AvAntikA GuptA

The masTer of 250 words, Sir Mark Tully was in conversation with the author of Implosion: India's tryst with reality – John Elliott at Oxford bookstore’s Cha-Bar yesterday.

It was a celebration of the publication of the book. And celebration means good food for us in India.

Well, good food did not happen but the mood was set with glasses of wine being served to the once listeners (and now drinkers).

While the author spoke at length about the chalta hai and jugaad attitude of the people in India, one could see the live examples of this with a mucchad uncle gulp-

ing down the red and the yel-low one glass after the other.

Elliott, however was talk-ing of these phrases being used as an excuse for not doing any substantial work or any work for that matter. ‘Chalta hai is used as a long term disaster management system in India. It is the same attitude that owes to the ever increasing red tapism in the country,' says John.

Elliott spoke of India dur-ing Nehru's rule, how jugaad was in place even then, and how corruption has escalated and so has the technology to be more corrupt.

Damned be liberalisation! What India needs is a change in the political system and also some more wine to that man with a hat!

Well if jugaad and chalta hai dates back to Nehru, we really need to bring about a change. At least a change in these words is much needed!

After a long British accented speech by Elliott downright criticising the country, it was Mark Tully's turn to come for the rescue.

Between a crying baby and more bottoms up, came a darting question from the audience. The question how-ever was not as weird as the airport accent with which the man spoke in, which even-tually ended in a lukhnowi accent.

Anyhow, the book seems

more of a criticism than a base for solutions.

You may want to listen to the election campaign speeches for the list of prob-lems we have and join the ranks of people across the country who feel (and hope) that someone should change the system.

And for the book - Implo-sion: India’s tryst with reality, now that you have missed the chance of getting it signed by the author, you may as well buy the book online.

new delhi|friday, 9 may 2014 |millennium post2|

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although every possible care and caution has been taken to avoid errors or omissions, this publication is being sold on the condition and understanding that information given in this publication is merely for reference and must not be taken as having authority of or binding in any way on the writers, editors, publishers, and printers and sellers who do not owe any responsibility for any damage or loss to any person, a purchaser of this publication or not for the result of any action taken on the basis of this work. all disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent court and forums in delhi/new delhi only.

Around Town

Cut the Cake

learn all about the art of delicate baking through our master Class where our pastry Chef  ex-plains  how  to  bake  the perfect cakes, pastries and breads. Sample the fruits of your labour along with a delectable lunch and also pick up insider advice and tips from the expert.Where: Pavilion 75, welcomhotel dwarka When: every Thursday and Saturday of may timings: 2.30 - 3 pm rate: rs 1000 plus taxes per head

Celebrating mother’s Day

it is a celebration honouring motherhood and the eternal maternal bond. Celebrate this special day at Shangri-la’s - eros hotel, new delhi and express the appre-ciation and love for her in the most special way. The culinary masters at Cafe Uno have created a special Brunch menu with abundant selections fit for a queen. The mother’s day brunch includes free flowing champagne and a complimentary access to the pool. all the mums will be presented with a Chef’s special cake and a complimentary foot massage voucher. a camera will be on hand to capture the picture perfect moment. Guests can don the Chef’s attire and cook for their moth-ers at live cook out stations. When: 11 may Where: Shangri-la’s - eros hotel PaCkages: rs 3200 plus taxes per person with unlimited champagne, rs.2500 plus taxes per person with unlimited soft beverages, rs.1500 plus taxes for kids buffet timing: noon to 3:30 pm.

taste of Punjab Come and fall in love with the rich flavors and appetizing aromas of Punjabi food. explore the cuisine of Punjab with a scrumptious array of vegetarian as well as non vegetarian dishes with an authentic dhaba style service in a royal way. The color and theme of the festival is a Punjabi village mela setting, keeping in mind the vigor and energy that Punjabis are known for. adding more Punjabi flavor we have Pun-jabi songs to entertain the guests. Where: Paa-tra @ Jaypee Siddharth, GT road When: on till 11 may timings: 7:30-11:30 p PriCing: Veg Package: rs1200 +taxes, non Veg Pack-age: rs1350  +taxes, alcohol packages: rs 895+taxes (Black dog + other beverages), (Chivas+other beverages) : rs 995 +taxes

dayindayoutWhat’s on Around Town

New mosT scientific poll displays that 97% of Indian voters trust award want-ing fake journalist Jason Jones to deliver best Lok Sabha coverage in 2014. Known as the Bronto-from-toronto, a six-time Mr. Canada entrant, Jones hopes India will help ‘exer-cise my mind as well as my temple of a body’.

Perhaps unknown for the time being to an Indian audience, astute film-

lover will remember him include thetaut, straight-to-video pshychologi-cal thriller After Alice and the award-winning tele-vision masterpiece ‘Ter-minal Invasion’, in which aliens in human disguise commandeer a rural air-port during a snowstorm. And who could forget the unforgettable 13 minutes of screen time Jason had in the SciFI Channel’s orig-inal film Webs, when his

character (Junior) and a local team of wacky elec-ticians, led by Sir Richard Greico, teleport to a paral-lel universe where human-looking alien spiders run amok? But beyond all the glitz and glamour of those prestigious projects, Jason is most proud of the trilogy of ‘based on a true story’ films from which he has been cut: America’s Prince:

The JFK Jr. Story, All Amer-ican Girl: The Mary Kay Letourneau Story and, most recently, the Meg Ryan box office bonanza Against the Ropes: The Jackie Kallen Story, in which he shared absolutely no screen time with Meg Ryan.

Jones, of course, will learn as much about India as possible in the short time he’s here. In an exclu-sive interview with the star himself, Jones Revealed has learned that Jones will visit The National Gandhi Museum sometime this week. ‘Seeing Ben Kings-leyis performance in 1982’s Gandhi is second only to

his work in Iron Man 3, which is a film I saw on opening night because of some important peple I know from being rich celebrity’, boasted Jones. ‘I’ve always wanted to know more about Gan-dhi since his name comes up frequently in conversa-tions, and I feel like I have Googled him a long time ago’, the humble and relat-

able star continued. Asked what his hopes

are for his first trip to the sub-continent, Jones replied ‘Having stayed at the Trump Taj Mahal Hotel and Casino at Atlantic City New Jersey I think I have a pretty good understand-ing of India, but I can only hope that the nation will live up to expectations set when I ate lunch at the Indian Pavillion at Disney’s EPCOT center while wait-ing fot the 1: 15 showing of Captian EO to begin. The flatbread I had was so good I missed the showing, but it was Ok because I caught the 1: 45’.

Poll shows US Number A-1 Star Jason Jones does best Indian Election Coverage

book: implosion: india’s tryst with reality by John elliott Publisher: harper india PriCe: rs 699

India’s tryst wIth realIty

Authors John Elliot and Sir Mark Tully get talking about jugaad and India’s chalta hai

attitude. Read on...

Our COrrespOndent

DakshiN ThaT has been serving for 25 years now are up with an another delight for foodies. The restaurant pres-ents the Moplah Food Festival. Moplah Magic is the tale comprises of how strang-ers came from afar, pausing briefly to trade (or perhaps looking for a home), and in Kerala they decided to stay, for hundreds of years. Despite adopting sev-eral local customs, the Moplahs have a distinct anddeveloped sub-cultural iden-tity. And nowhere is this expressed more fiercely than in their colourful cuisine. Rice as the staple food and the use of coconut oil in cooking is common to all of Kerala. But, there are unique dif-ferences in the preparations of north-

ern Malabar that are recognized solely as Moplah fare. Meen Varattiyathe, fish cooked in a tangy tamarind sauce will be the special attraction in the menu.

Turn it tangy

Where: dakshin, welcomhotel Sheraton Where : 9 - 18 may

what Is mobIle number?

miss India Koyal rana poses for the camera at a recent event in the Capital PtI

Our COrrespOndent

moTher's Day is the per-fect occasion to show your mom how much you appreci-ate and value her. It is one such day when we get to say a 'Big Thank You' to our moms for all that they have done for us. It is a day when we want them to feel absolutely pampered and blessed. So this Mother's Day,

share priceless moments with your mum as The Imperial shower her with a delightful bouquet of offerings with spe-cial discounts and packages, celebrating 100 years of Moth-er’s Day across the restaurants.

Let her indulge in a fab-ulous  brunch buffet at 1911 while you feel satiated that you are at the right place to make her spoilt for choice.

High fashion cup cakes with personalized messages, home grown soil free 100 % organic micro greens combined with a health station filled with a fine selection of healthy juices extracted live, leave you ask-ing for more and promise to excite you to take your pick on a blazing hot day. The lavish buffet has much more to offer. Uniquely designed chocolate

nests with dainty eggs notify the genesis of life and pay an ode to motherhood while accentuating emotions and leaving the mouth-watering flavors in your mouth.

The buffet would be the-matically designed by our team of chefs with lots of can-dles for a feminine touch to celebrate the occasion and make all the mothers pres-ent, feel special. Chef ’s spe-cial Amuse Busch offerings would be served complimen-tary to all guests at the buf-

fet. So this is your time to give back to your mothers and make this day truly spe-cial and memorable for them. Enjoy this unique brunch with

your mothers while we create lasting memories for you, one of it is the unusual souvenir from The Imperial - a specially designed Chocolate jewelry.

The priceless memories get more enchanting with 20% discount on cakes and pastries at La Baguette, on High-Tea at the Atrium, on Diamond Magnetic Body Ritual – 90 mins (Spa Gift Voucher valid in SUFI room at The Imperial Salon for 1 month and not to be used in conjunctions with any other promotion), on Cav-iar Signature Hair Ritual – 90 mins, 20% discount off on Sufi products at The Imperial Spa and Salon and The Imperial Boutique.

Because we love you Mom!

Where: The imperial When: 11 may timing: 12.30 – 3.30 pm PriCe: rs 3200 + taxes

John elliot with his book

elliot signing copies of his book