/ Publisher's Message, Winter 2014

by Raj Girn

Publisher’s Message, Winter 2014

Jan 21, 2014

What is Your Destiny for 2014?

It’s 4:11 a.m. on December 1, 2013 as I open my eyes from rolling in the deep of my daily meditation in honour of my loved ones, those that need, those that don’t need, the universe, God, and then finally a few thoughts about myself. With the meditative music still reverberating throughout my space, I fire up my laptop to compose this message not knowing what, of all of my experiences over the year, I want to share with you all that I feel will assist in preparing a positive mindset for 2014.

My process for writing this message always encompasses a combination of meditation and solicitation of a quote that resonates with me, which then leads me to the green pastures of a thought that starts the flow of writing. If that doesn’t work, later in the day, I pour a glass of Chablis and press shufffle on my Buddha Bar compilations which usually does the trick. The message for the anniversary issue is always the most challenging one for me to write because how do you encapsulate a bygone year and bring purpose to the one that is yet to be manifested? There’s so much to say, share, inspire, be inspired by, and so little space to do it all in. So, I type freely in contemplation, and hope that something makes sense that we all can heed from, no matter what our year has been like and no matter where our year will lead us to. Wherever this will be, there is one thing abundantly clear in all that I am, believe in, create, share and celebrate, and that is what I want to encapsulate: I, (as you and every living soul is), am the scriptwriter, actor, director, producer and audience of my life’s play. I choose what my journey and message will be, what its budget will be, if it will have modest or grandiose props, whether it will be dimly lit or in strobe laser lighting, and whether it will have a tragic or happily-ever-after ending. In other words, I stand by the verse: You are what your deep, driving desire is. As your desire is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny. – Brihadaranyaka Upanishad IV.4.5

So, first for the year in reflection: 2013 was a year of growth and expansion for ANOKHI MEDIA. We developed a customized online community based on your feedback throughout the years.

In May 2013, we launched phase one of that online community at www.anokhimedia.com, where our community has the opportunity to engage with us and with each other through our varied content platforms: The magazine with select articles per issue available to read (almost from the beginning of our history); our online flipbook where non-subscribers can preview each issue and our digital subscribers can view everything from cover to cover; an extensive blog community with over 21 content categories; Spotlight TV, our new lifestyle show which airs three times a week; and regular weekly episodes of our entertainment show, Pulse TV. And, we redesigned a far more appealing weekly newsletter experience to reflect this revised content portfolio.

This growth and expansion has brought with it the expansion of our team, which I proudly showcase in the photo above for you to meet, and for you to recognize the live “bricks” that build the House of ANOKHI MEDIA. TEAM ANOKHI MEDIA, my Dream Team!

_{Scroll down to see our entire team.}

Second, for the year to manifest: 2014 is going to be the most important year in the history of ANOKHI MEDIA. It is our pivot year, when we fine-tune the future of the brand to razor sharp precision of our provision of original, engaging and relevant content for you all to receive and participate in. Stay tuned for phase two of the website, the launch of the tablet magazine and a mobile app. We will keep you posted as we release these throughout the year.

So, with all of this straight in my heart and mind, and with both control centers in alignment, as simple as this may be, my “say, share, inspire, be inspired by” and my “no matter what our year has been like and no matter where our year will lead us to,” is: APPRECIATION and THANKS to all who have contributed near and far to a year of growth and expansion (2013) for ANOKHI MEDIA, and a year of breaking yet another plethora of glass, heck, titanium ceilings as we enter our pivotal year (2014), to continue to optimize our engagement experience with you all 24/7! How? As Estée Lauder once said, “I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.”

On a final note, as part of the release of this issue, ANOKHI Magazine’s highly anticipated 11th anniversary collector’s edition, I am pleased to announce, in celebration of this milestone at ANOKHI MEDIA which parallel’s the story of accomplishment throughout the global South Asian community, the launch of a redefined version of our annual “Sexy & Successful List,” renaming it, “The ANOKHI List” which recognizes and celebrates the many achievements of South Asians from around the world. Please turn to page 81 to read who they are and why we feel their stories matter. And join us at ANOKHI’s 11th Anniversary event on Saturday February 1st, 2014 at the award-winning Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto, in association with Johnnie Walker, where we celebrate our global community and another year of ANOKHI Magazine, for our annual, star-studded, media frenzy, calendar highlight event. For information on the night’s agenda, our celebrity attendance roster and how to purchase tickets, visit: www.anokhimedia.com/11thanniversaryevent.

Until next time,

Be UNIQUE. Be ANOKHI.

Raj Girn
Founder/Publisher

_{1. RANJIT DHATT, FASHION & STYLE PRODUCER/DIRECTOR, DAILY SPOTLIGHT TV/PULSE TV

2. MANAR SAMMAN, CAMERA OPERATOR, DAILY SPOTLIGHT TV/PULSE TV

3. SONIA JHAS, HEALTH & WELLNESS HOST, DAILY SPOTLIGHT TV

4. MATTHEW HALLWORTH, CAMERA OPERATOR, DAILY SPOTLIGHT TV/PULSE TV

5. SHARAD MOHAN, MEN’S FASHION & STYLE HOST, DAILY SPOTLIGHT TV

6. EDMOND TSE, JUNIOR EDITOR, DAILY SPOTLIGHT TV/PULSE TV/OPEN CHEST TV

7. TERENCE CHOW, SENIOR EDITOR, DAILY SPOTLIGHT TV/PULSE TV/OPEN CHEST TV

8. KARREN ARENQUE, PRODUCER/DIRECTOR, FASHION & BEAUTY FOR DAILY SPOTLIGHT TV

9. DANIEL ASHWIN PILLAI, DIRECTOR OF ONLINE TV, ANOKHI MEDIA

10. PAYAL DOSHI, PRODUCER/DIRECTOR, HOME & AWAY, DAILY SPOTLIGHT TV

11. SANA TAHIR, DIRECTOR OF EVENTS/SPONSORSHIPS, ANOKHI MEDIA

12. RAJ GIRN, FOUNDER/PRESIDENT/CEO, ANOKHI MEDIA, WEARING AN ALIA KHAN SIGNATURE COLLECTION ANTIQUE GOLD, SEQUINNED SARI

13. SWATI BHATT VYAS, ONLINE BLOG EDITOR, ANOKHI MEDIA

14. HINA P. ANSARI, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, ANOKHI MAGAZINE

15. AJAY LAD, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, ANOKHI MEDIA

16. JACQUELINE PARRISH, FASHION EDITOR, ANOKHI MAGAZINE

17. HARJ GIRN, PRINCIPAL, ANOKHI MEDIA

18. ADIL HIRJI, ONLINE CREATIVE DIRECTOR, ANOKHI MEDIA

19. FARAH KHAN, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION/EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CEO, ANOKHI MEDIA

20. GEETA WAHAB, HOME & TRAVEL EDITOR, ANOKHI MAGAZINE

21. MONIKA BHONDY, VICE PRESIDENT OF CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT/STYLE EDITOR, ANOKHI MEDIA/MAGAZINE

22. REBECCA NEVINS, RECEPTIONIST/OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR, ANOKHI MEDIA

23. SMRUTI DAS, GPS EDITOR, ANOKHI MAGAZINE

24. GERALD LAING, VICE PRESIDENT/SALES, ANOKHI MEDIA

25. SARAH KIRMANI, BEAUTY EDITOR, ANOKHI MAGAZINE

26. SORIYYA BAWA, BEAUTY ASSISTANT, ANOKHI MAGAZINE}

ABSENT:
AARANAN SOORIYAMOORTHY, CAMERA OPERATOR, DAILY SPOTLIGHT TV/PULSE TV
DAPHNE SIDDIQUE, HOME & AWAY HOST, DAILY SPOTLIGHT TV
NEERA CHAUDHARY, HEALTH & WELLNESS EDITOR, ANOKHI MAGAZINE
MATTHEW CURRIE, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, ANOKHI MAGAZINE
SOPHIE TOLIAS, COPY EDITOR/FACT CHECK LEADER, ANOKHI MAGAZINE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDY LEE, PHOTOGRAPHY
ASSISTANT: MAGGIE WALKER

_{RAJ GIRN’S GOWN BY ALIA KHAN SIGNATURE COLLECTION}

Raj Girn

Author

Raj Girn is an award-winning media personality, confidence coach, consultant and mentor. Bio: https://www.theopenchestconfidenceacademy.com/about/our-founder/ Testimonials: https://www.theopenchestconfidenceacademy.com/about/testimonials/