The Writer’s Flight

An Ode to Pranab Mukherjee By Namrata Kohli Pranab Mukherjee had stepped away from active political life but remained relevant till his last day. One of the sharpest politicians with the cleanest history and track record, Mukherjee was  perhaps  ' the last of the lot' of the credible political leaders, respected across party lines.  The fact that a “lifetime Congressman” was sworn in by the ruling BJP to the highest constitutional office of the country (that of President of India) and was given the country's biggest honour, Bharat Ratna,  was first-of-its-kind phenomena. His opinion mattered and even in dissent he was respected- remember how his presence at the recent RSS meet at Nagpur raised quite a storm in his own party. His life stood testimony to many landmark events. He saw the assassination of Indira Gandhi, sudden swearing in of Rajiv Gandhi and later his tragic death, as well as the Emergency. After Operation Bluestar, Indira Gandhi told him - "Pranab...

Choosing a pair of sneakers has much to do with the shape of your feet and the workout you undertake. The material they are made of is just as important as the fit Namrata Kohli   |   New Delhi When you digitally connect the Hovr shoes from brand Under Armour with the MapMyRun app, they become your personal running coach and help improve your form. Price range: Rs 8,000-15,000 “I don’t wear shoes,” says Milind Soman when I ask him what kind of shoes he prefers while running. “Running barefoot is the most natural way to run, if you know the roads.” But such runners and roads are both an exception than the norm--which is why the market for  running shoes  is so big and people are willing to put in the moolah for a quality of good pair of shoes. Gymming is out and group fitness classes or community-based workouts are a big no-no. The paranoia about Covid-19 has led to a resurgence of close-to-nature fitness activities such as running and cycling, for which one does...

With prices becoming prohibitive, buyers are now choosing dainty designs over dense, light jewellery over heavy sets, as gold retains its glitter in the run up to the wedding season Namrata Kohli   |   New Delhi Tanishq’s Aarambh collection is a combination of diamond and ruby set in gold with floral designs It is bracelets over bangles, ear studs over danglers and slender chains with sleek pendants, over heavy neckpieces. The Covid era marks the return of the yellow metal in a big way. However the trend is headlined by lightweight minimalist pieces over heavy, expensive sets. The designs are more contemporary, modern and chic than traditional and people are buying for self-use rather than as an investment. Gold shines again Gold is back and how. This despite the fact that it is facing headwinds on account of a phenomenal spike in gold prices, and a Covid crisis that has hurt practically every sector and cast a cloud on discretionary  spending.  The current rate...

While improvements in mileage and battery capacity have been made and are ongoing, issues of high price points and availability of charging infrastructure are also being addressed Namrata Kohli   |   New Delhi Tata Motors’ Nexon (price: Rs 13.99-15.99 lakh ex-showroom) is a popular electric car, with a 312-km range, eight hours of charging, 120 kmph top speed and ability to wade through waterlogged areas The electric car in its current avatar is a different animal altogether, with good mileage and huge battery capacity, and with the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem developing fast, it is no longer the white elephant it once was. With rapid strides being made in EV technology, opting for an electric car has become a matter of fashionable choice, especially during Covid times, when people are sensitive about environmental issues and sustainable living. There was a time when buying an electric car was a costly affair – highly priced, less fuel-efficient, sans air conditioner,...