Spice May issue ipad LR

A NIL KAPOOR | BACKWATERS BLISS | THE ROHIT BAL INTERVIEW 

spice 

Volume 11 | Issue 05 | May 2017 

T H E I N F L IGH T M A G A Z I N E 

this 

summer 

travel in 

stylewith 

THE RED HOT TRAVEL SHOP

FROM THE 

CMD’S DESK 

Dear Readers, 

SpiceJet is 12 years old this month. And what a 

journey this has been. Full of trials and full of 

triumphs. And in recent times, our success 

has become a globally celebrated case study. 

With a record-breaking performance, awards 

galore, and mega aircraft orders, we are well 

on course to becoming a major global low-cost 

airline of Indian origin. 

Our Red-Hot march of 325 flights daily 

has been upgraded this summer to about 

345 flights per day covering 46 destinations. 

We have added 19 new domestic and 3 new 

international routes this season (March to 

October), thus offering more connectivity 

between key metros and cities. To cater to 

the peak summer rush, new routes such as 

Surat-Jaipur, Surat-Hyderabad, Surat-Goa, 

Jammu-Dehradun, Jaipur-Chandigarh-Jammu, 

Bengaluru-Thiruvananthapuram and Delhi- 

Thiruvananthapuram have been added to the 

route map. We have also increased the daily 

frequency on the Dehradun-Delhi (3rd nonstop), 

Bengaluru-Vijayawada (3rd non-stop), 

Bengaluru-Kochi (2nd non-stop) and other 

sectors so as to bolster both leisure tourism and 

business travel. In expanding our international 

footprint, we have flagged off new flights 

on the Delhi-Bangkok and Kolkata-Dhaka 

routes. A flight from Bengaluru to Malé via 

Thiruvananthapuram with the least connecting 

time has also been introduced. 

Our new retail venture SpiceStyle, 

launched on April 5, 2017, has received an 

overwhelming response and great customer 

reviews. In living with the SpiceJet lineage of 

delivering nothing but the best to its customers, 

the brand is trying to raise the overall customer 

experience on the site (SpiceStyle.com) 

to global standards. An elaborate study of 

customer experience and feedback on the 

site has been undertaken to identify irritants 

and streamline navigation, and the effort is 

ongoing to eliminate them. Further, the brand 

is trying to enhance its offering in the coming 

months in order to offer a wider spectrum of 

products. Along with it, the brand is aiming to 

'wow' SpiceJet patrons through customised 

promotions. These promotions are designed to 

make our patrons sit back and take notice. 

Digitisation and technology enablers 

to enhance customer experience are a top 

priority at SpiceJet. We expect to become 

the first LCC in India to offer a unique 

entertainment and shopping experience 

to customers through a streaming solution 

during a flight via their own smartphones and 

tablets. The new service will allow passengers 

to shop and stream movies, cricket, and other 

content from select platforms offered by 

the airline. All SpiceJet planes will be fitted 

with BoardConnect Portable from Lufthansa 

Systems, which will store and wirelessly 

stream pre-loaded content to passengers’ Wi- 

Fi enabled mobile devices. Look out for this 

innovative offering. 

As firm believers of the government’s 

drive to create a digital economy, the Unified 

Payment Interface (UPI) as a payment option 

is now available on our website. This will 

allow passengers to conveniently pay online 

using a mobile handset. With this integration, 

SpiceJet passengers can use their unique UPI 

IDs i.e. Virtual Payment Address to pay for all 

bookings made on the SpiceJet website. 

Another area of importance for us is 

bridging the gap between academia and 

industry. We hosted 25 Executive MBA students 

from the SC Johnson College of Business at 

Cornell University, USA, who came from a broad 

selection of industries and functional areas of 

business. As a Cornell alumnus, I shared with 

the students the perspectives on the aviation 

industry, the opportunities and challenges of 

the Indian market and how we turned around 

our company from imminent closure to a major 

success story. 

Last month SpiceJet was presented 

with the ‘Most Outstanding Global Aviation 

Turnaround' award at Travel & Hospitality 

Awards 2017. This award, too, was a reiteration 

of the exemplary performance of team SpiceJet. 

Ajay Singh 

Chairman & Managing Director 

2 ||||| AUGUST 2016

A NIL KAPOOR | BACKWATERS BLISS | THE ROHIT BAL INTERVIEW 

Volume 11 | Issue 05 | May 2017 

THE RED HOT TRAVEL SHOP 

T H E I N F L IGH T M A G A Z I N E 

spice 

this 

summer 

travel in 

stylewith 

CONTENTS 

50 

56 

FROM BRICK TO CLICK 

The ace designer on his 

creations and creating for 

SpiceStyle 

70 

SUMMER TRAVEL WITH SPICESTYLE 

SpiceStyle, the new e-commerce retail venture from SpiceJet, 

has many goodies lined up for the summer traveller in you 

12TH ANNIVERSARY 

SPECIAL 

SpiceJet’s rise to the nation’s 

most preferred airline status 

has been achieved through 

hard work and smart business 

decisions 

2 

MAY 2017

RECORD PLACEMENT 

IN DELHI - NCR WITH 

HIGHEST SELECTION RATIO 

BATCH 2017 

1080 

Students Placed Till Date 

81% 

Mechanical Engineering 

Students Already Placed 

One of its kind Industrial & Global Exposure 

for Mechanical Engineering Students 

TOP RECRUITERS 

BATCH 2017 

TECH 

MAHINDRA 

IBM INDIA 

KPIT 

TECH. LTD. 

167 

110 

80 

72 

26 

21 

CAPGEMINI 

VIVO 

UNITED 

HEALTH 

GROUP 

MOU With 

TECHNOLOGIES 

For Research in 

Mechanical Design 

Germany 

Advance Robotics 

Control Lab 

20 

NTT DATA 

KNOWLEDGE 

KIP 

ACCREDITATIONS BY 

CORPORATE MOGULS 

• TCS 

• Tech Mahindra 

• Capegemini 

EMPLOYMENT 

ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMS 

Barclays, Aricent, Minda Silica, 

Rane, Tata Technologies 

and NASSCOM 

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS 

• APS - Germany: Advance Robotics Control Lab 

• Middlesex University, Dubai: Global 

Immersion Program 

• Australian Institute of Management (W. Australia) 

WELL DESERVED AWARDS 

For Brilliant University Result, Excellent Placement, Outstanding Research Work and Overall Student Development Programs 

MODI AWARDS 

The Best Institute Overall 

BBC Knowledge 

Education Leadership Award, 2017 

The Best Engineering Institute 

in India (North), 2017 

by ASSOCHAM 

The Best Engineering 

College in UP, India 

Excellence Awards, 2017 

The Best 

Institute in 

Placements, 2017 

Institute with 

Best Academic & 

Industry Interface, 2017

NO. 1 

PRIVATE ENGINEERING 

COLLEGE IN U.P. 

NATIONAL INSTITUTIONAL RANKING FRAMEWORK 

Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India 

The Top Three Private Engineering Colleges of U.P. (Affiliated to AKTU) as per NIRF, 2017 

S.No. 

1 

Engg. College 

2 ABES 

3 KIET 

City 

All India 

Rank/Band 

G. L. Bajaj Greater Noida 101-150 

Ghaziabad 151-200 

Ghaziabad 151-200 

A testament to G.L. Bajaj's 

excellence on parameters like 

Teaching, Research, Graduation 

Outcome, Outreach and Placement. 

GLBIANS - SHOWSTOPPERS IN EVERY FIELD 

Academics 

Research 

Corporate Job 

Higher Studies 

UNIVERSITY RANK HOLDERS - 2016 

th 

4 Rank 

Prabhat Kumar, B. Tech (ME) 

th 

7 Rank 

Shilpa Nagar, MBA 

GLBIANS at 

IBM Live Research 

Projects in Germany 

Saurabh Sarkar 

Developer, 

Microsoft (USA) 

Rishabh Raj, 

MS, New Jersey Institute 

of Technology, N. Jersey 

B. TECH / B. ARCH / MBA / MCA / M. TECH 

GREATER NOIDA - HELPLINE NO.: 8010-000-234 

G. L. Bajaj Institute of Technology & Management 

Plot No.2, Knowledge Park-III, Greater Noida (U.P.) 

www.glbitm.org | College Code: 192 

PH: 87506 10005, 87506 20005 

www.facebook.com\glbitm 

MATHURA - TOLL FREE NO.: 1800-2700-342 

G. L. Bajaj Group of Institutions 

National Highway # 2, Akbarpur, Mathura (U.P.) 

www.glbajajgroup.org | College Code: 511 

PH: 84778 20001, 84778 20002 

www.facebook.com\glbgoi

CONTENTS 

86 BLISS IN THE 

130 

BACKWATERS 

The perfect setting to enjoy 

the backwaters experience, 

Kumarakom is also the nerve 

centre of the Kerala government’s 

`Responsible Tourism’ initiative 

EDUCATION SPECIAL 

Trends to look out for in 2017 

118 

EVERGREEN ANIL 

KAPOOR 

Even 38 years after making 

his Bollywood debut, Anil 

Kapoor exudes the energy and 

enthusiasm of a newcomer. We 

find out how 

SPICEJET INSIDER 

Social media 24 

SpiceVacations.com26 

Spice products28 

Mobile apps150 

My town 152 

Music154 

Onboard menu155 

News156 

Stars of SpiceJet158 

SpiceJet fleet160 

Route map164 

SpiceJet add-ons166 

8 

MAY 2017

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CONTENTS 

CLAP GLOBAL 

Clap Global takes international travellers into Indian classrooms, 

facilitating a cultural exchange early on in life. 

THE UNKNOWN AMRITSAR 

Where to get the best kulcha, the best phulkari and the best 

pehlwan malish 

140 

spice 

MAY 2017 

EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER 

MINAL SURVE 

EDITOR 

RAJU BIST 

rajubist@mwspiceroute.in 

EXECUTIVE EDITOR 

EKTA MOHTA 

ekta@mwspiceroute.in 

ART DIRECTOR 

AMIT NAIK 

DEPUTY ART DIRECTORS 

HEMALI LIMBACHIYA 

TANVI SHAH 

GRAPHIC DESIGNER 

VIDHI DOSHI 

PRODUCTION MANAGER 

MANGESH SALVI 

SENIOR DIGITAL MANAGER 

JAYESH V. SALVI 

AD SALES 

MUMBAI 

VINOD MOHITE 

+91 9323554207, vinod@mwspiceroute.in 

RAHUL MUKHERJEE 

rahul@mwspiceroute.in 

NEW DELHI & HYDERABAD 

TANVEER AHMAD 

+91 9555098401, tanveer@mwspiceroute.in 

MUDIT SRIVASTAVA 

mudit@mwspiceroute.in 

TAMIL NADU & PONDICHERRY 

CECIL S KOTEY 

cecil@mwspiceroute.in 

P. GOPINATH 

gopinath@mwspiceroute.in 

BENGALURU 

ANURADHA KUBER 

anuradha.kuber@mwspiceroute.in 

TULSI BAVISHI 

080-4121 2043/4121 9043 

WEST BENGAL & NORTH-EAST 

MOHD. ASAD KHAN 

asad@mwspiceroute.in 

KOLKATA 

ASHIT NARAIN 

kolkata@mwspiceroute.in 

KERALA 

AMEYA CREATIONS 

ameya.creations@yahoo.in 

GUJARAT 

SANJAY CHAWDA 

sanjaychawda@gmail.com 

For international advertising contact 

Vinod Mohite (vinod@mwspiceroute.in) 9323554207 

PRODUCED BY 

146 

EDITORIAL & MARKETING OFFICE: 

MW.Com (India) Pvt. Ltd., 401, 4th Floor, Todi Building, 

Mathuradas Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, 

Lower Parel, Mumbai 400 013., Tel: 022 67487777 

DELHI: 24/1, First Floor, Hauz Khas Village, 

New Delhi - 110016 Tel/Fax: 011- 26516071/72 

All rights reserved worldwide. Unsolicited manuscripts will not be 

returned unless accompanied by a postage pre-paid envelope 

20 

MAY 2017

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

@flyspicejet Another good morning 

flight SG 130 CCU-DEL. Excellent service 

by Piyali & her team. Before time 

departure & OTA icing on cake! 

Awesome flight this 

morning on SG 457 on @ 

flyspicejet. Thanks for all 

the witty humor captain 

and the yum breakfast! 

@d_obzerver 

@maybornrahul 

Had an awesome flight yesterday with @ 

flyspicejet (IXA-DEL SG169) .. Crews were 

friendly and the food too was delicious... 

Cheers SG 

@dipalay 

@flyspicejet SG–923 from 

Amd to Goa on 24/03 had 

a superb experience. 

thanks Arti Kutty crew for 

excellent service standard 

n cust relation 

@devesh4437 

@flyspicejet Today travelled from 

Chennai to Delhi with Spicejet SG 

104 and I was most delighted by 

cabin crew & pilot. ThankYou 

SpiceJet Family. I love this 

hospitality and will surely 

recommend u to others. 

@prakharswarup12 

BUZZ ON 

SOCIAL MEDIA 

Covered destination to mumbai 20 min 

prior more tan stipulated time .... happy 

flying Spicejet 

Karthi Balaji 

I too appreciate your timely arrivals rather early than 

scheduled. Had experience many times with you on 

board on Mumbai-Delhi pune-Delhi and Delhidharamshala 

sectors. Had nice experience. Keep it up. 

Arjun Guleria 

My grandparents specifically asked 

me to get FlySpiceJet tickets for their 

travel. After the flight, at airport I 

noticed they were very happy that 

you guys continue to serve highest 

levels of pleasing experience. 

We landed 20 minutes prior to the sheduled 

landing in mumbai and kochi on 15th..kudos 

to the spicejet team for incredibly being the 

most punctual.. keep going #FlySpiceJet 

Simon V S Sjs 

Dvii Desouza 

FIND YOUR FAVOURITE AIRLINE ON @FLYSPICEJET ON TWITTER & FACEBOOK 

“Every sunset gives you a message that there’s a hope 

to new sunrise next day after long dark night and also 

to sit back and relax and find out how/what went 

throughout your day!” ashishprabhu22 

24 

MAY 2017

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

SPICEVACATIONS.COM 

TRAVEL WITH EASE AND FLEXIBILITY 

PLAN YOUR HOLIDAYS WITH SPICEJET’S UNIQUE INITIATIVE 

SPICEVACATIONS.COM, A PLETHORA OF END-TO-END TRAVEL SOLUTIONS, MAKING YOUR 

TRAVELS NOT JUST CONVENIENT, BUT ALSO RED. HOT. SPICY 

Customers need 

to simply decide 

on the theme of 

their vacation 

SPICEVACATIONS.COM is a one-stop 

shop for customised travel packages, 

offering services beyond the ordinary. 

Take your pick from a vast network 

of domestic and international holiday 

destinations, and book your flights with 

the right bundle of services to ensure an 

effortless journey. Carefully hand-picked 

hotels, quick car rentals, and travel 

packages created in association with 

local holiday experts – you have much 

to benefit from SpiceVacations.com. 

With SpiceVacations.com, 

customers can make changes in their 

itinerary online, at every step of 

the trip. For instance, if a customer 

wants to opt for a bigger car even 

if the package entails a smaller one, he 

can do so, and with ease. Customers 

need to simply decide on the theme 

of their vacation, such as pilgrimage, 

honeymoon, heritage, wildlife, beach or 

hills, and the platform throws up a wide 

variety of deals in terms of location, 

hotel arrangements, local sightseeing 

tours and car rentals, among others. 

A separate online domain, this 

product adds to the customer’s 

convenience and also acts as an 

information buddy. In the second phase 

of operations, travel experts will share 

their experiences, comments, blogs, etc., 

that can help customers plan their next 

trip. Reviews from fellow travellers will 

also help customers plan their vacations 

in the right manner. 

With this unique initiative by 

SpiceJet, customers have the flexibility 

of booking a package at a minimal 

amount and can pay the rest later 

through various EMI options that are 

made available to them along with other 

regular options on offer. 

As the website is powered by 

SpiceJet, every customer can enjoy 

great flight and hotel deals. All these 

culminate in smart, convenient and 

detailed travel packages. In keeping 

with the times, the new product will also 

be connected with SpiceJet’s mobile 

app but this will be done at a later 

stage. 

So, travel the world with SpiceJet’s 

enviable travel packages and experience 

the perfect holiday. 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

26 

MAY 2017

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

INNOVATIONS FOR 

COMFORT 

& CONVENIENCE 

AT SPICEJET, we believe that customer experience can always be improved upon. In 

keeping with this philosophy, we are constantly looking for ways to make travel not 

just a hassle-free experience, but also one that passengers will remember. 

Our latest slew of innovations reflects this: a product that rewards travellers who travel 

only with hand baggage; another that makes life easier for those who carry heavy 

baggage, but not heavy enough to be checked-in; yet another that offers a bigger 

choice of meals on board; products to please those who are always on the lookout for 

extra legroom, and those who are particular about where they sit on a flight; a prepaid 

card that allows passengers to make cashless transactions; an add-on service that 

allows the flexibility of cancelling or changing ticket(s) to suit your travel plan; and 

finally a product that aims at greater customer ease in case of flight disruptions. No 

surprise then that we are the country’s favourite budget airline. 

28 

MAY 2017

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

1SpiceMax 

SpiceJet’s SpiceMax provides more comfort and convenience. With extra 

legroom and greater personal space, passengers can travel with ease. 

Apart from significantly extra legroom on board, fliers can also enjoy other 

added ancillary products such as priority check-in, complimentary meal 

and beverage, priority baggage handling and priority boarding (aerobridge 

gates) at dedicated SpiceMax counters at the airport for a modest add-on fee 

per sector. The ease with which fliers can opt for this product enhances the 

experience. When booking a connecting flight with a stop-over, passengers can 

purchase SpiceMax seats separately for the two flights. 

2 

Priority Check-In 

This service provides the 

passenger a hassle free 

and comfortable check-in 

experience at the airport 

with SpiceJet’s dedicated priority 

check-in counter. The passenger can 

buy Priority Check-In while or after 

making the booking. It can be bought 

latest up to two hours before the 

scheduled departure. The service is 

available only on www.spicejet.com or 

via SpiceJet’s Reservations. The prepaid 

service can be bought for per 

passenger, per sector of the journey, 

on the payment of the non-refundable 

fees. A Priority Check-In for flights 

within and/or originating from India 

costs Rs. 200. For flights originating 

from out of India, the fare is Rs. 300. 

The fees are refundable if the booking 

is cancelled by the passenger or the 

flight is cancelled by the airline. There 

is no additional fee applicable for 

infant passengers. Passengers who 

have bought Priority Check-In will 

have to check-in for their flight at the 

airport check-in counter. 

3 

Hot Meals 

Passengers have a wide 

variety of meals to opt 

for on SpiceJet flights 

when they pre-book 

a meal. Those flying Boeings are 

spoilt for choice. There are four 

options for breakfast. All-day 

meals (which include snacks, 

lunch and dinner) are spread 

across eight menus. Seven 

Chef’s Choice menus and 

two kinds of Platters 

are available 24x7. 

Passengers taking 

Q400 flights can 

choose from eight 

different types of 

sandwiches. There is a great 

variety on offer – from Vermicelli 

Croquette, Saute Broccoli and 

Chicken Stroganoff to Angara 

Paneer Tikka Sub Roll. Prebooking 

a meal offers other 

choices and benefits, too: 

the option of a glutenfree 

meal; a menu with 

Thai, Continental and Indian 

options as well as Indian 

Platters; discounted rates 

compared to onboard 

prices; passengers can 

wish their loved ones on 

birthdays and anniversaries 

mid-air with a cake on select 

flights; and a takeaway Kids’ 

Meal bag, shaped like an 

airplane. 

PRE-BOOK NOW! 

Pre-book your meals to make your 

journey with us a more comfortable 

experience. You can enjoy exceptional 

discounted rates, with meals starting 

at `180. It makes purchasing food and 

beverages onboard an entirely cashless 

affair. You can pre-book at the time 

of booking your flight, or add it later 

through ‘Manage My Booking’ on the 

website, www.spicejet.com. If you prebook 

on the SpiceJet mobile app, you 

can even get 50 per cent off on meals. 

29 

MAY 2017

4 

SpiceFlex 

The next time you book 

a flight on SpiceJet, opt 

for SpiceFlex, a uniquely 

crafted bundled fare that 

offers passengers immense benefits such 

as preferred seat choice at no additional 

charge and change fee waiver. Enjoy 

these benefits at a marginal premium 

only. Considered an ideal option 

for frequent travellers and business 

executives, these fares are valid on all 

direct, via and onward flights. Customers 

can book SpiceFlex only on www. 

spicejet.com, and via travel agents. 

7 

My Flexi Plan 

Planning a trip will be 

easier than ever with 

SpiceJet’s new innovative 

add-on service, My Flexi 

Plan. Passengers can now enjoy the 

flexibility of cancelling or changing the 

ticket(s) to suit their travel plan. If they 

are certain about travel but not about 

the dates, then they can book a ticket 

by opting for this service. Customers 

can opt for this add-on at the time of 

booking by paying a fee of `1,125 for 

domestic travel ticket and `1,250 for 

international travel ticket. The service 

will be applicable only for one change 

or one cancellation per ticket. 

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

5 

Fly For Sure 

Fly For Sure has been launched for greater 

customer ease in case of flight disruptions. 

It allows a passenger booked on SpiceJet a 

guarantee of flying in the next 24 hours in 

case of a flight delay beyond 90 minutes, missing a flight 

not exceeding 30 minutes from airport check-in closure of the 

original flight or a flight cancellation by the airline. With Fly For 

Sure the passenger gets to fly, in spite of the above unforeseen 

circumstances. It is available while booking for the flight and 

SpiceJet will reimburse the passengers for an alternate flight 

ticket (not exceeding double the price of the original ticket or 

the cost of second ticket, whichever is lower) on the airline of 

their choice in the same sector within 24 hours of the original 

scheduled booking with SpiceJet. 

6 

Carry More On Board 

Making air travel even more 

convenient, SpiceJet’s ‘Carry More On 

Board’ is a service for travellers with 

heavier cabin baggage. It is targeted 

at passengers who carry cabin baggage heavier 

than 7 kg, and do not want to check-in. Fliers can 

carry bags weighing up to 5 kg extra, a maximum 

of 12 kg on board, while paying a nominal fee for 

each kg above 7 kg. Bags can be heavier, but not 

larger, and the standard free baggage allowances 

remain as before. Customers can opt for this 

product during airport check-in and at airport 

ticket counters. 

8 

Hand Baggage Only 

This is another unique product that offers a discount to those 

passengers who carry only hand baggage. Available on most 

direct domestic flights, this fare has a minimum 15-day advance 

purchase period, and no free check-in baggage allowance is 

permissible. Bookings for this can be made on www.spicejet.com, at airport 

ticket offices, and through select online travel portals. Passengers should keep 

in mind that hand baggage allowance does not change. Those who book these 

fares, but decide to check in luggage later, will have to pay more. 

30 

MAY 2017

OPENING SHOT 

CRICKET 

SRINAGAR ENGINEER WINS 

PRESTIGIOUS PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD 

FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER Saqib Majeed was on assignment for Barcroft 

Images of London, looking for autumn-related imagery, when he came across a 

group of boys playing cricket under a canopy of trees in Srinagar’s beautiful Nishat 

Bagh. He quickly took four photographs with his Nikon D90 before the boys asked 

him to stop shooting. One of the shots ended up winning the annual Wisden-MCC 

Cricket Photograph of the Year award. Majeed thus became only the second Asian 

to win the award. (Mumbai-based Atul Kamble had won it in 2013 for his stunning 

shot of Sachin Tendulkar’s last cricket match as a professional). 

Majeed, 26, who runs his own engineering consultancy firm in Srinagar, 

started serious photography eight years ago. Since then he has shot – mostly 

landscapes and nature – for agencies, web portals and magazines, some of them 

international. His work has been exhibited in a California gallery and since 2013, he 

has been shooting regularly for photo agency Barcroft. The cricket image had gone 

viral very quickly, drawing praises from English newspapers, Kashmiri politicians 

and Bollywood celebrities. 

The young man received ¤ 2,000 (around ` 1.40 lakh) for his talent and an entry 

in the Bible of Cricket, the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack. In addition, the awardwinning 

photograph will be on display for a year at that Mecca of Cricket, Lord’s 

Cricket Ground. 

SpiceJet flies to 

Srinagar. Log on to 

www.spicejet.com for details 

32 

MAY 2017

OPENING SHOT 

RESTORATION 

A NEW BOUTIQUE 

HOTEL IN AHMEDABAD 

MANGALDASNI HAVELI II is a unique restoration and re-use project that was recently 

launched as a boutique heritage hotel. Located in the heart of Gangadhiyani Pol, it is a 

150-year-old restored residential home developed as a unique hotel. The aim is to 

provide an opportunity to researchers and travellers to experience the living heritage 

of the pols of Ahmedabad. It is in the middle of bustling bazaars and artisan 

workshops that characterise the walled city precinct. 

SpiceJet flies to Ahmedabad, 

85 km away. Log on to 


34 

MAY 2017

Lowest fares 

only on 

SpiceJet.com 

INDIA’S 

No.1 

Best On-Time Performance 

in the year 2016-17 

Highest Occupancy Rate 

for 2 consecutive years

MELANGE 

EVENTS 

HOT DATES 

DANCE // MUSIC // THEATRE // ART 

DANCE 

ANTARANGA – A QUEST 

An accomplished 

Bharatanatyam danseuse, Lata 

Rajesh, founder and artistic 

director of Nrtyanjli, along 

with her disciples will present 

Antaranga – A Quest, a journey 

to explore the complexities of 

the mind and its various intense 

emotions, using traditional 

compositions and rhythmic 

structures in an experimental 

format. 

When: May 25, 2017 

Where: NCPA Mumbai 

THEATRE 

BANDISH 20 – 

20000HZ 

Bandish 20 – 20000Hz, 

by theatre director Purva 

Naresh (in picture), is a 

story of two singers, one 

a nautanki singer and the 

other a baithak singer. 

Both performers relive 

their glory days and 

share witty anecdotes. 

Anecdotes of escapes from kings’ palaces, slapping British 

officers, getting kidnapped by the local zamindars, refuting 

lovelorn nawabs and getting duped by charming and conniving 

men in the name of love and marriage. 

When: May 27 & 28, 2017 

Where: Kamani Auditorium, Delhi 

MUSIC 

JUSTIN BIEBER 

PURPOSE WORLD 

TOUR INDIA 

The concert will be 

Bieber’s first in India 

and will be a part of 

his Purpose world tour. 

Mumbai will be one 

of the three cities in 

the neighbourhood 

to host the concerts. 

The others are Tel Aviv 

(Israel) and Dubai 

(United Arab Emirates). 


Where: DY Patil 

Stadium, Mumbai 

SHUTTERSTOCK (JUSTIN BIEBER) 

38 

MAY 2017

MELANGE 

EVENTS 

COMEDY 

PUNCHLINERS: SORABH PANT 

Frustrated about everything around you? Sorabh Pant is, too. 

And he has decided to take the stage to express his thoughts. 

In a fit of rage, he is going to spout out some ferocious words 

with intense fire – on everything. 


Where: Blue Frog, Pune 

SPORT 

2017 INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 

With a seating capacity of 65,000 spectators, Rajiv Gandhi 

International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad is where the final 

will take place. 


Where: Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad 

MUSIC 

THAIKKUDAM 

BRIDGE 

Born in 2013, the band 

has done an average of 

one show every three 

days since its inception. 

With YouTube videos 

crossing 44 lakh views, 

and basking in the 

success of their new 

album, Navarasam, 

Thaikkudam Bridge will 

give you the experience 

of a lifetime. 


Where: St. Joseph 

European School 

Ground, Bengaluru 

40 

MAY 2017

MELANGE 

EVENTS 

MAY LISTINGS 

7 

1 

What: Labour Day 

Where: Across India 

2What: 

Kanan 

Gill Live (Stand-up 

Comedy) 

When: 8.00 pm 

Where: Tagore 

Theatre, Chandigarh 

6-7 

What: The Fundamentals of 

Screenwriting (Workshop) 

When: 10.00 am to 6.00 pm 

Where: Kolkata 

What: Agnipankh 

(Hindi Play) 

When: 7.30 pm 

Where: NCPA 

Mumbai 

11 

What: Thoda Saaf 

Bol by Abhishek 

Upmanyu 

(Stand-up Comedy) 

When: 8.00 pm 

Where: Aqua, The 

Park, Hyderabad 

12 13 

What: Hindi Medium 

(Hindi Film) 

Where: Across India 

What: Delhi Home 

Bakers Meet 

When: 10.00 am 

Where: The Visaya, 

New Delhi 

13 May- 

4 June 

What: NCPA Summer 

Fiesta Plays (Children’s 

Theatre Festival) 


15 19 

What: Children’s 

Theatre Workshop 

When: 10.00 am 

Where: Samahaara, 

Hyderabad 

What: Samhara (Dance 

Performance) 

When: 8.00 pm 

Where: Chowdiah 

Memorial Hall, Bengaluru 

20 23-24 28 

What: Avadhoot 

Gupte (Music Concert) 

When: 6.30 pm 

Where: ILS Law 

College Ground, Pune 

What: Rosencrantz & 

Guildenstern are Dead 

(Theatre Screening) 

When: 6.00 pm 


What: Amit Tandon 

(Stand-up Comedy) 

When: 9.00 pm 

Where: V Club, Gurgaon 

42 

MAY 2017

MELANGE 

INFORMATION 

WHAT'S NEW 

INCREDIBLE !NDIA 

CROSSED 1 MILLION 

FOLLOWERS ON 

TWITTER • 

The travel marketing 

brainchild of the 

government of India, 

Incredible !ndia, crossed 

the million mark on Twitter. 

The official handle scours 

the most luscious travel 

images of India posted 

by travellers, along with 

sharing interesting cultural 

tidbits about India. 

AIRBNB TAKES TRIPS TO DELHI 

THE GREAT INDIAN TRAVEL BAZAAR 

2017 WAS HELD IN JAIPUR 

Jaipur was host to the Great Indian Travel Bazaar 

(GITB) 2017 last month. With an intensive and 

sharp focus on inbound tourism and buyer-seller 

meet, it resulted in significant transacting and 

capitalising of business opportunities between 

international buyers and Indian sellers. Close to 

275 leading inbound foreign tour operators from 

53 countries participated as foreign buyers. More 

than 230 Indian sellers, including nine state tourism 

boards, showcased their products in GITB 2017. 

Airbnb has launched its new Trips platform in New Delhi, with 15 local 

experiences in the Indian capital. Launched in November 2016, Airbnb 

Trips offers visitors the chance to book activities and attractions 

recommended by Airbnb hosts in each city. In Delhi, some of these 

include learning about the journey of couture with a behind-thescenes 

factory tour of designers Shantanu & Nikhil (in picture) in 

Noida. Or, a few hours of songwriting and producing music with a 

jazz classical duo; 

learning Bollywood 

dance moves from 

a choreographer; 

learning how to 

drape a sari from 

a textile historian; 

or understanding 

more about 

vintage cameras 

with a camera 

collector. 

44 

MAY 2017

MELANGE 

INFORMATION 

NEPALESE OFFICIALS 

BRACE FOR ‘TRAFFIC JAM’ 

AT MOUNT EVEREST • 

Nepalese officials are bracing for a 

‘traffic jam’ at Mount Everest this 

season due to a surge in the number 

of climbers eyeing to conquer the 

world’s tallest peak. This time, there 

will be around 400 climbers who will 

embark on the journey from mid- 

May. As climbers are accompanied 

by high altitude workers, whose 

number is usually more than that 

of climbers, there could be around 

1,000 individuals on their way to 

the summit, creating a queue whose 

snail-paced movement will be 

punctuated by frequent halts. 

NEW VISA CATEGORIES ADDED FOR 

INTERNATIONAL TRAVELLERS 

The new visa categories include intern and film visas, 

besides medical, tourism, business and employment. 

The move assumes significance as the services sector 

accounts for about 60 per cent of India’s GDP but its 

share in world exports of services remains at a low 

3.15 per cent. E-visas have further been divided into 

e-tourist visa, e-business visa and e-medical visa. The 

window for application under e-visa scheme has been 

increased from 30 to 120 days and duration of stay 

increased from 30 to 60 days. 

INDIA JUMPED 12 SPOTS IN WEF’S GLOBAL TRAVEL 

AND TOURISM RANKING 

India has jumped 12 places to 40th rank globally in travel and tourism 

competitiveness list by World Economic Forum. “India continues 

to enrich its cultural resources, protecting more cultural sites and 

intangible expressions through UNESCO World Heritage lists, and 

via a greater digital presence,” WEF said. Some of the factors that 

helped India climb up the ladder include implementing visa on arrival 

and e-visas, and improvements in the country’s ground transport 

infrastructure. 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

46 

MAY 2017

COVER STORY 

SPICE STYLE 

SUMMER TRAVEL 

WITH SPICESTYLE 

SPICESTYLE, THE NEW E-COMMERCE RETAIL VENTURE FROM SPICEJET, HAS MANY 

GOODIES LINED UP FOR THE SUMMER TRAVELLER IN YOU 

We’re all going on 

a summer 

holiday,” 

crooned Cliff 

Richard long before many of this 

magazine’s young readers were 

born. The promise of having a 

great time during the 

summer holidays holds true 

even 55 years later. For, in a 

country known for its 

numerous religious and 

seasonal breaks throughout 

the year, summer holidays 

have a charm of their own. 

There are numerous 

reasons behind this 

attraction. “Summer is 

that time of the year in 

India when even a nontraveller 

would want to 

escape considering schools 

and colleges have holidays 

during those 

months,” says 

Yogesh Mudras, 

Managing Director, UBM 

India, one of the largest 

travel-related event 

organizers in the country. 

“Summer is also when 

most of the tour 

operators roll out valueadded 

deals and discounts. It’s also 

the perfect season to explore the 

north of India and hilly places in the 

south too as the climate 

is not too cold and not 

too hot.” 

Keeping the importance of 

summer travel in mind, SpiceStyle, 

the newly launched e-commerce 

retail venture of SpiceJet, has curated 

exciting products keeping the 

summer traveller in mind. The brands 

offer a calibrated mix of value and 

50 

MAY 2017

COVER STORY 

SPICE STYLE 

mid-segment pricing. Intensive 

research, high-end design 

and meticulous sourcing 

techniques have gone into 

them. 

The discerning buyers have 

a lot to choose from: attractive 

sunglasses to protect themselves from 

the summer glare; beautifully 

designed watches that sit lightly on 

the wrists; ties made from 

absorbent material and in soft 

colours; a backpack that 

transforms itself into a stroller, 

thus helping you avoid load on your 

shoulders all the time; a wide range of 

silicone luggage tags to inspire your 

travelling experience; a colourful 

sipper for kids to drink water or 

nutritional liquids from, among others. 

Each product carries with it the 

promise of a luxurious experience and 

rich quality. Summer travel could 

not have been more enjoyable. 

51 

MAY 2017

COVER STORY 

SPICE STYLE 

COOL CLIMES 

Mercifully, there are a number of places in India where you can escape the summer heat and have 

an excellent vacation in a calm and soothing setting. Whether you are a couple on honeymoon 

or a family vacationer, a budget traveller or a luxury enthusiast, there is something for you in 

every corner of India. Indians also love travelling in groups, either with friends or relatives, and 

it is always more convenient to plan for the same much in advance, happy in the knowledge that 

everyone would be able to take the requisite time off. The diversity of our land allows a wide range 

of holiday experiences. Here are some destinations that we have always liked. 

GULMARG AND PAHALGAM 

Jammu & Kashmir 

KASOL, SHIMLA, MANALI, AULI AND 

DHARAMSHALA 

Himachal Pradesh 

MUNNAR 

Kerala 

OOTY 

Tamil Nadu 

BAGDOGRA 

West Bengal 

MAHABALESHWAR 

Maharashtra 

RANIKHET 

Uttarakhand 

For those who prefer peace and solitude while 

out on holiday, we would recommend Tawang 

in Arunachal Pradesh; Jorpokhri near Darjeeling, 

West Bengal; Yelagiri in Tamil Nadu; Shimoga 

in Karnataka; Haflong in Assam; Pelling in 

Sikkim; Dhanaulti in Uttarakhand; and Idukki and 

Ponmudi in Kerala. 

SpiceJet flies to many of these destinations. Log on to 


52 

MAY 2017

LAUNCHING 

PREMIUM HAIR CARE PRODUCTS 

STRICTLY FOR MEN

THE INTERVIEW 

ROHIT BAL 

better than that. In his nearly threedecades-long 

career, he has created 

gorgeous garments, set his own style, 

mentored designers as well as models, 

expanded his horizons, broken 

conventions, courted controversy, and 

managed to stay at the top, through it all. 

His latest venture is a partnership with 

spicestyle.com, the new e-commerce 

retail venture from SpiceJet. Bal recently 

got candid with us, on pretty much 

everything under the sun. 

FROM BRICK TO CLICK 

AVANT GARDE DESIGNER ROHIT BAL 

COLLABORATES WITH SPICEJET, 

AND TALKS PAST, PRESENT AND 

FUTURE OF FASHION. 

BY PRERNA SINGH BUTALIA 

When Rohit Bal started 

designing, in the late 

’80s, and then 

launched his own 

label in 1990, fashion was a distant 

concept, to most. As Bal himself puts it, 

“The first 15 years or so, we were only 

trying to convince everybody that we are 

‘fashion designers’, that there’s a 

difference between ‘fashion’ and 

‘making clothes’. And, unlike now, when 

there’s room for everybody, back then, it 

really was about survival of the fittest!” 

And survive he did. In fact, he did much 

ON JOINING HANDS WITH 

SPICEJET 

SpiceJet decided we should get together, 

and when they approached me, I figured 

why not. It sounded like an interesting 

project and because of how it’s 

streamlined—I design and they take care 

of the production. It also appealed to me 

because it helps me reach out to more 

people, without diluting the brand—the 

pricing is conservative; it’s reasonable 

but not cheap. So the urban, upwardlymobile, 

young, working people, with 

disposable income, who may aspire to 

own a ‘designer label’ but can’t afford to, 

or won’t (because in India, our priorities 

are more family-centric), spend Rs 

35,000 on a pair of Gucci sunglasses, 

wouldn’t mind spending Rs 12,000 to 

own a Rohit Bal! So while this isn’t my 

first line with a more friendly pricing—I 

have a line called Balance by Rohit Bal, 

which is my prêt collection, of which I 

have six stores (we plan to open 40, 

across India), I am, now, trying to get 

across to as many people as possible. 

That top-of-the-line, most expensive 

designer thing… It’s now done and 

dusted. I’m done with ‘being no 1’. Now, I 

just want to make top quality products 

and reach more people. And this line, for 

Spicestyle, is going to help me do that, 

with an e-presence, and a line that’s 

marketed well and smartly enough for 

me to be able to retail it out of my own 

stores as well. 

56 

MAY 2017

THE INTERVIEW 

ROHIT BAL 

TRAVEL TALES 

Rohit Bal loves to travel, for art, architecture 

and music are where he gets most of his 

inspiration from. His favourite hubs 

Favourite getaway Goa. I go there very often. 

But Italy has the best sights to see. 

Favourite destination Kashmir. That’s where 

I have my roots, it’s where I spent my 

childhood, it’s where I get my inspiration and my 

signature lotus motif. I also have a soft spot 

for Agra. I did an entire collection called 

Pietra Dura, inspired by the Taj. 

Favourite fashion spots I love the flea markets 

in London, France and Italy. To source fabric, I’m 

partial to Benaras, Chanderi and the states of 

Kashmir, Rajasthan and Gujarat. 

Favourite shopping haunts I love the 

antique furniture markets in Cochin, Kolkata and 

Jodhpur, and pawn shops across Europe. 

ON FASHION RETAIL IN INDIA 

E-commerce really is the future of 

retail. It's appealing because it gets 

everything right to your doorstep. 

In the last few days, over 8,000 brick 

and mortar stores have closed down 

in Manhattan—iconic brands like 

Ralph Lauren and Coach have shut 

shop on 5th Avenue. But this kind of 

thing is not likely to happen in 

India… We have a very touchyfeely 

mentality. We will not buy 

kapda till we’ve actually touched it 

and evaluated it with our own eyes. 

Also, we’re now obsessed with the 

‘mall culture’. We like to ‘go 

shopping’. In India, I believe that 

both will co-exist. The major 

advantage that e-retail has is that it 

perpetuates a pan-Indian 

penetration of fashion. 

ON FASHION IN INDIA 

India is, has always been and will 

remain, a sari-wearing country. 

Which is just as well, given that our 

strength lies in our textiles. In fact, 

when it comes to talent in the Indian 

fashion industry, it’s the kaarigars. 

They work on instinct. There’s no 

measuring involved—they just know 

when to do what. At the end of the 

day, designers are just conduits. 

We’ll get the best weavers, the best 

artisans, artists, and put it all 

together. That’s what we do. Indian 

fashion is not about cuts and 

silhouettes — although there are 

designers who do that really well, 

too. 

ON BEING A MENTOR 

I feel like a proud hen. When I see 

Manish Arora running amok on the 

runways of Paris, or I see the love 

that Sahil Kochhar has received, or 

the adulation that Pankaj & Nidhi or 

Ashish Soni have gotten, I feel so 

proud. Each of these designers 

worked with me for a very long 

time—as long as eight, in some cases, 

even 10 years. The talent, the hard 

work is all their own, but what I 

would say for myself is, I gave them 

space to grow. Designers who work 

with me are free to do what they 

like—if it works with my aesthetic, it 

becomes part of the line; if it doesn’t, 

it’s theirs to do what they may. But, it 

can’t have been easy for them. I have 

a very strong sensibility and they’ve 

worked here a long time, so when 

they’ve moved on, it’s taken them a 

long time to shake that off, and 

create their own signature. But 

they’ve all done well. 

ON BEING ‘L’ENFANT TERRIBLE 

OF INDIAN FASHION’ 

I think it’s a fantastic compliment. 

At the end of the day, it’s a person 

who will do things on his own 

terms. I am that person. I get into 

trouble for things I say and even for 

things I don’t say. I don’t believe in 

jumping on to a bandwagon, or 

being part of a rat race. 

ON HIS LOVE FOR 

ACCESSORIES 

I love accessories. I believe they are 

the future of fashion. I started off 

helping brides put their entire look 

together. So I would do their clothes 

and then design their jewels too. 

This grew into a collaboration with 

Kirtilal Jewellers.Soon after, I did a 

line of watches, under Nebula for 

Titan. I enjoy designing shoes too, 

and have also designed a range of 

crystalware, with a Slovakian 

company. This is all very technical, 

so I work very closely with the 

technical teams. I design the 

aesthetic, and then they tell me what 

works and what doesn’t. 

58 

MAY 2017

IN FOCUS 

SPICE STYLE 

ENDEARING BRANDS 

THE VARIOUS PRODUCTS LAUNCHED VIA WWW.SPICESTYLE.COM LAST MONTH RECEIVED AN 

OVERWHELMING RESPONSE. EACH ONE OF THEM LIVED UP TO ITS PROMISE OF UNDERSTATED 

LUXURY AND AFFORDABILITY. HERE ARE SOME MORE THAT WILL APPEAL TO CONSUMERS 

ACROSS VARIOUS AGE GROUPS. 

1 

3 

1ROHIT BAL MULTICOLOURED 

ABSTRACT PRINT SILK TIE & 

POCKET SQUARE (Rohit Bal), ` 3,990 

This set is an eye-catching symphony in design 

by ace designer Rohit Bal. Verbose abstracts 

— a visual treat — create a riotous energy and 

help you break the bonds of the serious and 

monotonous. An aesthetically designed wooden 

box complements the finesse in the design. 

2FORST BLACK UNISEX 

PEDOMETER WRISTBAND 

(Forst), ` 4990 

Working on your fitness levels was never so 

much fun. Keep track of your physical activities 

on a daily basis with this attractive pedometer 

wristband. 

2 

SPICE INNOCENTE 

3 GREEN & BLACK 

PRINTED RACING CAR 

WITH CHARGER 

(SPICE INNOCENTE), ` 4,450 

Let your little one take charge 

and explore a fantastic world 

full of adventures with the Spice 

Innocente Green & Black Racing 

Car. 

4 

4VAJERO BROWN UNISEX BACKPACK 

STROLLER (Vajero), ` 4,990 

If you are an inveterate traveller, this is just what you have 

been waiting for. This backpack can be changed into a 

stroller — you thus need not carry heavy luggage on your 

shoulders for long stretches of time. The brightly coloured 

exterior adds to the USP. 

62 

MAY 2017

IN FOCUS 

SPICE STYLE 

1 2 

4 

3 

5 

1CAPRIO PINK & OFF- 

WHITE NEWSPAPER PRINT 

WOODEN FRAME UNISEX OVAL 

SUNGLASSES (Caprio), ` 9,990 

This uber stylish pair of sunglasses comes 

with a wooden frame. The classy design 

provides an understated casual look, yet 

creates a statement. 

2SPICE POSITECH GREY & 

BLUE UNIVERSAL TRAVEL 

ADAPTER (Spice Positech), ` 990 

This remarkable travel adapter is equipped 

with five types of plug standards that are 

adaptive for over 150 countries. It comes 

with a plug, socket and USB port all-in-one. 

This makes for a creative design which in 

turn makes travelling much more easier. 

3ROHIT BAL NAVY LEATHER 

MESSENGER BAG 

(Rohit Bal), ` 12,000 

Be travel chic and up market with this 

classy, true blue Rohit Bal messenger bag. 

It comes in textured faux leather and its 

symphony in design spells self-assurance 

all the way. 

4CAPRIO BROWN RIMLESS 

UNISEX SQUARE 

SUNGLASSES (Caprio), ` 3500 

Beat the heat with this classic rimless 

pair of sunglasses that are just right for 

the minimalist in you. Its dark hue and 

square shape complements all. 

5INSCRIPTO BLUE 

TRANSPARENT INK PEN 

WITH REFILL (Inscripto), ` 590 

This stylish range of transparent ink 

pens are designed for daily use. The 

lightweight body makes writing a 

smooth experience. Available in 

four colours with a refill: blue, red, 

white and yellow. 

64 

MAY 2017

IN FOCUS 

SPICE STYLE 

1 

2 

4 

3 

1ROHIT BAL AAB POUR HOMME (Rohit Bal), ` 4000 

This designer perfume from Rohit Bal fuses raw sophistication 

and energy. An attractive packing for the Eau De Parfum 

vaporisateur spray is icing on the cake. 

2SG WHITE & BROWN STRAINER BOTTLE 

(SG), ` 990 

The white and brown detox strainer bottle is made of borosilicate 

glass. Strain your green tea leaves or infuse fruits and sip away to 

that glamorous version of you. Just perfect for health aficionados. 

3VAJERO BLACK PILOT LUGGAGE STROLLER 

(Vajero), ` 9990 

This four-wheeler leather luggage stroller will make heads turn 

towards you. Indulge in this range of compact, sturdy and stylish 

pilot strollers for an amazing travelling experience. 

4FORST CLASSIC WATCH SET (Forst), ` 5490 

This classic set of two watches is a collector’s item. Each watch 

has a large dial with an uncomplicated design. This gives a clear 

view of the time displayed on it. 

66 

MAY 2017

IN FOCUS 

SPICE STYLE 

2 

1 

3 

4 

5 

1VAJERO MUSTARD BROWN 

HANDBAG WITH FLAPS FOR 

WOMEN (Vajero), ` 3,450 

This tan handbag perfectly blends with 

different colours. With a flap on the top, 

the belongings inside are well-secured. It 

comes with one long adjustable handle, a 

flap closure, one main zip compartment 

with two slip pockets and a zip pocket, 

and a zip pocket on the front. 

2LESK ROSE GOLD-TONED 

MAKE-UP BRUSH SET 

(Lesk), ` 1,490 

Make heads turn. Get a professional finish 

with every swipe using these rose-gold 

make-up brushes. Shaped like a spoon, 

these dense make-up brushes are made 

with the finest synthetic hair. 

3SPICE INNOCENTE 

YELLOW MONKEY 

BACKPACK FOR KIDS 

(SPICE INNOCENTE), ` 2000 

This brightly coloured, fun monkey 

backpack comes with a haul loop, two 

adjustable shoulder straps, a zip closure 

and one main compartment with a slip 

pocket, one zip pocket on the front and 

two handy side pockets. It will carry 

just about everything your little one 

needs. 

4SPICE MODELLO OFF- 

WHITE VINTAGE 

AIRCRAFT COLLECTIBLE 

(Spice Modello), ` 1,490 

Pamper the collector in you with this 

sturdily built, off-white miniature vintage 

aircraft with intricate detailing. 

5ROHIT BAL TAN BROWN 

LEATHER CARD WALLET 

(Rohit Bal), ` 2500 

This slick-looking leather card wallet 

rewrites style with its chic lines and 

immaculate hand finished detail. The 

analine, softly burnished, two tone 

leather imparts profound vintage charm. 

68 

MAY 2017

SPECIAL REPORT 


THE MAKING OF AN 

AVIATION GIANT 

SPICEJET’S RISE TO THE NATION’S MOST PREFERRED AIRLINE STATUS HAS BEEN 

ACHIEVED THROUGH HARD WORK AND SMART BUSINESS DECISIONS 

Top: SpiceJet is known for its joie de vivre. 

Bottom: Holi sticker for a 

little passenger 

As it celebrates its 12th 

anniversary this year, 

SpiceJet finds itself in an 

enviable position vis-a-vis 

other Indian aviation firms. The 

anniversary celebrations coincide 

with it doing exceptionally well across 

many parameters. According to recent 

data released by the DGCA 

(Directorate General of Civil Aviation), 

the regulatory body for civil aviation 

under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, 

SpiceJet’s performance compares very 

favourably with that of its peers. 

In March 2017, at 91.4 per cent, 

SpiceJet let the field in Aircraft 

Occupancy, a smart 6.6 per cent ahead 

of its nearest rival. March-end turned 

out to be good for SpiceJet in many 

ways. It reported profit for eight 

consecutive quarters as well as a 90 

per cent plus load factor for 24 

consecutive months. The same month, 

at 85.7 per cent, its OTP (On Time 

Performance) was the second best. 

Also in March 2017, it surged ahead to 

become the third largest airline in 

market share. 

For SpiceJet, it has been a 

remarkable recovery from a near 

comatose situation it found itself in 

three years ago. In fact, the airline had 

even ceased operations for one day, on 

December 16, 2014. Lessors wanted 

their planes back and creditors, their 

money. But a hands-on entrepreneur, 

Ajay Singh, one of the original 

founders of SpiceJet, led a determined 

new management team from the front, 

and the airline staged the most 

remarkable turnaround in the history 

of aviation industry, all within a year. 

Thanking the company’s 

employees in a letter dated December 

16, 2015, Ajay Singh, Chairman & 

Managing Director, SpiceJet, had said, 

“Today, December 16, is an important 

day for all of us. It was on this day last 

year that our airline cancelled all its 

flights and prepared (itself) to shut 

down. Customers harangued us, 

70 

MAY 2017



Top: SpiceJet is synonymous with fun 

and flying. Bottom: Ajay Singh 

receiving the ‘Best Airline’ brand in 

India by Brand Trust Report 

creditors chased us... I want to thank 

you for reporting to work on December 

16, 2014 knowing that it could very well 

be your last day here... I want to thank 

you for keeping your faith in your 

airline under unbelievable pressure.” 

The stupendous success of 

SpiceJet, after the near collapse, is 

ideal course material for a business 

school case study. What are the factors 

that helped SpiceJet in its rise to the 

top? There have been many, including 

a customer-centric approach, 

financial adeptness, a sharp focus on 

employees, innovative products for 

fliers and some smart marketing 

moves including the now legendary 

Red.Hot.Spicy branding. 

All this has not been lost on the 

smart investor and the SpiceJet scrip 

has registered a smart comeback. It 

was down in the dumps at Rs 13.90 on 

the black day of December 16, 2014. As 

we go to press, it is flying high at 

105.60, a jump of 759.71 per cent. Even 

on a year-on-year basis (March 24, 

2016 to March 24, 2017), the 

performance of the SpiceJet stock has 

been exemplary, having risen by 46.35 

per cent. 

In the process, it has raced ahead 

to become the second most valuable 

stock in the Indian market - on March 

24, 2017, its market capitalization 

stood at Rs 5,646 crore. 

SpiceJet believes that a 

meaningful existence can only come 

from being a corporate with high 

values. It has always been in the 

forefront while helping out the needy. 

Here are a few examples. Last year, 

SpiceJet facilitated the travel of 20 

female students and two teachers from 

Mawar Valley, J&K for an educational 

tour to Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun 

and Amritsar. In May, it helped supply 

around 71,500 litres of water every day 

RECENT 

MILESTONES 

SpiceJet has always 

remained one step ahead 

of the competition with 

its smart innovations and 

clever, strategic moves, 

most of which have led 

to it recording more 

achievements in its dozen 

years of flying. 

March 20, 2017: Fifty 

underprivileged children 

participate in SpiceJet’s 

‘Giving Wings to Dreams’ 

programme. 

February 26, 2017: 

Dhaka becomes the seventh 

international destination. 

February 14, 2017: The 

airline registers its eighth 

consecutive profitable 

quarter. 

February 6, 2017: New 

uniforms are introduced in 

the `Red-Hot-Spicy’ avatar 

(photograph on left). 

January 17, 2017: SpiceJet 

emerges as India’s most 

punctual airline with the 

highest OTP for the fourth 

successive month. 

It also registers the highest 

occupancy rate for the 

22nd month in a row. 

January 13, 2017: Mega 

deal signed with Boeing 

for up to 205 jets, the 

biggest order in SpiceJet’s 

history. 

July 29, 2016: GMR 

Hyderabad Airport becomes 

the first Indian airport to 

host SpiceJet’s Smart Mobile 

check-in facility. 

July 21, 2016: SpiceJet 

allows passengers to check 

in their baggage at kiosks. 

May 26, 2016: Premium 

lounges launched at 

Varanasi, Jaipur and 

Guwahati. 

72 

MAY 2017



12 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD FLY SPICEJET 

SpiceJet has worked 

hard to become the most 

preferred Indian airline. 

All these have helped: 

1 The airline consistently 

scores on important 

parameters like On Time 

Performance and fleet 

reliability. 

2 Its wide network 

connects you to important 

Indian cities and towns 

and seven international 

destinations. 

3 SpiceJet always aims to 

deliver the lowest air fares 

with the highest consumer 

value. 

4 SpiceJet offers special 

meals and hot meals. 

5 There are always 

unique innovations to 

look forward to – like 

SpiceMax, SpiceClub, 

FlyForSure, MyFlexiPlan 

and YogaOnBoard. 

6 Lounge services at 

various locations allow 

you to unwind and relax in 

the comfort of SpiceJet’s 

hospitality. 

7 It has been voted as the 

`Best Airline’ brand in 

India by the Brand Trust 

Report. 

8 SpiceJet is an airline 

with a heart. It has 

undertaken initiatives 

to help out the needy, 

including the drought-hit 

and flood-affected. 

9 SpiceVacations.com 

is an end-to-end travel 

solutions platform 

that offers passengers 

customised travel 

packages. 

10 It is a warm and 

friendly airline. 

11 SpiceJet adds zest 

to life with its on-board 

celebrations. 

12 It is synonymous with 

fun and flying, whether 

it is in the form of cards 

during birthdays or Holi 

celebrations at airports. 

Launch of the 

SpiceClub card 

to 11 villages in Latur, Maharashtra. 

SpiceJet was also in the forefront in 

July, helping the flood-affected in 

Assam. On March 20 this year, 

through its `Giving Wings to Dreams’ 

programme, the airline offered a 

special flight to 50 underprivileged 

children who had never flown before. 

The children were provided with 

sandwiches and juices onboard. 

As SpiceJet races across the Indian 

aviation world, CMD Ajay Singh’s 

words spoken exactly a year ago hold 

true even today: “We are growing from 

strength to strength. Our fleet 

reliability is amongst the best. Our 

spirit and culture makes us stand 

apart from other carriers. We are 

warm and friendly. We try and take 

personal care of passengers.” Just the 

right sentiments to coincide with a 

12th anniversary. 

Clockwise from above: 

Underprivileged children who flew with 

SpiceJet; Diwali day celebrations on-board; 

a musical welcome for passengers 

74 

MAY 2017

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FOOD 

NIGELLA 

EACH SPICEJET AIRCRAFT HAS BEEN NAMED AFTER 

A PARTICULAR SPICE. IN THIS ISSUE WE TALK ABOUT 

THE BENEFITS AND USAGE OF NIGELLA 

tend to miss it out. Case in point, the 

naan or bread variety that comes with a 

generous sprinkling of this bitter seed 

that lends that otherwise onedimensional 

accompaniment, its taste 

profile. Corporate Chef, ITC Hotels, 

Chef Majit Gill calls nigella seeds, “a 

fascinating spice that can work wonders 

to a dish, and is the single spice that pairs 

beautifully with all other spices – be it 

coriander, cumin, fenugreek or even 

ajwain.” In fact, he adds, “What not 

many people realize is that it is kalonji 

that gives the pickle the bitter-soursweet 

to bitter-sweet taste that one 

remembers an achar for.” 

The interesting manipulation of 

nigella seeds is perhaps one of the 

reasons why it is one of the five 

ingredients of the Oriya Paanch Phoran, 

which is used from dal to relish to fish 

and even making vegetables, especially 

poi saag and water cress. Assamese 

Masor Tenga and Punjabi Achari Fish 

Tikka are some fine examples of how 

Salmon Tikka 

beautifully nigella seeds – an Italian 

THE ANONYMOUS 

SPICE 

FROM PICKLES TO BREAD GARNISH, 

IT IS EASY TO CONFUSE KALONJI OR 

NIGELLA SEEDS WITH BLACK SESAME, 

black cumin or even jhakia (wild 

mustard) seeds of Uttarakhand, to the 

naked (untrained) eye at least. After all, 

each of the spices here though 

terminology that came from grano nero, 

which literally means black grain – lends 

itself to a dish. 

And yet fascinatingly, adds food 

historian Ashish Chopra, who uses the 

seeds liberally to add flavours to toast, 

fish curries and even pizza, “Kalonji, 

FROM BISCUIT FLAVOURANTS TO 

characteristically different is tiny in 

which is often mistaken as onion seeds 

BEING THE KEY INGREDIENT OF EAST 

shape, black (or a shade of black) in 

and assumed to be a substitute for onion 

INDIA’S PAANCH PHORAN, HERE IS A 

colour and often used either for 

(which is a sweet-astringent herb), is a 

SPICE THAT IS ABUNDANTLY USED BUT 

tempering, as a flavourant in bread or 

spice with a dull bitter taste. In fact, 

RARELY SPOKEN OF – NIGELLA SEEDS 

together to give a dish or pickle its taste, 

someone who has tried its peers like 

OR AS WE CALL IT, KALONJI. 

BY MADHULIKA DASH 

and interestingly, each one of them has a 

bitter-to-pungent taste while raw. 

This perhaps is the reason that most 

of the time even when we see kalonji, we 

black cumin and even black sesame seeds 

would find biting into a raw kalonji 

disappointing. Because on its own, it 

gives little promise to what wonders it 

MADE IN PUNJAB 

78 

MAY 2017

FOOD 

NIGELLA 

Kalonji 

Maach and 

Naan 

LAVASH PIZZA 

Recipe and image courtesy: Megha 

Kohli, Head Chef, Lavaash By Saby 

INGREDIENTS 

Lavash bread 

Tomato and heeng sauce 

Salted bandel cheese 

Smoked bandel cheese 

Kalimpong cheese 

Cooked lamb keema 

Raw onions sliced 

Kalonji 

1 pc 

10 ml 

10 gms 

10 gms 

10 gms 

80 gms 

10 slices 

1/4th 

tsp 

METHOD 

Spead the tomato sauce on the 

lavash bread. 

Crumble the bandel cheeses and 

spread on the pizza evenly along 

with the grated Kalimpong cheese. 

Add the kalonji and the cooked 

lamb keema. 

Bake the pizza at 250°C till it is 

crispy (5 mins). 

Garnish with the raw onions and 

slice and serve 

Serves 2 

can do to a dish.” 

But in the hands of a clever chef 

kalonji is like a potter’s mud ready to be 

moulded into whatever palate value one 

wants to give it. Take the Lamb Pizza in 

Lavaash By Saby for instance. This dish, 

says head chef Megha Kohli, gets its 

bitter-pungent taste from the raw kalonji 

used, which is sprinkled over the dish 

when it is just out of the oven. Between 

that and by the time it reaches the eater, 

it develops its own flavour profile and 

adds to the lamb pizza.” 

Yet another nigella seed wonder is 

the egg and cheese bread, where the 

seeds work much like they work with 

pickles, giving the bread a peppery taste. 

For Meet Singh Malhotra, Executive 

Chef MOB, it is the go-to spice whenever 

he is looking to add an “extra zing” to a 

dish – fish, bread, Indian curries or 

even when pickling an ingredient for 

further use. 

And the reason, adds Malhotra, is 

the 38 per cent essential oil content that 

the spice has, which gives it that special 

aroma despite its slightly overwhelming 

bitter bite. “The other thing that makes 

kalonji or nigella seeds such a fascinating 

spice for not only Indian but also 

MINISTRY OF BEER 

80 

MAY 2017

Top: An assortment of pickles. 

Bottom: Paneer Achari 

FOOD 

NIGELLA 

Egyptian and Mediterranean cooking is 

the interesting flavour-profile it has 

that ranges from mild pepper and 

oregano to onion.” How you treat it, adds 

Chef Kohli, “determines which taste 

profile it will lend to a dish.” An excellent 

nigella seeds and vegetable pairing is 

with squash and in salads all fruits with a 

citrus zing to eat, he adds. 

A usual practice, says Vikas Pant, 

Executive Chef, Radisson Blu Paschim 

Vihar, New Delhi, “is to roast the kalonji 

and use it. The way you roast it and the 

time taken ensures the kind of taste the 

dish will get.” One of the favourite uses 

of kalonji for Chef Pant is as a garnish. 

“When you need to add that extra oomph 

to a dish that may look and taste simple, 

kalonji comes in pretty handy vis-à-vis 

mustard that can be too pungent and 

spoil the taste.” 

Concurs Chef Vikas Seth, who uses a 

mix of part roasting and frying to add 

different flavours not only to the bread 

and relishes and dips he makes but also 

to the wide variety of tikkas, 

especially those made of 

seafood and sometimes 

chicken as well. Frying in oil, 

adds Chef Seth, “gives it that 

little sweetness that we often 

correlate with onion, and 

hence it can be used to bring 

an interesting palate taste in a 

dish.” 

What really works for 

nigella seeds, add the experts, 

is the spice’s in-built nature to 

pair easily and fabulously 

with a variety of herbs and 

other overpowering spices 

like fenugreek and coriander. 

This easy marriage ensures 

that kalonji is often present in 

most of the potato dishes 

where one needs to work out 

different flavour layers 

without the use of too many 

masalas or herbs. 

The aromas, easy pairing and 

versatile nature could be one of the 

reasons why nigella seeds whose debut 

into civilization was as a remedy for 

toothache, digestion and treating 

depression, soon became an emperor’s 

favourite. Legend has it that so fond were 

Egyptians of these holy black grains that 

their kings and queens’ bodies were 

embalmed with the oil. Nigella seeds, 

according to Domestication of Plants in 

the Old World, by Daniel Zohary and 

Maria Hopf, were first spotted in 

Tutankhamen’s tomb. 

Such was the wonder of this spice 

that it could add flavour to even the 

simplest of dishes (think lentil soup, 

salads and savoury porridges) and thus 

keep you happy that prophet Mohammed 

reportedly declared that nigella seeds 

could cure “anything but death”. And in 

some way, says Chopra, “It can too. Come 

to think of it, from naan to pakori, curries 

to dal and even your buttersquash potato 

sabzi has kalonji!” 

VIKAS SETH 

82 

MAY 2017

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EDUCATION 

SPECIAL 

EDUCATION TRENDS IN 2017 

THERE IS AN INCREASING AWARENESS OF THE FAST-CHANGING SCENARIOS IN THE INDIAN EDUCATION WORLD. 

BY BINDU GOPAL RAO 

As a topic that is always in 

vogue and often debated, 

education is a hands-down 

winner. The importance of 

good education can hardly be overemphasized. 

Naturally then there is a 

constant need to innovate and keep 

education current in tune with the 

needs of the day. Here are some key 

trends that will define education in 

2017. 

INTEGRATED APPROACH TO 

LEARNING 

Creating powerful programmes 

using immersive and experiential 

learning that blend activities, 

exercises and adventure elements 

is how integrated learning will 

be going forward. Experiential 

education – “learning by doing” – 

is hand-on and participatory. Dr. 

Vijay Joshi, Principal of K.J Somaiya 

College of Science and Commerce, 

Somaiya Vidyavihar, Mumbai, says, 

“Experiential learning is also applying 

what you already know to unfamiliar 

and variable situations, such as in 

making a car in engineering studies, 

or mapping pollution levels of a 

river in environmental science, or 

understanding the sociology of a 

place or trade’s culture in sociology 

studies. The experience focuses 

reflection to increase knowledge, 

develop skills and clarify values.” In 

an immersive environment, students 

are engaged in real life that allows 

them to discover key insights that 

have the potential of changing the 

way they see life. 

SKILLING THE TEACHING 

FRATERNITY 

Teach the teacher is the best way of 

skilling the person who is primarily 

in charge of imparting education. 

Several educational institutions 

invest time and money in ensuring 

the teaching staff is constantly 

being trained and updated on what 

is new –in terms of the subject as 

well as the teaching methodologies. 

Fatima Agarkar, Educationist and 

Co-Founder of KA EduAssociates, 

a Mumbai-based educational 

management services company, 

says, “In the modern era, children 

are able to access a lot more, multitask, 

process faster and importantly 

find ‘answers’ independently which 

basically means simply stating facts 

in a classroom will not be ‘good 

enough’ to match pace with times. 

Teachers will need to get learners 

to apply their knowledge and skills, 

enable them to challenge themselves. 

Additionally, teachers today must 

multi-task, embrace technology, 

think laterally and ‘out of the box’ 

as well as learn to keep the learners 

engaged. They need to process 

information in ways that children 

do and also be open to accepting 

information in the manner that the 

21st century child shares it.” 

FOCUSING ON HOLISTIC 

DEVELOPMENT AND SKILLS 

Educational institutions are today 

increasingly focusing on preparing 

students to compete on a global 

stage by enhancing their skills. Today, 

parents and educators are looking 

for an approach that is in tune with 

each child’s unique needs and skills, 

and one that prepares the child 

to become a well-rounded adult. 

Subramanyam Reddy, Co-Founder 

of Bengaluru-based, KnowledgeHut, 

which conducts classroom and online 

training courses says, “Our education 

and training must also enable children 

86 

MAY 2017

EDUCATION 

SPECIAL 

to think on their feet and respond to 

the rapidly changing environment. 

This necessitates a more holistic 

approach to education, particularly 

in imparting skills that will foster 

innovation and creativity, that will 

open up effective communication 

and encourage hands-on problem 

solving.” Adds Niru Agarwal, Trustee, 

Greenwood High, an international 

school in Bengaluru, “Students 

should be kept engaged in a way 

which empowers them to use their 

academic learning as a foothold for 

their emotional, psychological and 

social development. Students should 

be made to study a range of subjects 

and support academics through their 

involvement in science experiments, 

projects related to humanities, 

musical plays, etc. Learners should 

not only function effectively but 

should also discover how important 

it is to be independent, to be 

responsible and to be accountable for 

their actions.” 

E-LEARNING TOOLS 

The digital revolution and boom 

in smartphone adoption in India 

has brought in a lot of changes in 

education. Technology is shaping the 

way children learn across age groups. 

It has charted out a whole new way of 

learning for the younger generations, 

thereby making e-learning vital for 

children across grades. E-learning 

combines teachers, videos, interactive 

and innovative technology to deliver 

personalized learning, feedback and 

assessments. “It is not just offline 

learning taken online, by simply 

digitizing the content; technology is 

used extensively to make learning 

better and more effective online. 

Learning through technology triggers 

change in how students consume 

and share content. It offers them 

newer ways to explore concepts and 

initiate learning on their own. Use of 

technology in education no longer 

limits learning to books, but allows 

use of platforms like apps, videos, 

websites, etc. Videos are extensively 

used in e-learning as it helps students 

register concepts faster and better,” 

says Byju Raveendran, Founder & 

CEO, BYJU’S The Learning App. 

NEW METHODS OF ASSESSING 

LEARNING 

Again, while alternative learning 

tools are being explored there is 

a shift in the way assessments 

are happening. Traditionally, 

faculties used to evaluate students’ 

knowledge through examination 

papers, and theoretical learning 

and not on the practical aspect of 

learning like implementation of 

the techniques learnt and hence 

the grading was done on the basis 

of apt definitions written in the 

examination paper. “Over a period 

of time, the assessment process 

has changed. With technology 

overpowering almost every sphere, 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) assessment 

is now a reliable form of examining 

through the learning processes. It is a 

software system that infers problemspecific 

rules for automated scoring. 

Video quizzes is a wakeup call to the 

student and turning passive video 

viewing into active learning. Other 

methods of assessment includes 

E-portfolios, which is a new way of 

evaluation what the students have 

done over a period of time. Such 

portfolios include papers, content 

writing, blogs, team projects, etc. 

Another interesting form is peer 

assessment, where the evaluation 

is done by peers. This tool helps 

in improving the quality of work 

and initiate new ideas and decision 

making amongst them,” says Pratik 

Marwah, co-founder and COO of 

iAugmentor, a Gurgaon-based 

technology-enabled assessment and 

learning platform. 

87 

MAY 2017

EDUCATION 

SPECIAL 

SRM UNIVERSITY OPENS ADMISSIONS 

FOR CLASS OF 2017-18 

SRM Group has an ambitious 

plan to build and create a new 

research-intensive university 

in Amaravati. Envisioned to be an 

university of world-class standards, 

SRM University, AP-Amaravati 

will be a globally connected and 

regionally transformative centre for 

research and education. In 10 years, 

SRM Amaravati will have more than 

20,000 students and 1,500 faculty 

members in areas of engineering, 

medicine, liberal arts, management, 

law and humanities. The admissions 

for SRM University, AP–Amaravati for 

the year 2017-18 are now open, inviting 

candidates to apply for its B.Tech 

engineering programmes. 

The candidates are required to 

apply at the official website www. 

srmap.edu.in. Only students who have 

secured a rank within 1,25,000 in JEE 

Mains 2017 or within 35,000 in SRM 

JEEE 2017 or a minimum of 1200 in 

SAT are eligible to apply. In addition 

to this, students should have secured 

a minimum of 60 per cent in Class 

12 Board Examinations in each of 

Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. 

The scores in JEE Main/ SRM JEEE/ 

SAT will have a weightage of 

70%; the remaining 30% is 

for the interview and student 

portfolio representing 

students’ achievements. The 

selection criteria has been 

designed in a manner to 

ensure students with an all 

rounded development are 

selected. Direct admissions 

will be given to meritorious students – 

National Level Olympiad participants, 

NTSE/ KVPY scholars, students in the 

top 5,000 ranks in JEE Mains, national 

and state board toppers. The deadline 

for applications is May 15, 2017. The 

personal interview will commence from 

June 1 and end on June 10, 2017. The 

academic session will start in the first 

week of August 2017. 

ECOLE GLOBALE ENCOURAGES 

THE HUNGER TO DISCOVER 

An exclusive girl’s school, 

Ecole Globale has been 

ranked among the top five 

residential schools in India, and is 

a winner of the National Excellence 

Award for Progressive Education. 

Affiliated to the CBSE and CIE 

boards, Ecole Globale caters to 

students from grade 4 to grade 

12. With a focus on developing 

scholastic and co-curricular activities, 

the school believes in encouraging 

a “desire to know” and a “hunger 

to discover” among students. An 

added feature is the Finishing 

School which trains students in 

life skills. Spread over a majestic 

45 acre campus, Ecole Globale 

offers world class infrastructure, 

including an all-weather swimming 

pool, amphitheatre, gymnasium, 

multipurpose auditorium, equestrian 

arena, shooting range, tennis, squash 

and basketball courts, classrooms 

with digital learning facilities and 

computer labs which make learning 

seamless and unlimited. 

Regular in-house training ensures 

the teachers are abreast of the 

latest teaching methodologies and 

assessment procedures. Ecoliers 

have been winners at the global 

round of World Scholar’s Cup at 

Bangkok and Yale, “Best Idea” award 

at the International Youth Start Up 

conference, and champions at state 

athletics and inter-school shooting 

competition. 

88 

MAY 2017

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EDUCATION 

SPECIAL 

QUALITY EDUCATION AT ADAMAS 

Adamas University 

(established under the West 

Bengal Act IV of 2014), 

is housed in a sprawling 

green campus extending over 100 

acres and nestled in Barasat (13 km 

away from the Subash Chandra Bose 

International Airport Kolkata). Now in 

its third year of operation, it aspires to 

impart finest quality education to the 

young minds of West Bengal, with an 

already established 

high quality research 

facility and a powerful 

team of teachers. 

The university has 

many international 

initiatives 

collaborating with 

the industries and 

educational institutes to facilitate 

projects, research and student 

exchange programs. Currently the 

campus has 1500+ students and more 

than 800 resident students and faculty. 

The university has been established 

with the vision of providing quality 

education to students to help them 

become professionally competent as 

well as academically knowledgeable 

under its eight schools of studies: 

School of Engineering & Technology 

(B.Tech | M.Tech | BCA | MCA) 

School of Pharmaceutical 

Technology (B.Pharm) 

School of Law & Justice 

{BBA LLB (Hons) | B.A. LLB (Hons) 

| B.Sc LLB (Hons)} 

School of Science (B.Sc | M.Sc) 

School of Biotechnology (B.Sc | M.Sc 

| B.Tech | M.Tech) 

School of Management (BBA | MBA) 

School of Social Science (B.A. | M.A.) 

School of Economics & Commerce 

{B.Com. (Hons) | M.Com., Economics - 

B.A. | M.A., Economics - B.Sc | M.Sc} 

As the parent organization, The 

RICE Group will also contribute to 

shaping the destiny of the youth of 

West Bengal pursuing their studies in 

the Adamas University. 

REVA UNIVERSITY’S MISSIONARY ZEAL 

Reva University has been 

established under the 

Government of Karnataka Act 

80 of the year 2012. The university is 

located in Bengaluru on a sprawling 

green campus, spread over 45 

acres of land, built with state-ofthe-art 

infrastructure creating an 

environment conducive for higher 

learning and research. The founders 

of Reva University believe in the 

motto ‘Knowledge is Power’. Driven 

with philanthropic vision and a 

missionary zeal, the campus is built 

to transform 

students into 

outstanding 

citizens. The 

university 

prides itself in 

contributing to 

every student’s 

holistic development. It currently has 

a student strength of around 12,000 

and offers 18 full-time Post Graduate 

programmes, 5 part-time Post 

Graduate programmes, 15 Graduate 

Degree programmes and several 

Post Graduate Diploma programmes 

in Engineering, Architecture, 

Science and Technology, Commerce, 

Management Studies, Law, Arts and 

Humanities. Above all the university 

facilitates research leading to 

doctoral degrees in all disciplines. 

The programmes offered by Reva 

University are well planned, based on 

in-depth analysis and research with 

emphasis on knowledge assimilation, 

practical applications, hands-on 

training, global and industrial 

relevance and social significance. 

The university has excellent 

placements and international 

exchange programmes with leading 

universities. It encourages sports and 

extra-curricular activities. The Choice 

Based Credit System and Continuous 

Assessment and Grading Pattern 

(CBCS – CAGP) of education has 

been introduced in all programmes 

to facilitate students to opt for the 

subjects of their choice in addition 

to the core subject of study. It is 

acknowledged that research and 

innovation along with entrepreneurial 

skills are instrumental in propelling 

the university forward. 

90 

MAY 2017

EDUCATION 

SPECIAL 

VIT UNIVERSITY’S TRAILBLAZING WAYS 

Founded in 1984 as Vellore 

Engineering College, the institute 

was granted university status 

in 2001. It has a main campus at 

Vellore and an off-campus at Chennai. 

Spread over 366 acres, the institute 

has excellent infrastructure to provide 

conducive learning atmosphere. 

Different academic and research 

programmes are offered by 11 different 

schools that include Engineering, 

Technology, Science, Languages, Law 

and Management disciplines. About 

56 per cent of the faculty members 

are doctorates and many of them have 

prior experience in industries and / or 

research institutions. 

The university has been reaccredited 

(cycle 3) with ‘A’ grade by 

National Assessment and Accreditation 

Council (NAAC). It has also been 

placed in category ‘A’ by the MHRD. 

Several of the programmes have been 

accredited by international accreditation 

SOA UNIVERSITY MAINTAINS 

ITS SUPREMACY IN ODISHA 

agencies. Both the campuses have a 

central library which has the repository 

of books, back volumes and journals 

– all these are available in both hard 

copies and in e-mode. The campuses 

are Wi-Fi enabled which helps the 

students and faculty members to 

access the e-materials from any place 

within the campus. The university 

offers several programmes in science, 

engineering, technology, management 

and law. As of today 20 undergraduate, 

38 postgraduate and four research 

courses are being offered. In addition 

to teaching, the faculty members are 

required to be involved in research 

activities. The university provides 

necessary financial support for starting 

research projects and encourages 

faculty members to secure grants from 

different funding agencies. Adequate 

finance is mobilised to enhance the 

quality of research. 

Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) 

University continues to 

maintain its supremacy in the 

field of higher education in Odisha. 

For the second successive year it 

is the no. 1 university in the state. 

According to the India Rankings 

2017 conducted under National 

Institutional Ranking Framework 

(NIRF) by the Union Ministry of 

Human Resource Development, 

SOA University occupies the 20th 

position in the country. This is the 

only institute from Odisha among 

the top 25 universities in the all India 

rankings for the current year. 

Located in the picturesque capital 

city of Bhubaneswar, SOA Deemed 

University is a private institute mainly 

focused on research and innovative 

thinking. The university is composed 

of nine degree-granting schools and 

colleges and has a student body of 

around 10,000. ITER is the Faculty of 

Engineering and Technology of SOA 

University. It is located in Campus 1 

of the University. ITER is the oldest 

constituent institute of the university 

and has been around since 1997. It 

has grown from a fledgling campus 

with a single three storied building 

(Academic Block) to one of the best 

engineering campuses in eastern 

India. Institute of Medical Sciences 

and SUM Hospital, established in 

2005, is a leading medical institute 

providing quality medical education 

and global standard health care 

services. The Medical Council of India, 

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 

Government of India has approved 

the MBBS programme of the institute 

since 2007-2008. 

92 

MAY 2017

EDUCATION 

SPECIAL 

KLE SOCIETY’S CENTURY OF COMMITMENT 

TO TRANSFORMING LIVES 

Seven teachers supported by 

three patrons founded the 

Karnatak Lingayat Education 

Society and established an anglovernacular 

school at Belgaum on 

November 13, 1916. Expanding to 

different domains of education, 

healthcare and research, and traversing 

wider geographies, KLE today has 

250+ institutions, 1,25,000+ students, 

4,000+ beds for healthcare services 

and 16,000+ employees. The visionary 

efforts of its present Chairman, Dr 

Prabhakar Kore, MP, and his team 

of the Board of Management have 

heralded the emergence of a “Global 

KLE”. The KLE focus continues to be 

welfare of the poor and needy with 

over 60 per cent of its institutions 

based in rural and semi-urban areas. 

KLE provides education at preprimary, 

school, pre-university, 

graduate, post graduate and 

post-doctoral levels in Technical, 

Health Sciences, Basic Sciences, 

Commerce, Humanities, Management, 

Law and professional education. 

The establishment of KLE Health 

Sciences University in 2006 and KLE 

Technological University in 2015 have 

paved the way for nurturing and 

empowering skilled professionals. 

KLE Health Sciences University is 

part of the National Institutes of Health 

(USA), Global Network for Women’s 

and Children’s Health Research and the 

Reproductive Health Research network 

of the World Health Organization and 

has collaborations all over. 

GRAPHIC ERA TRANSFORMS 

DREAMS INTO REALITY 

Graphic Era University exudes 

brilliance and believes in 

igniting minds, and in making 

independent and learned intellectuals. 

The ethos of the university enshrines 

noble ideals of respect for the rights 

of every individual to a dignified 

life and self-respect, in a just and 

equitable manner. The institution is 

the culmination of the vision of its 

founder, Prof (Dr) Kamal Ghanshala, 

who had the dream to change the 

destiny of thousands of youth, through 

quality and holistic education. He had 

visualized creation of an educational 

hub that would cater to academic 

aspirations of innumerable young 

men and women and his vision took a 

concrete shape in the form of Graphic 

Era Institute in 1996. 

In 2008 the institute was accorded 

the status of Deemed University 

under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956 

vide Notification F.9-48/2007-U.3(A) 

dated August 14, 2008 and Approved 

by Ministry of Human Resource 

Development, Government of India. 

In 2015 Graphic Era University was 

accredited by NAAC with grade ‘A’, 

the only private university in North 

India to receive the A grade. In more 

than two decades of its existence 

Graphic Era has re-defined professional 

education by embracing innovations 

in its study programmes, constantly 

bringing paradigm shift in pedagogical 

practices, curriculum and pushing the 

boundaries in generating work skills 

among students. Creative and inventive 

culture, nurtured by GEU faculty and 

staff, is transforming how its students 

are trained and their future prospects 

strengthened. The university has 

formed partnerships with leaders in the 

corporate sector. 

94 

MAY 2017

EDUCATION 

SPECIAL 

A NEW INNOVATION LAB IN DELHI 

PUBLIC SCHOOL, SONEPAT 

It has been said that science that 

isn’t hands-on isn’t science at all. 

And when you leave the children 

to play or tinker with the materials 

then something stunning and 

innovative comes out. The importance 

of providing children with direct 

experiences with materials, objects, 

and phenomena to encourage personal 

understanding of a lesson or subject is 

nowhere more apparent—and crucial— 

than in science lessons. While scientific 

information can be remembered when 

taught through books and lectures, 

when children study the same concepts 

through hands-on learning, they build a 

functional understanding and develop 

the ability to become independent 

learners. 

In a significant move to boost 

innovation, NITI Aayog of Government 

of India has initiated the process 

for setting up 500 tinkering labs in 

schools and 100 incubation centres 

across the country. Under the mission, 

the government will also provide 

financial support to academic and 

non-academic institutions to establish 

new ATAL Incubation Centres across 

the country. They will be established in 

areas such as manufacturing, transport, 

energy, health, education, agriculture, 

water and sanitation. The institutions 

have been shortlisted by the Aayog 

on the basis of key performance 

indicators. 

It’s a proud moment for everybody 

in DPS Sonepat family to share that 

Delhi Public School Sonepat is among 

one of the schools which has been 

selected on the basis of the innovative 

Science Projects presented to the 

Aayog contributed by the fervent 

students and the team of enthusiastic 

science teachers. The laboratory is 

expected to be up and running by July 

2017 in Delhi Public School Sonepat 

campus. The students can start to 

engage in experiences at different 

levels which may be challenging them 

mentally and stimulate their minds. 

KARUNYA UNIVERSITY 

SPREADS ITS WINGS 

Achieving 30 years of excellence 

in Higher Education, Karunya 

University is a Christian 

Minority Institution situated at the 

foothills of the Western Ghats in 

Coimbatore, India. Committed to 

transform the lives of the students 

community Karunya University raises 

Undergraduates, Postgraduates and 

Research Scholars. The University 

empowers students for academic 

excellence, professional competence, 

exemplary values and spiritual 

empowerment. Chancellor Dr. Paul 

Dhinakaran along with his late father 

Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran founded the 

Karunya Educational Institutions in 

1986. Karunya University is renowned 

for its Engineering, Business, Arts and 

Humanities programs. The Faculty of 

Engineering and Business are among 

the largest in the region. About 

80% of the graduating students are 

placed with reputed organizations 

prior leaving the KU campus. Being 

‘practical’ is what counts in Karunya. 

Its students experiment, implement 

their learning in a practical atmosphere 

and use their research findings for a 

better future. The labs are provided 

with top class equipments, the 

Nanotech Laboratory houses an 

Electron Microscope, the Aerospace 

Labs houses the Super-Sonic and 

Sub-Sonic Wind Tunnels, the Food 

Processing Labs are recognized by the 

Government of India. 

98 

MAY 2017

EDUCATION 

SPECIAL 

SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS FOR VELS 

BY DR. ISHARI K GANESH 

As we celebrate 25 years of 

the Vels Group , many fond 

memories come back to my 

mind. On this joyous occasion, I am 

reminded of the vision shared by my 

father, the late Shri Isari Velan and 

our numerous discussions to start a 

school that would help us provide 

quality education in conjunction 

with a constant urge to contribute to 

society. The idea of starting colleges 

too was mooted by my father and 

he encouraged me to focus on 

establishing educational institutions 

soon after my studies. 

Transforming our dream into 

reality was never an easy task. June 

6, 1992, the day we registered the 

Vaels Educational Trust, is still deeply 

etched in my memory. We started with 

the Vels College of Pharmacy in 1992 

with just 32 students, and the Colleges 

of Physiotherapy and Arts & Science 

the very next year. With every passing 

year, we leaped towards setting up 

educational institutions offering 

various disciplines including Business 

Administration, Maritime Studies, Hotel 

Management and Engineering. Vels 

has also established several schools 

including Vels Vidyashram, Vels 

International Pre-School, Vels Kinder 

Kids and Vaels International School in 

multiple campuses in Chennai. Mahavir 

Institute of Medical Sciences and 

Meghna Institute of Dental Sciences 

are the two new inclusions in the Vels 

group in the state of Telangana. Sri 

Venkateswara Dental College and 

Hospital and Venkateswara Nursing 

College are the two premier institutions 

offering dentistry and nursing courses 

in Chennai. Today, the Vels group is 

spread across 11 campuses with over 

20,000 students in its fold. Even as we 

focused on adding several disciplines 

into our fold, we never lost the vision of 

attaining autonomy status that enables 

us to offer innovative, in-demand, 

career-oriented courses. 

(The writer is Founder-Chancellor, Vels 

University) 

STUDY IN INDIA VERSUS STUDY ABROAD 

With over 3,000 

colleges to choose 

from in the United 

States alone and so 

many universities almost like the 

metro stations in London, it can be 

a daunting task to decide on where 

to study, leave alone study in India 

or abroad. Here are some distinctive 

features of international education. 

ACADEMIC RIGOUR 

Don’t be surprised if you find 

that your yoga teacher is also a 

photographer. We as individuals also 

enjoy variety, not just in life but also 

in the exploration of subjects and 

majors that we choose. This is a given 

in the case of most international 

universities, especially in the U.S. 

CHARUSHILLA NARULA BAJPAI 

FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE 

There are more than a 100 

independent scholarships that 

most Indian students can apply to. 

Moreover, universities internationally 

also offer merit or need-based 

scholarships. “Thanks to being away 

from home, my child has learnt 

money management skills and takes 

decisions on her own,” says a mother 

whose daughter studies abroad. 

PERSONAL GROWTH 

It is not uncommon to come across 

highly motivated students, wanting 

to ‘change the world.’ Globalisation is 

not just a concept that these students 

study in geography, it is their 

everyday reality. 

EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING 

Few parents would want to send 

an 18-year-old to a far-off country 

and a different culture. Emotional 

stability and a preparation for what is 

to follow in the months and years to 

come is very important. 

(The author is Founder Director & Key 

Mentor, University Connection, New 

Delhi) 

100 

MAY 2017

CARING 

CHILDREN 

CHANGING ONE LIFE AT A TIME 

SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1979, CRY HAS CHANGED THE LIVES OF MORE THAN 20 LAKH UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN BY 

ENSURING THEIR BASIC RIGHTS OF SURVIVAL, DEVELOPMENT, PROTECTION AND PARTICIPATION 

BY PUNITA JASROTIA PHUKAN 

Puja Marwaha, CEO 

IF THERE IS ONE NON 

GOVERNMENTAL 

ORGANISATION (NGO) 

that immediately comes 

to mind when talking 

about underprivileged 

children, it is CRY 

(Child Rights and You). Formerly known 

as Child Relief and You, CRY (www.cry. 

org) began as a somewhat audacious 

dream with a starting capital (if you like) 

of ` 51, only to metamorphose into a 

mecca for India’s dispossessed and 

disenfranchised children. 

In a country where millions of 

children are forced to work at an age 

when they should be attending school, 

and where, as per recent analysis, close 

to 1.4 million child labourers between 

seven and 14 years of age are illiterate, 

CRY, along with its partners in the form 

of grass-root NGOs, parents, and 

communities, has been working for over 

three decades now to restore basic rights 

of living, learning, growing and playing 

to over 20 lakh underprivileged 

children. 

Rippan Kapur, a 25-year-old airline 

purser, along with six of his friends, 

founded CRY in 1979 with the aim to 

make a difference to the lives of 

underprivileged children in the country. 

104 

MAY 2017

Centre of Excellence Partner 

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high-end Simulation & Robotics labs 

for B.Tech. in Robotics & Automation, 

Automobile and Mechanical Engg. 

Only University in the Region 

with DST Sponsored 

An initiative of Department of Science and 

Technology (DST),Government of India to 

nurture, mentor and fund creative & innovative 

ideas for converting them into blooming 

startups. 

NAAC 

Accredited with 

Grade ‘A’ 

(With highest grade 

score in the region) 

100+ 

Faculty 

Members 

with PhD 

150+ 

Company 

Visits 

(2016-17) 

300+ 

Faculty 

Members 

22 

Crores+ 

Scholarships 

Distributed 

1400+ 

Research 

Papers 

We are a premier institute known for our global 

outlook, strong academic achievements, 

excellence in research, entrepreneurship 

development and legendary placements. 

Nestled in the lap of scenic Doon Valley, 

Dehradun. Our lush green campus & inviting open 

spaces resting against the backdrop of Rajaji 

National Park provides an ideal ambiance for 

Overall Personality Development. We offer UG, PG 

& PhD programmes in the following areas : 

Engineering 

Management 

Hotel Management 

Humanities & Social Sciences 

Allied Sciences 

Commerce 

BioTechnology 

Computer Application 

Best Regional University 

Europe Business Assembly 

Oxford, UK 

Gold Award for Excellence 

Quality Summit 

New York, USA 

Leading Private University 

BERG 

Singapore 

Quality Choice Prize 

ESQR 

Berlin, Germany 

International Recognition 

1400+ 

Job Offers 

(2016-17) 

9 

Crores+ 

Funded Research 

& Consultancy 

Projects 

25000+ 

Alumni 

Deemed University under section 3 of UGC act, 1956 

DEHRADUN 

Toll Free: 1800 18000 14/15 

www.geu.ac.in

www.rgu.ac 

(Under Section 2(f) of UGC Act 1956 ) 

An unmatched place of learning for different professional studies in the environment of competitive, dynamic, industry oriented, research 

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evolving industry, RGU promises to stand as an educational hub par-excellence with a world-class infrastructure. 

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Schools 

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in CSE, ECE, ME, EE, CE 

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Bachelor of Architecture, 

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BCA, MCA, B.Sc.(IT), M.Sc.(IT) 

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............................................................. 

Address: 

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N.H-37, Guwahati-781035, Assam, India. 

Landline: 0361 2270100, 2270300 

Contact: 

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EMAIL ID: 

admissions@rgu.ac 

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Royal School of Fine Arts 

BFA, MFA 

Royal School of Performing Arts 

BPA, MPA

CARING 

CHILDREN 

CRY was established not so much as a 

grass-root NGO as much as a “link” 

between millions of Indians capable of 

providing resources, and thousands of 

grass-root organisations and people 

struggling for the lack of them. 

And, who better than Kapur to start 

such an organisation, for, right from his 

school days, here was a man passionate 

about social work. As part of his school’s 

social service club, Kapur would read to 

the blind, hold reading and writing 

classes for street children, and visit 

children in hospitals apart from starting 

a free dispensary in a slum adopted by 

the club. 

Someone who could have done a great 

deal more for the lot of disadvantaged 

children had he not died at the young age 

of 40, Kapur’s determination, his 

marketing and fundraising genius which 

includes the “You” factor in CRY, and the 

kind of relationships the NGO nurtured 

with its stakeholders, went on to become 

a CRY hallmark in years to come. 

Another defining moment came in 2005 

when CRY changed from “Child Relief 

and You” to “Child Rights and You”, 

signifying an expansion of scope. As 

Komal Ganotra, Director – Policy, 

Research, Advocacy and 

Documentation, CRY, puts it, “The 

organisation realised that even though 

money was critical, in order to address 

the root cause and bring about a 

holistic change in the lives of 

millions of kids, it needed active 

and collective participation from 

people - be it during elections or 

working as a pressure group to 

change government policy and 

law.” Unsurprisingly, CRY is 

today a brand to reckon with, 

backed by a strong and committed 

community of lakhs of donors 

across the globe - more than 80 per cent 

of whom are individual donors. 

The United Nations (UN) Convention 

on Rights of the Child (CRC) is an 

international human rights treaty that 

confers basic rights of survival, life, 

Top: Growth monitoring of children by 

Aanganwadi workers at a CRY-supported 

project in UP. Bottom: Children being 

served meals in Rajasthan 

CRY HALL OF FAME 

Over the years, CRY has been the recipient of a slew of awards as 

follows: 

• 2015 – Two awards i.e. “Best CSR Project in Health” and “Best 

CSR Project in Education & Skill Development” from The Institute of 

Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) 

• 2014 – The “CFBP Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Fair Business Practices” 

• 2013 – Two awards i.e. “Innovation & Excellence in Inclusive 

Education” and “Quality Initiative Mission Award 2013” from the 

Knowledge Resource Development & Welfare Group. Also ranked 

“Most attractive brand” by Trust Research Advisory (TRA) 

• 2012 – Four awards i.e. “SAFRG Fundraising Campaign Award”, “IPE 

CSR Corporate Governance Award for the Best NGO”, “Lakshya Award” 

and “Citi Women Leader Award”, the last to CRY CEO Puja Marwaha 

• 2011 – The “RMI Roll of Honour for Services par excellence in Social 

Responsibility” 

• 2011 – The “South Asian Fund Raising Group (SAFRG) Fundraising 

Campaign Award for Innovative use of e-fundraising backed up by 

traditional channels” 

• 2009 – The “Lakshya Award” 

• 2003 – The “Indira Super Achiever Award” 

• 2001 – The “Indian Express Marketing Excellence Award for Social 

Awareness” 

• 1999 – “Bal Adhikaar Adhiveshan” 

• 1996 – The “Zee TV Viewers’ Choice Advertising Award for Most 

effective Ad of the Year” 

• 1991-92 – The “Rotary Citizen of Bombay Award” 

PRASHANT PANJIAR (UP PROJECT) 

108 

MAY 2017

CARING 

CHILDREN 

FOCUS AREAS 

In recent years, CRY has been actively 

involved in emerging issues such as 

JUVENILE JUSTICE 

Till last year, India could boast of one of 

the most progressive acts for juveniles 

that stressed on their reformation and 

reintegration into society, according to CRY. 

However, the act that came into force in 

January 2016 allows young children to be 

tried as adults in over 46 offences under 

the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and other 

Acts. This, in CRY’s view, will only lead to 

an increase in the number of such cases, 

adding to the existing burden on Juvenile 

Justice Boards (JJBs). 

name including nationality, nutrition, 

health, development of education, care, 

leisure and recreation; protection from 

exploitation, abuse and neglect; and 

participation in expression, information, 

thought and religion. CRY draws 

inspiration from UNCRC to focus on the 

basic rights of “survival, development, 

protection and participation” and works 

towards guaranteeing the same to street 

children, bonded child labourers, 

children of commercial sex workers, 

physically and mentally challenged 

children, children in juvenile 

institutions, and even children in 

privileged homes. 

CRY goes about doing this in three 

stages. First, it identifies the most 

marginalised communities and their 

children and tries to understand the 

entire gamut of issues affecting them. 

Second, it arrives at the root cause of 

deprivation faced by these children that 

could be gender or caste-based 

discrimination; lack of a means of 

livelihood forcing children into labour; 

or forced displacement/migration 

causing children to drop out of school. 

Last, the NGO, along with its partners, 

mobilises the local community to find 

long-term solutions to these problems. 

EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE 

Despite various Government of India 

schemes addressing health, nutrition and 

development needs of young children (0 

to 6 years), pregnant women, and nursing 

mothers, India is one of the highest ranking 

countries in the world in terms of children 

suffering from malnutrition with an abysmal 

performance on child nutrition indicators. 

CRY strongly recommends that nutrition, 

health and care be provided to children 

as entitlements, and nutrition security be 

addressed with the utmost urgency. 

EARLY EDUCATION 

CRY recognises that the first step to 

education is a strong foundation and 

therefore works to ensure that all boys and 

girls, especially those aged between three 

and six years, get access to quality early 

development and pre-primary education. 

Top to bottom: Community training at a 

CRY-supported project in UP; pre-school 

education in Dakshinpuri, Delhi; and 

children at a primary school in Mirzapur, UP 

INCLUSIVE EDUCATION POLICY 

The Government of India plans to introduce 

a new National Policy on Education 

(NPE) to meet the population’s changing 

educational needs. Given that the country 

is home to over 400 million children, 

it is extremely important that decision 

makers across the board work together 

to ensure that all children enjoy the right 

to education. This not only warrants 

accountability at every level – be it parents, 

teachers, the community or state but also 

calls for special attention to be given to 

disadvantaged children i.e. girls, who have 

higher dropout rates and are more prone to 

trafficking, child labour, and child marriage. 

SECONDARY EDUCATION 

The recently defined “Sustainable 

Development Goals and Targets on 

Secondary Education” state that by 2030, 

all boys and girls must get completely 

free, equitable, and quality primary and 

secondary education resulting in relevant 

and effective learning outcomes. What is 

needed to achieve this however is improved 

accessibility and availability of secondary 

schools; improved public spending for 

better transition and retention rates among 

children. 

PRASHANT PANJIAR (COMMUNITY TRAINING) 

110 

MAY 2017

IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

21ST CENTURY IVF CENTRE’S PIONEERING WAYS 

THE 21ST CENTURY GROUP OF 

IVF Centres is present in Surat, 

Vapi, Killa Pardi and Valsad. The 

Surat branch is celebrating 10 

years of completion this years. 

In Surat the centre opened 

in 2007 and in these years it 

has delivered more than 5000 

babies through IVF. The 21st 

Century Group of IVF Centers 

was started by Dr Purnima and 

Dr Kishore Nadkarni in 1993. 

With the three centres having 

a collective bed capacity of 300 

beds, 21st Century Hospitals 

has become synonymous with high 

standards of medical care at affordable 

rates. The centres cater to patients from 

all of Gujarat, and adjoining states of 

Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya 

Pradesh. But in IVF the group gets 

couples from far off places and many 

countries around the world. Dr Pooja 

Nadkarni Singh heads the Surat branch 

and Dr Aditi and Dr Akshay are ably 

leading the Vapi , Valsad and Killa 

Pardi branches. Together the 21st 

Century dream team of doctors is 

striving to bring a smile on every 

couple’s face and bring a bundle 

of joy into their homes. 

The Group is helmed by talented 

medical professionals. Dr. Pooja 

Nadkarni Singh, in a short span of 

seven years in Surat, has become 

one of the most successful 

young IVF specialists in the 

country. Dr. Kishore Nadkarni 

is a Male Infertility Specialist 

and Andrologist. Dr. Akshay 

Nadkarni is the Laparoscopic and Onco 

surgeon performing fertility enhancing 

surgeries in the centre. He is trained 

from Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai 

for 1 year Post MS. 

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114 

MAY 2017

TRAVEL 

ADVENTURE 

THE ROADS LESS 

TRAVELLED 

A QUICK TWO-DAY OUTING IN SOME 

UNEXPLORED AREAS OF GOA 

THROWS UP MANY SURPRISES. 

BY BINDU GOPAL RAO 

Having been to 

Goa umpteen 

times, I 

wanted my next trip to 

the attractive 

destination to be 

different from the usual 

beaches and bars 

routine. I wanted to 

check out the 

unexplored side of the 

state and I knew just 

how I would do it. I 

would be taking off on a 

Honda Navi as part of an 

event. Launched just last year, this cross 

between a scooter and motorcycle has 

already won many hearts all over. The 

two-day event involved navigating Goa on 

the Navi. According to Nikhil V Desai, 

Managing Director, Gujarat Tourism 

Development Corporation, “The first ever 

Goa Hunt in association with Honda Navi 

that has found much acceptance in Goa is 

a good way to explore the lesser known 

side of Goa.” Something that Yadvinder 

Singh Guleria, Sr. VP (Sales & Marketing) 

echoed. “It has been a year since the Navi 

was launched and it represents the 

vibrancy of youth. Likewise Goa is also a 

fun destination loved by the youth so this 

association makes perfect sense.” 

Day 1 of the event flagged off with a 

visit to the Mae de Deus Church at 

Saligao, a pristine white structure that 

dates back to 1867. The structure 

resembles a castle and is straight out of a 

fairy tale. It is built in Gothic style and has 

the statue of Mae de Deus or the Mother 

of God. Photography is only allowed from 

outside the gate and the best part is that 

the white facade magically transforms at 

night when the church is lit in different 

colours. 

Our next stop was at the bustling 

Mapusa Market that has all things local. I 

suggest you certainly check out the fresh 

cashew fruits (from which the local drink 

feni is made) as well as the cotton fruit or 

churna, a peanut-sized mildly sweet berry 

that is available from the forests near 

Assagoa for some time during April and 

May only. 

After some retail therapy here, we 

headed to the Nyex Beach Club, the 

northern-most part of Anjuna Beach 

where you can see a beautiful stretch of 

the ocean that comes straight out of a 

postcard with beautiful palm trees, pastel 

blue water and dark brown sand. The best 

part are the rocky ledges and huge stone 

boulders that cut the force of the water. 

You can also see a large number of huge 

crabs here. 

Day 2 started in the heart of Panjim in 

the stunningly beautiful Latin quarters 

Fontainhas — a secret tucked right in the 

heart of Goa. The narrow, windy lanes 

here transport you to another world as 

most buildings are several hundred years 

old. The best part is that each of the 

houses are coloured in bright hues of 

yellow, red, maroon, blue, green, teal and 

even white. The best way to explore this 

place is on foot and you will come across 

some quaint cafes and art galleries that 

give you great insight into the food and art 

scene of Goa respectively. 

However, it is the Portuguese 

architecture of the homes here that take 

centre stage as you walk around and 

notice nuances like shell windows, tulsi 

plants in Hindu homes and the cross in 

the Christian homes. There is an old well 

coloured in bright pink, little roosters 

atop homes and name boards in blue 

patterned tiles that are hard to miss. After 

this I head for some more old-world 

charm to the churches of Old Goa. The 

Basilica of Bom Jesus which houses the 

mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier is 

well known but I suggest you hop over to 

the opposite complex that houses the Se 

Cathedral de Santa Catarina, among the 

largest in the country, and and take in its 

Corinthian interiors. 

116 

MAY 2017

TRAVEL 

DESTINATION 

The backwaters are renowned for the idyllic life they provide 

BLISS IN THE 

BACKWATERS 

THE PERFECT SETTING TO ENJOY 

THE BACKWATERS EXPERIENCE, 

KUMARAKOM IS ALSO THE 

NERVE CENTRE OF THE KERALA 

GOVERNMENT’S `RESPONSIBLE 

TOURISM’ INITIATIVE THAT HAS 

CREATED A HEALTHY AND POSITIVE 

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE 

TOURISM INDUSTRY AND THE 

LOCAL COMMUNITY. BY NEETA LAL 

SpiceJet flies to Kochi, 

85 km away. Log on to 


Kerala’s backwaters — a 

cluster of brackish lagoons 

and lakes cosseted along 

the Arabian Sea — have 

been extolled endlessly in cinema and 

literature. And I am here — in 

Kumarakom — just outside the humming 

town of Kottayam in central Kerala to 

experience its lush landscapes, verdant 

vistas and idyllic life. 

I begin with a cruise in a country 

boat early morning with the mist still 

swirling over the majestic Lake 

Vembanad, its glassy surface carpeted 

with pink and white lilies. As the boat 

skims the lake, I get a close view of what 

is called the kuttanad — a vast 

arrangement of geometric rice paddies — 

that connect the backwaters to the sea. 

I soak in my mesmerizing 

surroundings. The lake — a vast and 

complex system of wetlands, estuaries, 

lagoons, and canals — throws up natural 

splendours at every turn and bend. 

Villages cluster around it while a row of 

coconut trees line the horizon adding the 

perfect tropical touch to the scenery. 

Shrubs, grass and bushes pepper every 

inch of land. During the monsoons, 

gurgling streams and lagoons break 

their flow and irrigate the land to an 

emerald green cover. 

“Kumarakom derives its name from 

the deity of its oldest temple 

Kumaran’s Akam which later became 

Kumarakom,” my guide Sabu, a sinewy, 

ex-military man explains as the oars 

slice the water making a deep glugging 

sound. “Novelist Arundhati Roy’s 

birthplace, Ayemenem, featured in her 

novel The God of Small Things, is not far 

from here.” 

The lake is an ornithologist’s delight. 

The Siberian crane, egret, heron, water 

foul, ducks, moorhens and kingfishers 

crowd the water body’s shores. Also 

118 

MAY 2017

TRAVEL 

DESTINATION 

Clockwise from above: fishing activities in full 

swing; duck farming is big business in the 

backwaters; and a vegetable and fruit vendor 

plentiful are marine and 

freshwater fish as well as 

large varieties of shrimp, 

prawn and the elusive pearl 

spot (karimeen) which is a 

local delicacy. Because the 

terrain is fertile and 

conducive to rice and coconut 

cultivation, Sabu says he 

makes a living as a paddy 

farmer six 

months of the 

year. “The rest 

of the year I’m a guide for 

Kerala Tourism,” he adds 

while waving to villagers 

who reciprocate his 

gesture. Some villagers are 

on bicycles while others 

trudge on foot.Mothers 

ferry their kids to school, 

schlepping satchels and 

water bottles. Nobody 

seems to be in a hurry in 

Kumarakom; life seems to 

exist in a time warp. 

Suddenly, the air is 

punctuated with the 

`tring-tring’ of a bicycle 

bell. It is the village lottery 

seller. Apparently buying 

lottery tickets is a very 

popular activity in the 

THE 

RECLAIMED 

LAND 

According to legend, 

Parasurama, one of 

the 10 incarnations 

of Lord Vishnu, 

reclaimed the land of 

Kerala by throwing 

his axe into the sea. 

In modern times, 

folks in Kerala talk 

of an Englishman, 

Alfred George Baker, 

son of a missionary. 

He reclaimed 

Kumarakom from 

500 acres of 

wetlands lying 

north-east of Lake 

Vembanad. He 

is credited with 

creating a vast, 

fertile area from 

marshy land. 

backwaters. 

A raft of ducks glides towards our 

boat, seemingly out of nowhere, and 

starts moving alongside. Sabu explains 

that duck farming is very popular in 

Kumarakom due to an exponential 

demand for duck meat. Tree corpses too 

make random appearances, their 

mangled branches extending like 

wizened limbs into the lake. Suddenly, 

the flutter of wings rings in the air. We 

spot a group of native kingfishers, ablaze 

in psychedelic colours, landing on a palm 

tree nearby. 

Without roads, all 

action in the backwaters is 

concentrated on the canal 

bank. Women can be seen 

washing clothes and 

utensils, or buying fish and 

vegetables from the 

itinerant boatmen. The 

latter’s distinctive cries 

echo over the waters as 

they glide over its surface. 

“The villages here are 

quite self-contained. We 

grow our own fruits and 

vegetables and fish in the 

lake. There’s 100 per cent 

literacy here,” Sabu 

explains with pride as we 

negotiate a lagoon. 

The guide adds that 

Kerala government’s 

`Responsible Tourism’ 

122 

MAY 2017

TRAVEL 

DESTINATION 

initiative has also benefited the local 

community directly while ensuring 

social and environmental development. 

The initiative was launched in February 

2007 across Kumarakom, Kovalam, 

Thekkady and Wayanad. 

“The most important outcome of the 

initiative has been that it has created a 

healthy and positive relationship 

between the tourism industry and the 

local community. There’s now a growing 

awareness among locals that tourism can 

be a tool for socio-economic 

development,” Bhagatsingh V.S., 

Destination Coordinator, Responsible 

Tourism, Kumarakom, informs me later. 

The project’s industry partners — 

hotels, resorts and boat owners — have 

understood the value of engaging the 

local community in the tourism plan for 

the sustenance of the destination and 

their business, the official adds. They 

participate actively in the RT initiative 

by procuring local produce, providing 

employment opportunities to the local 

people, supporting local enterprise, 

assisting in environment upgradation 

programmes and promoting “village life 

experience” tour packages. 

The overarching idea is to link the 

community with tourism. The supply of 

vegetables and poultry to hotels, for 

instance, is led by the local self-help 

groups for women from disadvantaged 

sections. The cooperation of homestead 

farms and local farmer groups has 

helped sustain the supply while also 

promoting local cuisines. Some of the 

environmental interventions initiated at 

the destinations as part of the RT 

initiative include promotion of ecofriendly 

products, campaigning for 

green practices in the hospitality sector, 

taking up waste management issues, and 

community initiatives in conservation. 

“The project is led by local 

panchayats with the active participation 

of the community and the tourism 

industry,” elaborates 

Bhagatsingh V.S. The 

remarkable success of 

the project has led to 

numerous awards being 

bestowed upon Kerala 

Tourism. 

After the cruise, I 

head to the Kumarakom 

bird sanctuary 

bordering the Kavanar 

river. A haven for bird 

lovers, it has also helped 

maintain the region’s ecological balance 

as well as its avifauna. Hundreds of types 

of birds — egret, brahminy kite, 

cormorant, cuckoo and waterfowl — and 

several migratory birds like Siberian 

crane and flycatcher, roam this 

gargantuan facility. 

And as I saunter across the reserve, 

American author and aviator Charles 

Linderberg’s words came to mind. He 

once said that if he had to choose, he’d 

rather have birds than airplanes. 

Needless to say, my visit to Kumarakom 

reaffirmed my faith in Mother Nature 

and her wonders. 

Top: `Responsible Tourism' initiatives 

have benefited the local community. 

Bottom: Visitors enthralled at a ropemaking 

demonstration 

124 

MAY 2017

IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

W INTRODUCES 

‘THIS IS IT’ 

COLLECTION 

FINALLY, THE BOOK OF #UN 

series reached its conclusion. 

And, there were no chapters 

left unread. W for Woman 

celebrated individual style and 

broke all stereotypes that limit 

creative expression required 

to make a personalized fashion 

statement. Last season was all 

about going unorthodox, bold 

and glamorous. 

This spring-summer 2017, W opens afresh with a 

hard-hitting fashion declaration. It is definite statement 

and non-conforming. The collection made to match 

both the mood and the mode of the working woman in 

India says aloud – This is it. It has everything you need 

to keep it stylish through the summer. Yes, we are being 

assertive but that’s what defines the season’s flavour. 

Love it or leave it. 

The collection revolves around essentials that do not 

wear us down but look up in the face with panache and 

prominence at once alongside pieces of art that 

fit into your everyday timeline with the exact 

amount of style and statement. 

The Statement Work Wear is here to 

make hectic sunny days seem nice and 

fashionably functional. The Signature 

All Day Dress winks at you saying there’s 

no more fretting about ‘switching from 

one outfit to the other’. The Perfect 

Fusion Look redefines Indo-western 

with peek-a-boo neon detailing and 

tie-around necklines. And finally, Urban 

Social Style finishes the season with the 

quintessential occasion outfit coming 

alive with burnt hues and bits of tribal 

embellishments. Offbeat yet extremely 

functional; atypical yet individual - W 

SS’17 collection will speak to you in its 

own language. 

125 

MAY 2017

PORTONICS LAUNCHES NEW 

WIRELESS OPTICAL MOUSE 

PORTRONICS, A PROMINENT LEADER in the portable 

digital product market, has launched Puck – a 2.4GHz, 

ergonomically designed wireless optical mouse which 

glides like a puck on ice. Pain in fingers caused by 

working for long hours using a standard mouse has been 

accepted as an occupational hazard. Now no more! The 

advanced ergonomic design of the puck encourages 

the natural hand and wrist posture for less fatigue and 

stiffness in hand during long hour usage. The Puck is 

designed to operate at 2.4GHz technology for 

extremely fast data transmission and super 

stable operation compared to a 27MHz 

mouse. It also gives an astonishing working 

distance of up to 30 m. Puck is a plug and 

play mouse which can easily be connected 

with PCs, laptops or Macbooks using a 

nano receiver provided along with the 

mouse. The device is compatible with 

various operating systems. 

GS MARKETING WINS 

FOUR AWARDS 

THE ALL INDIA “EXHIBITION Excellence Awards”, 

a major industry event, were held recently and G. S. 

Marketing Associates, a leading organizer of exhibitions 

and trade fairs, won four awards in the categories of 

The Big Show, The Grand Show, Best Debut Category 

and The Leading Lady of the Industry Award. It was a 

proud moment for 

the G. S. Marketing 

Associates’ team of 

professionals with 

an experience of 

over two decades 

in the field of 

exhibitions and 

trade fairs. The team has dedicated its awards to the 

memory of their beloved Founder late S. D. Gupta. The 

company has successfully organized 199 exhibitions and 

trade fairs. Their 200th fair will be organized in a big way 

at the famous India Expo Centre & Mart from August 4 to 

15, 2017 at Greater Noida, Delhi – NCR. 

IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

127 

MAY 2017

VIEWPOINT 

YOGA 

transforms himself 

beyond his 

compulsions is free. 

Which young 

person would not 

value a way and a 

method to become 

free from anything? 

Everyone would. 

THROUGH THE 

MYSTIC EYE 

SADHGURU IS A YOGI, MYSTIC AND 

VISIONARY. AN INTERNATIONALLY- 

RENOWNED SPEAKER, SADHGURU’S 

WIT AND PIERCING LOGIC PROVOKE 

AND WIDEN OUR PERCEPTION OF LIFE. 

IN THIS SERIES, SADHGURU ANSWERS 

QUESTIONS AND OFFERS REFRESHING 

PERSPECTIVES ON DIVERSE TOPICS. 

Why are youngsters taking to spirituality 

these days? 

SADHGURU: The interest in yoga is 

not new. Young people have always 

gone for it but today it gets media 

attention. At the same time, because of 

the media coverage, maybe more people 

are going into it. 

Youth is that segment of humanity 

which is still in the making. They are 

more life than anyone else. Spirituality 

is life, pure life. It is about awakening 

you. So youth will naturally be the first 

to go for it. Spirituality is about 

liberating you from your limitations. 

Young people value freedom more than 

anyone. 

What does freedom mean? Freedom 

means there is nothing compulsive in 

your life. One who aspires and 

What can 

spirituality give 

youngsters? 

SADHGURU: 

Youth means lots of 

energy. In terms of 

energy, at no other 

stage in life can one 

do what they could 

as a youth. But 

unbridled energy 

without stability 

and direction is 

dangerous and 

destructive. 

When one is young, how stable one 

is, is how well one can use the body and 

intelligence to make a life. Only those 

who are stable can use whatever quality 

and talent they have to the fullest 

extent. So, the most important thing 

that needs to happen to youth is they 

need to become meditative. Then, this 

energy that you call as youth could be 

put to better use for their own and 

everyone’s wellbeing. 

Yoga is the science of inner 

management. You create an inner 

possibility where being blissful, joyful 

and peaceful is of your own nature – not 

because of something that happens 

around you. Once you are like this, 

your life is no longer in pursuit of 

happiness. Your life is an expression 

of your happiness. 

SpiceJet welcomes its passengers to ask Sadhguru questions on yoga, health, wellbeing and other topics of 

general interest. Select questions will be answered in forthcoming issues. Please email your question to 

mediarelations@ishafoundation.org For more of Sadhguru’s wisdom, visit http://isha.sadhguru.org 

128 

MAY 2017

STAR BUZZ 

ANIL KAPOOR 

He has been a part of 

Bollywood for over 

35 years, but Anil 

Kapoor at 60 (yes, 

that is his age) seems 

to be drinking straight from the fountain 

of youth. The only thing that 

unfortunately slowed him down, 

“temporarily”, he is quick to add, is a 

recent inflammation in his left leg, 

because of which he has been advised 

strict bed rest for a month. The actorproducer 

is down with knee bursitis, an 

inflammation in the leg which can prove 

permanently damaging to the leg if not 

treated properly. 

The actor was in the midst of 

wrapping up the shoot for Mubarakaan, 

which also stars nephew Arjun Kapoor. 

“I love my work and I take it seriously, 

but not myself. However, if I commit to 

something, I will give it my 100 per cent. 

Besides that, I don’t consider myself a 

genius,” Kapoor says, while speaking 

about his life, career and kids. 

FAILURE IS A MUCH BETTER 

TEACHER THAN SUCCESS 

EVEN 38 YEARS AFTER MAKING HIS BOLLYWOOD DEBUT, ANIL KAPOOR 

EXUDES THE ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM OF A NEWCOMER. WE FIND OUT HOW. 

BY AARTI KAPUR SINGH 

You don’t look your age, touch wood. What 

is the secret? 

Two things - what I eat and how I 

exercise. The two go hand-in-hand. You 

owe it to your body to treat it well. 

Staying healthy and fit is just a matter of 

discipline. I think I look better now than 

I ever did. I believe sugar is my biggest 

enemy so I avoid it. Also, I fear my wife 

Sunita. So I ensure she sits next to me 

whenever possible, during dinner or on 

night outs. She ensures I don’t eat what is 

not good for me. 

What are your meals like? 

Very boring, I must be honest (smiles). In 

fact, all my co-stars complain that I sleep 

too early and eat too little and too 

healthy. For the first three days of the 

week, I stay away from all solid food, and 

stick to juices, milk shakes and a solution 

that is packed with minerals and carbs. 

On the fourth day, I eat some light food, 

130 

MAY 2017

STAR BUZZ 

ANIL KAPOOR 

like a khichdi. For the rest of 

the three days, I gradually get 

back to eating normally. On 

those days, I have my 

breakfast quite early and it 

generally consists of oats and 

banana, egg white omelettes, 

fresh juice, sometimes an idli 

or an egg and lettuce 

sandwich, and a strong cup of 

coffee. I like sandwiches and 

I stick to vegetable, chicken 

or a ham sandwich, usually 

made with multi-grain bread. 

I eat one or two rotis a day. My 

meals are largely grilled: 

grilled chicken, grilled fish, 

grilled vegetables. I can eat 

fish in any form, since it is 

very light and easy to digest. 

I am very conscious of 

what I eat. For instance, if I 

eat a rice dish, I want to know 

what kind of rice it is and 

where it has come from. I eat 

a lot of red rice, with a simple 

moong or masoor dal. I am 

quite a frugal eater. I like samosas - so 

one or two in a month are my only 

indulgence. I also like chicken and fish, 

and do not eat any red meat. My meals 

must also have yoghurt and paneer. I 

don’t drink much, maybe a milkshake 

sometimes. I would suggest that those 

who start their day early, or exercise, 

should eat a banana or two. It will give 

you energy and keep you full for a while 

until breakfast. 

Tell us about that one food experience you 

have really enjoyed. 

There have been several. When the 

entire family is in Mumbai, we go out to 

dinner very often because we enjoy 

eating out and discovering new 

restaurants. And the family is not fussy: 

we eat anything, but we are very fond of 

Asian and Italian food. I love Japanese 

food, particularly teriyaki. My wife 

Sunita is a vegetarian. I particularly 

remember this one meal we ate at 

Umame, in Mumbai. I also enjoyed 

walking around the market in San 

Miguel, in Madrid. It has several stalls 

selling Spanish ingredients as well as 

wine and tapas bars. 

You have always had this family man 

image… How involved are you in your 

children’s lives? 

Of course. I am there for all my kids — 

Rhea, Sonam and Harsh — whenever 

they need me. I am just a phone call away. 

That’s my priority, and has been for quite 

a few years. Family is my top priority. My 

kids ask me for advice sometimes but I 

hate interfering. I encourage them to 

take their own decisions, and go ahead 

with it. So it’s not like they do everything 

on their own, or do everything after 

consulting with me. There’s a good 

balance. 

What advice did you give Harshvardhan 

after his film didn’t do well? 

Sometimes you work hard, put your 

heart and soul into a film but it doesn’t do 

well, but then there is another side to it. 

Since you have worked so sincerely, you 

will, at some point in life, get the benefit. 

So my advice to Harshvardhan is to be at 

it, and that’s already inbuilt in him. He’s 

already gung-ho about his next film. I 

also tell him that failure is a part of life 

and happens to everyone. Besides, 

failure is a much better teacher than 

success is. 

What about the father in you – were you 

hurt when Mirzya failed? 

Not at all, I have seen so many days like 

these. Some people ask me, ‘How’s 

Harsh?’ I say, ‘He is rocking’. He is from a 

film family, wherein his father and sister 

have seen successes and failures. But 

when you go through it yourself, you 

respect and understand so much more. 

132 

MAY 2017

IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

BIRLA WHITE SUPPORTS 

MAKE IN INDIA INITIATIVE 

IN SYNC WITH THE MAKE IN INDIA drive initiated by the 

Indian government, Birla White, the white cement brand of 

UltraTech Cement, promoted the concept of Design in India 

at the 13th edition of Birla White YuvaRatna Awards. This 

national event is popular among architecture students and 

fraternity because of its focus on innovative themes and 

designs, with an eye on sustainability. 

With the rising interest in promoting metro rail systems 

as the public transport of choice, Birla White identified this 

as the central theme at the YuvaRatna Awards. Students of 

architectural colleges from across India were encouraged 

to exhibit their creativity in designing metro stations 

with a focus on composition, aesthetics, concept, cost 

effectiveness, innovation, originality of idea and theme, use 

of materials and colours and safety and sustainability. 

The event was inaugurated by Mrs Rajashree Birla, 

Director, UltraTech Cement Ltd, in the presence of eminent 

architects and construction professionals from across 

India. The elite panel of jury members for the awards 

comprised leading architects including Ar Ramaswamy, Ar 

Hamir Smart, Ar Neeraj Gadgil, Ar Rajeev Sathe, and Ar 

Reuben D’Souza. 

Conceptualised in 2004, YuvaRatna has been evolving 

over the years. With the advent of digitization, it has 

now reached students across India. This year has seen an 

increase in both the quantity and quality of the entries, 

with the event covering 164 architectural colleges, 24,600 

students, and 2,700 faculties across country. 

This year YuvaRatna Nxt was introduced, where 

students were asked to develop designs and applications 

using Birla White products as part of design décor. The 

introduction of YuvaRatna Nxt has been a game changer, as 

it has involved students in the form of groups and garnered 

engaging participation. Students had the first-hand 

experience of using Birla White products for their designs. 

134 

MAY 2017

IPL 2017 

SPECIAL 

BEST PERFORMERS 

IN PREVIOUS IPLs 

HERE’S A NOSTALGIC LOOK AT THOSE WHO HAVE OWNED THIS FORMAT 

MOST TITLES 

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS (2010 & 2011) 

One of the most consistent teams, 

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are 

the only side in IPL to have won 

the title for two consecutive years. 

MS Dhoni led the team to six finals 

in eight seasons. However, due to 

controversies, the franchise has 

been suspended for two years and 

will not appear in IPL 2017. 

KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS (2012 & 2014) 

Gautam Gambhir’s consistency and 

dynamic captaincy helped Kolkata 

Knight Riders (KKR) clinch their first 

title in 2012, which also stopped CSK 

from winning their third consecutive 

title. The likes of Andre Russell, 

Yousuf Pathan and Sunil Narine 

make KKR one of the hot favourites 

in IPL every year. Russell’s absence 

will be a huge blow to the team in 

the upcoming season. 

MUMBAI INDIANS (2013 & 2015) 

One of the strong sides, Mumbai 

Indians won their first title in the 

sixth edition of IPL when they 

defeated Chennai Super Kings by 

23 runs. After losing to CSK in the 

finals of IPL 2010, Mumbai Indians 

got their own back against CSK 

in 2015. Lendl Simmons, Rohit 

Sharma, Lasith Malinga and Kieron 

Pollard are some of the exciting 

and most consistent players for 

Mumbai Indians. 

CHRIS GAYLE 

LASITH MALINGA 

MOST RUNS 

VIRAT KOHLI 

(ROYAL CHALLENGERS) 

India’s Virat Kohli had a fanciful 

IPL last year as he scored a record 

973 runs in just 16 innings at an 

incredible average of 81.08. He 

notched four hundreds, which are 

the most by any player in a single 

season of IPL. With 4,110 runs, Kohli 

is the highest run-getter in IPL and 

is one of only two players to attain 

4,000+ IPL runs. He averages 38.05 

at a strike rate of 130.43 which is 

remarkable for a T20 league. Kohli 

has marked four hundreds and 

26 half-centuries with 113 being 

his highest score. 

MOST WICKETS 

LASITH MALINGA (MUMBAI INDIANS) 

One of the primary reasons for 

Mumbai Indians winning IPL twice is 

Lasith Malinga. His nerve-wracking 

ability to bowl Yorkers to the best 

of batsmen in pressure situations 

is beyond belief. He is the most 

successful bowler in IPL, and has 

thus far picked up 143 wickets in 

98 innings at an average of 17.80. 

Mumbai Indians uses Malinga wisely 

considering his fitness issues. His 

darting Yorkers and the varied 

slower ones at the death overs are 

hard to bat. 

MOST SIXES 

CHRIS GAYLE 

The Caribbean giant Chris Gayle is 

the most exciting batsman in this 

format. He has clobbered 251 sixes in 

91 innings and has scored 3,426 runs 

at an average of 43.36. The Royal 

Challengers Bengaluru opener leads 

the table by a huge distance with 

Rohit Sharma in second position 

with 163 sixes. Gayle’s unbeaten 175 

off 66 balls against Pune Warriors 

in 2013 where he smashed 17 sixes 

is probably the greatest knock of 

Indian Premier League. He holds the 

record for the most sixes in a season 

with 59 sixes in 2012. Gayle has 

scored five hundreds in IPL which is 

the most by a batsman. Of his IPL 

runs, 43.95 per cent have come in 

sixes which is a feat in itself. 

ALAMY 

136 

MAY 2017

INITIATIVE 

START-UP 

Atthar from Iran interacts with nursery kids in Mumbai 

THE 

SCHOOL OF 

LIFE 

CLAP GLOBAL TAKES INTERNATIONAL 

TRAVELLERS INTO INDIAN 

CLASSROOMS, FACILITATING A 

CULTURAL EXCHANGE EARLY ON IN 

LIFE. BY LIANA M. 

WE DON’T LEARN CULTURAL 

sensitivity in classrooms, but maybe we 

should. Clap Global, a new start-up 

co-founded by Mumbai residents Shirin 

Johari and Aarti Chhabria, arranges for 

international travellers and expats to 

visit local schools. These outsiders talk 

about their hometowns for an hour, and 

the kids get a first-hand account of life in 

other cities. Clap Global 

has received initial 

funding from Eton 

Capital and seed funding 

from the government of 

Chile through its 

incubation programme, 

Start-Up Chile. (Earlier 

this year, Johari 

travelled to Santiago to 

work out how Clap could 

be taken to global 

classrooms and how it 

IF EACH STUDENT 

PARTICIPATES IN SIX 

CLAP TALKS EVERY 

YEAR, THEY WOULD 

HAVE RECEIVED 

EXPOSURE TO 72 

DIFFERENT CULTURES 

BY THE AGE OF 15 

could be adapted to other languages.) 

They’ve also signed an MoU with 

Amnesty International in which they 

will be able to access Amnesty’s school 

network and receive help in developing 

the Clap curriculum. 

So far, the duo has held 125 Clap Talks 

from travellers from 43 different 

countries. I troop along for one such talk 

to an expensive school 

in South Mumbai. 

Chhabria is 

accompanied by 

Cristina Hernandez, 

Clap’s head of sales from 

Spain, and the speaker 

of the day, Abraham, a 

Mexican expat living in 

the suburb of Thane. 

Chhabria is carrying a 

hexagonal ball in pastel 

shades, with 

IMAGES COURTESY CLAP GLOBAL 

140 

MAY 2017

INITIATIVE 

START-UP 

Clockwise from above: Melissa from 

Australia in a Mumbai classroom; Traveller 

Diego takes a group selfie; Aldara, a yoga 

teacher from Spain, talks about her 

experiences; Eduardo from Brazil talks to 

4th-standard students 

conversational cues printed on all sides. 

Sample questions that the kids can ask 

the traveller include: Who’s been the 

kindest to you? What do people think of 

India there? And some that the traveller 

can ask the kids: What would you like to 

change about India? What do you know 

about my country? 

On the day I attend the talk, I learn 

that sixth-standard children know very 

little about Mexico. They know that 

tacos is a Mexican brainchild and that’s 

about it. Hernandez whispers into my 

ear in dismay, “Even in an international 

school, this is the level of knowledge 

about other countries.” So far, Clap 

Global has only targeted Englishspeaking 

private schools. When 

Abraham asks the room if they travel 

abroad each year, every single hand goes 

up. In that case, isn’t Clap preaching to 

the converted? As if in anticipation, 

Chhabria replies, “Yes, but will they go to 

the Congo? Will they go to Togo? When 

these kids travel, they only go to the 

developed world. And even when they 

travel, how often do they get to interact 

with the locals? Bangladeshis are the 

number one expat group in India, but 

how much do we know about their 

culture?” Clap is targeting kindergarten 

students and above, and has plans to 

reach out to public schools by next year. 

The team predicts that if each student 

participates in six Clap Talks every year, 

they would have received exposure to 72 

different cultures by the age of 15. Even 

in the Clap Talk I attended, a few nuggets 

of information do leak out. For instance, 

the fact that the world’s largest pyramid 

is in Mexico; that the 200-peso note 

bears the visage of the first literate 

Mexican woman; and that artists can pay 

taxes in kind, more specifically, 

artworks. Impressed, one of the kids 

asks, “Can you draw a stick figure and 

give it to the government?” 

All in all, the world is a better place 

with Clap Talks in it. As Abraham says, 

“If I get to know you as an individual, I 

will be able to have a better relationship 

with you.” Hernandez says, “Clap is here 

to break prejudices because you meet 

real people and not stereotypes.” She 

tells me about some Spanish tourists she 

met for dinner who were surprised her 

Indian friend was so well-educated. 

“When I spoke to them, I realised how 

much Spain needs Claps,” she says. 

142 

MAY 2017

MELANGE 

TAROT 

YOUR FORECAST THIS MONTH 

BY: SRINIVAS IYER 

Aries 

You can expect 

Taurus 

Excellent period 

Gemini 

Creativity is great. 

Cancer 

Financially a 

Leo 

Finance improves. 

Virgo 

Overall this month 

a lot of financial 

for those engaged 

You initiate new 

very rewarding 

Unwanted 

is a very favourable 

activities. Expenses 

in sports, armed 

ventures, as you 

period lies ahead. 

expenses are 

period of good health. 

and investments are 

forces, police and 

think out of the 

Creativity and hard 

foreseen and 

Your mind is open to 

indicated. Think twice 

fitness. Avoid the 

box. Renovation 

work is indicated 

hence think twice 

new ways of thinking. 

before you spend or 

summer heat; it 

done at home 

and it pays off. 

before you act. 

Saturn transits your 

invest. Your speech 

fuels your anger 

earlier needs 

Good time for 

Spread the word 

fourth house and this 

may be harsh and this 

and rashness too. 

alterations again. 

those in the field of 

of spirituality and 

is a long-term transit. 

is also another area to 

Creativity and 

Large scale 

advertising, media 

peace to everyone. 

Develop patience at 

watch out for. Health 

finances flourish. 

modifications are 

and especially 

Children’s health 

home. Persistence will 

may not be great. 

Kids do well. 

not favourable. 

journalism. 

improves. 

pay off. 

Libra 

Expenses are on 

the rise, with a busy 

financial cash flow of 

income and expenses. 

Loans given to others 

come back to you. 

Past life connections 

play an important 

role this month. You 

believe in karma. You 

will interact with a lot 

of new people. 

Scorpio 

Your friends prosper 

and express their 

happiness with 

you, though there 

are some minor 

setbacks. Finances 

are strained and 

your skills are 

going to be tested. 

Patience helps and 

persistence pays off 

in the long run. 

Sagittarius 

You are stressed 

due to the transit 

of the planets. 

Avoid taking 

stress, as this could 

affect your health. 

You will prosper 

favourably as 

time progresses. 

Have patience 

till the month of 

September 2017. 

Capricorn 

Your intuition about 

money matters is 

very good. Trust 

it. Income is good 

and it is directly 

proportional to 

your efforts. Avoid 

arguments on 

the home front. 

Children’s health 

come under the 

focus sharply. 

Aquarius 

Your intuition is 

spot on. You feel 

directionless and 

hence trust your 

gut feeling. You are 

lucky in financial 

matters and will be 

blessed till monthend. 

Self-expression 

through writing is 

powerful. Be careful 

with your words. 

Pisces 

Beauty is on the top 

of your mind and 

self-expression is 

very powerful. Your 

words can move 

mountains and hard 

work pays off till May 

14. After this there is 

a burst of energy in 

this area. Channelize 

this carefully in your 

existing projects. 

The above is based on the sun sign and planetary transits thereof. It is general in nature. For specific readings, seek out expert advice based on 

your individual chart. (Astrologer Srinivas Iyer is based in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. He can be contacted on shrinivaasiyer@gmail.com) 

144 

MAY 2017

EXPERIENCE 

GUIDE 

THE 

UNKNOWN 

AMRITSAR 

Where to get the best kulcha, 

the best phulkari and the best 

pehlwan malish 

THE OUTGOING PUNJAB 

GOVERNMENT gave a parting gift to 

Amritsar. The area around the Golden 

Temple has been cleaned up, refurbished 

and pedestrianised, and looks rather 

pretty in pink walls and big roundabouts. 

In addition to the well-traversed lanes 

leading to the Golden Temple (also 

where the new Partition Museum has 

opened – light in artefacts, heavy in 

stories) and the Wagah border, the city 

has a few ghee-laden surprises up its 

kurta sleeves. Here’s an insider’s guide to 

the temple town. 

Kulcha Land, Ranjit Avenue 

A tiny space, Kulcha Land’s kulchas, 

despite sagging under the weight of 

ghee and butter, are crisp like papads. 

They crackle as you break them into 

pieces and scoop up curd. With a 

generous sprinkling of spices on top, 

and different fillings such as paneer and 

aloo, the are the face of guilty 

pleasures. 

Kesar da Dhaba, Chowk Passian 

Locals have settled the debate on the 

best dhaba in Amritsar. 

Katra Jaimal Singh Market 

The market is sweetly referred to as the 

wedding market, as lanes filled with 

phulkari shops segue into lanes filled 

with chooda and jooti shops. While 

most of the shops carry sensibly priced 

phulkari, the store Paridhan has a rather 

amiable gentleman at the helm. 

Gurdas Ram Jalebi Wala and Gian 

Chand Milk Bhandar 

Close to the Golden Temple, these holesin-the-wall 

offer the best jalebi and lassi 

in Amritsar respectively. 

Kanha Sweets, Lawrence Road 

The aloo ki sabzi is simmered in 

tamarind, making the puri-bhaji here 

so delectable, you may forget your 

devotion to kulchas. 

Ram Tirath Temple 

It is believed that Valmiki wrote the 

Ramayana here. A few kilometres 

outside of Amritsar, the government is 

planning to turn it into a major tourist 

attraction. 

Jiva Spa 

At Jiva Spa in the newly opened Taj 

Swarna, the Pehlwan Malish has the right 

amount of tough love. A powerful oil 

massage, in a relaxing environment, is 

exactly what you needed. 

ALAMY/SHUTTERSTOCK 

146 

MAY 2017

EXPERIENCE 

GUIDE 

HEART OF GOLD 

The Taj Group of Hotels forays into Amritsar with Taj Swarna, a 

hotel that bridges local flavours with international amenities 

THERE ARE TWO PIT STOPS that 

every visitor to Amritsar makes – the 

Golden Temple and the Wagah Border. 

We suggest you add Taj Swarna as the 

third. The shiny new hotel offers the 

best of Amritsari hospitality and food, 

with chefs who have been trained 

in dhabas. The elegantly appointed 

rooms, 148 in total, are dressed in 

goldens, greens and greys. In the 

rooms, silk cushions, fresh lilies, Kohler 

fittings and Forest Essentials’ mini-mes 

add up to make a gentle lap of luxury. 

A 22-feet chandelier hangs in the 

giant lobby, where three eateries and 

a bar are also located. The casual allday 

diner is Grand Trunk, which brings 

world cuisines to Amritsar. The local 

offerings, such as the kulcha and the 

lassi, are quite decent, but with one 

eye kept on the calories. It is possible 

that The Chinese Room is the best 

Chinese restaurant in the city. From 

the tangy kimchi to the lamb sauce, 

every dish brings forth memories of 

the Sichuan province. The Peg, the 

lounge, has oversized purple armchairs 

in which you can sink in and look 

dreamily at the well-stocked bar. And, 

The Patisserie, across the lobby, makes 

melt-in-your-mouth dark chocolate 

goodies. 

From any Taj hotel, there are a 

few staples you can expect: a warm 

staff that treats your wishes like 

commands from a king; exceptional 

food selections; a well-equipped gym 

and pool; and a Jiva spa. Taj Swarna 

ticks off all these, and adds a few local 

touches of its own. Visitors are greeted 

with a tulsi mala, and bid adieu with 

a spoonful of curd and sugar. A folk 

sarangi player brings the Grand Trunk 

alive with its earthy, haunting music. 

And, framed panels of delicate phulkari 

adorn the walls of the lobby. 

In addition, its 5,000 sq ft lawn is 

perfect to exchange wedding vows in, 

and its 7,000 sq ft banquet hall ideal 

to host large receptions in. All in all, 

Taj Swarna offers the local and the 

visitor a stay of remarkable comfort 

and luxury. 

148 

MAY 2017

IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

UNIVERSAL BROADCASTING 

GROUP MAKES ITS MARK 

BY HARRY GILLS 

THE UNIVERSAL BROADCASTING 

GROUP, also known as UB Group, 

is an Indian entertainment, finance 

and production company. The main 

focus of this company is to create 

an over-bridge of Indian films and 

broadcast it throughout the world. 

The UB Group, which is involved 

in the production, film finance 

and distribution for English, Telugu, Tamil and Hindi films 

(recently opened for Punjabi films) has a wide network in 

50 countries with films dubbed in over 25 languages. It has 

1,200 screens in India and 2,500 screens in the world. We do 

not make movies according to a specific budget, in fact we tie 

the budget according to the film. 

(The writer is Owner, Universal Broadcasting Group). 

CD RED CARPET COLLECTION 

BY CHARAGH DIN 

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Be the centre of attention with 

the CD Red Carpet Collection. 

Move in your own orbit and feel 

the cosmos turn its gaze on you. 

Become a cause as you adorn 

one such energy. Take a moment 

to soak it all in as the world lies suspended. These highstyle-quotient 

shirts are equally at home whether you are 

attending the awards or receiving them. Available in Italian 

linen, blended fabrics and sharp cuts. Shop online at www. 

cdshirts.com or walk in to The Charagh Din Store at 64, 

Wodehouse Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400 005 or call 91 22 

6152 2300. Follow Charagh Din on facebook at 

http://www.facebook.com/cdshirts 

149 

MAY 2017

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

FLIGHT BOOKINGS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS 

SpiceJet’s popular mobile app offers never before convenience and speed for customers on-the-go 

With SpiceJet’s new mobile 

app, customers will find it 

more convenient than ever 

before to make and manage bookings, 

check flight status, and receive 

exclusive offers on their mobile devices. 

The interface is so simple that even the 

origin of journey helpfully gets autofilled 

thanks to inbuilt geo-tagging. 

The app also allows customers to 

book or add exciting SpiceJet add-on 

products such as choosing premium 

SpiceMAX seats, in-flight meals and 

Priority Check-in. Customers can also 

pre-book excess baggage at discounted 

rates through this app. 

The payment gateway of the app 

offers a variety of options like Quickpay, 

credit card, debit card and Internet 

banking. The Quickpay option ensures 

instant booking with just a single click. 

You can download the official 

SpiceJet app from Google Playstore 

and App Store. 

Spice First Check-in 

SpiceJet has raised the 

bar of customer comfort 

and convenience with the 

effective integration of 

technology into its services. 

In a first of its kind initiative 

by any airline in the country, 

the carrier has launched 

Spice First Check-In. This 

enables customers to get 

their boarding pass on their 

smartphones at the click of 

a button. The service will 

be initially introduced at 

Hyderabad as a pilot project. 

The airline which has 

set a new benchmark in 

the country by launching a 

slew of customer-friendly 

and innovative products 

and services has effectively 

incorporated Near Field 

Communication (NFC) 

and Beacon technologies 

with its mobile application. 

This enables customers 

who have booked tickets 

through the SpiceJet mobile 

app to receive boarding 

passes directly on their 

smartphones. Customers 

will thus be relieved from 

standing in long queues 

thus further enhancing their 

travel experience. 

STEP: 1 

The main 

menu screen 

offers four 

options. To 

book a flight, 

select Flight 

Booking 

150 

MAY 2017

ENJOY EXCLUSIVE OFFERS 

With Spicejet’s hot new mobile app, one can not only book flight tickets on the go, prebook 

spice add-ons, check flight status and manage one’s bookings, but also get access to 

exclusive discounts. Book through the mobile app and get up to 7% discount on flight 

tickets and 50% discount on meals 

STEP: 2 

Choose the required field. Fill in 

the details and click on the Search 

Flights options 

STEP: 3 

Flights options according to date of 

travel are displayed. The fare details 

are at the bottom 

STEP: 4 

On selection of the button, the 

detailed fare sumary is displayed 

STEP: 5 

Once the required flight option 

has been selected, fill in your 

contact details 

STEP: 6 

Fliers can choose numerous add-on 

options that will make the journey 

hassle-free 

151 

MAY 2017 

STEP: 7 

Customers can pay via Credit or 

Debit card. QuickPay option saves 

transaction time

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

MY TOWN 

Our ongoing series where we look at various Indian cities through 

the eyes of SpiceJet staffers. This month, Meiling Tham, Senior 

Security Executive, Ground Services, holds forth on Guwahati 

Clockwise from above: A Bihu dance 

performance; the Kamakhya temple; and a 

one-horned rhino with her calf at the 

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary 

SpiceJet flies to Guwahati. 

Log on to www.spicejet.com 

for details 

Connection to the city: I am 

originally from Guwahati. 

Best thing about Guwahati: The 

culture and diversity of the city is 

very well-known. Wherever you 

turn in Guwahati, you find people 

belonging to different religions 

and communities residing 

together. You will never be bored 

here. There are many things to do 

and places to visit. 

Favourite eating place: 

Assamese cooking is a mixture of 

different indigenous styles with regional 

variations. I cannot list any favourite 

eating place as all of them are good in 

their own way. To name a few, Delicacy, 

Naga Kitchen, Paradise, Missing Kitchen, 

Grill Republica and John’s Kitchen. My all 

time favourite dish is the Assamese Thali 

which comes in different varieties. 

Best places to hang out: The young 

crowd loves hanging around Uzaan 

Bazar, Food Villa, Shraddhanjali Kanan, 

Kamakhya View Point, Alfresco Grand 

and Fancy Bazar. 

Local attractions: Kamakhya temple 

located on the top of the Nilachal Hill 

is the most visited temple. Other 

important temples are Umananda 

and Navagraha. The Pobitora Wildlife 

Sanctuary is home to the endangered 

One Horned Rhino. The Srimanta 

Sankardev Kalakshetra provides a 

great platform for local artists. Nehru 

Park is also a major tourist draw. 

Recommended places nearby: Shillong 

is home to many waterfalls. Manas 

National Park is a UNESCO Natural 

World Heritage Site, a Project Tiger 

Reserve, an elephant reserve as well 

as a biosphere reserve. The Kaziranga 

National Park is home to two-thirds of 

the world’s one horned rhino population. 

Cherrapunji, one of the wettest places 

on earth, is also known for its clean and 

pristine surroundings. 

Guwahati when compared to other 

places: I have stayed in many cities in 

India but I prefer Guwahati for its great 

hospitality, amazing weather and the 

sweet and simple nature of its people. 

The city’s infrastructure is improving 

and employment opportunities are 

also increasing. People here may have 

embraced modernity but they have 

simultaneously retained their rich 

traditions and culture. They are joyful 

and enjoy life to the fullest. 

ALAMY 

152 

MAY 2017

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

MUSIC ON BOARD 

SpiceJet plays soft rock music on all its flights for boarding and landing. Here’s this month’s playlist 

WET WET WET 

Love Is All Around Me 

This song was a cover by 

Wet Wet Wet (the 

original was by the 

Troggs) for the movie, 

Four Weddings and a 

Funeral. The band chose 

it over Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I 

Will Survive’ and Barry 

Manilow’s ‘Can’t Smile 

Without You’. 

PHIL COLLINS 

A Groovy Kind Of Love 

The Mindbenders were 

the first to record this 

song, and Collins’ was 

a cover. Unlike the 

Mindbenders’ version, 

which was an upbeat, 

guitar-based pop song, 

Collins’ was a slow ballad 

with prominent piano and 

strings. 

CHRIS DE BURGH 

Lady In Red 

On the British TV series, 

This Is Your Life, Chris de 

Burgh said that the song 

was inspired by the 

memory of the first time 

he saw his wife Diane, 

and how men cannot 

even remember what 

their wives were wearing 

when they first met. 

ROXETTE 

Listen To Your Heart 

In 1998, Roxette received 

an award from BMI for 

this song being played 

over 2 million times on 

American radio. 

BEE GEES 

How Deep Is Your Love 

It won the 1977 Grammy 

for best pop performance 

by a group. It was the 

first of four new songs on 

the Saturday Night Fever 

soundtrack to top the US 

Hot 100. 

THE BEATLES 

Love Me Do 

John Lennon and Paul 

McCartney wrote this in 

1958, when John was 17 

and Paul was 16. They 

made time for writing the 

song by skipping school. 

They had written songs 

before, but this was the 

first one that they liked 

enough to record, 

making it the Beatles’ 

first single. 

STEVIE WONDER 

I Just Called To Say I 

Love You 

This song was featured in 

the movie, The Woman In 

Red, starring Kelly 

LeBrock as the woman 

and Gene Wilder as the 

man mesmerised by her. 

Wonder wrote the score 

for the movie, and this 

song won the Oscar for 

best original song. 

AIR SUPPLY 

All Out Of Love 

This one deals with the 

unrequited love of a 

singer, who feels lost 

without the object of his 

affection. 

SHANIA TWAIN 

You’re Still The One 

This song was remixed 

for its single release to 

sound less country and 

more pop in the hope of 

giving Twain a 

mainstream crossover hit. 

The plan worked, and 

Twain took home two 

Grammy awards that 

year. 

QUEEN 

Crazy Little Thing 

Called Love 

This was the first song for 

which Freddie Mercury 

played rhythm guitar. He 

was keen to keep the 

song minimal, despite his 

limited guitar knowledge, 

and producer Mack 

claimed that he rushed 

into the studio to record 

it “Before Brian [May] 

could get there”. 

THE POLICE 

Every Breath You Take 

Sting wrote this song at 

the same desk in Jamaica 

where Ian Fleming wrote 

his James Bond novels. It 

was the biggest hit of 

1983 in the US. 

RIGHTEOUS 

BROTHERS 

Unchained Melody 

Is there anyone who 

hasn’t slow danced to this 

song? The mellifluous 

vocals and soulful lyrics 

were also most famously 

used in Ghost. 

ROD STEWART 

Have I Told You Lately 

Rod Stewart performed 

this on his MTV 

Unplugged special in 1993 

and released the acoustic 

version as part of his 

album Unplugged... And 

Seated. This version was 

a big hit, going to 

number 5 in both the US 

and the UK. Stewart got 

so emotional, he cried at 

the end of his MTV 

performance. 

RONAN KEATING 

When You Say Nothing 

At All 

Richard Curtis wanted a 

key song for his new film, 

Notting Hill. He suggested 

this to Ronan Keating, 

who was at the time still 

with Irish boy band, 

Boyzone. 

ELTON JOHN 

Can You Feel The Love 

Tonight 

This was featured in the 

Disney movie, The Lion 

King, when the main 

character, Simba the Lion, 

falls in love with his 

childhood friend, Nala. 

This version was 

performed by the film's 

voice actors while the 

Elton John version plays 

over the end credits. 

TRACY CHAPMAN 

Baby Can I Hold You 

It is the third single 

released by the 

contemporary folk artist. 

BRUNO MARS 

Count On Me 

This country-tinged 

friendship tune was 

written by Bruno Mars for 

his debut studio album, 

Doo-Wops & Hooligans. 

BRYAN ADAMS 

(Everything I Do) I Do 

It for You 

This song is featured in 

the Kevin Costner movie, 

Robin Hood: Prince Of 

Thieves, where it plays 

over the credits. Initially, 

this song didn’t get 

Hollywood approval, as 

the film company wanted 

it to have instrumentation 

in line with the films’ era 

– lutes, mandolins and 

other such. The film 

company relented, but 

buried the song midway 

through the credits. 

U2 

With Or Without You 

This was voted the best 

single of 1987 in a Rolling 

Stone magazine readers’ 

poll. It became the 

anthem of the characters, 

Ross and Rachel, on the 

hugely popular sitcom, 

Friends, after it was used 

in an episode where Ross 

dedicates it to Rachel on 

the radio. 

KENNY ROGERS 

Lady 

Lionel Richie wrote this 

song, especially for 

Rogers. 

*All information sourced from songfacts.com 

154 

MAY 2017

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

NEW ON THE MENU 

SpiceJet introduces “pre-booking only” menu for Thai, 

Continental and Indian Platters 

SPICEJET HAS UNVEILED an all-new inflight menu and flyers can now look forward to 

a fresh and improved dining experience. The airline has added a number of new 

alternatives to its ‘buy on board’ options. The ‘Hot Meals’ section has been entirely 

revamped. In addition, special meal categories such as Gluten-free meal have been 

introduced. Also, a special pre-booking menu has been activated for availing Thai, 

Continental and Indian platters. Hot favourites like Pringles and Aam Papad (two 

flavours being Bomb Peda & Spicy Meetha) have been introduced in the non-perishables 

section to entice the kids and youth categories of customers. With biriyani and kathi 

rolls being hot favourites, the airline has retained them in the menu considering the 

feedback received from customers and the sales team. 

THAI CHICKEN CURRY 

You can now even prebook 

a menu with Thai and 

Continental options 

o 

NON-VEG 

TANDOORI PLATTER 

Hearty platters are for 

your asking 24 x 7 

o 

o 

STEAMED RICE 

WITH KADI 

PAKODA 

Enjoy traditional 

and mouth-watering 

home-like food up in 

the sky 

CHICKEN STROGANOFF 

WITH YELLOW RICE 

Check out this variation 

of a mid-19th century 

Russian dish 

GREAT SAVINGS 

PRE-BOOK A 

MEAL ON WWW. 

SPICEJET.COM TO 

GET FLAT 

` 300 OFF + 20 

PER CENT CASH 

BACK ON YOUR 

NEXT DINEOUT. 

(APPLICABLE 

ON 800+ 

RESTAURANTS 

USING THE 

DINEOUT APP). 

o 

155 

MAY 2017

NEWS 

SpiceJet flags off direct flight 

on the Delhi-Bangkok route 

SpiceJet flagged off its first direct flight 

on the Delhi-Bangkok-Delhi route. The 

initial few passengers were given a goodie 

bag along with their boarding passes by 

Mr. Isra Stapanaseth, Director of Tourism 

Authority of Thailand. The service on the 

Delhi-Bangkok route is operational six 

days a week (except Tuesday), and after 

May 9, the service will become a daily one. 

Similarly, the service on the Bangkok-Delhi 

route is operational on all days except 

Wednesday till May 10, after which it will 

be available on all days. 

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

SpiceJet launches a 

second daily, direct 

flight on the Kolkata- 

Dhaka sector 

SpiceJet launched its 

second daily, direct flight 

on the Kolkata-Dhaka 

route. The airline is the 

only low-cost carrier to 

operate flights on the 

Kolkata-Dhaka sector. 

The new flight will be 

operational from May 

16. Dhaka is the second 

international destination 

after Bangkok that the 

airline will be serving with 

a daily, direct flight from 

Kolkata. 

SpiceJet played host to MBA students 

SpiceJet CMD Mr. Ajay Singh hosted 23 Executive MBA students from the SC Johnson 

College of Business at Cornell University in March. As a Cornell graduate himself, Mr. 

Singh shared with the students his perspective on the aviation industry, the opportunities 

and challenges of the Indian market and his business philosophy. The students were 

intrigued by SpiceJet’s strategy of creating ancillary revenue streams, which are an 

important part of the business model at SpiceJet. One student, originally from Ghana, 

showed interest in starting an aviation concern in his home country and took inspiration 

from Mr. Singh’s presentation and SpiceJet’s mission statement: “To become India’s 

preferred low-cost airline, delivering the lowest air fares with the highest consumer value, 

to price-sensitive consumers. SpiceJet hopes to fulfil everyone’s dream of flying.” 

Mr. Ajay Singh, CMD, SpiceJet, 

with the MBA students 

156 

MAY 2017

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

SpiceJet adds 19 new domestic flights this summer 

SpiceJet has added 19 new domestic flights this summer, connecting key metros 

and cities as a part of its enhanced network. With the introduction of the summer 

schedule, the airline will increase its operation to 360 average daily flights. To cater 

to the peak summer rush, from March to October, SpiceJet has launched daily, 

direct flights for sectors such as Surat-Jaipur, Surat-Hyderabad, Surat-Goa, Jammu- 

Dehradun, Jaipur-Chandigarh-Jammu, Bengaluru-Thiruvananthapuram and Delhi- 

Thiruvananthapuram. The frequencies have also been enhanced on sectors such as 

Dehradun-Delhi, Bengaluru-Vijayawada and Bengaluru-Kochi among others. 

SpiceJet clocks over 90% 

PLF for 24 successive months, 

and registers highest OTP five 

times in a row 

SpiceJet has registered more than 

90% PLF (Passenger Load Factor) 

and also clocked the highest industry 

OTP (On-Time Performance) five 

times in the same period. The airline 

also topped the PLF matrix for March 

at 91.4%, thus taking the total tally 

to 24 successive months of over 

90% load factor. As per the statistics 

released by DGCA, SpiceJet’s OTP 

charts have witnessed consistent 

improvement in 2017 with the airline 

topping the charts five times and 

occupying the second spot on four 

occasions. In March, the airline’s OTP 

figure stood at 85.7%. The airline also 

registered a low cancellation rate of 

just 0.30%. 

SpiceJet joins hands with 

Lufthansa Systems to offer 

in-flight entertainment and 

e-commerce 

SpiceJet has joined hands with 

Lufthansa Systems to equip its whole 

fleet with BoardConnect Portable 

offered by the latter. The new service 

will allow SpiceJet passengers to shop, 

stream movies, watch cricket and other 

content from select platforms offered 

by the airline. The airline signed a 

Letter of Intent (LoI) with Lufthansa 

Systems to this effect at the Aircraft 

Interiors Expo in Hamburg. SpiceJet 

passengers will be able to avail the new 

offer this year. 

SpiceJet partners with HSBC 

India to offer payments via UPI 

SpiceJet has launched a Unified 

Payment Interface (UPI) as a payment 

option on its website, allowing 

passengers to conveniently pay online 

using a mobile handset. The integration 

will allow SpiceJet passengers to use 

their unique UPI IDs i.e. Virtual Payment 

Address to pay for all bookings made 

on the SpiceJet website. This payment 

solution, implemented by HSBC on 

the SpiceJet network, is the latest 

addition to the already existing host of 

payment options currently available on 

Spicejet.com. 

157 

MAY 2017

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

ST RS OF SPICEJET 

Meet SpiceJet achievers from various departments who have stood out 

for their outstanding work 

AYUSHI TYAGI 

AHMEDABAD 

Customer appreciation: 

I have just flown on 

a Kochi-Chennai flight. Flying with 

us were a few irresponsible and 

incompetent parents and even more 

restless, tired children. Your staff 

Ayushi handled the very noisy and 

upsetting situation with firmness, poise, 

politeness and grace. Kudos to her. 

Experience with SpiceJet: It has been 

a wonderful experience with SpiceJet. 

SpiceJet helped me gain financial 

stability and mental peace. It has 

helped me grow in life in every aspect. 

The best part is that I get to meet new 

people every day. I have always loved 

the feeling of being above the clouds. 

I see myself as an integral part of 

SpiceJet. 

NITU 

AMRITSAR 


I recently travelled to 

Dubai from Amritsar along with my 

wife. We would like to appreciate the 

efforts put in by your cabin crew Nitu 

for making our flight memorable. The 

service provided was outstanding. I will 

surely recommend SpiceJet to all my 

friends. 

Experience with SpiceJet: I joined 

SpiceJet more than a year ago. Working 

here is everything I have ever dreamt 

of and hoped for. Having flown for a 

thousand hours one would imagine a 

few up and down moments in the job. 

But I hardly seem to remember any 

moments that put me off. All thanks 

to the most amazingly wonderful and 

professional crew in the world. 

CABIN CREW 

RUKHSAAR. M 

BENGALURU 


I would like to share my 

experience on board your flight. Rukhsaar 

was very courteous. Her level of confidence 

and service is really commendable. She 

was very attentive and friendly. Employees 

like Rukhsaar are definitely an asset to any 

company they work in. 

Experience with SpiceJet: SpiceJet gave 

me a platform to start my professional 

journey. I have met new people and 

experienced different cultures after 

interacting with them. I have always loved 

being above the clouds. It’s a different 

world altogether to me and the sunrise 

and the sunset is always the best from up 

there in the sky. Life being a cabin crew 

takes us to new destinations and gives us 

motivation. 

HAZIK FAYAZ 

KOCHI 

Customer appreciation: I 

recently flew SpiceJet and I 

would like to commend your staff Hazik for 

his exceptional level of service. The service 

was a super experience throughout the 

flight and was flawless. Hazik provided 

exceptional hospitality. He is a true 

reflection of the high levels of standard 

that we have come to expect of Spicejet. 

Experience with SpiceJet: I joined 

SpiceJet in March 2016 and it was a dream 

come true. I would like to thank Spice Jet 

for encouraging me at every step. The 

company has introduced RnR and other 

employee benefit programmes which 

make employees happy and keep them 

motivated. Being with SpiceJet makes me 

proud and with the new uniform, redder, 

hotter and spicier. 

158 

MAY 2017

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

MALAVIKA SIDHAYE 

PUNE 


I was impressed with the 

performance of your staffer Malavika in 

handling an irate passenger and dealing 

with another passenger who had a 

medical problem during our flight. I closely 

observed her handling both the situations 

and found her responses to be exemplary. 

She handled the matters firmly with a 

smile, was quick, helpful and calm. She is 

surely an asset to SpiceJet. 

Experience with SpiceJet: I feel privileged 

to be a part of such a wonderful 

organization where all my efforts and hard 

work is appreciated. My managers are very 

supportive and motivating. I look forward 

to welcoming passengers each day and 

giving them the best service any airline 

can offer. 

SENIOR CABIN CREW 

MOHUA DUTTA 

DELHI 

Customer appreciation: I 

was travelling recently from 

Chennai to Delhi. The person sitting next to 

me had his meal pre-booked by his travel 

agent and it was pasta. He requested for a 

change as he did not like pasta too much. 

Mohua politely denied. But the person kept 

on insisting. After some time, she came 

and offered food which was an Indian 

vegetarian dish that he wanted. 

Experience with SpiceJet: Once I was 

flying from Jaipur to Dubai and there was 

an old lady who was travelling alone, to 

meet her son in Dubai. Since it was a long 

flight, after my service I went to the lady, 

had a conversation with her, offered her 

a cup of tea and made her comfortable. 

While deplaning she blessed me. It was like 

my own grandmother blessing me. 

NEHA CHAUHAN 

CHENNAI 

Customer appreciation: Most 

of your air hostesses offer 

service with a smile. But Neha went out of 

her way on the Chennai-Visakhapatnam 

flight that I was travelling in. She attended 

to a weird request of mine — charging my 

dead mobile in mid-air. She went around 

tracing a battery power bank and power 

cord and got them to me. 

Experience with SpiceJet: I have 

completed two glorious years with the 

company and with each passing day I am 

learning and growing as a crew. I would 

like to take this opportunity to thank each 

and every person associated with the 

company for being immensely supportive 

all this while for my growth. I am extremely 

grateful to my colleagues who have helped 

me throughout my journey. 

MERLYN FERNANDES 

MUMBAI 

Customer appreciation: This 

is to record my appreciation 

of cabin crew Merlyn who looked after 

my wife and me very well. She was polite 

and efficient. I particularly admired her 

movements made with least effort but 

efficiently that helped her to finish the 

tasks on hand well in time. 

Experience with SpiceJet: I have had a 

very wonderful journey so far with the 

company for more than six years and 

have experienced the best positive culture 

and opportunities. My unique experience 

was witnessing the birth of a baby girl on 

a flight bringing delight to the mother, 

fellow passengers and the crew on board. 

An exciting part of my work profile is to 

maximise the satisfaction level of every 

single flyer. 

DIKSHA DEWAN 

KOLKATA 


My flight to Goa couldn’t 

have been better without your assistance 

and customer engagement. The flight 

was delayed due to air traffic congestion, 

but Diksha kept the passengers engaged 

by listening and talking to them. The 20- 

minute delay was easily forgotten. I could 

see the professionalism and ‘customer 

delight’ attitude in her behaviour. 

Experience with SpiceJet: It’s been a great 

experience to watch the company grow 

and achieve such wonderful success. Being 

a part of SpiceJet has always made me feel 

proud. I feel I am very lucky to be a part of 

such an organisation. I have learned many 

things in the three years that I have been 

here. Whatever I am today is because of 

SpiceJet which recognised my worth.. 

ANKUSH SHYAMAL 

HYDERABAD 


I was impressed with the 

excellent service rendered by your cabin 

crew Ankush on a Bengaluru-Belagavi 

flight. Since we were travelling with an 

infant, every small gesture by the cabin 

crew assisted us in making the daunting 

journey with a baby truly enjoyable. We 

look forward to see more such crew 

members in the near future. 

Experience with SpiceJet: Hailing from 

a small town and having never seen an 

aircraft, flying was nothing less than a 

dream come true. It’s been three years 

I am living my dream to fly above the 

world thanks to SpiceJet. I am thankful 

to each one of my colleagues who have 

contributed to my growth and to all my 

seniors who have appreciated my work. 

159 

MAY 2017

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

Boeing 737 - 700/800/900ER Series 

Interior arrangement of Boeing 737 - 700 (149 Passengers) 

Interior arrangement of Boeing 737 - 800 (189 Passengers) 

Row 1 -32 

Entry / Exit 

Row 1 -26 

Emergency Exit 

Entry / Exit 

Entry / Exit 

Emergency Exit 

Entry / Exit 

Row 1 -20 

Passengers 

(single class configuration) 

* 

BOEING 737-700 

2 

149 


BOEING 737-900 ER 

BOMBARDIER Q400 

25 

4 

17 

189 212 

78 

6200 km 

5,600 km 

5000 km 

2000 km 

0.79 M (840 km/h) 

0.79 M (840 km/h) 

0.79 M (840 km/h) 

666 km/h 

Speed unit M denotes Mach Number; 1 Mach is equal to the speed of sound. 

*These numbers exclude wet lease aircraft. 



BOEING 737-900 ER 

BOMBARDIER Q400 

112 ft 7 in (34.3m) 

93 ft 3 in (28.42m) 

117 ft 5 in (35.7m) 

110 ft 4 in (33.6m) 

41 ft 2 in (12.5m) 

11 ft 7 in (3.53m) 

107 ft 9 in (32.83m) 

24 ft 4 in (8.34m) 

8 ft 2 in (2.49m) 

The above mentioned descriptions are accurate at the time of magazine printing.

Routemap 

Domestic 

Inte rnational 

Effective dates: STV-GOI, STV-HYD, STV-JAI 

from 1st June’17 

Gorakhpur 

Surat 

Belagavi 

Thiruvananthapuram 

India connects with SpiceJet 

Flight schedules are subject to regulatory approvals and change. 

Map not to scale, graphic representation only. 

Content as on 25th April, 2017. 

Dhaka 

Silchar 

Aizawl

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

ADD- 

Know more about SpiceJet’s 

innovative products and services 

SEAT SELECTION DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL SPICEFLEX 

(DOMESTIC) 

SPICEFLEX 

(INTENATIONAL) 

SpiceMax Seats M 600/1000/-* M 1200 /- M 600/1000/- * M 1200/- 

Preferred Seats - on Boeing /Airbus 

Ahead of exit row window /aisle M 300/- M 450/- Free Free 

Ahead of exit row middle M 100/- M 250/- Free Free 

Behind exit row window /aisle M 150/- M 300/- Free Free 

Behind exit row middle M 99/- M 99/- Free Free 

Preferred seats Q400 Free Free 

Front half of cabin window /aisle M 200/- M 350/- Free Free 

Rear half of cabin window / aisle M 100/- M 250/- Free Free 

SPICE CLUB (Rewards Card) M 599/- NA 

PRE-BOOK EXCESS BAGGAGE 

5 kgs M 500/- M 2450/- 

10 kgs M 2,000/- M 4,900/- 

15 kgs M 3,500/- NA 

20 kgs M 4,667/- NA 

30 kgs M 8,000/- NA 

PRIORITY CHECK-IN M 200/- M 300/- 

BAG OUT FIRST 

1 Bag M 100/- NA 

2 Bags M 200/- NA 

3 Bags M 300/- NA 

CARRY MORE ONBOARD (FREE ALLOWANCE 7 KG; BUY UP TO 5 KG MORE) 

Pre-book M 250/- per kg M 450/- per kg 

At Check-in M 300/- per kg As per current excess 

baggage rate 

At boarding gate M 300/- per kg As per current excess 

baggage rate 

MY FLEXI PLAN M 1125/- M 1250/- 

HAND BAGGAGE ONLY FARE - CHARGE AT AIRPORT 

Fare type change fee if checking-in bag at airport 

after purchasing HBO fare 

Up to 15 kgs - 

M 400/- 

NA 

SPICE CAKE M 750/- M 800/- 

SPICE LOUNGE (Delhi/Bengaluru/Hyderabad/Kochi/ M 700/- M 1300/- 

Varanasi/Guwahati/Jaipur) 

FLY FOR SURE M 299/- Only ex-India M 499/- 

SPICE TALK (INTERNATIONAL SIM CARD) NA M 249/- 

*SPICEMAX SEATS OFFER SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LEGROOM, PLUS COMPLIMENTARY MEAL, PRIORITY CHECK-IN, PRIORITY BOARDING 

(AT AEROBRIDGE GATES), AND PRIORITY BAGGAGE HANDLING. *BASIS AIRCRAFT TYPE/SECTOR **NA STANDS FOR ‘NOT AVAILABLE’ 

*THE ABOVE MENTIONED PRICES AND FEATURES ARE ACCURATE AS AT THE TIME OF MAGAZINE PRINTING, AND ARE SUBJECT TO 

CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE 

166 

MAY 2017

R.N.I NO:DELENG/2015/63282

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