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Airports
NOVEMBER 2012
INDIA
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From Chairman’s desk
Dear readers,
AAI is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the desired
degree of transformation in Air Cargo is carried out smoothly &
without any hiccups, be it in terms of infrastructure, equipment
and electronic processing of documentation. AAI earnestly
desires to bring about the changes which undoubtedly will get
manifested in accelerating the growth of air Cargo Industry in
India, which in turn would also boost the overall development.
Massive changes have taken place in the aviation sector, as an
outcome of enormous influx of air traffic and private operators
making inroads in airport management, with two of our major
airports at Delhi & Mumbai having been converted into a Joint
Venture Company under the PPP concept & we at AAI investing
humongous amounts in modernization of infrastructure. AAI was
bound to take stock of the changed ground realities & review
the policy of cargo operations, especially taking due cognizance
of the changing market forces for many industrial townships
& states with surplus agricultural products, which demanded
availability of air cargo facilities from the nearest airport, so as
to not only save time in transportation but also to cut costs. This
undoubtedly adds to the revenues and at the same time opens
up new vistas for AAI for judicious deployment of the surplus
manpower, which has since been surrendered by both the joint
venture companies managing the airports at Delhi & Mumbai.
The Cargo handling equipment provided by AAI at cargo
terminals can be broadly classified into one of the following
category e.g. transportation equipment, weighing equipment,
material handling equipment.
Potential of Air Cargo Business
The international cargo is expected to grow by 7% and
domestic cargo by 2%. The composite cargo growth rate in India
is expected to be around 5%.
During the year 2008-09, all operational Indian airports
taken together handled 16.97 lac tons of freight (11.49 lac tons
international and 5.48 lac tons domestic) registering a negative
growth of -1.0% when compared with corresponding period
of 2007-08. Compound Growth Rate over the past five years
indicates that international and domestic cargo have been
increasing annually at the rate of 10.6% and 7.9% respectively,
which accounts for 9.7% compound growth rate for total cargo
traffic at all Indian Airports.
The share of Chennai international cargo in India’s total
international cargo was 19.1% and with this volume of cargo
traffic, Chennai Air Cargo Terminal was the 3rd busiest Air
Cargo Terminal in India during the year 2008-09. Compound
Growth Rate over the past five years indicates that loaded and
unloaded cargo have been increasing at the rate of 9.1% and
17.4% respectively, which accounts for 12.9% compound growth
rate for total international cargo traffic.
4
Airports Authority of India
Though the cargo freight marginally declined by ½% at Kolkata
during 2008-09 when compared with 2007-08, yet it has been
able to maintain over 9% annual escalation in freight during the
last five years.
The other airports – Coimbatore, Amritsar and Indore – are
performing reasonably well. A total of 6,330 MT of cargo was
handled at all other airports of AAI during 2008-09 as against
6295 in 2007-08, thereby registering a marginal increase of
over 1%.
Plans and Initiatives of AAI
Airports Authority of India had established Integrated Common
User Terminals for processing of international export and import
cargo at four airports at Kolkata in 1975, Mumbai in 1977 (now
with JVC), Chennai in 1978 and IGIA in 1986 (now with JVC). AAI
has also developed cargo handling facilities at Nagpur (1997,
now handed over to State Govt.), Guwahati (1999), Lucknow
(2000), Coimbatore (2001), Trichy (2011), Port Blair (Domestic
Cargo- 2010) & Amritsar (2007), to handle international cargo.
State-of-the-art Centres for Perishable Cargo have been
established at Delhi, Mumbai (both with JVC), Chennai, Kolkata,
Amritsar & Trivandrum airports.
Walk in Type Cool Room Facilities
This facility has since been established at Agartala, Lucknow,
Guwahati, Goa, Coimbatore, Bagdogra and Jaipur Airports to
handle perishable cargo. It is proposed to set up similar facilities
at Trichy, Srinagar and Mangalore airports.
Compliance of Statutory Dictates
For the safety of passengers and aircraft, Govt. has decided
100% X-ray screening of exports prior to its loading on aircraft,
for which the necessary and latest X-ray machines have been
deployed at all the airports by AAI, w.e.f. 1.1.2004.
In accordance with the Government directives to introduce
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) in the export and import trade
activities, e.com has been established to facilitate transmission
of import / export messages electronically among the
community partners viz. Customs, Custodian, Airlines, Banks,
Exporters, Importers etc. at Chennai and Kolkata airports.
To reduce congestion at airports and to increase the cargo
capacities, the ministry has issued directives to all airport
operators to reduce the free period to 72 working hours from
5 working days earlier granted to exporter/import/airlines in
clearance of their cargo. This step of the ministry has further
improved the profile of clearance of cargo both in import and
export. Thus the buzz word for AAI in R/O Cargo operations is:
“Zero Tolerance With Regards to Mishandling of Cargo”
Happy Reading and Bon Voyage. With best wishes,
VP Agrawal, Chairman, Airports Authority of India
Contents
10
CHAIRMAN, ADVISORY BOARD
V.P AGRAWAL – CHAIRMAN, AAI
EDITORIAL BOARD (AAI)
G.S.BAWA, D.GHOSH
November 2012
16
KEDAR BADRI
YATRA
FROM TRENDSETTER MARKETING
MANAGING DIRECTOR
DURBAR GANGULY
BIPASHA
BASU
ON LIFE,
LOVE &
CAREER
EDITOR
MOUTUSSI ACHARYA
SENIOR EDITORIAL CONSULTANT
Gp. Capt. (Retd) D.C MEHTA
ASSISTANT EDITOR
NIKKI UTPAUL
ASST. ART DIRECTOR
AJEET SINGH NAUDIYAL
22
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TAMASHA FOLK ART
48
52
LIVING IT UP IN THAILAND
68
WHAT’S TRENDING
MYTH OF MADURAI
86
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HOROSCOPE
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AIRPORTS OF INDIA
Badrinath, with the river Alakananda rushing past
BADRI-KEDAR YATRA
The unique juxtaposition of
the Vaishnavite Divyadesam
and Shaivite Jyotirling in
Uttarakhand has been the
main attraction for millions
of pilgrims who have made
a beeline to the Himalayas
for centuries. Badrinath is
dedicated to Vishnu the
preserver, while Kedarnath
has Shiva, the destroyer,
writes Sidharth Mishra
10
A
devout Hindu on pilgrimage
to Uttarakhand can often be
heard saying that he is on Yatra
to Badri-Kedar which should
have been a contradiction in terms. The
existence of the two shrines together in the
same geographical region of Uttarakhand is
unique as the two deities at these temples
represent two different godheads, who have
been put on an equal pedestal by devotees.
While Badrinath is dedicated to Vishnu,
the preserver, Kedarnath has Shiva, the
destroyer, as the presiding deity.
The credit for bringing the Vaishnavites
(followers of Vishnu) and Shaivites
(followers of Shiva) together, goes to
Shankaracharya, the medieval reformer
saint. To him also goes the credit of
establishing the four Dhams – the cardinal
centres of Hindu religion – in the four
corners of Bharatvarsha – Badrinath in the
North, Jagannath Puri (Odisha), in the East,
Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu), in the South
and Dwarakadhish (Gujarat), in the West.
To integrate Hindu religion further,
Sankara appointed his followers from
one part of the country in the dhams
established in a different part. By this
Pilgrims trekking
to Kedarnath
tradition, the Namboodris of Kerala were
appointed priests at Badrinath in the
Himalayas. The descendants of Mandan
Mishra of Mithalanchal in Bihar, who
entered into a debate with Sankara, hold
fort at Dwarka.
After a trailblazing journey, Sankara
won a large number of followers who were
convinced of the futility of sectarian conflict
between the followers of Shiv and Vishnu
and sought a dialogue with the Almighty
within the Sanatan Dharma. Sankara
took samadhi at Kedarnath, in the lap of
the snowclad Himalayas, underlining his
commitment to the unity of godhead.
The travel to the Valley of Alaknanda
for reaching Badrinath, and the valley of
Mandakini for making it to the shrine of
Kedarnath, is essentially by road, with
National Highway 58 starting from Delhi,
which is a lifeline for the border areas of
Uttarkhand where these shrines exist.
As one leaves the national Capital from
Ghaziabad border on NH 58, the milestone
mentions Mana – 500 kilometres. Mana
is the last point on the road to the China
border, about 10 kilometers ahead of
Badrinath shrine. Mana is visited by
pilgrims to see the rise of river Saraswati,
which after flowing for a few meters here
goes subterranean, believed to join Ganga
and Yamuna over a thousand kilometer
downstream at Prayag in Allahabad, Uttar
Pradesh.
Haridwar, Dehradun and other important
hill stations in the Garhwal and Kumaon
regions of Uttarakhand are all launchpads
for the char dham yatra. The network
of tourist bungalows and hotels run by
the GMVN are most reliable. Though not
luxurious, they are relatively comfortable.
There are good private hotels available
in Haridwar and Rishikesh. A few resorts
have been developed in the upper reaches,
especially at the skiing resort of Auli. Food
served in the GMVN properties on this
route is largely vegetarian but eggs are
served in some of the tourist bungalows.
Those travelling by road should plan their
journey in such a way that they reach
Rishikesh in the foothills of the grand
Garhwal Himalyas for the first night’s rest
and start early morning for onward journey
in the hills. From Rishikesh, NH 58 moves
uphill with steep mountains on one side
and deep gorges on the other. During the
drive, one gets to see Ganga at its pristine
best. Passing through Deoprayag, where
Alaknanada meets Bhagirathi to flow
on as the Ganga, to Shrinagar, the seat
of Garhwal University, and onwards to
Rudraprayag, is about six hours journey.
Rudraprayag is at the confluence of
the Mandakini river, which flows from the
mountains behind Kedarnath shrine and
the Alaknanda river, which comes from
the mountains ahead of Mana, flowing out
at the foot of the Badrinath shrine. From
Rudraparayag, which is now a district town,
the road to Kedarnath along the Mandakini
valley branches out. About three hours
from Rudraprayag is the town of Guptkashi.
The second night’s rest can be had at
Guptakashi for those who desire to take
the chopper ride to Kedarnath shrine or
take the road to the hilltop. The helipad
of Fata is less than an hour’s journey
from Guptkashi. From Fata, there are two
chopper ferry services. The first is operated
by government-run Pawan Hans and the
other by a private carrier. Those wanting
to visit the temple by chopper are advised
to book their seats through the internet as
booking locally is next to impossible and
also very costly.
For others, the journey by road from
Rishikesh takes a day to Gaurikund, from
where the trek to Kedarnath shrine is about
13 kilometers through a hilly track. There
are also horses and kandi (chair palanquin)
carriers available in plenty. If the journey
is planned well and there are no hassles
created by weather and traffic jams, the
journey to the shrine from the base camp
and back could be made the same day.
For night stay, there is accommodation
available at Kedarnath shrine too, but there
it becomes very cold at night and there also
is the problem of oxygen not being available
in sufficient supply. It’s advised that you
spend the third night too at Guptakashi.
There are a few small places en
route from Gaurikund to Kedarnath, like
Janglechatti, Rambara and Garurchatti,
where you can rest a while or spend the
night if the travel becomes too tiring, or if
you wish to take it a bit slower and enjoy
the magnificent surroundings. Just one
kilometer before Rambara there is a high
and beautiful cascading waterfall which
crashes down from the heights.
KEDARNATH: Kedarnath hosts one of
the holiest Shaivite shrines and situated
as it is at the head of the Mandakini river
nearby, its veneration is enhanced among
the devotees. Kedarnath is about 3584
meters above sea-level and is very scenic,
11
Pilgrims at Deoprayag
12
surrounded by lofty, snow-covered Himalayas,
and during the summer, grassy meadows
cover the valleys. Close to the temple is the
high Kedardome peak, which can be sighted
from afar. The sight of the temple and the peak
with its perpetual snows is simply enthralling.
In the early and latter parts of the season, the
path to Kedarnath is often frozen or slippery.
During the winters, the temple and houses are
all under snow cover.
The temple is magnificent in its style and
architecture. It is built on a ridge jutting out
at right angles from the snowy range. The
present temple, built in the 9th century AD by
Adi Shankaracharya, stands adjacent to the
site of an earlier temple built by the Pandavas.
The inner walls of the assembly hall are
decorated with figures of various deities and
scenes from Indian mythology. Outside the
temple door, a large statue of the Nandi Bull
stands guard. Built from extremely large,
heavy and evenly cut grey slabs of stones, it
evokes wonder as to how these heavy slabs
had been handled in those days. The temple
has a Garbha Griha for worship and a mandap,
apt for assemblies of pilgrims and visitors. A
conical rock formation inside the temple is
worshipped as Lord Shiv in his Sadashiv form.
Kedar is another name of lord Shiva,
the protector and the destroyer. Shiva is
considered the embodiment of all passions love, hatred, fear, death and mysticism – which
are expressed through his various forms. In
the Mahabharata, the Pandavas decided to pay
homage to Lord Shiva. But Lord Shiva was not
interested in meeting them as they were guilty
of gotra hatya (killing their brethren). Seeing
the Pandavas coming, the Lord disguised
himself as a bull. But the Pandavas saw
through Shiva’s disguise. Realising that his
disguise had not worked, the bull tried to bury
itself in the earth. But Bhima was swift and
held on to the hind legs of the bull, preventing
it from vanishing. In the struggle that
ensued, different parts of Lord Shiva’s body
appeared at various places in Kedarkhand
(the land of Shiva). The forehead showed up at
Pashupatinath in Kathmandu, the hump of the
bull at Kedarnath, the torso including the navel
at Madhmaheshwar, the arms at Tungnath,
the face at Rudranath, and the matted hair at
The magnificent Himalayas
provide a backdrop to
Kedarnath
HOW TO REACH
1. Rishikesh and Haridwar are the
nearest rail heads, well connected from
Delhi and other big cities.
2. Jolly Grant, which is equidistant from
Dehradun and Rishikesh, is the lone
commercial airport in Garhwal, which
operates regular flights to New Delhi.
3. Thanks to Border Roads Organisation
(BRO), despite frequent landslides
in the monsoon season, the roads
are well maintained. Taxis can be
booked through private operators and
also Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam
(GMVN). reliable. NH 58 from Delhi, via
Ghaziabad, is the route to take, with the
distance to Badrinath being 500 kms.
Kalpeshwar. The Indian Panch Kedar trek
includes all the five shrines associated with
the Kedar legend. All of them are situated
in the Kedar Valley. In all there are over 200
shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva in Chamoli
district itself, the most important being
Kedarnath. Kedarnath is also one of the
twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Besides
its affiliation to Shiva, Kedarnath is also the
site of Shankaracharya’s samadhi.
The place remains closed from
November to April due to bad weather while
the temple is submerged under thick snow.
At the onset of winters in November, the
holy statue of Lord Shiva is carried down
from Kedarnath to Ukhimath, where it is
worshipped and is reinstalled at Kedarnath
in the first week of May. It is at this time
that the doors of the temple are thrown
open to pilgrims, who flock here from all
parts of India. The shrine closes on the
first day of Kartik (Oct-Nov), and reopens in
Vaishakh (April-May) every year. The best
time to visit Kedarnath is during the season
for Char Dham Yatra, from May to October,
except in the monsoons.
On the fourth morning, we start from
Kedarnath for our onward journey to
Badrinath, retracing our steps back to
Rudraprayag. From Rudraprayag, within
a few hours, we reach Karnprayag, the
confluence of Alaknanda and Pindar, which
flows out from Pindari glacier. Here, along
river Pindar opens the beautiful pass to
the Kumaon region, taking us to Gwaldam,
Baijnath and Bageshwar. Retracing our
route on the way to Badrinath, the next
important station is Nandprayag, the
confluence of Alaknanda and Nandakini
rivers. From Nandprayag, after a few more
hours one reaches Joshimath, the winter
home of Badrinath, and also the home
of the math of the Shankaracharya of
Badrinath shrine.
From Joshimath, we have two roads
branching out, one goes to the winter
skiing resort of Auli, which in 2010 hosted
the South Asian Federation (SAF) winter
games, and the other to the Badrinath
shrine. Though the journey from Joshimath
to Badrinath is about two to three hours,
the traffic moves in a slow caravan, as
the roads are narrow and one-way. The
waiting time in Joshimath itself could be
two to three hours, and the journey from
Guptakashi should be planned in a way as
to reach in time to join the last caravan
which leaves by 4 pm.
From Joshimath to Badrinath and
onward to Mana, the route along Alaknanda
valley is bewitching, though setting up of
a hydel power plant at Vishnuprayag has
made the river go dry at places, especially
during the summer months. Badrinath
itself is located on a plateau, so there isn’t
much of a parking problem here, and it’s a
bustling temple town during the time the
shrine is open to pilgrims.
BADRINATH: Situated on the Alaknanda
river, the temple of Badrinarayan at the
height of 3133 metres is considered to be
one of the holiest Hindu temples and is
also one of the 108 Divya Deshams, the
holy shrines for Vaishnavites. The temple
is open only during the summer months
from April to November, as extreme
weather conditions prevail otherwise.
There are several deities in the temple.
The most important is a one metre tall
statue of Vishnu as Lord Badrinarayan,
made of black Saligram stone. The statue
is considered by many Hindus to be one
of eight swayam vyakta keshtras, or selfmanifested statues of Vishnu. The murti
depicts Vishnu sitting in a meditative
posture, rather than his far more wellknown reclining pose. In November each
year, when the town of Badrinath is closed,
the image is moved to nearby Jyotirmath.
The temple is approximately 15 metres
tall with a small chattri (canopy) on top,
covered with a gold gilt roof. The facade is
built of stone with arched windows. A broad
stairway leads up to a tall arched gateway.
The architecture has Buddhist influences,
with a vihara and a brightly painted facade
typical of Buddhist temples, as does the
sculpture (the padmasana Vishnu) of the
13
Yogi meditating on the riverbank
deity. Just inside is the mandap, a large
pillared hall that leads to the garbha griha
(sanctum sanctorum). The walls and pillars
of the mandap have intricate carvings.
The main shrine area houses the black
stone image of Lord Badrinarayan, sitting
under a gold canopy under a Badri tree.
There are fifteen more statues around the
temple. These include Nara and Narayana,
Narasimha (the fourth incarnation of
Vishnu), Lakshmi, Narada, Ganesha,
Uddhava, Kuber, Garuda (the vehicle of
Lord Narayan) and Navadurga. Batasha,
Khichdi, Tulsi, and dry fruits are the typical
prasad offered at Badrinath temple.
The Tapt Kund – hot sulphur springs –
just below the temple are considered to
be medicinal – many pilgrims consider it a
requirement to bathe in the springs before
visiting the temple. The springs have a
year-round temperature of 45°C.
Badrinath was originally established as a
pilgrimage site by Adi Sankara in the ninth
century. Sankara discovered the image
of Badrinarayan in the Alaknanda River
and enshrined it in a cave near the Tapt
Kund. In the sixteenth century, the king of
Garhwal moved the idol to the present site.
The temple has undergone several major
renovations, due to age and damage by
avalanches. In the 17th century, the temple
was expanded by the kings of Garhwal.
14
After significant damage in the great 1803
Himalayan earthquake, it was rebuilt by
the King of Jaipur. Now it is looked after by
the Uttarakhand Government through the
Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple management
committee. According to legend, Vishnu
was chastised by a sage who saw Vishnu’s
consort Lakshmi massaging his feet.
Vishnu went to Badrinath to perform
penance, meditating for a long time in
padmasana. To this day, the area around
Badrinath attracts yogis who come for
meditation and seclusion.
Another legend says that Shiva and
Parvati were doing tapasya in Badrinath.
Vishnu came disguised as a small boy,
crying loudly and disturbing them. Parvati
asked the reason for his crying and he
replied that he wanted Badrinath for
meditation. Shiva and Parvati found that it
was Lord Narayan in disguise. They then
left Badrinath and moved to Kedarnath.
All throughout the route to Badrinath,
there are numerous pilgrimage sites at
Deo Prayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag,
Nandaprayag and Vishnuprayag; as well as
Pandukeswar, where king Pandu observed
Tapasya with his queen Madri and where
his sons, the Pandavas, stayed during their
pilgrimage to heaven, and the site where
Bhima and Hanuman (sons of Vayu), met.
At Badarinath, where Lord Maha Vishnu
is believed to have done
his penance, Goddess
Mahalaxmi is said to have
assumed the form of a
Badari tree to provide
Vishnu shelter, so as
to face the onslaught
of the adverse weather
conditions, therefore the
name Badari Narayan.
It is believed that Lord
Vishnu revealed to Narad
Rishi that the Nar and
Narayan forms were his
own. It is also believed
that Narad Rishi, who
also did his penance
here, is even now
worshipping the supreme
God with Ashtakshara mantras. Behind
the temple of Lord Badarinarayan is the
Lakshmi Narsimh mandir, with shrines to
Desikacarya and Ramanujacary.
The return to Rishikesh from Badrinath
could be planned in a way that you take
night rest either at Rudraprayag or
Shrinagar. Those who start early pitch tent
at Shrinagar, those starting later in the day
should park at Rudraprayag for the night.
Both have good Garhwal Mandal Vikas
Nigam properties located bang on the NH.
The shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath
shut on Diwali and reopen with the onset of
summer in the month of May. The pilgrim
rush is witnessed during the summer
months before the onset of monsoons.
After monsoons, though it becomes cold,
the weather is still good for a visit.
The ideal time or peak season to go
for a Char Dham Yatra is from May to
October, barring the monsoons. This
is because all the four sacred sites are
perched in Garhwal Himalayas, which is
prone to heavy snowfall. As a result, all the
paths leading to the shrines are blocked.
Moreover, during the monsoon season,
there is a grave threat of landslides, which
can further disrupt the journey. For safety
reasons, the gates of the temples are also
closed for this period and the idols are
shifted to nearby pilgrimage spots. “I FEEL FREE
AND HAPPY”
HEAD HEAT
Bipasha Basu speaks to Rubina P. Banerjee on life, love and her career
B
ipasha Basu is back in the
reckoning with Raaz 3! After two
bleak years in Bollywood (20092012), she returns to the director
who got her into the world of Bollywood
and the Bhatt Camp which had launched
her. It is a strange coincidence that it is
the sequel of Raaz, directed by Vikram
Bhatt in 2002, which has proved to be the
touchstone in her career and celebrates
her second coming!
Talking about Vikram Bhatt she says,
“He is the person who put me in focus. I
really liked him the very first time I met
him, when I was 19 or 20. I wanted to go
back to college after finishing Raaz and he
convinced me not to, saying that I should
not waste my talent.” So now she is back
with the man who mentored her and the
Bhatt juggernaut which has created so
many Bollywood sex symbols.
Speaking of Raaz she says, “This film
16
was really like a homecoming! Getting
back to Bhatt Saab, was like the very first
time! We all have moved on in life and the
Bhatt’s periodically approached me for
different films, which I turned down for
various reasons. However, when Bhatt
Saab called me for Raaz3 I went with my
gut and even though everyone advised me
not to do this dark role I went right ahead!’
So the woman acclaimed to be a sex
symbol and the delectable body that set
so many item songs ablaze with her dusky
sensuality now wants to be reckoned as an
actress? Is she trying to shift the audience
perception of her and focus on roles which
are character centric rather than body
centric?
“I am a very smart person. I know that
the perception is not going to change. The
first impressions are the most lasting
impressions. The reason I was accepted
in this industry was because I looked good
and I am not shy of sex scenes. Sexy is a
very difficult image to break! Somewhere in
the middle I lost my brain a bit and thought
that I was going to change it. That was the
time I was acting in a lot of art house films
and it really worked against me.
“I chose to listen to my instinct and
went back to Bhatt Saab and said I want
to do this film. My manager thought I was
cuckoo, because Hindi film heroines don’t
do these dark roles but I just felt attracted
to the role. All over the world the best
actors say these are the toughest roles to
play. I know I’m not even 10% of Sanaya
and I’ve never played a character like this
before. In fact, no one has ever seen such a
dark role played by a Hindi heroine ever on
screen. It’s a film that completely engaged
me. Initially I was so scared to approach
the character. I had no benchmark or
references to help me understand how
to play it. Bhatt Saab really helped me
PIC: Hi BLITZ
live the part. It’s such a strong character
that when I saw it I actually got scared of
myself. It’s been the toughest challenge
I have taken in my 10 years of acting! I
realize there is a dark side to everybody
and me as well”.
Mahesh Bhatt suggested that Bipasha
was the best choice for the role as she is
in the same phase of her career as Sanaya.
“An actor desires to stay eternally in the
limelight, which is not possible. The peak
of stardom is a lonely position, where you
are insecure and can only go down. When
we become prisoners of fame, and the lines
between right and wrong get blurred. From
politicians and dons to television channels
and actors, everyone tries everything to
stay ahead. To destroy the competition, the
tools used can be anything from prayers
to black magic. And this film is about my
character and her endless hunger to
remain successful at any cost!”
How does she react to Bhatt’s comment,
does she feel she has some similarity to
Sanaya or is there a teddy bear lurking
I was inspired by my mother and that
is when I hit upon the name for my
fitness DVD,” Baby love yourself”.
No one makes you as happy
as you make yourself
behind the fit and no-nonsense Bips?
Yes, there is some identification factor as
I have been insecure for very long. Times
have been harsh. I have neither been very
aggressive in pursuing business nor have
I been very comfortable in belonging to
camps. Most importantly, I’m not very good
at praising people and am very cut off from
the industry once I’m done with work. I
have been brought up in a manner where I
speak my mind. I could be wrong at times
but I am not scared to speak my mind and
have been like that from the time I was
a little child. Nothing has changed about
me and I am a little bit of a misfit in the
business I would say!
An actor’s life is like a wave it is a
periodical rise and fall. And I’ve had my
share of lows. Now there is this energy
which has driven me for the last 2 years,
that has helped me realize that this is the
one thing I love and I am not going to let
go of this. I know I am good at my job but
I haven’t been 100% into it. But right now
I am going to give it my best shot! At the
same time, when I am in a group of actors
and actresses, I hear them say acting is my
life and everything I know,” and they really
mean it when they say that. I don’t want
to be like that! With all due respect, acting
is my profession, it definitely doesn’t take
over my life! It’s only a part of me and it
doesn’t define me!
Talking of her forthcoming films, she
says her next film is Atma which is another
horror film, directed by Suparn Verma, and it
seems she is relaunching herself as the dark
woman?
You know it’s very safe to play the love
interest of a big hero and the hero takes
the credit or blame for success or failure.
With Raaz3 I’ve proved myself and its
17
success shows I can carry off a film as an
actress. This makes me elated and I’m very
happy about the kind of films I am doing.
My roles are very credible and like those of
the actress I admire, like Nicole Kidman.
Atma is a unique film which is woman
centric and puts me in a space as an actor
where I have never been!
The other film I’m doing is Singularity,
Roland Joffre’s epic romantic film, based
in the 18th century, where I’m playing a
warrior who is bodyguard to an Indian
queen. The love story between a warrior
and a British soldier played by Josh
Hartnett fills my role with a lot of action,
romance, sexual friction and energy. It’s
an experience to work on these largerthan- life sets and with such a renowned
director. It is also my first English film
and I feel honoured that he has chosen
me as the protagonist of this film. Raaz 3,
Singularity and Atma are all very different
films and will all showcase the actor in me.
At this point I am in my own way enjoying
the process of being an actor. The process
of a film-making is just so much of fun and
18
I am savouring it bit by bit. ”
Moving on to her private life, Bipasha has
never made a secret of her long 8 year affair
with John Abraham When it broke up she
admitted her feelings candidly. And later,
her series of dalliances figured many a name
from Rana Daggubatti to Josh Hartnett! Were
these relationships on the rebound?
“No it is the reality of life that I need
to experience and not a rebound. I think
it might have come at the wrong time
because people experience singlehood at
19 -20! I’m still surprised when people ask
me out and wonder why they are asking
me! When you trust someone and they
hurt you I get hurt like everyone else. But
beyond John there are so many people who
love me! I’m not a flirt but my co-actors
are all every cute guys and for once I’m
free to mingle. I have been in a relationship
since the time I was 15, so it feels good
with all the male attention, ever since I
have become single!
Is she more wary of love now?
When you trust someone and they hurt
you, I get hurt like everyone else. People
kind of like me whether it is the audience,
the media or the people in the industry,
I am very blessed I would say, being the
way I am. Apart from that I do have good
friends. I am a good judge of things in my
life and decisive about what I should and
shouldn’t do. I would never go for what is
harmful for me and I am very protective
about myself. I have developed this rhino
hide so it doesn’t matter anymore, I’m not
going to let anyone and everyone hurt me
or even have an effect on me and that is
precisely why just acting and the business
of it doesn’t define me. Only very close
people affect me the rest of them don’t
count. They can come and tell me right on
my face and I won’t mind, I’m very thick
skinned.
So love is no longer her priority?
No, strong and driven by ambition though
I may be, I am a girl controlled completely
by emotions. If I were to draw priorities in
life, love is definitely a priority in my life.
Love for my family, love for my friends, and
if I were in a relationship, then love for my
partner. Everything else is secondary, I
draw my strength from love.
And relationships?
I’m seriously old school in my notions
about love. I have to be chased and, wooed.
Unfortunately, though my state of mind is
still 16, I am now a mature woman. There
is a conflict raging within me. I don’t know
how to be single and I’m trying to deal with
it while I still have the romantic aspirations
of my 16-yr-old-self! I’m confident that
a relationship will happen when it has to
happen! This freedom is amazing. I don’t
want anyone to take it away from me, at
this point in time. For the first time I can
sleep when I want to go to sleep and don’t
have to wait up for my lover! I don’t think I
am ready for a relationship right now but
the world is full of wonderful men and I’m
not a cynic or averse to love and loving. I
believe in fairytales and have the faith that
my prince charming will come, but not so
fast. I think I deserve the time!
I was very young when I got in to my
relationship. I was 21-22 years old and
all I knew was that it was like living in
the comfort of a box. I was working and
coming back home to my boyfriend and
doing things for my parents. That’s it and
I couldn’t multitask more than that. Post
my relationship, I think I have been doing
all those things that I would have done
when I was 19! People keep commenting
that I am looking younger and am glowing.
It’s surprising since I’m not doing anything
different. I’m still going to the same gym,
wearing the same clothes, eating the same
things, I am still the same person but
everyone wants to know how I’ve changed
and I really don’t have an answer. Maybe
I am living a very free life! I feel this was
required as it taught me that you could be
in a relationship but you don’t have to die
in it!
So is she happy being single or has she
tired of it?
For a minute she looks at me intensely
and breaking into a laugh says, “Actually
I don’t know whether I am single right
now. I have no idea! But I am a one-man
woman and I can proudly say that I make
a fantastic girlfriend and will make a
Bipasha with her mother and John
Abraham at the launch of her fitness video
fantastic wife, if and when I’m ready to
marry. Not right now.”
(Hmmmm, we wonder if that is a broad
hint….)
“I am in a very girlie space but I am very
happy. I don’t know whether I am seeing
someone. I’m wary now and I don’t trust
myself as much as I did before. I want to
answer all the questions before I commit
to a relationship but undeniably I’m very
19
happy now! The next time I am in love it
has to be for marriage. I don’t like having
frivolous relationship and feel marriage
is a culmination of one’s relationship and
compatibility. I am not waiting for anything.
There has to be a man in my life now, who
I fall in love with. He has to come and fit
himself into my life. I don’t have the energy
to make an effort for anyone and it is he
who will have to make the effort for sure.
How does she keep herself happy and
grounded?
You want to be a giver, it’s great, but if
you don’t love yourself and learn to take
care of yourself, no one is going to be able
to make you happy. I very strongly believe
in the philosophy of loving yourself. You
need to love every bit of yourself to actually
give back to your career and your life!
If one is content, one becomes a better
person and is more willing to give. All
these years, in the hustle of everyday life,
I had forgotten to love me. I was inspired
by my mother and that is when I hit upon
the name for my fitness DVD,” Baby love
yourself”. No one makes you as happy
as you make yourself. When I launched
my DVD, something in me changed. It’s
been 2 years and something about me has
changed since then. I’ve started loving
myself and respecting myself more. I am
not ok with people who try to put me down
and make me feel small. This name was
god-given. I was looking for a name and
it gave me direction. But like I said, I’m a
giver and I like myself this way. If I could
give some happiness to people and share
the benefits, then I would think I’ve done
something good in my life. When I was
younger I used to give and expect back but
now when I give, I don’t expect anything! 20
Thousands of Flamingos nest in winter in the mud flats of the Rann, one of the largest seasonal saline wetlands in the world
RANN UTSAV
E
xperience Kutch at its colourful and exotic best during the Rann Utsav from
15th December, 2012, to 31st January, 2013, in Gujarat. This annual festival
celebrates the desert traditions of Kutch with folk dances, camel safaris, village
fairs, musical concerts with local musicians, wrestling and horse and camel racing.
Mesmerising performances on the shimmering moonlit landscape of the salt pans
and colorful fairs held on Mandvi beach or on the banks of Narayan Sarovar lake, are
unique showcases of Kutch’s vibrant, flamboyant culture. The month-long carnival
organized at various locales within Kutch begins in Bhuj, with more than 8000 tourists
from around the world visiting the festival. Here you can sample the colourful ethnic
wares of Kutch’s indigenous tribes, such as the Ahirs, the Rabaris, and the Meghwal. You
can watch Gujarat’s famous artisans at work, shop directly from craftspeople, see the
great historical monuments, and visit nearby places on the tourist trail in Bhuj, Mandvi,
ancient Dholavira, as well as sites in Kutch –Lakhpat, Mata Na Madh, Chhari-Dhandh
and Dhinodhar mountain. The semi-parched Grasslands of the Banni display the most
magnificent examples of local architecture and is home to the endangered wild ass,
colourful flamingos, and a host of animal and bird life, making it ideal for eco-tourism.
Tribal children dressed up for the Utsav
22
Local musicians perform at Rann Utsav
The Little Rann of Kutch is famous for the
Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, home of the
world’s last population of Indian wild ass
Horse decked out for the Utsav
Trudging miles across the Rann to fetch water
Kutch is a land of forts, palaces, temples and grand old havelis
23
Kutchi girls waiting to
perform at the Utsav
Kite-flying on the salt pans
A tribal lady
shows off
her tattoos
24
Dressed in Kutch
traditional
finery
Raking a living out of the harsh salt pans
A tourist gets ready
to ride a camel
Safari tents for visitors to the Rann Utsav
Rabari women traversing the salt pans
25
Girls celebrate during the Utsav
Tribal woman in traditional house
Camel safari on Mandvi Beach
Wrestling tournament at Rann Utsav
Women dancing during the Utsav
Village women do a festive dance
26
Madison Square Garden
Radio City Hall
EI Live
Euphoria World Tour
Dominican Republic
Las Vegas
Staples Centre, California
Enrique greeting fans
28
London
ENRIQUE UNWRAPPED
Anubha Singh caught up with the superstar who has had-sell-out concerts in every
country he has visited. He performed in India last month
Enrique with Christina Aguilera
Enrique performing with Nicole Scherzinger
Cardiff,
Wales
Doha, Qatar
Pune, India
Enrique, Pitbull and J Lo backstage
Enrique during his
World Tour 2011
Miami, Florida
Minsk, Belarus
29
E
nrique Preysler Iglesias was
born in Madrid, Spain, to
latin singing superstar Julio
Iglesias and Filipino-Spanish
socialite and journalist Isabel Preysler
in 1975. When he was eight he moved
to the United States. At the young age
of 15, Enrique started writing music.
He spent a year studying business
administration at Miami University
before he decided to pursue music
full-time. He released his first English
album in 1999 which went platinum.
His last album, Euphoria, includes
six #1 hit singles and has sold more
than 18 million songs. In his 2011 tour,
he sold out arenas in 58 major cities
worldwide, spanning five continents
and selling over 650,000 tickets. He
was recently on a world tour with
Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull. He holds
multiple Grammy Awards and amassed 69
number-one rankings on various Billboard
charts. He lives in Miami with his girlfriend,
tennis pin-up Anna Kournikova, and his
dogs.
You came down to India to perform
after eight years. How does it feel to be
back again?
I had been looking forward to this trip for
years. I had been trying to come back and
was just waiting for the right opportunity,
and when it showed up, I just grabbed it. I
am feeling the love of my fans in India and
of course, have been digging into some delicious food in Delhi and Pune and enjoying
Indian culture, it is awesome. India is one
of my favourite countries.
Where are you in relation to your father
(Latin superstar Julio Iglesias)?
Whenever I have to explain the relationship that my father and I have, for a lot of
people it would be very difficult to understand. I don’t feel like I have to sit in front
of my father and tell him sorry or he has to
tell me sorry. There’s nothing to be sorry
about it. I love him, I respect him and I
understand him.
How much of his music have you incorporated in your music?
Growing up with a father like mine,
30
you know, he was a big star, sold a lot
of albums and sold many, many tickets
around the world. That was my point of
reference, my comparison. So the way I
looked at it was, okay, if I’m going into this,
it’s because I gotta get to that level or even
better. My father was great, he loves his
career. He probably loves his career more
than anything, but I understand.
What do you have to say about Bollywood music? Have you heard any of it?
I check out Bollywood videos every now
and then and am a true Bollywood fan.
You have collaborated with Bollywood
singer Sunidhi Chauhan. Will you be recording another song with her?
You’ll just have to wait and find out! I’m
open to working with other Indian artistes.
Any suggestions from you or the fans?
If not a singer, what would you have
been?
A football player. I played a lot as a little
kid. If you come from Spain, you have to
play football.
You have many fans across the world
and are tagged as the Latino Lover. What
is it that makes you such a hit, especially
with women?
I have no clue! Perhaps you can tell me!
The word 'lover' though I think is just corny.
You’ve collaborated with some of the
biggest names in music such as Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull, Nicole Scherzinger,
Christina Aguilera, Whitney Houston and
Lionel Richie. Who is the next musician
that you’d like to collaborate with?
I’m actually in the studio right now deciding just that. My video for I Like How It Feels
featuring Pitbull & The WAV.s is just out
and my Euphoria tour with Pitbull and
Prince Royce is starting.
You co-produced an off-Broadway show
and have taken on some acting roles. After Once Upon A Time In Mexico, any new
film projects?
I am always open to any opportunities.
Acting is a talent I respect very much, and
am envious of those with such talents. I
would definitely be open to giving it a shot
in the future but for now it's not in my
plans. There also hasn't been anything that
I really want, and if I don't find something
I'm truly passionate about I'd rather not
do it. Maybe if they offer me something in
which I can identify with the character, or if
it's a comedy that really makes me laugh,
or a drama that truly touches me, then they
could talk me into it.
How do you deal with the constant touring? How do you keep so fit?
I think loneliness is a feeling that lots of
artists have, travelling around the world
‘Do you Know’ Video’ Shoot
Downtime in the studio
Enrique (left) with his family
At the
poolside
In his private jet
Relaxing at home
With girlfriend
Anna Kournikova
makes you feel like a nomad. You’re not at
home or in your bed, and that feels strange
and gets you thinking. But I don’t mind it. I
keep a photo of my dogs with me. The odd
spot of solitude suits me now and then. The
most important thing is that when I return
to my home, which I share with my girlfriend and my dogs, any loneliness is gone.
I don’t need to exercise as performing
keeps me fit. The best exercise is being
up there on the stage. The first few weeks
are tough because it’s like getting back
into training, but now that a few months
have gone by I feel fitter than ever. The
adrenaline you generate is addictive – once
I’m up onstage I don’t want to come off.
Otherwise, I try to rest and sleep as well
as possible. Oh, and not talk too much on
31
Enrique at home with his dogs
Day by the sea with Lucas and Jack
Enrique with
Jack as a puppy
Jet skiing with Lucas
With Grammy on
the beach
the phone. That helps with looking after my
voice.
What do you do to unwind?
Sleep. In Miami, I spend time jet-skiing,
windsurfing, and listening to music. My
perfect day is ... at home, watching TV with
my two dogs. Through thick and thin, highs
and lows, roars and whispers, my dogs are
always there, running down the drive when
they hear the car pull up and welcoming
me back from my travels...I love returning
to my small corner of the world to rest...to
heaven on earth.
Tell us about your dogs.
Generally we lie around and relax or do
fun things together like swimming and
hiking. I used to go sailing on my yacht with
my Golden Retriever Grammy, who recently
passed away, I loved him to death. Fonovisa
gave him to me in 1997 when I won my first
Grammy. I still remember I was driving my
boat when I first got it at supersonic speed,
and almost killed Grammy. I sped up too
much on the curve and the dog flew away
but he had his life vest on.
My latest album Euphoria is dedicated to
my old and loyal friend Grammy, that dog
32
was like a human—he would get so sad
when I packed my bags. It was like losing
one of my best friends. But someday we'll
be together again. I go jet skiing with my
German Shepherd Lucas who is a bit crazy.
I often take my dogs on tour with me. My
dog Jack keeps begging to go on the road.
I love the photo of when I first got him as a
puppy. I can’t believe it has been one year
already. He’s a chocolate lab.
Can you please tell us about your most
memorable concert?
There have been so many it’s hard for me
to single out any particular one. All I can
say is that I love playing at Madison Square
Garden and the Radio City Music Hall in
NYC. There is just so much history there.
What is the status of your relationship
with Anna Kournikova?
We are happy where we are now. I’m in
a happy relationship, that’s all that matters. I’ve never really thought marriage
would make a difference. I just want it to
be special, and the only way to make sure
it’s special is by just making it as private as
possible, and if you talk about those things
that are special to you and that are close
to your heart, it’s not the same anymore.
Some people say ‘love you’ with such ease,
and for me it’s always been a difficult word
to say. All I can tell you is, the first time I
said it, I truly, truly meant it.
How long will you keep performing?
Music is an addiction. I'm so addicted
that I keep on doing it. My dream is for
my music to be heard in every corner of
the world. I'd like to be in an elevator in
Hong Kong and hear my songs. Right now
I haven't even reached the climax of my
musical career, so I still have a long way
to go. I still feel like I have a lot of music in
me that I want to do.
What are your plans post-retirement?
If I ever retire, I want to write and produce songs for other artists, and I have
already done many such projects.
After more than 130 platinum records
and travelling the world with your music,
what has been the greatest life lesson?
I think that what's most important in life
is not taking things so seriously. Maybe
that's why I like joking around… because
I've discovered that you must enjoy life as it
can be very short. Live in the moment! Sanja Sucevic
(Serbia) and Irene
Cabello (Spain) at the
SFL Fight in Mumbai
YOU CAN’T TOUCH ME!
Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, but your hands hit what your eyes can’t see, says
Dominick Rodrigues after witnessing the wrestling at UFC and SFL championships in Mumbai
T
hey are tough, lean-muscled,
six-packs of bloody-mindedness,
ready to go the whole distance
and to win at any cost. They
are the modern-day warriors who seem a
throwback to the gladiators of yore, who
fought each other to death in the Roman
arenas for a chance to earn a name or a
new lease of life.
Today, warriors are fighting another
bloody battle in the “Octagon” – an eightsided metal cage or fenced-in ring -- to
walk away with a rich purse worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and title of
champion in their respective weight categories in the “Ultimate Fighting Championship” (UFC).
The UFC fighters were recently in Mumbai to introduce this sport to India through
34
a television network and pan-India fighting
competition. The fighters included champions Benson “Smooth” Henderson and Rich
“Ace” Franklin, who came from the USA
to display their fighting moves to a select
audience.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship
(UFC) is the largest mixed martial arts
promotion company in the world, which
hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in
the sport and produces events worldwide.
Based in the United States, the UFC has
eight weight divisions and enforces the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. Although
UFC once used the tagline “There are no
rules!” the UFC does, in fact, operate with
limited rules. No longer allowed is biting,
eye-gouging, hair-pulling, finger-poking,
headbutting or kicking, groin strikes and
fish-hooking, throat strikes, pile-driving,
clawing, pinching, twisting, stomping, kneeing or kicking an opponent who is down,
throwing him out of the ring, spitting, abusing and timidity, among other violations!
In spite of being so thoroughly cleaned up,
the sport is still rawer and more violent
than other martial arts shows and involves
plenty of fouls.
UFC matches vary in maximum length,
depending on whether the match is for
a Championship title, or is a fight card’s
“main event” fight. In all fights, each
round can be no longer than five minutes.
Championship fights last for a maximum
of five rounds. All competitors must fight in
approved shorts, without shoes. Fighters
must use approved light-weight openfingered gloves, that allow fingers to grab.
Benson Henderson
of the UFC takes
down his opponent
A mouthguard and jockstrap with protective
cup are also required.
The first UFC event was held in 1993 in
Denver, Colorado. The purpose of the event
was to identify the most effective martial
art in a real fight between competitors
of different fighting disciplines, including
Boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Tae Kwon Do,
Wrestling, Muay Thai, Karate, and other
styles. In subsequent competitions, fighters
began adopting effective techniques from
more than one discipline, which indirectly
helped create an entirely separate style of
fighting known as the present-day mixed
martial arts. With a cable-television deal
and expansion into Canada, Europe, Australia, the Middle East and now Asia, the
UFC has gained hugely in popularity since
2011, thanks mainly to mainstream television coverage.
UFC lightweight champion Benson
Henderson (28), nicknamed “Smooth,” is
a southpaw/wrestler with a professional
MMA record of 17-2, who speaks English
and Korean, and stands 5/9” in his socks,
with the aim not to decimate his opponents
and walk away unscathed, but to engage
in the type of gruelling long-drawn battles
most fighters would hope to avoid.
A talented athlete, Henderson was born
in Colorado and arrived at Dana College in
Blair, Nebraska (USA) to get an education
and to wrestle. It was his first taste of freedom, and he embraced it. “A lot of Korean
boys are pampered by their mothers and
parents. So it was good for me to get away
36
from home and be on my own,” he said. “I
really needed that because I was a pretty
big momma’s boy.”
In his freshman year in college, Henderson struggled to a 5-14 record, and things
were not much better in the wrestling
room. “You can go from being King of the
Hill – you’re the man, no one can touch
you – to freshman year in college, where
you can hardly get a takedown in practice,”
he said. “I was absolutely horrible. I got
murdered every weekend. So that was really tough.”
That’s when the tears came – and they
came often. But his coach Steve Costanzo
believed in his talent and, over the months,
Henderson’s technique got better. His
senior year saw his record being 34-5
and with a degree in criminal justice and
sociology, he joined the Omaha and Denver
Police Departments. But the competitive
urge nagged him and he decided to put his
career in law enforcement on hold to chase
his dream of being a pro-fighter. November
2006 witnessed his pro debut with a first
round win over Dan Gregary and then he
was on a roll with a 7-1 record, before making his WEC debut in 2009, where he went
from unknown to prospect to contender in
barely 10 months time. By January 201, he
was also the WEC lightweight champion.
“It’s not just fighting or winning, but
something more that transcends all barriers and sports – the spirit of competition,
improving and bettering yourself,” says
Henderson while describing his fights,
Rich Franklin
‘Ace’ displays his
moves in Mumbai
that included a memorable win against top
contender Clay Guida, which has become
a must-see for fight fans even today. On
August 11, 2012, he successfully defended
his title by beating Edgar via a five-round
split decision.
“I want to be the best MMA fighter of all
time, hands down, and that’s my goal,”
adds Henderson, a self-proclaimed comic,
sci-fi and fantasy junkie but also a devout
Christian.
Middleweight fighter Rich Franklin -- a
37-year-old, 6.1 ft southpaw, freestyle fighter with a professional MMA record of 29-6,
echoes the same thought in a different way
– of being the elusive fighter. Describing his
transition from a high school math teacher
to UFC superstar, Franklin humorously
narrates the following anecdote. “I used
to put my signature on a piece of paper for
kids to take home and they used to throw
it away on their way home. It was called a
“report card.” Now I put my signature on a
piece of paper that kids wait for in line for
hours. I don’t get it.”
Hailing from and fighting out of Cincinnati, Ohio, Franklin recalls seriously liking
his previous job as schoolteacher, where,
aside from revealing the secrets of the Pythagorean theorem, he was also dishing out
the finer points of left hooks and triangle
chokes afterhours, as a mixed martial artist
in the 90s, which then was not the most accepted form of fighting.
Realizing that college football was not on
the cards for him, he took up karate again
37
alongside jiu jitsu and, along with friend and
training partner Josh Rafferty, decided to
take matters to the next level. He cleaned
out the local amateur fighter circuit,
prompting an inquiry from a local promoter
about the possibility of him turning pro.
“He offered me 200 bucks and I thought
‘wow’. I can make money fighting.” Franklin started fighting with money coming in,
though his mind was never beyond the next
fight, with no plans about making it his
career. Although he was still a fighter after
school hours, Franklin was more focused
on being the type of teacher who taught and
Fighters at the UFC Fight
display their skills
also took interest in his students’ lives to
make a difference to them.
“Many a time parents would come in and
say to me, “This is the first year he’s ever
really listened to the math teacher. He
really connects with you and I think it has
something to do with the kickboxing you do.
I appreciate the influence you have had on
my son.”
Local fight fans started to look up to
Franklin as well and, by 2001, he was unbeaten and was about to go against UFGC
veteran Aaron Brink in Fresno, California,
when he was hit with 104.3 degree fever.
He still decided to fight, which strangely
ended in a bizarre no-contest when Brink
caught his ankle between the canvas and
the cage and was unable to continue. But
that night, renowned manager Monte Cox
asked to manage him and Franklin agreed,
continuing fighting until 2005 – when he
38
began the transition from full-time teacher
to full-time fighter.
“My parents thought I was crazy throwing
a teaching career away for fighting. It was a
justifiable reaction, as there were no action
figures, major television deals or packed
arenas around the globe for the UFC, and
what eventually turned into a pay-per-view
juggernaut and the world’s fastest growing
sport was then at a crossroads.”
When the UFC unveiled their last-ditch
effort – a reality series called “The Ultimate
Fighter ,” even UFC President White called
it the company’s Trojan Horse, as it made
UFC fans out of reality television viewers
who initially tuned in out of curiosity. The
plan worked and Franklin was brought in to
close the show, as he headlined the April 9,
2005 season finale card on Spike TV against
Ken Shamrock, that opened the floodgates
and brought mixed martial arts to the
masses. A world middleweight championship would follow for the Cincinnati native,
along with Super Fights against Anderson
Silva (twice), Dan Henderson, Wanderlei
Silva (twice) and Vitor Belfort.
June 12, 2012 saw him glove up against
former light heavyweight champion, UFC
Hall of Famer and friend, Chuck “The
Iceman” Lidell, in a bout that lasted four
minutes and 55 seconds in Vancouver,
British Columbia, in Canada. It was the last
stand for Lidell and he gave it his all, even
breaking Franklin’s left forearm with a kick
before being knocked out by the “Ace” with
a single right hand. The manner in which
he won – with a broken arm – cemented
Franklin’s place in the history books as one
of the toughest men to strap on the gloves.
Losing in February 2011 to another noted
tough guy Forrest Griffin, he was to face off
against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in August
2011 but an injury suffered by the Brazilian
left the “Ace” without a dance partner till
2012, when he defeated Wanderlei Silva in
the main event of UFC 147 in Brazil.
“I am one of those people that’s fuelled
by the fact that when somebody says you
can’t do something, then I’m just gonna do
it, just to show you that I can,” he adds.
But the man to whom the real credit
goes for organizing this reality fight show
is Lorenzo J. Fertitta – the Chairman, Chief
Executive Officer and co-owner of the assets of Zuffa LLC, which owns and operates
the premier mixed martial arts organization
called the UFC.
In January 2001, Fertitta, with his brother
Frank Fertitta and friend Dana White,
formed Zuffa LLC. Before Zuffa came into
being, MMA was a fringe attraction, largely
unregulated and unable to even appear
on Pay-Per-View platforms. But within
a decade, Zuffa had taken the UFC from
its spectacle roots to the fastest-growing
sports organization in history, shattering
box office and attendance records across
the U.S.A, Canada, Europe, the Middle East,
Far East and Australia. In 2006, the UFC
overtook the boxing industry as the world’s
biggest provider of Pay-per-View events
and, in 2011, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven year broadcast agreement with the FOX Sports Media
Group, with over nine million Americans
tuning into a Fox televised UFC heavyweight
title fight in November 2011. In March 2012,
the UFC’s long-running and enormously
successful “The Ultimate Fighter” reality TV
series debuted its exciting new live format
on the FX Network. UFC programming can
be seen in more than 149 countries and
territories, in 20 languages, and in almost a
billion homes worldwide.
Meanwhile, Indian wrestlers, boxers and
other martial arts fighters will now have a
chance to take a shot at national and international fame with the Ultimate Fighting
Championship (UFC) coming to India.
The UFC announced the signing of a
strategic partnership with the sports channel Sony Six, which will bring a wide range
of UFC programming to India. Live fights
will be broadcast at 11 pm, with reruns
broadcast through the day. The channel,
launched in April this year, is available on
Dish TV, Tata Sky and Videocon d2h.
Lorenzo Fertitta , Chairman and CEO of
India’s first professionally-organised
MMA fighting league called the
“Super Fight League” (SFL) is led by
its chairman Raj Kundra
UFC, which is headquartered in Las Vegas
with offices in London, Toronto, and Beijing,
with 30 live events annually, announced
recently in Mumbai that about 16 of the
most talented unsigned martial artists
in India will be chosen to compete for a
contract as “The Ultimate Fighter” (TUF)
with the UFC, that will see them entering
them the international arena to combat the
world’s best fighters, while also winning
prize monies ranging from US $50,000 to
hundreds of thousands. He said selection of
these fighters will be part of the launch of
an all India edition of the “Ultimate Fighter”
reality series, the UFC’s long-running TV
show. Sony Six television channel will host
the Indian edition of the show and find and
develop local talent in this regard. Casting
for the Indian UFC segment is expected to
begin shortly and is scheduled for broadcast in 2013, while interested fighters can
apply to the UFC directly through their
website www.ufc.com/TUF-India.
Fertitta said, “The UFC will be successful
in India even without local stars, but what
we’ve seen around the world is fans really
want to see one of their own get a chance
to compete at the highest level. Somewhere
out there in a country of 1.2 billion, there is
an Indian champion, someone who will capture the imagination of the fans worldwide
and take the sport to a whole new level.”
Raj Kundra, Mary Kom and
Sanjay Dutt at SFL Night in
Mumbai
Officials and fighters of the UFC in Mumbai
39
Describing Delhi and Mumbai as important wrestling areas and markets for this
sport, Fertitta – who also hails from a boxing background – said he was eager to see
how Indian fighters would fare against the
best athletes in the world, following their
six weeks training in Las Vegas.
Previous TUF winners have gone on to
win UFC world championships and become
international superstars, Fertitta said, adding that TUF India will help introduce the
sport to India and showcase the hard work,
dedication, athleticism and skills needed
to compete in the UFC. The new Indian
fighters will first be featured in the lighter
categories – lightweight or bantamweight,
of the UFC in Las Vegas.
Man Jit Singh, CEO, MSM, said the idea
was to use the television network to promote Indian athletes and UFC fighters from
38 countries in this sport which, despite its
rawness, has witnessed no serious injuries.
“We have a long legacy of Kushti (wrestling) and hope that the best wrestlers from
Indian “akharas” will compete here.”
Meanwhile, another MMA organization
– Super Fight Promotions Pvt. Ltd., has
already made its presence felt in India with
India’s first professionally-organised MMA
fighting league called the “Super Fight
League” (SFL) led by its chairman Raj Kundra – and co-founder chairman, Bollywood
superstar Sanjay Dutt – who announced
“”Friday Fight Nights” which were broad40
Sixteen of the most talented unsigned
martial artists in India will be chosen
to compete for a contract as “The
Ultimate Fighter” (TUF) with the UFC
cast live and live-streamed globally from
October 12, 2012. Indian and foreign fighters compete for the honours in the MMA
event, which will take place at a speciallydesigned arena in Mumbai.
Invicta Fighting Championships of the
USA had announced on September 24,
2012, its tie-up with the SFL to develop
women’s MMA talent out of India, for producing the best matches between women’s
mixed martial artists.
The SFL4 First Friday Night event took off
on October 12, with 14 fighters (two of them
females from Serbia and Spain), throwing
their best punches and kicks to cheers and
jeers from an excited audience, which also
howled with glee at the four black-and-red
clad girls shaking their thang in the roundbreaks.
Wolf whistles and catcalls echoed
through the arena each time the fighters,
specially the women – Sanja Sucevic (Serbia) and Irene Cabello (Spain) -- emerged
from the “Bat-Cave” entrance and entered
the fighting ring.
The first bout – bantamweight -- set
the mood for the night as Irfan Khan (19)
emerged victorious in a judges “unani-
mous” decision over Kaushik Sen (35) in a
fight packed with standing kicks and constant role-reversing and ground-grappling,
that went through three five-minute rounds.
The second fight – middleweight – between
Pawan Maan Singh and Srikant Sekhar
ended with a “knockout” in 46 seconds
of the second round when Singh floored
Sekhar with a right to the jaw.
The third bou – middleweight – was a
shocker. Bhabajeet Choudhary of Assam
outfought his taller opponent Charanjeet
Singh from Punjab by constantly kicking at
his opponent’s chest and left leg to leave
him limping and then slamming him down
on his back.
But the second round saw Choudhary
win the bout with a “Knockout” when he
launched a sudden spinning back-kick to
Singh’s chest that floored him. The doctors
administered oxygen to Singh even as he
was taken out on a stretcher, though he
was reported to have recovered later.
Bout four was an action-from-the-start
welterweight fight between Shyam Prasad
of Kerala and Gaurav Singh of Delhi.
Though Singh lifted and back-slammed his
opponent on the floor, Prasad won the bout
by “Rear-naked choke, submission” as he
maintained a back-chokehold on Singh.
The fifth bout – flyweight – witnessed the
fastest win of the night. Lucknow lad Manoj
Chauhan (23) overcame Biswa Dev (28) of
Bangalore via “TKO” (Technical KnockOut)
barely 41 seconds into the first round.
The sixth female “flyweight” bout drew
the most excitement from the crowd as
slim and tall,19-year-old Irene Cabello of
Spain faced up against her Serbian opponent Sanja Sucevic. With a match that
saw constant reversals with one or the
other coming on top while grappling on the
ground, the second round saw the Serbian’s
face punches beginning to tell, when Cabello grimaced with pain and put her hands
up to give up the fight, where Sucevic was
declared winner in a second-round “verbal
submission.”
The main event of the night – welterweight – witnessed dramatics galore as
Kultar Singh Gill (33) of India, who was
THE ULTIMATE Fighting Championship started in 1993 and
is a professional mixed martial arts organization -- owned by
Zuffa LLC – which has revolutionised the fight business and
today stands as the world’s leading MMA promoter. MMA is a
full-contact combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting
techniques and skills from a mixture of other combat sports to
be used in competition. The rules allow usage of both striking
and grappling techniques while standing and on the ground.
Competitions allow fighters of different backgrounds to compete.
Initially created to discover which style of martial arts would
be most effective in a real fight, the UFC has evolved into n
organization where hybrid athletes are required to know various
facing Amir Wahman (28) of Egypt entered
from the “Bat Cave” wearing a turban,
black goggles and carrying a huge ceremonial sword, before kneeling to touch the
ground and walking down the steps to the
fighting ring.
Shedding his entertaining paraphernalia, Gill got down to fighting business as
he knocked his opponent down, sat on his
chest and continuously pounded him to win
comfortably in a first round “Knockout.”
Speaking on the occasion, SFL chairman
Raj Kundra said while the previous three
SFL events had been held once a month,
the Friday Fight Nights would now be held
weekly.
Raj, who owns an IPL cricket team and
is married to Shilpa Shetty, claims that
he practiced boxing for three years and
learned some self-defence. “I wanted to
bring this sport (Mixed Martial Arts) here
as India loves action. There are so many
fights you see on the streets every day, and
human nature is such, everyone wants to
watch a fight. So I said why watch it illegally
when one can watch it in a legal way. That
is what the SFL is all about.”
“I am going to find the best of MMA fighting talent in India and take them around the
world to take on global challengers. The
fact that even foreign fight event organizers are coming to India means that there
is a demand here for this sport. So I want
to take this advantage and sign over 120
Indian fighters. My suggestion to others – if
they want to be successful – is to find some
good Indian fighters as foreign fighters will
disciplines in order to compete at an elite level in a regulated
environment. The fight styles include: Boxing, Brazilian JiuJitsu, Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Karate, Kickboxing, Kung Fu, Freestyle &
Greco-Roman wrestling and Tae Kwon Do. The weight classes
are: Flyweight (upto 125 lbs), Bantamweight (125 to 135 lbs),
Featherweight (135 to 145 lbs), Lightweight (145 to 155 lbs),
welterweight (155 to 170 lbs), Middleweight (170 to 185 lbs),
Light Heavyweight (185 to 205 lbs) and Heavyweight (205 to
265 lbs). Wins are through: Submission (by physical or verbal
tap out), Knockout (fighter knocked unconscious), Technical
Knockout (referee stops contest), Scorecard decision by Judges
(Unanimous, Split, Majority or Draw).
not work in India.”
“I say that if anyone in India has an ounce
of talent, then they should sign up on my
website, come to the training camp and
take a tryout. If they do well, we will take
them on a scholarship and pay for their
food, supplements, everything, to take them
up to international standards. If they want
to take this up as a profession, SFL will
sustain them with and make it worth their
while.”
Commenting about the famous MMA
Gracie brothers from Brazil, he said mixed
martial arts started in Brazil and the Gracie
Brothers are the base – like Lalit Modi in
cricket – in the MMA and said he might
invite any of the Gracie brothers or their
fighting clan to India soon.
The SFL has also announced a brand
ambassador – five-time Women’s World
Boxing champion and the 2012 Olympic
bronze medal winner M C Mary Kom, who
is expected to mentor the female fighters.
The Olympian will also be involved in the
selection process for the female fighters
while promoting the sport and encouraging
women to take up this combat sport.
“Right now I am spreading the message
that if men can do it, why women cannot do
it. If I can do it, then why others (women)
cannot do it? That is my big challenge.” She
said that she had chosen two women fighters – Manjit (India) and Sanja (Serbia) – for
further training in the SFL camp. “There
are lots of talented women fighters in India
and we have begun the search for them
already. I have opened my own boxing academy in Manipur. If they have the talent, then
I will recommend them to be sent there to
the SFL for training.”
About her preparations for the world cup,
she laughed and said “This month, I will
be quite busy with the SFL and maybe next
year I will start my training.” 41
NAWAZUDDIN SIDDIQUI
7+(81&219(17,21$/
HERO
As told to Nikki Utpaul
“I saw two of my closest
friends break down to
the extent of losing their
sanity, as the struggle had
become too much for them
to take, and to be honest,
it is because of seeing
them in that state that I
promised myself not to
succumb and kept going.”
I
n a way I am grateful that things happened slowly, because had I tasted
success in the first few years of coming to Mumbai, I would have been a
very different man, perhaps I would have
taken stardom too seriously and would not
have carved a niche as an actor like I have
today. Or I may have been lost in the socalled stardom and what comes with it.
The road to Bollywood...
Bollywood was a farfetched idea coming
from a farming back ground. All we ever
saw were C-grade movies. You can describe my village as ganna, gehun aur goli.
There are many Wasseypurs in India. My
village Budhana, in Muzaffarnagar district,
42
UP, is one. I tended cattle and tilled the
fields while growing up. Bollywood movies
happened much later, though I always
mimicked people around me, even as a
child. My parents, like all other parents,
wanted me to be successful and do well in
life, and for them, becoming an engineer or
a doctor was the means to a good life. But I
was just an average student, and graduated with a degree in science from Haridwar,
that helped me get a job as chief chemist
in Baroda, but after a while, boredom set
in, and I knew that I wasn’t meant to do this
job. I knew I would never be able to work
as a chief chemist for too long, my heart
was never in it. But the problem was that I
never knew what I wanted to become or do
in my life. There was never a direction that
I followed.
It was one evening when a friend back
in Baroda took me to watch a play that got
me hooked to the art of acting. Before I
knew it I packed my bags and left for Delhi.
‘Uljhan’ was the first play I saw with Manoj
Bajpai performing in it and I fell in love
with acting as a whole. I thought, yeh sahi
cheez hai. I started watching plays, while
working as a watchman at an office. I got
associated with Sakshi Theatre Group and
worked with actors like Manoj Bajpai and
Saurabh Shukla. I was so inspired that in
‘93 I enrolled myself in the National School
of Drama, which shaped me as an actor.
On his struggle...
After NSD, I worked with street theatre in
Delhi for the next four years and eventually shifting base to Mumbai in 2000, along
with my NSD batchmates like Vijay Raaz
and Rajpal Yadav. I tried to get work in
television serials, but did not achieve much
success. I made my Bollywood debut in
1999, with a small role in the Aamir Khan
starrer, Sarfarosh. I only did minor roles,
and remained unnoticed. I was angry with
the struggle, so angry with everything
There were days when I wanted to leave everything and go back. But going back was
never an option. I could not have gone back
as a failure. I was determined to do whatever came my way. I would settle for any
Nawazuddin in “Dekh Indian Circus”
“Uljhan was the first play
I saw with Manoj Bajpai
performing in it and I fell in
love with acting as a whole.
I was so inspired that in
‘93 I enrolled myself in the
National School of Drama”
role however small or big. It didn’t matter
to me. I believed that there will come a
day when I will get that break. But it didn’t
happen for a long time. I was typecast. I
think that was another reason why I loved
playing Faisal Khan in GOW, because until
then, I was being beaten up by everyone,
and as Faisal, it was me who had the power
to kill at free will. I really enjoyed being the
powerful one for once.
I was mostly out of work, and lived in a
flat I shared with four other people, and
survived by conducting occasional acting
workshops. I didn’t have money to pay bills.
I used to borrow money from my friends
to pay off someone else with that borrowed money. I didn’t have a place to stay
sometimes. I used to sleep at my friends’
place. I still remember when I first came
to Mumbai, it took me almost 15 days to
venture out of the house. I was simply
too scared to cross the road. I thought I
would get crushed by a truck or something.
Things have obviously changed a lot since
then but looking back at those days makes
me realise how important they were, as
they made me the person I am. In the
battle to become a successful actor, I lost
many friends too. I saw two of my closest friends lose their mind because things
were not working out for them. I tried hard
to keep them going but I guess they had
lost the battle from within. For me, that
failure was a constant reminder that I did
not want to become like them and I think
that is the biggest reason for my survival.
There were days when I took up small
jobs, working as an extra to earn a day’s
living. In fact we even thought of working
in the dance bars in Mumbai, par himmat nahi hui join karne ki. We tried par itni
sharam aayi ki wapas aa gaye. But giving up
was never an option. After doing the same
kind of blink-and-miss roles for years, I
decided to take a stand and only do roles
which I deemed fit. I literally was out of
work for 3-4 years, trying to make ends
43
Clockwise: Stills from Patang, short film Mehfuz, Gangs of Wasseypur
meet and then Black Friday happened. That
was a turning point in my life. In 2009, I
also appeared in a cameo role in the hit
song “emotional attyachar” in the movie
Dev D, as Rangila, and things took off. But
it was my role as a journalist in Aamir Khan
Productions’s Peepli Live (2010), that first
got me recognition as an actor. This was
followed by a role as police informer Gopi
in Paan Singh Tomar also in the same year.
Kahaani (2012), where I played a shorttempered cop, Khan, has got me the most
recognition besides GOW.
On love...
I have fallen in love so many times. If one
relationship ended I would search for another girl. I was always madly in love with
all the girls that I dated. I believe everyone
is mad when they are in love and I don’t
think that can ever end. I adored a Muslim
girl in my village who always fancied wedding players and performers. I was carried
away by the girl’s interest and followed her
to the performances. Way back in the 70s,
the only source of entertainment in my
44
village used to be carnivals, folk performances and festivals. I wanted to impress
her like the performers. When the first
TV came to our village, we ran to watch it
together, she was fascinated. I told her I
would be on TV one day but she rejected
me, as she was from a conservative family.
Later, during my struggles, I learnt my
beloved was married to a man double her
age with 6 kids, and was restricted from
watching any forms of entertainment!
Now I am happily married, with
20-month-old daughter Shora bringing joy
to my life. I live in Yari Road, Mumbai with
my younger brother, Shamaas Siddiqui, a
director. I’m the oldest of seven brothers
and two sisters.
I have been married for more than two
years and I don’t think I have done anything
very romantic for my wife. I feel romance
has completely vanished from my life.
She stays in Dehradun and in the past two
years I have been very busy with my shooting. She always complains about my busy
schedule.
I had never done many romantic scenes
in films or my personal life. But my wish to
be a romantic hero was fulfilled thanks to
Anurag Kashyap and GOW. I always wanted
to play a romantic hero. I was very comfortable doing the romantic scenes because
all the amount of romance there was in my
personal life is all there in the film! I tried
to incorporate the mannerisms of boys in
Delhi flirting with girls. They will stand in
the sun for hours to get a glimpse of the
girl or send her a flying kiss. The permission scene in GOW-1 is inspired from my
life. Back in 1993, I was studying in Delhi
and I had a girlfriend. I had never touched
a girl before that in my entire life. One day
I decided to go out with her to a garden.
We were sitting beside each other and I
just glanced around to see if anyone was
looking at us and I put my hand over hers.
I thought love started in this way. She got
very angry and told me that it was illegal
and I should have taken her permission!
I was scared and depressed. She pacified
me and then everything was all right. Anurag thought to include this in the film.
I would like to romance Malaika Arora
Khan on screen. She is a wonderful actress
and I feel filmmakers have not been able to
extract a great performance from her.
On his career...
Bollywood is obsessed with looks and I
think so is the junta to a certain extent. I
personally know actors that can literally
take your breath away by their performances; however, there aren’t many takers
for that kind of evolved talent. In my tryst
with Bollywood, I have been rejected by
many because I didn’t look a certain way
or probably because I look the way I do. I
still remember when Anurag Kashyap and I
were trying to find our place in the industry, Anurag ne mujhse kaha tha ki, Nowaz
himmat mat harna bilkul bhi, when I will
make my movie, you will definitely be a part
of it. And when he got around to making
Black Friday, he kept his promise. Things
picked up momentum after that. It took me
close to 14 years to reach this stage in my
career and I can honestly say that there
is no place for actors in the Indian film
fraternity. That said, things are changing rapidly. There is a new kind of cinema
emerging within Bollywood and is well
received by the audience, but the mainstream movies are still regurgitating the
same melodrama. It is high time we make
scripts the hero and give something new to
the audience.
Personally, I feel a lot of credit need goes
to Anurag Kashyap as he is responsible for
introducing real cinema to the Indian audience. Aamir, too, is someone who I admire
a lot for his courage of making real cinema
on a commercial scale. I will be appearing
in the Aamir Khan 2012 release, Talash.
46
Below: Posing at Cannes Film Festival with co-actor Niharika Singh from Miss Lovely
and work only with like-minded people.
On tasting success...
On getting international acclaim...
I have become more conscious about my
performance but my acting has not been
affected. Whenever I feel that people are
giving me a lot of attention and importance
I go and travel in a local train. When people
push and fight and abuse me, I realise
that I am the same Nawazuddin Siddiqui
who came to Mumbai and struggled for so
many years. I haven’t changed one bit to be
honest. People around me have changed
and that makes me uncomfortable. I love
the adulation that surrounds me, but I am
sometimes encircled by people who are
there because now I am a successful actor,
and that I find hard to get used to. I have
learnt not to take attention from women so
seriously. Even today I am still the same
Nawazuddin that I was before the success
of Gangs of Wasseypur and Kahaani. There
was a time when tea along with Parle-G
biscuits was my breakfast, lunch and dinner and even now it tops my list of small
pleasures.
After the success of my films people
have started recognising me and have a lot
of expectations from me. People’s expectations scare me a little now. I have always
been a shy person. I would sit on the last
bench in school. When I was performing
on stage I would immediately leave after
giving my performance. I was afraid people
would criticise my work. I couldn’t face
these situations. At the same time, I am
happy that people are finally noticing me. I
It felt great walking down the red carpet in
Cannes with artists and celebs that I had
seen on the silver screen. I never knew I
would ever do that. But the bigger achievement was that my talent got appreciated
at a grand level by a global film fraternity.
The movie got a standing ovation once it
was over. That was one of the proudest
moments for me at Cannes.
Another episode was when a French
journalist approached me after watching
my movies Miss Lovely and Gangs of Wasseypur. He refused to believe when I told
him that I was the actor in both the movies.
His refusal to believe that the two characters could be played by the same actor was
the biggest compliment I have received till
date. And of course, an equally big recognition came in the form of Best Actor award
that I won at the New York International
Film Festival for my movie Dekh Indian
Circus in which I play a mute character
called Jethu, it was a challenge because I
had never played such a role and to receive
that award was an honour.
On what lies ahead…
would like to remain an actor my entire life
than becoming a star. I have been a part
of C-grade films and have just been a part
of the crowd in ads. Now I will be selective,
Lots of good work, I hope. Most of the movies that I did in the past couple of years are
now getting released, so hopefully people
will have a panoramic view of the various
characters that I have done. My endeavour
will always be to choose roles which are
different from the last movie. Sam Higginbottom Institute
6)
7
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Cycling along the causeway on Natai beach
Indians can now afford
to buy a second home
in Thailand, because of
the proximity, laidback
beach living and value for
money that it offers, says
Moutussi Acharyya
O
n the next two pages of this
article we feature a stunning
villa on sale in Thailand’s
beautiful Natai Beach.
Seemingly far from the maddening crowd,
yet less than 20 minutes from the Phuket
International Airport, multi-million dollar
villas line its shores, rubbing shoulders
with exclusive resorts and spas, such
as the JW Marriott, Aleenta, and the
Ritz Carlton. The area also boasts the
Thai Muang golf course and resort, to
compliment Blue Canyon Resort, both just
15 minutes away.
Natai Beach extends along Phang Nga’s
west coast, which is a 4,170sqkm province
of southern Thailand directly north of
Phuket. The two provinces are separated
geographically by the Sarasin Bridge, but
seem worlds apart when you compare the
busy tourist hub of Phuket to the tranquil,
pristine luxury of Phang Nga.
Phang Nga is one of the most bio-diverse
and fascinating areas of untold natural
beauty in Asia and has a breathtaking
series of eco parks, from Phang Nga Bay
to Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park, which
the Thailand government has thankfully
protected from the ravages of tourism.
It is dotted with many limestone caves,
waterfalls, rainforests, mountains, rivers,
and hot springs. The turquoise bays and
limestone cliffs provide a spectacular
backdrop to the rural simplicity of fishing
villages that pepper the coastline. Phang
Nga may be familiar to readers because of
James Bond Island, a famous landmark in
Phang Nga Bay, featured in The Man with
the Golden Gun. Sheer limestone cliffs jut
vertically out of the emerald-green water
and the bizarre, why-doesn’t-it-fall-over
48
LIVING THE GOOD
LIFE IN PHANG NGA
outline of James Bond Island or Koh Tapu,
(meaning Nail Island in Thai), lies next to
the equally well known Koh Ping Ghan.
The entire area surrounding this island is
indeed spectacular, but it can get crowded
with tourist boats in high season.
If you visit Phuket, you will definitely get
wangled by a tourist guide into an allday boat trip to visit the limestone caves,
mysterious and breathtaking, and emitting
an eerie greenish light. The trip is literally
etched in my mind or should that be feet,
because I foolishly ventured out into the
shallow waters in my bare feet and cut
them deeply on the sharp coral, causing
me to limp for days afterwards and putting
a dampener on my trip.
But thanks to its cheerful people, one
cannot remain too depressed in Thailand,
and I still remember the ordinary Thai
tourists who rushed to help on seeing me
hurt, washing my feet with mineral water
and miraculously producing a band-aid!
Phang Nga Bay covers an area of
400sqkm and is home to some 100
islands, many of which could feature in
The Guinness Book of Records either for
their beauty or for their freakish shapes.
James Bond Island is under national
park protection and no boats are allowed
too close. You can view it from the small
beach on Koh Ping Ghan, which is another
strange example of nature, with a very high
leaning rock that has some small caves
inside which you can check out on foot. On
a day’s sailing trip to James Bond Island
with all mod-cons laid on in the ferry,
including impromptu concerts and dancing
by the boathands, you can also kayak
through a maze of majestic limestone
caves in Khao lak or trek to the magnificent
Tamnang Waterfall (one of many in the
province). Offshore, the island groups of
Surin and Similan (also national parks),
are renowned for their beautiful unspoilt
beaches and spectacular underwater
scenery, attracting hordes of divers from
around the world.
If you are in the mood for a drive, scenic
mountain roads wind through mighty
The limestone cliffs of Phang Nga
James Bond Island
Nightlife in Phuket
limestone cliffs (karsts) on the way to the
jungle. you can watch turtles laying eggs
on the beaches adjoining Pak Phra straits,
visit the raft houses on the 165 sq km
lake of Khao Sok National Park, or take
advantage of the close proximity to Yacht
Haven Marina for sailing and cruising in Ao
Phang Nga National Park.
Elephant cave trekking to Tham Phung
Chang cave with numerous stalactites and
stalagmites, rafting in Ton Pariwat Wildlife
Sanctuary, rock climbing on the limestone
cliffs, birdwatching, fishing for big game as
well as jungle trekking and bamboo rafting
are other attractions.
And with spa amenities at the nearby
resorts and the exotic nightlife of Phuket
next-door, the evenings can hardly be dull.
Some of the places to visit in Phang Nga
itself are the Wat Suwannakhuha temple,
elephant mountain temple, Sanong Manora
waterfall and Somdet Phra Srinagarindra
Park. Further away are Namtok Lamru, a
5-tiered waterfall, the Khao Lak beaches
and Ko Similan and Ko Surin National Park
for diving and snorkelling. One temple
of interest to Indians may be the Heaven
and Hell Cave, patterned after a Hindu
temple. You will see statues of various gods
including Ganesha, as well as virtues like
the Three Wise Monkeys. You can climb to
the top for a great view of Phang Nga Bay.
Given its ethnic mix, Phang Nga is always
celebrating something. The province is a
melting pot of Buddhists, Thai-Chinese,
the majority Muslim community, and sea
gypsies, who all live in harmony. On Ko
Surin island is a community of Moken sea
gypsies who still live their traditional lives
as seafaring people. These sea gypsies
speak Yawi dialect and are welcoming to
tourists. Many other communities around
Phang Nga Province are also opening
up their villages to one-day tours and
overnight home stays. They usually come
at a base price and list everything that will
be included in the tour, from batik painting
to tin mining. Tin mining in the district
has a history stretching back a thousand
years, and it was once a landing point for
visitors from across the Indian Ocean.
Phang Nga is generally lacking in shops
and restaurants, but there are a few mini
marts and local markets. There are some
restaurants along the coast to meet the
growing demand but for quality shopping
and dining, you have to head to Phuket.
The cuisine is spicy with Malay, Indonesian
and Indian influences. Favourite dishes are
Indian-style Muslim curry (massaman), rice
noodles in fish curry sauce (Khanom Jeen)
and chicken biriyani. Phang-nga’s Panyi
Island is famous for its Shrimp Paste and
Takuapa for its Chinese-style baked cakes.
You can get cheap and delicious meals at
the night market or at the restaurant in
the Muang Thong Hotel and tour guides
recommend Duang as a good place to eat.
There is a vegetarian restaurant on the
main road and at night it is worth trying
the restaurants on the riverside. There are
budget hotels in Phang Nga, but the ones in
Phuket offer better value for money. For a
taste of luxury, you can try Phang Nga Villa
on Natai Beach, with ocean and pool views.
For a day out on the islands, there are
long-tailed boats for hire. You can also hire
motorbikes to but to hire a car or change
money you need to go to Phuket. Everything
(tours, accommodation, food), is cheaper
than Phuket. The tropical climate is perfect
for all-year tourism, with high rainfall
during the monsoons till October. 49
ABOUT THIS PROPERTY
This impeccable contemporary Beachfront Villa with six bedrooms occupies 60
metres of beachfront (interior–5414 sq ft), on Natai beach in tranquil Phang Nga
province in Thailand, directly north of Phuket and only a 25 minute drive from Phuket
International Airport. To make the most of the fabulous views of the Andaman Sea,
the villa is designed in a tropical contemporary style with four separate pavilions
and sliding floor-to-ceiling glass doors throughout. The main and biggest pavilion
is at the centre of the large 4,800 sqm land plot, featuring an open plan living and
entertainment area on the ground level, while the upper level is home to four guest
bedrooms, each with en suite bathroom, with a total of 7 full baths. All the bedrooms
are laid out in a linear design, with wide terraces, so that every room takes full
advantage of the amazing sea views. The master suite pavilion is connected directly
to the pool deck, overlooking the swimming pool and the sea beyond. The master
suite also includes an office and looks out on to a private garden. The remaining two
pavilions house the second kitchen and garage and finally, a gym with spa and steam
room. This stunning villa also features a wine cellar to house over 300 bottles. The
villa’s grounds are immaculately landscaped with tropical plants and water features.
Price is $5,705,902 USD (175,000,000 Thai Baht or Rs 30,58,64,487). Property
ID:4000034689; Na Tai Ban Na Tai, PH 82130 Thailand.
Contact : Hunter Sotheby’s International Realty, 43/1 Bann Don-Cherngtalay Rd,
Cherngtalay Thalang, Phuket, 83110 Thailand; Phone:+66 76324614.
50
51
THE MYTH AND
MAGIC THAT IS
MADURAI
52
DUMMY
One marvels at the living heritage which celebrates the marriage of Lord Sundareshwar and
Princess Meenakshi at the Meenakshi Temple year after year, says Rubina P. Banerjee
53
M
adurai, the name inspires
a thousand memories…
memories that date as far
back as the 3rd century BC
when it was called ‘Thirualavai,’and finds
mention in the ‘Indica’ by Megasthenes,
Alexander’ s ambassador to India, as
well as in the works of the witty Kautilya,
Chandragupta Maurya’s able advisor.
54
This city on the serene banks of the
Vaigai River has been an intrinsic part
of Indian history and in the millennia of
its existence has been ruled by the early
Pandyas, Medieval Cholas, later Cholas,
later Pandyas, the Malabar Sultanate,
the Vijayanagar Empire, Madurai Nayaks,
Chanda Sahib and the British. Madurai is
thus one of the oldest cities with a recorded
history of over 2 millennia.
Despite the innumerable changes that the
city has seen, there is one constant that is as
immutable as Madurai itself, the Meenakshi
Amman Temple. In fact, the name Madurai
is derived from’ Madhura‘ or nectar. The
city of Madurai was awash with the nectar
of Lord Shiva as he married its Queen,
Meenakshi. This enticing mix of history and
the living heritage of the myths of Shiva and
Meenakshi draw me to Madurai time and
time again.
I cannot but marvel at a living culture
which still celebrates the marriage of Lord
Sundareshwar and Princess Meenakshi year
after year, when other ancient civilizations
can only boast of a few hoary relics as proof
of their glorious past.
The marriage of Meenakshi to Lord Shiva
is a tale from mythology that I listened
to wide-eyed as a child on the lap of my
grandmother. Out of the flames of a Yagna
emerged Meenakshi, in the form of a threeyear-old girl, and sat on the lap of Queen
Kanchanmala. The King Malaydhwajan,
unaware that the little Meenakshi was
Parvathy incarnate, was disappointed.
Through the clamour of the Yagna,
however, he heard a divine voice that asked
him to name the child ‘Thadadhagai‘and
train her in the martial arts like a son. It
was also divined that the third breast of
Meenakshi would fall off when she saw
her consort. The King followed the divine
commandments and trained his daughter
to be his successor. After her coronation,
55
Queen Meenakshi embarked on a volley of
conquests, and having conquered earth,
attacked Kailash, the abode of Shiva. When
Shiva came to fight the Queen, Thadahagai
surrendered her weapons and her third
breast vanished, as she stood abashed in
front of her Lord. The marriage of the divine
couple was held in Madurai on the 8th day
after the encounter, with great fanfare, and
a sculpture depicts it in picturesque detail at
the entrance to the Amman Sannathi in the
Temple.
The myth and magic of Madurai floated
before my sleepy eyes as I boarded the
flight to Madurai. Three hours later, when
I alighted in Madurai, I could see the tall
gopurams of the temple, gleaming in the
afternoon sun. The trip to the hotel through
the bustling streets of Madurai seemed
very familiar and welcoming. A myriad
small temples with their multitudes of
stucco statues yielded to smaller lanes and
shops selling everything from incense to
ornaments, and finally, the car suddenly
turned off the main road into a leafy lane
and the gates of Heritage Madurai resort.
Lush greenery lay spread out like a canopy,
a true treat for urban eyes like mine which
savoured the lines of trees, the rich carpet
of grass with its motif of light and shadow…I
could so lose myself here I thought, as the
car drew up to the reception .
56
The formalities of identification and
check-in passed unregistered as I could
only marvel at this unique reception.
A 17th-century door beckoned with its
wealth of carved detail behind which was
the swimming pool, alongside a replica of
the tank in the Meenakshi Temple. It was
framed by a row of tiled rooms. Looking
out beyond the reception was the lounge,
charming and earthy with planter’s teak and
cane chairs and huge old brass fans that
wafted the sultry air with their palm leaf
blades. I wanted to sit there for a while but
hunger pangs drew me to the restaurant,
the Banyan Tree. Sambar rice, chicken 65
and a Chettinad Crab curry, and I fell upon
the meal like a famished mendicant. Even
though this is a temple town, restaurants
outside the temple area serve all manner of
delicious food for carnivores like me. Sipping
on my buttermilk, I glanced at the lawn.
A huge banyan tree, its peripheral roots
creating a veritable monument that climbed
towards the sky, stood a silent testimonial
to Madurai’s ancient religious traditions.
Its capacious girth seemed to encompass
years, and in the tangled roots hid a million
tales of a time long past. There was such
a peace about the place I could have sat
there dreaming endlessly. Steaming sambar
broke my reverie but I promised myself
that I’d come back to this banyan tree and
do my yoga asanas to compensate for my
indulgence. Hunger quickly dispensed with
lunch, and a buggy drove me to my room.
A tiled verandah with planter’s recliners
welcomed me to room 2402. The door
swung open to a huge sitting area, wooden
floors and comfortable teak furniture that
reassured me about being human. Mumbai,
with its space rationing, often makes me feel
like a doll in a doll’s house and one longs for
arm space, high ceilings et al.
The bedroom was the best part, with a
beautiful view of the plunge pool, framed by
the leaves of a champa tree. And the plunge
pool mirroring the cotton clouds in the blue
sky was a sight for sore eyes. Dumping my
luggage, I rushed to the pool and sat in the
sunshine with my toes dipping into the cool.
This was bliss, the sky, the cool waters, the
peace that only green can bring and a prayer
in my heart. Madurai was all that and more.
The resort really celebrates that spirit of
Madurai. Once within its high gates, the city
recedes in the splendour of green, harking
back to those times when lush greenery
was neither such a luxury nor so rare. The
hotel has a lineage too, as the property was
originally the Madura Coats Club, used as
an exclusive residence for expat officers.
The clubhouse where the officers met every
evening to dine, dance and socialize was
re-designed in 1970 by Geoffrey Bawa and is
the Reception. Bawa, the world famous Sri
Lankan Architect, re-designed the resort in
his signature style of ‘tropical modernism.’
A good lunch, a plunge into the depths
of my own pool and I slept peacefully. The
evening saw me making my way to the
temple. The sheer magnitude of the temple
never fails to amaze me and makes me
acutely aware of how miniscule I truly am.
Walking in through the entrance on the
eastern side of the temple which towers 25
feet high, one is humbled! The shrines of the
Lord Kartikeya or Murugan and Lord Ganesh
welcome you as you enter a huge doorway.
A few steps later, to your right stretches the
beautiful Lotus Temple Tank with a looming
gopuram rising above it majestically. A
thousand gods and goddesses adorn
the gopuram and it is as massive as it is
Heritage Madurai resort and (below):
Meditating under an ancient banyan tree
detailed.
Southern temples entice me with their
cuddapah floors, the smell of mogra and the
colours of kumkum and make me shed my
civilized baggage at the door and return to
my basic essence!
Making my way to the sanctum sanctorum
of Goddess Meenakshi, I suddenly realize
that this is perhaps the only temple where
one has to visit the Goddess before the
Lord. Meenakshi stands testimony to the
power of women! Her elegant form is that
of a dancer, her wide fish shaped eyes give
her her name, and the wise parrot is her
companion. She is the true strength of Lord
Sundareshwar! In the gleaming light of a
thousand ghee lamps, her face shines on me
and fills me with the pride of being a woman!
The Abhisekham of Lord Sundareshwar
was about to happen and buying a ticket I
became a part of that magical ceremony.
The stone pillars guard the lingam
jealously, which, it is claimed, was created
spontaneously and is even older than the
temple itself. Craning my head over the
brass poles which lead up to the sanctorum,
I watched in awe as the lord is bathed in
panchamrit, milk, sandalwood paste and
water. The abhisekham seemed to truly
cleanse my soul! Once the ablutions were
over, he was anointed with sandalwood and
then draped in crisp white and gold cloth
and finally the diamond studded crown of
Nags or snakes which are his companions,
adorned him.
Dazzled as I was by his breathtaking
beauty, it took me a while to find my way out
of the shrine. There in the central courtyard,
gigantic statues of Veerabhadra, Bhadrakali,
Dakshinamoorthy (superbeings created by
Shiva), towered over me and redoubled my
wonder. I sat on the stone floor and stared
at them in awe, my gaze alighting on the
famous sculpture of Lord Vishnu giving the
hand of Meenakshi to Lord Sundareshwar, a
beatific smile played on all three faces, and I
was lost in their ethereal beauty!
A sudden clap of thunder brought me
back to reality. Lightning streaked across
the temple pillars and torrential rain
descended….I remembered my first visit
to the temple when a beautiful danseuse
offered her devotion in dance to Lord
Nataraja, her nritya reverberating in the
temple while it rained in rhythm with
the drums and her ghungroos. It was an
exquisite experience! The rain had reined me
indoors and I wandered through the many
corridors of the temple. At the end of one
stood an elephant with his mahout. Gentle
eyes and a gentler benediction of the trunk
of the elephant Gajendra warmed my heart.
Passing on to the outer precincts of the
temple I bought some Prasad and ate it
sitting on the steps of the tank. A clutch of
colourful shops beckoned beyond. Maroon
Kumkum, bangles, statues, toys and those
huge garlands… soon I was lost in the
wares…Meanwhile the rain had spent itself
and the temple lay awash with the mingling
perfume of mogras and the rain. The last
ceremony of the day, the Pallyarai Pooja,
was about to begin. This is when the Lord
comes to the bedroom of Meenakshi, (the
Swamy Sannathi) at night. A beautiful silver
door which stands locked during the day as
if in breathless anticipation, is opened for
that moment when Lord Sundareshwar and
Devi Meenakshi come together!
Having bid them goodnight, I walked out of
the temple. Retrieving my slippers I stopped
at Manorama for a quick masala dosa and
filter coffee before making my way to the
hotel. The room welcomed me with its warm
wooden floors and its soft soothing bed. As
I lay listening to the soft raindrops on the
pool, I felt calm. Madurai, Meenakshi and
me were inextricably bound in the mesmeric
magic of myth and reality. 57
58
59
I
t is often said, "Smiles break out on the faces of
Maharashtra's farmers on only two occasions: during
the harvest season and when the tamasha comes to the
village." Tamasha has a very important place in the public
life of Maharashtra and has been surviving on the strength of
the support of the common people. The words tamasha and
shahir may be foreign but one can see that the powada and the
lavani (and the format in which they are presented) are rooted in
the Maharashtrian soil.
THE ORIGINS
The word tamasha is derived from Arabic: it can roughly be
translated as 'a sight worth watching.’ Similar is the case of the
shahirs who developed the art of tamasha: the word shahir (root
shayar) also comes from Arabic. Therefore, some experts are of
the opinion that the tamasha must have arisen and developed
due to Muslim influences. According to some researchers,
tamasha has its roots in the custom of Holi (bonfire). The
tradition of spending the night awake, gathered around the
bonfire, is still prevalent in parts of the Konkan. In small villages
around Chiplun, Guhagar and Ratnagiri, one can still see the
custom of playing the duff (percussion instrument) and singing
gan-gavlan before lighting the bonfire. The tamasha actually
is a multi-faceted form of entertainment. It is a combination
of bhakti (devotion), Kalgi-Tura shahiri, Kalgi being the Shiva
devotees and the Tura the Shakti devotees, with metaphysical
60
elements, folk poetry, discourses from the Puranas, the luminous
poetry of the powada (ballad) and its presentation, and the singing
that bursts forth in conjunction with the dance drama of the lavani.
Tamasha entertains young and old alike.
As soon as a Maharashtrian hears the sound of a duff and taal
(cymbals), his mind blossoms with joy. As soon as the shahir's
palm strikes the duff, the Maharashtrian's chest swells with pride.
As he becomes engrossed in the abhangs (devotional songs) of
Jnana-dev and Tukaram, so also is he enraptured by the poetry
of the shahir. That is why tamasha is the most popular of all the
folk art forms prevalent in Maharashtra. The roots of tamasha are
to be found in the poetry of the saints and the Bhakti traditions
of Maharashtra and it also has some points of similarity with the
prevalent folk song forms.
There are differences of opinion among experts on exactly
how and when the tamasha evolved. But it is known that tamasha
performers received royal patronage in the late Peshwa period,
during the reigns of Sawai Madhavrao and Bajirao II (late 18th
to early 19th centuries). Experts agree that on account of this
patronage, the tamasha — the only form of theatre then devoted to
people's entertainment — prospered during this period.
With the rise of the political power of the Maratha Empire,
its grandeur also increased. Social life also became more
splendorous. In response to changing social tastes, folk singers
from the Chitrakathi, Gondhali and Bharadi communities made
changes in their compositions and presentations, with a view
to making them more entertaining. New folk singers and poets
came to the fore. It was in fact in response to social tastes and the
profane concerns of society that the tamasha was born.
Between 1850 and 1900, the lavani tamasha in Maharashtra
remained the exclusive preserve of the Dalit castes. In this period,
the bards Uma and Bapu of Ped and Savlaj villages in Sangli
district composed the folk play Mohanabatav, focusing on the evils
61
62
63
of child marriage. This folk play became extremely
popular. The Uma and Bapu duo are among the
earliest playwrights in Marathi. It was around this
time that Mahatma Jyotiba Phule used the medium
of tamasha to spread his message of social reform.
In this respect, his powada on Shivaji has great
significance. Mahatma Jyotiba Phule included
social themes in this structure. He used it to honour
those who had devoted their lives to the society
and nation. In this manner, the foundation of the
satyashodhak tamasha was laid.
64
THE STRUCTURE
The main form of folk theatre presented in
fairs during festivals and other such occa-sions
in Maharashtra was known as gammat (fun). In
earlier times, all the forms of entertainment that
appealed to the common people were collectively
termed gammat. Both the public and the state
accepted this folk art. Later it began to be known
as khel tamasha. For this purpose, a certain sum
(called dekar) would be set aside from the village
income for this purpose. In the month of Ashwin
Nagarkar of Ahmednagar, that of Mangala
Bansode from Karodi village in Sangli
district, and Raghuvir Khedekar and
Kantabai Satarkar's troupe, etc. After
taking the blessings of the goddess and
accepting the dekar from the villagers, the
tamasha companies set out on their tour of
performances for the year.
A number of big and small tamasha
companies perform all over Maharashtra
from Dussehra (September-October) to
Akshaya Tritiya (April-May). In this period,
they accept contracts to perform at various
villages during the annual fairs, after
fixing the supari (a fixed contracted sum).
Earlier, the contract would be sealed by
ceremonially handing over an areca nut
(supari). On other days, the companies
stage performances in the large market
areas of villages and towns. Small
companies that stage tamashas out in
the open air or under trees cannot levy a
charge for entrance. They are completely
dependent on the honorarium given by
the villages. But they no longer accept
whatever honorarium the villages decide to
give as they did earlier — now the sum to
be paid is fixed in advance.
The audience of the tamasha consists of
the rural masses: peasants, workers,
labourers, etc. Ordinary folk brought
up in the tradition of folk culture, be
they from the Gondhali, Waghya Murali,
Vasudev, Bharadi, and Bahurupi or
Kirtankar traditions, perform the tamasha.
It is important to understand that there
were very few among them who had any
experience of established upper-class
literary forms. The folk art of tamasha is
an art form performed by the people for
the people, and its focus is on ordinary's
people's experiences and lives.
(September-October), there is a large fair
of the goddess Mahadevi in Ahmednagar
district. Performers perform at this fair on
the day after Dussehra, a custom that is
followed to this day.
The outstanding performers are given
a dekar on behalf of the villagers. Till
today tamasha troupes make it a point
to perform at this festival, including the
troupe of veteran performers of Haribhau
Badhe Nagarkar and Shivkanya Badhe
65
THE STATUS
Today the tamasha has become associated
in the public mind with shows on the
highways, the popular lavani performances
and the relationships of the tamasha
performers with various bigwigs. With
changing times and locales, the tamasha
has gone through many changes. The
circumstances of the times, the sensitivities
of the performers and the needs of the
audience and the creative ability of the
shahirs and their passion to say something
to society have determined these changes.
These days it is often said that tamashas
are no longer performed as of yore. Yet
villagers from all over Maharashtra go to towns
like Narayangaon, Kalaj, Satara, Karad and Vita to
arrange tamasha performances in their villages at
the time of the annual fairs of their village deities.
Tamashas are also performed in many villages on
festival days. On account of this, it becomes difficult
to arrange a performance at these times. To avoid
this problem, the dates for the performances in
the month of Chaitra (March-April) are decided
during the annual fair at Alandi six months earlier.
Every year there is a demand for plays on particular
66
subjects. In general, in western Maharashtra
districts like Satara, Pune and Sangli, there is
a demand for historical themes, whereas social
themes are preferred in the eastern regions.
Around the Western Ghats and in the Konkan
coastal strip, there is a leaning towards plays
dealing with kings and the aristocracy. In some
parts of Kolhapur, Pune and Satara districts, one
often sees plays on patriotic themes like the Kargil
conflict. In some villages, the youth demand that the
performers sing Hindi and Marathi film songs.
Tamasha is a rich folk art that is
the expression of the spirit of the
Maharashtrian masses. In the course
of time, it has taken many twists and
turns. Forms have changed and it has
experienced both good and bad times.
Maharashtrians are proud of the
tamasha as it is their cultural heritage.
With pride they claim that it is 'our'
very own folk art with a long, illustrious
tradition.
THE SONGADYA
A large part of a tamasha's success
depends on the songadya. The famous
tamasha troupes usually had excellent
songadyas, which helped the troupes
win public favour. The songadya—dancer
plays, mimics and parodies a wide
variety of roles —sometimes the female
lover suffering the pangs of separation
and at other times the devoted wife.
He is versatile and well-informed. He
keeps track of contemporary social and
political events. With his acting skills
and clever repartee, his task is to keep
the audience laughing. Songadyas are
experts at mimicry. They can mimic
a snub-nosed woman, a ghost or a
corpse. Besides, they also achieve their
humorous effects through intelligent
use of costume and make-up. Double
entendre dialogues are the stock-intrade of their brand of humour.
MINIMAL PROPS
One of the most entertaining things
about the tamasha is the setting in which
it is performed. The audience rings
the 'stage' on all sides or, at most, a
curtain is used as a backdrop. Palaces,
cemeteries, a street full of people, a
marketplace, a ghost's cave --all these
and more are evoked merely through
the dialogues in the tamasha. Not only
the setting, but even a journey can be
recreated in the imagination. If the
performers twirl around a few times,
the audience knows that the next village
has been reached. All these situations
are created merely through the use of
description and dialogue.
UNIQUE DANCE FORM
Nachi or the danseuse wears a Paithani
sari, tucked in at the waist on both sides.
She wears a beaded blouse. Round her
neck is old-fashioned Maharashtrian
jewellery in the Maratha style and on
her wrists are thick bangles, more like
bracelets. An ornamental belt round
her waist and plump, dangling earrings
complete her traditional attire. The
dancer first stamps the ground with
her big toe. She quickly moves forward
and then balances on her heel. Holding
the end of her sari outstretched, she
curtseys to the audience. Swinging her
shoulders, she takes big, mincing steps
around the stage in rhythm with the
music, meanwhile casting challenging
(and alluring) glances at the audience.
Sometimes she dances in rhythm,
holding the end of her sari outstretched
over her shoulders.
A STRONG CHORUS
The two chorus singers (surte) stand at
the back of the stage, zanja and tuntune
in their hands. The practice of repeating
the refrain of the song is known as jheel
dharane among tamasha performers.
The chorus singers have powerful voices
and commonly sing the refrains like ji
ji, ho ji ji ji, aho majhya Rama, aga nari ga
tu.’ The chorus singers are proficient
at giving long hails (haali) in a deepthroated tone. This hailing often earns
them the applause of the spectators.
SOCIAL CONNECTIONS
Another characteristic of the tamasha is
that after the gavlan, there are usually
acts like rangbaji (variety entertainment),
'farce' and batavani. These are usually
skits on a particular incident, story or
joke.
Using hyperbole, irony and sarcasm,
they enact small scenes, for example,
a skit in which a conman dupes an
innocent villager. Sometimes these skits
present incidents taking place in contemporary
society in an ironical light. If the batavani
performers are imaginative, versatile and
talented, they can cause the viewers to engage
in some critical introspection. Courtesy: Maharashtra Unlimited Magazine
67
Nachiket Barve laid emphasis on pop colours
TRENDING
RIGHT NOW
Promita Mukherjee went to Lakme Fashion
Week to gauge next season’s new fashions
Poonam Bhagat displayed monochromes
and a Middle Eastern Inspiration
E
very six months, critics,
fashionistas and the general
public alike get together to find
out what they should be turning
out in in the next season. Sometimes,
Bollywood follows too and then they
become a nationwide rage. Here is our pick
of six trends that we think should make
space in your wardrobe next summer.
PEPLUMS
Peplums will be big next summer. A lot of
designers incorporated the short overskirt
as part of tops, dresses and jackets.
Hemant & Nandita did the peplum racer
back tops worn with trousers and shorts.
Nida Mahmood’s dresses, worn with a
separate that had flowers stitched on it,
had the ruffle. Sulakshana Monga of Soltee
did peplum waistcoats that were teamed
with saris. Ashish N Soni attached the
ruffle to skirts. So girls, stock up on those
ruffles right away. Nachiket Barve and
Rahul Mishra too incorporated peplum in
their creations.
MONOCHROMES
68
Next season is going to be a season
of contrasts. Because it so happens
that designers are betting big on both
monochromes and pop colours (yes, yes,
such is the dichotomy of fashion). White
and black dominated Namrata Joshipura’s
Gotham city inspired collection. Alpana
and Neeraj’s creations which attempted to
capture a frozen world, naturally had the
colour scheme varying between pristine
whites and blacks with flecks of greys.
Enlarged snowflakes, icebergs and flora
and fauna of the Arctic region were stitched
on dresses made from lace and tulle. Arjun
Saluja’s androgynous outfits inspired by
a character from Jeet Thayil’s Narcoplis
were mostly in whites and blacks. Gauri
and Nainika’s red carpet creations
inspired by the Ascot Race were also in
monochromes. Poonam Bhagat too, stuck
to monochromes.
POP COLOURS
Pop colours erupted on the runway with
Nachiket Barve’s Spring Summer 2013
collection that had capes, camisoles,
skirts, jumpsuits, shorts, gowns, saris,
jackets, dresses and slim pants in hues
like maroon, ochre, cantaloupe, oxblood,
brick reds, mimosa greens, lotus pinks,
lilacs, midnight blues, melons and ochres.
Colours like scarlets and neon orange were
seen in abundance in Anupama Dayal’s
ensembles.
PRINTS
From prints of ‘dead’ flowers in Kiran
Uttam Ghosh’s collection that comprised
layered jackets, sequinned pajamas,
waistcoats, kaftan dresses and sarong
saris to rooster prints in Nida Mahmood’s
collection titled Sapna Cinema, prints
seemed to rule the roost. Then there were
Calcutta desigers Dev and Nil with sheep
and honeycomb maze prints on jackets,
shirts, dresses and trousers. Asish N
Soni’s creations had cells, blood vessels
and clots digitally printed on them. Ankur
and Priyanka Modi of am:pm had images of
god birds, pyramids and birds of paradise
printed on their ensembles.
LACE
The vintage lace churidar was a staple
Gauri and Nayanika’s
Ascot inspiration
with each and every garment designed by
Vineet Bahl. He paired them with sheer
net mini skirts, with gheredaar dresses,
tunics, jersey dresses, embroidered skirts,
handloom kurtas, ghagras, naqshi kalidaar
kurtas...in short, with everything.
Vintage laces were big in Aneeth Arora’s
designs too as she evoked yesteryear
Europe with lacy dresses.
GOING GLOBAL
From travels to Egypt and Japan and South
America, beachsides and mountains,
designers this time seem to have been
Namrata Joshipura
highlighted Gotham
City influences
Anupama Dayal’s
Egyptian influence
Hemant and
Nandita featured a
variety of peplums
inspired by places they visited.
So while Rajdeep Ranawat’s collection was
inspired by the Greek island Santorini with
prints of photographs of churches, oceans,
skies and bougainvilleas of the island on
the clothes, Anupama Dayal’s Anupamaa
was inspired by Odisha and Egypt, two
completely different destinations. Kavita
Bhartia’s collection was inspired by
Romania while Poonam Bhagat travelled
to Middle East for her suzani-inspired
clothes. Dev and Nil’s
honeycomb prints
Vineet Bahl
used lace in in
everything
69
SERVICING A BRAND NEW SPACE
Vanita Bhandari is a director of DBS Office
Business Centers, the pioneers of business
centers in India. She brings a young,
dynamic perspective to today’s competitive
serviced office spaces industry with DBS
OFFICE BUSINESS CENTER offering
complete office solutions from a single
office to conferencing rooms or a virtual
office plan.
How did you enter the serviced office
spaces business?
DBS is a family business and was started
as an add-on service to the Diners Credit
Card business and was more like a ‘club’
for business people. I entered the business
when it was shaping up as a full-fledged
serviced-office spaces business, and literally
learnt everything on the job.
Was there awareness of such centres
then?
Serviced-office business centre was a
brand new concept and we had to educate
people about the services we offered by
using innovative methods for advertising and
promotions. We told people that here is a
facility that allows you to walk right in to a
furnished office and get down to business.
Your first centre opened at Nariman
Point, Mumbai. How important was it to
your clients?
It is the main business hub in Mumbai and
a very prestigious location in the heart of the
business district. We have another centre in
the Fort area where we were lucky to get a
heritage building with old-world charm and
character and our clients love it. We have
seven centres in six cities.
Can a business centre be merely
functional -- just a place to work from?
One spends one-third of one’s life in the
office, and it has to be inspiring, so you
want to go there every day – to get ideas, be
innovative, to grow the business.
How does DBS fare against the
competition?
We have the top global names in the
business as our competitors and I welcome
competition as it keeps us on our toes.
So what makes DBS different?
I believe that there are two factors that
differentiate DBS. The first is our décor,
the inviting ambience. Art on the walls,
fresh flowers on the desk – they do make a
difference. Secondly, our service. This is a
hospitality business and we have a specially
trained team – at all our offices – who
give clients personalised service such as
a special courier in a size that’s different,
translation services, coffee or tea as you like
it. Small details make a big difference.
Can DBS claim to be cost-competitive?
Naturally, a premium space does cost
more. Our clients want more than just the
basics. But it really makes better economic
sense to get an office at DBS than owning or
renting an office. You don’t have to pay for
peripherals like a reception area, lobby etc.
but you also save on maintenance, staffing,
furniture and so on. And you also save time,
and as businessmen know, time is money.
Our Business Centres are typically
furnished with conference/training
facilities and include internet access,
highly-skilled administrative support and
computer services, photocopying, facsimile
transmission and mailing services.
We also have the capability to provide
superior services without the cost and
maintenance of setting up an independent
network. Whether you’re a Fortune 500 or
a small to large enterprise and need more
office space -- you can get small or bigger
spaces according to your requirements.
When your business grows, you can expand
– and, if needs be, you can also downsize.
The facilities we offer are on a pay-by-use
basis. All this adds to the economies of
office space.
Have many successes been scripted at
DBS?
As much as we’d like to, we cannot take
the credit. When all is said and done, it is
the drive and determination, the spirit of
enterprise that counts. As we like to say,
“Come to DBS when you have everything but
an office.”
What is the future of serviced office
spaces?
Entrepreneurs will be travelling a great
deal more and they will require many more
advanced and sophisticated services and
equipment. We have to be at par with the
global centres. The latest trend in Office
Business Centres is co-working, which is
seen as an alternative to the isolation of a
home office and an alternative to the coffee
shop. Overall satisfaction increases after
three months, further to which co-workers
often upgrade from hot desks to dedicated
desks to private office.
My vision for DBS is that we go beyond
offices. We must provide the best possible
office spaces that we can but we must
think of what we can offer our clients that
goes beyond these spaces. New forms of
communication, of getting and transmitting
information, new means of travel – anything
that will give our clients an edge. HARBINGER OF PROGRESS
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is committed to imparting
world-class education to further India’s growth through its financial wizards and
ensure transparent accounting skills
T
he Institute of Chartered
Accountants of India (ICAI), a
statutory body established by
the Chartered Accountants Act,
1949, has emerged as India’s largest and
the world’s second largest accounting
body. Today, ICAI is placed in the highest
echelons for its contribution in the fields
of education, training, examination,
disciplinary mechanism, peer review,
professional education and development,
standard-setting and the like.
The harbinger of growth and progress for
the nation, ICAI has grown beyond two lakh
members and over 10 lakh students. The ICAI
has catapulted India’s economic growth, by
steadfastly providing advisory services and
formulating newer and evolving accounting
and auditing policies. It is increasingly taking
on new roles and responsibilities in strategic
sectors and striving to create resources for
the society at large. Today, ICAI members
are providing their valuable services to the
Government, judiciary, industry, banks etc.
CA. Jaydeep Narendra Shah, President, ICAI
and are also getting global recognition.
The ICAI has always been pro-active in
designing education and training schemes,
so as to produce competent professional
Chartered Accountants. The ICAI is aware of
the demand of a modern dynamic society and
therefore the CA course is regularly updated
and revised, so that students should acquaint
themselves with the latest in the fields of
accounting, auditing, finance, IT and should
remain ahead of the times. They are the
financial wizards who are rigorously trained
through an all-embracing curriculum.
ICAI enrolls students for the Chartered
Accountancy course and holds qualifying
examinations in three stages:
1 Common Proficiency Test (CPT) – Entry
Level Examination.
2. Integrated Professional Competence
Course (IPCC) – Mid or Intermediate
Level Examination.
• Direct Entry Scheme- To mitigate the
difficulties faced by certain categories of
students, with effect from August, 2012,
ICAI has exempted such students from
taking the Common Proficiency Test
(CPT), as graduates / post graduates with
specified percentage of marks can enroll
and directly join the course.
3. Final Course Examination – Final Level
Examination.
There is a huge demand of Chartered
Accountants within the country and abroad.
The experience and expertise of CAs is now
being utilised to a greater extent in several
newer areas such as Insurance Sector, IT
Sector, Public Finance, Risk and Assurance
Services, etc. The breadth of management
advisory services rendered by CAs reflects
their expertise in diverse areas such as:
• Strategic planning to determine suitable
acquisition criteria
• Conducting feasibility studies
• Developing a negotiating strategy
• Performing financial and operational due
diligence
• Preparing the necessary financial
projections
• Identifying potential finance sources
• Preparing and presenting finance
applications
• Assisting with negotiations
• Assisting
with
post-acquisition
integration.
Chartered accountancy is an invaluable and
supportive profession for modern business
and has emerged as a unique profession
of considerable importance, in view of the
integrated globalised scenario.
With the global economy in a constant
flux, Chartered Accountants are donning
new roles to navigate business and industry
through the dynamic business world. ICAI is
committed to providing the best accounting
education, to ensure transparent and truthful
accounting, audit and governance services to
the industry and the Nation. MADHYA PRADESH
GROWING BY
LEAPS AND
BOUNDS
The 12 percent economic growth rate achieved by Madhya Pradesh during 2011-12
is largely thanks to its agriculture and construction sectors
D
escribed since inception as a
State with great development
potential due to its rich
natural resources and central
location, Madhya Pradesh has now started
realizing this potential in its true sense
and has emerged as one of the fastest
growing states of the country. Madhya
Pradesh's economy is agrarian and
nothing can be more welcome than the
fact that in 2011-12, the state achieved 18
percent agriculture growth, the highest in
the country. The state finished second in
economic growth rate (GSDP) by posting an
impressive 12 percent increase, next only
to Bihar. This is second time in the last
five years that Madhya Pradesh has been
runner-up in GSDP growth.
Madhya Pradesh took a giant leap in
76
development during the 11th Five-YearPlan (2007-11) period. A target of 7.6
percent GSDP growth was set for the state,
which it achieved two years ahead and
clocked a remarkable 10.20 percent growth
rate at the end of the plan. Earlier, during
the 9th Five- Year-Plan (1997-2002), the
economic growth rate of Madhya Pradesh
was a mere 3.12 percent and during the
10th Five-Year-Plan (2002-07), it was
8.49 percent. Similarly, during the 11th
Five-Year Plan the average agriculture
growth rate of Madhya Pradesh stood at
9.04 percent, which is remarkable by any
standard. The average all-India agriculture
growth rate during the period was a
meagre 3.3 percent.
The 12 percent economic growth rate
achieved by Madhya Pradesh during year
2011-12 is, in fact, largely attributable to
the strides in agriculture and construction
sectors.
While the agriculture growth rate was
18 percent, the growth rate in construction
sector it was 16.69 percent. Industry and
service sectors also performed reasonably
well. The contribution of industry sector to
GDP has increased to 29 percent, whereas
it has gone down at the all-India level. This
will open up new vistas for investment and
augment job opportunities. The industrial
growth rate of Madhya Pradesh was 8
percent in year 2011-12 while from year
2000-01 to year 2004-05, this had shown a
negative trend.
The miracle in the agriculture sector
in Madhya Pradesh follows concrete and
well-contemplated efforts made by the
state government to strengthen its base
over the last seven-eight years. During
the last five years, there has never been
negative growth. Despite over Rs 7000
crore crop loss in year 2010-11, the
growth was not negative. Madhya Pradesh
produced a record 127 lakh MT wheat, and
is next only to Punjab in wheat production.
Earlier, Haryana was second, Uttar
Pradesh third, and Madhya Pradesh fourth.
The excellent performance in the farm
sector can be ascribed to good rains,
coupled with the better facilities provided
by the state government, as part of its
efforts to boost agriculture and make
it a profitable proposition. The state
created additional irrigation potential for
an additional 8 lakh hectares over seven
years. From all sources, the irrigation was
doubled from the 8 lakh hectares last year.
Balram Ponds played an important role
in this. These brought over 28 thousand
hectares under irrigation. Presently,
32 percent area in Madhya Pradesh is
under irrigation. The overall farm output
in Madhya Pradesh was 145.45 lakh MT
in year 2002-03, which went up to 254.86
lath MT in year 2010-11. Similarly, the
productivity has enhanced from 831
kg per hectare to 1230 kg per hectare,
representing a 47 percent increase.
There are certain measures aimed
at boosting agriculture that have been
taken only in Madhya Pradesh. The state
government is paying a bonus of Rs 100
per quintal on procurement of wheat
on minimum support price. Madhya
Pradesh is the only state to do so. The
The growth rate in
construction sector
is 16.69 percent
state government has also started lending
cooperative loans for agriculture at zero
percent interest rate. Eight years ago,
16-17 percent interest was levied on
these loans. The amount paid on wheat
procurement was deposited directly in the
bank accounts of the farmers. A record of
85 lakh MT wheat was procured on support
price this year. The state government has
decided to pay Rs. 100 per quintal bonus on
paddy procurement as well.
Again, Madhya Pradesh is the first state
to introduce e-procurement system for
wheat procurement on support price.
Non-sprouting of crops has been treated
as a natural calamity and relief is provided
to the farmers accordingly. The amount
of relief provided to the farmers affected
by natural and other calamities has been
considerably increased. To preserve
fertility of soil, a Bio- Farming Policy has
been implemented in the state. Madhya
Pradesh is also the first state to constitute
seed cooperative societies.
At the initiative of the Chief Minister
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Central
Government has recognized frost and
cold wave as natural calamities. In year
2010- 11, the state faced the menace of
frost and cold wave. This did not figure on
the list of natural calamities, so the state
government paid relief to the tune of Rs.
1450 crore from its own resources. The
Chief Minister made a fervent plea to the
Central Government to recognize it as a
natural calamity. The latter constituted a
Group of Ministers(GOM) to examine the
issue. The GOM decided to recognize it as a
natural calamity.
With a view to ensuring better
coordination between agriculture and allied
sectors, Madhya Pradesh government
has constituted a Krishi Cabinet, and its
decisions are not subject to approval of the
cabinet. The farmers have been permitted
to purchase farm implements on subsidy
direct from the market. Laboratories have
been set up in every division for testing the
quality of seeds and fertilizers. A seed grid
has been set up for production and proper
distribution of certified seeds.
A logistic hub is being established at
Pawarkheda in Hoshangabad district for
making available appropriate logistic
facilities to the farmers. Ban has been put
on auction of land of farmers obtaining
loans from cooperative banks. The state
government is encouraging horticulture
on a massive scale. For this, eight new
schemes have been implemented.
The farmers have been allowed to sell
their fruit and vegetable crops outside the
mandi premises. For storage of crops,
101 pack houses and 13 cold storages are
being established. Besides, 12 grinding and
waxing units are being set up.
This year, Madhya Pradesh is the only
state where the rains have been not
only adequate but well distributed also.
Soyabean may be slightly affected but
the heavy rains would benefit Rabi crops
as adequate water would be available for
irrigation. One can thus see that given
the firm base of agriculture, there is no
possibility of Madhya Pradesh relapsing
into negative growth mode. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh
Chouhan driving a tractor
77
CHHATTISGARH
CHAMPION OF INDUSTRY
The investor-friendly government of Chhattisgarh has ensured that it is a
pleasure to do business in the state
C
hhattisgarh is truly a land of
opportunities, with abundant
reserve of natural resources
like forests, minerals and
surface water, having immense potential
for industrial development. Its large
manpower base at varying skill levels and
the availability of variety of agricultural
crops are the key to the State’s future
and prosperity. In addition, its unique
culture and ecological identity makes it
an attractive tourist destination. All these
advantages can be strategically exploited
for setting up various industrial units
in the State and creating an investorfriendly environment. The investor-friendly
government offers various policies
and incentives to enhance investment
opportunities in several sectors of an
economy.
78
MINERAL RESOURCES
with potential gold reserves.
Mineral resources are Chhattisgarh’s
biggest strength. It has deposits of limestone, iron-ore, rock phosphate, bauxite,
coal, asbestos and mica. Chhattisgarh accounts for 16% of India’s coal reserves and
also has proven diamond reserves along
POLICY AND FISCAL INCENTIVES
The state offers a wide range of fiscal
and policy incentives for businesses under
its Industrial policy, 2009-2014. Additionally, the state has well-drafted policies
for the IT/fTeS, SEZ, minerals and energy
sectors.
We are a state that is proud of our heritage, our rich biodiversity and our unique tribal
culture, yet at the same time, we are also a state that takes pride in transforming itself into
the steel and power hub of India, and into one of the fastest growing states in the country.
Our achievements have come through the transparent and investor-friendly governance
of the Chhattisgarh Government; and the hard work, vision and proactive nature of all the
stakeholders involved. Our sights are firmly set on continuing our pace of development,
and identifying newer areas for sustained growth. Our people are our asset - a shining
example of their peaceful and hardworking nature is that the Bhilai Steel plant, which was
commissioned in 1956, has not lost a single man hour till date.”
DR. RAMAN SINGH Chief Minister, Chhattisgarh
SURPLUS POWER
INDUSTRY LEADER
Chhattisgarh is one of the few states
that have surplus power in India. It is also
among the few profitable states in terms
of utility-based electricity. The presence of
coal makes Chhattisgarh an ideal location for setting up pit head-based thermal
power plants for both merchant sales and
state consumption.
• Highest freight loading zone in India,
contributing one sixth of total revenues
of Railways
• Ranked 2nd in the country in mineral
production, has 19% of India’s iron ore
deposits
• Bailadila mines in Dantewada have the
QUALITY OF LIFE
Healthcare Institutions such as Apollo,
Fortis, AIIMS and Vedanta Cancer care and
Research Centre as well as a large number of Ayurvedic Dispensaries, Homeopathic Dispensaries, Unani Dispensaries,
Ayurvedic Hospitals, Unani Hospitals and
Homeopathic Hospitals are set up in the
state. Robust educational infrastructure
with 50 Engineering colleges, 3 Medical
colleges, large number of polytechnics and
it is, as well as prominent institutes such
as National Institute of Technology, National Law University and Indian Institute
of Management offer the best educational
facilities possible. There are many leisure
opportunities with 3.5 lakh sq. feet of retail
area and hospital infrastructure. There is
stable law and order in major cities.
best quality of iron ore deposits worldwide
• Entire tin ore produce of India comes
from Chhattisgarh
• Largest supplier of structural steel - over
5 MTPA
• Chhattisgarh is a globally recognized
brand with maximum investment intents
in the country amongst new states
• Comprehensive infrastructure: SEZs,
CSIDC industrial regions
• Strong fiscal Management: Establishment expenses 32% of State’s revenue
receipts - lowest in the country (other
States as high as 85%)
INDIA’S GROWTH HUB
“We have earmarked investment zones
such as four Industrial Growth Centres,
five Industrial Parks and ten Integrated
Infrastructure Development Centres. This,
coupled with skilled manpower, abundant
resources and surplus power, makes
Chhattisgarh one of the best investment
destinations in the country.”
RAJESH MUNAT Minister, Commerce &
Industry, Government of Chhattisgarh
With unlimited potential and booming opportunities for trade and business,
Chhattisgarh is a state that is fast emerging as one of the nation’s frontrunners
of economic progress and prosperity. To
encourage investments and boost growth,
the Government of Chhattisgarh has kept
industrial and labour regulations flexible,
designing transparent policies based on
a sound international framework, with
current industrial policies providing the
requisite thrust for rapid industrialization
and employment opportunities.
79
CHHATTISGARH
EXTENSION OF
RAIPUR
Naya Raipur is envisaged
as a model greenfield
city which would be the
administrative capital of
the State and also cater
to the infrastructural
needs of industry
W
hen the new state of
Chhattisgarh was born
on 1st of November
2000, Raipur, the largest
city of the state, was named its capital.
Raipur has for many decades been a
vibrant market place in central India.
Yet, with an already burdened civic
infrastructure, it was ill-equipped to take
on its newfound role as the administrative
capital of a rapidly growing state. There
was a prolonged debate on the need for
a new city, its location and the mode of
financing its development. It is indeed a
remarkable achievement that the people
of Chhattisgarh and its political leaders
could arrive at a consensus on the building
of a large green field city close to Raipur.
The new city which has been named
‘Naya Raipur’ would at once serve as the
administrative capital of the State and
also cater to the infrastructural needs
of industry and trade in the region. Many
surveys and studies were undertaken
before deciding on the precise location of
the city. Planners have taken into account
the existence of a number of human
habitations, water bodies and wooded
areas in the proposed location and woven
those features in to the physical plan of the
city. The development plan covers a total
80
area of 237.42 sq.kms, out of which the
core area alone would be spread over 95.22
sq.kms. Development would be undertaken
in phases and the target population for the
city in 2031 is 5.6 lacs.
The Urban Design of Naya Raipur is a
blend of the traditional with the futuristic,
lending elegance to its major physical
features and providing a soothing ambience
to its inhabitants. Fast and convenient connectivity to Raipur and other large cities of
Chhattisgarh would receive utmost attention while finalizing the transportation plan
of the new city. Building an access controlled expressway from National Highway
No. 6 and a short railway line to the new
city from the Raipur- Titlagarh-Vizagapatnam railway line and integrating the two
with an intra-city Bus Rapid Transport System (BRT) would form the core of a mass
transportation plan for Naya Raipur. Dedicated bus lanes, cycling tracks and safe pedestrian walkways would complement the
BRT and help the development of an energy
efficient and environmentally sustainable
city. The road sections and junctions would
be designed to be friendly for children and
persons with physical disabilities.
Planning for housing of the citizens
would be another major challenge. Here,
the emphasis would be on appropriate land
allocation policies to ensure affordable
housing with acceptable quality levels for
all sections of the population. The existing villages in the planning area would be
upgraded with modern civic amenities to
integrate them with the rest of the city.
The Development Plan has set apart large
open spaces as well as areas for sports,
recreation and entertainment. It would help
people of all walks of life to come together
– may be to watch a game of cricket at a
stadium, a boat ride with the children in a
lake or may be just for a brisk walk in one
of the many parks.
The city is also expected to generate new
employment opportunities for the citizens.
Government offices, the proposed business district, educational institutions and
entertainment complexes would generate
most of the fresh employment. The plan
also provides for Industrial Parks for Information Technology, Gems and Jewellery,
Apparels, Handicrafts and other light nonpolluting industries. Naya Raipur, with its
high quality infrastructure should emerge
as a major educational and cultural hub for
the entire state and all efforts would have
to be made to achieve this potential. The
Institutional Area should be able to accommodate many national as well as state level
educational and training institutions, labo-
ratories and research centres. Museums,
libraries, exhibition halls and theatres for
live performances will also have to come
up, to enliven and enrich the city’s cultural
life.
Naya Raipur Development Authority,
which has prepared this development plan
with the help of a number of competent city
planners and after a series of consultations with professional organizations and
special interest groups, as well as elected
representatives of the people, realizes that
it will have to live with another dilemma for
some more time. Being a greenfield city,
Naya Raipur of today does not have a body
populace or a constituency of citizens of
its own, who would dream about its future,
continuously provide ideas and suggestions for its development, keep watch over
implementation schedules and jealously
guard against unsavory interferences with
its plans. The city will fill up only slowly
and it would be some more years before it
acquires a critical mass of vigilant citizens
with a sense of belonging to a planned,
modern and eco-friendly city. We are confident that a large number of well wishers
within and outside Chhattisgarh would lend
all support and encouragement to make
Naya Raipur a model city and a source of
inspiration for city planners, architects,
builders and policy makers anywhere in the
world.
Naya Raipur would be a planned and
designed new city of the 21st century, to be
a focus of socio-economic and cultural life
of the state of Chhattisgarh, having its role
and recognition at national and international levels. The new city would be ecofriendly integrated in its inspiring existing
landscape -- efficient, healthy, modern,
but caring for its traditional values.
The new city of Naya Raipur would be set
in its natural surroundings thus conserving its existing landscape to include major
city parks, botanical parks, jungle safari,
theme parks, integrated sports complex
and a golf course. Accessed by an eightlane expressway, it shall be equipped with
modern mass transit system coupled with
a citywide pedestrian corridor, linking all
major urban activities. Lively and vibrant in
character, it will offer shopping malls, multiplexes, food courts, restaurants and other
intensive urban activities and recreational
areas.
An intelligent city with full use of information and communication technology, it
will be a visually pleasing cityscape in tune
with the aesthetic principles of urban design and landscaping, Equipped with state
of the art physical, social and economic
infrastructure, it will provide the city with
a high degree of urban convenience and
cleanliness and thus with an investorfriendly environment.
The city has two prominent gateways that
mark entry to the Naya Raipur City – one to
the north and the other to the west. It will
have a Government Complex which include
Secretariat, Assembly, Government offices,
and Police Headquarters. The Cultural
Heart will include the Museum, Art Gallery,
Library, Theatres, Convention centre and
International Centre. The City Centre will
have city level shopping malls, commercial
offices, restaurants, multiplexes and other
areas of recreation. The educational centre
will have the University, including research
and institutional complexes.
There will also be software Technology,
Exhibition and Business centres. A central
City Park will be created around an existing
vast water body as one of the biggest city
parks in the country. Park and Sports Centre at the North end will include an urban
forest, theme park and sports complex.
City Park South will include the Theme
Park, Jungle Safari, Golf Course and Film
City. Transport and integrated freight complex will service the city and its industrial
areas. Living areas with medium density
development will be created for a peaceful
environment for the city.
These precincts will be interlinked by an
efficient and smooth Mass Rapid Transit
System running linearly along the NorthSouth axis of the city. A city level pedestrian
corridor, and a continuous green and openspace spine running centrally along the city
spine will contain sub-city level facilities.
This new city would attract population
from Raipur, the adjoining region and to
some extent other parts of India. At the
termini of the north-south activity green
corridor are located the major activities like
the Capitol Complex, the Software Technology Park, the University and Education
& Research Complex, the Transport and
Logistics Hub and the Integrated Freight
Complex.
A peripheral region includes 28 surrounding villages referred to as the Naya
Raipur Peripheral Region (NRPR) to act as
a buffer between the proposed Naya Raipur
City and Raipur, with an idea to control and
regulate development in the region.
CHHATTISGARH
I
‘Credible Chhattisgarh’, the state’s
ðUVWJOREDOLQYHVWRUVPHHW
n a bid to boost growth rate and create
new employment sectors in the state,
Chhattisgarh is hosting its first ever
global investors meet, ‘Credible Chattisgarh,’ in Naya Raipur on Nov 2-3. For this,
it has invited a host of global Fortune 500
companies. This major initiative would attract domestic and overseas capital in the
newly formed state for a land pool of some
1,500 hectares, newly developed at Naya
Raipur.
“This kind of event is happening for the
first time in the state,” Commerce and
Industry Secretary Dinesh Srivastava said.
After core sectors like power, steel and cement, the Chhattisgarh government wants
to bring downstream sectors like IT and
related areas, biotech, banking, food processing, herbal products and automobiles
to the state. Srivsatava said. “Chhattisgarh
is a young state. Twelve years is nothing for
any state. But we have done tremendous
progress.” According to him, signing of
draft agreements with companies was not
as important as implementation of projects. Our aim is to create between 50,00060,000 jobs.”
The investor meet covers a wide gamut
of industry sectors:
MINOR FOREST PRODUCTS VALUE
ADDITION
Chhattisgarh has 44 Percent Geographical area under forests and is very rich in
biodiversity. A Herbal-Medicinal park is being developed at the Banjari and Bagaudh
villages of Kurudh tehsil on about 100
acres of land. The park will have about 500
units with a project cost of US$ 21.1 million
and is expected to be completed by 2014.
NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY
It is the only state achieving zero power
cut in both urban and rural areas. Likely
capacity addition in next 5 years is of 30,000
MW. Out of National Target of 1,06,000 MW
in 12th plan, 46,000 Mw is likely to be com-
82
missioned in Chhattisgarh.
URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE
Top six urban centers in the State are
Bhilai, Bilaspur, Durg, Korba, Raipur and
Rajnandgaon. 23% of the state’s population
resides in urban areas. Population density
is 189 persons per sqm. Between 20012011, urban population has registered a
growth of 40%.
ENGINEERING & AUTOMOTIVE
Integrated Infrastructure Development
Centres (IIDCs) are being set up at Tifra
(Bilaspur), Shyam-tarai (Dhamtari), Teknar
(Dantewada), kapan (Janjgir-Champa). An
engineering park with 150 units based on
engineering products, machine tools, auto
components, casting & forging, is being set
up at Bhilai on 120 hectares of land.
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
SECRETARY DINESH SRIVSATAVA
SAYS CHHATTISGARH HAS SEVERAL
ADVANTAGES TO ITS CREDIT:
• Seventy percent of initial
agreements have all been
implemented
• The new automobile policy is better
that what is offered by Tamil Nadu
• A new solar power policy is being
unveiled in a few days
• The Surat-Paradip pipeline passes
through the state to offer adequate
gas
• The state has a decent per capita
income of Rs.44,000
• Per capita energy consumption
at 1,552 units is the highest in the
country
• The is a surplus production of
electricity
• Land is easily available
• There are no labour disputes
• The cost of setting up industries is
among the lowest in the country.
TOURISM & HEALTHCARE
Chhattisgarh plans to double the visitors inflow in the next two years from the
present 33 lakh. Plans to expand its tourist
sector are via ppp mode. Currently more
than 30,000 people are working in the sector. A holistic state tourism master plan is
expected to be ready by 2013.
HANDICRAFTS
It is the largest producer of Tasar Silk
in India and home to 16 world renowned
craft forms such as ‘tumba,’ ‘godna’, and
dhokra art. The state has 2 patented art
forms- wood carving and bell metal. There
is abundant supply of highly skilled labour,
with over 65,000 craftsmen and handloom
weavers engaged in the industry.
IT & ITeS
A IT & ITeS SEZ is being developed at
Naya Raipur. STPI Bhillai is already operational. The STPI is on a 7.46 acre plot, with
a 2 MBPS scalable International Gateway
Hub taking care of all external connectivity needs of the State. The state has one of
the largest fixed WIMAX deployments in the
country for e-governance, providing access
to 3,000 locations in the state.
AGRO & FOOD PROCESSING
In 2009-10, the cereal production was 5.8
million tonnes, rice production was 5.2 million tonnes. Total pulses and oilseeds production were 782,690 tonnes and 700,990
tonnes, respectively. Almost 80 per cent of
the population is dependent on agriculture
or agriculture-related occupations.
BIO TECHNOLOGY & PHARMA
Chhattisgarh is one of India’s three richest biospheres offering more than 1500
medicinal plants. Companies such as ABLR
Pvt. Ltd are engaged in production of tissue
culture and seeds. The state has a biodiversity plan and a biotechnology policy.
HOPE AND HOMES
A
dopting a balanced approach
towards economic and social
development, the Government
of Chhattisgarh - apart from
creating employment opportunities – is
making constant efforts to improve the
overall standard of living of the people. And
one of the key aspects of this development
is shelter or housing. The State
Government — under the stewardship of
Hon'ble Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh,
has launched an ambitious housing
scheme, keeping this prime requirement in
mind. Cited as the nation's biggest housing
scheme, Atal Vihar Yojana aims to build
one lakh houses with eco-friendly features,
mostly for the people of economically
weaker sections (EVVS), lower-income
groups (LIGs) and middle-income groups
(MIGs), in the next three years. The scheme
launched in June at Pendri in Rajnandgaon
district will be executed by Chhattisgarh
Housing Board and will build 85 per cent
of the total houses for EWS, LIG and MIG
people. The objective of this scheme
is to construct high-quality houses at
reasonable rates in district headquarters
of the state, block headquarters, small
cities, large villages, cluster-areas related
to industrial and cottage industries,
and nearby areas. The first phase of the
scheme — launched in June – will cover
13 districts of the state, and by the yearend the second phase would start after
the process of land acquisition for the
remaining districts gets completed. The
housing scheme will be implemented
under Public Private Partnership (PPP) or
Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. "This
is going to be the biggest ever housing
project by any state government or state
housing board in the country so far. The
project in each district would be developed
as Atal Vihar (Housing) colony with all
basic facilities and will have eco-friendly
features like greenery perspective, rain
water harvesting, solar panel, low flow
sanitation, and efficiency lighting besides
other things," Chhattisgarh Housing Board
Commissioner Sonmoni Borah said during
the launch. The total cost of the project is
estimated to be around Rs 12000 crore.
The state government will contribute Rs
240 crore as subsidy for the economically
weaker sections and lower income groups.
The remaining would be borne by the
beneficiaries and market forces. A lower
income group family will get Rs. 40,000
subsidy and weaker section family will get
Rs. 80,000 in grant. Forty-five thousand
houses would be constructed for EWS and
LIG, 50000 for MIG and 5000 for the Higher
Income Groups. 83
CERA LAUNCHES
ELEGANT RANGE
OF FAUCETS
C
era Sanitaryware Ltd., India’s fastest growing bathroom
solutions provider, has launched an array of elegant
faucets.
CERA, established in 1980 and has been well-known for
its premium sanitaryware range, has recently set up a state of the art
manufacturing plant for faucets.
It has rolled out an array of new designs of faucets, consisting of
single lever basin mixers, concealed and exposed hot and cold mixers
and diverters and matching accessories.
CERA has a team of designers, who conceptualise and implement
the new products with the help of latest CNC machines.
CERA has been in the forefront of innovation in sanitaryware since
its inception and recently CERA been awarded Product of the Year for
the second year in a row.
The new range of faucets from CERA: Ruby, Opal, Topaz
CERA which now has an impressive range
of product portfolio from sanitaryware
to faucets to wellness (steam cubicles,
whirlpools, etc.) has been aggressive in
brand promotion in media using the wellknown celebrity Ms Dia Mirza.
84
CERA has also been awarded Power
Brand by IIPM recently, re-affirming the
inherent strength of Brand CERA, which has
been built over a period of three decades
This year, CERA designed a new website
with a concept of designing your own
bathroom. Customers can log on to the
website and design their own bathroom
using the special software and view it on
3D as well as 2D. They can also click and
choose the products from the CERA range
and place orders for the products on-line. 86
87
88
89
Tarot Horoscope
for November 2012
WHAT’S ON THE
Aries (20 March –
19 April)
You’ll be
direct and
straightforward
in all your
dealings. Try to
be righteous in
the true sense
and be upfront about your decisions
and demands. A tricky period for
health. Extra care must be taken to
keep health issues at bay. You’ll head
towards something more concrete
if in a relationship. If not, hang in
there, singledom is nearing its end.
Be authoritative and meticulous while
taking decisions. Tarot advises you to
stick to your family in turbulent times
and you’ll recover much quicker from
the blues.
Cancer (20
June – 22 July)
A month full
of prosperity
in the matters
of business
and that of the
heart. You will
be full of love
and driven by emotional force. You’ll
stay steady in love dealings and
would be supportive and adept.
Look out for any signs of
running away and shirking off
responsibilities. Be independent
without being detached from near
and dear ones. Use your mind – and
use it well and fight away fleeting
feelings. Tarot advises you to be
truthful and have fortitude.
90
Taurus (19
April – 20 May)
Gemini (20 May
– 20 June)
You’ll be
extremely
tactful while
dealing with
people. Try to
be wise, calm
and tolerant,
it will pay you back in leaps and
bounds. Hassles and competition
will keep you pre-occupied. Try
not to be obsessive about it. A bad
month for matters of the heart,
you’ll experience discord or high
level of self-indulgence. Don’t fear
powerlessness. Just don’t restrict
yourself to it and don’t confuse it
with desperation. Have faith in your
set of beliefs. Try to learn to live the
hard way.
Don’t give in to
bondage and
materialism.
If something
does not seem
to make sense
drop it, instead
of becoming a slave to it. Highs and
lows are a part of the long journey,
so, try incorporating the phases and
blending in with them. You would
want to swing to the extreme of
every mood and emotion. Not a good
idea. Fancy it but only till an extent,
not beyond. You’ll want to explore
– only explore the market for the
new loves. Be creative, enthusiastic,
courageous and confident. Then
you’ll do just fine.
Leo (22 July –
22 August)
You’ll juggle
away this
month between
fun and
responsibilities,
being flexible
wherever
required. Your sensual senses
will be well satisfied this month
which seems quite a reward for
the hard work in the previous days.
You’ll paint quite a senile picture
of the world for yourself. You’ll be
charismatic and irresistible. All
you need to do to be charged up on
time is quietly prepare, take rest
and contemplate. Avoid aggression,
defiance and being too fixed.
Virgo (22
August – 22
September)
Hope and
inspiration
are your
functioning
keys this
month.
It’s like you have realised that
being too generous is the only way
to not be burdensome. You will
feel robust, full of energy and high
spirits. You’ll feel engaged and
active by giving in to a fruitful and
fulfilling relation. Evaluate your
status and look out for crossroads
and alternate life-paths. Days of
judgement and absolution are near,
so be prepared.
CARDS
Libra (22 Sept
– 23 Oct)
Having used
your will, you
will reach your
goals. You
will be egofocused and
will master
your emotions. There will be loss
and bereavement which will highly
affect you.
Strength, patience, compassion
and soft control are your keys to
unlock love. Look out for happy
events happening around and
relish those moments. Celebrate
the excitement of getting caught up
in the moment. Tarot advises you
to look within and look around you
at times as well.
Capricorn (21
Dec – 19 Jan)
A period of
excessive
work, struggle
and blocked
emotions. You’ll
try to hide
distress and
keep others at arm’s length. In love,
try to be emotional and intimate. Shed
your detachment and solidify your
bonds. Act on a hunch and go beyond
formalities. Head into the unknown,
live in the moment and feel carefree.
Recapture innocence and believe in
living in joy. Be cheerful, energetic
and whole-hearted, the only way to
live in this phase for you.
Saburi Pandit tells you
what’s in store this month
Scorpio (23
Oct- 21 Nov)
You’ll
command
attention and
respect and
will direct
others around
you. Take a
risk, events will go your way. There
will be end of ill-health and bad
times. A fresh chapter would start
and all that’s pending would close.
You’ll stay confused in matters of
the heart with too many options
around. Stop looking at a wide open
field. Go pick, choose and move on.
Take a step forward in life. You are
done with the pause and reflect
phase. Encourage high standards
and cut through confusion and
mental fog.
Aquarius (19
Jan – 18 Feb)
You’ll shine
forth brilliantly
and will be
able to believe
in your worth
- great phase
for your career.
Make an effort and be extra careful
of your health. You’ll be unwavering,
thorough and obsessive in love.
Remember, for a relationship to
prevail the love in it needs to grow
and not stagnate. Work on it but
don’t overdo it. Wait for the turn
of events and find opportunity in
accidents. Use your common sense
and be practical.
Sagittarius (21
Nov- 21 Dec)
You’ll feel
centred and
secure and
will flourish in
business.
You will
experience
the feeling of being grounded,
resourceful and trustworthy. You’ll
be much sought after by everyone, to
look in to their matters and decide
for them. You’ll plan to forge ahead in
love and will be successful. Turn away
the wrath with love and be open to
the unconscious. Allow certain events
to pass without intervention. Look
beyond the obvious and seek what is
concealed.
Pisces (18 Feb –
20 March)
You’ll be
enthusiastic,
confident and
creative. Just
add a pinch of
courage to it and
you are good to
go. You’ll be easily angered and will be
eager to fight. So, be self-assured, not
brash and reckless. Think before you
act. Try to moderate your expression of
strong and assured feelings to not get
yourself into trouble. True connection
and attraction is on the cards. Do
not try to possess and control this.
Instead, take a step-by-step approach.
Slow is always steady.
91
UP, UP AND AWAY
Airports Authority of India has done a commendable
job in providing world-class infrastructure at the
newly built airports across the country, which will
help boost the nation’s economy even further, says
Gp. Capt. (Retd). Devinder C. Mehta
Ahmedabad Airport waterbody
92
93
94
Dehradun Airport
A
s is known, infrastructure,
be it rail, road, sea or air
is the lifeline of any nation,
for it undoubtedly plays a
pivotal role in its development and growth.
Accordingly, the present day government
has accorded high priority to developing
infrastructure across the country. As the
saying goes, hundreds of miles of road
or rail can at best, ensure connectivity
between two cities, whereas, just three
to four miles of a runway will not only
connect two cities in the same state or
country but also, across the globe.
In furthering the Government’s mission,
AAI ventured out on the laudable task of
modernising and upgrading its airports
with a dual aim, firstly, to match and keep
a step ahead of the increase in density
(both of the aircraft’s and the air travelling
populace), and secondly, to provide
the country with world-class airports.
Accordingly, as per the Government’s
vision, AAI formed JVCs at Delhi and
Mumbai airports and in addition identified
60 other airports across the country,
inclusive of Kolkata and Chennai, for
modernisation and upgradation. The
rationale being, to develop the state
capitals and other airports which have the
potential to attract tourist and business
travellers, who would meaningfully
contribute towards the economic growth
of the state. The task involved has been
humongous and cost intensive, and the
magnitude can well be gauged from the
fact that there has been a 300 per cent
increase in the capital expenditure of AAI
in the 11th Five Year Plan, when compared
to the 10th Plan. Most of the airport
infrastructure projects initiated, inclusive
of Delhi, Mumbai and a greenfield airport
at Hyderabad, have since been completed,
thus making airport infrastructure stand in
good stead, as the facilities provided are
not only user-friendly but also of worldclass standards, based on the latest stateof-the-art technology.
Cargo handling facilities at
many airports other than the ones
in metropolitan cities have been
commensurately upgraded, so as to
give it the desired degree of impetus to
enhance cargo activities, in turn to ensure
development and contribute towards the
economic growth, both of the state and
nation. Therefore, it would be appropriate
to state with confidence that the
infrastructure facilities at Indian airports
are looking up and it appears AAI is fully
conscious of the fact that modernisation
and upgradation is a continuous process,
so as to remain at par with other airports
the world over.
AAI has also positioned the state-of-theart cargo handling equipment at the metro
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air cargo terminals such as Elevated
Transfer Vehicle (ETV). Elevated Transfer
Vehicle with multiple mechanized ULD
(Unit Load Devices) built up stations for
pallets and containers, is used to optimally
utilize the vertical space at the cargo
terminal for storage of built up ULDs. AAI
established its first semi-mechanised
integrated Air Cargo Terminal with
Elevated Transfer Vehicle (ETV) at Delhi
Airport on 1st May, 1986, which is now
managed by JVC.
Subsequently, two modern 3-level
Elevated Transfer Vehicles (ETV) have been
installed at Chennai Airport which can
accommodate 178 built up ULDs and can
store 356 MT of export cargo at any given
time.
Elevated Transfer Vehicle has also been
installed at Kolkata during Sept., 2008 at
a cost of Rs.8.70 crores with a provision to
store 70 ULDs to accommodate 140 MT of
export cargo.
The Automated Storage & Retrieval
System (AS&RS) - is used for storage &
retrieval of Import packages at the Cargo
Complex. In this system, packages are
put in the bins of the AS & RS. Automated
Storage Cranes are used to pick up these
bins from in/out Conveyor Stations and
stacking them into empty slots of the
storage system. Similarly, it is possible
to deliver as well as pick up bins from the
examination area from in/out conveyor
systems. Under normal conditions, the
movement of stacker cranes is in fully
automated mode controlled by a server.
In addition to the above, equipments
such as Forklift, Scissor lift, Lazy bed
rollers for idle ULDs, Cargo offloading
ramp, special trolley for car cases, X-ray
machines etc. have also been positioned at
the cargo terminals.
Futuristic Plans
• In order to streamline and promote the
air cargo operations at AAI managed
airports, the under mentioned are on
the anvil of AAI;
Policy on development of airports
• To boost export of perishable
96
Jaipur Airport
products, AAI has developed a new
policy for establishment of Centre for
Perishable Cargo (CPC). According
to this policy, if Centre for Perishable
Cargo (CPC) is created with the
assistance of Agricultural & Processed
Food Products Export Development
Authority (APEDA) and run by AAI,
special terminal charges at par with
general cargo rates will be levied on the
perishable consignments.
Where the CPC is created by Central/
State Govt. Org by leasing land / space
from AAI OR CPC is created by Central
/State govt. Org by leasing land/space
from AAI and where it is proposed to
enter into a JV with pvt participation as
long as Central / State Govt. Ent. hold
not less than 51% in the equity of JVC,
nominal license fee (Re 1/- per annum)
to be charged for 7 years, (spl terminal
charges at par with general cargo rates
will be levied).
If CPC is created and run by Pvt. Party
by leasing land from AAI (land allotment
on priority & on AAI commercial terms).
• A policy has since been formulated
wherein, domestic airports will be
developed for handling international
cargo, by leasing space/land to
interested organizations through open
tenders on AAI commercial terms
i.e. applicable license fee + highest
percentage share of Gross Turn Over
(GTO) in June, 2006.
• AAI has embarked on an ambitious
program for the cityside development of
non-metro airports through the Public
Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
• AAI has formulated ‘Domestic Cargo
Handling’ policy wherein redundant
passenger building, with minimum
modifications, will be utilized for Cargo
handling operations.
• The development of Cargo Operations
form a part of the Cityside Development
of the non-metro airports.
KOLKATA AIRPORT
Augmentation of Space
To further augment the cargo handling
space at Kolkata air cargo complex,
the export terminal of integrated Cargo
Terminal Phase-I was commissioned
on 31.7.2006 and the import terminal
commissioned w.e.f. July, 2008 at a cost of
Rs.73.72 crores. The terminal is equipped
with latest cargo handling & other
equipment such as ETV & AS&RS, CCTV
surveillance, etc.
Induction of State of Art Technology
The State-of-the-Art Centre for
Perishable Cargo on an area measuring
756 sqm. at a cost of Rs.6.99 crores was
made operational at Kolkata airport,
w.e.f. 1.6.2008, which enhanced the cargo
Trivandrum Airport
capacity by 20,000 MT annually.
Domestic Cargo / Courier Terminal
An Interim Domestic Cargo Terminal
has been commissioned at Kolkata Airport
w.e.f. 10.9.2008 on an area vacated,
pursuant to commissioning of Integrated
Cargo terminal Phase-I.
CHENNAI AIRPORT
Integrated Import Cargo Terminal
An integrated import cargo terminal,
Phase-III/IV, on an area of 25,200 sqms,
at a cost of Rs.145 crore, is nearing
completion at Chennai Airport, to meet
the increasing demand of space for import
cargo.
Air Cargo ex-Port Blair Airport
AAI has commenced the domestic air
cargo handling operations at Port Blair
Airport w.e.f 1.10.2010.
Cold Storage Facilities
In pursuance to CPC policy, it is
proposed to establish Cold Storage Facility
at Indore, Srinagar and Agartala airports,
in conjunction with the respective State
Govts.
Automation / Mechanization of Cargo
In keeping pace with the modern trend and
the need for speedy clearance of cargo at
Chennai and Kolkata cargo terminals, it is
proposed to usher in more automation and
mechanization in the air cargo handling
activities. It is planned to handle export
cargo by conveyor belts; Automated
Storage & Retrieval Systems (AS&RS)
in Import Terminals; Elevated Transfer
Vehicle (ETV) for storage of export ULDs;
Scissor lift at Truck Dock area for handling
loose cargo and shipper loaded ULDs for
bonded truck operations.
Simplification of Procedures
With the aim to make all clearances
user friendly, many steps have been
introduced by AAI.
Risk Management System (RMS)
Under RMS, the star importers are
allowed to clear their cargo on selfdeclaration of imported cargo. This
speeds up the movement of cargo.
Clearance of built up ULDs at Chennai
With a view to decongest the air cargo
terminal, AAI has implemented movement
of shipper loaded ULDs in terms of
Customs Public Notice No.130/2007 dated
1.11.2007.
Special Economic Zones (SEZ)
The Govt. of India is paying special
attention to decongest the already
crowded air cargo terminals and in this
direction, special emphasis is given to set
up the SEZ in the vicinity of international
airports where specific 100% export
oriented industries such as garments,
electronics, leather goods, gems &
jewelery etc. may be located. In these
Special Economic Zones, all imported
inputs are to be permitted by Customs,
free of duty.
CNS-ATM facilities
To meet the exponential growth in air
traffic, AAI has taken large strides in
improving and modernising CNS-ATM
facilities too. AAI has drawn up the Master
Plan for implementation of Future Air
Navigation System (FANS). This includes
shift from Voice Communication to Digital
Data Communication, from Ground Based
Navigation to Satellite Based Navigation
(i.e. GAGAN-Indian SBAS), Modern Radar
coverage with ADS-B, Multilateration,
etc. The implementation of the CNS-ATM
Master Plan will put India amongst the
elite group of countries having an efficient
ATM System, supported by a strong and
robust CNS infrastructure consisting
of Digital Data Unit, Integrated ATM
automation network, SWIM (System Wide
Information Management) and Separation
Management System. The aim being
to provide safe, efficient, cost-effective
and environment friendly ATM services,
applying gate-to-gate approach and
achieving a ‘collaborative and co-ordinated
global approach,’ to ensure harmonisation
and adoption of technological solutions.
In India, we now have airport
infrastructure which not only places us at
par with the best in the world but will also
see us through for the next two decades.
97
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Mrs. Usha
CONTACT PERSON
Ahmedabad, Bangalore,
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Director
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up 30.03.2013)
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