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VIRTUALISATION IS THE NEW INDUSTRIALISATION Shri V.P. Nandakumar, MD & CEO Manappuram Finance Ltd.

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Jebitha Ajit Director & CEO Editor Jebitha Ajit Legal Advisor Latha Anand B.S.Krishnan Associates bskrishnanassociates@gmail.com A leader or a man of action in a crisis almost Sub-Editor Vignesh S.G always acts subconsciously and then think of the Associate Editor Ravi Saini reasons for his action” – Jawaharlal Nehru Rajeev Kumar In this edition, we introduce you to an excep Director and special editor kollur tional leader based in the state of Kerala, Shaji J Correspondents Dr. Thomas Nechupadam Kodankandath. He is an active social worker who Vivek Venugopal- Quarter Mile has devoted his life for people. Amrutha V Kumar This time also, V P Nandakumar comes up with Creative Design PEGASUS an extra-ordinary write-up in his regular column. Cover Photographer PEGASUS In this month’s write-up, he speaks about ‘virtuMarketing UAE alisation’. Phygicart.com Our auto expert this time offers a golden op P.O. Box: 92546, Al Karama Dubai portunity to know more about Mahindra Thar, Mr. Anish K Joy which is a marked improvement over the car it Mob: +971528946999 has replaced. info@phygicart.com In the travel section, we cover Belarus, which Plot No 19A, 9th Floor, is one of the most happening countries in the Eu Green Building, Film City, ropean continent at this juncture. Sector - 16A, Noida - 201301 Maharashtra Apart from the said gems, we as usual have all Jayasankar M, a/101, our regular articles from motivation and health to New Prathamesh Niwas, movie review and book review. OPP. Laxmi Park, Thakurli East, I do believe something magical can happen Dombivli post, Thane District, 421201 when you read a good book! Mob: 9820708662 Hariharan Enjoy reading! chennai, Mob: 9840018929 Unique Times, No.6/31, Arunachalam main road, Thank You Saligramam, Sd/ Chennai – 600093 Jebitha Ajit Karnataka Paperback Publishing 3218/A, 6th C Main, 13th Cross, HAL 2nd stage, Indiranagar Bengaluru 560038 Andhrapradesh PEGASUS Ph: 09288800999 Sunilkumar NN Your wing Vineeth Nair Director Ambalika Saikia, Ambalika_saikia@yahoo.com

Editorial “

Printed at St. Reddiar & Sons, P.B. No: 3627, Veekshanam Road, Cochin Published at Pegasus Global Pvt. Ltd. L5-106, Changampuzha Nagar Kalamassery, Ernakulam-682 033 e-mail: editor@uniquetimes.org uniquetimesindia@gmail.com Ph:0484 2532040, 2532080 Mob:9288800999

Cover Photograph Adv Shaji J Kodankandath

Printer & publisher Pegasus Global Pvt. Ltd. Cochin (682033) on behalf of Ajit Ravi. Printed at S.T.Reddiar & Sons, Cochin-18.

CONTENTS

Man with a vision, shaji j kodankandath

Virtualisation is the new Industrialisation

Who should be your future leader…

Contempt lawstime to revisit hath arrived

“Migraine” how to tackle?

The solid foundation called rockbottom!

Gadgets

Natural tips to make your eyes more beautiful

Belarus: the last dictatorship of the europe

Mahindra Thar

UNIQUE DIARY

Auto industry still in crisis

he automobile industry is struggling to handle the crisis created by the present virus crisis. The area of passenger vehicle sales has hit to a 11-year low. The main reason for this crisis is the fall in demand. Though in the recent past some areas of the industry have attained a slight recovery, they are also struggling to maintain that pace now. The industry is one of the main pillars of the economy of the country. If the issue of demand is not resolved in a promptly manner, the scope for a speedy recovery is less likely to emerge in the near future.

Government likely to ask passengers flying out of the country to get Covid-19 test

â€œComing together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.â€? Henry Ford

n a bid to avoid an embarrassing situation like the one that happened in Hong Kong, the government is expected to ask passengers, flying out of the country, to carry Covid-19 test reports with them. That means every passenger flying out of the country is supposed to do a Covid-19 test prior to his trip. Recently, Hong Kong banned Air India flight until August 31, as more than eleven passengers reached the city from India were tested positive for Covid-19. At present, it remains unclear when exactly will the central government officially launch the policy. It is clear that it does not take too long for the government to launch the policy.

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UNIQUE DIARY

Multiplex industry sees drive-in cinemas as recovery option

he multiplex industry, which is one of the sectors which has been severely affected due to the present Covid-19 outbreak, is planning to explore the option of drive-in cinemas â€“ which is very popular in the western world, especially in the United States of America. Though the industry has not yet publicised its plan officially, some top players of the sector have admitted that they have such a plan. In order to see this plan materialised, the industry at first needs to revamp its infrastructure as it is nearly impossible to implement this plan if the said revamp is not done.

JSW to establish steel plant in Odisha

â€œI am not satisfied in making money for myself. I endeavor to provide employment to hundreds of women of my race. I had to make my own living and my own opportunity. But I made it.â€? Madam C J Walker

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hile speaking to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, JSW Chief Sajjan Jindal has reassured that his company will start the proposed integrated steel plant project soon. During the video conference meeting, he has promised the commitment of his company towards the project. The state government has already done its part in the project; it has allowed land for the project. The state has even provided water and power supply for the project. Mr. Sajjan has boasted that the project will boost the economy of the state. He has also added that it will create numerous new job opportunities in the state.

LICHFL witnesses rise in net profit

iving surprise to many, and pushing its rivals into a pit of jealousy, LIC Housing Finance Limited – which is one of the prominent mortgage lenders based in this part of the world – has witnessed a sharp rise in its net profit for the quarter ending June. It is assumed that lower provisioning has helped the company to secure this remarkable victory. The company has seen a rise of 34 per cent. Its net profit has grown to Rs. 817.48 crore. It means that the company’s profit after tax is around Rs. 610.68 crore. The growth is expected to strengthen the company.

Telecons requests government to do away with taxes on AGR dues

“Simple can be harder than complex. You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.” Steve Jobs

he Cellular Operators Association of India has requested the government to bring in a law to eliminate taxes in the AGR dues. The move has come shorty after they were sent notices asking them to pay a service tax on their AGR dues. The COAI has sent a letter to the central government in connection with this matter. As per the view of the organisation, if the requested law is not brought in the telecom industry will face a huge damage. The central government has not yet responded to the matter. It remains unclear whether the government will take a lenient stand in this matter or not.

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COVERSTORY

MAN WITH A VISION, SHAJI J KODANKANDATH

Shaji J Kodankandath is rare and indeed a positive thinker politician who believes in carrying on his social activities rather than hankering after power. An advocate by profession and a social activist-politico by passion, Shaji J Kodankandath is truly an admiring figure in society. Diyaara

haji is an active social worker and DCC general secretary at Thrissur, who has been in the headlines a year ago for raising his genuine concerns regarding the non-budget friendly refreshment at the airports. Narrating the incident Shaji says that though our country has budget-friendly airlines, the refreshment is not very budgetfriendly at the airport. Time has changed and the airport is not just accessed by the riches but also by the common man which include senior citizens to children. We all know that for passengers of the domestic flight have to report two-three hours before the

scheduled departure. Shaji realised the exorbitant price for snacks and beverage is not at all affordable for the common man and is an injustice to their rights. “During a trip to Delhi last year, I had to board a flight at CIAL airport. I had reported hours before the departure time and felt like having a coffee or tea. I had very less money with me and went to a shop for a cup of tea. I had ordered a black tea and the shopkeeper asked me to pay Rs 100,” he said. The incident caught in Shaji’s mind and according to him, this was wrong. He also pointed out that almost all the shops at the airport terminal charge

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to 10 times higher than the normal price. Having four airports in Kerala, CIAL receives an average of 10 to 15 thousand passengers on a single day. Out of which a majority of the passengers are the common man and these sky-high prices are not affordable to them. “Airports are run with taxpayers’ money and it was a shame to know that there was not a single shop selling tea, coffee or snacks at a reasonable price to protect the interest of the common man,” said Shaji. As a responsible citizen, he wrote to the airport authorities requesting for a single shop at the terminal offering tea-coffee and snacks at a

Marking his foot in the world of politics at a very young age, Shaji is determined towards his duties and responsibilities. He has also worked closely with Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi.

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COVERSTORY

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According to him, a social worker is not the one who seeks for mileage from people to be a political leader. Instead, a social worker should be the one to fights for justice and well being of society.

reasonable rate to the common man. After failing to a satisfactory response from the Airports Authority of India he requested the PM to intervene in the matter. “I am thankful for PMO’s intervention, the CIAL authorities have ensured that tea and snacks will be available at a selected shop inside the airport premises at a reasonable rate,” he said with a smile. This single incident is an example that even without holding power one can bring a stern change in the society. Marking his foot in the world of politics at a very young age, Shaji is determined towards his duties and responsibilities. He has also worked closely with Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi. “A true leader is someone who has the will power to do better things for society. A mind to fight and raise voice against injustice,” said Shaji. According to him, a social worker is not the one who seeks for mileage from people to be a political leader. Instead, a social worker should be the one to fights for justice

and well being of society. Shaji’s positivism has helped resolve several issues. His tenacious pursuit of seemingly intractable problems and finding lasting solutions to them has made him the toast of the town. Shaji believes that no one needs to be a political leader or need to hold any power to do the right things. The people of the country and the leaders will come in your support if you try to bring or implement a positive change. “It is very sad that only a few come forward to make a difference in society. As far as I am concerned complaining about the faults is our responsibility and for that, we should not be afraid,” he said. A complaint filed by Shaji about the delay and corruption in the construction of Mannuthy-Wadakkanchery stretch of National Highway made the Central Vigilance Commission intervene and had asked the Chief Vigilance officer to look into the matter. He also highlighted the alarming number of accidents on the Mannuthy-Wadakkanchery

stretch of the National Highway and was proved crucial when the Kerala High Court while hearing the case filed by him in this regard appointed an advocate commission to inspect the highway's safety and construction. It paved the way for carrying out the work under the supervision of the district police chief of Thrissur and Palakkad. The measure helped to bring down the accident rate in the area and speed up the work. It was his involvement which got the police authorities to open the Trap and Skeet Shooting Club situated at the Police Academy here to the public. His intervention on the decision to close the hospital for tribal in Peechi and the construction of a check dam on the Manali river which helped to recharge the groundwater in the area was solely due to Shaji's tireless efforts. The UDF Government during its ruling period had sanctioned Rs 62 lakhs after the people of the area faced water scarcity. It was Shaji's continuous effort and will, to make sure the people had

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COVERSTORY enough water and did not face any scarcity even during the height of summer. The change of political guard in the state did not come in the way of sanction of the project. Similarly, there are many social issues where Shaji has raised his voice. “Not just me but every individual of this country have their voice. A strong will and positivity in mind is what one requires to change the face of our country. We have sufficient skills, manpower and land yet we fail to utilise it completely,” he said. He also said that we should have the guts to question the wrong happening around us. We pay the tax so we have the right to see through on how and where the Government is using our money. It is also our responsibility to ensure the money we pay as tax is utilised for the betterment of society and the citizens. Instead of turning your back and saying there is no point in intervening in these issues, we should change our mentality and start questioning the wrong. To become a political leader there is no qualification required and anybody can stand for election. We elect our leaders and we do have the right to question them if they are wrong. Not just that Shaji do believe that we have a huge pool of resources, manpower and skill yet we fail to utilise it to the fullest. Highlighting the points he said that Kerala has a tropical climatic condition and probably the only land in southern India where lake, sea, forest and mountains are connected. “What attracted the Portuguese and Britans to Kerala was in search of fine spices. The climate here is so favourable for agriculture but still, we don’t have the resource to utilise it

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Shaji believes that no one needs to be a political leader or need to hold any power to do the right things. The people of the country and the leaders will come in your support if you try to bring or implement a positive change.

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COVERSTORY

completely,” said Shaji. In his opinion, Kerala has the full potential to grow in Agriculture, Tourism and IT sector better than any other state. But unfortunately, we still stand back. “The tourism sector is the most promising area for future Kerala yet we haven’t explored it well. A proper infrastructure without disturbing nature and destroying the natural habitat is what we require rather than building a factory. In terms of economy, IT is the sole sector where there is no pollution and is promising. Shaji believes that if we are doing a positive thing for Society everyone one will stand with us. The airport issue is the best example to point out which had the intervention from the PMO. “Our voice will be heard if it’s spoken out loud. It is also our responsibility to encourage the right and oppose the wrong. All one need is the will power to do it. If I can do you can also,” he said with a smile. The subtle and down to earth nature of Shaji is what makes him a true leader. Being the voice of a common man and with the positivism, in his mind, Shaji has miles to go 

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BUSINESS

When With the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the horizon, investment not just in technologies, but in people who understand technology, is becoming essential. Although itâ€™s unlikely that youâ€™ll need to know every system or platform, demonstrating a solid working knowledge of data literacy, computer programming, big data, the Cloud, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and more, will help elevate your business profile and give you a head start Shri V.P.Nandakumar MD & CEO Manappuram Finance Ltd.

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Virtualisation is the new Industrialisation As the old order changes, what should the upcoming generation of managers and business leaders do to remain in the game?

ery often, the first step in learning something new is to unlearn something we learned before. The raging COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to rethink the routine of our daily lives from work to school to leisure time activities. The trends seen today make it clear that the world, which has always changed with time, will now change at an accelerated pace. The days ahead will be starkly different from the days gone by. It is said that necessity is the mother of invention and, in keeping with that assertion, virtualisation has become the new mantra. Be it the digitalisation of entertainment services (OTT services like Netflix, Prime Video etc.), e-commerce, virtual training, online education, digital banking, or digital healthcare, you can prefix the ‘digital’ or ‘virtual’ tag to almost all services today and it would not be out of place. Virtualisation is the equivalent of Industrialisation for the 21st century and it’s suddenly come to the

fore thanks to the pandemic. In response to travel bans, school closures, and social distancing norms, the world is turning to digital tools to help people carry on with their lives as far normally as possible. It has now become necessary to digitally transform our places of work and education to be able to operate effectively. The companies able to use technology and who can rethink and reshape their business models for the needs of the future by fast-tracking digital transformation will emerge ahead of their competitors.

Specialisation is inevitable

As the world becomes virtual, we are moving away from an age when we relied upon managers who were considered to be generalists. These are people who combined different skillsets such as being good in sales, relationship, operations, technology and some essential soft and hard skills. This came about because it was costly to hire all these talents separately and so generali-

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BUSINESS

sation became the key. In the future that we are coming to, the whole world is our playground. You could be sitting at home or in your office and digitally collaborating with a team spread across the world. Physical distance (or proximity) is not the differentiator but the skill is. There is an emerging need for the specialist, not a generalist, as it is now easier and more cost effective to hire the skillset required, for the duration needed, and without any long-term commitments. Welcome to the world of the “gig economy”! Today, if I want an app developed, I don’t need to hire a team of IT professionals. Instead, I can hire freelancers, who are the best in what they do, and get the job done at a fraction of the cost and time. An early example of this paradigm is how Brian Acton and Jan Koum founded WhatsApp. In January 2009, they hired a developer on RentACoder. com to code the initial app for iPhone. Within five years, in 2014, Facebook acquired WhatsApp for a whopping US$19 billion!

Virtualisation

The crisis has undoubtedly accelerated digital transformation across the world and opened our eyes to the possibilities offered by technology solutions to enhance the quality of our lives and grow our businesses. There are a lot of unknowns about what the world will look like post-coronavirus, but one thing is certain, things won’t be the same anymore. Virtualisation is happening across the spectrum of industries, especially in the services industry be it financial services, information technology, healthcare, tourism, hospitality or manufacturing. Growing up, we have learned about the “power of compounding”, but now we learn that the “power of virtual” is stronger. You may have heard that today the world’s largest hospitality chain, AirBnB, has more rooms than the combined top 10 hotel chains and it does not own a single room! The largest mobility company, Uber, does not own a single taxi. That is the power of virtualisation! Obviously, the shift from physical to virtual may take a few years to materialise, but the process has already started, in fact, it had begun

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even before the pandemic. Recent events have given it the push of urgency needed to accelerate the shift. Now, almost every company is working towards taking their products and services virtual to the extent possible.

Emerging Opportunities

There are enormous opportunities for leaders of future businesses in the field of Information technology, automation, data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, medicine, pharmaceuticals, e-commerce, e-learning, robotics etc. For example, in my own company, our Online Gold Loan (OGL) today accounts for more than 65% of our gold loan business. The gold loan business which was carried on in the same traditional way for centuries, got virtualised within a short period of 5 years! The crisis has also sparked a range of out-of-the-box thinking and innovation across industries. Existing technologies– such as 3D printing – are being leveraged in unique ways to support the healthcare industry during the pandemic by printing much needed components

for medical equipment. The potential for this industry is enormous in the medium to long term, with direct benefits for communities and across multiple industries. Doctors are now able to prescribe treatment for their patients online because we have apps and portable devices that connect to smartphones through which vital parameters of the patient can be conveyed to the doctor. The field of education has seen a sea-change with virtual classrooms taking over almost seamlessly. What it means is that in future education will also become a tradable commodity, something which can be availed by the consumer from any part of the world. This is unlike the situation that prevailed till now, when education was largely non-tradable, rather like the services of a barber. Americans pay ten times as much as Indians do for a haircut, but being a non-tradable service, they have no option but to depend on their local barber for the monthly haircut. This shift offers tremendous opportunities to the quality players in education who will be able to address the needs of the market anywhere

without investing in new buildings or hiring local talent. India, with its low cost based of skilled Englishspeaking manpower is potentially at an advantage. We have also seen the unprecedented rise of e-commerce with online purchases taking away the business of brick and mortar retailers. The banking industry is finding new ways of assisting clients via digital platforms, and the use of cash will likely decrease in the longer term. Restaurants, while currently feeling the pressure of social distancing restrictions, could digitize their supply chain – including online ordering and home delivery and dining alternatives to bolster their service offerings.

What leaders of future businesses should do?

As novel business opportunities begin to emerge, what can the upcoming generation of managers and business leaders do to make sure of their place when navigating the competitive business environment? A report by Deloitte Access Economics suggests that two-thirds of all jobs by 2030 will be made up

of soft-skill-intensive occupations, so developing and enhancing soft skills is the key. Even before the coronavirus outbreak, the growing digital skills gap was apparent across business worldwide. In fact, 82 percent of job vacancies now require digital skills of some kind. However, the pandemic has accelerated the desperate need for specialist digital skillsets to help businesses become more aligned with today’s myriad technologies and platforms. With the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the horizon, investment not just in technologies, but in people who understand technology, is becoming essential. Although it’s unlikely that you’ll need to know every system or platform, demonstrating a solid working knowledge of data literacy, computer programming, big data, the Cloud, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and more, will help elevate your business profile and give you a head start (Shri V.P. Nandakumar is MD & CEO of Manappuram Finance Ltd. Views are personal)

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BUSINESS

Rajesh Nair Associate Partner, Ernst & Young LLP

Frankly, I have never seen any five year plan really take off! ‘It still does not excuse us from building business strategies because direction is still important. So is there an elusive panacea or a framework that will solve all your business issues?

Who should be your future leader…

e live in a time of multiple vicissitudes and business exigencies. The best drafted down plans are laid to waste in spite of the best risk mitigation measures and the most clinical of economic forecasts. At a recent entrepreneurship conference, a famous venture capital financier said, ‘I am yet to really believe in the structures and the complicated analysis that are presented by young business men. Frankly, I have never seen any five year plan really take off! ‘It still does not excuse us from building business strategies because direction is still important. So is there an elusive panacea or a framework that will solve all your business issues? Sorry, I have not come across any in the last two decades in business. But what can weather the storm is the right people at the helm. People who have the courage to change course, adapt quickly to the tailwinds and find direction aligning with the head winds. So what does that really leave for the business heads do? To recruit the right people! This is of course easier said than done. We have continually started look-

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ing at this function as ‘non critical’ and ‘outsourcable’, and this leads to a difficult trend. The emergence of the new band of professionals called ‘placement consultants’ truly signify the flavour of senior management thought that recruitment is best left to experts outside the firm, who are widely networked and are likely to know where to find skills and talent. Some of it is true, some of the placement consultant, one had interacted with give you that confidence and also have the right experience to guide you in the same. But that does not absolve us from thinking more and spending more time for this important activity. Increased engagement in recruiting for your team reaps multiple benefits. One gets a first-hand feel of the people being hired, clarity on the strengths they bring on to the table and constant realistic look at the skill gap of the organisation. Your organisational ‘war chest’ requires not just the strategists but also the foot soldiers, who can focus singularly on implementing great well laid plans. So how does one mobilise the best? How can we identify the hidden gems who are tailor made for your needs?

Is there a golden rule to hiring? Sadly, there are none. But couple of decades in the management world throw up some interesting experiences which I present as tenets.

Hire ‘attitudes’ and train them with skills

A seasoned campus recruiter once told me: “It does not matter what the candidate knows – that is what exams and sessional at the B-Schools do. It matters even less, what the candidate does not know, because it is anyway useless to me. What I hire is a great attitude!” It remained

with me for a long time and I still ask myself ‘Have I hired the right attitude’? The initiative, the eagerness and perseverance help them shape and build skills over time. A lot of management experts feel that ‘confidence beats competence’.

Go easy on the ‘general knowledge’

You are likely to derive more value from asking the candidate ‘what competencies he has which has value to the organisation?’ rather than asking him the ‘capital of Czechoslovakia’. General knowledge helps build per-

spective and an understanding of the world around us. But it can never take centre stage when we are recruiting for a team which has very specific short term and long term intentions.

Recruit ‘different’ people

Diversity is not just a slogan or something one needs to have in the vision statement. It makes proper business sense. The best teams are both diverse and inclusive, fully leveraging team members’ different skills, experiences and perspectives to generate ideas that are relevant to business’ rapidly evolving needs. I remember with a smile a frus-

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BUSINESS

tration of a young HR officer asking me: “Boss, why are you looking at hiring people like yourself? You already have someone like you – You!” But it also points out to a bias we constantly, we look for people who are like someone else we know! At times, diversity is also about suppressing that itch!

Recruit and train for life even if they leave

Never hesitate to hire someone ambitious just for the feat that she will quit soon! Attrition is a reality! It is unwise to think that it is the impetuousness of the young that makes them do it. It is plethora of opportunities and newer avenues. People will leap across industry verticals and functional domains. While there will be the constant quest to keep them longer, you should also understand enough to let them go! They are not always leaving their managers or the organisations. The key is to train them well to your needs from a long term perspective. They may emerge as an important stakeholder and ambassador for your organisation always.

The examples of HLL, P&G and Tata organisations are classics. They hire the best engineers and management graduates and train them well. They in turn become leadership nurseries for the entire business fraternity not just in India but also globally, now.

that there is something about her, that is interesting and you cannot put a finger on it. Surprise yourself and hire them. Some of them turn out to be the gems, you never imagined.

Recruit the ones who will blend in

They all come prim, proper and eager to impress. But it does not take long to understand some basic behaviour like listening skills and usage of neat courteous phrases with the right countenance. There is a fine thin line between branding and bragging. Look out for the wrong smoke signs. You can never be completely right. It is impossible to cross all the ‘T”s and dot all the ‘I’s. Longevity of businesses is always a function of multiple variables and some of them are completely out of the control of organisational leaders. But the easiest action in our control is to recruit a great team – Do it and you will insure yourself for the future. Great people build everlasting institutions of stature!

Corporate culture is a sort of energy filed of an organisation. You can to bring in people who have the ability to blend in. They should have the ability to adjust which they can also add to it by their prior experiences. An interesting way to do it is to have the candidates have a short chat with a small cross section of people in the organisation. It needs to be a casual ‘one to one’ and not a grilling question and answer session.

Recruit with your head but listen to your heart

At times, an interview presents someone with the odd experience, a complete oddball at answers. But the chimer in your heart keeps ticking, indicating

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Recruit good corporate manners

FINANCE

Adv Sherry Samuel Oommen This article is authored by Adv Sherry Samuel Oommen. Adv Oommen, who specializes in constitution, tax and corporate laws has also cleared the final exams of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, the Institute of Cost Accountants of India and the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. He has also completed his Masters Degree in Commerce, apart from obtaining a Post Graduate Diploma in Business and Corporate Laws from Symbiosis Pune. The views expressly are personal and should not be construed as a legal opinion.sherryoommen@nashcp.com.

This, in my view, is rather strange and calls for immediate attention, as a strong justice delivery system indeed requires a noetic re-look at the law of contempt guided by a constellation of emerging constitutional and other consideration. For instance, recently, a 9-Bench judge of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of KS Puttaswamy and Another (2017) 10 SCC 1 has held that the right to privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 and part of the freedoms guaranteed under Part III of the Constitution of India.

CONTEMPT LAWSTIME TO REVISIT HATH ARRIVED

he judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Prashant Bhushan & Another holding Mr Bhushan guilty of “criminal contempt”, a watershed moment as some would opine, has triggered a wide debate on whether the judgment was indeed correct or rather harsh. One would argue that the Hon’ble Supreme Court held Mr Bhushan guilty of contempt on the basis that his tweets were on the basis of “distorted” facts. I wonder if the conclusion would

have been different if the facts were indeed “true” or perceived to be “true”. In which case, on the assumption that the facts were “true”, would his tweet still fall within the realm of “criminal contempt”. On a bare reading of Contempt of Court Act, 1971 one would still argue that even a tweet based on “true” facts would still qualify as “criminal contempt”. This, in my view, is rather strange and calls for immediate attention, as a strong justice delivery

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system indeed requires a noetic relook at the law of contempt guided by a constellation of emerging constitutional and other consideration. For instance, recently, a 9-Bench judge of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of KS Puttaswamy and Another (2017) 10 SCC 1 has held that the right to privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 and part of the freedoms guaranteed under Part III of the Constitution of India. The Hon’ble Supreme Court

in the said case consequently overruled its earlier decisions in the case of MP Sharma AIR 1954 SC 300 and Kharak Singh AIR 1963 SC 1295 which inter-alia held that the right to privacy is not protected by the Constitution of India.

What the law states?

Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Court Act, 1971 defines 'Criminal Contempt' to mean- the publication (whether by words, spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise) of any matter or the doing of any other act whatsoever which: (i) scandalises or tends to scandalise, or lowers or tends to lower the authority of, any court; or (ii) prejudices, or interferes or tends to interfere with, the due course of any judicial proceeding; or (iii) interferes or tends to interfere with, or obstructs or tends to obstruct, the administration of justice in any other manner. As apparent, the definition is indeed prone to wide interpretation. The said aspect regarding its wide interpretation has also been recognized by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of S Mulgaokar (1978) 3 SCC 339. The laws of contempt need to be revisited duly striking a balance between the need to uphold the majesty of the courts and administration of justice and the

natural, primordial, basic, inherent and inalienable right of freedom of expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India. One would argue that the fundamental right of freedom of expression juxtaposed with the right to fair and legitimate criticism that an individual possesses, should not in any manner be throttled or asphyxiated but rather there should be a concerted effort by all stake holders made to protect the same. Incidentally, some of these aspects were dealt with by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Brahma Prakash Sharma 1953 SCR 1169, which also sought to draw a distinction between what constitutes “libel” on the judge and what constitutes “contempt of court”. I wish to extract a few interesting observations of the Hon’ble Supreme Court. “In the first place, the reflection on the conduct or character of a judge in reference to the discharge of his judicial duties, would not be contempt if such reflection is made in the exercise of the right of fair and reasonable criticism which every citizen possesses in respect of public acts done in the seat of justice. It is not by stifling criticism that confidence in courts can be created. In the second place, when attacks or comments are made on

a Judge or Judges, disparaging in character and derogatory to their dignity, care should be taken to distinguish between what is a libel on the Judge and what amounts really to contempt of court. The fact that a statement is defamatory so far as the Judge is concerned does not necessarily make it a contempt. A defamatory attack on a Judge may be a libel so far as the judge is concerned and it would be open to him to proceed against the libellor in a proper action if he so chooses. If, however, the publication of the disparaging statement is calculated to interfere with the due course of justice or proper administration of law by such court, it can be punished summarily as contempt. Thus, one is a wrong done to the Judge personally while the other is a wrong done to the public. It will be an injury to the public if it tends to create an apprehension in the minds of the people regarding the integrity, ability or fairness of the Judge or to deter actual and prospective litigants from placing complete reliance upon the court's administration of justice, or if it is likely to cause embarrassment in the mind of the Judge himself in the discharge of his judicial duties.” I would also argue that the citizenry does have an inalienable right in having a fair justice delivery sys-

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FINANCE tem. In exercise of the said right, one would also argue that such right is indeed omnipresent for the citizenry as the Constitution places the individual at the forefront, guaranteeing civil and political rights under Part III of the Constitution of India apart from embodying an aspiration for achieving socio-economic rights in Part IV of the Constitution. In that perspective, one would also argue that the State and the Judiciary should also be accountable to the individual. To state that judiciary cannot be subject to fair and legitimate criticism is to my mind undermining the rights of the citizen. This too adds to the case that the law of contempt does need to be revisited, apart from granting the citizen the right to question motives, if any, as this would indeed deepen democracy. One may also argue that concept of “criminal contempt” could be reckoned as an unreasonable restriction on freedom of speech especially since the accuser, the prosecutor and the “decision-makers” are one and the same. I ask myself this question, how can one be a judge of one’s own cause?

What happens in other jurisdictions?

In countries like USA, Canada and the UK, the law of contempt has substantially evolved. In the UK for instance, the judiciary has been

coined by a few tabloids as “You Old Fools”, Enemies of the People”, without any action of contempt being initiated, though I would believe that such comments were indeed excessive. Nonetheless, the Courts judiciously and sensibly ignored the stories, thereby displaying their magnanimity. In countries like USA, most Presidents have been critical over the federal judiciary. One would immediately recall the dissent of President Theodore Roosevelt against the dissenting opinion of Justice Holmes in the case of Northern Securities. President Roosevelt, who was filled with angst loudly declared “I could carve out of a banana a judge with more backbone than that.” The same holds true even for President Trump, who called District Judge Jon S Tigar, as an “Obama Judge”. Has such statements ever undermined the American judiciary? On the contrary, I would believe that such freedom has only deepened democracy, apart from strengthening the justice delivery system, which was also voiced by Chief Justice John Roberts as follows: “We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges. What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them. That independent judiciary is

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something we should all be thankful for.” In another statement, Chief Justice John Roberts observed as follows: “Justices know that criticism comes with the territory, but threatening statements of this sort from the highest levels of government are not only inappropriate, they are dangerous. All members of the court will continue to do their job, without fear or favour, from whatever quarter”. This does bring to the forefront the view that even the most powerful men in the world cannot in any manner destabilize the foundations of a court. The contempt laws of India are archaic and indeed need to be revisited in line with the present day thinking. The laws should on the contrary protect the citizenry from any possible disquieting inclination on the part of any institution (including the judiciary) from silencing criticism or dissent, apart from protecting such dissenters from harassment and intimidation. As rightly pointed out in the landmark case of Bridges Vs California, “an enforced silence would probably engender resentment, suspicion, and contempt for the bench, not the respect it seeks”. I am sure that this is what the Courts would indeed desire - Respect that is earned and not forced!!!

Dr. Danish Salim Specialist: Sheikh Khalifa, UAE HOD PRS Emergency Trivandrum Dr. Danish Salim is currently working as the academic director and head of emergency department at PRS Hospital, Kerala. He has over 10-year experience in emergency and critical care. He was active in the field of emergency medicine and have contributed in bringing in multiple innovations for which Dr. Danish was awarded nationally as Best Innovator in Emergency Medicine and Young Achiever, as well as Best Emergency Physician of State award. Among multiple innovations like app for accident alerts and jump kits for common emergency management, Dr Danish brought into being the stateâ€™s first bike ambulance and a single state wideapp to control and coordinate private and public ambulances under one platform. This network was appreciated and is successfully running with the support of the government currently. Besides the technology field, Dr. Danish was enthusiastic in conducting more than 2000 structured emergency training classes for common men, residents, doctors and healthcare professionals over the span of 5 years. Currently 1. Kerala State Secretary, Society for Emergency Medicine India 2. National Innovation Head, Society for Emergency Medicine India 3. Vice President, Indian Medical Association, Kovalam 4. HOD, Academic Director PRS Hospital, Trivandrum 5. Senior Specialist, Abudhabi Health Authority

September - October 2020

Evidence has shown that the countries that sprang into action and rolled out massive testing has been quite successful in handling COVID19. In this article, letâ€™s try to understand the latest available tests that are being introduced in India and worldwide to tackle the COVID 19 pandemic.

CRAVE A NEW NORMAL? Then Carve A New PathwayTest, Trace, Treat

Get to know the COVID 19 Tests

OVID 19 has taken the world by a storm – an unexpected and unrelenting battle is going on all over the world. As the war rages on, the only weapon we have is information. Diagnostic testing to quickly identify those infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome–related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the pivotal step in controlling this disaster. Evidence has shown that the countries that sprang into action and rolled out massive testing has been quite successful in handling COVID19. In this article, let’s try to understand the latest available tests that are being introduced in India and worldwide to tackle the COVID 19 pandemic. There are mainly 3 categories of tests available to diagnose COVID 19 infection: 1. Nucleic Acid Amplification Test 2. SARS-COV2 Antigen Test 3. SARS-COV2 Antibody Test

1. Nucleic Acid Amplification Test:

a. Reverse TranscriptionPolymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) b. Point of care tests – 1. Truenat, 2. Gene Expert (CB NAAT - Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) Here is a deeper perspective into each of the NAAT test:

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Despite the array of tests, there are a lot of issues when patients are infected with COVID 19 but their test reports come out at negative! This is known as false negative case and the usual reason for this are: • The quality of sample - The current recommendation is once the swab reaches inside the nasopharynx you should rotate it 180 degrees and leave it in place for 5-10 seconds to saturate the swab tip with secretions.

confirmatory diagnosis of COVID 19. The rapid antigen detection kit has a very high specificity almost equal to the RT-PCR, so a positive test can be taken as true positive and does not need a reconfirmation by RT-PCR. The sensitivity of this rapid antigen test is 50% to 80% so if the sample is negative in a symptomatic suspect, then an RT-PCR should be performed on a fresh sample from the patient for confirmation of positivity.

2. SARS-COV2 Antigen Test

3. SARS – COV 2 Antibody test

This rapid antigen detection kit for the diagnosis of COVID 19 uses again a nasopharyngeal swab to diagnose by identifying the viral antigen. it can rapidly pick the presence of disease in around 30 minutes. It is currently being employed for swifter

Rapid antibody test for COVID 19 is used to identify COVID 19 using two types of immunoglobulins: IgM and IgG. IgM is the first to become positive after 7 – 10 days of acquiring infection, whereas IgG will

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become positive after 14 days of infection and may remain positive for weeks. A positive antibody tests can only indicate that the person has an exposure to COVID 19 and a negative antibody test is not a confirmatory test to rule out COVID 19. Thus, this antibody test can only be used as a surveillance test and not to confirm the disease. There is no quick escape from the reality of COVID 19. The only way forward is to exercise utmost care and caution. Many countries have almost conquered this illness, which gives us too a glimmer of hope. Armed with more and more information each day, we look forward to the day when COVID-19 is no longer a pandemic

BUSINESS

By Jiz P Kottukappally Chief Executive Officer Yescalator Management and Financial Consultants

No doubt COVID 19 has created unprecedented challenges in almost all areas of life of human beings be it health, education, travel, entertainment or business. Governments across the world have been taking various initiatives for minimizing the impact of COVID 19 on all these areas. The impact of COVID 19 and the national lockdown has been very severe on industry and trade, and thus government and RBI has come out with a lot of initiatives and relaxations for supporting these areas.

Mob No 75588 91177 Email Jizpk@yescalator.com

September - October 2020

Loan restructuring facility – Why it is a big boon for MSME borrowers

ne of the most important questions that business owners have been asking themselves and each other during the month of August 2020 has been whether the moratorium announced by RBI on the loan payments will be extended again. No doubt the benefits of moratorium on loan repayments announced by RBI has helped a large number of borrowers to tide over or at least minimize the challenges of inadequate cash flows. Though the lockdown was for less than 2 months and more than 2 months have passed since the partial lifting of lockdown has started, business is not back to normal for most of the firms. Revenues and cash flows are still under stress and naturally many of the borrowers are looking at an extension of the moratorium and hence the questions regarding possibility of extension of moratorium were being asked. No doubt COVID 19 has created unprecedented challenges in almost all areas of life of human beings be it health, education, travel, entertainment or business. Governments across the world have been taking various initiatives for minimizing the impact of COVID 19 on all these areas. The impact of COVID 19 and the national lockdown has been very severe on industry and trade, and thus government and RBI has come out with a lot of initiatives and relaxations for supporting these areas. Recognizing the role MSME units play in terms of employment generation and economic growth of the country, the government has been coming out with various schemes to support the revival of such units. Moratorium on loans, extension

of moratorium, maintaining status quo of accounts for which moratorium has been granted, recalculation of the ‘drawing power’ by reducing the margins and/or by reassessing the working capital cycle, additional funding without additional collateral security under the Emergency Credit Line Guaranteed Scheme (ECLGS) and funding promoters of stressed MSME units under the Subordinated Debt for Stressed MSMEs scheme have been some of the major initiatives by the Govt and RBI for supporting MSME units.

Are these measures sufficient?

Of the various measures initiated by Govt and RBI for supporting MSME borrowers, there has been both shortterm and long-term measures. The declaration of moratorium, recalculation of DP and reassessment of working capital cycle are short term measures. The ECLGS and subordinate debt funding are comparatively longer term support measures that have been announced. But all these schemes are broadly “one stich fit all” formula “broad brush” approach schemes and do not take into considerations the peculiarities and current situation of each business unit separately. Covid 19 has brought out a structural change in a lot of the businesses, and thus a one stich fit all formula will not work in most of these cases. What is required for businesses to come out of their financial mess is the facility for the borrowers and financial institutions to work out tailor made solutions considering the current situation and future prospects of the business activity. And it is in this context that the

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BUSINESS

RBI has rather than extending the moratorium, during the first week of August come out with a scheme permitting banks and financial institutions for restructuring of MSME loans. Thus the restructuring of MSME loan facilities is great benefit that has been provided to the borrowers and would benefit the borrowers in huge way, if properly utilized.

How can restructuring benefit you?

Restructuring is an act in which a lender, grants concessions to a borrower for economic or legal reasons relating to the borrower's financial difficulty. Restructuring would normally involve modification of terms of sanction. Restructuring can lead to repayment holiday, alteration of repayment period / repayable amount / the amount of installments / rate of interest, roll over of credit facilities, sanction of additional credit facility, enhancement of existing credit limits, modification of security etc.

Do you require restructuring?

It would be good for businesses to check out for the following symptoms to find out whether their busi-

ness needs to be restructured. In the case of term loans, it would be difficulty in paying the EMIs, Delay in remitting EMIs or Non payment of EMI. In the case of units enjoying working capital limits the symptoms could be inability to maintain stipulated margins or drawings exceeding sanctioned limits, periodic interest debited remaining unrealized, delay in meeting commitments towards crystallized liabilities under LC/BGs, failure to pay statutory liabilities, non- payment of bills to operational creditors, etc. In addition to the financial parameters stated above, there could be non-financial symptoms like inability to adhere to financial loan covenants, non-submission or undue delay in submission or submission of incorrect stock statements, delay in publication of financial statements and adversely qualified financial statements; steep decline in production figures, downward trends in sales and fall in profits, margin erosion etc.; elongation of working capital cycle, excessive inventory build-up; significant delay in project implementation etc. If any of the symptoms are found in your

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business it is high time that you think of restructuring your loans.

Who all are eligible?

Under the recent scheme for restructuring of MSME units announced by RBI in August, 2020, all MSME borrowers who have borrowed up to Rs 25 Crore from Commercial Banks including Small Finance Banks, Local Area Banks and Regional Rural Banks, Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks/ State Co-operative Banks/ District Central Cooperative Banks, All-India Financial Institutions and Non-Banking Financial Companies regulated by RBI are eligible for the benefits given under the scheme. However, the benefits under the scheme are available only for accounts which are standard as on 01st March, 2020. In other words, even SMA 2 accounts can be considered for restructuring but accounts which are NPA as on 01st March, 2020 are not eligible for restructuring under this scheme. Further the total borrowings by the unit from all the above institutions put together should not exceed Rs 25 Crore. Borrowings will include both fund based and non fund based lim-

its. The restructuring exercise has to be completed before 31st March, 2021. A restructuring exercise will be considered as completed, only when all related documentations are completed and conditions of the loans get duly reflected in the books of all the lenders and the borrower. For entities for which GST registration is applicable GST registration should be obtained before the date of implementation of the restructuring, if not already registered.

How is this scheme different from earlier schemes?

Unlike a normal restructuring, where borrower accounts are downgraded to non performing category post restructurings for period of one year, any account which is restructured under this scheme need not be downgraded to NPA category. This would be a major incentive for Banks and lending institution for restructuring of advances and helping out the borrowers. In some of the cases, the borrowers would not have applied for moratorium or even if moratorium would have been applied banks / lending institutions would not have given it due to some reasons. Some such accounts would have subsequently turned NPA after 02nd March, 2020. Those accounts are also eligible for restructuring under the above scheme announced by RBI. The advantage for a borrower and the lending institution in

restructuring such accounts which have turned NPA since 02nd March, 2020 is that once the restructuring is done the accounts can be treated as standard account. Thus MSME accounts which have been classified as NPA by banks and financial institutions from 02nd March, 2020 can come out of NPA status, if a restructuring of that account has been done before 31st March, 2021 under this scheme announced by RBI. This would definitely be of help for many of the financially stressed MSME units.

What should MSME borrowers do?

Though the scheme announced by RBI provides sufficient incentive for banks for restructuring of MSME advances, approval of a restructuring scheme can never be considered as a right by the borrowers. The bankers need to be convinced as to what went wrong in the past and how such instances will not recur in future. Better understanding of the business by the borrowers, the new management team, specific improvements from the past, new customers acquired, new products added, cost reduction initiatives undertaken, the risk mitigates that have been implemented, improving profitability and cash flows, recent transaction history etc are some of the factors which positively impact the bankers for a restructuring of the account. Borrowers should be clearly

able to give confidence to the bankers that the past mistakes will not be repeated and there will be definite improvements in revenues, profits and cash flow.

A once in a lifetime boon

While moratorium on repayment of loans is a short term measure that will help units for tiding over the temporary cash flow issues the current option given for restructuring of advances will help address the long term structural issues the units were facing or will face in future. Applying for a moratorium might have been almost a mechanical act for many MSME units. But the current option of restructuring of advances in the MSME sector is a once in life time opportunity that is made available for MSME units and therefore it would be prudent on their part to use it properly after a thorough analysis of their business situation including the future business prospects, profitability and cash flow. A properly worked out financial restructuring plan with necessary corrections in business like value addition, augmenting revenue sources, product rationalisation, cost optimisation, terms of credit, efficient working capital management etc can help the business to turnaround and come out of stress. If such a detailed and comprehensive exercise is not done a restructuring of loan accounts will only result in postponing the financial stress and not solve itď Ź

September - October 2020

HEALTH

Dr Arun Oommen MBBS, MS (Gen Surg), Mch( Neurosurgery), MRCSEd, MBA Consultant Neurosurgeon, VPS Lakeshore Hospital Kochi, India

Migraine is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent moderate to severe headaches often in association with a number of associated symptoms. Globally, approximately 15% of the population is affected by migraines at some point in life.

“MIGRAINE” HOW TO TACKLE?

evere throbbing headache especially on forehead which last for a long time… Also feeling of nausea/vomiting… This problem might be there for a long time. Consulting many doctors, taken different medications, but it provide only temporary relief. CT scan head was done and reported as normal. This problem really affects work and forces us to take leave often. This suffering is typical of migraine which is a very common neurological problem. Migraine is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent moderate to severe headaches often in association with a number of associated symptoms. Globally, approximately 15% of the population is affected by migraines at some point in life. Typically, the headache affects one half of the head, is pulsating in nature, and lasting from 2 to 72 hours. Associated symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, or smell.

The pain is generally made worse by physical activity. Up to one-third of people with migraine headaches perceive an aura: a transient visual, sensory, language, or motor disturbance which signals that the headache will soon occur. Migraines are believed to be due to a mixture of environmental and genetic factors. About two-thirds of cases run in families. Changing hormone levels may also play a role, as migraines affect slightly more boys than girls before puberty, but about two to three times more women than men. The risk of migraines usually decreases during pregnancy. The exact mechanisms of migraine are not known but believed to be a neurovascular disorder related to increased excitability of the cerebral cortex and abnormal control of pain neurons. There are three main aspects of treatment: trigger avoidance, acute symptomatic control, and pharmacological prevention. Success of migraine management depends on

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proper identification of trigger factors along with proper medications under strict medical advice. The response to therapy is different for different individuals. Medications are more effective if used earlier in an attack. Initial management is with simple analgesics such as ibuprofen and paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen) for the headache, an antiemetic for the nausea, and the avoidance of triggers. Common triggers are stress, hunger, fatigue, menstruation, menarche, perimenopause, menopause, oral contraceptive use, pregnancy, and certain dietary factors. Environmental aspects include indoor air quality and lighting, sunlight, certain smell and sound. Specific agents such as triptans or ergotamines may be used by those for whom simple analgesics are not effective. Pharmacological Prevention is recommended in those who have headaches more than two days a

week, cannot tolerate the medications used to treat acute attacks, or those with severe attacks that are not easily controlled. Preventive treatments of migraines include medications and lifestyle alterations. The goal of preventive migraine medications is to reduce the frequency, painfulness, and/or duration of migraines, and to increase the effectiveness of abortive therapy. Another reason for prevention is to avoid medication overuse headache. This is a common problem and can result in chronic daily headache. The frequent use of medications may result in medication overuse headache, in which the headaches become more severe and more frequent. This may occur with triptans, ergotamines, and analgesics, especially narcotic analgesics. Due to these concerns simple analgesics are recommended to be used less than three days per week at most. Flunarizine, Topiramate, Divalproex, sodium valproate, propranolol, and metoprolol are first line drugs used. Frovatriptan is effective for prevention of menstrual migraine. Duration of prophylactic medications is usually 3-6 months started at small

dose and increased gradually. Acupuncture Chiropractic manipulation, physiotherapy, massage and relaxation might be as effective as propranolol or topiramate in the prevention of migraine headaches; Medical devices, such as biofeedback and neurostimulators, have some advantages in migraine prevention, mainly when common anti-migraine medications are contraindicated or in case of medication overuse. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 criteria for the diagnosis of migraine without aura, (International Headache Society) • Five or more attacks - for migraine with aura, two attacks are sufficient for diagnosis. • Four hours to three days in duration • Two or more of the following: • Unilateral (affecting half the head); • Pulsating; • "Moderate or severe pain intensity"; • "Aggravation by or causing avoidance of routine physical activity" • One or more of the following: • Nausea and/or vomiting; • Sensitivity to both light (photophobia) and sound (phonophobia)

September - October 2020

MOTIVATION

Dolly Neena

We have repeated the quote, ‘Failure is a stepping stone to success’, in our childhood. However, in reality, failures are usually offered with shame and apologies. In factful words, failure is another inevitable part of life and success is a process or a journey without a sure destination to it.

Dolly Neena is founder of THE IGNIST, a training company born out of a noble cause and spirit. She holds a decade long experience being a passionate mentor and entrepreneur.

The solid foundation called rockbottom! “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” - Michael Jordan.

ife might drop you to hit the rockbottom several times in life. We are undergoing one terrible economic slowdown now, and most of us are hit. And, there are several of us who might hit it too low or to the bottom. Some say that hitting rockbottom is inevitable to eventual success. Understand that our conditioning, society and culture exalts and worships success. We do not quite sink into the idea of failures or failed men. We are more thrived to hear success stories and accomplishments. Even though failure is bitter enough to endure, success is also not always what it seems to be. We have repeated the quote, ‘Failure is a stepping stone to success’, in our childhood. However, in reality, failures are usually offered with shame and apologies. In factful words, failure is another inevitable part of life and success is a process or a journey without a sure destination to it. In fact, success doesn’t have to glorify yourself nor failure

has to demoralize you to end your efforts. We have hundreds and thousands of rags to riches stories, and people who made it to billboards and boardrooms after failing miserably several times. Madonna to date has sold over 300 million records as the top female pop performer of all time. Before she achieved any of that however, Madonna first worked in various diners and fast food joints while she was starting out. In one particular job, she quickly got fired for dousing a customer with donut jelly on purpose. Although her potential career in the food industry crashed and burned, this paved the way for her to become one of the most successful music stars. In 1832, when he was 23-years old, Lincoln lost his job. At the same time, he also lost his bid for State Legislature. Just 3 years later, at the age of 26, the love of his life, Ann Rutledge, died. Another three years later? He lost his bid to become Speaker in the Illinois House of Representatives. In 1848, at the age of 39-years old, Lincoln also failed in his bid to become Commissioner

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of the General Land Office in D.C. Ten years after that, at the age of 49-years old, he was defeated in his quest to become a U.S. Senator. In 1861, at the age of 52, he secured the office of President of the United States. Elvis Presly, Bill Gates, Emily Dickinson, Charles Darwin, Harrison, Ford, Henry Ford, J K Rowling, Katy Perry, Beyonce Knowles, Richard Branson, Mark Zuckerberg, Walt Disney, Sylvester Stallone, Lady Gaga, Jack Ma, Keanu Reeves, Jack Canfield – we can go on with hundreds of successful names known to us, who have tasted failure several times in their lifetime. They say the great thing about rockbottom is there’s nowhere to go but up. You cannot possibly go any lower. Which is a good news in this troubled times. As per the half-filled glass perception, It can be a beautiful restart. It’s usually two options for you to choose: fight or flight – either you can give up or give in or you can dust yourself to get back and fight. By looking into the failure itself, challenge yourself and outdo your belief in yourself. Don’t just sit

there and mull over everything that happened wrong in life. As I’ve always mentioned – the first thing to do when a failure hits you is to take time to sink in – to feel your pain and to accept what has occurred to you. Pain is indeed a wonderful teacher. Accepting what you cannot change and to understand what you can do are the immediate steps. Your responsibility is yours; not anyone else’s to be pushed upon. However, always remember to be considerate and kind to yourself. Human beings are here to survive and evolve – we had been thriving since the earliest days of our species some 2,00,000 years ago. You’re not finished just because you just had a setback; this is just another chapter in your life story. Hang on strong for the next winning chapters. Being constructive about any setback will only help you learn from what hit you. When you learn more about the situation, the more stronger and wiser you would become to confront it. This is how you find resilience for future and it becomes easier the next time and the next. It just makes you bet-

ter. Remember: anyone who does things of value or importance in life will fail, at least once or a few times. To be human is to fail. Before you taste a success. It shouldn’t be looked down upon as a sign of personal incompetence, but pearls of opportunities to learn and survive. All your dysfunctional behaviours and habits are finally revealed at the rockbottom – only if you have the sight to see it. Your disempowering patterns and habits come repeatedly obvious to you. This is exactly where you might get introduced with constructive traits like humility, selfawareness, taking responsibility etc. Find your own sense of purpose, validation and identification, to start with. Start with smaller things that you can possibly change. Move onto bigger ones, onto your satisfaction. You need to own your life and your failure. Until you own your failure, it might creep back into your life in the same form. Elizabeth Gilbert of ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ fame suggests to ‘find your home again’, right after a failure. Your home is something that you love, something that you

focus your energies in a singular devotion. Something that you are extremely passionate about where the results stay inconsequential to you, which will make you feel alive again. This will help you come back in honour and might. What you keep trying over and over again, you will eventually make a breakthrough and succeed. If you are consistently failing at a thing getting done, take a break from it, not to let go, but to find a new way to go around it. Your life doesn’t end in one shot, you have more than scores to make. Like Micheal Jordan says, “I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life”. Once we equip and be seasoned with experiences, it is more than likely that we succeed in what we pursue relentlessly. Ride back to the top with zeal! “Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” – J.K. Rowling.

September - October 2020

REEDENT DENTAL

AND SKIN COSMETIC CLINIC: THE DREAM BUSINESS PROJECT OF A WOMAN

o start up a business, what one needs the most is willpower. Along with that, if you are ready to do hard work, numerous magics will be waiting for you. It was when Dr. Reena Philip was working as a lecturer she discovered her interest for business. If she had not, she would have confined herself to the boundaries of that profession. Without any serious support, she successfully materialised her dream shortly after she had discovered it. Miles has passed since the day her dream became reality. As her business has grown, the businesswoman in her has also grown. Today, Dr. Reena is a celebrity cosmetologist. Her clinic, Reedent Dental and Skin Cos-

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metic Clinic, is situated in Thrikkakara.

About Business

She completed her Dentistry from Chennai. After her completion of her education, she joined as a lecturer in Annoor Dental College, Kerala. She completed several courses on cosmetology from Bangalore and Pune. It was in the year 2017 she laid the foundation stone of her own clinic, named Reedent Dental and Skin Cosmetic Clinic, Thrikkakara, Kerala. The clinic focuses on cosmetic treatments. Implant, tooth whitening and smile makeover are the other main services the clinic offers. Eye brow tattoo, lip tattoo, hair growth treatment, laser tattoo removal, laser hair reduction and skin tightening are the important services the clinic offers in the

Dr Reena strongly believes that a women Enterprenuer should have clear focus and goal towards her dream. She feels that women should take initiative to become entrepreneurs which will help them to be more independent and successful in their life.

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The clinic has a soothing ambiance and looks like a luxury dental and cosmetic spa.

area of skin cosmetology.

books.

About the Clinic

Dental Tourism

The strength of the clinic is its experienced doctors. All the treatments which the clinic offers are done under the direct supervision of these specialist doctors. The medical equipments used in this clinic meets the highest European standards. The clinic has a soothing ambiance and looks like a luxury dental and cosmetic spa. Though the clinic looks luxurious, the services offered here are affordable.

The Dream

The journey of this doctor towards this business sector was not easy. During those days, she was not even certain how should she address the challenges of this world. There was no one to guide her. But, she was very adamant that she should find a way to reach the peak. It was that willpower that encouraged her to reach this shore of great opportunities. Apart form her profession, she loves dance, travelling and reading

Her clinic gives enormous importance to the area of dental tourism. The clinic has customers from the UAE, the US and Europe. They find the services economical.

Humble advice to women

Dr. Reena, who holds women’s issues close to her everyday life, has the following guiding principles for women: Don't be Afraid to Fail: Women are more affected by failure. Don’t give up, learn from your mistakes, and keep growing in life. Keep Learning: Read motivational books, keep learning, explore your interests, and use it all for your success. Minimize Negativity and Learn to say No: Avoid negative people around you and keep yourself in the company of people who are positive and will motivate you. Be Confident: Follow your heart and be confident. Embrace your mistakes cheerfully and keep moving

September - October 2020

till you achieve your dream. The road to success is never smooth, but don’t give up. Love Yourself: Last but not the least: love yourself. Look after your mind and body. Set aside time for yourself, relax when you need to, travel all by yourself once in a while, eat healthy, and exercise daily. And, most of all, believe that you can achieve anything you want to.

A Message to Woman Entrepreneurs

As per her view, a woman entrepreneur should have a clear goal towards what she wants to reach. She should be capable to do her job with the support of others. Dr. Reena also advises them to stay positive. Facing lot of initial challenges, Dr Reena with her sheer determination and will to win, succeeded to make Reedent a well known clinic in kerala. She is a inspiration for all the women entrepreneurs and ladies who dreams big and make it happen !!!

SPIRITUAL ODYSSEY

any situations in life can shake our peace and contentment. But we should be careful not to hold on to them. Moreover, we should welcome such situations, understanding that they are opportunities to nurture our patience. We never get angry at a crow when it evacuates on our head. So, if we try, we will can maintain similar attitude in all circumstances. A person with a peaceful mind will be able to properly understand and respond to a situation. If the mind becomes restless and agitated, we will not be able to evaluate things objectively. This can result in misunderstandings, unwise reactions and, in the end, failure. Once, there was an assembly in a king’s palace. A person entered and, with folded hands, said, “I am a trader. I’ve visited many kingdoms. Wherever I go, I always ask the same question to all the wise men. But so far none of them have been able to properly answer. Likewise, I wish to challenge all the learned men in your assembly and all the citizens of your kingdom.” The king gave him permission. The trader pulled out two objects of the same size, shape and colour. Placing them on the table in front of the king, he said, “One of these objects is an invaluable gem and

the other is mere glass. Which one is the gem? If someone can tell me, I will give it to him. But if no one can identify the gem, then you should give me money equivalent to the gem’s value.” No one in the assembly could select the gem. But at the last moment, a blind man came forward to take on the challenge. The blind man touched both the objects. Then, picking up one of them, he said, “This is the real gem.” The trader admitted that he was right. The king then asked the blind man, “How did you recognise the real gem?” He replied, “One of them had gotten hot in the sun. But the other was still cool. That is how I knew it was the gem.” Similarly, the person who retains his cool even in difficult circumstances is the real gem; he attains success in life. A person who loses his presence of mind in difficult times is like the glass. Equanimity helps us to evaluate circumstances and situations with a clarity. Through this, we acquire the maturity to face all situations in the proper way.

Amma, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi

September - October 2020

GADGETS

Moto G9 Play

Rs. 12,999 (Approximately) Android v10 (Q) OS 6.3 inches Display 16 MP + 8 MP + 5 MP Triple Primary Cameras 13 MP Secondary Camera 4 GB RAM 32 GB Internal Memory 512 GB Expandable Memory 4100 mAh Battery Capacity

Realme C12

Rs. 8,999 (Approximately) Android v10 (Q) OS 6.52 inches Display 13 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP Triple Primary Cameras 5 MP Secondary Camera 3 GB RAM 32 GB Internal Memory 256 GB Expandable Memory 6000 mAh Battery Capacity

September - October 2020

Nokia 5.3

Rs. 13,999 (Approximately) Android v10 (Q) OS 6.55 inches Display 13 MP + 5 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP Quad Primary Cameras 8 MP Secondary Camera 4 GB RAM 64 GB Internal Memory 512 GB Expandable Memory 4000 mAh Battery Capacity

Infinix Zero 8

Rs. 19,290 (Approximately) Android v10 (Q) OS 6.85 inches Display 64 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP Quad Primary Cameras 48 MP + 8 MP Dual Secondary Cameras 8 GB RAM 128 GB Internal Memory 4500 mAh Battery Capacity

September - October 2020

BEAUTY

Natural tips to make your eyes more beautiful

yes have a huge say on beauty. A person with a pair of beautiful eyes naturally means a person with a beautiful facial feature. Still, most of us pay little attention to this area, when it comes to the matter of beauty care. Why is that so? It is a very important question. The question needs a legible answer. In a popular beauty contest based in Kerala, there is a sub-title, named Miss Beautiful Eyes. This shows how much importance is given to this area by the platform which evaluates people on the basis of their beauty and intelligence. It is not necessary to use chemicals to make sure that eyes remain beautiful. Even in this era, there are several natural methods available to enhance the beauty of eyes. In this edition, some of

these natural methods are explored. Letâ€™s see how can we enhance the beauty of our eyes naturally.

Rose Water

It is not hard to get rose water. It is easily available. This is known for centuries as a cosmetic material. What is known less is its anti-septic and anti-bacterial qualities. It can protect the delicate skin around your eyes from the effects of pollutants â€“ particularly those associated with the excess use of make-up products. Take a bowl of fresh rose water. Take two clean cotton balls. Dip the balls inside the bowl. Place the socked balls on your eyes. Let the balls rest there for at least ten to fifteen minutes. Remove the ball and wash the face with fresh lukewarm water. Repeat the procedure at least four or five times a week for better result.

Turmeric

It is a common spice available in every kitchen in the country. In the southern part of the country, it is part of a great culture. For centuries, it is used as a beauty product. It is a well known that turmeric have rich anti-oxidant and antiinflammatory properties. Take at least two teaspoons of turmeric. Add few drops of pineapple juice into the turmeric. Mix them well, until it turns into the form of a smooth paste. Gently, apply the paste around your eyes. Let it rest there for few minutes. Wash it off with fresh lukewarm water. Repeat the procedure at least two times a week for better result.

Milk

It is heard that drinking milk every day is good for health. Milk is a prime source

Dr. Elizabath Chacko, MD-Kalpana International

Mob: 9388618112

September - October 2020

of several vitamins and minerals. It is a less known fact that milk is also an excellent beauty product. In most natural beauty products, milk is an inevitable content. It contains lactic acid, which is known for its moisturising properties. It can help you to remove dark circles under your eyes, and can also fight eye puffiness. Take a bowl of cold milk. Take two clean cotton balls. Dip the balls into the bowl. Place the balls under your eyes. Let the ball rest there for few minutes. Remove the balls and wash your face with fresh lukewarm water thoroughly. Repeat the procedure at least twice a day for better result. Stay Healthy! Stay Beautiful!

September - October 2020

TRAVELOGUE

Belarus is a truly blessed country in terms of its natural beauty. It has amazing lakes, wonderful rivers, mesmerising mountains and several other natural gifts. Minsk, Brest, Polotsk, Grodno and Gomel are the main tourist attractions in this part of the world.

September - October 2020

Belarus:

THE LAST DICTATORSHIP OF THE EUROPE

f a society is not a democratic society, it is not a just society. The continent of the Europe is considered as the apostle of democracy. It respects democracy more than any other continent in the world. Its affection towards the idea is linked to its respect for liberal values. Only few decades have passed since the continent embraced the values. It has successfully defeated all the challenges, which have threated the existence of the values over the years. Nonetheless, not all of them have been effectively eliminated. Some have remained strong despite the hard work put forth to make the continent free from the challenges. Belarus is the perfect example of that. Since the latest election which reaffirmed the claim of Alexander Lukashenko â€“ who has been ruling the country since 1994 â€“ to the post of President, the country has witnessed a series of protests. The protests have been conducted under the leadership of pro-dem-

ocratic activists. The activists have vowed to bring the president down from the post. They have questioned the credibility of the election framework. Meanwhile, Mr. Lukashenko has dismissed all those allegations that have been levelled against him by the protesters as baseless. He has decried the protests, saying that the protests have been organised at the best of certain foreign elements. The leadership of Belarus has the backing of Russia â€“ on which the country is heavily relied to meet its needs, especially its energy needs. Sadly, the emboldened Belarus leadership has allowed its forces to use any method to eliminate the protests demanding the resignation of the president. A renowned human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has called for an immediate intervention of international organisations such as the United Nations, to prevent the misuse of the powers bestowed to the leadership of Belarus by its people. It has released several evidences,

September - October 2020

TRAVELOGUE

September - October 2020

including videos and photos, to justify its call for the intervention of the UN. As per a statement released by the renowned human rights organisation, the Belarus police have used violence against the protesters. According to the organisation, it has even tortured physically and mentally those protesters who have been arrested in connection with the protests. Notably, the torture has failed to provide the desired result to the Belarus leadership. It has only provided an additional impetus to the ongoing unrest. It has also proved the defence, taken by the Belarus leadership, deplorable. Belarus is at present in a crucial juncture. It is just a few steps away from the door of genuine liberation. The country is not new

to revolution. It has passed through several kinds of revolutions over the years. What it experiences now is crucial in many ways. Belarus was a part of the Soviet Union. Its authoritarian character has a clear link to its Soviet connection. Though it severed its ties with the USSR when it disintegrated fully in the early 1990s, it still retains the basic character that was gifted to the country by its former partner, Soviet Russia. Mr. Lukashenko, who has been ruling the country since it severed its ties with the USSR, does his best to make sure that its ties to Russia remains intact despite the disintegration of the socialist union. He still follows certain Soviet-era policies. The countryâ€™s economic

September - October 2020

TRAVELOGUE

policies clearly show how much attached the countryâ€™s leadership is to its soviet past. It is one of the very few countries in Europe which advocates the state-ownership of crucial industries. Needless to say, the Belarus economy is one of the weakest economies in the continent of Europe. The backbone of the countryâ€™s economy is its manufacturing sector and service sector. Notably, it depends heavily on Russia. Moreover, it owes hugely to China. What makes the future of this economy dim is its damaged relationship with its neighbours. Belarus, which is a landlocked country, shares its borders with Ukraine, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania.

Though its neighbours share a cordial relationship with the European Union, it remains as an opposer of the union. Many Europe-based journalists have named the country, as the last dictatorship of the Europe. Undisputedly, what is before this country at this juncture is a bright future. This country holds enormous potential. Once a responsible leadership gets hold of the helm of the country, it will start exploring its potential in the right way. Like most European countries, it has a capacity to make its tourism sector one of the main sectors of its economy â€“ which is currently trapped in the tug-of-war

September - October 2020

between socialists and liberalists in the Europe. Belarus is a truly blessed country in terms of its natural beauty. It has amazing lakes, wonderful rivers, mesmerising mountains and several other natural gifts. Minsk, Brest, Polotsk, Grodno and Gomel are the main tourist attractions in this part of the world. Minsk is the capital city of Belarus. It is known for its gardens and parks. Independence Square, which is one of the largest public squares in the Europe, is the main attraction in this part of the country. Independence Avenue is another popular attraction in the city. As Minsk is the capital city, it is home to several important gov-

ernment buildings and offices. It is also one of the most popular cities in the country. National History Museum and National Art Museum, situated in this part of the country, offer a clear glimpse of the rich cultural as well as political history of the country. Like most other capital cities in the continent, this city is also home to several clubs, shopping malls and other similar entertainment and fun outlets. Brest is a city situated in the southwest region of Belarus. Brest Hero Fortress, which tells the story of Soviet resistance during the World War Two, is the most popular destination in the city. Apart from the fortress, Railway Museum, which displays historic locomotives,

and Berestye Archaeological Museum, which depicts a 13-century Slavic village, are other popular tourist destinations. Polotsk is one of the oldest cities in this part of the world. It is known since the year 862. The city is popular for its rich culture and heritage. There are several museums in this city. The medieval-era Cathedral of Saint Sophia is a popular attraction in this city. Grodno is a city located in the western part of the country. It is a city of castles. The Old Castle, which is a Renaissance palace, and the New Castle, which is a castle built in the eighteenth century as a royal residence, are the two famous castles located in this part of the

country. The twelfth century Kalozha Church of Sts. Boris and Gleb is another popular attraction in this city. The St. Francis Xavier Cathedral is another popular cathedral in the country, in which Eastern Orthodoxy is a very powerful religious congregation. Gomel is a city located in the southeast region of Belarus. This city is also known for its exceptional museums. The Gomel Palace, which is an eighteenth century palace, and the Gomel Regional Museum of Military Glory are the two important museums in the city. The Cathedral of St. Peter and St, Paul and Park Ensemble are other popular tourist attractions in this part of the country. Donâ€™t miss any chance to explore this country!

September - October 2020

AUTO REVIEW

Vivek Venugopal is one of India’s top automotive writers with over a decade’s experience in road-testing and reviewing cars. He is currently the Editor of Quarter Mile magazine and a columnist in several leading magazines and newspapers. He is also a highly sought after consulting engineer and market analyst for many automobile manufacturers.

The Thar is built on a new hydro-formed, body-onframe chassis similar to that of the Scorpio. There is a roll cage that connects the top of the B pillars and runs on either side of the car all the way to the back. The doors are removable and Mahindra says the whole interior can be hosed down although it’s not easy as that.

September - October 2020

fter waiting years for the new Thar to come out, we finally got a chance to drive it. On Independence Day, we became the first few people outside of Mahindra to drive it and we were beyond thrilled. It was a marked improvement over the car it replaced and needless to say, became an internet sensation overnight. Videos on YouTube were clocking a million views and Thar enthusiasts

were watching them over and over again. The launch will only happen on October 2nd and already they have a lot of potential buyers queuing up. Here is why. This is how a modern interpretation of the legendary Thar should be. The proportions are spot on. The new Thar is wider and looks more purposeful. The front bumper runs into thick fenders that are square shaped at the front and circular

Mahindra

Thar

September - October 2020

AUTO REVIEW

at the rear – a design element that harks back to the previous generations. Yes, the new Thar looks like a Wrangler, but if they both started out as modern versions of the old Civilian Jeep and decided to stay true to the original, they are bound to look similar, right? And at least here in India, you can get the Wrangler only as a long wheelbase five door model, so that makes the Thar a lot cooler in our books. The Thar is built on a new hydro-formed, body-on-frame chassis similar to that of the Scorpio. There is a roll cage that connects the top of the B pillars and runs on either side of the car all the way to the back. The doors are removable and Mahindra says the whole interior can be hosed down although it’s not easy as that. Fit and finish is top notch,

and although panel gaps are big by modern day standards, they are consistent. It looks best from the sides or rear three quarters where the 18inch anthracite wheels and chunky 255/65 R18 tyres fill up the big arches. The boxy hardtop is rugged enough and is made of two pieces. It has fixed glass windows on the sides while the rear glass is a hatch and opens upwards. Yes, that grille is a last minute job to avoid legal tangle with FCA and that’s the only thing we didn’t like. Funnily enough, aftermarket replacements are available even before the car is launched. The interiors are totally revamped and feels upmarket enough. The ergonomics are way better than what it used to be and the dashboard feels solid and built to last. The thick steering wheel and some

September - October 2020

of the switch gear are borrowed from other Mahindras. The gauge cluster feels modern but very minimalistic. All-round visibility is fantastic and most will love it for that. The front seats are well shaped but aren’t very comfortable because of the way they are padded. The forward-facing rear seats which are accessed by flipping the front seats forward, are a bit low, but have decent legroom and headroom. If you are used to the fabric soft top of the old Thar that starts flapping after 70kmph, you will be impressed by the new hardtop too. This is a strict four-seater, and the boot is quite small to take in all their luggage. This fully loaded Lifestyle series (LX) car has a lot of features like ESP, Cruise control, hill hold, hill descent control, tyre pressure monitoring system, a 7-inch info-

tainment system with Apple Car Play and Android Auto, electrically adjustable mirrors etc. The Thar comes with the option of a hard top, a soft top and a convertible soft top. There will also be a more utilitarian AX version called the Adventure series with jump seats, 16 inch wheels etc targeted towards hard-core off roaders, joining the line up soon. The new Thar will have a choice of 2.0 litre 152bhp petrol with 320Nm or a 2.2litre 132bhp diesel with 300Nm paired to a six-speed manual or a torque convertor automatic. These new engines will be offered in a lot of new cars from Mahindra and Ford in the future. The one we tested was the diesel manual and the first thing you notice is the refinement at low revs. The engine also has a wide power band and pulls cleanly past 1000rpm, giving it great drivability. Performance is sprightly, although we are yet to fully test it both on and off-road. The clutch is not too heavy but the gearbox is a bit notchy and has longer throws.

The Thar gets new independent front suspension and a multilink setup for the rear dead axle. This has transformed the way it drives and it now feels like a shorter wheelbase Scorpio 2.2 VLX. The steering is more precise and does kickback a little on bad patches, but the chassis is much more capable on road with better front-end grip giving you confidence. The ride isnâ€™t fully sorted and it tosses you around but not to the point where it gets uncomfortable. There is also a bit of body roll and pitch as there would be in this class of vehicle. The brakes feel a bit spongy and take some getting used to, but they have good stopping power. Though it isnâ€™t as dynamically sorted as a modern-day crossover, you can drive it on the road and go long distance touring with it. The Thar has 226mm ground clearance, 42 degree approach angle, 37 deg departure angle, 27 degree ramp break-over angle and a 650mm water wading capability. The wheel articulation seems

to be lesser than before, but with mechanical locking diffs at the rear, front electronic locking brake diff, a low ratio and other electronic aids, it has more than enough capabilities to keep the average off-roader happy. We took it for some mild off-roading and the Thar seemed to be unfazed by it all. The long travel suspension can take some nasty jumps and it can carry a fair amount of speed through a beaten paths. The best part is our test car felt stiff and solid with no creaks or rattles even after all that abuse. It is the most talked about car on the internet and for a good reason. It is a vast improvement over the old Thar. It is good to drive both on and off-road. With the snug hardtop, forward facing seats and more creature comforts, it has become more practical. It can be a fun daily if you want it. The choice of automatic with petrol or diesel powertrains makes it even better. The new Thar is one of the best things that happened in 2020ď Ź

September - October 2020

MOVIE REVIEW

Khaali Peeli

t is an action-cum-romantic film directed by talented filmmaker Maqbool Khan, who is known for his film, Lanka. The film is produced by Alia Abbas Zafar and Himanshu Mehra. There are some beautiful songs in the film. The music of the film is done by musical duo Vishal & Shekhar. Ananya Panday and Ishaan Khattar appear as the central characters of the film. The director deserves special appreciation for the way he has handled the subject. The film is expected to be released through the Zee Plex platform, which is a well-known pay per view platform. The film targets young audience.

The Big Bull

t is a biographical crime thriller film directed by young filmmaker Kookie Gulati, who has begun his career as an assistant director. The film tells the story of Harshad Mehta, who is the most notorious financial criminal the country has ever seen. In the film, acclaimed Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan acts as Mr. Mehta. Apart from Mr. Bachchan, Nikita Dutta and Ileana Dâ€™Cruz appear as the central characters. The film is expected to be released through the digital platform of Disney+Hotstar. The film can attract all kinds of viewers, though it is more suitable for those who love to watch crime thrillers.

September - October 2020

The New Mutants

t is a fantasy-cum-horror film directed by renowned American filmmaker Josh Boone, who is known for directing a romantic film, named ‘The Fault In Our Stars. His latest film tells the story of five strange teenagers. It takes viewers to a strange world. There are several terrifying horror sequences in the film. The film is based on a book, named New Mutants, written by Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod. Anya Taylor-Joy, Maisie Williams, Charlie Heaton, Blu Hunt and Henry Zaga appear as the central characters of the film. The film can appeal young audience than the rest. The film has received mixed reviews.

I’m Thinking Of Ending Things

t is a thriller film directed by acclaimed American filmmaker Charlie Kaufman, who has proved his talent already as a screen writer, producer and a novelist. This director’s debut film, Synecdoche, released in the late 2000s, as per the view of film critic Roger Ebert, is the Best Movie of the Decade. His latest film tells the story of a young woman, who travels with her boyfriend to his parent’s farmhouse situated in an extremely secluded locality. The film is the adaptation from I’m thinking of Ending Things, written by popular Canadian writer Iain Reid. Jessie Buckley, Jesse Plemons, Toni Collette, David Thewlis and Oliver Platt act as central characters in the film. The film can appeal young audience.

September - October 2020

BOOK REVIEW

The Psychology of Money Author Price

: Morgan Housel : Rs. 339 (Approximately)

o you know how important it is to understand the psychology of money? It is an undisputed fact that most of us know nothing about this topic. Sadly, no serious study has been conducted so far about this subject. It is delightful to say that this book is a humble effort to untie this mysterious topic. The writer uses some short stories to explain the subject. The book is not only suitable for businessmen, but for every one who is interested to explore this art. This is one of the best books that has been released so far in connection with this topic.

A New Idea of India: Individual Rights in a Civilizational State Author Price

: Harsh Madhusudan, Rajeev Mantri : Rs. 562 (Approximately)

t had been a semi-socialist state, until it embraced liberalism fully in the early 1990s. The transition originally happened, after it had realised completely that the Nehruvian model – which the country had been sincerely following since the Independence – had many flaws. This book discusses how the new India – which originated when the country fully ditched its flawed old concept – has transformed the country forever. It not only makes a detailed comparative study between the old and the new, but also describes the positive features of the new concept. The book is a research material. It is suitable for all who are interested to know more about the character of the present India.

September - October 2020

BOOK REVIEW

The 10 Rules of Successful Nations Author Price

: Ruchir Sharma : Rs. 249 (Approximately)

n what basis one can evaluate the destiny of a country? Until recently, there was no clear guidelines to identify whether a country was going towards a collapse or whether it was going towards prosperity. What this book aims is to fill that wide gap. It suggests at least ten golden rules to identify how the future of a country looks like. The writer explains each in details, making sure none lacks clarity. It is the first of this kind of effort. The book can appeal to all kinds of readers. Nonetheless, it is more suitable to economists and political observers.

How to Lead: Wisdom from the Worldâ€™s Greatest CEOs, Founders, and Game Changers Author Price

: David M Rubenstein : Rs. 499 (Approximately)

ho is a good business leader? What is the best way to lead an organisation efficiently? What are the qualities a leader must possess? There are very common questions. Who else can answer these questions other than business leaders themselves? The book portrays how certain acclaimed leaders, like Jeff Bezos and Jamie Dimon, have handled their professional careers. What makes the book special is that it does not limit itself in the limited terrine of business, but expand its potential to its maximum by including entertainment, sports and politics. Though the book can appeal all kinds of readers, it is more suitable to politicians and businessmen.

September - October 2020

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