Author: The Metrognome

Categories
Big story

Bigger fleet taxis on Mumbai’s roads soon?

State Government okays the re-granting of 7,844 cancelled taxi permits for bigger fleet cabs in Mumbai Metropolitan Region and outside.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

We are currently counting down to General Elections 2014, and if ruling parties want to make a difference to their fortunes, the time is now. The Congress-NCP Government in Maharashtra is taking a step in this direction by tackling two problems at once – the problem of congestion on the city’s roads, and that of cabs having a carrying capacity of just four passengers.

Today, the State Government decided to reissue 7,844 of the taxi permits it cancelled for phone fleet taxis. From last year, the Government had cancelled 19,687 permits in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and nearby areas. However, the Government has recently been mulling the idea of radio cab operators adding vehicles that have a passenger carrying capacity of five or six passengers, plus a driver. The need for a larger vehicle has long been felt, it feels, with some families having to hire two cabs when going out because of the present low carrying capacity of taxis. Hence, by hiring one vehicle instead of two, the congestion on the city’s roads may be reduced.

There is already a draft notification in place that proposes that the operator of a radio cab service ensures that at least 10 per cent of its cabs have a seating capacity of five or six passengers, plus the driver. Today, the Government also emphasised that the operator must have at least 1,000 permits in the MMR. As on October 2010, the Government had decided to grant at least 4,000 licenses to phone fleet taxis. By amending the rules, the Government is also looking to restrict the number of permits given to a single operator so that more operators can put their vehicles on the road and prevent any one company from monopolising the market.

However, there is no clarity on how much a ride in a fleet taxi will cost.

(Picture courtesy www.thehindubusinessline.com)

Categories
Hum log

Comic capers with Abhijeet Kini

This Santacruz resident and self-taught cartoonist feels that the city and the country provide great, constant material for all cartoonists.
by Salil Jayakar

I’ve known Abhijeet Kini (30) for well over a decade now, which makes it surprising that I’ve never ever interviewed him in all these years. More so since, as a journalist I have done stories on offbeat careers and his career choice would have been a perfect fit – ‘full-time freelancer cartoonist.’ But as they say, better late than never…

Angry MavshiAbhijeet’s love affair with the world of cartoons and comic books started as a four-year-old, browsing through newspaper comics every day, even if he could not make much sense of them back then. “I always loved the visual medium, drawn, panel by panel,” the Santacruz resident says. It helped that his parents encouraged him from an early age, never saying ‘no’ to his demands for comics and not Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys. Aged seven, he was gifted Tintin’s Blue Lotus issue (which he still has in mint condition) and there was no looking back. He started collecting comics – from Tintin and Asterix to Tinkle, DC and Marvel. That in itself was a huge inspiration for him to take up the pencil and start sketching.

Completely self taught, with no art training, Abhijeet says he always wanted to be a cartoonist. The decision wasn’t difficult because of his supportive parents who never pressurised him into taking up engineering or medicine. When he was 12 (or 13), Abhijeet’s mom took him to meet Ram Mohan and Bhimsen, the pioneers of Indian animation. He carried his artworks to show them and remembers them saying nice things about his work. Naturally, it instilled confidence in his young impressionable mind. “Then in 1997, when I was 15, mom took me to meet the great Anant Pai, editor of Tinkle comics. I always wanted to meet him and eventually draw for the comic, and I am fortunate that I am doing that since 2004.”

Working as a cartoonist

At Abhijeet’s insistence, I shamelessly take some credit for his ‘big break’ with Mid Day Multimedia in 1999. I was freelancing with Mid Day (which was launching chalomumbai.com) and they were looking out for freelance illustrators. I recommended Abhijeet, and the rest is history.

Remembers Abhijeet, “I gave it a shot and my work was liked. Before Mid Day, I freelanced for a few youth magazines and did some comic 2commission based art for a book. This was when I was fresh out of high school and in junior college. But Mid Day added a lot of weight to my portfolio and other magazines followed based on that.”

Abhijeet idolises certain national and international artists and believes some of their styles and techniques have heavily influenced him as a youngster. Sanjeev Waeerkar’s work in Tinkle in the early 90s and Sergio Aragones of Mad magazine being the most prominent ones. “Mad has had a huge influence on me and my sense of humour but Sergio’s work was something else,” he reveals. Other favourites include Ram Waeerkar, Don Martin, Mario Miranda and Jim Lee. In his current work, Abhijeet uses different styles from comic to comic. So while his merchandise line is more slapstick, his Tinkle style is more children friendly, there is a cartoon-violence/young adult style for ‘Angry Maushi’ and a serious style showcased in ‘Milk & Quickies’.

Delhi BilliAccording to Abhijeet, comics such as Tinkle and Amar Chitra Katha are going very strong today, too. To him, these are the comics which represent India, just like Manga is for Japan. Other comic book titles range from mythology to superhero storylines. In that sense, yes, the evolution is evident when it comes to the new genres coming up. But he believes there should be more of a social angle in all these. “I do not mean a ‘preachy’ or ‘socially correct/social cause’ kind of theme. Take Mumbai city as an example. If one was to make a comic on Mumbai, imagine the range of topics one has to pick and choose from… and I’m talking humour as a genre,” he explains. Which is why Abhijeet’s ‘Angry Maushi’ series is heavily Mumbai-based. It is about an angry Mumbai lady waging war against corrupt politicians, robots and zombies in the funniest violent way possible.

Money matters

So much money does a “full-time freelance cartoonist” like Abhijeet make? He laughs. “In my field, there’s always a disclaimer (in not so fine print) saying ‘Money may or may not come’. People like me are suckers for creative satisfaction or doing what we love to do, loving what we do to live. Sure, money does come, but maybe in bursts, or trickles. I am thankful that India today has Comic Cons going. My wife Diksha and I participate in Comic Cons all over the country and our merchandise products are quite a hit. Many of my characters today, like ‘Angry Maushi’ and ‘Delhi Billi’, were created for the merchandise first, and comics later.”

For those who want to make a career as a cartoonist, Abhijeet says, “I have learnt that it doesn’t matter what people think about what you do. If you are confident of your work and comic 4have a strong art portfolio, even if you are self-taught like me, you have a strong chance to make it. The industry is very young in India but it’s a great place to be, especially if you are able to convert your ideas to reality. Oh, and if you have big dollar dreams, please leave the room quietly right now!”

 

(Pictures courtesy Abhijeet Kini)

 

Categories
Wellness

Aching back? Here’s how you set it right

Backaches have a detrimental effect on our work and leisure hours. Treat the problem before it develops into something serious.
by Sharad Panjwani

A backache can make you miserable, rendering daily routines difficult to achieve and a constant reminder that something’s not right. But though back pain may slow you down, there’s no reason you can’t erase it from your life for ever.

Shruti Khopkar (31) was active before her wedding two years ago – she would exercise every day, be on the move even at work, run errands and get at least seven hours of sleep. “But I had to quit my job after the wedding, and soon, there was a lot of work at home. Within months, I developed a persistent backache that just would not go away.”

The answer came after two visits to a specialist. “My posture had changed because I was constantly at home, either cooking or tending to the home. I developed this habit of slouching in my couch and reading or watching TV. When I had been exercising with my trainer, he had ensured that my posture was perfect.” Shruti went back to functional training, and with proper workouts for her back and core, she does not feel an ache in her back any more.

Set it right

Backaches are rarely very serious, unless a slipped disc or strained spinal column is rendering you immobile. Very often, small corrections in postures and habits go a long way in alleviating back pain.

sleep well– Sleep well: Most people with backache complain of stiffness when they wake up in the morning. While a small amount of stiffness if expected after hours of rest, a pain in the back is unacceptable. Your mattress could be the culprit – either too soft to support your spine as you sleep, or too firm to let your muscles rest. If not your mattress, it could be a lingering problem that you may have ignored.

Get help: Flip your mattress to distribute your weight evenly over it. Also, do a simple stretching exercise when you wake up every morning. Some people experience back pain if they don’t sleep enough. If you can, take a couple of days off from work simply to rest your back. If the pain is acute, you will need medical help.

– Don’t sleep too much: However, those with back pain would do well to not rest too much in bed. Says Dr Rahul Shringare, orthopaedic surgeon, “Too much bed rest weakens the back further. You should engage yourself in moderate activity like walking, but not run or do gardening.”

Get help: Alternate your periods of rest with periods of activity. Avoid gymming or running that will strain your back. However, do light stretching so that your back gets exercise and does not ‘freeze’.

– Exercise: Though some people give themselves a backache by overdoing their exercise routines, it is exercise that can rescue them. However, the workout you do must be approvedback pain by a certified trainer and your doctor, if you’ve consulted one.

Get help: Walking keeps the spine and back in a neutral position, so it’s a good exercise. Yoga also helps alleviate backache. Try ‘sarpasan’ for a strong back – lie down on the floor with your palms placed under your shoulders. Slowly lift your back (without lifting your feet off the ground) keeping your elbows at not more than 60 degrees angle. Hold for three seconds, then release. Repeat laps of 10 and do two sets.

– Better posture: Slouching at the computer, suddenly bending to pick up an object off the floor, even coughing while bending over, can give you painful back spasms that take days to heal. Though you will do damage even with a rigid back at all times, you must remember to sit up straight at work or at home, and to avoid putting pressure on the lower back, support your lumbar with a firm pillow when you sit.

Get help: Always bend your knees when you bend over. Keeping the knees locked and your legs straight when bending puts tremendous pressure on your spine. Every once in a while, get up from your seat and stretch, take a short walk around the office. Keep your back as straight as you can without feeling pressure in the lumbar. Your shoulders must be aligned in a straight plane, instead of rounded inwards.

– Avoid massaging a sore back: Wrong exercise or a blunt trauma can bruise and inflame your back muscles, causing swelling. Most people wrongly assume that massage creams and oils are to be applied on swollen, painful  areas of the body – these are only to be used on aching parts that are not inflamed or swollen.

Get help: If your back is swollen, apply an ice pack till the swelling goes down. After this, apply heat pads to repair the tender muscles in the painful area. Do not rub with a massage cream, it will only tear the tender muscles and tissue.

– Strengthen your abs: It seems strange, but it is true that if your ab core is weak, it will strain your back further. People with strong abs are found to experience less back pain than others.

Get help: Strong abs does not mean a six-pack, but a core that can easily do crunches or flips without spasms. Get a fitness trainer to prescribe exercises for stronger abdominal muscles. Also consider exercises for hamstrings, chest and calves.

– See a specialist: A back pain cannot be treated simply with painkillers and a bit of moderate exercise. If your problem is long-term, you might need to see a specialist.

Get help: Ask your specialist for exercises to do at home or work, and for suggested lifestyle changes. Follow his/her advice to the letter.

(Pictures courtesy www.topnews.in, www.vitality-centre.com, www.apollolife.com)

Categories
Learn

Chavan pushes for regulator in housing

The Maharashtra CM writes to the Centre asking for President’s assent for Housing Bill, citing the recent Campa Cola controversy.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

The recent Campa Cola controversy – and the brickbats that the State Government got over its handling of the issue – has spurred Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to push for the Housing (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2012.

A release from Chavan’s office announced that the CM has written to Girija Vyas, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, requesting her to get President Pranab Mukherjee’s assent for the Bill – the Maharashtra State legislature has passed the Bill about 16 months ago.

Citing the recent Campa Cola issue, Chavan has said (in the release) that it is now important to have a regulator in housing and real estate, to prevent Development Control Rules being violated by builders. Chavan also feels that the Bill will go a long way in safeguarding the interests of home buyers and ensuring transparency in property deals. The biggest benefit of the Bill is that home buyers and investors can lodge complaints against builders (in cases of violations and non-compliance of agreement) to a regulatory authority, which will study the issue and pass an order within three months of the complaint being lodged.

The Bill also seeks to penalise builders and developers for not giving possession of flats at a stipulated date, for making changes in the original plan or flat design without the buyer’s consent, for not making a full disclosure about the land and the proposed project on it, among others.

(Picture courtesy www.indianexpress.com) 

Categories
Beauty

Smoke ’em out!

Sexy, dramatic and smouldering – a smokey eye lifts your look like nothing else. Here’s how you get it done.
by Ankita Pathak

There’s nothing quite like a pair of smokey eyes staring at you. Smokey eyes are sexy, dramatic and smoldering, and instantly lift your look. When it comes to learning a new eye makeup technique, learning how to do a smokey eye should be the very first thing a woman should make a beeline for.

The smokey eye look isn’t limited only to runways, the red carpet, or black tie events. With many colour variations and options available, many women are deciding to wear this sultry look more often. But to learn how to do it, you’ll have to go back to the basics.

And all you really need is a classic kohl pencil. Because you can actually create a full smokey eye by smearing and blending your liner up and out. That’s it! You can do it with any colour, as long as it’s a classic kohl pencil. You will instantly love this look because it gives your eyelid more of a ‘watercolour’ finish that you can’t get with eyeshadow.

kohl pencilTools of the trade:

– Kohl pencil — almost every brand offers a kohl version, and most offer it in many colours.

– Blending brush

– Mascara

– Setting powder — you can use the same powder you set your face makeup with, just make sure it’s translucent.

Steps to follow:

– Line your upper lashline from the inner corner to the outer corner.

– Draw another line directly above that one.

– Keep drawing lines above each other until you reach the crease.

– Blend back and forth with the blending brush over the area you’ve filled in. You can also use your finger, but it’s a little messier!

– Trace the lower lashline with the same kohl pencil.

– Smudge the line back and forth with the Q-tip using short strokes to really work it into the lashline.

– Finish with a couple coats of mascara.

– Set it with a quick dusting of translucent setting powder.blending brush

Pair your look with a pink-nude cheek and lip and voila! You now have yourself a makeup job that took a matter of minutes and a few simple tools. Of course, practice makes perfect so for all of you makeup novices out there – try this look out on an off day to be sure your results are just as stunning as those gracing the runways in Milan.

Categories
Overdose

BCCI, you disappointed me

Let the BCCI milk Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement, but fans will not easily forgive the empty seats during his last match.
by Jatin Sharma

The world cried when Sachin Tendulkar gave his farewell speech at the Wankhede. The speech was not made of words; it comprised emotions that were residing in his heart for long. Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar became a bigger legend with his parting words. The atmosphere was electrifying and all the fans shed a tear written in Sachin’s name. For the first time, everyone wanted this test match to never end. It looked like the fans really wanted Sachin to do everything on the ground, from bowling to fielding to batting. They wished that Sachin would never retire.

But despite the tears and smiles and euphoria at having witnessed cricket’s legend one last time, I have a complaint with the BCCI.

Sachin's last matchSachin, the God of Cricket, gave us pure joy for 24 years, and received accolades not just in his country but from all over the world. There is hardly any need to go into his greatness – indeed, in the last few days there have been many articles written about different experts who know more than I do about the man and his legendary moments in the game.

Naturally, that every person who has experienced the joy associated with Sachin Tendulkar would flock to Wankhede Stadium to see him in action one last time. But once the ticketing process started last Monday, all hell promptly broke loose. The official online ticketing partner Kyazoonga’s site crashed. Meanwhile, there were rumours that the ‘general public quote’ number of tickets – 5,000 only – were, in reality, only 3,500 in number. Most of the tickets were given away in quotas and to individuals associated with the game and MCA. With such a carnival atmosphere pervading the city as the day of Sachin’s retirement drew close, it was logical to assume that Wankhede would run to a packed house during the match.

WRONG.

I was at Wankhede and I saw empty seats. With so many genuine cricket lovers clamouring for tickets, every single empty seat made me realise that Sachin deserved far better. It’s Sachin fervourobvious, what happened here – the BCCI goofed up again. Failing to understand the people’s sentiments, the BCCI only tried to please its associates and make money off people’s fervour for Sachin. If the ticket distribution had been opened to the aam junta, we would have seen a very different scenario at Wankhede. But so many tickets were sent to corporates who only believe in balance sheets, not emotions. If the ticket windows had been opened at the stadium, if the ticket distribution process had been fair, there would have been no black marketing of tickets and no need for people to pay astronomical sums of money for tickets.

Those empty seats were meant for fans, who had no option but to get tickets in black. No wonder they booed the Board authorities during the match presentation. The only people who were cheered on by the public were city Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh and the cricketers themselves.

As a fan, I was quite angry when I saw those empty seats, that were like a sign of BCCI’s greed and how they just wanted to make even this, Sachin’s swansong, a money making event.

There could have been many more Sachin lovers in the stands than at home in front of their TV sets. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, who has time and again credited his fans for his stupendous career, might one day be felicitated by the same BCCI on the same grounds for being the youngest recipient of the Bharat Ratna. But more than anything else, those empty seats will continue to rankle in my memory and dishearten me for years to come.

Jatin Sharma is a media professional who doesn’t want to grow up, because if he grows up, he will be like everybody else. ‘Overdose’ is his weekly take on Mumbai’s quirks and quibbles.

(Pictures courtesy blogs.ft.com, sports.in.msn.com, www.indianexpress.com)

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