The program will be held for one week each in four cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Venture capitalists, angel investors and successful entrepreneurs will be invited as experts for the program.

The aim is to train students on the basics of business plan and starting a technology venture. Each session will be having interactive exercises, business plan templates and dialogue with experienced experts.

Amit Grover, Founder of Nurture Talent said, “In 2 years of my journey as an entrepreneur, I have seen the potential of Indian students closely. Given the right information, awareness and knowledge, they can do wonders and achieve their dreams at an early age. They have the potential to creat the next Apple, Facebook or Instagram”.

Nurture Talent has conducted over 200 workshops across 68 cities attended by over 10000 students, professionals and entrepreneurs.

The objective of Techpreneur is to motivate the students to solve the key problems, generate ideas and build small prototype during the programs and train the students to take up entrepreneurship as a career option.

This will also help students to learn how to make rapid prototypes, LEAN STARTUP methodology, mentoring on ideas, making minimum viable product during the program itself.

The best students will get one month Internship opportunities in startups like Ixigo, Myntra, Pristine and many more startups across India. For more details, you can visit www.nurturetalent.com

About Nurture Talent Academy

Nurture Talent Academy is India’s 1st Institute for training entrepreneurs. Started in January, 2010 with the objective of training students, professionals and startups, it has conducted 200 workshops across 68 cities attended by 10000+ participants. It covers the basics on subjects like business plan, technology, marketing, finance, and HR during the programs.

Amit Grover, Founder, is an IIT and IIM alumnus and has worked with Infosys, Asian Paints and Onida in the past. The objective is to enable 1000 ventures to start in next 3-5 years, which will generate 20000 jobs for the country.

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She comes across as a physical manifestation of boundless feminine energy, exuding great inner strength, grace, kindness and compassion. You can call her a Goddess; an embodiment of the unlimited shakti of woman power.

She is also known as Mallika Sarabhai; one of the most creative minds of our times, on this planet. Her multifaceted genius is reflected in various fields, ranging from arts to creative and non-fiction writing, and from entrepreneurship to activism. She is globally renowned as an Indian classical dancer and choreographer, but it is not easy to slot the incomparable force of her creative cascade.

Besides being one of the greatest exponents of Kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam, Mallika is also a writer par excellence on women’s empowerment and other burning social issues, a visionary publisher of a publishing house focusing on illustrated books on India’s arts, culture and literature (Mapin Publishing), an accomplished actress of theatre, television and cinema, a tireless social activist with dreams of a better world thriving in her heart and swimming in her eyes, a politician with a difference, and a super-successful social entrepreneur.

In fact, her unimaginable aesthetic versatility, which can perhaps only be compared to the versatility of Tagore (incidentally, both were born on the same date, 9th May) and Satyajit Ray, in modern India, doesn’t allow her to excel in only one field of art.

“Just dancing, or just doing one thing at a time doesn’t work for me temperamentally,” asserts the great lady. She is compelled by her fountain of creativity to do multiple things at the same time, and it has become almost imperative that she manages to attain the zenith of excellence in whatever she does.

To top it all, at the end of the day, there is a sensitive, unassuming human being whose immense compassion always manages to reach the anguished lives of the common folk.

Mallika, the global citizen, hails from Ahmedabad, from the state of Gujarat. The state, which is famous for being the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, is now also infamous for the 2002 carnage; perpetrated by the Hindu fundamentalist forces on the hapless Muslim population.

Mallika is continually anguished by the emergence and growth of monstrous fundamentalism from various quarters of Indian society, and the fervent struggle to restore the pluralistic legacy of India is the cornerstone of her arts and activism.

Her courage and conscience made her take up cudgels against the Narendra Modi’s Gujarat government during the height of Gujarat carnage, and also against the rampant maladministration perpetrated by the same regime.

The Art of Managing

It is interesting to note that Mallika is an alumni of IIM Ahmedabad —probably the most prestigious business school of India — and has a doctorate in Organisational Behaviour from Gujarat University.

She completed her MBA in 1974, when she was just 20 years old, and completed her Phd degree two years later. Normally getting a Phd degree would take three to four years of hard work by most ordinary intelligent individuals. And few of us have heard of anyone getting a Phd degree at only 22 years. One wonders while getting those degrees from renowned institutions whether she knew that she would soon become an institution herself.

However, her heavyweight degrees in the realm of management and organisational behaviour didn’t induce her to climb the pinnacle of corporate ladder, which she could have easily achieved. Instead, her immense passion for dancing and choreography led her to create new history in those fields.

But that doesn’t mean her enviable academic qualifications went waste. Instead of the corporate sector, which is driven primarily by profit motive, she chose to direct her academic expertise and management talents towards creatively managing the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, a nationally renowned institute known for imparting training in dance, drama, music and puppetry, located in Ahmedabad.

“It was never my intent to sell soap or investments. The degrees helped in disciplining the mind, and facilitated me to look at various angles; to deal with multiple variables. Earning or selling was never part of my paradigm,” states Mallika.

Along with her illustrious mother, Mrinalini Sarabhai, the gifted classical dancer, choreographer and instructor, Mallika has been running the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts for the last three decades. Darpana uses Indian dance, puppetry, music, theatre and television to educate, empower, and raise awareness about the critical issues of today.

The institution serves as an aesthetic haven where artists from all countries, traditions, and walks of life come together to employ art for the betterment of humanity. Mallika is Darpana’s esteemed co-director and has been instrumental in leading the organisation in the direction of direct social change and activism through the arts.

From a small dance academy started over six decades ago in 1949, by Mrinalini Sarabhai and her late husband, the eminent scientist late Vikram Sarabhai (Mallika’s father), Darpana’s stupendous growth as an internationally renowned institution of performing arts speaks volumes of Mallika’s unparalleled aesthetic vision, as well as of her sound sense of management.

To get the rest of this article as a download, please get your free subscription to the Naaree™ Academy for Indian Women Achievers.

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Both Bollywood and regional Indian cinema, has been to some extent, male-centric. Male actors have more often than not, held the responsibility of the entire movie on their shoulders with the female actors providing a refreshing break with a sultry song and dance sequence or merely playing the supporting actor in the production.

The 1950’s, 60’s and early 70’s saw heroines being cast in roles that were of the “Sati Savitri” mould. They played society’s perception of what women should be like, ideally good wives and mothers.

Lead actresses shied away from these roles and those who did ended up playing the “bad” role of the other woman, i.e.: a raunchy secretary or a women with loose morals who had no inhibitions in shedding off her clothes and morals.

It was, however, always the “good” woman who triumphed sending out an unconscious message to the impressionable society on how women should behave. Movies such as “Mother India”, “Madhumathi” and “Kagaaz ka Phool” illustrate this point.

While the late 70’s 80’s and 90’s saw actresses breaking away from this mould and taking on more daring roles, they unfortunately fell into another bracket. Playing the damsel in distress became the trend with heroines performing dance sequences around trees with the heroes and dress up as glamour dolls.

While this trend brought about the “feel good” factor that Hindi movies are famous for, it reduced the role of the female protagonist from an actor to that of a heroine.  Nevertheless, these films brought about a change to Bollywood movies, transforming them from solemn films to entertaining movies.

The 21st century saw Bollywood movies undergo a new transformation. The new breeds of actresses were ready to pave their own paths in cinema like never before. They understood that being an actress was just a job and the characters they played did not define them as individuals.

This realization gave film-makers the chance to experiment with roles and subjects they did not dare to venture into before. Even the actresses of previous generations were inspired to take on new roles.

Take for example, Tabu in the Amitabh Bachan starrer “Cheeni Kum”, plays the role of a 34-year old woman in love with a man 30 years her senior in an unconventional love story.

In another movie, “Page 3” set against the glamorous backdrop of media and celebrity life, Konkona Sen Sharma plays a journalist reporting on the glitzy world of celebrities only to get disillusioned by it in the end. These movies touch on topics that are relevant to today’s audience.

The role of women in Bollywood has undergone an awe-inspiring journey over the past five decades. Women have evolved in their roles and have seen several transformations from playing the ideal wife/mother to glamour doll to a serious actress.

They have continued to break conventions and set the bar higher for their male counterparts. Most importantly, they continue to make cinema that touch their audiences, both in India and worldwide.

© Naaree.com

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Whether you are caring for a newborn or a grown-up teen, your day as a working mother is bound to be packed with tasks and responsibilities, often leaving you with little or no time to get your precious eight hours of sleep.

The multitasking supermom very often becomes a perpetually stressed, sleep deprived creature who is, according to recent studies, more prone to depression, heart disease and other stress-related maladies.

If reading the above has you grumbling, “The story of my life,” here are some pointers that can help ease the problem. Sleep deprivation is a common issue for the working mother.

However, a careful observation of routine, resources and requirements can certainly be made, to find out its causes and manage time to minimize them.

• Don’t hesitate to seek out and accept help

Working mothers need to realise that it is sometimes all right to let others pitch in with a few small things which would save a lot of time and energy. For example, if a close friend or relative is going to the supermarket, you can request them to bring in some groceries for you as well while you grab some quick shuteye.

You can do the same for them on your next trip to the store. Doting grandparents will be happy to have children over for the weekend, which would leave you with plenty of time to relax and catch up on sleep.

• Scheduling your routine

Encourage your children to follow a routine, especially during weekdays. If they are done with homework, feeding and other tasks by a reasonable hour, you can safely retire to your room and unwind.

Late night TV watching and eating out are best left for the weekends as these activities interfere with sound sleep. If you have a small baby who needs to be attended to at night, get your husband to take turns or split responsibilities.

• Create a relaxing environment

After a stressful day, it helps to come back to a room that is welcoming and soothing to the senses. Use dim lighting and aromatherapy lamps to create an ambience that will help you forget the day’s worries and lull you to sleep. Some essential oils like Lavender are believed to induce sleep, even in insomniacs.

• Learn to let go

Sure there are a million things to be done but some of them can certainly wait. Don’t take it upon yourself to accomplish everything in a single day and be ruthless enough to say “No” and reject things that are not essential.

Sometimes you just can’t have those relatives over; the visit can happen later. This also applies at work. Draw a line and say no to over-commitment and additional workload. Promise to end your day at a particular hour and save the non-urgent tasks for weekends or holidays.

• Sort, delegate, divide, rotate, synchronize, reject

Take an overview of the things you do throughout the day and mark out the most essential ones that take top priority. You will find many activities you do apart from these (both at work and at home), that take up your precious minutes of sleep.

At work, try to delegate more of smaller tasks to your juniors if hurrying around after every little job is keeping you at the workplace longer than necessary. At home, divide some of the chores that get done much faster if each member does a bit. In cases where domestic help is not available, each person can clean his/her own dishes.

Likewise, each family member can fold their own clothes from the laundry basket; even kids above a certain age may participate and actually benefit from such early introduction of basic self-dependence.

Your husband and you can take turns to attend to the studies and homework of children. You can even do their revisions with them while you cook. Getting pre-washed and cut vegetables is yet another timesaver, which you can further improve by finding quick recipes.

These are but a few of the many ways that aid the survival of a working mother. Take a little while to analyze your situation and creatively apply these tips and more to your day.

You will most definitely be able to get the very essential sleep that you were deprived of, which in turn shall bring a marked rise in the general efficiency and balance in your life.

© Naaree.com

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Imagine a scenario in which a single woman in her thirties is being pressurized to tie the knot with any man who wants to marry her as ‘her biological clock is ticking away’. The worst ever decision she can make is by giving in to a pressure like this.

A woman doesn’t have to be married to enjoy the pleasure of motherhood. Nor are we advising her to have a child out of wedlock if she isn’t comfortable with the idea. Impregnation through artificial insemination is also not yet legal for single women in India.

A single woman in India doesn’t necessarily have to give birth to a child to become a mother. She can become a mother through adoption. An adopted child as actress Sushmita Sen puts it is ‘born from the heart’.

According to Sushmita that is what makes her adopted daughter extra-special as she wasn’t ‘born from the tummy’ as it is for most mothers. Indeed her daughter was different. She was after all born out of pure love.

How do you ascertain that you will make a good adoptive mother? First of all you need to understand your motives for adoption.

Do you want to adopt because you want to nurture your motherly instincts? You want that special experience of loving and being loved by a child? Then that is a good reason for adopting.

Do you want to adopt a child because you think he/ she will be a quick-fix for your loneliness and ‘instant cure’ for your depression? That’s a bad reason to adopt. You need to be emotionally stable to raise a child single-handed.

Mothering is after-all a life-long commitment. If you adopt a child when you are in a distraught state of mind, it may be worse both for you and the child. You may soon discover that you can’t manage the responsibility of raising a child. Nor is he/ she the answer to your loneliness.

Do you want a child so that you will have someone to carry on your family name and inherit your fortune? Or maybe you’ve been conditioned into believing that you need to adopt a male child as he needs to light your funeral pyre to ‘guarantee you salvation’?

Perhaps you’re worried that nobody will be there to look after with you when you are old, therefore you feel the need to adopt with the hope that the child will grow up to be your caretaker. These are also not good enough reasons for wanting to adopt.

Have you yearned for a baby and found out that you can’t have one? Maybe your husband divorced you because of that. Now you want a child at any cost. You should be adopting a child only after you have calmly accepted your infertility.

Do you want to adopt because your child has died and your marriage may also have broken up as a result? Wait till you come to terms with your tragedy before you adopt.

If the adoption agency finds out that you are still deeply grieving the death of your child and may compare your adopted child to your late child, they may turn down your adoption plea. You need to have a calm and composed mind to be found eligible for adoption.

Do you want to adopt a kid because you want to prove to society that you are a philanthropist? If you want to adopt to make a statement it is not a good reason for adopting.

Most importantly you need to adopt for the sake of the child than for yourself. Adoption agencies won’t let you adopt unless they are convinced that you are capable of giving the child a loving home.

Please remember that a baby is not an accessory or a doll to dress up. Babies may be up all night, they may fall ill, they need nurturing. Do you have the patience, tolerance and maturity to raise a child?

Ascertain objectively if you are suited to parenting. Do you like spending time with children? Do you get along well with your nieces and nephews? If you’ve had experience in volunteering with children then you may be able to make the transition to parenthood more smoothly. If you haven’t been exposed to children, do interact with them before adopting one.

Can you truly love and bond with a kid who is not biologically related to you? Your adopted child may look very different from you and may also have a radically different personality.

If you are fixated on adopting a fair baby who hasn’t been born out of wedlock, rethink adopting. Looks and the social background of your adopted child just shouldn’t matter to you.

Can you afford a child? Do you earn enough and have a decent bank balance to support a child? You are after all the sole-breadwinner. Are you willing to cut down on your shopping sprees to spend on quality education for your child instead?

In addition to money, you need to be able to devote quality time to your child. Will you be okay with cutting down on partying and socialising to bond with your child instead?

Does your family support your decision to adopt? If your family is vehemently against adoption, raising the child may not be too easy for you. After all when you are out working, if no family member wants to look after the child, what are you to do about it? All crèches aren’t reliable. A home and family are always far better places for a child to grow up than a crèche or just with a nanny.

If you are forty or older it is best to adopt an older child than an infant. If you are young you may comfortably adopt a baby.

A single woman’s right to adopt:

According to the CARA (Central Adoption Resource Agency) website, “A single parent has equal legal status to adopt a child and to deny him/her on the ground of his/her single status is not only a violation of his/her legal right but also her constitutional right guaranteed under Art.14 and 15.

Whosoever is deprived of the right to adopt only on the ground of single status may bring the matter to the attention of CARA in writing.” The single woman may be unmarried, divorced or widowed.

Adoption agencies are however extra-cautious while granting adoption to single women than to couples. This is because they feel that it’s easier for two parents than for one to raise a child.

After all many babies are put up for adoption because the mother was single and unable to care of him/ her well. Therefore they don’t want the child to be put back in a similar condition.

Says Jaissita Panigrahi, Managing Trustee of Bal Vikas Shishu Welfare Trust of India, “We do look for a father figure in the life of the child when granting adoption to a single woman. The father figure may be the father, brother, brother-in-law or a good friend of the single woman. He should be willing to act as a godfather to the child.”

In Mumbai, the court requires an undertaking from a close relative, most often a male, supporting the single mother’s adoption plan, offering future security for the child in case of her demise, and assuring that a male presence will be provided to the child.

If either of your parents is opposed to you adopting a child, adoption agencies may turn down your plea for adoption. This is because they want to make sure that the child is accepted by the family he/ she is going to.

Those who have watched the Oscar winning film Juno will agree that it’s not necessarily true that two parents are always better than one for raising an adopted child.

In the film Vanessa makes a far better parent for the child than raising him with her unfaithful husband who even shirks the responsibility of fatherhood. Vanessa not only can financially support the child single-handedly but also gives him all the love, care and affection he needs.

In part 2 of this series, we will cover legislations for adoption in India.

© Naaree.com

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If you’ve answered yes to these questions, here’s the truth – nightwear is no longer only about comfort and making use of old clothes!

Nightwear is another dimension of fashion that has caught up rapidly in the last few years. Women in India now have a wide range of options to choose nightwear from, both in designs as well as fabrics.

Earlier if you told yourself that the over sized T-shirt was the most comfortable thing you could sleep in, now it’s time you also looked at what makes you feel good.

The feel good factor that comes with the right choice of nightwear is incredible after a long, tiring day.

Nightgowns can be worn by women of any age. They come in a range of fabrics like silk and cotton and can be fitted or loose.

This is a classic choice for women across age groups, and you can pick out some lovely pastel gowns to make you feel like a princess while going to bed.

A peignoir is a night gown which is sheer and made of chiffon or some other translucent fabric. These come with embroidery on the hemline and cup. Depending on your mood, go in for a long flowing one or a short one.

Pajamas are the classic nightwear and come in so many different variants – pull up, long johns, and teddy sets etc. which come in cotton. Silk pajamas are also a great option.

Night shirts which are comfortable, mostly slightly over sized, are great in cotton. Chemise and lingerie are extremely well crafted and come in so many different colours and types now. These are almost like a second skin and need to be well fitted.

Plus Size nightwear, especially for pregnant women is specially crafted to suit specific needs. There are tops with adjustable spaghetti straps and the pajamas have a drawstring waist to provide extra comfort.

Choosing the right type of nightwear depends on the season and climactic conditions, as well as your body type. The choice of fabric is very important. Cotton is an all time favourite and can be worn any time of the year.

During winters, flannels or synthetic can be worn for warmth. Try on sleep wear before you buy, because the last thing you want is your sleep disturbed because of uncomfortable clothes. So go ahead and pick out some beautiful night clothes for that happy night’s sleep.

© Naaree.com

Permission is required to reprint this article.

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Because I publish so many blogs, I like to keep my bio page simple, with a list of my projects, books and websites, but yours can be more well-designed, with a showcase of your work and a blog.

• Setting Up Your Personal Domain Name

Owning your personal domain brands you in a way that leaves no doubt in the mind of your audience. Preferably choose a domain name that is the same as your name.

Check online with a domain name registrar to find out whether your preferred name is available. If not keep trying other combinations until you succeed. Buy the domain name and get it registered by either the domain name registrar or through the host.

If your name is prone to misspelling, buy the domains corresponding to the common misspellings also and point them to the correct domain or your website. Buy the domain for at least 3 to 5 years so you don’t forget to renew it.

Avoid special characters like dashes whenever possible because people are less likely to remember to type them in. It is wise to include your middle name in the combination, to set you apart from others with similar names.

Let your name appear as it would in a resume. Don’t use your job/industry in your domain name. These things are bound to change with time but your domain name must remain the same.

• Setting Up Your Bio Page

Choose a hosting service where you will point your domain. Your internet service provider may provide the service at a fee. Alternatively you can search online for other web hosting companies.

Depending on whether you want to host a simple web page or blog, buy a hosting package that offers the services you need. Propagation of a new domain name to the new host could take a day or so. Point it to the web host so that your bio page becomes operational.

The bio page is one of the most important pages of the site. This page defines you, and is most likely to attract the most attention. Writing about your topics of expertise might come easy, but not so when you are required to write about yourself.

As you write keep your audience in mind. A bio is not for building your ego, it is an unbiased way of informing your audience of your skills and expertise that they may need.

• How To Write Your Personal Bio

Make sure you express clearly what sets you apart from the rest. Since there are many people in your field, what unique talents do you have to offer. If you have won an award or created a special innovation, be sure to indicate that.

Do not exaggerate your claims – be sure to remain credible. If possible, back up your claims with facts if the links are available. Be honest about what you have achieved without appearing to be bragging. Your work and accomplishments should speak for themselves. Keep your bio updated regularly with your latest achievements and publications.

Summarize your professional credits, but also include a sense of your philosophy, hobbies, interests and personality. Do not detail your bio as if it is a CV or resume. It must be interesting and tell your audience some personal things about you, such as whether you are married, have kids and where you live.

In learning how to create personal branding with your own domain and bio page, use fail-safe phrases like ‘March 2011′ as opposed to ‘March Last Year’. An up-to-date photo is a must-have. Finally do not forget to get a professional editor to go through your page and proofread it.

© Priya Florence Shah

This is an excerpt from “Advantage YOU: Personal Branding Strategies For Career and Business Success” authored by Priya Florence Shah, and published by the Naaree™ Academy for Indian Women Achievers.

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The need of the hour is to survive and systematically grow money until you reach a comfortable financial position. Saving and growing money is not a miracle, but the product of a particular mindset. And what is this mindset?

It is the way of life where one looks to converse money and not spend where it is not absolutely essential. At the same time, one needs to look at investing this money and creating wealth in the long run.

It has been said that a habit is a shirt made of iron. It takes a lot of difficulty to get into everyday practice, but once done, is almost impossible to dislodge. Here are 5 money saving tips to get your finances back in the green.

• Get rid of unnecessary expenses

This may include things you “think” you need but really don’t – like your landline number, expensive cosmetics, that trip to Goa you were planning to take next month. Until your finances are healthier, cut down on the frills and keep only the essentials.

• Avoid shopping trips

Only buy things you absolutely need to have. You can order provisions from the grocer instead of going to the supermarket and piling up your shopping cart.

• You don’t need a car

If you don’t have a car, don’t buy one. If you have one, use it sparingly. If you invested the money you spend on your car instalments, fuel, car insurance and maintenance, you would be able spend on public transport just out of the interest you earned.

• Look for bargains and discounts

When possible buy in a group so you can ask for bigger discounts. If you can bargain on price, do so. Avoid paying full price whenever you can avoid it. A rupee saved is a rupee earned.

• Spend less time with expensive friends

Do you have friends who want to go partying every night? You don’t have to cut off your relationship, but do spend less time with them. And whenever possible suggest alternative activities that are not expensive. Some of the best things in life, like taking a walk in the park, are free.

That’s why we recommend you form good habits when it comes to money. That is the only way to achieving financial security and peace of mind!

© Naaree.com

This is an excerpt from “Money Saving Tips For Women In India: 20 Steps To Get Your Finances Back On Track” authored by Ankush Thakur & Priya Florence Shah, and published by the Naaree™ Academy for Indian Women Achievers.

Investment Resources:

• Personal Finance For Women In India: Plan Your Path To Financial Freedom Forever – It is possible, even easy, for an average woman to handle her own finances and secure her freedom – forever. This book looks at how money leaks from our pockets and bank accounts and tells you what you can do to plug these leaks. Finally, you’ll learn how to go about building wealth by introducing you to the various investment options available.
• FREE 27 page Financial Literacy Report: “The 8 Fundamentals of Building and Sustaining Lifelong Wealth” – Money is power. It’s about time you learn how to earn it, accumulate it, grow it, spend it and manage it like a pro. Loral Langemeier is the best-selling author of the Millionaire Maker series of books and Put More Cash In Your Pocket.  She is also an internationally acclaimed speaker and money expert.
• Barbara Stanny’s Tele-Seminars – Barbara Stanny is on a mission – to inspire women to become financially empowered. Her eye-opening presentations convey an encouraging message: when you take charge of your money, you take control of your life. And it’s so much simpler than most people realize. A highly entertaining speaker, Barbara immediately engages her audience with her own dramatic story, inspiring anecdotes, and grounded advice. Barbara teaches women how to map out their financial futures, and shares her secrets for personal empowerment. Her journey to financial enlightenment is an inspiring story, and became the basis for her best-selling books, private coaching and popular workshops.

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Our ancestors believed investing in gold and silver as the safest bet, but with the sky rocketing metal prices, people are seeking for an alternate form of investment.

In today’s changing economic times with uncertain exchange rates, fluctuating stock markets and global recession, investment in the right commodity has become a difficult choice.

Investors are now diverting their resources to invest in some form of art. Though investing in art is a very lucrative option, it is also very risky. Let us take a quick look into this new form of investment to get us started.

Investing in art could range from sculptures to paintings or to the latest form called media arts which are more popular in United States of America.

However, the most preferred choice for an investment are paintings which are also called contemporary art.

• Famous Artists

Some of the famous artists who made their mark in the art industry are Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, Marc Chagall, Leonardo Da Vinci, Salvador Dali, M.F. Husain, Raja Ravi Varma, Jatin Das and many more.

Their paintings fetched exorbitant prices and spoke volumes about their knowledge of work for a real art appreciator would know.

• Indian Art as of today

A painting is categorized according to the technique and the medium used. Some of the most famous forms of Indian art are Patachitra, Kalamkari, Tanjore, Pahari , Madhubani. Over a period of time, Indian art has gained international recognition and have been housed at various museums worldwide.

People have become more educated towards art and there are many young people in India who are choosing art as their career. However, an Indian artist faces several limitations when it comes to freedom of expression.

• GenNext’s Approach – Not Just Wall Decor

Every person has a different opinion about a painting. It all depends upon your knowledge of art or what colours and designs you prefer. Some people prefer a much more traditional style of painting for their living room over others who prefer contemporary or modern art.

Today, not only experienced individuals value art, but a whole new genre of youngsters has developed a keen interest in art. They want to display an original painting from an artist in their house and at the same time make an investment. They want to park their money in an art piece which will get them a good value in future in case they decide to sell it.

• Choosing the Appropriate Art Piece

There are many fakes being circulated in the market. Hence, it is of utmost importance to take certain precautionary measures before purchasing your art. If you are not aware how to go about making an investment in art, it is best to take expert advice.

A few pointers to keep in mind before making the purchase is to check the quality, the year in which painting was made, the size of the piece, the medium of painting and who is the artist. It is advisable to obtain an authenticity certificate from the artist.

One can also visit art exhibitions and museums to find the painting which appeals to them. Many online art gallery features a wide collection of art, paintings, drawings, sketches, sculptures and many other arts.

One of India’s premier online art gallery is www.indiaartvillage.com. The Art Bank in Delhi hosts works of over 2000 artists. One can either buy art or even rent a piece.

• Preserving Your Art

If you’re going to invest a substantial amount in an art piece, it would be wise to preserve it as well. You should also insure the art piece.

In India, The Art Vault provides professional services to preserve your art piece. The Art Vault takes care from transportation to storage and even insuring your art piece.

Another international body, called Via Mat Artcare, whose art storage is close to Zurich, is into preserving art for over 50 years now. With state of the art technologies, it provides services like art logistics, art transports, art storage, art packing and art fair logistics.

• Poster, Print and an Original

Technology has made it possible for a common man to own a Picasso or a Van Gogh in a print form or a poster. But it can never be compared to the beauty of an original painting.

Not everyone can afford an original painting, but would still like to own it in some form. In such cases, one can buy a poster or a print. However, it is not a form of investment as it will not fetch a sizeable resale amount.

© Naaree.com

Permission is required to reprint this article.

Investment Advice:

• Personal Finance For Women In India: Plan Your Path To Financial Freedom Forever – It is possible, even easy, for an average woman to handle her own finances and secure her freedom – forever. This book looks at how money leaks from our pockets and bank accounts and tells you what you can do to plug these leaks. Finally, you’ll learn how to go about building wealth by introducing you to the various investment options available.
• FREE 27 page Financial Literacy Report: “The 8 Fundamentals of Building and Sustaining Lifelong Wealth” – Money is power. It’s about time you learn how to earn it, accumulate it, grow it, spend it and manage it like a pro. Loral Langemeier is the best-selling author of the Millionaire Maker series of books and Put More Cash In Your Pocket.  She is also an internationally acclaimed speaker and money expert.
• Barbara Stanny’s Tele-Seminars – Barbara Stanny is on a mission – to inspire women to become financially empowered. Her eye-opening presentations convey an encouraging message: when you take charge of your money, you take control of your life. And it’s so much simpler than most people realize. A highly entertaining speaker, Barbara immediately engages her audience with her own dramatic story, inspiring anecdotes, and grounded advice. Barbara teaches women how to map out their financial futures, and shares her secrets for personal empowerment. Her journey to financial enlightenment is an inspiring story, and became the basis for her best-selling books, private coaching and popular workshops.

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Alcohol consumption in any amount was considered a taboo, especially by Indian women. But history has taught us that making something taboo only makes the forbidden fruit more tempting. India is no different.

A recent article in DNA said that,” Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) India has seen a sharp increase in the number of women-most of them in their twenties – attending it’s meetings. Apart from Mumbai, such women-only AA meetings are also being held in Delhi, Pune, Bangalore and Chandigarh, which is another indicator of the fact that more and more women are seeking help”.

Research on drinking patterns among women generally shows that women drink less than men, but not anymore. As modernization has entered the era, women have started drinking equally and maybe even more than their male counterparts.

The social stigma surrounding women drinking is changing and women are going out more and more. Although one may see this as a good thing and consider drinking as a great social catalyst, the concern here is the rapid change in the trends and patterns of alcohol use among Indian women.

A restroom attendant at a five-star hotel reports sloshed teenagers in the ladies restroom, “falling all over each other, lying on the floor and getting sick”. Not a very good sign.

“Our research shows that people in the age group of 18 to 24 years are the largest consumers of beer, and are driving its growth,” affirms Kalyan Ganguly, CEO and president of the breweries division of the Bangalore-based UB Group, which runs 12 breweries today, up from eight just 10 years ago.

And half of this young population consists of girls. This is troubling to say the least. Blame it on rising stress levels, peer pressure or “western influence”, the signs cannot be denied.

A study of drinking habits conducted in Bangalore city reported that a fifth of young people who frequented pubs on weekends were girls aged between 13-19 years. In what could be a sign of changing lifestyles, more and more women are seeking help for problems related to alcohol consumption.

“The situation is alarming,” says Manoj Devanand, the co-founder of the Miracle Foundation in Bangalore, India’s only addiction centre catering for women. “In 2010 there was a 21 per cent jump in cases of alcoholism among young women.”

For those of you who are dismissing this as a limited upper urban class phenomenon, the reality is quite different. Their reasons to indulge in alcohol and their methods may differ, but Indian rural women too, indulge in cheap liquor.

Alcoholism is not just restricted to these two extremes of our society; women belonging to the middle-class are embracing alcohol as never before. The days of women feeling exasperated about the drinking habits of the men in the family are almost gone. Now, any social gathering is incomplete without the flow of liquor.

“Time has changed”, says Mrs.Pai, a career consultant living in Mumbai,” the taboo is non-existent; families stock liquor, drink together and serve happily to guests. Gone are the days when life had a pure air about it. Unfortunately, drinking has become a status symbol and major lifestyle trend today. ”

Apart from the obvious health hazards that alcoholism causes to people, women particularly need to take extra care as the physiological effects of alcohol is different on their body as compared to men.

In the haze of alcohol, inhibition levels are also dropping dangerously low. Booze-induced unprotected sexual flings with strangers are on the rise.

It is disturbing to know that a study by Bangalore-based Freedom Foundation on the number of alcohol-related HIV cases in the city found that 63 of the 90 patients covered had contracted the infection within a year of becoming alcoholic. These included several women.

In this land of Gandhi, the social high-spirit nirvana is starkly visible. One must say though, that alcohol is largely declassing people and breaking down gender barrier as maid servants, house-owners and teenage girls alike are seen queuing up at liquor stores!

© Naaree.com

Permission is required to reprint this article.

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