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Namaste

2010-05-09T22:39:00.000-07:00

Namaste or ‘Namaskar’ is the standard greeting in India. A pair of folded hands is a sight associated with all things Indian. Whether you saw it when you landed at any of our International airports or met Indians that wouldn’t shake hands, please consider this gesture as polite, inviting and affectionately sincere. Namaste!

What kind of images conjure in your mind when you think ‘India’? Retorts like heat, dust, poverty are commonplace but that has never been the real India. The real India is the smile on the faces of these hot, dusty and poor folk! India is the essence of ‘hope’. For the last 61 years she has based her entire economy, society and international relations on the ‘hope’ of her 8 billion citizens. So the next time you are asked ‘What do you see when you think ‘India?’, derive your answers from here. India is the ‘power’ within the ‘Bindi’, India is the fluid sensuality of the ’sari’, India is vibrancy of henna, India is the crossroads of culture. India is proudly showcased at www.photosindia.com.

Pushkar - Home of 'Brahma' the Creator

2010-05-09T22:37:00.000-07:00

Pushkar is a small town in Rajasthan, it is as picturesque as any desert town can be but it has other claims to fame that make it a prominent address on the Indian map. Pushkar, literally meaning ‘a lotus that has bloomed in mud’, and it also home to one of the only two temples dedicated to Lord Brahma. The seat upon which Lord Brahma resides is a blue Lotus also known as ‘Pushkara’ in Sanskrit. Lord Brahma is a part of the Hindu Holy Trinity and he serves as the ‘Creator’ of mankind, the way Lord Shiva is considered the destroyer. Lord Brahma is said to be the son of the Supreme Being. He created the universe and he had several symbols associated with his persona.

Mythology states that Lord Brahma annoyed Lord Shiva during a tryst and the curse bestowed upon him was that no man on earth would worship Lord Brahma the way other deities are worshipped. Another school of thought attributed this curse to a demi God who was ignored by Lord Brahma. But it is the practicalities of modern society that have asked for a more plausible explanation. Like the one stated by Mr. Surin Usgaonkar “The true philosophical reason why Brahma is not worshiped like the other deities is as under: Worship involves faith and faith to certain degree means accepting supremacy of someone without questioning. Brahma, on the other hand, represents true knowledge. The knowledge and faith are philosophically antithetical concepts. Knowledge blooms in self-doubt, constant questioning, criticism and discussions and it lapses in faith.”

Leaving such heavy thinking aside, let’s go back to Pushkar, where this whole dialogue began. Pushkar has one of the two temples dedicated to Lord Brahma and it is here that one of the largest cultural, trading and religious fair takes place every year. ‘Pushkar Mela’ (‘mela’ literally means fair or carnival) is India’s largest cattle fair. It is a spectacular event with Rajasthani men and women in their traditional attire, ash smeared holy men and more than one lakh people, from all over Rajasthan as well as tourists from different parts of India and abroad in attendance. Apart from the people there is bevy of bulls, cows, sheep, goats, horses and camels for sale and barter. It is not just business here, this week long fair also has fabulous events and brilliant shopping stalls. There are hysterical camel races, where photographers are known to get trampled (objects in the lens appear farther than they really are!!!). Rajasthani gypsies in their vibrant colorful skirts perform dance and music recitals through the days and nights. The shopping stalls glitter all the way with handcrafted leather goods to dainty glass bangles and beautiful textiles. Craftsman from all over Rajasthan and neighboring states bring their wares out for the world to see and appreciate. At Pushkar there is something for everyone. The shopper will find his delights, the trader will get a great bargain and the tourist will see the colorful and charismatic India they were hoping to see.

‘Pushkar Fair’ is always held in the month of Kartik. It starts two days before the full moon of the month and ends a day after it. This year the fair is from 18th-24th November 2007, a tad later than usual. It is the Pushkar lake in this city that all devotional activities center around. It has 52 ghats (like cement bleachers/steps) and is the main reason for the confluence of so many people from all parts of the country and abroad. It is considered imperative to take a dip in the Pushkar Lake on the night of a full moon. According to the Puranas (meaning ‘ancient Indian tales’), a pilgrimage to Pushkar destroys all evil and washes away all sins. A person that has had a dip in the lake at Pushkar and worshipped Brahma achieves salvation. For this reason, thousands of people gather here for this great annual pilgrimage and fair. Could there be an easier way??

Kashmir - The Soul of Mother Nature

2010-05-09T22:36:00.000-07:00

How I love Kashmir? Words beseech me and that’s a feat because I am rarely ever gobsmacked! My association with Kashmir is roughly 30 years old but if you consider vivid human memory then I would say 27 years to be precise. My first real trip to Kashmir was at the age of 5. We flew to Srinagar and stayed at the Centaur. We drove all over the state for 2 weeks in an Ambassador (for the uninitiated, this is the most sturdy, rural & iconic vehicle of India). Even as a child all my memories centered on a deep sense of awe. I was perpetually smitten. I fell in love with something new every day, sometimes every few hours. I had never seen these many colors before, that’s what I remember thinking so often. I had been to Baramula Army Base as a 2 year old and that’s where we were headed on the first day to meet old friends. I remember meeting one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen over there. We were visiting a Major General if I remember correctly and his orderly had his family over from a village elsewhere in Kashmir.

Her name was Renu and she was exquisite, I asked my mother if she was a film star (she was gardening with a typical Kashmiri head scarf on and it looked so chic). I can still picture mom turning around to tell the General’s wife that the women in Kashmir only get prettier! So it wasn’t just the place, it was the people too. Kashmir invoked feelings of oneness with nature, something city kids never felt and I carried that feeling with me for the dozen trips we took thereafter.

It was at age 13 that I had my ‘real’ Kashmiri food experience. I guess the palate is more honed by that age and I was always a self proclaimed gastronome. We had been invited by a Veterinary doctor friend of my parents. The word ‘wazwan’ floated around the car through the drive. We had to spend almost 3 grueling hours discussing possible tension in the region (how gullible we were, looking back that was probably the most peaceful the valley would ever be) and all I could think of was the food. The layout was fantastic, rich and highly exuberant and the flavors were perfect, way more than I had expected. That’s when Kashmir became the ultimate holiday package for me. Through the teens and early twenties I kept a keen eye on the socio political developments in Kashmir, a part of me was constantly saddened. Kashmir became like a first kiss, lovely but you could never go back and feel it again. I was resolved to that idea for a decade and even adopted Goa as my backup piece of heaven till I heard about a group of friends headed to the real and only heaven on earth, Kashmir. This I had to see.

I stressed about the Chinar’s on the Dal Lake, they had to be there or it wouldn’t be perfect. I thought endlessly about the florists on shikara’s, the sunsets at the lake, the horse ride to Gulmarg, the river rocks that changed color in water, the glowing ‘kangri’s’, the soothing ‘kahva’, the aroma of burning wood, the sweetness of mountain tea, the crispness of the air, the clarity in vision … oh my God! Kashmir was that ultimate piece of heaven and more! So we took the first flight out that Monday and I prayed, I prayed for peace and more selfishly, I prayed for ‘my Kashmir’, the pretty one! My prayers were answered manifold. Everything was perfect. My nose thanked me for the air, my eyes wept at the beauty, my hands wafted on the surface of the Dal lake for like an hour and I bought the largest, most gorgeous, most exotic bunch of flowers I had ever received, or seen for that matter. The people were wonderful and the women were actually prettier, the serenity was so unusual for the turmoil this region had seen, it tugged at my soul. I saw everything I wanted to see and I felt the fulfillment I had felt years ago, the déjà vu was so unique. The river was exactly like I left it, I swear I knew the horses going up to Sonmarg, the gardens were exquisite and I was once again, smitten!

The icing on the cake were definitely the tulips. It was tulip season (which lasts for barely a month according to the hotel manager) and we just had to see it. I can’t help but get nostalgic but my first exposure to a field of tulips was a lovely Hindi movie called ‘Silsila’, were Amitabh Bachchan serenades his heroine in the tulip fields of Holland. I stood here in Kashmir and I could see the whole song unfold in front of me, I was in Holland, I was missing only the clogs. It is inexplicable … you have to go there to see what I mean.

Ajanta & Ellora - Ancient India Rocks

2010-05-09T22:34:00.000-07:00

Excuse that pun, I was referring to some images we produced a couple of months back of Ajanta & Ellora. I had vague memories of visiting these cave shrines as a kid and it saddened me that I didn’t remember their magnificence. I was viewing the images in high resolution and the detail left me flabbergasted.

Ajanta & Ellora are the definition of the term ‘cave shrines’. Located near the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra, India, these caves have been hand carved and built as far back as 200 B.C. These caves comprise of two sets, Ajanta caves and Ellora caves. Both are equally significant due to their history, architecture and message. The caves were discovered as early as the 19th century during a hunting expedition. All these centuries they lay hidden under the rocky landscape of the Sahyadri hills. They are called ‘cave shrines’ because they are essentially temples. Hand carved temples in man made caves, the sheer task seems enormous and near impossible for the era of their supposed construction. The granite these hills constitute of are still considered a construction nightmare but the faith involved in the Ajanta & Ellora caves seems to be the driving force behind this Herculean task. The rock is considered ‘living rock’ because the formations are a still in a process of development. The structures are prayers halls and monasteries where monks could meditate and pray in complete seclusion. These structures are also a symbol of religious tolerance and harmony. Here Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism co-exist and share their teachings. All three religions were founded in India and this is the only place in the world where their history conjoins. The Jain and Buddhist caves are places of peace and quiet while the Hindu caves exude more energy and divinity. The three construction styles found here are stupas, chaityas and viharas. ‘Stupas’ are generally built of stones or bricks to commemorate important events or mark important places associated with Buddhism or to house important relics of Buddha. ‘Chaitya’s’ are meditation or prayer halls built out of rock and brick and ‘Vihara’s’ are monasteries usually made in excavated rocks to provide a haven away from the rest of the world.

The Ajanta caves are a set of 29 caves, hand carved tediously by Buddhist monks. Presumably the only tools available to these hermetic people had to have been hammers and chisels. The figurines depict the tales of ‘Jataka’, ancient text of Buddhists which tell stories about the various incarnations of the Buddha. The craft is definitely impressive but the physical effort involved enhances the beauty of the carvings. It is no wonder that the Ajanta is chosen as a ‘World Heritage Site.

The Ellora caves are 34 in number. They are more ornately carved and the structures are more adorned. There are magnificent facades and examples of Indian temple architecture. These caves are carved in the basaltic sides of the hills. The most amazing feat in these caves is the ancient ‘Kailasa temple’, devoted to Mount Kailash which is the seat of Lord Shiva. This temple is carved out of solid rock and is a free standing structure comprising of pillars, podiums and spires, all intricately carved by hand. A website about World Mysteries has listed this temple under ‘mystic places’ because “it is the largest monolithic structure in the world, carved top-down from a single rock. It contains the largest cantilevered rock ceiling in the world.”

The best time to visit Ajanta & Ellora caves is from October to March, although the monsoon months of July-August are also highly recommended for the heightened scenic beauty of the area. Indian tourism offer a lot of excursion trips and tourists can engage tour guides locally at Ajanta and Ellora as well as from Mumbai, the closest metro to the caves.

Agra - the land of Love and Loss

2010-05-09T22:32:00.000-07:00

Almost every Indian kid remembers when they first saw the Taj Mahal. They were still kids, the whole family was there and only the adults were awed by a building that looked like a cross between a temple and a mosque. Most kids were happiest about the hotel stay and the ice cream, the Taj was incidental. The real bonus came when we revisited Agra as adults and I think I can speak for a lot of Indian adults when I say this - it was mesmerizing. Not like the Grand Canyon or the beaches of Bali, those feelings are nature driven; the Taj seemed a more real kind of ‘awesome’. It was manmade and more than that it was love made. The history of the Taj precedes it and I am glad it does because that’s what makes hundreds of thousands visit from all over the world. People fall in love at the Taj, some fall in love all over again, a lot want to get married there and I believe a few have even tried to buy it, most definitely for a lady love. Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned it as a mausoleum for his favorite Persian wife, Mumtaz Mahal. In 1631 Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal’s period of greatest prosperity, was grief-stricken when his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during the birth of their daughter Gauhara Begum, their fourteenth child. Contemporary court chronicles concerning Shah Jahan’s grief form the basis of the love story traditionally held as the inspiration for the Taj Mahal.

Construction of the Taj Mahal was begun soon after Mumtaz’s death. The principal mausoleum was completed in 1648, and the surrounding buildings and garden were finished five years later. The complex is set in and around a large charbagh (a formal Mughal garden divided into four parts). Measuring 300 meters × 300 meters, the garden uses raised pathways which divide each quarter of the garden into 16 sunken parterres or flowerbeds. A raised marble water tank at the center of the garden, halfway between the tomb and the gateway, and a linear reflecting pool on the North-South axis reflect the Taj Mahal. Elsewhere the garden is laid out with avenues of trees and fountains.

The charbagh garden was introduced to India by the first Mughal emperor Babur, a design inspired by Persian gardens. The charbagh is meant to reflect the gardens of Paradise (from the Persian paridaeza - a walled garden). In mystic Islamic texts of the Mughal period, paradise is described as an ideal garden, filled with abundance. Water plays a key role in these descriptions: In Paradise, these text say, four rivers source at a central spring or mountain, and separate the garden into north, west, south and east.

The Taj Mahal is generally considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements of Persian, Turkish, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. While the white domed marble mausoleum is the most familiar part of the monument, the Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 when it was described as a “universally admired masterpiece of the world’s heritage.

For Photosindia.com the last shoot at the Taj was most memorable because we were traveling with a lovely group of teenagers from all over the world for a ‘Tourists at the Taj’ shoot. We made good friends with this one model we worked with last year. Very lovely young lady, she was nice enough to keep in touch way after she received her images shot by us. We got a call from her a while back saying she has a bunch of friends in town and they were all very keen to be professionally photographed. We were already riding high on our 6,000 sq. ft. studio so we asked the whole load of them to come in for auditions. So here we were sitting around waiting for everyone’s headshots to be assessed, when Manav suggested they all make a trip and shoot that. The motley mix of post-teens started discussing every possible drivable location from Delhi. They were all foreigners and each from a different country. This discussion didn’t take long to finalize into an overnight trip to Agra. The home of the Taj, the land of love and loss, the haven of a lovesick king’s biggest accomplishment. Some had seen it with their parents on a day trip, some hadn’t at all. The excitement was electric. The final list read, an Indian girl from LA, a Persian girl from Florida, an all American girl, a Scottish boy, an Estonian boy and finally a Zimbabwean boy. What an awesome bunch they made. So many nationalities and cultures of the world in this group of six. The only thing they shared in common was the age and the generation and that was glue enough to start this trip off very well.

The story I am about to tell you only goes to reinforce my crazy obsession with Lennon’s song ‘Imagine’. In my Utopian fairyland I believe that we can live without religion, without possessions and without countries, we can live like brothers and like thinking human beings. Ultimately we are all the same. I read an article by the photographer who shot the famous portrait of ‘the Afghan girl’, Steve McCurry he said to the effect that a farmer in Afghanistan is no different from a farmer in the US. I guess he meant that as people they are the same, their environments and scenarios are different but they share the same worries, the same ambitions and the same dependency on nature. Anyway, back to the story. These guys were on the road with our Art Director (part Portuguese, part Iranian), Photographer (All from the state of Bengal), Make-up Assistant (state of Punjab) and Studio Hand (I would assume Bihar).

They stopped at a harmless looking vegetarian ‘dhaba’ (typical Indian roadside diner, usually very rustic). They ordered heartily and sat back and waited. Suddenly the girls started noticing dragon flies, not one, more like one million. So one of the girls got up from the table and crouched on the floor screaming for one of the knights to save her. The lovely Scottish boy got up, swatted away the dragon flies and stepped over her head to get back to the table. She shot up and said “step back over me”! That’s all she said. One by one each person on the table said “ya, my mom says you have to step back over the person if you stepped over them once.” The tempo got louder and everyone, every different person there knew that they had all heard and participated in one of the oldest ‘old wives tales’ ever. Across the cultures and borders they all grew up hearing this one ‘superstition’. The biggest deal wasn’t that they had all been told the same tale by their Scottish, Estonian, Indian, Persian, Zimbabwean mothers; it was how they all suddenly related on another level. This highly infused gene pool of people sat there, ages 19 - 35 years and said in unison - “coz then you won’t grow tall”. Across most of the globe, covering 4 continents, all these people were told the same reason too! When I heard this story, it stirred me in many ways. Are we all essentially the same? Just people. People with stories, lives, joys, pains, fun, work, family, passions, traditions, and the list goes on and it goes on for all of us. The answer is yes!

India - A Backpackers Paradise

2010-05-09T22:29:00.001-07:00

India has been a backpacker’s delight for decades, maybe even centuries; invaders certainly loved traipsing past the sub continent. Travelers from as far back as the 60’s vouched for the ‘Indian experience’. For some it involved the wholesomeness of an ethnic journey and for others it was more chemically induced, either way they loved it. India never promised just the pristine and the bountiful because it had an innate raw, animal side that was an experience almost as enriching as the mountains of Kashmir and the oceans and seas. The streets had a smell, sometimes a fragrance but it was always unique to that one town, deep inside the heart of India. Travelers found a surprise at every corner. Yes, India was hot but visit anywhere between October and February and you were sure to have pleasant weather for a companion. Yes, India was dusty but so is the whole of the Gulf and Texas!!! Yes, India was poor but she was also always smiling, always giving and always a story. They gathered memories, snippets of Indian-ness and headed back home. Only to return again with friends that wouldn’t believe half the stuff they heard.

Photosindia.com has traveled far and wide in the last 3 years and seen every nook and cranny of this magnificent land. Met some amazing people, saw some amazing sites, ate some amazing food and most of all realized how amazing India really is. We had the privilege of traveling in the all Indian, all terrain, all weather vehicle, the Ambassador, some of us got into one after 20 years. Bumped our way across villages and forests, reserves we didn’t know we had. Let’s take a moment here to share a valuable link with you - http://www.indianwildlifeportal.com/wildlife-reserves. Go there and you will be flabbergasted at the number of forest reserves we have and how accessible they really are. Good time to change from the artificial luminosity of shopping paradises and cloned concrete mall structure’s; take the kids to a piece of nature.

Few of the strange things we learnt about India weren’t from the years of school and college; it was all from being on the road, on the road in India:

1. We aren’t entirely clear on this but there is a law about RV’s (Recreational Vehicles) and not being allowed to lie down on the bunk when the car is on the road???!!! That’s was one main reason we needed one and we thought the whole idea behind a bed in a car was so people could chill while someone drove! We had a 2 month road schedule, so we settled for a minibus with a loo.

2. Smoking pot is NOT legal in Pushkar but if you are ash covered, dreadlocked, semi naked and emanating suspiciously thick smoke from your suspiciously bong like pipe, no one will notice!

3. Street food is delicious, wholesome and hearty. It is also extremely picky because not everyone in a traveling team gets sick from the same place.

4. People absolutely love giving directions regardless of their sense for it. People naturally draw to a car that has slowed down in the hope of learning exactly where it is and where it is headed.

5. Bargaining is one of India’s seven wonders. Stay out of the boutique shops, the high end stores and the malls, street shop in India and enjoy discounts all year round. Street shops are abundant all over small town India, selling everything from souvenirs to local arts and crafts. Each state has indigenous crafts that look wild in western homes. So half everything quoted at you and move from there. Please remember the guy isn’t trying to fleece you, he is doing what Donald Trump does best – giving it a shot, if it works well and good, if not at least something will come his way!

6. Yes, cows are holy and they are everywhere. They roam the land like lions and unlike lions they can be messed with but shouldn’t be messed with. They hold up traffic all the time and occasionally have been known to loiter on to air strips and graze on railway lines. Ditto for dogs. Stray dogs and cows are some of the friendliest creatures in urban cities. Feed them!!

Please don’t let this humor deter you, the journey is fabulous no doubt, why worry about the destination. So come on over and feel India, sense India, smell India, let her get under your skin, it will only make your soul richer.

The time is NOW

2009-03-30T03:13:00.000-07:00

We have all heard about the state of the global economy, we are all living this reality. For all the cynicism you may have collected about the call centers that call you all day, put it all away for a while and seriously consider your savings and investments. The time is now. Simply because the sense of insecurity is fresh and most of us are likely to react only when the times are bad. So we wish all of you better prospects now and forever but that's no reason to be ignorant. For once, listen to what the ad tells you. Sincerely, Photosindia.com.

Photosindia.com in nooks and crannies!

2009-03-29T23:33:00.000-07:00

We are always amazed at where our images land up. I know we are globally available but it is still always a pleasant surprise. This image in particular is an in house favourite, the rest of the set is rich, vibrant and very festive, so I can imagine why the design agency selected this one. Whether they are addressing us or our neighbours, I am glad they found their signature images at Photosindia.com.. This ad is from Bahrain!

Get It Right!

2009-01-19T07:00:00.000-08:00

Slick campaigns need the right image to make an adequate impact. If you really want your 'copy' to scream, be sure to get your visuals right. Ideal campaigns ride on a healthy mix of words and visuals, grabbing a larger audience. Some people react to strong sentiments woven into interesting text and some just need a picture to move them. The Best bet is to spend time in selecting or creating the right image for your ad, complimenting it with a powerful message and letting people decide if it gets them in the gut or not. For easy access to high quality Indian and international images, log on to www.photosindia.com

Plan it Right

2009-01-05T03:16:00.000-08:00

Time for financial planning, taxes, savings and scrimping. You are likely to see a plethora of financial brands screaming 'choose us' from bill boards and from advertisements. The coming 3 months mean - money, money, money, going out more than coming in unfortunately. For ample exposure and certified eyeballs, these finance companies need that one strong image to say everything they want to say, the copy has almost become immaterial, with images that exude emotion and expression, there seems to be no need for words! Here's Photosindia.com saying it for CitiFinancial!

Aiding the Real Estate boom.

2008-12-22T02:29:00.000-08:00

The global economic situation maybe facing a slowdown but the same cannot be said for Indian Real Estate. I don't know the demand statistics or the sales estimates these builders have made but I do know that every week there is a new apartment complex added to the burgeoning real estate layout of a suburb/city like Gurgaon. Here too Photosindia.com provides the ideal picture for the future home of hundreds of aspiring, young Indian families.

Photosindia.com on a bestseller!

2008-12-22T00:24:00.000-08:00

Monica Pradhan has probably had it up to her neck with comparisons to Amy Tan but that just can't be helped. The underlying emotions, the mothers and their daughters, the cooking and the culture within is all so Tan-esque. The Hindi Bindi Club is being touted as the Indian version of Amy Tan's wonderfully descriptive books about her, her mother, their Chinese heritage and the land of dreams, the US. Catch Photosindia.com on the cover of Monica Pradhan's new offering, The Hindi Bindi Club, that name is almost perfect for Photosindia.com images!

Winter magic with Photosindia.com

2008-12-01T20:52:00.000-08:00

Cozy up with warm images of beautiful people. Photosindia.com stocks images to suit every season, be it the hot, hot Delhi summer or the cool environs of the mountains, we have it all. What is interesting is that clothing and lifestyle brands now want an expression, a face, a real person to convey their message rather than a group of mannequin like models dressed in their designs. In an ideal advertising situation, it is better to not showcase designs and patterns as buyers are known to abstain from buying garments displayed in advertisements. Though it is very much the ad that brings the crowds in, it isn't always for the apparel they saw in the ad, it is more for how the model in the ad looks and how he or she makes the buyer feel. Ultimately, you want to feel exactly like the model in those pictures.

We said it for HSBC

2008-11-17T04:08:00.001-08:00

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As always Photosindia.com offers the perfect image for your to tell your story. Whether it's a service or a product, we offer images that can convey your thoughts as a marketeer into a vision that your consumers can identify with.

Photosindia.com says it for Convergys

2008-11-06T19:36:00.000-08:00

Photosindia.com is making a niche in imagery that is socially very relevant. Our images have their own agenda too, to promote India and Indians as a nation of achievers.

Photosindia.com on Yahoo!

2008-11-06T19:29:00.000-08:00

That's an image Photosindia.com produced in Goa, it says everything Yahoo.com wants to convey and thats the beauty of stock images, since there are tens of thousands to choose from, you are sure to find the exact image that relays your brand's message.

PhotosIndia launches Rights Managed Collection

2008-11-04T05:07:00.001-08:00

Photosindia.com launches their new Rights Managed Collection. The collection proudly showcases highly cultured images of Indian travel, heritage and lifestyle.

Photosindia.com helps educate too!

2008-11-03T23:32:00.000-08:00

Sometimes its all about pretty faces, simple concepts and an image that has a clear cut message!

Say it with the perfect image from Photosindia.com

2008-11-03T21:52:00.000-08:00

We have been producing Indian imagery for over 3 years, there is nothing that we haven't covered and its always a pleasant surprise when one of our images is selected as the face of a brand. Makes us feel 'bang on'!

BigTV launches Diwali Promotion with PhotosIndia Image

2008-10-17T21:00:00.000-07:00

Big TV DTH service of Reliance Communications launched their Diwali Dhamaka Offer with PhotosIndia Image.

Kodak chose PhotosIndia's Image for Diwali Promotion

2008-10-16T21:59:00.000-07:00

Winds of Change for this Diwali

2008-10-13T03:06:00.000-07:00

This Diwali lets pray for peace. Coming from me that is a prophetic statement because like a lot of us I really look forward to the sweets and gifts that pour in at this time of the year. Many times I have wondered if this kind of commercial, wanton greed is healthy but since I share it with so many charged- up-Diwali-loving Indians, my guilt is reduced. So this year the quandary is “to shop or not to shop”, well, shop we all will have to, after all tradition, relationships and ego massaging is very much called for in the urban work and life culture. So the quandary shifts to “what to buy?” I have done a little homework in that area and I would sincerely encourage readers to try and opt for one of these products as their Diwali gift for the year. Budgets aside, a lot lies in the thought, purpose and objective of the gift, if you are a discerning gift giver, you would spend some time on your choices just to be sure the right gifts reach the right recipient.

The main idea of this exercise is to not only compliment the friends and family in our lives but also to extend positive vibes through our actions. There is no one thing you can do to solve the problems your loved ones face but you can participate in the alleviation of that problem. Kind words are just the beginning; incorporate a small prayer of peace at home, at work, for friends, for family, in your country and let the message manifest through your gifts.

1. Potted plants
Lucky Bamboos are truly passé, I mean they work and they look good but most of us either have them or have had them. Check out www.greengrowerindia.com for really unique plant gifts. Especially the landscapes, which work very well outdoors and since plants obtain nourishment differently, a landscape miniature garden is actually very easy to maintain. A Jade bonsai on the other hand is said to bring luck and happiness, so that would be thoughtful too. If you want to be really hands on, go get a beautiful ceramic pot and ask your local nursery to suggest a pretty perennial plant and that’s your customized Diwali gift.

2. Artwork
Look for that quaint artwork shop in your local market; check up with friends to find an artist in the group or simply Google it. Once you have a theme and budget in mind, it’s a matter of identifying the right source and you could well do a range of Buddha portraits as your Diwali gift. I have decided to commission three such pieces for very dear friends simply because I want my gift to be accompanied with blessings too.

3. Organic Produce
I love and recommend http://www.organicbounty.com/about1.asp, based in New Delhi; this organic store is online but very reliable and efficient. Try the honey from lychee flowers, add an exotic Rhododendron Jam (yes the plant!!!), mix that up with blood purifying fruits like Pomegranates and I think that makes a pretty healthy basket. Do a little research; most metros have awesome organic stores to choose from.

4. Music
I have developed a special liking for the ‘Best of Soundscapes’ CD collection available from Music Today, apart from that contemporary music can be as uplifting. After all the idea is bring a new dimension into your friends/family’s lives, introduce them to a new experience, a rejuvenating, happy experience. In western music, Sade has beautifully positive vibes, so try one of her albums. The Buddha Lounge collections are easy listening and good for urban chill time. Again you want to go very personal, then develop a collection of your own and burn it for your friends, take a quick Photoshop tutorial and make your own CD cover too.

5. Literature
Here I’d like to recommend the ‘Calm Sutra’, apart from the catchy name, the contents of the book are awe inspiring too. Published by Times of India, it promises simple truths to beat stress. The ‘Festivals of the World’ series of coffee table books are very eclectic and informative too. My personal favorite for this year is however “A Thousand Splendid Suns’ which is definitely going to two of my girlfriends.

The mood of the world is generally dismal, global slowdowns, recessions, security threats and political instability. Not a lot to look forward to unless you vow to make everyday worthwhile, for yourselves and the people around you. Add a touch of calm, a feeling of serenity and spread joy, for everyday is worth it.

Festivals and Shopping

2008-09-29T21:01:00.000-07:00

We are on the threshold of shopping season and I hope everyone is geared up for it. I know two wonderful women that start putting away just 2500 rupees from May onwards and by the time they hit October, they have an awesome booty of Rs. 12,500 from practically nowhere. That tuck is kept for Durga Puja, Dussehra and little bit of winter wasting! Diwali sees it own extravagance and that can be discussed later but the deals that are springing up now are a treat in itself. Brands and products start the wooing process earlier every year, ever since we saw the advent of globalization, 365 days of the year didn’t seem enough for shopping. Markets and stores were flooded with foods, apparel, kitchenware and everything else that’s worth buying, seasonal specials didn’t happen in December like the west, they happened all the way from September till November. For a nation in perpetual inflation, we certainly had a penchant for waste. Maybe that’s not entirely fair; some of us keep genuine requirements for this time of the year. But I do know of one soul that has already ordered a suspicious 1 GB MP3 player, which I keep calling IPod, but then at $20, I know I am absolutely wrong! Followed by a home décor set which comprised of mismatched block print bed linen that I wouldn’t even use in a $10 bed and breakfast. These trends make me think that this time of the year actually causes a kind of ‘shopping’ fever that few can control. Every morning the newspaper greets you with endless offers, sales and steals, they all seem over the top and that’s when I wonder, if the damn thing is priced this cheap then why did we pay all a premium the whole year through?

All this ranting is in lieu of the first day of ‘Navratri’ which is today, the 30th of September 2008. Today start the nine holy days that Hindu’s observe twice a year. Personally, it is the latter halves Navratri days that I prefer the most, they lead up to the opulence of Diwali, the sensation of complete health, wealth and well being. The weather too starts changing, leaves fall and fresh ones erupt, the sun sets earlier than usual and there is a certain nip in the air, that is so very welcome after months of sweltering Indian heat. These days bring on a sense of oneness with God and nature, it is no wonder that shoppers step out in throngs.

This is the time to redecorate the house if you have been meaning to do it; this Dussehra and Diwali month dedicate your space to color and light. As a budget option, pick corners of your house that need perking up and work on those areas only. After you have decided on the nook you want to change, think of the colors that you associate with this season, for me it’s always red and gold, a nice matte bronze like gold. Now set a budget, keep in mind the fact the season lasts almost 2 months and is followed by another month of partying, Christmas and New Years, so your theme corner will stay symbolic for longer than you think. Now to the fun part – scrapbooking. Making scrapbooks is not just for kids, it can be amazing grown up fun. Take a thick cover sketch book, glue stick, markers, sketch pens and your imagination. Now think of all the lovely knick knacks you saw in last month’s magazine or that perfect table arrangement showcased in ‘Cosmo’ or even the table cloth you know Westside has. Wherever you find inspiration try and take a piece of that, a digital picture (my friend still uses her Polaroid), a magazine cutting, a newspaper article and add it to you scrapbook cuttings. I usually divide my scrapbook into sections like bedroom, kid’s room, living room, kitchen etc. so I know exactly where each cutting belongs and once I am on my shopping sojourns I can spot what I want immediately. I use family pictures, cloth swatches, movie stubs, chocolate wrappers in my scrapbook too, so it’s more of a memoir and chronicle than a personal shopping wishlist. The latest corner I made was near my fish tank, I used 3 votive candles (raspberry red), a red glass lantern with a flower and vine pattern painted on it, a beautiful piece of white stone, an incense holder and a tall metal vase in matte red, in which I keep gold painted reeds. That is my festive corner and I hope I have inspired you to make one too. Do this for all seasons, it refreshes the house and it feels good to have something brand new set up for celebration. Watch this space for Holi ideas next!

Find Photosindia.com on Every Nook and Corner

2008-09-29T09:47:00.000-07:00

Photosindia.com has come a long way in three years, it has circled the globe and adorned innumerable billboards, magazines and brands. Each time an image is sold the scope of stock imagery expands. The profile of users is constantly changing and its dynamism is very encouraging. Stock images have come a long way, from random collection of travel and lifestyle pictures, it is now a well researched and organized industry with exceptionally talented photographers and state of the art technology. The Photographs available now are exactly what the market needs, its amazing how easy developing creative's has become. That is probably the reason our image was spotted at a bookstore in Pakistan. The variety, quantity and quality allows buyers to choose from thousands of beautiful pictures and they are bound to find the perfect one for their project.

There is always time to renew, relive, rejoice!

2008-09-02T07:06:00.000-07:00

I don’t know if it’s all these networking sites or the fact that we (30 + crowd) are at an age where we feel the need to reconnect with our youth. But suddenly I am in touch with over a 100, yes over a 100 of my friends from before I was 20 years old. We have all become different people, followed paths we never imagined for ourselves or each other and most of all, most of us are now parents. Monumental changes have taken place and no matter who tries to convince me that we are who we are by the time we are 18 is talking bunkum. We develop way into our 30’s at the most. I just have to look around and notice the nerds who are now millionaires, the bimbos that are brand managers and the intelligentsia that’s gone to hell. As we have found each other, we have gone on to renew friendships and regroup in the cliques of yore. I look at my mailbox and I have been messaging the same 6 girls I was closest to 15 years ago, strange! Yet the surprise has manifested in other ways, the most unexpected acquaintances have more in common with me now than they did over a decade ago. Some of them are in the same profession as me, which is lucrative in its own way and some are doing fantastic things like reform work in Afghanistan and live reportage from the Beijing Olympics.

This landslide of friends has gotten more than my share of reunion invites and though I was apprehensive for the longest time, I have to admit, I attended one and it was fine. I would have loved to handpick the crowd but then I didn’t have that choice 10 years ago, why would I now? So it was a healthy mix of the wackos, the sweeties, the sexies and the rest. I walked in late not because I like to make an appearance (only sometimes!) but because I wanted to make sure I didn’t have to wait for the interesting lot. I stayed for an hour which was another good choice, that way you get just the right dose of nostalgia. I made small talk with everyone, even the ones I didn’t make small talk with before. That’s the strange thing about serious adulthood (30+), you feel obliged to be way more polite than you were in your teens. It’s not cool to ignore after a certain age. In my experience you are likely to need each and every person you ignored for extremely crucial things like passport work, business deals and school admissions. All in all it was a wholesome experience. I felt good for the lot of us.

Friendship is a funny thing, it can be deep but you don’t even have to be in the same country and it can be faint living next door to a friend. However relationships work, everyone needs them. I think the pendulum of social interaction sways from family (as kids) to friends (in your teens) and back to family after 30-35 years. It was nice to remake friend’s, it was easier than meeting new people. I highly recommend a reunion to anyone contemplating hosting or attending one. Some people are actually so much better as grown-ups you are bound to be pleasantly surprised. No doubt old friends are gold but new ones have a lot of glitter. So get off the networking sites, the chats and the sms’s and go out there and meet them. Celebrate your accomplishments with the people that walked part of the path with you. Add a couple of drinks, good food and neutral music and you have the makings of an unforgettable evening. Let me know how it went!

Tell your Tale

2008-08-31T21:00:00.000-07:00

I sometimes wonder how hard it must be for designers and advertisers to find the right image. First you conceptualize an advertisement and then what? Well, there are several ways to scale this mountain, you can spend a LOT of money and go shoot whats in your head (hey I don't mean literally shoot yourself in desperation), I mean engage a studio, a photographer, an art director and a whole bunch of people beyond that, just to produce that one image that will tell your brand's story. The second option is cheaper, faster, dynamic and very very easily available - Stock Photos.

We at Photosindia.com in particular take pride in the fact that our images have told some big stories. We have been associated with domestic and international brands and our images have been lauded for having that touch of class not easily found with other Indian stockists. We personally believe our stronger point is making 'stock' buying and using easy for buyers. We research for you, we customize for you and most of all we think for you. With over 25,000 images now in circulation, we are sure we will have that one idea you want to see as an image.

The Incredible Spa feeling

2008-08-24T23:21:00.000-07:00

Spa’s seem to be the longest standing fad since boot cut jeans. Maybe there is more to spa treatments than meets the skin! I have always had a very practical approach to holistic treatments, apply only what can’t be consumed, for instance, why waste a whole papaya on your face, when you can eat half of it and create a benefit for your eyes and digestion. In fact fruit facials seemed almost absurd to me unless the fruit is too rancid to be eaten or generally tastes lousy.

The latest trend is veering towards even weirder products being applied all over the body, no matter how tempting chocolate is, it belongs in the mouth and nowhere else, unless you are considering it for intimate purposes, then that’s entirely a personal choice. But chocolate as a body pack just doesn’t seem right. The cocoa bean has numerous qualities, it has vitamins (A, B1, C, D & E), calcium and potassium, it even has endorphins, the chemicals that make a person happy. The main reason chocolate has won as a spa treatment is the anti oxidant properties it contains. Anti oxidants fight free radicals and free radicals are bad boys, they harm blood vessels, skin elasticity, the heart and worst of all, they are attributed to causing clusters of cancer cells. I guess that’s good enough reason for people to go find the closest Chocolate Spa treatment in their area. Chocolate is the only food substance I would suggest as an application, after all applying it would save you the calories but then again, is it worth the sacrifice? If chocolates have anti oxidants and all the other good stuff, then I would rather pop a piece in my mouth and rejoice.

The spa treatments that I completely agree with are of an entirely different nature. They have a science attached to them that is a little more gratifying and convincing than just “it’s good for you”. Massages for example, just regular massages can be the ultimate spa experience if done correctly. Use natural oils like coconut, olive or mustard (smoke it on a fire so the overpowering fragrance is reduced) or even a mild product like baby oil is great. Make sure the masseuse is either qualified, experienced or comes with great references, because he or she can hurt you.

Dim the lights, burn incense, lay out some flowers petals if you like flowers and just close your eyes. Let the stress slip out the soles of your feet and let strength seep into your neck and shoulders. There is a process for de-stressing during a massage, concentrate on every single part of your body, start with your toes. Relax your toes, let them be flaccid, move on to your ankles, the shin, the knees and so on. By the time you reach your forehead, you would have turned your body into a limp mass of person that requires an hour of kneading. Be the dough! Good massages can assist in digestion, weight loss, muscle strengthening, de-stressing and a general sense of well being. Massages can be had at home, at a spa or even your garden. In India, massages are a norm from the time a person is born. Infants as young as a few weeks old are gently massaged to help develop their dexterity, coordination and muscle strength. Almost all Indian children have been brought up on massages. Beyond the physical benefits, it is also a good way to bond with your baby.

Several holistic treatments that are age old remedies in Indian medicine (Ayurveda) are being adopted by Spa’s. Some of which are easy to replicate at home. The idea is to devote 2 hours a week to your body, that is sufficient time to take care of your hair, skin, teeth, nails and mind. Get a massage once a week, that’s 45 minutes and the rest of the time can be used for simple home treatments that are way more organic than anything in a bottle. If someone bottles consumables as body treatments there has to be a preservative involved, so when you use that product, you actually use the preservative too. There are a few simple recipes below that can give you a budget spa feeling within hours in your own home.

Hair:
1 egg white (never use the yolk, that’s where the foul smell comes from)
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp olive or coconut oil
1 tbsp yoghurt

Mix all the ingredients and apply to the scalp and hair for 15 minutes or till the egg white dries and makes your hair crispy. Wash with tepid water and don’t apply shampoo till the end of the day.

Face:
2 tbsp chickpea flour
1/s tsp lemon juice (natural bleach but very potent so be stingy)
1 tbsp fresh cream (it’s better to take it off the top of boiled milk but in a lot of countries milk is tetra packed so the next not so best thing is packaged dairy cream)
1/s tsp sugar

Mix all the ingredients, to make a paste you can use a teaspoon of milk if the liquids in the recipe are not sufficient to make a paste the consistency of putty. Apply on the face for 15 minutes, when it is drying, gently rub it off. The dry face pack will take off fine hairs on the face and the sugar will help exfoliate.

Nails:
2 tbsp glycerin
1 tsp lemon juice

Dip your fingers in this mix for 10 minutes a week and watch your nails sparkle white and stay healthy and chip free.

'Rakhi' means Love, Affection, Sweets & presents!

2008-08-09T02:44:00.000-07:00

According to www.raksha-bandhan.com/ - “Raksha Bandhan’ or the ‘Rakhi’ festival is a sacred thread embellished with sister's love and affection for her brother. On the day of ‘Raksha Bandhan’ sisters tie a ‘Rakhi’ on their brother's wrist and express their love for him. By accepting a ‘Rakhi’ from a sister a brother gladly takes on the responsibility of protecting her sister. In Indian tradition the frail thread of Rakhi is considered stronger than iron chains as it binds brothers and sisters in an inseparable bond of love and trust. Rakhi holds immense significance in Indian cultural ethos. The custom of celebrating Rakhi started in Vedic times and even today brothers and sisters consider it must to celebrate the occasion in traditional manner. When brothers are away sisters send Rakhi to them and express their love. Accepting the Rakhi with grace brothers send Return gifts to their sister. This loving gesture goes a long way in strengthening brother sister relationship and building stronger family ties. The importance of Raksha Bandhan is same as Diwali festival in India.”

Those are the facts about ‘Rakhi’ but if you speak to regular people, each one will have a special anecdote, a special feeling and a special brother to talk about. India is a largely family oriented country and brothers are valued as much for their participation in family as they are for the sex they belong to. An Indian family is not considered complete without a son who is a brother for the daughter and an heir for the family name. Sadly this results in many socially and ethically untoward practices but this is not a forum to discuss those issues. This is a forum to talk about a lovely festival called ‘Rakhi’. For me it is especially exciting because I have a wonderful brother and 16 male first cousins. Rakhi as a day has been the same all my life, each and every ritual is carefully planned and executed, even now, when my aunts are way into their 70’s.

The festival celebrations are held in one of the home of the four sons my paternal grandfather had. We all gather there at noon and some of us meet only on these occasions. We would love to meet more often but life’s constraints don’t always make it easy. My father’s sisters abstain from eating till they have tied a ‘Rakhi’ on their brother’s wrists. The kids (us) on the other hand aren’t all that conscious, there are way too many sweets and snacks going around to keep this kind of familial discipline. Our 86 year old family cook (fondly called ‘Maharaj’) is still engaged to cook for this day. The fare is vegetarian but the variety is exceptional. Maharaj claims a cup of ‘ghee’ (clarified butter) gives him the strength to cook for over 40 people. In fact we have a dessert served every year called ‘Moong Dal Halva’. It's made of soaked and ground ‘Mung’ lentils, roasted in clarified butter and finally finished with sugar syrup. This needs to be constantly stirred for almost an hour and Maharaj can sit on his haunches and do this with 2-3 kilos of ground lentils. Thats one reason I spend a lot of time in the kitchen during such occasions; it’s the best place to learn nuances not available in cook books.

The ceremony lasts a while because we are so many of us. Beautiful, colorful threads are tied on our brother’s arms, the younger ones look adorable with their wrists full of garish sequin and paisley designs. The ‘Rakhi’ is tied, a vermillion ‘tika’ is applied to the forward with a touch of rice grains for auspicious reasons and a wide array of sweets are offered, all in return for a promise of TLC from our brothers and of course, a gift. When we were kids the gifts would range from books to shoes and gorgeous Indian salwar kameez’s picked by my aunts. Now that we are older, it’s even better, it’s cash! Fortunately for me, my brothers are successful, generous souls and the novelty in gift money is always there. Over the years I have stopped planning for this loot; it’s for me to waste. So this year I am off to malls right after lunch, I need to splurge and I believe Guess and Body Shop are on sale. Yippee!!

Sporty Kids

2008-07-28T04:33:00.000-07:00

The Euro Cup just got over and the lull is almost painful. Since I don’t believe in football clubs, my only real salvation is the World Cup and the UEFA championship or the occasional Olympics Football matches. I am not too partial with the Olympics, they seem to be cursed for the Brazilians and if the Brazilians aint winnin’, I aint watchin’. Every 2 years there seems to be a higher purpose in life, something beyond work, home and family. Not necessarily undermining the important things in life but taking precedent for the time being. That ‘higher purpose’ for me is ‘football’, I like calling it soccer though, people still think ‘American football’ actually deserves to be called ‘football’ at all! Soccer is the epitome of what I think people ought to be – forward, tough, pushy, relentless, passionate, focused, patriotic, charged, co-dependent and all those wonderful things only seen in a game of football. The exact moment to notice all these feelings is when a goal is scored. Players embrace each other like blood brothers, they cry without shame, they kiss the earth and imagine their motherlands, and it is all so raw and so pure.

Soccer and I started a romance as early as the age of 6, way back in ’82, when televisions were still black and white and stood on ornate wrought iron stands; I remember that some even had wooden shutters. It was summer outside and my dad had decided that I would actually remain awake to watch the matches with him, much to my mother’s disdain. I was already a hyper and mildly violent child; she didn’t need for me to see more hysteria. It was held in Spain that year, a Spanish fruit was the mascot and Netherlands didn’t qualify, those were the two memories that never left me. 25 years on, I am not half as hyper or even slightly violent, I guess that’s one place my mother was wrong, what I am is – persevering, disciplined, ambitious, passionate, patriotic and very proud! Most of that has come from soccer. These days my dearest friend’s son plays football, he is all of 10 but the wisdom that boy exudes has to come from an innate confidence that not all children have. Anant plays for ‘Shimla Youngs’, how I love that name! How wonderful it must be to certify your youth. I have seen this boy blossom in front of my eyes. There is heaviness in his voice that doesn’t come from testosterone, there is a spring in his gait that doesn’t come from nonchalance and most of all there is a ‘nose up in the air’ pride that seems so becoming of ambitious young boys. All these traits are developed from Soccer, I am sure of it. This can be seen in children all over our city but not all kids have such noble reasons for being uppity. Let this be a lesson for us. If the kids must walk proud, the pride ought to come from personal achievements and not the car their father drives. If the kids must talk heavy, it ought to be because they know what they are saying and not because their cantankerous mothers are standing behind them.

Let’s empower our kids. Give them voices with a cause, a purpose, a passion. So whether you have a son or a daughter, sports have to be a part of their lives. Just the way reading is promoted, I wish sports were too. The learning is so unique, no instrument or art can replace team sports. I encourage you to pick schools that promote a sports culture, I urge you to emphasize the need for ESPN over MTV, I beg you to move on from frivolous, urban trends and go back to the good old days of PT. We are all in the era of fast foods, fast friends and fast lives, slow your kids down, hand them a bat, a ball, a racket or just lead them to a swimming pool and let the natural sports person in your child break free!

The Judges decision is FINAL!

2008-07-13T22:13:00.000-07:00

The campaign was a roaring success; the cause seemed to be close to many hearts. It was encouraging to see the number of people that reacted to a debate that has been raging in India for decades. The steps to enter were simple, log on to www.photosindia.com or click on the link sent in the mailer and you will reach a landing page where details of the contest were given. Further on there was a simple registration form and that took the designer to the page were our images were available for downloading. The designer could select any one image that inspired them, then download it and start making a difference.

The registrations were in triple digits and the response was as good. By end of week 1 we had more entries than we had imagined, it brought a sense of peace to all of us. The contest ended in a fortnight and we were swamped with designs, one better than the other. The entries were scrubbed of all personal information about the entrant and submitted to our revered judge Mr. Namchu, who has recently joined Contract Advertising as ECD. He was kind enough to respond within days and then we had our 3 big winners. All of us unanimously agreed with his decision, we were happy to see path breaking visuals and ideas come out of a campaign open to all.

I had the pleasure of meeting our 1st prize winner Ms. Garima Arora the week after announcing the results; we wanted to personally hand over the prize. We had a nice chat over coffee and I was happy to learn that Garima was in the corporate sector and had no formal design training. She definitely fooled us because her creative was impactful and extremely easy to absorb. Garima came across as a proud, hard working, focused young woman, much like the women we hope all our daughters will grow up to be, provided we let them and support them. Having lost her father 5 years ago, I could see the pride and confidence he had imbibed in his daughter and I knew his presence was with her. I guess that is what propelled her to become the winner.

To be honest, the 2nd and 3 rd prize winners were no less creative, imaginative and opinionated; one ad just had to stand out. On that note we would like to congratulate Aanton from RK Swamy BBDO, the winner of the 2nd prize. Unfortunately I don’t know under what mindset Aanton created his visual piece because I would love to, his entry was so highly thought provoking and bang on. Apart from the endangered tag what got me in the gut was that women are truly another species, well maybe not scientifically but socially they are.

This entry was outstanding because it addressed the issue in the language that is understood by a large section of Indian society, the people responsible for causes like ‘save the girl child’ to be actually become a cause! Done by Pranav Harihar Sharma and Amol Dhanukar, this Ad had the sensibility to promote an acute design sense and power of local lingo, loved it! I also especially liked their choice of enterprising women, perfect balance of eras and professions.

We hope you liked the entries, we hope they spoke to you the way they spoke to us and I hope this message doesn't end with the campaign.

Power the flower

2008-07-07T04:53:00.000-07:00

“Is there a way to quantify ‘progress’, when it comes to the female sex? In a country where men significantly outnumber women and in a world where businesses are still largely run by men, the scope of opportunity is bleak. Women across the globe have been conditioned into multi tasking and that’s a skill they tend to take with them to their married homes and their urban jobs. In 61 years of independence, a new stratum of female workers has emerged. This is a demographic that comprises of women of all ages that have one thing in common, circumstance. These women value enterprise, respect labor, crave financial freedom and ultimately desire to be ‘individuals’.
And yet we deny these women a place in the sun, even before they become people, we deny them the right to live. What we need to do is eliminate discrimination and not the ‘child’. In order address the issue of ‘elimination’ we must incorporate awareness as a solution and a tool.

Academic courses are now being offered at high school level, mainly to discourage young marriages and also to encourage a sense of enterprise. Indian girls fare better in school and given the opportunity, they are more likely to complete college. The main reasons women don’t work in India are high birth rates, discrimination and complete lack of support. Opportunity fortunately is not lacking any longer. Women are making their way into aviation, armed forces, politics and other male bastions but this is at a macro level. Look closer and you will see a new, young and innocent India. Between the grass roots are the future mothers of India’s business force,
India’s entrepreneurs, India’s young Turks!”

This was the introduction for a CSR campaign Photosindia.com did in conjunction with Exchange4Media.com last month. It was probably one of the most painful forewords to write because contextually it was hitting home in two ways, I am a woman and I have a daughter. Both of which I consider blessings. So it is hard to imagine a world that thinks otherwise. Please excuse my gullibility, I have seen the statistics and I know that majority of couples that abort a female child are urban couples in metro cities. So I guess it isn’t one ‘those’ things after all. It is a rampant, heartfelt, reacted upon evil we are construing as an issue that only old India dealt with. A sculptor I met in Nainital once told me that this ‘son’ fixation was all over the world. The typical all American father wanted nothing more than a son to toss a ball or two with and that Nordic fisherman would never dream of taking a daughter on board. I listened quietly and when he was done I asked if any of these fathers killed the daughters in the womb? He said ‘no’!

There is no dearth of media focus on this subject and yet it refuses to go away, we managed to curb AIDS numbers but we can’t get the natural balance in our population back! So in a series we want to simply call ‘SAVE’, this is the first installment – ‘Save the Girl child’.

This campaign was promoted extensively by Exchange4Media and we were honored to receive entries in triple digits, considering there were no prizes mentioned the mailer, this seemed like a purely 'social responsibility' kind of activity. The idea was simple yet driven by a deeper cause. We offered 3 images to the creative community to come up with a poster on 'Save the girl child'. We wanted an 'awareness poster' yet we were keen to avoid a typical preachy quality that awareness campaigns have and project a more emotional representation of the plight of Indian girls.

Watch this space for the winners. Due to immense popularity of this campaign we would like to make this contest available to the readers of our blog as well. Please wait for details on the next topic and the images you can use.

Photosindia.com graces international magazine covers

2008-06-27T01:57:00.000-07:00

On the topic of ‘right faces at the right places’, I must add that I am seriously considering proposing that tag line for our ‘people’ images. Whenever Photosindia.com images appeared in advertisements we felt gratified by that presence, we felt validated for the kind of research and effort we put into image making and most of all we felt proud. Our images are used across American and European business and lifestyle magazines because of their multi cultural, urban feel. Whenever a product or feature is speaking to Asians, they look to us for inspiration.

Photosindia.com images were used on the cover of a trendy print production based out of Texas, USA. Diya’s Salaam Namaste magazine is targeted at Indian Americans and people doing business with them. From Lifestyle to Bollywood, Diya’s SN has got it all. The features in the magazine are typical of Indian culture and I am sure it makes hundreds of thousands of Indian’s feel more at home, feel more at sync with their country. There are recipes from back home, the fashion scene and best of all the gossip. The most endearing part is the fabulous balance of Eastern culture and Western living that is evident in every article.

With time the canvas is expanding, the usage of our imagery is changing manifold. Fortunately for us consumers are awakening to the potential cost and design benefits of royalty free stock photos. Considering that most creative people try to tell an entire story through one visual, the impact of an image is essential, it should hit home. Photosindia.com images tug at the heart, lighten the moment and add class to a product. Producing for an unknown buyer is the real challenge in stock photography. With collections running into millions, there is still a demand for that elusive image we hope we can think up and produce. At that moment the right question to ask is, what does India look like today? Who is she in 2008? And then make images out of the answers. India is fresh, alive, vibrant, wholesome, unique and today India is brand new.

Our images are apt for such publications because they tell stories we have already captured in our images. The love of a family, the bonding of friends, the support system of a community, it is all so ‘India’! The featured images do complete justice to the concept of this magazine. The image complements the words and makes a delectable package for everyday reading.

Photosindia.com image showcase on Itasveer.com

2008-06-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

www.Photosindia.com is happy to announce their collaboration with yet another likeminded, youthful and spirited e-venture, www.Itasveer.com. They print pictures, we click them. They even put them on t-shirts, mugs and calendars and we would love for you to have some of our images on that kind of stuff. Makes complete sense! Watch this space for more of Photosindia.com & Itasveer.com product launches.

Photosindia.com is a pioneer in Indian stock photography. Our extensive research and development is evident in our content. Our images are soulful, real and extremely relevant to the current market scenario. Not just in India but the entire world. Photosindia.com images are much sought after because they are the perfect balance of east and west. As Indian lifestyle creeps closer to a more westernized landscape, so does the design of products and services, this in turn effects all the images associated with that product or service. Sometimes you need just the right faces at the just the right places, we guess that’s what Itasveer.com found on Photosindia.com. We are always looking for services that complement our images and the plans with Itasveer.com are definitely unfolding in that direction.

Whether it is digital imagery or old school analogue prints, photographs are the best way to preserve memories. As life gets busier it is good to have pictures on the go, on your laptop, on your phone and in your bag. For all the long hauls at airports, crawling traffic, endless business trips and tiresome relatives, print your pics now.

Vets for your pets

2008-06-16T22:43:00.000-07:00

Veterinarians are not considered just animal doctors any longer. Whether they are engaged in the care of domesticated animals or have dedicated their lives to wilder species, they are a section of medical professionals that usually get involved in this profession for the love of animals over everything else. A good vet will first establish a relationship with the animal in his care and that is most prevalent in vets looking after pet dogs, birds and cats. Since domesticated pets are already humanized to a certain extent, it is important for a vet to develop a personal equation with the animal. Vets consider trust to be a vital component in their treatment technique. Apart from these emotional ties a vet is required to provide basic medical care which includes yearly vaccinations, monthly check ups along with nutrition and exercise advice, emergency care and support.

All vets maintain medical records of the animals under their care. Since pets require yearly inoculations, it is advisable to encourage such record keeping. There are two core vaccinations for dogs, the most important being Rabies vaccine because rabies is a fatal disease that can be transmitted to humans and has no cure. The vaccine is given between 12 and 16 weeks of age, a booster shot is given after one year, subsequently additional boosters are given every three years. The second is the Distemper combination vaccine which includes Distemper virus, Parvovirus, Adenovirus, and Parinfluenza virus. This vaccine is given every 3-4 weeks, beginning at 6-8 weeks of age and continuing until at least 16 weeks of age. The Non Core Vaccines are those that battle diseases from exposure to other infected animals and environments. Their administration depends upon the evaluation of the pet. Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine is recommended for pets that have exposure to others dogs in their living premises or play areas. This is an annual vaccine depending on the product used and the dog’s degree of risk.

The debate raging these days is whether to administer annual vaccinations to dogs at all. Vaccinations are now being suspected of creating vulnerability to diseases and chronic illnesses like, arthritis, seizures, allergies, gastrointestinal disorders, thyroid disorders, and even cancer. Veterinary experts recommend administering fewer vaccines to dogs now than the earlier norm of yearly vaccinations. How does a vet determine whether or not a dog really needs further vaccination? The answer at hand is called the ‘Titre Test'. The term “titter” refers to the concentration of a substance in a solution. When testing vaccine titres in dogs, a veterinarian takes a blood sample from a dog and has the blood tested for the presence and strength of the dog’s immunological response to a viral disease. If the dog demonstrates satisfactory levels of vaccine titres, the dog is considered sufficiently immune to the disease and not in need of further vaccination against the disease.

Apart from providing the basics of animal healthcare, vets also need to have an ‘emergency care’ unit prepared at all times. Animal emergencies can be more severe and have fewer diagnostics as compared to human emergencies. Vets provide this service by being available 24x7 and/or having the medical equipment and facilities to treat an animal in urgent need of medical care. Specialized emergency Veterinary care includes emergency surgical equipment, diagnostic equipment like x-ray, ultrasound, pathological testing laboratory and recuperation rooms. Enterprising vets have combined this setup with a boarding facility for not just sick pets but also for pets that need a home for a specific amount of time that their owners are away. Though people would love to take their pets everywhere with them it is not a realistically possible. The most basic function of a boarding kennel is to provide a happy and healthy environment for a pet to live in. The staff needs to be loving and patient to help the pet get acquainted to a new living arrangement. The living area should be clean and well ventilated. There should be plenty of open spaces for the animals to play, rest and interact. The feeding area should be hygienic and provide enough space for all the animals to eat peacefully. A vet owned boarding kennel has the obvious advantage of a professional at hand, but a kennel providing the above will surely suffice.

Yoga for all

2008-06-12T01:21:00.000-07:00

My personal experience with ‘yoga’ can definitely qualify as a journey. It started way before the ‘fad’ did and the inconsistency of my efforts is apparent every time Madonna is mentioned in the same sentence as ‘Ashtanga Yoga’. Painful! India is the home of ‘yoga’, it ought to be part of every Indian’s lifestyle and though it is creeping into most Indian homes, there are a lot of potential converts left to target. Every colony and every locality boasts of a yoga center or yoga teacher, though I highly doubt the credentials of some, I am hopeful that after little of recce and user feedback, I may just find the right instructor or school for my hundredth stint with ‘yoga’. What swayed me was the history and theory attached to ‘yoga’ that made it seem so tedious. Now that it is developing as a new age ‘mantra’, I can relate to it better.

Old school preached ‘yoga’, new age instructors help you develop a taste for it, make you a connoisseur, so much more tempting, don’t you think? ‘Yoga’ can be your path to ‘nirvana’ without the ‘righteous’ tag. Take out an hour a day, wear loose, flowy, preferably light linen clothes. Find an engaging environment, it could be your favorite nook in your apartment, the landing of your building staircase, your balcony on the 9th floor or if you are lucky, your 10 acre backyard. If you haven’t picked any of the above, sit on the floor of your room and picture that ‘engaging environment’. Yup, that’s it. Now stretch … that’s my approach to ‘yoga’. Throw in an annual trip to the mountains and my experience is alive again.

References to ‘yoga’ are present in the ancient texts of the 'Upanishads' and 'Puranas' composed in the Vedic period. Patanjali, a Hindu ‘Vedanist’ wrote the 'Yoga Sutra', around two thousand Years ago. The book contains 195 aphorisms or ‘sutra’s’ that explain the principles of ‘yogic’ discipline and practice. ‘Ashtanga Yoga’, a fairly new entrant into the new-age realm was also based on ‘Patanjali’s’ writings. The best explanation I could find was on www.ashtanga.com and it said “This method of Yoga involves synchronizing the breath with progressive series of postures—a process producing intense internal heat and a profuse, purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs. The result is improved circulation, a light and strong body, and a calm mind.” Wow, that’s deep! Now I really want to try it!

My Baby and Me

2008-05-22T22:57:00.000-07:00

I was destined to be a mother of daughters. I knew it from the time I was 17 and decided I wanted to get married early but have kids late. Worked out beautifully for me, I was married at 20, had a wonderful 9 year party with my favorite person in the world, my husband and then one fine day decided, I wanted to be a mom! Nature was kind, we conceived the very month we discussed it and our beautiful little baby was on its way. I have deep spiritual leanings and I rely heavily on the Tao, it kept telling me to be a rock in the river and let the water flow, so I did. The pregnancy was uneventful, no morning sickness, no aversions and certainly no complications. We scheduled a C section a week before the baby’s due date and were thrilled to know the exact very day we were going to be parents. Even the night before the big day, I had pink dreams, hues of pink, peach and lilac all over everything in my dreams, like I was dreaming in rose tinted glasses. Nature blessed us that day at 3:15 pm with a 7 ½ pound, healthy baby girl. I watched my C section in a mirror on the ceiling, I watched my baby breathe air for the first time, I watched my soul reach out from my body and touch her toes. We named her Alyssa Maya Shirazi.

Life was never the same again. I had my muse, my friend, my baby, my blood, right there in my arms. The wonderful journey of motherhood had begun. The one thing people noticed most about me was the amount I kissed my daughter that was simply because I couldn’t believe she was there and that she was mine. It’s been over two years now. She is a million times more of a doll than she was the day she was born! She speaks fluent Hindi and is catching up on English fairly quickly. Her doctor has suggested we get her evaluated for IQ levels in the next 3 years, she has a vocabulary of over 500 words and can hold a 3 minute conversation verbatim, all before the ripe little age of 2 ½ years. Ally draws already, mostly straight lines and bulbous circles. Ally prefers her books to toys, she can name ever object in a picture alphabet book, she said she preferred to say ‘X-mas’ tree for X, xylophone was too much of a tongue twister. We agreed with her! Ally has been eating on her own since she was 18 months, she can put on a pair of pants, she can wear Velcro shoes on her own and she has been threatening to do her own hair too! These developments have left us thrilled no doubt but we are also doubly concerned about channelizing this energy correctly. Fortunately for Ally her paternal grandma is a qualified child psychologist and her first piece of advice has remained Ally’s social mainstay, she advised that we let Ally socialize as much as possible. Toddlers like Ally ‘give’ more than ‘take’, if they are not provided an avenue for this energy release, they implode emotionally. And if you think you have seen a toddler throw a tantrum wait till you see a bright one do it! Over the last 6 months we have picked up the following points to make Ally the complete person she craves so much to be –

1. Avoid boredom at all cost: even if it means stocking up on pounds of play dough or making a sand pit in your 10th floor apartment, a smart kid needs an outlet, all the time! Since I am very fussy about the kind of materials Ally plays with, I prefer to make my own play dough. It’s a simple recipe:
Nature's Playdough
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 cup water
2 tablespoon oil
2 tablespoon cream of tartar
beet, spinach, and carrot juice

Mix flour, salt and oil, and slowly add the water. Cook over medium heat, stirring until dough becomes stiff. Turn out onto wax paper and let cool. Knead the dough with your hands until of proper consistency. Use as is, or divide into balls and add a few drops of the vegetable juices to make green, pink, and orange. Store in an air tight container, the salt will keep it preserved for as long as 4 weeks but keep an eye out for mildew.
2. Make eye contact: the only way to address an intelligent child is to take them seriously. Children can easily identify when they are being taken for a ride and when mom and dad are really listening. Perceptive kids can pick up on parental nonchalance and that’s one more reason for them to rebel.
3. Answer every query: even smart toddlers don’t always have a fun story to tell but by and large their nature allows them to ask exceptionally sharp questions. Avoiding the question is not an option, even the hardest one need to be dealt with and weak answers are never acceptable to tardy toddlers. So even if you are asked where babies come from, no need to get down and dirty but make sure the stork and baby story is believable and entertaining! A lot of questions mean a lot of thoughts, a lot of thoughts can result in action only if the child is helped in comprehending what they are thinking, that’s when you come in.
4. Listen, I mean really listen: I have heard insanely profound words come out of my daughter’s mouth. Since she does not have a maternal grandmother, her curiosity about ‘nani’ is slightly on the peaked side. I told her that her Nani was with God and her immediate retort was why, I answered that God asked for her to come visit, to which Ally promptly announced, ‘Mummy, you don’t go if he calls you, say you are busy in the office’. Sharp kids can let you in on how they are feeling, how they are coping and what they are missing by simply talking to you. You can address deep set fears and anxieties by listening to what the child is trying to say, ask a few interested questions and you will be able to deduce exactly what is on your child’s mind.
5. Respect your toddler: the only way a child will learn respect is by having it meted out to them. Even when a child is being unreasonable, they deserve the same respect you would give to a peer. We have to accept that our children have a difficult world to live in. They need tools like self esteem and pride to be able to be respectful and disciplined. Don’t undermine your child’s anxiety, look for signs of activities or people that stress them out and most importantly always speak politely to your child. A 3 years old child’s stress can revolve around an ill pet, a missing hair-band or a sulking friend. These are bona fide issues for a child and can be dealt easily with conservation and patience.

These are learning’s of a first time parent but these are also easy ways to herald a bond. I have felt these revelations develop around me because I have a daughter, I chose to assume they are a more sensitive and intuitive sex. So please nurture while nature takes its course. Even if you have those 2 hours in a day, make them worthwhile. Girls are wonderful people, they make excellent executives, exceptional students, remarkable sportspeople, I am running out of superlatives … but you know what I mean. Celebrate your daughters, they deserve it!

A little bit of Heaven!

2008-05-12T21:20:00.000-07:00

How I love Kashmir? Words beseech me and that’s a feat because I am rarely ever gobsmacked! My association with Kashmir is roughly 30 years old but if you consider vivid human memory then I would say 27 years to be precise. My first real trip to Kashmir was at the age of 5. We flew to Srinagar and stayed at the Centaur. We drove all over the state for 2 weeks in an Ambassador (for the uninitiated, this is the most sturdy, rural & iconic vehicle of India). Even as a child all my memories centered on a deep sense of awe. I was perpetually smitten. I fell in love with something new every day, sometimes every few hours. I had never seen these many colors before, that’s what I remember thinking so often. I had been to Baramula Army Base as a 2 year old and that’s where we were headed on the first day to meet old friends. I remember meeting one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen over there. We were visiting a Major General if I remember correctly and his orderly had his family over from a village elsewhere in Kashmir. Her name was Renu and she was exquisite, I asked my mother if she was a film star (she was gardening with a typical Kashmiri head scarf on and it looked so chic). I can still picture mom turning around to tell the General’s wife that the women in Kashmir only get prettier! So it wasn’t just the place, it was the people too. Kashmir invoked feelings of oneness with nature, something city kids never felt and I carried that feeling with me for the dozen trips we took thereafter.

It was at age 13 that I had my ‘real’ Kashmiri food experience. I guess the palate is more honed by that age and I was always a self proclaimed gastronome. We had been invited by a Veterinary doctor friend of my parents. The word ‘wazwan’ floated around the car through the drive. We had to spend almost 3 grueling hours discussing possible tension in the region (how gullible we were, looking back that was probably the most peaceful the valley would ever be) and all I could think of was the food. The layout was fantastic, rich and highly exuberant and the flavors were perfect, way more than I had expected. That’s when Kashmir became the ultimate holiday package for me. Through the teens and early twenties I kept a keen eye on the socio political developments in Kashmir, a part of me was constantly saddened. Kashmir became like a first kiss, lovely but you could never go back and feel it again. I was resolved to that idea for a decade and even adopted Goa as my backup piece of heaven till I heard about a group of friends headed to the real and only heaven on earth, Kashmir.

This I had to see. I stressed about the Chinar’s on the Dal Lake, they had to be there or it wouldn’t be perfect. I thought endlessly about the florists on shikara’s, the sunsets at the lake, the horse ride to Gulmarg, the river rocks that changed color in water, the glowing ‘kangri’s’, the soothing ‘kahva’, the aroma of burning wood, the sweetness of mountain tea, the crispness of the air, the clarity in vision … oh my God! Kashmir was that ultimate piece of heaven and more! So we took the first flight out that Monday and I prayed, I prayed for peace and more selfishly, I prayed for ‘my Kashmir’, the pretty one! My prayers were answered manifold. Everything was perfect. My nose thanked me for the air, my eyes wept at the beauty, my hands wafted on the surface of the Dal lake for like an hour and I bought the largest, most gorgeous, most exotic bunch of flowers I had ever received, or seen for that matter. The people were wonderful and the women were actually prettier, the serenity was so unusual for the turmoil this region had seen, it tugged at my soul.

I saw everything I wanted to see and I felt the fulfillment I had felt years ago, the déjà vu was so unique. The river was exactly like I left it, I swear I knew the horses going up to Sonmarg, the gardens were exquisite and I was once again, smitten! The icing on the cake were definitely the tulips. It was tulip season (which lasts for barely a month according to the hotel manager) and we just had to see it. I can’t help but get nostalgic but my first exposure to a field of tulips was a lovely Hindi movie called ‘Silsila’, were Amitabh Bachchan serenades his heroine in the tulip fields of Holland. I stood here in Kashmir and I could see the whole song unfold in front of me, I was in Holland, I was missing only the clogs. It is inexplicable … you have to go there to see what I mean.

Back To School

2008-04-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

Indian kids are back to school this week. I don’t really know how most of them feel about it but the few that I know are basking in their new ‘back to school’ stuff and hoping for some fabulous extra-curricular activities this year. Our days were so much simpler. Going to a new class every April meant simpler joys like fresh mangoes in the lunch Tiffin, best friend from last year as a partner, new class books and maybe a little more respect for the one year that we had grown. I went to a fairly popular convent school of Delhi, one that imbibed a deep sense of commitment to personal achievement and performance. Every year there were new academic challenges, new books to conquer, new teachers to appease and new schools to visit for the million things we participated in. I rarely hear children speak of such plainness when they talk about school. Maybe my recent exposure to school children is limited to private schools in and around Gurgaon but I really don’t see genuine joy in their faces. The quandary lies in the fact that though we have provided a multitude of opportunities in the past 15 years it seems like we have taken a lot away too. I can name and quantify all the new provisions in schools like alternative subjects, international school trips, fencing, horse riding, archery, film making, script writing etc. I can’t put my finger on what we have taken away. Whatever it is that is devoid from our children’s lives, one thing is for sure, it is taking them away from basic and necessary entertainment like reading and the outdoors!

Our children think the outdoors require peripherals, perhaps a picnic or at least a pony to ride on. Whatever happened to bug hunting (Oh shush to PETA …. Bug hunting, knee deep in soil is the core of childhood discovery plus the bugs multiply way faster than our kids can kill them!), playing ‘house’, climbing trees (there are a few left, at least in Delhi there are!), playing catch, hopscotch, throw ball (is that even a sport?). All that was fun, maybe not awe inspiring and deeply intriguing but it did leave space for human contact and conversation. What do two kids playing video games together actually ‘do’ together …. Nothing! They have digitized alter egos communicating for them. All the joy, energy, excitement and fun are actually relayed through two unfeeling illustrations. How frightening is that? Please don’t get me wrong, I am a big one for video games albeit the old fashioned arcade variety but I swear I can put a 12 year old to shame when it comes to ‘Pacman' but it’s still not something I will invite a bunch of friends over for, not now and not 20 years ago.

Since I don’t have a generalized solution for this heavy issue, I have decided to make a few changes on the home front. I am at the threshold of some serious motherhood, my daughter just turned 2 and I am beginning to see meaning in the term ‘terrible twos’. Before I begin, a small piece of advice for mommies to be – the first 6 months are not the hard part …. Everything after that is! Now that my daughter can communicate in complete sentences I plan to practice mini plays with her through the week, just ½ hour a day, then we will perform it for the family on a Sunday. I have written 3 plays with just two characters, one scene and 5 dialogues, she seems to love it so far! She can also walk and run confidently, so we will race every day, if it’s not with me then with her dad, her maid, her granddad or even one of her adorable little friends. She can now hold an object steady, so she will draw me one image a day, yesterday is was a very poor looking cow and today I received a suspicious looking snake, I think it started out as a flower! She will spend 2-3 hours outdoors provided the weather cooperates, while she is there she can play in the mud (off late the mud is contained within the hands, so this is a plausible situation), she can look for ‘safe’ bugs (what I mean is preferably imaginary), she can try to tell colors of the flowers, she learn a few of their names, she can meet everyone in the park, she can run free, the options are endless. She has never been into toys and I don’t see the value in a $50 toy that she will either destroy or hate within a week. There were times I felt buying fewer toys was a level of deprivation but now that my daughter is such a confident, highly communicative, imaginative and funny little person, I don’t think I was entirely wrong. No two kids are alike but I think the basic nurturing they need is absolutely similar. Children need time, love, security and routine above all other things and this is something I have learnt from experience.

So whether your child is 2 or 12, their needs remain as basic, the way we fulfill them becomes different that’s all. This year let them roam free, let this year be their ‘pseudo year off’, let this year be the year all activities are organic and involve either one parent. As parents we are all used to sacrifice, this is yet another manifestation of it. School was always meant to impart education, let’s not look at them for everything. We hope our choice of school provides good education and good discipline the plus on that can be motivation, inspiration, confidence, independence and courage. So if your child’s school lacks in any of those areas it is better to start providing the missing traits at home.

Goddess of the Arts - Saraswati

2008-03-24T22:46:00.000-07:00

Saraswati, the Goddess of the Arts. A bearer of wisdom, a beacon of knowledge and an aficionado of music, she is a Goddess that has alternative blessings. Ones that don’t scream wealth and power, her blessings are subtle and unique. She is the one who protects the skilled, the talented and the gifted. She exudes confidence in every idol she is sanctified in. She is the one to turn to if you want to clear those nasty entrance examinations, she is the one who resides in the homes of accomplished musicians and artists, she is the embodiment of learning.

Saraswati is depicted as a woman with four arms. In one she carries the sacred book of Hindu principles, the ‘vedas’. In another she carries a rosary, a symbol of spirituality as a means of higher consciousness. Her two other accessories are a stringed instrument called the ‘veena’ and a pail of sacred water. The ‘veena’ she plays is the song of love, feelings and emotions. The water she carries symbolizes purity. Saraswati is a benevolent Goddess who is appeased by the worship of arts and sciences. A commitment to one’s talent is prayer enough for Saraswati is the one who has bestowed those creative gifts. By respecting and nurturing those gifts we are respecting and nurturing her.

Not many people are aware of the hidden nuances in the depiction of gods and goddesses in Hindu mythology. Whether it is an idol or a painting, there are teachings even in the surroundings of the Gods. Saraswati is often accompanied by a white swan mythology says that when a mix of water and milk was offered to the swan, it would drink only the milk from it. Symbolically, she could distinguish between the good and the bad, pure and impure. Some artwork also depicts Saraswati in the company of a peacock, a bird known for its proud and flamboyant nature. Since the peacock is depicted as Saraswati’s mount, she in one sense conquers the pride and her teachings are simple, don’t be concerned with external appearances. The soul is the keeper of all goodness.

Try Ayurveda this Navratri

2008-03-05T23:11:00.000-08:00

'Vasant Navratri' is early this year, from 6th – 15th April 2008. The nine holy nights of Navratri are dedicated to Goddesses Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth), Durga (Goddess of Creative and Feminine energy) and Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge) . The practice of observing a nine day fast also called ‘Navratri Vrat’ is widely popular in Northern India and though these 9 holy days occur twice in a year in the Hindu calendar, the rituals and practises remain similar. A better explanation of these 9 holy days is given by www.shanidham.com - "Navratri is a Hindu festival of worship and devotion. The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit; Nava - Nine and Ratri - nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti (metaphor for goddess Durga ) i.e. female divinity are worshipped. Shakti is the root of everything. Navratri commences on the first day (pratipada) of the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin. The festival is celebrated for nine nights twice every year. The dates of the festival are determined according to the Hindu lunar calendar, the festival may be held for a day more or a day less. The following 9 forms of goddesses are worshipped during these nine days."

Most urban homes are extremely conscious of ‘navratri days’ and it is not uncommon for restaurants to lose tens of thousands of rupees worth of income during this period. The people that don’t actually fast the entire day make it a point to at least abstain from non vegetarian food and liquor. Punjab and Haryana are equally enthusiastic about this time of the year and both men and women fast for the entire day, eating only one meal after sundown. In metropolitan towns and cities observation of a daylong fast has taken on a new meaning. Rituals permit partaking of fruits, dairy products (salt free) and vegetables, pretty much excluding only lentils, rice and grains. Pretty easy ‘fast’ if you ask me. Entire menus are developed to accommodate these nine days and make sure patrons come in even if it means eating breads make of vegetable flour (water chestnuts can actually be made into a kind of coarse, greenish flour, which can be kneaded and rolled to make ‘roti’)! So there is a loophole for everything. Cool! I like the whole accommodating feel this kind of fasting has, it’s more like detoxifying.

Speaking of detoxifying, this may be a good time to discover a new facet of vegetarian food – Ayurvedic Food. The basics of Ayurveda are hard to chronicle in a blog, in fact that kind of science requires deep study and practise. From a laypersons point of view, Ayurveda perpetuates that a healthy body is one that is in harmony with all the elements, is self healing and is balanced. In order to achieve this kind of overall health one must first bring harmony and balance into their lives through a nutritious diet and an active lifestyle. Ayurvedic cooking incorporates these principles into cooking methods, ingredients and recipes to produce a holistic fare. Cooking is almost treated like alchemy in Ayurveda. The combination of herbs, spices, seasonal vegetables and natural sugars and fats in Ayurvedic cooking is the key behind transforming an ordinary vegetarian dish into a balanced and highly nourishing meal. Ayurvedic food is aromatic, wholesome and almost healing in nature. The principles of the five Elements, the three Doshas, the three Gunas, the seven Dathus and the six Tastes form the core of Ayurvedic food. There is a special emphasis on organic ingredients, seasonal fruits and vegetables (nature provides in tandem with the needs of the body and the state that it is in), cooking methods and even the cook’s internal vibrations. The most inspiring part about this is the fact that it does not take more effort, time or means to make an ayurvedic meal. You should have access to fresh vegetables, fresh ground spices, herbs, a healthy cooking medium like olive oil (preferable, but I believe Canola is really good for the heart) and a cooking area that is well ventilated and clean.

Few practises of Ayurvedic cooking are given below as a start-up:

• Ayurvedic cooking doesn’t insist on the use of ‘ghee’ or clarified butter but their argument is quite intriguing. ‘Ghee’ is essentially a diary product, it is a proven digestive, it lubricates the connective tissue, it is a catalytic agent and carries the medicinal properties of herbs. All cooking mediums and fats should be consumed in moderation and the same holds good for ghee too.
• Sautee spices in ghee/oil first so that all its essential oils are released.
• Do not extensively wash vegetables, instead wash gently and soak in warm water to release germs.
• Plan your meal and organize your ingredients.
• Have a positive frame of mind when you cook, unwind and treat the activity like an experience and not a chore. You will infuse the food with love and good vibes.
• Eat up to 1/3 capacity of your stomach, drink to 1/3 and leave 1/3 for God (Ashtanga Hridayam).

Lastly here is an easy recipe of delicious Indian food. Cumin is one of my favourite Indian spices, so we will do a light and summery ‘potato yoghurt curry’ that you can have with white rice and any Indian bread.

Potato Yoghurt Curry
4 boiled potatoes cubed (large pieces)
1 tsp cumin seeds
½ tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp dry coriander powder
½ tsp garam masala
2 tbsp fresh yoghurt
2 tsp olive oil/ghee/cooking oil
1 ½ cup warm water
Salt

Heat the oil, add the cumin seeds and let them darken slightly. Add the spices and potato. Stir and cook on low heat for 2-3 minutes. Mix the yoghurt in warm water and add with a dash of salt. Cook on low for 6-7 minutes. Garnish with fresh chopped coriander leaves. This dish is ideal for summers, its light yet has the wholesome goodness of potato carbs, the garam masala adds a zing but its heaty properties are reduced by the yoghurt.

Make Your Salad Good For You

2008-02-26T04:01:00.000-08:00

I am surprised at what a bad attitude people have towards salads. ‘Dieting’ is an invariable part of every social conversation and it’s not long before someone brings up either salads or exercise. At least one person in the group will cringe at the very mention of these words. Seriously, take any demographic and try it. People seem to think that a salad will mean torn up lettuce or worse cabbage, tossed with cubed tomatoes and topped finally with the ultimate food from hell, bean sprouts. Everyone knows the hazards of salad dressings and that’s the sole reason the salad has gained such unpopularity.

Whether bottled or homemade, salad dressings can be very misleading. They are laden with calories and without them a salad is nothing but cut up veggies waiting to be cooked. Reports suggest that even dressings that are labelled 99% fat free have other harmful additives like salt, sodium, MSG and even trans fats. Homemade dressings always seem to involve mayonnaise or at least the mandatory dash of oil making the salad as good as a burger. The key lies in balance. Ultimately a salad should be crunchy, moist and wholesome enough to substitute an adult meal. Few changes in the preparation and ingredients can make a salad the perfect diet food. That’s the good news!

Always start with cold, fresh, well washed vegetables. Prepare a salad just before mealtime unless the recipe suggests otherwise. Healthy meat options for a salad are boiled or roasted chicken, turkey ham, tuna fish (try to buy a can preserved in brine instead of oil), steamed fish, prawns or crab meat. Seafood is high in cholesterol but if consumed in moderation it adds a lot of essential fatty acids and oils to a diet. Boiled egg as a topping is nutritious and makes the meal more satisfactory. The ideal vegetables are all the lettuce varieties. A tightly wound iceberg lettuce has a distinct crunchiness compared to romaine lettuce or even the outer leaves of the iceberg lettuce. Once you have your leafy base, add your colours. Tomatoes are a must; bell peppers add the zing and sweet corn kernels balance the flavours. The vegetable combinations for salads is endless, a good resource for ultimate salad recipes is allrecipes.com.

Now to the dressings, there are two basic types. The oil and vinegar mix with fresh or dry herbs (vinaigrettes) and the creamy mayonnaise based Caesar and Waldorf like dressings. The key to wholesome satisfaction is substitution. It’s sad when you have to substitute but it’s better than not having a dish altogether. Hang a cup of fresh yoghurt in a clean cotton napkin for a couple of hours. What you get next is cream cheese, provided the yoghurt was low fat, the cream cheese will be too. Use part cream cheese with any bottled of fresh dressing and cut back on the calories. To alter the tastes further add a dash of an Italian herb mix or better still, Tabasco. Finally make a meal out of your salad with add on’s like whole wheat pasta or croutons of oven toasted garlic bread.

Other creative additions can be grilled mushrooms, slivered carrots, bean sprouts (if you are a fan), artichokes, zucchini, boiled kidney beans, broccoli, olives, cottage cheese, tofu and even raw papaya. Few must keeps for regular salad fun are bottles of balsamic vinegar, white or red wine vinegar (red is more robust like the wine, the white one is tangy and dry) and extra virgin olive oil. Keep a regular supply of yoghurt to make your own cream cheese and experiment with adding different flavours like pastes of cucumber, capsicum, green chilli or garlic to make your own signature dressings. View the images in the gallery below to see if your salad turns out like I said it would!

View Healthy Salads Stock Photos by PhotosIndia.com

Gotta Getaway

2008-02-25T20:11:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while life becomes a web of stuff. Random stuff, from work schedules and deadlines to dentist appointments and kid’s school functions, life is tough. Its way easier for DINK (double income no kids) couples but everyone deserves a break. The ‘holi’ weekend is round the corner and though I wish ‘holi’ was on Friday, a Saturday will most certainly do. It’s the Wednesday’s and Thursday’s that really kill a festival holiday, they don’t qualify as satisfactory. ‘Holi’ weekend is barely three weeks away yet a quick, slightly unplanned getaway is definitely possible. Most people vacation in the winter and a rebound refresher is a must. For me personally even booking into a nearby 5 star hotel is a possibility. The service is slicker than the maid at home, beds are miraculously luxurious, a tub is quintessential and who would mind a range of cuisines to order to the room. Before I get too suggestive and convince the whole load of you to swamp the Taj’s and the ‘Hyatt’s’ of India, consider a few more options.

Most of the large Indian cities are peppered with quaint resorts, forts and palaces, all within 250 km radius. This makes India a getaway treasure. National dailies are packed with holiday advertisements for strangely familiar sounding clubs that you never knew existed. Someone has to dare try them and then blog about it! Really, let’s do everyone a favour and pick one holiday club, fort, resort, riverside camp, spa or even a pilgrimage and go there. Head out for ‘holi’, India! Take the gujia’s, the beers and the friends along. See, this is the beauty of India; it’s phenomenally flexible on matters of prayer and celebration. ‘Diwali’ is a day to stay home, clean, cleanse, beautify and wait for the gods to pass by. Holi on the other hand is free reign, just remember to have fun. The ‘puja’ is a day before anyway. So pray, pack and go.

Some of my favourites picks for this ‘holi’ is the beach or a restored fort/palace. I want to try and give everyone a direction to head in, North India won’t have trouble finding a fort and the South has some of the nicest beaches to choose from. With 5700 km of mainland coastline, we really have a huge selection. Assuming a lot of these trips will be groups, giving a few choices will keep at least some happy. Every group has ‘beach’ people and every group has ‘history’ people. This may be a good time to find out which ones your friends are. Forts and palaces have always been associated with an old world charm. They are mysterious and enigmatic buildings that housed people out of fairy tales. If walls could speak, some of us would probably move in forever. Most of the Indian ‘heritage’ hotels have tied up with leading hospitality giants and retained their original architecture and décor, to produce fabulous holiday hotels a stone’s throw from most cities. Rooms have high ceilings, the bathrooms are almost as big as the rooms, the balconies are romantic, the furniture is usually a century old and the turbaned bearers are a delight.

The beach is my other most favourite destination whether it’s for a weekend or for a whole summer. I don’t even mind it in the rain. Thankfully all our beaches are tropical and it never really gets cold. Imagine, two days of communing with nature. I don’t care how clichéd this has gotten but a sunset on the beach is by far one of Mother Nature’s most precious gifts. Rainbows, lightening, aurora borealis and eclipses come in close after. Days seem longer on a beach. The stars shine brighter (provided you aren’t at a rave party) and the food always tastes good. In fact going to the beach right after winter is therapeutic in many ways, you will get rid of the winter paleness and you will get a ‘weight gain’ reality check. Don’t get put off, knowledge is power. It’s only when you know the problem that you can solve it!

Enough preaching, I hope at least some of you will log on to yatra.com or heritagehotelsofindia.com, indiaweekendgetaways.com, travelershub.com and do yourselves a favour. Check out a cool gallery of holiday images we produced. That will surely seal the deal! Click on the link below.

View Holiday Stock Photos by PhotosIndia.com

Gandhi's words 60 years on...

2008-02-18T02:23:00.000-08:00

Jack Hollingsworth is the Chief Creative Officer of all the images you see on this blog. To a large extent he is the soul of the brands while we all are the constituents of its beating heart. This year Jack’s motto for the team comes from a man very close to my psyche, a man who has influenced many things in my life, a man who makes me proud to be Indian, Mahatma Gandhi.

"A customer is the most important visitor on our premises. He is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favour by serving him. He is doing us a favour by giving us an opportunity to do so" - Mahatma Gandhi

So much has been written about Gandhi that I don’t expect this blog to do more justice to his character, I am simply writing this as an ode. He was assassinated on 30th January 1948 and as we draw away from that date, I find myself thinking of him and his words a lot more. I had my share of insecure college days, the jitters of a new marriage, the shakes of a new job and lately the ultimate paranoia of being a new mom. Gandhi had words for me through each phase of my life. Words that felt like they were written only for me and my situation. Did Gandhi know a girl like me? Well he probably did, his entourage could beat Britney Spears hollow, if only we chased his ideals the way we chase her shopping sprees!

The words that stayed with me through the hardest parts of my life were -

"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him. Will he gain anything by it? Will it restore him to a control over his own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and yourself melt away."

It worked every time. It’s not that I looked for happiness in the misery of others, never! The principle was so evident, ‘I, me, myself” maybe the main components of my life but in the general scheme of things, I am too minute to consider, I am actually a ‘one’ that is a part of millions. These words were inspiring and what our generation needs the most, they were humbling. These words always make me realize how fortunate I am and that my existence should not be for me alone. I should ‘counter’ enrich the lives of people that enrich my life. My teen years were governed by one of my favourite quotes – “I want freedom for the full expression of my personality”, I felt that was such sweet liberation. In a world where real icons are hard to find, Gandhi remains relevant and contemporary even after 60 years of passing on. Before I knew it, the teen years were over and I was bang in the middle of my first job. I didn’t have a very forgiving boss and he didn’t have the word ‘naïve’ in his vocabulary, making my work environment highly volatile from day one. It was into the third week that my brother gave me a little purple print out that said – “Nobody can hurt me without my permission”. Oh God, it was so simple!

My list of favourite Gandhi quotes is actually running into page 3 and I don’t think it’s fair to burden you with them all. I will leave you with two priceless ones consider them a ‘mantra’ and find that ‘true peace’ we all seem to be chasing.

“The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world's problems”

“We must be the change we wish to see” - Mahatma Gandhi

Falling in Love in India

2008-02-04T01:07:00.000-08:00

Falling in love anywhere is easy; staying in love anywhere is tough. Yet each country poses its own unique cultural and social challenges to the human race when it comes to love. The west is perceived as a place where the entire multitude is still writhing in the ecstasy of the 60’s. It is not the permissive nature of the nation that gives this impression, it is the media projected out of there, into millions of middle class Indian homes. Thank you cable TV. I am not going to rant about how twisted that makes our slightly prudish minds, I am genuinely thankful to Cable TV. It has opened a whole new chapter of entertainment for me, considering my idea of fun was the outdoors and books. A good combination according to my parents but teenagers needed more than that. Suddenly everything was so colourful and loud, that’s my most vivid memory of 24x7 TV viewing. I remember the Valentine months most. Every show had a ‘valentine’ episode, every product had a ‘valentine’ promise and every channel had ‘valentine’ specials. I am quite sure there was an Ad for coconut oil that promised ‘Valentine Beau’ attracting tresses in a week. Thankfully it aired a fortnight before ‘Valentine’s Day’.

Unregulated cable TV seeped into Indian life around the time of the Gulf War in 1991. Metropolitan cities in India could view live broadcasts of glowing scuds whizzing across Kuwaiti skies, courtesy CNN. Shortly after that came the day time soaps, some of which are still revered by the now 30 + year old Indians. The third momentous entry was definitely MTV, with its brazen attitude, mind numbing graphics and freaky dating shows. You could practically see the minds blossoming right out our skulls.

Things are more or less the same 15 years down the line. There are more channels, more products and more ‘this and that days’, but the marketing blitz for Valentine’s comes in a close second after Diwali. Locally every restaurant and store has a promotion aimed at lovers of all kinds, young, old, just friends, mistresses, crushes and of course teens. Nationally, FMCG and Fashion brands cash in on this occasion. The Indian psyche has morphed itself slowly but surely. We don’t condone ‘love marriages’ yet all our kids are manically buying Valentine paraphernalia every February 14th. We don’t approve of dating among our teenaged kids yet each one of them knows when Valentine’s Day is versus when Gandhi was assassinated. Love makes the retail world go round, money makes the real world go around.

So far the general perception and awareness about Valentine’s Day is limited to the love between a man and a woman. This makes the marketing efforts concentrated towards the youth of India, 51% of India is below 25. So I am guessing it is fair to call this kind of product pushing an ‘advertising frenzy’. If only the awareness could be brought up a notch and India would realize that Valentine’s Day celebrates love, all kinds of love.

I can picture Kingfisher Airlines doing a ‘Senior’s Valentine’s Special’. Any Indian couple over 65 years old, flies to any one of the ten listed romantic destinations in India at half the price. Now, open this promotion to foreigners. Give them Agra for the Taj, Goa for the party, and Ladhakh for the mountains, give them an Indian love experience. China attracts 87 million tourists a year versus India’s measly 2.5 million. We need to hop on the global media bandwagon, make ourselves heard, make ourselves seen, and make ourselves marketable. Let cable TV be our guiding light. It is time to wake up and take stock of every day that means something to somebody and then sell, sell, sell!

Happy Valentine’s Day. Do check out our eclectic collection of ‘love’ images on Photosindia.com. ; )

View Valentine 2008 Stock Photos by PhotosIndia.com

Work Like a Woman

2008-01-11T22:24:00.000-08:00

I have always believed that women make better managers. There are several reasons for it, some pathological and some simply because of the way women are conditioned. Women are better at reasoning and use more of their emotional brain centres that in itself make them approachable and affable. Women are stronger in times of crisis and ultimately women are the perfect combination of patience and pursuit. More and more companies are realizing the worth of their women employees; stories of rising from the ranks are making news all over the world. Whether it is Priya Paul, Chairman of Apeejay Park Hotels, who stepped into an established business or Kiran Mazumdar Shaw who started her career as a trainee brewer at Carlton & United Breweries and is now the CEO of Biocon, both have that one thing in common, indomitable spirit!

The most notable change has been in the finance sector. Out of the profiled top 21 Indian businesswomen, 7 were from banks and financial institutions. Naina Lal Kidwai was first to make news at Deputy CEO of HSBC bank followed by Lalita Gupte, Joint MD of ICICI Bank. This brings me back to why women are attracted to largely male dominated business sectors. It could be the lure of the unconquerable or that women fair well throughout school and university across India. It seems more like a scenario where women want to seize the moment and squeeze every opportunity because things finally different from what they were a generation ago. National progress can be quantified by the presence of women as a work force. It is the trickle effect that will benefit India in the long run; educated women will rear educated children. The most noted book of 2005 ‘Freakonomics’ cites ‘working mothers’ as one main reason behind successful people.

Even at a grass root level, I have noticed a new breed of Indian businesswomen, the enterprising housewives. Last Diwali I walked into a small shop selling terracotta lamps and idols, the women manning the counter had her head covered, spoke only Hindi (Indian regional language) and had a mobile ringing constantly around her neck. She knew every product and its price in her shop; it was 200 square feet and stocked 2000 things! She was a shark when it came to bargaining and all the while she was polite and courteous. The other such woman I know is one who runs a plant nursery. She is always cutting deals on landscaping and grass prices, she won’t budge on the price of exotics and if I saw her on the street I would never imagine she could run an enterprise that sold over 500 varieties of plants and was spread across 2 acres of land. The third woman I have been lucky to encounter was the lady I rented DVD’s from. She escaped an abusive marriage, started a movie rental service with the money she made from selling her wedding jewellery, all the while she was bringing up three children. She then expanded into electronic repairs, hired a talented electronics engineer and went on to marry him. They still have that little shop but its full of love, good service and a definite mark of sheer enterprise.

Even as far as global achievements by Indian women are concerned, Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo stands out as an exceptional achiever. Born and brought up in Chennai, she went to the US for higher studies, started with major corporate, has a successful marriage and is a mother to two children. Now that’s commendable.

View Women in Business Stock Photos by PhotosIndia.com

Colors Of India

2007-11-21T21:46:00.000-08:00

I was surprised to learn that Islam came to India long before the Muslim invasions. It was a balmy day in Kuwait and our guests were discussing the similarities between South Indians and Kuwaiti’s. Another new fact came into light; it was the trading of spices that led Arabs to the Malabar Coast in South India. Back in the 7th century it was merely an Islamic influence that could be felt; the invasions of course reinforced the faith firmly on Indian soil. This inclusion added further to India’s colorful culture and people. It was the trader families of Kerala and other parts of the Malabar Coasts that were the closest to their Arab business associates, and this closeness led to a slow conversion into Islam. In Malabar the Mappilas may have been the first community to convert to Islam.

Today, 16.4% of India is Muslim. They have contributed considerably to the fields of performing arts, crafts, politics, education and business ventures. Some of India’s leading literary giants, artists, film stars and leaders are Muslim and this alone makes Indian society a diverse and enriched structure. India’s most famous landmark the Taj Mahal is a classic example of Islamic architecture and construction prowess.

The union of so many faiths is felt most during festival season. Diwali follows Eid and Christmas follows Diwali. For almost 3 months, India is in a blanket of faith, celebration and thanksgiving. Eid is a Muslim festival that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims observe a strict fast, they do not eat from sunrise to sunset, and some don’t even have water. They donate generously, participate in charitable activities and promote a sense of peace and unity. It is a time of spiritual renewal for those who observe it. At the end of the month, Muslims throughout the world observe an exciting three day celebration called Eid ul Fitr. A common practice is for people to stay up and watch the full moon rise on the night on Eid. The day of the festival, a typical Muslim family wakes up early and does the first prayer of the day. They then attend prayers in mosques, parks, stadiums and arenas. The crowd greets and embraces each other as a gesture of love and celebration. The festivities continue at people’s homes after the congressional prayer. Special sweets and foods are prepared for friends and family. The finest clothes and jewelry are the highlights of the day. This is an occasion with great religious significance; the celebration is jubilant and hearty. It is a day of forgiveness, peace, brotherhood and unity. Muslims also mark this day with thanks to God for his guidance and blessings bestowed upon them.

Ultimately we all seek the same things from our faith – security, a sense of belonging, peace of mind, the love of God and a prevalence of brotherhood.

We are everywhere

2007-10-30T08:34:00.000-07:00

Mornings are the best! I wouldn’t ideally say that because I love my sleep but these last 12 months have had a surprise tucked into almost morning, I like getting up just to see that. I am talking about Photosindia.com images in advertisements. Every morning at least a couple of national dailies will carry an advertisement using our images. The newspaper industry thrives on ad revenue, Rs. 2.50 (I can’t even convert that to dollars, it’s a pittance in any country) cannot sustain over 20 pages of colour and information. Having over 18 official languages, the regional papers are an industry on their own, I just read the English ones. The advertisements are becoming more visual, larger and more creative.

Ever since city supplements started and of course colour was introduced, there seems to be a revolution in the quality of advertising. City centric restaurants find more value in creative food photography, Airlines find every profile of passenger they want to portray and since the variety on Photosindia.com is steadily growing, everyone can find something for their creative needs. So far we have been featured in advertisements for International Banks, Financial Institutions, Schools, International Universities, Departmental Stores, Electronics Stores, Mobile Phones, Hotels, Travel Sites, Children’s products, Insurance Companies, the list goes on and on. We have been on Yahoo.com, we are regularly on makemytrip.com, we seem to be everywhere.

PhotosIndia.com ties up with Corbis Images. New Delhi, October 20, 2007:

2007-10-22T07:07:00.000-07:00

Corbis, a leader in stock imagery has appointed PhotosIndia.com, as a distributor for selling their Royalty Free Imagery. Starting October, 2007, all the best-selling Corbis collections like: Corbis RF, Inside Out Pix, Image Shop, Image 100 and Zefa will be available on PhotosIndia.com. This partnership will add over 200,000 new images to Photosindia.com’s existing repertoire.

PhotosIndia.com was the first Stock photo agency to pioneer high quality ‘Uniquely India’ content and is a premium Stock photo agency in Asia. Armed with a state of the art production studio and the best Indian and international images, Photosindia.com offers the largest variety in India today. Corbis is one of the best creative resources for advertising, marketing and media professionals worldwide. Corbis offers an impressive collection of creative, entertainment and historic images with an emphasis on quality and originality.

PhotosIndia.com CEO - Mr. Amit Narain said - “It is a privilege for us to enter into this partnership. The highly creative and exclusive imagery of Corbis will help us increase our sales and broaden our client base. We are in the process of consolidating the best Royalty Free Collections to satiate the market. This alliance has proven prolific for us because it makes Photosindia.com the number one provider of world class stock imagery in India”.

Apart from the other exceptional collections distributed by Photosindia.com, it can now boast of offering the world’s top 3 image stockists – Corbis, Getty Images and Jupiter at one destination. This addition to Photosindia.com makes it an essential tool for every creative and marketing pursuit.

Photosindia.com's image at the entrace of PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo 2007

2007-10-22T03:44:00.000-07:00

This is ‘feel good’ time for Photosindia.com. Our image was used at the entrance of the world’s biggest event in the photography community - PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo 2007. It was an image shot by Jack Hollingsworth, our Chief Creative Officer. He selected an image from a theme that is especially close to him – Indian culture. For Photosindia.com this occasion brought something extra special with it. Our image was showcased at the entrance banner where thousand’s of patrons, sponsors, attendees walked past it, some stopped to admire it although I am sure everyone will remember it. This image was shot in Agra, at the river by the Taj Mahal. The model is an authentic ‘mahout’ (elephant keeper/trainer). His confidence and connection with the elephant was inspiring and Jack was there to experience it.

PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo 2007 is a premier event for innovative imaging solutions, photographic education and unparalleled networking. It was held in New York from 18-20 October 2007. It is an event that brings together the entire photography business under one roof. It provides a forum for products, users, and buyers to converge in one place where they can showcase their products and services. This year the sponsors were all the big names in the Imaging and Photography industry, like Hewlett Packard, Canon, Kodak, Epson, Olympus, Nikon, to name just a few.

Diwali – A time to give!

2007-10-18T02:46:00.000-07:00

View Diwali 2007 Stock Photos by PhotosIndia.com

Diwali, the festival of lights. Such a cliché simply because it means so much more than that. Everyone has a different take on Diwali and everyone has different expectations. It’s like the Hindu equivalent to Christmas. Gifts and giving, sweets and generosity. We don’t light up a tree, we light up the whole house, every nook, cranny and corner. The frenzy starts about a month ahead, malls are packed with anxious shoppers and everyone has long lists. Since Indian’s are bestowed with large families, there is a whole lot of shopping to do. For me the similarities are amazing, not at a religious level but at a ‘faith’ and ‘celebration’ level. Everyone eats and shares. The age old myth of ‘give and you will get’ is in full motion at this time of the year.

Businessmen get busy making their partners happy, companies get busy calculating bonuses, shop owners can see the money flowing in and the everyday shopper scans the dailies for ‘sales’ news. You can see bold advertisements claiming “0% discount” followed by a coy “on quality” … 20% discount on all goods. The shopper sits back feeling like the king of the world.

This is the time for some serious consumer wooing. Everybody spends on Diwali, it is practically a ‘have to’. 15 years ago the gifts revolved around exquisite dry fruits and heavenly Indian sweets we call ‘mithai’. The winter months kept everything fresh for weeks and Diwali seemed to extend all the way to the new year. Usually falling in the months of October or November, this season seems to go on and on. Over the years, the dry fruits got mediocre, not just in gifting but in quality as well. The ‘mithai’ eaters became nouveau ‘conscious’, about their weight, cholesterol, sugar levels and all the new age misery. I think ‘Archies’ was the first company to realize this paradigm shift, they started churning out cards by the hundreds, they sourced designer ‘diya’s’ (little oil or wax lamps that are ceremoniously lit for Diwali), they put a greeting card on every box of sweets. The change was slow to happen but once it did, the frenzy was unbelievable. Corelle launched new designs for Diwali, their crockery was always found in sets of 4 (the typical western family). Here in india they were marketing sets of 6 with little bowls we call ‘katori’s, we use them for all the gravies and curries our cuisine is famous for. China exported crates of bowls, trays, curios and the like in a variety of materials, colours and shapes, to satisfy the Indian Diwali shopping madness. Suddenly, people were gifting corporate style, beautiful things for the home, the office, the kitchen. It became okay to gift a DVD set of ‘Friends’ for Diwali if that’s what your friends were into, it had to be personal at the end of the day. Hundreds of websites sprung up, selling all things related to Diwali, you could ship from the US to India (like we need more ‘diyas’) or you could ship from India to the world (that makes more sense).

This year the craze seems to be more opulent. Singapore holidays, shopping bonanza’s and Frazer & Haws silver diya’s are all passé. People are gifting not for material pleasure but for the soul. Books on spirituality like the ‘Speaking Tree’ are supposedly a favourite. Another great campaign is by the MMTC, promoting gold in a more organic way, the World Gold Council seems to make the whole thing Uber chic and beyond the middle class. Diamonds are being marketed as a special high end gift as well, in fact there is a marked conversion in women buying diamonds instead of the customary gold during ‘dhanteras’. ‘Dhanteras’ is celebrated on the 13th day of the dark fortnight of Diwali and it falls a day or two before Diwali. It is marked as the day of eternal good fortune and people celebrate it by buying something new for their home or indulge in a new investment. I wonder if anyone is marketing investment schemes this year, sounds like a good idea to me! Anyone listening?

Khajuraho - lessons in stone

2007-10-14T23:02:00.000-07:00

View Khajuraho Stock Photos by PhotosIndia.com

Mystic. Mysterious. Saints. Dust. Heat. God Men. Snake charmers. Elephants & Tigers. BPO. IT hub. Some of the words I heard when I asked a random handful of people about India and they were all of different nationalities. Interesting! Everyone in this mini survey was above 25 and no one said ‘erotic'(The Kama Sutra, to mention just one), ‘art’ (M F Hussain, to mention just one) or ‘art erotica’.

India is the proud home of the Khajuraho temples, the ultimate guide to intimacy, carved in stone for centuries. Built between 950-1050, the construction spanned a 100 years which is obvious in the detailing and architectural styles of the various temples in the city of Khajuraho. Though it is true that erotic sculptures can be found at Khajuraho and are very much a part of the temples architectural harmony, they however are not installed inside the temple premises or near the deities. The reason for their existence lies in medieval history of that region. Khajuraho was ruled by the Chandela dynasty at the time and the rulers were followers of the ‘Tantric’ discipline. The attainment of ‘Nirvana’ (a state of perfect peace) in ‘Tantrism’ is far easier, it can be achieved by fulfilling every earthly desire. The juxtaposition lies in the fact that other Indian religions like Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism preach moderation and a control over earthly desires.

There are many resources that have information on the architectural styles and other Khajuraho specifications but few tell the reader about the deeper meaning behind such mammoth efforts. Was it simply faith driven? Where the Maharaja orders a few thousand men to build temples to appease the Gods? Some die, some toil on, in the end it is for the modern world to stand back and say “hey none of us thought of this!”

Khajuraho continues to remain a mystery because its purpose has not been interpreted as yet. Several historians have presented theories, combination of myth, legend and heresy but no one can be certain about the nature of the carvings. Some parts depict regular village life, showing potters, musicians and townspeople. Just everyday living, maybe this art being on the walls is a communication medium, like ancient advertising or the equivalent of a mass moral science lesson. The theory I liked best, mainly because its plausible was that back in those days, most young boys lived as ‘brahmachari’s’, a state every man must be in for the first 25 years of his life. They live devout, pious lives, usually in a hostel like ‘ashram’ and concentrate on learning the concepts of hard work, ‘karma’ etc. This art was their only way to learn the nuances of being a ‘householder’. Sounds to me like ancient sex education. I will leave this train of thought as it is. I just wish we could incorporate safety and self respect into these lessons and bring them into our schools today. If they could talk about it back then we can definitely talk about it right now!

Ancient India Rocks!

2007-09-28T01:07:00.000-07:00

View Ajanta & Ellora Stock Photos by PhotosIndia.com

Excuse that pun, I was referring to some images we produced a couple of months back of Ajanta & Ellora. I had vague memories of visiting these cave shrines as a kid and it saddened me that I didn’t remember their magnificence. I was viewing the images in high resolution and the detail left me flabbergasted.

Ajanta & Ellora are the definition of the term ‘cave shrines’. Located near the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra, India, these caves have been hand carved and built as far back as 200 B.C. These caves comprise of two sets, Ajanta caves and Ellora caves. Both are equally significant due to their history, architecture and message. The caves were discovered as early as the 19th century during a hunting expedition. All these centuries they lay hidden under the rocky landscape of the Sahyadri hills. They are called ‘cave shrines’ because they are essentially temples. Hand carved temples in man made caves, the sheer task seems enormous and near impossible for the era of their supposed construction. The granite these hills constitute of are still considered a construction nightmare but the faith involved in the Ajanta & Ellora caves seems to be the driving force behind this Herculean task. The rock is considered ‘living rock’ because the formations are a still in a process of development. The structures are prayers halls and monasteries where monks could meditate and pray in complete seclusion. These structures are also a symbol of religious tolerance and harmony. Here Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism co-exist and share their teachings. All three religions were founded in India and this is the only place in the world where their history conjoins. The Jain and Buddhist caves are places of peace and quiet while the Hindu caves exude more energy and divinity. The three construction styles found here are Stupas, Chaityas and Viharas. ‘Stupas’ are generally built of stones or bricks to commemorate important events or mark important places associated with Buddhism or to house important relics of Buddha. ‘Chaitya’s’ are meditation or prayer halls built out of rock and brick and ‘Vihara’s’ are monasteries usually made in excavated rocks to provide a haven away from the rest of the world.

The Ajanta caves are a set of 29 caves, hand carved tediously by Buddhist monks. Presumably the only tools available to these hermetic people had to have been hammers and chisels. The figurines depict the tales of ‘Jataka’, ancient text of Buddhists which tell stories about the various incarnations of the Buddha. The craft is definitely impressive but the physical effort involved enhances the beauty of the carvings. It is no wonder that the Ajanta is chosen as a ‘World Heritage Site'.

The Ellora caves are 34 in number. They are more ornately carved and the structures are more adorned. There are magnificent facades and examples of Indian temple architecture. These caves are carved in the basaltic sides of the hills. The most amazing feat in these caves is the ancient ‘Kailasa temple’, devoted to Mount Kailash which is the seat of Lord Shiva. This temple is carved out of solid rock and is a free standing structure comprising of pillars, podiums and spires, all intricately carved by hand. A website about World Mysteries has listed this temple under ‘mystic places’ because “it is the largest monolithic structure in the world, carved top-down from a single rock. It contains the largest cantilevered rock ceiling in the world.”

The best time to visit Ajanta & Ellora caves is from October to March, although the monsoon months of July-August are also highly recommended for the heightened scenic beauty of the area. Indian tourism offer a lot of excursion trips and tourists can engage tour guides locally at Ajanta and Ellora as well as from Mumbai, the closest metro to the caves.

I'm not superstitious, but ...

2007-09-20T10:49:00.000-07:00

View Stock Images Gallery by PhotosIndia.com

We made good friends with this one model we worked with last year. Very lovely young lady, she was nice enough to keep in touch way after she received her images shot by us. We got a call from her last month saying she has a bunch of friends in town and they were all very keen to be professionally photographed. We were already riding high on our 6,000 sq. ft. studio so we asked the whole load of them to come in for auditions. So here we were sitting around waiting for everyone’s headshots to be assessed, when Manav suggested they all make a trip and shoot that. The motley mix of post-teens started discussing every possible drivable location from Delhi. They were all foreigners and from different countries too. This discussion didn’t take long to finalize into an overnight trip to Agra. The home of the Taj, the land of love and loss, the haven of a lovesick king’s biggest accomplishment. Some had seen it with their parents on a day trip, some hadn’t at all. The excitement was electric. The final list read, an Indian girl from LA, a Persian girl from Florida, an all American girl, a Scottish boy, an Estonian boy and finally a Zimbabwean boy. What an awesome bunch they made. So many nationalities and cultures of the world in this group of six. The only thing they shared in common was the age and the generation and that was glue enough to start this trip off very well.

The story I am about to tell you only goes to reinforce my crazy obsession with Lennon’s song ‘Imagine’. In my Utopian fairyland I believe that we can live without religion, without possessions and without countries, we can live like brothers and like thinking human beings. Ultimately we are all the same. I read an article by the photographer who shot the famous portrait of ‘the Afghan girl’, Steve McCurry he said to the effect that a farmer in Afghanistan is no different from a farmer in the US. I guess he meant that as people they are the same, their environments and scenarios are different but they share the same worries, the same ambitions and the same dependency on nature. Anyway, back to the story. These guys were on the road with our Art Director (part Portuguese, part Iranian), Photographer (All from the state of Bengal), Make-up Assistant (state of Punjab) and Studio Hand (I would assume Bihar). They stopped at a harmless looking vegetarian ‘dhaba’ (typical Indian roadside diner, usually very rustic). They ordered heartily and sat back and waited. Suddenly the girls started noticing dragon flies, not one, more like one million. So one of the girls got up from the table and crouched on the floor screaming for one of the knights to save her. The lovely Scottish boy got up, swatted away the dragon flies and stepped over her head to get back to the table. She shot up and said “step back over me”! That’s all she said. One by one each person on the table said “ya, my mom says you have to step back over the person if you stepped over them once.” The tempo got louder and everyone, every different person there knew that they had all heard and participated in one of the oldest ‘old wives tales’ ever. Across the cultures and borders they all grew up hearing this one ‘superstition’. The biggest deal wasn’t that they had all been told the same tale by their Scottish, Estonian, Indian, Persian, Zimbabwean mothers, it was how they all suddenly related on another level. This highly infused gene pool of people sat there, ages 19 – 35 years and said in unison – “coz then you won’t grow tall”. Across most of the globe, covering 4 continents, all these people were told the same reason too! When I heard this story, it stirred me in many ways. Are we all essentially the same? Just people. People with stories, lives, joys, pains, fun, work, family, passions, traditions, the list goes on and it goes on for all of us.

The Nirula's Story

2007-09-20T08:16:00.000-07:00

I spent a considerable number of years hearing about the ‘great consumer experience’ that could only be ‘experienced’ abroad. Anywhere abroad, I asked? The spectrum for ‘abroad’ for most Indian’s was restricted to the US and the UK. Would I find the same costumer experience in Dhaka or Mogadishu? I seriously wondered! These lamentations have come into my mind since a friend of mine visited ‘Nirula’s’ the other day. Ah! ‘Nirula’s’ for those of you that haven’t had this baptism of fudge, ‘Nirula’s’ was India’s only fast food joint till almost a decade ago. There were several in New Delhi and one in Kathmandu. Yes, I have eaten there as well. There is a different novelty in finding a home grown brand ‘abroad’ … Nepal is pretty ‘abroad’ in my opinion! See that’s my take on home grown, the guy behind the counter is ‘uncle’ and he will remember you the next time you come and your friends will think ‘Nirula’s’ is your haunt, that’s the perfect life for a 12 year old. ‘Nirula’s’ also holds the symbolic title of ‘the place of many firsts’ … it was the place I saw a film star for the first time, I found my first ‘crush’, I got my ‘board exam’ results, I got 20 bucks extra as change, I got high on food (before you jump to conclusions, it was one of those innocent highs, that only food can produce).

The food wasn’t something to write home about but this was the only place where one could order, burger and fries with a milkshake on the side and feel on top of the world, teleported all the way to the home of junk food, the US. Looking back I must reiterate that Nirula’s meant just a handful of yummy things to most people. There were the footlong fiends, the veg. burger lovers, the ice cream soda devotees but the ultimate followers of ‘Nirula’s’ were those that swore by the hot chocolate fudge.

That’s where this whole rant began. Manav, my friend decided to relive the joy by visiting the newly acquired ‘Nirula’s’ last week. ‘Nirula’s’ was a traditional family owned restaurant, run by the grand old man Mr. Nirula, I imagine. He must have been a regal old man with a mighty ‘Punjabi’ heart and appetite, also ‘Punjabi’s’ (those that hail from the state of Punjab in India) had great taste and western exposure. So I could understand his need to supply North India with much needed fast food! After competition like McDonalds, Pizza Hut and Dominos hit Indian shores, it shook the foundation ‘Nirula’s’ stood upon. They didn’t have hand tossed pizza’s, their fries were insipid and they didn’t have the omnipresent ‘thali’ back then, so no fallback option. What they had in their favour was ice cream. It was good and cheaper than Baskin Robbins. So there was Manav, looking forward to his hot chocolate fudge at the newly acquired ‘Nirula’s’. In June 2006, Navis Capital Partners a Malaysia based company acquired the Nirula's Group of Companies. He was to realize when he took the order that he had been served a hot butterscotch sundae instead. He says he may have made a mistake in ordering which I find worthy of mention simply because the same benefit of doubt cannot be bestowed upon ‘Nirula’s’. They vehemently refused to address his quandary. Imagine an old customer, as old as he is today, ordering an all time favourite dessert, ready to pay the difference for even a dollop of fudge on his sundae, is told a simple ‘no’! Now I wonder if the foreign acquisition made a difference in this ‘customer experience’. Our childhood haunts are becoming commercial trash and we are treated like it. The ‘home’ feeling is totally absent and not even a smile will make matters better. I feel sorry that Manav’s history with ‘Nirula’s’ will end this way and end it will because we now have over 5 varieties of commercial ice creams available, we have Hershey’s chocolate syrup and who can’t dry roast few peanuts at home. This is a lesson for ‘Nirula’s’, the recipe for hot chocolate fudge given above doesn’t mention the ‘Nirula’s’ touch because I don’t think it exists anymore.

Take it to the Limit

2007-09-14T00:56:00.000-07:00

View College Life Stock Photos by PhotosIndia.com

I don’t think it’s wrong to term “College Life in India” as the ‘ultimate freedom’. Drawing from personal experience I can safely say that whether it was a convent or a co-educational school, the claustrophobia was the same. Even the senior years were ruled by uniforms, punishments and a constant ‘big brotherly’ presence. I don’t know how it is today but back in the day, hair had to be neatly trimmed, nails had to be bitten down, socks couldn’t be rolled to the ankles and that awful perennial neck tie, it was hell. The only consolation was ‘friends’. Some of you reading this may have been super achievers, teacher’s darlings and the like but most of us just drudged through school only to get to the big, bad world of College. Thank God!

As luck would have it, I went to out of my hometown to study and the first thing to hit me was – I can wear what I want! For youngsters all over the world, the feeling of self expression is of utmost importance. The whole feeling of being ‘me’ comes from a style statement. It could well be just a bag, a braid or a BMW but we all want to stand out. I didn’t have any of those things but I did have a tool that surpassed all, attitude, and a healthy one! This is the high point of what I see in the campus life of today. The boys and girls are so confident and so chic. I don’t feel shallow in admitting that my most poignant moment in college was the day I left my hair open; after all it won’t be clichéd to say ‘college is the time to let your hair down”. Pardon the pun, I couldn’t help myself.

Student life in India is actually more than that. The residual guilt from school tends to stay on, so even though you can ‘bunk’ classes and you do ‘bunk’ classes, it just doesn’t feel right. Indian students are conditioned to work hard from day 1. There are no open book tests, no lockers to ease the load and by no means is there a provision to choose subjects before ‘high school’. This has long term repercussions that are very positive. Indian students know rote learning (not always a good thing), they respect their teachers (well at least they stand up and greet them before each class), they know how to burn the midnight oil and they know how important the values of school are to cope later in life. So it may not always be about fun and games, big deal, life isn’t all about fun and games either. This may be a good time for international students to check out courses available in India, may as well learn a whole new culture while you’re at it. Manipal University has superb Medical and Engineering courses and right here in Delhi University you can do your Bachelor’s and Master’s in any subject, language or stream. The world is an ocean for these young men and women and college is ‘lifeguard’ training!

More than a 'Dream'

2007-08-22T22:30:00.000-07:00

I have splendid news in this piece. Our studio has passed its test run of 3 months with flying colours. We officially launched our 6,500 sq. ft. studio in May 2007. Set in the dynamic suburb of Gurgaon, the space is more than a studio, it’s a dream come true. The construction pace was like all such endeavours are, excruciating. Thankfully, Photosindia.com had a fabulous team of professionals constantly striving to get on with the ultimate ‘plan’ - our very own world class studio. The space cannot be explained it has to be experienced. There is an amazing splash of natural light that makes the white walls seem farther, makes the area enormous. It’s everything we need to produce quality imagery, from India to the world.

We can now boast of international standards, handpicked sets, state of the art equipment, plenty of natural light, extremely talented photographers, a team of production staff that only think out of the box … and that little bit extra, passion! Everyone at Photosindia.com is driven by the prospects of the stock photography industry, we are producing signature imagery and we are good at it. With the studio in place, our horizons have broadened so much, that we are flooded with ideas, concepts and themes. The studio seems like a living being, like a part of the team, it has its own energy. The peripherals are perfect too, we have a view of contemporary office buildings at one end and a balcony garden at the other. When the sets are out, the transformation is unbelievable, we have our high school classroom, the next door chemist, a home kitchen and a kids bedroom all in walking distance.

The biggie came last month. We wanted to do the Kathakali shoot and we knew the artist would be wearing an outfit that weighs a ton and makeup that weighs more. He had never worked in a studio and we were just beginning to cover specialty Indian stock. He took 3 hours to get ready, we hit the studio at noon and right there in the middle of the studio was our ‘muse’. It was an awesome sight, his fantastic makeup, his overwhelming garb and yet he seemed so small, almost animated in all that space, with the sun overhead, it was truly a sight to see. We had another quandary to deal with, we needed a motorcycle up in the second floor studio for a concept shot. That was great fun. Lugging that 500 pound piece of machinery up on the set, readying it for our custom shot, getting our model seated firmly on it … all the while we were applauding ourselves quietly.

We had multiple shoots that day. It seemed heavy but in retrospect the team made it all happen. We had frantic studio hands carrying boxes of mobile phones, frenzied art directors readying their shots, make-up artists, hairstylists, prop hands, all this while our extremely calm photographers meditated with the lights. All in all the studio has added a whole new dimension to Photosindia.com pursuit of exquisite Indian stock.

That’s the thing about Photosindia.com, there is always something new and exciting going on. Watch this space for our next adventure and check out the gallery for a sneak preview of all the amazing stuff we have produced since the studio got ready.

Eyes open wider

2007-08-06T03:08:00.000-07:00

I took me a couple of weeks to get over the whole ‘Bharatanatyam’ shoot. I don’t know why, it never takes me this long to absorb something extraordinary and I tend to produce very varied stock for my brand - Photosindia.com. It was probably some latent disappointment regarding my own experience with ‘Bharatanatyam’ that did it, I wasn’t great at it but I am sure I could have pursued it longer such to let the grace and discipline seep into my everyday life. Anyway, I kind of obsessed with the idea of exploring the various dance forms our country had to offer. And if you are still gaping at the number of languages, cuisines and cultures we actually have, then this topic will surely amaze you. Almost every state of India and we have 28, has a dance form they call their own. That meant I needed to get cracking, book my studio space with our Creative Director and get a hold of all these lovely artists. My endeavours were well rewarded within weeks. I found just the right person for one of India’s most awe inspiring dances – Kathakali. Certain elements remain common to all dances of India, they are storytelling personified and they are all extremely graceful, vibrant and emotional. But ‘Kathakali’ is just a wee bit more of all the adjectives I have used. Kathakali is the traditional dance-drama of Kerala, the way ‘Bharatanatyam’ traces its roots to Tamil Nadu and it is sheer, raw ‘power’. That’s the best word to describe it.

The day of the shoot started early. Our model was a veteran performer very keen to enlighten us about the nuances of Kathakali. He had prepared us for a 3 hour makeup session and we all thought he was exaggerating, apparently …. He was not. The first hour he lay motionless on the floor, while his team prepared colored pastes in little bowls made of coconut shells. It’s this kind of quaintness that always gets me. I mean, this man has a mobile phone, he probably downloads his performances from the video camera to DVD and yet they didn’t start getting him ready till the traditional brass lamp was lit and a little prayer was said. I always knew that most of the south Indian dance forms were rooted in Hindu mythology but this was true devotion. The base coats on his face took longer than a fashion model's makeup, then came the colors – rich parrot green, bleeding orange and the stark yellow of the ‘tilaka’. The makeup itself that transformed this man into a living caricature, a living, breathing mythical creature from way back into our past. He seemed to loom larger than he was when he came in. One by one, ornaments came out of an old, dented trunk (there was the quaintness again).

I noticed him change from an ordinary person to a revered character, his team was all over him, cajoling him like he was a child, adoring him like they were his mothers and keeping his comfort our utmost priority. There were steel talons on one hand, headgear that rose a foot in the air and solid gold arm bands that I had never noticed before. In a way it saddened me, I had seen quite a few performances in the last 15 years and I never stopped to notice these fantastic details. Sure enough, it took him 3 hours to get ready and all I could think of was how an Amazonian state like Kerala could have a dance form that requires a thermal costume weighing over 8 kilos?? This had to be true devotion! I remained mesmerized for the next few hours. Not just by the movements and expressions but by the subtleties. Our model’s team had a different attitude towards him once he was in costume, they were short of worshipping him and we all felt it. It was like being in the presence of God, or at least the closest thing to it. After a few frames we noticed that his eyes were very blood shot, so we asked if the atmosphere was bothering him. He gently informed us that he needed to portray the angst, the power, the menace and the megalomania of his character, thus the red eyes. He had applied a powder derived from a 'brinjal' like vegetable (which I suspect is the chili family, don't the seeds look alike?) in his eyes and thats what made them burn red this way.

Before we knew it … the shoot was over. I felt awful, there was still so much to explore, so many questions to ask. All I could the end the day with was an apology to our model, I apologized for being just the ‘audience’ all these years. I apologized for not recognizing the immense talent and fervour that goes into being a performer of Indian classical arts. And finally I thanked him, thanked him for showing me the essence of ‘Kathakali’. Apart from the makeup, the costume, the élan and the rich history, it was the devotion, the discipline and the traditional grounding that I will never forget. So next time you go to see any Indian classical dance, remember to feel the history and appreciate the entirety of what you see.

Dance Therapy

2007-08-06T02:11:00.000-07:00

“She is the embodiment of grace. She flows like water, she glows like fire and has the earthiness of a mortal goddess. She has flowers in her hair, jewelled hands and kohl dark eyes. Her eyes speak a language that her hands will translate, her feet move in tandem to make the story complete. She is a danseuse, she is a performer, she is almost ethereal.” – These were my thoughts when we were producing the ‘Dances of India’ images at the newly built Photosindia.com studio. Our model was unique, she wasn’t here to strut her stuff or pout and be pretty, she was here to blow our minds. I learnt ‘Bharatanatyam’ for seven years as a child but even I didn’t remember this kind of magical aura and splendour. It wasn’t the costume or the jewellery, it was the motion, the fluidity, I could go on and on.

Dance in India symbolizes more than just entertainment; it actually serves as a communication tool. Dances were mainly performed in temples as offering to the Gods, these dances relayed messages of community living, fictional plays depicting an ideal way of life and mythological tales of people and places. Most classical dance forms still remain physical manifestations of the music they are performed with. In Indian culture, song and dance are inseparable companions of classical arts. One compliments the other and neither can survive on its own. A typical example would be Bharatanatyam and Carnatic Music. Bharatanatyam is a dance form supposedly created by Bharata Muni, the sage who wrote the ‘Natya Shastra’, ancient text dealing with dance, performance and theatre. Bharatanatyam was performed by ‘Devadasis’ in ’ancient times, dancers that appeased the Gods, much like the mythical ‘Apsara’s', Hindu equivalents of angels or celestial dancers. The entire performance is actually a play, with stunning costumes and feline grace. The emphasis lies in the movement and expressiveness of the eyes, intricate hand gestures that speak volumes and most essentially an attitude that emotes confidence and beauty. ‘Karanas’ are classical postures in Bharatanatyam, these are 108 and 125 positions in the classical Indian dance. The word ‘Karanam’ means conscious and systematic action in Tamil. Another distinctive feature of Bharatanatyam is expressive hand gestures as a way of communication. Hasta Mudras refers to the varieties of hand symbols that a dancer uses to convey the story they are performing.

Bharatanatyam evolved as a dance form of the deities and went on to be performed across Tamil Nadu at festivals, in temples and in palaces. It had a mystical aura that spoke of eternal wisdom, enlightenment and purity. It I still considered a ‘fire dance’ as compared to Odissi being a ‘water dance’, the inclusion of elements adds a more metaphysical aspect to dance performances in India. All the technicalities aside what is most striking is the colors and the movements. The costume is elaborate and physically flattering to the female form, the hairdo is accented with fresh fragrant flowers, the hands and feet are adorned with a red paste and the jewelery too is loud and expressive. All these elements are essential to make the impact that this dance is all about. After all it is a story told with no words, the music is an accompaniment not the storyteller, the dancer is the only medium truly communicating with the audience.

View Bharatanatyam Stock Photos by PhotosIndia.com

Make it Spicy

2007-07-05T02:08:00.001-07:00

View Stock Photo Gallery by PhotosIndia.com

I was in Kuwait a couple of years back and my standard tone in every restaurant and every meal was ‘make it spicy’! And then there was this one episode which made me stop saying it all together. We were at a fabulous Mediterranean restaurant called ‘Mezz Al Ghanim’ and I was drooling quietly at my table when a friend of mine asked if everything was okay. Assuming that the staff was not too familiar with the English language I told her that the food here was great but not ‘spicy’ enough for me. Out of nowhere came this handsome Iranian waiter and he said “Do you mean pungent maam? Because you come from the land of spices, everything here has spices from India, inhale now and I swear your nasal passage will open just by the fragrance of our cooking.We can make it pungent but it will kill the spice.” That’s when I realized he was right, I wanted ‘hot’ food and that had nothing to do with spice or flavor. This is a common misconception, spices are meant to add to the base ingredients of a dish and have a wonderful aroma and flavor, just the way continental food uses herbs.

There are a variety of Indian spices, cloves; cinnamon, cardamom, black cardamom, mace, black pepper are some of the common ones. Out of the 109 spices listed by the ISO, India produces as many as 75 in various regions. India accounts for about 45% of the global spice exports, though exports constitute only some 8% of the estimated annual production of spices at 3.5 million tons. Over all, spices are grown in some 2.9 million hectares in the country. India produces around 2.75 million tons of different spices valued at approximately 4.2 billion US $, and holds the premier position in the world spice market. Because of the varying climates in India - from tropical to sub-tropical, from 0-45 degree centigrade, almost all spices are grown in this country. In all of the 28 states and seven union territories of India, at least one spice is grown in abundance. So you can see a large part of the agricultural base in India is ‘spices’. In ancient times, spices were as precious as gold; and as significant as medicines, preservatives and perfumes. India - the land of spices played a significant role in the global spice market. No country in the world produced as many spices as India.

Indian cuisine encourages the use of whole spices for meats etc. and ground spices for vegetables, lentils and curries. Most Indian home still get their spices ground personally to ensure purity and consistency. I go over 20 miles to get my monthly spices ground and it has to be every month because spices lose their qualities with time. Whole spices are better if they are roasted before use. The oils of the spice get released and add to the dish. The potency of a spice can be gauged by where it was grown and how it was stored and preserved, I tend to buy spices that are slightly small because I feel they will be more potent and they usually are. One killer recipe I must share uses few of the common spices of India. It’s a lamb dish though in India we use an older animal and call the meat, 'mutton’. Wash 1 kilo of mutton, marinate in 1 cup of yogurt and 1 teaspoon each of roasted spices – cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, black cardamom, 1 bayleaf, black pepper, cumin seeds and mustard seeds. Keep it in the refrigerator for 2-4 hours. Fry 3 pureed onions mixed with a puree of 4-6 garlic pods, in 2 tablespoons of ghee, add the marinated mutton (reserve the marinade though). Fry on high for 5-7 minutes, leave to simmer on low (covered) for 45 minutes. Add 1 cup of coconut milk, 2 teaspoons of ‘garam masala’ (a combo of cinnamon, cumin, cloves, mace, cardamom and black cardamom) and salt to taste. You can either leave it to simmer for another 20 minutes or put it in a pressure cooker for a whistle or two and there you have it ‘Mutton Shirazi’…have it with white rice or a nice, crisp 'naan' (type of Indian bread). On this topic, I must clarify, ‘curry powder’ is not the most common spice mix of India, ‘garam masala’ is! In fact as an Indian in India, I wonder what curry powder is? All our curries have different powdered spices, so who made a generic one?

Sweet Surrender

2007-07-04T02:57:00.000-07:00

View Stock Photo Gallery by PhotosIndia.com

My mother was an avid cook, actually she was a closet ‘chef’ and only very late in life did she pursue a part time venture in catering. I had spent most of my childhood on the kitchen parapet and most of my adulthood leaning against it. Unfortunately I never bothered to actually learn from her, I just stood there and watched. So what I ended up with was loads of cookery wisdom and zero practical knowledge. Anyway, a Bachelor’s course with ITC-WelcomGroup changed that but going back to my mom, one huge pearl of wisdom was – “Cook with all your senses. Feel with your fingers, inhale with your nose, taste with your mouth, look at the colors and textures with your eyes and most important hear the sizzling, the frying with your ears and you will never go wrong.” Though this can be applied to any cuisine in the world, I apply it most to when I make Indian sweets. You can’t beat the sound of ‘gulab jamuns’ frying in hot oil, the monotony of the ‘kadchi’ or ladle moving tirelessly through kilos of chickpea flour (‘besan’) sounds blissful to me and of course the fragrances … cooking spices can tickle your nose and whet your appetite but Indian sweets will make your mouth water right away.

The variety of Indian sweets available is unbelievable. But then you must have heard that about everything in India, the cuisines, the cultures, the languages! The most common ingredient for all the sweets across India could possibly be milk and dry fruits but the combinations with other local ingredients produces an assortment of tastes, textures, colors and shapes. North India produces sweets that are extremely dairy based maybe because Punjab is the dairy hub of India and the heart of the north. The milk is reduced over hours of simmering in a heavy pan to produce an ingredient called ‘khoya’ or ‘mawa’ or milk solids. ‘Khoya’ forms the base of almost every ‘burfi’ (I would avoid spelling it as 'barfi, though!), ‘laddoo’ and ‘peda’, it is also used as a garnish for a variety of winter ‘halva’s’. A lot of dry fruit is used as fillings or garnish, especially cashews and almonds, which also form the base of an extremely popular ‘burfi’, quite like its continental cousin the marzipan. Towards the East, the sweets get more exotic. The famous ‘sandesh’ from West Bengal (yes, that’s in the East of India) is a classic favorite and found all over India now. They are made from a variety of ingredients like chickpea flour (‘besan’), cottage cheese (paneer) and even coconut, curd and ‘khoya’. In the West, sweet foods are extremely popular, especially in Gujarat, where even regular food has a sweetened tinge. Their sweets use a lot wheat and refined flour along with jaggery and candied fruits and nuts. Down south the basic flavors remain constant but in a very different presentation, the ‘laddoo’s’ there look like the same ones seen up north, but one bite is all you need to have to know just how different the entire recipe actually is. South Indian sweets use fruits and vegetables extensively too, pumpkins and yams as well as bananas and coconut.

All in all, Indian sweets are rich and delicious, most confectioners have maintained their standardized recipes and still produce quality sweets made of high grade ingredients. All confectioners clearly state that their goods are perishables and need to be consumed within 24-48 hours. It is only now that some brands are marketing Indian sweets with longer shelf lives, it may be an endeavor to reach distant markets but it does compromise on the quality and actual taste of the product. Personally, I would say a ‘laddoo’ is way healthier than a chocolate bar, given the preservatives and the shelf life, I may just be right!

Photosindia.com is the face of Dainik Bhaskar

2007-06-25T21:08:00.000-07:00

I can imagine the ‘creative’ cabin of an ad agency. Except that my vivid imagination always sees static electricity and bulbs going off everywhere, I would imagine that to be a ‘creative’ environment. Electric and buzzing. These are the places where our product is discussed, which image would be perfect for the message we want to relay??? That’s when we come into the picture, as of now we boast of over 12,000 contemporary and unique images of India and Indians. How I wish I was in one of these ‘creative’ sessions because not only do we have solutions at Photosindia.com, we have creative content that will actually give you ideas.

One particular creative session birthed the idea of using teenage girls gossiping to promote the print media. Here is the sweet part of deal – on the one hand you have models to hire, photographer to engage, rent a studio or clean out the one you have, oh ya the makeup artist, the hair guy, the art director …..OR Photosindia.com. It’s so simple, that I can’t believe I am explaining it. Call us with your brief, give us the day you would have ideally set aside for a shoot and we will get back to you with images that are specific to your brief …. I must add the sweetest part of the deal …it will probably cost you 1/10th of the cost of actual production. I can’t help saying it again – at Photosindia.com it is sooooo easy!!!

Anyway, Dainik Bhaskar did the smart thing and called us. We had an image of three pretty teenage girls gossiping their little hearts out and that was Dainik Bhaskar’s perfect image!

Before

After

The Taj - A Symbol of Devotion

2007-06-21T04:39:00.000-07:00

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The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India. The Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned it as a mausoleum for his favorite Persian wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Construction began in 1632 and was completed in approximately 1648.

Some dispute surrounds the question of who designed the Taj Mahal; it is clear a team of designers and craftsmen were responsible for the design, with Ustad Ahmad Lahauri considered the most likely candidate as the principal designer.

The Taj Mahal (sometimes called "the Taj") is generally considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements of Persian, Turkish, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. While the white domed marble mausoleum is the most familiar part of the monument, the Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 when it was described as a "universally admired masterpiece of the world's heritage.

In 1631 Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal's period of greatest prosperity, was grief-stricken when his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during the birth of their daughter Gauhara Begum, their fourteenth child. Contemporary court chronicles concerning Shah Jahan's grief form the basis of the love story traditionally held as the inspiration for the Taj Mahal.

Construction of the Taj Mahal was begun soon after Mumtaz's death. The principal mausoleum was completed in 1648, and the surrounding buildings and garden were finished five years later.

The complex is set in and around a large charbagh (a formal Mughal garden divided into four parts). Measuring 300 meters × 300 meters, the garden uses raised pathways which divide each quarter of the garden into 16 sunken parterres or flowerbeds. A raised marble water tank at the center of the garden, halfway between the tomb and the gateway, and a linear reflecting pool on the North-South axis reflect the Taj Mahal. Elsewhere the garden is laid out with avenues of trees and fountains

The Charbagh garden was introduced to India by the first Mughal emperor Babur, a design inspired by Persian gardens. The charbagh is meant to reflect the gardens of Paradise (from the Persian paridaeza — a walled garden). In mystic Islamic texts of the Mughal period, paradise is described as an ideal garden, filled with abundance. Water plays a key role in these descriptions: In Paradise, these text say, four rivers source at a central spring or mountain, and separate the garden into north, west, south and east.

Most Mughal charbaghs are rectangular in form, with a tomb or pavilion in the center of the garden. The Taj Mahal garden is unusual in that the main element, the tomb, is located at the end rather than at the center of the garden. But the existence of the newly discovered Mahtab Bagh or "Moonlight Garden" on the other side of the Yamuna provides a different interpretation — that the Yamuna itself was incorporated into the garden's design, and was meant to be seen as one of the rivers of Paradise.

The layout of the garden, and its architectural features such as its fountains, brick and marble walkways, and geometric brick-lined flowerbeds are similar to Shalimar's, and suggest that the garden may have been designed by the same engineer, Ali Mardan.

Early accounts of the garden describe its profusion of vegetation, including roses, daffodils, and fruit trees in abundance. As the Mughal Empire declined, the tending of the garden declined as well. When the British took over management of the Taj Mahal, they changed the landscaping to resemble the formal lawns of London.

Myths about the Taj Mahal are now so old or compelling that they are often repeated as facts. A longstanding myth holds that Shah Jahan planned a duplicate mausoleum to be built in black marble across the Jumna river. The 'black taj' idea originates in the fanciful writings of Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a European traveller who visited Agra in 1665. The story suggests that Shah Jahan was overthrown by his son Aurangzeb before the black version could be built. Ruins of blackened marble across the river, in the so-called Moonlight Garden (Mahtab Bagh) seemed to support this legend. However, excavations carried out in the 1990s found only white marble features discoloured completely to black. The garden buildings had collapsed due to repeated flooding. Others speculate that the 'black taj' may refer to the reflection of the Taj in the large pool of the moonlight garden.

Numerous stories describe — often in horrific detail — the deaths, dismemberments and mutilations which Shah Jahan inflicted on various architects and craftsmen associated with the tomb. No evidence for these claims exist.

Sometimes misinformation about the Taj has been used for political or self-serving advantage. Lord William Bentinck, governor of India in the 1830s, supposedly planned to demolish the Taj Mahal and auction off the marble. There is no contemporary evidence for this story, which may have emerged in the late nineteenth century when Bentinck was being criticised for his penny-pinching Utilitarianism, and when Lord Curzon was emphasising earlier neglect of the monument. Bentinck's biographer John Rosselli says that the story arose from Bentinck's fund-raising sale of discarded marble from Agra Fort.

My take on Indian Food

2007-06-21T04:21:00.000-07:00

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The writer’s block I developed for this topic has been the most painful. ‘Indian food’ would ideally be my favorite topic, actually it is my favorite topic but I have no clue where to start. Should I pick a region (North, South etc.), a state (Punjab, Kerala, West Bengal …), a cuisine (Awadh, Konkan…), a religion (Jain, Parsi …)? India has foods that could cover a world on its own, and no it’s not just curry we are serving tonight! In fact curry is the last thing ‘Indian cuisine’ would like to boast of, she is a gourmet and curry is too much fusion for her pride. ‘Indian cuisine’ cannot be defined because of its vastness, it cannot be categorized for the same reason too. What can explain the delicacies of this amazing country is the experience itself. So after you read this, take a trip to the closest restaurant that serves a cuisine other than that of your region (if you are in India) and if you are abroad, go to any Indian restaurant and no two will taste alike.

Let me start with two of the broadest categories I can find – Vegetarian and Non Vegetarian. Vegetarian’s in India are a large majority and most restaurants even international ones keep well stocked menus for them. There are no ‘vegan’s’ per se but there are communities that avoid onions and garlic all together, like the Jain’s. International flights readily offer ‘Jain’ meals because they are essentially a trader caste and run some of the largest family led business conglomerates. India has always had a strong farming culture which offers fresh seasonal vegetables through the year. The interesting thing about all the foods of India is that their history lies entrenched in ‘Ayurveda’. For instance, cauliflower is a winter vegetable, scientifically it is proven to be difficult to digest, its best consumed in cold weather because the body has a slow metabolism. It is available only in the winter months. Summers produce lighter, more water based vegetables and fruits like a variety of gourds and melons. Summer and winter foods throughout India vary and science behind it is always good for digestion and essential for the elements of that season. In states like Gujarat and Rajasthan, a vegetarian spread could mean over 100 dishes and again no two will taste alike. The famed ‘thali’ is the Indian counterpart of a 10-15 course meal, except that it’s served together and replenished as often as the patron likes. A variety of pulses, wet and dry will be served, along with curried or stir fried vegetables, pickles, yoghurts infused with onions, tomatoes, cucumbers or tempered with curry leaves, fritters called ‘pakoras’ of seasonal vegetables will complete the thali.

Non vegetarian cuisine on the other hand has historical value. The innumerable invasions of India, the Mughal era that started in the 1500’s, the Portuguese in Goa and the French in Pondicherry, all left a stark impact on the dishes of those areas. Some states like Kerala and regions like the Konkan coast can share fish and seafood recipes from hundreds of years ago but by and large non vegetarian food in India has constantly evolved. I once read a fun story about the famous ‘Meen Moily’ fish curry of Kerela (‘meen’ means fish). A British lady (I am sure it was over a 100 years ago), loved the authentic Kerala fish curry except that she found it too spicy (the real black pepper spice not the god awful red chilli one), so she worked it around with naturally sweet coconut milk, a whole lot of curry leaves and just a few green chillies… her name was Molly. Try that dish and you will thank me, in fact I think I’ll cook it tonight. Fish and seafood are cooked throughout coastal India, being a peninsula there was a lot of coast to cover. West Bengal uses coconut milk too but their ‘masala’ base is mustard seeds, Goan’s on the other hand are as fond of coconut milk but their ‘masala’ is a potent combination of dry red chillis and vinegar. You would have never tasted two prawn curries so different from each other and yet from the same country. Other meats like chicken, lamb and pork are very popular too. Imagine multiplying 100 vegetables x 25 cuisines x 1 billion homes … that’s the variety we offer.

Business Process Outsourcing and its Indian story

2007-06-20T05:28:00.000-07:00

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What really is Business Process Outsourcing or BPO? Nope, it’s not the evil giant that swallowed all the jobs from the west, its just a sector that’s making waves in India and making hell of a difference abroad. This sector has now become so specialized that India offers high end work referred to as Knowledge Process Outsourcing or KPO and other variants such as Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO). Unlike what most people think, this industry did not take shape in the last decade, this process of outsourcing back end work actually happened way back in the 80’s. This is when biggies like British Airways and American Express started looking for cheaper business venues. Cheaper didn’t necessarily mean there was a compromise on talent, India always had plenty of talent to offer. At this stage the telecom boom was starting to happen as well, realty was on the rise and suddenly there was all these personnel that wanted to come back home. With them they brought their jobs, it was a simple relocation that clicked. Next came GE, Jack Welch always knew potential when he saw it. GECIS was their baby and that was just the start of the nursery India was to become.

By the year 2000, several BPO companies mushroomed all over Sub-urban cities like Gurgaon, Pune, Bangalore etc. MNC (Multinational companies) were awed by the working ethic of Indians as well as budget goodies like tele-services, office rentals, relatively low pay packages, it was glorious all the way. The industry grew at a rate of 38% in the year 2005. For the financial year 2006, the projection was of US $7.2 billion worth of services provided by this industry.

Today the global BPO Industry is estimated to be worth 120-150 billion dollars, of this the offshore BPO is estimated to be some US$11.4 billion. The Information Technology sector that comprises of ITES (IT-enabled services) and BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) entities has driven India into an economic boom. Today India is a much sought after destination for global offshore outsourcing companies because of its track record. This is an employment generating sector, the BPO industry alone created job opportunities for around 74,400 additional personnel in India in the year 04-05. The last headcount stood at 400,000 which was 40% of the approximate one million workers estimated to be directly employees in the IT and BPO Sector. Nearly 75% of US and European multinational companies now use outsourcing or shared services to support their financial functions. As per the estimates on ‘Wikipedia’ - 72% of European multinational companies have outsourced financial functions over the past two years. Additionally, 71% of European companies and 78% US companies plan to use these services in the next 12-24 months. Overall, 29% of US and European companies expect to increase their use of outsourcing of financial functions, with spending expected to be nearly 16% higher than current levels.

India is truly Shining!

PUSHKAR: The home of ‘Brahma’, the Creator and the Pushkar Fair

2007-06-18T01:29:00.000-07:00

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Pushkar is a small town in Rajasthan, it is as picturesque as any desert town can be but it has other claims to fame that make it a prominent address on the Indian map. Pushkar, literally meaning 'a lotus that has bloomed in mud', and it also home to one of the only two temples dedicated to Lord Brahma. The seat upon which Lord Brahma resides is a blue Lotus also known as ‘Pushkara’ in Sanskrit. Lord Brahma is a part of the Hindu Holy Trinity and he serves as the ‘Creator’ of mankind, the way Lord Shiva is considered the destroyer. Lord Brahma is said to be the son of the Supreme Being. He created the universe and he had several symbols associated with his persona.

Mythology states that Lord Brahma annoyed Lord Shiva during a tryst and the curse bestowed upon him was that no man on earth would worship Lord Brahma the way other deities are worshipped. Another school of thought attributed this curse to a demi God who was ignored by Lord Brahma. But it is the practicalities of modern society that have asked for a more plausible explanation. Like the one stated by Mr. Surin Usgaonkar “The true philosophical reason why Brahma is not worshiped like the other deities is as under: Worship involves faith and faith to certain degree means accepting supremacy of someone without questioning. Brahma, on the other hand, represents true knowledge. The knowledge and faith are philosophically antithetical concepts. Knowledge blooms in self-doubt, constant questioning, criticism and discussions and it lapses in faith.”

Leaving such heavy thinking aside, let’s go back to Pushkar, where this whole dialogue began. Pushkar has one of the two temples dedicated to Lord Brahma and it is here that one of the largest cultural, trading and religious fair takes place every year. ‘Pushkar Mela’ (‘mela’ literally means fair or carnival) is India’s largest cattle fair. It is a spectacular event with Rajasthani men and women in their traditional attire, ash smeared holy men and more than one lakh people, from all over Rajasthan as well as tourists from different parts of India and abroad in attendance. Apart from the people there is bevy of bulls, cows, sheep, goats, horses and camels for sale and barter. It is not just business here, this week long fair also has fabulous events and brilliant shopping stalls. There are hysterical camel races, where photographers are known to get trampled (objects in the lens appear farther than they really are!!!). Rajasthani gypsies in their vibrant colorful skirts perform dance and music recitals through the days and nights. The shopping stalls glitter all the way with handcrafted leather goods to dainty glass bangles and beautiful textiles. Craftsman from all over Rajasthan and neighboring states bring their wares out for the world to see and appreciate. At Pushkar there is something for everyone. The shopper will find his delights, the trader will get a great bargain and the tourist will see the colorful and charismatic India they were hoping to see.

‘Pushkar Fair’ is always held in the month of Kartik. It starts two days before the full moon of the month and ends a day after it. This year the fair is from 18th-24th November 2007, a tad later than usual. It is the Pushkar lake in this city that all devotional activities center around. It has 52 ghats (like cement bleachers/steps) and is the main reason for the confluence of so many people from all parts of the country and abroad. It is considered imperative to take a dip in the Pushkar Lake on the night of a full moon. According to the Puranas (meaning ‘ancient Indian tales’), a pilgrimage to Pushkar destroys all evil and washes away all sins. A person that has had a dip in the lake at Pushkar and worshipped Brahma achieves salvation. For this reason, thousands of people gather here for this great annual pilgrimage and fair. Could there be an easier way??

The Indian Connection

2007-06-17T00:36:00.000-07:00

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Doing business in India has never been easier. The markets have opened, the government has taken serious economic stances to encourage foreign investment and ‘globalization’ isn’t a scary word anymore. Gone are the days when ‘Amul’ butter felt threatened by the attractively packed imported ‘fats’. Screaming ‘Fat Free’ off their labels, but the good old Indian wasn’t easy prey. There was a skewed kind of brand loyalty that had ‘nostalgia’ written all over it and the average Indian needed a bit more than just great packaging in multiple languages.

Thus started the media frenzy. ‘Tang’ came back with a bang, images of young Indian’s lolling about with sweaty glasses of ‘Tang’ made for the picture perfect West. After all in reverse Indian companies had invested over $2 billion in the US in 2006-07 and completed a total of 48 deals with the firms there. Suddenly, everybody knew us and we found retail heaven. Indian companies went on to announce 115 foreign acquisitions worth $7.4 billion, and it wasn’t always done by large business conglomerates but also by several small and medium enterprises of India.

With this kind of attention, India went on to become the hot spot for the $42.7 billion telecom giant Motorola’s production base for coming out with new technologies for emerging markets. The Indian economy was expected to grow at the rate of 8% this year and this would have been the fourth year in a row for 8% GDP growth. Then the other day we have Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram expressing supreme confidence that GDP growth will touch 10% in the current fiscal. It seems to have a lot to do with the age profile in India as compared to the global working population. This has to be a better dividend for the Indian economy. Our core working populace is young Indian’s adding significantly to the country’s growth. They are the big earners and the big spenders. They are the target audience for every sector possible because now they can afford their dreams. Websites like orkut.com have young Indian's congratulating each other over new houses bought in foreign countries, imported cars bought in local cities and European holidays every summer. With pockets this deep, aspirations this huge and limitless possibilities …it is India all the way.

The Sensual Sari

2007-06-16T04:05:00.000-07:00

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The ‘sari’ adds a whole new meaning to the term ‘the whole nine yards’. It is a 5000 year old traditional outfit, worn by an estimated 75% of the female populace of India. It is a one piece garment and its length ranges from five to nine and half yards. All of which is wrapped around the waist, with one end draped over the shoulder. It is worn all over India in over 15 regional styles and in every way that a 'Sari' is fashioned it adds sensuality and femininity to a woman’s body.

From the basic cotton to rich silk, sexy satin and elegant organza, the sari comes in a variety of fabrics. Sari’s can be block printed with natural dyes; they can be embroidered with intricate patterns or woven with imaginative designs. Even avid ‘sari’ collectors will say no one can have them all. Some of the popular regions for ethnic ‘sari’s are West Bengal where the wondrous ‘Baluchari’ comes from, it always has images of Indian religious epics as a pattern. The state of Tamil Nadu offers the richly brocaded ‘Kanchipuram’, they are silk saris much sought after and considered a must for every woman to own. Orissa has mastered the art of yarn dyed patterning, their Sari’s are stark and geometric. Rajasthan and Gujarat derive their inspiration from the gypsy culture of that region, their bandhini’ sari’s come in vibrant colors achieved from the process of ‘tie and dye’. The list of ethnic sari’s is endless but the ‘sari’ has evolved. As times have changed so has the ‘sari’, in order to suit the 21st century Indian women, sari’s come with more modern designs and in more manageable fabrics. Embroidery on ‘sari’s’ has been replaced by sequins and ‘Swarovski’ crystals, only to invite a whole new generation into its fold (pun intended)!

What really makes this outfit extremely versatile is that it can be worn as a trouser, as shorts or as a simple skirt, without one single stitch on it. Sari’s suit the weather of the Indian subcontinent, it is airy and light yet sensual and suggestive. A hint of the midriff is all an Indian woman will divulge but the sari hugs a woman’s curves so beautifully, that she stands out despite her whole body being covered.

The ‘sari’ is draped and tucked into a skirt like garment called the ‘petticoat’ and on the upper body a short bodice called a ‘blouse’ is worn. The midriff is bare. Every state of India has a traditional weave for the ‘sari’ as well as a traditional style of draping. North India produces fine block printed cottons and textured silks like those found in Varanasi. South India on the other hand prefers to ignore the glaring sun and produce richer and heavier silk saris with ancient motifs and patterns. Every region of India boasts of a typical ‘sari’ only found in that area.

So if you haven’t worn one yet, go ahead take the plunge. The real secret of the ‘sari’ is – it adds curves to the right places and hides curves in the wrong places. Enjoy!

About the art of ‘MEHNDI/HENNA’

2007-06-15T07:21:00.000-07:00

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‘Mehndi' is a paste made from finely ground Henna leaves, this paste is traditionally meant to be applied to the hands and feet of a bride, it stains the skin like a tattoo albeit temporarily. Authentic henna leaves a rich auburn color and it is applied in intricate designs and patterns on the palms and top of the feet. Today henna does not remain exclusive to religious and ritualistic ceremonies; it is also adorned by people as artwork on various parts of the body, like the nape of the neck, lower back and upper arms, quite like temporary tattoos. 'Mehndi’ can be found in the history of many cultures in and around the Asian subcontinent, yet it remains integral to the social and cultural fabric of India.

Henna art is essential to the marriage ceremonies in India. Brides sit patiently for hours while artists work their magic. The patterns are lacy, geometric, floral or bold and each bride waits for this day as much as she does for her wedding day. The paste is kept on few hours, supplemented with a mixture of sugar and lime or mustard oil to deepen the color. It is then scraped or washed off. Many say the bride must not wet her hands after the dried paste is removed, the color gets richer overnight. And the richer the color the more love and acceptance the bride will receive in her new family. Henna does not remain exclusive to brides; it is applied on the hands of all the wedding guests including the men. The groom’s family have a henna ritual of their own and he proudly wears a pattern on his palm to express his joy and participate in the gaiety of the moment. Henna is considered auspicious and essential to the rituals of marriage in India, especially in the Northern region.

This art is passed down generations of mehndi’ artists and during wedding season, they are widely sought after community. They use plastic sheets wrapped into cones, filled with the henna paste and nipped at the tip, to squeeze and apply complex and elaborate designs. The traditional designs are ideas absorbed from nature, grand floral patterns and peacock tails are common to mehndi’ art.

The history associated with 'mehndi’ is varied. There has been a mention of henna art in ancient Indian text and it is believed to have been used for over 5000 years as a cosmetic product. Some historians believe henna was first used in North Africa and the Middle East and traveled to the South East of Asia along with trade and invasions. Wherever the concept of ‘mehndi’ art has been studied, the patterns that emerge from Indian culture are the most extraordinary.

Henna also has healing properties too; it is applied as salve to sores and cuts. Its natural composition is such that it cools the area it is applied to and many northern Indian states wear henna on the soles of their feet on hot summer days. Henna is used to dye hair; it leaves the same burgundy sheen on hair and also conditions the scalp. ‘Ayurveda’ uses henna as treatment for severe medical conditions related to the skin and digestion.

About the famous ‘BINDI’

2007-06-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

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Indian women are famed for their bright clothes and traditional jewelry. Added to this burst of color are a host of other adornments in the form body art and piercings. One strong symbol of body art is the ‘bindi’ or ‘bindiya’. It is usually a red dot worn in the center of the forehead, just between the brows.

A powder of dried turmeric and lead produces ‘kumkum’ or ‘sindoor’ used to apply the traditional red bindi. In southern India vermillion is used to apply a ‘bindi’, it is made of powdered red mercuric sulphide. Now bindi’s are available in a variety of colors and materials. Married women wear it as a norm, while younger women prefer to wear it as an accessory.

Several theories explain the tradition of this ornamental dot. Those of a scientific bent of mind say the 'bindi’ is applied on an integral nerve point. This center point is considered an integration of higher wisdom and inner strength. The ‘bindi’ is thus applied to retain energy. The traditionalists believe it brings good fortune and luck. It is auspicious and a symbol of marriage, the most sacred of all ties. Mystics have always argued that the ‘bindi’ is the third eye, the seat of all Hindu goddesses and their powers. Ultimately it is the Fashionista’s that have brought the ‘bindi’ into the limelight by wearing it simply for its stark presence and mystery.

‘Bindi’s’ are now tradition and trendy. They come in intricate patterns with gems and sequins adding to the vibrancy. They are worn with both ethnic and western clothes, making a global statement in fashion.

Not only women, but Hindu men also wear a dot on the forehead, indicating their third eye. The 'bindi’ for men can also be called a ‘Tika’ or 'Tilak', it is usually longer and applied with the thumb. The ‘Tika’ is an auspicious symbol for men too, it reminds them of their spiritual heritage. In terms of history this ‘Tika’ helps to identify a Hindu among the members of other religions. Christians wear a cross, the Jewish wear a ‘yarmulke’, the Sikhs wear a turban and so on.

Ulitmately its women that identify most with the 'bindi', it signifies female energy or ‘shakti’. This red dot has gone from a symbol of marriage into patterns that go with a woman’s moods and the occasions in her life. It is all about empowerment and femininity.

Business Life

2007-06-13T19:04:00.000-07:00

Check out this gallery from PhotosIndia.com. It showcases some of the most potent executive imagery from Photosindia.com. The images are bold with expressions of success and stress woven into each and every pixel. This is the drama of corporate life.

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PhotosIndia.com plans to add 500K images in near future

2007-06-13T03:02:00.000-07:00

PhotosIndia.com, the most admired content producer of stock photos with Indian Faces, is adding more global content to serve their customers.

PhotosIndia.com was the first Stock photo agency to pioneer high quality ‘Uniquely India’ content and is a premium Stock photo agency in Asia. And launched their "Uniquely India" Collection on Getty Images in January 2006.

Getty Images, the world’s leading creator and distributor of visual content, has now appointed PhotosIndia.com to sell selected Getty Images Royalty Free collections in Indian Market. Starting July, 2007, selected Getty Images Royalty Free collections, including Digital Vision, PhotoDisc and Stock Byte, will be available on PhotosIndia.com.

Rick Plata, Sales Director, Indirect for Getty Images, EMEA and Asia Pacific said: “We are very proud to enter into this partnership with PhotosIndia which will help us build upon our existing success in the Indian market. We’re looking forward to strengthening PhotosIndia.com’s sales and marketing activities to grow revenues and expand our current client base in the market even further.”

PhotosIndia CEO, Amit Narain said: “It’s a privilege for us to enter this alliance. The powerful and diverse imagery of Getty will help us increase our sales and broaden our client base. We are in the process of consolidating the best Royalty Free Collections in one place and are projecting ourselves as a one-stop-shop for all Image Requirements”.

He went on to add – “This will save the average time taken for an image search as you need to only use a single window, rather than putting the keywords across different sites and then comparing the results.”

Armed with the best Indian and international content, Photosindia has existing tie ups with the best international providers like – Jupiter Images, Image Source, Blend Images, etc.

For further information click on gettyimages.com or photosindia.com

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