WEll-PlaNNED HomEs

IN MEMORIAM
AISHA CHAUDHARY
COMMUNITY CONNECT
GURGAON’S MALAYALEES
FACE OF THE MONTH
SANJEEV BIKHCHANDANI
Citynews
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` 50
April 2015 Vol. 9 Issue 1
fine
Is All About An
Eco-System
LIVING
In Perfect Harmony With
Well-Planned
Homes,
Modern Business Districts
& Leisure-Entertainment Hubs
P-8
WINE & DINE
Innovation and Passion
Raise Presentation
of Cuisine TO a
a Form of Art
P-47
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 Images
Marketing, Ad Sales & Distribution
Touchpoints Marketing Services
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Letters:
[email protected]
Several decades ago, when parts of Gurgaon
began getting a makeover which would make
them one of the most sought-after addresses in the
country, few would have imagined that the city
would redefine what good living is all about.
As our Cover Story finds out, this has to do with an eco-system which ensures green lungs for the city, modern architecture and amenities and planning for the future.
The minute you realise you are thinking about dying more
than living is the moment you need to change gears. These
words written by Aisha Chaudhary summed up the philosophy of life for the 18-year-old who breathed her last, ironically, the day her book was released at the Jaipur Literary
Festival in January. Rest in Peace, Aisha.
We catch up with the city’s Malayalees as we continue with
our series on Communities. Friendly and always ready to
adapt to new surroundings, they talk about what they like
about Gurgaon and what they miss when it comes Kerala.
Gurgaon is all about setting trends. So it is with food as we
talk about the latest trends in taste and presentation in our
Wine & Dine section, looking not just at coffee and éclair but
also Biryani which is as rich in history as it is in taste. In
Transit Lounge, we catch up with the acclaimed French
Bossa Nova band, Nouvelle Vague
VINAY JHA
Editor
@DlfCityNews
DLF City News
Citynews.dlf
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I April 2015 I 03
I N S I D E
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38
51 53
59
61
65
Events Calendar
Cancer Awareness
Guest Column
Handbag Trends
Helpline
The City Elders
Movie Previews
Citynews
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APRIL 2015
VOL 09 Issue 1
Wine & Dine Food Trends 44
From Coffee Art to Gourmet Eclairs to Authentic Biryanis, new food trends focus on presentation
techniques and authentic taste while experimenting with fusion
Faces
Interview 18
CMO Gurgaon Civil Hospital
talks about their preparedness
and advises people on how to
avoid seasonal ailments
26 People
Nicknamed ‘Khali’, traffic cop
Rajesh Kumar is a popular
draw during their road safety
campaigns
MUST
READ
37 Corporate Fiesta
A unique event saw
corporates enjoy fun, games and
powerful panel discussions
30 All about Landscaping
Softscaping and hardscaping
create a unique amalgam that
beautify the city and define
Gurgaon’s lavish landscapes
MUST
READ
MUST
READ
55 Traffic Update
A new traffic app helps
citizens calculate fare and penalty
34 G
urgaon Utsav
Audience laps up an
entertaining mix of music and
theatre
Communities 44
Travel Malayalees in Gurgaon are a
closely-knit community with
unique food, entertainment,
festivals and work culture
Faith in the Almighty, love for
your country and the delicious
cuisine will ensure a fulfilling
trip to Amritsar
Around Town Glitzy Opening
36
Le Meridien opened in style with unique performances under a star-studded ambience
Entertainment Opening Up Brangelina’s Public Display of Affection is
rather endearing for fans who rarely get to
see it
22 Aisha Chaudhary
Her little Epiphanies have immortalized Aisha
who passed away at the tender age of 18 on the
very day her book was released
28 Sanjeev Bikhchandani
Page 7 >>>
For Advertising, Please Contact:
06
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64
Virat’s love for Anushka was evident on Twitter as
expressed appreciation for her latest film
66 Last Word
Founder, Naukri.com believes one should be
a solution provider or a first mover to be a
successful entrepreneur
43
Page 24-25 >>>
9810563407
COVER STORY
FINE LIVING
Finding The
Perfect
Harmony!
A blend of modern luxury and homely comfort within natural
surroundings makes for a beautiful balance in Gurgaon’s business and
residential districts by Meenakshi Sharma
As you cruise on the National Highway 8, the futuristic architecture of the iconic Gateway Tower with
its distinctive ship mast heralds entry into Gurgaon.
The glitter and glamour of Gurgaon has invited epithets like “unique, impressive, modern and millennium” which attract people from all over the world and
yet fail to capture the true essence of a city which
some refer to as “People’s Choice!”
“With green open areas, unimpeded water and
electricity, complete security and all the modern facilities, this city provides a completely self-sufficient
ecosystem - a safe haven to come back to at the end
of a long day,” says advertising professional Sonali
Malviya who resides at The Park Place, DLF 5, and
considers this city to be the reason for her family adjusting so well to life in India after living abroad for
over a decade.
Chief Architect, DLF 5, Alok Kumar, explains how
they maintain the green lung of Gurgaon to control
pollution. “From vertical to canopy type of foliage,
a nice cluster of trees to a manicured lawn and seasonal flowers, we keep the look mesmerizing and
vibrant. Flowering trees, shrubs and ground covers
are done at various levels to give it a dramatic look,”
says Kumar.
Malviya explains, “Beautiful green areas provide
great play opportunities for my kids while modern facilities, secure living and absolutely fantastic maintenance and support affords us ample opportunities
to make friends and enjoy festivals and events.” Wel-
08
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I April 2015 I Citynews
COVER STORY
FINE LIVING
lington Estate resident Manish Arora
emphasizes on the unique combination
of comfort, luxury and convenience.
CO-CREATING VALUE
It is not just about bricks and
mortar but the service levels that
we give and the soul attached to
the product
Sudhanshu Bhushan
EVP Operations
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I April 2015 I Citynews
Co-creation of value through world-class
habitation, recreation and commercial
facilities in a superior and controlled
environment seems to be the key when
it comes to good living in the city. The
critical differentiator of Gurgan lies not
just in the manner in which it has grown
but also in the entire ecosystem that promotes fine living at par with world class
standards without negatively impacting
the environment. Whether it is the business district of Cybercity, the plotted
properties in DLF City or the condominiums in DLF 5, residents, professionals
who work here and visitors to Gurgaon
are fascinated with the unique balance
between good living and nature.
Rajeev Trehan, Senior Associate with
M/s Architect Hafeez Contractor, reminds us that, “In the next few years,
when the trees and greenery mature,
there will be no such place, at least in
the country for sure”. While ‘luxury’ is
a word that is often used to describe development with a focus on world-class
facilities, fine living goes beyond luxury
as it creates those constant innovations
that challenge the notion of ‘comfort’
and come up with fresh new ideas. This
is apparent when one sees environmentfriendly golf carts doing the rounds of
the condominiums, efficient segregation
and disposal of garbage, well thought
out horticulture and landscaping conceptualization and execution with an
emphasis on safety through designated
fire stations, LEED Certified buildings
and an assigned Green Corridor.
Sudhanshu Bhushan, EVP Operations,
elaborates on the meaning of good living. “It is about differentiation,” he says
as he points out to those little touches
around the Golf Course, the Aralias
and the Club Magnolias. The stunning
landscaping and greening include intelligently created mounds and screening
elements that ensure that the golfers
are not overwhelmed by buildings while
residents get to enjoy an expanse of
landscaped beauty thus giving the best
of both worlds.
A visit to the tastefully decorated and
COVER STORY
FINE LIVING
Personalised Tuition
Kids are Different
elegant interiors of the Club Magnolias
shows that it is not just about luxurious
settings but superior service levels and a
soul which creates this unique environment. “It is not just about bricks and
mortar but the service levels that we give
and the soul attached to the product,” explains Bhushan.
INTELLIGENT INNOVATION
The focus is on the 5 S of being
“Safe, Secure, Sustainable, Smart
and Social
AMIT GROVER
National Director Offices
12 I April 2015
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Citynews
Amit Grover, National Director Offices,
explains the concept of Cybercity, the
largest business district of Gurgaon,
“The intelligent buildings of today address the human needs of being social,
safe and secure. These are architectural
marvels that are high in performance
with no impact on the environment even
while they provide the necessary work
life balance”.
Grover maintains that the focus is on
the 5 S of being “Safe, Secure, Sustainable, Smart and Social” that gives that
“Edge” to Cybercity”. To him, fine living
moves from the ‘need level’ to the ‘solution or interactive level’. “The safety
ring of Cybercity and the Metro adds to
the satisfaction levels while contributing to the ease of commuting,” explains
Grover who calls this the ecosystem solu-
tion that adds to the comfort of working
at Cybercity. This is poised to improve
with their future vision of ‘Cloud Computing’ which will make it fully networked. People love Cybercity and will
even stay to enjoy the perks of working
in this area, he explains as he speaks
of the World Tech Park Project where
inducting sports into the office experience adds to a healthy lifestyle. “Healthy
competition and sporting spirit through
tournaments bring smiles to the workplace,” adds Grover.
Anmol Raheja, who works with a software engineering company, is enamoured of the business district when he
says, “Cybercity has amazing connectivity and international standards of
service levels. Even empty shops are
immediately covered by white sheets –
something that speaks volume about being professional”. He also has a word of
praise for the cleanliness and security
of sniffer dogs in DLF CyberHub which
he describes as “a much desired place
whether you want to chill out or have a
quick bite.” His colleague Rahul Jairath
adds, “It is a beauty with big brands,
loads of activities and multiple areas to
hang around”. India’s first integrated
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COVER STORY
FINE LIVING
Gurgaon’s
Green Theme
The city’s theme for a dream centres around all things green
over 2 lakh sq ft, DLF CyberHub has
iconic restaurants with international &
Indian cuisine. It includes fine dining,
lounge bars, cafes, roof top restaurants,
global kitchens and bakeries.
EASY COMMUTING
Intelligent segregation of traffic
will allow vehicles to move more
smoothly even while ensuring
pedestrian safety
ROHIT MALIK
Director DLF Estate Developers
14 I April 2015
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The newly laid out HUDA-DLF Sector
Road, which is part of a much-awaited
infrastructure upgrade, is all set to enhance the thrill of living in Gurgaon as is
already evident from the Sikanderpur end
of the Golf Course Road. This public-private partnership between DLF and HUDA
will create sustainable infrastructure
from the Sirhaul Toll Plaza to Sector 55/56
thus ensuring smooth flow of traffic.
Rohit Malik, Director DLF Estate Developers, tells us that this is a well-thoughtout upgrade. IL&FS Engineering and
international
consultant
Parsons
Brinckerhoff are doing the project management consultancy. The concept drawings were finalized by the international
team from AECOM, says Malik. He emphasizes on “intelligent segregation of
traffic which will allow vehicles to move
more smoothly even while ensuring pedestrian safety through 2 m–4 m wide
paved footpath.” Attention to detailing
includes electronic signages and dedicated cycling tracks placed on a higher level
than the tarmac. “We expect most of the
upgrades to be operational in the next 6
months making commuting hassle-free,”
maintains Malik.
INCLUSIVE GROWTH
From Raahgiri which allows Gurgaonites to reclaim public spaces to the
attention to art and culture, music and
good food, this city’s love for life and
challenges is evident. At a recent event,
scholarships were awarded to underprivileged children to enable them to pursue
higher studies. Affluent residents could
volunteer as mentors to coach the kids as
part of the DLF Foundation project that
is committed to inclusive development.
While General Rajender Singh, CEO of
the DLF Foundation, shares their commitment to bettering the lot of those not
as fortunate, Sudhanshu Bhushan, EVP
Operations, points out that since happy
staff leads to happy service, they keep a
steady focus on staff welfare and development. “We not only make sure that the
staff has benefits and insurance but are
also given regular training and development”, he says.
Amit Grover supports this very thought
in the Cybercity business district even
as he elaborates on the CSR angle pointing out that “Cybercity has collaborated
with corporates like Canon into activities
that include inclusive development, environment protection and bringing smiles
through a healthy work life balance” ø
by Reena Dhankher
“Vast planted areas with trees and a variety of ground covers, huge lakes, water
bodies and fresh species of fauna that
flock the landscaped stretches, this was
the idea behind the ‘eco-system’ for DLF
5,” explains Rajeev Trehan, Senior Associate with M/s Architect Hafeez Contractor working with DLF.
“Specialist landscape designers and
horticulturists have ensured design, selection and plantation of a huge variety
of plants. The flowering trees with colour and a vast plant material palate will
make it look strikingly enriched with exquisiteness,” he sums up.
Trehan’s simple but effective explana-
tion of the green theme which forms the
core of Gurgaon’s new developments
hold out hope for the future.
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URBAN LANDSCAPE
Mention Gurgaon and the DLF Golf
Course comes instantly to mind. The
original golf course designed by Arnold Palmer has matured into a beautiful, flourishing green stretch. The new
golf course designed by Gary Player
has more rustic flora making it slightly
rugged. “Challenging slopes, lake and
rocks change the environment, game
and design elements leading to newer
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Tel : +91 124 3926025, 9650912288
Email : [email protected] | web : www.equalsign.in
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I April 2015 I 15
COVER STORY
FINE LIVING
concepts,” says Alok Kumar, Chief Architect, DLF 5. For both the golf courses,
explains Kumar, there is a wide variety
of trees, from vertical to canopy type foliage, which gives it an interesting look.
When Paul Friedberg, New York-based
landscape architect, conceptualised and
designed the urban landscape of DLF CyberHub, it was envisioned as a centre of
social bustle amidst greenery - an oasis
in the middle of glass and concrete.
Giri Raj Shah, Chief Architect, DLF
Retail Development, points out, “We
wanted DLF CyberHub to become a happening space and named it thus. Friedberg evolved the design with curvilinear
shaped shops sitting in the middle of the
plaza between the existing building and
building No. 8”.
GREEN WALL
Look closely from NH-8 at the 12.5 meters high ‘Green Wall’ with climbers vertically rising into the sky and the story
behind it will make sense. “The green
wall sits on top of a basement which
was the biggest challenge for us as there
was no natural soil for the climbers to
be planted. We got fiber glass planters
16 I April 2015
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situated on three levels and planted bougainvillea plants in them. It was a pleasant surprise when the climbers took root
quickly, and within first season we had a
green wall. The bougainvillea is a plant
which normally grows slow, hence the sur-
CYBER HUB
Centre of social bustle
amidst the beauty of
greenery. This greenery
is an oasis in the
middle of a glass and
concrete development
prise when it did well,” explains Shah.
Shah points out that the choice of bougainvillea was made on account of Gurgaon’s harsh weather. “The wall was created using a chain link fence mounted
on a steel frame which allowed a grip to
these climbers. The shoots were allowed
to grow at random for the first season,
keeping the trimming to a minimum,
which helped attractive flowering shrub
to mushroom beautifully,” he says.
Green Wall apart, office goers also enjoy
the lush green patches of the roof tops.
The parking areas with trees planted
between the car parking bays, not only
provide a green cover but also provide
welcome shade to cars.
Future plans include lush green elevated walkways and an ambitious ‘City
Park’ which will form the most urban
example of landscape design. These are
being designed by Paul Friedberg and
Hafeez Contractor. Sunil Koul, Chief
Architect RENTCO, sums up beautifully, saying, “The walkways will have
trees and shrubs with trellises to create
the shadow effect. We plan to have sculptures to make it more interesting and
commuters will have a provision to enjoy
the greens” ø
Interview
CMO CIVIL HOSPITAL
‘Swine Flu Cases
Under Control’
DCN interacts with Dr Pushpa Bishnoi, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Civil
Hospital Gurgaon, to discuss the precautions that need to be taken
against seasonal diseases
What are the steps being taken to
combat swine flu?
The situation is under control. Most
of them were OPD cases. First of all, I
would like to tell people to stop worrying.
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I April 2015 I Citynews
In panic, people are now getting swine flu
tests done for common cough and cold
too. Here I would like to clarify that when
and if someone gets cold and cough, they
must wait for a day or two since this
could be viral too. Only if it persists,
should one explore the option of swine
flu test. For the first couple of days, try to
keep warm, gargle and drink hot water.
If situation still does not subside
one can always come to us and we will advise them for the
test accordingly.
Swine flu is a droplet infection that spreads from one person to another. Those who are at high risk include kids,
pregnant ladies, heart patients, old people and cancer patients who do not have the required immunity to fight the
virus for swine flu.
Tell us about some other diseases associated with this
season and precautions to avoid them.
Apart from swine flu, the other seasonal infections could
be flu for which we must remain in isolation, consume hot
drinks and wear sufficient clothes. I have noticed that with
the weather changing, people have altogether stopped wearing woolen and so they catch cold.
Also, we need to keep away from malaria and dengue. I advise people to use mosquito net and coils, keep doors closed,
don’t let water collect anywhere and pour a little kerosene
wherever collected water may prove to be dangerous.
What are the challenges in healthcare segment that
the civil hospital faces today?
One of the most important challenges has been that while
the number of patients has gone up over the years, there
has been a scarcity of specialists. The government is
Interview
CMO CIVIL HOSPITAL
Apart from swine flu, the other seasonal
infections could be flu for which we must
remain in isolation, consume hot drinks and
concerned and is making efforts to overcome this hindrance. We do have specialists but we need more.
Similarly, our hospital deals with maximum number of pregnancies and deliveries as we have a free ambulance pick
up for all expecting mothers and we also
give a free diet for three days in normal
deliveries and seven days in caesarian.
But the Gynaecology Department has
comparatively less manpower. Efforts,
20 I April 2015
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wear sufficient clothes
however, are being taken to come up with
solutions for these problems.
Is the infrastructure enough in Civil
Hospital or do you think you need
more facilities?
The main infrastructural problem is
lack of space. Since there is no scope to
expand here, we are planning to share
some burden with the Civil Hospital
in Sector 10. We are coming up with an
operation theatre there and demanding
specialists. We also need ICU facilities
and though we have updated machines
now, the sad part is we do not have a radiologist and ultrasonologist for a long
time now ø
IN MEMORIAM
AISHA CHAUDHARY
Aisha Chaudhary
March 27, 1996-January 24, 2015
Celebrating
Life In Death...
Remembering Aisha Chaudhary, the author of ‘My Little Epiphanies’
who knew how to live her life to the fullest even when death
was knocking on her doors
by Rahul Ahuja
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“The minute you realise you are thinking
about dying more than living is the moment
you need to change gears.” Aisha Choudhary
did not just pen these profound words, she lived
by this philosophy for 18 years before death
snatched her away.
But she continues to live on through the words
which now find place in a book. Cruel as destiny is, she breathed her last the day the book
was released.
An undying spirit, Aisha died of pulmonary fibrosis on January 24 this year after suffering for
four years but the young prodigy’s book “My Little
Epiphanies” has set an example for others to follow.
Daughter of Aditi and Niren Chaudhary, Aisha
was born with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Syndrome (SCIDS), a disorder that does not
allow the patient to survive for more than a year.
Aisha, however, survived after undergoing a bone
marrow transplant when she was barely six months.
Though she miraculously survived for 18 years,
the transplant had a serious side-effect and she
developed a lung disease which finally took her
life in January. But before that, the teenager
made it a point to live her life to the fullest, a
life which was laced with accomplishments and
achievements.
A resident of Gurgaon, Aisha, besides authoring a book, had explored the artist in her. She
was also named an INK fellow and had the opportunity to deliver inspirational talks twice at
the prestigious INK conference in 2011 and 2013.
She also spoke at TED in Pune in 2013.
However, 2014 proved to be a brutal year for Aisha as her lungs started giving up on her and she
became bed-ridden.
Aditi, her mother recalls, “Even though Aisha
put up a brave fight against the disease, there
were times she would break down. She would
ask me whether she would be around for Christmas. Such moments were very difficult for us as
we had no answer for her.”
“However, Aisha had decided not to bow down
before the difficulties and make her life as positive and fulfilling as it could be,” adds her mother, something which was also evident in her inspirational talks. At one of the INK conferences,
she had spoken about a five-point mantra for life
- Believe in miracle, Live in the moment, Find
opportunities in difficulties, Dare to dream and
Love your pets; they truly work as medicine.
Aisha too had two pets, Koby, a Labrador and
Rolo, a pug. Rolo had died barely a month before
she succumbed to her disease.
In her book ‘My Little Epiphanies’, Aisha
writes about inspiration and optimism. She has
analysed her own feelings to find out what gave
her a sense of hope and control. Through the
book, she has given her readers an insight into
her unusual life while inspiring them to find
peace when going through similar hardships.
Some of her thoughts such as “Then is not
now, but now will soon be then,” or “Even
though I am not okay, I must remember
that sometimes other people may not be
okay too,” reflect her positive attitude towards life.
Though it has not been easy for her parents since her demise, they have found
solace in the fact that their daughter tried
living a happy life even when she was
treading towards death during her last
days. Her mother recalls, “She used to tell
me, ‘whenever I am bed-ridden, I think of
things I am still able to do and that makes
me sit up and bring a smile on my face.”
Even in death, she lives forever ø
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I April 2015 I 23
+91 85888 59494
+91 85888 61681
people
GURGAON’S KHALI
Daily Diet
33-40 chappatis
5 kg fruits
35-40 eggs
4 litres milk
Fitness Routine
2 hours running/jogging
2 hours in the gym
Standing Tall,
Aiming Higher
26
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I April 2015 I Citynews
A traffic cop by
profession, Rajesh
Kumar is a wrestler
in the making who
dreams of taking
part in the WWE!
by Reena Dhankher
Rajesh Kumar is a traffic cop who stands seven feet four
inches tall. What strikes most about this man, however, is
his determination to aim high in life. For someone who was
embarrassed due to his huge frame at one point of time,
Kumar (39), has come a long way to make his height his biggest strength today.
Belonging to a small village called Narayangarh Ambala in
Haryana, Kumar has been drafted into the city traffic police as
a special case but this young man aspires to take part in World
Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) someday.
Although he was tall since childhood, he worked hard
to attain the height he has today, following an extremely
sincere exercise and fitness routine. “There was a time I
would hesitate to step out of home but with time, I decided
to use it in my favour,” says Kumar. And, he did emerge
strong enough to be called the ‘Khali of Gurgaon’ despite
battling with a financial crunch, which according to him,
he faces even today.
He always had to deal with a number of problems due to
his height. To begin with, he never found shoes and clothes
of his size in the market and had to get them specially ordered. Even his bed had to be customised to accommodate
his height; one of the reasons why it was never easy for
Rajesh to travel.
Since their father remained sick most of the time, Kumar
had two elder brothers who worked in the farms to support
the family. But in 2005, losing his elder brother left him in
deep shock. “He had dreamt of seeing me succeed in wrestling and this was the only inspiration that made me overcome my loss,” he recalls.
In a place like Narayangarh with no stadiums or proper
gymnasiums, Kumar managed with whatever he had.
“I had no guidance from anyone in life. Yet I managed to
study till Class 10th after which I had to give up school.
Today, I feel with the police job, I have secured a means of
livelihood and am preparing hard to get into wrestling,”
he explains.
In his current profile, he is this famous traffic cop that
people, particularly children, fancy. Apart from getting pictures clicked with him, everyone is curious to know about
his height and what has gone into attaining it.
Kumar, of course, is enjoying all the attention he gets
and is pleasantly amused with the fact that his height,
which once gave him a complex, has today become the
reason for his popularity. “Everything else is great but I
get embarrassed when people run to get pictures clicked
with me,” he says with a smile.
“The one thing about my role as a cop I am enjoying most
is that children and elders are getting to learn something
about traffic rules through me. There is a satisfaction that
I am trying to teach and promote safety aspects which will
not only benefit the city but also help prevent many accidents and deaths,” he adds.
He has been participating in the road safety initiatives
and awareness campaigns by the Gurgaon Traffic Police to
spread awareness about traffic rules in schools.
But all this doesn’t prevent him from taking breaks from
his responsibilities as a traffic cop to continue mastering
wrestling. Talking about his favorite ‘Khali’, he smiles
shyly and says, “My face resembles him and that’s why
people call me Haryana Ka Khali.” Meeting his idol for
the first time in 2006 had created a new vigour in this man
to reach his goal. In 2011, he also trained at the Tara institute at Jalandhar under Dr. Ranbir Afteer. Kumar aims to
take India to greater heights in wrestling and is waiting
for a ray of hope in the form of sponsorships to make his
dream come true. ø
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I April 2015 I 27
PEOPLE
FACE OF THE MONTH
sanjeev
BIKHCHANDANI
PEOPLE
Founder, Info Edge (India)
A
n Economics
graduate from St
Stephens College
and an MBA from IIM
Ahmedabad, Sanjeev
Bikhchandan is Founder and
Executive Vice Chairman of
Info Edge (India) which owns
Naukri.com.
Tell us about the idea of Naukri.com and its evolution?
I was working at Glaxo Smithkline when I saw colleagues queuing up to look at the appointment section
of Business India and realised that we are always looking at a job, even when we are not looking for one! In
the 1990s, we reworded job ads from various newspapers to create a readymade jobs database and by 1997,
we had realised that jobs were high interest information and started Naukri.com.
As we realised that online real estate is also growing rapidly, we added 99acres.com and businesses like
Jeevansaathi.com, a matrimonial website and education
site Shiksha.com. We also have a stake in Zomato.com.
The job market is dynamic. How does Naukri or 99
acres keep the trust of the consumers?
Competition is part of business and we have used technology and protocols to ensure we move with the times.
For instance, Naukri has confidentiality options for candidates who want to block certain companies from seeing
their profile. Similarly, we have global benchmarking
standard in ensuring verification so there is no misuse of
data and only those looking at hiring can contact companies and candidates. Both jobs and real estate reflect the
economic conditions so they are linked to the GDP and
the growth rate. We were and are going through a slump
which should correct in two years.
What is your advice to young entrepreneurs and professionals in Gurgaon?
Gurgaon is unique, very impressive and a great job
market for Naukri.com. Being ethical and committed is
important for every candidate and I believe it is that
pride of work that makes a candidate opt for a company. So there is no perfect candidate or company but a
perfect fit.
My advice to start ups and entrepreneurs is to have a
deep customer insight and solve an unsolved problem.
At the same time, if a model is replicable, it is no good
so either be a first mover or do it better!
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I April 2015 I 29
OUTDOORS
LANDSCAPING
Towards a
Greener Gurgaon
As landscaping becomes all about green elements, the city gets ready to
sing a different tune in the near future
by Reena Dhankher
Ask Anjali Tewari Kulkarni, Landscape Architect what her first thoughts
about landscaping are and quick comes
the reply from the landscape designer,
“Going back to green”.
Notwithstanding the heavy concentration of commercial, retail and residential
projects all around the city, landscaping in
Gurgaon is getting increasingly associated
with greener elements like trees, grass and
lawns. With the designers, horticulturists
and the Haryana Urban Development Au-
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I April 2015 I Citynews
thority (HUDA), all working towards providing a greener environment to citizens,
the city’s landscape will soon don a new
look.
ALL ABOUT HARDSCAPING
Water bodies, gates, mounds, entrances,
structure lighting and sculptures form
the most important aspect of hardscaping. Most of the commercial projects have
resorted to palms on the entrance since
it provides maximum visibility. “It gives
a structured and neat look to go with
palms at the entrance. While canopy trees
are best suited towards the end, champa
goes very well on the podium,” explains
Kulkarni. She adds, “The water bodies
could be still or falling and the lightning
can be an element in itself; then there are
some deck spaces, spill over and residual
spaces. How you use all these elements is
where a designer’s skill is represented.”
To this V K Nirala, Executive Engineer
HUDA, adds, “In public parks, we have
made use of elaborate lighting, sculptures
and water bodies to make them safe and
beautiful. While landscaping, the taste of
people who will use the space determines
other factors.”
While most of the landscape designers
work on elaborate maps, for Nirala, his
mind is his map. “We manage without paper and to harrow and plough, planning
mounds, beds and benches have to be combined to give a desirable look to the park.”
NOW, SOME SOFTSCAPING
“One tree is equal to 10 air conditioners”
says Atul Vashisth, MD Samak landscape,
Gurgaon explaining the softscaping aspect
of landscape. He feels trees are most im-
portant when it come to giving the city a
green lung. To this, Kulkarni adds, “When
designing the landscape for a project, we
first look at all the peripherals. You may
get some space that’s virgin earth and if
you want to get trees planted, the growth
in natural soil is stronger and changes the
shape and the foliage a lot. You need to have
vertical trees to complement the verticality built form after which you have shrubs
in two or more layers and residual if you
have virgin soil. However, on podium, we
use artificial methods like planters, planting beds or sink the slab in the built form
where we want to lawn areas.”
Agreeing to the need for greater number
of trees, Nirala explains, “Tree plantation
and conservation have been very vital for
HUDA that has designed and built public
parks like the Tau Devi Lal Park, Leisure
Valley Park and Bio Diversity Park. People love to visit these parks for health and
recreation. As for plants, those that will
survive should be used. With the climatic
challenges, choice gets limited.”
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Citynews
I April 2015 I 31
OUTDOORS
LANDSCAPING
Bringing Gardening
Store Online
“Everything you ever wanted for your Garden is
now available in a single click”
Personalized
Online Shopping
Garden Exchange
Newsletter
Landscape Info
Plant Finder
Seed Finder
Knowledge Base
Expert Advice
Plants
GARDENS GALORE
The month of April brings lovely colorful
gardens that enhance the beauty of constructed buildings. The HUDA parks have
a creative combination of formal (where
flowers are put in a particular symmetry)
and informal patterns. While Nirala is
of the opinion that the latest in trend are
plants like ficus, fabian, bottle, fishtail and
foxtail, Kulkarni feels the season brings
amazing profusion of plants such as dalias,
petunias and salvias.
Commercial spaces and offices today also
have a mixed blend of horizontal and vertical gardens. Gardens, in fact, have a psychological impact on employees. The colorful
flowers, grown in patterns, attract attention
and help employees ‘feel good’ besides making the structure look beautiful.
Of course, vertical gardens are more
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I April 2015 I Citynews
popular because they do not require much
space. As Kulkarni explains, “Vertical
gardens can have plants grown in just six
inches of space. They can be used as feature walls; one can make patterns in there
and it can look like an artwork. You can
use wooden stone or tile cladding too.”
Vertical gardens apart, balcony and herb
gardens are in vogue too, adds Vashisht.
THE GREEN VISION
The role of horticulturists in landscaping is of prime importance. They give
practical shape to a designer’s vision.
They carry out the tasks of plantation and
maintenance. Vashisht explains how wide
the scope of horticulture is while talking
about arboriculture, ornamental plants,
floriculture and many more. “The horticulturists are a crew who feed plants with
organic and soluble fertilisers and with
their expertise, they feed special plants
with special food. Their role also includes
priming, pesticides and organic controls.”
Kulkarni excitedly talks about a new
style where terraces have been converted
into green sit-outs for employees. “I am
working on a couple of energising terraces. The luxury of sitting in open air, with
planters and chairs gives a cozy feel and
is mood enhancing too.” Vashisht has the
concept of ecology in mind with massive
green bodies and urban forest. Although
he is impressed by the lakes in the DLF
Golf Course, he feels the city needs more
trees to create a concrete forest look. In his
view, a combination of manicured garden
with a forest feel can turn the dream of a
greener Gurgaon into a reality ø
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around town
events
Gurgaon Utsav:
A Time to Rejoice
APRIL 2015
3rd to 12th April
12.30pm to 11pm
I Lounge
Cheese and Wine
8th-12th
City Club III
April
e v e n t s
13th April
7pm onwards I Lawns
Lawns
10th-18th
10th to 18th April
12.30 pm to 3.30pm and 7pm
to 11pm I Maulsari
Kabab Festival
April
by DCN Bureau
City Club IV
5th April
12.30 pm-3.30pm I PALMS
Easter’s special Sunday
Brunch
10th-19th April
12.30pm-3.00pm; 7pm-11pm
I Palms
Mexican Food Fiesta
32
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I June 2014 I Citynews
quainted to things that enrich their lives.
Poetry is something that keeps you alive
when you feel your life is sliding down.” To
this Vidya added, “I am a student of Begum
Akhtar and it was my heartfelt desire to do
this. When audience responds at the right
time, you feel they are with you and this is
what I feel about the Gurgaon audience.”
The second day had Mukhtiar Ali’s
voice rendering compositions of Sufi
poets and finally the utsav ended with a
play ‘License- the Untitled Saga’ which
revolved around the strength a woman.
The play was about a woman who takes
on the task of driving a tonga after her
husband’s death and faces all the harsh
struggles with courage ø
‘Nanhi Chhaan’ celebrated at FMRI
13th April
13th April
12.30pm to 3.00pm and 7pm
7pm onwards I Lawns
Baisakhi Celebrations
Gurgaonites were in for a cultural
treat as the Gurgaon Utsav held at Aravalli Bio Diversity Park recently kept
them mesmerised with good old melodies and generous doses of poetry for
three days.
The event began with singer Vidya Shah
and Dastaango Danish Hussain paying a
tribute to Begum Akhtar. While Hussain
kept the audience glued to their seats with
incidents from Beghum Akhter’s life story,
Vidya’s voice created a magical atmosphere
which took people back in time to that era.
Danish Hussain told DCN, “I love coming to Gurgaon and am extremely happy
about this initiative. Gurgaon has become
a livelier place where people have got ac-
With an objective to promote the welfare
of girl child, FMRI Gurgaon celebrated
the ‘Nanhi Chhaan’ day recently. Tree
saplings were planted by the hospital
staff, patients, residents and children to
mark the occasion.
Harpal Singh, Chairman Nanhi Foundation, said, “To bring in social change,
overcome social evil and usher in a new
society, initiatives such as planting saplings invoke us to change our attitude
towards girls and women in our society.”
In this context, Dilpreet Brar, Regional Director, Fortis, said, “The Nanhi
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I April 2015 I Citynews
Chhaan campaign is a manifestation
of our belief ‘Save the environment,
save the girl child, save humanity.’ We
celebrate this every year to reiterate or
commitment and support to saving the
girl child.”
Later, Dr Sunita Mittal shared a presentation on medical problems faced by
girl child in our country. An entertainment programme was also organised
during the evening hours which witnessed brilliant performances by the
children. Filmmaker Syed Muzaffar Ali
from Bollywood was the chief guest ø
Around Town
EVENTS
Le Meridien
Opens in Gurgaon
The opening sees live performances by French
Bossa Nova Band Nouvelle Vague and People Pile
by DCN Bureau
As the crème de la crème of Gurgaon
trooped into the Le Meridien for a grand
opening, Brian Povinelli, Global Brand
Leader, Le Méridien and Westin looked
understandably excited. “As India’s important hospitality market with tremendous growth potential, Gurgaon has long
been on our short list of dynamic Indian
cities that share our brand passions. We
are confident that Le Méridien Gurgaon
will provide a unique experience, unlocking the destination through locally
influenced design, programming and cuisine,” said Povinelli.
Formerly, the Pullman, Le Meridien is
positioning itself as a melting pot of ethnicities with an enriched local culture
and a variety of arts, music, cuisine and
cultural festivities. The hotel also boasts
of 285 guestrooms, contemporary furnishings; a renovated signature dining
venue and a modern façade, which opens
into the hotel’s signature and awardwinning arrival experience, called the Le
Méridien Hub.
Visitors were fascinated with the local art
gallery, the 24-hour curated soundtrack by
French Bossa Nova band Nouvelle Vague
and the signature Master Barista, a role
designed to meet the growing demands
of coffee lovers at every Le Méridien hotel worldwide. Well landscaped lawns; a
well-equipped fitness centre and pool; a
tranquil spa; and a bar, Ikandy, setting the
after-dark scene with live music, transformative lighting and innovative offerings are few of the other attractions at Le
Meridien, Gurgaon.
The First Night celebrations included
the French Bossa Nova band Nouvelle
Vague and members of the dance group
People Pile who engaged guests with
their alternative and energetic technical dance performances. In addition, the
evening included an art performance that
recalled traces of Gurgaon history; a tantalizing culinary repertoire, including local flavored éclairs; and sparkling drinks
that kept spirits high ø
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I April 2015 I 35
Around Town
EVENTS
Fun Unlimited At
Corporate Fiesta
Feeling Good,
Naturally
Corporate professionals get a break from their hectic schedules to enjoy
an entertaining weekend
by DCN Bureau
by DCN Bureau
‘Finding the nurturing woman in you’
was the theme of the Kekadu Coffee Morning Club where over a hundred women
from Gurgaon and NCR got together to support Cankids. The ambassador for the initiative was well known aroma magic and cosmetic entrepreneur Blossom Kochhar.
The event highlight was the panel discussion on the topic of Inner Beauty where
celebrities like artist Anjanna Kuthiala,
life coach Ramon Lamba, yoga guru Sonu
Wassan and Kochhar engaged in an interaction with the participants.
Speaking to DCN after the event, Blossom
explained how living in the Nilgiris made
her look at aromatherapy as a profession
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I Aplir 2015 I Citynews
for the last 30 years. She has received a
double doctorate for her study and research and has a range of aromatherapy
cosmetics under the name Blossom Kochhar Aroma Magic.
Kochhar emphasised that she believes
in natural and herbal products and has
used all nature’s gifts to help women look
good and feel good. While she sees a lot of
competition in the beauty market, she also
believes that the differentiating factor for
them has been their deep understanding
of the techniques of aroma therapy.
During the event, she had also given tips
to the ladies on how to relax or rejuvenate
themselves with the exclusive aroma oils.
A supporter of the initiative of Kekadu
Coffee Morning, Blossom was all praise
for Poonam Bagai, colon cancer survivor,
who is the founder President of CanKids…
KidsCan, the Vice Chairperson of Pallium
India, Joint Secretary Indian Cancer Society, Delhi Branch and Member Cancer
Sahyog, an emotional support group of
survivors and caregivers.
Bagai has been selflessly pushing the
cause with her support group of women,
who were present among the audience,
all dressed in gold in support of the Go
Gold campaign and were endorsing the
motto of CanKids: “Because I am Able…
Because I Can”! ø
For corporate honchos in town, this
was one meeting which had nothing to do
with targets or deadlines. Rather, it was a
platform for them to have some real fun!
A weekend packed with doses of entertainment and laughter, the Corporate
Festival organised by 28 degree North
witnessed the CEOs and young professionals of Gurgaon having the time of
their lives at DLF Club 5.
From music competitions and quiz sessions to stand-up comedy, the three-day
fest had several exciting activities lined
up for the professionals.
In the entertainment section, western
and Indian music kept all of them on a
foot-tapping spree. While Megha Girish
from Google walked away with the first
prize in western, Sriram Iyer from Nes-
tle India bagged the honours in Indian.
When it came to the quiz competitions,
Anurag and Jatin from Google emerged
winners of the ‘Business’ and the ‘Travel
and Lifestyle’ quizzes. On the other hand,
the nail-biting ‘Economist Quiz’ saw the
‘SAREGAMA’ team of Avinash and Rahul as winners while ‘Sports Quiz’ was
won by Ramesh and Vishakh of HCL.
One of the major attractions of the
fest was the talks delivered by Sanjeev
Bikhchandani, Founder Naukri.com and
Rajan Anandan, MD, Google India. The
two spoke on ‘what it takes to make ideas
popular and how they can be effective for
investors’.
Yet another highlight was an interactive
show which had participants like Gagan
Sharma CEO, Business and chairperson-
Sri Lankan Operation JLL, Ashok Tyagi
CFO DLF, Achal Khanna CEO, SHRM,
Sohini Bhattacharya VP Breakthrough,
and Sarika Bhattacharya CEO Biz Divas
deliberating on the role of women taking leads in MNCs and making tough
choices.
The three-day fiesta concluded with a
stand-up comedy act by Amit Tandon
and ‘The Raghu Dixit Project’ that took
the people on an entertaining musical
journey.
“This is a nice initiative for the corporate professionals to take a break from
their rigorous routines. It’s a great
platform to showcase your talent and
professional competence,” said Roshni
Dewan, one of the happy faces in the
crowd ø
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I April 2015 I 37
SOCIAL QUOTIENT
DLF FOUNDATION
Cancer Awareness Camps
by DLF Foundation
Screening programmes help in ensuring proper treatment
in time, thus saving lives.
by DCN Bureau
In India, cervical cancer is the most
common woman-related cancer, followed by breast cancer. Cancers have
been on the rise in developing countries
like India due to cultural inhibitions
and lack of awareness among women
about timely screening and treatment,
besides an absence of concerted large-
scale screening drives. The importance
of community screening programmes
can be judged from the fact that these
cancers are preventable if pre-cancer-
ous abnormalities are identified timely
and proper treatment is provided, thus
saving many lives.
DLF Foundation, in addition to its operating Primary Health Centres, conducts
several cancer awareness camps from
time to time in villages surrounding
Gurgaon. To mark its significance, one
such camp was conducted in the Primary Health Centre (PHC), Hayatpur,
Gurgaon on World Cancer Day, 4th February 2015. A public awareness/advocacy programme for about 80 women was
organised wherein the participants were
sensitised about the prevalence of four
different types of cancer i.e. endometrial, ovarian, cervical and breast cancers,
among Indian women.
Also discussed were the risk factors,
symptoms associated with each of the
cancers and the importance of early
screening and timely treatment. At the
camp, 30 women were screened for cervical and breast cancers.
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Realising the need for such screening
drives also among the urban population,
DLF Foundation celebrated International Women’s Day by conducting another
awareness-cum-screening event at DLF
CyberHub especially for working women
on 17th March 2015. Twenty students
from a reputed college, Institute of Technology and Management (ITM), volunteered for the cause at the camp.
Gynaecologists conducted the screenings in an enclosed area that was
equipped with the required apparatus.
Leaflets informing women about the can-
cers and instructions on how to perform
breast self-examination were distributed
throughout DLF Cyber City. More than
80 women were screened at the camp.
The women came out satisfied with the
whole process as the doctors were thorough and made patients comfortable.
“For working women, it is a very good
initiative by the DLF Foundation. I was
not only screened but also informed
about cancer prevention and the benefits
of early diagnosis and treatment. I look
forward to such events in the future,”
said a woman who attended the camp. ø
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I April 2015 I 39
travel talk
AMRITSAR
Faith Meets
Freedom at
Amritsar
From the patriotic to the devout, the ardent
foodie to the lover of history and polity, the
appeal of Amritsar cuts across nations and
religions!
When our British friends David and
Shirley Moore expressed a desire to explore India, we were convinced that it
is the triple charm of Amritsar that ensures it figures so prominently on everyone’s bucket list. While the Golden Temple is a naturally divine draw, one can
hardly ignore the role of Wagah where
India and Pakistan touch borders and
hearts and the historical relevance of
the Jallianwala Bagh.
The adventure began early as we pulled
into the New Delhi Railway Station in
pouring rain and the Shatabdi chugged
towards the City of Nectar – Amritsar.
The comfortably located Ramada Hotel
was a good start and our trusted local
driver Vishal was our guide for the next
three days. While we wanted to do the ob-
vious and start the trip with the Golden
Temple or the Harmandir Sahib, It was
his recommendation that we begin our
journey from the freedom struggle and
explore Jallianwala Bagh, located just
next to the Golden Temple.
Reliving History
It was an emotional walk through history as we trooped into the gardens
and paused to read the plaques that explained the enormity of the massacre.
The Jallianwala Bagh monument is a
sombre reminder of the Indian freedom
struggle and the mood was poignant as
we entered that very opening to the gardens from where Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer ordered his troops to fire on an
unarmed crowd even whilst directing
the bullets towards the few open gates
through which people tried to escape. As
we perused the visible bullet marks on
the walls, peeped into the Martyrs’ well
where hundreds of scared people leapt
to escape the bullets and stood silently at
the memorial, the events of 13 April 1919
wherein a non-violent crowd of Baisakhi
pilgrims were fired upon with such brutality, became a real part of our lives. It
is no wonder that the widespread anger
over the event resulted in the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920–22. Our English friends were equally overwhelmed
with the extent of the tragedy and expressed their sadness and regret as they
looked long and hard at the exhibits and
the landscaping which are all reminders
of that fateful day of 13 April 1919. It is
pertinent that Queen Elizabeth’s visit in
1997 was an acknowledgement of the Jallianwala massacre even though no apology was offered for an event that changed
the course of the freedom struggle. The
film Gandhi quite accurately depicts the
systematic murder of thousands of Indians at this very spot.
Divine Healing
After that sombre walk around, it was
time to heal and we headed to the beautiful precincts of the Golden Temple.
From the impressive facade to the clean
surroundings, there is an air of service,
peace and beauty in there. The crystal
clear waters with colourful trout and
the strains of the Gurbani are some of
the first and lasting impressions but
by Meenakshi Sharma
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PHOTOS COURTESY: PREET BATTA
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I April 2015 I 41
travel talk
AMRITSAR
the experience certainly goes beyond
words.
It was in 1578 that Guru Ram Das excavated a tank which became known
as Amritsar (Pool of the Nectar of Immortality) and Harmandir Sahib which
means the Temple of God was built in
the middle of the tank. Much of the present decorative gilding and marble work
dates from the early 19th century. The
gold plating on the Harmandir Sahib was
started by Ranjit Singh and was finished
in 1830. Golden Temple attracts visitors
and patrons from all over the world and
yet everyone is treated equally and this is
one of the reasons for its popularity.
We spent precious moments walking
along the sparkling pond where the devout bathed and sipped the holy water
even as we were patiently led to the holy
Guru Granth Sahib in the sanctum sanctorum. The continuous melody of the
holy songs was as soothing as was the
taste of that delicious halwa (kada-prasad) and the food served at the 24 hour
langar or the free kitchen. These are just
some examples of the faith with which
this temple functions where everyone
is a volunteer (kar-sevak). As we stood
with our heads covered and bowed and
our hands folded, Indian or British, we
all felt one with nature and the godliness
within.
The divine journey continued as we approached the Durgiana Temple which
was constructed in 1908 on the pattern of
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the Golden Temple and is a well known
Hindu temple. Navratras are celebrated
with much fervour at Durgiana Temple
and in a unique custom, male children
are dressed in glittering clothes after
prayers and rituals and obeisance is
paid at the nearby Bara Hanuman Mandir. People of all faiths visit the unique
temple where Hanuman is depicted in
sitting posture as it is believed that once
the wish is fulfilled, the male child must
be made a langur to serve the temple.
People throng here on Navratras while
the langurs sleep on the floor, serve barefoot and finally as the mela concludes on
Dussehera, kill the demons.
Touching Borders
32 kilometres from Amritsar and 24 kilometers from Lahore was our next stop,
the Wagah border, where the BSF guards
from India and Rangers from Pakistan
participate in a unique ceremony which
takes place every evening before sunset.
It starts with a blustering parade by the
soldiers from both the sides and ends up
in the perfectly coordinated lowering of
the two nations’ flags.
As the sun sets, the iron gates at the border are opened and the two flags are lowered simultaneously. The ceremony has
been filmed and broadcast for one of Michael Palin’s television around-the-world
travel programs where he describes it
as a display of ‘carefully choreographed
contempt’.
The thrill of watching the goose step of
the women soldiers and the mock anger
displayed by the men is as exciting as
hearing the Pakistanis cheer Jiye Jiye
Pakistan and Indians calling Bharat
Mata Ki Jai. Behind the show of hostility is that brotherhood between nations
where the people on both sides look and
behave the same under the very same
sky and land!
Our English friends loved the military
spectacle and the well coordinated Retreat ceremony as much as the pomp
and show of Bollywood as women in the
crowd regaled us with their dance moves
to patriotic songs and ran with the National Flag till the gates. With Mahatma
Gandhi’s picture adorning the India side
and Jinnah on the Pakistan side, it was
interesting to witness the exchange between neighbours.
Culinary and Retail
Therapy
Along this journey our trusted driver
Vishal recommended what to eat and
what to buy and it is relevant to mention
that when you choose this spiritual journey, good food is part of the glory and the
grandeur. From the lassi to the kulche to
the Amritsari fish and the delicious purialoo at the temple, there is a feast lurking
in all the corners of the city.
We had the pleasure of sampling the
exquisite food at Surjit Dhaba, Ke-
sar Dhaba and Bhrawan Dhaba with
a culmination at the Crystal restaurant. So whether it was the Butter Fish
(Makhan Fish), the Amritsari Machi,
the Mutton Tikka and the Tandoori
Chicken at Surjit or the pure ghee unlimited thali at Bhrawan da Dhaba, we
were overwhelmed with the quality of
food. The Kesar Da Dhaba thali with
their famous Maa ki Daal and lassi so
thick you can almost hold the glass upside down without anything spilling
out was as unique as the palak paneer,
lachedar parantha and delicious phirni
with the silver vark!
Shopping was no less exciting as we
picked up tens of ‘jutis’ and ‘patiala salwar kameez’ which were stitched for us
in record time even as we filled bags and
bags with the famous papad-wadi and
masalas.
Fulfilment at Amritsar
Our three day trip to the holy city was
completely cathartic as we relived India’s freedom struggle at Jallianwala
Bagh, felt overwhelmed with patriotism and brotherhood at the impressive
retreat ceremony at Wagah and experienced divinity at Golden Temple and
Durgiana Temple.
The cherry on the cake was the thrill of
shopping and eating and going back with
a unique taste of hospitailty and salesmanship – qualities for which Punjabis
are well known all over the world. ø
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I April 2015 I 43
COMMUNITIES
MALAYALEES
“We create a mini Kerala wherever we
live,” says Ajitha S, the nursing head
at Fortis Memorial Research Institute
(FRMI) in Gurgaon. The Malayalees living in the city cannot agree more. They
miss the beaches, the football fields and
the aroma of the morning breakfast
wafting through the air from the neighbourhood eatery. But a glance into their
lives show how well they have adapted to
the fast- paced life of a metropolitan city.
It’s not difficult to understand why. Malayalees are essentially simple and friendly
people. They are also “adaptive in nature,
which helps them adjust to new surroundings,” explains Ajitha, who moved to Gurgaon after taking premature retirement
from the armed forces.
A Home Away
From Home
While better career opportunities have
prompted Malayalees to step out of Kerala,
their intrinsic nature has helped them strike a
chord with Gurgaon.
by Reena Dhankher
STUDY IN CONTRASTS
While Kerala stands out for its traditional life, Gurgaon and Delhi are like
fashion hubs, which explains their attraction towards the popular markets
in Delhi and Gurgaon. Shahinshah Harif, who works for an MNC in Gurgaon,
finds Karol Bagh, Connaught Place and
old Gurgaon very attractive for shopping
while John Baptist, working with another corporate in Gurgaon, loves the huge
variety on offer in Sarojini Nagar. “You
will find lots of Malayalees shopping
there. In Gurgaon, Sahara and Ambience
Malls are quite popular,” he adds.
On the other hand, Ajitha, who mostly
prefers wearing sarees, enjoys her Kerala connect. “For western wear, Delhi and
Gurgaon are nice but for sarees, I love
Kerala, Bangalore and Chennai,” she
points out.
Malayalees are also fond of watching
films though the busy life in Gurgaon
does not give them too much time for
this. “In Kerala, we love to watch all latest movies with family and friends. But
here, even though the halls are lavish,
the tickets are expensive with distances
too long,” rues John.
Time, in fact, has been one factor that
most of the community members have
been struggling with in the city. “You have
to plan in advance for a get-together and
everyone is so busy with their work that
there is hardly any time for a social life.
Once a month, we manage to meet friends
at each other’s house and at times we go
out for shopping together,” explains John.
Harif echoes John’s point of view as he
explains how difficult it gets to finalise
social plans. “We get only one day and on
that day, we go to church and by the time
we come home, half the day is almost
over. On long weekends, we often visit
our parents in our hometown so again
it gets difficult to socialise. I love to play
football. In the Tughlakabad Park, we get
together, my friends from the ‘Janasam-
skanti’ and some others too,” he says.
Members of ‘Janasamskanti’, a Malayalee association, meet each other on
a regular basis and also plan outings to
places like Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple
or India Gate. They have also travelled to
places like Shimla and Amritsar which
have been memorable trips for them.
Groups like the Gurgaon Malayalee Association (GMA) believe in charity.
According to Dr Sudharshan Nair, president of GMA which was formed in 2010,
“The chief aim of this association is to
work towards charity, welfare, health,
education and for promoting art and culture. To bring all Malayalees under one
umbrella is also one of our primary objectives.” The association provides financial
help to people who have suffered from serious ailments and organises blood donation camps and free medical health checkups. The association also honours bright
Malayalee students and has an ‘Employment Cell’ to provide jobs to the unemployed. An initiative to get UID cards
for its members has been appreciated by
other Malayalyee associations.
PROFESSIONAL LIFE
Gurgaon has a lot of Malayalees engaged
in various professions, be it doctors, engineers or IT professionals. Unni, Operation
Theatre (OT) head at a premium healthcare establishment, says, “Almost every
Keralaite after 12th dreams of working
overseas. The salaries in Kerala are very
low and people are willing to step out of
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I April 2015 I 45
COMMUNITIES
WINE & DINE
MALAYALEES
CUISINE TRENDS
Food as a Work of
Art
the state to pursue their profession. White
collar jobs, defence services and teaching
have been by far the most preferred professions within the community.”
Elaborating on the desire to work overseas, John adds, “Today you see nurses
going to Ireland, London, after completing their BSC and MSC which enables
them to be successful and they prefer to
travel everywhere.”
The nursing profession is believed to
have the maximum number of Malayalees. “People in Kerala look for job-oriented courses and that’s how maximum
nurses are from the state. Middle East is
a vast area for nurses and today the income per head has improved. The influx
of money from the Middle East drives
the economy of Kerala,” explains Ajitha.
TRADITIONS APART
Compared to North Indian weddings
which are quite elaborate, Malayalee
marriages are simple. Says Unni, “We
don’t have a baraat in Hindu marriages.
So, the concept of a band or the groom
on a horse and people dancing all around
is new to us. In Kerala, Hindu weddings
take place in temples or halls but with no
baraat, though I love to watch one. Also
we have no night marriages as I have
seen in the North.” He also talks about
the vast differences in wedding attire.
“I love our traditional dress, the mundu
and shirt. But in Gurgaon, it’s more
about being fashionable,” he adds.
While North India witnesses a demand
for diamond jewellery during weddings,
for the Malayalee community, nothing
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I April 2015 I Citynews
can beat their love for gold. As marketing
professional Sam B Samuel sums it up,
“Malaylaees love to wear gold and over
the years, the designs have undergone a
sea change. You will see women wearing
all the latest designs in gold jewellery.”
FESTIVITIES GALORE
Malayalees dili gently visit a church,
temple or mosque every Sunday. John
says, “I have not explored too much of
the capital and NCR, but I love to go to
the Ayappa temple in R K Puram where
we meet some old friends. However, usually I visit the Sacred Heart Cathedral.”
Onam is the most popular festival and is
celebrated by the community in a grand
way. “Whether the celebrations are held
in a temple, church or mosque, everyone
contributes and attends each other’s functions. You can see Muslims eating prasad
in temples,” explains Unni. Harif adds,
“People also dress up in tiger attire and
perform the tiger dance. Boat races are
also held.” One of the most awaited events
during Onam is the opening of the Shabari
GMA
The chief aim of
this association
is to work towards
charity, welfare,
health, education
and for promoting
art and culture
Malai temple in Kerala for darshan. “This
temple is on a hill and the most interesting aspect is that pilgrims have to pass
through a mosque to reach it. This reflects
the communal harmony and unity within
the community,” points out Sam.
Apart from Onam, Vishu Kani, the Malayalam New Year, is also celebrated all
over. People use lights and crackers to
express joy. John explains how on Vijay
Dashmi, small children are taken to the
temple by parents where priests make
them write the first letter with a pen
which is considered to be quite auspicious. Id, Christmas, Diwali and New Year
are also celebrated by the community.
MISSING KERALA
The Malayalees definitely get nostalgic
talking about what they miss back home.
While Harif talks about the early morning sounds from the temples, the fresh
fish, football matches and his loved ones,
John misses the frequent trips to the cinema halls. “Back home, we have these
on-the-spot programmes that materialise immediately due to more number of
movie halls and low-priced tickets. The
aim is to watch movies as soon as they release and I love to watch Mohan Lal and
Manmooty,” he adds with a smile.
Sam keeps thinking about the fresh
South Indian breakfast, the pollutionfree environment and his relatives while
Unni misses the sea-side and Ajitha cannot help remembering Kerala for its climate, greenery, flora and fauna. After all,
when it’s God’s own country, missing it is
only natural! ø
From a cup of coffee to
the French eclair with
an Indian touch or the
Biryani, it’s all about
authentic taste and
brilliant presentation
by Meenakshi Sharma
The cup of coffee has transformed into
a piece of art, also becoming a mood-lifter
in a more distinct way than just the caffeine kick it provides. Whether you order
a cup of coffee at Café Coffee Day which
throws in the shape of a heart to put a
smile on your face or at the Westin Hotel
and Le Meridien in Gurgaon which elevates coffee decoration to an art form, it
is no longer just a cup of coffee anymore.
LATTE ART IN GURGAON
When Le Meridien Delhi and India Art
Fair 2015 organised an interactive coffee
and art performance by Global Latte Artist Esther Maasdam and Sohan Jakhar,
we knew Latte Art had arrived.
According to Maasdam who made intriguing Ganesha and peacock patterns
on coffee, “Merging my work in latte art
with the inspiration that travel brings
is an exciting and unique challenge.”
Thanks to the effort of this latte artist
and the commitment of Starwood to creating a distinct coffee hub culture, you
are bound to see more and more art in
your mug!
Coffee decoration even has its own informal circuit of tournaments, foremost
among them being the World Latte Art
Championship which took place in Melbourne this year with contestants from
32 countries.
FRENCH ECLAIRS GET
AN INDIAN TOUCH
Who doesn’t love the soft inside and
crunchy and shiny pastry that signifies
the delicious éclair? It is believed that
it got its name because it glistens when
coated with confectioner’s glaze since
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I April 2015 I 47
WINE & DINE
CUISINE TRENDS
“Gurgaon's Leading Real Estate
Consultancy Firm & Brokerage House”
He boasts more than 20 years of kitchen
experience at some of the top restaurants in New York City and currently
owns a pastry and culinary arts consulting company, Sugar Fueled, Inc.
www.abcbuildcon.in
THE BIRYANI DIARIES
When food writer and curator Mini Ribiero mentioned that she was intrigued at
the sudden surge of interest in the Biryani both as a takeaway and a fine dine
option, we decided to explore this trend.
While legend has it that Mumtaz Mahal,
Queen to Mughal emperor Shah Jahan,
invented the biryani as a feast for the
army, others insist it originated in Persia. However, according to Vir Sanghvi
writing in the Hindustan Times Sunday
Brunch, “Evidence suggests that Biryani
was created in India and perhaps in Delhi. There are no great Biryanis in Arab
cuisine mainly because Arabs don’t use
spices the way Indians do. What is most
likely is when Muslim rulers set up
courts in India, their chefs were inspired
by our spices and our Khichdi to abandon the pilafs of West Asia and to create
a spicier, moister rice dish.”
As we started a search for the best
Biryani in Gurgaon, we learnt that both
North and South India have their own
versions and original recipes of these
can be broadly classified into the Lucknowi or Awadhi style and the Hyderabadi Biryani.
HYDERABAD LIVE
the word eclair in French means a flash
of lightning.
Gurgaonites were in for a French culinary treat as dozens of exotic éclair
flavours were unveiled with the grand
finale in mid-March when the Darjeeling flavour - a unique fusion of India
and France was introduced. According
to Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader,
Le Méridien & Westin, “Through local
recipes and a modern perspective on this
quintessentially French pastry, Le Méridien éclairs enable us to offer unique,
memorable guest experiences in our
signature Le Méridien Hubs and restaurants around the world.”
In this unique culinary collaboration,
Chef Johnny Iuzzini created eight signa-
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I April 2015 I Citynews
ture éclair recipes exclusively for Le Méridien, Gurgaon, inspired by a global tour
of select Le Méridien destinations. A 2006
James Beard Award winner for Outstanding Pastry Chef and author of Dessert
Four Play and Sugar Rush (September
2014), Iuzzini served as Head Judge on
Bravo’s “Top Chef Just Desserts.”
Executive Chef Bali of Culture Gully,
Kingdom of Dreams, tells us over a delicious spread of Biryanis from the Hyderabad live kitchen and the exquisite
Lucknow restaurant that for the Lucknowi Biryani, also called Awadh Biryani, the meat and rice are cooked separately and then layered and baked. The
Hyderabad Biryani, also called Kachhe
Gosht ki Biryani, has the meat marinated
in a mixture of spices for a few hours and
then mixed with the cooked Biryani rice.
The handi is sealed and cooked over low
heat. Eventually, the meat and rice are
dum cooked.
While the Hyderabadi version is understandably popular with the Indian
palate as it relies on the spices to give it
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WINE & DINE
CUISINE TRENDS
the distinct taste, connoisseurs also love
the authentic Lucknow version which is
enhanced by the flavour of saffron and
is cooked in mild spices and layered. At
Culture Gully, much pride is taken in the
fact that the chefs of Lucknow and Hyderabad kitchens come from the respective regions and make it completely authentic. At the Hyderabad live kitchen,
the Bhuna Gosht is distinctive in taste as
is the milder Nihari Gosht and Galauti
Kebab from Lucknow.
Chef Bali insists that there are no microwaves in their Hyderabad and Lucknow kitchens and they never use dalda
preferring the dum to be maintained as
closely to the original as possible with
pure ghee as accompaniment.
LUCKNOW SPECIAL
The delectable Biryani of ‘’Biryani
Blues’’ located at Supermart 1 is a popular takeaway and dining option in Gurgaon. Praise has been pouring in for the
new kid on the same block “Kitchen of
Awadh” that has been winning accolades
from young bloggers and seasoned food
critics. Here is a beautifully conceptu-
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I April 2015 I Citynews
THE BIRYANI DIARIES
While legend has it
that Mumtaz Mahal,
Queen to Mughal
emperor Shah Jahan,
invented the biryani,
others insist it
originated in Persia.
alised restaurant with authentic interiors that are reminiscent of Lucknow in
Culture Gully though far more simple in
decor and furnishings. We were browsing the beautifully designed menu card
when owner Kamal shared his story
which impressed us for the earnestness.
As we sipped the natural flavoured drink
Panchamrita made from amla, beetroot,
carrot, mint, ginger and lemon, we tried
the delicious Mutton Galouti Kabab
which was soft and light. Accompanied
by an excellent soft yet crisp and flaky
Ulte Tawa ka Paratha made with desi
ghee, this was a treat.
The Mutton Lucknowi Biryani (which
also comes in chicken and vegetarian versions) is distinctive because it is always
slow cooked. Kamal tells us that he has to
remind diners that they can never hurry
it up as it is not out of a plastic box. He
is a stickler for doing it right as he uses
weighing scales and never cuts corners
on ingredients and recipes. He recalls that
when his chef deserted him, he learnt
cooking all the dishes and maintains all
the aromas and the dum pukht cuisine.
The biryani comes as promised in a clay
handi sealed with atta and as soon as the
lid opens, the aroma bursts out. Even
though cooked separately, the flavours of
mutton and spices intermingle beautifully under the dum. The aroma of saffron
adds the exotic touch.
On Kamal’s recommendation, we tried
the bhuna gosht which is made from a
unique boiled onion gravy that adds to
the sweet richness and the Mutton Kakori Kabab which is delicate. The happy ending came from the Phirni which
was a pure milk creamy version and
convinced us that Indian cuisine will
always be in! ø
GUEST COLUMN
DOWN MEMORY LANE
The Second Cell Phone
A brush with the harsh reality of having only one cell phone
by Krishan Kalra
T
he other day, on way to a conference, I realised
that I had forgotten my mobile phone at home.
When we reached the venue, I told my driver to
listen to the doorman’s announcements as I would
be seeking his services to announce for my driver.
“Why don’t you take my phone Sir?” the guy volunteered and
handed over a fancy looking instrument to me. “How would
that help you nut case? Then you will be without one”, I said
and I offered it back to him. “Sir, I have another one”, he pulled
it out of his pocket and showed me. Anyway I jotted down his
second number, asked him to put the damned thing on silent
mode and rushed in.
When I actually saw his phone carefully it was a BlackBerry!
So, back in the car, at the end of the session, I asked him how
he had come to possess such an expensive phone. He had obviously spent the bulk of his salary for a month on the infernal
thing. Very sheepishly, the guy explained that
he had seen this model with another driver
friend, liked it and bought the same. Of course,
he had to do a lot of explaining to do to his
folks back home when they did not receive
any money that month.
I remember the time mobile
phones first made an appearance
in India in the mid or late nineties. Siemens S4 weighed almost
half a kilo – people with lighter
imported instruments actually called it a hammer – local
calls cost Rs 16 a minute; even
incoming ones were charged
@ Rs 8 or 12, and yet everyone
wanted one. I resisted the nuisance – after all one got only the
20 minutes driving time to office for peacefully reading
newspapers – but not
for long. When all my
colleagues had acquired this status
symbol, they collectively forced me
also to follow suit.
People played all kinds of
tricks to give a ‘missed call’ so
they had to pay less for the privilege of
talking on a mobile. There were others who
just spoke loudly into their unconnected phones to show off
that they were busy making important calls till the bell rang
on one of them and dispelled the ruse. Of course they would
try to save the situation by saying ‘Hullo Hullo’ couple of
times and mumbling loudly that they had got disconnected!
The phone was always in front on office or club or restaurant
tables to announce to the world that the holder had “arrived”
in life.
Of course what has happened in the last 15 years is well
known and widely documented. Mobile phone is now a necessity and no longer a luxury. Every driver, maid, cook, sabziwalla,
rickshaw puller, plumber, electrician……..has to have one. It is
a legitimate business expense for everyone. You can do without
it at your own peril.
And yet, I have never understood the logic of anyone having
more than one of these things.
I remember the time in the sixties when I had taken an
American visitor to meet the General
Manager of Northern Railways at
Baroda House. Now this important
official had – and I’m not exaggerating – 12 of those big black dialling
machines on his gigantic desk.
The American was
intrigued
and
asked why were
there so many.
There was a
long drawn explanation
about
different divisions
and Railway Board and
what have you; at the end of
which our visitor said “But Sir,
you can talk to only one person at
a time”!
The answer came home to me from
the doorman at the hotel venue of this
very conference – when my driver had
loaned his phone to me. The idiot had given
me the number of the same phone which he
gave to me. So I kept dialling and kept listening
to the recording that the called number was busy.
The doorman’s patience was tested for too long; he
couldn’t see a customer waiting so long at the hotel
portico; so he asked me “Saheb, kya aapke driver ke paas
ek hi phone hai”? ø
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I April 2015 I 51
FASHION
HANDBAG TRENDS
Spotlight
Myths Surrounding
Uterine Fibroids
DR. NUPUR GUPTA, Consultant & Unit Head, Gynecologist & Obstetrician at Paras
Hospitals, busts various myths surrounding Uterine Fibroids.
MYTH: Having fibroids means one has to
get the uterus removed.
FACT: In almost all cases, this is absolutely
not true. These days, we can safely remove
all fibroids without having to resort to hysterectomy (i.e., the removal of a woman’s
uterus). We are able to remove even the
largest fibroids minimally invasively.
MYTH: There are medications that will
cure uterine fibroids.
FACT: There is no medicine in the market that can dissolve, remove, or otherwise cure fibroids. However, some
symptoms can be managed with the
following medications:
n Combined oral contraceptive pills
can help decrease bleeding symptoms. Some studies show that they
can slow the growth of fibroids, but
cannot decrease the size of the fibroid.
n Progesterone Releasing IUD (intrauterine device) is inserted into
the uterus and contains a small
amount of progesterone hormone. This can decrease bleeding symptoms. However, it has
no effect on the fibroid itself.
n Progestin pills contain progesterone hormone, which will
decrease bleeding side effects.
These pills have no effect on the fibroid itself.
n Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone
(GnRH) agonists suppress the release of
natural estrogen and progesterone production, which then causes shrinkage
of fibroids and a decrease in bleeding symptoms. Typically, your doctor
52
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I April 2015 I Citynews
will put you on this medication to correct
anaemia from heavy bleeding and shrink
the size of the fibroid prior to surgical management. However, they are not a longterm management option. And, because
they cause a temporary menopausal state,
they can be associated with hot flashes,
mood swings, and other negative side effects. However, with very short-term usage as is customary for the treatment
of fibroids, side effects like these
can be significantly reduced and
resolved after discontinuing the
medication.
n NSAIDs (nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs) are nonnarcotic pain medications that
may help with the painful
symptoms of fibroids but will
not affect the fibroid or any
bleeding symptoms.
MYTH: Fibroids do not interfere with fertility.
FACT: To the contrary, fibroids
can indeed reduce one’s chances of conceiving.
Fibroids can distort the uterus so a
pregnancy cannot grow properly secondary to the mass of the fibroid. Also,
the blood supply of the pregnancy can
be diverted to a growing fibroid. In these
cases, pregnancies can miscarry.
Infertility Fibroids can grow near the
fallopian tubes and cervix thereby blocking proper motility of sperm and egg
through the uterus and tubes. Fibroids
can also line the cavity of the uterus
making it impossible for a pregnancy
to properly implant in the uterus.
We bring you some
Spring-Summer 2015
handbag trends
by DCN Bureau
Like diamonds, bags are fast becoming a lady’s best friend! Trends for the
spring-summer collection indicate that
this much sought after fashion accessory
is most popular in very modern and contemporary handmade avatars.
Genuine leather retains its position
on top of the charts for handbags in the
Spring Summer 2015 collection which con-
sists of stylish totes, bucket bags, clutches
and harness belts for women. The harness
belts are a fresh take on fashion and add
style and attitude to one’s outfit and personality. NID graduate Aditi Dhar, who is
the founder of Vitasta says, “Luxury in
sync with utility is the new mantra for
women”. Her distinctive style focuses on
high quality genuine leather bags in rich
Indian colours such as tan, fuschia, indigo,
copper, and gold. These modern bags are
the perfect solution for the well-defined
taste and needs of today’s women.
Japanese copper teapot and the traditional Indigo Ikat fabric are underlying
themes for the Spring Summer collection
called the “Analogue”. The use of copper
and the Ikat fabric makes the collection
distinct while creating a mood of modern elegance, understated glamour and
effortless style. Another popular item
from the Spring Summer is the “Inde
Tote Bag”, in veg tan which stands out
with the very distinct braided rope handles; and has handmade fittings all in
copper finish. The bag is high on functionality with multiple pockets.
With most retail stores flaunting the
new collections for the season, every
woman can pick up a few of her favoured
styles this summer! ø
Wave cross body bag: Cross body bag is
in veg tan leather. The wave stitch detail in
front lends subtle design to the bag. This
bag will prove to be extremely functional
because of its multiple pockets. Its interior
is lined with the Ikat fabric, giving a fresh
look to the inside of the bag. This bag has
the copper finished metal fittings and an
adjustable strap.
Mara clutch: A clutch
in metallic suede and silk dori, it is hand
woven in a signature Chevron pattern, the bag
interiors are suede lined and have copper finished
metal fittings. An extremely chic and glamorous bag,
this one promises to be the most sought
after clutch bag for the season. This is
available in copper metallic tones.
Leather Harness belt: A
leather braid and metal
harness made in sheep
nappa leather, with
an adjustable length.
The harness has brass
finished metal fittings.
Layla bucket bag: The
Layla bucket bag with drawstring
closure is in veg tan leather, with
hand woven grommet detail. It has
copper finished metal fittings. This
piece is also available in black.
Layla (soft) bucket bag: The Layla
soft bucket bag with drawstring
closure is made in milled cow
leather with hand woven grommet
detail.
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I April 2015 I 53
CITY UPDATE
TRAFFIC
Spotlight
‘Excercise, Proper Diet Can
PREVENT STROKES’
D
r. Praveen Gupta, Director,
Neurology at Fortis Memorial
Research Institute, is considered an expert in his field. Prior
to his association with FMRI, he had established Neurology departments in two
large corporate hospitals of Gurgaon. He
is also frequently invited as a speaker
to national and international conferences on Neurology. Dr. Gupta speaks to
DCN about strokes and how they can be
prevented.
What is the treatment of choice for
stroke?
Ischemic stroke is caused by a blockage in supply of blood to brain causing
the death of cells and the right treatment
for it is bursting the clot or thrombolysis which can be done up
within eight hours after the
stroke. Those who cannot
be thrombolysed have
hope from other therapies.
If a stroke patient reaches
a stroke centre in time,
condition can be improved
using medicines. In selected
patients,
stents
can be used to remove
clots from large arteries supplying blood to brain (mechanical thrombolysis).
How do we recognise acute
stroke?
If a person has a sudden deviation of face towards one side or
experiences slurring of speech,
has difficulty lifting one arm or
gripping with hand, has a tendency to fall towards one side
or faces difficulty in walking
- all these can be considered
signs of stroke. Difficulty in
seeing and loss of memory or
consciousness are also signs
of stroke. Sometimes people
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I April 2015 I Citynews
with numbness or weakness in left arm
think it’s a sign of heart attack but it’s is a
brain stroke. Once a brain stroke is recognised, the first thing to be done is a scan
(CT scan/ MRI) of the brain.
Because brain attacks can be caused both
by blockage in blood supply and leakage
of blood in brain, giving an immediate
blood thinner is not a great idea and one
should wait for the brain scan.
How are strokes managed?
Strokes are best managed by thrombolysis or if that is not possible, then with
blood thinners (antiplatelet drugs and
anticoagulants). Also adequate control of
blood sugar, blood pressure and usage of
statins to stabilise cholesterol plaques are
important aspects of the therapy. Since
heart can be a source of strokes, so tests
like doppler of carotids, echocardiogram,
holter monitoring, assessment of lipids
and an aminoacid called homocyteins
are important aspects of stroke work up.
Maintaining proper nutrition, hydration
and physiotherapy are important supportive aspects of stroke therapy. Even
in patients with disability, appropriate
physiotherapy and medication and use
of botox injections in selected cases can
help optimise functional recovery even
months after the stroke.
How can we prevent strokes?
Daily exercise for 30-40 minutes, which could be as simple
as a brisk walk, a diet rich in
fruits and vegetables and reducing intake of cholesterol
rich substances such as fried
food, cheese and butter
are important means of
stroke prevention. Avoiding smoking and limiting
alcohol consumption along
with optimised control of blood
sugar, regular medication for blood
pressure, regular usage of antiplatelet
medication and statins work a long way to
prevent future strokes.
To conclude, it is important to recognise
a stroke in time so that the clots can be
burst before a significant part of brain is
damaged.
Digitisation To the
Rescue
Auto-rickshaw commuting may just
become a hassle-free affair in the Millennium City if the slew of passengerfriendly measures undertaken by the
Traffic Police is anything to go by. From
an automated receipt system to improving parking, the Traffic Department is
out to prove that commuters can travel
with ease.
To begin with, the Prepaid Auto booth
at HUDA City Centre Metro Station has
From computerisation of prepaid auto
booths to launch of new mobile app,
Gurgaon POLICE goes on a mission to
facilitate commuters
by DCN Bureau
been computerised which has come as a
boon for daily commuters. As against a
modest number of 250-300 receipts done
manually on a daily basis, today the
number is as high as 2,000 receipts per
day, speaking volumes about the efficiency of the ticketing system.
The department has also ear-marked
a dedicated auto area so that the autos
park properly in queue and move systematically and that there is a smooth flow
which ensures passengers get autos with
ease and vice versa. Fighting against
multiple challenges such as rate and distance disputes, the department has made
commuting convenient for commuters
at HUDA City Centre while also successfully implementing the same system at
IFFCO Chowk metro station.
For safer ride of women passengers, a
special Pink Auto service has been introduced in the city equipped with facilities
dlf
Citynews
I April 2015 I 55
CITY UPDATE
TRAFFIC
Spotlight
Orthodontic Treatment
For Children
GIVE WAY TO
AMBULANCE
The ‘Give Way to Ambulance’ Campaign which was launched on the occasion of World Remembrance Day
on November 16 for road accident
victims has also picked up pace over
the last few months. Sponsored by
Artemis Hospitals, the Road Safety
Organization (RSO) had launched
the campaign in association with
Gurgaon Police and Raahgiri to
increase awareness and educate
citizens about the importance of
giving way to ambulances and other
emergency vehicles (such as fire
brigade and PCRs) on roads.
such as passenger alarms that can be
used in case of any suspicious behavior
of the auto driver.
With an objective to rule out the possibility of over-charging, an Auto Fare Calculator feature of the app has been rolled
out that can be downloaded on smart
phones. This application will calculate
the accurate fare that should be charged
by the auto from one destination to another. Aimed towards price standardisation, this application will give the cops
the recommended fare that should be
applied. In order to control the conduct
of auto drivers, there is another feature
56
dlf
I April 2015 I Citynews
T
Auto Verify & Feedback System, which
not only verifies the auto’s history but
also helps one see previous feedbacks.
Auto-rickshaw commuting apart, the
department has launched various awareness drives and new measures for the
convenience of commuters across the
city. Another feature has been designed
to educate them about traffic penalties. It
helps one to know about the various traffic offences, fines associated with them
and relevant sections of Motor Vehicles
Act, 1988.
Similarly, a WhatsApp Messenger Service has been launched which allows a
citizen to report incidences of corruption, harassment by any government
officer, cases of crime and illegal activities, traffic related complaints including
cases of overcharging or misbehavior by
auto drivers. All one needs to do is send
details of the incident (issue, place, date
and time) with a photograph or short
video clip along with their personal details (name, address, contact number) on
+91-8586976050.
With the department leaving no stone
unturned to use technology to its advantage, Gurgaonites can well breathe a sigh
of relief while commuting on roads. ø
oddlers and children are often
prone to some dental problems
which may result in early intervention of an orthodontist. One
of the most common is thumb sucking,
which if prolonged may lead to a dental
open bite and create dental and speech
problems.
Explains Dr Heman Verma, “Thumb sucking may also accompany misalignment of
jaws. This may lead to tooth decay and
also gum disease. In cases like these, a
complete X ray of the mouth with impressions of jaws helps in correction of the
same through plastic casts.”
The initial phase of orthodontic treatment in children can be for correcting
open bites, cross bites and deep bites. A
proper diagnosis at this stage will determine the growth of permanent teeth. The
second phase deals with relatively intricate procedures like positioning permanent teeth and jaw corrections with the
help of braces.
Talking about the various devices used
for treatment, Dr Heman further adds,
“Plates, braces and elastics are the basic
methods we use for dental correction in
children. While plates help position teeth
with the help of wires and springs in the
mouth, elastics are basically small sized
rubber bands that apply extra pressure
on braces to help tooth correction. Finally,
braces exert tender pressure on teeth for
correction of their position.”
One of the most crucial aspects of the
treatment is the time. Dr Priyanka explains, “The sooner the orthodontic treatment is performed the better and effective
it is. However the best age is between 10
and 13 years. Also, with the new variety
in braces and bright colours, it has become easier to convince children to use
the same.”
The team of professionally, qualified
doctors at Dental Stylers do their best in
looking after your child’s dental requirements. The friendly and compassionate
staff makes your child’s visit to the dentist
a pleasant 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 April 2015 I 57
UTILITIES
UTILITIES
BI TY R
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ER SI
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EX SHA
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Srims (free Ambulance Service): 0124-6111111
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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
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GM, Haryana Roadways
0124-2322391
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DRO, Gurgaon
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Civil Surgeon
0124-2322412
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Principal, Govt. Girls College
0124-2320783
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GM, Telephone
0124-2391818
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Information and Public Relation Officer
0124-2321479
in GurGaon
P-47
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dlf
Citynews
I April 2015 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 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
Structure work in progress. Project has reached 4th floor
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
Elders
Your Elected Representatives
Condominium Associations
dlf
I April 2015 I Citynews
Silver Oaks Condominium Association – DLF Phase-I 0124-3034146-47
President
Mr. Tariq Raza
Mrs. Shalini Sawhney
Vice President
Mr. S.K. Sharma
Manager
Mr. S.M. Kehair
Secretary
Ms. Rupali Jain
Treasurer
Oakwood Estate Condominium Association – DLF Phase-II
0124-4052005
President
Major General A.K. Kher
Mr. R.P. Kaushik
Manager
Vice President
Mr. Abhijit Malkhani
Treasurer
Mr. Gaurav Dua
Beverly Park-I – DLF Phase-II
0124-4011757
Mr. P. S Duggal
Mr. Sarabjit Singh Dhawan
Mr. Rajiv Inamdar
Mr. Soumya Dutta
Mr. C B Singh
President
Vice president
Secretary
Treasurer
Manager
Beverly Park-II – DLF Phase-II
Mr. Adil Shiavax Nargolwala
Ms. Anita Kapur
Ms. Davinder Kaur
Mr. Arvind Srivastava
Mr. Ajay Goyal
President
Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer
Joint Secretary
Belvedere Tower – DLF Phase-II
0124-4068251
Ms. Savita Malhotra
Dr. Manoj Talwar
Mr. Amit Malik
Mr. Deepak Sahai
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
9999270000
9818078883
9811059845
9818111000
9818549665
9810063523
9810056302
9811084744
9811600888
Belvedere Park Condominium Association – DLF Phase-III
Estate Manager
Mr. Jai B Yadav
Prof K Sundaram
President
Vice President
Col. Ajit Singh Rana
Secretary
Mr. Rajiv Agarwal
8800308285
9818621084
9650804787
9582210561
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
Hamilton, Windsor and Regency Park-II – DLF Phase-IV
0124-2396331
President
Mr. Vikas Gupta
Vice President
Mr. Arvind Roy
Mr. K.K. Bhattacharya
Secretary
Mr. Rakesh Sachdeva Treasurer
Manager
Mr. Yogendar Rajput
9810064017
9891357555
9810016816
9810266737
9871622323
The Aralias – DLF Phase-V
Mr. Rajbir Sharma
9650493525
0124-4144848
Estate Manager
Mr. Saurabh Joshi
Operations Manager
9650493521
Exclusive Floors Owners Society – DLF Phase-V
0124-4109536
President
Ms. Pallavi Sawhney
Mr. S N Miglani
Vice President
Mr. Apprajeet Bhatia
Secretary
Mr. Manish Purohit
Treasurer
Carlton Estate Condominium Association – DLF Phase-V
President
Mr. N.C. Chatterjee
Vice President
Mr. Arun Verma
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Vice President
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Secretary
Mr. Rajul Kulshrestha
Treasurer
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President
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Citynews
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I April 2015 I 61
TRANSIT LOUNGE
NOUVELLE VAGUE
French Band
Enthralls Gurgaon
The founder and the lead singer of the popular band talk about their
musical journey and their discovery of India.
by Meenakshi Sharma
The talented French Bossa Nova Band
Nouvelle Vague recently entertained Gurgaonites with brilliantly energetic and
perfectly executed performances. While
the group sang effortlessly and the performers danced enthusiastically to their
own music, DLF City News caught up
with the band’s founder musician Olivier
Libaux and talented vocalist Liset Alea.
Olivier Libaux is as charming as
Frenchmen are well known to be as he
wishes us ‘bon jour’ in heavily accented
English and talks about his band which
means “new wave” in French. According
to Libaux, this refers simultaneously to
their “Frenchness” and “artiness” (the
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I April 2015 I Citynews
‘60s new wave of the French cinema
cult), the source of their songs (all covers
of punk rock, post-punk and new wave
songs), and their use of ‘60s bossa novastyle arrangements. Nouvelle Vague’s
moniker neatly sums up the group’s concept - remaking classic new wave singles
with a Brazilian pop twist.
Libaux recalls how they recruited half
a dozen French and Brazilian vocalists
who were unfamiliar with the original
versions of songs like Joy Division’s
Love Will Tear Us Apart and XTC’s Making Plans for Nigel to ensure that their
renditions had their own identity. Nouvelle Vague was released in Europe in
2004 and received U.S. distribution in
spring 2005, which coincided with tour
dates in locales as far-flung as Shanghai, New York, Los Angeles, and Rio de
Janeiro. Nouvelle Vague’s second album,
Bande à Part, arrived in summer 2006.
The following year, the team returned
with Coming Home, a collection of songs
from films that were given the Nouvelle
Vague treatment. Nouvelle Vague Presents New Wave, a collection of covers by
new wave artists, also arrived in 2007.
Olivier tells us that while this is his first
visit to India, he is really as excited as
his band members who have been posting their excitement on Facebook for
over a month. He is looking forward to visiting the Taj
Mahal and is thrilled to meet so many Indians who he
calls, “warm and kind”. He is a fan of Indian music particularly Pandit Ravi Shankar.
Meantime, it is fascinating to watch Cuban-American
singer Liset Alea sing in her melodious and powerful
voice. A composer and multi-instrumentalist who lives
in Paris, she is best known as a solo artist and lead singer in Nouvelle Vague. Alea has been singled out for her
unique style and presence, and for ‘providing a strong,
sultry voice and some amazing vocal pyrotechnics’. She
has toured the world with Nouvelle Vague.
Born in Havana, Cuba, Liset Alea was raised in Miami,
Florida, and has lived in New York, Costa Rica, Paris,
London and Amsterdam. Her debut LP, No Sleep, was released in multiple European territories on EMI in 2005,
and was on the Top 40 charts in the Netherlands for 15
weeks. Around that time, she also began writing songs
for other artists, including Catfight” a single from Belgium’s Star Academy winner Katerine’s 2005 debut. She
later co-wrote Il Futuro Che Sara for Chiara Galiazzo,
which was in competition at the 2013 Sanremo Music Festival in Italy.
While residing in Paris, Alea began collaborating with
French DJ Alexkid, appearing on his 2003 album Mint.
Their single Come With Me was featured that year in an
episode of Las Vegas, and has been remixed by numerous
artists, including Llorca, Brett Johnson and Tiga. The
same year, she also co-wrote all the songs and provided
lead vocals for her drum & bass/trip hop band Etro Anime’s album See the Sound.
In 2009, Alea, Alexkid and French producer/DJ Rodriguez Jr formed the Honeythieves. The trio’s song Reminder was in the 2009 episodes of Entourage and 90210,
and was remixed by RAC’s Andre Anjos. In 2010, Alea independently wrote and co-produced a Spanish-language
album, Sin Cera, which is yet to be released.
Alea talks about how she has travelled India and loves
it deeply. She has also found an Indian name and calls
herself mehsoos (feeling)! That she is also fascinated by
Indian weddings is evident when she flaunts her hennaed arms. Alea, who considers herself very close to
Sufi music, confesses that she loves “Nusrat and Abida
Praveen, and will sing one of their songs” for us very
soon. Amen! ø
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I April 2015 I 63
ENTERTAINMENT
CELEB TALK
Virat’s love for Anushka
on Twitter
Avengers 2
Broken Horses
The film is directed, produced and written by
Vidhu Vinod Chopra. A film about making
preferences that may lead to destruction, the
story revolves around two brothers, the relationship between them and how they end up being
part of gang wars. The star cast includes María
Valverde, Thomas Jane, Anton Yelchin, Vincent
D’Onofrio and Sean Patrick Flanery.
HINDI
Detective Byomkesh Bakshy
Sonam Kapoor
back in action
Actress Sonam Kapoor, who was recently down with
swine flu, has recovered from the disease and is back on the
sets of her upcoming film, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. Sonam
was detected with flu when she was in Gujarat shooting for
the same film. The style diva was down for almost a fortnight following the flu attack, but took to micro-blogging site
Twitter to keep her fans updated about her health condition
during that period. Daughter of actor-producer Anil Kapoor,
Sonam will now complete shooting the rest of the film along
with her co-star Salman Khan. Incidentally, Salman too had
been tested for swine flu soon after Sonam was hospitalised
but the reports were negative. ø
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I April 2015 I Citynews
ENGLISH
Written and directed by Joss Whedon, the film
is a sequel to Avengers, the superhero team of
marvel Comics. The movie stars Robert Downey
Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo and Chris
Evans. The story will disclose how the team
fights Ultron, a techie enemy who wants to
destroy human existence.
Anushka Sharma, who has been getting
accolades from all quarters for her performance in NH 10, has found a new fan in
India’s star batsman and her boyfriend Virat
Kohli. “Just watched #NH10 and i am blown
away. What a brilliant film and specially
an outstanding performance by my love @
Anushka Sharma. SO PROUD “. This was
what India’s new Test captain tweeted after
watching the film just before the quarterfinals with Bangladesh. Anushka replied to the
tweet with a ‘thank you’! The two are finally
going public about their feelings after keeping
mum for a long time. In fact, there are reports
doing round that the two may even tie the
knot by the end of this year. Well, their fans
for sure are hoping for the same but when it
comes to the cricket-Bollywood affair, you just
never know! ø
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MOVIE
PREVIEWS
A crime thriller, the film is produced by Aditya
Chopra and Dibakar Bannerjee and directed by
Banerjee. With Sushant Singh Rajput, Anand
Tiwari and Swastika Mukjherjee in lead roles,
the story of the film goes back to the 1940s when
a college student fights a genius who is on a mission to destroy the world. The music is composed
by Sneha Khanwalkar.
Mr. X
A science fiction 3D film, Mr. X is directed by
Vikram Bhatt, written by Shagufta Rafique
and produced by Mukesh Bhatt with Emraan
Hashmi and Amya Dastur in the lead roles. The
film is all about a man who has the power to
become invisible and take revenge on people who
caused him harm. The music is composed by
Ankit-Ankur and Jeet Ganguly.
For corporate and bulk bookings
(Book minimum 50 tickets) (Timings: 11am-7pm)
Phone: 8860003310 email: [email protected]
Ticket also available at
bookmyshow.com
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I May 2014 I 65
ENTERTAINMENT
LAST WORD
Brad Pitt and
Angelina Jolie’s
PDA!
‡‡
For a couple who had managed to keep their love
affair private, it was a rare sight to catch Brad Pitt
and Angelina Jolie sweetly kissing each other, holding hands and cheering on their daughters,
Zahara, 10, and 8-year-old Shiloh at a youth soccer
game in L.A. Brangelina were photographed out
together without most of the markings of their
movie star lifestyle. Of course, the A-list couple still
looked like movie stars; No yoga pants and flipflops for them! Both wore chic, dark skinny jeans
and shades. Jolie added a wide-brimmed black hat
to shade her flawless skin from the sun
‡‡
Bombay
Velvet’
Trailer Out
Anurag Kashyap’s much awaited film
‘Bombay Velvet’ has been trending in
social networking sites ever since its
trailer was released. The trailer has an
old world charm to it and has already
sparked the interest of viewers. Ranbir Kapoor plays a
street fighter who serenades
Anushka Sharma, a jazz singer in 1960s Bombay. The film
also features Karan Johar in a
negative role for the first time.
In one of the two posters
released, Ranbir looks dapper in a
grey suit while Anushka appears
glamorous in cherry lips and
mauve shades. Actors Raveena
Tandon, Manish Choudhary and TV
producer Siddharth Basu will be seen
in supporting roles. The film is based
on Prof Gyan Prakash’s book Bombay
Fables.
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