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WOMEN’S DAY SPECIAL NEW AGE HEROINES www.outlookindia.com March 18, 2019 Rs 60 INTERVIEW RADHIKA APTE The Verdict 21 million women missing from 2019 rolls Higher women turnout is bad news for BJP Opinion polls get the trend right 97% EVMs are foolproof Exclusive extracts from book on Indian elections by Prannoy Roy and Dorab Sopariwala R N I N O 4 / 904150 800010 10 WOMEN’S DAY SPECIAL NEW AGE HEROINES www.outlookindia.com March 18, 2019 Rs 60 INTERVIEW RADHIKA APTE The Verdict 21 million women missing from 2019 rolls Higher women turnout is bad news for BJP Opinion polls get the trend right 97% EVMs are foolproof Exclusive extracts from book on Indian elections by Prannoy Roy and Dorab Sopariwala R N I N O 4 / 904150 800010 10 NATIVE BARK The Hounds of Hindustan Chippiparai, Tangkhul Hui, Pandikona, Rajapalayam, Mudhol or simply the pariah… the resurgent desi bowwow’s the pet pack by Lachmi Deb Roy THE HOME BREED PRICE TAGS Prices vary depending on the look and fitness of the dogs 10K - 50K RAMPUR HOUNDS 35K - 1.5L TAZI HOUND 10K - 20K BARNKASAARI 20K - 50K CARAVAN 15K - 50K HIMALYAN SHEPHERD 80K - 5L HIMALAYAN MASTIFF 40K - 10L BULLY KUTTA 7000 RAJAPALAYAM 108 OUTLOOK 18 March 2019 T HE cannons were taking the advancing cavalry’s portside, the rockets were whistling down on the starboard flank But a column of horsemen were hotfooting down the middle, hunched to their saddles and shields up against the archers That’s when a whistle rang out, signalling the release of another fearsome weapon in Tipu Sultan’s arsenal The ferocious, fleet-footed Rajapalayam—sworn to the take-no-prisoners rule, they went after the enemy like heat-seeking guided missiles The hounds of war won, their courage delaying awhile the inevitable until Seringapatam A century before the Tiger of Mysore unl eashed terror on the battlefield with his battal ion of Rajapalayams, another illustrious warriorking harnessed the pawesome power of his Mudhols—the incorruptibly loyal Maratha hounds The one pet that piqued historians and enlivened bedtime stories is Chhatrapati Shivaji’s rockclimbing monitor lizard, Yashwanti, but it was his canine soldiers who helped him push the frontiers of Maratha supremacy Somehow, for inexpli cable reasons, the exploits of the Mudhols never received the attention accorded to the fabled Sinhagad reptile Up north, the rajas and nawabs kept kennels of Rampur Greyhounds to further their debauched aristocratic indulgence of game hunting The Rajapalayams, the Mudhols, the Rampurs, all designed anatomically to sniff out and run down prey, were the symbols of what a fine breed should be and looks like in medieval India Well almost, until the new masters of India brought from their cold island home shiploads of pooches and poo dles—the fluffiest of furs that even the cutest of pearly, shortcoated, pinknosed Rajapalayam couldn’t match in the cuddly dogma The roy als lost their legatee, and their hounds were spayed, neutered or simply shot, clobbered, poisoned, depending on the amount of sadism in the executioner’s veins Those were tumultuous times The slaughter stopped but the neglect continued for three centuries, so much so that the Tazi of mod ernday Maharashtra, a skilled hunter, is nearextinct in India now As are the Bakharwal watchdogs or Kashmir Mastiff, a cross between a wolf and a Molosser sheepdog, EXOTIC INDIAN BREED DOGS CHIPPIPARAI Origin: Chippiparai (near Madurai district Tamil Nadu) They are excellent hunting and watch dogs Photograph by TRIBHUVAN TIWARI and the Jonangi of the Deccan, perhaps the only fising dog in India and so, a muchreviled creature of the fishermen Both breeds are rac ing towards the Rainbow Bridge Like they did to all things native, the new masters accorded the Indian dog the status of an outcast; the pariah, the pest And thus the Indian Pariah was reborn, shedding its long established names—lendi kutta in the Hindi heartland, the Tamil naatu naai, the Assamese bhotua—to assume the anglicised generic This ubiquitous mongrel, genetically engineered over centuries by the tropics, hardy and dis easefree, the common man’s best friend, ser viced the lonely, lovesick British expatriate RAMPUR GREYHOUND Origin: West Bengal They were popular among the royal families of India; used for hunting jackals, tigers and even lions TANGKHUL HUI Origin: Manipur Lore has it that this endangered species is a cross-breed between the Asiatic black bear and wild hunting dogs FIELD DAY Two Rampur hounds in action mutts and spawned generations of crossbred litters Their descendents rule our roads today Some of the finest hounds survived the dogi cide, in pockets such as the Karnataka country side where the Mudhol, also called Caravan, became a muchloved pet The tall and elegant Mudhol is a sighthound with incredible speed, a big heart, exceptional stamina and physical endurance Most importantly, like any Indian breed, the Mudhol is at home in the harsh tropical climate These lithe, sinewy hounds are one of the healthiest dogs It is said that their eyesight is so sharp they can see what’s behind them without turning their head Today, the Mudhol guards the lofty Himalayas with KOMBAI Origin: Tamil Nadu In the old days, they were used for hunting BAKHARWAL DOG Origin: Jammu and Kashmir Also called the Kashmir Mastiff or Gujjar watchdog, they are a cross between wolf and the Molosser sheepdog This breed is on the brink of extinction JONANGI Origin: Andhra Pradesh These hunters are the only fishing dogs in India Considered a menace to fishermen, they were hunted down to near-extinction 18 March 2019 OUTLOOK 109 N AT IVE BARK EXOTIC INDIAN BREED DOGS have a solid immune system because they don’t have any inb PANDIKONA reedingrelated disorders such Origin: Andhra Pradesh as hip dysplasia They are highly They hunt small boars, hares and rabbits This breed intelligent, unfalteringly faithful, is known for its strong terridoggedly vigilant, positively torial instinct and is often social, easily trained, fiercely used as a guard dog territorial, and instinctively excellent guards They are strong RAJAPALAYAM as they have naturally evolved in Origin: Tamil Nadu India Most of all, according to Hound dogs of Tamil aristoveterinarian Satinder Puri, there crats, they fought alongis no specific dietary require side Tipu Sultan against the British They’re also ment for Indian breeds They found in the army survive well on Indian food and possess a higher food conversion ratio—a small quantity is effi ciently utilised “They are mod TAZI est eaters and rarely overeat Origin: Maharashtra That means fewer obesity cases Skilled hunters, they are and lifestyle diseases such as dia near-extinct in India This betes, cardiac diseases and breed can be found in Russia arthritis in old age Besides, a right diet ensures Indian dogs not smell, unlike pedigrees.” INDIAN PARIAH The smell is refreshing in the Origin: All over India Indian dogverse as more peo The stray on Indian ple are turning to the lowmain streets is a Pariah breed, but it’s mostly a mix tenance Indie The Delhibased because of cross-breedCanis Welfare Pet Club hosts ing Purebreds thrive in dog shows primarily to spread the deep hinterlands awareness about Indian varie ties “The main aim is to pro MUDHOL mote our rich Indian breeds and Origin: Deccan Plateau strays Adoption gives them a Unlike other breeds of chance to have a happy home Indian dogs, the Mudhol and a shield against the brutal hound, a favourite pet in the ity outside,” says veterinarian Deccan, is thriving Vijay Kumar, an organiser of the event For activist Joshi and her F there is one dog that has GADDI KUTTA friends, it’s time to promote the received more stick than all Origin: Himachal Pradesh Indian breeds for adoption by the Indian breeds combined, Also called the Indian foreigners “Imagine our breeds it has to be the short, stout Mastiff, this multi-skilled flying to their adoptive homes and robust Pariah—the loopy dog is primarily used abroad We believe breeding one that the snooty, upwardly for hunting should be discouraged and mobile dog lover kicks or throws adoption of Indies encouraged.” a stone at when it appears There are only some commer within sniffing distance of her cial breeders of Indian dogs who hardly manage Shih Tzu pup in a public park Well, not all of Disease and to find a paw in the market where the clientele them Baloo lives with animal welfare cam death of still carries the colonial snob value of a non paigner Chetna Joshi of Delhi, who rescued foreign native quadruped with a wagging tail Purebred him in 2015 from unimaginable human cruelty desis are hard to find these days, even the Baloo’s mother was thrown to her death from a breeds are Pariah in the cities have mixed ancestry But nin thfloor terrace Joshi had a Labrador the common the crumb trail leads to patches untouched by Retriever before Baloo the Pariah, but she lost reasons the pug’s pugmarks—such as a Gond village in him to epilepsy when he was three because of behind some Bastar—where the Pariah thrives with breeding complications untainted genes and his master understands Disease and death of their beloved foreign pet-owners’ his snuffs, grunts and barks, every twitch of the breeds are the common denominators in the shift to the ears, every wag of the tail O petowners’ shift to the Indies Here’s why Desis Indies the paramilitary IndoTibetan Border Police, while the majes tic Rajapalayam is enlisted with the army “The Mudhol is the first Indian breed to join the force (ITBP introduced it in 2018), though there are only a few in the squad They are being trained,” says an ITBP officer who doesn’t wish to be named The Indian breeds are captur ing the affections of the military as well as seeing the resurgence in popularity as a family pet Adopting and promoting the desi, or Indie in 21stcentury parlance, is the latest fad among many people such as graphic designer Ishleen Singh of Delhi The ‘maharani’ of Singh’s home is Shanti, a Pandikona, another Deccan darling known for its territorial instincts, guard dog qualities Shanti is a drama queen, an incorrigible atten tionseeker, and demands a dif ferent meal every time “A spoilt brat, we call her maharani Her vet calls her Katrina Kaif bec ause of her divalike moves,” says Singh, who rescued her from a hitandrun when she was two months old “There were no serious injuries, but she was cold and frail I used to take Shanti to my college in my gym bag She enjoyed the attention of my classmates and teachers.” I 110 OUTLOOK 18 March 2019 CLASS APART This Family Studies Together There was no school around So a family in Assam went ahead and got one built for all its kids by Abdul Gani in Guwahati erosion due to the Brahmaputra river It is on the way from Biswanath Chari OR seven-year-old Jaynal Abedin ali to Biswanath Ghat “After arriving at Suwaguri village in Assam’s here, when they realised there was no Biswanath district, staying at school nearby, Ali donated land for home or going to school makes building one,” headmaster Naba Das little difference Jaynal studies tells Outlook “We are poor farmers,” says Ali “Our with his 60-odd siblings and cousins in the same school—the Ajalashuti land and property were washed away New Primary School “It’s almost like by the river a number of times Finally, our home All the students are my we ended up here, bought two bighas of cousins and we all stay together,” land and started constructing houses says Jaynal who studies in class II In The children in our families and the fact, more than 95 per cent of the stu- neighbourhood had nowhere to go for dents at the Ajalashuti school, estab- studying, so I decided to donate one bigha for the school lished in 2004, are from building.” In 2004, the the family of Hamed Ali “The children had state government app The 65-year-old farmer nowhere to go for ointed two teachers and had to drop out after studying, so I donated the school started lower primary school, land for the school,” functioning but wants the next gensays Hamed Ali A father of eight, inc eration from the family luding a daughter, Ali to study further and get says most men of his to live better lives “To be at the school generation are either The school, though has always been fun farmers or engaged in named Ajalashuti, is loc We are very lucky to be odd jobs in the informal studying together,” ated in Suwaguri, where says Yasmina sector There are around Ali and others shifted 500 members in his after losing their land to F extended family, all of whom live near each other Ali’s daughterinlaw Roushanara Begum says there are around 75 kids in their extended family and 65 of them go to the Ajalashuti school “It’s nearby and convenient too,” she says Once the kids complete their primary school education, they will have to go to Biswanath High School, which is around 1.5 km from their village Although the school has no restric tions on admission, it’s only Ali’s rela tives who are enrolled there The teachers say having one more col league would be helpful “It’s a little difficult for me to control the students,” says Das, who comes to the school every day from a nearby village Jaynal’s cousin Yasmina says she enjoys her stay at the school more than being at home “To be at the school has always been great fun We play games after our classes are over We are very lucky to be studying together,” she says This is indeed a rare, perhaps unique, example of a whole extended family not just staying together, but studying together as well O 18 March 2019 OUTLOOK 111 glitterati Whisper: 62 or 26? Right Another line-up of pretty youngsters photographed against another (fancy) brick-wall The cast of Malang has Kunal Kemmu, Aditya Roy Kapur and the delectable Disha Patani But who’s the third man here the young spark grinning away like an ingenue at his first photoshoot? None other than Anil Kapoor, our ’80s Lakhan who lost many kilos, added oodles of mojo and now runs with the hares Salut! ’90s Retro As Now If anyone can pass off teeth judderingly corny ’80s-’90s fashion as new style and draw a hesitantly nostalgic smile, it’s Shilpa Look at this weirdly tessellated concoction with a whiff of a saree that ruled runways, and Bollywood, 30 years back Ah, but don’t let us catch you greet something that you once deplored with a dreamy smile Never put your guard down Didn’t Feel The Tightrope It’s unbelievable, the degree of chance some young actresses are willing to take to turn heads at marquee red carpets (safety pins, meat chunks ) Take supermodel Kendall Jenner As a standard she has JLo’s green gown in mind but takes the vertiginous slit from her waist to a deeper plunge Kendall walked just so nobody could pry They say turning risky into risque involves panache They’re probably right GETTY IMAGES THIS TOO HAPPENED Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp blamed the wind again as the side dropped points against local rivals Everton in the Merseyside derby “The wind came from different directions, the ball was in the air a lot,” Klopp said, as fans pointed out he’d blamed the same invisible enemy after a defeat to the Wolves in January 112 OUTLOOK 18 March 2019 Take-off Assistant: Agni Gosh! We thought these two are getting married as a runaway couple! But no, Ranbir and Alia are merely ‘launching’ their film Brahmastra at the Kumbh Mela A further gimmick: 150 drones spelt out the name on the night sky Shouldn’t sadhus protest? ‘Bold Indian Bride’ GETTY IMAGES Imagine fighting breast cancer, then a full recovery after dispiriting chemo sessions and lumpectomy Imagine, now, the foe surfacing in your liver and backbone Another spirited fight, another defeat for the Emperor Such is the pluck of Indian-origin Malaysian Vaishnavi Poovanedran Does spirit enhance beauty? Ask that on her Instagram account “Downward pressure on the Chinese economy continues to increase, growth in consumption is slowing, and growth in effective investment lacks momentum The real economy faces difficulties.” – LI K EQIANG, Chinese Premier 18 March 2019 OUTLOOK 113 SCOTLAND diary his ancestral home—Skyfall Lodge Our Glen-Hunting With Tom drive guide told us Ian Fleming’s mother Our three-day Scottish “lochs” (lakes) had bought 40 acres of land here The and glens (valleys) holiday started from property is now managed by her nephew Hull in Yorkshire on a warm morning The movie shoot had added problems We were the only Indians among a to the local community from “littering spirited group of “oldies”, all above campers” and “fly-tippers” after it was 70 Some came with walkers, one on a released in 2012 self-propelled wheel chair The monotVAPPALA ony of the long bus drive was broken BALACHANDRAN Horse-Powered Heritage by our aged driver Tom, who regaled us (The author is a former special secretary From there we drove to the historic Oban with jokes in heavy Scottish accent He of the Cabinet Secretariat) on the sea coast in the Argyll area, where would laugh loudly each time to cue in to the old MacDougall clan and Robert the a joke The next day, another driver took Bruce, the 14th century king of Scots, had fought Nearby over and directed his humour at Tom, describing him as an stands Scotland’s oldest stone castle, the spectacular 13th institution as old as “our” hotel Century Dunstaffange, which held famous prisoners like The bus picked us up from Kingston upon Hull, collected Flora MacDonald before she was sent to the Tower of more people from Beverley, Bridlington, then travelled London for aiding Bonnie Prince Charlie’s escape In 1897, eastwards to Scarborough, turned westwards to Brough, McCaig, a local banker built a Colosseum like structure— Penrith, Carlisle, reaching Gretna Green Runaway couples the McCaig Tower—on top of the hill overlooking the bay like Lydia and Wickham of Jane Austin’s Pride & Prejudice for charity; to provide work to local stone masons used to break English law to get married at this first Scottish On our third day, we saw the famous Falkirk Wheel, a village We had tea and cakes at their ‘Old Blacksmith Shop’, rotating boat-lift connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal where marriage ceremonies have been held since 1784 with Union Canal The lift raised our boat to 79 feet to By dusk, we reached the Inversnaid Hotel which was gently place it on the other canal Andrew Scott’s famous built in 1790 as a hunting lodge for the Duke of Montrose 90-feet-high ‘Kelpies’, a twin horse-head steel sculpture Inversnaid is a small rural community on the eastern bank with stainless steel cladding was shining nearby to repreof Loch Lomond, the largest lake in Scotland by surface sent Scotland’s “horse-powered” heritage Not too far away was the secret cave of Rob Roy, the famous Scottish outlaw who had clashed with the Duke of Montrose Tribute Of Convenience This story was adapted by Michael Caton Jones for a 1995 Back in Hull, we reflected on a retrospective of Cezanne’s Hollywood film starring Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange Card Players series at the elegant Ferens Art Gallery in the Queen Victoria Square The work is on lease from famous The Eco-Scott And James Bond’s Litter American and British art galleries Once a slum area, the The first day started with a cruise on Loch Katrina, square was redeveloped when a 35-feet-tall Queen Victoria immortalised by Sir Walter Scott’s poem Lady of the Lake Statue, sculpted by the famed H.C Feher, was unveiled by He wrote this during 1809-10 while holidaying on the lake’s the Prince of Wales (King George V) in 1903 shores Quite appropriately, the 119-year-old cruise ship A couple of decades later, Hull municipality would modify which took us around was named ‘Sir Walter Scott’ Coal the solemnity somewhat Hull Town and City was its fuel till 2007 Since then its boilers are Memories says: “After standing alone for a run on bio-fuel number of years, the statue was raised into The second day was a long drive towards the air to accommodate new subterraLoch Linnhe, which flows into the nean municipal lavatories” We chanced Atlantic Sea, passing through Rannoch upon an interesting description of Moor, a huge expanse of barren boggy the statue in Hull’s tourism website moorland and Glencoe, the remains ‘visithull’: “If you turn away from of a super volcano with its high the City Hall, in the centre of the peaks In 1692, several members square is a statue of Queens Victoria of the MacDonald clan were standing proudly on what is a very slaughtered by government forces fine public toilet (her throne?)” in Glencoe for suspected disloyalty I could find no reports of local public during the Jacobite Uprising outrage at this burlesque reference Later in the day, a narrow road about a queen who, as BBC once said, took us to the spectacular Scottish “had transformed monarchy from a remote Highlands of Glen Etive where the absolutist concept into a public institution, last scenes of the James Bond movie which still thrives.” Skyfall were shot as Bond was returning to MANJUL 114 OUTLOOK 18 March 2019 March 18, 2019 StorieS of Women remodelling the World’S landScape WORK pOWeRful WOmen ChAmpiOn WOmen TACKling RK BeTi BAChAO AdhAO TACKling Ch ChAllenges BeTi BAChAO BeTi pARAO pOWeRful W ChAm Om Kli le W iB eTi p TACK Ch es Ch pA eR men me iO nT gC le W i BAC Adh le CK W ih es OnWO Om mp en ng ng OR ACh AdhAO pOWeRful WOmen ChAmpiOn WOmen TACKling ChAllenges Dr ananta singh ranaut smriti irani Dr neelam kalpana saroj chhavi rajawat BeTikangana BAChAO BeTi pAdhAO TACKlin ChAllengesATWORKpOWeRful W raghuvanshi mohan Actress Union Minister for Textiles Chairperson, Kamani Tubes 1st woman Sarpanch of an Limited Indian village Corporate Leader - Real Estate Leading Pediatric Gastroenterologist & On WOmen TACKling BeTi BAChAO BeTi pARAO TACKling 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ChAllengesATWORKpOWeRful W Dr ananta singh ranautBeTi smriti irani Dr neelam kalpana saroj chhavi rajawat raghuvanshi Actress Union Minister for Textiles mohan Chairperson, Kamani Tubes 1st woman Sarpanch of an On WOmen TACKling BeTi BAChAO BeTi pARAO TACKling ChAllenges Limited Indian village Corporate Leader - Real Estate Leading Pediatric Gastroenterologist & Liver specialist WOmen ChAmpiOn WOmen TACKling BAChAO BeTi pAdhAO pOWeRful AT WORK BeTi BAChAO BeTi pAdhAO TACKling ChAllenges BeTi BACh Natasha Jain CREATING WONDERS WITH ‘PLUM BY BENTCHAIR’ been possible without the support of my family and loved ones n As a woman competing in a demanding profession, how did you overcome challenges? I definitely had it more difficult than a male counterpart, not only because I was a woman in a man’s world but also because I was a novice in the industry I had to work twice as hard to prove myself, especially considering that I was introducing an entirely new concept I was under a lot of pressure, mostly from myself, to prove that I was capable of handling Plum By Bent Chair I am a stickler for detailing that can be seen at the outlet I also did endless market research and spoke to several people who’ve been in the industry I was open to suggestions and advice, but I never lost sight of my goal and passion n Why women still need to prove themselves though they excel in whatever they do? I wholeheartedly believe that is the fault of the pressures of a patriarchal society No matter how strong or successful a woman becomes, society still believes that her abilities will take a hit the moment she starts a family It is slightly absurd, and I’m glad to see women these days challenging this norm N n From where you draw your strength to make your life meaningful? I draw my strength from my successes as well as my failures When I’m successful, I use it to motivate myself to become better The tough part comes when I have to draw strength from my failures I use it as a stepping stone to learning and work double hard to turn my failure into a success This constant cycle of pushing yourself to be better is what makes life meaningful n Tell us something about your ventures and how are they contributing to the food industry of India? Plum By Bent Chair is a unique concept that brings together the retail and dining industries We have a complete menu of Pan-Asian dishes, which can be eaten on crockery that is for sale It’s a never-seen-before concept in the food industry of India, thus, becoming a turning point in the industry n How can lives of women be improved in general and particularly in context to India? Education It is heartwarming to see the number of literate females rising every year, but we still have a long way to go It is only when a girl (or a woman) has access to education, that she can learn to think for herself, question age-old beliefs, and stand on her own feet The lives of women will greatly improve when they have the strength to be independent and capable of questioning archaic beliefs atasha Jain, Founder Bentchair & Co Founder Plum by Bentchair, is known as one who thinks out of the box! After completing industrial engineering at Georgina Institute of Technology, she did Masters in Management Science Engineering from Stanford University in the US She aims to empower thousands of people in India with her experience and create businesses that can impact the community and society at large n What motivated you to enter Hospitality Industry? It was a two-fold motivation I was already dabbling in the industry with my startup Ruplee, a payment gateway for dining outlets However, it was Priyank Sukhija, the genius behind giants like Tamasha, Lord of The Drinks, The Flying Saucer Cafe, and more, who gave me the idea of plunging into the industry I am also one to never back down from a challenge, and it also motivated me to give Plum By Bent Chair a try n What are the blessings that have made you a pioneer in your field? I consider myself to be very lucky and blessed with the immense support that I received, not only from my team but also the industry as a whole The hospitality industry was very welcoming, allowing me to introduce this unique concept to it Of course, none of it would have n How are you contributing towards ‘woman power’? I always make a conscious effort to involve more women in my work At Bent Chair, there are equal number of men and women employees, and I screen all potential employees myself, ensuring that positions are filled on the basis of merit and not gender I give equal opportunities to both men and women, and sometimes even offer the extra ‘push’, if I feel that a woman is capable, but is not confident n On International Women’s Day what is your message to the world? My message is quite simple: Are you ready for us women to run the world? Christine Samandari L’OPERA: TAKING FRENCH BAKERY CENTRE STAGE IN INDIA A n entrepreneur and social activist, Christine Samandari, Co-founder and Director of L’Opéra, the prominent French Bakery and Pastry operation in India, is a doctorate in Social Psychology from Paris VII University, and Masters in Anthropology and Sociology from Paris X University Widely travelled, Christine is author of “Les Bahá’ís ou Victoire sur la Violence”, (The Bahá’ís or Victory over Violence) In 1994, Christine was elevated by the French Government to the rank of “Knight” in the prestigious “National Order of Merit” (Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Mérite) for her contributions to the cause of Human Rights and Humanitarian Services n Introduce us to brand L’Opéra and its contribution to the Indian food industry? L’Opéra, is the first authentic French bakery and pâtisserie brand established in India It is also among the few brands that showcases the famous French savoir-faire in the Indian context From the onset, this value driven venture is committed to quality, excellence and the interests of all its stakeholders Its novel approach proved to be an exemplary model and inspiration for the F&B industry of India n What motivated you to venture into bakery? It was my son who conceived the idea of creating L’Opéra Thrilled, we encouraged and supported him to translate the idea into action Recently, we moved into a very unique French Salon de Thé space, characterized by light but sophisticated meals, offering an exemplary culinary experience n Count your blessings that have made you a pioneer in your field? Absolute commitment of each family member, unstinted support and encouragement of successive French Ambassadors to India and above all, the constant appreciation of our customers and patrons motivates us The receptivity of Indian culture – increasingly driven by an appeal for the global and innovative – to our brand has been a true blessing n As a woman entrepreneur, how did you overcome challenges? There are some structural inequalities in societies all around the world From my experience, I can say that in our field, we as women may have the upper hand over men because of our unique gift of intuition which allows us to perceive emotions and feelings and anticipate future developments without a need for hard, material proofs n Women are proven their mettle then why they still need to prove themselves? I not believe this issue is primarily about women, instead, it is about the organization of society If there are provisions in the law to facilitate the reintegration of the mothers in professional life, if there are adequate day-care facilities and domestic help available to working mothers, then the problem can be resolved n From where you draw your strength to make your life meaningful? Mainly from the teachings of my religion, the Bahá’í Faith which equates work performed in the service of the society to worship, that encourages all round excellence, promulgates the equality between men and women and promotes the acquisition of virtues and spiritual qualities along with material progress n How can women’s lives be improved in general and particularly in context to India? Society has to acknowledge and accept this principle of equality between men and women Access of same education is of foremost importance, particularly in context to girls as they are the first educators of the following generation Also, there is need for a fundamental change of attitude in the families where parents assimilate these principles and adopt them in their daily lives In the Indian context, the reinforcement of education for women would translate into more critical thinking, while avoiding a posture that would shun men from the public discourse n What is your contribution towards ‘woman power’? The mightiest power is soft power, since it is constructive and not destructive It works through intuition, love, encouragement, but also admonishment when necessary I believe there is no greater power than the power of positive example which is by far more effective than words or pure exercise of authority The power of women, therefore, lies in our capacity to nurture an ever-advancing civilization, in a time when so many forces are acting against such an endeavor n On the International Women’s Day what is your message to the world? As homemakers, women are best suited to bring about world peace, tranquility and progress if women assume the full role which is destined for them Women must slowly unbind from societal shackles unraveling the hidden treasures of feminine talent Mallika Jain MAKING A FASHION STATEMENT M allika Jain, Founder, Fashion Capsule, a fashion and lifestyle shopping exhibitions brand, is endowed with abundant spirit for entrepreneurship This can be gauged by the several awards bagged by her which include the ‘Fashion Entrepreneur 2016, ‘The Best Fashion and Lifestyle Exhibition’ award, the ‘Most promising Fashion and Lifestyle Exhibition’ award and several honours including the World’s Greatest Brands & Leaders 2016-17 Her achievements are an inspiration to other women like her who think different and think big n What prompted you to start Fashion Capsule? I had very grand dream of beautiful clothes, beautiful people, a gorgeous curated set up, happy people, laughter and joy all-around Next day over a cup of coffee, I shared this dream and concept with friends emphasising on the immense need to provide a platform for new and emerging designers to showcase their collections I wanted my thoughts to turn into reality To live my dream, I had a vision to promote- Talent and to bring together a kaleidoscope of fashion offerings for shoppers by both new and established brands all under one roof! This led to the making of Fashion Capsule n What are the blessings that you count on that have made you a pioneer in your field? I could never have achieved anything without the support of my family I was lucky to have the blessings and wishes of all the elders in my family and love from my children My Fashion Capsule team, associates, designers, friends, and followers play an important role in my growth Collectively, we all have grown together in our respective fields All good things around you make one’s life meaningful God’s blessings, a happy family life, good health and a positive work environment are my strengths, which makes life for me utmost meaningful n How tough was it for you as a woman to compete in a demanding profession, and how did you overcome them? Well it was tough in certain areas to compete especially in a male dominated society like ours I felt certain challenges dealing with people in finance and administration as they found it very hard to deal with a lady boss But now times are drastically changing and even in the corporate sectors you now see women CEOs and COOs A progressive India is here n How are you contributing towards women power? Since fashion industry is predominantly women oriented, I try to uplift and support new women fashion designers by giving them a platform to showcase their fashion collections to a wide customer base Besides, I also support various NGOs, which support and work for the upliftment and development of underprivileged women and children n Women excel themselves in their role at home and workplace, yet why they still have to prove themselves? A woman has to juggle many family and interpersonal roles, having many facets Each day, she has to balance and maintain each role with utmost happiness and confidence This many a times, is very challenging for a woman as she is constantly proving to others and unto herself each day that ‘I can it’ and ‘I Can’! n On the International Women’s Day what is your message to the world? International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on the progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women, who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities We all need to together “Think Equal, Build Smart and Innovate for Change.” Let’s create a future in which innovation and technology creates opportunities for women and girls in all sectors, thereby curbing gender inequality n From where you draw your strength to make your life meaningful? STORIES OF WOMEN REMODELLING THE WORLD’S LANDSCAPE DILDEEP KALRA ‘MASSIVE’ MAKEOVER IN CUISINE COUTURE Dildeep Kalra, Founder & Promoter, StyleHorn, Director, Massive Restaurants Pvt Ltd., is redefining fine dine with her ingenuity as she believes that one first eats with the eyes A class apart in her ability to offer art on a plate, she ensures that the journey from plate to palate for each guest is a memorable one at Massive where everything from the decor to the food reflects ‘larger than life’ ambience nTell us something about brand Massive and how you think it is contributing to the food industry of India? The company currently operates under brand verticals of premium Fine-Dining Restaurants with the signature names of ‘Masala Library’ by Jiggs Kalra, the Smart-Casual Dining Restaurants by Made in Punjab, the unqiue Indian bistro concept ‘Farzi Café’ and modern pan-Asian bistro concept Pa Pa Ya, ‘freestyle’ bar and kitchen – KODE, high energy dining concept – Masala Bar, and unlimited grill and brewery concept – BBQ’D Massive Restaurants raises the bar a notch higher with the recent launch of its brand Thai Bar & Grill concept ‘BO – TAI’ With each new concept and new outlet, we move one step closer to our vision to revolutionize Indian food and night life nWhat motivated you to venture into hospitality Industry? Working in the hospitality industry is not a job, it’s a lifestyle Passion and genuine interest are crucial components for success I always loved food and after being married it was a natural choice nThe blessings that count to make you a pioneer in your field? It is very humbling when I look back from where the enterprise started and its tremendous growth as a highly acknowledged brand I have gained invaluable experience from my colleagues, where everybody is willing to help each other and where they also express gratitude for the help offered The company’s value and culture form the basis of its foundation and the key to its stability, making it a cut above the rest This has resulted in enhanced efficiency and cost-effectiveness This industry thrives on customer satisfaction and happiness We have lived up to it! nAs a woman, how did you tackle the challenges of your industry? I’ve been quite lucky to work at Massive But there are times when it can be demanding Best is to stay calm and let your work speak for you nWomen have proved that they are excellent homemakers and professionals Why they still need to prove themselves? Once you have a family, prioritizing your life is of utmost importance, more so as children need their mother’s attention and work too cannot be neglected That’s why women are good at multitasking Women are now stronger than ever as they are good at prioritizing and no one can take care of the family as a woman would nFrom where you draw your strength to make your life meaningful? I draw my strength from my mother, who is a pillar of strength in my life In India, it’s easier for us to succeed as working women when we have support from our mothers nWhat could improve the lives of women in general, particularly in context to India? My exposure has been to working ladies, who have been very supportive and offered guidance Today, women in our country have slowly started to recognize their true potential and are breaking barriers to earn a respectable position with excellence in whatever they Women power has proved its strength in every area, conquering diverse areas of politics, sports, entertainment, literature, technology and a lot more nHow are you contributing towards ‘woman power’? We empower women in our little ways which starts right from home among our families, also workplaces, and neighbourhood I personally believe in encouraging female employees and appreciating them for the hard work they nOn the International Women’s Day what is your message to the world? Believe in yourself and never give up your dreams STORIES OF WOMEN REMODELLING THE WORLD’S LANDSCAPE ... Brad Pitt n roger Federer n City SPaS n BhuBaneSwar Brad Pitt n roger Federer n City SPaS n BhuBaneSwar twitter.com/outlookindia facebook.com/outlookindia youtube.com/outlookmagazine digimag.outlookindia.com... narrative is helping it consolidate its new country in 1971 But Indira Gandhi alliance too Despite playing hardball never used it for political benefits,” says with the BJP, its oldest allies—Shiv... doubt that among its casualties, at least in the immediate term, is the Opposition The ‘nationalistic’ rush has knocked it off its feet when it was just finding its feet, and its best-laid, if
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