It was a 4.2-meter (14-feet) and 1,225-kilogram (2,700-pound) white beluga whale, which, like the friendly dolphins, had endeared itself to thousands of Norwegians with its friendly and playful demeanour towards humans over the last five years.
First sighted by fishmen off the coast of Norway’s far-northern Finnmark region close to the Russian waters in 2019, the beluga whale was nicknamed by locals as “Hvaldimir,” a pun on the Norwegian word for whale “hval” and the Russian President Putin’s first name Vladimir.
The reason for the nickname was a harness marine biologists discovered on the beluga, along with what appeared to be a mount suited for a small action camera and the words “Equipment St. Petersburg” printed on plastic clasps.
Also, the fact that he was not only comfortable in the company of humans but also enjoyed playfully interacting with them, unusual for the marine mammal in the wild, was a clear indication that it had been tamed and trained.
The West has always harboured suspicious about the Russian navy training whales for military purposes, though the US military is also known to train dolphins and seals for various undersea errands.
Over the years, despite the speculation over the beluga being a Russian spy, he quickly endeared himself to the locals after wandering to several Norwegian coastal towns.
However, according to reports on various online news media, on August 31, grief engulfed the local coastal communities when the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK reported that Hvaldimir was discovered floating motionless in the sea at the Risavika Bay in southern Norway.
With an estimated age of around 14 or 15, Hvaldimir was relatively young for a Beluga whale, which can live to between 40 and 60 years of age.
“Unfortunately, we found Hvaldimir floating in the sea. He has passed away but it’s not immediately clear what the cause of death is,” marine biologist Sebastian Strand, who has monitored Hvaldimir’s adventures for the past three years on behalf of the Norway-based advocacy group Marine Mind, reportedly told NRK, adding that no major external injuries were visible on the animal.
“It’s absolutely horrible,” Strand has been reported as saying. “He was apparently in good condition as of (Friday). So, we just need to figure out what might have happened here.”
Photos Credit: Facebook/Marine Mind
In a social media post, accompanied with pictures of beluga whales (whether these are of Hvaldimir is doubtful as the mammals seen do not have a harness on them), NGO Marine Mind wrote a condolence message with the headline: **In Loving Memory of Hvaldimir **
The highly emotional message reads thus: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Hvaldimir’s passing. This morning, after receiving a sighting report from a local, our team arrived to find Hvaldimir floating peacefully in the water, no longer with us. A necropsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.
“Hvaldimir was not just a beluga whale; he was a beacon of hope, a symbol of connection, and a reminder of the deep bond between humans and the natural world. Over the past five years, he touched the lives of tens of thousands, bringing people together in awe of the wonders of nature. His presence taught us about the importance of ocean conservation, and in doing so, he also taught us more about ourselves.
“Hvaldimir bridged the gap between humans and wild animals in a way that few can. He was special to so many, leaving an indelible mark on all who had the privilege to encounter him. His legacy will continue to inspire our work and our mission to protect the ocean and its inhabitants.
“Rest in peace, Hvaldimir. You will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.”
Having been exposed to the buzz around the brand, in which a member of a well-known industrialist family of the region is a co-founder, we went to check out the look and feel of the newly opened store at the first opportunity, curious to know what makes the brand stand out.
The store overall ditto reflects Nicobar’s avowed design philosophy, which is to create a brand that embodies “simplicity and versatility” and champions “easy and effortless style”.
Elaborating on the uniqueness of their brand philosophy, Simran, who concentrates on the product and design aspect of the business, said “our clothing and jewellery can be worn for years, and our homeware remains with you for life.” For her, “Fabrics matter, as do fit and form. Whether in clothing or homeware: simplicity, versatility, and the ability to layer (and no big logos!) are the cornerstones of our collection.”
Nicobar’s woollies are claimed to in recycled wool, and the denim made using minimal water and energy (the brand calls it ‘green denim’). Similarly, their responsibly-made home products include wooden serveware made of discarded teak tree roots, banana fibre table runners, bamboo baskets, and recycled glass.
About inspiration for their various collections, Simran had this to say: “We are rooted in India, and yet inspired by journeys across the Indian Ocean. Every season, we set sail on a voyage to create a modern design stamp for India. Our design teams take a journey of inspiration across the Indian Ocean and the ancient trading routes, moving from coast to coast, season after season. We’ve taken design journeys to Sri Lanka, Japan, Bali, Myanmar, China, Thailand, Bali, Zanzibar, Madagascar and along our own coastal routes… because at the heart of Nicobar’s design story is a sense of wanderlust.”
Talking about the pricing of Nicobar products, Raul said “It’s a value proposition, which comes with a heartfelt commitment to quality and style, work ethic and the mindful nature of the business, which involves costs.
Sharing revenue figures, Raul said last year the brand achieved a turnover of Rs 150 crore. It’s targeting a healthy two-digit growth in the coming years with 10-20 more stores planned to be opened.
Relating the interesting story behind this, Raul said it was natural that since they had a base in the national capital, they would like to open in Delhi first. They were lucky too to get a prime location there, but the unlucky part was that despite sealing a deal, the consultant subsequently attempted to wriggle out of the contract, citing an irrefusable demand for this particular property and multiple other locations from another client. He offered them to match the new demand, which they were in no position to do.
Developing a strong offside game with his elegant cover drives and cuts, Dhawan again emerged India’s highest scorer at the 2015 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand, with 412 runs from eight matches at an impressive average of 51.5 runs.
As if picking up from where he left in 2017, Dhawan gave a glimpse of his top form in the 2019 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup as well, with a hundred against Australia, before a fractured thumb unfortunately ruled him out from the rest of the tournament. It turned out to be Dhawan’s final ICC tournament.
The expanded store was formally inaugurated earlier this month by CK Venkataraman, Managing Director, Titan Company Ltd., of which Tanishq is a crowning jewel.
A showcase for the season is Tanishq’s exclusive festive collection in gold called ‘Dharohar’, which according to brand officials draws inspiration from the heirloom artefacts of eras gone by.
Among other collections, there is ‘Rivaah X Tarun Tahiliani’ collection, designed with intricate ‘karigari’ techniques such as Rawa, Filgree, Chandak and enamel work along with coloured stones ‘piroi’ for modern brides; and ‘Enchanted Trails’ collection, drawing inspiration from the intricate beauty of exotic nature.
According to Ashish Tewari, Regional Business Manager (North), Tanishq as a brand keeps itself fresh and vibrant by constantly looking to bring something new to the market and launching new collections and new designs.