C ASES of death by suicide shatter the lives of families as well as friends. There have been several recent instances of dying by suicide which have received relentless media coverage. But such coverage has often missed the underlying causes for such incidents. With September 10 being observed as Suicide Prevention Day, our Cover Story tries to analyse the potential triggers and lists possible steps to prevent a dangerous emotional situation from reaching a point of no return. The success of recent 'mainstream' Odia videos and songs that have become chartbusters may be music to the ears to the creators but this trend has left aficionados cringing. Fortunately for them, all is not lost. In City Lights, we catch up with some artists who still believe in creating music that touches the soul. City Lights also brings to you the forgotten story of the Amarda Road airstrip in Mayurbhanj, described as one of the biggest facilites of its kind during World War 2. Through his relentless efforts, historian Anil Dhir has succeeded in unravelling many of the secrets of the place. In our Health & Fitness section, we take a close look at the debilitating mental illness that is defined as Dementia of the Alzheimer's type, or Alzheimer's Disease. With World Alzheimer's Day round the corner, we speak with caregivers and health professionals to understand more about the disease, from its early symptoms to measures that can help people - particularly the elderly - to keep it at bay. This edition's Transit Lounge hosts the versatile and multi-talented Sorabh Pant who has built an enviable reputation for himself in the world of standup. In Bhubaneswar for a show recently, he opens up about his career and the state of stand-up comedy in India. He also talks about juggling work and family responsibilities. In ScreenShots, we catch up with Deepak Sahu who came into prominence after featuring in a hit Bhojpuri music video. He was recently seen in a few Odia music videos too. In a free-wheeling chat, the actor tells us about his experience working for the Odia music videos and discusses his plans for the future. The section also features one of Bollywood's ace Art Directors, Sukant Panigrahy. He talks to us about the journey from leaving home at 17 to making it big in the entertainment industry

Seventy-five years is a short time in the history of a city. In the case of Bhubaneswar, however, this has been enough for its evolution from a sleepy and thinly-populated but neatly laid out state capital to a modern and bustling city that is now a centre of commerce, education, and sports. In our Cover Story, we trace the early years of Bhubaneswar's existence, its anointment as state capital, and the subsequent decades that have shaped the city into what it is today. Dreams have a way of coming true if one perseveres and works hard. City Biz brings you the story of two women who came together with a shared passion to preserve and promote the dying art of Odisha's handloom through their brand, Hatbunai. City Biz also features Charkha, a homegrown fashion label that is traditional and modern at the same time. The City Lights section brings you snapshots from the global trade show, Resurgent Odisha 2024, and the launch of a coffee table book on Bhubaneswar. Trying to achieve meaning and joy in life is often an unending quest in a fast-paced world. A book on Ikigai, the Japanese expression for a passion that gives value and joy to life, tries to help readers rediscover the purpose of living. Read more about it in City Literature. With September 8 being celebrated as World Physiotherapy Day, City Health takes a closer look at this modern medical science and the remedies it can offer. Our CityZen for this edition is a person who is fondly referred to as the “Radio Man” and it is not too difficult to understand why once you visit his small shop tucked away in the bylanes of Cuttack. Afzal bhai, who has dealt with audio products for over 40 years, talks about his repair business, the challenges he faces, and what keeps him going. In ScreenShots, we catch up with three talented Odia artistes who were associated with one of the biggest box office blockbusters that Bollywood has produced - Stree 2. Associate Editor Madhubrata Mohanty, foley artist Varun Visoi, and focus puller Saroj Kumar Sahoo give a peek into what went on behind the scenes during the film's making. They also open up about their experience in the film industry. Meanwhile, movie buffs who are unsure about what to watch next on streaming platforms can turn to Cityflix.

Ask anyone who they look up to and give credit to for being the person that they have become, chances are that a teacher will be on their list along with parents, family members, and close friends. To mark Teacher’s Day, our Cover Story for this edition pays tribute to the role that teachers play in our lives. Anybody who was around in the 80s would remember the pulsating beats and the psychedelic lights that were synonymous with a new form of music that held the world in thrall. A special feature in City Tales revisits the birth of Disco music, its impact on the Bollywood film industry, and its eventual decline of sorts. With the growing realisation that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here to stay, discussions these days often veer around to the influence this latest revolution in technology can have on different human endeavours. In City Tech, we take a look at some of the latest AI tools that can be used for a variety of functions. As it happens, advances in technology invariably come with their own unique challenges. Preventing cybercrime and identifying the perpetrators is one such challenge for law enforcement agencies these days and official data on the nature and number of such incidents presents a grim picture. Twin City police chief Soumendra Priyadarshi discusses the challenges in City Beat. The section also looks at diseases like dengue that make an appearance during the monsoon season. We speak with health and municipal officials to bring you a ground report. In Screen Shots, we catch up with the newest star on the block who is creating quite the buzz on the OTT circuit these days. Life has not been the same for actor Prem Parija, who had earlier worked as an assistant director for Bollywood films, since he was signed up to play the lead role in the ‘Commando’ series. The section also features Odia film producer Sanjay Nayak and filmmaker NG Reddy. During the course of a freewheeling chat, they discuss the current state of the Ollywood film industry and what needs to be done to draw the audience back to the movie theatres. This edition explores the interesting 200-year-old Urdu poetry tradition of ‘Mushaira’ in the city of Cuttack (City Culture) and the inspiring story of an 18-year-old entrepreneur who is rewriting the rules of success (City Biz).

The term lost in translation is getting an all new meaning these days, with sections of the country’s media coming under increasing scrutiny over alleged cases of sensationalism, misinformation and bias, or, worse still, over numerous instances of outright false news propagation. In our Cover Story, we delve deep into what has become a dangerous malaise, using some recent examples. History was created when Draupadi Murmu assumed office as the 15th President of India. She is the first tribal, the second woman, and also the first person to be born after Independence to occupy the position. In this edition, we recount her inspirational journey from a Junior Assistant in the Odisha government’s Irrigation Department to the country’s highest Constitutional post. The CityZen section also focuses on Sulochana Das, who was recently elected as the first woman Mayor of Bhubaneswar. She has hit the ground running, determined to make a difference to life in the city. She talks to us about her plans across a range of areas, from health and women’s safety to urban infrastructure. Dipti Mahapatra, General Manager of Capital Region Urban Transport, is credited with transforming public transport in the state. We caught up with her to discuss how she and her team have managed to bring about a sea change in public transport. It’s a menace that needs to be confronted head on, and the ban on single-use plastic seeks to do exactly that. Daunting as it may sound – the items that have been banned range from plastic cutlery items to polystyrene – authorities are gearing up to implement the new rules. Read all about it in City Beat. Transit Lounge hosts comedian Ravi Gupta who has made a name for himself in the world of stand-up over the past few years. In between performing stand-up shows during a recent visit to Bhubaneswar, he opens up about his passion and how the journey is shaping up. City Lights remembers Laxmi Indira Panda, who was not just the only Odia woman in Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army but was also one of its youngest women members. The section also takes a closer look at ‘hustle culture’ and the harm that it may be doing to a significantly large number of employees across sectors. In ScreenShots, young filmmaker Sankalp Mohanty talks to us about ‘Achinha Saba'.

A decade ago, if somebody had said that you could earn money by cracking jokes, you would have been justified in saying, ‘You must be joking!’ React the same way today, and the joke would be on you! Yes, we are talking about careers like stand-up comedy and creative education courses which were unheard of then that are opening up a whole new world of opportunities. In our Cover Story, we explore the new, emerging landscape, driven as much by the urge to take the path less travelled as a growing acceptance of the unconventional. Amid reports of communal tensions in some pockets of the country, we bring you a heart-warming tale from Cuttack. City Lights chronicles the enduring popularity of the Kohinoor Paanji (ephemeris), which was first published in 1935. Over the decades, this almanac put together by a Muslim family has become a go-to resource when it comes to dates for Hindu festivals and religious rituals. A few weeks ago, the sound of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Academy Awards (Oscars) ceremony reverberated across the world, reigniting the age-old debate of how anger can trigger a dangerous personality transformation. We decided to get to the bottom of a problem that defies easy solutions or workarounds. Read all about it in the Health & Fitness section. The Showcase Odisha Awards continue to connect people associated with the state. This time, the event moved to Bangalore, where it honoured two exceptional Odias. Organic and eco-friendly are all the buzzwords these days. And you need to look no further than the duo of Sukanya Sahu and Farheen Sheikh who have launched a brand of apparels, accessories and stationery using eco-printing. My City Links also catches up with Susmita Misra, who is building a community marketplace for the exchange of pre-owned sarees. She tells us how the concept has caught the fancy of women across the world. The term street smart is no longer something that crosses your mind only when you see someone navigating difficult situations in life. It’s also something that’s increasingly visible on the streets, literally! In Fashion & Lifestyle, we look at a new brand of smart streetwear launched by four talented youngsters. Emerging Odia actor Sovan Samal is busy chasing his passion. In Screen Shots, he opens up about his early days, support from his family, and his inspirations from the world of entertainment.

I F the last two years were spent under a heavy blanket of fear and uncertainty, this year has turned out to be one of hope, anticipation, and celebration. This feeling has perhaps never been more accentuated than now, with Durga Puja festivities approaching a crescendo. In our Cover Story, we revisit some of the traditions and rituals associated with Durga Puja. Anecdotes from common people and explanations from some scholars and experts in religion provide a clearer understanding of the significance of the different days and stages of the festivities. 'Quiet Quitting' has been all the buzz in the corporate world these past few months. In City Lights, we take a close, hard look at a trend that has triggered a sharp debate, with strong opinions both in favour of it and against it. The section also features "Our Change Leaders", a talk show from My City Links that has caught the imagination of people across Odisha. In City Lights, we bring you excerpts from interviews with two senior police officers, Arun Bothra and SK Priyadarshi. In the end of August, as the Supertech Twin Towers in Noida came crashing down during a demolition using explosives, experts involved in the exercise looked on with satisfaction at a job well done. One of them was Dr D P Kanungo, a Chief Scientist with the Central Building Research Institute. He is our CityZen for this edition. Transit Lounge hosts stand-up comedian Inder Sahani who was in Bhubaneswar recently for a show. Everything around us is funny, he remarks as he opens up about the high points of his career, from theatre to the stand-up circuit. The popular BOCCA Cafe is doing its bit to popularise millets as a nutritional alternative among the youth. Working with the Odisha Millets Mission, BOCCA Cafe recently launched an exclusive millets-based menu. Read all about it in City Events. The section also brings you a pho-to-feature on the two spectacular shows by the Indian Air Force's Suryakiran Aerobatic Team in the month of September. In ScreenShots, we catch up with popular Odia actor Subhasis Sharma, who has decided to focus on films and the big screen. He talks to us about his upcoming films that are set for a re-lease nearly a year after he decided to make the switch. The section also features ‘Kabza’, which may well be the first multilingual film from south India to be released in Odish

T HE first two years after the COVID 19 outbreak was all about disruptions and the exhaustion due to the sheer diversity of lifestyle changes that were necessitated. This third year has, however, been all about revival and a return to how life was before the pandemic. In our Cover Story, we look at how the hospitality and events sector is bouncing back into action, one firm step at a time. The humble combination of dahibara and aloodum is now going global, thanks to the efforts of Chef Sanchit Sahu who has showcased it at Bangkok's Michelin Guide restaurant, Jhol. In City Lights, we get to know more about what has gone into making this dish appealing to a global audience. The healing technique known as Reiki has endured for over a century. The global following of Reiki vouches for its efficacy across diverse situations and problems. In City Zen, we talk to a practioner to know more about this unconventional healing process. The section also features 12-year-old Odissi dance sensation Srinika Purohit, who is following in the footsteps of her mother, Odissi danseuse Sonalika Purohit. Green entrepreneur is the term that readily comes to mind when you begin talking with Tanisha Malla. The 23-year-old has come up with a line of candles made of soya chunk wax. In City Green, she tells us about her journey so far. The grand spectacle that is the Bali Jatra also came as a treat to music lovers with an impressive line-up of popular singers. We catch up with two of them in Transit Lounge. Kailash Kher, known for his magical voice and soulful renditions, opens up about his early days in music and the tough road to success in Mumbai and Bollywood. We also catch up with singer Javed Ali, who has performed in Odisha earlier as well. It's December and it's time for some Yuletide spirit all around. With Christmas just a few weeks away, My City Links decides to go down memory lane by talking to people who have seen the occasion evolve over the years. Read all about it in City Lights. The 53rd India International Film Festival (IFFI) held in Goa in November helped turn the spotlight on Pratikshya, the only Odia film among the 25 screened as part of the Feature Films section. We bring you some interesting insights into the movie in Screen Shots. 