’s, has a simple ‘formula’ to share. “In summers, it should be
‘light to dark’ which means light shirts
and dark trousers and in winter it’s the
opposite. But at times, it also depends on
customers. Some wear light to light too,
like white shirt with light grey trousers
is a perfect combination.” To this, Ishdeep Singh Bajwa, Head- International
Business at Cnergee Technologies adds,
“Traditional white shirts and pale blue
trousers are also a safe bet.”
Talking of shirts, the most common are
shades of blues. The self-textured ones
are most classy. Sheena advocates it as
she adds, “Wearing a cotton plain shirt
is passé. You get beautiful self-patterned
white shirts. They look much richer and
one must dress one level above!”
Satish Bhatt, store manager at Park
Avenue, informs, “Blue apart, colours
like purple, maroon, peach and pink are
also picking up. Of course, white is evergreen.” However, when it comes to Sikhs,
who are known for their love for colours,
Rishab Choudhary, store manager, Louis
Phillip says, “They are very choosy. And
they always try to find a match as per
their turban colour and sometimes with
fluorescent shades, it’s difficult to get the
right match.”
Moving on to trousers, currently the
focus is on straight slim and super slim
fit. “Only flat trousers are selling. Only
two out of 50 are going in for pleated,”
says Sambhav Gupta, store manager for
Van Heusen. However, Sheena suggests,
“If men are short, vertical stripes will
help them look tall. And if they are short
and voluptuous, they should opt for thin
stripes.”
She elaborates, “Trouser length is another extremely important aspect. You
need to know where it will end. It needs
to touch the ground. The correct length
is after hitting the shoe where there
is a single break in the fabric, a single
loop. It’s not bunched. That’s the correct
length. In fact, suspenders look very dapper.”
KNOW WHAT SUITS YOU
Another important formal wear for
men are suits. Ashutosh Srivastava, CEO
Shipping Exchange, shares, “Tailoured
business suits in English colours with
all accessories are my personal favourites. I wear colour combos like black,
dark/navy/royal blue, dark/steel grey,
dark brown trousers/suits with light/
sky blue, white/off white, light grey,
purple and cream shirts. Shirts can be
with and without cufflinks, straight and
with Shakespeare collars. Trousers can
be narrow or straight fit.” To this Ankur
Arora, Area Manager, SKOC Breweries,
adds, “I strongly believe that darker the
colour, ‘higher’ the authority and navy
blue is the universal colour for a suit.”
Men in summers often wear the trousers of suits and keep the coat away for
the heat. Eventually, the colour of the
trouser starts fading away so once worn
together, they don’t look like one family.
Hence suits need to be worn as a set all
the time.
Of course, there are some other dos and
don’ts when it comes to power dressing
for men such as yellow shirt should be
avoided if one is looking very tired as
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Citynews
I May 2016 I 23
COVER STORY
POWER DRESSING
GETTING THE BALANCE RIGHT
in such a scenario, the eyes turn yellowish and a yellow shirt will make one look
even more tired. Similarly, if you have
not shaved, greens should be avoided.
However, when it comes to accessories,
office goers can have their own styles
and preferences. Honey Singh shares,
“In accessories, I love to give attention
to turban, watch, leather belts, ties and
watches. I have Giordano, Tommy and
Tag. Besides I innovate by wearing nice
coloured turbans along with matching
accessories.” To this, Ishdeep adds, “The
turban colour is usually the same as that
of the tie and if it is a hot day and without a tie, colour of the turban is usually
orthodox like black, white or light blue.”
These days, laptop is a perennial accessory. Although backpacks have come to
be accepted in the corporate world be-
24 I May 2016
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I Citynews
cause of their ergonomic benefits, steer
clear of them when you power dress.
Suggesting an alternative, Ishdeep says,
“Carry the small rectangular bags if your
laptop is lightweight. If not, sling the heavier one on the shoulder. And if there is
overnight travel, bags that carry the laptop
as well as the clothing for a couple of days
are necessary. Choose a black one with all
zips working and keep it neat”.
POWER DRESSING IN WOMEN
Women today have revolutionised the
concept of power dressing. With the correct sense of dressing and inborn confidence, they have the ability to carry any
outfit in style.
So, what makes a lady look businesslike and a serious professional? Suman
Agarwal says, “A firm and dark coloured
kurta with collars and straight/tapered
pants; three-fourth to full sleeves with or
without cuff; scarf in place of a dupatta
in angular pattern and neutral colours instead of bright or playful colours are most
appropriate for a professional look”.
Agrees Jass Kaur, who works with
American Express Bank, as she says, “In
formals, I love something that makes me
feel comfortable and classy at the same
time. I wear pants with formal kurtis.
Short length coats also look fabulous.
One piece dresses with heels however are
my first preference.”
A lot depends on your height and built
when it comes to clothes. “Salwar kameez needs to be either knee length or all
the way to the ankle but for someone who
is short, full length will not work. Wearing a kurta till your calf and anything
above knee is not ok. If you are wearing a
kurta and trousers you might as well not
wear dupatta and opt for a scarf which
looks stylish. In winters, sarees with
jackets look nice,” says Sheena.
She further adds, “Palazzos are not
formal. However, wide-legged trousers
or saturn silk palazzos which are not
flimsy can be worn. Boot leg trousers
are also in vogue. As far as skirts are
concerned, for voluptuous women, box
pleated knee length skirts are best.
Long skirts are now out; it is a very
70s concept. Women are wearing skater
skirts these days that flares out from
your body. In dresses, one piece ones
are neat”.
Amit Negi, store manager at Wills
Lifestyle further shares, “Women also
prefer collar shirts with band, v col-
ACCESSORIES
When it comes to
accessories, office
goers can have
their own styles
and preferences
lar or simple collar shirts. Plain basic
colours like pink, peach, mauve, white
and also blue are their preferred choices. There are tops which sell with knot
or a bow that gives them a feminine look
and they are mostly in polyester. Women
also love slim or super slim fit in polyester but cotton still sells more. Trousers in
cotton are not too preferred though”.
Interestingly, Sheena also talks about
‘balance points’. It means you need to
count the elements which are visibly evident in you and you should never overdo
it or under do it. That’s power dressing,
to be just appropriate.
“For instance, someone is wearing red
lip colour, there is a point there; too much
jewellery is also a point. And, if one is
wearing a bindi that is another point so
one must stay within a range of six to
seven points. At times, women go beyond
those seven points and over dress. However, some like to use the word ‘simple’
and they under-dress. They go below the
five balance point bracket. Power dressing is when your dressing should not
overtake who you are,” she explains.
Every line of garment has multiple colours. If you see a colour that has more
whites in it, that’s ‘cool toned’ like silver
and one with more brown like gold is
‘warm toned’.
“If that doesn’t work, there is something
called a blink test that you do in front of
a mirror. Hold a colour next to your eyes
and close your eyes. Now open them and
check whether you see yourself first or the
colour? If it’s yourself, then the brightness
of the colour is fine. But if you are wearing
the wrong tone, your skin will look tired. If
a colour is your colour, you will see a flush
on the cheek,” she points out.
Talking about accessories, Suman suggests,
“Less is more when it comes to accessories
at work. Stay minimal and non-distracting.
Work with a wrist watch, one simple ring, a
pair of studs and a delicate bracelet. Simple
coordinated handbag in black or brown and
footwear that is closed in leather are perfect.”
To this, Jass adds, “Watches always work
at work! My favourite is Rado Jubile. I can’t
leave home without it. Simple bold, very
classy and goes with everything. I make sure
along with dressing, I also try something
new with my hair. Straighten them. Or do
soft curls. Pin it on top. Or side part; something stylish.”
In fact, style is what really matters. Look
good and attractive. That’s where power
dressing comes to play. Be neat, look sharp,
wear the right size and be confident in
anything you do. Always carry a smile on
your face, it gets half the job done then
and there!
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Citynews
I May 2016 I 25
COVER
FASHION
STORY
POWER DRESSING
Makeup & Skin Care For
More Power To Working Women
S
halini Nadkarni is an Esthetician (skin care and
makeup specialist) and runs her clinic Thea at Galleria, Gurgaon. She believes along with the right attire, an appropriate amount of makeup at work can make
you feel and look more professional, build confidence and
increase productivity at work.
“Since women have easy access to the best of clothing
brands, shopping assistants, free makeup tutorials on
YouTube (and even at sales counters), great salon services, comfortable offices and of course disposable
income, there is no excuse to not look their best,
whether at work or at a party,” says Nadkarni, who
helps many young women become conscious of the
need for “great skin that reflects good health and
hygiene.”
She suggests that one should keep clothing and
makeup comfortable, subtle and neat because just
as a fit body with good posture makes good clothing
look even better, similarly a flawless and glowing
skin complements any makeup.
However, she cautions, “Long hours in air-conditioned
offices, lack of water or using wrong products can take
its toll on the skin. So, a good at-home skin care regimen as per your skin type is a must.”
She recommends a benchmark makeup regimen
which is ‘quick and easy’ and says,“ It should take
just seven minutes out of your rush hour to wear
simple basic makeup, give an even tone to your skin,
look fresh all day and highlight your facial features.”
26 I May 2016
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I Citynews
Power Dressing
Is All About
Exhibiting
Confidence, Says
Designer
Vandy Mehra
l Rub
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
ice all over the face for long lasting makeup- 1
minute.
Apply BB cream all over face - 30 seconds
Dab a neutral skin colour eye shadow all over eyelids –
30 seconds.
Blend a sharp pencil liner near top lashes (liquid might
make a mess). Smudge with a smudger or applicator –
2 minutes
Use a bit of the same applicator on the brows and
brush out with a toothbrush – 20 seconds.
Wear a kohl pencil inside the water line or only half
way – 30 seconds
Use compact or loose powder under eyes and on lips
so kohl doesn’t spread and lipstick stays longer – 30
seconds
Apply a transparent mascara – 30 seconds
Use a soft blusher which is a barely there like a nude
tone -30 seconds
Use a nude or peachy or soft pink lipstick - 1 minute
INTERVIEW
And during the day, all you need to do to freshen up
your face is:
l Wipe dry flaky lips with a tissue or baby wipe and apply
lipstick.
l Blot out oiliness from face using a thin office paper and
apply compact powder.
l If skin turns red due to summer heat, calm it by quickly
rolling a cold water bottle or placing cold baby wipe or
spray a cucumber facial mist over your skin.
Director of the Study By Janak (SBJ) group,
Vandy Mehra has not only catapulted the
company’s women’s line of clothing to dizzy
heights but has also kept a constant feel on
the pulse of the target audience.
Vandy heads the women’s couture section of
Study By Janak and also brainstorms with
her team for brand new and innovative marketing initiatives. Her constant endeavour
is to understand what it is that the most discerning clients of SBJ would want, and then
translating the same into reality. Her aim
is to constantly create brand new designs,
while not compromising with quality, at any
point of time. It is largely due to her hard
work and vision that awards such as the
Best Fashion House of 2011 and the Women’s
Achievers Award have come flocking to the
doors of SBJ.
What is power dressing?
Power dressing is all about exhibiting confidence and your inner expression. It’s about
donning what makes you feel confident and
comfortable at the same time. It’s as much
about flamboyance and interesting accents
as it is about deep and dark hues, as much
about comfort as about luxury and heightened drama. Confidence and the ability to
stand head above the crowd are keys to this
in-vogue thing called ‘power dressing’.
What does power dressing mean to both
men and women?
Androgynous body defining silhouettes
and masculine innovative tailoring really
do wonder for both of them. I believe men
should look angular and assertive while
women should look poised and stylish while
opting for power dressing. As per the ever
evolving trends, power dressing is no longer
different for both the genders as they are opting for unisex dressing ideas.
What is the manner in which SBJ looks
at corporate dressing, both for work and
for leisure?
Corporate dressing has become more relaxed than before but no other trend can surpass the grace and effect of power dressing.
So the thumb rule to look your best is to wear
an outfit that perfectly fits your body type,
your mood and also the settings.
How would you dress up a client (male
and female) for work/Friday dressing/
office party / friend get together?
One should be professionally dressed when
somebody is going for work. To dress a male
client for work, I would suggest a business suit
in navy or grey with classy cuts. A female client can be dressed in a formal jumpsuit or a
pencil skirt with a formal top. For an official
party, I would suggest a nicely tailored tux for
a man and for a woman, a long dress in wine or
plum shade could be a classy addition.
Also, there is always a room to incorporate
one’s sense of style and current trends to get
a personality-defining look. So, stock your
wardrobe with only those fresher pieces
about which you are truly confident.
What colours are suitable for summers
and why?
This summer one can go for breathable
shades like candy pinks, subtle oranges, lime
greens, sunny yellows and mints as they are
breathable as well as seasonally apropos.
dlf
Citynews
I May 2016 I 27
COVER STORY
CITY UPDATE
POWER DRESSING
SECURITY
Power Through The
Elegant Sari!
W
hether Rashmi Choudhary enters a boardroom or
a cardroom, a book launch or a ladies brunch, all
eyes are inevitably on her. She blushes even while
she admits that she knows why she attracts attention! This
software professional cum entrepreneur cum marathoner and
adventure freak lives in DLF Beverly Park 2, is mother to two
boys and well realises how her real personality and identity
shines through her love for saris. She reveals how she is always on the lookout for an opportunity to don a sari. “There
have been times when I have been the only one wearing a sari
among 15 people but have stood out in the crowd,” she says
rather delightedly.
When asked why sari is her favourite outfit, she replies, “Sari
is a unique garment without a single stitch. Not only it stands
for grace and elegance and carries forward the legacy of our
Indian tradition, for me it is one of the most diverse outfits
suited for all occasions. Be it a board meeting or a cocktail
party or a religious ceremony, one can safely don a sari, of
course the type and variety changes. I feel a sari is a woman’s
best friend. It suits and accommodates everyone - fat, slim,
tall, short, skinny or over weight. Yes, we need to be careful in
selecting the texture, colour and pattern”.
She cannot choose her favourite sari as she explains, “ India
being the land of diversity, there’s a mind-blowing variety of
saris ranging from ikkats, patolas, kalamkaris, chettinads,
dhakai, paithanis, chanderis, maheshwaris to mangalgiris,
just to name a few. Not to forget, kanjivarams and banarasis
are obvious choices to highlight grandeur. Georgettes and
crepe fabrics are perfect for party wear.”
For Rashmi, power dressing is a style of dressing that is
intended to establish one’s authority and make a mark in a
professional and political environment. It is about exuding
confidence. She feels it is important to have the right fit – hem,
waistline, shoulders well in place; texture of the fabric and
it should also be well suited to the weather of the place. Texture plays a big role in the overall look of the garment. Silks
and cashmere (provided the weather allows) give an edge and
make a mark. For jewellery and accessories, due care should
be taken that they are not overtly trendy or over powering.
This also depends hugely on the occasion and audience. Elegant and petite pieces do well in a corporate set-up, a chunky
silver piece of jewellery would be a hit in an art or literary
event while pastel shades and neutral colours are a safe bet for
corporate events. Shoes are also an integral part of any type
of dressing and should be absolutely comfortable as it affects
the body language to a big extent, she points out.
28 I May 2016
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I Citynews
Ensure Safety At Home
Before Your Vacation
by DCN Bureau
It is that time of the year when schools
are closed for the summer holidays and
denizens of the Millennium City go on
long vacations. But before planning summer vacations, Gurgaonites these days
are putting a lot of thought into how to
secure their houses when they are gone.
Given the reports of burglaries and robberies in the city, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) are also taking initiatives to ensure that members have a
stress-free vacation.
Talking about the duties that residents
must adhere to Joginder Singh, former
RWA president of Sushant Lok III, says,
“If you look at incidents of robberies
and theft, known and familiar people are
the ones who plan and carry out crimes.
The percentage of armed gangs operating to steal is much lesser. The one area
we need to monitor is verification of domestic help. If you carry out a survey today, you will find a sufficient percentage
of residents have not got their servants
verified. It’s our duty to follow this norm
which the administration has been reiterating time and again”.
To this, Col Hawa Singh, a resident of
Sector 57 adds that a colony should be
gated as limited gates are easy to control and restricts the entry to the colony.
“This is a requirement that the RWA and
builder need to look into.” Meena Narang, who belongs to the same locality,
suggests, “A gated colony and intercom
systems if made mandatory everywhere
could help reduce crime”.
The one section of society that often faces insecurity is senior citizens. Col Amrik Bombrah a resident of Sushant Lok
1, proposes, “A list of senior citizens of
the colony should be available with the
RWA and calls should be made to them to
check about their well-being. This could
be done on rotation basis so that if someone is troubled care can be taken to help
them out”.
While most condominiums are obeying
a strict security system of maintaining
visitor registers, the intercom system
of confirming the identity of the visitor
with the property owner is a full-proof
method. To keep a record of the visitors,
CCTV cameras are installed for security.
In fact, hidden camera vigilance in
houses also helps to nab criminals in
case of any eventuality. A proper security system within residences therefore
is the need of the hour.
Speaking to DCN Vishal Swara, MD,
SLV, says, “Implementing a technical
platform that can quickly log in entry
and exit of every person and vehicle can
also be very helpful. From the police, we
expect strict enforcement to ensure only
trained and verified guards are deployed.
Today, the problem is that the residents
don’t have confidence to trust the colony
guards because largely unverified and
untrained persons are being employed”.
In this regard, ACP, DLF, Ramesh Pal,
tells DCN, “We are aware that during
vacation time, thefts tend to increase
and hence we have increased the patrolling in various sectors and colonies.
The strength of policemen and frequent
patrolling by PCR has been substantially concentrated. Our vigilance has
improved and we are doing our best to
prevent thefts. Yes, residents must resort to servant verification which they
often tend to ignore that leaves gaps in
nabbing them. Even the QRTs (Quick Response Teams) in DLF have been taking
proper care of the residents and their response time is good” ø
Dos & Don’ts
Get a detailed background check
and verification for all domestic
helps, drivers and guards before
employment.
l Before venturing out of town,
inform the security control room
of the colony, sector or condominium
l Keep valuables in the locker
instead of keeping them at home
l Get security alarm system
installed at home
l Keep your neighbours informed
so that they keep a check
l
Condominiums advise
Precautions to taken
during vacations:
Please lock all the rooms.
Do not keep valuables at home.
l Inform the condominium office
so that the security can be more
vigilant.
l
l
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Citynews
I May 2016 I 29
DLF UPDATE
FIRE SAFETY AWARENESS
The Fire Service Week by DLF Cybercity witnessed enthusiastic participation
DLF Cybercity Observes
Fire Service Week
by DCN Bureau
A fire incident in 1944, on British ship
SS Fort Stikine, at the Victoria docks,
Mumbai, resulted in massive explosions
that took away lives of 66 fire officers who
along with their comrades were trying to
put an end to the disastrous fire, which
threatened the very existence of the city.
In a bid to pay respect to their spirit of
commitment towards their duty, DLF Cybercity observed the Fire Service Week
that commenced on April 14 and concluded on April 20, 2016. Several activities had
been planned during the week to assert
the importance of fire safety in various
spheres, be it home or office.
30
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In the welcome address of the opening
ceremony, Amit Grover, National Director, DLF Offices, said, “The Fire Service
Week is an effort to create awareness
about zero incidents which is our primary aim. Workplace safety is something
that Cybercity encourages and we have
to imbibe the culture of safety as a way
of life. Our collaboration with employees
and tenants have reduced the incidents
to a negligible level and the mission of
these events is to further reinforce the
commitment towards safety.”
After the welcome address, Gautam
Dey, Executive Vice President, Operations and Technical Services, Rentco,
requested the gathering to observe one
minute of silence to pay homage to the
fire officers who laid their lives in line
of duty. Suresh Babu, AVP Fire & Safety,
DLF also emphasised on the importance
of the day. “Every year April 14, all over
India, is observed as fire service day, for
paying tribute to those who have lost
their lives.”
Vivek Kalia, Joint Commissioner MCG,
graced the occasion as the chief guest.
Addressing the audience, he said, “All
buildings, schools, hospitals and offices
have to follow the rules laid down by
NBC. The Gurgaon model for firefighting
has been partnered by private players
like DLF and I must congratulate DLF for
organising Fire Service week, an attempt
towards disaster management. I would
like the fire officers to share their experiences and case studies that explain the
causes of fire along with solutions which
you don’t get to read very often. I am sure
these learnings we take home will come
in handy in any eventuality.”
To this, Senior Station Fire Officer I S
Kashyap added, “Today Gurgaon is recognised by DLF buildings, Rapid Metro
and KoD. The biggest challenge today are
basements of the buildings, where controlling fire incidents is much tougher.
However, by obeying all related norms,
they can be controlled. At present, we
have five fire stations in Gurgaon and
Gurgaon Fire Service is very thankful
to DLF for their helping hand which has
always provided us support in various
incidents”.
One of the key highlights of the ceremony was the Nukkad Natak presented by
Soch Theatre Group who, through a skit,
not only entertained but also highlighted
the importance of fire and how important it is to be trained in firefighting too.
They also highlighted the action to be
taken in times of earthquake. While the
audience enjoyed the ‘natak’, there was
an open quiz too, to test their knowledge
on fire safety. The winners walked away
with exciting prizes.
The opening ceremony marked the beginning of events that took place on each
day of the week and covered interesting
aspects of fire safety, which we may encounter in our day-to-day lives. While the
‘Nukkad Natak’ team performed at various venues during this time, fire safety at
homes was one activity which attracted a
The fire exhibition attracts curious visitors
phenomenal response from ladies, since
it informed them about fire prevention at
home, particularly in kitchens.
The week also saw evacuation drills
which tested the preparedness and
quick response time of not only the
staff but also employees working in
various offices. In education of the next
generation, the fire safety week did wonders when in Government school of
Shikohpur and Jhankar Public School,
the children were made aware of all
kinds of fire mishaps and subsequent
action to be taken. The week also saw
fire drill competitions for fire safety officers while mass fire safety awareness
sessions were conducted to take forward
the message of the drive to as many people. The energy displayed in the week
was remarkable. There was great participation which clearly showed the enthusiasm of participants.
The closing ceremony had the esteemed
presence of D K Shami, Fire Advisor,
Government of India, who said, “This is
a week where everyone should come forward and participate. Please learn not to
burn. This awareness week is to prevent
the loss of life and property and whenever you can help someone please come forward, as life and property saved directly
contribute in nation’s development”.
Shriram Khattar, CEO DLF Rentco gave
away trophies to various tenant companies for their fire safety contributions.
Amongst other dignitaries were Arun
Kumar Jain, MD Fluor Daniel, Ravindra
Gurjar, India Head, Du Pont Sustainability Solutions and S K Dheri, Fire Advisor
DLF. The programme concluded with an
exhibition on fire equipment by prominent companies and high tea ø
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Citynews
I May 2016 I 31
Around Town
EVENTS
Women Have Fun as
They Get Behind the Wheel
The Millennium City witnessed two all-woman rallies in succession aimed
at promoting road safety
by DCN Bureau
A perfect ensemble of beauty and
brains, women are known to be masters
in multi-tasking. Their role is no longer
32
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restricted to the kitchen and household
chores; they have been pushing the
boundaries in different sectors, scripting many a success story. And, recently
they were seen displaying their acumen
behind the wheels in two all women car
rallies held in the cosmopolitan city of
Gurgaon.
In an initiative to promote road safety
and highlight the importance of obeying
certificates were distributed
among all participants.
traffic rules, these rallies saw
women participants take to the
road with much enthusiasm.
The idea was to reiterate the
need for road safety precautions
and adhere to regulations laid
down by the traffic authorities.
WESS All Woman
Car Rally
Women Road Safety
Awareness Rally
Excitement reached a feverish
pitch as participants came in
huge numbers to be a part of
the all-woman car rally organised by Maruti Suzuki in association with Haryana Police.
The rally that kicked off from near Leisure Valley Park, Sector 29, Gurgaon,
was organised with an objective to promote safe driving among women drivers
under the “Sabhya Roads Bhavya Gurgaon” programme. Gurgaon, in fact, has
been identified as a focus city for promoting road safety awareness by MSIL under
this programme and the rally was step in
the direction.
Women drivers along with their navigators some of whom were men too, looked
all geared up before the rally, placing
stickers on their cars and some even
choosing their lucky numbers!
Deputy Commissioner, Gurgaon, T L
Satya Prakash, graced the occasion as the
chief guest. In his address, he said, “We
should have more such events to encourage road safety so that more and more
women are inspired to be independent
and people have a better traffic sense.”
Amongst the dignitaries present were
DCP Sulochna Gajraj and ACP Jitender
Singh who flagged off the rally. As many
as 50 cars were seen in the designated
route with the women drivers display-
Leena Dhankhar and Anuveer Singh, receiving the
prize from DCP Sulochna Gajraj
ing a combination of decent speed, safety and discipline on roads. There were
road safety officers who judged the drivers and rated them on the basis of the
required parameters.
Leena Dhankhar, a journalist from
the print media, won the rally. Her son
Anuveer Singh, a grade XII student of
Scottish High International School, was
adjudged the best navigator. As a team,
they displayed perfect coordination and
obedience on the road. “It was an awesome experience since for a change
women were given an opportunity to
showcase their driving skills,” said
Dhankhar.
The event concluded with a cultural
programme which started with Ganesh
Vandana and was followed by a Bharatnatyam dance performance by the Gurgaon Malyalee Association. A skit was
also presented by ‘Radiant Kids’, an NGO
which educates underprivileged kids, on
‘Beti Padhao Beti Bachao’ initiative. The
winners were given away prizes while
Maruti Suzuki in association
with Women Empowerment
Safety Security (WESS) Foundation, an NGO, Haryana police
and the Municipal Corporation
of Gurgaon (MCG) organised
yet another all-woman car rally
on similar lines which too witnessed active participation of
about 50 women drivers who
came in with friends and families. The rally commenced from Bristol
Hotel and was flagged off by MCG Councillor Mahesh Dayma.
With the help of a pilot car, participants drove and enjoyed the ride even as
police personnel judged them. The first
prize was won by city resident Vandana
Agarwal.
The organisers said the event was aimed
at sending out the message of safe and
careful driving. Veena Gupta, founder of
WESS Foundation, added, “As this is an
event for a cause and not competition, all
participants drove on the road as we normally do and adhered to the speed limits.
Exciting prizes were given away to the
winners at a prize distribution ceremony held at Bristol Hotel. There were few
dance performers to entertain the audience and to pamper the ladies, there were
makeup and nail artists! Creative paintings were put on sale while a drawing
competition was organised for children
to keep them busy. Both the rallies went
through common destinations including
Sohna Road and Civil Hospital before
ending at their designated points. ø
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Citynews
I May 2016 I 33
Around Town
EVENTS
by DCN Bureau
South Asia’s Largest Golf Exposition,
the fifth edition of India Golf Expo 2016
set the tone for creation of holistic infrastructure to make golf more accessible to
everyone and position it as a medal winning sport at the Olympics.
Inaugurated by Rajiv Yadav, Secretary
(Sports), Ministry of Youth Affairs &
Sports, the India Golf Expo 2016 was
graced by Suman Billa, Joint Secretary,
Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and
Sports pledged its support to golf while
the Ministry of Tourism suggested creation of better marketing network and its
integration for overall enhancement of
tourist experience.
The expo was attended by representa-
tives from over 50 of India’s leading golf
clubs, 40 of India’s top golf coaches, 40
superintendents and greens keepers and
a host of international delegates. More
than 400 delegates thronged the expo
that was organised by the Indian Golf Industry Association (IGIA), supported by
Ministry of Tourism – Government of
India, the Indian Golf Union (IGU) and
Golf Course Superintendents & Managers Association of India (GCS&MAI).
The Ministry of Tourism will be developing a micro site on Incredible India
website that would feature and give a
unique perspective of the golf industry
India Golf Expo 2016
and Industry Awards
The Indian Golf Industry Association Awards were also
conferred at India Golf Expo 2016.
Best New Hole Golf Course
Belvedere Golf & Country Club
(Ahmedabad)
Best New 18 Hole Golf Course
DLF Golf & Country Club – Gary
Player Course (Gurgaon)
Best Renovated Course
Delhi Golf Club – Peacock Course
(New Delhi)
Most Tourist Friendly Course
Oxford Golf Resort (Pune)
Best Public Course
Qutab Golf Course (New Delhi)
Best Driving Range Award
Hamoni Golf Camp (Gurgaon)
in India. The Ministry of Tourism has
committed to work with the industry to
boost golf tourism. The plan envisages
including golf as part of the Incredible
India Campaign.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah, a golf aficionado
himself was also present at the inauguration and gave a perspective about the
scenario of golf in Kashmir and congratulated the golfing fraternity for suc-
34
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cessfully organising the India Golf Expo,
into its fifth edition, and growing bigger
in terms of its influence every year.
Aakash Ohri, President, Indian Golf
Industry Association told us that he
was delighted to see a great turnout and
thanked Rajiv Yadav whilst soliciting his
support to grow the sport in the country.
“The India Golf Expo is a great initiative as it brings all the pertinent bodies,
together on a common platform to voice
their concerns and share ideas for the
betterment of golf in India,” he added.
Anil Seolekar, President, Indian Golf
Union shared his views when he said,
“Indian Golf Union is a multi-faceted
organisation that has taken the onus of
developing the sport at a grass root level
not just improving the condition of the
players but also producing courses and
facilities that match international standards. Working with IGIA, NGAI and GCS
& MAI for the India Golf Expo provides
a larger perspective to us for the holistic
development of golf in India”. ø
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Citynews
I May 2016 I 35
GUEST COLUMN
SUNIL K JAIN
Capital Gain Tax on
Sale of House
Proper planning can lead to
substantial savings
U
sha (65), a resident of Gurgaon, inherited 20%
share in a palatial house in a posh locality of New
Delhi after the demise of her father. With a simple calculation, the capital gain tax in her case
worked out to Rs 100 lakhs. After fully availing
the provisions of the income tax act legally available to her, the
capital gain tax worked out to Rs. 40 lakhs only, giving her a
perfect legalized savings of Rs 60 lakhs. This is not uncommon tax payers are generally not aware about advance tax planning
measures or do not get desired guidance in time and are thus
dispossessed of material savings on account of capital gain tax.
The profit or gain arising from transfer of a capital asset is
charged to tax under the head ‘Capital Gains’. Capital asset is
defined to comprise any type of property held by an assessee,
whether or not related with trade or occupation of the assessee.
Any stock-in-trade, fragile stores or raw material held by a person for the purpose of his business or profession; e.g., motor car
for a motor car dealer or gold for a jewellery merchant are their
stock-in-trade and therefore, not capital assets for them. Gain
arising on transfer of long-term capital asset is termed as longterm capital gain and gain arising on transfer of short-term
capital asset is termed as short-term capital gain. However,
there are a few exceptions to this rule, like gain on depreciable
asset is always taxed as short-term capital gain.
Indexation plays a very important role in capital gain tax planning and must be used as a tool for
legal tax planning which is a process by which the cost of acquisition/improvement of a capital
asset is adjusted against inflationary rise in the value of asset. The
advantage of indexation is accessible only in case of long-term capital assets and is not available in
case of short-term capital assets.
In general, cost of acquisition of
a capital asset is the cost incurred
in acquiring the capital asset. It
includes the purchase considera-
36
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tion plus any expenditure incurred exclusively for acquiring
the capital asset. However, in respect of capital asset acquired
before 1st April, 1981, the cost of acquisition will be higher of
the actual cost of acquisition of the asset or fair market value
of the asset as on 1st April, 1981.
‘Capital gain’ arises only when a person ‘transfers’ a capital
asset. Tax laws, however, exclude various transactions from
the definition of ‘transfer’. Transfers of capital asset by way of
gift, or under will, etc. are few major transactions not covered
for the purpose. Thus, if a person gifts his capital asset to other
person, then no capital gain will arise in the hands of the person making the gift. If the person receiving the capital asset by
way of gift, will, etc. subsequently transfers such asset, capital
gain will arise in his hands. Special provisions are applicable to
compute capital gains in the hands of the person receiving the
asset by way of gift, will, etc. In such a case, the cost of acquisition of the capital asset will be the cost of acquisition to the
previous owner and the period of holding of the capital asset
will be computed from the date of acquisition of the capital asset by the previous owner.
The major exemptions relating to capital gains are - Longterm or short-term capital gain arising on transfer of units of
Unit Scheme, 1964; an individual or Hindu Undivided Family
(HUF) can claim exemption in respect of capital gain arising
on transfer of agricultural land
situated even in an urban area by
way of compulsory acquisition.
This exemption is available if the
land was used by the taxpayer (or
by his parents, in the case of an
individual) for agricultural purpose for a period of two years immediately preceding the date of its
transfer.
The Act exempts the capital
gains from the sale of a house only
if the taxpayer invests the gains
in a residential property within
two years from the date of sale or
constructs another house within
three years from the date of sale. This means that one cannot
invest in a commercial property or land; to save tax – one has
to essentially buy a residential property only. If the property is
under construction, the two-year period is further enhanced to
three years. However, one should not own more than one house,
besides the house he is investing in. Further, if a property has
not been identified and purchased before the income tax return
has been filed or before the due date for filing the tax return,
whichever comes earlier, the money has to be deposited in a
special account known as the Capital Gain Account Scheme
(CGAS). This proves to the authorities that you would be going
to acquire a house property to save the capital gains tax. Any
withdrawal from CGAS should only be for payments to be made
in relation to the purchase of the new property. In case the
amount deposited is not used wholly or partly for the purchase
or construction of a new house within the period specified,
the idle sum will be charged as income of the financial year in
which the period of three years from the date of the transfer of
the original house expires. Such new property purchased has
to be held for a minimum period of three years failing which
the capital gains arising from the sale of the new property together with the amount of capital gains exempted earlier will
be chargeable to tax in the year of sale of the new property.
One can claim tax relief by investing the long-term capital gains in the
bonds issued by the National Highway Authority of India or by the Rural Electrification Corporation Limited. The investment should be made
within a period of six months from
the date of transfer of capital asset
and such bonds should not be redeemed before three years. This benefit cannot be availed in respect of
short-term capital gains. Maximum
amount which qualifies for this investment will be INR 50, 00,000.
One has also to be very watchful
while computing capital gain arising
on transfer of land or building or both. If the real sale consideration of such land and/or building is less than the stamp duty
value, then the stamp duty value will be taken as deemed selling
price and capital gain will be computed accordingly. For example,
Atul sold his bungalow in Civil Lines, New Delhi for Rs. 450 lakhs.
The value adopted by the Stamp Valuation Authority of the bungalow for the purpose of payment of stamp duty is Rs. 475 lakhs.
In this situation, while computing taxable capital gain arising on
transfer of bungalow, Rs. 475 lakhs will be taken as full value of
consideration (i.e., sale value of the bungalow).
Another example - Saurabh sold his land in Kolkata for Rs. 180
lakhs. The value adopted by the Stamp Valuation Authority for
the purpose of payment of stamp duty is Rs. 150 lakhs. In this
situation, while computing taxable capital gain arising on transfer of land, Rs. 180 lakhs (being actual sale value) will be taken as
full value of consideration and the stamp duty value (being less
than actual selling price) will not be taken into account.
It is again very important to note that any advance received
on transfer of capital asset, shall be chargeable to tax under the
head ‘Income from other sources’, if such sum is forfeited and
the negotiations do not result in transfer of Capital Asset.
Certain losses from the sale of capital assets can be adjusted
against gains from other assets. If the entire loss cannot be
adjusted in one year, the taxpayer can carry forward the balance for up to eight financial years. The common taxpayer is supremely uninformed of the provisions relating to capital losses. They say later - If only it was known to them that the losses
from stocks could be carried forward to subsequent years, it
would have saved a lot of tax.
l Latest changes as per Union Budget: To simplify the procedure and promote ease of doing business, capital gains tax
will now be computed from the date of acquisition of financial
instruments like bonds and debentures and not from the date
of their conversion into shares. This would facilitate mergers
and acquisitions, promote investments and put an end to litigation between tax authorities and companies as regard ‘the
date of acquisition’ for the purpose of computation of capital
gains tax.
l Currently, most of the home buyers make payment to the
builder but do not get possession within stipulated three years’
period. Since the buyer does not get possession within three
years, he is entitled to get only Rs
30,000 p.a. tax deduction. Now this
time limit has risen to five years.
The government has realised that
a greater number of housing projects are delayed and most of the
buyers have not been able to avail
tax exemption on home loan interest.
Earlier when a home buyer is borrowing money to buy home, he has been
allowed tax deduction on interest
portion of loan up to INR two lacs on
possession within the stipulated three
years period. Now buyer would avail
tax exemption on interest portion for
an extended time limit of five years.
l It is also proposed that tax will be levied only on the property
price on the agreement date and not on the date of registry. Usually, when you sell a property, the buyer gives some advance but
he or she may not register that property immediately. The buyer
may also say that he will register later on, so as to arrange money to pay for the property.
l The budget has also indicated that the government will open
a new option for long term capital gain. If you sell a house after three years, it is considered as long term capital gain. This
gain must be invested in either residential house or capital gain
account. There is a very limited option. Now, government will
notify certain funds, where a seller can invest long term capital
gain in to these funds up to Rs 50 lakhs. ø
The author, a Gurgaon based practicing Chartered Accountant has been a
member of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( PHDCCI ), Confederation
of Indian Industries (CII ) and other prestigious bodies. He is happy to provide free
consultation on tax planning matters to senior citizens and social enterprises. His
e-mail ID is: sunil@sunilkumarjain.com
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Citynews
I May 2016 I 37
FEATURE
SENIOR CITIZENS
Age is Just a Number!
The elderly in Gurgaon constantly upgrade and hone their skills, work and
travel actively even as they find time to socialise and give back to society
by Meenakshi Sharma with inputs from Reena Dhankher
“Sixty or sixteen, there is in every
human being’s heart the lure of wonder, the unfailing child-like appetite of
what’s next, and the joy of the game of
living,” said Samuel Ullman, poet and
humanitarian. An observer watching the
frenetic energy around the festivities at
a senior citizen event would have agreed
with the quote wholeheartedly. Anticipation hung in the air as two teams battled
it out in the last round of the quiz competition which had a total of five participating teams with a number of rounds
in categories like sports, current affairs,
Bollywood and Indian history.
The energy was electric when the quiz
ended in a tie and went into a buzzer
round to declare the winner. A quick
snacks break later, the league continued
with a singing competition that encompassed retro melodies and bhajans. After
an interactive and sociable lunch, the
carrom competition became the highlight. With four teams of two people
each, there was a draw of lots and from
the elimination round to the nail-biting
finale, it was a roller coaster ride! The
finale drew loud hoots and cheers as elegantly dressed senior citizens in traditional finery walked the ramp to close an
exciting chapter of the Gurgaon Senior
League event organised by Samvedna
Senior Care in Sector 43.
Archana Sharma, who runs the club,
has her hands full as she is busy organising fun times for a growing band of
people for whom age is just a number.
Sharma explains how the activities at
the club include fitness exercises, mind
stimulation, tambola, dancing, book reviews, movies, community outreach and
talks on health management. “A library,
a computer room, access to board games
and cards, a fully functional pantry with
healthy and affordable snacks and tea
Senior Citizens from DLF City and other parts of Gurgaon enjoy life and believe that age is just a number
and coffee on the house is supplemented
by visits of physiotherapists and doctors,” she discloses. This social and recreational club is open to all those who
are above 55 years and provides a great
platform to make new friends and share
life experiences.
Similarly, Mohan Gulrajani, President
of the DLF City Senior Citizens Club
tells us about their organisation which
has been in existence for over a decade
and is committed to providing socialising and learning opportunities to about
400 members.
Surinder Mehta, a resident of Sector
17-B is another active senior citizen, who
is a member of the Varisht Nagrik Kesri
club, an initiative by Punjab Kesri. “We
meet twice a week and once a month we
have a cultural evening where senior
citizens perform and entertain other
fellow friends. We also go out together
twice a year. Last year it was Akshardham and this year we went to Kingdom
of Dreams,” he tells us.
Full of Life
The Senior Citizens Group at South City
1 is another platform for the elderly to
38
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meet and socialise. This group has been
active for the last 11 years. The members meet regularly and spend time to
make their lives more interesting and
lively. The group is led and managed by
O P Banga who says that the main objective is to interact with each other and
spend quality time together. With a current strength of 115 members, they stay
in touch through calls and e-mails. The
members celebrate all birthdays and anniversaries that fall within a month together and present gifts to each other as
tokens of love.
An interesting trivia about the club is
that while for eight months of the year,
the group meets for dinners at the South
City Club, four months from November to
February are reserved for outdoor picnics
and lunches to make the most of winters.
The senior citizens in Sector 17 also do
their own share of socialising. There is
a designated park especially made for
them where they meet and talk every
evening. (And, OROP (One Rank One
Pension) seems to be their favourite topic these days!)
Sharing their life experiences and their
daily joys and sorrows, these old pals are
seen spending time in their own cocoon
at the park. One of the regular members,
Brigadier P S Dhankher (retd), says,
“Our evening walk and talk in the parks
are our daily dose of energy that takes
away all our exhaustion. The day I fail to
make it to the park, I feel there is something missing. I have made many new
friends and we have our own bond now”.
Chaupal, the senior citizens union at
Ardee City, is a club where the members
keep finding new ways to socialise. Together they exercise in a little gym and
as member Subhash Dahuja puts it, “We
also engage in entertaining games like table tennis, carrom board and chess; meet
in the park and sit together to share our
life incidents.” No wonder, their bonding
has grown stronger over the years.
Similarly, Banga informs, “Our group discusses health issues affecting senior citizens while at other times there are celebrations and songs and dance programmes.
We have talks where people share their
experiences in life. We also have quiz programmes and interesting games.”
Work Hard, Play Harder
Sudesh Chawla starts her day early as
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Citynews
I May 2016 I 39
FEATURE
SENIOR CITIZENS
she catches up with her walking group
at the crack of dawn, prepares breakfast
and drives to work, either to the event
management company she is working
with or to rehearsals of a fashion show
she is managing!
Her afternoons are busy with emails and
phone calls but by 6 pm she is ready to go
for a salsa class where she loves dancing
and socialising. While she gets home tired
every day and admits this is a rather busy
life for a 65-year-old, she also realises she
simply cannot have it any other way!
Married to LN Chawla, who she lovingly calls Lakhi, Sudesh confesses that she
was devastated when she lost him in 2003
and could not imagine leading a normal
life. With no children and a desire to be
independent, she let her inner strength
guide her into restarting her life. “I got
a job at an event company because I had
worked with Doordarshan and Press
Information Bureau earlier”. Soon she
started building a solid social circle
which nurtures her till date.
Partha Basu, who stays at Olive Height
in Sector 56 Gurgaon, on the other hand,
is a retired Chartered Accountant who
now gives time to management and fiction writing. He is part of the Samvedna
group while his elegant wife, continues
to teach at the Sriram Global School.
Similarly, Sudershan Aneja from DLF
Phase 1 is the only lady executive member of the council who loves playing
rummy and enjoys music, Abida Pravin
being her favourite!
Pravina Bhimsain, a member of the
senior citizens club, is a prolific trainer
who has in her heydays trained IAS officers and now teaches public speaking.
This feisty lady is both a social activist
and has participated and won car rallies,
carrom competitions and many adventure activities even as she enjoys music
and gardening. Her husband, who retired
from the Army, continues to run a dental
clinic in Qutub Plaza and regales friends
with his amazing sense of humour.
A.N.Bhat who stays in Richmond Park
worked for Unilever in the past and now
stays active as Vice-president of the Senior Citizen’s Council while N.N. Chaturvedi who comes from a pharmaceutical
background and lives in Regency Park II
has been involved with the setting up of
RWAs in the past and is now involved in
40
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The Good Times Club of Samvedna organizes fun and informative activities
the running of the Aravali Centre for Art
and Culture. Anupam Kataria, another
active senior citizen is a social activist,
single mother, and Karamvir awardee
while O.P. Khetan who is an IIT alumnus and worked with Steel Authority of
India is now a Management Consultant
and writer even while he loves playing
Bridge and helps start ups.
Another professional engineer, Ramesh
Vinayek lives in DLF Phase 2 and is involved in spiritual and social activities
under the umbrella of Divya Jyoti Satsangh while engineer Yash Pal Vatsa who
stays in Ridgewood and who worked as
MD in a German management company
is now a share market expert who helps
his sons in their financial investments.
President of the senior citizens council,
Dr. M.L. Gulrajani who lives in Hamilton
Court and is an IIT Professor and Dean
believes he is not retired but superannuated and continues to stay engaged with
IIT as well as with DLF City through the
seniors’ club, a book club and other socially relevant activities.
Socialising - Then and Now
Banga feels that life has changed a lot.
“Earlier times saw an emotional closeness that was natural. These days one
finds quite a few friendships influenced by materialistic things. As senior
citizens, we are making an effort to be
closely knit, go out together for trips and
spend quality time together. If one is sick
others try and encourage him and wish
him well to recover,” he explains.
Partha Basu believes that senior
citizens’ socialising has dramatically
changed over the years. He harks back to
the structured and organised joint family system which has now become more or
less redundant. OP Khetan agrees when
he says that while the earlier system was
more family to family, the new one is
driven primarily by the individuals who
choose their method of socialising.
Promila Malik, resident of Sector 17-B
believes that socialising today seems
very different. “Earlier days we used to
meet frequently and enjoy at each other’s
houses. But now I feel people are more
reserved and hesitate in meeting unless
they have known you since before.”
Meena Narang, a resident of Sector 57
has a different opinion when she says,
“Earlier, the senior citizens would not indulge in many activities but now we have
changed the ways of socialising. These
days, we play tambola, majaung and love
to go for movies together in the weekdays
while our families are busy.”
Iqbal Kaur, resident of Ardee City
agrees, “I see senior citizens really making an effort to entertain themselves.
They go out together to malls, for walks
and now senior citizen women have kitty
parties. They sometimes play card games
like bridge and rummy and love to get
ready. You will see ladies dressed in beautiful suits with polished manicured nails
and matching jewellery.”
Col Amrik Bombrah, an active and old
Addressing Concerns
W
hile senior citizens today
have ‘come of age’ when it
comes to socialising and staying active, they have their set of concerns associated with ageing. Safety
and security concerns are the topmost
priority for seniors and towards that
end, the Senior Citizens Helpline is
committed to their requirements.
The other concern is loneliness and
Mohan Gulrajani believes a good family and friend support system can ward
off this problem. He reveals, “Many
children call our council from abroad
because they are concerned about a parent who has lost a partner and therefore
member of South City 1 group says, “At
this age, we do not have much work and
with a lot of time on hand, we feel meeting each other and spending time will
keep us involved.”
Col Narayan Malik agrees as he points
out, “I love to spend time with friends
with whom I share some common interests, like we regularly enjoy a game of
golf. I also have love talking about religion but unfortunately these days, very
few people are interested in it.”
In fact, most senior citizens are getting
tech-savvy today! Gulrajani believes that
technology has brought seniors closer to
their children and friends as he cites the
want some solutions. Although we are
a social group and can only help by encouraging them to be a part of our kitty
parties, periodic get togethers, morning walk or yoga, we can refer them to
a counsellor if such help is required.”
He agrees that life changes can devastate a senior citizen and adds, “Not
everyone wants to discuss their problems and so we need counsellors who
can advice them and spend time with
them and maintain confidentiality.” He
reveals that behaviour of children or ill
treatment issues are personal matters
which cannot be handled by the council
but they can recommend lawyers, coun-
example of Skype, FB, WhatsApp and
Twitter and the power of email. Being
technology driven, he is creating a new
template for the senior citizens council
which is now more driven by the email.
“We are also planning to conduct courses
for those who are not as familiar with
computers so we can correspond more
on email,” he explains.
On the current trends in socialising,
he gives due credit to condominium and
gated community living which provide increased opportunities to senior citizens to
have fun. And so Aneja loves listening to
the radio commentary with friends while
Vatsa recalls memories of so many cel-
sellors or a doctor’s professional help.
In that sense, Samvedna Senior Care
has some solutions as it is committed
to helping senior citizens in their social, emotional and physical well being. Archana Sharma explains how all
of Samvedna’s staff is qualified with
degrees in MSW, Clinical Psychology
and specialisation in Gerontology. She
tells us about how Debastuti Baruah,
who is a postgraduate in Clinical Psychology and has a Diploma specialising in Gerontology deals with social
and emotional aspects of ageing and
ageing issues like dementia and other
physiological issues of elderly. Her understanding gives a helping hand to
seniors for an active, productive and
engaged life.
ebrations as he adds, “Bahana chahiye”.
Col Amrik Bombrah of South City 1
adds, “Senior citizens today no longer
want to be confined to their houses and
look for an opportunity to visit new
places and meet more people. They now
love and want to live each moment in life.
While the responsibilities of children
and grandchildren exist alongside, we
still want a life of our own”.
Live and Let Live
Don’t advise us. Do what you like but
don’t expect us to do what you like as
well! These are some of the thoughts
senior citizens share as they discuss the
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Citynews
I May 2016 I 41
FEATURE
TRAVEL TALK
SENIOR CITIZENS
AGRA
generation gap. According to Aneja, “We
have no expectations and neither should
they”. Pravina Bhimsain is tongue-incheek when she says with her classic
sense of humour, “My friend told me
once that if you want a good relationship
with your daughter-in-law, treat her like
your mother-in-law and lead a tension
free life”.
AN Bhat admits that the change from
joint family to nuclear family has completely changed the way we look at sen-
In a similar vein, Sudesh Chawla who
refuses to depend on anyone for support
also believes that there is no need for a
generation gap as young and old need
each other and must live and let live. According to Chawla who is surrounded by
youngsters at work, “I am ever ready to
mingle, I don’t compare my times with
today’s times and I am patient and willing to listen to their point of view. That
is why I have got good friends, both
young and old. While I learn computers
Senior Citizen Sudesh Chawla is a model for an advertisement
ior citizens and their socialising, so does
Vatsa who adds that while families have
become smaller, they are well informed
and involved in each other’s lives.
Chaturvedi adds that the thought process has dramatically changed and while
earlier people were announced as old or
‘budhha’, today, everyone looks and feels
younger and with improved healthcare,
has a much better quality of life.
OP Khetan similarly advocates a tensionfree senior life if one does not interferes in
each other’s life yet supports each other.
Madhu Khanna who chooses to keep herself rather busy with academic pursuits,
books, paintings and craft agrees that one
must have hobbies that keep generations
engaged with each other. Most seniors
believe that good relationship with their
children is the key to happiness and yet
would like to gently advise their kids not
to interfere in their lives.
42
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SENIOR CITIZENS
These are some of the
thoughts senior citizens
share as they discuss the
generation gap. “We
have no expectations
and neither should they”.
or smart phone features from them, they
too respect my experience and my point
of view!” Like many of her age, she
wants to live life to the fullest and be useful all at the same time. She believes one
should nurture relationships and yet not
be dependent on anyone
Pravina Bhimsain agrees that in today’s times, the set up is quite conducive
to senior citizens and that a good moral
support system from the younger generation helps in giving the elderly a good
life. She loves her grandchildren with
the same gusto that she loves teaching,
training, participating in a car rally or
a fashion show for senior citizens. “Our
grand children look up to us as role models and we must behave like that,” she
emphasises with pride.
AN Bhat feels that good communication needs ethical and moral values and
traditions should be respected while NN
Chaturvedi adds that better communication can transform the so-called generation gap into a very positive relationship.
Chawla’s key for good relationship with
young people is to be ‘open to ideas’, not
have an ego based on age or experience
and yet be ready to mingle. “Experience
does matter and young people realise
that when you are open with them. She
believes that life has changed a lot from
the time that people were so conscious of
‘log kya kahenge’ to now when they feel
‘To hell with what people think!”
The travel bug has also bitten most senior citizens. Sudershan Sharma of Sector 4 who recently visited Bhutan is an
appropriate brand ambassador for Make
My Trip as she repeats their tag line, “Dil
to Roaming Hai”. Similarly, most senior
groups organise trips to various national
and international destinations like Bali,
Sri Lanka, China and Turkey.
They also believe in constantly upgrading skills and keeping pace with times as
is apparent from the special classes in
computers for those interested in getting
more familiar with technology which in
turn helps them to be in touch with their
children and friends.
But that doesn’t mean that seniors
are just thinking about themselves and
their needs! Most of them are active on
the social front too. Gulrajani tells us
how 100 blankets (100) were distributed
on behalf of the senior citizens council among destitute senior citizens at
the ‘The Earth Saviour Foundation’ at
Bandwari Village, Gurgaon on 21st January, 2016. Similarly, Madhu Khanna
from Sector 57 has been and continues
to be a teacher who now mentors kids in
the slums. She believes she is an agent
for social change and is completely committed to the mission. ø
The magnificent workmanship of the Taj Mahal fascinates visitors
AGRA Cadabra!
The magnificent Taj Mahal adds a magical aura to Agra
by Meenakshi Sharma
Steeped in history, love and romance,
Agra’s magical allure pulls people from
all over the world to experience a royal
‘Mughal Andaaz’ and an ultimate declaration of love with the grandeur of the
Taj Mahal. It was somehow exciting to
know that the royal couple – the Duke
and Duchess of Cambridge were also at
the Taj on the same day as us!
We were conscious of the irony of a
visit to such an ancient monument courtesy a modern day engineering wonder.
Yes! We planned to take the ultra modern and uber chic Yamuna Expressway
to reach Agra. There was poetic justice
that linked this timeless romantic creation with another scientific marvel of
creativity.
SMOOTH DRIVE
Reaching Noida from Gurgaon was not
too much of an issue, courtesy the early
hours and the imposition of the odd-even
rule. Even the Greater Noida straight
stretch was normal. But the Yamuna ExMonica’s house in Garden Villa DLF phase IV
pressway truly blew us away. Even the
glitzy infrastructure of Gurgaon had not
prepared us for the ride!
The longest six-lane controlled access
expressway in the country, the Yamuna
Expressway was opened to the public on
9th August 2012 and cost nearly Rs 13,000
crores to build. It is a fitting connection
to Agra from Noida and the 165 km long
expressway has reduced the travel time
considerably (four hours travel time between Greater Noida and Agra has been
reduced to about 100 minutes).
It was an absolute pleasure to drive
on the unending stretch and the SUV
seemed to develop an almost immediate
affinity to it as it gobbled up the distance
at a steady 100 kmph, the official laid
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Citynews
I May 2016 I 43
TRAVEL TALK
AGRA
down speed limit. Though the vehicle
and the road tempt one to go beyond, it is
prudent not to as there are enough speed
cameras around along with eager policemen to take charge of your indiscretions.
The concrete road also does not lend
itself kindly to high speeds since it increases tyre temperatures, which in turn
lead to tyre bursts. Hence, lower speeds
and observing the speed limit are highly
recommended. We were warned that it
would be best to fill in nitrogen in the
tyres instead of normal air as nitrogen
cools down the tyres considerably.
Forgetting the jungle driving of our
towns, this drive was a relaxing experience par excellence with a straight
road, undulating green fields, occasional
glimpses of the twisting and turning
Yamuna, the Buddh Racing Circuit and
the Cruise Control of the SUV.....total
nirvana!
The expressway is interspersed with
a couple of layoffs at prominent junctions and has sufficient number of gas
stations and conveniences all along the
route. While food is an important aspect
of a road trip, we were adamant about
reaching Agra as early as possible.
OLD WORLD CHARM
Exiting the expressway proved to be
quite an anti-climax as we were unceremoniously thrust into an era of old
other recommended Mughlai joint called
Pinch of Spice.
AWE INSPIRING
Kalakriti’s Taj theater show (left); the royal couple pose at the monument
world charm. The wide lanes gave way
to congested bylanes as we entered the
town and started making our way across
the city. Every sign post on the road
seemed to point towards the Taj Mahal.
It was uncanny, the way the city eats,
breathes and dreams romance a la Taj.
And it was also gratifying to see that
every person belonging to Agra felt
that the Taj belonged to them. This
feeling of possessiveness permeated
across our hotel staff too as they tried
to tell us that every moment of the day
was good enough to visit the Taj. The
authorities have however, declared Fridays as closed days wherein only persons offering the afternoon prayers (12
PM to 2 PM only) are permitted to visit
the mosque inside. The monument is
open to visitors from sunrise to sunset
Salient Features of
Yamuna Expressway
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
44
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Length - 165 km
Right of Way - 100 mt.
Number of Lane - 6 lanes
(extendable to 8 lanes)
Type of Pavement - Rigid (Concrete)
Interchange - 7
Main Toll Plaza - 5
Toll Plaza on Interchange Loop - 7
Underpass - 35
Rail Over Bridge - 1
Major Bridge - 1
Minor Bridge - 42
Cart Track Crossing - 68
Vehicular Underpasses - 70
on the rest of the days at a nominal cost
of Rs 40 per head.
It is also open for night viewing on five
nights a month (on full moon date and
two days before and after it, excluding
Fridays and in the month of Ramzan) for
which special booking (and pricing) has
to be done. We had reached well before
lunch time on a Friday and were content
breathing in the character of the city before embarking on the romantic quest on
Saturday early morning.
After a gratifying lunch and a quick siesta in the room, we decided to head out
for the Kalakriti Cultural and Convention Centre which is open on all days. It
is situated quite close to the Taj near the
East Gate entrance on the VIP Road and
is host to an ode to mohabbat, love and romance. While the emporium has its fair
share of artefacts, trinkets, baubels and
antiques, the piece de resistance of the
centre is undoubtedly the daily live show
depicting the eternal love story of Shahjahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
Replete with chaste Urdu and fantastic
Bollywoodian scale group dances involving countless number of dancers, the
nearly two hour show prepares one well
for the Taj. My recommendation would
be to see this show before seeing the Taj
itself as the build up towards the actual
monument would then be priceless. The
show has its own regal Shahjahan and
beautiful Mumtaz who gladly oblige for
photographs post show on the stage.
There are also simultaneous translations available for the show in numerous
world languages through headphones.
But the highlight of the show is the
beautiful, enormous hand crafted replica
of the Taj Mahal which appears centre
stage as the show culminates. It has to be
seen to be believed.
We headed out to the town after this
visual and aural treat to a quaint little
cafe called Sheroes Hangout in Tajganj.
Sheroes Hangout is an initiative by Stop
Acid Attacks campaign that was founded
in New Delhi in 2013. As this space has
evolved from a campaign for acid attack
survivors, the ideas of beauty and importance of appearance in society remained
the fulcrum of all our discussions with
Sonia, Tanvi and Dolly. The cafe is a Pay
As You Wish joint and young girls out
there are full of chutzpah and need no
sympathy whatsoever. The cafe, in fact,
has become a testimonial to the never
say die attitude of these young women.
No wonder even the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge had it on their must-visit list
when they came to Agra. The snack and
chat session was followed by dinner at an-
A good night’s rest and we were ready
to finally come face to face with the most
easily recognised edifice of the world.
We left our hotel room early in the morning at 6 am to beat the heat and avoid the
crowd and arrived at the parking lot of
Shilpigram from where one can buy the
entry tickets.
There was no queue there and after
procuring tickets we hopped onto a battery operated golf cart for the 1.5 km
drive to the monument. Keeping ecological damage in mind, the UP government
has provided battery operated golf carts
and mini buses from the parking lot to
the mausoleum and back for the tourists.
Colourful horse pulled tongas give the
ethnic touch and are much favoured by
the foreigners who photograph them as
much as the Taj itself.
As one enters the courtyard of the Taj,
one is pleased to see lush green lawns
with great fountains all around. But
nothing prepares you for the awe, breath
stopping and all consuming admiration
moment when you see the Taj for the first
time. With an audible exodus of all the air
in your lungs, an open jaw and with sheer
delight, you see the Taj in all its resplendent glory. The size, the magnificence and
the sheer enormity of the situation make
you realise what love is and why this UNESCO Heritage site has universal appeal.
Shahjahan was known to be a cruel ruler
and yet, he too was capable of love.
And it is this triumph of love that he
had for his wife for which he is remembered, not for his cruelty. It is humbling
to see the extent of love one can have for
one’s partner and a privilege to have the
Taj in our country.
We spent nearly two hours in the Taj
where we walked on the marbled floors
wearing shoe covers, admired the exquisite workmanship and watched the Yamuna flow lazily alongside as we soaked
in the ambience whilst imagining how
the gorgeous Taj would look bathed in
moonlight. The rest of the trip passed
by in a trance as everything else paled in
comparison to the Wonderous Taj as we
murmured ‘Wah Taj’ even as we vowed to
be back for the nightime viewing. ø
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Citynews
I May 2016 I 45
SOCIAL QUOTIENT
DLF FOUNDATION
by DCN Bureau
It was an enriching experience for young
scholars at the “Annual Scholars’ Conclave
2015” held recently at Jhankar Senior Secondary School, Shikhopur, Gurgaon. Under
the aegis of Nurturing Talent Programme,
professionals, counsellors and educationists
not only provided inspiration and guidance
to 200 participants on various aspects of life
bit also laid a much needed networking platform for their career goals.
Habits of Great Achievers
People have acquired greatness by the
dint of their behavioural approaches
which include their psychological understanding of human nature and cultural
habits that tend to have historical repetitions. The programme addressed qualities such as patience and self-assessment-cum-limitations-based on facts.
Learnings from the session:
The scholars gained an insight to aim high
and not be satisfied by mediocrity; limita-
Annual Scholars’
Conclave
tions need to be under aged and capabilities overaged.
Goal setting for success - by
faculty from “Promise”
In the present scenario of various career
options that have emerged, the students
were explained the avenues that exist
and dealt in planning their future goals
in accordance with their areas of interest, inclinations and various paths in
achieving the same.
Scholars were able to exercise their
minds and set sight on their goals along
with an action plan.
Exploring Emotions: Managing
Them in Positive Ways- by Dr. Anita Puri
The workshop on managing emotions
was attended by 44 scholars from Class
VI and 64 scholars from Class VII. With
an aim to help scholars understand and
express emotions in positive and pro-
DLF Scholars of Class IX attending a session on ‘Goal Setting for Success’
ductive ways, various life skills were
explained. The session coached the students in managing basic emotions as
well as verbal and non-verbal behaviour
and reactions. Life skills that were discussed included self-awareness, critical
thinking, coping with stress and emotion, communication and inter-personal
relationships and creative thinking.
The participants concentrated on emotions regarding their awareness, regulation, positivity and their roles in respective lives.
Dressing For Success - by
faculty from ‘Promise’
The scholars were trained to put their
best foot forward in terms of their clothings, personal care and general appearance in order to make a good first impression. With the help of activities, visuals
and real life experiences, participating
students were made to understand the
importance of looking smart and graceful to ensure advancement and success.
They were taught how to create an impression and dress right.
Scholars learnt the correct colour combinations, trends and other important
“things to remember”.
Healthy Approaches to
Gender Equality
The perception towards women has
undergone a change over the years and
today they enjoy similar opportunities
46
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DLF Scholars of Class VII learning about Health and Nutrition through an interactive session (Top)
Class VIII DLF Scholars in a session on ‘Habits of Great Achievers’ (Below)
as men. Taking this thought forward,
the scholars were made to understand
how equality in men and women is essential for human development which
improves lives and opportunities.
Through screening of an audio visual,
scholars were encouraged to bring
about a positive change in the society
by first believing and then creating
awareness about gender equality.
The scholars through participation understood the relevance of inputs that the
session delivered.
Learning to get along- by
faculty from ‘Genesis’
The students were explained about the
diversity in people and how to accept
them as they are. By frequent groupings based on behaviour patterns, students became conscious that their differences were actually minimal. This
was confirmed by concept of ‘Power
Lines’ game followed by ‘Personal Experiences of Discrimination’ that confirmed that they should not be inclusive or exclusive.
The scholars learnt that no major behaviour difference existed amongst them.
To rejuvenate the body and mind, scholars were trained in sessions of Yoga
and meditation with a means to remain
healthy. They were also made aware of
the essentials of a balanced diet and importance of nutrition ø
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Citynews
I May 2016 I 47
WINE & DINE
INDIAN CUISINE
the fact that everything from coconuts to
peppercorns varies in flavour from coast
to coast. It’s the same in cities like Mumbai where you’ll find the local Marathi cuisine living beside onion-free Gujarati food
from the north and Mangalorean cuisine
from the south”. With this kind of diversity, Indian food has still been somehow
restricted by its conservative presentation
and style of serving which unlike the plated food in other parts of the world, came
in bowls and was shared. So even though
the taste of Indian cuisine has been feted
the world over, chefs find it challenging to
raise it to exotic fine dining levels.
NORTH INDIAN CUISINE
TURNS HAUTE
Food for Plate
& Palate!
We all love our Indian food. From the
amazing Dal Bukhara to the Galouti Kebab, Hyderabadi and Awadhi Biryani to
Paneer Butter Masala and Butter Chicken, there is so much to try in a cuisine
as rich and diverse as traditional Indian.
“I travel the world and enjoy all international cuisine, but I am never completely satisfied till I come home and eat
48
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traditional Indian food,” says avid foodie
Mohit Bakshi, who runs an export business and travels frequently. And yet, he
admits that till just a few years ago there
was no fancy Indian restaurant which
could compete on a global platform so it
was relegated to the background.
Well known TV show host and food critic
Matt Preston of Master Chef Australia ad-
Traditional Indian food
gains international
repute as restaurants
combine its rustic
appeal with kitschy
interiors, fancy
presentation and
great styling
by Meenakshi Sharma
mitted recently that Indian food was one
of his greatest weaknesses as he gushed
about its sheer variety and incomparable
taste. And yet, rarely does one find an Indian food challenge in a show which showcases the best of international cuisine.
Preston explained it well when he said,
“The sheer size of India means not just 19
or so different regional cuisines but also
adventurous. In a recent article, Reshi explains how the menu at Made in Punjab
has been tweaked and the food has become playful after the recent makeover.
“What Kalra has done to Made in Punjab
is the crying need of the hour; traditional
flavours with a tongue in cheek presentation in some of the dishes and a bit of
humour in the menu. How can you resist
a salad that is under the heading ‘Health
nu take care’? Or not smile wryly at a dish
called BC (butter chicken) or MC (mutton
curry)? Fun and earthy humour are an inextricable part of the Punjabi psyche and
it is time that restaurant menus reflected
them,” she writes.
In an exclusive interview with DCN,
Zorawar agreed that he had read the writing on the wall a few years ago when he
Chef Rakesh Kaul presents traditional North Indian
and Pakistani food at Coriander Leaf
Fortunately for us, Indian food is now on
a new high and naturally we are not complaining! Zorawar Kalra, MD & CEO of
Massive Restaurants and owner of Made
in Punjab and Farzi Café in Cyber Hub
has been one of the pioneers in giving a
makeover to Indian food. Kalra believes
that exposure to international trends
and cultures and willingness to experiment have made today’s diner more adventurous, compared to the earlier generation. “There is a real renaissance in
the dining scenario in India, especially
in the Indian cuisine. So, when dining
out almost two to three times a week, if
not more, people don’t mind experimenting and trying out unique experiences. ”
Food critic Marryam Reshi feels Zorawar
Kalra has aced the Indian cuisine concept
by making Indian food more exciting and
started Massive Restaurants and focused
on fine dining Indian restaurants with his
three brands – Masala Library in Mumbai, Made in Punjab and Farzi Café in
Gurgaon and Delhi. He believes that Indian food needed a revolution of sorts as
it was in the danger of dying out. “Typical
Indian food tastes great but looks sloppy
and messy on the plate. A brownish korma
or a dal makhani with a swirl of cream
cannot be sustained when we have such
a global reach,” he points out. He also
discloses how his son refuses to eat some
Indian dishes because of the boring look
but when tastefully presented, laps up the
same palak paneer in a different format.
He is thrilled to see the popularity of
Farzi Café in Dubai which he calls the
most cosmopolitan city in the world and
says that its acceptance is proof that modern Indian cuisine is moving forward. In
that sense, another city which he feels is
the New York of India is Gurgaon where
his new menu at Made in Punjab and the
ever popular Farzi Café is doing really
well. “We make sure our Indian food is
modern, chic and cool,” he insists.
Marryam Reshi describes the food at
Made n Punjab by saying, “Tastes have
been left traditional, which is to say, rustic – just the way it should be. It is only
the presentation that has been gussied
up in certain cases. Made in Punjab has
not attempted to reinvent the wheel so
the chicken tikkas, Farid Tikka or Burnt
Lehsun Tikka are dramatically different
from each other yet share the same degree of succulence”. She rates their Legacy Tandoori Chaap as probably the very
best dish on the menu, meltingly tender
and bursting with flavour and calls the
Luxury Butter Chicken, the finest version of the national bird of Delhi.
DHABA STYLE
KITSCHY FOOD
Vineet Kochhar of Dhaba by Claridges
at DLF Place, Saket and DLF CyberHub,
Gurgaon believes they cater to a young
dlf
Citynews
I May 2016 I 49
WINE & DINE
INDIAN CUISINE
Quirky style and modern presentation enhance authentic cuisine
er audience who do not frequent five-star
hotels and prefer to hang out at more
casual haunts that serve great food. This
is why, says Kochhar, DBC has “intriguing kitsch elements come together to
recreate the ambiance of a signature
highway eatery - nalka chandeliers,
nimbu-mirchi lights, vintage Bollywood
posters, rustic interiors, truck art elements and an actual truck that you can
enjoy your meal on – all enhanced with
the masala of Bollywood music.” He believes that the overall ambience of an
eating place matters a lot. “We believe
in giving customers a holistic dining
experience across all our restaurants.
While food and service are absolutely
essential to ensure that the guests enjoy
their meal, it is equally important that
they also experience the finest hospitality along with great ambience and décor
to have a good culinary experience.”
Elaborating on some of their signature
Indian dishes, Vineet says that the menu,
crafted especially by Chef Ravi Saxena,
is divided into three parts - tawa, tandoor
and patila, and includes typical rustic
dishes like Kanastari Baingan (Baingan
ka Bharta served in a copper canister),
Dhaba Chilli Chicken, Balti Meat and
Tandoori Mutton Chaap.” He adds that
the Dhaba by Claridges doesn’t just have
a bar – it has a complete Theka, which
apart from being well-stocked with IMFL
and imported liquor, also boasts of signature cocktails - speciality tharras which
come in actual pauva bottles!
50
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Most people agree that food is a pleasure
enjoyed both by the mind and body. Kochhar adds that, “While the taste, texture
and presentation of the food itself are obviously crucial, the overall enjoyment of
a meal can either be enhanced or lessened
by the surroundings in which it is eaten.
As more and more people choose to dine
out, their tastes grow more sophisticated
and their choice of establishment more
refined. Your ambience has to be spot on.
Everything counts. Your interior plays a
very large role in the marketing of your
restaurant. It is like a menu of what’s to
come: something that whets the appetite,
reassuring the customer that the food,
like the surroundings, will be superbly
designed, professionally presented and
delicious. The whole eating-out experience needs to create good memories that
bring your customers back again and
again. Your interior design and décor
make up what is essentially an environment that sells food.”
Dhaba by Claridges has created its own
interesting vibe and if you stick around
long enough, you may also witness the
staff breaking into a dance when the
song of the month comes on!
NORTH BY NORTHWEST
Mention North Indian and Pakistani
cuisine and you cannot ignore Coriander Leaf, a restaurant synonymous with
authentic food. This award winning fine
dining restaurant in Gurgaon offers In-
dian, Mughlai, Kashmiri, North Indian
and Pakistani cuisine. The restaurant
promises to deliver the best of North
Indian food with authentic flavours,
some of their signature dishes being the
Galouti Kebab, Kakori Kebab, Tandoori
Dishes, Haleem, Sikandari Raan, Nihari,
Biryani and many more.
Executive chef Rakesh Kaul believes
that this is a one-of-its-kind experience
which is high on both taste as well as
value for money. Catering to the royal
Mughlai and Pakistani cuisine especially
from the North West Frontier Province,
they stay away from experimentation
except in the presentations and ensure
consistency, authenticity and originality
in flavours.
He shares the feedback that both expatriates and Indians love the food but being rich and creamy, it is more appropriate for celebratory dining. The regulars
from offices enjoy the comparatively
lighter dishes from their vegetarian and
non vegetarian fare.
One can sample a variety of mouth
watering Indian dishes, be it the Bunda
Pala which is the Chef ’s version of a
classic from the Sindh province of Pakistan where a whole pomfret is marinated
with ginger, garlic and dry pomegranate
seeds and skewered over hot embers in
Dum Pukht style or the Amritsari Tali
Machchi, a fish delicacy from the capital
of erstwhile Punjab.
Other favourites include the Galouti
Kabab from the kitchens of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh, the Kastoori Ke-
bab, a legendary Awadhi kebab prominent for its lingering aroma and the
famed Nihari which is Coriander Leaf ’s
gourmet masterpiece.
Whether you opt for the Kesar Pista
Kulfi or the Beetroot Halwa, you are guaranteed taste and authenticity along with
a gorgeous presentation style in keeping
with modern trends.
STYLISH SOUTHERN
DELIGHTS
A similar experience in a distinctly different cuisine is visible at Hyatt Regency’s Kitchen District where the South Indian Thali takes centre stage. Executive
Chef Liam Crotty is proud of his popular
South Indian cuisine which is cooked the
‘grandma style’ and beautifully presented by Chef Senthil in both the vegetarian
and non vegetarian versions. Healthy
and tasty, it leaves you craving for more.
Chef ’s special Kai Kari Korma and Kal
Dosa are indeed an interesting innovation with a wonderful flavour of coconut
and veggies in the kari served along with
a different type of dosa cum uthappam.
In fact, everything is rich in flavour and
presentation, be it the Andhra lamb curry,
pepper chicken or the rasam and sambar.
The perfect ambience of Hyatt combines
with chef ’s live table making the Kitchen
District an interesting venue with a 60-ft
long bar table called the Long Bar. Kitchen District also possesses a communal table for individual guests to sit, have their
wines and interact with new people. ø
dlf
Citynews
I May 2016 I 51
WINE & DINE
JAPANESE FOOD FIESTA
The Sushi gets an Indian flavour while the
swanky Teppanyaki grill delights patrons
Deft Touches,
Amazing Flavours
An Indo-Western-Japanese Festival serves up a
unique experience of tradition and fusion
by DCN Bureau
A kimono-clad hostess, tiny umbrellas on the menu and an Indonesian chef
who prepares fabulous Japanese food are
the first impressions when one enters
52
dlf
the newly renovated Crowne Plaza Gurgaon’s Café G which turned Japanese
from 15th to 24th April as Chef Aryanto
Ajie Saputro weaved his magic.
Chef Aryanto Ajie Saputro who has
worked in Jakarta, Kuwait and Dubai arrived in India nine months ago and, by
his own admission, did not know much
about the country, its palate and people.
So he embarked upon a journey across
Rajasthan, Gujarat, Mumbai, Goa and
Gurugram to imbibe the richness of Indian culture and cuisine so that he could
customise his food for the evolving Indian palate. The results of his journey
are evident in the unique Indo-Western
Japanese Food festival at Crown Plaza.
Japanese speciality chef Saputro prepared a special dinner buffet featuring
a host of traditional Japanese dishes.
Given his expertise, Yoshoku or fusion westernised Japanese food was the
main attraction. His ability to marry
cuisines in the fusion format is appreciable and it was a pleasant surprise to see
a mushroom peas curry sushi! Replete
with sticky rice, a Teppanyaki style soya
chaap core and a mushroom peas topping, the creation did not need any soya
sauce, gari (pickled ginger) or wasabi.
Director Food and Beverage, Indrashis
Sinha proudly displayed the swanky
looking grill called Teppanyaki which refers to dishes cooked using an iron plate,
including steak, shrimp, okonomiyaki,
yakisoba, and monjayaki. With a solid
griddle type cook surface, the Teppanyaki is more suitable for smaller ingredients, such as rice, egg, and finely chopped
vegetables. It was indeed delightful to see
Chef Aryanto’s ability to engage his diners in relaxed conversation whilst manning the Teppanyaki grill effortlessly
adding further to the charm of the entire meal. In fact, the chef churned out
all authentic Japanese dishes from that
very spot!
Teppanyaki grill apart, the other novel
sushi apparition was the Dilli Ki Bhalla
Papri Chaat Sushi which had sticky rice
draped around a curd-soaked bhalla and
crunchy pieces of papri with chutneys
inside in an innovative take on IndoJapanese fusion. Another interesting
handiwork of the chef was the chicken
stir fry noodles, the raw cuts of salmon
and tuna called sashimi and the salmon
sushi. His piece de resistance however,
came in at the end when he conjured up
a tofu infused cheesecake which was soft,
delicately flavoured and had the right
amount of sweetness. Quite an achievement indeed, considering the hard malleability composition of tofu.
The other distinctive feature of Chef
Saputro was his love for vegetarian fusion because he was willing to experiment with vegetarian sushi like Shibazuke Maki (sesame , eggplant pickles and
cucumber), Piiman Maki Sushi ( mix of
bellpeppers sushi) and Crispy Katsu Sushi (mix vegetables sushi with breaded
fried ) among others.
It is said that the Japanese serve art on
the table. There is indeed an artistic style
in everything that the Japanese do and at
Crowne Plaza Gurgaon’s Cafe G, it was a
treat to see Chef Saputro preparing Sushi in the true style of art. The way he
went about it made one realise that the
real skill of a Japanese chef lies in the
manner their wrist moves when preparing sushi, in the precision with which
they handle a knife for the sashimi and
finally in their expertise on that hot Teppanyaki grill. ø
dlf
Citynews
I May 2016 I 53
COLUMN
PET CARE
Spotlight
Care For Your Stomach
During Summers
D
r (Prof) Gourdas Choudhuri is
the HoD & Director of Gastroenterology and Hepatobiliary
Sciences at Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI). The first to start
Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) and Extra
Corporeal Shockwave Biliary Lithotripsy
(ESWL) in India, Dr. Choudhuri has played
a leadership role in developing liver and
digestive healthcare in the country. A
skilled endoscopist, he brings vast experience and expertise in diagnosis
and management of a wide range of
liver and GI diseases.
What are the typical problems
associated with the stomach during summers?
The summer months are notorious for
a host of stomach infections. Attacks of
diarrhoea (watery loose motions), often
associated with cramping pain and fever
are common. Sometimes, there could be
vomiting as well, which we call acute gastroenteritis. In severe cases, there could
be blood in stools too, suggesting an attack of dysentery.
Infections of the liver, called viral hepatitis, especially with Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E viruses that spread through contaminated water or food, also go up. Another
infection that also spreads through food
and water is typhoid fever that is associated with high temperature and headache.
What are the possible causes for
stomach troubles and are they preventable?
Infections spread through water or food.
Bacteria tend to multiply more in warmer
and moist conditions, making summer a
bad time for stomach infections. Clean water and eating freshly cooked hot meals are
the best ways to avoid infections. Boiling
and heating kill germs. Hence, paradoxic
though it may seem, avoiding cold and
stale food is advisable during summers.
54
dlf
What can a person eat to keep the
stomach healthy during summers?
In addition to drinking plenty of clean
water, eat fresh cooked hot meals and
avoid salads and cold food in restaurants.
Eating in “dhaabas” is quite safe if you
stick to hot rotis and naans, hot daals
and freshly cooked sabzi. What you
need to avoid are salads, cut fruits and
garnishing. Fruits with a skin that can
be peeled, such as banana or orange
are generally safe. For others such
as apples, pears, kiwis and grapes,
it could depend on how well their
skins are cleaned or how clean the
knife is that is used to peel their skins.
Curd, lassi or yogurt are very good
for the stomach in summers. The high
levels of lactobacilli and lactic acid in
these foods act as a hurdle to multiplication of bad germs.
Which age group is most affected by
stomach ailments during summer and
what are the precautions that can be
taken?
Youngsters who step out of the house
for studies or work and cannot help but
eat out are the ones who are most affected. They need to follow the tips which
have already been mentioned. The consequences of an attack of gastroenteritis can however be more pronounced
in young children or the elderly. They
are more prone to dehydration and need
quick attention during attacks.
Are OTC drugs recommended to treat
stomach ailments?
I think it is wise to keep ORS (Oral rehydration solution) packets at home or on
travel during summers. As for infection,
most episodes of loose stools settle down
on their own in a couple of days. Should
you have high fever, or bloody dysentery
or persistent loose stools, you would
need an antibiotic for which you should
consult your doctor.
Endoscopy in
Companion Animals
by Dr. Vikash Singh Chauhan
Endoscopy, which is derived from two
Greek words ‘endo’ meaning ‘inside’
and ‘skopein’ meaning ‘to view’, was introduced by Phillip Bozinni in the 19th
century. The use of endoscopy in veterinary medicine started in 1970. During
this time, mostly flexible endoscopy was
in use. But it was not very popular in
veterinary medicine because the instrument was expensive and required high
maintenance.
Veterinary endoscopy has gained importance in recent years since it is of
high diagnostic value and surgeons can
perform a variety of minimal invasive
procedures.
Types of endoscopy
Flexible endoscopy: These are used in examining tubular structures which have a
tortuous course, such as gastrointestinal
and respiratory tracts. A long flexible insertion tube allows structures deeper into
the lungs and the digestive tract to be seen
and biopsy samples to be taken without
the need of invasive surgery. A flexible endoscope has a long insertion tube of various sizes which has channels for suction,
irrigation and passage of instruments as
well as light guide fibres and optical image fibres. The tip of the endoscope moves
in different directions at different angles.
It is manipulated using a control knob in
the hand piece. Special video cameras can
be attached to the endoscopes which allow
viewing of the exam on a television screen,
as well as recording the exam on video.
Different procedures which can be performed with flexible endoscopy include:
Esophagoscopy, Gastroscopy, Duodenoscopy, Colonoscopy, Pharangeoscopy and
Bronchoscopy.
In all these procedures, direct visualisation of the lesion and collecting a
good biopsy sample is possible. Most of
the time flexible endoscopy is used for
diagnostic purposes rather than therapeutic purposes.
dlf
Citynews
I May 2016 I 55
COLUMN
PET CARE
Spotlight
Dr Vikash Singh Chauhan
Rigid endoscopy: These are rigid instruments with better light transmission and
image quality than flexible endoscope.
They are used in body cavities like abdomen and thorax for minimal invasive
surgeries and diagnostic purposes. Instruments used in rigid endoscopy can be large
since they have a larger working channel.
Rigid endoscopy enables instruments to
be inserted in several ports, spaced apart
and triangulated to the operative area.
This allows easy surgical manipulation
and makes the surgeries less invasive
than the open surgical techniques.
Several procedures which can be performed with rigid endoscopy are gastropexy, oopherectomy, liver biopsy,
spleenic biopsy, prostate biopsy, pancreatic biopsy, retained testicle surgeries,
cystoscopy, cystotomy, arthroscopy, proctoscopy and rhinoscopy.
Endoscopy unit consists of light source,
camera unit, suction and irrigation unit,
cautery unit, various flexible and rigid
instruments, carbon dioxide gas supply
and monitor.
Patient preparation
The initial assessment of each patient
presenting for an endoscopic assessment
or endoscopic surgery is based on the
56
dlf
initial clinical history, clinical examination and general hemodynamic stability
of the individual as well as the stability
for the specific procedure. Careful history taking should be performed. For
endoscopic procedures, consideration
must be given to the relative safety of the
general anesthesia. Careful evaluation
of the heart and lungs, serum biochemistry evaluation, complete blood count,
urine and stool routine examination,
thoracic radiograph and ultrasonography should be performed. A thorough
general physical examination is mandatory. Patient should be stabilised prior to
the endoscopic procedure. Treatment of
secondary concomitant diseases should
be undertaken.
Advantages of
laparoscopic
procedures are
l Less pain
l Smaller wound, less trauma
l Rapid healing
l Fewer sutures
l Animal comes back to its normal life
sooner.
l Reduced surgical time thus reduced
anesthesia time.
l Good biopsy sample size obtained with
fewer traumas for histopathology.
l The procedure can be visualised by
the whole team and can be recorded and
handed over to the clients.
l Reduced post-operative complications.
At CGS hospital, both flexible and rigid
endoscopies are functional. At CGS, various flexible and rigid endoscopic procedures are performed like:
Flexible endoscopy: Esophagoscopy,
Gastroscopy, Duodenoscopy, Colonoscopy, Pharangeoscopy and Bronchoscopy
Rigid endoscopic procedures: Gastropexy, oopherectomy, liver biopsy,
spleenic biopsy, prostate biopsy, pancreatic biopsy, retained testicle surgeries,
cystoscopy and cystotomy ø
The author is a Senior Veterinarian
at CGS Hospital, Gurgaon.
He is a post graduate in Veterinary
Surgery and Radiology and has
obtained a Specialist Certification for
Endoscopy and Laparoscopic procedures from the European
School of Advanced Veterinary
Studies, Germany.
I
RCT, Now A Single
Sitting Procedure!
the multiple injections to a patient for perhigh end computerised digital X-ray man the current scenario when medichines, the analysis becomes clear instantcal science has reached high levels of
forming the procedure. The procedure is
ly and action can be taken.”
efficiency, dental care too has been
done under local anaesthesia and dental
Elaborating on RCT, he further explains,
racing ahead. With new equipments,
instruments like Root ZX and Protaper
dentists are able to provide their patients
help in increasing efficiency. ”
“In this procedure we basically drill the
with better treatment options.
To this, Dr Priyanka Verma adds, “These
tooth and reach the damaged nerve that
One of the most common dental
days, patients are always short of time
we have to treat. Thereafter, we indulge
and extremely scared of pain. Today,
in filling the tooth back and then a crown
issues for years together has been root
RCT is a painless procedure and can be
is placed on it. Single RCT helps to avoid
canal. There was a time when this prooften managed in a sincedure would involve
multiple sittings. Howgle sitting unless the
Dr. Heman Verma
ever, today with adnerve has damaged
One of the leading orthodontists
vancement in technolmore teeth. The new
ogy and with people
advanced dental pro& implantologists of the country,
hard pressed for time,
cedures have helped
Dr. Verma spearheads Dental
new solutions have
patients get rid of pain
Stylers, one of the most premium
emerged in dental care.
and also multiple injecdental centres of Northern India
Talking to DCN, Dr Hetions.”
with comprehensive education in
The team of well qualman Verma says, “Today,
behavior management, sedation
ified dentists at Dental
RCT can be performed
and anesthesia techniques.
Stylers has been instruin one sitting. RCT is
mental in handling your
required when a damDental Stylers
dental problems with
aged nerve in the root
8 Dakshin Marg, DLF Phase- II, Gurgaon
utmost ease and comof the tooth needs to
Ph. 9810296979, 2356609, 2356610, 2351159
fort to make the visit
be removed before it
to the clinic a memoracan start to affect other
Email: hemanverma@hotmail.com, www.dentalstylers.com
ble one.
teeth. These days with
dlf
Citynews
I May 2016 I 57
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dlf
Citynews
I May 2016 I 59
UTILITIES
UTILITIES
STATUS REPORT
WHO’S WHO
DLF city
The
City
Status of Projects
Pace of Habitation in Plotted Properties
Name of Project Status
New Town Heights
Handover/Finishes in advanced stage
1I
3658
69.38
The Primus Terrace/upper floors slabs cast. Rough finishes in progress
2
3220 67.04
Regal Garden Terrace/upper floors slabs cast. Rough finishes in progress
Corporate Greens
Possession starting soon
Skycourt
4th-10th floors slabs cast. Club finishing in progress
Ultima
GF, 1st and 2nd floor slabs cast in Towers H &L; K; E, J & S
The Crest DLF5
Finishing & Services activities commenced
SI. Pace of Habitation in Group Housing
Phase
II 3
III
4
IV
Total
Project
5462 1626
Habitation%
64.94
53.01
13966 Total
Occupied
%Occupied
34
32
94.1
700
93.5
Belvedere Tower
222
202
90.99
Beverly Park I
158
132
83.5
Belvedere Park 318
278
87.42
Beverly Park II
182
171
94.0
Exclusive Floors 516
500
96.90
Total
Occupied
%Occupied
Regent House
Total No. of Plots
749
Project
Silver Oaks
Regency Park I
320
273
85.3
Trinity Towers 234
216
92.31
Regency Park II
500
445
89.0
Westend Heights 368
324
88.04
Hamilton Court
266
252
94.7
The Aralias 254
Windsor Court
132
125
94.7
Royalton Tower
Richmond Park
280
271
96.8
Ridgewood estate
924
831
Oakwood Estate
322
307
200
78.74
76
70
92.11
The Pinnacle
280
221
78.93
89.9
The Icon
364
330
90.66
95.3
The Summit
228
161
70.61
544
448
82.35
Wellington Estate I,II and III
555
505
91.0
The Belaire
Princeton Estate I,II & III 918
868
94.6
The Park Place
1508
1340
88.86
485
453
93.4
The Magnolias 589
406
68.93
Carlton Estate I & IV
60
I May 2016 I
Elders
Your Elected Representatives
Condominium Associations
dlf
Citynews
Silver Oaks Condominium Association – DLF Phase-I 0124-4287457
President
Mr. Tariq Raza
Mrs. Shalini Sawhney
Vice President
Mr. Pankaj Kumar
Manager
Mr. V K Jain
Secretary
Ms. Rupali Jain
Treasurer
Oakwood Estate Condominium Association – DLF Phase-II
0124-4052005
President
Cmde. Hitendra Singh
Dr. Amish Vora
Vice president
Secretary
Mr. Rohit Kapoor
Mr. Naveen Thukral
Treasurer
Beverly Park-I – DLF Phase-II
0124-4011757
Mr. Mr. Depak Kapur
Mr. Sarabjit Singh Dhawan
Mr. Rajiv Inamdar
Mr. Soumya Dutta
Mr. C B Singh
Beverly Park-II – DLF Phase-II
Mr. Adil Shiavax Nargolwala
Ms. Anita Kapur
Mr. Naresh Arora
Ms. Nandini Roy Choudhary
President
Vice president
Secretary
Treasurer
Manager
President
Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer
9999270000
9818078883
9810036324
9810019787
Mr. Saurabh Joshi
Operations Manager
9650493521
Exclusive Floors Owners Society – DLF5 0124-4109536
President
Ms. Pallavi Sawhney
Mr. S N Miglani
Vice President
Mr. Apprajeet Bhatia
Secretary
Mr. Manish Purohit
Treasurer
Carlton Estate Condominium Association – DLF5
President
Mr. Sachin Jain
Vice president
Mr Nitin Gianchandani
Mr. Sameer Nigam
Secretary
Mr. Syed Ibrahim Ahmed
Teasurer
9811240572
9818183275
9899970269
9810122090
Trinity Towers Condominium Association – DLF5
President
Mr. Jawahar Lal Vij
Mr. Hitesh Puri
Secretary
Mr. Rajul Kulshrestha
Treasurer
9818967911
9910263846
9899892911
Summit Condominium Association – DLF5
Mr. Nitin Chopra
President
Mr. Rajiv Chopra
Vice President
Secretary
Mr. Tejinder Singh
Ms. Nira Mongia
Joint Secretary
The Pinnacle – DLF5
Belvedere Tower – DLF Phase-II
0124-4068251
Ms. Savita Malhotra
Dr. Manoj Talwar
Mr. Amit Malik
Mr. Deepak Sahai
9810063523
9810056302
9811084744
9811600888
0124-4228770
Mr. RC Kesar
Ms. Parul Kaushal
Mr. Atul Sarin
Mr. Kuljit Singh
Mr. Jai B Yadav
Belvedere Park Condominium Association – DLF Phase-III
President
Prof K Sundram
Vice President
Mr. V K Vatts
Mr. N Mishra
Secretary
Treasurer
Mr. Gagan Chawla
Estate manager
Mr. Madan Sen
9818621084
9818902080
9811199826
9810274750
8800731747
Wellington Estate – DLF5
0124-4228162
Ms. Neena Bhattacharjee
Mr. Vineet Bagga
Mr. Ajay Jain
Ridgewood Condominium Association – DLF Phase-IV
President
Mr. Sanjay Batra
Vice President
Mr. Vijay Kumar Verma
Secretary
Mr. Deepak Mathur
Mr. Amit Dhanuka
Treasurer
Mr. Sunil Kumar Jain
Jt Secretary
9818093097
9810287402
9818664883
9810086577
9911317189
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Hamilton, Windsor and Regency Park-II – DLF Phase-IV
0124-2396331
President
Dr. Kamlesh Bajaj
Vice President
Wg. Cdr Pran K Kaul (Retr)
Mr. Virender Sareen
Secretary
Mr. Vijay Sood
Treasurer
Condominium Mgr
Mr. Yogendra Rajput
9910501633
9811147596
9910109013
9650275500
9871622323
The Aralias – DLF5 0124-4144848
Mr. Rajbir Sharma
9650493525
Estate Manager
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Property Manager
President
Vice president and Treasurer
Secretary
DLF City Residents Welfare Association (Regd.)
0124-4055094, 2561888
President
9810402438
Mr. J S Damija
Mr. Sudhir Kapoor
Secretary Gen
9811555743
DLF City Senior Citizens Council (Regd.)
0124-2570417
Mr. Ganesh Dutt Gureja
President
Mr. Mohan Gulrajani
Secretary Gen. Condominiums
Richmond Park
Royalton Tower
Princeton Estate
Park Place
The Belaire
The Magnolias
Address
DLF phase IV
DLF phase V
DLF phase V
DLF phase V
DLF phase V
DLF phase V
Contact
Mr. Madan Singh
Mr. Bramprakash
Mr. Attar Singh
Mr. Y C Sharma
Mr. Dinesh Bajpai
Mr. Sanjeev Saxena
dlf
Citynews
9810638595
9818253979
Telephone No.
0124-4272776
0124-4292418
0124-4055277
9873603572
9711497034
9654132300
I May 2016 I 61
TRANSIT LOUNGE
CHEF JOHN JUNG SIK PARK
by Meenakshi Sharma
Curiosity, experimentation and adaptability are some of
the hallmarks of the Millennium City’s global character which
is nowhere more apparent than in the sheer number of international food festivals. So when it was known that Chef John,
Jung sik Park was cooking Korean food at the Le Meridien Gurgaon, the excitement among the Korean and local community
was very high!
Chef John, who explains how he has the very English name,
John, to make it easier for people to address, is rather apologetic about his poor English skills. It is, however, his love for
Korean food that allows him to convey his happiness and surprise to see the love for global cuisine in general and Korean
food in particular in Gurgaon.
“All Korean ingredients are available in Gurgaon”, says a vis-
ibly excited Chef John, Jung sik Park who spent two weeks in
Le Meridien Gurgaon. Hailing from Seoul, Korea, this is John’s
first visit to India and he was fascinated to see a number of
Korean patrons as well as very adventurous and experimental
Indian guests.
A gold medalist at the Agrosuper Star Chef Table 2014, Park
studied in the Shinheung College in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggido
and Howon University in GunSan, Jeollabukdo after which he
completed a Master’s degree in Hospitality Management from
the Sejong University in Seoul.
He shares with us his experiences of working as part of the
culinary team at the Korean Food Restaurant Yangjung, Eunhasu and the Japanese restaurant Hujia.
As guests come to watch the way he prepares the Korean ‘meal
in a bowl’ called Bibimbap, he explains that ‘Bibim’ means
mixed and ‘bap’ means rice. It is this mix of steamed rice,
“All Korean ingredients are
available in Gurgaon”
62
dlf
CHEF JOHN JUNG
He is equally
proud of his
Kimchi which
is like a national
dish of Korea and
is served with
every meal.
sautéed vegetables and barbecued meats, interesting
herbs and sauces which are topped with a fried egg that
makes for the iconic dish which is much loved in Korea.
Although Chef Park appears a bit disappointed for the
lack of beef which is used very generously in Korea, he
is willing to opt for the seafood and pork substitutes as he
understands why beef is unavailable.
Watching him work on the dish with practiced ease, one
can see how delighted he is to prepare his home food and
be able to train the local staff. He throws in the toppings
of shiitake mushrooms, shredded cucumber, julienned
carrots, sliced courgette, bean sprouts, dried seaweed,
cucumber, zucchini, bellflower roots, spinach, bracken
fern stems, and red pepper paste among many interesting
things with fried egg adding a final touch of sunshine. The
sauces are the key and as he places them on the pot and
then on the table, the rice continues to cook and crackle
invitingly even after it has been brought to the table.
The chef mentions that black sesame is another popular
dish which can be served both as hot porridge and hot or
cold soup even as he points out that Korean food is best
enjoyed grilled. He also explains about his own creations
of dishes for Gurgaon like the spicy braised pork spare
ribs which were juicy and grilled just the way Koreans
love it. So was the spicy whelk meat and marinated crabs,
and this is where one can see the passion with which
Chef Park approaches his profession. He also sheds light
on how sesame is a much loved dish and goes into their
desserts as well.
He is equally proud of his Kimchi which is like a national dish of Korea and is served with every meal. Every
region of Korea has a different preparation of Kimchi,
but the main ingredient is fermented napa cabbage and
myeolchijeot (brined anchovy allowed to ferment).
Much similar to Indian’s love for ‘til’ or sesame, there
are plenty of sweet sesame puffs as well as sweet punches. In his own interesting creations, Chef Park also uses
the unique red bean paste and combines it beautifully
with the sorbets.
He reveals his own fascination for Indian cuisine and
how he loves the tandoor grills and kebabs. And even
while he struggles with English, Chef John Park is eager
to communicate how much he loves India and the customers who appreciate authentic Korean cuisine. ø
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CUSTOMIZED STITCHING
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GURGAON
#0124-4300330/31/40
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7 DAYS OPEN FREE PARKING
dlf
Citynews
I May 2016 I 63
ENTERTAINMENT
BOLLYWOOD TALK
MOVIE
PREVIEWS
English
X Men: Acocalypse 3D
This film is a series of American superhero. The
characters Wolverine, Magneto and Apocalypse,
are based on their creation by Stan Lee and Jack
Kirby.
The Angry Birds
The three angry birds decide to find out what
brings pigs to their island. Directed by Clay Kaytis
and Fergal Reilly, the film is an animated adventure
comedy that will entertain the kids.
The Conjuring 2
Films Can Wait, Trailers
Are Creating Ripples Now!
Sarabjit and Udta Punjab trailers become an
instant hit on social media; get praises from film
fraternity too
by DCN Bureau
2016 seems to be a season of innovations and experimentations for Bollywood! Be it making a biopic on a hero
like Neerja, highlighting the flaws of
a modern day family through Kapoor
and Sons or challenging the gender
stereotypes through Ki and Ka, the first
quarter of the year has seen an interesting variety being churned out by
talented filmmakers. And, if the box office collections of these movies are anything to go by, the audiences for sure are
more than ready to welcome this new
wave of cinema.
And, that’s precisely the reason why the
trailers of two upcoming films, released
in the month of April, are making waves
in social media - Omung Kumar directed
biopic Sarbjit and Abhishek Chaubey directed crime thriller Udta Punjab.
The first one to be released was Sarabjit which starts Aishwarya Bachchan,
Randeep Hooda and Richa Tiwari among
others. Sarabjit brings to light an important story that has escaped the public eye
for far too long.
The movie is based on the real-life
events that took place after Indian farmer Sarbjit Singh (portrayed by Hooda)
was arrested after he strayed into Pakistan from his local village and was accused of spying for the Indian Research
and Analysis Wing (RAW). He was tried
and convicted by the Supreme Court of
Pakistan for a series of bomb blasts in
Lahore and Faisalabad in 1990, which
proved fatal for 14 people. Singh died in
2013 when he was notoriously attacked
by inmates and succumbed to his injuries almost a week later in a Lahore
hospital.
The movie will be told from the point
of view of Dalbir Kaur (played by Rai),
Singh’s sister who fought endlessly for
her brother’s life from the time he was
arrested. The trailer for the film looks
gripping and intense and is almost like
an emotional turbulence.
On the other hand, Udta Punjab deals
with the issue of drug abuse in Punjab
and despite the presence of glamorous
actors like Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt,
Kareena Kapoor Khan and Diljit Dosanjh, the trailer indicates that the film
is going to be gritty, dark and for sure
without glamour. In fact, it kicks off
with an ominous message – “70% of
Punjab youth are drug addicts. If this
does not stop, Punjab will soon become
like Mexico.” The entire B-Town has
taken to social media to applaud the film
trailer, particularly pouring in praises
for Shahid Kapoor who steals the show
hands on!
Well, whether both the films will be as
promising as their trailers, only time
will tell. But for the time being, it’s all in
favour of Sarabjit and Udta Punjab! ø
Directed by James Wan, this is a supernatural
horror film. The plot depicts how a mother and her
four children threatened by spirits are saved by a
pair of twins. The star cast includes Vera Farmiga
and Patrick Wilson. The music of the film is composed by Joseph Bishara.
Hindi
Azhar
Based on the incidents of Mohammed Azharuddin’s life, the film is written by Rajat Arora and
directed by Tony D’Souza. Emraan Hashmi with
Nargis Fakhri play the lead roles. The music of the
film has been composed by Amaal Malik.
Sarabjit
The film is a biography on Sarabjit Singh’s life who
was illegally jailed, tried and convicted by Supreme
Court of Pakistan for a series of bomb blasts in
Lahore and Faisalabad. He eventually dies at the
hands of jail inmates. The film stars Aishwarya
Rai Bachchan and Randeep Hooda.
Housefull 3
A Sajid Nadiadwala production, this is the
third installment of Housefull. Akshay Kumar,
Abhishek Bachchan and Ritesh Deshmukh play
the lead roles. The film is written and directed by
Sajid-Farhad and will once again have the flavour
of Mika Singh’s music
For corporate and bulk bookings
(Book minimum 50 tickets) (Timings: 11am-7pm)
Phone: 8860003310 email: dtcorporatebooking@dlf.in
Tickets also available at
64
dlf
bookmyshow.com
dlf
Citynews
I May 2014 I 65
ENTERTAINMENT
Power of
FANS
Main aaj jo kuch bhi hun, jis mukam pe
hun, apne fans ke wajah se hun! This is
one of those dialogues from the film Fan
that fuels the obsession of Gaurav
Chandna, the look-alike admirer of
superstar Aryan Khanna. And, King
Khan currently is experiencing the true
essence of this dialogue in real life since
his fans are absolutely in love with the
film, that too from all across the globe.
The film has set another record of the
year with opening weekend collection of
Rs. 52.35 crore after grabbing the top
grosser’s spot on strength of opening day
collection of Rs. 19.20 crore. The film, in
fact, has also set a new record for box
office collections in Pakistan at Rs 50
million in the first three days of the
release. Now, that’s we call the true
power of fans!
‘The Nice Guys’
>>
Remember Their First Meeting At Home!
For the first time, actors Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe are coming together for
director Shane Black’s action-comedy ‘The Nice Guys’ that arrives in theaters on May
20. While the two are busy promoting the film in a big way, the two had in fact explored
the idea of collaboration some time back though things had not worked out then
because their meeting had gone a little out of hand! It seems Crowe had called up
Gosling and invited him and his girlfriend for a private dinner at home. But not being
aware that it was meant to be an intimate affair, Crowe’s wife had invited a dozen
girlfriends to dinner too! And so that the room would not be full of women, Crowe had
to invite an equivalent amount of blokes, some other actors, RZA from the Wu-Tang
Clan! As Crowe puts in, “So, Ryan thinks he’s coming to dinner with four people, walks
into the room, and there’s, like, 24, 25 people. I could see him looking at me, going, ‘What
happened here?’ I didn’t explain anything to him at the time. It wasn’t until later, on the
sets of ‘The Nice Guys’, working together, when I said, ‘Oh, remember that night…?’”
66
I May 2016 I
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Citynews
>>
LAST WORD

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