Digital revolution: Gadgets with killer looks and technology never cease to fascinate

Anna Hazare: My Prime Minister

TSI lists this festive season the most sophisticated of them, ones that have ruled the market for quite some time

Smart Choice
Motorola Milestone
Milestone XT720 by Sony Ericsson is a milestone in itself as it is the first smartphone to be launched in India with Android 2.1 Operating System. Milestone is a smartphone without compromise, delivering a wiser, richer web and messaging experience. As an Android 2.1 device, it does what other smartphones don’t. It has been designed to enhance consumer experiences with its full screen web browsing experience, ability to juggle between multiple applications and suite of Google applications delivery. Along with all this it has the thinnest QWERTY slider (13.7 mm), Multi-Touch with double-tap zoom, 5MP camera with flash and auto-focus and thousands of applications and widgets in Android Market. This offering by Motorola is undoubtedly a boon for tech savvy users.

A Masterpiece
Sony Ericsson Black Diamond
This high-end 4 megapixel phone is cased in a layer of polycarbonate with mirror finish cladding. The OLED technology makes for vivid illumination under the polycarbonate skin and gives it a borderless screen effect. The ultra thin profile, clean lines, and ultra-glossy finish are all qualities which surely provide an exotic look which will attract Sony Ericsson fans and gadget freaks alike. The most amazing feature is that this luxurious mobile is studded with black diamonds. This masterpiece is entailed with touch keypad and comprises of Wi-Fi technology and Bluetooth which makes the connectivity pretty amazing. You can easily capture the best moments of your life with this gadget and surely it will suit your style.

Sony X Series
Sound Revolutionised
This festive season the electronics giant Sony has taken the covers off the X Series of their Walkman players. It's not just the three-inch OLED screen which it boasts about but also its S-Master Digital Amplifier and Clear Audio technologies that make for the best Walkman sound quality so far, and the claim to be the the world's first for an MP3/video player with digital noise cancelling. Apart from the touchscreen, it has support for all popular music and video formats, Hybrid controls (touchscreen plus buttons) & Wi-fi connectivity. All this in one gadget will surely make anyone go for it and at any cost.

Lenovo
The House of Innovation

The all new range of trendy and classy laptops from the house of Lenovo (a company which has been powered by strong innovation). From being just an outstanding computing machine, powered by Intel Core i5-450m processor, the Lenovo IdeaPad Y560 (15") notebook seamlessly transforms into a sleek home theatre or an envious gaming device just at the touch of a button. These sleek Notebooks fascinate the user with artistic cover pattern, the classic orange loop and an elite impression.

Vertu
Elegance Personified
The über swanky segment of Nokia - Vertu is out with yet another class act. The latest from the chic brand is an addition to their Constellation series and is called the Ayxta. This is Vertu's very first attempt at a flip phone clamshell device. The Ayxta is Designed in the UK and made up of stainless steel and aluminum with leather to accentuate certain areas. Its exemplary features include Sapphire crystal display, Ceramic keypad, 3G with EDGE/GPRS, Bluetooth, USB 2.0, 3 megapixel camera with dual LED flash, MicroSD card support (up to 8GB) and much more. It also comes with preloaded ringtones that include those by Grammy-nominated artists, Zero 7.
The other classy product is the Signature Cobra - a luxurious cellphone encrusted with precious rocks by French jeweller Boucheron. It is a ritzy gadget made from the innovative combination of one pear-cut diamond, one round white diamond, two emerald eyes and 439 rubies, thereby making it a luxurious dream, which if you have will make others envy.

MERIDIIST
Redefining Luxury
For those who have the taste and love for the ultimate brands, TAG Heuer, the famous Swiss watch maker and an icon in its own way, has decided to join the mobile bandwagon. In creating a niche for themselves, they have designed and launched the MERIDIIST - an ultimate luxury handset. The MERIDIIST is made from corrosion-resistant steel and has scratch resistant 60.5 carats sapphire crystal dual displays (the main display and the display on the top for the watch). It has a 1.9 inch QVGA display, while the secondary display is a monochrome OLED screen. According to TAG Heuer, the handset can pull off seven hours of talk-time. It also sports a 2 megapixel camera, media player and Bluetooth. So, for all you brand conscious or should we say, brand freaks out there you have lots to cheer about this festive season and TAG Heuer has given you their exclusive offer to grab...

Xbox 360
Gaming Console
The Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system places you at the centre of the experience. Xbox 360 ignites a new era of digital entertainment that is always connected, always personalised, and always in high definition. Xbox 360 gives you access to the games you want to play, the people you want to play with, and the experiences you crave – when and where you want them.


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Much desired hot wheels!: Dazzling cars and powerful bikes

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Dazzling cars and powerful bikes are things that everyone aspires for. tsi brings a pack of products that have been the dream purchase for many in the Indian circuit

Mercedes SLS AMG
Speed at its best...
Words like emotions, design, racing exhilaration, path braking are some of the attributes that one can definitely associate with the SLS AMG. Based on a true sports car design on the exterior, complemented by the puristic, aviation inspired interior designs makes this exclusively made product by AMG in the history of 40 years one of the most popular in the luxury segment. Carrying a price label of Rs 2.5 crore, the SLS AMG demonstrates the highest order of development expertise. With values like passion, performance, design, technology and engineering excellence, the SLS AMG is one of the most exciting sports car brand present today. Sporting a 6.3 litre V8 front mid-engine and the AMG speedshift DCT 7-speed sports transmission, the SLS AMG surely exhilarates automotive enthusiasts across the country. Quality, safety, reliability and exclusiveness are some features that have caught the fancy of the Indian consumer. SLS AMG fulfils the needs of the most elite customers by offering a range of customisation options taking help of the AMG Performance Studios.

Yamaha VMAX
Giving an adrenaline rush
Apart from the fact that the VMAX is the most expensive offering that Yamaha has in India, the astonishing performance and revolutionary muscular styling of the motorbike makes it one of the hottest wheels that one aspires to own. Available in a metallic black colour, the sports cruiser carries a price tag of Rs 20 lakh (Ex-Showroom, Delhi). Launched with an aim to take biking in India to a different echelon, it has rightfully provided new thrill to the bikers. Offering a 1,679cc liquid-cooled 4-stroke DOHC 65 degree V4 engine, the link-type Monocross system of the rear suspension adds on to the comfortable ride of this model. From engine control systems to the aluminium frame and to the radial-mounted 6-piston front brakes, the product is surely one of the finely engineered products available in the country as of today. The smooth acceleration combined with the bodywork and styling of the model is one USP that has attracted a lot of consumers towards this beast since it was introduced to the Indian consumer.

BMW Z4
Witness the roadster experience!
If you are looking to own a vehicle for the sheer driving pleasure, perhaps the BMW Z4 is the one you are hunting. Modern, emotional and authentic are the few values that this product carries and combine classic roadster proportions with a seating position close to the rear axle, rear-wheel drive and a fully-automatic retractable hardtop. The two-seater model offers a refreshing experience of the sunshine and the wind rushing by when driven with the hood open and the product is one of the most sought after in its segment. Available at an ex-showroom price of Rs 59 lakh, the Z4 is one of the popular products in the roadster segment worldwide. Offering a high level of practicality, the Z4 is one of the best buys for the consumers who are looking for an overwhelming experience on the drive.

Rolls Royce Ghost
Elegance on wheels
This tailor-made car has surely taken the Rolls Royce brand into the reach of many who couldn't earlier even dream of owning any product from the stable of this British Luxury carmaker. While it still comes with a hefty price tag of Rs 2.5 crore (estimated), it is undeniably the most affordable product in the portfolio of the company. As the Ghost carries the original Rolls Royce flavour and also broadens the appeal of Rolls-Royce cars, it has become one of the most popular cars under the Rolls Royce umbrella in no time. With an ability to reach 0-100km/hour in just 4.9 seconds, the Ghost has become the talk of the town in the luxury circuit. This four-door super-luxury saloon, despite being smaller in size as compared to the earlier models of the company, has been able to stay true to its luxurious heritage. Using the finest wood and leather materials, Ghost is one of the most sought after products in the domestic luxury circuit.

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Dream Purchases: Fashionably Yours

INDIA'S BEST COLLEGES, INSTITUTES and UNIVERSITIES

Dress up this carnival with a never-before look and here's a guide to those dazzling desires that will help you to make an ultimate statement during the fashion fiesta....

Wrap up the gucci way

Be it Dussehra or Diwali, a festival means gifting. Or maybe wrapping your precious glares and watches – these awesome cases from Gucci can be the ultimate solution. The watch cases and shoe horns in metal have been crafted with exclusive chocolate Guccissima leather. GG candles in brown and gold are also on offer. Prices on request.

Timelessly yours

Want to tantalise with time? Then you should definitely grab this TAG Heuer Grand Carrera watch, which is inspired by the world’s most prestigious sports cars. Being a leader in the boardroom is one thing and ruling the dance floor is another, but with this silver, brown or black dial and an elegant steel bracelet or an alligator strap, you can cajole anybody on to the dance floor. With diamonds on the bezel and tagged at Rs 4,00,0000, this watch is a must for this festival season.

Fit & fine

Globally acclaimed lifestyle sportswear brand FILA has been known for their 'perfect fit' sports shoes. And for this festival, to help patrons maintain their healthy style of living, this ritzy Italian sports brand has recently launched their all-new range of running shoes. Running is not only about staying fit but it is also important for a positive attitude. What could be a better time to get off your heels than now? FILA’s new range consists of Intercept, Skylite, Hexon, Surge, Alloy and Racer, which do a great job in providing exceptional cushion support and maintaining a perfect posture required for running. Prices on request.

Lords of the ring

They say a ring reflects the eternal. And this ring from Gitanjali is definitely timeless. Christened Nouvelle Bague, the ring epitomises the beauty of ‘black and white’. Classically crafted in 18k pure white gold along with black and white diamonds studded to artistic perfection, this makes you feel like a lord during this fiesta.
Price on request.

Dazzle of the devi

It’s a carnival of spirituality and would be incomplete without the Goddess of power. Exclusively designed around Goddess Durga, who represents a united front of all divine forces against negative forces and for the protection of good, this exquisite Tanishq Durga diamond pendant is ideal as much for possessing as for gifting. Crafted in 18k gold and sparkling certified diamonds, this bon-ton pendant radiates the spirit of prosperity and celebration. Priced at Rs 35,000, it is available at all Tanishq stores.

Colourfully fish fry

Futuristic fashion gets a new address with Reebok commissioning Indian designer Manish Arora to come up with a complete line of high-end accessories under the name Reebok Fish Fry. Highly fashionable and über cool, this latest collection of boots from Reebok Fish Fry has been showcased at many international fashion weeks, including the prestigious Paris Fashion Week. Crafted with bright colours and blending a bit of tradition, these shoes will add colour to the festival but the prices are something that you need to find out.

Equipping office dream!
The office category requires products which are sophisticated and classy & at the same time make you earn that extra buck by saving time

Projection:
The Samsung Way
The super stylish P400 LED Pocket Projector is perfectly suited to be a dream purchase in the office segment as it's high on quality and comes in ultra compact size. It offers unrivaled portability and flexibility of placement, allowing premium images to be viewed anywhere you want. With 20000 hours of the unique LED lamp life and crystal clear brightness, it is a synonym to class and perfection. Based on DLPTM technology, it allows more lights from the LED lamp onto the screen which minimises the loss of light in the projection process and improves efficiency.

Printing :
Pi'x'cs with...
PIXMA MX876 is the complete office solution offering from Canon, which can easily print, scan, copy, fax, and network. With the five-colour individual ink tank system, it can print 4 x 6" (4R) borderless photo in approx. 39secs up to the paper size A4. Its ChromaLife 100+ technology ensures photos that can last up to 300 years. It has 1pl (min.) ink droplets and 9600 x 2400dpi (max.) resolution. The Auto Scan Mode allows automation of scanning and saving procedures in to three short steps and the Auto Document Fix (ADF) technology analyses document characteristics and applies appropriate correction to enhance document readability. It reproduces accurate second generation photos & documents with dual colour. The Speed Dial Utility of MX876 can change settings and register fax recipients. The ADF technology enables the machine to store up to 250 faxed pages when out-of-paper or ink. It has a 2.5" LCD colour display for easy viewing & selection.

The IP Phone Dream
The GenNext Technology
Cisco's Unified IP phone 7941G is a full-featured handset that provides two programmable line and feature buttons along with four interactive soft-keys to help guide users through various call features and functions. With IP phones catching the corporate eye and being one of the most potent technologies in the near future, the 7941G certainly tops the list. With high resolution and a graphical 4 – bit scale display of 320 x 222, the IP phone is all set to shiver the competitors with an added advantage of one of the most trusted technology brands in the world.

Router
New High Definition
Linksys Wireless-N Access Point with Dual-Band (WAP610N) from the house of Cisco is becoming popular in the office space segment with beautiful looks and great embedded technology within. Optimised to stream HD video across the home network, the WAP 610N works on both wireless frequencies, 2.4 and 5 GHz, to provide more reliable streaming and less interference from other products. The WAP610N is also ideal for SOHO applications. Wireless-N can deliver the necessary bandwidth you need for VoIP telephony, high volume data transfers or back-ups, web surfing and e-mailing.

The supreme class!

For all those tech lovers out there, we now unveil a guide to add that extra zing to your home with the lifestyle products that not only make you look ber cool but also pump up your senses....

Visually scintillating
Sony 3D TV
With the world swooning over the 3D technology, this latest innovation from the Japanese Pioneer is not to be missed. The 60-inch 3D BRAVIA TV priced at Rs 4, 49,900 is surely a dire that comes loaded with features like a Full HD 3D, Motionflow 200 hz Pro and OptiContrast Panel. Besides its excellent features, the 3D TV also has a deep black panel that not only gives a picture accuracy but also flaunts a classy look. All in all, a perfect piece to place in your drawing room to make your neighbours envy.

Not an illusion!
Nikon Camera
The market leader of professional cameras, Nikon has a single-lens reflex digital camera especially designed for the photography enthusiasts. Priced at Rs 289,950, the camera is a one hard catcher for sure, but with its extravagant features, it's an image lover's delight. With attributes like retouch menu, info display on LCD monitor, Integrated Dust Reductions System, live view, D-Movie and dual card slots, the Nikon D3S tales on the panache factor well in quotient for its users. And with Nikon's aggressive service network in the country, one need not think twice before purchasing it.

Sheer panache
LG Microwave oven
Being tagged as India's first convection microwave oven with 151 Auto Cook menu options, this one is a must for your kitchen. Its Nutricare Menu, which is apt for health conscious users seeking for low on calorie food, is a boon in disguise for the consumers who look for intelligent features along with style. It comes loaded with an whole host of smart accompaniments like multi rack, steam chef accessory, light disinfect, humidity sensor, auto moving grill and baker’s basket. Moreover, its flawless floral design in striding colours makes it noticed by every passerby. Its pricing starts from Rs 9090 to Rs 27990.

Wash off, but in style!
Samsung washing machine
When you have Priyanka Chopra to endorse a washing machine, who would not want a piece of it? The new line-up of Samsung top loading washing machines with 6.2kg - 7.5kg capacity is one lifestyle product which is a must in any household. The washing machine is loaded with innovative technology like eco-storm and ‘inner care storm,’ which aims at reduction of water up to 28%. This entire range is available in flashy colours like light grey, Caribbean silver, imperial silver and Carmen wine within a price range of Rs 7,000 to 43,999. So now you know, how to bring Piggy Chops to your home this festive season!

Red is the color this time!
Haier Coupe refrigerator
Imagine a refrigerator, especially designed for the Indian climatic conditions. And when this unmatched feature is paired up with its stylish exteriors such as a wine red glass door with glossy finish, electronic controls with LED Display and a Fuzzy Mode, this machine becomes all the more exquisite. The side by side refrigerator by Haier is available in new model HRF-663IRG which is priced at Rs. 74990. But for an eye candy like this, one does not give a second thought to shed those
bucks!

Sip slurp fire
ADDING THE FINAL TOUCH TO THE PICTURE. LET THE CELEBRATION BEGIN

231ZL – Orange Matte.
Burn it up!
The festival season is just around the corner with promising days of fun-filled celebrations and sharing of gifts. From one of the most trusted and recognised brands in the world, comes one of the most apt gift for the die-hard Zippo lovers in the form of a fresh and new range of designs in red and orange to match the festive spirit. The extremely vibrant and stylish Zippo lighter promises to enhance the excitement, as celebrations get bigger and better. This classic lifetime accessory is a great piece of memorabilia which is also sure to strengthen your bond with your loved ones. So, make the most this festive season and celebrate it the Zippo way – with class, style and a touch of ‘cool’! Alongside the cult designs already in the range, this festive season, Zippo presents a plethora of new designs like 304 – Red matte, 24319 – Slim Candy Apple Red and 231ZL – Orange Matte. Go... blaze it up in style. Go... blaze it up with Zippo.

Patchi
Yummily yours
With a variety of dark and white chocolates, Patchi's trump card during the festive season is its specially designed festive special chocolates. Patchi, a well known name in the chocolate industry has many joyous and tempting shapes. But, what is unique is the shapes of Laxmi and Ganesh that is craftily embedded in the chocolates for the festive season every year. The other attractive features about these chocolates are that they are egg-less.

Besides this, there is also a variety of menus which have been customised to meet the requirements of the customers. They are also offering packaging that comes in designer packages of gold and silverware. Shower love this season. Gift Patchi.

Heirloom
On the rocks
Created to reflect the style of whiskies in the early 19th century Johnnie Walker Blue Label is the epitome of blending. “Heirloom” by Johnnie Walker Blue Label is truly a unique and exquisite masterpiece designed by well-known designer Tarun Tahiliani. Ensconced in a beautifully handcrafted case made with exquisite leather and embellished with blue sapphire Swarovski and 18k gold electroplating, the case comes in very limited numbers making it a gift that stands out.

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Dream Purchases: Streets of desire

IIPM’s Management Consulting Arm - Planman Consulting

These are the streets where the hustle and bustle of buying and selling are at their noisiest best, where the biggest bargains are struck, where India goes to shop

Even a decade back, Lindsay Street, in Esplanade, the heart of Kolkata, was more a hit with movie buffs. Opera houses, dating back to the British days like Lighthouse, New Empire, Tiger and Chaplin were the hotspots. Middle and upper middle class Bengalis and Anglo-Indians would throng the adjacent New Market or Stuart Hogg Market for shopping. Today, on the eve of the Durga Puja, the same Lindsay Street reverberates since morning till late evening as lakhs and lakhs of shoppers jostle for their share of Puja marketing.


To keep pace with change, Tiger has metamorphosed into ‘Mega Shop’ and Lighthouse rechristened ‘City Mart’. These multi-storey shopping malls with glossy exteriors stock products of a variety of brands. Even the Left-controlled Kolkata Municipal Corporation has joined the 'change' bandwagon. Its parking space has been converted into the bustling Anarkali Market where more than 70 shops do business. Avid readers of English novels used to visit this street, just beside the Oberoi Grand, to buy old books at throwaway prices. The book shops are no more there. They had to vacate the place for Shree Ram Arcade, a garment mall, the first to usher in the change.


About a decade back, Lindsay Street witnessed the first change of façade with ‘Sree Leathers’, the biggest shoe shop of Kolkata, offering latest designs at nearly half the rate of Bata products. Earlier, choosy garment buyers used to visit the New Market and get their garments tailored by Muslim ostagars. The changed times have elbowed them out. New Market shop owners today stock ready-made branded garments. And with this change, Maidan Market, the first shopping complex of Kolkata, built by the then chief minister Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy to assimilate East Bengal refugees into the mainstream, has lost its glory before the glittering Lindsay Street complex.


Today's Kolkata has all the known brands – Peter England, Van Heusen, Koutons, Levi's, Allen Solly, Louis Philippe, Turtle and what not. But tailor-made personally fitted outfits have nearly vanished. Middle-aged Amal feels, “Somewhere we are missing that personal touch. Earlier we used to bargain. Today, bargain is out.”


If one wants to catch a glimpse of Chennai's shopping spirit, he has to come to Ranganathan Street of T. Nagar. A place where you shop till you drop, this small street is less than half a kilometre connecting Mambalam railway station with North Usman Road.

With the biggest multi-storey to the smallest shop on the platform, you can buy everything here, from pins to voluminous household articles. People from all over Tamil Nadu come here to shop for marriages and festivals.


Stephen, who has come all the way from Madurai, tells TSI, ''This is the ideal place to shop when a newly-wed couple is starting out. From furniture to a child's cradle, one can buy everything here. I think one can save at least Rs 75,000, if one shops here for marriages.”


At Jayachandran Textiles, one of the biggest retail shops, the floors are choc-a-bloc with women. Owner J. Sundaralingam says, ''From October till Deepavali, we see very heavy rush here. This crowd will continue till Pongal in January. Saturdays and Sundays are totally full here. On an average, 50,000 people throng this street every day. During the festive season, it swells to over 2,00,000. Even breathing becomes a problem then.”


A view of the street from the top of the building seems like an endless sea of men and women moving at the slowest possible speed. There are about 300 shops which sell branded goods to local products.


Essentially, the shoppers come here as a family. Women dictate the terms. Many eateries line the street. The big multi-storeyed shops have their own food joints. The tailor shops in the basements do brisk business. Manjula, who runs a tailoring shop, says, ''We make a churidar in one hour. This is a catchy prospect. So this place is always abuzz with activity. But sometimes when the number of orders is high and there are frequent power cuts, we face trouble in meeting the deadline.”


Essentially a shopping street for the middle class, this street has been popular since the 1970s. But today the crowd has become unmanageable. The street, too, cannot grow more than it already has, parking woes are mounting. Space is scarce. So to meet the needs, most shops have grown upwards as they can't expand horizontally. The biggest shops have a minimum of eight floors. There is a flip side to this street about scores of salesmen employed at ridiculously low salaries. "Angadi Theru," a Tamil film on life on this street and the struggle of sales employees, was an instant hit with the Tamil people.


Twenty years back, there existed small retail stores at Linking Road in Khar, Mumbai, which would sell footwear, apparels and basic necessities. However, with increase in purchasing power, customers prefer to shop at premium stores like Tommy Hilfiger, Benetton, Espirit, Portico among others which have sprung up post liberalisation.


Earlier, customers preferred to buy shoes from Carona and Bata. But due to rising rentals and with changing consumer aspiration for premium branded products and lifestyle, brands such as Tremode, Mochi, Regal, Metro have now become the choices for footwear and accessories as these stores provide different varieties and styles. As a result, Carona and Bata slowly started fading away. Currently, rental for a retail store here ranges between Rs 500 and Rs 700 per square feet.


According to Monesh Bhojwani, assistant vice president – retail services, Jones Lang LaSalle India, “Still, there are retailers which cater to the value segment that stretch between National College and Gazebo restaurant in Linking Road locality. They include New World of Titan Showroom, Manzoni from the Raymond Group, food and beverage store such as Only Parathas, KFC. High Streets always look at enhancing, by providing visibility to the advertising value of a branded store, vis-à-vis a store which would exist in one corner of a mall.” However, parking is a huge problem here.


Strangely, MG Road and Brigade road, shopping hubs of Bangalore, have seen a downturn in retail business. These streets, once busy with tourists, travellers and high class customers, hardly find customers these days. Shopkeepers attribute this to a decline in number of visitors and the changed buying attitude of settlers from outside the state. “For the last couple of years, we are facing a decline in business. This year has been worst. The economy is down. People have no money to spend. We sell ornaments, jewels and embroidery materials. Earlier foreign customers used to buy these materials without hesitating to spend money. But, nowadays Indian customers are ready to pay but not the foreigners. Just now four Americans were here. They liked something and enquired about its price. When I said it was for Rs 2000, they found it to be very costly and left,” says Lathif of Highway Stores.


But branded shops are finding customers regularly and most of them are young Indians. Adidas, Puma, Soles, Pizza Hut, Cafe Coffee Day, etc are the places where Bangalore youth shop and hang out. Pubs and discotheques like Brigade Garden, Sticks, Zeus Sports Bar, Fusion Lounge, Fuga, Zero G, Club Nero and Hard Rock Cafe are making good money.


Sector 17 of Chandigarh has become the face of an affluent Punjab. It is a throbbing, vibrant shopping centre, a dream venue for shoppers with all major international brands vying for their attention. The chic showrooms are of international standards with their attractive display windows and state-of-the-art interiors.


Sunil Kapoor, manager of Pepe Jeans, says, “In spite of the rents being on the higher side, we are always doing good business. Our clientele mainly includes the young generation, especially students of educational institutions. In addition, tourists going to Himachal also stop here to do their shopping.”


Sector 17 is also a favourite joint of the foodies with many good restaurants and pubs situated here. While Neelam Cinema caters to the cinema goers, Nukkad nataks or street plays are regularly staged with some social message, helping the shoppers to be connected to the real pulse of the country.


Renu Sharma shops at Sector 17 every month. She hails from the nearby town of Kharar. Working with a multinational company in Mohali, she says, “I have seen lots of changes here. There was a time when you could not find the big brands like Nautica, Color plus, Espirit etc but now all those are available. If one can't afford these brands, there are Koutons and Cotton County to pick your ware from. Every time we come here in the evening, and go back home after having dinner.


A three-km stroll from Abids to Koti through Troop Bazar, Begum Bazaar and Sultan Bazar gives you a glimpse of the bustling retail heart of Hyderabad. It has always remained unfazed, business is always brisk despite the recession, inflation, the Satyam scam and IT sector retrenchments.


If the promenade starts with Abids, one must pass through the swanky malls flanked by small shops. Troop Bazar starts next to the multi-theatre Ramakrishna Cinema, owned by the NTR clan. With about 200 shops dealing in electrical goods and an equal number in sanitary ware, Troop Bazar is considered the biggest such bazaar in the country. The narrow roads, resembling that of a labyrinth, hardly allow vehicular traffic. Even pedestrian movement at times becomes difficult. Customers queue up to get their goods through a phased self-service method being followed for centuries.


“Since bargaining is not entertained, shopping at Troop Bazaar saves time. Cut-throat competition saves money. There is usually a discount of 10 to 15 per cent and even more depending on how much you are purchasing,” Narpat Singh of Ritu Lites told TSI. Traders from all major commercial corners of the state throng the Begum Bazaar, a major market for gold, silver, commodities, dry fruits, besides household accessories. The trails shrink further on to Koti’s Sultan Bazaar, a big shopping area of myriad varieties of goods ranging from the biggest chic brands to the relatively obscure ones. “I often find myself loitering in the street as I am a long-time buyer here,” Sree Vidya Chintada, a software professional and a model, told TSI.


Recession and inflation has taken the city by a storm. Amidst recession blues, corporates have gone on a budgeting mode. The elitist uplands of the city, Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills, learnt serious lessons from the recession roadblock, as the main patrons of the commercial activity of these areas, IT professionals, lost their jobs in the ‘cost cutting and rightsizing’ exercise. But business continues unabated on the age-old Abids-Koti road where nothing seems to change.


But change is the over-riding story in the Park Street-Camac Street area of Kolkata, which has always attracted high-end buyers, foodies and pub hoppers. Branded garments, imported cosmetics and fashion items fill up the shelves, glamorous mannequins lure customers in. Nearly every Calcuttan has his or her share of nostalgia about Park Street. But Generation Next does not care about sentimentality. Three-piece suits have made way for knee-torn jeans and shimmering party wear. What is gone is gone. Welcome to New India which promises to get newer with every passing year.

(P. Sankararama Subramanian, Jatinder Kaur, Mona Mehta, Chandrasekhar Bhattacharjee, Naresh Nunna and Suprabha Naik contributed to this article)

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