catalysts of change
Transcription
catalysts of change
PEOPLE RAVINDER SINGH TRANSIT LOUNGE KITU GIDWANI ENTERTAINMENT SEASON OF BREAK-UPS Citynews dlf March 2016 Vol. 9 Issue 12 ` 50 AWARDS FOR DLF Sword of Honour & Five-Star Rating From British Safety Council For Best Practices P-30 + WINE & DINE Innovation & Quirky Ideas Fuel Growth Of Concept Restaurants P-50 CATALYSTS OF CHANGE To Mark International Women’s Day Some Success Stories Which Inspire and Empower P-24 Citynews dlf 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 (*Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act) Printed and published by Vinay Jha on behalf of DLF Utilities Ltd, Shopping Mall, 3rd Floor, Arjun Marg, DLF City Phase I, Gurgaon -122002 Printed at G.H. Prints Pvt Ltd, A 256, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase –I, New Delhi - 110020 Envee Media is not responsible for the loss of or damage to unsolicited artworks and photographs, including transparencies and products, manuscripts or other material of a similar nature. The writing, artwork, photographs, graphics and illustrations published in this magazine may not be used or reproduced without a written permission from Envee Media. While all efforts have been made when it comes to the content compiled for themagazine, Envee Media assumes no responsibility for the effects arising there from Letters: [email protected] It was a tough decision to make when they decided to take a path less trodden. Many years down the line, they are happy that they decided to go forth and pursue their dreams. On the eve of International Women’s Day, our Cover Story salutes the spirit of a group of women whose life stories inspire respect. That some of them plunged headlong into professions which had traditionally been male-dominated only goes to underline their indomitable spirit. In People, we bring to you the bitter-sweet journey of engineer-turned author Ravinder Singh who took to writing after his love story turned into a tragedy. Singh, now a best-selling author, talks about this and several other defining moments which have shaped his life. In Transit Lounge, we host the versatile actor Kitu Gidwani. In the city recently for a play, she discusses her love for theatre and her experiences in the film industry. Concept restaurants are all the rage in Gurgaon these days. It’s all about innovation and the quirkiness quotient, we find out as we speak to restaurateurs and experts in our Wine & Dine section. In Travel Talk, we take you to the idyllic surroundings of Lansdowne in the Garhwal hills which make for an ideal weekend getaway. Closer home, we rediscover Mehrauli through an interesting walk through history and archaeolog VINAY JHA Editor @DlfCityNews DLF City News Citynews.dlf dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 03 I N S I D E 11 12 34 37 55 59 61 65 Colours of Holi Sufi Night School Round-up Say No To Plastics Pet Care Helpline The City Elders Movie Previews Citynews dlf March 2016 VOL 09 Issue 12 Wine & Dine Concept Restaurants 50 Passionate entrepreneurs share their personal ethos through concept based restaurants where both ambience and food impart a slice of life experience. Innovation is the buzzword these days and why not since everybody seems to be lapping it up! Faces 14 Snapshots Cricket Lounge 36 The Ishara Puppet Festival celebrated its 14th year with enthralling performances Rapid Metro offers a one-ofits-kind experience 18 People The ‘King of Romance writing’, Ravinder Singh shares moments of grief 30 Sword of Honour Recognises DLF’s adherence to world class safety & compliance standards 40 Women’s Health The Mehrauli Archaeological Walk was a treat for history enthusiasts 41 Travel Talk Lansdowne recreates old world charm in the midst of a disciplined military cantonment Social Quotient 46 The state-of-the-art business district in Kolkata has been designed with finesse and has ample working space DLF Foundation receives the coveted Golden Peacock Award for contribution to the CSR sector Snapshots Book Launch 44 Sightseeing Effective treatment of Osteoporosis involves stopping further bone loss 32 Project Update MUST READ MUST READ 08 The era of ‘middles’ may be far from over, proves Gurgaon resident Krishan Kalra Relationships 48 Relationships need nurturing and communication is the key, say experts on Valentine’s Day Snapshots Surajkund Revisited 66 Last Word Deepika & Vin Diesel begin shooting for xXx: The Return of Xander Cage 20 Reggie Aggarwal Aggarwal is recognized as ‘one of the 25 most influential people in the meetings industry’ 62 Kitu Gidwani The actor known for her TV appearances continues to court her first love – theatre! 64 Celeb Talk Season of break-ups continues; ViratAnushka, Farhan-Adhuna hog the headlines 06 I March 2016 I dlf Citynews 17 Senior Citizen Mohan Gulrajani compares the past and the present Page 7 >>> For Advertising, Please Contact: Page 9 >>> 9810563407 SNAPSHOTS BOOK LAUNCH Potpourri of Everyday Life: Krishan Kalra Releases an Anthology by DCN Bureau The All India Management Association lawns glittered with corporate and literary luminaries on 8th February evening as they came to congratulate Gurgaon resident Krishan Kalra for publishing an anthology of his writings over the years. Past President of AIMA, Krishan Kalra told DCN, “I was writing “middles” for almost 25 years. Nearly 300 of my pieces have appeared in national dailies like the TOI, HT, Indian Express, Statesman and Pioneer. Sadly, almost all papers have now discontinued that genre of articles. LiFi Publications Pvt Ltd. has brought out a collection of 100 middles written by me which was released by AIMA.” 8 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews The foreword of this collection is written by Dr Amit Mitra, Finance Minister of West Bengal while the book was released by the eminent journalist and columnist Shekhar Gupta. Gupta, in his inimitable style, regaled the audience with newsroom tales. He described the genesis of a middle and reasons why leading dailies have stopped publishing them even as he referred to Kalra’s book as “a slice of life”! Distinguished management guru, Padma Bhushan awardee, Dr M.B. Athreya, journalist Leher Kala and Director General AIMA Rekha Sethi also appreciated the consistent effort by Kalra who has been writing letters to the editor as well as middles in a consistent manner over the years. As the panel addressed the packed 150 seater auditorium, it was evident that the anthology had touched many hearts with its simplicity and eegance. Kalra, who is a regular contributor for DLF City News, calls the anthology, “Light, anytime reading as these are my reflections on everyday life, an interesting encounter, an emotional interlude, often with a touch of irony, anti-climax or humour.” ø SNAPSHOTS CITY LIGHTS THEATRE HOLI Three Single Friends Mingle & Come Up With A Brilliant Play by DCN Bureau For theatre lovers, it was indeed a treat to watch fine actors like Kitu Gidwani, Rituraj K Singh and Amit Dolawat, performing a light-hearted romantic play, with a touch of humour that kept them in splits even as it sensitively portrayed the subject of changing definitions of relationships in modern times. The introspective comedy that pushes the boundaries of sexuality starts with the girl ending up being intimate with one of two guys even as she is committed to the other and is about to get married to him. Eventually she realises that she doesn’t have to get married to feel settled in life even as she discovers that her friend cum fiancée actually feels more inclined towards men. The play gives across the message that it is important to 10 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews love yourself, accept who you are and do what your heart says. Directed by award winning theatre director Smita Bharti and Padma Damodaran, the play exhorts the audience to let go of their pre-conceived notions of labelling certain aspects of people as acceptable or unacceptable and invites them to escape the realms of ‘tolerant’ or ‘intolerant thoughts’. Speaking to DCN, Rituraj K Singh said, “I find theatre most challenging. I also feel that real world too is like a stage where you have to perform. On why he decided to do the play, he informed, “The first reading of this script and I made up my mind. The play is about human relations and sexual orientations which need to be understood. It’s a part of the world we are living in. My character Honey is the voice of the script, literally shaking his friends to own up to certain truths.” For young actor Amit Dolawat too, the script was the deciding factor. “I found it very exciting. It has been a great experience working with this wonderful unit. There was a lot of bonding and the beautiful atmosphere helped bring out amazing performances.” Speaking about the challenges in getting a play together, director Smita Bharti said, “The first is the idea and then the crafting of the story where you have loads of ideas bouncing in. The next stage requires seclusion from the world to write your characters and script and based on the characters, the auditions are carried out to select them. Finally once the play is ready, the next difficult task is the staging. So, conceiving a play and making it a reality is no joke.” ø The United Colours of Celebration! Gurgaonites are all set to celebrate Holi, the festival of colours, later this month. Avid photography enthusiaist Gaurang Tambi shares snapshots of how some city residents marked the day last year. The 23-year-old mechanical engineer says that he’s always had this habit of capturing what he sees around him as images that tell a story. dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 11 SNAPSHOTS SUFI NIGHT A Mystical Treat By ‘The Soul’ by DCN Bureau It was a slightly windy winter evening when the chill in the air merged with soulful strings to create magic! The ‘Sufi Evening’ organised by GEMS Modern Academy, (GMA) South City II was indeed a mystical treat for the parents and school staff as ‘The Soul’ band left them mesmerised with their performance. While songs like ‘Dama dum mast kalandar’ compelled many to get up and dance to the beats of music, the band also kept the crowd hooked to their seats with soulful numbers like ‘Main tainu samjhaawan’, ‘Main toh tere pyar mein deewani’, ‘Jugni’ and other Sufi hits by Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Abida Parveen, Sabri Brothers, Junoon (band), Wadali brothers, Mika Singh, Reshma and Runa Laila. The guest of honour for the evening was Suraj Pal Amu, President Haryana Gymnastics Association. Also present were senior executives of the GEMS family including Major General Sunil Chandra, Chief of Operations, GEMS Education India; Rajat Shail Kumar, President K-12 Business, GEMS Education India and Sachin Dhingra, Group Head – Legal & Compliance, GEMS Education India. Speaking on the occasion, GMA Principal, Punam Singhal said, “We at GEMS strongly believe that exposing children to all genres of performing arts will help them develop holistically. It is extremely important for all students to get an exposure in the fields of sports, drama, performing and visual arts. The Sufi night was an endeavour to promote performing arts and also make parents understand that this could also be 12 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews Gurgaonites were seen enjoying the Sufi tunes a great career option.” Interestingly, the school had made separate arrangements for the students, keeping them engrossed in various activities, so that the parents could enjoy the evening without any worries. So while the children were colouring, watching films and munching goodies, parents could chill for a while! Meanwhile, the band also thoroughly enjoyed performing at the school. A band with expertise in fusing Indian Classical with westernised styles, The Soul, had won the “Battles of Band” at Garden of Five Senses way back in 2010 and also been selected for reality show ‘India’s Got Talent’. It has worked with “Sahara Samay” for one and a half years and performed for several corporates including Reliance and Tata Indicom. ø SNAPSHOTS PUPPET FESTIVAL Creative Displays Enthral Gurgaonites by DCN Bureau Storytelling found a perfect medium in ‘puppetry’ as various countries came together for the Ishara International Puppet Festival at Epicentre, Gurgaon recently. With each participating nation showcasing its distinct puppet show, bringing in an element of innovation in concepts, colours, music and imagination, all eyes were on the stage even as the crowd was left wanting for more. The countries which took part in the fes- tival included Egypt, Italy, Switzerland, India, Sweden, Russia, USA, Iran and Afghanistan. Each of them mesmerised the audience with their creativity. The group from Egypt showcased a unique celebration of the folk tales of Egypt through a wide variety of highly entertaining acts. This musical show featured a spectacular Sufi dance performance on stage incorporating puppets, something which had never been seen before. The Italian puppets depicted phantasmagorical Carnival starring actors, puppets, rag dolls, animated figures, and symbols from past ages in a sequence of amusing, poetic and thrilling events. The show presented by the group from Iran was a touching one. It showed how wasting water causes drought, and ‘so Mr. Foot was looking for a drop of water for his flowerpot while a battle was taking place for an empty water bottle!’ For Russia, the puppet signified the Petrushka, a performance which created the original atmosphere of cheerful Russian Fair. Petrushka is the main The 14th Ishara International Puppet Festival at Epicentre was a treat for the audience character of the traditional, national popular puppet show, over 300 years old. For the one from Sweden, the variety came in the form of a medley of marionette sketches that were performed in different techniques such as string marionettes and bunraku puppet. The one from USA was a big hit among children. Paul Mesner Puppets presented the tale of Little Red Riding Hood accompanied by a collection of American folk and traditional rhymes. Performed with beautifully crafted glove, rod and hand puppets, this show used humorous wordplay to 14 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews explore the playful quality of the English language. Surprisingly, the Indian one also caught the attention of the kids. Since it was about a baby dinosaur looking for his mother, kids identified with it very closely. The most sensational aspect of puppet shows is the creativity in presenting the acts which requires years of practice. Only then, they come across as entertaining shows. And, this international saga for sure entertained the audience, who were full of praise for the brilliant presentation by the teams. ø dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 15 SNAPSHOTS SNAPSHOTS ACHIEVERS NIGHT SURAJKUND CRAFTS MELA DLF Expresses DOWN MEMORY LANE Appreciation for Its Associates by Mohan Gulrajani by DCN Bureau DLF recently hosted an ‘Achievers’ Night’ at Golf Club, DLF 5 for its international property consultants and brokerage community with who the company has been working with for many years. The evening started with National Director, DLF Offices, Amit Grover’s welcome address. While thanking CEO, DLF Rentco Ltd, Sriram Khattar, for giving a new perspective to the whole business, he said, “I am truly indebted to all our friends who have contributed to the portfolio of DLF offices. When I joined in 2003, the office space was one to eight million square feet and today it is as much as 30 million square feet thanks to the leadership support and the inputs we have received. This evening is dedicated to each and every one who has helped us in the take-off of every project including our brokers and consultants”. Explaining how DLF had spread its 16 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews wings across six cities including Delhi, Gurgaon, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Bhubaneshwar, Grover went on to talk about some of the upcoming projects by DLF. The evening commenced with the awards being given away to various teams like CBRE, Colliers, Cushman and Wakefield, JLL and Knight Frank by Khattar. He was accompanied by Senior Vice-President, DLF Utilities Ltd, Pushpa Bector, and EVP Operations and Technical Services, DLF, Gautam Dey. Brand and Equity partner Thinking Cap was also appreciated for its continuous efforts. Appreciating Grover’s decision to make this an annual event, Khattar said, “From next year onwards, we will also have a proper jury that will look into the selection of all awards. Since this was the first attempt, this should be considered a ‘practice’ year”. After the award ceremony, Grover called his entire team on stage Sriram Khattar addresses the gathering (above); the award winners (top and middle) to thank them for their hard work. Meanwhile, the guests also had their share of fun as comedians entertained them with their energy-ridden performances while the Saregama Band made it a lively atmosphere ø Our recent visit to the Surajkund Mela brought back a lot of good old memories, those of late 80s and 90s when the mela was a fixed feature in our annual calendar. With our young growing children, we used to have a good family time out there, admiring the intricate products made by the craftsmen (artists, painters, weavers and sculptors) from all across the country, relishing the local food from the various stalls and enjoying the puppet shows that took place near the entry gate. Those days, the mela, now held during the first fortnight of February, used to be organised by the office of Handloom Development Commissioner. In fact, our visit this time around, came almost after a lapse of over 20 years! Although it was in the planning stage for the past couple of years, this time we finally decided to go and see the much enhanced and enlarged version of the mela which now boasts of international participation as well. Appropriately renamed as the ‘Surajkund International Craft Mela’, it is now being organised by the Surajkund Mela Authority & Haryana Tourism in collaboration with Union Ministries of Tourism, Textiles, Culture and External Affairs. The Google Map indicated that it was very easy to reach the mela via GurgaonFaridabad road in just 40-50 minutes without encountering any traffic jams. The ride was smooth and took us to the Entry Gate No. 2 located on the Faridabad side. Entry tickets were reasonably priced at Rs. 80 per person and easy to get with 50% concession for senior citizens and free entry for school going children on production of age or ID proof. On entry, we found that the mela had 1071 huts divided into five zones named after various seasons - Winter, Autumn, Summer, Spring and Monsoon. These zones had an ATM, snack shop, toilet, chaupals, openair theatres and even selfie points (a new age concept). China was the partner country since 2016 is being celebrated as the ‘Year of China in India’ and Telangana, the newly formed state was the ‘theme state’. The theme state showcased its handicrafts, handlooms, performing arts, cuisine and tourist potential. Some of the products on display and sale included paintings, textiles, wood stock, ivory work, pottery, terracotta, stonework, lac work, cane and grass work. Particularly interesting products were sandalwood and rosewood carving from South India, chikri woodcraft of Kashmir, fine cane craft and kantha from West Bengal, phulkari embroidery of Punjab, banjara and bunni embroidery of Gujarat and chikan work of Lucknow. The prices were relatively low and there was scope for bargaining and getting 10 to 15% discount. Ram leela was being enacted in one of the theatres and we were infor med that various renowned national and inter national folk artistes and cultural g roups were scheduled to perfor m at both the chaupals and the open-air theatres. After briefly going around the notso-exciting inter national stalls, we decided to end our little tour but not before relishing some Hyderabadi biryani from the food court, which had stalls serving authentic cuisine from various states. While retur ning from the mela, it almost felt as if we just had a trip to ‘Delhi Haat’! As compared to our earlier visits, although we found little incremental innovation in the handmade or homemade products, it was definitely a much more colourful affair. S o, a l l of thos e who have b een g o in g to Cotta g e I nd us tri es Empo riu m and S tate Emp ori ums on B aba K a r ak S i ngh Marg may substitute one of their visits with a trip to Surajkund Mela. It for sure is worth visiting! ø dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 17 people RAVINDER SINGH Bestselling author Ravinder Singh who is now based in Gurgaon, chronicles a remarkable journey that emanated from pain and has now become a healer for fans and readers by Meenakshi Sharma “I Too Had a Love Story” 18 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews Chatting with Ravinder Singh makes one realise the true import of the aphorism, ‘Truth is stranger than fiction!’ Born in a humble Sikh family, Singh grew up in the Gurudwara compound of Burla in Odisha’s Sambalpur district where his father was the head priest and his mother a dedicated homemaker. Recalling the simplicity of those days, he says, “Burla then had no book shops, not even a traffic light and I had to study in schools which were chosen based on their fees while I made use of second hand books …my education was restricted to charitable schools and colleges where either my fees were waived off or where I managed a scholarship!” Despite the hard life, there was a dream Ravinder’s romance writing has captured the imagination of the Indian youth run of sorts for this hard working and idealistic young man who appeared for Army and Navy entrance exams but opted to complete a Computer Engineering degree from a college in Karnataka. It was his individual efforts again that managed to bag him a prestigious Infosys job where he was coding. “I still recall my Infosys employee code as this job meant a lot to me,” confesses Singh. He remembers the excitement of his new-found affluence and how his life steadily transformed for the better. “Burla to Belgium is how my friends teased me when I proceeded to Belgium for an assignment,” he reminiscences. It was at the same time that he and his four friends (who also appear in his first book) began creating matrimonial profiles on marriage portal Shaadi.com. This is how he met his soulmatedream girl Khushi who was eventually immortalised in his first book, I Too Had A Love Story. Theirs was a fairy tale romance that largely bloomed on the phone and on email even though they did manage to meet twice for no more than a few hours. It was when they announced an engagement for Valentine Day in 2007 that fate struck a cruel blow on an impressionable young Singh who lost Khushi in a car accident just five days before they were due to be formally engaged. “I was devastated and lost faith in God, the Master who never came to my rescue even though I had been a devout all my life. I gave up the turban and felt suffocated in the faith I had. Though my father understood my pain, he was hurt and did not speak to me for a year,” narrates Singh, who admits that he had never read a book in his life and yet wanted to write his story. This is when his mentor at Infosys recommended that he read Erich Segal’s Love Story. He did and so I Too Had A Love Story was born. His debut novel, he admits, brought him the much-needed closure. He kept in touch with Khushi’s family and her dad even edited the first draft of the book. Ravinder Singh I had to study in schools which were chosen based on their fees while I made use of second hand books …my education was restricted to charitable schools and colleges where either my fees were waived off or where I managed a scholarship. Though finding a publisher was a real struggle, once he did, there was no looking back and Ravin, the protagonist, became an overnight cult figure. “The book sold over a million copies and has been able to immortalise Khushi. People talk about her as if she is alive,” he explains. Not just Infosys, where he worked, but even the Shaadi. com CEO promoted the book as he remembers telling him how that website was the forum where he found his love. In fact, he met his now wife Khushboo through the same quirk of fate where she connected with him because his story touched her and she went to pray for him. He smiles as he relates the karmic connections, “Her email id till today is ‘Khushi’; she went to the Gurudwara to pray for me and there was so much empathy that we connected and decided to get married.” It was around the same time that he wrote, Can Love Happen Twice? which coincided with his new found love for Khushboo and is based on his interactions with fans. Being a goal oriented man, Singh was also working towards the realisation of his dream of doing a premium MBA and when he got into ISB Hyderabad, it became one of those lifetime experiences that he still cherishes. It also helped him land a prestigious job with Microsoft which he loved initially but gave up once again in pursuit of a creative dream. Your Dreams Are Mine Now was his next novel set in the atmosphere of anger and agitation following the December 16, 2012 gang-rape in Delhi. He remembers how that revolution instilled a ray of hope and faith. He has now settled into his role as writer and mentor while wife Khushboo chases a corporate career which has brought them to the Millennium City. Ravinder Singh has become a creative factory - not just creating his own stories but also helping others get published. As a mentor and a launch pad for aspiring authors, he has published anthologies as well as edited and produced books by three authors. Speaking of this new phase in life, he remarks, “ I am a storyteller and so my dreams are about all mediums that support stories- cinema, TV, books or adaptations! “ ø dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 19 PEOPLE FACE OF THE MONTH reggie Aggarwal Founder and CEO of Cvent H eads a cloud-based enterprise event management platform, was named CEO of the Year and Most Admired by the Washington Business Journal What have been the highlights of your entrepreneurial journey? While working as a lawyer in Washington, DC and organising events for a non-profit outfit that I started called the India CEO Technology Council, I realised how painful it was to organise events and resolved to create the aspirin for these pain points. I started Cvent in 1999 and we now have more than 1,900 employees and 10 offices around the world. Over the last 16 years, my team and I have built an unbelievable culture and accomplished many key milestones. One of my proudest moments was going public on the New York Stock Exchange in August 2013. What have been the biggest challenges that you faced and how did you deal with them? Cvent grew from five employees to 125 in late 1999 when the dot-com meltdown and reality hit us. We had signed a five-year lease for space, but by 2001, we were just one payroll away from running out of money and were forced to cut 80 percent of our staff. We were left with an office for 250, but had only 26 employees, and our landlord wouldn’t reduce our rent unless I personally signed the renegotiated lease. Not ready to give up, and with the support of my team, we doubled down and essentially signed the lease. We went back to the basics and by 2003, we became profitable again when the first rays of hope began to show. What are your thoughts on the growth of Gurgaon and your experience with the office here? Gurgaon is the biggest hub of outsourcing in India but what our employees in India do is far more than low cost back-end work. We invest heavily in our employees because they make up the DNA of our organisation. I have personally spent a lot of time with our HR department in India with our recruiting efforts and am very bullish on Gurgaon shifting from BPO centric businesses to product-centric businesses. dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 21 FEATURE R-DAY Republic Day Celebrated With Full Fervour by DCN Bureau Republic Day is one of those days when one can literally feel patriotism in the air because the celebrations are always an elaborate affair in every city, every state. And, Gurgaon is no exception. Like every year, this time too, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar hoisted the National Flag at a gala official function at Tau Devi Lal Stadium while the entire city immersed in patriotic celebrations. The stadium at Rajiv Chowk showcased the spirit of patriotism as people joined in huge numbers for the celebrations. From the march past and motor bike stunts of police personnel to dance performances and plays by school students, the stadium witnessed a number of activities besides the flag hoisting ceremony. While the Chief Minister was the chief guest, several MLAs and Deputy Commissioner TL Satyaprakash were also present on the occasion. Celebrations were also visibly evident in various condominiums, sectors and 22 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews societies. Besides hoisting the flags, the residents came up with a variety of cultural programmes and activities for young and old including patriotic runs to set the tone for the day. Residents of Sector 17, who have been celebrating the day for the last 25 years, were all geared up this time too as they organised an interesting array of activities as per different age groups. So, there was a baby show for those in the age group of one to three, painting competition for those in the bracket of four to nine years, lemon-spoon race for children in the age group of nine to 16, sack race for couples and musical chair competitions for those above 50. The scenario was no different for residents of Iffco Colony, South City, Sushant Lok, Park Place, The Pinnacle, Hamilton Court, Nirvana Country, Sector 15, Old Gurgaon and New Gurgaon as they hoisted the flag and enjoyed the day through different activities. Residents of Park Place, in particular, celebrated the occasion in full spirit, across their sprawling Central Lawns. “A free dental check up camp was organised for the residents and drawing competition was held for kids of different age groups. Various sports activities like tug-of-war, lemon spoon race and sack race were also organised. That apart, cricket, football, tennis and basketball competitions were also held and prizes given away. The best part was that there were various food stalls that kept the residents energised throughout the day” said Pooja Kargupta and Deepak, residents of Park Place. On the other hand, for those like Suresh Krishnan, who had never experienced the life of a gated colony before, the Republic Day celebrations had turned extra special! “I am new to Pinnacle and I thoroughly enjoyed this experience along with my wife. Besides flag hoisting, several activities were organised for children and women in our lawn. I strongly believe that it is very important to celebrate Republic Day as youngsters need to be aware about the formation and launch of constitution on this great day,” said Krishnan. Reshma Sinha Roy, another Pinnacle resident, added, “We have a wonderful community and that is the reason we enjoy so much. Be it Republic Day or any other festival, we always come together for the celebrations”. ø COVER STORY WOMEN ACHIEVERS Gurgaon’s Change Catalysts On the eve of International Women’s Day, we look at some successful women from diverse fields whose lives inspire and empower Looking back at her own family from Uttar Pradesh, she agrees that society and people’s perceptions have changed over time and they are far more accepting of her long hours than was imaginable many years ago. Now she has a fine standing in the family even as they look forward to her ‘fancy cooking’. “I don’t mind cooking some special dishes for them as they love it,” she says of her willingness to oblige relatives and friends. Needless to say, Chauhan gives credit to the family support that helped her follow her passion for cooking a foreign cuisine. She points out that “Work-life balance in this industry is very difficult to maintain and it is the support of my mother, my mother in law and my husband which has allowed me to achieve this much”. She recalls how her mother even came and lived with her when her son was just born so that she could pay attention to her career. “Even now she is available to me at a moment’s notice,” she says with a sense of relief. With a secure personal life and a fast growing professional expertise fuelled by the love for oriental cuisine, it is sheer joy to see Chauhan whip up the finest sushi and sashimi in town even while she effortlessly bounces off names of complex ingredients with the panache that makes her one of the most respected names in the field of Japanese cuisine in India. by Meenakshi Sharma & Reena Dhankher This is a male-dominated profession. But as long as you stay strong, sharp and perfect, you can do anything Bharti Chauhan [ Senior Sous Chef ] Spunky and feisty, these are women who have had the guts and gumption to take challenges head on. As they acknowledge the role of hard work and passion in fulfilment of their dreams, they also salute their family for the support that helped them become ‘Catalysts for Change’. Queen Of Oriental Cuisine The sheer contrast between the glitz and glamour of Gurgaon’s luxurious Trident Hotel and the disarming simplicity and humility of Senior Sous Chef Bharti Chauhan ,who handles the Japanese restaurant Konomi, brings out the role that passion and determination plays in achieving goals set out for oneself. Chauhan is used to being called a ‘star performer’ of their show kitchen so it is no surprise to her that Executive Chef Sandeep Kalra recommends her strongly as he highlights that it is her skill, expertise and commitment which has given such a fairy tale quality to her life journey. “I started my career with Jaypee Mussourie,” recalls the proud mother of a five-year-old son who chooses to underplay her accomplishments. After a stint at The Leela, Bengaluru, it was Hyatt, Delhi’s Teppanyaki Kitchen that helped her make a mark in oriental cuisine before spending nine of her most fruitful years with Konomi. Her oriental expertise extends to Thai and Korean with the ‘Sushi’ speciality becoming legendary. So perfect is that Japanese vibe that it is hard to believe that she has not been born and brought up in Japan. No wonder, she found her vibe matching well with Master chefs like Ramon who mentored her and all those Japanese and European guests who come to Konomi to enjoy her delicacies. With 15 years experience in five star kitchens, she still admits, “This is a 24 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews Giving Wings To Her Dreams I went to get a private flying licence and in my first flight, I fell in love and I was totally smitten by the flying bug Capt. Sonica Chhabra [ Pilot, Jet Airways ] male-dominated profession. But as long as you stay strong, sharp and perfect, you can do anything”. There is a quiet determination in this spunky woman who is “passionate, goal focused and a good planner” by her own admission. While she is shy in admitting that she likes the compliments that regularly come her way, she says that she loves being compared to “Michelin Star Chefs”. If you love what you do, work is sheer joy, says Capt. Sonica Chhabra who wanted to fly high and is now living her dream. It was a summer holiday in the US that made Chhabra recognise her true passion. “I went to get a private flying licence and in my first flight, I fell in love and I was totally smitten by the flying bug,” she recalls. Today, Chhabra has many firsts to her credit – One of the first few women to dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 25 COVER STORY WOMEN ACHIEVERS “Watching this city grow in a haphazard manner prompted a group of us to start Iamgurgaon in 2009 to create a platform that enables every citizen of Gurgaon to work towards improving every aspect of life in the Millennium City,” she says. Her name is also synonymous with the popular Raahgiri DayTM which she describes as “a weekly street event which provides citizens with the opportunity to reclaim their streets, connect with their community, celebrate their city and therefore reclaim their lives. It is a carfree day, where streets are made open for all and safe for walking, jogging, running and other defined activities”. Speaking of some of her other pet projects, she tells us about the Aravali Biodiversity Park which was developed to showcase the finest forests of Northern Aravali range. “With over 250 species of native plants species (trees, shrubs, herbs, climbers and grasses) and a pristine habitat for birds (resident as well as migratory) and wild animals (Civet cats, jackal, Neelgai and reptiles etc.) of the Gurgaon region, this was an attempt to recover the landscape from the scars of the quarrying activities and merge Reducing garbage can be done by each one of us even without government intervention organically into the surrounding,” she explains. Currently involved with the “Bring your own bag for shopping” project at the Shopping Mall on Arjun Marg, DLF City Phase I, she can be seen encouraging people to reduce garbage. “We are working with shopkeepers and customers in Arjun Marg market and hope we have a solution where we can make this market totally plastic free,” she says with that trademark passion that has made every project that she has been involved with, a huge success. Her focus in the coming days is “to work on excessive garbage in this city. “At this point in time, what bothers me is the garbage/construction material thrown all over the city. A solution is to work with residents of Gurgaon towards reducing and refusing garbage. This can be done by each one of us and does not require government intervention,” she points out. While she loves Gurgaon “with all its madness” and has made it her home for, feeling as much part of this ‘Hariyanavi’ landscape, she acknowledges that the biggest challenge is in dealing with continuous change in the administra- tion. “Any public project has many opinions and lot of your time is spent justifying everything you are doing,” she says. Undeterred, Thukral continues to work on maintaining the Aravali Bio Diversity Park and is quite excited about their new project of reviving a bund in Gurgaon. FACILITATING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS A graduate from the New York School of Interior Design, Ritu Grover’s hunger for entrepreneurship became her guiding force when in 1998 she conceptualized The Global Helpdesk. A pioneer in the Indian Facility Management, Grover’s Global Helpdesk has 10 offices catering to more than 400 companies by providing lifestyle management solutions to corporate houses and residential estates. “The service industry is like a rice field where crop grows together,” says Grover while highlighting how “innovation and technology” played a major role at ‘The Global Helpdesk’ which was founded in 1998. “The nature of work demanded us to be on top of the situation and to always Latika Thukral [ Founder, ‘Iamgurgaon’ ] join a private airline, the first to get command in three years and the first women examiner in the country. In fact, International Women’s Day 2011 witnessed her felicitation as DE (Designated Examiner). Remembering her childhood days, she says, “I grew-up in Mumbai living in the Air India society where everybody’s fathers had something to do with planes, whether pilots and engineers, and this nurtured my passion for planes.” Destiny did pave the way and once the initial challenge for a perfect eye sight was corrected, she appeared for the Indira Gandhi Rastriya Udaan Academy (IGRUA), one of the best institutes in India for flying and got through the same while in the second year of college. This was the time when she decided to pursue her final year by correspondence. Incidentally, she also met the man of her dreams at this university. Her 18 month course finally finished in 27 months and even after completion, Air 26 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews India and Indian Airlines were not hiring thus making life tough. She recalls the despair of those times when an airline even tried to convince her to apply for a cabin crew position! It was at this point that she could sense a gender bias. “At one of my interviews, they asked me whether I was married and planning to have kids. And then one day they told me they are new in the airline business and never hired a woman and that taking me on was just too big a step,” Chhabra says. Sheer providence got her the lucky break when Jet Airways selected her. “Being from IGGRUA, my knowledge was strong so I never had to struggle and it was doubly interesting as in those days, there weren’t many women pilots and I flew with Australians and Malaysians and those young captains who had never flown with a woman were extremely enthusiastic,” she explains. Chhabra proudly credits her family for being the biggest support system for her. “I love the joint family concept and feel it’s a blessing to have one” she affirms. Home is clearly a priority as she reiterates, “Not flying international was a compromise I made and I am happy with the decision”. She prefers short flights and tries never to miss her children’s school functions. She points out that is also the first person to take a flight back to her family once an assignment is over! Comparing the scenario then and now, she says, “Women pilots are much more confident, smart and intelligent and for that matter men have undergone a change too. Flying rules are stringent and men and women have turned to healthy food, health clubs, cycling and marathons making fitness a priority”. Epitomizing Gurgaon’s Millennium Spirit Latika Thukral, founder ‘Iamgurgaon’, fondly recalls her 20-year-old association with Gurgaon as she tells us how she took the plunge into social work. Set Yourself Free Sutapa Basu echoes Charlotte Brontë in Jane Eyre who famously said, ‘I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.’ Basu, whose recent book ‘Dangle’ explores this phenomenon through the story of travel journalist Ipshita, believes that a woman is truly liberated when she attains freedom from inner demons. “Power resides in every woman and she should go out there and just seek it. A truly emancipated woman makes for a fine human being in the truest sense. Harmony from her inner self reflects in harmony around her and her belief in self worth liberates her and helps her find the strength to take balanced decisions in real life situations.” These are Sutapa’s suggestions for women who want to conquer their self doubt and believe in themselves: ask for advice, yet if we are willing to do so, it will save us valuable time and effort. l Ask for feedback: Another perspec- tive lends better perception so it is feedback - both positive and negative that helps you move forward. l Don’t allow the past to dictate the l Move out of your comfort zone: Learn to take risks and push your boundaries. This will expand your horizons and increase your confidence. l Keep learning: Innovation is the root of progress so keep our minds alert and constantly learn new things. l Seek advice: While it is not easy to present: Unless we make mistakes in the past we will not learn any lessons. l Never lie to yourself: It is so easy to blame others but you often need to accept that the problem may lie with you. Face up to it, conquer it and move on. l Keep away from negative people: Be- lieve in yourself and ignore people who criticize for the sake of criticism. dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 27 COVER STORY WOMEN ACHIEVERS My dream vision is to open an academy. I want to use the knowledge I possess to make people empowered says. As the daughter of an army officer, she believes that she learnt to “fight situations, make new friends and be a fighter”. She credits extensive and frequent travelling to remote places as a key factor towards “pulling oneself out of the comfort zone”. Her ‘never look back’ mantra has helped her complete 18 years in business and she is now ready to foray to international shores. “I firmly believe in my inner instincts, passion for work and spending quality time with my family,” sums up Grover. Rrummy Chaddha [ Creative Director, About You ] “Women are made to multi task. They are so intelligent, compassionate and they just have it in them. I know a lot of men (who are) unable to multi-task but (have) hardly known women who have not been able to multi task.” While acknowledging her husband’s support, she says, “It comes from within. When you are happy within, you are able to get the same out in the environment!” Crowning Glory The nature of work demanded us to be on top of the situation and to always think out of the box Ritu Grover [ Founder, The Global Helpdesk ] think out of the box so the TGH team and channel partners grow together with the same success story.” For Grover, to have dependable list of channel partners who could render support 24x7 to exceed customer expectation time was quite a task. But with characteristic self-belief, she managed to deliver good results. “Backed by years of in-depth experience of undertaking corporate turnkey interiors and dealing with senior management of reputed MNCs and corporate houses ,we had a clear roadmap and deep knowledge about the biggest challenge being faced by them”, explains Grover, who has bagged several awards as an entrepreneur. These include the Appreciation Award by CNBC and AMEX in 2009 and the Valued Partner Award by Wipro in 2008 and 2009. She has a word of advice for women who want to be successful in their chosen field. “It may seem to be smooth sailing to some, but it was not so, as women experience an uneven playing field. Competing priorities play a huge role and often reduce the amount of time we have to 28 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews enhance our skills and develop as leaders. The only way ahead was to challenge the work head- on and keep going on whatever the complexities,” she points out. The biggest hurdle, she believes, was “to change the mindset of the corporates and our clients to let go off the penny wise pound foolish approach and outsource the routine and mundane jobs to the concierge desks being set up by us so that they could have more time to spend on their work and families.” At the same time, she attributes her success to “a supportive team which had no qualms about being led by a woman boss and always looked forward to being guided and mentored”. She admits that work-life balance is another big challenge. “However hard one may try, there is always guilt that we could have done more for our children. We are constantly struggling to strike a perfect balance. But I feel lucky that my family support has been the biggest pillar in my life and I feel fortunate that I did not have to resort to leaving my child in day care from a very young age,” she After 16 years of flying with the Indian Airlines as Cabin Crew, it was a suggestion from her sister which gave Rrummy Chaddha the direction to embark on a brand new journey. She has now become a celebrated hair dresser. “Since I started late, I wanted to train from the best institute so that I could really stand out. That’s when I went to Nalini and Yasmeen in Mumbai and then to London’s Vidal Sassoon. I also did my makeup from ‘Make up Forever’ Paris. I really feel it’s very important to constantly train and upgrade,” she explains. What possibly worked in her favour, she believes, is the fact that she was used to looking after people and understands their needs. “My dream vision is to open an academy. I want to use the knowledge I possesses to make people empowered, especially women, and that’s my next step. I keep getting updates from my institutes. Exposure flows in automatically and then companies like L’Oreal and Wella, keep us informed of new trends,” she says. “Leaving a well-paid government job required a lot of courage,” she admits while talking about her airline job. Another challenge was striking a balance between work and family. “When I had my baby while working for Indian Airlines and had to join in three months’ time, I thought my son needs me, but life has a way of finding its direction and path that’s best for you and I completely believe in that,” she points out. Now she is in an industry which constantly undergoes a change in fashion. “My work is an ongoing challenge. I have to ensure I read, meet people and keep Graciously Hospitable The comfortable and luxurious environment of their workplace may lead one to believe that this indeed is one of the most glamorous professions! “I remem- I remember being given vim powder and scrubber and being told to make everything shine and gleam when I first began working KANIKA HASRAT [GM, Courtyard by Marriott ] up with my industry for new trends. Doing good work to be appreciated is not easy but I don’t believe in giving up,” she states. Chaddha believes that women need to be financially independent and one of the biggest challenges is multi -tasking. ber being given vim powder and scrubber and being told to make everything shine and gleam when I first began working in the hotel”, recalls Kanika Hasrat, who says contrary to the image of having a sexy life and wearing smart westerns and saris, the tough life and long hours make it a difficult choice for women. Hasrat is the General Manager of Courtyard by Marriott, Gurgaon which she has joined with an experience of about 16 years in the hospitality industry. She oversees total operations and plays a vital role in employee training and development while driving service quality, financial success, brand value and guest satisfaction. Born in an Air Force officer’s family, she loved those postings to exotic locales that gave her the flavour of travel and adaptability at a young age. “I remember studying in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Upper Shillong where there were clouds floating into the classroom,” she says wistfully. She opted for Hotel Management from IHM Mumbai after which she joined the OSHM of Oberois’s and went into Housekeeping. While life in the hotel industry is not that easy for a woman, she believes it was simply her commitment and leadership skills that kept her going. “I really believe that women make better managers as they have the ability to be tough and soft at the same time,” Hasrat asserts. She attributes a lot of her success to the family support as well as the complete understanding from her husband. “It really did help that he understood the demands of the hotel industry as he himself is a chef who is now a consultant in a 9-6 job,” she says. Like most working couples, they adjusted and made sacrifices to keep the marriage and career moving, especially when their daughter came along and they really needed to maintain a healthy balance. She recalls those days as she says, “I often planned an early shift when he had to travel and we managed to keep both family and work going but we couldn’t have done it without our families and our employer who was very supportive”. She moved to Gurgaon from Jaipur in 2013 and is in love with the city which she feels is “open minded, cultured and cosmopolitan” much like herself and her family thus giving her plenty of opportunity to meet like minded people. She sums up her association with Marriott when she says, “because I have loved what I did, I have never found work a challenge.” dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 29 DLF UPDATE SAFETY AWARD Proud Moment: Senior DLF representatives, including Sriram Khattar, CEO DLF Rentco Ltd (fourth from left), with the BSC Chief Executive Mike Robinson (second from left) British Safety Council Chief Executive Applauds DLF on Achieving ‘Sword of Honour’ Again by DCN Bureau Gurgaon, the very mention of the city is synonymous with DLF Ltd, India’s largest real estate organization that is committed to extremely high levels of sustained growth, customer delight, and innovation. DLF’s primary focus is on residential, commercial and retail properties. The company has a unique business model comprising development and rentals. Its exposure across businesses, segments and geographies mitigates any down-cycles in the market. From developing 22 major colonies in Delhi, DLF is now present across 15 states and 24 cities in India. 30 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews Keeping the legacy of elevated safety standards, DLF had been conferred with the Five Star rating and “Sword of Honour” by the British Safety Council (BSC) in 2014-15 for its office complexes in Gurgaon. The office complexes in Gurgaon received the Five Star rating again this year (2016-17) after an audit by the BSC. This award recognizes DLF’s adherence to world-class safety and compliance standards. In 2015-16,DLF, which has continued its safety excellence journey, received a Five-Star rating in Occupational Health and Safety Management and “Sword of Honour” for Emporio Mall, Promenade Mall, DLF Place (Saket), Multi-Level Car Parks at DLF Cyber Hub and DLF Center (Connaught Place, New Delhi). With the aim of interacting with DLF senior management and gain further insights into DLF’s philosophy of safety in sustenance of its highest efficiency levels, Mike Robinson, Chief Executive, BSC, and Roni Kotecha, Business Development & International Director, BSC, visited DLF recently. The British Safety Council’s Five Star OH&S audit and ‘Sword of Honour’ provides organisations with a worldwide benchmark of their safety management systems against current best practices to enable continual improvement. The audit specifications were revised in 2013 and covers evaluation on 66 elements with special emphasis on leadership and continual Improvement. Speaking to DCN, Robinson said, “For an organization to achieve the Five Star ratings and Sword of Honour on many occasions that DLF has done in the last three years shows the real commitment from the top leadership and I think they really are a role model for health and safety management systems. Not every organization gets Five Star, many don’t even get three. So it’s a real achievement to get Five Star rating and Sword of Honour consistently.” According to Kotecha, they go through a robust process for the safety audit and look at different areas of the organisation’s health and safety management system. “We not only take a view of the safety management but also test it and speak to people across all levels to know what they feel about it. It’s very important for us that what we read in the safety document and what we see on ground send the same message and is demonstrated throughout. We are pleased with DLF and can see the commitment at all levels,” he explained. Sriram Khattar, CEO, DLF Rentco Ltd, said, “A Sword of Honour from the British Safety Council is an overwhelming achievement for us and a testament to our passion, drive and commitment to safety”. Talking about the dedication and hard work that has been put together for this achievement, Amit Grover, National SAFETY AWARD DLF Ltd, India’s leading real estate company, has been conferred the ‘Sword Of Honour’ from British Safety Council for best practices in Occupational Health & Safety The DLF Centre in New Delhi is a proud recipient of the Sword of Honour Director, DLF Offices said, “For DLF, the partnership with British Safety Council has been very gainful and we are very proud that DLF offices have received these ratings. A lot of hard work has gone in for preparing to meet these high standards and expectations by building operation teams. The implementation process has been very detailed, analysing all aspects. We are happy that the buildings have gone through detailed assessments, raised the bar and our customers have also acknowledged our endeavor”. To this, Gautam Dey, EVP Operations and Technical Services, DLF added, “We have partnered with DuPont for the last four to five years and sought their help to measure us. Our employees and partners have worked very hard to achieve this recognition from the world’s best safety auditors”. He went on to say, “The best part about such an exercise is that all teams, right from those at the senior level to those working at the ground, cleaning the façade, are connected through a common goal related to safety and health”. Echoing similar thoughts, Grover pointed out, “The idea is that everyone is connected together with an objective to achieve high standards. And, a goal like this can be an important driving factor to ensure sustainability. Also, the pride of owning a Sword of Honour helps you deliver even better in the future”. Explaining the process, Suresh Babu, AVP Fire & Safety, DLF Ltd, said, “Every year, we conduct safety perception survey through an outside agency, Du Pont, wherein all of our as well as our partners’ employees participate. The last two years results of the survey reveal that we are matching with global best ratings in most of the parameters. In some, we have also exceeded the global benchmarks. This indicates that DLF has been able to sustain high safety standards”. Robinson summed it up by saying, “As an organisation, we are proud to work with DLF which is so committed towards health and safety and values safety of everyone who works in their office buildings and malls. The company makes sure that when people get into offices and malls, they come out safely too. That’s amazing commitment”. BSC five-star certification not only enhances an organisation’s safety performance and productivity, it also potentially reduces accidents and occupational ill health. DLF offices and malls, being the first in India to get the fivestar ratings, stand tall with enhanced reputation and brand image ø dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 31 DLF UPDATE KOLKATA and 4BHK variants, along with duplexes and penthouses. High Urban Living in the City of Joy by DCN Bureau The New Town Heights condominium comprising 11 towers housing simplex, duplex apartments, and penthouses, is abuzz with fun, joy and festivities as more and more families move in to their houses. Having received the requisite certificates of completion in 2013-2014 for Phase 1 with 32 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews nine towers (Towers A-J), 328 apartments have been handed over till date and over 80 families are currently residing in the complex. The remaining two towers, Towers AA and JJ, are expected to be completed by the end of third quarter of the financial year 2015-16. Also, for the convenience of the customers, there is a retail plaza in the vicinity with outlets by Spencer’s among others. The New Town Heights, Kolkata located at Action Area III of New Town Rajarhat, is spread over a total land area of 15 acres. The apartment variants are of 2BHK, 3BHK and 4BHK. The first NTH project, consisting of nine towers (Towers A – J) was launched near the end of 2007 and is now ready for occupation. Towers AA and JJ, launched in 2011, contain centrally air-conditioned apartments of 3BHK Serving Excellence with Care The eleven towers extend from 16 to 32 storeys with apartments ranging in size from 1243 sq ft to 4200 sq ft. The apartments are further designed with lifestyle conveniences such as piped gas, basement car parking, CCTV cameras and airconditioned lobbies at the ground floor of each tower, among other facilities. The Festival Experience Last year, Durga Puja had a special meaning for the residents of New Town Heights, as families residing at NTH as well as other NTH customers celebrated their first puja with much fanfare in the premises of the recently opened NTH Club. Children, women, and elders of the families found it convenient to attend the celebrations since the pandal was set up at the club itself. The club is now opera- KOLKATA The New Town Heights, Kolkata located at Action Area III of New Town Rajarhat, is spread over a total land area of 15 acres tional and being utilised diversely by the residents. It hosts a variety of facilities including swimming pool, squash court, billiard room, card room, party halls, and library. The club’s floors can be easily accessed by an elevator for the convenience of senior residents. Also, tennis courts would soon be ready for NTH residents. The Luxury Shopping Destination Sprawled across three acres with 0.42 million sq. ft of office and retail space, the Galleria is located at the heart of Action Area – I in New Town, Kolkata. Surrounded by major IT parks and commercial offices of DLF, Unitech and TCS, along with numerous residential and retail complex developments, the Galleria enjoys the advantage of being on the main expressway to the Kolkata airport. The airport metro is under construction and will only be a few minutes’ walk from the Galleria. Its ambience of greenery, ample parking space, and modular offices are ideal for both big and small businesses. At present, the Galleria is operational with outlets by Café Coffee Day, Frank Ross Pharmacy, Apple Store, and Jagdish Store doing brisk business. Others, such as Apollo Clinic (approx 20,000 sq. ft) and a micro brewery, are currently doing their fit-outs. As regards offices, almost 40 units have already commenced business operations from the Galleria and a few others are completing their fit-outs. With so much going on already and more in the pipeline, the number is only expected to grow in the coming weeks. ø dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 33 AROUND TOWN EVENTS St. Xavier’s Celebrates Second Annual Sports Meet by DCN Bureau T he St. Xavier’s High School, Gurgaon recently held their second annual sports meet, amidst great euphoria, euphoria and revelry. The chief guest for the occasion was Meena Bohra, Regional Director of Sports Authority of India, who presided over the event. Also present were dignitaries from the Russian Embassy, who were welcomed and presented with bouquets by the tiny tots of nursery sections. The programme started with a march past led by sports captain Jiya Raj Singh with contingents from the four houses. The meet was declared open by the chief guest by lighting of the flame and release of balloons. The sports and house captains ran a torch relay symbolising faith and purity. The gathering was then addressed by Principal, Nicholas Gomes who highlighted the importance of the true spirit of sports. The Xaverians participated with full zeal, vigour and dedication. While the main attraction of the event was the drill by the students of grade IV-VII, the synchronisation and coordination of the dumb bells was praiseworthy. The girls in the drill enchanted everyone with their graceful performance. The addition of Japanese fans, pom-poms, hooplas, umbrellas and trampolines added to the charisma of the drill. Demonstrating the importance of fitness and sports, students not only came riding bicycles but also performed yoga asanas. The school band was also appreciated for its dulcet and congruous presentation which took the parents back in time to their good old school days. With neck-to-neck competition in flat races, relay races and tug-of-war, the students enjoyed their participation as much as the parents enjoyed watching them. The parents felt proud seeing their children perform so articulately. The programme ended with the finale drill by the students of grade I-III. Finally, the winners were awarded with medals and certificates by the chief guest. HelpAge India felicitates Ryan International School Sector -40 R yan International School, Sector-40, Gurgaon, has been recently felicitated by HelpAge India with the Highest Donor trophy. The school, carrying out benign acts has been a regular contributor to HelpAge India and this year too, the school donated magnani- mously to the cause. The school was felicitated with the appreciation trophy for being amongst the highest school donors. Even the students from all grades have been making efforts to generate good amount of donation, which reflects the love and care they have for senior citizens in the society. Om Fartale of Class VII, Manish Saikumar of Class I and Sriya Patnaik of Class V were bestowed with the highest contributor trophies. On the occasion, Peeya Sharma, Headmistress of the School highlighted how philanthropy is not about money; it is about feeling the pain of others and caring enough about their needs. She therefore motivated the Ryanites to follow the Nine Riches laid down by the visionary Chairman Dr. Augustine F Pinto and en- couraged them to spread smiles and happiness in abundance while also trying to make an effort to bring about a difference in people’s lives. A Fest That Celebrated Inventions & Discoveries! T he Shri Ram Police Public School recently hosted ‘Shri Anvetion’, a festival of inventions and discoveries. A variety of interesting competitions like spell bee, quiz, poetry writing and JAM added to the flavour of the festival which witnessed participation of various schools from across Gurgaon. The children were either seen exhibiting various functioning models of their innovation or showcasing improvisation of an existing technology. However, the highlight of the event was a panel discussion amongst eminent scientists on the spirit of inventions and discoveries, which left a deep impact on each and every student attending the festival. Dr. A Sivathanu Pillai, who is also known as ‘Father of Brahmos’, attended as the chief guest and shared an interesting presentation with students of middle school on inventions made by Indians. He patiently responded to questions from the students and also gave them an insight into Dr. Abdul Kalam’s life and achievement, with whom he had the privilege to work with very closely. School principal Sudha Santha mentioned how ‘Shri Anvetion’ is the first collaborative event with the parents of the school and also praised the tireless efforts of the teachers, support staff, students and their parents, working towards the event over the last couple of months. The two-day fest ended with a fashion show where children walked the ramp dressed in unique futuristic designs. Shilpa, one of the judges, who appeared really impressed with the show, said, “Today, fashion designers are looking for sustainable material for their designs and these young students for sure are very much in tune with the need of the hour.” ø Shri Anvetion keeps children creatively inclined Helpage India felicitates Ryan International School sector 40, Gurgaon 34 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 35 Around Town FEATURE EVENTS WOMEN’S HEALTH Elderly Women & Osteoporosis Consultant Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement Surgeon at W Pratiksha Hospital, Gurgaon, Haryana by Dr. Kshitij Srivastava What Women Need to Know R Ashwin inaugurates a cricket lounge at Sikandarpur Rapid Metro Station Rapid Metro Comes Up With Lounge Cricket For Commuters by DCN Bureau Whether it’s stadiums, parks, schools or even streets and lanes, cricket fever can catch up anywhere! That’s the passion people have for this game. And to cater to cricket lovers in Gurgaon and increase engagement with its regular commuters, Rapid Metro has opened a mini indoor cricket stadium in association with ‘Lounge Cricket’. A unique initiative, the stadium, which has come up at Rapid Metro, Sikanderpur, will provide a one-of-its-kind indoor experience to cricket enthusiasts with best of infrastructure and technology. Speaking at the launch ceremony, Rajiv Banga, MD & CEO, IL&FS Rail Ltd stressed on the fact that commuters are their prime focus. “We always strive to offer the best to our customers. After Joy Express, Lounge Cricket is another initiative introduced for them. We are excited to get associated with Lounge Cricket to provide an exciting experience to cricket aficionados.” Adding to this, Varun Pasricha, Direc- 36 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews tor, Lounge Cricket, said “Lounge Cricket, as a game, is a treat to engage in terms of the best of infrastructure, phenomenal coaching tools and nail biting acceleration which will bring out the player in everybody. Adding to the facilities, we have an eclectically designed café serving scrumptious contemporary cuisine. We are also buoyant about our alliance with Rapid Metro in terms of being an apt, unique and established platform to build engagement excellence.” The star attraction during the opening ceremony was famous Indian cricketer R Ashwin, who has been in news for his exemplary performance in the game and symbolises perfection and commitment which is in synergy with the mission of ‘Lounge Cricket.’ Speaking to the media during the launch, he said, “This idea of ‘Lounge Cricket’ is very close fit to any cricketer. It’s in fact one of my dream projects. It’s a new concept where you get to learn a lot too besides being entertained. The video simulation of bowlers bowling can teach a lot about techniques. It’s particu- larly going to benefit kids over a period of time as they can improvise on their game while having a lot of fun.” He further went to add, “When I was growing up, every evening was play time for me. Sadly it’s not the same now. There was a time we used to play on streets and some natural abilities used to come along, but today there is a big shortage for children in terms of getting space to play and facilities like Lounge Cricket are very important for them to utilise. I myself opt for indoor cricket in Chennai.” On being asked about the forthcoming Asia Cup, he informed, “The Sri Lanka series has been a curtain raiser. The grounds here are smaller than those in Australia and every time we play Asia Cup, it’s pretty heated. Last time we went to Bangladesh and lost so we have to figure out our combinations and match up to the ground size, pace of the wicket and all.” The cricketer was all praise for Gurgaon as he said, “I have been here a few times and particularly enjoy this side of the city. It’s very well done and whenever I am here, I prefer staying this side.” ø Being a female puts you at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis and having broken bones. Here are some facts: n In most Western countries, while the peak incidence of osteoporosis occurs at about 70-80 years of age, in India it may afflict those 10-20 years younger, at age 50-60. n 1 out of 8 males and 1 out of 3 females in India suffers from osteoporosis, making India one of the largest affected countries in the world. n 1 in 4 women over 50, suffer from osteoporosis. n 1 in 2 women in their menopause will fracture their bones. n A woman’s risk of osteoporosis-related hip fracture is equal to her combined risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer. There are multiple reasons why women are more likely to get osteoporosis than men. n Women tend to have smaller, thinner bones than men. n Estrogen, a hormone in women that protects bones, decreases sharply when women reach menopause, which can cause bone loss. This is why the chance of developing osteoporosis increases as women reach menopaus. What’s Your Risk? Here are two cases to exemplify that Osteoporosis may not cause any apparent symptoms. Patients may not know they have osteoporosis until they break (fracture) a bone. Case 1 : A 65-year-old woman develops severe pain in the lower back while trying to lift her grandson from the floor. She was then rushed to the hospital and on investigating was found to have osteoporotic collapse of lumbar vetrebrae. Case 2 : A 72-year-old female sustained a small twisting jerk while walking over the uneven surface and developed sharp pain in the hip region followed by difficulty in walking and when examined was found to have fracture in the hip. Common sites for osteoporotic fracture are the spine, hip, wrist and shoulder. n Hip, vertebral and wrist fractures cause acute pain and loss of function. n Hip fractures - recovery is slow and rehabilitation is often incomplete - with many patients permanently institutionalised in nursing homes. n Vertebral fractures can often recur, and the consequent disability increases W Pratiksha Hospital, a centre of excellence for osteoporosis and orthopaedic care with the number of fractures. n In wrist fractures functional recovery is usually good or excellent. At W Pratiksha Hospital, we opt for the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan to screen for osteopenia (bone loss that precedes osteoporosis). This test is more precise than an X-ray. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends the following groups of people should have DEXA scans to screen for osteoporosis: n All women aged 65+ n All postmenopausal women under 65 who are prone to osteoporosis n Postmenopausal women with fractures n Women with medical conditions associated with osteoporosis How is Osteoporosis Treated and Prevented? Osteoporosis treatment involves stopping further bone loss, and strengthening bones that show signs of weakness. Prevention of osteoporosis is the key. Preventive steps: n Exercise : Exercise is important in helping improve muscle strength and balance. Consult your doctor for the type and duration of exercise that is right for you. It is also important to consider other medical problems that may also be present (heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure) before starting any exercise program. n Quit smoking and curtail alcohol consumption n Take calcium supplements & fortified foods, and Vitamin D supplements. n Menopausal estrogen hormone therapy. The Good News People used to think that osteoporosis was an inevitable part of aging. At W Pratiksha Hospital, our department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Joint Replacement provides state-of-the-art care across all ages. The faculty are internationally trained, recognised as experienced orthopaedicians and know how to prevent, detect and treat the disease. You are never too young or old to take care of your bones. Good lifestyle habits can help you protect your bones and decrease your chance of getting osteoporosis. And, if your healthcare provider hasn’t talked to you about your bone health, it’s time for you to bring it up! ø dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 37 AROUND TOWN GUEST COLUMN EVENTS SUNIL K JAIN WRITING YOUR WILL Intestacy: Dying without a will and its consequences Campaign Against Polythene and Plastics by DCN Bureau To discourage the use of plastic and polythene within the city, Mahesh Dayma, Municipal Councillor, Ward 32 recently kicked off a campaign at HUDA Market Sector 56, which witnessed active participation of several RWA members from various sectors, NGOs and enthusiastic residents from across the city. The event started with a skit by senior students while children carried banners and asked people to stop using plastic. Also present on the occasion was Deputy Commissioner TL Satyaprakash, who called upon the people to come forward and work together to make the city a cleaner and healthier place to live in. Citing international examples, he also suggested starting a few initiatives that could go a long way in supporting the cause. On the occasion, people took pledge not to use plastic and contribute their bit to the society. Later, DCN caught up with Mahesh Dayma to understand his action plan for making Gurgaon a dream city. Excerpts from an interview How and when did the idea of discour- 38 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews aging plastic come into your mind? It has always been on my mind. In fact, for the last four to five months, I have been working on discouraging plastic actively with my team which includes Osho Kalia, Sachin Mirza from 98.4 Chemists and Shyam Sunder of Red Cross. We are working together to make it a success in Ward 32 and would soon implement the same in the entire city. How are you planning to make the campaign a success? The foremost thing we want to do is make residents aware of it and encourage them to be involved in this actively. We have given a time period of 10-15 days to the shopkeepers to get rid of plastic bags, after which we would be issuing challans. We are also working on giving alternatives to the residents by making cloth/jute bags available at low cost. In fact, we are going to install 50 sewing machines in Bhondsi Jail to get the cloth bags manufactured. We will be more than happy to receive inputs and ideas from the residents for the same too. What are the other initiatives you are working on? We are working on making rain harvesting more effective and my plan is to maintain the existing rain harvesting units and install new ones as this is the need of the hour to get our water level maintained. I am also working for uplift of HUDA market, Sector 56 which caters to five different sectors and is spread across 26 acres. Initially, we would be getting a waste treatment plant installed in the market and then the focus would be on beautification with provision for basic amenities. How do you think we can make the city better? We have already taken the first initiative by making the city polythene-free. We need to work on slip roads and service lanes to improve traffic. Drainage system and encroachment are the other major problems we need to get rid of to make the city flaunt a much improved look. ø Sumant, a real-estate dealer belonging to a non-descript village near Hyderabad, did nothing to attract fame during his lifetime. But when he died all of a sudden due to a heart attack in 2012 at the age of 48, he quickly became famous for something he failed to do during his lifetime: “Write a will”. Even if he did write one, he kept it at a place where none could find it. With no living family members, Sumant passed away leaving behind a huge estate worth nearly Rs. 25 crores which was a very astonishing figure going by the status and style of the village he was residing in. And unless the court-appointed administrator of his assets finds relatives through a genealogist search, every paisa of his could end up going to the government treasury! In another case, a famous musician died without a will in the late 70s, and ever since, his estate has been dealing with a family fight. While his father ended up taking over the estate as the next of kin, his brother fought over rights to use his name and images for decades. Part of the reason for the ongoing battle: His estate continues to generate income from music royalties and other sources, and publicity rights remain extremely valuable. Most of the people in our country or rather worldwide die without a will and also without considering the consequences of their actions on their family members who survive them. It’s not just the rich who need an estate plan; anyone who has assets that they wish to pass on to their heirs needs a will. Dying without one can create problems for those you leave behind. Your property would then be divided as per the law, which may not be the way you would have wanted it! In the wake of an unforeseen tragedy where your entire immediate family passes away, your property may go to a relative you may have never spoken to, or liked, as a matter of fact! Instead, you may make provisions to generate an inheritance through benevolent gifting. The nonexistence of a legitimate will means that your noteworthy other may not receive anything from your estate upon your demise. Besides, you are unable to take advantage of tax savings while subjecting your kin to expenditure on lawyers and court costs following your demise. A will is the most significant, but frequently mistreated part of a famous musician a sound estate plan. What’s surdied without a prising is that the rewards from will in the late preparing a will are countless, 70s, and ever and enormously priceless. So since, his estate why do so many of us put it off ? Hopefully with a slight responhas been dealing siveness those of you, who do not with a family have a will, will begin thinking fight. about getting one. Once you decide to take action you would observe how little does a will cost, in comparison to the legal charges that can come up when there are troubles with an estate. It doesn’t have to be intricate, even an easy will is sufficient to communicate your objective as to who should be given your assets following your death. Moreover, if you have minor children, wills consent you to name a custodian for them that will keep you away from any insecurity or fear about who would be taking care of them if something happens to you. Once executed and preferably registered, it will go a long way towards avoiding family feuds after your death and having your memory overshadowed by discord among your loved ones. It’s often advisable to consult a professional about your situation to ensure that all of your wishes are addressed and that your will conforms to the applicable laws. A lawyer can without difficulty prepare a will for you, often for just a reasonable fee. ø The author, a Gurgaon-based practicing Chartered Accountant, has presented papers on Taxation, Accounts, Finance and Insurance in seminars and addressed tax planning lectures in various forums. He 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. His email ID is: sunil@ sunilkumarjain.com dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 39 TRAVEL TALK LANSDOWNE THE VIEW One can see the Chaukhamba on the Himalayan range from the mess, a view which is completely beguiling! The residential accommodations and the valley offer a fascinating view, particularly when the clouds hang low An Unrivalled Paradise Childhood memories come alive during a weekend trip to this getaway in the Garhwal hills Text and Images by Reena Dhankher I am not much of an early riser. So, 5 am on my watch really does not exist. But this time, it was different. A road trip to Lansdowne had, as if, set the clock ticking. May be it had something to do with my childhood memories of Garhwal. So, I was up and ready in a bit to start our journey from Gurgaon to the little hill town, located 1700 metres above the sea level in the Pauri Garhwal region, cut- 40 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews ting through Delhi, Modinagar, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Bijjnor, Najibabad and Kotdwar, covering approximately 250 kilometres by road. Our midway stop for breakfast was at the Cheetal Grand, a clean and tidy place to refresh ourselves with relatively scrumptious breakfast. The restaurant with lovely flowers and a small fish tank kept the kids amused, while the rest of us posed to get ourselves clicked with the flora. Just as we drove across Muzaffarnagar, one thing that caught my attention was the vast tracts of mango orchards. I realised how UPites love mangoes. If only the trees bore fruits at this time of the season! Further as we drove ahead, huge stretches of sugarcane fields were visible on either sides of the road. All major sugar mills of the state source their raw materials from the local farmers which was evident from the long row of trucks and tractors, loaded with sugarcane, waiting to move to their destination. Another not-to-miss aspect of the route was the number of bhattis that came at regular intervals which were busy churning out gudd (jaggery) from the sugarcanes. The much-loved gudd today is as much a part of city life as village! Just as we reached Kotdwar, the milestone read Lansdowne 42 kilometres and my eyes for sure lit up with excitement. Somehow, along with the childhood memories with my father from Garhwal Rifles, this little getaway was one that was orderly, discreet and not that commercial as yet. We started the climb to our destination and I rolled down the windows of the car to enjoy the fresh air. The cool breeze greeted my face and I almost felt rejuvenated! We crossed various resorts on the climb, some old, some new and finally up hill, a dwaar read ‘Welcome to Garhwal Rifles.’ A QUAINT EXPERIENCE Our car stopped at the MES IB mess, where we had bookings. For those who may have access to this place, the army cantonment is the quietest place in Lansdowne with just the sound of the bugle, the parade and of course the army band that is heard only when the men in uniform carry out their daily practice. We had reached by lunch time and wanted to have a taste of the local restaurants of the city. So we drove down to Sadar Bazar and settled for Mayur Hotel, prominently well known. If you are looking for sophisticated fine dining, this may not be your cup of tea, but otherwise it is a tasty treat! Finishing lunch, we decided to go around the cantonment. The closest to our room was ‘The Garhwali Mess’ which is an institution par excellence and is located on a hilltop. One can see the Chaukhamba on the Himalayan range from the mess, a view which is completely beguiling! The guest rooms built to provide accommodation in the mess are impressively maintained while the library at the mess is like a treasure trove for book lovers, boasting of ‘gems’ dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 41 TRAVEL TALK LANSDOWNE written by British authors of 1920s and 30s. The war memorial of the Garhwali soldiers, who lay in eternal sleep in battle fields not only in India but also abroad, is a monument that brings back the memories of the brave hearts who sacrificed their lives for the nation. But there is a restriction on visitors here. The museum next door speaks volumes about the history of Garhwali soldiers and how they continue to be the best and a regiment second to none. The museum has old historical tales of the regiments besides arms and weapons used during those years. We found the parade ground, truly impressive with early morning practices of the soldiers marching with the regimental band, which was both a captivating and majestic sight! There is somehow a natural sense of patriotism that one can feel here; such is the aura of the regimental centre. However, patriotism apart, the locals also believe in ghost stories of a British officer riding on a white charger galloping across the parade ground! By late evening, we had returned to our rooms to enjoy the hospitality of the mess staff. The rooms had small verandas attached to them and sitting in the chill after dinner and talking late into the night, we could only hear our voices along with some night insects of the jungle. Of course, we had no plans to be adventurous and venture out in the night since one of the mess boys had very casually informed me (after of course, I had enquired into the matter!) that a leopard had been spotted near the mess during midnight hours, a few days back. TIME FOR SIGHTSEEING The second day as per forecast was supposed to have rain. So we decided to do some sightseeing while it was sunny. One advantage of Lansdowne is its close proximity to different places. So, we first took a trip to the ‘Bulla’ lake. Incidentally Bulla, means younger brother and that is how the soldiers are addressed by their seniors and fellow mates. The lake is now a picnic point clean and maintained by the centre. There are swings for children, some white handsome pigeons in a huge cage and a whole lot of little rabbits who can be seen nibbling the grass, a sight that amuses the kids. The Bulla Lake gets lots of tourists, who come mostly for boating in colourful pedal boats that also give them a chance to exercise their legs! The lake has beautiful looking white ducks, which keep the kids entertained while some eateries and a couple of shops nearby are the other options for amusement. Even though we thoroughly enjoyed our ride, the moment it came to an end, it started raining as per the weather prediction! The raindrops had started falling when we rushed back to our rooms. The next morning greeted us with bright sunshine and low cloud base in the valley below, which added to the ensemble of the colours that were visibly evident and we decided to embark on a religious journey. In fact, the religious connect that Lansdowne has, appears to The Garhwali Mess at Lansdowne is located on a hilltop 42 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews Tourists enjoy the boating experience at ‘Bulla Taal’ be pretty ancient. It seems years back, local cinema was extremely popular amongst the villagers during festivities and mostly religious movies used to be screened for which villagers used to come in hundreds dressed in colourful costumes. We decided to visit the old Santoshi Mata temple and two churches well known in the area. The temple is an old structure but has a serenity and purity to its existence. After our darshan, we headed back and en route halted at the Tip and Top. Standing at this point, one can feel the tranquillity that rests in the valley, bustling with birds and pine trees that create a strikingly beautiful view. We now headed for St. Mary’s Church, constructed by an engineer officer in 1896. It is said that a number of marriage ceremonies have been conducted here and quite a few British Garhwali officers have met their match at this holy church. The church is well kept by Garhwal rifles and visitors get to see a short film on Lansdowne. The next splendour was St. John’s Catholic Church, established in 1936 and encourages the ancient spirit of ‘Sarv Dharam Sath Bhawna’. The walls of the church have lovely phrases on them that are a pleasant read. With the intention of stopping over at Kotdwar for lunch, we decided to finally head back. En route, we came across a stream, which again was fresh in my memory. The stream used to have huge stones alongside it where one could sit and enjoy the water. Though these days, it is all dried up, we did manage to see adequate amount of water in it since it had rained the previous day. After lunch at Kotdwar and late evening mouth-watering snacking time at Jain Shikanji, near Meerut, we were finally home by late night – completely exhausted but happy. A trip to this picturesque little hill town is recommended for its nostalgia, patriotism and ability to recharge ø dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 43 SIGHTSEEING MEHRAULI It was a bright winter morning with the sunshine just stepping in, when Delhi Karavan arranged for the Mehrauli Archaeological Walk with a group of enthusiasts who were passionate to know about the history of our country in general and the city in particular. Meeting at a point on Qutub Minar, all eyes were on Asif Khan Dehlvi, the storyteller from Delhi Karavan, who was all ready to take the group back in time. Delhi Karavan was started in 2013 by Dehlvi, who is also a heritage enthusiast. It is a group that works around India’s culture and stories of the bygone era. It organises heritage walks, baithaks, food walks and musical evenings. The stories are narrated in Hindi and Urdu and that is their USP. Delhi, the city of cities, has a rich historical background, having been the capital for 1000 years for various dynasties - be it the Tomars, Chauhans, Sultans or Mughals. “The city of Delhi was also famous for poets who would not just write poetry but in their poems, there would be history of their times and sometimes a sense of revolt too,” informed Dehlvi. It was interesting to know that Delhi as a city was considered to have natural defence with Aravali range on one side and Jamuna on the other while the third side had the ruler. Delhi was then a site of A Walk To Remember In Mehrauli Archaeological Park In the passionate city of Delhi are hidden historical facts which once unraveled certainly generate curiosity for more. A group of enthusiasts join Delhi Karavan to know their city a little more. by Reena Dhankher 44 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews Enthusiastic citizens embark on a journey to know Mehrauli better! seven cities - Mehrauli (Lalkot, Qila Rai Pithora), Siri Fort (Dar ul khilafa), Tughluqabad, Jahanpanah, Firozabad, Dinpanah, Shahjahanabad and New Delhi. Also during the 14th century, Mehrauli was a huge city drawing people from all over the world. The three-hour walk aimed to take us through the Mehrauli Archaeological Park which started with a huge stretch of roses of various varieties and colours that greeted us pleasantly. The group was then taken to the farmhouse of Sir Thomas Theophilus Metcalfe, the 4th Baronet. A civil servant, he was the last British resident here. Metcalfe had let the park remain a huge stretch of lush green lawns with various historical monuments that depicted the beautiful design and architecture that must have existed in those times. “Metcalfe used to sit and write poetry in this farmhouse. In fact people had started calling it Metcalfe Kothi but due to difficulty in pronunciation, they later renamed it Matka Kothi. Even today, it’s known by this name among the locals,” added Asif. As the Karavan proceeded ahead, we reached Dilkhusha, which flaunted beautiful Indo Persian baradari style of design and just as the word implied, it was a delight to the heart! Earlier the tomb of Quli Khan, Dilkhusha was transformed by Metcalfe into a guest house that was usually given to newly married couples. With a serene green environment and beauty of colourful flowers and well maintained gardens, Metcalfe would often use this as a retreat during monsoons and springs. Another attraction of Dilkhusha was a water pond on the backside with complete privacy which could have been used for swimming and leisure. The steps from the pool led to a room which could have been one of the changing rooms or bedrooms. “Metcalfe spent a lot of time here with his daughter Emily who was very fond of eating mangoes. She would eat mangoes and always dirty her dress which would make Metcalfe angry. However, she would still manage to hide mangoes under her dress and go to Qutub Minar and eat them,” Asif expressed. The next monument that greeted the Karavan was ‘Jamali Kamali’, one of the most maintained monuments of Mehrauli Archaeological Park. Shaikh Fazlu’llah, also known as Shaikh Jamali Kamboh was a famous poet and Sufi saint who lived here during the preMughal period. A court poet during the Lodi dynasty, Kamali was equally well known among the Mughals too. However, there are no sources to really know about Kamali. The monument comprises a mosque and a tomb. The atmosphere here was quiet and tranquil as this was the place where prayers used to be held in a large courtyard that had five arches. The structure had plain roofs except for one central arch that had a tomb where blue and red Koranic inscriptions almost took your breath away, while showcasing the delicacy in the designs. There were also two graves there, one of Jamali and the other of Kamali. Last but certainly not the least was a visit to Rajon ki Baoli. “Rajon here refers to the masons while Baoli is a water reservoir used for drinking purposes and washing clothes by the people. It is said that during the early 20th century, masons used to live around and inside the premises of the Baoli. They were then moved to another place by the British to preserve the 15th century heritage monument. Since that time, it is known as Rajon ki Baoli,” said Asif, bringing the walk to an end but not the memories we carried from there ø dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 45 SOCIAL QUOTIENT DLF FOUNDATION DLF Foundation Conferred With Golden Peacock Award The award recognises the foundation’s innovative programmes in multiple fields by DCN Bureau DLF Foundation was recently conferred with the internationally acclaimed Golden Peacock Award 2015 at the 10th International Conference on CSR held at a glittering ceremony in Mumbai on February 5. The award was presented by Minister of Rural Development and Women & Child Development, Government of Maharashtra, Pankaja Gopinathrao Munde. The Golden Peacock Award for Corporate Social Responsibility recognised DLF Foundation’s innovations in its Nurturing Talent Programme, Skill-a Million Programme, Village Cluster Development Programme, Swachh Haryana Programme and Urban Underprivileged Programme. The grand event was attended by over 300 eminent personalities including senior government officials, industry stalwarts, bureaucrats, media houses and the civil society. The Golden Peacock Awards, insti- 46 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews tuted by the Institute of Directors, India in 1991, are now regarded as a benchmark of corporate excellence worldwide. Justice P N Bhagwati, former Chief Justice of India, is the Chairman Emeritus. Justice (Dr.) Arijit Pasayat, former Judge Supreme Court of India and former Chairman of Competition Appellate Tribunal DLF Foundation stall at the 10th International Conference on CSR & Authority for Advance Ruling is the Chairman of the Golden Peacock Awards Secretariat. The Golden Peacock Awards Secretariat receives over 1,000 entries per year from over 25 countries worldwide. Speaking on this occasion, Lt Gen Rajender Singh (retd), CEO DLF Foundation, said, “I would like to compliment the entire team of DLF Foundation for their hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence which has helped DLF achieve this success. This award will act as a great source of encouragement and inspiration to continue to work with zeal and enthusiasm in all our future endeavours.” The Director General of Golden Peacock Awards Secretariat, Dr. A. N. Saksena, commented on DLF Foundation’s initiatives, “Your unique CSR initiatives including Nurturing Talent Programme, Village Cluster Development Programme, Swachh Haryana Programme and Skill Development Programme for the community have caught the attention of all jury members. Nurturing Talent Programme, in particular, which is a Special Social Project aimed at promoting quality education among the talented or gifted children from underprivileged families to enable them become leaders in their own chosen area of excellence, has been highly appreciated.” While addressing the audience on the theme ‘Making CSR Work for Business’, Lt Gen Singh said, “CSR should not be just an add-on or charity driven initiative. It needs to be built on a fundamental assumption that businesses must play an indispensable role alongside government, civil society and communities to solve complex national development challenges. Corporations need to believe in creating value for the underprivileged sections of the society, to enable them lead a life with dignity. Also, as per the vision of Chairman, Dr. K. P. Singh, DLF Foundation’s initiatives must be aligned with the national priorities set forth by the government and they must concentrate on nation building”. ø DLF Foundation Participates in Gifting Warmth DLF Foundation embarked on various campaigns recently to help the underprivileged fight the chilling winters. The efforts which started in November 2015, culminated last month, with the primary aim being to collect woollens and blankets. In the first campaign, the Foundation in partnership with Navbharat Times, provided the latter with locations for collection. The drop boxes were conveniently placed, thus enabling the public to contribute to this noble cause. The places designated for boxes were DLF Phase 1, 2 and Ridge Valley School. The response was phenomenal and the woollens and blankets collected were later distributed among the needy by Navbharat Times, in the presence of DLF Foundation representatives. The second campaign reflected the compassion of DLF employees as they came Woollens and blankets being distributed forward to contribute. The boxes for collection were placed at Gateway Towers, the Shopping Mall and the DLF Centre. The distribution of woollens among the underprivileged was carried out by the Foundation. In the final campaign, DLF Foundation actively participated in the ‘Gifting Warmth’ initiative organised in association with Times of India. It was an efficiently organised endeavour, where a missed call on the helpline number, was all that was needed to initiate blanket pick-ups from designated points. The month long event culminated at Prabhat Society for Child Development at New Delhi. The chief guest of the occasion was Vijay Goel, MP Rajya Sabha. The DLF Foundation donated 500 blankets that were distributed by Times of India. Speaking to DCN, Ritesh Sinha, Director Programmes, DLF Foundation expressed, “Gifting Warmth is a direct impact initiative. It is very important for people to get access to the right resources. This is one of the best opportunities to save lives of thousands of people who face the harsh winter conditions” ø dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 47 TRENDS RELATIONSHIPS The Romance in Relationships ‘Cupid’ took over many lives in the month of February like nothing else did by DCN Bureau Let’s Talk! T here cannot be a better day to discuss about love and relationships than Valentine’s! And so, matchmaking app ‘Woo’ used the day as the right opportunity to showcase their ‘Let’s Talk’ campaign at DLF CyberHub – a place forever buzzing with young people. In a live Q&A session, people were made to sit in a couch and were asked questions on love and relationships. The couples who came out with interesting answers were given gifts and movie tickets. According to the organisers, just as communication is the essence of good relationships, their event too was all about asking and highlighting the right questions. With a primarily young population ex- 48 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews posed to global influences, young people and their relationships are undergoing evolution and transformation at a rapid pace. This was apparent from the manner in which the youth communicated with disarming honesty and candour. ‘Genuine profiles, real people and real conversations are what Woo offers to the users. We believe there are great conversations waiting to happen. All you need to do is ask the right question and this is what we are trying to convey to our users. We were there at DLF CyberHub, Gurgaon to interact with people and ask them candid questions from romance to heartbreak, turn-ons to what men really want as this is what are new web seriesLet’s Talk is all about,’ said Mr. Sumesh Menon, Co-Founder and CEO Woo. In a similar vein, the ‘Let’s Talk’ web Online retailers, restaurants, hotels, cake and flower stores were all talking the language of love last month. ‘Cupid’ took over many lives in the month of February like nothing else did! As excitement built up over an entire week dotted with Rose Day, Propose Day, Chocolate Day, Teddy Day, Promise Day, Hug Day and Kiss Day creating a love week for couples, DLF Mega Mall, DLF CyberHub, Galleria market, Ambience Mall, Crowne Plaza and Sector-29 market saw couples shop, wine and dine in style. A trip to Sector 14 and 17 markets was an eye-opener too as one could spot lots of couples as well as families with their kids enjoying the season of love. In KOD (Kingdom of Dreams), Romanza was a two-day Valentine festival which was filled with loads of entertainment, music, shopping, food and drinks. Bollywood musician-cum-singer Himesh Reshammiya and the mesmerising Palak Muchhal ensured that the crowd had a gala time, dancing to their tunes as they gave a rocking live performance. Needless to mention, surprises and gifts too were a part of the V Day celebrations! Gurgaon resident Pooja Singh wistfully recalls, “When I got home from office, my husband had our bedroom set up with a candlelit table. He is not a cook but on the day, he made an awesome meal with a beautiful salad, creating a five star res- series aired weekly on Woo’s YouTube channel and Facebook page points out how there is more to every guy than meets the eye, and that asking the right questions can bring that out. Each episode features five men from various walks of life. These guys are urban, single, professionals, achievers in their fields; they are the kind of guys that are found on Woo. The personalities and stories of these men unfold as they answer questions like: ‘What is romance to you? Three things you look for in a woman? What turns you on? How do you deal with heartbreaks? When did you last cry?’ A lot of unexpected heart-touching and hilarious moments that ensue make sure that people get talking! The series is produced by Mumbai-based production house Electric Dreams Film Company. ‘Communicate Openly For Better Relationships’ I taurant at home after which we enjoyed a romantic movie.” Sharing a similar story, Jyoti Pandey, a resident of Dwarka, Sector21 adds, “My boyfriend sent across 11 roses delivered at my doorsteps through courier service and gave the 12th rose personally.” And, it weren’t just the men who made all the efforts! “I was pleasantly surprised when my wife gave me a bouquet of flowers, decorated the bathroom mirror with her lipstick and gifted me clothes making the day truly special,” says Mohnish Sapra. Similarly, for young professional Manoj Arora, his girlfriend had planned a wonderful lunch followed by a couple spa! “She really made it special for me and we ended the day spending a romantic evening at the club,” he says. Interestingly, irrespective of the Valentine Day celebrations, couples today have become much more vocal and expressive when it comes to relationships. Like Himakshi Nagpal, a college student talking about her boyfriend Rishi, says, “I have known him since we were kids. And now, we both love each other and are very serious about our relationship. In fact, I have a great bonding with his parents too.” Similarly, 21-year-old Shriya believes that her boyfriend is already like family to him! “We both are very loyal to each other and treat each other like family members. Even our families are happy with our relationship. The best thing about us as a couple is that we both are very caring and lovable,” she quips. The guys too are more than willing to express their feelings for their partners. Aditya Sharma, a resident of Delhi and working in Gurgaon with a private company adds, “Every time, I look at my girl friend, I realise how important she is to me. She has been an integral part of my life and she really makes me happy.” Well, with couples getting more expressive and India embracing Valentine’s Day like never before, romance in relationships is clearly here to stay! ø s it only young India which is getting vocal in their relationships? Well, Dr. Samir Parikh, MBBS, DPM, MD (Psychiatry), Consultant Psychiatrist and Director, Department of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences at Fortis Hospitals is optimistic when he says, “Age definitely is not a determining factor when it comes to relationships. It depends entirely from person to person. However, the context in which they put the relationship and the importance they give it with respect to other aspects of their lives plays a more significant role.” He also points to some of the typical issues that create problems in relationships as he says ‘lack of communication, not giving space, not compromising enough, low frustration tolerance’ are red flags. Rejecting the notion that love relationships in today’s times are progressively short lived and contentious, he remarks, “That relationships are becoming progressively contentious can’t be generalised in this manner. What matters is the amount of quality time people are able to spend with each other, the importance they give to that particular relationship, and the extent to which they are able to communicate openly with one another.” He does believe that parents and bosses can relate better and improve communication with young adults by opening up to them. “An age gap is nothing more than a gap in communication. It’s best to try and relate to the other by looking at things from the other’s perspective, trying to understand their priorities and the pressures they face based on their current life situation,” he explains. As a leading clinical psychologist who has been handling delicate relationships, he had the following suggestions for those looking at commitment. “Life needs to be looked at as a balance of the cross-sectional and longitudinal. Make sure you spend quality time together. Do the things you both enjoy doing. At the same time, it’s also important that you communicate openly and build a relationship based on trust,” he pointed out. dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 49 WINE & DINE CONCEPT RESTAURANTS CUSTOMISED CREATIVITY Bikers Cafe flaunts their USP as ‘fun, friends and freedom’ What an Idea! Innovative and quirky - concept based Gurgaon restaurants reflect a distinctive ethos that matches the temperament of a very creative entrepreneur Yadav, who has been running the Bikers Café brand in India for the last four years and now owns one in Kolkata, another in Delhi and the latest in Gurgaon, agrees that the café is an extension of his personality and resonates with his personal values. ‘Fun, Food, Friends and Freedom – these are the buzzwords associated with the Georgia based brand Bikers Café and I totally believe in them,’ says this rugged biker who is an appropriate mascot for this restaurant zipping around the city in leather jacket and biking gear. From the creatively customised cutlery in tool box style containers to vintage helmets and posters of leading motorbike brands cozying up with live and exclusive paintings of biker couples, there is so much brand recall that one can only dream adventure and fitness in these surroundings. “The designs are customised and have a disruptive feel to them that comes from respect for the brand.” No wonder, from the Royal Enfield to Ducati to Harley Davidson – all these and more like to have their get-together in these compatible surroundings. The ‘bike’ dev- il is indeed in these details! While Yadav reveals how he has been ‘riding all his life’, he also gives us glimpses of his personal vision unfolding through the brand. “We open for breakfast, early at 7.30 am and contrary to those who believed no one would buy this concept, we have regulars,” he says with pride. As a fitness buff, he has not only created a place where everyone connects but there is also focus on good quality and healthy food which is freshly prepared. His café also has the best juices and stress busting tea selections like the lotus flower which gives health and taste benefits. “I worked in the corporate sector for years before I took this plunge and so I am process driven and believe in food audits to ensure consistency,” says Yadav. It helps that he loves food, is innovative with his menu and is regularly producing difficult and challenging dishes with flair. “My food is fresh and healthy and ranges from Arabian to Belgian to Thai. I can offer the best drinks at night and then detoxify your body with the best breakfast and juices,” he confesses even as he recalls how a handful of armed forces personnel came over for a healthy breakfast to his café on 26th January on their bikes after attending the OROP (One Rank One Pension) rally. There is happiness and pride evident even as Yadav walks up to the deejay Biker Sanjay Yadav is an appropriate mascot for the cafe by Meenakshi Sharma ‘Biking is an attitude’, says adventure enthusiast Sanjay Yadav pointing to the swanky Harley Davidson that is definitely ‘neighbors envy; owners pride’ as it occupies prime place at the entrance of his entrepreneurial venture, ‘The Bikers Café’ on Golf Course Road. Meanwhile, a retro version of a vintage bike blends beautifully with the old world charm of the outdoors as Yadav confess- 50 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews es that his heart beats for his many motorbikes. He calls them his trusted companions who have accompanied him on long arduous drives, spanning the length and breadth of the country with Leh and Goa being some of his favourite ones. Pawan Soni, founder FoodFreak. com, loves the Bikers Cafe concept as he explains, “ A concept based restaurant is not only to be judged on basis of decor (including the washroom), but also needs to take into account the food, bar menu, ambience, server dress, and music.” He believes that the best concept restaurants in the world are unique and while some may serve food on skates, other may have a jail theme. He fondly recalls a ninja theme based restaurant in Japan which he found extremely exciting. dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 51 WINE & DINE CONCEPT RESTAURANTS PARSI BAZAAR console and turns the volume gently to fill the room with the roar of a bike engine whose sheer fury can get the adrenaline going. This, he believes, adds up to the Bikers Café charm as does the ‘Wall of Confession’ in the restrooms which is a great stress buster to relieve us of emotional baggage in a safe way. “60 percent of our patrons are ladies and they feel happy and safe here!” he reveals. With intelligent food and a unique concept which has been honestly executed, he knows he has a winner in Bikers Café! PASSION UNLIMITED Somewhat similar is the passion that young Sharad Bishnoi, a product of Lawrence School, Sanawar, carries as he shares his journey in India, followed by a course in Australia and then back to complete graduation from Amity and get into the family business. Despite his success in the family business of automo- 52 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews The ambience, the bar and the music are all Out of the Box at OTB biles, he wanted to venture into an area that echoed his passion. And that is how ‘Out of the Box’ happened. “OTB is new café style bar which has met with great success in Delhi’s happening and artistically inclined neighbourhoods,” says Bishnoi who felt that the cafe resonated with his belief. “Our brand is highly recognisable and individually designed to give a vibrant, friendly environment to our guests,” he elaborates as he points to the earthy wood tones with a mix of jute creating a rugged yet sophisticated environment. “The place is not just experimental but hugely successful at bringing global street foods like Tacos from Mexican spread to Mezze from the Lebanese cuisine,” he adds. Music is clearly a big differentiator and Sharad is proud to say that “OTB promotes alternate music which is a combination of Indian and Western.” Listening to some of the best international music tracks, one can completely justify his claim that they never play popular music for the sake of it but make this place a happening venue with the best music in the genre. No wonder it has a formidable reputation for the best gigs in town as is evident from the stage that takes centrestage. The cuisine and the bar are popular draws and whether day or night, one can see office goers and party animals hang out at OTB where a young look and feel combines with happiness and energy. Just above OTB in Sector 29 is Vapour Drink Exchange. Just as the name suggests, this pub follows the stock exchange concept and offers a range of alcoholic beverages with prices fluctuating with demand. The sheer adventure of following rising and falling stocks seems to resonate with the Gurgaon public who also love its food. Another popular concept based restau- While SodaBottleOpenerWala has created a unique demand for Parsi food in the city, a recent Bombay Parsi Bazaar organised on 29th and 30th January at DLF CyberHub, took the concept to another level as a wide range of Parsi products like pickles, chutneys, masalas, books and an interesting array of Bombay and Parsi specialties like Bhel Puri, Sev Puri, Bacon Vada Pav, Dhanshak rant which recreates the regional ethos is SodaBottleOpenerWala - a quintessential Bombay Irani Café with all its idiosyncrasies boldly in place. From the authentic food to that ubiquitous biscuit jar to the disco music of the 70s and the quirky posters which caution you to avoid spitting, combing and even flirting, there is innovation and humour all around. GOING THE EXTRA MILE An interesting addition to the list is “7° Brauhaus”, an authentic Bavarian Mi- Parsi masalas and pickles as well as the Masterclass by Chef Anahita were very popular masala, Mawa Cake and Nankhtai were available to enjoy and learn! Not only was the Parsi Bazaar an opportunity to sample the best of Parsi offerings in Delhi at one place, but also meet the Bawas and the Bawis of GurgaonDelhi along with a host of participants. With paintings from Vietnam by Frenny Billimoria, treats by Nilufer’s Kitchen Secrets, Parsi Goodies by Hofrish among other delights, there were some amazing master classes enjoyed by the culinary fans of this cuisine. A Nankhatai workshop by Chef Akshata Karkaria, talk by Ava Khullar on the Parsi saga, Parsi style fish cutlace by Nilufer N. Dhondy, Parsi food discussion by Frenny Billimoria, Patra ni Machhi by Chef Anahita N. Dhondy, Dhaandar Patio master class by Chef Kainaz Contractor and Saas ni Machhi by Triety Cawasjee made this a perfect Parsi fiesta. crobrewery and Kitchen set up in 12,500 sq ft. area in DLF South Point Mall, Golf Course Road. The ambience and theme of 7° Brauhaus are designed to take you instantly to the Bavaria region of Germany, says owner RN Rathi who is well travelled and has the passion to go that extra mile to offer an authentic experience to his equally well heeled patrons. “We have a lot of high profile guests like the CEO of Genpact to the top management of Japanese companies. They expect the best and we never compromise on the experience,” says the passionate owner who has preserved the concept of an open air German style pub right down to every element he has personally enjoyed in Germany. The beer garden theme and décor complete with large chestnut trees and brewery bowls you over as much as the authentic German delicacies like farm raised Pork knuckle, grilled German Sausage platter with Sauerkraut, Holstein Schnitzel and the German Eistorte which is an interesting dessert. With sal- ads like “German potato salad”, “warm vegetable salad”, “salmon platter” and a variety of sausages imported from Germany, here is a concept that goes a couple of steps further that just regional cuisine to add to the overall effect. The Farzi (illusion) concept of Zoravar Kalra is another interesting molecular concept that has resonated with the Gurgaon audience. The flair and panache of molecular gastronomy match with the careful fusion of food and atmosphere to create innovation and fantasy that has made it so popular. As Farzi spreads its wings to Connaught Place, Gurgaon enjoys it in Cyber Hub. While regional cuisine has always spawned speciality concept restaurants, it is interesting how entrepreneurs like Zoravar Kalra, Sanjay Yadav, RN Rathi and Sharad Bishnoi, among many others, are creating a restaurant culture which is closely connected with the way they think and feel making these brands young, relatable and very, very popular. ø dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 53 COLUMN PET CARE Spotlight Cervical Cancer Demystified D r. Rama Joshi, M.B.B.S. Gold medalist, M.S. (Obst. & Gynae) is currently the Gynae Onco Surgeon & Robotic Surgeon, Director Department of Gynae Oncology, FMRI. She is UICC Fellow, B.G.H. Buffalo, NY, USA and talks to DCN about the most prevalent cancer affecting women today. What is Cervical Cancer and the risk factors associated with it? Cervical Cancer is a common cancer in women. The cancer that starts in the cervix, the lowermost part of the uterus or womb, is called cervical cancer. India contributes more than a quarter of this global cervical cancer burden. However, the good news is that Cervical Cancer is preventable. It can be diagnosed in early stages, where the cure rate approaches 90% with optimal treatment. However, in our country, most cases are diagnosed in advanced stages leading to high mortality The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection is now a well established cause of cervical cancer. In India about 6.6% of women in the general population and 76.7% of invasive cervical cancer are estimated to harbor cervical infection with HPVs 16 & 18. Though HPV is a necessary cause of cervical cancer, it is not a sufficient cause. Other established cofactors are high parity, smoking, unsupervised long term use of oral contraceptives, promiscuity, HIV & other sexually transmitted diseases. Immunosuppressant and certain dietary deficiencies are other probable co-factors. What are the warning signs or symptoms? It is important to note that in the precancerous condition and very early stages, there may not be any symptom. Usually there is no pain in the early stage of the disease but there may be symptoms like spotting / bleeding, increased/blood stained vaginal discharge, intermenstrual / irregular vaginal bleeding, postmenopausal vaginal bleeding, severe backache and pain in abdomen in advanced stages. The above symptoms may be present in conditions other than Cancer Cervix 54 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews hence a proper clinical evaluation is mandatory. Early detection is possible with the help of screening tests, Pap test and HPV DNA Testing (high risk HPVs). A Pap test is a simple test in which the surface of the cervix is gently scraped and the cells from the surface of the cervix are examined under the microscope to detect any abnormality. A definitive diagnosis is made upon colposcopy and directed biopsy & histopathology. Usually there is a clinically visible lesion on the cervix and a biopsy is taken from the lesion for histopathology to establish the diagnosis. How can cervical cancer be prevented? As far as the primary prevention goes, it is the HPV Vaccination. Prophylactic HPV Vaccine seems promising for reduction in cervical cancer especially in developing countries. It is recommended in young girls between the ages of 9 and 26 years. Regular screening is recommended as the vaccine offers around 80% protection. Social and life style modifications like healthy sexual practices and avoiding smoking, and avoiding sexual activity at an early age, help. Amongst the secondary prevention, by diagnosing and treating the precancerous conditions, the disease can be avoided. An annual gynaecological check-up including screening Pap test is essential for the prevention and early detection of Cervical Cancer in women after three years of marriage or sexual life. What does the treatment comprise? After establishing the diagnosis, metastatic workup is done to define the clinical stage as the treatment will depend on the stage of the disease. The treatment in early stages is done by either Primary Surgery of Radical Hysterectomy and Pelvic Lymphadenectomy (not by simple removal of uterus) or Radiation therapy. The surgery can either be open or minimal access Robotic surgery. Robotic surgeries have the advantage of reduced blood loss, less hospital stay and faster recovery. In selected young patients, fertility preservation can be offered with the surgery of radical trachelectomy. In advanced stages, usually a combination of Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy is employed. When properly diagnosed and treated, this particular cancer has a high success rate in terms of survival and quality of life. The most optimal management of cervical cancer can be done through a Gynae Oncologist The most optimal management of cervical cancer can be done through a Gynae Oncologist Pet sterilisation ..... red or green signal? by Dr. Salisha Whitney Correia “Oscar has become uncontrollable... he storms out seeing the local dogs in heat.” “Jackie has had pups twice before but they never survive... and this time there was a misalliance.” “Cookie is 10, has pus in her uterus...we never wanted puppies... should have if only we had gotten her spayed earlier.” These are a few common complaints and regrets we receive from owners of intact pets. The sterilisation procedure in male dogs and cats is termed as castration (neutering in layman terms) and in females, oophorectomy or ovariohysterectomy (spaying in colloquial terms). Both procedures have to be performed surgically under general anaesthesia by a qualified veterinarian. However, emotions, fear of the procedure, inadequate knowledge of sterilisation benefits often hinder our judgement. So, to help you take the initiative to get him/her fixed, we have weighed the sterilisation pros against the cons. MALES: Dogs with descended testi- cles can be castrated earliest at the age of five months, after completion of the vaccination schedule. This helps retain secondary physical characters, prevent an enlarged scrotal sac as well as control wandering behaviour. Castration, at any age, reduces the prostate size to its optimum and therefore, helps prevent life threatening diseases like prostatic cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia and testicular tumours. Your pooch can be free of sexually transmitted diseases like Trans Venereal Tumour (TVT) and Canine Brucellosis. Furthermore, castrated dogs tend to have lesser urinary dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 55 COLUMN PET CARE Spotlight Mothers with a history of epilepsy, hip dysplasia or any other conformational issue should not be bred, as the condition is hereditary and passes to the offsprings. Queen cats can be spayed earliest at the age of five months. The cat-heat season is generally very vocal and strenuous for the cats involved, as well as, for your family and the neighbours! It is very difficult to house-arrest cats in heat! tract problems and this is highly beneficial in small breeds. This fairly simple procedure can decrease male aggression. After all, intact or not, dogs are territorial and possessive of their owners! The only down side to castration is weight gain. However, it is easy manageable with regular exercise and diet control. Intact tom cats can be castrated from seven to eight months of age. This will save your cat from running off and prevent eventual dog bites! It will also prevent him from spraying all over your furniture, clothes and house! If your pet is cryptorchid (having retained testicles in the abdomen), surgical excision of the same is important because the retained testicles have a 60% probability of becoming cancerous. We, 56 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews at CGS Hospital carry out an ultrasound examination to locate the same and then perform surgery. FEMALES: Getting your bitch spayed is in itself gifting her with an “Add-on Life” coupon. Spaying before the first heat (less than nine months) reduces the chances of breast cancer by a whopping 80 percent. The chances drop to 50 and then a mere 10 percent when spaying is done after the second and third heat onset. This procedure helps eliminate pregnancy, unwanted off-springs and misalliances that later require abortions. Spaying also eliminates the chances of uterine infections, the most lethal being, Pyometra (pus in the uterus). It also prevents sexually transmitted diseases. The benefits definitely topple over the cons. Now, that we have decided to go ahead with castration or spaying, the next steps are as follows: n Schedule a routine physical examination of your pooch with a qualified Veterinary Surgeon. n Get a complete blood profile done to exclude any liver, kidney or systemic infection and adequate platelet and haemoglobin count and tick fever. This is critical in determining anaesthetic risk. n In older dogs, a chest x-ray would also be required. n In case of cryptorchidism, an ultrasound examination by a qualified and trained sonologist is useful in locating the intra-abdominal testes. n If all the reports are normal, you can schedule the procedure in the next two to three days. n Post surgical care is essential to prevent wound dehiscence, bruising, bleeding and infection at the surgical site and incisional hernia. Pay heed to the surgeon’s advice. With the advancement in veterinary surgery, spaying and castration are now the keyhole surgeries that minimise intra and post-operative complications. If you don’t want to breed your pet, get him/her fixed. Add years to life..... ø The author holds a Masters’ degree in Veterinary Surgery and Radiology and is currently practising at CGS Hospital, Gurgaon. Spaying and castration procedures are routinely performed at CGS Hospital, Gurgaon by its team of qualified, trained and experienced team of Veterinary Surgeons. Advancing in Veterinary Surgery, CGS Hospital will soon start Laparoscopic spaying procedures. Teething & Molars: A Guide For Parents M ost mothers get jittery when their babies start teething. Often, babies find it painful and can display varied symptoms. It is therefore advisable to be well informed about the process. Elaborating about teething, Dr Heman Verma informs, “The appearance of first primary molars takes place in the back of the mouth between 13 and 19 months. However, the tooth buds of the baby start to take form during the second trimester of the pregnancy. The first teeth to grow are known as primary central incisors that are located in the bottom centre of the mouth and those on the side are called lateral incisors.” He further explains, “The visit to the dentist for your baby must start in the first year to ensure the teeth are free from dangers of cavities and tooth decay.” The second set of primary molars appears between 24 and 33 months. Dr. Verma says, “This set usually pains more than the first one. The symptoms could include itching on cheeks, ears and chin. At this stage, babies usually are cranky, low on sleep and may lose appetite.” Dr Priyanka Verma adds, “This stage requires the dentist’s attention and in addition to giving cold things to the child, it’s important for the dentist to prescribe a treatment that would be effective and comfortable. Also, blaming high fever or diarrhoea on teething is not always correct.” The first permanent molar appears at the age of six. The second appears between 11 and 13 years. The third molar also known as wisdom tooth appears between the age of 16 and 24. According to Dr Heman Verma, “There are four wisdom teeth that may exist in a mouth.” The presence of wisdom tooth often causes problems as food particles get stuck in the gum area around them. The brush often is unable to reach the position of this tooth. As far as solutions to this problem are concerned, removal of the tooth is the best option. The team at Dental Stylers is equipped to handle all such dental issues including surgeries with most ease and comfort to make the visit of the patient a memorable one. Dr. Heman Verma One of the leading orthodontists & implantologists of the country, Dr. Verma spearheads Dental Stylers, one of the most premium dental centres of Northern India with comprehensive education in behavior management, sedation and anesthesia techniques. Dental Stylers 8 Dakshin Marg, DLF Phase- II, Gurgaon Ph. 9810296979, 2356609, 2356610, 2351159 Email: [email protected] www.dentalstylers.com dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 57 UTILITIES UTILITIES BI TY R TT E ER SI -S DE W N EE TS T EX SHA PE RE RI TH EN EI CE R S PE ORS HO vIv OF R K R SU L a E W aNC olf Ci ty TH E , 2 P-1 ng ? Ko SY r ta e ng FaN urth P-48 F Ho aNIssue March 2016 Vol.B9 No12 of i s th In e d G R 0 a RI t Pr fter a aWavOUURaNDIa n tio ac aN FESta IN IN P-47 R ER t US CL F DL EME GRATHM E GA C Di gi ta l ga m a M Q& o A E h P- O, H it H 28 u ir n a Q & Mo A for 4 P-2 District Administration T L Satyaprakash (IAS) Deputy Commissioner 0124-2321144 Anita Yadav (IAS) Administrator, HUDA 0124-2321650 Vikas Gupta (IAS) MCG Commissioner 0124-2220011 RS Dalal Director, HIPA 0124-2340413 S Duhan SDO(C)–I 0124-2321808 Yashender Singh GM, Haryana Roadways 0124-2322391 Satbir Singh DRO, Gurgaon 0124-2322877 Parveen Garg Civil Surgeon 0124-2322412 Balraj Ahalawat Regional Officer, Pollution Control Board 0124-2332775 Ashok Divakar Principal, Govt. Girls College 0124-2320783 SS Bokan Principal, Dronacharya Govt. 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For advertisement queries & READER RESPONSES contacT: DLF City News, Third Floor, Shopping Mall Arjun Marg, DLF Phase 1, Gurgaon, Haryana. m: +919810563407 Email: [email protected] [email protected] 58 I March 2016 I dlf Citynews In addition, DLF may be contacted on the following telephone and mobile numbers for Single Window complaint resolution: Mr. Surender Ph-I 9266677681 Mr. Rishi Pal Ph-II 8130446660 Mr. Amit Sharma Ph-III 9582900616 Mr. Dinesh Ph-IV 8860390274 DLF Customer Care 24/7 Call Center-9266 16 9266 Central Control Room of DLF functions round the clock and complaints pertaining to External General Maintenance, Street Light, Water, Horticulture, Safety & Security DLF Security Control Room: Phase-I2355591 9266677683 Phase-II 2353677 8860771008 Phase-III 2350419 9560095439 Phase-IV 2392965 7503062758 DLF Community Centre: Phase-I 2352423 Phase-II 2351522 Phase-III 2350782 DHBVNL Complaint Call Centers and respective Junior Engineers for electrical complaints Category Location Contact Common to All Call Center Cell 9891901912, 9911131912, 0124-2314331 Phase-I C-15 near Mother Dairy JE Cell: 9540954873 Phases -II & III Madhya Marg Phase-II JE Cell: 9540954874, 9540954877 Phase-IV Chakkarpur Housing Board 9540954878 Clubs DLF Golf Club City Club Phase -3 City Club Phase-4 City Club Phase-5 0124-4525252 0124-4999100/101 0124-4129100/101 0124-4949100/101 Condominiums, Commercial & Recreational (Delhi NCR) Building Chief Group Co-ordinator Group Co-ordinator Con. No. Gateway Tower Ericsson Forum Building 9A/B Cyber Greens Building 7 Building 5 Building 14 Building 6 Infinity Tower Building 8 Building 10 Cyber Hub DLF Centre SEZ Silokhera IBM Silokhera Centre Court Plaza Tower SQUARE ATRIA Praveen Sharma ([email protected]) (9650666885) Venkateswarlu Pusuluri ([email protected]) (8527811644) Gaurav Sharma Ashok Ruhil E-mail ID Important Contact Numbers Commissioner of Police Joint Commissioner CP (Headquarters) DCP East DCP West DCP South DC Office: Gurgaon Health Department Directory: Dr. Kamla Singh, Director Health Services Malaria Malaria Office Building Manager Contact No. Kuldeep Raghav Sanjay Gupta Ravikant Sharma Gaurav.S@ Hira Singh 9971666494 ap.jll.com Varun Bajpai Pankaj Yadav Ishwinder Singh Satish Parashar Virender Negi Manpreet Singh Raj Kumar Arun Kumar Ashish Dubey Anurag Yadav Kartar Sharma Panchanan Nayak Ashok.Ruhil@ 813003324 ap.cushwake.com Vishnu Ojha Ramesh Wadehra Neelkamal Maurya 9999981801 9999981802 9999981803 9999981804 9999981805 9999981806 M: 9999810000 O: 0124-2325500/2321144 0172-2587013 0124-4065534 E-mail ID 85888 39504 98733 55705 99714 48799 8860614597 9899349037 9899470219 9873072879 9873937504 9891269321 9810774637 9560297778 9582674876 9811890995 8527398202 8130666392 8527811332 8130055319 8130033479 8130022916 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Ambulance Service (dial from mobile) Police Commissioner Helpline 10 am – 2 pm (Mon to Friday) Unwanted Obscene Calls: Mr. Anirudh Chauhan Police Control Room 102 9999999953 9582226610 100 0124-2316100 9999981819 0124-2335100 0124-2221559 9999999953 1091 0124-2222644 24x7 Anti-ragging helpline Women and Children Helpline Senior Citizens Helpline Police Commissioner Helpline Women Helpline Number Cyber Cell To Report Suspicious person or Suspicious Activities around you Dial 1090 (Toll Free 24x7) dlf Citynews I March 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 March 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 Mr. Jawahar Lal Vij President 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 9810638595 9818253979 ContactTelephone No. Mr. Madan Singh 0124-4272776 Mr. Bramprakash 0124-4292418 Mr. Attar Singh 0124-4055277 Mr. Y C Sharma 9873603572 Mr. Dinesh Bajpai 9711497034 Mr. Sanjeev Saxena 9654132300 dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 61 TRANSIT LOUNGE KITU GIDWANI ‘You Have To Be A Musician To Be An Actor’ by Reena Dhankher From sashaying down the ramp in style to showing her acting prowess in theatre, serials and films, Kitu Gidwani has proved her versatility in everything she has done. A complete natural in front of the camera, Kitu debuted on small screen as an airhostess in the popular soap ‘Trishna’ on Doordarshan and the viewers loved her. Since then, she has given many power-packed performances and earned critical acclaim for films like Earth, Abha, Deham and Dance of the Wind for which she also won the’ Best Actress Award’ in the Three Continents Festival in France. On a visit to Gurgaon for a theatre performance, DCN caught up with the talented actress-cum-model for a tete-a-tete. You have done both theatre and films. How different are the two mediums? Well, in theatre you are in front of a live audience and yes, it’s scary while in front of the camera, it is less scary, as you can always have a retake. In films, everything is micro directed, the way you look, turn, move, the number of steps you take but on stage if you give one line badly, it’s your job to raise the energy in the next one and come back to that level. You have to be a musician to be an actor who can listen to the rhythm of each scene as well as the pauses. You know at times you get into a trance and don’t know that there’s an audience there, so theatre has a very different kind of magic. Once you are on stage, you are the master. You are dealing with instant energy and creating magic whereas in films, the element of magic mostly comes from the sets and special effects. Not that films are less interesting but sometimes the director wants a scene in a certain way while you may be dying to do it differently! So, in that case, it may not be so much fun but when the director understands you completely and allows you the freedom to improvise, it can be thrilling. You have done French films too. How was it different there? I have done two French films long ago and the treatment is very different out there. They give emphasis on natural acting and therefore their scripts are Kitu Gidwani, the natural actor next door! 62 dlf I March 2016 I Citynews QUOTE UNQUOTE I am very versatile and can play both dark and light roles. There is no particular role I look for. Most actors want complex characters. subtle with fantastic dialogues. I feel dialogues make a character, if you don’t have good dialogues, character becomes very multi dimensional. In foreign films, even a small character will have complete reality to itself. We still have to learn how to make films that are dialogue based and which actually sound real. What goes into the preparation of a role for you? It depends, like for this play ‘Single Mingle’ for which I am in your city, I didn’t have to do much research as the character was pretty much like me. In fact, there are only a few subtle differences between the character Fanny and me. What are your future projects? I am supposed to do a big TV series on freedom fighters, coming up on August 15. I have also done a project for Zee Theatre, a new channel where they are going to televise plays. They will select plays and invite actors to rehearse them and then you act as if on stage. They will have three cameras and will finish shooting the whole play in three days. That way the audience will get to see theatre in their own homes. What prompted you to do this play? After I read it, I liked it. I had not done a play for two years and was on the lookout for one. This script clicked completely and it was a perfect vehicle for me. As far as other roles are concerned, well written roles excite me, even if it’s a cameo. If a role is badly written, who ever might offer, I will not do it. I don’t mind playing, a corporate person, a queen or a comic character. I am very versatile and can play both dark and light roles. There is no particular role I look for. Most actors want complex characters, beautifully written which are strong enough to emote. There should be something inside the character that comes out. But yes, I would love to do a crime thriller, a female detective cop! What are your other interests? I am a big animal lover and do lots of wok for animals in Mumbai. I help in rescuing and treating them and also find homes for them, especially cats. Last five years, I have specialised in that. I am also a dancer. Tango is my passion. I have spent almost five years learning Tango which I feel is a beautiful form of art. ø T STYLES UPER EX Indian Ethnic Creaaons Wholesale Prices BOUTIQUE FABRICS SUIT DUPATTAS SAREES SHAWLS KURTIS FRESH ARRIVALS CUSTOMIZED STITCHING LG-33-39,DT MEGA MALL,GOLF COURSE ROAD, DLF PHASE-1 GURGAON #0124-4300330/31/40 www.supertexstyles.in 7 DAYS OPEN FREE PARKING dlf Citynews I March 2016 I 63 ENTERTAINMENT CELEB TALK by DCN Bureau Last month was the season of love but it seems B-Town has been buzzing with break-ups. It’s as if Ranbir and Katrina have set a trend of sorts! After the lovebirds headed for splits-ville during the first week of January, Virat and Anushka called off their relationship and then Farhan and Adhuna Akhtar followed suit, ending their 15-yearold relationship. Of course, it was Ranbir and Kat’s break-up that hogged the maximum limelight particularly when a few days prior to the separation (Ranbir moved out of the house they had rented together leaving Kat alone), a recent picture of the actors kissing on their balcony had been trending on social media. But then, finally it was official that the two have parted ways. Similarly, the Virat and Anushka break-up story remained in news for quite some time, almost more than a week. It all started when the two celebrities unfollowed each other on Instagram during the end of January. A few days later, Virat uploaded a selfie on Instagram with the caption, “Heartbroken.” But, after some time he deleted the same image. After he deleted the image, the fans reacted which forced the Indian Test skipper to re-post the image. Virat posted the snapshot again and wrote, “Feels like I committed a crime deleting this picture. Haha sorry guys ????. Here it is again (sic).” Within a week, official reports of a breakup started pouring in even when none of the two have given statements yet. However, the relationship has for sure gone sour as was evident when recently in a press conference, Virat, while being asked about his relationship status, hit back: “Relationship with who? Anyone? I am not a relationship counsellor. So that’s not a question you should be asking Not Love, It’s The Season Of Break-Ups! me. Ask the expert please.” The apparent reason of break up is said to be disagreement between the two about marriage, which it seems was also the reason for Ranbir and Katrina. Then came another bouncer - A break-up between Arbaaz Khan and Malaika Arora! Reports that the two are heading for a divorce after being together for 17 years and that Malaika has moved out of her Bandra house and has shifted to an apartment in Khar along with her 14-yearold son Arhaan started doing rounds. It went on for a few days till Arbaaz finally found a perfect way to shut all the reports about the alleged divorce by using dubsmash of ‘Kuch Toh Log Kahenge’ from 1972 movie Amar Prem! He posted the video and captioned it – “Some people need to mind their business, stop talking and writing bullshit and concentrate on their own miserable lives.”! But the reports have still not stopped! Reason, Arbaaz posted a picture of his workout equipments on Valentine’s Day and captioned it, “Spent my Valentines with these dumbbells… it was quiet, peaceful and no arguments… cannot complain.’ This has once again given the media food for thought! Meanwhile, the Farhan-Adhuna separation also had its share of limelight with various reports suggesting different reasons for the break-up even though the two decided to refrain from speaking anything about it. Break-ups, for sure, are not a new phenomenon in B-Town. It’s just that 2016 kicked off with quite a few happening at the same time. Well, we can only hope that this ‘break-up spree’ in the industry ends soon! ø MOVIE PREVIEWS English Zootopia 3D Produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore, this film is a computer animated action and comedy starring Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman. The story revolves around a police department official who teams up with a con artist to solve a case and is confronted by a massive outbreak. Batman Vs Superman Directed by Zack Snyder, this is a super hero film, where Batman and Superman are up against each other. Will they keep fighting or decide to prevent the destruction of the metropolis? The film features Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams and Jesse Eisenberg. Kung Fu Panda 3, 3D A sequel to Kung Fu Panda 2, this one is a computer animated martial arts film starring Jack Black, J K Simmons, Bryan Cranston and Dustin Hoffman. Written by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, the film has a touch of comedy in it too. Hindi Kapoor & Sons Directed by Shakun Batra, the film is a romantic comedy. The star cast includes Siddharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt, Fawad Khan and Rishi Kapoor. The plot revolves around two brothers who have their love interest in one girl. Rocky Handsome Directed by Nishikant Kamat, the film is an action packed thriller starring John Abraham, Shruti Hassan and Nathalia Kaur. It is based on the novel ‘The Man From Nowhere’ by Lee Jeong-Beom. Ki and Ka A romantic comedy film, Ki and Ka will see Arjun Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor in the lead roles. Directed by R Balki, the music of the film has been composed by Nadeen Shravan. The story revolves around gender issues faced by a married couple. For corporate and bulk bookings (Book minimum 50 tickets) (Timings: 11am-7pm) Phone: 8860003310 email: [email protected] Tickets also available at 64 I March 2016 I Citynews dlf bookmyshow.com dlf Citynews I May 2014 I 65 ENTERTAINMENT LAST WORD Deepika Gives Sneak Peek Into ‘xXx’ Deepika Padukone has started shooting for her debut Hollywood film “xXx: The Return of Xander Cage”, opposite Vin Diesel at Canada and the pictures and the videos that the two have shared from the shoot are already trending on social media! Deepika, who plays the character of Serena in the film, not only looks super hot but also quite at ease with the entire cast and crew of the film, including her sexy co-star. Meanwhile, even as the actress was busy shooting for the film, she did get a chance to celebrate Valentine with boyfriend Ranveer Singh, who flew all the way to Toronto to be with the love of his life! It seems Ranveer also charmed the director of the film DJ Caruso who took to Twitter to share a picture of the three of them from the sets. He wrote “Special visitor on set today. #RanveerSingh and a very happy #DeepikaPadukone. Great spirit and smile. #Cooldude,” ‘Desi’ Girl Goes ‘Videshi’ Again! While fans are eagerly waiting to see Deepika in her debut Hollywood film, the actress who has actually started the trend of working overseas, has added another feather to her cap. Desi girl Priyanka Chopra is now the latest addition to the allstar Baywatch movie. The actress will appear as an antagonist in the film which already features Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson, Johnson’s San Andreas co-star Alexandra Daddario, and Kelly Rohrbach. Upping the ante on the male sexiness will be Zac Efron, while Hannibal Buress will also be chilling on the beach. The film will release in May 2017 66 I March 2016 I dlf Citynews >>
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