Showing posts with label Arindam chaudhuri. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arindam chaudhuri. Show all posts

Friday, July 02, 2010

Sound of music

The multi-faceted and free-spirited Sophie Choudry returns with an album of original tracks, and a brand new channel on YouTube. Aakriti Bhardwaj in conversation with the remix queen of India

You have studied at the esteemed Sciences Po Paris and LSE. How did a career in veejaying and music happen?

I was a very good student, I got four A’s for my O level. At the same time I was determined to become an actor. Whilst I was studying, Biddu, who is my mentor and guide, launched me in a girl band Sansara and that’s when we first came to India for work and did the videos for Yeh dil sun raha hai. It became really popular but like most girl bands we couldn’t stand each other! Then I went back to complete my graduation.

With your latest album Sound of Sophie, are you sort of returning the favour to Biddu?

Not at all! Biddu is the man who launched me, I did my first two albums with him, he’s the reason I moved to India. It was Biddu who said, "Kid, you need to move to India for one year and see what happens if you are serious about this." In one year, I became a VJ; Babu chhail chhabila happened. He has done me a favour in Sound of Sophie as he’s completely retired from music and the last song he composed was If I can’t have you for my album.

Of your various pursuits – music, dancing, acting, modelling, anchoring – which one is closest to your heart?

It is really hard to say. Veejaying was wonderful; it made me a household name. Acting is exciting; you wake up being someone different all the time. Singing is really the extension of who I am. That is where I creatively express who I am. I think singing gives me a three dimensional way of enjoying it: one, for the music; two, my music videos are like mini movies and I get to fulfil my fantasies in there, and three, for my live performances where I instantly reach out to my audience.

Has there been a conscious effort to steer clear of remixes?

The reason I had to produce this album is because I did not want to do any remixes. When I did Ek Pardesi, it was so big that I don’t think I’ll be able to repeat that kind of success. I really think that phase is really done with. Today, film songs are becoming remixes. “Aa Dekhen Zara” did a remix. If the film people are doing remixes then I don’t think pop artists need to do it; pop artists need to create something original.

You are the first in India to be signed by YouTube to launch an official celebrity channel. How do you feel about it?

I am having a ball with the channel. I have got all these subscribers and I have got thousands and thousands of ‘views’! I have only been active on it for a month but my video uploads have already had 200,000 hits. I am considering breaking my second video on YouTube exclusively.

Tell us about your forthcoming film Alibaug.

I’m grateful to Sanjay Gupta for giving me such a beautiful role. I play a girl called Nisha, and everybody feels that her life will turn out to be perfect – she marries her college sweetheart – but ends up going through a divorce. She transforms into ‘real’ woman – strong and independent. She is a practicing psychiatrist whose own life is pretty complicated but she handles it with a lot of grace.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Killer roads take a toll

Experts attribute road accidents to overspeeding

Some twenty-five passengers were injured when a bus collided with a truck on the NH 31 at Pathsala in Barpeta district on the night of May 16.

Nearly fifteen schoolchildren were injured when a school bus (AS 15-1616) fell into a ditch on May 22 at Burah in Darrang district.

Local dailies in Assam unfailingly reports about such road accidents. According to government statistics, during the past one decade road accident cases have doubled in the state. In 2000, some 2,429 road accident cases were reported. But the figure increased to 4,869 in 2009. Accidental deaths in 2009 were 1,991 as against 1,032 in 2000. In comparison to all India level, Assam shares 44 per cent of accidental deaths.

In Guwahati city, some 626 motor accident cases took place in 2007; 626 in 2007; 641 in 2008 and 508 in 2008. Among districts Sonitpur registered a maximum 363 accidental cases in 2009. Lower Assam’s Dhubri district and Barak valley’s Cachar district stood second and third with 346 and 306 accidental cases. Out of 4,686 accidents taking place in the state in 2008, as many as 2,683 accidents took place on national highways; 849 were on state highways and the remaining 1,151 on other roads of the state.

City Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Bibekananda Das told TSI that the traffic branch of city police is compiling last five years’ data of road accidents to study them. Only after completion of the process, decision could be taken to prevent accidents, the newly appointed SP (traffic) said. Traffic experts attribute road accidents to overspeeding and even increasing cars on the roads. “Untrained drivers, fake licence holders and absence of civic sense among people are also responsible for increasing number of accidents,” Violet Baruah, SP (CID) told TSI. The problem is further compounded when some drivers don’t obey traffic rules, she said.

According to the rule, mobile phones should not be used during driving and seat belts should be fastened, but only a few people obey them. Drunk driving is also responsible for several road accidents in the state.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Extreme action zone ahead

Chris ‘CP’ Pfeiffer is a gladiator on wheels. The World Champion (2003, 2007, 2008, 2009) Stunt Rider plays out on asphalt every leather-loving guy’s wildest bike fantasy. Recently back home in Germany, after an India tour, the ace biker reminisces about the experience, among other things to Indira Parthasarathy...

You had the Indian audience eating out of your hands – and not just when you did the no-hands wheelies... How do you sum up the experience?

The crowd response was amazing! I’ll never forget these shows!

Was that the BMW F800 R Chris Pfeiffer Special Edition bike you were performing on? Which is/are your favourite machine(s) to stunt-ride on?

Yes, it was. And it is also my favourite.

MotoGP legend Wayne Gardner had mentioned something like what you maintain: the “united with the bike” experience. Can you elaborate on the ‘one with the bike’ feeling?

If a bike really fits your riding style, you’ll do best to be united with the bike while riding it on the edge. Difficult to explain… all controls have to be in perfect position and work exactly like you want it. Then you are not just sitting/standing on a bike – you sit/stand on it and feel good because the bike is perfectly controllable.

On a normal traffic jaunt with the bike, how do you resist the temptation to break into stunts?

It is no problem. Riding is riding and stunting is stunting. All in its proper time…

What specialised modifications are required for freestyle biking?

A handbrake for the rear wheel, maybe some mods on the engine to make sure that it gets oil in long wheelies. The rest are details that every rider individually builds.

Which was your toughest Championship win?

The last (Indoor Streetbike Freestyle) World Championship in 2009. I had diarrhoea and felt weak. But somehow I made it.

You are real survivor material, as was evinced by the way you made your comeback after the horrible accident in the 90s during the Guinness Record shoot. How did you fight off the jitters to get back on asphalt after an incident like that?

I was very motivated to get back on the bike, also a bit scared that I’ll lose my trust in brakes because the cause for this accident was a brake problem. But I had no mental problem. I check the brakes very often now.

Bunny hops (long jumps) involve other people. How do you bring yourself around the idea of risking other lives, and how do you prepare for it?

Well, the jump does sound crazy but it (the record long jump without a ramp over 33 people lying next to each other) was safe after all the preparations for more than six months. But still I’d not do it again.

Which stunts are Chris Pfeiffer inventions?

Touch ground wheelie circles, Side stand off, The CP Jump, 360 Ground (360° turning during the ride).

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Saturday, June 19, 2010

Blood spills at Lampi

Four Khasis perish in the violence that rocked the area

The border dispute between Assam and Meghalaya has been resolved. But before that the Lampi area of Boko town in Lower Assam was rocked with violence in which at least four Khasis lost their lives and more than twenty people, including four police officials, sustained injuries.

This was not a one-off incident. Border disputes exist in several places of Assam mainly at Merapani area of Golaghat district and some places of Sivsagar district in Upper Assam area. The locals in these areas don’t know when violence will erupt. However, the Lampi incident that took place on May 15 grabbed headlines. More than hundred Khasi people armed with sharp weapons attacked the local Nepalis of the Lampi area. Besides, they also attacked a battalion camped in the area. “When the Khasis didn’t surrender after several warnings, the Assam police opened fire to control the situation. The government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident,’’ says revenue minister of Assam Dr. Bhumidhar Barman, who visited the violence-hit area with state health minister Himanta Biswa Sharma to convince the locals to end violence.

Also, the disputed area of Lampi was discussed with the deputy chief minister of Meghalaya and a few other representatives of the Meghalaya government. Though the hilly area comes under the Boko police station of Kamrup rural district, the Khasis of Meghalaya have been claiming Lampi as integral part of Meghalaya. The Khasis residing in 13 villages of Lampi area always identify themselves with Meghalaya. And they also force the local Nepalis to associate themselves with Meghalaya. Some locals said this creates rift between them.

Concerned with the development in Lampi, the Indian Government reviewed the situation and dispatched a senior officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs to the area to discuss the matter with both the Khasi and Nepali communities. Official sources say Union Home Minister P Chidambaram — scheduled to visit Assam shortly — is likely to discuss the Lampi issue with the government. Other officials who visited the locality included deputy secretary of Ministry of Home Affairs Ajay Kanojia and Deputy Commissioner and Superintendents of Police of both Kamrup rural and west Khasi Hills district. Kanojia said both the governments of Assam and Meghalaya are making efforts to resolve the boundary disputes. Besides, people of both the communities submitted a memorandum to the government. The Khasi people want the government to set up a police outpost of Meghalaya police for their security and safety.

Dr. Barman says: “The decision of the Supreme Court will be regarded as the final regarding the border dispute. Police presence in the area has been increased and two new police posts have been set up in the area to maintain law and order.”

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Thursday, June 17, 2010

Here to stay

After being in news with Hrithik Roshan, Barbara Mori is all set to conquer the Hindi film industry with the “Baadshah” of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan. She was introduced to Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan by the Roshans and was floored by their hospitality. In fact, she wishes to work with SRK as the lead actor in future. This Mexican beauty doesn’t consider herself much of a dancer. In fact, a Bollywood style dance sequence was shot with Barbara but was later deleted as it didn’t turn out well. And we thought all Latinos moved like a dream!

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Wednesday, June 16, 2010

CWG 2010 - Delhi is game for all

Apart from planning education initiatives, the govt is issuing clear guidelines to tour operators

PK Tripathi

Principal Secretary, Tourism, Delhi Govt

India has been in the news of late because of the upcoming Commonwealth Games that are to be held in October this year. Most of this publicity stems from news reports highlighting the tardiness in the preparations for the Games. I would like to make it very clear that we are not late. We should understand that weather conditions don’t permit you to be ready in advance. Imagine how the stadiums would look if they were ready by now. We would have had to rework on everything. The actual targets were set with a pessimist view, keeping in mind the numerous roadblocks like getting clearances from a number of authorities.

India is a democratic state and provides freedom to its press, which is why the media has managed to create such a hue and cry over the delay in the preparations. China too faced similar issues in the months leading up to the Olympics Games but strict impositions on the media ensured nothing negative was highlighted. The government has to manage various departments and this can only be achieved when all the authorities work in synchronisation. The government’s plan to make Delhi an ideal tourism destination can be achieved by regulating various bodies and providing ample safety measures for tourists and the people of this city. In fact, the government, in tandem with the national tourism department, is planning to issue a list of dos and don’ts for tourists during the Commonwealth Games.

To tackle the issue of security and to provide convenience and instant information to tourists, the Delhi Tourism Board in association with MCD is planning to set up kiosks at stadiums, stations, airports, shopping malls and game sites. Tourists should be able to enjoy their stay in the city and other parts of the country peacefully and without the fear of being troubled or harassed. One must also realise that India is not the only country in the world where tourists are subjected to harassment. Tourists are soft targets everywhere. In fact, even Indians travelling abroad face the same problems. The intensity of the crime perhaps differs in different countries. On the other hand, one cannot deny that the problems tourist face have increased and become quite a menace in recent times. A common myth here is that a white-skinned person is rich and willing to pay any amount demanded of him for anything. In order to stop such incidents, the government is working toward norms that can be easily implemented and executed by everyone.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Tuesday, June 15, 2010

‘Delays are part of huge deals’

Air Chief Marshal (retd) Fali Homi Major talks to Mayank Singh

What do you have to say about the delay in acquisitions?

There is no other way and it is bound to happen. We need to understand that these are important transactions and huge money is involved. Plus, there is the issue of international politics and foreign relations. Extensive and rigorous trials are also required before India makes up her mind.

By when do you foresee the Air Force at its optimum level?

By 2022, we will be completing our modernisation process with all kind of acquisitions getting completed.

What is your analysis about the way the MMRCA deal is going?

See, the more the competition, the wider the choice we get. The role of the air force is to pick the best.

What is your analysis about the competition for MMRCA?

It’s going to be an extremely difficult call. Only after the rigorous trials are completed, we will get a clear picture. It is not wise to speculate before that.

Do you believe the time of fighter pilot is coming to an end?

I don’t see that in the next 60 years. Whether it’s a drone or any other kind of machine, they cannot take last-minute decision.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Monday, June 14, 2010

Cardiff calling!

After the success of “3 Idiots”, while Aamir Khan and director Rajkumar Hirani got a roaring applause from the Indian audience, actress Kareena Kapoor’s rising popularity with the film has even landed her an invitation from the UK. So these days, Bebo isn’t spending time reading scripts, but is working on her script for the students of Cardiff University where she would give a talk about showbiz. The size zero actress’ life has been rocking since “Jab we Met” and well, it sure looks like Saif’s her lucky charm!

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Friday, June 11, 2010

Super-specialty medical facility for the poor

Later the hospital shifted to the office premises of the NISCO (National Iron & Steel Company) union, where it started as a daily outdoor medical centre along with a minor operations unit. However, the clinic soon had to shift out of the CITU-affiliated NISCO union office.

In 1994, the hospital shifted to a dilapidated building of Grand Smithy, a subsidiary of Indo Japan. The workers converted the structure into a four-bedded hospital (two each for male and female patients) with due consent of the owner of the land and the district medical officer.

“Our initial capital was only Rs 40,000. So we purchased one tonne iron scrap and used it to manufacture beds, trolleys, operation tables and even a specialised orthopedic surgery table. The specialised table was manufactured in a record time of eight hours”, said Debasish Bhattacharjee, a former medical representative who is a Samiti volunteer.

“I was really amazed with their innovative gestures”, said B. Dasgupta, PA to of a former labour minister of the Left Front government. “They turned the headlights of automobiles into OT lights by placing those on the steering wheel. During those days, the media was vocal about disruptions in hospitals due to power cuts. But Shramajeevi Hospital never faced such a crisis as their OT lights were attached with AC/DC and a battery system.”

The journey was not as smooth as that may sound. The factory finally closed down in 1996. The laid-off workers ran from pillar to post for permission to keep the hospital going as a cooperative entity but to no avail. “Despite the government’s announced policy, we did not get the required support from the central cooperative,” Bhattacharjee said. Factory owners attacked the hospital with goons, backed by the police. They even dragged the patients out on G.T. Road and damaged the roof of the orthopedic ward. The Samiti earned a reprieve when the high court intervened.

Many of the general assistants in the hospital are ex-workers of the factory or their family members. They all work gratis. “None of the doctors or nurses is paid. They get a paltry amount for conveyance and refreshments. Yet they offer their best possible service for the hospital,” claimed Debashis Bhattacharjee.

And the beneficiaries are understandably happy. Outpatients pay only Rs 11 for registration. The hospital charges Rs 4,525 for gall bladder or laparoscopic operations. In other private hospitals, these surgeries run into five figures.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Tuesday, June 08, 2010

‘Erase the line that divides us’

On a trip to karachi, jaswant singh advocates the formation of a south asian union in order to keep the threat of colonialism at bay. A report by Shahid husain

The people of the subcontinent are likely to face the scourge of colonial rule again if they do not unite and form a South Asian union, former Indian foreign minister and author of "Jinnah: India-Partition-Independence", Jaswant Singh, said on April 13 during a press conference at the historic Mohatta Palace in Karachi.

"I wish I could tell you in terms of time when this union will be established, but the people of Pakistan and India definitely have to share their sorrow and happiness together," he said. "I fear that the failure to form a South Asian union may result in a new form of colonial rule in this part of the world. The United States is today's colonial power and we should understand it. We should be aware of its selfish tactics."

He feared that the new powers would rob the people of the subcontinent of their independence. "I often tell my American friends that they live at a distance of 8,500 miles from Afghanistan, while we live only eight and a half minutes away. I ask them if it was possible that the water of Atlantic Ocean could come to the Himalayas," he said, adding that while the US was talking about nuclear security, one must remember that the nuclear bomb was used twice and it was the US that used it both the times.

He was asked if the marriage of Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik would establish peace in the subcontinent. Singh said tens of thousands of inter-marriages have taken place between the people of Sindh and Rajasthan. We need to work to have a situation similar to the one that existed prior to the 1965 war, he said. After the 1965 War, a Berlin Wall was erected between India and Pakistan; it needs to be demolished as soon as possible.

He pointed out that when he was the foreign minister of India, he proposed that there should be no city-wise visa. The constituency of peace needs to be pushed forward and the people of the subcontinent have to play their vital role in this regard, he said.

The Kashmir issue can be resolved only through talks; it was high time that there were good relations between India and Pakistan because peace would not prevail until there were good relations between the two countries, Singh maintained. We need continuous engagement if we want to resolve Kashmir issue. India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are unique and we should answer our questions ourselves instead of looking towards the West, he said.

He said that for an author, one's book was like a child and burning a book was like burning a child. Singh also shared his remorse over the extremist reaction caused by his book in India. They should have at least read the book before punishing me, he said.
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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Monday, June 07, 2010

Rise of Ethical Gambling

The recently opened Sands Casino at Marina Bay, Singapore seems to be a perfect 'Asian' answer to Las Vegas casinos. The USD 5.7 billion project by Las Vegas Sands Corporation is all set to become South-east Asia's new gambling and tourism hub. There's no doubt that the incumbent government is eyeing tourism as a source of revenue to foster Singapore’s development and growth plan. The Sands Casino will play a major role and go a long way in luring foreign tourists to Singapore. However, the casino is quite different from other traditional ones. Singapore's new casinos have taken steps to ensure that no permanent resident of the country gets addicted to gambling and loses his savings or earning. The Marina Bay Sands Casino, (the world's second most expensive casino) and Genting's Resorts World Casino at Sentosa is estimated to generate nothing less than USD 3.5 billion by next year. For the uninitiated, Las Vegas’ annual gambling revenue (thanks to their 37 casinos) stands at USD 6 billion while Macau’s 31 casinos collectively generate around $13 billion annually.

A cloud of apprehension, thanks to the new and upcoming casino culture, can be easily felt across the country. The Singapore government has put in place possible measures to contain such apprehensions and check the social-ills of the game. In order to discourage locals (the permanent residents) from going to the casinos often, the government has imposed an entry barrier of 100 Singaporean dollars (this allows them to stay inside the casino for 24-hours straight). Those suffering from bankruptcy are banned from entering the casinos. Another measure taken by its authorities to save families from the perils of this money-looting game, is to install free telephone connections where families can call and ask for their family member to be banned from entering and playing in the casino. There aren't any such severe restrictions on foreign tourists. However, under the National Council for Problem Gambling (NCPG), parents of adult foreign students studying in Singapore can apply for a family exclusion order, if they fear that the student can cause financial harm to the family because of gambling. Moreover, almost all casinos are part of integrated resorts, and thus no casinos can discreetly advertise themselves within Singapore but can only promote themselves as 'integrated resorts'.

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Thursday, June 03, 2010

The great Indian graphic novel

It was hard to fathom anything like the epic Mahabharata, until this – a graphic novel based on the Mahabharata. Indira Parthasarathy finds exciting times ahead for comic fans, even as she tries hard not to get lost in the semantics separating comics and graphic novels...

To be honest, I used to think graphic novels referred to the genre of books written by Dan Brown. All those symbols, codes, upside-down paintings, and then the triple exclamation marks… Disturbingly graphic.

Comics, I knew fairly well though; they, after all, are as integral to our childhood as bruised knees and summer vacations. "Chandamama" and "Amar Chitra Katha" (ACK) books were every preteen’s window to Indian history and mythology, before the television set us up. Remember mumbling invectives gleaned from Captain Haddock’s colourful vocabulary, or imagining our very own Asterix and Obelix – Chacha Chaudhary and Sabu – to the rescue, as the school bully sized you up. Those were the times I missed a Y-chromosome sibling most; also when I fancied some worthy opponent while indulging in Superman/Batman-like derring-do in the living room.

Comic or graphic novel, the nomenclature didn’t matter when Liquid Comics announced last month that the "Mahabharata" is to be reprised in comic book format by none other than Grant Morrison – the creator of "All Star Superman", "Batman and Robin", "The Invisibles" and other spectacular graphic tales. "18 Days" is set to hit stands (US markets) in August this year, but what’s new, one is wont to wonder, for aren’t we familiar with countless volumes of ACK dedicated to the seminal epic? Let Gotham Chopra (don’t miss the Batman reference in the spelling), co-founder of Liquid Comics convince you, “In a way, it honours those original ACK books, but also pushes the art in particular to a whole new level… (It) will capture the imagination of a global audience who is used to "The Dark Knight" and "Iron Man" and "Avatar".

Adds Sharad Devarajan, Liquid CEO, “'18 Days' takes one of the most enduring tales of the East and places it in the capable hands of Grant Morrison, one of the greatest storytellers of the West. Combined with the visual spectacle of Mukesh Singh's artwork, this is a book that goes beyond myth, beyond generations and beyond borders.”

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Tuesday, June 01, 2010

How to live their lives, where to work, whom to marry, etc.

Cut to Deoband, a small town in western UP, famous for the Sunni Islamic seminary of Darul Uloom. The recent fatwa calling women working alongside men un-Islamic finds resonance among students and teachers here. A prominent Muslim cleric of international repute and the senior-most teacher of the Darul Uloom, Maulana Arshad Madni, says, “Every religion has specific guidelines for men and women which define what is allowed or disallowed for them to do. If any person asks what is permitted under his religion, then his religious head will guide him as per the teachings of that particular religion. As far as Islam is concerned, it prohibits neither men nor women from working but it has certain guidelines. If any Muslim is not following the guidelines, it does not mean that the person ceases to be a Muslim. However, he will surely be a sinner.”

But if Muslim women or 50 per cent of the Muslim people do not work, won’t that affect the economic condition of the community, he says, “In our country itself we still have separate schools for girls. So, if we can have institutions only for women then we can have workplaces exclusively for women too. As far as definition of progress is concerned, it is different for different people. For us, a good family unit and health of the society is more important than materialistic progress.”

He further added that most Muslims did not make an issue out of the fatwas. When asked whether there exist Islamic bodies which examine modern-day issues which find no mention in the Quran or the Hadiths like shares, eye and blood donation etc., he says, “We have such bodies in India which take stock of such issues and then take decisions.”

Justifying the recent fatwa, the president of All India Tanzeem Ulema-e-Hind, Syed Ahmed Khizar Shah Masoodi Kashmiri, says, “Islam gives equal rights to both men and women but also demarcates their domains which are important as well as inevitable to run a good system”. In support of his statement, Ahmed Khizar argues, “If both of us decide to build a house and both of us just start mixing sand and cement, then will we be able to build a house? Obviously not, because we need a labourer to do this mixing work and a specialist mason who will construct the house. In the same way, Islam has defined separate roles for men and women.”

However, TSI found that maulvis were not averse to using modern technology to issue fatwas. Muhammad Arshad Farooqui, chairman of Fatwa on Mobile Service, claims to use mobile for issuing speedy fatwas and says on an average at least five such fatwas are issued daily. He says he started this service three years back to save time and cost. “Most of the queries are regarding business, bank interest, shares, divorce and namaz,” he adds. At Darul Ifta (House of Fatwa), all records are maintained regarding fatwas. No mufti was ready to come on record but an official of Darul Uloom tells TSI on the condition of anonymity that about 30 to 35 fatwas are issued daily and about a thousand fatwas every month.

A senior cleric adds that Darul Ifta is not a court and neither a fatwa is a court ruling. So if a person does not adhere to a fatwa, it is not a crime. But since the widespread belief is that a fatwa is like a court ruling which has to be implemented at any cost, Khalid Ashraf, who teaches Urdu at Kirori Mal College, Delhi, opines that there is a need for Muslim religious leaders to introspect. He warns that continuing with this fatwa culture will darken the future of the community. He further adds that modern education is the only weapon to challenge such orthodox thinking and that Muslims should come out in the open against such clerics. “It is not a question of introspection but looking at things more realistically,” he concludes.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Monday, May 03, 2010

Family ties unearthed!

What’s common between Madonna and Ellen DeGeneres? One is a dancer, the other likes to dance; one is a legendary pop singer while the other is a judge at the “American Idol”. Closer scrutiny reveals that the two were born in the same year and both of them have also penned books. Genealogy researchers at Ancestry.com though have come up with the most shocking connection between the two yet – Martin Aucoin, their 10th great grandfather! That’s right Madonna and Ellen are 11th cousins! Martin’s two daughters apparently left France and settled in Nova Scotia, and while Ellen’s family left Canada in late 1700s, Madonna’s family relocated in late 1870s. Wonder if others in this family tree are equally talented…

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Friday, April 30, 2010

Her own woman

Right from her evocative, sensitive and moving cinematic essay on loneliness, fleeting joys and heartbreak of an Anglo-Indian spinster (“36 Chowringhee Lane”) to her last, a dramatic, powerful, even cathartic take on the life and time of a schizophrenic (“15 Park Avenue”) which incidentally fetched her yet another prestigious National Award), film-maker Aparna Sen has consciously continued to hit the road, less travelled. More “humanist” than “feminist”, her leitmotif/themes – loneliness, primal truths, emotionally, mentally, physically challenged – resonate with a universality that engages, enriches and empower in one glorious sweep. Her latest film – “The Japanese Wife” – promises to be yet another masterpiece from this amazing story-teller. In this exclusive interview with Monojit Lahiri, Aparna Sen lays it on the line…

First things first. Contrary to a belief in some circles that “The Japanese Wife” (TJW) marks a total departure from her earlier work, the Director Sahiba is at pains to explain that this is not so. “Loneliness defines the persona of at least 3 – the man, the Japanese wife and the widow who takes shelter in his house – of the 5 main characters of the film. However, it is different in one aspect – it is not my story but somebody (Kunal Basu) else’s”. She admits to being completely blown and bowled over, (during a casual narration by the author) by this amazingly unusual love story about a cross-cultural marriage between two people who never actually meet or see each other! “It was so cinematic, held such scope for great, exciting visuals that it really got to me! The sheer improbability of it all, the magical innocence and the pristine love that colours the storyline – in a world constantly confronted with mindless violence and mockery of basic human values – really fascinated me. Right there and then I warned him that he dare not give the story to anyone because I was going to translate it to a feature film”. She laughs. “He sweetly and charmingly agreed, instantly. Fact is, he was familiar with my work and I guess, knew that I would take pains to capture the essence and spirit of the story in its entirety with the required sensitivity, truth and power without distorting it”.

For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Cruising Heights

Her life defines expedition. At 19, Krushnaa Patil is the youngest Indian to scale the Everest (2009), and has already been bestowed with numerous accolades including the Rajiv Gandhi Woman Achiever Award (2009), Indira Gandhi Award (2009) and Young Achiever Award (2009). The only woman from India planning to climb the highest peaks in every continent – only three to go – Krushnaa describes her precocious ascent to Spriha Srivastava

What drew you to mountaineering?

It’s just a year or two back that I consciously decided to pursue mountaineering. My mother had initiated me into adventure sports when I was in third standard. I used to go for treks, rock climbing, river crossing. My family would go to the Himalayas in the summers. So I’m sort of addicted to the mountains. I did my first adventure course in Uttarkashi when I was 15. I managed this along with my school during the winter break in 12th standard. Later in 2007, I did my basic mountaineering course from Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. Then in 2008, I went for advance course and excelled in it.

What is mountaineering training like?

We start with basic things like running for about 6 kms every morning at 5 am. We are not allowed to wear caps or sweaters, no hands in pockets, no gloves… We have to train ourselves to carry 15 kgs on our back. There’s rock craft which includes rock climbing, defending on rocks, camping on rocks, how to fix ropes on rocks. Then there’s ice craft which includes everything to do with ice, how to climb on a vertical ice wall, how to set up camps in snow etc. We are also trained on what to do in an avalanche. The last level is when we go to a height of 16,000 ft. They are very strict – it’s almost like a military training.

What are the basic strengths or skills required to pursue a course in mountaineering?

I would say physical fitness is very important. You know, about 90 girls join the course, 75 do the whole course and only about 15 get an A grade. It’s a very tough course; apart from physical fitness, one has to be mentally inclined and prepared to do this.

How much would you attribute to mental strength for achieving the feat that you have?

70 per cent. Physical strength can always be developed, but mental strength doesn’t come easy. For example, if you’re phobic or nervous about something, there’s little you can do about it. Physical strengths like building stamina can however be worked on.

How did your parents react to your decision of pursuing mountaineering and your 7-Summit quest?

They were very supportive. In fact, during my first expedition, my team leader called up my mother to tell her that nobody’s return is guaranteed. She told my mom of incidents where people lost lives and wanted to know if she was okay with that. My mother just said yes. She didn’t want to stop me from doing something that I really wanted to. My dad was a little scared and apprehensive but no one really stopped me.

What was the scariest incident that you encountered during an expedition?

On the Everest we lost one of our sherpas in an avalanche while coming down. That was one of the toughest moments that I faced. To actually be in a situation where you lose someone forever, that’s really tough to battle.

Is scaling Mt Everest the hardest of all? Which has been your toughest climb?

There are peaks that are tougher than the Everest. The climb of Aconcagua in South America and Vinson Massif in Antarctica were more difficult. Actually, it depends on the weather too. When I climbed the Everest, the weather was brilliant. It was easy for me. But someone who has faced bad weather would say that the Everest is the toughest. It also depends on how fit one is. When I scaled the Everest I was extremely fit, so it wasn’t very difficult as others say it is. The degree of difficulty varies from person to person.

You are a member of Women Adventure Network of India. What is that all about?

It is an association of senior women mountaineers of India. The basic motto is to empower women through adventure. We’ve planned a cycling expedition (in November), called ‘Go Green Girl’, from Kolkata to Kanyakumari. We want to instill confidence in women through these initiatives and get them to experience activities that are wrongly believed to be only for men.

How do you think adventure sports can be made popular in India? Can the government help?

The government is already doing quite a lot. We have very good courses in mountaineering in India. Then, they can obviously help with more expeditions.

In India, do you see enough youngsters participating in adventure sports?

I definitely think adventure sports are getting popular, especially with corporate offices encouraging team building and training programmes that include a lot of adventure sports. I also think parents need to encourage children to go ahead and participate in adventure sports, and maybe even make a career in it.
For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2009


An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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