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According to a report by Kaspersky Labs, your personal data could be up for sale on the Dark Web for as low as Rs 3,500 (US$ 50). This includes everything you do online, right from your bank details to the games you play and the porn you watch. © Reuters Kaspersky Labs has been investigating markets on the Dark Web and discovered that the user's personal data often sells for a very cheap price. These sensitive credentials are a core part of everyone's life and with increasing online identity thefts and frauds, you may anytime be a victim. "This can include data from stolen social media accounts, banking details, remote access to servers or desktops, and even data from popular services like Uber, Netflix, and Spotify, as well as gaming websites, dating apps, and porn websites which might store credit card information" the report states. A single vulnerable account costs just US$ 1 and hackers sell them in bulk, which costs even lesser. These accounts could be your email, third party services, or even your own devices. © Reuters We come across major vulnerabilities in products every now and then and while companies strive to keep their systems secure, the internet has a history of compromised accounts. This is the primary reason why it's always recommended to have a different password for all your online activities. With two-factor authentication gaining wider support, it's always a healthy practice to keep it switched on. Hacked accounts may not only lead to financial loss but also contribute to identify theft. The perpetrator can use your identity for illegal actions, indirectly putting you in the line of fire. Another way to stay safe is never giving your credentials to untrusted websites or apps. One way to verify authenticity is to check the SSL certificate by clicking the green lock icon beside the URL. An encrypted transfer has become a basic norm for services and majority of the mainstream, sites have identity verification as well in the certificate. The Dark Web is a partitioned part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines. Many reside on encrypted networks like TOR and use proxy servers to hide their location and IP address. Hence, it becomes near to impossible for law enforcement agencies to track cybercrime. Source: The Economic Times

In-flight WiFi isn't a new concept, it has been available on numerous foreign airlines for years. But, these airlines were forced to turn-off connectivity services when in Indian airspace because our local laws do not permit usage of wireless services while flying. This is about to change and you will be able to make calls as well as access the internet during air travel and ship voyage within Indian territory thanks to the introduction of Flight and Maritime Connectivity Rules, 2018. The rules to allow in-flight calling and internet surfing in the Indian airspace could come as early as January, Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha has hinted. © Virgin Australia The Telecom Ministry has asked the Law Ministry to provide its inputs on in-flight connectivity rules, thereafter the rules are expected to pass through at a rapid pace. This year, the TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) had submitted recommendations on drafting the policy and the DoT (Department of Telecommunication) has promptly passed the proposal. The services will have to be provided by a valid telecom licence holder in India and usage of satellites will be permitted by the Department of Space. The services can be toggled on once the aircraft attains a minimum height of 3,000 metres to avoid radio interference with ground networks. © Reuters In October, SpiceJet had already announced it'll be the first Indian airline to offer in-flight WiFi since its Boeing 737 Max8 aircraft are already equipped with connectivity systems. The airline has also secured a service provider and is simply waiting for the governing policies to go live. When the DoT cleared TRAI's recommendations, premium airline Vistara and flag-bearer Air India were among the first to welcome the policy. While the latter has been struggling with debt and operational losses, it wouldn't surprise us to see Vistara offer in-flight WiFi soon considering its target customer is a business traveller. © YouTube / The dome on a SpiceJet 737 Max8 that enables connectivity Don't expect 4G LTE equivalent speeds though. In-flight connectivity is extremely tricky since these systems depend on ground-based transmitters, which means they only work overland. And, the ground-based systems have limited bandwidth and equipment onboard the aircraft have a long life-span of five to ten years. Hence, carrying out upgrades and providing speeds is outrageously expensive. Many airlines like Jet Airways, Vistara, and SpiceJet are currently offering in-flight entertainment or streaming via WiFi thanks to locally fitted networks inside the aircraft. A system locally stores the content, which is then streamed via WiFi to your device. This removes the need for individual displays for every seat while the passenger has more comfort. Source: Times of India

Arguably one of the greatest spinners in the history of the game, Anil Kumble won India more Test matches than any other bowler till date. Following in the footsteps of the great tall wrist-spinners Bill O'Reilly and his own idol BS Chandrasekhar, Kumble made the ball hack through the air rather than hanging in it, coming off the pitch with a kick rather than a kink. The unorthodox method provided him with stunning success, even if majority of his scalps came on Indian soil. Needless to say, that there was no more difficult challenge in cricket than negating Kumble on a wearing surface. But, if his artistry with the ball wasn't enough, Kumble continued to contribute towards the betterment of Indian cricket even after his retirement. Trading the bowling cap for a coach's hat, the 47-year-old took Team India to new heights in what was arguably the pivotal phase of Virat Kohli's new-age side. Ever since his appointment as India's head coach in June 2016, Kumble has witnessed India winning a dozen out of 17 Tests alongside four draws and just one loss that came against Steve Smith's men earlier in 2017. And, more importantly, India also retained their World No. 1 ranking in the longest version of the game. © BCCL But, despite the glorious and undeniably effective stint as India's coach, the veteran spinner, didn't just fail to get a worthy automatic contract extension, but he was humiliated to the core before being forced to resign from his post. In a heartfelt post on Twitter in June 2017, Kumble has stepped down as Team India's coach citing his untenable differences with skipper Kohli as the main reason. There were reports that Kohli even abused Kumble during one of the team meetings and played a pivotal role in his ouster. Thank you! pic.twitter.com/eF5qVzdBRj — Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) June 20, 2017 Since then, we've seen Ravi Shastri overshadowing many potential suitors to bag the lucrative role of India's head coach, Kohli deleting the welcome tweet for Kumble on his appointment as coach in 2016 and the sordid saga between Kumble and Kohli being deemed as probably the darkest hour for Indian cricket in recent times. But, no one really got to know if Kumble was actually at fault, or was it Kohli who forced the Indian cricket board to ask him to leave? After almost 18 months from Kumble unceremonious ouster, Diana Edulji, a member of BCCI's Committee of Administrators (CoA), has opened the can of worms amid the ongoing controversy in the Indian women's cricket. "Mr Kumble a legend in his own right was subjected to loss of face and made to look like a villain. He was gracious enough to move on for which I respect him. There also, rules were broken and I had raised objections back then," Edulji, a senior administrator, claimed. © BCCL Following his year-long contract as coach, Kumble, as claimed by the BCCI, was believed to be a "direct entry" into the pool of six applicants vying for the top job. The entire process was overseen by the CoA and the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) - which was comprised of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman. At the behest of the CoA, the CAC met Kohli to patch up the differences amicably, but failed. Nonetheless, the CAC informed the Indian cricket board that Kumble was its preferred choice. But, the BCCI extended its deadline to accommodate Shastri's application before finalising him as India's head coach. Edulji, who recently broke her silence, claimed that the entire selection process was fraught and it was, indeed, Kohli who had arm-twisted BCCI into breaking rules and hiring Shastri for the top job. Edulji's revelations come as part of her disagreement with Vinod Rai over the appointment of an ad-hoc committee to pick the Indian women's team head coach. While senior players like the T20I captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana requested the CoA and BCCI to continue with the interim coach Ramesh Powar, Rai opined that players cannot pick coaching staff through votes. © BCCL Irked by the comments of CoA head, Edulji, then, pointed to the example of Kohli playing the role of the decision-maker during Kumble's ouster. "Virat did not accede to Kumble continuing in spite of CAC saying so then why not these two players get what they feel is best for the team," Edulji wrote to Rai in an email. "I see nothing wrong in women cricketers writing emails reg the coach. "They were truthful in expressing their views unlike Virat who frequently sent SMS-es to the CEO on which you acted and there was a change in the Coach. There also I had objected and my dissent is recorded when the timelines were extended for someone to apply as he didn't apply in time," Edulji wrote. In response, Rai, too, admitted Kohli's hand in Kumble's ouster. "Yes- there were differences between Virat and Kumble. As a consequence of that Kumble stepped back," Rai replied. © BCCL Powar, who saw India reaching to the women's ICC World T20 semifinal last month, was expected to get a contract extension as coach. However, a bitter fallout with senior cricketer Mithali Raj, who accused the women's coach of humiliating her, spoiled his chances of getting an automatic contract extension. But, Edulji has raised a valid point in her emails. If Kohli can force the BCCI to get rid of Kumble, despite the former Indian cricketer taking the team to new heights, and hire Shastri, often labelled as a 'yes man', the women's cricketers, too, should have their say in appears to be a similar situation. There is no doubt over Kohli's achievements as one of the world's best batsmen and all that he has done to make the nation proud, but no cricketer is, or should be considered, above Indian cricket. And, Edulji's shocking revelations, sadly, highlight who's actually calling the shots in the men's team.

Even though the gentlemen's game started off with a basic all-white outfit in the field to begin with, glamour has finally caught up with the sport, and now it's perhaps more fashionable than any other sport. Indian cricketers, at the moment, are giving Bollywood actors a run for their money when it comes to being stylish, and brands are using that to their benefit, rightfully so. 2018 has witnessed a plethora of such instances, because cricketers in India now are more fashionable than ever. Here, we have compiled a list of 6 Indian cricketers who hit some huge fashion boundaries throughout the year. 1. Virat Kohli Virat Kohli got married last year, and his wedding outfit legit haunted Ranveer Singh - even after a year. If that doesn't say a lot about the man and his fashion sense, we don't know what else does. Virat's fashion game is as strong as his prowess on the field, and he has been proving it time and time again. © Instagram/viratkohli © Times Now © Instagram/viratkohli © Manyavar 2. Hardik Pandya Hardik Pandya is the poster boy of all things 'bling' in Indian cricket, and he clearly intends to take things far. Be it his statement outfits or funky jewellery, Hardik sure knows how to play it cool. © Instagram/hardikpandya93 © Instagram/hardikpandya93 © Instagram/hardikpandya93 © Instagram/hardikpandya93 3. KL Rahul When it comes to new talent in the Indian cricket team, KL Rahul is among the most promising faces. His fashion sense is also as intense as his boundaries on the field. © MensXP © MensXP © MensXP © MensXP 4. Manish Pandey Manish Pandey is one of the most promising faces when it comes to potential in terms of being a kickass middle-order batsman. His style game is also as promising. © Instagram/manishpandeyinsta © Instagram/manishpandeyinsta © Instagram/manishpandeyinsta © Instagram/manishpandeyinsta 5. Shikhar Dhawan Shikhar Dhawan's raw, edgy style statement is something every man looks forward to emulating in their daily lives. © Instagram/shikhardofficial © Instagram/shikhardofficial © Instagram/shikhardofficial © Instagram/shikhardofficial 6. MS Dhoni Captain Cool is not one to experiment a lot with his aesthetic, but his natural disposition in terms of classic style is something that works every time. © Instagram/mahi7781 © Instagram/mahi7781 © Instagram/mahi7781

India's biggest electronic music festival 'Sunburn' is a place where the biggest names in the EDM world come and perform for thousands of people. However one thing the festival does better than most is provide a platform for Indian artists to showcase their talents and go toe to toe with the international scene. We all know about the Nucleya's and DIVINE's of the Indian music scene. But, here are some other Indian artists we're excited to see at the Sunburn Festival this year: Ritviz © Facebook/Ritviz The music Ritviz produces is heavily influenced by his classical musical background. He's one of the most promising young artists in the country right now and if you haven't heard his mesmerizing sounds yet, the Sunburn Festival 2018 is the perfect place to begin. Sartek © Facebook/Sartek Sarthak Sardana was the first Indian DJ to be featured on Revealed Recordings. He's been the opening act for some really big names in the music industry including Martin Garrix and Justin Bieber when they performed in India. With performances alongside such megastars already under his belt, we're expecting something amazing from him for sure. Progressive Brothers © Facebook/Progressive Brothers The Progressive Brothers is an Electronic/Dance Duo act consisting of Sunny Sharma and Karan Bhalla. When it comes to electronic music in India, you can't get far without speaking about these brilliant performers. If you've ever been for one of their shows, you'll be pumped to hear them again for sure! What's more, The Progressive Brothers have performed with DJ Snake in the past. Who knows, an encore might just be around the corner... Anish Sood ©: Facebook/Anish Sood A mechanical engineer, Anish's first brush with electronic music was A State Of Trance. He's another one who has performed with some of the biggest names in the music industry including Axwell ^ Ingrosso, Tiesto, and Afrojack. He's been associated with Sunburn on multiple occasions in the past and we can only hope that this time is going to be bigger and better than ever before.

Ever since his appointment as captain, Virat Kohli, owing to his hard work and dedication to cricket, has been an example for his Team India mates. His leadership has allowed Indian cricket to scale new heights, while his artistry with the willow has impressed all. The Indian captain's focus on fitness, too, has inspired his teammates to step up their game in the gym. A brilliant batsman, great leader and a fitting role model for the youth; Kohli has checked all those boxes over the years. But, recently, far away from the cricket field, the Delhi cricketer showed everyone that he is also considerate and a good human being. In a touching gesture for his teammates, Kohli along with his wife Anushka Sharma - who are also celebrating their first wedding anniversary today - happily gave away their cosy business class seats to the Indian seamers during their trip from Adelaide to Perth. Witnessed @imVkohli & his wife give up their Business class seats to allow the Quicks more comfort & space on the trip from Adelaide - Perth !! Danger Australia .. Not only are the quicks more relaxed .. The Skipper is managing his troops with great human touches #AUSvIND — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 11, 2018 Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan, who is also in Australia as a cricket pundit, revealed that both Kohli and Anushka produced the heartfelt gesture for the Indian pace battery to ensure they felt more comfort during their flight to Perth. "Witnessed @imVkohli & his wife give up their Business class seats to allow the Quicks more comfort & space on the trip from Adelaide - Perth !! Danger Australia. Not only are the quicks more relaxed. The Skipper is managing his troops with great human touches #AUSvIND," former England captain tweeted. © Reuters Earlier, during India's memorable 31-run triumph over Australia in Adelaide, Kohli added yet another feather to his cap. For a man who has witnessed a marauding run this year, Kohli couldn't do much with the willow as he managed to score just 3 & 34 across two innings. But, even if his bat couldn't breathe fire, Kohli, with his impeccable leadership skills, still clinched the unique feat of becoming the first-ever Asian captain to win a Test match in at least South Africa, England and Australia. Though there are still three more Tests to go Down Under and Australia, despite the absence of their stalwarts Steve Smith and David Warner, still pose threat to India, the Kohli brigade, for now, can bask in the glory of a brilliant team effort that has allowed them to take a crucial 1-0 lead in what promises to be an exciting series.

Last month, when the selectors announced the Indian squad for the T20I series against West Indies and Australia, there was a lot of hue and cry over the exclusion of Mahendra Singh Dhoni - one of the most iconic cricketers in the country. While the fans slammed the Indian team management, Dhoni clarified that he ruled himself out of the two series before throwing his weight behind young Rishabh Pant as his successor behind the stumps. Not many were convinced with Dhoni's prediction about Pant, especially amid the availability of senior wicket-keepers Wriddhiman Saha (currently injured) and Dinesh Karthik still in the fold. However, contrary to popular perception, the team management and captain Virat Kohli placed their faith in fairly inexperienced Pant to come good and the youngster didn't disappoint. Repaying the faith of the selectors and Kohli, Pant, given the ever-changing match situations, added valuable runs (25 & 28) to the Indian total across the two innings at the Adelaide Oval. But, his biggest contribution in India's 31-run triumph in the first Test came from behind the stumps. © AP Proving his predecessor Dhoni right, Pant equalled the world record of most catches taken by a wicket-keeper in a single Test match. The Delhi cricketer took 11 catches against Australia in Adelaide and matched the heroics of Jack Russell and AB de Villiers - both of whom were earlier standing tall with the unique feat. The 21-year-old caught six batsmen - Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Tim Paine, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood - in the first innings and then took five more catches in the second. Pant equalled the world record for most catches in a single Test in the 101th over when Mohammed Shami got Starc to edge one through to the Indian wicket-keeper. © AP Russell, De Villiers and Pant are now followed by Bob Taylor, Adam Gilchrist and Saha who have taken 10 catches apiece in a single Test match. Pant is now the only Indian at the top of the list, overtaking Saha at the Adelaide Oval. Overall, Pant has already taken 31 catches in six Tests and, should he improve his wicket-keeping skills, the youngster can surely give Saha a run for his money as India's first-choice keeper in the longest version of the game.

The Prestigious Indian Army has a simple motto for training its cadets: 'we first break you, then make you'. Boys go through gruelling weeks of physical hardship and come out as men fit enough to serve the nation at times of war. Once soldiers are inducted, the Army ensures they are prepared (mentally & physically) to perform at their absolute best, even in extreme circumstances. However, the Army demands certain prerequisites before you can join. The First Physical Test You Need To Clear Is The 1600 M Run. Note: This test is conducted for non-commission entries for the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force and equivalent ranks in Police & Paramilitary forces. © Quora You will get 5 minutes and 45 seconds to cover 1600 M, one second more and you fail. Boys completing the run in 5 minutes 30-45 seconds are taken in Group 2 and allotted 48 marks. For those who complete it in 5 minutes and 30 seconds or less, are taken in Group 1 and allotted 60 marks. The Biggest Mistake Aspirants preparing for this test run for hours trying to increase their stamina. This is an absolute waste of time. There is a simple principle called 'specificity' in exercise science- if you want to get good at 'something' like long jump, do that 'thing' instead of ballet dancing. Passing a 1600 meter run in minimum time is not merely about stamina, it also requires speed and strength. Thus, you need to train accordingly and enhance all those three capabilities. The following training plan will help you to cover 1600M in minimum time and secure you in Group 1 with 60 marks: Workout 1: Run 1600 M In Minimum Time Measure 400M distance and cover its 4 rounds with minimum time. If on the first day it takes you 7 minutes to cover this distance, aim for 6 minutes and 45 seconds the next day and gradually, come down to 5 minutes and 30 seconds and under. Workout 2: 100 M Sprints Maximum Laps Measure 100M distance and sprint as fast as possible. Then walk back slowly, settling your breath and sprint again. Repeat this continuously for 10 minutes. Your goal should be to cover maximum laps in 10 minutes. If on the first day you could do 5 laps in 10 minutes, aim for 6 the next time. Try beating your previous best with each training session. © Quora Workout 3: Full Body High-Intensity Training This workout is for strengthening your muscles to run 1600 M as fast as possible. Start with 10 Burpees, followed by 10 Jump Squats, followed by 10 Box Jumps and at last, 10 Body Weight Lunges (each leg). Rest 5 minutes after this and repeat this cycles four more times. Needless to say, you are not supposed to perform all these workouts in one day itself, as it will simply burn you out. Here is how you have to arrange your training. Day 1 Run 1600 M in minimum time Day 2 Run 100 M sprints maximum laps Day 3 Rest Day 4 Run 1600 M in minimum time Day 5 Full body high-intensity training Day 6 Rest Day 7 Repeat Cycle Important: Rest is a crucial part of this training for boosting recovery. Perform all workouts only once per day for the initial four weeks. From the fifth week onwards, perform all workouts twice per day (morning & evening). Best of luck! Yash Sharma is a former national level Football player, now a Strength Coach, Nutritionist and Natural Bodybuilder. He also runs a YouTube Channel Yash Sharma Fitness via which he aims to educate all the fitness enthusiasts to maximize their gains by methods that are backed by science and applicable easily. Connect with him on YouTube, YashSharmaFitness@gmail.com, Facebook and Instagram.

It's sad that history often finds itself buried under layers of dust. Time moves on and people forget. A true example of what I am talking about here is this book called 'Muscle Control And Barbell Exercise'. Before you think it's a western giving, let me tell you that it was written right here in India in 1930. Shocked, right? Yup, so was I. Soon I got hold of it and of course, I went through it. Here's why it's a gem of Indian bodybuilding history. Astounding Facts © Muscle control and Barbell Exercise The mere fact that this book was authored by two Indian men – Ghosh and Sen Gupta in the pre-independence era is enough to get the surprise going. India has a rich history of wrestling and other martial arts but who knew that we had thriving bodybuilders almost 100 years back?! Yes, this book is proof of the culture that nobody knew about. Indian bodybuilding history usually starts with Manohar Aich, the very first Mr. Universe from India. His bodybuilding legacy still inspires millions. This book was authored a good 25 years before the rise of Aich on the world bodybuilding arena and even served him as a guide. If this doesn't shock you, I don't what will. Bodybuilding Was A Western Giving. Or Was It? Now a lot of people can debate that East India Company officers bought bodybuilding to India. Well, we don't really know anything about it. What we very well know that this book was authored by two very-well-built and highly-educated-science-graduate- muscle heads. That's evident and can't be challenged. There was a small but highly enthusiastic bodybuilding that thrived here even 17 years before the birth of Arnold Schwarzenegger, the God of bodybuilding. This book alone challenges the notion that bodybuilding was a western giving. The Do-It-No-Matter-What Attitude It was 1930. Half the country struggled for Independence while the British were busy looting whatever was left. Safe to say, India was anything but prospering. So it's anybody's guess that what all equipment these bodybuilders would have had access to. No proper gymnasiums, make shift equipment, no books to read and no internet to find gurus. These guys still pushed ahead and built muscle. There's in fact a detailed chapter in the book about 'isolating thoughts from every distraction and focus on lifting'. Hands down, this is as raw as it can get. The Authors And Inspirations For Them This is Mr. K.C. Sen Gupta (B.A). He authored the Barbell training part of the book. © Muscle control and Barbell Exercise This is Mr. B.C Ghosh (B.Sc). He authored the muscle control part of the book. © Muscle control and Barbell Exercise By the looks of it, both were hardcore muscle-heads and packed on very good mass according to 1930 standards. Both the guys together travelled across Bengal and found that neither was there any awareness about muscle training and nor were any gyms. This is when they took it upon themselves to author this book. They Believed In Systematic And Scientific Approach To Muscle Growth These guys emphasized specially on something that's widely missing even today in the Indian bodybuilding culture: a science-based approach. There are stupid desi gurus everywhere! These guys were straight up scientists with their exercises. Even with food, they recommend eating 3-4 times a day to get bigger and get in more calories. Sleep was highly emphasized on for as they called 'the students of physical culture'. The things I read about posing and muscle control still apply to this day. Yes, everything you will read here is still practiced throughout the world in bits and pieces. With this article, I have put in my share of taking this incredible book to the Indian muscle and fitness heads. Here's the link here for all of you to read it! Share this article and play your part.

Have you ever been irritated by the stereotypical portrayal of Indian men on international shows and movies? We delved into what causes this underrepresentation of Indian men in pop culture and western media. The Big Bang! I recently started re-watching 'The Big Bang Theory' and was aghast at what I had overlooked in my previous viewing; the terrible portrayal of Rajesh Koothrappali. © Warner Bros. Television Raj, played by Kunal Nayyar, is an Indian-origin astrophysicist at Caltech University in Pasadena. He is shown as a shy, sensitive and metrosexual immigrant who joins the other three scientists in their daily adventures. Or that is what they want you to believe. People can't pronounce his name (which is funny for some reason I don't get), he is weird, and as the series progresses his character become more dodgy, awkward and irritating. He is always saying the wrong things and is always given the worst end of the stick. via GIPHY Instead of showing shyness, like normal people have, he is shown as a terribly awkward guy who has selective mutism, an inability to talk to women unless under the influence of alcohol or medication. Moreover, this continues for six whole seasons. Are you kidding me? His clothes, hairstyle and his accent are atrocious, they seem to make him look fresh off the boat. He is perpetually sorry for his actions and is somewhat ashamed of his origins. In nearly every episode, he is demeaned by all the characters at least once, and mostly the jokes are about his immigrant status. Again, his character is the only one which shows no development, even after 11 seasons now. He is constantly ridiculed by the others, especially Howard, with racist humor, barbs at his sexuality or his area of expertise. His Indian accent is made fun of, with yet again Howard mocking him or the fact that his relationships never progress beyond two dates, yet the other characters, quirky enough but not desperate like him, manage to have a better life. I get it that his character is used for comedy relief but some of the dialogue is extremely offensive; like their comparison of him and Penny having *** to Catherine the Great having *** with a horse, where is the comedy here? Or the fact that all his cousins work in call centers or the help desk is manned by an Indian person. Humor and racism are both different things; a racist joke is not humorous, however funny it may sound. Don't even get me started on the way they ridicule Indian food as if it has nothing more to offer than gravy. For a show which has had such a long run, shouldn't it update itself with the status and heritage of the person you are portraying? It makes one wonder that if they pulled out his character out of the show, would it really matter to the plot? O Ganesha! Could We Have Some Curry? This got me thinking, that why even after so many years and stupendous technological advancements, the advent of social media, pop culture is still stuck with their stereotypical portrayal of Indians. Be it Apu from The Simpsons, Raj from The Big Bang Theory, Ravi from Jessie and more. Furthermore, they hardly have Indian women in shows, and even if they have one her fate is even worse than her male counterparts, case in point is Archie Punjabi as Kalindi Sharma from “The Good Wife”; her character started off as a new outlook towards Indians, with her bisexuality and bad-ass attitude and unaccented English, only for her to be kept away at the sidelines as the series progressed. Mindy Kaling (The Mindy Project), Indira Varma (Game of Thrones) and Priyanka Chopra (Quantico) have still seen better success than their contemporaries but yet again these are only a few names. If you look at shows from the 80s to the recent past, Indian men in Western media seem to be stuck with tropes: A taxi driver, a nerd, an awkward guy with a funny accent, a shopkeeper or the first person to die in a thriller, or a call-center executive. Can't we have an Indian man who is a CEO or not a shopkeeper? © 20th Century Fox Television How many times have you looked at something or someone being shown as Indian and cringed inwardly at the conspicuous inaccuracy? No, we do not stuff our faces with gravy/curry every time we sit to eat or say “O Ganesha” with every sentence and neither do we bobble our heads to answer questions. In Hollywood, Anupam Kher, with his versatility, is still cast in stereotypical roles of either the old, Indian doctor or the archaic grandfather. © The Weinstein Company Irrfan in 'Life of Pi' was a breath of fresh air, but one needs to remember that the director, Ang Lee was Asian and better intimated with Indian portrayals. Yet after many movies in Hollywood, his acting caliber is yet to be used to its potential; he is mostly cast as the bad guy or some other supporting role. © 20th Century Fox Writers of these shows, sitcoms or movies seem to be stuck with their idea about Indian men in general or just don't care about their portrayal. Good material for these characters is seldom written. If it is written, it is never a valued opinion or another sexist/racist joke or a way to show that they are fed up with the Western culture. They are just introduced to keep the hullaballoo created for diversity and inclusivity of people of color in media at bay. It is their job to show the reality, unclouded by their judgement. Countless western shows still have a narrow and stereotyped view of Indian men on the TV. What they fail to realize is that it shows India as a country which has nothing better than free labor, call centers or cows. The exotic appeal of India is used for mostly spiritual realizations or a place from where you can outsource people for minimum cost. via GIPHY Indians are more than people with a funny accent or call center jobs, Indian men are more than awkward nerds or taxi drivers. These shows propagate a typecast image or their prejudiced version of Indians. It leads to the undue rise in bullying and stereotyping of Indian people. There were recent reports about a rise in bullying and harassment of people in the States because of how much they resembled Apu. Even beloved 'FRIENDS' was quick to put in thoughtless, unresearched Indian facts just for humor's sake. Remember when Ross tries to call posing as Phoebe's Indian ex-boyfriend, Vikram Mukherjee who is a kite-designer and glue-sniffer? Or Rachel thinking that a baby poops a lot of times because it is being fed Indian food? Apu from 'The Simpsons', who seems to be the forerunner for this horrible representation, has a funny accent and has as many Indian stereotypes as possible; his cow-worshipping, his food habits, et al. He seems to have furthered the view of all Indian men having the same accent and weird habits. Thank You, Come Again What is even more upsetting is that instead of roping in an Indian actor, actors of mostly American/European descent are chosen to play Indian characters, like Hank Azaria for Apu's voice. It isn't that there is a dearth of good actors in Hollywood; Kal Penn, Naveen Andrews (Lost), Sendhil Ramamurthy (Heroes) who have the same ethnicity as the character demands, yet people of color hardly see success. Hollywood has been notorious for putting brownface make-up on actors for roles that could have been done by Indian actors. Fisher Stevens as Ben Jabituya in “Short Circuit”, Peter Sellers as Hrundi V. Bakshi in “The Party”. Though I am hardly someone to comment on their acting ability, (Peter Sellers did a great job) it would have been amazing to see an Indian actor, for example, Naseeruddin Shah to portray Mr. Bakshi, wouldn't it? © A Blake Edwards Production Remember that ad for Popchips where Ashton Kutcher showed up in brownface make-up, complete with a Sherwani, an accent and weird dance moves? He is a Bollywood producer named Raj looking for the most delicious thing on Earth. His portrayal rightfully garnered the ire of Indians and the ad was pulled down. © Youtube Movies and shows go on to further the stupid notion of India being a poor, illiterate country obsessed with Yoga, snakes, monkeys, cows and jewelry with streets filled with filth, ruffians and lecherous men and women with a purdah. Things that might have been okay some decades ago, they aren't relevant now. Fuller House had a whole episode dedicated to Kimmy Gibbler planning an Indian themed party; what she ends up with is an actual cow at the party with people in ridiculous costumes and a lot of outdated non-humorous Indian jokes. Seriously? Is that what India is to the world? Come on, it is 2018 and India is progressing on the World map. It is no longer the country of people who worship cows or drive taxis around New York or runs convenience stores in America/UK. Asha Kayam Hai! Aziz Ansari's 'Master of None' (S01E04) touches upon this exact topic in the series. The episode stresses upon the fact that certain people in the entertainment industry have a set of preconceived notions about Indian men and they will continue to do so, even if the reality is starkly different. © Universal Television In the episode, Aziz's character, Dev, is asked to speak in an Indian accent for the role of a taxi driver, even though he doesn't have one, which lays bare the fact previously pointed out. When confronted about it, the casting director iterates the sentiment that Indian people have an accent as though it's a fact. These shows need to make more efforts in researching and stop putting prejudiced opinions. We have a CEO at Google who is of Indian descent; he doesn't wear a lungi to office or speak with an unintelligible accent. It's high time these shows show the relevant picture. India has come a long way, it's imperative to show the people what it has achieved. Branding the men as awkward doofuses who only know how to work a computer and can't hold an intelligent conversation with a woman or can't speak to one is offensive and wrong. It might be funny to the viewers, but the real deal is different. Any show where the Indian appeal is strong goes on to be branded an alcove show, more so if the characters are different than what TV has made you to believe. So, if the characters are not working for the show, instead of misrepresenting their heritage or using them for bland humor, do away with the characters. The pseudo-inclusivity is worse than misrepresentation. Though all is not bleak, with a re-invent in the story-telling capabilities and inclusion of people of color being pushed forward with greater vigor, Western media is taking baby steps. © HBO Entertainment Apu from 'The Simpsons' is hoping to see a better narrative now, with a few Apu-centric episodes and a better outlook towards his character. But would it be the case had an Indian-descent actor depicted him? And why so late? After a series of complaints, expedited by Hari Kondabolu's documentary “The Problem with Apu” , the series put out a half-hearted apology showing Apu with a card saying “Don't have a cow.”. With Dev Patel (The Newsroom), Rahul Khanna (The Americans), Aziz Ansari (Master of None), Riz Ahmed (The Night Of), Hasan Minhaj (Homecoming King), Naveen Andrews (Lost), and Karan Soni (Deadpool) holding the baton and changing the perception of Indian men and showing a true image, the media still have a lot of work to do when telling the story of these characters and changing the viewer's psyche and perception. We can see that a shift is upcoming, with a few shows and movies trying to rectify the stereotypical portrayals. Let's hope it's a perennial waterfall and not just a receding wave.

Whenever I ask someone about their favourite Indian author before they answer, there is a certain smirk on their face; somehow Indian readers find Indian authors to be not at par with their international counterparts, which is heartbreakingly appalling. Other people respond with the robotic "Chetan Bhagat", “Durjoy Dutta”. Though these authors might be good at what they are doing (I hardly agree), their hogging of the limelight results in the dismissal of their much eloquent contemporaries. I do not believe that Chetan Bhagat's novels contribute or even account to good literature. Unfortunately, most people wouldn't agree with me on this, but everyone is entitled to their opinion (however wrong it might be :P). My guess would be that most of these people haven't read quality Indian literature, if they have read Indian novels, their scope has been limited to the likes of Chetan Bhagat, Durjoy Dutta or Ravinder Singh, whose writing is mediocre at best. Contrary to popular belief, India has the finest talents for writing across the globe. It is upon us to explore these authors and be enlightened by their amazing literary works. © Wikipedia International novelists have more appeal in India compared to Indian ones because these feature on the cover of every other bookstore you see, also foreign authors have a charm notwithstanding. Indian media and most reviewers don't cover the work of budding, intelligent writers or post favourable reviews about their work extensively. Only some popular or celebrity writers seem to be the toast of the town even though their writing might be shoddy at best, while the other unrewarded Indian authors get feted at international events but are looked down upon by the home public. © Alamy No wonder most prolific authors move to countries where their talents are better valued. My point is that one should certainly read novels by international authors but should not get stuck on just American or British writers, as Indian authors have a lot to offer. Widen your horizon; Mr. Rabindranath Tagore didn't just get a Nobel for writing a book of poems, he put his heart and soul in it, try to admire the work that goes behind it. You'll be surprised by the gold you can find in the heart of India's literary culture. Though all is not dreary, recent literary festivals and efforts by publishing houses have increased the interest of young readers to read more material written by quality Indian authors. Here are six such prolific Indian authors who have carved a niche for themselves in the literary world with their soul-stirring writing: (Note: These are Indian/Indian-origin writers who write in English) 1. Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni: © Twitter Born in Calcutta and now based in the United States of America, Chitra Banerjee is an accomplished writer, poet and a professor of Writing at the University of Houston. She writes on themes of myth, religion, realism, fiction and most of her novels are based around South Asian protagonists who have immigrated to a foreign land or about the real value of knowing one's true self. Her dreamy prose and lucid writing are some of the best things about her novels. Her novels are beautiful love letters to a reader's heart. Her Popular Works: . The Palace of Illusions: Mahabharata, through the eyes of Queen Draupadi, the novel charts the epic with a new perspective. Written in an uninhibited tone, the writing is clear, and you will feel as though the protagonist is talking to you directly, as a friend does. Some passages are sure to give you goosebumps and Krishna is sure to hit home with his wisdom. One of the best mythological-fiction novels, it traces a tragic romance between Draupadi and the ever-doomed, handsome Karna with the backdrop of the greatest war of all time, asking the age-old question; what is more important: love or duty? You will be left guessing whether it could really have been. . The Mistress of Spices: When Tilo, a spice mistress from a magical island, moves to Oakland, California to help fulfil the destiny of the people who visit her shop with help from the spices, she is unaware of the predicament she will fall into when she starts developing feelings for an American man. How it'll change her role as the spice mistress and will the spices ever forgive her will keep you hooked till the end. The crisp way in which the lead character talks and handles situations is one of the highlights of this one. 2. Jhumpa Lahiri: © YouTube Jhumpa Lahiri is a British-American author of Indian origin, but it is her writing that is so true to her Indian roots that makes her more relatable to us. Born in London as Nilanjana Sudeshana Lahiri, currently based in the United States of America, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Jhumpa Lahiri is one of the best authors on the block. She dabbles with essays in English and Italian as well. Her prose is lucid, eloquent and elusive; just as a boat travels on a swift current of a stream, Jhumpa's words set up the reader's soul on an orgasmic journey of happiness and self-realization. She writes with dexterity and her aptitude for human emotions is unmatched. You will be left pondering over the words long after you have stopped reading, there's a certain nostalgia in the way she writes. Her Popular Works: . The Namesake: When the newly-wed Ashima moves to America with her husband, Ashok, it sets into motion a journey of adapting to a new way of life, not just for her but for both, and the family that they make for the rest of their lives. A struggle to be true to one's roots while trying to fit in a new place full of strangers is what makes this novel a compelling read. . Interpreter of Maladies: Containing nine short stories, this collection which earned her the Pulitzer Prize, touches upon subjects of importance, mostly stressing on immigrants staying in a new environment and their fight to have it all. All stories are beautifully poised and written with the utmost perfection; each story strikes a chord with your heart. 3. Amish Tripathi: © Wikipedia The author who started a revolution with his avant-garde novels; featuring gods and goddesses who start off as humans and reach a state of divinity through their deeds, is a fresh take on mythological fiction. An IIM-educated, former investment banker, he is a full-time, much-awarded, versatile author who is changing Indian writing and the perception of Indian readers. Owing to his financial acumen, his promotion strategies are top-notch like the video trailers for book releases and social media hashtags. His novels give a new perspective on old stories and break the stereotype attached to divine beings. The main theme of his novels is that on the road to divinity, everyone needs to walk the path of humanity. No one starts off heavenly, its one's deeds and actions which make them divine. Another great part of his writing is his liberal ideas and gender equality which is present throughout his novels. His Popular Works: . The Shiva Trilogy: The trilogy charts the journey of Shiva, a gifted human who is fated to be the Neelkanth and his ultimate attainment of the status of God. It also follows his struggles and the trials and tribulations he must face along the way and the politics of the land of Meluha, with the mastermind behind it being Daksha. Superbly written, it turns old fables and stories about gods we have heard from our grandparents into a novel par excellence; be it the infrastructure of the land of Meluha created by Lord Ram, the story about Sati or the tale of the Vayuputras. All the elements of the epics have been incorporated so well, with a storyline so elegant and streamlined, and well-etched characters that it is sure to become one of your favourites. . The Ramachandra Series: Serving as a prequel to the Shiva Trilogy, this series will focus on Lord Ram and how he created Meluha and overcame his shortcomings, it will also focus on Lady Sita and Raavan. The Scion of Ikshvaku follows Ram's birth, his education and eventual exile. It shrewdly observes Raavan's influence on India, following his win over King Dasharth. 'Sita: Warrior of Mithila', reimagines Sita as a skilled warrior princess who oversees the workings of Mithila. The novel follows her through her childhood, marriage to Ram and eventual kidnapping during the exile. 'Raavan: Orphan of Aryavarta' will focus on Raavan and is yet to release. 4. Salman Rushdie: © Pinterest Born in Bombay during British India, Sir Salman Rushdie is regarded as one of the best authors of all time. Though his prose is a bit tedious, with his affinity to use grandiose words, his plotlines are exceptional and formulate quality literature. 'Midnight's Children', his second novel, garnered him the Booker Prize in 1981 and a lifetime of accolades. Not only is he an effusive writer, but he has also dabbled in copywriting; his best work being the tagline “That'll do nicely” for American Express. His debonair charm and colourful personality are well-documented; he can sweep women right off their feet with his wit and wordplay. His Popular Work: . Midnight's Children: It follows Saleem Sinai, who was born at the stroke of midnight on 15th August 1947, at the exact moment when India became independent. The novel charts out the life of Saleem, who is blessed with telepathic powers, and his life after India's independence; his ability to communicate with other gifted children born at the same time and how he starts a “Midnight Children's Conference” which discusses the problems of a newly-freed India. With the main theme of magical realism, this novel is a case-study on politics and how it affects human emotions. 5. Kiran Desai: © Facebook Born in Delhi, the Man Booker Prize- awarded author Kiran Desai is another feather in India's literary cap. The daughter of Anita Desai (a thrice Man Booker Prize-shortlisted author), Kiran's fulsome writing and poised prose has garnered her praise from the likes of Salman Rushdie. A knockout first novel 'Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard' followed by the awarded 'The Inheritance of Loss', Desai is a reader's delight. Her Popular Work: 1. The Inheritance of Loss (2006): With the Gorkhaland movement as a backdrop period, the novel focuses on Biju, an undocumented immigrant in the USA and Sai, an Anglo-Indian girl in India. With themes of colonialism and cultural differences which furthers a sense of loss, the novel puts forth the fact that humans inherit not only genes but the losses of the previous generations as well. It brings forward the unrestrained nature of human emotions; apparent by the characters' demeanour, some who mock Indian traditions, others who are still angry with the British for ruining their lives. 6. Vikram Seth: © Twitter Who hasn't seen the ginormous novel, 'A Suitable Boy', perched upon the high shelves any bookstore with Vikram Seth's name embossed on it? Vikram Seth is one of the most intelligent writers when speaking of Indian writers; his writing style is impeccable. Not only is he a great writer, but his poetry is also heart-warming; which is apparent in his collection, 'Mappings'. If that is not enough, he is also one of the foremost gay rights activists in India who started a campaign against Section 377. Felicitated with numerous awards like the Sahitya Akademi Award, Padma Shri, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, et al; Vikram, born to Indian parents in Kolkata, currently lives in London. His recent work includes the long-awaited sequel for 'A Suitable Boy', called 'A Suitable Girl'. His Popular Work: 1. A Suitable Boy (1993): Spread over 19 parts, this 1349-page novel encompasses Mrs. Mehra's quest to find a suitable boy for her daughter, Lata. 19-year-old Lata is a headstrong, opinionated young woman of a post-partition, newly-independent India, who doesn't want to settle down. Her diffidence is looked down upon by her mother and her insistent brother, Arun. Set against the backdrop of the elections of 1952, Hindu-Muslim riots and feudal caste systems; Lata is caught in a dilemma to choose between her three suitors: Kabir, Haresh and Amit. Keep guessing on who she will end up with! Written in rhyming couplets, each part has a different subplot focus and major themes of the abolition of the Zamindari system, caste-differences make this a magnum-opus whose grace can only be understood by people who read it. Frequently compared to the likes of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace, this is one novel you must read. So, go get hold of one of these novels; it will surely change your perception of Indian authors.

What do you do when you realise your four-years worth of engineering degree isn't quite living up to your expectations, and the sound of your career path ascending towards global partnerships isn't something you are looking forward to anymore? Well, we are not sure about what anyone else would do in such a situation, but here is what Shantanu did - he bid adieu to his engineering degree from NIT Nagpur and quit his fancy job at McKinsey, to give men the best shaves of their lives. No, really. We are not kidding. © MensXP Shantanu Deshpande, a computer science engineer by degree and working with a globally recognised management consulting company McKinsey, ditched the “good life” in the blink of an eye, to give the smoothest shaving experience to the urban male population in India. It was a conversation with his US-based childhood friend Manu that really triggered the idea of setting up one of India's best selling men's grooming brand, Bombay Shaving Company, in October 2015. The conversation that revolved around the boom in men's grooming startups in the United States, and how these new and quirky newbies were taking on FMCG giants like Gillette, sent Shantanu into a tizzy, with the need to explore similar opportunities closer to home. After much research and deliberation, as well as detailed discussions with industry veterans, Shantanu realised that it was the right move to shake up the underserved and monopolised market - and there lay his chance! © MensXP Shantanu along with his Raunak Munot, Deepu Panicker and Rohit Jaiswal took the big plunge and co-founded the company playing on each one of their strengths, that seemed to completely fit with the company's core needs. What started out as 500 annual shipments in 2016, has scaled up to 10,000 shipments a month today. What's even better news for Shantanu is that the official website sees 300,000 average visitors every month! Today, Bombay Shaving Company functions on both online and offline routes of business, and their products are spread across four categories, namely shaving, bath, beard and skin. With a team of 60 young professionals, Bombay Shaving Company is trying to create a product range that distinctly stands out for its credible product quality. © MensXP Along with product innovations that the brand is trying to bring to their individual products, they are also trying to incorporate consumer feedbacks in their newest productions. Be it their single blade neo-retro razor or the beard care starter kit, each of their creation reflects the amount of research and passionate involvement that the final product has gone through. It is Shantanu's vision and desire to see his team grow to its fullest potential, all with risks, mistakes and failures, that makes this brand so different from others. With these guys being so invested in grooming the urban men to perfection, the future for Bombay Shaving Company only seems more bright. © MensXP Learn about the many challenges and successes that Shantanu's decision reaped in the longer run, and how Bombay Shaving Company went on to fulfill Shantanu's larger dream of seeing well-groomed men walking the face of this earth, in this exclusive conversation with MensXP.

We have come a long way from taking pride in being the Alpha male to realising that life works the best when men and women walk together. There's still a lot of ground to cover but where we are right now, is far better than where we were yesterday. The modern man has accepted the true meaning of the 'other half.' Now, a man and a woman equally build a household, divide chores, and live an equally dependable life. No longer the term 'it's not a man's job' or 'women aren't supposed to do that' has a place in the modern generation. With this redefined generation, it's time we redefine our marriage vows also. Following are 7 such marriage vows which are full of love, care, and equality. Say these lines to assure her that you're the right man for her: 1. I promise to always love you like the day I fell in love with you! Relationships break because we stop loving our partner the way we did initially, at the start of the relationship. Taking your partner for granted is the worst thing you can do to your marriage. Promise her that you will always love her like the way you did in the initial days. 2. I promise to be always there for you, and your family! A woman leaves everything for you; her house, her parents, and even her surname. Promise her that you will always be there for her and her family in sickness and in health. This is the least you can do. 3. I promise to always deal with all your tantrums, just the way I did while I was trying to woo you! Remember the initial days when nothing about her bothered you and you were fine with anything she did? If those things didn't bother you then, it should never bother you. People barely change, we just start looking at them differently. She will always be the same girl you were trying to woo. Don't complain about her habits or tantrums after she is wooed. 4. I promise I would never force you to follow a tradition, and we will fight the society together Not every woman is comfortable with changing her name after marriage, or to keep a fast for your well being, or to cover her face 24 x 7 with a piece of cloth. If you truly love her, be open and accept that her views on tradition may be different from your or your family's. Promise her that you won't force her to do anything which she isn't comfortable with and that you will stand by her side if the society questions her. 5. I promise to never lie to you (how many drinks I had is an exception)! A relationship doesn't sustain if it lacks truth and trust. Promise her that you will always tell her the truth, and there's no space for lying in your relationship. 6. I promise to always work towards resolving our issues and not dragging the fights. Every couple fights. That's natural. What you do next is what defines your relationship. Promise her that you will always work towards resolving the issue and would never let her sleep angry. A great marriage deserves that kind of a commitment. 7. I promise to make myself a better man with each day, for you deserve the best At the end of the day, it's all about giving her the best. Promise her that you'll give her the best version of yourself.

Back in the day, the likes of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi successfully carried the baton for Indian tennis at global events. The Indian duo forged a formidable partnership to put India on the map of international tennis. Then, came a young Sania Mirza who inspired a whole new generation of players, allowing them and the Indian fans to dream on. While these iconic tennis stars might no longer be as clinical as they once were, their tryst with success - in a sport which was largely considered a superior game for Asians and a country that has been obsessed with cricket - has arguably paved way for young and rising stars to carve their own niche and consistently evolve in tennis. Though, producing a player of, say, Roger Federer's calibre might still prove to be an uphill task for a country like India, but the commendable performances of proven Indian tennis veterans did wake the nation from its slumber, serving a stark reminder to those who felt that this country was only good at playing cricket. © ASICS The intriguing story of Karman Kaur Thandi and her rise in tennis is, to an extent, a byproduct of the legacy established by Indian tennis veterans who continue to serve as role models for these young guns. "Sania (Mirza) is a huge inspiration for us Indian athletes. Leander (Paes) and Mahesh (Bhupathi) have also done so much for the sport in India. My interactions with them have allowed me to learn from their experiences. They also keep giving me tips from their journey and success," Karman said. For a 20-year-old, Karman is no stranger to unique feats. From clinching the WTA Future Stars U-16 title to becoming only the fifth Indian to break into the Top 200 rankings in women's singles, the Delhi-born tennis sensation has already achieved a lot at such a tender age. But, last month, the youngster, partnering Ankita Raina, won her maiden WTA doubles title at the Taipei Open - an achievement that stays close to her heart and allows her to dream for bigger things. "It's very special to have won my first WTA doubles title with an Indian partner, it means a lot because now I know that I belong at a certain level in the sport and it gives me a boost to perform along with top women's players. All in all, it gives me the confidence to go out and compete with them and step up my level of play," she spoke, oozing confidence. © ASICS But, tasting success at a young age has its own drawbacks. Many budding athletes never truly recognise their full potential, while others have been seen succumbing to pressure. But, Kamran, surprisingly for her age, is not only indifferent to pressure, but she has made it her strength. "Of course! I mean, there's always going to be pressure. But, pressure is good because when you go on to the court, it forces you to give it your all. It feels great to be an upcoming player in India and all the hard work that we're doing each day as athletes. My family has supported me throughout my career and they have made many sacrifices to help me be the player that I am. It has made a big difference to my success overall," she revealed. She might be one of the most promising young talents in tennis right now, but Kamran knows her roots and the sacrifices her parents have made. "My parents are from Punjab and have lived most of their lives in Delhi. My father is an electronic engineer and mom is a national-level athlete. We come from a middle-class family, my dad's a self-made man so I'm lucky and proud to say that I have parents who are always there for me," Karman, who idolises her parents as role models, said. © ASICS "My parents and my brother have been a great support and have worked very hard with me. My mom has been constant support both during practice and during tournaments to make me comfortable. I think we all have enjoyed this journey and grown as a family through it. My Father and brother support me extensively, and my family watches me play all my games and tournaments. They are very positive and have kept me positive through all my ups and downs whether I lose or win. Overall, it's a great team effort!" she added. Asked what made her choose tennis, she quickly replied: "I don't think I chose tennis, I believe tennis chose me. My parents introduced me to tennis at the age of 8 and I quickly learned to love the sport. As I kept on playing tournaments, my game improved and I kept getting better and better. When I started competing, I loved winning and the fact that I won made me go out and play tennis with a positive mindset. Enduring every competition and learning from each tournament, it helped me develop both as a player and a person". For someone who really liked arts and craft as a child, it was not surprising to see Karman confess her love for nail art like any other young girl. But, despite being fashionable, the youngster equally values a good support system for a budding talent like herself. "It's really important. I'm lucky to get Mahesh (Bhupathi) as my mentor and ASICS to support me with good gear and good sportswear whether I'm on or off the court. This motivates the player to do more and go forward freely without any mental pressure," she claimed. © ASICS Thanks to ASICS, Karman has a special connection with none other than Novak Djokovic. "It feels special to me that Djokovic and I are ASICS athletes. When you see Djokovic wearing ASICS shoes and then you are wearing the same shoes it feels good that even at that level players use it. Because the ASICS technology is high performance and it feels good to be part of a brand that the top players in the world are using," Karman disclosed. She might be smitten by Djokovic, but Karman seems to have learned the tools of her trade from modern-day legends Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams. "I am an aggressive player on the court. I admire and watch a lot of matches where Maria (Sharapova) is playing, and I think our game style is pretty much the same. I also admire Serena (Williams). She's an absolute legend because of the revolution she's brought into women's tennis. Her achievements as an athlete are commendable," she claimed. Talking about her future, the Indian tennis star aims high but stays realistic. "Right now the goal is to get into the Grand Slams. 2019 Australian Open is around the corner, so that's the first goal and then, maybe getting to the Top 150 in WTA rankings. Amid expectations, I just want to give my best out of there, stay fit and healthy and play more tournaments," she said. © ASICS Having enjoyed a great year, Karman intends to keep pushing forward, improving her game every day and making her country proud in upcoming tournaments. She will be seen plying her trade in ITFS (Pune and Solapur) which will be followed by a pre-season in France before all-important preparations for the Australian Open kick in. "Tennis is the one thing I enjoy and spend most of my time doing. I've always believed that it's important to enjoy what you do, have fun in what you're doing. If you love what you do and have fun doing it, it's not a task or obligation anymore. A balance of hard work and enjoyment is the best combination, Karman, who's rapidly rising as the new poster girl of Indian women's tennis, signed off with a valuable piece of advice for the youth.

The season of sturdy leather jackets, natty winter caps and “Oye, Goa chalein?” is on, but some of us aren't all that happy. Winters bring in joy for many, but then there are those of us who legit struggle to protect our skin and hair from the adverse effects of the dropping temperature. While chapped lips, flaky skin, and the whole Old-Man Winter appeal may urge most, if not all, men to reach out for anything and everything that ensures less shrivelled skin during winters, it's important that you suss out the best ways to cater to your skin's needs, especially during the chillier days. So, to make sure you don't go absolutely nuts trying to maintain that summer-like tough and unblemished skin, we at MensXP have curated a skin-care guide, which will help you survive the harsh winter season. After all, nothing should hinder you from acing the upcoming Christmas and New-Year jamborees! 1. Wash Your Face & Not Just With Water © Official Instagram/ Madhavan While washing your face with JUST water may seem like an easy and less time-consuming resort for some you (you know who you are!), the rest of you must know that your skin requires more than just the goodness of H2O. The first step of any skin care guide comprises of picking the best face-wash in the market, one that best suits your skin. After all, a good face wash will help unclog your skin's blocked pores, clear the oil mines on your face, and ensure a radiant facial skin, making them an absolute MUST have in your grooming kit. 2. Give Your Skin The Moisture It Deserves © Official Instagram/ Kartik Aaryan The second step of this four-step guide comprises of flooding your barren skin, with the moisture that it needs (and deserves!). Winters suck out most of your skin's moisture as if it were stranded in the Sahara Desert for centuries, yearning for just a few droplets of water. Not only does dry skin feel and look bad, but it can also lead to numerous skin issues, which can be highly daunting for most of us. As such, moisturizing your skin with the best winter moisturizers will ensure that you steer clear of the ill-effects of dehydrated skin. 3. Give Your Skin The Sustenance It Needs © Official Instagram/ Tiger Shroff While moisturizing creams and winter creams may seem identical to most men, they do incorporate certain distinguishing factors. Winters can cause your already rough skin to get rougher (for lack of a better word) because of the dryness caused by an insufficient amount of moisture in the skin. The best winter creams in the market, ones that are specially formulated for men, comprise of a wide array of ingredients which serve as forage for your skin, bestowing it with the nourishment it needs to remain healthy. 4. Combat The Scorching Sun Rays © Official Instagram/ Shahid Kapoor Winters might urge you to head out and soak up the heat of the seemingly calm winter sun, but you need to make sure that you are aptly geared. The first tool for your defence against the harmful UV rays of the sun has to be an A-grade sunscreen, with the right sun protection factor (SPF). An effective sunscreen will make sure that you are not exposed to the various ill (in some cases, grave) effects of direct sun exposure.

You don't need us reminding you about the rising levels of harmful toxins in the air. In fact, as recently as a few days ago, nine out of the world's ten most polluted cities were in India. Add to this the fact that many grooming companies are infusing their products with chemicals and a gazillion preservatives (many of which can be incredibly harmful for your skin), and it probably becomes safe to say that our dependence on using organic and natural products is at an all-time-high. Fortunately for all of us out there, one company understands this predicament all-too-well, and is actively curating products that will help Indian men make their grooming regimen more organic - Raw Nature. And so if you were looking for some A-grade organic products to add to your grooming regimen, ones that will help protect your skin against the harmful effects of toxins, SLS and parabens, and that will be suitable for your skin type as well, then Raw Nature's brand new collection of organic soaps (available in four different and unique variants) warrants your time and attention. 1) Raw Nature's Lemon Eucalyptus Oil Soap © Raw Nature Infused with the richness of lemon eucalyptus oil, this 100% natural, handmade and organic soap from Raw Nature is perfect for those who are constantly dealing with their skin's excessive oil (sebum) production and the resultant acne breakouts. Formulated for acne control, it comes with anti-bacterial properties (that help combat acne) as well as Zinc and Lunar Silver that help detoxify and nourish sensitive skin. MRP: Rs. 1047 (for pack of 3) Buy it here 2) Raw Nature's Activated Charcoal Soap © Raw Nature If you were looking for an organic soap that would deeply cleanse your pores, while also improving your skin's elasticity, then look no further than Raw Nature's Activated Charcoal variant. For those who aren't aware of its incredible properties, Activated Charcoal helps remove excess oil from your skin, helps combat body odour and even removes dust and dirt particles. It's also infused with peppermint and rosemary, and makes for a great tool in fighting blackheads. MRP: Rs. 897 (for pack of 3) Buy it here 3) Raw Nature's Brazilian Green Clay Soap © Raw Nature Are blocked and clogged pores your skin's Achilles' heel? Well, then this Brazilian Green Clay organic soap from Raw Nature is tailor-made for your needs. And that's not all, as the basil it comes infused with is rich in toning and inflammatory properties that not only soothe any skin irritation, but also help promote tissue repair. MRP: Rs. 897 (for pack of 3) Buy it here 4) Raw Nature's Red Clay & Wild Argan Oil Soap © Raw Nature Finally, we have this Red Clay and Wild Argan Oil variant from Raw Nature. Providing your skin with the hydration and moisture it requires, it's guaranteed to be an effective addition to your grooming kit. Considering all of the rich benefits of Red Clay and Wild Argan Oil that your skin is going to be subjected to, getting this organic soap for just Rs 897 makes for a steal of a deal. MRP: Rs. 897 (for pack of 3) Buy it here

For a team that remained unbeaten in the group stage, the Indian women's cricket team undoubtedly left their fans disheartened after producing a mediocre performance in the all-important semifinals against England at the ICC World Cup in West Indies. While the tournament has come to an end with Australia clinching the coveted trophy, the troubles of Indian women's cricket seem far from over. Right after the tournament, Mithali Raj, India's senior-most women's cricketer, opened a can of worms by accusing coach Ramesh Powar of humiliating and embarrassing her during their stay in the Caribbean. She also claimed that her exclusion from the semis clash against England, that saw India losing the game by eight wickets after being bundled out for just 112 runs, was "baffling and hurtful" and that her main issue was with the coach who was indifferent to her in the lead up to the match in Antigua. Apart from coach Powar, Mithali also accused BCCI's CoA (Committee of Administrators) member Diana Edulji of ignoring her ordeal despite knowing everything. The 35-year-old claimed that Edulji used her position against her and made her feel vulnerable. If Mithali's allegations stirred up a storm, coach Powar's response further added to the controversy, instigating strong reactions all around. © BCCL In a 10-page tour report submitted to the BCCI, Powar gave nearly a five-page assessment of India's leading run-getter in T20Is. He claimed that Mithali threatened to leave the tournament midway at being dropped from the opening slot despite being duly consulted before the move. He also accused her of chasing personal milestones while ignoring the team's cause. "I was saddened by her attitude and it gave me an impression that Mithali Raj comes first and then India. She threw a lot of tantrums and created a lot of chaos," Powar stated in his report. “I hope Mithali Raj stops blackmailing, pressurising coaches and also stops putting her interest first than team's. I hope she will look at the bigger picture & work towards betterment of the Indian women's cricket,” he added further. I'm deeply saddened & hurt by the aspersions cast on me. My commitment to the game & 20yrs of playing for my country.The hard work, sweat, in vain. Today, my patriotism doubted, my skill set questioned & all the mud slinging- it's the darkest day of my life. May god give strength — Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) November 29, 2018 In response to coach Powar's assessment of her, Mithali penned a touching note on her official Twitter handle. "I'm deeply saddened & hurt by the aspersions cast on me. My commitment to the game & 20yrs of playing for my country. The hard work, sweat, in vain. Today, my patriotism doubted, my skill set questioned & all the mud slinging- it's the darkest day of my life. May god give strength," she tweeted. Mithali's emotional tweet evoked strong reactions on the micro-blogging website. In fact, former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar rallied behind her before lauding the batswoman's illustrious career. “I feel sorry for Mithali. She has a very good point. She has served Indian cricket for 20 years. She scored runs, she won player of the match in both matches (she played at the World T20),” Gavaskar told India Today. “She was injured for one game but fit for the next game. Just convert this situation into the men's game. If you had a Virat Kohli who was injured for one game and then is fit for the knockout, will you leave him out? You have to pick your best player for the knockouts. You needed the experience and expertise of Mithali Raj,” Gavaskar said. Apart from Gavaskar, Indian cricket fans, too, backed the senior cricketer during the "darkest day" of her life. Chin up Mithali..You r fighter. After Pakistan women team Cricket matches,I often watch India women team cricket and I have been watching you since long playing outstanding cricket for India and having great skills. This tough time will be gone. Stay strong. Respect frm Pakistan — Dr.M.Tahir (@dr_tahiryousuf) November 29, 2018 This is nothing new in @BCCIWomen @BCCI_Women @BCCI many Legends have been doubted. You stand tall amidst all these in people's heart. Stay Positive.. May god give strength — Kishore B R (@kingofgudtimes) November 29, 2018 Who said that your patriotism doubted, We all are with you.... à¤à¥ लà¥à¤ doubt à¤à¤° रहॠहà¥à¤, à¤à¤¨à¤à¥ लिठयॠलाà¤à¤¨ :- ..................दà¥à¤à¤¨à¤¾ हॠà¤à¤¼à¥à¤° à¤à¤¿à¤¤à¤¨à¤¾ बाà¤à¥-à¤-à¤à¤¦à¥à¤¦à¤¾à¤° मà¥à¤ हà¥à¥¤ — Kapil Bidiyasar (@BidiyasarK) November 29, 2018 More power to you, Mithali. You are a champion and our support is right up there for you. Looking forward to see you on field with yet another match winning performanceð — harionaroll (@harionaroll) November 29, 2018 Champ !! Yu are too good for this shitty coach and others you had to deal with , this comes from a pakistani , May Almighty gives you the strength to deal with all this , blessings ð — Ammar Khalid (@AmmarKh444) November 29, 2018 How to break a person everyone knows. It's your turn to prove how a person can come back. #BeRoleModel #GoGirl — Senthil Prabhu (@senthilprabhumk) November 29, 2018 Mithali,every Indian who has watched you play and grow into a fine sportsperson and captain a much neglected team with unquestionable dedication...believes in you,your calibre and intent. Fire on girl,let not those that have not played your kinda' calibre, thwart you !@BCCI — Radhika S. Nair (@bacwaters) November 29, 2018 While the BCCI is yet to act in the ever-growing controversy, Powar's tenure as the Indian women's cricket's interim coach will come to an end on 30th November. While he will be eligible to apply for the post again when fresh applications are invited, there is a very small chance that he will be retained in the same role, as his player management skills have come under scanner due to the ongoing controversy.

Back in 2010, when the coveted Hockey World Cup came to India for the first time, the hosts didn't have much to cheer for after the men's team finished eighth in the national capital. Eight years on, a lot has changed in Indian hockey. The men's team have a pragmatic coach in Harendra Singh and there are as many as seven players from the triumphant 2016 Junior World Cup campaign in a perfect blend of youth and experience. And, most importantly, the coveted tournament has returned to India where Odisha's capital, for just under three weeks, will be the cynosure of the hockey world. For a side that's hosting the mega event, India couldn't have begun their World Cup campaign any better. Making their intentions pretty clear early in the tournament, the Indian men's hockey team blanked a hapless South African side 5-0 in their opening encounter at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar. © Twitter/@TheHockeyIndia With goals raining in from Simranjeet Singh (43rd and 46th minute), Lalit Upadhyay (45th minute), Akashdeep Singh (12th minute) and Mandeep Singh (10th minute), the World No. 5 side registered a comfortable win over the Proteas in their first pool game. India's fantastic start in the showpiece event drew plaudits from every corner of the country including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A fantastic start for the Indian Hockey team! Congratulations to our team for an impressive win against South Africa in their opening match at the World Cup in Odisha. Best wishes for the upcoming games. @TheHockeyIndia #HWC2018 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 29, 2018 "A fantastic start for the Indian Hockey team! Congratulations to our team for an impressive win against South Africa in their opening match at the World Cup in Odisha. Best wishes for the upcoming games," the Indian PM tweeted. When the architect of modern hockey Dhanraj Pillay comes out himself to cheer the men in blue in their opening campaign of the Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018 against South Africa on 28th November.#IndiaKaGame #HWC2018 #DilHockey pic.twitter.com/dQ2cHcTPnB — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) November 28, 2018 However, Modi wasn't the only one rooting and cheering for India. In fact, Indian hockey legend Dhanraj Pillay was also seen rallying behind Manpreet Singh-led brigade from the stands as he witnessed his country's emphatic win in the opening encounter. WHAT. A. MOMENT. Relive this epic moment from yesterday, when the legends of our 1975 World Cup winning team came forward to congratulate the team after the win! ð®ð³â¤ï¸#HWC2018 #LoveHockey #DilHockey pic.twitter.com/3y3An1nJUb — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) November 29, 2018 And, then, arguably the best moment of the tournament so far, came a heartfelt gesture from the legends of country's 1975 World Cup winning team towards the current crop of Indian hockey. Right after their triumph over the Proteas, the Indian hockey veterans - who were part of the side that defeated Pakistan in the final to win the third edition of the Hockey World Cup in Malaysia - were seen congratulating Harendra Singh's men as they made their way to the locker room. Following their triumph over South Africa, India will now face a sterner test as they gear to take on World No. 3, Belgium, in their second pool match on 2nd December.

If there's anything that millennials feel more strongly about, besides their cellphones, social media presence and the next eatery to check out in town, it is travel. According to Donna Jeavons, sales & marketing director for Contiki, which specialises in millennial travel, the company has noticed a rise in younger people spending money on travel. When compared to the previous generations, millennials want to live in the moment and experience it to the fullest. Now, given the state of inflation, millennials know that owning a house has become more difficult than ever, so they are choosing to spend their hard-earned money on travel instead. © Excel Entertainment Furthermore, in their quest to be the “unique” generation walking the face of the earth, millennials try to create their identity through rich cultural experiences and exploring the unknown, which is best taken care of through travel. Given this aspect, and the growing popularity of travelling solo, KAYAK, one of world's leading travel search engine has found a specific trend with respect to Indian solo travellers - more and more Indian solo travellers are heading westwards with their travel needs, and going by their latest reports, it becomes pretty clear why these 5 destinations top the list this year. 1. Auckland, New Zealand The city of Auckland flanked by two large harbours, looks spectacular from the iconic Sky Tower. This year, the city has seen the highest year-on-year increase in flight searches at 114 percent! View this post on Instagram Chad Reed, the daring Supercross rider, looking slightly uncomfortable being so very high up ðð#VisitAuckland #TheSkyTower @sxopensupercross . . . ð¸@crtwotwo #auckland #aucklandskytower #Aucklandsbest #newzealand #newzealandadventures #newzealandlandscape #newzealandlove #aucklandtravel #aucklandviews #loveauckland #harbourbridge #aucklandskytower #theskytower #cityskyline #aucklandcityskyline #aucklandcity A post shared by Auckland, New Zealand (@visitauckland) on Nov 22, 2018 at 9:03pm PST Apart from the Sky Tower or skydiving experience, solo travellers can visit the memorial museums in the city for a dose of history. However, if you really wish to explore the nightlife there, don't forget to check out Viaduct and K'Road. Also, don't forget to visit Brick Bay Wines & Sculpture Trail to behold Auckland's raw beauty. 2. San Francisco, USA Surrounded by the wide expanse of the Pacific Ocean, this hilly city thriving at the edge of the peninsula is known for the Golden Gate Bridge, as it is known for the year-long fog that marks the face of this bustling city. View this post on Instagram Ride the Rails.. Friends, follow our account about life in New York @nycityworld ð½New York every day!â¤ï¸ â â â â â â â â â â â ð·Amazing shot by @mistyflix â ðMark your photo with tag #sanfranciscoworld and we'll post it!â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â #SanFrancisco #SanFranciscogram #USA #America #California #UnitedStates #city #citylife #Sanfran #SanFranciscoCity #onlyinsf #goldengatebridge #ilovesf #baybridge #sanfranciscocalifornia #visitcalifornia #southerncalifornia #photoftheday #photogrid #photo #xpro #ocean #megapolis #urban #urbanporn #architectureporn #skyscraper #westcoast #americana A post shared by SAN FRANCISCO|Travel community (@sanfranciscoworld) on Nov 27, 2018 at 10:05pm PST According to recent KAYAK data, the city has seen 30 percent year-on-year rise in flight searches this year, with average travel days going as high as 22 days! View this post on Instagram Last week I got to fly to San Francisco for a work conference, and had a few days to myself to get out and see the city and take a few photos. I have to admit, before I knew that I was going for the conference, it wasn't particularly high on my places to visit - but having been, I'd go back again in a second. It's a seriously awesome city! Follow our account about life in London @londoncityworld Amazing photos every day!ð â â â â â â â â â â â ð·Amazing shot by @bmillar.au â ðMark your photo with tag #sanfranciscoworld and we'll post it!â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â #SanFrancisco #SanFranciscogram #USA #America #California #UnitedStates #city #citylife #Sanfran #SanFranciscoCity #onlyinsf #goldengatebridge #ilovesf #baybridge #sanfranciscocalifornia #visitcalifornia #southerncalifornia #photoftheday #photogrid #photo #xpro #ocean #megapolis #urban #urbanporn #architectureporn #skyscraper #westcoast #americana A post shared by SAN FRANCISCO|Travel community (@sanfranciscoworld) on Nov 17, 2018 at 9:12pm PST There's a lot to do for solo travellers in the city, such as taking a ride on the historic cable cars, visiting the picturesque Chinatown, experiencing the San Francisco Opera, getting your mind-blown at the Exploratorium besides a lot more! 3. Toronto, Canada Nestled along the shore of Lake Ontario, high-rising skyscrapers mark the landscape of this metropolis. This dynamic city has also seen a great ascend in its year-on-year flight searches, as reported by KAYAK. View this post on Instagram Gotta love those summer sunsets ððTag someone you want to watch the sunset with! - ð¸:@novniel A post shared by Toronto Insta (@toronto_insta) on Jun 12, 2018 at 2:10pm PDT When their, solo travellers love to check out the CN Tower with its glass floors, and the Royal Ontario Museum besides other places of interest. However, we would totally recommend a streetcar ride - named amongst the top 10 trolley rides around the world by National Geographic - while there. 4. New York, USA Next up, New York. This place needs no introduction whatsoever, and we can already guess why the place might have made its way onto the list. One of the most populated city in the US, its heart rests in Manhattan, the commercial, cultural and financial hub of the city. With a 20 percent year on year rise in flight searches, this one is a sure hit. View this post on Instagram Got caught in a downpour walking through Times Square ðð¬#newyork #newyorkcity #nyc #timessquare #manhattan #rain #tourist #america ðºð¸ A post shared by Alex Wood (@mralexwood) on Nov 28, 2018 at 4:49am PST There are endless things to see and do in this part of the world. Visiting the Empire State Building and exploring the sprawling Central Park are just two of the most obvious things to do for travellers. The neon-lit Times Square and Broadway theater are a must-visit as well. 5. Paris, France The global capital for all things art, food, culture and fashion, Paris is at the fifth position with 13 percent increase in flight searches this year, as per the KAYAK report. From the iconic Eiffel Tower to the 12th century Gothic Notre-Dame cathedral and its quaint boutiques, there so much for travellers to explore here! View this post on Instagram Love is always in the air in Parisð Who would you bring to Paris for a romantic weekend? - -Follow : @prettyworld.officiall - - - #paris #love #romance #couple #goals #beautiful #beauty #luxury #color #spring #autumn #summer #sun #sunrise #travel #dream #destinationwedding #wedding #holiday #vacation #eiffletower #selfie #cute #pretty #water #waves #couplegoals #sunset A post shared by Travel With Passion (@travelish.ig) on Nov 28, 2018 at 2:10am PST How many of these have you checked off of your list so far?

Women's cricket, for long, has been seen lurking in the shadows of the men's game. From disparity in pay structure to comparatively lower fanfare, the women's game desperately needed the help of fans and cricket administrations to carve their own niche in a sport which is generally dominated by men. But, the times are changing, as female cricketers are getting their due and noticeable developments have aided women's cricket. The biggest boost was arguably the standalone ICC World T20 in the West Indies. For the very first time in history, women's cricket had their standalone ICC showpiece event that was not a precursor to a men's tournament. While all the teams seemed hell bent on making a mark in the historic tournament, the Indian women's cricket team, early in the tournament, established themselves as one of the favourites. Owing to their marauding run, Harmanpreet Kaur-led India went past one opponent after another, establishing themselves as a big threat to their rivals. © BCCL But, the tournament didn't really pan out the way Harmanpreet's girls or their fans would have expected. Despite their unbeaten run which included a convincing win over eventual champions Australia, the Indian team stuttered against England in the semifinals before taking the long flight back home. Amidst multiple shortcomings in the semifinals, the Indian cricket team undoubtedly missed the experience of a veteran campaigner like Mithali Raj, whose exclusion from the playing XI had left former Indian cricketers confused and fans baffled. The 35-year-old could have proved crucial for India who eventually bundled out for just 112 runs in their humiliating eight-wicket loss in the semifinals. Though many questioned India's tactics to ignore Mithali for the semis, no one really got to know the real reason behind the controversial move, until now. Opening a can of worms, the record-breaking batswoman finally broke her silence on the issue and disclosed what is rapidly turning into one of the biggest scandals in Indian women's cricket. © BCCL The right-hander has alleged that coach Ramesh Powar humiliated her and discriminated her during the recently-concluded World Cup in the Caribbean. According to a letter sent by Mithali to BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and general manager Saba Karim, Mithali stated that her exclusion from the semifinal match against England was "baffling and hurtful" and that her main issue was with the coach who was indifferent to her in the lead up to the match in Antigua. "My issues with the coach started immediately as we landed in the West Indies. At first there were small signs that his behaviour towards me was unfair and discriminatory but I did not bother much about it," Mithali wrote in the letter. She alleged that despite adhering to some of the decisions taken by Powar in the interest of the team - like batting out of her usual opening position and delivering with back-to-back fifties when asked to return to her preferred slot - the coach's indifference to her caused her a lot of stress. "Not having played middle order in recent times and without practice still, I agreed for the greater cause of the team. For me team comes ahead of anything. After the game, it was evident that the opening did not work as the team was 3/38 after power-play and yet in the team meeting the next day he informed me that we are going with the same opening pair as against New Zealand. And he also praised the openers despite them not succeeding," she claimed. © BCCL "This left me completely shocked as against Pakistan there was no requirement of strengthening the middle order and also I have a great record against them. This was a match we had to win. I immediately reached out to the selectors and upon their intervention, he told me just before the game at breakfast that I was opening," Mithali said. "I performed well in the game and we cruised to victory. But instead of saying any words of encouragement it appeared he was out there to prove a point and from there on his behaviour changed dramatically towards me and really caused a lot of stress in the middle of one of the most important tournaments for us," she added. Mithali further alleged that Powar ignored and avoided her during net sessions which left her embarrassed and humiliated. Mithali also claims that she sought the team manager's help to facilitate a meeting with Powar to air her concerns and offer her suggestions. But things took a nasty turn after she was asked not to turn up to the ground for the game against Australia in the group stage. © BCCL "In the evening after the team meeting before the Australia game, Ramesh rings up in my room and instructs me not to come to the ground as the media will be there. I was told I was not to be with my own team in one of our biggest games. I was shell shocked. I spoke to the manager immediately and told her that I am not seriously injured and only seriously sick, and that I want to come and watch my team play. She agreed and told me to come," she revealed. "But I received a text from Ramesh in a few minutes after my conversation with the manager wherein he told me not to step out of the dressing room. I found it strange why is he getting involved when it was purely the managers' and physio's call. When we won the Australia game, Ramesh sent a word across with a team mate to call me down to the dugout so that I can join the team for a victory lap. It was strange because right through the match I had been put under house arrest and was never allowed to leave the dressing room," Mithali disclosed in the letter. After being dropped from the semis, Mithali claimed that she was further humiliated by the coach during the innings break. "Also, when the team was getting ready to field in the second innings, it is customary that even those who aren't playing should join the team huddle as it has always been the norm in our team. But to insult me that day, he sent a word through the manager to tell that it was only the playing eleven that can join in the huddle and the rest can go back to the dugout making us feel as outcasts. It was worrying and insulting because the coach was out to destroy and humiliate me," she said. © BCCL Apart from coach Powar, Mithali was also all guns blazing against BCCI's CoA (Committee of Administrators) member Diana Edulji and accused her of ignoring her ordeal. "Her brazen support in the press with regard to the decision of my benching in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup has left me deeply distressed, more because she knows the real facts having spoken to me. Thereafter her statement saying 'selection is not the COA's headache' is like suggesting there is no system of cheques (sic) and balances and anyone can do anything and get away because they have the backing of people in power," Mithali claimed. Speaking about India's T20I captain Harmanpreet, Mithali said: "I would also like to point out that I have nothing against the T20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur except for the fact that her call to support the decision of the coach to leave me out of the eleven was baffling and hurtful". The shocking revelations by Mithali, one of the most respected cricketers in India, has undoubtedly left everyone bemused. While it's still too early to draw conclusions on the latest controversy, the whole episode is surely the last thing Indian women's cricket, which is finally evolving and finding its place in the man's world, needed.

Actors and celebrities are privileged, and that's a fact. But when they start using their privilege to do something good for the people, it's just a great thing to see. We've seen so many actors taking on social issues and working towards helping people and just working for the betterment of the country, especially in the time of a calamity. Now there's a new actor that has been added to this long list. Tamil Film Producers' Council (TFPC) president and South India actor Vishal has made the announcement that he will be adopting the Kaarkavaiyal village in Thanjavur district. Talking about the same, he tweeted - This village is mine. #kaarkavaiyaI thanjavur district. I swear I will bring back this village to normality and this will be my responsibility forever. Model village on the way.i luv u group #socialarchitects to help me achieve this.god bless — Vishal (@VishalKOfficial) November 24, 2018 In case you didn't know, the Thanjavur district has been heavily hit by the Cyclone Gaja with Kaarkavaiyal village being one of the worst affected regions in the area. People are obviously moved by this gesture and are probably looking forward to the entire restoration. There is also a video going around on Twitter with the villagers thanking the actor for his generosity. Actor Vishal has adopted a Village (தà®à¯à®à®¾à®µà¯à®°à¯ மாவà®à¯à®à®®à¯, பà®à¯à®à¯à®à¯à®à¯à®à¯à®à¯ தà¯à®à¯à®¤à®¿, à®à®¾à®°à¯à®à®¾à®µà®¯à®²à¯ à®à®¿à®°à®¾à®®à®®à¯) that has been destroyed by GajaCyclone Here is a resident from the Village thanking @VishalKOffical & Vishal has promised that he will make this Village the best in the Country pic.twitter.com/4va3zFlrAy — Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) November 24, 2018 This is really a great news, hope every actor adopt a village from the impacted region and work for its betterment. If #Vishal really takes this serious and improve their life then definitely people will forget and forgive the past promises which he did not fulfill #kaarkavaiyaI — Arima (@Dracarys28) November 24, 2018 People are really happy with him. Super annaððð#kaarkavaiyaI #socialarchitects https://t.co/OBdpTQAHvS — @im_manoj (@im_mano12) November 24, 2018 Proud, indeed. Thank yourm for your word for the People of #kaarkavaiyaI village in #Thiruvarur district... Proud ! Great example for others.... https://t.co/yfhyfGyGZJ — Mediabox Cinema (@mediaboxcinema) November 24, 2018 Looks like he won't be alone as actors like Rajinikanth, Vijay, Suriya and Vijay Sethupathi have also contributed towards the Cyclone Gaja-hit districts in the state and donated money and relief materials for the victims. Actor Raghava Lawrence also announced that he would be building 50 houses for those in cyclone-ravaged areas. pic.twitter.com/hJTrvAH5zh — Raghava Lawrence (@offl_Lawrence) November 25, 2018 It's great to see actors actually taking charge and doing something instead of just sending their thoughts and prayers on Twitter.

For a man who was once considered India's premier spinner across formats, Ravichandran Ashwin is currently a mere spectator who is witnessing the rise of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal in the national cricket team. The consistent performances of Kuldeep and Chahal have pushed Ashwin into the shadows as they continue to be India's first-choice spin duo. So, when the Indian cricket team was busy slugging it out against Australia in the 1st T20I, Ashwin like all the cricket fans was witnessing the events as they unfolded at the Gabba. Thrilled with the size of the boundary ropes, Ashwin took to Twitter and wrote: "The boundary sizes in Australia Phew - is a delight for the bowlers". The boundary sizes in Australiaðphew--- is a delight for the bowlers. #AusvInd — Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) November 21, 2018 While Ashwin was engrossed with the thrilling contest on offer, a few Indian cricket fans weren't too impressed with his tweet over the boundary sizes. One fan suggested that despite the long boundaries, Ashwin would still get hammered for sixes by the Australian batsmen. While the fan's tweet could have been ignored by the Indian spinner, he decided to do otherwise. 2 for 26, 1 for 27 and 1 for 37 in the 3-0 win last series. Thanks buddy — Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) November 21, 2018 Scribbling a savage reply, Ashwin reminded the fan about his bowling statistics from India's tour of Australia back in 2016. "2 for 26, 1 for 27 and 1 for 37 in the 3-0 win last series. Thanks buddy," Ashwin tweeted. I am the one whose got the records, please go and take a look. I can't Google you and find you.ð — Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) November 21, 2018 Then, another Indian fan asked the Tamil Nadu-born spinner about his tally of wickets in Australia. "How many wickets in test vs Australia in Australia buddy?," the fan tweeted. To which, Ashwin replied: "I am the one whose got the records, please go and take a look. I can't Google you and find you". Rofl Mateð Records on subcontinent dustbowls? Anyways good luck mate for the Australian tests hope I'm proved wrong by you. — Parikshit Korekar (@_imparikshit) November 21, 2018 Another fan tried to join the chorus against Ashwin with his tweet: "Rofl Mate. Records on subcontinent dustbowls? Anyways good luck mate for the Australian tests hope I'm proved wrong by you". But, Ashwin didn't need to worry about him as the Indian spinner's fans took the man to the task. Ya your record in Australia will be 8 matches 60 wicketsððð Stop living useless dude, u won't even achieve 2% of what Ashwin has achieved till now..Go have milk and sleep nowðð — PB Sarathy (@VFXsarathy) November 21, 2018 A record is a record. doesn't matter where it comes. Do you ask the same question to Jimmy? Ash will do good with the Kookaburra this time. He has 21 wickets from 6 Tests in Aus. Also, 2 fifties and close to 300 runs. It's important we back our stars than taking jibes — Suvajit Mustafi (Rivu) (@RibsGully) November 22, 2018 What about batting , @ashwinravi99 was highest score in many matches in foreign swinging pitches. None of your flat pitch super star batsmen! Even dust bowls, Ash and @imjadeja saved India's skin in batting. Check history. — evanoo (@evanoruvan09) November 21, 2018 Such a closely fought game, too bad it dint go our way. This is going to be a cracking series. #AusvsInd — Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) November 21, 2018 At the end of it all, as Australia clinched a thrilling four-run win over India in Brisbane, Ashwin lauded the contest with his final tweet: "Such a closely fought game, too bad it dint go our way. This is going to be a cracking series".

'Living healthy' should pretty much be a motto that everyone swears by. But in the hustle and bustle of daily life, as well as the rat race to be first and succeed in one's profession, many people end up forgetting about this basic (and necessary) life motto that all of them should be prioritising. After all, nothing else matters if your health is in jeopardy. So on that note, here are four lifestyle changes that all Indian men should immediately implement to live a healthier and better, life. 1) Start Implementing A Balanced Diet © Pexels We can't stress this enough - implementing a balanced diet is ABSOLUTELY vital in ensuring that you are living a healthy life. After all, you are what you eat and if your body doesn't intake the right amount (and type) of nutrients, vitamins and minerals, it's going to be more susceptible to diseases and illnesses. So make sure you're incorporating a diet that isn't just dependent on junk food and beer, but has a fair amount of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables and whole grains as well. 2) Start Using Organic Grooming Products © Unsplash We all understand that men cannot do without grooming, not unless they want to make sure they never get another date. And it's understandable that one's grooming regimen would require a dependence on grooming products (face wash, soaps, moisturisers). But it's absolutely imperative to understand that most grooming products for men contain a plethora of chemicals, SLS and parabens. As such, it's important to start using organic products - be it soaps, face washes or even shampoos - that make for a healthier lifestyle change. Pro tip: If you are looking for premium grooming products that happen to be 100% natural and organic as well, then Raw Nature's new range of organic soaps makes for a great option. They are curated to combat all types of skin problems (oily skin, acne breakouts) and you can buy them here 3) Increase Your Water Intake © Pexels While keeping yourself constantly hydrated should pretty much be a no-brainer, a lot of folks don't really pay that much attention to their water intake. Needless to say, this is something that has to change, especially if you want to adopt a healthier lifestyle. So, if you weren't drinking enough water already, make sure you start increasing your water intake as staying hydrated will help boost your immune system, promote healthy weight management, flush out harmful toxins from your system, help you avoid kidney stones and help you regulate your body temperature as well. 4) Invest In Your Physical & Mental Fitness © Unsplash Finally, you need to start investing in your physical AND mental fitness. While a lot of people make sure they are physically fit by regularly going to the gym, most of them forget about the importance of prioritizing their mental health as well. So, while you make sure you're properly doing your weights, cardio exercises and push-ups, try to take out some time for yoga, meditation and chanting as well.

The biggest wedding of the year just took place, and the country is still under the spell of the magical ceremony that took place at Lake Como in Italy. While all of us waited for the pictures for 2 whole days, and didn't even get a lot of them, fans were still ecstatic about how perfect Deepika and Ranveer looked as a married couple. Ranveer has never been 'run-of-the-mill' in terms of anything he does, and he kept his streak of flamboyant badassery on even during his wedding, much to the delight of his fans. Here are 4 unique things he did, that redefined the style game for Indian grooms. 1. He wrote Deepika's name on his hands with Mehendi. While brides usually hide the groom's name inside their mehendi designs, Ranveer went all the way and wrote Deepika's name in Hindi, on his palm. (c) Instagram/deepveer.news 2. He wore a pair of white sneakers with a gorgeous Sabyasachi sherwani. You won't expect one to pair an intricate Sherwani like this one with a statement pair of white sneakers, but of course, Ranveer makes his own rules. (c) Instagram/deepveer.news 3. Ranveer made sure that his outfits match that of Deepika's in every occasion - right from the wedding to the airport, when they came back to India, adding extra weight on #couplegoals that they already are. (c) Instagram/deepveer.news 4. Even though grooms everywhere are rather hesitant in terms of putting on jewellery, Ranveer held his own during the wedding. He wore signature Sabyasachi heritage jewellery, replete with garnets, diamonds, and emeralds. He wore an enormous falcon pendant as well, that set the benchmark for all the other grooms out there. After all, both partners should be equal in a marriage, even symbolically, and he clearly believes that. (c) Instagram/deepikapadukone Way to go, Baba!

There exist two very significant things that our generation swears by, something that is enough to propel us to chuck the comfort of our monthly paychecks in a jiffy. Those two golden factors are the possibility of living our most earnest dreams, and the promise of succeeding in that endeavour - both of which we hold very dear. But as soon as we look around, it becomes pretty clear that success (really) comes to those who will and dare, and merely wishing for it will not lead us closer to fulfilling it. The path of pursuing those dreams will be a struggle on most days - marked by days that are dreary, with an occasional glimpse of vitality. But if things ever seem to bear down too hard upon you, and you wish to rise above it all, read through the stories of these 5 men, who charged through their share of struggles, to live the dream they dreamt for themselves. 1. Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty © Youtube Better known as the man who pioneered inexpensive cardiac surgeries in India, Dr. Shetty was born in Karnataka. The second-youngest of nine siblings, he had his heart set on becoming a heart surgeon. Throughout the course of his career, Dr. Shetty performed numerous feats that brought him name and fame. That includes India's first neonatal cardiac surgery on a nine-day-old baby and the first video-assisted open heart surgery! It is, however, his personal project of opening a chain of hospitals, now known as Narayana Hruduyayala, that placed him on the national pedestal. His aim was to provide life-saving cardiac surgeries at an affordable price to millions of Indians. 2. Deep Kalra © BCCL Apart from being the founder of one of India's most loved online travel company, Deep Kalra also boasts of great educational merits. He is a St. Stephens graduate from the University of Delhi, and an IIM-A alumni. Life turned into a perfect dream when he landed a well-paying job at a bank, right out of college. However, within just a few years of trying his hands at many other business options, he decided to go on a sabbatical so he could figure out his real ambition in life. After having saved a fair amount on his travel booking to Thailand, Kalra decided to dive into the e-commerce space. Having gotten there in 2000, at the beginning of the internet boom, the enterprise now posts annual revenues of over 152 million dollars. 3. Siddhartha Lal © BCCL Credited with the turnaround and revival of the "Royal Enfield Bullet" motorcycle in the country, Siddhartha is the epitome of how conviction is the greatest tool one needs in order to succeed in life. Enfield's sales tremendously dipped in 2000, with the brand resting on the brink of pulling the shutters. However, Siddhartha stepped in time and decided to revive the lost glory of the motorcycle. He closed 14 other businesses to focus entirely on the automobile sector, and over the next few years, Royal Enfield was reinstated to its former glory. Not only did the sales improve, but the brand itself became aspirational. From selling just 25,000 bikes in the year 2005, the Royal Enfield sold 67,000 units in November of 2017. 4. Karsanbhai Patel © Quora Mr. Patel is the reason why Nirma is the pasand of 'Hema, Jaya, Rekha aur Sushma'. The founder of the Nirma empire, Karsanbhai Patel started his journey by making detergent in his own backyard and selling it door-to-door on his bicycle after his regular government job in Ahmedabad. The affordably priced Nirma, named after his late daughter, was introduced in 1969. The low price point and a quality product made Nirma an instant hit amongst middle and lower-middle-class families in the country. The rest is history. 5. CP Krishnan Nair © BCCL Mr. Nair is the founder of India's leading luxury hotel chain Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts. Born into a large family with eight children, and limited means in Kerala, luck shone upon the man when he received a lifetime scholarship from the ruler of Chirakkal. The future would see him join the Indian army, rising to the rank of a captain. In 1951, he set up the All India Handloom Board to promote Indian yarn on foreign land and this exposure to international hotels led him to open the first Leela hotel, named after his wife, in 1987 in Mumbai. In 2016, it clocked revenues of Rs 661 crore! Inspiration shall seek you out if you're looking in the right places. These people followed their hearts and fulfilled the dreams they lost their sleepover. How's that for your dose of daily motivation?