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Medical Records Raise Questions Over Assertions Made In Publication

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

Cases of scientific misconduct in research papers published in reputed scientific journals is not uncommon, and neither are retractions. But when questions are raised over possible misconduct in a publication, the corresponding author of which happens to be heading a prestigious medical education and research institution, it comes as a shocker.

A peer-reviewed research paper, with then Ophthalmology Department HoD and currently Director of the prestigious Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh Dr Jagat Ram as corresponding author, published in Indian Journal of Ophthalmology (IJO), has come under the scanner over possible distortion of historical facts along with falsification and fabrication of patient’s data.

LifeInChandigarh.com is in the possession of the mid-aged male patient’s records of treatment for glaucoma in both eyes at the PGIMER since 2013. Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions which damages optic nerve and is a leading cause of blindness.

These records, gathered during a sustained investigation spread over several months, during which the Advanced Eye Centre of PGIMER declined to furnish relevant information sought by the news website under the RTI Act, 2005, apparently raise fingers on some of the assertions made in the short description accompanying a case photograph in the research paper titled “Double dialysis of the iris”, with authors Sonam Yangzes, Simar Rajan Singh and Jagat Ram, published in the “Ophthalmic Images” category of the May 2019 edition of IJO.

Right from the age of the patient from Punjab, which has been mentioned as 45 years in the research paper, whereas as per PGIMER records his age was 30 years in 2013 and 35 years in 2018, discrepancies are galore in the research paper, and in the 2018 treatment records, as compared to the treatment records in 2013.

The research paper mentions that the male patient presented to the ophthalmologist with decreased vision in his right eye and that “There was history of blunt trauma to the eye 6 months back” (at the time of treatment in 2018). But actually during treatment both in 2013 and 2018 the history of blunt trauma to the right eye of the patient has been recorded in the Discharge And Follow-up cards as “in childhood”.

Another discrepancy is in the timeline of the eye findings as well as diagnosis. The findings in the photograph accompanying the published paper, claimed to be as a result of trauma suffered 6 months back (in 2018), whereas these findings were recorded even in 2013 and the diagnosis then was Axenfeld-Reiger Anomaly, which can clinically present just like the image shown in the 2019 publication.

Axenfeld-Reiger Anomaly/Syndrome is a group of disorders that mainly affects the development of the eye. Common eye symptoms include cornea and iris defects.

The claim in the research paper, that after the patient underwent cataract surgery with repair of iridodialysis (a localised separation or tearing away of the iris from its attachment to the ciliary body) in the right eye in 2018 he regained 6/9 vision in that eye (considered good), is also questionable.

Patient record shows that before the surgery, immediately after the surgery and couple of weeks thereafter, the vision in the right eye was recorded as very poor, which was also the condition in 2013.

Surprisingly, as per records, Dr Simar Rajan Singh and Dr Sonam Yangzes, two of the authors of the publication, were quite familiar with the previous history and treatment of the patient. They had seen the case 6-7 years ago in the glaucoma clinic when the glaucoma consultant Dr Sushmita was of the opinion that the childhood trauma to the patient in the right eye was just incidental (to the condition of the right eye) and that all this was part of the developmental process. She had diagnosed the patient as suffering from Axenfeld Anomaly and he was being treated for glaucoma in both eyes since then.

Responding to emailed observations and attached documents sent to him by LifeInChandigarh.com, IJO Editor Dr Santosh G Honavar did not find anything amiss in the research paper within the limited scope of the category “Ophthalmic Images” of the journal in which it was published.

He informed that the requirement of the category is that “the images must stand alone without the need for a detailed description of more than 100 words. The purpose of this specific publication was to use the supplied image to show a unique teaching point,” he maintained, while leaving a window open by adding further, “and not to bring out the details of the surgery or the long term outcome.” 

Claiming to have accessed the relevant medical records from the hospital and gone through the details, he maintained that “The medical records available with us clearly show that the OPD diagnosis is as stated in the publication, and the surgery as stated in the publication was performed on July 6, 2018. As per the follow-up medical records available to me, vision on July 12, 2018 was measured as 6/9p with pinhole and is documented as such. The same has been stated in the publication, which was written up at that time.”    

Incidentally, in an earlier development, after a reader is learnt to have pointed out how the image carried in this publication could be the same as the one appearing in another publication by uncommon authors carried in the same edition of the journal, the editor conveniently omitted the image from the other publication and published it as an erratum stating that it is incorrectly published at IJO.

Dr Santosh G Honavar had an explanation for this too. “Genuine errors can rarely and inadvertently happen in any publication process,” he said and went on to explain that “If the error is noticed by the editorial team post-publication, or is pointed out by a reader, the Journal communicates with the corresponding author of the concerned manuscript and seeks a response. If the explanation by the corresponding author is acceptable, then the Journal publishes an erratum, clearly pointing out the inadvertent error and the relevant correction. This does not amount to retraction, and is considered a corrigendum.

“…… IJO has followed the same standard policy in case of the manuscript in question,” he added.

PGIMER Director Dr Jagat Ram, while responding to an email in this connection sent by LifeInChandigarh.com, had this to say, “Thank you for your mail. A detailed response regarding the matter at hand has been submitted by Editor, IJO after due investigation on 24th January 2021 via email, a copy of which was sent to me as well. The same is being attached along with for your immediate reference. I have nothing more to add to the same.”

 

 

 

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

Celebrate The Love, Sweetness & Spirit Of Valentines The Great Bear Style

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

The oldest microbrewery in Chandigarh tricity has just opened its welcoming doors to the warm breeze of sweetness and love which has begun to spin its magical web around Valentines. Starting February 10, popular pub The Great Bear Kitchen and Microbrewery in Sector 26 Chandigarh, and its predecessor Hops n Grains in Sector 9 Panchkula, have crafted a befitting menu, celebrating the true love and attention you intend to shower on your most special one.

Apart from providing an ambient atmosphere, the pioneers of the thriving microbrewery culture in the tricity have laid out a very special food fare for the 12-day ‘Romantic Food Festival’ to enhance the romance quotient, while at the same time celebrating a decade of brewing excellence.

Photos By : Life In Chandigarh

“Every item in the menu, from beer to main course to dessert, has been designed to enhance the love sense,” share Valentines themselves, Priyanka and Amritanshu Gupta, who first brought the microbrewery concept to the tricity with their first venture – the by now iconic Hops n Grains in Panchkula – a decade ago, and following it up with The Great Bear in 2016. “A third microbrewery on Airport road in Sector 79 Mohali is coming up next and will be opening soon,” the couple proudly reveal to LifeInChandigarh.com at a select media preview this week.

Like in previous years, a unique beer is being brewed by the microbrewery’s specialist Gagan for this year’s Valentine’s – Fresh Rose Beer – crafted from fresh red roses and special grains. Reflecting the dominant colour of Valentine’s, it will have an alcohol content of 5.2%.

Lovetini, a cocktail with a medley of vodka, guava juice, cranberry juice and fresh strawberry, is another special drink in the exclusive Valentine’s menu.

A surprise awaits Valentine’s guests in the soup section, too. Head chef Paramjeet Singh explains that the ‘Springs of Love’ features a delectable mushroom puree soup with cappuccino froth! and a Thyme Crostini (a thin thyme bread toast).

The ‘Love At First Bite’ section in the Valentine’s special menu offers a sumptuous Strawberry & Feta Salad, along with some new mouth-watering fare, like Barbeque Jackfruit Tacos (soft), Ghee Roast Chicken Kalmi Kebab and Masaledar Tawa Sole Fish.

A dessert platter in the ‘Sweet Obsession’ section which serves a walnut brownie, strawberry tart, carrot cake and Crème Brûlée is simply irresistible and rounds off the special menu for the festival.

Apart from this both The Great Bear and Hops n Grains will continue to serve their popular variety of freshly brewed German style beer – Bock Beer for those who love it strong, Weiss (wheat) Beer targeted at beginners, most popular Green Apple Beer (no one else serves it in tricity, claims Gagan), Golden Ale, Kolsch and Pilsner – besides its world cuisine, including snacks, main course and desserts.

Romantic Food Festival: Open at The Great Bear & Hops n Grains from Feb 10 to Feb 21.

Meal for two: approx Rs 2,000

For Reservations: 8558802630-31

Ideal place to sit: The garden, with a convertible roof

https://instagram.com/thegreatbear_chandigarh?igshid=1p6bw2aknl5ry

https://www.facebook.com/TheGreatBearBrewery/

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

Cashing In Opportunities Provided By mRNA Based Vaccines

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

Seizing an opportunity provided by Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna spearheaded mRNA based vaccines to control Covid-19 pandemic and increase the ‘Made In India, For The World’ footprint in the international markets serviced by it, Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Co. Ltd., the flagship company of the Godrej Group, has announced the launch of ultra low temperature freezers in its portfolio of medical grade freezers.

Making the announcement in a virtual media conference recently, Kamal Nandi, Business Head & Executive Vice President, Godrej Appliances, a business unit of Godrej & Boyce, shared that these advanced medical freezers can preserve live-saving medical supplies, including critical vaccines requiring precise and constant temperatures as low as up to minus-80°C, and will help boost both Indian and global medical cold chains.

Photos By : Life In Chandigarh

He explained that these ultra-low temperature freezers come with a back-up system, like liquid CO2 or liquid NO2, to ensure safety of stock stored by maintaining a stable temperature for over 48 hours in case of a power outage or an unlikely system failure.

Godrej & Boyce is currently exporting medical grade freezers to 36 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Kamal Nandi

Nandi said Godrej Appliances has deployed vaccine refrigerators, which maintain a precise temperature of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius to store the highly temperature sensitive CoviShield and Covaxin vaccines being administered in India, as part of the national tender it won in October 2020. Medical freezers which maintain minus-20 degrees Celsius are also being deployed for diluents used while administering vaccines and ice packs needed for the last mile delivery in the Covid-19 vaccination drive in the interiors of the country.  

He informed that there are two major challenges faced by the healthcare sector specific to the world’s largest Covid-19 vaccination programme. One is, maintaining temperature stability in cooling devices, because of the highly instable power supply in interiors of the country. And two, the technology being used for storage of vaccines cannot maintain precise narrow temperature band, because of which the storage reaches freezing point of the vaccine, and it freezes, leading to massive avoidable wastages. Available statistics indicate wastages as high as 60-70% in the country, he added.

Nandi shared that the company during the last 5-6 years has been further developing its portfolio of medical refrigeration equipments and today what had been developed is WHO certified for quality and performance.

Giving details of the Rs 95 crore national tender won by Godrej Appliances in October 2020 for supplying 12,000 units of medical grade freezing equipments for deployment across the country, he said out of this 9,000 were refrigerators and 3,000 chest freezers. More than 2500 refrigerators and 500 chest freezers had already been installed in healthcare centres in various states, he added.

Apart from this the company had also received orders worth another Rs 55 crore to supply these equipments to international and state bodies.

All orders are expected to be delivered and installed at designated locations by the end of March this year.

Nandi said this past one year Godrej Appliances had also concentrated on augmenting its manufacturing capacities. The annual capacity of medical grade equipments has been enhanced from 10,000 units to 35,000 units and work is afoot to enhance capacities for manufacturing ultra low temperature freezers from 10,000 units per annum to 30,000 units anticipating a surge in demand from the international markets.

Simultaneously, the process of training the staff to handle these equipments and trouble-shooting is also in full swing with 600 personnel already trained. The entire exercise is scheduled to the completed by March-end.

The company claims to be geared to promptly service these equipments as well. The entire nationwide servicing network of Godrej Appliances, comprising 680-plus service centres and 5,000-plus technicians, is on standby to handle any service issue anywhere in the country within 48 hours.

Godrej Appliances is also exploring other ways to assist in the next phase of vaccine deployment till the last mile. It has successfully piloted a mobile clinic in rural Maharashtra, running an ambulance equipped with a vaccine refrigerator, without connecting it to a power source for three days. The temperature was monitored every 2 hours and met the required temperature norms. As India accelerates the pace of vaccinations, more agile remote deployment may hold the key to success, the company feels.

The concept is not new for the company. It has in the past executed a similar programme called ‘Boat Clinics’ in Assam under which such freezers were transported by boat from island to island in the north-eastern state.

Answering a query, Nandi said though currently the market for the medical grade freezers is of the order of Rs 2000-2500 crore in the country, it is expected to grow at a fair clip in the coming years because of its use finding a place in many emerging fields. Currently this business accounted for just 5% of the company’s total revenues and it is estimated to grow by 30-40% during the current financial year to increase its contribution to the company’s total revenues to 7-8%, he added.

Earlier, in his address Jamshyd Godrej, CMD, Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Co. Ltd., said beyond the context of the Covid-19 vaccines, there is a growing need for precise temperature controlled freezing solutions for several critical applications in vaccine administration centres, blood banks, organ storage banks, sperm banks, stem cell banks, eye banks, pharma cold chains and their testing labs, etc. All these applications need precise cooling in their day to day operations.

Jamshyd Godrej

Besides these, he said there are several applications in animal husbandry, like poultry farms and fisheries, etc. which also require precise cooling and storage. Food cold chain is another big area where temperature-controlled refrigeration units are required. Over and above, pharma companies are actively working towards fighting other potential viruses lurking around, like the H5N1 for example, and these vaccines will continue to need a cold chain, he added.

He further said, adult vaccines, growing lifestyle diseases, for example diabetes, etc which require temperature sensitive insulin vials, all these will increasingly require cold chain applications as well.

In fact, recent scientific reports are exploring promise by the mRNA technology to fight cancer. These mRNA vaccines will require ultra-low temperature freezers and it is important for all countries to be ready with appropriate cold chain infrastructure.

Reiterating Godrej & Boyce’s commitment, the CMD said as healthcare gains critical importance the world over we aim to be close and trusted partners in this space not only in India, but also in the rest of the world.

To learn more visit: https://www.godrej.com/godrej-appliances

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

 

 

Pioneering New Age Data-Driven Physical Rehab With World Class Tech

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

Advanced world class biomedical equipments and devices, developed by teams of engineers, physiotherapists and movement experts, that use precise data-driven assessment, rehabilitation and training protocols, are resulting in vastly improved outcomes in prevention and rehabilitation of physical and neurological injuries and ailments, as also in performance enhancement, in medical patients and athletes alike

A 5-city chain of centres equipped with such biomedical equipments and devices, Abhinav Bindra Targeting Performance (ABTP) rehab & fitness centres, a brainchild of India’s only individual Olympic gold medallist and five-time Olympian Abhinav Bindra, has in the past four years provided permanent solutions to physical and neurological problems and issues of  20,000-plus medical patients and athletes. The centres, which provide advanced physiotherapy and high-performance physical training, are located in Mohali (sub centre Chandigarh), New Delhi, Pune, Bhubaneswar and Bengaluru.

Photos By : Life In Chandigarh

Heading the ABTP facilities is one of the most qualified sports science experts in the country, Dr Digpal Singh Ranawat, who has worked with athletes across the world. The centres are manned by well trained physiotherapists who specialise in, among other fields, orthopaedic rehabilitation, neurological rehabilitation, women’s health, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, paediatric rehabilitation, high performance training and injury management.

During a visit to review ABTP’s Mohali facility in Sector 82 on Airport Road, LifeInChandigarh.com was impressed with the ambience, the world class equipment and the highly qualified and trained staff. A firsthand experience on some of the Italian machines was a real eye-opener.

 “The biggest advantage of the technology used at our centres is to give an accountable and objective assessment of physical parameters. Akin to a weighing scale, which gauges the weight of a person, the array of devices can provide data on 30-plus parameters. From this our expert physiotherapists, trainers and data analysts can identify the root cause of a problem and help correct that. So an issue is addressed permanently,” shares Ranawat,

The centres have a wide range of world class biomedical equipments and devices from TecnoBody. With more and more people understanding the impact of data-driven technology in physical and neurological rehabilitation for medical patients, as well as in peak performance of athletes, the centres are becoming increasingly popular with the passage of time. Tie-ups with global brands like Lode and AEI Technologies ensure that the centres are regularly updated with the best of technologies.

Encouraged by the impactful benefits being derived by medical patients and athletes from ABTP centres across the five cities, Abhinav Bindra has plans to expand access to such facilities and technologies across the country.

How did it all start!

The demure Bindra opens up thus: “I have had the opportunity to lead a life involved in a high performance sport for over 20 years and was fortunate to get the best support with cutting edge science and technology abroad. It played a big part in helping me avoid injury and become physically more self-aware. These ABTP centres bring the same opportunities to India. Here both athletes and physical rehabilitation patients can receive the best of science and technology and bring values of sport and high-performance into everything they do!”

What does a typical assessment entail!

Explains Dr Rohit Kalyan, Centre Head at ABTP Mohali, “At each ABTP centre, the assessment is divided into two parts, first, physical assessment, which involves physical examination of a client, and second, bio mechanical assessment, in which 16 types of tests are conducted – static, dynamic stability, pelvis stability, gait/run analysis and functional testing for upper limbs and lower limbs, etc. The various facilities and equipments are provided in four different labs – biomechanics/postural lab, functional lab, gait/physiology lab and recovery & rehabilitation lab.”

Though ABTP offers packages for various assessments and rehabilitation therapies ranging from five sessions at the lower band to 30 sessions at the upper, with charges depending on the medical condition of clients, patients with chronic knee issues may require 20-40 sessions and those with chronic back issues between 15-30 sessions. Each session can cost Rs 1100 for 30-minute session and Rs 2000 for hour-long session.

Giving a couple of examples from across centres to buttress the effectiveness of data-based accurate assessment and rehabilitation, Rohit says “There was this patient of knee osteoarthritis, a senior citizen from Panchkula, who came to us complaining of severe pain and not being able to even walk properly. After 30 sessions, designed specifically for him based on his scientific assessment, his pain is now minimal and he walks 2-3 kms daily.

“Another patient from Mayur Vihar Delhi was so troubled by persistent stiffness in the body that he could barely ride a bike. In this case too, after 30 sessions, flexibility in his body has been restored and for him bike ride is now a breeze.”

Like them, ABTP claims to have permanently rehabilitated hundreds of other medical patients. Their list of permanent clients among national and international level athletes and entire sports squads, including India Super League (ISL) franchisees FC Goa, Mumbai City FC and Odisha FC, is also unending.

Corporate Wellness Programme

The chain of rehab & fitness centres has also curated a Corporate Wellness Programme targeted at typical 9 am-5 pm employees who for most times remain glued to their seats. Apart from simple, time-effective interventions to prevent common issues among them like back/neck pains, this programme also helps in increased productivity by achieving better fitness and endurance levels. The programme involves full body bio-mechanical assessment, strength & endurance, cardiovascular health and ergonomics.

Physio At Home

Where the patients for any reason are unable to travel to an ABTP centre, and at places not yet served by the chain of centres, there is an arrangement for organising video sessions by the staff. A “Physio At Home” programme has also been initiated in various parts of the country wherein physiotherapists with basic training by ABTP experts attend to the needs of clients at home.

ABTP has recently opened a sub centre at Apollo Clinics in Sector 8 Madhya Marg to extend its facilities closer home to people in Chandigarh.

www.abtp.co.in 

 

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

Master Of Frozen Food Business Parveen Gupta Deals In 650 Items, 2 Dozen Of His Own Brand DLGs

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

Would you have even imagined that one day your favourite Punjabi street foods like cholle bhature, Amritsari kulche, peethi-stuffed aloo tikkis and a variety of biryanis will come frozen in ready to cook, fry or heat form, and still be safe and as nutrient rich as their fresh counterparts.

Compulsions of a fast-paced mode lifestyle have helped hasten innovation by people in the business to constantly add to the list of these irresistible foods. One such passionate food entrepreneur and innovator is Parveen Gupta, whose brand DLG’s is making waves in the frozen foods business in Chandigarh tricity.

Photos By : Life In Chandigarh

A third generation torch-bearer of Haryana Stores (estd 1948 in Ambala by his teacher-turned-businessman grandfather Master Panna Lal Gupta), Parveen (58), considered the king of frozen foods in the tricity, jumped into this business as early as in 1991 and is now supplying an astounding 650 frozen items of more than two dozen brands, including his own, to practically all the known names among hotels, restaurants, caterers, clubs, corporate institutions and to individuals for marriages and other special occasions.

Parveen Gupta with his son Piyush

Parveen Gupta was just 14 years old when he joined his father Devinder Lal Gupta in the food business while continuing with his studies (the family shifted to Chandigarh in 1964), and now his sons Piyush and Pranav are adding a youthful zing to the family business.

In a conversation with LifeInChandigarh.com about his passion for and romance with the food business, Parveen fondly and proudly relates his long and continuing association with troops posted on Siachen glacier ever since they were first deployed to the icy and barren heights in 1984. “In the initial years we had the honour of supplying our soldiers with limited food stuffs with a long shelf life like chocolates, gazzaks, squashes and soups in powdered form. Currently we are catering for butter paneer masala, Haldiram gulab jamuns, Haldiram chikki and Bikano rasgullas, etc,” he shares.

He adds, “We were the first to introduce several top brands to the Chandigarh region like Amul, Fortune, Ruchi Nutrela and Dhara. I still remember having personally sold Amul butter in public transport buses in Chandigarh. Haryana Stores became a private limited company in 1984 and there was no looking back thereafter. In all we are currently dealing with 100 brands, including in the frozen foods space.”

Till a couple of years back Haryana Stores Pvt Ltd was also dealing heavily in a variety of oils, but it has now decided to concentrate more on frozen foods, for which it has launched its  own brand DLG’s. “We are already getting custom made two dozen odd high quality and reasonably priced frozen items, including a wide variety of chicken and vegetable snacks, combo meals and chicken dishes.”

Among DLG’s frozen snacks are momos/dimsums, kebabs, kaathi and spring rolls, pizza pocket and burst, Punjabi samosa, Kerala’s famous layered malabari parantha, Punjabi dal peethi-stuffed aloo tikki and paneer burger patty.

The veg meals include frozen fried rice with veg manchurian, veg biryani with muglai gravy and chawal with either of yellow dal, rajmah or channa. In chicken preparations there are chicken curry boneless with rice, chicken biryani with mughlai curry and butter chicken boneless with rice.

A latest edition in DLG’s frozen food range is raw peeled and chopped potatoes in cube form.

Ambrozia’s Railway Chicken Cutlets

The frozen range is endless if we combine all brands supplied by Haryana Stores, including Ambrozia, ROC, Buffet, CP, HY Fun, Treveni, etc. Besides frozen raw chicken, mutton and fish, it includes a wide variety of frozen chicken and vegetarian snacks, momos/dimsums, burger patties, naans, chappatis, kulchas, paranthas, spring rolls, prawns, pork snacks, fish snacks, and many more.

Also available are frozen peeled and cut vegetables, fruit berries, desserts, Indian curries, dals, biryanis, chutneys, wholesome tiffins, south Indian dishes, frozen breads and a whole lot of Indian and imported cheeses.

Says Parveen Gupta, “We also have ingredients for all international food menus – Japanese, Spanish, American, Arabic, Mexican and of course Chinese. All kinds of imported cheese, including goat cheese and non-veg cheese, are also available.”

So what is it that is fuelling the frozen foods business! “With life in the fast lane, working couples are increasingly drifting towards quick and convenient foods and what better than frozen raw and cooked foods (which beyond doubt have been proven to be clinically safe and as nutrient-rich as their fresh counterparts) in their freezers. The work from home culture necessitated by the pandemic has further provided impetus to frozen foods,” is Parveen’s response.

Ambrozia’s Chicken Shami Kebab

“Sitting right here you get to taste the famed layered malabari prantha from God’s own country Kerala and the Andhra pepper chicken. All at much less the amount you spend for them in a good restaurant. Most restaurants too are any way dishing out menus from these frozen foods,” he adds.

So what does he have up his sleeve next! “Currently we are working on adding frozen puri stuffed with peethi to the DLG’s brand. People can expect more and more frozen foods from us in the coming months and years,” is what the frozen foods entrepreneur and innovator promises.

Expert tip on frozen foods

Never thaw or defrost frozen food on the counter top. To defrost, either put it in the refrigerator or in cold water or in the microwave. Food defrosted in cold water or in the microwave should be cooked immediately.

Dlg Foods on Instagram 

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

Transparency In Entire Value Chain Of Coffee Defines Its Authenticity: Marc

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

It was a day dedicated to coffee lovers from the tricity. A few dozen eager faces, invitees at Back To Source, cafe well-being, recently were all eyes and ears to the ‘gyan’ being shared with them by two of India’s most respected Coffee Gurus. The occasion was a special 90-minute coffee tasting and learning session, and the purpose, to help the discerning few better appreciate that cuppa, and share the knowledge gathered with others.

The gurus – Marc Tormo, well known speciality organic coffee entrepreneur, roaster and brewer from Auroville in Puducherry; and Vikram Khurana, celebrated coffee consultant from the National capital and only Indian to have won top rankings in two consecutive Annual World Barista Championships – appeared equally eager not to hold back anything.

Marc Tormo demonstrating the Pour Over method of making black coffee

Photos By Life In Chandigarh

The evening started with Marc, a speciality coffee master from Spain settled in India for the last two decades, running the gathering through some of the interesting and lesser known facts about the journey of coffee in India and the nuances of a good coffee culture, which is more pronounced down South and is slowly but surely taking shape in the North.

Then, with the help of the cafe’s baristas, he went on to demonstrate how to make rich and flavourful black coffee using the Pour Over method which does not require much machinery. 

The process involved grinding fresh coffee beans in a small special home-use hand grinder and then slowly pouring water heated to a specific temperature uniformly through the coffee grounds filled in a cone shaped special paper filter. The water, poured with momentary pauses in between, drained through the coffee and filter into a tumbler made of special glass. The delight on the faces of guests who took a few sips said it all.

The floor was opened to tastings and guests couldn’t wait to take their pick from a wide range of variants of the cafe’s signature high quality speciality organic coffees from Marc’s Coffees, being brewed under the expert supervision of Vikram Khurana himself, and an array of well laid out delicious accompaniments. Some coffee lovers were seen taking suggestions about coffees to order from the experts.

The guests, curious to know more, also vied with each other to informally interact with the two coffee gurus individually, apparently not wanting to let go this opportunity which may not come visiting again.

According to the coffee experts, the best method of making coffee for those who prefer to have their coffee with milk is Espresso. It’s a very concentrated coffee drink (with origins in Italy) which is stronger than regular coffee. It’s a much faster way of making coffee but requires and espresso machine.

Nitro Cold Brew Coffee has become the hottest thing in cold coffee. It’s a cold brew coffee charged with nitrogen to give it a rich, creamy head of foam similar to draft beer. It requires assembling a complex series of faucets, tubes, hoses, gas tanks and keg connectors.

Aero Press is a simple machine for home use which quickly presses hot water through the coffee, and a special paper filter gives a clear cup of coffee without bitterness or the unwanted leftover sludge at the bottom of the cup or mug. The coffee that is produced is strong and concentrated, but at the same time ultra smooth.

Later talking to LifeInChandigarh.com, Marc and Vikram gave the following exclusive tips to readers:  

* Get fresh coffee beans from a brand of your choice, and sourced through a reliable vendor,  for its authenticity. Speciality organic coffees are the best choice.

* Grind the beans every time you make coffee, preferably with a coffee hand grinder, to retain its original flavour profile and the strength of the flavour.

* The water you use should be in its purest form

* Whichever method you use for making your cup of coffee – Pour Over, Espresso, Nitro Cold Brew coffee or Aero Press – make sure you do it the proper way.

* For concentrated coffee, the ratio of coffee to water should be 1:3 (i.e. 3 grams of water with every 1 gram of coffee). For reduced concentration, keep increasing the ratio, like 1:5, 1:10, etc.

* Coffees should never be consumed too hot, otherwise the taste buds become numb and the flavour of the coffee is lost to a large extent. Ideally, a hot milk coffee should be consumed at 65-68 degrees Celsius and black coffee at around 72 degrees Celsius.

* Simple things to keep at home for best coffee outcomes: A small steel coffee hand grinder (a good one costs Rs 4000-4500), a pour over coffee apparatus for black coffee and an aero press apparatus.  

Vikram Khurana patiently listens to queries and observations from coffee lovers

Marc, who all these years, has been engaged with coffee growers in different parts of Southern India, which, he says, can be divided into 14-16  coffee regions, is a great admirer of Indian coffee beans. “Indian coffee beans stand out in the world because these are grown under the shade of trees and hence retain the natural moisture content. This type of cultivation also ensures that the ecology does not get disturbed or destroyed.”

The Spanish origin coffee expert is among the earliest coffee entrepreneurs and roasters to get into speciality organic coffees, in 2008. His brand Marc’s Coffees picks up the best coffee beans from some of the coffee regions in South India. These are processed, roasted and largely consumed in the country itself.

The various colours and shades of coffee beans

Pointing out, with apparent disappointment, that currently green coffee beans are being exported on a large scale from India, and after value addition, some of it is coming back to the country, he is of the view that coffee processing and roasting is slowly coming of age in India and that the best coffees should be reserved for the country.

“But for that, coffee education in the country has to happen in a big way first so that a mature coffee culture is generated. There is also a need to bridge the wide gulf between coffee consumption in the South and North, for which coffee tasting sessions like this one are of great help,” he adds.

Highlighting the distinctions between commercial, premium and speciality coffees, Marc says most of the top mass consumption brands make coffee on a massive scale, in which process the intrinsic qualities of coffee are lost. These coffees also cannot be traced back to their source. But the quality of coffee is good enough for a decent cuppa and the price tag is attractive for mass consumption. “I would say drinking commercial coffee is like drinking Bourvita …. the taste does not linger,” he emphasises.

On the other hand, premium coffees are an outcome of better selection of beans with these being graded on the basis of size and colour, and hence of superior quality.

Marc asserts, “The best off course are speciality coffees, organic the better, which can still be described as rare in the country. The painstaking way in which the beans are selected and then processed and roasted brings out the real flavours and goodness of coffee. These coffees rise above the distinction of light, medium and dark coffees and cater to a global culture, have more subtle flavours and are thicker and more flavourful.”

In speciality coffees different flavours can also be generated from the same beans. The taste lingers on for a while. Such coffees, the entire value chain of which can be traced from the farmer to the cup, are produced in limited quantities – a couple of hundred kgs annually at the most – hence are quite expensive, he informs.

A parting question, which would have crossed every coffee drinker’s mind: Among all forms of coffee consumption, why Cappuccino continues to remain the most popular worldwide? Pat comes the reply from the coffee guru, “Because it brings together two contrasting flavours, the bitterness of coffee and the sweetness of milk. It has everything a good coffee should have – frothy, creamy and very smooth. It’s akin to a small meal, providing you the energy to keep you going!”

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

3 Young Men Are Reimagining Concept Of Greeting, Gifting & Decor For You!

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
-
0

From using high quality rare natural flowers that can last up to an unimaginable one year, to an insane bouquet of 1,000 roses, three young men are doing incredible things with the floral delights that are helping hundreds of patrons realise their dreams for special occasions. Partners in a by now standout, largely online venture Fiorella – The Flower Boutique, these guys are reimagining and redesigning the concept of greeting, gifting and decor.

Fiorella has just launched a physical kiosk at a vantage location on the ground floor of Chandigarh tricity’s most happening place, Elante Mall to serve clients for its wide range of over 70 fresh flower products in these parts after wowing customers in Amritsar, NCR Delhi, Kolkata, Surat, Mumbai and Hyderabad. 

The flower boutique’s offerings include luxury box bouquets in a host of colours, shapes, sizes and materials, wedding invites, decor for all seasons and occasions and forever flowers, which when cared for, as prescribed, last from 300-350 days without needing water.

In fact, Fiorella is trail-blazing the growing popularity of forever or infinity flowers in the country. It’s something you wouldn’t have imagined even in your wildest dreams – 100% natural, but treated, roses and gardenias which, with some precautions, stay with you in all their beauty and freshness for up to a year! The high quality miracle flowers (known to be treated by a secret process) come from Equador, a tiny country in the north-west of South America along the Andes mountain ranges.   

While the fresh flower products are currently available in seven cities, the forever or infinity range, state-of-the-art wedding invites and decor are available pan India on pre orders.

The story of Fiorella started in 2017 when Samarth Gupta and Tanuj Dang met through a common friend weeks before Valentine’s Day. They got discussing the need for a bespoke flower boutique in India and did not take long to shake hands for starting an enterprise. They worked fast and on 6th of September they were in business.

A hundred orders in less than five days in the run up to Valentine’s was just the push they needed to broaden their horizon to add tailor made floral installations, decor and other arrangements for any milestone being celebrated. Within six months of starting operations they had a third partner Jagteshwar Singh coming in to give a sales and marketing thrust to their fledgling business. Since then there has been no looking back.

The Fiorella team says, “Social media has blurred geographical boundaries. It has enabled multiplying a discerning audience in India. This gave us the idea to move away from conventional bouquets to creating customised, personalised hand crafted artisan flower bouquets. 

“We introduced flower boxes that have unique shapes and sizes, and come in different materials and colours, with compartments to add other gifting items like jewellery, make up, charms, wine glasses and keys to a new house or a car or simply a hand-written note commemorating the occasion. These can be personalised with wedding logos, monograms and corporate logos. Delectable cakes and confectionary, or even a bottle of champagne, can be ordered as an accompaniment to the bouquets.”

Fiorella – The Flower Boutique caters to celebrity clients, homegrown & international luxury brands, corporate, banks, wedding planners of repute and anyone who wants to say it with fiores (Italian for flower). With a proven success formula, we are now captivating bloom lovers through sculpted fresh flora & foliage installations, décor and arrangements for events on pre orders.

Sharing his thoughts with LifeInChandigarh.com, Jagteshwar Singh says, “With people still hesitant to venture out unless necessary, sending flowers has become the only means of greeting friends and relatives on their special occasions. We have seen a 15-20% jump in sales over the last couple of months as compared to the corresponding period last year. We are expecting the trend to continue through Karva Chauth and Diwali.”

For Karva Chauth, one can choose from an array of forever or infinity flowers. The Diwali Special boxes can contain flowers of your choice with macaroon cake or chocolates or both.

Apart from the most popular red roses, people can choose from several other colours of roses, besides lilies, daisies, tulips, hyacinths, gardenias, etc. Exotic rainbow colour flowers and glow-in-the-dark add to the festive mood.

Talking about the price range, Jagteshwar shares “The box bouquets shaped in select letters of the alphabet and numerical digits can range in price between Rs 2600-3600. The base price of the boxed invites with fresh flowers starts from Rs 2500-3000. Small arrangements for home decor could cost Rs 40,000-50,000. For weddings, sky is the limit, depending on the budget.”

In Chandigarh, Fiorella can be reached on +91 7042177977 or on Instagram – FiorellaIndia.

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

Affluence Brings Mature Coffee Culture, Says Indias Top Coffee Expert Khurana

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

Sharing these views telephonically with LifeInChandigarh.com in the run-up to a first of its kind coffee tasting and learning session for coffee lovers in the tricity on October 23, Vikram Khurana, India’s only barista (Italian word for coffee brew master) ever to win top ranking (3rd and 5th positions) at two consecutive Annual World Barista Championships in 2002 and 2003, says, “As affluence increases in a society, so does automatically its coffee culture, like it happened in several East Asian countries like Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, etc.”

Picture of concentration: Barista champ Vikram Khurana

Vikram Khurana and Spanish-origin coffee entrepreneur, roaster and brewer with 29 years of international experience in the speciality coffee movement, Marc Tormo Altimira, settled in Auroville, Puducherry since 1996, will during a 90-minute session at Back To Source, cafe well-being in Sector 17, demonstrate before a select gathering of invited coffee lovers from the tricity how to brew best coffees at home and how best to savour them. Both are among the best known names in the world of coffee in India.  

Back To Source, which is already wowing coffee lovers by serving high quality freshly roasted speciality coffees – a variety of combinations of Marc’s Coffees’ signature coffees Buma Devi, Kaveri and Neri Malai, will be launching two new coffee flavours on the occasion. One of the new coffee flavours is from Odisha’s Koraput tribe in collaboration with Project O, and the other a nano lot produced by Pranoy from Kerehaklu Estate, Chickmangalur, Karnataka.

During the session, the invited coffee lovers will be explained how hand grinders, precision scales, pour over filters and kettles are helping create a new culture of home brewing. Incidentally, Khurana is also CEO of Kaapi Solutions, a company which besides offering end-to-end consultancy to cafe entrepreneurs, also sells world class home, office and cafe grade coffee machines and other equipments.

Comparing more affluent societies to India, Khurana adds, “No doubt there is a large and fast growing class of people in India who are addicted to coffee, and understand good coffee, but we lack consumption volumes. In Australia, for example, people start having their morning coffee as early as 7 am, but in India the earliest coffee session starts sometime late in the afternoon.”

“Also, consumption of black coffee, which brings out the very essence of good high quality coffee, is very low. By a rough estimate, as compared to espressos and milk coffees, it would be 7-8% in hotels and restaurants, and probably 20% in cafes serving speciality coffees,” he emphasises.

Commenting on Indian coffees, since India is the 5th largest coffee exporting country in the world, he says “we cannot really claim that we grow and roast the best coffees in the world, but India’s coffees have their own unique flavour. We have realised our potential rather late, and are slowly getting there. A new generation of growers and roasters have started to experiment with the Indian coffees and are presenting good results.”

Sharing his own experiences as a champion barista, Khurana feels that more than formal education, brewing is about passion, knowledge and experience. He had joined Coffee Day as a barista only a year before India was first invited to the Annual World Barista Championship, its 3rd edition at Oslo in 2002.

“It was an honour for me to represent Coffee Day at the event. I was nervous as well as excited. After months of practice, there I was at Oslo holding India’s pride in my hands. My 3rd position finish among six finalists was dream come true. A 5th position finish in the next edition of the championship at Boston in 2003 proved that the 2002 performance was not a fluke,” he recounts.

The good part, he asserts, was that India firmly stamped its presence on the world coffee map and India’s perception of being a mere coffee growing country changed forever.

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

Licensed IIT Bombay Ecorsani Tech Is All-Natural Protection Against Covid Virus

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

Stop fretting over having to use alcohol and other chemical based sanitisers multiple times in a day when you are away from the safety of your homes. Here comes a range of certified, all-natural and fragrant protection sprays that are skin and environment friendly, a result of extensive research and testing by IIT Bombay, and manufactured and brought to us by one of its licensees, Life Essentials Personal Care Pvt Ltd., an Indian MSME.

The ‘W2 Protection Spray Range’, which includes apparel protection spray, room protection spray, hand-body protection spray and surface protection spray, is based on EcorsaniTM  technology (patent filed) developed by IIT Bombay, and is priced such that it is well within the reach of the masses. The MRP of a 60 ml bottle of hand-body sanitiser spray is just Rs 35. The price tag on 225 ml and 500 ml bottles of all the other sprays is Rs 199 and Rs 299.

The range is being made available in stores, starting from NCR Delhi, but can also be bought online from anywhere in the country through the company’s website www.w2whywait.com as well as on ecommerce platforms Amazon and Flipkart.

Launching the products in a virtual media conference on Tuesday, Mr Amandeep Singh, Director, Life Essentials Personal Care Pvt Ltd, shared, “It’s an all-natural, No Alcohol-No Bleach protection spray range, which protects against bacteria, viruses (including COVID 19) and fungi.

Explaining the EcorsaniTM technology, developed by IIT Bombay and licensed to Life Essentials Personal Care Pvt Ltd, Dr Rinti Banerjee, Chair Professor, Dept of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Bombay, said, “We had been working on safe and natural products that kill bacteria even before the pandemic. During this period, we modified and fine tuned our technologies to be effective against viruses and fungi also.

“This technology, based on compositions of biopolymers and essential oils, when tested with direct application on swabs of SARS-nCOV2 (COVID 19)-positive patients at government-run COVID facility at Kasturba Hospital Mumbai, proved to completely inactivate the Covid 19 virus. The results of experiments conducted while following international standards were ratified by a certified third party lab,” Dr Rinti asserted.

 Amandeep Singh added, “The efficiency and effectiveness of the W2 protection sprays is analogous to 70% alcohol and 1% hypochlorite based solutions. The alcohol and bleach free products have been formulated with a blend of all natural, biodegradable and safe-to-use compositions that are GRAS (generally recognised as safe) approved (GRAS is a US-FDA designation that certifies ingredients as safe).”

The W2 range is a part of ‘Make in India’ initiative of the Government of India and is supported by its COVID Emergency Credit Line Guarantee (ECLG) Scheme under stimulus package for MSMEs – Made in India, Made for the world. 

Amandeep claimed that the hand-body protection spray has been approved for local application by the AYUSH Ministry. All sprays provide day long protection against viruses, bacteria and fungi.

The company has also developed a solution for indoor and outdoor fumigation based on the EcorsaniTM technology, and is readying to roll it out within the next couple of weeks.

Life Essentials does not foresee any production and distribution challenges because of the pandemic, and is geared to work to full capacity, which currently is 50,000 bottles a day and can be scaled up to 3,00,000 bottles a day depending on the demand. It has plans to invest Rs 30 crore into the development and distribution of its products over the next one year. These investments are to be funded by internal accruals as well as by external investments. 

The W2 Range

Apparel Protection Spray: Good for apparel and clothing, bed and pillow covers, linen, curtains, cushions, etc, kids’ soft toys, towels, bathrobes, upholstery.

Surface Protection Spray: Good for table tops, glass, metal, appliances, vehicle interiors, car handles, lift panels, railings, door knobs, counter tops, floors, bathrooms.

Room Protection Spray: A spray, preferably upwards, good for home, office, schools, hotels, restaurants, clubs, factories, gyms.

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

Great News For City; TRC Is Among Indias Top 10 Runners™ Clubs!

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
-
0

The idea of the flagship running event of India’s own HDOR platform, started formally in 2015, is simple – each participant runs minimum 2 kms every day of the 100 consecutive days with no pressure on timing or pace. A HDOR mobile app, with a supported mobile app for activity tracking, like Strava, records a participant’s daily run/walk.

This year, because of the pandemic, the organisers reduced the minimum daily requirement of 2 kms per day run/walk to 1 km, and also minimum activity days to 40 days instead of 100 to qualify a participant as an event finisher.

This year’s performance by TRC members in the challenge has been exceptional. Out of 97 members who registered, 65-odd (70% of them women) actually participated, and all of them completed the challenge, which by itself is an outstanding effort. In all, the members of TRC logged 56,909.6 kms over the 100 days from June 27 to October 4.

Power-packed performance: Swati Mittal

The top performer for the club was Swati Mittal from Panchkula who finished 9th overall on the leader board across all categories, 3rd overall among women and 2nd in her age category (30-40 years) among women. The gutsy runner logged a total of 5082.1 kms during the 100 days at an average speed of 8 min and 35 sec per km. She capped her performance on the final day of the challenge with a 109 km run at a stretch.

Logged 3351 kms : Aayush Singh

Aayush Singh, a student from Panchkula, finished 25th on the overall leader board, 20th among men, and 2nd in his age category (19-29 years) among men, logging 3351.2 kms during the 100 days with an average speed of 8 min and 18 sec per km. On the last day of the challenge he ran 100 kms.

Astonishing pace : Anmol Chandan

But the one to get noticed at the national level, for the average speed at which he ran the challenge, was Anmol Chandan, a lawyer. Though he finished 56th overall across all categories, in his age group (19 to 29 years) among men, he stood at No. 4.  Logging 2452.3 kms over the 100 days, he clocked an average of 6 min and 11 sec per km, attracting attention of runners around the country.

Such achievements are invariably a result of collective effort, but members credit Paveela Prashar Bali, whom they fondly call “Captain”, for nurturing the group from a handful of casual runners to a 300-plus strong and one of the country’s top running clubs. In her middle ages, Paveela, who wears many hats – apart from being a passionate runner, she is a philanthropist, environmental activist and adventurer, makes light of their assertion that she helped them on their feet and changed the running culture of the city.

“When you are part of a group, the motivation remains high. Everyone pushes and prods the others to stretch that extra mile, resulting in new challenges being thrown up and new landmarks achieved,” she shares enthusiastically during a conversation with LifeInChandgiarh.com. 

Describing TRC’s journey through this year’s 100 Days of Running amid the pandemic, she says, “Many restrictions this year made it very difficult for so many of us to compete in the challenge, but nonetheless they did, real champions!

“Captain” Paveela Prashar Bali

“Right through the 100 days there was passion, pain, sweat and grime, running in extreme temperatures to overcome our bodily discomfort to perform to the best of our ability. No one ever thought of giving up, from running 2 kms a day to 100-plus kms a day, we saw it all. Pain and gain were both ours. We ran in the heat, in the rain, and in pain….”

Paveela herself logged 1660 kms during the 100 days challenge, improving her personal best both in terms of timing and distance, and was placed 6th on TRC’s own leader board. On her 46th birthday she ran 46 kms to celebrate.

Says Ashwin Mohan, an active member, about her, “With that kind of positive, indomitable and dogged spirit, she is our eternal support for whatever we want, and whenever we want. She never says no, and she doesn’t like to hear no either. This trait of hers has taken TRC to dizzying heights in the last few years from a small group of casual runners to currently one of the top running clubs of the country,” 

Apart from the top 10 on the TRC leader board for the 100 Days of Running, Paveela has a word of praise for “an awesome bunch of runners who ran every day for 100 days come what may!

“On the last day (Oct 4), we had 16 of our fabulous runners who ran a wonderful half marathon (21.0975 kms), some of them for the first time in their lives.”

Navya Jain, not a regular runner, came in for special mention by Paveela. She started with 2 kms and eventually ended up doing 12-15 kms and three half marathons during the course of the 100 days. Battling injuries, Poonam Rao also upped the ante, constantly raising the bar from 2 kms to 15-17 kms a day. Monika Bhola improved her running distance from 200 kms last year to 500 kms during the 100 day event.

Senior citizens have also been a great motivation for the younger runners. Into her 66th year, champ Karuna Sharma made good progress over her last year’s total distance of 406 km to log 626 kms this year. Col (retd) Gurmeet Singh (68), who has been running since he was a child, also encourages the group with his enthusiasm and positivity, and his daily runs.

Then there are those who back the performers by supporting them with hydration, energy and encouragement. Among these Paveela does not fail to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of people like Rajeev Sood, Amit Ahuja, Aprajita Lobana and Ashok Sharma.

Paveela does not agree with the general public perception that running is difficult. “It is the simplest form of physical activity. You don’t need any equipment. Just put on your running shoes (you can also run barefoot, if you are comfortable with that) and off you go.”

She also challenges the doctors who claim that running has an adverse impact on the knees. “All our runners are super fit. In fact, many have been able to resolve their long standing physical and mental issues to a large extent just by starting to run,” she asserts.

So, don’t hesitate, and start running, from tomorrow!

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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