The Last Ten Days Rajen Vakil

The Last Ten Days

Rajen Vakil

As explained last week, we have tried to help the departed soul by sitting silently every day for five minutes. The last thing you do is ask the soul if what you have said has reached it. You will get some indication that it has understood what you have said – a smell may emanate, the shape of the photo may momentarily change, and we may feel a gust of breeze or an ant pinching or crawling over us. Keep doing this for 45 days. In the next ten days, continue the practice but add something to it. Here nature plays a trick and awakens the dreaming soul a little and tells it to choose. Within its 55-day dream, it starts seeing images like a stream of pictures. Not like a regular movie, but cloudy images, like old negatives, of couples having sex. Nature then asks the soul to choose a womb so it can be born again. It is at this point that you can try to help the departed soul make the right choice. Tell the soul that the time has come for it to choose a place to be born. If any womb pulls it with force, just by willing it to stop, it will stop immediately. Then tell the soul to close those scenes where the sex is aggressive or animalistic. Next, tell it that if it asks any scene to pause, it will and the soul will know more about the couple. Then tell the soul not to simply follow his desires and go where there is only money and luxury, but to choose a womb where there is growth and maturity. Finally, say that the guru is next to you and if you cannot decide, ask for his help. The soul then makes its choice and at this point, the sex is decided. If the soul is attracted to the male, then it is born a female and if to the female, it takes a male form. Once 55 days are complete, stop everything. On the following Saturday, perform some act of charity. Then call all your friends and relatives for dinner and celebrate. Nothing else needs to be done now. Attend a free Three Step Rhythmic Breathing (3SRB) session on September 2 from 9.30am to 11.30am at Thadomal Shahani Engineering College, National College lane, off Linking Road, Bandra. Visit www.3srb.org

Transformation Is Growth Swami Sukhabodhananda

Transformation Is Growth

Swami Sukhabodhananda

When you unfold, it appears so simple and clear; but on leaving this place, everything appears to be difficult to practice. Why? We are not individuals; we are a collection of many ‘I’s. The ‘I’ that listens to me is different; the ‘I’ that creates problems is different. I am a father, with reference to my son, I am a son with reference to my father. So, I am multiple ‘I’s. Every ‘I’ has to be transformed. Hence, it appears to be difficult. In the presence of a Master, the purity in him brings the best ‘I’ in you and you find the unfoldment simple. Without the Master’s presence, there are chances of negative ‘I’s emerging. Buddha advised his disciples to move around with five seekers, so that one’s presence would impact the other; one’s purity would empower the other. It appears that we are forgetful and hence don’t practice what has been taught. Why? Atmasmaranam—self-remembering—is a very important aspect in one’s life. We have to remind ourselves of the great teachings of enlightened masters. When we are forgetful, unconsciousness takes over. We have to become conscious and remember that we have to dis-identify with the wrong self. The wrong self has its survival games. We have to see them clearly and give a conscious shock with an understanding. We have to observe how the wrong self is a function of the ‘lower self’ and the game of life is to operate from the ‘higher self.’ This is not difficult, but one has to practice with joy. Don’t work for joy. Instead, work out of joy. Man is not a unity of many ‘I’s’ but multiple ‘I’s. Is this not a dis-empowering statement? Truth is not dis-empowering. Truth does not operate in a way to please one. Truth reveals facts of life. Do you want to be with fact or fiction? Further, we can unify all the ‘I’s.’ That is the alchemy that spirituality invites us to taste. We can do that only if every ‘I’ in us is driven by a principle. The foundations of our lives must be based on goodness. Every ‘I’ should be anchored on transformation. Transformation means growth. If all ‘I’s’ are based on transformation, then we become individuals. Or else, we would be like those seated in a chariot with each horse galloping in different directions. Let all horses run in the same direction. Let all the ‘I’s’ envision transformation. What a challenge! For more details, visit www.prasannatrust.org

Star-studded jewellery!

Star-studded jewellery!

India International Jewellery Week (IIJW), held from 19th-23rd August, saw the cremé de la cremé setting the ramp on fire as they sported jewellery designed by the participants of the event. On Monday, the evening was set apart with brands like Golecha's Jewels (Vijay-Sandeep) and Agni CZ Gold Jewels, showcasing regal jewellery with showstoppers from Bollywood. Golecha's collection was adorned by showstopper Dia Mirza, a former model and actress, who looked stunning in regal pearls and pristine stones accompanied by supermodels walking the ramp in jhumars and traditional jewellery that held everybody in awe. "I wanted to create a timeless collection, something that was pure and connected with the soul," says Vijay Golecha. Brand ambassador of Agni CZ Gold Jewels, Amrita Rao, greeted the crowd with an adaab in a beautiful white and yellow gold choker from the Mor Baag collection. "Amrita has been our brand ambassador for five years now and we are very thrilled every time she walks the ramp for us. Agni as a brand is looking forward to expansion and we look forward to a bright future," says Ramesh Shoor, Agni CZ Gold Jewels.

The Regal Touch l Jaipur Gems Owner Padam Sacheti shares his 40-year journey in a thriving business that has a seven century history to boast of

The Regal Touch

l Jaipur Gems

Owner Padam Sacheti shares his 40-year journey in a thriving business that has a seven century history to boast of

Dazzling beneath Swarovski lights, pristine stones gleam at you when you enter the Jaipur Gems showroom in South Mumbai. Padam Sacheti peering over a few shiny pearls, taps shut his laptop as he readies to share with us a story rich with experience and nostalgia. Generations ago, jewellery was not sold out of showrooms like it is today. "People worked from home and were known for their peculiar style, designs and craftsmanship," says Sacheti. As time went by, small shops started coming up as customers started trusting the jeweller's name. However, nearly 40 years ago, when Sacheti entered the business fresh out of engineering college, the scenario had changed. "When I decided to join the industry, most outfits were family owned. A senior family member would get associated with a jeweller and the entire family would don that jeweller's creations,"laughs Sacheti, recalling how back in the day, a single person did the gold-shopping for the whole clan. With changing times, boundaries dissolved, the customer got demanding. "Customers no longer wanted standard, similar designs that their grandmothers and aunts wore," says Sacheti. "Growing income made people turn to jewellery as an investment and thus, sales started increasing." Back in the day, royalty sported the best of clothes and needless to say, the best of jewellery. Sacheti tells us how jadau, polki and diamonds, something he specialises in, became popular in that era among the masses because of its aspiration value. "Initially people didn't know how to value or cut diamonds. We neither had the demand nor the technology for that," he explains. So when people saw the maharajas and maharani's wearing uncut diamonds, they wanted to wear something similar. When the British came to India, they brought their own style and design with them and that's when full cut diamonds started becoming popular, he says. After years of experience, Sacheti has come to believe that an entrepreneur should change his outlook in congruence with changing times. "Today, the success of a jeweller is determined not by the number of showrooms he owns but by the services he offers—personal attention mixed with a corporate attitude. Only then can their business find a place in the market," says Sacheti, who is incorporating both the aspects into his business. "A corporate environment helps you build inventories, create customer databases, fulfil expectations and requirements while keeping tabs on new trends in the market," he says positively. Explaining the importance of a personalised service, Sacheti says that many brands get stuck with a corporate attitude and fail to meet customer requirements. "Such brands only get customers looking for corporate gifts for festive occasions," he emphasises. For Sacheti, every individual in his family is involved in the business—right from his wife, sons and daughter-in-laws. "When my wife is not in the store, customers always ask "Where is bhabhiji? This is because she personally attends to every customer and they know that she will give them the correct advice." As he reveals the reason for entering the jewellery business, you can hear the excitement in his voice rising. "When I finished my degree, I had three options—become a full-time engineer, enter service industry or take the family's legacy forward," says Sacheti, whose ancestors have been in the business for 700 years. "And in comparison to all the other fields, according to me, the outcome in the jewellery business is better and quicker." This held true for Sacheti, which is why his sons followed suit looking at his success in the business. "After graduation, both my sons and daughter-in-laws studied jewellery professionally from the States," he says proudly. With his sons completely involved in the business, Sacheti says that being in the loop with latest technology and value added services became easy. "My sons entered the online industry and founded the site 'CaratLane', which is currently one of the biggest jewellery e-commerce websites in India. From loose diamonds to delicate pieces, we trade everything online internationally," says Sacheti proudly. "You'd be surprised that even in a small village called Pushkar near Ajmer, which has a population of approximately 30,000, people are buying jewellery online!" Talking about the jewellery offered at his store, Sacheti tells us that as a brand they have two strong points-design and in-house manufacturing. "Earlier, certain jewellery was liked by certain kind of people. For example, the Parsis loved their pearls and plain gold was popular in South India, and the Gujarati's and Marwadi's preferred polki, so on and so forth. But nowadays, these traditions are mixing and everybody is willing to experiment," he says. Another important offering that Jaipur Gems provides, is the in-house manufacturing. "In our store, the quality of the stones we use is unique, of the highest standard. Even in the market, a valuer will look at the piece and know that it's from Jaipur Gems. We have maintained this standard for years," says Sacheti. At 65, with his sons getting involved in the business, one asks Sacheti if he soon plans on taking it easy. He laughs and says, "That's a tricky question but as far as retirement is concerned, that time will come. But one can't retire immediately, it's a slow process." He personally feels that if a person is physically healthy and has the right attitude, then they should continue working. His eyes light up with a hint of sheen, when he starts talking about his passion—classical music. "I don't sing or play, but I love listening to classical music. And I wanted to convert it into something substantial," says Sacheti, who turned his passion into philanthropy. "Annually, I conduct a programme at Nehru Centre with the help of renowned artists. Two artists, one upcoming and the other a senior artist perform at these programmes," he says, adding that these functions are free for connoisseurs. But Sacheti thought he wasn't doing enough and thus started offering scholarships to aspiring classical music students. Apart from this, Sacheti also offers a Lifetime Achievement award annually to felicitate senior artists. "Public figures like Dr. Karan Singh, former President APJ Abdul Kalam, and Morari Bapuji have felicitated these senior artists," he says proudly. Strong family support has encouraged Sacheti to organise these events. "My family is very co-operative and has supported me in all my endeavours. They help and guide me and that is the reason I have been able to do everything," says Sacheti. A goldsmith and diamantaire, Sacheti holds on to his roots and offers his customers jewellery that he knows and understands from the back of his hand. And with a story so compelling, one can only be curious as to what the future holds for a brand that has been passionate about jewellery for hundreds of years.

Dressing up the new-age bride Fashion designer Narendra Kumar tells you what inspired him to launch his first ever bridal line

Dressing up the new-age bride

Fashion designer Narendra Kumar tells you what inspired him to launch his first ever bridal line

Known for his fine tailoring and expertise in western wear, fashion designer Narendra Kumar is now venturing into the Indian bridal industry. The designer, who had been missing at the Mumbai fashion week, is also set to give the Delhi one a skip as he has been concentrating on his first bridal collection. The collection will be showcased at the bridal week in the city, next month. He says, “There are thousands of designers doing bridal wear. It took me three years to think of how I could do something different — that incorporates our style sensibilities with something Indian — and create something for the new age bride. She’s far more aware, well-travelled and has a better understanding of the finer aspects of garments.” While bridal spells crystal encrusted or paisley motif work for most designers, he wanted to bring something unique to the Indian wedding market. Admitting that the wedding industry is huge and a great way to make money, Nari is quick to point out that he could’ve ventured into this field 10 years ago, but didn’t as it took him a while to identify his niche. “It was hard initially. The Indian bride has evolved so much. Destination weddings have become a huge trend, so the challenge was to create something modern, sophisticated yet that could be heirloom pieces. I wanted to bring a global perspective to the designs,” says Nari. Talking about the spurt of new young designers, the designer says it’s just what the country needs. Nari emphasises after having the same people for the past 20 years, the young lot of designers have infused the market with a new spirit. “It’s important to realise that we are constantly changing, and how we respond to that change is what will keep us going. People say I party a lot, but actually I go out and listen to what people say and what they’re thinking. I always try to keep my head on my shoulders and ears on the ground,” he explains. Having been in this field for several years, would Nari consider writing a book? “I will write a book when I have something substantial to say. Right now, I don’t want to race into it,” he says. sanaya.chavda@dnaindia.net

New life for old iPads, from Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay A3 churns out awesome audio quality, but docking and undocking a drag

New life for old iPads, from Bang & Olufsen

BeoPlay A3 churns out awesome audio quality, but docking and undocking a drag

Here are three things you can do with an old iPad: pass it along to a family member, sell it on eBay or convert it into a great-sounding portable entertainment system -- by spending more than it may have originally cost. Bang & Olufsen portrays its $549 BeoPlay A3 as an easy solution for those times when you want bigger, better sound from your iPad than the tiny, tinny speaker Apple builds in. As far as “easy” goes, the A3 is pretty much a failure: It’s a royal pain to dock and undock your tablet. But the company’s marketers may not quite understand their own product. Its real killer app turns out to be as a permanent home for that unused iPad, turning it into a wireless mini entertainment-and-information centre you can take with you from room to room. The BeoPlay is compatible with all three generations of iPads, and you can, theoretically, pop your tablet out to take with you if you’re going somewhere. In practice, however, it isn’t something you’ll want to do often. Sitting Snugly The A3 comes with two rubber sleeves that fit around the iPad and are designed to allow it to sit snugly in the dock, its screen flush with the speaker enclosure. I had the easiest time with the sleeve designed for the original, 2010 iPad, which allowed it to slide fairly smoothly into the unit and hook up with the retractable dock connector. But I had trouble using the sleeve designed for the iPad 2 and the current, third-generation iPad, both of which are slightly thinner than the original tablet. With the iPad 2, I had to line up the connector just so to get the tablet to snap properly into place. And the current iPad, which is fractionally thicker than its immediate predecessor, was a real struggle. Several times, I thought I had it properly aligned, only to turn it on and discover the iPad sounded even worse than usual because the A3 audio connection hadn’t been made and the housing was covering the tablet’s built-in speaker. Redesign Bang & Olufsen says it is aware of the problems and has redesigned the sleeve to work better with the newer models. Still, it’s tiresome to put it on every time you want to dock your iPad. And when you undock the tablet to take it with you somewhere, you’re faced with the problem of what to do with the sleeve once you remove it. At about this point, I was tempted to consign the BeoPlay to the pile of the overpriced and underthought. But a funny thing happened. Once I finally got it working right, I started warming to it. For one thing, there’s the audio quality, which is terrific. The A3 features a two-inch woofer for a nice rich bass, but what’s really interesting are the half-inch tweeters, particularly how they’re deployed. There are three of them, but only two are in use at any time.

How Apple chipped away at Samsung’s patent tactics Turf war often degenerated into a bitter slanging match; ruling may reset competitive compass in the industry

How Apple chipped away at Samsung’s patent tactics

Turf war often degenerated into a bitter slanging match; ruling may reset competitive compass in the industry

In August 2010, just a few months after Samsung Electronics launched its Galaxy smartphone, a team of Apple Inc lawyers flew to South Korea. Apple’s late co-founder, Steve Jobs, had already told Samsung executives at a meeting earlier that summer that he considered the Galaxy S, based on Google’s Android operating system, an illegal copy of the iPhone. But given the extensive business ties between the two companies — Samsung is one of Apple’s key component suppliers — a negotiated solution seemed most likely. The Apple attorneys were blunt: “Android is designed to lead companies to imitate the iPhone product design and strategy,” read the second slide in their presentation. But the meeting did not go well, according to a person familiar with the case. Samsung attorneys bristled at being accused of copying, and produced a set of their own patents that they said Apple was using without permission. The meeting brought to the fore a fundamental disagreement between the two companies, and set the stage for a bitter, multi-country patent dispute that led to Friday’s US jury verdict that Samsung had violated Apple’s patents. The jury awarded Apple $1.05 billion in damages, which could be tripled as the jury found Samsung acted wilfully. Samsung could now face a costly ban on sales of key smartphone and tablet products. Shares in Samsung — the world’s biggest technology firm by revenue — tumbled more than 7% on Monday, set for its biggest daily percentage drop in nearly four years, wiping $12 billion off its market value. Samsung says it will seek to overturn the decision, and the worldwide patent battles among tech giants are hardly over. But for now at least the decision in what was widely seen as a critical case promises to re-set the competitive balance in the industry. The vast majority of patent disputes settle before trial, particularly between competitors. In this case, though, the stakes were just too high -- and the two companies ultimately had very different views of the often murky legal issues. Samsung believed its wireless communications patents were strong and valuable, and would serve as a counter-weight to any Apple showing of infringement, people close to the case say. The South Korean company also didn’t believe Apple could or should be allowed to claim patent protection on design elements like the form of a rectangle, or the front flat surface embodied on the iPhone. Apple, for its part, considered its feature and design patents to be very high up on the intellectual property food chain — and demonstrating their validity was critical to a much wider war against Android. The two companies never came close to settling their differences, according to courtroom testimony, trial evidence and interviews with several sources close to the case. And when it came to the trial, Samsung’s lawyers miscalculated in arguing that a verdict for Apple would harm competition in the marketplace. The jurors, led by a foreman who holds his own patent, were more persuaded by Apple’s pleas to protect innovation. For them, it ultimately wasn’t even a close call. A spokesman for Samsung in Seoul had no immediate comment. CORDIAL BUT ADAMANT Apple launched the iPhone in 2007, revolutionising the mobile phone market. But later that year Google, then still an ally of Apple’s, unveiled the Open Handset Alliance, with the aim of distributing its Android smartphone software to all-comers. Google’s open approach quickly caught on among manufacturers looking to compete with Apple. The strategy infuriated Jobs, and by 2009 relations between the two companies had soured and Google’s then-CEO, Eric Schmidt, left Apple’s board. Jobs’ biographer famously quotes him as accusing Google of “grand theft” and vowing to “go to thermonuclear war” over the issue. In January 2010, Taiwanese phone manufacturer HTC Corp launched a touch screen, Android-based smartphone that sported features very similar to the iPhone. Apple sued in March of that year, and the Android smartphone patent wars were on. HTC, though, was a minor player compared with Samsung. After the cordial but failed August 2010 meeting, attorneys from Apple and Samsung talked in a series of meetings both in South Korea, California and elsewhere in the United States. Apple’s attorneys set to work putting a price tag on a royalty demand. By October 2010, they had concluded that Samsung should pay $24 per smartphone, and $32 per tablet. Based on Samsung’s own estimation of its profits, Apple’s royalty payments would effectively wipe out more than half of Samsung’s margins on any phone priced less than $450. And, Apple’s offer wouldn’t have covered the “unique user experience” patents Apple holds dear. “We made that clear,” said Apple licensing chief Boris Teksler. By the end of 2010, the meetings stopped as the two sides were too far apart. VIEWED AS RIP-OFF Apple hoped its relationship with Samsung would make filing an actual lawsuit unnecessary. Yet instead of wilting under Apple’s pressure, Samsung instead pressed its own patent claims, including a critical one relating to how mobile products send and receive information over wireless networks. Samsung eventually would request a 2.4% royalty on those patents, or $14.40 per device. But Samsung had committed to license its wireless patents on fair terms to competitors over the years, in exchange for the technology becoming part of the industry standard. Courts have generally been reluctant to bar companies from using such “standards essential” patents, and thus they are often less valuable than other types of intellectual property. Then, in early 2011, Samsung released the Galaxy Tab 10.1. To Apple, it was a clear rip-off of the iPad, and showed Samsung had no intention of modifying its products. Apple sued Samsung in a San Jose, California federal court in April 2011, saying the Korean company “slavishly” copied its designs. Samsung quickly counter sued, and the dispute bled into at least 10 courts around the world, including Australia and South Korea. Over the next year, outside law firms hired by both companies racked up thousands of billable hours around the world, but no decisive rulings threatened either side. Jobs passed away in October 2011, and Cook carried on the litigation, filed “reluctantly,” he said. Until recently it had mostly been a see-saw battle. Apple largely succeeded in thwarting HTC. But earlier this year a federal judge in Chicago threw out a case pitting Apple against Google’s Motorola Mobility unit, saying neither side could prove damages. But barring a reversal on appeal, Apple now has a clear verdict: how it values its intellectual property is more than just a theory.

IFA 2012: What to expect?

IFA 2012: What to expect?

In just a few days, one of the biggest European-based technology exhibitions will commence and this once again marks the stage for companies to showcase their latest and greatest offerings. The event kicks off on August 31 and will last till September 5, which would attract all the big names in the consumer technology space. Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the exciting gadgets we can expect to be unveiled at IFA 2012.

More powerful smartphones While MWC is usually the place where all the big mobile announcements happen, top players like Sony and Samsung are all set to unveil their next-gen smartphones at the event. Sony should pull the wraps off the Xperia T, the successor to the Xperia S that has been floating around on the Internet as the Xperia Mint. It should have the same 4.3-inch display, dual-core PCU, ICS and an upgraded 13MP camera. There are also rumours that it will announce a new tablet, which is said to be 40% thinner and lighter than before. Samsung will use this platform to launch the Galaxy Note 2, a larger phone/tablet hybrid with Wacom’s pen technology used in the Note 10.1 and a possible quad-core CPU. LG should also be ready to unveil the Optimus Vu2, a successor to the Vu and a rival to the Note 2. While HTC has been quiet about their tablets, it is rumoured that it will launch a 5-inch phone at the event. Windows 8 hybrid PCs Computex just gave us a brief glimpse of what’s coming in terms of Windows 8 tablets and hybrid PCs. The Microsoft Surface will make another appearance here, along with all the other hybrid PCs and tablets from OEMs like Asus, Dell, HP, etc. Acer has the Aspire S7 while Asus will be launching a fleet of its Transformer hybrids. Intel is also expected to show more than 60 Ultrabooks and around 20 Win 8-based tablet PCs, according to various sources. Next-gen LED TVs Televisions are one of the main attractions of IFA and this year, we expect to see some new arrivals. Sony should once again show off its Crystal LED technology-based TVs. With its recent acquisition of the online gaming service, Gaikai, we could expect to see some of its models with that embedded in it. Samsung should also unveil their next-gen ES9000 range of LED TVs with a 75-inch screen size. Toshiba will also show off its glasses-free TV, hoping that it picks up. Philips will be showing off its new range of TVs that’s co-built by TP Vision and it’s also rumoured that LG will showcase its new TV technology that will debut in their 2013 line of televisions. Also, expect more models of 3D televisions and Smart TVs to be showcased at the event.

How to be an Instagram ninja

How to be an Instagram ninja

Instagram is a huge hit with the urban crowd, also referred to as ‘hipsters’, and ever since it was launched on Android, its popularity has grown even more, for most people today have Android phones, and the latest Instagram version works with the budget phones as well. So, how do you quickly gain popularity and followers? Here are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind if you want to be an Instagram ninja

Choose a cool nickname that reflects your personality Start off by choosing a real cool nickname that describes you as a person. Also, don’t forget to put a cool display picture as others will be inclined to follow you when they come across your pictures. Try and complete your profile with a little bit about yourself instead of leaving it blank. This just makes you come across as a more believable person that others can relate to. Instagram opportunity You don’t have to just post images of your pets or your self (like most do) to get likes. Every passing moment could be a potential Instagram opportunity so you need to be ready with your phone. You also need not take pictures of just objects. You can try out landscape shots or something just completely random. Judiciously use tags Tags are something that make your post relevant to people who don’t know you yet, but with the right tags and a good picture, you can easily rack up a bunch of followers with just one post. Some of the commonly used tags include #instagram, #photooftheday, #iphonesia, #food, etc. Photo-editing apps While Instagram has a decent selection of filters and effects, you can do a lot more with your image if you use the right apps. Pixlromatic, Color Splash, Diptic, PicsPlay Pro are just some of the popular apps out there. Many users have a habit of passing the picture through a series of apps for certain effects before actually posting it. Comment and like One of the ways to gain more followers is to comment and like others’ pictures. You don’t have to like only the pictures of those you follow. Use the ‘Following’ tab under ‘News’ to see what sort of pictures your friends are liking or following. This way you may find new people who share your interest and in turn, get a new follower.

Mishap victim loses hand, doc fined for negligence

Mishap victim loses hand, doc fined for negligence

The MHB Colony police station lodged a complaint of negligence against a medical officer of the Bhagwati Municipal Hospital in Borivli (W) for allegedly not following proper medical steps after a 30-year-old man, who was rushed to Bhagwati hospital after a train accident in 2010, lost his hand. The victim, Atma Yadav, a resident of Santosh Bhavan in Nalasopara, was travelling by a local train on the western line from Dadar to Bhayandar in October 2010. “Yadav fell from the train, and his left hand was crushed under the train,” said an officer. The railway police took him to Bhagwati hospital. “The medical officer, Dr Shashikala Nadkarni, should have placed his hand in ice and also gotten him transferred to Sion hospital, as Bhagwati hospital did not have the required facilities, but reportedly, she did not do that” said senior police inspector Suresh Kilje of the MHB Colony police station. According to another officer who is investigating the case, it was only after RTI activist Sameer Zhaveri approached the BMC’s public health department that they conducted an inquiry into the matter. On finding that there was negligence on the part of the doctor, they slapped a fine of Rs5,000 on her. “Zhaveri then submitted the report to the MHB Colony police station in June this year. We have registered a case under section 338 of the IPC for causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others against Nadkarni,” said Dalvi. Meanwhile, Nadkarni has been transferred to Bandra Bhabha Hospital. “All peripheral hospitals are well equipped with ice boxes. The patient’s hand was so severely crushed that it could not have been reattached. However, the BMC health department slapped a fine on Dr Nadkarni,” said Dr Seema Malik, head of peripheral hospitals, BMC.

Doctors to learn the art of breaking bad news medical students to be taught Communication skills formally to prevent doctor-relative skirmishes

Doctors to learn the art of breaking bad news

medical students to be taught Communication skills formally to prevent doctor-relative skirmishes

Dealing with anxious relatives of patients is one of the biggest challenges faced by doctors. They are inundated with questions that are often difficult to answer, have to deal with frayed tempers and at times, convey bad news in the best possible manner. Aspiring doctors will learn how to tackle this in ‘communication skill’ — a special subject that will be introduced as part of the MBBS course from the academic year 2013-14. The Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), a university of all the 18 medical colleges in the state, decided to introduce the subject after deans across medical colleges stressed on the need to teach communication skills as part of the undergraduate curriculum. Students will be taught how to speak to patients, understand the mental state of their relatives and effective ways of breaking bad news. “We are the first university in the country to introduce communication skill for MBBS students in three modules. At present, we are in the process of setting up a new board of studies,” said Dr Arun Jamkar, vice-chancellor, MUHS. “We are taking help from noted psychiatrist Dr Anand Nadkarni in formulating the module. We will take the approval of the academic council and give weight to the subject in terms of marks so that students take it seriously.” Dr Jamkar said a training programme in connection with the module was organised at BJ medical college in Pune last week. “The Medical Council of India (MCI) in its vision document for 2014 has also written about introducing a subject called communication and ethics,” he said. “The MCI had plans to add a special subject in the syllabus where 25 marks each were allotted to ethics and communication. Only taking workshops is not effective; the subject is necessary for those pursuing MBBS. Improper communication between doctors and relatives can create problems. There have been incidents when skirmishes have led to assaults on doctors with relatives vandalising hospital property as well,” said Dr TP Lahane, dean of JJ group of hospitals and academic council member of the MCI. Dr Ajay Chourasiya, head of cardiology department at Nair hospital, agrees. “The decision to introduce the subject is a welcome move. Communication plays an important role in the medical field. It will certainly help doctors,” he said.

Pushing yourself on treadmill will bring you to your knees

Pushing yourself on treadmill will bring you to your knees

Kanchan Seth was baffled each time she found herself clenching her jaws in pain while climbing a flight of stairs. In time, the 23-year-old fitness freak figured out that her 45 minute-long walk on the treadmill was the culprit for the recurring knee pains. Seth isn’t alone. Several orthopaedic surgeons in the city say many fitness freak residents who prefer to run only on treadmills are landing at their doors with knee problems. Experts have debunked the popular belief that spending half-an-hour or 45 minutes on the treadmill is the best alternative to taking a walk in the open. Dr Ameet Pispati, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Jaslok Hospital, says, “We have been seeing an increasing number of youngsters coming with knee pains. Almost all of them were tied together by a common factor — they had spent a lot of time on the treadmill.” Knees are the largest and most complicated joints in the body, and support the entire body weight. “People with weak muscles around the knee are more prone to an injury while practising on the treadmill. A long workout on the machine has resulted in the softening and wearing out of the knee cap” explains Dr Pispati. With many urban professionals having desk jobs, a sedentary lifestyle and weight gain have become more of a given. Pushing oneself to over-exercise is likely to backfire. Dr Dilip Nadkarni, consultant orthopaedic knee surgeon at Lilavati Hospital, says, “Treadmills are not for beginners but for fit people. However, many people who are overweight use treadmills and thereby, injure their knee. Many people buy treadmill for their home thinking it is the easiest way to exercise.” Recalling one such case where not knowing one’s limits did harm, Dr Nadkarni says, “Recently, I had a 45-year-old patient who weighed 90kg. Without taking proper advice, he went for treadmill workouts and tried the inclination options, apart from increasing the speed. He ended up having to resort to a knee surgery.” Doctors suggest that people trying to lose weight should begin with cycling or swimming and should get a good pair of shoes if they are working out on a treadmill.

A mother’s obsession with safety

A mother’s obsession with safety

Perhaps we as parents worry because our children are entering a ‘world’ we may not share, experiences that are beyond our yen Once a parent, always a parent. When a child is born, a mother is made, for life. It is amazing that from the time a woman knows she is expecting, her focus turns inwards. She walks, eats, rests and works out differently. And once she holds her baby in her arms, her world begins to revolve around the little one. Life changes for her and how. As my two children grew and explored new things, I realised that one of the most used words that crossed my lips seemed to be “No, don’t do that!” God knows what my babies then thought about my No (perhaps they nicknamed me ‘No Mommy’), but the No was not to put a restriction on their growing minds and worlds. Of prime concern then was their safety. Let me give you a few examples. Don’t turn over, you will fall off. Don’t touch the dustbin, it’s dirty. Don’t eat that, it’s fallen on the floor. And when my kids were babies, we didn’t have the hi-tech gadgets and facilities that today’s parents have access to — to keep an eye on what the kids are doing when they are not in the room or not at home. So, when we left home, we left behind a series of instructions. As adults, we often trod the path of our lives without fear of reprimand or consideration of consequences. But when it comes to our kids, we tend to develop a little bit of fear. The fears — or concerns — stem from our instinct to keep them safe. Our initial fears are: will they fall down, will they negotiate the stairs safely, will they be happy at school or will they manage on their own when they step out? As they grow, safety concerns become different: will she reach home safe at night, after office or a party, will he heat his food without burning it? Can I travel and leave my ‘baby’ alone for three days? Will he break his leg again playing football? The reason why I am dwelling so much on this safety aspect today is due to recent episodes that have grabbed headlines. All of them could have affected any of us — one of the most horrifying being the murder of the girl who had graduated from ILS (too close to home as my daughter is studying there) in a flat in Mumbai. Lawyers tend to work late — so this could be any girl’s story. When violence gripped South Mumbai recently, we wondered whether Gaurav had been caught en route to class. A few missed calls got no response. But thankfully, before I could hyperventilate, he messaged, “Am in class. Safe.” When the blasts occurred in Pune, I saw the visual runs on TV and picked up the phone. “I am in the hostel, Mom,” she said, “Don’t worry.” ‘Don’t worry’ is not a phrase that exists in any mom’s vocabulary. It could be about simple things too. I remember worrying the first time Gaurav boarded a train alone, whether he would head towards Churchgate or find himself on a Borivali local. Worry has no age bar. My mom, now in her early 80s, in her time would drive back in the dead of night after conducting deliveries without an iota of fear. But if she learns that I have returned late, she shakes her head out of concern. We try to mask our fears — not always successfully — lest we clip our children’s wings as they learn to fly. For as Kahlil Gibran said about parents and kids, “You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.” Perhaps we as parents worry because our children are entering a ‘world’ we may not share, experiences that are beyond our yen. Will the flesh of our flesh be safe as they find their own morrows?

Surgery helps woman avoid amputation, survives rare tumour

Surgery helps woman avoid amputation, survives rare tumour

When 35-year-old Manisha Goyal (name changed) was told she would have to get her hand amputated, she lost all hope. She had a very rare tumour weighing 3kg attached to lungs and hand. But fortunately for her, she was operated on successfully at Fortis Hospital on Friday without having to lose her hand. Three years ago, the inflammation and pain Goyal suffered from on her left shoulder spread to her neck and underarm. After carrying out the required test, doctors at Fortis identified that she had desmoid fibromatosis, a rare tumour, and recommended amputation. According to doctors, a desmoid tumour—which is 0.03% of all tumours—usually develops in the stomach due to an injury. However, there was no such prior reason in Goyal’s case and the tumour had developed in her chest above her lungs. She was successfully operated at Fortis hospital without hand amputation. On consultation, several doctors had told her that amputating her arm was the only solution to rid her of her pain. For, not only was her tumour rare, but also difficult to operate on as it was attached to her lungs, including important blood vessels that supplied blood to her right arm, and extended to her wind pipe as well. However, Dr Anil Heroor, consulting oncology surgeon at Fortis Hospital in Mulun, said they decided to give surgery a chance. “We were very careful while segregating the nerves to ensure that her arm was still functional after the surgery. Luckily, we didn’t have to reconstruct any of the blood vessels. The surgery was successful without any hassle,” Dr Heroor said. Although the team had been able to save her nerves, Goyal still feels some weakness in her fingers, which Dr Heroor assured would be alright post-physiotherapy sessions. For now, Goyal must undergo radiotherapy sessions to reduce the risk of the tumour recurring.

Only allopath’s prescription will help buy TB drugs

Only allopath’s prescription will help buy TB drugs

City chemists will be allowed to dispense tuberculosis medication solely on the prescription of an allopathic doctor. This was decided on the last-day meeting of city tuberculosis experts, Indian Medical Association (IMA) members, the Central TB division team and the BMC held at the KEM hospital on Saturday. The Central TB team is in city to review the TB programme. It was after the discovery of 11 cases of XXDR-TB (extensive drug-resistant TB) in the city that the Centre and the state medical authorities began taking serious initiatives towards tackling the deadly disease, which claims two persons every three minutes across the country. Confirming the joint decision, IMA president-elect Dr Anil Pachnekar, who is also the Maharashtra and Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) state co-ordinator, said, “Chemists should give TB medicines only to patient coming with an allopathy doctor prescription, while doctors of alternative medicine, including homeopathy, ayurveda and Unani, won’t be allowed to prescribe these medicines. They can, however, become DOTS provider.” Further it was decided that only chest physicians would be allowed to treat multi drug resistant-TB (MDR-TB) and extreme drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB). “It was observed that apart from TB patients defaulting on taking medicines, private practitioners too were following poor prescription practice, thus leading to a rise in the number of drug-resistant TB forms,” said Dr Pachnekar, adding that the chest physicians, given their expertise, will be in a better position to handle them. Earlier, a study by PD Hinduja hospital had drawn attention of the TB experts to the poor prescribing practice being a major factor fuelling the MDR-TB epidemic. While appreciating the civic body’s initiative of a door-to door survey and getting the MDR-TB patients to enrol in the RNTCP, the Central TB division team announced a nationwide survey on drug-resistant forms of the disease.

Shunned sisters hopeful, with love from Russia TV channel offers to fund treatment for their rare condition, document their journey to be featured on a show

Shunned sisters hopeful, with love from Russia

TV channel offers to fund treatment for their rare condition, document their journey to be featured on a show

Anita Raut yells at her daughters for disturbing the two bags kept in corner of their two-room home at Kavthe Ekhand village in Maharashtra’s Sangli district. “I don’t know how to stop them. They are so excited about going to Russia,” says the 59-year-old mother. Savita, 24, Manisha, 19, and Savitri, 16, rarely go out of their village. Apart from helping their mother on the fields and with running the house, they avoid stepping out for fear of being ridiculed. “We only go out with our mother as people start making nasty comments every time we step out,” says the eldest daughter, Savita, who says the trip to Russia, this week seems like a dream. Of Anita’s six daughters, three suffer from Hypertrichosis lanuginosa universalis. Due to this condition, they have excessive body hair that covers most of their faces as well. This has led to them being shamed, shunned or “treated like a freak-show.” Mansoor Chetlu of the New Life Foundation, a Bangalore-based NGO, is coordinating between the family and a Russian state-run television channel, Rossiya 1, which has offered to sponsor their travel and treatment at Moscow’s Institute of Plastic Surgery and Cosmetology around February. According to Cheltu, the channel wants to document their entire trip and treatment, which will be presented on a special show. While Cheltu called the channel’s effort humanitarian, Anita seems unsure. “They are spending nearly Rs2 lakh on our travel and stay and giving us Rs1 lakh. Will they not want something in return? But I can’t marry these girls or do anything for them. So if this is going to help them, then why not?” she says. Anita gets exasperated when asked if she has tried approaching anybody in the government for help. “I’ve fallen at the feet of various officials several times. Aaba (as local MLA and home minister RR Patil is called here) keeps promising us land, employment and financial help every time he is here, but nothing has materialised over the last ten years.” A spokesperson for Rossiya 1 confirmed that the family would indeed be flying to Moscow in the next few days. “Getting them passports took time. With their visas almost in place, we are eagerly awaiting their arrival,” she said, but declined to comment on the special show that the Raut sisters will be part of. The three sisters learnt to live with jeers and pursued schooling till class X. But studying further would mean travelling by bus to get to Sangli town. When Savita completed her Xth, the SSC board exam centre was in a village nearby. “I went to the bus stop and got into the bus but a huge crowd always gathered. I somehow got off and ran all the way home. I dreamt of studying till at least class XII and getting a job, but because of my looks, I’ve become a burden on my mother instead of helping her out.” When DNA spoke to specialists in the city, they admitted there is little research to help treat this rare disorder. Endocrinologist Deepak Chaturvedi said, “A hormonal treatment will not be expensive but can’t guarantee a complete cure either. Also, cosmetic treatment costs lakhs depending on the extent of hair and is a recurrent cost.” Chaturvedi added working with the patient and their family and helping them learn to live with this non life-threatening condition would be better for them. “Only prolonged counselling and therapy can help them come to terms with the social effects,” he said.

Published Date:  Aug 26, 2012

Say goodbye to dry, frizzy hair

Say goodbye to dry, frizzy hair

Having dry, frizzy hair is every girl’s nightmare. Besides being unmanageable, it also aggravates hairfall. It also becomes difficult to style dry hair. Well, a few DIY hair treatments can end your hair woes. The following simple home remedies can add shine to your lacklustre locks. Tea Tree products Shampoos fortified with tea tree oil is great for dry scalp. It is good for dry hair as its essential oils don’t strip the hair off its natural oils. Natural scalp oil helps in keeping the hair less frizzy. Olive Oil Massage olive oil onto your scalp and smear it to the rest of your hair. Cover your hair with a shower cap or plastic wrap, and leave it for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with shampoo. This leaves your hair frizz-free and conditioned. Rosemary oil, sesame oil and apricot oil could also be effective alternatives. Egg and Mayonnaise The combination of egg and mayonnaise is an old school dry hair treatment. These ingredients nourish your hair with proteins which makes it silky and shiny. Blend eggs and mayonnaise in a bowl. Apply the mixture on your hair for about 30- 45 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly. Conditioning Treatments There are many over-the-counter conditioners available for frizzy hair. While selecting, avoid gel-based and alcohol-based products as they tend to dry your hair even more. If you want to use a product to condition your hair, use a styling cream instead. Serums Using hair serums is a great option for silky hair. After blow-drying your hair, rub a few drops of hair serum to reduce dryness caused by blow-drying. Serums are very effective to tame frizzy hair. Tip of the week Facial skin is most sensitive, and taking good care of it must top your beauty priorities. Always moisturise your face before applying make-up. This will prevent the make-up from entering the pores of your skin. Additionally, it prevents allergies caused by using different products. Q: I have shoulder-length curly hair which has become rough and is losing its natural colour. How can I make my hair silky and straight? I don’t want to straighten my hair permanently. Please advice. A: You have naturally curly hair. There is no way you can straighten it without using chemicals. However, you can opt for hair ironing which is again temporary. For silky hair, you can use a moisturising conditioner, hair serum and visit a hair spa twice a month. You will soon find a distinct change in your hair texture.

Pictures of Butterfly monarch butterflies species

Butterfly

US court verdict on mutual divorce can be valid in India

US court verdict on mutual divorce can be valid in India

Mohammad Shine K, advocate, high court

Q: My daughter got married to a person of Indian origin in the US while she had gone there for MS studies. After her marriage, she stayed in the US for about seven years and had a son from the marriage. However, her relationship with her husband broke down and both of them obtained divorce by mutual consent in the US in 2009. My daughter is now back in India with her son and settled here. She has recently got a good marriage proposal from a family close to us. My query is whether the divorce order obtained by my daughter in the US is valid in India or does she have to file a fresh case here to obtain a divorce order under Indian Law? — CJ Nathani A: From the facts narrated in your query, it can be said that the mutual divorce order obtained by your daughter from a US court will be valid in India. This point has been clarified by the Bombay high court in a similar case of Shiv Indersen Mirchandani and Another V/s. Natasha Harish Advani and Others wherein the court has answered a similar question in the affirmative by referring to the Supreme Court’s ruling in the case of Y. Narsimhrao V/s. Y Venkat Laxmi, which laid down the following rules for recognising a foreign matrimonial judgment in this country. The Supreme Court in its judgment has laid down that the jurisdiction assumed by the foreign court as well as the grounds on which the relief is granted must be in accordance with the matrimonial law under which the parties are married. The exceptions to this rule are: (i) where the matrimonial action is filed in the forum where the respondent is domiciled or habitually and permanently resides and the relief is granted on a ground available in the matrimonial law under which the parties are married; (ii) where the respondent voluntarily and effectively submits to the jurisdiction of the forum and contests the claim which is based on a ground available under the matrimonial law under which the parties are married; (iii) where the respondent consents to the grant of the relief although the jurisdiction of the forum is not in accordance with the provisions of the matrimonial law of parties. From the facts narrated in your query it is observed that your daughter had opted for a mutual divorce in the US Court, and thus it can be said that her case fell under clause number (iii) of the above mentioned rules. Therefore, the judgment of a US Court shall be regarded as a judgment of the court of competent jurisdiction within the meaning of section 13 of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908 and hence, for all purposes it will be regarded as a conclusive judgment.

Reawakening passion Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji

Reawakening passion

Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji

One word that rules the minds of today’s generation is ‘passion.’ Yes, it is a fact that today’s youth want to passionately get involved in whatever they do. In our lives, we can have a lot of technical a//bility, but if we are not passionate about what we are doing, we feel that there is something missing and that we are just going through the motions. But, if we are passionate about what we are doing, then we feel alive and enthused. The question now is, ‘How do we re-awaken our passion for life?’ Most of us often live someone else’s dream or someone else’s idea of who we should be. Why do we do this? It could be out of a desire to please others, or out of the fear of rejection. When our actions are filled with intention and connected to our purpose, we feel passionate about what we are doing. Today, we often find ourselves running around in many directions chasing many ‘desires.’ This leaves us feeling discontent and exhausted! We always value what we have, and not who we are or can be. Remember! Purpose is usually connected with being and giving. There are three ways with which we can make a connection with our purpose. These are Knowing, Understanding and Acting. We get thousands of thoughts a day in our minds, of which 90% are the same as the ones we had yesterday. Hence, we must nurture our passion for knowledge with creative questions and rich conversations. Due to a lack of understanding, we always end up making our lives miserable. This understanding can be achieved with the practice of meditation. And lastly, one must not forget that we manifest ourselves through our actions .Our actions show what we think and feel. So, when our actions are filled with purpose, the passion is re-ignited in our life. The writer is an international speaker, spiritual educator and experienced meditation teacher. Email him at nikunjji@gmail.com or visit www.brahmakumaris.org

A cashless society has its own advantages. Perhaps, that explains why more and more Indians are inclined to shop, with a plastic card in hand. Nupur Anand and Vishwanath Nair list out more options for your convenience. Happy swiping!

Exit cash, enter plastic

A cashless society has its own advantages. Perhaps, that explains why more and more Indians are inclined to shop, with a plastic card in hand. list out more options for your convenience. Happy swiping!

The need to transform India into a less cash handling society has been talked about time and again. The result is there for all to see: over the years, debit and credit cards have managed to make it to almost everyone’s wallet in urban India. However, the number of non-cash transactions still stands at a dismally low level at just six per year, per person. And though banks have been trying to increase the focus on plastic money via debit and credit cards for many years, this list of pre-paid cards will also go a long way in making electronic payments a more preferred way of doing such transactions. Forex Card: While you are sightseeing abroad, the last thing you would want to focus on is the fad wad of cash in your wallet. The convenience and the safety option that a forex card provides make it every traveller’s delight. These cards work on a pre-paid basis and can be recharged whenever the customer would like to. Customers can avail of a forex card for leisure, business travel, education, medical and other permitted categories under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (Fema) provision. “Earlier, customers were not very comfortable with carrying a debit card or credit card out of the country, because it is difficult to map expenses. Also, the cost of using such cards was high. However, a forex card works on a pre-paid principle. So, the customer knows how much money he has while spending overseas,” said Pradeep Sampath, regional sales manager, ElectraCard Services, which provides software and third party processing services for cards and payments management industry across the world. ElectraCard recently launched a forex card in association with IndusInd Bank. With forex cards, you can lock the exchange rate at the time you get the card loaded. This can help you put the worry about depreciating rupee at bay. These cards are available in all major currencies. And if your trip abroad is going to take you to different destinations, involving different currencies then you can even go for a multi-currency option card. Unlike a travellers’ cheque where you need to go to a money changer to get it encashed, a forex card can be used at ATMs or any stores. If you compare forex cards to your credit and debit cards, then they leave them also far behind. “A forex card is safe to carry as automated teller machine (ATM) withdrawals are PIN protected and your cash is accessible easily. Free text alerts on your phone are provided for every transaction, instantly. This prevents misuse of the card. If lost, it can be hot listed and reissued on client request. No charges are levied if the card is used or swiped at a merchant establishment,” says Vikas Mangla, business head - emerging corporates, IndusInd Bank. The beauty is, with this option, you can lock the exchange rate in different currencies and shield yourself from currency fluctuations before you set out to explore the world. Several banks also offer insurance cover on the lost card, baggage delays and flight cancellation on the card. These charges may also differ, depending on the currency being withdrawn. Apart from this, you will have to pay a one-time issuance fee that can range from anywhere between `100-300. You will also be charged slightly extra if you want to reload the card at any point. To get a forex card, you will have to furnish your PAN card, passport and your tickets. If you have set out on a holiday, then you can load your card with a maximum of $10,000 and if it is a business trip that has taken you overseas, you can carry a maximum of $25,000. Co-branded Airline Card: With a spurt in customers travelling internationally, using various credit and debit cards, banks have started taking note of this segment. HDFC Bank recently launched a co-branded credit card in association with Jet Airways, with lifestyle benefits and rewards in the form of JPMiles. The card, which is offered on the MasterCard platform, comes in World, Platinum and Titanium variants, allowing customers access various benefits across the world. This is currently available to JetPrivelege customers only. Money Card: These cards are mainly meant for parents who can use these pre-loaded cards for their children. Though debit cards may be a better option in most cases, at times when you want to limit spending or not hand over the debit card, you may explore this option, too. In order to keep a tab on what your child is spending, you can even get a mobile alert activated. This will ensure that every time a transaction is carried out, you get a message. Just like an ATM card, these cards can be used to withdraw cash, carry out online transactions and also at stores. Axis Bank, which offers this product, calls it a ‘Minory Card’ and has a few lakh clients using it. “We have a found a lot of traction in the major cities, with parents opting for a Minory Card rather than opening accounts and giving debit cards to their children. Ideally, it works for pocket money, or passing money to the child studying in a different city. The transactions are usually in the lower thousands in every card,” said Jairam Sridharan, head - consumer lending and payments, Axis Bank. Gift Card: A gift card works on the same principle as a gift voucher. Such cards are usually issued by a bank or a non-banking institution or even a retailer and are available at their respective outlets. You can purchase a card from such outlets, worth a pre-denominated amount mentioned on the card, after filling up a basic know your customer form before instantly gifting it to the recipient concerned. Some of these gift cards may also need online authentication before usage. Ideally, a gift card gives a wide variety of options for anyone to purchase something they like. A card user can either use a gift card at the point of sale terminal in a retail store — if it is a participating player — or use it to shop online. Most public sector banks such Bank of Baroda, Corporation Bank, Bank of India today offer a gift card.

Cashless hospitalisation easy to preach, difficult to practise

Cashless hospitalisation easy to preach, difficult to practise

Birender Ahluwalia

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority’s (Irda) recently announced draft norms on access to healthcare for the insured and cashless hospitalisation are the much-needed intervention for the insurance industry. How often do we hear about claims not being paid and cashless hospitalisation being a myth? Sadly, quite often would be my answer. The concept of cashless hospitalisation, though a novel one, has been non-trivial to implement. Finger pointing is unfortunately common. And stuck in between these arguments is the hapless policy holder, the patient. An eye-opener Walking through the policy holder’s plight might be an eye-opener for many. All health insurers, big or small, claim to provide the benefit of cashless hospitalisation. While selecting a policy, this is an important consideration for the buyer. It is quite difficult for the commoner to assess which of the options at hand would actually hold true when the moment of truth comes – are these really ‘cashless’ policies? Where are these ‘cashless’? How much amount is considered ‘cashless’? And then there is the persuasive sales representative, who over-promises. The buyer, unfortunately, opts for one of the options in the hope of promises being kept. The reality unfolds at the time of hospitalisation, where the patient walks into a hospital and is told that either the cashless facility is not applicable to that particular hospital, or the procedure not covered, or else, the limits approved are low. Oftentimes, the hapless policy holder is caught in the fight between the hospital and the insurance provider over past dues and prices of procedures. More often than not, the policy holder foots the bill in the hope that a re-imbursement would eventually happen. Well, not too bad, one may think, given that it is likely that the reimbursement would eventually happen. Far from the reality! Footing the bill when denied the cashless option is non-trivial. The costs of healthcare have seen a dramatic rise. Early and better diagnosis, better drugs and therapy and sophisticated equipment translate into better treatment, but highest costs too. For perspective, bills for major diseases shot up by 27% between 2007 and 2010. If you are still wondering, here is another fact: heart disease treatment could set the policy holder back by `2-5 lakh today. The right price The tussle on what the “right” price of a procedure is has been on for a while. Top super specialty hospitals employ the best healthcare talent, state-of-the-art equipment and processes which have an impact on the clinical outcome. It is justified that their costs for the same procedure would be different than another hospital which is not operating at the cutting edge. This leads to a disparity and non-standardisation in bills for the same procedure and forms the crux of the dispute between the payer and provider. The four public insurers, namely, National Insurance, New India Assurance, Oriental Insurance and United India Insurance recently de-listed 18 hospital chains claiming that they were ‘over-billing’ the insured. This marks a peak in the aforesaid “tussle”. Insurance companies wish to have predictability in claim expenses and therefore would like to negotiate and fix the cost of treatment for different procedures and conditions. This is a well-established practice in the West, where every procedure is coded and reimbursement amounts are stated clearly and transparently. The tussle on where an insured policy holder could get access to healthcare in general and cashless healthcare in particular, has prompted Irda to issue detailed norms. They key points which are proposed are as follows: 1. Pan-India access: All health insurance policies should allow access to healthcare, both in network hospitals and non-network hospitals with the exception of unauthorised hospitals 2. Transparency in the policy forms: Insurers would have to clearly state the terms of conditions of accessing treatment pan-India and spell out the terms which are different 3. Cashless hospitalisation: All insurers would have to transparently share the list of network hospitals and update the end-user in case there is any addition or deletion in the list. All hospitals listed in the “preferred network” or under “network providers” would collect payments directly from the insurers (subject to the approved limits), making these hospitals locations for a cashless treatment for the policy holder This transparency is bound to benefit the end-user who today is confused with the nuances of terms and is caught in the tussle between the payer and the provider. Implications for the consumer It is obvious that a ‘cashless’ feature is of major help when the policy holder is undergoing a procedure. There is no pressure to organise for the hefty treatment bill and running around for re-imbursement is avoided. So, what should a policy buyer look out for when making the decision to buy a health insurance policy or not? 1. What is the number of hospitals in the preferred or provider network of the insurers? 2. Are the top-end specialty and super-specialty hospitals included? 3. Are some convenient options in the town/city of his/her residence included in the list? Essentially, the larger the network hospital presence, the more the depth, the better the quality of those in the network, the better for the buyer! We at Max Bupa recognise this and strive constantly to add to the 1,200 provider network, bringing the top hospitals within the network. I am sure other reputable insurers are doing the same. This in the end is good for us insurers, the end user who has more ‘cashless’ options to choose from and also for the hospitals as they get more patients as consumers. The writer is director, sales and distribution, Max Bupa Health Insurance

Maha study on to test scalpel cure for diabetes 88 patients undergo trial to find if surgery works on Indians as it does on their western counterparts

Maha study on to test scalpel cure for diabetes

88 patients undergo trial to find if surgery works on Indians as it does on their western counterparts

In a first of its kind comparative study in Asia, a surgeon’s scalpel is all set to challenge a physician’s medication in a bid to tackle diabetes. A random controlled study of patients, who are obese with a basal metabolic index (BMI) between 25 and 40, and are suffering from uncontrolled diabetes, is underway in Maharashtra and Gujarat. Conducted by Indian and American doctors, 44 of the 88 enrolled patients are slated to be put on complete medication to cure diabetes, whereas the other half are to undergo a gastric bypass procedure to monitor the efficacy of medicine versus surgery. Nineteen of the enrolled participants are from Mumbai and the others hail from Aurangabad, Silvassa and Pune. Even as three such studies have been carried out in the US, UK and Australia, doctors say that a separate analysis of the Indian population is necessary. This, experts say, is because close to 6 per cent of the 1.2 billion Indians who suffer from Type 2 diabetes are obese and that Indians may have a special variant of diabetes which makes them up to four times more vulnerable to acquiring it than their western counterparts with the same levels of BMI. Dr Shashank Shah, a consultant bariatric surgeon, said that this study was to independently analyse comparative results of Indian patients. “We are halfway through the study, with 23 patients having undergone the surgery. A recent study in New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) showed that surgery is three times more effective than medicines in Type 2 diabetes,” Shah said. Convincing patients to enrol for the random trials was not easy. “Hardly one of the hundred patients approached agreed to be a part of it,” said Dr David Cummings, principal investigator of the study from University of Washington. “Patients want to opt for surgery or medication but the study does not give them that option. We are now in the process of blindly selecting groups for the latter half of the trials to get the most objective results.” The sample size of patients is between 30 to 65 years with a BMI between 25 and 40. Currently, bariatric surgery is being carried out on people with a BMI above 35, but majority of Type 2 diabetic Indian patients have a BMI of 25 onwards. The study, slated to be published after two years, will establish new guidelines for appropriate surgical or medical intervention to benefit a majority of diabetics in the country, Dr Cummings said.

INDIA INTERNATIONAL JEWELLERY WEEK 2012-2

INDIA INTERNATIONAL JEWELLERY WEEK 2012

INDIA INTERNATIONAL JEWELLERY WEEK 2012 - Video

Once upon a time... Debraj Sengupta, country head, shares with us the journey of a brand, from selling knives to timeless timepieces

Once upon a time...

Debraj Sengupta, country head, shares with us the journey of a brand, from selling knives to timeless timepieces

Time and history come together to tell a tale with exciting characters and interesting plots. And that is what Victorinox, as a brand, ties together perfectly. "Victorinox has a 127-year-old history and we have used that exquisitely to make time-telling pieces — watches," says Debraj Sengupta, country head, Victorinox Swiss Army Watches. Although the company has only been in India for three years, Victorinox is a familiar name in every household, says Sengupta. "Everybody has owned or lost one Victorinox Swiss Army Knife!" he laughs, talking about the mother brand that owns the watch division. The shift in the company's offering from Swiss knives to an umbrella of other products occurred after the 9/11 attacks, claims Sengupta. "After the twin towers were attacked, pocket knives were banned at airports because of which we lost about 50% of our revenue. That is when we decided to diversify into other products like knives, watches, luggage, perfume and apparel,” he says. In India, Victorinox offers three products — knives, luggage and watches. While many companies might try and create a separate identity when they launch a new product, Victorinox Watches decided to integrate the history of Swiss knives into their products. "Victorinox Swiss Army timepieces are inspired by one of the most well-known products in history — the 'Original Swiss Army Knife'. Both the products are a true icon and identity of the Swiss love for detail, precision and simplicity," says Sengupta proudly. Making watches is considered an art in itself. Although it may seem simple with three hands telling you the time as they go around a dial, there is a lot of work taking place behind the ticking. "A watch is like wine in many ways. You need to twirl it, sniff it, and then slowly taste it. Only then will you cherish it," says Sengupta. "A watch is not like an integrated electronic gadget that you get these days that has many features and add-on applications to suit your needs. The beauty of our watches is that they can measure time accurately even without an electronic circuit." Sengupta emphasises that every Victorinox watch is unique and justifies a specific purpose. "We try to make watches that suit the needs of every individual, right from a diver, a trekker to a businessman. Whoever it is, we make a watch that fits their requirements and is perfect for them!" A watch can quantify many ways to define a person, which is why the material used in the making of a watch is equally important. "We have watches studded with precious stones for women who love jewellery," says Sengupta. "They are the perfect combination of metal and stone, giving it a very classy look." Even though the main purpose of a watch is to tell time, it is an added advantage when it can perform several other tasks. "We have a path-finder watch which allows you to set up a path. If you deviate, a light at the top starts blinking red and if you are on the correct path, it blinks green," explains Sengupta. If you thought that history and exquisiteness come at a steep price, you are surely mistaken. "Our key idea was to offer customers a watch that was not only made with the best quality materials and gave the time accurately but also a watch that was cost-effective," he says. "In a market like India, being cost-effective is very important." Asked what the inspiration behind new designs is, Sengupta answers, "Everything from the rugged mountains to underwater scenary inspires our watches. For example, for a busy man like me, there is a watch that beeps every minute. That way I know the time without even looking at the watch. I can actually hear time!" he exclaims. As people love to hear stories, Victorinox decided to ask their customers to narrate their Swiss watch experiences. "We always got letters from people telling us interesting stories about their Swiss knife. Many of my friends also had anecdotes about misplacing their Swiss knife at the airport! So, we decided to compile these stories and share them with the world," says Sengupta. One can read interesting anecdotes on their website about every product like, for example, how a diver found a Victorinox watch, ticking away deep under the Adriatic sea. "There are so many such stories that we have received. And to be in the know that each of our pieces has a story of its own is heartening," he smiles. As the country head of a brand that is rich in culture and history, Sengupta finds a new experience everyday in his job. "Victorinox has taught me how to blend history and time to make something beautiful. Also, the journey and quality of the mother brand has been my source of inspiration," he says. Naturally, keeping up with changing times is equally important, says Sengupta. "We have to stay aware of the latest trends because that is what helps us to create designs for every purpose." Time goes by, they say. And if you wish to cherish every moment with distinct style, Victorinox will offer you just that!

Bridal Jewellery Trend spotting

Bridal Jewellery

Trend spotting

For every bride, her wedding trousseau is considered incomplete without that perfect jewellery set that makes her look priceless on her big day. So what's shimmering this season? Bling It On explores: The best friend: This year diamonds have made a comeback as women are now experimenting with contemporary and unique designs. The Indian bride is now open to using diamonds and platinum in her wedding trousseau as opposed to gold. And with the diamond market offering more options like coloured stones, they have become better than a best friend for today's girls! Old is 'gold': Although contemporary designs are in vogue, a touch of tradition always adds a charm. What can be more touching than being able to wear a timeless piece from your grandma's collection? Royal pearls: Pearls always manage to look regal, and if you want to keep it simple, nothing works like a beautiful pendant held together with a string of pearls. "Pearl jewellery mostly appeals to women who love traditional jewellery as well as to those who have an 'uber' lifestyle. With changing trends, pearls are now also beautifully combined with diamonds to make really exquisite jewellery," says Prasanna Joshi, GM, LaguBandhu. Sparkle — that doesn’t cost a bomb!: Crystals are vibrant gemstones which can be set easily with all kinds of metals. They have a brilliant cut and shine that can easily compete with diamonds. And if you want to stick to a modest budget without compromising on the sparkle, Swarvoski is the way to go!

A new research has proved that older people are more positive than their younger peers

The older the merrier?

A new research has proved that older people are more positive than their younger peers

If you always associated old age with grouchy behaviour, this new study can prove you wrong. Older adults display more positive emotions and are quicker to regulate out of negative emotional states than their younger peers, suggests a recent research. And even though the decline in physical health (that comes with age) and good moods are not usually synonymous, researcher Derek Isaacowitz of Northeastern University explores positive looking as one possible explanation for this phenomenon. So what explains older adults’ positive mood regulation? Older adults may be better at regulating emotion because they tend to direct their eyes away from negative material or toward positive material, he explains. The study is based on evidence indicating that, compared to younger adults, older adults prefer positive looking patterns and they show the most positive looking when they are in bad moods, even though this is when younger adults show the most negative looking. Psychiatrist Hemant Mittal gives his insight. “There are more reasons than one for this. Firstly, older people don’t like to look towards violence, be it in movies or real. So whenever there is anything negative around, older people are likely to look away while the younger ones take to aggression and violence. So while the young guns focus on violence, older minds are focused towards positivity,” he explains. Moreover, older people are likely to have a better sense of fulfillment as they’ve performed all their duties in life and are allowed to do what they want. “Also, they are inclined towards spirituality, which keeps them calm, and have a better social acceptability factor than younger people who struggle for the same,” adds Hemant, emphasising that though the study applies for people in the UK and the US, it isn’t exactly the same case in India. The Indian family structure is not the same as that in UK or US, explains Hemant. “Here, the older people are more likely to be subjected to trauma because they are treated like a burden on the family resource. The retired people are treated like they’re of no use… which only leads them into depression.”