Saturday, October 6, 2012

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was already a legend in his own lifetime

The start of a lifelong passion

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was already a legend in his own lifetime. People are fascinated by his books, as much as they are by his adventurous life as a pilot. In 2012, the year of the Pilot’s Watches, IWC Schaffhausen dedicates to this passionate humanist, a chronograph that unites the aspirations of those pioneering days of aviation with modern watch technology.
Famed for its 70-year tradition in the manufacture of Pilot’s Watches, IWC Schaffhausen is using the anniversary of Antoine de SaintExupéry’s memorable first flight as an occasion to dedicate its sixth special edition to his memory — the Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition Antoine de Saint Exupéry in 18-carat red gold (Ref. 387805) in a limited edition of 500 watches. For connoisseurs, the tobaccocoloured dial and calfskin strap with its cream-coloured quilted stitching immediately identify the chronograph as a typical “Saint Ex”. The elaborate surface finish featuring polished, silky-matte and structured elements enhances the overall quality of the watch’s appearance. This impression is underscored by the sun-pattern finish on the dial. The sapphire glass has antireflective coating on both sides and is secured against drops in air pressure. Developed and manufactured exclusively by IWC, the 89361-calibre movement is a technical masterpiece. It displays long periods of times on a single subdial. A special engraving embellishes the back of the watch. It depicts the last aircraft Antoine de Saint-Exupéry ever flew, a Lightning P-38.
www .iwc .com

Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition Antoine de Saint Exupéry

The Bharatiya 2:33 PM

India Infoline Limited’s (IIFL’s) book on financial literacy titled 108 Mantras for Financial Success is specially conceived and conceptualised under IIFL’s FLAME (Financial Literacy Agenda for Mass Empowerment)

Mantras for financial success

    India Infoline Limited’s (IIFL’s) book on financial literacy titled 108 Mantras for Financial Success is specially conceived and conceptualised under IIFL’s FLAME (Financial Literacy Agenda for Mass Empowerment) initiative towards spreading financial literacy amongst masses. A special event was organised last week where the book was launched by Nirmal Jain (Chairman, IIFL) and R. Venkataraman (Managing Director, IIFL).
    “This book is easy to understand and is elucidated with comic illustrations. They cover nearly all key aspects of financial dealings of an individual. Incidentally, the number of 108 has mythological significance. Many people have limited understanding of how to use financial products to help enhancement of financial security, building up wealth and ensuring a comfortable life post retirement, and how to avoid frauds and losses from unscrupulous agents and schemes,” said Nirmal Jain.
    R. Venkataraman, added, “There is an urgent need to correct the popular misconception about the stock market as a gambling den by fostering a sound investment culture explaining the underlying purpose of primary and secondary markets and the benefits of investing for the long term.”
    The book, marketed and distributed by Times Group Books, is priced at 125 and is available at all leading bookstores and at books @flame .org .in. Royalty proceeds from the sale of this book will be utilised for the FLAME initiative.

Nirmal Jain, Chairman, IIFL and R Venkataraman, Managing Director, IIFL

The Bharatiya 2:32 PM

Archana Kochhar has launched an all new range of gown-inspired saris

Giving the sari a new twist

Archana Kochhar has launched an all new range of gown-inspired saris with Raveena
Tandon. Says the designer, “Saris have evolved from 5.5 metres of fabric to structured saris and finally, now to the new rage of gowninspired saris, which are userfriendly and comfortable to wear. Therefore, even those who don’t know how to drape a sari can wear one this festive season and enjoy it.”

Archana Kochhar and Raveena Tandon, wearing a gown-inspired sari

The Bharatiya 2:23 PM

buy a variety of handloom saris and dress materials, the silk and cotton fab of India

Attention shopaholics

If you’re looking out to buy a variety of handloom saris and dress materials, the silk and cotton fab of India has an exotic collection of Gadwal, Pochampally, Mangalgiri from Andhra Pradesh, Tussar and Matka silk from Bihar, Jamdani and Jamavar silk sarees, as well as products from West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Chattisgarh and Banaras.
Also on display are a wide array of festive collections, including resplendent Chanderi saris and suits, Maheshwari saris and suits, Mulbarys and crepe silk saris, saris in Bagh print, Dabu print and pigment prints, Kosa silks, Bhagalpur silks and dress materials.
On till October 8, the expo is also showcasing cotton and silk handloom saris, dress materials, etc. The saris can be worn on any side with the fine finish of jamdani work, specialised in Uppada and Venkatagiri.
Venue: P L Deshpandey,
Ravindra Natya Mandir,
Behind Siddhivinayak Mandir, Prabhadevi. Time: 10 am to 9 pm.

Some of the saris available at the expo

The Bharatiya 2:22 PM

A treat for art connoisseurs India Art Festival to showcase over a thousand artists

A treat for art connoisseurs

India Art Festival to showcase over a thousand artists

India Art Festival (IAF) brings together 45 art galleries and 1,000 individual artists from 50 different cities across the world next month. After last year’s success, the second edition of IAF starts from November 28 to December 2 for five days at Bandra-Kurla Complex, on the MMRDA Main Ground. The exhibition is the only mixed art fair module in the world, where art galleries and individual artists exhibit under the same roof. The prime reason for such a mixed art fair module lies in the directive principles of Kalavishkar, an organising institution promoting fine arts for over a decade. “There are 400 art galleries including private and public art spaces in India, which are not sufficient for 80,000 artists in the country. We aim to provide a platform for both through IAF,” says Prafulla Dahanukar, President of IAF. Some of the participating galleries include Gallery Beyond, Tao Art Gallery, Gallery Art & soul, The Loft, ICAC ( Mumbai), Galerie Sara Arakkal (Bangalore), Forum Art Gallery (Chennai), Progressive Art Gallery (Delhi), Icon Art Gallery (Hyderabad), Art Concotion, Contemporary Art Direct (London) and 30 other galleries.
To participate, artists can call on 9820737692 or visit www .indiaartfestival .com

Yusuf Arakkal with a car sculpture

Monday, September 24, 2012

The Bharatiya 11:14 PM

Pod car transport system on anvil

Even though the metro and monorail projects are yet to benefit Mumbaikars, another transport system has been proposed for the city. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited (MSRDC) is planning to set up a pod car system connecting Andheri and Bandra via the international airport.
A senior MSRDC official said they were planning to set up the system from Andheri station to Bandra station with “loops” to places such as the airport, Nehru road and the Bandra Kurla Complex. A similar system is in operation at the Heathrow airport in the UK, and work has begun on a project in Amritsar.
“This will enable people to go from any point on the system to any other point. It will offer the flexibility of a taxi,” he said. “It will take around 17 minutes to travel from Bandra station to Andheri station, much less than the time taken now. Travelling from any one point to another will take less than 20 minutes.”
The official claimed that this will provide increased connectivity and reduce the number of vehicles on roads. “This is the most viable route and we are planning to execute it on a build, operate, transfer basis,” said the official, adding that they had chosen the route over the other two arms -- airport to Powai and airport to Goregaon. These, however, were also being considered, he said.
The automated and driver-less pod cars will be able to accommodate around four passengers in each vehicle. They will either be battery-operated or run on electricity. “The system will cost around Rs800 crore for a distance of around 16-17km including the various loops that are being planned,” he added.
The official said they were planning to invite global bids for the project in a few months. Private operators will have to undertake civil work to set up the system, procure the cars and operate them in lieu of fares. The system will be an elevated one but will take up less space due to smaller size of the beams, which will make it easy to navigate the congested and built-up areas.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

The Bharatiya 3:34 PM

Kalinath Mishra, a widely travelled tabla exponent conversant

Changing the beat

Kalinath Mishra, a widely travelled tabla exponent conversant with different currents in rhythm music, will perform a solo tabla recital at Karnataka Sangha on Sunday.
Mishra, of the Benaras gharana, has performed as accompaniment to reputed Kathak dancers such as Birju Maharaj, Uma Dogra and Keka Sinha. “This gharana of the tabla has a close association with the Kathak dance form. My guru, Kishen Maharaj, used to provide tabla accompaniment to the great Birju Maharaj and Sitara Devi,” says Mishra.
Mishra has also accompanied musicians of the stature of Hariprasad Chaurasia and Rupak Kulkarni (flute) and Kartik Kumar (sitar).

“He is not only a good tabla player but also an excellent player of the pakhavaj [two-headed drum],” says Kulkarni, whom he also sometimes accompanies on the tabla.
Sunday’s programme, organised by Khayal Trust in collaboration with Kalabharati, is in memory of the great tabla player Ustad Nizamuddin Khan, who performed in accompaniment to singers such as Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Mallikarjun Mansur, Sharadchandra Arolkar, Halim Jaffer Khan and Shobha Gurtu. “It is our duty to keep his memory alive,” says Prakash Burde of Kalabharati.
Others performing at the event include Sandeep Pawar, a young tabla player and a pupil of senior guru Arvind Mulgaonkar, and Hindustani vocalist Sraboni Chaudhury, a student of Shobha Gurtu and Dinkar Kaikini.

— Amarendra Dhaneshwar

Mumbai Daily