A Voice Beyond it's Years

Over a booming bass-line and trance like beats, ‘Chi Cha Ledar’, a song from the film ‘Gangs of Wasseypur II’, has a special ingredient which is even more powerful than the aforementioned.

     Durga, a 12 year old girl from Wasseypur who sings on the local trains there is filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and music composer Sneha Khanwalkar’s latest find. Sneha, who is known for her unconventional ways of making music, has found a voice which has already won hearts all over the country.

     In a recent interview, Sneha called Durga a firebrand of a singer and also mentioned that she was shocked at the fact that a 12 year old girl had so much power and control in her voice. The little star singer herself has chosen to stay as far away from the limelight as possible. Even director Anurag himself has a tough time getting in touch with her.

     A rustic voice like Durga’s is a welcome change from that of the run of the mill singers in the industry. It is a unique voice and definitely has a long way to go before it matures into a professional one. Nevertheless, what comes out most in the song is the heart and soul put in by Durga. It is something that should be cherished, protected and celebrated.  

Mir Kashif Iqbal
12COM6515

Bangles aka chudi: the jewelry adorning the hands of women

Women have always been fond of bangles since their childhood be it simple plastic ones or with complicated designs in gold and silver. They are women’s friends as they help them to feel special. Nowadays bangles have become a trademark of India and people look at it throughout the world as an Indian form of jewelry.

                                           Google Images

There is no age limit to adorn a bangle as we get it in different types made of different metals like plastic, rubber, larc, terracotta, glass, wooden, steel, silver and gold. Because they are quite reasonable one can buy them at any point of time. Therefore, it is used by all categories of people and a favorite form of jewelry among women.

The latest trend in bangles are the steel ones which are favorites among the teenagers and college going girls as they are affordable and easily available at any street shop. The best place to buy these bangles are different in different cities as in Bangalore we find them in Commercial Street or even Brigade, where as in Mumbai we find them in the link in road and fashion street , in Delhi it is Sarojini Nagar, Chandini Chawk and Janpath. These are the best place to buy these bangles because one can easily bargain and buy these stuffs at a very reasonable rate.

The  specialty about these steel bangles are that they are found in bunches of five or six and one can easily mix and match them if they buy two or three bunches and they are of different shapes and sizes and are very light hence the hottest trends among the girls these days.

Anupama Unnikrishnan

12COM6503

Fashion - "The GAGA way"

Over the past few decades, needless to mention; fashion has evolved and the people highly influencing this phenomena are the stars in showbiz. The Bee-Gees to The Beatles, Cyndi Lauper to Gaga: fashion statement personified to its very best. But when it comes to Lady Gaga, the industry has been divided equally in support of or against her fashion.

                                                                               Google Images

 The new trend of fashion inspired by Gaga has led to the beginning of a massive sense of whacky fashion. It’s obvious that her popularity is not just the magic in her voice but her fashion sense indeed. With each of her songs and live performances, her appearance leaves everyone awestruck. The Lobster head dress, the bubble dress, the disco ball bra, the dress made out of raw meat; you name it, she has it. However the most impactful outfits were the Minnie-Mouse bow hair-do and her epic signature shoes. She’s has evolved to become somewhat of a fashion icon because she propagates the whole concept of being comfortable in whatever you wear. It has been all about the Art and it celebrates creativity.

The boldness in Gaga’s style statement has inspired many to follow the same path. That is not just in fashion but as a person as well. The inspiration to come out bold and beautiful in front of people and just feel open about it. It goes well for her song ‘Born This Way’ which has inspired many to feel good about themselves no matter what their personality or lifestyle is. This is what makes fashion! Come out of your comfort zone and know what’s beyond it. It is not just about following some trend in the market rather it is all about discovering yourself and making your own fashion statement.  

Niyanta Sharma

12COM6519

Fish out of water or duck in the pond?

When I come across young boys and girls saying “I want to become a film star”, “I want to become an F1 driver”, “I want to become Sachin Tendulkar”, “I want to become a teacher” etc, a strange feeling runs through my body – OMG, these kids are so clear about what they want to become, if they really pursue it they can so easily achieve it! And my mind inexorably goes to my own state of mind not so long ago (my high school days, to be precise) when I – to some extent – had a plethora of options on which career path to take. Arts, Science, Commerce, Engineering, Medicine, Computers – you name it, the option was very much there!

And of course the all encompassing, go anywhere-do anything option called MBA!

I’m not an actor, I’m not a painter, I can’t sing and I don’t play games (sic) – and that ruled out one path that is reserved for those born with God-gifted skills. This was something I realized after finishing my high school and had to make the crucial decision of which stream to select – science, commerce or arts. My career can only be out of acquired learning through education and interpersonal skills which is a life long honing process.

No, these are not easy decisions to make! And I looked confused, exasperated and indecisive. My mother shared my worries. My dad had a big laugh and would say “Great to be in this state of mind! As far as I have seen, all those who don’t know what career to choose end up choosing whatever career a majority of their friends opt”.

“That’s Engineering with Software as the destination” I tell him and he again laughs! Dad knows how much I hate being a nerd but yet insists that this is where the best paid jobs exist and I should be there. Medicine is not my cup of tea either – what a relief, dad agrees that a reluctant medical student is likely to become a bad doctor who will put the lives of many at risk.

Not Commerce. Not Law. Etc. It’s so easy to decide what to not do! In fact I find myself staring at everything other than “what to do!”

The only thing I seem to be clear about is my philosophy: “I don’t want to be a fish out of water … I want to be a duck in a pond”.

In the last few years I have thought about my career quite a lot and am convinced the only way to be a “duck in the pond” is by following some simple rules:

·         I need to be clear about my life’s vision, mission and core values

·         I need to understand my personality traits, innate abilities and natural talents

·         I need to be clear about my needs, wants, hopes and dreams

·         I need to continually acquire knowledge and skills to fulfill my dreams

·         I need to believe that my abilities are far more than what I have achieved

·         I need to be committed and passionate about what I want to achieve

As a student of mass communication in the last 3+ years, I am pretty sure I have chosen a line in sync with my natural abilities. I have learnt a lot, but more importantly there is a lot more to learn. Communication is a field that touches more than 6 billion people every minute of the day – and if we  can find a niche that belongs to us, we can truly say “Heart is where our profession is!”.

Manisha Raghunath

12COM6512

Sensex Today

Sometimes we think what is life? Sometimes it seems what the hell I am doing? Why was I born? What is my motive? Life today is so sick that demands are increasing and still nobody has the capacity to satisfy their demands. We think if this will be done, our life will be smooth, if that work will be done, we can throw our self very far from that bunch of sins but this is not in reality. One problem goes, another problem comes, the other goes, the next comes. Many a times it seems that life is only for problem solving equipment and we are the mediator who always have to face the consequences.

Today people who are in market, they get many information’s about the trade, corporate sectors and many more ups and downs. If the example of the sensex people is taken, they invest their money in shares; the brokers are earning good that have enough knowledge to make their customers invest their amount on different companies. Some people think that it’s a gambling, so they just take no interest in making money out of it but there are quiet many small investors who really take it as their daily business, from which they expect a lot every day. For some it’s a Nasha (addiction), and for others it’s a varsha(rainfall) of notes. One of the bollywood movie has a song which has lyrics of “ganda hai par dhanda hai ye” it means this sensex business is bad but though it’s a business and it is for our livelihood so it’s ok, even if it is bad.

If people will see the graph of sensex with lines ups and downs, it reminds us about the heart meter which when goes straight, life there ends. But thank god that this meter only goes on ups and downs which can never end it seems. There is again a source called funtoosh.com which has its funny sensex song.

Tuta Tuta SENSEX dekho Aise Tuta Ki Phir Jud Na Paya.... Loota Loota Kisne Usko (FII, inflation) Aise Loota Ki Phir Uth Na Paya.... Girta Hua Wo 21000 Se, Aakar Gira 12000 Par.... Khwabo Mei Phir Bhi 25000 Hi the, Woh Kehta Raha Magar.... Ki Allah Ke Investors Hasde Allah Ke investor.... Allah Ke Investors Hasde, Jo Bhi Ho Kal FII Phir Aayega. Vikram Kapoor 12COM6529

7 Days of Truth

Nothing Oh Just About Everything Hides "The Truth". No One Seem To Really Like To Share The Facts.

Certainty Of Doubts Keeps Everyone From Being 100%, Please Don't Blame The Generation.

If You Ain't Carried It; It Ain't Gonna' Know Really About It.

All Of Us Have A Certain Truth Be It Good Or Bad; It Lies Within Some Till The Grave And Beyond.

Dark,Cute,Fishy Or Bloody A Truth Is Truth; So Why Lock it Up.

Does It Never Try To Pop Out Or Is It Let In The Corner To Rot.

Doesn't Feeling Have To Sweep This Out To Reality; Or We Just Out Grow It To Keep It So Hidden.

Or We Even Living The Truth Or We Just Skinned Our self To Be The White Sheeps In This World.

What If God Gave Us 7 Days And Said "Fill It Up With All The Truth For A Extra Life".

Are We Willing To Take That Step; Make It The Next Chapter In The Book Of Life.

Or The Darkness Going To Screen Away The Truth.

Truth I Know - Can Make Us Or Break Us; But Isn't It A Worth Getting Done With It.

Why Is It Time Dodges Over This And Makes Us Hide; I Know Hiding A Truth If It Makes Mere Is Worth It.

At That Moment Yes; But At A Long Path Is It??

Truth Is Very Simple 5 Letter Word; With Various Dictionaries Meaning It With It's Own Terms.

Are We Using Any Of Them; Or Our We Really Making Our Own Meaning Towards It.

I Surely Will Not Mark Up The 7 Days Of Truth; Or Maybe I Will Give It A Go.

Not Because I Want To Complete It And Win A Task; But Because I Know I Can Stand The Outcome Of It.

Many A Truth In This World; Ended Many A Glorious Lives. Sadly They Fell For It...

But Their Truth Lives On And Their Names Have Been Referred And Read Many A Times.

Its Simple Yet It Takes A Whole Of You; To Be Really You - To Be The Truth.

                               " Are You The Truth?? Or Are You Taking It To Be The Truth?? "

Joshua C.D

12COM6510

With the Innocuous Beasts

A perfect flee for nature lovers! The incredible backdrop with the tranquil backwaters of the river Kabini presents an idyllic setting for a long awaited retreat. Surrendering to the enticement of the wild that adorn the cottages is only a formality. The assets of the nature are slouched in this place. The entire place is pooled with thriving and infinite splash of green foliage. The rain god himself blesses the spirit of exploration at times. In the rainy season, we experience a lot of potholes because of the habitual movement of safari vehicles and elephants. These potholes make us feel like we are on a water ride.

Once we get into the forest we get our patience tested, which is worth so much. “Please be silent, do not move and panic,” is the instruction from the guides and we obediently nod our heads. After a wait of ten to fifteen minutes we get a peek of the baby elephants which were followed by the bigger elephants. We can see them enjoy their vegan meal if we are silent and still. These beasts look so graceful and elegant as we get closer to them in the safari van. As we move further we can get to see spotted deer at regular intervals. These beautiful creatures keep springing up from the lushes here and there.  Their abundance is the only thing which stops them from having the star status of lion and tiger which remain indefinable just like the almighty. 

River trips in Kabini are so heavenly. The elegance of the backwaters gets us the meditated sensitivity, but some times crocodiles in there make it repulsive, though they are absolutely harmless. If we are lucky enough we spot animals’ jamboree. Wild buffalos, peacocks, gaur, languor monkey, bonnet monkey, leopards, tigers, wild boars are some of guests who attend the jamboree. It is a real treat. When getting back home with such an experience, elephants are the ones who made me really feel the worth of this trip. Elephants in the wild are innocuous beasts.

Meghana Harikumar

12COM6514

Picnic on the banks of the Cauvery

The river Cauvery flows along a route of approximately 760 kilometers. On its meandering path, it carves out gorges, mighty waterfalls and places of mesmerizing scenic beauty. One such place, on its long, winding route to the Bay of Bengal is Mekedaatu. Almost a hundred kilometers from Bangalore, Mekedaatu is a pristine picnic spot frequented by many tourists.

Mekedaatu is a small gorge, so named because the terrain is so rocky and dangerous, that only a goat, or meke in Kannada, can cross over. The area around Mekedaatu, Sangama, is renowned as being the meeting place of the Cauvery and Arkavathi rivers. During summer, the water levels are shallow making the gorge completely visible and not so dangerous. Many tourists frequent the place at this time to get away from the stressful city life and relax on the banks of the river.

For students, this is an ideal place for a picnic. On a weekday, the place is virtually empty, which made it the ideal place for my friends and me to go for a barbecue. After all the plans were made and the necessities bought (read meat and beer) we hopped into a bus and went on what was one of the best ninety minute journey of our lives. Once we left the traffic and chaos of the city, the ride was simply amazing. The view of green fields and hillocks dotting the highway and of villagers relaxing outside their simple thatched huts made us realise how beautiful the simple things in life were.

Once we got there, we scrambled to look for the perfect place to set up our picnic and found it right next to a rock formation a few yards away from the river. We unpacked all our stuff and got the barbecue ready. My special meat patties for the juicy burgers were well received, thank God. Then as few of us were busy working the grill, the rest decided to take a walk to the gorge and also take a dip in the river. As evening approached, there we were, sipping ice cold beer, munching juicy burgers and just soaking the sunset. It was really difficult for us to leave as the stunning beauty of the place seemed to keep us glued to the rocks we were sitting on.

Finally, we had to pack up our stuff again. We put out the fire carefully; making sure that it was completely doused and cleared off the bottles and paper we had littered. And after another inspection to make sure none of our waste was left and after a last look at the place we returned back to the city and back to reality from that really magical place.

A word of advice to all picnickers, please do clear all your waste like papers and bottles before you leave. Do not tarnish the environment there and damage the beauty of the place with litter all around. And for those who wish to try out my meat patties on your next picnic or backyard barbecue, here it is:

For the Patty:

Mince meat (Anything you fancy, but I would recommend chicken or beef) – a kilogram will make 6 to 8 patties

Onions – 2 per kilogram of meat

Garlic paste – 1 teaspoon per kilogram

Egg whites – 2 eggs per kilogram

Salt and pepper

Chilli powder

Mix all these ingredients together in a bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and leave for at least two hours.

For the Barbecue Sauce:

Tomato ketchup – 2 cups

Water – 200 ml

Vinegar – half cup

Brown sugar – half cup

English mustard – 2 tablespoons

Onion and garlic powder – 1 tablespoon each

Chilli powder – 2 teaspoons

Over low heat mix all ingredients in a bowl or saucepan for 20 minutes. Stir continuously. After 20 minutes to a half hour, remove from the stove and allow it to cool. Refrigerate overnight.

The sauce can be applied over the patties while cooking on the grill to give it an added tangy flavour. Put the patty into burger buns along with cheese or butter, and that's all there is to it

A view of the gorge

Image Credit: Google Images

Derek Francis

12 COM 6506

Cleanliness may lead to death now

Have you ever cleaned your house for a pooja? If yes, then you are a killer. I know it sounds strange, but it is true. You are not a criminal but environment’s friend. You may have sometimes been told by elders that if you are killing any living being, you will be punished and will end up going to hell instead of heaven. Forget all these orthodox elements which can always give birth to false belief.

It has been said that cleanliness is next to godliness. According to ancient belief, Goddess Laxmi enters places which are clean, like clean houses, clean offices or clean shops. It has also been observed that people get positive vibes when they are in and around clean places.

Many insects like mosquitoes give birth to dangerous diseases through contamination of food items when kept open. Regular cleaning helps prevent and curb the growth of such dangerous insects.

There are many occasions in India like marriages, festivals like Diwali, Eid, etc., where burning crackers forms a big part of the celebrations. This practice of burning crackers ends up harming the environment and killing many micro-organisms and sometimes humans as well. Here, even those healthy organisms are getting killed who play a positive role in the eco system. Some of them include human beings who plant trees which in turn contribute towards a cleaner environment, animals that eat up all the dirty things present in the environment like pigs.

Today, one of the major issues facing us include cutting of trees. If this is going to continue now, Nature is god and this god is going to clean us.

Vikram Kapoor
12COM6529

Big Brands embrace fashion with progressive luxury

Fashion is a wonderful art embedded with creativity and luxury through designers. But today, fashion is not accessible to a larger public. It can be altered through many ways with creative and innovative ideas that also relies on people’s desires, choices and their perspective towards fashion. The beauty of fashion is that it can take you from the ordinary to the extraordinary.

When we think of fashion, the first thing that comes to our mind is the brand. Many people desire to buy a certain brand only because celebrities prefer that. This often happens because of advertisements. But, not every big brand comes with advertisements.

                                        Google Images

Today, major brands do not hesitate to embrace new ideas. Before, clothing was a part of sculpture and paintings and even today, it is also considered as a trend, and these fashionable clothes do follow the designs of paintings, animal skin, and many more adopted from nature which is preferred widely by many designers. Most of the people are attracted because of their wild naturalistic colours and designs. There are many designers whose brands are recognised in a wide range like traditional classics, western designs and many more that depend according to their taste and interests, and in what they are specialised and good at. According to this, people select their designers for different occasions.

Although the old fashion is back and will be followed even now as it’s been blended with today’s new, innovative and creative designs which gets enhanced with bold styles. Brands tend to be fashionable and luxurious, but, most people cannot afford branded clothes and accessories today.

There are people who prefer big branded products and clothes because it makes the person feel confident, fashionable, comfortable, and is durable. It also enriches their beauty and makes them look like movie stars.

Prices vary depending upon the brands, as people have more choice to select and their selection could be varied depending on their comfort level, style, design and prices. Nowadays, few big brands price clothes at affordable prices to make sure that even ordinary people can buy.

Big brands are only preferred by the celebrities designed by the famous designers who showcases their creativity by means of fashion shows and reaches people’s eyes. This field is very competitive and innovative, and one must have a creative mind to portray their talents to reach the highest level and their brand depends widely on their designs and also varies according to the season.

Hence, the bigger brands are considered to be in progress with luxury that follows more creativity in terms of wide varieties of designs, and it follows the old fashion with new trends to get a complete fashionable makeover.

Poonam D.P

12COM6533.

Civet coffee- the most expensive coffee in the world.

Anyone for a cup of most expensive coffee? Kopi Luwak or civet coffee is definitely the one. Civet coffee is one of the world’s most expensive varieties of coffee. It is obtained from the beans of coffee cherries which have been eaten by the Civet cats and then passed through its digestive system. In fact, the so-called ‘civet cat’ is also known as the ‘palm civet’ is a kind of mongoose which consumes selected ripened cherries. The civet cat finally excretes the indigestible beans of the cherries. After gathering these beans it is thoroughly washed, dried and roasted moderately. These beans produce great aromatic coffee with much less bitterness. The beans are gently roasted so that the aromas are not destroyed. These flavours arise as a result of the reaction of the beans with the enzymes inside the civet’s stomach.

                                                                                 Google Images

                                                                                                                                                                            

Civet coffee or Kopi Luwak as it is called in the Philippines is endemic to the islands of Sumatra, Java in the Indonesian islands. This rare coffee is also found in southern India as well by the name of ‘Kari Bek Coffee’.

The taste can vary greatly depending on the type of cherries. Usually, Arabica and Robusta are the cherries eaten by civets. However, civet coffees have a unique aroma and flavor characteristics, along with their lack of bitterness. Civet coffee has a thick texture, and tastes alter depending on roasting grades. The taste also varies depending on the diet of the civet.  Usually, grades ranges depending upon the colors from yellowish brown to dark brown. Moreover, the beans which have very smooth profiles are often given a lighter roast. Berries such as Liberica eaten by civets give a pungent, sometimes bitter taste too. This rare coffee is also known as the ‘Bucket List Coffee’ from the movie ‘The Bucket List’.

PONNANNA P.C
12COM6521

Kodaikanal - Call of the Bison

Tranquil green landscapes, the magnificent sites and unlimited adventure, picturesque and charming views – that’s what Kodaikanal offers. A perfect weekend get-away, Kodai is the ideal choice for a quick, low budget travel destination.

Kodai is one of the most popular hill stations in India because of the splendid and gigantic forests, massive rocks, lonely lakes, bracing air and waterfalls that define the calmness of the place. Kodai is situated at an altitude of about 2000 meters and its known for its hill plantation fruits and plums.

Well, Sooraj and myself boarded the bus on Friday evening to Kodai. It was a 470km long journey from Bangalore. On Saturday, the early morning mist welcomed us to Kodai asking us to taste hot coffee and then the taxi drove us with a bumpy ride to Vettakanal where we rented the house for a nominal amount standing amidst sylvan beauty on the southern crest 8 km away from Kodai in Tamilnadu. We happened to meet a couple of people from Egypt, France and India who were our neighbours staying in the misty woods for weeks together producing music. It was in the evening after the call of Bison and preserving its spirit, everyone planned to meet and set campfire at 9pm after the dinner at Altaf an Israeli restaurant. Exchange of knowledge, culture, information, lots of fun and not to forget to mention the role of Brandy, which kept us warm and light throughout the night.

Of all attractions and experiences in Kodai, the one that stands out and cannot afford to be missed is the Cockers Walk, which offers a majestic view of the valley. Tourists can go for trekking in the wild and with luck, can catch an eyeful of wildlife. It is an ideal hill resort for tourists.

Photo Credits - Devaiah

Devaiah

12COM6507

Smoking's Ill Effects

“Smoking is injurious to health”, people of almost all age groups know this fact, but nobody wants to take a accept that almost 63 percent of the Bangalore public has this habit. "Lets have a smoke" is a common dialogue of the present generation these days. For some people it’s a mere fashion or custom to hang out with their friends with a cigarette in their hand, and for some others it’s a habit which they can't quit.

Why do you smoke? a question that leaves a lot of people puzzled, but yet no answers.This question can be answered in a rather simple manner . A lot of young individuals get into the habit of smoking when they are young, when they pass through their adolescence and the remaining catch the habit once they are done with their college life, but the facts suggest that almost 50 percent of them get into this habit when they are starting of their college life.

The initial habit of smoking is replaced by regular purchase of cigarettes to find out the pleasure of taking the smoke inside, this inturn leads to regular purchase of cigarettes and one doesn’t know when the effect becomes a habit. This inturn makes a vital influence on one's habit as regular use of cigarettes makes us socially vulnerable to other new things that can be tried out in course of time. The whole aspect of smoking is related to satisfying the peer pressure that one experiences through their college life and related groups which are formed at that point of time. A few people get over this habit only because of the continuous efforts of their loved ones and other people who have lost a lot, only because of this habit. And of course we all know public smoking is an offense.

 Photo Credits : Amith M

Amith M

Under My Belly!

Morning, noon or night, Sara’s has something to offer at any time of the day !

If you ask the owner,what’s best at his shop he replies with a confident grin “everything." Although the ambience looks grimy and packed, Ashish is right, Sara’s is a proof that the first impression is not necessarily the best. Sara’s offers a variety of mouth watering food. From paranthas to sandwiches to chats to pulaos,   there are various items on the menu. Situated in Loafer’s Lane, in front of Mount Carmel College , Vasanthnagar  for the unfamiliar ones, this eating hub sees a good number of hungry college students .

We have variety of paranthas, right from aloo paratha to corn paratha to cheese aloo paratha to gobi paratha served with curd and pickle, the aroma of these paranthas can be whiffed  from a mile away. “ Since it's a stone's throw away from college, I prefer eating there when time is short in between college hours. Moreover, they provide a variety of chats and paranthas that are awesome. So it's the best place to go for a quick bite. I normally land up with cheese alu parantha which is the yummiest there and wind up with a lassi. It's quick and reasonable," says Charollote, a student from Mount Carmel College .

Those of you who cannot do with out a portion of rice, you have the yummiest pulaos lined up just for you, like Tawa Pulao served hot ,comes with a modest rate of about Rs. 40.The place is crowded at any time of the day .

At tea time, you can feast on your daily chaat like Paani Puri, Behl Puri, Masala Puri, the samosa chaat are the most sought after items at this place.

Talking about spotting this place, Ashish, the owner says, "Its very easy to find my shop, just come down from Mount Carmel College, wherever you find the most crowd, that’s Sara’s." Ashish is not far from the truth, this place is flooded with people at any time of the day.

"I love the food here , its awesome one must definitely try out this place; it's worth the money spent," says Meghana, a regular customer of Sara’s.

Sara’s also has a chaat stall inside Mount Carmel College and also has restaurants on Cunnigham Road called Fat Buddha, A Pan Asian Kitchen and  all these places are must tries.

Preethi R

The shopping hub of Bangalore

One of my favorite hang out spots in Bangalore is Commercial Street. It is a street where people belonging to all classes come to shop and eat. The street is always crowded with people of all ages who mainly have the passion to shop.

There are many shops which vary from selling expensive branded clothes to non branded clothes which are affordable.

Woody's, a famous restaurant is located in the street. This restaurant sells delicious Indian food and home made chocolates. Sagar refreshments, a store famous for the chat they sell is always crowded with youngsters. For the fast food lovers, KFC and McDonald's are available.

A large number of small shops located on the footpaths sell amazing accessories, footwear and handbags at reasonable prices.

A day of shopping at commercial street will definitely help u buy everything u wanted as one can find different stores selling various commodities.

Ebraham Sahib, a street parallel to commercial street also has many small shops which mainly deal with selling clothes and handbags which vary from Rs 50 to Rs 3000 depending on your budget.
But do keep in mind that when you go to commercial street, you could try to take a localite along, as he/she would know where to buy the right stuff without getting cheated. Another thing would be to avoid taking your car as it becomes a problem for parking.

Harini.S
12com6509

A piece of heaven on Earth

Gokarna, a town located in Karnataka is famous for its temples. A large number of devotees who worship Lord Shiva reside in the region. But what makes Gokarna ''A piece of heaven on earth'' is the Kudle beach. Kudle beach is a 20 minute trek away from the city and because there is no road which connects the city to the beach, the beach is not very commercialised. A large number of shacks are located on the shore. The prices of the shacks vary from Rs150 to Rs500 a night.
One could start off their day by feasting on scrumptious continental breakfast where fresh fruit is served along with sizzling pancakes. The hammocks found in and around the shacks help people relax through the day. The sun set at Gokarna is absolutely breath taking as the sun sets right into the sea. The darkness of the night is lit up by numerous stars which adorn the sky. The fireflies flying around add on to the beauty of the night. The plankton in the water glow making it look like stars beneath one's feet.
So, the next time you think u need a break from the noisy city life, Gokarna is the place to be.

Priyanka.S
12com6523

Comfort Food

Food displayed for sale at a market in Melaka City, Malaysia

As a child I grew up in a household where a variety of cuisine used to be cooked. The dominant one always being Malay cuisine, which is very close to my heart.

“Food is the most primitive form of comfort.” - Sheilah Graham.As the saying goes Malay cuisine has always proved to be comfort food to all those who seek solace in it.

Malay cuisine originates from Malaysia. It is a fusion of three major culinary ethnicities, such as, Malaysia, India and China.  A strong Thai, Indonesian and Middle Eastern influence of flavours is also notable.

The ingredients used are very fresh, exotic and healthy giving the dish a sweet and sour flavour to it. The dish is cooked in such a way that the ingredients sing for themselves and are not overly empowered by spices and other flavourings. Many of the herbs used in Malay dishes impart a unique flavour not influenced by any other added flavouring, but stand out in the dish giving it a zing. One major feature is that Malay food is very spicy. Having said that, one must remember, the spiciness in the dish does not make it inedible.

Nasi Lemak

Fresh ingredients such as coriander, pandan leaf, cumin, garlic, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and fenugreek, to name a few, are staple in all dishes. Coconut milk, however is a  habitual ingredient in the Malay cuisine. Popular dishes that constitute the cuisine are Satay, Sambal Udang, Beef Redang, Ayam Masak Merah, Nasi Lemak and Air Batu Campur to name a few.

Food on display in a street stall

What makes this cuisine comfort food is the frequency at which it is available to the people. On every street in Malaysia one can find a food stall that whips up these delicacies, ensuring that the people in that region never go to bed hungry. The food served in these road side stalls are hygienic and not to forget, tasty. This cuisine helps people connect to the food that they eat as it is warm not only for the stomach but also for the soul. This is food that you will never get tired of eating.

Photo courtesy : Google Images

Maria Rubina R

12COM6513

A little wonder

  Triangular in shape, filled with a mixture of vegetables cooked in spicy gravy, this is a commonly eaten tea time snack and is popular among all age groups. It is a lovely snack for a cold day when you are not very hungry but wouldn’t mind indulging in a snack. Well, you guessed it right - it is the ‘SAMOSA’.

Mouthwatering samosas are the most sought after by all. There may be several stalls for samosas in the city, but delicious samosas that are being prepared by a stall in BDA complex, Banashankari 2^nd Stage will surely win over them. One can let their taste buds tingle and indulge in some hot and spicy samosas at a very reasonable price. It is served with chilly and sweet sauce.  Apart from samosas, the stall serves jilebi, kachori, jamoon and many other sweets. This place has been attracting customers from the past ten to fifteen years.

Samosas have been an all-time favorite snack since a long time, but it is only now that choices like corn-chat, momos and veg rolls have come in. The lane behind BDA complex has several street-food shops. It has shops that serve fresh juice, vada pav and pani puri. But the really busy ones are the samosa stalls.


Coming to the History of Samosa:

   It is believed that samosas originated from Central Asia before 10^th Century and made its way to India via the ancient trade routes. Samosa is a famous Indian snack that can probably be found anywhere in the world. This has been a popular snack in the Indian sub-continent for centuries. The Indian samosa is the most famous among a family of filled pastries and dumplings which were popular from North Africa to South China.

High on taste, high on calories and high on fat, yet we never cease to eat this yummy Samosa. Many a times, we consume a lot of dishes irrespective of how good or bad they are for our health. It is a snack that will tempt anybody and everybody.


Photo Credits - Aishwarya Jayasimha
Aishwarya Jayasimha
12COM6501

No hard feelings!

David Beckham may have been overlooked by Stuart Pearce when it came to making the Team GB squad for the London 2012 Olympics, but the footballer certainly isn't letting the snub get to him.

The 37-year-old LA Galaxy superstar showed that he had no hard feelings about being left out of the team as he passionately supported his country by attending their second group game against UAE as they cruised to a 3-1 win.

David was accompanied by his 13-year-old son Brooklyn and Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge as he was treated like royalty and was given pride of place in the stands.

Even though Beckham was omitted from the final squad for the 2012 Olympics, the British fans still showed him support, with many of them seen wearing Beckham masks in the crowd.

Beckham had a particular interest in the match as his long term friend and former Manchester United teammate Ryan Giggs was playing second fiddle to team mate Craig Bellamy in the floating role, was captaining the team. And the Manchester United midfielder Giggs repaid the star by scoring the opening goal in the 3-1 win for Team GB, with both David and Prince William standing up to applaud.

In doing so, Ryan Giggs became the oldest man to score in the Olympics to cap off a victorious evening for Great Britain and indeed on a personal level for Giggs, one of the most illustrious and glittering careers of all time.

Vaibhav Ramachnadran

12COM6527

Time and time again

Jeremy Irons in his husky baritone once said “We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories. Some take us forward, they're called dreams.” So on your way if the journey isn’t smooth then take it round the dial and sing tic toc.

A watch has lost its need but still stays on one's hand as a symbol of prosperity. At this time, change may be inevitable; watches have changed over years inside out to do the same. If we think it over again, a watch deprives us of time when we need it the most and reminds us of the time we lost. They are expensive and costly to produce, require maintenance and adjustment, prone to failure when you need it the most.  Yet you would carry it around like you can stop time whenever you needed to.

The present generation has stopped looking down at their hand, instead reaching into their pockets for other gadgets that have a default feature of showing time. The loss of interest was realised, as the world was changing so did the watchmakers. They thought, innovated, and then brought back the classics and gave it perfection to go with the look which was irresistible. Watchmakers always knew the value of time and therefore designed an outer case for time called “watch” which would compliment time. Everyone who’s worn a watch knows the feeling, a surge of having time in their hand to use.

And to all those who think watches aren’t expensive anymore, I kindly request you to try on a Blancpain 1735, Grande Complication which is still ninth on the list of the most expensive at 4, 40, 00,000 with its case made of platinum, the strap made of crocodile skin and the engine parts made of seven hundred and forty pieces of handmade parts and components, being one of the most complex wristwatches ever made in the world as stated by its makers. And this is not for display but sale and worn by the elite.

So one believes the watchmakers have established themselves as the keepers of time and ensuring the world that time will always remain watched.       

Photo Credits - Google Images

Amarjith Solomon Arakkal

12COM6502

Supply versus Trading

Trading basically involves a process of buying or manufacturing products at one side and then selling it to the market. Supplies as well mean to distribute the commodities for consumption of the purchasers or in outlets and firms for its further sale. When any individual starts new business, the concentration not only falls in that particular goods or service but also to other similar products which can boom the market if they may launch that and the contact with many process through phone calls, internet etc begins from here. “There are many relationships in this world of emotions but a true business man is a person who built the most powerful relation that is trade”

If a person holds a new job or entrepreneur, he/she feels so positive that this excitement many a times also leads to the formation of multiple ideas in their mind as human beings are meant to think all day and night. This is also one of reasons why big industrialists are earning big money. The similar way if a potato seller will concentrate on the sale and purchase of potato and all the trade information related to potato as a whole, he will definitely grow higher in his way plus lead to employ and uplift many.

Since shopkeepers usually go for branded and popular products which already have their c & f agencies and distributors or suppliers in the market. It has been observed that trading is really a challenging job when hundreds of different small and big companies have their existence in the market, place but again, it’s not the end, in fact it’s the start of new and innovative ideas in your mind which can do anything big and outstanding because “An enterprise at its first have no place to survive so it has to make its own place in existing market”. Now commoners may say that it’s an art or creative work which cannot be done by everybody but in reality, each and every individual can perform in this stage by doing lots of physical work which will always keep on increasing your mental power of learning and making yourself knowledge day by day.

Usually quality, service and purchase by the trader or supplier has been given first preference in any business in this whole world. A true business man can always say that “we sale faith to our customer but not any product or service”, it means if at all any entrepreneur is earning without giving quality and service to his/her customer, then they cannot survive in the market for long run.

In India most of the people want to make more and more profit in business, no matter what the quality has to be given? Examples can be seen in the present scenario of Indian market which is adulteration of food like there are different pulses and spices and daily food items like aata, ghee, dals etc. many artificial methods of spreading pesticides to manure as well as on fruits to ripe fast for early sale and making profit. Synthetic milk manufacturing with non edible and harmful chemicals gives rise to countless diseases. It affects everybody, including the poor kids. Mid day meals are not only satisfying their hunger but they are taking life of thousands of innocent because lizards are more than enough in their food to finish them. You have to sell your trust blended with good behaviour and optimistic attitude. At the same time structure of quality should be made not only for the birth of bad money but also to earn healthy flow of wealth for you and your society.   


Vikram Kapoor    
12COM6529