iKreate Passions | Best Lifestyle Blog of Goa

Beat the Blues with Biryani Blues..!!

Posted on December 8, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

Everyone has those days when you don’t want to cook and neither go out for dinner, and hence the best option is to get some amazing food delivered at your door step, and recently one of the days I did just that..!

I ordered a single meal in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian option from Biryani Blues… Why single meal??? Because it gave me a chance to explore both their famous biryani and some really delectable starters. In the non-veg meal, I got a more than sufficient quantity of Chicken Biryani along with Mirchi Ka Salan and Raita, and I got a generous quantity of Chicken Nizami as a starter. I simply loved the Biryani and was totally bowled over by the Nizami Chicken, the biryani was just perfect and the best part was that in most restaurants biryani is over powered with spices in the name of authenticity, but this one was perfectly balanced. The taste was mild and no spices over-powered each other thus retaining the essence of Biryani.

The Nizami Chicken was tender, succulent and perfectly spiced. I was very skeptical before ordering, but now I am specially going to order a full portion of the same.

Now coming to the vegetarian meal, it too had Veg Biryani with Mirchi Salan and Raita and Paneer 65 as the starter. Being a non-vegetarian one always feel that Chicken Biryani is the best, but all I can say is this was no less, its heaven for vegetarians and the Paneer 65 was simply awesome. I have never been fond of non-vegetarian food with South-Indian touch, but now my perception has been changed forever.

All in all, if you really want awesome food, at reasonable prices and that too at the comfort of your home, just go for Biryani Blues, you will love it!

A SUCCESSFUL AUTHOR, BIKER & ENTREPRENEUR KAPIL PATHARE’S BOOK “A TALL ORDER” WAS UNVEIILED BY SRILANKAN CRICKET LEGEND SANATH JAYASURYA

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

The launch was a grand affair with Sanath Jayasurya launching the book. Author of book Kapil Pathare read Yuvraj Singh’s chapter where he spoke in depth about his journey. After the chapter reading Sanath Jayasurya addressed the media & spoke a few words about the book & Kapil Pathare.

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The launch saw the presence of- Sanjeev Kapoor, Munisha Khatwani, Jyoti Saxena, Aneel Murarka, Garima Pandey, DJ Sheizwood, Manpreet Arora, Hansa Singh & Harsha Bhatkal and many more. RJ Archana who anchored the show wore a beautiful gown by designer duo Bhumika & Jyoti.

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It isn’t surprising that a sport that goes on for days, often without result, inspires this much writing. “A book is your best visiting card” says Author, Biker & Entrepreneur Kapil Pathare who launched his book “A Tall Order” which traces the cricketing careers of ten best cricketers from India in the last 25 years. The book is an account of a golden era in Indian cricket. A galaxy of stars descended on the cricket field , shone like never before and left us with over lasting memories. Each of these men brought laurels to India in their unique ways “The book echoes about the lives of 10 extra ordinary cricketers. Their contribution to the sport has made the country what it is today. Together these 10 cricketers have fashioned the fortunes of cricket in the country. We have never been as blessed as we have been in the last 25 years thanks to these gentlemen. This truly is the league of extraordinary gentlemen for Indian cricket because it has raised the standards of the sport in the country and gained the country enough respect worldwide. The book is dedicated to my late father Mr. Jaykumar Pathare”

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Sanath Jayasurya says “I am so happy to be a part of this launch. A Srilankan cricketer who comes & launches a book which talks about ten cricket legends of the country & to really do this is overwhelming. I wish Kapil all the best for the book and his future“

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“These cricketers have impacted lives of us all as they have carved out a niche for themselves in the cricketing landscape. These cricketers have been at the forefront of a revolution that has engulfed world cricket thanks to their achievements. The fact that cricket is still surviving as a sport is because of the impact these gentlemen have made on cricket and helped create an economy. This book hopes to do justice to the work put in by these gentlemen in front of our eyes in the last 25 years” says Kapil Pathare whose moto is plain and simple – Live Life every day as if it’s your last. No wonder, his enigmatic personality attracts people and the limelight wherever he goes.

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Kapil Pathare has penned his success story not just by his sheer corporate skills but quite literally as an established author. His first book was ideated on a cricket pitch when he saw the Indian cricket team in a huddle “What if cricket and management can be interlinked. After all, cricket is more of a mind game and strategy sport. If one draws the right strategies from cricket, they can be used on the corporate pitch as well. More so, for budding entrepreneurs, start-ups and women in the corporate world who did not watch cricket but were really good at their management skills”

The book features- Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Harbhajan Singh, Virendra Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni. You can read the review here .

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Testimonials-

Our history of overseas record actually saw a positive turn in the era that we all played together. What we seeing now is progression of what our era achieved – Zaheer Khan.

I have been fortunate as a player and as chairman of selectors for having seen from close quarters there extraordinary cricketers – Kiran More.

It was really great for Indian cricket that we all were at the peak of our powers at the same time – Harbhajan Singh.

Meenakshi Lekhi, Vijay Goel, Javed Abidi address 5000+ crowds at India Gate on International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is celebrated every year on 3rd December.

Proclaimed and promoted by the United Nations, this international observance is marked the world over to intensify efforts aimed at the sustained effective action with a view to improving the situation of persons with disabilities. The day was marked by a ‘walk to freedom‘ for 5000 persons with disability; organised by the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People in partnership with American India Foundation (AIF) at Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate.

Celebrated with yellow and blue balloons, the colours of disability, it was a pleasant surprise to see the same colours worn by Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi, National Spokesperson of the BJP. Also present was the Hon. Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Vijay Goel.

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Shri Vijay Goel praised the four para-lympians who won at the Rio Olympics earlier this year and saluted the spirit of para-athletes.

Coming straight to the point, he warmed the hearts of the 5000+ people gathered at the event, by speaking about the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill which is scheduled to be considered for discussion and passing in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, 5^th December. He said, “ I will not only talk to my own party members but also across party lines for the smooth passage of the bill.”

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Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi, Member of Parliament, and the Chairperson of the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) assured her commitment towards accessibility and inclusion. She expressed, “ I support the passage of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill. Monday will be a day of celebration for all of us and not just persons with disabilities if the Bill gets passed.”

Other dignitaries present at the celebration included Shri Zorin Singha, President; Shri A.S. Narayanan, Secretary, National Association of the Deaf and Shri Javed Abidi, Honorary Director, NCPEDP.

Says Javed Abidi, “I was hoping that the Bill would be passed yesterday. It would have been a gift to the disabled community from the Indian parliament. We look forward to the 5th, and I would like to thank the 5000 + crowd that has turned up here today. I also congratulate all the performers who put up a great show.”

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For India which is home to over 70 million people with disabilities, with few rights, few entitlements, and even fewer opportunities, this day assumes a greater significance, creating visibility and awareness on the issues faced by people with different disabilities before a larger audience.

This year, has special significance. It is not only the 20th year of NCPEDP, but also

1. It is the 10th anniversary year of United Nations-CRPD – the first human rights convention concerning persons with disabilities.

2. It is the first anniversary of the adoption of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the accompanying 17 SDGs which have provided for a disability inclusive development agenda for the first time.

3. 3rd December 2016 also formally marks the first anniversary of the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s flagship ‘Accessible India Campaign’ or ‘Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan’ which has brought the issue of accessibility outside the disability discourse into the public realm in India.

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Health at what cost– a session for fitness freaks!

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

“Health at What Cost” an interesting talk session was held at Oxford Bookstore Connaught Place recently. The session was organised to discuss the key reasons beneath the healthcare and fitness issues in India. The concept was to highlight the solutions through day-to-day practices in the masses towards fitness. The event was moderated by Shrey Khanna which had a talk session, headed by esteemed group of panelists like Sonu Wassan– a holistic yoga expert, Sapna Khanna-a well-known fitness coach and Nidhi Mohan Kamal– Indian nutrition and health expert. The esteemed panelists talked about how to maintain routine fitness with absolute comfort in this busy and competitive life. The discussion went ahead resolving the common myths of workouts that changed the way one think about fitness & healthy lifestyle. The panelists also discussed about the benefits of yoga, losing weight with normal Indian diet and the nutrients and supplements required for having a healthy and fit body. The panelists also interacted with the audience suggesting some interesting workout routines like indoor rock climbing, hula hoops, yoga sessions etc. to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The event was hosted by Ms. Neena Gulati

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ABOUT THE PANELISTS

Sapna Khanna

Sapna Khanna a certified fitness enthusiast believes that the fitness is customized to individual needs, skills lifestyle and aptitude. She spoke about the common mistakes people do while exercising, the correct way of exercising which people are following. Doing crunches and running and spending an hour for workout is not just needed for losing shed and to be fit. You can lose weight and still gain muscle; likewise, you can also gain weight while still losing fat. The quality of your workouts is more important than the quantity.

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Nidhi Mohan Kami

Nidhi Mohan Kamal helped in guidance with losing weight with normal Indian Diet, the truth about protein powders and weight training for women makes manly or helps in losing weight or not. Protein has become a staple supplement for most bodybuilders and other athletes but has more recently caught on with the anti-aging groups also for its effects on immunity.

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SonuWassan

SonuWassan is a Delhi based yoga instructor and started her experience with yoga seven years ago, with Sivananda Yoga. She followed this with a specialised teacher training course from the Aurobindo Ashram on yoga for children and adults. Sonu has trained under the direct guidance of Swami Vidyanand, and is a certified Master and Grand Master of transformational Yoga. Sonu has taught yoga in the prestigious Aurobindo Ashram, and has since conducted her own independent yoga classes. She emphasizes on traditional gentle yoga working upon the body, mind, breath and awareness, leading to a transformed you with good health, balanced attitude and vitality to deal with urban and modern day lifestyle and stress. Sonu offers personalized classes, to suit all age groups and all levels of experience in yoga.

Guests who attended the event were: Salma Sultan, Nishant Choubey, Aashmeen Munjaal, Niladri Paul, Deepa Sondhi, Shuchi Khanna, Minu Talwar & many more.

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Relish the Goodness of Winter Veggies at Plaza Premium Lounge!

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

As the temperature is gradually getting colder and one can feel the chill in the air, Plaza Premium Lounge unveils its new Winter Special Menu. A wide array of dishes with healthy food that are loaded with nutrients, antioxidants, and immune-boosting powers, which your body requires to get through the chilly weather.

The new menu offers seasonally inspired dishes, thoughtfully prepared by Executive Chef Ankit Mangla and his team of culinary experts who only work with the highest quality of fresh ingredients available in the local market.

In winters our body craves for high energy and protein rich foods which provide warmth along with nutrition. The menu uses fresh seasonal vegetables like carrots, radish, yams, garlic, spinach, mustard leaves, goose berries, oranges and guava. A lot of protein rich foods such as paneer, ghee, butter, cheese and khoya are also used. The menu also has some healthy items made of whole grains like millet and corn and whole spices with anti-microbial properties.

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Some exciting dishes includes Pasta with Assorted Winter Vegetables, Mushroom & Spinach Lasagna, Falafel with Assorted Winter Vegetables, Methi Murgh Masala, Gajar Mutter Gobhi masala, Corn Spinach & Mushroom Fondue, Vegetable Cannelloni, Thai Veg Green Curry, Ratatouille, Assorted Vegetables in Sichuan Sauce, Murgh Saagwala to name a few. Guests may also enjoy variety of salads and dessert options such as Gajar Ka Halwa, Gulkand Phirni, Carrot Olive Mint Salad, Banana and Honey French Toast etc.

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“The new menu went through a lot of thought and considerations before the final list of dishes were set. We wanted to make sure that each and every item reminds the guests of the beautiful season ahead and that they enjoy a flavorful meal before their travel”, said Ankit Mangla, Executive Chef, Plaza Premium Lounge.

The new winter menu will emphasize on the best of Plaza Premium Lounge while showcasing an irresistible range of newly curated dishes that will give our guests a wider variety of options to choose from. These new menu items are sure to impress and please any palate with a fusion of flavors.

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No more worrying about the boring food at airport, head to Plaza Premium Lounge to indulge in a wonderful winter meal

What: Winter Special Menu

Where: Plaza Premium Lounge at Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad Airports

When: December till February

Price: Lounge access starts at Rs.1200 plus taxes

*This promotion is limited to select lounges across Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad Airports.

About Plaza Premium Lounge

Plaza Premium Lounge, the world’s largest independent airport lounge network, gives travellers a haven away from the hustle and bustle of the airport, a home away from home, by providing a space with top-notch services and facilities for travellers departing, transiting and arriving at major international airports including Abu Dhabi, Brisbane, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, London Heathrow, New Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei, Toronto and Vancouver.

Comfortable seating, enticing food and beverage selection, showers with amenities, private resting suites, VIP rooms, recharging stations, Wi-Fi, computer workstations are but a few of the services offered to enhance the airport experience.

As the first airport lounge network to achieve ISO 9001:2008 certification and the World’s Best Independent Airport Lounge by Skytrax, we are committed to consistently providing quality services and continual improvement for valued customers. By putting into action, the best ideas and practices from across the network and around the world, we focus on innovative and quality products and services.

Set’z- A Fine Dining Restaurant Where Luxury Meets Affordability!

Posted on December 6, 2016December 7, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

Class, opulence, elegance and a truly high class ambience is what comes to your mind the moment you enter SET’Z at DLF Emporio Mall and rightly said, what else can you expect from a restaurant being located at the most posh mall of the capital city. So SET’Z not only boasts of world class ambience but also a very carefully chosen global cuisine and it also allows its customers to customize the dishes as per their taste and choice. Recently SET’Z has also come up with an interesting regime of having a ‘customer choice menu’. So in this regime, they include some new dishes every month across different cuisines and ask their customers for a feedback, post evaluation the most popular dishes are retained in the menu and the dishes that don’t seem to connect much with the customers don’t find space in the menu. I really found this concept to be amusing and recently we visited SET’Z to review their Indian menu with addition of some new dishes.

To begin with we tried a wide variety of their kebabs in both vegetarian and non vegetarian. Khumb Shikampur, Kathal Mamra and Charoli Kebab were served first. Khumb Shikampur was a mushroom based kebab, soft and delectable. I personally loved the Kathal Mamra, a succulent kebab made out of jackfruit, though a bit spicy, but it was full of taste. But the best was the Charoli Kebab, a truly exquisite kebab made of almonds, very soft and delicious. For the non-vegetarian spread we had Murg Shole, Mulayam Murg Seekh, Set’z Seekh, Macchi Zaitoon Sarson and Raan-E-Set’z and all the dishes were good. Murg Shole was a spicy chicken tikka which was nice but nothing exceptional, the Mulayam Seekh, was basically kakori style chicken seekh, very tender and juicy, the Set’z Seekh was normal mutton seekh kebab, Macchi Zaitoon Sarson was a nicely done fish tikka and the best was the Raan-E-Set’z, a true delicacy that you must try.

Out of this spread I personally recommend Kathal Mamra, Charoli Kebab, Mulayam Murg Seekh and Raan-E-Set’z to definitely be a part of their regular menu.

Our next set of dishes from the coastal part of India, south India predominantly. A live crab in a glass box was brought on the table before it went on to become a delicate dish. I don’t eat shell fishes and hence just viewing the live crab was interesting enough for me and I have tasting a skip, though my fellow foodies who tried it, appreciated the preparation really well.

Jumbo Lobsters were next on the table and though they looked tempting enough I had to skip them as well.

Then there were Vegetarian and Non Vegetarian dumplings along with a Soya Bean Potato Crispy Fry and both of them were nice.

By the time we tried all these starters along with a few drinks, I was too full to try the main course, but I just thought of tasting them so that I can share with all my lovely readers on what was good and what wasn’t.

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Rather than serving entire dishes, a special Thali was arranged for us, with smaller portions of main course dishes and a variety of breads. The Thali included both vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes like Vegetable Gassi, Telangana Bhindi, Gosht Dalcha, Kothmiri Tawa Chicken and Tomato based Fish Curry… and there are many more options to choose from which satiate your craving for both Indian and Coastal food. In breads also there was a lot to choose from, Lehsuni Dhaniya Lachha Parantha, Zaitoon Cheese Naan, Gilafi Kulcha, Appam, Dal Miss Roti, Methi Roti, Hyderabadi Naan and more.

The desserts too were served like a platter with a variety of sweet desires to choose from. It has Coconut Barfi, Custard Apple Payasam, Anjeer Ki Kheer, Thande Gulab Ki Kheer and Khubani Ka Meetha. I personally liked the Anjeer Ki Kheer, Coconut Barfi and Custard Apple Payasam the most out of the lot.

I liked the overall concept that one can choose the dishes that we would like to see on the menu regularly. Also the thing that I loved about SET’Z is that it has different kitchens, all live kitchens for different cuisines and one can make changes and customise dishes as per specific taste or requirements.

This place should definitely be on your list, and trust me its niche and classy in every sense but it will not burn a hole in your pocket. They have very pocket friendly prices and especially on the beverages, so don’t worry be happy and go for it..!!

Boombox Brewstreet is back with a lot of Boom and Bang..!!

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

Boombox Brewstreet located in the hustling bustling market of sector 29, Gurgaon is definitely your next go to bar and casual dining space. Music is in the air, on the walls and everywhere here, because that is the central theme of this lively place. The place opened some 4-5 months back and then temporarily shut for renovation and now its back with a bang. I was recently invited by Mukul Verma, co-owner of the place for a wonderful food tasting session.

My foodie experience began by a mind blowing gastronomic Amuse Bouche, which was melt in a mouth version of our traditional dahi bhallas, served like a dollop of curd on spoons emitting smoke, it was sheer delight to watch it.

Something is Fishy and Yeh Reshmi Zulfein were served first. Something is Fishy was a tangy and lemony fish tikka and served with big chunks of aloo chaat, which gave it a real twist and a pleasant one indeed. I loved it. Yeh Reshmi Zulfien was a nicely done Reshmi Chicken Tikka marinated with creamy pesto sauce and tandoori mayo, I loved it.

Up next were the Chemical Brothers, a trio of Jhalmuri, which had one original style, one fennel flavoured and one achari, well Jhalmuri has never been something that I am keen for and hence I did taste, but didn’t like it much. I find the flavours of oil too strong for my liking.

Aye Mere Pyaare Mutton, Punjab Se Lekar Delhi Via Spain and Mr. Gulati Kebab were served next. Aye Mere Pyaare Mutton was a sure shot winner for me, tender and saucy meat balls served with cucumber and basil yogurt and tomato chutney. This is not to be missed. Mr. Gulati Kebab, served with chutney droppers and mini paranthas were delectable too, the kebabs were really soft and delicious. Punjab Se Lekar Delhi Via Spain was also an interesting dish, where Rajma Chawal were fried like a croquette in Amritsari Papad Crust.

Teri Meri Kahani, Kool-Cha and Main Toh Raste Se Jaa Raha The found space on our tables next. Teri Mere Kahani was an interesting version of Caesar Salad with Vegetable Croquette, it was really nice. Kool-Cha was an amazing take on a stuffed kulcha with a tasteful filling of Chettinad mushrooms, I really loved the taste of it. Main Toh Rasta Se Jaa Raha Tha was Boombox way of presenting Dahi Puris, they were nice and tangy, but one should have them immediately because they tend to turn soggy sooner than you imagine.

Hothon Pe Bas Tera Naam Hai, PB&J and Imly Ka Buta Berry Ka Pulao were the final dishes served, Chicken Tikka done the Chettinad way with some molecular gastronomy on display with coconut bubbles is what made Hothon Pe Bas Tera Naam Hai. A Parsi influenced dish, Imly Ka Buta Berry Ka Pulao was basically rice cakes with pulled khatu meethu chicken and tasted really well. PB&J was also an interesting concept of bread spheres with paneer filling, fried like pakodas with salli crust and served with a berry jam, no.. the jam wasn’t sweet, it was salty and spicy and delicious.

This brought our culinary journey to.. no not an end, but a break, which was followed by desserts to finally bring it to an end. There was I Love My India, Rabdi & Boondi Cheesecake with Kiwi and Blueberry, I really loved this one and got inspired to try making it at home(you know I am a baker and a cook who loves to experiment with food..isnt it). The other dessert was called Khaike Paan Italy Wala, a paan flavoured Tiramisu. I did taste it and it was nice, but I basically don’t enjoy paan flavoured desserts so didn’t have much of it.

Overall I loved my experience at Boombox, the ambience, the food, the presentation of food and the molecular gastronomy was really commendable. Even the drinks were amazing, I tried the Orange Mojito and Slushy Margarita, my son tried the Oreo Shake and all the drinks were superlative.

I highly recommend visiting this place where you can enjoy some great music, quirkiness and amazing food that looks equally interesting.

Tall Order by Kapil Pathare-Book Review

Posted on November 30, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

A word about the Author first.

Kapil Pathare (Director – Maxwell Industries Ltd.) was a young and dynamic leader introduced to the Board ofvDirectors, of this VIP Group Company.He impressed the whole company with his situational leadership style, spot decision making abilities and asan effective communicator of management decisions. With his innovative marketing strategies and a global vision he has taken the Company to being the leader in the inner wear sector. He earlier wrote a book Cricket to Corporate in 2014 which was launched by India’s Ex- wicket keeper Kiran More, who said “Cricket is not just a game,but a field where corporate strategies are planned and executed live”
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Now about the book, Tall Order

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It is a compilation of Ten of the Star Indian Cricketers of the Golden Era of Indian Cricket.
Each of these stars namely: Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh And M S Dhoni, brought laurels to India in their own unique ways.
The book is a humble tribute to these demigods of Indian Cricket.
The book takes you through the trials and turbulations of each from the budding start of their careers to the sad end of the careers of some of these greats.
I on the personal front feel, the book could have been made more interesting with a few personal anecdotes or not commonly known features about these greats.
All in all a commendable effort and a treat for cricket lovers.
Buy your copy and enjoy.

Available on Amazon for Rs 200 for a paperback

My Rating: 3.5/5

14th RAYMOND CROSSWORD BOOK AWARDS NIGHT

Posted on November 30, 2016November 30, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

November 30th, 2016

The pleasantly windy dusk grew brighter by the presence of literary gems for the 14th RAYMOND CROSSWORD BOOK at NCPA Mumbai. Litwizs like Gulzar Saheb, Shekhar Gupta, Ranjit Lal and many more amplified the awards evening with their presence and the quotes of encouragement. The evening was a phenomenon to be witnessed with the awards show complemented with performances by noted classical dancer Aditi Bhagwat & Indiva – the only DIVA band from India to perform World Folk Fusion Music.

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14th RAYMOND CROSSWORD BOOK AWARD ANNOUNCED and Gulzar Sahab presented Lifetime Achievement Award to Ruskin Bond.

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A battle of epic proportions has been underway, over the last month, as authors found themselves part of an electoral process, to win the coveted trophy of the Raymond Crossword Book Award, India’s oldest and most prestigious award.

Over the years, the Award has been equated to the Pulitzer and Booker and is a definitive,veritable platform for Indian Authors. The Raymond Crossword Book Award not only recognizes and rewards Indian literary talent but actively promotes the same to a wider audience.

The awardees have always had, or risen to stature in the world of literature. And it was a star-studded shortlist this year. Kinjal Shah, CEO Crossword Bookstores says, “It’s that time of the year when the whole publishing industry in India comes forward as one family to recognize its own stars. It’s exciting that the voting numbers have been heartwarming this year.”

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A bevy of glittering stars were present at the Award, including Shekhar Gupta, Mynoo Maryel, Anupama Chopra , Twinkle Khanna, Piyush Pandey, Roopa Pai, Amish Tripathi, Ashwin Sanghi, Durjoy Dutta, Radhakrishnan Pillai, Hrishi. K, Subashree Krishnaswamy, Annie Zaidi, Mohd. Asaduddin, Naresh Fernandes, Kalpana Sharma, Harsh Sethi, Ira Pande, Prof M S Sriram, Prof Sukanta Chaudhuri, Aravinda Anantharaman, Sujata Noronha, Siddhartha Sarma, B S Nagesh and many more authors and guests.

Social media maven Miss Malini was the host of the evening. Major publishers present at the Award included Penguin Random House India, Harper Collins India, Hachette India, Scholastic India, Niyogi Books, and Westland Books.

This year, the Award has gone through a makeover, with ten categories and a lifetime achievement award. A total of 11 awards were given away, in the following three categories.