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The Complete Guide to Interval Training

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:53:45 GMT

Targeting Maximum fat loss through High-Intensity Training

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a popular form of exercise that combines two of the most effective fat-burning methods.

WB: Video showing BSF torture surfaces, 8 suspended

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:36:44 GMT

Kolkata: Eight BSF personnel were suspended on Wednesday evening after a disturning video footage showed the guards as thrashing a Bangladeshi cattle smuggler at Raninagar outpost near Indo-Bangla border in Murshidabad district.

Delhi HC to hear Google, Facebook's petitions today

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:36:24 GMT

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court will on Thursday hear the petitions filed by Google and Facebook challenging the notices for allowing objectionable content on their websites.

BJP plays the Uma Bharti card in UP

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:36:05 GMT

New Delhi: BJP leader Uma Bharti's migration from Madhya Pradesh to Uttar Pradesh is now complete. In a seemingly hasty press conference on Wednesday, the BJP announced her candidature in the UP polls. Uma Bharti will be contesting from Charkhari in Mahoba district of Bundelkhand.

The Govt, Army Chief battle now a political one?

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:42:55 GMT

New Delhi: It seems that the battle between the Army Chief and the government is now a full-fledged political one. The BJP, and even supporting UPA parties, have attacked the government for mishandling the issue. The Prime Minister himself is now looking for a solution in a desperate bid to prevent the issue from escalating further.

Did not insult India, insists BBC Top Gear

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:42:28 GMT

London: The producers of the controversial Top Gear BBC programme have defended itself against a complaint from the Indian high commission that its December episode focused on the country was "offensive".

Dense fog hits Delhi; South India shivers

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:42:02 GMT

New Delhi: Delhi woke up to a thick fog hanging over the city on Wednesday. Eight flights were delayed including three flights of Jet Airways and two each of Go Air and Air India.Delhiites shivered as the maximum temperature plummetted to 14 degree Celsius, making Tuesday the coldest day of this winter.

Will Salman Rushdie make it to Jaipur lit fest?

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:40:57 GMT

Jaipur: Will Salman Rushdie make it to the Jaipur's Literature festival despite the raging controversy and threats of fierce protests? Amidst growing threats of protests, the organisers have taken the initially published schedule from their website, but they still maintain that his visit hasn't been called off as yet.

Quota row: BJP to launch agitation against Cong

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:34:00 GMT

New Delhi: The battle for Uttar Pradesh is set to intensify with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) planning to launch an agitation against the Congress. This comes in the wake of Law Minister Salman Khurshid's promise of increasing the 4.5 per cent minority quota to 9 per cent if the Congress is voted to power.

India marks first year without new polio cases

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:33:43 GMT

New Delhi: India has marked a significant milestone, with no new polio cases reported for one year. It's a result of a massive health programme,the routine pulse polio immunisation program. In the last few years India has mobilized 24 lakh volunteers and 1.5 lakh front line workers in an effort that's cost a 1000 crore rupees every year.

No action after rats nibble patient in Jodhpur

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:33:24 GMT

Jodhpur: Two days after rats were found to be nibbling on a 70-year-old patient on life support in Jodhpur, the Rajasthan government is yet to fix responsibility. This is the same hospital where more than 20 women died during child birth in 2011.

Odisha: SC rules bypassed in land allotment

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:32:52 GMT

Bhubaneshwar: A follow-up to an IBN Cobrapost investigations into the Orissa land scandal showed how Supreme Court guidelines were bypassed to allot land meant for the disadvantaged and war widows, to judges, who already own property.

Madhya Pradesh govt to go ahead with mass Surya Namaskar show for Guinness record

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 04:59:41 GMT

Bhopal: Disregarding vocal protests from the minority communities, the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in Madhya Pradesh has decided to go ahead with its annual state-wide Surya Namaskar show, hoping to get it into the Guinness Book of World Records.

Congress uses Batla House encounter to woo UP Muslims

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 04:58:53 GMT

New Delhi: Congress's 'Chanakya' Digvijaya Singh has once again used the Batla House encounter to woo the Muslims of Uttar Pradesh. In Azamgarh, as young Muslims expressed their anger against Rahul Gandhi by waving black flags, Digvijaya pulled out the Batla House encounter tool to convert adversity into an opportunity.

Maharashtra: Activist finds fake ration card in Sonia's name

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 04:58:27 GMT

Thane: A fake ration card issued in the name of Congress president Sonia Gandhi has been discovered by an activist at Ulhasnagar town in Thane, highlighting the laxity in the issuance of such documents.

Khurshid caught in quota row, to reply to EC today

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 04:57:59 GMT

New Delhi: The battle for the 18 per cent Muslim votes is heating up in Uttar Pradesh. Law Minister Salman Khurshid is expected to reply to the Election Commission's show cause notice over his quota promise.

Don't allow Rushdie to visit Jaipur: Islamic seminary

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:39:22 GMT

New Delhi: Salman Rushdie's proposed visit to Jaipur for the Literary Festival has come under cloud as Islamic Seminary the Darul Uloom Deoband wants the government to cancel Rushdie's visa for hurting the sentiments of Muslims in the past.

Cash haul in UP, Punjab: black money running Assembly polls?

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:39:02 GMT

New Delhi: Black money has always been a big issue in elections, but the recovery of a huge amount of cash, mainly from Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, has raised questions of fairness in the coming Assembly polls.

High-tech mobiles used in AIIMS paper leak

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:38:43 GMT

New Delhi: High-end mobile phones with powerful camera and bluetooth devices were the tools used by three young men to scan the AIIMS post graduate entrance exam paper and send it to an email id outside the exam hall. How did they manage to smuggle the devices in?

Mamata's Banerjee woos industry with her inimitable style

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:38:17 GMT

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has a unique style of leadership. Encouraging industrialists to invest in her state, Mamata said, "Japan, Japan where is Japan? Do you want to invest? China, China where are my Chinese friends? Germany? US?"

No child’s play…

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 06:21:38 GMT

Children from the Gouda tribe in Thiruvannamalai district are the most sought-after to work in the Bt cotton sector, because they are cheap labour.

Geeta (name changed) remembers that a man approached her parents and convinced them to allow him to take her with a group of children to work for Rs150 and three meals every day. Lured by the money and the prospects of good food, her parents readily agreed. She is among scores of children rescued on the way to Bt cotton fields.

October-November is generally the month when fortune looks up for the Gouda tribe of Jawadhu hills in Thiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu. It is the time when their children between the ages of five and fifteen are employed for cross-pollination of hybrid Bt cotton seeds in Salem district, especially in Attur Taluk.

Seeds of discontent

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 06:16:58 GMT

A significant number of Bt cotton farmers in Salem, the cotton belt of Tamil Nadu, are shifting to other crops citing low yield and escalating expenditure.

Subramaniyan, fondly called ‘wadhiyar’ by others in his village of Kannamuchi, near Mettur, in Salem, was the first to grow Bt cotton, starting five years ago. He sowed seeds of the crop in six acres of land. Along with him, an entire village patiently waited for the pest-resistant plants to give a bountiful harvest. As the harvest time neared, the labourers working in his cotton field began complaining about skin allergy and stopped coming to work. Contrary to the claims of the seed companies, half the plants were attacked by insects. Even worse, the quality of the harvested cotton, when compared to the hybrid variety that he had been using, was very low. After incurring a huge loss that season, he gave up cotton cultivation, which he had been doing for nearly two decades, and shifted to turmeric and plantain farming. “The Bt cotton had less weight though it looked fluffy. I got far lesser price for Bt cotton when compared to the hybrid cotton I had been growing. I was so disappointed. Since then I have never done cotton farming.”

Khau Gallis of Pune

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:25:54 GMT

Roadside food stalls in India have their point of reference in their spiciness.

Down the southern part of India, roadside stalls are known for its ‘kai yendhi bhavans’, translated loosely – it means ‘served by hands.’ Here is where you can eat like a king or queen and not burn a hole in your wallet. Sample the fluffiest of idlis at Karpagambal Mess, Mylapore where it ain’t in the least messy but the best.

In Kolkata, the Writers’ Building is the hub of street fare. It started with jhal muri, phuchka and inimitable mishti doi. And now, the interminable influx of other cultures mark Kolkata’s street food. For starters you can taste khow suey from Burma, the Tibetan momos and dolma from Armenia.

Money Chain =/= Money Tree

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:07:08 GMT

Observers have been shocked to hear that the country’s most literate state is flooded with swindlers offering ‘get-rich-quick’ or ‘earn-high-returns’ schemes. Lakhs of Keralites who attempt to double their money in short time spans have ended up in the nets of fraudsters.

In recent months, the media has been regularly coming up with revelations of many frauds in the areas of real estate, money chain, multi-level marketing, pyramid schemes and network marketing. ¬¬Data from investigators shows that within the last four months, filing of frauds in the state amounts to more than Rs 2000 crores.

Many of these cases have inter-state ramifications and have been handed over to the Crime Branch in Kerala. The interesting fact is that most of these companies are headquartered outside Kerala, but the number of agents in those areas is almost zero.

Shopping for love in Dubai

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:17:54 GMT

Ameera Al Hakawati is the pen-name employed by the young woman, who has written a novel on sex and the city of Dubai

When you think of Dubai, you most likely think of a hedonistic paradise thriving on consumerism with large shopping malls and a never-ending line of skyscrapers. But is that all to there is to Dubai? Ameera Al Hakawati (nom de plume), who formerly wrote a racy blog, lays bare the intricacies of relationships in the big city in her debut novel, Desperate in Dubai. Set against a backdrop of luxury hotels and manmade islands, Desperate in Dubai tells the tale of four desperate women as they struggle to find truth, love, and themselves. We caught up with the author to find out more about this book.

Freedom Redux

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:22:21 GMT

When asked what he thought about Western civilization, the Mahatma had famously said that he thought that it would be a good idea. The same can be said about a ‘Free India’ – that it would be a good idea.

Arguably, the most important legacy the British left behind was the Indian Administration Service (IAS), the machinery of bureaucracy, which runs the country. This was meant to serve the interests of the colonizers ruling the country. Today, the administrative corps seems to by and large serve the interests of an elite body that is elected to power every five years. Together, they have been bleeding the country white, with impunity, is the people’s consensus.

Destinations of desirability

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:52:06 GMT

From the August issue onwards we plan to bring you what we call “immaterial” goods. It could be a food/wine tasting, a new artiste or a place that is unusual and not a drop and flop travel plan.

Bites to Delight:
Imagine a cool summer evening with an empty stomach. You stop by a stand and you see a variety of tandoori or Chinese flavored filled vegetables or halal meat rolled in a warm paratha known as a Frankie, or your choice of a vada pav or sandwich. This road side fast food place makes people fall in love with it as quickly as it’s made. Visit http://www.ilovetibbs.com/ to find a franchise near you.

How the other half starves

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:19:15 GMT

Papri Sri Raman draws our attention to the long-overdue National Food Security Act

A national law, with sweeping power to stem hunger in India, has been on the anvil for more than 25 years. Several drafts of a Bill have been placed in the public domain, before expert committees and political parties, with no consensus until now. With widespread reports of hunger and malnutrition in the country (as high as 47% in many places) and with almost 500 million people estimated to be below the poverty line, a public interest litigation in the Supreme Court a few years ago demanded that every Indian be entitled to food security. As a result of the apex court intervention, a National Food Commission, with a ‘Commissioner’ and a panel of experts, was set up to look into ‘hunger’, its causes and suggest remedial measures.

Menopause

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 09:56:33 GMT

What is menopause?
Menopause is a definitive phase in a woman’s life when her ovaries stop producing eggs and she stops having her periods in turn. The cessation of periods is called menopause and when a woman has not had periods for 12 months, she is said to have had menopause. The average menopausal age is considered to be between 45 and 50.

Baba Ramdev’s Fast Unto Death: A Fast Not Quite Steadfast

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 09:33:41 GMT

What started with a blast has ended with a fizzle. The whole Baba Ramdev drama, which held the nation captive for more than a week, ended in an anti-climax. While Ramdev followers rejoiced that their guru was safe as he broke his fast with lemon juice, what they will not be able to undo is the loss of credibility their guru has suffered. And civil society continues to be held to ransom by both the government and the ringmasters in the circus. For it seems to be constant mayhem and madness, which is tearing the very fabric of democratic ideals of the nation.
The government was left red in the face and gasping for breath in the light of the police brutality on a yoga camp comprising his followers. But Baba Ramdev’s flirtation with “Satyagraha” has left him with an irreversible erosion of his credibility.

When in Rome, do you roam on your own?

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:33:26 GMT

Preeti is footloose on city streets

So it turns out I love to roam and explore a city on my own. Without a friend, maybe with a camera, without a pepper spray or a pocket knife as self defense; and many times, when I feel lucky, without a map. There is a certain sense of euphoric discovery, a delicious sense of freedom I get by walking around on my own, sightseeing, people-watching, jumping into a random bus or a rickshaw and let me take it to unknown places, befriending strangers and chatting up the cab drivers about local politics and gossip. Cities are strange beasts of modernity as planners and poor people’s lives attest. The city is a major preoccupation now for many writers, and is no longer the literary prerogative of travelogue writers or travel companies.

Snack up with a book

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:03:50 GMT

MUMBAI : Food For Thought’ is exactly the kind of cafe it promises to be. It opened very recently this March in a quaint little book shop at Flora Fountain called Kitabkhana. The minute you walk in through these doors you feel like you’ve jumped into a time capsule and gone back to some bygone era. It has the feeling of an old library beckoning you to pick up a book even if you haven’t been much of a reader up until now. As you walk past the children’s section (Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton may try and waylay you) a treat lies waiting for you. The cafe greets you with their bakery counter. Beautifully iced cup cakes sit daintily on the counter right next to the cookies. The seating in the cafe is comfortable and the walls are lined by posters of popular movies. Reshma Sanghi, the owner, is involved in the kitchen daily. What is amazing is that she has no formal training in cooking and baking, just passion for it and it shows in her menu.

Street food served Mumbai ishtyle

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:58:40 GMT

Mumbai is a city that never sleeps. Much as that sounds like a cliché and is overused, no other words can capture the city better. It has a buzz like every big cosmopolitan city does, but what makes it so unique is that the city does not seem to get tired and go to bed at all. Big cities like New York, London, Singapore seem to slow down as the sun sets, the shoppers get off the streets giving way to people who have put in a long day at work and are looking for a quick drink and a bite before they go home for an early night. Not Mumbai. It starts to come alive after sun down like no other place. Guys loosening their ties after work, a conservative family of eight, a couple of young lovers trying to steal a ew private moments, you’ll find them all out on the streets. People eat late here. We’re not a city that eats at 7pm. Everything starts and ends even later. You’ll be hard pressed to find a table at 10pm in fact. At night caste and class is forgotten as everyone winds down for a great evening ahead. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself ordering a baida roti or pav bhaji alongside the taxi driver that drove you from colaba to kemps corner in the middle of a very busy day. What’s amazing is that you can find a delicious meal that costs INR8000 per head and one that costs Rs. 40 and both meals come with a view, ambience and the best service that money can offer. In a city that’s bursting at the seams you’ll still find that the waiter knows your name and what your regular order is. And although it’s ever changing you’ll still find that some things remain the same like the strawberry cream at Sukh Sagar and it hasn’t changed since the time your dad took you there for a treat.

When syringes infect

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:35:43 GMT

How the hands that heal become the hands that harm – a closer look at treatment and disposal of biomedical waste

The Lucknow Municipal Corporation was blamed last year for dumping infected syringes, expired medicine vials and blood-stained cotton from 242 hospitals and nursing homes in a village on the city’s outskirts. Discovery of biomedical waste in municipal solid waste dumps continues to make news all over the country. Much of this waste is retrieved by rag-pickers and resurfaces in the market. Horror stories of used syringes landing in the hands of plastic scrap dealers and bloody cotton ending up washed and stuffed in mattresses through illegal recycling have raised serious concern. Not only does poor handling of bio-medical waste expose the public to contagious diseases, but its illegal dumping poses a threat to the environment. Water bodies, marshes and other environmentally sensitive areas are common targets of this pernicious practice.

Assembly Election - 2011

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:21:03 GMT

Puducherry
Oui or non for Congress?Former Chief Minister N. Rangaswamy has made a difference by splitting the Congress and seeking an alliance with the AIADMK.

The forthcoming Assembly elections in the Union Territory of Puducherry, which has always been considered a Congress stronghold, may not be a cakewalk for the party.

Puducherry comprises four former French territories: Puducherry about 130 km south of Chennai, Karaikal further south, Mahe on the western coast and Yanam on the eastern (bordering Kerala and Andhra Pradesh respectively). All these fragmented territories became a part of the Indian Union only in 1962 and the incursion of Dravidian politics here is, therefore, comparatively recent.

The Highland Brew

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 08:57:11 GMT

Of all the alcohol that we consume, this one is the most sought after. Just the name itself would lead many to a drinking frenzy. Connoisseurs love it and first timers seek it. And to the British economy, it represents 25 percent of the country’s food and drink export. Whisky, derived from the Gaelic word Usque Baugh (Ush-kee Baha) that translates to ‘water of life’, probably is the most revered of all spirits. And to the Scots, it’s a way of life.

It is said that the roots of whisky lie in Ireland. But it is the Scots who made it world famous. The first official mention of whisky dates back to 1494 when a Friar by the name of John Cor was granted “8 bolls of malt” by Henry the VII to make whisky. By the 16th century, whisky had become a rage in Scotland and the government imposed a “Malt Tax” which became very unpopular and gave rise to an illicit whisky distilling business. Scotch whisky’s biggest competitor at that time was Cognac.

Golden white goes desi

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 05:14:46 GMT

Know which white wine to team with pork vindaloo or palak paneer

Take your pick in wine varietals -- from the versatile Chardonnay and aromatic Sauvignon Blanc to the new favourite Riesling and the full-bodied Gewurztraminer – and team it with an Indian dish. I hope you enjoyed my article last month on red grape varietals. In continuation of the same article, this month’s article focuses on white wine grape varietals.

Chardonnay:
The big ‘Mommy’ of all white grape varietals in the world, Chardonnay is the most widely cultivated white grape varietal in the world. Wines from this varietal are very versatile (now don’t get ideas! Wink wink!). Chardonnay’s that come from cool climate areas like its original home, Chablis in Burgundy, France, are typically tart (acidic) and very light bodied wines with refreshing green apple and citrus fruit aromas.

Drop Viagra, go natural

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 05:09:24 GMT

Carrots, bananas or even baked asparagus can be love potions

On this Valentine’s Day, hike your romance quotient with well though-out menus that will lead straight to the heart. All you need is a perfect excuse to coo like loving doves, in quiet corners far away from the city or at popular restaurants that promise the stars, even if it is just for a few hours!

Grape-Speak

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 07:04:06 GMT

Ever had to buy or order a bottle of wine? And were you confused when you had to choose from a host of labels and producers? Rohan Jelkie says the most important thing is to identify your preferred grape varietal.

The ancient Greek God of Wine, Dionysus- also known as Bacchus to the Romans-couldn’t have been happier and merrier, that is if one were to seriously take him on his patronages! Wine consumption is at an all time high in our country. Indians are drinking far more wines than ever before. And no it’s not just because it is perceived to be sexy to be holding a glass of wine. We have been traveling much more than ever before. We have seen and we have observed. And we have absorbed. Wine drinking trends are slowly being dictated by taste and preferences (although price still is the main deciding factor).

Be Cointreauversial !

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 06:28:39 GMT

Cointreau, the world’s leading orange liqueur, is an infusion of sweet and bitter orange peels in neutral alcohol with a crystal clear appearance and a gentle sweetness underlying the flavours.

When was the last time you were done in by a cocktail called a Margarita or a Cosmopolitan or even a Kamikaze and marvelled at that bottle of Vodka or Tequila that made your evening? Did you know that binding all these drinks together is another beautiful spirit, one that is used extensively in creating loveable concoctions behind bars the world over, one that has been around for 150 years, one that is quite unlike any other, one that is called Cointreau?

The unknown effects of segregation

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:43:32 GMT

In recent months, I have seen a new kind of vocabulary enter into the language of groups fighting slum evictions: the language of caste. For the first time, in protests against evictions and displacement in Chennai, groups working here began to call recent changes in policies towards the urban poor “the new urban untouchability.”

In this city, a number of groups have worked assiduously since the 1980s to fight against evictions of slum dwellers. These groups include NGOs, groups of slum dwellers, trade unions of low income workers, and women’s groups. For many years, they fought individual evictions, and their constant struggle resulted in Chennai having one of the best records of providing rehabilitation to evicted slum dwellers, often very close to the places where people were evicted from.

Lokpal debate: Govt set to face BJP, Left hurdles

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 04:23:57 GMT

New Delhi: The stage is set for a showdown between the UPA government and Team Anna starting Tuesday. The first battle will be fought in Parliament which takes up the Lokpal Bill for a debate on Tuesday. While the government has the numbers for now in the Lok Sabha, passing the Bill in the Rajya Sabha won't be easy.

Angry Gehlot lashes out at striking doctors

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 04:23:37 GMT

Jaipur: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has reacted angrily to the ongoing strike as it enters its sixth day on Monday, causing the loss of around 50 lives, saying people were angry over "what is happening".

Two AMRI officers remanded in judicial custody

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 04:23:15 GMT

Kolkata: A city court on Monday sent two officers of AMRI Hospital, where 93 people died in a fire, to judicial custody till January five. Chief Judicial Magistrate of Alipore court S M Shahnawaz sent Sanjib Pal and S Upadhayay, who were in police custody, to judicial custody on a prayer by the prosecution.

Bhanwari killed on Maderna's order: CBI sources

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 04:22:51 GMT

Jaipur: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) claims to have cracked the Bhanwari Devi case. CBI sources say that Bhanwari Devi could have been killed on the orders of former Rajasthan water resources minister Mahipal Maderna and suspended Congress MLA Malkhan Singh Bishnoi.

Lokpal Bill: Govt to cede to Anna's demands?

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:55:58 GMT

New Delhi: With the Food Security Bill out of the way, the Cabinet will now take up the contentious Lokpal Bill on Monday evening. Sources say the government is likely to give in to two out of Anna Hazare's three demands.

Chidambaram withdraws Mullaperiyar remark under pressure

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:55:41 GMT

Chennai: It has been a rough week for Home Minister P Chidambaram for more reasons than one. He was forced to withdraw his controversial remarks on the Mullaperiyar Dam that raised temperatures in Kerala.

2G: CAG likely to depose before the JPC again

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:55:23 GMT

New Delhi: Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai is expected to depose the Joint Parliamentary Panel looking into the 2G scam once again. He will have to explain how the government auditor arrived at the presumptive loss figure of Rs 1.76 lakh crore.

Cold wave intensifies, 26 dead so far in UP

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:54:58 GMT

New Delhi: A thick fog on Monday disrupted road and rail traffic at several places in north India, including Delhi, as the cold wave intensified, resulting in 26 deaths in Uttar Pradesh this season.

Eating as an art form

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:14:02 GMT

Kashmir means wazwan to many, where the cold climes of this beautiful valley has inspired a spice-laden cuisine. A valley resplendent with ‘carpets’ of saffron, and part of the silk route which introduced gastronomic influences of Persian, Central Asian, Afghan and the Punjabi streams, proud of its tradition--wazwan. The concept of wazwan is unique. The term waz means ‘cook’, and wan means ‘shop’. The traditional wazwan consists of 36 courses, each complementary to the course that follows it. The commonly used ingredients in classics like goshtaba, rista, yakhanee, tabak and rogan josh are the saffron, fennel and dried ginger.

The Gene of a Crisis

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:25:52 GMT

Touted as a solution for food shortage, genetically modified (GM) crops have always been in the eye of the storm, ever since their introduction in the mid nineties. In the Indian context, the issue is inclusive of the controversial Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India Bill that proposes to constitute a body to regulate the biotechnology sector. While there is a temporary ban on the commercial cultivation of the first proposed edible GM crop Bt Brinjal, genetically modified cotton has been hailed as an answer to the crisis in cotton farming. However, the reality seems to be not so exciting on the field. The GM cotton has brought with it some disconcerting social issues such as child labour and trafficking.

2G: Swamy to appear as witness against Chidambaram today

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 04:37:00 GMT

New Delhi: Janata Party President Subramanium Swamy will appear as a witness before a special CBI court in Delhi on Saturday which is hearing the 2G spectrum scam case and give his testimony on the alleged role of Home Minister P Chidambaram in the scam.

2G: Court order on cognizance of chargesheet against Essar, Loop

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 04:36:40 GMT

New Delhi: A special court will on Saturday decide whether to take cognizance of the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) chargesheet against Essar and Loop Telecom.

WB hooch tragedy: Families want Govt intervention

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 04:36:14 GMT

Kolkata: The hooch tragedy in West Bengal has claimed more than 160 lives. The villages affected have lost most of their men and their families now want the government to break the vicious narcotics nexus.

Chidambaram claims innocence, BJP guns for him

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 04:35:43 GMT

New Delhi: Under fire from the BJP for his alleged role of asking for dilution of cases against hotelier SP Gupta, Home Minister P Chidambaram is getting into damage control mode himself, giving a clear idea of the entire sequence of events.

Govt to reach out to aam admi via the Internet

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 06:00:00 GMT

New Delhi: After controversial statements about regulating offensive content online last week, this week Communication and Information Minister Kapil Sibal offered a glimpse of how government departments themselves plan to go 'social'. "We're looking at ways in which the government can use the Internet to reach out to the common man," Sibal said.

Conflict of interest: PC faces Opposition ire

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 05:59:37 GMT

New Delhi: A day after CNN-IBN aired a report showing an alleged case of conflict of interest against Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, the Opposition has been demanding his resignation and stalled Parliament on Thursday. Even as the Congress defended him, Delhi's Lt Governor revoked the withdrawal of prosecution against the hotelier in question.

Sachin, Dhyan Chand now eligible for Bharat Ratna

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 05:50:44 GMT

New Delhi: Sports heroes Sachin Tendulkar and Dhyan Chand are now eligible for the Bharat Ratna as the government has changed the eligibility criteria for the Bharat Ratna to widen its scope.

Will protest outside Sonia Gandhi's home: Anna

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 05:50:05 GMT

New Delhi: The government appears all set to pass the contentious Lokpal bill in Parliament's winter session, even as Anna Hazare on Thursday threatened a slew of protests, including a sit in outside Sonia Gandhi's residence and an indefinite hunger strike from December 27 if the anti-graft law is not passed.

Not regulating web to protect PM, Sonia: Sibal

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 04:48:01 GMT

New Delhi: Information Technology and Communication Minister Kapil Sibal, speaking to Karan Thapar on Devil's Advocate, clarified that the government did not want to pre-screen any of the content on various Internet platforms.

AMRI hospital fire: fire safety norms ignored?

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 04:47:42 GMT

Kolkata: It's been 24 hours since a major fire in AMRI hospital in Kolkata left 88 people dead, it has now emerged that the tragedy could have been avoided had the private hospital heeded warning about its fire safety forms.

Anna rejects Lokpal draft, to sit on fast tomorrow

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 04:47:23 GMT

New Delhi: Parliament Standing Committee on Friday tabled its Lokpal Bill draft report with 16 dissent notes, which failed to impress Team Anna and the Opposition who have rubbished the report.

Delhi hospital in trouble for flouting waste disposal rules

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 04:47:03 GMT

New Delhi: The Delhi Pollution Control board has issued a notice to the Patel Chest Institute for fluting bio-medical waste disposal rules.

Setback for Jagan as Andhra CM wins trust vote

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 04:23:20 GMT

Hyderabad: The Congress government on in Andhra Pradesh survived the no-confidence motion moved against it by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Monday night.

Mullaperiyar Dam row: all-party meet in Kerala today

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 04:23:01 GMT

New Delhi: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has called for self-restraint over the Mullayperiyar Dam dispute. Chandy's comments came after protest was reported at the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border in Kumali and Kamba-metu.

Babri Masjid demolition anniversary today

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 04:22:37 GMT

New Delhi: Ahead of the 19th anniversary of the Babri mosque demolition, security in twin towns of Ayodhya and Faizabad has been tightened.

2G: Kanimozhi expected to return to Delhi for hearing

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 04:22:08 GMT

New Delhi: DMK MP Kanimozhi is expected to return to Delhi on Tuesday to attend the hearing of the 2G case. Kanimozhi had gone back to her home in Chennai last week after she was released on bail after over 190 days of arrest.

Jaya asks PM for forces to protect Mullaperiyar

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:12:29 GMT

New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said that Kerala is being alarmist without cause on the Mullaperiyar issue. She has written to the Prime Minister once again asking for central forces to be sent in.

Trust vote: Will Jagan loyalists go against AP Govt?

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:10:45 GMT

New Delhi: The Congress government in Andhra Pradesh will be put to the floor test on Monday; the Speaker had admitted the opposition Telugu Desam Party's no-confidence motion last week.

Arrested IM operatives to be produced in court today

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:08:48 GMT

New Delhi: The six Indian Mujahideen operatives who were arrested by Delhi Police will be presented in a lower court on Monday. These IM operatives were arrested for their alleged involvement in Pune's German Bakery and Delhi's Jama Masjid blasts. Their police custody ends on Monday.

RTI query busts major PDS scam in Maharashtra

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:00:23 GMT

Mumbai: An RTI query has unearthed a major scam in the Public Distribution System, as many as 42 lakh bogus ration cards have been issued in Maharashtra leading to large scale theft of food grain.

After 6 months in jail, Kanimozhi to head home today

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 05:24:03 GMT

New Delhi: DMK MP and Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi is expected to reach Chennai on Saturday.This will be Kanimozhi's first visit to the state since she was granted bail and released from jail in the 2G spectrum scam.

FDI in retail: Can PM win over Mamata?

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 05:23:39 GMT

New Delhi: The deadlock over FDI in retail has paralysed the Winter Session of Parliament for nine days now. With just 15 days of the session remaining, the government has until Wednesday to convince the dissenting allies.

Apple a day: Lok Sabha MPs to get iPads

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 05:23:14 GMT

New Delhi: Parliament may be in a state of paralysis these days, but it has not deterred the authorities from taking a digital leap of faith.

Dey murder: Crime Branch to file chargesheet today

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 05:22:28 GMT

Mumbai: The Mumbai Crime Branch is set to file chargesheets against 10 of the 11 accused excluding journalist Jigna Vora in the J Dey Murder case. On Friday, a man approached MCOCA court to hand over four cell phones and SIM cards allegedly used by Vora.

Mullaperiyar row: Chandy to meet PM today

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:37:17 GMT

New Delhi: With the political battle intensifying between Kerala and Tamil Nadu on the Mullaperiyar dam issue, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is expected to meet the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday.

Team Anna upset over the Lokpal U-turn by Cong

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:36:56 GMT

New Delhi: Team Anna has criticised the Congress after a last minute U-turn by the party demanding removal of Group C bureaucrats from the ambit of Lokpal.

I consider myself as a son of India: Dalai Lama

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:36:23 GMT

Kolkata: The Dalai Lama on Thursday said he considered himself as a "son" of India and he carried the message of ahinsa wherever he went.

Delhi hospital denies flouting waste disposal rules

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:35:36 GMT

New Delhi: On World AIDS day, CNN-IBN exposed how Delhi's top tuberculosis hospital has been putting the lives of hundreds of people at risk with contaminated blood and syringes making their way into the garbage bin.

Howrah-Doon Express fire: death toll rises to seven

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:15:57 GMT

Patna: Railway Ministry officials confirmed that the death toll in the Howrah-Dehradun Express train fire which broke out late on Monday night, is now up to seven.

Jayalalithaa to appear before bangalore court today in assets case

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:15:22 GMT

Bangalore did it for two days last month. Now the city is hosting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa again today - she will appear before a special trial court in the city to complete recording her deposition in a Rs. 66-crore disproportionate assets case against her.

Rupee hits 52.45 against dollar, breaches all-time low

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:13:34 GMT

The rupee opened at all-time lows against the dollar Tuesday. It traded at 52.45, falling nearly 40 paise or 0.75 per cent against the dollar at 0917 hours today. Fresh weakness in the currency came despite a rebound in equity markets.

A new political party named after Anna Hazare

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:13:12 GMT

Nashik: A local resident of Nashik has formed a political party named after Anna Hazare.

UP Assembly set to debate Maya's 4-state proposal; stormy session likely

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 05:04:26 GMT

Lucknow: A stormy session is likely in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly that convenes on Monday as it is set to take up Chief Minister Mayawati's proposal to divide the state into four. She has issued a whip to all party MLAs to attend the Assembly while the SP, BJP and Congress are set to oppose the move.

Bhopal: Girl with Down syndrome is a swimming champion

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 05:04:10 GMT

Bhopal: A 12-year old swimming champion from Bhopal, Ira Parihar, has accomplished what most swimmers have not even attempted, despite suffering from Down syndrome.

Police files case in East Delhi fire tragedy

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 05:03:43 GMT

New Delhi: The Delhi Police has registered a case against unknown persons for causing death due to negligence in the north-east Delhi fire tragedy that took place on Sunday night.

Nun killed by her own group members: Jharkhand police

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 05:02:21 GMT

New Delhi: In a new twist in the Sister Valsa murder case, the Jharkhand Police have said the nun was killed by members of her own organisation, the Rajmahal Pahar Bachao Andolan, the banner under which she had taken on mining companies earlier.

Northeast: the epicenter of cancer?

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 05:48:05 GMT

India's northeast has dissimilar customs, varied food habits and diverse ethnic groups, apart from a picturesque landscape. However, on the darker side, the region, in recent times, has recorded a high number of cancer cases in the country.

Tripura state alone has witnessed 41% increase in the fatal ailment over the past six years. In 2006, the Agartala regional cancer center admitted 1200 new patients and in 2010, the number went up to 1726. In the last eight months, 1270 new cases have been registered at the cancer hospital.

Musings of the Chief Editor

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:48:56 GMT

We need to realise that the protests on the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) has been marked by the fear over the safety of the nuclear plant.

This cannot be ignored in the post-Fukushima era. The onus is on the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd., which is implementing the project, to take the public reaction/response and respect the local communities’ apprehensions, which have been trebled by the recent nuclear holocausts like conditions in Japan, post the tsunami. The powers that be at the top need to assure the country of the safety of the two Russian-made reactors, the two VVER-1000 state-of-the-art reactors installed at Kudankulam.

Roti, Kapda aur Makan. And inflation…...

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 07:36:10 GMT

Poverty is something that makes us uncomfortable. Most of us are haunted by the word that flashes images of shabby figures that refuse to leave until you shell out a few coins. Poverty means children in ugly clothes poking annoyingly at you at a railway station or in a long-distance bus. But beyond that, there are untold, uglier faces of poverty hidden from us. After all, we are living in an India that tries its best to pretend that poverty has reduced drastically over the last few years.

Musings of the Chief Editor

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

“Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian Economy”-said Mahatma Gandhi five decades ago. Even today, as we enter the new millennium, the situation is still the same, with almost the entire economy being sustained by agriculture, which is the mainstay of the villages. Not only the economy, but also every one of us looks to agriculture for our sustenance too.

Although agriculture contributes only 20% to 21% of India’s GDP, its importance in the country’s economic, social, and political fabric goes well beyond this indicator. The rural areas are still home to some 72 percent of the India’s 1.1 billion people, a large number of whom are poor. Most of the rural poor depend on rain-fed agriculture and fragile forests for their livelihoods.

A Crop Crisis

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 10:16:24 GMT

This is almost the end of Kharif (June-October) season when usually vast paddy fields of East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh are filled with golden stacks heralding the harvest. However, this year, the scenerio is a bit different. Large patches of land are left uncultivated by frustrated farmers who declined to sow in protest against the flawed agricultural policies of the government, which compelled them to lead a life in debt.

In East Godavari alone, 13,000 paddy farmers are observing ‘crop holidays’ in 1,20,000 acres of land causing an estimated loss of Rs 530 crore to the state. The agitation has already spread to neighbouring districts of Krishna, West Godavari, Khammam, Prakasam, Medak, Guntur, Thenali, Warangal, Kurnool and Kadapa, where thousands stayed away from farming during Kharif season. This novel form of protest is snowballing into a national farmers’ movement, with other states following suit.

The Real Mahatma

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 10:04:54 GMT

The national mainstream narrative erects a few figures as villains to be reviled, allowing no shades of grey to cloud impressionable young minds. My mind still retained this neat, naïve dichotomy, even after a post-graduate education, as I set out to meet Gopal Godse, the only living direct connection to the operation that killed Mahatma Gandhi.

After days of tracking him, I found the 86-year-old brother of Nathuram Godse – Gandhi’s assassin – in a frugal apartment in the old quarters of Pune. He was surrounded mostly by innumerable books and a handful of loyal friends and relatives. While most in the milling crowd outside his home would hardly recall the historic figure, Godse was however, a revered personality for some.

Musings of the Chief Editor

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 09:55:07 GMT

In the last few weeks my e-mail inbox and mobile phone were flooded with messages to support Anna Hazare in his crusade against corruption in the country. More than the newspaper analysis and channel discussions, what interested me the most was comments made by the common people.

Controversy Kid:Prakash Jha

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 12:18:52 GMT

Prakash Jha is a multiple-award-winning filmmaker known for his critically acclaimed films including Raajneeti, Apaharan, GangaaJal, Mrityudand, Parinati and Damul. He is a winner of eight national awards. His company, Prakash Jha Productions, collaborates and work with filmmakers across the globe, with an emphasis on fresh ideas and strong narrative across different genres.

Prakash Jha’s films are known for focussing on socio-political issues rooted in reality. His body of work includes 10 feature films (as producer and director), 25 documentaries (on various sociocultural facets and personalities of the country), three series for television and two featurettes. Hailing from Champaran in Bihar, Jha has made a mark in the film firmament of the country and is giving back to society through Anubhooti, a registered society that is addressing various issues from farming, health care and development initiatives to the rehabilitation of people affected by natural calamities.

Chennai: Running on Empty

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 12:16:14 GMT

In the wake of the new desalination plants coming up in Chennai, we look at the options available to combat its water-woes

Every morning, V. Sundaramoorthy a resident of Alandur, wakes up hoping that he doesn’t have to buy drinking water for the day. His complaint to the Metro Water department is awaiting action for several months now. His grievance reflects the reality in parts of Chennai that face acute water shortage. In these places, residents largely rely on bore wells that are facing the possibility of running dry in a few months.

Chennai city has managed to cope with its chronic water shortage over the last five years, following the AIADMK government’s order making the installation of the rain water harvesting system compulsory. Yet, experts feel that water shortage may soon make a comeback.

Indian Witch - hunting

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 09:46:32 GMT

While Harry Potter and friends study to become wizards and witches, men and women in the hinterlands of India are hunted to death for allegedly practicing witchcraft.

Born into a family crippled by abject poverty, 13-year old Naina Gaur had just started to come to terms with the hard life ahead of her. She spent her time helping her parents, Binanda and Karishma Gaur, run the family by doing odd jobs in the neighbourhood. Naina and her amiable parents were well-liked in their non-descript basti. On the morning of June 21 this year, the basti’s residents were shocked to discover the dead bodies of the Gaurs and a young girl, Mongoli Mura, who was a visiting relative..

“Synning” is the best part of repentance....

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 06:52:58 GMT

Walking into Syn Restaurant of Taj Deccan, Hyderabad makes you feel as though you are going to commit a sin – one of eating though. Why not? As that’s what you are walking in for gorging on Thai and Japanese food (the latter is quite a rarity in Hyderabad). The resto bar-cum-lounge which is semicircular in shape with big pillars (black and gold) is done up in orange and white – pleasing decor.

“The idea was to do something different in the market, “ says Chef Sachin Joshi and after a lot of brainstorming came up with Thai and Japanese. “We realised after visiting Mumbai and Bengaluru Indians love sushi. The expats too like this.” The crockery and cutlery is unique at Syn. The water glasses are black in colour and double walled. The Chinese tea glasses too are double-walled and one doesn’t feel the heat holding them while sipping the ‘White tea’.

Musings of the Chief Editor

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:24:11 GMT

When I think of the recent Mumbai bomb blasts, I realise that it has a grave bearing on our security than a border tussle. It is mirroring our country’s security concerns and this has happened as the enemy has brought the war to India.

We can no longer be a crowd that sits on our comfort and base our lives on a fear of facing the truth. This is not a time for mouthing smooth words or false assurances. The citizen is tired of rhetoric. The need of the hour is good governance. A fear free life where a person goes out and comes, in one piece.

Finishing Schools

mediavoicemag@gmail.com (Administrator) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 06:09:52 GMT

This is the story of Malti from Agra – the exclusive Agrawaali of Sonagachi
By Annam Suresh

At 11, Malti was already a stunner. She had a complexion that had been nurtured since the day she was born, with malai – the cream picked off the top of boiled milk, and uptan - a paste of gram flour, turmeric, milk and other mysterious ingredients expertly mixed by Sukhrani who was considered an expert at her job, – that of a masseur and native beautician.