Spice August issue ipad pdf

SONAKSHI SINHA | STREET ART | BLUETOOTH EARBUDS 

spice 

www.spiceroutemagazine.com 

Volume 13 | Issue 08 | August 2019 

THE INFLIGHT MAGAZINE 

INTRODUCING SPICEJET’S 

PROGRAMME

FROM THE 

CMD’S DESK 

Ajay Singh 

Chairman & Managing Director 

Dear Readers, 

Welcome aboard SpiceJet! 

Mumbai, the city that never sleeps, has always 

been an important destination on our radar. 

Following the crisis in the Indian aviation sector, 

which resulted in a severe capacity crunch and 

operational disruption across major airports, 

including Mumbai, SpiceJet made every effort 

to minimise passenger inconvenience. For 

example, since April this year, we launched 90 

new flights connecting Mumbai with multiple 

domestic and international destinations, and 

last month was no exception. 

In July, we announced the launch of eight 

new non-stop international flights to global 

hotspots such as Hong Kong, Dubai and Riyadh. 

SpiceJet is the only Indian carrier to connect 

the country’s financial capital with Hong Kong 

with a daily non-stop flight. We are also proud 

to be the first Indian low-cost carrier to connect 

Mumbai with Saudi capital Riyadh, which marks 

our tenth international destination and fourth 

station in the Middle East. 

At home, we continued to work relentlessly 

to scale up domestic connectivity, living up 

to the country’s status as the world’s fastestgrowing 

aviation market. As part of our 

ongoing involvement with UDAN, the regional 

connectivity scheme, we launched daily direct 

flights on the Durgapur-Mumbai route. This 

is our 13th destination under UDAN and will 

further strengthen SpiceJet’s network in 

West Bengal. 

We flagged off the first-ever daily flight 

under the International Air Connectivity 

Scheme (IACS) connecting Guwahati with 

Dhaka. The daily non-stop flight earmarked 

a new milestone for SpiceJet reiterating our 

commitment on enhancing connectivity in the 

North East region. 

Last month, SpiceJet was honoured to play 

a small part in enabling our Indian pilgrims 

travel to Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage this 

year. During July-September, we are operating 

148 special flights carrying close to 11,000 Hajj 

pilgrims from Srinagar to Medina and Jeddah, 

and back. SpiceJet is making every effort to 

create a memorable and hassle-free travel 

experience for all our pilgrim passengers. 

With a growing economy, a supportive 

policy environment and rising income, the India 

growth story is set to continue and the best 

is yet to come. But for the country to become 

a vibrant aviation market, the government 

needs to encourage Indian carriers to fly 

overseas to cater to the growing numbers 

of Indians travelling to foreign destinations. 

While the number of people flying to overseas 

destinations has been on a constant rise, it is 

time Indian carriers start flying on medium to 

long haul international routes. This will help 

transform cities like Delhi and Mumbai into 

global hubs. 

Despite being one of the fastest growing 

airlines in the country we are committed to 

offering you a Red, Hot, Spicy experience 

every time you travel with us. Last month too 

we continued to soar high in the Indian skies 

delivering our highest domestic market share in 

close to five years at 15.6 per cent. Your airline 

is now India’s second-largest domestic carrier. 

It’s that time of the year when the entire 

country stands as one to celebrate our freedom, 

our dignity and our rights. On the occasion of 

India’s 73rd Independence Day, SpiceJet joins 

everyone in saluting our freedom fighters and 

the millions of brave hearts who laid down their 

lives in leading us from bondage to freedom. 

Tailwinds and Happy Landings! 

Jai Hind! 

2 ||||| AUGUST 2016

S 

unil and Neena Nehru did not believe in miracles. But after 

spending two years in nature’s lap they now know miracle has a 

second name - Antara. Nestled in the Himalayan foothills with lush 

green trails and stunning vistas, life at Antara has given them an 

opportunity to reclaim their youth - a time when concrete monsters 

did not prowl a cityscape and the demon of pollution was merely 

science fiction. 

Having spent decades enduring the rigours of mega cities, the couple’s 

quest for a more fulfilling life ended when they moved to Antara in 

Purukul, which comes under the wellness and tourism zone of 

Dehradun’s master plan. The Nehrus, now in their 70s, affirm, “For 

senior citizens, there’s no better place than Antara for a happy and 

healthy life.” 

Besides the yearning to do everything they could not due to 

constraints like career, children and other responsibilities, it was the 

National Capital Region’s ghastly pollution that triggered their 

decision to leave their apartment in the bustling city of Gurgaon and 

embrace a peaceful life at Antara. “Sunil suffered from frequent 

bronchitis attacks in Delhi and we had to get away from the city to a 

place where we could literally breathe easy. But an equally important 

aspect was finding a place where we could be secure in the 

knowledge that as we aged, our changing needs would be met by a 

community specially designed for this purpose.” 

“We were also drawn by the beauty of Antara’s surroundings,” 

says Neena. ”It is a joy to wake up every morning to 

stunning views from our windows of the mountains and 

river, and to sip a cup of tea in our balcony watching the 

dawn arrive to the accompaniment of birdsong. Sunil and I 

both love nature and the outdoors, and we regularly go for 

long walks in the forested hills around Antara.” 

Seeing how happy the Nehrus are in their new home, one understands why 

a growing band of well-educated, sophisticated individuals are relocating 

to greener pastures as Delhi’s toxic air extracts a heavy toll on its residents’ 

health. “Sunil has not suffered a single bronchitis attack since we moved to 

Antara,” says Neena, whose quality of life has also improved. “For me, the 

biggest change was the decision not to employ staff. We have done away 

with the burden of housekeeping and running a kitchen, which I find 

especially liberating.” The couple have their meals at Avika, the restaurant 

at Antara, which serves a varied menu of organic, seasonal and 

home-grown food at economical prices. 

With tedious domestic preoccupations taken care of, the Nehrus have a lot 

of time on their hands which they use to keep fit and healthy. Early 

mornings are reserved for yoga, which the Nehrus prefer to practise at 

home before breakfast. After breakfast, the active couple can be seen either 

working out in the gym or doing laps in the pool. “There is so much to do 

here. Antara has an active sociable community comprising an eclectic mix 

of people that adds to its charm. There is always something going on, and 

we all get together and have a lot of fun actually. We have also made 

friends outside Antara and joined a film society. We are enjoying life in 

many different ways,” says Sunil. 

Indeed, there’s no better place than Antara to live the next chapter of a 

well-lived life. Overlooking one of Dehradun’s picturesque river valleys, 

with clean and fresh air, clear star-filled nights and crisp,

helps and monthly groceries, we are busy taking part in fun activities 

and making new friends with like-minded people,” says the Raos, who 

are among the first residents of Antara. 

“The best thing about Antara is that they have taken care 

of everything - from housekeeping to laundry to food. 

They even have shuttle services that take us to town. This 

leaves me with more time to pursue my passion for 

painting,” says Shaswati, beaming with joy. “And I get to 

indulge in my passion for reading. We are finally living 

and not just existing,” Chandrashekhar says thoughtfully. 

clear days, Antara is framed by the Himalayas to the North and the 

Shivaliks to the South. Antara’s 14 pristine acres have over 190 individual 

apartments in different sizes and layouts that define luxury, a 50,000 

square feet club, and a health and wellness space that has doctors, nurses 

and paramedics for 24/7 medical assistance. 

Care is the essence of Antara where life goes beyond just 

physical health to a perfectly balanced nurturing of mind, 

body and spirit through art and craft activities, in-house 

seminars, and courses on spiritual studies and Sanskrit. The 

Resident Services team, comprising 200 proficient personnel, 

is always on call to provide attentive but unobtrusive service. 

As dusk falls over the silhouetted landscape of Antara, residents hurry 

home to get ready for a party at The Club. “It’s always somebody’s 

birthday or wedding anniversary here,” says Neena. “I think we have 

attended more dance parties in the last two years than in 16 years in 

Gurgaon!” 

The Nehrus and the Raos, like all the other residents of Antara, are 

scripting the perfect epilogue to a fulfilling life. 

Yet, one can’t help but wonder if the residents ever feel a tinge of regret 

for leaving the glitz and glamour of Delhi? Far from lamenting quitting 

Delhi, Chandrashekar and Shaswati Rao – both former Civil Servants - 

wish Antara had come to their lives earlier. With Delhi’s rising pollution 

taking a toll on their health, the Raos were looking for an escape. Add to 

that the worsening daily drudgery of the metropolis, which is particularly 

unkind to elders, the Raos were desperate when Antara happened 

miraculously. “Now instead of fretting about our health, domestic 

To explore living at Antara, simply message 

ANTARA SR to 57575, or call us at 

+91 8860076464 / +91 9873006464 / +91 9873936464 

www.antaraseniorliving.com

www.spiceroutemagazine.com 

Spice Route Aug 2019 Cover.indd All Pages 

Volume 13 | Issue 08 | August 2019 

SONAKSHI SINHA | STREET ART | BLUETOOTH EARBUDS 

THE INFLIGHT MAGAZINE 

30/07/19 5:25 PM 

spice 

AUGUST 2019 

www.spicejet.com 

INTRODUCING SPICEJET’S 

PROGRAMME 

CONTENTS 

36 

THE 

MAKING 

OF 

FUTURE 

CAPTAINS 

SpiceJet’s new 

Cadet Pilot 

Programme will 

train not just 

Cadet Pilots but 

will also groom 

them to becoming 

Captains in the 

future 

42 

INTERNATIONAL 

DESTINATIONS 

New foreign destinations, more 

frequent flights and smoother 

connectivity from Indian 

metros and non-metros have all 

contributed to a wider choice for 

SpiceJet passengers flying abroad 

54 

SONAKSHI 

SINHA 

Sonakshi Sinha 

on her new 

film, women 

empowerment and 

dating a celebrity 

6 

AUGUST 2019

SMART 

STORAGE 

Effective 

Solutions 

Compactors 

Lockers 

Filing Cabinets 

Shelving Systems 

Multi-tier Racking 

FIFO / LIFO Racking 

AS/RS & Mini-Load Systems 

Drive-in / Drive-through Racking 

Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) 

Heavy Duty Mobile Racking 

Pallet Racking 

Logistics Support Software Solution 

Reach Trucks 

Pallet Trucks 

Stackers 

Pallet Shuttle 

Forklifts 

Order Pickers

CONTENTS100 

MANY SHADES OF RED 

Can you imagine whipping up a 

traditional Indian meal without 

red hot chillies? That would be 

blasphemous! Chilli or mirch 

forms the soul of every Indian 

household 

66 

62 

BEST TRUE WIRELESS 

BLUETOOTH EARBUDS 

You see them everywhere. From 

gyms to running tracks to the 

metro, true wireless Bluetooth 

Earbuds are fast becoming 

ubiquitous. We round up the 

best buds in the Indian market 

KOH SAMUI 

Thailand’s second largest 

island may no longer be the 

country’s best kept secret but 

it’s still pristine; a great spot 

for a beach detox. Koh Samui’s 

diverse set of activities lets you 

change gears; you can turn on 

the adrenaline or just count the 

different shades of blue from the 

beach deck 

SPICEJET INSIDER 

Social media 16 

SpiceJetVacations.com 18 

Spice products 20 

News 143 

My town 145 

Stars of SpiceJet 146 

Mobile apps 148 

Onboard menu 150 

SpiceJet add-ons 151 

SpiceJet fleet 154 

Route map 156 

8 

AUGUST 2019

CONTENTS 

spice 

AUGUST 2019 

EDITOR 

RAJU BIST 

rajubist@mwspiceroute.in 

ART DIRECTOR 

TANVI SHAH 

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR 

HEMALI LIMBACHIYA 

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR 

ANSHUL BHANSALI 

PRODUCTION MANAGER 

MANGESH SALVI 

SENIOR DIGITAL MANAGER 

JAYESH V. SALVI 

MARKETING 

DIRECTOR – MARKETING & SALES 

GEETU RAI 

+91 9920023908, geeturai@gmail.com 

106 

DINE YOUR WAY THROUGH KOCHI 

Kochi has something for every kind of diner. We run you through 

some of the best of the eating establishments and experiences 

AD SALES 

MUMBAI 

VINOD MOHITE 

+91 9323554207, vinod@mwspiceroute.in 

ANUP PILLAI 

+91 9920227423, anup@spentamultimedia.com 

NEW DELHI 

TANVEER AHMAD 

+91 9555098401, tanveer@mwspiceroute.in 

MOHAMMED ASAD 

asad@mwspiceroute.in 

CHENNAI, PONDICHERRY 

SHOBA REBECCA 

shoba.rebecca@gmail.com 

BENGALURU 

ANURADHA KUBER 

anuradha.kuber@mwspiceroute.in 

KOLKATA 

PULAK GHOSH 

spicerouteeast.advt@gmail.com 

GUJARAT 

SANJAY CHAWDA 

sanjaychawda@gmail.com 

For international advertising contact 

Vinod Mohite (vinod@mwspiceroute.in) 9323554207 

PRODUCED BY 

116 

DEHRADUN 

Some quick weekend getaways from Dehradun for people who 

want to escape to the nearby hills 

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 

14 

AUGUST 2019

Automation for a Changing World 

Ideal Solution to Excellent Power Quality & 

High Efficiency 

Delta’s Active Power Filter APF2000 Series and Static Var Generator SVG2000 Series 

THDi 

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Improves equipment reliability 

Reduces electromagnetic interference 

Load Balance 

Protects power cable from worn out to 

prevents fire accident 

Reduces electromagnetic interference 

PF 

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Reactive Power Compensation 

Enhanced power efficiency and avoid power factor 

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Precise compensation to release extra capacity for 

the transformer 

Excellent harmonic filtering result 

and eliminates resonance problem 

Dynamic leading and lagging 

reactive power compensation 

Know More.... 

Compact and modularize device design 

7’’ HMI TFT LCD 65536 color display 

screen 

Supports Ethernet communication 

CE/UL Certifications 

www.deltaelectronicsindia.com 

automation@deltaww.com 

#DeltaPoweringGreenAutomation

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

@flyspicejet Excellent crew on SG-51 PNQ- 

DXB. Thanks Captain for the cricket updates. 

@flyspicejet Flew SpiceJet 

SG-6422 from Kolkata to Mumbai 

and the flight was manned by 

two young lady pilots and an 

extremely lively and efficient 

cabin crew. Kudos to women 

empowerment in the skies. Keep 

it up! Good wishes to SpiceJet! 

@VaibhavKhante 

@k2410b 

It was an absolute pleasure to have the talented and 

beautiful Katrina Kaif onboard, flying SpiceBiz, our new 

business class experience. #Spicejet #KatrinaKaif 

@flyspicejet I flew from 

Bagdogra to Delhi and had the 

best inflight meal of my life. The 

Fried Rice and Paneer was good 

but the Corn and Pineapple 

Salad along with Brownie was 

exceptional. Thanks for the nice, 

warm and fulfilling meal. 

BUZZ ON 

SOCIAL MEDIA 

@ar_darkknight 

@flyspicejet Your 

Kishangarh staff is so 

helpful and cordial! I was 

travelling with my one 

month old son. They 

made sure our journey 

was smooth — from 

check-in to boarding. 

@WaliaMandeep 

@flyspicejet I realized it the hard way that 

losing a boarding pass after immigration is a 

tough task. But the SpiceJet ground staff 

went out of their way to help me. 

Congratulations to such a wonderful staff. 

@flyspicejet Have taken six flights with 

SpiceJet over the last five days. Mighty 

impressed with the SpiceBiz product. 

@ngreddy2000 

@Sherbir 

@flyspicejet Flew with SpiceJet 

for the first time from Dubai to 

Ahmedabad and back and was 

amazed by the experience. 

Super courteous flight 

attendants, amazing eating 

options and on time flights. 

Keep up the good work. 

@flyspicejet My flight was great! 

@jineshbafna7 

@vishy691 

@flyspicejet My first business class travel! Will 

always remember this. Thank you SpiceJet! 

@flyspicejet Undoubtedly the best fruit platter I 

had on board. It was a great experience flying with 

you from Hyderabad to Vijayawada... Kudos! 

@MrSaurabhSinha 

@Imrahulguptaa 

FIND YOUR FAVOURITE AIRLINE WITH @FLYSPICEJET ON TWITTER & FACEBOOK 

16 

AUGUST 2019

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

SPICEJETVACATIONS 

BOOK NOW AT: VACATIONS.SPICEJET.COM 

PLAN YOUR HOLIDAYS WITH SPICEJET’S UNIQUE INITIATIVE 

VACATIONS.SPICEJET.COM, A PLETHORA OF END-TO-END TRAVEL SOLUTIONS, MAKING 

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

BOOK 2 NIGHTS AT A HOTEL AND GET THE 

3 RD NIGHT FREE.* 

SPICEVACATIONS 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. 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. 

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. 

Another outstanding feature of the 

website is the Experience section. Now 

book adventure activities, city tours, 

outings at amusement parks, and much 

more, at a wide range of locations. In 

Mumbai, for example, you can enjoy a 

Street Food Tour, watch a Bollywood 

movie being shot at Film City, cool off at 

the EsselWorld & Water Kingdom or peer 

down on the Maximum City from atop a 

helicopter. 

As the website is powered by 

SpiceJet, you can enjoy great flight and 

hotel deals. So, travel the world with 

SpiceJet’s enviable travel packages and 

experience the perfect holiday. 

18 

AUGUST 2019

Head Office / Corporate Showroom: OSIM India - A Division of Paramount Surgimed Ltd., 1, L.S.C., Okhla Indl Area, Phase-II, New Delhi - 110020; 

Enquiry - 09560770120, 09560591059, Service - 9968011727, sales@osimindia.com, www.OSIM.com

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 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; a product that provides seat and meal of your choice; 

products to please those who are always on the lookout for extra legroom; and finally 

an add-on service that allows the flexibility of cancelling or changing ticket(s) to suit 

your travel plan. 

20 

AUGUST 2019

1 

SpiceBiz 

This all-new business class offering 

allows you to travel in complete 

luxury and comfort. Introduced 

on key domestic routes, the best 

in class service at unmatched prices 

offers ultra-comfortable seats, gourmet 

meals, lounge access, dedicated checkin, 

enhanced baggage allowance and 

priority services. The business class 

cabin comes with 43-inch seat pitch 

and 7-inch recline. A dedicated cabin 

crew has been provided for the business 

class passengers. SpiceBiz will soon be 

introduced on select international routes 

too. 

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

3 

Hot Meals 

Passengers have a wide 

variety of meals to opt for on 

SpiceJet flights. Those flying 

Boeings are spoilt for choice. 

There are two choices each of breakfast, 

lunch, dinner, snacks and sandwiches. 

Eight Chef’s Choice menus are available 

24x7 (Boeing and pre-booking only), 

including Grilled Chicken Breast with 

Mushroom Sauce, Yellow Rice, Sautéed 

Carrot & Beans Baton in non-vegetarian 

and Vegetable Pasta in Neapolitan sauce 

in vegetarian. Passengers taking Q400 

flights can choose from two different 

types of sandwiches. Hot beverages (tea 

and coffee) and ready-to-eat products 

(like dal chawal, veg biryani, upma and 

cup noodles) are also served. In addition, 

dhokla is available as a gluten-free option 

for pre-booking on Q400 flights. Prebooking 

a meal offers other choices and 

benefits, too: the option of a gluten-free 

hot meal; dhokla preparation; "navratra 

meals" available for pre-booking on 

Boeing flights, on the travel dates falling 

in the Navratra period; a menu with 

Thai, Continental and Indian options; 

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 

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. 

2 

SpiceMax 

Now enjoy revamped SpiceMax privileges 

which add more comfort and convenience. 

Apart from significantly extra legroom on 

board, fliers can also enjoy other added 

ancillary products like welcome drink* with towel*, 

priority privileges, complimentary 

meal and alcoholic* or non-alcoholic 

beverage, cushions (on all international 

aircraft) and headrest (on a few 

aircraft), blanket* and priority boarding 

(at aerobridge gates) for a modest add-on 

fee. The ease with which fliers can opt for this 

product enhances the experience. When booking 

a connecting flight with a stop-over, they can 

purchase SpiceMax seats separately for the two flights. 

(*These services including alcohol will only be available on select 

international sectors) 

like an airplane. In addition to hot meal, 

passengers also have an option of 

enjoying a Jain Cold sandwich when they 

pre-book. 

4 

Seat + Meal Combo 

This provides seat and meal 

of the passengers's choice at 

discounted rates. The product 

can be purchased for `399 on 

the Domestic and `499 on the International 

Sector. It is on a per passenger, per sector 

basis and can be availed of by guest and 

SpiceClub member. A passenger can 

purchase the product by clicking on the 

Add-On’s Page/Seat Map Page on www. 

spicejet.com at the initial booking stage 

or by clicking on Manage My Bookings 

tab after the booking has been made or 

minimum six hours prior to the scheduled 

departure. 

21 

AUGUST 2019

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

5 

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 

done through reservation team by paying a fee of `1,500 for domestic travel ticket 

and `1,750 for international travel ticket. The service will be applicable only for one 

change or one cancellation per ticket. 

6 

You 1st 

Helping you make your travels 

smoother is this special offering 

from SpiceJet. For just `399, you 

can now get a combination of 

priority check-in as well as preferred bagout 

by availing of this unique product. For 

passengers catching ex-India flights, it is 

available at `499. Passengers availing of this 

service will have to check-in for their flight at the airport check-in counter, as Priority- 

Check-In. The booking, made via the SpiceJet website (www.spicejet.com), can be 

availed latest up to two hours before the scheduled departure. 

8 

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 checkin 

and at 

airport ticket 

counters. 

7 

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 after 

making the booking. It can be bought latest up to two hours before 

the scheduled departure. The service is available only in Manage My Bookings. 

The pre-paid service can be bought for per passenger, per sector of the journey, 

on the payment of the non-refundable fees. A Priority Check-In for flights within 

and/or originating from India costs `300. For flights originating from out of 

India, the fare is `400. 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. 

9 

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. 

22 

AUGUST 2019

MELANGE 

EVENTS 

HOT DATES 

DANCE // MUSIC // THEATRE // ART 

FESTIVITY 

MOUNTAIN ECHOES 

The 10th edition of Mountain Echoes, 

the Bhutan Festival of Art, Literature 

and Culture, will explore and celebrate 

the many elements of personal, 

professional, mental and spiritual 

success. Mountain Echoes is a melting 

pot of thoughts and ideas, celebrating a 

wide range of artistic media: literature, 

visual arts, photography, theatre, 

film, music, and dance. The festival 

is an initiative of the India-Bhutan 

Foundation. Confirmed speakers 

include Bhumi Pednekar, Sanjeev 

Sanyal, Shivya Nath, documentary 

photographer Xyca Bacani, gallerist 

Neil MacGregor and AI researcher Toby 

Walsh. 

When: August 23-25, 2019 

Where: Thimphu, Bhutan 

MUSIC 

KAILASHA 

Midday Musical Nights is presenting the 

talented Kailash Kher in a concert that 

promises to be unique in its presentation 

and feel. Kher, the Indian film music 

phenomenon, has provided countless 

soundtracks for Indian cinema and is 

a critically acclaimed music composer 

and singer. After years of consolidating 

his position as numero uno in the music 

industry, he will entertain his fans with his 

foot-tapping and soulful numbers in this 

concert produced by Perfect Harmony 

Productions Pvt. Ltd. 

When: August 3, 2019 

Where: Dublin Square, Phoenix 

Marketcity, Mumbai 

DANCE 

PARAMPARA SERIES 2019 

Natya Tarangini Performing 

Arts Centre has been 

organizing the Parampara 

Series for the past two 

decades. This year’s edition 

features classical dance and 

vocal performances. The very 

first event — and the highlight 

of the series — is a Kuchipudi 

classical dance performance by Raja 

Radha Reddy & Troupe. Padma Bhushan 

awardees Dr. Raja Radha Reddy are a 

legendary Kuchipudi dancing couple, 

gurus, and choreographers. Their 

performances for over five decades 

globally have gained them a reputation 

for rare excellence and perfection of 

technique. 

When: August 30-September 1, 2019 

Where: Kamani Auditorium, 

New Delhi 

24 

AUGUST 2019

MELANGE 

EVENTS 

CONCERT 

ABBA TRIBUTE 

This is a stunning tribute to the world’s 

most loved pop group by Name of the 

Game, a band from the UK. Abba Tribute 

has been performed worldwide, with 

great appreciation. This concert which is 

THEATRE 

OLD WORLD 

THEATRE 

FESTIVAL 

The 18th edition 

of the Old World 

Theatre Festival, 

spread over 10 days, 

will respond to 

significant strands 

of theatre practice 

from across the 

country and mirror a 

spectrum that reflects contemporary 

Indian stage in all its diversity. In 

today's times, when more and more 

of our entertainment options are 

being accessed on a screen with the 

click of a button, theatre festivals 

sure to cut across different generations 

is being organized under the aegis of the 

Delhi Government and Delhi Tourism. The 

concert is for a cause — to raise funds for 

underprivileged thalassemia patients. 

When: August 17, 2019 

Where: Weightlifting Auditorium, JLN 

Stadium, Delhi 

of this kind have become singular 

avenues for unfiltered expression 

charged with a transformative sense 

of community. 


Where: India Habitat Centre, Delhi 

EVENT 

EEMAGINE 2019 

The Event and Entertainment 

Management Association (EEMA) 

will hold its annual flagship event 

`EEMAGINE 2019 – integrate, 

innovate and inspire’ in the national 

capital. EEMA, now in the 12th 

year of its operations, is the apex 

body of the Indian events and 

entertainment Industry. Speakers 

and participants include some of 

the brightest and most talented 

individuals as well as successful 

leaders from India’s creative 

industries. Manish Sisodia, Shashi 

Tharoor, Kailash Kher, Sonal 

Mansingh and Neelesh Mishra will 

feature as key panelists. 


Where: Pullman Hotel, Aerocity 

Delhi 

26 

AUGUST 2019

MELANGE 

EVENTS 

AUGUST LISTINGS 

3 

1 

What 

Standup Comedy Night 

Where Ashvita, Chennai 

2What Australian 

Education Fair 

Where M G 

Road, Bengaluru 

What World 

Robotics 

Championship 

Where 

Thagyaraj, 

Delhi 

4 

5 

What RS Cooking Classes 

Where Chennai 

7 

What PUBG 

Mobile Fest 

Where Online 

What Luxury 

Expo 

Where Westin 

Pune 

10 13 

What Nehru Trophy Boat 

Race 

Where Alappuzha, Kerala 

9 

What P C Sorcar’s Magic 

Show 

Where Town Hall, Bengaluru 

What Street 

Food Fest 

Where Plaza 

Premium 

Lounge, New 

Delhi 

15 

25 

What India Tango 

Festival 

Where Via Milano, 

Bengaluru 

24 

What Pet Trade Fair 

Where New Delhi 

What Guwahati 

Half Marathon 

Where Guwahati, 

Assam 

30 

AUGUST 2019

MELANGE 

INFORMATION 

WHAT'S NEW 

• JAIPUR GETS UNESCO 

WORLD HERITAGE TAG 

UNESCO has declared Jaipur as a 

World Heritage Site. This makes Jaipur 

the 38th UNSECO World Heritage 

Site in India. One of the most visited 

cities by Indians and foreigners alike, 

the Pink City is famous for its palaces, 

bazaars, architecture, luxurious hotels, 

food, nearby forts and other touristy 

attractions. The capital of Rajasthan 

was founded in 1727 and is named 

after its first ruler, Jai Singh II. The 

announcement – made at the 43rd 

Session of the UNESCO World Heritage 

Committee in Azerbaijan – will further 

boost tourism in the desert state. 

ADVENTURE TOURISM ON THE UPSWING 

Organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), 

in support of the Ministry of Tourism, a recent National 

Seminar on ‘Unveiling Opportunities in Adventure Tourism’ 

in New Delhi threw some interesting insights into this 

travel segment. It is growing at an annual rate of 45 per 

cent. A large chunk of the growth is fuelled by inbound 

tourists. Finally, 75 per cent of the bookings are done online. 

Trekking, river rafting, hot air ballooning and scuba diving 

are the most preferred adventure activities in India. 

• FIRST 

ELEPHANT 

REHAB CENTRE 

IN KERALA 

If all goes well, the 

state government in 

Kerala will soon set up 

India’s first elephant 

rehabilitation centre over 70 acres in Kottoor on the 

outskirts of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. Kottoor 

is an ecotourism village and the centre will be modelled 

on the lines of the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri 

Lanka. Once complete, its inhabitants will be orphaned, 

injured and older elephants. The Rs. 110 crore project will 

make provisions for a mahout training centre, a retirement 

home, an elephant hospital and an elephant museum. 

32 

AUGUST 2019

MELANGE 

INFORMATION 

DAY OF THE TIGER 

It was the best World Tiger Day 

(July 29 every year) celebrated in 

India for a long time. For the tiger 

census results declared on that day 

revealed a 30 per cent rise in the 

tiger population within the country. 

According to the All-India Tiger 

Estimation, covering the last four 

years, there are now 3,000 tigers in 

India. “The story which started from 

Ek Tha Tiger and reached Tiger Zinda 

Hai, shouldn’t end there,” Prime 

Minister Shri Narendra Modi was 

quoted as saying. “All Indians should 

be happy. Our country is one of the 

safest habitats for tigers.” 

NOW, EASIER TRAVEL TO 

DUBAI 

Planning a trip to Dubai just got easier 

and more economical! Between July 

15 and September 15, 2019, tourists 

under the age of 18 years will qualify 

for visa fee exemption when travelling 

with their parent(s) on a tourist visa 

to Dubai. Available to tourists of all 

nationalities, the visa exemption must 

be applied for in advance via UAE 

national carriers or licenced travel 

agencies. Indian passport holders with 

a US visa or UK/ EU residence visa can 

also apply online at www.ica.gov.ae 

AVIATION MINISTRY UPGRADES ITS PORTAL 

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has upgraded its Air Sewa 

portal which is accessible through interactive web portal and 

mobile app. 

The new version includes following features: 

• Secure sign up and log-in with social media 

• Chatbot for travellers support 

• Improved grievance management including social media 

grievance 

• Real time flight status and detailed flight schedule 

Air Sewa is available at www.AirSewa. gov.In 

नागर वमानन मालय ने अपन वमान सवा पोटल को अपड कया ह 

जो इटरिटव वब पोटल और मोबाइल ऐप क जरए सगम ह। 

(क) सोशल मीडया क साथ सरत साइन अप और लॉग-इन 

(ख) याय की सहायता क लए चट बास 

(ग) सोशल माडया शकायत सहत परकत बधन 

(घ) रीयल टाइम उड़ान टटस और वतत उड़ान अनसची 

सवा सबधी कसी और जानकारी क लए आप www.airsewa.gov.in 

पर लॉग-इन कर सकत ह। 

34 

AUGUST 2019

COVER STORY 

PILOT’S ACADEMY 

THE MAKING OF 

FUTURE CAPTAINS 

SPICEJET’S NEW CADET PILOT PROGRAMME 

WILL TRAIN NOT JUST CADET PILOTS BUT WILL 

ALSO GROOM THEM TO BECOMING CAPTAINS 

OF THE FUTURE. 

A 

perfect launch pad for 

those who aim for the 

sky, SpiceJet’s new 

Cadet Pilot Programme 

is designed for young 

aspirants eyeing the coveted seat 

35,000 feet in the stratosphere. And 

who better to train you to be a pilot, 

than India’s favourite airline, SpiceJet! 

Introduced with an aim to cater to the 

growing global requirement for 

aviation talent, this world-class pilot 

training programme is strategically 

located close to Indira Gandhi 

International Airport in Udyog Vihar, 

Gurgaon, Haryana. 

The aviation industry in India is 

expanding exponentially with almost 

all major airlines in the midst of 

multiplying their fleet substantially in 

the next few years. SpiceJet, with a 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR 

APPLYING TO THIS PROGRAMME 

• Age between 17 and 35 years. 

• Indian national or holding an OCI (Overseas 

Citizenship of India) card. 

• Achieved a minimum score of 60% (or Grade Point 

6) each in Physics, Mathematics and English in 

(10+2) exam. 

• Fluency in English (both written and verbal). 

• Good physical condition with appropriate weight 

and height (minimum height required is 158 cm). 

36 

AUGUST 2019

confirmed order of 155 Boeing and 50 

Q400 aircraft is leading the acquisition 

race in the country. The airline is all set 

to change the face of air travel in India 

with elaborate plans in its pipeline 

under the regional connectivity 

scheme UDAN. However, there is a 

dearth of experienced pilots in the 

country, which has underlined the need 

to train fresh talent. 

Aimed at young men and women who 

are Class 12 graduates and have 

nurtured the dream of a career as a 

pilot, the SpiceJet Cadet Pilot 

Programme is a course par excellence 

for potential candidates, who are 

required to be between 17 and 35 years 

of age. Candidates are also required to 

meet six other eligibility criteria (see 

box item). 

The new initiative could not have 

come at a better time, for aviation 

industry figures are eye-opening. 

According to IATA estimates, airline 

traffic will nearly double in the next 20 

years. But various leading authorities 

point out that pilot shortage will be one 

of the main challenges facing the global 

airline industry. According to Aviation 

Voice, a global aviation news provider, 

there will be a shortage of 1,500 pilots 

in the U.S. alone by 2020. 

Selection for the new SpiceJet 

programme is a four-phase process that 

is completely transparent and is 

scientifically designed to determine 

the suitability of the candidate for the 

job of an airline pilot. This process will 

be spread over two weeks. A candidate 

can qualify for the next phase only if 

he/she clears the previous one. The 

first three phases will be mostly 

completed on the first day. 

The last phase (phase 4) will be 

completed within a week of the 

completion of the third phase. The first 

three phases/tests are completely 

computer-based and paper-free. The 

final phase/test is a personal interview. 

Candidates will not be allowed 

calculators or cellphones during the 

tests. The final result will be declared a 

week after the fourth phase. 

Different skills of the candidates will 

be tested during the various phases. 

Short-term memory, mental 

arithmetic, spatial orientation and 

multi-tasking will be judged via 

multiple choice questions in the first 

phase lasting 80 minutes. The next 

module, for 10 minutes, involves 

checking of eye-hand-foot 

coordination as well as the aptitude to 

fly an aircraft — it requires the 

candidate to use a joystick and rudder 

pedal set connected to a computer. In 

S. NO. SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT 

1 95% and above aggregate marks in 10+2 examination in 3 

subjects (Physics, Math & English) 

OR 

JEE Rank 1 to 1500 

2 90% and above aggregate marks in 10+2 examination in 3 

subjects (Physics, Math & English) 

OR 

JEE Rank 1500 to 3000 

50% of 1st Installment i.e. INR 20 Lac and 40% of 2nd 

Installment i.e. INR 10 Lac 

Total Scholarship offered = INR 30 Lac 

25% of 1st Installment i.e. INR 10 Lac and 20% of 2nd 

Installment i.e. INR 5 Lac 

Total Scholarship offered = INR 15 Lac 

Note : Total Amount of Scholarships offered is INR 4.50 Crore 

Maximum 10 nos. of Scholarships are offered in each category (1 & 2) 

37 

AUGUST 2019

COVER STORY 


the penultimate phase, a psychometric 

test lasting 60 minutes will test the 

candidate’s personality and 

psychological suitability for the job of 

an airline pilot. Finally, in a 10 minute 

interview, the candidate’s verbal 

communication skills and personality 

for the job will be judged. 

Ten batches are proposed every year 

under the new programme. There will 

be 15 students in one batch. Selected 

candidates will pick up the tab of 

personal medical insurance during 

their training. SpiceJet will make 

arrangements for the candidate’s stay 

during the Commercial Pilot License 

(CPL) phase. Full boarding 

accommodation will also be arranged 

by SpiceJet for the flight license 

conversion. Bed and breakfast stay will 

be arranged by SpiceJet during the 

Advanced Type Rating phase. 

Type Rating is a qualification to f ly a 

specific type of aircraft, for example, 

B737 or Q400. Any aircraft which has a 

maximum take-off weight of more than 

5,700 kg or is turbine-powered requires 

a Type Rating to operate. A Type Rating 

QUICK FACTS ABOUT 

THE PROGRAMME 

• The selection process will be 

held at the Spice Star Academy 

office in Udyog Vihar, Gurgaon. 

• Candidates will have to 

make their own travel and stay 

arrangements to appear for the 

selection process. 

• There will be a registration fee 

of Rs. 5,000 and a screening/ 

assessment fee of Rs. 10,000. 

• Both the fees are non-refundable 

since they have been meticulously 

calculated, based on the resources 

required for the exams and 

selection process. 

course consists of a technical ground 

school course (covering aircraft 

systems and performance) and a 

simulator course, where you learn to 

fly the aircraft in a full flight simulator 

which simulates normal and 

emergency situations. The Type Rating 

training will be conducted at a Type 

Rating training centre approved by 

SpiceJet. 

The SpiceJet Cadet Pilot 

Programme will train the candidate in 

three phases until she/he can be 

employed as a First Officer with 

SpiceJet. But it does not end there. 

SpiceJet will train not just Cadet 

Pilots but will groom them to 

becoming Captains in the 

future. The course will mould 

young Cadets towards 

becoming First Officers and 

eventually Captains. SpiceJet 

has a road map in place for every Cadet 

from the day of joining to his/her 

release as a First Officer. 

Each of the three phases of training 

has been carefully thought out, with 

every segment contributing towards 

the making of an international class 

pilot. The first phase provides the 

necessary training to obtain a CPL 

with Single Engine (SE) and 

Instrument Rating (IR). (CPL 

training will be done at a training 

centre approved by SpiceJet). The 

next one provides the Type Rating 

training for qualifying on Q400 or 

B737 aircraft. The last phase provides 

on-the-job training for induction as a 

First Officer. 

Uniforms will be provided for the 

entire course of the training. If selected 

for the programme, the candidate will 

be offered a conditional Letter of Intent 

(LOI) by SpiceJet. Thereafter he/she 

will enter into an agreement with the 

airline as a Cadet Pilot and will 

be entitled to a monthly stipend 

38 

AUGUST 2019

COVER STORY 


as applicable. On obtaining a CPL 

issued by DGCA India, the Cadet Pilot 

will be paid an enhanced monthly 

stipend. Students will fly minimum 

200 hours in an actual aircraft for CPL 

and for Type Rating. They will fly 

around 72 hours in a full flight 

simulator and about 20 hours in the 

actual aircraft. 

COSTS INVOLVED IN 

THE PROGRAMME 

The total cost of the programme is 

Rs. 89.50 lakh including taxes. 

• First Instalment: Rs. 40 lakh, to 

be paid on joining the Cadet Pilot 

Programme. 

• Second Instalment: Rs. 25 lakh, 

to be paid on the successful 

completion of CPL phase (having 

been issued with a CPL by DGCA) 

and before commencing the Type 

Rating Phase. 

• Third Instalment: Rs. 24.50 

lakh to be paid on successful 

completion of Type Rating Phase 

and before commencing P2 SLF 

phase. 

Cadets will f ly Cessna 152, Cessna 

172, Cirrus SR 20 or similar aircraft 

equipped with the latest avionics. 

DGCA-approved SpiceJet ground 

school and flight instructors manage 

the entire training process. State-ofthe-art 

infrastructure is available for 

the training. The ground training will 

be provided at Spice Star Academy, 

Gurgaon, a DGCA-approved training 

academy with senior ground 

instructors and more than 10,000 sq 

ft of fully-equipped classroom 

facilities. SpiceJet-affiliated, DGCAapproved, 

India-based flying training 

schools, each with a fleet of at least 20 

single-engine trainer aircraft, will 

handle different aspects of the flight 

training. 

Unlike other pilot training 

academies, this programme comes 

with a 100% job guarantee with 

SpiceJet on the very first day the 

student walks in. Like always, SpiceJet 

is once again streets ahead in 

innovative practices and programmes. 

Its latest initiative is sure to help fliers, 

and contribute significantly to the 

development of the aviation industry — 

in India as well as abroad. 

40 

AUGUST 2019

SPECIAL REPORT 

INTERNATIONAL SECTORS 

SPICEJET SPREADS ITS 

WINGS OVERSEAS 

NEW FOREIGN DESTINATIONS, MORE FREQUENT FLIGHTS AND 

SMOOTHER CONNECTIVITY FROM INDIAN METROS AND NON-METROS 

HAVE ALL CONTRIBUTED TO A WIDER CHOICE FOR SPICEJET 

PASSENGERS FLYING ABROAD 

On August 15, 2019, when 

the country celebrates 

its 73rd Independence 

Day, SpiceJet will 

achieve one more 

milestone — it will add Riyadh as its tenth 

international destination. The capital of 

Saudi Arabia is the fourth SpiceJet station 

in the Middle East and will be serviced 

from Mumbai. 

Riyadh, the largest city of Saudi 

Arabia, is also the kingdom’s key business 

centre and financial hub. The city’s King 

Khalid International Airport is one of the 

largest airports in the world and serves 

over 26 million passengers every year. 

Riyadh becomes the second city in Saudi 

Arabia, after Jeddah, to have convenient 

SpiceJet connectivity. Jeddah is now 

serviced from Mumbai, Hyderabad and 

Kozhikode. Ajay Singh, Chairman and 

Managing Director, SpiceJet, said, "We 

are delighted to add Riyadh as our tenth 

international destination. SpiceJet is the 

only Indian budget airline to operate to 

Saudi Arabia and our new flights to 

Riyadh and Jeddah should greatly benefit 

the thousands of pilgrims travelling from 

India." 

It has always been an ongoing 

endeavour at SpiceJet to expand its 

network and connect passengers through 

new destinations and increased flights. It 

has achieved these twin objectives by 

constantly adding new planes. Last 

month, the airline added the 100th 

aircraft to its fleet. Expect this number to 

grow by leaps and bounds soon for the 

initial deliveries of the 205 Boeing 737 

aircraft and up to 50 Q400 Bombardier 

turboprop airliners ordered in 2017 have 

started and more are fast on their way. 

In addition to Riyadh and Jeddah in 

Saudi Arabia, SpiceJet is flying to other 

international destinations Hong Kong 

(China), Bangkok (Thailand), Dhaka 

(Bangladesh), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Male 

Riyadh is SpiceJet's tenth 

international destination 

(Maldives), Dubai (UAE), Kabul 

(Afghanistan) and Muscat (Oman). Apart 

from these, a MoU for codeshare 

partnership signed between SpiceJet and 

Emirates on April 22, 2019 will allow 

passengers to access networks of the two 

airlines. With the new MoU in place, 

SpiceJet passengers travelling from India 

will have more choice to travel seamlessly 

with minimum connection times, when 

flying to destinations in Emirates' Europe 

network such as London, Paris, Frankfurt, 

Manchester and Amsterdam. Subject to 

regulatory approvals, the codeshare 

agreement will also open up flights for 

Indian travellers to North and South 

American destinations such as New York, 

Washington, Toronto, and Sao Paulo as 

well as Middle Eastern destinations such 

as Jeddah, Kuwait and Amman, operated 

by Emirates. Similarly, the partnership 

will enable Emirates’ passengers to enjoy 

seamless connectivity on India flights, 

leveraging SpiceJet’s strong domestic 

presence. 

There has been hectic activity on 

SpiceJet’s international network. Take 

42 

AUGUST 2019

SPECIAL REPORT 

INTERNATIONAL SECTORS 

the case of new foreign 

connections from just one 

SpiceJet station, India’s 

financial capital — the airline 

has scaled up its international 

connectivity from Mumbai, 

with new flights from the 

city. There are now direct 

non-stop flights from 

Mumbai to Hong Kong, 

Jeddah, Dubai, Dhaka, 

Riyadh and Bangkok. 

Operations on the 

Mumbai-Bangkok-Mumbai 

sector started from May 17, 

2019. Additionally, operations 

on the Mumbai-Jeddah- 

Mumbai route came into 

effect from July 5, 2019. Flights on the 

Mumbai-Dhaka-Mumbai sector were 

flagged off from July 31, 2019. With the 

introduction of these new flights, 

passengers from these foreign cities are 

able to easily travel to a host of other cities 

both on SpiceJet’s domestic as well as 

international network via multiple 

onward connections from Mumbai. 

Passengers travelling from non-metro 

SpiceJet stations like Mangalore, Gwalior, 

Belgaum, Dibrugarh, Vijayawada and 

Mr Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet and Mr Adnan Kazim, 

Divisional Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning, Revenue Optimisation & 

Aeropolitical Affairs, Emirates, at the signing of the MoU for codeshare agreement 

Guwahati, among others, will now be able 

to easily travel to a host of other cities on 

SpiceJet’s international network via 

multiple onward connections from key 

metros. Apart from adding new 

destinations, the overall frequency of 

flights has also been increased. In the 

process, the airline has been able to notch 

up some remarkable achievements. 

• SpiceJet is the only Indian carrier 

to connect Mumbai with Hong Kong via 

daily non-stop flights: SpiceJet has 

SpiceJet operates daily nonstop 

flights to Hong Kong 

deployed its 168-seater 

Boeing 737-800 aircraft on 

the Mumbai-Hong Kong 

sector. The flight is timed 

perfectly for business and 

leisure travellers alike 

with a late night departure 

from Mumbai (1.05 am) 

and a morning arrival 

(9.40 am) in Hong Kong 

thus maximising 

passenger comfort and 

providing more choice and 

flexibility. 

• SpiceJet is the first 

Indian LCC to connect 

Mumbai with Riyadh and 

Dhaka and Delhi with 

Dhaka and Jeddah: SpiceJet will service 

Mumbai-Riyadh-Mumbai, Mumbai- 

Dhaka-Mumbai, Delhi-Dhaka-Delhi and 

Delhi-Jeddah-Delhi with daily non-stop 

flights. With the new flights, passengers 

from Riyadh, Dhaka and Jeddah will be 

able to easily travel to a host of other 

cities both on SpiceJet’s domestic as well 

as international network via multiple 

onward connections from Mumbai and 

Delhi. 

• The Guwahati-Dhaka-Guwahati 

sector has been added under the 

International Air Connectivity Scheme 

(IACS): SpiceJet, created history when it 

recently launched its first flight under the 

IACS. This has made international air 

travel much more affordable and 

convenient for more and more Indians. 

The slew of new international flights 

announced recently by SpiceJet have been 

welcomed by passengers as well as the 

industry. Ajay Singh, Chairman and 

Managing Director, SpiceJet, summed it 

up best when he said: “SpiceJet is the only 

Indian budget carrier operating on a 

majority of the routes that we have 

announced, thus providing leisure and 

business travellers with more options to 

choose from.” 

44 

AUGUST 2019

SPECIAL FEATURE 

SPICEBIZ 

THE ULTIMATE BUSINESS 

CLASS EXPERIENCE 

SPICEJET’S NEWLY-LAUNCHED BUSINESS CLASS HAS BEEN FAVOURABLY RECEIVED FOR ITS 

BEST-IN-CLASS FEATURES AND SERVICES AT THE RIGHT PRICING 

The social media is 

abuzz with feedback 

to the latest 

superlative 

experience for flying 

passengers. “It’s a world class 

product,” says one. “Luxury and 

comfort have been re-defined,” 

affirms another. A third went gaga 

over the culinary aspect: “A fancy, 

healthy meal. And I quite liked the 

cutlery too.” These passengers are 

talking about SpiceBiz, SpiceJet’s 

business class travel experience that 

was launched on May 11, 2019 and has 

already made waves in the short time 

that it has been around. 

There is lot in store for those 

wishing to avail of the new facility, 

including more spacious and 

personal seating; welcome drinks 

and sumptuous meals; flawless 

ground service; and priority checkin 

and boarding. In addition, 

SpiceBiz offers great comfort and 

best-in-class service at an 

unmatched value. 

At present SpiceBiz is being 

introduced on key domestic routes. 

Says Ajay Singh, Chairman & 

46 

AUGUST 2019


SPICEBIZ 

“We are very excited to roll 

out our all new business 

class product. There is a huge 

demand for business class in 

India and we believe that our 

business class product, with 

its right pricing and the best 

in-class features and services, 

will be much appreciated by 

passengers. We at SpiceJet 

have always tried to innovate 

and provide our customers a 

memorable flying experience 

and our new business class 

offering is yet another step in 

that direction” 

AJAY SINGH, 

Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet 

Managing Director, SpiceJet, “We are 

very excited to roll out our all new 

business class product. There is a huge 

demand for business class in India and 

we believe that our business class 

product, with its right pricing and the 

best in-class features and services, 

will be much appreciated by 

passengers. We at SpiceJet have 

always tried to innovate and provide 

our customers a memorable f lying 

experience and our new business class 

offering is yet another step in that 

direction.” 

Business class passengers now get 

to experience upfront the service 

efficiency SpiceJet has always been 

known for. The product is of very high 

quality and has been customized to 

meet the high level expectations of 

business class passengers. While 

rolling out all the attractive services, 

top level industry practices have been 

followed. 

The new business class seating 

has been incorporated in select 

aircraft. In the B 737-700s, eight 

seats are reserved for the Business 

Class (Of the remaining, 126 seats 

will be taken up by economy class 

passengers). There are more seats 

in the other two classes of aircraft. 

The B 737-800 has 12 Business 

Class Seats (156 for economy). 

Finally there are 28 Business Class 

seats in the B 737-900 (138 for 

economy). In all these aircraft, the 

first row of the economy cabin and 

both the over-wing exit rows are 

SpiceMAX seats. 

48 

AUGUST 2019


SPICEBIZ 

BEFORE BOARDING THE AIRCRAFT 

The pampering begins even before the 

flying passengers set foot on the 

aircraft — in a lounge reserved 

specially for them at the airport. Even 

as they wait for the flight, passengers 

can enjoy privacy in comfortable 

surroundings. Quality food and 

beverages are served. There are also 

many other facilities, all of which add 

up to a smooth journey. 

Business class passengers are able 

to carry more baggage than other 

passengers. For checked-in baggage it 

is 30 kg. Passengers will be able to 

board with up to 10 kg of handbag 

(excluding laptops). 

There are dedicated check-in 

counters at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, 

Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, 

Pune, Jammu, Guwahati, Varanasi, 

Jaipur, Coimbatore, Kochi and Patna 

airports. At all other airports, the 

counters are being shared with 

SpiceMax passengers. 

At the airport, the business class 

passengers are also given priority for 

check-in, boarding and baggage. While 

boarding, if an aerobridge is being 

deployed, they are allowed to board 

first. When boarding the coaches, 

priority is given to business class 

passengers at all times. 

Here is the announcement 

sequence for calling out passengers — 

Business Class followed by SpiceMax, 

Spice Club and Special Handling and 

finally Economy Passengers. Priority 

in the handling of baggage includes 

tags specifically designed for SpiceBiz. 

And the order that is followed during 

baggage arrival at the carousel: 

SpiceBiz, SpiceMAX and Bag-out- 

First. Well before the flight has taken 

50 

AUGUST 2019


SPICEBIZ 

Passengers will be able to enjoy a 

culinary experience like never before. 

SpiceJet’s three-course delicious 

meal is aimed at balancing health and 

indulgence. Selections have been 

made keeping in mind a wide range of 

palate preferences. They will be 

served on fine bone china with linen 

laid on the tray table. The crew will 

attend to every little need of the 

passengers. 

The menu offers a mouth-watering 

array of Indian and international 

cuisine, including vegetarian and nonvegetarian 

dishes across breakfast, 

lunch/dinner, hot snacks and cold 

meals (on shorter flights). Patrons will 

also be offered a range of cold and hot 

beverage through the course of the 

meal. 

off, the Business Class passenger is 

welcomed with a refreshing drink and 

refreshing towels. A comprehensive 

menu card is distributed giving details 

of the three-course culinary journey 

lined up on-board. 

INSIDE THE BUSINESS CLASS ZONE 

The passenger is sure to be awed by 

the facilities inside the 2 x 2 

dedicated business class cabin. After 

take-off, the tables are dressed up in 

fine tablecloth and the guest is 

offered pre-meal drinks – a selection 

of fruit juices, soft beverages and 

aerated drinks. The seat pitch 

(distance between the back of your 

seat and the back of the seat in front) 

is an impressive 43 inches. Each seat 

can also be reclined back to seven 

inches. 

To begin with, the new business 

class seating is available on select 

sectors including Delhi-Mumbai- 

Delhi and Mumbai-Jaipur-Mumbai. 

SpiceJet will shortly be offering 

SpiceBiz on select international 

routes too. As SpiceJet increases its 

capacity and inducts more B737s, the 

airline will very soon be the second 

biggest business class operator in 

India. Air travel for business class 

passengers will never be the same 

again. 

52 

AUGUST 2019

"I DON'T BELIEVE 

RELATIONSHIPS 

SHOULD BE 

HIDDEN…" 

SONAKSHI SINHA ON HER NEW FILM, 

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND DATING 

A CELEBRITY. BY AARTI KAPUR SINGH 

STAR BUZZ 

SONAKSHI SINHA 

Dabangg Girl', 'Mini 

Shotgun' — Shatrughan 

Sinha's daughter 

Sonakshi has earned 

several epithets in her 

almost one-decade-long career. Despite 

big ticket success having eluded her thus 

far, you have to hand it to Sonakshi for 

being the most persistent of the current 

crop of actresses. 

This August, she has two releases — 

both polar opposites in genre and subject. 

Apart from a quirkyi comedy, Khandani 

Shafakhana, Sonakshi will also be seen in 

Mission Mangal. Later this year, she will 

be seen reprising the role of Rajjo Pandey 

in Dabangg 3 (that was extensively shot in 

Maheshwar, MP). Dabangg 3 releases on 

December 20. She is also shooting for 

Bhuj: The Pride of India. No wonder 

Sonakshi, who has inherited some of her 

father's wit, is excited. Here are excerpts 

from a conversation… 

Khandaani Shafakhana chronicles the 

adventures of a girl who inherits a sex 

clinic. Did you have any reservations 

there? 

You know the pitch of the film was just 

that — simply one line — 'Story of a girl 

54 

AUGUST 2019

STAR BUZZ 


who inherits a sex clinic'. And that is what 

intrigued me as much as it made me 

wonder why would they even approach 

me for such a film. But when I heard the 

full story, the film was a must-do for me 

because it's a very relevant and important 

subject that should be discussed. I don't 

know if the film will take the taboo 

around sex away, but it will definitely get 

people to start thinking. It's a step in that 

direction. How have we as a society 

labelled the reason for all of us being here 

as taboo? It's something to think about. I 

don't want anyone, woman or man, to shy 

away from talking about this topic. I hope 

my doing this film will give them the 

courage to talk about sexual issues 

openly. I am sure this movie will get 

people thinking... and talking. 'Baat toh 

karo'! I genuinely feel a lot of the problems 

related to sex can easily be resolved if we 

just talk about them. Till very recently, 

sex education was banned in quite a few 

states of India. This is an issue we must all 

rally around. We hope that we will be able 

to help people to no longer look at sex as a 

dirty word. 

I play a sexologist who is trying to make 

discussion on the taboo subject of sex 

mainstream in Indian society. My 

character, Baby, gets a sex clinic after her 

uncle's death. But there is a twist — she has 

to run the clinic for six months before she 

can sell it. And here begins the hilarious 

journey of a female sexologist in India. 

Speaking of females who are shattering 

the glass ceiling, your director here is a 

woman too. And then close on the heels is 

another film that also celebrates women 

achievers of a different kind… 

Women directors come with a kind of 

sensibility and sensitivity that male 

directors do not have. Especially for a 

subject such as this one. I think the boys 

on the set were more conscious than 

Shilpi (Dasgupta, director) and I were! 

(laughs) We had so much fun shooting 

this! And then Mission Mangal, which 

also chronicles the story of women 

scientists who achieved a mammoth feat. 

Mission Mangal celebrates the spirit of 

womanhood. It was such an amazing 

team to work with Taapsee (Pannu), 

Vidya (Balan), Nithya (Menen) and Kirti 

(Kulhari). We had a blast on the sets. I 

have not felt more proud than this before. 

This film is very close to my heart and I 

hope that it will be a milestone for our 

industry. The true story of the Mars 

Orbiter Mission, our country's maiden 

interplanetary mission, was actually 

56 

AUGUST 2019

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scripted by women. If you Google, you 

will see a picture of a group of women 

scientists from ISRO smiling and feeling 

proud after sending the orbiter to Mars. 

We have tried to recreate that picture too. 

From a totally commercial introduction 

in and to Bollywood, to doing films that 

could perhaps spark a change, what has 

your journey been like? 

When you start with a film like 

Dabangg you are automatically put in 

that commercial bracket. I was picked 

up for my looks. Those were the kind of 

films that were offered to me. I was 

happy to be a part of those films. They 

gave me a chance to work with the best 

people in the industry. I have grown 

with every film. I learn something 

from every person I work with. I really 

believe in learning from experience. I 

have had a really eventful and fruitful 

journey since I started. I don’t have any 

regrets in my career. I have made a 

decision that now I want to play roles 

that push my limits. I want to show 

something new from me to the 

audience. I played a journalist in Noor 

and then a character with a grey shade 

in Ittefaq. There are a lot of interesting 

things happening. I am just embracing 

the shift. Incidentally, it was not 

intentional that I chose these films 

because they offered me a chance to 

play strong independent women. 

But what are the kind of films you would 

like to do? 

I want to do everything, explore 

everything and try everything. Yes, it is 

not a secret that I love action films in 

general. Why should boys have all the 

fun? I feel it is a great time for actresses as 

action roles are being written keeping 

them in mind. The kind of feedback I am 

getting in the action genre has been very 

positive and I would love to do more of 

such projects. 

Are you a method performer? 

Not really. I do not stress over my work. I 

don't really prepare for my roles. I can't 

act unless I am in front of the camera. 

That way I am more of a situational 

performer — if there is such a person! On 

screen, characters usually go through 

lots of ups and downs and my best 

preparation is usually to talk to my 

director and understand the character. I 

have also been fortunate to have learnt 

immensely from my directors and my 

co-performers. 

Speaking of the fraternity, you recently 

also candidly disclosed you have dated 

someone from the industry… would you 

like to reveal more? 

Did I say industry? (laughs). I don't think 

so. I said I have dated a celebrity! My 

parents want me to date a susheel ladka 

and no one from the Bollywood film 

industry is like that! When it's fixed, I 

myself will announce it to the world. I 

don't believe things like these should be 

hidden. I think if there was something in 

that matter to talk about, I would be the 

first person to come and talk about it. I’m 

toh waiting (laughs). I’m waiting for love, 

some prince charming will come, I’m 

waiting. Nobody is there right now. So, 

when it happens, I feel that I will be very 

happy about it. I'm too involved with my 

work to even consider marriage. I haven't 

even thought about it yet. At the moment I 

do have a lot of dates - but they are only to 

do with the sets! 

58 

AUGUST 2019

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TECH 

EARBUDS 

BEST TRUE WIRELESS 

BLUETOOTH EARBUDS 

YOU SEE THEM EVERYWHERE. FROM GYMS TO RUNNING TRACKS TO THE 

METRO, TRUE WIRELESS BLUETOOTH EARBUDS ARE FAST BECOMING 

UBIQUITOUS. THEY’RE WEIGHTLESS IN YOUR EAR, SLIP EFFORTLESSLY INTO 

YOUR THINNEST TRAVEL BAGS AND BATTERY LIFE IS FAST IMPROVING TOO. 

WE ROUND UP THE BEST BUDS FOR CALLS AND MUSIC NOW AVAILABLE IN 

THE INDIAN MARKET. BY ASHWIN RAJAGOPALAN 

Apple AirPods 2 

The second generation AirPods 

debuted this year and didn’t 

make radical changes to a design 

language that we’ve gradually 

come to love. It’s almost a nobrainer 

for iPhone owners with 

its intuitive connectivity. It’s 

probably one reason why many 

AirPods die-hards leave them on 

all day. From calls to podcasts to 

music, the AirPods can handle 

anything you throw at it. The 

AirPods 2 are driven by the new 

Apple-designed H1 chip, that 

promises faster connect time 

and more talk time. There are 

some cool new touches — you 

can now adjust the volume with a 

simple ‘Hey Siri’ command. 

Samsung Galaxy Buds 

Launched along with Samsung’s 

trio of S10 flagships, these buds 

are not just popular with Samsung 

owners. The charging case is 

ultra-compact and will easily slip 

into your skinny jeans. Android 

users can lean on the companion 

app to tweak music controls. 

We comfortably managed a 

battery life of five hours for 

each charging cycle. But our 

favourite feature is wireless 

charging — you can juice up 

these headphones with the 

Wireless Power share option 

on the Samsung Galaxy S10 

or any compatible wireless 

charger. 

Sony WF-1000X 

Noise cancellation. That’s been Sony’s focus 

for a while now as it augments its headphone 

portfolio across shapes and sizes. These buds 

allow you to insulate yourself from all external 

sounds and immerse yourself in your playlist. 

You can choose to connect with the external 

world depending on your activity — the 

companion app allows you to alter the settings 

based on your activity (like travelling, walking 

or waiting). Sony’s proprietary ExtraBass 

feature ensures that extra thump in your 

music. 

Bose SoundSport Free 

Probably the tiniest and lightest Bose device packed with 

the company’s legendary sound credentials. Good things 

do come in small packages — these ultra-light earbuds 

weigh just 10 gms apiece and yet deliver stellar sound. 

Bose’s StayHear+ sports tip solution ensures they stick to 

your ears while their new, proprietary antennae system 

makes sure your devices make a strong connection with 

these earbuds. The thoughtfully designed companion app 

is very handy too. 

62 

AUGUST 2019

TECH 

EARBUDS 

Skullcandy Push 

If form matters as much as function, then 

these snazzy earbuds in bold colours might 

just be your scene. They’re more than just a 

fashion statement though. The proprietary 

Secure FitFin Gels ensure a snug fit while their 

water resistant form is equally comforting. 

The Push earbuds promise 12 hours of battery 

life while the Active Assistant function allows 

you to activate your chosen digital Assistant 

like Siri or Google Assistant. 

Sennheiser 

Momentum True 

Wireless 

Premium sound comes with a premium price tag. 

These are probably our favourite in the sound quality 

department. It doesn’t end with just the sound quality; you will 

love the carrying case that has premium stamped all over it 

— refined yet compact. Sennheiser is proud of its multi-touch 

fingertip control that allows you to get a lot of stuff done 

without pulling your phone out of your pocket. Users should 

be equally proud of the 12-hour battery life. 

Blaupunkt BTW-01 

Comes in a charging case with that allows you to power the 

headphones at least thrice with six hours of music playback 

for each charge. These water-resistant buds (IPX-5 certified) 

are very comfortable to wear. You don’t have to worry about 

these buds falling off during intense workouts thanks to a 

45-degree angle that keeps them firmly planted on your ears. 

With a speaker size of 6mm they are no pushover in the sound 

department too. The BTW-01 is kitted with the latest Bluetooth 

5.0 for superior battery efficiency. 

Jabra Elite Sport 

Part of Jabra’s diverse Bluetooth portfolio, these are among the 

best earbuds for active users. Each of these buds features dual 

microphones making them terrific for calls during your workout. 

The unique ‘Hear Through’ feature allows you to shut off or stay 

plugged in to the external environment around you. They’re 

all-weather proof, perfect for those runs through a drizzle and 

also come with a three-year sweat protection warranty. Fitness 

fanatics can sync these headphones to the Jabra Sport Life App; 

the in-ear precision 

heart rate monitor 

teams up with the 

app to analyse 

your fitness data 

and also offers 

personalised 

audio coaching 

in real time. 

64 

AUGUST 2019

FOOD 

RED CHILLI 

EACH SPICEJET AIRCRAFT HAS BEEN NAMED AFTER 

A PARTICULAR SPICE. IN THIS ISSUE WE TALK ABOUT 

THE BENEFITS AND USAGE OF RED CHILLI 

MANY 

SHADES 

OF RED 

CAN YOU IMAGINE WHIPPING UP A 

TRADITIONAL INDIAN MEAL 

WITHOUT RED HOT CHILLIES? THAT 

WOULD BE BLASPHEMOUS! CHILLI 

OR MIRCH FORMS THE SOUL OF 

EVERY INDIAN HOUSEHOLD. 

BY NIVEDITA JAYARAM PAWAR 

GRASSY, EARTHY AND HOT… red 

chillies are integral to Indian cuisine. 

They add that bite to pickles and chutneys 

and impart another layer of flavour to 

curries and stir-fries. In fact no Indian 

savoury dish is complete without a little 

sprinkling of lal mirch. This fiery 

ingredient brings alive a Kashmiri Rogan 

Josh, a Rajasthani Laal Maas, South 

India's much-loved rasam and Goa's 

famous vindaloo. Even a humble dal is 

elevated to gastronomic heaven with a 

simple tadka of dried red chillies 

in smoking hot ghee. 

But how did the chilli reach India? It is 

believed that chillies were first brought 

from South America to India by the 

Portuguese through their trading activity 

Spicy Chicken Curry 

with Rice 

in Goa — from where they spread to South 

India. The chilli was also introduced to 

north India when the army of the Maratha 

king Shivaji moved north to challenge the 

Mughal Empire during the 17th century. 

According to legend, the Mughal army 

could only be defeated because the 

Marathas’ consumption of chillies turned 

them into particularly fiery adversaries. 

That may or may not be true but the 

fact remains that India is now the largest 

producer and exporter of chillies in the 

world, growing a wide variety of different 

types, particularly in the south. Andhra 

Pradesh is the primary producer of 

chillies in the country followed by 

Karnataka, Rajasthan, Gujarat and others. 

There are hundreds of varieties of red 

chillies representing a huge range of tastes 

and heat. The Spices Board of India 

identifies 18 varieties of chillies that are 

grown in different parts of the country. 

These include Bird's Eye Chilli, Byadagi, 

Ellachipur Sannam, Guntur Sannam, 

Hindpur Chilli, Kanthari White, 

Kashmiri Chilli, Madhya Pradesh 

Sannam, Nagpur Nalchetti, Ramnad 

Mundu, Sangli Sannam, Sattur Mundu, 

66 

AUGUST 2019

FOOD 

RED CHILLI 

Thai Shrimps 

Red Curry 

KNOW YOUR CHILLIES 

• Chillies belong to the genus 

Capsicum, a member of the 

nightshade family that includes 

tomatoes, potatoes and eggplants. 

• The best relief from the burning 

sensation of chillies is to drink 

milk or have a spoonful of yogurt. 

Drinking water only enhances the 

burning sensation! 

• Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) is the 

measuring unit which measures 

the hotness of chilli. A sweet bell 

pepper scores 0 on the Scoville 

scale, a jalapeno pepper scores 

around 2500-4000 units, and a 

Mexican chilli called Habaneros 

scores 200,000 to 

500,000 units. 

• The Bhut 

Jolokia is one of 

the spiciest red 

chillis in world. It 

is grown in Assam 

and Nagaland. 

Homemade Red Chilli Pickle 

Tadappally and Tomato Chilli. The shapes 

vary from flat and long like a bean to peashaped 

chillies, heart-shaped chillies, 

chillies with the bumps and nodes of a 

surrealist brain and so on. While the fresh 

red chillies are milder the dried ones are 

really spicy. Unlike salt or sugar, spicy heat 

is not recognized by taste buds. The 

“flavour” of spiciness is actually a 

chemical reaction that stimulates nerves 

and indicates pain. In chillies, this 

reaction is caused by capsaicin, a 

component concentrated in the pith (the 

white rib) and seeds of peppers. That’s 

why deseeding and removing the pith can 

make for a far less spicy result when 

cooking with chillies. Whether you like a 

lot of heat or just a touch, chillies can 

accentuate almost any savoury meal. 

Chillies also come with a pack of 

health benefits that almost seems 

unbelievable. Green chillies are loaded 

with antioxidants that protect the body 

against free radicals by acting as natural 

scavengers. They can also keep prostate 

problems at bay. When eaten, chillies 

release endorphins that boost the mood 

and reduce pain. Chillies are also proven 

to balance blood sugar levels. So if you are 

diabetic, chillies may be your answer to a 

healthy diet. 

While fresh chillies are great for 

adding colour, crunch and heat to a dish, 

it’s the dried versions that offer the most 

surprising and complex flavours from 

smoky to punishingly spicy, to citrusy, 

earthy and mushroomy. There are various 

varieties of chillies and each gives its own 

brand of heat to the dish it is added to. The 

mathania chillies from Rajasthan are 

known for their bold red colour and spice 

level and hence mainly used in making 

lamb dishes like the Laal Maas. The 

68 

AUGUST 2019

FOOD 

RED CHILLI 

guntur chillies are used in making 

Hyderabadi and Lucknowi delicacies like 

the Rogan Josh and Dum ka Murgh. The 

Reshampatti chillies are deep red and 

very flavourful and are mainly used in 

Maharashtrian and Gujarati cuisine to 

flavour pickles. The Kashmiri chillies are 

used as a generic chilli for colour and 

spiciness in most Goan dishes like 

Vindaloo and Recheado. “Goan cuisine 

uses a variety of chillies. The common 

ones used in the Goan catholic cuisine are 

the aldona chillies, peri peri (Portuguese 

chillies), bedgi/volanche chilli, Kashmiri 

chillies and the button chillies which are 

mainly used in dishes such as vindaloos, 

sorpotels, xacutis and recheados. The 

Hindu Saraswat cuisine which mainly 

consists of vegetarian dishes such as the 

caldeens, xacutis and fogats use canacona 

chillies, white and green gaunti (wild) 

chillies, hermal chillies and the 

Sankeshwari chillies,” explains Jerson 

Fernandes, Executive Chef, Novotel Goa 

Dona Sylvia. 

Sandeep Sreedharan, chef and 

partner at Curry Tales, a restaurant that 

specializes in west coastal cuisine, mostly 

uses dried guntur chillies and Kashmiri 

chillies. Curd chillies called Kondattam in 

Malayalam are employed to make 

Chicken Kondattam, a very popular 

appetizer on the menu. But his absolute 

favourite are the guntur chillies also 

called Madras chillies in South India. 

“They are spicy and render a very peculiar 

flavour that is synonymous with South 

Indian cooking. In Kerala we use green 

chillies in curries and chutneys and spicy 

dried red chillies for tempering,” he adds. 

Dried chillies are flavour workhorses 

that pull way more than their weight in 

the kitchen. Their heat comes from the 

seeds, the veins (the thin inner 

membranes to which the seeds are 

attached), and in the parts nearest the 

veins. But if you’re not a fan of too much 

heat, but want to boost the flavour of the 

dish chef Sreedharan suggests doing away 

with the veins and seeds before adding 

them to the dish. Fernandes prefers to 

roast the peppers till the skin turns 

brown/dark brown in a couple of spots 

and then remove the skin. 

Toasting the chillies in a dry pan 

before grinding adds a depth of flavour 

and balances their natural astringency. If 

you have unknowingly added too much 

Marcha Na 

Cheese 

Poppers 

Spicy Mahe Sambar with 

Doda and Filter Coffee 

chilli to a dish, there are still 

ways to reduce the heat. “In 

Indian cooking we usually add 

ghee (clarified butter) to reduce 

the heat of chillies. It’s not 

uncommon to add a heaped 

spoon of ghee to a dish before 

feeding little ones. This helps 

temper the heat but keeps the 

flavours alive so that the kid gets 

used to them and can gradually 

learn to eat spicy food,” says 

Fernandes. Stirring in coconut 

milk and reheating or adding 

potatoes and cooking till they 

are done (potatoes will absorb 

some of the chillies) also does 

the trick. You can also eat a hot 

curry with yogurt to cut some of 

the heat. This is a trick that's 

great for kids. 

Nowadays chefs are giving food a 

makeover with unorthodox but incredible 

uses of chillies. So much so that at times 

this hottest ingredient in the kitchen finds 

its way to cold drinks and even chocolates! 

Fernandes loves to infuse chillies into his 

desserts. According to the chef it brings an 

element of intrigue into the dish. Chilliinfused 

chocolate bebinca anyone? 

70 

AUGUST 2019

PLACES 

CITIES 

5 MUST-DOS IN 

GUWAHATI 

CRUISE ON THE BRAHMAPUTRA 

RIVER 

Guwahati is where the mighty 

Brahmaputra River flows in all its 

majesty and the best way to enjoy the 

river is to take a cruise on it. There are 

GUWAHATI IS THE PERFECT INTRODUCTION TO THE NORTH-EAST AND WITH ITS 

MYRIAD SIGHTS, A DESTINATION IN ITSELF. BY BINDU GOPAL RAO 

The capital city of Assam, 

Guwahati is usually used as a 

transit point to see the rest of 

the North-East but the city 

has several sights and sounds that are 

worth seeing on their own. These sights 

are a mix of history, culture, spirituality 

and leisure which add to the charm of the 

destination. So on your next trip to the 

‘City of Temples’, the moniker the city is 

often known by, make sure you explore its 

other dimensions as well. 

MAKE A SPIRITUAL SOJOURN AT 

KAMAKHYA 

One of the most important iconic sights 

here is the famed Kamakhya Temple. Said 

to be among the oldest of the 51 Shakti 

Peeths, it is located on Nilachal Hill and is 

best visited in the early hours of the 

morning. The temple is very crowded 

throughout the day and typically you will 

need to wait for several hours in long 

queues and hence the morning hours are 

ideal. The temple premises are extensive. 

Photography is strictly prohibited and it 

is advised that you do not carry your 

phone when you are here. The main 

sanctum is located below the ground. You 

could take the services of a priest to guide 

you through the temple — he will also do a 

small pooja on your behalf. The streets 

leading up to the temple have tiny stores 

that sell flowers and pooja items. You can 

also sample local food at one of the 

restaurants outside. 

options for lunch and dinner cruises 

here that make for enjoyable 

experiences as well. While there are 

several longer cruises that take you to 

other parts of Assam, like Jorhat and 

Silghat, the sunset cruise is a great way 

to see a magnificent sunset on the river. 

If you are doing a day cruise, make sure 

you carry sun screen and a hat as the 

days here are very warm and can 

become quite hot as the day progresses. 

The riverfront itself has been developed 

well and a park runs along one end 

which is popular with locals and 

tourists alike. 

MUSINGS IN THE ASSAM STATE 

MUSEUM 

To get your fix on all things related to 

local history and culture, a visit to the 

Assam State Museum is a must. The 

museum is spread over three levels with 

the ground floor housing an Arms & 

Ammunition Gallery, Numismatics and 

Metallic Sculpture Gallery, Pre & Proto 

History, Terracotta Gallery and Textile 

Gallery. The first floor has a North East 

SHUTTERSTOCK 

74 

AUGUST 2019

PLACES 

CITIES 

central museum exhibits masks and 

traditional articles used by the tribes 

of Assam. The artistic village on the 

site gives guests an interesting 

insight into rural life through the 

homes and sculptures that depict the 

same. The theatre here hosts 

cultural performances. There are 

visual arts, cinema and drama 

workshops as well. 

TAKE A FERRY OR COUNTRY 

BOAT TO THE SMALLEST 

RIVER ISLAND IN THE WORLD 

Less than 50 km from Guwahati is 

Umananda Island, the world’s 

smallest river island, located on the 

Brahmaputra river. Called Peacock 

India Gallery which houses the textiles 

of the region, Manuscript Gallery, 

Wood Craft Gallery, Painting Gallery, 

Freedom Fighter Gallery and Village 

Life of Assam Gallery. The second floor 

has an Ethnography Gallery. The well 

maintained exhibits are in glass cases 

and date back several centuries. You 

will need to spend at least a couple of 

hours to get a reasonably fair idea of the 

museum so make sure you have enough 

time when you are here. 

gallery, library, children’s park, 

landscape spaces as well as a few 

retail outlets that sell typical 

Assamese ware. There is also a 

museum dedicated to Assamese 

legend Bhupen Hazarika on the 

premises here. The entry here is 

ticketed and the space has been 

designed to serve as a platform to 

preserve, research, restore and 

promote the diversity and ethnicity 

of the communities of the state. The 

ALL THINGS 

CULTURAL AT 

SRIMANTA 

SANKARADEVA 

KALAKSHETRA 

The rich cultural 

heritage of Assam is 

best experienced at 

Srimanta 

Sankaradeva 

Kalakshetra (SSK). 

The centre is spread 

over several acres 

and houses a 

museum, an open 

air theatre, art 

Island by the British on account of its 

shape, it houses a popular Shiva 

temple, built by a devout Shaivaite 

king of the 17th century. There are 

five other temples here. Also on the 

island are a few golden langurs, one 

of the most endangered species on 

earth. There are tourists and 

pilgrims in most months here. But 

their numbers swell up on the 

occasion of Shivaratri. The island is 

extremely sensitive and ecologically 

balanced and local authorities ask 

tourists to not litter the place. 

SSK (BINDU GOPAL RAO) 

76 

AUGUST 2019

SPORTS 

INSTITUTIONS 

SPORTS 

FOR ALL 

THE NEWLY-LAUNCHED CENTRE FOR SPORTS EXCELLENCE (CSE) IS A MULTI-SPORT, STATE- 

OF-THE-ART FACILITY IN BENGALURU WHOSE WORLD-CLASS FACILITIES PROMISE TO 

CHANGE THE FACE OF SPORTS IN THE COUNTRY. BY BINDU GOPAL RAO 

Started by Vivek Kumar, the 

Centre for Sports Excellence 

(CSE) is a space for all things 

sports and is dedicated to two 

ace Karnataka-based sports legends, 

shuttler Prakash Padukone and cricketer 

Rahul Dravid. It has been christened as 

The Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports 

Excellence. The thought process behind 

the venture was to have a space with 

world class infrastructure and the centre 

was launched in December 2017. 

According to Kumar, "India lacks 

sporting infrastructure so the idea was to 

have this in place for use by leading 

academies and coaches and can be used 

for the benefit of all the players. Because 

whatever good infrastructure we have is 

connected with an educational 

institution or a corporate and it is only the 

captive audience associated with them 

who can use the facilities. But the CSE 

can be used without any hassles and help 

sportspersons practice consistently." 

Spread over 16 acres the centre is 

located in Yelahanka in North Bengaluru 

and currently has seven sports disciplines 

in which coaching and training are 

provided. The sports are badminton, 

cricket, squash, tennis, swimming, 

basketball and football. Interestingly, 

each of these sports is imparted by 

experts in the field through their 

academies. 

So there is the Prakash Padukone 

Badminton Academy (badminton), 6 

(SIX) Cricket Academy (cricket), Peter 

Burwash International Tennis Academy 

(tennis), Dolphin Aquatics (swimming), 

Bangalore Youth Football League and 

Boca Juniors School of Football 

(football), Ray Malik School of Squash 

(squash), and Akanksha Singh Basketball 

(basketball). There are two badminton 

halls with 16 courts and one of them is 

used by international athletes who are 

training constantly and competing so that 

they can have uninterrupted playing time 

and use the court without any kind of 

restrictions. 

Says Prakash Padukone, "I have been 

associated with CSE right from the 

concept and planning stage. It is one of 

the first of its kind in the country and has 

very impressive sporting infrastructure 

comparable with the best in the world. All 

facilities are world class and all the elite 

CSE 

78 

AUGUST 2019

SPORTS 

INSTITUTIONS 

Sports legends Prakash Padukone (left) and Rahul Dravid have lent their name to the Centre 

athletes of the country can use this 

amphitheater and multipurpose hall are 

facility to enhance their performance. We also part of the premises. Yonex and 

need more such facilities from the private Speedo have their retail outlets for the 

sector for Indian sports to grow. The benefit of the sportspersons. There are a 

biggest advantage of CSE is that it is couple of restaurants that serve nutritive 

accessible to both elite athletes as well as food as well. "Each and every facility at 

beginners." 

CSE is of the highest quality and is meant 

CSE is able to help budding sports solely for budding athletes. This means 

persons as it provides world class 

that coaches and athletes get a training 

infrastructure that was always a 

environment that is all theirs and that 

deterrent for Indian youngsters in the freedom goes a long way in athlete 

past. "Since all the sports provide 

development," says Rahul Dravid who 

international standard playing surfaces, feels humbled to lend his name to a 

our players are used to playing on such world-class centre like this. 

surfaces and can adjust to the situation 

One of the biggest challenges that a 

quickly while taking part in international sportsperson faces is performance 

competitions. While local athletes can injuries. The centre has a high 

use the facility throughout the year, performance training centre that has 

youngsters from outside Bangalore can some state-of-the-art revolutionary 

avail the facility during vacations. Once equipment that combines assessment 

the hostel facility comes up next year, it with training and gives real-time 

will be a big boon for all the athletes. I am feedback. According to Abhinav Bindra, 

very confident CSE will produce many "The role of sports science and 

champions in the years to come," avers technology played a crucial role in my 

Padukone. 

performance and my Olympic journey. I 

The centre is designed as a one stop travelled to the best facilities in the world 

shop for all things sports. There is also a to benefit and help improve my 

hall of fame that has painted images of performance. I always wanted to see 

athletes who have made a mark in the these facilities and technology available 

history of sports in India. An 

in India and that is where the idea of 

opening a high-performance training 

centre was born.” 

The Abhinav Bindra Targeting 

Performance Center provides the best 

sports performance training facilities and 

rehabilitation therapy in India through 

intricate and intense exercises that give 

accurate results. The varied equipment 

here help athletes and people who use the 

Centre monitor their training, peak 

performance, rehabilitation and injury 

prevention. The comprehensive full body 

approach focuses on permanent 

correction through Biomechanical 

Assessments (Postural & Functional), 

Sports High-Performance Training, 

Prehabilitation, Advanced Rehabilitation 

and recovery. The machines help in gait 

analysis, squat analysis, upper and lower 

limb test, postural balance test, 

proprioceptive test, foot balance compares 

and postural test to analyze imbalances in 

your back muscles and body. 

Tecnobody systems here are used 

extensively for medical fitness, sports 

science and rehabilitation. The 

Cryospace here is designed to provide 

immediate cooling for the whole body 

using the vapor of liquid nitrogen via 

exposure to cryogenic temperatures to 

cool down nerves and body muscles. A 

Pilates studio is also part of this centre 

and is known for its low-impact flexibility 

and muscular strength and endurance 

movements ensures proper postural 

alignment, core strength and muscle 

balance. 

"The vision is to be the centre from 

where Indians win laurels at the 

international arena for our country. I am 

also looking at making sure there is access 

to such a facility whether it is at a grass 

root level program or for people who 

want to become healthier,” adds Kumar. 

CSE is certainly changing how sports will 

be perceived in the country – definitely a 

step in the right direction for a sporty 

future. 

80 

AUGUST 2019

SPOTLIGHT HEALTHCARE 

HEALTH FIRST 

LONGER LIFESPAN, NEW AGE CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY AND EFFECTIVE 

TREATMENTS ARE CHANGING THE FACE OF HEALTHCARE IN INDIA. 

BY BINDU GOPAL RAO 

The healthcare industry in India 

is projected to reach $372 billion 

by 2022. While the numbers may 

seem mind-boggling, there is 

certainly much happening in the 

Indian healthcare scene. 

The burden for noncommunicable 

diseases (NCDs) is 

rising at a rapid rate and as many 

as 60% of the global deaths are 

due to these NCDs like stroke, 

most cancers, cardiovascular 

disease and diabetes. A majority 

of these conditions are lifestyle 

related and preventable, if 

detected in the early stages of 

their insidious development. 

Dr. Vineet Datta, Director, Datar 

Cancer Genetics says, “Cancers 

of oral cavity and lungs in males 

and cervix and breast in females 

account for over 50% of all cancer 

deaths in India. Advances in 

biomedicine are able to determine 

the best treatment approach for 

some cancers. The shift from 

a one-size-fits-all approach to 

treatment regimens that are 

tailored to individual patients’ 

needs has begun and is expected 

to gain greater momentum in 

coming years.” Likewise, proton 

beam therapy said to be one 

of the most superior forms of 

radiation therapy uses highenergy 

proton beam for cancer 

treatment and provides targeted 

treatment and intensification, 

unlike other radiation treatment. 

82 

AUGUST 2019

`HCG WILL LAY THE GROUNDWORK 

FOR HIGH QUALITY CARE’ 

INTERVIEW WITH DR. B.S. AJAIKUMAR, CHAIRMAN & CEO, HEALTHCARE GLOBAL ENTERPRISES LIMITED (HCG) 

HCG has made a name for 

itself and has a presence in 

many parts of India and now 

in Kenya and Tanzania too. 

How was this big expansion achieved? 

HealthCare Global Enterprises Limited 

(HCG) has entered into a partnership with 

CDC (Commonwealth Development 

Corporation) to form HCG-Africa. Through 

this entity, we have progressed in acquiring 

cancer centres in Africa. The flagship is in 

Kenya, and we aim to expand our network. 

Can you tell us something about cancer in 

India? How serious is the problem? What 

steps can be taken to prevent/treat the 

ailment? 

Cancer is the major cause of morbidity and 

mortality in the country. The incidences of 

cancer have doubled over the last 26 years, 

with around 2.25 million people living with 

the disease. India stands third after China 

and the US in cancer cases reporting more 

than a million new cancer cases every year. 

Among these half million deaths occur due 

to ignorance towards the disease. Early 

diagnosis of cancer increases the chances for 

successful treatment. 

Among all your specialties, what are the 

kind of cases that you handle the most? 

We primarily see cancer patients, and in my 

practice, I get to see patients from across the 

globe who come with advanced cancers or 

with complicated conditions in cancer. 

Through a multidisciplinary team approach 

and focused disease working group we 

provide personalized treatment. 

On an average, how many international 

patients do you treat each year? 

We treat across our group close to a 

thousand patients and they mostly come 

with recurrence and advanced cancer cases. 

You are now present in many locations. 

Where does HCG go from here? 

HCG came in as a private enterprise focusing 

on hi-end oncology care. By bringing in the 

hub-and-spoke model, creating multiple 

centres across the country, we made cancer 

care accessible, affordable and treated the 

‘right way first’ with high-quality treatment 

in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. We have made 

advanced cancer care a reality for millions of 

people across the country. And that’s what 

makes us different from others. Presently, 

we have 22 oncology hospitals across the 

country, and we are coming up with our 

centres in Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. We 

are also into multi-specialty and coming up 

with our fifth centre. We feel our fertility 

chain Milann is rated number one and see 

significant opportunities to grow. In the 

near future, we are looking forward to 

creating multi-specialty with entrepreneurs. 

What is your opinion about the healthcare 

scenario in the country? What more needs 

to be done? 

The need of the hour is a reform in the 

system to provide Universal Healthcare 

Coverage (UHC). It is essential to make 

healthcare cashless. UHC can resolve these 

issues by standardizing healthcare 

infrastructure and providing value-based 

medicine. Working as an overarching 

umbrella for all, UHC will lay the 

groundwork for high-quality care by 

providing reimbursements basis global 

standards outcome measures. Using this 

space, we can bring equality in healthcare. 

India should work towards improving the 

per capita income and the purchasing power. 

Improving the income and bringing 

affluence itself it makes it accessible to good 

quality of healthcare. 

83 

AUGUST 2019


HOLISTIC TREAMENT FOR 

OBESITY AT PSG HOSPITALS 

A 

person is overweight/ obese 

when the energy intake is more 

than the energy expenditure. In 

technical terms, it is abnormal 

and excessive fat deposition (more than 35% 

in females and more than 25% in males). 

Today, more people are dying due to obesity 

than starvation. Obesity is a leading 

preventable cause of death worldwide, with 

increasing rates in adults and children. 

BMI is a number calculated by dividing a 

person’s weight in kilograms by his or her 

height in metres squared. BMI is used in 

determining obesity. An adult with a BMI of 

30 or greater is clinically obese. BMI is not 

used to determine a person’s actual 

percentage of body fat, but it is a good 

indicator to categorize weight in terms of 

what is healthy and unhealthy. The World 

Health Organization (WHO) has identified 

obesity as an epidemic and as the largest 

global, chronic health problem in adults. In 

India 39million adults are obese. Childhood 

obesity is also increasing world wide. 

The traditional weight loss attempt 

always would be diet and exercise. But the 

approach differs from person to person. 

Obesity is disease and needs treatment, it is 

not a cosmetic problem The treatment 

protocol should be a holistic approach 

covering Diet, Exercise, Medicines, Key 

Hole surgeries (Laparoscopic Procedures) 

and Endoscopic Procedures. The advantages 

of Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery include no 

pain; scarless / no scar; discharge in 3-4 days 

and early to normal work. Medical 

conditions resolved include Type 2 Diabetes, 

Hypertension, Cardiac Function 

Improvement, Osteoarthritis, Sleep Apnea, 

Stress Incontinence, GERD and Cholesterol. 

In 2005, PSG Hospital was the first 

hospital in India to do bariatric surgery. It 

was the first medical college and hospital in 

India to start a dedicated bariatric unit. It 

was also the first 2000-bedded 

multispecialty medical college and hospital 

in India to adopt a hoslitic approach for 

overweight/obese individuals. The bariatric 

team has operated a patient with weight of 

234kg. It adopts a dedicated dedicated multidisciplinary 

approach on obesity with 

consultations byBariatric Surgeon and 

Bariatric Nutritionist. 

“It maximises the chance of 

cure and minimises the adverse 

effects to the surrounding 

healthy tissues. Proton therapy 

is effective against many kinds 

of cancer, but is particularly 

effective in challenging cancer 

sites including tumours affecting 

the eye and brain, tumours close 

to the brain stem, spinal cord or 

other vital organs, head and neck 

cancers, deep seated abdominal 

and pelvic cancers, recurrent 

cancers and paediatric cancers 

where children and young adults 

are at a particular risk of lasting 

damage to organs that are 

still growing,” adds Dr. Rakesh 

Jalali, Medical Director & Head 

of Radiation Oncology, Apollo 

Proton Cancer Centre. 

The focus also is to help 

patients return to a normal life 

soon. Dr. Sandhya Ravi, Managing 

Director and Consultant General 

Surgeon, Prameya Health says, 

“Over the years when medical 

and social support diminishes 

and patients have to manage 

on their own, a programme 

84 

AUGUST 2019

Care built on 

trust & expertise 

Specialized Departments 

ª Cardiology 

ª Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery 

ª Cochlear Implant Surgery & ENT Surgeries 

ª Comprehensive Epilepsy Care Centre 

ª Cosmetics Surgery & Aesthetic Centre 

ª Dental Surgery 

ª Dermatology 

ª Developmental Paediatrics & Genetics 

ª Endocrinology & Diabetes 

ª Endogynaecology 

ª Fertility Department (IVF) & 

Centre For Reproductive Medicine 

ª Fetal Medicine 

ª Gastroenterology 

ª General Medicine 

ª General & Gastrointestinal Surgery 

- Bariatric (Weight Loss) Surgery 

ª Geriatric Medicine & Home Care 

ª Hepato, Pancreatic & Biliary Surgery 

ª Interventional Radiology & Imaging 

ª Medical & Surgical Oncology 

ª Nephrology 

2000 BEDDED SUPER SPECIALITY TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS 

Centre for Multi Organ Transplantation 

Kidney │Lung │ Liver │Pancreas │Heart │Small Bowel 

ª Neurology 

ª Neuro Surgery (Brain & Spine Unit) 

ª Obstetrics & Gynaecology 

ª Ophthalmology 

ª Orthopaedics - Joint Replacement & 

Arthroscopic Surgery 

ª Paediatrics 

ª Paediatric Cardiology 

ª Paediatric Surgery 

ª Physical Medical Rehabilitation 

ª Plastic Surgery 

ª Psychiatry 

ª Pulmonology 

ª Respiratory Medicine 

ª Sleep Apnea Surgery & Sleep Study Centre 

ª Sports Medicine 

ª Surgical Gastroentrology 

ª Urology & Andrology 

ª Urogynaecology 

ª Wellness Health Checkup 

ª Yoga & Naturopathy 

..a teaching afliate of PSG institute of Medical Sciences & Research 

PSG HOSPITALS 

Peelamedu,Coimbatore-641 004,Tamilnadu 

Phone : 0422 2570170, 4345353 Email : psgh.marketing@gmail.com website : psghospitals.com 

HOSPITALS


ISIC BECOMES FIRST HOSPITAL 

OUTSIDE US TO ACQUIRE SPINE 

ROBOTICS SYSTEM 

India’s 

leading 

spinal 

treatment 

facility Indian 

Spinal Injuries 

Centre (ISIC) has 

revolutionized the 

Dr. Chhabra 

spine surgery field 

in India with the introduction of a highly 

advanced Robotics Guidance Technology 

that brings game-changing improvements in 

spinal surgery. ISIC has acquired the most 

advanced Spine Robotics System that 

provides high degree of precision, control 

and accuracy to surgeons, thereby ushering 

in better results and much faster recovery for 

patients. 

Interestingly, ISIC is the first hospital in 

the world outside the US to acquire this 

path-breaking technology that offers 

immense hope for patients of spinal diseases 

or injuries. Serious medical complications 

such as complex cases of scoliosis and 

kyphosis, degenerative disc diseases, 

herniated discs and spondylolisthesis can be 

successfully treated using this technology. 

A healthy spine is critical to the overall 

well-being of a body. If the spinal cord is 

affected by disease or injury, it can have 

devastating long term consequences. The 

field of spinal surgery has witnessed 

significant progress in recent years. This 

progress has helped a large number of 

patients get back their lives by enabling them 

to stand, walk and lead normal lives again 

after devastating injuries. Given the extreme 

importance of the spine, any kind of spinal 

surgery requires high degree of precision 

and accuracy. Hence, spine surgeons have to 

be extra careful about the methods they 

chose and are more than likely to opt for a 

technology that enhances their precision 

and ensures a better outcome. The recent 

advancement in spine surgery has come in 

the form of robotics, a specialized approach 

to a complex procedure that allows planning 

a surgery and facilitates highly accurate and 

predictable execution of the plan. 

The team of surgeons at ISIC has already 

used the advanced system to perform several 

surgeries and the results have been highly 

encouraging. The patients who have 

undergone surgery using this technology 

have been able to get back on their feet much 

faster as compared to traditional surgery. 

These benefits accrue from the high degree 

of precision and accuracy offered by the 

Robotics System which minimizes the 

chances of human error during surgery. 

such as SAHAI helps patients 

to discover the strength within 

themselves and integrate with 

the community seamlessly. 

It helps in addressing these 

needs in a holistic manner. The 

programme is run by eminent 

cancer specialists supported 

by an eclectic group of yoga 

therapists, nutritionists, psychooncologists, 

counsellors, spiritual 

guides, and art therapists.” 

Cure rates for cancer have 

increased by over 30% in the 

last two decades which is a 

significant achievement in cancer 

care. Cancer care is also being 

made affordable with 70-80% of 

cancer medicines cheaper today 

by 30-40%. “In medical oncology, 

traditional chemotherapy is 

being increasingly replaced 

by immunotherapy, targeted 

therapy and cellular therapy. 

Many cancers can now be treated 

with only oral pills,” says Dr. 

Sajjan Rajpurohit, Head of Unit, 

Department of Medical Oncology 

at the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer 

Institute & Research Centre, Niti 

Bagh, South Delhi. 

Regenerative medicine aims to 

completely change the face of 

modern medicine by harnessing 

the body’s power to heal itself 

from any disease or trauma 

with the help of human stem 

cells and genetic treatments. 

“Orthopaedics is probably the 

first area where regenerative 

medicine has shown tremendous 

promise. Patients are now able 

to avoid complex surgeries by 

inserting stem cells into the 

joints and thus rejuvenating 

them, thereby increasing their 

life span,” says Vipul Jain, CEO, 

Advancells. 

86 

AUGUST 2019


`HEGDE HAS PURSUED THE 

HIGHEST QUALITY STANDARDS’ 

INTERVIEW WITH DR. VANDANA HEGDE, CLINICAL DIRECTOR (MS – OBG POST- 

DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP IN REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE-RGUHS, DIPLOMA IN 

REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE & EMBRYOLOGY-ISM GERMANY) 

You have built a reputation for 

yourself as a leading hospital in 

Hyderabad. How was this 

achieved? 

Hegde Hospital has always envisioned 

patient care at its best, and delivering this 

vision has been a tireless effort from all 

quarters of service provision vis a vis the 

clinical, the administrative and other 

anciliary services that allow an ease to 

patients looking to better their well-being. 

Established in 1978 by eminent Dr. Vijaya 

Hegde, the centre has grown to three 

branches since then. 

Your international patient services includes 

medical visa and interpreter sevices. What 

are the other such services that you provide? 

For patient couples looking to get treated in 

one of our branches, Hegde has extended 

video or call consultation from experts, 

airport pick up, accommodation, travel desk 

and guide for Hyderabad, daily travel and 

other facilities that make it easy to avail the 

range of infertility treatments at our centre. 

Where does Hegde Healthcare go from 

here? 

Hegde since its inception has pursued the 

highest quality standards and efficacy while 

ensuring an ethical practice and holding on 

to its core values of administering quality 

healthcare with no compromises. Even now 

40 years since its inception, among all its its 

three branches the same values hold strong 

among its 100+ employees Hegde now 

wishes to spread its wings and cater to 

international patients at affordable costing. 

The new centre of Hegde Fertility at 

Miyapur, Madinaguda is a premium facility 

with best-in-class services established 

mainly with an eye to provide best results. 

One of the biggest 

advancements in orthopedics in 

the last 10 years is in molecular 

biology such as chondrocyte 

culture. This works in cases when 

a person damages the cartilage 

of his/her joint. “This cartilage 

can get damaged because of 

injury or fall. So, when it happens 

in young people, it can lead to 

arthritis very soon. However, with 

chondrocyte culture, it is now 

possible to grow this cartilage 

in the laboratory and put it back 

into the patient,” says Dr. Sanjay 

Desai, Arthroscopy & Joint 

Replacement Surgeon, Bhatia 

Hospital, Mumbai. 

The emerging trends in 

dermatology are more towards 

the aesthetic dermatology and 

there has been a rise in demand 

towards non-invasive 

skin treatments. 

The use of 

scientifically derived 

cosmeceuticals, 

peptides and growth 

factors are now 

present in the market. 

“These products 

help in improving 

the overall wellbeing, 

skin glow and hair 

issues. It also helps in 

reducing the fine line 

wrinkles by boasting 

the collagen production. Also 

peptides which act at the neuro 

muscular junction are being 

studied,” says Dr. Pallavi Sule, 

Dermatologist and Aesthetic 

Physician. 

Dr. Vispi Jokhi, CEO and 

Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon, 

Masina Hospital adds, “The 

major revolution has been the 

combination therapy utilizing 

botulinum toxin, fillers, threads, 

and ulthera. While botulinum 

toxin and fillers have been 

88 

AUGUST 2019

HYDERABAD’S NO. 2 IN RANKING, NO. 1 IN RESULTS 

Fertility Hospital 

in Hyderabad 

2 nd 4 th 



in South India 

TOP 

20 

in India 

IVF IUI ICSI PGS LAPAROSCOPY DONOR 

Hitech City | Malakpet | Miyapur 

CONTACT:8880747474 

www.hegdehospital.com 

www.hegdefertility.com 

info@hegdehospital.com


available for a long period, 

ulthera is a US FDA-approved 

non-surgical device which we 

call as a ‘time machine’. Through 

the ulthera, ultrasound waves are 

given to the face, such that there 

is collagen formation on the face, 

causing it to become tighter. It 

is the combined treatment with 

botulinum toxin, fillers, thread, 

ulthera, and various laser devices 

which can give better results 

than surgery in the space of a 

few minutes, and results are longlasting.” 

Dermatology is a fast growing 

field of medicine with many 

new innovations and ongoing 

research happening on a day to 

day basis. Dr. Tina Ramachander, 

Dermatologist, Dr.Tina's Skin 

Solutionz avers, “The q-switched 

laser toning which has gained 

popularity recently with many 

celebrities endorsing it. It’s a 

quick 15 minutes procedure with 

results seen in a day or two and it 

leaves the skin fresh, brighter and 

ready for that important event 

without fuss.” 

IVF treatments have become a 

major industry in India, with the 

IVF market growing at a CAGR of 

28% and expected to reach $775 

million in 2022. Fertility tech 

has seen numerous advances 

in the past few years, enabling 

better outcomes. The science of 

fertility treatment continues to 

advance, with new technologies 

assisting couples to conceive. “In 

IVF, AI is used to predict whether 

an embryo transferred to a 

woman's uterus, during the IVF 

procedure, is likely to progress 

into a successful pregnancy. 

This is done through time-lapse 

imaging microscopy which helps 

90 

AUGUST 2019

collect data over the length of 

the embryo’s culture period, and 

an algorithm to predict the most 

viable embryo which will provide 

a successful pregnancy outcome. 

Chat bots have also become a 

common play in healthcare,” 

says Dr. Manish Banker, Medical 

Director, NOVA IVI Fertility. 

The biggest game-changer 

in the space of healthcare is 

technology. Emerging healthtech 

companies have taken 

the Indian healthcare space to 

newer heights. “Apps that help 

you make good food choices, 

recommend healthy products, 

track your physical activity and 

suggest exercises, alert you 

to drink water, maintain your 

blood test records – digital has 

answered most questions,” says 

Rashida Vapiwala, founder of 

LabelBlind, a NutriTech product 

service. Pramod Arehalli C, 

Co- founder, KnowDi, says, 

“AI has only recently started 

finding large-scale application in 

healthcare. It is primarily being 

used by hospitals to automate 

administrative tasks, thereby 

freeing up more time for strategic 

patient care. At the same 

time, there are some strategic 

experiments being conducted in 

Indian healthcare by AI-powered 

companies, both startups 

and tech giants.” Dr. Vikash 

Kapoor, Vice-Chairman and 

Group Director – Orthopaedics, 

Medica Group of Hospitals adds, 

“The two major exciting areas 

are Biological and Robotics. 

Besides this the advancement in 

cold optics and precision laser 

technologies have revolutionized 

the endoscopic procedure for 

various surgical techniques in 

fields as varied as Neurosurgery, 

ENT, Advanced Laproscopy, 

Endoscopic Gastroenterology, 

Urology, Gynaecology and 

of course Orthopedics in the 

form of sports surgeries and 

arthroscopic surgery. The 

development of microsugical 

technologies have revolutionized 

the hospital work environment 

and immensely brought down the 

ALOS (average length of stay).” 

Robotic surgeries ensure that 

recovery times are reduced 

and more intricate and precise 

surgeries are carried out easily. 

"Wearable devices track baseline 

parameters and are used more 

91 

AUGUST 2019


in the preventive sector but 

eventually we foresee this helping 

out in the acute setting as well. 

A greater focus will eventually 

be on personalized medicine, 

identifying what specific drugs 

work on an individual. Gene 

editing technologies, though 

at their initial phases now, will 

become more mainstream," 

says Dr. Anoop Amarnath, Chief 

of Clinical Services, Manipal 

Hospitals. Implementation of 

digital healthcare can be the 

next game-changer. Utilizing 

technology to address systemic 

issues can help in the growth of 

the Indian healthcare industry. 

Dr. Alexander Kuruvilla, Chief 

Healthcare Strategy Officer, 

Practo, avers, "Digital platforms 

bring in a degree of efficiency and 

360-degree insight into practice 

management that simply wasn’t 

available to doctors before. Also, 

doctors can benefit through 

completing communication 

loop with patients and ensure 

continuity of care through digital 

follow-ups post clinic visit." 

Almost 80% of India’s 1.3 billion 

population lack health insurance. 

The remaining 20% have an 

average insurance cover of Rs. 5 

lakhs. When struck with critical 

illnesses, the cover is of limited use 

and patients go into a debt poverty 

trap by being forced to take loans 

to fund expenses. “Healthcare 

crowdfunding to the rescue - it 

is the most disruptive solution 

to address this problem as funds 

raised online is considered as a 

donation. Therefore, customers do 

not have to resort to selling homes 

or mortgaging jewelry out of 

desperation. Crowdfunding allows 

people to raise money quickly in 

a hassle free manner without any 

payback liability,” says Piyush Jain, 

Co-Founder and CEO, ImpactGuru. 

com a healthcare crowdfunding 

platform. One needs to adopt a 

healthy lifestyle, eat well, play well 

and think positive. “Leading an 

erratic lifestyle leads to hormonal 

imbalances like stress and anxiety. 

Maintain a disciplined lifestyle. 

Stress and obesity are two 

important things a person can 

improve and regular diagnosis. 

And don’t follow the internet 

information, read the information 

but consult a doctor,” opines Dr. 

Ravi Gaur, MD Pathology & COO, 

Oncquest Laboratories. 

92 

AUGUST 2019

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW 

ABOUT BARIATRIC SURGERY 

Our sedentary lifestyle and 

dietary habits has contributed 

to many health problems and 

obesity is one of them. In the 

21st century, developing countries like India 

are steadily becoming more and more obese, 

with 5 % of its population affected by overweight 

disorder. 

With the advancement of medical 

technology, many surgical methods, 

collectively known as Bariatric Surgery or 

Weight loss surgery, have been introduced 

that work well for your body. It reduces the 

associated risks of obesity including 

diabetes, heart diseases, cancer, 

hypertension, hypothyroidism, obstructive 

sleep apnea, osteoarthritis and many more. 

This surgery is done when diet and exercise 

haven't worked or when somebody has 

serious health problems because of the 

weight. In the surgery, weight-loss is 

achieved by reducing the size of the stomach 

with a gastric band or through removal of a 

portion of the stomach or by 

resecting(Sleeve Gastrectomy) and 

re-routing the small intestine to a small 

stomach pouch (gastric bypass surgery). 

Food restriction 

Immediately after bariatric surgery, the 

patient is suggested a clear liquid diet, 

which includes clear broth, diluted fruit 

juices or sugar-free drinks and gelatin 

desserts. One needs to continue the diet 

until the gastrointestinal tract has 

recovered somewhat from the surgery. The 

next stage provides a blended or pureed 

sugar-free diet for at least two weeks. 

Carbohydrate-high 

foods are usually 

avoided when 

Dr. Rajesh 

possible during the 

initial weight loss period. Many patients 

also need to take a daily multivitamin and 

Iron pills and also high protein diet for life to 

compensate for reduced absorption of 

essential nutrients. 

Cost-effective 

According to a study presented at the 

American Society for Metabolic and 

Bariatric Surgery national clinical 

symposium, weight loss surgery may not 

only help people add years to their lives, it 

also adds to their bank accounts. Actually, 

patients reduce their spending on annual 

medication of blood pressure and diabetes. 

UNLOCK YOUR DNA FOR A HEALTHY TOMORROW 

Imagine being able to know about 

the future of your health and the 

preventive measures you need to 

take for a healthier tomorrow! 

Sounds intriguing... right? The process of 

genome mapping has made it possible to get 

an insight on the health of an individual or 

a family that is useful in determining not 

only the present but also the future of their 

health. Genome mapping, along with 

imaging and diagnostic testing, are 

changing the way medicine is practiced. 

Medicine has become predictive 

healthcare as opposed to sick care. For 

example, if a person is predisposed to a 

disease, genome mapping can suggest ways 

to control it. This will not only prolong life, 

but save the overall healthcare system a 

Ritu Gupta, COO, Genes2Me 

significant amount of money. The 

combination of genome sequencing and 

diagnostic testing can expand life 

expectancy. This is possible as an 

individual’s personal genetic profile can 

also provide further insights on what kind 

of diet, exercise regime and nutrition 

would be appropriate for the individual to 

keep diseases in check, avoid weight gain 

or regain and maintain a healthy lifestyle. 

For example, a healthy person could be the 

carrier of a mutated gene without showing 

the symptoms for it. But with the help of 

preventive healthcare diagnosis and a 

plausible utilization of genetics, the 

probability for future diseases such as 

Alzheimer’s, cardiac arrest, asthma or 

diabetes can be diagnosed. 

Genes2me is an NABL accredited 

diagnostic lab headquartered in Gurgaon, 

Haryana. They enable and support 

clinicians to address critical challenges 

across science and healthcare. The focus is 

on achieving healthy generations by 

delivering solutions to serve the mother 

and child care, personalized health, and 

oncology domains. 

For more information, please visit www. 

genes2me.com 

93 

AUGUST 2019

IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

SQUARE FOOT LAUNCHES 

CARPET TILE COLLECTION 

SQUARE FOOT, A MARKET 

LEADER IN INNOVATIVE and 

sustainable solutions for wooden 

and vinyl flooring has launched the 

latest addition to its carpet range 

of flooring - the Desso ‘Human 

Fascination,’ celebrating nature’s 

diversity as well as its fragility. 

The collection consists of four 50 

x 50 cm structured loop carpet tile 

ranges - Arables, Breccia, Flores 

and Granite - capturing an abstract 

design that hints at the landscapes 

we so admire. The collection 

was born out of a preoccupation 

with the earth’s attributes while 

acknowledging that this stunning 

natural beauty must be protected 

– a cause to which the parent 

company, Tarkett is fiercely 

dedicated. 

Step onto solid rocks with 

the Breccia collection, get lost 

in a field of flowers with Flores, 

marvel at a mountain with the 

Granite carpet tiles and learn from 

ancient field lines with the Arable 

collection. Each range has a distinct 

identity, yet unmistakably draws 

inspiration from the natural world. 

All products within the Human 

Fascination collection are Cradle 

to Cradle Silver Level certified 

and include the 100% recyclable 

EcoBase backing, made from a 

minimum of 75% recycled chalk 

from the local drinking water 

industry. In addition, the products 

are made with Econyl, a 100% 

regenerated nylon yarn made from 

recovered waste materials such as 

discarded fishing nets and carpet 

yarn from the Tarkett Refinity 

facility. With its eco-conscious 

production processes and reusable 

materials, Square Foot aims to 

create healthier spaces with 

sustainable flooring that benefits 

both people and the environment. 

For more information, please 

visit: https://www.squarefoot.co.in 

PINNACLE OF 

LUXURY WITH 

LORDS HOTELS 

AND RESORTS 

LORDS HOTELS AND RESORTS 

HAS SIGNED UP with one-of-itskind 

leisure club and resort at 

Rajkot making its further foray in 

Gujarat. One of the fastest growing 

chain with presence in 39 cities, 10 

states and two countries, this will 

be Lords’ 23rd venture in Gujarat 

adding to its impressive presence 

in Ankleshwar, Bhavnagar, Chotila, 

Dahej, Dwarka, Gandhidham, 

Gir, Somnath, Surat, Porbandar, 

Rajula, Vadodara, Jamnagar (2), 

Morbi, Ahmedabad, Rajkot (4) and 

Bharuch. 

The agreement to this affect 

was signed recently between 

Pushpendra Bansal, COO, Lords 

Hotels and Resorts and Ishwar 

Gehi, Promoter, Aarya Raj Club 

and Resort. Commenting on the 

occasion Pushpendra Bansal said, 

“We are delighted to announce 

our latest venture in Rajkot. It will 

be a fabulous retreat for travellers 

with a host of amenities”. “We are 

delighted to partner with one of 

India’s premium hospitality chain. 

They have a successful record in 

managing hotels and we see bright 

prospects in the growth of Lords 

Aarya Club & Resort,” said Mr. 

Ishwar Gehi. 

Inspired by the architecture of 

the great Pyramids of Egypt, the 

resort encompasses seven pyramids 

which exude grandeur and peace. 

It is spread over 1,50,000 sq ft area 

with abundance of lifestyle. Guests 

can access seamless meeting and 

conference services. 

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AUGUST 2019

IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

OUR DELIGHTFUL 

DESTINATION WEDDING 

LOVE, THEY SAY, makes the world go 

round. Till marriage comes around. 

It’s true. Pulling off a wedding 

that met everybody’s expectations, 

was a task that had us more than 

a little worried. Then, somebody 

recommended we talk to Sterling. The 

rest, as they say, is our story. 

NOBODY UNDERSTANDS 

DESTINATION WEDDINGS 

BETTER. 

We knew Sterling were experts at 

Destinations Weddings. We quickly 

realized why. They have a collection 

of highly-rated, full-service resorts 

across the length and breadth of the 

country. Which is why, be it beach 

weddings or mountain weddings, 

riverside celebrations, celebrations in 

destinations off the beaten track, or 

even exquisite heritage ones, they can 

easily curate it for you. 

STERLING UNDERSTOOD US 

Even before they understood our 

requirements, Sterling invested time 

in understanding us. It was this that 

allowed them to anticipate things we 

wanted even before we could ask for 

them, and pull off a grand celebration 

such as ours, without a hitch. 

Sterling’s curated packages are 

tailored to fulfil every wish, both big 

and small. From hosting the haldi on 

their lush sprawling lawns and the 

pheras by the poolside, to laying out 

the tables for our last family dinner on 

a moonlit terrace under the stars, they 

went the distance. 

STERLING WON OUR PARENTS 

OVER. 

For dad, my wedding was a moment 

he had looked forward to all his life. 

Sterling understood the emotions 

he was going through. Their Resort 

Walkthrough, in which they laid 

out the entire spread, reassured 

him at the very beginning that his 

daughter’s big day would be one to 

remember. 

THEIR PLANNING WAS 

IMPECCABLE 

For the ideal wedding, multiple things 

have to come together, each one 

planned to perfection. Which is where 

Sterling made the difference. 

From the ring ceremony to the 

Sangeet, the rituals to the poojas, the 

buffet menu to the cocktail one, to 

even the bachelor party and the bidai, 

Sterling had it all covered. 

We knew that Sterling had earned 

a reputation for enabling their guests 

to holiday differently, by developing a 

repertoire of curated experiences for 

them. The thrilling polo game they 

organized for us, and as the sun set, 

the expedition into a nearby forest in 

the dead of night, were cases in point. 

MENUS WERE A CELEBRATION 

With specially curated wedding 

menus featuring the best of both 

global as well as local cuisines, our 

wedding was gastronomic bliss. From 

flavourful biryanis and succulent 

kebabs inspired by nawabs, to exotic 

Italian and French dishes, we were 

served them all. 

Sterling’s Holidaygraphy service, 

which ensured our memorable 

moments were captured by a 

professional photographer, left us 

with a collection of stunning, candid 

photographs against beautiful 

backdrops, for us to look back upon 

with fondness, and nostalgia. 

There are many reasons why our 

wedding at Sterling will stay with us, 

forever. The one that we will always 

cherish, was the way they approached 

the whole event. It was our wedding, 

but somewhere along the way, it 

became their celebration. 

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TRAVEL 

DESTINATIONS 

SpiceJet flies to Bangkok, an 

hour away by air. Log on to 

www.spicejet.com for details 

Spoiler alert – there are few 

beach destinations in the 

world where your resort 

experience begins as soon as 

you touch down. The Samui airport is 

the closest an international airport will 

ever get to a holiday resort. No steel and 

glass here, no airconditioned lounges 

that are perched at the edge of the 

runway; only charming thatched roofs 

and lily ponds. The airport is 

synonymous of the controlled 

development in Koh Samui where strong 

local rules and building restrictions have 

helped this destination retain its 

inherent charm. The tram trolley style 

vehicles that ferry passengers to the 

aircraft add to the appeal. Just don’t 

expect to take a dip in the pool as soon as 

you descend; there’s no pool in the 

airport, at least not just yet. 

50 

SHADES OF 

BLUE 

THAILAND’S SECOND LARGEST 

ISLAND MAY NO LONGER BE THE 

COUNTRY’S BEST KEPT SECRET BUT 

IT’S STILL PRISTINE; A GREAT SPOT 

FOR A BEACH DETOX. KOH SAMUI’S 

DIVERSE SET OF ACTIVITIES LETS YOU 

CHANGE GEARS; YOU CAN TURN ON 

THE ADRENALINE OR JUST COUNT 

THE DIFFERENT SHADES OF BLUE 

FROM THE BEACH DECK. 

BY ASHWIN RAJAGOPALAN 

You will find pools in all shapes and 

sizes instead in Koh Samui’s array of 

luxury beach getaways. Infinity pools 

perched on sloping hills that roll down 

to the edge of the ocean. The 

InterContinental Koh Samui resort is 

one such beach haven. I’m a restless 

traveller, one who never stops asking 

‘What next’. I chose Samui to calm 

those itchy feet that never stop moving. 

Day one worked to plan with a visit to 

the island’s most rejuvenating 

destination. 

Tamarind Springs is among 

Thailand’s finest day spas. This is not a 

spa where you make room for a two-hour 

stop between meetings or weekend 

shopping. Day spa here takes on a 

different meaning – you spend the whole 

day here. The spa is set among 

landscaped gardens with more than the 

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TRAVEL 

DESTINATIONS 

occasional bamboo tree. The sauna areas 

probably my favourite spot here; a beach 

are tucked away in rustic caves while a 

bar and Italian restaurant that offers 

waterfall fills in for a jacuzzi – it’s a 

rows of seating in decadent bean bags 

no-contest, no jacuzzi can match up; you 

along the beach and also a slightly 

almost feel like a model in the classic 

elevated beach deck. It’s not easy to 

Liril soap commercials. The experience 

choose between these two spots for 

ends with a scrumptious lunch at 

sundowners and delicious antipasti. As 

Tamarind’s restaurant where you can 

the first day drew to a close, the 

choose from dishes crafted with locally 

inevitable ‘What Next’ question 

sourced organic ingredients. 

happened; it was time to change gears – 

Fisherman’s Village is one of Koh 

from a leisurely sunset on day one to 

Samui’s many hipster magnets, a busy 

unlimited action. 

From above: Koh Samui airport; 

and Namuang Waterfall 

(but never overly crowded) strip along 

the beach where rows of stalls are lined 

up with interesting souvenirs and 

trinkets. It’s also a hub for beach bars 

and laid-back restaurants. CoCo Tam’s is 

I couldn’t have chosen a better spot 

for my first Muay Thai session, along the 

beach at the InterContinental, just after 

sunrise. My instructor who likes to call 

himself Mr. A, is an accomplished Thai 

ASHWIN RAJAGOPALAN 

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TRAVEL 

DESTINATIONS 

From above: Muay Thai at the 

InterContinantal Samui Resort; 

and zip lining organized by W 

Retreat Koh Samui 

boxing national; the session turned 

intense in no time. Like most other 

martial arts activities, Muay Thai 

demands intense concentration and is a 

great way to get into the ‘zone’. From the 

action of the boxing ring, the scene 

shifted to one of Koh Samui’s many local 

markets. 

These markets may not have the 

hallowed reputation of iconic Thai fresh 

food markets like Or Kor Tor market in 

Bangkok but it’s the perfect hunting 

ground for local ingredients. Pea 

aubergines, fresh shrimp, flavourful 

basil and giant-sized squids were among 

the things that found their way into my 

shopping bag. I would spend the next 

couple of hours with InterContinental’s 

culinary team learning to rustle up 

authentic Thai dishes like a fiery Thai 

green curry and a hearty Tom Yum 

Goong (prawns) soup. 

Koh Samui’s most famous landmark 

is the Big Buddha; you can spot this 

imposing 12-metre tall statue that is part 

of the ‘Wat Phra yai’ temple complex 

from quite a distance. The entire island 

is just about 200 sq kms; that means no 

destination within the island is a long 

ride. One of those rides took me to a 

waterfall (Namuang) and another 

detour to a spot where the adrenaline 

levels peaked; yet again. This time it was 

the island’s premier zip line, located in a 

secluded area aptly called ‘Secret Falls’. 

The trail is surrounded by verdant 

jungles and offers spectacular views of 

the local landscape from each of the 

decks. It’s not unusual for first timers 

and pros to scream as you come 

swinging down ‘Tarzan style’. Zip lining 

needs no prior experience unlike quite a 

few other high-energy adventure 

activities, but you will need oodles of 

courage! And if you need an antidote 

after all that action, you can pick from 

one of the many golf courses like the 

Santiburi Golf course set amidst coconut 

palms. 

Island hopping is a quintessential 

Koh Samui activity; there’s no better 

place to spend a whole day than the 

40-odd jagged islands of the Ang Thong 

Marine National Park. From lime stone 

massifs, tropical rainforests and 

desolate beaches, there’s a different 

experience waiting at each of these 

islands. The area is a paradise for diving 

whether it’s the bright colours of the 

coral reef or close encounters with 

marine life. That’s the thing with Samui, 

it works equally well for thrill seekers or 

beach bums and for those of us who like 

to change gears and seek the best of both 

worlds. 

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FOOD 

CITIES 

DINE YOUR WAY THROUGH 

KOCHI 

KOCHI HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERY 

KIND OF DINER. WE RUN YOU 

THROUGH SOME OF THE BEST OF 

THE EATING ESTABLISHMENTS AND 

EXPERIENCES. 

BY ASHWIN RAJAGOPALAN 

Kochi’s dining scene has seen 

a metamorphosis in the 

2010s. On the one hand, 

there are the cafes in Fort 

Kochi that are havens for solo 

travellers. Then there’s a new wave of 

fine Asian restaurants that coincide 

with the evolution of the city’s evolved 

gourmands who are more well-heeled 

than ever before. Add a bouquet of local 

dining experiences and you have a 

diverse dining scene that sets this city 

apart. 

THE LOCAL EXPERIENCE 

KAYEES RAHMATULLA CAFÉ Ask 

any local for the best spot for biryani 

in the city and you’re likely to be 

directed to Kayees. Finding a table 

here is the tough part — your best bet 

is to arrive around noon just before 

the crowds take over. It’s easy to drive 

past this cult restaurant in one of 

Mattancherry’s busiest streets. Kayees 

serves a traditional Kerala biryani 

from the Malabar region crafted with 

the small grain kaima rice. The biryani 

is served with the traditional Malabari 

accompaniments — date chutney and 

onion raita (locals call this a salad). 

New Road, Mattancherry 

around Kochi were male spaces. You 

can blame the Instagram generation 

for changing that. Today these toddy 

shops are the meeting ground for 

locals, families and foodies who 

swear by the authentic local flavours 

that are usually fiery. Mullapanthal 

is one of the many toddy shops that 

mirror this trends. Most toddy shops 

use fresh, seasonal ingredients and 

use very little modern kitchen 

equipment. Some of this toddy shop’s 

signatures include their karimeen 

(pearl spot) polichatu and duck 

mappas. 

MLA Road, Thrippunithara 

MULLAPANTHAL TODDY SHOP 

Not long ago, toddy shops in and 

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FOOD 

CITIES 

most atmospheric cafés. Their mango 

cheese cake is one of the many reasons 

why regulars keep coming back. 

Princess Street, Fort Kochi 

DHE PUTTU It was Malayalam 

superstar Dileep who set up this 

restaurant and put the spotlight on 

one of Kerala’s least celebrated dishes 

– Puttu. A breakfast staple in many 

homes and a quintessential part of 

farming diets for years, the Puttu gets 

a fresh lease of life as a gourmet dish 

here. There are dozens of puttus here 

from biryani puttus to chocolate puttu. 

Service Road, Edappally 

equipped with a smartphone camera. 

This relatively cosy nook in the middle 

of a busy junction is one of Fort Kochi’s 

KASHI ART CAFÉ There are few 

spaces that capture the intrinsic 

charms of Fort Kochi, the way this 

café does. Kashi Art Café is probably 

the most photographed dining space 

in the city. It’s part art gallery, part 

café and one of the best breakfast 

venues in Kochi. Their French toast 

is the perfect all-day breakfast but it’s 

their art installations that probably 

spark even more conversations and 

Instagram posts than the toast. 

Burgher Street, Fort Kochi 

CAFÉ HOPPING 

LOAFERS CORNER CAFÉ It’s housed 

in one of the many heritage structures 

in a part of Kochi that has seen Dutch, 

Portuguese and British colonial 

explorers pass through. Today this 

area is a magnet for the 2019 explorer, 

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AUGUST 2019

Dr. Ashok Gupta 

Founder Vice Chancellor

FOOD 

CITIES 

its name from one of Kochi’s café 

favourites, is where locals converge 

for coffee, conversations and desserts. 

Located in one of Ernakulam’s 

upscale neighbourhoods with a 

typical International café menu, 

French Toast serves some of the city’s 

most scrumptious desserts (try the 

strawberry and mascarpone pastry) 

and the best hot chocolate. 

Ambikapuram Road, Panampilly Nagar 

PEPPER HOUSE It came to the 

fore during the first Kochi-Muzuris 

Biennale in early 2013. This waterfront 

heritage building is essentially two 

spice godowns that are bisected by a 

large courtyard and take you straight 

back to Kochi’s Dutch era. It’s this 

timeless appeal that is Pepper House’s 

biggest draw. The café overlooks the 

courtyard and this large space also 

includes a library and an art gallery. 

Pepper House’s extensive beverage 

menu includes invigorating coffees 

and refreshing beverages like their 

passionfruit lemonade. 

Calvathy Road, Fort Kochi. 

FRENCH TOAST While Fort Kochi’s 

cafes are the first choice for visitors 

to the city, French Toast that takes 

ASIAN FLAVOURS 

THAI SOUL, GRAND HYATT KOCHI 

BOLGATTY Located within the 

confines of the city’s newest luxury 

hotel with stunning backwater vistas. 

Thai Soul rounds up Thai signatures 

from across the country’s five broad 

culinary regions. Kick start your meal 

with the fail-safe Gai Hor Bai Toey – 

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AUGUST 2019

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FOOD 

CITIES 

deep-fried chicken in locally sourced 

pandanus leaves and don’t leave 

without checking out one of their spicy 

curries or the traditional thap thim 

krob (water chestnut rubies in coconut 

milk) with a twist. 

Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty, Bolgatty 

Island 

EAST INDIES, EIGHTH BASTION 

This restaurant pays homage to 

Kochi’s erstwhile status as the 

centre of the Spice route. It’s the 

Dutch connection that is played up 

at Eighth Bastion where the menu 

showcases dishes from regions that 

were part of the Dutch Spice route. 

South East Asian cuisine is a big 

part of the menu – try one of their 

tasting menus or signatures like the 

Indonesian style Udon. 

Eight Bastion, Napier Street, Fort 

Kochi 

LITTLE SOI An offshoot of Soy Soi, 

one of Chennai’s most popular Pan 

Asian restaurants. The culinary team 

travelled for almost a month through 

South East Asia’s streets from Hanoi 

to Bangkok to discover some of the 

region’s most emblematic street food 

favourites. From crispy fried lotus 

stems to dimsums to Indonesian 

style satays to Burmese Khao suey, 

you never run out of options at this 

elegant restaurant dominated by reds 

and blacks. 

Subash Chandra Bose Road, 

Kadavanthara 

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WEEKENDS 

DEHRADUN 

SpiceJet flies to Dehradun. 

Log on to www.spicejet.com 

for details 

THE CALL OF 

THE HILLS 

HERE ARE SOME QUICK WEEKEND GETAWAYS FROM DEHRADUN FOR PEOPLE 

WHO WANT TO ESCAPE TO THE NEARBY HILLS. BY SHALBHA SARDA 

Dehradun may keep you 

engaged for a while on 

account of its pleasant 

weather and lush green 

surroundings. But it is only a trailer of the 

splendour that the Himalayan region has 

to offer. Many remarkable destinations 

surround the Doon valley that are either 

on the foothills or tucked in the 

mountains.They are naturally cooler and 

render a respite from the heat of the urban 

areas. 

Ram Jhoola and Laxman Jhoola. Taking a 

walk across these bridges provides a 

captivating view of the town and river. 

Rishikesh also has some very good 

camping, rafting and trekking facilities 

and it easily fulfills the fancy of a spiritualcum-adventure 

getaway. Rishikesh 

catapulted to Western fame with the visit 

of the Beatles to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's 

Ashram. Since then the place is known as 

the Beatles Ashram. Once abandoned and 

overrun with trees and shrubbery, the 

Ashram was reopened to visitors recently. 

Many Beatles fans who visited the spot 

left behind devotional graffiti as a tribute 

to the celebrated rock band. Watching the 

Ganga Aarti at the steps of the ghat of 

Parmarth Niketan at sundown is one of 

the most powerful and uplifting spiritual 

rituals one must witness while here. 

MUSSOORIE 

One of the most-visited places in 

Uttarakhand, it is a perfect go-to for 

leisure travellers and honeymooners. 

Perched at a height of 1880 m, it has 

mountains and valleys drenched in 

floating clouds. It doesn't come as a 

surprise that this hill station is called 

the “Queen of the Hills”. The town has a 

distinct colonial vibe and the influence 

RISHIKESH 

Renowned as the “yoga capital of the 

world”, Rishikesh is spread over both the 

banks of river Ganges. The more crowded 

and touristy western bank has 

restaurants, market places, and auspicious 

bathing ghats. The eastern bank is a 

traffic-free spiritual area with ashrams, 

bookstores, and cozy cafes. Both these 

sides are connected by suspension bridges 

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IN FOCUS 

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WEEKENDS 

DEHRADUN 

of the Victorian era still lingers on in its 

buildings. Mussoorie is also one of the 

most fertile literary territories in the 

country and it has inspired many wellknown 

writers including Ruskin Bond. 

There are numerous attractions to keep 

you occupied during your stay here. 

Visit the pristine Lake Mist for its 

turquoise water and trees curling 

all around it. The gushing water of 

Kempty Falls forms a pool on the 

ground for bathers to cool off. The 

Christ Church is the oldest church in 

the region boasting Gothic style 

architecture and stained glass 

windows. Lal Tibba is the highest point 

in the area with stunning views. A short 

track to the vantage point of Nag Tibba 

offers the unfettering panoramas of the 

surrounding peaks. Most of the eateries 

and shopping activities revolve around 

the famous Mall Road and it is a good 

place to hang out at night. 

HARIDWAR 

The River Ganga, after flowing from the 

Gangotri Glacier, enters the Gangetic 

plain for the first time at Haridwar. The 

water is glacial, gushing and unpolluted 

here. Taking a dip is both revered and 

relaxing in this river water. Haridwar is 

regarded as one of the seven holiest places 

in the Hindu religion. Apart from the 

religious angle, it is now developing as a 

cultural and spiritual centre and a hub for 

Ayurvedic treatments. Go for some temple 

hopping to Daksheshwara Mahadev 

temple, Bharat Mata temple and Vaishno 

Devi temple. Take a cable car to Mansa 

Devi. Shop at archaic charming bazaars 

selling everything from woolen clothes to 

religious items. These streets are an 

infusion of the wafting aroma of 

cardamom tea, chaat and poori halwa to 

tantalize your taste buds. Rajaji National 

Park nearby is a paradise for nature lovers 

and wildlife enthusiasts with many 

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DEHRADUN 

animals such as elephants, tigers, 

leopards, and deer. The Ganga Aarti at 

Har Ki Paidi has the deepest appeal to 

Hindu pilgrims. Pandits, clanging bells, 

incense, flowers, flames and a sea of 

spectators! All this combines to create a 

sensory experience like no other. 

DHANAULTI 

The lesser known tiny hill hamlet of 

Dhanaulti is preferred by city dwellers 

who are in pursuit of some lull and 

solitude. Although it is devoid of typical 

tourist attractions, it has an abundance of 

breathtaking views that look right out of a 

gorgeous painting. Camping in the woods 

is a preferred activity here. Most of the 

camps are equipped with basic amenities 

and arrangements of adventure activities 

like Rappelling, Sky Walk, and Zip Lining 

can be made by the camp authorities. 

Watch the sunrise and enjoy some horse 

riding around the vast stretches. For 

trekking enthusiasts, a hike to Surkanda 

Devi Temple will reward you with the 

view of the magnificent Himalayas and 

surrounding forests. Two eco-parks are 

the newly added attractions to the town. 

These parks are in a conserved area with 

thick forests and a variety of flora and 

fauna. Although Dhanaulti does not offer 

many shopping options, hand-woven 

shawls, pashmina scarves, and other 

handloom products can be found in some 

local shops. 

CHAKRATA 

A small remote cantonment town 

between the Tons and Yamuna rivers, it 

lies at an elevation of 2200 m. Chakrata 

has an abundance of conifers, 

rhododendrons, and oak trees. The town 

is a backpacker’s paradise with activities 

such as camping, trekking, water sports 

and rock climbing. Trekking down to one 

of the country’s largest waterfalls, The 

Tiger Falls, is a popular activity among 

trekkers. The underexplored Kimona 

Falls is known for waterfall rappelling. 

Deoband is another picturesque spot 

serving as a viewpoint and is also home to 

rich biodiversity. There are many ancient 

temples worthy of a visit in the area 

including Lakhmandal and Mahasu 

Devta temple. One of the most exciting 

things to do in Chakrata is to watch 

different types of birds at Chilmiri Neck. 

From here, you can get a clear view of the 

surrounding peaks, making it one of the 

best places for sightseeing in Chakrata. 

Believed to be built by Pandavas and best 

known for their stalactite and stalagmite 

formations, the Budher Caves are ideal for 

some exploratory adventure. 

120 

AUGUST 2019

BUSINESS 

FLORICULTURE 

FLOWER POWER 

NEW MARKETS AND MORE PEOPLE BUYING FLOWERS FOR PERSONAL USE ARE 

SEEING A BIG GROWTH IN THE DEMAND FOR QUALITY FRESH CUT FLOWERS 

FOR THE DOMESTIC MARKET. BY BINDU GOPAL RAO 

Being at the India-Australia 

World Cup match at the Oval 

is an experience that is quite 

surreal. And more so when I 

had this invite from La Fleur CEO 

Hariharan Subramaniam (photo) to 

discuss his plans for the Indian market 

through its new Indian venture La Fleur. 

The concept of the new venture is simple 

— to make quality fresh flowers 

accessible to the Indian consumers. This 

is primarily being done through 

supermarkets which will be the main 

point of sale. Considering that the model 

of selling flowers at super markets work 

well abroad and the parent company, 

Indifresh has been doing business in the 

United Kingdom for 15 years and exports 

roses from India, the floriculture market 

in India is all set to get a swanky new 

makeover. The brand, born and bred in 

the UK, will introduce the culture of 

hand bouquets to India by bringing their 

high quality, sustainably packaged 

flowers to leading supermarkets at 

attractive price points all this while 

supporting only local growers for 

sourcing flowers. Interestingly the 

model in India is the set bouquet route 

rather than loose stems. Subramaniam 

tells us more in this exclusive tête-à-tête. 

What is spurring the demand for 

flowers in India? 

I think the Indian market is growing 

very fast and there is already a big 

demand for flowers. Traditionally we 

have been using it for weddings and 

events. With super markets coming in, 

there is a market that needs to be 

created as the consumer in India is 

very similar to a consumer in the West. 

Of course India is a varied country and 

the middle class and above is very 

aspirational and a lot of people are 

buying flowers for personal use and 

that market is growing. Convenience, 

lifestyle and economy are the three 

reasons why people shop in 

supermarkets and we believe with 

flowers we will find that the market 

will grow as we find new consumers 

and new buying habits. 

What can La Fleur do to make its 

presence felt in the market? 

What we want to do is bring in some 

structure into the market as currently 

how it is marketed in India is very 

unstructured as you buy from hawkers 

or florists. As we are experienced in 

exports to UK from India we have 

systems in place that have helped us to 

grow the market here. And that will 

help us to create awareness with 

consumer on quality. We have the 

same system for both as we have our 

export sector well established. We use 

the same post-harvest technique for 

exports. Quality, vase life and value 

for money is what we have added to 

the flower spectrum in India. 

What are the key kinds of flowers that 

do well in the Indian market? 

All flowers do well in India as there 

are various segments in the market 

and each segment has a different taste 

and everything works in India. So I 

think what works worldwide will 

work in India and flowers that do well 

are roses, chrysanthemums, gerberas, 

lilies and carnations as these sell in big 

numbers. In India there is also a 

demand for exotic flowers that of 

course need to be imported as they are 

not grown in India. But as we have just 

started we kept it simple and we use 

only flowers that grow in India. 

What are the other distribution 

channels that you propose to use? 

We have a big wish list and for the 

financial year 2019-2020 we are 

focusing on supermarkets and we are 

in 36 outlets in Mumbai, Pune and 

Bangalore which we want to take to 

122 

AUGUST 2019

BUSINESS 

FLORICULTURE 

75. The other channel is to corporates 

where we want to be the preferred 

supplier and have targeted about 100 

such customers. The third channel is 

to have an online shop by the end of 

June that will be piloted in Mumbai 

and Pune. 

What are the key challenges being 

faced in the market? 

The biggest challenge is having a 

consistent market which will return 

consistent pricing to the grower. Also 

with the weather being inconsistent 

there are some growing challenges as 

there is a consistency that is required. 

Also to tap into foreign markets there 

are ethical requirements that need to 

be adhered to. 

What kind of initial trends have you 

seen? 

Although it is early days, some clear 

trends we see especially in Mumbai is 

that demography matters as does 

location as our South Mumbai outlets 

are doing well. People are appreciating 

the quality of flowers and the fact that 

we are using ecofriendly packaging 

and flower foods are being 

appreciated. In fact when we did a 

survey we had equal number of 

responses for people who said 

premium flowers at Rs. 920 was 

reasonable and one set felt Rs. 360 was 

expensive. So we also have a range 

that starts at Rs. 250 and we are clear 

that we will be able to work with all 

the markets in India. 

How are flowers kept fresh through 

the value chain? 

We buy directly from the growers who 

we also give technical support that 

helps us know the product completely. 

Secondly we hydrate and use flower 

food (chlorine and sugar) and store in 

the cold store at temperatures 

between two and six degrees. We also 

maintain the cool chain as it is 

transported in refrigerated trucks and 

this ensures that 80 per cent of the 

freshness is retained in the stem when 

it reaches the destination. 

How do you choose the suppliers to 

work with? 

Traditionally with roses we know the 

suppliers so there is an established 

relationship there. For other flowers 

we meet the supplier, understand their 

growing practices and see their farms 

and then decide. We also have a proper 

feedback mechanism in place that 

helps as well. We do try and pass on 

our experience to the growers so we 

mutually benefit. 

What are the ecofriendly measures in 

place? 

Unlike other perishable products, 

flowers are not consumable so 

organically grown flowers are not 

something that will work as flowers 

need to be pest free. We do not use 

plastic for packaging so that helps. 

What are your funding plans? 

Currently it is self-funded and before 

we go for funding we want to grow the 

business. Also it is a complex market 

that needs to be understood. We know 

this will work in India and will be a big 

business as there is a need for a better 

product and consistent quality. So we 

want to grow the concept first and 

then look at funding. We are selling 2.5 

bouquets per outlet per day and we do 

6 5 bouquets per outlet per day for the 

concept to work. We need to look at the 

next two years to understand this. We 

have invested in people and training 

and educating retailers on how the 

category works. 

124 

AUGUST 2019

IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

HOW MUCH EQUITY IS OK FOR YOU? 

BY ASHOK T KANAWALA (THE AUTHOR 

IS VICE PRESIDENT - PRODUCTS & 

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, HDFC ASSET 

MANAGEMENT CO. LTD.) 

“SALT IS WHAT 

MAKES THINGS 

taste bad when 

it isn't in them” - 

Anonymous. 

Salt is essential 

to life as it is the 

main dietary source of sodium and 

chloride, both of which are crucial 

for maintaining health. Apart from 

providing essential nutrients, salt 

acts as a flavour enhancer to negate 

bitter flavours in food. Considering 

this, it isn’t surprising that salt is 

used globally in various forms for 

seasoning and pickling. 

While the fact that salt is an 

essential part of diet is quite 

objective, how much salt should 

one add is quite subjective. Anyone 

who has even remotely come across 

cookery shows and books would be 

familiar with the instruction “Salt 

to (your) taste”. 

Ever wondered why cookery 

books and shows cannot specify 

exact quantities for salt? The 

primary reason for this is that 

everyone has a different preference 

and palate for salt. Further there is a 

fine line with salt. Too little of it and 

food may lose its flavour. Too much 

of it and food may end up being 

unpalatable. 

Equity (% of 

portfolio) 

Debt (% of 

portfolio) 

Role of equities in wealth creation is 

similar to that of salt in cooking. Salt 

in right proportion acts as a flavour 

enhancer. Likewise, allocation to 

equities in right proportion ensures 

long term wealth creation. Allocation 

to equities is essential to beat 

inflation, create wealth and maintain 

or improve your financial health over 

time. Most investors have begun to 

realize the importance of equities 

for wealth creation. However, what 

puzzles many is the question around 

what percentage of one’s portfolio 

should be in equities. Just like with 

salt, there is no standard measure 

of equity allocation that can suit 

everyone. 

While equities are certainly more 

volatile than other asset classes over 

the short term, equity returns track/ 

mirror the economic growth of the 

country in the long term, which in a 

way explains the SENSEX returns of 

~ 16% over the last four decades vis-àvis 

nominal GDP growth of ~ 14%. 

The table above brings forth the 

impact of equities in asset allocation 

Value after 5 

Years 

100 0 201 405 

80 20 190 367 

60 40 179 329 

50 50 174 310 

40 60 169 291 

20 80 158 254 

0 100 147 216 

Assumed Investment: - Rs. 100, Assumed Rate of Return: Equity 15%, Debt 8% 

Value after 10 

Years 

on wealth creation over a period of 

time. 

As seen above, inverting a 20:80 

Equity:Debt ratio to 80:20 results in 

a 21% increase (from 158 to 190) and 

45% increase (from 254 to 367) in 

investment value over 5 and 10 years 

respectively. 

The “As per taste” dictum for salt 

translates to “as per risk appetite 

(willingness and ability)" for 

equities. Optimal equity allocation 

is a function of one’s risk tolerance, 

financial goals, time horizon and 

existing wealth. Investors with 

longer time horizon, income stability 

and relatively lower financial 

obligations can have a higher equity 

allocation and vice versa. More 

often than not investors do not 

invest or invest too little in equities 

by confusing volatility with capital 

erosion and end up missing out on 

their financial goals in the long run. 

Tweaking the quote on salt 

mentioned earlier, one could say that 

“Equities give a boost to financial 

planning, when it is in the plan”. 

DISCLAIMER 

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not of HDFC AMC, and should not be regarded as investment advice. 

Investors should obtain their own independent advice before taking a decision to invest in any securities. 

MUTUAL FUND INVESTMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO MARKET RISKS, READ ALL SCHEME RELATED DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY. 

The above table is for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as a promise on minimum returns and safeguard of capital. Equity as an asset class is riskier 

as compared to debt. Past performance may or may not be sustained in the future. 

126 

AUGUST 2019

PHOTO FEATURE 

STREET ART 

EXPLORING STREET ART IN THE 

BYLANES OF LODHI COLONY 

THE LODHI ART DISTRICT IS AN OPEN EXHIBITION OF BEAUTIFUL ART 

WORK THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF AN ACTIVE NGO. 

TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY SUDIPTA DAS (INMYBOOTS.LIFE) 

WE WERE HEADING TOWARDS Delhi’s 

Lodhi Garden, but then I suddenly 

remembered about the street art video I 

came across on YouTube recently 

(https://www.youtube.com/ 

watch?v=mYhPCRDgnzE). I have always 

liked the idea of street art. I had 

chanced upon a couple of them in 

Mumbai during one of my visits. 

Hence we took a detour and drove 

towards Lodhi Colony instead. 

We drove through Meherchand 

market but couldn’t find any murals 

initially. We kept driving, got into 

lanes and finally found two pieces of 

wall art, one of which was being 

worked upon. Now that we had tasted 

blood we drove further, parked our car 

and then started exploring the 

neighbourhood on foot. 

Slowly the beautiful art work 

unfurled before us as we walked 

between Khanna and Meherchand 

markets in the lanes and bylanes of 

Lodhi colony. To me, it seemed like we 

were in a wonderland where fictitious 

characters came to life! 

I had seen the wall art showcasing a 

130 

AUGUST 2019

PHOTO FEATURE 

STREET ART 

132 

AUGUST 2019

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TIPSY TOPSY

PHOTO FEATURE 

STREET ART 

hawker selling balloons in the 

YouTube video so I kept insisting on 

walking until we found this particular 

artwork. And finally, we found it! 

The Lodhi Art District, as the Lodhi 

Colony area called, is a project 

undertaken by St+art India (https:// 

st-artindia.org/), an NGO established 

in 2014 by several artists. The first 

edition of the art festival took place in 

2016 when more than 20 artists from 

India and all over the world displayed 

their art on the walls of Lodhi Colony. 

The Lodhi Art District is an open 

exhibition of beautiful art work, a 

visual treat for onlookers, passersby, 

photographers, tourists and residents. 

Termed as India’s first open air art 

district, the best part of this place is its 

accessibility. 

The Lodhi Art District has a mix of 

colourful and subtle art work, all of 

them part of a narrative. There was a 

piece for every individual, something 

each one could relate to. I wished the 

artists were around so that I could talk 

to them and get to know more about 

their art. But it was also fun putting 

my imagination to work. 

By the end of the tour I was 

reminded about Delhi’s beauty and 

charm! 

134 

AUGUST 2019

INNOVATING 

WEAVING 

TRADITIONS 

UNDER THE ABLE GUIDANCE of T N 

Venkatesh, IAS, Managing Director 

since 2014, Co-optex is marching 

ahead as India’s leading weavers’ cooperative 

society. 

MODERNISATION DRIVE 

Co-optex has modernized close to 

IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

50 showrooms across various cities 

targeting a discerning clientile — the 

latest being the modernization of the 

headquarters showroom at Egmore, 

Chennai. 

DESIGN INTERVENTION 

Co-optex has worked with young 

designers who have passed out of NID, 

Ahmedabad and worked in major 

weaving clusters of Tamil Nadu. 

ORGANIC SAREES 

Endorsing the ‘fresh from farm to 

loom’ concept, Co-optex has added a 

brand new collection of organic sarees 

in their showrooms. 

AHIMSA SILK 

Co-optex’s Ahimsa silk Sarees are 

made from a more humane way of silk 

production; wherein the silk worms 

are allowed to hatch, break the cocoon 

and fly away. 

ONLINE SALES 

Five years since its inception in 

2014, www.cooptex.com is the best 

performing entity among Apex 

societies of all states. In the last 

year itself, the sales have risen to 

Rs 1.5 crore through e-commerce 

alone. 

WEAVERS AS PARTNERS 

For many years now, Co-optex 

sarees come with a weaver 

identification card. It includes a 

weaver’s photograph, name, age 

and the days / weeks taken to make 

a saree. 

LOOKING AHEAD 

This year, Co-optex is expecting an 

annual turnover of Rs. 300 crore 

by leveraging technology through 

its exclusive “info-tex” project that 

aims to connect the weavers with 

the final consumers. 

ZEBRONICS UNVEILS ITS 

LATEST 2.1 SPEAKER 

ZEBRONICS INDIA PVT. LTD, 

India’s leading brand of IT & 

gaming peripherals, sound system, 

mobile/lifestyle accessories, and 

surveillance products, has launched 

a new speaker in its 2.1 range called 

Zeb-Pristine 2. Unwind your long 

day with your favourite music or 

change the ambience with the RGB 

LED light setting 

— the Zeb-Pristine 

2 has it all. Get 

high fidelity audio 

on the powerful 

Zeb-Pristine 2 2.1 

speaker that has supreme aesthetics 

like a front panel with dual texture 

finish and a fabric finish on satellite 

speakers. The speaker comes with an 

LED display, has soft touch rubber 

buttons to elevate its style and also 

comes with RGB lighting that brings 

a splash of colours into any room. 

Zeb-Pristine 2 comes with controls 

on the front panel which include 

media and volume controls. The 

speaker also has multi-connectivity 

options where you can stream your 

music wirelessly via BT or use your 

USB/ SD card. It also has AUX 

support and comes with a built-in 

FM radio too. Speaking on the new 

launch Mr. Pradeep Doshi said, 

“We’re constantly innovating and 

upgrading our product range, like, 

for instance, our newly launched 

Zeb-Pristine 2 which is a 

good combination of 

sound and style.” The 

speaker is available 

at leading stores 

across India and is 

priced at Rs. 4,199. 

136 

AUGUST 2019

FOOD 

SMALL BITES 

KEBABS 

IN THE MONSOON 

THIS MONSOON, DITCH YOUR REGULAR PAKODAS AND GO FOR MELT-IN- 

MOUTH KEBABS! 

Pakodas and chai have tended 

to dominate the mood—and 

the table—at the sight of the 

first rains. It’s easy to forget, 

then, that Indian kitchens have, for 

centuries, stored an exquisite variety of 

recipes that can match the indulgent 

mood of the season. One such dish: 

kebabs! Burning red charcoal, succulent 

kebabs on the grill and the exotic aromas 

of spices - the legacy of kebabs will have 

you crave for more this monsoon. City 

restaurants are experimenting with this 

royal food. Let's look at what the chefs at 

these leading eateries are bringing on 

the table with this legendary dish. 

WHITE CHARCOAL 

Rustled up by Chef Ajay Chopra, 

Filter Coffee Boti Tikka with smoked 

rosemary and date chutney is a musttry 

at White Charcoal. Coffee is 

normally used as a marinate in South 

America. They’ve taken the same 

inspiration with an Indian filter 

coffee from the famous hills of Coorg 

to give you flavours that will linger 

on your taste buds for a long time. 

D51 

Lamb Seekh Kebabs by Chef 

Nandan Singh is a tender juicy lamb 

kebab tandoor-cooked to savoury 

best. It is minced mutton of goat 

mixed with Indian spices and 

cooked in tandoor and served along 

with green chutney. 

HITCHKI 

A dish that's as fun to say as it is to 

taste - Charlie Chapli Kebab by Chef 

Ajay Thakur. It is made of spicy lamb 

mince kebab with crispy potato and 

thecha mayo. There is no bettter way 

to enjoy monsoon than having this 

hot and spicy kebab! 

BAYROUTE 

If you are looking for some Authentic 

Middle Eastern Kebabs to munch on, 

then Bayroute is a place! Kebab 

Joojeh and Salmon Kebab are two 

popular kebabs from here, which will 

transport you to the Middle East in 

just no seconds. Kebab Joojehi is an 

Iranian speciality of charcoal grilled 

chicken marinated in saron, onion 

juice and yogurt harissa labneh. 

Salmon Kebab by Chef Ajay Thakur is 

charcoal cooked and consists of 

salmon and broccoli kebabs Spiked 

sith Harissa, coconut rum and dill, 

young coconut and cucumber salad 

saron yogurt. 

137 

AUGUST 2019

IN FOCUS 

MONTAGE 

END OF THE 

WRISTWATCH? 

IF YOU ARE OVER 35 YEARS OLD, 

you are likely squinting or a little 

taken aback at this clickbait-ish 

headline. Logical assertions as 

wristwatches being heirlooms, 

emotional purchases, extensions 

of one's personality, and of 

course, a fashion accessory, 

all pop up in your head, 

as rebuttals. But your 

generation may well 

be the last one that 

attaches all of the 

above qualities to a 

wristwatch. If you are 

below 30, anecdotally, 

there is barely a 20% 

chance you own a wristwatch. But 

there is growth, you say? India has 

growth and youngsters are spending 

more on looking better, and saving 

less. True that, but for a variety 

of reasons, the increased wallet 

outflow has not been extended to 

wristwatches. The reasons being 

high cost of ownership (servicing 

at ridiculously marked up prices!), 

dependence on brands for spare 

parts, complete substitution of actual 

utility by electronic devices, photos 

not social media friendly, design 

fatigue (wearing the same item 

for long periods of time, thereby 

negating the fashion quotient) 

and finally decrease in 

wallet share due to access to 

other product categories via 

newer online channels. 

So what is the way forward? 

(cynically, you might ask, what 

is AIQON's grand plan to solve 

this problem). Ironically, time will tell 

the endgame to all this. What can be 

certainly said over the medium-term, 

at least, is that, the 35yr+ metro / Tier- 

1 consumer will drive premiumisation, 

though a significant minority will 

adopt smartwatches. The young and 

affluent in metros / Tier-1 will end 

up spending less per capita per year 

comparatively. The rest of India will 

downtrade (on an inflation-adjusted 

basis) steadily. 

The wristwatch business was never 

big in India. Today, the restaurant/ 

eatery business of just Mumbai 

is likely 2X the size of the Indian 

wristwatch market. The future for 

new brands does not lie in the mass 

inventory based approaches of the 

past. New business models will be 

required, but they must be supported 

by the Indian consumer, as well. 

If you have any thoughts write to 

info@aiqonwatches.com. 

CD RED CARPET COLLECTION 

BY CHARAGH DIN 

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as the world lies suspended. These high-style-quotient 

shirts in Italian Linen, blended fabrics and sharp 

cuts are equally at home whether you are attending 

the awards or receiving them. Shop online at www. 

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

64, Wodehouse Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400 005 or call 

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BODY SHOP LAUNCHES BANANA 

FRAGRANCED BODY CARE PRODUCTS 

THE WONDERFULLY WONKY banana 

special edition from Body Shop is a range 

of fun, fruity, banana fragranced body 

care products. It is perfect for loyal fans 

of the brand’s hair care range and new 

customers looking for an exciting twist to 

its iconic formats. The range has four fun 

formats, which can be used individually 

or as part of a regime to build the fragrance level on the skin. 

The fruity and exotic notes in the range complement each 

other, and the products leave the skin feeling moisturised 

and layered with a vibrant scent. Each of the formulas are 

enriched with Community Trade organic banana puree, made 

from “misshapen” bananas that the food industry would 

otherwise throw away. Enjoy the power of three products 

for refreshingly fruity fragranced skin: Wonderfully Wonky 

Banana Body Polish, Wonderfully Wonky Banana Body Yogurt 

and Wonderfully Wonky Banana Body Butter. 

138 

AUGUST 2019

MELANGE 

TAROT 

YOUR FORECAST THIS MONTH 

BY SRRINIVAS IYER 

Aries 

Efforts in new 

Taurus 

Your mind is 

Gemini 

Others have a lot 

Cancer 

You have entered 

Leo 

Your party life is 

Virgo 

Those in the field 

age technologies 

buzzing with 

of influence on you 

a wonderful 

superb. An out-of- 

of creativity receive 

and directions 

new ideas about 

and communication 

phase, filled with 

world experience is 

financial benefits. 

pay off. You 

financial ventures 

is the theme 

romance, emotions, 

indicated and this 

Home life is a bit 

impress everyone 

and you do speak 

this month. Your 

actions and self- 

fulfills the needs 

stressed, but with 

with your verbal 

about it. Creativity 

siblings are doing 

expression. A great 

of your heart and 

your persistence 

skills. Renovation, 

is at its peak and so 

well and you 

month ahead for 

soul. Finances are 

things improve for 

carpentry work 

is your emotional 

may also spend 

you. Children do 

good and lady luck 

the better. Your 

and electrical 

expression. 

on them. Work 

well in all areas and 

smiles on you on 

wisdom is put to 

renovations are 

Unplanned 

on partnership 

financial growth is 

the home front. 

test. New avenues 

foreseen on the 

expenses are 

in personal and 

also seen for you. 

Connect with old 

open up in the 

home front. 

foreseen. 

professional areas. 

Avoid crowds. 

and new friends. 

professional areas. 

Libra 

Cash flow is 

Scorpio 

You view life with 

Sagittarius 

Spirituality and 

Capricorn 

Your partner is 

Aquarius 

Children’s health 

Pisces 

Fortune is in your 

improving. Your 

a very positive 

fame are yours 

lucky and showers 

comes under 

favour. Financial 

hands and skin 

attitude. Romance 

— directly linked 

money, emotional 

focus. In search 

gains are indicated 

need attention. 

and marriage are 

to your karma. 

praise and efforts 

of romance you 

in leaps and 

Persistence pays 

strongly indicated. 

Spiritual heads 

towards your 

reach out to new 

bounds. Some of 

off in achieving 

Travel is on the 

and gurus have a 

success. Be careful 

connections and 

you rise to position 

your goals. You will 

cards and your 

massive reach this 

of your choice of 

don’t mince words. 

of authority to lead 

receive positive 

partner is proud 

month. Some of 

words, as it may 

Avoid spending/ 

the public, albeit 

communication. 

about the support 

you will invest in 

create enimity. 

lending money 

with some minor 

Professional life 

you give them. 

overseas ventures. 

You are famous 

this month. Stick 

delays. Focus more 

is great which is 

Financial wisdom 

You will travel to 

overseas and will 

to proven path of 

on your home, 

satisfying. 

is put to test. 

new places. 

be welcomed there. 

financial returns. 

when needs care. 

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 Srrinivas Iyer is based in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. He can be contacted on srrinivas9@gmail.com) 

140 

AUGUST 2019

Let’s Make India Stronger.. 

Together... 

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AHMEDABAD : 9322126262, LUCKNOW : 9868216120, INDORE : 9152727325. CHANDIGARH : 9999011211 

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142 

AUGUST 2019

NEWS 

SpiceJet flags off-first 

ever daily non-stop flight on 

Guwahati-Dhaka IACS route 

SpiceJet has launched daily non-stop 

flight services on the Guwahati-Dhaka- 

Guwahati route, under the International 

Air Connectivity Scheme (IACS). 

SpiceJet’s Guwahati-Dhaka flight is the 

first-ever to be operated under IACS. The 

flight, which earmarks a new milestone, 

also reiterates the airline’s commitment 

on enhancing connectivity in the North 

East region. The airline hosted a flag-off 

ceremony at the airport which was graced 

by Shri Sarbananda 

Sonowal, Hon’ble 

Chief Minister of 

Assam, Shri Chandra 

Mohan Patowary, 

Hon’ble Minister of 

Transport, Industry 

& Commerce, 

Parliamentary 

Affairs, Skill, 

Employment & 

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

Entrepreneurship Development, Assam, 

Shri Siddhartha Bhattacharya Hon’ble 

Minister of Education, Law & Justice, 

GDD, Assam, Shri Pradeep Singh Kharola, 

Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Shri 

Ravi Capoor, Additional Chief Secretary, 

Industries & Commerce, Forest & 

Environment, Act East Policy Affairs and 

Public Enterprises Departments, Assam, 

Smt. Usha Padhee, Joint Secretary, 

Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government 

of India and Debojo Maharshi, Chief 

Marketing Officer, SpiceJet. 

Debojo Maharshi, Chief Marketing 

Officer, SpiceJet, said, “We are extremely 

delighted to launch our first ever 

direct flight under the International 

Air Connectivity Scheme between 

Guwahati and Dhaka. We believe that 

the tremendous success of RCS can be 

replicated in IACS as well." 

Chief Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal flagging off SpiceJet’s 

international flight connecting Guwahati and Dhaka at Guwahati’s 

Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport 

Durgapur is SpiceJet’s 13th 

UDAN destination 

SpiceJet has flagged off a daily 

direct flight on the Durgapur-Mumbai 

route, under the regional connectivity 

scheme, UDAN. The under-served 

market of Durgapur, is the airline’s 

13th destination under UDAN. The 

new flight reiterates the airline’s 

commitment to augment connectivity 

between metro and non-metro cities. 

The route was awarded under UDAN 

III and is exclusive to the airline, 

thereby making it the only carrier 

to offer flight services on the sector. 

In line with the aviation tradition to 

mark key milestones, the inaugural 

flight was greeted with a grand water 

cannon salute upon its arrival at the 

Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport, Durgapur. 

The airline also hosted a flag-off 

ceremony at the Durgapur Airport 

which was graced by dignitaries and 

SpiceJet staff. 

The launch was initiated with the 

customary lamp lighting ceremony 

thereby marking the formal 

announcement of the SpiceJet’s SG 

6355 Durgapur to Mumbai flight. 

The first passenger was warmly 

welcomed and gifted a memento by 

the dignitaries. 

SpiceJet introduces 

Riyadh as its 10th 

international destination 

SpiceJet has announced the launch 

of eight new non-stop international 

flights from the country’s busiest 

metros of Mumbai and Delhi. The 

airline is the first Indian LCC to 

connect Mumbai with Riyadh and 

Dhaka and Delhi with Dhaka and 

Jeddah. Riyadh, the capital city of 

Saudi Arabia, earmarks SpiceJet’s 

10th international destination and 

the fourth station in the Middle 

Eastern market. The flights to 

Dhaka and Jeddah are effective 

from the last week of July while 

the flight to Riyadh will commence 

on August 15, 2019. Riyadh, the 

capital and largest city of Saudi 

Arabia, is also the Kingdom’s key 

business centre and financial hub. 

Besides Riyadh, SpiceJet also 

operates flights to Jeddah, Dubai 

and Muscat in the gulf region. 

Ajay Singh, Chairman and 

Managing Director, SpiceJet 

said, "We are delighted to add 

Riyadh as our tenth international 

destination and add more flights 

to Jeddah and Dhaka thus 

providing our passengers with 

multiple flight options. SpiceJet 

is the only Indian budget airline 

to operate to Saudi Arabia and 

our new flights to Riyadh and 

Jeddah should greatly benefit the 

thousands of pilgrims traveling 

from India." 

143 

AUGUST 2019

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

SpiceJet adds non-stop 

flight on Mumbai-Dubai 

route 

Providing more choice and flexibility 

to passengers, SpiceJet has 

announced the launch of a new 

daily non-stop flight connecting 

India’s financial capital Mumbai with 

international hotspot Dubai. The 

new flight will be effective August 

3, 2019. SpiceJet currently operates 

a daily non-stop Mumbai-Dubai 

flight. The new flight is the second 

frequency on the Mumbai-Dubai 

route. The enhanced connectivity to 

Dubai will give passengers travelling 

between the two cities more 

convenience and flexibility. 


Managing Director, SpiceJet said, 

“We are thrilled to announce a 

new flight to Dubai to meet the 

steady demand from both leisure 

and business travellers to and 

from Mumbai. The additional daily 

flight will significantly increase 

our capacity on one of our most 

successful and popular route, 

offering passengers even better and 

wider access to our international 

network and maximising their 

comfort and flexibility.” 

Dubai is one of the prime 

destinations for SpiceJet in the 

middle-eastern market. 

The airline serves nonstop 

flights to Dubai 

from 10 Indian cities – 

Delhi, Amritsar, Jaipur, 

Ahmedabad, Pune, 

Kochi, Calicut, Madurai, 

Mangalore and Mumbai. 

The new Mumbai-Dubai 

flight is the 11th flight to 

Dubai. The flights will 

be operational daily and 

the airline will deploy its 

Boeing 737 NG aircraft on 

the international route. 

SpiceJet to operate 

148 special flights for Hajj 

pilgrims 

Ushering in the Hajj season with 

great fervour, SpiceJet is operating 

148 special flights for the grand 

annual Islamic pilgrimage. SpiceJet is 

carrying close to 11,000 Hajj pilgrims 

from Srinagar to Medina and Jeddah 

and back on special flights for the 

great religious gathering in Mecca 

this year. 



“SpiceJet is honoured to play a small 

part in helping Indian pilgrims travel 

to Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage this 

year. We offer our best wishes to all 

the pilgrims as they embark on this 

once in a lifetime journey and we will 

make every effort to provide a hasslefree 

and delightful travel experience 

for all our pilgrim passengers.” 

The airline has deployed its 

Boeing 737-800 aircraft to ferry 

pilgrims from Srinagar, Jammu and 

Kashmir to Jeddah and Medina. The 

flights were operated between July 4 

and 29, 2019. The return journey for 

the Hajj pilgrims is scheduled from 

August 16 to September 11, 2019. 

SpiceJet connects Mumbai- 

Hong Kong with daily nonstop 

flight 

SpiceJet, has launched a daily nonstop 

flight connecting India’s financial 

capital Mumbai with Hong Kong. 

SpiceJet is the only Indian carrier 

to connect Mumbai with Hong Kong 

with a daily non-stop flight. One of 

the top tourist destinations in the 

world, Hong Kong is also connected 

to Delhi with a daily non-stop flight 

by SpiceJet. SpiceJet has deployed 

its 168-seater Boeing 737-800 aircraft 

on the sector. 



“We are delighted to announce the 

launch of our new non-stop flight 

connecting Mumbai with Hong Kong. 

India’s financial capital, Mumbai, is 

extremely important for SpiceJet 

and since April, 90 new flights 

have been connecting Mumbai with 

multiple domestic and international 

destinations. SpiceJet's new Hong 

Kong flight will help meet the 

growing demand from both leisure 

and business travellers to and from 

Mumbai. The flight is timed perfectly 

for business and leisure travellers 

alike with a late night departure from 

Mumbai (1.05 am) and a morning 

arrival (9.40 am) in Hong Kong thus 

maximising passenger comfort and 

providing more choice and flexibility.” 

144 

AUGUST 2019

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

MY TOWN 

Our ongoing series in which we look at various Indian cities 

through the eyes of SpiceJet staffers. This month, Binsha 

Murikal, Cabin Crew, holds forth on Pune 

Connection to the city: 

I am originally not from 

Pune. But I've been in this 

sprawling city, which was 

the base of the Maratha 

empire, for umpteen 

years. 

Best thing about Pune: 

The city is known for its 

great weather. There are 

many interesting holiday 

spots nearby including 

hill stations and beaches. 

Best of all, it is an amazing 

destination for lovers of 

good food. 

Night scene in the city: With its many 

educational institutes and IT companies, 

Pune attracts a comparatively younger 

crowd than other major Indian cities. 

Places like Penthouse, Area-51, Mi-A-Mi 

and Hard Rock Cafe are top picks as night 

spots. 

Ganpati Temple is one of the most famous 

temples not only in Pune but the whole of 

Maharashtra. The best time to visit the city 

is around the Ganesh Festival, which is 

celebrated with lot of pomp and grandeur. 

The majestic Sinhagad Fort offers a grand 

view of the plains below. 

Recommended places nearby: Lonavala 

is a popular weekend getaway from Pune. 

Close by is Khandala, well-known for its 

verdant slopes, numerous waterfalls and 

beautiful lakes. Just three hours away 

by road from Pune is Mahabaleshwar, 

Maharashtra’s biggest hill station and 

a tourist favourite for its forts, temples, 

walking paths and strawberries. 

Clockwise from above: Trekkers at Sinhagad 

Fort; a nightscape look at the city; and the 

popular Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple 

Favourite eating place: I prefer spicy 

street food. There are many places 

in Pune which serve lip-smacking 

street food. This city is famous for its 

delicious vadapav. Puneri Misal’s fame has 

spread far. Apart from street food you can 

enjoy many other kinds of delicacies. If 

you are planning a night out, you can even 

get food at three in the morning. 

Local attractions: Dagdusheth Halwai 

Which are the other places where you 

have stayed in India? How does Pune 

compare to them? 

I have stayed in many cities in India. But 

Pune is very different from the others. It 

has a personality of its own. No other city 

in India can boast of such mythological, 

historical, social and cultural importance. 

The city is vibrant and scores very highly 

on the industrial, political, social and 

cultural fronts. 

145 

AUGUST 2019

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

ST RS OF SPICEJET 

Meet SpiceJet achievers from our various departments, who 

have stood out for their outstanding work 

RAMANDEEP KAUR 

DELHI 

Internal appreciation: 

Ramandeep is a dedicated 

worker in our Security team. She is loyal 

and enthusiastic and above all, always 

infuses positivity around her at the 

workplace. She is a very good team player, 

has a very well-directed approach towards 

performance and is always supportive 

towards her teammates. 

Experience with SpiceJet: My journey 

with SpiceJet began in October 2017 and 

I have grown along with the organization. 

I have learnt a lot here and would like to 

deliver more with my performance in the 

future. I have enjoyed every day here, while 

working under the guidance of my seniors. 

I am thankful to SpiceJet for making me 

who I am today. 

B NAVILASH 

HYDERABAD 

Internal appreciation: We 

would like to express our 

sincere appreciation for Navilash who 

has been consistently doing some very 

good work. He has always been found to 

be very alert while at his workplace. He is 

a hardworking staff member and a very 

good team player. We are very happy to 

have him with us as an important member 

of our organization. 

Experience with SpiceJet: It has been 11 

months with SpiceJet and my time here 

has been a life-changing experience. It 

feels very good to receive appreciation for 

your good work. I am very grateful to the 

management and seniors for ably guiding 

me. I feel very proud to be a part of this 

wonderful organization. I am thankful to 

SpiceJet for believing in me. 

SECURITY 

SAYAK BANERJEE 

KOLKATA 


Sayak has dedicated 11 years 

of service to SpiceJet. He has risen above 

the ranks during his tenure due to his hard 

work and impeccable work ethics. His 

grooming and knowledge about his work 

make him a perfect role model for many 

staffers down the line. He is a good team 

player and very sociable person. 

Experience with SpiceJet: It's been an 

enriching experience while working in 

such a lovely environment where constant 

support from both seniors and those 

down the line motivates one to go on and 

on with consistency. I am thankful to all 

those who have helped me. I would like to 

continue to grow and work hard and smart 

for as long as possible over here. 

RAJSHEKAR S 

BENGALURU 


Rajshekar's dedication to 

work and positive attitude deserves much 

appreciation. A hardworking staff member 

and a good team player, he is always ready 

to put in his best efforts. We are very 

happy to have him with us as a member of 

SpiceJet. 

Experience with SpiceJet: I would like to 

thank SpiceJet for giving me such a great 

responsibility and for trusting me. When I 

started working, it was quite challenging 

but now we have such a great team across 

all levels who give us immense support 

and guidance to lead the entire team in 

a fruitful way. I would like to thank my 

colleagues who always put in their best 

efforts and fetch us appreciation from all 

those concerned. 

146 

AUGUST 2019

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

SECURITY 

AIRPORT SERVICES 

MANAS JYOTI MEDHI 

GUWAHATI 


would like to appreciate 

Manas for his dedication and sincerity 

towards work. As a valued member 

of the Security team he has always 

supported his colleagues when required 

and made our organization secure for 

our valued customers. We appreciate his 

determination and perseverance and his 

dedication for his work. 

Experience with SpiceJet: It has been five 

years of working with SpiceJet. I have seen 

many changes during my tenure but have 

always worked with a positive attitude and 

full faith in my organisation. The working 

environment here is very good and I am 

really grateful for getting a chance to work 

with SpiceJet. 

DINESH KUMAR 

PRAJAPATHI 

HYDERABAD 


We would like to appreciate Dinesh 

who is a very good team player. He can 

easily mingle with internal and external 

customers. He always has a positive 

attitude towards the work allotted to him. 

Moreover he is a very hard worker who 

always livens up the working environment 

all around him. 


with SpiceJet since 2016 has been exciting 

and challenging all along. I would like to 

thank my seniors and mentors who have 

been playing a great role in bringing out 

the best in me by extending their support 

throughout my tenure. I love the vibrant 

and friendly culture of this organization. 

PRAKASH 

MADHAVAN 

CHENNAI 


We would like to appreciate Prakash 

(Duty Supervisor) for his best efforts in 

coordination and planning for day-today 

operational requirements. And also 

for his exceptional deliverables through 

the additional responsibilites assigned 

to him from time to time. His dedication 

and commitment towards work is highly 

appreciated and we wish him all the best 

in his work. 

Experience with SpiceJet: SpiceJet 

provides a very good platform for career 

growth. It is a great place to work in. 

I have learned a lot from my seniors 

and mentors, who are always there to 

appreciate hard work. 

CABIN APPEARANCE 

AIRPORT SERVICES 

P 

SUNDARAVADIVELU 

CHENNAI 


would like to appreciate the sincerity of 

Sundaravadivelu. During the process of 

cabin cleaning on Flight 626 CCU-MAA, he 

found a wallet a passenger had forgotten 

on his seat and handed it over to the 

security staff. The wallet contained many 

valuables. 

Experience with SpiceJet: I would like 

to thank everyone for giving me an 

opportunity to be a part of the SpiceJet 

family. I am glad that I have started 

my career with a reputed and leading 

organisation like SpiceJet. This is a 

wonderful place to work in. The support 

and inspiring hard work of my colleagues 

makes it a great place. 

SWAGATA 

CHAKRABORTY 

BENGALURU 


Swagata is a pro-active team member 

and is always dedicated to her job. With a 

smile on her face, she is always helpful to 

her collegues and subordinates. She is a 

motivation for all those around her. In her 

role of supervisor she is customer-centric 

in her outlook and perfectly understands 

the needs of passengers. 

Experience with SpiceJet: I have been 

with SpiceJet for more than seven years 

and it has been a great joy and learning 

experience while working here. It gives 

me immense pleasure that I have been a 

part of the SpiceJet family which believes 

in hard work and building a co-operative 

work environment. 

PRIYANKA BOSE 

PORT BLAIR 


Priyanka is a dedicated staffer, 

always courteous towards passengers. We 

appreciate the way she constantly delivers 

results for the betterment of the company. 

She is a self-motivated person committed to 

self-improvement. 


with SpiceJet began in August 2017 and 

since then I have grown along with the 

organization. I have learnt a lot here 

and would like to deliver more with my 

performance in the future. I have enjoyed 

every day here, while working under the 

guidance of my seniors. I am grateful to the 

management for giving me this wonderful 

opportunity. The team I work with is helpful 

as well as motivational. 

147 

AUGUST 2019

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

FLIGHT BOOKINGS 

AT YOUR FINGERTIPS 

SpiceJet’s mobile app has been revamped with a jazzy interface 

and many more exciting features 

It has a brand new interface, is much more faster and scores 

very highly on user-friendliness. SpiceJet’s popular mobile 

app now allows customers great convenience in making 

and managing bookings, checking the status of flights and 

knowing about exclusive, travel-related offers. The interface 

is simple; even the origin of the 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 and in-flight meals. Customers can also prebook 

excess baggage at discounted rates through this app. 

The payment gateway of the app offers a variety of 

options. Customers can pay via credit card, debit card, 

net banking or wallets. You can download the official 

SpiceJet app from Google Playstore 

and App Store. 

148 

AUGUST 2019

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

STEP: 1 

Choose the required field. Fill in 

the details and click on Search. 

STEP: 2 

Flight options according to the date 

of travel are displayed. On selection 

of the relevant flight, different fare 

classes are displayed. 

STEP: 3 

Once the required flight option 

has been selected, fill in your 

contact details. 

STEP: 4 

Fliers can choose numerous add-on 

options that will make the journey 

hassle-free. 

STEP: 5 

Customers can pay via credit card, 

debit card, net banking or wallets. 

STEP: 6 

Upon a successful check-in, the 

customer receives the boarding pass 

for an un-interrupted experience. 

149 

AUGUST 2019

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

THE MID-AIR MENU 

SpiceJet has revamped its menu with new 

delicacies. Here's a quick glimpse of the 

exciting range of mouth-watering options 

BREAKFAST 

EGG BHURJI 

with chicken 

nuggets and 

mix vegetable 

parantha. 

SNACKS 

CHICKEN 

KHURCHAN 

with aloo 

parantha and 

vegetable 

kebab. 

SANDWICHES 

ROAST 

CHICKEN, 

sundried 

tomato 

and basil 

sandwich in 

marble bread. 

VEGETABLE 

JUNGLEE 

sandwich in 

white bread. 

LUNCH 

RASEELE 

CHOLE with 

mix vegetable 

parantha and 

vegetable tikki. 

KADAI 

PANEER 

KHURCHAN 

with masala 

kulcha. 

DINNER 

CHEF’S CHOICE 

TAWA FISH 

MASALA on bed 

of steamed rice 

with tadka masoor 

dal. 

CHICKEN 

METHI 

MALAI with 

jeera rice and 

dal makhani. 

KADAI 

CHICKEN 

with jeera 

rice and dal 

Amritsari. 

VEGETABLE 

PASTA in 

Neapolitan 

sauce. 

PANEER 

METHI MALAI 

with jeera rice 

and dal makhani. 

KADAI 

PANEER 

with 

vegetable 

pulao and dal 

Amritsari. 

More Chef’s Choice options available 

while pre-booking online 

PRE-BOOK YOUR MEAL AND 

GET UP TO 20% OFF 

150 

AUGUST 2019

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

ADD- 

SEAT SELECTION DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL 

SpiceMax Seats** Starting at M 799/- * Starting at M 1199 /-* 

Preferred Seats - on Boeing 

Ahead of exit row window /aisle M 350/- M 450/- 

Ahead of exit row middle M 250/- M 400/- 

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

Behind exit row middle M 99/- M 150/- 

Preferred seats Q400 

Front half of cabin window /aisle M 250/- M 400/- 

Rear half of cabin window / aisle M 150/- M 300/- 

Know more 

about 

SpiceJet’s 

innovative 

products 

and services 

Seat + Meal Combo 

Combo Price M 399/- M 499/- 

PRE-BOOK EXCESS BAGGAGE 

5 kgs Up to M 1975/- Up to M 2775/- 

10 kgs Up to M 3950/- Up to M 5250/- 

15 kgs Up to M 5925/- NA 

20 kgs Up to M 7900/- NA 

30 kgs Up to M 11850/- NA 

PRIORITY CHECK-IN M 300/- M 400/- 

Preferred Bag Out 

1 Bag M 100/- NA 

2 Bags M 200/- NA 

3 Bags M 300/- NA 

YOU 1 ST M 399/- M 499/- (Ex-India flights) 

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 400/- per kg As per current excess baggage rate 

At boarding gate M 400/- per kg As per current excess baggage rate 

MY FLEXI PLAN (EFFECTIVE FROM DECEMBER 21, 2017) M 1500/- M 1750/- 

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, Hyderabad) M 750/- M 1400/- 

SPICE LOUNGE (Mumbai,Kolkata,Chennai, Ahmedabad) M 1000/- M 1400/- 

SPICE LOUNGE (Kochi) M 1050/- M 1750/- 

*PRICE WILL VARY ON DIFFERENT ROUTES 

**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) 

EXCEPT FOR CAKE, ALL THESE ADD-ONS ARE NOT APPLICABLE FOR SPICEBIZ 

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 

151 

AUGUST 2019

100% COMFORT 

AT 50% DISCOUNT. 

Get 50% off* on SpiceMax seats on 

booking with your American Express ® Card. 

Promo code: AMEX50 Offer validity: 19 th June to 19 th Sept., 2019 

Choose SpiceMax and enjoy: 

Significantly more 

legroom 

Complimentary 

meal and beverage 

Priority check-in 

Priority 

baggage handling 

Priority boarding 

(at aerobridge gates) 

Please select the ‘SpiceMax’ option on seat assignment or Manage My booking page only. Offer is not applicable on selecting 

SpiceMax fare while choosing the flight. 

*T&C apply.

SPICEJET 

INSIDER 

Boeing 737 

Interior arrangement of Boeing 737 - 700W 

(149 Passengers) 

Interior arrangement of Boeing 737 - 700 

8 + 126 = 134 (Passengers) 

Rows: 

Entry / Exit 

1 -26 

Emergency Exit 

Entry / Exit 

Rows: 

 

 

Entry / Exit 

Emergency Exit 

Entry / Exit 

Interior arrangement of Boeing 737 - 800W & Boeing 737 MAX 8 

(189 Passengers) 

Interior arrangement of Boeing 737 - 800 

12 + 156 = 168 (Passengers) 

Rows: 

1 -32 

Rows: 

 

 

 

Rows: 

Rows: 

 

 

Rows: 

1 -20 

BOEING 737-700* 

BOEING 737-800 


BOEING 737 MAX 8 

BOMBARDIER Q400 

4 

52 

5 

13 

31 

Passengers 

149/8+126 

189/12+156 

212/28+138 

189 

78/90 

6200 km 

5,600 km 

5000 km 

6,500 km 

2000 km 

0.79 M 

(840 km/h) 

0.79 M 

(840 km/h) 

0.79 M 

(840 km/h) 

0.79 M 

(840 km/h) 

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

*Additionally SpiceJet has 3 B737-700 F, exclusive Freighter aircraft 

666 km/h 

 


112 ft 7 in (34.3m) 

117 ft 5 in (35.7m) 

110 ft 4 in (33.6m) 

41 ft 2 in (12.5m) 

11 ft 7 in (3.53m) 

BOEING 737-800 BOEING 737-900 BOEING 737 MAX 8 

112 ft 7 in (34.3 m) 

117 ft 10 in (35.92 m) 

129 ft 6 in (39.5 m) 

40 ft 10 in (12.45 m) 

11 ft 7 in (3.53 m) 

BOMBARDIER Q400 

93 ft 3 in (28.42m) 

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.

There are no straight 

lines in nature. 

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Miracles 

of 

Numerology 

Numerology is the most accurate predictive science and has evolved over the ages as a guidance tool for the people. 

Above giving just in depth knowledge, it empowers to plan, sketch your future and grow as a person. Sandhiya 

Mehhta, with her unmatched knowledge and expertise, with her wisdom and applications has excelled in the world 

of numerological sciences with researches and positive results and is a world wide brand. She has been awarded 

‘The Nari Ratna award, Indira Gandhi Priyadarshani Award, Rastriya Ratan award, Mahila Shiromani award, 

4p Brand recognitions, The Global Indian Leaders excellence award, Savvy woman honours 2016 from the 

hands of Iconic bollywood hero Dharmendra and many more such accolades internationally. 

SANDHIYA MEHHTA 

Ace Numerologist, Vastu expert, 

Third eye healer & Reiki grandmaster. 

Awarded as the ‘Pride 

of India’ by the ex chief minister of Delhi, 

Smt. Sheila Dixit. 

Titled as ‘Indian Nostradamus’ for her 

precise political predictions, 

since 2001 for our prime ministers. 

SPOTLIGHT 

WHAT IS MY REMEDY? 

My remedy is a tool I’ve devised through 

intensive research over years to balance your 

energies in your birth graph. By precisely 

studying the effect of each energy, and its 

powers we can enhance the missing energies to 

help you get successful results. It's not an 

overnight change, nothing is a miracle, but I 

will guide you to work on your missing 

energies. The universe is balanced, wherein to 

gain something, one must lose something too. 

In this case we will help you lose your 

negativities, and help you stay positive, 

strong and successful. 

The only successful Numerologist to 

have created self-htelp remedies for 

your fortune and prosperity, growth 

and sustainable success 

SPOTLIGHT 

INVEST IN 

UNDERSTANDING 

YOURSELF 

In todays materialistic age, we try to grow and 

achieve everything out of our reach, and after 

failing blame the universe for not allowing us a 

fair chance. We must try and understand 

ourselves first, and numerology helps you to 

learn about the most hidden aspect of your life. 

‘I don't say numerology will make you the 

richest man, because being rich isn’t the biggest 

achievement, but if you take my help, I shall 

help you be a better person.’ 

Take time out to study yourself, and 

numerology can be a tool to help you in this. 

Book your consultation for yourself, or your 

family, children’s education, marriage 

or your career & business ventures 

Numerology is the most accurate predictive science 

and has evolved over the ages as a guidance tool for 

the people. Above giving just in depth knowledge, it 

empowers to plan, sketch your future and grow as a 

person. Sandhiya Mehhta, with her unmatched 

knowledge and expertise, with her wisdom and 

applications has excelled in the world of numerological 

sciences with researches and positive results and is a 

world wide brand. She has been awarded ‘The Nari 

Ratna award, Indira Gandhi Priyadarshani Award, 

Rastriya Ratan award, Mahila Shiromani award, 4p 

Brand recognitions, The Global Indian Leaders 

excellence award, Savvy woman honours 2016 from 

the hands of Iconic bollywood hero Dharmendra and 

many more such accolades internationally. 

Numerology analyses your past, 

present and future. 

Every individual is unique and has their own balance of 

positive and negative energies, which Sandhiya Mehhta 

helps them study, by a detailed consultation. “To a 

person who seeks success, my system will bring 

success, happiness and prosperity. And to those 

who are already successful it will bring sustainability, 

positive reinforcements, further success and 

introduce to a new and higher perspective and 

lifestyle.” 

The Journey to my methods 

I am someone who has evolved with every step of my 

life and have just tried to be better at what I love. I 

don't just predict your future, I communicate, consult 

and help you empower your energies. 

My exclusive research and study of missing numbers in 

your birth graph helps me to determine your strong 

energies, and to uplift the missing energies to suit to 

your dreams and ambitions. With my unique scientific 

methods, I strengthen these missing energies in your 

graph. Its like providing nutrition to a body, by way of 

simple remedies and self improvement tools that I have 

developed by myself. 

Rahu and Shani : 

The curious case of 4 & 8 

With nearly 70% people somehow connected to 4 or 8, 

one wonders why is there so much hardship in the 

world. There will be disappointments, delays, hardships, 

slow growth, but these numbers are powerful friends if 

you wish to have them in your team. If channelised, 

their energies can be used effectively to push you in the 

right direction, and at least not to make you worry 

about their mythical nature of negativity. I will, 

understand your difficulties and suggest you measures, 

we will empower your life and, learn through 4 & 8 and 

reap more fruits of your hard work than you would 

have previously did. 

1, 9, 5, 3 : The positive side 

Individually every number has its massive merits but 

if it doesn’t get the support of your fadic/destiny 

number it can’t do much for you. 1, 9, 5 & 3 are very 

powerful numbers and should get magnanimous 

success as per individual calculations, but if you are 

still struggling and have faced certain problems you 

should try and understand your state of energies and 

detangle the web, to create a free path for your 

future. 

“A bright star has its own energy, but lighting a 

lamp in the dark is much more meaningful.” We all 

are a mix of many numbers, their combinations play 

us differently and affects us differently. We have to 

empower these combinations in our fortune, to 

achieve what is extraordinary, which makes us 

exemplary individuals, helping not just themselves 

but also their families, society, someone in need who 

looks upto you. 

My Numerology for the success 

road ahead 

“Knowledge empowers you, and there is nothing 

more powerful than to understand yourself, your 

potentials, what holds you back, what drives you 

forward.” I provide you this knowledge about 

yourself, though numerology. Knowledge about 

finances, career, turnaround years, lucky dates, 

months, years, things that help you have a strong 

backup plan for everything in life. “No mantra, 

fasting, name changes singularly guarantees you 

anything. Ultimately its you who has to foresee the 

future, and I help you to do so.” If you believe in 

yourself and the universe, let me just show you a 

direction, you yourself will lead on the right path and 

achieve the results within no time. I have received 

tremendous positive feedbacks to have faith in the 

universe myself. 

“I am not god; I just understand my field of work and 

use it to help people, guide them and provide them 

with some efficient ways to be happy, peaceful, 

ever-glorious and a good part of our society. I 

continue to achieve results with all my 

clients."-Sandhiya Mehhta. 

SANDHIYA MEHHTA / YELLOW SOUL 

H/0 Mumbai :+91 9769071673 / 

+91 9819921673 

Delhi: +91-9654483695 

Email: contact.yellowsoul@gmail.com 

Website: www.yellowsoul.in 

@SandhiyaMehta Sandhiya.Mehhta

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

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