An old adage suggests that the pen is mightier than the sword. If that be so then surely our writers and editors need to be extra careful and vigilant in the choice of words that are allowed to be offered on print in the national press! The media's role is one of an opinion-maker. I believe it is seriously charged with the responsibility of presenting news and views in an objective manner. It should resist the temptation of being judgemental, no matter how fashionable it may be to be so!
In one of the dailies, a writer decided to write about the lost cause propounded by the CBI in the matter of the theft of the Nobel maedallion belonging to Rabindranath Tagore. I am not perturbed by the author's dig at the apparant obsession of the Bengali with Tagore. Nor is it the subject of my reflections. What worries me is that, in her wisdom, she decided to describe Kolkata as "the decadent city". She must be having cojent reasons for doing so. However, I feel that it is dangerous to use such damaging words because firstly, it is difficult to establish the intent and, secondly, it is tantamount to foisting the writer's "coloured" perception on the readers' minds.
Decadence means moral deterioration. Are we sure that Kolkata and all Kolkatans have lost their moral fibre? Are we sure that rape, murder, robbery, scams, frauds, rave parties,corruption which comprise the moral fabric is the sole preserve of Kolkata and Kolkatans? If it is indeed so then I rest my case.
However if, it is not so and such signs of degradation can be found in other places as well, then the writer has done a grave injustice to a section of the nation's populace as against the others. This is reprehensible and it cries out for meningful and effective editing of all that is published and put forward for the reading pleasure of the people at large. The vox populi must not be fostered by opinionated and immature correspondents, who give themselves the right to pronounce judgements on matters they may not be experts at.
To end with another adage...it is said that ignorance is bliss. If that be so then it is time that our "journalist" friends of today awaken fast from this state of bliss and spare the poor readers of their biased considerations.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Icarus reborn?
One of the newspapers has run a feature today with the heading " Air India's star staff get away with no work and no play "! The article says that the national carrier had given jobs to the likes of MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, VVS Laxman and RP Singh........long before most of them became the icons that they are today. In fact, it seems that, some of them were in very humble jobs before Air India took them on board. But today, according to the carrier, barring Robin Uthappa (who has also joined Air India) none of the others are ever available for any match or any event or any endorsement of the national carrier. As per the requirement of their employment, these players are supposed to attend office for half a day and play for the company in the other half, whenever they are free of their cricket assignments.
These players are compensated with handsome salaries and full perks of the organisation which, needless to say, they enjoy to the fullest as their entitlement. However, when it comes to turning up for Air India in any tournament,apparantly it becomes difficult for them to do so because of various reasons like sub-standard grounds, risk of injuries, pre-occupation with physiotherapy,low status of the events for stars like them,etc. It seems, some of them refused to appear for some endorsement event of Air India although they had plenty of time to promote a fashion week in Kolkata around the same time!
The other grouse of Air India is that hardly ever do the "stars" receive or respond to telephone calls. Harbhajan Singh countered this by mentioning to the newspaper that, in view of his association with Air India for 8 to 9 years,he feels that if the organisation has any problems with him it should contact him. Very true. Only thing is, as the management of Air India points out, how does one contact him when he does not receive or respond to calls in the first place! Moot point! Catch 22!
I am a sports crazy person and far from apologetic about being an out and out cricket devotee. I have even played the game a bit at the college and club level. For me, the players form the nodal point in this modern day industry that is cricket and they will always continue to be so. They are the ones to sweat it out, risk life and limbs to play a game they love. However, as is usual, the very officious officials that "control" the sport invariably screw up.They are the ones who bask in reflected glory and play god by raking in the golden eggs and trying to run the lives of the geese that laid them, often with undesired resiults!
I said usually, did I not? Well in this instance of Air India, I cannot but depart from the usual and recall to mind a couple of things which show up the playing icons in a different light..
Firstly, the recent failure of Ms Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh to accept the invitation of the President of India to come and receive National Honours from her, has completely baffled me. I cannot find any mitigating curcumstance that would have prompted them to ignore the call of the leader of the nation that they serve.
Secondly, I recall with pleasure the days in Bata India Ltd when Kapil Dev Nikhanj and Rani Mukherjee were signed up by the company as Brand Ambassadors. Kapil Dev was, in fact, a contracted employee, I believe. Both of them gave their utmost to the cause of the brands in terms of time and availability. I was personally involved reasonably closely every time Kapil Dev was requested to inaugurate one of our new or renovated retail outlets in the north of India. I also remember, for a fact, that Kapil Dev would visit our offices in Kolkata (India HQ), and Delhi for discussions and also check out the product in our factories on every occasion that he had some time in hand and was away from his cricket commitments, international or domestic.
As for Rani Mukherjee, well she became the talk of the company, not only because of her looks, but also because of her simplicity, dedication to the brand promotion and her charm in associating with the members of the management, whether they be expatriates or Indian, young or not so young!
To say the least, on both counts, the sale of the products that these two stars endorsed and promoted, sky-rocketed in no time.
Now,here is my point. If anybody tells me that Kapil Dev or Rani Mukherjee were not stars of the highest firmament, I would seriously think that he or she is pulling my leg. Or that he or she needs to have the head examined! It may not be an exaggeration to say that the players that Air India is having problems with today, though huge achievers and exceedingly talented, are still a little shy of the immensely exalted status of Mr. Nikhanj and Ms Mukherjee.
So, are our stars of today in danger of following the fatal path of the ancient Icarus? Are they Icarus reborn? Will their high flying cause their wings to melt in the heat of the sun for having soared prilously close to it? Will they plunge into the sea or plummet down to earth with a mighty thud?
These players are compensated with handsome salaries and full perks of the organisation which, needless to say, they enjoy to the fullest as their entitlement. However, when it comes to turning up for Air India in any tournament,apparantly it becomes difficult for them to do so because of various reasons like sub-standard grounds, risk of injuries, pre-occupation with physiotherapy,low status of the events for stars like them,etc. It seems, some of them refused to appear for some endorsement event of Air India although they had plenty of time to promote a fashion week in Kolkata around the same time!
The other grouse of Air India is that hardly ever do the "stars" receive or respond to telephone calls. Harbhajan Singh countered this by mentioning to the newspaper that, in view of his association with Air India for 8 to 9 years,he feels that if the organisation has any problems with him it should contact him. Very true. Only thing is, as the management of Air India points out, how does one contact him when he does not receive or respond to calls in the first place! Moot point! Catch 22!
I am a sports crazy person and far from apologetic about being an out and out cricket devotee. I have even played the game a bit at the college and club level. For me, the players form the nodal point in this modern day industry that is cricket and they will always continue to be so. They are the ones to sweat it out, risk life and limbs to play a game they love. However, as is usual, the very officious officials that "control" the sport invariably screw up.They are the ones who bask in reflected glory and play god by raking in the golden eggs and trying to run the lives of the geese that laid them, often with undesired resiults!
I said usually, did I not? Well in this instance of Air India, I cannot but depart from the usual and recall to mind a couple of things which show up the playing icons in a different light..
Firstly, the recent failure of Ms Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh to accept the invitation of the President of India to come and receive National Honours from her, has completely baffled me. I cannot find any mitigating curcumstance that would have prompted them to ignore the call of the leader of the nation that they serve.
Secondly, I recall with pleasure the days in Bata India Ltd when Kapil Dev Nikhanj and Rani Mukherjee were signed up by the company as Brand Ambassadors. Kapil Dev was, in fact, a contracted employee, I believe. Both of them gave their utmost to the cause of the brands in terms of time and availability. I was personally involved reasonably closely every time Kapil Dev was requested to inaugurate one of our new or renovated retail outlets in the north of India. I also remember, for a fact, that Kapil Dev would visit our offices in Kolkata (India HQ), and Delhi for discussions and also check out the product in our factories on every occasion that he had some time in hand and was away from his cricket commitments, international or domestic.
As for Rani Mukherjee, well she became the talk of the company, not only because of her looks, but also because of her simplicity, dedication to the brand promotion and her charm in associating with the members of the management, whether they be expatriates or Indian, young or not so young!
To say the least, on both counts, the sale of the products that these two stars endorsed and promoted, sky-rocketed in no time.
Now,here is my point. If anybody tells me that Kapil Dev or Rani Mukherjee were not stars of the highest firmament, I would seriously think that he or she is pulling my leg. Or that he or she needs to have the head examined! It may not be an exaggeration to say that the players that Air India is having problems with today, though huge achievers and exceedingly talented, are still a little shy of the immensely exalted status of Mr. Nikhanj and Ms Mukherjee.
So, are our stars of today in danger of following the fatal path of the ancient Icarus? Are they Icarus reborn? Will their high flying cause their wings to melt in the heat of the sun for having soared prilously close to it? Will they plunge into the sea or plummet down to earth with a mighty thud?
Monday, August 10, 2009
"Silly season" ?
Today's news papers, or at least the one I read, carried a feature about Dev Patel and Frieda Pinto. We all know who they are as we have been subjected to an information bombardment about these two ever since Danny Boyle's film made a sweep in this year's Oscars.Today, the newspaper in question, used up considerable column centimetres to tell us that the duo was seen having dinner together at Trishna in London! My my, what audacity on their part! How dare they have a meal together? In fact, how dare they at all meet? To add insult to injury, Frieda and Dev did not end matters there! According to the news reporter they are often seen "cosying upto each other"! Apparantly, they even put up in the same hotel and ordered room service for champagne, chocolates and Eton Mess pudding! What shocking behaviour on the part of the two actors and what humdinger of a scoop by the reporter! Surely he deserves the highest award for investigative journlism? Not to forget a decoration for upholding the morallity of the nation!
Phew! I cannot help it but the journalism of today, what I come across daily either in the print or the electronic media, makes me want to kill! I read this particular newspaper because two of my favourite journalists (yes, I must admit, they do exist, albeit in tragic minority!) belong to it.I remember that one of these two had once talked about a journalist's "silly season". This is the season when there is not much happening and, therefore, to fill up news space the reporters and journos fill up newsprint with whatever they can find, or invent! I buy this point of view, although with a rider. The rider is that in India it seems the silly season never ends!
Firstly, nowadays, all the pages appear to be Page 3. Today a celebrity means either a fashion designer, a model, a cricketer, a film actor or a criminal.The amount of exposure they get is surely the envy of our Prime Minister! I wonder if we have any scientist, writer, philosopher, statesman, pioneers,economists, etc left in our country! Secondly,once the media channels, whether print or electronic, get hold of a news story they keep repeating it ad nauseum, for days and weeks together, till some other "breaking news" hits us! Incidentally, have you noticed how everything is breaking news, no matter how trite or stupid it is? How long can you be fed your daily dose of Delhi University admissions (as though we never studied in colleges!), Rakhi Sawant choosing a groom(which she never meant to in any case!), what Pakistan is telling us about 26/11 (it has been eight months, by the way!), what the Ambani brothers think of private gas! And of course, as Rupa very rightly has pointed out, what Kasab is saying every day! I mean, come on! Give us stuff that can be rightfully called fresh news. Get on with it! For heaven's sake be news reporters and newscasters, not hysterical, bumbling yet smug panic mongers and misdirected viewscasters !
Phew! I cannot help it but the journalism of today, what I come across daily either in the print or the electronic media, makes me want to kill! I read this particular newspaper because two of my favourite journalists (yes, I must admit, they do exist, albeit in tragic minority!) belong to it.I remember that one of these two had once talked about a journalist's "silly season". This is the season when there is not much happening and, therefore, to fill up news space the reporters and journos fill up newsprint with whatever they can find, or invent! I buy this point of view, although with a rider. The rider is that in India it seems the silly season never ends!
Firstly, nowadays, all the pages appear to be Page 3. Today a celebrity means either a fashion designer, a model, a cricketer, a film actor or a criminal.The amount of exposure they get is surely the envy of our Prime Minister! I wonder if we have any scientist, writer, philosopher, statesman, pioneers,economists, etc left in our country! Secondly,once the media channels, whether print or electronic, get hold of a news story they keep repeating it ad nauseum, for days and weeks together, till some other "breaking news" hits us! Incidentally, have you noticed how everything is breaking news, no matter how trite or stupid it is? How long can you be fed your daily dose of Delhi University admissions (as though we never studied in colleges!), Rakhi Sawant choosing a groom(which she never meant to in any case!), what Pakistan is telling us about 26/11 (it has been eight months, by the way!), what the Ambani brothers think of private gas! And of course, as Rupa very rightly has pointed out, what Kasab is saying every day! I mean, come on! Give us stuff that can be rightfully called fresh news. Get on with it! For heaven's sake be news reporters and newscasters, not hysterical, bumbling yet smug panic mongers and misdirected viewscasters !
Thursday, August 6, 2009
From Al's Diary..... My royal royal days!
Well, one has to begin somewhere, I suppose! I thought long and hard about something serious, momentous or even ponderous to write about. But all that one can get in abundance from newspapers and TV. And they are so boring!Instead let me recall my brief brush with royalty and the hilarious way it finally came about.
In 1987,when I was still doing my bit for "comfortable shoes at affordable prices" with Bata India Ltd, I was selected to accompany our supremo Thomas J Bata as his ADC during his annual visit to India. The whole "team" was housed in the Taj Mahal hotel in N.Delhi. One day, Mr. Bata left the hotel after breakfast to visit our retail stores. I was to stay back to supervise the arrangements for a press conference which Mr. Bata was to address later in the day in one of the hotel's banquet rooms.Mrs. Bata was also to remain in the hotel as she was to host her old friend Gayatri Devi in the Bata suite.
My joy at being left alone was short-lived as I discovered that our Deputy Managing Director, a bean-pole of a Canadian,was also to hang around in the hotel.Our DMD, bless him, was known more for his inability to take any deision than any other thing.Moreover, he was one of those men who was constantly badgering others about their work instead of leaving them to it.Therefore, not surprisigly, I had to assure him repeatedly about all arrangemets till I was practically ready to jump out of the window!
As though the "mentoring" presence of the venerable DMD was not inconvenient enough, all of a sudden I was informed of a change in plans! It was felt that Mr. Bata was running late and would therefore prefer to host a working lunch for the press in his suite.This meant that Mrs.Bata's meet with Gayatri Devi would have to be shifted elsewhere. Immediately on learning this our DMD flew into a tizzy....for what reason I did not know because,in any case I was going to organize the changes, definitely not he!
The alternate arrangements were duly made....no credit to me as the staff members of the hotel were magnificent in their co-operation.The suite in which the Batas were residing was in one end of a long corridor. As their ADC, I was billetted in an adjacent room.We were allotted a lovely room at the extreme opposite end of the corridor on the same floor.I explained the changes to Mrs. Bata, who was, as usual, very sweet and understanding of the situation.
But not so our DMD! He was by then the proverbial cat on a hot tin roof!He was sure there would be a major goof up with the maharani's arrival and reception.I told him very patiently for the umpteenth time that the moment Gayatri Devi's car reached the porch she woud be received by two hand-picked officials of the hotel. That at the main lobby she woud be personally welcomed by the GM of the hotel who would accompany her in the lift.That,on behalf of the Batas, I would receive her at the lift lobby on our floor. That I would then escort her to Mrs.Bata's suite.That immediately after the two ladies had met and exchanged pleasantries I would usher them to their meeting venue and introduce the butler to Mrs. Bata. That, at the end of the meeting, on being advised by the butler I would escort the Maharani from the room to her car and duly see her off with every courtesy.
As we were waiting for the events to unfurl the uncertainty proved too much for our DMD. He took to pacing the corridor as though the maharani would emerge from any room at any moment! I let him be as this afforded me a little time off from the badgering so that I could concentrate on the various other things on the "to do" list for the day. The respite was too good to last! As the time for Gayatri Devi's arrival neared, the blow fell!
The housekeeping staff requested me to check out the arrangements of the new venue for Mrs. Bata's tryst with the maharani. I had no alternative but to request the DMD to be in my room in case of any calls from the lobby.I went to the new room. I looked around,okayed the arrangements, discussed all the necessary details with the butler and left.
As I emerged from the room I heard the telltale "ping" of the lift bell. A lady with a stately bearing got out and started walking towards the Bata suite, away from me.At the same time, much like the hourly cuckoo clock, our DMD's head popped out from my room at the end of the corridor.In a trice I realised what was about to happen.I sprinted down the corridor and reached just in time to hear the DMD, right hand extended and with the suggestion of a stiff bow, saying "welcome Mrs. Devi,(of course he proounced the name as Mrs.Devvy!) it is an honour to have you with us. I am........" I managed to interrupt him enough to introduce him to the smiling Chief Housekeeper of the Taj mahal hotel! She had come to ask me if allthe arrangements in the suite were alright. Our DMD had, of course, retreated to the safety of my room by then!
Well, the famous maharani did arrive eventually. The reception and welcome arrangements went smoothly like a well oiled machine.I had my moment in the sun as I escorted the tremendously dignified lady to a reunion with her old friend Sonja Bata.
Thus I got my brush with royalty as I exchanged a few formal and polite words with a gracious lady, a beautiful woman, a queen!
In 1987,when I was still doing my bit for "comfortable shoes at affordable prices" with Bata India Ltd, I was selected to accompany our supremo Thomas J Bata as his ADC during his annual visit to India. The whole "team" was housed in the Taj Mahal hotel in N.Delhi. One day, Mr. Bata left the hotel after breakfast to visit our retail stores. I was to stay back to supervise the arrangements for a press conference which Mr. Bata was to address later in the day in one of the hotel's banquet rooms.Mrs. Bata was also to remain in the hotel as she was to host her old friend Gayatri Devi in the Bata suite.
My joy at being left alone was short-lived as I discovered that our Deputy Managing Director, a bean-pole of a Canadian,was also to hang around in the hotel.Our DMD, bless him, was known more for his inability to take any deision than any other thing.Moreover, he was one of those men who was constantly badgering others about their work instead of leaving them to it.Therefore, not surprisigly, I had to assure him repeatedly about all arrangemets till I was practically ready to jump out of the window!
As though the "mentoring" presence of the venerable DMD was not inconvenient enough, all of a sudden I was informed of a change in plans! It was felt that Mr. Bata was running late and would therefore prefer to host a working lunch for the press in his suite.This meant that Mrs.Bata's meet with Gayatri Devi would have to be shifted elsewhere. Immediately on learning this our DMD flew into a tizzy....for what reason I did not know because,in any case I was going to organize the changes, definitely not he!
The alternate arrangements were duly made....no credit to me as the staff members of the hotel were magnificent in their co-operation.The suite in which the Batas were residing was in one end of a long corridor. As their ADC, I was billetted in an adjacent room.We were allotted a lovely room at the extreme opposite end of the corridor on the same floor.I explained the changes to Mrs. Bata, who was, as usual, very sweet and understanding of the situation.
But not so our DMD! He was by then the proverbial cat on a hot tin roof!He was sure there would be a major goof up with the maharani's arrival and reception.I told him very patiently for the umpteenth time that the moment Gayatri Devi's car reached the porch she woud be received by two hand-picked officials of the hotel. That at the main lobby she woud be personally welcomed by the GM of the hotel who would accompany her in the lift.That,on behalf of the Batas, I would receive her at the lift lobby on our floor. That I would then escort her to Mrs.Bata's suite.That immediately after the two ladies had met and exchanged pleasantries I would usher them to their meeting venue and introduce the butler to Mrs. Bata. That, at the end of the meeting, on being advised by the butler I would escort the Maharani from the room to her car and duly see her off with every courtesy.
As we were waiting for the events to unfurl the uncertainty proved too much for our DMD. He took to pacing the corridor as though the maharani would emerge from any room at any moment! I let him be as this afforded me a little time off from the badgering so that I could concentrate on the various other things on the "to do" list for the day. The respite was too good to last! As the time for Gayatri Devi's arrival neared, the blow fell!
The housekeeping staff requested me to check out the arrangements of the new venue for Mrs. Bata's tryst with the maharani. I had no alternative but to request the DMD to be in my room in case of any calls from the lobby.I went to the new room. I looked around,okayed the arrangements, discussed all the necessary details with the butler and left.
As I emerged from the room I heard the telltale "ping" of the lift bell. A lady with a stately bearing got out and started walking towards the Bata suite, away from me.At the same time, much like the hourly cuckoo clock, our DMD's head popped out from my room at the end of the corridor.In a trice I realised what was about to happen.I sprinted down the corridor and reached just in time to hear the DMD, right hand extended and with the suggestion of a stiff bow, saying "welcome Mrs. Devi,(of course he proounced the name as Mrs.Devvy!) it is an honour to have you with us. I am........" I managed to interrupt him enough to introduce him to the smiling Chief Housekeeper of the Taj mahal hotel! She had come to ask me if allthe arrangements in the suite were alright. Our DMD had, of course, retreated to the safety of my room by then!
Well, the famous maharani did arrive eventually. The reception and welcome arrangements went smoothly like a well oiled machine.I had my moment in the sun as I escorted the tremendously dignified lady to a reunion with her old friend Sonja Bata.
Thus I got my brush with royalty as I exchanged a few formal and polite words with a gracious lady, a beautiful woman, a queen!
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