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Ethnic Designer Wear Made Affordable With 40 Years Expertise In Fabrics

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Ethnic Designer Wear Made Affordable With 40 Years Expertise In Fabrics

For 40 long years the Jain family has been running a successful wholesale business in fabrics and dress materials. A third generation family entrepreneur has now ventured into women’s ethnic designer wear to make the high value creations affordable for a larger section of society. Good news for families shopping for marriage functions lined up in the upcoming ‘shubh mahurats’ starting end-November!

Conversing with news website LifeInChandigarh.com on the sidelines of the formal launch of Aakarshan Women’s Designer Wear Store in Sector 22A on Wednesday, its owner Adish Jain shared some thoughts on the idea behind launching the store.

Photos By : Life In Chandigarh

“Every bride would like to keep up with the latest trends while planning the trousseau of her dreams for the big occasion, but the designer ‘lehengas’, for example, cost a bomb. Most people can ill-afford such expensive designer wear, but are compelled to still go ahead,” he said, adding “we are here to help such brides and their families to painlessly fulfil their dreams.”

Relating a most recent incident, he said “Only yesterday a Sikh family visited us to purchase a ‘lehenga’ for their daughter-bride. They loved a pista green colour piece with exquisite golden embroidery but were apprehensive that it would be completely out of their pocket. They were shocked, pleasantly so, when we quoted a price of just Rs 20,000.”

This is exactly what, Adish claims, Aakarshan women’s designer ethnic wear is all about. “Since we understand fabrics and dress materials from 40 years of experience, in all our offerings, we are able to provide our customers with the most appropriate and best quality fabrics and finesse of work in our embroideries and other embellishments, done by highly skilled in-house ‘karigars’, at down to earth prices,” he asserts.

Besides the ethnic designer ware on offer in the store, Aakarshan specialises in customisation as per the customers’ demand. “Show us exactly what you want, even celebrity designer outfits, and, taking inspiration from what we see, we deliver good quality similar creations at much less the cost as the original stuff,” Adish emphasised.

The store has on display regular women’s office wear, home wear and designer outfits for different occasions. Among the variety of options available are designer suits, unstitched suits, dresses, gowns, plazo suits, sarees, lehengas, shararas, geraras, hand bags, dupattas, stoles, shawls and more.

Adish shared his plans to open Aakarshan stores in Mohali, Panchkula, Zirakpur and Kharar in the near future.

The owners Adish Jain (left) and Garima (right)

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676 

DLF Brings Gurgaon-Style Top Notch 5+ BHK Independent Floors

Sanjeev Kochhar
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DLF Brings Gurgaon-Style Top Notch 5+ BHK Independent Floors

Independent 3, 4 and now 5-plus bedroom floors in low-rise development format, wide open tree-lined roads, adequate parking, well maintained parks in every vicinity, one of the finest club house, beautiful view of the rising and setting Sun, lungs full of fresh rejuvenating air, protected wildlife sanctuary area in the neighbourhood and a feeling of living in the hills. Where would you find such exclusive living in the Chandigarh tri-city area!

Pioneering real estate company DLF, which has given 1400-plus families such idyllic living in 3 & 4-bedroom independent floors, and handsome returns on investment within a span of a few years, in Sector 3 of Pinjore-Kalka Urban Complex, Panchkula, has just upped the luxury quotient in its 200-odd acre township project ‘The Valley’.

The Valley Club House

Photos By : DLF & Life In Chandigarh

‘The Valley Gardens’, a new 34-acre development launched very recently within the secured township, is offering fully-fitted out 3500 sq feet 5-bedroom independent luxury floors with additional dedicated room for staff, toilet and large storage room in the spacious basement. The offering comes with two parking slots in stilt-plus-four-floors development format on uniform plot size of 500 sq yards (one kanal).

Elevation views of independent floors in ‘The Valley Gardens’

Eminent architect Hafeez Contractor has designed ‘The Valley Gardens’ in such a manner  that each floor will be green belt-facing, besides providing a beautiful view of the Shivalik hills and the green surroundings. Landscaping is designed by award-winning landscape firm MPFP, New York.

The developer, DLF Homes Ltd. plans to start construction once the Monsoons are over and the project is slated to be completed in three years. The company will be developing 424 independent floors as part of the project. Initially 200 independent floors are being offered for sale and the remaining could be launched in two tranches.

The price per unit starts from Rs 3 cr. The project is being marketed aggressively with easy payment options, and bookings have started in right earnest. The booking amount is Rs 10 lakh.

In a conversation with news website LifeInChandigarh.com on Saturday, visiting Group Executive Director & Chief Business Officer, DLF Ltd, Aakash Ohri expressed absolute confidence that seeing the trend of queries and bookings already done, the first lot of 200 “new age, fully-loaded” independent floors will be a sell-out very soon.

Giving reasons for his confidence, he said: “It’s not a mass product, and hence we are expecting only those who aspire for high living, and can afford it, to be our customers. We have brought a top notch product matching the  high standards of Gurgaon luxurious living, that too in the most serene surroundings, to the Chandigarh tri-city and we believe there are enough customers whose propensity to spend on fulfilling their aspirations is increasing.”

DLF has a 75-year proven history of adding appreciable value to the investments of its existing customers and the handsome appreciation in the market prices of the existing 3 & 4 bed room independent floors in ‘The Valley’ has helped strengthen the customers’ belief in the brand, Ohri asserted.

According to property consultants active in the area, a 1750 sq ft ground floor three bedroom independent floor, which was originally offered by DLF for around Rs 40 lakh in 2013, is now fetching up to Rs 1.5 cr and a 2450 sq ft four-bedroom independent floor, which original allottees brought for around Rs 65 lakh, is going for as high as Rs 2.5-2.6 cr.

Taking an early morning round of the sprawling township during a planned visit on Thursday, I was myself witness to the overlooking lush green hills, the beautiful scene of the Sun rising through the cloudy sky, the wide open tree-lined roads, well maintained green belts and one of the finest club house in the entire region.

It felt so nice and rejuvenating to intake lungs-full of clean, fresh air just like in off track destinations up in the hills. The peace and calm on the faces of people walking alone or in groups, many with their dogs, was best seen to be believed. Singles and couples enjoying their morning tea or reading the morning newspapers in the balconies were a sight to behold. 

Coming to the green belts, regular groups of friends were seen engrossed in routine discussions. A bigger group was seen performing yoga in one of the parks. Coming across an interesting group of four in another park singing bhajans, I was compelled to introduce myself and request them for a conversation.

Instantly opening up to me, Dhoop Singh, Om Prakash, Ram Chander and Balwant Singh said they meet here every morning and evening, share positive thoughts and ‘bhajans’ and also play cards.

“We, all residents in this township, are like one large happy family. Living here is like being in ‘swarg’ or ‘jannat’, as we know it. Peace and quiet, clean fresh air, 24-hour water and electricity supply, hardly any flies or mosquitoes because of the regular fogging operations undertaken and a secure environment all make for great living. At night the scene is mesmerising, twinkling lights give the feeling of deepawali as if we are living up there in the hills,” was their unanimous opinion.

They also proudly talked about their beautiful club house with a swimming pool and the best food you can have anywhere in a restaurant. An issue here and there is really inconsequential as far as we are considered, they added.

Dhoop Singh then offered and sang a parting ‘bhajan’ for me which goes as follows: “Meetha bolo bol jagat mein, methe ka koi mol nahin……”.

Later Brig (retd) Jitendra Dixit, President of the Valley Residents’ Welfare Society, echoed these sentiments saying ‘The Valley’ project is very well designed and executed for a peaceful and comfortable living and the residents are loving it here.

There are really no serious issues with the DLF management and small matters which keep cropping up from time to time are resolved with mutual consultations, he said, adding that it’s a developing township and more and more facilities are promised to be added in due course.

Brig Dixit informed that right now there are two private play schools and a secondary school within the township. School buses of some other reputed schools also pick up students from the township. “We have learnt that a marketplace has been planned to be developed in the near future near the Club House. Sites are earmarked for a hospital and a temple too. There is a gurudwara in the vicinity of the township. We residents have formed a religious trust and sent a written request to the DLF management to allot the temple site to us,” he added.    

Reacting to these observations, Aakash Ohri assured that a slew of amenities like cinemas, restaurants and other commercial products are in the pipeline and will be added in the near future, though he declined to give a timeline for it. “With these developments, I can bet that this property is going to be the most sought after in the entire region and a steady increase in returns is guaranteed,” he said while signing off.

For further queries DLF authorised partner Brig (retd) Mahinder Singh can be reached on M: 8146558224

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676 

Flowers In Her ‘Room’ Has Theatre Personalities Impressed

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Flowers In Her ‘Room’ Has Theatre Personalities Impressed

Another think fest comes our way, bringing eminent writers, thinkers, journalists, and other artists on a single platform, and promising of being free-flowing, evocative and radical. The two-day fest named ‘Speaking Allowed’, organised by Elsewhere Foundation, with corporate support from Hero Realty, starts at CII Northern Region Headquarters, Sector 31, Chandigarh, on March 30.

A 9th grader from Vivek High School, which has had dramatics as a major focus area, Nikasha, fondly called Nikki, unveiled her book at a media launch at Hotel Mountview Chandigarh on Wednesday, accompanied by her inspiring parents. Her mother Nisha Luthra is founder of “The Narrators”, a performing arts society, and her father, Deepak Luthra is associated with an Irish college.

Photos By : Life In Chandigarh

The formal public launch of the book will happen on Friday at the Mini Auditorium of Tagore Theater in Sector 18 where two of the plays penned by her will also be staged before the audience jointly by The Narrators Performing Arts Society and Chandigarh Literary Society.

Inspired by her mother’s involvement with theatre, young Nikasha has been a student of theatre since the age of seven, participating in several full length plays as an actor and hosting many literary events. So, it does not come as a surprise that during the peak of Covid confinement she should think of penning down her creative thoughts emanating from her long association with theatre. Online theatre classes during that period also contributed.

Nikasha shared details with news website LifeInChandigarh.com about the origin and development of the five plays, four of which are penned in easy to understand English & Hindi and portray human emotions and conflicts among characters. Zubin Mehta of Wings Theatre Academy, who has been her theatre guru since she was seven, “had given us a task of improvisation; divided us into teams of four and had given us one-line topic to perform on. That was the time when my mind started meandering into the world of stories, characters and imagery.”

The first three short plays – ‘The Emptiness Inside The Heart’, ‘When She Opened Her Eyes’ & ‘The Silence Of His Lips’ – were the outcome of these online theatre classes during Covid times. The 4th short play ‘Twelve Apple’ took shape largely due to her artistic mother’s fuelling the new bo writer in her.

While all these four short plays are works of fiction, the last one “Louis XVI” is based on the “wrong” (in her perception) done to Louis XVI (1754-1793), the last king of France before the fall of the monarchy at the end of the 10 year long French Revolution in the late 1700s and his execution. This play is written in English.

Having grasped the technical nuances of theatre, the young playwright has ensured that besides the dialogues of characters, she provides in each of the plays graphic details of the stage settings and stages of play when lighting fade-ins and fade-outs have to be affected.

Nikasha believes that many things have to be kept in mind while writing a play, such as selection of the characters, interactions between them, duration of the play, setting of the stage and conflict of the characters. Theatre actor-director Prof. Rani Balbir Kaur has said about her: “I feel she does have a sense of structuring a play, carving out characters and dramatic situations, which is commendable at this age.”

Among playwrights, Nikasha says she is inspired by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. She is also an avid reader of fiction and mystery novels and reads authors like Agatha Christie and Charles Dickens. A fond traveller, she likes to explore the world from the lens of her camera. Apart from writing, she also indulges in film-making and video-editing. On an idle day, she loves to play video games.

Nikasha can be reached at nikkitheatre09@gmail.com   

 

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676 

City’s Leading Dentist Dr Mohit Dhawan To Represent India

Sanjeev Kochhar
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City’s Leading Dentist Dr Mohit Dhawan To Represent India

Leading dental practitioner of the city and well known Prosthodontist and Implantologist Dr Mohit Dhawan is among eight dental practitioners chosen from across the country to participate in the prestigious Straumann World Class Cup, a global championship among teams of dental clinicians where they will compete in showcasing their expertise in four different topics of dentistry.

Organised by Straumann, a Swiss multinational and global leader in implantology, the championship will feature four rounds, first three of which will be held in virtual mode. The participants will be showcasing their expertise in four important topics in dentistry – Immediacy, Regenerative, Digital and Esthetics.  In the final championship round Esthetics, the four highest ranked teams will compete face to face in Palma de Mallarco (Spain) in December to determine the winner of the Straumann World Class Cup (SWCC).

Photo By : Life In Chandigarh

Besides two teams of four members each from North America and India, other teams will be representing Brazil, China, Switzerland, Turkey, Vietnam, Colombia, Russia, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Mexico & Peru, Thailand, European Entrepreneurship Education Network (EE-Hub), France, Iberia, Malaysia & Singapore.

In a congratulatory letter received by Dr Mohit Dhawan, the Straumann Group has informed him that he will be part of one of the two teams representing India in the SWCC. Each team comprises four clinicians and each of them will present a clinical case during one of the rounds. A jury of world renowned experts will score all the speeches and public voting can contribute additional points to determine the best of each round and the finalists.

About Dr Mohit Dhawan

Dr Mohit Dhawan, Director, ADC- Centre for Restorative and Implant Dentistry at Chandigarh, is a well known and award-winning Prosthodontist & Implantologist with over 4000 successful dental implants to his credit.

Practicing Prosthetics, minimally invasive Implant dentistry and Full Mouth Rehabilitation for the last nearly 14 years, Dr Dhawan has been appreciated and nominated by European Medical Association for his services to the field of dentistry. He is the first and only dentist from the region to qualify to the Oral B India National Dental Expert Panel. His practice has also been acknowledged as one of the highest medical visa sought practice centres in the region for dental services to international patients.

Dr. Mohit Dhawan post graduated in the forte of Prosthetic dentistry from Pt. B.D. Sharma Health University, Rohtak, India. He completed the Advanced Implantology Clinical Programme in Ziest, Holland under Prof. Dr R.C. Hertel and received advanced training in Oral Implantology at various other clinics and international centers for Implantology.

He is a Post Graduate Member of International Team of Implantology (I.T.I), Life Member of Academy of Oral Implantology, Active Member of Academy of Osseo-integration (U.S.A) and Life Member of South Asian Academy of Osseo-integration.

https://www.theadc.dental/dr-mohit-dhawan

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

Highly Advanced Camera Could Be Balle Balle™ For Struggling Pollywood

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Highly Advanced Camera Could Be Balle Balle™ For Struggling Pollywood

Producers of Punjabi films, struggling to come out of the ‘corona-kaal’, which has severely dented the prospects of the till recently raging Pollywood industry, might have something to go ‘balle-balle’ about. Here comes a versatile, compact and lightweight digital cinema camera which promises to reduce their time, effort and money spent on shooting the films.

The first newly launched flagship Sony full-frame digital cinema camera with internal X-OCN recording and 8.6K sensor – VENICE 2 8.6K – was delivered in North India to Saya films, a Chandigarh-based production house and leading camera rental company of the region, at a ceremony held in Industrial Area Phase 1 in the city on Thursday.

Photos Courtesy : Sony India

In a conversation with news website LifeInChandigarh.com, Ashwani Chaudhary, Branch Manager, Sony Chandigarh, shared that VENICE 2, priced Rs 70 lakh for the 8.6K image sensor variant, is an ungraded and improved version of its highly successful original VENICE 6K cinema camera launched in 2017 and has been developed by leveraging the company’s latest imaging and sensor technologies.

VENICE 2 is claimed to have been build upon the strength of the original VENICE with new features. A compact, lightweight and modular design facilitates faster set up for handheld or mounted shooting. The internal recording allows for more creative freedom and the option of seamlessly switching between the newly developed full frame 8.6K image sensor block and the original 6K VENICE sensor block does not need any additional hardware.  

The new 8.6K sensor can capture images up to a maximum resolution of 8640 x 5760, while the original 6K sensor offers up to 6048 x 4032.

On his choice of VENICE 2 8.6K, Gurpreet Singh, Director, Saya Films said “We are majorly into camera rental services, though during the last two decades in business we have also belted out some 45 productions, including six feature films and a number of music videos and short films. We have our own studio and 15 odd different models of cameras of brands like Red and Arri.

Regarding this very model VENICE 2 8.6K from Sony, the biggest advantage, besides being compact and lightweight with internal recording and facility of seamlessly switching between two image sensor blocks, is that instead of taking 3-4 different shots for every shoot, in this camera you just need to take one wide angle shot which can then be edited into close up and other requirements without compromising on quality. This saves immense amount of time, energy and money, he added.

Bob Hardy, international director of photography, in his testimonial has said that the biggest gain in VENICE 2 is that now we can shoot at high speed even in low light conditions because of its incredibly low light sensitivity.

The worldwide launch of VENICE 2 happened in March 2022 and, in India, it was launched in Mumbai in mid-July. There are 25-26 booking in India already, says Branch Manager Chaudhary, but the waiting period for delivery currently is around 3 months on account of the worldwide challenges in supply of sensors and chip sets.

So far, we have been able to deliver just one unit of VENICE 2 8.6K in Mumbai and this one today in Chandigarh. Currently only the 8.6K sensor variant is available in the country and 6K sensor variant will be added in due course. We have two more bookings from Punjab awaiting delivery, Chaudhary added while expressing optimism that VENICE 2 will prove a game-changer for Punjabi film cinematography.

Apart from the outstanding features of VENICE 2, the company claims to have a strong network of 100-odd service centres manned by its own engineers across the country, with at least one service centre each in most of the states.

According to a company handout, the original VENICE, launched in 2017, has been used to shoot more than 300 threatricals and broadcast, cable and streaming releases. A few among Hollywood releases are Top Gun: Maverick; Avatar sequels; Black Widow; The Crown Season 4; Reacher and Ozark Season 3. Indian feature films and series shot on VENICE include Bell Bottom; Jersey; Runway 24; Dhaakad; Mahaan; A Suitable Boy; Rudra; Special Ops and Scam 1992.

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

Can™t Take Responsibility For Infected Cattle Abandoned By Owners: MC Commissioner

Sanjeev Kochhar
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Can™t Take Responsibility For Infected Cattle Abandoned By Owners: MC Commissioner

While states are racing to contain the spread of the lumpy spin disease, a contagious viral disease which has killed hundreds of cattle, the response in UT Chandigarh has been mired in jurisdictional issues and capacity of ‘gaushalas’ to treat the diseased animals in isolation.

The controversy was raked up in the 135th meeting of the General House of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation on Tuesday when Congress councillor Gurpreet Singh Gabi alleged complete inaction by the authorities in Chandigarh to contain the disease.

Playing to the Press galleries

Photos By : Life In Chandigarh

While refuting the charge, Municipal Commissioner Anindita Mitra said that the municipal corporation was seized of the matter but it is responsible only for cattle which are either in ‘gaushalas’ or are strays. It cannot be held responsible for infected cattle which are being abandoned by their owners and a large number of such cattle are straying into the Union territory from adjoining states, she claimed.

Asserting that infected cattle had to be treated in isolation, she informed the House that the isolation areas within Chandigarh ‘gaushalas’ are already full to capacity and cannot hold cattle straying into Chandigarh jurisdiction from adjoining states. Providing figures, she said that 92 infected cattle are already being treated in isolation in various ‘gaushalas’ out of which 52 are on road to recovery.

The councillor tried to corner the ruling BJP on the issue saying that the party garners votes in the name of ‘gau mata’ and now that the subject of worship is dying in large numbers they appear to be least concerned about protecting it from the disease.

Mitra buttressed her claims of taking prompt action to save the diseased cattle by saying that not a single of the 92 isolated infected cattle has died.

Gurpreet Singh Gabi making a point

The issue held up the scheduled public business of the House for well over an hour before, on the suggestion of BJP councillor Kanwarjeet Singh Rana, Mayor Sarabjit Kaur agreed to constitute an all party committee to deliberate on this issue as well as on the issue of the municipal corporation providing financial or material assistance to privately owned ‘gaushalas’ in the Union territory. Earlier Commissioner Mitra vehemently opposed this idea of the MC executing any works on privately owned property maintaining that it is unlawful.

Playing To The Press Galleries

Further disruption ensued when a section of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillors trooped into the well of the House brandishing banners towards the Press Galleries demanding cancellation of the tender allotted for sanitation services in UT Chandigarh to Lions company (earlier, carrying these banners, they had also marched to the MC office for the meeting).

Empty chairs say it all about punctuality

The ruling party councillors countered them by flashing towards the Press galleries copies of published news items alleging that an AAP councillor was demanding bribe from an MC contractor working in Dadumajra (represented by the councillor). The sloganeering and counter sloganeering continued for half an hour before lone Akali Dal councillor Hardeep Singh and others succeeded in pacifying them and the House proceedings resumed.

Enforcement Staff Under Attack

The MC enforcement staff came under severe attack from several councillors cutting across party lines for allegedly indulging in corrupt practices. Congress councillors Sachin Galav and Gurpreet Singh Gabi, AAP councillors Daman Preet Singh and Yogesh Dhingra, and others alleged that the enforcement staff are blatantly taking ‘hafta’ from illegal squatters and allowing them to indulge in street vending without licence. Multiple squatters are doing business on a single licence that too, at times, granted for a different sector.

Gurpreet Singh cited a written reply to a question preferred by AAP councillor Jasbir Singh that out of 10,937 street vendors registered with the MC, only 3833 are paying their prescribed fee regularly. The total revenue regenerated on this count is a little over Rs 5.86 crore during 2021-22. The revenue loss was unpardonable, he remarked.

Replying to the points raised, Commissioner Mitra suggested that the penalty on challans for illegal squatters could be hiked to the extent that these become prohibitive. Also, registering of FIRs by MC officials can be considered in case of repeat offenders.

Buying Vehicles ‘Bad Idea’

Reacting to another discussion on the issue of buying of vehicles Vs hiring these for removal of horticulture waste and accumulated garbage from across the city, Mitra opposed buying of vehicles by the MC on grounds of difficulties in handling regular maintenance and frequent breakdowns. She cited the recent example of 585 vehicles bought by the MC for door to door garbage collection from funds provided by the Chandigarh Smart City Ltd.

“Daily on an average 50-60 of these vehicles need maintenance/repairs. It is not prudent for the MC to undertake maintenance/repair of so many vehicles,” she asserted.

Study Tour Of Goa, Now Mumbai Too

The so called study tours to far off places are always welcomed with smiles by councillors, and when the place being visited is one made famous by the romps it offers to visitors on its beaches, the smiles grow even wider.

Instant and joyous cries of “pass, pass” were heard in the House as the agenda of proposed study tour to Goa was read out by the MC Secretary. While an odd AAP councillor voiced his opposition to the four-day tour for all councillors and officers ostensibly meant to study the Goa Municipal Solid Waste Management Plants, which will set the MC back by roughly Rs 14.72 lakh, others from the ruling BJP and Congress suggested it be extended to include a visit to see the plant in Mumbai too.

Finally a proposal for a six-day study tour of Mumbai and Goa was put to vote. By the MC Secretary’s count 20 of the members present and voting in a House of 35 raised their hands in approval. None of the 14 AAP councillors appeared to have raised his/her hand. 

So, now the rough estimated expenditure on the entire tour is likely to touch Rs 25 lakh, all from the tax payers’ money, that too when the Commissioner and the Chief Engineer of the Corporation have already visited and evaluated the waste management plants in North Goa and South Goa as well as in Mumbai.

That’s about all for a ‘hard day’ of public business in the MC House! What say!

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

For The First Time, A Well-Researched Saga Of Struggles & Sacrifices Of The Unsung Heroes

Sanjeev Kochhar
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For The First Time, A Well-Researched Saga Of Struggles & Sacrifices Of The Unsung Heroes

Remember the days when the entire family would gather around the TV set and remain glued to favourite serials on our good old Doordarshan. The likes of Ramayana, Mahabharata, Chitrahar, Hum Log, Buniyaad, Gul Gulshan Gulfaam, Karamchand, Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne, Tu Tu Main Main, Ye Jo Hai Zindagi, Flop Show and dozens of others are etched on our minds and hearts. Now Doordarshan is seeking to recreate that magic with its newest offering ‘Swaraj’.

Starting August 14, DD National will air this 75-episode hour-long historical docu-drama series ‘Swaraj – Bharat Ke Swarantrata Sangram Ki Samagra Gatha’, produced in 4K/HD quality, at 9 p.m. every Sunday.

Photos Courtesy: Doordarshan

Claimed to be a highly well researched mega show, Swaraj will, for the first time ever,  comprehensively illustrate the glorious history of India’s freedom struggle right from the 15th century onwards, bringing to life its several lesser known aspects and unsung heroes.

Popular film actor Manoj Joshi is the ‘sutradhar’ (narrator) of the serial.

Taking the media through a preview of the mega show, 25 episodes of which have been shot so far, Additional Director General (Region), Press Information Bureau (PIB) Chandigarh, Rajinder Chaudhry said on Friday that the serial’s 75 episodes commemorate the 75 years of our independence from British rule.

He expressed confidence that the in-depth portrayal of the struggles and sacrifices made by sung and unsung heroes from all regions of the country during the 449 years – from the time when Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama first set foot on Indian soil in 1498, right up to 1947, when the country finally attained independence – will be an eye-opener and source of immense pride and inspiration for an entire new generation of Indians.   

Swaraj will first be aired in Hindi on DD National at 9 p.m. from August 14 and subsequently in several regional languages on Doordarshan’s regional network. Every episode will be repeated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It will also be dubbed in English for the international audiences. Its audio version will be broadcast on All India Radio (AIR) network from 11 a.m. on Saturdays.

Doordarshan has had a history of offering a bouquet of popular informative, authentic and entertaining programmes right through the 1980s and 1990s, some of them produced by well known professionals from various fields.

Some of the dozens of unforgettable serials in various categories which come to mind are Mahabharat, Ramayana, Shri Krishna, Chanakya, Tamas, Buniyaad, Bharat Ek Khoj, Surabhi, Katha Sagar, Hum Log, Malgudi Days, Dekh Bhai Dekh, Byomkesh Bakshi, Flop Show, Udaan, Khandaan, Tu Tu Mein Mein, Gul Gulshan Gulfaam, Mirza Galib, Wagle Ki Duniya, Fauji, Karamchand, Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne, Mowgli – The Jungle Book,  Ye Jo Hai Zindagi, Zabaan Sambhalke, Kahan Gaye Woh Log, Air Hostess, Rajani, Kakaji Kahin and Param Vir Chakra.

Now, when in the 75th year of independence, the nation is celebrating ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava’, the National broadcaster is preparing to reinvent itself based on the theme ‘Naye Bharat Na Naya Doordarshan’.

Apart from Swaraj, a number of other “high quality serials” are also coming our way soon, one among them being ‘Startup Champions 2.0’ showcasing the entrepreneurial culture fast growing in the country. Featuring successful journey of 46 national award-winning startups, it will be aired on DD News at 9 p.m. on Saturdays and on DD National at 12 noon on Sundays. The English version of this show will be on DD India at 10 p.m. every Saturday.

Some other upcoming serials with messages of patriotism and women empowerment are ‘Jai Bharati’, ‘Corporate Sarpanch’ and ‘Yeh Dil Mannge More’.

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676 

Feel The Mediterranean Life, Right Here In Chandigarh!

Sanjeev Kochhar
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0
Feel The Mediterranean Life, Right Here In Chandigarh!

Move over gin and tonics, here come Teq-tonics & Sorbet Gin-Tos, which together with the delicious Med-meets-European-and-the-world foot menu and the look and feel of the place will have you hooked to it. Charismatic and passionate restaurateur couple AD Singh and Sabina Singh have brought the acclaimed Olive Cafe & Bar of Mumbai to your own city in partnership with local businessmen Vishal Anand and Sampat Singh.

Starting 7:30 p.m. on Sunday (August 7) the signature whites and blues of the place in Sector 26, which pull one into the mirage of being by the Mediterranean Sea, will welcome you to settle down for the evening in its white-walled, open-to-the-sky, candle-lit courtyard with a beautiful view of the starry night sky (weather permitting).

Photos By : Life In Chandigarh/Olive

At a select media preview on Wednesday, AD Singh, originally from Delhi, now settled in Mumbai, who owns and runs a string of other equally exclusive and popular restaurant brands in 9 cities across the country, in a conversation with news website LifeInChandigarh.com passionately described Olive Cafe & Bar, the mother brand, as a “laid back place with a friendly vibe where good food, laughter, culture and conversations come together in a delightful melting pot.

“Olive loves its music,” he says “and patrons can tune in to our curated playlist of all-time-favourite jazz, classics as well as groovy retro tracks that set the vibe of a great night out.”

His wife Sabina Singh, who is the Design Director in the company, along with architect Vivek Popli, apart from Olive’s signature whites and blues, have ensured that patrons are able to enjoy natural light in the day and dreamy candle-lit mood at night.

The coziness of the soft arm chairs, the white pebbled courtyard, lush greens and the bougainvillea blooms make for a warm, inviting and toasty place, geared to instantly put one at ease. Little coastal details are layered every step of the way.

The Olive Group has a star corporate chef in Jyotika Malik, a graduate from Le Cordon Blue, London with an incredible experience of working for Marco Pierre White at his Michelin star restaurant Mirabelle, as also at The Dorchester Hotel in London. Along with her gourmet cafe menu and freshly brewed coffee, bespoke drinks, hand-crafted cocktails and a robust wine list by lead mixologist Harish Chhimwal, the everyday elements on Olive’s menu are just too compelling.

“Guests/patrons should not visit Olive in a rush,” jokes Jyotika. “We prepare everything on our menu with love and care. This takes reasonable time. But our promise is that the preparations will be great each and every time and the wait will be worth it.”

All Day Menu

The signature dishes include Sweet Pots, Chunky Avo, Super Bowl Salad, Wild Waffles, Buttermilk Fried Chicken Bun, Burrito Bowl, Ginger Salmon, Prawn Pil Pil and Sun Dried Tomato Chicken Espetada along with timeless and classic desserts like the French Toast with toppings like blueberries, mango peaches, hazlenuts served with chocolate ganache and salted caramel, which make a perfect ending to a day meal.

Dinner Menu

Olive’s dinner menu captures the Mediterranean by night. The menu is finer and is made using nifty ingredients beautifully paired together. You’ll discover a treasure of dishes vastly diverse yet deliciously familiar. Led by chef Anubhav Moza, the Olive kitchen turns gourmet ingredients into magical small plates, mains and desserts that take you on a culinary journey around the Mediterranean.

From bar nibbles, to Olive’s wood-fired pizzas to a live grill there is a great selection which is likely to satisfy the most discerning palate. The signature dishes include Panzella & Burrata, Miso Roasted Eggplant, Grilled Tiger Prawns, New Zealand Lamb Chops and Prawn Ravioli.

The highlight for both lunch & dinner is the Mezze which comes in a beautiful long wooden platter (feast for the eyes too) with an option for vegetarians, which includes falafel, goat’s cheese & spinach borek, and non-vegetarians with shish taouk, chermoula prawns and lamb koftas. These are accompanied with muhammara, hummus, tzatziki, kalamata olives, feta cheese, pickles and lavaash

Olive’s sweet offerings are a must-have. A rendition of a Tiramisu; as a sweet reminiscence of family picnics in the park; a mascarpone trifle; cherry bombollini or Italian doughnuts, coffee gelato with caramel popcorn, baileys, palmiers and coffee ganache biscotti. You can also try the fire and ice Rum n Raisin Baked Alaska which is flambed on the table.

Signature Cocktails

The beverage menu comprises an array of fresh cocktails and bespoke drinks also inspired by seasonal produce. Olive’s perennial favorite Sorbet Gin-To makes its presence felt on the menu as well. It’s a timeless gin & tonic twisted with a float of flavored sorbets like lemon, berry & passion fruit.

Teq-Tonics in which tequila is infused with herbs, fruits & flowers such as pimentos, hibiscus and grapefruit, and served with tonic water.

Olive Group’s lead mixologist Harish Chandra Chhimwal has crafted a diverse and eclectic cocktail menu that lets you take a sojourn to the scenic and charming Mediterranean. From Parisian Bling, which is crafted from gin, and lavender to Turkish Delight made with Bourbon, Kahlua and espresso, there’s also Morocco inspired Jack Rose, which is a concoction of JD Old no.7 with pomegranate syrup and lime juice. Spaniard is realised from a heady quartet of gin and basil. Tripoli Punch, which is inspired by Lebanon and is made of tequila, is going to be quite the showstopper.

You’ll also find deliciously exclusive cocktails that pay homage to this wonderful city we now call home. Made with locally sourced ingredients, Olive’s favourites include Chill Mango Tango, where mango and bird eye chili complement each other in tequila. Popcorn Party is a heady cocktail which is a sublime union of fat-washed scotch with mustard oil, blended well with popcorn syrup.

Wine List

The Mediterranean wine drinking culture has been brought all the way to Chandigarh. In this menu, you will find exciting, bubbly and rosé wines for the discerning drinker, and exclusive old-and-new-world labels from around the world. Order a glass, order a bottle. Either way, you are in for a good time.

Beverages

Beverages are concocted with equal love at the bar. Hearty shakes, freshly roasted coffee, hand-rolled teas (you will love the lavender and lemongrass first flush blend!), freshly squeezed juices and Glow & Berry Kambucha – a fermented, lightly effervescent, sweetened black tea – are also the highlight of the menu.

Olive’s claimed average cost for two for food only:

Rs 1500++ for lunch

Rs. 2200++ for dinner

For bookings: 8872300001

 

Olive Legacy

The first white-walled Olive, opened by restaurateur AD Singh, found its home in a laid-back neighbourhood of what was then Bombay in November 2000. It became a favourite with the crowds ever since it opened its signature blue doors. In 2003, Olive Bar and Kitchen opened in New Delhi and quickly Olive became one of the most popular and best-loved restaurant brands in the country. Mumbai and Bengaluru followed, In 2005, AD also opened Olive Beach in a quaint bungalow in Bengaluru.

In 2018, Olive Bar and Kitchen launched in an alfresco space situated on the stunning Vagator beach of North Goa, with a casual, rustic ambience overlooking the Arabian Sea.

Olive Bistro & Bar, another brand embodies the spirit of Olive in a more affordable and casual avatar. In 2013, Olive Bistro opened in Hyderabad, and two years later in Goregaon, Mumbai.

Some of Olive group’s successes include SodaBottleOpenerWala – a Bombay Irani Café & Bar that serves typical Parsi and Irani specialties and pearls from the streets of Bombay and its old-world clubs. Ek Bar (a new Indian cocktail bar serving a fresh, regionally-inspired modern menu and award-winning innovative cocktails), Olly at DLF CyberHub, Gurugram (Olive’s all-day café and bar where freshly roasted coffee, bespoke drinks and honest food blend with a laid-back vibe), The Hoppery, Hyderabad (Olive Group’s first microbrewery nestled between lush foliage and boasting a gorgeous lake view, with seating spread across a quaint glasshouse, an alfresco space and a wooden deck) followed.

Other notable names under the Olive umbrella are India’s first gastropub Monkey Bar, Guppy (one of India’s first Japanese restaurants), The Grammar Room (an all-day cafe borne out of a mutual love for grammar, food and coffee), Serai (a culinary cocktail bar), The Fatty Bao (an Asian gastro-bar) and the East Village, NYC inspired and gastronomically curious Toast and Tonic and Chinese bar house Cantan.

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

 

Is AAP Losing Its Perception Game In Punjab!

Sanjeev Kochhar
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0
Is AAP Losing Its Perception Game In Punjab!

Successful politics is all about generating a favourable public perception in your favour and against your rivals. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been seen to be playing this perception game successfully, capturing a second state after Delhi within seven years by making mincemeat of all the dominant parties in the border state of Punjab. But within months of the stupendous victory in the February 2022 assembly elections, is it losing the grip on its own game!

Punjabi comedian and two time Member of Parliament from Sangrur, Bhagwant Mann, after becoming chief minister, riding on a wave of popular support, despite coming good on a string of promises, including on corruption front, plugging revenue leakages, providing government jobs and free electricity up to 600 units in bi-monthly billing cycle, anti-gangster and anti-drug drives, getting vacated illegally possessed forest and panchayat lands, and more, is still finding himself increasingly embattled on several fronts.

File Photo

The party losing the bye-election to the Lok Sabha seat from Sangrur, especially when it had been vacated by Bhagwant Mann himself in the middle of his second consecutive term and within a couple of months of his assuming office, was largely attributed to a perceived spiral in daily crime graph, and the audacious and sensational gangster killing of popular Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala.

The sacking and arrest of Health Minister Vijay Singla in just over two months of his appointment on charges of seeking commission in award of a contract, basis voice recordings, was a serious setback to the party’s avowed anti-corruption plank.

The circumstances leading up to the early exit of state police chief V.K. Bhawra, Chief Secretary Anirudh Tewari and Advocate General Anmol Rattan Sidhu also left many people  perplexed.

The high expectations raised by the party with some of the high-cost election promises made, and the way these were aggressively presented before the people by the top leadership, is also weighing down the fledgling Bhagwant Mann government. People are increasingly becoming impatient and the party leaders, including the chief minister, ministers and MLAs, are finding themselves pushed on the defensive. Their repeated assertions of sincerely working towards the fulfilment of the party’s promises, and appeals to the people to be patient have few takers.

Another aspect of the Bhagwant Mann government’s functioning, which appears to betray its sense of insecurity, is quickly panicking and buckling under the demands of various pressure groups without getting the issues properly examined at the government level.

It has been seen in the hasty decision announced by the chief minister to scrap the Mega Integrated Textile Region & Textile Park near Mattewara Forest in Ludhiana district along the Sutlej river. This followed the chief minister’s meeting with a delegation of Public Action Committee (PAC), an NGO spear-heading the agitation against the project, which was  approved during the tenure of Congress chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh.

On other occasions also the government has meekly surrendered before the demands of farmers and agitating unemployed/temporary staff after initially seeking to take a tough stand against their aggressive agitations or announced plans for agitation.

Moreover, the manner in which some of the party MLAs, local leaders and even ministers have been conducting surprise inspections and raids, with the media in tow, and bluntly humiliating officials in public is not being appreciated by a wide cross section of the society. Such actions, which people believe could have been done in a more civilised manner, have given credence to observations that the inexperienced elected first timers may not be able to judiciously handle their newly acquired powers. Videos of these frequent raids have been routinely going vital on social media.

The latest video of the current Health Minister Chetan Singh Jouramajra, publicly humiliating Baba Farid University of Health Sciences Vice Chancellor and distinguished orthopaedic surgeon Dr Raj Bahadur over torn mattresses at the Guru Gobind Singh Medical College & Hospital, Faridkot, has created a furore across the medical fraternity. There is a public outcry against the minister’s conduct on social media. Only the diehard party supporters have come out in support.

Having personally known Dr Raj Bahadur, an embarassed chief minister is in damage control and has reportedly personally apologised to the VC and requested him to withdraw his resignation from the post.

Bhagwant Mann is also having to contend with another growing public perception – that he is acting as a puppet of the party’s National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The appointment of one of the latter’s closest aides Raghav Chadha, recently elected to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab, as Chairman of Punjab Government’s Advisory Panel is also widely being viewed as a way of remote controlling the functioning of the Punjab government from Delhi.

This despite the fact that the people of Punjab whole-heartedly embraced AAP largely because of the image of Arvind Kejriwal they had conjured up in their minds and hearts. They perceived him as a bold and transformational leader who would help steer them out of the seemingly never ending vicious cycle of dirty politics, decaying government machinery, corruption, gangsters and drugs. But what the people of Punjab are known to detest the most is to be dictated, which should explain their change of heart towards Kejriwal.

The Opposition is playing its own usual part. Sensing this atmosphere of uncertainty and insecurity within the Bhagwant Mann government, it is losing no opportunity to corner the chief minister and thus regain a foothold in the battleground which it had all but lost.

AAP needs to quickly get into a midfield huddle and rethink and re-strategise if it wants to come back strongly into the game.      

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676

This Modern-Retro™ Bike, Offering Stress-Free Riding Experience, Is For Explorers

Sanjeev Kochhar
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0
This Modern-Retro™ Bike, Offering Stress-Free Riding Experience, Is For Explorers

In Japan’s feudal period, a ‘samurai’ without a lord or master, in other words a drifter or a wanderer, was called Ronin. And Chennai-based home bred leading two & three-wheeler manufacturer TVS Motor Company, with a global reach in 55 countries, has named its newest offering in the 150-350 cc segment motorcycle just that.

With the 225.9 cc RONIN, the domestic market leader in the 150 cc-200 cc motorcycle segment claimed at a launch ceremony in Chandigarh on Friday that it had forayed into the “premium lifestyle segment” with a ‘modern-retro’ motorcycle.

Photos By : Life In Chandigarh

So, if you are not exactly mad after power and speed, and would rather be an explorer seeking a comfortable riding experience across terrains, then RONIN is for you. The 225.9 cc, single cylinder, air/oil-cooled engine linked to a 5-speed gearbox, delivers a maximum output of 20.4 bhp at 7,750 rpm and 19.93 Nm of peak torque at 3,750 rpm.

The ex-showroom prices across three variants are Rs 1,49,000 for single tone, Rs 1,55,500 for dual tone and Rs 1,68,750 for triple tone. Though the company had started taking bookings much earlier, it has started shipping the motorcycle to its dealers only in the first week of July.

In the impressive presentation at Taj Chandigarh, Vimal Sumbly, Head Business – Premium, TVS Motor Company, shared with the media that “Motorcycling at the global level is changing. It is moving from serving a functional purpose to enabling self-expression, freedom and the willingness to explore. With the RONIN, we are not only offering a brand, but an entire brand world with it.”

The company emphasises that for a stress-free riding experience across terrains, the motorcycle, besides impressive technology, offers convenience features like dual-channel ABS, voice assistance and enhanced connectivity. It is also in the process of launching an exclusive range of branded world-class merchandise and custom accessories. An online configurator will allow you to see how your desired accessory will look on your RONIN.

A riding community – TVS RONIN CuLT – is also in the offing which promises the coming alive of culture, lifestyle and travel.

TVS dealers with the bike

Later, in a separate interaction with select media, Vimal Sumbly sought to bust a ‘myth’ that TVS is purely a South Indian brand. He asserted that in fact North India bundled with few other areas is the biggest market for TVS motorcycles constituting roughly 40% of the company’s countrywide total annual sales of motorcycles.

The company continues to grow as a global brand having exported 11 lakh units to 55 countries so far, he asserted.     

Key features

  • All LED lamps
  • Signature T-shaped pilot lamp within round headlamp
  • Asymmetric speedometer
  • Exhaust & muffler design
  • Chain cover
  • 9-spoke allow wheels
  • Block thread tyres
  • Digital cluster (DTE – distance to empty, ETA – estimated time of arrival, gear shift assist, tu by tu navigation, incoming call alert/receive, custom window notification
  • Ride analysis on TVS SmartXonnect App
  • Rain & urban ABS modes
  • Integrated starter generator (ISG) for low noise feather touch start
  • Upside down front fork
  • Rear monoshock
  • Glide through technology
  •  Assist & slipper clutch
  • 3-step adjustable lever

LifeInChandigarh.com  by APR Media House is an enjoyable digital reading startup, which keeps you abreast of the latest meaningful happenings of interest to large sections of folks in Chandigarh tricity, and expats from the region. It has been promoted by a public spirited senior journalist and media consultant with a view to encourage good quality and healthy journalism, a dire need of the times.

To keep in touch, drop an email or call :
kochhar.apr@gmail.com
9815617676 

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