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Pseudo Ecotourism in the Shadow of the Bengal Tiger

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1 year ago

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New Delhi (India), May 30: Arnab Basu, is a sustainability consultant, an environmental writer and a wildlife enthusiast. He has more than two decades of experience in advisory work on sustainability, nature-based solution, and environmental law. He did his graduation in Botany from University of Calcutta and post-graduation in Environment Management from Indian Institute of Social Welfare & Business Management (IISWBM), Calcutta. He also holds a post graduate diploma in Environmental Law from National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore. As a wildlife enthusiast he has travelled across more than two-hundred eco-tourism destinations of eight countries in three continents. 

His book Pseudo Ecotourism is a memoire themed on sustainability and ecotourism.

Link to the book: Pseudo Ecotourism https://amzn.in/d/ejnYKF6 

Let’s delve into author insights.

Q1. What is the main emphasis of your book? 

Ans- As a sustainability professional, I would love to call this book as a “book of sustainability”. However, in reality sustainability is not at the forefront of this book, rather it’s situated at the very core, hidden by various layers. These layers are – layers of human relationship, human desire for fame and glory, materialism, commodity fetishism etc. And, perhaps the most prominent layer around the core concept of this book is adventurism in forests and mountains. 

Which involves surviving in difficult climatic conditions, challenging terrain, dealing with animal attacks etc. I personally feel, my readers will enjoy swimming through these layers and eventually reach at the very core of this book – which is sustainability. One more thing I would like to clarify here – this book is certainly not a book of wildlife photography. 

Although, I started writing this book when I was a hobbyist wildlife photographer and I also used wildlife photography to tell stories. But, at the same time, I have been satirical about wildlife photography. On more than one occasion, my readers will come across such stories, where I have been sarcastic about wildlife photography and used them to create subtle humor in my book.

Pseudo Ecotourism is a narration of various events as I experienced as a nature explorer in the last one decade in four tiger range countries (India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan) of this subcontinent. At times those were exciting, pleasant, and entertaining, and at other times those were fearful, nerve-wracking, breadth taking and traumatic. The book is to appeal to hobbyist ecotourists/wildlife photographers to shift their obsession from the single species-oriented ecotourism/photography towards an inclusive ecotourism/photography.

Q2. Can you tell us an interesting aspect of your book?

Ans- In this book, I also reflected upon my own as well as some of my close friends’ personal life, while keeping their identity discreet. I have witnessed how the failure and turmoil in profession and relationship, aggravated by demands of materialistic way of living get percolated in the obsession for tigers. This often leads to committing unethical practices in order to shoot and sight the animal. I experienced many such shocking acts of practice. I have also seen how tigers respond to this stress. 

Q3.  What inspired you to write this book?

Ans- A decade back I started wildlife photography and ecotourism as hobbies primarily with an intention to become the most interesting person in the room. However, as I went deeper in these hobbies and interacted more and more with various other people directly and indirectly related to these hobbies, I started noticing a correlation between these hobbies and my profession of sustainability. That made me realize the need of telling stories to other hobbyist wildlife photographers/ecotourists about this correlation. Hence, this book was conceptualized.

Q4. How did you bring this book to life?

Ans- During my decade long exploration, I interacted with many ecotourists, wildlife photographers, general tourists, nature guides, indigenous people living in remote forests, and ecotour/photography mentors. One such mentor influenced me immensely by a life changing lesson of “lying down to get a different perspective.” That helped me to find a solution to this misguided obsession for tigers.

My academic training and more than two decades of professional experience as an environmentalist helped me in correlating that with the concept of deep ecology and realizing how nature-based solutions can be integrated with ecotourism to prevent it from being the pseudo ecotourism.

Q5. Can you share one key concept from your book?

Ans- In this book I have coined a term “inclusive ecotourism” which is an alternative to replace “pseudo-ecotourism”.

I strongly believe, an ordinary human who takes part in ecotourism or clicks pictures of nature and her rare flora and fauna, despite not being a wildlife expert, helps in dispersing the splendors of nature and wildlife among many other ordinary humans who haven’t yet experienced these. This makes the hobbies of ecotourism and wildlife photography powerful influencers in promoting the concept of nature-based solution. The solution to save the planet, which is hidden within nature herself. 

My appeal to me readers through this book is to let such hobbies become inclusive. So that the beneficial impacts are bestowed equally upon all living life forms, not just on one single species. 

Therefore, my key message to the world is, let us together embrace an inclusive ecotourism, where every human and non-human life form have equal place and let us discard the pseudo-ecotourism from this beautiful planet, we call home.

Author’s blog: https://aunatural.blog/

 

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Zivame Launches First Franchise Store in Madurai and Announces Pan-India Expansion

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3 days ago

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June 14, 2025

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India’s intimatewear market is undergoing a dynamic transformation, driven by rising expectations around quality, inclusivity, and convenience. At the forefront of this shift is Zivame — the country’s leading D2C intimatewear brand — reshaping how women discover, engage with, and purchase intimatewear. Through a seamless blend of digital innovation and an expanding retail footprint, Zivame is setting new standards in how intimatewear is experienced across the country.

 

Madurai (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 14 : Marking a key milestone in its growth journey, Zivame inaugurated its first-ever franchise store at Vishal De Mall, Madurai, Tamil Nadu , on 11th June 2025 — a strategic entry into one of the brand’s fastest-growing southern markets.

The grand launch event was inaugurated by the Chief guest – Rajarathinam Ilakovan, Director of Vishal De Mall, and witnessed the presence of Zivame CEO Lavanya Pachisia, Retail Head Jayendre Nath, and Brand Marketing Head Daman Bali, and an enthusiastic welcome from the local community. The store’s vibrant debut not only highlights Zivame’s strong foothold in South India but also signals the beginning of its next big leap.

At the launch of Zivame’s first-ever franchise store, CEO Lavanya Pachisia shared key insights into the brand’s growth journey and vision ahead. – “Since Zivame originated in Bengaluru, South India has always been a key market for us. Expanding through local franchise partners allows us to not only deepen our presence in the region but also better understand and cater to local preferences. It’s an important step in making the ‘Zivame experience’ more accessible and relevant to women across diverse communities.”

With a strong Pan-India retail presence already in place, Zivame is now scaling up its reach by deepening access to other emerging markets across the country. This strategic expansion brings the brand even closer to customers across metros, Tier 2, and Tier 3 cities, complementing its robust online presence with an even more expansive offline footprint.

For potential franchisors and seasoned investors, Zivame’s franchise program offers a compelling business opportunity with strong brand equity, proven business model, and built-in operational support.

For franchise enquiries or if you’re an interested franchisor, write to Zivame at: partnership@zivame.com

Founded in 2011, Zivame has redefined the intimatewear category with deep consumer insight, innovation, technology, and trend-forward design — all anchored in women’s comfort. As of 2025, with a portfolio of 50,000+ styles across lingerie, sleepwear, shapewear, and activewear in over 100 sizes, Zivame has evolved beyond retail into a trusted destination for women across ages and geographies.

From launching India’s first online Fitcode to breakthrough campaigns like Museum of Boobs, Zivame has consistently stayed ahead of the curve. By combining tech-enabled solutions with deep consumer understanding, the brand has redefined how women experience intimate wear in India, creating one of the most influential fashion-retail ecosystems in the country.

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MRG Composites India Pvt. Ltd. – Pioneering GFRP Rebars for a Stronger, Sustainable Tomorrow

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3 weeks ago

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May 27, 2025

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New Delhi [India], May 27: MRG Composites India Pvt. Ltd. is India’s leading manufacturer and supplier of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) Rebars, revolutionizing the construction industry with corrosion-free, lightweight, and high-strength reinforcement solutions.

About Us

Established as part of the Machine Retail Group (MRG) in 2007, our roots lie in advancing industrial technology across Russia and India. MRG Composites began GFRP Rebar production in 2007 and formally launched Indian operations in early 2019, led by visionary founders Neel Vaya, Bhavik Vaya, and Amit Gangurde. In just a few years, despite global challenges, MRG Composites India has grown to become the country’s largest manufacturer and supplier of GFRP Rebars, having executed 5000+ projects nationwide.

With over 18+ years of manufacturing expertise, we proudly call ourselves the Pioneers of GFRP Rebars in India the first company to bring this technology to commercial use in the Indian market.

 Why MRG GFRP Rebar?

MRG GFRP Rebar is redefining how India builds:

2x Stronger & 4x Lighter than conventional steel rebars

Non-Corrosive, ideal for coastal and aggressive environments

Thermally & Electrically Insulating, perfect for sensitive installations

Magnetic Neutrality, essential for high-tech and healthcare infrastructure

Cost-Effective Over Time, reducing maintenance and lifecycle costs

These features make GFRP Rebars the most economical and sustainable material for structural and road construction projects across India, the UAE, and East Africa.

Our Global Footprint

We operate from four international headquarters India, UAE, Kenya, and Russia and maintain a strong pan-India distribution network, enabling seamless supply and support to construction projects of all scales.

 

National Collaboration & Standards

As part of national development efforts, MRG Composites India Pvt. Ltd. has been closely involved in forming GFRP standards in India. We work in collaboration with key government bodies including:

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

National Highway Authority of India (NHAI)

Indian Roads Congress (IRC)

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH)

These efforts have culminated in the successful establishment of Indian GFRP standards:

IS 18255:2023, IS 18256:2023, and IRC 137:2022.

Our Commitment

With a monthly production capacity of over 200 metric tonnes, MRG Composites is committed to empowering India with long-lasting, maintenance-free, and environmentally responsible construction materials.

Join the Rebar Revolution

At MRG Composites, we believe that GFRP is not just a material it’s the future of construction. As we continue to lead this transformation, we invite you to be part of the journey towards a stronger, greener, and future-ready infrastructure.

MRG Composites India Pvt. Ltd.

Address : Office No 601, Twin Star South Block,Near Nanamava Circle, 150 Feet Ring Road, Rajkot-360004

Mobile No. : +91 96 598 598 96

Email : india@mrg-composites.com

Web : www.mrg-composites.com

Instagram Link: https://www.instagram.com/mrg_composites_india/?hl=en 

India’s most trusted and No.1 selling GFRP bars brand 

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‘FareArena’ by Zordo Promises Affordable Flight Bookings with Easy Access and Great Deals

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1 month ago

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May 16, 2025

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New Delhi [India], May 16 : Nowadays, with the pressure of a busy digital life, budget flights are the priority for tourists. Each day, thousands of people go to Google with questions such as “how to book inexpensive flights,” “where to find last-minute flight deals,” or “what is the best website to compare flight prices.” Many of these questions have an answer in the form of a dependable, cheap flight booking website that provides transparent pricing, simple comparisons, and hassle-free booking experiences. That’s where FareArena has consistently performed—and soon, it will be even better.

FareArena, the one-stop shop for searching and booking affordable airfare tickets, has recently been acquired by Zordo Technologies, a prominent player in travel and e-commerce solution innovation. This strategic takeover represents a milestone event for both companies and signifies a new chapter in ease of travel for tens of millions of users.

Travelers who are ever on the lookout for low-cost flights, cheap airfare, budget airlines, and last-minute travel offers understand the value of a reliable platform. FareArena has excelled by providing access to low-cost carriers, the lowest flight prices, and a simple flight comparison feature. Whether cheap international flights for your vacation fantasy or domestic flight offers for a spontaneous weekend getaway, FareArena has always delivered value through its robust search engine and 24/7 customer support.

Zordo Technologies’ FareArena increases the value of this already popular site. With Zordo’s technology-focused solutions and FareArena’s established strengths, customers can anticipate even greater flight booking experiences. From more intelligent comparisons of airfares and dynamic pricing to customized flight suggestions, Zordo is poised to turn FareArena into an even greater resource for travel savers.

This acquisition will also enhance FareArena’s visibility through combining it with Zordo’s travel ecosystem to allow customers to access more services—hotel reservations, insurance against travel, and trip planning resources—in one platform.

In conclusion, if you’ve ever typed “best site to book cheap flights online” or “flight ticket deals near me” into your browser, FareArena, now powered by Zordo Technologies, is your answer. This merger is not just a business deal—it’s a game-changer for anyone who wants to travel smarter, cheaper, and with complete peace of mind.

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