India Today 2016 09 19

KASHMIR MADHYA PRADESH HEALTH SPECIAL
END OF PELLET RAJ THE FARM BOOM HOW TO STAY FIT

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NEETA
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Fashion, family
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ITC GRAND
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The Reel
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YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE CHANGING
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RAKSHIT SHETTY, ACTOR,

DIRECTOR, SCRIPTWRITER
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Life (From left)
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TEST THE FARM
CRUSADE ON BOOM
CORRUPTION HOW TO STAY
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NEETA
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UNCUT
Fashion, family
and friendship
REGISTERED
ITC GRAND
CHOLA
THE BIG
THE OR
T
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The Reel
I AMBANI
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'S DARI LE
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Superstars
High
Life
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KH KI
₹ 1.5 LA E CONSUMER TCH UP
TOP 6
(From left) SHAPES AND
S TH TO MA
AND LYRICIST
GUIDE TO LUXE LIVING INDesigners
THE CITYNishka
MAKE
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MBLE and Neeta Lulla
SCRA
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JIO COVER.indd 1 07/09/16 2:24 pm
EXCLUSIVE MULTIMEDIA CONTENT ONLY FOR IPAD

Cover Story The Disruptor
NatioN Marred by sex scandals and mass resignations, is AAP

losing its ground in Punjab?
Big Story The seditious law: Colonial, Bad and Misused?
SpeCial report The Blinding force: Pellet guns will not leave
Kashmir, not anytime soon
eXClUSive Politoons by India Today Group
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FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
T
wo inventions that have transformed our lives are mobile phones and the
www.indiatoday.in Internet. Now that they are interminably linked to one another with the
advent of smart phones, productivity has been increased to unimaginable
Editor-in-Chief: Aroon Purie
Group Chief Executive Officer: Ashish Bagga levels. Today you can stay connected, stay entertained and stay informed, all at
Group Editorial Director: Raj Chengappa the same time. There are a total of 1 billion mobile phone subscribers in India,
Editors: Kaveree Bamzai (Special Projects), Ajit Kumar Jha (Research) and 306 million of them already browse the web on their phones.
Group Creative Editor: Nilanjan Das; Group Photo Editor: Bandeep Singh
Managing Editors: Kai Jabir Friese, Rajesh Jha As we get more and more dependent on mobile phones, they don’t always
Executive Editors: Damayanti Datta, Kunal Pradhan,
S. Sahaya Ranjit, Sandeep Unnithan
deliver what we expect of them. Indian subscribers have been battling with a
Deputy Editors: Prachi Bhuchar, Uday Mahurkar, Manisha Saroop number of failed promises—from call drops, which are slowly driving us back
Mumbai: MG Arun Hyderabad: Amarnath K. Menon Chandigarh: Asit Jolly
Senior Editors: Shweta Punj, Sasi Nair, Jaipur: Rohit Parihar to land lines, to slow data speeds, which have belied the hope the launch of
Senior Associate Editors: Kaushik Deka
Mumbai: Suhani Singh, Kiran Dinkar Tare; patna: Amitabh Srivastava
4G networks generated.
Associate Editors: Shougat Dasgupta, Chinki Sinha The booming market, which is struggling on service quality, is now in the
Kolkata: Romita Sengupta; Bhopal: Rahul Noronha;
Thiruvananthapuram: Jeemon Jacob; BeiJing: Ananth Krishnan midst of an upheaval, with India’s biggest business house, Reliance Industries,
Assistant Editor: pune: Aditi S. Pai
Chief Copy Editor: Anindita Satpathi
changing the rules of the game. Its chairman, Mukesh Ambani, while launch-
Photo Department: Vikram Sharma (Deputy Photo Editor), ing the Jio network on September 1, promised a miracle cure to everything
Rajwant Singh Rawat (Principal Photographer), Yashbant Singh Negi
(Senior Staff Photographer), Kekhriezhazo Miachie-O
that ails mobile telephony. In his speech, Ambani linked Jio with Prime
(Senior Photographer), Chandra Deep Kumar (Photographer);
Mumbai: Mandar Suresh Deodhar (Chief Photographer),
Minister Narendra Modi’s Digital India mission and guaranteed significantly
Danesh Adil Jassawala (Photographer); ahmedabad: Shailesh B Raval higher data speeds at lower prices. Though a new company, Reliance Jio has
(Principal Photographer); Kolkata: Subir Halder (Principal
Photographer); Chennai: N G Jaison (Senior Photographer) the tremendous backing of the Reliance group and the huge cash reserves
Photo Researchers: Prabhakar Tiwari (Chief Photo Researcher),
Shubhrojit Brahma (Assistant Photo Researcher)
that come with it.
Chief of Graphics: Tanmoy Chakraborty Jio is hitting its rivals where it hurts. Knowing that most other service pro-
Art Department: Sanjay Piplani (Senior Art Director);
Jyoti K Singh, Anirban Ghosh (Art Director),
viders rely on voice calls for almost three-quarters of their revenue, Ambani
Vikas Verma, Rahul Sharma, Vipin Gupta (Associate Art Director); has promised that voice calls will be free, and decided to bank on growing data
Bhoomesh Dutt Sharma (Senior Designer)
Production Department: Harish Agarwal (Chief of Production),
usage. Though some other operators also use high-speed Long-Term Evolution
Naveen Gupta (Chief Coordinator),
Vijay Kumar Sharma (Senior Coordinator)
(LTE) technology, Jio has made its entire network LTE-enabled, invested heav-
ily in laying optic fibre for faster data transmission, and offered Voice over LTE
Publishing Director: Manoj Sharma
Associate Publisher: Anil Fernandes (Impact) (VoLTE), a new web-based technology, for better call quality. Jio’s ambition is
IMPACT TEAM to capture a chunk of the 4G market by acquiring 100 million customers in the
Senior General Manager: Jitender Lad (West)
General Manager: Mayur Rastogi (North), first year, and then keep adding more users with attractive schemes. This is
Upendra Singh (Bangalore), Velu Subramaniam (Chennai)
Deputy General Manager: Kaushiky Chakraborty similar to the model used by the state-run China Mobile, which converted
Sales and Operations: D.V.S. Rama Rao, Chief General Manager
Deepak Bhatt, General Manager (National Sales)
400 million users to LTE in a matter of 18 months starting from 2014.
Vipin Bagga, Deputy General Manager (Operations) In 2002, Reliance’s first foray into the telecom business, which relied on
Manish Kumar Srivastava, Regional Sales Manager (North)
Rajeev Gandhi, Regional Sales Manager (West) CDMA networks under Reliance Infocomm, now with Anil Ambani, had failed
Arokia Raj L., Regional Sales Manager (South)
to make an impact because the company got locked into technology that had
low industry acceptance and could not provide efficient customer service. This
time, it seems to have learnt from its mistakes. Apart from more robust tech-
nology, Reliance has gone after the big boys—Airtel, Vodafone and Idea—by
providing 4G in all 22 circles for a pan-India presence right from the start. To
Volume XLI Number 38; For the week
September 13-19, 2016, published on every Friday attract new customers, it has announced a host of freebies, including free data
l Editorial Office Living Media India Ltd., India Today Group Mediaplex, usage for four months and free voice calls forever.
FC-8, Sector-16A, Film City, Noida - 201301; Phone: 0120-4807100
l Subscriptions: For assistance contact Customer Care India Today Group, A-61, While this is an audacious gamble, Reliance Jio has the last-mover advan-
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challenge for legacy companies to compete with that. However, it’ll ultimately
l Sales: Direct all trade enquiries to General Manager (Sales), Living Media India
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come down to the kind of service Reliance Jio can provide. Since the user base
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l Impact Offices: 1201, 12th Floor, Tower 2 A, One Indiabulls Centre, (Jupiter
is small at the moment, its true test will come as subscriptions grow and as
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Fax: 66063226 l E-1, Ground Floor, Videocon Towers, Jhandewalan Extn, voice and data bandwidths come under pressure. Jio must not forget that this
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New Delhi l Guna Complex, 5th Floor, Main Building, No.443, Anna Salai,
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Our cover story, written by Deputy Editor M.G. Arun, looks at Reliance Jio’s
Phone: 23401657, 23400479, 23410100, 23402481, 23410982, 23411498;
Fax: 23403484 l 39/1045, Karakkatt Road, Kochi 682016; Phones: 2377057,
ambitions and analyses whether or not it can achieve them. Other operators
2377058 ; Fax: 2377059 l 2/C, “Suryarath Bldg”, 2nd Floor, Behind White House,
Panchwati, Office C.G. Road, Ahmedabad-380006; Phone: 26560393, 26560929;
cannot be expected to roll over and die. The mobile war that Jio has sparked
Fax: 26565293 l Copyright Living Media India Ltd. All rights reserved throughout
the world. Reproduction in any manner is prohibited. off will be interesting to follow.
Printed and published by Manoj Sharma on behalf of Living Media
India Limited. Printed at Thomson Press India Limited,
The big positive is that the launch of Jio puts power back into the hands
18-35 Milestone, Delhi Mathura Road, Faridabad-121007, (Haryana)
and at A-9, Industrial Complex, Maraimalai Nagar, District
of the consumers. Not only will subscribers have the right to choose, other
Kancheepuram-603209, (Tamil Nadu). Published at K-9, Connaught
Circus, New Delhi-110001. Editor: Aroon Purie.
companies will be forced to improve their service quality. Disruption is often
l india today does not take the responsibility for returning unsolicited
publication material.
the best remedy, especially when it makes the consumer king.
All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of
competent courts and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only
(Aroon Purie)
SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 u INDIA TODAY 10
INSIDE
COVER STORY
TELECOM WAR
Jio
10 Politics
Mukesh Ambani’s audacious Rs 1.5
lakh crore gamble is set to change
the rules of the telecom game
SPECIAL REPORT 6 UPFRONT

PELLET GUNS
7
26
GLASS HOUSE
Blinding
Force 57 NETFLUX
The Centre clears the use of less lethal
alternatives but pellet guns are unlikely 60 GLOSSARY
to go away in a hurry
62 EYECATCHERS
Cover by NILANJAN DAS
THE BIG STORY

SEDITION
20 Draconian
NATION
MADHYA PRADESH
Measure
34 Grain of
Success
An agricultural boom has turned the
With 21 cases against 170 citizens
already, 2016 has been the year of
sedition, with the colonial-era law
being slapped on people at the
state into India’s rice bowl and a prime slightest of provocations
producer of wheat and pulses
02 INDIA TODAY u SEPTEMBER 19, 2016

MAIL FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
India Gets Tough

T www.indiatoday.in

Internet. Now that they are interminably linked to one another with the
levels. Today you can stay connected, stay entertained and stay informed, all at
AUGUST 29, 2016
Group Chief Executive Officer: Ashish Bagga
Modi’s remark on Balochistan shows
Editors: Kaveree Bamzai (Special Projects), Ajit Kumar Jha (Research) and 306 million of
Pakistan thethem already
perils browse the web
of tit-for-tat on their phones.
diplomacy
Managing Editors: Kai Jabir Friese, Rajesh Jha As we get more and more dependent on mobile phones, they don’t always
numberWhat of failedseems to have provoked PM Narendra
Deputy Editors: Prachi Bhuchar, Uday Mahurkar, Manisha Saroop promises—from call drops, which are slowly driving us back
M : MG Arun H : Amarnath K. Menon C : Asit Jolly
to land Modi
lines, to into raising human rights violations
slow data speeds, which have belied the hope the launch of
umbai yderabad handigarh
Senior Editors: Shweta Punj, Sasi Nair, J aipur : Rohit Parihar
4G networks generated.
The in Balochistan was the Pak High quality, Commissioner
M umbai : Suhani Singh, Kiran Dinkar Tare; patna : Amitabh Srivastava
Associate Editors: Shougat Dasgupta, Chinki Sinha booming market, which is struggling on service is now in the
dedicating Pakistan’s Independence Day to
K olkata : Romita Sengupta; B hopal : Rahul Noronha;
T hiruvananthapuram : Jeemon Jacob; B
eiJing : Ananth Krishnan midst of an upheaval, with India’s biggest business house, Reliance Industries,
Assistant Editor: p : Aditi S. Pai
une
changing the rules of the game. Its chairman, Mukesh Ambani, while launch-
Photo Department: Vikram Sharma (Deputy Photo Editor), ing the Jio‘the freedom
network on September of Kashmir’
1, promised . a miracle cure to everything
that ailsNALINI
mobile telephony.
VIJAYARAGHAVAN In his speech, , viaAmbani
e-mail linked Jio with Prime
(Senior Photographer), Chandra Deep Kumar (Photographer);
M umbai : Mandar Suresh Deodhar (Chief Photographer),
Minister Narendra Modi’s Digital India mission and guaranteed significantly
Danesh Adil Jassawala (Photographer); a hmedabad : Shailesh B Raval higher data speeds at lower prices. Though a new company, Reliance Jio has
(Principal Photographer); K olkata : Subir Halder (Principal
Photographer); C hennai : N G Jaison (Senior Photographer) the tremendous backing of the Reliance group and the huge cash reserves
PhotoWhat’s
Researchers: Prabhakar Good for
Tiwari (Chief Photo Researcher),
that come with it. reference to Balochistan in
the Gander
Chief of Graphics: Tanmoy Chakraborty No Country for Sportspeople
Jio is hitting its rivals where it hurts. Knowing that mostspeech,
his I-Day other service pro-
the trials
Though Pakistan demands
viders rely on voice calls for almost three-quarters
This is with reference to of
of their
the revenue,
Balochis couldAmbaniwell
VikasthatVerma,the Rahulprinciple
Sharma, Vipin Gupta of self-
(Associate Art Director); has promised that voice calls yourwill be free,
coverage on theand decided acquireto bank on growing data
an international
determination be complied
usage. Though some other2016 operators also
Rio Olympics use high-speed
dimension. Long-Term
Like Evolution
Nelson
with
Naveen Gupta in(Chief
Kashmir,
Coordinator), it conven-
(LTE) technology, Jio has made (Silverits entire
Lining network
). While the LTE-enabled,
Mandela, whoinvested thankedheav-
iently ignores such a dem- ily in laying optic fibre for nation fasterisdata transmission,
grateful to P.V. and offered
India Voice over
for its support in theLTE
andPublisher:
Associate for Balochistan
Anil Fernandes (Impact) (India’s (VoLTE), a new web-basedSindhu technology, for
and Sakshi Malik better call quality.
freedom Jio’s
struggle ambition
in South is
New
IMPACT TEAM Rules of Engagement). to capture a chunk of the 4G market by
for bringing home the acquiring 100
Africa,million
Balochcustomers
leaders in
toothe
Moreover,
General Manager: Mayur theRastogiChinese
(North), first year, and then keep adding more
silver and bronze users
med-with attractive
thanked schemes. This is
Modi for highlight-
presence in Balochistan,
Deputy General Manager: Kaushiky Chakraborty similar to the model used by the state-run
als—as well as to Dipa China Mobile,
ing the which converted
Balochistan issue.
Saleswith control
and Operations: over
D.V.S. Rama Rao,
Gwadar
Chief General Manager 400 million users to LTE in a matter of 18
Karmakar for her bril- months starting
Many from
people 2014.
in Balochistan
Vipinport—and
Bagga, Deputy General the Manager
proposed (Operations) In 2002, Reliance’s first foray into the telecom business, live belowwhich relied on
the poverty
Manish Kumar Srivastava, Regional Sales Manager (North) liant performance—is it not shameful that a country with our popu-
China-Pakistan
Rajeev Gandhi, Regional Sales Manager Economic (West)
lation CDMA
could not winnetworks
even a under
single gold Reliance
medal? Infocomm,
Countries smaller now with lineAnilandAmbani,
lack basic had failed
amen-
Corridor (CPEC) line cut- to make an impact because the company
than ours have won many more medals than us. This is due to the got locked into
ities technology
like water, that
electrici- had
ting through the disputed low industry acceptance and could
shortsighted policies followed by our governments. They have con- not provide efficient
ty, roadscustomer
and service.
healthcare. This
territories of Gilgit- time, it seems to have learnt from
centrated more on sports administration than on any serious effortits mistakes. ApartModi from more
can’t be robust
faulted tech-
if he
Baltistan—can only en- to improvenology, Reliance
the standard has
of sports goneorafter
in India providethe big boys—Airtel,
athletes with Vodafone
lends moraland and Idea—by
diplomatic
courage Pakistan to follow providing 4G in all 22 circles for a
international standard facilities. Sportspeople cannot be producedpan-India presence supportright from
to the
Balochistan’sstart. To
policies similar to
September 13-19, 2016, published on every Friday the Han attract new customers, it has announced
overnight. Hopefully, the efforts of our Wonder Women will inspire a host of freebies,
freedom including
struggle freeas
even data
l
presence
Editorial inIndia
Office Living Media Xinjiang
Ltd., India Todayand
Group Mediaplex, usage for four months and free voice
us to finally give sports the attention it deserves and help improve calls forever. Pakistan had once support-
l SubTibet inassistance
scriptions: For changingcontact Customerthe Care ar-
our medal tally in
India Today Group, A-61, While this
the next is an audacious
Olympics. gamble, Reliance Jioed
MAYA AGARWAL, via e-mail
hasthethe last-mover
Khalistan advan-
separatist
ea’slines);
BSNL/MTNL demographics.
(95120) 2479900 from Delhi and ItFaridabad;
is no(0120) 2479900 tage and claims it has built a digital company frommovement the groundinup. It will
India. be a
Sitting
surprise,
Mumbai: 022-66063411/3412,
therefore, that
Kolkata: 033-40525327, Chennai: 044-24303200; challenge for legacy companies to compete with that.
in However,
Delhi, it’ll
Pakistan ultimately
High
l
Balochistan is progres- By makingcome
Sales: Direct all trade enquiries to General Manager (Sales), Living Media India
down totothe kind
a reference Whileof service
a weakReliance
prime minis- Jio can provide.
Commissioner Since the Abdul user base
Basit
l
l
sively turning into a fester-
Regd. Office: K-9 Connaught Circus, New Delhi-110001
Impact Offices: 1201, 12th Floor, Tower 2 A, One Indiabulls Centre, (Jupiter
Balochistan is small at the moment,
and Gilgit- its true
ter like NawaztestSharif
will comemayas subscriptions grow and as
shows no compunction
Fax: ing
66063226 wound
l E-1, Ground for Pakistan,
Floor, Videocon Towers, Jhandewalan Extn, Baltistan in
voice and data bandwidths
his I-Day be forced come under pressure.
to indulge in Jio must not forget
in dedicating that this
Pakistan’s
is a fickle market where suchportability is easy.
New Delhi Guna Complex, 5th Floor, Main Building, No.443, Anna Salai,
since the Phone: locals have no Towers, 2nd Floor, speech, Prime Minister tactics because he is independence day to ‘azad
l
Chennai-600018; 2847 8525 201-204
l Richmond
Fax: stakes
22218335; 52,in
l its administration
Jawaharlal Nehru Road, 4th Floor, Kolkata-700071; Modi has, within
Phones: 22825398; Fax: 22827254; 6-3-885/7/B, Somajiguda, Hyderabad-500082;
l
Ourtwocover story, politically
written byhostageDeputy to Editor
the M.G. Kashmir’
Arun, looks and atinviting
Reliance Jio’s
and
Phone: gain
23401657, no23410100,
23400479, benefits 23402481, from
23410982, 23411498; years, moved
Fax: 23403484 39/1045, Karakkatt Road, Kochi 682016; Phones: 2377057,
l
ambitions
from one andex- analyses whether
Pakistan army, or even
not itacan achieve
rela- them.Hurriyat
hardline Other operators
leaders
its vast resources. Prime
2377058 ; Fax: 2377059 2/C, “Suryarath Bldg”, 2nd Floor, Behind White House,
l
treme to cannot
the other beasexpected
far as to roll
tively over
strong andprimedie. The
minis- mobile towar
Iftar.that Jio
India has
should sparked
not
Minister Narendra Modi, as relations with
Fax: 26565293 Copyright Living Media India Ltd. All rights reserved throughout
the world.
l
Reproduction in any manner is prohibited. off will be interestingter
neighbours tolike
follow.
Modi has domestic only ease visa restrictions
part of his Independence
are concerned—from The big positive compulsions,
is that the launch suchofasJio puts power
elec- back into
for Baloch the hands
separatist lead-
Day address has drawn the ‘neighbours
of first’
the consumers.
to ‘divide Not onlytowill
tions winsubscribers
and adversar- have the ersright
whotowishchoose,
to visitother
India,
world’s attention to this
thy neighbour’. companies
However, will be forced
ies toto improve in
overcome their service quality.
but alsoDisruption is often
raise the Baloch
contested
l india today
area, which
does not take the responsibility for returning unsolicited
as the the
United best
States remedy,
rightly especially
Kashmir. when it makes the consumer
issue king.
in the United Nations
Pakistan
All disputes is obviously
are subject to the exclusive not jurisdiction of pointed out, we must not KRISHNA BALRAJ SAHAY, Patna General Assembly.
eager to discuss in public.
read too much into this KANGAYAM R. NARASIMHAN,
H.N. RAMAKRISHNA, Bengaluru “rhetoric diplomacy”. After Prime Minister Modi’s Chennai
(Aroon Purie)
10 INDIA TODAY u SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 u INDIA TODAY 30
FROM THE
MAIL
INSIDE ARCHIVES
The plight of the Baloch tude and focused energy COVER CellSTORY
Shock
people is turning from bad to achieve what mattered TELECOM WAR
It started three years ago as
to worse day by day. It is to them and to get where just another bedtime conver-
Jio
10
ultimately the common they are today. Recog sation between a father and
people who are bearing nising these wonder
the brunt of the tussle for women and overcoming Politics
his elder son. One night, dur-
ing the customary 30-minute
supremacy in the region. the ‘analysis paralysis’ will chat with his father, the late
The pictures we see on
Just Keep open the door to the other
Mukesh Ambani’s audacious Rs 1.5
Dhirubhai Ambani,
is setbefore
news channels and on Swimming budding sporting talents
lakh crore
lights
gamble
out, Mukesh
to change
Ambani
Referring to your article the rules of the telecom game
social media every single in our country. proposed creating a business
day—of murdered infant on the RBI governor (New PRAVEENA THIMMAIAH, in information and communi-
and adult Balochis—make Face, Old Values), the gov- Bengaluru cation. The Reliance Group
our hearts cry out in des ernment made a very sen-
patriarch asked his son how
sible decision to replace
pair. Why are It was heartening to see much it cost to make a mobile
Raghuram Rajan with the
international top politicians welcoming call to Surabhai (a family el-
Deputy Governor of the RBI,
organisations so helpless Urjit Patel. Having worked the Olympic medal win der) in Chorwad, Gujarat, to
that they have become with Rajan, he will ensure ners home. They have just ask “Kem chho? (How are
mute spectators to this continuity, and he has been showered with you?)” “Rs 36,” came the reply.
ghastly violation of human already been an important money and awards; but ”Too expensive. It won’t
rights and dignity? architect of the many pol- what about those who work,” Dhirubhai told his son.
HENA PRASUN, Mumbai icy changes at the central participated but lost? “If you can make every Indian
bank. Like his predecessor, Those who did not win talk to every Indian at less
Fighting to Patel is also expected to medals should be felici than the cost of a post card
Compete maintain a fine balance tated too, so they con and still make money, you are
P.V. Sindhu and Sakshi between economic growth tinue their quest for in business.” Mukesh first
Malik’s achievements con and inflation manage- medals. Honouring win checked how much a post-
vey to other sportspeople ment—though that is easier ners alone will not give card cost (Re 1 for the uniniti-
that hard work and pas said than done. Since he is sportspersons the en ated), and then got down to
sion help you attain your taking over at a time when couragement they need. putting together the Rs
goals. It can also inspire inflation is under control ANSHU MATHUR, Ahmedabad 25,000 crore Reliance
and the current account Infocomm project.
women to participate and
deficit is well-financed, he The aim was simple: cre-
contribute more in the P.V. Sindhu’s silver at the
SPECIAL REPORT should not find this very
field of sports. All those Rio Games represents 6 UPFRONT
an ate a huge bandwidth with
PELLET GUNSand lost tough to achieve. That said, enough capacity to fulfil the
who competed his biggest challenge would epic human struggle.
needs of the country for the
should take heart from Against gender bias. 7
26
be to ensure the financial GLASS HOUSE
Blinding
these victories. Even if health of PSU banks. For Against politics that mars next 50 years and get as
Force
they didn’t win a medal that, he needs to ensure competition and kills com much traffic as possible to
57 NETFLUX
flow on it. Then, as voice and
themselves, the hard work that he keeps these insti- petence. Against a state
The Centre clears the
and effort they have al use of less lethal that can do no better than data zip across on its 60,000
tutions on track to clean
alternatives but pellet guns are unlikely
ready put in do deserve up their balance sheets by pay lip service to the pur60 km
GLOSSARYoptic fibre network, sit
to go away in a hurry back and count the profits.
every appreciation. March 2017. Last, but never suit of excellence. Sindhu’s
the least, he should thank “Mobility is just the trailer.
62 EYECATCHERS
MAHESH KUMAR, via e-mail feat is a triumph of the au
Rajan for leaving behind People would also use mobile
dacity of hope in a country
such a strong legacy and a phones for data. And once we
P.V. Sindhu, Sakshi Malik that offers no support to
clearly laid-out path for the have Ethernet connectivity
and Dipa Karmakar have sportspersons who are not
Indian economy. NILANJAN
Cover byyou will have DAS
people connect-
displayed a great deal of proven stars.
BAL GOVIND, Noida ing to their hospital, their
grit, determination, forti CHANDAN DAS, via e-mail
schools and even their banks
THE BIG STORY through high-speed connec-
SEDITION tivity links from their homes,”
Readers are recommended to make appropriate enquiries before sending E-MAIL YOUR LETTERS TO: says Mukesh.
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Success already, 2016 has been the year of
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UPFRONT RAJIV KUMAR
GROSS DOMESTIC POSITIVES

G
rowth in Gross Value Addition (GVA at constant not reconcile with the Index of Industrial Production (IIP)
2011-12 prices) came down to 7.1 per cent in data, which shows industry and manufacturing output
April-June 2016 from 7.9 per cent in the pre- growing at a measly 0.6 per cent and a (-)0.7 per cent for
vious quarter (January-March 2016) and also the same period! Anaemic credit offtake by corporates
below the 7.5 per cent annual growth registered in 2015- from commercial banks further supports IIP data.
16. Even at this lower rate of growth, India retained its Moreover, exports declined continuously for 18
position as the fastest growing large economy in the months. These have just perked up to register a posi-
world. This is accompanied by a marked improvement tive growth of 3.2 per cent. Consequently, net exports
in macroeconomic stability. Foreign exchange reserves (exports minus imports) have contributed positively to
have risen from $270 billion to $360 billion in the last GDP growth during April to June 2016. This is, however,
three years; inflation has been brought down to less than not good news because the decline in imports continu-
6 per cent from double digits; the current account deficit ously over the past five quarters indicates ongoing overall
has reduced to a mere 1.3 per cent of GDP; and public weakness of economic activity.
debt-to-GDP ratio held at less than 70 per cent. India has The services sector, which constitutes two-thirds of
decisively moved out of the group of ‘fragile five’ (the oth- the GDP, registered a growth of 9.6 per cent during April-
ers being Turkey, Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia) it June. A deeper look, however, reveals that this has come
found itself in August 2014. The data reflects the econ- principally from a 12.3 per cent growth in public admin-
omy’s glass being more than half full, thereby affording istration, defence and other public services, which are all
significant bragging rights to the government. directly dependent on government expenditure. This is
The trouble is that the nagging, somewhat subterra- reflected in a sharp deterioration in fiscal aggregates, with
nean, refrain in the public domain is that “it does not feel 75 per cent of the government’s fiscal deficit target being
like 7 per cent growth”. The fizz and energy of 2003-08, used up within the first four months of the financial year!
when growth was similar, is missing. Some international So, is India’s economic performance laudable or cause
investment banks have estimated that, according to the for concern? It is certainly not cause for unwarranted
old GDP series, the current rate of growth is nearer 5 per complacency. However, I do not support the Cassandras
cent than 7 per cent. Even the RBI and the office of the for two reasons. First, the 7 per cent (+) growth rates have
chief economic advisor are known to have questioned the come despite the crackdown on ‘black money’. In the past,
current GDP data, based on a new series of GDP numbers, this accounted for a sizeable 30-40 per cent of the total
released in January 2015. Due to methodological chang- GDP. The cash/black economy has apparently turned tur-
es, these numbers are not comparable with years prior to tle with serious negative impact on sectors such as real
2011-12. Inevitably, the discomfort persists. estate, construction and even manufacturing projects. A
It was, therefore, imperative for slightly lower rate of growth without the
Illustration by ANIRBAN.GHOSH
the government to have cleared this froth generated by the black economy is
confusion and restore the credibility far superior.
of India’s GDP estimates. The Central Second, there is substantial work in
Statistics Office had promised to come progress (WIP) across government min-
up with comparable numbers for previ- istries and sectors. My recent book, Modi
ous years by June 2016. But it has not and His Challenges, comprehensively
been done yet. enumerates them. WIP and other initia-
Sceptics also point to the persistent- tives are monitored directly by the PMO,
ly weak private corporate investment, led by the workaholic Modi. Initiatives
with fixed investment actually contract- like Digital India, Skill India, Jan Dhan
ing by 3.1 per cent in April-June this Yojana, railway investment, Udai Bonds
year after declining by 1.9 per cent in and, of course, the GST and Bankruptcy
the previous quarter. Thus, the first six Code, among others, are bound to accel-
months of 2016 saw production capaci- erate the pace of economic growth in
ties shrinking with deleterious conse- 2017 and 2018. I hope these also gener-
quences for new jobs. With growth in ate much-needed employment, without
the construction sector plummeting to The data reflects the which all this may become irrelevant,
1.5 per cent from an already low aver- economy's glass being economically and politically.
age of about 4 per cent in 2015-16, jobs more than half full,
have become truly scarce. The 6.8 per Rajiv Kumar is senior fellow, CPR,
thereby affording
cent growth in the industrial sector is founder director, Pahle India Foundation,
supported by manufacturing growing at significant bragging and Chancellor, Gokhale Institute of Politics
9.6 per cent. The trouble is that this does rights to the government and Economics

GLASS HOUSE by SANDEEP UNNITHAN
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VIDESHI
www.indiatoday.in Internet. Now that they are interminably linked to one another with the
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Editors: Kaveree Bamzai (Special Projects), Ajit Kumar Jha (Research)
U nion
was
andcommerce
306 million
perceived to
minister
be
of them
the
Nirmala
alreadySitharaman
government’s
As we get more and more dependent
browse the web on their phones.
swa- on mobile phones, they don’t always
FRIENDS OF
Managing Editors: Kai Jabir Friese, Rajesh Jha
Executive Editors: Damayanti Datta, Kunal Pradhan, deshi warrior, wary of global free trade agree-
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M umbai THE FOREST
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handigarh
herself
: Asit Jolly with
to landPrime
of failed
lines, Minister
to
promises—from
slow Modi’s
data global
speeds,
call drops, which are slowly driving us back
econo-have belied the hope the launch of
which
P
Senior Editors: Shweta Punj, Sasi Nair, J aipur : Rohit Parihar
Senior Associate rimeEditors: Minister
Kaushik Deka mic agenda. Sitharaman
4G networks generated. signalled her change of
M : Suhani Singh, Kiran Dinkar Tare; p : Amitabh Srivastava
umbai
Narendra Modi
atna
Associate Editors: Shougat Dasgupta, Chinki Sinha

heart at a media interview last month when she
The booming market, which is struggling on service quality, is now in the
:and
Romitahis Japanese said India was ofnot
an against FTAs.
withNow, it’s biggest
pouringbusiness house, Reliance Industries,
K olkata Sengupta; B
hopal : Rahul Noronha;
T hiruvananthapuram : Jeemon Jacob; B
eiJing : Ananth Krishnan midst upheaval, India’s
Assistant counterpart,
Editor: p : Aditi S. Pai
une Shinzo FTAs atchanging
the ministry. the On the
rules of anvil
the are anIts
game. Indo-
chairman, Mukesh Ambani, while launch-
Abe, were put up at a
Lankaning Economic and Technology
the Jio network on SeptemberCooperation
1, promised a miracle cure to everything
Photo Department: Vikram Sharma (Deputy Photo Editor),
RajwantSheraton hotel near a Yashbant Singh Negi Agreement, talks for antelephony.
agreementInwith the
Singh Rawat (Principal Photographer),
that ails mobile his speech, Ambani linked Jio with Prime
forest over
(Senior Photographer), 20 Deep
Chandra kmKumar from (Photographer); Eurasian Economic
Minister Union Modi’s
Narendra during Digital
the Modi-Putin
India mission and guaranteed significantly
M umbai
central Hangzhou for : Shailesh B RavalSummithigher
: Mandar Suresh Deodhar (Chief Photographer),
Danesh Adil Jassawala (Photographer); a hmedabad
in Goadata (Octspeeds
15-16, at 2016)
lower and negotiations
prices. Though a new company, Reliance Jio has
(Principal the
Photographer); C
G20 summit.
Photographer);
hennai
K
olkata
Of
: Subir Halder (Principal
: N G Jaison (Senior Photographer)
on a possible Canada-India
the tremendous FTA.of the Reliance group and the huge cash reserves
backing
the eight
Photo Researchers: hotels
Prabhakar Tiwari India
(Chief Photo Researcher),
that come with it.
Chief ofhad Graphics: suggested,
Tanmoy Chakraborty this Jio is hitting its rivals where it hurts. Knowing that most other service pro-
was last
Art Department: Sanjayon the
Piplani list.Art Director);
(Senior
viders rely on voice calls for almost ROHIT CHAWLA
three-quarters of their revenue, Ambani
Only the PM’s security
Vikas Verma, Rahul Sharma, Vipin Gupta (Associate Art Director);
SAFFRON REVERSE
has promised that voice calls will be free, and decided to bank on growing data
detail were pleased as
this(ChiefwasCoordinator),
the most forti- MARCH GEAR
usage. Though some other operators also use high-speed Long-Term Evolution
Naveen Gupta (LTE) technology, Jio has made its entire network LTE-enabled, invested heav-
B A
fied accommodation JP president Amitoptic fibre for faster data transmission, and offered
ily in laying t the first executive
Voice over LTE
Publishing atDirector:
the G20. Manoj Sharma
Shah (VoLTE),
plans to a new web-based technology, for better call quality. Jio’s ambition meet of the Assamis
Associate Publisher: Anil Fernandes (Impact)
IMPACT TEAM plant the to BJP flag ina chunk of the 4G market by acquiring 100Congress
capture Committee
million customers in the
General Manager: Mayur Rastogi (North),
Telangana. He
first is
year, setand then keep adding more users with on September
attractive schemes. 2This
in is
to addresssimilar a rallytointhe model used by the state-run China Mobile, Guwahati, Mariani MLA
which converted
Deputy General Manager: Kaushiky Chakraborty
Sales and Operations: D.V.S. Rama Rao, Chief General Manager Warangal400 million users to LTE in a matter of 18 months starting from 2014.38,
on September Rupjyoti Kurmi,
Vipin Bagga, Deputy General Manager (Operations) 17, celebrated Inas2002, Reliance’s first foray into the telecom business, demanded whichtherelied
sackingon
networks under Reliance Infocomm, now with of state in-charge
hadC.P.
Rajeev Gandhi, Regional Sales Manager (West) Hyderabad CDMALiberation Anil Ambani, failed
Arokia Raj L., Regional Sales Manager (South) Day. Motorcycle-borne
to make an impact because the company got locked into Joshi, alleging that
technology funds had
party activists were
have acceptance and could not provide efficient customer service. This
low industry misappropriated
been conducting ‘tira- to have learnt from its mistakes. Apart during
time, it seems from more the assembly
robust tech-
nga yatras’ across
nology, the
Reliance has gone after the big boys—Airtel, Vodafone poll campaign. Joshi
and Idea—by
WAR ON state. Chief Minister4G
providing K.in all 22 circles for a pan-India presencecut short
right fromthethe
meet-
start. To
ing, where ex-CMfree data
BABUDOM Chandrasekhara Rao is being assailed for singing
September 13-19, 2016, published on every Friday attract new customers, it has announced a host of freebies, including
praises ofusage the Nizamfor fourof Hyderabad
months andand freehis notorious
voice calls forever. Tarun Gogoi, newly
B
Editorial Office Living Media India Ltd., India Today Group Mediaplex,
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Reliance Jio has the last-mover advan-
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Sector-57, Noida (UP)-201301; Phones:Pradesh
Toll-free number: 1800 1800 100 (from
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patriots.
digital Ripun
ground Bora
up. andbe a
It will
are under attack by
Mumbai: 022-66063411/3412, Kolkata: 033-40525327, Chennai: 044-24303200; challenge for legacy companies to compete with that. CLP leaderit’ll
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AtK-9a Con
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naught Circus, NewofDelhi-110001
RSS is small at the moment, its true test will come as ent, and left
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Delhi.
as
K
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MARTINET erala CM Pinarayi Vijayan,

Mills), S.B.frontal organi sationsPhone: 66063355;
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voice and data bandwidths come under pressure. Jio must not forget that this
Fax: 66063226 E-1, Ground Floor, Videocon Towers, Jhandewalan Extn,
New Delhiin Bhopal
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Our cover story, written by Deputy Editor M.G. Arun, looks at Reliance Jio’s
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l
were accused of cor-

l
Phone: 23401657, 23400479, 23410100, 23402481, 23410982, 23411498; ambitions and analyses whether or not it can achieve them. Other operators
ruption. This week,
l
him Vijay etta (brother) at a cabinet
l
cannot be expected to roll over and die. The mobile war that Jio has sparked
BJPCopyright
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meeting was curtly told to address
Fax: 26565293 l Living Media India Ltd. All rights reserved throughout
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Kailash Vijayvargiya him as chief minister. Another time,
The big positive is that the launch of Jio puts power back into the hands
blamed them for the
excise commissioner and DGP
of the consumers. Not only will subscribers have the right to choose, other
slo w progress of the
and at A-9, Industrial Complex, Maraimalai Nagar, District Rishiraj Singh who stepped out
companies will be forced to improve their service quality. Disruption is often
metro rail project. The
Circus, New Delhi-110001. Editor: Aroon Purie. of line was called to the CMO and
l india today does not take the responsibility for returning unsolicited
the best remedy, especially when it makes the consumer king.
real target, goes the
reprimanded. He had ignored CM’s
All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of
buzz, is CM Shivraj
directive on not registering cases
Singh Chouhan. against Ayurveda shops for selling
fermented herbs.
(Aroon Purie)
GLASS HOUSE
FREE FOR ALL BY ANUP RAY
Supreme Court cancels Singur
land acquisition POLITICAL
PROMISES
36
weeks—maternity leave
to state employees
granted by Tamil Nadu
CM J. Jayalalithaa. The
Lok Sabha is yet to app
rove a bill granting central
female staff 26 weeks
FREE MOBILE
PHONES
What UP CM
Akhilesh Yadav
promises to
GRANDPA’S BLUES GANGA HO hand out to high
school gradu
F
ormer
PM H.D.
Deve Gowda
ates over 18
may hate
movies and
his grand-
son Nikhil Kumarawamy’s
choice of acting as a career.
But he gamely spent five
hours on September 3
in home turf Mandya in
Karnataka, sharing the
dais with Kannada actors
Jagapathi Babu and
N amami Gange was never going to be easy. But keeping
even the riverfront clean is proving to be a daunting
task. It was in November 2014 that a spade-wielding Prime
FARM LOAN
Congress to waive loan of
every kisan household the
Sampath for the launch of Minister Narendra Modi had flagged off the six-month-long party connects with during
the audio album of Nikhil’s effort to clean up the the iconic 400-metre-long Assi ghat Rahul Gandhi’s mahayatra,
Telugu-Kannada bilingual in Varanasi. The floods this August have put paid to all that starting from Deoria on
film, Jaguar. effort, with the ghats caked with silt all over again. September 6
XI JINGPING MAMATA
TAGORE
The Chinese BANERJEE
CONNECT and her entou-
premier quoted
From Rome to
a poem by rage sang
Hangzhou, the
Rabindranath Rabindra san-
poet laureate was
Tagore at the G20 geet as they
invoked globally
summit, said to be walked through
this week
written after his St Peter’s Square
visit to Hangzhou at the Vatican
with ANSHUMAN TIWARI, AMARNATH K. MENON, ANANTH KRISHNAN, RAHUL NORONHA, JEEMON JACOB, ASHISH MISRA, ARAVIND GOWDA, PIYUSH BABALE, KAUSHIK DEKA

NEWSFLICKS SPARK
END OF
INNOCENCE
MILITANT ORGANISATIONS
ARE INCREASINGLY USING CHILDREN
AS TOOLS OF TERROR
LIVES CUT SHORT GORY END INSIDE AFRICA

HOW THEY LOST THEIR LIVES
1 in 5
Suicide bombers
39% used by
BOKO HARAM
in 2014-15
89
died while detonating
a vehicle-borne WAS A CHILD
explosive device
Male child soldiers who died in IS operations

between Jan 1, 2015 & Jan 31, 2016
of which 33% 8 years
Age of the youngest bomber in this duration
killed as
IS foot soldiers
Suicide
bombers
25%
60%
were between 12 and 16 years
Source: CTC Sentinel
report, 2016
in other
operations
75%
percentage of girls among child suicide bombers
NUMBING NUMBERS EASY PREY CHILD FIGHTERS

CHILD TERRORISTS WHO DIED IN IS OPERATIONS A UN TASK FORCE REPORT SAYS
Approx. 2,000
Children reported to have been
recruited by Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)
6
Jan 2015
11
Jan 2016
NO. OF BOKO HARAM ATTACKS INVOLVING

CHILD BOMBERS
556 boys 4 girls

were fighting in Afghanistan between
Sep 2010 and Dec 2014 929
42014 44
children aged 12-17 abducted by
PKK for terrorist activities in 2015
2015
75%
Data for four countries: Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad & Niger of them were recruited by 983
Source: UN report anti-govt groups, including Taliban Abducted in 2014
VISUAL NEWS ON YOUR PHONE DOWNLOAD FROM OR SMS NF TO 52424

COVER STORY / JIO
THE
DISRUPTOR
MUKESH AMBANI’S DARING Rs 1.5 LAKH
CRORE JIO GAMBLE HAS SENT RIVAL TELCOS
INTO A MAD SCRAMBLE. CONSUMERS AREN’T
COMPLAINING—THEY’RE SMILING AT THE
PROSPECT OF BETTER SERVICES
AT LOWER PRICES
By M.G. Arun
I
T WAS 2010 AND MUKESH AMBANI, the Reliance Industries
(RIL) chairman, had only just acquired Infotel Broadband from
telecom pioneer Mahendra Nahata. The company owned broad-
band spectrum in 22 zones across India. The acquisition was to be
the springboard from which Ambani would launch his next tele-
com offensive, even more disruptive than the launch in 2002 of
mobile telephony at throwaway prices. Brainstorming with close
confidant Manoj Modi to blueprint the offensive, Ambani spelt out
his brief. Modi was to focus on two key areas: he was to procure
cutting-edge technology, and band together the old warhorses
from Reliance Infocomm, the men who, back then, had helped him
Photo-illustration by NILANJAN DAS

COVER STORY
JIO
SUPPLY SHOCK
roll out mobile telephony that JIO TARIFF PLANS
was “cheaper than sending post-
cards” (the challenging prescription
Dhirubhai Ambani is said to have Rs 19 Rs 129
given his older son to make a suc-
cessful go of the telecom business). 100 MB 750 MB
What followed over the next six 100/day 100/month
years were the birth pangs of what
Ambani calls “the world’s biggest 1 day 28 days
start-up”, leading up to the birth of Free Free
Reliance Jio, Ambani’s second com-
ing in the telecom industry. This time,
the disruption is all but certain: data Rs 299 Rs 999
packages are being sold at a fifth of
the prevailing market prices, not to
mention voice, video, music and con-
2 GB 10 GB
tent being given free to subscribers 100/day 100/day
for the first four months, beginning 21 days 1 month
September 5. As for voice services, Free Free
i.e., phone calls, they will be forever
free. Or so is Ambani’s seemingly Rs 4,999
unbelievable offer to consumers, and
the crux of his threat to other tel- 75 GB
cos, whose businesses are currently 100/day
heavily skewed towards paid voice 1 month
services. Illustratively, 70 per cent Free
of market leader Bharti Airtel’s rev-
enues currently come from voice (see
box: What You Pay for Voice). Free SMS
India is one of the fastest grow- Validity
ing smartphone markets in the Night Surfing (2 am-5 am) Source: RIL
Asia-Pacific region, with nearly Local & STD Calls Note: Prices are for mobile data
103.6 million smartphones sold in
2015, an increase of 28.8 per cent
compared with 2014, says research WHAT YOU PAY
firm IDC. India is also the second
largest in terms of internet users, FOR VOICE
whose numbers stand at 277 million, Vodafone Airtel Idea Reliance Jio
behind China and ahead of the US. To the same network 0.6 2 1
However, the quality of its telecom FREE
services leaves much to be desired. To another network 0.8 2 1
Most subscribers have struggled To any landline 2.0 2 1
with—and complained bitterly
about—‘call drops’. This is because All figures are in paise/second
Indian telcos, while making merry Note: Charges may vary across talk plans Source: Company websites
on the stupendous growth in the
number of subscribers, have not
made commensurate investments
in beefing up critical infrastructure data use by consumers shrinks the mistakes that led to the Infocomm
such as spectrum and towers. As a capacity of telecom towers, affecting debacle. So, he invested heavily in
result, calls drop all the time inside voice services. futuristic technology: LTE (or Long-
high-rises, on highways, in trains Ambani knew that for a genera- Term Evolution) is flexible and com-
and on metros, either because the tion used to 24x7 access to social patible with most mobile devices of
limited spectrum available with car- media and information, a chea- the day (see box: A Guide to the LTE
riers does not allow them to beam per, more robust service would be Revolution). He also made sure that
signals over long distances or tall impossible to resist. But, once chas- back-up infrastructure was well
buildings, or because the increase in tened, he did not want to repeat the established, and collaborated with

RATE BAIT
How data package prices compare
GETTY IMAGES
for major telcos*
Reliance Jio Bharti Airtel Vodafone
₹149 (300 MB)

₹44 (110 MB) 1 GB
₹50
₹106 (150 MB + 2 GB ₹249
150 MB Night)
₹255 AIRTEL'S SUNIL BHARTI MITTAL (LEFT)
AND KUMAR MANGALAM BIRLA
3 GB
₹375
(1.75 GB) ₹499
₹459
₹255 4 GB
SLIDE TOWARDS PARITY
How data prices fell in the past three years
₹499 5 GB
₹698 Idea Bharti
₹559
₹559 ₹659 33.9 3 YEAR FALL
7 GB Mar 2013
Idea Bharti
31 38% 24%
Sep 2013
₹898 10 28.6
₹859 GB ₹999
Mar 2014
₹1,097 (11 GB) 26.7 25.6 22.3

Sep 2014 Jun 2015
₹1,497 30.3
Jun 2016
20 Sep 2013
23.8
GB 29.3 Dec 2015
Mar 2013
₹1,499 26.5
₹1,999 25.3 Sep 2014
₹1,999 Mar 2014 25.7

Mar 2015
35
GB 23.4 21.1
Sep 2015
₹2,499 Paise/MB of data
Source: Bloomberg Note: Prices are for mobile data
Jun 2016
₹2,999
(30 GB)
PIE IN THE SKY

60 Airtel is by far the dominant player.
GB
For now
₹3,999
₹4,999 6 53
6 5
(50 GB)
24
30
7
8
Subscriber Revenue
Market Share Market Share
10
13
*This is just a (%) (%)

75
19
representative
10
sample of the GB 17 20
various pack- 17
ages on offer
by companies
Airtel Idea BSNL/MTNL Tata Tele

Note: Prices are for mobile data ₹4,999 Vodafone RCom Aircel Others Source: TRAI
Source: Techradar.com
COVER STORY
JIO
Make no mistake, this is to align his plans with Prime Minister

Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘Digital
war. Even if it is only for 10-20 India’; however, this was not without
its costs. The day after the AGM, a
million subscribers, it can Jio advertisement on the front pages
disrupt the market of national newspapers, featuring a
photograph of the PM, came in for
ROMAL SHETTY, KPMG INDIA severe criticism on social media as
it appeared to show the PM publicly
endorsing the product. While RIL
sources said they did not think it was
wrong to use the PM’s photograph in
contract manufacturers such as August 2015. By December 2015, the advertisement, stating that there
Taiwan’s Foxconn to develop devices Bharti had invested Rs 40,000 crore was ample precedent for such cam-
that are cheap, light and easy to han- in the segment. The Aditya Birla paigns, many believe that the contro-
dle. And last, but certainly not the Group-controlled Idea followed with versy was something RIL could have
least, he dangled the irresistible bait their launch in December 2015 and done without.
of a tariff plan that makes voice free Vodafone in February this year. India has 900 million active
forever—and data affordable, though But users have been slow to switch mobile telephony subscribers (more
the jury is still out on this one. In a to 4G, largely because of the same accurately, 900 million active SIM
freebie-obsessed, price-sensitive problems they experienced with cards), of which about 254 million
market, the plan looked a winner 3G—poor data transmission. For are served by Airtel (see chart: Pie
(see boxes: Supply Shock: Jio Tariff Ambani, this looks like the opportu- in the Sky). Other big players are
Plans, Reliance Jio: What’s on Offer). nity he had been waiting for. Vodafone with 198 million, Idea
To be sure, incumbent mobile “Today, India is ranked 155th with 175 million and RCom with 101
telecom operators—Airtel, Vodafone in the world for mobile broadband million. As in his other businesses,
and Idea—have also launched 4G internet access, out of 230 coun- Ambani seems to be playing a low-
LTE services, but Reliance Jio is tries,” said Ambani, 59, at the RIL price, high-volume game with Jio,
the only one whose entire network Annual General Meeting (AGM) and in the process, is disrupting the
is LTE-enabled. Jio has also made of shareholders in Mumbai on market, stunning rivals and exciting
huge investments in laying fibre optic September 1. “Jio is conceived to prospective customers—at least for
cables to ensure high quality data change this. I have no doubt that now. Jio is also expected to help the
transmission. Besides, only Jio and with the launch of Jio, India’s rank mobile broadband market achieve its
Airtel, so far, have a pan-India 4G will rise to among the top ten.” The target of around 650 million users by
presence. Jio is also the only firm audience cheered, but not the mar- 2020. “From 132 million to 650 mil-
to offer Voice over LTE (VoLTE), an kets, as concerned investors gave a lion mobile broadband users by 2020
internet-based technology for trans- thumbs down to the move, driving needs a revolution. It’s begun with
mitting voice data over the LTE net- RIL shares down 2.7 per cent to close Reliance Jio,” tweeted Mahindra
work, offering better call quality. at Rs 1,029 on the day, wiping out Group chairman Anand Mahindra
The ambition is to acquire 100 Rs 9,400 crore in market value. The immediately after Ambani’s much-
million customers in the first year of fear was that with such an aggres- publicised speech.
operations, and, thereafter, retain sive investment, without clarity on “Make no mistake, this is war,”
those customers and keep add- when the money could be recouped, says Romal Shetty, a partner with
ing more, striving to replicate what RIL would bleed not only rival tele- consulting firm KPMG India. “In
China’s state-owned mobile telecom operators but even hamper its the immediate short term, that is,
phony provider, China Mobile, did in own prospects in the near term. three to four months, everything is
recent years. (China Mobile migrated With the launch of cheap, high for free. Even if it is [only] for 10-20
400 million users to LTE in a mat- quality access to data, the digitalisa- million subscribers, it can disrupt
ter of 18 months, beginning 2014, at tion of a whole gamut of services is the market.” This could lead to a
times adding 22-23 million subscrib- expected to be quick, and the conse- significant dip in the revenues of
ers in a single month.) Or, like South quences, far-reaching. E-governance, rival firms, which have been get-
Korea or Australia, which are fast e-learning and e-healthcare—all ting three-quarters of their revenues
moving toward 4G-only networks, buzzword services that were lost in out of voice services. “For the next
replace 2G and 3G entirely. implementation, largely because of 12-18 months, there will be pain for
The first to launch 4G services the slow adoption of digital technol- incumbents,” he adds. India has only
in India was Bharti Airtel, which ogy—are now expected to blossom. 7 million 4G subscribers, say reports,
began by offering it in 296 cities in Ambani did not miss the opportunity and the segment is growing at 10-15

THE INTERCONNECT
WRANGLE
...and how it can play spoilsport with Jio’s plans
AP
R
ELIANCE IS DOING an unprecedented (L TO R) AZIM PREMJI, the testing phase. Telcos feel
MUKESH AMBANI,
launch,” says Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Rajya Reliance has taken testing
KUMAR MANGALAM BIRLA,
Sabha MP and founder of BPL Mobile. “For CYRUS MISTRY, ANIL AMBANI
too far and has launched full
the network to become a real network, they AND ANIL AGARWAL commercial service in the test
need the ‘oxygen’ for telecom—interconnection.” phase,” adds Uppal. Industry
Interconnection is the physical linking of a carrier’s players, policymakers and
network with equipment or facilities belonging to a analysts are all wondering why
different carrier. Without interconnection, calls can- the regulator has been so lax
not be placed between competing operators. “In in defining ‘testing’. “There is a grey area between pilot
1998, BSNL was denying us interconnection,” he and commercial launch,” says Chandrasekhar, pointing
recalls, joking about using the Reliance Jio handset to the need for a proper set of rules.
on his table as a paperweight. A protracted dispute over interconnection spells
Regulations announced in 1998 made it a right trouble for Jio. It is not even the first time Reliance is
for a new operator to be given interconnection with dealing with hostile incumbents. Back in 2007, when
existing industry players. As Rajan Mathews of COAI TRAI was questioned by a Parliamentary Standing
(Cellular Operators’ Association of India) says: “There Committee on Telecom about the apparent ‘cartelisa-
is basic interconnection for a certain volume of traf- tion’ of GSM operators against CDMA entrant, Reliance
fic. If I send you 50 calls, you have to send me 50 calls. Communications (RCom), they described it as ‘cooper-
There cannot be unfair trade.” Mahesh Uppal, a direc- ative pricing’. India’s telecom market was—and still is—
tor with telecom consultancy Com First India, elabo- dominated by GSM players. RCom’s launch of CDMA
rates: “An operator (say A) who originates a call to technology at the time was accompanied by as much
another operator (say B) has to pay for it: Operator B hype as the 4G LTE rollout now. The promise of CDMA
will bill operator A. At the end of the month, minutes of was also data, which GSM players did not offer at the
calls sent and received will be tallied and cancelled and time. In order to stymie competition from the newest
the extra minutes billed.” entrant, almost all operators offered similar pricing,
However, technicalities are muddying the issue. and interconnection with other operators was a mas-
Reliance Jio Infocomm’s network began commer- sive challenge for RCom, leading to the ultimate failure
cial services on September 4. Until then, despite having of its CDMA venture.
over 1.5 million users, Reliance classified Jio’s services The challenges for Reliance are many. While
as a ‘test launch’. Incumbents, miffed with Reliance’s other incumbents battle to retain customers—
aggressive entry strategy, claimed that Reliance’s test Vodafone and Bharti Airtel were quick to announce
launch was, in fact, a commercial launch from the equally competitive tariff plans—for Reliance, the big
very beginning. This led to squabbles over a number of challenge will be to swiftly build a customer base. For
issues, including fulfilling obligations for interconnectiv- that, the company needs to ensure that other opera-
ity. “Reliance and other operators seem to have their tors provide the interconnectivity it needs.
own interpretations of rights and obligations during by Shweta Punj

COVER STORY
JIO
RELIANCE JIO:
per cent. 3G, which has seen slower
adoption than 2G, has around 300
WHAT’S ON OFFER
million subscribers. “Reliance Jio will
transform India, give every Indian
huge data capacity, create one vir-
tual nation, and disrupt incumbents Launch from Sept 5,
who give lousy service,” says T.V. 2016, and commercial
Mohandas Pai, former Infosys CFO launch on Dec 31, 2016
Preview offer till Dec
and chairman, Manipal Education. 31, 2016 to be free
Making voice calls free and pric- for all subscribers
ing data well below existing tariffs
will force existing players to lower
their rates. “We foresee operators Voice calls and roaming
gradually moving towards simpler, to be offered for free to
all-you-can-eat plans, in which sub- all subscribers even after
scribers will be offered unlimited Use of apps worth commercial launch
voice and fixed data access for a lump Rs 1,250 per month
sum amount, rather than the forest to be free till end of
calendar 2017
of foggy options available today,” says
Crisil Research in a report. This will
Tariffs range from a base plan
mean a sharp drop in tariffs, leading
of Rs 149 for 0.3GB of 4G
to revenues from data for established data to Rs 4,999 for 75 GB
players shrinking by half by financial data; for the occasional data
Access to additional
2017-18, it continued. user, it starts at Rs 19
data through Jio’s
Reliance Jio will hasten India’s public wi-fi hotspots
shift from 2G to 4G, enabling its tran-
sition to a data economy, where voice
services will also be priced in the
form of data. “The discount [that Jio Unlimited free 4G
data at night with all
offers] is very significant. If incum- Suite of applications tariff plans priced at
bents match it, it will severely impact to access media and Rs 499 and above
their financials,” says Shobhit Khare entertainment and
of Inertia Wealth Creators LLP. “Of to make payments
course usage will grow. From here
on, there will be tariff wars.”
25% additional data
IT’S DIFFERENT. BUT HOW? for students
How does Reliance Jio differentiate
Note: Prices are for mobile data
itself from incumbent telcos? There
are various facets to this. One is the
technology itself. LTE is a stand-
alone, new technology, which runs
on a completely different network spectrum in the 2,300 MHz band (a Compared to Jio’s capabilities,
from current systems. The earlier frequency that can relay LTE tele- Airtel can provide 4G in 15 circles,
technologies were all circuit-based, phony services) back in 2010. Later, Idea in 10 and Vodafone in eight. Jio
while this is based on IP or internet in 2014, it bought spectrum in the can use its entire spectrum to provide
protocol; data is now sent in ‘pack- 1,800 MHz band (which is considered LTE services, while its rivals, who
ets’. This makes LTE more efficient more suitable for LTE services), and use their existing spectrum for legacy
at transferring data due to its higher in 2015, bought even more spectrum, 2G and 3G networks, will have very
throughput. As the throughput, or in both the 800 MHz and 1,800 MHz little capacity to spare for 4G. One
capacity, increases, it becomes pos- bands, thus acquiring a presence in option for incumbents is to buy more
sible to offer many more services, of 20 out of the 22 circles in the country spectrum in the upcoming auctions
higher quality than before. in these two bands. Lower frequency in October this year, which will be an
But to offer this technology to bands are more effective in telecom- expensive proposition. Another is to
consumers, infrastructure has to be munications, as voice signals travel shut down the 2G and 3G networks to
put in place. The primary ingredient over larger distances at these fre- accord more space to LTE, which is
for any mobile network is spectrum, quencies as compared to higher fre- ruled out. Also, though 3G has been
or airwaves. RIL acquired pan-India quency bands. launched with much hype, it lacks

FAMILY PLAN
(LEFT TO RIGHT) NITA AMBANI,
MUKESH AMBANI, AND SON AKASH
AMBANI
enabled, and prices are already on

their way down, from Rs 8,000 last
year to Rs 4,000, even Rs 3,000.
Reliance’s LYF handsets are now
priced at Rs 2,999 upward.
TARIFF SHOCKER
A report by research and advisory
firm Analysys Mason just before the
Jio launch said that India’s data tar-
PTI
iffs were quite high, which explained
Jio’s tariff plans make voice calls free. why mobile operators weren’t able to
achieve better penetration in 3G and
In a freebie-obsessed, price sensitive 4G. It said that India’s data tariffs per
market, it looks a winner gigabyte were at about 2.6 per cent of

the average individual income (gross
national income per capita), while for
developed economies the figure was
between 0.4 and 0.5 per cent.
At the Reliance AGM, Ambani
coverage in many places, and the call bodies, and formal and informal said the telecom tariff structures
is sometimes completed through 2G, rights of way, can be cumbersome, should be simplified. Today, there
resulting in frequent call drops. and many operators give up half way. are more than 22,000 telecom tar-
The other aspect of Jio’s com- iffs across the country. Jio plans
THE TECH EDGE petitive edge is the lower costs it has to introduce 10 main plans. Prices
The other advantage that Jio has is a incurred on telecom towers. Jio’s 4G begin as low as Rs 19 for users who
huge fibre optic cable network with network will cover 18,000 cities and only occasionally use data. There
immense capacity for data, which can towns, and over 200,000 villages. are also monthly plans priced any-
even be used for a future 5G rollout To do so, it has a network of 92,000 where between Rs 149 and Rs 4,999,
(the proposed next major phase for telecom towers, of which it directly depending on data usage (see chart:
mobile telecom standards). The com- owns 42,000. The company has man- Rate Bait). At the moment, data
pany has already laid 300,000 circuit aged to peg costs for these new eco- packs in the market cost about Rs
kilometres of fibre (in many locations, friendly towers at Rs 8-9 lakh each, 250 per GB. With Jio, customers will
it would have laid multiple layers of compared with the industry standard be paying between Rs 25 and 50 per
fibre per kilometre, depending on the of Rs 30-32 lakh. This is because it GB. “By opting for Reliance Jio plans,
density of traffic that is anticipated). uses smaller towers, which require the average monthly mobile bill for
“We can carry 800 crore GB [of data] less land, and are supposedly more a mid- to high-end subscriber could
on our network per month,” says an energy-efficient. Jio is adding more come down by 50-60 per cent,” says
official with the firm. “Even if every towers, and plans to cover 90 per Crisil Research. For reference, 1 GB
Indian were to consume 10 GB per cent of India’s population by March of data costs about £0.7 in the UK—
month, our network can support it.” next year. Then the devices them- just under Rs 62 at current rates (see
The constraint for legacy opera- selves, on which a Jio team has been graph: Slide towards Parity).
tors, on the other hand, is that they working since 2012. The market, Reliance seems to be betting
have already made huge investments which currently has about 70 million on increased data usage offsetting
in 3G networks. In 2010, operators LTE devices, adds about 7-8 million the negative impact of lower tariffs.
spent a staggering Rs 67,719 crore new LTE devices per month. Currently, the average Indian user
in government 3G auctions across In the second quarter of calen- consumes about 400 MB per month;
the 22 telecom circles in India. Most dar 2016, global LTE shipments grew Reliance Jio’s Rs 499 plan offers
of them are yet to recoup money 38 per cent annually to 300 million 10 times this amount. “Clearly, the
from 3G, and putting up fibre optic units, with China leading the market Reliance Jio plan aims to drive up
cables in India is a complicated with over 100 million units, followed consumption of data, so it would have
affair, requiring a lot of patience and by the US and India. Increasingly, to make available innovative, relevant
hard work. Approvals from local all smart phones will become LTE and fresh content to subscribers on an

COVER STORY
JIO
A GUIDE TO THE
ongoing basis,” adds the report.
Experts say this will put pres-
sure on both the revenue growth and
LTE REVOLUTION
profitability of existing operators. It’s cutting-edge alright. And on that
They will not only be forced to relook
at their tariff structures and custom- count, it’s ‘Advantage Jio’
L
er-retention strategies but may also
bid more aggressively in the forth- ong-Term Evolution, or LTE, refers to a standardised
coming spectrum auctions, especially method of communication between high-speed wireless
in high revenue-generating circles, networks. GSM, GPRS, and EDGE are all examples of simi-
where they have limited capacity and lar (but now outdated) standards. Standards like these are
spectrum to offer 4G services. The what allow wireless networks in different parts of the world to com-
correction is already happening— municate with each other. To put it simply, they serve as an agreed-
Airtel and Idea reduced voice tariffs upon ‘international language’ for technology.
by 8-10 per cent over 2015. LTE is a significant upgrade on previous standards, not least
India Ratings, a research firm, because it uses a new, more efficient method for transferring data—
expects data tariffs to see a major ‘packet’ switching, as opposed to ‘circuit’ switching . In the older
correction even as operators’ rev- method, before data could be transferred between two nodes in a
enues from data declined 4.5 to 5.5 network, a ‘circuit’ was first established, which remained open until
per cent per MB in the third quarter the entire ‘conversation’ between the nodes was completed. Under
of financial 2015-16, compared to
the new protocol, the data is first broken down into ‘packets’ of a
the second quarter. This decline was
standard size, which are then transferred independent of each other.
in anticipation of the Jio launch, and
(This process is somewhat similar to how Torrents are downloaded
therefore, a further drop in data tar-
by computers; files are transferred ‘piece by piece’.)
iffs is expected in financial 2016-17.
LTE is far more efficient than
older standards, because the
THE ECONOMICS DECODED JIO CLAIMS IT ‘circuits’ do not have to remain
Many say the tariff plans are more
HAS CAPACITY ‘occupied’ for quite as long as
an example of smart packaging than
actually low rates, and that consum- INFRASTRUCTURE before. In other words, a delay in
ers will spend as much as they do TO SUPPLY 72% OF transferring a particular packet
now, or more, on the Jio network. THE POPULATION of data does not cause a chain
“The blended ARPU (average rev- reaction of delays for all the trans-
enue per user) for Airtel for 200 mil-
WITH 4G LTE missions that come after. When it
lion subscribers has been Rs 185/ comes to voice calls, networks like
186. For Jio, if we take a Rs 149 pack these use an allied technology called voice over LTE (VoLTE). With
and then another 1 GB pack for VoLTE, the call latency, or the time taken to convey call signals over
Rs 50, it still comes to Rs 199. So, the a distance, is greatly reduced. Simply put, a caller will hear few or no
consumer’s cost [doesn’t go down],” beeps before the phone rings at the other end.
says a Mumbai-based analyst.
But this is part of the economics FIBRE OPTICS, THE ENABLER
of Jio’s big-bang entry. Getting cus- Fibre optic cables are bundles of glass ‘threads’ used to transfer
tomers to use enough data to gain a data. Instead of using electricity, as other cables do, fibre optic
high ARPU is one part of its strategy
cables use light. There are several advantages: data transfer is much
to break even at the earliest. The
faster (light moves faster than electricity); there’s more bandwidth
other is the savings on the variable
(carrying capacity); these cables are less susceptible to interfer-
costs of the business, including that of
ence; they are thinner and lighter than metal wires; and data is
setting up mobile towers, the rentals
for sharing mobile towers (the com- transferred as a digital signal rather than analogue, which reduces
pany has worked out a sweet deal processing load at the receiving end to ‘use’ the data.
with RCom to be anchor tenant on However, fibre optic cables are expensive. Even more to the
35,000 of the latter’s towers, paying point, setting up a fibre optic network in India is a complicated
just Rs 12,000 per tower per month affair, requiring approvals from local and government bodies, not to
compared to the industry standard mention several formal and informal permissions. Reliance Jio has
of Rs 27,000), the power savings on already laid 300,000 circuit kilometres of fibre (in many locations,
fuel for towers after drawing directly based on expected density of traffic, the company would’ve had to
from power boards, and the lower lay multiple layers of fibre). Jio claims to have the infrastructure to
channel costs (what it pays channel supply 72 per cent of the population with 4G LTE technology.

COVER STORY
JIO
Jio is a move fraught with risk,

T
wo inventions that have transformedatour building high-speed
lives are 4G infra-
mobile phones and the
www.indiatoday.in structure,
Internet. Now that they are interminably linkedenhancing existing
to one another infra-
with the
and its success will pivot
adventonof smart phones, productivity structure
has
levels. Today you can stay connected, stayspectrum
been to tackle
increased call
consolidation
entertained
to drops, and
unimaginable
or further
and stay informed, all at
the country’s move forward
Group Chief Executive Officer: Ashish Bagga
spectrum
the same time. There are a total of 1 billion
Group Editorial Director: Raj Chengappa acquisition.
mobile phone However,
subscribers some
in India,
towards a digital economy
and 306 million of them already browse the
Editors: Kaveree Bamzai (Special Projects), Ajit Kumar Jha (Research)
As we get more and more dependent on
Managing Editors: Kai Jabir Friese, Rajesh Jha
experts
web on
auction
mobile
feel
could
thephones.
their upcoming spectrum
end they
phones, up asdon’t
a disappoint-
always
deliver what we expect of them. Indian subscribers ment, considering
have been thebattling
high price withofa
Deputy Editors: Prachi Bhuchar, Uday Mahurkar, Manisha Saroop number of failed promises—from call drops, the which
700 MHz arespectrum
slowly driving (the govern-
us back
Mumbai: MG Arun Hyderabad: Amarnath K. Menon Chandigarh: Asit Jolly
Senior Editors: Shweta Punj, Sasi Nair, Jaipur: Rohit Parihar to land lines, to slow data speeds, which have mentbelied
has fixedthe hopea reserve price of
the launch ofRs
Mumbai: Suhani Singh, Kiran Dinkar Tare; patna: Amitabh Srivastava
4G networks generated. 11,485 crore per MHz for this band),
Associate Editors: Shougat Dasgupta, Chinki Sinha The booming market, which is struggling whichon has a better
service quality,reach andin
is now is the
clos-
Kolkata: Romita Sengupta; Bhopal: Rahul Noronha;
partners), among others. “Our pres-
Thiruvananthapuram: Jeemon Jacob; BeiJing: Ananth Krishnan per cent,”
midst of ansaid a note from
upheaval, Deutsche
with India’s biggestest to the 800
business house, MHz. In June
Reliance this year,
Industries,
ent tariff strategy is to make it attrac-
Assistant Editor: pune: Aditi S. Pai
Bank’s equity
changing research
the rules of thedesk.
game. “We Its chairman,Department
Mukeshof Telecom
Ambani, secretary
while launch- J.S.
tive
Photo for subscribers,
Department: Vikram Sharma (Deputy butPhoto weEditor),
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at lower prices. Though 60,000
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Rs 50 per GB, we
Photographer) Dharmesh Kant,
the tremendous backingHead of Retail
of the Reliance groupEven and thebefore huge thecash
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are making a lot of money.”
Photo Researchers: Prabhakar Tiwari (Chief Photo Researcher),
Research,
that come with Motilal it. Oswal, told a news- launch, the portents of an impending
But here’s
Chief of Graphics: a sobering history les-
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is hitting itsrevenues
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voice calls willforstart trick-
almost Bharti Airtel,
three-quarters Vodafone
of their revenue, India and Idea
Ambani
been
Vikas Verma, hard,
Rahul Sharma, if not impossible,
Vipin Gupta for a
(Associate Art Director); lingpromised
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that voice callson willthebe free, Cellular
and decided of preventing
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er.Gupta
Naveen For(Chief instance,
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to Jio’s
(LTE) aggressiveJio
technology, pricing.
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invested of
has not been able to beat Vodafone ily in laying optic fibre for faster data transmission, interconnect and(PoIs)
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in Mumbai,
Associate Publisher: Anil where the latter had the
Fernandes (Impact) MEETINGa THE
(VoLTE), new JIO CHALLENGE
web-based technology, forservices
better call box: The
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first-mover
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millionarecustomers
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nowhere
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the world (North), has there been first year,
out all theandstops then keep adding
to retain customers,more users Jio’s strategy
with attractive to enter the market,
schemes. This isand
Deputy General Manager: Kaushikyof
a 4G LTE rollout the extent that
Chakraborty similar
who should to thehopemodel used
to get by the
better state-runthey
ser- Chinaclaim the company,
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and Chiefmanaging
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tomer
Vipin Bagga, Deputy serviceGeneral at this(Operations)
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telecom business,launch. “Reliance
which relied on
beGandhi,
Rajeev easy. “The
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for voice servicesInfocomm, and other
now with operators
Anil Ambani, seem had to havefailed
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(free). an impact
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has already the company got
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the network behaves when there is low industry acceptance
carrier-aggregation and could not provide
technology, obligations
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whichitcombines
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more robust has taken tech-
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Fax: 26565293 Copyright Living Media India Ltd. All rights reserved throughout
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l
in any manner is prohibited. off will towns
to 750 be interesting
in 10 circles in the coun- placing fresh bets on another con-
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The
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All disputes “We expect
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to the exclusive impact
jurisdiction of from According to India Ratings, the economy. This time around, there is
Jio on the three incumbents, which
capital expansion plans of telecom little margin for error.
have a collective market share of 73 operators in 2016-17 will be directed with Shweta Punj
(Aroon Purie)
BIG STORY SEDITION
A JOKE CALLED
SEDITION
SEDITION CHARGES ARE BEING LEVELLED AGAINST PEOPLE
AT AN EPIDEMIC RATE. AND IT’S GOING TO GET WORSE.
IS THERE A CURE FOR A BAD LAW?
By Damayanti Datta
D
ivya Spandana Ramya is busy on Twitter. She is talking about
the welfare of farmers, the Cauvery water row, retweeting
Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Happy Teacher’s Day’ message or sending
good vibes on Ganesh Chaturthi: ‘May you receive many ble-
ssings for your new beginnings.’ But sometimes, just some-
times, there’s an unsettling edge to her tweets: “Kid says
Mysore ‘Pak’ is very nice. Father says—Be careful, don’t say Pak loudly, you
will be labelled deshdrohi :)”. The actor-cum-politician is facing summons
from a Karnataka court on October 19. She will need to explain why she
should not be punished as a deshdrohi (traitor).
She is not alone. The year 2016 has turned out number of sedition charges is rising dramati-
to be the ‘year of sedition’. Not a month has gone cally and most charges are in complete violation
by without one or more people being charged of the scope of the sedition law,” says Prashant
with it (see graphic: This Year of Sedition). The Bhushan, counsel and member of advocacy
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) figures group Common Cause, which filed a PIL against
for 2014 (the first year it started collecting data “rampant abuse of the law”,with the Supreme
on sedition) say 47 cases were registered across Court on August 16, along with S.P. Udayakumar,
the country, 58 people arrested and one convicted the anti-nuclear activist facing sedition charges
across nine Indian states—with Bihar leading the for protesting against the Kudankulam Nuclear
list, followed by Jharkhand, Kerala and Odisha. Power Plant project in Tamil Nadu.
The NCRB’s 2015 numbers are yet to come, but at
least 14 sedition charges, filed against 35 people, Loyalty witch-hunt
have been collated by media watchdog, The Hoot. Words, ideas and laws that seemed to be on the
This year, no less than 21 cases have already cusp of extinction are coming back to haunt
been lodged against at least 170 citizens. And a modern democracy. For, astonishingly, 146
those are just cases reported in the media. “The years after the draconian law of sedition was
Photograph by BANDEEP SINGH

August 23 August 15
THIS YEAR ”Pakistan is not hell. People FIR against Amnesty
OF SEDITION there are like us,” blogged
actor Divya S. Ramya—a
International, India, by
an ABVP member for an
How an archaic law is coming reaction to Manohar Parr event on rights violations
back to bite the citizens of a ikar’s “same as hell” comm in Kashmir. Footage did
modern democracy in 2016 ent. Vittala Gowda files case not support charges
February 17 February 24
Two lawyers filed com Virender and Man Singh
February 16 plaints of sedition against Dalal, close aides of ex
Prof S.A.R. Geelani Rahul Gandhi in Allahabad Haryana CM Bhupinder February 29
booked for organis and Varanasi, for support Singh Hooda, booked on Sedition case in Hydera
ing an event marking ing JNU students. Also sedition charges after an bad against Rahul Gandhi,
the death anniver filed case against CPI(M)’s audio clip of their alleged Arvind Kejriwal, CPI’s
sary of Parliament attack Sitaram Yechury, conversation revealed D. Raja, CPI(M)’s Sitaram
convict Afzal Guru at Press CPI’s D. Raja and JD(U) attempt to incite violence Yechury and five others
Club, Delhi leader K.C. Tyagi during Jat agitation over the JNU row
January 19
Patidar quota stir leader
Hardik Patel and five
associates charged with
second case of sedition
February 12 February 11 January 5
JNU Student’s Union pre Delhi Police slap sedition Anwar Sadiq from Kerala arrested
sident Kanhaiya Kumar against “unknown for sedition after allegedly making
arrested for sedition after persons” in connection insulting comments on Facebook
‘antiIndia’ slogans alleg with a JNU event on about Lt Col Niranjan E. Kumar, a
edly raised at university Afzal Guru hanging Pathankot attack martyr
introduced in the Indian Penal Code followers cheered. On August 22, she to stifle criticism, explains jurist Ram
in 1870—as a tool of colonial domina- had been charged with sedition for Jethmalani. The law clashes with the
tion and terror—it is being levelled at writing in her blog, “Pakistan is not right to freedom of speech and expres-
the citizens of an independent nation hell. People there are like us.” The sion guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of
at an alarming rate: for printing a complaint by a Bengaluru advocate the Constitution. It is not even part of
wrong map of India, not standing up was accepted by a judicial magistrate the “reasonable restrictions” on free
when the national anthem is played in in Karnataka, putting Ramya at the speech under Article 19(2). Yet sedi-
a cinema hall, liking a Facebook post, heart of a bitter national debate: What tion as a criminal offence remains
calling a yoga guru a fraud, cheer- is sedition? in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) under
ing for a rival cricket team, drawing Section 124-A, ruining lives touched
cartoons of politicians or refusing to Bad law breeds trouble by it: unwarranted arrests, confiscated
chant a slogan. But are these really One of the most politically fraught laws passports, dismissal from government
grounds for sedition? of all time, sedition is aimed at any- jobs, no bail, no dropping of charges
“Someone making a statement one who “brings or attempts to bring without a judge, tough and expensive
to criticise the government does not into hatred or contempt, or excites or legal procedures, the threat of fine and
invoke an offence under sedition or attempts to excite disaffection towards, incarceration for a life term. “Unless
the defamation law.” On September the government established by law in India figures out how to treat the prob-
5, when Supreme Court of India (SC) India”. It is the highest form of offence lem of a bad law, it will only get worse,”
Justices Dipak Misra and U.U. Lalit against the state, merits the highest says Jethmalani.
set clear limits to the laws that crimi- punishment and is the most misused— “We are slapping sedition cases at a
nalise dissent, Ramya’s 433K Twitter with successive governments using it time when the draconian law is either

August 2 July 18 July 15 July 15
Kashmiri engineer Tauseef The owner of Green Bells AIMIM chief Asaduddin A video grab of around 50
Bhat, 25, is now in Durg jail, Public School in Burhar Owaisi says he’ll provide youths in Patna, chanting pro
Chhattisgarh, for allegedly town, MP, is arrested legal aid to five people arrested Pakistan slogans in support of
‘liking, sharing’ on FB an because the school diary in Hyderabad in an ISIS terror televangelist Zakir Naik, went
antiIndia post. Bajrang Dal had a wrong map of J&K. case. Sedition case for “boost viral and led to the arrest of
files case BJYM files case. No bail ing morale of antinationals” Mohammad Ahmed, 28
April 1
Chandigarh administration
comes up with ‘Controlling of
March 15-31 Places of Public Amusement’. June 2
May 27
A spate of PILs filed under Criteria for refusal of entry Shashidhar Venugopal, president
Jat Sangharsh Samiti chief
IPC Section 124A (sedition) into bars? “Exhibition of of the Akhila Karnataka Police
Yashpal Malik and 125 others in
against Owaisi in Allahabad, scantilydressed women”, Mahasabha, Bengaluru, charged
sedition net for “threatening com
Mumbai, Delhi over a speech “indecency” or if you are with sedition and arrested for
munal harmony” in Haryana to
in which he said that he will “seditious and likely to excite organising a mass leave
launch fresh quota stir
not chant ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ political discontent” by the constabulary
being scrapped or rendered toothless for sedition, because they did not seem people’s movement” against Naxalite
in most modern constitutional democ- to have the “disposition to obey the oppression of the tribals in 2006.
racies around the world,” says P.D.T. lawful authority of the government” “The rule of law has completely bro-
Achary, constitutional expert and (Queen-Empress v Jogendra Chandra ken down,” Sen had pointed out.
former secretary-general of the Lok Bose And Ors., 1891). The scope of Repeatedly detained without prop-
Sabha. New Zealand has got rid of the the term ‘sedition’ expanded contin- er charges, denied bail, put in soli-
law (see graphic: Sedition Around the uously over the years, incorporating tary confinement for weeks, Sen was
World). Australia has narrowed its ‘hatred’ and ‘contempt’. Sometimes released unconditionally on bail in
scope, eliminating imprisonment. In it meant any speech or writing show- 2009 by the apex court. The public
the US, some laws have been repealed, ing disloyalty or ill feeling towards the furore also led former UPA law min-
some have been made a dead letter. government, sometimes it stood for ister Veerappa Moily to declare that
In the UK, although the last sedition acts or words inciting disorder. In the the Law Commission of India would
trial took place in 1947, the law was case of the Bangabasi journalists, they take a fresh look at the sedition law.
abolished in 2009—217 years after were considered seditious because In 2012, another impassioned pub-
Thomas Paine was convicted of sedi- they did not seem to have the “dispo- lic debate led political leaders of all
tion for writing the Rights of Man. “It sition to obey the lawful authority of hues—L.K. Advani to Bal Thackeray,
puts India at par with countries with the government”. Sharad Yadav to Arvind Kejriwal—to
the worst human rights index,” adds In independent India, with the ask for its amendment. UPA minis-
Achary, “Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Supreme Court setting guidelines ters came together to refer it to the
Iran, Uzbekistan....” through several landmark cases in the Law Commission. In March this year,
’50s and ’60s, the law did not really Union home minister Rajnath Singh
Discipline and punish bother the nation. But it thrived in told Rajya Sabha members, “The Law
Sedition entered the Indian stat- stealth. No one noticed its return until Commission is carrying out a review,”
ute books as ‘clause 113’, when T.B. it picked up pace around 2007, when while the Opposition charged that the
Macaulay, India’s first Law Member, human rights activist Dr
codified the draft Indian Penal Code in Binayak Sen was accused
1837. Strangely, it was kept out of the of ‘couriering’ Naxalite
1860 Act of the Indian Penal Code, but letters and arrested on We are slapping
included in 1870, perhaps to counter a charges of sedition by the sedition cases at a time when
Wahhabi insurgency spreading across Chhattisgarh police. What
the country. It was not used until possibly brought the law the draconian law is being
1891, when in the first case of sedition down on him was a report scrapped in most modern
in India, Judge C.J. Petheram of the
Calcutta High Court convicted jour-
he had prepared on the
Salwa Judum, the much-
constitutional democracies”
nalists of the Bangabasi newspaper touted “spontaneous P.D.T. ACHARY Constitutional expert

BIG STORY SEDITION
law was being rampantly misused by

the NDA government.
USA
What passes for sedition Some sedition
As the only section in the IPC where laws have been
speech is the primary focus, the repealed, some NIGERIA
vagueness of language along with made a dead Sedition law exists,
twists and turns in interpretation letter. Courts AUSTRALIA
but prosecutions
have made it a political hornet’s nest provide wide Since 1985, scope of
for sedition have
protection to the law narrowed and
time and again. In September 2015, UK largely fallen into
free speech punishments brought
the BJP government in Maharashtra The last sedition disuse since 1979 down from imprison-
came out with a circular making criti- trial in 1947; law
ment to fines
cism of a politician or a public servant abolished in 2009,
actionable sedition. Originally drawn for not reflecting
values of a modern MALAYSIA
up by the Congress-NCP government
democracy Although the
in 2012, in the wake of the arrest of
the Kanpur-based cartoonist Aseem Constitution guar-
Trivedi for parodying the political antees freedom of NEW ZEALAND
speech and expres- Abolished in 2007.
class, the clause was withdrawn with-
sion, sedition laws Similar offences
in a month, thanks to public pressure.
Consider the ongoing Amnesty
SEDITION AROUND are used stringently. addressed through
sedition case. A First Information THE WORLD ordinary criminal law
provisions
Report was filed in Bengaluru against Most modern constitutional democracies have either
the human rights organisation by mem- abolished or let the provisions of sedition fall into disuse
bers of the right-wing Akhil Bharatiya
Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on August
14. Why? Anti-India slogans were
allegedly raised at an event on Kashmir
organised by Amnesty International, Venugopal. The Karnataka policeman, anti-India content”, on complaints
India in Bengaluru on August 13. as president of the Akhila Karnataka by Bajrang Dal activists. The police
Amnesty denied the charges, sub- Police Mahasabha, was busy organis- maintain that Tauseef “was not found
mitting video footage of the event, in ing a mass leave of the constabulary to be involved in any other activity”.
defence. A massive agitation by ABVP on June 4—to protest the low wages Indian courts have ruled repeatedly
activists, demanding a ban on Amnesty, and poor working conditions of the that freedom of expression can be
followed. Finally, the Karnataka gov- force. On June 2, the police barged restricted only when it involves incite-
ernment woke up and gave Amnesty into his home in the middle of the night ment to imminent violence or dis-
a clean chit. But that led to a war of and arrested him on charges of sedi- order. In March 2015, the Supreme
words, with BJP ministers at the Centre tion for attempting to “destabilise the Court struck down Section 66A of the
accusing the Congress government in government”. They took his computer, Information Technology Act, observ-
Karnataka of “vote-bank politics”. some documents and broke the cell- ing: “Discussion, or even advocacy, of
phone with which his wife was trying a particular cause, howsoever unpop-
A paranoid state to record the arrest. Two of his com- ular, is at the heart of [the right to free-
“The state is clearly paranoid.” On rades were also similarly arrested. dom of expression]”. Yet in 2015, more
August 25, Justice Anand Byrareddy While granting conditional bail to the than 3,000 people—or four people
of the Karnataka High Court scoffed at trio, the judge commented: “There is no every 12 hours—were arrested under
the state government for pressing sedi- evidence of the entire police force rising section 66A (NCRB): Was the law being
tion charges on policeman Shashidhar in mutiny at the behest of the accused.” abused well after it was struck down?
On August 2, Kash-
miri youth Tauseef Forgetting the law
Ahmad Bhat, 29, an engi- “The police, politicians and the public
The police, politicians and neer with a mobile phone have largely forgotten the apex court’s
company in Chhattisgarh, interpretation,” says K.T.S. Tulsi, senior
the public have forgotten the was dragged out of a train advocate and Member of Parliament—
SC’s interpretation...uttering by the police and put in that uttering slogans by itself does
slogans by itself does not solitary confinement in not constitute sedition, unless there is
Durg jail for Facebook exhortation to overthrow the govern-
constitute sedition” posts, (allegedly) “lik- ment by taking recourse to violence.
K.T.S. TULSI Senior advocate and MP ing, sharing and posting He mentions the landmark 1962 case
BIG STORY SEDITION
WHAT THE SUPREME COURT SAID:

LANDMARK JUDGEMENTS
1962 1982 1995
KEDAR NATH SINGH VS STATE OF BIHAR P. ALAVI VS STATE BALWANT SINGH AND ANR VS
OF KERALA STATE OF PUNJAB
The Supreme Court held that “a
citizen has a right to say or write whatev- Where the court held that The SC says: “Raising some slogan
er he likes about the government, or sloganeering, criticis- (“Khalistan Zindabad”) a couple of
its measures, by way of criticism or ing of Parliament or the times...which neither evoked any
comment, so long as he does not incite judicial set-up did not response nor any reaction from the
people to violence” amount to sedition public cannot attract such punishment”
(Kedar Nath Singh vs State of Bihar), [nor] could [it] give rise to feelings nature of the offence under the 1962
where the Supreme Court had stated: of enmity or hatred among different Kedarnath formula and caution trial
“A citizen has a right to say or write communities….” courts to strictly follow the law when
whatever he likes about the govern- cognisance is taken of a case, involving
ment, or its measures, by way of criti- Police and prosecution alleged sedition,” says Menon.
cism or comment, so long as he does The SC judgements were forgotten
not incite people to violence.” in February this year, when the then The road ahead
Tulsi mentions yet another ver- Delhi police commissioner Bhim Sain “None of the recent cases qualify for
dict on October 31, 1984, the day Bassi booked five students of the invocation of Section 124-A,” says Reb-
former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi Jawaharlal Nehru University and a ecca John, senior advocate and coun-
was assassinated. Two men were number of political leaders for sedition. sel for JNU Student’s Union president
arrested and charged under section On February 9, it was alleged that JNU Kanhaiya Kumar. To her, the rise in
124-A for raising ‘anti-India’ slogans students had raised anti-India slogans sedition charges point to a deeper mal-
in a crowded piazza of the Sector 17 to mark the anniversary of a contro- aise: the rise of rage. “We are rude, on
market in Chandigarh: ‘Khalistan versial execution—of Afzal Guru, con- a short fuse, abusive. And that abuse
Zindabad’, ‘Raj Karega Khalsa’, and victed for the 2001 terrorist attack on goes unchecked,” she says. In an atm-
‘Hinduan Nun Punjab Chon Kadh Parliament. Bassi not only called the osphere where anger has almost bec-
Ke Chhadange, Hun Mauka Aya Hai slogans ‘anti-national’, but asked for ome a new democratic right, criticism
Raj Kayam Karan Da (We will drive an amendment to the law of sedition is confused with sedition. “The ram-
Hindus out of Punjab; now is the “to remove all scope of ambiguity, so pant misuse of the sedition law, despite
chance to establish our rule)’. But that citizens have no doubt about what the judicial pronouncements, makes a
Supreme Court Justices A.S. Anand constitutes an anti-national act”. serious case for repealing it,” she adds.
and Faizan Uddin had acquitted “The casualness with which sedi- While a growing number of law-
them with the words: “In situations tion is being used, with tacit approval yers and activists seek to make 124-A
like that, over-sensitiveness some- of those in power, is a question of fact unconstitutional, others say frequent
times is counter-productive and can and judgement on the part of police, misuse is not a ground for repealing
result is inviting trouble…. Raising prosecution and the courts,” says legal a law, in the present security situation
of some lonesome slogans, a couple scholar N.R. Madhava Menon. It is of India. According to senior advo-
of times by two individuals, without unfortunate that the police and a sec- cate Ramachandran Raju, no politi-
anything more, did not constitute any tion of the trial courts have often failed cal party would support such a move:
threat to the Government of India… to appreciate the line set by the SC, he “They would not like to lose a weapon
says. The apex court has which can be used on dissenting voic-
had to set aside sedition es.” The solution might be for the SC
convictions time and to come forward and provide proce-
The casualness with which again, deprecating the dural safeguards to be followed by law
sedition is being used...is a manner in which either enforcement agencies.
the police had filed a FIR For India, it’s a question of walking
question of fact and judgement or a trial court had convi- the fine line between liberty and secu-
on the part of police, cted an accused. “What’s rity, tough choices and hard lessons.
prosecution and the courts” needed, therefore, is to
educate law enforce-
And hoping that reason prevails over
politics when it comes to freedom.
N.R. MADHAVA MENON Legal scholar ment agencies about the Follow the writer on Twitter @DattaDamayanti
SPECIAL REPORT KASHMIR
DAMAGE
CONTROL
The Centre clears the use of less lethal alternatives,
but ‘pellet guns’ will not disappear
X-RAY IMAGE OF A PELLET VICTIM

ABID BHAT INSHA LONE IN SRINAGAR
By Asit Jolly and Unlike Tamanna, there is no hope
Sandeep Unnithan that Insha will regain her vision. This,
despite the best medical care that India
C
has to offer. Moved to the All-India
urious about the source Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
of the commotion out- in New Delhi after she was stabilised
side her village home at SMHS, the verdict hasn’t changed:
in South Kashmir Insha will live but she will never be
where angry youth able to see again.
were protesting Hizbul It is an unending story. Close to 600
Mujahideen commander Burhan protesting Kashmiri youth, including
Wani’s killing on July 8, Tamanna Ashiq AP
hapless women and child bystanders
was peering out of her window when a have sustained eye injuries through
deadly hail of pellets from a 12 gauge- SMHS trauma centre. “Worse than a the ongoing protests in the Valley.
pump-action shotgun fired by security single Kalashnikov bullet through the While the majority of those hit will
personnel struck her. “Chances of this skull.” Her face, widely depicted in thankfully recover fully, there are five
girl regaining normal sight are mini- local Srinagar newspapers and later like Insha who will be forever blinded.
mal,” an attending surgeon at the Shri splashed on national TV channels to Another 20 are reported to have lost
Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital bring home the brutality of this latest vision in one eye.
in Kaksarai, Srinagar, tells india today. cycle of strife in the Kashmir Valley, Among those blinded by pellets is
“Her right retina is severely damaged was pockmarked with searing red 12-year-old Omar Nazir, the schoolgo-
by a pellet.” pellet injuries and bloodied eyelids ing son of Nazir Ahmad, a daily wage
The main public entrance to SMHS sown tightly together. “Her face was worker in Pulwama. There is also
was closed three days after the Valley like a sieve that had been used to fil- Firdous Ahmad Dar, 27, an autorick-
erupted in violent anger against ter blood,” the attending doctor, who shaw driver from Baramulla, who was
Wani’s killing. This because the hos- requested anonymity, told india today at also sent back home from AIIMS with
pital administration, hugely burdened the SMHS Hospital on July 18. no hope of recovering his eyesight.
by the growing flood of casualties— Not that it is any consolation that
men, women and children hit by pel- the eight-year-old schoolgirl was more The Pava Alternative
lets—from the unprecedented cycle fortunate than 14-year-old Insha After the 2010 unrest in which 110
of stone-pelting demonstrations, was Mushtaq Lone. Hit by a lethal volley of protesters died, succumbing mostly
forced to proclaim a medical emer- pellet-fire in a disconcertingly identical to bullet injuries when security forc-
gency. The daily outpatient clinics replay of the fate that befell the young- es opened fire with Kalashnikovs, the
were discontinued to make way for the er girl, Insha too was watching a clash Union home ministry rushed Ordnance
critically injured. between protesting youth and security Factory Board-made 12-gauge pump-
“It’s a fate worse than death,” forces from the second-floor window action shotguns to the Valley as stan-
says the surgeon who first received of her father’s home in Sedow village dard crowd-control equipment. The
the barely breathing schoolgirl at the in Shopian. shotguns, which fired number 9 lead
NEW ALTERNATIVES TO ‘PELLET GUNS’

Some of the non-lethal measures recommended by a home ministry committee
10 METRES 20-40 METRES 50 METRES 100-200 METRES

Electronic disabling OC ball launchers which fire Synthetic oleoresin Tear gas shells made by BSF
devices like Tasers that PAVA filled balls. 12 bore PAVA capsaicin grenades. Tekanpur. Dual use shells, have
immobilise a person or ‘synthetic pepper’ shotgun Create a cloud. Cause both tear smoke and act as stun
temporarily. Already in shells made by DRDO Lucknow irritation, burning grenades. Plastic body melts
service with Delhi police and manufactured by BSF Tekanpur sensation on skin and after being fired, makes it difficult
and NSG Fired from 12 gauge shotguns watering of eyes for it to be hurled back at police

SPECIAL REPORT KASHMIR
ABID BHAT
pellets or shot normally were used in
competitive skeet shooting. The pel-
lets lodged into human tissue without
killing, and appeared to be a far better
alternative to assault rifles.
Both the J&K police and the Central
Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have since
used these shotguns. In the new phase
of violence, they have emerged as con-
tentious objects even if they have been
monikered ‘pellet guns’ suggesting a
harmlessness associated with air rifles.
It is not known whether the CRPF or
the policemen, particularly the thou-
sands of troopers rushed in from out-
side the Valley, were actually trained to
use these shotguns.
Crowd control drills have not
changed since the colonial era.
Neither has the equipment or train-
ing. Policemen continue to be poorly
trained in crowd-control techniques
and are equipped with antiquated
weaponry and equipment.
CRUDE CONTROL Present riot-control options with the police and paramilitary
Former police officials decry 38 mm tear gas gun

the lack of discipline and training Manufactured by Ordnance
among security forces causing them Factory Board. Crude and inaccu-
to break ranks sometimes. “It’s like 12-gauge shotgun rate. Fires only single shots
one mob attacking another,” says E.N. Manufactured by Ordnance Factory Board,
Rammohan, former DG, BSF. fires number 9 lead pellets or ‘shots’. Rubber
ball non-lethal rounds found ineffective
O
n August 29, a seven-member
committee of the home minis-
try, headed by joint secretary
T.V.S.N. Prasad submitted a list of ideal substitute for ‘pellet guns’ and are being deployed as a last resort by
non-lethal alternatives to pellet guns will be mass-produced in the BSF’s tear which time the crowd is much too close
to home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi. The smoke facility at Tekanpur, Madhya and well inside the recommended min-
committee, which included members Pradesh. Another option being sug- imum distance of 50 metres. “At such
from the CRPF, J&K police, BSF and gested are capsaicin grenades which close range, which oftentimes is just a
the Ordnance Factory Board, was set are, again, more potent than tear gas. few metres, even the No. 9 pellets can
up in July 26 and given two months to One home ministry official suggest- cause grievous harm or even be fatal
explore less lethal options. The commit- ed that shotguns would now be used as we have been witnessing,” he says.
tee’s two-month tenure, however, was only in ‘the rarest of rare’ scenarios. In the wake of the furore over the
truncated. The report was submitted in Such optimism may be misplaced. unacceptable damage caused by the
a month and just a week ahead of an Officers at the apex of J&K’s secu- use of pellet guns to subdue unrest in
all-party delegation led by home minis- rity establishment insist that pump- the Valley, the J&K police did go back
ter Rajnath Singh visited Kashmir. The action shotguns employing cartridges to the drawing board. After conducting
report bases its guidelines on those containing No. 9 size pellets of lead a series of experiments using dummy
issued to UN peacekeeping forces. It are used the world over and can targets, state police chief K. Rajendra’s
is yet to be made public but it lays out actually be among the “least lethal” office issued a set of new instructions-
alternatives for the security forces (see means of crowd control where other -one, that rather than a last resort, pel-
graphic), particularly a crowd-busting means like tear gas and water can- let guns must be deployed alongside
synthetic pepper extract called PAVA nons fail or cannot be deployed. This, firing teargas shells to more actively
or Pelargonic acid vanillylamide. The they say, is contingent on the correct discourage the protesting mob from
substance is believed to be more potent SOP (standard operating procedure) closing in; and two, ensure that the pel-
than CS or tear gas and affects the being strictly adhered to. “The prob- lets are fired from a distance no closer
eyes temporarily, causing severe pain. lem,” says a senior state police offi- than 70 metres.
PAVA, the report believes, will be the cer, “is that the shotguns (pellet guns) But as many security force

ABID BHAT
Hyderabad-based Shafath Ali Khan
challenge this view saying that the pel-
lets travel at a velocity of 1,400 feet per
second and are lethal when they strike
soft human tissue. “There are 400 pel-
lets in one cartridge and they have a
four-foot spread out of a gun barrel.
Even at 40-45 metres, they can cause
substantial damage,” he says.
K. Durga Prasad, director-general,
CRPF, insists that his men “do not fire
with intent (to injure)”. Security forc-
es, particularly the CRPF, he says, have
been employing a variety of means--
gas grenades and shells, oleoresin gre-
nades, plastic pellets and even empty
cartridges (for noise)--to disperse pro-
testing crowds.
“We have to contain the situation
with the resources available to us on
the ground,” Prasad says, denying that
CRPF troopers have caused avoidable
forces are cheap, antiquated and dangerous injuries and fatalities by failing to fol-
low SOPs for pellet guns, including
aiming below the waist. “The pellets
Modified Lee Enfield rifle do have a dispersal upon being fired,”
The iconic gun crudely modified to fire he says, insisting, however, that the
rubber and plastic bullets number of casualties would have been
far higher had SOPs been ignored.
Although eye injuries are by far
the starkest, pump-action shotguns
and the pellets they spew wreak other
equally horrific consequences. Doctors
at the SMHS Hospital talk of Shafia
personnel engaged in crowd control in Jan, a young mother who was hit in
the valley will tell you, it is not always the abdomen in Arwani, a village some
an ideal world out in the Kashmiri hin- 50 km south of Srinagar. “Her guts had
terland. “Teargas is an effective deter- spilled out after pellets pierced and
rent but often futile when the wind reopened scars from a caesarean sec-
changes direction,” a senior CRPF offi- tion,” a doctor said. There are enough
cer points out, adding that none of the young men with a multitude of pel-
usual alternatives—tasers, chilli gre- lets permanently embedded too close
nades or water cannons—are really to vital organs or the spinal chord. A
capable of containing motivated mobs young surgeon fires up his iPhone to
of Kashmiri youngsters. The stone- show images of a young man from
throwing this time around has been Srinagar’s Rainawari locality with the
near-unprecedented and mobs of hun- entire shotgun cartridge rooted inside
dreds have rained down a furious bar- what used to be his left eye.
rage of stones on security personnel. Among the newest victims of the
J&K police officers also reiterate infernal ‘pellet guns’ are two young
that the pump action shotgun using photo-journalists, Zuhaib Ahmad and
No. 9 pellets is acknowledged as a ‘less Muzamil Matto, both caught in the
lethal’ means of crowd control and crossfire during a stone-pelting dem-
employed by police forces including onstration in Rainawari on September
UN peacekeepers all over the world. 4, the day the all-party delegation was
The weapon and ammunition is also in Srinagar. The ‘pellet guns’ are unli-
included for use in civil disturbances kely to leave the Valley anytime soon.
in the US. Expert shooters like the with Naseer Ganai

NATION RSS-BJP
CROSSED LINES
The Goa revolt reveals the inner contradictions in the BJP-RSS relationship
By Uday Mahurkar Velingkar’s accusations against Union days when he had extolled gau rak-
defence minister and ex-Goa CM Man- shaks for their role.
T
he revolt staged by Subhash ohar Parrikar, who he calls “a cheat” Significantly, RSS general secretary
Velingkar, the sacked RSS for betraying the people. Bhaiyyaji Joshi first came out in supp-
Goa unit sanghchalak, along The RSS and the BJP might dismiss ort of Modi, perhaps feeling the heat of
with 300 of his followers on this as a one-off episode but the fact is Dalit anger in the wake of the notori-
the issue of government aid to English that relations between the two, though ous incident in Una, Gujarat. But when
medium schools is a first in the history smoother than during the Vajpayee Togadia complained to the Sangh lea-
of the 90-year-old organisation. The period, are not without its problems. dership, the organisation prevaricated,
Goa unit has not only disconnected The latest episode came just two weeks coming up with a statement disassoci-
itself from the regional RSS Konkan after Prime Minister Narendra Modi ating itself from Modi’s “inappropri-
Prant unit, but has even threatened to called 80 per cent of gau rakshaks ate” remarks about “80 per cent of gau
float a new party to fight the BJP, whom insincere ‘fakes’ and trouble-makers. rakshaks” while supporting his overall
it accuses of going back on its regio- It drew sharp reactions from VHP chief stand against ‘bogus’ cow vigilantism.
nal language issue promise before Pravin Togadia and then an RSS flip- Finally, the RSS leadership also
the 2012 polls. But more serious are flop. Togadia reminded Modi of his old issued a strong advisory to its allied
PTI
OUSTED RSS GOA CHIEF SUBHASH VELINGKAR AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IN PANAJI

organisations that they refrain from schools (most of them Christian insti- in the flesh. Meanwhile, the prestigious
speaking against the PM publicly. tutions) switched over to Konkani Indian Institute of Advanced Studies
Says national RSS prachar pramukh almost overnight. The policy contin- remains headless as does the Lalit Kala
Manmohan Vaidya: “Velingkar was ued till 2011 when, after an alleged Akademi and the Maulana Abul Kalam
removed as he had taken a political deal, the then Congress government Azad Institute of Asian Studies.
stand, threatening to float a party and led by Digambar Kamat extended the Many RSS leaders feel the gov-
showing black flags to BJP president aid policy to English medium schools. ernment’s refusal to appoint their
Amit Shah. He broke RSS discipline. We Immediately, the same 126 schools people—or at least non-Left, non-Con-
have nothing against him if he wants to switched back to English medium. gress figures—to head these bodies
float a party. But he has to resign as an This triggered an agitation by the is sending very wrong signals. Says a
RSS office-bearer first. We support his BJP and the RSS in which Velingkar senior Sangh parivar functionary, “We
stand on the language issue, but not his was the driving force and Parrikar his are making a mistake in the percep-
actions. The issue, however is not so main supporter. Velingkar even floa- tion battle. It conveys an impression of
big. It will be resolved shortly.” ted the Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha intellectual bankruptcy.” The ICSSR, in
In fact, the issue reveals some of Manch for the purpose. Their plea was particular, is a source of much heart-
the complex frictions—both personal that aid to schools which had switched burn as it is seen as a funding source
and political—emerging between the back to English should be withdrawn in to many anti-BJP-RSS think-tanks
RSS and the government. The roots of order to support Konkani and Marathi and research bodies. Even the Centre
the controversy lie in a 1990 decision, medium education. The issue became for Policy Research headed by Pratap
when the Maharashtra Gomantak a plank for the BJP in the 2012 polls. Bhanu Mehta, a frequent critic of the
Party was in power, to give special aid to Nonetheless, the BJP was able to RSS and occasionally of PM Modi, is a
Konkani and Marathi medium schools. draw on a substantial Christian vote— beneficiary, RSS leaders point out.
At that time, 126 English medium a dividend credited to Parrikar’s politi- Sangh leaders think that a strong
cal acumen and his ‘good governance’ RSS intellectual in charge of ICSSR
campaign. Once in power, Parrikar, will not just benefit their own research
who may have felt obliged to his new bodies but many others with a “nation-
Dissonant Voices constituency, began to temporise on alist bent”. That said, some in the
withdrawing subsidies to English Sangh acknowledge that the governm-
“Parrikar has medium schools. This soon became a ent has reason to be cautious. Says an
cause of friction with Velingkar and RSS leader who prefers to stay anony-
cheated the voters.” even after Parrikar shifted to Delhi, he mous, “The government is holding
SUBHASH VELINGKAR pressed the issue with representations back because it has burnt its hands
Goa RSS leader to the new CM Laxmikant Parsekar. while accepting inappropriate RSS rec-
The Goa imbroglio isn’t an isolated ommendations in some glaring cases.”
incident. There is also tension between Indeed, the appointments of Gaje-
“Steps against the BJP and the RSS over appointments ndra Chauhan as Film and Television
Institute of India (FTII) director and of
bogus cow vigilan- to several prestigious public institu-
tions where the Modi government has ex-cricketer Chetan Chauhan as head of
tes are justified” allowed old nominees to continue or the National Institute of Fashion Tech-
BHAIYYAJI JOSHI left posts vacant, ignoring the RSS’s nology were received with widespread
RSS general secretary suggestions. These include the Indian derision. The appointment of Ram
Council of Social Science Research Bahadur Rai, a senior RSS-affiliated
(ICSSR), the Auroville Foundation and journalist to head the Indira Gandhi
“PM’s remarks on the National SC and ST Commission.
At the ICSSR, economist Sukhdeo
National Centre for Arts (IGNCA) has
also drawn flak. Many feel that Sonal
cow vigilantes Thorat, a Congress appointee, remains Mansingh, the famous classical danc-
were unjustified” in his post, to the great displeasure of
senior RSS leaders. In the Auroville
er and an outspoken RSS sympathiser,
was more suited to the role.
PRAVIN TOGADIA Foundation, where the chairman’s When questioned about the signifi-
VHP chief
position has ministerial rank, Congress cance of these rumblings over appoint-
leader Dr Karan Singh continues. ments, Vaidya resorts to his default
Even Mallika Sarabhai, a fierce critic reassurance: “These are small issues
“Nothing serious. of PM Modi, is still a member of the which will be sorted out.” Yet a course
Things will be foundation’s governing board. In the
National SC and ST Commission, P.L.
correction is on the cards for the RSS
and the Modi government. For the
sorted out soon” Punia rules. Some of these incumbents moment, the mood of their relation-
MANMOHAN VAIDYA are vocal critics of the Modi govern- ship can best be described as tolerable.
RSS publicity division head ment, Punia being a particular thorn Follow the writer on Twitter @UdayMahurkar

PRABHJOT GILL FORMER PUNJAB AAP CHIEF SUCHA SINGH CHHOTEPUR AT THE GOLDEN TEMPLE, SEPT 3, 2016
AAP IS DOWN
IN PUNJAB
Plagued by allegations of corruption and sexual impropriety, and the mass
resignations by members, things are suddenly looking down for the party
By Asit Jolly
R
emember the delirium? voted to power, he promised to “drag assembly polls to central observers
The lusty slogans that gre Bikram Majithia (SAD minister and seeking sexual favours from pro
eted Delhi chief minis deputy CM Sukhbir Badal’s brotherin spective candidates, on September 4,
ter and Aam Aadmi Party law) by the ear and throw him in jail”. AAP’s longstanding zonal incharge of
chief Arvind Kejriwal at the The crowds lapped it all up, and just six the Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency,
Maghi Mela in January as he made his short months after it began building its Gurinder Singh Bajwa, 50, announced
first big foray into Punjab. Pointedly, organisation, AAP was already looking his decision to quit the party. As many
he was even wearing a Bhagat Singh like a sure thing—the hot ‘newkidon as 85 other officebearers, some say
style basanti (yellow) Sikh turban theblock’ of Punjab’s political arena. over 80 per cent of AAP’s core cadre
then. At his belligerent best, Kejriwal But suddenly, things aren’t look strength in the AmritsarGurdaspur
had promised to weed out corrup ing so hot. Amid a succession of highly border belt, have also resigned.
tion, drugs and all other evils that ail serious allegations, ranging from the The mass resignations followed
Punjab. He even named names—if sale of party tickets for the coming the central AAP leadership’s August

NATION AAP
27 decision to sack state convenor Ambrish Trikha sought Rs five lakh to ordinary citizens and more prone to
Sucha Singh Chhotepur, a political vet facilitate meetings with Pathak. Such outbursts,” says Manpreet Randhawa,
eran and former Akali leader who had scandals have heightened the simm a former journalist now in charge of
been instrumental in building the party ering resentment over the tight con AAP’s state media cell in Chandigarh.
across Punjab. Chhotepur, who has trol ‘outsider’ leaders had over party Meanwhile, there’s also what
since been replaced by the TV comic finances and ticket distribution. many in the party call the “grave set
Gurpreet Singh ‘Ghuggi’, was removed Amritsar’s Gurinder Bajwa tells back” of excricketer and MP Navjot
after a sting operation—widely said to india today how Rs 22.5 lakh collected Singh Sidhu backtracking from his
have been conducted at the behest of from a fundraiser at the city’s MK earlier decision to go with AAP and
AAP’s Delhi leadership—caught him Hotel twoandahalf months back signing up with AwazePunjab, a
taking Rs 2 lakh from a party worker. “was literally snatched and taken away possible fourth political alternative
The bahar-wale and Dilli-wale, as to Delhi by Pathak’s man Kapil”. The in the state. So, suddenly the belea
AAP’s 54strong contingent of leaders exAAP man says while such funds are guered party appears to be mak
and observers led by Sanjay Singh and used to “subsidise” leaders from Delhi, ing a shift from its earlier belligerent
Durgesh Pathak are referred to by the “we were told to raise more funds tone in Punjab. Besides making overt
state cadre, evidently had no notion of locally to pay for rallies and meetings”. attempts to woo Chhotepur back to its
the deep roots Chhotepur had estab Pathak, who was in Chandigarh fold, the AAP leadership has tellingly
lished while building the party organ on September 6, describes the whole opted to appoint the always wellspo
isation in the state. On August 30, just ‘outsider’ issue as a conspiracy by the ken Gurpreet ‘Ghuggi’ as new state
two days after he was shown the door, ruling coalition in Punjab. “The Akali convenor rather than the more ope
as many as seven of AAP’s 13 zonal nly aggressive Chandigarhbased
coordinators (one for each parlia lawyer Himmat Singh Shergill,
mentary constituency) served an AAP’S PUNJAB who was widely expected to step
ultimatum to the central leader into Chhotepur’s sandals. Also,
ship: reinstate Chhotepur and recall LEADERS INSIST THE with the SinghPathak fiasco in the
the SinghPathak duo from Punjab. CURRENT EXPOSES state and Chhotepur publicly dub
The ultimatum has been followed bing AAP as “antiSikh”, Kejriwal,
by mass resignations, not just in WERE TO BE EXPECT- who still commands wide admira
Amritsar, but also in areas like ED AFTER THE PARTY tion in the state, declared (while
Mansa, Bathinda, Ferozepur and still in Rome for Mother Teresa’s
Faridkot. And the exodus comes BEGAN ANNOUNCING canonisation) that he would
with a whole lot of very sullied linen. CANDIDATES henceforth “handle the Punjab
Close on the heels of the par campaign in person”.
ty’s Bijwasan (Delhi) legislator Almost equally revealing of the
Devinder Sehrawat releasing cop new, subdued AAP is the somewhat
ies of his letter to Kejriwal articulating leadership is trying to make it a Delhi surprising move to join ranks with for
concerns over the reported “sexual versus Punjab, topi-wallahs versus mer Congress MP and CWC member
improprieties” by leaders in Punjab, Punjabis issue,” AAP’s national organ Jagmeet Singh Brar after spurning
an AAP group from Barnala, a part of isational chief said while insisting that several of his overtures since his expul
Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann’s home “it would not work with the Punjabi sion from the Congress some months
constituency, released audio record electorate”. ago. AAP leaders in Punjab insist that
ings to allege that Vijay Chauhan, AAP leaders from Punjab maintain this, like most other decisions including
an observer sent in from Delhi, had that the current cycle of allegations the distribution of party tickets, was
sexually exploited a maid he had and exposes are “temporary” and effected by Delhi.
hired in Punjab. AAP’s Barnala youth largely along expected lines after the On September 7, AAP’s new
wing chief Ravinder Dhillon charged party began announcing candidates in state convenor ‘Ghuggi’ was visiting
Chauhan with “paying off the maid to August. Much of the “disgruntlement”, Amritsar’s Golden Temple, and see
keep her quiet”. they point out, has happened in plac med relatively unperturbed. Dismi
Although Chauhan has denied the es where tickets have been allotted. ssing the troubles, he insists “AAP is
allegations vehemently, this and other First off the mark in the state, AAP has by now Punjab’s new religion”. In very
equally worrisome charges could sig announced nominees for 32 of the 117 Bollywood style, he added: “Every
nificantly damage AAP’s poll prospects constituencies. The current rebellion Punjabi is a fan.” Only the coming
in Punjab: national council member stems from many of these areas. weeks will tell whether its current
from Punjab Pavittar Singh accused “This is a party of workers and not troubles are part of a “predictable cle
Singh and Pathak of demanding leaders. Every person is a ticket aspi ansing process”, as some of its lead
Rs 50 lakh for a ticket from Phillaur; rant and naturally feels slighted when ers insist, or if AAP’s poll prospects in
Chhotepur aide Hardeep Singh Kingra left out. Unlike other parties with Punjab are truly going south.
claims that Ludhiana zonal coordinator seasoned politicians, our people are Follow the writer on Twitter @Asitjolly

NATION MADHYA PRADESH
HIGH ON RICE PADDY

Madhya Pradesh has witnessed an agricultural boom, and is swiftly
becoming India’s rice bowl
By Rahul Noronha well maintained and self funded from a long way from the (-)4.7 per cent
E
his farm income. Khan’s pride in his recorded in 2004-05, and in the pro-
very day, at the crack of dawn, farm, his work and his achievements cess won the Union government’s
Sohail Khan, a progressive is palpable: “Even if I had a choice, I Krishi Karman award, for the high-
farmer from Chittora vil- wouldn’t do anything else by way of a est growth in food production, for four
lage in the Raisen district of profession,” he says. At work, Khan years on the trot. Agricultural produc-
Madhya Pradesh (MP), sets oversees the manual weeding process tion has doubled in the past 10 years,
out on his tractor for his paddy fields, and spraying of pesticides, making and MP is now the second largest pro-
wading through the slush created by sure that not a single furrow is over- ducer of wheat from being the fourth
a surplus monsoon. For the past five looked by the hired labour. It is, after largest some years ago. The numbers
years, ever since branded rice com- all, his gold. He will return home only are even more impressive when one
panies began making their way to this around sunset, tired but pleased at takes into account the fact that agri-
area to buy produce, Khan has sown the prospect of a bumper crop some cultural output in the country grew at
rice paddy and reaped the benefits. months from now. a paltry 1.1 per cent in 2014-15, and
Khan’s agricultural arsenal includes Madhya Pradesh clocked more that the farm sector’s contribution to
tractors, heavy-duty hydraulic trol- than 20 per cent growth in 2014-15 the GDP is constantly declining.
leys, ploughs, drills and sprays, all over the previous year. It has come MP’s chief minister, Shivraj Singh
Chouhan, who occupied the state’s top
political office while this turnaround BUMPER CROP fortunes, and one of them is the enter-
prise of the farmers themselves.
took place, has a direct connect with Madhya Pradesh’s agricultural Rewind to year 2005. Soyabean
this issue. He is known to visit his farm turnaround, in numbers cultivation, once hailed as a sure route
at Bais village in Vidisha district, about to prosperity for MP’s farmers, had
AREA UNDER CULTIVATION
60 km from state capital Bhopal, two become mired in macro-level issues
to three times a month. There, in con- such as low exports, erratic rainfall,
2004-05 2014-15 GROWTH
sultation with caretakers, he over- and increasingly problematic pest-
sees his pomegranate plantation and
poly house—a kind of greenhouse—in 191.7 230.7 20% control. The initial success with soya-
bean cultivation from the ’80s onward
which Gerbera daisies are grown, and (Figures in lakh hectares) had ushered in a wave of mechanisa-
keeps tabs on how his flowers fare at tion and rural prosperity. But by 2005,
the market. Having already used the AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION returns on that crop had plummeted,
‘kisan putra’ tag to his advantage in and farmers were looking for the next
his political career, CM Chouhan often 2004-05 2014-15 GROWTH big thing. It was then that they began
holds forth these days as a kisan him- to consider the cultivation of ‘bas-
self—one of the 9.88 million farmers in 214 450.6 111% mati’ paddy as a viable alternative.
the state—speaking at numerous pub- (Figures in lakh tonnes) (MP is currently fighting a legal bat-
lic meetings on the virtues of adopt- tle to allow its rice crop to be certified
ing progressive agricultural practices IRRIGATED AREA as ‘Basmati’, which is a geographical
over traditional ones to make farming tag, just as ‘Darjeeling’ is for tea and
2004-05 2014-15 GROWTH
remunerative. However, to lay all the ‘Champagne’ is for sparkling wine. At
credit for this turnaround at one man’s
door would be simplistic. There are 46.3 96 107% present, MP’s rice crop has not been
granted that distinction.)
many factors that have contributed (Figures in lakh hectares) Paddy of the traditional kind
to the resurgence in MP’s agricultural Source: Department of Statistics, Economics and Planning has been cultivated for long in the
SOHAIL KHAN, A FARMER FROM

CHITORA VILLAGE IN RAISEN
DISTRICT, MADHYA PRADESH
PANKAJ TIWARI
PRODUCTION OF MAJOR CROPS

lakh tonnes in 2004-05/ 2014-15
WHEAT PADDY GRAM ARHAR MOONG SOYABEAN
73.3/ 184.8 13.1/ 54.4 24.8/ 29.6 2.5/ 5.1 2.2/ 5 37.6/ 63.5
Growth 152% Growth 315% Growth 19% Growth 104% Growth 127% Growth 69%
AREA UNDER HORTICULTURE CROPS HORTICULTURE PRODUCTION CERTIFIED SEED AVAILABILITY

lakh hectares in 2002-03 2014-15 lakh tonnes in 2003-04 2014-15 lakh quintals in 2003-04 2014-15
Growth Growth Growth

3.5 15.2 334% 36 247.6 588% 19.3 35 81%
eastern and northern parts of the it contained. When he told me it was government. Ensuring the avail-
state. However, the central Narmada cash from the sale of 600 quintals ability of water for irrigation was
region, including the districts of of paddy, I could barely believe my one such. The implementation of
Raisen, Hoshangabad, Narsinghpur ears. I offered to keep the bag safely already-announced irrigation proj-
and Harda—of late, the most pros- inside the house,” says Chauhan. ects was speeded up, and a restruc-
perous areas for agriculture in MP— Soon, companies manufactur- turing of the water sector also took
took to rice cultivation in a big way, ing consumer goods were scouting place, thanks to aid from the World
preparing the ground for a transfor- the area to tap its disposable wealth. Bank. The rural development depart-
mation. Today, produce is being pro- “There was a consistently high growth, ment also contributed to this increase
cured from farmers of this region by of about 30 per cent, in the sales of in productivity, via schemes such as
numerous branded rice companies, SUVs on either side of the Narmada, Kapil Dhara, under the Mahatma
mainly for export. While procure- in Raisen and Hoshangabad district, Gandhi National Rural Employment
ment prices depend on global factors, for about three years. It was mainly Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS). The
the crop has offered unprecedentedly possible after farmers took to cultiva- increased availability of certified
high returns—as much as Rs 4,500 a tion of rice in the area. Growth was seeds was another such state govern-
quintal, or Rs 90,000 per acre—which recorded in sales in all areas, except ment intervention. There has been
is six times more than soyabean. The Bundelkhand, where sales were slug- an almost ninefold increase in avail-
introduction of long grain rice, such as gish. A similar jump was seen in trac- ability of certified seeds over the past
Basmati, has ensured a productivity tor sales as well,” says Virendra Singh 20 years, which was considered a key
increase from 6.6 quintals per hectare of Win Win automobiles, a Mahindra driver of growth. In a similar vein, the
in 2002-03 to 24.5 quintals per hect- dealership in the area. shortage of fertilisers was an endur-
are in 2014-15. This success would not have been ing theme in MP’s agriculture cycle till
Dharmendra Chauhan, a farmer possible without some key inter- about five years ago. Administrative
in the Bai tehsil of Raisen district, ventions on the part of the state interventions such as advance stock
narrates a story to illustrate the building have helped increase the
booming prosperity. “One night, a amount available for use by farmers.
few years ago, a farmer from a neigh- Mechanisation has been on a
bouring village came to my house on BASMATI RICE steady rise too. There has been a
his way back from the mandi, after CULTIVATION HAS threefold increase in tractor sales in
selling his crop. He said he didn’t OFFERED FABULOUS the past 10 years, which is partly due
want to carry a gunny bag he was to the easy credit available to farmers
holding at that hour, and wanted to
RETURNS—AS MUCH for the purpose. Two hundred villag-
leave it with me. I casually told him to AS Rs 4,500 A QUINTAL, es have been developed as yantradoot
keep it in the shed, asking him what OR Rs 90,000 PER ACRE gram (mechanised villages), where
PANKAJ TIWARI
output increases in agriculture have
been recorded in third-party evalu-
ations. However, naysayers point to
the fact that the surge in tractor sales
corresponded with the infrastructure
boom in the country, and especially
the spike in road construction in rural
areas under the Pradhan Mantri Gram
Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The invest-
ment in tractors during this period,
they say, was indirectly subsidised by
the high demand for rental earthmov-
ers by road contractors. Nonetheless,
the availability of tractors seems to
have helped bring a larger area under
cultivation in the state.
Another factor contributing to the
increased production is the availabil-
ity of power for agricultural use. This
has been a contentious issue in MP for
quite some time now—power avail-
ability was the ‘B’ in ‘BSP’, or ‘bijli, MP CHIEF MINISTER SHIVRAJ
sadak, paani’, the issue successfully SINGH CHOUHAN BEING
GREETED BY FARMERS
invoked by the BJP in the 2003 assem-
bly elections to oust the Congress. In
2008-09, the availability of power for
MADHYA PRADESH
29%
OF ALL PULSES
pumps stood at 0.80 Kilowatts (Kw)
ARE PRODUCED
per hectare. By 2013-14, that number IS RANKED... IN MP
had increased to 1.36 Kw per hectare.
Currently, about 16.1 billion units of
in chana and soyabean
53%
power is being supplied to the agricul- 1 production OF ALL SOYABEAN
ture sector, up from 6.7 billion units IS PRODUCED
in 2009-10. IN MP
in masoor, wheat and
One of the most striking incentives 2 mustard production
28%
offered by the Shivraj Singh Chouhan
OF ALL OILSEEDS
government has been farm credit at ARE PRODUCED
in arhar
zero per cent interest, available since 3 production IN MP
2012-13. In the past, farm loans were
given at 5 per cent interest. The waiv-
ing of interest not only ensures that
farmers buy fertilisers and seeds on health cards are to be issued to 10.7 mars the MP story. The 2001 census
credit, but also leaves them with cash million farmers, and to better predict put the number of farmers in the state
in hand for other expenses. “There seasonal changes, 1,200 automat- at 11 million, but as per the 2011 cen-
are about 2.8 million farmers in MP ed weather stations and 33,000 rain sus, there were only 9.88 million farm-
in the credit net,” says cooperatives gauges will be placed across the state. ers. In other words, there was a net
minister Vishwas Sarang. “We plan to There is also a focus on the use of cus- drop of 1.12 million in the number of
increase this number to 3.8 million in tomised farming equipment as this farmers in these ten years. If farming
the next two years. A total amount of will promote mechanisation. Another in MP was so profitable, ask some, why
about Rs 13,500 is disbursed as credit focus area will be to bring more area would this happen? Moreover, in 2001,
to each farmer through state govern- under cultivation for the ‘third crop there were 7 million people working
ment cooperative banks at zero per cycle’ in the summer months; current- as agriculture labour; this increased
cent interest in a given year.” ly, this stands at 3.6 lakh hectares. The to 12.2 million in 2011. Do these num-
In a bid to keep up the tempo, the state government has also adopted the bers suggest that farmers have been
state government has decided to focus target of doubling farm incomes in the becoming labour on their own lands,
on soil health, to determine what kind next five years. The critics, however, or did the increase in labour supply
of fertilisers need to be supplied. Soil point to an interesting statistic that come from somewhere else? n

HEALTH SPECIAL
ALL THOSE NIGGLING EVERYDAY PROBLEMS DISSECTED,

FROM ORAL HEALTH TO BLOOD PRESSURE, DIABETES TO BREATHLESSNESS
BRAND NEW GADGETS FOR HEALTH JUNKIES
ILLUSTRATIONS BY ANIRBAN GHOSH
10 TIPS TO
KEEP YOUR
LUNGS
HEALTHY
By DR ARVIND KUMAR
Senior consultant, laparoscopic,
thoracic thoracoscopic and
robotic surgeon,
SIR GANGA RAM HOSPITAL, DELHI
1 PUT IN A LITTLE EFFORT
For the most part, the body has a natural defence

mechanism to protect your lungs from germs and
dirt. Simple lifestyle changes and a healthy diet
will take care of the rest
2 QUIT SMOKING, EVEN SECOND-HAND
Smoking causes not just lung cancer, but also

chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (such as
chronic bronchitis and emphysema). Remember,
second-hand smoke is highly toxic as well, and can
play havoc with your lungs
4 KEEP AIR PURIFYING PLANTS AT HOME
Houseplants like spider plants, money plants,

3 AVOID EXPOSURE TO POLLUTANTS bamboo palms, aloe vera, English ivy and Boston
ferns act as natural air purifiers for indoor pollutants
Avoid exercising outdoors when the air quality and toxins. Keep two per 100 square feet
is poor. Pollutants like car emissions and
chemicals at home and in the workplace—such
as Radon gas, which seeps out of concrete—can
all affect the lungs 5 PROTECT YOURSELF ON THE JOB
Is your job putting your lungs at risk? Be it

construction sites or beauty parlours, occupational
asthma accounts for approximately 15 per cent of
patient complaints these days

6 KEEP INFECTION AT BAY
Even a cold or respiratory infection can

sometimes become serious. Wash your
hands regularly with soap and water, avoid
crowds during the flu season, and maintain
oral hygiene. Stay at home if you are sick
7 GO FOR AEROBIC EXERCISE
Forty-five minutes of an activity that leaves

you breathless—brisk walking, slow run-
ning or jogging—at least five times a week,
will improve lung function tremendously.
Yoga and breathing exercises are very ben-
eficial as well
8 EAT A LOW FAT DIET
A low-fat diet with plenty of water, along with

cruciferous vegetables such as
broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and kale, and
fruits such as pomegranates, apples, oranges
and grapefruit can improve lung health
9 KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS
Coughing, wheezing or breathing problems

with little or no physical exertion; chest pain
(which becomes worse while inhaling or
coughing); coughing up phlegm or blood—if
any of these symptoms persist for over a
month, consult a doctor
10 LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD
Learn to say no to extra work or share tasks

with others. Make time for yourself, to get
enough sleep and to go for regular health
check-ups. Lung diseases often go
undetected until they turn serious
10 TIPS ON HOW TO CONTROL
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
By DR SURANJIT CHATTERJEE
Senior Consultant,
7 GO SLOW ON COFFEE
Internal Medicine, Cut back on caffeine intake. Effects on BP aren’t clear, but
INDRAPRASTHA APOLLO the possibility of a slight increase in blood pressure exists
HOSPITAL, DELHI
8 LEARN TO SLEEP BETTER
Sleep well for 6-8 hours at night. Studies show that less
1 GIVE 30 MINUTES TO YOUR BODY than five hours increases the risk of hypertension
Engage in aerobic physical activity for at least 30

minutes daily. Walking, jogging, cycling,
swimming and dancing are the best exercises for 9 BEAT BACK STRESS
lowering blood pressure (BP)
Take out time to relax, join hobby classes, do things you
enjoy. Take 20 minutes a day to breathe deeply, meditate
2 WEIGH YOURSELF EVERY DAY
Maintain normal body weight (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/ 10 LAST RESORT MEDICINE
m² for adults). Keep an eye on the waistline:
too much bulge there indicates a risk of high BP Consult the doctor if lifestyle modifications don’t help.
He’ll start you on anti-hypertensive medications
3 KNOW YOUR ALCOHOL LIMITS
Limit your alcohol consumption: only one stan-

dard drink (or 12 ounces of beer/five ounces of
table wine/1.5 oz shot of spirits) a day for women,
and not more than two for men
4 BE NICOTINE-FREE
Quit smoking. There’s no solid proof that smoking

causes high BP, but every cigarette you light up
spikes your BP temporarily
5 KNOCK OFF THE SALT
Reduce dietary sodium intake to no more than 6 gm

of sodium chloride a day. Salt makes your body hold
on to more water. The extra stored water hikes up BP
6 TRACK WHAT YOU EAT
Go for a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables

and low-fat dairy products. Avoid canned foods,
processed foods and fast foods
10 WAYS TO STAY
ON TRACK WITH
DIABETES
By DR V. MOHAN
Chairman & Chief Diabetologist,
DR MOHAN’S DIABETES
SPECIALITIES CENTRE, CHENNAI
1 TAKE CARE OF YOUR DIET
Follow a low-carbohydrate, high-fibre diet; have whole

grains instead of refined grains (stripped of important
vitamins, minerals). Try and avoid sugar
2 MOVE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN
Physical activity is key to lifetime management of diabe-

tes. It can bring down glucose in your blood, help control
diabetes, maintain weight and prevent complications
3 DON’T FORGET TO TAKE YOUR MEDICINES
A healthy diet and physical activity are a must but dia-

betes also needs to be managed firmly from the time of
diagnosis with medication
4 MONITOR YOUR DIABETES
Buy a glucometer to monitor glucose levels at home.

Check your HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin) once in three
months, make sure it is always below seven per cent
5 GO FOR REGULAR CHECK-UPS
Go for regular check-ups with your diabetologist,

even if you feel well and your parameters are
normal. Diabetes is a silent disease and needs
constant monitoring
6 THINK BEYOND BLOOD
High sugar in your blood for a long time can

harm the eyes, kidneys, heart, nerves and feet by
clogging up small blood vessels. Go for annual
check-ups
7 YOGA TO THE RESCUE
Practise yoga and spend about 30 minutes a day

on exercises. Pranayama and meditation are
particularly useful
8 BEWARE OF STRESS
Physical and emotional stress can take a great toll

on health. Stress pushes up blood sugar levels.
Learn relaxation techniques, take up a hobby that
helps you de-stress
9 DON’T BELIEVE ALL THAT YOU READ
Books, articles, TV shows or internet sites often

claim breakthroughs or cures. Don’t be taken in.
Many of these are erroneous or blatantly wrong.
Consult your doctor
10 TRY A SPECIALIST
Go to a doctor who specialises in diabetes. He/she

will be able to think beyond sugar levels, look at
other co-morbidities, like blood pressure and lipids
10 MISTAKES YOU ARE
MAKING WITH YOUR TEETH
By DR O.P. KHARBANDA
Professor & Head of Centre for Dental Education and Research,
Chief of Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Deformities,
ALL INDIA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, DELHI
1 TAKE A PEA-SIZED DOLLOP 4 IF YOU ARE A DIABETIC
Brush twice a day for 60 seconds. The toothpaste needs You are most prone to bacterial infections and pyorrhoea.
to be a small, pea-size amount on your brush. Make sure Take special care, as good gum health contributes to bet-
it contains fluoride; abrasive toothpastes damage teeth ter glucose control. Consult your dentist regularly
2 DON’T BE HARSH ON YOUR TEETH 5 SEAL TO HEAL, NOT DRILL TO FILL
Choose a soft-bristle brush. Hard brushes, forceful or Sealing all pits, grooves and fissures on the molars is
faulty brushing, dominant hand dexterity—all can lead the best way to stop decay and cavities. It’s an advance-
to ‘toothbrush cavities’ at the neck of the teeth ment from the ‘drill to fill’ strategy practised earlier
3 TAKE CARE OF YOUR GUMS 6 FILL IT UP EARLY

Pyorrhoea, bad breath, bleeding gums—it’s something Fill up persistent cavities early, to prevent tooth loss and
91 per cent Indians suffer from. Typically sets in when gum decay. Cap the tooth in root canal and replace miss-
the body goes through hormonal changes: puberty, ing teeth at the soonest, to maintain structural integrity
pregnancy, menopause, etc
7 CHECK OUT UNSEEN CAVITIES
Loss of mineral from teeth enamel appears as white spots

on the surface—indicating decay due to faulty brushing
and poor eating habits. You’ll need to re-mineralise area
8 DO NOT IGNORE SNORING
Snoring and breathing through the mouth may indicate

anatomical issues—nasal obstructions, deviated septum
or askew jaw alignment. Corrective surgery will be needed
9 BEWARE OF ULCERS AND WHITE PATCHES
If mouth ulcers or leukoplakia (white patches on the

tongue, gums, cheek linings) persist for over a week, con-
sult a doctor. Serious cases may be linked to oral cancer
10 GO FOR REGULAR CHECK-UPS
There is evidence that visual examinations reduce the

mortality rate in oral cancer—the most common cancer
in India—in high-risk individuals
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10 health gadgets worth trying
HEART RATE MONITORS/

MEDITATION ASSISTANT EARPHONES
Strap this headband over your A chest strap with heart rate sensors
ears and run the app. Soothing knitted into the fabric and Bluetooth
sounds calm you. The Muse earphones with tech to track heart rate.
also measures brain data, Both linked to an iOS/Android app
which you can review
POSTURE COACH
Lumo Lift can be clipped to an
undershirt, collar or bra strap. When you
slouch, it vibrates and reminds you to
correct your posture
SMART BELTS
SMART GLASSES Essentially high-end lifestyle and
wellness belts. Samsung’s Welt records
Digital Eye Glasses are computer-
waist size, eating habits, tracks steps,
supported wearables. Apart from
sitting down time. Belty even self-
activity tracking, GPS, digital camera
adjusts when one eats too much
et al, some offer augmented reality,
fatigue measuring, eyesight correction
FITNESS TRACKERS/SMART WATCHES
Apple, Jawbone, Fitbit, Misfit, Mi Band...
BODY FAT AND MUSCLE TRACKER the world is yours if you wish to measure
steps taken, distance covered, calories
Measures fat percentage, muscle
burnt. They also track sleep, monitor
quality using sensors, displayed
heart rate and much more
instantly on screen, and synced via
Bluetooth to a mobile app
PAIN BELT
Quell uses Transcutaneous
Electrical Nerve Stimulation
technology. The passport-
sized device promises
relief to nerve-related
pain in 15 minutes
SMART SHOES
Intelligent footwear from Chinese tech giant
Xiaomi, with sensors in the sole connected with
a smartphone via Bluetooth. Number of steps, FITNESS SOCKS
calories burnt, all fitness-related data via app E-textile sensors capture specialised runn-
ing data. An anklet snaps to sock’s sensors
and communicates with an Android app
THE OTHER TURN-ONS
TURN ON BLUETOOTH THE INTELLIGENT YOGA MAT THE BRIGHTER SMILE DON’T FORGET THE MINT ENHANCE YOUR SKINTONE
FOR WHITE TEETH SmartMat, the portable, The GLO Brilliant Teeth Breathometer Mint draws Sonic micro-massage gadget
Oral-B's smart web-connected computerised yoga mat, Whitener has Guided Light a sample of air from mouth with anti-ageing serum and
toothbrush syncs with an app and calibrates specifically to give you Optics (GLO) technology, to measure odour-causing Clarisonic Opal Sonic Infusion
gives you real-time data real-time feedback on correct uses heat and light along compounds. App displays System. Keeps your skin
on how well you're brushing balance and alignment with active whitening gels ‘fresh breath rating’ looking young and healthy
HEALTH & WELLNESS
HOW UNCONTROLLED
DIABETES AFFECTS
4 HABITS THAT KEEP YOUR BRAIN FIT YOUR BODY
Diabetes increases
risk of coronary artery
disease with chest
pain (angina), heart
attack, brain stroke and
narrowing of arteries
YOUR BODY CLOCK IS NERVE CELLS (NEURONS) & ROUTINE SIMPLIFIES RESEARCH SHOWS THAT (atherosclerosis)
CONTROLLED BY AN AREA DENDRITES, BRANCHES LIFE, BUT IT’S DEADLY MEDITATION INCREASES
of the brain that respo growing on these cells for your brain. So go grey matter in your brain.
nds to light. So if you rise help the brain transmit out of the box, learn Exercises that focus your
with the sun and go to messages. You need to new stuff, stay social, mind are good for neuro
bed not long after sun have lots of dendrites. do things you haven’t logical growth: solve puz
set, your brain proces Fish oil supplements done before. The brain zles, travel, learn
ses information better help growth thrives on novelty programming, read, write...
WHAT VAPING DOES

TO YOUR HEART
New research, presented in August at the
European Society of Cardiology congress
in Rome, found that ecigarettes adversely
68%
people, age 65
impact the main artery of the heart: a 30min or older, with diabetes
ute session has a similar impact on the stiff die of heart diseases,
ness of the aorta (main artery of the body) as 16% of stroke
five minutes of smoking a cigarette
UPGRADE
2-4
times more risk
GOLDEN TURMERIC LATTE of heart disease or
The Indian spice and Ayurveda staple a stroke for an adult
for centuries is a “rising star”, reports with diabetes
Google Food Trends, 2016. It’s now
the morning drink of choice for
health aficionados across the world
THE ‘PERFECT FACE’

The world’s most desirable face, according to the Centre
30%
patients with
for Advanced Facial Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery, Type 1 diabetes and
London: Keira Knightley’s eyes, Kate Middleton’s nose, 10–40% with Type 2
Penelope Cruz’s lips, Jennifer Lopez’s eyebrows, Angelina eventually suffer
Jolie’s cheeks, Cher’s jawline, Selena Gomez’s chin...
kidney failure
EIGHT
A diabetes patient can
out of 10 Indians are not covered by any sort of health insurance, reports a 2016 survey avoid complications by
by the National Sample Survey Organisation keeping blood glucose
and BP levels as close to
normal as possible, eat
RX LAUGHTER ing healthy meals, main
MBBS fact: Male technicians enjoy being called ‘Doctor’. Female doctors spend taining a healthy weight,
half their time explaining they’re not nurses exercising regularly and
(@MedicalHumour) not smoking

LEISURE BOOKS
THE POLITICS
OF PLUNDER
In a departure from ‘postcolonial melancholia’, an unsparing account of the exploitation,
expropriation and racism that accompanied the imperial project in India
By Shashi Tharoor
I
n the first decade of the 21st century, it began to seem reflected in such delights as a burger called the Old
that the British Empire was coming back into fashion. Colonial, a London bar named The Plantation and an
At the high noon of early 21st-century imperial hubris, Oxford cocktail (issued during the debate on reparations
with America poised to invade Iraq, Russia in retreat, in which I spoke) named Colonial Comeback. A 2014
the Taliban in disarray and bin Laden in hiding, and the YouGov poll revealed that 59 per cent of respondents
currents of globalisation flowing strongly (and seemingly thought the British empire was “something to be proud
irresistibly) around the world, the controversial Scottish of”, and only 19 per cent were “ashamed” of its misdeeds;
historian Niall Ferguson published Empire: How Britain almost half the respondents also felt that the countries
Made the World, which saw in the past all the virtues he “were better off” for having been colonised. An astonish-
wished to celebrate in the present. ing 34 per cent opined that “they would like it if Britain
The British, Ferguson wrote, echoing a string of impe- still had an empire”.
rial apologists like Lawrence James and Jeremy Paxman, Jon Wilson’s new book comes as a healthy correc-
combined commerce, conquest and some ‘evangelical tive to such nostalgia. Melancholia there is, but not for
imperialism’ in an early form of globalisation or, in a par- lost post-colonial glories; Wilson provides an unspar-
ticularly infelicitous word, ‘Anglobalisation’. In so doing, ing account of the exploitation, expropriation and rac-
Ferguson argued, Britain bequeathed to a large part of ism that were fundamental to the imperial project. His
the world nine of its most distinctive and admirable fea- account of the British empire in India is a straightfor-
tures, the very ones that had made Britain great: ward narrative, from the first trading posts of
the English language, English forms of land the East India Company to the present day, and
tenure, Scottish and English banking, the com- while not everything he says is agreeable or
mon law, Protestantism, team sports, the ‘night need be agreed with, it presents, with impres-
watchman’ state, representative assemblies and sive erudition and substantial flair, a compre-
the idea of liberty. hensive picture of the colonial experience of a
Today, in the era of Brexit and Trump, with conquered people.
globalisation assailed daily in the very places The British imposed themselves by force
that gave it birth and US-midwifed Iraq in dis- because they chose to, not because they were
array, Ferguson’s triumphalism seems a little resisted. There was such economic advantage
less enduring. But the attitudes behind it have India Conquered in economic cooperation that Indian rulers
not entirely disappeared, especially in Britain. by Jon Wilson never made an effort to push the Portuguese
Recent years have seen the rise of what the aca- Simon & Schuster and other colonial powers out of the seas. It
demic Paul Gilroy called “postcolonial melan- Pages 564 was cheaper for merchants to buy cartazes
cholia”, the yearning for the glories of Empire, Price Rs 799 (licences) and carry on with profitable business

GETTY IMAGES
EMPIRE IN MOTION A MILITARY PROCESSION DURING THE DELHI DURBAR, DECEMBER 1911
than to engage in conflict. The irony was that, as Wilson as they paid their dues to the Company directors.
shows, when the Maratha navy under Kanhoji Angre Wilson’s account shows that pre-colonial India had a
did resist colonial companies, he was branded a pirate dynamic economic and political order—“a society of little
when he was actually the naval chief of the Marathas societies”—where constant negotiation between rulers
and it was the colonial powers that were encroaching and the ruled was the norm. India’s villages were not
on his legitimate jurisdiction. self-reliant republics that lived in blissful isolation. They
Indian rulers, Wilson says, had funded their rule not were networked and connected, and it was the destruc-
from taxing the cultivators “but from each ruler’s capac- tion of Indian industry by the British that forced people
ity to tap into networks of global trade”. The British to retreat and focus on farming. But the British made
dismantled Indian trade and this ancient profession unviable:
restricted Indian shipping. At they imposed a rigid revenue-
the same time, they destroyed collection system, established
India’s textile and ‘wootz’ steel a landlord class and ruthlessly
industries. By the early 1800s, WHEN MARATHA NAVAL taxed the peasants, creating the
India was reduced from a land phenomenon of landlessness and
of artisans, traders, warriors, CHIEF KANHOJI ANGRE inventing, for the first time, large-
merchants and nomads into an scale rural poverty.
agrarian society. Throughout, the
RESISTED COLONIAL Wilson depicts all this well,
Company’s motive was profit, not COMPANIES, HE WAS with rich historical accounts of
good government; the well-being Clive’s rapacity and Company
of Indians was irrelevant, so long BRANDED THE PIRATE loot. He is also unsparing in his

LEISURE BOOKS
depictions of British brutality and violence. The British account were out of bounds, so the scope for intrigue
had “the small-minded psychology of the embattled and corruption expanded. Indians were anxious that
bully” in a strange land where they were in a minority, decisions were being made over which they had no say.
responding “to their sense of vulnerability and inability Clerks were bribed to find out what was being written
to get their way, to the absence of strong relationships in the all-important files. The Raja of Nadia was so con-
with local society, by asserting power through petty cerned about what was happening behind closed doors
acts of humiliation”. In other words, it was the aware- that he paid a Bengali clerk in the Collector’s office to tell
ness of their relative insignificance in the wider con- him what was written in the letters exchanged between
text of Indian trade and politics that caused the British the district capital and Calcutta.
to burst out now and then with acts of violence. “The But regulations, after all, were framed and were
British army certainly seems to have been ruled by meant to be applied across the board without refer-
alternating fits of rage and fear.” The Jallianwalla Bagh ence to context and “created only an illusion of secu-
massacre was the culmination and the nadir of a policy rity, often merely disconnecting officers from the
that had been manifest throughout British rule, from political circumstances that called upon them to make
the Vellore mutiny in 1805 to the ruthless suppression decisions in the first place”. The law was no better:
of the 1857 revolt and the reprisals in Delhi, whose Macaulay’s penal code was “a body of jurisprudence
reconquest by the British was unrivalled for its blood- written for everyone and no one, which had no rela-
spattered carnage. tionship to previous Indians laws or any other form of
government at all”. Imperial law was an instrument of
conquest, “a system of rules imposed without consult-
B
ing the people to which it applied”.
rutality was tempered by bureaucracy. This was hardly surprising. “The first, and often the
Bureaucratic despotism was introduced in the late only, purpose of British power in India,” writes Wilson,
18th century, when Lord Cornwallis had announced that “was to defend the fact of Britain’s presence on Indian
“all rights had been reduced to writing”. As John Stuart ground.” For most of the imperialists, India was a career,
Mill, who luxuriated in the title of ‘Examiner of Indian not a crusade. Changing India was not the object; mak-
Correspondence’ for the East India Company, put it, the ing money out of India was.
“great success of our Indian ad- Wilson is dismissive of most
ministration” was that it was “car- pretensions to grand imperial pur-
ried on in writing”. But this was, in pose, one way or the other. “Its
fact, the great flaw of the British operation was driven instead by
system. Indian rulers had in the ITS ADMINISTRATION, narrow interests and visceral pas-
past negotiated with their local sions,” he argues, “most important-
subjects because they had to live ‘CARRIED ON IN ly, the desire to maintain British
with them. Now the Company kept sovereign institutions in India for
a distance from its subjects and
WRITING’, RUINED its own sake.” In other words,
only cared for one thing—a net- THE RECIPROCAL Empire had no larger purpose than
work that delivered cash to direc- its own perpetuation. No wonder,
tors in faraway London as quickly RELATIONSHIP then, that it did India little good.
and efficiently as possible. In real- As Wilson has argued else-
ity, as Wilson points out, the ex-
BETWEEN THE STATE where: “In 1750, Indians had
traordinary flow of paper that Mill AND ITS SUBJECTS a similar standard of living to
celebrated “constructed a world of people in Britain. Now, average
letters, ledgers and account books Indian incomes are barely a
that had its own pristine order but could not compre- tenth of the British level in terms of real purchasing
hend or rule the forces which shaped rural society…the power. It is no coincidence that 200 years of British
new maze of paperwork blocked the creation of the pub- rule occurred in the intervening time.” It is a sentence
lic, reciprocal relationship between the state and local he could have usefully added to the present volume.
lords which political authority and economic prosperity Wilson’s is a thoroughly-researched, persuasively nar-
had relied on before”. rated account of the British Raj. It arrived on my desk just
It also meant that decisions were increasingly made as I had sent off to my publishers the manuscript of my
in offices, behind closed doors, by foreigners with no own A Long Darkness: The British Empire in India, which
connection to those whose fates they were deciding. it complements most admirably. At this rate, Prof. Ferguson
The public display of the rulers’ authority was replaced and his ilk may well find themselves outnumbered before
by the private circulation of incomprehensible paper. the present decade is over.
Decisions were being made by people who were out
of the view of those impacted by the decisions. As the
public places where Indians could hold their rulers to The author is a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha
LEISURE BOOKS
AD NAUSEAM
A collection of random factoids adding up to nothing
By Amita Baviskar
A
young couple walk into a kitchen Prestige ad is thus less about the realities
appliances shop, where the canny of “a newly-married couple and a young
shopkeeper emotionally blackmails nation”, more a gesture towards dreams of
them into buying the more expen- conjugal love in a nuclear family.
sive Prestige pressure cooker. The advertise- Parameswaran, however, never goes
ment tagline: “Jo biwi se sach-much karte below the skin of an advertisement. He
pyaar, woh Prestige se kaise karein inkaar?” describes individual ads at length and, by
Love your wife? Get her the costlier cooker. way of analysis, simply announces that this
Ambi Parameswaran’s book promises to ad “captured the imagination” of [children/
deconstruct Indian advertisements like these young mothers/insert target audience here].
to provide “interesting insights into a soci- These stories usually end in a self-congratula-
ety in transition”. It also declares its aim of tory ta-dah!: “The campaign made the brand
improving public knowledge about the adver- the largest-selling [toothpaste/fairness cream/
tising industry. Alas, the book does neither. filter cigarette/insert product here] in India
Here are Parameswaran’s “interesting within a few years of its launch.” There’s little
insights” about the Prestige ad: “This televi- to suggest that advertising is only one aspect
sion commercial, made in 1982 and directed of selling something, product quality or price
by Prahlad Kakkar, then a confirmed bache- or distribution networks also matters. Those
lor, was widely aired during the late seventies who want to understand the advertising ind-
capturing the ethos of a newly-married cou- ustry—its technical and financial aspects, the
ple and a young nation getting ready to set up shifting shares of print and TV, event spon-
new homes. Interestingly, the pressure cooker sorship, product placement—will find only
is one of the most commonly used household scattered comments here.
appliances in India; over 80 per cent of all This amiable garrulity enters airhead
Indian homes have one. The humble pressure territory when he rues the low sales of
cooker is so ingrained in our national psyche over-the-counter drugs (does he not
that it can be spotted in almost all NRI homes know that self-medication is a problem
around the world. Obviously, Indian husbands, that, among other things, has contrib-
wherever they may live, love their wives a lot, at uted to antibiotic-resistant superbugs?)
least as evidenced by the prevalence of pressure and seems to think it a pity that “the
cookers, many with unique safety features.” Indian working woman owns just one [lux-
This is the sort of fatuous twaddle that pas- ury handbag]” whereas her Chinese counter-
ses for analysis in the book. Consider this: How part owns at least five. An adman is sincerely
could an ad made in 1982 be aired in the late or cynically committed to pushing consum-
’70s? Why is India “a young nation” in the erism at all costs so perhaps one should not
’80s, more than 30 years after Independence? expect any soul-searching or critical distance.
Also, it is 80 per cent of urban Indian homes But it’s when Parameswaran dresses up his
that own cookers and they comprise only 31 fellow-professionals as socially enlightened
per cent of all households in India. (Almost 70 heroes doing their bit for the empowerment
per cent of Indian households are rural and of the oppressed that his self-serving narrative
only 38 per cent of them own pressure cookers. becomes ludicrous.
This means that only 50 per cent of all Indian He lavishes praise on the creative triumphs
Nawabs, Nudes,
Noodles: India through
homes own a cooker.) Think also of how the of admen and they, in turn, have contribu- 50 Years of Advertising
ad elides dowry and marriage-related trans- ted glowing back-cover blurbs on the book’s by Ambi Parameswaran
actions wherein most brides bring pressure “amazing insight” (Kakkar), “deep wisdom” Pan McMillan India
cookers as part of their trousseau. Most newly- (Santosh Desai) and “sharp observations” Pages 301 Price Rs 419
wed Indians also don’t set up their own homes (Prasoon Joshi). Did these gentlemen read the
but join the husband’s father’s household. The book? Or is it just advertising? n

NET FLUX by LAKSHMI KUMARASWAMI
web wow Oops, Mum!

APPOSITE
REMARK 39%
THE REASONS WHY PEOPLE have found a
bug in the app
LEAVE REVIEWS OF APPS
24%
have a suggestion
73%
have had a negative
14%
Graphic by ANIRBAN GHOSH
experience
need to comment
on the latest update
60% A boy’s text to his mom
have had a positive accidentally calling her a hoe
experience Source: Apptentive, June 2016
has exploded. Over 300,000
have shared an exchange Indian-
American student Jeet Patel had
with his mother where autocorrect
twitter tattle SRK the Man changed the word ‘home’ to ‘hoe’
web win
When a netizen used

the Q&A aggregating
website Quora to
viral video
ask what actor Shah
Rukh Khan was like
in his private life,
people were probably
expecting salacious
gossip. But users were
pleasantly surprised when a former employee of SRK
Million Bucks Gaffe sent in a 12-point answer, calling him a gentleman with a Over 11 million watched
Brit journalist Piers Morgan’s sarcastic sense of humour, a foodie who sometimes eats a little girl say tearfully that
Rs 1 million bet tweet—that Eng- with his assistants if there is chhole bhature on the menu, she didn’t want to eat animals
land would win the cricket World and someone who’s always late.
Cup before India wins an Olympic
gold—has Twitter guffawing. India
has nine golds from past Olympics.
net fail Shut It out
An article suggesting how a man
Facebook fury
should approach a woman wearing A flight attendant imitating
headphones has been dubbed sexist. Looney Toons characters like
Bad Sign Published on the Australian blog, The Bugs Bunny amused over 2.7 mn
A sign in a Bengaluru Lemon Tree Modern Man, the piece written by
hotel washroom came under fire for Dan Bacon suggests waving in her
‘glorifying rape’ after it was posted face and requesting her to remove
on FB. It had a joke in which a hus- her headphones to tell her she’s hot. Many women have said that
band offers his wife to a gorilla at if she’s wearing headphones, she obviously didn’t want to be
the zoo for sexual favours. disturbed. Others, though, thought the article was ‘helpful’.
A scientist stating that we

do not need eight glasses of
what’s Perfect dog tells you how to Musical.ly lets water a day shocked 1 mn
new train, feed and manage any you lip sync with
App Alert canine breed popular songs
Follow the writer on Twitter @lkummi

THE ARTS GROUP 1890
A BAND
APART
Sixties radicals Group 1890 hoped to revolutionise
Indian art, but fell apart after just one show. Over 50
years later, a new exhibition examines their legacy
By Shougat Dasgupta
I
t happens everywhere art is made. born with these artists.” Paz was to
Which is to say, it happens every- grow close to Swaminathan, even writ-
where in the world. A group of ing a poem about him. “With a rag and
artists band together and resolve a knife”, the poem begins, “Against
to light a firecracker under the the idée fixe”, offering us an image of
staid establishment. Somewhere both Swaminathan’s radicalism, his
along the way, a manifesto is written. desire to rip it up and start again, and
And so it was that Group 1890 came his openness to new thought. By now KISHOR PAREKH
to be formed in 1962 in Bhavnagar in comprising 12 artists from across the

Saurashtra, naming themselves after country, albeit with a strong Baroda- further exhibitions were held. Several
the house in which they had come trained spine, Group 1890 organised of the artists departed for Europe;
together. The founding artists includ- a major exhibition in Delhi featuring Sheikh was already in London when
ed Jagdish Swaminathan, commonly about 10 paintings from each artist. It the group made their debut. The whole
agreed to have been the intellectual was opened by Jawaharlal Nehru. was less than its considerable parts.
impetus behind the group, Jeram Sheikh, a grey-haired eminence Many of the original group of 12 went
Patel, Ghulam Mohammed Sheikh and now, the man to turn to for a mea- on to have substantial careers—not
Ambadas Khobragade. Modern Indian sured account of the group’s formation least Jeram Patel who some blamed
art, the group claimed in its manifesto, and purpose, recalled in an inter- for the group fizzling out—but as a
“by and large has been inhibited by view that at the time, in 1963, Nehru movement, Group 1890 was stillborn.
the self-defeating purposiveness of its “appeared to be a broken man after For most of the last 50 years, few
attempts at establishing an identity.” the war with China”. He was reluctant would have known the group had even
Offenders, in their view, included to get involved. “Why me,” Sheikh said existed. Now, though, until December,
the celebrated Progressive Artists’ Nehru asked, “and Swaminathan was the group’s work is on show at DAG
Group (PAG), formed a decade-and- quick to say, ‘Sir, we have come to invite Modern in Hauz Khas Village. Group
a-half earlier by such boldface names you as a writer’. He was very pleased.” 1890 appears to have been a collective
as S.H. Raza, M.F. Husain and F.N. The group had been able to approach in name only, each artist grappling
Souza, for being too much in thrall Nehru because of Swaminathan’s polit- with questions of individual voice with-
to the West, and the revivalists of the ical connections as a member of the out reference to others in the group
earlier Bengal school for its sentimen- Communist Party of India. With Nehru beyond their combined rejection of
talised ‘Indian’ aesthetic. Group 1890 attending and Paz’s endorsement in schools and movements that had gone
sought a middle path, a homegrown the catalogue, the Lalit Kala Akademi, before. But seen together, the works
modernism. “Something precious,” where the show was held, was buzz- do have power, showing the breadth of
wrote Octavio Paz, the poet and then ing with curiosity about the new group, thought and practice in the search for
Mexican ambassador to India, in his about the direction in which they an ‘authentic’ Indian modernity.
introductory essay in the catalogue to seemed set to lead Indian art. Still, you’re left grasping at straws
the group’s first exhibition, “is being And then nothing happened. No a little bit, knowing that the artists

MEMBERS OF ‘GROUP 1890’ POSING AT
THE QUTUB MINAR IN DELHI CIRCA 1962,
SOON AFTER COMING TOGETHER.
LEFT TO RIGHT: (TOP ROW) JERAM PATEL,
HIMMAT SHAH, JYOTI BHATT; (MIDDLE
ROW) J. SWAMINATHAN, RAJESH MEHRA,
RAGHAV KANERIA (HIDING BEHIND THE
SHELL SCULPTURE); (BOTTOM ROW)
BALKRISHNA PATEL, AMBADAS, GHULAM
MOHAMMED SHEIKH, S.G. NIKAM
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT, WORKS BY

JERAM PATEL, J. SWAMINATHAN AND
GHULAM MOHAMMED SHEIKH
involved were mostly established in Recalling the exhibition, he remarked, while Swaminathan, whose personal-
their own right, came together as a was like “constructing an image with- ity dominated the group at its outset,
group only to disband almost as soon out images”. As an essay in the DAG became more famous as an impresa-
as they had come together, their legacy Modern catalogue reports, the Group rio, a ‘discoverer’ of Gond art, than he
restricted essentially to a single group 1890 catalogue “does not carry any of was as an artist.
show, however prominent. Very little the images of the featured artworks. Prayag Shukla, the art critic, in
has been recorded about the meeting None of the works sold, but after an interview to Shruti Parthasarathy
in Bhavnagar. Sheikh, in the massive [the exhibition] they were in storage, in the DAG Modern catalogue, says
catalogue (too big to be described as lost or sold over the years with few that if “one were to go searching for
a doorstopper), is quoted as saying it remembering what became of them”. the spirit, or concept, of Group 1890,
was a “meeting of mavericks”, the dis- The most famous legacy is prob- you are more likely to find it in the
cussion comprising “multiple mono- ably Patel’s blowtorch on woodcut, four issues of Contra”; Swaminathan
logues [rather] than a dialogue”. It’s but it is his rather than the group’s, co-published the magazine with Paz.
almost as if the artists chose to have The magazine published cogent criti-
‘group’ in their name as an ironic ges- cism of what a Sotheby’s catalogue
ture. Since the group only lasted for GROUP 1890 WAS A described as the “overarching influ-
the duration of a single show, almost ence of the École de Paris on the work
no critical commentary exists of the COLLECTIVE IN of PAG”. This, then, was the motive
artists as a group. And, as Paz wryly
noted in his essay, the group’s ideol-
NAME ONLY, EACH for forming Group 1890, to reject that
European influence in favour of using,
ogy is “the deliberate absence of any ARTIST GRAPPLING as Swaminathan did, tribal and folk
ideological meaning”.
The lack of information becomes
WITH THE QUESTION symbols in a new, contemporary and
urban way. The strength of Group
comical. Vivan Sundaram, a young OF INDIVIDUAL VOICE 1890 is in its artists’ critical sharpness
art student at the time, was loo- but it was a flame that barely flick-
sely involved with the group, helping
WITH NO REFERENCE ered before being quickly, unceremo-
hang their works for the exhibition. TO THE OTHERS niously, snuffed out. n

GLOSSARY by DAMAYANTI DATTA
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EYECATCHERS
SEASON’S GREETING
Busy playing model after her film
Hero proved a dud, Athiya Shetty will
vie for screen space with Ileana D’Cruz
in Mubarakan, which brings together
the uncle-nephew duo of Anil and
Arjun Kapoor.
SOUL PURPOSE
You lauded Adil Hussain’s sup-
porting act in English Vinglish. In
his latest, Mukti Bhawan, which
premiered at the Venice Film
Festival, he plays a bigger part: a
son awaiting his father’s death.
QUITE
A VOOT
S
wara Bhaskar is the latest
to join the web series plat-
form. The Nil Battey
Bad week
Sannata actor stars in Voot’s It’s
Not That Simple. Marking the re-
turn of Danish Aslam (Break ke
Baad), the six-episode show
looks at filmmakers’ favourite
topic: love and relationships.
M ZHAZO
ARJUN KAPOOR &
SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT
SHIFTING Kapoor was accused of running
BOOTS up a hefty alcohol bill for his
film’s producers; Rajput was
Archie Panjabi’s hasty exit called out for being difficult
from the American televi- during M.S. Dhoni promos. Both
sion seriesThe Good Wife denied the allegations
(TGW) left many disap-
HIGH NOTE pointed. The talented British
Apart from being the only actress, though, has found
Indian artiste at the her next gig—a recurring role
Bigsound festival in in Season 2 of thriller-drama
Australia, Indie singer and Blindspot. Panjabi plays the
songwriter Prateek head of a secret division in the
Kuhad has been invited for National Security Agency. And like
the Singapore Grand Prix her character Kalinda Sharma in
concert where the line-up TGW, she will wear boots in this n Compiled by Suhani Singh
includes Kylie Minogue. show too, she assures. Follow the writer on Twitter @suhani84
Volume XLI Number 38; For the week September 13-19, 2016, published on every Friday Total number of pages 84 (including cover pages)
DIGITAL EDITION
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE
PARE NTING
SPE C IAL
SEPTEMBER 2016
DCP No.: F. 2. (I - 20) Press / 2007
NEETA
AND
NISHKA
UNCUT
Fashion, family
and friendship
ITC GRAND
CHOLA
The Reel
Superstars
High

AND LYRICIST
Life (From left)
TOP 6
SHAPES AND
AND
SEPTEMBER 2016
(From left)
NEETA
and Neeta Lulla

and friendship
UNCUT
Designers Nishka
Fashion, family
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE
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Photo Researchers
08Challenges
Prabhakar Tiwari (Chief Photo Researcher),
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Journalist and author,
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07 LetLearnGoto
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Vol. 10 Number 9; September 2016 expectations
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COVER STORY
GIVE YOUR CHILD THE

LEEWAY TO EXPERIMENT
MOTHER-DAUGHTER TEAM OF DESIGNERS, NEETA AND NISHKA LULLA,
SHARE A BOND WHICH IS SUPPORTIVE AND FRIENDLY, RARELY CRITICAL
By SUHANI SINGH
G
oing by the chatter alone, it’s her is that you work hard and express material to give it shape. Nishka believed
difficult to tell the mother and yourself most honestly in a collection.” she had the coolest mother ever. Neeta,
child apart in the fashion Neeta was 16 when she married who has dressed Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit
designing duo Neeta and Shyam, a psychiatrist. “I was told to and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, would
Nishka Lulla. With the interview about marry because I never wanted to study,” return from her trips abroad with a
to begin, Nishka, 29, says “Maa, talk recalls Neeta whose interest lay in bagful of clothes for her daughter. “I’d
loudly” to which Neeta’s reaction is that extracurricular activities rather than blame Juhi Chawla for Nishka having so
of a teenager who has made a habit of books. A year later she had her first many pinks in her wardrobe,” says
ignoring her parent’s commands; she child, Siddharth. “My calling was ‘I will Neeta. But Nishka wouldn’t simply wear
coolly sips her Starbucks drink and sit at home, enjoy, throw kitty parties’,” clothes, she would style them. By the age
peers into the phone keeping tabs on she says. Instead her husband, with the of 10, Nishka had decided that she
the recently launched autumn winter backing of his parents, sent her to wasn’t cut out to be a doctor like her
bridal collection, Vrindavan Symphony. college to study fashion and encouraged father. After school, she immediately
For the photo shoot when Neeta, 52, her to set up her own label. Three-and- enrolled for a fashion design course at
thinks she too could do with more lip half years later, she had Nishka, who SNDT Women’s University, simul-
colour, Nishka is quick to say, “You don’t spent much of her childhood in Neeta’s taneously pursuing bachelor’s degree in
need it, Mamma”. No wonder then the studio situated in a room in the house. literature by correspondence.
popular costume designer of such films “I tried to imitate what she was doing,” Neeta credits a supportive and
as Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas and says Nishka. “After school and considerate family which enabled her to
Jodhaa Akbar, Neeta Lulla, says, “She is homework, I was making clothes for my strike a balance between maternal and
my mother. She is the biggest critic of dolls and doing embroidery.” professional responsibilities. “For the
my work and everything else.” As if on Nishka may have shared her longest time my son didn’t even call me
cue, Nishka replies, “I am the one who is mother’s passion for clothes but she ‘Mom’, he called me Neeta,” she says.
always reminding you to eat.” wasn’t an easy child to manage. “She was Designing clothes for multiple films at a
Theirs is a relationship suited for a more of a problem child than my son,” time, styling magazine shoots, building
Hollywood chick flick rather than a says Neeta. “At the parents-teacher her label, showcasing collections,
Bollywood Barjatya setting. They get meetings, I’d tell my husband to go spending time with family, Neeta
along with each other’s friends; go out because the teacher would have only managed it all without a fuss. “I never
drinking; have travelled on vacations to complaints.” A student of Bombay measured the time I spent with my
South Africa, Rome and Dubai. They Scottish School, situated right next to children. It was not about sitting with
may not always be on the same page— their home in Mahim, Nishka would be them, it was important I was around,”
Nishka thinks her mother has far too caught standing by the window staring she says. “My children have been
much black in her wardrobe and Neeta right into her mother’s studio. independent right from the beginning
thinks that Nishka’s style is a lot like hers These were early signs that Nishka because they have always seen me work.
when she was young—but they support was destined for fashion. Says Neeta, I wasn’t the sort of mother who was like
each other. Says Nishka, “It is a friendly “She learned to say ‘Match’ before ‘Study, study, you have to come first and
bond. Yes, she can be embarrassing ‘Mom’.” By the age of five, Nishka had do this’. It was quite simple; either you
when she talks me to me like a child in become a self-appointed assistant to her study or you’ll sit at home and do
front of people I work with, but she is mother at photo shoots. When Neeta nothing.” Adds Nishka, “When most of
more of a teacher and mentor to me. We was roped in to dress up Govinda and my friends’ moms would come to pick
are poles apart when it comes to Juhi Chawla in foil for a magazine cover, them up from school, I used to think
designing. What I have learned from it was young Nishka who patted the that it is cool that my mother is working.
PHOTOGRAPH BY MANDAR DEODHAR; MAKE-UP PRIYA TODARWAL; HAIR SARITA POOJARI

(From left) Nishka
and Neeta Lulla
COVER STORY
Models in
Neeta Lulla’s
creations
I was so proud of her.” Having a wear. That experience taught me that

husband who had fixed working hours you have to do what you want to do. I
compared to her more erratic schedule NISHKA MAY learned a lot about myself.”
meant the children never felt ignored. HAVE SHARED Nishka doesn’t do couture and bridal
“Shyam says, ‘You shouldn’t say no to an wear as of now. Instead she has carved a
opportunity as long as you can. He’d say HER MOTHER’S niche as a designer whose style statement
do it if you can and enjoy it.” PASSION FOR is more boho-chic, reaching out to a
Neeta’s mantra is different. “I’d say younger clientele with dresses (flared,
do it no matter what. Challenge yourself CLOTHES, BUT asymmetrical), crop tops, tunics,
and push your boundaries.” Over three SHE WASN’T jumpsuits and skirts. She also designs for
decades, Neeta has done exactly that. urban women clothing brand 109°F.
She has developed a reputation as one AN EASY Unlike her mother who dresses Indian
of India’s leading couturiers and bridal CHILD. SHE brides by celebrating India’s handloom
wear designers. Her elaborate lehengas and its craft traditions such as zardozi,
and embroidered cholis are found at the WAS MORE OF Nishka’s aesthetic is more western, with
flagship store in Mumbai, as well as in A PROBLEM a penchant for lighter hues—white, blue,
five multi- designer stores across India sea green, peach and yellow—and
and online. From working with metal CHILD THAN feminine prints. She wants to expand
and mirror to designing elegant saris HER BROTHER. her expertise to get into designing
and comfy palazzos and cotton pants, crockery and stationery.
Neeta caters to women of all age groups. This freedom of expression can be
With over 300 films to her credit and She worked at the store in Santa Cruz, attributed to Lullas’ liberal parenting
winner of four National Awards, she is understanding retail business and the style. “You can’t push them to succeed at
admired for her meticulous research workings of the designer-client everything because somewhere it takes a
and knowledge of fabrics, and is thereby, relationship. She assisted her mother on toll,” says Neeta. “We have given
sought after for period films, the most a few films. “She treated me like all other children the leeway to experiment and
recent being Mohenjo Daro. Panned on assistants at work,” says Nishka. But it succeed or fail in their field and
social media especially for the leading was important for Nishka to find her understand what their calling is.”
lady’s ostentatious headgear and going own voice as a designer and that by her Marriage to businessman Dhruv
overboard in the sartorial department, own admission took a couple of years. Mehra has taken Nishka away from
the film is the rare blip in an otherwise She started on a high, winning the home but she still visits the place she
illustrated career. Neeta is currently design for Barbie contest at Lakme grew up daily, especially to see her
designing both costumes and jewellery Fashion Week in 2009, but then it was ageing grandmother. Her bedroom,
for Gautamiputra Satkarni starring Hema followed by a lacklustre debut at the coloured pink, has been kept intact with
Malini. Apart from these roles, she is also next edition. “It was a mess. I don’t even the many teddies still perched on
the dean of the Whistling Woods School want to look back at the collection,” she shelves. “These are all mementos from
of Fashion and Design, Mumbai. says. “I knew I was going to be my trips,” says Neeta. “Shopping for her
With such an experienced compared to Neeta Lulla. I was trying to was the easiest thing to do.” For once she
professional easily accessible, Nishka’s be grand, and at the same time, put my does sound like the mother, proud that
first job was as employee of her mother. sensibilities of being girly and ready-to- her daughter has found her feet.

PARENTING
EASE OFF THE PRESSURE

they’re not the best.
Have you taught your
child to deal with this
THERE IS A FINE LINE BETWEEN CARING AND without losing face? Have
you taught your child
CARING TOO MUCH. DON’T HAVE UNREALISTIC that there is no shame in
being just who she is?
EXPECTATIONS FROM YOUR CHILD.
The culture of shaming
Why the pressure? These are fair concerns, It isn’t your fault as a
If you are a parent, ask but these are not the only parent if you are hard on
yourself why you’re issues the child will face your child. Today’s
worried about your in life. You have invested parents have also been
child’s achievement. Your a lot of time in teaching brought up using shame
answer would cover at your child to achieve but as a big mechanism to
least some of these have you also taught the keep them in check and
concerns — there is too child to fail? Take a that is what they pass on.
much competition, my common scenario; in a Shaming takes several
SADIA SAEED RAVAL child will be left behind, class of 35 children only forms like comparing
Founder and chief there are minimal one comes first. The children to others, telling
psychologist,
Mindful Spring, Mumbai resources, or I need my other 34 have to make them they will lose if they
child to be independent. peace with the fact that don’t buck up, or telling
them they are worthy
only when they win.
P
arents by nature Competition is closely
are invested in
Let off some steam tied with shame; if you
their children, If you haven’t been able to think of anything else are good, you ought to
which is needed for a since you had a child, it’s healthy for both win and if you don’t win,
child’s growth. However, of you to have some space. you’re inadequate.
of late, experts find that
the trend is moving Bringing up resilient
Family time can be utilised for sharing
towards over-investment and playing together or just relaxing. children
in children rather than a You’re preparing hard to
healthy connection with not let things go wrong
them. High pressure Go on a holiday by yourself or send your child for your child, but the
off on a holiday for a bit while you re-energise.
parents are becoming truth is they will. If not in
very common. These are academics, maybe in
parents who push their Remember, parenting is not your only role, career choices or
children to achieve in however important it may be. relationships. One way to
most areas, closely watch bring up resilient
their performance, are All your joy can’t be because of your children; it’s children is to stop
overly involved and often too much burden for them to carry and it’s too shaming them, to stop
anxious to notice the disappointing for you when they falter. putting the burden of
smallest deviation. A your self-esteem on
typical scenario we see them, to stop hoping
during counselling is a they will make you proud
burnt-out child, with their achievements.
uninterested in most Instead, what is needed
things, brought to a is connecting with them
psychologist and and giving them space;
accompanied by anxious, spending time with
exhausted parents with them and treating them
little space for connection as separate individuals
between the parents and who go through their
the child. own difficulties.
TANMOY CHAKRABORTY
PROFILE
“rebuke
Every scream was a personal
on my mothering skills
“
JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR PALLAVI AIYAR, ON HOW
MOTHERHOOD HIT HER AND WHAT WOMEN NEED TO KNOW
By SHELLY ANAND
“My nipples were bleeding, my underperforming at work. “It’s not a

uterus in an agony of cramps, and pregnancy book. I didn’t want to
my body worn out from the write an instruction manual. There is
labour and the constant waking in fact very little talk about preparing
up to feed a baby who never women for a child and childbirth.
seemed satisfied by what he was Society never prepares you for a
getting from the breast.” These child, nor your mother, doctors and
lines from Pallavi Aiyar’s book peers. I wanted to talk about all these
Babies and Bylines - Parenting on the rather than pretending that it is a
move, reflect one thing; it’s not easy PAGES 222 natural phenomenon,” she says.
being a mother. That it takes some PRICE `350 Talking about her first born,
time to adjust to motherhood, a HARPER COLLINS Ishaan, who was colicky, Aiyar says,
new baby and a different lifestyle. PUBLISHERS INDIA “Every scream was like a personal
“I had no idea of the storm that rebuke on my mothering skills. I used
parenting an infant would bring to think why my child is a crazy
to my hitherto unruffled and content life,” says demon. I avoided going out thinking what if
40-year-old Aiyar, award-winning journalist, he cries.” It was a tough time for Aiyar as a
author and mother, while talking about the professional too. There were important things
stress she had to face after her firstborn. happening around her at that time—the
“When I became a mother for the first time, Lehman Brothers crisis was all over in news-
the experience had sucker-punched me. I’d papers and on television, but she was just not
felt marooned on a new planet without a able to engage beyond her child. “For me,
map.” Mother of two sons, Ishaan, 8 and therefore, it was important to make this ordeal
Nicholas, 5, Aiyar has lived in Beijing, Brussels of motherhood public,” she says.
and Jakarta and is now based in Tokyo, Japan, So, can women have it all? Aiyar says, “No.
with diplomat husband Julio, and two cats, Life can be gendered. While I was in a state of
Tofu and Caramel, and has come a long way emergency, like a soldier on war post-
since then. She now freelances for publications childbirth, my husband, Julio, seemed to have
and has written three books; Smoke and Mirrors the mental space to pursue his interests like
and Chinese Whiskers, both which were reading and politics. While the child affected
published during the second trimester of her me the most, I resented my husband being so
two pregnancies, as well as Punjabi Parmesan. calm.” Over the years Aiyar but seems to have
For her fourth book, Babies and Bylines, made peace with the fact that the fifty-fifty
which was released about four months ago, parenting split that she had envisaged is never
Aiyar decided it was time to write her going to materialise. She says, “The intensity of
memoirs, touching upon issues such as feelings behind the battles with my husband,
surviving pregnancy, post-childbirth dilemma, and with myself have dulled.” It is easy to
dealing with colicky infants, the impact of complain about motherhood as it is tedious,
children on marital life, feelings of thankless and exhausting, she says, but
unworthiness and worrying about “harder to explain why is it so precious.”
1 INDIA TODAY WOMAN ● APRIL, 2015

PALLAVI’S GOLDEN RULES
u Every woman must find her own
path across and through the variable
Learning the ropes geography of motherhood. There
of parenthood may be no single road, but every
Pallavi Aiyar
path should be walked without
sacrificing from the self-actualisa-
tion of the traveller.
u A woman should prioritise herself at
par with her child. Too much sacri-
fice and abnegation is harmful to
both the mother and her child.
u Even the most feminist of husbands
often fail the equal parenting test
because they assume less responsi-
bility for the time-sensitive, human
resource side of child rearing.
u Children are not robots that parents
can programme and control, but
their own people over whom parents
have only limited control.
LOCATION COURTESY THE PARK, NEW DELHI

PHOTOGRAPH BY RAJWANT RAWAT
STYLED BY SRISHTI JHA
APRIL, 2015 ● INDIA TODAY WOMAN 2

CONTRARIAN VIEW
BRINGING UP PRINCESS
NEVER MIND GERMAINE GREER. CHILDLESS WOMEN ARE NOT NEUROTIC
AND REPRODUCTION CAN NEVER BRING RESOLUTION.
their struggles or they are tests she was forced to

layabouts, sipping wine and endure before she could
spending money. In most become ‘The Princess’.
feminist non-fiction, the There was derision from
assumption is that women some women then, about
must have children— tests which were the
preferably without men in package-deal on virginity
their lives—to prove their and fertility. But the prince-
PINKI VIRANI womanhood even if only to who-could-be-king wins; the
Author and human each other. History, too, message which went out to
rights activist, offers an enraptured audience the
Mumbai PAGES 372
no redemption without world over—women who
PRICE `599
reproduction. are fertile can enjoy great
PENGUIN RANDOM
“The opposite of freedom is It is replete with social status.
HOUSE
coercion, not determinism’’ examples of how single, Modern-day history
implying childless, women documents how a princess
Once upon a time, there have been burned at the giving birth to two healthy
lived a king and a queen stake after being branded as male heirs has to family and society, ‘Things
who were in great trouble witches. History is nonetheless fight for love will improve after the
because they had no particularly joyous over the from their father. She throws children come’: permanently
children. They were sorrier legends of many men, kings herself down the royal stairs, in the plural, never in the
about it than words can tell. and those who went into war she turns bulimic, develops singular. Feminist Germaine
They offered prayers, made to wage them relentlessly attention-seeking behaviour, Greer also thinks
vows and went on pilgrim- and win them. Such noble topples into someone else’s reproduction brings
ages, moved heaven and men showing such arms, becomes even more resolution. Rehner,
earth. And for a long time, it exemplary courage would skilled in attention seeking; expressing pain at the word
all seemed to be to no avail. have been devastated, and in due course becomes a car neurotic, quotes Greer,
The ideology of the entire valorous heredity wreck. Her husband, in a ‘People who cannot accept
incompleteness without a destroyed, had they not taped telephone their childlessness are
descendant exists in every bravely betrayed their loving conversation, reportedly neurotic. Where infertility
religion, every culture, but barren queen by taking declares he would much causes actual hardship, there
hence in films of that culture another wife, or many a new rather be his elderly would seem to be greater
which inform each other nymphet, as royal consort mistress’s tampon, whom he justification for the
which furthers society’s self- only because they were marries after the public expenditure of considerable
perception, and in every fertile. Giving credit where it perception is altered by effort to reverse it. As it is,
storybook. No favourite folk is due, history does suggest ensuring that the sons are western women spend a
tale is complete without a that some wives might well seen with her. Message fortune and masochistically
tot, most mythologies come have taken on surrogate going out—men must undergo repeated surgical
with offspring in situ. If sperm since the fault was in marry publicly. procedures in an attempt to
fiction sees the presence of a the king’s stars. If only for progeny, it’s bear a child.’ Interesting;
minor as a propulsion to the Whichever way, the king their passport to privately Greer thinks infertility, or
narrative, the absence of a wins. Always; and he is lead a double life. Royalty not having a child, causes
child situates the woman in thusly the role model. then, no different from ‘actual hardship’. To whom?
the book in a bone-dry Remember a certain those weak-willed and The poverty stricken?
profession and dusty of princess? Canadian Jan bisexual men who marry
tongue; the man is largely a Rehner, who has written one but mess with the other. Excerpted from Politics of
loser; neither has a foothold among the earliest books on In the interim, young wives the Womb: The Perils of
in the future. As couples, personal infertility, refers to seeking domestic harmony IVF, Surrogacy and
there is either no value to the battery of gynaecological continue to be notified by Modified Babies

BELIEFS
KEEP THE FAITH

IF THE HOUSE OF GOD GIVES WOMEN EQUAL RIGHTS AND
STATUS, HOW CAN A MOSQUE STOP THEM?
to attainment of the divine people of all faith, caste strong hadith traditions.
and finding perfection in and gender. So to me, it’s There are some argu-
worship or Ihsan. “Ihsan is ironic that the trustees of ments that graves are not
to worship Allah as if you see Haji Ali Dargah, Mumbai, places of worship and
him; if you can’t see him, are trying to bind the women may get misled. I
surely he sees you.” tradition of love and ask these people aren’t men
A Sufi will discharge all spirituality with such as likely to get misled if their
the duties of a believer, orthodox rules. They use a faith is weak? Nowhere in
RANA SAFVI spending their time in hadith, which have been the Quran are only men
Author and historian, Mumbai prayers, fasting and reading abrogated, and others, called believers. The Quran
the holy text but with most which are said to be weak addresses both men and
emphasis on zikr or when putting a ban on women when talking of
There is no gender remembrance of God. As women from entering a righteousness and piety. So
difference in Sufism for as Abu’l-Hasan al-Nuri, a great dargah. There is a hadith, what’s permissible for men is
Dr Javad Nurbakhsh writes early Sufi said, “Sufism is which quotes the Prophet as also permissible for women.
in his book Sufi Women; not rituals and forms and is telling his wife Hazrat We who go to dargahs
“women who seriously set not bodies of knowledge, not Ayesha who wanted to visit and I go very often, do not
foot on the path towards doctrines, not ideas, not the grave of her brother, “I ask the saints to accept our
reality are in exactly the theories. But it is impeccable had prohibited you from prayers for we know that
same position as men who manner, the manner of the visiting the graves, but now I only Allah will do, but we
do so.” He goes on to say, lover in the presence of the encourage you to visit ask them to become a
“Since in the ocean of divine beloved.” Sufi saints became them.” [Sahîh Muslim (977)] waseela or intercessor for us
unity neither “I” or “You” popular because of his or So the argument that to reach Him. Now let us
exists, what possible her inclusive teachings women should not visit take the argument that it
meaning can man or woman which bound together graves is also not based on creates a law and order
have?” There have been problem for the trustees.
many famous women Sufi That surely is not the fault
saints and many women who of the women if you can’t
have influenced saints and spruce up your admin-
been their teachers. istration. I had no problem
Someone once asked the when I visited it prior to
great Egyptian Sufi master 2011. It’s time we were
Dho’n-Nun Mesri, “Who, in allowed equal access once
your opinion, is the highest again. If we can visit the
among the Sufis?” He House of Allah in Kaaba,
replied, “A lady in Mecca, Mecca together with men,
called Fatimah Nishapuri, do the tawaaf or circum-
whose discourse displayed a ambulation together without
profound apprehension of any segregation then why
the inner meanings of can’t we enter a dargah?
ILLUSTRATION BY ANIRBAN GHOSH
the Qur’an.” If House of God allows

Delhi has the dargah of women how can a mosque
Bibi Fatima bin Sam who or dargah stop them? Men
was known as the Rabia of and women of all faiths visit
Delhi. Hazrat Nizamuddin dargahs, and as citizens of
Auliya had said for her, India, we are guaranteed
“When a tiger comes out of that equality under the
the forest no one checks constitution. I am glad
whether it’s a male or the judiciary is ensuring
female.” Sufism was the way that right.
TIPS & TRICKS
TAKE CHARGE
OF YOUR LIFE
STRIKE THE PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN WORKING AND RAISING A CHILD
WITHOUT COMPROMISING ON YOUR PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH
PREETI RAO
Delhi-based author and wellness coach on how to age gracefully by keeping a
positive outlook in life and maintaining your emotional well-being
 cognitive health is important so that we

Prepare for your golden years. If can stay independent and keep active.
you can visualise yourself
ageing healthy, the possibility of 
that happening is greater and you will As you get older, you tend to
be able to take necessary steps, starting find out more about yourself
now, to achieve that goal. and learn how to get
comfortable in your skin through the
 process of self-discovery. A popular
As you get older, strive to stay belief is that people suffer from an
active, continue a passion and identity crisis after retirement.
practise yoga to keep your Research, however, suggests that
mind sharp. Cognitive health is the younger people are more lonely.
basis for how we reason, judge,
concentrate, plan, and organise. Good 
Old age is liberating as you find
yourself more at peace with how
you look and while you continue
to care for your body, the obsession with
it ends. The focus is on nourishment as
eating healthy and having an active
lifestyle become a priority.

Find meaning in small things. As
you grow older, it can come from
enhanced relationships, service,
religion, leisure activities and grand
parenting. According to a health survey,
you need to identify your life’s purpose.
SHUTTERSTOCK

TIPS & TRICKS

SAIREE CHAHAL It’s a great time to put your
social media skills to use.
Co-founder of Sheroes and Going mobile, serving local
Fleximoms, Delhi-based and using social media is the way
entrepreneur on of life for career seekers now and
taking charge of work and 2016 will see more and more
life as a new mother businesses go this way.

Put yourself out there. You SHUTTERSTOCK
are who you think and it
needs to be shared. 
Investing in authentic sharing, Share what you know. The
proactive learning and ongoing best professionals today
engagement is the professional share their skills with others
mantra for all. and learn in the process. Goodwill is
an asset you cannot buy otherwise.

Find a mentor, who can share 
authentically and anchor you. Develop a new skill. Learning
No one can succeed alone. something new unrelated to
The best professionals and your resume can be exciting.
entrepreneurs have great mentors. It A diverse skill set will help expand
can be anyone; a peer, a neighbour, a your horizons. Online tools are very
friend, a domain expert or another helpful in this.
working mother. As told to Adete Dahiya
KORNELIA 
Improve serotonin levels in the
SANTORO brain by having carbohydrates.
Eat a protein-rich meal and then
Goa-based German food have a snack full of carbs after two
writer, author of Cooking for hours. This causes an insulin surge that
Happiness and twice winner clears the doors in the blood-brain-
of the Gourmand World barrier and allows amino acids from
Cookbook Awards, on how proteins to reach the brain.
to overcome postpartum

depression through food
Chocolate is one of the best 
foods to make you feel happy. Eat omega-3 fatty acids as they
Cacao contains theobromine and plenty help nerves transmit signals
of antioxidants that neutralise free better because neurons are also
radicals. It is important, however, to packed in fat. Seafood like fatty fish,
have good quality dark chocolate. prawns or squids are your best bet.
 
Satisfy your cravings; listen to Eat fibre-rich food because a
your body. Don’t think about happy belly means a happy
losing weight fast after giving mind. Scientists agree with this.
birth. When you have a craving give Remember to drink plenty of water as it
into it, but this doesn’t mean overeating helps the fibre swell up and facilitate
or stuffing yourself with junk food. movement in the digestive tract.
16 INDIA TODAY WOMAN ● AUGUST, 2016

FASHION
THE ABC OF
WOMEN’S FASHION
WITH BANS DEFINING WHAT ONE CAN WEAR,
IT’S TIME TO RELEARN THE ALPHABET
By ASMITA BAKSHI
Last year, author

Samit Basu wrote the
ingenuous new Indian
alphabet in keeping with
what the times teach us.
In it, B was for bans and
A
is for abaya, which isn’t
allowed in France
C is for corset,
because we must
maintain shape
D
C was for cows. D was
for development and E
was for energy. It
is for bra, which has
captured the new
the censors
language—the news and in a trance
netas—collaborated to
create. This year, scenes is for denim,
which they say
with bras are being causes rape
slashed from films,
women in burqinis are
F G
being harassed and
tourists have been told
not to wear short skirts.
Women ought to relearn
the alphabet in keeping is for ghoonghat,
with the entitled society because your
is for fish net, in
that now dictates what which you’re modesty is a prize
they can do with their most likely a slut
bodies and how they
must keep them
covered. And so, inspired
by Basu and the goings
is for eye shadow,
on related to sartorial
less is more, tut tut
stigmas, here is the new
alphabet for women; the
ABC of women’s fashion.

I J K
is for jhola,
an anti-
national! is for kaftan, scoff, so
is for Beware! unshapely they say
ikat,
which the
is for hem, feminists
it makes wear
your
clothes the
right size
is for
lehenga, nice
and heavy
for your
wedding
M N
dawy
P
is for nightie,
is for mangal which the
sutra, “you’ve middle class
been claimed!” wears is for the OMG cleavage
it declares headlines, oh yikes! is for plaid, meant
only for dykes
Q S
T
is for tummy
tuckers, to hide
away that bulge
is for quilted
bags, meant
for rich is for skirts,
party girls dear tourists,
U
don’t indulge
is for underwear,
but no thongs or
granny panties
Y
V
is for ringlets, not those wild is for yoga
unkempt curls pants, look at
her showing off
W
is for is for XL, here those curves
Victoria’s come the fat
Secret, shamers, can you
which only see their horns?
Z
your
husband
can know, is for white
say aunties saris, one
for the is for zipper, a
widow who contraption your
mourns policing deserves
ILLUSTRATIONS BY ANIRBAN GHOSH SEPTEMBER, 2016 ● INDIA TODAY WOMAN 15

STYLE
IT’S ALL IN
THE SHAPE
BREAK THE MONOTONY
WITH NEW PATTERNS AND
SILHOUETTES THIS SEASON
1 INDIA TODAY WOMAN ● MARCH, 2015

HATCHLING NECKLINE
Break the collar monotony with interesting
necklines. It works with fitted as well as anti-fit
shapes. You can extend it up or fold it over.
Handloom fabric dress by Lila `750
Silver cuff stylist’s own
STRUCTURE AND STYLE

Architectural structures have
always inspired silhouettes
in design. It’s romantic,
bold and royal.
Silk checkered dress by Amrich
Price on request
Earrings by Ikroop
Price on request
SEPTEMBER, 2016 ● INDIA TODAY WOMAN 17

STYLE
BOXY IS BACK
It flatters every body type in minimal with a
twist. Pair it with shorts or skirts or belt it up.
Nicobar cotton top `2,800;
cotton shorts `2,800
Accessories stylist’s own
STYLE
MACRO PLEATS
Unstructured gets more interesting
with the structured pleats. Try
the pattern in jackets as well
as short dresses.
Theorem pleat detailed
jacket Price on request
Nicobar cotton top `1,500
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LAYERING THE SHEER

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ASK THE EXPERT
Is egg banking a good option?

I am 28. Can I go for egg banking? How much will it cost and
what are the chances of getting pregnant later?
aishwarya kumar, delhi
It is preferable for women to get their eggs frozen before
they turn 35. In women with low ovarian reserve, the
freezing should be done before the age of 30. Ovarian
reserve can be assessed by doing a blood study called anti-
mullerian hormone (AMH). If it is less than 1.5 µg per ml, it
indicates a low reserve. Egg freezing costs anywhere
between `20,000 and `80,000; the success rate for the
procedure is about 59 per cent per transfer, which means
that if you freeze 10 eggs, five of them will definitely fertilise.
How does the egg banking cycle work? What are the risk factors?
priyanjali datta, kolkata
SHUTTERSTOCK
While sperm and embryos have proved easier to freeze, the
egg being the largest cell in the human body contains a lot of crystals that can destroy the cell. The eggs are extracted and
water. Freezing, therefore, can result in the formation of ice then frozen using either a slow-freeze method or flash-
freezing method known as vitrification. They are usually
frozen in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -196 degree
Celsius. It takes approximately four to six weeks to complete
the egg freezing cycle and is consistent with initial stages of
the in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) process.
Is egg banking safe for women and is it really beneficial?

karishma kotwal, indore
Egg banking is beneficial because it gives women a chance to
preserve their fertility for longer and delay parenthood to
suit their needs. Many reasons like career choices, desire to
travel, late marriage, the ticking biological clock or medical
conditions might lead to delays or problems in pregnancy.
Egg banking takes that pressure off. The procedure is in
itself quite safe. There are no health or diet precautions
needed before or while undergoing the treatment. The
initial procedure followed for the extraction of eggs is the
same as the hormone-injection process followed during IVF.
This procedure offers a good outcome and is a beacon of
hope for women who decide to delay parenthood.
Ten winning questions for the India Today Woman
Ask the Expert will receive a discount voucher worth
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Questions may be edited for space and clarity.
Dr Hrishikesh Pai,
Infertility specialist, Lilavati Hospital,
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AND LYRICIST
SIMPLY BANGALORE Inside
Photograph by NILOTPAL BARUAH
Editor-in-Chief
Aroon Purie
Ashish Bagga
Group Editorial Director
Raj Chengappa
Editor-at-Large COVER STORY
Kaveree Bamzai
The Reel Changemakers s-4
n
Youngsters in Kannada cinema are Cover photo by NILOTPAL BARUAH
Editorial Team
Mohini Mehrotra, turning the industry on its head with Cover photo location The Ritz-Carlton Suite,
at The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore
Ursila Ali sheer ingenuity and talent.
Photo Department
Vikram Sharma
Photo Researchers
Prabhakar Tiwari, Shubhrojit Brahma
Art Director
Jyoti Singh
OUR PICK of the month
Musical
Design
Vikas Verma,
Bhoomesh Dutt Sharma
Extravaganza
September 15
Production
Harish Aggarwal (Chief of Production), Famous bassist and
Naveen Gupta, Vijay Sharma, composer from Chile,
Prashant Verma Christian Galvez will
Layout Execution display his adeptness
Ramesh Kumar Gusain, with Jazz and his
Pradeep Singh Bhandari special flare for Latin
n American music in a
Publishing Director live show in the city.
Manoj Sharma The evening will also
Associate Publisher (Impact) feature Beer Puppets,
Anil Fernandes Peepal Tree as well as
n individual musical contributors—Gerard AT BlueFrog, 3, Ground Floor,
IMPACT TEAM Machado, Radha Thomas, Alwyn Shanthala Nagar, Near Pavilion Mall,
Senior General Manager: Fernandes, Aman Mahajan, Jeoraj Church Street
Jitendra Lad (West) George, Mahesh Raghunandan, Vari- TIME 9 p.m. onwards
General Managers: jashree V, Kishan Balaji and Milli Nair. TICKETS insider.in
Upendra Singh (Bangalore);
Velu Balasubramaniam (Chennai)
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The Reel Chang

Photographs by NILOTPAL BARUAH
NAMMA TARANTINO
Rakshit Shetty, 32
“I came as an actor
to the industry but
thought that nobody
would cast me, so
I started writing
and directing.”
emakers YOUNGSTERS IN KANNADA CINEMA ARE
TURNING THE INDUSTRY ON ITS HEAD
WITH SHEER INGENUINTY AND TALENT
n By PRACHI SIBAL
There is one thing that the new crop of to watch them, they would watch me too,” he says.
Kannada filmmakers have in common, it is their Being a fan of Tarantino and Kurosawa, Shetty
ability to multitask. In Ulidavaru Kandante, Rakshit had Pulp Fiction in mind when writing Ulidavaru
Shetty, was seen playing a central role in addition Kandante. The film was divided into chapters
to being the director, scriptwriter and lyricist of (Tarantino style) and set in the year 1991, a year
the film. “I came as an actor to the industry but before Pulp Fiction. Ulidavaru Kandante didn’t fare
thought that nobody would cast me, so I started too well at the box office but won Shetty a host
writing and directing,” says Shetty who debuted as of awards including Best Director at the Filmfare
a lead in Simple Agi Ondh Love Story (2013), after Awards South. It also established him firmly as a
a 20-month-long career in the IT industry. With talent to reckon with in the industry. “Ulidavaru
no godfathers in the industry or formal training in Kandante would have done much better today. It
filmmaking, all his learning came from watching is films like that and Lucia that have set the stage
films. “I would see a lot of films by legends like for others like RangiTaranga and Godhi Banna
Quentin Tarantino, watch interviews where they Sadharna Mykattu. It is like opening a pizza place
talk about how they did a particular shot and go in a village; people don’t like the taste at first but it
back to watching the scene. I got a few small roles grows on them,” he explains. Following this, Shetty
in films then and took them up only to learn the established a production house named Paramvah
craft by hanging around the sets,” he says. After Studios, and Kirik Party, a film scripted by and
Simple Agi Ondh Love Story, Shetty quit his job starring him is currently in production under this
and it was on this five-month long break that he banner. His flair for multitasking however ensures
began writing the script of Ulidavaru Kandante, a he is developing and scripting another film at the
film set in coastal Malpe with five parallel stories same time. With a working title of Thugs of
that connect to a single murder. “I wrote five char- Malgudi, the film featuring actor Sudeep will bring
acters so I could play one of them and cast bigger out a historical perspective of thugs that pre-dates
stars in the others. So, when the audience came the British era.
Rakshit Shetty
AUGUST 2014 u SIMPLY HYDERABAD s-12

BREAKING FREE Suman Kittur, 34

Photograph by SANDESH RAVIKUMAR
Hers is the typical story of the ‘village girl

goes to tinsel town’, until it isn’t. Women in her
village called Kittur near Mysore were married at
the first signs of puberty. So when the dreaded
day arrived, Suman Kittur decided to hide it from
her parents. She managed to do it for two whole
years, till she reached the 12th standard. Marriage,
she knew, would be the end of her future and
dreams. She threatened suicide when her parents
insisted on it and expressed her desire to come to
Bangalore. Her father, a farmer had a deep interest
in cinema and ran a tent theatre in the village. He
later gave it up to work full-time in a theatre in My-
sore. Kittur went along and was often given small
jobs to keep her busy. This was the beginning of
her learning and she understood the workings
of the black box while watching every film a few
hundred times. In Bangalore, at first, she began
her career as a Kannada cinema reporter in a local
newspaper. Two years later, she first crossed paths
with gangster-turned-writer Agni Sreedhar, also a
friend of her father. Shortly after he met Sreedhar,
her father passed away. “I decided to stay back
and he taught me everything—from literature to
philosophy and cinema,” she says. It was during
these conversations that Kittur began thinking
about the portrayal of the underworld in cinema.
This was the beginning of the classic Aa Dinagalu
which she initiated but decided to let KM Chait-
anya direct it. She however wrote the title track
for the film which became a hit. Her first directo-
rial venture, Kallara Sandhe (2008) was a satire
co-written with Agni Sreedhar. Though she had
taken her first steps in the industry, it was through
the 2012 film Edegarike that she firmly established
herself as a woman director in an otherwise male
dominated industry. Based on Sreedhar’s own life,
Edegarike went on to be a cult classic and earned
her praise from far and wide. “Even after so many
years, I met a cab driver recently who claimed to
have watched the film 10 times,” she says.
“In Mysore, I met an 81

year-old woman at the
screening of my film,
Kiragoorina Gayyaligalu,
who had returned to a
theatre after decades.”
Suman Kittur

JAZZY BEGINNINGS Charan Raj, 30
If your recent favourite of the popular indie band Thaalam and Vimana and Rakshit Shetty’s Ruari, he
Kannada track comes with jazz under- also sang for Ricky Kej’s Grammy-award believes “it's a great time for new ideas.
tones and a brand new sound, you are winning album Samsara. He debuted in The audience is evolving and exposed
perhaps already familiar with the magic the film industry in 2014 with Harivu. He to a lot of international movies. After
of the industry’s newest music director, met Hemanth Rao in 2013, while working GBSM, people are coming to me for mu-
Charan Raj. His tracks for Hemanth on a film titled Love Churmuri. “The film sic that is different,” he says. “Lucia was
Rao’s Godhi Banna Sadharna Mykattu wasn’t complete, but he said that we will the start and Ulidavaru Kandante with
(GBSM) have earned him praise from lis- do something together. We have similar Ajaneesh Loknath’s music changed the
teners and industry insiders alike. An en- taste in music and wanted to experiment scene drastically. The film actually had
gineering graduate, Raj began training in with genres,” says Raj. For somebody a soundtrack that gelled with its theme
Carnatic classical music at the age of six exploring the complex rhythms of jazz, and not five separate disconnected
and went on to learn Western classical in Hindustani classical and ghazal at the songs,” he adds. In addition to breaking
college. He says he got his Jazz training same time, Raj has a fairly simple convention with its unique sound, GBSM
primarily from listening to greats like formula. “The sound should be catchy also decided to not take the music
Louis Armstrong and Nina Simone. “I and easy. It doesn’t matter if it is conven- label route. “We wanted to keep all the
had no access to studios. So, I began by tional or not. It should transport them copyrights with ourselves and released
assisting people,” he explains. Before into a new world,” he says. Currently the music on the film website with an
turning music director, Raj dabbled as a working on three film projects—Soori’s option to make a contribution towards
singer and music arranger. He was part Tagaru, S Ravindranath’s Pushpak its production,” Raj says.
Photograph by SANDESH RAVIKUMAR
Charan Raj
“The sound should be catchy
and easy. It doesn’t matter if it
is conventional or not. It should
transport them into a new world.”
Pawan Kumar
“Filmmaking is a risky
GAME CHANGER Pawan Kumar, 32 business but if a story
needs to be told, we
Actor, writer and director, a decent following, Kumar was unable
should be able to tell it
Pawan Kumar’s journey in cinema is in to find producers for his next venture
some sense a map of the much talked Lucia. Exasperated, he took to blogging without being worried
about ‘new wave’ of the Kannada film
industry. Several others attribute the
about his experience. His post vent viral
and saw many readers offering support.
about producers.”
beginning of it (this new wave) to his Crowdfunding had not yet taken off in the
2013 science fiction film Lucia. But his country in a big way and Kumar admits shareholders and includes people from
foray into films began much earlier with he didn’t know what it was called. Lucia various backgrounds--from a 22-year-old
the 2011 rom-com Lifeu Ishtene. Earlier, thus became the first Kannada film to be IT professional to seasoned business-
Kumar spent several years directing and produced entirely through a crowdfund- men. This helped him produce another
acting in theatre productions. Dwindling ing campaign. However, it was only one of ambitious project, the thriller U Turn that
finances and the need to reach out to a the film’s many firsts. Lucia was the first opened worldwide in theatres this year
larger audience led him to experiment to see a nationwide release and subtitles and crossed the 10 crore mark. It is now
with films. “I got cast as an actor in a in every theatre. “We wanted to open up set for a Netflix release—another first
few films, and that is how I met industry our market and not lose any audience for for a Kannada film. “The idea is more of
veteran Yogaraj Bhat, who read some the lack of understanding the language,” shared risk than shared profits. Filmmak-
of the stuff I had written and liked it,” he says. Following Lucia and its success, ing is a very risky business and producers
says Kumar. Although his box-office Kumar went onto establish Pawan Kumar can’t be blamed for going by box office
friendly film Lifeu Ishtene garnered him Studios (PKS) that has as many as 65 records,” he says.

Raam Reddy
AWARD FRENZY
Raam Reddy, 26
“I am an artist more than a filmmak-
er,” says Raam Reddy, whose film Thithi
recently won two Golden Leopards at the
prestigious Locarno Film Festival and a
National Award among many others. An
economics student-turned-filmmaker,
Reddy’s debut film Thithi is a comedy set
in a village in Mandya district that tells the
story of three generations of men after the
death of the patriarch at the ripe age of 101.
The feature film, shot with non-actors, was
scripted by Reddy’s childhood friend, Ere
Gowda. “I knew I had a career in the crea-
tive field as I had begun writing poetry and
had a keen interest in photography and mu-
sic. Filmmaking was something that com-
bined the three. But it was only on a visit to
Ere Gowda’s village that I knew I had to set
my first feature there,” he says. “We had the
best insider-outsider combination required
for a film and I always knew I wanted to
work with non-actors,” he adds. A staple
diet of world cinema, technical education
from film school in Prague and a few short
films later, Reddy was equipped to begin his
ambitious project. Produced by Prspctvs
Productions (his own company) and Sun-
min Park of Maxmedia, Reddy knew early
on that the film had commercial potential.
“Heavyweights like Puneet Rajkumar and
Rockline Venkatesh had watched it and
told me it was a commercial film. But I was
looking to make a global film. In fact, when
we entered Cannes Film Festival, there
was no Kannada language option before
Thithi,” he explains. In the midst of finalising
a global distribution deal, he admits that
the film is rooted in the village and has run
to full houses in single screens across the
state. “When screened at the village, people
“I knew I had a career laughed through introspection or nostalgia.
in the creative field as

It took them back to their roots. While for
the others, it is a new kind of escapism
I had begun writing that has broadened the reach of popular
culture,” he says. “In fact one of the greatest
poetry and had a keen compliments with regard to the realism in
interest in photography the film I received was through a review on
BookMyShow, where somebody rated it
and music.” at half a star and said he feels cheated be-
cause it was like a ‘documentary shot with
a handycam’”, he adds laughing.
“When I watched the

trailer of Rakshit Shetty's
Ulidavaru Kandante, I
felt creative jealousy.
I knew I couldn’t get
complacent.”
GLOBAL ICON
Anup Bhandari, 34
Anup Bhandari
As an ad filmmaker’s son, Anup name on the Oscar nomination eligibility Sai Kumar, whose character, Bhandari
Bhandari grew up making pretend films list, are only some of the many accolades admits, couldn’t be publicised due to the
with his brother Nirup. “Most of them the film has received. From a self-con- suspense factor. “The technical aspects
would involve me torturing him. That is fessed industry virgin, Bhandari has be- were like that in world cinema, while
the kind of cinema we were used to,” he come somewhat of a sensation. He writes, everything else was like in commercial cin-
says. Early on, he scripted a film with a directs, pens lyrics, produces and even ema,” explains Bhandari. The film collected
mish-mash of Bollywood elements that he sings some of his songs. It was, in fact, his a whopping 1.3 crore in the first weekend
hoped to feature actor Sudeep in. It was humming a few songs that bagged him a of its release in the USA and was the first
many years, an engineering degree, a short producer for RangiTaranga. “I narrated one in opening the industry up to a large Kan-
film and a stint in the USA later that Rangi- scene and hummed a couple of songs over nada diaspora audience. Bhandari, who is
Taranga happened. And since then, there Skype and before I knew it, producer HK currently working on his next big release,
has been no looking back for Bhandari. A Prakash was on board,” he says. A thriller Rajaratha, believes that the time is right for
year’s run in local theatres, a 72-theatre re- set in the fictional village of Kamarottu, the sensible commercial cinema that doesn’t
lease in the USA, eight IIFA awards and its film featured no big industry names except make fun of the audience.

SIMPLY BANGALORE Buzz
FOOD REVIEW/TOAST & TONIC
FINE DINING
REDEFINED
T
he East Village style fine dining
restaurant, Toast & Tonic is yet
another feather in the cap of
celebrity chef Manu Chandra.
Even before we started on the KUNAL CHANDRA
Photographs by
and SANJAY RAMACHANDRAN
meal, we knew we were in for a The Herbalist—
treat owing to the chef’s earlier track an orange tonic Tempura for a quick,
record, but we must admit, the drinks water drink crispy bar snack, topped
left us equally impressed. If you generously with toasted
aren’t a gin drinker, you might want sesame and served with
to turn one for the evening because chilli mayo. For the main
the Signature G&Ts with house made course, choose from juicy burg-
tonic waters are an absolute must ers, sandwiches or a risotto. The ten-
have. The Herbalist, with its burst of der Mushroom Asparagus risotto with
citrus in the form of basil and orange Gobindhobog rice cooked in mustard
tonic water with cubes of coriander oil was a refreshing take on the clas-
and orange rind infused ice is a drink sic. Our Monsoon Bone Broth, the
we won’t forget for a long time. Gin- restaurant’s own version of the
tleman’s Tonic with its floral jasmine Tibetan thukpa, loaded with chicken,
tea offset by an elderflower and grape- flat noodles and mild spices is perfect
fruit tonic water came a close second. for a rainy day.
After tonic waters, if there is For dessert, try Expression of
another thing that you just can’t go Jaggery with its banana cake, car-
wrong with here, it is the pork. It damom ice cream and bits of cara-
turned out to be the star on our table mel—a light and fulfilling end to a
and the slow cooked BBQ ribs deserve wonderful meal.
special mention for the meat delicately MEAL FOR TWO Rs 2,000 AT 14/1, Wood
slipped off the bones and packed a Street, Richmond Road, Ashok Nagar
flavourful punch at the first bite. We TEL 41116878 WEB Log onto
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PRODUCT REVIEW/MYDAILY
HEALTH FIX IN A BOTTLE
W
hen we first heard of MyDaily, we weren’t too pleased to
hear of a shake replacing a walk outdoors and a hearty
meal. But then we bit the bullet and tried the rather
pleasant chocolate shake. Created by FourFountain De-Stress Spa
in consultation with Dr Ezhil Arasan, MyDaily claims to be preserva-
tive and trans-fat free and provides you with nutrients equivalent
to a meal. The mildly sweetened shake prepared out of a powder
sachet tastes quite good. The shake does its job and keeps you
away from the mid-meal snack binging which a lot of people are
prone to. It makes you feel full and energetic for about five hours.
To put it in a nutshell, MyDaily keeps hunger at bay for the
promised time but does leave you feeling a tad bit lost for not
having spent an hour over lunch and chatter.
AT amazon.in, mydailymeal.com and at Four
Fountains De-Stress Spa outlets. n Prachi Sibal

The best wedding
invitations
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common:
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SEPTEMBER 2016
ITC GRAND
CHOLA
High
Life
GUIDE TO LUXE LIVING IN THE CITY
SIMPLY CHENNAI Inside
Photograph by JAISON G
Editor-in-Chief
Aroon Purie
Ashish Bagga
Group Editorial Director
Raj Chengappa
Editor-at-Large
Kaveree Bamzai
n COVER STORY FASHION
Correspondent
Saranya Chakrapani
The Grand Life s-4 Nine Yard Tale s-10
Editorial Team
Chennai has a variety of experiences to Six looks to ace the traditional
Mohini Mehrotra, Ursila Ali offer for the luxury seeker. getup.
Photo Department
Vikram Sharma Cover photo by SUMANTH KUMAR;
Location courtesy ITC GRAND CHOLA;
Photo Researchers Model ASHNA ZAVERI; Make up by BRONZERMAKEOVER (VIJI KNR)
Prabhakar Tiwari, Shubhrojit Brahma
Art Director
OUR PICK of the month

Jyoti Singh
Design
Vikas Verma,
Bhoomesh Dutt Sharma
Production
Harish Aggarwal (Chief of Production), Date with the clouds
Naveen Gupta, Vijay Sharma, September 24
Prashant Verma Relive the magic of Kalidasa with Sankalp’s
Layout Execution Meghadootam-The Cloud Messenger. This
Ramesh Gusain, Pradeep Singh classic by the legendary poet is a story of a man
Bhandari who befriends clouds and travels to the Himala-
n yas to meet his wife which will be presented as a
Publishing Director dance drama in Bharatnatyam style. Mark your
Manoj Sharma calendars for this performance that has been
Associate Publisher (Impact) choreographed by dynamic duo, Shijith Nambiar
Anil Fernandes and Parvathy Menon and accompanied by scin-
n tillating vocals by Bombay Jayashri Ramnath.
IMPACT TEAM Tickets eventjini.com
Senior General Manager: Time 6.30 p.m.
Jitendra Lad (West) At Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Concert Hall
General Managers: 3/1, Shenstone Park, Harrington Road, Chetpet
Upendra Singh (Bangalore);
Velu Balasubramaniam (Chennai)
Want to tell us about an event? A new store? A restaurant? People doing interesting things?
Kaushiky Chakraborty (East) Anything newsworthy? Please email us at: simplychennai@intoday.com
s-2 SIMPLY CHENNAI u SEPTEMBER 2016

Luxury
used to come with a price.
Not anymore.
Leave your everyday hassles behind while you walk

away from an experience that will change you.
Relax as we tend to your body; rejoice as we calm your
mind, and rejuvenate while we soothe your spirit.
SIMPLY CHENNAI Cover Story
The
GRAND Life
FROM WITNESSING THE OPULENCE OF THE CHOLA
DYNASTY TO INDULGING IN A FEAST FIT FOR THE KINGS,
CHENNAI HAS A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES TO OFFER
FOR THE LUXURY SEEKER.
By PRACHI SIBAL
Rose Princess
facial at ESPA
Pamper Yourself
ESPA, at The Leela Palace Chennai
If
a day of rejuvenation at the spa doesn’t sound luxurious enough, you may
want to spend one in a private spa suite overlooking the Bay of Bengal. The
16,000 square feet ESPA at The Leela Palace Chenna--with its one-of-a-kind
thermal suites and vitality pools--takes wellness to the next level while taking care
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there’s everything that will make you feel like you are tucked away in a cocoon of
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Some of the signature treatments at the spa include the Balinese massage, the
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Royal Leela Facial package which uses the Pink Hair and Scalp Mud by ESPA is an
invigorating experience and will breathe life back into dull and dry hair. The intense
massage, combined with the soft music and gentle aromatherapy oils will ensure
that you drift off to sleep and wake up refreshed in body and mind.
PRICES Rs 2,000 onwards
AT Adyar Seaface, M.R.C Nagar
TEL 33661234
Suit Up
SYED BAWKHER & CO.
Started in the year 1904, Syed

Bawkher, named after
its owner, catered to the city's aristocrats
by providing them with bespoke tailored
suits. Its third generation proprietor, Unaiz
Ahmed, 41, fondly remembers the time when
he would come to the shop after school and
watch his father and grandfather measure
and cut suits. “We are all cutters and the
skills have been passed on through genera-
tions. I had my first lesson when I was 15,”
says Ahmed.
Crafted with the finest fabric sourced
from Italian and English mills, the iconic
Syed Bawkher & Co. has tailored for stars
such as Rajinikanth, Arvind Swamy and
even Hollywood actor Richard Gere. “The
President of Singapore tailors with us too and
we fly down to Singapore to take his mea-
surements,” says Ahmed.
With nearly 10,000 regular clients, the
shop sees anything between five to fifteen cli-
ents a day, barring the wedding season when
the number is much higher. The first meeting
is usually spent discussing what a client is
looking for. “Our suits last a lifetime and we
try to build wardrobes. So we find out what
the client needs first. If someone comes to us
for their first ever suit, we suggest shades of
grey,” explains Ahmed. This is followed by
two fitting sessions and three weeks later the
suit is delivered.
Talking about keeping it niche, Ahmed
says, the costs ensures that the crowd filters
itself, with prices starting at Rs 50,000. “We
have also stuck to a single store as we want to
take measurements ourselves and wouldn’t
want to compromise on the quality. We don’t
get tailors from the market and hire fresh
hands who train with us,” he adds.
Amongst the most expensive tailoring
units in the country, Syed Bawkher & Co has
become a tourist destination of sorts, he tells
us. “There are several people who are visit-
ing the country and make a stopover here,”
he says, busily jotting down measurements
for a wedding suit.
PRICE Rs 50,000 onwards
AT Syed Bawkher, Crown Court, 128,
Cathedral Road
Unaiz Ahmed, owner, Syed Bawkher & Co. Photograph by JAISON G TEL 28110067

Sujan Mukherjee
(left) and Anand R,
chefs at Southern
Spice
Decadence
on a platter
SOUTHERN SPICE, at Taj Coromandel Chennai
Fancy sampling a recipe that comes

straight from legendary actor, Sivaji
you a crash course in the cuisines. The Maha
Virundhu thali, which translates to a grand feast,
Ganesan’s home? “The Kayar Katti Yerachi Kola stays true to its name. From Kerala parottas to
Urundai, a traditional lamb dumpling wrapped in melt-in-the-mouth appams, the meal also has
banana fibre is a wedding preparation that original- some delectable preparations like the lentil-based
ly came from the Tanjore Marathas and we found tomato pappu from Andhra and the spicy prawn
it at Ganesan’s home”, explains Anand R, 29, sous dish of Mangalore, Yetti Pullimunchi. “The restau-
chef at Southern Spice, one of the city’s oldest luxu- rant opened in 1996 and re-launched in 2012 after
ry South Indian restaurants that remains a winner a year’s break. Most of the team is still the same
with city’s discerning diners. and the recipes go through an intense phase of
Each weekday night, one can witness a crowd research,” explains Sujan Mukherjee, 52, executive
trickling in for a dinner experience like no other. chef, Taj Coromandel.
From the lavish décor to the careful use of bright A meal isn’t complete without a taste of some
and intricate Indian motifs in crockery—like the filter coffee and here, you can have it two ways.
peacock inspired plates, the restaurant offers a While one is the traditional Dabra coffee poured
complete South Indian experience. With a menu to frothy perfection in front of you, the other is a
that covers cuisine from the four southern states Kumbakonam filter coffee ice cream, bringing your
and is supplemented by an exclusive rasam menu, meal to a sweet flavourful end. .
you are literally spoilt for choice here. Thankfully, MEAL FOR TWO Rs 4,000 onwards
the thalis come to your rescue, where the smaller AT Southern Spice, Taj Coromandel, 37, Mahatma
portions and exquisite service are enough to give Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam TEL 66002827
Cut to perfection
STUDIO TARA
Traditional jewellery
houses rarely
deviate from classic designs. But for the
nonconformists who prefer experimental
designs, Studio Tara has been the go-to
destination. Dealing primarily with gem-
stone jewellery, this 12 year-old studio
has created a name for itself in bespoke
jewellery. Bharathi Raviprakash, 49,
managing partner, who has built a loyal
clientele for herself, started out as an
avid jewellery shopper herself. Spending
most of her money on luxe baubles, espe-
cially gemstones, she decided to give up
her foreign exchange business. “It was
actually an intervention that led to me
opening the studio. My father, brother
and husband sat me down and said
they couldn’t afford my jewellery shop-
ping anymore, and it was obvious that
I must do something in the field,” says
Raviprakash.
She went on to study at the
Gemological Institute of America,
London, in 2002 and returned to start
Studio Tara. Establishing herself in the
industry at a time when the internet was
hardly present, it was word of mouth that
helped her develop a steady clientele. “I
always wanted to design jewellery for
those who knew what they wanted to
wear,” she says. She specialises in fine
jewellery and the pieces on display in her
studio are a mix of classic gemstones and
quirky elements including a recent col-
lection with ‘chillies’.
With production in Chennai, Mumbai
and Bangkok, a custom piece isn’t just
ordered. The team goes through an
entire process to understand what the
customer needs. “It takes anything
between two to three sittings. I give the
client a maximum of three options and
they pick one," she explains.
She is also thinking of expanding
in the city but admits that for now, she
would like to concentrate on every little
detail in her business.
PRICE Rs 10,000 onwards
Bharathi Raviprakash, AT Studio Tara, 50, Kasturi, 10, Arani
managing partner, Rangan Street
Studio Tara PHONE 43144511
A Royal Affair
ITC GRAND CHOLA
One of the largest hotels in the country, the ITC

Grand Chola is a tribute to South India’s
Chola dynasty and is an embodiment of luxury fit for
turmeric from Maharashtra, saffron from Pampore
and morels from other parts of Kashmir. We mill
our own flours in the kitchen to ensure perfect con-
royalty. With 600 rooms and residences—including sistency”, explains the chef, Varun Mohan, 41.
a grand presidential suite named after Raja Raja A newly launched luxury chocolate lounge by
Chola The First, the Cholas' greatest leader—the their in-house brand, Fabelle, allows guests to
dynasty’s influence is evident in the hotel’s interiors watch their dessert being plated, on an LCD screen
in the form of Chola motifs seen in carvings, pillars in the lounge. The hotel has no conventional bars or
and artwork. A walk around the palatial space with nightclubs but instead houses the city’s only cigar
its high ceilings, ornate lobbies and carved doors and malt lounge, Cheroot. Styled with classic leather
will leave one mesmerised. Besides these, Grand furniture, the intimate lounge with crystal decanters
Chola has a lot more to offer to its uber-luxury placed on the tables is a space that exudes warmth
clientele. Royal Vega, a luxury vegetarian restau- and luxury. If this isn’t enough, take a trip to Kaya
rant recreates the dining spaces of royalty with its Kalp, the spa that offers authentic Ayurvedic thera-
private quarters and chowkis. The restaurant has py and massages including the signature treatment
seasonal menus in addition to perennial ones and called A Passage to India.
blends exotic and carefully sourced ingredients in AT No. 63, Anna Salai, Guindy
its preparations. “We use ingredients like rare white TEL 22200000
The opulent interiors of ITC Grand Chola

SIMPLY CHENNAI Fashion
A NINE
YARD TALE
FROM FESTIVALS TO WEDDINGS, YOU CAN NEVER GO WRONG WITH THE RIGHT SARI.
HERE ARE SIX LOOKS TO ACE THE TRADITIONAL GETUP.
Spring on Silk
A bright pink silk sari
with floral motifs and
subtle gatti zari border
works beautifully for all
occasions.
KUMAR PHOTOGRAPHY Jewellery and Styling by SHRUTI RAVINDRAN Wardrobe Courtesy by SITAMAHALSKHMI SILKS
Photographs by SUMANTH

Royal Weaves
The traditional ambi
(paisley) motif never
goes out of vogue.
Pick one in a deep
colour to offset the
gold detailing.
Classic in
Cream
This Kanjeevaram
silk saree with self
design and in a soft
colour combination
is perfect for a day
function.

Everlasting
Elegance
There is something
timeless about a white
silk saree. Look for one
which has a bright pallu
to add to its allure.
Gorgeous In
Green
A jacquard woven
silk saree drapes
beautifully, highlight-
ing the right curves.
The tassels add a
flirty touch to
the otherwise
traditional look.
Class Apart
A mix-and-match of
gorgeous fabrics always
works well to add a touch
of uniqueness to a par-
ticular ensemble. In this
silk saree, diamond pat-
tern based jacquard work
has been teamed with a
tissue pallu in silver.

India Today 2016 09 19

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KASHMIR MADHYA PRADESH HEALTH SPECIAL

END OF PELLET RAJ THE FARM BOOM HOW TO STAY FIT

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