`100

JUNE
2016

HOW TO BE OPTIMISTIC
PAGE 188

45 MINUTES WITH A CHEETAH

PAGE 162

SILENT SIGNS
YOUR BODY IS IN

BIG TROUBLE
PAGE 66

CRIME

TWO MEN CONFESS, WHO TOLD

THE TRUTH?
PAGE 180

SPECTRE OF THE DIRTY BOMB

PAGE 22

BONUS READ: HOUSE ON FIRE!

PAGE 202

7 WAYS TO AVOID IMPULSE BUYING ............ 46

readersdigest.co.in

KEEP YOUR COOL ........................................... 58

IT HAPPENS ONLY IN INDIA ........................... 64
DRAMA: IN AN AVALANCHE ........................... 174
LAUGHTER, THE BEST MEDICINE .................. 178

FOR SALE IN INDIA AND NEPAL ONLY

Contents
june 2016

66

Cover Story

SILENT SIGNS YOUR BODY

IS IN BIG TROUBLE
All you need to know about your
bodys distress signals. h a l l i e
l e v i n e a n d kat h a ko l i da S g u p ta

76

GOING HOME
An urban legend arisen out of
the American subconscious, this
time about a man returning to
his family. p e t e h a M i l l

146

NaTURES aRcHITEcTS
Animals that craft their abode.
Cornelia CuMfert

152

STREET SMaRT
Meet the cabbies who know London
better than GPS and Sat Nav.

P.

194

180

One murder, two confessions.

Whos the killer?

roff SMith

162

LOOk, THERES a cHEETaH

ON MY HEaD!

derek burnett

188

v i jaya p r ata p

photo: M aSS iMo baSSan o

ONE STEp aT a TIME

This young entrepreneur can turn
your footsteps into energy.

t h i e r ry Sau S S e z

194

lorenzo CarCaterra

drama in real life

avaLaNcHE!
Caught under snow after a fall, a
rescue seemed impossible.
a da M h e r M a n

a LOvE STORY
Lake Como is the perfect
setting for special moments.

dav i d t h o M a S

174

HOw TO BE OpTIMISTIc
Get rid of gloom and
pessimism and feel new
energy.

45 long minutes with a big cat, in

the wilds of Maasai Mara.

166

I cONfESS

202

book bonus

HOUSE ON fIRE
When nightmares turn into
reality. h o l ly e d e x t e r

readers digest

june 2016

Vol. 57

| No. 6

june 2016

10 editors Note

12 Over to You

VOICES & VIEWS

department of Wit

P.

20 fast Track to a Dad Bod

22

Celebrate Fathers Day with

this hilarious guide to the
latest in mens fitness.
dav i d tat e

in My opinion

22 Heard of the

Dirty Bomb?

you be the judge

32 The case of the

Missing comma

READER FAVOURITES
16 Lifes Like that
26 Humour in Uniform
28 good News
34 Medical News
38 Points to Ponder
54 all in a days Work
64 it Happens Only in india

Another reason why

punctuation is crucial.
viCki gleMboCki

finish this Sentence

42 The Movie Everyone

But Me Loves Is...

P.

42

178 Laughter, the Best Medicine

208 as Kids see it
212 Brain teasers
214 thats Outrageous
215 Word Power
219 studio
220 Quotable Quotes

june 2016

readers digest

i lluStrati on by ni lan ja n daS. di gi tal iMagi ng by aMa rjeet S ingh nag i

Terrorists can breach

institutions with radiological
material. r a j C h e n g a p pa

Vol. 57

| No. 6

june 2016

WHO KNEW?

210 13 Things Sleep Doctors

wont Tell You

MiChelle CrouCh

217 Entertainment
ou r top piCkS of th e Month

P.

58

P.

217

ART OF LIVING

43 why cats Dont forgive

M e l i S Sa da h l

Money

46 control That vice

p r i ya da r S h i n i M a j i

food

50 7 Steps to a Smart

Sandwich

k e l S e y k lo S S

52 Bringing Back Ghee

C l au d e a lva r e S

total number of pages in this issue of

Readers Digest, including covers: 222

health

58 keep Your cool

parenting

60 Break the Routine

d r S h e l ja S e n

tech

62 The Tantrum That

Broke the Internet

l au r a M o S e r

june 2016

readers digest

photograph by gabrielle revere

Wardrobe StyliSt: Marie blomquist;
hairStyliSt: nate rosenkranz;
Make-up StyliSt: Suzy gerstein;
Model: Courtney McCann/Wilhelmina;
CorSet leotard by livetheproCeSS.CoM

top left: indi api Cture

kat h a ko l i daS g u p ta

vol. 57 no. 6
June 2016
Editor Sanghamitra Chakraborty
Deputy Editor Chitra Subramanyam
Senior Research Editor
features Editor
Contributing Editor
Consulting Editor &
Researcher
Editorial Coordinator

Mamta Sharma
Suchismita Ukil
Pallavi Shankar
Rini Barman
Ruchi Lodha

Art Director Sadhana Moolchandani

Senior Designer Keshav Kapil
IMPACT (ADVERTISING)
Group Business Head Manoj Sharma
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Kolkata: Deputy GM (East) Kaushiky Chakraborty
Published in 46 editions and 17 languages,
Readers Digest is the worlds largest-selling
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08

June 2016

READERS DIGEST

Editors Note
MA HAD ALWAYS BEEN BUSYin the office, at home
and beyond. Like many mothers of her generation, she
put everything elseespecially the familybefore
herself. When my father fell ill, she was by him constantly
nursing, feeding and reading to him. After he passed away,
she came to live with us in Delhi for some time. We wanted
to take her away from home and all the memories.
Within a couple of months of returning to Kolkata, she was
beginning to show signs that a local doctor read as depression: she looked pale,
exhausted and was losing weight. Take up gardening, he told her. Finally,
when a pain in her stomach led to a gallstone diagnosis, we were relieved. After
the surgeon opened her up, it was revealed that she had stage four gall-bladder
cancer. This was August, by December she was gone.
We lead lives that are crowded with people, work and to-do lists. Often were
unable to focus beyond the chore at hand. Editing a health magazine, I have
learnt two key lessons: Build healthy habits into your life slowly so that they
become essential, like brushing your teeth. Everything else will fall into place.
Also, listen to your body, youll never regret it. Silent Signs Your Body Is In Big
Trouble (p 66) will help in keeping yourself and your loved ones safe, lifelong.
Just make sure you rule out the possibility of a deeper concern without it getting
to you. How To Be Optimistic (p 188) may help!
Going Home, an RD Classic, is one of my favourite reads this issue (p 76), as
is A Love Story (p 194). Then there is the story of a Hyderabad travel writers
encounter with a cheetah (p 162) that you must read.
Gurmeet Singh has been serving patients with food and medicines at the
lawaris ward of the Patna Medical College and Hospital for years. Since
February, when bbc.com first ran his story, Singh was not allowed to serve food.
Reading RDs May issue (Everyday Heroes), the administration gave him
permission to resume serving food. I had to share this with youI know it will
bring a smile to your face.
Until next month, then!
Send an email to
[email protected]

10

JUNE 2016

READERS DIGEST

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANAND GOGOI .

HAI R & M AKE-UP BY ROLIKA P RAKASH

Health is Happiness

Over to You
FEEDBACK ON OUR APRIL ISSUE

MAGIC TUBE
YouTube, the video-sharing platform has created
a global community and empowered the common
man to actively engage [How YouTube Changed
the World]. Thats why it is ahead of other social
media like Twitter, which is dependent on
celebrities rather than an emotional connection
between people.
NIKHIL SHARMA, Jaip ur

Its astonishing how YouTube has

influenced our lives and mostly
positively. However, it is adding to
the isolation too. With everyone
hooked to their own gadgets, gone
are the days when families huddled
together to watch their favourite TV
show. I think, we should pick the
best of both worlds.
DR PREETHI NAGARAJ, Bengaluru

KIND DOCTOR
Most doctors now tend to persuade
patients to undergo unnecessary
medical procedures. Ten years ago,
Dr Devi Shetty [Compassionate Care]
advised my father against a surgery.
Today he is hale and hearty, thanks
to the caring doctors in his hospitals
outpatient department.
RAJESHWARI K., Bengaluru

Doctors are Gods emissaries who

dedicate their lives to patients.
12

JUNE 2016

READERS DIGEST

Unfortunately, in this fast-moving,

consumption-driven age, simplicity
and kindness are rare. The underprivileged dont even have access
to basic healthcare. Following
Dr Shettys example, and the
Hippocratic Oath, every caregiver
should be conscientious.
SHREEPRAKASH SHARMA, Birauli, Bihar

A GOOD SAMARITAN
Help for the Homeless reminded
me of an incident near my office
some time ago. As I left from work, I
saw an old man napping under a
tree. It was a Friday evening and
everyone was rushing to start their
weekend. Just then, I saw a man
trying to speak to the old man. He
had bought some food from a nearby
cart and was offering it to him,
suggesting he could eat it when he
woke up. This gesture lifted my soul.
NEHA BIDWE, Pune

OV E R TO YO U

Real-life superheroes are those who

transform the lives of ordinary people and put a smile on their faces. We
need to reconnect with people, give
shelter to the homeless and feed the
hungry. Those who have more than
enough, must give back to society
therein lies the true art of living.
ASHOK AGGARWAL, Sahibabad, U.P.

SOUNDS CONNECT
Sounds Like was a fascinating read.
We dont realize the extent to which
we use onomatopoeic words almost
every day. That, in spite of language
barriers, we are connected through
these words globally. They have become such a big part of our daily
conversations that we dont even
think twice before using them.
SURABHI PATHAK, Nagpur

EAR-OPENER

PROF MOHAN SINGH, Amritsar

HEARING FROM PARENTS

At a time when we hear agonizing
stories of neglect of aged parents,
Donald Huntons The Morning
Report brought tears to my eyes. As
a daughter living in Sri Lanka, I am
in the same boat, waiting for a text
message every day from my parents
|

JUNE 2016

Prathyasa Georges journey,

from patient to therapist, is inspiring [Finding the Silver Lining]. We
often see patients who cant
muster the courage to meet a
psychiatrist. The stigma associated
with it can be overwhelming. This
message needs to go out loud and
clear: just like our body is afflicted
with diseases, so can our mind.
And just as the body is relieved
from suffering through proper
treatment, so is the mind.
DR DIPAK RANJAN DAS, C u t t a c k

Dr Das gets this months Best Letter

EDS
prize of ` 1,000.

in India. Even the slightest delay

makes me anxious. How I wish I
were nearer. May they be blessed
with longevity and good health!
SHALINI GERALD, Mabola, Sri Lanka

First Aid for Your Voice was an earopener. Though problems associated
with hearing are common, rarely do
we register the possibility of agerelated speech issues and that remedies are available for them.

14

HEALTHY MINDS

WR
IT
& E
WI
N!

READERS DIGEST

SHAKESPEARE FOREVER
It was a treat to read Marriage of
True Minds commemorating the
Bards 400th death anniversary.
Shakespeare has delved deep into
human nature: filial ingratitude in
King Lear, inordinate ambition in
Macbeth, the dilemma of Hamlet
his appeal is universal and the range
and variety of his work incredible.
USHA VERMA, Chandigarh

Write in at [email protected]. The

best letters discuss RD articles, offer
criticism, share ideas. Do include your
phone number and postal address.

Lifes Like That

I ASKED MY FRIEND about the

pros and cons of using a Kindle as
opposed to getting the app on
16

June 2016

another device. Oh, Kindle is way

better, she said. Because its an
actual book.
JANET WOHLGEMUT
AT A RAILWAY STATION, I couldnt

help but notice that the five clocks

dotted around the station all showed
a different time. I mentioned this to
the porter, who looked at me
strangely before replying, What
would be the use of having five
clocks if they all showed precisely
the same time?
ROXANNE SUMNER

readers digest

i llustration : raJu

THE PHOTOGRAPHER was positioning my new husband and me for our

wedding photos when he asked,
Have you ever modelled?
My cheeks instantly turned red.
No, I havent, I said. But I always
thought
The photographer interrupted me:
I meant him.
JOANNE NOFFKE

L i f e s L i k e t h at

AFTER SHIFTING to a new apart-

ment, I needed to get my washing

machine installed. I made an
appointment with the companys
representative who promised to
come and fix it.
He failed to turn up, so I called
again and was assured that he would
be there within the next two days.
When he didnt turn up even after
a week, I was exasperated. I called
him, yet again, and asked, Do
you need a band and a baaraat to
come to my house and fix the
washing machine?
Sir, you are absolutely right
about the band and the baaraat, he
responded. I am getting married
next week and currently on leave!
Caught off guard, I was left murmuring wedding wishes to him.
JULIUS MAcHADO, Mu m b a i

THREE FATHERS remind us why

theres Fathers Day:
Watching Frozen again with my
daughter because we paid $19.99 to
download it, so shes going to watch
it every day until college.

BURNING YOUR OWN HOUSE DOWN?

S e e n i n a Mu m b a i r e s t a u ra n t

we can all watch my dad fix things

together.
C o m e d i a n MARK cHALIFOUX
MY YOUNG SON thought his father
was far too strict. He said, If the
word no were removed from the
English language, Dad would be
speechless!
ANNA HAMMETT
RSVP [Sifting through mail] Baby

shower invitation? Ha-ha, um, no

thanks, Linda. I have a regular-sized
shower I can use whenever I want.
@MARINHUBKA

Hu m o r i s t MIcHAELIAN BLAcK

TRIAL RUN When kids are told, Go

My son asked me what its like to

be a dad, so I carelessly broke my
phone screen and made him pay
for a new one.
@LAcKOFSHAME

to your room and think about what

youve done, its really good practice
for what theyll do every night as
adults.
@TASTEFAcTORY

As a kid, I got to watch my dad fix

everything, and I hope to share that
experience with my kids. That way,

Readers Digest will pay for your funny

anecdote or photo in any of our jokes
sections. Post it to the editorial address,
or email: [email protected]

18

June 2016

readers digest

voices

views

Fast Track
To A
Dad Bod
bY DAv i D tAt e
from mcsween ey s

DAY 1: Eat a burrito at your steady job during your lunch break.
DAY 2: Have a kid punch you in the groin to wake you up.
DAY 3: Look up how much college tuition will cost, then
multiply it by the number of kids you have. Then, instead
of crying, eat a late-night burrito.
david tate

is a regular
contributor to
McSweeneys
Internet
Tendency.
He has been
working on
his dad bod
for a decade.
20

June 2016

DAY 4: Do one push-up, breathe heavily and then open

a bag of Wild Berry Skittles.

DAY 5: Buy a gym membership. When they give you a tour, take

a good look aroundthis is the last time you will see it all.
DAY 6: Look at yourself in the mirror while recalling that
how you look has zero to do with your chances of getting
lucky today and that this is true every day forever after.

readers digest

IllustratIon by nI shant ChoksI ; tate I llustratI on by Joe M Ckendry

department of Wit

DAY 7: Carry a child for the entire

DAY 15: Let the stress of your current

zoo trip in your left arm, even after

you can no longer feel it.

financial burden allow you to feel

each individual hair turning white.

DAY 8: Get four hours sleep, and allow your body to confuse being tired
with hunger and eat two burritos.

DAY 16: Take your blood pressure pill,

but only after stressing a bit about

having to take a blood pressure pill.

DAY 9: Chase a balloon across the

DAY 17: Eat some Oven Baked Cheeparking lot of a ToysRUs at a death
tos. If you dont have any on hand,
struggle level of intenget married, and they
sity. Return it to the
will suddenly appear
birthday girl, and wait
where your regular
Start running. Cheetos used to be.
until she smiles at you
and says, Thank you,
Immediately
Daddy, before you
DAY 18: Squat down
injure your
throw up in the bushes.
to wipe up vomit; raise
yourself with your back.
entire body,
DAY 10: Remember that
and then take
time you were good at
DAY 19: Whenever
sports? Man, wasnt that
you see a pull-up bar,
a year off.
so great?
grab it and pretend you
are about to knock out
some pull-ups. Wonder quietly what
DAY 11: Start running but immedidoing a single pull-up feels like.
ately injure your entire body, and
then take a year off.
DAY 20: Go to the pool and
confidently take off your shirt
DAY 12: Lower your testosterone level
and swim a couple of laps. Put
a bit by losing another negotiation
your shirt back on and quietly drywith a two-year-old.
heave in the car.
DAY 13: Reward yourself with a
milkshake for waking up today.
DAY 21: Show off your new dad
bod to your wife by first flagging
her down on Facebook. Ignore her
DAY 14: Play basketball with the
grade-school kids in your neighbour- eye roll and laughtershe isnt in
touch with how attracted she is to
hood. Spend time in the hospital
you right now.
catching up on your sleep.
McsWeeneys (June 30, 2015), Copyright 2015 by david tate, mcsweeneys.net.

readers digest

June 2016

21

IN MY OPINION

for india, the threat of nuclear terrorism is real

Heard of the Dirty Bomb?

BY RA J C H E N G A P PA

Quest To Be A
Nuclear Power.

22

June 2016

tHe tHree Main ways terrorists could stage nuclear

attacks: detonate a nuclear bombeither a weapon stolen
from a states arsenal or an improvised nuclear device made
from weapons-grade nuclear material they smuggled out;
sabotage a major nuclear facility and cause it to release
large amounts of harmful radiation or detonate a dirty
bomb in a city centre.
The attacks in Mumbai, Paris, and more recently, Brussels and Lahore, are indications that terrorists are looking
for more dramatic strikes. The International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA), which maintains a database of nuclear and
radioactive materials, reported 2,734 confirmed incidents of
either unauthorized possession, or theft of sensitive nuclear

readers digest

ILLuSTRATIOn BY KeS HAV KAP IL

a coLLectiVe Gasp went up as terrorists flying a crop

duster, sprayed deadly radioactive material over a densely
populated area, causing sickness and death. More than 50
world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
were at the fourth Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) in
Washington, DC, watching a film that simulated a possible
attack by terrorists and its aftermath.
When the ingredients (used in cancer treatment and blood
transfusion) of a radiological dispersal device, or dirty bomb
raj cHenGappa
as it is called, are packaged with explosives and detonated,
is group editorial
those in the immediate vicinity will be killed by the blast. But
director, India
the radioactive fallout may cause radiation sickness to thouToday Group and
author of Weapons sands in an area of three sq km. The area would have to be
of Peace: Secret
cordoned off for years, until it is cleansed of contamination.
Story of Indias
This is a nuclear Armageddon that the world can ill afford.

ILLuSTRATIOn BY nI LAn JA n DAS. DI GI TA L IM AGI nG BY AMA RJeeT S InGH nAG I

material and radioactive sources

across the world, since 1993.
inDia possesses arounD 120
nuclear weapons, 21 reactors that
generate power including some that
produce weapons-grade nuclear
materials, large amounts of radioactive nuclear waste stored in special
containment areas and over 7,000
institutions that use radiological
devices, particularly hospitals, for
both diagnosis (X-rays) and treatment
(cancer). While a majority of the
nuclear complexes are safeguarded
and agencies regarded thorough,
there are concerns that terrorists are
employing increasingly sophisticated
means to penetrate these institutions
and facilities.
India has a strong command-andcontrol system that goes right up to
the Prime Minister and the National
Security Council, which controls
movements of nuclear weapons.
It is a tightly closed loop, which
operates behind an extra-thick curtain of secrecy, and has remained impenetrable. Still, as the terror attack
on the Pathankot airbase has shown,
Indias critical defence facilities
remain vulnerable and call for even
more stringent security.
While stealing a bomb is almost
impossible, terrorists may actually
make a dirty bomb by collecting
weapons-grade nuclear material or
harmful radioactive substances, used
or stored in Indias nuclear com-

plexes. The source of danger: personnel with access to facilities, materials

and sensitive information.
The Washington summit strongly
emphasized beefing up personnel
monitoring. It was discovered that
ISIS operatives in the Brussels attack
possessed a surveillance video of the
home of a senior official in a Belgian
nuclear research centre with substantial quantities of Highly Enriched
Uranium (HEU) used in nuclear explosives. Investigators suspect that
they planned to kidnap the official or
his family in an effort to gain access
to the facility. This is perhaps the first
confirmation of ISISs nuclear intent.
Indian nuclear establishments
have a robust personnel reliability
programme, but a report last year
found that the protocols for hiring
contractors and short-term labourers were erratic, though restricted to
the outer periphery of the nuclear
complex. Despite stringent measures,
incidentsin power plants in Kaiga
and Kalpakkaminvolving personnel
are worrying. Experts advocate setting
up a separate nuclear constabulary
readers digest

June 2016

23

Heard of tHe dirty BomB?

for Indias atomic facilities.

Department of Atomic Energy
(DAE) officials say most Indian nuclear power plants have an advanced
physical protection system to prevent
radioactive leaks, with robust features
to withstand earthquakes, tsunamis
and human saboteurs.
Major precautions have also
been taken to ensure that radioactive
waste from nuclear power plants is
not misused. Low-level radioactive
waste is segregated, solidified and
packed into containers, and sent to
specially constructed disposal structures with 247 surveillance. Almost
97 per cent of the spent fuel from
highly radioactive waste is reprocessed for reuse, which prevents a
build-up of plutonium stockpiling, a
potential target for terrorists. The remaining waste is vitrified and cooled
in vaults for 40 years before being disposed of in controlled zones.
The gravest danger comes from
the dirty bomb or radiation dispersal
device from radiological material commonly available in hospitals, industry
and educational institutions. There
are over 7,000 Indian institutions that
possess machines using radioactive
material necessary for diagnostics and
treatment, apart from industrial use.
Following an incident in 2010, where
a scrap dealer from Delhis Mayapuri
was found with a decommissioned cobalt unit belonging to Delhi University,
safeguards were put in place, including

a team dealing with thefts. It would be

ideal if Parliament passed the pending
2011 legislation to establish a Nuclear
Safety Regulatory Authority, fully
independent of the DAE.
Terrorists breach borders and
can pick up radiological materials
from countries with lax regulations
(in Central Asia and Africa). It is
imperative that the world acts in
concert now. Pakistan has the worlds
fastest-growing nuclear stockpile and
harbours dangerous terror groups.
While Pakistan claims that it has
25,000 troops to guard its nuclear
stocks, there have been several
attacks on other military installations,
demonstrating terrorists capabilities.
President Barack Obama initiated
the NSS in 2009 to combat nuclear
terror. Since then, 86 countries and
five global organizations have formed
an alliance. While much progress had
been made until the fourth and final
summit, the world remains vulnerable.
Meanwhile, India has joined 37 other
nations in implementing the initiatives
taken at the NSS. Amongst them is the
reduction of the 1,400 tonnes of HEU
the material terrorists need to make
bombsthat 26 countries still have.
Then there are egregious weaknesses,
including a lack of equipment to detect radioactive material carried in a
suitcase. As Obama said, the world
was lucky that no terrorist had detonated the dirty bomb so far. But,
if we ignore the warnings, our luck
may soon run out.

adaPted from INDIA TODAY (18 aPril, 2016). 2016 liViNg media iNdia limited.

24

June 2016

readers digest

Humour in Uniform

26

June 2016

readers digest

aged to retrieve the note before it was

sent off. It would have cost me my
career!
Dinesh Bisht, Ut t a ra k h a n d
MY high sChOOL assignment was to
ask a veteran about World War II. Since
my father had served in the Philippines
during the war, I chose him. After a few
basic questions, I very gingerly asked,
Did you ever kill anyone?
Dad got quiet. Then, in a soft voice,
he said, Probably. I was the cook.
MaRian BaBuLa, P e n n Ru n , P e n n s y l v a n i a

Readers Digest will pay for your funny

anecdote or photo in any of our jokes
sections. Post it to the editorial address,
or email: [email protected]

ILLuSTRATIOn BY JO n CARTeR

DuRing a visit to a military station,

the general officer noticed the staff
constantly taking photos. Mildly
disgruntled, he asked me, a staff
officer, to make a note of it to share
with the station. A clerk typed it out
and, instead of screening typos manually, hurriedly used one of Words
suggested corrections. Clearly, it was
an interesting choice: There is a
tendency in units and formations to
overindulge in pornography during
visits of senior officers. While selective pornography is desirable,
excessive indulgence in it results in
diverting the attention of the visiting
dignitary. Its a good thing I man-

some positive stories that came our way

Good News

Donor banks save babies

Milk Banks Donor milk banks

were never an option for Indian

mothers, but they are now. After
the success of Jeevan Dhara, the
first state-run human milk bank,
in Rajasthans Udaipur, more such
facilities have been planned across
the state. Amaara, Delhis first
pasteurized human milk bank set
up by Fortis La Femme in
collaboration with Breast Milk
Foundation, a non-profit
organization, is a similar initiative.
Breastfeeding infants under the
age of two can save up to 13 per cent
of the developing worlds children
(under five) with its immunity
power, according to The Lancet.
Children who are exclusively
breastfed for the first six months
are likely to survive six times more
than those who miss out on
breastfeeding. Malnourished
infants who have been deprived
of breast milk can now hope to
have access to it.
We hope these banks are
replicated across India and
monitored closely. This will
empower mothers and spur the
growth of future generations of
healthy babies.
28

June 2016

readers digest

Teenagers life-saving design

invention Irish teenager Emily

Duffy learnt just what its like to be
homeless when she spent a day
living rough on the streets of
Dublin as part of a charity project.
And the experience inspired her to
invent a new sleeping bag for
homeless people.
Deciding that traditional bags are
potentially dangerous and hard to
keep dry, she came up with so-called
Duffily Bags, which have a fire
retardant and waterproof shell made
of metallic bubble wrap. Instead of
zippers, Velcro straps allow users to
get in and out more easily.
Its lightweight and designed to
last, says the 15-year-old Duffy,
who lives in Limerick. It will last
many years and much longer than a
conventional sleeping bag.
Appropriately, the bags are
produced by former homeless
people at the Mendicity Institution
charity in Dublin.

Reviving Chipko in Delhi

environMent Nature-loving folks

in the capital have yet another
reason to look forward to their
weekends. Verhaen Khanna, 27, from
Delhi has started organizing tree-

Heroes
noBel noMination for Migrant rescuers

climbing workshops for people

between the ages five and 150.
New Delhi Nature Society (NDNS),
which he has set up, encourages the
community to participate in green
activities such as camping, planting
trees, tree-hugging and yoga classes.
Khanna wishes to create an army
of ninja environmentalists who
can help protect nature and fight
pollution. The NDNS YouTube
channel, where he uploads interviews
and videos on nature conservation,
is helping spread the word.
30

June 2016

readers digest

Large banyan trees will now get

the love they deserve, thanks to
this new version of the Chipko
movement. We make adults feel like
children. Many senior citizens come
for our workshops and they are
always very happy. Some say that
they had not climbed a tree in 50
years, says Khanna. More power to
green warriors like him.
by tiM hulse AnD rini bArMAn

sources: milk Banks: The Hindu, 30 march 2015.

invention: Good News Network, 23 January 2016.
environment: betterindia.com, 16 april 2016. heroes: The
Guardian, 24 January 2016

Argiris MAntikos/AP/Press Assoc iAtion i MAges

it started as just an ordinary day for

army sergeant antonis deligiorgis. But
it would end as one of the many stories
of heroism that has led to greek
islanders, on the frontline of the
refugee crisis, being nominated for
this years Nobel peace prize.
sitting at a seafront caf on the
island of rhodes, deligiorgis saw a
tragedy begin to unfold. a boat
packed with syrian and eritrean
migrants had struck the rocks offshore
and was sinking. it disintegrated in a
matter of minutes, says the father of
two. without a seconds thought, i did
what i had to do. along with others,
he plunged into the sea and brought
20 of the 93 migrants to shore, among
them 24-year-old eritrean wegasi
Nebiat (pictured with Deligiorgis).
deligiorgis says there was nothing brave about fulfilling his duty as a
human being, as a man. But he says the memory will always be with
him. i will never forget her face, he says. ever.

you be the judge

Can a town uphold a

parking ticket despite
imperfect punctuation?

The Case
of the
Missing
Comma
andrea cammelleri woke
up on 13 February 2014, made a cup
of coffee, looked out the front window of her house in West Jefferson,
Ohio, in the US, and panicked. Her
1993 Ford Ranger, which had been
parked on the street the night before,
was gone.
Cammelleri called 911. When she
gave the dispatcher the year, make
and model, he told her that her car
had not been stolen.
It was impounded for overtime
parking, he said.
Cammelleri, then 45, was confused.
There werent any No Parking signs
posted along the curb. Her truck was
32

June 2016

readers digest

licensed and drivable. Plus, shed

been parking it on the street nearly
every day and night since shed
moved into her home two and
a half years earlier.
Later, when a police officer
dropped off the actual ticket, she
found shed been fined $120 for
violating a West Jefferson village
parking ordinance. She looked it up
online. It stated that it was illegal to
park any motor vehicle camper
[motorized caravan], trailer, farm
implement and/or non-motorized
vehicle on a street for more than 24
hours. Cammelleri had left her
pickup truck parked on the street for

IllustratI on by noma bar

by V ic k i gl e m b o c k i

longer than was allowed, but she

didnt believe that the ordinance, as
written, applied to her vehicle. My
truck wasnt a motor vehicle
camper, she says. She went to the
municipal office to point out the
grammatical error, expecting the
mayor to rip up the ticket and call it a
done deal. That didnt happen, so she
officially contested the citation.
At the bench trial on 18 March
2014, Cammelleri discovered that 27
other people in her subdivision had
had their cars towed that same day,
though most had paid the fine.
Undeterred, she made her case. The
village countered that the ordinance
did apply, despite the inadvertent
omission of the comma between the

phrase motor vehicle and the word

camper. The court agreed, stating
that anybody reading [the
ordinance] would understand that it
is just missing a comma. The court
ruled that Cammelleri was guilty and
had to pay the fine, the $166 in
towing fees, and court costs.
Cammelleri appealed to the
Twelfth Appellate District of Ohio.
For as long as that subdivision
existed, people had parked on the
road, says Cammelleris attorney,
Brian Harter. Then, on this one day,
they just tow everybody? That makes
little sense.
Should Cammelleri have to pay the
ticket? You be the judge.

the Verdict
Cammelleri and her attorney claimed in briefs that the lower court
erred in ruling that she was guilty of overtime parking as outlined in the
ordinance and also in failing to find any ambiguity in the ordinance as
it was written. in an opinion published on 22 June 2015, the three
appellate judges unanimously sided with Cammelleri and vacated her
conviction, which the Washington Post called a victory for
punctuation. according to grammar rules, items in a series are
separated by commas, Judge robert Hendrickson wrote. He
concluded that reading motor vehicle camper as one item does not
produce an absurd result. if the village desires a different reading, it
should insert a comma between the phrase motor vehicle and
camper. in the end, the village took his advice.
Agree? disagree? Sound off at [email protected].

readers digest

June 2016

33

news from the

World of Medicine
by kels e y kloss

Research shows mild dehydration may

impair heart function nearly as much
as smoking a cigarette. University of
Arkansas, USA researchers measured
the dilation and constriction of the inner lining of blood vessels that play a
critical role in the heart health in
healthy young men. Minor dehydration (when you start feeling thirsty) inhibits blood vessel flexibility, possibly
contributing to artery hardening and heart disease.

Nearsightedness:
A Global Trend
Experts estimate that half of us will
be nearsighted by 2050, thanks to a
surge in the amount of time
we spend indoors staring
at phones and computers, says a report in
Ophthalmology. Researchers suggest
cutting back on
screen time and getting outside. Natural
light may stimulate the
release of dopamine,
which regulates eye
growth.
34

June 2016

readers digest

The Danger of Mixing Drugs

The number of people aged 62 to 85
who regularly use potentially fatal
combinations of prescription medications with otc (over the counter)
drugs and dietary supplements has
doubled over a five-year period,
according to a study conducted by
the University of Illinois, Chicago.
Both prescription drug and supplement use in older adults have
increased in the past decade [in the
US]. Ask your doctor about
how certain medications or
dietary supplements may
interact before popping an
extra pill.

Mistake That Ruins

Your Free Time
Marking your calendar
may be a killjoy.
Researchers found
that assigning a date
and time for leisure
activities actually
made the
experiences feel like
chores, lowering both
anticipation and
enjoyment in a series
of 13 studies by

the voorhes

Feeling Thirsty Hurts

The Heart

researchers from Washington

University in St. Louis, USA.
Researchers suggest picking a date to
meet a friend but maintaining
spontaneity in specific timing (say,
grabbing dinner after work rather
than at 7 p.m.). Though the activity
is the same, your brain will process it
differently, and youll enjoy yourself
more.

Dont Miss The Chance

To Reverse Prediabetes
More than 80 million Indians have
this condition, in which blood sugar
levels are elevated but not high
enough to be considered diabetes.
In the US, more than one-third of
Americans are prediabetic. Yet of
those given a diagnosis of prediabetes in a new Journal of the American
Board of Family Medicine study,
only 23 per cent were prescribed
treatment. Ask your doctor about
options: Simple changes, such as
regular exercises and healthy eating
could slow or stop its progression.

Just Broke Your Nose?

Print a New One
In the future, doctors may create
cartilage to repair a damaged nose,

open a blood
bank account!
the indian red Cross society
has launched an app called
Blood Banking in Bengaluru,
Karnataka, across ios and
android platforms. this is the
first project of its kind and is
simple to use. download the
app, register and get an account
number, schedule an
appointment, find a red Cross
blood bank location, fix a time
to donate, bank the blood for
later use and even transfer the
credits to someone in need. the
app, with the catchphrase save
your blood, secure your future,
is available only in Karnataka for
now. this is likely to be launched
in other states as well.

ear or knee using a 3D printer.

At an American Chemical Society
meeting, researchers reported
using ink containing human cells
to print cartilage in specific shapes.
They successfully implanted the
tissue into mice, and hope the
technology will eventually help
surgeons repair damage from
injuries or cancer in humans.

Fast Food
hummingbirds have such a fast metabolism, they are perpetually
a few hours away from starving to death.
source: piecubed.co.uk

36

June 2016

readers digest

Points to Ponder
ONE OF THE simplest paths to deep
change is for the less powerful to
speak as much as they listen and for
the more powerful to listen as much
as they speak.
GLORIA STEINEM,

writer and activist,

in My Life on the Road

IMAGINE IF we could teach our

daughters to value their bodies for
what they can do, not for how others
think they look.
TINA FEY,
in Time magazine

TO GAIN your own voice, forget

about having it heard. Become a
saint of your own province and your
own consciousness.
ALLEN GINSBERG,

poet

WHEN THEY invented papyrus,

someone probably said, Storytelling
was so good. Why did we have to go
and put it on papyrus? But one thing
doesnt change: Its the story that
counts. The medium doesnt matter.
ERIC CARLE,

c h i l d r e ns w r i t e r,

38

JUNE 2016

in USA Today

READERS DIGEST

You are rarely

happy simply
because you are
successful, but
you are much
more likely to be
successful if you
are happy, doing
work you enjoy.
RAGHURAM RAJAN,

g o v e r n o r,

Reserve Bank of India

I LLUSTRATION : KESHAV KAPI L

comedian,

ONE FALLS into a rut in life and in

my case it revolved around training
and thinking of scoring runs, playing for the country and figuring out
how to win more matches. And in
that cycle, I think, Id forgotten to
live. At the same time, it is not that
my hunger for performing has
deserted me. In fact, it has grown. I
am fitter, healthier

IN MANY a piece of music, its the

pause or the rest that gives the piece
its beauty and its shape. And I know,
I, as a writer, will often try to include
a lot of empty space on the page so
that the reader can complete my
thoughts and sentences and so that
her imagination has room to breathe.
PICO IYER,

essayist,

in The Art of Stillness, TED Talks

YUVRAJ SINGH,

c r i c k e t e r,

in hindustantimes.com

WEVE BEEN brainwashed into

thinking that we are all specialists of
some kind and that you cant really
be a writer unless youve got
something like a masters degree.
Obviously, we want dentists to be
trained, but writing is human
storytelling and everybody does it.

I FEEL that when youre on the court,

your true personality comes out,
who you are and what you are ...
Youre naked on the court, you cannot act, its not a stage, not some
drama, not a part youre playing.
There is no place to hide. Youre
trying to win and youre trying to do
everything that you can to cross the
line. Every emotion is real.

MARGARET ATWOOD,

novelist,

SANIA MIRZA,

t e n n i s p l a y e r,

in Fast Company

in The Times of India

WITTY WISDOM
They say, You snooze, you lose, which means I start every morning failing
multiple times in nine-minute intervals.
@BATKAREN, Twitter comedian
Dont be afraid of missing opportunities. Behind every failure is an
opportunity somebody wishes they had missed.
LILY TOMLIN, c o m e d i a n , in her show The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe

If IKEA and LEGO combined forces, our children could make our furniture.
@THETODDWILLIAMS, T w i t t e r c o m e d i a n

40

JUNE 2016

READERS DIGEST

Movie
Reviews

Magazine
Stories

Celebrity
Interviews

Latest
Headlines

Photo
Gallery

Breaking
News

Live TV

Exclusive
Videos

Stay Updated
with India Today App
Download to experience!
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Visit www.indiatoday.in/apps for more information

FINISH THIS SENTENCE

The movie everyone

but me loves is
...Do Bigha Zamin.

The harsh realities depicted leave me tearyeyed, every time I watch it.

...Interstellar,

LEELA MURALIDHARAN, Mumb ai

because the central dilemma

was totally unconvincing.
JANANI ETHIRAJ MADRIDISTA,

...Om
Shanti
Om,

Coimb atore

because a
ghost and a
look-alike of
the protagonist are just
too good to
be true!

...Happy New
Year.

It corroborates the fact

that in India even the
lousiest of movies can
make over `100 cr.

NEHA JHA,
Bhub aneshwar

VISHAL SHARMA,
Chandigarh

...Slumdog
Millionaire,

because theres much

more to India
than slums.
PULKIT KOCHAR,
Chandigarh

...Dead Poets Society.

Being influenced by it,
I tore off some pages from one of
my most precious books.
ASHIS SARKAR,

Jab We Met.
Its not a story,
its a stereotype
(and also Punjab
on steroids).
SHIGORIKA SINGH,

...Mughal-e-Azam,

only because true love lost the battle.

NIDA KHWAJA, G haziab ad

42

JUNE 2016

READERS DIGEST

IN DI API CTURE

D elhi

Pas chim Medinipur, West B engal

ART of living
Why Cats
Dont Forgive

And other fascinating facts about closure and moving on

By m elissa dah l Fr o m Ne w Yo r k

Grumpy cat has

never forgotten
the time you
shooed him off
the couch.

reAders digest

JUNE 2016

43

W h y C At s d o n t F o r g i v e

thE sciEntific litEraturE

on forgivEnEss camE to
thE forE only in 1989. But some

thErE arE diffErEnt kinds

of forgivEnEss. Decisional

forgiveness is a sincere decision to

change the way you intend to behave
towards someone who has wronged
you, even though you may still feel
negatively towards the person. Emotional forgiveness is a change in the
way you feel towards
this personresentment giving way to
Repeatedly
positive emotions like
asking for
empathy, sympathy,
compassion and love.
forgiveness

researchers suggest were seeing

more public figures seeking forgiveness because were becoming more
aware of the importance of achieving
reconciliation.
cats nEvEr forgivE. Primates,

like bonobos, mountain

gorillas and chimps, often follow confrontations with friendly
will eventually
behaviour like embracyoung kids
ing or kissing. Similar
forgivE Easily.
extract it
behaviour has been obUnlike 10- and 11-yearfrom others.
served in non-primates
olds, seven- and eightlike goats and hyenas;
year-olds in one study
the only species that has
didnt need an apology
so far failed to show outward signs of
to forgive; they tended to judge
reconciliation is the domestic cat.
offenders who had apologized and
those who hadnt as equally worthy.
no offEncE is unforgivablE. I have never found

a particular injustice in the world that

I dont know of at least one person
who has forgiven those who have
perpetrated it, says Robert Enright,
a psychologist who pioneered the
study of forgiveness.
but bEwarE of bEtrayal.

According to a study from

2010, the most common type of unforgiven offence is betrayal, including affairs, deceit, broken promises
and divulged secrets.
44

JUNE 2016

reAders digest

carrying a grudgE litErally wEighs you down. Re-

searchers at Erasmus University in the

Netherlands asked people to write
about a time when they either gave or
withheld forgiveness. The human
guinea pigs were then asked to jump
as high as they could, five times, without bending their knees. The forgivers
jumped highest, about 11.8 inches on
average, while the grudge-holders
jumped 8.5 inchesa huge difference
and a startling illustration of how forgiveness can actually unburden you.

prEvio Us pagE: Grumpy Cat: No- It-a ll/ChroNiClE Books, 2015

R e a d e R s d i g e s T. c o . i n

ExtrovErts nEEd forgivEnEss. Outgoing types are more

proactive in seeking out forgiveness

than introverts (and also, notably,
quicker to forgive others). Introverts
tend to be initially more concerned
with forgiving themselves rather
than making amends with a person
theyve offended.

for a hEalthiEr hEart, bE

morE forgiving. When

people are reminded of grudges,

their heart rate and blood pressure
can increase. Forgiveness, on the
other hand, has been linked to better
heart health. Plus, youll sleep better
when you let bygones be just that.
But keep in mind you cant fake it:
Researchers believe that the health
benefits associated directly with
forgiving apply only to emotional, not
decisional forgiveness (see no. 5).

10

forgivEnEss can backfirE.

Couples who described themselves as more forgiving also reported

experiencing more psychological and
physical aggression over the first four
years of marriage. In some cases, its
believed, forgiveness may keep the
offending people from changing their
bad behaviour.

11

dont undErEstimatE thE

words im sorry. Behav-

ioural economist Dan Ariely has

found that repeatedly asking for forgiveness will eventually extract it from

otherseven if you dont really mean

it and the person youve wronged
knows it.
rEligious pEoplE arE morE
forgiving than thE nonrEligious. Most religions teach for-

12

giveness, says Everett Worthington, a

psychologist at Virginia Commonwealth University. But, a 2013 study
he co-authored found that people
who consider themselves spiritual
practise more self-forgiveness than
people who are religious.

13

thE amish arE vEry

forgiving. A decade ago,

after a shooting at an Amish [small

Christian community practising
plain living devoid of modern
conveniences] schoolhouse claimed
five young lives, outsiders were
stunned when the community
responded with immediate forgiveness. Sociologist Donald B. Kraybill
found that from an early age, the
Amish practise forgiveness. Theyd
been preparing to forgive this huge
injustice their whole lives.

14

a fivE-stEp procEss to
forgivEnEss. 1. Admit youve

been treated unjustly. 2. Respond

with anger. 3. Work on seeing the
person who harmed you as not solely
defined by this offence. 4. Understand
that the pain may not ever dissipate
completely. 5. Find meaning in your
suffering, by helping others.

New york (MArCh 10, 2015), Copyright 2015 by neW york MediA LLC, NymaG.Com.

reAders digest

JUNE 2016

45

Money

ignore temptation, sidestep the

impulse to shop and save money

Control That Vice

By PR IyA DA R SH I nI M A JI
PHoto I l lu StR AtI o n By n IlA nJAn DAS

Siddharth Sharma*, 28,

from Mumbai was a little stressed
and depressed, so this is what he did.
He ended up buying over `8,000
worth of things he did not need,
during one shopping spree. I felt
really guilty afterwards, since Im on
a budget and trying to save money.
I am returning most of it and selling
the rest on eBay to get the money
back, he says.
Siddharths experiencespending
on an impulse and regretting it later,
worrying about ruined financesis
common. Research suggests that
emotions play a big role in our
shopping decisions, something
marketeers around the world
leverage through advertisements
and promotions. This, say financial
experts, can be damaging to your
long-term financial goals.
Many of us use retail therapy (to
46

June 2016

readers digest

boost our mood) from time to time.

However, impulse shopping can be
dangerous business. To prevent it
and keep more money in your
pocket, create a bucket of investment
and then splurge, suggests Lovaii
Navalkhi, chief financial planner,
founder and CEO of International
Money Matters, Bengaluru.
Here are some smart strategies
that can help balance your budget.
Plan the purchase. Go shopping
with a list and do not randomly
wander around the aisles looking for
bargains, advises Suresh Sadagopan,
founder of Ladder7 Financial
Advisories, Mumbai. List your
expenses in advance, so you do not
cross your budget. Understand your
sudden urges and dodge them.
Need it or want it? Ask yourself if
the potential purchase is a legitimate
need. If it is a want, rather than
*Name changed to protect identity.

readers
readers digest
digest

||

June
June 2016
2016

||

00
47

a need, give yourself time to think

about it. An illusion is created [by
retailers] that youll save money
when you spend, says Navalkhi. Be
wary of such tricks; dont rush to
buy when you see a sale sign
offering discounts for a limited
period. Do I really need this, ask
yourself again.
Cool off a bit. If you see something
you like and you think its a musthave, pause. Take a walk and let
your mind process the information.
Perhaps you should see how you
feel about it in a day or two. If it was
an impulse buy, chances are you
will forget about it. If it was
essential, you wont. As Warren
Buffett says, if you buy things you
dont need, youll soon sell things
you do need, says Navalkhi.
Dodge online retail. The
temptations of e-shopping have
sometimes broken people
financially. The vast array of
attractive options and the
convenience of simply clicking on a
link to pick up items that will be
delivered at your location of choice
draw shopaholics to online stores
compulsively. Being aware of these
traps can help. Distract yourself by
taking a walk or exercising when
you feel the urge. Take yourself off
the mailing lists of the websites that
entice you to spend on stuff you
dont need, says Navalkhi.
Cut off easy access to money.
Beware of credit cards. They are

excellent during times of need but

can make us overspend heavily,
considering the ease with which they
can be used. When we need
to count cash before purchasing,
we tend to be more careful.
Remembering this will be useful.
For those who buy on impulse,
carrying cash and not credit cards
can reduce the chances of
overspending, adds Sadagopan.
Is shopping an emotional prop?
Be mindful of your habits: do you
tend to make purchases on an
impulse when youre happy or sad?
Are you a bit image-conscious and
tend to shop to impress others?
Understanding these aspects may
help you gain control over your
emotions and practise restraint.
Find other ways to have fun. Dont
walk around a mall just for
entertainment. Window shop, if you
must, beyond shopping hours. We
often visit shiny, air-conditioned
malls for a family outing or to meet
friends. Staying away may take the
fun out of your weekend, but it will
help you save enough to indulge
yourself occasionally.
Finally, do remember a little
impulse buying is fine. In a world full
of choices, its easy to overlook the
stress of making decisions, what
experts call decision fatigue. It seems
we have a finite store of will power.
If you hold yourself back too much
in one sphere of life, you may lose it
elsewhere. So, balance is the key.

adapted FrOM money today. 2016 LiViNg Media iNdia LiMited.

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June 2016

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FOOD

7 Steps to a Smart
Sandwich

BY KELS E Y KLOSS

BREAD Toast bread for a sturdier base. To cut

in half, aim the knife straight across rather than
diagonally. A straight cut provides thicker, stronger
corners that make it difficult for fillings to slip out.

LETTUCE Dry lettuce with a paper towel to

protect the bread from getting soggy. Place
at the top for crispiness.

CHEESE Layer cheese near the top. It protects

the bread from the moist middle layer of
vegetables and reinforces the sandwichs structure.

CRUNCHY LAYER Place crispy ingredients,

such as bacon, walnuts or celery, in the centre.
This layer offers mouthwatering texture and stays
in place surrounded by pillowy layers.

VEGETABLES Salt tomato and cucumber

slices and place on a paper towel for 10
minutes. This drains the excess moisture and
increases the overall flavour.

MEAT Deli meat is round, and sandwich bread

is usually square. To avoid bare sandwich
corners, cut each circle in half. Align the four straight
edges with the bread edges.

CONDIMENTS Add spreads (e.g., mayonnaise,

mustard or pesto) to both pieces of bread for
flavour and just the right amount of moisture.

Sources: Clarisa Penzini, executive chef of the Sandwich Shop in New York City;
firstwefeast.com; epicurious.com; today.com; mensjournal.com; cooksinfo.com;
seriouseats.com

50

JUNE 2016

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ILLUSTRATION BY THE ELLAP HA NT I N THE ROOM

Food

a spot of this fat can be sublime,

only if you buy right

Bringing Back Ghee

By C l au d e alva r e s

THERES gHEE and then theres

organic ghee. The latter was pulled
from the brink of extinction by organic dairy farming groups. Whats the
difference, you may ask. Ghee is Indias safest method of consuming
milk fat. But not every ghee brand is
reliable. A product is only as good as
its source, or the materials it is made
from. You cant get good ghee from
the milk of cows or buffaloes that
have been pumped with growth
hormones and antibiotics. Then
there are cows that are injected with
oxytocin or pitocin at milking time, or
given feed or grasses contaminated
with chemical pesticides. Milk
treated with hydrogen peroxide or
other chemicals (to make it last longer) will not give good ghee either.

The Best Variety

The worry is we are feeding our cows
cotton seed cake that is made from
genetically modified cotton plants.
Since milk has become expensive
52

june 2016

readers digest

over the years, there is a thriving

industry now that manufactures
ghee directly from animal fat.
Unbelievable, but true. Sure, you can
get ghee, but not good ghee. The best
dairy ghee can only come from the
milk of cows fed naturally, with feed
coming from assured, organic fields
or pastures. That is indeed a tall
order. The only animals that produce
such milk are those that graze freely
in the village commons, or are part
of Maldari [cattle-herders] herds and
cow shelters (goshala).

Organic and Clean

Before chemicals invaded agricultural
fields in the late 1960s, almost all ghee
produced in India was safe. Now everyone wants good ghee back.
Sources? Go for Indian organic
brands available in reputable grocery
or health stores. Good organic ghee
costs around `1,000 per kg. The best
now cost around `2,500 per kg, but
are used mostly for medical purposes.

You can also make your own at

home to ensure that the ghee you
consume is made from milk fat right
in front of your eyes.

In dI apI cture

Do It Yourself
My wife, who is a high court
advocate, makes ghee as often as
possible. You can always follow her
example: Make sure you accumulate
dairy cream in a separate container
in the fridge, as and when it is available, or in surplus. Add a spoonful
of curd to the cream stock. After a
certain quantity has been collected,
wash or churn it several times (an
egg beater does this job quite
quickly), so the fat collects at the
surface and can be easily removed.
Place the butter on a slow fire to
evaporate the remaining water and
separate the dairy solids from the
fat. This simple process is known as
clarifying butter.
This is not done to conventional
butter, which ends up giving you a
spate of heart and other health
problems. The resulting liquid
ghee, clear yellow and with a wonderful aromais then strained
before it cools. The ghee made using
this simple method will now remain
for more than a year without refrigeration. It can be used for almost
everything (including the occasional
deep-frying) as it has a high smoking
point. Since the milk solids have also
been removed, it will not burn or
leave any residue.

Practise Moderation
However, remember that traditional
wisdom never advocated copious
consumption of oils and fats that
were traditionally associated with
affluence (butter was unknown).
Ghee was always expensive. It
remains expensive. That is an
advantage, encouraging us to use it
only in small quantities. If you get a
good supply of organic ghee,
consider it better than gold.
Claude alvares is director of the central
secretariat of the Organic Farming
association of India, and editor of
The Organic Farming Source Book.

adapted FrOM prevention india. 2011 LiViNg Media iNdia LiMited.

readers digest

june 2016

53

all in

A Days Work

The way forward is clear.

At the hArdwAre store where I
work, our manager was writing out a
bill when he turned to me and asked,
Hey, what are these nuts worth?
A new clerk looked up and said,
I thought we were getting seven
bucks an hour.
dennis scArrow

the principal for a long time. Every

time he would enquire, he would
get the standard reply, Briefing is
going on. Eventually, fed up, he
blurted out angrily, This is anything
but brief.

the visiting Army officer was

i sUPervised an employee who

being given an overview of the

school by the principal in her office.
A parent, who wanted a document
signed urgently, had been waiting for

had a negative view of everything I

did. If I took a vacation day, I was
never there. If I praised someones
work, it was too little, too late.

54

June 2016

readers digest

InDIAP ICTuRe

vijAi PAnt, K a s h i p u r, Ut t a r k h a n d

a l l i n a d ay s W o r k

He eventually took another job but

was fired six months later. Shortly
thereafter, he contacted me, hoping
to return to his old job.
Have you learnt anything from
this experience? I asked.
Yes, I should have stayed here, he
admitted. Youre too indecisive to
have ever fired me. terry oconnor
i wAs doing mAths with my class
of seven-year-olds. I wrote 10.8 on
the whiteboard and then erased the
decimal point to show the effect of
multiplying this number by 10. I then
asked one child if he knew where the
decimal point was.
Yes, he replied. On the eraser.
dAnieLLA roBerts

my coUsin neiL, a taxi driver,

picked up an elderly couple from a
restaurant. On their way back home,
the lady remembered shed left her
spectacles on the restaurant table.
After asking Neil to return, the man
shouted and criticized his wife for
her forgetfulness.
As Neil drove into the car park, he
volunteered to go and retrieve the
glassesbut he was interrupted by
the man saying, Can you ask if I left
my scarf in there too?
jiLL cohen

looked surprised: If thats the case,

how come everyone in the office is
so open about being on a con-call?.
swAti KhAtri, In d i ra p u ra m , U P

i gUess this is whAt happens

after youve worked at the same
place for a while. I was eating at a
fast-food restaurant when an
employee began his shift by walking
into the kitchen area and calling out,
Honey, Im home!
g. m., v i a e m a i l
An insUrAnce Agent called our
medical office. One of our doctors
had filled out a medically necessary
leave-of-absence form for a patient,
but, the agent said, the patient had
altered it. The giveaway?
The return-to-work date had been
changed to February 30. j. L., v i a e m a i l
ive Been worKing on my PhD in

it wAs A regULAr workday when

engineering for the past five years,

but my kids dont necessarily see
that as work.
As we were driving past Walmart
one day, my son spotted a Now Hiring sign and suggested that I could
get a job there.
Hoping to make a point, I asked,
Do you think theyre looking for
an engineer?
Oh, sure, he said. Theyll hire
anybody.
christoPher FieLds

one of the boys working in the pantry

asked me the meaning of the word,
con. I explained that it meant deceiving or tricking someone. He

readers digest will pay for your funny

anecdote or photo in any of our jokes
sections. Post it to the editorial address,
or email: [email protected]

56

June 2016

readers digest

health

doctors tell you the best way to stay healthy this summer

Keep Your Cool

By Kath a Ko l i Dasg u p ta

Overwhelmed by high
temperatures in summer, your bodys
heat-regulating system falters and
(in some cases) fails, leading to
raised body temperatures and
dehydration. You can prevent it by
staying well-hydrated, avoiding
exertion in harsh sunlight, carrying
an umbrella when outside, and
periodically cooling yourself even
while indoors.
Watch out for early symptoms
like heavy sweating, parched throat,
muscle cramps and head and body
ache. Cool and hydrate yourself
quickly. Call your doctor if you
notice extreme symptoms.

Prevent Dehydration
Normally you should drink between
1.5 and 2.5 litres of water every day.
However, in summer increase your
fluid consumption in proportion to
how much you sweat and your
activity levels. If you exercise and
sweat it out more, you need to drink
one or two extra glasses of water to
replenish the lost fluids. If you
58

June 2016

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exercise longer or live in warmer

climes, you need to drink at least
three extra glasses. Mind the
electrolyte balance because you lose
salt with excessive sweating. So, in
addition to H2O, sip on cooling drinks
like coconut water, lemonade and
buttermilk through the day.

Beat Prickly Heat

When you sweat a lot, dead skin and
bacteria can block the sweat glands,
causing inflammation, rashes and
itching. Keep your skin dry, wear
loose cotton clothes, exfoliate your
skin regularly and avoid oily
moisturizers in summer. Take a
bath twice a day and mop away the
moisture. Use an underarm antiperspirant deodorant and talc around
the neck, chest and groin areas to
prevent a break-out. To cure the
sting of prickly heat, apply ice and
calamine lotion on the affected parts.

Stop Stomach Infections

Germs multiply quickly in sultry
weather, causing a lot of water and
food-borne infections. Maintain
good hygiene and only eat fresh
foods. Avoid foods that have been
kept outside the refrigerator for long
periods, especially if left uncovered.
Have plenty of fluids and rest if you
throw up or get an upset stomach.
See a doctor if you get diarrhoea.

in di api cture

Avoid a Sunburn
When our skin is exposed to
sunlight, with UVA (ultraviolet A)
radiation, melanin, the protective
pigment that gives our skin its
colour, is activated, adding a darkish
tone to our skin. The greater the
exposure, the deeper the tan.
Whether you tan or burn depends
on your skin type (people with a
darker skin tone tan easily while

those with fairer complexion are

likely to end up with a sunburn).
You can prevent it by slathering
sunscreen (at least SPF 15), wearing
sunglasses and carrying an umbrella
when outdoors. Applying a cold
compress, calamine lotion, antiallergics and topical steroids can
help in case of a burn. See a
dermatologist if you wish to lighten
a tan with medicated creams.

Never Get Toe Jam

When bacteria feed on the sweat on
our feet, it often leads to an unpleasant smell. Take a bath when
you get home after being outdoors
for long, cleaning your feet with a
gentle soap and plain water. Wear
open footwear or cotton socks.
Make sure you change your socks
daily. Keep your feet as dry as
possible, especially between the
toes. A good quality anti-fungal
powder works best to ward off
excess sweat and bad odour. Washing your feet with vinegar, green
tea or aroma oils can also keep
your feet clean and fresh.
experts: Dr sandeep Budhiraja, director,
Max institute of internal Medicine, New delhi;
Mumbai-based dermatologists Dr Rekha sheth
and Dr apratim goel.

adapted FrOM prevention india. 2011 LiViNg Media iNdia LiMited.

readers digest

June 2016

59

Family

its vacation timelet your kids flourish

and have lots of fun

Break the Routine

by Dr SH E l Ja SE N

I grew up in the hills where

winter holidays lasted for three
blissful months; we spent our time
doing and being, in equal measure.
Our favourite pastime was lugging
books up to our secret nooks in the
hills and reading through the day.
There were times spent chatting,
singing, dreaming, giggling, eating
and finding shapes and stories in
the clouds. We trudged back home
in the evening to start all over again
the next morning. It was uneventful,
but wholesome.
Our parents were neither
determined nor worried about
making the holidays special for us.
That job was left to us entirely.
The story is different now. Months
before the summer vacations begin,
our childrens time is planned:
adventure camps booked, overseas
trips scheduled and multiple
activities lined upswimming,
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June 2016

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tennis, dance lessons. You get the

picture. There are plenty of options
to choose from to fill up their days.
At least, they are doing something
constructive, we think, relieved after
were done planning. It also takes
care of parental guilt, and we carry
on with our lives.

The Art of Doing Nothing

I know, I know, times have
changedwe cannot leave vacation
planning to the kids. But I do think
that we end up over-scheduling our
children and robbing them of an
opportunity to just be. I have deep
faith in the approach that all of us,
especially our kids, need that doing
nothing space where we can dream,
create, thinkwithout the pressure
of doing something productive.
In this age of hyper-parenting, we
assume the responsibility of keeping
our kids entertained. The result? Our

In dI apI cture

Discover the Joy of

Free Play

children are not in tune with

themselves. We dread that I am
bored! refrain and jump in to do
whatever it takes to make them
happy. It is important for our
children to understand that they are
in charge of their own happiness and
that they should know how to
entertain themselves. So the next
time they say the B-word, take a
deep breath, relax, smile and say,
What would you like to do about it
[boredom]? It may be a bit tough
initially, but you will be surprised at
how well they cope with taking
ownership of their lives.

Get unplugged. School vacations

seem to have become synonymous
with excessive screen time. Make
sure you monitor and limit the time
spent on their mobiles, computers,
gaming consoles and watching TV.
The passive visuomotor ecstasy of
the screen is hugely addictive and
does not allow creative growth.
Give them the tools. Assign a
creativity corner in the house for
everything they need to experiment
and mess around withpaper, pencil,
paint, glue, sequins, sand, water,
scissors, musical instruments, bat and
ball and so on.
Plan green time. City kids really
need this. A trip to the park early
in the morning is all it takes to get
close to nature, to speak nothing
of a vacation in the hills or a
reserve forest.
Put some routine in place. Make
sure theres some rhythm to their
days in terms of waking up time,
breakfast, shower and working on
holiday projects. If the day is
completely unstructured, the chaos
may cause stress to everyone.
Have fun. School holidays can be a
great opportunity for you to connect
with your kids, be silly and playful.
See how it also brings you closer.
the author is a delhi-based child and
adolescent psychologist, family therapist
and author of All You Need is Love: The
Art of Mindful Parenting.

adapted FrOM prevention india. 2015 LiViNg Media iNdia LiMited.

readers digest

June 2016

61

Tech

The Tantrum
That Broke
the Internet
by L aur a M Os e r F r om s l at e

62

June 2016

readers digest

Antics with an exclusive audience: Claudia

in the Red Room at the White House

No, sweetie, not right now.

I take off my dress, she suggested
next.
Claudia, if you could just wait one
second
I wear a sheet-dress.
Im so sorry, sweet girl, but we
didnt bring any sheets tonight!
That same instant, the hush associated with the entrance of the chief
executive fell over the Red Room. But
Claudia didnt care. Claudia wanted
a sheet, and she wanted one now. In
her fury, she threw herself at the feet
of the most famous man in the world.

pete souza/courtesy the w hite house

my two-year-old daughter,
Claudia, is usually easy-going by
toddler standardsexcept in the
mornings when she demands to strip
off all her clothes and don nothing
but a fitted dinosaur sheet.
Last spring, it was precisely her
determination to transform household items (dishrags, washcloths,
even Chinese-takeout napkins) into
evening wear that rocketed Claudia
to internet fame. It was early April
2015, and we had for once negotiated her into a dress-dress and
escorted her to the White House to
have her picture taken with President Obama before the annual Passover seder [Jewish festive dinner].
Claudia, however, didnt want
to be in the White House, whatever
that was. She wanted to be in her
bedroom, emptying out the drawers
of her changing table in search of
more sheets.
I take off my shoes, she told me.

menters read into the picture. They

That same instant, Pete Souza, the
saw my political beliefs and the pride
chief official White House photograI took in my inability to raise a child.
pher, walked into the room and
(The shes just a kid excuses are the
snapped a photo.
excuses liberal parents make for their
Two months later, when the White
lack of parenting skills.) They saw my
House photo office emailed me a
income and my ethnic background: I
photograph of the incident, it didnt
was a wealthy Jewish donordont
occur to me that it would interest
I wish!and my daughanyone beyond my
ter, a spoilt brat. One
circle of family and
commenter recomfriends when I posted it
The comments mended I put Claudia
on my Facebook page.
I then went off to the
reminded me on medication.
As I pored over the
grocery store. While I
that internet
comments, I was rewas there, my brother
minded that internet
tweeted the photo, saystars are
stars are less humans
ing, This really might
less humans
than tropes: of heroism
be the best picture ever:
than tropes.
(black cop helping white
my niece Claudia throwracist), villainy (Minneing a fit at Passover.
sota dentist posing next
By the time I returned
with dinner, Claudias tantrum was all to Cecil the lion), and everything in
between. Actual living humansin
over the internet. Over the course of
this case, my baby girlare reduced
the weekend, it was featured in the
Daily Mail, salon.com, huffingtonpost. to memes, as every day the internet
offers up new canvases where other
com, CNN, The Washington Post, and
people can project their fears and
many more. Good Morning America
loathings. For almost an entire week,
ran multiple segments about her
my daughter provided this grist.
(after I turned them down for an inFor the meme herself, the most
terview). And everywhere, everyone
significant outcome of her brush
had a lot to say about Claudia.
with the big time may have been
Most people were amused and
that, three days after my brothers
sympathetic. This contingent offered good-natured ripostes: Guess tweet, she woke up and announced
she voted Republican? and So this that she was done with diapers.
It was as if, as an international
is what its like dealing with John
internet celebrity, she suddenly felt
Boehner [a speaker of the House of
compelled to up her game. And
Representatives until last year]!
that was news I could use.
I was shocked by what other comCourtesy of the author, from Slate (November 18, 2015), Copyright 2015 by Laura moser.

readers digest

June 2016

63

IT HAPPENS

Only in India
Business
models?

Fancy
dancing?

Abs?

Variety?

Simplicity?

Marketing?

&
Basu
Samitu Epuri
Raj

Amateurs
I say.

How to be a movie icon.

BENGALURU HAS FREQUENTLY

been in the news over not being

environment-conscious enough, but
no one can accuse it of not being
safety-conscious. The Bengaluru
Traffic Police recently sent a notice
to M.S. Patil, a Ministry of Defence
spokesperson, asking him to pay a
fine (`100) for not wearing a helmet.
Except that Mr Patil doesnt use a
motorcycle! Since when did not
wearing a helmet in a car become
64

JUNE 2016

READERS DIGEST

a crime? Theyve been watching too

much Formula One.
S u b m i t t e d b y : HEMANTH
DEVARAYANADURGA, B e n g a l u r u
Source: thehindu.com

THERES A NEW UP in UP: a

urination penalty. The state road

transport corporation (UPSRTC) has
decided to post CCTV footage of
rogue public urinators on YouTube.
A part of the Swachh Bharat

Abhiyaan (campaign), this is supposed to spread awareness about

the health hazards of peeing in the
open. No prizes for guessing why the
videos have gone viral.
S u b m i t t e d b y : LESTER SANTOS, Va s a i

A BAD TASTE IN THE MOUTH

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

IN TAMIL NADU, P. Mohan, a

communist party (CPI) member

from Veerapandi, a suburb in Salem,
has named his sons Communism,
Leninism and Socialism. We hope
he doesnt have a cat called Maoism!
Communism is 24 and an advocate,
while Leninism and Socialism are
commerce graduates and run a
silver-anklet factory. We look forward
to pictures of all their life events,
especially their wedding
announcements.
S u b m i t t e d b y : M. S. MANI, C h e n n a i
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

OUR MYTHS are full of stories of

gods and heroes travelling between

worlds. However, in the mythical
times people did not need visas to
do this: now you cant just buy a
ticket to America. The 5,000-year-old
Chilkur Balaji temple in Hyderabad,
known as the visa temple, is gaining
a reputation for fixing this problem.
Around 75,0001,00,000 people go
there to seek divine visa assistance
every week. Hopefully, there is no
additional paperwork.
S u b m i t t e d b y : H. D., B e n g a l u r u
Source: money.cnn.com

Submi tt e d b y : SIDDIKA CHINWALA, Mumbai

YOU THOUGHT families in soap

operas were ridiculously large?

Imagine a show about this family.
The worlds largest family lives in
Baktawng Tlangnuam, a village in
the hills of Mizoram. Ziona Chana,
the proud patriarch, has 39 wives, 94
children, 14 daughters-in-law and 33
grandchildren. They live in a mansion
with 100 rooms. Good luck to historians putting this family tree together.
S u b m i t t e d b y : AHANA
MUKHOPADHYAY, Ko l k a t a
Source: dailymail.co.uk

Readers Digest will pay for contributions

to this column. Post your suggestions
with the source to the editorial address,
or email: [email protected]
READERS DIGEST

JUNE 2016

65

subtle cluesfrom handwriting to snoring

can reveal the earliest warnings of illness.
heres how to read your own distress signals.

S I LE N T
SIGNS

your

B O DY
i s in

B IG TROUBLE
BY Ha LLi e LeVi n e a n d
KatHa KoLi dasgU Pta
66

June 2016

readers digest

pHotoGRapHs BY GaBRi elle ReVeRe

coVeR stoRY

readers digest

June 2016

67

Your Gut Is In
BIG trouBle

Damage to your teeth

I often get referrals from dentists
with patients who dont feel heartburn or other reflux symptoms, but
their teeth enamel is completely
worn down, says Evan Dellon, MD, a
gastrointestinal (GI) specialist at the
University of North Carolina School
of Medicine, USA. Many are shocked
to learn they have acid reflux. While
sugary drinks wear down front teeth,
acid from your oesophagus tends to
dissolve enamel at the back, leaving a
funny taste in your mouth.
Other subtle but suspicious symptoms of reflux: a persistent sore throat,
coughing, unexplained wheezing.
We get referrals from ENT specialists
for these complaints that dont seem
to have a respiratory connection,
says Dr Ajay Kumar, executive director, gastroenterology, Fortis Escorts
Heart Institute, New Delhi. If you
notice any of these warning signs, see
a GI specialist promptly. Untreated
reflux not only leads to tooth decay
but can also increase your risk for
oesophageal cancer.
Itchy, blistery skin rash
This reaction, which breaks out on
the elbows, knees, butt, back or scalp,
may look suspiciously like eczema, but
could be a more serious issue: coeliac
disease, an autoimmune condition
in which ingesting even the tiniest
amount of gluten [a form of protein
68

June 2016

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in grains such as wheat, rye and barley] causes your body to attack its own
intestines. This rash is known as dermatitis herpetiformis. Many patients
show no digestive symptoms, so its
best not to ignore a rash.
When a coeliac patient consumes
gluten, the body releases an antibody
known as IgA, which attacks the intestines. Sometimes IgA also collects
in small blood vessels underneath the
skin, triggering the telltale rash. Unlike people with other forms of coeliac,
patients with dermatitis herpetiformis
dont have to undergo an endoscopic
biopsy for a definitive diagnosis. A
doctor can biopsy the rash and look
for antibodies that indicate coeliac.
It is combined with a serology positivity blood test. The final diagnosis
is done by monitoring the response
to gluten withdrawal, adds Kumar.
If your itchy skin is a result of coeliac
disease, it should disappear once you
start a gluten-free diet. Youll protect
your body from other long-term, serious damage of coeliac disease, such as
osteoporosis or small intestine cancer.

Haemorrhoids
About one-third of patients with
Crohns diseasean inflammatory disorder of the GI tracthave a form that
affects just the anal region. Known as
perianal fistulas, it manifests as sores,
ulcerations or fleshy growths outside
the area, which can be mistaken for
haemorrhoids. Patients will say sitting is so unpleasant, its like theyre

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s i l e n t s i g n s yo u r b o dy i s i n b i g t r o u b l e

R e a d e R s d i g e s t. c o . i n

perched on top of a marble, says David

Rubin, MD, chief of gastroenterology
at the University of Chicago Medical
Center, USA. This type of Crohns disease is often the most painful and has
the worst prognosis, says Rubin. If left
untreated, Crohns can lead to bowel
obstruction, painful fissures and even
colon cancer. If you have what appear
to be haemorrhoids that dont respond
to treatment, Rubin recommends seeing a GI specialist for a second opinion
as soon as possible. A combination of
blood tests, colonoscopy and CT scan
may be required for a diagnosis.

Your BraIn Is In
BIG trouBle

Changes in handwriting
When you think of Parkinsons disease (PD), you probably think of tremors, but a more telling early warning
sign is handwriting that gets much
smaller. Handwriting analysis identified patients in early stages more than
97 per cent of the time, a 2013 Israeli
study found. I have patients write a
sentence such as Today is a nice day
10 times, says Dr Michael S. Okun,
national medical director for the National Parkinson Foundation, USA. As
they write, each sentence gets smaller
and smaller, and the words become
more crowded together. Technically, this is known as micrographia,
adds Dr Raghuram G., senior consultant neurosurgeon at Columbia
Asia hospital, Bengaluru. PD occurs
when nerve cells in the brain become
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s i l e n t s i g n s yo u r b o dy i s i n b i g t r o u b l e

damaged or die. They produce less

dopamine, a chemical that sends signals to trigger movement. This causes
muscle stiffness in hands and fingers.
This, in turn, affects the smooth
movement needed to write properly,
resulting in handwriting that looks
cramped, says Raghuram.
Other early red flags include difficulty in walking, slurred speech and
disturbed sleep. As it mainly affects
seniors, it may be hard to tell the difference between stiffness and slowness caused by age as opposed to
PD. One way to tell: the movement is
jerkier and tends to be uncoordinated,
explains Raghuram. PD affects movement in different ways, including that
of the tongue. People with early PD
may speak slowly or with a slight slur,
Raghuram adds. Tossing and turning
in bed as well as thrashing, kicking,
punchingeven falling out of bedis
not uncommon. If you notice any of
these symptomslasting more than
a couple of weekssee a neurologist. The earlier PD is diagnosed and
the sooner you gain control over the
symptoms, the better your quality of
life will be.

by the University of California, San

Diego. A classic case: Someone never
suffered from road rage before, but
now if they get cut off, they get so furious, they go crazy blaring their horn,
says Dr Philip Muskin, a professor of
psychiatry at Columbia University
Medical Center. Women are found to
have depression more often than men,
but men are more likely to experience
the disease through irritability and
anger, according to a 2013 study by the
University of Michigan.
If youre constantly snapping at your
spouse or the slightest annoyance gets
your heart racingand these reactions
have lasted for more than two weeks
theres a real chance that depression
is the culprit. Many cases of major
depression respond well to a combination of antidepressants and cognitive behaviour therapy, a short-term
therapy that teaches skills to avoid
damaging thoughts or actions. A British study published in April 2015 found
that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, which helps increase awareness
of negative spirals, was as effective as
medicines in preventing a recurrence
of depression over a two-year period.

Random bursts of anger

For many people, depression doesnt
translate to weeping or lying listlessly
on the couch. More than half of patients with depression have irritability
and anger. In fact, those symptoms are
associated with a more severe, longerlasting form, according to a 2013 study

Difficulty managing finances

When University of Alabama researchers followed 87 seniors with mild
memory problems, the 25 who went on
to develop Alzheimers showed a decline in skills like managing bank statements and paying bills over a year-long
period. As part of the screening, we

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June 2016

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R e a d e R s d i g e s t. c o . i n

often use what is known as the serial

seven score: we ask the patient to subtract seven from 100, and then to keep
subtracting seven from the result. People in the early stages of Alzheimers
might struggle with it, says Dr Guruprasad Hosurkar, consultant neurology
in Columbia Asia hospital, Bengaluru.
While everyone has an occasional
senior moment, its a red flag if these
issues persist on a regular basis.
As Alzheimers develops, the brains

cortex begins to shrivel up. Different symptoms show up depending on

which area of the cortex succumbs to
damage first. The left parietal lobe, for
example, plays a role in reading, writing and processing numbers. Damage
to this part will make managing dayto-day finances increasingly difficult,
explains Hosurkar. As the disease
spreads to the frontal lobesthe centre
for executive functions, attention, concentration and abstract thinkingyou

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s i l e n t s i g n s yo u r b o dy i s i n b i g t r o u b l e

Your Heart Is In
BIG trouBle

Snoring
Its a commonly known symptom of
sleep apnoea, which is associated
with risk of increased heart disease.
But snoring may play a bigger role in
cardiovascular disease than experts
thought. A 2013 study found that
even among patients without sleep
apnoea, snoring was linked with the
thickening of carotid arteries in the
neck. Such damage is a precursor to
stroke and heart attack. Snoring was
more strongly associated with this
(arterial) wall damage than smoking,
high cholesterol or being overweight.
Why? Snoring may damage the carotid arteries, which supply blood to
the brain. We think the arteries react
to the vibration of the snoring, since
theyre very close to the throat, says
study author Dr Kathleen Yaremchuk,
chair, department of otolaryngology,
head and neck surgery at Henry Ford
Hospital in Detroit, USA.
Because snoring may signify some
sort of obstruction in the airways, it
can lead to reduced oxygen supply to
the heart and brain, upping the risk of
cardiac failure and strokes. Moreover,
if your snoring is interfering with deep
sleep, over time, it increases blood
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pressure, affecting your ticker, adds

Dr Vikas Agrawal, senior ENT surgeon and sleep specialist, and former
president of the Indian Association of
Surgeons for Sleep Apnoea ( IASSA).
So, instead of dismissing snoring as
a mere annoyance, seek medical attention, especially if you find yourself
waking up tired even after eight hours
of sleep. Sometimes treating snoring
can be as simple as changing your
sleep positionavoiding sleeping on
your back where gravity aids in creating obstructions. At other times, you
may need CPAP [continuous positive
airway pressure]a mask that helps
you breathe easily, or a minor corrective surgery to tackle the obstruction,
Agrawal adds.

Impotence
Men over age 45 who werent found to
have heart disease but had moderate
to severe erectile dysfunction were up
to 60 per cent more likely to be hospitalized for heart problems, according
to a 2013 Australian study conducted
over a four-year period. Why? Because atherosclerosis (a blockage in
the arteries due to plaque build-up)
doesnt just affect the arteries supplying blood to the heart, but also blood
vessels throughout the body, including
the pudendal artery to the penis, says
Dr Nilesh Gautam, senior interventional cardiologist and head, preventive cardiology and rehabilitation,
Asian Heart Institute, Mumbai. As
arteries to the penis are smaller than

sw im top: ma lia J on es.com

may find it difficult to complete other

daily tasks like following a favourite
recipe, making plans for the day or
even struggle with decision-making.
Consider these early warning signs.

R e a d e R s d i g e s t. c o . i n

elsewhere in the body, they may become blocked even before a man has
any other signs of heart disease. Gautam adds that it is important for men
who have problems getting or maintaining an erection, to consult a doctor and be evaluated for heart disease.

Inflamed gums
A preliminary University of Florida
study found that the same bacteria
that cause gum disease also promote
heart disease. Other research shows
that older adults with high levels of
certain bacteria in their mouth have
thicker carotid arteries, a predictor
of stroke and heart attack. The link
has to do with the bodys response to
inflammation, says Dr Stuart Froum,
director of clinical research at NYU
College of Dentistry.
Frequent cleaning (every three to
six months) by a dentist can control
early-stage gum disease. Treating gum
disease was associated with fewer
hospitalizations among people with
heart disease or type 2 diabetes, according to a 2014 American Journal of
Preventive Medicine study.

Your Hormones
are In BIG trouBle

Frequent bathroom trips

When you start developing type 2
diabetes, your body becomes less
efficient at breaking food down into
sugar to use as fuel for energy. As a
result, sugar builds up in the bloodstream, where it does silent but sigreaders digest

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s i l e n t s i g n s yo u r b o dy i s i n b i g t r o u b l e

8 easy-to-ignore cancer signs

thanks to advances in screening and diagnosis, early detection is
possible, but initial symptoms can be subtle enough to overlook.
1. Unintentional weight
loss. if you have
lost more than
4.5 kilos with no diet
or exercise, get it
checked, says richard
wender, md, american
cancer society. this
happens most often
with pancreatic,
stomach, oesophageal
or lung cancer.
2. Fatigue. this
means being more
tired than what youd
expect for whats going on in your life,
says dr dale shepard,
a cleveland clinic
oncologist. if youre
under short-term
stress, feeling more
tired than usual is understandable, but if
youre struggling to
get through work or
cant make it through
every day without a
nap, thats a warning
sign. fatigue can indicate some colon and
stomach cancers as
well as certain blood
cancers like leukaemia.
3. Unexplained bleeding. anything
strangecoughing up
blood (lung cancer),

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June 2016

unusual vaginal bleeding (cervical or endometrial cancer), blood

in stool (colon or rectal cancer), blood in
urine (bladder or kidney cancer) or bloody
nipple discharge
(breast cancer)
should be brought to
your docs attention.
4. Pain. pain owing to
cancer usually means
the disease has already
spread and become
advanced, but it can
be an early symptom
of bone or testicular
malignancy.
5. Persistent sores or
bug bites. they may
be early-stage skin
cancers. a long-lasting
sore in your mouth
could be oral cancer.
a sore on your penis
or vagina could indicate penile, vaginal
or vulvar cancer.
6. nagging coughs.
if you develop a cough
that wont disappear,
even though youve
never had allergies,
asthma or sinus problems, take note. watch
out for shortness of

readers digest

breath, wheezing and

diculty swallowing.
it could indicate lung
cancer or, if accompanied by hoarseness,
cancer of the larynx,
oesophagus or thyroid,
says dr vineet talwar,
unit head, medical
oncology, at delhis
rajiv gandhi cancer
institute and research
centre.
7. Bowel or bladder
changes. peeing more
or less than usual
could indicate bladder
or prostate cancer.
constipation or diarrhoea may signal colon
or ovarian cancer. you
may attribute gassiness or bloating to
diet, but talk to your
doctor if it lasts more
than a week.
8. Frequent fevers or
infections. these can
be signs of leukaemia,
a cancer of the blood
cells. often, doctors
diagnose leukaemia
only after the patient
has been complaining
of fever, achiness and
u-like symptoms over
an extended period of
time, says talwar.

R e a d e R s d i g e s t. c o . i n

nificant damage to blood vessels and

nerves, says Dr Ashita Gupta, an endocrinologist at Mount Sinai Roosevelt
Hospital in New York City. Your body
reacts by frantically trying to dump
the glucose build-up: your kidneys
work harder to flush it out through
your urine. Result? You are going to the
bathroom more frequentlyand producing much more when you go, adds
Dr Ambrish Mithal, chairman and
HoD, division of endocrinology and
diabetes, Medanta-the Medicity, Gurgaon. You may find yourself getting up
to pee quite a few times at night. Since
youre urinating so much, you may be
thirstier.
Consult your doctor if you find yourself emptying your bladder frequently
over several days even when your fluid
intake hasnt increased, says Mithal.
In addition to checking your blood
glucose level, your doctor may ask for
an HbA1c blood test, which measures
your average blood glucose over the
course of three months (other tests,
such as the fasting blood glucose, measure blood glucose levels only on the
day of the investigation) for diagnosis.
The sooner type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, the likelier you are to tackle it
with lifestyle changes, such as weight
loss and exercise, explains Gupta.

Forgetting peoples names

Spaced out on your neighbours name
at the grocers? It may be due to stress
or fatigue, but forgetfulness about little
things such as names or grocery lists

could indicate hypothyroidism, or low

levels of thyroid hormone. Functional
imaging studies show decreased brain
blood flow and reduced brain metabolism in hypothyroidism. Thus, overt
hypothyroidism has been linked with
a wide range of cognitive dysfunction
including memory issues, says Mithal.
Patients complain that their brain
feels fuzzier. Without the thyroid hormone, everything just slows down,
says Gupta. I ask whether they still
feel tired after a full nights sleep. If they
do feel foggy, it may signal that something hormonallike an underactive
thyroidis the culprit. Other signs
include feeling tired and cold all the
time, dry skin, brittle nails and a low
libido. Because these symptoms are
often vague and seemingly unrelated,
its easy to blow them off. A 2013 study
done across eight cities in India, found
that approximately one in 10 adults had
hypothyroidism, with women three
times more likely to be affected. Yet a
more recent survey conducted by the
Indian Thyroid Society concluded that
the awareness about it ranked ninth
as compared to other common conditions, such as asthma, cholesterol issues, diabetes, depression, insomnia
and heart disease. If you experience
any of the symptoms, its worth getting tested. When patients are treated
with thyroid medication, theyre always
amazed at how much sharper they
feelthat their memory lapses and difficulty concentrating werent due to just
menopause or ageing, adds Gupta.
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75

BY PE TE H A M I L L F R OM T H E N E W YO R K P OST

HEARD THIS STORY FROM A GIRL ID MET IN NEW YORK CITY.

She told me that she had been one of the participants. Since then,
others have said that they had heard a version of it in some forgotten
book or been told it by an acquaintance, who said that it had actually
happened to a friend. Probably the story is one of those mysterious
bits of folklore that emerge from the national subconscious every
few years, to be told anew in one form or another. The cast of
characters shifts; the message endures. I like to think that it did
happen, somewhere, sometime.
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Going

HOME

I LLUSTRATION BY TATSURO KIUCHI

What would the message on

the great oak be?

They were going to Fort Lauderdale, a city on Floridas south-eastern

coastthree boys and three girlsand
when they boarded the bus, they were
carrying sandwiches and wine in
paper bags, dreaming of golden
beaches and sea tides, as the grey cold
of New York vanished behind them.
As the bus passed through New
Jersey, they noticed Vingo. He sat in
front of them, dressed in a plain, illfitting suit, never moving, his dusty
face masking his age.

Deep into the night, outside

Washington, the bus pulled into a
Howard Johnsons [a chain of hotels],
and everybody got off except Vingo.
The young people began to wonder about him, trying to imagine his
life: Perhaps he was a sea captain, a
runaway from his wife, an old soldier going home. When they went
back to the bus, one of the girls sat
beside him and introduced herself.
Were going to Florida, she said
brightly. I hear its beautiful.
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GOING HOME

It is, he said, as if remembering kerchief on the tree, and Id get off and
something he had tried to forget.
come home. If she didnt want me,
Want some wine? she said. He forget itno handkerchief, and Id go
smiled and took a swig. He thanked on through.
her and retreated again into his silence.
Wow, the girl said. Wow.
She went back to the others, and
She told the others, and soon all of
Vingo nodded off to sleep.
them were in on it, waiting excitedly
In the morning, the girl sat with to reach Brunswick, looking at the
Vingo again, and after some time, he pictures Vingo showed them, of his
told his story. He had been in prison wife and three childrenthe woman
in New York for the past four years, handsome in a plain way, the children
and now he was going home.
still unformed in the cracked, muchAre you married?
handled snapshots.
I dont know.
Now they were 32 kilometres from
You dont know? she asked.
Brunswick, and the young people took
Well, when I was in the can, I wrote over the window seats on the right
to my wife, he said. I told her that I side, waiting for the approach of the
was going to be away a long time and great oak tree. The bus acquired a dark,
that if she couldnt stand it, if the kids hushed mood, full of the silence of abkept askin questions, if it hurt too sence and lost years. Vingo stopped
much, well, she could just forget me. looking, tightening his face into the
Id understand. Get a new guy, I said ex-cons mask, as if fortifying himself
shes a wonderful woman, really against yet another disappointment.
somethingand forget about me. I
Brunswick was 16 kilometres away,
told her she didnt have to write me or and then eight. Then, suddenly, all
nothing. And she didnt. Not for three the young people were up and out of
and a half years.
their seats, screaming and shouting
And youre going home now
and crying, doing small dances
not knowing?
of exultation. All except Vingo.
Yeah, he said shyly. Well,
Vingo sat there stunned, looklast week, when I was sure the
ing at the oak tree. It was covered
parole was coming through,
with yellow handkerchiefs20
I wrote her again. We used to
of them, 30 of them, maybe hunlive in Brunswick [in New Jerdreds, a tree that stood like a
This article
sey], just before Jacksonville, first appeared banner of welcome billowing in
and theres a big oak tree just in the January the wind. As the young people
1972 issue
as you come into town. I told
shouted, the old con rose from
her that if shed take me back, of Readers his seat and made his way to the
Digest.
she should put a yellow handfront of the bus to go home.
NEW YORK POST (OCTOBER 14, 1971) COPYRIGHT 1971 BY THE NEW YORK POST CORP., NYPOST.COM.

78

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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS

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INTRODUCTION

THE BRANDS WE TRUST MOST

INCE READERS DIGEST launched

Trusted Brand in 1998, the number of
brands available to consumers across
India has increased manifold. Global and
local companies have realised that Indian
consumers are becoming increasingly
particular about their preferences, and their
buying decisions are no longer determined
by just the price of the product.
For the past 18 years, consumers have
revealed to us their favourite brands and the
factors that inuence their purchases. They
have shared with us the various brands they
have come to rely on to meet their needs;
brands that make their lives easier and are
value for money. Their choices have proved
that trust in the brand, cuts across all aspects
of the consumers experiencefrom how a
product works and its quality, to innovation
and customer service.
The Trusted Brand winners have
acknowledged the importance of the
consumers trust in them. For these companies, the thrust is based not just on selling
a product or service, but the ease of use, convenience and peace of mind they assure in

an efcient and affordable manner. In other

words, for these brands, the emphasis is on
offering rst-class products, while providing
the consumer with an enriched experience.
In these uncertain times, consumers are
cautious about every rupee they spend. They
want their brand choices to enhance their
lives and reect their personal style. Its the
Readers Digest Trusted Brand award that
continues to guide them in making those
very best decisions every single time.
Readers Digest presents some of Asias
most trusted and best-loved brands in the
following pages. These are great brands
that have become wonderful success stories
over the years.

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METHODOLOGY

OUR SURVEY HOW IT WAS CONDUCTED

OR THE PAST 18 years, the

Readers Digest Trusted Brand survey
has unveiled products and services that
discerning consumers across Asia have opted
for, and depend on to enrich their lives.
We commissioned TNS, one of the
worlds top research rms, to survey a
representative sample of people across
India on their most trusted brands .
This was in 47 categories of products
and services across an array of
industries. Trusted Brand has
also conducted surveys in
key consumer markets such
as, China, Hong Kong,
Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand.
In India alone, 2,000 people responded to our
postal, online and phone survey. Half were
Readers Digest subscribers and the rest were
randomly selected.
Respondents lled in questionnaires or
participated in telephone or online surveys.
We asked each participant to name their most
trusted brands and to rate each one on ve
attributes: quality, excellent value, strong

image, understanding of consumer needs and

social responsibility.
To arrive at the nal rating, we multiplied
the total number of votes for a brand with
its average score for the ve qualitative
attributes. For statistical accuracy, the data
was then weighted to reect the population
distribution of participants.
Awards were presented in each of the
eight markets, in two key categories:
Gold Trusted Brand: When a
brands rating score is signicantly
higher than that of its rivals in the
same category.
Platinum Trusted Brand:
When a brand achieves a
rating score that is at least
three times that of its nearest competitor.
The results of the 2016 Readers Digest
Trusted Brand survey present a concise,
informative and interesting insight into
consumer condence in the various products
and services offered. Considering that these
awards are entirely voted for by consumers,
you can trust that these winning brands have the
ultimate seal of consumer approval.
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Automobile
CATEGORY
Cars/SUVS

Lubricants
Petrol Stations

Two Wheelers

Tyres

INDIA
Honda
Hyundai
Mahindra
Maruti Suzuki
Castrol
Servo
Bharat Petroleum
Hindustan Petroleum
Indian Oil
Bajaj
Hero
Honda
TVS
Ceat
JK Tyres
MRF

AWARD
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold

Consumer Electronics
CATEGORY
Desktops & Laptops

Kitchen Appliances

Mobile Phones & Smart Phones

Refrigerators

Vacuum Cleaners

INDIA
Dell
HP
Lenovo
LG
Prestige
Samsung
Apple
Samsung
Godrej
LG
Samsung
Whirlpool
Eureka Forbes

AWARD
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Platinum

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LUBRICANTS

SERVO: THE LEADER IN GREASES AND LUBRICANTS

ERVO, from IndianOil, is the brand

leader in the greases and lubricants
segment in India. It has been conferred
the Consumer Superbrand status by the
Superbrands Council of India. SERVO has
also carved a signicant niche for itself in
over 25 countries across the globe.
With over 1000 commercial grades
and over 1,500 formulations encompassing
literally every conceivable application,
SERVO serves as a one-stop shop for
complete lubrication solutions in the
automotive, industrial and marine segments.
Recognized for its cutting-edge technology
and high-quality products, SERVO is backed
by IndianOils world-class R&D and an
extensive blending and distribution network.

In the retailing segment, besides IndianOil

fuel stations, SERVOs range of lubricants is
available across the country through various
retail channels including SERVOXPRESS
stations, bazaar outlets and thousands of
auto spare-parts shops, along with the unique
concept of Gramin SERVO Stockists in
order to reach the rural hinterland.
SERVOs lubricating oils meet the
requirements of all the core industrial sectors
in India, spanning defence, railways, cement,
coal, steel, sugar, power, marine, surface
transport, engineering, fertilizers and so
on. SERVO grades of lubricants have been
patronized by these core sector industries for
over ve decades.
IndianOils Technical Service Engineers
are also available on call to provide
on-site lube-related consultancy
and
value-added
services.
Backed by extensive knowledge
of equipment, processes and
machinery, the IndianOil team
can provide solutions to just
about anythingautomotive or
industrial.

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PETROL STATIONS

HPCL: THE SMART WAY TO MOVE FORWARD

nhancing
customer
experience
through diverse services has been a
focus area for the retail SBU, HPCL.
SOP compliance, branded outlets of Club HP
Star, the Drive Track Plus loyalty card and
retail automation are some key customercentric initiatives that have enabled HPCL
Retail to enjoy the condence and patronage
of its customers and gain market share
consecutively for 12 years.
HPCL has also been a pioneer in
integrating the latest evolution in technology
and cascade its impact on customer
preferences. A mobile app My HPCL is a

cutting-edge initiative that was launched in

2013, for Android-based customers. A rst
in the petro-retailing space in India, the app
(now available across all platforms) provides
the convenience of access to a variety of
information and services while the customer
is on the move.
The application has been equipped with
many features, such as locating the nearest
HPCL outlet or, identifying an outlet based
on the customers preferred selection of fuel,
facilities, and services based on proximity.
Cheapest in price, nearest in distance is
indeed a unique feature.
My HPCL also helps customers in the
effective management of their vehicle M&R,
fuel spends, mileage, PUC and vehicle
insurance details. Through the app, the
navigation option can also be activated to
nd the Next HPCL Outlet during a journey.
Access to information for other public
facilities like police stations, hospitals,
restaurants, parks and movie theatres is also
included in the app. My HPCL is indeed a
smarter way to enjoy the stopover and enjoy
the journey.

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PETROL STATIONS

IndianOil: IN THE FOREFRONT OF FUEL RETAIL

ndian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IndianOil),

Indias largest commercial enterprise is
ranked 119th in the Fortune Global 500
listing of the worlds largest companies for the
year 2015. As the flagship national oil company,
IndianOil is present across the hydrocarbon
value chain.
The IndianOil group of companies owns
and operates 11 of Indias 22 refineries. With
sales of over 68 million metric tonnes per
annum, the company currently accounts for over
49% of the market share of petroleum products
in India. It has a formidable nationwide network
of over 44,000 customer touchpoints including
25,000 petrol and diesel stations.
IndianOil is the first corporate in the oil
sector to customize its retail formats in tune with
the market segments. Kisan Seva Kendras are
IndianOils retail outlets catering to the needs of
the rural markets. The company is developing
a network of an exclusive highway format of

fuel stations called Swagat with customized

offerings for the highway travellers and truckers
segment. Currently, over 850 such outlets
are operational across the highways and this
network is being expanded steadily.
IndianOil has automated over 8,500 of its
fuel stations in the country, upgrading these
outlets with state-of-the-art fuel retailing
technology to enhance the quality of service
to the customers. Automation is being
implemented across the retail network of
IndianOil progressively. As part of IndianOils
environment-friendly initiatives, over 4,000 of
our fuel stations are now being operated on solar
power. SERVO from IndianOil, Indias leading
brand of lubricants and sold in over 25 countries
globally, is marketed across the network of
IndianOils fuel stations in addition to other
retail channels.
As part of its business strategies, IndianOil
has a strong focus on customer benefits and
customer value. IndianOils success as a brand
lies in its endeavour to touch and transform
the lives of millions of people across the
country. For IndianOil, that is a brand identity
worth pursuing.

JUNE 2016 | READERS DIGEST

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DESKTOPS & LAPTOPS

DELL: INNOVATIVE & INSPIRING TECHNOLOGY

e live in
exciting,
but transformational
times.
Increasing consumer
control has made it
imperative for brands
to innovate, understand and address the
real needs of users and their communities.
Customers have always been at the core
of Dells business. Understanding customer needs and demonstrating how they can
achieve more through Dells technology,
has been at the centre of carefully crafted
campaigns, such as PC Literacy Days and
Back to School. These are nested in the
idea that creation, rather than consumption
of content, is key to driving innovation and
building a knowledge economy.
It is important to acknowledge computer
literacy and its transformative nature, especially for growing markets in Tier 3 and Tier
4 cities. Dell is using its campaigns to showcase how technology can enhance the process of learning and empower young minds.

Dell also uses the social media platform to

engage with customers, and its fan base has
grown over the last year, via the Listen and
Respond campaign.
Sustained by a robust retail strategy, Dell
is building better and multiple purchase options via online, phone, 630 plus Dell exclusive stores, and a service network across 700
plus locations. Consumer support options
include 24x7 premium phone support, accidental damage service and on-site support.
Ritu Gupta, Director, Marketing, Consumer & Small Business, Dell India, says,
Being honoured by Readers Digest as a
Trusted Brand for the last 6 consecutive years
is a milestone and testimony to the efforts of
the team at Dell India, from sales and marketing to customer service. It is a signicant
acknowledgement of Dells appeal as a brand
of choice amongst our customers and the
work we are doing to deliver a best-in-class
technology experience to our customers.

JUNE 2016 | READERS DIGEST

94

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KITCHEN APPLIANCES

PRESTIGE: CUTTING-EDGE KITCHENWARE

TK Prestige is Indias No.1 kitchen

appliance brand, with a legacy
of more than 60 years. It has the
reputation of being present in almost every
Indian home and operates on the core values
of trust, transparency and knowledge. It has
a varied portfolio that ranges from Pressure
Cookers, Non-stick Cookware, Gas Stoves,
Induction Cooktops and Mixer Grinders to
other kitchen tools and electrical appliances.
TTK Prestige has been at the forefront of
innovations in the kitchen segment. It has
been a consistent superbrand in the category
and has received several awards for product
design, performance and retail. The company
has around 541 Prestige Smart Kitchen
outlets in over 281 towns.
Prestige believes in providing Total
Kitchen Solutions. Its tagline, Jo biwi se
kare pyaar, woh Prestige se kaise kare inkaar
has Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek
Bachchan, playing the ideal couple, cooking
together, using Prestige appliances.
Indias strong economic growth,
increasing employment opportunities, an
expanding working class, especially working

women and a growing number of nuclear

families, leading a busy life have fuelled
the demand for smart kitchen appliances.
According to reports, the kitchen appliance
market in India is set to grow at 10%-15%
annually. Prestige recognizes these changing
dynamics and ensures that it launches new
products to suit the evolving needs of the
customer.
TTK Prestige recently announced its foray into the Indian home cleaning segment.
This will be a rst for a company that has
always focused on kitchen appliances. The
home cleaning category is pegged at a market opportunity of `2,500 crore and is growing at over 15% to 20% year-on-year.
The new initiative, being launched
under the Prestige Clean Home banner,
will feature an array of unique products,
including, Indias rst Electric Mop, Vacuum
Cleaner-cum-Floor Polisher and an AllPurpose Steam Cleaner. The home cleaning
category, will have at its core, the well-being
of the Indian homemaker, with products that
can enhance the lives of millions of women
in the country.

JUNE 2016 | READERS DIGEST

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VACUUM CLEANERS

EUROCLEAN: INDIAS PREMIER VACUUM CLEANER

ureka Forbes, the iconic vacuum

cleaner brand, was launched
33 years ago, and has sold around
5 million vacuum cleaners since its inception.
This brand was singularly responsible for
developing the market and demonstrating
that the vacuum cleaner was more than a dust
remover; it was a versatile machine that could
clean curtains, carpets and hard-to-reach
crevices of sofa sets.
Eureka Forbes products include Deep
Cleaning Technology that completely
removes dust mites and disinfects the home.
Every gram of dust may contain up to 19,000
dust mites that may cause allergies like
asthma in children and the elderly. The Deep
Cleaning Technology ensures the removal
of these mites. Euroclean has been endorsed
by the Asthma and Allergy Resource Centre.
The brand was recently honoured for the third
time as Mera Brand in a nationwide survey.
Euroclean HealthPro is Indias rst UV
sanitizer, equipped with a powerful suction
and UV rays that destroys dust mites and
removes embedded dust from soft surfaces.
The Euroclean IGlide is a revolutionary

2-in-1 Spray Mop with instant Spray Level to

clean dry dust and wet spills effectively.
Euroclean WD X2, the state-of-the-art
wet and dry vacuum cleaner powered with
Deep Cleaning Technology get rids of dry dirt
and dust as well as wet spills such as juices,
oils and mud stains.
Mr. Shashank Sinha, AVP & Head
Marketing, Eureka Forbes Ltd., says: A
visibly clean home is often mistaken to be a
healthy home. Unfortunately we live in our
homes believing this and even say that weve
been born here and have grown up living with
dust. Vacuum cleaners in India (unlike the
western world) are used to do cleaning other
than oor cleaning. Keeping this in mind,
we are also Indianising vacuum cleaners
to suit the needs of customers, and create
accessories that are useful to the domestic
market. He adds: Eureka Forbes has
always been the industry leader in creating
technological innovations for healthy and
safe living. With the extension of the brand in
new segments like high-pressure cleaners and
steam cleaners, we will continue to create a
benchmark in the vacuum cleaning industry.

JUNE 2016 | READERS DIGEST

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Education
CATEGORY
Engineering & Medical Colleges
Management Institutes/B Schools
Private Universities

INDIA
IIT Madras
IIM Ahmedabad
IIM Calcutta
Amity University
SRM University

AWARD
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Platinum
Gold
Gold
Gold

Finance
CATEGORY
Banks

Credit Cards

Insurance
Loans

INDIA
State Bank of India
ICICI Bank
HDFC Bank
Citibank
HDFC
ICICI
SBI Cards
LIC
Bajaj Allianz
HDFC
ICICI
SBI

AWARD
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Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Platinum
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold

JUNE 2016 | READERS DIGEST

100

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BANKS

SBI: THE BANKER TO EVERY INDIAN

BI (State Bank of India) is one of

those few banking institutions in the
world that has traversed a journey
of more than 200 years and yet remained
contemporary, competitive and relevant.
SBIs origins go back to the rst decade
of the 19th Century with the establishment of
the Bank of Calcutta in present day Kolkata
on June 2, 1806. SBI started its mission on
July 1st, 1955 with 477 branches, 14,388
employees and a business of `327 crore.
As of March 3rd, 2015, it has more than
16,000 branches, 2,13,238 employees and
a total business of more than `29,00,000
crore. Now, SBI has a digital footprint of
500 million accounts with 3,100 transactions per second on CBS and more than
800 truncations per minute on ATMs. More
than 56,000 ATMs, 1.28 lakh touch points
and 57,000 CSP, today serve its 27.32 crore
active customers.
SBI has the largest branch network across
the globe, operational and professional banking know-how, a universal banking platform,
technology-based innovative products and
services for everyone. SBI customers enjoy

the highest degree of trust, reliability and security. Its message State Bank branch will
be there to serve you, wherever you go instils condence in customers. Therefore, it is
aptly called the Banker to Every Indian.
SBI derives its brand image from institutional reliability, customers trust, quality
of products and services offered, delivery of
commitments, customers experienceboth
in terms of what they expect and the quality
of offering. Further, the repeat value of offerings, the ability to reach constituents through
multiple channels and an organic relationship between the business and the banks
customers are its key strengths.
Unlike other commercial organizations
or private sector banks, SBI has a dual role
of earning prot and expanding banking
services to the Indian population across every
state. SBI has played a very important role in
developing Indias rural regions by providing
nancial support for modernizing the countrys
agricultural industry. It has also helped in the
infrastructure development of the country by
giving credit and development assistance to
villages, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

JUNE 2016 | READERS DIGEST

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CREDIT CARDS

SBI CARD: SIMPLIFYING LIFE

BI Card has been on a consistent

growth trajectory for the past few
years, constantly innovating and
developing solutions that customers can use
to Make Life Simple for themselves.
Today, SBI Card is one of the top credit
card players in the country with a user base
of 3.5 million, spread across geographies and
demographics. The success of the brand is
powered by its unmatched product offerings
backed by advanced safety features. These
features have consistently built trust for the
brand amongst customers.
The companys operational excellence
is built on four key pillars: best-in-class
products, excellent customer management, a
strong technology backbone and trustworthy
policies. SBI Card has leveraged cuttingedge technology to enhance end-user
experience, giving customers greater choice
and freedom to manage their credit card
accounts via different platforms including
a mobile/tablet app that runs across various
devices or by creating a highly-interactive,
user-friendly website. The introduction
of credit cards based on the Near Field

Communication (NFC) technology has also

redened the overall card usage experience
as customers can now simply wave the card
at a POS terminal to complete the payment.
These innovations have helped propel SBI
Card as an industry leader.
Accepting the Readers Digest award,
Mr. Vijay Jasuja, CEO, SBI Card, said: We
would like to thank the Readers Digest
audience for this honour. Since everything
we do has evolving consumer needs as
its core focus, an award by the people is
very heartening. It reinforces our belief in
continuously bringing innovative solutions
to our consumer.

JUNE 2016 | READERS DIGEST

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Get More RD
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Home Improvement
CATEGORY
Bathroom Fittings &
Sanitaryware

Cement

Floor & Wall Tiles

Food Storage Products

Home Furnishings & Furniture
Household Electrical Products

Interior Glass Solutions

Modular Kitchen Fittings

INDIA
Cera
Hindware
Jaquar
Parryware
ACC
Ambuja
Birla
Ultratech
Cera
Johnson
Kajaria
Somany
Tupperware
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Anchor
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Philips
Usha
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Godrej Interio
Ka
Sleek

AWARD
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BATHROOM FITTINGS & SANITARYWARE

CERA: COMPLETE BATHROOM SOLUTIONS

ERA Sanitaryware Limited, is a

`9 billion bathroom solutions provider that was established in 1980,
with a production of just 3,00,000 pieces of
vitreous china ceramic sanitaryware. Today,
CERA produces 3.2 million pieces.
The company has established itself
as Indias fastest growing home solutions
provider. Promoted by Mr. Vikram Somany,
Chairman and Managing Director, along
with his daughter, Mrs. Deepshikha
Khaitan, Vice Chairman, and a team of
professionals, CERA has set up a state-ofthe-art manufacturing facility for faucets that
produces 7,200 pieces per day.
CERA has also added to its portfolio a
wellness range, kitchen sinks, mirrors and
tiles. The company has started manufacturing
vitried tiles, through a JV with Anjani Tiles

in Andhra Pradesh. It offers a complete range

of digital oor and wall tiles, from Soluble
Salt to DGVT.

Green Manufacturing
CERA uses eco-friendly natural gas for its
production of sanitaryware and has an efuent treatment plant to ensure that no residual harmful water is released. It has its own
power generation with windmills in six locations in Gujarat, with a capacity to produce
11.82 MW power. CERA has also set up
solar power generation for 1 MW.

Many Firsts
CERA has launched many innovative designs
and water-saving products. The brands
twin-ush models saves thousands of litres
of water in every household. Another key
innovation is the WCs that are designed to
ush in just 4 litres of water.
The latest innovation has come in the
form of thin rim WBs and clean rim WCs.
The thin rim basins provide more bowl space
to the user, while the clean rim WCs are more
efcient and hygienic.

JUNE 2016 | READERS DIGEST

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FLOOR & WALL TILES

H & R JOHNSON: A TILE FOR EVERY SPACE

& R Johnson (India), a division of

Prism Cement Ltd., is the pioneer
of ceramic tiles in India. The
brand today enjoys the reputation of being
the only provider of end-to-end lifestyle
solutions, covering Tiles, Wellness Products,
Sanitaryware and Bath Fittings, Engineered
Marble, Quartz, Modular Kitchens and
Modular Furniture.
Johnsons rst manufacturing plant
was set up in 1958 in Thane, Maharashtra.
Today, it is one of the largest producers of
tiles, with 10 plants and over 58 million m2
of manufacturing capacity.
With 58 years of experience in the tiles
industry, Johnson has been at the forefront
of major innovations in this segment. Its tile
offerings are spread across 4 main brands:
Johnson Tiles with its vast range of wall and
oor ceramics tiles, Johnson Marbonite
with a comprehensive range of vitried
tiles, and Johnson Porselano with glazed
vitried tiles for walls and oor including
large format slabs and splits with germ
free properties. Finally, there is Johnson
Endura that handles ooring challenges

in industrial and outdoor spaces. Its unique

offerings are Anti-Static tiles, Acid-Alkali
resistant tiles and Cool Roof SRI tiles that
reduce heat, leading to lower consumption
of cooling appliances. Johnsons list of other
innovations include stain-free tiles, antistatic tiles as well as Tac Tiles that function
as directional tiles for the visually impaired.
The Johnson Endura Meteor range provides
high-strength tiles for outdoors with stain,
scratch and slip-resistant properties. These
tiles replace the need for concrete blocks and
paver blocks with a more aesthetic and durable
solution that can be installed in various
ways. These include regular cement-sand
combination as a raised ooring in building
interiors or dry installations on sand or grass.
Johnsons latest innovation is the Care
series of wall tiles with matching oor tiles,
glazed with a special coating to make it germ
free. This collection has been designed using
authentic, long-lasting ceramic products with
high stress-resistant strength. The oor care
range also provides slip and scratch resistant
qualities, thereby providing safer and more
durable oors.

JUNE 2016 | READERS DIGEST

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HOUSEHOLD ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS

ANCHOR: BUILDING SAFER COMMUNITIES FOR A BETTER WORLD

rom its humble beginnings as a switch

manufacturer to emerging as a key
member of the Panasonic Group in
India, Anchor has come a long way.
The ideology is to create a sustainable
living space for every citizen, enabling the
country and its citizens to grapple with new
challenges created by the ever-changing
needs of individuals in a diverse socioeconomical as well as the environmental
spectrum of the nation.
Anchors 54-year-old journey continues
with the introduction of world-class
products in India. The brand has brought in
top-end products from Panasonic Japans
LED and indoor-air-quality brands. The
latest innovations include value-for-money
offerings from Panasonic LED: colourchanging panel lights for the general lighting
basket and Space Player, a projection
light featuring integration of electricals
and electronics. Whats more, amongst its
offering is Advance EFFR, the rst germfree wire in the world and Penta Modular.
Each of these products have got a phenomenal
response from customers already.

Anchor has strengthened its old product

line-up by bringing together cutting-edge
technology and sleek design that co-exist
seamlessly in brands such as Panasonic
Vision, Roma and its Italian Home
Automation partner AVE. Its offerings such
as Non-Modular Wiring Devices Penta range
are being scaled up with security features.
Moreover, the company is set for big strides
in Research and Development and quality
control. Two of Anchors facilities are EMSISO 140001-compliant, while the others
adhere to ISO 9001:2008 norms.
The
brands
new
facility
for
manufacturing premium switches and
switchgear will be operational in Haridwar,
Uttarakhand, by the end of 2016.
Anchor has introduced Panasonics bestin-class Solar PV Module HIT, which has
been received well by customers. The companys EPC team also offers effective end-toend solution in the energy generation space.
Thus, Anchor is playing a vital role
in building a new India, by improving
the infrastructure domestically and in
neighbouring markets.

JUNE 2016 | READERS DIGEST

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MODULAR KITCHEN FITTINGS

KAFF: LEADER IN KITCHEN APPLIANCES

AFF Kitchen Appliances is the face

of modern, convenient and stylish
kitchens in India. One of the most
trusted Kitchen Appliance brands in the
country, KAFF is known for introducing
products and tools that are not just powerful
performers, but also lifestyle statements.
KAFFs legacy of excellence started
two decades ago with Mr. S.L. Anand and
is currently helmed by Managing Director
Mr. Deepak Anand. The company is driven
by the philosophy that a clean and hygienic
kitchen is the cornerstone to a healthy, good
life. Back to Nature and Think Green are
the mantras. It is no wonder then that KAFF
has introduced innovative kitchen appliances
that will help you live a healthy life.
KAFF provides holistic kitchen solutions
with a wide range of futuristic appliances
through its 4 different, yet interwoven
verticals: Kitchen Appliances, Modular
Kitchen Accessories, Hardware and Sinks.
KAFFs products are a unique blend of
advancement, design, functionality, style
and versatility. All this can be experienced in
its next generation of international offerings

that include the nest in cooker hoods, builtin hobs, cooking ranges, ovens, dishwashers,
microwaves, wine coolers and more. KAFFs
endeavour has been to constantly evolve
its product line, to offer virtually every
conceivable convenience necessary for the
modern kitchen.
Among the recent inclusions to its
expansive product portfolio are cutting-edge
Cooker Hoods with lter-less technology.
These state-of-the-art cooker hoods also
have a concealed motor with an extra
powerful suction that helps remove moisture
and cooking odour from the kitchen.
KAFFs innovation and quality have
always been its core values. Mr. Anand
sums up, We are committed to delivering
technologically
advanced,
convenient
products that make your life better. It is
the condence and trust of lakhs of loyal
customers that has contributed to the success
of KAFF. The company also takes pride in
one of the best after-sales services in the
country. When you buy a KAFF product,
it is the beginning of a long and lasting
relationship.

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Home Improvement
CATEGORY
Paints
Pest Control

Safety & Security

Water Pumps

Water Puriers

INDIA
Asian Paints
Nerolac
All Out
Good Knight
Mortein
Godrej
CP Plus
Crompton
Kirloskar
Suguna
V Guard
Eureka Forbes
Kent
Pureit

AWARD
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Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
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Gold
Gold
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Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold

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WATER PURIFIERS

AQUAGUARD: ITS ALL ABOUT PURE WATER

quaguard has been the leader in

water purication for over 32 years,
offering consumers customized
solutions backed by lab-tested research,
accurate data and the time-tested trust of
millions of Indian homes.
The companys journey began in 1984
while pioneering the concept of water
purication systems and fullling the basic
need for pure drinking water. It has since
evolved into a strong brand and continues to
follow the path of Direct Selling. Since its
inception, it has sold over 15 million units
across the country and has given the industry
many rsts.
Aquaguard became Indias rst water
purier manufacturer to be certied by
IMA (Indian Medical Academy). It also
manufactured the rst water purier with
an Electronic Monitoring System (EMS);
a built-in voltage stabilizer, an Auto Filling
Function and a Nano Silver-Based Carbon
Block to remove lead, pesticides and other
contaminants.
Backed by over 130 leading national and
international laboratories, Aquaguard is known
as the Paani Ka Doctor. It has a strong force

of over 6,000 salespersons, supported by over

5,800 service technicians and 100% service
centres within a 5-km radius anywhere in
India. With Indias largest service network, the
brand has the distinction of servicing 90% of its
customers within 24 hours.
The company also has a wide range of
products including the Aquaguard Magna HD
RO +UV with a unique Mineral Absorption
Technology that uses Patented Biotron
Technology to unlock hidden nutrients from
water. It was awarded the Golden Peacock
Award for Best Innovative Product/Service
in 2015.
The Aquaguard Geneus has the Auto
Mineral Modulator that can set the taste of
water according to ones preferences while
maintaining a balance of natural minerals.
The Aquaguard Eterniti comes with the
Firewall technology, which puries water up
to the point of dispense to make it 99.9999%
bacteria free.
A truly signicant recognition has come
from the IMA that has endorsed Aquaguard.
However, the most powerful endorsement comes in the form of the trust of over
15 million mothers.

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WATER PURIFIERS

PUREIT: SAFE DRINKING WATER FOR ALL

ureit is Hindustan Unilevers answer

to Indias water purication needs.
The worlds largest selling water
purier brand, Pureit has a presence spanning
13 countries. Its products are built on the
latest and most cutting-edge purication
technologies in the UV, RO and biocidebased segments.
Hindustan Unilever Pureits unique inhome drinking water purication solution
addresses one of the biggest challenges
of the centurythat of making safe water
accessible and affordable to all. Its unique
Germkill Kit technology removes harmful
viruses, bacteria, parasites, pesticides and
other impurities, to make drinking water
Safer Than Boiled Water.
The Pureit Range comprises a wide array
of water purication systems across price
points, adhering to the highest standards
of water safety. Whats more, Pureits
performance has been tested by leading
national, international, medical, scientic
and public health institutions. The company
also meets the Germ Kill criteria of the
Environmental Protection Agency, the

drinking water regulatory agency in the USA

with the most stringent standards.
Pureit has won multiple prestigious
awards, including the Golden Peacock
Award, the Economic Times Most Trusted
Brand Award, the CNN-IBN Innovating
for a Better Tomorrow Award, The Water
Digest Quality Awards, Certication from
Consumer Voice and many more!
Once again Hindustan Unilever Pureit
has been awarded the Prestigious Gold Award
in the Readers Digest Trusted Brand Survey.
This is a testament to their Commitment,
Passion and Enthusiasm! We wish them the
very best as they continue on their Journey
and Mission to protect 100 million lives and
providing 100 billion litres of safe drinking
water by 2020!

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Food & Beverages

CATEGORY
Cooking Oils

Packaged Food
Packaged Juices

Rice

Sugar Substitutes
Tea

INDIA
Fortune
Gold Winner
Saola
Britannia
Parle
Frooti
Ral
Tropicana
India Gate
Dawat
Kohinoor
Sugar Free
Brooke Bond
Taj
Tata Tea

AWARD
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Platinum
Gold
Gold
Platinum
Gold
Gold
Gold

Health & Personal Care

CATEGORY
Child & Baby Care
Cosmetics

FMCG
Health & Vitamin Supplements
Pain Relief Ointments

INDIA
Johnson & Johnson
Himalaya
Lakm
Garnier
Ponds
Hindustan Unilever
Procter & Gamble
Amway
Horlicks
Moov
Volini

AWARD
Platinum
Gold
Platinum
Gold
Gold
Platinum
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

TRUSTED BRAND SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

Personal Products
CATEGORY
Clothes & Apparel
Jewellery

Pens / Stationary

INDIA
Levis
Raymond
Tanishq
GRT
PC Jeweller
Cello
Parker
Reynolds

AWARD
Gold
Gold
Platinum
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold

Services
CATEGORY
Airlines

E-Commerce

Freight & Couriers

INDIA
Air India
Indigo
Jet Airways
Amazon
Flipkart
Snapdeal
Blue Dart
DHL
DTDC

AWARD
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold
Gold

JUNE 2016 | READERS DIGEST

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COOKING OILS

FORTUNE: CONTINUES TO RULE THE INDIAN

COOKING OILS ARENA

e at Fortune Oil believe that the best

way to bring people together is over
a humble serving of home-cooked
food. Lasting relationships and bonds are formed
over delicious meals and stories of signature
dishes are passed on, making their way from one
generation to the next.
Fortune Oil caters to people who make
conscious and informed decisions while choosing
ingredients that go into their familys meals.
It is not just satiating hunger but creating fond
memories over home-cooked foodGhar Ka
Khana, the promise that Fortune has always kept.
Launched in 2000, Fortune Oil, from the house
of Adani Wilmar, strives to preserve the purity
of home-cooked food and ensure a good mix of
traditional oils, modern oils and healthy oils to serve
the multiple needs of consumers. Post its launch,
Fortune Oil became the No.1 cooking oil brand in
just 22 months. Since then, the brands commitment

has strengthened with love and recognition from the

customers. The recent awards conferred to Fortune
include the Readers Digest Trusted Brand for 5
consecutive years. The trust we have built in the
hearts of our consumers is reected in the brand
loyalty we drive and the awards we get.
This year, the most recent entrant to this wide
range is Indias rst Diabetes Care oil, Fortune
VIVO. The remarkable benet of Fortune VIVO
Diabetes Care oil is that along with helping
in managing diabetes, it also improves insulin
sensitivity, reduces bad cholesterol, lowers high
blood pressure and is rich in antioxidants.
Fortune has the largest range of cooking
oils in India and it continues to innovate and
lead the industry with new introductions like
Fortune Besan, Fortune Pulses and the latest
healthy offering, Fortune Soya Chunks, which
reinforces our commitment of bringing the best to
Indian markets.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

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PACKAGED JUICES

RAL FRUIT BEVERAGES: YOUR HEALTH COMPANION

ou need a nutritious diet to stay

healthy and happy. Studies have
shown time and again that adding
fruits and vegetables to your diet is essential.
Blame it on our fast-paced lifestyle or
lack of intent, but the fact is that we dont
eat enough greens or fruits. This is especially
true for kids who prioritize taste over health.
Little wonder then that mothers struggle to
sneak fruits and veggies into their childrens
diet. Dabur Indias Ral Fruit Power solves
this problem by giving mothers a healthy and
delicious alternative that will keep them as
well as their kids happy.
Ral Fruit Power makes for a nutritious
beverage. It is refreshing, tasty and is full of
vitamins and minerals. The Ral range of
packaged fruit juices are bursting with the
goodness of fruits. Made from best quality
fruits, Ral does not contain articial colours
and preservatives and offers great taste
along with the power of fruits for health
and vitality. Loaded with essential nutrients,
Ral helps keep your child active all day
long. This is why Ral Fruit Power is the
consumers preferred choice in this category.

Rals validation of success comes from

the fact that it has been voted by consumers
as Readers Digest Most Trusted Brand for
nearly a decade in a row. Over the past 20
years, Dabur has introduced a wide range of
variants in the juice segment, to cater to a
huge market with different requirements. Today, Ral has a range of 15 exciting variants:
from the basic Orange, Pineapple, Apple and
Mixed Fruit to popular Indian avours like
Mango, Guava, Litchi and Peach and international favourites, such as Pomegranate,
Tomato, Cranberry, Apricot and Grape.
Rals juice market got a further boost
with the launch of the Ral Activ range of
100% fruit and vegetable juices, with no
added sugar. The Ral franchise is now
being extended with the introduction of
Ral Wellnezz: products that encapsulate
the essence of nutrition as they are made
using 100% pure content and contain no
preservatives and added sugar. Ral Wellnezz
Jamun is the rst avour launched under the
Real Wellnezz range and it is available in 2
tetra pack sizes (1L & 200ml). So, enjoy the
goodness of fruits in a pack!

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COSMETICS

PONDS: POWER-PACKED SKIN SOLUTIONS

his is the story of important

breakthroughs in skincare that help
women stay beautifully soft in a
constantly changing world.
It all began in 1846, when American
pharmacist Theron T Pond invented the
Golden Treasurea healing tea extracted
from witch hazel. He discovered the tea
could strengthen skin below the surface,
helping it repair itself from small cuts. The
product soon became popular as Ponds
Extract. It set the stage for what went on
to become the worlds rst skincare brand.
Ponds endeavour, since then, has been to
empower women by making them feel and
look beautiful.
As the 20th Century advanced and World
War II broke out, women had to step in and
take over mens jobs as they went to war.
Ponds stood by these women, with the
Ponds Cold Cream (the worlds rst moisturizer that did not require refrigeration) and
Ponds Vanishing Cream, which helped them
retain their grace in these stressful new roles.
With the birth of The Ponds Institute in
the 1990s (today a global network of 700 sci-

entists and skin specialists), Ponds has established itself as one of the worlds leading
experts in advanced skincare research and diagnostics. With over 200 patents, The Ponds
Institute introduced many rsts in skin
cleansing, skin lightening and age management. These include, VAO-B3 lightens dark
spots in 7 days; Conjugated Linoleic Acid
(CLA) is an anti-aging active that speeds up
skin regeneration; and GenActiv is a potent
formula for controlling melanin production.
With a range of solutions formulated for
different ethnicities, age-groups and lifestyles, and also a Mens series, Ponds is now
a leader in skincare across the world. Ponds
will continue to create revolutionary rsts
that will keep the skin glowing and ageless.

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PAIN-RELIEF OINTMENTS

VOLINI: PAIN DOESNT STAND A CHANCE

Volini Gel:

Choosing an effective pain reliever:

Volini Spray with 360 Technology:

It is best to go for a modern pain relief gel

or spray that is trusted and recommended
by doctors.

Most of the sprays available in the market

have to be applied at an upright position
only, making it difcult for the user to reach
hard-to-reach areas in the body. The very
convenient Volini Spray, with the bestin-class 360 technology, delivers spray
effectively at all angles, reaching hardto-reach areas without external assistance
and providing effective relief from pain
anytime, anywhere.

henever pain strikes, we reach

for a pain reliever lying at
home. A good pain reliever must
penetrate the skin and reach the site of pain,
which is generally deep-seated, to provide
quick relief.

Why you must choose Volini over

other pain relievers:

No. 1 doctor-recommended pain reliever

Quick absorb nanogel formula that
penetrates deep into the pain point
Gives quick and long-lasting relief

Its quick-absorb, no-massage nanogel

formula penetrates deep into the pain area to
give quick and long-lasting relief from pain.
It can be used for joint, back, neck, shoulder
sprains and strains.

Volini has a legacy of being a doctorrecommended brand and has maintained its
leadership position by being the No. 1 doctorprescribed brand in both Gel as well as Spray
format. The brand believes in the philosophy
that pain should not act as a hindrance in
living lifes moments to the fullest. With Volini,
pain doesnt stand a chance!
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While living life to the fullest,

pain doesnt stand a chance.

When it comes to living lifes moments, you wish to enjoy them without
any interruptions. But if pain stops you from living these moments to
the fullest, try Volini Doctors No. 1* recommended pain reliever.
Volini Gels Quick Absorb Nanogel formula
penetrates deep to give quick & long lasting relief

TO SPEAK TO OUR PAIN RELIEF EXPERT

Call 1800-120-9700 (toll free)

MON TO SAT
9 AM TO 5 PM

*In the Topical NSAID category (excluding spray), as per SMSRC Rx Research Data
June'14. *In the Topical NSAID category (SPRAY), as per SMSRC Rx Research Data
June'14. All packs have quantities as net content. For usage directions, please refer
details on the pack.

Pain doesnt stand a chance.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

TRUSTED BRAND SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

JEWELLERY

PC JEWELLER: HANDCRAFTED CREATIONS

he images of
a
gorgeous
bride draped
in luxurious bridal
nery and intricate,
heavy jewellery is
what comes to mind
when you think of PC
Jeweller.
Changing social norms are responsible
for new styles and jewellery trends. But
jewellery continues to be popular, even in
21st Century India. The younger generation
prefers trusted brands like PC Jeweller to buy
modern and exclusive designs. Jewellery is
more than just an investment. It is becoming
a lifestyle and fashion accessory. People now
demand light-weight and wearable pieces
that can actually be used, rather than stored
in a locker, says Balram Garg, Managing
Director, PC Jeweller.

Big is Beautiful

PC Jeweller, named after its founder, Padam

Chand Gupta, now has 61 stores all over
India. Most feature a 5000 sq ft showroom

with VIP viewing areas that set the tone

for the pieces that PC Jewellers catalogue
promises. The brand does not sell ready-made
jewellery. We are one of the few companies
in India, which invests heavily in design and
manufacturing, says Mr. Garg. The company
also offers exceptional service extras, such as
free repair for life, 100% refund within seven
days and total quality assurance.

Diamonds Rule

Diamonds are popular in India, with a 20%

diamond base in the jewellery market. And
it shows no signs of slowing down. The
diamond market has exploded. Even though
its only 20%, in absolute terms, that is a huge
amount, says Mr. Garg.
This trend is good news for PC Jeweller
as it specializes in creating modern designs as
well as jewellery that is light and fashionable
for casual wear. Flexia, a set of wedding
jewellery, is the brands newest and latest
offering, that can later be converted into
ve different, more wearable pieces. For
instance, a necklace can be re-made into a
pendant, earrings or bracelet.

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PENS/STATIONARY

LUXOR PARKER: 11 AND MANY MORE

f its true that

Words maketh a
man, then what
you write those words
with certainly matters.
Being the user of a
Parker pen, an iconic
brand, you epitomise
perfection. Consumers
have bestowed on Parker the honour of being
the Most Trusted Brand 11 times in a row.
And as any pen worth its ink would tell you,
it is a fabulous feeling.
Launched in India in 1996 by Luxor
Writing Instruments Ltd., a pioneer in the
writing instruments market in India, Parker
has made its mark on the evolved customer
and has been widely recognized for its
excellence. It is available throughout India,
in every major town and city, both ofine
and online, and has served professionals
with excellent writing solutions. The brand
embodies a combination of elegance,
reliability, durability and timeless style.
These values and strengths have made the
brand stand out head and shoulders above

those in its category. Every consumer is proud

to be an owner of a Parker pen. It is, after all,
a classic: strong, stable and dependable.
Parker with its wide range of product
lines such as Duofold, Premier, Sonnet,
Ambient, Ellipse, Urban, IM, Odyssey,
Insignia, Frontier, Vector and Jotter, caters
to the varied needs of Indian consumers.
Last year, Parker introduced a premium, yet
affordable, gifting series, marking Parkers
formal entry into the gifting segment. The
pen, in this special series, comes with an
accessory, stylishly packed in a box. This has
enhanced Parker pens reputation as a gift.
Parker adds to your personality and
lets you express yourself with style and
elegance. We are excited about our consistent
performance as a Trusted Brand in the past
11 years. It will be our endeavour to continue
our journey with the same commitment and
spirit of service, as in the past. A big thanks to
our consumers for believing in us and being
with us, said Ms Pooja Jain, Managing
Director, Luxor Group, upon winning the
Readers Digest Most Trusted Brand Award
in the pens category.

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AIRLINES

AIR INDIA: WINGS OF THE NATION

ndias National Carrier, Air India,

needs no introduction. Generations of
air travellers in India and abroad have
picked Air India as their preferred airline.
The endearing Maharajah, the airlines
mascot, symbolises a service brand and also
embodies implicit trust that has endured and
grown over the years.
Air India pioneered aviation in India
in 1932, its name being synonymous with
Indias civil aviation history. It is not just
an airline that transports people and cargo,
it is an institution and a legacy brand. The
massive infrastructure Air India has built
over the years is testimony to its contribution
to the aviation industry.
The airlines 136-strong eet includes
B787 Dreamliners, B777s, the A320 family,
apart from CRJs and ATR aircraft. While
the technologically advanced Dreamliner
has been a game changer for the airline, the
B777s have ushered in an era of non-stop,
long haul ights. The non-stop ight between
New Delhi and San Francisco introduced
in December 2015 is the most recent
amongst them.

With 21 B787 aircraft in its eet, Air

India offers a fabulous experience, with its
non-stop connections from India to London,
Rome, Milan, Osaka, Hong Kong, Sydney,
Melbourne, Dubai and Vienna. In all, Air
India ies to 41 destinations across the world.
As Indias National Carrier, Air India
ies to every corner of Indiaconnecting
69 destinations across the length and breadth
of the country. The Dreamliners, especially,
have been hugely popular in its domestic
operations.
The Star Alliance partnership in 2014,
a rst for an Indian carrier, put Air India in
the big league with 27 other top airlines.
Passengers can now enjoy a host of benets,
such as seamless transfers, more combined
frequent yer loyalty points, besides
excellent overall service.
Air India has always been committed
to the highest level of safety in all aspects
of its operations. Having met international
best standards and practices, the national
airline was also the rst in India to obtain the
prestigious IOSA and ISAGO (IATA Safety
Audit of Ground Operations) certications.

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FREIGHT & COURIERS

BLUE DART: THE TRADE FACILITATOR & LOGISTICS LEADER

lue Dart Express Ltd. is South Asias

premier express air and integrated
transportation
and
distribution
company. It is the steadfast face of the
logistics industry in India with a eet of six
Boeing 757-200 freighters, 9,216 vehicles,
84 express hubs and the services of 10,600+
committed Blue Darters.
Blue Dart handled over 160 million
shipments and 5,95,623 tonnes of cargo
during the nancial year 2015-2016. The
company delivered to over 34,705 locations
and to more than 220 countries and territories
worldwide through DHL.
It has a range of products and services
that can be customised to address individual
requirement, supported by the best in
customer software.
Armed with prestigious awards, Blue
Dart is synonymous with value, quality,
speed, efciency, responsiveness and service
excellence. Over the years, it has raised the
bar for the logistics industry with many
rsts, such as employee satisfaction surveys,
use of technology, time denite express door
deliveries available countrywide and unique

domestic cargo aviation infrastructure.

The companys future plans are to expand
its reach, transit time improvements and
strengthen channels.
The aviation and logistics leader is
also committed to its corporate social
responsibilities, with key initiatives
in environmental protection, disaster
management and education.
Commenting on the Readers Digest
Trusted Brand 2016 Award, Anil Khanna,
Managing Director, Blue Dart, says: Its an
honour to be recognised as a Trusted Brand
once again. The Blue Dart team drives market
leadership through its motivated people
force, dedicated air and ground capacity,
cutting-edge technology, a wide range of
innovative vertical-specic products and
value-added services to deliver unmatched
standards of service quality to our customers
in Blue Dart Country. Our market leadership
is further validated by numerous awards and
recognition from customers for exhibiting
reliability, superior brand experience,
customer focus and sustainability, making us
the most awarded company in its domain.

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CONCLUSION

hile great brands make for

interesting stories, Trusted Brand
is a tale of the consumers undying
loyalty. These brands have a legacy that has left a
lasting impression in the minds of the consumers.
They have forged a relationship with
consumers, which is cemented by long-term trust
through memorable experiences.
In todays competitive market, technological
innovations and new means of communication
have increasingly altered the consumer scenario.
In Asia, over the next 10 years, there will be a
plethora of opportunities for companies to

connect with consumers. As more products

and services enter the market and vie for the
Asian consumers money and loyalty, there will
be an emphasis on brands building emotional
relationships based on trust.
The best brands, as our winners have
demonstrated, already do this. For them,
consumer satisfaction comes rst and their
focus lies on innovation, maintaining quality
in all aspects of their operations and ensuring
consistency. These brands make the best
use of their interaction with their customers
and constantly improvise, to create a lasting
impression in their mind. Charged by the
positive experiences triggered by these brands,
customers become brand ambassadors and help
these companies grow.
In the coming years, the Asian consumer will
come to expect a lot more from brands. While
price will remain an important determinant,
consumers will also look at how a brand caters
to their needs in a more holistic way. This
includes marketing efforts, product and service
quality, the brands promise and its delivery and
attention to detail.
These driving factors will dene what it
means to be a Readers Digest Trusted Brand.

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IN DI API CTURE

BUILDING ENDURING RELATIONSHIPS

Go Green. Go Paperless.

The same articles, no different from the print version youre

holding. Readers Digest annual subscriptions or single issues are
available on your iPad, web browser and Android device. Whats
more, you can gift a subscription to a loved one abroad.
For digital subscriptions, go to:

http://subscriptions.intoday.in/subscriptions/rd/
digital-magazine-subscription.jsp

146 | June 2016

readers dIgesT

In his book Animal Architecture,

award-winning nature photographer
Ingo Arndt tells the story of a very
special group of animals

NAtures
Architects
By Co rne lIA Kum fert

The male Baya Weaver really has his work cut out if he wants to
impress the woman he loves! To stand any chance of starting a family, he
first needs to build a beautiful home. But these dainty little tropical birds
are more than up to the task. Using their bills and feet, they weave their
nests together out of more than 1,000 blades of grass. The resulting
miniature work of art is so strong that it can even withstand tropical
storms. But these skilful weavers need to make sure they choose the
right location for their love nests. Female Baya Weavers are extremely
safety-conscious and will expect their new home to hang from a strong
branch that is as high off the ground as possible.

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all Photos : I ngo a rndt/KnesebecK Verlag

Female harveST mice tip the scales at barely eight grams. so these tiny
creatures have no trouble climbing up even the slenderest corn stalks in order
to build their cosy, spherical nests, which they construct from blades of grass
at a height of up to one metre. These clever little mice build their summer
residence on stilts in the middle of fields and meadows so that they and their
young never have to go too far to find their next meal.

STanding up To six metres tall, termite mounds are a genuinely amazing

feat of architecture made possible thanks to a very special building material.
Once it has dried, the mixture of termite saliva, soil and dung becomes as
hard as cement. at the same time, however, it contains microscopic pores,
which coupled with the mounds chimney-like shape, create a natural
air-conditioning system. This ensures a constant flow of fresh air and
maintains the temperature inside the mound at around 30C, which is just
how these tiny insects like it!
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heS noThing Special to look at, he doesnt perform any amazing dances
and hes not the worlds greatest singer either. Nevertheless, the Vogelkop
bowerbird of New guinea has developed his own unique strategy for winning
over the ladies. about the size of a blackbird, he bedazzles the females of the
species by building his own bower and then proceeds to decorate it with
impeccable taste! Flowers, leaves, fruits and even old plastic bags are all
pressed into service as adornments. The name of the game is to attract a
female and get her to stayat least for one night.

in Weaver anT communiTieS, even the youngest have to pitch in when it

comes to building a nest. These long-legged insects make their homes by
sticking several individual leaves together using silk thread. However, the silk
can only be produced by the ant larvae. The workers manoeuvre the larvae
back and forth like a weavers shuttle until the leaves have been securely
joined. To make amends for treating them this way, the workers then
selflessly devote themselves to caring for the young.
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T
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are
and gps
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photo eli zabeth dalz iel

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from

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Thomas ONeill on
a pointing run to track
down locations and pass
The Knowledge tests.
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153

street smart

Teve

scoTland

thought he knew
London like the back
of his hand. The native
Londoner had spent
years working as a
chauffeur, negotiating
the citys traffic-clogged streets.
So he quietly fancied his chances
of passing The Knowledgethe
demanding test of Londons back
streets and landmarks that confronts
anyone who wishes to join the elite
ranks of Londons cab drivers.
It was something I always wanted
to do, Scotland says.
After having a medical check and
submitting an application form to
Transport for London (TfL), which
regulates taxis in London, he set off
to familiarize himself with his city in
a whole new way.
Nearly five years later, and with
more than 16,000 kilometres clocked
on the scooter, Scotland is still at it.
I had no idea how tough this would
be, he says. What I knew, or thought
I knew, was nothing compared with
what it takes to do The Knowledge.
FoRgeT Mensa [the high-IQ society]

and armchair brain-teasers. The

Knowledge of London is a real-time,
street-level test of memorization skills
so intense that it physically alters the
brains of those who pass it.
To qualify, you need to learn by
heart all 320 sample runs in the Blue
Book, the would-be cabbies bible.
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You will also have to commit to memory the 25,000 streets, roads, avenues,
courts, lanes, crescents, places, mews,
yards, hills and alleys that lie within a
10-kilometre radius of Charing Cross.
Add to that the locations of some
1,00,000 landmarks and points of
interestpubs, clubs, museums,
parks, monuments, railway stations,
tube stations, hospitals, schools,
police stations, government buildings,
embassies, cemeteries, churches,
theatres, cinemasany place a farepaying passenger might conceivably
ask to be taken. When asked, youll
need to calculate the most direct
legal route between any two addresses

If you ever fInd

yourself In a
london taxI,
remember: your
cabbIe Is a trIed-and
-true geography
braInIac.
in the entire 180-square-kilometre
metropolitan area within seconds,
without looking at a map, and be able
to rattle off the precise sequence of
streets and turns. Youll have to do this
consistently in a series of one-on-one
oral exams, called appearances, until
the examiners are satisfied that you do
indeed possess The Knowledge.

R e a d e R s d i g e s T. c o . i n

Students in deep thought at Knowledge Point School. They are working out the
direction of travel for a run they have been given by teacher Derek OReilly.

photo: Gary Ca lton/ey evin e/r edux

If you ever find yourself in a London

taxi, remember: Your cabbie is a triedand-true geography brainiac.
even in These TiMes of GPS and

Google Maps, Sat Nav (satellite

navigation) is no match for a London
cabbie. In May 2014, The Guardian
pitted a cabbie against a Sat-Navequipped driver. The Sat Nav driver
did the run from the newspapers
office in Kings Cross to Big Ben,
in Westminster, in 22 minutes; the
cabbie did the return journey in 18,
by taking a slightly longer route he
knew to be quicker. Its not simply

a matter of speed, cabbies say. A

driver who relies on Sat Nav doesnt
know the city. Eighteen-year veteran
David Styles points to the example of
a passenger going to Victoria Station.
Depending on which entrance they
want, they ask for The Shakespeare or
Hole in the Wall [nearby pubs]. Show
me a Sat Nav which not only has that
database but can be programmed in
seconds, and Ill buy shares in it.
Hail one of Londons iconic black
cabs (which nowadays can come in
any colour) and tell the driver where
you want to go, and by the time youve
climbed in, hell have calculated the
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R e a d e R s d i g e s T. c o . i n

Students in deep thought at Knowledge Point School. They are working out the
direction of travel for a run they have been given by teacher Derek OReilly.

p h oto : G a ry C a lto n / e y e v i n e / r e d ux

If you ever find yourself in a London

taxi, remember: Your cabbie is a triedand-true geography brainiac.
even in These TiMes of GPS and

Google Maps, Sat Nav (satellite

navigation) is no match for a London
cabbie. In May 2014, The Guardian
pitted a cabbie against a Sat-Navequipped driver. The Sat Nav driver
did the run from the newspapers
office in Kings Cross to Big Ben,
in Westminster, in 22 minutes; the
cabbie did the return journey in 18,
by taking a slightly longer route he
knew to be quicker. Its not simply

a matter of speed, cabbies say. A

driver who relies on Sat Nav doesnt
know the city. Eighteen-year veteran
David Styles points to the example of
a passenger going to Victoria Station.
Depending on which entrance they
want, they ask for The Shakespeare or
Hole in the Wall [nearby pubs]. Show
me a Sat Nav which not only has that
database but can be programmed in
seconds, and Ill buy shares in it.
Hail one of Londons iconic black
cabs (which nowadays can come in
any colour) and tell the driver where
you want to go, and by the time youve
climbed in, hell have calculated the
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street smart

most direct, swiftest route, without

looking at a map.
What if youre not quite sure where
you want to go? Say you have tickets to
see The 39 Steps, but you cant recall
the name of the theatre. Just name the
play, and your cabbie will take you to
the Criterion on Piccadilly Circus.

oR MoRe Than 150 yeaRs

London cabbies have been

required to be experts on
their city. Victorian hansom
cab [a two-wheeled horse-drawn
carriage] drivers all had to bone up
for the worlds toughest geography
test, just as the roughly 25,000 drivers
of Londons cabs must today.
The final series of tests, known as
the required standard, or req for
short, is known among cabbies as the
Nervous Wreck. Indeed, Steve Scotland would have passed at his last appearance had he not dropped his hypothetical passenger off on the wrong
side of the street at the Moorfields Eye
Hospital. Just nerves, he recalls.
As a result, hes once more astride
his scooter this Sunday afternoon,
puttering along Great Swan Alley, in
Londons financial district. A new
restaurant has opened up around
here, and I want to get it fixed in my
mindjust in case, he says. You just
never know what the examiners are
going to ask you.
cabbie appRenTices such as Scotland are Knowledge Boys. There are

Knowledge Girls too, but fewer than

two per cent of cabbies are women.
Cabbies come from all walks of
lifestudents, tradesmen, lawyers,
teachers. Most grew up in or around
London, but people from elsewhere
in Britain, and even a few foreigners,
have completed The Knowledge.
I was studying biology, says
24-year-old Osman Jamal Zai, who
left school and began studying The
Knowledge. This just seemed like a
better idea, and Im loving it.
Although London cabbies are
cagey about what they earn, its
widely accepted that incomes of
30,00035,000* (`29.534.4 lakh) are
not unusual, with operators working
extremely long hours believed to be
making 50,000* (`49.2 lakh).
Aside from the money, the draw
for many is the ability to set their
own hours and achieve an enviable
worklife balance. And unlike many
citiesParis, for instance, which
imposes strict limits on the number
of cabsLondon is wide open. Anyone of good character can get a cab
drivers licence, as long as they pass
The Knowledge.
While those who can afford to
pursue the training full-time can
complete it in as little as two years,
most have to fit it in around work and
family commitments. Five years isnt
at all unusual.
Only a small proportion of those
who attempt The Knowledge make the
grade. You can never actually fail,
*1 was `98.55 at the time of going to press.

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R e a d e R s d i g e s T. c o . i n

photo: elizabeth dalziel

Learning North Londons intricate one-way systems and dead-ends was

the hardest, says licensed cabbie Robert Lordan.

Styles says. Theres only quitting.

Youre allowed to keep trying as long
as you like. The majority drop out
in the first year when they realize
the amount of commitment that
is involved.
There are no shortcuts, says
79-year-old cabbie Alf Townsend,
who did The Knowledge in 1962 and
still drives his cab a few hours a day.
You cant do it by sitting at home,
memorizing maps and street names,
and hope to pass that way. You have
to get out on the streets, putting in the
miles, seeing and experiencing everything first-hand.
iT was Kin g cha R l es i who,

in 1636, regulated Londons taxi

ser vicethe worlds oldestby

granting royal permission for 50

hackney carriages to ply for hire.
Dismayed by complaints from
visitors at the Great Exhibition of
1851 that London cabbies really
didnt seem to know where they were
going, Victorian police commissioner
Sir Richard Mayne made it a requirement for anyone seeking a cabbies
licence to be an expert on the city.
A candidate who mastered all the
sample cab runs could be considered
to have acquired The Knowledge. The
precise number of runs has varied
over the years; today there are 320.
Some things never change. The
4.6-kilometre ride between Manor
House Station on the Piccadilly
Line and Gibson Square in the very
fashionable Islington is still the first
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159

street smart

Blue Book run a would-be cabbie is

expected to know.
I started out very early one Sunday
morning, says Rober t L ordan,
a 33-year-old former school teacher.
It was eerily quiet. I felt as though I
had the entire city to myself. I was full
of excitement.
The run, he discovered, was gratify-

eventually, It all
starts to make
sense. Its lIke
puttIng together
a jIgsaw puzzle.
suddenly you see
It, says lordan.
ingly easy to learn. I drove it several
times to make sure I was familiar
with every turn and junction. Then
he moved on to the next run, and
the next. On average, I would spend
three to four hours on each, he says.
A student has to not only memorize
the streets linking the two end points
but also be intimately familiar with
the back streets and landmarks within
400 metres of those points.
An examiner quizzing you on a
run is never going to ask you anything straightforward like, Take me
from Manor House Station to Gibson
Square, Lordan says. Hell always
pick some address thats just around
the corner or a couple of streets away.
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Initial enthusiasm soon wanes

in the face of the mind-boggling
complexity of Londons streets.
For me, it was the intricate oneway systems and myriad dead ends
in parts of North London, especially
around Islington, Lordan says. They
had me pulling my hair out.
Eventually, he says, it all starts to
make sense. Its like putting together
a jigsaw puzzle. Suddenly you see it.
You spend so much time on the streets
and studying the map at home that it
etches itself on your brain.
A study by neuroscientists at
University College London found
that part of the hippocampus, a
region of the brain involved in spatial
navigation, of a London cabbie is
significantly larger than those in the
rest of the human populationa
result of the intense memorization
and route-finding undertaken while
doing The Knowledge.
c e R Ta i n ly, T h e h i p p o c a M p i

of London cabdrivers get a lot

of intensive exercise. Every day
David Greenhalgh, a 53-year-old IT
specialist whos spent the past two
years juggling street explorations and
his day job, recites at least 30 runs.
The process is known as calling
over. The call over for Manor House
Station to Gibson Square includes 12
specific turns or other instructions.
After the 320 Blue Book runs are
memorized, the oral tests begin. The
first round of tests are the 56-day

R e a d e R s d i g e s T. c o . i n

appearances, given every eight weeks.

The examiner asks you to do four
runs, says Greenhalgh, whos made it
through two 56-day appearances thus
far. Each run is worth ten points. If
you get a perfect score of 40phenomenally rareyou get an AA grade
and advance to the next level.
Lower scores are awarded A, B, C
or D grades. Points are deducted for
hesitancy. Making an illegal turn
earns you a zero. If you score four
grade Ds or after seven attempts
youve not scored well enough to
move on, the slate is wiped clean,
and you start the 56-day tests all
over again. This setback happens to
as many as 80 per cent of first-time
Knowledge students.
The next exams, known as 28-day
appearances, come every four weeks
and proceed along the same lines
as the 56-day ones, only now the
questions are even more demanding.
If you fail to advance after seven
appearancesred-lining, in the vernacularyou start your 28s again. Fail
twice, and you go back to your 56-day
appearances.
Eventually, if you persist, you reach
your 21-day appearances. Scoring is
just the same, only the questions and
expectations are tougher still. The
final hurdle is a one-to-one interview
to demonstrate a good working
knowledge of the outer parts.
coMpleTing The Knowledge ,

and receiving the coveted green-and-

gold badge of a London cabbie, is very

emotional, says Lordan.
I know I got quite teary. They tell
me a lot of guys cry when they get
their badgeyouve invested so much
of yourself into doing this, to reach
the end is just incredible. Lordans
victory came on 22 December 2009.
Two nights later, he went out as a London cabbie for the first time, driving
a cab hed leased. Following a longstanding tradition, he told his first
fare, a group of South African tourists,
there was no charge.
Lordan and I are standing beside an
old, green Victorian cabmans shelter
on Russell Squareone of 13 around
the city where cabbies can rest and get
tea and bacon sandwiches. Parked a
few feet away is the gleaming black
cab he bought eight months earlier,
and on which hes already clocked
22,000 kilometres.
I love this job, he says. Im always
learning something new. As Samuel
Johnson said, a man whos tired of
London is tired of life.
Editors Note: Londons black cab
drivers have been protesting against
Uber since 2012, claiming that its use
of GPS tracking in a smartphone app
to calculate fares is illegal. In October
2015, the High Court in London ruled
that the way Uber calculates fares is
legal. The Licensed Taxi Drivers
Association immediately announced
its intention to lodge an appeal with
the Supreme Court.

Copyright 2014 by NatioNal geographiC soCiety, NatioNal GeoGraphic (august 2014), NatioNalGeoGraphic.com.

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161

Look, theres

a Cheetah
On My Head
There was a cheetah on the roof

of my jeep.
Its golden, spotted coat glistened
under the overhead sun. The great
cat stood still, an arms length away
the only thing separating us was the
metal roof. I could not see its head.
Was it watching me and preparing to
leap in at the right moment? What if
it jumped in through the open sides?
I had stopped breathing. As I waited
for the cat to make its next move, cold
shivers ran through my body.
Seated inside our 44 safari jeep
were our driver Evans, guide Gilbert
Kipchumba, both local men, and
three other tourists. I was in the
viewing area of the jeep, taking
pictures. Long stretches of savannah
grasslands surrounded us. We were
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deep in the midst of the Maasai Mara

National Reserve.
It was March 2014. Hyderabad,
where I live, had started turning warm
and my job as a travel writer and blogger had finally yielded a trip to Kenya.
Landing in Nairobi, I travelled en
route to the market town of Nanyuki
the same day. We took a 10-seater
caravan plane (we had two women pilots). Flying very close to the ground,
it offered a fabulous aerial view of the
area, which lay along the Equator. After about 40 minutes, I experienced
my first bush landing. We travelled
by road to reach the nearby Ol Pejeta
conservancy. After a few days of spotting three of the Big Five game animalsAfrican elephant, Cape buffalo
and rhinoceros (we missed the lion

PHOTO cOurTesy: VIJAyA PrATAP

Vijaya Pratap on the most chilling

45 minutes of her life

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L o o k , t h e r e s a c h e e ta h o n m y h e a d

and leopard)it was time to head to

the wilds of Maasai Mara.
The reservestretching across
1,510 sq km, home to over 95 species
of mammals and over 570 recorded
species of birdsis just an hour away
by air from Nanyuki. I spent the first
day in a safari jeep and fell asleep
in my tent at night, listening to the
gurgle of the Mara river. I woke to the
sound of cowbells, as the Maasai men
herded their cattle along the river to
the tune of chirping birds.
The second day started with an early
morning hot-air-balloon ride, watching the sun rise and floating over the
vast openness of the African savannah.
Among my companions were a couple
from Idaho, USA: we joked about the
mosquitoes in our camp. After a quiet
lunch we headed back out in our safari
jeep, scouting for the big cats.

The cheetah was

sitting still, quite the
perfect model, offering
up a great photo
opportunity.

i waTched in awe every possible

kind of animal mood: on a chase or

hunt, stalking the prey or sleeping.
Every encounter was real, but I was
hungry for more. Big cats (particularly
the cheetah and tiger) have always fascinated me and I yearned for an encounter with the cheetah. Little did I
know how I was going to get my wish!
It was a sunny yet pleasant afternoon. Evansa tallish, bald, middleaged manregaled us with stories
of wild animals and the life of the
Maasai tribe. Gilbert, a stout man
in his mid-30s, joined in. I listened
intently while staring out of the jeep
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to get the best possible view.

Our vehicle suddenly veered and
came to a stop near a small bush.
Instantly I spotted a cheetah, crouched
nearby, his gaze fixed on something in the distance. I started taking
picturesas many as I could. The
moment had finally come. I was
thrilled that I could experience the big
cat from such close quarters. It helped
that the cheetah was sitting absolutely
still, quite the perfect model, offering
up a great photo opportunity. He is

r e a d e r s d i g e s T. c o . i n

stalking a gazelle, Evans whispered.

He was trying to urge me to be quiet; if
we were lucky, perhaps we could witness a dramatic hunt. I stopped taking pictures and went still. Its always
a good idea to listen to someone who
had spent 20 years tracking animals.
wiThin a fracTion of a second,
the cheetah jumped onto our open
jeep, its body right in front of me. It
stood there, almost undecided. This
unfolded so fast, I had no time to duck
into the jeep. Was it going to jump
in? Not yetit just stood there, as if
time had stopped. I prayed fervently,
as the cheetah remained still, for almost four minutes. This was just too
close. My life depended on the mood
of a feline that had been an interesting subject for a travel story for me
so far. Suddenly, the cheetah sprang
up and perched on top of the jeep. I
started breathing again. I heard Evans
and Gilbert chuckle quietly. This was
clearly the first time they had experienced this as well.
The big cat was in no hurry. It
needed an elevated observation
post to track its prey. We followed its
movements through the shadow on
the roof. It stretched out, tail dangling
and well within reach. As time passed,
I relaxed a bit. I was even tempted to
touch it, to feel the texture of its fur.
There was an aura of danger around
the slender cat, yet it was strangely
beautiful and irresistibly charming.
Evans gestured as if to say, Dont

worry, it will leave. Its like if a snake

glides over your foot, its best not to
shake it off, because it may bite. Its
better to stay still, until it leaves. Easier said than done.
Outside, the savannah breathed and
moved on. A few safari jeeps came by
and stopped. Excited at this windfall of rare footage, they took photographs hurriedly. I posed for pictures,
even faking smiles and responding
with a thumbs up. Then they left.
Among them was the Idaho couple
who took some pictures, which they
shared with me later. We were alone
once again. Just the six of us, the
cheetah and the vast wilderness that
stretched for miles.
Evans and Gilbert cracked a few
cheetah jokesnone of which I
remember. I was too petrified to
laugh, being the one closest to the
animal. If it got distracted from the
hunt, it would certainly attack me first.
I thought of my husband and children.
Was the end going to come so far from
home, away from my dear ones?
forTy-fiVe minuTes laTer, the

cheetah finally stood up and jumped

down, before sauntering away. He
crouched in another spot, waiting to
attack its prey. Lets go, I told Evans,
my voice cracked with anxiety. No
more hunt-watching for me.
Well, not until my next trip to
Uganda, on the trail of the mountain
gorilla. Im sure I will live to tell
that tale too!
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165

ONE
STEP
AT A
TIME
Could turning our footsteps
into electricity help meet our
energy needs? One young
eco-entrepreneur thinks so
BY daV i d t H o M as

Green thoughts:
Laurence KemballCook, founder
of Pavegen.
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O n e s t e p at a t i m e

laurence kemball-cook seems like the kind of young man

any mother would want her daughter to bring home. He has a neat,
healthy, clean-cut appearance and a polite, even charming manner.
His office near Londons Kings Cross station is relaxed, a little
scruffy, filled with informally dressed staff, who all radiate the same
air of youthful enthusiasm as their boss.

Yet this 30-year-old engineer, inventor and entrepreneur is, by his own
admission, an obsessive workaholic.
Some people would probably say that
Im a perfectionist to a point that can
be quite frustrating, he says.
Hes also the creator of Pavegen, a paving tile for which he now
holds a patent, that turns the force of
peoples footsteps into a clean, renewable source of electricity. And
Laurence wants to use it to change
the whole world.
My vision is for Pavegen to be to

i want to cover every

city in the world with
our tiles, and to turn
every bridge, road and
building into a kinetic
energy device.
cities what Intel inside is for PCs, he
says. I want to cover every single city
in the world with our tiles. I want to
turn every bridge, every road, every
building into a kinetic energy device.
The idea came to him while he
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was studying industrial design and

technology at Loughborough University in England. As part of his course
he was sent to work at the energy
company E.ON.
They said, Laurence, can you design a street light thats powered by
solar or by wind? he recalls. But
when the suns not shining theres no
power and when the winds not blowing theres no power. So I tried for a
year and I failed.
I was really upset. Then one day I
was walking through Victoria Station
in London and I thought about all
the people there. Id read that 38,000
people an hour walked through the
station. What if we could harness that
energy as a power source?
Laurence admits, The idea of
generating energy from footsteps is
not new and other people have tried
it. Theyre using things like the piezoelectric crystals you find in cigarette lighters to create a charge. But
the power is so low that you can
never do anything meaningful with
that energy.
Laurence took a completely different route. The weight of a footstep on
his tile makes a horizontal flywheel

R e a d e R s d i g e s t. c o . i n

Leap of faith: Laurence Kemball-Cook

puts his tile technology through its paces.
Each time a pedestrian walks over a tile,
around 7 watts of energy is produced.

Ja mes cla rke; diagram by acute grap hic s

or power an electric Nissan Leaf car

for 24.24 km.

inside it rotate. The more people

walk, the more this flywheel spins,
he explains. Then we withdraw the
power from the flywheel as we need
it. We can suck it out bit by bit.
Every pedestrian that passes over
a tile generates around 7 watts in
energy. At the 2013 Paris Marathon,
where Pavegen installed tiles at
the finish as part of a pop-up promotion, the runners crossed 176
tiles, leaving 401,756 footsteps that
generated 3,141,926 joules, enough
to recharge 1,880 mobile phones

Today, Kemball-CooK manufactures the tiles at a factory in Romania. I love the people in Eastern
Europe, he says. Some of my engineers there speak very emotionally
about the Communist days. They
couldnt buy anything from outside
Romania, so they had to make everything themselves. Its amazing, that
can-do attitude.
He is already exporting his tiles
from Romania via London to the
world. Weve done more than 135
projects in over 30 countries. Weve
been contracted by the mayor of
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O n e s t e p at a t i m e

Washington, DC, to install Pavegen

just outside the White House. We covered the Champs-Elyses in Paris with
our tiles for the 2013 Paris Marathon.
At the Milan Expo we made a system for Coca-Cola so that as people
danced on the floor it powered the
music and made it go louder.
Kemball-Cook reels off the European cities where his tiles have been
laidMadrid, Athens, Malm, Sofia,
Bucharestand the multinationals
such as BASF and Diageo with whom
he has worked. But his ambitions are
as much moral as commercial. Once
the tiles are manufactured, the system requires no fossil fuels, generates
no CO2 and produces no pollutants,
which is why he says, Some people
might define their aims as wealth or
success, but for me its just, lets get it
out there and do good.

some people might

define their aims as
wealth or success, but
for me its just, lets
get it out there and
do good.
But could this really make a difference to everyday energy use? Julie
Hirigoyen, chief executive of Britains
branch of the non-profit World Green
Building Council, thinks so. Pavegen
is a hugely innovative technology,
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she says. She likes the way that it engages users and makes them aware
that theyre helping to solve a problem. We need every clever form of renewable solution.
Hirigoyen sees Pavegen as one of
those possible solutions, but cautions that the present manufacturing
costwhich Kemball-Cook estimates
as 300400 per square metre of tile
remains a problem except in places
with very substantial footfall, such as

R e a d e R s d i g e s t. c o . i n

Harnessing energy:
(clockwise from
left) Pavegen
tiles at Londons
Heathrow airport;
the Paris
Marathon; tiles
being installed at
the 2012 Olympics.

da Mineira favela, one of the poorest,

most crime-ridden areas of Rio de Janeiro. Two hundred tiles were placed
under the surface of a local football
pitch, so now the players help power
the floodlights.
This was clearly a project that
meant a huge amount to Laurence:
Its a crazy environment, where the
kids run around with machine guns,
but it was an honour to work with
those guys.

courtesy of pavegen

ITs all a long way from The

shopping centres, malls, train stations

and airports.
Laurence is well aware that price
is an issue but claims, In the next 24
months well make our tiles the same
price as normal flooring. And when
you install them, they will give you
energy for free.
Theres no doubting Laurences
good intentions for his technology. In
a project funded by Shell in 2014, Laurence brought Pavegen to the Morro

quiet cathedral city of Canterbury,

Kent, where Laurence grew up after
his family moved from London. At
school, he says, I was always really
into taking things apart and putting
them back together. I just loved it.
Ive always had an engineering heritage. My grandfather helped
develop early radar technology and
worked on the first computers for
disabled people. And Ive got an
uncle whos spent his whole life
inventing things.
To t h a t f a m i l y b a c k g r o u n d ,
Laurence added the determination
thats required by anyone who wants
to turn small ideas into big businesses.
Nothing will stop me, he says, not
as a boast, but simply as a statement
of intent. Ive always said that if I
have an idea Ill do it. I believe as an
entrepreneur that you should jump
off a cliff and learn how to swim on
the way down.
Laurence says that as a student he
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O n e s t e p at a t i m e

industrialized the world of university. He had six desks in his bedroom,

each with a specific functionone for
electronic engineering, one for drawing and another served as a mechanical workshop. There were rigs full of
springs and generators on my bed, he
says. The whole thing was like a massive workshop.
His Pavegen idea became his finalyear project. When I submitted it, my
lecturer swore at me because I had
four suitcases of work.
afTer graduaTIon, l aurenCe

accepted the offer of an internship

with a design company in New York,
but then changed his mind. I owed
it to myself to keep going with Pavegen. There were plenty of low points,
he admits. I survived on bread and
water and sat in my flat for days and

He wasnt just searching

for a way to generate
power. He had to make
a tile strong enough
to survive out on
the streets
weeks on end, working all night,
focused on the challenge. I often felt
like giving up.
He wasnt just searching for a way to
generate power. He also had to make
a tile strong enough to survive out on
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the streets. Youre in one of the most

hard-wearing environments known
to man, Laurence points out. Youve
got weathering, youve got vandalism.
You have to withstand 15 million, 20
million steps. And you also have to
take excessive point-loads, whether
theyre women in stilettos or fire engines going at 80 kilometres per hour.
Slowly, things started coming together. He displayed his work at a
design show in London with 1,000
other young designers and suddenly
it went viral. The media picked up on
the idea of paving stones that could
generate power and that, in turn, attracted Laurences first clients.
The developers of a massive
shopping mall in East London contacted him because their planning
permission depended on the use of
sustainable energy, which Pavegen
could provide.
Transport for London, which was
planning for the 2012 Olympics, asked
if it could put Pavegen tiles into an
underground station close to the
Olympic Stadium. During the course
of the games, a million people walked
over them.
By his mid-20s, Laurence had become a young business star. He was
invited to accompany British Prime
Minister David Cameron on a trade
mission to China. But he didnt get
everything right.
Early Pavegen tiles had large, round
lights that lit up whenever anyone
stepped on them. They looked great,

R e a d e R s d i g e s t. c o . i n

but, says Laurence, When we started

installing them we saw that women
walked around the lights. They were
worried there were cameras in there,
looking up their skirts.
Theres also anoTher sIde To

the tiles: they can be used to gather

data about footfall. Shopping mall
companies could see exactly how many
people go where, and when, and determine precisely which are the most
valuable spots in their developments.
Managers of stations, airports or stadia
could detect and prevent dangerous
levels of overcrowding building up.
To date, Pavegen has earned around
4 million and is valued at 26 million. But, says Laurence, I still live in
the same bedroom that I did when I
started the company and Im happy
there. I have a faster cycle-bike than
I did back then, but thats it. Theres
no point in taking money out of the
business at this stage. If I focus on the
business, good times will come.
His dedication has come at a personal price. As he puts it: Total girlfriends lost: three. He adds, A lot of
my friends have got families and kids

at this stage of their lives, but Ive

chosen not to because this is my challenge and until Ive done it, I dont
want to worry about that.
So, when hes not working, Laurence likes to compete in cycle races
and Ironman triathlons. Ive cycled
[from London] to Amsterdam in a
day, cycled to Paris in a day. At the
weekend Ill run a half-marathon or
go swimming in the Serpentine in
London. I learn a lot about myself
when Im training. Its like a meditative state.
On the walls of his office, alongside
the mass of framed awards that Pavegen has won for technology, environmentalism and entrepreneurship,
are printed inspirational statements
from thinkers and businessmen, from
Albert Einstein to Sir Richard Branson.
One day, if he really does manage to
power the worlds cities with his tiles,
Kemball-Cook may be as celebrated
as Einstein and as rich as Branson.
And perhaps young entrepreneurs
of the future will look at their own office walls and his exhortation: Jump
off a cliff and learn how to swim on
the way down.

tWeets tHat (saRdonicaLLY) sUM UP LiFe

@robinmccauley Being an adult is 99% wondering how you hurt your back.
@aaronfullerton Before you buy that nice jacket online, ask yourself:
am i willing to delete one extra email every day for the rest of my life?
@reverend_scott [gets kidnapped] Hold up, i forgot my phone charger.
source: TWITTER.COM

readers digest

June 2016

173

Four best friends. two mountain paths.

One wrong turn

AVALANCHE!

he plAn wenT BAD AT The FORk in the trail. It had been one hour
since Conor and I had seen either Tristan or Rich through the blur
of white that had whipped up as we started hiking down Mount
Washington [New Hampshire, USA]. We had split into groups, so
each pair could go at its own pace. Conor and I were ahead and
intended to wait for Tristan and Rich at the junction. They planned to stay and
hike a few days, so were loaded down with overnight gear. We were all experienced climbers, but either we were moving faster than wed guessed or they
were moving slower. Maybe both.
In a few minutes, the sweat on our skin started to ice. If we stayed still, it
wouldnt be long before frostbite set in. We waited as long as we could, maybe
15 minutes, but no figures appeared through the snow. So we turned to the trail
and, being surer of our shivering than of our direction, went right at the fork
and hurried along to warm up.

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Jose A ZeL/AurorA P HoTos/CorbIs

BY a da m h e R m a n as To Ld To P eTeR RUgg FR O M B ACKPACKER

dRama in ReaL LiFe

Then I felt one of those

seismic shifts that drive
your stomach into your throat
and trigger something primal in
your brain. And I knew, very suddenly and very clearly, that I had
walked onto the lip of a dangerously
loaded snowfield, and now we were in
an avalanche.
I tried to spike an ice pick into
the ravine to anchor myself, but it
was much too late for that. Then I was
in the air. All I could see was empty,
cool whiteness no matter how long I

turned in the air or which way

the snow and the ice ground
me up. Then the white went
dark, along with the rest of
the world.
The FOuR OF uS grew up together
in Oak Bluffs, on Marthas Vineyard
in Massachusetts, but now wed
been scattered by college and work.
Back home for the holidays, we
had planned a trip to New Hampshires White Mountains. Tristan
and I were new to Mount Washingreaders digest

June 2016

175

a va l a n c h e !

ton, but Conor and Rich had both

summited it a few times in winter.
In their experience, theyd said, the
path up the Tuckerman Ravine Trail
from Hermit Lake was simple. It was.
Even for a first-timer, the hike was
straightforward. I snapped a picture
of the Forest Services warning sign
about avalanches. One more shot
to remember the trip by, but not
relevant to us: Our ascent was by a
different route, and the posted avalanche danger was low for the day.
Conor and I travelled quickly over
the well-trod snow. Our packs were
light, with just extra clothes, water and
some food. But Tristan and Rich were
carrying heavier loads, so their progress was slower. Early in the hike, we
decided to split up so that Conor and
I could tag the summit and make it
back before dark. By 2:30 p.m. Conor
and I had reached the summit, and we
stayed awhile to take pictures. Before
we even started back down, the snowfall had set in, and we knew it would
be better if we were off the mountaintop before the sunset. On our way
back, we crossed paths with Rich and
Tristan. They turned around, and we
made plans to meet at the fork in the
trail, staying in our separate groups.
I wOke up On top of the snow.
Initially, Id thought I was going
to die or be buried, but I had only
a broken arm. The rest of my body
hurt, but I still couldnt tell how
badlythe adrenaline was pump176

June 2016

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ing hard. I tried to sit up, and blood

started oozing across my face. I decided it was better to lie back down.
It was like lying in a room with white
walls and a white ceiling, and there
was no sign of Conor. I could see
my boot sticking out of the snow,
knocked clean off by the force of
the impact. I lay there for maybe
15 minutes, weighing my options and
trying to stay calm. Then the crunch
of snow under boots brought me back.
There was Conor, well enough to walk,
climbing down to me. He mustve
landed on a higher ledge. As he came
closer, I could see his face, a cluster of
purple bruises. He considered me for
a moment, blood dripping from his
forehead down to his jacket. Who are
you? he asked.
I told him that we were good
friends whod been climbing this
mountain all day and that wed been
in an avalanche. Id spent six summers working as a lifeguard, and I
knew a concussion when I saw one.
I also knew that as long as we didnt
fall asleep out here in the snow anytime soon, he was likely to be fine.
As for my own condition, between
the arm that I was sure was broken
and the stab I felt in my back, I knew
I was hurt badly but not beyond repair. There was a voice, very soft, in
the back of my brain, telling me that
maybe no one would find us, that if I
was so right about the low avalanche
danger, I wouldnt be down here to
begin with. Conor and I did what we

R e a d e R s d i g e s T. c o . i n

ben rosser

could: We consolidated our water

and food and waited. It wasnt long
before I could hear Tristans voice
cutting through the wind. It was the
best sound Id heard in my life. Were
getting help! Tristan promised from
somewhere up in the white. Hang in
there! Not that we had a choice.
You learn a few things about yourself in these situations. For one, you
find out whether youre a pessimist.
Conor, from either head wound or
natural disposition, gave up. He talked
about how he couldnt believe this was
the end and what he thought might
come next. He thought death might be
an improvement, spiritually speaking.
Im at peace with dying, he told me.
I love Conor and I knew that it was
the knock on his head talking, but
this wasnt any good. Im saying this
for you as much as me, I answered.
Please shut up.
Once I knew help was on the way, it
was very boring being down there in
the snow and ice. I thought about the
next hike Id take, how long it would
be before this broken arm healed, how
I was going to tell this story the first
time a girl asked about the cast. But
I knew I wasnt going to end like this,
spooning with Conor.
Five hours after our fall, I saw the
lights of the approaching snowcat. I
cant remember now if I was laughing as the emergency workers slid me
onto the backboard, but if I wasnt, it
seems I should have been. When we

You learn a few

things about yourself
in these situations.
adam heRman

got to the hospital, the doctors confirmed I had broken not just my arm
but my back. Conor had sustained
a massive concussion. The rescuers estimated wed fallen more than
240 metres, skidding off patches of
rocks and snow and ice.
It was pure luck that Tristan and
Rich had found us. When they had
reached the split in the trail and found
it empty, theyd had no way of knowing wed taken a wrong turn. Tristan
just had a hunch and lucky for us,
he listened to it.
readers digest

June 2016

177

Laughter
THE BEST MEDICINE

IF YOU KNOW how many calories

are in your cinnamon bun, youre

eating it wrong.
@JESSOBSESS (BUBBLE GIRL)

BUSINESSMAN TO HIS CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT: I want to

transfer my single bed to my new

home, which is about 10 km away.
The bed is not fitting in my car and
the movers and packers are quoting
178

JUNE 2016

READERS DIGEST

an amount almost equal to the price

of the bed. What should I do?
Chartered accountant: Sell it on
Quikr and buy it back from the new
address, using two different login
IDs. Quikr will transport it free of
cost, and you can also avail of the
Paytm cashback. Further, sale of
personal assets cannot be subject
to capital gains tax.
KIRTIBHAI BHATT, from the internet

I LLUSTRATION BY KEN KRI MSTEIN

Id like to donate my body to comedy.

EXCUSES I HAVE TOLD MY SON TO USE FOR FAILING

TO HAND IN HOMEWORK THAT HAVE SERVED ME WELL
DURING A CAREER IN JOURNALISM, BOOKS AND FILM
Dear Mrs. D.,
Im sorry I havent
done my homework,
but my homework
diary is currently full,
and Im not looking
to take on anything
else right now.
Dear Mrs. D.,
Sorry it has taken
me so long to reply
to your request. As
you can imagine,
I am swamped here
by many similar inquirieseveryone wants
homework, it seems!
If you havent heard
from me within a few
weeks, then please
presume that I am not
interested at this time.

Dear Mrs. D.,

Thank you for your
engagement in my
education. My interest
was piqued by your
task, and though I unfortunately wont be
completing it on this
occasion, I liked the
idea of it, and of you,
enough to take a look
at any future homework you might assign.
Please stay in touch.
Dear Mrs. D.,
Thanks for your homework. Your idea of writing a Christmas ghost
story was a good one,
but its not really the
kind of thing I tend to
doits a little bit too

genre for my tastes.

Try Kevin, who sits
next to me. He loves
that stuff.
Dear Mrs. D.,
Its a no, as youve
probably guessed. The
problem is that its too
similar to something I
did quite recently, and
though I know youll
say that youre asking
for a book report of
a different book, the
form and shape of
book reports are sufficiently alike for me
to conclude that the
homework would feel
a bit stale. I hope we
can get to do something together soon!

NICK HORNBY, ON MCSWEENEYS.NET, COPYRIGHT NICK HORNBY.

SUGGESTED BEN & JERRYS

FLAVOURS FOR FEMINISTS:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Doughprah

Winfrey
Butter Pecanc Knowles
Cherryl Sandberg
CarameEllen DeGeneres Fudge

AMANDA MCCALL, on huffingtonpost.com

I SOMETIMES worrywhether the

new crop of start-ups in Indiawill
lead to a new crop of upstarts.
GEORGE N. NETTO, Ke ra l a

Readers Digest will pay for your funny

anecdote or photo in any of our jokes
sections. Post it to the editorial address,
or email: [email protected]
READERS DIGEST

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179

II CON
These men each admitted to
murdering Janet Staschak.
Which one told the truth?
BY DE R E K B U R N E T T
180

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Tom Sawyer (left)

in 1986 and Stephen
Lamont (under an
alias), jailed in 1987
for a separate crime.

FESS
FESS
I

ts the bleary wee hours of the morning, and the murder

interrogation has yet to yield the confession the detectives are

counting on to seal the case. They have sat and stood and paced in
this cramped little room for 12 hours already, and although the suspect
keeps inching close to giving them what they need, he repeatedly draws
back, as if he cant admit even to himself the enormity of the crime.
The date is 6 November 1986, and the place is Clearwater, Florida, USA.

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181

Three days ago, an attractive 25-year- eager, he said, to help in any way
old cake decorator named Janet he could.
That was days ago. But now, when
Staschak was found naked and murdered in the upstairs bedroom of her it comes to the actual interrogation,
apartment. Her purse was missing, a they find that Sawyer is a tough nut
window screen had been cut and her to crack. They initially lured Sawyer
car had been found in the parking down to the station under the guise
garage at the airport. But the detec- of asking him to help them solve the
tives, Pete Fire and John Dean, dont case and, over the course of hours,
believe this was a burglary; they think have eased into their questioning by
asking him to develop
the killer arranged
some hypothetical
things to make it look
scenarios about how
like one because he
When police
the murder might
was someone who
approached
have taken place. As
knew the victim.
Sawyer, he was
the hours have worn
They have no doubt
a nervous
on, Sawyer s chief
that this someone is
scenario has begun
the suspect sitting
wreck, sweating
to closely match the
across from them
so profusely
known facts of the
in the interrogathat he actually
case. So, after a bathtion room. His name
mopped his
room break, Dean
is Tom F. Sawyer,
brow with
and Fire shift tactics.
and from the mina towel.
They read him the Miute they laid eyes on
randa warning [righthim, they knew they
to-silence warning
had their man. On
the day Staschaks body was found, given by the police to a suspect before
they caught the handsome, athletic interrogation], and Dean tells him
33-year-old ducking under the po- point-blank, Tom, I think you did it.
No, I didnt.
lice tape at her apartment complex.
Tom, Fire says. You know too
When they approached him, they
learnt he was Staschaks neighbour. much.
I didnt kill her, Sawyer protests.
He was also a nervous wreck, sweating so profusely that he actually Ive never been in her apartment
mopped his head with a towel. He before.
Theyre losing him. So Fire switches
provided no alibi for Saturday night,
probably the time of the murder. tactics and plays Good Cop. It was
And despite his nervousness, he was an accident, Tom, Fire suggests.
unusually curious about the case I know it was. I need you to tell
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PREVIO US SP READ: COURTESY P INELLAS COUNTY SHERIF F'S OF F ICE

I CONFESS

R E A D E R S D I G E S T. C O . I N

me what happened.
I was never there. I never did it.
Tom.
Ill look you in the eye and say that
all night.
Weve got all night.

COURTESY CLEARWATER POLICE

n the days between the mur-

der and the interrogation, the

detectives learnt some interesting facts about Tom Sawyer. He began drinking in high school and soon
started off each day with a bottle to
keep from shaking. He had been in
and out of rehab for years. He worked
as a groundskeeper at a golf course.
He moved to Florida from Illinois,
where his drinking played a role
in a difficult romantic break-up, and
he had not led much of a social life
since achieving sobriety 13 months
ago. Could the stress of sobriety, coupled with the painful break-up, have
made him snap, taking out his anger
on his neighbour?
And now, tonight, he has openly
admitted that he found Staschak
attractive but never managed to work
up the courage to ask her out. A few
nights before the murder, she paid him
a visit in his apartment. They watched
a movie togetherThe Shiningand
chatted about life. Had that experience of near intimacy stirred up feelings that could find no other outlet
but rape and murder?
Hours into the interrogation, Sawyer
agrees to take a polygraph test. Only
when the detectives confront him with

The victim, Janet Staschak

the results does his attitude begin to

shift. You know what that test says?
Fire asks him. It says youre a liar.
Your heart blew those needles right
off the screen.
The detectives also tell Sawyer that
they have gathered considerable evidence, including his hairs. Its time to
face facts, they tell him. Its not that
much different from the first step
required in quitting drinkingyou
have to admit the truth to yourself.
I dont know, Sawyer finally
answers. Im thinking I had a blackout. But I never heard of a blackout
when you havent been drinking.
Over time, the detectives get Sawyer
to admit that he struck Staschak in the
head with an ashtray from her coffee
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I CONFESS

table, dragged her upstairs, stripped

and sodomized her, strangled her,
placed her on her bed face down, and
pulled the covers over her. By 8:30 a.m.,
after more than 16 hours of gruelling
interrogation, they have a narrative
that matches the details they have
gathered about the murder: Staschak
was indeed found naked face down in
her bed with the covers pulled up; the
ashtray is missing from the coffee table
in her apartment, as is a single knife
from a set in the kitchen, which Sawyer
has described using to cut the screen,
and the ligatures with which Staschaks
wrists and ankles were bound. Sawyer
says he threw those missing items off
the bridge of a causeway. With all the
key elements ticked off their list, the
detectives decide to end the interview.
As far as theyre concerned, they have
their confession.

ith their son facing

murder charges, Sawyers

parents reach out to a local
defence attorney named Joe Donahey.
Donahey files a motion to suppress
the entire interrogation as evidence,
alleging that not only had the detectives taken too long to read Sawyer
his Miranda rights, but the confession had been coerced, and his pleas
to speak with a lawyer were ignored.
After hearing six weeks of argument,
Judge Gerard OBrien throws out
the confession. The state appeals,
but the higher court upholds the decision. After 14 months in county lock184

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READERS DIGEST

up, Sawyer walks free. There are no

other suspects.

ast forward 28 years, to

January 2014. Fire and Dean
have long since retired. Donahey
is 80 years old and blind. Tom Sawyer
has moved back north and faded into
obscurity, quietly working maintenance jobs and keeping a low profile.
A team of Clearwater Police Department detectives is revisiting cold
cases, and it opens the Staschak file.
The officers find samples of biological matter that was retrieved from
beneath the victims fingernails
probably produced by Staschaks
efforts to scratch at her killer in selfdefence. In 1986, DNA evidence was
unheard of in Pinellas County, but in
2014, it is an easy matter to run the
sample through a federal database.
There is a hit. Surprise: The DNA is
not that of Tom F. Sawyer. Instead,
the alleged match is to the DNA of
a 57-year-old man named Stephen
Manning Lamont, who, at the time
of Staschaks murder, was an escaped
prisoner. Police arrest Lamont in
Alabama and extradite him to Florida.
But if Tom Sawyer didnt commit
the murder, why did he confess to
it? And why were Dean and Fire so
convinced he was the killer?
Part of Donaheys defence strategy
was to have Sawyer psychologically
evaluated, and those assessments
revealed that Sawyer suffered from
an acute social anxiety disorder and

R E A D E R S D I G E S T. C O . I N

a pathological urge to please others. clients innocence than his guilt. The
From the outset, Sawyers unique psy- turning point in the interrogation,
chological make-up had thrown the when Sawyer began to entertain the
detectives off: He had initially aroused possibility that he was the murderer,
their suspicions by acting nervous did not come until he was confronted
and mopping sweat off his brow with with the polygraph resultswhich
a towelbut he had been doing that turned out to be bogus. He had not
very thing since high school. The mere blown the needle off the charts, nor
thought of having peoples attention had the lab returned conclusive hair
directed on him made him go red in samples or other physical evidence
the face and perspire
linking him to the
profusely.
crime. But Fire and
When the detecDean thought it was
He was a big
tives invited Sawyer
worth telling him both
fan of TV
down to the station,
things were true. I
detective
his eagerness to
still didnt believe Id
shows like
please made him
done it, Sawyer says,
genuinely excited. He
but I believed that
Quincy, M.E.,
was a big fan of TV
the police didnt lie.
and relished
detective shows like
the thought
Quinc y, M.E., and
hat was the
of helping
relished the thought
crux of it : a
to crack
of helping to crack
man already
the case.
the case. I thought
racked by self-doubt,
this would be a way
with a lifetimes expefor me to give somerience of blackouts,
thing back, he says, referring to the confronted by what to him is inarguburden he had been to society as an able proof of his guilt. He doesnt bealcoholic. His alcoholism made him lieve he has committed the crime, and
even more susceptible to false confes- yet hes a gentle enough soul to want
sion: Not only had decades of drink- to take responsibility for his actions
ing shattered his already fragile ego, if he did (I pray to God that if I did
but he had experienced hundreds do it, Im punished for it, he told the
of blackouts over the years, so it was detectives). Donahey has made a
nothing new for him to be accused of study of the false confessions of Amebad behaviour without any memory of rican POWs [prisoners of war] during
the wrongdoing.
the Korean War, and he believes that
Donahey also zeroed in on the Sawyers experience closely resembles
confession as better proof of his theirs. He was sleep deprived, hungry,

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I CONFESS

badgered, cajoled and lied to, until, the detectives, so they continued the
as he put it to the detectives at the technique, giving partial descriptions
time, they had driven him bananas. of the crime scene and then asking
By the end of the session, he was Sawyer to describe to them the images
begging them to end the questioning, he was seeing in his mind. To them,
ready to agree to just about anything and, increasingly, to him, these were
to make it stop.
blocked-out flashbacks from the night
But how could the murder sce- of the murder rather than images they
nario suggested by Sawyer have so were producing through their line of
accurately matched the facts of the questioning. One chilling moment of
case? First, a talkthe interrogation has
ative police officer at
particular echoes of
the crime scene had
the brainwashing of
I feel a little
told Sawyer several
the American POW s.
awkward about
details, including the
Sawyer says, I just
this, but I think
position of the body
keep getting thoughts
you're owed an
on the bed.
that say I didnt do it,
Second, the detecyou know?
apology for
tives spent all night
But those are
what happened
guiding Sawyers anthoughts,
and thats all
to you, said
swers. One example:
they are now, Dean
the Clearwater
They needed Sawyer
a n s w e r s . Yo u v e
police chief.
to confess to binding
learnt to recognize
I'm sorry.
Staschaks wrists and
the difference beankles with duct tape,
tween the reality and
which had left a sticky
the thoughts. What
white residue on her skin. What was are the pictures you see? Concentrate
it you used, Tom? Fire asked.
on the pictures.
Nearly out of his mind with exhausAs might be expected, despite the
tion, Sawyer answered, A jock?
detectives best efforts, the confesA jockstrap? A jockstrap wont sion turned out not to match the
leave marks like that.
evidence after all. They had gotten
Scotch tape? Sawyer asks.
Sawyer to say that he had sodomNo, its white. Its not Scotch tape. ized Staschak, but when the forensics
Well, masking tape, then.
finally came in, they showed that she
No, not quiteand so on until fi- had not been sodomized. What about
nally, through team effort, they all the missing ashtray?
land on the notion of duct tape. PlayDonahey had an investigator
ing Twenty Questions was working for track down Staschaks ex-husband
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R E A D E R S D I G E S T. C O . I N

and take him to the apartment,

where he promptly pulled the ashtray down from the top of the
refrigerator. It was never kept on the
coffee table, he said. And the missing
knife? That thing was missing when
we moved down to Florida from Pennsylvania, the ex-husband said. Thats
why, without the confession, the state
had no case against Tom Sawyer.

awyer has been sober for all

these years. He is married and
lives a simple life in a northern
town in the US. Despite having spent 14
months in a jail cell, he is remarkably
philosophical about his ordeal. Its
part of life, he says, blaming himself
for his troubles. None of this would
have happened if I had had a little more
sobriety in me, he says. I had no confidence whatsoever. No self-esteem.
Still, a shadow hung over him for
28 years: Because his case never
went to trial, there would have been
no double jeopardy if the state had
decided to prosecute him after all. For
the past three decades, he says, every
time the doorbell rang, he worried
that it would be the police.

The nightmare came to an end in

March 2015, when Sawyer and Donahey flew to Florida to watch Stephen
Lamont confess to murdering Janet
Staschak and agree to a life sentence,
with no possibility of parole for 25
years. As the gavel fell, Sawyer silently
clenched his fists and raised them
over his head, like a runner crossing
a finish line. He then approached the
states attorney who had prosecuted
both him and Lamont. Sawyer stuck
out his hand. Thanks for your hard
work, he said. I just want to let you
know there are no hard feelings.
Later, he received a call from the
chief of the Clearwater Police Department. I feel a little awkward about
this, since I was in tenth grade when
it happened, he told Sawyer. But I
think youre owed an apology for what
happened to you. Im sorry.
The apology was long in coming,
but it mattered. When asked what
he would do now that it was all over,
Sawyer shrugged. Live my life, he
saidthe life that was so senselessly
interrupted on the night in 1986 when
Stephen Lamont almost got away
with murder.

OBSOLETE WORDS (OR ARE THEY?)

Try dropping one of these gems into a conversation:
Crapulous (16th century): to feel ill because of excessive eating and drinking.
Cockalorum (18th century): a little man with a high opinion of himself.
Curmuring (19th century): a low, rumbling sound produced by the bowels.
SOURCE: BUZZFEED.COM

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188

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8 ways you can make your

life more beautiful

HOW
TO BE

OPTIMISTIC
By TH ieRRy sauss e Z
FR O M 5 0 BO N N E S RAI SO N S
DE C H O I S I R L O PT I MI S ME

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H OW tO B e O P t i M i st i C

Gloom and pessimism weigh on the economy, our health

and our relationships. They spoil our gifts. Ive arrived at these
insights through my experience of life, lessons of my successes
and failures, and encounters with philosophers, experts and
business leaders who promote optimism as vital. It will make
your life more beautiful and other peoples lives too, because
optimism is contagious. Heres how to get started.

Its better for our health to seek

positive emotionsaffection, joy,
satisfaction. The links between the
heart and brain are well-established.
A single positive thought can trigger beneficial neurotransmitters and
hormones. Oxytocin is the hormone
of love, pleasure and orgasm. Serotonin regulates our mood positively.
Dopamine stimulates and encourages
us. A thought, gesture, look or smile
is enough to bring down our blood
pressure, and make us feel better.
Test these scientific principles.
When you wake up, dwell a moment
on a dream, or something pleasant.
When you arrive at work, forget your
dreadful journey or the bad weather.
Share something positive. When a motorist stops for you, smile and wave. In
these moments, youll feel your face

relax and a good mood take hold.

2 Dont count on luck

After a setback, many people tell

themselves: Im not lucky. But theres
no such thing as luck. People who are
thought to be lucky go out to meet
what Machiavelli called good fortune.
They take initiatives and make contact
with many people, increasing their
chances of finding their soulmate, a
job, an apartment. It is energynot
luck. It is willpower, the spirit of conquest, moving forward. Its crucial to
never lose impetus.
Dont believe luck is always with
you. Lets say you present a project.
Everything is going wonderfully. But
nothing comes of it. The explanation
is simple. The person you were talking
to is not interested but does not
wish to upset you or waste his time

Theres no such thing as luck. People who are

thought to be lucky go out to meet good fortune.
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P hoto, PrevI ous sPread: M oodboa rd/getty IM ages

1Positive thinking

R e a d e R s d i g e s T. c o . i n

P hoto: P M IM ages/getty

discussing it. By contrast, many

proposals that get a negative response
end up having a positive outcome.
The basic principle: Nothing is ever
going as well as we think and nothing
is ever going as badly. Optimists know
that nothing can be taken for granted,
that everything has to be earned.

Acquiring skills, including technical ones, broadens our horizon and

makes us happier. Progressing rewards us for our efforts, counterbalancing setbacks and frustrations.
Make great discoveries, or set yourself
small challenges. The crucial thing is
to remain alert.

3 Keep your desire to learn 4 Take responsibility

Pessimists lack curiosity. They
miss opportunities to discover something new, to meet someone new.
The optimist is curious about everything. Curiosity is the cornerstone of
knowledge. The desire to learn is
a way of controlling our ego, the
temptation to think I know it all.

Most of us dont take out our

annoyances on family, friends or
colleagues. We spare them. To compensate, we become mistrustful
o f t h e w o r l d . We c o n s t r u c t a
virtual world in which everything
is interpreted negatively, inflating
fear about crime [or terror attacks],
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H OW tO B e O P t i M i st i C

even where there is little.

Over the past 20 years in opinion
polls, unemployment is always
rising even when its falling, and
consumer purchasing power is always
decreasing even when its increasing.
The exaggeration of risks and
suffering is a collective phenomenon,
and can affect us individually.
Struggling to make ends meet?
St a r t by n o t e x a g g e ra t i n g t h e
suffering. Consider also whats going
well, what youve achieved. Instead
of complaining, look around you
for people who have had similar
p ro b l e m s a n d may b e ab l e t o
help you.
If something is wrong at home or
work, its your responsibility. You are
the principal solution.

ing and even finding new reasons to

live and hope. How important are
your frustrations and upsets, really?

Dont believe it was

before
6 better

Being optimistic means living in the

present without constantly encumbering ourselves with the idea that it was
better before or that happiness will
come later.
Said French philosopher Andr
Comte-Sponville, There is no point
in hoping for what one doesnt have
without enjoying what one does have.
It is a philosophy of happiness.
Its in the here and now, in the carpe
diem [Latin for seize the day] of the
ancients, that you should learn from
your failures and successes, improve

Optimism does not consist of seeing the world as

more beautiful than it is. But not as uglier either.

5 Put things in perspective

Why take the full force of everything that happens to us? Step back
and put an event into perspective by
comparing it with others we have
experienced. Thats not distancing
ourselves from realityits giving it
its rightful place. To those who doubt
this, I recommend listening to the stories of women who had cancer for the
umpteenth time and who were fight-

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yourself, not pass up opportunity and,

of course, never procrastinate and put
things off.

7 see the world as it is

Optimism does not consist of

seeing the world as more beautiful
than it is. But not as uglier either. Yes,
the world is uncertain, as weve seen
during the industrial revolution and
the advent of railways. Peoples fears

R e a d e R s d i g e s T. c o . i n

were even greater then.

But the world is also wonderful.
Advances in science, medicine and
technology have never been as
spectacular. Each year since 1990,
weve gained an average of three
months in life expectancy. Solutions to famine, water shortages and
viruses have never been closer. Even
if it isnt enough, never have such
significant decisions been taken
about global warming, currency crises
and human rights.
Lets stop seeing the glass of the
world as half-empty. It is full of promise.

you are not

pretend
8 Ifconvinced,

Reflect on writer Georges Bernanoss

statement: The only difference between the optimist and the pessimist

is that the optimist is a happy fool and

the pessimist a sad one.
Mind still not made up? Pretend.
Make your thank-yous heartfelt.
Express gratitude daily to someone
who has been kind to you. Take a deep
breath and smile.
Store positive thoughts and dreams,
and connect with them when a negative emotion takes hold. Keep a happy
journal or create a box of delights that
contains photos of loved ones and
mementos. Youll soon find this does
you good, and has a positive effect on
those around you.
author thierry saussez, who lives in
Paris, founded the Printemps de
loptimisme (spring of optimism)
seminars in 2014, assisted by the Conseil
conomique et social (economical and
social Council).

50 BONNES RAISONS DE CHOISIR LOPTIMISME Par tHierrY saUsseZ. 2015 BY tHierrY saUsseZ is
PUBLisHed BY ditiONs saiNt-siMON. WWW.EDITIONS-SAINTSIMON.COM

BeasTly slumBeR
n thrushes take hundreds of power naps a day,

a few seconds at a time, in midflight.

n Otters fall asleep floating on their backs, sometimes holding

paws with their friends so they dont drift apart.

n giraffes snooze only 20 minutes a day, often curled up

with their heads on their own rumps.

n Brown bats doze 19 hours a dayupside down.
n the desert snail has been recorded sleeping for

up to four years at a time.

From Mental Floss

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W
A lov e sto ry

ater is Gods tranquillizer, Diana

This will be great, I say, as Susan and

I make our plans. Eat, look out at the
lake, converse, look out at the lake,
stroll, look out at the lake. By day two
well just look out at the lakeand be
the most relaxed weve ever been.
An hours drive north of Milan,
Lake Como has seduced visitors since
Roman times with its extravagant
natural setting in the foothills of the
Alps, temperate climate and, later,
grand villas. I already knew wed stay
at perhaps the best known of these,
the luxurious Villa dEste.
Which is what were looking
for as we pull into Cernobbio, a
vintage resort town on Comos southwestern shore. The lake, walled by
steep mountainsides, glitters under
an afternoon sun. We drive on the Via
Regina (queens way), past the 19thcentury Villa Erba and the towns historic centre, and turn at the sign for
the resort.
Before us, baronial buildings and
pavilionsincluding the sumptuous main residence, built for a 16thcentury cardinalhave arranged
themselves along the lakefront, punctuated by gardens filled with palms,
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plane trees, cypresses and flowering

plants. A whiff of camellias soon has
us ambling along curved walking
paths in search of its source, the clear
blue waters of Como to our right, embraced by sloping mountains thick
with greenery.
I reach over and take my wifes
hand. She turns towards me and
smiles, then gently rests her head
against my shoulder.
This, she purrs, is the most peaceful place. I could stay forever. I nod
and hold her hand tightly.
For Susan, forever is just a few
short months away. We have been
married for more than 30 years,
raising two children in the process.
Weve had our ups and downs, interspersed with many glorious days and
nights. Through it all, weve remained
what wed been from the very start
each others best friend.
Susans illnessstage four lung
cancerfroze me. I withdrew, confused and angry. We had always
valued honesty and used humour as a
shield against any obstacle. But would
either be enough to weather the
severe storm she faced?

photo: Ian Dagn all/ala my

Vreeland, the legendary editor-in-chief of

Vogue magazine, once saidwords Susan cited
regularly. If ever we needed tranquillity it was
now, and Lake Como, ringed by quiet towns, elegant vacation villas
and snow-crowned mountains, offered the perfect mix of scenery,
cultureand views of Gods tranquillizer.

R e a d e R s d i g e s t. c o . i n

Shops on Salita
Serbelloni in Bellagio,
with a view of the lake
in the distance.

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v i vA C U B A !

Clockwise from top: A

statue of Hercules at the
hotel Villa dEste; at the
Locanda dellIsola
Comacina restaurant,
owner Benvenuto
Puricelli offers his
special brew of coffee,
sugar and brandy; food
at the restaurant.
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photoS: maSSIm o BaSSa no X 3

R e a d e R s d i g e s t. c o . i n

Lets take a trip, Susan had said one

morning, washing down a dozen pills
with a smoothie. I want to get one
more trip in while I still can.
Where do you want to go?
Someplace that can make me forget,
Susan said.
Is there a land of such supreme
and perfect beauty anywhere? wondered 19th-century American poet
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow after a
visit to Lake Como. The area inspired
Hungarian composer Franz Liszt to
declare, When you write the story of
two happy lovers, let the story be set
on the banks of Lake Como.
And so we set our story here. Susan,
of course, is determined to make the
most of every moment. Well walk the
acres of gardens at Villa Carlotta, north
of Cernobbio in Tremezzo, where the
lush plantings, marble sculptures and
blooming flowers make us feel as if
weve dropped into another century.
We will dine at Il Gatto Nero (the
black cat), a mountaintop restaurant
decorated with artworks of cats and
boasting views of the lake that seem to
extend to eternity. Well ride the boats
that operate as buses, transporting
locals and tourists from Varenna,
midway up the lakeshore, west to
Menaggio, then south to Bellagio, the
pearl of Lake Como.
In Lenno we taste locally grown
Vanini olive oil, then continue to
neighbouring Mezzegra, where we
hike up the hillside for a view that
will leave me as breathless as does the

challenging ascent. We stop in Laglio,

the lakefront town where Hollywood
actor George Clooney owns a villa.
And we visit the island of Comacina
to dine at what some consider one
of the best restaurants in Italy, the
Locanda dellIsola Comacina. As
Susan and I board a small boat for the
400-kilometre crossing, I catch her up
on Comacinas history.
Almost no one set foot on the island
from the 1100s to the 1940s, I intone,
thanks to a curse imposed by the
bishop of Como.
The restaurant fills the top floor of
a two-storey villa overlooking the lake.
We sip a crisp Soave Classico wine as
we dine on owner Benvenuto Puricellis cooking: smoked ham, grilled
trout, chicken baked in a wood stove,
slabs of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
Then Puricelli emerges from the
kitchen and proceeds to pour brandy
and sugar into a large copper pot that
has been filled with rich coffee, telling
us that drinking his special brew is the
only way to leave the island curse free.
Susan takes two sips. Its too strong
for my taste. But good.
Youre going to finish it all, right? I
ask, having downed my portion.
She shakes her head.
But you have to, I say. Otherwise
the curse will follow you off the island.

he early afternoon sun seems

to hover over her shoulders,
the deep-blue lake sparkling
behind her. I realize how foolish I
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A lov e sto ry

sound, jabbering about some curse to

a dying woman. She turns, looks out
on Lake Como and is silent.
Finally she says, Im beyond the
reach of any curse.
The towns along Comos shores
have constituted one of the worlds
great silk centres since the 18th century, thanks to an abundant supply of
water (needed to boil the silkworm
cocoons for their silk fibres) and mulberry trees, which the silkworms feed
on. Today Lake Comos silk works
supply to high-end fashion houses
such as Versace, Ungaro and Herms.
Silk helped turn this region into a
destination of choice for those in need
of rest and relaxation, a frequent visitor from Milan tells us one afternoon.
These days, I suppose there is one
man in particular to thank.
Who? I ask.
Ralph Lauren. He bought the silk for
his clothes here when he first started
his business.
A century-old Como silk house,
Mantero, frames its craft as weaving emotions. Susan and I have just
strolled past its headquarters and
showroom on Via Volta, in Lake Comos provincial capital, also called
Como, a few minutes drive south of
Cernobbio. Through the windows we
make out a shimmering rainbow of
silk scarves, ties and shawls. Im ready
to step in when Susan spots one of Comos other gems, the 12th-century Basilica of San Fedele. Places that have
stood the test of time now call to her.
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Come, lets go see whats inside,

she says, tugging eagerly at my arm.
We enter the hushed space, lit by
a rose window from the 1500s and
arrayed with richly hued medieval
frescoes. Relics of St Fidelis, a Roman
soldier executed near here allegedly
for helping to free Christian prisoners, are said to rest under the marble
altar. Susan turns to me. I need to
talk to you.
I follow her out to the piazza, an ancient locale that is dotted with ochreand umber-coloured town houses.
Lets sit for a bit, she says, pointing
to a freshly painted wood bench.
Susan grabs my hand and rests it
on her leg. I need you to promise me
something. Not for now, for after.
I take a deep breath and find it hard
to form words; all I come up with is a
nod. I want you to do the things you
always talked about doing but never
did, she says. The house on a lake
you wanted. Buying the vineyard that
will use up all your money. Just dont
let too much time pass before you do.
Each day is like a year, as I found out
the hard way. And I want you to be
happy, as I always have been.
I dont want to do any of that
without you, I say. It wont mean the
same.
It will have to be without me, Susan
says. That decision has been made.
She leans against me and stares out
at the lake. Promise me that, she
whispers. Its one last promise.
I kiss the top of her head and close

R e a d e R s d i g e s t. c o . i n

my eyes. I promise, I whisper.

We sit on the bench until late afternoon, temporarily setting aside our
fears and concerns yet bracing for the
cold reality that soon we will have no
choice but to face them all head-on.
Lake Como is the perfect place to
visit when starting a new chapter in
lifea new romance, a marriageor
simply to enjoy the company of someone with whom youve shared much.
It also, Im discovering with some
pain, is a loving place to say goodbye.
Susan and I find ourselves often gazing at the lake, compelled by its shapeshifting waters, shading from an ocean
indigo to a deeper midnight blue.
Were at its shores at sunup, warm
cups of coffee in hand, watching the
first waves cross its surface.
We make a point of being by it at
sundown, when snow on the hillsides
seems to melt right into the lake as the
landscape slowly descends into darkness. We also walk and talk a lot, going
over the life we have shared, smiling
about the many good times, shaking our heads at the mistakes made
along the way. Other than shortness
of breath, Susan shows no sign of the
war being waged inside her body. The

lake seems to lift her spirits and put

her mind at ease.
This time will stay with me always,
she murmurs one night, her voice
soft. People who live here are lucky
to call it home. They wake up to such
a beautiful sight. It never leaves them.

find myself wishing wed rented

one more boat and taken one
more turn around the magical
lake, tucked into one more meal at
flower-adorned Ristorante Navedano,
my wife happy with a glass of simple
house wine and a bowl of soup. I
long for one more stay at Villa dEste.
But we both know we have another
journey ahead of us.
None of it matters as long as we are
by this life-affirming lake. It is as if
time has frozen for us. The woman I
love will forever be next to me, staring
at the still, blue waters, talking about
her hopes for our children, the plans
she wants to makeand the places on
Lake Como she still wants to see.
Susan Jill toepfer died a few months after
this trip to lake Como. In June 2014,
lorenzo Carcaterra bought the lake house
he had dreamt of owning.

CoPyrigHt 2015 By loreNZo CArCAterrA. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER (JUNe/JUly 2015),

WWW.TRAVEL.NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM/TRAVEL/TRAVELER-MAGAZINE/

Wise QUacKs
i find a ducks opinion of me is very much influenced by
whether or not i have bread.
MitcH HedBeRg

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Book Bonus

My family and I survived the blaze, but

we thought wed lost everything else.
We were wrong

Fire
By h o llye d e x ter

Fr o M t h e bo o k f i re s e ason

On 18 nOvember 1994, I wake from a vivid dream. I sit up in bed, heart

pounding, face wet with tears. My husband, Troy, asks, Whats wrong?
I was falling backwards in this huge avalanche, I sob, and everything
I owned, everything Id ever accomplished in my life, was tumbling over me,
pounding and crushing me until there was nothing but dust.
It was just a dream, honey. He wraps his arms around me.
Cissy, nine, and Taylor, four, are downstairs eating Cheerios [a brand
of breakfast cereals]. Cartoons hum cheerily in the background. The dogs
are under the table, waiting to catch any stray crumbs. I try to shake the
residual feelings from the dream. Everythings fine; everythings fine,
I say to myself, all day long.

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IllustratI on by ann a an d ElEn a balbuss o

House on

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house on FIre

After school, I drop Cissy at her dads touches my arm. Hols, we dont need
for an overnight visit. As I drive home, to do this now. We can reschedule.
Troy holds me. Everythings OK,
my chest muscles seize. I wonder
what is wrong with me. Maybe I need honey. Youre safe. He knows these
medication or to go back to therapy. Or are the best words to say to me.
maybe Ill never get used to sharing my Safemy entire life, thats all Id ever
wanted to feel. We walk Donna downdaughter with my ex-husband.
By the time I walk into our house, stairs. The living room is dark, so I flip
the light switch. NothI can barely breathe. I
ing happens. Mustve
think, if I nap Ill feel
blown a fuse, Troy
better. I bring my dogs,
Im holding
says, and goes to find
Whitney and Lady; my
cats, Angel and Munchthe ends of my a flashlight.
By the glow of the
kin; and my bunny,
sons fingers. fire in the fireplace,
Bunny, into my bedI see smoke backing out
room. It is an odd thing
I beg God to
of the chimney, filling
I have never done beprotect him. the room with an eerie
fore. I fall into a deep
haze. I crack a window.
sleep, but when I wake
I let go.
We h e a r d c r o w s
I am still edgy.
making a racket in the
Troy, Taylor and I
have dinner. After Taylors bath, I chimney , I say.
They probably built a nest up
zip him into his pyjamas. We have a
Peter Pan vs. Captain Hook sword therethats why the smoke is
fight with toothbrushes, and then I trapped. Donna stands by the front
read his favourite book, The Grouchy door. You guys want me to stay?
I wave my hand. No. Everythings
Ladybug, and sing to him until he falls
asleep. Outside, a full moon hangs in fine. She hugs me and leaves.
In the hall, Troy shines a light on
the sky. It shines like an icy sun, giving
the breaker box. As he flips a switch,
me an ominous feeling.
In the next room, Troy and our a buzz sends us hurtling backwards.
friend Donna tune their guitars; we Its gotta be a fuse I can fix it.
Please! I say. I have a bad feelare preparing for a gig. We sing in
three-part harmony, with Donna and ing. Lets get an electrician here in
Troy playing. My throat is tight, my the morning.
I wash my face, brush my teeth
breathing shallow. Im not hitting my
notes. Donna asks, Whats up, girl? and slip on my nightgown. Ordinary
things on an ordinary night, but I am
Youre not yourself.
I tell her about the dream. Donna still anxious, eyeing the full moon.
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r e a d e r s d i g e s t. c o . i n

I sit on our bed, while Troy falls

asleep. Angel and Munchkin curl on
either side of me, purring. Agitated,
I walk the house, checking for for
what? I wander into the kids room.
Taylor sleeps, and I pull the covers
around him and kiss his forehead.
I walk downstairs to check the
hearth. The fire is almost out. I climb
upstairs and fall back into bed, but an
hour later, panic wakes me. I wander
the halls. It is still in the house, too
still. A thin veil of smoke lingers in the
air. I force myself to go back to bed.
Within an hour, I am awake again.
I stand in the kids room. The house
seems smokier than it did before, but
how can that be when the fire burnt
out hours ago? I crack a window, return to bed and fall into a dead sleep.

InsIde the Inferno

I hear screams. Its Troy. Hollye! Get
out of the house!
Hearing the panic in his voice,
I bolt upright. I run to the bedroom
door and swing it open and I am blown
back, knocked to the floor. Searing heat
and black smoke overtake me, burning
my skin. Through the deafening roar
of fire, a smoke alarm whines like a
mosquito. I gasp for breath and crawl
across the floor, gagging. The smell of
that fire is something I will never forget. It is not the cosy smell of a campfire, but the putrid stench of synthetic
carpeting, drywall plaster and household appliances melting, the toxic
cloud of our lives disintegrating.

Without knowing how, I have Taylor

in my arms and am at his bedroom
window. When I open it, ashes and
smoke blow through as the heat is
pulled towards us. Theres fire behind
me, a 30-foot drop to concrete below.
Troy shouts from another window,
Hold on! Im comingIm gonna
jump! Then the sickening sound of
bones against cement. I scream his
name, but he doesnt respond. I start
to cry, but there is no time for panic.
I lower Taylor out his window as
far as my arms will stretch so he can
breathe. I hold only his tiny hands,
his body dangling. I am in the centre
of the firestorm. I choke, spitting out
black grease. Blisters rise on the backs
of my legs; the pain becomes unbearable. I have to do something. But there
is no grass below, no trees or bushes.
My brain searches for options. If
I hold Taylor while I jump, I could
crush him. I have to let go of his
hands. I know that if I do this, he may
break bones or suffer a bad injury. But
if I do nothing, I will burn to death,
and he will fall. Stretching my body
to make his drop as short as possible,
I lower him as far as I can, until Im
holding just the ends of his chubby
fingers. The smoke is so thick, I cant
see him. I beg God to protect him. I let
go. At that very moment, Troy shouts,
Drop him! Im here!
I scramble out the window. I take
a deep breath, then fall. I hear the
thump of a hip against concrete, but
its as though it happened to someone
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house on FIre

else. I feel nothing. Troy yanks me to

my feet. Taylor is clutched to his chest.
I caught him, Troy says. We look at
each other in disbelief. We are alive.
We run. All three levels are consumed, flames shooting out the
windows. The sight of the burning
doghouse jolts me. Oh, God! The
animals! I wail. Troy hands Taylor to
me and goes back with a few neighbours. As they near the house, the
windows blow out. There is no way
to get back in.
A neighbour cries, I dont know
what to do! I dont know what
to do! She screams, Her little girl
is in there!
Cissy. Cissy. I am disoriented,
doubting my own memory. I grab
Troys arm. Cissys not in there,
right? I become hysterical, squeezing my son, who is silent and dazed.
Troy grips my arms and says in
a firm voice, Hollye, shes at her dads
house. Look at me, Hollye! Shes safe!
Troy will later tell me that I repeated
this scenario many times that night.
There is mayhem in my head, mayhem
in the street. I watch as our life goes
up in flames, knowing our animals
are dead. Troy wraps his arms around
Taylor and me. He whispers, maybe to
himself, maybe to me, maybe to God.
We will come back stronger.
I want to believe him, my sunny,
optimistic man. But that morning, he
was the one who told me my nightmare was just a dream. Now I am
wide-awake, and the nightmare is real.
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Up from the ashes

Days after the fire, I wake to the smell
of stuffing and the sounds of the Macys Thanksgiving parade on TV. Is it
Thanksgiving? I sit in my mothers
kitchen. Morning, sweetie! Coffees
made. Want some? she offers.
All week long, cars pulled up to my
moms house with donations. Calls
come from friends and they suggest a
benefit concert. By night, Troy and I
are plagued with nightmares. By day,
were surrounded with love. Weve
been given the chance to feel something most will never knowto be
held by hundreds of unseen handsa
comforting yet overwhelming sensation. Here we are on this day of giving
thanks, grateful, yes, and also tired of
being grateful and needy.
We spend the day digging through
bags of stuff. Some people used the
fire as an excuse to get rid of junk and
this helps us laugh again.
Used underwear? Bonanza!
A bag full of jockstraps? You
shouldnt have!
A wet suit? Skis from the 1970s?
Were homeless. But thanks!
Later, we shower and dress. With
the kids looking sharp in their outfits,
the doorbell rings. My mom answers
it and returns to us. She says, Theres
a guy from the Red Cross here.
It turns out the Red Cross had
been at our fire that night, providing
food and water to the firefighters. We
hadnt contacted it, but the Red Cross
doesnt wait for you to ask. Our repre-

r e a d e r s d i g e s t. c o . i n

sentative, Frank [not his real name], is We chat in the kitchen, and every time
stocky, with a salt-and-pepper beard. Troy and I cough from smoke inhalaRight now, youre in whats called tion, we receive more hugs and chothe honey-moon phase of tragedy, he ruses of Are you OK? Somehow, after
says. Youre surrounded by people meeting Frank, I feel I am.
showing up to support you. Donations
At dinner, we hold hands, and
are coming in. Youre getting phone everyone thanks God for looking
calls every day. But soon, those things out for us. Then, its time for prayer.
will taper off and youll be left picking Aunt Laura and Uncle Bob, bornup the pieces. He hands
again Christians, always
me the card of a therasay grace. We bow our
pist. Weve arranged
heads, waiting for the
As our life
some free counselling
opening line, Heavfor the four of you. He
enly Father. Instead,
goes up in
gives us bags with toiAunt Laura says, Troy,
flames, Troy would you lead us in
letries, and teddy bears
and blankets for the kids.
whispers, We prayer tonight?
Here are gift certificates
We a l l j e rk o u r
will come back heads
so you can get personal
up. My husband
stronger.
items like underwear
has faith in people,
and socks.
in goodness, in love.
There is something
But he has no faith in
about Franks ease that makes my religion. After a moment of hesitation,
shoulders relax. He is the first person he says, Yes. Id love to, actually.
weve talked to who gets it. He under- He begins, Heavenly Father, we thank
stands we have no drivers licences, no you for this meal tonight and for
Social Security [welfare programme] all the love in this room. We thank
cards, no bank cards, no birth cer- you for our family and friends, for
tificates. He knows utilities have to be the opportunity to be here together
cancelled and mail rerouted because he pausesand that we are alive.
there is no house where the charred His voice breaks. Please, God, help
mailbox stands. He gives us directions me get back on my feet, so that
and advice on how to begin again.
I can give back.
We go to my aunt Lauras house for
I squeeze his hand tight. Theres
dinner, Troy with a sprained ankle and a loud chorus of Amen. A few of us
me with a bandaged wrist and a burnt wipe tears away as we pass the mashed
ear. Aunts, uncles and cousins de- potatoes and pour the wine. Oh yes,
scend upon us with hugs and sniffling. please pour the wine.
FroM the book fire season by hollye dexter. CopyrIght 2015 by hollye dexter.
publIshed by she WrItes books, shewrites.com.

readers dIgest

JunE 2016

207

As Kids See It

Thats the deep end.

laKShMi VyDianaThan

My liTTle SiSTer waS at the doctors office for her annual check-up.
She was about three years old at the
time. The nurse was doing standard
208

June 2016

readers digest

coordination tests: touch your nose,

put your hands up, jump and so on.
Being a healthy, capable little devil,
she was doing everything fine. Then
the nurse said, Stand on one foot.
My little sister looked up at the
woman, looked down and hesitated.
Then she walked over and stood on
one of the nurses feet.
reddit.com
My nine-year-olD, Makrand, is

always curious about new things.

One day, I showed him US currency
notes in a magazine. Then pointing
towards Benjamin Franklin, he
enquired, Is this fellow their
Gandhiji?
JayVanT KUSUrKar, Ichalkaranji, Maharashtra

Conan d e Vries

My Three-year-olD, Indira,
has been learning that a lot of our
everyday products are made in
factories, which has given her an
interesting outlook. The other
day, we were passing through an
industrial part of town on the
drive to her daycare. She saw
billowing smoke coming out of a
building, got very excited and
said, Mama, look, that factory is
making clouds for us!

one Day afTer School, my six-

year-old, Nicholas, was talking

about marriage. I asked him, Are
you going to get married one day?
Yeah, he said. And maybe my
wife will have kids.You want to
have kids like you? I inquired.
After pondering over it for a brief
moment, he replied, I think Ill buy
a dog instead.
MeliSSa BaTT
My foUr-year-olD granddaugh-

ter, Ira, is a poor eater. So when she

finished her lunch, I asked her if she
felt happy after finishing her meals.
Yes, she replied.
Is your tummy happy too? I
asked, enjoying my interaction
with her.
No, came the curt reply.
Why not, I quizzed again.
Because my tummy does not
have a face!
ShaMBU GUPTa, Jammu
we haD JUST BoUGhT a home
and needed new curtains. I was
browsing different styles online when
my 11-year-old daughter, Laaibah,
asked what I was up to. Once I
explained, she replied, Oh, so this
time youre actually window
shopping.
SaBa farooq

anD one for The KiDS

q: did you hear about the angry
pancake?
a: He just flipped.
jokes4us.com

busy in conversation. OK, so is it

very big?
No mom!
All right, then it must be very small.
No mommy!
By now she had me confused. I
asked, Then what? After about five
seconds, came the reply, Its middle-aged, mommy!
Payal PaSha, New Delhi

yoU can GeT yoUr child to eat

stuff he doesnt like by disguising it
as stuff he likes, so Ill keep insisting
this pured spinach is an iPad.
@TheUGlyVolVo

a few MonThS aGo, my wife

showed a picture of herself at the age
of seven to our three-year-old
daughter. Do you know who this is?
she asked. My daughter gasped and
said, Thats me when Im bigger!
reddit.com

once when my daughter Aeyman

was four years old, she called out to

me in panic, Mommy! Our puppy
has a tick! I was unable to attend to
her as I was preparing dinner. I tried
to calm her down by keeping her-

Do your children make you chuckle?

Share the laughter with us! Readers
Digest will pay for your funny anecdote
or photo in any of our jokes sections.
Post it to the editorial address, or email:
[email protected]
readers digest

June 2016

209

Who

KNEW

13 Things

Sleep
Doctors

Wont Tell You

You may not need eight hours

of sleep. Latest research shows
the right amount is what leaves
you energized the next day. Im a
sleep doctor, and Ive been a sixand-a-half-hour sleeper my entire
adult life.
No one is immune to caffeine.
Even if you can easily nod off after
a cup of joe, the caffeine keeps you in
light stages of sleep. During sleep
studies, we see a difference on your
electrocardiogram (a recording of
your hearts electrical activity) from
just one cup of coffee.

210

June 2016

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Ive cured more insomnia than

you can imagine by telling
people its OK to fall asleep with the
TV on. A lot of people simply cant
turn off their brains, but watching
TV helps. Put it on a timer so it
doesnt disrupt your sleep later
in the night.
Many people cant sleep unless
soothing music is playing. Some
adults always sleep with teddy bears.
I even have one patient who has to
shake a leg vigorously for 15 minutes
while she falls asleep. I have no idea
why, but it works for her.

I llustratI on by s erge bloch

By Mic h e l l e c r o u c h

A nightcap doesnt work. It may

relax you so you nod off quicker,
but studies show youll wake up more
and get less of the REM sleep needed
to feel rested.

Have a snoring bed partner?

Hidden allergies are a big cause of
snoring. Congestion narrows nasal
passages, creating the vibrations that
cause snoring. A decongestant or an
antihistamine can help quieten it.

One woman was worried because

she woke up every day at 4 a.m.
and couldnt get back to sleep. But
when I asked her what time she went
to bed, she said 8 p.m. In certain
cases, you dont have insomnia;
youre just going to bed too early.

To calm a racing mind, write

down your worries and how youll
address them tomorrow. Then try a
mental exercise to occupy your brain,
like counting backwards from 100.

If you have insomnia, consider a

referral to a clinical psychologist
who specializes in sleep. They will
use an effective technique, cognitive
behavioural therapy, that gets to the
root of the problem. Some studies
show it works better than drugs.

10

Ditch the pyjamas. Sleeping

in the buff lets your skin
breathe and keeps your body cool,
which makes it easier to fall asleep
and sleep soundly. It also boosts
intimacy. One study found couples

who sleep naked are more likely

to report being happy in their
relationships.

11

Sleeping on your stomach

is the worst position for your
neck and spine. The best? On your
back with a pillow under your
knees for support.

12

Most people have no idea how

many strange sleep disorders
there are. People with REM sleep
behaviour disorder act out violent
dreams. Those with sleep paralysis
are awake but cant move for a few
seconds to a few minutes. Those with
exploding head syndrome experience loud noises in their heads as
they transition in and out of sleep.

13

I once treated a State Bureau

of Investigation agent, who
was taken out of the field because he
fell asleep during stake-outs. He had
severe sleep apnoea, so I put him on
a CPAP machine (which delivers
constant air to the nose). Two weeks
later, his wife hugged me and said,
Thank you for giving me my
husband back. As they walked out,
she handed me a stack of papers
and said, I wont need these
anymore. They were their divorce
papers. That kind of story is why
Im a sleep doctor.
sources: Board-certified sleep specialists stephanie
silberman, Phd, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Muhammad
Najjar, Md, at Northshore sleep Medicine in evanston,
illinois; Meir H. Kryger, Md, former chair of the National
sleep Foundation; and Michael Breus, Phd, author of
Good Night: The Sleep Doctors 4-Week Program to Better
Sleep and Better Health

readers digest

June 2016

211

Brain Teasers
Challenge yourself by solving these puzzles and mind-stretchers,
then check your answers on the next page.

out on the tiLes (Easy)

Which of the options below is
the missing tile?
a

?
Locking Doors

(Moderately
difficult)
Each of the symbols
in this diagram
represents a door
that is closed but
unlocked. When
you open a door,
all the other doors
with the same
symbol become
locked and cannot
be passed through.
How is it possible
to get from one
side of the maze to
the other?
212

JUne 2016

readers digest

65 40 25 15 10

JUne 2016

213

Figure equations
6. add the number of sides in the first two
figures in each equation, then subtract the
number of sides in the last figure to find
the number of dots.

(OUt On the tiles ) Ma rcel Danesi ; ( lOc king DOOrs) Darren r i gby

Locking Doors

Answers

26 16 10

readers digest

out on the tiLes

b. going from left
to right and top to
bottom, each tile
has one more
segment than the
preceding one.
therefore, the ninth
tile must have nine
segments.

52 32 20 12

the speckLeD
griD

15 9

or

48 30 18 12 6

number sieve
(From top to bottom) 8, 6,
5, 24 and 78. On the rows,
each number is the difference between the two
numbers immediately to its
left. Or, on the columns, the
numbers in the second,
third, fourth, fifth and sixth
cells are equal to the
product of the first cell
multiplied by four, two, five,
three and six, respectively.

?
39

13 8

(Moderately difficult) If the

numbers below are placed according to a rule, can you fill in
the five that are missing?
number sieve

?
the speckLeD griD (Easy)
Connect the dots to make three
rectangles of the same shape
and size. In doing so, use each
dot at least once.

Figure equations (Easy)

How many dots are required to
complete the fourth equation below?

Thats Outrageous!
The currenT deficit
monsoon, is perhaps
one of the harshest India
has faced in decades.
Due to an early onset
summerblame climate
change and El Nio
and years of bad
monsoon, Indias water
reserves are abysmally
low. It is estimated that
91 major reservoirs in
the country are at 19 per cent of their
capacity. And, only a little over 10 per
cent of the annually available
monsoon flows can be stored. Also,
more than 60 per cent of irrigated
land and 85 per cent of drinking water
supplies are dependent on
groundwater that is fast dwindling.
In a country where 68 per cent of
the net sown area is rainfed, and
drought-prone districts account for
42 per cent of the cultivable lands,
the water crisis spells greater trouble.
Among the worst hit are 13 states
including Maharashtra, Rajasthan,
Madhya Pradesh and Telangana.
Initial estimates show 33 crore people
in 2,55,000 villages have been affected
and many rendered homeless; 20 lakh
have migrated from Telangana alone.
Though water management is a
State subject, and the Centre can only
214

June 2016

REaDERS DigEST

offer resources and

advice, it has a role in
bringing about synergy.
The Interlinking of Rivers
project, proposed
decades ago, which seeks
to enable inter-basin
water transfer from
surplus to deficit regions,
is one such.
According to Shashi
Shekhar, secretary,
Ministry of Water Resources, the longterm answers lie in restoring
groundwater through rainwater
harvesting, smarter ways of irrigation,
containing physical leakages, using
treated greywater for non-potable
purposes, differential pricing of water
based on quality, and propagating
efficient water usage and conservation,
among others. Drought-proofing the
country has to be people-centric.
People must work together in a
manner that their needs are taken care
of by themselves, he says.
The Indian Railways is doing its bit
by transporting water to the affected
areas in some states, while the state
governments are furiously drafting
plans of action. But given the
emergency, we need swift damage
control and greater affirmative action.
SuchISMITA uKIL

i ndi api cture

THE DRY SPELL

it pays to enrich your

Word Power
This months quiz is for fans of the BBC series and Netflix favourite Sherlock,
as well as readers of the original mystery tales by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Sleuth out the meaningsor follow the trail to the next page for answers.
By E m ily Cox & H Enry r at Hvon

1. connoisseur (koh-neh-'sir)
n.A: swindler. B: expert.
C: paid informant.
2. faculties ('fa-kuhl-teez) n.
A: powers. B: intricate details.
C: sudden insights.
3. infallible (in-'fa-leh-buhl) adj.
A: never wrong. B: remaining
questionable or unsolved.
C: carefully balanced.
4. minatory ('min-uh-tur-ee) adj.
A: unethical. B: with a menacing
quality. C: subversive.
5. furtive ('fer-tiv) adj.A: nervous.
B: sneaky. C: tall and thin.
6. untoward (uhn-'to-word) adj.
A: illogical. B: strongly opinionated.
C: not favourable.
7. facilitate (fuh-'sih-luh-tayt)
v.A: make easier. B: confront.
C: unravel.
8. incisive (in-'siy-siv) adj.

A: urgent. B: doubtful.
C: impressively direct.

9. tenacious (tuh-'nay-shus)
adj.A: persistent.
B: well concealed.
C: supremely rational.
10. desultory ('deh-suhl-tree)
adj.A: yielding no clues.
B: hot and humid.
C: having no plan.
11. proficiency (pro-'fih-shun-see)
n.A: right-handedness.
B: likelihood. C: great skill.
12. illustrious (ih-'luhs-tree-uhs)
adj.A: graphic. B: eminent.
C: deceiving.
13. injunction (in-'junk-shun)
n.A: order. B: coincidence.
C: shot of medicine or drugs.
14. truculent ('truh-kyuh-luhnt)
adj.A: cruel or harsh.
B: puzzled.
C: of few words.
15. sardonic (sah-'doh-nik) adj.

A: carelessly dressed.
B: threatening.
C: mocking.
readers digest

June 2016

215

word power

answers
1. connoisseur[B] expert. Can
9. tenacious[A] persistent. Though
you recommend an art connoisseur? not very personable, Inspector Singh
the detective asked after the robbery can be as tenacious as a bulldog.
at the museum.
10. desultory[C] having no plan.
2. faculties[A] powers. The prose- After finding no clues at the crime
cution set out to test the full faculties scene, the police began what felt like
of the defence team.
a desultory search for evidence.
3. infallible[A] never wrong. Not
to worryour key witness has an
infallible memory, the lawyer said.

11. proficiency[C] great skill.

I claim no proficiency at lab work
but I am a huge CID fan!

4. minatory[B] with a menacing

quality. The thief gave his victim
a minatory gaze before leaving her
in the alley.

12. illustrious[B] eminent.

After an illustrious 30-year career,
Detective Reddy finally decided
to step down.

5. furtive[B] sneaky. I didnt for

13. injunction[A] order. For
one second trust the
failing to follow the
suspecthe has a cruel
injunction, Bunty
and furtive look.
was slapped with
Calling all
a fine of `5,000.
DEtECtivEs
6. untoward[C]
the term private
not favourable.
14. truculent[A]
eye alludes simply
Barring untoward circruel or harsh. The
to private i (short for
cumstances, said the
witness was
investigator). you
judge, well have a deunscathed by the
may also call such
cision by weeks end.
prosecutors
a person a tec (short
truculent remarks.
for detective), a gum7. facilitate[A] make

easier. The sergeant

needed at least one
more lead to facilitate
the investigation.
8. incisive[C]
impressively direct.
Guilty, the juror
offered in a most
incisive tone.
216

June 2016

shoe (from quiet, rubber-soled footwear), a

sleuth (from an old
norse word for trail),
a shamus (of yiddish
origin), or a hawkshaw
(from a detective in
the 1863 play The
Ticket of Leave Man).

readers digest

15. sardonic[C]

mocking. Catch me
if you can! cried
the felon with a
sardonic laugh.
voCaBulary ratings

9 & below: bloodhound

1012: junior detective
1315: master sleuth

Entertainment
our best picks of the Month

Films

Movie
of the
Month

Coming up in June is the Vidya Balan

and Amitabh Bachchan flick TE3N, a
murder mystery set in Kolkata. Nagesh
Kukunoors road movie Dhanak releases in
India after a successful run at several international film festivals, and Abhishek Chaubeys
much-awaited thriller on drugs, Udta Punjab, is
out as well. Also, watch out for the eponymous
Raman Raghav 2.0, based on a serial killer from
mid-1960s Bombay, which is trending on the
internet. Sequels to beloved moviesIndependence Day, Finding Dory and Teenage Mutant
Ninja Turtlesare Hollywoods entries in the
potential summer blockbuster shortlist. Were
also looking forward to Popstar, an AndySamberg mockumentary on celebrity musicians.

Television

Out on Netflix is the edgy animation

show Archerseveral seasons of spyparody goodness on your screen at a
small fee. This is also a good opportunity
to stream Rajat Kapoors heart-warming
film Ankhon Dekhi if you missed it in
theatres. DCs superhero heart-throb
Arrow, their version of an urban
American Robin Hood, is also available.
Dont forget to catch Aziz Ansaris 2013
comedy special Buried Alive.
readers digest

June 2016

217

e n t e r ta i n M e n t

Sports
More world-class football is on its
way: Euro 2016 starts in June as does
Copa America, so well see the best
European and American teams get
their acts together before they launch
preparations for the 2018 FIFA World
Cup. Also starting at the end of June
is Wimbledon. So the summer of
sports is truly here.

our pick of the month is

The Gene: An Intimate
History by siddhartha
Mukherjee, the pulitzerwinning author of The
Emperor of All Maladies.
the book discusses the
history of the gene and a
key question of the future:
What does humanity
become when we learn to
modify our own genetic
code? another title that
looks promising is kevin
kellys The Inevitable:
Understanding the 12
Technological Forces That
Will Shape Our Future.

218

June 2016

readers digest

Lef t: InDIA PICtuRe

BOOKS

Studio

ABSENCE PRESENCE: HOMAGE TO OUR MISSING NEIGHBOURS

By ViBha Galhotra, installation and staGed photoGraphs
Delhi-based artist Vibha Galhotras sensitive and thought-provoking art is
also socially responsible. Her large-scale sculptures often address the
shifting topography of the world under the impact of globalization,
yet the hint of playfulness is never lost in her art.
The Absence Presence series is a sharp commentary on the unravelling of our
environment. Galhotra uses disappearing sparrows as her protagonist in a
narrative, which captures nature being crushed in the midst of concrete. Through
her installations she wishes to highlight how nature is actively discarded from our
living surroundings, or urban Utopia, only to be remembered through emblems.
This installation is also hauntingly nostalgicit recalls a time gone by, simpler and
hopefulnot only because of the subject, but also the object. The bird figurines
were inspired by tin toys that the artist played with as a child.
Says Galhotra of the artwork: Our living environment is rapidly disappearing
as we slip through episodes of construction and buildingwe are
deconstructing our given boon.
reaDerS DiGeST

JUNE 2016

219

Quotable Quotes
Writing is
almost always
fun, almost
always misery.

I just have two

more words to
sayObama out.

J E R RY P I N TO , n o v e l i s t

B A R AC K O B A M A , U S P r e s i d e n t

I asked my elders, what would they do if all of us die one day, like
these snakes. They just laughed and smirked, but I knew I had to
make the planet greener.
JA DAV PAY E N G , F o r e s t M a n o f I n d i a

Youre not training to

be the best in the world.
Youre training to be
the best in the world
on your worst day.
RONDA ROUSEY,

I feel cornered
and targeted but
there are cupcakes
which we can
always fall back on.

Indian education should allow

a system of creativity, projectbased, experiential learning.
We should teach students to
take risks and not penalize
them for being different.
S U N DA R P I C H A I , C E O o f G o o g l e I n c .

The ax
forgets;
the tree
remembers.
A F R I C A N P R OV E R B

Rainwater will have to be our obsession.

Our future depends on it.
S U N I TA N A R A I N , e n v i r o n m e n t a l i s t

220

| JUNE 2016 | READERS DIGEST

FROM TOP : I NDIA PIC TURE, YOGEN SHAH,

K A N G A N A R A N AU T, B o l l y w o o d a c t r e s s

mixed martial artist

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