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Moms & Babies Have A Romp, Dads Show Their Love

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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Short of a lip-lock, dads-to-be and moms-to-be displayed a range of gestures to express their love towards each other, and towards their expected baby, in a gala pageant for the ‘Maternity Queen’ title organised by Bedi Hospital and Fertility Centre in the lawns of the Chandigarh Club on Sunday night. The cold conditions did not deter the expectant mothers from turning up in their fineries for a once in a lifetime opportunity (at least for most) to sashay down the ramp in style.

Though winners were formally announced in all three categories – moms with babies in arms, moms with 1-3 year babies by their sides and the maternity queen (expectant mothers) – all the 100 odd participants were winners in their own right, the kind of grace and imagination they put into their respective performances.

PHOTOS BY: LIFE IN CHANDIGARH

Dr. G.K. Bedi, a well known and respected gynaecologist, speaking on behalf of Bedi Hospital, said, the annual event, into its third season, was designed to showcase women empowerment, promote family culture (three generations of families were invited) and importance of motherhood. Among its other motives were creating awareness for infertility and cancer prevention in women, especially for career conscience women.

Another message came out loud and clear during the pageant. Apparently taking a leaf our of actress Deepika Padukone’s ad, promoting a popular paints brand, the participants wore masks to press home the message “We, and our unborn babies, have a right to breathe clean air".

Dr. R.S. Bedi, paediatrician & Director Bedi Hospital, on the occasion of completion of 18 years of the hospital’s existence, announced the opening of Grace Bedi IVF centres at seven locations in the region – Solan, Nalagarh-Baddi, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Kaithal and Yamunanagar – in association with respective local hospitals, the premises of which will be used to run these centres.

The evening started with the mom with baby in arm contest. It was a wonderful and touching experience for the gathering as some of the little ones appeared  buoyant about facing the cameras and the gaze of hundreds of eyeballs and others cuddled up to the warmth of their mothers.

The second section – the moms with 1-3 year children in tow – had its mirthful moments. Some children walked with elan while holding their mother’s finger, but the moody among them dragged their feet, and one odd just refused to budge from his position, necessitating the lady MC (master of ceremonies) for the day to intervene and egg the child on.

The ‘Maternity Queen’ contest was split into two sections, one in which the moms-to-be walked the ramp alone, and the other in which their hubbies accompanied them. The dads-to-be did not disappoint. They gave vent to their emotions through a variety of gestures like hugs, peck on the cheek or forehead, going down on one knee and offering a flower, one even going to the extent of lifting his lady love in his arms. There, however, was one odd gentleman too shy to express his emotions publicly. A bold lip-lock could have been expected in the atmosphere that was building up, but alas it was not to be.

Sheetal Saransh Sharma won the ‘Maternity Queen’ title, followed by Sanita Chawla as 1st runner-up and Tanvi Puri as 2nd runner-up. 
 
The chief guest for the night, Dr G. Dewan, Director General, Health Services, UT Chandigarh, and J.S. Lamba, president, Rotary Club Chandigarh Central, joined Dr Vikram Bedi, neonatologist, and Dr Rubeena from Bedi Hospital in supporting the participants in the campaign for clean air.

Lifeinchandigarh.com wishes the Bedi family and Bedi Hospital many more such successful events

Fortis Mohali Performs Robotic Surgeries To Remove Kidney & Adrenal Tumours

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

First it was the conventional open (long incision) surgery, then came minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery and now it is robotic surgery, which allows surgeons the ability to operate even in very tight spaces in the body that would otherwise only be accessible through open surgery. The high precision surgery allows a patient to walk away in 24 to 48 hours. The results are great – shorter hospitalization, reduced pain and discomfort, faster recovery time and return to normal activities, smaller incisions, resulting in reduced risk of infection, reduced blood loss and transfusions and minimal scarring. After the Post Graduate Institute for Medical Education & Training (PGI, for short), Fortis Hospital Mohali has become the first corporate hospital in the region to start using the four-arm 3-D da Vinci robotic surgery system and the first beneficiaries have given the system a thumbs up !

The system has proved particularly beneficial to patients of kidney cancer/tumour. For 50-year-old Krishan Kumar Behl from Ambala, diagnosed with a huge malignant tumour in the right kidney, the system proved to be a boon. The operation went off smoothly and the tumour extracted was 22 cm in size, much bigger than the kidney itself (see pictures), and weighing more than 1 kg. He walked out of the hospital in three days.

PHOTOS BY: LIFE IN CHANDIGARH

Another patient, 62-year-old Savitri Devi from Karnal, had an adrenal tumour removed using the robotic surgical system and happily admits she is back to near normal with very little discomfort.

Says Dr Priyadarshi Ranjan, robotic surgery specialist and senior consultant, Urology and Transplant Surgery, at Fortis Hospital, Mohali, who performed both the surgeries with his team, apart from the benefits to the patients, the da Vinci robotic surgery system’s 3-D magnification screen allows the surgeon to view the operative area with the clarity of high resolution. The high level of manoeuvrability of the arms also improves a surgeon’s ability to operate accurately and precisely even in tight spaces in the body that would otherwise be accessible only through open (long incision) surgery. The robotic system shields the patients against possibilities of hand tremors during surgeries, thus increasing the surgeon’s confidence, he added.

Dr Ranjan says he has more than half a dozen other patients lined up for undergoing robotic surgery in the coming days. He sees the new generation technology revolutionising the field of surgery in the coming years.

The system is increasingly also being used worldwide for prostate removal, cardiac surgeries and gynaecological surgical procedures.


 

How does a da Vinci surgical system function?
 
* The surgeon works from a computer console in the operating room, controlling miniaturized instruments mounted on three robotic arms to make tiny incisions in the patient.

* The surgeon looks through a 3-D camera attached to a fourth robotic arm, which magnifies the surgical site.

* The surgeon’s hand, wrist and finger movements are transmitted through the computer console to the instruments attached to the robot’s arms. The mimicked movements have the same range of motion as the surgeon allowing maximum control.

* The assistant surgical team supervises the robot at the patient’s bedside.

Shun Milk At Your Own Peril!

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

On the eve of the 13th annual conference of Indian Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ISBMR), senior endocrinologists at the PGI have emphasised that consumption of milk in any form is critical to ensuring good bone health among the young as well as the elderly. In a pre-conference media interaction, Dr Anil Bhansali, prof. and head department of Endocrinology, and his senior colleagues from the department said intake of at least half a litre of milk (one litre ideally) in any form – liquid milk, curd, paneer or lassi – is absolutely necessary for optimal bone health. People shunning milk are doing so at their own peril, they cautioned.

Dr Bhansali informed that milk is the best source of calcium, and the only source for lacto vegetarians. In the formative years, till middle ages, calcium is essential for building up bone mass and in the later life for maintaining the bone mass. Rapid loss of bone mass leads to weakening of the bones and can result in osteoporosis, a silent killer, the patients of which remain asymptomatic for most part. Women are more prone to osteoporosis than men especially in the post menopausal stage. “Therefore we recommend that post menopausal all women must get themselves screened for the diseases. A simple Dexa scan is the gold standard for screening of osteoporosis, though X-ray, CT scan and MRI are also means for screening of the disease,” he added.

Photo By: Life in Chandigarh

Emphasising that bone disorders are not the domain of orthopaedicians alone, but also of endocrinologists, as metabolic bone disease is the third most common endocrine disorder after diabetes and thyroid diseases, he said Vitamin D deficiency and osteoporosis are most common bone disorders and they are on the rise with increasing longevity. Uncontrolled diabetes itself is a risk factor for poor bone health and fracture. Therefore, adequate sun exposure (30 minutes exposure on 20 percent bare body, including hands and arm, feet and legs and face between 9 am and 3 pm when UV rays are at their maximum), optimal amount of calcium and vitamin D intake, appropriate consumption of dairy products, regular weight bearing exercises like walking, cessation of alcohol and smoking and avoidance of drugs, like steroids, which result in osteoporosis,  are some tested measures to maintain good bone health, he added.

Dr Bhansali informed that it has been seen that increased engagement with the doctor has resulted in enhanced life span of diabetic patients. “Those diabetic patients who visit us at PGI three to four times a year are living up to 80 years and beyond because in getting themselves examined regularly other ailments also get detected and treated.”

With better treatments even victims of hip fractures, especially among the elderly, now have a better chance of survival. Quoting a yet to be published PGI study undertaken in tricity hospitals during the early part of this decade, additional prof. in the department, Dr Sanjay Kumar Bhadada said out of 264 patients of hip fracture in the average age of 55 years, as many as 20 percent died within the first year because of various factors like cardio vascular disease and anaemia caused by lack of activity. Of the remaining, 65 percent became totally dependent on others and 30 percent near dependent on others, he added.

Dr Bhadada said, surprisingly, 80 percent of all patients included in the study received the fractures at home, most of them while moving between the bedroom and the washroom. This speaks volumes about the brittleness of their bones, he said.
       
An estimated 300 delegates from around the country are expected to participate in the conference to be held from November 10-12. There will be two workshops during the conference – one on bone biomechanics by faculty from IIT Ropar and second on metabolic bone disease by field experts.

Among others present were Dr. Pinaki Dutta, additional prof., and Dr. Rama Walia and Dr. Ashu Rastogi, both assistant profs.

Qissebaazi, Poetification™ To Bring Stories, Poems To Life

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

The sixth edition of the Chandigarh Literature Festival to be organized by the Chandigarh based Adab Foundation in association with the Panjab University Department of English and Cultural Studies on the university campus from November 10 to 12 promises to be much more lively and entertaining than in the previous years. Announcing the dates and other details, foundation chairman Mitul Dikshit and festival director Annie Zaidi, a noted writer and poetess, told media persons on Wednesday: “This year’s fest will introduce a first for the region ‘Qissebaazi’ and ‘Poetification’ – performances based on literature to bring the stories and poems alive. The venues – Balwant Gargi Open Air Theatre and the auditoriums of the Department of English and Department of Evening Studies – will be open to the public.

This year’s festival will feature 10 books on a wide range of subjects, including a graphic novel, war and conflict, professions which are dying a slow death and a gay man’s hardships and the discrimination he has to face in society. The books will be discussed threadbare after respective writers have had an open conversation with a book critic. Unfortunately, there is not a single entry from Chandigarh among the ten books. Explaining this, Mitul and Annie said the format of the festival is such that they do not invite the authors or poets directly. They invite noted critics and literary experts from different parts of the country who are free to nominate one writer each of their choice.

Photo By: Life in Chandigarh

However, there will be a few young people from the tricity area participating in a unique session on poetry ‘New Words: Young Poets Present Their Work In English, Hindi and Punjabi’, a multi-lingual event and a platform for young poets, many of whom may not have published their works yet. The session will be curated by young artists Akhil Katyal and Amy Singh.

This year’s festival will also have panel discussions, one of them being on a very topical issue ‘Writing Scared: Freedom of Expression & Punjabi Literature’.  Noted experts will also participate in a panel discussion on ‘Contemporary Art of North India’.

Some celebrated films are also being shown during the three-day festival.
The screening of ‘Anaarkali of Aarah’ will be followed by a discussion between Director Avinash Das and critic Mihir Pandya.

Day 2 & 3 will see engaging sessions between some of the best authors of the country and noted critics and literary experts. Kiran Nagarkar, author of novel ‘Jasoda’, will be seen in conversation with critic Sreenivasan Jain. Another session to look out for will be Hindi poet and Sahitya Akademi Award winner Mangalesh Dabral in conversation with critic Asad Zaidi on his book ‘Naye Yug Mein Shatru’.

Acclaimed author Nayantara Sehgal will be seen in conversation with critic Kiran Nagarkar on her book ‘When the Moon Shines by Day’.  Author Hansda Sowendra Shekhar will be in conversation with critic Vivek Menzes, a widely published writer and photographer from Goa, about his book ‘The Mysterious Ailment of Rupi Baskey’, which has won the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Purashkar. Hansda, incidentally, was in news when the Jharkhand government banned his book ‘The Adivasi Will Not Dance’ claiming it had shown Santhal women “in a bad light.”

For attending, Adab Foundation can be contacted on www.clf.co.in

CHANDIGARH LITERATURE FESTIVAL- 2017-18

10-November-2017 , Friday

Time

Session

Venue

1600 hrs- 1610 hrs

Lighting of Lamp
by Akshay Kumar, Annie Zaidi, Kiran Nagarkar,
Mitul Dikshit Nayantara Sahgal, Rumina Sethi

 

1610 hrs- 1630 hrs

Welcome and Theme
introduction by Mitul Dikshit
(Chairman Adab Foundation)

Balwant Gargi Open Air Theatre, Panjab University Campus

1630 hrs- 1645 hrs

Become More Creative With Off The Corporate Bus and Into The Creativity Boat

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

If somebody tells you that genius can be taught or learnt, you will certainly have a hearty laugh. But if someone claims that creativity can be learnt and imbibed by everyone, one would tend to be more receptive. So when Abu Dhabi based Ashoo Khosla, a qualified doctor and alumnus of the prestigious Indian School of Business Hyderabad from the founding batch, with several years of experience in corporate marketing, training and business development in Healthcare, FMCG, Pharmaceuticals and Education, introduced to us her first book ‘Off The Corporate Bus and Into The Creativity Boat’ at The Browser in Sector 8, on Wednesday, we were all ears.

Interacting with media persons regarding the book published by Jaico Publishing House, Ashoo says a resounding “yes” to queries like “Is it possible for everyone to be creative? Can creativity be a part of everything we do in our daily lives? “All of us are capable of being creative and whenever we have used creativity there has been advancement in the world,” she asserts, wondering why creativity, the most important subject, one that will truly help us advance, is left out of school and college curricula.

PHOTOS BY: LIFE IN CHANDIGARH

The book, in the self-help genre and written in a gripping story form, explores various techniques utilized by the true masters of creativity – artists and scientists – and makes them available in an easy to use format. It is the story of Aditi Singh, a top-notch product manager. Many covet her job but she wants nothing more than to quit. When she finally takes a much-needed vacation from her seemingly perfect corporate life, she meets Dr. Shiv Prakash, an odd little man who is a master storyteller.

Through his unusual imaginings, he challenges Aditi to find her true passion. As they spend more time together, Aditi uncannily begins to relate to the characters of his stories. Questions are raised and challenges are set. This time, Aditi has to decide what she really wants. Running away is no more an option. It’s time to write her own story.

Through its charming characters, ‘Off the Corporate Bus and Into the Creativity Boat’ offers a glimpse of what you can truly be. It invites you to pursue your passion and strive for true happiness, all while being unique.

The 228-page book, priced Rs 350, was released by spiritual guru and Art of Living supremo Sri Sri Ravi Shakar at annual convocation ceremony of Shoolini University in Solan, on Tuesday. Ashoo is herself a founding member of Shoolini University, where she has launched an innovative online learning platform eUniv and is in the process of integrating a platform for innovation and creativity for all students.

“My larger mission is to reach out to as many people as possible and help them become more creative – in their everyday work and lives.” says Ashoo.  To start with, the book will be a part of the core teaching philosophy that is being imbibed at Shoolini University to ensure all students explore their potential to be creative and innovative. She also hopes to use the book as a tool for corporate trainings in India as well as in UAE, where she is currently based.

In the writer’s own words

How Can You Use This Book?

This book will help you understand how creativity works for the various arts. It covers creativity techniques ranging from writing, drawing, and photography, to music, painting and science.

I suggest that after you understand the basics of these techniques, practice them whenever you can to see how they work for you. Slowly, you will discover that there are some that you are more naturally inclined to, and
which make more sense in the context of your own work and life. Over a period of time, you could have your own special blend of methods that give your creativity the special edge.

At the end of this book, you will find an overall framework for creativity based on the techniques covered in the various chapters, and a summary of these techniques in the form of a ‘creativity guide’ for your reference

Let us remember that we all have it in us to be creative – to come out with new ideas, to make a difference in our lives as well as of those around us, and in our own special way, to make this world a better place.

Lifeinchandigarh.com wishes Ashoo Khosla a resounding success with her first book, and wishes she pens many more in times to come.

Evidence-Based Traditional Medicine, Yoga, Meditation Can Help Control Chronic Diseases™

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

The three-day World NCD Congress, which concluded at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI, for short) in Chandigarh on Monday, has called upon the global community to promote evidence based traditional systems of medicine, and internationally recognized health promotional activities such as yoga, meditation etc, at various levels of the health care system for prevention and control of non communicable diseases (NCDs).

Considering that NCDs, principally cardio-vascular diseases, cancers, stroke, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, have overtaken communicable diseases as the leading cause of death and disability worldwide, a consensus  statement adopted at the conclusion of the Congress, named “Chandigarh Call For Action On Sustainable Development in Combating Global Epidemic Of Non Communicable Diseases”, also urged the global community to raise the priority of non communicable diseases on the national and international/global health and development agenda.

Photo By: Life in Chandigarh

It further stressed on mobilizing additional resources and supporting innovative initiatives for financing health promotion and prevention and control of NCDs.

Jointly organized by the World NCD Federation, PGI Chandigarh and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, from November 4 to 6, the Congress, which attracted 1800 participants from across the world,  recommended that the health workforce at all levels of the health systems be equipped with the skills needed for NCD prevention and care, facilitation of sharing of new research findings and best practices across the globe about prevention, health promotion and control of NCDs and their risk factors, and improving access to essential medicine and basic technologies. It also advocated establishment of National institutes of NCDs in all countries.

Recognizing the fact that mental, behavioral and substance abuse disorders are important contributors to the burden of NCDs, the participants at the Congress expressed conce that the rising burden of NCDs is putting a strain on the already compromised healthcare systems in developing countries and the overall cost of diagnosis and management of NCDs are impoverishing individuals, communities and nations.

The Congress pointed out that the burden of NCDs is projected to escalate in the future due to changing lifestyle, population ageing, trade and intensive marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages, poor hygienic conditions and changing dietary patterns of the global population with increasing energy intake and reducing physical activity as a result of rapid and unplanned urbanization in the developing countries.

Noting that the major NCDs are linked to common risk factors, namely tobacco use in all forms, unhealthy diet (especially high consumption of fats, salt and sugar, physical inactivity), obesity, harmful use of alcohol and stress, the participants felt that the world community should be aware that these factors have economic, social, political and environmental determinants and hence require a multi-pronged and multi-sectoral response.

It acknowledged the roles of multiple stakeholders/partners including the government, civil society, academia, pharma sector, researchers, professional associations/organizations, sectors outside health and the private sector (excluding tobacco interests) as being vital for prevention and control of NCDs.

The participants at the Congress noted that practice of yoga could be an essential part of mental health program and lifestyle intervention in all NCDs. They also sought a substantial increase in the budgets of respective countries for health promotion, screening (for early detection), surveillance, management and control of NCDs. For this the strengthening of primary healthcare system and introduction of community based approaches are critical to make them more responsive to NCDs.

Emphasising the need to integrate the promotion and protection of human rights into national NCD policies, the participants felt the need of the hour is to ensure due attention is paid to girls, women, adolescents, orphans, children, older people, migrants and people affected by humanitarian emergencies, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities, depending on local circumstances.

Among other recommendations of the Congress are promoting use of information technologies like tele-medicine and mhealth (mobile health, for public awareness) to improve access of NCD services, promoting and strengthening communication between AYUSH and conventional medicine for control and prevention of NCDs and developing and implementing standard integrative clinical guidelines/protocols incorporating evidence based Ayurveda and Yoga. These integrations may be developed, validated, disseminated and adopted for primary and secondary prevention of NCDs and holistic healthcare of patients, it felt.

Book Haryana A Sporting Power House™ Launched by Vice President Naidu

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

He strode the National and Asian boxing scene like a colossus. The only Indian boxer to remain undisputed National heavyweight champion for 11 long years in a row, and win two consecutive titles at the Asian Games, Capt. Hawa Singh’s example was, and still is unparalleled in the boxing history of the country. No wonder, his unsung story of grit and determination, of a life cut short at 62 years, a fairly early age for a sportsman, is now set to splash on the silver screen with his biopic being planned in Bollywood. His saga, and that of many other veteran and modern day sportspersons from Haryana, have for the first time ever been documented in the form of a book by Swarna Jayanti Celebrations Authority of Haryana in association with the state Sports and Youth Affairs Department.

The illustrated 120-page book titled “Haryana A Sporting Power House”, released by the Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu at the closing ceremony of the yearlong 50 years celebrations of the state at Mahabir Stadium in Hisar on October 31, 2017, also features the likes of high-jumper Bhim Singh, who was the first athlete from Haryana to win an Asian Games gold medal for the country after it attained independent state status on November 1, 1966.

PHOTOS BY: LIFE IN CHANDIGARH

Among the other big names of the past given a prominent place in the book is Udey Chand, the first wrestler from free India to win a medal at a World Wrestling Championship and among the very first sportspersons of the country to win the coveted Arjuna Award in 1961. And, there is Master Chandgi Ram, a super wrestler who had every major traditional ‘akhara’ style title in his bag, including Hind Kesari, Bharat Kesari, Bharat Bhim, Rustom-e-Hind and Maha Bharat Kesari. He won the country a gold medal in the 100 kg weight category in the 1970 Bangkok Asian Games, the only Indian wrestler to win a gold medal in the Games, dominated by Iranian and Japanese wrestlers.

Boxer Capt. Hawa Singh

Another prominent name in the book is the 6 feet 4 inches frame of basketball player Khushi Ram, widely acknowledged as “The Scoring Machine of Asia”. Playing most of his career for the Services, Khushi Ram captained the Indian National basketball team which made its first appearance in Asian Basketball Championship in the year 1965. He represented the Indian team from 1964 to 1972.

High jumper Bhim Singh

Popularly called ‘Ballu’, the legendary Balwant Singh of Kaul village in Kaithal district of Haryana, standing 6 feet 6 inches tall, was considered one of the most attacking volleyball players of his time.

Wrestler Udey Chand

Tracing the history of sports in the territory now called Haryana state, right from the time it was part of undivided Punjab in Independent India, the book has separate chapters on overview of sports in the state, its sports infrastructure and the three sports policies it has had since 1981.

Wrestler Master Chandgi Ram

The book dwells separately on eight of the sports disciplines categorised as priority sports in the state’s sports policy – athletics, wrestling, boxing, basketball, judo, volleyball, kabaddi and hockey.

Basketball Star Khushi Ram

Volleyball star Balwant Singh ‘Ballu’

It’s A Good Beginning, Holding Promise Of Encompassing More Sports Disciplines & Sportspersons In the Future.

Largest Mall To Connect Communities™, Enhance Visitors™ Experience

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

Celebrated Spanish artist Pablo Picasso famously said, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Keeping this in mind and standing true to its core philosophy of ‘Connecting Communities’, Virtuous Retail South Asia (VRSA) has launched a 45 day long annual art festival, “Punjab Art Initiative” (PAI) in its recently acquired mall, rechristened VR Punjab, on Kharar road in Mohali.

Built on 22 acres, VR Punjab is one of the biggest malls in Punjab, with an already built up leasable area of 1 million sq. ft. and additional leasing and further development potential of 600,000 sq. ft. Ever since being acquired by VRSA, the retail arm of Xander Group, in May 2016, the property is being reformatted and repositioned as a community-centric VR flagship for the residents of the Chandigarh area, and as a regional lifestyle destination for residents of nearby cities like Ludhiana and Jalandhar.

PHOTOS BY: LIFE IN CHANDIGARH

During the festival, curated by Sumi Gupta, Director, International Marketing & Product Development, Virtuous Retail in association with artchutney.com, the thousands of visitors will get to view 130 art installations by well known national level artists and art students from the region and elsewhere in the country, displayed in the lawns and other vantage points across the landscape of the mall. There will also be curated events like concerts, which are touted to “make this an unmissable 45 days”. The festival, which began on November 1, will continue till December 15.

Says Sumi Gupta, “PAI 2017 will host an immersive art experience, away from a typical gallery setting, where patrons can meet artists and interact on their art and installations. This year’s inaugural edition features a unique collection of installations and fine art work created by established and emerging artists from across India, including Gigi Scaria, George Martin, Murali Cheeroth, Vikash Kalra, Nilesh Kinkale, and Yati Jaiswal among others. Importantly, students from The Government College of Art, Chandigarh, The College of Architecture, Chandigarh, Lalit Kala Akademi, College of Art, Delhi, MSU Baroda, and JJ School of Art, Mumbai will also share space with the independent artists over the duration of the festival.

“We want to give our visitors a multi-dimensional experience when they come to VR Punjab for shopping or for entertainment. We have created a premium  hospitality like landscape on our premises and want to give visitors the feel of a public plaza. It’s a great place to display public art. Artists will get to display their high quality creations on a platform where the eyeballs will be phenomenally more than in a professional gallery, visited by a handful of connoisseurs of art. Plus, the students of art and architecture will get an opportunity to rub shoulders and interact with the senior artists,” Sumi added.

“We are mindful that some of the visitors will react favourably at seeing the artworks, and others will not, but at least they will have an opinion, which is fine. We want to see more people appreciating quality art,” she said.

Sumi informed that they started the annual Dumas Art Project at VR Surat, where five editions of the art festival have been held since 2013. The Whitefield Art Collective at VR Bengaluru is a similar event of which two editions have been held since 2016. VR Punjab is the third property where this art festival is being held and it will be replicated in a fourth property at Chennai which opens next year, she added.

To mark the launch of PAI 2017 on Wednesday, VR Punjab, apart from showcasing other impressive art installations, unveiled the VR Art Car Project that featured a Mercedes Benz painted by renowned artist Gigi Scaria. It was followed by a performance art feature by senior contemporary artist Murali Cheeroth. The day concluded with a music concert by ‘The Local Train’, a leading Indian rock band originally from Chandigarh.

Going forward, PAI will also feature unique art related events, including performance art by Chandigarh based Manjot Kaur, who recently showcased her work at the Swiss Biennale 2017. The basements at VR Punjab will undergo a metamorphosis, courtesy the Basement Art Project undertaken by the students of the Government College of Art, Chandigarh who will showcase their artistic interpretation of Connecting Communities across a concrete canvas. The festival will conclude with a children’s art competition where over 300 budding young artists from schools across the tricity area will get an opportunity to showcase their talent.

All the reformatting and repositioning appears to be aimed at increasing footfall in VR Punjab, which has apparently lagged behind the more advantageously located Elante Mall in the heart of the tricity in Chandigarh.

The new thought process is amply explained in VRSA chairman Sid Yog’s words : VRSA has redefined the spatial retail experience for consumers by delivering innovative centers that seamlessly integrate shopping, hospitality, food, leisure and entertainment (music, performances, theatre). The properties are designed and operated by VRSA as social hubs that are Connecting Communities and celebrate local heritage and culture while enhancing the overall brand image of the city they are located in.

Commenting on the locational disadvantage, Sumi Gupta says “Shopping is a experiential thing, and if the experience is good, then location does not matter.”

Lifeinchandigarh.com wishes VR Punjab all success !! Let healthy competition bring good tidings to visitors !!

Journey From Being World Champ To Owning Badminton Brand Flypower

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
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0

Till date the thought of not winning the singles title at the badminton Open in his own country Indonesia bothers him no end. This, and an Olympic gold medal, are about the only prizes that eluded Hariyanto Arbi who dominated the world badminton scene in the 1990s with his blazing smashes. In Chandigarh, as a chief guest at the concluding ceremony of the 6th edition of the Sudama Cup badminton tournament for 35 years-plus players, which witnessed participation from 700 odd players from across the country and neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Indonesia, the 45-years-old former ace shuttler shared with lifeinchandigarh.com his journey from a top ranking world player to now managing his own badminton equipment, accessories and apparel brand Flypower-Arbi.

The brand launched in 2002 after he bid adieu to his professional career, “is doing good”, he shared without divulging its financials. “Currently Flypower-Arbi, besides Indonesia, is selling in 18 countries across Asia and Europe and competing with brands like Yonex, Li Ning and Pittor. We are in the process of widening its footprint further,” he added.

PHOTOS BY: LIFE IN CHANDIGARH

Hariyanto Arbi, who won the coveted All-England singles title in 1993 and 1994 and the then biennial IBF (BWF) World Championship in 1995, has a simple ‘mantra’ for budding young players, “Once you are convinced you have the talent to do well in the sport, there is no substitute for sweat and blood. You have to work hard on improving your game and fitness with every passing day without any let up. Participation in tournaments at the highest level in respective age categories will instil the much needed confidence and mental strength to win against all odds.”

Arbi played singles for Indonesian teams that won consecutive Thomas Cup (world men’s team) titles in 1994, 1996, and 1998. Arbi’s other individual victories included the Chinese Taipei Open (1993, 1994), Japan Open (1993, 1995), Badminton World Cup (1994), Hong Kong Open (1994, 1995), Korea Open (1995), Singapore Open (1997, 1999), South East Asian Games (1997) and the badminton competition at the quadrennial Asian Games (1994).

In the final of the Indian Open in 1997, Hariyanto Arbi crushed India’s Pullela Gopichand, the celebrated current national chief coach of the Indian badminton team, 15-4, 15-7 to lift the title.
Throughout his reign on the world badminton scene from 1993 to 1997, his arch rivals remained his own compatriots Ardy Wiranata, who kept Arbi at bay in the Indonesian Open right through the 1990s with his total dominance, and Joko Suprianto.

Hope to see more of you in India, Hariyanto !!

India Upgraded To AL-2; New Core Of Education System Focuses On Greater Employability

By
Sanjeev Kochhar
-
0

Have a minimum IELTS score of six, and your English speaking skills are good, then get ready for a smoother ride into top Australian universities for under graduate and post graduate degree and vocational courses, thanks to upgradation by the country Down Under of India’s assessment level from three to two. Also improve your prospects of earning big with the core of the country’s education system focusing on greater employability factor.

Sharing this information with media persons on the sidelines of an awareness session on Australian education for various stakeholders in Chandigarh, on Saturday, a delegation from Australian Technology & Management College (ATMC), which runs city campuses in Melbourne and Sydney for three top ranking government universities in that country, said the 4.5 lakh strong international students’ community was contributing a whopping 25 billion dollars to Australia’s economy, and the numbers were growing at a fast clip.

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Prof. Michael Clements, Chief Academic Officer (CAO) of ATMC & former Dean of School of Business, University of Sunshine Coast, Dr. Manish Malhotra, CEO, and Jason Price, Director (Admissions), ATMC, said with the Australian economy registering uninterrupted growth over the last 100 quarters, it required qualified and skilled workforce in large numbers, which was the reason why the country was giving a greater push to inviting serious foreign students to get education there with a high employability factor.

Dr. Malhotra informed that Australia had learnt its lessons from the large scale unrest among foreign, especially Indian, students in 2008 and had tightened up its Genuine Temporary Entrant Criteria to rule out frauds. The core of the education system had also been revamped to enhance the employability factor. After their studies, the students are also allowed two years work visa, which affords them a greater chance of seeking permanent residency, he added.

He said ATMC is offering various under graduate, post graduate and vocational courses with affiliation to three top Australian government universities – Federation University (Victoria), Charles Darwin University (Northern Territories) and University of the Sunshine Coast (Queensland). These universities, he claimed, were ranked among the top 2 percent in the world. 

The under graduate and post graduate courses are being offered in information/communication technology, business, commerce and accounting.  The certificate, diploma and advanced diploma programmes are offered in business, IT, retail banking, beauty, automotive, fabrication, accounting, hair dressing, hospitality management, early childhood education, aged care, etc.

According to rough estimates, out of every 100 students from India proceeding to study in Australia only 5 return home, rest get absorbed.

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