theabouttowner
1
Death to the 50 over game? Not yet...
Sehaj Singh
Re. 1
New Delhi
I begin by presenting two
angles of the two
formats—the current 50
over game which is
exactly 8 hours long and
the other T20 format
which is just two hours.
Over the years cricket has
seen many changes, right
from the days when
Kerry Packer introduced
Vol. 1 Issue 1
colored clothing and the
day-night matches. This
innovation heralded a
new chapter in cricket,
for without him cricket
would be dull, continuing
with the old-fashioned
white clothing and day
matches. To day,
innovations include the
Powerplays, the free hit
and the controversial
switch hit rule (which
September 7-14 2009
many opposed, though
some cricketers said that
it adds more to the
batsmen’s armory).
The health of 50 over
cricket is still strong and
the game, still exciting,
not having succumbed to
the growing popularity of
the T20 format, even format to search for tal-
though the ICC has re- ent, be it in batting, bowl-
vamped cricket and is ing or fielding. My argu-
accommodating more ment on why it can’t last
for long even for estab-
op-ed lished players is because
of the burn out factor. If
international T20s than they continue playing
ODIs. Yes, no doubt that more T20’s than the 50
cheerleaders , the big ad- overs, it can result in
verts and the attractive, more injuries of these
glittering and dazzling players given the fast and
stars have made T20 a aggressive nature of the
more glamorous affair. T20 format.
There are even lucrative Ultimately, it is the 50
leagues like the IPL and over game which wins
the World ICC t20. I know over the hearts and cap-
this may be the in format tures all the fans, be it the
or the new ‘in thing “ in youth or adults. It is this
cricket, because in T20 50 a side game where
the batsmen can go out many exciting matches
and play their strokes— have been played and the
both orthodox and unor- players involved have
thodox. The same can be created and broken many
said for bowlers too, records. This was seen in
given a maximum of 4 the most epic match in the
overs, the bowlers can history of cricket, where
bowl their stock delivery Australia scored a world
and also at the same time record 433/4 with Ricky
they are getting their Ponting scoring his high-
wickets. est score (164).
But I think, T20 is not an
ideal platform or the Continued on pg. 8
 theabouttowner
2
This week, Siddharth
Behl takes a look at
Deepalaya...
Deepalaya is a non-
government development
organization working on
issues affecting the urban
and rural poor, with a
special focus on children.
It is because ‘Every child
deserves a chance’ that
the organization exists
and works towards
making that possible.
For the past 28 years
Deepalaya has b een
working in the urban
slums of Delhi and has
also made inroads into
rural development in the
states of Haryana and
Uttarakhand. Deepalaya
has been collaborating
with other agencies, both
governmental and non-
governmental towards
making meaningful
intervention in the policy
making process in the
State.
From the humble
beginnings in 19 79,
Deepalaya has seen a
continuous growth in
staff, beneficiaries and
fields of activities.
Furthermore, its support
base has grown from a
close circle of friends to
an international network
of individuals,
corporations and
agencies. As a children, so that they be-
consequence, Deepalaya
supporters have
established foreign
outlets in various
countries in order to
make use of local tax-
exemption facilities and
extend the visibility of the
organisation across
borders.
September 7-14 2009
agencies - governmental Mission
or non-governmental, as The mission is to
well as suitably intervene promote and provide
in policy formulation. qualitative education at
affordable costs to
Education children and
A quarter of a million of communities, which are
Vision Delhi’s children, living in socially and economically
A society based on legiti-
slums or on the streets, deprived.
mate rights, equity, jus-
do not go to school. Furthermore this
tice, honesty, social sen-
Just an hour’s drive from program helps to bring
sitivity and a culture of
Delhi, in rural Mewat, lit- out the children’s latent
service in which all are
talents, so that they not
self-reliant. eracy is only 33%, and
only acquire academic
even lower for the girls.
learning, but also
Approach, Methodology Deepalaya’s flagship pro-
vocational proficiency,
And Stragegy gram Education derives
personal character and
Deepalaya’s focus and
its rationale from these societal values. They
entry point is the child.
startling figures. should become self-
Unit of development is the
family. Organization of
community is the ap-
proach, through which
empowerment, capacity
building and social trans-
formation are attempted.
Hence it is a long-term
strategy for emancipating
the whole community,
through interventions at
three levels i.e., the child,
the family and & the
community with extra
emp hasis on child
specially girl child, street
child and disabled child.
Over time, they have reliant and responsible
Mission establis hed 337 citizens.
Deepalaya commits itself educational centres
to- where 50,000 For more information
a) Identify with and work beneficiaries are about Deeplaya, or to
educated through formal volunteer for their
along the economically
and non-formal various activities,
and socially deprived, the
education. Four formal contact their corporate
physically and mentally
schools-three of office at
challenged - starting with
Deepalaya and the other
in collaboration with the Address:
come educated, skilled Narang’s-were Human Resource
and aware. established. Moreover, Centre (HRC)
b) Enable them to be self- two schools were founded 46, Institutional Area,
as Satellites. Deepalaya is D-Block, Janakpuri,
reliant and enjoy a
accredited to the National New Delhi - 110058.
healthy, dignified and
Open School for both Phone: +91-11-28520347,
sustainable quality of life.
academic and vocational 28522263, 28525326.
c) And to that end, act as
streams. Fax: +91-11-28520546.
a resource to and col-
e-mail:
laborate with other
support@deepalaya.org
theabouttowner
3

theabouttowner
4
Location: Ignis, B- 45 In-
ner Circle, Connaught
Place, New Delhi.
Meal for two: Rs. 2500 (in-
cluding a prawn entrée)
Walk in, up the stairs, past
the tastefully decorated
terrace (complete with
bamboo and wicker divid-
ers) and into an even bet-
ter dining hall. The can-
dles glow a soft reddish-
orange. The dark wood
gives it the elegance. The
mirrors are there, but not
overdone. The soft light-
ing, even though a strain
to the eyes, lilts you and
you just want to stay
here–eating is just a small
function, yours sincerely
was so in love with the
ambiance, that he wanted
to make Ignis his home.
The menu arrives in a
wacky yet elegant jacket.
The thick, recycled paper
seems almost too elegant
for any mortal fingers to
hold. The only downside
till now is the extremely
weird way in which the
intro to the menu is writ-
ten–my friend liked it, I
hated it. Still, you leaf
through the menu, and
the variety of cuisines on
offer just catches you off
guard–Indian, Italian,
foodie bay
September 7-14 2009
three pieces of paneer
tikka; nine mushrooms;
three pieces of decently
big prawns; and three
skewers, each containing
three pieces, of the
chicken dish. Weird? Very.
Especially, considering the
fact that the average size
of families in India is four.
Anyway, about the food.
Elegant garnishing aside,
there wasn’t much to it.
Save for just how awe-
some it was! The paneer
was deliciously soft, melt-
ing away in my mouth as
soon as I ate it. Oh, and,
did I mention that the
tikka was layered? Mint
chutney between the top
two layers, and chaat
masala paste between the
bottom two. As you’ll find iced tea, that is. service is prompt, and the
out, I’m going to say this Main course was spa- food is just special. The
often in this review for ghetti–a finely herbed fact that not too many
other things too, but, af- bolognese for him, and an people know about this
ter having this tikka, I even better one with basil place gave it a rather
can’t have any other and cherry tomatoes for ‘dead’ feel, and that was
tikka–nothing will ever me. Both dishes were the only drawback
quite match up to the taste served in pretty big serv- (though, in no way a fault
and texture of this one! ings, but were incredibly of the restaurant). Recom-
The cajun mushrooms light. It was, without mended for families of 3
were good, though too doubt, the finest spaghetti (haha…owing to their idi-
heavily cheesed for me– since…since…eternity, otic portions of three).
so heavily cheesed, that maybe. Nothing compares
the cheese would burst to its sheer awesomeness, Detailed Ratings:
out from the opposite end and nothing ever will Food: 4.5/5
as soon as I took a bite. (though I hope I’m proven Service: 4.5/5
The non veg dishes? wrong on this count). Ambience: 4.5/5

Continental–it’s all there.
And how!
Panner tikka, cajun mush-
rooms, prawns and a
chicken dish were the
entrées of choice. To go
with that? The house’s
special ginger ale for me,
and a green apple soda
for my friend. The food
and drinks promptly ar-
rive, almost as though the
staff anticipated what we
might order. The thing to
note, though, is that all the
dishes are served in por-
tions of three–there were
Sorry on that count, but
I’m not that big a non-veg
eater, and so, didn’t think
much of them (especially
the prawns). But, my
friend absolutely swears
by the non-veg served!
And, he is the pickiest
non-veg ever. As for the
drinks, the ginger ale was
too gingery, and I decided
not to repeat the order,
preferring a rather deli-
cate peach iced tea in-
stead. The green apple
soda was the best thing
since manna. Save, the
And finally, the best
course of the meal–des-
sert. Someone call the fire
brigade, because the chef
sure was on fire! The
tiramisu was light and
frothy, with a seriously
strong coffee taste. The
pastry at the bottom was
lightly alcohol soaked,
adding that zing to it. Not
to be left behind was the
cheese cake–cheesy, deli-
cious and every inch a
masterstroke!
All in all, a fine new diner.
The ambiance is good, the
ignis
Not-to-miss: Ghungroo
Mushrooms (Rs 180),
Roasted Chicken With
Iyonnaise Potatoes and
Red Wine Sauce (Rs 290),
Dilli Paneer Curry (Rs
275), Chettinad Mutton
Pepper Fry (Rs 290),
Cheesecake with Blue-
berry Sauce (Rs 250),
Tiramisu (Rs 250).
 Rachit Agarwal
theabouttowner
5
 events
theabouttowner
6
September 7-14 2009

First men’s fashion week kickstarts in Delhi with Bajaj show

The opening day of the translated the royal world
Van Heusen India Men’s of Rajasthan with his
Week also saw collections ‘Prince’ collection as
of three newcomers — models sashayed wearing
Aslam Khan, Rajvi Mohan ‘bandhgalas’ and
and Himmat Singh Jaipur. ‘sherwanis’ with ethnic
”Any initiative has a high ‘pagdis’ and swords for
risk and high rewards, it’s company. ”This is my first
a kind of nervous energy. show and I have launched
In the process you my ethnic collection from
discover something and if Rajasthan and I have
there is mass segment tried to b ring out a
available there is a hidden culture and its my
possibility of venturing original presentation. I
into other segments like was waiting for such a
a fashion week for kids platform to showcase my
of growth in the men’s surfboards provided
in the future,” brand head designs,” said Singh. ”I
fashion scenario,” he said. freshness to the show.
of Madura Garments (Van was always looking
Khan’s collection, named ”Being all tired with work,
Heus en) Shivaraj forward to walk the ramp
‘Inspiration’, primarily I wish I could take a
Sub ramaniam said. wearing something like
reflected a play with holiday. So, my collection
Bajaj said though it has this, I am someone who
vibrant colours like hot portrays a man who’s on
been 22 years since he is very precise about
pink, yellow and orange a holiday, does not give a
launched his label, this what I wear while
while Mohan’s damn and just want to
was his first fashion walking on the ramp,”
ensembles— ‘Presenting relax. Being a woman
week. said Muzammil Ibrahim,
the Royals of Surf’ — designing for men is the
”I see that the industry the show stopper for
largely drew inspiration best job in the world,” said
has moved a long way Singh.
from the beach and the Mohan. On the other
and there has been a lot PTI
cool colours and hand, Himmat Singh

Kingfisher PubRockFest
The September round of
the Kingfisher
PubRockFest, 2009 re-
turns to the NCR on the
9th, with Perestroika, Tear
Cube and IIIrd Sovereign
performing at Chicane,
NOIDA.
Then on the 11th catch
Parikrama, Seven Degrees
and Bridge To Elsewhere
perform at Quaish Qai
(Connaught Place). PS:
While you’re at Quaish
Qai, don’t forget to try
something from their ex-
tensive Shooters Menu.
And then, just to round off
the week on the perfect
note, head over to Super-
stars, NOIDA on the 13th to
rock to the tunes of Fre-
quency, IAFWAY and
Paradigm Shift.
The biggest nation-wide
music festival celebrating
the culture of live bands,
the culture of the King-
fisher PubRockFest was
initiated by Rock Street
Journal in 2005, when a
humble beginning was
made with a 4 gig festival
featuring 12 bands in
Delhi. It marked the begin-
nings of a club rock cul-
ture in the Capital, which
sustained beyond the fes-
tival.
For more information the
PubRockFest, and for the
complete schedule, check
out the official site at
www.kingfisherrocks.com/
pubrockfest.
Rachit Agarwal

Ask not what your newspaper can do for you, ask what you can do for your newspaper. That is why,
every week we give you the chance to get published. Shout out, be heard about anything which is close
to your heart. This week, the winning entry is by Sid who talks about terrorism and materialism...
Just a few days ago, a lit-
tle before midnight, I was
at my home watching the
movie Dil Se. As the fear
and the violence of ter-
rorism aggravated in the
movie, I heard loud cries
in the street outside my
house. Like almost every
apprehensive, scared and
skeptical citizen of this
country, I tried my level
best to figure out what
was happening by peep-
ing through one of my
bedroom windows which
faces the street outside.
What I heard and saw can
be described as kitsch of
violence: abuses begot
more abuses by two men,
who seemed to have lost
all their senses. They
were fighting like two
mad dogs on the street.
One of them had nearly
beaten the other to death.
For whatever the matter
was, it did not take sec-
onds for the quiet, peace-
ful street to turn into a
hub of violence and ter-
ror. But this is perhaps
only a microcosmic ex-
ample of what is happen-
ing in the world at large.
So what is terrorism and
what begets it?
Terrorism is that which
conquers the hearts and
the minds of the people
with fear and terror. It
may as well include an
attempt to cause any
emotional aberration into
others lives or an attempt
to bring about physical
harm and destruction. In
the case of the fight
which I passively wit-
nessed, it included both as
the men were engaged in
arousing a sense of fear
in the other.
yours...
September 7-14 2009
The Islamic terrorist
groups who commit geno-
cide at a larger, global
scale are not the only
ones to be labeled as ter-
rorists. The contours of
Raj Thackeray’s Mumbai
or the ’rape’ of religion by
the Bajrang Dal activists
( one of them being the
brutal damage of the cru-
cifix at the Miladis church
in Mangalore) has surely
won the title of ’terror-
ism.’ India, at this time, is
witnessing a period in
which terrorism, in the
guise of communalism
has reached the centre
stage. If, during the Sec-
ond World War, the Jews
were victimized under
Nazi terrorism, the Non
Maharashtrians in
Mumbai and the Chris-
tians in Orissa have
greatly fallen victim to the
Maharashtra Navnirman
Sena (MNS ) and the
Bajrang Dal ’terrorist
camp.’ Thus, what was
once a secular state has
now become a cauldron
of terrorist violence.
But, is any one person
solely responsible for
triggering such violence?
The chronological ladder
of the Indian citizenship
begins from me; along
with various other men,
women and children; the
two men fighting on the
road and most impor-
tantly, the power forming
authorities. It however
seems that each one of us
has moved towards a self
centered materialism. If
today’s politicians care
two hoots about the need
of working towards the
establishment of a pro-
gressive, secular and a
peaceful Indian state, the
general masses of the
country have also made
themselves intentionally
ignorant of the matters
that are essentially ’politi-
cal.’ Quite forgetting that
the ’politicalness’ operat-
ing on a macrocosmic
level equally influences
everything in and outside
us, we are blindly clutch-
ing on to the material
comforts for our support:
for now, it is the question
of ’my’ job; ’my’ house; ’my’
car and ’my’ family. The
question therefore arises:
do we treat India as ’my’
country? If the political
parties such as MNS and
Bajrang Dal are spread-
ing communal violence in
order to establish a
strong political hold in the
country, and forcing
changes in favour of their
political, economic and
religious demands, at the
same time, only few peo-
ple have the time to think
reflexively about its dis-
astrous consequences.
Since our national integ-
rity is at stake, we must
understand that any po-
litical party or any terror-
ist group which functions
in connivance does so in
order to propagate its
own selfish interests.
Such groups do not be-
long to any religion as
they have no religion.
Thus, every Muslim or
every Hindu is not always
a part of any political ex-
tremism. Not only the
dominant religion, but if
we learn to equally re-
spect the religions that
exist in minorities and
begin to live as one Na-
tion, we would succeed in
theabouttowner
7
putting an end to at least
that part of terrorism
which is not only ugly but
also functions openly in
the name of redeeming
the people of India. A co-
cooned, sheltered materi-
alistic approach towards
life cannot perhaps save
us from the constantly
growing clutches of ter-
rorist activities: whether
openly operating or act-
ing beneath the surface.
Materialism only encour-
ages terrorism because it
largely forces us to stay
passive towards our sur-
roundings and act neu-
trally. This is what most
of us do whenever we
come across an accident
on the road or witness
any violence on the street,
or in the nation at large.
The terror puzzle can be
solved only when the
citizens of the country
wake up to contribute
towards the progress of
the nation. Otherwise, the
time is not very far when
our country will become
’plague’ stricken where
the people work hard
solely for the purpose of
getting rich. Communal
terrorism must be
stopped before the victims
of terrorism become
antinational agencies. It is
our duty to become
aware and spread
awareness regarding the
political, economic and
religious interests of the
selfish political parties.
What I noticed after
watching Dil Se and the
quarrel was that we know
it all, but, don’t act. If India
survives the terrorist
grip, only then can a safe
future of the coming
generations be assured.
 sports
theabouttowner
8
September 7-14 2009
Contd. from Pg 1
Cycle Spin Down The Dirt Track
Kunal Doley And yet, it was
overshadowed by South
Africa, who beat Australia
and scored a stunning
438/9, highlighted by
Herschelle Gibbs’ highest
ever score of 175. It was
this match which showed
how intense and exciting
50 overs games can be. It
also goes on to show that
meaningful, yet fun
cricket means 50 over
cricket.
There have been many
more delights of 50 over
cricket. Among them was
Saeed Anwar’s knock of
194 which is yet unbroken,
Sachin Tendulkar’s (186*)
partnership with Rahul
Dravid (153) against New
state of the environment. Zealand in which both
When the spirits are low, They don’t have an option registered their highest
Anand V. Sinha, country
when the day appears on a weekday, but come scores. And also Sanath
director, Private Sector
dark, when work becomes Saturday and they all hit Partnerships- One, Abt
monotonous, when hope the dirt track on their Jayasuriya’s (189) against
Associates ( one of the India. Every nation has its
hardly seems worth bicycles. largest business research
having, just mou nt a own memories . No
consulting firms in the
bicycle and go out for a “We’ve identified many vers ion of the game
world), says, “ It’s sad to
spin down the road, cycling trails around which has produced so
see the forest cover fast
without thought on Gurgaon. When we show many outstanding feats
depleting.” It is to combine
anything but the ride you the pictures of these adventure with
are taking. locations to people, many ought to be lightly tossed
awareness that the Pedal away, and not in favor of
can’t believe that these Yatri is organising the
These words by British are within cycling a format that offers many
country’s first offterrain
author Arthur Conan distance from the city. We things but not the most
Doyle put up on the Pedal cycling contest, Merida
don’t need to go to MTB Challenge — important of them all - the
Yatri website sum up best Himachal Pradesh or Aravallis, on September possibility of greatness.
the sentiments of the Uttarakhand to look for 20. It will cover a total of Moreover 50-over cricket
Gurgaon- based bicycling such spots,” says Rajesh 22 km on the Aravallis — has been unlucky in its
enthusiasts. Kalra, 44, a media 11 km from Mangar village
professional based in on the G urgaon- most recent World Cup,
Most of the members are Delhi. which was a botched job.
toplevel professionals in Faridabad road and back.
Right from its inception But 50-over cricket has
their late 30s or 40s and On the other hand, the
on any given day, find in February this year, the staying power, is good for
jaunts also give these
themselves squeezed group has had an active the game, allows the
enthusiasts a reality
between family and work. membership of 80, owing leading cricketers to
check on the pathetic
a lot to its online
campaigns and activities produce their best cricket
on e- groups. “We’ve and lets supporters watch
already had 50 22 players and see a
registrations from as far result in a single day. It’s
as Bangalore and we worked for close to 40
expect the figure to go up years and the benefits
to 80,” informs Kalra.
have been huge.
What you read here on Doubtless further
are profiles of five such improvements await but
enthusiasts. Time to get 50-over cricket belongs to
inspired, now! the future, not the past.
theabouttowner
9
10
theabouttowner
District 9 Review
Peter Travers
Starring: Sharlto Copley,
Jason Cope, David James,
Mandla Gaduka, William
Allen Young.
Directed by: Neill
Blomkamp.
Rating: 3.5/4.
Fanboys were orgasmic
when producer Peter
Jackson previewed Dis-
trict 9 at July's Comic-Con
in San Diego. Variety
tagged it the "thinking
person's alien movie." I'm
assuming Transformers 2
is the stupid person's ver-
sion. And since Michael
Bay's attack on the human
thought process has al-
ready grossed $380 mil-
lion in the U.S. alone, Dis-
trict 9 has its work cut out.
Smart sci-fi movies, such
as Duncan Jones' Moon,
are typically shuttled to
the indie ghetto.
Not this time. Jackson and
South African writer-di-
rector Neill Blomkamp
have made District 9 a
thriller-diller that trades
in ideas without forget-
ting to go whup-ass on
your nervous system. The
R-rated District 9 is all
kinds of awesome — and
not just to geeks.
Blomkamp, 29, is a talent
to watch. Raised in Johan-
nesburg before moving to
Canada, he dreamed of
combining his interest in
sci-fi with the tormented
world of racism and
xenophobia he grew up
in. District 9 is an expan-
sion of the six-minute
short Alive in Joburg that
he made in 2005, which
Jackson had already ad-
mired. Using a documen-
tary style, with harsh
lighting and hand-held
moviesSeptember 7-14 2009
cameras, he sets the scene
for the vividly real hor-
rors that follow.
A spaceship hovers over
Johannesburg. It stalled
there 28 years ago, when
apartheid policies segre-
gated nonwhites into
Soweto-like townships.
Alien refugees have been
closed off from humans in
the slums of District 9.
Despite their mental acu-
ity, they are demeaned as
"prawns" for their crus-
tacean-shell armor and
the mouth tentacles that
wiggle madly when they
speak in gurgles, in our
language and in their
own.
Blomkamp and co-writer
Terri Tatchell are not
above having a laugh at,
say, the aliens' jones for
cat food, cans and all, and
the popularity of
interspecies prostitution. Wikus van der Merwe tour de force deserves
But there is serious busi- (Sharlto Copely) is the comparison to Jeff
ness in watching the MNU agent in charge of Goldblum's in The Fly. And
world grow bored as the the move to District 10. to me, that's high praise.
aliens fail to put on fire- Wikus starts out as a dupe District 9, with a chump-
works for the media by of his MNU father-in-law. change budget of $30 mil-
attacking or showing off. But once infected by an lion, soars on the imagi-
Instead, they follow the alien virus that turns him nation of its creators. This
human model and form into a prawn, he learns baby has the stuff to end
gangs, hassle cops, deal hard lessons at the hands the movie summer on a
with Nigerian drug deal- of MNU killer Koobus (a note of dazzle and dis-
ers and — yes — plan an hissable David James). tinction.
escape by covertly build- Their climactic faceoff is
ing weapons. tremendously exciting. Also in theatres:
It's the artillery that brings But the soul of the movie
in Multi-National United resides in Wikus' relation- Wanted 2.5/4
(MNU), the private-inter- ship with two alien char-
est group out to make a acters, Christopher Dil Bole Hadippa 1.0/4
killing from learning how Johnson (the superb Jason
alien DNA can unleash Cope) and his son, the The Ugly Truth 0.5/4
firepower. Gruesome ex- computer-generated Little
periments are performed C.J. It's here that the film I Can’t Think 3.0/4
in secret labs, and a plan — with reference points Straight
is initiated to ship the al- from Alien to Cloverfield
iens off to District 10, — grows into an intimate 9 2.0/4
which is a concentration epic. You'll be wowed by
camp. Copley. His heart-rending
sudoku
theabouttowner
11
September 7-14 2009

The objective of the game is to fill all the blank squares in a game with the correct numbers. There are
three very simple constraints to follow. In a 9 by 9 square Sudoku game:

* Every row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order
* Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order
* Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9.

To see the solution, log on to www.abouttowner.com

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