The auction will include Rolex's 18k yellow gold and diamond Oyster Perpetual Lady Datejust Wristwatch, Audemars Piguet's limited-edition watch released as an ode to ace F1 racer Michael Schumacher, coloured gemstones and creations by iconic silver manufacturers. Indian auction house AstaGuru is set to auction vintage Indian jewellery, art decorative pieces and hallmark silver collectables at its upcoming online auction on October 26-27, 2021. The show is titled as ‘Heirloom Jewellery, Silver & Timepieces’. The jewellery section at the auction will feature 50 pieces in traditional Indian and western designs. Some of these include exquisite gemstones, such as natural pearls, fancy diamonds, Burmese rubies, Zambian emeralds and coloured gemstones, as well as rarely found old-mine Colombian fluted emerald beads. Besides this, authentic pieces in traditional gold jewellery and creations by silver manufacturers of the 19th and 20th century, including Hamilton & Co., Hunt & Roskell, Mappin & Webb, and Carrington & Co. will also be auctioned. Describing the collection, Deepak Krishnamoorthy, Deepak Krishnamoorthy, timepiece expert, AstaGuru says, “The collection includes pieces like bracelets and brooches inspired by western design movements such as Art Deco. It also presents an array of the most desired and highly coveted gemstones from across the world.” The auction will also feature limited edition watches from Rolex, Audemars Piguet and Patek Phillippe, ranging from vintage watches, dress watches, as well as state-of-the-art pieces. The collection also includes a rare pocket watch as well as a vintage carriage watch. The watch from Rolex is an 18k yellow gold and diamond Oyster Perpetual Lady Datejust Wristwatch. The one from Audemars Piguet is a limited-edition watch, released as an ode to ace F1 racer Michael Schumacher, and Patek Phillippe’s collection includes a Gondolo wristwatch. It features a platinum case with a silver dial with applied index batons indicating hours. Though the pandemic has hit several industries, many auction houses in India and abroad have successfully conducted live and online auctions. Deepak feels that this auction will also present a fantastic opportunity for seasoned and budding collectors to explore vintage jewellery and exceptional timepieces under one platform. “The interest for vintage jewellery among collectors has seen exponential growth in recent times and the upcoming auction, with lots dating as far back as the early 20th century, is a fantastic opportunity to collect beautiful pieces that are a hallmark of Indian culture and aesthetics,” he says. The auction carries 133 lots for bidders.

Simantinee Roy's latest song talks about a transformation journey. Singer, songwriter and performer Simantinee Roy has released the a new foot-tapping original song ‘Awaara’. This song comes after the success of her independent musical releases, such as Manchala Mann, Tere Saath, Ki Naame Daakbo and Brishti. Awaara portrays a transformational journey. The singer has always experimented with different music genres. She likes to innovate with music. “Life is like a groovy melody,” says Roy, who has also been a former Miss Tripura and Miss Photogenic - Miss East India. The song is Written by Rivo and composed by Rakesh Venkatapuram. It was conceptualized in San Francisco Bay Area and written in Kolkata. The music was composed and produced in Hyderabad, and was mixed and mastered by Praveen Muralidhar in Bangalore.

When people were struggling to cope up with the pandemic, artist Abhishek Narayan Verma used the first lockdown as an opportunity to create art. The artist’s love for art dates back to his childhood days. In fact, in 11th and 12th standard, he either wanted to become an artist or a volleyball player. But convincing his parents to pursue art wasn’t easy, as they considered practicing art as a taboo. We spoke to the artist to learn how he fell in love with art and his latest show. Excerpts of the interview… At what age did you start your journey in art and how it all started? My journey started in a small village in Bihar when I was 14-15 years old. Before that, I remember I used to copy signboard painters and images of gods and goddesses to imitate them at my home. Practicing art was almost a taboo in my family. I faced too many ups and downs. But when I got selected in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (a residential school run by the Ministry of HRD) and was lucky to have good teachers in every accord. I met my art teacher, who was also a national awardee. He inspired me and fuelled zeal in me to get into visual arts. I acquired first-hand knowledge from him. After completing my senior school, with science as my major subject, it was really hard to convince my parents and relatives about pursuing art as a career. During that time, I came to know about the entrance exam of the College of Art in New Delhi. I secretly left for Delhi. I stayed with my friends and qualified for the entrance exam. That’s how my journey as an art practitioner began. Currently, I am based in Baroda, and am dedicating my time in creating art. In which medium did you start working? While pursuing my Bachelor’s degree, I started working majorly in watercolours and oil. It was later (when I did Masters), I explored printmaking where I worked majorly with lithography. Do you still work in the same mediums or have you transitioned to a different one? After finishing college, it was hard to continue with printmaking as resources are not easily available. So, whenever I get a chance, I work with lithography. I would say there is nothing like a drastic shift in terms of selecting mediums. Have you studied art? I completed Masters in Visual Arts (in printmaking) from the Faculty of Fine Arts (Gold Medalist), the MS University of Baroda, Gujarat in 2015. I studied Bachelor of Fine Arts (in painting) from College of Art, New Delhi in 2012. While pursuing my Bachelor’s degree, I studied painting, drawing, composition, history of art, methods and materials and aesthetics. In my Masters programme, the major subjects were printmaking, philosophy of art, modern art and the history of printmaking. It is said artists reveal a story in their art. What is it that you try to depict through your artworks? I believe, to start a dialogue, we need a story. So, for me making images is a kind of dialogue that encompass varied situations and surroundings. The narrative quality makes me connected to image making. This drama yields a story like quality but does not fully qualify as narrative. The works revolve around the ideas of dysfunctional power relationships or dysfunctionality, socio–political conditioning, memory recall and fabrication, personal insecurities arising out of one’s circumstances and anxiety. I try to transmute them in my works through satire, while making use of popular idioms, myths and stories. The irony is a provocation of thoughts that uses humour to portray struggles and mistakes. Tell us about your first exhibition? How have you grown since then? My first solo exhibition was in 2016. Titled as Diary of an Idler, it was hosted at the Faculty of Fine Arts, the MS University of Baroda. It was a very important moment in my life. It was a part of an award that I had received after completing my Master’s degree. It was a great way to judge my capabilities, specially, as I had freshly graduated from the college and was trying to enter in the world of art. The show became successful. It also gave me strength and a strong reason to stay in this field and to contribute my creativity. I think those accolades are still with me. They help me to grow as a person and improve my working style. What is your recent art show about? How many pieces are on display? My recent art show is titled The Moon Bearer - A New Saga. The artworks featured in this show are a part of an ongoing show at Anant Art Gallery that will be on display till 16 October 2021. I had created these pieces during the first lockdown. Later, I added a few more artworks to this series. In total, there are 18 pieces of art. Out of which, 14 are on the display. For me, black moon is a symbol of dark times and the protagonist is trying to keep himself busy while finding the balance and playfulness. While recollecting memories from my childhood, childhood stories, folklore and fantasies related to the moon inspired me to think and create the entire composition in a playful manner. I have used a few of these symbolisms to depict the various dysfunctional and absurd elements. What are the mediums used in these artworks? These are Gouache and Tea Toning on paper. How is your recent show different from the rest? This exhibition is a virtual one. This means it can be accessed globally though we are hit by the pandemic. A virtual show is the best way to reach out to the masses and show your creativity. I personally feel that one-to-one interactions are very important to understand and appreciate the art and its processes. Without being in a physical space, it is difficult to understand the psychology of the space and the journey of an art work. You miss the sensory experiences in the virtual format. Since it is a virtual show, explain the relationship that you have tried to create between moon and humans? The moon is a celestial body. It has always played a significant role in astrology and in functions of various religious systems or beliefs across India. It defines the different personas of human beings and also how different stages of the eclipse (either solar or lunar) affect those personas/behavioural changes. Each and every human on this earth was affected one way or the other due to this pandemic and the lockdown. While spending nights sitting on the terrace watching the moon for hours and feeling the deep silent darkness on the earth, I was unable to appreciate that beauty of the moon. So, I decided to depict it through the black colour. This reflects the dark times and a moment of solidarity with the humans, where everyone was trying to find the balance and equilibrium while living in this tough times. What are you working on next? I am currently working on a set of paintings, which is based on my stay in Vienna (during 2020-2021) and experiencing winter season there. Through my works, I am trying to find a connection between world’s fascination and the overwhelming situations. These works are done on gouache on paper and are variable in size. I hope you get to see those in India Art Fair 2022 with Anant Art Gallery.

Randhir Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, Rahul Mittra, Boman Irani, Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Anurag Basu, Huma Qureshi, Gulshan Grover, Jaaved Jaafery, Kunal Kapoor, Jasbir Jassi and Ritu Berry, among others were honoured at the festival. The Tashkent International Film Festival (TIFF) 'The Silk Road Pearl' recently kicked off in Uzbekistan. The 13th edition of the festival hosts over 300 actors from around 50 countries. Several Indian celebrities, such as Randhir Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, Rahul Mittra, Boman Irani, Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Rahul Rawail, Anurag Basu, Huma Qureshi, Gulshan Grover, Javed Jaffery, Sanjay Gupta, Neeraj Pathak, Deepak Tijori, Kunal Kapoor, Dino Morea, Jasbir Jassi and Ritu Berry, were honoured at the festival. Hosted by Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President, Uzbekistan, the theme of this year's edition is 'peace, enlightenment and progress'. Besides India, other countries to participate in the event include Italy, Russia, Egypt, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Israel, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Tajikistan and Turkey, among others. Sanjay Gupta’s Mumbai Saga, Anurag Basu’s Ludo and Rahul Mittra’s Torbaaz, which were shot in Kyrgyzstan, will be screened at this festival. 'The Silk Road Pearl' is an innovative platform for the exchange of experience with international colleagues that promises to be the cultural breakthrough of the year. The festival will end on 3 Oct 2021.

According to Haarsh, the USP of Bharti TV is the content which is different from television. He said their YouTube channel will feature stuff which people cannot expect on the TV. After mesmerising audiences with their great comic timing, Bharti Singh along with her husband Haarsh Limbachiyaa took their on- and off-screen partnership to another new venture. The duo has recently launched The Indian Game Show on their YouTube channel 'Bharti TV'. Haarsh who was working on the show's concept for the last two years, revealed about the show. He said, "It is a concept where we can break the monotony of the non-fiction genre on television. I wanted to do something new where all the celebrities can come and play." Keeping this in mind, the duo has made a change in its presentation. This is the first time in the history of a reality TV that a game show will see three hosts. Aditya Narayan will join the comedian couple as a host. The show will feature more than 75 stars from the world of entertainment and social media. Spilling the beans regarding Bharti TV, Haarsh shared, “To me Bharti is like a universe of talent, she is the only female comedian of India who has done all kind of shows from comedy to dance show and stunt-based to talent hunt shows. And we have seen how much the audience likes her as an entertainer. So the thought was to make her available for the viewers on YouTube and that too, free." He also revealed that their channel will offer exclusivity in terms of its content. "The USP of Bharti TV is the content which will be different from television. Stuff which you cannot expect on TV, you can see that on Bharti TV. If you subscribe to this channel you can view the content anytime anywhere in the world,” he added. Bharti and Haarsh have worked endlessly for the show for the last three months. Considering the pressure and participation of several celebrities, the show makers have put their best foot forward to offer the best foot forward. Several celebrities, such as Shivin Narang, Mubeen Saudagar, Jasmin Bhasin, Aly Goni and Paras Kalnawat, to name a few, will participate in the show.

Celebrate International Vodka Day and kick off your Monday blues. Here's a look at some of the cocktails that you can try using a few ingredients... Polska Mary Ingredients 45 ml – Belvedere vodka 20 ml – Tomato juice 20 ml – Passata 20 ml – Beetroot juice (optional) 10 ml – Lemon juice (optional) 10 ml – Worcestershire sauce Three dashes of tabasco A pinch of celery salt A lemon wedge Method Add all the ingredients to a highball glass and fill it with ice. Stir the ingredients well. Garnish them with a lemon wedge. Pomme Highball Ingredients 45 ml – Vodka 60 ml – Pressed apple juice 20 ml – Lime juice 10 ml – Sugar syrup 2 Turmeric-dusted cucumber slices Soda water Method Add all the ingredients to a highball glass and fill it with ice. Stir it well to combine all the ingredients. Top the mix with soda water. Garnish with two turmeric-dusted cucumber slices. Vodka cranberry cocktail Ingredients 59 ml – Vodka 59 ml – Cranberry juice 1/2 – Lime juice Soda water 3-4 – Mint leaves Method Add ice cubes and vodka in a glass. Pour cranberry and lime juice in it. Top it off with soda water. Garnish it with mint leaves. Old Town Fizz Ingredients 40 ml – Belvedere vodka 15 ml – Sparkling wine 20 ml – Lime 15 ml – Honey water (2:1) 6-8 – Mint leaves A dash of angostura Lime wheel Method Add ingredients to a shaker. Shake and fine strain them so there are no mint leaves in a coupe. Top it up with 15 ml of sparkling wine and garnish the drink with a lime wheel.

Heard of anything which is crispy, fried and healthy at the same time? Yes, this is not a joke. Cooking in an air fryer is a game changer. Here's a look at some of the recipes that you can prepare with little or no oil. Pakoras Ingredients Diced onions, potatoes and cauliflower (1 cup each) Chopped spinach leaves (1/2 cup) Grated ginger (1 spoon) Chickpea flour (1 cup) Water (1 cup) Oil (in a spray bottle) Salt (3/4 spoon) Chilly powder (a pinch) Carom seeds (1 spoon) Method Step 1: Preheat your air fryer to 180 degree Celsius for 10 minutes. Step 2: Take a bowl. Add all the vegetables, carom seeds, chickpea flour, salt, chilly powder into the bowl. Transfer the chickpea flour into the bowl. Add the relevant amount of water to the mix. Step 3: Take parchment paper and add small holes to it. Step 4: Once your air fryer is pre-heated, carefully add the parchment paper into the basket and spoon the mix on it without touching the corners of the air fryer. Step 5: Spray oil on the fritters using an oil spray. Step 6: Cook for 8 minutes on each side and pierce a toothpick into them to check if they have cooked properly. Step 7: Transfer the cooked pakoras on a tissue and enjoy. Apple cinnamon cupcake Ingredients Chopped and pealed apples (2 small ones) Cinnamon powder (2 teaspoons) Brown sugar (1 cup) Lemon juice (1/2 teaspoon) Softened butter (3 teaspoons) All purpose flour (1 1/2 cup) Eggs (2) Vanilla extract (1/2 teaspoon) Milk (4 teaspoon) Baking powder (1 1/2 teaspoon) Baking soda (a pinch) Silicon cups (for baking) Method Step 1: Preheat air fryer to 200 degree Celsius for 12 minutes. Step 2: In a bowl, add apples, lemon juice, cinnamon powder and sugar and mix them together. Set it aside. Step 3: In another bowl, whisk melted butter, vanilla extract, eggs and milk. Sieve all purpose flour, baking powder and baking soda into the whisked batter. Step 4: Mix all the ingredients together using a spatula and make sure there are no lumps. Step 5: Transfer the bowl containing apples, lemon juice and sugar in the batter and mix them well. Step 6: Line cupcakes with some butter. Step 7: Once the air fryer is heated, pour the mixture in the silicon cups and fill them 3/4th. Step 8: Place the cups into the basket and air fry them for another 10 minutes. Step 9: Check if the cupcakes are ready to eat using a toothpick. Take them out on a tray and keep them for another 2-3 minutes. Scoop them out carefully and enjoy. Crispy vegetables Ingredients Diced pumpkin, zucchini and cauliflower (1 cup each) Baby carrots (1 cup) Chopped mushroom (1 cup) Diced onions (1 cup) Diced red pepper (1/2 cup) Diced green pepper (1/2 cup) Salt (as per taste) Pepper (1/4 teaspoon) Method Step 1: Preheat air fryer for 10 minutes at 180 degree Celsius. Step 2: Rub oil on your palms and coat it on the vegetables. Step 3: Season them with salt and pepper. Step 4: Transfer vegetables to the fryer basket. Step 5: Air fry them for another 10 minutes, stirring them after five minutes. Chicken (or paneer) tikka masala Ingredients Boneless chicken (or paneer) diced (500 grams) Hung curd (3 cups) Salt as per the taste Grounded pepper (2 spoons) Turmeric (2 spoon) Chilly powder (a pinch) Diced green pepper (1 cup) Diced red pepper (1 cup) Diced onion (1 cup) Tomato (1 cup) Grated ginger garlic (2 spoons) Grated garlic (1 spoon) Skewers (dipped in water) Method Step 1: In a bowl, mix all the ingredients and set them aside for at least an hour in the refrigerator to marinate. Make sure all the ingredients are coated evenly to infuse their flavours together. Step 2: After an hour, put chicken (or paneer) pieces and vegetables on skewers in such a way that all ingredients fit on the skewers. Step 3: Preheat your air fryer for 10 minutes at 200 degree Celsius. Step 4: Add the skewers carefully on air fryer's based and cook them at the same temperature for another 15 minutes by tossing them after 7 minutes. Step 5: Carefully pull out the skewers with tongs and enjoy! Corn on the cob Ingredients Peeled corn (one) Salt (as per taste) Olive oil (one teaspoon) Butter (optional) Method Step 1: Preheat air fryer to 180 degree Celsius for 7 minutes Step 2: Take olive oil on your palms and rub it on the corn's surface. Step 3: Add salt and pepper to it. Step 4: Break corn into two pieces to fit it in the basket. Step 5: Air fry it for another 7 minutes flipping it midway. Make sure that corn kernels are light brown. Step 6: Add butter, if needed. Poori Ingredients Wheat flour (1 cup) Oil (1 tablespoon) Salt (1/2 teaspoon) Water (1/4 cup) Salt (as per your taste) Warm water (as needed to knead the dough) Method Step 1: Mix flour and salt in a bowl. Add water and knead it into a dough. Make sure that the dough is soft. Step 2: Add oil to the dough and let it rest for 10 minutes. Step 3: Preheat your air fryer for seven minutes at 180 degree Celsius. Step 4: Divide the dough into small balls and roll them into rotis. Make sure that their surface is not too thin. Step 5: Add holes to parchment paper and place it in air fryer's basket. Step 6: Place rotis on the parchment paper. Make sure that they don't overlap each other. It will ensure even cooking. Step 7: Cook them for 3 minutes or until the bubbles appear on their surface. Flip them over and cook for another two minutes. Step 8: Once the pooris start puffing, transfer them to a plate and enjoy. Crispy gobi Ingredients Diced cauliflower (500 grams) All purpose flour Corn flour (2 tablespoon) Crushed black pepper (1/2 teaspoon) Red chilly powder (1/2 teaspoon) Soya sauce (1 teaspoon) Salt (as per taste) Ginger garlic paste (1 teaspoon) Water (as required) Silicon brush Method Step 1: Add warm water to cauliflower and keep it aside for 15 minutes. Step 2: In a bowl, add all purpose flour, corn flour, crushed black pepper, chilly powder, salt, ginger garlic paste, and soya sauce. Mix them well. Step 3: Add water to the bowl to prepare a thick batter. Step 4: Transfer the soaked cauliflower on a plate and let it dry. Sprinkle some all purpose flour on cauliflower to let the former soak the remaining moisture. Step 5: Add cauliflower to the batter and coat each piece with the batter. Step 6: Let it rest for 15 minutes. Step 7: Set the air fryer on 180 degree Celsius for 12 minutes. Step 8: Transfer cauliflower pieces from the bowl into air fryer's basket using a spoon. Do not overlap the pieces. Step 9: After 12 minutes, check the pieces and coat oil on them using a silicon brush. Step 10: Let it cook for another 5 minutes at 180 degree Celsius. Transfer the cooked vegetable to a plate and enjoy it as a snack or a main dish.

Indian companies are embedding seeds into crackers, flags, bombs, Ganesha idols and stationery products for a greener tomorrow. Imagine sowing a cracker, rakhi, pencil or Ganesha idol in the soil and watching them bloom into plants. As surreal as it sounds, this is possible with seed paper. Several companies are using it to manufacture products. Seed paper can be sown in half an inch of soil and can grow as a plant. Saurabh Mehta owns one such firm. He was initially working in a sustainable company but in 2018, he returned to Delhi to join his family business, a polythene manufacturing company. Though he was his own boss, he could not connect with his work. That’s how he started looking for eco-friendly alternates for plastic polythene. He tried to remove and minimise the use of plastic-based stationery in pens and pencils using recycled or waste paper. Though his plan worked, he wasn’t fully satisfied. “I realised that some parts of the products were still being thrown away like used pens and small pencils,” he says. This led him to further conceptualise the idea of making products that come with an afterlife. That’s how he started embedding seeds into paper to make pens and pencils, calendars, notebooks and rakhis. As a Founder and CEO of BioQ, Saurabh altered from ‘use and throw’ to ‘use and grow’. BioQ works with 15 varieties of seeds, including basil, tomato, marigold and mustard. These seeds come in the form of capsules, which are pushed inside these pens. “They work in the same manner as medicines work. They are easy to plant. They get dissolved in the soil within an hour and need only some moisture to bloom them into a plant,” he shares. BioQ isn’t the only company that believes in minimising waste and reusing it for a sustainable tomorrow. The growing interest of customers towards sustainable products and consciousness have made seed paper a rage. Garima Capoor Nanda was also looking for eco-friendly wedding cards for her wedding in 2016 but she could not find any attractive alternatives. So, she got the paper customised for her wedding. She got seeds added in cotton scrap paper as it is wood-free. She then circulated these cards with her friends and relatives. To her surprise, the response she received was overwhelming. This led her to develop the idea of using seeded paper to make other things. Today, her company, Plantables, co-founded with her husband, Sumat Nanda, makes several products using seed paper. This Agra-based brand specialises in gift kits, mandala colouring books, calendars, notebooks, stationery items and message cards for other brands, among other things. It also sells wedding cards in more than 15 languages. Like Garima, Roshan Ray was also looking for similar alternatives for wedding cards. But he also wanted to save the dying handmade paper industry. Ray was a handmade paper manufacturer till 2014. He realised that the only way to revive the industry and work towards sustainability was to add seeds to handmade paper. In November 2014, he founded Seed Paper India. Roshan too used seed paper for wedding cards. But it was in 2016, he says, that seed paper got the recognition it deserved. “In 2016, when the government came heavily on the plastic bags, seed paper started coming in in India,” he says. Seed Paper India sells a variety of products, such as plantable crackers, flags, seed bombs and seed-embeded Ganesha, besides stationery items. Their plantable crackers are not like usual fireworks. While explaining the concept, Ray shares, “The best part about these crackers is that they are sown in soil instead of being burnt. We use different seeds for different crackers. For rockets, we put marigold seeds, for hydrogen bombs, we use tomato seeds and for flower pots, we use white daisies.” The company also manufactures a sustainable alternative on Ganesh Chaturthi. They make seeded Ganeshas. The company also sells seeded flags on Independence and Republic Day. “We use organic water-soluble colours in flags and they are chlorine free,” he shares. Though companies are trying to maximise the use of seed paper, working on this paper is not everyone’s cup of tea. Garima points out that handling the paper requires finesse. “Printing on this paper is technical in nature. Seeds need to be small and flat otherwise printing would not be possible. Generally, fruit seeds are bigger. That’s why we don’t use them. We work with marigold, mixed white flower, mixed vegetables chamomile and basil seeds. We also use water soluble colours and ink on the paper so that seeds are not harmed in any way,” she shares. Though printing may be technical, planting the seeded paper isn’t difficult. Roshan says that these seeds do not require any special attention after they are sown. “You need to tear the paper and soak it overnight for 24-48 hours before planting it in half an inch of soil with water. Within 4-6 weeks, the plant starts to germinate,” he says.

Mental health affects lives of young and old alike. A study conducted in 2017 found that nearly 45.7 million people suffer from depression and 49 million from anxiety disorders. With the pandemic, this number has increased exponentially. One company is doing all it takes to make a difference in people’s lives. Read on to find out more… When the pandemic started taking a toll on mental health of their loved ones, Sakshi Shah and Lawrence Bamania, both alumni of IIT-Kharagpur, took upon themselves to raise awareness about mental health issues. They founded GoodLives to familiarise people on mental health issues and their aftermath. But spreading the message wasn’t as easy as the duo had imagined. Sakshi points out that people were scared to speak up. “People were unwilling to talk about mental health problems. Though some agreed that they were experiencing tough times, they were paranoid to seek help. The fear of being judged by their parents and friends lingered on,” she says. Keeping these fears in mind, the company organised therapy sessions to involve and engage people. “We thought engaging people in talks will let them know that they are not alone and someone is there to help them. The prime idea to start this company was to make mental health solution affordable and accessible,” she adds. The company till date, has made difference in lives of young and old alike. It uses an algorithm to allow users to find a specific therapist for their problems. This tool has been introduced after understanding that everyone’s struggles and sufferings are unique. The algorithm allows seekers to find a therapist basis their condition(s). A team of psychiatrists and psychologists are then assigned to seekers that marks the initiation of the session. In every therapy, a therapist dedicates an hour to an individual, basis which a report is given and a further recommendation on therapies, if needed, is provided. Since solutions cater to mental health conditions, one size fits all does not apply. “There is not a customised solution that can be adopted, as each case varies. It is only after understanding an individual’s problem(s), a therapy is suggested,” she says. A typical session involves a therapist who listens to an individual’s problems and helps re-discover ways to improve the latter’s life. “While talk-based therapy is a popular form, expressive art therapy (drama, music and art) is also used in cases where a receiver is too shy to open up. The purpose of a session is to explain people how the world can be stabilised around them and what steps they can take at home to curb their anxiety levels,” she shares. Mental health impacts interpersonal relationships, social circle, community and goals, cognitive and physical health. In children, the situation is equally bad. So, what steps should be taken to tackle this issue in children? Sakshi points out that there is a need to introduce mental health as a subject in schools. “Though schools have counsellors who provide sessions to children, it is important to include mental health as part of their curriculum. It is also important to engage parents as well to develop an emotional quotient and create an understanding among them,” she says. Every year, 10 October is celebrated as World Mental Health Day.

Don't judge a book by its cover. This 15-year-old might look like an ordinary school boy but his talents are far-fetched. Meet Apurba Dutta who carves words on a pencil lead and converts it into an amazing piece of art. At 15, when most children of his age were busy spending time in sharpening creative skills, Apurba Dutta spends hours in removing wood around the pencil. He uses the lead to carve words on the lead’s surface. From names to alphabets, this artist has enhanced the humble pencil lead into artworks. He does not use any fancy materials to carve the lead. His solo companion is a surgical blade that he says, costs him Rs 5-6 and is easily available in the market. But he insists that using a surgical blade isn’t a cakewalk. Apurba insists that it should be carefully handled. “Working with a surgical blade isn’t easy. It can lead to cuts on hands if not held properly. Beginners often use gloves to avoid getting injury marks on their hands,” he says. Apurba spends 2-3 days to separate the wood from the lead. He works for an hour every day. He blames his school curriculum that does not allow him to dedicate time on art. After the wood separates from the pencil, he carves designs on the lead’s surface. However, it not a day’s job to make this art. He insists, “One needs perseverance and precision while handling lead. When I started working on lead initially, I could not retain its length, as graphite breaks easily. It is the game of finesse. The more carefully the lead is handled, the better are the results.” Apurba isn’t a trained artist. He used to previously work as a chalk artist. As a child, the only exposure he had in art was restricted to assignments that he made as part of his curriculum. But two years ago, he stumbled upon Sachin Singh’s videos on YouTube. It was Sachin, who he says, inspired Apurba to pursue this art. He followed what Sachin was doing. “Initially, I broke lead several times while removing the wood. I also got cuts on my hands. I realised very early that handling lead won’t be easy, but that did not demoralise me,” he says. His passion towards pencil lead art wasn’t taken so well at home. In fact, his parents and friends dissed his idea. “They thought that I had gone cuckoo. When the first time they saw me removing wood and retaining lead, they felt I was wasting my time. It was much later when I started duplicating my ideas on the lead, they recognised my artistic potential,” he shares. Apurba aims to pursue pencil art when he grows up. He also aspires to try new art forms and expand his skills.