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Wednesday, February 4, 2015

The Bharatiya February 04, 2015

Baba Ramdev Products

Baba Ramdev, Patanjali clinics in Mumbai (Bombay)

Patanjali Chikitshalya
Om Prakash Agarwal, 12/2
Steelmade Industrial Estate,First Floor, Marol Maroshi Road,Andheri East, Mumbai, MH.
Ph.-022-32954412, 9322268774 Mumbai,
Andheri (E)

Patanjali Chikitshalya
31/33, Laxmi Plaza Ground,
Laxmi Industries New Link Road
Andheri (W), Mumbai, MH.
Ph. 022 26354926, 65002518/19,
M. 09322328094 Mumbai,
Andheri (W)

Patanjali Chikitshalya
Ishwar Dhan, 48/2311,Gandhi Nagar, Bandra, (East) Mumbai - 400051, MH.
M.- 09892261817 Mumbai,
Bandra

Patanjali Chikitshalya
Shop No-2 Anand Bhawan S.V.P. Road, Borivali (W )Mumbai-400103, MH.
M-09819811471, 09820587077 Mumbai,
Borivali (W)

Patanjali Chikitshalya
Arya Samaj, 1, Collectors Colony
Mahul Road, Chembur,
Mumbai-400074, MH.
M-09821211177, 022 25536379, 32675465,
09821757416, 09323444276 Mumbai,
Chembur

Patanjali Chikitshalya,
Miranda Baithi Chawl, Shop No. 23,
J.K. Sawant Marg, Dadar (W),
Mumbai - 400028, Mh.
Ph. 022 32158989, 09987605556 Mumbai,
Dadar (W)

Patanjali Chikitshalya
Dev Raj Enterprises, Anupam Building
B Wing, Below Visha Transport,
Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg,
Opp. Ghatkoper Telephone Exchange Ghatkoper , Mumbai-400086, MH.
Ph.-022-32408989,25158989 Mumbai,
Ghatkoper

Patanjali Chikitshalya,
Chandramahal Building,
Near Parsi Dairy, Princess Street,
Marine Lines, Mumbai, Mh.
Ph. 022- 66396525

Patanjali Chikitshalya
Jiwan Jyoti Pharma
L-205/209, Tower No-6,
International Infotech Park
Vasi Railway Station Complex
Vasi Navi Mumbai, MH.
Ph.-022 27810025-26 Mumbai,
Vashi Navi

Divyanshu Health Care
Pushpanjali, Plot No-204 Ground Floor, Sector-28, Palm Beach Marg
Vashi, Navi Mumbai-400705, MH.
M-09819856592, 09833745316
Ph. 022 - 27895304 Mumbai,
Vashi Sec.-28

Patanjali Chikitshalya
12/375, G.K. Marg,
Near Bharat Textile Mills, Worli,
Mumbai - 400018, MH.
Ph. 022 24941189, 24931303,
M. 9821118765 Mumbai,
Worli

Remedies for Diseases Acidity Acne / Skin Problems Arthritis / Joint / Knee Asthma Brain & Memory Cancer Constipation Cough and Cold Diabetes Diarrhoea / Dysentry Epilepsy Eye Problems Fevers Gastric Troubles Hernia Heart problems High Blood Pressure Immunity Kidney / Renal / calculi Leucoderma Liver Disorders Multiple sclerosis Muscular Distrophy Nausea/Vomiting Osteoporosis / Bones Paralysis Parkinson Piles / Fistula Psoriasis / Eczema Sciatica / Backache Sinusitis Stress / Depression Thalassemia Thyroid Tumor Tympanitis & Deafness Ulcerative Colitis Urinary problems Weight Loss / Obesity Ayurvedic Medicines Sexual Problems Women Disorders Hair Care Packages For Diseases Cosmetic / Skin Care Dental Care Organic Herbal Teas Pure Herbs Herbal Food Supplements Books - Yoga, Ayurveda VCDs for Diseases Ashwagandha Shilajit Amla Triphala Discounts on bulk purchase Organic India Medicines Unani Medicines Khadi Natural

Bhasmas herbs/metal

Divya Abhrak Bhasm
Divya Abhrak Bhasm

Useful in cold, fever & boosting stamina.

Divya Akeeki Pishti
Divya Akeeki Pishti

Akika Pishti is being used in ayurvedic medicines for heart as it is a cardiac tonic.

Divya Bang Bhasma
Divya Bang Bhasma

Divya Bang Bhasma is a very powerful ayurvedic drug used for treating many diseases. This ayurvedic medicine is used in both General Debility as well as in Urinary Disorders.


Divya Godanti Bhasm
Divya Godanti Bhasm

Best Useful in Headache & Fever.


Divya Hajrool-Yahood Bhasm
Divya Hajrool-Yahood Bhasm

Divya Hajrool Yahood Bhasm is useful in kidney stones and stone in the ureter.


Divya Heerak Bhasm 300 mg
Divya Heerak Bhasm 300 mg

Useful in Tumors & Impotency


Divya Jahar-mohara Pishti
Divya Jahar-mohara Pishti

Divya Jaharmohra Mohra Pishti is an Ayurvedic medicine in powder form, used in the treatment of heart diseases, cough, heart burn, etc.


Divya Kaharawa Pishti
Divya Kaharawa Pishti

Useful in dysmenorrhoea, hemorrhage etc.


Divya Kapardak Bhasm
Divya Kapardak Bhasm

Kapardaka bhasm helps to clean the toxins out of your body. This relieves many digestion problems when mixed with hot water.


Divya Kasees Bhasm
Divya Kasees Bhasm $5.62

Divya Kasees Bhasm is useful in anaemia, hepatomegely etc.


Divya Kulya Bhasm Mixture
Divya Kulya Bhasm Mixture

Divya Kulya Bhasm is useful in epilepsy & other mental disorders.


Divya Lauh Bhasm
Divya Lauh Bhasm $5.81

Divya Lauh Bhasm is Haematinic & restorative.


Divya Mandoor Bhasm
Divya Mandoor Bhasm

Divya Shankha Bhasm is very effective in many types of infections in the intestine and inflammations.


Divya Moti(Mukta) Pishti
Divya Moti(Mukta) Pishti

Useful in fever & eye disorder. A unique ancient preparation which is stomach friendly & provides strength to brain.


Divya Mukta-shukti Bhasm
Divya Mukta-shukti Bhasm

A unique ancient preparation effective in hyper acidity & supports gastrointestinal health


Divya Praval Pishti
Divya Praval Pishti

Prawal Pishti is used for prickly heat and in cases of hematemesis. An antacid, alterative, tonic and pitta pacifier. Nervous weakness, Heaviness in the head, Haematemesis, Bleeding and Weakness


Divya Rajat(silver) Bhasm
Divya Rajat(silver) Bhasm

It is astringent, sweet – sour in nature and taste. It is natural coolant. It improves skin complexion, digestion power, body strength and immunity, intelligence.


Divya Sangeyashav Pishti
Divya Sangeyashav Pishti $5.81

Best Used in Heart Diseases.


Divya Shankh Bhasm
Divya Shankh Bhasm $5.81

Divya Shankha Bhasm is very effective in many types of infections in the intestine and inflammations.


Divya Sphatik Bhasm
Divya Sphatik Bhasm
Useful in dysmenorrhoea etc.


Divya Swarna-makshik Bhasm-
Divya Swarna-makshik Bhasm-

Useful in Iron deficiency, anaemia & in jaundice

Divya Tamra Bhasm
Divya Tamra Bhasm

Useful in Tumors & gastric disorder


Divya Tankan Bhasm
Divya Tankan Bhasm

Tankan Bhasm is known to cure disease like Amenorrhoea, Dysmenorrhoea, Menorrhagia, controlling Diarrhoea, etc.


Divya Trivanga Bhasm
Divya Trivanga Bhasm

Trivanga Bhasm helps Recovering body from Physical weakness due to Illness & provides physical strength to the body.


in Ayurveda has been defined as a substance obtained by calcination.

Use of both bhasma (Residue after incineration – calcined preparation) as well as in pishti (powdered gem or metal) form along with appropriate herbs for treatment of critical ailments is a medicinal preparation in Ayurveda and to some extent Unani (both Indian branches of medical science using natural curative methods. The procedures for preparing these medicines are time-consuming and complicated.

Bhasma is a calcined preparation in which the gem or metal is converted into ash. Gems or metals are purified to remove impurities and treated by triturating and macerating in herbal extracts. The dough so obtained is calcinated to obtain the ashes.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

The Bharatiya February 03, 2015

Why do people go to the book fair?

If you look up any book fair, there's a high possibility that amid thousands of crowd and book pictures, you'll find hundreds of images showing people about to bite into a food item. It could be anything from garam vadas to naram rolls. For the more adventurous, there's (hold your breath) fried rice-chilli chicken, too! Gulp, burp, smile, #DinnerAtBookFair selfie! Of course, the fair is as much about `phood' as it's about selfies and er...books. However, we offer you some other `real' reasons why people absolutely and dutifully go to the book fair...

TO SHOW OFF
Boss, admit it -you splurged in last week's bumper sale so that you could show off. And what better place than the book fair, isn't it? If you can throw some heavy names like “Coelho“ and “Kafka“ at your friendpartner, you have truly arrived. For the not-so-bholas with the jholas, however, it's all about being seen at the right place (read, book fair), with the right company (not always books). “Me intellectual“ attitude anyone?
Yes... that!
Click To Enlarge

TO BUY EVERYTHING APART FROM BOOKS -PAPER FLOWERS, BAGS...
It's a `mela' re pagal! It's absolutely mandatory to buy those ugly paper flowers with long stems, message T-shirts, oxidised and terracotta jewellery, big posters of infants, faded stamps, white and blue ceramic vases and crockery, tote and sling bags, mats, wall hangings... There's no way you won't spot at least a handful of people leaving the fair with at least one of these items. `Item', truly!
Click To Enlarge

TO ENJOY FREE CONCERTS
There's always some leather band-sporting dude singing away to glory songs like Kolaveri Di, Dhoom Pichak Dhoom, Hey Jude and Roobaroo, oblivious to the crowd at the fair.
The black-tee-and torn-jeans wearing guitar gods may have graduated from melas, but a dotara, mouth organ or mandolin player is easy to find. If you spot them, the idea is to keep calm and just huddle. Books can wait.
Click To Enlarge

IT'S THE IDEAL PLACE FOR BLIND DATES
C'mon, a person would have to be blind to miss the milan mela at a book fair -doesn't matter which part of the city they hail from. But if the guy says, “Oh, I know AC Milan“, and the girl quotes Begum Aktar's Piya milan hum jaib ho, it's best to give the fair a miss and blindly look for another date. At the fair, of course!
Click To Enlarge

IT'S THE EASIEST WAY TO MAKE IT TO THE NEWS
Really! Almost every local news channel is stationed at the fair. All you need to do is unleash your elbow, nudge others (even the reporter, if you must) and seek out the lens. Voila! You're on TV! Call your friends, family, part ner, colleagues, roommates, neighbours, maid, bari wala, cablewala and ask them to just tune into the channel. For once, the `news' can be tuned out.

The Bharatiya February 03, 2015

Indians who set new world records

India's obsession with world records has given rise to a staggering number of record setters and breakers. According to news reports, nearly a tenth of a noted world records submissions now come from our country! The number of Indian record holders has grown almost 250 per cent over the past five years. From making the largest human flag to the fastest nose typist on the earth, here are some interesting accomplishments by Indians in the recent past.

YOUNGEST WATER BABY
India's open water swimmer, Bhakti Sharma made the country proud when she set a record by swimming 2.25 km in one-degree temperature in the Antarctic Ocean, in just 52 minutes! She is the youngest person and the first Asian girl to have achieved this feat. Having pursued open water swimming for the last 10 years, she has now conquered all five oceans of the world.Feat achieved: January 10, 2015

LARGEST HUMAN FLAG
Breaking the previous record of Pakistan, 43, 830 Indian volunteers gathered in Chennai and made the largest human national flag. Initiated by a club in South India, as part of its My Flag My India campaign, people from all walks of life assembled, holding placards of different colours saffron, white, green and blue -to form the tricolour.Feat achieved: December 7, 2014

MAXIMUM BANK ACCOUNTS OPENED IN A WEEK
The Indian government holds the world record for opening the highest number of bank accounts in a week, under the Jan Dhan Yojana scheme announced last year on Independence Day . In this financial record, 11.5 crore new accounts were opened and more than 90 billion rupees were deposited in them.Feat achieved: December 7, 2014

GIANT BIRTHDAY CARD
Gifted to PM Narendra Modi on his 64th birthday by the school he studied in his hometown,Vadnagar, Gujarat, this greeting card is the biggest in the world 14.02 m (45 ft 11.96 in) long and 7.96 m (26 ft 1.38 in) wide when closed. The card has birthday wishes written in 23 languages, was made in 18 days and weighs 3.5 tonne. It broke the previous record achieved in Dubai.Feat achieved: September 18, 2014

FASTEST NOSE TYPIST IT
student Mohammed Khursheed Hussain from Hyderabad set a rather bizarre record -typing on the computer keyboard with his nose! The 23-year-old typed a 103character sentence in just 47.44 seconds, using only his nose, while his hands were tied behind. To hone his nose-typing skills, he practiced six hours every day for three years.Feat achieved: February 27, 2014

BIGGEST SOLAR COOKING CLASS
Fifteen thousand students from 80 schools in Mumbai set a new record for the largest ever solar cooking gathering. Organised by an NGO, each student was given a solar cooker and taught how to use it as part of a national campaign to spread awareness of the importance of solar technology . The young kids were taught how to assemble solar cookers, after which they cooked dishes of their choice.Feat achieved: January 15, 2015

The Bharatiya February 03, 2015

HEALTH FOOD THAT ALSO TASTES GOOD

Health food need not always be something that is bland and tasteless. Here are a few food items that can be added to various dishes to make them healthy and yummy .Chickpeas
When serving grilled fish, paneer, etc, serve boiled chickpeas on the side. Since paneer or fish don't have much fibre, the chickpeas or chole can provide ample amounts of it. Having fibrous foods helps keep your system clean and prevents spike in blood sugar.
Mushrooms
Studies have found that mushrooms can help alleviate the immune system and make it work optimally .Adding this fungus to your recipes will increase the immune-boosting properties of the dish.
Multigrain breads
Switch from white bread to the healthier multigrain breads made of rye, whole wheat and other grains.The fibre-rich bread cleans your system and slows the absorption of sugar, so you won't have a drastic glucose spike. These dense slices are good for making open sandwiches.
Cabbages
Cruciferous vegetables like cabbages, cauliflowers, Brussels sprouts, kale etc are rich in sulforaphane and other compounds that help boost immunity . This family of vegetables is also said to fight some cancers.Certain compounds found in them help in removing unwanted free radicals from the system. One of the best ways to enjoy cabbage is to have it raw -in a coleslaw.
Cauliflower and red bell pepper
These vegetables are rich in vitamin C, which is a powerhouse of antioxidants. They are crucial in getting rid of free radicals and hence, help to boost immunity .
Miso paste
This is a fermented food and you can use this in sandwiches instead of mayonnaise. The fermented food can help the bacteria in the gut remain healthy .
Turmeric
This herb can help increase the antioxidant properties of a dish. If you are making grilled fish, vegetables or chicken, just use some turmeric powder in the recipe. This herb works well when mixed with pepper or cumin.
Carbs
Whole wheat pasta, brown rice and bread can raise the levels of serotonin in the brain. This is a feel-good hormone and stops damage caused due to stress and decreases the levels of anxiety . Spinach Including leafy green vegetables in your recipes can help lift your mood. Studies have found that the folate in them is also important for the body.
Onions
It has been found that some symptoms of depression, triggered by chronic stress levels, can be alleivated by capers and onions. The quercetin found in them is a good antioxidant as well.
Walnuts
These are your happy nuts as they are rich in essential fats and Omega-3. Studies say these play a role in dealing with depression. Add them to your salads and desserts.

The Bharatiya February 03, 2015

5 ways to drop a dress size without dieting

Have you already broken your New Year's resolution to eat less and exercise more?
Well, worry not. These figure flattering outfits will help you drop a dress size without even trying. With a few fashion tricks, you can instantly give the illusion of a thinner self.
So, shop clever this season

Look for dresses that force the eye to look up and down rather than side-toside to reduce your width.WHAT TO WEAR: Orchid print stretch dress, black tights, leather strap watch and navy wide brim hat. Don't be afraid of bold patterns. They distract the eye and prevent people from focussing on your outline.WHAT TO WEAR: Rose print dress, leather strap watch, leather bag and silver hoop earrings.
Opt for an illusion dress. No matter what your shape, the darker side panels of the bodycon can give you an hourglass figure.WHAT TO WEAR: Black illusion dress, leather strap watch and red clutch.
Buy yourself a pair of slimming control tights to hold in your tummy. Shapewear works wonders! WHAT TO WEAR: Monochrome and yellow panel dress, black bag, leather strap watch and silver hoops.
Go for dresses that come with built-in body shapers.These skintight undergarments get rid of any wobble.WHAT TO WEAR: Blue lace detail dress with secret support, pearl bracelet.

The Bharatiya February 03, 2015

Govt to start `Jan Aushadhi' medicine brand from July 1

Consumers Will Get Cheaper Yet Quality Drugs

From July 1, you can walk up to the chemist and ask for a `Jan Aushadhi' brand for your medicine with the government set to launch its own brand to sell low cost generic medicines. The government will bulk procure medicines from public as well as private drug manufacturing firms and rebrand them under `Jan Aushadhi'.These medicines will be sold in the retail market at a competitive price, allowing consumers to buy a cheaper yet quality product from the government, official sources said.
To start with, the government has identified 504 essential medicines, which include antibiotics, painkillers, vitamins and medicines used in treatment of cardiovascular, respiratory , diabetes and gas troenterology diseases. “In the first phase, we have mostly identified medicines from the top 100 drugs based on their sales. More medicines as well as medical devices will be included in the second phase,“ an official in the know of developments told TOI.
In the first phase, these drugs will be made available in 800 select chemists, mostly across Delhi. However, the government plans to expand the reach to most metros by the end of the year. The Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Undertakings of India (BPPI), the nodal agency under the depart ment of pharmaceuticals (DoP) for implementing this project, has already floated the tender seeking application for supply of medicines for the programme.
The Indian pharmaceutical retail market, pegged at Rs 87,000 crore annually , is dominated by branded generic products, unlike developed markets like the US and Europe. In other words, while there are very few patented medicines sold in India, most of the medicines available in the market are branded products sold by private firms. Pharmaceutical companies spend huge amou nts in creating these brands. But since prescription based medicines cannot be promoted through advertisements, companies often push these brands through doctors and chemists. Consumers, who are often unable to make an informed choice for purchasing medicines, have to rely on the doctor's prescription or on chemists'.
The government's latest move providing an umbrella brand for generic drugs is aimed at enabling consumers to make that choice. But there are concerns on whether the government will be able to maintain and monitor quality of all products sold under this brand since they will be procured from different companies. Government officials say procurement norms and sampling will ensure quality control.
The government, along with BPPI, has held consultations with various stakeholders to ensure regular supply of medicines. Once the brand is rolled out, the government also plans to make it mandatory for all public hospitals to prescribe Jan Aushadhi brand wherever possible, an official said.

The Bharatiya February 03, 2015

Card fraud: Retd banker loses Rs 50,000

A retired banker has lost almost Rs 50,000 in unauthorized online purchases done with his debit card. Dadar resident Pheluram Ghosh (63) received an SMS last month from his bank, informing him of the transaction. When he complained to the bank, its officials told him that he must have unwittingly shared confidential card information. Ghosh denies this, saying he never even applied for the authentication system that would have enabled the transaction, which occurred on January 10.
“I am a victim of an incident similar to what TOI reported just over a week ago (`Dadar resident loses nearly Rs73,000...', January 25). The bank (ICICI) is blaming me for the fraud,“ Ghosh told TOI. He complained to the bank's Prabhadevi branch and mailed a copy of it to the cyber cell of the police. He also filed an FIR at the Dadar police station. An ICICI spokesperson said the online transaction went through a two-level au thentication process: card verification value (CVV) and card expiry date in the first, and six digit 3-D secure PIN in the second. “These bits of information are known only to the customer, who is responsible for their safe-keeping. Without these, an online transaction cannot be completed. It is possible that the customer inadvertently shared the details with someone, who may have misused the information,“ the spokesperson said.
Gosh says there is no question of him sharing the 3-D secure PIN with anyone since he never applied for it. “The bank told me... it is not liable to compensate me. If I had applied for the PIN, I would have received an alert about the same on my mobile number, which is registered with ICICI Bank. But I got no such message. The bank so far is silent on this.“

The Bharatiya February 03, 2015

15 days after arrow pierced his skull, teen is back home

Doctors Say He Will Lead A Normal Life

Watching Brijesh Sahani play with a ball, it is hard to believe the teenager walked through the door of a hospital with an arrow sticking out of his head just a fortnight ago, on January 17. On Monday , the gritty boy got discharged from Karuna Hospital in Borivli after a miraculous, speedy recovery . Barring slurred speech and one weak forearm, there is little to suggest the 15-year-old UP boy's near-death experience.The arrow that had breached his skull bone, perforated a few tissues and exited from the right side of the temple, did not touch a single important blood vessel or nerve. A deviation of even a few millimetres could have cost the boy unimaginable damage, if not killed him, say doctors.
“It is a miracle. His recovery too has been extraordinary . He will lead a normal life with absolutely no deficiencies,“ said neurosurgeon Dr Vinod Rambal who had extracted the arrow. The doctor added his speech and forearm weakness were temporary and can be corrected with speech and physiotherapy . Doctors said he can be soon back to playing the game.
Brijesh's eyes lit up as he told TOI, “I love cricket and I want to start playing as soon as I gain enough strength.“ He has no qualms about returning to the Dahisar ground where an archer's arrow had pierced his brain. “It was an accident. A friend did try to alert me that an arrow was coming my way but it was too late,“ he said. Surprisingly, Brijesh vividly remembers every moment from the incident till the time anesthesia kicked in at the operation theatre. “There was no pain initially. My head felt stuffy. There was this weird tingling and vibrating sensation. I remember being made to sit on a bike as someone held my head.“ His mother Durgavati said, “Knowing his will power, we were certain he would fight it.We will now send him to school and for his cricket training.“
Dr D K Bose, medical director of Karuna Hospital, said, “The incident shows rushing a patient within the golden hour can make all the difference.“

Monday, February 2, 2015

The Bharatiya February 02, 2015

How the crowd can fund your project

Thanks to crowdfunding platforms, now you can approach a large group of people to finance your dream.

When Shubhashish approached banks for an education loan in 2013, he was offered strict conditions. For a loan of `23 lakh, at 14.50%, he was asked to provide a collateral worth the same amount. The other offer was to take a loan of `7.5 lakh, at the same interest rate, but without a collateral. Neither offers met Shubhashish’s needs. He required `23 lakh.
Shubhashish decided to try an unconventional route. He had close to 2,500 followers on Twitter and 600 friends on Facebook. He asked them to help fund his studies. He promised to return their money in seven years at 8% interest. “I started with a target to get 1,000 people to be a part of this exercise. I got seven investors on day one. I had 100 days to generate the funds,” he says. He was able to raise `11 lakh.
“I put in `3 lakh, and my family pitched in with the rest,” he says.
Funding a venture by raising money from a large group of people is commonly known as crowdfunding. The act of raising money is known as crowdsourcing.
Crowdfunding can be an effective way for generating funds to finance entrepreneurial ventures, social causes, higher studies, mu sic albums, publishing books or college projects. Here’s what you need to know.
Crowdfunding platforms
In India, the most popular way of securing crowdfunding is the rewards or returns-based funding model. Rewards help attract donors' attention. A rewards-based campaign may offer VIP access to events, signed merchandise, an interaction with celebrities, free download of a movie or music album before it is launched, and similar incentives. “This model is suitable for raising between `5 lakh and `30 lakh,“ says Rinkesh Shah, Founder of http:www.ignitein tent.com, a crowdfunding platform. The platforms charge between 7% and 12% of the funds raised as fee. Some may even charge a project initiation fee.
Crowdfunding platforms also help fund seekers with marketing strategies, mentorship, consulting and legal advice. Anshulika Dubey, Cofounder and COO, http:www.wishberry.
in, says, “Platforms give multiple options to donors to transfer funds—credit card, debit card, Net banking, etc. An individual can only give the option for Net banking. Also, individuals do not have the credibility to raise funds outside their family and friends.”
Things to keep in mind
To opt for crowdfunding, you need to know your project in and out. It is not easy to convince people to invest in you. “You can't approach a platform or a funder just with an idea. You need a certain preparedness,“ says Shah. You should be able to communicate the project plan, its completion time, the money required for it. You need to convey how you will develop the project and convince the funders that you will be using the money productively. You need to be certain of the project’s delivery date.
Small investors may put in small amounts. Getting bigger sums from fewer investors is also difficult. You have to be prepared for the possibility of not being able to generate the necessary funds.
Who should stay away…
Crowdfunding is better suited for raising funds for a one-time project. It is not viable as a longterm funding strategy. If you are looking to finance a long-term project, say a start-up, approaching angel investors or venture capitalists may be a better idea.
What does the law say?
Crowdfunding is governed by the Companies Act. Sebi brought out a consultation paper on crowdfunding regulations on 17 June 2014, and is still seeking an opinion on it. It has proposed that crowdfunding take place through Sebi-recognised platforms, including stock exchanges, depositories, technology incubators and associations of private equity or angel investors.

The Bharatiya February 02, 2015

Best ways to invest for your child's education

Children's education is an important financial goal for Indians

Inflation may be down but a major expense of the average Indian household is growing at a fast clip. The cost of higher education is already high and rising at 10-12% a year. Children’s education is one of the biggest cash outflows that families must plan for. A four-year engineering course costs roughly `6 lakh right now.
In six years, the cost is likely to touch `12 lakh. By 2027, it would cost `24 lakh to get an engineering degree.
Lifestyle inflation, too, has affected the cost of children’s education. “As your standard of living rises, it affects the decision about where you send your children for higher education,” says Vishal Dhawan, chief financial planner, Plan Ahead Wealth Advisors.
The question worrying Indian parents is: will they be able to fund their children’s higher education? They can, if they plan ahead and take the right steps. We look at the challenges parents face while saving for their child’s education and how they can be overcome.
Be an early bird
One obvious solution is to start saving early. The individual will not only be able to amass a larger sum, but the money will also gain from the power of compounding. A corpus of `1 crore may seem daunting, but it’s possible to save this amount with an SIP of `9,000 for 18 years in an equity fund that gives a 15% return. “Since the rate of education inflation is so high, you need compounding to work for you over a longer period,” says Vidya Bala, Head of Research at Fundsindia.com.
A delayed start not only yields a smaller corpus but can also jeopardise other financial goals. If you start investing for your child’s education in your 40s, you are likely to fall short of the required amount. Often, parents dip into their retirement savings to fill the gap, but this can be a risky move.
Choose the right option
Parents must also invest right to get optimum resturns. Equity mutual funds, for instance, have delivered average annualised returns of 16.5% in the past 10 years. However, equity investment is not everybody’s cup of tea. This year’s DSP BlackRock Investor Pulse survey shows that though Indians have a high propensity to save and invest, they still seek safety. Almost 52% of the 1,500 respondents said they wanted guaranteed returns from investments.
However, if you have 15-18 years left before your child starts college, equity funds should be the preferred invest ment for you. Over such a long period, the volatility in returns is flattened out.
If you have the risk appetite, your allocation to equities can be as high as 75%. The balance 25-30% of the portfolio can be in safer options like the PPF, bank deposits and tax-free bonds.
Play it safe in the short term
If you have a time horizon of less than five years, you will have to rely primarily on fixed income instruments, which are likely to offer a lower rate of return. However, these offer guaranteed returns and safety of capital. In the short term, these factors become very important.
Review the portfolio
Once your portfolio is in place, you need to review it at least once a year.
You should also check whether the amount required for meeting the goal has changed. “Education goal has two components: tuition fee and cost of living. Any of these could rise faster than anticipated. You need to find out whether the 12% inflation rate that you have assumed is realistic,” says Dhawan.
Next, check whether your portfolio is on track to meet the goal. Bala suggests using step-up SIPs. “Raise the amount invested in line with your salary increments,” she suggests.
If a fund is lagging, do not sell it immediately. Stop your SIP in that fund and start it in another better performing fund. Watch the performance of the laggard for 3-4 quarters and only then decide to sell it. Rebalance your portfolio at the end of each year. Rebalancing essentially entails selling an outperforming asset and investing the proceeds in one that is underperforming. By doing so, you curtail the risk that your portfolio could face due to over-exposure to a particular asset class.
Approaching the goal
he investment process is never static.We have suggested equity funds for those with an investment horizon of over 12-15 years. However, five years before your goal, you should start shifting money out of equities to the safety of debt. Start a systematic transfer plan from your equity fund to a short-term debt fund (average maturity of 1-3 years).
Keep in mind that the date of your child's admission to college is fixed.You can't let a downturn in the stock markets jeopardise your child's college education.

The Bharatiya February 02, 2015

invented a low-cost portable Braille printer

PIO wonderkid working on new product for blind

A 13-year-old Indian-origin boy , who invented a low-cost portable Braille printer, says he is currently working on a “pretty cool“ new idea for a product which will again be useful for millions of visually impaired. Shubham Banerjee, an eighth-grade student in Santa Clara, California, is receiving rave reviews and valuable support from experts and prestigious companies for his printer Braigo, which he had recently developed using Lego Mindstorms EV3, a robotics kit.
Banerjee is not one to rest on his laurels and says that he has a “lot of ideas“, which are “secret for now“ and wants to work on products that will help people, particularly in developing countries.
Banerjee, who plans to pursue a career in engineering or the scientific area, encouraged youngsters of his generation to come up with original ideas that will help the society .
“Don't do something that someone's already done before. Do something original and something that helps the society ,“ he said over phone from California. “Anyone can build something to help people. Whenever you get a chance, really go out and help people,“ he said. A good idea can “come from anywhere“, Banerjee said, pointing out that he started out on the printer using the Lego blocks and figures.
Banerjee came up with the idea of building a lowcost printer for the blind when he was working on a science fair project last year.
He said he was shocked to learn that braille printers cost over US $2,000.
With millions of visually impaired people in the world, 90% of whom live in developing countries, Banerjee decided to develop a printer that was low-cost and could be used easily. The consumerfocused braille printer, wh ich uses new technology and an Intel Edison chip, is portable, silent and will be offered at a price point well below currently available products for the visually impaired.
Banerjee said he and his company are currently working on the design of the printer and the final product, which he expects will be released in the market in the mid 2015. He says his family in India is proud of his accomplishments.

The Bharatiya February 02, 2015

SHOOT ON SITE - BIRTHDAY GIRL, MOVIE STAR

Parties Now Go From Groovy To Movie With A Little Help From Filmmakers

What if your party set the scene for a movie, a short film, starring you and your guests as heroes, villains and comedians, complete with a Kollywood-style item number if you please. In a world where everyone loves a little `lights, camera, action', and a selfie special, wedding film photographers, theatre artistes and scriptwriters have now extended their acts to birthday parties, retirement dos, family get-togethers and teary farewells.
“We started by just doing candid wedding movies, where we filmed couples and their families and created stories around them. But in the last few months we have been getting contracts for parties,“ says Subu or Subramaniam of the citybased Ice Boys Ent Co.
Subu and his crew Subu and his crew begin their `pre-production' of the party film at least two weeks before D-day . “We find our film's stars, usually the friends or family members who we know will surely be there for the party, then figure out how to work around the location, feature in dances if the host wants, rehearse with the cast, and even arrange for make-up artistes and hair-stylists from the film industry to work on the `stars',“ says Subu, who adds that parts of the party are scripted in either unobtrusively or in a dramatic way based on the host and the theme.
“There was a party where we faked a car theft. So, one of the guests was reacting just the way he would if it was real. In another we choreographed an `item number' in the pool,“ he says. Subu, who charges almost a lakh for his theme movie, says he takes around a month for post-production, as in some cases lines need to be dubbed and music recorded.
Film script-writer Rajiv Rajaram says he has been called in for pre-wedding parties to help script real-life plays, which are also recorded for posterity . “I spend a little time with family members so they can tell me what kind of jokes and references are permitted, so as not to offend. I then script in lines for the various characters so they can enact it on stage for the rest of the party . It is usually accompanied by visuals,“ says Rajar am, who charges `30,000 for a 15-minute customised production.
Sunil Vishnu K, one of the founders of citybased theatre group based theatre group Evam, says in the last year or so, professionally produced party movies have been becoming popular. “We have been called in for a number of office send-offs, where we plan staged and videographed productions before the party. We script a play based on real characters; where, in some cases the staff play themselves or someone else, and we work in a theme,“ says Sunil, who adds that they have also created murder mystery parties, where the crime is incorporated into the settings.
“It's finally just about making someone feel special with something unique, and most important that can be shared,“ says Subu.

The Bharatiya February 02, 2015

Writing The Novel Is The Easy Part, Say Writers Who Are Forced To Turn Salespeople To Sell In A Saturated Market

Meet the HAWKER AUTHOR

Writing The Novel Is The Easy Part, Say Writers Who Are Forced To Turn Salespeople To Sell In A Saturated Market

It's been a long and disillusion ing trip down from literature's ivory tower to the transactional bowels of the marketplace, but authors today have girded their loins, picked up a megaphone and started calling out their wares. In times when a writer is born every hour, authors can ill afford affectations of aloofness; they must be wily marketers, hawking their books with the holy zeal of Jehovah's Witnesses. “Writing the book is the easiest part,“ declares Itisha Peerbhoy, whose comedic romance, `Half Love Half Arranged' was out last September, published by Penguin. “Writers are thought of as reclusive, but once the book is out, you've got to go out, put on the makeup, network and charm the audience. It's a real effort.“
One of the things the novice did was hire theatre actors to impersonate three characters from the book, and had them perform stand-up sketches at her book launch.
Being a book about the hardships of a 30-something unmarried woman trying to find a match, Peerbhoy partnered with singles clubs, where she created content for them via blogs and even participated in `meetthe-author' sessions. “ A lot of brands like to tie up with authors for alternate content,“ Peerbhoy, a career marketing consultant, points out.Visibility is key , which is why Peerbhoy puts out a certain number of tweets and FB posts everyday , not necessarily about the book itself but funny observations or anecdotes.“My belief about social media is if you really want to build a community of readers, you can't always flog your book. I link to jokes and articles I like, write about writers I meet and books I enjoy .“ She says she has 740 social media followers, and all her Likes are organic, not purchased.She even snuck into an author's lounge at a litfest (though not on the official roster) and “talked to whoever made eye contact“ with her. In casting her net wide and locating the book in relevant streams of public conversation, Peerbhoy hopes to bet ter her sales and enter her second print run, having already sold 3,500 copies by December.
The irony is first-time authors without clout or what publishers consider a supernova of a novel, have to single-handedly build their own markets, and only when their efforts pay off in sales and repeat print runs, do publishers raise the marketing stakes. When crime writer Ravi Subramanian's Bitcoin thriller and seventh book, `God Is a Gamer' debuted, Penguin developed a Facebook app which credited people with `lit-coins' when they promoted the book by sharing or Liking posts about it, or pre-ordering the book. People who got the most `litcoins' prior to publication won special merchandise.
Penguin also organized for its other bestselling author, Ravinder Singh, a flashmob around campuses and the metro in Delhi to promote his latest romance, `Your Dreams Are Mine Now'. “Every campaign must be tailored to the individual book and make sure that we reach its readers in the most effective way possible,“ says Caroline Newbury , VP Marketing and Corporate Communications, Random House India. “For some books that may be an online-centric campaign, for others it may be more of a traditional marketing approach.But in almost all cases it is a blend which enables us to make the largest possible outreach. Until very recently book buyers in India used to buy their books in physical bookstores, or as physical copies. That often produced a certain type of campaign with a focus on retailer promotion and traditional media. Now with online retailers and ebooks playing a growing part, our marketing also has to adapt to take on more digital.“
Having said that she maintains every single book by Penguin Random House is allocated its own publicist and is given a campaign that seeks to take that book most effectively to its readers, even if some books don't get the same campaigns as others because they're incompatible with the title.
Even without a publisher's staged promotion, writers are learning from e-tutorials (`101 book marketing ideas'), or they outsource the marketing to agencies like Wordit Content Design & Editing Services, whose website BecomeShakespeare.com catalogues different marketing packages to choose from: a social media package at `10,000 a month; video trailers at `20,000; or a comprehensive marketing suite at `60,000, which covers media reviews, consumer reviews, author website, and so on.
But hiring a marketing specialist at one's own expense could put the writer out of pocket especially when a writer barely gets 10% to 15 % of MRP or cover price, protests Sabita Radhakrishna, an author who's written across genres. “What the use of writing if you can't market the book?“ she asks exasperatedly . Radhakrishna, whose social media presence is as good as absent, acknowledges the need to make a noise around the book today . “When my cookbook ` Aharam', on Tamil cuisine, launched in 1999, it went into several reprints on the strength of its reviews. Today , I'll have to host a cooking demo, or something on those lines to garner sales,“ says Radhakrishna, whose fourth cookbook ` Annapurna' (on Tamil cultural cuisines) is due to be published by Roli Books next month. “I have, however, considered hiring a marketing expert for a month to help.“
It's not only authors, but even Tamil publishers are keen on ramping up their marketing efforts. Kannan Sundaram, publisher at Kalachuvadu Publications, says publishers like himself have limited resources to flog a book. “We don't print more than 500 books of a new author, and have a thin budget for marketing beyond the routine book launch, reviews, book fairs, and Facebook,“ says Sundaram, “But in a couple of years, I hope to assign two to three people to develop new marketing ideas.“ The problem that plagues Tamil Nadu, he believes, is not want of imaginative marketing, but the fact that Tamil media reserves little space for publishing, drawing scant attention to any offline effort. “It's why many writers today are learning to promote themselves on social media and via blogs,“ the publisher claims, “While some cleverly create a controversy around their books.“