Dedicating a short story as a tribute to big daddies of Media….we owe it to them!!

This blogger feels that it is time that we express our gratitude to media. When I say media I mean visual media that is TV Channels. Print media that is newspaper is almost obsolete- they might be selling but the impact is negligible, no one is regretting. Most people spend lot of time watching TV. Thankfully there are hundreds of Channels to choose from, and each not much different from other atleast in the Indian context. English Channels go with the pretension of ‘National’, the reality though is non English channels are more popular. The English channels are watched by very miniscule percentage of population. Most entertainment programs though are getting into standardized form (this blogger is a great fan of reality shows, I find it very funny. The desperation to find national superstar from each channel is touching. How about winners from each channel competing in a mega contest…probably that is the next big thing!!. I find the reality show where they evaluate the small inventions from participants quite interesting, I guess it comes in some Australian channel…geez there are too many to even to remember. This blogger is a random watcher of TV so doesn’t look at name of channel). English entertainment channels generally clones the Americans so mostly superficial with rare exception. Non English channels though are quite innovative (one of my favorite programs is “veritta kazchagal” which comes in one of the Malayalam channel. It is a brilliant program. Other channel could learn from these).

Many of the programs though are an embarrassment. It should upset us- the misuse of opportunities for crass commercial gain. Understand the context, the brilliant conception - from water to electricity to live video…it took hundreds of years. The Media has a responsibility; it is more than a business venture. The government needs to step in as some are becoming extremely irresponsible. An irresponsible media is as dangerous as censored media. I have nothing much against politicians there are some excellent people around (as also some corrupt and criminals) but corruption in Media is something this blogger is bothered about. An extra constitutional body with significant power and clout within an undemocratic framework is dangerous. Considering the deviation from the responsibility the Indian media probably is one of the most corrupt (of course exceptions are there)

Here is a short story “If you don’t have a view you are dead!!” I have posted (visit the Link my short stories or www.depalans.blogspot.com) I dedicate this to big daddies of media the guys who have set the trend namely Murdoch (Fox News is an enlightenment. It is a crusade!!. I love him for the amazing videos of macho white cops chasing black drug peddlers. Absolutely essential for international entertainment, the life of audience is now meaningful. Great work sirji (my regards also to slaves and foot soldiers. Good to know that Junior has taken over the family tradition!!). This is also for guys who control CNN, BBC, our very own NDTV(english), STAR, AAj tak (my hug for them), ZEE News..and other trendsetters, finally to all people who take part in discussion programs particularly on cricket (speaking about nothing is an art) . Hopefully my dedications (and suggestions within) will be inspiring!!! I am not against discussion programs it is good for young people as also great entertainment. Entertainment though has become a joke now, in the stampede they have become jokers!!

Small cars are wonderful

Small cars are the best thing to happen in recent times. This blogger though is not really fascinated about Cars or Bikes, the only thing I was passionate about were Aircrafts (at one point I could identify most of them, even the early fighter planes…flying is amazing). The recent launches of small cars by TATA (Rs one lakh car), Maruthi, Bajaj…has riveted me. Further these days I have been using my two-wheeler quite often, so when stuck in traffic jam I do get ample time to observe models of vehicles. They are getting bigger and intimidating!!. I am all for occupying less of public space. Further cheaper cars are step towards not only social equitability but a step towards public space sharing the benefits were till now accrued by one section of society. The aspirational gap is reducing at a tremendous speed thanks to technology. Small cars are wonderful it will inspire and empower lots of people. Most Lower middle class to Middle class people like to move as family unit cheaper cars are therefore welcomed ( I recall when I was around ten we bought a “Lambretta” scooter, I would be sitting on the “stepny”, in between someone would look back to check whether he is still there, it was gr8 fun!!).

With launch of smaller cars people are pointing to the issue of safety (the same were raised when Maruthi was introduced), also people might prefer second hand cars that are quite cheap, since the fuel efficiency of smaller cars is comparable. However the move is innovative and quite brave, and is definitely good for the consumers particularly those families who travel precariously on two-wheelers. This blogger though would have preferred if there was a competition in non fuel cars, battery replication of Carnot looks difficult (also it would be gr8 to have a Formula One kind of race of Non fuel cars. Formula One as it happens now is juvenile indulgence, these events need to be severely taxed. It is a luxury that demands minimum of competence). In last two years atleast 100 trees have been cut in the 5 Kms radius I stay for widening the road, think of what is happening around the country and world. This is not a statement against small cars but questioning the policy on transportation (single person traveling in a SUV or bigger cars during rush hour is a crime).

Then there is the issue of traffic etiquettes. It is a disaster, people could even kill each other!!. When I was in Delhi I thought of buying a two-wheeler, did some recce on friends bike bap re bap!!….you need two eyes on the back to keep track on Blue lines, invectives are as common. Driving two-wheelers in cities like Delhi is the most dangerous thing to do, it should come in the category of ‘danger sport’!!. Despite the risks involved two-wheelers are efficient way to commute in cities like Bangalore. You can slide through the traffic jams, quite effortlessly. The blogger is looking for more efficient and comfortable two-wheeler, maybe a lock key for 180 wheel rotation. Also some innovations (like pollution screen) in helmets are needed, it is the most neglected Market.

Today is the Greatest day …..

I would put today as one of the top 5 days of my life till date, and hopefully one of the most memorable till my last day.

The day began as any other day, crowded traffic, problems in breathing…..and so on. After a relatively hectic engagement (geez I hate to be busy) around 4:30pm I was on my way back home. On the Trinity Circle I took a wrong turn and instead of going to MG Road, found myself moving towards Airport Road, cursing and extremely irritated I finally could take a cut in front of Leela Palace Hotel. On the way to make sure I thought of asking someone. It was then that I saw this man who was trying to cross the road, so I stopped and enquired. He was an elderly man and took extreme care to guide (frankly it was quite refreshing) he explained the route I should take, systematically without any hurry (I love such people), and I too was looking at the road ahead and trying to comprehend (too many direction gets short circuited in my CPU!!). As I was thanking him he smiled. That’s when something clicked. “Now….now haven’t I seen your face somewhere before….i know you….yes I know you” as I blurted these my memory went almost three decades back, the year was 1984. The brilliant face of a young man talking to then PM Indira Gandhi from the Space came flashing. Mrs. Gandhi I recall quite distinctly, asked “apko vahan se Bharat kaisa nazar atha hai?” The young man replied in his characteristic exuberance-that we had so got used to those days “saare jahan se acha hindustan hamara !!”. He was the person most kids wanted to become those days. He was an icon. He defined asignificant moment in the country's history. Today when I extended my hands and tried to stand up from my two-wheeler, as an act of respect, the smile is just the same. “Yes I am Rakesh Sharma”, as if I needed confirmation. In the cacophony of horns and speeding vehicles it took me sometime to seep in the significance of having met a great man, the idol of a generation. He crossed the road and I too moved on. The unlikeliest of place to meet an amazing man.

So here I was enquring the direction from an astronaut!!. That is life for you!!!!

Monkey business in Sydney

‘Monkey’ as a racist term is something new to me, probably to most Indians who don’t know much about racism as is dealt in the international level. Frankly I have lost the count of being called a ‘monkey’ as a kid. It was never meant to be taken seriously, it was partly in jest ‘oye bandhar’ (in Hindi), ‘eda korenga’(in Malayalam)

is more common than probably ‘why you monkey?’. Also consider that monkeys are considered sacred. At one point I used to think monkeys are strongest and wisest animals!!. In my early teens just before exams I used to miss my lunch on Tuesdays (the day reserved for Hanuman-the monkey God, the way things are seen nowadays it does sound quite irreverent). I still can recite hanuman chalisa ‘jay hanuman gyan gunn sagar, jay kapis teeno log ujagar….!!. to recite these was real fun. In English these lines roughly translated mean…praise the lord of monkeys- the ocean of knowledge and character, praise the monkey the enlightener of three worlds!!. Beautiful lines these.

The globalised world of 21^st century is quite a different place. As cultures of different societies meet we need to acquaint the biases and prejudices prevalent in other parts of the world. Any transgression that brings out these fault lines should be dealt seriously. If the Indian player is found guilty of referring an Australian player as ‘monkey’ should be severely punished, I am sure the players are aware of the context and repercussions. That is of course if there is sufficient proof. The so called gentlemen’s game (endearment by colonial left over, a case of self justification) is nothing to do with any gentlemen, it is game of monkeys (I refer this in Indian context and not to be mistaken for Australian). The guy who is closest to monkey is an embarrassment going by the name Sreesanth (he is a living proof of Darwin's theory), our kid is market smart though. More exposure, better for you- a mediocre player’s day out, his histrionics is disgusting. Another budding gentleman in the block!!.

Frankly any kind of bad behavior (referred to as aggression by media) shouldn’t be tolerated, it is an excuse for incompetence. Uncivilized posturing cannot be packaged as ‘part of sport’. It might give armchair imbeciles some cud to chew or potency to dreary lives of commentators (Why dreary??...well what else when half your life you are talking about “condition of the ball”. Take a break dude!!).

Another rule in game of Gentlemen is that you don’t question the wrong- as part of conduct. The Britishers were quite strict on that, the minions have taken it to the heart. It is now part of the culture, there is also nostalgia of servility. I am told it also makes the game ‘interesting’. Don’t know about that but one thing is sure a bad decision is good for TRP. The nothing-much-to-do media is ecstatic, the boy with leaf growing out of his ears can wait. Just what the spin doctor prescribed. The same reason they are so euphoric about ‘aggression’, it meets all that they cherish- it is low brow, gives images that rivets and can be played again and again, most importantly there is a scope for some talk. Small talks are now referred to as discussion. Howzzat !!

Nightmare in Rawalpindi

Assassination of Benazir Bhutto is tragedy of collosal proportion in more than many ways. Undoubtedly she was very brave and quite an inspiration to common people around. She could have contributed to stability in the region, it is a sad loss. It is a reprehensible act of depraved minds. It is also a pointer to increasingly shrinking space for tolerating differences. Fundamentalism of any kind is a serious threat to humanity.

Dictators are always bad for people, for the nation, for the neighbors. A totalitarian regime anywhere around the world almost always goes against its people. Army anywhere around the world has been source of misery. To say that some dictators are good and some are bad is missing the point. The unfortunate events of Pakistan wouldn’t have happened if international community had taken a stringent approach to the dictators. The problem is nations are reflecting the collective psyche of increasingly selfish society. The excuse nowadays is ‘it is their internal problem’ or ‘there are different versions of democracy’ (I just cannot get this one, how can there be different understanding of democracy. The basic tenant is absolute freedom to people-with responsibility of course, if citizens are denied basic rights how can that be democracy. Maybe I sound naïve (which probably I am) and I am ready to learn but I seriously haven’t come across any other convincing view). These recent understandings of variability of democracy probably are reaction to Bush’s attempt to spread democracy.

Dictator Musharaff will do anything to be in power that is the only way he can survive. He has done untold damage to the institutions of democracy in Pakistan as no leader (even Zia) has ever done. He in most probability will take the country with him. It is very unfortunate. Assassination of Benazir Bhutto is a heinous step in all likelihood taken at the highest level. Involvement of establishment is a distinct possibility. They are trained to kill enemies is it not?. They also have provided the space for militants to grow.

The assassination also serves the dictator’s purpose. Now Musharaff can have another period of emergency and rule like a benevolent dictator, also put a façade of fighting terrorists for the West (in reality it is in his interest if fundamentalists grow). He is a disaster, he is dangerous, he is the prime source of deshadgardi. He is scripting the nightmare unfolding in Pakistan. If this Dictator is not brought down immediately we have a serious problem. The heartbreaking events of Afghanistan could be repeated in streets of Karachi.

This blogger is extremely upset with events in Pakistan, the sights shown in TV are gruesome and terrifying. Hopefully sanity finds a space in the mayhem. Dictators of any kind have no space in civilized world Musharaff has to go immediately and face the rule of law. His hands are covered in blood. He is the worst that could have happened to Pakistan.

Aha so aren’t we safe now (a cynic speaks)!!

This is precisely what the secular fundamentalist suckers around the power centers and media holes are thinking. They will push common people further and further into Rightist lap for their own selfish reasons. And yes it is always the common people who will have to suffer and not these instigators.

We live in a world that is overtaken by values decided by Market, media is just an extension of this. However one may try to package, this is an ideology that doesn’t really work on egalitarianism. The basics are part of an alien culture (Compare this with Islamic understanding of monetary transaction), charity of any kind therefore is seen in an isolated context, since it is evicted from space of individual being it has to come in Market jargon of ‘choice’. Every relation gets defined on market norms, individuals are consumers. One may say Mr. Modi has satisfied his consumers. As is another dictum of Market you need a competitor and it is here we acquaint secular fundamentalists. This vicious variety is a new entrant to Indian society, a post globalization phenomenon, very much working on the western model where it is entrenched. These are kind of people who have absolutely no public backing but have somehow put on the mask of intellectuals who it seems are bothered about society- more at the superstructure level, it is a theoretical construct. It also help them to be a notch above the common people (a state of mind in Indian context has traditional connotations) as also maintain that distance. Since their reference point is West they have disdain or more appropriately a patronizing view for ethos and religious icons/symbols of common people. They have somehow managed to tutor themselves something referred to as ‘freedom of expression’ that an excuse for blatant selfishness sometime extended to narcissist level (look at how the West is trying to protect its so called of “way of life”). This world view is no outcome of reflective thinking (don’t ever mistaken that, they absolutely lack any forms of sensitivity), it is a part of extravagant worldview; the material version of it is the most obvious reason for global warming.

Using MF Hussein:
MF Hussein is the most well known painter, as also controversial (quite unfortunate that one). The other day it was reported that his exhibition was stalled. This is how they manipulate event, MF Hussein has become a pawn in the large game of secular fundamentalists. How much it is instigated by comrades needs to be examined. Since Left’s hypocrisy is out in open through Taslima Nasreen incident, it is a diversion tactics (incidentally Taslima was a diversion from Nandigram….the way things are moving I do see revolution happening in commie land!!). Archaic IIC is the most unlikely of place for Hussein exhibition, the very reason to suspect this was meant to be manipulated, since the setting is chosen next to corridors of power meant to have a huge impact. They say there was a phone call, yah some dude called from booth. Total cost: Rs 1. The Result: Main News for one billion people. Such ease with which they do things, that it even makes me yawn!!. The intention was to instigate Right but unfortunately the cue was not taken, secular fundamentalists are stranded lot, atleast they could have got some goons to ransack the premise, generous media will make it a mega event. Mr. Hussein has been quoted as saying in recent times that ‘he could return to India when he wants to’ but the secular fundamentalists want to give the impression that he is being driven out …that is a lie, few threats by some lumpen is not the reason to be ‘driven out’. Try hard one may it is difficult to convert India into a jehadi country. They want to inflate these small events as some major threat, precisely the way West handles it. The narration though is different the reason why it is so stupid.

Narendra Modi’s victory is as much a victory for secular fundamentalists, they should be celebrating after all this is about positioning, they can now feed on him to be in the media and maybe get some appreciation from West (the ultimate recognition). No questions on who are the people who will suffer. Secular fundamentalists are actually quite insignificant people it is only the market led media that is trying to project them. The repercussion of these vandals can be severe and I personally am really concerned about the affect of these will have around the country in the years to come. The feeding of these groups will push common people further and further to Rightist groups. I myself, a person with extreme distaste for religious fundamentalism have found the reaction of Right to assault of secular fundamentalists credible, issues concerning common people are background material in this power struggle.

Of course there is threat of fundamentalism particularly from the religious groups. But Congress party if it has to gain some credibility has to avoid being identified with secular fundamentalists. Also it has to learn dissociating growth from Market gimmick. People are not fools, we have seen that in ‘India shining’. Voters are not consumers.Also the perceptions of common people regarding the line separating minority appeasement and minority safeguard need to be clarified. Further they should take long tours of the country, it shocking the number of sycophants and incompetent people they have in the decision making level. They may look good in TV channels but lack realistic understanding.

Media in India thankfully don’t decide outcome of elections, that surely is a question mark on their credibility, the verdict is clear. It is also not shocking that most Delhi based lawyers are contemplating political career. Sibal, Jaitley, Singhvi and so on are working for their clients. Tomorrow if need be they can speak just the opposite!!.

It is all a tamasha. People are not amused. Arun Jaitley is one of the most dangerous politicians around (i have an instinctive understanding of people in Delhi and yes slick slimy Tytler can surely be a murderer, though they will never have the evidence- the fellow could easily be the Marketing Head of CoCa Cola and get away with ‘what you are saying we don’t even use water’!!!! ). He has positioned himself as some kind of strategician, an excuse for lack of public base, a remarkable position for sucking. So even if Narendra Modi has ‘toiled hard’, just keep an eye on how suckers based in Delhi are going to manipulate this into their advantage. Take Jaitley out of delhi he will die a natural death!!. Congress also has such set of people, they use the situation to work on their clout and mime as people with power, further working on clout and end up being Union Ministers of a huge country like India. Somewhere perspective is lost by this coterie in the competing sycophancy.

Narendra Modi’s culpability is as much as any powerful leader around the world whether it is Bush or Saudi king (the head of most repressive regime. They even have provisions to punish rape victims!!). If you are powerful then you are right is the rule today (it is true for exploitative products and policies also). Mr. Modi by any standards is a powerful and strong leader. He has been elected by million of people of Gujarat (I have always been great admirer of Gujaratis, and mostly had extremely pleasant experience) for an unprecedented third time, clearly he has done more to people what the vested interest groups like to admit. If brands like Coca Cola is one of the most trusted brands the world over for god knows what reason, despite the exploitation and misery it spreads. If vandalism is a choice under freedom of expression. If Market decide the policy framing despite the government change. If Saudi king can be the chief guest for Republic day parade. If millions of dalits and tribals are humiliated on daily basis wherein the babalog in media are grief stricken about Indian woman wearing nose stud is discriminated in job in West and other inanities and hilarious incidences of racism then Mr. Modi is a huge and remarkable success story in the times we live in. There shouldn’t be any contradiction.

This blogger strongly protest against US government for not granting Visa to an elected leader. In a democracy nobody is guilty unless proven by the court as much as democracy also provides freedom for expression, it is a subjective matter if one refers it as vandalism. Denying Visa to Mr. Modi is an insult on Gujaratis, as also Indians. A country that blatantly occupies another country against all international rules and norms cannot take high moral grounds.

cartoon time !!!

TATA is India

You ask any Indian on the street which is the most respected Indian company their answer would be TATA. TATA’s have a history and JRD TATA was a remarkable man whom most people hugely admired, he was impeccable (no wonder he was Bharat Ratna). So to cast aspiration on TATA’s quality is an insult. American’s have an exaggerated view about themselves. Further the whole concept of globalization is ok for them if they are at the gaining end (this also true at the local, within nations). Obviously Americans have lot to gain, it’s the American MNC’s that you see around the world as symbols of globalization and modernization, in most cases. We haven’t really seen what happens if Americans are the receiving end of these. We have seen how they have gone against many international treaties to protect their ‘national interest’. We have seen them attacking other countries against all international laws and norms for their ‘national interest’. Americans probably have to get ready to be treated on equal terms. That is what globalization means. It always easy to talk about globalization to poorer societies when one is at advantageous position to exploit. So quite expectedly when they have started to loose their advantage they have resorted to devious and illegal means.

They successfully maligned Chinese toys without any substantial evidence, infact American media have successfully been able to put aspiration on anything Chinese, not only in America but also around the world. Maybe some Chinese products were defective but the damage has been done, majority of non thinking TV fed Americans have got their scapegoat. This is precisely American way of doing things which is being taken as case study in other societies for the powerful and moneyed to edge out others.

The statement against TAJ by American listed ORIENT Express Hotels is a case not only of blatant ignorance (which most Americans have about the world outside America) but smacks of arrogance if not racism. TAJ chain of hotels is the most respected. This is a very serious matter, the unfair trade practice shouldn’t be tolerated, an apology is the least expected. The statement by ORIENT is an insult on Indians.

Use Mozilla Firefox !!

This blog seems to open better with Firefox than Internet Explorer. With Explorer the whole page comes out quite distorted. Till recently I was thinking it is because of internet café !!. In some internet cafe it opens properly in some it doesn’t. I was not aware of different type of Web browser (geez I am quite seriously tech challenged), and was told about this by a teenager in a café!!. Finally I have got old enough to look at things in terms of generation gap!!. So in the same café where the Explorer opened my blog distorted, Firefox opened it normal!!. It must be the competition between these, he tried to explain, even Google doesn’t open properly in Explorer. If he is right then is it not unfair trade practice??.

Whatever techies may say, blogger may please download Firefox, it is quite easy and takes only few minutes. I though am still not very convinced sometimes my blog opens normal in Explorer in some café!!. I guess I have to acquaint myself with basics of internet, which I think I am woefully lacking!!

Is it Bourbon King??

Is Bourbon King the Best horse in India?. This question is being frequently answered in affirmative by most experienced punters in race courses around the country. The bay Indian gelding is invincible in all its outing wining prestigious Derby, 2000 Guineas (the snap taken after wining 2000Guineas at Mumbai the other day) and so on. This Ganapathy trained, Ramaswamy owned nimble feet is a sight to watch, it is almost flying. Stop betting and sit down and watch, this one is value for money and time!!. Another brilliant Indian Horse that had tremendous success in Dubai Race is Mystical (below photo of Mystical after winning Dubai International. Mystical is a Ramaswamy-Poonawalla owned gelding). Many punters hold that Bourbon King has to go a long way atleast as a distance runner, the staying power is being questioned, Dubai run has shown Mystical to be immensely superior horse (Australian races though are tougher, recently a Japanese horse created history)

I also try to catch up with equestrian events around the world through TenSport channel, Dubai race opening ceremony live telecast few months back was brilliant. Placement of camera in these races (as also races in Britain) are brilliant, race courses in India could learn lot from these they now work with four or five camera in archaic style. The race sometime looses the punch and excitement due to unimaginative handling, they could use remote cameras. This blogger also suggests much severe punishment for excessive whipping. Water logging during rains is another issue, I came across a site the other where they discussed new technology to reduce this problem. I have visited race courses at Mumbai (Mahalaxmi race course is quite big), Kolkota, Pune, Delhi (it is quite dirty. Shocking considering that it has one of the best known addresses includes PM!!), and yes Bangalore. But Mysore race course i consider best in India, its an incredible sight next to Chamundi hills (snaps taken by the blogger few months back, isn't it a incredible setting?). Punters at lower end in race course spit a lot, loosing money gives them another reason, it is terrible sight sometimes. Race course though actively promote smoking, wonder why they don’t get huge sponsoring from cigarette giants, atleast as token of appreciation!!

Condolences….and something about News

The other day I came to know that Newsreader of yesteryears Mr.Tejeshwar has expired. My condolences. He was an excellent newsreader, quite active in 80s. He also acted in a movie as a villain (Jalwa had some great songs). If I am not wrong he started Sage Publication, I really don’t know what kind of books they published since most of us don’t buy books based on publishers (who ever does that !!). He belonged to a breed of newsreader who read news and not anchored. They were credible in their approach, it is for the same reason I can still recall atleast few names like Salma Sulthan (the matching saree and flower!. She probably read the most significant of events in mid 80s), Neethi ravindran, Gitanjali Iyer (she did act in a TV serial if I recall),Sukanya Balakrishnan, Minu (big bindhi lady!!), Rini, Navin Andrews, Komal, then there was this guy with thick glasses (he probably was the first few, he was dead serious!! …we waited for him to finish so as to watch ‘picture ka baaki baag’), there was a maverick Damodharan and many more. You really cannot forget these people. Kadhapi nahi!!. Vinod Dua is one whom I always admired, he was and is brilliant . I also used to regularly catch up with News for hearing handicap on Sundays. I loved the way the anchor showed ‘people dead’!!. For 6-7 years I didn’t watch TV much ( got stuck in my little problems little life!!) so wouldn’t know what happened those years. Now of course there are hundreds of channels (Delhi based and state based- I abhor the use of the word ‘regional channel’. Placing oneself in Delhi or speaking in English doesn’t make one National that is an insult). News rooms now have become fiefdom of babalogs, some rare shades of brilliance here and there but mostly mediocre (I am not against them, every body has right to make a living!!).

Listening to News was inculcated as something important, I was asked sometimes to tell what the News was, quite randomly, so I had to be very cautious. Later I took it quite seriously and in my teens graduated to BBC and Voice of America- it was difficult to understand, years of listening made me comfortable, I listened to it right till mid 90s- they had very interesting phone in program every night 10:30, they discussed international issues. In school during Morning Prayer there was few minutes of main News reading, I was chosen few times. Later in teens I had to write down News from Radio most Sundays for some official purpose. When in Kerala I found most people took News very seriously. Even in small tea shop they switch to News sharp on time. I was amazed. Now I get the News mostly from Net, sometimes from some TV channel.

Mass media has incredible reach and has been a source of fascination for me. My brush with Akashwani started when I was probably in 6^th std, we participated in ‘bachon ke liye vigyan’ in ‘Akashwani ka jaipur kendra’. It was a program that was telecasted on Sundays, the intention being to inculcate scientific temper among children I guess. The lady interacted with children and asked questions, later it was explained scientifically. The program was in hindi and I got to hear the word gurthavakrashan many times. It sounded quite good, quite later I came to know what it meant!!. In Chennai in mid 90s went for Audition test at AIR, given thumps down. Few years later I was back in AIR Delhi reading poetry. I did try to extend it to discussion programs (thankfully this was before RJs and related crap) didn’t work out, few years later there was an explosion in number of radio channels, I though had lost interest, its like ‘seen that done that’!!

TV was another area of interest, right after college I worked for few weeks in related field. Back in Kerala we thought of starting a quiz program, there was this girl who was absolutely convinced about the idea and she had lots of contact, in the meantime things had become worse for me. So had to leave and landed up Delhi. The very first thing I did was to find out about TV channels, and that is how I came to know about NDTV. Got the address and landed up in their office, I guess it is in GK(?!!). The person at the reception told that I got to write my ideas in paper as request ‘you cannot meet anyone by barging in’. The reception also was a space for babalog to smoke and chat. I absolutely had no means of contact so gave the phone no. of my house owner. Nothing came out of it, anyway my house owner at that time was a petty fellow.

During those days I had access to a phone booth cum computer centre, the fellow working there had become a friend, I could type right into midnight absolutely free. It was here I came to know a fellow we all called Bose, a man in his 40s. He had a skill for writing and had been a journo, he edited a tabloid that came out from Mumbai at that time. He was such devious fellow, he concocted interviews. Once he ‘conducted’ interview with Ghulam Nabi Azad (a congress leader) right in front of me!!. Asking questions and answering himself with an keyboard speed to match. He then showed me the complete interview and asked how it is??!!. There was nothing about him that could be trusted but still I lend him some money now and then, despite the fact I too was not very financially sound. He took money from lots of people in the vicinity and one fine day vanished!!. Few years later I met him in chandni chowk he refused to recognize me!!. Why I mentioned Bose is because he took me to Zee TV office (I guess it was in Noida film city). He tried to help and introduced me to few people. I kept in touch with them for few weeks and then it fizzled out. In the meantime I had got into something else. I guess the job in this sector needs some basic competence beyond that it is contacts. For an outsider to break in from the lower end is next to impossible. Now though I am immensely satisfied as an audience.

TV is a powerful medium but unfortunately it is mostly in the hands of some very mediocre people. The kind of things they do requires minimum of talent, they have more to thank technology. It is about contacts and positioning and they do it with tremendous ease. Brilliance is about, lets say, Austin Stevens or the dude with funny scarfs who makes incredible stuff for children in Pogo or the guy who comes in Man vs Wild (amazing fellow that one… unfortunately most indian channel has babalog talking about anything in the world, they lack passion, credibility, talent….but still carry on quite successfully) or asking hard and straight questions like Christiana Amanpour (BBC standards have fallen quite significantly in recent times). There is no agenda, there is no marketers or socialite activist to share thoughts, nothing chic when discussing serious issues. It is about hitting the reality. Unfortunately in India most in elite have more reasons to be grateful to their surrounding than talent. Even their best is mediocre, their good intention sloppy. It is mostly marketing gimmick.

What’s up at Bali??

I am sure most bloggers are aware of climate related summit happening in Bali (Indonesia). Bali climate summit under UN is the successor of Kyoto summit. It’s about taking mitigative steps against global warming at the international level. Obviously there is expected to be difference between developed and developing world (particularly India and china). The USA under the present leadership is immune to international opinion is well known, it probably will require a leadership change as happened in Australia till then the world would have to wait….at least for the binding policy changes maybe Copenhagen (2009) but we individuals can take small steps in our daily lives (isn’t it great that Australia even has a minister for climate change. I have become a big fan of PM Kevin Rudd). There definitely is an urgent need for environmentally effective and economically sustainable agreement. The future of the world depends on these.

The EU nations though are not amused with US. The whole attention seems to be the disagreement between the two. The proactive stand of is EU such a relief from the American cynicism. The developed countries per capita global warming contribution is astounding reflecting the consumption pattern of the society and how much it is burdening the world. Clearly without sustainable development things are going to be quite serious in the coming few decades. However one need to also see that countries particularly India is a major emitter. India with China is pointing to its developing status with lower per capita emission. Obviously developed countries cannot be equated to developing countries. An agreement on these lines is welcomed but there need to be a binding clause that looks at inequitable distribution and consumption pattern at the domestic level of these developing countries, domestic mitigation steps in developing countries should be made binding at the international level. There are lots of people who contribute quite substantially to the emission at the expense of millions of people in the poorer societies. Taking them as one block is an injustice.

An agreement if ever will work if it is binding at two levels: One is at the international level wherein the per capita factor is taken into consideration so the distinction between developed and developing countries. Second is a strong binding agreement on measure to be taken at domestic level. If India’s per capita is low doesn’t mean it is distributed equally there exist a layer whose carbon footprint could be much more than probably the most profligate of Americans, there is a gross inequity here. Millions of people cannot take the burden of these few just for the reason of geography. Don’t let the domestic laws on these matters to be left to the concerned nation to frame, these are powerful people they will scuttle it as American establishment is doing at the international level. What is happening at the international level happens at the national level. Any international agreement on climatic change will only work if the agreement is at these two levels. The disagreement between EU and USA shouldn’t be a reason to ignore this terrible anomaly existing within societies. The developing nation excuse on per capita is a subterfuge….

Watching liveva cricketva !!

The other day I went to watch the cricket match between India- Pakistan. It was a beautiful bright morning like any other morning in Bangalore (actually Bengaluru). The place has become polluted recently, the blogger hopes that no more new buildings (skyscrapers) are allowed within the city limits. There is lot of space in the outskirts and other nearby towns. Furthermore they have become a burden with unsustainable building, they cannot capitalize the beautiful climate (even now they use AC, I went to a mall yesterday that was airtight, even in the mornings they have to switch on the AC. What kind of development is this??). Why are these being allowed in Bangalore?. They have spoiled the place, it surely is arrogance.. The house I stay has no fans…there was no need for it till recently. Then the ‘development’ occurred, I am using a small table fan (Though the electricity bill rarely exceed 200 Rs a month). The way Bangalore is being vandalized is heartbreaking and they call it development.

So here I was watching an international test match after having bought the ticket paying triple the price from black (the man vanished without giving back the change is another story!. It was too chaotic). There were no chairs but cemented steps, the view though was great. The squeeze though was still on, everything cost double or triple the price. The reason given was ‘we have given big money to get this in’. BCCI doesn’t give a damn about audience at the lower end is not a secret (that is typically Indian). People though didn’t mind they came in their best dress, children painted flags of two countries on their cheeks and generally enjoyed the occasion, it was quite noisy. Every time a player came near the stand they shouted, very rarely the player condescends to look up. If he does there is another round of wide applause (Pathan though was quite sporty and did wave at the crowd)!!. In fact they shouted, screamed and used all kind of tactics to attract attention and rushed to the fence before the cops came down with sticks. It was quite a chaos. Remember in seventies the matches in West Indies the crowd used to rush to ground and congratulate the players?. I thought it was really funny, I love watching old matches in sports channel. Gavaskar, Kapil Dev….were hugely admired and we used to collect their photos (as also of movies) it came in small rectangle shape (as also match box pictures…at one point I had huge collection). We also used to play games chith ya pat with it. We used to have discussion on who is the fastest baller (similar to who is the strongest hero, so comparing different movies on who has hit whom. The face off between Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrugan Sinha in Kaala Pathar was a talking point on who is stronger!!). The logic was if the photo had bowler facing then he should be slow since it would be difficult to take photo at that angle since the photographer would be hit!!. The bowler who in the photo had side profile taken as he bowled obviously is the fastest. And I had Dennis Lillee to prove!!. First time I watched a cricket match on TV was probably when I was eight, we bunch of kids walked few Kms to a Officers Mess and sneaked though the window (it was in Delhi Cant), we were euphoric.

The game I had gone to watch had become quite dull, with initial euphoria of falling wickets dying down. In between there was a skirmish between Kumble and Yousuf, which excited the crowd, people around me whistled and jumped. I simply have no idea why they have to react in such juvenile fashion to something equally foolish! (It’s like clapping when two grown up people start to abuse each other in a traffic!!. Amazing, they also call it aggression!!). The guy sitting next to me happened to be a bhojpuri and he spoke loudly when couldn’t control his excitement ‘ek or outva hoi gayo re”. I enjoyed his commentary!!.

Misbah-ul-haq was a tough customer and was in no hurry. Anil kumble (he is legend around here, with a prominent junction named after him) tried all tactics but our man was not to be budged. I had already spent four hours, my conclusion is still same: Cricket is a boring game to watch particularly the test matches. When a player is out most people are not even aware, it happens so fast and suddenly, since not many track each and every ball. Some games (like some people!!) are good in TV only. Quite appropriately two white men with grim faces arbitrated the proceeding. They called them umpires.

At around 2:30 I decided to leave, resold my ticket!. Left to the race course and enjoyed the incredible sight of galloping horses. No comparison here, accentuating the thought that how dumb Test matches are, I even add that it is a violation of human rights. Test matches are torture on people. I recall in school we used to play leg cricket!!. Since we didn’t have bat we used take one leg as bat, of course rubber balls were used and the bowling was underhand-the one referred to as surra in normal cricket, anything above knee was no ball. It was very exciting and contested quite keenly. We also had one-tip-one-hand-out, also ‘baby over’!!

Future is about 20-20 and also One dayers. The guy to watch out for in Indian team is Yuvraj Singh, the dude is brilliant when in flow. But our man has a very disturbing behavior of celebrating milestones with abuse words. Freud would have lot to say on that!!

Post Script: it was shocking the incident of shooting in Euro international school in Gurgaon. The availability of gun is the grievous part, USA is definitely not a role model. I think most kids below the age of ten are basically attracted to violence. Most kids of this age group love violent movies (we would shout when shetty’s name came on the screen, since it assured fight. He was bad guy in movies of seventies. Wonder what happened to him?) it though vanishes in teens as they become circumspect and subtle in their relations. Fights in the teens are serious and can go out of hand. It is nothing new so the discussion on whether kids are becoming violent is absurd. This happens in all the schools but they don’t get the gun. Most children enjoy WWF, it is the adults who encourage these need be questioned. I recall when I was in fourth or fifth (in delhi) there was a kid who was unfortunate to have Padua as his surname. We used to call him padhu. So every time anyone farts in the class they used to beat him up (I too joined sometimes). Just like that. It might seem funny but in retrospect I am extremely distressed (photo from Net children 'playing' with toy guns).

Donate your snake !!

This I came across in one of the ancient temples in Rameshwaram (also referred to as benaras of south). You can donate a statue of snake- installed in the premise with name and date!. This is new to me, I know of whole pond being devoted to snakes like ‘sarpa cavu’ where I have seen scores of snakes. I have encountered cobra in my hometown, one even on the bed in the old family home, it was a relatively big ancient house with wooden panels with huge storing spaces where nobody dared go, unfortunately demolished and sold in pieces and replaced by small brick house as people went through serious financial problems.

Snakes till recently I considered as mysterious and dangerous creatures but thanks to some excellent programs in TV Channels like National Geography, Animal Planet they are fairly demystified. They are simply amazing. So you have King cobra- it is magnificent, to aggressive Russell viper- that kill lots of people in subcontinent, new info for me, then you have snakes from other region like cotton mouth, copper head, spiting cobra (charming snake that one), inland taipe- the most venomous but shy Australian snake. But the snake to watch out for is black mamba of Africa. This snake really has some character, they are fast and quite menacing, even watching them on TV gave me quite a shiver. Then there is of course huge non poison variety that kills by constricting like python, and yes anaconda (they have even made a movie, adding bit of animaltronics and animation).

King cobra though remains my favorite, there is something majestic about it. It is for no reason that forefathers saw them as God and gave them so much respect. Cobras were rarely killed-atleast the older generation severely reprimand any such attempts. Of course this was not for environmental reason but mostly associated with myth and superstitions. The fact that finally the end result has benefited sustainability is to be noted. Clearly there were some smart wise people who realized this in ancient times itself and tried to inculcate this into psyche of people. It is a tribute to them that ‘cavu’ are existing even today. The flip side is superstition used for manipulation and fooling people in the name of faith. But yes I do hope even if people are educated and rational a certain bit of myth doesn’t losses out (Theory of evolution may explain lot of things in our surrounding but it is not a complete theory-it is true to a large extend and cannot be denied. There is a space of creationist belief if we put things in perspective they really shouldn’t be any dispute).

Things have changed though in last few decade, I recall I was traveling in bus some years back in south Kerala and sitting next to the driver and this snake (it looked like a rat snake-that characteristic yellow belly) was trying to wriggle through the highway, the driver without much thought squashed it.

Post Script: …continuing with Romila Thappar, it was when I finally came across Osho that things got clear. These vandals in Right or secular fundamentalists of Left will never get it. The game is about power and clout, they know what works what don’t. It is about licking as the situation demands and trying to influence the west. Government needs to make laws stricter when it comes to religious symbols on the lines of national flag. Ideas can be disputed (hence creative space) not symbols. There are things sacred for millions of people, if stifled with can cause severe reactions, taking things out context for market consumption will be resisted. Babalog (city based activism) might say in America they make bikini out of Flag, yeah precisely you shouldn’t be here, try migrating!!. Afterall vandalism is American way of life very much being demonstrated in Iraq.

When Bush Chomsky met Toba Tek Singh !!

It was only yesterday that I came to know that Chomsky (the high priest of commies) had infact given a clarion call to people of Nandigram!!. I don’t know what it really was (the fellow who told didn’t elaborate much) but the gist seems to be: don’t divide the commies since they have bigger mission like protecting Tehran from US. Don’t know whether Governor of Bengal communicated these sacred thoughts to people of Nandigram yesterday (Budhadeb and his cabinet in the meantime must been celebrating Dada’s century, Nandigram where?!!).

When the brain gets gangrened certain kinds of thought start infesting and that is precisely what is happening with Chomsky. These superstructure manifestations in his thinking see people as pawns for bigger cause. It is part of systemic response. It is an affliction with commies particularly armchair types who help in the sucking of common people (so where is Amartya sen babu??. It is the season of migratory birds...time for visits and talks on primary education, PHCs, microcredit and so on!!. Also for Turd to get intellectually horny. I guess it is the climate!!).

In most case they are similar to the carved out adversary, they have just split the territory. Both live in idealized world of absolute freedom in their own term. The reason why absolute freedom without any responsibility strike such a unique cord here (ask Bush Chomsky). With market encroachment (even of villages) things have become volatile, sophistication of social relation and responsibility have given way to market quick fix and superficialities.

This blogger is strongly for ‘Freedom of expression’ provided each person has the equal access and means, it should be level playing field otherwise it is an instigation that will be reacted and yes manipulated. Romila Thappar mentions in her book that late Gupta period was age period of indulgence, and so Khajarau (this offcourse as a reaction to Golden age theory-influenced by Right). How the recent attempt on vandalizing sacred in the name of art not indulgence by the same logic. If indulgence be freedom of expression then reaction will be as vicious. By definition indulgence lacks responsive behavior, it is the basics through which market gets foothold- the reason why market is in forefront of freedom of expression, and its belligerent posturing in recent times. Left is only flip side of the coin. It is what they say ‘power struggle’. There are lots of intellectual pimps doing the round in this war zone for our sake who not very often indulge in licking the putrid puss of left bins, some have even condoned the killings another exmaple is that of artist Von Gogh. Murder as reaction can be tolerated and justified when by islamists!!. And in this world view islamists are closest cousins of Left against Bush & Co. Chomsky would argue killings as part of ideological and geographical dislocation. Under right ideological and geographical framework a killing is sacrifice, murder an act of bravery. Nation State will agree, fundamentalists will support and yes commies will celebrate. Chomsky has finally achieved what he always theorized: Manufacturing consent!!.

So what did Toba Tek Singh tell Chomsky?

‘Opar di gurgur di annexe di bay dhiana di mung di daal of the laltain’. What else!!

So what did Toba Tek Singh tell Bush?

‘Opar di gurgur di annexe di bay dhiana di mung di daal of the laltain’. What else!!

Bush and Chomsky instantly understood what he said and replied in unison ‘mung ki daal of the laltain.....oye chak de patte’