The Death of Architecture, Circa 2000 A Travelling Exhibition

The very nature of architecture is that at all times, it is reactive and responsive. If it ceases to assume positions of transformation, it ceases to be. Nation building leading to making of institutions, or socialism leading to experiments of housing for the masses, or the search for an Indian identity, as a counter to the globalization that started with the 80s, have been eschewed and explored directions of the past. The present poses challenges. Of a lack of a collective agreement of areas of examination, and on the other of a forced idea of identity that is being firmly if superficially applied.

If the premise that architecture is the wind sock of societies with inherent currents and turbulence is true, there is much to examine and investigate about our times today. And further open directions that can allow conversations that allow reconstructive and healing mechanisms to take root. Thirteen of India's best known and thinking firms, across varying geographies, scales, and work philosophies have assembled since a year to debate these conversations.

Using means that are artistic, and easy to relate even for the lay public, but as much for the students and practitioners of the discipline, they will each contribute to this exhibition that will examine themes of the city, or the act of building, or the idea of history, or professional process.

Participants:

The contributing architects are all leading practitioners and thought leaders:

AniketBhagwat - PrabhakarBhagwat Associates -www.landscapeindia.net

BijoyRamachnadran - Hundered Hands -www.hundredhands.com

GirishDoshi - Navkar Architects -www.prachishambhu.wordpress.com

PramodBalakrishnan - Edifice -www.edificepramod.co.in

Rajeev Kathpalia - Director VastuShipa Foundation;www.vastushilpa.org.

RiyazTaiyyabji - Anthill - www.anthilldesign.com

RupaliGupte -www.crit.in

ShabbirUnwalla

Vijay and Meghal Arya -www.aryaarchitects.in

VikasDilawari - VikasDilawari Architects -www.vikasdilawari.in

Samira Rathod - SRDA -www.srda.co.in

SuparnaBhalla - Abaxial Architects -www.abaxial.org

ZameerBasrai - The Busride–www.jointhebusride.com

Size of Exhibit:

Each firm will have 20 running feet of wall space to exhibit panels. Each panel will be 4 feet in height and 2 feet in width. The total running length of the exhibition will be 240 running feet (20 feet x 12 participants) It is likely that the exhibition will have projections/models etc; but this is under discussion.

Suggested Duration of Exhibition (In Each City):

It is proposed that in each city the exhibition will open on a Friday and will close on the following Sunday. Hence in each city the exhibition will be open for public viewing for a period of 10 days.

Travelling Itinerary:

This exhibition will travel ​from Feb18 to Jan19. It will visit the following cities on these dates (tentative): Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur, Baroda, Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Jaipur, Delhi, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pondicherry/Auroville, Bangalore, Cochin, Trivandrum, Goa. This exhibition is entirely a NOT FOR PROFIT activity.

Hansgrohe India partners with Death of Architecture; Circa 2000

Gaurav Malhotra, Managing Director, Hansgrohe India is delighted to announce Hansgrohe India partnership with Death of Architecture (DOA) as the principal sponsor. The National Traveling Exhibition on design and architecture – DOA is a non for profit initiative assembled by thirteen of India’s best known and thinking firms, across varying geographies, scales and work philosophies. DOA supports architect’s vision for the future of architecture and design.

The partnership with DOA aligns with what is central to the Hansgrohe philosophy – creativity and innovation. It is only natural that Hansgrohe works with creative minds globally. The collaborative relationships have led to the creation of both modern and timeless products and bathroom collections.  Hansgrohe regularly invites renowned architects and designers from all over to develop and present their bathroom visions in joint events.

Many of the most international design awards for product and design quality find their way to Hansgrohe. In the continuously updated company ranking of the independent International Forum (IF) Design, Hansgrohe currently holds 6th place and is the highest ranking company in

the sanitation industry. Design at Hansgrohe is therefore neither an end in itself nor a mere matter of sporting competition.

The Traveling Exhibition

The exhibition will open on the 23rd February, 2018 at the Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai and will be on display till the 4th March, 2018.

This exhibition will then travel across India this year in an effort to reflect and discuss with audiences solutions for, better ways to build and the direction of the architecture profession. Using means that are artistic, and easy to relate even for the lay public, but as much for the students and practitioners of the discipline, they will each contribute to this exhibition that will examine themes of the city, or the act of building, or the idea of history, or professional process.  

Thomas Cook India inks a long term strategic agreement with Wildlife Reserves Singapore

~Becomes the First - Indian Travel Company to sign an MOU with WRS~

Mumbai February 26, 2018: Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., India’s leading integrated travel and travel related financial services company, has entered into a 3 year strategic agreement with Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) — an organization dedicated to the management of world-leading zoological institutions - Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, River Safari and Singapore Zoo.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Mr. Mahesh Iyer, Chief Executive Officer, Thomas Cook (India) Limited and Mr. Mike Barclay – Group Chief Executive Officer, Mandai Park Holdings (the parent company of WRS) at the Thomas Cook India Group headquarters in Mumbai.

Thomas Cook India’s internal data has revealed a strong and significant growth of Indians travelling to Singapore with a 20% YoY growth. Additionally, WRS reveals that India is one of the top five countries in terms of visitors across its four parks. Hence, in a focussed initiative to leverage this high potential growth segment, Thomas Cook India and WRS have entered into a strategic agreement and via  this three year plan, both companies will focus on a multipronged engagement that includes product development, joint consumer promotions and MarCom to showcase Wildlife Reserves Singapore.

Speaking on the announcement, Mr. Mahesh Iyer, Chief Executive Officer, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, “We are bullish on the larger trend towards experiential holidays. Singapore as a destination has been constantly reinventing itself with its new, unified brand identity 'Passion made Possible'-that showcases the fundamentals of the nation - its cultural diversity, rich food heritage and the mindset of its people shaped by unique circumstances and promises to reshape the Singapore experience across the B2C and B2B space and we are honored to partner with them.”

He added, “Indian travellers are evolving rapidly and our research indicates growing interest in unique local experiences that include outdoor-wildlife and this MOU gives us the opportunity to create a vibrant product. Our partnership with Wildlife Reserves, Singapore also marks the start of a strong commitment to protect biodiversity in Singapore and Southeast Asia through partnerships with like-minded partners, organisations and institutions.”

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Mike Barclay, Group Chief Executive Officer, Mandai Park Holdings (parent company of Wildlife Reserves Singapore), said, “Over the years, valued partners like Thomas Cook have been instrumental to our growth. In 2017, we saw a 25 per cent increase in Indian guests compared to the previous year. With this MOU we look forward further collaborations to bring the immersive wildlife experience of our parks to Indian travelers.”

Nelito Systems Expanding Footprint in Non-Banking Financial Segments

February 26, 2018: Nelito Systems Ltd., India’s prominent financial software and services Company catering to Banking sector, has widened its horizons to provide IT solutions to Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) and Microfinance Institutions (MFI) segments. The move comes after the company decided to expand its business in the overseas markets and as a part of its renewed India strategy.

As a leading provider of India’s Banking software solutions, Nelito Systems has created a niche for itself by offering its own products as well as services. It has expanded its focus to reach NBFCs and Microfinance companies. With the government taking initiatives to promote Financial Inclusion and digitisation of the economic activities in India, the company sees a huge opportunity in smaller towns and rural areas.

At a time when PSU and other private banks are struggling with NPAs, it is NBFCs and MFIs who are providing the financial support to the rural communities with small ticket loans. *As per industry estimates, MFI’s expanded more than 60% in the last FY. The reported 166 MFIs have reached out to an all-time high of 39 million clients with an outstanding loan portfolio of INR 63,853 crore. Many of these institutions are now looking to digitise their operations for various purposes such as lending, transactions, better service delivery and so on. Nelito expects strong growth in its business from this segment and command a significant share in the marketplace. It has already created a customer base and is engaged in implementation of the solutions at more MFIs and NBFCs. 

“Nelito is focussed on providing affordable excellence through its digital consulting and solutions to make a difference to lives of the people at the bottom of pyramid. It plans to do so within India and other developing countries by providing 'Technology for Banking the Unbanked'. Our solutions are helping our customers serve millions of borrowers affordably and efficiently”, said Mr Punit Jain, CEO, Nelito Systems Limited.

He further adds, “Nelito Systems has a promising future due to its focus and expertise on Banking & Financial Services segments. It has started making inroads in overseas countries with its FinCraft^TM suite of solutions. We expect about 30 per cent of our revenues coming from international markets in next 3 years”.

Exhibition of handicrafts made by artisans from various places in rural India

From left to right 

Mr. Ramesh Date, Mr. Kiran Gorwala, Mr Sanjay Parhad, Mr. siyaram Patwa, 

Mr. Vivek Varun Prasad, Mr. Lavjibhai Vaghela, Mr. Quasim Ansari, Mr. Chetan Shet

Mumbai: 17th February, 2018.

PUSHPA (Project for Upgradation of Skilled Handicrafts and Perishing Art Forms) a Non-Profit Organisation spearheaded by Mr. Vivek Varun Prasad, organised an exhibition of handicrafts made by artisans from various places in rural India at the Campion School Cooperage from 17th to 19th of February 2018.

The exhibition was a platform for artisans in rural India to showcase their handicrafts, which have been their speciality handed down by their forefathers and are now rapidly becoming a dying art form.

The whole concept of revival of such dying art-forms was conceived by Mr. Vivek Varun Prasad, whose childhood passion is traditional art in the form paintings or handicrafts. He is deeply pained to see that in the industrialised world of today, these art forms are on the verge of becoming extinct. Hence their revival and preservation are of great importance to as they are expressions of culture of India.

This first exhibition by PUSHPA was a myriad display of exquisite expressions of traditional crafts persons, displaying crafts as close in purity to as they were conceived decades ago by their forefathers.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Vivek Varun Prasad said “I have had this passion for art since childhood and have won awards for 5 consecutive years in Doon School, Dehradoon. However, the passion had to be kept in the background and was limited to making greeting cards for relatives and friends, in order to give my full attention to my Government job in the Income Tax department.

However, my passion was reignited after my retirement. I have since then researched, contacted and visited various artisans from all over the country and after curating their talent, I have invited some of them to display their products at this exhibition, which I have organised with the support of the Lalji Mehrotra Educational Trust, Mumbai, friends like Dr. Borges and the Campion school, who have been kind enough to give this space. The Khadi and Village Industries Board also assisted us in locating the artisans.”

“I am limited due to lack of resources and would be more than willing to work with other organisations to pool our strengths and resources for getting a better reach to all the artisans who are languishing in rural India because of funds and lack of a platform.”

The Exhibition showcased Coconut and bamboo craft, Banarasi weaves and Gujrati patolas, wooden carvings, warli paintings, traditional artificial jewellery designed and made by hand.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Maulik a graphic designer and working with NPO, PUSHPA, as project manager, said “PUSHPA was started in March 2017 with a vision to empower artisans to revive their art as it was decades ago with purity of the raw materials. We would love to get some funds from the CSR budgets of corporate houses. Our focus is on the ‘Artisans’ making them grow self-sufficient and revive their art by showcasing it to the world.”

“We are working with technology and digital marketing techniques including Facebook, WhatsApp etc. to spread the message - the write ups and photos of the final work of the artisans.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Maulik further added that its a challenging job to first identify and then meet the artisans and gain their trust that this NPO, PUSHPA is actually helping them and not going to take advantage out of them.  We are a small team, with shoestring budgets and limited resources and therefore looking forward to getting some financial support from corporate houses in any form-like providing resources or CSR funds or buying handicrafts for giving away as gifts/ souvenirs, etc.”

The Exhibition comprised of 9 artisans who show cased their art form such as Mr Sanjay Parhad from Dahanu, the warli artist, Mr. Ramesh Date, craftsman working on bamboo and coconut shells, and seeds, another artisan Mr. Chetan Shet from Kumta, Karnataka showcased Wood carvings, and Mr. Kiran, Warli artist. Another artisan, Mr. Lavjibhai Vaghela was showcasing Silk hand embroidered patola sarees and Mr. Vivek Varun Prasad also showcased his creations of paintings of various Indian gods. Mr. Quasim Ansari from Banaras showed a variety of weaves in cotton and silk, Mrs Seema Thakur showed a variety of Maharashtrian jewellery, and Mr. Siyaram Patwa showcased Patwa art ( beads work ). '

The exhibition attracted a lot of visitors, who also purchased many of the handicrafts and artisans were given to keep the entire proceeds of the sales. The entire expenditure was borne by the NPO PUSHPA.

Encouraged by the success of this exhibition, Mr. Vivek Varun Prasad has decided that he is going to try and hold it again next year in a bigger form with more than double the artisans.

Binge on your favourite movies with ‘Anthology Weekends’ on MNX

Mumbai, February xx, 2018: When it comes to movies, we all have our favourites we love to binge watch! Offering its viewers their favorite movie franchise, MNX, the new age Hollywood channel for Young India from Times Network, presents a series of cult classics titled ‘Anthology Weekends’, every weekend, until March 25, 2018. Airing every Friday to Sunday @ 9p.m.,‘Anthology Weekends’ features some of the most noteworthy franchise movies of all times. From evolving into a superhero to protect your city from crime or following a life altering journey to reclaim your city from dragons to looking into a dystopian future with simulated reality, 'Anthology Weekends' promises uninterrupted entertainment with an eclectic mix of popular, edgy and distinctly entertaining movies, including ‘The Matrix’, ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Rush Hour’.

Anthology Weekends movies includes:

‘The Matrix’ trilogy which will air from March 2- 4, is a science fiction action cult classic about heroes fighting a desperate war against machine overlords that have enslaved humanity in an extremely sophisticated virtual reality system.

‘Star Wars’ series is a cult favourite across all age groups will be shown over two weekends with ‘A New Hope’, ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and ‘Return Of The Jedi’ will air from March 9- 11 and ‘The Phantom Menace’, ‘Attack Of The Clones’ and ‘Revenge Of The Sith’ airing from March 16- 18. Written and directed by George Lucas with some of Hollywood's biggest names such as Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher, viewers will be privy to saving the galaxy from evil forces at its very best in the ultimate cult classic ‘Star Wars’.

'Rush Hour', starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker who overcome cultural differences to fight crime in the American buddy cop action comedy film will air from March 23- 25.

Cherish the most loved and legendary movie franchises of all time with MNX’s ‘Anthology Weekends’ every Friday – Sunday until 25^th March

PNB Matter-Action taken by ICAI

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body established under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 for regulating the profession of Chartered Accountants in India and it works under the aegis of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

The attention of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has been drawn to various media reports highlighting the irregularities that have taken place in Punjab National Bank (PNB). While various investigating agencies have initiated their investigations in the matter, the Disciplinary Directorate of ICAI suo motu has also started its investigation as per the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 and rules framed thereunder. 

Taking suo motu cognizance of media reports, the Disciplinary Directorate of ICAI as a proactive step has written letters on 15^th Feb 2018 to Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Punjab National Bank (PNB), urging upon them to share details/reports/findings in respect of the said alleged fraud including the copies of the specific findings in respect of the involvement of any Chartered Accountant/firm of Chartered Accountants.

ICAI has also written to its parent Ministry i.e. the Ministry of Corporate Affairs requesting to prevail upon SEBI, CBI, ED and PNB to share their findings with ICAI to enable it to accelerate the action against any Chartered Accountant who have played any role in this fraud.

The ICAI has also set up a High Power Group to study the systemic issues in the Punjab National Bank matter and suggest remedial measures and improvement in the banking system; and any other matter incidental thereto. The first meeting of the group is scheduled on 23^rd Feb 2018.

The Disciplinary Directorate of ICAI has issued Show Cause Notices to all Central Statutory Auditors of PNB. Similarly, Central Statutory Auditors who have done quarterly review of PNB have also been issued Show Cause Notice. Auditor of Gitanjali Gems Ltd., has also been issued the Show Cause Notice in the matter.

The Deputy General Manager, PNB has been summoned in terms of powers as vested in Section 21C of the Chartered Accountants Act 1949 to appear and produce a copy of FIR, all related documents in the said fraud, give details of the modus operandi used in the fraud.

Further, the ICAI has also written to Reserve Bank of India requesting them to provide the list of the Corporate Borrowers of Public Sector Banks having outstanding loan amount of Rs. 2000 crores and above so as to have the same examined by Financial Reporting Review Board of ICAI for any possible violation of applicable standards of accounting as well as auditing.

ICAI reaffirms its commitment to be a proactive regulator of the auditing and accounting profession.

Holi Bash at Novotel Imagica Khopoli ( without any restrictions )

Fill this Holi weekend with endless laughs, fond memories, scenic views, and divine gastronomy at Novotel Imagica Khopoli - AccorHotels’ first theme park property in India. With the imminence of the festival of colours and the most boisterous occasion, the resort has tailored an exclusive offer for you to make this vibrant festival one to remember.

Groove to the DJ & rain shower at the poolside as you indulge in an elaborate lunch and hi tea spread including unlimited IMFL at INR 2,999/- plus taxes. The culinary team is all set to tantalise your palate with cocktail snacks and traditional signatures dishes

Enjoy the bash with environment friendly colours, water sprayers, and everything you require to make this celebration a fun-filled one.

Booking your exciting escapade now! For reservations and further details

Contact: 02192-662666

Email: h9832-RE@accor.com

Reality show "No.1 Dramebaaz Season 3”, telecast starts on 11th March, 2018 on Channel E24.

India’s Biggest Reality Show "No.1 Dramebaaz" Season-3, Produced by Vijay Bhardwaj, under the banner of Trivision Films Pvt Ltd will telecast from 11th March 2018. The contestants of the show No.1 Dramebaaz Season-3 are mainly orphan kids and other kids, they are from various states of India. The show will be on air from 11th March, 2018 on channel E24, having one hour gripping episodes.

Judges for the show were Prem Chopra, Siddhesh Pai, Kanika Maheshwari, Vijay Bhardwaj & Steffi Bhardwaj. Jashn Agnihotri & Comedian Sunil Pal hosted the show. 

 The show is directed by Neeraj Bhasin , DOP Surender Rawat , Assistant director Asif Khan and many more. Most of the population of India is excited to watch the show.

Club Mahindra Launches ‘Bliss’ for Senior Citizens

Specially crafted 10 year membership for senior citizens above the age of 50 years

Mumbai, February 20, 2018: Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited (MHRIL), India's leading leisure hospitality provider has announced the launch of their special membership product, Bliss, which is customized to cater to the specific needs of senior citizens and provide them with a safe and trusted holiday partner.

Bliss is a 10 year membership product specially designed for persons above the age of 50 years to take memorable holidays with their loved ones in any of Club Mahindra’s network of 53 resorts in India and abroad.

The Bliss membership is available across three categories - Bliss Classic, Bliss Premium and Bliss Signature. Members will be assisted with special services such as holiday booking and airport transfer, among others through a dedicated helpdesk. Engaging activities at the resorts have also been designed keeping in mind their special needs. These include spa therapies, local sightseeing, yoga classes, meditation sessions, nature walks, hobby classes, etc.

Bliss started with four cities including Mumbai, Pune, Delhi and Bangalore and has now been rolled out pan-India.

Speaking about the Bliss Membership, Mr. Kavinder Singh, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Limited, stated, “Mahindra Holidays has always been instrumental in creating magical memories through their unique holiday experiences for families across India. Over the last few years we have observed a gradual rise in the number of senior citizens holidaying with us. While they have the enthusiasm to travel, their needs are unique. With Bliss, we have created a customized product that will make the whole travel experience more engaging and fulfilling for these members. We are confident that through Bliss, we will be able to create special, memorable experiences for our esteemed active silvers that will last a lifetime.”

Reports suggest that retired senior citizens are the new globetrotters. They are now more inclined to see the world post retirement. With adequate savings in their banks and independent children, the seniors are willing to spend on memorable and experiential holidays. According to a travel report published by Frost & Sullivan and Amadeus titled 'Shaping the Future of Travel in Asia Pacific', senior citizens over 50, and more specifically over 65, are accounting for an increasingly significant portion of leisure travellers. Moreover, 7.3 million outbound senior travellers are expected from India by 2030.

Top 5 Off-Beat Destinations to Explore in India

Mumbai, February 2018: India is a land full of surprises, which remains largely unexplored even by the most avid traveler. From hidden mountain getaways to fascinating lakes and verdant forests, there are numerous offbeat destinations that are waiting to be explored.

Here are top 5 destinations that are off the chartered routes:

Baiguney, Sikkim – Baiguney is a beautiful hillside hamlet in West Sikkim. From watching the sun rise over the Kanchenjunga, to spotting birds and lakes, Baiguney has lots to offer nature lovers. You can immerse yourself in some nature centric experiences like paragliding, river rafting, mountain camping, village trekking, among others during you visit here.  

Binsar, Uttarakhand – Perched at a height, Binsar is a wildlife lover’s paradise. It is home to the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary which serves as a habitat for musk deer, gorals, flying squirrels and other rare animals. Binsar also offers a 300 km panoramic view of the Himalayan peaks of Panchchuli, Shivling, Chaukhamba, Trishul and Nanda Devi. You can opt for nature walks, village tours, trekking and bird watching at this scenic destination.

Poovar, Kerala - An idyllic island with an estuary, Poovar is a little piece of paradise located in the Trivandrum district of Kerala. Poovar is surrounded by the river Neyyar, which originates from Agastyarkoodam Hills near Trivandrum and ends at Arabian Sea. The luscious green coconut trees and the golden sand offers a striking yet soothing contrast to the turquoise water of the river Neyyar its surrounds. Relax with a backwater cruise to soak in the pristine beauty of this destination.

Madikeri, Karnataka - A hill station and the headquarters of the Coorg (Kodagu) district, Madikeri is one of the most beautiful destinations in Karnataka surrounded by mountains, grasslands, coffee plantations and orange orchards. Flowing amidst this natural grandeur is the river Cauvery. Abbey Falls, Mandalpatti, Chelavara Falls, Kotebetta are some of the must-visit beautiful attractions.  

Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan – What can be better than Kumbhalgarh to get a glimpse into the royal life of the Maharajas? A city in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan and a World Heritage Site, Kumbhalgarh is an ideal place for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts. The Kumbhalgarh Fort, extending to the length of 36 kms, is the second most important fort of Rajasthan and has the second longest wall in the world. Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Badal Mahar, Mammadev Temple are among the other attractions in the city.

Speaking about the current trend of exploring the unexplored, Giridhar Seetharam, Chief Marketing Officer, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Ltd (MHRIL) states, “Today Indians are showing an increasing interest in travelling to unexplored destinations and have been quite experimental in their choices. Moreover, they are not hesitant when it comes to spending on unique travel experiences. We, at Club Mahindra, always strive to ensure that every family vacation is enriched with varied experiences at destinations they have never known before. Hence, our properties are located across unheard destinations in India like the Club Mahindra Binsar Valley in Uttarakhand,Club Mahindra Poovar in Kerala, Club Mahindra Kumbhalgarh in Rajasthan just to name a few.”