hellosyam

With more PhDs, India can be a superpower

The Indian media is full of news these days about the country becoming a knowledge superpower in the 21st century. This rhetoric starts from politicians down to the common man. But every once in a while we hear an opposite viewpoint.

This is one such viewpoint.

If one takes a look at the industrially advanced countries like the United States, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and the European Union nations -- sharing similar political systems such India -- all of them seem to have stable growth not just in terms of GDP alone, but in education as well as infrastructure -- electricity, roads, airports, sanitation, water, etc.

In India we have had decent GDP growth in recent years due to manufacturing and information technology boom. Yet, a reliable metric has yet to emerge. The education sector and infrastructure are perhaps the weakest links in the whole developmental process.

Unemployment is still very high and the IT success which has given employment to nearly a million people has not been matched by bold initiatives in the science and technology education sector so that the country can move up the value chain.

In this article, I shall talk about education, more specifically technical education (undergraduate and post graduate), which is the driving force behind all advanced economies.

In India, technical education is numerically healthy, but quality-wise it is very poor across-the-board. Last year, India produced 250,000 engineers, US produced 70,000 and China generated 600,000. There is no independent verification about the numbers from China.

These numbers are quoted over and over again in the American media in connection with a National Academies report, which came out recently, saying that the US strength in science and engineering is slipping. The report proposes remedies to strengthen US science and technology education all the way from K-12 through Ph.D. [1].

A major national effort is underway in the US to meet the challenges posed by resurgent China and India.

I argue that Indian manpower though numerically high is short on quality. I also propose remedies that can be implemented without recourse to committees.

Undergraduate education

The output of graduate engineers is healthy, but two things are missing, namely the quality and the level of training. As a Microsoft vice president pointed out recently in Bangalore, India produces about 50 PhDs in computer science per year, which is a normal number in an average US public university. [2]

In other areas of engineering, the picture is no better. Most of us know that except for the Indian Institutes of Technology and a few other institutions, the quality of undergraduate training is poor although the intake from the 10+2 system is good. Basically, we not only need a large number of graduates, but also good quality graduates. The recent U R Rao committee report has highlighted this issue clearly [3].

So how do we address this problem? Unfortunately officials at the Union human resources ministry as well as academicians seem to have avoided this problem all these years. Instead, we hear of efforts at e-education, distance education and education via satellite and taped videos from IITs. All these modes of education have not succeeded in other countries in engineering, but result in waste of human and financial resources, which India can ill afford.

We need to concentrate on giving quality education in the traditional way to a large number of students. Are there any other options besides opening up new IITs? Opening new IITs is always the first option. It is also a costly option. It requires long gestation periods, acquiring land, infrastructure, faculty, etc and cannot be a viable option at the moment unless the private sector comes up with a proposal.

The second option is to upgrade existing institutions with a proven track record to the level of IITs. Since the intake beyond the first 4,000 from JEE (Joint Engineering Examination) up to the next 10,000 is comparable. This option is being considered seriously very seriously and seven institutions are being upgraded to IIT-type institutions although logistics still remain a bottleneck.

Recall that over 150,000 students take the JEE every year. It is now well known that the 10+2 students now coming to good institutions and undergraduates from non-IITs perform very well. Hence the country must expeditiously move to make room for students beyond the first 4,000 to impart IIT-brand education. [4].

If a state like California can have ten University of California campuses giving comparable undergraduate education, certainly a country of one billion can have at least 20 IITs or IIT-type institutions!

The eligible institutions must be able to teach IIT-type undergraduate curriculum and that is a prerequisite. One hopes that the upgradation of the seven institutes will be the first step. They must have a high percentage of PhDs on their faculty and simply have to be challenged to deliver an IIT-type education.

I think the country is ready for such bold initiatives. But, perhaps, the politicians are not. Just as the JEE format was changed within a matter of months, a similar bold initiative on this score can be taken.

A third alternative, which I have been advocating for a long time is the upward scalability of IITs, i.e. increase the intake at all IITs for the 4-year programmes. Dual degree programmes and degree programmes in new subjects outside of the science and technology area are not the mission of the IITs.

Currently, the student-to-faculty ratio at many IITs is more like 10:1, which is a luxury, compared to the 20:1 in most US public universities. In China, Tshinghua University alone turns out more than 2,000 undergraduates in engineering according to their Web site.

This scalability of IITs is something that can be implemented right away in addition to the upgradation of the seven Institutes. This can be done in many ways. Except for PhD scholars, rest must share rooms. If it is already the case in some places, quick hostel facilities from government or the alumni can be created.

The IITs have vast spaces and they must be utilised optimally. The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore can also join the four-year undergraduate programme with perhaps a greater share for science graduates. This is one way of exciting young minds about science since they will be in the same campus as top-notch scientists.

The experience at IIT Kanpur in the '60s of having an integrated 5-year science degree programme, where excellent research was also done in the sciences, should be a convincing factor. There are very few world-class institutions excelling in research without a good undergraduate programme and the IISc must be persuaded to fall in line.

As for classroom space, there is plenty in all the IITs and the IISc since one can have classes in the mornings and afternoons and the same method applies to the laboratories.

This is the normal practice at any American university. The old practice of tutorials must be done away with. It was introduced in the '60s when the country did not have enough textbooks. There are many inexpensive textbooks now for a course and also the Internet.

Students are more mature. Instead of tutorials, one should use postgraduate students for grading homework and office hours by faculty, and the postgraduate students should be enough for the students to have access to.

The Internet can be used effectively to communicate with students about homework, etc. There will be opposition to this third alternative from the faculty at the IITs since disturbing status quo is always difficult in a democracy. But, in the larger interests of the country, the faculty will rise to the occasion.

Postgraduate education

It was pointed out earlier how high quality of students in large numbers can be produced by the existing, as well as by expanding the current, IIT system. Until now most IIT graduates have gone abroad leaving only a few going to postgraduate studies. An increase in graduate students from IITs as well as IIT-type institutions will feed the postgraduate programmes.

Fortunately, in sciences, since so many B.Sc and M.Sc students were produced since 1947, many of them ultimately went to do PhD and then into academia and industry. Today we produce about 7,000 PhDs in science, including agricultural sciences, and a paltry 700-plus in engineering, annually.

It is not going to be easy for engineering to do what has been done in sciences. But if India has to be technologically strong, this is a MUST. In fact, strong science and engineering PhD programmes are precisely the catalysts for the amazing growth of China.

It will take time and patience to do this instead of blaming it on the poor quality of students from non-IITs. The question is how do we go about doing this. Not by appointing more committees. We have statistics from Thacker, Nayudama and Rama Rao committees. Unfortunately most of them have stressed things like what courses to start, stipends, GATE, etc. These are now minor and irrelevant issues. The British system of starting new programmes in order to get more funding/buildings must be done away with. As for stipends one cannot attract students for postgraduate work by stipends alone.

An institution has to show that quality work is being done at those places in order to attract students as the IISc has shown. As for GATE, it is high time it is done away with and replaced by something simpler and similar to GRE or the new JEE-type exam. From the Rama Rao committee report, it was shocking to read that so many seats went unfilled at the postgraduate level. One hopes the situation is better now.

In all this, however, the silver lining has been the Quality Improvement Programme (QIP) that needs to be strengthened in a great measure. If we have good tier-2 institutions today, it is thanks to the QIP programme initiated many years ago by the ministry of education. There was no GATE exam for those teachers!

Let us look at some of the options now:

1. Since the quality gap between an undergraduate student at an IIT and a tier-2 institution is rapidly decreasing, the first step must be to have postgraduate programmes in some of these institutions. The choice of such institutions must be strictly on a merit basis and not on geographical or any affirmative action basis. Just as IITs helped countrywide integration, such a step will accelerate the process since IITs have maintained the highest level of impartiality and indeed are the envy of many countries.

2. Currently each IIT produces on an average about 400 M.Techs and about 50 PhDs per year in 5-6 engineering disciplines. Thus, the total number of PhDs is very low. Good students must be able to finish the MTech programme in one calendar year and move on to the PhD stream quickly, thus getting seamless postgraduate education leading to a PhD degree. Those who wish to have M.Tech terminal degree can do so.

In fact there is every reason to scale back the M.Tech duration and define it in terms of courses and thesis instead of fixed period of 2 years.

3. The current method of giving stipends directly to students needs to be looked at afresh. This practice discourages faculty members from writing research proposals and get money from the industry or national agencies. In addition, sponsored research projects will attract more students and this should be encouraged.

The spirit of liberalisation must be accepted here also.

4. The industry has a great responsibility in attracting PhDs. It is a tragedy that unlike in sciences, the engineering industry hardly goes after doctorates. This outdated attitude must change. Perhaps, the industry can advertise this by creating R&D cells, instead of going in for foreign collaborations all the time.

5. Finally many of the institutions in large metropolitan places such as Bangalore, Chennai, etc. must have an aggressive, evening M.Tech programme for relevant industries. Students are hungry for knowledge to move up the economic ladder. Some do have distance education programmes, but their usefulness is not known as yet.

A start can easily be made for the information technology industry and the IT industry must demand such a programme.

Unlike the undergraduate programmes, it is not an easy road to develop a good postgraduate education programme in engineering to meet the fast changing needs of Indian academia and industry with particular emphasis on training a good number of competent PhD students.

The IITs and the IISc must play an aggressive role in this regard to produce larger number of PhDs because of their existing infrastructure and funding levels. It is hoped that this discussion would provide a framework to do that beginning as early as August 2006.

[1] Rising above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future.
[2] 'Microsoft official wants India to revamp curriculum'.
[3] The committee's report 'Revitalizing Technical Education' is a review of the performance of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
[4] 'Thinking beyond IITs', M.A.Pai, Silicon India, Nov. 2000.

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posted by Syam @ 1:25 AM 1 comments

With more PhDs, India can be a superpower

The Indian media is full of news these days about the country becoming a knowledge superpower in the 21st century. This rhetoric starts from politicians down to the common man. But every once in a while we hear an opposite viewpoint.

This is one such viewpoint.

If one takes a look at the industrially advanced countries like the United States, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and the European Union nations -- sharing similar political systems such India -- all of them seem to have stable growth not just in terms of GDP alone, but in education as well as infrastructure -- electricity, roads, airports, sanitation, water, etc.

In India we have had decent GDP growth in recent years due to manufacturing and information technology boom. Yet, a reliable metric has yet to emerge. The education sector and infrastructure are perhaps the weakest links in the whole developmental process.

Unemployment is still very high and the IT success which has given employment to nearly a million people has not been matched by bold initiatives in the science and technology education sector so that the country can move up the value chain.

In this article, I shall talk about education, more specifically technical education (undergraduate and post graduate), which is the driving force behind all advanced economies.

In India, technical education is numerically healthy, but quality-wise it is very poor across-the-board. Last year, India produced 250,000 engineers, US produced 70,000 and China generated 600,000. There is no independent verification about the numbers from China.

These numbers are quoted over and over again in the American media in connection with a National Academies report, which came out recently, saying that the US strength in science and engineering is slipping. The report proposes remedies to strengthen US science and technology education all the way from K-12 through Ph.D. [1].

A major national effort is underway in the US to meet the challenges posed by resurgent China and India.

I argue that Indian manpower though numerically high is short on quality. I also propose remedies that can be implemented without recourse to committees.

Undergraduate education

The output of graduate engineers is healthy, but two things are missing, namely the quality and the level of training. As a Microsoft vice president pointed out recently in Bangalore, India produces about 50 PhDs in computer science per year, which is a normal number in an average US public university. [2]

In other areas of engineering, the picture is no better. Most of us know that except for the Indian Institutes of Technology and a few other institutions, the quality of undergraduate training is poor although the intake from the 10+2 system is good. Basically, we not only need a large number of graduates, but also good quality graduates. The recent U R Rao committee report has highlighted this issue clearly [3].

So how do we address this problem? Unfortunately officials at the Union human resources ministry as well as academicians seem to have avoided this problem all these years. Instead, we hear of efforts at e-education, distance education and education via satellite and taped videos from IITs. All these modes of education have not succeeded in other countries in engineering, but result in waste of human and financial resources, which India can ill afford.

We need to concentrate on giving quality education in the traditional way to a large number of students. Are there any other options besides opening up new IITs? Opening new IITs is always the first option. It is also a costly option. It requires long gestation periods, acquiring land, infrastructure, faculty, etc and cannot be a viable option at the moment unless the private sector comes up with a proposal.

The second option is to upgrade existing institutions with a proven track record to the level of IITs. Since the intake beyond the first 4,000 from JEE (Joint Engineering Examination) up to the next 10,000 is comparable. This option is being considered seriously very seriously and seven institutions are being upgraded to IIT-type institutions although logistics still remain a bottleneck.

Recall that over 150,000 students take the JEE every year. It is now well known that the 10+2 students now coming to good institutions and undergraduates from non-IITs perform very well. Hence the country must expeditiously move to make room for students beyond the first 4,000 to impart IIT-brand education. [4].

If a state like California can have ten University of California campuses giving comparable undergraduate education, certainly a country of one billion can have at least 20 IITs or IIT-type institutions!

The eligible institutions must be able to teach IIT-type undergraduate curriculum and that is a prerequisite. One hopes that the upgradation of the seven institutes will be the first step. They must have a high percentage of PhDs on their faculty and simply have to be challenged to deliver an IIT-type education.

I think the country is ready for such bold initiatives. But, perhaps, the politicians are not. Just as the JEE format was changed within a matter of months, a similar bold initiative on this score can be taken.

A third alternative, which I have been advocating for a long time is the upward scalability of IITs, i.e. increase the intake at all IITs for the 4-year programmes. Dual degree programmes and degree programmes in new subjects outside of the science and technology area are not the mission of the IITs.

Currently, the student-to-faculty ratio at many IITs is more like 10:1, which is a luxury, compared to the 20:1 in most US public universities. In China, Tshinghua University alone turns out more than 2,000 undergraduates in engineering according to their Web site.

This scalability of IITs is something that can be implemented right away in addition to the upgradation of the seven Institutes. This can be done in many ways. Except for PhD scholars, rest must share rooms. If it is already the case in some places, quick hostel facilities from government or the alumni can be created.

The IITs have vast spaces and they must be utilised optimally. The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore can also join the four-year undergraduate programme with perhaps a greater share for science graduates. This is one way of exciting young minds about science since they will be in the same campus as top-notch scientists.

The experience at IIT Kanpur in the '60s of having an integrated 5-year science degree programme, where excellent research was also done in the sciences, should be a convincing factor. There are very few world-class institutions excelling in research without a good undergraduate programme and the IISc must be persuaded to fall in line.

As for classroom space, there is plenty in all the IITs and the IISc since one can have classes in the mornings and afternoons and the same method applies to the laboratories.

This is the normal practice at any American university. The old practice of tutorials must be done away with. It was introduced in the '60s when the country did not have enough textbooks. There are many inexpensive textbooks now for a course and also the Internet.

Students are more mature. Instead of tutorials, one should use postgraduate students for grading homework and office hours by faculty, and the postgraduate students should be enough for the students to have access to.

The Internet can be used effectively to communicate with students about homework, etc. There will be opposition to this third alternative from the faculty at the IITs since disturbing status quo is always difficult in a democracy. But, in the larger interests of the country, the faculty will rise to the occasion.

Postgraduate education

It was pointed out earlier how high quality of students in large numbers can be produced by the existing, as well as by expanding the current, IIT system. Until now most IIT graduates have gone abroad leaving only a few going to postgraduate studies. An increase in graduate students from IITs as well as IIT-type institutions will feed the postgraduate programmes.

Fortunately, in sciences, since so many B.Sc and M.Sc students were produced since 1947, many of them ultimately went to do PhD and then into academia and industry. Today we produce about 7,000 PhDs in science, including agricultural sciences, and a paltry 700-plus in engineering, annually.

It is not going to be easy for engineering to do what has been done in sciences. But if India has to be technologically strong, this is a MUST. In fact, strong science and engineering PhD programmes are precisely the catalysts for the amazing growth of China.

It will take time and patience to do this instead of blaming it on the poor quality of students from non-IITs. The question is how do we go about doing this. Not by appointing more committees. We have statistics from Thacker, Nayudama and Rama Rao committees. Unfortunately most of them have stressed things like what courses to start, stipends, GATE, etc. These are now minor and irrelevant issues. The British system of starting new programmes in order to get more funding/buildings must be done away with. As for stipends one cannot attract students for postgraduate work by stipends alone.

An institution has to show that quality work is being done at those places in order to attract students as the IISc has shown. As for GATE, it is high time it is done away with and replaced by something simpler and similar to GRE or the new JEE-type exam. From the Rama Rao committee report, it was shocking to read that so many seats went unfilled at the postgraduate level. One hopes the situation is better now.

In all this, however, the silver lining has been the Quality Improvement Programme (QIP) that needs to be strengthened in a great measure. If we have good tier-2 institutions today, it is thanks to the QIP programme initiated many years ago by the ministry of education. There was no GATE exam for those teachers!

Let us look at some of the options now:

1. Since the quality gap between an undergraduate student at an IIT and a tier-2 institution is rapidly decreasing, the first step must be to have postgraduate programmes in some of these institutions. The choice of such institutions must be strictly on a merit basis and not on geographical or any affirmative action basis. Just as IITs helped countrywide integration, such a step will accelerate the process since IITs have maintained the highest level of impartiality and indeed are the envy of many countries.

2. Currently each IIT produces on an average about 400 M.Techs and about 50 PhDs per year in 5-6 engineering disciplines. Thus, the total number of PhDs is very low. Good students must be able to finish the MTech programme in one calendar year and move on to the PhD stream quickly, thus getting seamless postgraduate education leading to a PhD degree. Those who wish to have M.Tech terminal degree can do so.

In fact there is every reason to scale back the M.Tech duration and define it in terms of courses and thesis instead of fixed period of 2 years.

3. The current method of giving stipends directly to students needs to be looked at afresh. This practice discourages faculty members from writing research proposals and get money from the industry or national agencies. In addition, sponsored research projects will attract more students and this should be encouraged.

The spirit of liberalisation must be accepted here also.

4. The industry has a great responsibility in attracting PhDs. It is a tragedy that unlike in sciences, the engineering industry hardly goes after doctorates. This outdated attitude must change. Perhaps, the industry can advertise this by creating R&D cells, instead of going in for foreign collaborations all the time.

5. Finally many of the institutions in large metropolitan places such as Bangalore, Chennai, etc. must have an aggressive, evening M.Tech programme for relevant industries. Students are hungry for knowledge to move up the economic ladder. Some do have distance education programmes, but their usefulness is not known as yet.

A start can easily be made for the information technology industry and the IT industry must demand such a programme.

Unlike the undergraduate programmes, it is not an easy road to develop a good postgraduate education programme in engineering to meet the fast changing needs of Indian academia and industry with particular emphasis on training a good number of competent PhD students.

The IITs and the IISc must play an aggressive role in this regard to produce larger number of PhDs because of their existing infrastructure and funding levels. It is hoped that this discussion would provide a framework to do that beginning as early as August 2006.

[1] Rising above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future.
[2] 'Microsoft official wants India to revamp curriculum'.
[3] The committee's report 'Revitalizing Technical Education' is a review of the performance of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
[4] 'Thinking beyond IITs', M.A.Pai, Silicon India, Nov. 2000.

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posted by Syam @ 1:24 AM 2 comments

Changing jobs? Interview tips

You are changing your job and industry, from software to a BPO.

At an interview you need to explain why you want to switch. What do you say?

BPO training expert Nasha Fitter says: There is nothing wrong with wanting to change your career. What is important is how confident you are about your choice during an interview. Begin by explaining what you have learned in your current job, how you have grown (stick to the positives) and then move on to stating your future goals.

I would also suggest saying you want to learn how to communicate with customers and interact with an international audience (something you may not be able to do in your current job).

• Do you have a question for Nasha? Write to us

Nasha Fitter is the CEO of Fitter Solutions, a communication and training company. She is an expert in vocational and communication skills management for BPO and service-based organisations and conducts private classes for individuals. She is deeply involved with the upliftment and development of rural youth through basic education, vocational training and entrepreneurship, and writes for a variety of publications. She has a degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California.

I have a background in design. Since I was looking at some 'work-from-home' job options I came across a few good call centre job advertisements. As I do not have much experience in this area, can you shed some light on the following requirements they are demanding?

'A candidate must pass the following requirements: evaluating a reading comprehension passage, logic quiz, disposition profile, a voice sample, a phone interview and agent certification modules.'

-- Ashwini

The requirements you listed above sound fancy, but don't worry -- what is being tested is actually quite simple. For instance, reading comprehension is something you have been doing your whole life.

Every time we read an article in a newspaper or an e-mail from a friend, our brains are working to comprehend stated and unstated messages. If you believe it takes you a long time to read and then understand the written word, I would suggest going through a few reading comprehension quizzes online.

The rest of the interview is simply testing your ability to speak and write in English clearly.

The phone interview is very important as they need to check how well you are able to hold a listener's attention over the phone. Practise speaking out loud, record yourself and evaluate your weaknesses.

• Want to improve your vocabulary?

I can speak English fluently without fear, but I not yet completed my graduation, because of my family circumstances. Whether I can get the job in BPOs (without graduation) or not? Please guide me, what i have to do?

-- Kumar

Many BPOs hire people without under-graduate degrees. What I would suggest is find a set of 50 (big and small) BPOs near you and apply to all of them. Since you say your English skills are strong, stick to looking for call centres versus back-office BPOs. Some may not accept those without degrees, but some will.

My sincere advice is that, once you do find a job and start earning, save as much money as possible per month and complete your graduation as soon as possible. You will be able to find a call centre job today, but years from now when you want to progress in your career you will need to have your degree in place.

• Want to improve your English?

I worked as a software professional for the last one year. But now I couldn't cope up with the java technology and codings. So I would like to change my career to BPO (technical support). Is it possible for me to shift my technology?

If yes, is it possible to attend technical support interviews in companies. During this time I have read your article in rediff about the s/w professional changing to BPO. So I would like to know if a interviewer asks me why you change from software to BPO, what I can answer him? Could you please suggest me some points. It would be great helpful if you can help me out.

-- Praveen S

There is nothing wrong with wanting to change your career. What is important is to be confident in your choice during an interview. Begin by explaining what you have learned in your current job, how you have grown (stick to the positives) and then move on to stating your future goals.

Be honest and say you are just not interested in coding, but still want to utilise your accrued technical knowledge. A technical support position would allow you to do just that.

Let them know you find the BPO industry growing fast and are interested in staking a career in it.

I would also suggest saying that you want to learn how to communicate with customers and interact with an international audience (something you may not be able to do in your current job).

Do you have a question for Nasha? Write to us

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posted by Syam @ 12:43 AM 0 comments

Hate the gym? Try these options

Is your gym training getting too boring for you?

Are you looking for an alternative exercise routine?

Try these fun workout options that may be more your style.

Before we begin, it's important to know there are three types of workouts that MUST be part of your training routine. The absence of even one will result in a lack of complete fitness and prevent you from reaching your fitness goal.

~ Cardiovascular workout

This is the one where you get your heart pumping at a high rate and break into a sweat.

~ Strength training

This works on your muscular strength and endurance levels. It includes exercises done on the spot using weights or other resistance equipment such as tubing, ball, bands (these are resistance equipments you can get in any sports shop; they will generally carry a description of how they can be used, or you can get more information online), etc.

~ Stretching

A stretching routine is done towards the end of your workout to ease the muscles and, more important, improve overall flexibility.

• Getting married? Get fit together

Cardiovasular workout options

Walking

Walk three to four times a week for 20 minutes to begin with if you have never done it before. Then, gradually build it up to 60 minutes.

Try to increase the time by five minutes every week. The pace should be brisk. You need to walk slowly for the first five minutes to warm up, and then pick up pace.

You can walk on a treadmill at home, or outdoors in a park where you can breathe fresh air.

Make sure you wear walking shoes and walk on an even surface. Avoid the roads and pavements.

Make it MORE fun: Take along some brisk music to play on your Walkman.

Walk with a friend, but walk in opposite directions meeting once in every lap, since your pace won't be the same.

• All you need to know about cardio

Swimming

Swimming is a great cardiovascular workout since it is water-based and requires more strength and stamina. Also, it is the best form of exercise for those suffering from joint problems (bad backs, knees, arthritis, etc).

Swim three to four times a week for a minimum of 20 minutes to start off with. Make sure you don't stop between laps.

Remember, you want to keep your heart rate up. Like walking, increase the time by five minutes every week and swim at a faster than comfortable pace.

Warm up by swimming slowly the first five minutes.

Make it MORE fun: Try an aqua aerobics class or water aerobics; there are clubs that offer these facilities.

• Want to breathe energy into your life?

Group exercise classes

Better known as 'aerobics' classes, this is one of the most fun ways to workout. Do a 60-minute class three times a week. This form of workout is sure to get you moving at an intense pace.

Most studios will offer different levels of classes -- beginner, intermediate and advanced.

Start off with a beginner level class and move on as you gain stamina and are able to do the moves with ease.

Look out for a class that gives you three different workouts in one week. This way, your body continues to respond and you don't get bored.

Kickboxing, salsa aerobics, hip-hop, spinning, step (these are different forms of cardiovascular workouts) and cardio circuits (these are different types of workouts offered in a group exercise class) are just a few of the wide variety of exercises you can choose from.

Make it MORE fun: Get your friends to sign up for the same classes.

• Pilates, the new fitness mantra

Home exercise videos

If you prefer to exercise alone in the comfort of your home, exercise videos are a good option.

It is best to order them from international companies through their web sites. Check the instructor description to ensure the instructors are certified. Pick a basic aerobics video to start off with.

Get two or three different workout videos so that your workout doesn't get monotonous. Make sure you choose the correct level -- beginner, intermediate or advanced.

Workout three times a week.

Aerobics workout must be done on wooden or carpeted flooring, wearing aerobics shoes, to avoid joint injuries.

Make it MORE fun: Get your neighbour/ friend to workout with you.

Note: Any sport such as tennis, football, cricket etc is NOT a cardiovascular workout since the pace is not sustained continually for 30 minutes.

• On a fad diet? Beware

Strength training options

Home exercise videos

There is an enormous variety to choose from. This includes a basic body toning video, to tubing workouts, ball workouts, weight training, to the more elaborate ones such as core board training. These are all body toning workouts that challenge the muscles using these different pieces of equipment. You can do a search online to see what each is about.

Do a search online (this is an example) and read the description of each video carefully.

Again, order two to three different workouts. Make sure one includes weight training. Do this workout three times a week.

You will need to invest in equipment that is required according to the type of workout you purchase.

• 10 sensible diet habits

Group exercise classes

Again, a real fun way to strength train is in a group setting. Body Toning, Body Conditioning, Strength Training, Body shaping are all names of classes that address strength training.

The classes in most studios will include working with a variety of equipment such as weights, tubing, bands and balls.

Different kinds of workouts are conducted three times a week such as Power Pump, Circuit Training, The Ball, Rep Reebok, Partner Workouts and more.

Again, make sure you choose a class that gives you this variety all three days of the week.

Personal training

If you prefer one-on-one training, a personal trainer is your answer. You can get in touch with a trainer through a reputed gym.

They will make you do different kinds of strength training workouts. Start off with two to three sessions a week.

Make sure the trainer you hire is certified and get references from people before you hire him/ her.

You will need to invest in equipment the trainer recommends.

Make it MORE fun: Get a friend to exercise with you. That way you can save on cost and you can enjoy yourself more.

• Constantly tired? Eat these foods

Stretching

Stretching goes hand in hand with strength training workouts.

It is done at the end of a workout for about 15 minutes. The stretches go according to the muscles worked in that particular workout.

However, if you would further like to improve your flexibility, a yoga class or videos on stretching exercises will be of help.

Combinations

Now that we have options for cardiovascular and strength exercise and stretch training, let's see the possible combinations.

~ You can do cardiovascular and strength training on the same or alternate days, depending on how comfortable you are with it.

~ Walking three days a week + home strength training video OR personal training OR group strength training exercise class three days a week.

~ Swimming three days a week + home strength training video OR personal training OR group strength training exercise class three days a week.

~ Group exercise classes three days a week + home strength training video OR personal training OR group strength training exercise class three days a week.

~ Home exercise video three days a week + home strength training video OR personal training OR group strength training exercise class three days a week.

For ideal exercise benefits, change the combination of exercise every few months. That way your body will not plateau and you will continue to see changes in your body and fitness level.

• 8 rules for healthy cooking

Brinda Sapat is a fitness trainer, currently running classes at Gold's Gym, Napean Sea Road. Certified with Training Zone & Progressive Fitness (USA), she has been a group exercise instructor for the last nine years.

Are you a fitness freak? Like to discuss your exercise programme with other fitness wallahs? Join the Gym Lovers Discussion Group

posted by Syam @ 12:41 AM 0 comments

It's the best time to buy a car!

Suddenly, the car you've always wanted may fit your budget. In an unprecedented move, our finance minister has decided to bring an artificial duty structure to passenger cars.

The move left the automotive industry polarised as budget reactions poured in. And then the finance minister reduced the customs duty from 50 per cent to 12.5 per cent thereby forcing even big car makers to announce price cuts.

While most of what has been passed on to prospective buyers is genuine, we also got this feeling that a couple of car makers used this opportunity to do a quick price correction on select models. And some car makers who import substantial bits have not come out with price corrections yet.

So is this a good time to buy a brand new car? Of course it is... before the same car makers cite increased price of steel and other raw materials and jack up the price again! Here is a quick second look at the cars that benefit from the budget proposals.

It may not be an exhaustive list, but you get the idea.

Maruti 800 Standard/AC

How less is less: Rs 12,704 off on the standard and Rs 14,192 on the AC model

So what do you pay: Rs 1.91 lakh for the standard and Rs 2.12 lakh for the AC version (ex-showroom Delhi)

The alternative: The Maruti Alto is newer by design and hence safer

How good a buy is it: It is safer than a two-wheeler, says Maruti. We say it is much more than that. The Maruti 800 has gone through revisions that has helped it stay relatively young over the last 20 years. Perhaps this is the cheapest brand new car money can buy anywhere in the world. It is easy to learn on, easy to drive even without power steering, easy to maintain and easy on the fuel (some cars seem to actually generate fuel and stretch a litre to 24 km on highways. You can trust them to return 16-18 kpl on a regular basis). Unfortunately, Maruti stopped building the M-800 with a five-speed gearbox and coil spring suspension at the rear. Want these features? Then be ready to shell out a bit more to buy the Alto.

Maruti Alto Standard/LX/LXi

How less is less: The bare-basic car is only Rs 20,000 more than the M-800, as it is cheaper by Rs 15,346. The LX version is down by Rs 17,646 and the power-steered LXi by Rs 18,939 So what do you pay: Alto Standard Rs 2.31 lakh, LX Rs 2.64 lakh and LXi Rs 2.83 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

The alternative: You are very close to the base versions of the Wagon R and Hyundai Santro if you are opting for the LXi model – they won't come with power steering though

How good a buy is it: Ah, much better! The Alto rides and handles better than the Maruti 800. The seating position is slightly higher too, making it easier to get in and get out. Great first car material across the board — from the 18-year old girl to the senior citizen who wants to spend his gratuity wisely. As far as the engine goes, it is unfortunate that the 1.1 litre motor borrowed from the Wagon R was discontinued. Maybe it is time to bring back that engine and charge premium money (don't worry, it is worth every penny). For the time being, the Alto gets the same 12-valve three-cylinder unit from the M-800 that is linked to a five-speed gearbox. The engine is a bit raw for the rest of the car but does a good job of returning 14-16 kpl even in city limits. And yes, the Alto looks contemporary and more upper middle-class than the M-800, if you care.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R LX/LXi/VXi

How less is less: Rs 21,460 less for the base model, Rs 23,232 for the power-steered VXi and Rs 24,070 for the top end version

So what do you pay: Rs 3.23 lakh for the entry LX, Rs 3.48 lakh for the LXi (this is the VFM model in the pack) and Rs 3.72 lakh for the VXi (ex-showroom Delhi)

The alternative: The Santro looks less boxy but is similarly equipped How good a buy is it: The fact that you are reading this means you are ready for something more than basic transportation. The Wagon R is a brilliantly engineered car that is very nice to live with in our congested cities. Alright, you may not like the bread-box on wheel looks, but you will appreciate the dimensions and the straight panels when you have to park between a push-cart and two taxis without hurting sleeping street dogs. The 62 bhp 1100cc engine is one of the best four cylinder engines Suzuki builds today. That means you do not feel short changed for power and you can confidently overtake without saying a prayer. Upright seating position is seriously appreciated by those who are habituated to spending close to an hour in city commutes, and even more so by those who suffer from acute arthritis.

Maruti Zen LX/LXi/VXi

How less is less: Rs 21,800 off on the base LX, Rs 23,542 for the LXi and a whopping Rs 25,052 less on the top-end VXi So what do you pay: Rs 3.27 lakh for the LX, Rs 3.53 lakh for the LXi, Rs 3.76 lakh for the VXi (ex-showroom Delhi)

The alternative: Go for the Alto to get almost everything minus the performance on offer, or better still, check out the Wagon R or Santro if you want a much more modern automobile

How good a buy is it: The old warhorse has a monumental reputation for reliability. It has been some time since the Zen stopped playing the quintessential 'replacement' market car but still manages to appeal after its recent revamp. The ride quality over most terrain is better than that of the M-800 and it corners better than the Alto. If you are a spirited driver, then the Zen can reward you with astounding pace around your favourite mountain road. The 58 bhp aluminium alloy engine is dated but good enough to return 12-14 kpl depending on where and how you are driving.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno LXi/VXi

How less is less: Rs 8,000 off on both versions, thanks to the reduction in customs duty

So what do you pay: Rs 5.75 lakh for the base model and Rs 6.57 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for the VXi version which now becomes a brilliant buy

The alternative: The Hyundai Accent GLE is an accomplished all-rounder and slightly newer by design. The Ford Fiesta 1.4 is smaller but much more contemporary How good a buy is it: What the Baleno gives and the Esteem cannot is the big car feel. The car rides and handles better, and has a punchy 94 bhp engine doing duty under the bonnet. It is as reliable and economical as any bread-and-butter Japanese sedan too. As an automotive design, the Baleno is dated inside out. The built-to-order estate version (Altura) stands out in the crowd and is extremely practical to live with. With the price correction, the Baleno should be in the radar of anyone looking for a mid-size sedan in the Rs 5-7 lakh bracket.

Honda City ZX EXi/ZXi VTEC

How less is less: Just Rs 2,000 off on the best-selling ZX EXi model and Rs 10,000 less on the City VTEC

So how much do you pay: Rs 7.26 lakh for the EXi, Rs 8.56 lakh for the VTEC (ex-showroom Delhi)

The alternative: The Maruti Baleno and Hyundai Accent are cheaper and the Fiesta 1.4 is contemporary and cheap. None of them offer the same economy though

How good a buy is it: The City does not need any sops to sell, but Honda does not want the image of a stubborn car company and has decided that a token price correction linked to the customs duty reduction can be passed on to the buyer. The VTEC, which has not found favour with the prospective buyers the way the last generation model did, however gets a more substantial price correction. Look, the City is a brilliantly modern automobile that can be equally at home inside cities as well as on the highway. The 77 bhp output of the basic model may sound less but it is peppy enough for most of your needs. And it can stretch a litre to 14 kpl consistently if you drive with a light right foot. Should you opt for the VTEC now that it is cheaper? Only if you are a performance enthusiast who cannot live with the idea that there is a quicker and faster version of your car in the dealership. Unfortunately, Honda has not announced a revised price for the brilliant CVT variant which has a very high import content.

Honda Accord VTi L (MT/AT)/V6

How less is less: Rs 15,000 off

So what do you pay: Rs 15.5 to Rs 15.9 lakh for the VTi L models (approx)/Rs 18.3 lakh for the V6

The alternative: Psst... The Toyota Camry, we hear, is being offered at huge discounts by Toyota dealers

How good a buy is it: The big advantage of the Honda Accord over its rival Toyota Camry is that it is built in India. Still the engine and gearbox are imported along with other assorted bits, hence the price correction. The Accord is a forward looking machine that has found immense success in India already. The i-VTEC engine, as we have said before, could be powering Mercedes-Benzes that cost a whole lot more. Silky power delivery, high quality of materials and good ride are the advantages. The Accord is a bit nervous at expressway speeds and it is not exactly a natural handler. But we have to say that the price correction is another good excuse to buy yourself a brilliant automobile.

Hyundai Santro Xing XK/XL/XG/XO/Auto

How less is less: Rs 16,000 to 26,000 across models So what do you pay: Rs 2.62 lakh for the non-AC XK, Rs 3.41 lakh for the XL, Rs 3.65 lakh for the XO and Rs 4.1 lakh for the automatic (ex-showroom Delhi)

The alternative: The Wagon R, if you want something more straightforward

How good a buy is it: The runaway success story from Hyundai is as popular as ever before. And for good reason too. The Santro was designed with the Suzuki Wagon R as a benchmark and that means it has more space overall. The looks may be controversial (you either like it or hate it) but multiple facelifts mean the car looks very fresh even now. The 1.1 litre engine has adequate power to entertain even the enthusiast. Hyundai has been providing exceptional build quality over the years and that is one reason why you cannot find cheap cars even in the used market. It is easy to drive and costs nothing much to maintain. As far as fuel efficiency goes, the Santro returns 13-14 kpl in real world driving conditions.

Tata Indica Petrol/Diesel

How less is less: Rs 17,000 to 22,500 on diesel models and Rs 17,000 to Rs 23,500 on petrol models (approx)

So what do you pay: Rs 3.44 lakh (approx) for the DL diesel to Rs 4.48 lakh (approx) for the DLX turbo. Rs 3.44 lakh for the LEi petrol to Rs 4.21 lakh for the LXi petrol

The alternative: The Alto is adequate if you don't need that much space. Else the Wagon R or Santro

How good a buy is it: The Tata Indica buyer does not live in a world of choices - they can be a happy lot now since the affordable small car (to buy and drive) has just got even more affordable. There is nothing to beat the Indica when it comes to value and the budget has given it another boost. The diesel engine is not very powerful or refined but is now reliable and can stretch a litre to 21 kpl if you drive carefully on highways. The petrol version is peppy yet is a notch below on refinement levels. The Indica offers loads of space, especially for the rear seat passengers. The ride quality on bad roads is good while handling is best tabled as neutral. Do we recommend a buy? Definite thumbs up for the diesel but we think there are better petrol cars around.

posted by Syam @ 12:32 AM 7 comments