Category Archives: Business & Economy

Dr. Nahid Kaisar : Towards Next Generation Li-S Battery Technology

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INDIA / Taipei, TAIWAN :

This is the ninth part of the series called ` Scientist Says’ where we bring for our readers the significant research works of young scientists in various fields.

 Dr. Nahid Kaisar is currently working as a postdoctoral fellow in Academia Sinicia, Taiwan. He completed his PhD in Material Science and Engineering from National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taiwan. His work is published in several international journals and he has also presented his work in several conferences in USA and Japan. He has also patented his research work for future commercialization.

Here are the excerpts of an interview of Dr. Kaisar with Rashida Bakait of India Tomorrow.

Q. Please briefly explain your research.

Ans: I am working on the development of nanomaterials and their applications on Lithium-ion battery and Lithium-Sulfur battery. I completed my PhD  on the development of Li-S battery, which is also known as next-generation battery technology. We have worked in direct collaboration with industries who manufacture battery for electric car and other applications, which makes the research work more challenging. While working on the materials and its application, always keep in mind about the market viability and industry viability.

At this moment we have well developed Li-ion, Li-polymer battery technology which has wide range of applications that include electric vehicles, consumer electronics and grid technology. But the energy density does not satisfy the current demand. We are doing research on the Li-S battery, which has five times higher energy density and discharge capacity than the current Li-ion battery.

Petrochemical industry produces plenty of Sulfur as by-product, which makes Sulfur abundant element and sulfur is environment friendly compared with the heavy metals used in Li-ion battery. A successfully commercialize Li-S battery not only increase the battery energy density but lower the battery cost.

Q. What was the objective of your research?

Ans: The main objective of my research work on Li-S battery technology is to develop a successful product that is cheaper than recent Li-ion battery and at the same time exhibits higher energy density. The main aim of my research work is to develop a successful Li-S battery that will help to replace the use of toxic heavy metals (like Co, Mn, Ni) which has adverse effects on the environment.

Q. When did you begin and complete your research?

Ans: I started my research in the year 2016 as a graduate student in National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, where I  worked on the thin film technology. Later, in 2017 I started working in Academia Sinica, one of the premier research institutes in Taiwan. I completed my Ph. D in April 2020. Later, in the month of  May 2020 I started working as a postdoctoral fellow in Academia Sinica.

Q. What were the findings of your research?

Ans: There are two aspects of my research work:

  1. Material development: I do research on the design and synthesis of nanomaterials for various applications that include energy storage system. I keep in mind that the synthesis process must be market friendly and easy to process in industry.
  2. Energy storage: Li-S battery face drastic capacity and active materials loss after few charge-discharge cycles. I have successfully developed new materials and battery technology that have successfully stabilized the battery performance.
  3. Q. Any scholarships or awards for research?

Ans: I have been awarded National Taiwan University of Science and Technology graduate scholarship. I have also been awarded CTCI outstanding research award in 2020 for outstanding research work during PhD.

Q. How do you think your research would be beneficial to the industry or society?

Ans: LI-S battery technology is a new topic of research compared to Li-ion battery. My research work adds few innovative research ideas to the field that would help in the development of a commercial product.


Q. Any new research you are working on now.

Ans: Currently, I am working on the development of new anode materials for Li-ion battery. Presently, commercial Li-ion batteries use graphite as anode material, which has lower discharge capacity and low conductivity. I am doing research on new materials that can replace the state-of-the-art graphite while exhibiting similar performance.


Q. How do you think your research can be carried forward?

Ans: Research is a never-ending process. We need to design industry feasible synthesis   process for battery materials using safe and non-toxic materials. We need to collaborate with battery management system that will help to produce an outstanding product. There is a need of strong collaboration between academic and industry to achieve a fruitful product.

Q. Please give few tips and suggestions for the budding scientists.

Ans: All the students who are looking forward to start research journey, should focus on finding an outstanding supervisor. Your supervisor will be the key in success during your research career. University and country play a secondary role.

source: http://www.indiatomorrow.net / India Tomorrow / Home> Education / by Rashida Bakait, India Tomorrow / May 28th, 2021

Indian student gets 10-year UAE Golden Visa

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Education, NRI's / PIO's, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , ,

Alappuzha District, KERALA / Dubai, UAE :

Standing: (from left) Safeer (husband of first daughter Sumayya), Amal (daughter); (sitting) Aslam with grand son Mazyoun , Tasneem Aslam and mother Sunitha Syed. (Supplied)

Tasneem Aslam is pursuing a PG degree in Islamic jurisprudence from the University of Sharjah.

Tasneem Aslam, an Indian student from India’s southern most state Kerala’s Alappuzha district and a namesake of Pakistan’s career diplomat and a former spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is a proud recipient of a coveted honour of the UAE government.

Her hard work, diligence and intelligence have paid off.

The UAE government has recognised her merit and excellent academic credentials to extend her a 10-year Golden Visa, which is reserved only for prominent global personalities.

Tasneem received the Golden Visa in the exceptional student category and is allowed to stay in the country till 2031, as the UAE unveils major reforms to attract global talents from people belonging to all walks of life.

Tasneem, but naturally, is thrilled by the honour.

“This is one of the best moments in my life. I feel privileged to achieve this and I am thankful to Almighty Allah. My parents ‘support has been enormous, and Insha Allah I hope to sponsor them in near future,” Tasneem told Khaleej Times.

“I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the wise and visionary leadership of this great nation that has been making rapid strides to promote education. Students, educators, and institutions enjoy great value in this young nation that’s celebrating 50 years of its foundation. I seek solace in the immortal words of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, that ‘knowledge is the shortcut to success,’ ” she said.

Tasneem studied Islamic Sharia from Al Qasimia University in Sharjah and topped her class, which consisted of pupils from 72 nationalities, with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.94 on 4.

Tasneem has memorised the Quran. She has enroled for a postgraduate degree in Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) at the University of Sharjah.

She had attended the Emirates National School in Sharjah, where her mother Sunita works as a teacher, and had secured 95.6 per cent in her Grade XII examinations.

Tasneem’s father Muhammad Aslam is a former employee of the Sharjah City Municipality and now runs a typing centre in the emirate.

Her father is ecstatic about their daughter’s feat.

He said: “I’m proud of her achievements. We’ve been flooded with congratulatory calls and messages for the past two days from our friends and relatives from across the globe.”

Tasneem, who is proficient in Arabic, has multitasking skills. She helps her father with Arabic translation at the typing centre and simultaneously manages the social media account of Zahaar perfumes.

Earlier, she worked as a teacher at Nobel Qur’an and Sunnah centre in the emirate. She also taught the Quran and hadith at the Abu Bakr Siddique mosque in Sharjah.

“Tasneem is very creative, and she spends her free time designing her own abaya,” her father signed off

source: http://www.khaleejtimes.com / Khaleej Times / Home> News / by Syed Ayaz Basha, Dubai / filed May 29th, 2021 and updated June 02nd, 2021

Dr. Rizwan Nabi : Developing Single-Molecule Magnets For High Density Data Storage

Business & Economy, Education, NRI's / PIO's, Science & Technology, World Opinion, , , ,

Yadipora Hyderbeigh (Baramulla), JAMMU & KASHMIR / Manchester, U.K . :

Dr Rizwan Nabi

This is the tenth part of the series called ‘Scientist Says’ where we bring for our readers the significant research works of young scientists in various fields.

Dr. Rizwan Nabi completed his Ph.D in June 2020 at IIT Bombay (India) under the supervision of Prof. Gopalan Rajaraman. Presently, he is working as a Research Associate “European Research Council Fellow” in the Department of Chemistry at The University of Manchester. He talks about his research with Rashida Bakait of India Tomorrow.

 Q. Please briefly explain your research.

Ans. My research broadly focuses on the Single-Molecule Magnets. Single-Molecule Magnets (SMMs) are the metal-organic compounds (complexes) which show magnetic relaxation of purely molecular origin below a certain blocking temperature . In this temperature range, a SMM exhibits magnetic hysteresis of purely molecular origin. In contrast to conventional bulk magnets and molecule-based magnets , collective long-range magnetic ordering of magnetic moments is not necessary.  Organometallic molecules have emerged as clear front-runners in the search for high-temperature single-molecule magnets. Within this family of structurally similar molecules, significant variations in their magnetic properties are seen, demonstrating the importance of understanding magneto-structural relationships to develop more efficient design strategies. Efforts in this field primarily focus on raising the operating temperatures of single-molecule magnets to liquid nitrogen temperature or room temperature in order to enable applications in magnetic memory. Apart from the higher blocking temperature, efforts are being made to develop SMMs with high energy barriers to prevent fast spin relaxation. Recent acceleration in this field of research has resulted in significant enhancements of single-molecule magnet operating temperatures to above 70 K.

Q. What was the objective of your research?

Ans. The Main objective of my research is to check the stability and hence magnetic properties of the SMMs on different surfaces like Au(111) and many other surfaces like MgOAg(100), carbon based surfaces (graphene and graphite). Here we are trying to develop an ab initio spin dynamics methodology and check if it is capable of quantitative prediction of relative relaxation rates in the Raman/Orbach regions. The ultimate goal of our study is to develop a SMMs which can be fully modified to develop a high density data storage memory devices, qubits or spintronic devices. The ultimate miniaturization of classical memory devices lies in the use of atoms or molecules to store binary data. Single molecule magnets (SMMs), molecules that exhibit slow magnetic relaxation and memory effects, provide a flexible platform for realizing high-density data storage.

Q. When did you begin and complete your research?

Ans. I started my research after joining Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay in July 2014 as a Ph.D student in the department of Chemistry. I completed my Ph.D in June 2020.I have completed my Ph.D  at IIT Bombay (India) under the supervision of Prof. Gopalan Rajaraman. My research lay emphasis on describing magnetic properties in 3d and 4f SMMs on different surfaces such as Au (111), MgO/Ag(100), and studying cobalt complexes for spin filtering purposes. Currently, my research interests revolves around computational study of the chemical control of the vibronic coupling of SMMs. Fortunately, recent theoretical efforts have begun to establish robust and systematic methodologies to treat these problems, targeting a new approach of engineering spin−phonon coupling.

Q. What  were the findings of your research?

Ans. Our  group looks into the stability of SMMs on surfaces which is a great challenge itself if one wants to develop memory devices from the SMMs. Our findings are published in peer reviewed journals like American Chemical Science (ACS) and Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), where we have discussed how challenging it is to study these SMMs on various surface. We have reported Lanthanide complexes as molecular dopants for realizing air-stable n-type graphene logic inverters with symmetric transconductance which is published in the Journal of Material Horizon . Also, we are the first to report a large molecule with 19 Metal ions on gold surface using DFT calculation as Deciphering the origin of variation in the spin ground state and oxidation state of a {Mn19} cluster on Au (111) surface: is the Au (111) surface innocent. This study is published in the Journal of Chemical Communication which is a Royal Society of Chemistry Journal.

Q. What was the conclusion of your research?

Ans. In order to develop memory devices from SMMs one needs to check the stability of these SMMs on various surface for the purpose of device fabrication. There are tremendous SMMs which are stable as pristine molecules but loose SMM features upon grafting which can be due to various reasons like charging effect of surfaces, change in the geometry of the molecules on surface, spin-phonon interactions etc. Thus, while fabricating one needs to be sure enough about these challenges and how to stabilize these molecules on surface.

Q. Any scholarships or awards for research?

Ans. I have been awarded European Research Council award as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at The University of Manchester (UK).

Q.  What  challenges did you face?

Ans. Challenges are an integral part of the research. There are many things associated with the research apart from the things which one learns from the books or some other sources. One needs to be fully motivated to work as a researcher. You may feel down at times but you need to have guts to work and find the loopholes. It’s never a well beaten path to walk on, one needs to set his/her target and work day and night to get that achieved. You need to balance your social life and life as a researcher which is quite challenging itself were many people fail. I have faced problems in designing a DFT protocol for stabilizing these molecules on particular surfaces, which is not an easy task to do with DFT. You never know which surface will suit your molecule unless you do some calculations, thus your study may be time consuming since lot of problems need to be addressed.

 Q. How do you think your research would be beneficial to the industry or society?

Ans. Modern magnetism or SMMs is in general quite a fascinating field, which aims at developing memory devices which can be used for the high density data storage, qubits and quantum computing. Once the stable SMMs have been obtained at room temperature (which is yet a dream to be achieved), this will revolutionise the modern data storage limits and also the future aspects of the super computers. Modern electronic gadgets (cell phones, laptops and iPad) will be improvised when the SMMs will be stabilized at the room temperature. This way our study would be beneficial not only to the industry but also to the common people.

Q. Any new research you are working on now?

Ans. Currently, the core objectives of my research programme are to develop a modern theory of solid state vibronic coupling and to determine how vibronic interactions can be controlled with chemistry. This can be achieved by undertaking an integrated computational and experimental research programme in tandem.

Q. How do you think your research can be carried forward?

Ans. Designing molecules with better SMM features using the state -of –the- art principle and targeted design criteria together with the knowledge of DFT and ab initio studies can help to reach a particular target of obtaining memory devices. Moreover, the stability at room temperature by increasing the blocking temperature and effective energy barrier to the relaxation of magnetization can help better to move this study to next levels. Also, stability on a particular surface will produce better results.

Q. Please give few suggestions for the budding scientists.

Ans.  I would suggest budding scientists to not to lose hope in any circumstances. Work hard and maintain consistency in research. Challenges may come but we need to face them with a smile.

source: http://www.indiatomorrow.net / India Tomorrow / Home> Education / by Rashida Bakait, India Tomorrow / June 12th, 2021

Meet Yusuffali MA, who paid Rs 1 crore to save Kerala man on death row in UAE

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, Leaders, NRI's / PIO's, Uncategorized, World Opinion, , , , , , , ,

KERALA / Dubai, UAE :

Yusuffali MA is a UAE-based Indian businessman. He is a billionaire who operates the Lulu Group that owns Lulu Hypermarkets and shopping malls.

Meet Yusuffali MA, who paid Rs 1 crore to save Kerala man on death row in UAE - Business News

It was nothing sort of rebirth for Becks Krishnan, serving a death row in UAE when his 500,000 Dirhams (around Rs 1 crore) compensation was paid in full and the man hailing from Kerala was released. The generous compensation was paid by Yusuffali MA, the chairman and managing director of LuLu Group.

Krishnan was sentenced to death by UAE’s Federal Supreme Court. He had been found guilty of killing a young Sudanese boy when he recklessly drove his car and rammed a group of children in September 2012. Ever since the sentence, the family had been trying for his release. But that required a hefty compensation to be paid. This is where Yusuffali stepped in.

Meet Yusuffali MA, who paid Rs 1 crore to save Kerala man on death row in UAE - Business News

In his career as a business tycoon, Yusuffali has headed the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI). He is the only non-Arab to be elected to the director board of ADCCI for three consecutive terms.

He has been a key mediator in the Kochi Smart City project between the Kerala government and the Dubai-based TECOM Group. Apart from his role in business, he has also organised several relief measures in India, notable among those are during the Lathur earthquake in Maharashtra, the Gujarat earthquake, and the Uttarakhand floods.

Yusauffali was conferred with Padmashree by President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil in 2008 for his achievements in business and industry. He was the first non-resident Indian (NRI) from the Gulf and the Middle East countries to be awarded Padmashree. Previously, he had been given the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award by late President APJ Abdul Kalam in 2005.

The UAE government in April awarded him with its highest civilian award for his noble and charitable contribution to the community. After accepting the award, Yusauffali said, “I first arrived in Abu Dhabi 47 years ago with dreams and hopes. I faced a lot of challenges and ups and downs in my life, but, today, I have reached this stage by the grace of Almighty God and the wholehearted support from the Royal Family of the UAE.”

Securing the release of Krishnan, Yusuffali simply “thanked the almighty and the benevolence of visionary rulers of UAE” for the decision, and wished him a happy and peaceful life ahead.

source: http://www.indiatoday.in / India Today / Home> Business / India Today Web Desk, New Delhi / June 04th, 2021

Bhaag Beanie Bhaag Producer Seher Aly Latif Passes Away

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Leaders, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), World Opinion

Mumbai, MAHARASHTRA :

Seher Latif also worked in multiple international projects including Sense 8.

Seher Aly Latif, producer of Swara Bhasker starrer Bhaag Beanie Bhaag, passed away on 7 June of a cardiac arrest. She was reportedly admitted to Mumbai’s Lilavati hospital for renal failure. Seher also worked as the casting director for Maska, Shakuntala Devi, and Durgamati: The Myth among others.

Director Neeraj Udhwani, who worked on Maska with Seher, confirmed the news to Indian Express. “It’s unbelievable. It’s so hard to process. Last week only I donated blood for her and I was told she was recovering. And this morning, I got to know about it. She had an infection due to which she suffered renal failure. She was admitted to the hospital last weekend. Doctors had put on her antibiotics, and we thought she was recovering,” he said.

Seher is remembered fondly by many people who’ve worked with her. About his experience of working with Seher, Neeraj said, “Her default expression was a smile. You would always find her smiling. She was one of the nicest, kindest people I ever met.”

Nimrat Kaur, who played the lead in Lunchbox, tweeted a picture of Seher with her cat and wrote, “One of the kindest, most loving people Mumbai gifted my life with. Still trying to process this unreal news…. Travel on into the light my dearest, sweetest Seher. The unpredictable, ghastly shortness of life remains baffling…Await to meet you on the other side.”

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter)

British singer Sophie Choudry tweeted, “A force to be reckoned with in the world of casting , started producing and more than anything just a wonderful woman. Heaven is lucky to have you, Seher.”

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter)

Made In Heaven actor Shashank Arora wrote a heartfelt tribute to the producer. “She was what Indian Cinema needed, above all she was one of the best people I had met in Bombay till date. Rest in peace friend,” he tweeted.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter)

Seher Latif. A kind, brilliant, empathetic artist, casting director, producer, human being. A rare friend. First person to give me a job during difficult first years in Bombay. An inspiring leader. Unable to process this. World cinema lost a great one. See you on the other side,” he also wrote.

Seher’s repertoire also contains international projects including Eat Pray Love, Viceroy’s House, McMafia and Sense 8. She also founded Mutant Films with producer Shivani Saran in 2016. She is survived by her husband and parents.

source: http://www.thequint.com / The Quint / Home> Quint Entertainment> Celbrities / by The Quint / June 08th, 2021

MP: ‘Noorjahan’ mangoes fetching rate up to Rs 1,000 apiece

Agriculture (since June 07th, 2021), Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Green Products, , ,

Indore, MADHYA PRADESH :

Locals claim ‘Noorjahan’ mangoes are of Afghan origin and cultivated only in the Katthiwada region of Alirajpur district adjacent to the Gujarat border, approximately 250 km from Indore.

Kids holding Noorjahan mangoes. (File Photo | Express Photo Service)

Indore :

The ‘Noorjahan’ mango, cultivated in Madhya Pradesh’s Alirajpur district, is fetching a higher price this year thanks to the good yield and sheer size of the fruit compared with the last year.

The ‘Noorjahan’ mango is priced at Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 apiece this season, a farmer said on Sunday, adding unlike the last year, the yield of this variety of mangoes has been good this time due to favourable weather conditions.

Locals claim ‘Noorjahan’ mangoes are of Afghan origin and cultivated only in the Katthiwada region of Alirajpur district adjacent to the Gujarat border, approximately 250 km from Indore.

“The three Noojahan mango trees in my orchard have produced 250 mangoes. The fruit has been priced between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 per piece. Bookings have already been done for these mangoes,” Shivraj Singh Jadhav, a mango cultivator from Katthiwada, told PTI.

He said people who have booked ‘Noorjahan’ mangoes in advance include fruit lovers from Madhya Pradesh as well as neighbouring Gujarat.

“This time the weight of a Noorjahan mango is going to be between 2 kg to 3.5 kg,” Jadhav added.

Ishaq Mansoori, an expert in cultivating ‘Noorjahan’ mangoes in Katthiwada, said, “This time the crop of this variety has been good but the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the business”.

He said ‘Noorjahan’ trees could not flower properly due to unfavourable climatic conditions in 2020.

“In 2019, one mango of this variety weighed around 2.75 kg at an average and buyers paid as high as Rs 1,200 apiece for it,” he added.

The ‘Noorjahan’ variety produces fruits towards the beginning of June.

These trees start flowering in January- February.

A ‘Noorjahan’ mango can grow up to a foot long and its kernels weigh between 150 to 200 grams, local cultivators claimed.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Nation / by PTI / Indore – June 06th, 2021

All about Rezoy, one of India’s first food delivery apps by a restaurant association

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KERALA :

Starting with Kochi, Rezoy — launched by Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association — is set to start full operations in other parts of the State. We explore how the app works and why it benefits the industry:

When Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA) launched Rezoy, the Kerala-based food delivery app, the intention was as much to support restaurateurs as much as customers, says Azees Moosa, Ernakulam district president of KHRA.

What makes Rezoy unique is that it is one of the country’s first food delivery apps by a restaurant association. The app, available to both iOS and Android users, has been developed by Ludhiana-based developer Jungleworks for KHRA.

Although the beta version was available in December 2020, it was finally formally launched in May, in Kochi. For now, the app’s reach is limited to parts of Kochi; the plan, however, is for it to be available across Kerala.

Going online was inevitable since doorstep delivery became a reality, a lesson learnt during the lockdown. “We are increasing our geo-fencing to cover a wider area. Although the app is available in Thiruvananthapuram, Malappuram and Thrissur, Rezoy does not have delivery executives there yet. We are working out the logistics and payment gateway. For now, the restaurants in these cities use their own delivery staff,” Azees says.

Working through the lockdown

Lockdown restrictions and containment zones in Kochi have thrown a spanner in KHRA’s expansion plans. “It will take time, but we are committed to this app and making it work. So far we have 300 listings [of hotels and restaurants] in Kochi . We don’t have the financial resources of the large food aggregators; our growth is bound to be slow in comparison,” he adds. Business owners have invested in developing the app and get it running, he says, adding that contributions vary based on how much a business owner can afford.

Rezoy charges a 10% commission from restaurant owners, towards salary for delivery staff and expenses incurred on delivery.

Since it is one of the first in the country, all eyes are on it. “We are the first food delivery app launched by an association such as ours, hence we have been getting enquiries from peers in neighbouring states about how it works,” says Azees.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style> Food / by Shilpa Nair Anand / Kochi – May31st, 2021

Chennai dessert boutique Sweet Spot teams home-baked treats with music recommendations

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Chennai, TAMIL NADU :

Sweet Spot’s best-sellers include milk chocolate salted caramel cake, baklava tart and dark chocolate cheesecake. The latest entrant on the menu is sheer shahi kurma

There is a lot one can discover over dessert. As I plunge my spoon into a gooey chocolate cake, my palate is surprised by what lies beneath: shreds of coconut, coated in luscious Belgian chocolate.

Keeping me company is a soulful Nepali track — a recommendation by the Sweet Spot team. It came written on a neon sticky note, attached to the neat box laden with brownies, tarts and cookies. Sweet Spot, started in April by Zeeshan Anees, Ahad Anaikar, Mohamed Faraaz, Pooja Reddy and Mohamed Samee aims to give home bakers a platform to promote their products.

The desserts are sold under the label of the person who created them, explains Samee. The idea is not to monopolise the dessert market, but to even out the playing field. And along with the goodies come song recommendations from the team. These include: ‘Hataarindai, Bataasindai’, ‘Parchaiyon Main’, ‘Heat Waves’, ‘100 words’…

“The idea came to us during the last lockdown, when we noticed an increase in home bakers. We were ordering a lot of desserts from them,” says Samee. Soon, they transformed a small space, in the same compound as the old Nolita (in Nungambakkam), into a dessert parlour.

The team put all interested home bakers through a series of quality checks, filtering out what did not work for them. “Earlier, the concern most clients had with home bakers was, they had to order two days in advance or buy a full kilogram of cake, even if all they wanted is one slice,” says Samee. Now, these wrinkles have been ironed out.

Empowering the homebaker

On an average, the boutique features items by 15 home bakers, the number goes up to 20 during the weekends. Each bakers typically stocks two to three of her creations. “Sixty to 70% are products by our anchor brands such as Meltz by Aishwarya, Whisk by Safra, Serendipia, Chef Srishti, Coucou, Baked by Faz, Zoya’s bakes, and the rest are from upcoming bakers,” says Samee.

The best-sellers include milk chocolate salted caramel cake, baklava tart and dark chocolate cheesecake. The latest entrant on the menu is sheer shahi kurma. They are trying to bring in variety with Indian desserts as well as savoury snacks like quiches and cream cheese-filled Korean buns.

On weekends they sell out. Their clients order from as far as ECR, Chrompet, Madipakkam and Velachery. The number of orders range from anywhere between 70-100 a day.

Order via their Instagram page, @sweetspot_chennai.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style> Food / by Priyadarshini Paitandy / Chennai – June 02nd, 2021

Bihar vegetable hawker turns Samaritan, distributes free masks, hand sanitizers to the poor, labourers

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, COVID 19 - Community of Soldiers, , ,

The 41-year-old, Akhbar Ali, distributes them from the very cart on which he sells vegetables from early morning to 10 am daily. 

Bagaha (West Champaran District) , BIHAR :

41-year-old, Bihar vegetable hawker, Akhbar Ali, istributes facemasks and hand sanitizers for free among the poor people and labourers (Photo | EPS)

Patna :

A vegetable hawker now turned humanity-server now distributes facemasks and hand sanitizers for free among the poor people and labourers at Bagaha,  in Bihar’s West Champaran district.

He was moved from within at the sight of a poor man picking up a used face mask that was dumped at a roadside.

The 41-year-old, Akhbar Ali, distributes them from the very cart on which he sells vegetables from early morning to 10 am daily. 

“I called that man and asked why he had been picking up the mask. He told me for wearing on his face as he wanted to live in this world safely from Corona. And his this line moved me so much that I decided to distribute free masks and sanitizer from my cart among the poor people and labourers”, Ali said. The next day he went to the market, bought facemasks and hand sanitizers and started roaming with the items on his hand-pulled cart across the market. 

“I used to go where the migrant labourers came to work and the poor people lived in the town daily after 11 am to evening. Wherever I see the poor people without facemasks, I offer them free of cost and advise them to wear it for safety:” he said. 

He sells masks and other Corona safety-related items to people who can afford to pay for them but gives them away for free to poor people and labourers. 

He said that 50% of the total income he earns from vending vegetables is utilised for purchasing masks and sanitizers for poor people. Ali is simply only able to write and read his name but he said: “In the earning a human-being, both the country and the poor people have equal natural share and one must dedicate the share of ‘watan’ and ‘garib’ as an act of prayer to Allah”, he said. 

He has Hindi signs on display at his cart. One saying “Yahan free masks garibo aur majduro ko milta hai’ (“Here mask free of cost is given to poor and the labourers”) and some others with messages in Hindi asking people to maintain social distancing. 

“From vegetable hawker to humanity server, Ali has become here a name among the destitute and poor people, who seek face masks from him free”, Munna Kumar, a labourer, who was given a pair mask recently said. 

Ali estimates that till date more than 10,000 masks and sanitizers from his earning have been distributed among the poor people and the labourers at Bagaha. 

“Now, I sell vegetables till 10 am and thereafter go out with cart carrying masks and sanitizers to the poor people in the town”, he said. 
 
“Wherever I saw a poor man even on a bus without mask, I run towards him with a mask to give. I will keep serving the poor people-‘garib’ (poor) and “majduro” (labourers) till the corona continues”, he said.

 He has been doing it silently with a line of Mahatma Gandhi “the greatness of humanity is not being human but is being humane’

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Nation / by Rajesh Kumar Thakur, Express News Service / May 29th, 2021

Chitradurga man on mission to bid dignified adieu to disowned Covid dead

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Community Involvement / Social Issues, COVID 19 - Community of Soldiers, Karnataka (under research project), Transport, Useful / HEALTHCARE, , , , , ,

Hiriyur Town(Chitradurga) , KARNATAKA :

Milan Rafiq, who runs an old furniture shop in Hiriyur town, is not allowed to park his Maruti Omni in front of his house, and neither do his neighbours visit him.

Milan Rafiq (inset) and the vehicle he uses to ferry bodies of Covid victims

Chitradurga : 

Milan Rafiq, who runs an old furniture shop in Hiriyur town, is not allowed to park his Maruti Omni in front of his house, and neither do his neighbours visit him.

For he has converted his Omni into a hearse, and ferries bodies of Covid patients to graveyards and crematoriums. He also completes the last rites, and has cremated and buried more than 200 bodies, of which around 80 were of Covid patients. His aim is to give people a final dignified departure, surprising at a time when friends and families are known to abandon both the living and dead.

“Covid has killed humanity. People are not ready to take care of their near and dear ones, including ailing parents on their deathbeds,” said Rafiq. He saw disowned bodies lying in the mortuary of Hiriyur Taluk Hospital, and it disturbed him so much that he decided to take on the last duties himself, irrespective of caste, creed and religion. He doesn’t charge any money, only accepting whatever is given to him, which he uses for the next burial or cremation.

“Before taking the body, I ask the family to get the grave dug, so we can bury the body and close the grave. On an average, I cremate two bodies every day. On Sunday, I cremated four bodies in Chitradurga and Hiriyur,” Rafiq told The New Indian Express.

His has carried out cremations in Chitradurga, Bengaluru and Kolar districts, ferrying bodies from Bengaluru to Kolar, and Madhugiri in Tumakuru. At a time when ambulances charge exorbitant rates, Rafiq just asks where the body should be ferried and sets out in his Omni. The cost of petrol and repairs is met by his group of friends, standing solidly behind him ever since he took up these humanitarian duties.

“I am also using my fixed deposit, I cannot ask families for money when they are in pain. It would be a sin,” he said.

Rafiq’s wife Shahtaj Begum, son Mohammed Zubair and son-in-law Mohammed Ali support him and even help him with the last rites. They wear masks and PPE kits, and sanitise the Omni after work is done. He cites a recent ordeal where there was no one to give them even a glass of water.

“My son, son-in-law, and I conducted the last rites and drank water only after returning to Hiriyur,” he said. Rafiq freely gives his number — 7259859407 — for anytime, anywhere burials and cremations.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by G Subhash Chandra, Express News Service / May 25th, 2021