Eat Right

Tasty can be healthy too

Did you know that you may have enough magnesium or iron in your diet but still your body may not be absorbing it? Maybe another food needs to be introduced to facilitate the process of absorption. We tell you some food combinations that are not only easily digestible but also have great nutritional benefits. Read on...

One must eat a variety of fruits and vegetables to stay healthy. However, certain foods together can exponentially increase the health benefits compared to eating the foods alone. Even multivitamins that offer many nutrients together in one capsule cannot duplicate this apparent synergy of nutrients.

Tomatoes and broccoli
While both tomato and broccoli are highly nutritious on their own, when combined they offer supercharged cancer fighting ability. Tomatoes contain lycopene, an important nutrient that is a natural cancer preventative. The sulphur contained in broccoli helps to eliminate tumor-causing toxins. Together they offer a powerhouse of nutritional protection. According to research published in the journal of Cancer Research, this combination has a startling effect on the slow- down of prostate tumour growth in rats. Researchers say that this happens because the different bioactive compounds in each food work on different anti- cancer pathways. Chopping and heating the vegetables makes the cancer fighting compounds more active. Pasta with fresh tomato sauce eaten with a plate of steamed broccoli is a good way of packing in the punch of both vegetables.


Green tea and lemon
Green tea is very high in antioxidants. However, just by adding a little bit of lemon to your tea you will absorb up to 13 times the amount of antioxidants you receive. The citric acid and vitamin C in the lemon increase the efficacy of the catechins in the green tea. This is beneficial in boosting immunity, reducing the risk of cancer, cardiovascular problems and Alzheimer's disease.

Carrots and oils

Carrots offer betacarotene or provitamin A, which, according to research offers protective benefits against cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer. Nutrition scientists say that the betacarotene in carrots and other coloured vegetables ( bell peppers, cherry tomatoes) are oil soluble, so adding olive oil to your vegetables will enable you to absorb more of it, as the betacarotene dissolves in oil, facilitating its take- up by the body. Having a bowl full of grated carrot and apple salad with an olive oil dressing is one way of packing in plenty of nutrition. Carrots sautéed in olive oil is another option.

Almonds and apricots

Apart from providing your body the perfect mix of nutrients and oxidants, almonds are good for the heart since they have been shown to lower LDL or “ bad” cholesterol, important for heart health. The apricot is rich in easily- digestible natural sugars, vitamins A and C, riboflavin ( B2) and niacin ( B3) and is also an excellent source of minerals like calcium, phosphorus, iron and traces of sodium, sulphur, manganese, cobalt and bromine. Almonds are rich in vitamin E and when paired with apricots that are rich in vitamin C, provide a boost to both the cardiovascular and immune system: The uptake of vitamin E is enhanced by vitamin C and almonds have both vitamin E and selenium. Both apricots and almonds come from the same family- the prunus group- which also contains plums, cherries and peaches, so it’s perhaps not surprising that they should work so well together.

Green vegetables and curd

The colour of green vegetables such as broccoli and spinach can be attributed to their high chlorophyll content. These vegetables are rich in magnesium, which is essential for healthy metabolism as well as strong bones, healthy muscles and nerves. Sources of probiotics such as live yoghurt boost the bioavailability of magnesium because they help ‘release’ the mineral in the food, say nutritional experts. Yoghurt also helps in the absorption of magnesium, calcium and iron though interest is focused on calcium since a lack of this damages the bones, often irreversibly. That’s why green vegetables and calcium rich yoghurt are an ideal combination.

You could dress a green bean or broccoli salad with a yoghurt dressing or make a cold yoghurtspinach dish with raisins.

Fish and chips

This extremely popular combination is a favourite in Britain. The balance of protein, carbohydrate and vitamins makes it a hit among British. The essential fatty acids in the fish help protect the vitamin C in the potato chips. Also the fish fats contain vitamin E, which is complemented perfectly by vitamin C, to some extent recycling each other and extending each other’s life.

Beans and rice

Rice is rich in starch, iron, vitamin B and protein, while beans are also protein rich and contain a good amount of iron and other minerals. The consumption of two in tandem provides essential amino acids, creating a complete protein not available in either alone. Essential amino acids are the building blocks of protein, available in different foods. Combining sources of proteins from cereals with those coming from pulses provides the full complement of essential amino acids.

Other such nutritious combinations are a whole meal peanut butter sandwich, beans on toast or whole wheat pita bread and hummus.

Spinach and orange
Spinach and oranges are both considered to be superfoods because of their antioxidant capacity and superior nutrition. But if you really want to boost your ability to absorb the iron that is contained in your spinach salad, add some oranges to it. They taste delicious together but more importantly the vitamin C will help your body to absorb up to twice as much iron from the same amount of spinach.


Apple and catechin
Apples are high in quercetin, a powerful antioxidant, which when combined with the catechins in blueberries, grapes or acai berries will react together in the body to stop platelet clumping, which can prevent heart attacks and strokes. When you combine apples with the berries you will absorb more of the important antioxidants in a much smaller serving than if you were to consume either the berries or the apple on their own.

Food combinations to avoid

1. Don't eat fruit, especially melons, with any other food (including vegetables). They're too acidic. They sit and ferment while slowing digestion of the other foods.

2. Don't combine proteins with starchy carbohydrates. They interfere with each other's digestion. Hence, eat protein-only or carbohydrate-only meals. For example, breakfast might be an egg omelette with turkey bacon, or a fruit smoothie with a banana.

3. Drink only pure water before, during, and after a meal – neither soft drink nor squash.

4. Do not add excessive fats to proteins (i.e. cooking fish and chicken in excessive butter, or serving with a creamy sauce).

5. Do not consume starch and sugar foods together, like jam on toast or honey on oatmeal.

Based on these rules, food combinations to avoid would include bread or potatoes with butter, rolls or toast with bacon, cereals with cream or milk, steak, chicken or fish with potatoes, bread, or rice, rolls and hot dogs, ice, whipped cream or any cream on starchy desserts, pork with baked beans, or vinegar and oil dressing with chicken on a salad.

If you want to live long and healthy, there couldn’t be a better alternative than help your body absorb vital nutrition through such time-tested food combinations.

Typhoid: Prevention & Treatment

Know all that you must know about typhoid, its prevention, diagnosis and treatment. 

Of the several water-borne diseases, typhoid fever is one of the most contagious and acute. This affliction is caused by the salmonella typhi bacteria. Typhoid can also be caused by salmonella paratyphi, which is a related bacterium that usually causes a less severe illness. It’s more prevalent in regions where water is untreated and hygiene conditions are poor.

What Causes Typhoid Fever?

This fever is contracted by consuming the bacteria present in contaminated food or water. This bacteria is so highly contagious that people with acute typhoid can contaminate the surrounding water supply through their stool, as it contains high concentration of the bacteria. This contaminated water supply can, in turn, infect the food supply. The bacteria can thrive in water or dried sewage for several weeks.
While many suffer a very mild infection that often goes unrecognized, about 3%-5% people become potent carriers of the bacteria after the acute illness. “As a possibility, many of these people who may not even carry any detectable symptoms may become long-term carriers of the bacteria. These carriers can become the source of new outbreaks of typhoid fever for several successive years,” says Dr RK Lalwani, senior physician, Fortis Healthcare.

How Is Typhoid Fever Diagnosed?

“After the consumption of infected food or water, the salmonella bacteria attack the small intestine and enter the bloodstream temporarily. Later, the white blood cells carry the bacteria in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow. This is where they multiply and enter the bloodstream yet again. At this point, people develop symptoms, like fever. Bacteria invade the gallbladder, biliary system, and the lymphatic tissue of the bowel. Here, they multiply in high numbers, and other symptoms start showing,” says Dr Lalwani.

1. The main symptom of typhoid infection is persistent, high fever that ranges between 103° to 104° F (39° to 40° C). Watch out for these symptoms too: stomach pain, rose-colored spots, headache, loss of appetite, enlargement of the spleen, malaise, a rash of flat, and an abnormally retarded heartbeat (less than 60 beats a minute). There could also be other mild and non-typical infections in some cases.

2. It’s important to understand that the only way to be certain if the illness is typhoid fever is by clinical analysis of stool or blood. The bacteria pass into the intestinal tract and can be identified in stool samples. If a test result isn't clear, blood samples will be taken to make a diagnosis.
3. See a physician immediately for treatment if you think you have contracted this disease.

How is Typhoid Fever Treated?

Antibiotic therapy aides in killing the salmonella bacteria that causes typhoid. However, preceding the use of antibiotics, the fatality rate was alarmingly low! Death occurred from intestinal bleeding, pneumonia, overwhelming infection, or intestinal perforation. With antibiotics and proper health care, mortality has been successfully reduced to 1%-2%. Antibiotics can usually show signs of marked improvement within one to two days. Complete recovery can happen within seven to 10 days. However, it’s important for required tests to ascertain that.

Several antibiotics are effective in the treatment of typhoid fever. Because of its infrequent but serious side effects, other effective antibiotics have substituted chloramphenicol. “The array of antibiotics is largely driven by identifying the geographic region where the infection was contracted. If relapses occur, patients are retreated with antibiotics. It is best to seek your local physician’s advice for the same,” says Dr AK Mishra, senior general physician in New Delhi.

In chronic cases, (about 3%-5% patients), treatment can be sought by prolonged antibiotics. Often, gallbladder removal also provides a cure, as it is the site of chronic infection.

Prevention is better than Cure

Typhoid fever is an infection which can cause fever, diarrhoea and can even be fatal, claiming the patient’s life too if the right treatment doesn’t reach him timely. Hence, it is necessary to get travel injections and typhoid immunisation. Here’s how you can prevent this water-borne ailment.

1. Eat only well-prepared fresh foods while travelling to areas where typhoid fever occurs or a place that has sanitation issues. Take these precautions to ensure you are not ingesting foods that may be infected:
- Eat only well-cooked and fresh food.
- Strictly avoid raw vegetables and fruits that cannot be peeled. Wash and peel well before consuming raw fruits and vegetables. Vegetables like lettuce and cabbage get easily contaminated, and are difficult to wash well should be avoided.
- Avoid street food and beverages, as much as possible.

2. Drink water only from clean and untainted sources. Buy bottled water or bring the regular bottle to a rolling boil for over a minute before drinking it. Bottled, carbonated or boiled water is safer than uncarbonated water. Did you know that even ice could be contaminated? Either do without ice, or make sure the water used to make the ice was pure and safe.

3. You must get vaccinated for typhoid fever, especially when traveling to or through any part of the world where exposure to this bacteria or disease is possible.

4. The vaccine is not 100 per cent effective. Utilise both preventive measures of vaccination as well as make sure you consume only safe food and water to prevent the infection.

5. Two kinds of vaccines are available worldwide today. Both are equally effective at preventing typhoid fever, but the duration of effectiveness differs significantly. The longest-lasting vaccine is taken orally in capsular form - one capsule every other day for eight days and a total of four capsules. This form of vaccination provides protection for five years. Ideally, this treatment regimen must be completed one week prior to any travel. The alternative, and shorter-duration vaccine, is given intramuscularly (or in one shot) and provides protection for two years. This treatment regimen must be administered at least two weeks prior to travel.

Should typhoid patients be isolated or excluded from work or school? “Typhoid patients should be strictly confined to bed and excluded from every kind of work (also high-risk occupations food handling, day care providers, or health care) until at least three consecutive negative stool cultures taken at least 24 hours apart and at least 48 hours after antibiotic therapy has stopped and not earlier than one month after the onset of illness. Even household and close contacts of the patient should be excluded from high-risk occupations until at least two negative stools samples taken 24 hours apart are obtained,” says Dr Mishra.

Things to keep in mind:
·         Vaccination is only 50 to 80 per cent effective at preventing typhoid fever. Please make ample preventive measures and maintain good personal and regional hygiene. Don’t solely rely on vaccination.
·         Children under six years of age are not advised vaccination.
·         Pregnant women should not be vaccinated.

Friends, let’s not wait until the last minute to get vaccinated. It can take up to two weeks for the vaccine to be effective. And it may get very late by then. Find out, as soon as possible, if the area you are located at or plan to travel to puts you at risk to typhoid fever. Take timely precautions and stay healthy.

PROTECT YOUR VISION

By Shilpi Shukla

Try these simple eye exercises to reduce eyestrain and maintain a healthy vision.

We understand that regular exercises, gymming, jogging, swimming and other fitness regimes help us remain fit and in shape, and help us fight diseases even as we age. However, with time, our vision is also all likely to start blurring together with the weakening of other organ systems. Our vision is at a greater risk of damage today, given our hectic work life and increasing dependence on computers and laptops.

To maintain our best eyesight level and prevent it from further deterioration with growing years, we need to do some eye exercises on a regular basis. However, these exercises can’t be substitutes for those who have already been prescribed glasses. Adopt them in your daily routine for eye relaxation and to avoid further damage to your vision:

1. Pen exercise: Hold a pen in front at your arm’s length.  Focus on the pen for approximately 3 seconds and switch the eyes to an object at quite a distance either inside the room or outside the window. After focusing on the distant thing for 2-3 seconds, return your focus on the pen for another 3 seconds. Repeat the steps for 5-6 times. Dr Satish Mehta, consultant, ophthalmology, Moolchand Eye Clinic, New Delhi highly recommends this exercise for maintaining a good vision.

2. Eye Stretch: This is another simple eye exercise advised by Dr Mehta: Stretch your eyes as far as possible by looking up, down, left and up repeatedly. Do the same exercise in the reverse direction. Use 20:20:20 vision rule to take an off from computer screen to avoid eye stress.

3. Clock movement: Eye specialist Dr Nidhi Panwar from Sir Gangaram Hospital, New Delhi recommends this exercise: Imagine that you are standing in front of a large clock. Look at the middle of the clock. Then look at any hour mark, without turning your head. Look back at the center. Then look at another hour mark. Do this at least 12 times. You can also do this exercise with your eyes closed.

Senior Eye Surgeon of Max HealthCare, New Delhi  Dr Parul M Sharma suggests the following exercises for a good vision. “Before exercising, find a quiet place and sit with your back straight and your head held high. Remove any glasses or contact lenses," she says. 

4. Palming: Rub your hands together until they feel warm (about 15 to 20 seconds). Then place your cupped hands over your closed eyes, being careful not to touch your eyes with the palms of your hands. The fingers of each hand should overlap and rest gently on the center of your forehead. Don't create any unnecessary pressure on your face. If your arms get tired, rest your elbows on a table. Sit quietly for one to two minutes with your hands over your eyes. The more relaxed you become, the blacker the darkness you will see with your eyes closed.

               

5. Figure of Eights: By tracing an imaginary figure of eight (the horizontal version, like the infinity sign), approximately 10 feet from you, this exercise increases the flexibility of your eyes while relaxing the eye muscles. Trace the figure with your eyes without moving your head, first in one direction, then in another.  Remember to breathe, relax, and blink from time to time to help your eyes relax.

6. Near-far focus: “This exercise improves eye flexibility and accomadative effort,” says Dr Parul Sharma.

Hold your thumb six inches from your nose. Focus on your thumb. Take one deep breath and exhale slowly. Then focus on an object about 10 feet away. Take another deep breath and slowly exhale. Repeat back and forth 15 times.

7. Scanning: Sitting or standing at one end of a room, let your eyes scan around the edges of objects in the room - clocks, televisions, doors, lights, computers, etc. The object of this exercise is to keep your eyes moving in a loose and fluid way. Do this exercise for two minutes. Remember to breathe.

8. Head Rolls: Dr Sharma affirms that this exercise is to relax your neck, head and face muscles and reduce shoulder tension. Take a deep breath and close your eyes. On the exhale, slowly drop your chin to your chest. Relax your neck and shoulders. As you inhale deeply again, slowly and gently roll your head around to the left, then back, keeping your shoulders still and relaxed. Make your movements slowly, carefully and deliberately. Now exhale full as you roll your head to the other side and down to your chest again. Repeat this sequence twice then change directions and repeat twice more.

Always finish up either with palming or another eye relaxation technique.

Massage your eyes

o              Soak one towel in hot water, and the other in cold. Take one and lightly press it to your face, focusing on your eyebrows, closed eyelids, and cheeks. Alternate between the two as desired, making sure to end with a cold compress.

o              Soak a towel in hot water. Rub your neck, forehead and cheeks with the towel, avoiding the eyes. Then, use your fingertips to gently massage your forehead and closed eyes.

o              Close your eyes and massage them with circular movements of your fingers for 1-2 minutes. Make sure you press very lightly and have washed your hands to avoid damaging your eyes.

For those on the desk

“As jobs are getting oriented around computers and lap tops, it is important to take a few precautions,” says Dr Satish Mehta, consultant, ophthalmology, Moolchand Eye Clinic, New Delhi. Dr Mehta sums them up as under:

·         Computer screen should be kept 30 to 50 cms away from the eyes. 

·         Top edge of the screen should be in line with the level of eyes. 

·         The chair should be ergonomically designed for comfort and correct posture. 

·         Take a break every 20 to 30 minutes to walk 20 paces. Look beyond 20 feet and blink completely 20 times. 

·         Increase font size for comfort and adjust picture quality for comfortable viewing. 

·         White background generally gives les strain as contrast is more. 

For students

Dr Mehta further suggests the following advice for students:

·         Read in adequate light.  Keep a table lamp handy.  Light should fall on the reading material from front or right to left 

·         Do not read lying on your belly 

·         Adequate sleep is important 

·         Maintain correct posture

Live Empty!

By Shilpi Shukla

An out of order electric iron, junked gramophone, half-torn books, empty cosmetic bottles, and a wardrobe full of clothes that don’t fit you anymore... You keep it all for years hoping to use them some day.
Likewise, you have reproaches, resentment, sadness, fears and painful experiences stacked well in your memory. The past that’s well-engraved in your memory, inadvertently marks an indelible impression on your current and future actions. The Buddhist ‘philosophy of emptiness’ claims to free you from the clutter; let’s try and unravel this secret mantra of happiness.

The theory of emptiness was developed as a fundamental philosophical standpoint by the Indian Buddhist master Nagarjuna [circa 2nd century CE]. Tibetan Buddhist thinkers see this theory as an elaboration and refinement of the basic Buddhist theory of No-Self.

“All things and events are devoid of any intrinsic and absolute existence. They come into being due to the aggregation of multiple causes and conditions,” says The Dalai Lama. Their material existence and identity is contingent upon other factors such as language, thought and concepts, that together make up worldly convention.

(To read the complete article, pls visit the site of India's leading health and wellness magazine - Complete Wellbeing...)

PARTNER Vs PALS

When your spouse hates your friend, letting go of your old pal isn’t the way out


Parul got married to boyfriend Aditya two years back. An introvert, he had few friends of his own and didn’t want Parul to interact much with her friends either. After they got married, she gradually drifted away from her pals.


Snigdha’s boyfriend Gaurav did not approve of her best friend Shweta. He wanted Snigdha to part with her. Snigdha had a tough time trying to convince Gaurav not to make such a demand. Finally, she took a stand.
She asked Gaurav to better call it quits with her for she found no reason for breaking ties with her childhood friend Shweta. Gaurav soon realised his mistake. Though, Gaurav and Shweta still don’t meet or talk to each other, he knows that Shweta is an integral part of his girlfriend’s life and now respects their friendship.


Gossiping all day, enjoying pani-puri on the roadside, giggling at those not-so-funny incidents, crying on the other’s shoulders, keeping each other’s secrets, and calling each other up at ungodly hours to share something utterly stupid… the time spent with friends is one of the most wonderful periods of life.


But what do you do when your partner can’t accept your friendships? Absolutely ludicrous as the whole suggestion may sound, many close ties go awry and wear away eventually because of ‘the spouse’.
Many prefer bartering away their friendship, willingly or unwillingly, for the sake of peace in the house. “We wouldn’t be married without my best friend Sumeet’s support. From convincing Ekta’s parents to making all marriage arrangements, Sumeet had managed it all.


Initially, my wife and Sumeet bonded well. Soon after marriage, Ekta started avoiding Sumeet; she wouldn’t even come out of her room whenever he came home. He is the same guy whom she had once tied rakhi to.
Suddenly he was an ‘intruder’. Everything about Sumeet—mannerisms, sense of humour, body language—would drive her mad,” remembers Rohit Saluja, chartered accountant. He adds, “Now that we were married, he was needed no more. Tired of everyday fights with my wife over the issue, I had to distance myself from Sumeet. Thankfully he understood my position. Friends like him are difficult to find. Still I had to lose him.”
Sometimes, one of the partners forges bonds with the spouse’s friends, leaving his/her own behind. Quips writer Chetan Bhagat, “After marriage, either your friend is your wife’s friend too or he’s no more your friend!”


“While I try to befriend all her friends and make them feel comfortable when invited at our home, my wife isn’t nice to most of my friends. While I respect her space and relationships, I wish, she did the same,” says Prakash Paranjpe, a manager. 


“Whenever we had rows, he would bring up my best friend Sapna, criticising her and dismissing her as an intrusive, interfering element in my life,” reveals 27-year-old Aruna Thakkar, a housewife.
Upon realising that she was causing a rift in her best friend’s marriage, Sapna drifted away from me on her own. It’s been two years since. Sapna doesn’t even receive my phone calls,” says a dismal Aruna.
Some individuals don’t approve of their partner’s outings with friends after marriage. So they either go out together or don’t at all. Besides, some have reservations—they approve of one friend, and dismiss the others. It is as though they want to control everything in the partners’ lives, starting with friends.


In one such instance, a Delhi-based couple’s marriage had come to a breaking point. The rift in their relationship had to be mended by a marriage counsellor. It took time, but finally the unreasonable spouse understood that her partner had to be treated as an individual who needed his own space and freedom. She began showing more trust and understanding in the relationship. With time their bond strengthened.
“A reduced social circle leads to low self-esteem, stunted personality, limited social skills and a cloistered existence. This may lead to depressive disorders and ultimately the breaking up of a relationship.
For their own relationship to bloom, both men and women need to understand and appreciate each other’s need for that private space,” says Samir Parikh, senior psychiatrist at Max Healthcare, New Delhi.


Each relationship has its own place and importance in a person’s life. Rather than giving in completely to your other half’s wishes, give due preference to your wishes and desires at times. You need to prioritise.
It’s important to chalk out means by which neither the peace at home nor the age-old friendships suffer. “Even if it means no bringing friends home, it’s easier for guys to catch up with their friends outside home and continue with the friendship.

KAT’s OOMPH

From Boom, the movie in which she is skimpily clad, to Sheila Ki Jawani – the item number in which the actress without baring it all has oozed out that oomph, KATRINA KAIF has surely come a long way. She is sultry yet sweet; intense yet fun-loving. 

SHILPI SHUKLA ALEXANDER gets talking with one of the leading actresses of Bollywood…

Director Farah Khan did keep her promise of giving you the best item number of the year.

Yes she did. With so many fan mails an calls, Sheila Ki Jawani’s success did make me feel like a celebrated artist. Although a major credit goes to Farah as I just almost blindly followed her instructions.

You are rated as the hottest actress of Bollywood today.

This is for the audience to decide. But I don’t find myself hot or sexy.

Do you think you are lucky to have made it so big in Bollywood?
Surely. Not only do I get the best of films, they also turn out to be box office hits. This surely pleases and amazes me. However, I do wish that I was as lucky with bagging awards as well.

Year 2010 has been really good for you.

With hits like Rajneeti and Sheila Ki Jawani, I seriously couldn’t have asked for more. While rajneeti established me as a serious actor, this item number well showcased my dancing skills.

Given the fact that Farah is known for yelling at her crew and actors on the sets, how scary was it for you to work with her in the film?

Oh! I used to enter the sets with my hands trembling. I was so afraid of her initially. But thankfully she never yelled at me. She was either being too sweet to me or my wok did please her.

What qualities should an actress have to stand a chance in Bollywood?
To each his own. In my opinion, other than having loads of acting talent, one does have to have his or her own appeal. You must have something special that sets you apart from the crowd. It could be one’s oomph factor, beauty, grace, intelligence, ethnic looks, expressiveness, chirpiness or anything else. Every actress has her own plus point that draws the audience.

Did you always want to become an actor?

I always dreamt of becoming an actress. Acting was my biggest passion. But I never wanted to pick just any role in haste to make a place for myself here. With time, right opportunities came my way which I took no time in availing.

What would you be if not a model?

A model.

What kind of movies do you particularly love working on?

While I am open to doing different roles and prove my acting skills in all genres, I particularly love working on romantic comedies. This is one genre I directly relate to. I am eager to work on something like When Harry Met Sally.

Which actors are you keen on sharing screen space with?

I would love to work with Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. All I am awaiting is a call from a director for one such film.

Actresses are known to never be friends with one another. Have your say.

See. To be social or not is a personal choice, not professional. But if you are talking about professional rivalry, I must say that all of us excel in different genres. While Vidya Balan is known for her ethnic roles, I am good at playing fun roles. It is likewise with all other actresses in the film industry. So where’s the comparison?

What’s your beauty secret?

(Laughs) Onscreen, it is the camera, lighting and the makeup. And offscreen, it’s good food, exercise and mood. I largely credit inner peace and happiness for one’s good looks. So be happy if you don't want wrinkles on your face.

Do you have plans to enter Hollywood?

No Hollywood for me. I am quite happy with where I am at the moment. I might consider a few meaty roles in regional films though.

Which projects do you have in your kitty at the moment?

I have Zara Akhtar’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara that stars Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol and Farhan Akhtar. Then there is Mere Brother Ki Dulhan opposite Imran Khan.  Next is Dostana 2 opposite Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham.

Is it true that you are soon planning to settle down with Ranbir Kapoor?

I prefer keeping my personal life to myself.

FREEDOM OF THE F-WORD

By Shilpi Shukla Alexander

Photo Credit: Ambro 

Is it the blatant use of expletives that offend people or is it more about the gender who is swearing? A discussion...

We have recently had Rani Mukerji utter profanities in public in the highly acclaimed movie No One Killed Jessica. The well-lettered sophisticated character that she played in the movie was even heard using the Hindi G-word on a flight – shocking fellow passengers and audience. Not many Rani fans able to take it in their stride while watching the movie. “I had gone to watch the movie with my kids. It was quite discomforting to have Rani Mukerji use foul language. I thought No One Killed Jessica was a family watch,” says chartered accountant Anil Makhija. When asked if he had watched Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai starrer Josh, the pat reply was – “Oh! I loved the movie. It was such fun.” The lead song sung by Shah Rukh -  apun bola tu meri laila – despite having ample expletives in the lyrics became quite famous (not infamous though!). Anil does seem to like the song too! Such contrast reactions. Why? “Well, it’s okay for a man to use expletives. Like I didn’t like Aishwarya dancing to the tunes of ishq kamina in the movie Shakti – The Power,” says MBA student Tarun Wanvari.

While it’s never pleasant to hear them from any gender, it’s particularly unpleasant to have the softer sex pour out expletives. Seemingly, it’s never so much about the word as it is about the person swearing it.

It’s not about the word, but the gender

Photo Credit: Ambro

Expletives have always been a part of most cultures and languages. From the most elite to the downtrodden, people from different strata and class have used cuss words since ever. However, women have always been expected to refrain from using foul language. A world used to gender-specific behaviour accepts cuss words far more willingly from men than women. Our literature tells us that there has always been a general understanding that women, who indulge in name-calling, whether in Victorian England or traditional India, haven’t been brought up or educated well. It speaks low of their family backgrounds as also the socio-economic status. 

Gary W Selnow, a professor at the San Francisco State University and director of World Internet Resources for Education and Development (WIRED) wrote in his journal Sex Differences in Uses and Perceptions of Profanities, “Language always serves as the reciprocal role of reflecting shifts in society while simultaneously contributing to the character of that society.” “While my brother could use invectives even in the most casual scenarios, I was never allowed to swear words no matter how pissed off I was. This is the rule I follow for my daughter as well. I think this is the way most girls around the world are brought up,” says Kamini Verma, an English professor. Many women would agree with Kamini.    

Shifting trends

While men may not like it and many women still be wary of swearing words, social experts claim that the social scene is reversing today and women are heard using bad language more than their male counterparts. “Be it the corporate world or colleges, we now get to see more women than men using the F-word. The use of expletives doesn’t remain confined to that,” says Shobha Agarwal, a social commentator. “This probably is the modern woman’s way of expressing her freedom and strength in the corporate-social world,” she adds. 

Rimi Shukla, who has been working as a marketing executive for the last 10 years has seen a sea change in social norms, especially in the work culture. “There was a time when if a male colleague would use a bad word before a woman, he would immediately apologise. Surprisingly, today I notice women pour out profanities more than men, that oo quite apologetically,” she says.  

Agrees psychiatrist Dr Sanjay Chugh, “Women have always had to prove their strength, potential and skill in a society that’s essentially dominated by males. Today working women swear words to pass on the message – don’t mess with me – to their male colleagues.”

Cinema Comes Of Age

A lot has changed in the recent past. With the censor board getting more and more lenient, in many cases than not, many once-forbidden words, dialogues and concepts are getting uncensored entry in Hindi films. Be it the F-word or the ‘usual’ Hindi expletives with kamina or saala, one gets to hear a lot of these in contemporary movies. What with bold and crude movie titles like Kaminey, Ye Saali Zindagi, being the latest rage in Bollywood. “Like it or not, such titles do attract sharp reactions from people and pull masses to cinema halls,” says film trade analyst Taran Adarsh. 

“Gone are the days when an actor would react with a simple “what the hell” and a director would refrain from using cuss words in his script. We are more realistic today,” says filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj whose films Omkara, Ishqiya and Kaminey had more expletives than one could possibly bear. All three movies were massive hits.

For director Sudhir Mishra nothing could be more annoying than the censor board objecting to the use of the word Saali – in his recent movie Ye Saali Zindagi. As per him, saali is not a gaali (abuse) at all! “In my film, I want to portray the imperfect world we live in today.” Is it the gender of the term that bothers members of the censor board? “The word saala was used 40 years ago in the song saala main toh sahab ban gaya in the movie Sagina, and no one objected to it. This has more to do with the gender of the word,” says Mishra. Nevertheless, the film got an A-certificate.

Defending her expletive role in the movie No One Killed Jessica, actress Rani Mukerji says, “I play a woman who uses Hindi expletives after being vexed enough by the society at large. It’s an expression of her liberation from the clutches of baseless societal norms that only tie women down, not men.” “Had the girl, I play in the movie, not been this tough, she wouldn’t have been able to seek justice in the bad-bad men’s world,” she clears her stand.

Like it or not, the trend seems to be reversing today. Whether for good or worse is quite debatable…

(This article was featured in BR International, a publication for Indians residing in HongKong.)

TIGER MOM TO YUMMY MUMMY

By Shilpi Shukla Alexander

American lawyer Amy Chua’s book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom has had parents from round the globe reviewing their parenting style. For youngsters, tiger moms are a strict no-no. What’s the take of Indian mothers on the same? A discussion…

Photo credit: photostock

Writer-lawyer Amy Chua swears by the principle: strict upbringing helps build children’s career and life. In her book, the writer proudly talks about how she made her daughter do 2,000 sums every night till she topped in mathematics in her class! One of the most controversial books, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom has created a buzz that very few books on parenting have managed to.

In Chua’s opinion, while western parents are extremely anxious about their children’s self-esteem, Chinese parents aren’t. “They assume strength, not fragility, and as a result they behave very differently,” says the writer. While some Chinese parents might believe that their kids owe them everything, as Chua puts it, the pertinent question here is: how does the Indian mother fare in the parenting business? 

Maniacal momzilla

Known for their unconditional love, benevolence and sacrifice, Indian mothers have always been the prime mover behind their children. Little wonder that many blockbuster movies have centered on the theme of mother-child love. Lines like – mere pass ma hai (I have my mother by my side) – define the essence of popular Hindi cinema. However, with changing times, priorities and rising competition, how do we define Indian mothers today? Where do they fit in the polemic between the tiger moms and the ones who practice benign neglect? Is the Indian ma a tyrant to her kids, the one who over-pampers her kiddo or someone who, as a dear friend and guide, helps her child grow with strong value systems?

 “There is a mix of ideologies here. She sometimes masquerades as a martyrish Nirupa Roy character. At other times, she is the aggressive Kaikeyi, the king-maker, and can set off an entire epic. There are those who are constantly trying to stimulate their children's cerebrum, and also those who rather follow Kahlil Gibran's liberal philosophy that your children are not really your children but the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself . . .,” says social commenter Neetika Batra.

English lecturer Geetika Soni couldn’t agree more - “While some mothers are hard task-masters who expect their kids to excel in every field – be it maths or music, others just expect the child to work hard in everything he does,” she adds.

Even if they are few in number, the woeful tales of oppressed kids are innumerable. “My mother just hates second rankers and runner-ups. For her someone is either a toper or a complete loser. At times it seems that I study, play, sing or dance not for myself but for her. I am expected to top in every field!” says an anguished Arshi Jain (name changed), a student of Class 8 in Delhi. Arshi’s not the only case. A good athlete, Gaurav Madaan has now stopped participating in his school’s annual sports day events. “It was suicidal to watch my mother howl in front of my batch-mates and teachers every time I was declared second in a race.”

Haven’t we seen moms who fret if their children don’t score full marks in mathematics? Or losing sleep over their school or college admissions? Aren’t we aware of those moms who pop up just everywhere from their child’s parents-teachers meeting to basketball practice sessions?

Chua’s theory claims that the ultimate veto is in the hands of the parents who can override the child’s preference. She believes children inherently aren’t interested in work, so it’s the responsibility of parents to overrule their likes.

So does tiger momism really help children? “It doesn’t,” says senior psychiatrist Dr Sanjay Chugh. “Mothers who believe in physical or verbal spanking only sow seeds of emotional trauma and loss of self worth in a child. The poor child, subconsciously, struggles with this feeling of self-hatred till his last breath. There’s a lot of difference between nurturing your child with good values and education, and enjoying absolute rule very his very existence. Tiger momism, in every sense, is a wrong concept,” adds Chugh.

The yummy mummy

Photo credit: Healingdream

Nevertheless, psychiatrists and social experts vouch for the valued-based style of Indian parenting. They believe that Indian mothers have evolved over the years and are experimenting like never before. They attend parenting seminars, put their children in alternative schools, and go the extra mile in democratising choices. “Many Indian mothers are pushy, result-oriented and focused on academic performance like some Chinese. However, most Indian parents are nurturers and affectionate. Apparently, some Chinese parents don’t allow kids to watch TV, but in India it’s an over- dose of TV, computers and other gizmos,” says child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr Chirag Sen.

So what does it really take for today's mothers to produce a generation of achievers? Many Indian mothers and youngsters believe that it only takes the right way to approach the children and share their opinions with them.

“Medical science has proven that children today are smarter than their parents. They ought to be trusted and respected. Not that they pay heed to what you say. Just that you have to know how to say it,” says Sneha Gulati, mother of two teenage daughters. “If my parents want me to excel in my career, that’s because they love me and want to see me happy in life. They are always the first ones to hold me each time I fall. They are the ones who cheer me up, every time I lose. And this is what makes their dreams, mine,” says Falon David, a Bangalore-based MBA aspirant. For many youngsters like Sunidhi Chopra, freedom comes with acceptable conditions. “My parents are my friends. I can’t be out too late, but that’s fine with me. Sleep-over is ok only with friends whom my parents know. The best part is that we understand and respect each other’s viewpoint.”

If modern-day ads are really imitating life, we could well believe that more and more Indian mothers are increasingly accepting the weaknesses of their children and just letting them be.

(This article was featured in BR International, a HongKong publication)