The Writer’s Flight

The native Indian languages are making a comeback be it Sanskrit, Hindi, or vernacular. Invest in upgrading your local linguistic skills by subscribing to language apps and courses  Namrata Kohli   |   New Delhi   Indian language expertise can build you a career with companies (Stock photo) At the intersection of technology and culture, a language revival of sorts may be happening. Today, tech giants like Google and Microsoft are creating algorithms for Indian languages. E-commerce giant Amazon just launched its Hindi version. OTT is featuring stories from the Hindi heartland and are reporting a rise in dubbed content in various Indian languages languages. It’s the era when as the CII report puts it- “regional is the new national”. This creates demand for investing in training oneself in native Indian languages. Why should you learn an Indian language? According to Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe President, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR...

Montblanc, Sailor, Lamy or Sheaffer: the instrument should be good enough to be passed on as a family heirloom Namrata Kohli   |   New Delhi   The Sailor Ganesha, a limited edition fountain pen that costs Rs 195,000. Only 108 pieces were made and each is signed by their master craftsman, Isana Kobayashi Statesmen, writers, tycoons sign with luxury  pens  when marking they have made history.  T hey are not the pens in the junk drawer to jot  down your  grocery list.  T hese pens are used to sign important papers and ink special deals.  W riters, authors, lawyers, CEOs  and anyone who is a connoisseur of the written word or plain fashion, may be a key taker of hi end pens.  When you purchase a high-quality luxury pen, you are often purchasing a family heirloom, a collectible item, a commemorative item, or an item that brings additional purpose and meaning to your writing.   “I use my Montblanc every time I have to sign ...

A quiet hill town, a bustling beach, or an international city: Indians are taking their pick to greet the New Year Namrata Kohli   |   New Delhi   Travel companies have a range of offers for Christmas and New Year vacations. (Stock image) A quiet, quaint town in the hills; a colourful and bustling beach, or a luxury Swiss ski resort: Indians are travelling for their New Year vacation, picking places that match their tastes and pocket. One in every two travellers is buying flight tickets to head out immediately or in the next two weeks, according to data from MakeMyTrip, the online booking firm. “We are also seeing an upside in flight and hotel bookings for December and expect this trend to hold. Goa, Jaipur, Udaipur, Varanasi, Mysore, Pondicherry, and Amritsar are some of the most sought-after spots for the winter holiday season. The international flight segment has recovered by 75% and is expected to move towards full recovery from here on,” said a spokesperson for...

Bakers' shelves have a variety of choices: pick what matches the mood of your celebrations Namrata Kohli   |   New Delhi   Most consumers buy half-kg cakes, shows data. (Stock photo) Putting a fruitcake under a pillow invites dreams about the person you will marry, says an ancient English belief. The wedding cake of Princess Diana and Prince Charles (now king) cost $40,000, making it one of the most expensive cakes at that time. Special occasions need delicious cakes, but one need not wait for a birthday or an anniversary to enjoy them. A cake can be a snack or a meal in itself—baked at a consumer's convenience. “The Indian cake market is projected to witness a CAGR of 12.5% during the next five years. The market is segmented by Category (Packaged and Unpackaged/Artisanal), Product Type (Sponge Cakes, Cup Cakes, Cheesecakes, and Other Cakes),” according to a recent report by Mordor Intelligence on Indian Cake Market (2022 - 2027). Data from Ferns N Petals, the online...