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Plan your next special event at DakshinaChitra
Mar 17th
We present you with a unique venue for a variety of events, both social and corporate.
DakshinaChitra has hosted more than 500 corporate events such as Business Dinners/Lunches, Employees Day Out, AGM’s, Regional Meets Annual Day Celebrations, Alumni Meets etc.
We can take care of your special moments too – allow us to host.
Visits, Lunches and Theme Dinners, Employees Day Out, Conferences / Seminars, Guest House Retreats, Birthdays, Wedding & Special Events, Residential Programmes, Yoga & Meditation Sessions, Lectures & Craft, Demonstrations. Concerts & Performances.
Support DC’s heritage preservation efforts by making DC your choice for hosting your special event.
DakshinaChitra has also proven to be a preferred spot for residential programmes that are aimed at rejuvenation such as meditation and yoga.
Please call 98410 20149 / 98414 36149 for further assistance.
Source : http://dakshinachitra.net/index.htm
Same profession and a happy marriage?
Feb 20th
We have travelled almost three decades since then. Interestingly, the subject that the film dealt with in 1973 somewhere continues to linger as a reality among couples of 2012 too. Apart from being a sacred institution, marriage can also turn into a battlefield for couples to play out and resolve their personal differences and conflicts. However, when there is a commonality in the chosen profession of the partners, this battleground can take on a different meaning.
While some of us may continue to abide by the old adage “opposites attract”, there are couples whose marriages exemplify why similarities too can strike a chord and not be always repelling. Erratic shift timings, work pressure, stress-levels and debatable salary figures are some of the salient features of every professional life. Job market in itself is a maze where people race against each other to reach a desired destination. To find your partner as one of the participants in the same race turns the maze into a game of snake-ladder. American writer and journalist, Lionel Shriver in her book Double Fault (2006) discusses the marriage of two professional tennis players that ends on a bitter note after an injury affecting the rankings of the woman player while the husband continues to scale high in his career graph. Insurmountable jealousy and competitiveness cost the couple one thing: their ‘happy’ marriage.
For TV actor Debina Bonnerjee, who became a known face after her stint as ‘Sita’ in the mythological serial ‘Ramayan,’ her marriage to TV actor Gurmeet Chaudhary did not invite any scope for career rivalry or resentment. “The truth is we discovered a critic and a well-wisher in each other. It has happened that we have expressed our creative differences and analysed each other’s scene shots but we have done that as an exercise for our own growth and development.” Respect for each other’s work and mutual understanding between partners can save the horrors of fights over who-is-better leading to an unnecessary friction in the relationship. But what if the concern is not rivalry or competition but one of maintaining discretion and secrecy? Dr. Gitanjali Kumar, psychologist and family therapist explains, “When spouses share the same profession there is a risk factor. I remember a case where a couple, both of them in the electronic media had difficulty observing secrecy about their respective channels they were working for. Lines between personal and professional space blur bringing trouble for the couple,” she adds.
Marriage is not a game of players where one wins and the other sulks on the losing side. It is a relationship of equals, a relationship that grows and nurtures only when there is trust, faith and affection for each other. Vikrant Sud, a pediatrician by profession and soon to tie the knot with his long-time physician girlfriend explains why an alliance of medicine practitioners works best. “Explanation or clarification on things like extended shifts, a call at 1 in the night would not be needed when I know my partner is on the same career ship as I am and would understand me regardless. Conversation on medical cases would not have been possible had I decided to marry a girl of other profession,” he adds.
Every marriage survives the inevitable highs and lows of life but the important thing is to face the challenges together as a team. Dr. Kamal Khurana, relationship expert and marriage counsellor sums it well, “A marriage can never fail till the spirit of togetherness prevents the trigger to go off.”
Same profession or different, a marriage should end with the favourite cliche “…happily ever after!”
6 Things women must learn from men
Jan 11th
Undoubtedly, man and women make two sides of the same coin as they are perfect complements to each other. Yet both sexes are uniquely different. However, there must be a thing or two that one can learn from the other.
So, taking the battle of sexes forward, we allowed men to share things the ladies could learn from them to make life a little more worth living…And what more? Brought in some ladies too, for sharing their piece of mind…
1. Man teaches: Logic Lessons
“Don’t hate me for pointing this out, but life will be far easier if women understand that everything in life has logic behind it. Men follow their innate logic as they take decisions, while women are absolutely unaware about the mere existence of logic. And this makes it really hard for men to deal with women,” says TV actor Mihir Mishra.
Gal talk: ”Women possess an innate sense of judgment, which they learn while living life. We do get influenced many a time, but at the same time we have a very ‘pace-y logic’ that we learn on the way. This usually makes us ‘street-smart,’ but unfortunately men don’t relate to this and end up calling us ‘logic-illiterate,” says tele star Manini De.
2. Man teaches: Emotions can take a backseat at times
Usually blamed for lacking emotions, TV actor Varun Badola says, “Women must learn that every situation doesn’t call for a huge emotional turmoil. Holding back one’s sentiments when they are not required won’t make the female sex hard-hearted and indifferent, but of course a little rational and practical.”
Gal talk: Waving the emotional flag higher, TV actress Rajeshwari Sachdev maintains, “When women use emotions, they put their brains behind each one of their emotions to ensure that they don’t hurt people while putting their thoughts forward. I think emotions add meaning to one’s life.”
3. Man teaches: Everything doesn’t call for intensity
Women call it showing that they care, while men tag it as being overtly intense. “Missing breakfast is not such a big deal as women make it to be by reminding us a hundred times that we missed it. Women usually get intense about the smallest of things and situations. If they learn to chill out from men, they’ll be able to enjoy life like never before,” says tele star Rohit Roy.
Gal talk: Nach Baliye star Tina Kuwajerwala says, “One of the partners has to be over -the-top to make the other one feel wanted in the relationship. It’s the intensity in a woman that helps her enrich every relationship in her life with depth and compassion. Else, a woman’s home would have been as cold as the road, where no one cares for the other.”
4. Man teaches: Gossip, only when needed
Despite being official that even men gossip, actor Rahul Dev wants women to learn the art of keeping a tab on gossip sessions from men. “I’m not asking women to stop gossiping. I don’t mean that men don’t gossip, but what I want women to learn from men is doing a controlled crime. Not every situation calls for a gossip and bitching session,” says Dev.
Gal talk: In a mood for some male bashing, says Pratibha Gupta, a Delhi-based-marketing professional, “To gossip or not to gossip is an absolute individual choice. Still, since time immemorial women have been blamed for being gossip mongers. But off late the tables have turned and one can’t miss those all-male, coffee counter hush-hush sessions. We are still better than men because we don’t feel ashamed of an act that we love to indulge in!”
5. Man teaches: Sense of humour
We thought only women craved for men who possess a great sense of humour! But Mahesh Srikanta, a Mumbai-based-sports producer says, “Women are in desperate need to learn the art of laughing at life from men. Compared to men, women lack a good sense of humour and as a result they fail to enjoy life.”
Gal talk: ”Have you ever heard a man laughing his guts out at his own self, but women do that with ease. Gatecrash an all women pajama party and you’ll know. However if they blame us for being ‘bad at humour’ because we can’t take jokes aimed at our spouses and kids, then I guess, men need to learn a lesson or two from women,” points out Madhurima Goswami, a Delhi-based-teacher.
6. Man teaches: To taste reality
Blaming women for living in their own dream world most of the times. Kunal Soni, a techie from Delhi, wants women to be more practical about life. “I feel that women tend to have a rather fantasised thinking about almost everything that happens in life, be it a relationship or a marriage. They should learn from men to think practically about life and accept that things can’t be eternally hunky dory as per their dreams.”
Joins in Krishanu Bhattacharjee, a Mumbai-based, corporate communication manager, “I seriously want women to accept situations realistically. We are tired of manipulating the truth only to make it sound sweeter for their ears. For instance, a question like ‘Am I looking fat in this dress?’ is a Herculean task for a man to answer as he wants to retain peace in a relationship. If women can learn to accept the truth the way men can, life will become more chilled out.”
Gal talk: ”I’ll blame it on the genes that women possess. They love to get flattered, is it too hard for men to understand that? There’s a way to put things across. The art of deception is a trait men ought to learn from women,” argues Manini.
After Guj, TN makes chess compulsory in schools
Jan 4th
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu has adopted Gujarat’s strategy of introducing chess in all schools in an apparent bid to improve cognitive skills of students. The unique initiative, to be launched next academic year, is aimed at exposing students, especially those from “educationally backward” districts, to the rudiments of the game.
A senior education department official said the state was following up on the announcement made by chief minister J Jayalalithaa in August 2011 to start the practice in government and aided schools. The inspiration was the “chess in schools” programme run by the World Chess Federation, whose president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov had met Jayalalithaa earlier in the year.
“It (the chess programme) will give children in the seven to 17 age group an opportunity to test their skills. Training will be given to physical education teachers and one or two others in each school so they can train the children,” said additional chief secretary T S Sridhar.
10 Things men should never ask women
Dec 26th
First of all , a man should never ask a woman if he can kiss her, as she will only say, a man should never “ask” for a kiss.
Asking her for a kiss will only make a man look like a boy, which is what a woman is not interested in, and even if she says “yes”, it could mean she is just being polite, while on the inside her attraction meter will read a firm, “No”.
Secondly , a man should never ask a woman if he can take her out on a date sometime, as she would like to be with a man who is a leader and in control, not someone who asks her permission to hit on her.
A man should confidently ask a woman out, by simply saying, “We should hang out… what’s your number?” or tell her about a specific place he wants to take her to.
Thirdly , a man should never brag about the car he has or the kind of house he lives in, as it would seem like he is trying hard to impress her.
Women would be far more impressed by a man’s material possessions if he does not mention them in conversation.
The fourth thing a man should never ask a woman is what she wants to do for the night, as she likes a “man with a plan”.
The man needs to have a game plan before he calls her, so as to ensure that she will not be burdened with having to think about what to do.
Fifthly, a man should never ask a woman if she likes him, as this is one phrase that turns off a woman completely.
He should just assume that she likes him, and never ask the question, as it would look like he has no confidence.
The sixth tip is that a man should never ask a woman why she never answered his message, as one, it would show that he cared she did not reply back, and two, it would give her a guilt trip, which is seen as insecurity by women.
The seventh tip is that a man should never ask a woman how men she has slept with, as this shows that he is suffering from insecurity.
The eighth tip is that a man should never hint at a future date with a woman he has just met, as she not only wants but needs a guy who is somewhat of a “challenge”, and will lose interest if she senses she has won.
The ninth tip is that a man should never end a phone conversation with a woman with a “next step”, as firstly it would kill any spontaneity by being predictable, and secondly he would kill any chances of her calling him.
The tenth tip is that a man should never talk bad about a woman’s guy friends especially if he hasn’t met them and doesn’t know her very well, as this is the fastest way for her to mark him as “insecure”.
Court summons executives of 21 social networking sites for webcasting objectionable content
Dec 24th
New Delhi: A Delhi court has issued summons to the representatives of 21 social networking sites including Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Yahoo and YouTube to face trial for allegedly webcasting objectionable content. They will appear in the court today.
Metropolitan Magistrate Sudesh Kumar took cognisance of a private criminal complaint and has directed the Government to take “immediate appropriate steps” and file a report in the court by January 13.
The court said, “it appears from a bare perusal of the documents that prima facie the accused in connivance with each other and other unknown persons are selling, publicly exhibiting and have put into circulation obscene, lascivious content which also appears to the prurient interests and tends to deprave and corrupt the persons who are likely to read, see or hear the same.”
“It is also evident that such contents are continuously openly and freely available to everyone who is using the said network irrespective of their age and even the persons under the age of 18 years have full and uncensored access to such obscene contents,” the court said.
The web companies may face trial for allegedly committing the offence punishable under section 292 (sale of obscene books etc), 293 (sale of obscene objects to young person etc) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC.
The court’s order comes three days after another Delhi court hearing a petition had asked various social networking companies including Facebook, Google and YouTube to remove objectionable content promoting hatred or communal disharmony from their respective websites.
Over the last few months, Information Technology minister Kapil Sibal had asked social networking giants like Google and Facebook to ensure offensive material is deleted. Mr Sibal denied that this amounts to censorship; he also said that the government will have to intervene because the companies have not cooperated.
“I suggested that these platforms should evolve a mechanism on their own to ensure that such contents are removed as soon as they get to know of it… I have told them that this cannot go on,” Mr Sibal had said.
New solar tower in Arizona will be world’s second-tallest structure
Aug 5th
The Arizona desert will get a solar tower that’s just barely shorter than the world’s tallest building. And that may not even be the coolest part.
It’s difficult to imagine building something a half-mile high, almost 1,000 feet higher than the tallest building in the United States. A structure that not only brings clean energy to more than 150,000 homes, but connects the earth and the sky in a way not even the highest flying object can, like a flag on the moon the pinnacle reminding us that a human like us put that there.
Rising more than 2,600 above a vast Arizona desert plateau, the solar tower built by Australia-based EnviroMission in 2012 will become the second-highest structure in the world. But while the view is nice, its potential for becoming an incredible clean energy source looks even nicer.
It will power 150,000 homes, emit zero pollution, and require virtually zero maintenance. It’s expected to last more than 80 years. And it only costs $750 million–expected to be paid off in only 11 years.
I think this is a desert roadside attraction worth stopping for.
The truth about Indian men
Jun 3rd
Delhi dudes — mostly loud and aggressive or also large hearted? Bengali men — all fascinatingly creative, intellectual … and a bit of mama’s boys too? Are Goan men totally laid back or have they cracked it early in life? Some are fun, intelligent, conservative, protective, laid back, interested in cricket more than anything else, witty and some are chauvinistic, aggressive, mama’s boy, players and a lot more. And keeping in mind all the positive and negative aspects, there’s one thing that’s undeniable — all Indian men are culturally rooted. But what makes them tick? Model Indrani Dasgupta and actress Sugandha Garg are going to travel their way through 10 different cities in the country to find out what makes Indian men tick on a new show on Fox History & Traveller — What’s With Indian Men?.
“This show is not a regular travel and luxury show. It is about discovering places probably one had heard of but never visited, along with talking to men from those places. It is about how the cities have shaped their men,” explains Indrani, who fell in love with the concept of the show the moment she heard about it. The two women kick-start their journey exploring Indian men from Delhi and moving on to places like Jaipur, Goa and Kochi. Ask them about their experiences during the travel, and Indrani says, “Every city was a unique experience. But, the men of Kochi completely charmed me. It was such a tourist-friendly place with men who are simple, intellectual and rooted to their culture.” To which Sugandha adds, “Indian men, surprisingly, have a great sense of humour! Every man is so influenced by his respective state — making their brand of humour very different. Thanks to all of them, we enjoyed a lot and laughed our way through the show.”
Explaining the concept of the show, Sugandha reveals, “With every city, there is a cliché attached to their men. The concept of this show is to question the men about the cliches attached to them. For example, the Delhi dudes are considered to be more aggressive, while the Goan guys are said to have a chilled out attitude.” She further explains, “And, when we did question them about the cliches, they were very honest and had a very unique perspective.”
Ask them what they think was common to all Indian men, and Indrani promptly replies, “Every Indian man still wants to be the provider of the family — he wants to take care of everything, no matter what.”
On a concluding note, Sugandha adds, “Being a part of this show was like doing a doctorate on Indian men. We left all our inhibitions aside while interviewing the guys and were amazed with their candid confessions. Indian men are so diverse that such a show can only be made in our country and no where else. The show is not scripted and has captured true reactions of everyone — the Indian men and the two of us”
A very light-hearted and witty show, What’s With Indian Men? goes on air from June 4, Saturday, at 10 pm on Fox History & Traveller.
source:http://ibnlive.in.com/news/the-truth-about-indian-men/156355-60-121.html
