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Lessons from Helsinkiโ€™s Oodi – The Hindu

Lessons from Helsinkiโ€™s Oodi – The Hindu

At a time when the book reading culture is declining across the world, how does one country keep it alive and thriving? The success story of Helsinki Central Library Oodi in Finland since it opened six years ago is an inspiration indeed. So, when I got the opportunity to be in the worldโ€™s happiest country (voted thus for the seventh year in a row), I had to visit. Oodi is the Finnish word for โ€˜odeโ€™ and this name, as with its design and many of its innovative features, is courtesy participatory planning and consultation with the public. I learn that…
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Jothi Speciality Papersย turns cotton scraps into biodegradable mannequins

Jothi Speciality Papersย turns cotton scraps into biodegradable mannequins

A few days ago, a video on Erode-based Jothi Speciality Papers โ€” that highlighted its project crafting biodegradable mannequins โ€” went viral on Instagram. If you have been wondering how this project came to be, here is the brandโ€™s backstory. Mani P (centre) and his wife (fourth from left) with the team | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Helmed by Mani P and his wife, the company has been creating recycled cotton rag paper from textile scraps since 1996. โ€œIn 1994, we visited a garment factory in Tirupur, saw a lot of waste textile fabric that ended up in landfills, and…
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From athleisure to business shoes: Leather Fashion Show highlights 2025 trends

From athleisure to business shoes: Leather Fashion Show highlights 2025 trends

The Indian Finished Leather Manufacturers and Exporters Association (IFLMEA) hosted the 38th Leather Fashion Show at ITC Grand Chola, Chennai. | Photo Credit: R. Ravindran In this yearโ€™s Union Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a focus product scheme for the footwear and leather sectors. The Hindu reported that this will generate a turnover of โ‚น4 lakh crore, and exports of more than โ‚น1.1 lakh crore, generating employment for 22 lakh people. On the cusp of this announcement, the Indian Finished Leather Manufacturers and Exporters Association (IFLMEA) hosted the 38th Leather Fashion Show at ITC Grand Chola, Chennai.This yearโ€™s display…
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Ed Sheeran in Chennai: A first-time concertgoerโ€™s live music experience

Ed Sheeran in Chennai: A first-time concertgoerโ€™s live music experience

Ed Sheeran and AR Rahman on stage in Chennai | Photo Credit: Mark Surridge I have never been a huge fan of concerts. I get the hype about live music, but to endure huge crowds, getting pushed around, overpriced water and snacks, sweating, standing for hours, and the invariably dirty washrooms, I would rather stay home with my noise-cancelling headphones. Or so I thought until Ed Sheeran and AR Rahman took the stage to sing an unlikelyย  โ€˜Shape of Youโ€™ and โ€˜Urvashi Urvashiโ€™ duet.ย Ed Sheeran is on a six city tour in India organised by BookMyShow Live. The +โ€“=รทร— Tour…
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Comic Con is back in Chennai with creators, cosplay, comedy and more

Comic Con is back in Chennai with creators, cosplay, comedy and more

Cosplayers strike a pose at Comic Con in Chennai last year | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement What brings Vecna from Stranger Things, Batman, Goku from Dragonball Z, No-Face from Studio Ghibliโ€™s Spirited Away and several katana or sword-wielding Japanese warriors all under the same roof, in Chennai?ย In its first edition in Chennai last year, Comic Con had plenty of this, for superhero, manga, anime and art lovers across ages. Children, teens, and adults all decked up in their cosplay finest, came together to explore merchandise stalls, meet creators from India and abroad, and queue up to meet artists who had…
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Beyond Hyderabad is building a thriving community for arts, music, trekking and heritage enthusiasts

Beyond Hyderabad is building a thriving community for arts, music, trekking and heritage enthusiasts

A trek to Khajaguda | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Think of Hyderabad, and one immediately associates it with the burgeoning rise of curated events celebrating art, music, food, and heritage. Beyond Hyderabad (BH) is one such group offering diverse experiences and fostering a community of enthusiasts, one meetup at a time. The 2,000-member group was launched in April 2023 by tech professionals and nature lovers, Anwesh Goda, Kuna Sandeep, and Harish S. โ€œOur aim is to explore something beyond what Hyderabad is typically known for,โ€ says Harish, a former employee of Computer Associates (CA) India.Flea for artBeyond Hyderabad and Art…
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Cruising in style: Classic and vintage cars take a nostalgic road trip from Chennai to Puducherry

Cruising in style: Classic and vintage cars take a nostalgic road trip from Chennai to Puducherry

Cars on display in Puducherry | Photo Credit: Sangita Rajan The Austin 8 Tourer hesitated for a second before its engine caught a low, steady rumble, that felt more alive than mechanical. As a convoy of 40 vintage and classic cars pulled onto the East Coast Road, their silhouettes cut through the early morning haze. This rally, organised by the Historical Cars Association of India (HCAI) was part of Heritage Rollers 2025, a vintage and classic car show held over two days with cars from different parts of the country.Chrome glinted in the soft morning light, spoked wheels hummed over…
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Indian in the White House? Meenakshi Ahamed, author of โ€˜Indian Geniusโ€™, wouldnโ€™t be surprised

Indian in the White House? Meenakshi Ahamed, author of โ€˜Indian Geniusโ€™, wouldnโ€™t be surprised

Meenakshi Ahamed with a copy of Indian Genius | Photo Credit: Akhila Easwaran The 2024 U.S. elections threw up many surprises, but they also saw the Indian-American community come into its own โ€” with a record six Indian-Americans being elected to Congress for whatโ€™s now called the โ€˜Samosa Caucusโ€™. Also, many from the community, including Vivek Ramaswamy and Kash Patel are among President Donald Trumpโ€™s top nominees for positions in the administration. Journalist Meenakshi Ahamedโ€™s latest book Indian Genius: The Meteoric Rise of Indians in America is a look at successful Indians in a number of spheres, with exclusive interviews…
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In 2025, the focus is on self-improvement, contentment, and more

In 2025, the focus is on self-improvement, contentment, and more

People release a lantern while celebrating the New Year at Marina Beach in Chennai, The adrenaline rush of new beginnings has come and gone, and the dust of fireworks and grand parties has settled. Another year has well and truly begun, with the reality of growing old hitting hard. There is a growing urgency to live life to the fullest, and it is in this very atmosphere that new yearโ€™s resolutions find its power, helping us navigate the unknown and channel our aspirations into far-fetching goals.The familiar, โ€œnew year, new youโ€ often translates into accquiring a gym membership in January;…
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Designer Tarun Tahiliani is reimagining Indian couture through his menswear brand Tasva

Designer Tarun Tahiliani is reimagining Indian couture through his menswear brand Tasva

Tarun Tahiliani is a name that needs no introduction, even if you are not familiar with the fashion world. With a career spanning almost three decades, his vision of blending Indian craftsmanship with Western aesthetics has paved the way for the Indian fashion industry to make its mark on a global platform. While it could be argued that wearing a Tarun Tahiliani outfit might seem far fetched for most, the couturier has now embarked on a slightly different journey with his retail brand Tasva in collaboration with Aditya Birla Fashion Retail Limited (ABFRL) that focuses on affordable traditional Indian menswear.…
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