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FROM THE
www.indiatoday.in
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Aroon Purie

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
T
GROUP EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Raj Chengappa
EDITORS: Kaveree Bamzai (Special Projects), Ajit Kumar Jha (Research)
o understand india today’s News- take on the most powerful in the world with
GROUP CREATIVE EDITOR: Nilanjan Das; GROUP PHOTO EDITOR: Bandeep Singh maker of the Year 2017, one has to equal aggression; and where young people
MANAGING EDITORS: Kai Jabir Friese, Rajesh Jha
EXECUTIVE EDITORS: Damayanti Datta, S. Sahaya Ranjit,
go back to 2006, when he was 18. have the freedom to love whomsoever,
Sandeep Unnithan Representing Delhi, Virat Kohli played for wherever and however they wish. India To-
DEPUTY EDITORS: Prachi Bhuchar, Uday Mahurkar, Manisha Saroop
Mumbai: M.G. Arun Hyderabad: Amarnath K. Menon Chandigarh: Asit Jolly his team against Karnataka the day after day TV Consulting Editor Boria Majumdar
SENIOR EDITORS: Shweta Punj, Sasi Nair, Jaipur: Rohit Parihar
SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Kaushik Deka, Ashish Mukherjee
his father’s death and went on to score 90, who has tracked Virat’s career closely says
Mumbai: Suhani Singh, Kiran Dinkar Tare; patna: Amitabh Srivastava going directly to the funeral after he was he looks fully immersed in the moment, at
ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Shougat Dasgupta, Chinki Sinha
Kolkata: Romita Sengupta; Bhopal: Rahul Noronha; dismissed. Many, including his mother, peace with himself, in his gym, at training,
Thiruvananthapuram: Jeemon Jacob; BeiJing: Ananth Krishnan
believe that was a turning point in his life, in marriage and between those 22 yards. In
ASSISTANT EDITOR: pune: Aditi S. Pai
CHIEF COPY EDITOR: Aditya Mohan Wig the day when his father’s dream became his assessment of Virat, he writes: “Virat is
PHOTO DEPARTMENT: Vikram Sharma (Deputy Photo Editor),
Rajwant Singh Rawat (Principal Photographer),
his own. Looking at him now, dressed in fashioning a young Indian side in the same
Chandra Deep Kumar (Photographer); Mumbai: Mandar Suresh designer clothes with one of India’s topmost mould of utter self-belief, and it’s seems to
Deodhar (Chief Photographer), Danesh Adil Jassawala (Photographer);
ahmedabad: Shailesh B Raval (Principal Photographer); actors by his side as his wife, being feted by be paying off. So far.”
Kolkata: Subir Halder (Principal Photographer);
Chennai: N.G. Jaison (Senior Photographer) the high and mighty of the land, it is hard Choosing Virat wasn’t easy. As you’ll see
PHOTO RESEARCHERS: Prabhakar Tiwari (Chief Photo Researcher),
Saloni Vaid (Principal Photo Researcher),
to imagine his origins, in one of Delhi’s from the list of runners-up, there was tough
Shubhrojit Brahma (Photo Researcher) undistinguished middle class neighbour- competition. The Narendra Modi-Amit
CHIEF OF GRAPHICS: Tanmoy Chakraborty
ART DEPARTMENT: Sanjay Piplani (Senior Art Director);
hoods, driven to practice every day by his Shah duo that won critical state elections
Jyoti K. Singh (Art Director),
Vikas Verma, Rahul Sharma (Associate Art Director);
criminal lawyer father. What transformed in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, capping the
Bhoomesh Dutt Sharma (Senior Designer) him into becoming the only player in the year with the principal opposition party,
PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT: Harish Agarwal (Chief of Production),
Naveen Gupta (Chief Coordinator), world with an incredible above-50 average Congress, in power in a mere five states.
Vijay Kumar Sharma (Senior Coordinator)
in all three formats of the game; captain of Rahul Gandhi, who finally became Cong-
PUBLISHING DIRECTOR: Manoj Sharma
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Anil Fernandes (Impact)
India with his nominees installed as coach ress president, after 13 years in politics,
IMPACT TEAM
and support staff; the most powerful crick- and many false starts. S.S. Rajamouli, who
Senior General Manager: Jitender Lad (West)
General Manager: Mayur Rastogi (North),
eter in the world’s richest cricketing nation directed the blockbuster Baahubali 2, very
Upendra Singh (Bangalore), and the man most likely to overtake Sachin much a made-in-India epic. And the bad-
Kaushiky Gangulie (East)
GROUP CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER: Vivek Malhotra Tendulkar’s batting records? minton stars whose inordinate success has
Assistant General Manager: Garima Prashar (Marketing)
SALES AND OPERATIONS: D.V.S. Rama Rao, Chief General Manager
And that’s just in cricket. His influence seen Indians in the top five of the men’s and
Deepak Bhatt, General Manager (National Sales) extends far beyond. His fitness regimen has women’s championships for the first time.
Vipin Bagga, Deputy General Manager (Operations)
Rajeev Gandhi, Regional Sales Manager (North) revolutionised the team’s physical strength Virat’s rise is also a tribute to the emer-
Arokia Raj L., Regional Sales Manager (South)
and prompted Virat to make it a national gence of a serious sporting culture in the
mission. His carefully chosen endorse- country. He is a supremely talented cricket-
ments have ensured that he is one of India’s er, but he is also invested in sports ranging
most saleable celebrities with a brand value from football to tennis. He’s involved in a
of $144 million (Rs 936 crore). And his chain of gyms as well as a children’s fitness
Volume XLIII Number 2; For the week confidence on the field has given encour- venture. As one half of the most famous
January 2-8, 2018, published on every Friday agement to many who still regard cricket as couple in the country at present, he has
l Editorial/Corporate Office Living Media India Ltd., India Today Group Mediaplex,
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a white man’s game. His 2,818 internation- also shown us the power of social media.
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wins as captain; and six 200-plus scores in Tuscany, Italy, and instructing us on how a
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the past 17 months, special by even his own celebrity can take control of his own narra-
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super-achiever standards. tive. India is, after all, the land of storytell-
Mills), S.B. Marg, Lower Parel (West), Mumbai-400013; Phone: 66063355; But that is not the only reason india ers, and Virat’s tale is perhaps one of the
Fax: 66063226 l E-1, Ground Floor, Videocon Towers, Jhandewalan Extn,
New Delhi l Guna Complex, 5th Floor, Main Building, No.443, Anna Salai, today picked him as newsmaker in a year most compelling in recent times. We all
Chennai-600018; Phone: 2847 8525 l 201-204 Richmond Towers, 2nd Floor,
12, Richmond Road, Bangalore-560025; Phones: 22212448, 22213037, crowded with potential candidates. The live vicariously through the lives of famous
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Kolkata-700071; Phones: 22825398; Fax: 22827254; l 6-3-885/7/B, Somajiguda, year 2017 is when India grappled with the people and few things brought us as much
Hyderabad-500082; Phone: 23401657, 23400479, 23410100, 23402481,
23410982, 23411498; Fax: 23403484 l 39/1045, Karakkatt Road, Kochi 682016; aftermath of demonetisation, the incom- cheer as the smiling faces of Virat and his
Phones: 2377057, 2377058 ; Fax: 2377059 l 2/C, “Suryarath Bldg”, 2nd Floor,
Behind White House, Panchwati, Office C.G. Road, Ahmedabad-380006; Phone: prehensible Goods and Services Tax, and wife Anushka Sharma. My best wishes to
26560393, 26560929; Fax: 26565293 l Copyright Living Media India Ltd. All
rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction in any manner is prohibited. interminable state elections. With his them. On that happy note, I wish all our
Printed and published by Manoj Sharma on behalf of Living Media
India Limited. Printed at Thomson Press India Limited, winning streak, Virat lifted the mood of the readers a happy and healthy new year.
18-35 Milestone, Delhi Mathura Road, Faridabad-121007, (Haryana)
and at A-9, Industrial Complex, Maraimalai Nagar, District
nation in a difficult year. Above all, he epit-
Kancheepuram-603209, (Tamil Nadu). Published at K-9, Connaught
Circus, New Delhi-110001. Editor: Aroon Purie.
omises the wishful meritocracy of a New
l india today does not take the responsibility for returning unsolicited India, where everyone who works hard can
publication material.
All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of

flourish regardless of their history, geogra-
competent courts and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only phy and sociology; where the country can (Aroon Purie)
INSIDE
UPFRONT LEISURE
LALOO’S CONVICTION, ROCKING WITH A.R.
RJD’S END? PG 3 RAHMAN PG 65
POV: O MUSIC FOR

JERUSALEM! 2018
PG 10 PG 70
12
C OV E R S T O RY
TITANS
OF 2017
Virat Kohli, Narendra
Modi-Amit Shah, S.S.
Rajamouli, Ram Rahim,
Xi Jiaoping...personalities
that owned the year
Cover photograph by BANDEEP SINGH
A R T AWA R D S
60
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BEAUTIFUL
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2 INDIA TODAY JA N UA RY 8 , 2 018

UPFRONT
MOVING PAST Q&A WITH
DOKLAM SURESH PRABHU
PG 5 PG 7
A SECOND TERM INDIA’S VOTE ON

FOR RUPANI JERUSALEM
PG 8 PG 10
OWN GAOL
Lalu Prasad Yadav after his
PTI conviction on Dec. 23
W
BIHAR ith the Gujarat verdict scam cost him his seat in Parliament
falling short of expecta- and made him ineligible to fight elec-
CAN tions and acquittals in the

2G case almost knocking the sails
tions. He faces a second conviction at
a time when, after being dumped by
THE RJD out of Prime Minister Narendra

Modi’s campaign against corrup-
Nitish Kumar, he needs to consoli-
date the RJD’s support base. The
SURVIVE
tion, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s conviction latter’s JD(U) is working overtime to
will surely provide fodder for the woo Bihar’s 16.5 per cent Muslims,
LALU’S JAIL
BJP to corner its rivals in Bihar and while the BJP is trying to win over
elsewhere. What will it mean for the the Yadavs, who, at 15 per cent, are
TERM?
Rashtriya Janata Dal, though? Is the state’s single largest caste group.
it time to write an obituary for the The 69-year-old RJD chief had just
RJD’s version of subaltern politics? started sending out feelers to OBC
ByAmitabh Srivastava Lalu’s personal parliamentary leaders to expand and consolidate
career ended in September 2013— his party’s Muslim-Yadav vote bank.
his first conviction in the fodder The BJP and JD(U) have joined
JA N UA RY 8 , 2 018 INDIA TODAY 3

UPFRONT
hands and the elections in Bihar will now be a direct DEFENCE

fight between two political entities. Lalu remains a mass
leader and this was the time when his party needed
him the most. This is Lalu’s eighth visit to prison and Moving Past
Doklam
he knows that the longer he stays in jail, the bigger the
electoral worries for his family and party will be.
Just as he walked to the court room of CBI Special
Judge Shivpal Singh on December 23, Lalu stopped
W
to hold the hands of his younger son and heir apparent ords matter in diplomacy. And India
Tejashwi and said: “Dekhte rehna, khyal rakhna (Take and China found very pleasant ones
care and look after the family and party).” to exchange on December 22 at least
It seems that even before the judge pronounced him for two countries that by some accounts came
guilty at 4 pm, shortly after acquitting six other ac- very close to a military confrontation after a
cused, including former Bihar chief minister Jagannath 72-day border stand-off in Doklam that ended
Mishra in the case, Lalu had lost all hope. Hours after late August. Moving past Doklam was top of
the verdict, the baton was formally passed to Tejashwi, the agenda when China’s Special Representa- A NEW
BEGINNING
as RJD leader Jagdanand Singh made an announce- tive, Yang Jiechi, came calling for day-long talks Special
ment that the “battle for social justice will continue with his counterpart, National Security Advisor representative
under the leadership of Tejashwi Prasad Yadav”. Ajit Doval. Yang Jiechi
and NSA Ajit
The judgment was delivered in RC 64A/96 case Yang was promoted to the new 25-mem-
Doval at a
relating to the withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh against an ber Politburo this October, which might well recent meeting
allotment of Rs 4.73 lakh make the 20th round of border talks his last in Delhi
using 250 vouchers and as a successor takes over in March. But the
With Lalu 17 fake allotment letters Doklam stand-off, officials on both sides said,
behind bars, between 1991 and 1994 imbued the Delhi visit with added significance.
his party, from the Deoghar dis- Yang came with a message from President Xi
the RJD, may trict treasury. The fodder Jinping, that he delivered to Prime Minister
become prone scam relates to fraudulent Narendra Modi in person, saying that both
to defections withdrawal of Rs 900 crore
and even by the animal husbandry
department from various
a split district treasuries in the
’90s, when Lalu was the
INDEX
CM. The CBI has charged him with criminal conspira-
cy in five cases.
Being the chosen successor, Tejashwi, a former
deputy CM, apparently commands some respect due to 2G ARITHMETIC
his measured and mature politics, but has a long way
to go before stepping into his father’s shoes. His elder Opinions are divided after a special
brother Tej Pratap, on the other hand, seems to have CBI court delivered a damning verdict on
December 21, heaping scorn on the quality
a confrontational approach. With Lalu behind bars,
of the investigation and the prosecution’s
the duo will have to manage 80 legislators. The party
marshalling of evidence in the 2G case. This
may be prone to defections and even a split; Lalu is still
despite a 2012 verdict by the Supreme Court
central to its strategy. “We will go to the court of the
that found it necessary to levy crores of rupees
people of Bihar and tell them how my father was falsely in fines and cancel all licences, declaring
charged,” Tejashwi said in Patna. The aim is clear—to the 2G spectrum allocation a virtual gift of
whip up sympathy in favour of Lalu and sons. “important national assets”. In political terms,
In the past, a stint in jail has boosted Lalu’s career— the so-called ‘2G scam’ was crucial to the BJP’s
the way it did after the Emergency when he won his 2014 general election platform. But now the
first Lok Sabha elections. Today, however, the story court ruling suggests there was never a scam in
is different. With the state government allowing only the first place. Are the likes of A. Raja, telecom
three persons to meet him in a week, Lalu will have to minister at the time, more sinned against than
work out a strategy to keep his party together while be- sinning? Is Manmohan Singh vindicated?
ing away from the political arena. It remains to be seen And why was the prosecution’s case, after
whether or not subaltern sympathy will save his party. n all these years, so weak?

contrary, their verbal warnings that extending the road right
up to the Indian border and towards the sensitive Siliguri cor-
ridor or ‘Chicken’s Neck’, that too in an area India and Bhutan
see as Bhutanese, was crossing a red line went unheeded by
the Chinese. Thus began the stand-off. The external affairs
ministry said both agreed that pending the final resolution
of the boundary question, it is necessary to maintain peace
and tranquility in the border areas and in this regard, the SRs
exchanged ideas on various confidence-building measures.
They also underlined the need for the two countries to build
on their convergences, while seeking mutually acceptable
resolutions of their differences with due respect for each
other’s sensitivities, concerns and aspirations.
On Doklam, India reiterated to China that any road
ALTAF HUSSAIN/REUTERS building towards the ‘Chicken’ Neck’ that threatens India’s
security would not be tolerated. China, for its part, has
countries should aspire to become ‘‘friends for generations” made clear it will bolster its troop presence elsewhere on the
and ‘‘partners in rejuvenation”, diplomatic language that was contested plateau as it sees fit. “From this dialogue, we can
new from Beijing, which usually carefully chooses its words see both sides emphasise communications in the frontlines on
and was all the more puzzling considering the recent strains. the border to reduce misjudgements on the front and the po-
For all of the tensions of Doklam, the peaceful resolution tential for incidents like the Donglang [Doklam] stand-off,”
underlined that the mechanisms in place largely work, said said Hu Shisheng, a strategic expert at the China Institute for
one Indian official. But at the same time, the official conced- Contemporary International Relations, Beijing.
ed, the stand-off also underlined how miscommunications A hotline between military headquarters, agreed in pri-
can snowball into near-confrontation. The Chinese still insist nciple but not yet operational, will be one avenue. Additional
that they had conveyed to the Indian border troops their road border personnel meeting points will also be considered, as
construction plans near the trijunction on two occasions. In- both sides look to manage the uneasy calm on the border. n
dian military sources say this plainly wasn’t the case. On the —Ananth Krishnan
` 176,000 `9,407 CRORE 1,552

CRORE AUCTION PRICE FETCHED BY MORE THAN
HALF THE SPECTRUM FREED BY THE SC
PAGES IN JUDGE O.P.
SAINI’S VERDICT
LOSS TO THE EXCHEQUER IN 2012, MAKING A MOCKERY OF CAG
CAUSED BY THE ‘2G’ SCAM, SAYS ESTIMATE. MINIMUM PRICE TARGETED
COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR WAS Rs 28,000 CRORE
GENERAL (CAG). Rs 30,984
CRORE LOSS, SAYS CBI
19
PEOPLE, INCLUDING 2
122 POLITICIANS, ACQUITTED

OF ALL CHARGES
LICENCES GRANTED BY AFTER 154 WITNESSES
TELECOM MINISTER A. RAJA EXAMINED AND 80,000
IN 2008 CANCELLED BY PAGES OF DOCUMENTS
SUPREME COURT IN 2012. SUBMITTED
3 COMPANIES FINED Rs 5
CRORE EACH
20%
7 RISE IN SHARE PRICE OF 4
COMPANIES LINKED TO 2G
YEARS SINCE THE CASE SCAM AFTER SPECIAL CBI
FIRST WENT ON TRIAL COURT VERDICT

UPFRONT C H AT T E R
The week in
GL ASSHOUSE social media
@ShougatDasgupta
BYE TO
HOLIDAYS Jadhav’s
Keyboard
Army
H
is foreign jaunts have been
the butt of jokes and a The irony of Pakis
headache for his partymen tan permitting Kulbhushan Jadhav’s family to
who found him missing when Illustration by SIDDHANT JUMDE visit him as a “humanitarian gesture” is that he
needed the most. Having become party has ceased to be treated as a human being
president this year, however, Rahul Gandhi chose to spend his first Christmas for some time now. Pakistanis on social media
in years in Delhi, meeting Congress leaders. He is believed to have postponed a castigated their government for their supposed
business-with-pleasure Christmas holiday in Dubai and a networking event for soft heart, while Indians shed copious crocodile
Indian businessmen in Bahrain on December 26. The reason? Parliament is in tears but reserved their genuine emotion for the
session until January 5. Holidays, it seems, can now wait. cursing of Pakistan. On social media, ‘patriots’
have claimed ownership of the outrage over
Jadhav’s death sentence. Film director Madhur
Bhandarkar got in on the act, tweeting that
the insults shouted by overzealous Pakistani
IMPORTED STRIKE GOES VIRAL journalists at Jadhav’s family were bad, but not
MOO
I
as bad as the silence of actors, human rights
t seemed like a good idea at the
activists, and liberals about Jadhav’s plight. n
time. Get doctors to call an end
M adhya
Pradesh
chief minister
to their week-long strike, then pun-
ish the union leaders with trans-
Gangster Democracy
fers. Except that it backfired on
Shivraj Singh Rajasthan CM Vasund- Angry about the absence of the district
Chouhan’s son hara Raje. Doctors civil surgeon from an event in Maharashtra,
Kartikeya struck went on a second Hansraj Ahir, minister of state for home affairs,
a mighty blow for said the doctor was disrespecting not just Ahir
round of strike
but democracy itself. If doctors, he added,
gau seva. A dairy that ended after
“don’t believe in democracy, then they should
at his farm in Vidisha has started Raje stepped join Naxals, we will put bullets in them”. Appar
production, and all of Bhopal in. Meanwhile, ently, it’s Ahir who doesn’t believe in democ
has woken up to hoardings and docs in AIIMS racy, or know what it entails. n
free samples of the branded milk. urged PM Narendra
Swadeshi warriors are unlikely to Modi to “spend a day in a white
be impressed, though. Kartikeya’s apron as a government doctor”.
Badass
dairy farm uses Dutch Holstein These docs do know how to make
a strike go viral.
Feminism
Friesian cows.
Garnering nearly
70 million views on
—Sandeep Unnithan, with Kaushik Deka, Rahul Noronha and Rohit Parihar
the YouTube in just a
week, Brazilian pop
PU LLQUOTE star Anitta’s new
song ‘Vai Malandra’ is an international hit. The
“If someone says ‘I am a Muslim’... ‘a Christian’... or ‘a Hindu’, video, shot by fashion photographer Terry
I feel happy because he knows his roots... If someone says ‘I am Richardson, is an unabashed celebration of a
secular’, I get suspicious... We will respect the Constitution, but sexually aggressive favela style. Anitta doesn’t
it has changed several times and will change in the future too. touch up her cellulite, nor do the women in the
We’re here to change the Constitution.” video conform to idealised body types. But
Anitta has had to respond to criticism about
her use of Richardson, long known for his
ANANT KUMAR HEGDE, who became MoS for skill development and
abuse of models and dropped by Conde Nast
entrepreneurship in September, is known to make remarks that are more bigoted than
in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
informed. In a recent ‘speech’ in home state Karnataka, he spoke about identity as a
simple matter of religion and caste. A former RSS member, Hegde reiterated the need She has also been accused of appropriation,
to change the Constitution to make way for a Hindu rashtra. The response from the of adopting black Brazilian style when it suits
opposition was swift. Will the BJP act against its minister? her. Anitta is from a favela and, as she says,
nobody in Brazil is “totally white”. Her brazen
ness is impressive and powerful. n
UPFRONT
Q&A
REVIEW
‘INDIA NEEDS ‘Indian nationalism

WTO TO GROW’
At a time when the global trade is shrink-
is inclusive’
P
ing, the US is turning inward and China is erhaps, in the current Constitution to reflect the stated
seeking newer markets, Union commerce national climate, readers RSS desire for a “Hindu rashtra”.
and industry minister Suresh Prabhu tells will roll their eyes at an We should see straight through the
Anilesh S. Mahajan that India needs the anthology titled Indian National- doublespeak of BJP figureheads
World Trade Organization (WTO) more ism, The Essential Writings, edited like Yogi Adityanath and Nar-
than ever before. Excerpts: by the Aligarh Muslim University endra Modi himself, pretending
historian Irfan Habib. They know to talk about development while
Q. After the Buenos Aires round, where he stands. His Wikipedia stoking hatred, but the national
member countries pointed fingers at the entry, peculiarly (and inaccu- conversation has been vitiated.
way the WTO was functioning and even rately), describes him as “being well This present phase, then, is a lit-
wondered if it was needed at all. known for his strong stance against eral regression, a return to a mori-
We are opposed to this idea. India’s biggest Hinduism”. What Habib is against, bund idea, a scabrous nationalism,
success in the last ministerial conference he says on the phone, he says, “that is built on
was that it not only pushed the idea of sounding a touch weary division and exclusion
WTO but also its purpose. We held a ‘mini- himself, is the national-- and is being pushed by
ministerial’ in Delhi to discuss ways to ism of the moment—the the state.” Pakistan is
strengthen the WTO. In this round, India strident, showy ‘Bharat the Muslim expression
revitalised and re-established relationships mata’ worship and of such a narrow na-
with many member countries. We will cultural bullying of the tionalism, Habib points
discuss how to make the WTO dynamic. saffron masses. out. India was meant to
It is “un-Indian”, be its opposite.
Q. How do you envisage the WTO’s role in he says, propagated “I have deliberately
India’s global trade strategies? Many of “by people who believe avoided,” he writes, “in-
Indian Nationalism:
your predecessors have complained that it in sloganeering, who The Essential
cluding Veer Savarkar
is unfair (to developing economies). speak without reading Writings and Guru Golwalkar
India is poised to be the third largest econ- or understanding our Edited by S. Irfan here as proponents of
Habib
omy. If we grow by more than 8 per cent, past, who cherry-pick Aleph Book Hindu nationalism.” It
we will reach there in the next six-seven from history to justify Company is the grand, complicat-
years; if we grow by 7 per cent, we will take or vindicate present- ed thinking on display
a couple of years more. We are working on a day politics”. Habib conceived, in this volume though—from
multi-dimensional strategy. Reaching the with his publishers, of the anthol- Bipin Chandra Pal to Jayaprakash
$5 trillion mark is inevitable. Today, global ogy almost as a corrective, “to put Narayan, via Tagore, Gandhi,
output is higher than global trade. We need the evolution of Indian national- Nehru, Ambedkar et al—that has
to re-strategise our global trade; so, we ism in perspective, to show how fallen out of favour.
need the WTO more than ever before. our founding fathers arrived at an Habib holds little hope for
inclusive nationalism.” the recovery of the Left, leav-
Q. US trade representative Robert Ligh- The RSS, Habib says, was ing “secular, liberal politics” to
thizer has said that five of the six ‘richest incidental to nation-building, to a tainted Congress. Indeed, the
countries’ are benefitting from differen- the construction of India and the words ‘secular’ and ‘liberal’ have
tial treatment as developing economies… values it would seek to represent. been turned into slurs—Nehru-
This has to be a collective decision of all “They questioned those values, vian bien pensants who don’t have
WTO members. In- challenged them since the the courage of their convictions.
dia is unique—a $2.5 1920s,” he argues. “Anant But if anti-national is the current
trillion economy, but Kumar Hegde,” he adds, “a epithet of choice, those who be-
also home to a large minister in this government, lieve in India’s secular Constitu-
number of poor. We let the cat out of the bag” by tion, Habib asserts, should wear
qualify for differen- saying that the BJP had come the insult as a garland. n
tial treatment. into power to change the —Shougat Dasgupta
VIKRAM SHARMA
UPFRONT
G U J A R AT
Tightrope
for Rupani in
DEEPAK SANSTA/GETTY IMAGES
Second Term
By Uday Mahurkar
A
head of the Gujarat polls, when senior Parsi
clerics invited Vijay Rupani to a community
ALL SET Jai Ram Thakur with supporters in Shimla event planned on December 23, he promised
he would come if he remained chief minister. On
the day, after deputing a colleague to meet the gov-
H I M AC H A L P R A D E S H ernor and stake claim to form the new government,
Rupani flew down to join the function at the Parsi
The Sangh Weighs In Fire Temple in Udvada (south Gujarat). The priests
were impressed.
Rupani is a ‘humble’ man in a party increas-
I
n the end, it was former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal ingly known for its ‘arrogance’. But it will take the
who was called on to propose Jai Ram Thakur as the man second-time CM a lot more than humility to win
who would occupy the coveted ground floor office of the Gujarat for Narendra Modi in 2019. It’s a tough
chief minister’s secretariat in Shimla. The first whiff that task given the BJP’s slender 99-seat win and the
five-time MLA Thakur, who, beyond BJP circles, is relatively mounting agrarian distress across rural Gujarat.
unknown outside Himachal Pradesh, could have a shot at
chief ministership came midway into the counting of votes on
December 18 when it became clear that neither Dhumal nor BJP SHAILESH RAVAL
state unit chief Satpal Satti would win. Thakur emerged as the
frontrunner, with several senior BJP leaders indicating that the
chief minister would necessarily have to be an elected legislator.
Thakur’s age (52) also evidently worked in his favour. He
has won his home constituency of Seraj (formerly Chaniot) five
consecutive times. Thakur’s associates describe him as “ami-
able and soft spoken” and a leader who, “with age on his side,
can lead the party in many future elections”. But what really
turned things Thakur’s way was his connect with the RSS. Well
before the December 24 meeting, senior RSS functionaries had
conveyed their choice to the BJP central observers in Shimla. A
fulltime Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activist
since his college days in Mandi, Thakur was deputed to Jammu
and Kashmir at the height of insurgency in the early 1990s.
The new CM faces several challenges, including keeping the
party united as Dhumal still commands considerable clout in
the newly elected BJP legislature party. Thakur will also ur-
gently need to address pressing governance issues, like tackling
the state’s mounting Rs 45,000 crore debt burden, and dete-
riorating law and order. The biggest challenge, though, will be
employment. There are 300,000 officially acknowledged jobless
youth in the state even as little growth is projected in key sectors
like tourism, horticulture and manufacturing. n
—Asit Jolly

Although he was uncontroversial the legislative assembly to take him on. address all concerns and aim for all-
during his first term, Rupani has often Political observers see parallels round development,” Rupani said after
been faulted for being feeble in dealing with the late 1980s when chief minister being sworn in as chief minister for the
with the state bureaucracy. Besides Amarsinh Chaudhary, under pres- second time on December 26.
rising corruption, he never really had sure from his party MLAs, accepted Albeit with some handholding
a grip on the administration. Like the the demands of various groups. Japan from his mentors, Rupani seems to
tardy rollout of the minimum sup- Pathak, a political analyst, says, have done well with the 20-member
port price (MSP) that he announced “The caste situation is very fluid. For council of ministers that has been
for groundnut and cotton, which saw instance, a rape case sworn in. Saurabh
bumper harvests this year. The Cen- could snowball into an Patel, who worked with
tre’s crop insurance scheme was also agitation against the The CM assumes Modi (when he was
poorly implemented. government by the sur- office with a CM) to bring 24-hour
In his second term, Rupani’s big- vivor’s community.” The
slender majority, domestic power supply
gest challenge will be to emerge from opposition Congress, and implement power
BJP president Amit Shah’s shadow he points out, will “ride amid agrarian sector reforms in 2006,
and build his own authoritative image. piggyback on such agi- distress and is back. Veteran Rajput
Analysts say he needs to bring greater tations, as it did with caste turmoil leader Bhupendrasinh
innovation in governance and project Hardik Patel”. Chudasama has been
a clear vision on development. And he But some things retained, and deputy
must achieve this with his relatively could work Rupani’s way. Belonging to chief minister Nitinbhai Patel has
thin majority in the assembly of 182 the miniscule Jain-baniya community, joined the government, fresh from his
legislators. The numbers could put he is viewed as ‘caste neutral’ and in a victory in Mehsana. Old loyalists like
him under pressure not just from better position to tackle caste conflicts Raman Patkar and Bachubhai Khabad
caste lobbies that have begun assert- than a politician from a dominant have been deservedly accommodated.
ing themselves following the rise of the caste. Rupani is also known to be Rupani’s swearing-in was attended
Patels, but his own MLAs too. Notably, ‘accommodating’, acceptable to most by Modi, Shah and 18 state chief min-
Alpesh Thakor and Jignesh Mevani, groups and in sync with the RSS, Shah isters—an indication of the importance
the BJP’s main challengers, will be in and Prime Minister Modi. “We will of retaining Gujarat for the BJP. n
SHOW OF STRENGTH PM
Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah and
party CMs at Rupani’s swearing-in
ceremony in Gandhinagar

UPFRONT
POINT OF V IEW
O Jerusalem?
By C.R. Gharekhan
P
resident Donald Trump could take the no doubt took into account the possible
decision on December 6 to recognise reaction of Israel and the US and came to the
Jerusalem as the capital of Israel without confident conclusion that it could comfortably
worrying about any meaningful backlash from deal with any negative impact from either. Ever
the Arab states. Unlike in 1973, when the Arabs since the then PM Narasimha Rao established
effectively employed the ‘oil weapon’ against diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992,
the US and others for their pro-Israel stance our ties with Israel have grown steadily and
following the Yom Kippur war, the US today substantially. One of the factors influencing the
is a net exporter of oil and gas; the Arab states decision on diplomatic relations at the time was
are bleeding themselves in internecine wars, the expectation that the Jewish lobby in the US
the Middle East is in turmoil, and some Arab could be helpful for India; the days of ‘Hindi-
regimes are in undeclared but unambiguous American’ bhai-bhai were still in the future.
alliance with Israel, bound together by a shared The Israeli defence industry is heavily
hatred and fear of Iran. The Arabs could do very dependent on the Indian market; we
little to hurt the US beyond passing a resolution buy more than one-third of its defence
in the UN General Assembly. The Palestinian production. Cooperation in other fields has
search for an alternative ‘broker’ will not lead also expanded. Bilateral trade has increased
anywhere. For good or bad, there is still no from $200 million in 1992 to $3.5 billion in
substitute for America as an intermediary in 2015-16 and is expected to reach $10 billion
Israeli-Palestinian talks, however biased the in the next five years if the bilateral trade
Americans are in favour of Israel. In any case, it agreement is concluded. Most importantly,
is Israel that calls the shots, not the US. India is extremely important for Israel—both
India’s vote in favour of Resolution politically and diplomatically. One vote not
ES-10/18 came as a surprise and to their liking is not going to change anything
disappointment to a few. Some doubt had in Israel’s perception of India. Mr Netanyahu
arisen because the government had departed will not cancel his visit to India in January.
from the traditional formulations regarding The question is: will he go back with some
Palestine. ‘East Jerusalem’ was mentioned compensatory gesture from us?
as future Palestine’s capital in the Manama With the US, the relationship might have
declaration of January 2016 after the Indo- reached a stage when an occasional vote will not
Arab forum, in the 2016 Russia-India-China have a knee-jerk adverse effect. It is imperative
communiqué as well as Prime Minister for us to demonstrate our independent policy
Narendra Modi’s message in 2016 on the from time to time to foreign powers as well as
occasion of the International Day of Solidarity to our own people. Others will only respect us
with the Palestinian People on November 29. if we respect ourselves. The two countries have
In the In 2017, ‘East Jerusalem’ was conspicuous by a number of equities in each other. President
UN vote, its absence in these statements. Our positive Trump’s strategic review document has several
India took vote reclaimed the goodwill of the Arabs and positive references to India and he has spoken
into account seems to have reassured Palestine, which had of helping India become a leading global power.
the reaction felt aggrieved when the PM paid a standalone The government of India has rightly taken
of Israel and visit to Israel. The Arabs lobbied with our his and his UN ambassador’s threats in its
the US and government for support, but in those meetings stride. Let us see how the threat to cut off aid
the Indian interlocutors reportedly did not go is implemented with respect to Pakistan which
decided it beyond repeating the line of India following an even co-sponsored the anti-US resolution. n
could deal independent position, uninfluenced by pressure
with any from any source. Our affirmative vote has The writer is former permanent representative of
negative confirmed an independent policy. India and under secretary general in the UN. He
impact While deciding on our vote, the government also served as special envoy for Middle East.
Illustration by TANMOY CHAKRABORTY

Exclusive Politoons by India Today Group
WATCH NOW
Newsmakers
of the Year
WHY VIRAT
IS SAMRAT
IN THE CHURNING NEWS CYCLES OF 2017,
SOME NEW STARS WERE BORN, OTHERS DIMMED, BUT
CAPTAIN INDIA’S BURNED THE BRIGHTEST OF ALL
By Raj Chengappa
A
nation, like Nature, abhors a vacuum. to define a year. Later, astronomers calculated it on
When it has a billion-plus people, as In- the basis of the time taken by the orbiting earth to
dia does, any vacuum caused—by leaders complete a full circle around the sun.
or louts, power or pelf, victors or villains, Now, the year is used as a virtual marker of both
courage or cowardice, glory or gore, tri- an individual and a nation’s transition. And for a
umph or travail—is rapidly filled up. newsmagazine like india today to determine those
That’s also because India is never individuals who stood out, dominated our conscious-
static—it is in constant motion. Beneath ness and thereby the news, and defined the year by
its vastness and deceptive calm lies a their achievements or foibles. In 2017, there was no
restless sea of humanity. The churning vacuum of newsmakers, whether those who inspired
can at times be extraordinarily supportive, causing a or those who failed us. It was a year of new begin-
rising tide of prosperity and cheer, or on occasion be nings as well as old endings.
terrifyingly brutal, sending a tidal wave of destruc- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was our
tion and misery. Newsmaker for 2016, continued to bestride the po-
Ancient India looked upon all this as part of a litical world and tower over his compatriots. Even as
cosmic dance of the universe in which giant galaxies the aftershocks of demonetisation were felt across the
get born or extinguish themselves with metronomic economy, Modi rammed through the single biggest
regularity. Hindu cosmology depicted it as Nata- tax reform since Independence, the Goods and Ser-
raja (the Lord of Dance), where Shiva performs the vices Tax. And for racing it through both Houses of
Ananda Tandava (the dance of bliss) in which, over Parliament and making it a law, he relied on his man
aeons, the universe is created, preserved and then for all seasons and reasons: Arun Jaitley, the Union
destroyed—only to be born anew. minister for finance. Jaitley brought both his legal
The human species tried to encapsulate Time acumen and persuasive skills to bear in hammering
based on our limited life span. We first used the wax- out differences with state satraps, especially those
ing and waning of the moon as our celestial clock and from the Opposition parties. He persuaded them
then the changing seasons (never our ageing bodies) to come aboard for the greater good of the country,
Illustration by SIDDHANT JUMDE JA N UA RY 8 , 2 018 INDIA TODAY 13

Newsmakers
of the Year
listing the gains and assuaging their fears over the loss of Modi asserted his pre-eminence—the Chinese president
control over much of their revenue. Xi Jinping. Internally, Xi cracked down on high-level
For a while, though, GST was neither Good nor Simple corruption, and externally he followed a muscular and
as the prime minister promised it would be. Businesses, expansionist foreign policy (remember Doklam) designed
particularly the small and medium enterprises, were to shift the world’s centre of gravity away from the US to
weighed down by tonnes of paperwork and baulked at the China. By the year-end, Xi had put himself in the same
multiple slabs that for some items bordered on the ridicu- league as that of his country’s legendary leaders Mao Ze-
lous. Meanwhile, the double whammy of demonetisation dong and Deng Xiaoping. Pakistan, India’s other major
and GST began to hurt the growth of the economy and the neighbour, continued to regress and go down the path of
GDP fell for a fifth consecutive quarter before recovering self-destruction. Nawaz Sharif was forced to step down
some ground towards the end of the year. To add to the as prime minister after the Supreme Court disqualified
government’s worries, the job crisis deepened and inflation him for withholding information on his assets that were
began to rear its ugly head. At the end of the year, the jury brought to light by the Panama Papers. Sharif, though,
was still out on these two Big Bang measures and whether retained control of the government by appointing a proxy,
it was worth implementing them in such haste. thumbing his nose at the Establishment (read the Army).
T
What defined India, however, was not the sordid she-
he people of India, though, especially those states nanigans of the self-proclaimed godman Gurmeet Ram
where the assembly polls were held, appeared to Rahim Singh, who turned out to be more of a messenger
endorse the programmes of the prime minister of evil. Or the messy boardroom battles of corporate
and his party, the BJP. In March, Modi and his India, including one waged by the iconic former chief of
alter ego, BJP chief Amit Shah, powered the Infosys, N.R. Narayana Murthy, to oust his successor.
party to an astounding Not even the Indian film industry,
win in Uttar Pradesh, with its phantasmagorical sequel
giving it a two-thirds majority in to the blockbuster Baahubali
the country’s most populous state.
Typical of their unconventional
2017 was a year of or the forest fire of protests that
spread for the yet to be released
approach to leadership, the power new beginnings and Padmavati.
duo picked a yogi known more for
his headstrong saffron views than
old endings. It had no It was instead the other
religion of the country: cricket.
the administrative skills expected dearth of newsmakers— Particularly the team’s inspiring
of a chief minister. Barring a few
idiosyncrasies, including painting
those who inspired and captain Virat Kohli who through-
out the year kept Indians in thrall,
government buildings saffron, Yogi those who failed us. his feats overshadowing even
has pursued a worldly path to gov- our star badminton players, P.V.
ern his state, exhibiting a penchant Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth
for hard work and harmony. who had taken the badminton
Meanwhile, the Modi-Shah juggernaut seemed world by storm. It was not just Virat’s prodigious batting
unstoppable, winning elections or installing BJP govern- prowess (2,818 international runs in a calendar year,
ments by other means in six of the other states that went including six Test centuries, two of them back-to-back
to polls during the year. They included Gujarat where double centuries, apart from six centuries in the one-
the prime minister even stooped to conquer his home day format) or his feats as captain (nine back-to-back
state. But the face-saving victory also gave face to Rahul series wins as captain) or even his sparkling off-the-field
Gandhi who by the end of the year finally took over as life including his much celebrated marriage with actor
president of the Congress party from his mother Sonia Anushka Sharma recently. More than anything else,
Gandhi in what smacked of a dynastic succession. Rahul Virat transformed the Indian cricket team, making it an
surprised the prime minister with his new-found com- ultra-fit, fighting machine in his own mould. He wowed
bativeness and connect with the electorate. And nearly us with the intensity with which he plays the game, mes-
pulled off a coup in Gujarat by allying with discontented merised us with his stroke play and he made us proud of
groups, including Patidar leader Hardik Patel. Rahul his belief that nothing short of a win matters.
may have lost the battle, but he lifted the Congress out of In 2017, Virat emerged as the Samrat of modern-day
oblivion and made it once again the prime challenger to cricket and the new God to India’s screaming millions.
the BJP’s dominance. For that reason, he is india today’s Newsmaker of the
Internationally, another alpha nationalist leader like Year. Do rise and applaud him. n

The
Newsmaker
of the
Year
The Legend of
King Kohli
INDIA’S CRICKET CAPTAIN—AND ARGUABLY THE COUNTRY’S
FAVOURITE CELEBRITY—VIRAT KOHLI STAMPED HIS LARGER-THAN-
LIFE FOOTPRINT ACROSS THE ARENA OF 2017. WHAT EXPLAINS HIS
BLAZING FORM IN ALL FORMATS OF THE GAME AND BEYOND?
By Boria Majumdar
J
une 11, 2017, Oval, London. India were playing a virtual
knockout match against South Africa for a place in the
Champions Trophy semi-final. They had lost rather unex- AT THE CREASE
pectedly to unfancied Sri Lanka two days ago at the same
Virat Kohli was born on
venue, and this was a make-or-break contest. On November 5, 1988 in Delhi
top of the pressures of a high-stakes match against the
world’s number one ODI team was all the ambient media
noise about frictions between captain and coach (Anil ODI debut against Sri Lanka
Kumble). For Virat Kohli, the captain, it was a match of im- at Dambulla on August 18, 2008
mense significance.
Riding on a sharp bowling performance, India made an
T20 debut against
easy game of it. And Virat, as he has done so often through Zimbabwe at Harare on
the year, anchored the run chase, remaining unbeaten on June 12, 2010
76 to close out the game. But despite winning at a canter, the skipper
seemed unmoved—he wasn’t to be swayed by the flood of praise.
June 18, 2017, Oval, London. India lost the Champions Trophy Test debut against the
West Indies at Kingston on
final to Pakistan and Virat Kohli scored a duck. Within moments of
June 20, 2011
the match getting over, Kohli was trolled on social media and called all
kinds of names by furious fans lashing out for the great letdown. The
32 INDIA TODAY JA N UA RY 8 , 2 018 Photograph by BANDEEP SINGH

The
Newsmaker
of the
Year
defeat had hurt him more than anyone else but having
played sport at the highest level for over a decade, he
was no stranger to the extreme love-hate of fans. He
knew well how cricketers in India are deities one day
and fallen angels the next.
As it turned out, the Champions Trophy final was
an aberration in an otherwise glorious year for Virat.
His 2,818 international runs in calendar 2017 is the
third highest ever in history—and only 46 runs shy of
the record held by Kumar Sangakkara (2,868 runs in
2014); he has nine back-to-back series wins as captain;
and six 200-plus scores in the past 17 months—that’s
special by even his own super-achieving standards.
Quite aside from the high averages in all formats of the
game, the most certain measure of his mastery and
domination of the field is that he occupies pole position
in the ICC rankings in the two shorter formats and is at
#2 in Tests (behind Steve Smith of Australia). For per-
spective, no other batsman in the world features among
the ICC Top 5 in all three formats. The captain-coach
spat is long forgotten, and the year has ended with the
fairytale flourish of a grand wedding.
The Transformation of
Virat Kohli
Perth, January 2012. The Australians, as they often
do, had managed to get under Virat’s skin. Not able to
handle the heckling from spectators, Kohli descended
to low-level combat: showing the middle finger to a par-
ticularly noisy section of the crowd after they called him
a ‘wanker’. The anger (mis)management was a feature
of early Kohli, and there were concerns if it would get in
the way of a full blossoming of his talent.
Two months down the line, it was a very differ-
ent story. Kohli had just scored a match-winning 183
against Pakistan in Dhaka in a match that had ended
close to midnight. The media, present in strength,
was waiting for the Kohli sound bite before filing their
match reports. At Mirpur, the press conference enclo-
sure is on the opposite side of the pavilion and one has
to trek across the ground to reach the media enclosure.
On his way to the media centre, Virat suddenly stopped,
turned and started jogging towards a section of his fans
in the stands. Some 2,000 spectators had stayed back
after the match and were still screaming “Kohli, Kohli”
with gusto. Virat, to the surprise of many present,
decided to oblige them first with photographs and au-
tographs before turning his attention to the media. He
was fully aware, of course, of what he was doing, and he
even apologised to the media contingent as soon as he
18 INDIA TODAY JA N UA RY 8 , 2 018 THARAKA BASNAYAKA/GETTYIMAGES

VIRAT AND HIS RECORDS
CONTEMPORARIES OF 2017
6
Virat Kohli is the only player to feature among the top 5
across three formats in ICC rankings; first and the only one
to maintain an above-50 average in all three formats
ICC Test Strike

number of double hundreds
Player Runs Average 100s
Rank Matches Rate Kohli has scored as captain,
setting a new record for most
1 STEVE SMITH 59 5,796 62.32 22 56.42 double centuries by captains
in Tests. Brian Lara has five.
TEST
2 VIRAT KOHLI 63 5,268 53.75 20 58.16 No Indian captain had hit more
than one double century
3 CHETESHWAR PUJARA 54 4,396 52.96 14 48.13
4 KANE WILLIAMSON 63 5,214 50.62 17 50.51
9
5 JOE ROOT 63 5,499 52.37 13 56.21
ICC ODI Strike successive Test series win

Rank Matches Rate for India under Virat’s
leadership between 2015 and
1 VIRAT KOHLI 202 9,030 55.74 32 91.73 2017. India equalled Australia’s
streak of nine consecutive
ODIs
2 AB DE VILLIERS 225 9,515 54.06 25 101.07 series wins between 2005-06

and 2008
3 DAVID WARNER 101 4,270 44.94 14 96.58
1,460
4 BABAR AZAM 36 1,758 58.60 7 85.88
5 ROHIT SHARMA 174 6,424 45.23 16 87.08
ICC T20 Strike runs he scored in ODIs in

Rank Matches Rate 2017, the highest by any
captain in a calendar year
1 AARON FINCH 33 1,132 37.73 1 148.36
T20s
9,000
2 EVIN LEWIS 14 468 36.00 2 154.96
3 VIRAT KOHLI 55 1,956 52.86 0 137.84
4 K.L. RAHUL 12 458 50.88 1 147.74
5 KANE WILLIAMSON 42 1,173 34.50 0 122.31

Kohli is the fastest batsman
to reach this run mark in ODIs,
Updated till December 25, 2017
taking just 194 innings to create
the record; at 32, he has the
second highest number of ODI
centuries after Tendulkar’s 49
The
Newsmaker
of the
Year
entered the press conference room.

The transformation had begun.
A new maturity, a new compo- Kohli is India’s biggest
sure now seemed to cloak the aggres- brand, valued at $144
sive on-field persona. In November
2013, after playing his 200th Test
million. But cola en-
and his last international, Sachin dorsements are against
Tendulkar sat in the Wankhede
dressing room, all by himself, con-
his fitness ideals
templating the moment. Here’s what
happened next, in his own words:
“Virat walked up to me. I could see
tears in his eyes as he approached to the best of my ability. As long as
me and held out a gift for me. It was I am true to my calling and prepare
evidently something very close to his the best every time I step out to lead
heart. He said his dad had given it India, I’m not concerned about what
to him (a family heirloom for good is being said or written about me. I
PRAKASH SINGH/AFP
luck) and he’d always wondered who know how hard I work and as long as
he would pass it on to. I was speech- my preparations are going the way I
less that he’d considered me worthy want them to, the results will come.”
of such a rare honour. As we hugged, This extreme self-assurance,
a lump had started to form in my mistaken for arrogance by some, is
throat, and I asked Virat to leave also key to understanding the Virat
before I burst into tears.” Kohli phenomenon. That, and what
B
Tendulkar describes as his “periph-
y 2016-17, when Virat fully eral vision”. “He can read the game
took over the captaincy, in brilliantly and can anticipate the run
all formats, the transfor- of play well in advance. That’s what
mation was complete. Still makes him stand out.” Sachin might
combative and always even be crediting him with a kind of
a straight shooter, he cricketing prescience, apart from the
was unafraid to call the ability to pace his knock to a nicety.
Australian captain a cheat “That’s why he is so good in a run
without ever using the word or tak- chase. He knows and understands
ing on the media for criticising M.S. where a match can be [before it
Dhoni and questioning his place in gets to that point], which helps him
the team. The man has the unquali- marshal his resources better.”
fied loyalty of the squad and the sup- Said peripheral vision was
port staff. He wasn’t perturbed by eloquently on show when India
the cutting words of outgoing coach chased down a formidable Austra-
Anil Kumble nor by the backlash lian total in the world T20 encounter
on social media prompted by the in Mohali on 27 March 2016 and in
Kumble ouster. He was quite matter the first Test against Sri Lanka in
of fact when he said to me: “I have Kolkata 16-20 November 2017. In
to take responsibility for my actions Mohali, Virat, to quote compatriot
just as I take credit for my success… Ravichandran Ashwin, “hunted
The media too has a job to do. They down the Australian total with great
are within their rights to criticise precision” and in Kolkata, he set up
me. My job as the captain of the In- the game with a century on a pitch
dian cricket team is to lead the team that was difficult for his bowlers. “It
Picture courtesy: INSTAGRAM/ VIRAT.KOHLI

OFF THE FIELD...
(Clockwise from top) Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma at their wedding reception
in New Delhi on December 21; Kohli at the gym; his health recipe
Picture courtesy: INSTAGRAM/ VIRAT.KOHLI
is as if he knows the grids of stadiums like a rarely will you see him play a false stroke.
mathematician. He knows where the gaps Because he’s able to get runs effortlessly and
are, and while chasing, the acceleration is able to score quickly across formats, he is
just perfect. He is a role model for all of us,” never under pressure. And because he scores
says Ashwin, himself one of the brightest quickly, the bowler is always under pressure
stars on India’s cricketing firmament, with when bowling to him. He’s equally at home
a trophy record to his name of being the against pace and spin. Bounce does not faze
quickest (52 matches) to 300 Test wickets. him because he can play the pull shot to
For Sourav Ganguly, another Kohli perfection. Which is why I think he’ll be suc-
fan, there’s daylight between Virat and the cessful in South Africa as well. And against
rest. “Maybe in Test cricket, Steve Smith is spin, he can rely on his deft footwork.”
slightly ahead, but when For David Warner, him-
you consider all formats of self one of the best in the
the game, it has to be Virat business, it’s down to self-
Kohli,” he says. In his reck- belief: “He is a supremely
oning, to watch him bat is to Virat’s mantra of confident batsman. His
treat yourself. “He is the sort fitness is now a self-belief is what makes
of player who’ll bring fans
back to Test cricket,” Sourav
way of life for him different. Even if he is
chasing 350, he knows he
gushes. Decoding the secret his team. Photos can swing the match in a
of this mastery of many for-
mats, Sourav says: “Look at
of his workouts matter of a few overs and is
hardly ever under pressure.
his shot selection closely. He are a regular on Someone who has scored 50
never slogs. Even when he
lifts the ball, it’s a conven-
social media international hundreds in
just nine years has to be a
tional cricketing shot. Very very good player.”

TENDULKAR 2.0?
After 63 Tests and 202 ODIs—
the number of matches
Virat has played till now—
Tendulkar is statistically
behind the current Indian
skipper. But Tendulkar
played for another 15 years.
Can Virat match Sachin’s
long innings?
AFTER 63 TESTS Runs Highest Average 100s 50s 200s
SACHIN TENDULKAR 4,753 179 54.63 17 19 0
VIRAT KOHLI 5,268 243 53.75 20 15 6
AFTER 202 ODIs Runs Highest Average 100s 50s
SACHIN TENDULKAR 7,454 143 42.11 19 43
VIRAT KOHLI 9,030 183 55.74 32 45
SACHIN’S RECORD Matches Runs Highest Average 100s 50s
TEST 200 15,921 248* 53.78 51 68
ODI 463 18,426 200* 44.83 49 96
*Not out
The cult and business of fitness become a healthier India,” he said while launching his
The other, already much-storied legacy of Virat is his own sport and lifestyle line One8, in collaboration with
obsession with fitness. The current Indian team is argu- Puma, in November.
ably the best fielding unit in the world across formats The deal, valued at over Rs 100 crore over a period
with Virat’s mantra of fitness becoming a way of life for of eight years, brings to the fore the savvy business-
his young team. Every second day, he posts a photo of man in Virat. While turning down cola advertisements
his workout on social media. In matters of fitness, his because he doesn’t “believe in the product”, presum-
benchmarks are not even only cricket- ably because it doesn’t square with his
ers—and, as Sourav Ganguly says, ideals of fitness, Virat, India’s biggest
he is possibly in the same league as brand, valued at $144 million, no longer
Cristiano Ronaldo or Justin Gatlin or
Wayde van Niekerk or Gareth Bale.
Tough Tests await in believes in deals for a year or two.
“Long-term associations mean he can
From introducing high-altitude the new year. A influence brand campaigns and shape
training into his own regimen to
making the Yo-Yo Endurance Test
victory in any one the product line in sync with his vision,”
says a leading Indian brand expert. “He
compulsory for all India cricketers, of the away tours knows that sporting careers are short,
Virat now wants to take the country
with him on a fitness journey. “If we
will give Kohli an with only a few purple patches… and
is justifiably making the most of his
can get people to come out and play aura of invincibility current dominance.” Judging by the
and take pride in doing so, we will current run of play, the idealism Virat

SUPER SKIPPER
How Kohli fares in comparison with two of
India’s most successful captains
TESTS Matches Won Lost Drawn Runs Ave Win %
S. GANGULY 49 21 13 15 2,561 37.66 43
M.S. DHONI 60 27 18 15 3,454 40.63 45
VIRAT KOHLI 32 20 3 8 3,170 67.44 63
ODIs Matches Won Lost Tied NR Runs Ave Win %
S. GANGULY 147 76 65 0 5 5,104 38.66 51
M.S. DHONI 199 110 74 4 11 6,633 53.92 55
VIRAT KOHLI 43 33 9 0 1 2,310 74.51 77
T20s Matches Won Lost Tied Runs Ave Win %
M.S. DHONI 72 41 28 1 1,112 37.06 57
VIRAT KOHLI 10 6 4 0 299 37.37 60
PANKAJ NANGIA\ MAIL TODAY
is holding out for in his product endorsements—which means getting

selective and turning down potentially lucrative deals—is only working
to his advantage. He is in a position to choose and his scrupulousness is
only adding to the aura of his brand.
Scruples and a sense of fair play are manifest in his handling of
Dhoni, who is in the evening of his international career. Every time the
media has attacked the former captain, Virat has come to his rescue.
“I don’t understand why MSD is being singled out,” he thundered at a
press conference on November 8. “This is very different from anything I
have seen,” says Sourav. “I am delighted to see Virat is protecting Dhoni
the way he is.” Do you hear a wish-it-were-so lament? Well, anyway,
buoyed by the captain’s support, Dhoni has lately been a much more
expressive version of himself on the field.
A famous wedding and life hereafter

For Kohli, who is as public a celebrity figure as you’ll find, the line be-
tween his personal and professional life is firmly drawn. The decision to
conduct his lavish—yet private—wedding at a heritage resort in Tuscany,
Italy, and the way the whole event was choreographed, including the con-
trolled access to media, speaks volumes about that commitment. Wed-
The
Newsmaker
of the
Year IN PRAISE OF VIRAT
Why sporting greats think the Indian skipper is special
I
R AVI SHASTR
IAN BOTHAM
R. ASHWIN
NGULY
SOUR AV GA
Virat
“As captain,
g , but
“The best thin is still ev ol vi ng
ou t Vi ra t is that
he re he is to day is
ab w
in. No mag -
“It is as if he he plays to w already quite
ion to mat ter what
the e Virat
“Virat’s at tent knows the gr
ids ni fic en t. Th
m pa - w ill still l about
fitness is co
of st ad iu m s like situatio n, he doctrine is al
ry inate work
rabl e w ith th e ve
a mathe m at ic ia n. want to dom w or k et hi c—
t and
in and win cricke
Phtographs by GETTY IMAGES
best athl et es ow s w he re hard, ha rd er

He kn ’s
the world—he’
s up
the gaps are
and matches. That ev en ha rd er . if need
tiano ak es hi m r he
there with Cr is
whi le ch as in g, the wha t m be. No wonde
Rona ld o, Li o M essi, tio n is ju st special.” gets results.”
vak accelera
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Rafael Nada perfect.” Y
ic , Ju st in IA\ MA IL TO DA
Djok ov PA NK AJ NA NG
Gatlin etc.”
SACHIN TENDULKAR
“What sets him apart is his

peripheral vision, the ability to
ding over, he was happy to part the doors for breathless read the game as brilliantly as he
fans and media back at home: with the two grand recep- does, the faculty to anticipate the
tions, in Delhi and Mumbai, he made it up to the media for run of play much in advance.”
his Italian escape. As while batting, so in life, Virat seems
to possess a charmed sense of timing. The wedding, which
came at the end of a year of high achievement, his most
successful professional year so far, and after the acrimony
of a captain-coach spat was happily behind him, seemed do? Two separate reports in the last week of October
like a perfect way to sign off the year. 2017, both involving Kohli, both of which consumed a lot
Tough tests await in the new year. Despite the sheer of newsprint, tell me he does. While the first celebrated
scale of his achievements, the Virat story is still unfolding. Kohli as one of the world’s leading sports brands, the
A victory in any one of the away tours to South Africa, second speculated on his then likely marriage with actor-
England and Australia will give him an aura of invinci- partner Anushka Sharma. What’s interesting in each of
bility. Is Virat aware of the enormity of the task at hand? these cases is how Kohli was being consumed and ap-
Does he know what failure in the next 12 months might propriated. Of course, anything Kohli says/ does is news.

RK E
MICHAEL CLA
J
MITHALI R A
P.V. SINDHU
PICHAND
PULLEL A GO
ability
“Virat has the
in all
“The thing I to be the be st
ost e game.
e admire the m form at s of th
“I just love th about Vi ra t is I don’t know
if he’ll
spor ts Vi ra t
“To play elite ag gr es si on
hi s at te nt io n
brea k Sa ch in ’s record
es t level game.
at the high brings to the to fitness. It’s of 100 inte rn at ional
co nsis- te
and to do so He is passiona something I hund re ds , bu t 50 in -
ha ve to be ve and
tently, you and expressi have learnt ternationa l ce nt ur ies
. Vi rat love
supr em el y fit that’s what I from him. I ca
n
even be fo re he has
ed th e ve
has redefin about him. I ha tell you it’s no
t
turned 30 is al
ready
ou rs of fit ne ss to br in g th e al.”
cont tried easy.” quite ph en om en
or tsper- sion to
for Indian sp same ag gres
. Th at ’s what my game.” / RE UT ER S
sons NI GE L MA RP LE
sp ec ial.”
makes him
ROHIT SHARMA
“We started together and you simply

have to admire where he’s reached.
Except the 2014 England series, he
That he may get married to Anushka was considered has never had a series of consistent
breaking news across media platforms. And the wedding failures and that’s something I’m
earlier this month seemed to send a news-hungry media totally amazed by.”
into an uncontrollable tizzy. Wedding photos went viral
on Twitter every time a new one was posted and within
days it was revealed that Virat had overtaken Shah Rukh
Khan as India’s most valued brand. There’s a lot at stake
and Virat knows the highs and lows of his trade. pies in his head is inviolate—he is all alone when he bats
The last words on Kohli have not yet been written. or trains. It’s a passionate human robot with precision
Five years down the line, will he be hailed as India’s great- focus. Virat is fashioning a young Indian side in the same
est batsman and finest captain, or will he go down as an mould of utter self-belief, and it seems to be paying off. So
autocrat who treated a legend like Kumble unfairly? Will far. He will continue to polarise opinion, but he will give
it really matter to him how we label him? Does Kohli, the us results. As veteran all-rounder Ian Botham says: “The
person, really care? My guess is he doesn’t deep down. best thing about Virat is that he plays to win. No matter
He looks fully immersed in the moment, at peace with what the situation, he will still want to dominate and win
himself, in his gym, at training, in marriage and between matches. That’s what makes him special.”
those 22 yards. My guess is he won’t blink giving up On the evidence of his exploits in 2017, no one will
multi-crore endorsement contracts. The space he occu- challenge that assertion. n

OTHER NEWSMAKERS
POWER DUO
NARENDRA MODI, 66; AMIT SHAH, 53
Together, they have built an unbeatable electoral machine that has delivered six states to them this
year, from the spectacular victory in Uttar Pradesh to Gujarat and Himachal towards the yearend
By Uday Mahurkar
W
hen Amit Shah was jailed as a tory in Gujarat after more than two decades.
co-accused in the 2005 Sohrabud- The Shah-Modi relationship was forged in the
din Sheikh fake encounter case in early ’80s under the guidance of their ideological par-
July 2010, it was as though a bolt ent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, where Modi
of lightning had struck Narendra was a pracharak and Shah a junior worker. The duo
Modi. People who would go to visit drew closer in 1984 when Modi became the Ahmed-
the Gujarat chief minister at his abad district pracharak and Shah a BJP worker. Modi
home or office during Shah’s three- was struck by Shah’s clear-headed understanding of
month imprisonment would see a live issues during the brainstorming sessions of the
man not quite himself. It seemed Sangh parivar, his ideological commitment and his
as if Modi had lost a limb. Reports of a Congress plot brilliance in analysing knotty problems. Their com-
to entice Shah into turning approver and implicat- ing together in 1986 was but a natural progression.
ing Modi swirled about. A frantic CM consulted Modi, by then a full-time organisation secretary of
his advisers on ways to get Shah out of jail. Shah, in the Gujarat BJP unit, began using Shah for political
turn, relayed messages of reassurance from jail. He tasks such as booth management during polls. He was
would never do anything to harm Modi, whatever impressed by the young party worker’s understanding
the pressure. The jail term was possibly the longest of politics and strategic thinking. When Modi fell out
separation between Modi and Shah and a vindica- with former Gujarat CM Keshubhai Patel in 1996,
tion of their nearly three-decade-long partnership Shah stayed with him. And stepped into the limelight
that has withstood the test of time. when Modi began his electoral innings in 2001 as
Shah was the man behind the Modi juggernaut chief minister of Gujarat.
which pulped the Congress to a mere 44 seats in Shah, then 38, was one of the youngest state
May 2014—making the BJP the first party in the ministers in the country, handling some 17 portfolios
past three decades to get a parliamentary major- in the Modi cabinet in 2012. Theirs has never been a
ity on its own. Since then, the duo has delivered 13 relationship of equals, though. Modi is the boss, both
states to the BJP, by either winning the elections by age and seniority; Shah, the loyal disciple. Shah
straight or forming governments through alliances never fails to acknowledge that, including in how
in states—the prize catch was Uttar Pradesh earlier he addresses Modi, calling him Saheb. Besides his
this year and, more recently, Himachal Pradesh. The fealty, it is Shah’s astuteness, political acumen and,
Congress’s five-state footprint is its smallest in two above all, perfect reading of Modi’s mind, whether
decades. Political analyst Japan Pathak notes that in politics or in governance, that make him virtually
the Congress was unable to buck anti-incumbency indispensable for the prime minister. “They comple-
after just five years in power in Himachal Pradesh ment each other,” says Ahmedabad-based political
whereas the Modi-Shah duo snatched another vic- analyst Vidyut Thakar. “Modi is the visionary, while
26 INDIA TODAY JA N UA RY 8 , 2 018 RAJAT GUPTA/EPA

WINNING TEAM
The prime minister and
Amit Shah after the
BJP’s wins in Gujarat
and Himachal Pradesh
OTHER NEWSMAKERS
Shah is the implementer.” THE MODI-SHAH interest earned on the corpus. This
Put another way, Modi is the ALCHEMY attempt to instil transparency
brand, Shah the marketer par in the day-to-day working of the
excellence. He has transformed Their IQ is their meeting ground. BJP is in keeping with the ideals
the art of fighting and winning What would take others for- of Deendayal Upadhayay, an RSS-
elections into an exact science. He ever to understand, Modi and BJP icon both are in awe of. “They
Shah can explain to each other
was pasting party posters in the understand each other well. Such
in just 15 minutes. There is per-
1985 elections in Gujarat. And, as fect chemistry between them mutual understanding is rarely
he puts it, “Only in the BJP can a on political strategy as well to be found,” says party general
person like me who used to paste as governance. Ideologically, secretary Bhupendra Yadav.
the party’s election posters as a too, they believe that if they There is the odd disagreement,
need to go two steps backward
youngster become its national as over the politics of defection
or deploy Chanakya niti for a
president.” Always a keen learner, larger objective, they will not Shah resorted to in August this
he was the only one who imbibed hesitate to do so. year to entice 13 Congress MLAs
Modi’s lessons in election craft, to defeat Congress leader Ahmed
putting them to good use in three Patel in the Rajya Sabha elections.
consecutive state elections in Modi seldom calls even close The move was at variance with the
Gujarat, the general election of friends home for a meal. For a clean image Modi has assiduously
2014 and now assembly election man who does not believe in cultivated over the past three years
taking a holiday, formal meals
after assembly election since he as PM. Not only did Patel win the
are a waste of time, unless it’s a
took over as party president in working dinner or lunch. Shah, election but six of the seven turn-
September 2014. however, is an exception. The coat MLAs who were given tickets
I
BJP president and his family do by Shah lost in the Gujarat assem-
t helps that the duo is in get invited for dinner with Modi bly polls. The episode tarnished
once in a while.
perfect sync when it comes the BJP’s image and propped up a
to strategy and can tweak it tottering Congress in the state.
on the go. Shah would call Shah, sworn in as a Rajya Sab-
They are holding the 2019 Lok
Modi every evening during ha MP in October this year, has
Sabha strategy close to their
the final phase of the 2017 chests. But it comes out in also contributed vastly to some
Uttar Pradesh poll, dutifully the open once in a while. Like of the Modi government’s public
reporting the day’s events the vote against the US on welfare schemes. It was Shah’s
to Modi, from a low turnout at Jerusalem—probably taken suggestion that ministries fulfill
with an eye to the Muslim vote,
an election rally to the chances which Modi thinks may be veer-
their textile requirement from
of winning the seat. In Gujarat, ing towards the BJP after his the Khadi and Village Industries
Shah swiftly grasped the grim- triple talaq stand. Seen from an Commission. Shah also has a team
ness of the situation after Hardik RSS standpoint, it might seem that monitors the performances of
Patel’s allegations of tanashahi like an ideological compromise. Union ministers and his inputs are
It just might be the one thing
against the BJP began resonating that Modi and Shah differ on. crucial to Modi when it comes to
with the people. That is when the appointments in the CBI and other
duo decided to project the image politically-sensitive organisations.
of a more humble Modi. In the Both are equally devoted
last lap of campaigning, Modi to the task of developing fresh
tugged at the Gujarati asmita of the voters, bowing before leadership in the party at the grassroots and have done a
them as son of the soil, one whom the state could rely on, good job of it in many states. The duo has its work cut out
and someone who had done Gujarat proud by wiping out in the coming year—breaching the last major Congress
the middlemen of Delhi. It’s what perhaps saved the BJP bastion, Karnataka, in May next year and a series of state
from destruction in its bastion of Saurashtra. elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajas-
Both think alike on most issues. Last year, the duo than where the BJP will be battling anti-incumbency.
decided to project the BJP as a party with a difference This will be followed by the mother of all battles—May
by directing state BJP units to accept donations only 2019. Can the BJP make political history by becoming
through cheques, whether of a rupee or Rs 1 crore. The the first non-Congress party to win two consecutive
idea was to ensure that state units build a corpus through general elections? The country’s two best political minds
a fund collection drive so that they can be run from the are already at work. n

OTHER NEWSMAKERS
CHALLENGER
IN CHIEF
RAHUL GANDHI, 47
The new Congress president led the party to its best showing in
Gujarat in 32 years, taking the 2019 battle straight into the BJP camp
By Kaushik Deka
I
n many ways, 2017 will be marked as a watershed in Rahul Gandhi’s
political career. The country witnessed his new avatar—relentless in
public campaign, proactive on social media, and assertive in decision-
making. By the year-end, he also took over as Congress president, an in-
evitable elevation that he had been avoiding for years. But this dramatic
change had started with a failed experiment. In the run-up to the 2017
Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Rahul appointed Prashant Kishor as
his party’s campaign strategist. Kishor had been the backroom strate-
gist for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections
and for Nitish Kumar in the 2015 Bihar assembly elections. Many in
the Congress ridiculed Rahul’s decision to seek Kishor’s services as a
copycat approach. But Rahul did not pay heed and assured Kishor a HEIR & NOW
free hand to run the campaign. Rahul acts fast, whether it
Kishor was a professional strategist and his sole goal was to ensure is the alliance with Akhilesh
victory for the Congress. He came up with radical ideas, such as making and Hardik or the suspen-
Priyanka Gandhi the chief ministerial candidate. He was ruthless in his sion of Mani Shankar Aiyar
analysis of the party’s weaknesses—the organisation was in the doldrums,
the social media unit was no match to the BJP’s and most Hindus saw the Sarcasm is his social
Congress’s secularist positioning as a Muslim appeasement tool. The Con- media tool, from Modi’s
gress’s debacle in Uttar Pradesh brought Kishor’s stint to an abrupt end, but ‘Hug-plomacy’ to BJP’s film
Rahul had done his learning. “The association with Kishor gave Rahul an franchise ‘Lie Hard’
insight into how Modi creates a perception about what he stands for,” says a
Congress general secretary. “He realised that the best way to take on Modi is He’s the new Hindu on the
to beat him at his own game.” block. Christmas abroad has
Within two months of the Uttar Pradesh defeat, Rahul appointed been replaced by post-poll
former Lok Sabha MP Divya Spandana, one of his favourites, as head of Somnath darshan
the party’s social media unit. He himself abandoned the cautious approach
on Twitter, firing tweets that were witty and incisive in their attack on the

PTI
Modi government. “We had to persuade him a lot to join This pragmatic approach is the new buzzword of
Twitter, but now, he is enjoying the process and writes his Rahul’s politics, which had long been described as ‘NGO
own tweets,” says a member of Rahul’s office. “When some type’ by his own party men. It was this pragmatism that
media channels criticised him for watching a film after the took him in September to US universities, which became
Gujarat elections, he came up with a wonderful tweet—‘If the launch pad of his new political persona. The motive of
the BJP had a film franchise it would be called Lie Hard’.” that trip, though, was to reach out to NRIs for funds. “The
Rahul’s biggest lesson from Uttar Pradesh was the Congress is a poor party with rich leaders,” says a senior
power of polarisation and how the BJP was successful in leader from Haryana. “Some former CMs and Union
consolidating Hindu votes. “He still believes in secularism, ministers from the party can fund its entire Lok Sabha
but the need is to make people understand that the BJP is election expense. But if you look at our finances, we don’t
not the sole custodian of Hindus,” says a Congress Rajya have enough money to even take care of the basic election
Sabha member. So, even at the cost of hurting the Muslim expenses of our candidates.”
vote bank, the Congress president visited 27 temples dur- The now-postponed Dubai trip scheduled in January
ing the Gujarat election campaign, without any attempt 2018 was to be another fundraiser. Perception management
to balance it by visiting mosques. And to show that it was may have earned the party ‘moral victory’ in the Gujarat
no election gimmick, he revisited the Somnath temple elections and traction in the social media, but Rahul knows
after the elections. In a polarised political environment, that the battle against the BJP cannot be won without
religion for this self-confessed Shiva worshipper is no more strengthening his party’s organisation and finances. Year
a private affair. 2017 only marks the beginning of that journey. n

OTHER NEWSMAKERS
CHIEF NEGOTIATOR
ARUN JAITLEY, 65
The main architect of the first major tax reform since Independence, the Goods
and Services Tax, has also deftly managed the aftermath of demonetisation
By Shweta Punj
O
n November 29, amidst the heat and dust caught up with the nitty gritty and made bureaucrats
of Gujarat elections, finance minister overly cautious. As a lawyer, Jaitley’s negotiation
Arun Jaitley received a call from Prime skills are all too well known. In December 2017, while
Minister Narendra Modi on a blog the negotiating the GST with the empowered committee
former had written on the insolvency law of state finance ministers, he followed a give-and-take
the day before. The blog post—The Fiction strategy—a key official present at the meeting told
of Loan Waiver to Capitalists—sought india today that Jaitley at no point deviated from
to counter the criticism that the govern- the non-negotiables, but at the same time was open
ment could waive loans of capitalists. The to finding a way out. There was immense pressure on
PM was obviously intrigued by the FM’s him from the states to keep petroleum and petroleum
arguments and wanted him to elaborate. Jaitley, Union products out of GST but, ultimately, Jaitley convinced
minister for finance and corporate affairs, wears many the states to include these in the GST; though he left
hats as a BJP leader and a senior minister who has been it to the GST Council to decide the date of inclusion.
in charge of key elections, one of the few to be consulted But he did push through India’s singlemost important
on cabinet reshuffles, the only minister to be given tax reform since Independence, bringing the country
two heavyweight portfolios (until recently he handled under a unified tax regime, even if its implementation
finance and defence) and, most importantly, the man left much to be desired.
at the forefront of reforms that form the cornerstone of Politics apart, Jaitley had the benefit of falling oil
the Narendra Modi-led government. prices reducing the oil subsidy bill; this helped India’s
The year 2017 would be remembered as one of the macro-economic indicators such as inflation, cur-
most significant years in India’s economic history, when rent account deficit and trade balance. But Jaitley was
the government introduced fundamental structural also at the helm of a slowing economy—five quarters
changes in the economy and Jaitley fronted them all. of slowing growth, even as retail inflation soared to a
Whether it was expanding Aadhaar to other services, 15-month high of 4.88 per cent in November.
rationalising subsidies to reach targeted users, driving “I think if we look back, this year there are several
consensus on the Goods and Services Tax important structural changes that got
(GST), managing the tailwinds of demon- initiated or implemented. In GST, two
etisation, or powering the $32.43 billion
bank recapitalisation plan, there have
At no point did more challenges remain—procedural
simplification and double checking to
been no easy days for Jaitley in 2017. There Jaitley deviate ensure that evasion doesn’t take place,”
are several opinions on what he could have
done better in the year, but many econo-
from the non- Jaitley told india today (see inter-
view), reflecting on the year gone by.
mists concur that he didn’t do anything negotiables, Of course, his work has become only
‘wrong’.
His colleagues in the finance ministry
but was open to more challenging. The next step is to
ensure the smooth implementation of
cite his ability to work with bureaucrats finding a way the insolvency code, ironing out further
and to always look at the big picture.
While his predecessor P. Chidambaram
out on GST wrinkles in GST, taking the bank
recapitalisation process to its logical
was considered ‘very sharp’, he got too conclusion and making India grow. n

Photograph by BANDEEP SINGH

CHANDRADEEP KUMAR
OTHER NEWSMAKERS
“FM should
be immune to
pressures”
It is a year that will go down as significant in India’s economic history. A series of uncomfortable measures
were announced, which jolted the economy, for better or worse. The man at the top is confident of leaving
behind a formidable legacy. In a reflective conversation with Senior Editor SHWETA PUNJ, finance minister
ARUN JAITLEY speaks about the learnings and challenges in the year gone by.
Q. The year 2017 witnessed many economic shake-ups. consider as your most challenging period this year?
How would you look at this year going forward? A. A finance minister should have a basic understanding of
A. There are moments in history when structural changes the country, know where the shoe pinches and, hence, have
are necessary and, if we look back, several important struc- some compassion in policy formulation. An ability to under-
tural changes either got initiated or implemented this year. stand economic issues should certainly be there. You should
The first one, which was already a work in progress but got be immune to pressures from political and commercial inter-
an impetus, was Aadhaar and rationalisation of subsidies ests. There’s no easy day in the life of a finance minister.
to reach the target group. The second one—demonetisa-
tion—lasted for a few weeks, but the transformation from Q. What about demonetisation? In hindsight, could you
cash to digitisation is a major development. It has become have done it better?
a centrestage issue. There will still be cash in the system, A. Secrecy was of utmost importance in demonetisation.
but the movement towards digitisation is a very important One thing was clear: there would be short-term challenges
one and a message has gone that it is no longer okay to deal but it would help us in the long run. Politically, we were
in cash. The one with a permanent footprint is the Goods certain demonetisation would help us. This was more the
and Services Tax (GST). All the checkposts have gone, all Prime Minister’s instinct than mine.
the taxes have been merged into one. You have 17 taxes and
23 cesses merged into one. You only file one return. You pay Q. We have had growth slowing. What are your key priori-
your tax monthly and file your return annually. ties going forward?
The Monetary Policy Committee is operational. Then, A. The impact of structural reforms is behind us and India
there is the bankruptcy code. The debtor/ will return to high growth trajectory. My
credit relationship has changed. Global priority now is bank recapitalisation.
analysts see these as landmark structural
changes. Politicians will be politicians, they “One thing was Q. Who inspires you?
will have a weakness at times for not seeing clear: demon- A. The two most charming politicians
beyond their nose. Two things were disap-
pointing—the Congress took a retrograde
etisation would who stand out are Atal Bihari Vajpayee
and Pranab Mukherjee. Manmohan Singh
position, secularism became pro-black mon- pose short-term was a better FM than PM and, as FM,
ey and anti-GST. My next step is to complete
the bank recapitalisation process.
challenges, but Pranab Mukherjee was conservative and
retrograde. P. Chidambaram was a better
it would help us United Front FM than a UPA one. I saw
Q. We have had technocrat as well as astute
politicians as FMs. How does one strike
eventually” the best of Advaniji in the ’90s. And in the
case of Mr Narendra Modi, you can’t get a
the right balance? Also, what would you more hands-on man than him. n

At the Helm DEFENCE DIARY
Holds daily meetings with
the three service chiefs
Has given MoD bureau-

NIRMALA SITHARAMAN, 58 crats deadlines to clear
projects
The country’s first full-time woman defence minister may be a
late entrant in politics, but has ably stepped up to all challenges
Is personally monitoring
first circumnavigation
of the world by women
SUSHIL KUMAR/GETTY IMAGES

naval officers
IN CHARGE
Sitharaman addresses the inaugural session of the Air Force Commanders’ Conference in New Delhi in October
F
ew politicians have seen as astounding a rise security in sensitive states such as Jammu and Kashmir
to national prominence as defence minister and possess the only organised machinery capable of
Nirmala Sitharaman. A late entrant to politics, responding to cataclysmic natural disasters. Fixing an
she joined the BJP a mere decade ago, becoming equipment-deficient armed forces, hopelessly dependent
the party spokesperson in 2010, a junior finance on imports, a struggling indigenous arms industry along
minister in the Narendra Modi government in with a notoriously opaque bureaucracy are other great
2014 and a commerce minister with independent challenges. In short, there is no time for rest.
charge in 2016. A September 3 cabinet reshuffle In the three months that she has been defence
vaulted her over the heads of candidates with decades of minister, Nirmala Sitharaman has criss-crossed the
political experience into the saddle as India’s first full-time countryside, learning on the move—launching a nuclear
woman defence minister—the post was held as additional submarine in Visakhapatnam, teaching namaste to
charge by former prime minister Indira Gandhi. Chinese soldiers in the Himalayas, comforting fisherfolk
Globally, it could be argued, her appointment might who lost their kin to Cyclone Ockhi in Kerala, besides
not be a big deal—there are 16 countries with women cracking the whip on the notoriously lethargic babudom
defence ministers. But most of them are in Europe with in the South Block.
settled borders, minimal possibility of conflict and Her biggest political challenge is to revive her govern-
shrinking defence budgets, leading those militaries to ment’s commitment to defence indigenisation under the
question their relevance. In India, however, the armed Make in India policy. Hers should be the most interest-
forces are needed to watch over 4,700 km of unsettled ing ministry to watch as the Narendra Modi government
boundaries where four wars have been fought. heads into the final year of its term. n
The armed forces are also instruments of internal —Sandeep Unnithan

OTHER NEWSMAKERS
Saffron Satrap
YOGI ADITYANATH, 45
The Hindutva warrior moved from fringe to mainstream, becoming the prime mover of saffronisation in
Uttar Pradesh and is likely to emerge as an important campaigner in the BJP’s Mission 2019
H
e has given Lucknow a whole new routine. Since Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party governments.
March 19, the day 45-year-old Yogi Adityanath Yogi is also pushing to rid the administration of dead-
was sworn in as Uttar Pradesh’s new chief min- wood. Post a screening of all officials above the age of 50,
ister, there’s been a unprecedented buzz around Yogi ordered over a dozen provincial service officers to be
Pancham Tal, the state secretariat behind the compulsorily retired or terminated. More than 100 slack-
Vidhan Bhavan. The CM’s office, located on the ers in the secretariat have been demoted to send a strict
fifth floor of the building, now painted saffron, message across state’s officialdom: ‘Perform or perish!’
is the nerve centre that is driving India’s most Even as he’s cracking the whip to push his babus, Yogi
populous state. ‘Yogi’, as he’s referred to, has set a timetable has been quietly but firmly pursuing the BJP’s Hindutva
for his 47-member council of ministers, often summoning agenda. The state’s inaugural budget, passed by the UP
them for meetings that go on till the wee hours. assembly in July, allocated over Rs 2,000 crore to develop
“All Uttar Pradesh ministers have been asked to stay Hindu religious centres such as Ayodhya, Mathura,
in Lucknow and meet their representatives for the first Chitrakoot and Varanasi. He is also preparing to push the
two days of every week,” says cabinet minister Srikant Centre’s development agenda to rid UP of its BIMARU tag.
Sharma. Tuesday is designated for cabinet meetings. He has announced a series of infrastructure projects, from
Says Sharma, “The CM has already chaired more than metro rails to expressways, and an airport at Jewar, in order
30 cabinet meetings since March 19,” which, he claims, is to showcase the Centre’s development agenda in the state. n
more than the number of times ministers met under the —Ashish Misra
MANEESH AGNIHOTRI
YOGI ON
THE MOVE
Beat other more
favoured contenders to
become chief minister of
the state that sends the
highest number of MPs
to the Lok Sabha
Will play a critical role

in managing the Ram
Janmabhoomi issue
ahead of the 2019 polls
Showcasing the Centre’s

vikas agenda in UP, flag-
ging off the metro in
Noida, commissioning an
airport at Jewar

Founder’s Fury
N.R. NARAYANA MURTHY, 71
The self-declared moral custodian of Infosys refused to allow his company to become
a victim of corporate misgovernance, calling into question his own appointment and
the board of directors’ management
NILOTPAL BARUAH
NEW ROLE
Trustee of the Infosys
Science Foundation
that governs the Infosys
Prize for outstanding
work
In 2016, chaired a SEBI

panel that proposed
sweeping changes in
rules for venture capital
and private equity funds
Is a foreign member
of the US National
Academy of Engineering
W
hen N.R. Narayana Murthy stepped down Murthy, who himself had been under fire from
as the chairman of Infosys in June 2014, corporate governance watchdogs when he had brought
he seemed to be leaving the IT giant he along his son Rohan Murty as an executive assistant
co-founded for good. After all, he had during his second stint at Infosys, took strong objection
come back from retirement to lead the to the events at Infosys and pressured the company’s
company through a tumultuous period board to come clean. But the board maintained that Sik-
for about a year, in what was his second ka had done no wrong and cited clean chits by reputed
stint at the helm. He was also passing on law firms in its defence. Murthy kept up his attack, using
the baton to Vishal Sikka, 50, a former SAP executive, his moral influence over the company to build public
credited with transforming the German company’s in- opinion against Sikka and the Infosys board, that even-
novation globally. But that was not to be. Murthy, fabled tually led to Sikka’s resignation in August 2017. Stepping
for having floated his firm on a Rs 10,000 loan from out of the shadows this time was another co-founder,
wife Sudha Murthy in 1981, began to flag issues that he Nandan Nilekani, 62, to lead Infosys as chairman, a
believed were departures from the company’s corporate decade after he had stepped down as CEO. But Murthy
governance principles—Sikka’s allegedly flamboyant still proved he’s quite difficult to please. “Sadly, it appears
lifestyle, including his use of corporate jets, and a salary we will no longer know the truth,” was what he had to
of $11 million that was 2,000 times the entry level pay say after the board, under Nilekani, concluded there was
at Infosys; a deal to acquire Israeli firm Panaya, where no wrongdoing under Sikka. But, of late, Murthy wants
Infosys was accused of paying way over its value; and the to avoid controversies—reflected in his thumbs-up to the
alleged pay-off to former finance head Rajiv Bansal to appointment of new Infosys CEO Salil S. Parekh. n
buy his silence over the Panaya deal. —M.G. Arun

OTHER NEWSMAKERS
RAJAT GUPTA/EPA
THE ACE TEAM

THE POWER SHUTTLERS
For taking the world badminton stage by storm and featuring
among the Top Five in both the women’s and men’s rankings,
exhibiting the depth and breadth of talent
N
ever in the annals of one-on-one sport in pragmatic as he is revered, Pullela Gopichand. The me-
India have players accomplished themselves dian singles rank of the top five Indian players has risen
like the badminton aces did in 2017. For the from 28 to 17 for men—the sharpest rise since 2010.
first time, Indians this year featured among Among women, the rise in the median singles rank has
badminton’s world top five, both among been relatively slower, from 57 in 2016 to 49 this year.
men and women. The depth of talent has Gopichand’s carefully crafted approach helped the
been all evident from the world rank- players peak and excel as individuals. Sindhu, the 2016
ings: P.V. Sindhu is Rio Olympics silver medallist,
currently world no. 3; Saina continues to display exemplary
Nehwal ranks 10; Kidambi Sri- consistency through her incred-
kanth is world no. 4; and H.S. For Sindhu, the quest ible run. Showing great form, she
Prannoy world no. 10. It was for World No. 1 may has beaten some of the best play-
also the year when, for the first ers in the world fairly regularly.
time, two Indians, Sindhu and not be an elusive Sindhu was involved in some of
Saina, finished at the podium dream in 2018 as age the most intense matches of the
at the World Championships. year, including the epic World
All of them are under the is on her side Badminton Championships
tutelage of a coach who is as final against Nozomi Okuhara at

CAMERON SPENCER/GETT Y IMAGES
NET GAIN
P.V. Sindhu celebrates her women’s singles title win at the 2017 Yonex India Open Super Series in
New Delhi; Kidambi Srikanth in action during the 2017 Australian Badminton Open in Sydney
Glasgow in August and the BWF World SMASH HIT He started his brilliant title run by
Super Series final against Akane Yama- clinching the men’s singles title at the
guchi in Dubai in December. Both the P.V. Sindhu lifted two Indonesia Super Series and followed
finals went down to the wire as Sindhu Super Series titles—India it up by winning the singles Super
Open and Korea Open—
engaged her rivals in a war of attrition Series crowns in Australia, Denmark
and reached the finals of
before losing out to better nerves. six major tournaments and France. In between, Srikanth
Yet, at 22, with age on her side, including Super Series, also finished runners-up to compa-
Sindhu is fit, displays discipline and BWF Grand Prix Gold and triot B. Sai Praneeth in the Singapore
determination, and continues to outfox World Championships Super Series. “What Srikanth has
her rivals. For Sindhu, the quest to achieved is phenomenal,” says Gopi-
be World No. 1 may not be an elu- Kidambi Srikanth climbed chand. “What he can achieve, consid-
sive dream after all. With improved nine positions to finish at ering his potential, is unbelievable.”
stamina, she is poised to attain greater world no. 4; H.S. Prannoy Prannoy, 25, beat both Olympic
rose 19 rungs to end the
heights in 2018, including the World silver medallist Lee Chong Wei and
year at rank 10
Championships, Commonwealth Olympic champion Chen Long in the
Games and Asian Games. Indonesia Open this year. Srikanth
The Singapore Open
Saina, 27, too, had a glorious run went on to win the title after Prannoy
men’s final had an
this year. Though many people seem all-India finish lost in the semi-final to Japan’s Ka-
to think that the shuttler is losing her zumasa Sakai. Besides Srikanth and
killer instinct, she still commands a Prannoy, the relatively low ranked
towering presence on the court, making Praneeth, 25, too, brought accolades.
her country a formidable opponent on Like Sindhu, Srikanth, Prannoy and
the international circuit. Praneeth are bracing for greater accomplishments in
Year 2017 has been a breakaway year for the top male 2018. But with the World Badminton Federation man-
players. For Kidambi Srikanth, 24, who earned more dating that the top 15 players will have to take part in at
prize money than any Indian has ever in a single year least 12 tournaments every year, the challenge is bound
from badminton, the triumph—including four Super to get stiffer. n
Series wins—is just a stepping stone for more laurels. —Amarnath K. Menon

OTHER NEWSMAKERS
He Still
Counts
NAWAZ SHARIF, 67
Three-time prime minister, he refuses
to go quietly into the sunset despite his
latest setback, which has sent him into
political exile for a decade
I
f Pakistan’s political landscape were a
nursery, it would look like this: a giant tree
towering over a forest of potted bonsais. The
tree being the Pakistan army, the country’s
only stable institution, but one which has
not allowed another to grow in its shade. The
army sets the limits for political parties—
they can have no say in security
and foreign policy, especially ties with
arch enemy India. Former Pakistan
prime minister Nawaz Sharif was one CAREN FIROUZ/REUTERS
who tried—unsuccessfully—to stand

up to the military. It was especially
POWER PLAY office. The dismissal made Sharif one of
ironic because Sharif was brought Has had a third term as the few global leaders to have had three
into politics in the early 1980s by a PM truncated. One of truncated terms as PM. No Pakistani
military dictator, General Zia-ul-Haq. handful of world leaders head of government has ever completed
The scion of one of Pakistan’s richest to have been dismissed a full term, but while most have faded
by a president, army chief
families, from the country’s heartland away, Sharif has proved to be remark-
and judiciary
Punjab, seemed the ideal foil to coun- ably resilient.
ter the rise of the charismatic Sindhi The military has now propped up
Has nominated younger
aristocrat, Benazir Bhutto. brother Shehbaz as PM Imran Khan as an alternative to Sharif in
Somewhere along the line, Sharif candidate for next year’s the 2018 general elections and Paki-
came into his own, but found the general elections stan’s National Accountability Bureau is
military and judiciary dogging his readying a fresh batch of cases against
every step. Retribution was either Will start a public move- him. Yet, Sharif, as chief of Pakistan’s
direct—a coup by former dictator ment against what he calls largest political party, Pakistan Muslim
General Pervez Musharraf in 1999— an unfair judicial verdict League-Nawaz, has resolved to fight on.
or through the president during In nominating brother and current Pun-
Sharif ’s first term as PM in 1993. jab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif as the
More recently, a judicial coup is being PM candidate for 2018 and announcing
whispered as the reason behind the Supreme Court’s July his intent to take the judiciary on, Sharif has given ample
28 verdict over the Panama Papers case, dismissing him evidence he won’t be riding into the sunset soon. n
as PM and imposing a decade’s exile from any political —Sandeep Unnithan

The Messenger of Evil
GURMEET RAM RAHIM SINGH, 50
For rearing a sordid cult of crime, sexual violence and ill-gotten wealth until the law caught up with him
UNHOLY GURU
Besides the 20-year
sentence for rape, he
is also accused of two
murders and ordering
the forcible castration of
over 400 disciples
Not permitted to mix

with other convicts in
Rohtak’s Sunaria Jail,
given the threat to his life
Honeypreet, his adopted

daughter, is also in custo-
dy. Faces sedition charge
PTI
H
amein maarna apne aap ko maarne ke of rape and criminal intimidation; an additional four years
barabar hai (to kill me is akin to killing your- of jail time if he failed to deposit the prescribed fine.
self).’ The menacing tagline of the Dera Sacha But there is a lot more in store for Singh in 2018. He is
Sauda chief’s cinematic debut, MSG: The Mes- also charged with two counts of conspiracy and mur-
senger of God, in January 2015, was meant to be der—that of journalist Ram Chandra Chhatrapati and
a warning: “Don’t mess with me!” Years before Ranjit Singh, once a member of his coterie at the dera.
that, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh had mock- Investigated by the CBI, the murder trials as also charges
ingly said to a young sadhvi after he raped her: of ordering the forcible castration of some 400 of his
“There is no doubt that I am God.” It took 15 years, over disciples are at an advanced stage. Singh’s spectacular rise
200 court hearings and the determination of two women and abrupt fall from grace is inextricably enmeshed with
(his own followers; one a minor) to bring down Singh, a disturbing sociological reality. Punjab, Haryana and
the unquestioned lord of 70 million doting adherents most other north Indian states have witnessed a grow-
and a sprawling empire, the worth of which is still to be ing ‘dera culture’—self-styled godmen heading sects with
properly assessed. followings transcending religion and caste, but invariably
Twenty-seven years after he assumed the leadership from the economic and social margins of society. The
of Dera Sacha Sauda, based in Haryana’s Sirsa, and ac- rising number of followers points to the abject failure of
cumulated significant political muscle across Punjab and both the state and mainstream religion to guarantee even
Har yana, Singh stood all alone inside the makeshift CBI a basic modicum of dignity and security.
special court at Rohtak’s Sunaria Jail on August 28. “The With over 3,000 deras in Punjab alone, glib-talking
convict did not even spare his own pious disciples and act- gurus—many with shades of Gurmeet Singh’s garish mix
ed like a wild beast. He does not deserve any mercy,” said of buffoonery and showmanship—have no dearth of gull-
Jagdeep Singh, the judge, handing down the sentence—20 ible faithful. n
years of hard labour and a Rs 30.2 lakh fine for two counts —Asit Jolly

OTHER NEWSMAKERS
Freedom’s
Champion
SAURABH DAS/AP
SANJAY LEELA BHANSALI, 54

Coerced into a corner by thugs masquerading as defenders of Rajput pride, the director
emerged as the centrepiece of a high-decibel debate on freedom of expression
D
istorter of history. Destroyer of Rajput pride. hai [I’ve made this film with a lot of honesty, responsibil-
Traitor. Man with a Rs 10 crore bounty on his ity and hard work],” he says in the video before going on to
head. Stuck with so many labels, 2017 has been deny the existence of a dream sequence in his epic.
anything but good for Sanjay Leela Bhansali, But, unlike Johar, Bhansali’s film is yet to make its
whose ninth feature Padmavati has domi- way to the cinemas, with chief ministers and politicians
nated headlines for all all weighing in on a film they have not seen.
the wrong reasons. It all The brewing controversy around Padmavati
started in Jaipur in Janu-
RIGHT SCRIPT is proof of how rumours, preconceived no-
ary when the Rajput fringe group Counts filmmakers K. tions and votebank politics can damage the
Karni Sena attacked Bhansali and Asif, V. Shantaram, Raj fate of a film. The Centre and states shun-
disrupted the film’s shoot in Jaigarh Kapoor and Kamal Amrohi ning responsibility of maintaining law and
as his biggest inspira-
Fort alleging that the director was order and calling for bans is also a worrying
tions. Among the liv-
going to include a dream sequence ing legends, it’s Pandit sign for both the film industry and advocates
between the Rajput queen (Deepi- Birju Maharaj, Amitabh of freedom of expression.
ka Padukone) and Alauddin Khilji Bachchan and Lata With the film’s release pushed to 2018,
(Ranveer Singh), the Sultan of Mangeshkar we know Bhansali will [have to] be back,
Delhi. Barring the disturbing foot- but it remains to be seen if the director
age of the attack, little of Bhansali Unrequited love is a will speak up for his labour of love. Given
had been seen or heard. That was favourite theme of how his reassurances—both in writing and
until November, when he too had Bhansali who wants to video—were set aside and his vision and
to follow in the footsteps of Ae Dil tackle it again in one of interpretation of a character and episode
his passion projects, a
Hai Mushkil writer-director Karan biopic on poet-lyricist
whose existence is no absolute certainty,
Johar to issue a clarification to Sahir Ludhianvi there is good reason to believe he may shun
ensure a smooth release for his film. the spotlight and let his work speak for itself.
“Maine yeh film bahut imandari, Now only if they let it be shown. n
zimmedari aur mehnat se banayi —Suhani Singh

STORY BOARD
Srisaila Sri Rajamouli. He is named
after Srisailam in Telangana—the site
The
of one of the 12 Jyotirlingas that his
mother dreamt of
Before Baahubali: The Beginning
Baahubali
(2015) and Baahubali 2: The
Conclusion (2017), the high-bud-
get films he directed include Maga-
dheera (2009) that earned Rs 87
crore at the box-office and Eega
(2012) which fetched Rs 104 crore
S.S. RAJAMOULI, 44 He started with directing Telugu

soap operas on Eenadu TV under the
For imagining the impossible, dreaming guidance of K. Raghavendra Rao. His
the undoable and executing a spectacle not first shot at Telugu films was Student
seen before by Indian audiences No. 1 with Junior NTR in 2001
H
is clear vision of epochal grandeur may pose a the imagination of the audience for the sequel Baahubali :
huge challenge to producers, but it has great The Conclusion with what has by now become a legendary
cinematic appeal. It is by pursuing this as a tre- question: Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali? The Rs 270
mendous perfectionist, that S.S. Rajamouli, 44, crore film went on to make Rs 1,750 crore at the box-office,
the master of dramatic storytelling, keeps audi- becoming the biggest blockbuster of the year.
ences riveted to their seats till the very end. As In an industry where everyone turns to the director
he did in the second part of his epic creation, to pump in energy, he sustained interest in the sequel and
more than two years after the release of the took responsibility for the huge team over five years. As
first, in India’s most expensive film, Baahubali. The first the effort grew bigger and bigger, he continued unde-
part seemed like a trailer whipping up curiosity and firing terred by the challenge or the cost to make the story a
spell-binding experience. To him, the art of storytelling
is limitless. “No one can ever create art, even on a piece of
paper, as they have envisioned it in their mind. Because
there are no limits, you cannot frame the mind, you can
imagine whatever you want, whereas putting it on paper,
in writing form, in film, on celluloid, [each medium] has
its own limitations. You can never do complete justice to
whatever you have created in your mind,” says Rajamouli.
He is modest enough to admit that any audacious
adventure in the digital age, if it is to be a success, has
to ensure appropriate marketing and branding to create
the right engagement and anticipation for the film. This
is what kept the Baahubali universe alive and kicking
during the break in making the two parts—the mer-
chandising and the promotional initiatives, with books,
toy models and other products—a hitherto unexplored
strategy in Indian cinema.
With all this, Rajamouli is positioned, all alone, in an
exalted orbit. He sees himself more as a storyteller rather
than as a creator, and therefore, believes what is intrinsic
to the epics of India, particularly the Ramayana and the
Mahabharata is that they are “rich in legend and culture
and can be retold visually in cinema.” No wonder work on
his magnum opus is still to begin. “Ultimately, even if I
have so many restrictions, if I don’t have the freedom, I’ll
still make it one day.” n
—Amarnath K. Menon
Photograph by BANDEEP SINGH

OTHER NEWSMAKERS
Chairman of Everything
XI JINPING, 64
The year that Xi’s ideology was written into China’s constitution, an honour reserved only for Mao and Deng
WHAT 2018
MAY BRING
Has unified PLA under his
authority, signalling a more
assertive military posture
and muscle-flexing in
territorial disputes
Plans to push his ‘One Belt,

One Road’ plan with greater
vigour, deepening China’s
presence in countries such
as Nepal and Sri Lanka
As China’s economy slows

and debt mounts, Xi may use
his consolidated power to
push reform
THOMAS PETER/REUTERS
I
f the unexpected—and chaotic—rise of Donald Trump Daniel Russel, Senior Fellow at the Asia Society Policy
was the story of 2016, the seemingly inevitable, but Institute and a former US Assistant Secretary of State for
no less spectacular,emergence of China’s ‘Chairman East Asia in the Obama administration, says that the US
of Everything’ marked 2017, when Xi Jinping, the under Trump is ceding space to China’s global leadership
“princeling” son of a Communist Party revolutionary, ambitions by withdrawing from global issues of concern
stamped his control over all aspects of life in China. such as climate change, where China is showing leader-
Gone is the “collective leadership” system that enabled ship. As Trump trumpets ‘A merica First’, Xi has put
China’s rise. One hundred years after Lenin, China forward his ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative as a Chinese
witnessed a quiet October revolution as the 19th Party model for globalisation.
Congress wrote Xi’s ideology into the constitution, an At the same time, Xi’s China is beset by many prob-
honour reserved only for Mao and Deng Xiaoping. lems, from an economy dealing with rising debt to
Xi, at the congress, signalled he is here to stay, breaking diminishing space for dissent. As Tsang notes, the congress
the norm by not naming a successor. He also outlined a not only demonstrated Xi’s power but also suggested “his
plan to bring China “to the centre stage of the world” and advisors no longer dare to contradict him”. “This is a wor-
build a “world class military” by 2050. “The fact that this rying sign for any powerful leader in any country,” he says.
was done shows how incredibly confident Xi is,” says Steve The year 2017 may well be Xi’s annus mirabilis—the year
Tsang, professor of Chinese studies at SOAS, London. that propelled the rise of the next world superpower. Or,
Xi’s rise will have huge ramifications for India and the on the other hand, it could also mark China’s return to a
world, heralding the era of a China increasingly ready to long-banished memory of authoritarianism. To borrow a
flex its muscle as well as offer to the world an alternative to phrase from a former Chinese premier, on such matters of
Pax Americana. China’s gap with US military and techno- historical import, it’s too soon to tell. n
logical power remains large, but it is ever diminishing. —Ananth Krishnan

IMAGES 2017
SURVIVING
2017
FEW WOULD CALL IT THE BEST OF
TIMES—AND IT WAS OF COURSE A TIME OF
SUFFERING FOR MANY. IMAGES OF A YEAR
OF CONFLICTS, TRAGEDIES, DEFEATS
AND, YES, TRIUMPHS TOO

WITHOUT A COUNTRY
The Rohingya crisis or the Rohingya genocide. Call it what

you will, the evidence of industrial scale rape, murder and
ethnic cleansing was overwhelming as some 600,000 hu-
man beings fled Myanmar for refuge in the unlikely haven of
Bangladesh. But that country has of course absorbed earlier
waves of refugees propelled by state-sponsored pogroms in
Myanmar. Many marvelled that ‘even Buddhists’ were ca-
pable of such cruelty. But why should they be any different?
The Indian government (like China) responded mostly with
cold realpolitik—and a dose of home-grown Islamophobia.
DAN KITWOOD/GETTY IMAGES

IMAGES 2017
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s epic film Padmavati, about a legendary late medieval Rajput queen,
starring Deepika Padukone in the title role, was supposed to be screened across the
country in December. Its release has been postponed after protests dogged the film from
the beginning of the year, resulting in sets being vandalised, Bhansali being physically at-
tacked and a BJP politician placing a bounty on Padukone’s head. Much of the violence was
motivated by an alleged dream sequence suggesting intimacy between Padmini and Delhi
sultan Alauddin Khilji. The protests were absurd because they were based on rumours
about a film no one had yet seen. And absurd because the protesters were defending the
honour of a queen whose very existence is in doubt.

BURHA AN KINU/GETTY IMAGES
GABBAR SINGH TAX
Following a dramatic midnight session of Parliament, the prime minister and president
launched the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on July 1, a piece of legislation nearly 20 years in
the making. While most economists agree on the benefits of subsuming a slew of
confusing taxes under a single nationally applicable regime, the implementation of GST
and the many, frequently changing rates led to protests and anger. Small business owners,
a bastion of BJP support, were particularly dismayed. Many of the protests were about tax
slabs, and the process through which certain goods were assigned certain slabs. Coming on
the heels of demonetisation, GST was thought by some analysts to sound the death knell for
many small and medium enterprises.

CHANDRADEEP KUMAR

IMAGES 2017
SMOG SCREEN
In the winter of 2016, the noxious smog hanging

over Delhi made international news. As a result,
the authorities put together a graded response ac-
tion plan (GRAP) to deal with the alarming post-
Diwali air quality. Several factors, including crop
burning in neighbouring states, dusty streets and
lack of wind contribute. Nonetheless, the political
response has been tepid, as politicians seek to de-
flect criticism and assign blame. Delhi's air quality
is the worst of any major city in the world, turning
each resident into a de facto chain smoker and
causing breathing issues for the city's children.
IMAGES 2017
THE FARMER’S
IN A DEBT
Arguably the most embattled sec-

tion of Indian society, farmers took
to the streets in massive numbers
in several states to demand relief.
Buffeted by drought conditions and
an economic slowdown, exacerbated
by demonetisation and GST, farm-
ers in states such as Uttar Pradesh,
Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu were
furious that government promises
about loan waivers, price guarantees
and various agricultural reforms had
amounted to little more than rheto-
ric. According to Central govern-
ment figures, some 12,000 farmers
commit suicide each year. A group of
Tamil Nadu farmers staged a maca-
bre protest, brandishing the skulls
of farmers they said had committed
suicide in despair at their debts and
their meagre earnings. In the re-
cently-concluded Gujarat elections,
though the BJP won, some observers
argued that its reduced majority was
due in large part to agrarian distress.
And if farms employ fewer Indians
than before, they still account for
over half the workforce.
RAJU SANADI
PRASHANTH VISHWANATHAN/GETT Y IMAGES
PURUSHOTTAM DIWAKAR
IMAGES 2017
MANDAR DEODHAR
VIRAT ASANA
The rain and grey skies couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm for the third International
Yoga Day on June 21. Perhaps the most impressive location was on board the decom-
missioned aircraft carrier INS Viraat. Sold to India in 1987 by the British, it served as
the flagship of the Indian navy until 2013 and was formally decommissioned in March
2017. Docked in Mumbai, INS Viraat, its deck festooned with colourful mats, hosted over
1,000 navy personnel and their families. International Yoga Day has been one of prime
minister Narendra Modi’s most high-profile and well-liked initiatives, though critics al-
lege that he has appropriated culture for political ends.

CATHAL MCNAUGHTON/REUTERS
IN THE NAME OF THE COW
Supporters of the BJP say too much is being made of attacks by so-called gau rakshaks, who terror-
ise people under the aegis of ‘cow protection’, of upholding laws that seek to prevent the transport
of cattle across state lines for slaughter. Statistics show a significant acceleration in the number of
such attacks since 2014, when Narendra Modi became prime minister. In the first six months of
the year, there have been 18 reported attacks, 75 per cent of the total number for 2016, the worst
year for attacks since 2010. Indeed, of the 60 reported incidents of gau rakshak violence since 2010,
almost 97 per cent have occurred after the Modi government took charge. Of the 25 who have died
at the hands of gau rakshaks since 2010, 21 have been Muslim.

IMAGES 2017
MANEESH AGNIHOTRI
NO TENDER MERCY
From a major government hospital in Gorakhpur, in the dog days of summer, came the news of
some 60 children dying in just three days. According to news reports, the deaths were due to
an interruption in oxygen supply because the hospital had failed to pay outstanding dues. The
supplier denied the reports. And the Uttar Pradesh government insisted the majority of the
children were encephalitis patients in critical condition. Appointed mid-March, UP chief min-
ister Yogi Adityanath promised an inquiry. Other ministers were keen to emphasise that many
more children had died at the hospital in previous years. Still, the episode was a major embar-
rassment for the UP government, a contradiction of its claim to good governance and a remind-
er of the hardships borne by those who cannot afford to buy their way out of the system.

IMAGES 2017
IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A SEAPLANE, IT’S THE PM
A hard-fought Gujarat election campaign was concluded with a prime ministerial

stunt. Narendra Modi, denied permission for a final-day roadshow, chose to take
what was widely described as the first journey by seaplane in India. He flew from the
Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad to Dharoi Dam. Fact checkers pointed out that Modi's
journey was not the first time a seaplane had been used in India; since 2010 there
have been several government and private initiatives to popularise seaplanes. Critics
also said the plane was registered in the United States and could not be flown com-
mercially in India, that the pilot was Canadian and that those receiving the highest
levels of security cover were generally not allowed to travel on single-engine air-
crafts. Not that too many people cared. It made for a great picture.
SHAILESH RAVAL

Photographs by SUBIR HALDER
THE BOLD
ike a teenager allowed out for his first party,
L
veteran artist Manu Parekh asked, “Can
I bring my friends? I have a lot of friends
here.” The 78-year-old did bring his friends
AND THE
along, but it wasn’t just they who cheered as
the Bengali-speaking Gujarati from Delhi
won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the India Today Art
BEAUTIFUL
Awards 2018—held on December 21 in association with The
India Story, an annual four-day arts festival in Kolkata. “I
spent 10 years of my life here. I came to Kolkata when I was 25
and within a week I became a Calcuttan. Within six months, I
was a member of the Society of Contemporary Artists, Kolkata,
TO QUESTION. TO PROTEST. TO COMMENT. and remain one to this day,” said Parekh, an alumnus of the JJ
TO CHOOSE. THE INDIA TODAY ART AWARDS School of Art, who’s inspired by “Tagore’s humanism”.
2018 HONOURED ARTISTS WHO EXERCISED The evening was an occasion to celebrate the bold and the
THEIR CREATIVITY TO NOT JUST CREATE brave. Aroon Purie, chairman and editor-in-chief of the India
BUT ALSO TO COMMENT ON OUR TIMES Today Group, as well as awards jury member, described art as
“not decorative or demure but one that is compelled to tell the
By Malini Banerjee and Chinki Sinha truth”. Other members of the jury were Vasant Valley School
chairperson and collector Rekha Purie; hotelier-writer Aman
Nath; chief curator of the Al Thani Collection Amin Jaffer,
Neotia Arts Trust managing trustee and The India Story
STAR CAST Winners of the India Today Art Awards pose with jury members, among them Rekha Purie and Aroon Purie, in Kolkata
founder Madhu Neotia; curator Nada Raza; chairperson of

Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Priya Paul and The India
Story convenor Swapan Seth.
“Well-behaved people rarely make history and well-
behaved artists rarely make good art,” quipped Purie as
the audience chuckled in agreement. “From the caustic
commentary on the state of the republic by the brilliant Jit-
ish Kallat to the recapturing of the trauma of Partition and
Kashmir by the supremely talented Nilima Sheikh; from
Zuleikha Chaudhari’s view of the artist’s role in the mak-
ing of public policy to Amar Kanwar’s imaginary gradual
blindness as a social choice, the awards celebrated art that
stepped out of the confines of decorum and propriety.
“We have been seeing an ideological tyranny and
criminalisation of our society. I had been dreaming about
making a film about this in a non-aggressive way. It’s been a
long journey and I am grateful for the support of colleagues
and Kiran Nadar in what seemed to be a film about collec-
tive blindness and a way to get out of it,” said Kanwar on re-
ceiving the award for New Media Artist of the Year. Kanwar
FASHION MEETS ART Models wearing outfits created by and Jitish Kallat, who won the award for solo exhibition of
Paromita Banerjee and Abraham and Thakore (background) the year, were the rockstars of the art world, receiving the

TERRIFIC DUO Zukeikhwa COLLECTOR OF THE YEAR
Chaudhari (right) with Radha Mahendru Kiran Nadar
For establishing the Kiran Nadar
Museum of Art to taking her collec-
tion to the larger public. While the
museum’s exhibitions provide ac-
cess to a diverse audience through
an extensive range of programmes,
it is also a place where art is not
merely displayed but also dis-
cussed.
BEST PERFORMANCE ARTIST

OF THE YEAR
BEST ARTISTIC Nikhil Chopra
COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR For his exceptional performances that
Zuleikha Chaudhari and Khoj interpret identity and politics, the latest
For Landscape as Evidence of which was ‘Drawing a Line through
Artist as Witness, their unique the Landscape’. As part of Docu-
project that aims at reinterpreting menta 14, it had the artist undertake a
the language of law through art. 3,000-km-long road trip from Athens,
Chaudhari is a theatre director. Greece, to Kassel, Germany, culminating
Khoj was represented by pro- in a monumental drawing, a montage of
gramme manager and curator landscapes created en route, reflecting
Radha Mahendru. time spent on the move.
ARTIST OF THE YEAR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Nilima Sheikh AWARD
For Terrain: Carrying Across, Manu Parekh
Leaving Behind, an exhibition For six decades of work
that tells the stories of loss that is both brave and bril-
and displacement, from an liant. From his Varanasi land-
abandoned girl child finding love scapes to an extraordinary
outside her community to a Dalit interpretation of The Last
student committing suicide, Supper, Parekh’s art inspires
from the wounds of Partition to both the old and the young in
the horrors in Kashmir. the art world.
loudest cheers from the audience. Kallat, whose solo exhibi- relocation, and a children’s gallery. It is one of the most
tion at the Philadelphia Museum of Art was included in The ambitious projects undertaken by a state. “We have tried to
New York Times ‘Best of Art 2017’, said, “I started this year highlight our heritage. To develop into a powerful nation,
with this immense project that spanned 100 works, over 25 one must also develop ‘soft power’ and provide a platform
years of my career that was spread out over two buildings. where art can flourish,” said Bihar chief secretary Anjani
I call it a retro-prospective in the sense that it was retro- Kumar Singh, the man behind the idea.
spective because I was looking back but also exploring the
future, so in that way prospective too. So it feels doubly spe- ther winners included Annapurna Garimella,
cial to end the year by winning this award with colleagues
of this calibre, in what has become a convergence point for
the arts scene in India.”
O (Curator of the Year), Kiran Nadar (Collector of
the Year), N.S. Harsha (Retrospective Exhibi-
tion of the Year), Nikhil Chopra (Performance
For the public art initiative, the jury chose the Bihar Artist of the Year); Radha Mahendru and Zuleikha
Museum in Patna. Built at an estimated cost of Rs 500 Chaudhari for their work Landscape as Evidence: Artist as
crore, on a “campus” that is spread across 5.3 hectares, the Witness (Best Artistic Collaboration of the Year) and
museum has multiple history galleries, a contemporary art Nilima Sheikh (Artist of the Year). “As artists, we respond
and temporary exhibition gallery, a regional art gallery that to the times we live in and our surroundings. Sometimes it
is a tribute to the cultures of Mithila, Bhojpur, Magahi and can be very precise like ours, or abstract like Kanwar’s,” said
Angika areas, a diaspora gallery that focuses on the migra- theatre director Zuleikha Chaudhari whose work questions
tion history of indentured labourers and their subsequent perceptions of memory and identity.

SOLO EXHIBITION
OF THE YEAR
Jitish Kallat
For Here After Here, an exhibition
spread across both buildings of the
National Gallery of Modern Art, a
reminder of his engagement with the
ideas of time, sustenance, recursion
and historical recall often drawing
insightful links between the dense
cosmopolis and the distant cosmos. CURATOR OF THE YEAR
BEST PUBLIC ART INITIATIVE
Annapurna Garimella
Bihar Museum and
Designer and art historian
Anjani Kumar Singh, Chief Secre-
For her work with Jackfruit Research
tary, Bihar government
and Design. Her projects include
For powering a world-class state
Vernacular InFlux at India Art Fair, the
museum with nine galleries that
first exhibition on the history of mod-
showcase Bihar’s cultural heritage
ern ceramic and clay practices and
and its immense contribution to
objects at the Piramal Art Museum,
world civilisation—from prehistoric
as well as the Serendipity Barefoot
cave paintings to historic person-
School of Craft: Made in Goa.
alities like the Buddha, Mahavira,
Ashoka and Sher Shah Suri to the
Bihari diaspora now.
RETROSPECTIVE NEW MEDIA

OF THE YEAR ARTIST OF THE YEAR
N.S. Harsha Amar Kanwar
For Charming Journey, a For Such a Morning, a vi-
show at Japan’s Mori Art sionary 85-minute work of
Museum that draws on slow cinema, which follows
Indian painting traditions, a famous mathematician
popular arts and western who withdraws into dark-
canon to create works ness as he searches for a
reflecting on technology- response to the violence of
mediated relationships. our times.
The process of creating art was discussed in conversa- ings or the notes of Beethoven’s music,” explained Purie.
tions hosted by Aman Nath with two artist couples over two Two artists from Bengal—Jamini Roy and Mrinalini
discussions. While artists and partners Shuvaprasanna and Mukherjee—inspired designers David Abraham and
Shipra Bhattacharya talked about “art, work and life”, Mithu Rakesh Thakore and Gaurav Jai Gupta, respectively.
Sen and Samit Das talked about “shared spaces and shared Other participating designers and their muses included
lives”. The evening ended with a presentation celebrating designer Arjun Saluja and industrial and visual designer
bold ambition and sheer beauty—a curated collaboration Avian D’Souza; Paromita Banerjee, inspired by Sri Lankan
between 15 designers and artists. Designers were asked to painter Senaka Senanayake; Samant Chauhan, who
create fashion as an interpretation of art; it was not only found inspiration in the terracotta works of Rajat Ghosh.
an interplay of thread and fabric but also the forging of a Hemang Aggarwal chose Raza, Aneeth Arora interpreted
unique narrative of fashion in art and art in fashion. Pierre-Joseph Redouté and Sanjay Garg came up with a
“Art is meant to inspire and this year we collapse the take on Nasreen Mohamedi. Kallol Datta used constructiv-
boundaries of art and applied art and have some of the ism; Anita Dongre Pichhwai art; Anamika Khanna was
finest fashion designers showing us how—with specially inspired by ethnographic motifs; and Kiran Uttam Ghosh
hand-crafted, singular outfits, made for the India Today chose the fifth taste, Umami.
Art Awards. Each outfit is a work of art, inspired by a frag- “The finest art forces us to question everything, accept
ment of memory or history, the fluid lines of Jamini Roy’s nothing, and believe in the possibility of everything,” said
depiction of women, or the audacious curves of Zaha Hadid Purie. On this starry evening, art, indeed, made everything
buildings; the geometrical abstracts of S.H. Raza’s paint- seem possible. n

LEISURE
BOLLYWOOD STREAMING PICKS
IN 2018 FOR THE NEW YEAR
PG 68 PG 69
STAY TUNED, NEW Q&A: SHYAM

MUSIC RANGEELA
PG 70 PG 72
F
ARS O
25 YE HMAN
M USIC .R . R A
A , The
‘Encore at
GROUP
t’
Concer umbai,
urn e, M
Brabo 17
on Dec.
EFFORT
WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING A MEMBER
MANDAR DEODHAR
OF A.R. RAHMAN’S TOURING BAND?

LEISURE
ou wouldn’t think it, but A.R.
Y
Rahman is a funny guy—at least
when it comes to bad jokes. The
Mozart of Madras has “a wacky
sense of humour”, say members of
his touring band, with whom he
just wrapped up the Encore tour,
a four-city trek through Hyder-
abad, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Delhi that celebrated his
25 year-long career. “He cracks crazy jokes,” says 21-year-
old bassist Mohini Dey, who has been working with
Rahman from the time she was 16. “At the Global Citizen
(Festival) show (in Mumbai in November 2016), people
were screaming for Coldplay. When A.R. came on, he said,
‘I know you guys are waiting for Coldplay although they
are so warm.’ We were looking at each other and were like,
‘Oh my god, that was such a bad joke’.”
Along with bassist Dey, Rahman’s band features
long-standing members such as drummer Ranjit Barot,
guitarist Keba Jeremiah, flautist Ashwin Srinivasan, key-
boardist Karthik Devaraj and percussionist Sanket Naik.
Among the other characteristics and adjectives they use
to describe the maestro are “quiet”, “reserved”, “down to
earth” and “chilled out”. But it’s his funny bone that both
surprises and delights them.
Though his gigs may be peppered with lighthearted
banter, performing with Rahman is serious business.
Band members say he pays attention to the minutest de-
tail and expects nothing less than perfection. “He knows
what he wants,” says drummer Darshan Doshi. “And he
wants it done quickly.” Doshi, a student of Barot, subbed
for his teacher when he was away touring with John
McLaughlin in the US. “He doesn’t have much patience,”
says Dey. “You get three times to get it right, otherwise the
part, or the whole song, gets changed.”
A day before the Mumbai leg of the tour, Rahman told
india today that he has clear-cut criteria when selecting Photographs by RVR16 AND MANDAR DEODHAR
musicians. “I want them to be so good, instinctive and tal-
ented that I feel I should push myself much more. I have
to sing better, I have to play better,” he says TOP FIVE HITS FROM TH
His current band came together around five years ago,
shortly after long-time collaborator Barot roped in Rah- PART OF EVERY
man to appear on the second season of MTV Unplugged,
which he was producing. Having worked with Rahman
since Mani Ratnam’s Bombay (1995), Barot figured out a BOMBAY (1995)
way to strip his 25-member band down to just 10 without
compromising “on the emotional impact” of the songs.
After testing waters at an event at Mumbai’s National
Centre for the Performing Arts in 2012, Rahman and
Barot plunged into the gigging scene, doing a couple of
stadium shows in India and a 2015 tour of North Amer-
ROJA (1992) DIL SE..
ica, which was filmed and released as a rockumentary,
One Heart. Rahman’s concerts, as such, are a joint effort

BAND BAAJA (Clockwise from
left) Percussionist Sanket Naik,
drummer Ranjit Barot,
bassist Mohini Dey,
guitarist Keba Jeremiah by him and Barot, who plays the roles of producer,
arranger and bandleader. According to Rahman, the
reason their relationship works so well isn’t just be-
cause Barot is an “icon” he looks up to but also because
he’s an “evolving musician”. “He was a drummer, then
he became a programmer, a composer, a producer, he
sings,” says Rahman, who has even enlisted Barot to
act in his debut film production 99 Songs.
A big difference between the older ensemble and
the current band is a smaller dependency on production
software. Thanks to Rahman’s focus on improvisation,
you get much more than just a reproduction of the songs
as heard on the album. It’s also why musicians enjoy
performing with him: he makes sure to showcase their
individual talents in solos. Then there’s the fact that
arguably no other Indian composer commands such
large audiences either here
or abroad, as was witnessed
GIVEN HIS FOCUS at the closing show of his
IMPROVISATION,
four-city countrywide Encore
YOU GET MORE
THAN A
tour at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi
REPRODUCTION OF Indoor Stadium on December
AN ALBUM SONG 23. “The grandeur, the nature
of everything is massive,” says
guitarist Jeremiah, who has
been recording with Rahman
since 2010. “I don’t think a
show in India can get bigger than a Rahman show.”
On international tours, the band members hang out
with their idol offstage too. During such treks, he often
gives them “treats” by taking them to performances and
nice restaurants, says Dey, who fondly recalls watch-
ing the Blue Man Group with her mentor in the US and
spending quality time with him on a cruise in Auckland.
They also have a say in the set list. Picking what to
play is among the toughest parts of putting together
a concert because Rahman has a repertoire of over
600 songs. They typically fix on “the big ones and the
current ones”, Barot says. “The challenge with A.R. is
ESE SOUNDTRACKS ARE every time we go on tour, there’s a new hit you’ve got
to incorporate,” he notes. If there’s anybody up to the
RAHMAN CONCERT challenge, it’s Barot, who describes the partnership as
“not just my job” but also “a personal journey”.
Rahman is the captain and Barot the more than
SAATHIYA (2002) able chief officer—a relationship that coinciden-
tally, reflected in the stage backdrop for the Encore
performances, which was shaped like a ship. “It’s the
sense of vastness,” says Rahman about his fondness of
nautical motifs and affinity for the sea. “There’s a sense
of beauty, of spirituality.” He might well be describ-
ing his music. Then he punctuates it with a bad joke:
(1998) ROCKSTAR (2011)
“Everyone wants a sea-facing apartment.” n
—Amit Gurbaxani

KEDARNATH
(DEC. 21, 2018)
Saif Ali Khan’s daughter
Sara makes her debut
2018 FI L M PR EV I EW
We’ll be Watching...
I
n 2017, the question that troubled audiences was ‘why Katappa
killed Baahubali’. In 2018, it’s ‘will Padmavati enjoy a hasslefree PADMAN (JAN. 26)
release’? Unperturbed, Akshay Kumar’s off to a flying start for the Akshay Kumar
year. After Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, his next public service initiative is starrercumpublic
menstrual hygiene as he stars in Padman (Jan. 26)—a film inspired by service initiative on
activistinventor Arunachalam Muruganantham who has made low menstrual hygiene
cost sanitary towels. On Apr. 27, Kumar battles Rajinikanth in the long
delayed and highly anticipated scifi epic 2.0. Come Aug. 15, and Kumar
reprises his patriot act as the hockey player leading newlyindependent
India to Olympic glory in Gold.
If boxoffice numbers show Kumar knows what the public wants, so
do Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi, whose fourth collaboration is their
first biopic—on troubled actor Sanjay Dutt (Mar. 30). Dutt may be hard
to root for but that won’t be the case with Super 30 (Nov. 23), in which
Hrithik Roshan sets out to convince viewers that he shares an uncanny
resemblance to Bihari mathematician Anand Kumar. (No actual math test
was administered during the filming.) Meanwhile, filmmaker Nandita Das
and actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui team up to remind audiences of the joys
and seductive powers of Saadat Hasan Manto’s prose.
Deepika Padukone teams up with her Piku costar Irrfan Khan in
Vishal Bhardwaj’s untitled next. And the answer to Deepika’s Padmavati is
Kangana Ranaut’s Manikarnika (Apr. 27), based on Rani Laxmibai.
The superstar Khans, of course, will make their requisite appear
ances. Thugs of Hindostan (Nov. 7) is massive not just for its fantastical MANIKARNIKA
scale but because it’s the first time Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan (APR. 27)
act together on the big screen. Aanand L. Rai turns the megastar Shah Story of another
Rukh Khan into a smallsized man in Dwarf (Dec. 21). queen—Kangana plays
Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter star in Karan Joharproduced Rani of Jhansi
Dhadak (Jul. 6) a remake of the criticallyacclaimed Marathi film Sairat. If
caste is a hindrance in their love story, nature is the obstacle in Sara Ali
Khan’s debut Kedarnath (Dec. 21), set against the 2013 flash floods.
Vikramaditya Motwane gives the superhero genre a spin in Bhavesh
Joshi (May 25). Even when filmmaker Dibakar Banerjee is not in topnotch
form (Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!), he stands out for his daredevilry and
ingenious storytelling. Be ready for Sandeep aur Pinky Faraar (Aug. 3). n PADMAVATI
—Suhani Singh Will we, won’t we? After a shaky 2017, will
the film on Padmini of Chittor see the light
68 INDIA TODAY JA N UA RY 8 , 2 018 of day in 2018?
LEISURE 2018
FILM PREVIEW
NETFLIX
Streaming
Wonders
CINEMA
A
fter producing two stand-up specials
(Vir Das and Aditi Mittal), Netflix
STEADY offers its first original Indian series
HAND and second Indian movie. There’s the An-
urag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane
directed Sacred Games, a crime drama
SIRCAR FILES Varun
based on the Vikram Chandra novel. Love
ith Vicky Donor, Madras Cafe, Piku Dhawan and Banta Per Square Foot, the first production from
W and Pink to his credit, Shoojit Sircar
knows what people want. “Cinema is
Sandhu Ronnie Screwvala’s new banner, RSVP,
will hit theatres and Netflix simultane-
like a psychological war and heartto ously and marks the feature directorial
heart conversation with the audience,” he says. debut of actor-writer Anand Tiwari (Bang
“You can’t cheat them. They can make out if you Baaja Baaraat). Netflix’s grand plans
are wrong.” Among his key collaborators is writer
to challenge Hollywood studios involve
Juhi Chaturvedi, whom he knows from his days
producing Scorsese’s next, The Irishman
as an ad filmmaker when he directed commer
cials for Chaturvedi’s erstwhile employers Ogilvy starring Robert de Niro, Al Pacino and
& Mather. After Vicky Donor (2012) and Piku Joe Pesci. Other originals that are strong
(2015), Chaturvedi will now team up with Sircar bingewatch contenders—the new season of
for October, which releases on Apr. 13. Starring Black Mirror and the Coen Brothers’ The
Varun Dhawan and newcomer Banta Sandhu, the Ballad of Buster Scruggs. Amazon’s local
film is a “slice of real life love story” and is set in slate includes the R. Madhavan and Amit
Delhi and Himachal Pradesh. Sadh-starrer Breathe. Meanwhile, AltBalaji
Talking about the successful partnership,
BANDEEP SINGH
launches Season 1 of The Test Case in which

Sircar says, “Our scriptwriting process involves Nimrat Kaur is a combat officer trying to
a lot of discussion not just about the film but also
survive in the male-dominated special force
about cooking, childhood and dealing with kids.” n
training squad. n
—Suhani Singh
—Suhani Singh
ON SET
VIEW FINDER
T
here’s little that Ritesh Batra would
reveal about his first Indian film since
The Lunchbox (2013), which is also
set in Mumbai. After much prodding, this is
all he is willing to say: “I have a lot of nostal
gia of how things used to be and it reflects in
the things I tend to write.”
He’s also all praise for his actors Nawaz
uddin Siddiqui, who plays a struggling pho
tographer, and Sanya Malhotra (Dangal)
who plays his muse. “These characters
are really odd and not easy to nail down. IN
ZUDD
Both Sanya and Nawaz have done such NAWA IQUI
SIDD
a nice job.” & SAN
YA
OTRA
MALH atra’s
Rites hB
in
next

LEISURE
M USIC
STAY TUNED
THE NEW YEAR WILL SEE RELEASES BY SOME OF THE
BRIGHTEST STARS OF THE INDIAN INDEPENDENT MUSIC SCENE
SUBIR HALDER
AS WELL AS SOME NEW AND VETERAN INTERNATIONAL ACTS.

HERE’S A ROUND-UP OF THE ALBUMS AND EPs TO LOOK
FORWARD TO
NUCLEYA
Arguably the country’s biggest
independent music act at the
moment, Goa-based bass music
producer Nucleya aka Udyan
Sagar is promising fans a full-
length album by the end of 2018.
He will preview some of the
material at his New Year’s Eve
show at Mumbai’s Jio Garden.
Last quarter
PARVAAZ
Bangalore-based rock band Parvaaz,
whose songs are in a mix of Hindi,
PAREKH & SINGH
Kashmiri and Urdu, say their follow-up
Kolkata-based electro-
to 2014’s Baran will be equally bal-
pop duo Parekh &
anced across the three languages
Singh—who shot to
and, with a mix of acoustic and
fame in 2016 with
progressive rock elements, feature
the viral video ‘I Love
more of the sound they’ve come to be
You Baby, I Love You
known for. Third quarter
Doll’—will release their
sophomore. Their debut
Ocean was written
by singer and guitarist
Nischay Parekh. The
as-yet untitled 11-track
album has been co-
composed by Parekh
NILOTPAL BARUAH
and percussionist
Jivraj Singh. Fans will
be pleased to know
that it will be preceded
by a video for the tune
‘Summer Skin’, which,
in Parekh’s words, will
feature “a new visual
aesthetic”.
Second quarter

2018
MUSIC PREVIEW
MAJOR LAZER SWARATHMA

The electronic music trio will release their fourth album, Bengaluru-based Swarath-
tentatively titled Music is the Weapon, which was originally ma, which has been road-
scheduled for 2017. To be announced. testing tracks from their
third album, plans to head
EXIMAGES/ALAMY LIVE NEWS into the studio soon. Among
the tunes are lead single
‘Beta Sweater Pehno’ and
CAMILA a song with Indian Ocean’s
CABELLO Amit Kilam. Last quarter
Former Fifth Har-
mony member Camila
Cabello’s solo debut
Camila, which houses THE LOCAL
current international TRAIN
chart topper ‘Havana’, The Local Train,
is the first big pop re- which is emerging
lease of 2018. January as one of the
most popular
Hindi rock bands
in the country, will
release their sec-
ond album Vaaqif
on which they will
experiment with
a heavier sound.
Expect fewer love
ballads and more
philosophical
musings, as heard
on recent single
‘Aftaab’, which
is about finding
hope after a bad
day. January
JUSTIN
TIMBERLAKE
The pop-R&B superstar’s next
is very likely to be released
around the time he
performs the Super
Bowl halftime show
in February. To be
announced
PRATEEK KUHAD
RITVIZ
Delhi-based singer-lyricist and the
VED, the new EP by
indie scene’s favourite balladeer Pra-
Ritviz Srivastava—the
teek Kuhad’s long-awaited follow-up
voice behind ‘Udd
to his 2015 album In Tokens and
Gaye’, the official
Charms will be a six-track English EP
“party anthem” of
that will very likely include recent live
the Bacardi NH7
hits such as ‘For Your Time’.
Weekender music
First quarter
festival—is a cross
—Amit Gurbaxani
between his previous
releases, Vizdum and
Yuv. January STORMS MEDIA GROUP /
ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
Q A
The Last Laugh
Comedian Shyam Sunder Rangeela on Modi,
mimicry and mocking Rahul Gandhi
Q You said that Star Plus told you not to

mimic PM Modi on The Great Indian Laughter
Challenge. Do you think he might invite you
to perform it in person?
I hope that after his Gujarat victory, Modiji will
meet me. I see him as someone who respects all
and forgives those who cast aspersions on him.
Q Any trouble with pro-Modi trolls?

I don’t know from where this abusive lot that
claims to be his bhakts has emerged. They are
neither from the RSS nor the BJP, as many from
these organisations, including Union minister
Ravi Shankar Prasad, have told me that they like
my act.
Q Between Modi and Rahul Gandhi, who do

you like the most?
They are my Santa-Banta. One is incomplete
without the other. But Rahul is a comedy by himself
and Modi is catching up fast.
Q Is lampooning a politician difficult or scary?

Which other politician do you plan to target?
Lampooning is difficult, but with the social media
around, one cannot stop the circulation of such
satire. It quickly tells us if what has been said is
correct or incorrect. Next on my target is
BANDEEP SINGH
Yogi Adityanath.
—with Rohit Parihar
90
72 Volume XLIII Number 2; For the week January 2-8, 2018, published on every Friday Total number of pages 92 (including cover pages)

DIGITAL EDITION
THANK YOU FOR READING
PLEASE CONTINUE
TO YOUR FREE MAGAZINE
Mumbai
DECEMBER 2017
OUR PICK OF
THE MONTH
A MONTHLY CITY MAGAZINE
SET THE NIGHT

ON FIRE
YOUR GUIDE TO THE HOTTEST
NIGHTSPOTS IN THE CITY
AMI SHROFF,
FLAIR BARTENDER,
LONDON TAXI
Mumbai
december 2017
our pick of
the month
a monthly city magazine
set the night

on fire
Your guide to the hottest
nightspots in the citY
Ami Shroff,
flAir bArtender,
london tAxi
inside
10
Buzz
Music meets Style
A look at the grand
Blenders Pride Fashion
Tour 2017 that was
recently held in the city.
Ü
4
Photograph by DANESH JASSAWALA
Ü
Editor-in-Chief
Aroon Purie
Group Editorial Director
Raj Chengappa
Editor-at-large Cover Story
Kaveree Bamzai
Group Creative Editor Drink and Dance
Nilanjan Das
From Benarasi paan inspired
Group Photo Editor
Bandeep Singh cocktails to retro-themed bars,
Mumbai’s nightlife is buzzing with new
Associate Editor
clubs and gastro-pubs.
Mohini Mehrotra
Editorial Team Cover photograph by MANDAR DEODHAR
Akshita Khosla, Rewati Rau
Photo Department
Mandar Deodhar, Danesh Jassawala,
Vikram Sharma
Photo Researchers OUR PICK of the month
Prabhakar Tiwari, Saloni Vaid,
Shubhrojit Brahma Christmas in Koliwada Enjoy Christmas the French
Design [ Till December 31 ] way with the all new festive
Jyoti Singh menu by Parisienne chef Alexis
Production
Harish Aggarwal (Chief of
Gielbaum at his restaurant
Production), Naveen Gupta, Slink and Bardot. Aptly called
Vijay Sharma, Prashant Verma Christmas in Koliwada, because
Layout Execution
Ramesh Kumar Gusain
of the restaurant's location near
Pradeep Singh Bhandari a fishing village, the menu here
features a hearty soup made of
Publishing Director sunchokes and truffle oil, baby
Manoj Sharma lobster theromidor, warm spicy
Associate Publisher (Impact) mulled wine, and more.
Anil Fernandes
At Slink and Bardot,
Impact Team Thadani House, Opp Indian
Senior General Manager: Coast Guard, Worli village.
Jitendra Lad (West)
General Managers:
Price 3,000 for two
Upendra Singh (Bangalore);
Kaushiky Gangulie (East)
2 INDIA TODAY MUMBAI F DECEMBER 2017

Cover Story
and
FROM BENARASI PAAN INSPIRED COCKTAILS TO RETRO-THEMED BARS, MUMBAI’S NIGHTLIFE IS BUZZING WITH
NEW CLUBS AND GASTRO-PUBS THAT ARE OFFERING INNOVATIVE DRINKS, QUIRKY DÉCOR AND COOL GIGS.
_ by Aditi PAi
Arth
With opulent décor by
Gauri Khan, a gasless kitchen and
the city’s swish set partying here,
Arth has its feet firmly on
Mumbai’s nightlife map. They have
an in-house DJ through the week
and a fashion and jazz night with
Singleton that brings together
fashion designers and jazz artists
and gigs with celebs. The expansive
bar and lounge on the ground floor
is glamorous and the bar menu
is curated with the philosophy of
familiar but unexpected. So expect
Indian flavours with a unique twist.
Sip on Don’t miss Chill Your
Chai, a take on India’s favourite
masala chai made with golden tip
Assam tea, fresh organic milk and
vodka or the Arth Julep, a drink
with a distinct flavour of mukhwas
and saffron.
On the Plate Touted as Mumbai’s
first gasless kitchen, the food draws
inspiration from every corner of
India. If you’re at the bar, nibble on
the Naga garlic and butter calamari,
Bhavnagri shrimp skewers and
Majuli chicken skewers.
USP Signature cocktails that
combine Indian flavours such as
marigold and Assam tea
Price Rs 2,500 for two
At 15th road, Khar
Jitender Singh,
beverage director, Arth
Cover Story
A Bar Called Life

This latest entrant to Juhu’s
nightlife scene features finger foods
House of Nomad and fun cocktails with an element of
nostalgia. With a capacity of 200, the
Go here when you want a relaxed evening with innovative cocktails, bar is competitively priced with drinks
delicious bar nibbles and good music—with a stunning bar and a ceiling-to- starting at Rs 50 at 6 p.m. and going up
floor wine wall as focul points. As the menu at the House of Nomad proudly every hour till 11 p.m.. In keeping with
states, Bandra is a melting pot of cultures and ideas and the signature the current trend, the signature cock-
cocktails here reflect this very creativity. The highlight at this gastro-pub at the tails have a generous touch of Indian
Taj Land’s End is undoubtedly their spirited concoctions. Channel No. 6 spices and flavours. What’s a good
combines Kettle One vodka with lychee and coconut and comes with a drink without great food to match, so
molecular lipstick, while Smoke and Mirrors, another favourite on the menu, executive chef Amninder Sandhu has
brings together Old Monk rum with apple juice and French gingerbread syrup. curated a menu that’s inspired by lost
Must-try Wine lovers, in particular, will be charmed by the wine wall which recipes. Youthful and lively, this bar-
has a 300-plus café kicks off at 6 p.m. with a laidback
list of labels. vibe and quickly transforms into a high
USP Barrel aged energy party scene as the night grows.
cocktails that On the Calendar Wednesdays are
are left in an oak hip hop nights, Fridays are all about
barrel for several Bollywood music and on Saturdays,
weeks to deeply they play commercial music.
blend the flavours USP Roselle Sour, a saffron infused
Price Rs 2,500 gin mixed with pistachio, rose, lime
for two and egg white, paired with Pulled raan
At Taj Land’s pav, Buratta kadak roomali and
End, Bandra Bombil fry.
bandstand Price Rs 1,400 for two
At 30, C/O Paradise Banquets,
opposite Juhu PVR, JVPD
Photograph by MANDAR DEODHAR
Cover Story
Ami Shroff, flair
bartender, London Taxi
Harbour Bar
In sharp contrast to the youthful
vibrant bars around town, the Harbour
Bar exudes old-world charm with cock-
tails that go back to 1933 when it first
opened and an enviable mixology
heritage. Every cocktail here holds a
special story—With a 'lil Help from my
Friends, a favourite of John Lennon and
Yoko Ono that blends caramel,
cinnamon syrup and Chivas Regal.
Lore goes that the drink would be left
outside their door every few hours. Off
to the Elephants, a cocktail of
Smokehead-infused dark chocolate,
angostura bitters and honey syrup with
peppercorn tells the tale of two key
archaeologists responsible for the
restoration of Elephanta caves and their
never-ending love for whiskey and rum.
Back in Time The Speakeasy Satur-
days recreate the vibe of the speakeasy
bars of the Prohibition Era with relaxed
music and signature cocktails.
USP Old-world nostalgia
Price Rs 2,500 for two At Harbour
bar, the Taj Mahal Palace
London Taxi
With Ami Shroff, India’s first female flair bartender at the helm
of the bar, the newest gastro-pub in town is sure to serve some of the best
cocktails you can get—spirits infused with natural ingredients, in-house
made shrubs, tonic water and no artificial flavours or sugar. The interior
decor is inspired by London's public transport system, with pipes running
along the ceiling that are reminiscent of the tube network, red chairs dot-
ting the space and the footprints of the city’s popular attractions.
In the Mixer The drinks have been curated with a British touch. While
the signature Sherlock in a Pickle is a savoury cocktail inspired by Sherlock
Holmes’ favourite ingredients, The English Breakfast is a cocktail served
with an egg sunny side up.
Chef’s Coat Chef Nagraj Bhat brings his years of experience in kitchens
in London with dishes such as Truffle scented dark chocolate caramelised
cauliflower soup, Charcoal bao, Tamarind wasabi glazed chicken wings,
Beer battered flat-breads, Bangers and mash and Ramen.
USP The décor, food and Britain-inspired cocktails
Price Rs 2,500 for two At Kamala Mills, Lower Parel
Cover Story
Tipsy Gypsy
With live entertainment through
the week, Tipsy Gypsy lives up to its credo
of All Day Live, offering live music bands,
Sufi stars, stand-up comic acts, karaoke
nights and theme parties. A hit with the
youth, the new gastro pub in Andheri pays
equal attention to its food as it does to the
bar menu. Executive chef Dev Singh Negi
has curated a menu that includes inter-
estingly named Indian and international
dishes such as Chana Mereya which is an
Afghan dumpling with tomato lentil and
yoghurt and the Corn Pops that come
with thecha mayo.
USP Live acts and delicious food
Price Rs 1,500 for two At Level 1, Fun
Republic, Link Road, Andheri West
Gymkhana 91
This grand all-day bar and kitchen is a modern
rendition of the colonial gymkhanas with regal
neo-gothic walls and windows, British-style furniture
and lights and a green tiled roof. To add to the old-
world feel, they even have a majestic antique clock that
is 8-feet tall. Alcohol here is moderately priced and
the place puts ample emphasis on the food, making
it a good option for those who want a quiet night out.
Teetotalers can try the Nightingale Cosmopolitan and
the kale, cucumber and fennel juice. The bar menu
favourites are Tsar of Rus, a concoction of vodka,
Kahlua, cream and caramel and Admirals Move, a
spicy drink made with vodka, lime juice and jalapenos.
USP Old-world gymkhana ambience Price Rs 1,200
for two At Raghuvanshi Mills, Lower Parel Mojo's Bistro
A rooftop bar with cozy cabanas, comfy couches and a
bar with bartenders juggling and mixing drinks, Mojo’s Bistro
adds a new option to Lower Parel’s already buzzing nightlife.
Try their Reduced pav bhaji with garlic bread, Lobster thermi-
dor and the Norwegian salmon and cream cheese sushi. They
have the regulars as well but fruity cocktails top the menu here.
Don’t miss the Meloni Mojito, Watermelon Basil Cooler and
Trangirino which combines rum with malta orange, basil and
lime. If you want to unwind on the first day of the week, head
for their gaming nights on Mondays.
USP Rooftop location and fruity cocktails
Price Rs 1,200 for two
At Kamala Mills, Lower Parel
(Lto R) Bartenders Rohit
Vijayapuram and Lawrence
Cover Story Fernandesof The Little Easy
The Little Easy

A peephole entry is your first

introduction to this speakeasy concept
bar in the suburbs—ring the inconspicu-
ous bell to summon the attendant and
whisper your table request through the
slide away peephole and be ready to
get transported into the world of mid-
1920's with a steampunk tease. The
all-day dining space starts with a lazy
breakfast and transforms into an upbeat JLWA
bar with an extensive menu of cocktails
and shots and good music. With paan Benares beer and maple whiskey on the bar menu and
Shaken and Stirred Try the a café that’s bathed in warm yellow light, JLWA brings variety to Bandra’s
pre-prohibition era classic cocktails such nightlife. The cocktails combine international spirits with local ingredients
as the Negroni, Mary Pickford, Sazerac from across the country so you can find the Benarasi paan, coconut and
and French 75 along with craft beers Naga Jolokhia.
such as Brewbot and Ninkasi on the tap. Creative Seat Bent Chair, known for its quirky accessories and furniture, has
Pair the drinks with an interesting menu lent its expertise to the décor and glassware. Everything is bathed in blue with
that features Mini naan bombs, Jodhpu- gold accents in furniture and an expansive gold embellished wall. The music is
ri poppers and Pan tossed prawn stars. peppy with a mix of hip hop, Bollywood and commercial.
USP Ambience and cocktails On the Platter Mandarin smoke, Pears and coconut cooler, Maple whiskey,
Price Rs 1,500 for two Mohammed Ali fajitas
At 202, 28th road, Bandra West USP Cocktails with local Indian ingredients Price Rs 1,600 for two
At 3 rd floor, VN Sphere, Linking Road, Bandra

Models showcasing designer Tarun Tahiliani's creations
Feature
MUSIC MEETS STYLE

The Blenders Pride Fashion Tour held in the city recently was all about breaking stereo
types and defying conventions.
T
Photographs by MILIND SHELTE
he grand Blenders Pride Fashion Tour 2017

recently held in the city at celebrated
authenticity and uniqueness of style with an event
themed ‘Style : More than you Think’. A dazzling show in its
13th edition, the multi-city tour's Mumbai leg was all about
breaking stereotypes and defying conventions by showing
to the world that there is more to one’s style which the world
doesn’t know about. Celebrated designer Tarun Tahiliani
created a collection representing a multitude of designs
like laser etching, zardozi, resham-thread embroidery, aari
work, fringing and velvet accents. A heady cocktail of music,
technology and fashion, the BPFT saw award-winning
actor Sonam Kapoor showcase Tahiliani’s creation in a daz-
zling pastel gown. Held at the Grand Hyatt lawns on a cool
December evening, the event, predictably, had eclectic music
with Midival Punditz, the popular fusion band and folk singer
Actor Sonam Kapoor in a Tarun Tahiliani
Malini Awasthi known for her mellifluous renditions in dia-
outfit with the designer lects like Awadhi, Bundelkhandi and Bhojpuri.

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RNI NO. 28587/75 REGISTERED NO.

DL(ND)-11/6068/15-17; U(C)-88/15-17; FARIDABAD/05/17-19 LICENSED TO POST WITHOUT PREPAYMENT

SET THE NIGHT

EXCLUSIVE MULTIMEDIA CONTENT ONLY FOR IPAD

COVER STORY POWER DUO

COVER STORY CHIEF NEGOTIATOR

COVER STORY SAFFRON SATRAP

IIMA offers Programmes

What sets IIMA’s Executive Education apart

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT AHMEDABAD

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Aroon Purie

All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of

POV: O MUSIC FOR

Cover photograph by BANDEEP SINGH

2 INDIA TODAY JA N UA RY 8 , 2 018

A SECOND TERM INDIA’S VOTE ON

CAN tions and acquittals in the

THE RJD out of Prime Minister Narendra

JA N UA RY 8 , 2 018 INDIA TODAY 3

hands and the elections in Bihar will now be a direct DEFENCE

4 INDIA TODAY JA N UA RY 8 , 2 018

` 176,000 `9,407 CRORE 1,552

122 POLITICIANS, ACQUITTED

JA N UA RY 8 , 2 018 INDIA TODAY 5

‘INDIA NEEDS ‘Indian nationalism

8 INDIA TODAY JA N UA RY 8 , 2 018

JA N UA RY 8 , 2 018 INDIA TODAY 21

Illustration by TANMOY CHAKRABORTY

Illustration by SIDDHANT JUMDE JA N UA RY 8 , 2 018 INDIA TODAY 13

14 INDIA TODAY JA N UA RY 8 , 2 018

32 INDIA TODAY JA N UA RY 8 , 2 018 Photograph by BANDEEP SINGH

18 INDIA TODAY JA N UA RY 8 , 2 018 THARAKA BASNAYAKA/GETTYIMAGES

ICC Test Strike

4 KANE WILLIAMSON 63 5,214 50.62 17 50.51

ICC ODI Strike successive Test series win

2 AB DE VILLIERS 225 9,515 54.06 25 101.07 series wins between 2005-06

5 ROHIT SHARMA 174 6,424 45.23 16 87.08

ICC T20 Strike runs he scored in ODIs in

3 VIRAT KOHLI 55 1,956 52.86 0 137.84

4 K.L. RAHUL 12 458 50.88 1 147.74

5 KANE WILLIAMSON 42 1,173 34.50 0 122.31

entered the press conference room.

20 INDIA TODAY JA N UA RY 8 , 2 018

Picture courtesy: INSTAGRAM/ VIRAT.KOHLI

JA N UA RY 8 , 2 018 INDIA TODAY 21

AFTER 63 TESTS Runs Highest Average 100s 50s 200s

SACHIN TENDULKAR 4,753 179 54.63 17 19 0

VIRAT KOHLI 5,268 243 53.75 20 15 6

AFTER 202 ODIs Runs Highest Average 100s 50s

SACHIN TENDULKAR 7,454 143 42.11 19 43

VIRAT KOHLI 9,030 183 55.74 32 45

SACHIN’S RECORD Matches Runs Highest Average 100s 50s

TEST 200 15,921 248* 53.78 51 68

ODI 463 18,426 200* 44.83 49 96

22 INDIA TODAY JA N UA RY 8 , 2 018

TESTS Matches Won Lost Drawn Runs Ave Win %

S. GANGULY 49 21 13 15 2,561 37.66 43

M.S. DHONI 60 27 18 15 3,454 40.63 45

VIRAT KOHLI 32 20 3 8 3,170 67.44 63

ODIs Matches Won Lost Tied NR Runs Ave Win %

S. GANGULY 147 76 65 0 5 5,104 38.66 51

M.S. DHONI 199 110 74 4 11 6,633 53.92 55

VIRAT KOHLI 43 33 9 0 1 2,310 74.51 77