MODI'S INDEPENDENCE DAY SPEECH WAS A REFRESHING CHANGE!

So, after three years of listening to Manmohan Singh at Red Fort on Aug 15, Narendra Modi's address was a welcome change. Following are some of the highlights of the event:

Modi shows off his humorous side

In between the serious issues of developing infrastructure, protecting the country’s women, falling sex ration, Modi did not forget to make his audience laugh with some clever one liners and keen observations.

Reacting to news that government employees had started coming on time to offices after the new regime at the centre, Modi quipped: “Is this news? Is this the level that we have stooped to?” asked Modi as the audience giggled.

Referring to his background as a tea-seller, his comment on developing tourism so that everybody including chaiwalas (tea sellers) could earn a good living had the audience in splits.

Similar was the reaction when he criticized people’s attitude of not being bothered about things that didn’t affect them

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Perfect weather

Strong gusts of cool winds and cloudy skies resulted in the perfect weather for those gathered at the Red Fort to hear Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech.

The sun remain hidden behind the clouds for a major part of Modi’s speech while the cool breeze provided comfort to what could have been an otherwise sultry day during the monsoon season.

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Sea of saffron, green and white

The Red Fort and the lawns around it were literally painted in the tri colours of saffron, white and green with vivid flower arrangements, garlands and numerous flags of all shapes and sizes.

Over a hundred flags were seen fluttering on poles around the 17th century historic fort as well as the lawns in front of it while garlands of flowers adorned the boundary walls of the ramparts of the fort.

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Charged up crowd

Right from the time Modi entered the venue till the time he left, the crowd remained enthusiastic and constantly cheered and applauded the 63-year-old leader.

As soon as Modi’s cavalcade reached Red Fort, the atmosphere turned electric. When he got down and waved to the cheering crowd, many of them stood on their chair to get a glimpse of the leader.

When Modi joked, they laughed and when he talked about improving the country’s infrastructure, they applauded.

All through his speech, the sounds of cheering, hooting, clapping and whistling reverberated in the air.

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Practicing what Modi preached

It was good to see that some of the suggestions Modi gave in his speech - particularly about keeping cities clean - was adhered to by the school children.

The thousands of school children, who were given packed lunches and snacks, used dustbins to dispose off the empty bottles, packets of food and chips. Every year, they used to throw them on the ground.

This time, a huge dustbin was kept in one corner of the ground where the children were savouring their refreshments while makeshift dustbins in the form of empty cardboard boxes were also placed all over.

Modi reaches out to children

The hundreds of school students who cheered Narendra Modi for over an hour at the Red Fort Friday were pleasantly surprised when the prime minister met them before leaving the venue.

As soon as Modi's cavalcade of black BMWs reached the front courtyard of the Red Fort, the excited children and even some of their teachers cheered him, standing on their chairs for a glimpse of the prime minister.

On his way out, Modi made sure to reward his young admirers by getting out of his sedan to meet them.

Modi shook hands and interacted with the children who were dressed in saffron, green and white - the Indian tricolour - and blue for a few minutes.

Such was the excitement that children and teachers from other enclosures in the ground jumped barriers and climbed atop chairs and even on each other's shoulders to get a closer look.

The Special Protection Group, which provides security to the prime minister, and police had a tough time controlling the overjoyed children.

CELEBRATING EID IN THE WALLED CITY

The bright, colourful shops and crowds of happy shoppers bring the walled city alive on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr or meethi eid marking the end of month-long fasting during the holy month of Ramzan.

The city’s Muslims, dressed in traditional attires offered prayers in the morning followed by day long feasting, shopping and merry-making.

The nearby markets of Jama Masjid did brisk business as clothes, footwear, jewellery and accessories were the most sought after products being bought by the revelers.

This year, a wide variety of skullcaps attracted many.

Caps made of velvet and imported from Bangladesh - called *turki topis  were quite popular and could be bought for Rs.50 (85 cents) a piece. Also in demand were the Asian caps which are made in Mumbai and sell for anything between Rs.25 and Rs. 50.

In addition to the skull caps, shopkeepers selling 'ittar', which is a natural perfume made by blending herbs and flowers, are also doing brisk business.

However, the highlight of the festival remains food and not just the locals but Delhiites from all over the city throng old Delhi to get a taste of the elaborate platter on offer - leaving them spoilt for choice.

Shops and stalls with huge woks and tandoors dish out mouth-watering items like mutton nahari, korma, keema naans, biryani, kebabs and the like that make you drool for more while desserts like rabri-faluda, paneer jalebi and meetha samosa further encourage the glutton inside you.

Though, Nahari - a stew of slow cooked meat with light spices -- is perhaps the favourite dish during the season, especially eaten by those fasting, as the day's first meal before dawn.

Among other favourites are khajla (pancakes) and pheni (vermicelli), which are to be eaten with milk and are especially prepared during the Ramadan month.

Khajla is soaked in milk for a few hours before consumption while pheni is shallow fried and milk and sugar are added.

CARING ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT: VIENNA'S GREEN HOTELS

Meals prepared from locally sourced organic ingredients, hybrid cabs for guests, solar panels that produce electricity and water drawn from a well are some unique features on offer by the 'green hotels' of Vienna as they cash in on the global concept of eco-friendly hotels catering to the growing number of tourists conscious of their carbon footprint.

Over the last few years, the historic capital of Austria has seen a sudden spurt of green hotels and their numbers are increasing every year owing to a similar surge in the number of aware travellers from around the world who make it a point to stay in such places, officials said.

The many hoteliers of the city - one of the country's nine federal states with a population of around 1.8 million and known for its captivating architecture, rich culture and diverse cuisine - are leaving no stone unturned to earn the bragging rights for going green.

And the tariffs are just around 5-10 percent more compared to a conventional hotel.

Some of the innovative techniques used include water pipes running through ceilings and floors of the hotel rooms so that when hot water passes through, the room automatically becomes warm and there is no need for electric heaters.

Some hotels also provide electronic scooters and bikes to guests to explore the city and thereby reduce their dependence on petrol guzzling cabs.

The Best Western Premier was completely renovated in 2013 and thus made it the first among the few hotels in the city to fulfill the European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation (ECARF)-standards for allergy friendly hotels.

The original edifice built in 1989 now focusses specially on serving organic food. The hotel has also received the Austrian eco-label for its eco-friendly and sustainable concept.

And taking the preference for organic products to the next level is Hotel Daniel Vienna which not only has a vineyard but also a bee keeping facility inside the hotel complex in the heart of the city.

Apples, tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins and herbs of every kind which are used to make home-made herbal oil are grown in the front lawn of the hotel while the hotel's roof is used for bee-keeping.

So, if you are headed abroad for a vacation this summer, be sure to include Vienna in your itinerary and contribute your bit towards the environment.

MODI: THE ROCKSTAR OF INDIAN POLITICS!

Now that the verdict's out and Narendra Modi has created history by leading a party that has won a clear mandate in the general elections after 30 long years, here is a look at one of the many aspects that has helped Modi to connect with the masses.

I closely observed his first public address to the people Vadodara today, a seat that he won by a margin of 5.70 lakh votes. Modi is one of the few politicians who has the gift of connecting with masses, banter with them and also speak on serious topics like the country's economy and defence.

It comes natural to him unlike his so called competitors like former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress Vice-President and his closest rival Rahul Gandhi and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal.

In a country of diverse cultures, languages and traditions, you have limited resources to woo the masses from different regions. If you are a good orator, half of that job is done and Modi, I believe has a god gift talent os speaking well.

Here is his Vadodara address:

The sounds of hooting, clapping, whistling and sloganeering resonated in the air as Narendra Modi, all set to become India's 14th prime minister, met with rockstar adulation here as he delivered his first speech following BJP's impressive victory in the Lok Sabha poll.

As soon as Modi, who is also the chief minister of the state, made an appearance on the dais, the massive crowd began chanting 'Modi, Modi' and continued for at least a couple of minutes before Modi urged them to settle down with folded hands.

All through his speech that lasted for over half an hour, Modi thanked the voters, talked about the hard work that his party workers had put in, discussed plans to bring about change at the national level and in his trademark style, joked and bantered with the audience much to their amusement.

Ten minutes into his speech, Modi turned to his right and asked some of the people, standing in the corner to move a bit so that those standing behind them could see him speaking.

"Those who are standing there in the corner move a bit so that the other can see me properly," he said as the crowd cheered loudly.

"Wherever I am, I know what bothers you," he added as the cheers turned into applause and whistling followed again by a round of slogans praising Modi.

On at least a dozen occasions all through his address, Modi was interrupted by the charged crowd. And despite his repeated requests even with folded hands to keep calm and allow him to continue, the crowd rarely paid heed.

Finally, at one point Modi asked the crowd with a smile on his face: "Shall I speak, do I have your permission?"

As the cheering supporters settled down, Modi thanked them and carried on, only to be interrupted again a few minutes later.

But obviously Modi wasn't complaining as the repeated interruptions adulating him only brought a smile on his face.

The BJP is poised to win all the 26 seats from Gujarat with Modi returning with the highest ever parliament victory margin of over 570,000 votes. 

TIMELESS VIENNA!

Sitting in one of the many street cafes, sipping hot espresso in between bites of a sacher torte (Viennese chocolate cake) while listening to a violin being played in the background is perhaps the perfect way to spend an evening in surreal Vienna, which takes pride in its laid-back culture.

The historically-rich capital of Austria is one of the country's nine federal states and is home to around 1.8 million people and boasts of palaces, monuments, cathedrals, parks and vineyards. It's a city where Gothic, Neo-Gothic and Baroque-styled churches and houses stand tall besides contemporary glass-tinted shops and buildings.

Every corner provides a photo opportunity.




Vienna also boasts of world-renowned museums and art collections, one of them being the Kunsthistorisches Museum that houses the world's largest collection of paintings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, a Flemish Renaissance painter and printmaker known for his landscapes.The other renowned museums are the Belvedere and the Leopold in the MuseumsQuartier.




A stroll around the city is akin to journey back in time to the city's imperial past.

The highlight, of course, is the Ringtrasse, a circular boulevard of over five kilometres that was constructed in place of the old city walls that were razed for expansion by emperor Franz Joseph in 1857.

The ring has grand buildings and manicured gardens on either side. A leisure walk is a must once you've treated yourself to one of the cafes or built an appetite.




Also known as the 'City of Music' Vienna has 50 theatres, including four opera houses, and once hosted renowned composers such as Wolfgang Amadeue Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven, to name just two.

The influence of such legendary musicians is evident from the fact that the city has a vibrant culture of street musicians. It's common to see them playing instruments like the violin and guitar in the market squares every evening.

The posh first district in the old city is the most sought after address and is thronged by tourists and locals alike. It is a shopper's paradise with boutiques of all major international brands while the winding cobble stoned streets add to the romance of a long-lost empire.

But there's no mad rush of shoppers or club hoppers at night and instead, a sense of calm prevails in the popular market places, where the shops usually down shutters by 7 p.m.

Among the popular markets of the city are Naschmarkt, the city's largest and which offers a mix of Viennese and international specialties.

A flea market blossoms every Saturday, while for groceries, spices and cheeses from across the globe, the Rochusmarkt is the place to head to.

From glitzy fashion brands to second-hand goods at a flea market, the choices are spoilt for shoppers.The many cafes and restaurants that remain open till late keep the atmosphere alive and a major contribution comes from the street musicians.

Many cafes have the traditional exquisite window displays like a prancing horse or a replica of a monument - all made of sugar.

The hot apple strudel served with either whipped cream or vanilla sauce and the sacher torte are a delight for those with a sweet tooth.








The amalgamation of history, music and good food that Vienna offers is, indeed, a feast for the senses.

REVOLUTIONISING INDIAN FARMING WITH ISRAELI TECHNOLOGY

Vertical farming, drip irrigation, soil solarisation etc. were terms that mystified 40-year-old farmer Deepak Khatker till a few years ago.

But thanks to the Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence for Vegetables in Gharaunda, Karnal, Khatker today uses the once unheard methods and skills to earn a hefty profit for his crop by a manifold increase in the production of his yield.

Situated 145 km from the state capital Chandigarh in Gharaunda, the centre opened in Jan, 2011 and is spread across six hectares of land, built at a cost of Rs. 6 crore by the Indian government. It was set up following the signing of the Agriculture Cooperation Agreement between India and Israel in 2008.

Experts from Israel visit the centre regularly and organize free training sessions for farmers, teaching them ‘protective agriculture’ and expand their crop yields while using fertilisers and water optimally. The experts also visit the farms personally if needed.

In addition, corporates and professionals are also taught ways to produce quality vegetable seedlings at a nominal fee.

I got a chance to visit the centre on Feb 28. Initially, I was a bit skeptic about the whole “goodwill of Israel” and “Indo-Israel friendship” statements by the officials that were repeatedly being thrown at my face.

But once I interacted with the locals and saw the technology and its benefits in person, I returned a happy man for my country’s farmers will see happier days ahead if this project is successfully implemented all over the country.

Khatker, a resident of village Sheikhpura Khalsa, a few kms away from the centre had traditionally grown wheat and barley in his fields but the techniques he learnt at the centre convinced him to give vegetables a try.

Of the over seven hectares of land that Khatker owns, around three hectares is currently being cultivated for vegetables like cherry tomatoes, seedless cucumbers, brinjals, coloured capsicums etc. using Israeli techniques.

The production is four to five times when compared with other farmers not using these technologies, said Khatker.

At present there are 10 Centres of Excellence for vegetables and fruits with a special focus on mangoes, pomegranates and citrus fruits. By 2015, the number of centres will increase to 28 and deal with flowers, bee keeping, dairy as well.

S.K. Yadav, project manager of the Gharaunda centre said that over 60 farmers, not only from Haryana but from states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and even Tamil Nadu visit the centre daily and last year over 16,000 farmers received training at the centre.

For 50-year-old Bijender Phor, another farmer from Khatker’s village who has been gradually making a shift from growing grains to vegetables, the centre is playing an important role in transforming the lives of farmers.

Methods like vertical farming help saves space on the ground by growing the crops vertically while drip irrigation save almost 90 percent of water. These methods are revolutionary, he said.

Though the concept of ‘protective agriculture’ is expensive as it requires setting up of green-houses and poly-houses for protective farming, drip lines, machines etc., government subsidies have ensured that interested farmers are not hesitant to take the plunge.

The government gives 90 percent subsidy in installing drip irrigation as well as automatic irrigation system for the crops, while for poly-houses there is 65 percent rebate.

Bhor and many others like him are now selling their produce directly to chains like Mother Dairy, courtesy the Centre of Excellence which provides the retail chains with the list that contains the name of farmers, their contact details and the crop they are growing so that the chains can contact them directly without leaving any room for intermediaries.

The centre is also improving the quality of seedlings by providing valuable feedback to seed companies.

It tests the samples of seedlings by growing it and then displaying it to the farmers. The feedback along with steps to improve the seedlings is then sent back to the companies.

GET YOUR CLEANED AND POLISHED WHILE AT THE MALL!

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon when a couple of friends landed at my place unexpectedly. Their demand? Drive us to DLF Promenade Mall (in south Delhi's Vasant Kunj) and feed us Nando's peri-peri chicken.

I happily agreed because I had never been to Nando's and always wanted to try their chicken but not before ensuring that they would pay the bill in return of chauffeuring them to the place.

Forty minutes later we entered the underground parking and as soon as we got out of the car a man with a booklet approached me offering "waterless car cleaning and polishing."

I wasn't interested at first but after he provided the details and the price, I decided to give it a try.

The service included:

** Interior panels dusting and cleaning with a wet wipe followed by a polish.

** Seats and mats cleaned with a wet wipe but no polish applied.

** Exterior body cleaned with a soapy spray followed by polish, all small scratches removed with a special spray.

** Tyres and alloys cleaned with soap and polished.

All this for just Rs. 200/-

Front tyre before

After

Now I know that not everybody has the time for this because you go to a mall to eat, shop and have fun not to get your car cleaned.

But I stayed back for just ten minutes till the guys were doing the interiors. As soon as they were done, I locked my car and left. (My friends had in the meantime managed to get a table in the restaurant which was bursting at seams as it was a Sunday afternoon)

And if you are thinking that what if I don't like the job once I return?

Well, you get a receipt of payment which carried the number of the company. If you are not satisfied, call them up and just give them the pillar number near which your car is parked and they will return with their sprays and polishes to make you happy.

I actually tried it, just to check and they did come within 5 minutes.

Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with the work they did. It was money well spent.

I have never come across a similar service at any other mall in Delhi.

Honestly, I would be heading to Promenade more often now as it saves my time of spending hours at a service station because first you need to visit the place, then wait for your turn and then to get the job done.

P.S. The peri-peri chicken was scrumptious and so was the Portugese lemonade.