October 2017 Vol 1 Issue 4

Malvika Iyer The global youth icon and motivational speaker on her PhD thesis, fashion, and co-chairing WEF India Economic Summit

body conscious footloose at 59 innerwear woes How B-school professor Why Madlén Hjelmroth Lalita Iyer on thongs Falguni Oza is redefining left her life in Sweden to and other weapons fashion stereotypes travel the world by herself of crotch destruction contents

A Song in Her Heart 09 Linguist, professor and poet Minu Bakshi

Around the World at 59 12 Madlén Hjelmorth loves it on her own

Revving Up India 16 Meet INK Talks founder Lakshmi Pratury

800 Km to Enlightenment ON THE COVER: Malvika Iyer 22 Kay Newton goes to Camino de Santiago PHOTOGRAPHY: Ganapathy Srinivasan

Armed With Courage 24 Cover girl Malvika Iyer’s remarkable story

Crotch Destruction 28 Lalita Iyer on thongs and other tortures

Bold, Beautiful, Body Positive 32 Professor and fashion blogger Falguni Oza

Festive Collective 48 5 trendy looks to go with your personality

Natty & Nice 06 Natisha Saraogi is out to give a Breakfast Special platform to eclectic designers 58 Healthy, wholesome recipes to try this month

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 4 | Editor’s note event | 5 Women Economic how old are you? Forum 2017 eShe was magazine partner at WEF 2017 organised his week I watched the TV show Younger, in by All Ladies League at Vivanta by Taj Dwarka in September. which the protagonist, who is (horror) 40 pre- Here are some of the power women who attended the event. tends to be 25 so that she can get a job and a new life after divorce. The premise is so ridic- ulous,T I was hooked. In a sense, given that young people are (slightly) better at adapting to new technology, and can be paid much less, it is true that today’s workplaces are ageist and prefer millennials to those above 40. The world of fashion, advertising and media is almost perversely obsessed with younger girls. But to suggest that there are no interesting men for single women over 40 is taking it a bit too far. There are always enough men. Many women (of all ages) I interview prefer not to reveal their age because it limits their career oppor- tunities. It saddens me to see ageism taking root in (L-R) Prerona Roy, Vandana India. We have in fact been reverse-ageist traditional- Vadera and Harsha Garg Mrs India and educationist Aekta Kapoor ly: older women command more respect and power Suparna Mukherjee Founder Editor, eShe Fashion blogger and social- than younger ones. But globalization has gifted us media maven Archana Dhankar Western biases along with a more connected society. I believe every person at every age has something to contribute to society, and every phase of life has its share of pleasures and pains. Let’s enjoy youth and savour marks of age. We’ve earned them.

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Editor: Aekta Kapoor Kay Newton, Argha Kashyap, and published by Aekta Kapoor on behalf Design: Arushi Vohra Madlén Hjelmorth, Ritu Goyal of the owner Coral Content. Published Sales: Shikha (9811565805, Harish, Smriti Sawhney Joshi, at C3/1 GF, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi [email protected]) Kaveri Jain 110057, India. Phone: +91 9818166621. Ashwani (9811480656, To buy, advertise or for any other queries, All rights reserved throughout the visit eshe.in or send an email to mail@ [email protected]) Film actress and model Gunit Celebrity nutritionist and Contributors: Shillpi A Singh, world. Reproduction in any manner is coralcontent.com. To subscribe to the (L-R) Ritu Goyal Harish and Shreya Mohan, Alka Mahajan, prohibited. Editor: Aekta Kapoor. Printed free digital edition, visit eShe.in image consultant Shashi Jain Cour (read her story on p.66) author Kavita Devgan

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 6 | business business | 7 natty nice The woman behind& the unique e-store Natty.in, Natisha Saraogi brought together her love for functional art with her mission to give a greater platform to those creating it

ritish essayist Logan Pearsall hotels including Hyatt properties Smith once said, “The test across Nepal and India, the new- of a vocation is the love of est being the swanky Andaz hotel the drudgery it involves.” in Delhi’s Aerocity. She completed BIn that case, Natisha Saraogi has her schooling from Mayo College found herself the perfect career. in Ajmer and Dhirubhai Ambani The 30-year-old is the woman be- School in Mumbai, and then, at 18, hind the one-of-a-kind ecommerce went off for higher education to the store Natty.in, which has created University of Pennsylvania. She also waves in the design community and studied history at London School earned itself a loyal following with- of Economics for a year, and briefly in a short period of time. considered getting herself an MBA, Interestingly, Natisha handles but then decided she was ‘anti-busi- even the tiniest chores involved, ness school’. from calling up potential vendors Instead, realizing that there is no and pitching her site to them, to better teacher than life, she joined handling social media, writing de- her family business, training in all scriptions for products and even departments. A few years later, she coming up with business plans moved to Bangalore to live with to help sellers – many of whom her businessman husband. With are small-time designers or work- his background in garment export from-home moms – reach greater and her attraction to ecommerce, audiences online. they together toyed with the idea Born in Nepal, where she lived of starting a private label for e-retail till she was 11, Natisha hails from a within India. She began researching family of Indian hoteliers who have the concept and logistics, but soon been based in Kathmandu since the realized there were too many pit- early 1960s, and now own several falls ahead. Her husband backed out

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 8 | business performing arts | 9

and stuck to his core field. considered it once. Earnest, driven Natisha, however, was charged up and grounded, she was determined to do something of her own. to do this on her own. A SONG IN Living in Bangalore exposed her Starting with a team of two, she to the enthusiastic startup commu- managed to go live in June 2016 nity, and the city’s buzz encouraged with a database of 30 sellers for her HER HEART her to think out of the box. She website, working with a business She dreams in Urdu, sings in Spanish, and weaves romance came up with the idea of a curated model that costs the vendors noth- design portal called Natty. It was to ing, with Natty taking care of lo- with her shayari. Linguist, professor and poet be a platform for emerging mak- gistics, payment gateway and other Minu Bakshi is a woman of many talents ers, designers, artists, chefs, crafts- operational costs. She also conducts persons and social entrepreneurs, pop-up events to give customers a ature at Jawaharlal Nehru Univer- to help them widen their reach. hands-on experience of her quirky, sity (JNU) for four decades while raising three children and managing the large home and active social life of her husband, a real-estate baron, is enough achievement, but you’d be wrong. As if Minu insists on de- fying expectations, she also writes books of Urdu poetry. No, that’s not enough, either. She also sings in both Urdu and Spanish. And what a voice. Like a diamond, there are sev- eral other sparkling facets to this While curating their products, she interesting wares. 62-year-old’s life. A little probing was careful to bring together form By August this year, Natty had over coffee at her sprawling resi- and function, and gave preference grown to 170 sellers (even after dence in Lutyen’s Delhi reveals the to unusual pieces that fell into the having to delist several because spirit of an adrenaline junkie – she category of both art and lifestyle. they were housewives without has won car rallies thrice – and a She invited people whose work GST!), and Natisha hopes to break polyglot – she speaks seven lan- she personally loved – such as even soon. Her team has grown to guages fluently. makers of a ‘ceramic speaker’ that eight, and she continues to be on inu Bakshi has the con- In the 1970s, while peaceniks works on acoustics without batter- the lookout for meaningful prod- trolled restlessness of an around the world called for end to ies. There was lots of dejection in- ucts, thoughtfully sourced from accomplished woman, war and India struggled during the volved at first, for who wants to tie all corners of India and the world. one who has no time dark days of Emergency, she was up with an unknown brand? Oh, The drudgery doesn’t bother her; Mfor frivolities because she is aware busy being the brilliant black sheep Natisha could have pulled status and it is part of the learning curve that of her own potential. You’d think of her clan, one of six siblings in a her family’s network, but she never drives Natisha.  being a professor of Spanish liter- “typical Sikh business family” in

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 10 | performing arts performing arts | 11

Delhi. She’d already completed her ter college. With so much time on through some rough times togeth- B.Sc from the prestigious Miranda my hands, I began writing,” narrates er. During the 1984 riots, their House by age 17, and got married Minu. Many years later, her ghazals Safdarjung Enclave home in Del- Na kehna thha, wo sab kehne lagi while doing her Master’s at JNU. were compiled into a collection, hi – which was one of the prom- hoon She had her first baby while doing Tishnagi: The Thirst, which was ad- inent residences in the area where Ke ab jazbaat mein behne lagi her MPhil, and despite being the judged the best book of Urdu po- they lived as a large joint family – hoon mother of an infant, didn’t think etry for 2014 by the Urdu Academy was attacked and burnt down by a Teri khaatir badal lee apni fitrat twice about taking off to Spain at Patna and was honoured with the 100-strong mob. They barely had Zamaane ke sitam sehne lagi hoon to study the language further for Amir Khusro Award by the Husnara any time to jump over the bound- Tashakkhus ki tamanna jab se ch- six months at Universidad Com- Trust, Delhi. ary walls and escape with their lives. horhi This year, she released her second “If it wasn’t for our neighbours Khushi ke saath main rehne lagi tome, Mauj-e-Saraab, which also has who sheltered us, we wouldn’t have hoon the English translation of the verses, made it,” she shudders in recall. Tere jaur-o-jafa ka har fasaana and the transliteration of the Urdu The experience left her father- Zabaan-e-haal se kehne lagi hoon in English and Hindi. in-law traumatized and he migrated Bafaize-i-adaaye dilbarana “I’m crazy about Urdu. What you abroad, leaving his sons to handle Nigaah-e-ishq mein rehne lagi hoon can say in two Urdu words needs what was left. The brothers grittily 10 in English. Look at the word got back to building an empire from All that I was not to say, I am be- guftagoo – it means communication the ashes of communal violence. ginning to say but also so much more,” says Minu, They now have several laterals For in passion now, I am beginning who is a regular participant at poet- ranging from hospitality to con- to drift ry festivals and has released several struction. Minu is a grandparent, Just for you, I changed my tem- YouTube videos with her self-com- her children are established busi- perament The cover of Minu Bakshi’s second book of poetry posed shayari. She’s also an expo- nesspersons, and she’s due for re- The tyranny of the world, I am be- nent of Punjabi folksongs. tirement from JNU in three years. ginning to bear plutense de Madrid. She later had ut Spanish is just as close to her “But I’m always going to be asso- Ever since I forewent, the desire for two more children, the third one Bheart. With her mammoth tal- ciated with it. I love the routine identity born a decade after the first. ent for understanding and com- of going early to college,” she says, With happiness, I am beginning to As a young woman, Minu discov- municating the real essence behind adding that all her writing happens live ered Begum Akhtar, the ‘Mallika-e- words, Minu has been working as after dark. Every fable of your tyranny Ghazal’ whose soulful renditions lit an interpreter for the President and Sufi mysticism and romance, With my appearance, I am begin- up a million hearts in the middle the Prime Minister of India at vari- ghazals and nazzams, the silence ning to narrate of the 20th century. Thus began ous occasions for over two decades. of the stars and the awakening of a Blessed by your ravishing coquetry the JNU professor’s own journey She was recently conferred the Or- quest – the night is when Minu’s In the core of passion, I am begin- into Hindustani vocals and Urdu der of Isabella la Catolica by the muses come alive, rousing her mind ning to live poetry. “I remember a time when Spanish government for promoting with the colours of youth, hope and my father-in-law was ill and was Spain and its culture, the second love. “One should never withdraw. From Mauj-e-Saraab by Minu Bakshi admitted to a hospital. I sat with highest order given to foreigners. Keep fighting. That’s how you stay him from 1 to 4 pm every day af- Minu’s Sikh family has been young,” says the poet. 

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 12 | journey journey | 13 AROUND THE WORLD AT 59 Emotionally bruised after a long marriage, difficult divorce and a decade of self-healing, this 59-year-old decided to travel across the world by herself By Madlén Hjelmroth

just turned 59 and I’m current- partner happy. The more I tried, the ly backpacking in India. On more I failed, until I realised there my own. India is one of the 10 was nothing left of me. I had noth- countries I have visited during ing more to give. I was empty and Ithe past 11 months. I didn’t know who I was any more. Many friends and many strangers, But I stayed because of the chil- both male and female, have asked dren, because no one in my family me where my husband is. When I divorced, because I doubted I would tell them I divorced 13 years ago, manage, because I was afraid. And Madlén travelled to Nusa Lembongan in Indonesia to check out life on an island they always make a sad face, feel- this is a paradox since in all other ing sorry for me. And I always say, ways I’m a very resourceful woman. found myself alone in the house. I in her circle of friends or family did. “Don't be. If I had stayed, I would I had my own business, I raised my had no idea what to do. I was all It took courage to make a change have been living dead.” children, I managed the household, alone with all those questions. Fi- in my life. I lived one hour at the Living for 21 years with my part- I renovated the house, I sewed most nance, kids, wellbeing, what to tell time, one week at the time, no ner in Sweden made me doubt of my children’s clothes, I painted, family and friends, how to cope. myself as a person. Nothing I did I was deeply involved in the PTA. It took a few days before I had the the more i tried, the or said was good or good enough. And still I doubted myself when courage to call my mother and give My sole purpose was to make my it came to the thought of a divorce. her the news. For three months, she more i failed until i And then, one day, I felt such an- called me every day, crying. Every realised there was ger. I was angry with myself. Why day I consoled her, told her she was I allowing this? What sort of didn’t have to worry, everything nothing left of me. role model was I to my children? would be okay. But deep down in- Was this what I wanted my daugh- side, those were just empty words. I plans for the future. There was just ters to learn? Is this what a marriage had no clue what they meant. the present. Time doesn’t heal all is all about? And one day I realised she wasn’t wounds but change takes time, re- My husband moved out. It turned crying for me. It was all about what pairing take time and forgiveness out he had been seeing someone everyone else would think of her for takes time. else for a while. One morning I having a divorced daughter. None Staying in a bad place is not an

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 14 | journey journey | 15

option. Moving forward is. In ret- see the same places or who have the rospect I can honestly say that the same interests. And the best and eas- hardest thing I have ever done in iest way to get acquainted is by sim- my life turned out to be the most ply saying hello. I am never alone rewarding. I grew as a person and unless I want to be. Meeting people, woman. teaming up for a couple of hours, My children eventually moved days or weeks is one of the perks of out, my parents passed away and travelling on my own. now I could take the time for myself One of the best things about and my needs. I decided to fulfill a travelling alone is that I can change childhood dream: to travel to far- my mind about where I want to go A courtyard in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia Old Manali, India away countries my finger had only without arguing with anyone else. I touched on a map. I didn’t know see something interesting, I go there. what would come my way or how I It is my journey and I can have it any way I want. I can go right, left or just stay if I like the place. I am Being lonely is never not travelling to find myself; rather, about not having I began my physical journey after people around you. I’ve overcoming the emotional one. I always stay in hostels when never felt as lonely as I travel. That is the place to meet Dharamshala, India Woman in Pushkar entering her home the last 10 years of my other travellers, listen to their sto- marriage. ries, get advice on where to go next and what to see, go for dinner with someone or have a conversation. I would cope with the obstacles, but get all the company I want or need the curiosity to see the world was and I still have the freedom of do- stronger than the fear. I could either ing my thing. wait for someone else to join in, or India has been kind to me. I’ve to go ahead and do it on my own. met great people and seen amazing Being lonely is never about not places. The best thing about India having people around you. I’ve nev- is the ubiquitous chai stall. That’s er felt as lonely as the last 10 years where I stop to rest, to find my of my marriage. They redefined for bearings when I get to a new place me the meaning of loneliness and or talk to someone. companionship. On my own but never alone.  On the contrary, by travelling on Follow me on www.hjelmroth.com, my own, I am more likely to find on Facebook @hjelmrothphoto or on Man in Leh, Ladakh, India An alley in Pushkar, India like-minded people who want to Instagram @hjelmroth.

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 16 | visionary visionary | 17

middle child had been diagnosed blaming the girl for her mother’s REVVING UP with leukaemia. Dr Rao returned death. Indeed, brought up by two to India, only to watch his only son older sisters and doting grandpar- die at the age of nine. ents, Lakshmi was quite the spoilt The loss left his wife inconsol- brat, as they all overcompensated able. The couple decided to try for her mother’s loss. “You are here Her penchantINDIA for community building led Lakshmi Pratury for a fourth child, and moved to for a purpose,” her father told her. Vishakhapatnam, hoping a new All three daughters of Dr Rao to establish INK Talks, but her personal story is just beginning would put their life on went on to do their Masters, and as powerful as her vision for India track again. Lakshmi was born 18 Lakshmi further did two MBAs about her job loss for a week. When she finally did, he said, “It happens.” Lakshmi struggled with unemploy- ment, learning to stay afloat with the support of friends and family. “My father always asked me, ‘What are you doing to link the world’s richest democracy with the world’s largest?’,” says Lakshmi, who took his words to heart over Lakshmi Pratury the next few decades, as she moved across America, climbed the corpo- akshmi Pratury got her first rate ladder, set up a successful fund taste of American capitalism for causes in India, started her own in her very first job, when the live talk event with well-known hi-tech company she worked faces, launched TED India with Lakshmi with Canadian filmmaker James Cameron Lfor went bankrupt in the late 1980s. Chris Anderson, and finally estab- “Sixty people were fired on the lished INK in her motherland. years after their first child, and 12 from India and US. Then she met same day; we all found ourselves Indeed, her father had a major years after their second. But her Rajat Rakkhit, her future husband, sitting on the sidewalk one morn- role to play in Lakshmi’s life and premature birth coincided with an- in a California bookstore. Two ing. It was just brutal,” recalls the choices. The man who introduced other tragedy for her family, as her years after their wedding, Dr Rao Hyderabad-raised entrepreneur and baby-weighing scales to India, a mother died of birth complications. passed away. To keep his dream alive, conference host. khadi-wearing freedom fighter, a Dr Rao never allowed the loss of Lakshmi decided to do something Her father, Padma Bhushan Dr writer and poet, and a much loved his beloved wife and son to damp- for India even while in the US. Pratury Tirumala Rao, had arrived paediatrician, he was one of the first en his optimism for life. “You are She started raising funds for un- just the previous day on his first- Indian pediatricians to go for train- everything your mother wanted to derprivileged children in Indian ever visit to his youngest daughter ing to the US in the 1950s. While be,” he told the child Lakshmi, for- villages, and in the process kindled a in the US. Lakshmi didn’t tell him there, he was informed that his bidding even the slightest whisper latent desire to have her own child.

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 18 | visionary career | 19

But the idea of childbirth subcon- million dollars for charity, Laksh- sciously frightened her; she thought mi started a live talk event inviting it would kill her just as it had killed speakers from varied backgrounds, her mother. As luck would have it, from Andrew Grove and William MOTHER almost everything about her son’s Dalrymple to Gloria Steinem and birth was eerily similar to her own. Chitra Divakaruni. She got Indian OF INVENTION She was in her early 40s, like her personalities like Shashi Tharoor, Marriage and motherhood forced these two corporate leaders to consider whole mother had been. The baby was MJ Akbar, Mira Nair and Anand new careers – and there has been no looking back born in the wee hours of the morn- Mahindra to co-host events with her. In 2009, along with TED Talks curator Chris Anderson, she hosted the first TED Conference in India, and helped choose the recipients of the first set of TEDx licenses here. Her husband Rajat, who had his own startup, and her son Arnav, who was in kindergarten, moved with her to Bangalore, as she set out to help out-of-the-box thinkers find a platform to share their ideas and get the support they needed. That’s how INK was born in 2010. A platform for innovation operating at the intersection of sci- ence, technology, community and creativity, it has since evolved to be- Lakshmi with Rajkumar Hirani come a ‘community that accelerates the journeys of game-changers’. ing, exactly like herself. Her doctor Known for the annual INK Con- Lessons in micropreneurship was on vacation, like her mother’s. ference, besides programmes such as Bhavini Mehta, Ahmedabad There were birth complications for INK Fellows, it aims to help people both too. But eventually, everything turn their ideas into reality. “India oung, married and successful. employee with a private bank when worked out fine. “All this happened should be a thought leader, not just YBhavini Mehta thought she had the economic slowdown hit world- to make me lose my fear,” Lakshmi a source of cheap labour for the it all sorted but the world economy wide markets in 2008. Thousands of later realized. world,” says the articulate, amiable had other plans. Born in Kanpur employees were laid off. After several years of fundraising Lakshmi, adding, “There is much but brought up in Raipur, Rajkot Bhavini was pregnant. with a baby and nanny in tow, fly- India can offer the world, if only we and Ahmedabad, Bhavini had com- Despite her ace performance at ing from New York to Washington encourage the habit of innovation.” pleted her MBA from Ahmedabad work, her boss suggested she give DC to India and raising over 30 Her father would have agreed.  and was a high-flying corporate up her job so that someone who

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 20 | career career | 21

Eight years on, Bhavini’s company Creative Pursuits Infinity Business Solutions employs Rashmi Kulkarni, Belgaum almost 50 people, many of whom work from home. “While look- fter completing her post-grad- at home, and developed DIY craft ing for staffers, I came across many Auation in analytical chemistry kits for schoolchildren based on mothers who felt like they were not from Bangalore and MBA from their curriculum and level. It was a an asset to anyone; they needed the Symbiosis University in Pune, new concept for Belgaum residents, money but did not get the support Rashmi Kulkarni worked for sev- but slowly, schools and NGOs un- they needed to be able to go out to eral years in the corporate sector in derstood the value of DIY craft kits, work,” says the soft-spoken profes- companies such as Hewlett Packard, and Rashmi was in business. sional., who calls herself the ‘OOO’ Accenture and the Taj Group. After “There is science in everything (only operating officer) of her firm. marriage and moving to Belgaum, I do,” laughs Rashmi, whose five- where her husband year-old hobby stu- was “the sole breadwinner of his runs a small-scale in- dio has won several family” could stay on. “Motherhood was dustry, she changed accolades and was And so, just like that, star bank- a life-changing gears to take up a selected to be a er Bhavini was jobless. Luckily, she experience but after slow-paced admin part of the Cherie chanced upon the book The 4-Hour position at an engi- Blair Foundation’s Workweek by Tim Ferris. She began one and a half years of neering college. “It ‘Mentoring Wom- freelancing from home, emulating being home, I felt as if was a drastic change en in Business’ pro- the message of the bestseller. “Moth- something was missing from Bangalore life,” gramme last month. erhood was a life-changing experi- she admits. “I’m excited and ence but after one and a half years from my life” When her daugh- happy to grow and of being home, I felt as if something ter was born eight to take Tarang Hob- was missing from my life,” says the Bhavini made extra efforts to hire years after marriage, by Studio to next 33-year-old Christ College alum- work-from-home mothers and stu- Rashmi was forced to give up the level,” beams the 40-year-old, who na. She went back to the book, and dents trying to pay for their edu- job again. “She was a precious child had her second child last year. realized that everyone has passions cation, besides full-time staff. She born after years of yearning; I didn’t She has now put various process- and family commitments. “What also started Publishbook.me, a lat- have the heart to leave her and go es in place, and has learnt how to if I could facilitate the life people eral that offers easy solutions for out to work,” says Rashmi. Instead make the most of limited resources. want?” she wondered. self-publishing. she decided to develop her own “Always look out for opportunities So Bhavini started her own com- Breaking barriers and fishing for personal passion for art and craft, wherever you are. If you want to pany offering virtual assistant ser- opportunities in adversity has be- and turn it into a profession. succeed, you can do it anywhere,” vices, and quickly developed a cli- come something of a habit for Bha- And so Tarang Hobby Studio was says Rashmi, who has trained her- entele around the world, working vini, whose daughter is now eight born. “There was a lot of learn- self to look at the positive side of 15 hours a day across time zones. years old. “The biggest challenge of ing and unlearning involved. I first every situation. “Boiling water soft- “Two of my clients now literally my life also helped me develop my had to change my own mindset ens the potato but hardens the egg. work four hours a week, we take fullest potential.” She’s now helping and adopt new skills,” she recalls. It’s not your circumstances but your care of the rest,” she says. others do the same. Then she began teaching children actions that define you.” 

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 pilgrimage | 23

bed in hostel dormitory the night before and fail to get much sleep – I am not used to half-naked bodies, the smell of sweaty socks and snor- ing. Everything feels familiar and yet so alien. I am struggling to get into the simple routine of walking, thinking and eating. About 800 km on foot with a nine-kg backpack, averaging 25 km a day! I must be mad and yet the sense of achieve- ment and the stunning views that await me at the top of every hill have me grinning from ear to ear. I lived in Spain for over 30 years increased. Last year 278,232 people but it’s only recently that I heard received their Compostela. about the popular pilgrim journey There are many theories as to of Camino de Santiago. Although why pilgrimages are popular today. I have thought about walking the The Frances is often described as Camino Frances route, there’s a 10 days of physical pain, 10 of men- great deal of difference between tal anguish and the final 10 days of thought and action! The Way of spiritual awakening. In today’s hec- Saint James is a journey that allows tic style of life, the Camino is a way the participant not only to walk up of connecting to nature and the to the shrine of St James in Santiago things that truly serve you. 800 KM de Compostela following different In the second week of September physical paths, it also allows them to 2017, I started off on the Camino TO enlightenment take time out from their busy rou- Frances – beginning in St. Jean Pied tine and transform their inner life de Port in France and ending in Camino de Santiago is a rite of passage for over 250,000 pilgrims journey. Some walk with full packs, Santiago de Compostella in Spain. worldwide who converge on Spain each year. This is one woman’s journey others have their packs shipped The most beautiful part of each By Kay Newton ahead, others cycle. I have even met day has been my Camino family. one pushing a supermarket trolley! The people you sit next to at the t is 7 am, the sun is about to sweat and legs like jelly. I wonder In 1971, fewer than 500 people communal evening meal, or share a

rise and for the past two hours I what on earth I have got myself newton received their Compostela certifi- few kilometres together. The local have been steadily climbing by into. I am not a political refugee; I ay cate, even though it was a Holy Year people who greet you with “Buen torch light. I find myself stand- do not have to do this. The pain is in the Roman Catholic tradition. As Camino” as you pass their door. We Iing on top of a windswept Spanish real and it is my choice. church attendance plummets, the are all one in this together and that

hill, panting, back aching, wet with It was also my choice to take a : K P hotographs popularity of walking the way has is very special. 

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 24 | Cover Story cover story | 25 ARMED WITH COURAGE Global youth icon and award-winning motivational speaker Malvika Iyer lost her arms at 14, but found growth beyond her comfort zone, and her destiny just past her pain By Aekta Kapoor

alvika Iyer stopped place. An ammunition depot near wearing her prosthetic her house had caught fire a few arms a little over a year months earlier, and pieces of am- ago. “It is a liberating munition including bombs were Mfeeling,” she says of dumping her scattered around the neighbour- constant companions from the age hood. The young Malvika picked of 14. Instead, she has now learnt up what appeared to be a blunt ob- to use a single protruding piece of ject from the garage. It was around bone on the stump of one arm – a lunch time on May 26, 2002, when ‘mistake’ left over by surgeons – to she took it back to her house to use do just about everything for her- it as a hammer substitute, in a child- self, from wearing trendy clothes, to like improvisation to fix her jeans cooking for the first time in her life, pocket with glue. to typing out her PhD thesis. And it It was a grenade. When she jabbed feels good. her jeans with it, it exploded. The only part the 28-year-old Eighteen months later, with hun- global motivational speaker and dreds of hours of surgery that am- youth icon doesn’t like is stepping putated her arms below the elbows out of the house in India without and left her legs a mangled mess, the natural-looking appendages. Malvika gradually limped her way “People stare.” back to life armed with prosthetics Born in Kumbakonam, Tamil and crutches. With hobbies such as Nadu, to an engineer father and a roller-skating and dance now be- homemaker mother, Malvika was a hind her, scoring top marks in her teenager living with her family in 10th boards became a mission. The Bikaner, Rajasthan, when the first teenager needed to prove that she landmark event of her life took was still in the game.

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 26 | Cover Story Cover Story | 27

Malvika Iyer Then came the next landmark Malvika draws courage from has given within: “My superpower is that I’m motivational of her life, when she was invited to speeches speak at the TEDxYouth@Chennai a woman.” The biggest message of around the event. And then at IIM Kozhikode, her life has been to never lose hope, world including and then Norway, Indonesia and though she has reasons to. “It is tir- at the United South Africa. She spoke about dis- ing to be cheerful and motivated all Nations ability and inclusion, about accessi- the time. But I feel like I have a so- headquarters in New York ble public spaces, about body image, cial responsibility now to never give (right) and in and the need to sensitize society and India, Norway, especially children to the needs of Indonesia and the differently abled. She began her South Africa doctoral thesis and is just months away from receiving her PhD. She sat for her exams with a Social Work, and was awarded for here were other important land- scribe, and scored 483 marks out of the best MPhil thesis in 2012. Tmarks too: an award for outstand- 500. As a state rank holder, with 100 ith her mother’s dedicated ing student, the REX Karmaveer per cent in mathematics and sci- Wsupport and encouragement Chakra Global Fellowship, the ence, she became a celebrity over- from her sister, who is three years first Women in the World Emerg- night. Scores of newspaper articles older and an engineer from BITS ing Leaders Award in New York in and a meeting with then President Pilani, Malvika also developed a 2016. Newspapers hailed Malvika APJ Abdul Kalam boosted her mo- unique style sensibility, and became as a change agent of the decade, and rale. She applied to the top college something of a fashion icon. “It is she was featured in a coffee-table for economics in India, St Stephens a nightmare to shop for clothes for book on women achievers and in a in Delhi University, two years later. someone with prosthetic arms. I film. She also got married. College was a mixed experience, needed full sleeves but ones that This year, Malvika was invited to as she couldn’t hang out after class could stretch over the wider areas. speak at the United Nations head- with her new friends. “I learnt to It’s only thanks to my mother that quarters in New York, where she re- be independent, to do things my- I was always well-dressed,” she says. ceived a standing ovation. And this self within my physical boundaries. Malvika began posing for photos month, she will co-chair the World Then I’d come home and apply my in different outfits on social media, Economic Forum’s India Economic balms and oils, and cry myself to and became associated with Ability Summit 2017 in New Delhi, along sleep.” But once she started doing Foundation, an NGO, who invited with the likes of Union minis- up,” she shares. Between the de- her Master’s from Delhi School of her to be a showstopper for a NIFT ters Piyush Goyal and Smriti Irani, mands and challenges of her body Social Work, where she worked with fashion show in Chennai. The out- filmmaker Karan Johar and telecom and her life, shuttling on flights differently abled children, Malvika fits designed especially for her were hotshot Sunil Bharti Mittal. around the world, attending confer- began to live by Scott Hamilton’s ones she could wear without sup- But giving up her prosthetic arms ences and giving talks, Malvika has words: “The only disability in life is port. “But,” she adds, “there is a is still one of her most cherished learnt to stop worrying about the a bad attitude.” She further did her great need to create more awareness achievements: “It’s taken this long future: “If I had made plans, I would MPhil from the Madras School of about accessible fashion.” to accept my body the way it is.” never have done so much.” 

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 28 | excerpt excerpt | 29

and that everyone had the same issues. world. If ordinary panties give you Other Except that, like the bra solidarity a wedge, thongs take it to another Thongs brigade, no one was talking about level. Because here, there is certainly it. Imagine if men had underwear something that is planted between Weapons of Crotch issues! There would be war. your buttocks which is threatening Initially, when you are still this to migrate into your innards, giv- gawky person who has just started en enough time. The other problem Destruction to have an income and are strug- (however basic) I have with thongs gling with non-issues like visible is not being able to tell the front A hilarious new memoir by Lalita Iyer The Whole Shebang includes panty line, you will find a friend side from the rear. Why should this her take on women’s underwear woes. Here’s an excerpt who says, “Have you tried thongs? be so hard without the label? They are the best. You feel like you Also, wearing thongs is not as easy panties that are not welt-inducing, are wearing noth- breezy as those lin- that have enough fabric to cov- ing.” Everyone falls gerie models make er my vagina and both buttocks, for this and it’s ab- it seem. There’s this that come in happy colours, stay in solutely untrue and constant strange place and don’t wander off, pinch, everyone wonders sensation of fresh wedge or hurt me in any way. if they are the only (or not so fresh) If research estimates the wom- ones who feel like air on your bottom an’s underwear market in India at a they have got a per- when they’re worn whopping 11 crores, why on earth manent wedgie or with skirts or dress- is it so difficult for me to find a de- their butts are being es. You feel naked cent pair of panties? I can’t believe flossed constant- and not in a good that India’s designers are making ly. But no wom- way. clothes for Michelle Obama and an dares to say that Last I heard, more Judi Dench and yet no one has thongs make her and more men are seen this huge gap in the mar- truly squirm. opting to have sex with women ket and has ventured into making hongs used to be things you are who believe in comfort over style. well-designed, well-fitting, com- Tsupposed to wear when you are The thong – once the epitome of fortable panties. hoping (or planning) to get some sexy lingerie – is on the decline I have tried everything from the action. Except I would usually take among young women; more and Rs 50 a piece to Rs 799 (the most them off before I got the action, more of them choose full-cover- I ever paid for something to cover that is how torturous they were. age, often high-waisted underwear. my crotch), I have tried low waist, And besides, men don’t really give a Maybe granny panties will bring rom the time I left school high waist, bikini, comfort, seamless, shit about what kind of panties you another kind of sexy back. (when all my underwear de- shorts, and always felt that perhaps are wearing. They are just grateful Bloody hell! After I wasted my cisions or the lack of them it was my body and its sudden am- you want to take them off for them. youth on the blasted things.  were my mother’s), I have pleness that made it complicated. I believe thongs must be weap- Excerpted with permission from Fbeen looking for a decent pair of I can’t say I was relieved to find ons of torture in some parts of the Bloomsbury

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 30 | parenting parenting | 31

namely, Germany, Canada, and the cious cycle of violence in society. US. “With 50-70 per cent of ado- The best thing to do if you no- stop the lescents either reporting abuse and/ tice parental abuse is to report it. or neglect, the situation is more like But in India, it is not clear whom an epidemic,” says the assistant pro- to report familial abuse to. Calls by fessor at Department of Psycholog- eShe to the police child helpline re- ABUSE ical Science, University of Texas. garding the videos mentioned got A spate of new viral videos showing parents abusing and beating What makes it even more dan- no response, and till date, no action their children has revealed the ugly truth of Indian parenting and gerous is that young children are has been reported regarding any of will have long-reaching consequences, says Dr Ruby Charak especially vulnerable to child- them. “I think more programs need hood maltreatment where there is to be carried out focusing on gen- a breach of trust. “The capacity for emotion and self-regulation devel- ops early in life when dyadic inter- actions between the caregiver and child help build the child’s reper- toire of emotion regulation skills. Disruptions in these early relation- ships (such as through sexual abuse or physical abuse or neglect), in the absence of other protective factors, can increase risk for disruptions in Ruby Charak, PhD Maltreatment, violence and abuse of children by their parents and caregivers are perpetuating a vicious regulatory abilities that continue to cycle of violence in Indian society. These mobile videos (screen grabs above) are just the tip of the iceberg. manifest in adulthood,” says Ruby. erating awareness regarding what Thankfully, not every child who child maltreatment is, and how it he self-shot video of a moth- Both videos show the horrifying is victimized faces physical or psy- can jeopardize the wellbeing of a er slapping and threatening reality of parenting in India, where chological problems as most show child,” says Ruby, adding that more her four-year-old daughter slaps, punches and raps with sticks resilience in the face of adversity, than laws, community engagement while teaching her numbers or rulers are often used to instill dis- she adds. But if the abuse is chronic, programs have been found to be shookT up most of us who received cipline in homes and schools. Verbal severe and goes undisclosed (likely more effective in the prevention of it over mom groups on Whatsapp; it abuse is par for the course when in case of incest or familial abuse), child abuse and neglect. later went viral when cricketer Vi- parents are under various psycho- it can affect the physiological and Trained volunteers from the local rat Kohli shared it on Twitter. The logical pressures themselves. psychological makeup of a growing community should educate schools parents in question defended them- Dr Ruby Charak’s work on child, which lingers on well into and residents about child maltreat- selves saying the child was ‘stub- childhood abuse and neglect among adulthood. This can lead to aggres- ment, and give bystander-interven- born’. Another viral video shows school-going adolescents from In- sive behaviour towards siblings and tion training on how to identify a father brutally kicking, punching dia suggested high rates of abuse peers, partner violence, depression, and report it. and nearly strangulating his small and neglect when compared with anxiety, and personality problems. The malaise is within, therefore son for not ‘studying properly’. studies from developed nations, Essentially, we are creating a vi- change must also begin here.

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 32 | PERSONAL GROWTH PERSONAL GROWTH | 33 Bold, Beautiful, Body Positive Full-time professor, fashion blogger, and social-media enthusiast, Falguni Vasavada Oza is India’s poster- woman for body positivity and the power of fashion By Shillpi A Singh alguni Vasavada Oza had just of others on and off the campus left a conference at a Hy- who looked up to her for her out- derabad hotel and was wait- of-the-box fashion sensibility. With ing near the reception lob- her bold approach to style, she chal- Fby when she noticed a woman at lenged conventional norms on how the front desk staring at her. “After one should look, dress, and feel if a while, she walked up to me and one is plus-size. She was always the asked if I was Falguni of Falguni’s go-to person for any fashion advice Fashion Fundas. I said ‘yes’ and for her family, friends and even her ‘wow’ in the same breath. It was students who fondly call her ‘the quite heartening to see my blog’s cool professor’. “I despise the hype reach,” says the 43-year-old pro- around body type. I am against body fessor of advertising at MICA in shaming and find it quite uncouth Ahmedabad. to comment on someone’s body, Indeed, Falguni has come a long hair, skin or frame,” she proclaims. way, from being shy and inhibited Buoyed by overwhelming feed- to becoming confident about her back from all corners to her fashion curves as time went by. Blessed with advice, she took to social media to a plus-size body, the professor be- start Falguni’s Fashion Fundas last gan experimenting with dressing, year. The blog uses fashion as a tool makeup and accessories a few years to encourage body positivity, and ago to inculcate a sense of self- talks about gender issues and wom- love in herself and also hundreds en’s empowerment.

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 34 | PERSONAL GROWTH work-life | 35

With more than 8000 likes on every day, and I try to become a Facebook and more than 5000 better person,” says the multifaceted followers on Instagram, Falguni personality. work is surprised at the success she has Planning and prioritizing are im- achieved in a very short period. “I portant. They help Falguni manage have become a part-time fashion her time and presence in the offline it out consultant and counsellor for hun- and online worlds: “I plan weeks Senior software analyst and mother dreds of women across the globe ahead. I avoid impromptu events. of two Abhrekha Jain offers who seek my advice Wherever possible, on life, career, work, I outsource, espe- lessons to working mothers from and even personal cially household her own experience matters,” smiles the chores, to focus social-media influ- on high-priori- bhrekha Jain is something AT WORK encer. ty jobs like teach- of a counselor for women Recognize your talents and According to her, ing, speaking and at her workplace. Born in worth. Capitalize on your qualities. fashion is individ- blogging.” In the Udaipur, she is now a se- Many women give up their jobs ualistic, and can’t process, she has be- Anior analyst in a multinational in after the children are born but you be dictated as per come an inspira- Mumbai, where she moved 10 years must keep yourself occupied in a the season’s trends. tion for all women, ago. “Soon after my wedding, my constructive way, or you will rust. “You cannot blind- working or not. dad was diagnosed with cancer. My Spend quality time with your ly follow what is in Falguni’s ener- husband stuck by me through that children after office hours, and out- trend if it doesn’t gy and enthusiasm difficult period, and that’s when I source all other work. suit your identi- are reflected in realized developing a relationship Be strong and clear-headed, else ty and image. Wear her smile, appear- in an arranged marriage takes time you will never be able to make the your style, and what ance and choice but one mustn’t give up,” says the correct decision in a panic situation. suits you and makes of clothes, make- 30-something. They are now equal you comfortable,” up, and accessories. partners in every sense. AT HOME says Falguni, who is married to “I love myself. That’s what catches Women come to her for not just Count your blessings. Don’t pick her soulmate Dirghayu and lives in people’s attention,” says the fun-lov- professional but also personal ad- fights but don’t succumb either. Ahmedabad. ing professor. She urges those who vice. “I have a friend who wasn’t Take time out for yourself every Born and brought up in Ra- have been a victim of body sham- able to get a job,” narrates the day. Have a hobby, but don’t depend jkot, she had a protected and car- ing to stop taking any such unkind- mother of two. “Her husband didn’t on anyone for it. ing childhood. “I was brought up ness from anyone. “Learn to accept respect her. I noticed she had a cre- Don’t seek happiness outside of by my grandparents, and being the yourself. Self-acceptance will lead ative streak so I encouraged her to yourself. One can be happy under eldest child in the family, they dot- to self-admiration, and that will study art. She now knows 10 types any circumstance. ed on me,” she says. Armed with a boost self-belief and help project of painting techniques and con- Be courageous and teach your doctorate in advertising, she started a stronger person to the world. If ducts classes for other women. And children to be courageous. teaching in 1998, and joined MICA it is not the best, the best is yet to her husband shows off her work.” Be a good human being. Every- in 2004. “I learn every day, I evolve come,” she says in parting.  She has tips for working moms: thing else follows. 

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 36 | soul sista soul sista | 37

According to a GALLUP survey, to isolation, loneliness, frustration homemakers are more likely to re- and depression. port feelings of sadness, anger and Firstly, get rid of any feelings of depression than working moms or resentment or guilt, and appreci- their single counterparts. The rea- ate yourself for having tried coping son for most women is never having with this for the past 15 years. Stop time for yourself; frequently feeling your daughter from sharing room like the least important member of with your sister-in-law and make your family and not having your alternative arrangements, even if own needs met. There’s a mundane it means her sleeping on an extra routine and fatigue coupled with mattress in your own room. Teach unhealthy dose of poor self-care. her about good and bad touch, and There also could be conflicts with how to call for immediate help. It’s joint family members. The pres- important we teach our daughters sures for homemakers to be perfect that it’s not their fault and it’s noth- “bahus”, peppy parents and spouses ing to be hidden or feel ashamed of HOMEMAKER BLUES can be overwhelming and can cause due to family pressures. Speak about A homemaker in Meerut asks our in-house clinical psychologist Smriti significant anxiety. And all this all this to your daughter in your sis- Sawhney Joshi how to deal with her sense of claustrophobia without almost ever getting appre- ter-in-law’s presence, indirectly giv- ciated or acknowledged! It can lead ing a gentle warning about telling I am a housewife and mother of two to die, but the thought of my two girls from Meerut. I have been married jerks me to reality. Please help. for 15 years, and we live in a large Dear reader, the struggle you are joint family. The men run the family going through it brutal and painful business during the daytime, while and I appreciate your willingness to the women stay home and manage seek help. People around you may household chores. I was a nursery find it difficult to understand how teacher before the children were you can be lonely when you’re born, and now am forced to sit at never alone; how caregiving self- home. I don’t get along with my in- lessly for people you love and look- laws and I feel claustrophobic in this ing after your household which for house. My sister-in-law once sexual- you should be the most important ly abused my 13-year-old daughter in the world can feel like it’s slow- while they slept in the same room, ly suffocating you. These things are but I did not mention it to anyone not contradictory. They are real. on U nsplash U mstattd

This is depression and this is life for : S cott for fear of being called a liar. My hus- : P i x abay band is good to me, but he does not millions of women who stay home understand why I am unhappy and post-marriage whether by choice credit photo bitter all the time. Sometimes I want or by circumstance. credit photo

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 38 | soul sista screenshot | 39

According to a survey, or animals help you feel strong and happy? Research says that each of homemakers are these activities has a strong positive Standing Tall more likely to report impact on one’s self-esteem, mood Ananya Jain, 17, New Delhi and resilience to stress. Exercise is feelings of sadness, a natural mood-lifter as well as an anger and depression important self-care activity most than working moms homemakers ignore. Standing up for your own self and taking care or single women of yourself are important since you can’t pour from an empty cup. Sim- the other family members if the ilarly, joining a spiritual or religious abuse is repeated. Also, speak with group or a hobby class or volun- your husband as he would probably teering helps you meet like-minded take a stand for his daughter’s safety. people and develop a feeling of be- How is your relationship with longingness, learn something new your husband otherwise? Is he sup- and get appreciated or acknowl- portive on other aspects? If yes, edged for your contributions. could that be a motivating factor for Three, if you are net-savvy you you to continue this marriage with could also take up online courses a little more zeal? Do keep trying to or work from home jobs like online ’ve always been the shortest amongst all my friends. Apart talk to him explaining your feelings tutoring and so on. There’s light at I from the privilege of standing in front of every line in school, to him without making it look like the end of the tunnel so don’t lose this characteristic subjects me to a variety of bad jokes. a blame game involving in-laws. hope and your courage. Explore Brought up in Delhi by a resourceful homemaker mother and Make your conversations more avenues and resources other than a a businessman father, I found debating to be a useful talent ‘I-oriented’ like “I wish to do more job to get a breather or break from in my senior years. I won several awards at national-level de- than just be a homemaker as I have your claustrophobic atmosphere at bates, and last month, shared the dais with Smriti Irani and the need to be creative or produc- home. You are your own best friend, Rahul Kanwal at India Today Mindrocks Summit 2017. tive outside the scope of household so love yourself more and take care During a recent interschool debate at Scindia School, chores too,” or, “Just being at home of your own needs.  Gwalior, I noticed to my dismay how high the podium was. with the kids growing up fast, I feel Even if I stood on my toes, half of my face would still be hid- the need to be occupied with more Smriti Sawhney den behind it. I went up to the organizer and requested for a positive activities to feel happy and Joshi is one of stool to stand on. But after stepping up, I stood a bit too tall, healthy and contribute to our kid’s India’s first certified the microphone reaching only the middle of my chest. growth in positive ways.” telemental health I got plenty of laughs from the audience. But as soon as I If not work, would going out for providers. She is a started speaking, their amusement turned to applause. I was clinical psychologist awarded the best speaker, yet again. I’m still unsure whether a walk, yoga, joining a course or be- with over15 years ing a volunteer at an NGO working of experience in the I should credit the win to my words or the tiny white stool.  for benefits of children or elderly field of mental health.

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 40 | fashion fashion | 41 WEAVING golden DREAMS Homemakers-turned-designers Swati and Sunaina have resurrected India’s most opulent weave, the Banarasi by Shreya Mohan hat Indian woman can silks and zari brocades to cultivat- resist a fine silk sari with ed customers. They launched their intricate gold thread own label Swati and Sunaina a few work? For the past de- years later, and began specialising Wcade, the magnificent Banarasi sari in pure zari weaves. They shot to has seen a revival on fashion run- fame after they dressed Aishwarya ways and has been showcased in Rai Bachchan for her meeting with the collections of various designers, François Hollande (then president who have interpreted it in various of France) in a Banarasi sari made ways. After PM Narendra Modi with pure zari. commenced the ‘Make in India’ Combining Swati’s business and campaign, there has been an in- research skills with Sunaina’s cre- creased interest in traditional weaves ativity, the duo has succeeded in and fibres that have promoted In- reviving a dying art. They use an- dian craftsmanship and handlooms cient techniques to recreate vintage worldwide. But the Banarasi sari designs at their artisanal Varanasi still remains one of the most covet- workshop. Each of their pieces is ed Indian weaves amongst women. certified with the silk mark, hand- So much so that Swati Agarwal and loom mark and details of the weight, Sunaina Jalan decided to make a ca- percentage of gold zari purity, time reer of it. taken for completion besides other The talented 40-somethings were details such as the name of weaver. housewives married into the same Patronised by high-net-worth family based in Kolkata. Ten years clients, their flagship store in Kol- ago, their love for textile inspired kata greets the visitor with notes them to start designing fine saris to- of jasmine and light flowing music gether. They aspired to imbue value that transports one to the bylanes of into the traditional woven textiles Varanasi where this art originated. of India and to offer pure handmade Turn the pages for more. 

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 42 | fashion fashion | 43

Craftsmen painstakingly spend anywhere Swati and Sunaina are also bringing back nearly between a month to nine months to complete extinct weaves such as the rangkaat, kheem one sari. All are limited editions. khwab, jamdani as well as the Prabha sari.

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 44 | fashion fashion | 45 Swati and Sunaina constantly innovate with techniques to keep the interest in the art alive. This luxurious sari depicts a hunting scene that is intricately woven across the entire sari.

Antique jewellery inspired one of their creations where they converted a jhumka into a traditional motif and the necklace into the sari border. The zari was then woven in such a manner that it almost had a 3D effect.

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 46 | fashion fashion | 47 Last month, Swati and Sunaina held an exhibition in Delhi curated by Mayank Mansingh Kaul to explain the process of real zari making and its importance in Banarasi textiles.

Swati and Sunaina’s designs are coveted by high-net-worth clients from across the globe, and are now catching the eye of various young celebrities as well.

OCTOBER 2017 48 | festive trends festive trends | 49 Glam Goddess

For the divas who love all things bling, here’s a look that’ll make you sparkle 2. Amrapali gold-finish and shine. blue stone and pearls crescent earrings FEStive (Perniaspopupshop.com) COLLECTIVE 3. House of Bio Five trendy festive looks that’ll make heads turn this Diwali. ivory and gold glitter confetti- By Shreya Mohan finish box clutch (Perniaspopupshop.com)

ith Diwali around the corner, my annual dilemma looms up: picking the right outfits for cards parties 1. Rianta’s mid- and other festivities. As a party planner who has to night blue sprinkle attend several parties a month during the festive and lehenga set 4. Dwarkadas Wwedding season, I have turned into a chronic shopaholic, con- (Perniaspopupshop. Chandumal com) stantly on the lookout for the latest trends in clothes and accesso- Jewellers ring ries. While I don’t think there is anything wrong with repeating an outfit, I do think it’s blasphemous to repeat the same look ev- ery season! It’s better to jazz it up with fun accessories and create a whole new look for yourself every time you step out. However, remember what Coco Chanel said, “When acces- sorizing, always take off the last thing you put on.” You don’t want to be OTT! And so, to help you with your festive woes, I’ve done some homework on the latest trends and have put together five looks 5. Christian Louboutin I believe will light you up this festive season. Based on your per- Cataclou wedges sonal style, you can pick your favourites. Happy shopping! (Christianlouboutin.com)

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 50 | festive trends festive trends | 51 modern Vintage muse Vixen Midriff-bearing tops The ladies who believe or crop tops are all in ‘old is gold’ will the rage. This outfit 2. Amrapali gold- love this oxidised look finish oversized is perfect for the chandelier earrings that may just steal a modern fashionista. (Perniaspopupshop.com) few hearts.

2. JJ Valaya Ranas of Kachch half moon maang tikka (Ogaan.com)

3. Alexander McQueen butterfly knuckle-box clutch (Rocknshop.com) 3. JJ Valaya Ranas of Kachch half circle earrings (Ogaan.com)

1. Mishru embroidered 1. Anand Kabra gold crop top and mirror-work kurta and asymmetrical lehenga crinkled sharara pants (Perniaspopupshop.com) (Azafashions.com) 4. Itrana Love Bug ring 4. Inayat gold (Ogaan.com) mirror and pearl- work box clutch (Perniaspopupshop.com)

5. Nidhi Bhandari 5. Sophia Webster chiara beige wedges with jute rose-gold sandals and stone detailing (Sophiawebster.com) (Azafashions.com)

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 52 | festive trends festive trends | 53 subtle siren Sometimes less truly is more. For the ladies that believe in minimalistic fashion, 2. Outhouse majestic this look gives 2. Ritika Sachdeva gold-finish embossed emerald earrings maximum impact. paan-motif earrings (Outhouse.com) (Perniaspopupshop.com)

Bohemian Badass 3. Satya Paul golden 3. Shivan and Narresh hard clutch For the avant-garde emerald jazz cuff (Jabong.com) ladies who are always (Ogaan.com) reinventing their style, this look is sure 1. Urvashi Kaur teal to get all eyes on you. shibori kota silk jacket (Perniaspopupshop.com)

4. Ritika Sachdeva filigree three-flower ring (Perniaspopupshop.com) 4. Prada Cahier bag (Prada.com)

5. New Look gladiator stud sandals (Koovs.com)

1. Aikeyah yellow tunic with attached scarf 5. Coral Haze gold (Ogaan.com) sequin and thread embroidered silk and leather juttis (Jaypore.com)

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 54 | beauty travel | 55

place over closed eyes to cover the WHAT DARK dark circles completely. Rest for 15 Mingling with minutes and rinse with cold water. CIRCLES? Repeat twice a day for two weeks. Banish dark circles and bags under TOMATOES: Like potatoes, tomatoes your eyes with these home remedies contain natural bleaching agents the LOCALS that can lighten skin. Mix one tea- Instead of just clicking photos of the landscape, connecting with residents By Argha Kashyap spoon of tomato juice with one and is a more meaningful way to discover a new place a half spoon lemon juice. Apply it on your dark circles with a cotton By Ritu Goyal Harish ball and rest for 10 minutes. Repeat twice a day for two to three weeks. CUCUMBER: Chill cucumber slic- es for 30 minutes. Place them over your dark circles for 10 minutes and relax. Wash the area thorough- ly with water. Repeat the process twice a day for one week and see the results. ALOE VERA GEL: This smoothens skin and hydrates it. Its nourish- ing properties reduce pigmentation ark circles result when and make sensitive area of the skin blood vessels under the eyes healthier. Apply the gel under the are dilated. There can vari- eyes and gently massage for a few ous reasons behind this, the seconds. Leave it on for 10-12 min- Dmost common being sleep depriva- utes, then clean with cotton soaked tion, oversleeping (yes!), stress, ex- in rose water. Do it twice daily for haustion, exposure to sun and skin astounding results. irritation due to bad makeup prod- GREEN TEA BAGS: These reduce t was my second trip to the Land in the region. ucts. Here are some natural beauty blood-vessel and capillary dilation of the Thunder Dragon, Bhutan He gave me directions to what he hacks to counter them. around the eyes as green tea con- and I was exploring the central called the Penthangsay Trail, a me-

RAW POTATO: Potatoes contain vital tains tannis that has astringent prop- / P i x abay part of the country. I was in a andering path that started from the

natural bleaching agents and, when erties. Dip green tea bags in water on U nsplash E kbote Idistrict called Bumthang, which is Yotong-La mountain pass and end- used raw, they help lighten dark and refrigerate them. Place the cool also known as the Switzerland of ed at a village called Jhoori (pro- A kyurt : E ngin circles and reduce excess puffiness tea bags over your eyes for 15 min- : N isarga Bhutan. After I’d visited the tem- nounced z-h-oo-ri). around your eyes. Grate potato slic- utes and wash your face with cold ples, and done other touristy stuff, I left the hotel on a cold and es to extract the juice. Dip a soft water. Pat dry. Repeat till there is I spoke to the owner of the hotel, windy day. The intermittent driz- C redit P hoto cotton ball soaked in the juice and considerable improvement.  credit P hoto PemaDawa, for hiking suggestions zle did not deter me as I set forth

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 56 | travel travel | 57

She cooked us a hot meal start school soon and his educa- Over the years, I have learned (downed with liberal quantities of tion would be free. Not only med- about Bhutan’s way of life – how the brew) as the weather changed ical aid, but electricity is also free everyone contributes in the day-to- for the worse. in Bhutan. Laughing, she admitted day running of a household, includ- That evening, sitting inside her that the only thing she missed was ing guests, how the barter system humble home, I learned a lot about having a man. is still practised in the rural areas the Bhutanese way of life. Choki At the end of my meal, I gently and how the youth have embraced was a single mother, her six-year- offered her some money but she technology but are still grounded old son strapped to her delicate declined. When I persisted, she took in tradition. These stories have en- frame for the duration that we were it, shyly. She stood at the doorway riched my life in many ways. in her house. and waved to me as our car went My number one tip to those who She had had a hard life – her hus- around the curve on the highway. want to soak every experience on band and father of the child had their travels is to mingle with the been in the Army and had deserted locals. Eat and drink with them, her. She ran a petty shop from her her son’s education talk to them, and most importantly, modest house, and also did some would be free. Not smile at them. weaving to make ends meet. She only medical aid, but Locals tend to be wary of tourists was apologetic about the spartan due to many reasons but the mo- interiors of her three-room home, electricity is also free ment we take the effort of putting which comprised a tiny bedroom, in Bhutan. Laughing, them at ease, they open up and chat a space for the shop and a kitch- she admitted that the like friends. en. The house, which her friends As Mitch Albom wrote in his and relatives had helped build, had only thing she missed bestseller, Tuesdays with Morrie: electricity, appliances such as a rice was having a man. “Status will get you nowhere. Only through a passage surrounded by cooker and water heater and a small, an open heart will allow you to prayer flags, at the top of the range. makeshift toilet. float equally between everyone.” The trail went downhill for most This was the first time I had I have returned to Bhutan about Isn’t that why we travel?  parts through a dense conifer forest. stepped foot inside the home of a a dozen times since my first trip and The starkness and mystery of a local. I was taken aback by her story have always met incredible people forest that we often view from a because I was in one of the hap- with inspiring stories – a restau- distance opened up before me as I piest countries in the world, and rateur who wanted to become walked on a winding path snaking the only nation that measures its Bhutan’s first female cab driver, a its way through the high ranges. In prosperity in Gross National Hap- senior citizen who circumambu- two hours, I reached a village called piness instead of the Gross Domes- lates a monastery 108 times every Phogo. Soon, I met my cab driver tic Product. With my cab driver as week, and a lady with such faith in who had managed to coax a young interpreter, I asked her if she was the King that she wasn’t bothered woman, Choki, from the village to ‘happy’. She said she had no com- about the democratic process; “as A former journalist and consumer-court judge, Ritu serve me the local brew Ara, with plaints and had all that she wanted long as we have our King, we have has reinvented herself as a travelpreneur. Her firm some home-cooked Bhutanese fare. to be comfortable. Her son would everything” she had said to me. Ease India Travel specializes in unusual escapades.

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 58 | Recipes recipes | 59

Ingredients: 2 bananas BREAKFAST 4 eggs ¼ teaspoon baking powder 60 grams flour SPECIAL Butter to cook Healthy breakfast recipes that are simple to make, full of nutrition and delicious too! Text, photos and recipes by Kaveri Jain

reaking the fast after a long calcium and dietary fibre is need- night’s sleep: without a ed to give your body the required doubt, breakfast is the most jumpstart for the day. important meal of the day. The festive season has just be- BBut all breakfasts are not equal. gun, with beautiful lights, late- Endless cups of tea or coffee, or a night parties, lots of shopping and sugary doughnut or even a whole- of course yummy food! A healthy wheat sandwich are not going to breakfast is the best way to get benefit you in any way. An ade- over that hangover and balance out quate breakfast that provides the those festive indulgences. Try these right mix of protein, carbohydrates, wholesome treats.

BANANA PANCaKES

Instructions: 4. Cook for a minute, until the bottoms 1. Peel the banana and break it up look browned when you lift a corner. into several big chunks in a bowl. Use The edges should also look set. Then a dinner fork to thoroughly mash it. flip the pancakes very gently. Cook for Add ¼ teaspoon of baking powder for another minute or so. fluffier, lighter pancakes. 5. Transfer the cooked pancakes to a 2. Whisk the eggs together well. Pour serving plate and continue cooking the the eggs over the banana and stir until rest of the batter. the eggs are completely combined. 6. Keep the finished pancakes warm in Now add the flour and combine the oven if cooking more than a single gently. batch. 3. Melt a little butter in pan to 7. These pancakes are best when prevent sticking. Drop roughly 2 eaten fresh off the pan and still warm. tablespoons of batter in; it should Serve with maple syrup, honey, jam, or sizzle immediately. berries of your choice.

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 60 | PERSONAL GROWTH recipes | 61

QUINOA PORRIDGE WITH FIGS AND MAPLE SYRUP

Ingredients: 100 grams quinoa (uncooked) 50 grams instant oats 4 cardamom pods 300 ml almond milk (any milk of your choice) 1 fresh fig, sliced 1 tsp butter 1 tsp brown sugar 4 tsp maple syrup

Instructions: 1. In a saucepan put the quinoa, oats and cardamom along with 200 ml water and 150 ml almond milk. Let it boil and then gently simmer for 10-15 minutes. Keep stirring. Pour in the remaining milk and cook till creamy. BREAKFAST SALAD 2. In the meantime, heat a small pan and toss in the butter and Ingredients: Instructions: figs. Add the brown sugar and let 200 grams baby spinach (or any 1. Whisk together the honey, apple it caramelise for a minute. Keep salad leaves of choice) cider and salt. Keep aside. aside. 1 avocado, diced 2. Toss the spinach, avocado, 3. Divide the porridge into four 80 grams fresh blueberries blueberries, quinoa and pumpkin small bowels or jars. In case you 80 grams cooked quinoa seeds in a large bowl. Keep aside. want to serve it cold, then keep it 50 grams toasted pumpkin seeds 3. Heat a pan, add some butter to chill in the fridge. Or else serve 4 eggs and fry the eggs. it warm, top with the warm figs 1 tablespoon butter 4. Divide the salad between 4 and spoon some maple syrup. 2 teaspoon organic honey small bowls. Top with an egg each 60 grams apple cider vinegar and finally drizzle the dressing and Salt to taste serve immediately.

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 62 | recipes recipes | 63 AVOCADO AND EGGS

Ingredients: edge. Season with salt and set aside. 1 ripe avocado 2. Lightly whisk the eggs. Melt the 2 eggs butter over low-medium heat in a pan. 25 grams shredded mozzarella As it begins to bubble, add the eggs Butter to cook and stir them around until just starting Salt-pepper to taste to cook through. Once they’ve set Chilli flakes (optional) to an almost custard-like consistency, Herbs and parmesan cheese for remove from heat and quickly add the topping cheese folding it through the eggs until the cheese has melted 3. Spoon the mixture into the Instructions: prepared avocado halves. 1. Prepare avocado by halving and 4. Top with, herbs, pepper, chilli pitting. Remove skin if you wish. Scoop and grated parmesan. Serve out some flesh, leaving a 1-cm thick immediately.

ZUCCHINI AND CHEESE BAKE

Ingredients: Instructions: 8 eggs 1. Preheat the oven to 190˚C. 150 grams cottage cheese 2. Beat the eggs, mix all the 200 grams of zucchini (grated and ingredients and place the mixture in a liquid squeezed) greased 6x10” or 8x8” baking dish. 100 grams feta cheese 3. Bake for 20-25 minutes or till the 1 green onion chopped top starts browning. 1 tablespoon parsley chopped 4. Serve immediately. Salt and pepper to taste

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 64 | tarot tarot | 65

communication skills. Tarot insight: will automatically disappear. Tarot Structure, organization and the rulebook insight: Don’t let your personal sense of will get you the best results. isolation or loneliness hold you back. VIRGO CAPRICORN Rather than merely doubling up A wonderful time to join forces your sense of power, share it with with someone to mutually experi- someone else to make a grand suc- ence nurturing and healing. A cre- cess of your plans. Your dreams will ative partnership will produce an come to fruition. A rewarding re- inspired outcome. By uniting your lationship between partners is in- efforts you improve your prospects. dicated. Tarot insight: Recognize your Tarot insight: A remembered conversa- traditional values and follow convention. tion will bring you success. LIBRA AQUARIUS Success or rewards are coming your The month heralds good news WHAT THE way, or someone who is talent- about wealth and property. You may ed could come into your world to receive an inheritance or family CARDS SAY change it for the better. But disaster money might be available to use. This is what October will be like, says tarot reader Alka Mahajan could be part of the deal too if you Fame and fortune can be yours, for believe that only you have a right to you possess the expertise to accom- ARIES knowledge your pitfalls and poten- be successful. Tarot insight: Navigate plish even seemingly impossible Time to face reality. Don’t avoid tial, to stay alert to those facts and to your life with a little flexibility. tasks. Tarot insight: Learn to accept and obligations such as work, a relation- persevere at all costs, whatever the SCORPIO respect your separateness. ship issue or some kind of commit- challenge. Patience is a must. Tarot You are about to enter a phase of PISCES ment. Be wary of dishonest peo- insight: Give yourself the right to be as fresh optimism and fun. Enjoy Balance, fairness and honesty are ple around you. Give your partner accomplished and attractive as you want. yourself. The more confident and needed in your work arena. Prob- breathing space. Tarot insight: Fight CANCER inspired you are, the more success lems are resolved and tensions abate. for what you believe; defend your values. You are able to escape the doubts, you will have. You may not get ‘top A legal matter involving money or TAURUS fears and inhibitions of the world billing’ initially, but as you develop property will be decided in your Fun and joyous moments await you. around you. Joint ventures or team- your skills, you will progress. Tarot favour, if it’s rightfully yours. Tarot Financial problems pale, confusion work will bring fruitful results. insight: Let go of resentments and be insight: Face up to facts.  disappears and success, rewards and Combine creativity with pragma- compassionate with yourself and others. recognition are likely to come your tism. Tarot insight: Don’t miss an op- SAGITTARIUS Alka Mahajan is way. Openness will lead to happi- portunity to speak up about your needs. There is an imbalance in your life an educationist, ness with your partner. Tarot insight: LEO right now. However much you be- professional tarot The confidence to say ‘no’ will be your Adapt to changing circumstanc- lieve that you are in a harmonious card reader and a certified counsellor trump card against adversaries. es, juggle with ideas and tap into situation, job, relationship or place, and psychotherapist. GEMINI the universal flow to increase your there is something not quite right Write to her at You will have the ability to see your wealth. Avoid getting involved in about it. Look ahead, beyond and alkamahajan1@ gmail.com. strengths and weaknesses, to ac- anything questionable. Use your : M ike E nerio on U nsplash P hoto explore other options; the obstacles

OCTOBER 2017 OCTOBER 2017 66 | screenshot Every woman has a The Diva Within story. What’s yours? Gunit Cour, 20, Delhi, Mumbai

hen I was 12, someone created a fake Facebook ID in W my name with my face morphed into an indecent pho- tograph. Strangers sent me messages asking, “How much do you charge?” Horrible things were etched about me on my desk in my Delhi school. I went into a tizzy of depression and fear. My dad removed all my photos from Facebook. We moved to Chandigarh two years later. My career-counsellor mother advised me not to join ‘the rat race’. I was always attracted to acting, like my doctor dad, so my parents enrolled me in an acting course. Gradually, we realized that just as hygiene is essential for a doctor, social Brought media is essential for an actor. So, gulping down my dread, I to you by became active online again. Soon, Punjabi filmmaker Pali Bhupinder Singh saw my Facebook photos and asked me to come in for an audition. I was cast in my first feature film, Stupid 7, which released when I was 16. I then went for a two-year diploma in acting from the Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts and have now moved to Mumbai. I model for advertisements and it’s a de- .eShe.in light to see my photographs up on hoardings! To read, buy or download, visit I had to face my fear so that I could meet my destiny.  To advertise, call Shikha: (+91) 9811565805 SUBSCRIBE TO THE E-MAGAZINE - IT’S FREE! Follow @esheworld

OCTOBER 2017