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Hello,

Softbank is quiet quitting Paytm.

As of the quarter ended March 2024, SoftBank Vision Fund India Holdings (Cayman) held a 1.4% stake in the fintech firm, which has dropped below 1% as of June.

Conversely, Zomato’s had its fill of international focus. The foodtech firm completed liquidation proceedings for its Slovakia subsidiary, which it said was non-operational and contributed less than 0.0001% to Zomato’s overall net worth.

Moving on, let’s talk about THE event—the Ambani wedding, that is.

The Ambanis may have put Crazy Rich Asians to shame, but the opulence and glamour of the event weren’t the only things that were the talk of the town.

The glitzy affair has also left split opinions on the family’s socio-political clout and the rising gap between the rich and the poor. 

Just a Big Fat Indian Wedding, or symbol of inequality? You decide.

Lastly, meet Barbora Krejcikova, who just cinched the Wimbledon women’s singles title!

In today’s newsletter, we will talk about 

• Reviving traditional Indian art forms
• A thrilling trip through Tadoba National Park
• The art to baking the perfect pie

Here’s your trivia for today: What was the name of the real-life ship that inspired Herman Melville to write Moby Dick?

Art and Culture

Reviving Indian traditional art forms

From the ancient frescoes of Ajanta and Ellora to the delicate brushwork of Mughal miniatures, India’s art forms have narrated visual tales for nearly 3,000 years.

However, with an estimated 7 million artists, the prevalence of fake and imitation art pieces has left both art lovers and creators frustrated. Amid this vast and scattered market is where Aakanksha Singh’s Bridge Bharat comes in.

Preservation of heritage:

• As a curated platform of Indian art and antiquities, Bridge Bharat represents over 20 of India’s last living master artists, including those felicitated at the state and national levels, and Padma Shri awardees. 
• The price range of artworks spans from Rs 50,000 to Rs 70 lakh, accommodating a wide range of budget for art enthusiasts.
• Transparency is a cornerstone of Bridge Bharat’s mission, with each artwork featuring a QR code with information on geo-tagging, the artist’s signature, colours used, and a detailed certificate of authenticity.

Travel and Leisure

A thrilling trip through Tadoba National Park 

American writer Ashlan Gorse Cousteau once said “There is nothing like the thrill of walking through the jungle looking for a tiger and knowing they could be watching you already.”

This is perfectly encapsulated by the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, which many say is one of the world’s most prominent tiger spotting destinations, with over 115 tigers considering it their home. It is spread over 1,700 square kilometres. 

Wildlife wonderland:

• In Tadoba, apart from tigers, visitors are also likely to spot sloth bears, leopards, black leopards, and wild dogs. Other rare animals like honey badgers, porcupines, palm civet cats, and four-horned antelopes also live in the jungle. 
• According to GS Rathore, Founder of Jungle Camps India, about 60% of Tadoba is bamboo forest, and the tree species usually flowers once every 35-40 years.
• The backwaters of the Irai Dam within Tadoba are a popular spot for those who enjoy birding. From ducks to herons, buzzards to eagles and other migratory birds can be seen flitting around. 

Wine and Food

The art to baking the perfect pie

From dedicated pie shops in metros offering savoury and sweet varieties to bakeries experimenting with innovative flavours—pies seem to be going through a resurgence in the Indian culinary scene.

Many bakers and home chefs have adapted the humble pie to appeal to a variety of generations, especially younger people who love to travel, eat and partake in global cuisines and cultures. 

Fresh-baked goodness:

• Pies ignite a feeling of comfort and warmth, believes Ipsa Sambhi, who runs Delhi-based artisanal pie shop La Croûte. Moreover, they not only delight the palate but also evoke memories and cultural connections.
• Pies have grown among Indians due to a surge of pop culture and the celebration of American festivals like Halloween and Thanksgiving, where pies take centre stage, says Mrudula Putcha, Founder of Bengaluru-based The Humble Pie. 
• Besides trends, the innovation in flavours is drawing more consumers to pies. From Petite Pie Shop’s seasonal flavours like strawberry and cream and mulberry almond to La Croûte’s Orange Blossom Baklava Tart and Earl Grey and Blueberry Tart, each baker has something new up their sleeves. 

News & updates

• Grounded: SpaceX’s workhorse Falcon 9 rocket was grounded by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday after one broke apart in space and deployed its payload of Starlink satellites on a shallow orbital path where they will reenter Earth’s atmosphere and burn up.
• Unrestricted: Facebook parent company Meta removed a set of restrictions on former US President Donald Trump’s accounts, saying it wants to ensure candidates are given equal access to political expression ahead of the 2024 election.
• AI research: ChatGPT maker OpenAI is working on a novel approach to its artificial intelligence models in a project code-named “Strawberry”, with the aim of enabling the company’s AI to not just generate answers to queries but to plan ahead enough to navigate the internet autonomously and reliably.

What was the name of the real-life ship that inspired Herman Melville to write Moby Dick?

Answer: The Essex. It was reportedly attacked and sunk by a sperm whale in an 1820 accident. 

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