Spice July 2017 issue ipad pdf

JOHN ABRAHAM | PUNE HERITAGE | HEALTH SPECIAL 

spice 

Volume 11 | Issue 07 | July 2017 

THE INFLIGHT MAGAZINE 

KANDLA 

PORBANDAR 

SPICEJET 

GIVES WINGS TO 

PORBANDAR 

AND KANDLA. 

INTRODUCING FLIGHTS 

FROM PORBANDAR AND 

KANDLA TO MUMBAI. 

MUMBAI

FROM THE 

CMD’S DESK 

Dear Readers, 

Monsoon has arrived. And it has brought with it – 

along with refreshing showers – good tidings. 

The Paris Air Show concluded recently. One 

of the highlights of this edition was the second 

instalment of our mega aircraft deal – one that 

caught the attention of the world media and 

global aviation network. 

We placed two mega orders with Boeing 

and Bombardier. The Boeing order is for 40 

highly-efficient 737 MAX-10 airplanes worth 

US $4.74 billion. This is subsequent to our 

mammoth order for 250 Boeing aircraft worth US 

$22 billion in January, 2017. Furthermore, we have 

also signed a letter of intent with Bombardier 

Commercial Aircraft, for up to 50 Q400 

turboprop airliners valued at approximately US 

$1.7 billion. This will be the single largest order 

for Q400s ever. 

The 737 MAX family has been designed 

to offer customers exceptional performance, 

flexibility and efficiency, with lower per-seat 

costs and an extended range that will open 

up new destinations in the single-aisle market. 

The Q400, meanwhile, is the largest turboprop 

aircraft available in the market and the 86-seat 

configuration will help SpiceJet boost up its 

domestic operations in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities 

across India. We have always believed in making 

air travel affordable for every Indian. And this 

beefing up of our fleet is an initiative towards 

that direction. 

The UDAN initiative introduced by 

our Prime Minister also shares a similar 

objective – to make more and more Indians 

fly. As India’s largest regional carrier and an 

enthusiastic supporter of this programme, we 

have announced the launch of two new daily 

direct return flights on the routes of Mumbai- 

Porbandar-Mumbai and Mumbai-Kandla-Mumbai 

effective July 10, 2017. We are also launching 

operations at Patna. With the introduction of 

direct and onward flights to a host of Indian 

cities, Patna will now be connected to the rest 

of India like never before. July will see the 

introduction of daily direct return flights between 

Patna-Mumbai, Patna-Kolkata, Patna-Hyderabad, 

Patna-Bengaluru and Delhi-Patna. The North and 

South divide is also about to shrink, with a daily 

flight connecting the heritage cities of Jaipur and 

Hyderabad, followed by a Hyderabad-Chandigarh 

return flight. Recognising historic business links 

between Rajasthan and Assam, SpiceJet is also 

introducing a direct return flight between these 

destinations. 

Our 4th Quarter results were announced 

recently. We have recorded a ninth successive 

quarter with an astounding profit of `41.6 crores 

for the three months ending on March 31, 2017. 

The net profit for FY2017 stood at `430.7 crores, 

making this the second year of profitable growth 

post the airline’s turnaround. 

FY2017 was indeed a phenomenal year for 

everyone at SpiceJet. We clocked the best ontime 

performance among all airlines in India for 

FY2016-17. The rate of cancellation of flights was 

also one of the lowest. Our load factor of over 

90% for 26 months in a row is a global record. 

These are no mean feats considering the strong 

headwinds faced due to demonetisation and 

increasing fuel prices. 

SpiceJet made its foray into the world 

of fashion with its recently launched online 

venture, SpiceStyle.com. Targetted specifically 

at trendy travellers, this venture offers fashion 

and lifestyle products designed to upift their 

style quotient. SpiceStyle offers a calibrated mix 

of value and mid-segment pricing that lends its 

products affordability, yet keeping them highly 

aspirational. SpiceStyle also joined hands with 

the global e-commerce giant Amazon.in to 

launch its entire portfolio in the website’s Prime 

section at special launch prices offering discounts 

of flat 25%, and additional cashback offers. These 

products can also be ordered on SpiceJet flights. 

It is in SpiceJet’s DNA to shed the image of 

air travel being a boring, mundane affair. And 

Lakhan Khandait from Indore witnessed this 

spicy side of ours quite recently, when he won 

the bumber prize of a Mercedes Benz C200 in 

our Spicy Hot Jackpot Offer. 

Our staff winning accolades elsewhere 

is always a moment of pride for us. We wish 

to congratulate our cabin crew Ms Tenzin 

Paldon who was crowned Miss Tibet at the 

Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) in 

Dharamshala last month. 

As nature reveals one of its most beautiful 

sides, may the month of July usher in joy into 

your life. 

Jai Hind! 

Ajay Singh 

Chairman & Managing Director 

2 ||||| AUGUST 2016

Cover July.indd All Pages 

JOHN ABRAHAM | PUNE HERITAGE | HEALTH SPECIAL 

Volume 11 | Issue 07 | July 2017 

THE INFLIGHT MAGAZINE 

29/06/17 12:16 PM 

spice 

JULY 2017 www.spicejet.com 

KANDLA 

PORBANDAR 

SPICEJET 

GIVES WINGS TO 

PORBANDAR 

AND KANDLA. 

INTRODUCING FLIGHTS 

FROM PORBANDAR AND 

KANDLA TO MUMBAI. 

MUMBAI 

CONTENTS 

46 

GIVING 

WINGS TO 

PORT CITIES 

SpiceJet makes 

its foray in the 

aviation ministry’s 

new Regional 

Connectivity 

Scheme UDAN by 

introducing flights 

to Porbandar and 

Kandla 

54 

ENABLING LIVES 

NGO Deepalaya has successfully 

established several projects in 

the areas of education, women 

empowerment, institutional care 

and community health in Delhi, 

Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and 

Uttarakhand 

74 

THE SHAH OF SPICES 

Caraway (or Shahi Jeera as it 

is better known locally) has 

been the foundation for many 

food cultures – including the 

well-known Awadhi and Sindhi 

cuisines. 

62 

KOZHIKODE 

Made famous by Vasco Da Gama 

who landed on these shores 

back in 1498, the city continues 

to be a magnet for one and all 

with its plethora of beaches, 

museums, and arts and crafts 

clusters 

8 

JULY 2017

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CONTENTS 

MR. FITNESS 

John Abraham on the new films 

he is producing and how he aims 

to live and die with a six-pack. 

80 100 

ON A ROBUST GROWTH 

PATH 

Rising incomes, growing health 

awareness and increasing 

coverage of health insurance 

have all contributed to making 

healthcare one of the fastest 

growing sectors in India. 

92 

PUNE HERITAGE 

Within the Pune of universities, 

corporate parks, cafes 

and entertainment centres 

lies another Pune - that of 

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj 

and Peshwa Baji Rao where 

peths, wadas, temples and 

monuments continue to capture 

the imagination and draw the 

crowds 

SPICEJET INSIDER 

Social media 22 

SpiceVacations.com24 

Spice products26 

My town126 

Onboard menu 127 

Mobile apps128 

Music130 

News131 

Stars of SpiceJet134 

SpiceJet fleet136 

Route map140 

SpiceJet add-ons142 

18 


3 CAMPUSES | 2 UNIVERSITIES | 1 NAME 

Graphic Era has been engaged in fostering innovation and new learning ideas from last 25 years. 

Graphic Era University and Graphic Era Hill University have been working consistently to impart quality 

education and inculcate skills among the youth. Graphic Era University, a deemed university has been 

accredited by NAAC with grade 'A'. Both the universities are receiving recognition and higher rankings 

year after year for their abiding commitment to excellence and relentless pursuit of the best. 

Applications are invited for admissions to the following courses: 

B.Tech 

B. Arch 

M.Tech. 

B.Sc Biotechnology (H) 

B.Sc Microbiology (H) 

B.Sc Food Technology (H) 

M.Sc Biotechnology 

M.Sc Microbiology 

Computer Application 

BCA 

B.Sc (IT) 

MCA 

MCA (Lateral Entry) 

M.Sc (IT) 

Allied Sciences 

B.Sc Physics (H) 

B.Sc Math (H) 

Commerce 

B.Com (H) 

B.Com (H) International Finance & 

Accounting with ACCA (UK) 

B.Com (H) Corporate Accounting & 

Financial Analysis with CMA (USA) 

M.Com 

Humanities & Social Sciences 

BA English (H) 

BA Psychology (H) 

BA Economics (H) 

Management 

BBA (Marketing, Finance, HR) 

BBA (Digital Marketing) 

BBA (International Finance & 

Accounting with ACCA (UK) 

BBA (Corporate Accounting & 

Financial Analysis with CMA (USA)) 

GRAPHIC ERA 

MBA (Marketing, Finance, HR, SCM, 

IB, Entrepreneurship) 

MBA (Business Analytics) 

Hotel Management 

Bachelor in Hotel Management 

Masters in Hotel Management (MHM) 

Dip. in Hotel & Hospitality Mgmt. (DHHM) 

Mass Communication 

B.A Journalism & Mass Communication 

M.A in Mass Communication 

Animation 

B.Sc (Animation & Gaming) 

Law - BBA. LLB 

Fashion Design 

Bachelor in Design (Fashion Design) 

Agriculture - B.Sc Agriculture 

Fine Arts - Bachelor in Fine Arts (BFA) 

Course Legend GEU Dehradun GEHU Dehradun GEHU Bhimtal 

Graphic Era University 

Deemed University under section 3 of UGC Act, 1956 

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) 

Graphic Era Hill University 

Established by Act 12 of 2011 of the State Legislature Uttarakhand 

Dehradun, (Uttarakhand) 

Graphic Era Hill University 

Established by Act 12 of 2011 of the State Legislature Uttarakhand 

Bhimtal, Nainital, (Uttarakhand) 

GEU ACCREDITED BY NAAC 

WITH GRADE A 

WITH HIGHEST GRADE SCORE 

IN UTTARAKHAND 

DST SPONSORED 

TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS 

INCUBATOR 

AT GEU 

CENTER OF EXCELLENCE PARTNER 

Graphic Era 

GEU Among 101-150 

All India Rank band of NIRF-2017 

(National Institutional Ranking Framework) 

GEHU, Bhimtal campus 

th 

Ranked 11 among 

20 Marvellous College 

Campuses of India

CONTENTS 

AN ARCHITECTURAL MARVEL 

Hidden inside the walls of the Pink City’s magnificently designed 

edifices are stories of Rajasthani feats, Mughal pursuits and 

European ambition. 

122 

117 

spice 

JULY 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 

KOLKATA 

PRABAL DEB 

SENIOR MANAGER 

spicerouteeast.advt@gmail.com 

ASHIT NARAIN 

kolkata@mwspiceroute.in 

KERALA 

SANJEEV NAIR 

nair.sanjeev1@gmail.com 

GUJARAT 

SANJAY CHAWDA 

sanjaychawda@gmail.com 

For international advertising contact 

Vinod Mohite (vinod@mwspiceroute.in) 9323554207 

PRODUCED BY 

BLOOMS ON MY PLATE 

Flowers have come a long way from being pretty adjuncts to 

changing the very course of your meal 

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 


SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

@flyspicejet really appericiate Ms. Komal 

and team on sg947 who took good care 

of us. 

@ndshahs0401 

@flyspicejet fab music 

just goes to show your 

gr8 attention to detail! 

#stayawsome #luv2fly 

@flyspicejet Selva did a fab job today,5 

musicians & lots of luggage.He respects art & 

was a breeze checking in. Ty guys 

@aneeshvvs 

@flyspicejet a special 

mention of @ashishprabhu22 

for his prompt, 

always smiling service at 

the KIA, Bengaluru. 

@ajayacharya 

@calvin_hobbies 

On time take off, smooth 

landing, pleasant journey. After 

landing, crew completed the 

announcement by saying 

#JaiHind @flyspicejet SG3707 

BUZZ ON 

SOCIAL MEDIA 

@jvidyasagar 

@flyspicejet is getting better with every 

flight. Special thanks to Captain Swati n 

Crew Priyanka today on SG468. Keep it up! 

Oooo this Spicejet Pilot has great 

taste in music. 

@pratikdbansal 

@ItsTheRedBaron 

Thank u for the direct flight from 

Bangalore to bagdogra..Very helpful 

to a lot of ppl in this sector. 

SpiceJet may you u soon be the biggest 

airlines of India in terms of market share. 

Kudos to the commercial team. 

Soutik Das 

@flyspicejet thank you so much for an amazing flight! I 

travelled from Delhi to Surat yesterday on flight SG823 

and the view In sky was 

@bhingradiya97 

Nirmal Rajan 

FIND YOUR FAVOURITE AIRLINE ON @FLYSPICEJET ON TWITTER & FACEBOOK 

22 


SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

SPICEVACATIONS.COM 

GREAT DEALS ON HOTELS AND PACKAGES 

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 

Now book your 

hotel as soon as 

you land 

SPICEVACATIONS.COM is a one-stop 

shop for hotel bookings and 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. On the 

website, you can choose between 

cheap, budget and luxury vacations; 

search for the best hotels across India; 

and have a great experience while saving 

money. In addition, backpackers can add 

some comfort to their travels without 

lightening their pockets. For those who 

haven’t booked their hotels, you can 

book your hotel as soon as you land. 

With SpiceVacations.com, you can 

make changes in your itinerary online, at 

every step of the trip. For instance, if you 

want to opt for a bigger car even if the 

package entails a smaller one, you can do 

so with ease. You need to simply decide 

on the theme of your 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. 

With this unique initiative by 

SpiceJet, you 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 along with other regular 

options on offer. 

As the website is powered by 

SpiceJet, you 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 

24 


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. 

26 


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. 

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

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 pre-paid service can be bought 

for per passenger, per sector of the 

journey, on the payment of the nonrefundable 

fees. A Priority Check-In 

for flights within and/or originating 

from India costs `200. For flights 

originating from out of India, the fare 

is `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. 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. 

27 


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. 

28 


OPENING SHOT 

SEASONS 

MONSOON JOY 

AND YOU THOUGHT PEOPLE 

TRAVELLED LESS IN THE 

RAINS? Well, we have some 

news for you. According to a 

recent report, there has been a 

60 per cent jump in monsoon 

bookings to domestic 

destinations, when compared 

to last year. Kerala, Poducherry 

and Ladakh are the top three 

favourites, in that order. Apart 

from the bracing weather and 

greenery all around, there are 

other unique attractions for the 

monsoon traveller, the report 

released by Thomas Cook 

(India) says. The Indian 

traveller is also being 

increasingly lured by offseason 

discounts being offered 

by travel companies and 

hospitality chains. 

Top to bottom: Tea plantations in Munnar, Kerala; the Matrimandir temple in Poducherry; and 

the Lamayuru monastery in Ladakh 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

30 


OPENING SHOT 

TOURISM 

HOW TO 

GIVE A 

CLEAN 

LOOK TO 

THE 25 TOP 

MONUMENTS 

IN INDIA 

THE SWACHH PARYATAN APP, 

an initiative launched by the 

central Ministry of Tourism in 

New Delhi, is creating a buzz. 

It works as a 24 x 7 toll-free 

help line to promote clean 

tourist spots. The app at 

present is covering 25 popular 

tourist destinations like the Taj 

Mahal, Qutab Minar and 

Konarak Temple (see table). 

Each of them is a `Adarsh 

Smarak Monument’ protected 

by the Archaeological Survey 

of India (ASI). Using the app, 

tourists can make complaints, 

suggest improvements and 

comment on the cleanliness 

aspects at the monuments. If 

the usage of the app picks up – 

and if the suggestions are 

implemented quickly by those 

in charge - it sure should go a 

long way in getting more 

tourist traffic towards these 

wonderful monuments. 

MONUMENT LOCATION STATE 

SHORE TEMPLE MAHABALIPURAM TAMIL NADU 

HUMAYUN’S TOMB NEW DELHI DELHI 

ELEPHANTA CAVES MUMBAI MAHARASHTRA 

RED FORT NEW DELHI DELHI 

FATEHPUR SIKRI AGRA UTTAR PRADESH 

SRAVASTI DEVIPATAN UTTAR PRADESH 

JAHAJ MAHAL PARISAR MANDU MADHYA PRADESH 

HAMPI BELLARY KARNATAKA 

TAJ MAHAL AGRA UTTAR PRADESH 

BRIHADESHWARA TEMPLE THANJAVUR TAMIL NADU 

VAISHALI KOLHUA BIHAR 

LEH PALACE LEH J & K 

KUMBALGARH FORT RAJSAMAND RAJASTHAN 

SARNATH VARANASI UTTAR PRADESH 

RANI-KI-VAV PATAN GUJARAT 

RANG GHAR JOYSAGAR ASSAM 

KHAJURAHO CHHATARPUR MADHYA PRADESH 

JAGESHWAR TEMPLES JATAGANGA UTTARAKHAND 

GROUP OF TEMPLES PATTADAKAL KARNATAKA 

MASRUR ROCK-CUT TEMPLE LAHALPUR HIMACHAL PRADESH 

KONARK SUN TEMPLE KONARK ODISHA 

MARTAND TEMPLE ANANTNAG J & K 

QUTAB MINAR NEW DELHI DELHI 

HAZARDWARI PALACE MURSHIDABAD WEST BENGAL 

DAULATABAD FORT AURANGABAD MAHARASHTRA 

Chand Minar at 

Daulatabad Fort 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

32 


OPENING SHOT 

LANDMARKS 

THE TAJ’S ENDURING GLORY 

Amber Fort 

Taj Mahal 

REMEMBER YOUR SCHOOL DAYS when you 

were taught that the Taj Mahal figures among 

the seven wonders of the world? Now there is 

further affirmation of the beauty in Agra still 

high on the vow factor, this time from the 

modern traveller’s point of view. According to a 

recent survey carried out by American travel 

website TripAdvisor, the fabulous Taj Mahal 

ranks fifth among popular landmarks in the 

world, behind attractions like the Angkor Wat 

(Cambodia) and St Peter’s Basilica (Italy). But, 

as expected, it is numero uno among Indian 

landmarks, leaving behind other wonders like 

Amber Fort (Jaipur), the Bandra-Worli Sea Link 

(Mumbai) and the Qutab Minar (New Delhi). 

The honours, given out in various categories to 

landmarks in 82 countries, were based on 

feedback collected over the last one year. 

Bandra Worli Sealink 

Qutab Minar 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

34 


MELANGE 

EVENTS 

HOT DATES 

DANCE // MUSIC // THEATRE // ART 

DANCE 

THE DARK LORD: 

BHARATANATYAM BY 

RUKMINI VIJAYAKUMAR 

The Dark Lord is a dancetheatre 

experience that will 

take the viewers on a journey 

through the images of the 

many seekers of Krishna. 

Following the life and voice 

of Meera, the poetess of love, 

the story attempts to parallel 

the struggles, madness, 

lamentations and ultimately 

the surrender of these seekers. 

When: July 14-15, 2017 

Where: Bengaluru 

COMEDY 

LAST MAN RANTING 

Writer and humorist Maheep Singh touches on a variety of 

subjects in his first solo show. It is a rant by a male of the 

species that gives voice to what we think in our heads all 

the time. 

When: July 29, 2017 

Where: New Delhi 

SPORT 

PRO KABBADI LEAGUE 2017 

The 2017 season will be the fifth edition of the Pro Kabaddi 

League, and it will feature a total of 12 teams, including the new 

teams from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat. 


Where: Across India 

36 


MELANGE 

EVENTS 

DANCE 

MUGDHA – KATHAK 

BY GAURI DIWAKAR 

& TROUPE 

Versatile Kathak 

danseuse, Gauri 

Diwakar, along with 

her troupe, will 

present Mugdha, a 

celebration of beauty 

and womanhood. Over 

the centuries, Radha 

has symbolised beauty 

and eternal love. Her 

love for Krishna can 

be felt in the unending 

quest of this beauty 

and truth. 


Where: NCPA Mumbai 

SPORT 

RFC INDIA SEASON 4 

RFC India is the India chapter of the Rainforest Challenge of 

Malaysia, which is among the top ten toughest motor races in 

the world. Each team will comprise a driver and a navigator, 

and the teams will be tested on their driving and vehicle 

recovery skills as well as their physical endurance, mental 

toughness and team spirit under extreme off-road conditions. 

When: July 22-30, 2017 

Where: Goa 

THEATRE 

THE WAITING ROOMS 

The Waiting Rooms is a Gujarati play about people who are at 

the crossroads of their lives, waiting for that one twist of fate 

that can catapult them from the rut, from the monotony of life. 


Where: Chennai 

38 


MELANGE 

EVENTS 

JULY LISTINGS 

1 

What: Sayujya 

(Dance 

Performance) 

When: 7.00 pm 

Where: NCPA 

Mumbai 

1-2 

What: Hyderabad 

Bengali Film Festival 

When: 10.00 am 

onwards 

Where: Prasad Film 

Laboratory: Hyderabad 

2 

What: SwaraMalhar 

(Hindustani Concert) 

When: 8.00 pm 

Where: Tilak Smarak 

Mandir, Pune 

3-4 

What: Hemis 

Festival 

Where: Hemis 

Monastery, 

Ladakh 

9 14 

What: Legends of 

Sufi (Sufi Concert) 

When: 7.00 pm 

Where: Sirifort 

Auditorium, Delhi 

What: Jagga 

Jasoos (Hindi 

Film) 

Where: Across 

India 

16 

22 

22-23 

What: Under 25 Lit 

Fest 2017 (Literature 

Festival) 

When: 10.00 am 

Where: Chennai 

What: Santhulan 

(Dance) 

When: 6.30 pm 

Where: Gurunanak 

Bhavan Auditorium, 

Bengaluru 

What: Sunil Grover Live (Stand-up Comedy) 

When: 6.00 pm 

Where: Phoenix Marketcity, Whitefield, 

Bengaluru 

24 27 

28- 

30 

What: Punchliners: Jeeveshu 

Ahluwalia (Stand-up Comedy) 

When: 9.00 pm 

Where: Turquoise Cottage, Delhi 

What: The Pi Plus Duo 

(Western Classical Concert) 

When: 7.00 pm 

Where: NCPA Mumbai 

What: Explore Hampi 

(Adventure Trek) 

When: 10.00 pm 

Where: Bengaluru 

SHUTTERSTOCK (HEMIS, LIT FESTIVAL, HAMPI) 

40 


MELANGE 

INFORMATION 

WHAT'S NEW 

KERALA TO PUSH NORTHERN 

DESTINATIONS ON TOURISM MAP • 

Kerala Tourism is planning to place North Kerala 

on its promotional campaigns this year, in order 

to reach a target of increasing domestic tourist 

arrivals by 50% and international tourist arrivals 

by 100%, by 2021. Kerala Tourism will leverage 

upon the established destinations in South 

Kerala, while giving importance to North 

Kerala destinations such as Bekal, Kannur, 

Calicut and Manappuram. Kerala is also 

banking upon air connectivity and airport 

infrastructure to boost tourism. In FY 2016-2017, 

Kerala received a record one million foreign 

tourist arrivals. 

VARANASI AIRPORT GETS A MAJOR TAG 

FOR HANDLING MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION 

FLYERS IN 2016-17 

Varanasi Airport has been recognised as a major airport 

by the central government after it handled more than 1.5 

million passengers in 2016 -17, completing three years of 

above-average growth. According to industry analysts, the 

passenger growth during the period at the airport is higher 

than comparable airports such as Lucknow and Patna. 

PARTITION MUSEUM IN AMRITSAR TO BE 

INAUGURATED ON AUG 17 

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh will inaugurate the 

Partition Museum on August 17. The museum presents and 

records the stories of the survivors of the Partition. “It is the 

world’s first museum on the Partition. The Partition did not 

see just the division of Punjab and Bengal, but also a colossal 

loss of homes and lives during the largest mass migration in 

history,” said Mallika Ahluwalia, CEO, Partition Museum. The 

museum will display over 5,000 items including oral histories, 

documents and artefacts. 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

42 


MELANGE 

INFORMATION 

DUBAI AMONG THE MOST 

VEGETARIAN-FRIENDLY 

DESTINATIONS FOR 

INDIANS • 

Dubai, UK and Singapore have 

emerged as the most preferred 

vegetarian-friendly destinations 

for Indian vegetarian travellers, 

according to a survey. The survey 

also revealed that cuisine is the most 

important factor while finalising a 

holiday. A whopping 70% of the 

vegetarian travellers choose their 

destination based on accessibility 

to vegetarian food, whereas 30% 

of the travellers would scout for a 

vegetarian restaurant after they have 

chosen a destination. 

AMAZING THAILAND LAUNCHES 

THAILAND SHOPPING & DINING 

PARADISE 2017 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s much anticipated 

annual Amazing Thailand Grand Sale campaign, 

which has been held successfully for 18 consecutive 

years, will return this year as the ‘Thailand Shopping 

& Dining Paradise 2017’ up till July 31, in various cities 

across Thailand. Under the campaign, hotels, airlines, 

restaurants, theme parks, department stores, spas, 

jewellery partners and participating outlets will offer 

special promotions and steep discounts. 

AVIATION SECTOR IN INDIA EMERGES AS THE 

WORLD’S THIRD LARGEST AVIATION MARKET 

The civil aviation industry in India has emerged as one of the 

fastest growing industries in the country during the last three years. 

With 19% growth in domestic passenger traffic from about 6.1 crore 

in 2014 to 10 crore in 2016-17, India is now the third largest aviation 

market in the world, with the promise to grow even further. This is 

majorly because of its impressive and inclusive nature defined by 

the Regional Connectivity Scheme – UDAN that has made air travel 

possible for even the common man in remote areas. 

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COVER STORY 

CONNECTIVITY 

GIVING WINGS 

TO PORT CITIES 

SPICEJET MAKES ITS FORAY IN THE AVIATION MINISTRY’S NEW REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY SCHEME UDAN 

BY INTRODUCING FLIGHTS TO PORBANDAR AND KANDLA 

46 


When Prime 

Minister 

Narendra 

Modi 

launched 

Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN), 

the Regional Connectivity Scheme 

(RCS) for civil aviation, on April 27, 

2017 from Jubbarhatti airport, 25 km 

from Shimla, it heralded the dawn of 

a new civil aviation policy catering to 

the aspirations of the Indian middle 

class. On that day, apart from New 

Delhi-Jubbarhatti, Nanded- 

Hyderabad and Kadapa-Hyderabad 

sectors were also brought under the 

ambit of UDAN. 

In all, the scheme spans 128 

routes connecting 70 airports across 

20 states and union territories. 

Twenty four of these airports are in 

the western region, 17 in the north, 11 

in the south, 12 in the east and 6 in 

the north-east. No airline flies to 31 

of the 70 cities right now. 

One of the salient features of the 

innovative UDAN scheme: capping 

50 per cent of the seats in every flight 

at Rs 2,500 per hour. “My dream was 

to see a person who wears a hawai 

chappal to fly on the hawai jahaz or 

plane. The lives of the middle class 

are being transformed and their 

aspirations are increasing. Earlier, 

aviation was considered to be the 

domain of a select few. That has 

changed now,” the prime minister 

said in his speech at the 

inauguration. 

“Tier-II and tier-III cities will be 

growth engines with the country’s 

aviation sector filled with 

opportunities. If aviation 

connectivity in tier-II and tier-III 

cities is enhanced, it will be 

beneficial. We had the opportunity 

to frame a civil aviation policy which 

caters to the aspirations of the people of 

India.” 

UDAN is a first-of-its-kind scheme 

launched anywhere in the world. The 

idea behind it is to stimulate regional 

connectivity through a market-based 

mechanism. Over the years, many states 

had been clamouring for the revival of 

dysfunctional airports and starting 

operations on un-served ones. This twin 

demand will be addressed via UDAN. 

SpiceJet is one of the five airlines 

that have been selected to operate 

UDAN flights. “I am happy that SpiceJet 

is helping realise Prime Minister 

Narendra Modi’s vision of ensuring that 

every Indian can fly,” says Ajay Singh, 

Chairman and Managing Director, 

SpiceJet. “UDAN is a wonderful scheme 

and we are proud to be amongst its 

pacesetters. It has been our constant 

endeavour to enable the common man to 

fly since we began our operations twelve 

years back. In the future, we will 

connect with many more small towns 

and cities.” 

At the outset, SpiceJet will be flying 

to Adampur, Kandla, Puducherry, 

Jaisalmer, Porbandar and Kanpur. The 

airline’s first set of UDAN flights will be 

on the Mumbai-Porbandar-Mumbai and 

Mumbai-Kandla-Mumbai routes, 

serviced by Bombardier Q400 aircraft. 

As we go to print, SpiceJet has 20 of 

these planes in its fleet, each of which 

can seat 78 passengers. 

More are on the way. At the 

International Paris Air Show, SpiceJet 

recently signed a letter of intent (LoI) 

with Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, 

for up to 50 Q400 turboprop airliners. 

This would be the single biggest order 

for the Q400. “I am delighted to 

announce this new order for 50 Q400 

planes. SpiceJet operates India’s largest 

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COVER STORY 

CONNECTIVITY 

photographs, some of Gandhi’s 

possessions and a library of books 

written by him or pertaining to 

Gandhian philosophy and practice. 

There are other touristy attractions 

as well. Two km from the middle of town 

is Bharat Mandir, with exhibits of 

sculptures and pictures related to Indian 

culture. Next door is the Nehru 

Planetarium. There are many attractive 

temples (Shree Sudamaji Mandir, 

Sandipani Temple, Khimeshwar 

Mahadev Temple, Bileshwara Shiva 

Temple, etc) and palaces (Huzoor 

Palace, Daria Raj Mahal, etc) in town. 

In addition, a local branch of the 

Ram Krishna Mission draws many 

regional fleet and is the only organised 

visitors. It is said that Swami 

operator in this space," says CMD Singh. 

Vivekananda had stayed here for four 

The airline is thus very well-placed 

months. Chowpatti Beach is popular 

to meet the challenges of the new path- 

with tourists as well as locals who 

breaking scheme. UDAN is expected to 

throng here in large numbers. It is 

give a major fillip to tourism and 

located at a walking distance from 

generate employment in the interiors of 

Porbandar town area. Visitors are 

the country. With the introduction of 

mesmerized by the sight of boats and 

small aircraft, travel time in remote and 

ships of various sizes in the distant sea. 

hilly regions, as well as islands, will be 

Then there is Porbandar Bird 

Top to bottom: Mahatma Gandhi's statue 

installed in his birth city Porbandar; and the 

Jawaharlal Nehru planetarium in the city 

greatly reduced. And SpiceJet will be 

there at every step of the way, making 

the trail-blazing scheme a success. 

Sanctuary, spread over an area of one 

square kilometre. It was declared as a 

sanctuary in 1988. The splendorous 

UDAN: THE SALIENT FEATURES 

• UDAN will provide air connectivity 

mainly to un-served and under-served 

locations. 

• The seating capacity will range from 

19 to 78. 

• As we go to press, the next flight 

being planned under UDAN will be in 

the Mumbai-Nanded sector. 

PORBANDAR 

Every school kid remembers Porbandar 

as Mahatma Gandhi’s birth place. But 

Porbandar is also famous as an allweather 

port with berthing facilities for 

ships of up to 50,000 Deadweight 

Tonnage (DWT). This makes it an 

important commercial centre – mainly 

for cement and chemicals - and hence an 

attractive component of the UDAN 

beauty of the place is enriched by the 

migratory birds visiting this area every 

year. Water birds are often seen 

splashing in the freshwater lake. They 

include Flamingos, Grebes, Pelicans, 

Ducks and Geese, Avocets, Coots, 

Cormorants, Herons, Egrets, Bittern, 

Storks, Ibis, Spoonbill, Cranes, 

Whistling Teals, Gulls, Terns, Jacanas, 

Ruff, Red Shanks, Indian Roller and 

many other varieties of winged 

• The scheme ensures affordability, 

connectivity, growth and development. 

scheme. 

The Gandhi connection has helped 

creatures. If it is wildlife that interests 

you, then head to the Barda Hills 

• UDAN is part of the National Civil 

Aviation Policy (NCAP) released 

exactly a year ago. 

• The scheme will be in operation for 

a decade. 

raise the town’s tourism profile. The site 

of Gandhi’s birth, now called Kirti 

Mandir, has been converted into a small 

museum dedicated to him. It houses a 

permanent exhibition of old 

Wildlife Sanctuary, just 15 km away from 

SpiceJet flies to Porbandar. 

Log on to www.spicejet.com 

for details 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

48 


COVER STORY 

CONNECTIVITY 

Porbandar. 

The hilly terrain with patches of flat 

plains at places, the crisscrossing of 

numerous rivulets and streams and 

existing dams impart a scenic look to the 

forest. The sanctuary is spread over 

192.31 sq. km. and is home to a wide 

variety of animals. 

Amongst the mammals, ratel, 

leopard and wolf are found here. The 

reptiles include crocodile and 

chameleon. Of the four common 

venomous snakes, three are found here. 

Spotted Eagle and Crested Hawk-Eagle 

are among the birds that can be spotted 

at the breath-taking sanctuary. 

KANDLA 

One of the major ports on the Western 

that can be accessed from Kandla. 

First and foremost is Mahesana, an 

coast, Kandla is one of the largest Indian 

ancient town which flourished under 

ports in terms of the volume of cargo 

the Solanki dynasty. There’s something 

handled. It is located 430 nautical miles 

for tourists of all hues here including 

north-northwest of the other important 

museums, ancient temples, historical 

port of Mumbai. To Kandla goes the 

structures, natural habitats and wildlife 

credit of being the first special economic 

zone to be established in India. It is the 

country’s hub for exporting grains and 

importing oil. Other imports entering 

sanctuaries. 

The Tanariri Memorial pays tribute 

to the singer sisters Tana and Riri who 

were well-known for their singing 

Top to bottom: The bustling port of Kandla; 

and the popular Radisson Blu hotel in the 

port city 

the port are iron and steel and iron 

prowess during the rule of Akbar. If you 

machinery. 

are travelling with kids, do make it to 

The port was established in 1931 

Shanku’s Water Park, a delightful 

with the construction of a RCC jetty by 

destination full of entertainment zones, 

Maharao Khengarji. Kandla Port’s 

rides and recreational facilities. Another 

importance increased after partition 

attraction is the Dudhsagar Dairy, one of 

with the buzzing Karachi port having 

the largest in Asia and the facility that 

gone to Pakistan. On March 31, 2016, 

put Mahesana on the international map. 

news filtered out that Kandla Port had 

Another getaway from Kandla is 

created history – it handled 100 MMT 

Jamnagar. Known largely as the home of 

cargo in a year, thus becoming the first 

the world’s largest refinery, Jamnagar is 

port in India to achieve the milestone. 

on the coast of Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat. 

The neighboring town of Kandla has 

Legend associates the area with 

grown mainly on the back of the 

Krishna, who migrated from Mathura 

economic strength of the port. Apart 

and established his kingdom at Dwarka. 

from the main port, the religiously 

Places of tourist interest include 

inclined can visit the Balaji Temple, Shiv 

Ranjitsagar Dam and Ranmal Lake. 

Temple and the Hanuman Temple. It 

helps if you have time on your hands. For 

there are many other attractive places 

Among the heritage sites are Lakhota 

Palace, Bohra Hajira, Pratap Vilas 

Palace and Bhujiyo Kotho. 

SpiceJet flies to Kandla. Log on to 

www.spicejet.com for details 

ALAMY 

50 


The Journey of the 

"SPICE SAMRAT" 

crusader, Mahashay Dharampal never looked 

back. Always devoted to quality and purity of MDH 

spices, he made these the pillars of his progressive 

policies. Infact the finest quality of MDH Spices has 

been recognised through various awards from time 

to time. In Mahashay Dharampal's efforts to 

achieve greater heights of fame for the MDH, his 

son Rajeev Gulati's contribution is no less who is 

presently shouldering the responsibility of Director 

of the Company. His major achievement lies in 

putting MDH on world map. The fifth grade dropout 

94 year old Mahashay Dharam Pal was the highest 

paid FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) CEO 

in India in 2016. 

MDH under the leadership of Mahashay Dharam 

Pal has developed more than 20 schools including 

MDH International School, Mahashay Chunnilal 

Saraswati Bal Mandir (named after his father), 

Mata Lilawanti Saraswati Vidya Mandir (named 

after his late wife), and Mahashay Dharampal Vidya 

Mandir, Subhash Nagar New Delhi. Besides these, 

many more orgnizations are running all over India 

with the help and blessings of Mahashay Ji. 

He started a small 10 beds eye hospital at Arya 

Samaj, Subhash Nagar, New Delhi in November 

1975. Later in January 1984, a 20 beds hospital 

was established in Janakpuri, New Delhi to 

commemorate his mother Mata Chanan Devi. Now 

it becomes 210 Bedded Multi - Speciality Hospital 

in about 5 Acers Land, the Hospital is equipped with 

modern facilities like MRI, CT Scan, Heart Wing, 

Neuro Sciences, IVF etc. 

" 

94 YEARS OLD MAHASHAY JI HAS 82 YEARS 

OF EXPERIENCE IN HIS CREDIT " 

Spices have a long and ancient history, especially in India, 

where they are a part of life and heritage. In every home & in 

every province across the country, different spices and 

blends are used to create different and distinctive tastes in 

dishes. Several decades ago, housewives used to grind 

their spices manually at home and make their own blends 

for use in their cooking. To make this process easier for the 

housewife, 'MAHASHIAN DI HATTI' (MDH) visualised the 

concept of ready-to-use ground spices. 

The Journey of MDH Spices started in 1919 by Mahashay 

Chunni Lal Gulati. Moving forward with the zeal of a 

Today MDH spices and blends are popular not just 

in India but also around the world and the products 

are being exported to more than 100 countries 

including the United States of America, Canada, 

United Kingdom, Europe, South East Asia, Japan, 

U.A.E. and Saudi Arabia. Company have own 

offices in London (U.K.) and a state of art 

manufacturing unit at Sharjah (U.A.E.). 

During its 98 years of golden performance, MDH 

wishes to congratulate to its associates, workers, 

well wishers, stockist and dealers for their 

contribution in this glorious achievement and 

further wishes to share its joys with every household 

in the country and abroad. With all humility 

MDH invites you to join in this on-going march 

towards greater heights of achievements and 

seeks your continuous support in its endeavour to 

make yet greater achievements in future.

FOOD 

CARAWAY 

EACH SPICEJET AIRCRAFT HAS BEEN NAMED AFTER 

A PARTICULAR SPICE. IN THIS ISSUE WE TALK ABOUT 

THE BENEFITS AND USAGE OF CARAWAY 

THE SHAH 

OF SPICES 

CARAWAY (OR SHAHI JEERA AS IT IS 

BETTER KNOWN LOCALLY) HAS BEEN 

THE FOUNDATION FOR MANY FOOD 

CULTURES – INCLUDING THE WELL- 

KNOWN AWADHI AND SINDHI 

CUISINES. BY MADHULIKA DASH 

Pasta with mushrooms, cabbage and caraway 

`12 BRIGHT HUED, PRETTY SEEDS — 

not one more or less’. Believe it or not, 

but there was a time in Medieval 

England when those were the number of 

caraway seeds that one had to chew on 

before his/her audience with Queen 

Victoria, who was fond of all things 

German, and insisted on having the 

seeds on her cake too! 

Closer home, this was the number of 

seeds that were recommended by the 

hakims to the khansamas in the Mughal 

court to be used when food was cooked 

for the emperor during peace time. And 

the reason behind wasn’t just the 

appetite-building sweet aroma that 

Shahi Jeera (or Vylaiti Jeera as it later 

came to be known as) lend to a dish or 

that amazing mouthfeel that came with 

every bite, but also the wellness 

property. Caraway seeds back then were 

considered the best antidote for a 

troublesome stomach and were used to 

prevent bloating and flatulence. 

This perhaps explains why it was 

such an important part of Julius Caesar’s 

army’s meal as well. Legend has it that 

the seeds and roots of the caraway plant 

were blended with the milk used to make 

the chara (bread) that was eaten by the 

soldiers of Valerius. It gave them the 

strength to digest anything while on the 

move, and satiated hunger during war. 

Ancient Greek physician Dioscorides 

was such a big fan of this aromatic spice 

that he made it an integral part of all his 

treatments – from brightening pale skin 

to treating mouth odour to colic. 

It was caraway’s healing properties 

that led to the creation of caraway 

comfits or mukhwas. Though its origin is 

still a mystery, 12th century cookbooks 

include it as an essential post meal serve. 

Caraway comfits in fact were as big a 

part of the English culture as they were 

of Germany and India, where it arrived 

courtesy the Roman maritime ships. 

Interestingly, unlike its popularity in 

the Middle East, Persia and Europe, 

where caraway seeds became a spice box 

condiment courtesy its aromatic sweet 

flavour and citrusy undertones, in India, 

it remained a commodity of great 

commerce. But that was until the Delhi 

Sultanate and especially the Mughals set 

up court in India. Fond of the spice, the 

Mughals in fact were the first rulers who 

elevated caraway from being a peasant 

spice to Shahi Jeera. 

Unlike the west, most dishes from 

the Mughal court, especially the pilafs 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

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FOOD 

CARAWAY 

Top to bottom: Chicken leg with potatoes, 

caraway and garlic; and Sindhi Seyal Gosht 

used Shahi Jeera as their main 

flavourant – and to some great 

dramatic effect. Even in Sindhi cuisine, 

Shahi Jeera was an important 

ingredient in preparing garam masala, 

and the key distinction between a wellmade 

Seyal Gosht and an average one. 

Says Chef Pradeep Tejwani, the 

man behind hospitality solutions 

company Young Turks, “Many of our 

dishes – particularly those made with 

rice, meat and a mélange of vegetables – 

call for Shahi Jeera both as a garnish 

and as a chief flavourant, and it is the 

one ingredient that gives Sindhi garam 

masala its unique identity.” 

But Shahi Jeera isn’t just an 

essential component of Sindhi cuisine 

and the main ingredient in Ghoda 

Masala used to prepare the 

Maharashtrian amti dal, but runs 

across the Northwest Frontier cuisine. 

“When Shahi Jeera is used in Nihari,” 

says Chef Ajay Anand (Culinary Chief 

Designer, Pullman, Aerocity New Delhi), 

“it isn’t just for that sweet, citrusy, earthy 

aroma and tones, it is also for its property 

of balancing the spices that are cooked 

for long hours and may cause acidity and 

other issues.” 

However, says Chef Kapil 

Mulchandani, “When it comes to 

tandoori items, it is there for the 

different notes that Shahi Jeera can 

exude while being manipulated over the 

fire – ranging from being 

overpoweringly sweet to slightly bitter 

and lemony, giving any tandoor dish – 

especially with potatoes, carrots and 

meat, a distinct taste and great 

mouthfeel.” 

Chef Shamsul Wahid, Executive 

Chef, Smoke House Delhi, says, “It is this 

sweet warm aroma that makes it an 

inseparable part of most Middle Eastern 

and English delicacies, and of Indian 

dishes too like the Coorg Pandi Curry 

and the sausages.” In fact, adds Wahid, 

“Given the different tones that Shahi 

Jeera can take on tempering and 

roasting, and its relative closeness to 

aniseed and fennel it makes a perfect 

pair for cold cuts. Aside from lending its 

sweet freshness, it also ably manages the 

slight ‘meat’ odour that comes from cold 

cuts.” This aptly explains Shahi Jeera’s 

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FOOD 

CARAWAY 

CARAWAY SCENTED ROAST 

CHICKEN WITH RED WINE 

JUS AND BUTTER TOSSED 

FARM FRESH VEGETABLES 

Recipe and image courtesy: Chef 

Jerson Fernandes, Executive Chef, 

Jeon, Hotel Sea Princess, Mumbai 

INGREDIENTS 

Whole bird with skin 

Garlic 

Onions 

Caraway seeds 

Olive oil 

Fresh thyme 

Fresh rosemary 

Celery 

Carrots 

Red wine 

Potatoes 

Parsley 

Brocolli 

Mushrooms 

Baby potatoes 

Cherry tomatoes 

Corn 

Salt 

Pepper crushed 

Lemon wedge 

Orange wedge 

Butter 

1 no 

1 bulb 

2 nos 

30 gms 

400 ml 

1 bunch 

1 bunch 

1 bunch 

2 nos 

200 ml 

4 nos 

100 gms 

500 gms 

50 gms 

40 gms 

20 gms 

30 gms 

To taste 

To taste 

1 no 

1 no 

100 gms 

Honey 

100 gms 

Paprika powder 3 tbsp 

METHOD 

• Roughly chop onions, 

celery, carrots, potatoes, 

garlic and spread over a 

baking tray. Drizzle olive 

oil and mix well. 

• Wash chicken and 

marinate it with olive oil 

mixed with caraway seeds, 

finely chopped garlic, 

paprika powder, fresh 

rosemary, thyme, parsley, 

salt and crushed black 

pepper. 

•Massage the chicken 

nicely to ensure the 

marinade has entered the 

part below its skin and 

allow to rest for 45 minutes. 

• Place the chicken over a 

bed of aromatic vegetables 

in the baking tray and place 

in a preheated oven at 200 

degrees C for around 45 minutes. 

• While the chicken is roasting, 

toss some farm fresh vegetables 

like brocolli, corn, cherry tomatoes, 

mushrooms and baby potato with 

garlic and salt. Once the chicken 

is half cooked, after about 25 

minutes, glaze honey on each side 

and allow to cook further till it is 

golden brown in colour. 

• Once fully cooked, remove the 

chicken out of the oven, and allow it 

to cool for 15 minutes. 

• While the chicken is resting, 

deglaze the roasting tray in a 

sauce pan and make a red wine 

jus by heating butter, garlic, finely 

chopped onions, parsley and 

reducing the red wine. 

• Cut the roasted chicken into 

desired sizes and start plating with 

the skin side on top. Squeeze lemon 

wedge over the roasted chicken. 

• Plate using mash potatoes, tossed 

vegetables and red wine caraway 

infused sauce. 

• Serve hot garnished with orange 

wedge and sprinkled with roasted 

caraway seeds and chopped parsley. 

Serves 4 

use in sauerkraut and coleslaws 

as well. 

Fascinatingly, says Chef 

Cheese muffins 

with caraway 

and pepper 

Mulchandani, “Despite its similar 

appearance to jeera – Shahi Jeera too 

is brown (darker in fact), long, 

narrow, slightly curved, ridged, and 

pointed at both ends – and a flavour 

profile that is close to aniseed and 

fennel (and mistakenly to black 

Nigella seeds), caraway isn’t a 

substitute of either and vice versa. In 

fact, a tempering of shahi jeera in 

plain dal will leave it with an 

aftertaste.” 

The thing about Shahi Jeera, 

adds Chef Tejwani, “is that while it is 

a friendly spice that pairs well with 

coriander and juniper, when it comes 

to flavour profile it needs ingredients 

that play a support role to it and 

hence pairs well with cabbage, 

potatoes, carrot or in cookies where 

it can be the dominating taste.” This, 

says Chef Abhijit Saha of Bengaluru’s 

Fava restaurant, “could be one of the 

reasons that shahi jeera is lesser 

heard of in most Indian cuisines, 

unless it has its legacy in the royal 

kitchen, where spices were added 

also for their wellness value.” 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

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CARING 

SOCIAL JUSTICE 

Exuberant boys from the Deepalaya Children’s Home 

ENABLING 

LIVES 

NGO DEEPALAYA HAS SUCCESSFULLY 

ESTABLISHED SEVERAL PROJECTS IN 

THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, WOMEN 

EMPOWERMENT, INSTITUTIONAL 

CARE AND COMMUNITY HEALTH IN 

DELHI, HARYANA, UTTAR PRADESH 

AND UTTARAKHAND . 

BY PUNITA JASROTIA PHUKAN 

DURING HIS CHILDHOOD DAYS, Brijesh 

was considered a hopeless case, never 

listening to any advice. Being the sole 

earning member, and a daily wage 

labourer, his father could not afford to send 

him to school. Most mischievous among 

the three siblings, his parents were at their 

wit’s end on how to manage him. One day, 

tired of his circumstances, Brijesh ran 

away. 

However, his life took a turn for good, 

when he was found wandering on the 

streets of Delhi by Deepalaya Foundation 

team members who counselled him to 

enrol in their Children’s’ Home. With 

proper care and counselling, Brijesh 

understood the importance of education, 

worked hard, scored good grades and 

managed to clear his class 12 exams. 

He further wanted to study Bachelor 

of Business Administration (BBA), but 

money was a constraint. Deepalaya helped 

him contact their partner UNNATI 

Foundation, who trained him in the retail 

sector and personality development. This 

helped him fetch a job with Eureka Forbes 

Limited with a salary of Rs. 12,000. Brijesh 

plans to finish BBA using his own money, 

something which he or his parents could 

not have imagined a couple of years ago. 

Rubeena comes from a poor family in 

Gusbethi, Mewat, a Muslim-dominated 

area on the outskirts of Haryana with a 

large scale uneducated population. 

Marred by ignorance and superstitious 

beliefs, education of girls was not a priority 

in this village. Her father was also 

mentally unsound and could not 

contribute to the family income, often 

opposing her right to go to school. With the 

help from her mother (in getting 

admission in a Deepalaya school), Rubeena 

finished her class 10th and later got a job as 

an assistant in a private hospital. 

For a girl who had to go hungry most of 

the day due to lack of enough food, whose 

studies were stopped and who was 

forbidden to step outside, earning a mere 

62 


Jadavji Anchorwala Enterprise 

www.myanchor.in

CARING 


Girls practising yoga at the Children’s Home 

TICKING OFF THE ACHIEVEMENTS 

OVER THE YEARS, DEEPALAYA HAS: 

Educated over 2,91,000 children. 

Imparted vocational training to 9,781 

people. 

Helped 10,988 people earn their living 

by getting employment or in selfemployment. 

Formed 1,300 Self Help Groups with 

14,000 women. 

Engaged in micro-financing to the tune 

of ` 21.46 crore. 

Established 7,500 micro-enterprises and 

consolidated micro-finance revolving 

fund of around ` 30 crore. 

Served 6,01,607 in the health sector 

Provided support to 4,085 disabled for 

community-based rehabilitation. 

Rescued and rehabilitated over 1,300 

run-away children. 

In addition, 10,980 pass-outs from 

Deepalaya took to university education; 

19 went abroad for higher studies; and 21 

returned to serve the alma mater. 

Rs. 3000 was a dream come true. Even 

though most of her salary is spent on her 

father’s medication, Rubeena is happy 

with her achievements and is determined 

to finish her studies and become a nurse to 

serve humanity. 

These are just two cases among the 

lakhs of lives impacted by Deepalaya 

Foundation, which means an abode of 

light. 

With a motto that ‘Every child 

deserves a chance’, Deepalaya holds a 

vision to help create a society based on 

legitimate rights, equity, justice, honesty, 

social sensitivity and a culture of service in 

which all are self-reliant. 

A ISO 9001:2008 certified nongovernment 

organization (NGO), 

Deepalaya has established several projects 

in the areas of Education (Formal/Non- 

Formal/Remedial), Women 

Empowerment (Reproductive Health, 

SHG, Micro-Finance), Institutional Care, 

Community Health, Vocational Training 

and Differently Abled. Based in Delhi, 

Deepalaya works primarily with urban 

slums and over the years has expanded its 

base in rural areas of Haryana, Uttar 

Pradesh and Uttarakhand. 

Till date, Deepalaya has reached out to 

more than 2,91,000 children, given 

vocational training to 9,781 adults and 

helped form more than 1,300 Self-Help 

Groups (SHGs) with 14,000 women who 

have together saved Rs.4.68 crore with a 

community revolving fund of Rs.9.27 

crore. Deepalaya mainly gets its funding 

from individual donors, sponsors, 

corporate partners and funding agencies. 

Started in 1979, Deepalaya was 

founded by seven socially-conscious 

individuals, who felt disturbed by the 

plight of children from deprived sections 

of the society and formed the Deepalaya 

Education Society. A school was started in 

a small rented house in Chittaranjan Park 

with five students, two teachers and a 

personal contribution of Rs. 17,500 by the 

members. While initially the focus was 

pre-school education, with the growing 

numbers and contributions, Deepalaya 

started offering primary and secondary 

education too. Considering the economic 

situation of these children, the NGO 

realized that there needed to be an 

integrated development focus of the child, 

family and the community. 

To bring about a holistic change in 

society, Deepalaya has embarked on some 

initiatives to bring in a positive impact to 

the life of the downtrodden. 

• Education: Deepalaya provides 

different forms of education to its 

beneficiaries belonging to the 

marginalized sections of society through 

formal schools, non-formal and remedial 

education centres and vocational training 

courses. 

“The unofficial figures of uneducated 

children in India are huge with many not 

able to attend school due to their social, 

economic and family circumstances. 

While the government spends a lot in the 

education of these children the quality 

remains an issue, sometimes resulting in 

situations where a Class 7 child might also 

not be able to recite the alphabet," says A.J. 

Philip, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) 

of Deepalaya Foundation who is also a 

senior journalist with 40 years of 

experience in the print media. The NGO 

also gives special focus on girl education 

64 


CARING 


and tries to ensure a 1:1 ratio of boys and 

girls in their classrooms. 

The ‘Vocational Training program’ 

gives emphasis on the capacity building of 

underprivileged youth from the 

disadvantaged communities of the society, 

who cannot pursue long academic career 

for various reasons. It currently runs two 

full-fledged vocational training institutes 

and many training centres in its target 

locations and has good placement record. 

• Gender equity and women 

empowerment: This programme has 

14,000 members of around 1300 SHGs, 

spread across Delhi, Uttarakhand and 

Haryana. The programmes under this 

initiative have made significant changes in 

the socio-economic conditions of around 

400 villages of these states. 

• Institutional care for the 

vulnerable: Deepalaya provides 

residential accommodation, formal 

education, vocational skills, health care, 

latent talent development and 

rehabilitation of street children. The 

children come from various backgrounds – 

those picked up from railway platforms 

and other public places in Delhi to the 

children of sex workers; of parents who are 

HIV/AIDS positive (but kids are not), 

alcoholics, drug addicts, broken homes, 

life-term convicts, who become vulnerable 

and end up becoming social outcasts. 

• Community health: Through its health 

intervention programmes, Deepalaya 

advocates preventive and curative aspects 

of health care among the most vulnerable 

groups of women and children. The NGO 

provide services like health awareness 

programmes, health camps, immunization 

camps, behavioral change communication 

programme, etc. 

• Programme for the differently 

abled: Deepalaya firmly believes in an 

inclusive society for the differently abled. 

So, apart from giving technical services 

like speech therapy, special education, 

occupational therapy and physiotherapy, 

the NGO has been able to 

mainstream significant number of 

children every year through their 

education programme. 

• Community library: Started in 

January 2014, a small bag of books 

is now a community library (At the 

Ramditti J R Narang Deepalaya 

Learning Center) with 1200 

members. Anyone can walk in, 

read a book, listen to read-aloud 

sessions and borrow a book for a week. 

Over the years, not only has Deepalaya 

increased its footprint, but has its 

ex-students come and be part of the 

organization. The NGO has been 

applauded for the initiatives and work 

done for the social upliftment of the 

downtrodden. For its future course, 

Deepalaya is focusing on skill 

development. However, what has helped 

them sustain for more than 37 years is the 

frequent change in their methodologies in 

line with the changing requirements. 

With the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 

Deepalaya had to transform most of its 

schools to learning centres. To keep 

abreast with change, Deepalaya has tied 

up with the Delhi government for a pilot 

project (in running one its low performing 

schools) using its knowledge of imparting 

quality education to the underprivileged 

children. 

Top to bottom: Underprivileged kids of 

labourers at construction site getting inside 

the school that came to teach them as a part 

of the Education on Wheels programme; 

senior women after completing their daily 

chores; and Rubeena whose life has been 

impacted by Deepalaya 

66 


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TRAVEL 

DESTINATION 

A young man enjoys the sunset on Kozhikode beach 

KOZHIKODE REVISITED 

MADE FAMOUS BY VASCO DA GAMA WHO LANDED ON THESE SHORES BACK IN 

1498, THE CITY CONTINUES TO BE A MAGNET FOR ONE AND ALL WITH ITS 

PLETHORA OF BEACHES, MUSEUMS, AND ARTS AND CRAFTS CLUSTERS 

BY BRINDA GILL 

SpiceJet flies to Kozhikode. 


for details 

Lounging by the azure 

waters of the Arabian Sea 

with its labyrinth of palmfringed 

beaches, verdant 

environs, rivers, and 

backwaters, Kozhikode (earlier Calicut) 

certainly makes for a picture-postcard 

setting. Well-known as the city where the 

famous Portuguese explorer Vasco Da 

Gama landed, back on May 20, 1498, thus 

opening a new trade route between 

Europe and what was then the fabled 

Malabar Coast, Kozhikode unfolds an 

array of experiences for the intrepid 

traveller. 

Be it centuries’ old places of worship 

or modern-day sculptures, museums or 

science centres, establishments 

promoting Kerala’s traditional martial 

art form Kalaripayattu or arts and crafts 

villages, the city has something for 

everyone. Here’s looking at eight popular 

destinations that you absolutely must not 

miss when in Kozhikode. 

ALAMY 

74 


TRAVEL 

DESTINATION 

Top: Art by the sea. Bottom: a tempting 

display at SM Street 

MANANCHIRA SQUARE: THE 

HEART OF KOZHIKODE 

Bang in the middle of the city is a vast 

reservoir or chira, fed by a natural 

spring and surrounded by roads and 

buildings that form an iconic square 

that stands witness to Kozhikode’s 

evolution. Built in the 14th century by 

the then ruler, Zamorin Mana Vikrama, 

the reservoir continues to be the pride 

of the city. Heritage buildings 

encircling the water body take you back 

several centuries while the garden 

bordering it is a great place to spend the 

evening. An open-air theatre hosts 

cultural programmes from time to time. 

There is a public library too for 

booklovers. 

SM STREET: AN ODE TO SWEETS 

That Kozhikode takes its food very 

seriously is evident from the fact that 

there is an entire street dedicated to 

local specialties, especially sweets. 

Aptly named Sweet Meat Street or SM 

Street and popularly known as Mittayi 

Theruvu or Street of Sweets, the street 

houses several bakeries and stores 

selling blocks of chewy, jelly-like 

Kozhikodan Halwa in a 

variety of colours and 

flavours; crisp banana 

chips; and other snacks. 

Once a haven for sweets 

only, the street is now 

home to a wide variety of 

food items. Among the 

more popular stores and 

bakeries are Ramla Sweet 

Land and Sankaran Bakery. 

Sample authentic Malabar 

cuisine at the muchrecommended 

multicuisine 

Paragon 

Restaurant on Kannur 

Road, established in 1939. 

Just across the road is 

Kumari Wafers; you can 

ROOM FOR ALL 

Kozhikode is 

home to places of 

worship of different 

religions which 

speaks volumes 

for its pluralistic 

cityscape. Sharing 

space with each 

other are the Tali 

Shiva Temple; the 

14th century Mishkal 

Mosque; the 16th 

century Mother of 

God Cathedral built 

by the Portuguese; 

the two-centuriesold 

Zoroastrian 

Anju Amman Baug; 

and the Buddha 

Vihar, among other 

shrines. 

pick up some chips from there. 

KOZHIKODE BEACH: ART BY 

THE SEA 

A stroll by the sea is always a delight, 

particularly when there’s a broad 

promenade armed with benches so that 

you can unhurriedly watch the waves. 

No wonder Kozhikode Beach is a 

popular hangout for all age groups. 

Adding to its allure is a collection of 

prominent granite sculptures that were 

created by renowned artists a few years 

ago as part of the Shilpa Nagaram or 

Sculpture City Project. Apart from the 

seafront, many of these sculptures also 

grace Sarovaram Bio Park, Bhatt Road, 

Mananchira, and S.K. Pottekkatt 

Cultural Centre. The contemporary 

compositions, inspired by philosophical 

ideas and local themes, enthral viewers 

and add an aesthetic dimension to 

public spaces in the city. 

PAZHASSI RAJA MUSEUM: A 

TREASURE TROVE OF 

ANTIQUITIES 

Named after Pazhassi Raja Kerala 

Varma, freedom fighter and member 

of the Kottayam royal 

family, the Pazhassi Raja 

Museum 

is located in a heritage 

bungalow and showcases 

Kozhikode’s rich history. 

The exhibits span coins, 

earthenware, murals, 

sculptures, temple models, 

and traditional artefacts. 

The adjoining building 

houses the Krishna 

Menon Art Gallery and 

Museum, dedicated to 

V.K. Krishna Menon, 

former Defence Minister of 

India, who was born 

in the city. On display 

is a prized collection 

SS GILL (ART); SHUTTERSTOCK 

76 


TRAVEL 

DESTINATION 

of paintings by Raja Ravi Varma. 

BEYPORE: BOAT BUILDING 

HUB 

A sinuous road leads you to the coast 

KAPPAD BEACH: HISTORY IN 

THE MAKING 

Blessed with 580 km of coastline, 

Kerala, for centuries now, has drawn 

traders and explorers from all over the 

and to Beypore, an ancient boat 

world in search of its famous spices. 

building hub about 10 km south of 

Perhaps the most famous in a long line 

Kozhikode. Located in a quiet corner 

of travellers who landed on these 

by the bay, you are greeted by huge 

shores was Vasco Da Gama, whose 

sheds with large teakwood boats in 

ships sailed around the Cape of Good 

different stages of being handcrafted. 

Hope and finally dropped anchor at 

Patrons hail from as far as the Middle 

Kappad around 20 km from Kozhikode 

East and take great pride in owning the 

in 1498. There is a monument here that 

handcrafted wooden boats (locally 

commemorates the Portuguese sailor’s 

known as uru). Beypore was once a 

arrival; an event that would go on to 

famed port and for centuries now, its 

create history. Marking the spot is an 

artisans aka the Beypore Khalasis have 

obelisk bearing a plaque that reads, 

been designing these coveted boats. 

“Vasco Da Gama landed here in 

Once in Beypore, you can walk around, 

Kappkadavu in the year 1498”. The long 

speak to the khalasis, and watch them 

Kappad Beach is fun to just walk along, 

at work. Interestingly, there are no 

enjoy the breeze, and watch the sunset. 

designs or calculations on paper and 

boats are built entirely out of the 

artisans’ imagination. Each uru takes a 

few years to build and once ready, is 

SARGAALAYA: ARTS AND 

CRAFTS 

Established by the department of 

manually slipped into the waters using 

tourism, Kerala, on the lines of the 

logs. Thereon, it simply sails to its 

“Responsible Tourism” model, 

destination. 

Sargaalaya is a sprawling arts and 

crafts complex located in Iringal, about 

TASARA: HAND-WOVEN 

TAPESTRY 

Located in a bungalow in a nondescript 

40 km from Kozhikode. Set on 20 acres 

of land, with a large water body, the 

well-maintained complex has rows of 

lane of North Beypore is the Tasara 

buildings with individual rooms for 

Centre for Creative Weaving, an 

different arts and crafts, where one can 

unexpected treat for textile lovers. An 

meet artisans and purchase their 

institution dedicated to creative hand 

works. On display are fabrics and 

weaving, the walls of the bungalow are 

garments, jewellery, murals, home 

draped in artistic hand-woven 

décor and pottery. Some of these items 

From top to bottom: A traditional dhow being 

built at a boatyard at Beypore; the large 

water body at Sargaalaya; and colourful 

fishing boats on Kappad beach 

tapestries. The adjoining building 

houses looms for weaving warp and 

weft to create one-of-a-kind tapestries. 

Tasara tapestries have been part of 

collections showcased in both India 

and abroad. Also conducted here are 

training programmes and workshops 

attended by textile artists from all over 

the world. Select weaves are available 

for purchase. 

are made using locally sourced 

materials such as banana fibre, palm 

leaves, screw pine leaves, coconut 

shells and coir. There are live 

demonstrations and arts and crafts 

festivals held from time to time. With 

plenty of space for children to run 

around, boating facilities, and a café for 

refreshments, Sargaalaya makes for an 

enjoyable family outing. 

SS GILL (SARGAALAYA, TASARA), ALAMY 

78 


HEALTHCARE SPECIAL 

ON A ROBUST 

GROWTH PATH 

RISING INCOMES, GROWING HEALTH AWARENESS AND 

INCREASING COVERAGE OF HEALTH INSURANCE HAVE 

ALL CONTRIBUTED TO MAKING HEALTHCARE ONE OF 

THE FASTEST GROWING SECTORS IN INDIA 

BY PUNITA JASOTIA PHUKAN 

The Indian healthcare 

industry is well-known 

worldwide for its 

low-cost yet superior 

world-class facilities, 

well-trained medical professionals 

and adoption of state -of-the-art 

technologies compared to other 

countries in Asia and Europe. Often 

termed as a sunrise industry, both in 

terms of revenues and employment 

opportunities, Indian healthcare 

has seen an increase in investment 

opportunities in the past couple of 

years, with the healthcare delivery 

segment (constituting hospitals, 

nursing homes and diagnostic centres, 

and pharmaceuticals) captivating the 

major share of investments. 

The growing spending power of 

individuals, their need for and access 

to better quality and affordable 

healthcare services, sector-friendly 

government rules and regulations, 

affordability, accessibility and 

availability of better diagnostic 

and therapeutic facilities have all 

contributed to the growth of the 

Indian healthcare sector. Today, India 

is home to global leaders in innovation 

and quality of healthcare such as 

Narayana Health, Apollo Hospitals, 

Fortis Healthcare, Max Healthcare, 

Columbia Asia, Manipal Hospitals, 

etc, as well as globally renowned 

medical teaching institutions such 

as the All India Institute of Medical 

Sciences (AIIMS), Postgraduate 

Institute of Medical Education & 

Research (PGMIR), Christian Medical 

College and Jawaharlal Institute of 

Postgraduate Medical Education and 

Research (JIPMER), to name a few. 

India has also become one of the 

leading destinations for high-end 

diagnostic services with tremendous 

capital investment for advanced 

diagnostic facilities. Doctors are using 

telemedicine to reach remote places 

and cure patients. Another feather in 

the cap is India becoming the global 

medical tourism destination of choice. 

The Indian medical tourism 

industry is expected to reach US$ 

7-8 billion by 2020, with the number 

of people arriving in the country 

for medical treatment set to double 

over the next four years. Major Indian 

cities are fast becoming the favoured 

destinations of medical tourists from 

all over the world. Confederation of 

Indian Industries (CII) cites ‘costeffectiveness 

and treatment from 

accredited facilities, availability of 

latest medical technologies at par with 

developed countries at much lower 

cost and compliance with international 

standards’ as the main reasons for 

India being counted as a prominent 

destination for medical tourism. 

India is the sought-after 

destination for heart surgery, 

bone-marrow transplant, hip 

replacement, eye surgery and other 

80 


areas of advanced and 

alternative medicine. 

Government policies 

and encouragement for 

medical tourism have also 

benefitted this fast-growing 

sector. Apart from being 

proficient in English, every 

major hospital in India 

has language specialists 

to cater to the needs of 

non-English speaking 

patients. Many hospitals 

like Fortis Healthcare 

also provide customized 

services for international patients such 

as visa assistance, interpreter facility, 

concierge services, dedicated service 

managers, complimentary airport 

transfers, accommodation and food 

assistance to provision of local SIM 

cards. 

The Indian healthcare sector can 

be mainly divided into two parts – the 

public and the private sector. While 

the public sector aims at maximum 

penetration across India and providing 

free or affordable services to all, the 

private sector looks at the affordability 

of consumers, feasibility of opening 

healthcare facilities in certain areas 

and patient hospitality. Considering 

that there is still a gap between urban 

and rural healthcare markets, there is a 

lot of potential for growth. According 

to government sources, rural India, 

which accounts for the major chunk 

of the Indian population, is all set to 

emerge as a potential demand source 

which can translate to indicative 

investment opportunity of US$ 25-30 

billion over the next five years. 

According to industry experts, the 

private sector is witnessing a lot of 

healthcare FDIs from private equity 

and venture capitalists leading to 

expansion of facilities and services 

across India and contributing to the 

development of the Indian healthcare 

sector at a fast pace. The government 

has also played an encouraging role by 

relaxing visa rules and tax regulations, 

and in helping hospitals set up their 

facilities in tier I and tier II cities in the 

initial years. Many healthcare majors 

are entering such cities to avail such 

benefits and in turn are contributing 

to the Indian healthcare sector. 

“Hospital and diagnostic centres 

attracted Foreign Direct Investment 

(FDI) worth US$ 4.09 billion between 

April 2000 and September 2016, 

according to the Department of 

Industrial Policy and Promotion 

(DIPP). Large healthcare players and 

start-ups are increasingly investing 

in healthcare today. At the policy 

level, the National Health Mission 

is working to revitalize both rural 

and urban health scenario in India,” 

says Bhavdeep Singh, CEO, Fortis 

Healthcare Ltd. 

Major healthcare providers are 

investing across India, further buoying 

the sector. Some of the major players 

with expansion plans include Max 

Healthcare which is planning to 

invest Rs 320 crore. Apollo Hospitals, 

India’s largest healthcare provider, 

is also in an expansion mode and 

has plans to invest Rs 1,400-crore 

in the opening of new 

hospitals and expansion of 

already existing healthcare 

centres in the next couple 

of years in the Indian 

market. Dr Agarwal’s Eye 

Hospital plans to invest Rs 

600 crore for expansion 

both domestically and 

internationally and plans 

to have 200 hospitals 

by 2020. Diagnostic 

laboratory chain Thyrocare 

Technologies is eying 

revenue of Rs 1,000 cr by 

2020. The firm will expand lab centres 

to 25, and increase franchisees from 

1,200 to 5,000. 

One major gripe of Indian medical 

consumers as well as the main reason 

for people flocking to the private 

sector is the dismal condition of the 

medical facilities as well as the poor 

quality of government funded health 

facilities especially in the rural and 

many tier II and tier III cities - smaller 

numbers catering to a much larger 

population, long wait time, distance 

of the facilities from habitations, 

presence of less experienced medical 

professionals leading many in rural 

areas also to opt for private sector 

facilities. 

To make quality healthcare 

available to the masses, private and 

public sector partnerships are very 

important. The government should 

work together with the private sector, 

and build as well as restructure such 

medical facilities to ensure their 

availability and accessibility to the 

masses. The private sector must be 

innovatively engaged to become part 

of the solution. 

While opening a major healthcare 

facility in rural places might not be 

feasible, technology can be used 

wisely to connect major health centres 

81 



with primary healthcare centres 

in interior places thus enhancing 

the reach of best medical services. 

Telemedicine can be used in such 

cases and can reach anywhere in India. 

The government should focus on 

establishing more medical colleges 

and training institutes to provide the 

requisite doctors, dentists, nurses 

and paramedics. It should invest in 

preventive and social medicine by 

promoting health education and 

preventive health-care concepts. But 

it must be admitted that without the 

intervention of the government, the 

Indian healthcare industry would not 

have achieved so much. Over the 

years, it has removed many hurdles 

and has paved the road to success 

with its sector-friendly initiatives and 

ventures. 

The Government of India (GoI) 

plans to set up a single window 

approval system for innovation in 

medical research, in order to grant 

permission/approvals within 30 days 

from the date of application to Indian 

innovation projects that have applied 

for a global patent. According to CK 

Mishra, Secretary, Health and Family 

Welfare, Government of India, “Policies 

are aimed at easing the requirements 

to do business in the country and 

in creating an enabling ecosystem 

facilitating the expansion of 

healthcare.” Policies such 

as 100% FDI in medical 

devices, M (medical) visas 

to patients and MX visas 

to the accompanying 

spouse, changes in the 

regulation regarding 

number of visits, 

extension of the Market 

Development Assistance 

(MDA) Scheme to medical 

tourism, tax benefits, etc., 

help in the growth of this 

sector. 

Not only has the GoI increased 

its overall health budget, it also plans 

to encourage local manufacturing 

of medical devices, and facilitates 

availability of generic drugs more 

affordable for the masses and convert 

1.5 lakh sub centres in Indian villages 

to health and wellness centres. 

Under the National Health 

Assurance Mission, the government 

will provide all citizens with free drugs 

and diagnostic treatment, as well 

as insurance cover to treat serious 

ailments. The E-health initiative, which 

is a part of the Digital India drive 

launched by Prime Minister Narendra 

Modi, aims at providing effective and 

economical healthcare services to 

all citizens. The programme aims to 

make use of technology and portals 

to facilitate people maintain health 

records and book online appointments 

with various departments of different 

hospitals. 

To take care of quality in the 

healthcare facilities, the GoI under 

their National Health Mission (NHM) 

programme, plans to support state 

governments to obtain quality 

certification of government health 

facilities under a National Quality 

Assurance Program. Another measure 

taken is ensuing provision of citizencentric 

services by making it more 

responsive and accountable to patient 

needs. The Ministry has designed an 

ICT-based Patient Satisfaction System 

(PSS) for implementation in public 

and empanelled private hospitals. 

Termed My Hospital, the application 

uses a multi-channel approach i.e. 

web portal, mobile application, Short 

Message Service (SMS) and Interactive 

Voice Response System (IVRS) to 

collect patients feedback and is being 

currently implemented in about 100 

hospitals. 

Another focus areas of the Indian 

government for the betterment and 

enhancement of the Indian traditional 

methods of treatment is AYUSH 

(Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, 

Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy). The 

Ministry of AYUSH under its Centrally 

Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH 

Mission (NAM) encourages state/UT 

governments’ efforts for increasing 

the visibility of AYUSH, by providing 

grant-in-aid through co-location of 

AYUSH facilities at Primary Health 

Centres (PHCs), Community Health 

Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals 

(DHs), setting up of 50-bed integrated 

AYUSH Hospitals, upgradation of 

AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries, 

upgradation of state government 

under-graduate and post-graduate 

educational institutions, strengthening 

of state government/public sector 

undertaking (PSU) Ayurveda, Siddha, 

Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) 

pharmacies and Drug Testing 

Laboratories (DTL) and cultivation and 

promotion of medicinal plants. 

The AYUSH ministry is actively 

working with various agencies, 

institutions and Ayurveda researchers 

and practitioners across the globe 

to turn India into a global hub for 

knowledge, research, practice and 

developmental projects on traditional 

medicines. 

82 



‘A CENTRE OF 

EXCELLENCE 

IN VARIOUS 

FIELDS’ 

BY DR BIPIN CHEVALE 

S.L. RAHEJA 

HOSPITAL - A Fortis 

Associate has got 

a legacy of over 

five decades. The 

hospital was known 

to Mumbaikars as 

a hospital that treated diabetes. 

Over so many decades the team of 

committed healthcare professionals 

have treated thousands of patients 

from all walks of life. What started as 

a small clinic, has now grown into a 

full-fledged super speciality tertiary 

level care hospital offering all services 

under one roof. 

Notwithstanding the competition 

and advances in the medical field, 

the hospital has grown by leaps and 

bounds in the recent past. Today 

we can proudly say that apart from 

Diabetology, S.L. Raheja Hospital 

- A Fortis Associate is a centre of 

excellence in the fields of Oncology, 

Joint Replacement, Spine Surgery, 

Cardiac Sciences, Critical Care, 

Emergency Medicine, etc. supported 

by a strong team from Laboratory 

Medicine and Imaging. It also offers 

advanced treatment modalities like 

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and 

Therapeutic Nuclear Medicine for 

Neuro Endocrine tumours. 

As a Fortis Associate Hospital 

we are committed to “saving 

and enriching lives” offering the 

similar patient experience through 

unmatched service excellence and 

uncompromised clinical excellence. 

We are excited about the growth 

prospects. The new age S.L. Raheja 

hospital will be a leading player 

offering all the advanced treatment 

modalities clubbed with modern 

infrastructure and expertise of the 

renowned clinicians supported by 

professional management team with 

patient-centric approach. 

(THE WRITER IS CEO, S.L.RAHEJA 

HOSPITAL - A FORTIS ASSOCIATE) 

‘LIFESTYLE 

CHOICES ARE 

A GREAT HELP’ 

ONE OF THE 

LEADING 

MEDICAL 

INSTITUTIONS IN 

THE COUNTRY, 

Cytecare provides 

highly specialized, modern diagnostic 

services, treatment and care for 

cancer. Here, Mr. Suresh Ramu, Cofounder 

& CEO, talks about what 

makes Cytecare unique and the 

institution's future plans. 

What can people do to prevent 

cancer? 

Prevention, as they say, is better than 

cure. Lifestyle choices are a great 

help, like eating healthy and regular 

exercise. But also, regular screenings 

such as mammograms, colonoscopy 

pap smears. 

Why did you feel the need to launch 

Cytecare? What is unique about it? 

Uniqueness. For instance, every 

cancer is unique. As is every patient. 

At Cytecare, we believe in ‘Fighting 

Cancer the Right Way’. 

What does it mean when you say 

‘Fighting Cancer the Right Way’? 

‘Fighting Cancer the Right Way’ to 

us means doing the right thing by a 

patient. Every patient. For instance, 

we design comprehensive care plans 

to suit every patient’s individual 

requirement and holistic well-being. 

We have practitioners assigned 

for organ specific treatment, use 

evidence-based protocols, targeted 

therapies alongside advanced 

technologies, leaving no stone 

unturned. 

Cytecare is famous for its roster of 

experienced oncologists. Tell us a 

little more about them. 

At Cytecare, we have been fortunate 

to attract onco-specialists with 

exceptional pedigree. They come from 

the world’s best medical colleges and 

cancer centres. 

Your first hospital in Yelahanka 

is already up and running with 

full efficiency. Are there plans for 

expansion? 

Yes, this is a 150-bed facility built over 

16,000 sq. ft. area. We will soon have 

hospitals in North Karnataka, some 

tier 2 cities of Karnataka and also 

overseas. And in the future, we plan to 

be available for patients across India. 

84 


From many decades S.L.Raheja Hospital (A Fortis Associate) has been a well known premiere private sector 

institute in Mumbai for Cancer care. The hospital has one of the biggest team of Medical Oncologists and Onco 

Surgeons representing all modalities and facets of Cancer Treatment. 

S.L.Raheja Hospital (A Fortis Associate) over the years has grown leaps and bounds in terms of Cancer treatment 

due to continuous dedication towards research in Cancer care and brining in talented doctors who can treat all 

aspects of the disease and who bring in new and path breaking technologies and procedures to the table. With the 

strong team of doctors, the patients benefit from an interdisciplinary approach to their problems. 

Our team includes some of the 

stalwarts & prominent 

personalities in the Cancer 

Treatment like Dr. Suresh Advani 

–(Consultant Medical Oncologist) 

,Dr.P.Jagannath (Consultant Onco 

Surgeon-GI & Stomach Cancer), 

Dr. Anita Borges (Consultant 

Histopathologist) and many more. 

Dr. Suresh Advani 

(Consultant 

Medical 

Oncologist) 

Dr. P.Jagannath 

(Consultant Onco 

Surgeon-GI & 

Stomach Cancer) 

Dr. Anita Borges 

(Consultant 

Histopathologist) 

Some of the cancers that can be 

treated here include: 

Breast cancer, Endometrial & 

Cervical cancer , Ovarian cancer, 

Lung cancer, Head and neck cancer, 

Brain Tumors, Thyroid cancer, Oral 

& Oesophagal cancer, Stomach 

cancer, Colon & rectal cancer, Liver 

cancer , Pancreatic cancer, Skin 

cancer, Kidney cancer, Bladder 

cancer, Prostate cancer, Testicular 

cancer, Bone cancer, Lymphomas & 

Blood cancers. 

Recently the hospital started the 

S.L.Raheja National Endocrine 

Cancer & Isotope Treatment 

Centre treating the Endocrine 

Cancers like Thyroid and Prostrate 

Cancer. The department is being 

headed by Dr.B.A.Krishna 

(Consultant Nuclear Medicine) 

A new revolutionary procedure 

PIPAC (Pressurised 

Intra-Peritoneal Aerosolised 

Chemotherapy) has been 

introduced this year by Dr. Ninad 

Katdare (Consultant 

OncoSurgeon) who is the newest 

addition to our strong team. PIPAC 

therapy is drastically changing the 

way we treat peritoneal cancers. To 

explain it simply, this procedure is 

a combination of surgery and 

chemotherapy. 

In this approach, the patient is 

admitted the previous day. After 

relevant investigations and fitness 

for anaesthesia. The procedure is 

carried under General anaesthesia 

and is a laparoscopic procedure 

(Keyhole Surgery). After a detailed 

evaluation of the extent of disease, 

the disease is mapped and 

biopsies are taken after which the 

process of PIPAC is started. 

Using a ‘’Captopen” device, the 

standard liquid chemotherapy is 

converted into an aerosol form and 

is sprayed directly on the 

intra-abdominal tumour. After the 

spraying, there is a necessary 

duration of waiting for the 

chemotherapy to act. After the 

procedure is done, the residual 

fumes are absorbed through a 

special filter and the wounds of 

surgery are closed. If the patient is 

comfortable, the patient can be 

discharged the same day evening or 

the next morning. A minimum of 3 

cycles are needed to assess a 

response and further treatment is 

planned accordingly. 

The best part of this novel technique 

is that the chemotherapy dose used 

is just 10% of the standard 

intravenous dose. So there are no or 

minimal side effects like hair loss, 

renal problems, liver problems, 

vomiting and others. Any patient 

with Peritoneal Cancers who is fit to 

withstand a 2 hour surgery under 

anaesthesia can be administered 

this therapy. So repeated 

administrations are also possible. 

The internationally accepted regime 

is to repeat the PIPAC procedure 

every 6 to 8 weeks, so there is no 

cumulative toxicity too. So this 

procedure is very well tolerated by 

all patients. 

For more information and 

appointments Call: 022-6652966 

Visit: www.rahejahospital.com


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 5,000 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. 

TIPS FOR A 

HEALTHY EYE 

AROUND 18.7 

MILLION INDIANS 

suffered from 

vision loss in 2000 

and 24.1 million in 

2010. This rising 

trend predicts an 

increase to 31.6 million blind people in 

India by 2020. Says Dr. Salman Anzer 

(photo), Head of Medical Affairs, India 

Operations at global leading eye care 

corporate Alcon Laboratories, “An 

healthy Eye is an healthy I.” 

Simple eye care steps can be 

included in your daily practice to 

maintain eye health and prevent vision 

loss. It all starts with healthy eating 

and eye hygiene. Vitamin deficiency 

can impair vision. Carrots and green 

leafy vegetables should be an 

important part of your diet. High level 

of nutrients like vitamin C, A & E, zinc, 

lutein and omega-3 fatty acids help 

in maintaining vision and improve the 

eye health. 

These days most of the jobs 

require long hours of staring at the 

computer screens which causes 

Computer Vision Syndrome or Digital 

Eye Strain. This is a group of eye and 

vision-related problems (eye strain, 

headache, blurred vision, dry eyes). 

Eye fatigue can be prevented by 

following the 20-20-20 rule i.e look 

up from the computer screen every 20 

minutes at an object 20 feet away for 

20 seconds. 

Protection from UV rays is another 

important precaution. Studies show 

that long-term exposure to bright 

sunlight may increase the risk of 

cataracts and growths on the eye, 

including cancer. Wearing 100% 

UV-blocking sunglasses is required 

to avoid direct sunlight and delay the 

development of cataract. Sunglasses 

also prevent retinal damage and 

protect the eyelids from wrinkles and 

skin cancer around the eyes. 

Children require special attention. 

A child should wear polycarbonate 

eye glass while playing ball games 

to prevent any eye injury. The room 

should be well lit while watching 

television. The computer screen 

should be at the eye level and at a 

distance of 18 inches. Water tight 

goggles are recommended to prevent 

water infections during swimming. 

86 


VIEWPOINT 

YOGA 

THROUGH THE 

MYSTIC EYE 

RANKED AMONGST THE FIFTY 

MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN 

INDIA, SADHGURU IS A YOGI, 

MYSTIC, VISIONARY AND 

BESTSELLING AUTHOR. 

SADHGURU HAS BEEN 

CONFERRED THE “PADMA 

VIBHUSHAN” BY THE 

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA IN 2017. 

Is it better to be confident or diffident? 

SADHGURU: Confident people are 

insufferable and diffident people are 

unfortunate. Diffidence is such that if you feel 

diffident about anything, it just lowers the 

scale of life, the way it could have happened 

just comes down. Confidence is a scourge, it is 

a disease. Overly confident people are 

invariably tyrants on different levels. So what 

we need is neither confidence nor diffidence. 

What we need is awareness, consciousness. 

Consciousness is not individual, 

consciousness is always all-inclusive – 

everything is included. If you can just behold 

everybody as yourself, if you are conscious, 

you neither need confidence nor diffidence. 

You will just do what needs to be done. Once 

there is a sense of inclusion, awareness and 

consciousness is just natural. 

It is only because of exclusion that 

awareness has to be practiced. People are 

trying to be aware simply because they are 

excluded, they have excluded themselves 

from everything. If they are included into 

everything, they do not have to be 

aware. Awareness is life. Life is awareness. 

There is no other way to be. 

The problems have come because you are 

such an exclusive character in the world. You 

have created most of your exclusiveness 

unconsciously. Right from your childhood 

you were trained that you must be special. 

Trying to be special is the worst of diseases 

because once you get this disease, there is no 

salvation. Wherever you go you have to do 

something to prove that you are special. 

This is not about being special. This is 

about being ordinary. When there is no effort 

to try to make yourself special, you are simply 

ordinary. Then you will stand out as 

extraordinary. All inclusiveness is 

extraordinary. It is just the way life is – just 

ordinary, as it is. It is ordinary, but it is 

magnificent. 

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 isha.sadhguru.org. 

88 


STAR BUZZ 

JOHN ABRAHAM 

EVEN FITNESS ENTHUSIASTS 

HAVE THEIR WEAKNESSES 

JOHN ABRAHAM ON THE NEW FILMS HE IS PRODUCING AND HOW HE AIMS TO 

LIVE AND DIE WITH A SIX-PACK.BY AARTI KAPUR SINGH 

That beach body in Dostana 

and that beefy look in 

Force... it is with bated 

breath that fans are waiting 

to see what John Abraham will be doing 

in his next production. Abraham dons 

his producer hat once again for his next 

project. The film will see him playing 

the lead role and is based on India’s first 

and dramatic underground nuclear 

weapon detonation carried out at 

Rajasthan’s Pokhran area in 1998. The 

movie, titled Parmanu - The Story Of 

Pokhran, went on the floors last month 

and, if all goes well, is set to hit the silver 

screen on December 8, 2017. 

Says Abraham, who is paired 

opposite Diana Penty in the film, “I 

have never been in a hurry to produce 

films and have always searched for 

subjects that are engaging, stories that 

resonate with the current sociopolitical 

and economic mood of the 

country. This film fits in perfectly with 

my pursuit.” Apart from this, John is 

gearing up for his maiden Marathi 

production, Savita Damodar Paranjpe. 

The film is based on a critically 

acclaimed play by the same name. 

But the one thing we are eager to ask 

Abraham is this: how is he able to 

transform his body beyond what the 

normal person can or should do? 

Having a body like that definitely does 

not come easy. Abraham is perhaps the 

best example of how one can worship 

one’s body like a temple. 

As if reading my thoughts, he 

exclaims, “I am pretty much an 

agnostic so my only religion is my 

body. I think there is nothing more 

important than health and workout 

and my aim is to live and die with a sixpack. 

Healthy living has a ‘tripod 

mantra’ - good food, good sleep and 

a good workout routine”. Here is more 

on the star’s healthy habits, from the 

man himself… 

92 


STAR BUZZ 

JOHN ABRAHAM 

Top to bottom: John Abraham is very 

selective in the movies he produces; with 

Deepika Padukone in Race 2; and playing up 

the beefy look 

What are your earliest food 

memories? 

I remember my mother 

cooked and still 

cooks excellent vegetarian 

food. For breakfast, we 

would have chilla - my mum 

would call them chana atta 

omelettes. Mom also makes 

the most delicious avial and 

baingan ka bharta. Even her 

bitter gourd is tasty, 

seasoned with chilli powder 

and cooked in ginger-garlic paste, onions 

and tomatoes. As a kid, I was on a very 

healthy vegetarian diet - palak dal and 

masoor dal, particularly cooked in the 

Parsi style. Dhansak dal, chicken farcha 

and salli boti were also some of my other 

favourites. So most of my food memories 

are from my mom’s kitchen. 

What are your favourite cuisines? 

I love Parsi cuisine and food from Kerala 

as far as Indian cuisine is concerned. I 

love puttus, appams, and other food local 

to Kerala. Puttu is a top favourite of mine 

and I eat it with coconut milk. I like Thai, 

too, which uses a lot of coconut milk 

again. 

How do you ensure that you stay fit? 

My weight never fluctuates because I 

make sure that I follow a balanced diet. 

I’m very disciplined. I take work-outs 

and my diet very seriously. I indulge very 

rarely because I love the food I eat on a 

daily basis. The focus should be the 

nutritional value in your diet. For 

example, a fruit is always better than a 

sweet or a dessert. I like vegetarian food, 

but because I also need lots of protein to 

maintain my physique, I eat eggs and 

fish. I don’t cut out carbs and eat a lot of 

protein. I feel there is no need to cut the 

carbs completely. We all love carbs (rice, 

pasta, potatoes, bread) but try to have 

them early in the day. They are excellent 

fuel and will fill you up and give you 

energy. More importantly, your body 

then has the whole day in which to burn 

them off. I had to gain weight for my film 

Force and so my diet had to change. I 

would eat oatmeal for breakfast and 

almost 30 eggs a day. 

What do you eat for breakfast? 

I believe that breakfast is the most 

important meal of the day and affects 

what you eat the rest of the day. I have 

oatmeal, egg whites and lots of fruits. I 

also drink protein shakes. I eat every few 

hours, and I eat foods with a low 

Glycemic Index through the day. Despite 

my hectic schedule, I always find time to 

have a healthy breakfast, so I just don’t 

buy the argument when people say they 

don’t get time in the morning. Get up half 

an hour earlier, or prepare something the 

night before. Try to include eggs for 

protein and fruits for fructose. Having a 

decent breakfast ensures that you have 

enough energy to sustain you through 

the day. Your brain will also thank you as 

you will be more alert and your 

concentration will be better. 

What’s your lunch and dinner like? 

Lunch could be a quinoa salad with some 

fish and lentils. Or it could be roti made 

of jowar or bajra with rajma, or masoor 

94 


STAR BUZZ 

JOHN ABRAHAM 

or moong dal. Sometimes, I only have fruit 

and pulses for dinner, and I often have tea 

with honey. I ensure that I don’t eat carbs 

after 4 pm. 

Don’t you have any vices when it comes to 

eating? 

I really enjoy this lovely sour, cherry brandy 

called Visinata that my sister-in-law’s 

father makes. They’re Romanian and this 

is a local brew that they make. Otherwise, 

I don’t like alcohol and only drink some 

champagne once a year. A cup of strong 

tea in the morning keeps me going. 

Do you allow yourself any other indulgences? 

Some fudge once in a while and a brownie, 

maybe. I love my food but at the same time 

I’m careful to eat right and resist temptation. 

Recently on the sets, I was offered a 

plate of gulab jamun and samosa. I was 

tempted, but I told myself that this is not 

allowed and just walked away. But even 

fitness enthusiasts have their weaknesses. 

I love chocolate yet I keep any indulgences 

to a minimum. An occasional cheat 

day is fine, but that occasion should not be 

every day. 

Top to bottom: 

Before movies, the 

actor-producer 

was a successful 

model; and with 

Akshay Kumar in 

Desi Boys 

Where do you love eating out? 

I prefer home food. But if I go out then I 

like salads in Mumbai at Suzette, a lovely 

little café in Bandra, or I go to Yoga House, 

again in Bandra. I also like the food at 

Royal China and Thai Baan. When I 

travel abroad, I like getting sushi at 

Zuma in Istanbul and Dubai. Sushi 

has many essential nutrients such as 

fatty acids and proteins, which is why I 

like it. When I’m in Los Angeles, which 

is undoubtedly the food capital of the 

world, especially when it comes to 

experimenting with healthy cuisines, 

I go to Café Vida and Urth Caffé. I’ve had 

some of the best food at these places. In 

New York, I’m partial to Jaya, a Malaysian 

restaurant with great ambience and fantastic 

service. 

96 


CITIES 

PUNE 

Shaniwar Wada, the most striking relic of the Peshwa period 

PAST IN THE PRESENT 

WITHIN THE PUNE OF UNIVERSITIES, CORPORATE PARKS, CAFES AND 

ENTERTAINMENT CENTRES LIES ANOTHER PUNE - THAT OF CHHATRAPATI 

SHIVAJI MAHARAJ AND PESHWA BAJI RAO WHERE PETHS, WADAS, TEMPLES 

AND MONUMENTS CONTINUE TO CAPTURE THE IMAGINATION AND DRAW THE 

CROWDS. BY: ANIL MULCHANDANI PHOTOGRAPHS BY: DINESH SHUKLA 

SpiceJet flies to Pune. Log on to 

www.spicejet.com for details. 

Long before it became the 

hip place that it is today, 

Pune was the seat of the 

great Maratha Empire - 

from Chhatrapati 

(Emperor) Shivaji Maharaj’s father, 

Shahaji Raje Bhosle, to the Peshwas to 

Nana Phadnavis; home to freedom 

fighters and social reformers such as 

Lokmanya Tilak and Jyotiba Phule; and 

the cultural capital of Maharashtra. 

Even today, the old or walled city, with 

its peths (administrative divisions), 

chowks (crossroads), wadas (old houses), 

temples, monuments, and mandais 

(markets), stands testimony to Pune’s 

glorious past. With so much to see, we 

embarked on a heritage tour in old Pune. 

SHANIWAR WADA 

We are told the old city has little to show 

for the Peshwa period, mainly due to 

19th century fires that destroyed several 

structures here. And yet, the peths, 

chowks, wadas and temples hark back to 

a bygone era. Our auto-rickshaw driver 

drops us at Delhi Darwaja, the massive 

teakwood gateway to Shaniwar Wada in 

Kasha Peth - the heart of the walled city. 

Before 1818, there were as many as 18 

peths - self-sufficient boroughs with 

their own administrative systems, water 

supply, temples, gardens and markets. 

The wadas in the narrow lanes of these 

100 


CITIES 

PUNE 

mirrors, hamams or baths, and the 

Mastani Mahal of Peshwa Baji Rao’s 

second wife, Mastani, a woman of 

Muslim faith famed for her beauty and 

courage, whom Baji Rao loved to the 

point of destruction despite stiff 

opposition from his mother Radhabai 

and brother Chimajiappa. From the 

upper storey of the Delhi Darwaja, we 

can see the layout of gardens that were 

once irrigated and housed as many as 197 

jet fountains. 

Top: The great mansions called wadas of old 

Pune. Below:A colonial church in the city 

peths rose to a 

maximum of two 

storeys, and 

included palatial 

buildings of 

influential families, 

buildings occupied 

by several families, 

and administrative 

buildings. The 

facades and 

detailing of the 

more upscale wadas 

drew from Gujarati traditions of 

woodcarving and stonework; Mughal 

architecture; and palaces and mansions 

of Rajasthan and central India. Inside 

the wadas, there were columns and 

arches, carved wooden ceilings, and 

ornate murals. More than one courtyard 

provided natural light and ventilation to 

the bordering residential quarters and 

served as social hub for residents. We see 

that the Delhi Darwaja is studded with 

spikes; back then, these would help repel 

elephant attacks. Facing us are the ruins 

of Shaniwar Wada - once a magnificent, 

seven-storey palace with a hall of 

AMRUTESHWAR MANDIR 

From Shaniwar Wada, we walk to 

Amruteshwar Mandir, a temple complex 

built in the 1760s. Most temples in Pune 

are of modest size as they were built for 

families, personal patrons, and units of 

peths rather than mass gatherings. The 

shikharas (spires) of the temples are 

profusely carved conical towers over the 

garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). The 

sabha mandaps (assembly halls) have 

timber columns and beams that hold up 

carved wooden ceilings. 

NANA WADA 

From the temple complex, we stroll 

towards Patwardhan Chowk and 

Patwardhan Wada - a brickwork 

mansion with fine wooden windows. We 

turn right on Shivaji Road and come to 

Nana Wada, once Nana Phadnavis’ 

home, which now houses a school and 

several government offices. The wada 

features wooden ceilings, railings and 

umbrella-like canopies called chattris. 

Much of what stands today was rebuilt 

during the British Raj, which explains 

the Gothic arches and other European 

influences. 

KASBA GANPATI TEMPLE 

Next, we stop by at the Kasba Ganpati 

Temple, home to Lord Ganesh or 

Ganpati, the presiding deity of Pune. The 

temple with the golden spire, located in 

102 


CITIES 

PUNE 

Kasba Peth - said to be the oldest part of 

Pune dating back to the Rashtrakuta 

Empire, is believed to have been built in 

the 16th century by Chhatrapati Shivaji 

Maharaj’s mother, Jijabai, a devout 

woman credited with much of Pune’s 

temple heritage. 

MUZUMDAR WADA 

We head to Muzumdar Wada of the 

Muzumdar family, descended from 

Sardar Nilkanth Muzumdar, a 

distinguished leader during the Peshwa 

period. On our way, we get a glimpse of 

mornings in this quaint city with women 

going about their chores in navvaris 

(nine yard sarees), families visiting 

temples, and vendors hawking their 

wares. The timber-framed wada is a 

brick-and-mud building and houses an 

inner and outer courtyard as well as an 

old well. 

NAGAR VACHAN MANDIR 

Our next halt is the Nagar Vachan 

Mandir; not a temple as the name 

suggests but Pune’s first general library 

designed in 1889 in the Indo-Saracenic 

style by architect Vasudeo Kanetkar. 

Across the road is Belbaug Vishnu 

Mandir that was built in the 18th century 

under Nana Phadnavis. 

MAHATMA JYOTIBA PHULE 

MANDAI 

Further down Shivaji Road is the famous 

Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai, which 

began as an open market but was 

regularised during British rule. Among 

the many colonial-style buildings here 

with shops on the ground floor and 

living quarters above, the main structure 

called Reay Market has an octagonal 

central tower and Gothic arches. 

TULSHIBAGH 

Walking past rows of shops, we reach 

Tulshibagh, another temple complex 

which also has shops selling utensils. A 

few more rows of shops later, we are at 

Vishrambag Wada, an architectural 

gem. A large part of this place too was 

damaged by fires however there are still 

beautiful wooden balconies and doors 

with ornate canopies. The 

Meghadambari, a hall where musicians 

performed, showcases the wood carving 

skills of western India. The Diwankhana 

or main hall on the first floor has arches 

and columns and a carved wooden 

ceiling. 

RAJA DINKAR KELKAR 

MUSEUM 

After Vishrambag, we stop by at the Raja 

Dinkar Kelkar Museum, located in an 

old, three-storey building in Shukrawar 

Peth. One of the city’s top draws, the 

museum has nearly 2,000 exhibits 

collected over 60 years of travel across 

the country by late Dr Dinkar Kelkar, an 

award-winning poet who passed away 

in 1990, and his wife, Kamala. On display 

The Jadhavgarh Fort is now a resort 

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104 


CITIES 

PUNE 

rickshaw to Sassoon Hospital, built in 

1867 in the Gothic style by philanthropist 

David Sassoon. Nearby are colonial-style 

buildings including the old Treasury, 

Collector’s Office and St Paul’s Church 

that was built in 1866 and has beautiful 

stone gargoyles along its periphery. St 

Mary’s Church is our last stop before 

heading back to our hotel for dinner. 

Top: Aga Khan Palace houses Mahatma 

Gandhi's possessions. Below: Replica of 

Mastani Mahal at Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum 

are wooden toys, 

writing implements, oil 

lamps, hookahs, locks, 

intricately carved paan 

boxes, betel nut 

crackers in interesting 

shapes, spice 

containers, Chitrakathi 

scroll paintings, 

musical instruments, 

and an assembly of 

textiles including 

beautiful paithani sarees from 

Maharashtra, garas or embroidered 

sarees of the Parsis, and silk sarees from 

Benares. An entire room called the 

Vanita Kaksha is dedicated to the life of 

the Indian woman. The museum itself 

has carved wooden doors and windows 

from Gujarat, Rajasthan and other parts 

of India; wooden ceilings; painted 

arches; and images of various Hindu 

deities in stone, wood, metal, ivory, 

fabric and clay. On our way out is a 

replica of the Mastani Mahal. 

SASSOON HOSPITAL 

After some chai and wada-pav at Tilak 

Road, Pune’s street food hub, we take a 

SINHAGAD FORT 

After an early breakfast the next day, we 

set out for the famous Sinhagad fort, 

strategically located atop a cliff, and the 

site of many historic battles, the most 

famous being the one fought by Tanaji 

Malusare, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s 

general in March 1670 to recapture the 

fort. Most of the fort is in ruins but we get 

to see two historic gates, the military 

stables, a brewery, a temple devoted to 

Goddess Kali, a statue of Lord Hanuman, 

and memorials of Tanaji Malusare and 

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s son, 

Rajaram, both of whom died here. 

AGA KHAN PALACE 

We reach Aga Khan Palace that was built 

in the 1860s. The palace skillfully blends 

European, Indian and Islamic 

architectural elements. In the 1940s, 

Mahatma Gandhi was placed under 

house arrest here and so, it houses the 

Gandhi National Museum with personal 

possessions of the Mahatma in a suitably 

low-key ambience. There are handlooms 

on sale as well. 

FORT JADHAVGAD 

With the evening fast approaching, we 

drive up to Fort Jadhavgad which 

derives its name from a brave Maratha 

general in Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj’s 

army. The fort has been modernised and 

is now a resort. A typical Maharashtrian 

dinner at the restaurant Payatha makes 

for a fitting finale to our forays into 

Pune’s glorious past. 

106 


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CHILD DEVELOPMENT TO THE FORE 

Neelam 

Makhijani 

CHILDFUND INDIA has 

been representing the voice 

of underserved children 

in India since 1951. It is 

the only development 

organization of its kind 

that continuously supports 

children from birth to young 

adulthood. 

ChildFund India 

exists to help deprived, 

excluded and vulnerable 

children have the capacity 

to improve their lives and 

the opportunity to become 

young adults, parents and 

leaders who bring lasting 

and positive change in 

their communities. The 

organisation’s mission is to 

promote societies whose 

individuals and institutes 

participate in valuing, 

protecting and advancing 

the worth and right of 

children. 

It is a local entity of 

ChildFund International, 

one of the world’s leading 

child development 

organizations that operates 

in 25 countries and reaches 

over 18 million children 

and their families globally. 

ChildFund India has a 

national office based in 

Bengaluru and a programme 

office in Delhi. It works 

in over 60 districts across 

14 states and two union 

territories. Through its 

unique programmes, 

ChildFund India provides 

comprehensive support 

to children from birth 

until they reach 24 years 

of age through holistic 

interventions integrating 

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education, livelihoods, and 

child protection. 

ChildFund India’s 

unparalleled longstanding 

community presence and 

long-term partnerships with 

grassroots NGOs ensures 

that its programming fosters 

an enabling environment 

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ChildFund India works in 

tandem with communities, 

the government, academic 

institutions and corporates 

to strengthen child 

protection systems. 

The organisation’s 

path-breaking initiatives are 

led by Neelam Makhijani, 

Country Director and 

CEO, ChildFund India. She 

has been in this position 

for over three years. As a 

thought leader and expert 

communicator, she has been 

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forums, conferences and 

panels in over 30 countries. 

Neelam is passionate 

about fundraising and 

inspiring change for 

maximum impact. Within 

just couple of years, she 

has revitalized ChildFund 

India’s core operations 

by strengthening the 

organization’s ability to 

fulfil its mandate to children 

throughout India. 

IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

109 


SPORTS 

CRICKET 

Virat Kohli 

A THRILLING 

SERIES AHEAD 

Not qualifying for the 

Champions Trophy must 

have been hurtful for the 

champions of 2004 and 

losing to a non-test-playing Afghanistan 

by 63 runs in the recently concluded ODI 

THE INDIANS MAY SEEM TO HAVE THE 

UPPER HAND. BUT THE WEST INDIES IS 

ONE OF THOSE SIDES THAT CAN 

SURPRISE ANY OPPONENT. 

BY MKM FAIYAZ AHMED 

series will be long remembered. 

Currently, West Indies are ranked ninth 

in One Day Internationals and are 

struggling for direct qualification to 

World Cup 2019 which will be played in 

England. The cutoff date for the top eight 

teams is September 30, 2017 and playing 

against a strong Indian side in a five 

match ODI series will make things more 

difficult. 

India, 

JUNE 23 1ST ODI 

SERIES FIXTURE 

QUEEN’S PARK OVAL, TRINIDAD 

after losing to 

Pakistan in 

the 

JUNE 25 2ND ODI QUEEN’S PARK OVAL, TRINIDAD 

Champions 

JUNE 30 3RD ODI SIR VIV RICHARDS STADIUM, ANTIGUA 

Trophy final, 

JULY 02 

JULY 06 

JULY 09 

4TH ODI 

5TH ODI 

One off T20 

SIR VIV RICHARDS STADIUM, ANTIGUA 

SABINA PARK, JAMAICA 

SABINA PARK, JAMAICA 

has 

surprisingly 

announced a 

full squad without making too many 

changes which raised a few eye-brows. 

Should India have given the chance to 

some of the young players considering 

the strength of the opponent is 

something to ponder? 

For Indian selectors, it was probably 

the best time to test the bench strength 

with the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Deepak 

Hooda and Ishan Kishan showing lot of 

promise in the first class season with top 

notch performances. If not in their best 

phase, when will these youngsters be 

tested? The selection panel has certainly 

overlooked some emerging talent. 

However, ace opener Rohit Sharma 

who did well in the Champions Trophy 

has been rested along with Jasprit 

Bumrah who didn’t have a good end to 

the recently concluded Champions 

Trophy. To no one’s surprise, the young 

19-year-old swashbuckling wicketkeeper 

batsman Rishabh Pant has been 

picked after his impressive 

performances in the First Class season 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

110 


SPORTS 

CRICKET 

followed by Indian Premier League 

in recent times has been Hardik Pandya 

(IPL) for Delhi Daredevils. Pant is a 

who is bowling well as a fifth bowler 

player to watch and may well partner 

and is a powerful hitter of the ball 

with Shikhar Dhawan ahead of Ajinkya 

batting lower down the order. The pace 

Rahane. It won’t be too surprising if 

attack looks decent with Bhuvaneshwar 

Pant plays in place of MS Dhoni in a few 

Kumar leading the attack along with 

games. 

Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami. 

Dhawan who was the highest run 

Even though Kumar does not have the 

scorer in the Champions Trophy with 

numbers to show, he is now a different 

338 runs at an average of 67.60 will be 

bowler who can bowl at any given 

hoping for a good performance in the 

situation. He swings the new ball either 

Caribbean as the left-handed batsman 

way and has variety to contain the 

averages just 22.67 in the nine matches 

batsmen at the death. He has a great 

he played in West Indies so far. But even 

yorker and has added a yard to his pace 

though Dhawan has a significant ODI 

as he clocks almost 140 very often. The 

record, he has always been skeptical 

spin twin of Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra 

due to injury woes. He will be hoping to 

Jadeja had a forgettable Champions 

remain fit and improve his numbers. 

Trophy in England but the conditions in 

Jason Holder 

Skipper Virat Kohli has been in 

sublime form as ever and is never short 

the Caribbean will suit their style of 

bowling. It will be interesting to see if 

of confidence playing against any 

Kuldeep Yadav will be preferred ahead 

opponent at any ground. As a captain 

of one of the two spinners. Yadav’s slow 

this year, he averages 88.6. The last time 

left-arm Chinaman gives an assorted 

he played against West Indies at 

option to the skipper. 

Queen’s Park, Kohli scored a rollicking 

West Indies have announced their 

102 off 83 balls which India won by a 

13-man squad for the first two ODIs 

huge margin. He is currently ranked 

which will be led by Jason Holder. If 

number 1 in ODIs and will once again be 

West Indies has to win over India or 

the main stay of the Indian batting 

give a tough competition, they need to 

order. It will be interesting to see how 

play their skins out. The inexperience 

Kohli tackles the team after head coach 

of West Indies may make them look 

THE PLAYERS 

INDIAN SQUAD: Virat Kohli 

(Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, 

Rishabh Pant, Ajinkya Rahane, 

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Yuvraj 

Singh, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh 

Karthik, Hardik Pandya, 

Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra 

Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, 

Mohammed Shami, Umesh 

Yadav and Bhuvaneshwar 

Kumar. 

WEST INDIES SQUAD: Jason 

Holder (Captain), Devendra 

Bishoo, Jonathan Carter, Roston 

Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shai 

Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Evin 

Lewis, Jason Mohammad, Ashley 

Nurse, Kieran Powell, Rovman 

Powell and Kesrick Williams. 

Anil Kumble resigned just ahead of the 

series. 

With former cricketers including 

Rahul Dravid raising concerns over the 

batting position of Yuvraj Singh and MS 

Dhoni at number 4 and 5 in the team, 

the duo needs to step up and rise to the 

occasion as concerns have been raised 

over their recent form. This may well be 

the last Caribbean tour for both the 

batsmen who have given so much to 

Indian cricket. The last time when MS 

Dhoni walked out to bat in West Indies 

in 2013, he won the finals of the triseries 

against Sri Lanka singlehandedly 

in the final over. 

The most improved player for India 

weak but they are one of those sides 

who can surprise any opponent on their 

day with their brand of cricket. It will 

be wonderful to see the likes of Evin 

Lewis, Jason Mohammed and Roston 

Chase as these batsmen are promising 

and have shown a lot of character. 

The selection of the Indian team 

has perplexed many and it has certainly 

raised a lot of questions. It will be 

interesting to see if the only picked 

players Pant and Yadav will be given 

ample opportunities. India last played 

West Indies in a bi-lateral One Day 

International series in 2011 which India 

won 3-2. This five match ODI series and 

one of T20 will end on July 9, 2017. 

ALAMY 

111 


BOOKS 

REVIEWS 

READER'S CORNER 

What the serious bookworm is checking out this month 

BEFORE THE FALL 

Noah Hawley 

The creator of popular 

award-winning TV show 

Fargo has come up with a 

thriller that is being raved 

about. On a foggy 

summer night, eleven 

people — 10 privileged, 

one down-on-his-luck 

painter — depart Martha’s 

Vineyard on a private jet 

that is headed for New 

York. Sixteen minutes 

later, the unthinkable 

happens: the plane 

plunges into the ocean. 

The only survivors are 

Scott Burroughs - the 

painter - and a four-yearold 

boy, who is now the 

last remaining member of 

an immensely wealthy 

and powerful media 

mogul’s family. With 

chapters weaving 

between the aftermath of 

the crash and the 

backstories of the 

passengers and crew 

members — including a 

Wall Street titan and his 

wife, a Texan-born party 

boy just in from London, 

a young woman 

questioning her path in 

life, and a career pilotthe 

mystery surrounding 

the tragedy heightens. As 

the passengers’ intrigues 

unravel, odd coincidences 

point to a conspiracy. 

MEGA TECH 

Daniel Franklin 

Technology moves fast — 

so where will it have 

taken us by 2050? How 

will it affect the way we 

live? And how far are we 

willing to let it go? In 

Mega Tech, distinguished 

scientists, industry 

leaders, star academics 

and acclaimed science 

fiction writers join 

journalists from The 

Economist to explore 

answers to these 

questions and more. 

Twenty experts in the 

field, including Nobel 

prize-winner Frank 

Wilczek, Silicon Valley 

venture-capitalist Ann 

Winblad, philanthropist 

Melinda Gates and 

science-fiction author 

Alastair Reynolds identify 

the big ideas, fantastic 

inventions and potentially 

sinister trends that will 

shape our future. Join 

them to explore a brave 

new world of braincomputer 

interfaces, vatgrown 

cruelty-free meat, 

knitted cars and guided 

bullets. The writers 

predict the vast changes 

that technology will bring 

to everything from food 

production to health care, 

energy output, 

manufacturing and the 

military balance. 

NO MAN’S LAND 

David Baldacci 

Two men. Thirty years. 

John Puller’s mother, 

Jackie, vanished thirty 

years ago from Fort 

Monroe, Virginia, when 

Puller was just a boy. Paul 

Rogers has been in prison 

for ten years. But twenty 

years before that, he was 

at Fort Monroe. One night 

three decades ago, 

Puller’s and Rogers’ 

worlds collided with 

devastating results, and 

the truth has been buried 

ever since. Until now. 

Military investigators, 

armed with a letter from 

a friend of Jackie’s, arrive 

in the hospital room of 

Puller’s father – a 

legendary three-star now 

sinking into dementia – 

and reveal that Puller Sr. 

has been accused of 

murdering Jackie. Aided 

by his brother Robert 

Puller, an Air Force major, 

and Veronica Knox, who 

works for a shadowy U.S. 

intelligence organization, 

Puller begins a journey 

that will take him into his 

own past, to find the 

truth about his mother. 

Paul Rogers’ time is 

running out. With the 

clock ticking, he begins 

his own journey, one that 

will take him to the place 

where his troubles began. 

SULTAN OF DELHI: 

ASCENSION 

Arnab Ray 

First noted for his blog 

(Random Thoughts of a 

Demented Mind), Arnab 

Ray, a research scientist 

at the University of 

Maryland, later went on 

to write four novels. His 

fourth, Sultan of Delhi: 

Ascension, is the first of a 

two-part crime-drama. It 

is about the son of a 

penniless refugee from 

Lahore, Arjun Bhatia, who 

has worked his way up 

from being an arms 

smuggler in the badlands 

of Uttar Pradesh to the 

most influential powerbroker 

in Delhi. But when 

the shadows of the past – 

of a friend he has lost 

forever and of a woman 

he can never be with – 

finally catch up to him, 

Arjun finds himself 

fighting the biggest 

battle of his life. For at 

stake is not just his iron 

hold over the 

government, but 

something even greater – 

his family... and his soul. 

Spanning five decades 

and two generations, 

Sultan of Delhi: Ascension 

is all about ambition, 

greed, love and passion. 

A taut thriller, it reads like 

a Bollywood script. 

WAIT WHAT 

James E. Ryan 

Whether we are in the 

boardroom or the 

classroom, we spend far 

too much time and 

energy looking for the 

right answer. But the 

truth is that questions are 

just as important as 

answers, often more so. If 

you ask the wrong 

question, for instance, 

you’re guaranteed to get 

the wrong answer. A 

good question, on the 

other hand, inspires a 

good answer and, in the 

process, invites deeper 

understanding and more 

meaningful connections 

between people. Asking a 

good question requires us 

to move beyond what we 

think we know about an 

issue or a person to 

explore the difficult and 

the unknown, the 

awkward, and even the 

unpleasant. In Wait, 

What?, Jim Ryan, dean of 

Harvard University’s 

Graduate School of 

Education, celebrates the 

art of asking—and 

answering—good 

questions. Five questions 

in particular: Wait, what?; 

I wonder…? Couldn’t we 

at least…?; How can I 

help?; and What truly 

matters? 

112 


IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

KSB PUMPS LAUNCHES 

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113 


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MONTAGE 

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114 


IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

JOURNEY OF THE SPICE SAMRAT 

THE MDH SPICES journey 

had started in 1919 with 

Mahashay Chunnilal 

Gulati. Moving forward 

with the zeal of a crusader, 

Mahashay Dharam Pal 

never looked back. Always 

devoted to quality and 

purity of MDH spices, he 

made these the pillars of 

his progressive policies. 

In fact the finest quality 

of MDH Spices has been 

recognised through various 

awards from time to time. 

In Mahashay Dharam Pal’s 

efforts to achieve greater 

heights of fame for MDH, 

his son Rajeev Gulati’s 

contribution is no less – he 

is presently shouldering the 

responsibility of Director 

of the Company. His major 

achievement lies in putting 

MDH on the world map. 

The fifth grade dropout, 

94-year-old Mahashay 

Dharam Pal was the 

highest paid FMCG (Fast 

Moving Consumer Goods) 

CEO in India in 2016. 

MDH under the 

leadership of Mahashay 

Dharam Pal has 

developed more than 20 

schools including MDH 

International School, 

Mahashay Chunnilal 

Saraswati Shishu Mandir 

(named after his father), 

Mata Lilawati Kanya 

Vidyalaya (named after his 

late wife), and Mahashay 

Dharampal Vidya Mandir, 

etc. 

He started a small 10 

bed eye hospital at Arya 

Samaj, Subhash Nagar, 

in November 1975. Later, 

in January 1984, a 20 bed 

hospital was established in 

Janakpuri, New Delhi to 

commemorate his mother 

Mata Chanan Devi. Now 

it has 300 beds over a five 

acre land. The hospital is 

equipped with MRI, CT 

Scan, Heart Wing, Neuro 

Sciences, IVF and other 

facilities. 

Today MDH spices and 

blends are popular not just 

in India but also around 

the world and the products 

are being exported to the 

United States of America, 

Canada, United Kingdom, 

Europe, South East Asia, 

Japan, U.A.E. and Saudi 

Arabia. The Company has 

its own offices in London 

(U.K.) and a state-of-theart 

manufacturing unit at 

Sharjah (U.A.E.). 

During its 93 years 

of golden performance, 

MDH wishes to pay a 

tribute to its associates, 

workers and well wishers, 

stockists and dealers for 

their contribution in this 

glorious achievement and 

further wishes to share its 

joys with every household 

in the country and 

abroad. With all humility 

MDH invites all to join 

in this on-going march 

towards greater heights of 

achievements and seeks 

their continuous support 

in its endeavour to make 

yet greater achievements 

possible. 

116 


CITIES 

JAIPUR 

AN 

ARCHITECTURAL 

MARVEL 

HIDDEN INSIDE THE WALLS OF 

THE PINK CITY’S MAGNIFICENTLY 

DESIGNED EDIFICES ARE STORIES 

OF RAJASTHANI FEATS, MUGHAL 

PURSUITS AND EUROPEAN AMBITION. 

TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY 

RHUCHA KULKARNI 

Top: Jaipur stands out for its town planning. 

Bottom: A silver vessel at the City Palace 

SpiceJet flies to Jaipur. Log on to 

www.spicejet.com for details. 

Think Jaipur and you 

immediately think royal 

palaces, forts, and of course, 

pink sandstone. Scratch the 

surface though and you come across 

architectural marvels that seamlessly 

marry Rajput, Mughal and European 

influences even as they retain the four 

tenets of architecture espoused by the 

great Hindu epic, Ramayana, i.e. 

Bhogadam (function), Sukha Darsham 

(aesthetic), Ramyam (harmony), and 

Poornam (complete). 

TOWN PLANNING 

What we now know as the “Pink City” 

was born back in 1727 AD out of the 

combined genius of Marwari ruler, 

Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, and his 

learned aide, Vidyadhar. The sheer 

symmetry and efficiency of Jaipur’s 

edifices – a characteristic of intelligent 

planning no doubt - stand out even today. 

CITY PALACE 

One of Jaipur’s main attractions, the City 

Palace, was built between 1729 and 1732 

AD by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II and 

restored by British engineer, Swinton 

Jacob, in the 20th century. The chief seat 

of the kingdom of Marwar, the layout of 

City Palace is heavily influenced by the 

Hindu tradition of Vaastu Shastra 

whereas its many walls and gates are 

adorned with latticework, murals and 

mirrors – features borrowed from 

Mughal architecture. The gargantuan 

gateways have sitting spaces or gokhadas 

on either side, possibly to afford the 

guards a degree of rest. 

The grandeur of the entrances – Udai 

Pol, Tripolia Gate and Virendra Pol – 

mesmerises you, just as the opulent 

interiors - Chandra Mahal, Mubarak 

Mahal and Pritam Niwas Chowk - floor 

you with their mirrored walls, silverand-glass 

dining tables, and Mughal 

miniatures. Punctuating the vast spaces 

within the palace are Rajput-style 

mandapas and baradaris or pleasure 

pavilions. The Diwan-e-Aam or Public 

Hall houses some of the largest silver 

vessels said to have been made by 

melting 14,000 silver coins. The vessels 

were used to ferry holy water of the River 

Ganges when Maharaja Sawai Madho 

Singh II visited England in 1901. The 

Diwan-e-Khas or Private Hall, with its 

red and gold stone embellishments, is the 

very personification of Hindu beliefs 

with the Bhagwad Gita inscribed on its 

walls. Meanwhile, the Govind Dev Ji 

117 


CITIES 

JAIPUR 

Temple displays an interesting mix of 

Indian paintings and European 

chandeliers. 

Clockwise from above: The Jantar Mantar 

houses the world’s largest sundial; the 

more than 200 years old Hawa Mahal; a 

chattri at Amer Fort; and a cenotaph with 

a curvilinear roof 

JAIPUR WITH SPICEVACATIONS.COM 

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com, which offers you great deals 

to Jaipur across three categories (Hotels, 

Flights + Packages and Packages). 

Log on to www.spicevacations.com for 

more details 

AMER FORT 

Built in 1592 AD by Maharaja Man Singh 

and later refurbished by Maharaja Sawai 

Jai Singh I, Fort Amer was the capital of 

Marwar long before the honour went to 

Jaipur. Located 11 km from the main city 

and fortified by four gates, Amer has all 

the features of a Rajput fort, especially 

the Lion Gate with its confusing, zig-zag 

access route. Red sandstone juxtaposed 

with white marble lends unmatched 

elegance to the exteriors while the 

interiors stand out for their four 

courtyards, each with its own entrance. 

Back in the day, courtyards doubled 

as private open spaces and socio-cultural 

hubs while permitting the free flow of 

light and air. Of the four courtyards, 

Jalebi Chowk, derives from an Arabic 

phrase meaning “place for soldiers to 

assemble”. Diwan-e-Aam holds 27 

colonnades where the king’s subjects 

gathered to listen to him. Sheesh Mahal 

is a Mughal import, replete with mirror 

mosaics, coloured glass or sheesh, and 

sprawling gardens. The higher terraces 

of these gardens are interspersed with 

baradaris to allow fresh air and 

breathtaking views. The Zenana 

courtyard was clearly a female bastion as 

is seen from the latticed windows, again 

a Rajput staple, which allowed women of 

the house a sneak peek into the outside 

world without being seen themselves. 

JAL MAHAL 

Gaze at the beautiful, red sandstone 

likeness of Jal Mahal in the shimmering 

waters of Lake Man Sagar. Built in 1799 

AD by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, this 

“Palace on Water” draws from both 

Rajput and Mughal architectural styles. 

Curvilinear roofs or bangaldar are part 

of the Rajput legacy. 

HAWA MAHAL 

Also built in 1799 AD by Maharaja Sawai 

Pratap Singh, with help from his chief 

designer, Lal Chand Ustad, Hawa Mahal 

bears the Rajput stamp across all five of 

its storeys. The front is dotted with 

jharokhas, which, apart from ensuring 

adequate ventilation, also served as 

windows to the outside world for women 

of the family. Similarly, chajjas were 

built to offer shade from the sun. 

GAITORE 

Another place worth visiting in Jaipur is 

Gaitore, where generations of illustrious 

Kachhwaha Rajputs have been 

cremated. Assorted cenotaphs – one for 

each ruler – bring together elements of 

Islamic (pure white marble, peacock 

carvings, minarets) and Hindu 

(miniature paintings) styles. 

JANTAR MANTAR 

A state-of-the-art observatory, Jantar 

Mantar, is proof that the fascination for 

the unknown was as strong those days as 

it is today. An avid astrologer, Maharaja 

Sawai Jai Singh II, along with his 

astronomer, Pandit Kedarnath, built this 

architectural marvel, which at best, is a 

curious mix of religion, science and art. 

Walking through this maze of ancient 

devices that measure time, study 

constellations, track solar orbits, and 

what have you, one cannot but help gape 

at the genius of its creators. 

118 


VANS PRESENTS THE 

FRESHNESS PACK 

IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

CONNOISSEUR OF OFF 

THE WALL style since 

1966, Vans introduces the 

Freshness Pack for SS17. 

A salute to the effortless 

surf and skate style of the 

‘90s, the spring footwear 

offering includes new spins 

on some of the most iconic 

and timeless models of the 

Off The Wall catalogue: 

Authentic, Old Skool, Era, 

and Sk8-Hi. Marked by 

the predominance of red, 

white and blue and taking 

inspiration from the 90’s, 

this range includes hoodies, 

graphic tees, accessories 

and footwear. The 

featured garments adopt a 

minimalist and 90’s anticonformist 

approach to 

fashion, which is a contrast 

to flashy trends featured 

across other decades. A 

colourful take on some 

of the world’s favourite 

footwear staples, there’s 

always a good excuse to 

stock up on a new pair of 

classic Vans. 

A VF Corporation 

(NYSE: VFC) brand, 

Vans is the original 

action sports footwear, 

apparel and accessories 

brand. Vans authentic 

collections are sold globally 

in more than 75 countries 

through a network of 

subsidiaries, distributors 

and international 

offices. Vans also owns 

and operates more than 

450 retail locations around 

the world. The Vans brand 

promotes the action sports 

lifestyle, youth culture and 

creative self-expression 

through the support 

of athletes, musicians 

and artists and through 

progressive events and 

platforms. 

119 


IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

COACH GURU'S 

POWER-PACKED 

WORKSHOPS 

Coach Guru, a corporate training 

and coaching organization, is 

holding power-packed workshops 

on leadership and change 

management with internationally 

acclaimed speakers. 

HRITHIK ROSHAN IS 

ZEBRONICS BRAND 

AMBASSADOR 

Charles Kovess 

(Passion provocateur 

and leadership coach) 

Workshop on 

Passionate 

Performance - Your 

key to mental, physical 

and spiritual wellbeing 

in business 

High energy 

passionate team members plan 

better, feel better, think better, 

sell better, relate to their clients 

and colleagues better. The 

programme shall help you to 

harness your passion to become a 

highly effective leader. Don’t miss 

this opportunity to benefit from 

Charles’ high passion programme 

in Bengaluru on September 6 & 7. 

Dr Mark DeVolder (Change and 

transition specialist) 

Workshop on Change Management 

ZEBRONICS, A BRAND THAT HAS 

MADE COMMENDABLE STRIDES 

in the peripherals, consumer 

electronics and surveillance 

over the past 20 years, has 

announced popular Bollywood 

superstar Hrithik Roshan as its 

brand ambassador. The brand 

acclaims Hrithik Roshan as a true 

exemplification to its philosophy 

of marrying technology with style, 

designed for today’s fashionable 

and tech-savvy youth. 

On one hand, Hrithik is known 

for being a perfectionist and on 

the other, Zebronics stands true 

to its promise of superior quality 

and design. Blending both shall 

take the brand to unseen heights. 

Throughout his movies we’ve 

watched him seamlessly blend into 

the persona regardless of whether 

he’s a hunk or a superhero or 

At the end of the two day 

workshop, participants will leave 

with tools and templates to reenergize, 

re-engage and transform 

their workplace and life. Workshop 

takes place in Bangalore on 

September 15 and 16. 

Suman Singh (Leadership coach) 

Workshop on transformational 

communication 

The one day workshop will help 

participants embrace a new 

mindset and develop a blue print 

for success. The workshop takes 

place on July 29 in Bengaluru and 

New Delhi and on August 19 and 

September 22 in Mumbai 

The workshops are delivered 

in a classroom session as well as 

online. 

For details contact +91 9717705771 

or write to contact@mycoachguru. 

com 

royalty. This correctly is reflective 

of Zebronics products which are 

of high-quality ranking, delivering 

optimum performance. 

Speaking on the association, 

Mr. Rajesh Doshi, Director, 

Zebronics said, “Hrithik Roshan 

is undoubtedly the indisputable 

choice for our brand. He is a 

versatile actor with youthful 

enthusiasm and positive 

inspiration, that shall bring new 

vigour/dynamism to the brand 

to further expand our customer 

reach” 

Commenting on his coming on 

board as the brand ambassador 

for Zebronics, Hrithik Roshan said, 

“It’s amazing to see how Zebronics 

has grown and celebrated with the 

Indian youth, tailoring solutions 

for the dynamic lives of today’s 

generation." 

120 


HPL’S VAST REACH 

HPL IS AN ESTABLISHED 

ELECTRIC equipment 

manufacturing company, 

manufacturing a diverse portfolio 

of electric equipment, including 

meters solutions, switchgears, 

lighting equipment and wires 

and cables, catering to consumer 

and institutional customers in the 

electrical equipment industry. The 

company had the largest share in 

the market for electricity energy 

meters in India in fiscal 2015, with 

one of the widest portfolios of 

IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

meters in India and the fifth largest 

market share for LED lamps during 

the corresponding period. 

The company’s manufacturing 

capabilities are supported by 

a large sales and distribution 

network with a pan-India presence. 

They currently manufacture and 

sell their products under the 

umbrella brand HPL, which has 

been registered in India since 1975. 

HPL supplies the products 

through a network of authorized 

dealers or distributors to 

institutional, non-institutional 

and corporate customers. The 

company supplies switchgears, 

lighting equipment and wires and 

cables, primarily through a pan- 

India authorized dealer network, 

which comprises of over 2,700 

authorized dealers or distributors, 

from warehouses located in 21 

states and union territories in India 

that are managed by carrying and 

forwarding agents. 

The authorized dealers or 

distributors further sell their 

products to over 18,000 retailers 

in India. In addition, the company 

supplies its products to power 

utilities, which primarily includes 

supply of meters under direct 

contractual arrangements to 

electricity boards and power 

distribution companies, as well as 

through project contractors. 

Further, the company supplies 

its portfolio of products to 

developers of residential and 

commercial building projects, 

original equipment manufacturers 

and to industrial customers 

through a mix of direct sales and 

supply through its authorized 

dealer network. 

ECOLE GLOBALE ENCOURAGES 

A 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. 

121 


FOOD 

FLORAL DELICACIES 

Top: Edible flower lollipops. Bottom: 

Lavender shortbread 

Flowers are things of 

beauty but they have 

been used for much 

more than just that. 

For instance, their 

role in cooking goes back several 

centuries. First introduced into 

cooking pots by middle-eastern 

traders, petals today are blooming 

business. From pansies in popsicles 

to mustard in sushi to lavender 

frosting on cupcakes, 

contemporary chefs are 

experimenting with 

fragrant, flavoursome 

and exotic edible 

flowers in their menus. 

Indian cuisine – 

from the north to the 

south, the east to the 

west – uses flowers. 

Mouth-watering Rogan 

BLOOMS 

ON MY 

PLATE 

FLOWERS HAVE COME A LONG WAY 

FROM BEING PRETTY ADJUNCTS TO 

CHANGING THE VERY COURSE OF 

YOUR MEAL. BY AARTI KAPUR SINGH 

FLOWER 

INGREDIENTS 

ADD A TOUCH 

OF NOVELTY 

TO THE DISH 

Josh is not reddened by tomatoes 

but by Ratanjyot, extracted from 

the cockscomb flower, locally 

called Mawal. Abbas Bhat, 

Executive Chef, RK Sarovar 

Portico, Srinagar, says, “Wazwan 

cooking cannot be imagined 

without the cockscomb flower. It is 

the key ingredient in signature 

dishes of Wazwan such as Aloo 

Bukhara, Rogan Josh, Lahabi 

Kebab and so on.” 

Similarly, banana flowers are 

used extensively in 

Bengali and south 

Indian cooking. In 

Tamil Nadu, they are 

used in deep-fried 

wadas or stir-fried with 

coconut whereas in 

Bengal, they are used to 

make a spicy dish. West 

122 


FOOD 


Desi crème brulee 

With floral cooking, the sky is the limit. 

Try freezing some flowers in ice cubes 

to flavour your beverages. Here are 

some flowers that can glam up your 

culinary skills 

1. Marigold, also known as “the poor 

man’s saffron” can be used to add zing 

to soups, pasta or rice. Rich in vitamin C, 

the flower treats fevers, aids digestion 

and pumps up the immune system. 

2. Nasturtium incorporates sweet as 

well as spicy and peppery flavours and 

is therefore, a wonderful ingredient for 

fruit and vegetable salads as well as 

quiches and cheeses. Try garnishing your 

lassi with it. 

3. Gladiolus has a lettuce-like flavour and 

is equally crunchy. Add it to sandwich 

spreads or mousses and dips. Individual 

petals can also be tossed in salads. 

4. The Borage flower tastes like 

cucumber and pairs very well 

with seafood including crabs, 

lobsters and fish. 

Bengal’s Sojne Phul Bhaja is made by 

stir-frying drumstick flowers with 

brinjal. Even pumpkin flowers and 

buds are batter-fried and enjoyed as 

snacks here. Across northern and 

central India, Gulkand or rose petal 

mash is used on its own, in paan and 

various desserts. 

There is growing awareness and 

commitment in the culinary world 

about sourcing ingredients from 

nature. Floral ingredients not only 

offer immense opportunities, but also 

add a touch of novelty to the dish. 

There is also the trend where certain 

flowers are eaten in their purest form, 

with gourmet food suppliers 

providing cooks with safflower, 

marigold, cornflower, hibiscus, rose, 

gerbera and carnation petals. Why 

only chefs, even homemakers like 

Chandigarh-based Enna Singh mix 

flowers from their backyard with 

lemonade and fresh juices and turn 

them into ice-creams and popsicles 

for their children. Also available are 

sugared or candied petals of rose, 

mimosa, violets and lavender for 

enhancing premium desserts and 

confections. Pansy, rose or 

nasturtium-based salads too are 

in vogue. 

Chef Nishant Choubey, Roseate, 

New Delhi, rustles up a beautiful 

looking and even better-tasting detox 

salad using lavender and Japanese 

honeysuckle. “My inspiration behind 

the dish is to give a completely new 

look and texture by adding lavender, 

basil flowers and Japanese 

honeysuckle to beetroot and goat 

cheese. Japanese honeysuckle is also 

used in Oriental medicine as it helps 

bring down blood sugar levels. It is 

also a natural detoxifier and cleanses 

the liver and kidney. Lavender is the 

best to boost immunity,” he says. 

Initially, the use of flowers in 

cooking was limited to beautification. 

However, as chefs started associating 

with botanists, chemists and 

naturalists, their way of looking at 

flowers changed. Flowers now came 

to be used to add desired flavours and 

textures to preparations. They 

became a great way to add colour, 

flavour and a little adventure to food. 

Besides, the range they offered was 

surprising – some were spicy, others 

herbaceous and still others floral and 

fragrant. Anand Panwar, a Pastry 

Chef based in Delhi, says, “Working 

with flowers is fun because there is a 

huge bunch of flavours to choose 

from. Right from sweet or bitter to 

light, peppery and citrus, flowers can 

add multiple layers of taste to a dish.” 

He adds nasturtiums to citrusy 

chuski and uses lavender to make 

crème brulee. 

Nowadays, it isn’t uncommon to 

add a light touch of floral essence or 

infuse it in desserts or use floral syrup 

or liqueur in artisanal cocktails to 

give them an edgy accent. 

At The Hungry 

Monkey in New 

Delhi, heady 

elderflower 

cordial is used 

123 


FOOD 


Canapes with avocado paste and edible flowers 

SALAD WITH A FLOWER TOUCH 

Chef Nishant Choubey of Roseate 

shares the recipe of his signature 

Lavender Salad 

Salad of home-grown lavender, salted 

beetroot, Japanese honeysuckle, goat 

cheese with mustard lime dressing 

Roast 50gm beetroot under 50gm 

sea-salt and then cut the vegetable 

into cubes. Simmer 100gm orange juice 

with 20gm sugar till it gets thick. Wash 

a few lavender flowers and Japanese 

honeysuckle flowers and keep them 

fresh. Take a teaspoon of mustard 

paste and emulsify it with a tablespoon 

each of olive oil and fresh lime. Chill 

a handful of rocket leaves. Brush the 

plate with orange sauce and arrange 

the ingredients. Garnish with cherry 

tomatoes, caper berries and a spoonful 

of cucumber shavings. Sprinkle some 

lavender flowers, honeysuckle and basil 

flowers. Drizzle some mustard-lime 

emulsion and serve immediately. 

in a tequila-based cocktail which 

tastes heavenly in summer. With the 

trend picking up in India, chefs are 

now experimenting with flowers of 

Indian origin such as jasmine, 

marigold and hibiscus. Lolita Sarkar, 

Creative Chef and Founder, Desi Deli, 

says, “An edible flower completes the 

luxe vision of any dish and imparts a 

multi-sensory experience to it. I do a 

desi brulee with roses and pistachios. 

The fragrance surrounds you with 

every bite but the taste has a light 

touch that is divine.” 

The Roseate lawns are a riot of 

colours with seasonal flowers and 

micro-greens, all of which find their 

way to dishes churned out by Chef 

Nishant Choubey and Chef Anand 

Panwar. “The best part is that flowers 

are seasonal and very fragile and that 

is why one has to procure them locally. 

This adds that uniqueness and 

personality to food. I feel our 

knowledge about flowers and their 

use and application is very limited. 

The use of flowers in the kitchen is 

here to stay; it is a trend and not a 

passing fad,” stresses Chef Choubey. 

No prizes for guessing why the menu 

here changes with the seasons. The 

current flavour of the season is 

begonia whose flowers and leaves are 

plucked directly from pots to be 

paired with fish and seafood for the 

acidity they impart to the dish. 

Chef Ting Yan, Yuuka, Palladium 

Hotel, Mumbai, says, “Edible flowers 

have a distinct taste, and no matter 

how flat the palate of the diner, the 

fact is that they do truly make a 

difference.” Chef Yan uses a mix of 

flowers including fragrant marigold, 

tangy calendula, sweet viola and 

peppery nasturtium for signature 

creations such as Salmon on Fire and 

Salmon Truffle. 

While the use of edible flowers 

and related products is still largely 

restricted to upscale cuisine and 

gourmands, the industry is definitely 

paying more attention to floral tastes 

which will widen opportunities in 

food and beverage. 

The opportunities for flowers 

certainly do not end with enhancing 

appearance and/or flavours of 

finished food and drinks. 

Significantly, their buds pack a 

barrage of health benefits. The 

flowers of herbs including basil, 

borage, rosemary, dill, oregano and 

thyme carry the same flavours and 

medicinal properties as their leaves, 

just not as intense. Varieties of mint 

can be added to the list of edible 

flowers; apart from imparting zest 

and flavour, they also calm the 

stomach and aid digestion. Like many 

other plant foods in nature, flowers 

too contain valuable nutrients for 

health. For example, dandelions 

contain antioxidants and flavonoids, 

including four times the beta carotene 

in broccoli, lutein, cryptoxanthin 

and zeaxanthin. 

So, be it your home, your mood, 

and now even your food, you can be 

rest assured flowers will come to 

your rescue! 

124 


SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

MY TOWN 

Our ongoing series where we look at various Indian cities through 

the eyes of SpiceJet staffers. This month, Dhara Shaileshbhai 

Joshi, Cabin Crew, holds forth on Ahmedabad 

Clockwise from above: The Adalaj Stepwell; the 

Gandhi Ashram; and the Hutheesing Temple 

SpiceJet flies to Ahmedabad. 


for details 

Connection to the city: I am originally 

from Ahmedabad and have been 

brought up in the city. 

Best things about Ahmedabad: The 

city ranks high in job opportunities, 

business opportunities and standard 

of living. We have 24x7 electricity - in 

fact, we export power to other states. 

It is a very safe city for women - they 

can step out any time without any fear. 

People here are lively by nature and 

cherish each and every moment of their 

lives. Full of energy and enthusiasm, 

you’ll never find Ahmedabadis sitting 

idle. 

Favourite eating places: Manek 

Chowk is my favourite eating area in 

Ahmedabad. I discovered this place 

when I was in college – some of my 

friends had taken me there. The quality 

of the food here is simply awesome. 

It is famous for its Gwalia Dosa and 

different-flavoured sandwiches 

(Chocolate Sandwich, Ice Cream 

Sandwich, Pineapple Sandwich, etc.), 

Pav Bhaji and Balan no Gotado (Dosa 

with spicy flavoured gravy and a variety 

of dips). 

Best places to hang out: Apart from 

Manek Chowk, Bhatiyar Gali and Law 

Garden Khau Galli are famous for their 

food outlets. Delhi Darwaja is wellknown 

for its almond and pista coffee. 

The Sabarmati river front is a great place 

to hang out at night. Other Ahmedabadi 

hang-outs are Kankaria Lake, Vastrapur 

Lake, Victoria Garden, Parimal Garden 

and Teen Darwaja. 

Local attractions: The Gandhi Ashram, 

Hutheesing Temple, Ahmed Shah 

Mosque, Adalaj Stepwell, Kite Museum, 

Gujarat Science City, Bhadra Fort, Auto 

World Vintage Car Museum and Thor 

Lake are places favoured by tourists. 

Recommended places nearby: 

Akshardham Temple, Indroda Nature 

Park, Thol Bird Sanctuary, Nal Sarovar, 

Zanzari Waterfalls, Tirupati Rushivan 

Adventure Park, Lothal, Polo Forest and 

Maniar’s Wonderland are places not very 

far from Ahmedabad and each one of 

them has its own uniqueness. 

Ahmedabad when compared to other 

cities: Apart from Ahmedabad I have 

stayed in Mumbai and Delhi. But I like 

Ahmedabad the most. Compared to 

many other cities, it is very calm and 

quiet, people here are very helpful by 

nature and the civic infrastructure is one 

of the best in India. 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

126 


SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

THE MID-AIR MENU 

SpiceJet's 'pre-booking only' menu offers Thai, Continental 

and Indian Platters 

SPICEJET'S EXTENSIVE INFLIGHT MENU will leave flyers delighted with their onboard 

experience. The 'Hot Meals' section will bring a warm smile to your face. From filling 

breakfast options to lip-smacking snacks, from sumptuous lunch and dinner options to 

vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies, SpiceJet offers a multitude of meal choices on 

pre-booking. In addition, special meal categories such as Jain meal, Navratra meal, meal 

for diabetics, gluten-free meal and cakes are also on offer, along with Thai, Continental 

and Indian platters. Hot favourites like Pringles have been retained in the nonperishables 

section to entice kids. All in all, SpiceJet's menu is a red, hot, and spicy treat 

for your taste buds. 

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 24x7 

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 + 

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(APPLICABLE 

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USING THE 

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o 

127 


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 

128 


SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

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 

129 

JULY 2017 

STEP: 7 

Customers can pay via Credit or 

Debit card. QuickPay option saves 

transaction time

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 

130 


NEWS 

SpiceJet signs a Letter of 

Intent with Bombardier for up to 

50 Q400 aircraft 

At the International Paris Air Show, 

SpiceJet signed a letter of intent (LOI) 

with Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, 

for up to 50 Q400 turboprop airliners. 

The LOI includes 25 Q400 turboprops 

and purchase rights on an additional 25 

aircraft. Based on the Q400 turboprop 

list price, an order could be valued at 

up to $1.7 billion. This would be the 

single biggest order for the Q400. “I am 

delighted to announce this new order 

for 50 Q400 planes. SpiceJet operates 

India’s largest regional fleet and is the 

only organised operator in this space. 

This order will help us further increase 

connectivity to smaller towns and cities 

and help realise Prime Minister Narendra 

Modi’s vision of ensuring that every 

Indian can fly,” said Mr. Ajay Singh, CMD, 

SpiceJet. 

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

SpiceJet clocks 2nd successive profitable year 

SpiceJet reported a quarterly profit of `41.6 cr for the three months ended March 31, 

making it the ninth successive profitable quarter for the airline. Net profit for FY2017 

stood at `430.7 cr, making this the second successive year of profitable growth. 

“Two successive profitable years, a record aircraft order and emerging as India’s 

largest regional operator are testament of the fact that SpiceJet remains firmly on 

track on its long-term growth strategy,” said Mr. Ajay Singh, CMD, SpiceJet. FY2017 

also saw SpiceJet perform exceptionally well on all operational parameters. The 

airline clocked the best on-time performance of all airlines in India for 2016-17, and 

its rate of cancellation of flights was among the lowest. Its load factor of over 90% 

for 24 months in a row also has no global parallel. 

SpiceJet and Boeing announce commitment for 40 737 MAX 

airplanes 

SpiceJet and Boeing signed a memorandum of understanding for 40 737 MAX 

airplanes. The agreement, valued at approximately $4.74 billion at current list prices, is 

split evenly between 20 new orders for the 737 MAX 10 and conversions of 20 of the 

737 MAX 8 airplanes of its current order to 737 MAX 10s. The order will be posted to 

the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website once finalised. “As a Boeing 737 operator and 

current customer of the 737 MAX, we are proud to be a part of the launch of the 

737 MAX 10 and to be the first airline in India to order the newest version of the 737, 

which will enable us to maximise revenue on our dense routes while having a lower unit 

seat cost,” said Mr. Ajay Singh, CMD, SpiceJet. “With the introduction of our 737 MAXs 

next year, we will be able to further expand our network, while keeping our costs low 

for our customers.” The carrier plans to increase its operational fleet to 100 airplanes by 

2020, and will take delivery of its first 737 MAX in 2018. 

131 


SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

SpiceJet recreates the magic of Yoga@35000 feet 

Having pioneered the concept of onboard yoga, SpiceJet recreated it on ‘International 

Yoga Day’ on June 21. SpiceJet crew performed yoga asanas onboard on 30 flights 

to celebrate the day. Passengers performed the travel-friendly asanas while seated. 

SpiceJet continues to offer yoga onboard without compromising on passenger safety 

and within regulatory compliances on its select long-haul flights on a regular basis. 

SpiceJet takes off on 

UDAN routes 

SpiceJet has launched operations 

under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam 

Naagrik) scheme with two new 

daily, direct flights on the routes of 

Mumbai-Porbandar-Mumbai and 

Mumbai-Kandla-Mumbai effective 

July 10. SpiceJet is the only airline 

that hasn’t sought subsidy or viability 

gap funding under this scheme. 

SpiceJet was awarded six proposals 

and 11 routes under the first phase of 

the Regional Connectivity Scheme. 

Of the six proposals, four will cater 

to underserved markets of Adampur, 

Kandla, Puducherry and Jaisalmer 

whereas two will be for underserved 

markets of Porbandar and Kanpur. 

SpiceJet customers (above) and crew (top left) perform yoga onboard 

SpiceJet launches eight new direct flights 

SpiceJet launched eight new direct flights and one connecting flight serving a slew of 

metro and non-metro cities. Effective from July 1, the airline will operate a new direct 

flight on the Hyderabad-Jaipur-Hyderabad route and a new direct flight each on the 

Jaipur-Guwahati-Jaipur and Hyderabad-Chandigarh-Hyderabad routes respectively. 

SpiceJet will also operate a direct flight on the Delhi-Patna-Delhi route effective July 10. 

SHUTTERSTOCK (UDAN; DIRECT FLIGHTS) 

132 


SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

SpiceJet felicitates its vintage employees 

SpiceJet launched its ‘Long Service Recognition’ and benefits programme last month by felicitating employees who have completed 

five years and above with the company. A total of 1,478 employees received the awards. The awardees were divided into three 

categories: Sterling Silver (5-9 years), Glittering Gold (10-14 years) and Precious Platinum (15+ years). The CMD, Mr. Ajay Singh, 

commenced the distribution ceremony by felicitating the first three employees of the company. 

Indore resident Lakhan Khandait wins ‘Spicy Hot Jackpot’ – 

Mercedes Benz C200 Petrol 

SpiceJet presented the winner of its ‘Spicy Hot Jackpot’ offer, launched during Diwali last 

year, with the bumper prize of Mercedes Benz C200 Petrol. Hosting a small gathering at 

SpiceJet headquarters to felicitate the winner, Mr. Khandait, SpiceJet CMD Mr. Ajay Singh 

handed over the car keys and paraphernalia to him. The new car will be delivered to him 

as a voucher, redeemable in his home city of Indore. Celebrating Diwali last year, SpiceJet 

had announced ‘Spicy Hot Jackpot’ offer, in which customers, on purchase of a SpiceJet 

ticket along with any of the Spice Add-On services or products, were eligible for a Lucky 

Draw contest. The airline had announced seven winners for seven consecutive weeks 

with prizes such as Royal Enfield 350cc bikes, premium smartphones, 40-inch Panasonic 

television, etc. each week. Mercedes Benz C200 Petrol was selected as the grand 

bumper prize of the contest. 

SpiceJet launches 

SpiceStyle 

SpiceJet has launched its new 

retail venture, SpiceStyle. Initially 

conceived as an in-flight-only service, 

SpiceStyle now exists in the form 

of an e-commerce portal (www. 

spicestyle.com). SpiceStyle products 

are available pan-India through online 

and offline channels. SpiceStyle 

has joined hands with Amazon.in to 

launch an all-new store www.amazon. 

in/spicestyle. The strategic alliance 

will offer SpiceStyle’s entire portfolio 

of brands on the shopping portal’s 

‘Prime’ section at special launch 

prices offering discounts at flat 25%. 

133 


ST 

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

RS OF SPICEJET 

MEET 

THE DG 

CHAMPS! 

THE DG CHAMP PROGRAMME AT 

WORTHY OF APPRECIATION 

AMOL JAGTAP 

PRUTHUL PANDYA 

MURUGAN 

N. BRAVEEN KUMAR 

SPICEJET HONOURS EMPLOYEES 

WHO HAVE BEEN VIGILANT IN 

OFFLOADING UNDECLARED 

DANGEROUS GOODS 

Continuing with its tradition 

of introducing innovative 

work practices, SpiceJet 

launched the DG Champ 

programme in early 2016. This initiative 

encourages its staff to be more vigilant 

while doing security checks/ screening 

and offloading dangerous goods. Over 

four quarters, 23 vigilant staffers have 

been rewarded as part of the incentive/ 

appreciation/ recognition scheme. The 

ongoing programme will continue in 

the coming years too. 

According to DGCA rules 2003, 

rule 11, reporting of any mis-declared, 

undeclared, accident and incident 

are mandatory. The programme 

has had a dual effect: it has helped 

employees become more vigilant and 

has also imbibed the reporting culture 

within the organization. The scheme 

has created a healthy competitive 

environment within the organization 

and in the process, has helped make 

PURUSHOTHAMAN 

B.S. MARY 

SHALINI S V 

MOHNISH THAKARE 

A. SUBRAMANIAN 

N. THIYAGARAJAN 

JATINDER SINGH 

PABLA 

M. ARUN VENKATESH 

THIVYA SINGH 

VIJAY 

SOANKAMBLE 

SUMIT KOTWAL 

VIKASH PANDEY 

HARJINDER 

134 


SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

the airline more safer. 

Any department APS/ SEC/CARGO, 

who met the criteria, was eligible for 

the award. Each of the 23 DG Champs 

went home with a gift box containing a 

Certificate of excellence, a DG Champ T 

shirt, a DG Champ cap and a DG Champ 

badge. 

The 23 were awarded under the 

auspices of SpiceJet’s Dangerous Goods 

Regulations Training Team. The team 

imparts Dangerous Goods Regulations 

training for pilots, cabin crew, airport 

handling staff, security staff, cargo 

staff, engineering personnel and flight 

dispatchers. It is a mandatory training as 

per DGCA. 

There was an immediate beneficial 

effect after the launch of the 

programme. Now, on an average, the 

Dangerous Goods Regulations Training 

Team receives 15 to 20 reports every 

quarter. The active participation of the 

employees in the DG Champ programme 

and their hard work will definitely go 

a long way in making SpiceJet a much 

more safer airline. 

HALL OF FAME 

1ST QUARTER 

NAME DEPT DESIGNATION STN 

PRUTHUL PANDYA SEC EXECUTIVE SECURITY AMD 

SHALINI S V SEC CUSTOMER SECURITY EXECUTIVE BOM 

VIJAY SOANKAMBLE CGO ASST. MANAGER HYD 

AMOL JAGTAP SEC SR. EXECUTIVE SECURITY PNQ 

MOHNISH THAKARE SEC EXECUTIVE SECURITY PNQ 

A. SUBRAMANIAN SEC EXECUTIVE SECURITY TCR 

THIVYA SINGH SEC EXECUTIVE SECURITY TCR 

2ND QUARTER 

HARJINDER SEC CUSTOMER SECURITY EXECUTIVE BOM 

JAGDISH KURLEKAR SEC CUSTOMER SECURITY EXECUTIVE BOM 

JATINDER SINGH PABLA SEC CUSTOMER SECURITY EXECUTIVE BOM 

SHALINI S V SEC CUSTOMER SECURITY EXECUTIVE BOM 

SUMIT KOTWAL SEC SR. EXECUTIVE SECURITY IXJ 

N. BRAVEEN KUMAR SEC SECURITY SUPERVISOR IXM 

PURUSHOTHAMAN SEC SR. EXECUTIVE SECURITY IXM 

B.S. MARY SEC MANAGER SECURITY BLR 

MURUGAN SEC SECURITY SUPERVISOR MAA 

N. THIYAGARAJAN SEC SECURITY SUPERVISOR MAA 


M. ARUN VENKATESH SEC EXECUTIVE SECURITY TCR 

3RD QUARTER 

MURUGAN SEC SECURITY SUPERVISOR MAA 


VIKASH PANDEY CGO ASST. MANAGER GAU 

4TH QUARTER 

THIVYA SINGH SEC EXECUTIVE SECURITY TCR 

135 


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 

28 

4 

20 

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.

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 150/- M 300/- Free Free 

Behind exit row window /aisle M 200/- M 350/- 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 750/- M 1400/- 

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 

142 


MELANGE 

TAROT 

YOUR FORECAST THIS MONTH 

BY SRINIVAS IYER 

Aries 

Sudden unplanned 

Taurus 

Beauty is on the top 

Gemini 

Brilliance is seen in 

Cancer 

Financial expansion 

Leo 

Innovative ideas 

Virgo 

You will experience 

expenses are 

of your mind. You 

in your intelligence. 

and luck is clearly 

and out-of-the-box 

what it means "by the 

indicated. Do reserve 

revamp your house 

Romantic life is 

there on your side. 

thinking is quite 

grace of God”, with 

some money for such 

and wardrobe too. 

great and you party 

You embark on 

easy for you now. 

you being blessed. 

unplanned expenses. 

Mars is not active 

a lot during the 

new initiatives and 

You will be tested 

Your faith in God will 

You receive money 

now in your second 

night. You make the 

would like to make 

for your creative 

increase. Some of 

from others and from 

house. Money 

effort to connect 

your dream come 

ideas. Walk on the 

you are likely to travel 

hidden sources. Your 

matters take a back 

with people from 

true with your 

right Karmic path, 

overseas, to newer 

speech is polished. 

seat for the next 

radically different 

own efforts. Learn 

without harming 

lands, which are 

Happy family life is 

three months. Some 

walks of life. Avoid 

from your past 

anyone. You may 

completely different 

indicated. 

of you fall in love. 

taking loans. 

experiences. 

change your job. 

from your choice. 

Libra 

Business ideas come 

Scorpio 

Sudden turn of 

Sagittarius 

Financial losses 

Capricorn 

Financial intuition 

Aquarius 

Your intuition is 

Pisces 

Keep your plans 

to you naturally. 

events is indicated 

are foreseen, if the 

is very good now. 

very good in all 

under wraps, as 

Some of you enter 

for those in the 

investments are in 

Till the 23rd of this 

aspects of life. 

your enemies could 

into partnerships with 

military and armed 

your wife’s name. 

month, financial 

Overall you do 

create road blocks 

younger partners. 

forces, and heads 

Avoid giving loans 

abundance is seen. 

feel directionless. 

to your plans. In 

Your enemies are 

of states of various 

to anyone now. 

You make excellent 

Worshipping Lord 

case of health issues, 

inhibited and they 

government, large 

Business related 

decisions, which 

Karthikeyan is 

do go for a second 

are not able to stop 

public sector bodies 

short distance 

impress others too. 

recommended. 

opinion. Married life is 

you in your growth. 

and corporations. 

travel is profitable. 

Fortune shines. This 

Change of jobs is 

great and you travel 

You are also intuitive 

It seems like some 

You think of new 

phase has been 

indicated. Short 

with your spouse 

about your health 

dormant volcanoes 

avenues in your 

there for a full year 

distance travel is 

for relaxation. Avoid 

matters. 

erupt this month. 

career. 

and will change. 

indicated. 

anxiety. 

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) 

143 


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

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