Of décor & designs

Try these simple and attractive accents to beautify your home this summer and give it a casual look 

Summer is here and the sweltering heat outside makes you want to stay at home longer. Decking up your home in summer is not intimidating anymore and there is no better time than now to experiment with the decors of your home Check out these simple tricks that are easy on your pockets as well.

Experiment with white 

White signifies simplicity and elegance. It may be difficult to maintain but the neutral colour brings in brightness to a room. There is nothing more beautiful than white upholstery in the living room. Team it with bright coloured cushions and throw pillows to enliven the room instantly. Simple white curtains in stripes and checks also add to the beauty of the room. 

Clocks do the trick!

Decorative wall clocks, that are sleek and attractive add more meaning and character to the decor of a home and comes in different shapes and sizes. For example, the cuckoo clock is very traditional and one of the oldest types of clock that will never go out of style. Large pendulum clocks also called grandfather clocks, with a glass front and made from teak, mahogany and rosewood are very popular and make a great showpiece. 

Bottled effect!

Bottles in plastic or glass can work wonders to enhance the décor of a room. Placing three or more bottles of different sizes and colours with assorted plants on your centre table will give your room just the right dash of colour. You could even place a candle inside the bottle to make it glow. So, the next time you want to throw away the bottles, think again.

Furniture first

Furniture continues to be an essential element and make for a chic décor. Be it the living room, bedroom or study, it's all about highlighting certain key pieces of furniture to 'centre' the room and give it character. Furniture transcends mere functionality today; so a chair isn't merely an object you sit on but an intricate piece of your home that can set the mood, reflecting identity, emotions and feelings, and quality of lifestyle.

Arty matters

Art and paintings play an integral role in the décor of any home. No matter how well you deck up your room, an artistic painting on the wall often steals the show. Mural paintings and contemporary art are the most sought after paintings today. Paintings alone can serve up a lively décor and make a wonderful statement. 

Light up! 

Lighting plays an important role in the décor of any home today. Feature lights can be used to create focal points for the room. Big shades and sculptural pieces of light make an instant statement. Use candles and lampshades around your house. Make lamp shades with earthen pots for that ethnic touch to your house. A chandelier centre piece in the living area is fast becoming a trend in many modern homes. Similarly, vintage reading lamps can effortlessly become part of any room, adding a hint of glamour and style. 

Colour splash

Add a dash of colour to your home and your life. Lively colours in the form of curtains, blinds, wallpapers or a new coat of paint could produce an instant cheerfulness to your home. Simply paint one wall with your favourite colour and make it the focal point. Hang an attractive art piece on that wall or move a nice piece of furniture there. Bright coloured floor mats and carpets add warmth to your home.

Keep it simple!

Minimal is the new mantra while doing the interiors. Leave the corners free. Pull your furniture away from the walls. Arranging the sofa diagonally across a narrow living room will make the room look wider. Add vertical space with shelves or bookcases in closets to minimise cluttering as much as possible. Keep it simple. 

Try these simple and minimal decors that can brighten and enliven your interiors. Spruce up your room as per your taste, and proudly call it ‘yours’. If your room is decoratively challenged, make use of these decorative items and add life to your interiors. It will definitely change the drab look and brighten your home as well as your moods. 

Tusker tales

Thrissur Pooram presents the ultimate treat for elephant lovers. Nothing can beat the thrill and excitement of watching them being paraded for the Pooram

An avid Thrissur Pooram enthusiast would definitely be acquainted with Guruvayoor Padmanabhan, Thiruvambady Sivasundar, Thechikottukavu Ramachandran, Guruvayoor Ravikrishnan, Pampady Rajan and so on. For the uninitiated, they are not names of people but that of renowned tuskers paraded during the famous Thrissur Pooram for decades.

            Elephants are an integral part of Thrissur Pooram. One cannot imagine a pooram without the presence of colourful caparisoned elephants. And these pachyderms are one of the main attractions of Thrissur Pooram, drawing spectators and admirers from across the globe. V K Venkatachalam, secretary, Heritage Animal Taskforce, Thrissur, believes that elephants are a major attraction for the foreigners and tourists visiting Kerala and they come to see the pooram just for the love of elephants.

             Bangkok based Else Geraets, couldn’t agree more. “I have always been fascinated by elephants. It was a unique experience for me to watch the elephants greet Mother Goddess at the temple, by lifting one of its feet and curling the trunk above its head, making that typical truncating sound,” recollects 70 year old Geraets. 

            For Kottayam based businessman Kochumon alias Shobit M Thomas, nothing is more rewarding than watching his 40 year old tusker, Pampady Rajan, being paraded for Paramekkavu at Thrissur Pooram. Bought on auction in 1974 from Ooty, Rajan participates in about 65 poorams in a year. He is being rested this year and in turn, it is Pambady Sundaran, bought from Bihar, who is being paraded for the Pooram. “He is an absolute beauty, one of the tallest elephants in Kerala. It is a matter of honour for the tusker to be a part of the madathilekku varavu ceremony, in which the thidambu is taken from the temple to Naduvil Madom,” says Kochumon.

          Owning an elephant is a matter of pride and honour for the elephant lovers across the state. 65 year old K V Balakrishna Shenoy, retired chief engineer, vividly recollects his father, bringing home his first elephant in 1960, when he was only 10 years old. Tusker Shenoy Chandrasekharan was bought in 1989 for Rs one lakh and has been to the Thrissur pooram only once in 1993. Maintenance of tuskers is an expensive affair, no doubt, but most people do it out of sheer love for the elephants. “I don’t keep Chandrasekharan for monetary benefits but for the mental satisfaction of watching him being paraded at temple festivals,” adds Shenoy.

          A good elephant in perfect health will be able to attend an average of 80 festivals in a span of 6 months from November to May. According to Prof M Madhavankutty, President, Thiruvambady Devaswom, great care is taken for the welfare and protection of elephants lined for the Pooram. “We ensure adequate rest, fodder and water for the tuskers. The ground where the elephants stand is watered regularly, apart from providing wet sacks and green shades to keep their bodies cool. Besides, watermelon, pine apple and cucumber are fed to beat the scorching heat. The tuskers are paraded for the Pooram only after an expert medical team examines them and gives a fitness certificate,” explains Madhavankutty, a Pooram aficionado. 

          Born and brought up in Tripunithara, Krishnanath Venkataraman, COO, ITflux Technologies, Kochi, is no stranger to the grandeur of temple festivals. An ardent lover of elephants and melams, he has been going to the Thrissur Pooram since the age of ten and rarely misses it. Venkataraman sums it up best when he says, “Elephants for me is next to God and I have great regard for them. And aanayoottu, the tradition of feeding these pachyderms at home, is an opportunity to pay my reverence to them.”

A legal affair

Rhea Sydney, second year LLB student, National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi,  on the importance of an internship in shaping your legal career 

Law, as a subject, is vast and dynamic, as new laws are enacted and old laws are repealed constantly. It is the duty of every lawyer to be updated with every change brought forth in almost every field. It is said that the knowledge and skill required to be a lawyer is not something that can be taught in classrooms, but one gathers it through experience. And this is where internships in a good law firm play a key role.

I was lucky to do a month long internship at the Chennai office of King & Partridge, one of the oldest full-service law firms in India. Interning at a law firm gives you first-hand experience with how a lawyer needs to think, what to expect at the court, how to brief a client and many other skills that can be learnt only with experience. It basically prepares you for the life of a lawyer. 

Internships play a vital role in making you aware of the work environment like the courts, law firms, NGO’s etc. It gives you an added advantage to compete in the current job markets. These internship programmes act as a supplement to the legal education provided in any law school. It also increases your chance of getting recruited as most employers look for work experience. So the best way for law students to prepare for their future is to take advantage of internship opportunities, for it helps in building up your resume and perform well in placement interviews.

My internship at King & Partridge taught me many things which I would otherwise have been ignorant about. I was given access to case files of ongoing cases and have been asked to form my opinion about each case. I am impressed by the amount of knowledge that the lawyers here have acquired. Every lawyer including the senior partner put in many hours in order to finish their urgent work.  I have also been provided with the opportunity to visit the Madras High court, which is one of the oldest High Courts in the country. The stunning architecture renders any first timer speechless. I have been told again and again that new comers often get lost in that beautiful and impressive building.

  

Legal Edge

Hari Narayan, maritime lawyer and partner, United Maritime Law Chambers, Kochi, on building a career in maritime law

Maritime law is a branch of law dealing with issues involved in shipping and navigation. Also called admiralty law, it is a body of both domestic law governing maritime activities, and private international law governing the relationships between private entities that operate vessels on the oceans. Maritime law is evolved out of necessities of sea borne trade and all nations involved in sea commerce has a maritime law as part of its legal system.

Earlier maritime law was not part of the LLB curriculum in the country. Now, considering the fact that India is fast emerging as a trade destination, universities have started incorporating maritime law subjects like marine insurance and carriage of goods by sea as subjects for LLB. Government of India has set up a central university called Indian Maritime University with headquarters at Chennai and campuses in almost all port cities to promote maritime studies.

A student interested in pursuing maritime law can undertake a two year LLM in maritime law. Universities abroad provide one year LLM course as well. They also offer short-term courses in maritime law for two to three weeks, for legal practitioners to understand the basics of maritime law. An in depth knowledge of the subject is essential for maritime lawyers to understand the issues involved and to provide a solution in the quickest possible time, considering the fact that time is money in shipping. 

Increase in sea bound trade and commerce will also increase the scope of legal issues requiring assistance of maritime law specialists. Therefore, there is huge potential for specialising in maritime law as a branch of practice. Unlike other branches of law, maritime practice is international in nature and most of the disputes involved are resolved through international arbitrations in various parts of the world. Maritime lawyers are among the most highly paid professionals in the world and fee is often charged on an hourly basis ranging from USD 1000 to 2000.

A career as a maritime lawyer allows you to travel all over the world, meeting and interacting with similar professionals and appearing before arbitral forums and tribunals.  Maritime lawyers are also preferred by Protection & Indemnity Clubs to work as claims executives. Alternatively, a specialisation in the subject could fetch a job in shipping companies, ports, shipyards and so on. 

Evidence Matters

Dr Thomas Mathew, HOD, department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College, Thrissur on pursuing a career in forensic medicine

Forensic medicine is an area of forensic science dealing with the medico legal aspects of a crime such as an autopsy, post mortem, clinic forensic examination etc. Also called legal medicine or medical jurisprudence, it applies medical science to civil or criminal cases. With
the rising crime rates in the country, it is an interesting field of medicine and forensic experts are very much in demand.

Medical students, who have completed their five year MBBS are eligible to pursue a three year post graduate degree in forensic medicine. While pursuing a career in forensic medicine, one needs to decide and focus on the discipline that you want to pursue like general forensic medicine, forensic psychiatry, behavioural science and toxicology, forensic pathology, forensic anatomy, etc.

Besides the necessary educational qualifications, one must be very observant, have strong communication skills and a keen eye for detail for a successful career in forensic field. Similarly, internships offered will help to gain on the job experience, which is an added advantage.

Forensic medicine offers numerous career prospects in the government as well as private sector. The government sector jobs will be placed in forensic science labs, police department, crime branches, regional forensic science laboratories, narcotics department, etc.  One can also work as medical officers in the forensic medicine departments of hospitals, state health services or with the National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Sciences as a scientist.

Apart from this, one can also get a job as a tutor with a medical college or work as a police surgeon in medical colleges and with the home ministry on medico-legal cases and forensic medical examination.

Celebrating the saints

It’s celebration time for believers and devotees across Kerala, as the Church gears up for the canonisation ceremony in Rome

With Pope Francis canonising Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Blessed Euphrasia in Rome today, celebrations are on in full swing by parishioners across Kerala. Members belonging to Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara and Latin churches across the state have arranged various programmes in their parish to celebrate the canonisation.

St Philomena’s Church, Koonammavu, in Ernakulam district, which houses the tomb of Chavara Achan, and Mannanam Church in Kottayam district, where his tomb was later shifted to, are expecting a huge number of devotees and believers attending the holy mass and other programmes today.

Rajagiri campus in Kakkanad is gearing up to celebrate the canonisations in a big way. Elaborate programmes and holy mass will be held at the campus in Kakkanad on November 29. As part of the canonisation process, Cardinal George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, will lead a thanksgiving mass in Rome on 24 November.

Apart from the church, the Government of Kerala has also decided

to support the celebrations related to the canonisation of Father Kuriakose Elias Chavara by undertaking various developmental activities like improvement of roads and other PWD works at Mannanam, the resting place of Chavara Achan. 

According to Fr Joseph Pathadan, Asst. Procurator, Ernakulam Angamaly archdiocese, “We are extremely pleased about the canonisation of Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Blessed Euphrasia. It is a matter of great faith and brings the youth closer to God and religion”

 “It is a great feeling. Truly honoured and blessed to live in the same era as the saints,” says Sr Mary Georgina, principal, Jyothi PU College, Bangalore.

A life changing experience

Tresa Abraham, Medical Intern from Father Muller's Medical College, Mangalore

I belong to 2007 MBBS batch of Father Miller Medical college Mangalore. It was during our five and a half years of medical schooling Doctors Ministry of Jesus Young India( a missionary movement) bloomed in different medical college campuses including mine, challenging and inspiring medicos to rediscover medicine as a Vocation rather than a mere profession.It was under their guidance and after a training that lasted for more than a month that two of my colleagues and I decided to go as mission doctors to rural areas.Thus I was posted in Holy Trinity Hospital Adilabad District of Telangana.

During our rural postings to PHC in Mangalore , practice seemed much easier being at the vicinity of a number of hospital with better facilities.This however wasn't the situation in village where I was posted.Like any rural area more than the distance to a better hospital , it was the financial struggles and lack facilities there continue to be the hurdles. To add on to the agony are a number of local practitioners including voodoo practices in interior village areas hinder the chances of primary medical intervention.

Having spent almost seven months in this area practicing at the hospitals, house visits, & organising medical camps, among people where the complexities of modern life hasn't taken over , where doctors are considered to be equal to God  it was a real learning experience.At the same time ,being known to then as a Christian doctor, was challenging as to live like one .It did teach me to value life more, and that every patients requires listening to them as the prime treatment. When the poor facilities limited the treatment protocols to the text books leaving treatment possible only with limited intervention and prayer being one of them, we could see the Creators hand working miracles.

Among million lessons learned that which i hold close to heart is though medicines are treatment, Medical care professionals are healing hands through whom Healing comes from Above.

The rural stint

Sridevi Rajeeve, medical intern, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Medical College, Kolenchery, Ernakulam

Internship is a one year mandatory training period in which we rotate in all specialty departments gaining work experience in that field. And two months of Community Health is mandatory in the curriculum, where we will gain practical experience in a rural hospital service away from our teaching hospital.

As interns, we are the first line of caregivers to every patient coming to the emergency department. We do minor surgical procedures, assist in all major surgical procedures, conduct normal deliveries, manage ICUs, man peripheral health centres of our hospital and even perform lifesaving maneuvers in the ER.

I was posted at St. Augustine’s Hospital at Kumily, Thekkady for that one month stint, an experience that transformed my perspectives completely. It was shocking to note that the diagnostic and therapeutic facilities we were accustomed to at our hospital were conspicuous by their absence here.

The very first lesson learnt during rural posting was to rely less on labs and devices and utilize our senses in arriving at a diagnosis. Lesson number two was how to exercise resourcefulness as supply of medicines and surgical items were limited in the rural area. Dealing with the dilemma of whether to keep a patient in a deteriorating condition or refer him/her to a higher centre many miles away, was a predicament for a rookie doctor like me then – a hard lesson number three! A vital lesson number four was never to take anyone for granted, for even the peon, nurses and other staff had many a pearl of medical wisdom which they willingly shared with us interns.

The local people always received us warmly into their homes. I experienced the reverence and admiration a doctor receives in the countryside for the first time after I helped in an uncomplicated delivery of a woman.

At the end of the grueling hands on rural experience, I realised how vital the rural posting was in reshaping my belief systems and imbibing new ideologies of my noble profession that had never been encountered before. It was a whole new experience to work on your own, gaining practical proficiency and make life-changing decisions in split second. I would urge my peer group to never let go of this transformative experience. 

Magical Melodies weave magic

Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayal aata hai, the popular filmy number that made many a heart to flutter, took the ghazal lovers of Thrissur on a musical sojourn at Times Magical Melodies, organised by The Times of India

Hothon se chulo tume mera geet amar kar do, Ghazal maestro Umbayee, accompanied by playback singers Gayathri Asokan and Sithara Krishnakumar, began the musical evening paying rich tributes to the legendary Jagjit Singh. Times Magical Melodies, the first ever event organised by The Times of India, in the cultural capital of Kerala, turned out to be a magical evening of mesmerising ghazals and blissful music.

While Gayathri opened her account with Jhoom le has bol le pyaari agar hai zindagi, a beautiful composition by Hariharan, celebrating life in all its fullness, Sithara chose to begin with Aaj jaane ki zid na karo by noted classical vocalist, Farida Khanum.

The audience, who listened attentively to each of the numbers, were transported to the magical world of enthralling music. They broke into applause, turning nostalgic when popular Malayalam film songs like Oru pushpam mathram and Thamasamende varuvan, were rendered by the artists.

The highlight of the evening, however, was the ever popular Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein, rendered by Umbayee. He created an instant rapport with the audience with interesting anecdotes making it more interactive and lively.

The artists were ably supported by their musical troupe consisting violin, guitar, mridangam, harmonium, tabla and guitar. The programme saw the singers render many famous compositions of Ravindran master, M S Baburaj, ONV Kurup and Mirza Ghalib. It set the tone for an unforgettable musical evening to cherish. 

The fish saga

The rains are here and so are the NRI’s who are visiting their hometown on vacation. Here are some interesting titbits on fish – the staple diet of Keralites

The fish is a wonderful creation of God. It forms an integral part of the Kerala palate and its presence in the Kerala cuisine is impossible to ignore. The transformation it takes when it reaches different districts of Kerala is remarkable. It blends well with natural fruits and herbs in the hands of a holiday maker. It's steamed in a bamboo shoot in the hands of a tribal cook. 

Similarly, the use of coconut in fish preparation makes all the difference in fish curries. Red tamarind is used in Malabar while the central region uses the black tamarind (kodampuli). Another distinctive feature is the flavour of cumin, which is present in the Malabar curry form. Meenchatti, an earthern ware vessel, used to prepare the fish curry adds that special flavour to Kerala fish curry.

Fish is the most delicate meat and it deteriorates faster than other proteins due to the water content and moisture in it. It is important to ensure good hygiene while handling fish, such as the quality of water and ice, and use of stainless steel equipment that can be easily cleaned.

Eating healthy

Fish is one of the healthiest food not just in monsoon but throughout the year. Health experts vouch for the fact that fish is low in fat, high in protein and an excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids. The recommended daily amount of omega 3 fatty acids from fish is 200-600mg. And remember, the best source of omega 3 fatty acids is fish and not fish oil capsules.

While Malayalis love their fish deep fried, other healthy ways to enjoy fish include baked, poached, grilled and steamed. It has been proved that people who consume fish regularly have a lower incidence of depression and may help diabetic people manage their blood sugar levels better. Therefore, eating one or two servings of fish weekly can reduce the risk of a range of diseases, from childhood asthma to prostate cancer.

Methods of cooking fish

Healthy ways to cook fish include:

 Baking - make shallow cuts along the top of the fish. Put into a greased dish and cover with foil. Flavor with herbs, lemon juice and olive oil. Bake at around 180°C and baste frequently.

 Shallow frying - dry and flour the fish. Place a small amount of oil or butter in the pan. Fry the fish at a medium heat.

 Grilling - cut slashes into whole fish to help the heat penetrate the flesh. Place fish on a preheated grill. Baste frequently.

 Poaching - not suitable for flaky varieties. Place fish in gently simmering stock. Whole fish should be placed in a pan of cold stock, which is then slowly brought up to a gentle simmer.

 Steaming - put fish in a steamer or on a plate over a saucepan containing gently boiling water. Cover.

Fish curry varieties:

1.     Pollichathu: Fish marinated with flavoured masala wrapped in plantain leaf and broiled.

2.     Pattichathu: Fish cooked with black tamarind, curry leaves, red chillies (either chilly hot or very mild), best when matured for 2 days in the meen chatti in which it is cooked.

3.     Mappas: A fish preparation with mild spices and first extract of coconut milk, slightly thick gravy.

4.     Piralan: Fish prepared with mild spices has the thick creamy coating of first extract of coconut milk.

5.     Peera: Fish cooked into dry dishes using plenty of grated coconut.

Types of fish cuts

·        Fillet - the boneless flank of the fish.

·        Dressed - with head and fins (entrails, scales and gills are removed).

·        Steak - cross-sections taken from a dressed fish.

·        Gutted - whole fish with entrails removed.

Chill kill is a process pioneered by the Japanese, where in the live fish is put in ice and killed. They bring down the temperature below +4 degrees and this prevents deterioration of the fish for longer periods. Also the fish is kept away from sunlight which causes enzyme action to accelerate thereby deteriorating the fish faster. Chill kill also contributes to better flavour of the fish, as flavours of the fish are released only after 6 hours of fish being killed in ice.

(With inputs from Faraz Javeed, CEO, Wild Fish)

5 ugly but delicious fishes to eat this monsoon

a) Indian Halibut ( malayalam name Aayirampalli)

b) Sole fish ( Manthal)

c) Indian monk fish ( Orathal)

d) Leather Jacket ( udupuoori)

e) Lung fish ( Varaal)