Chores, Obama Etcetra

Over the past two days - my friends in Mumbai have been boasting about the "cold" weather there. According to what I read on the web, it dipped to 10.3 degrees. So mates, bring out the paanghruns and start zhoping. In the meanwhile, the Delhi weather has been relentless. And whoever told me that it lowers after Lohdi (14th January), was perhaps bullshitting ! The sun comes for a while and disappears - not good enough for my well-cleaned underwear to resume next-day duties - one did and I am glad !

I have been following the US Elections with a keen intent. Its fantastic to see things shaping up there. Barack Obama has almost transformed himself into a cult figure for the youth, while Clinton's campaign has just taken a stutter for a while. The mudslinging there is for a change worse than Advani firing potshots at Sonia Gandhi or vice-versa. I have never seen such a hard-fought race for nomination, forget Presidency. And, as expected - no one has given a damn to George Bush's "State of the Union" address. I am just waiting for the "Super Tuesday" (Feb 5.) where the nominations will go through. And ever since this campaign began, my vote has always gone for Obama - because the US needs change and I cannot see anyone else other than him bringing about change in the country.

Ive also taken time off to check out some weird news making the headlines today. Some of the American Mainstream News Media indulges in his pathetic form of journalism, with the Australian, not so far behind. Stupid, I say !

Weird stories round-up of the day:

"If MK has his way, Tamils will have a New Year's Day" - Something really outrageous and far-fetched to think of. Again a strong show of Tamil Nationalism (if we could call that)

"Bikinis are fine, but Mankinis are too much mate" - Mankini ? How do you even pronounce it ?

"Aussie condom swallower gets 20 years" - What sort of a world are we living in ? Condoms being swallowed ? Holy crap.

"Cow poo helps reduce chances of lung cancer" - Weird again ! Whats happened to not smoking ?

This one's real audacious - "Mother defends dog after attacking on son"

Family politics in the US ?

If you thought the US elections was all about individuals, think again - its turned into a clash of the families after Sen. Edward Kennedy has come out in support of Sen. Barack Obama through an endorsement. However, the Kennedys considered to be equidistant as far as both Obama and Clinton are concerned, tilted the Obama way only because of his Obama for Change campaign, which seems to have struck a massive chord with the average youth of the USA.

Mr. Kennedy, of Massachusetts, has worked closely with Mrs. Clinton, of New York, on health care and other legislation and has had a friendly relationship with both Clintons, but associates said he was intrigued by Mr. Obama’s seeming ability to inspire political interest in a new generation. For his part, Mr. Obama actively courted Mr. Kennedy for several years, seeking him out for Senate advice and guidance before making the decision to enter the presidential race. [read more]

Another public support for Obama from the Kennedys comes through in one of the most influential newspapers in the US and more importantly, one of the most-read pages - A fantastic Op-Ed piece by JFK's daughter Caroline Kennedy - "A President like my Father".

This is getting very interesting. And whoever thought dynastic politics happen only in India and Pakistan ?

Citizen Journalism Report on Delhi's Rickshaw-Drivers - MUST SEE

Everyone who read my mundane conversation with the auto-driver - must check this out -



Source: IBNLive.com

Holy Cow

Holy Cow ! : Grazing through a popular shopping complex in South Delhi ! Was a funny sight, and all of a sudden, turned into a shutterbug's delight.

(Sorry for bad resolution: Shot through mobile camera)

A mundane daily conversation...

Well this is how I begin my day...quite literally.

Waving my hands for those green and yellow things to arrive - it goes like this :

Me: Braving the cold, waving my hands, landed in a three-sweater layered excessive winter clothing.
(No Reaction)
Again goes my wave...
Someone sees my hands - decides to stop..
Me: Bhaiyya, jaaoge ?
That puzzled auto-driver: Haan, kyon nahin, kidhar jaana hai ?
Me: CP (Connaught Place)
Auto-Driver: CP mein kidhar ?
Me: KG Marg, HT House malum hai ? British Council ke saamne !
AD: Saab, saat (60) rupaye honge.
A bit bemused me, wearing an activist's coat: Saat rupaye ? Mai kya gaaon se aaya hoon ? Meter lagao bhai !
AD: Saab, meter nahin chal raha hai, paise de do
Me: Kya ? Aapke yahan kuch masla hai, mai aapka meter chalaoon ?
AD: Nahin, hum nahin aayenge

(After some bargaining, he lowers it down to 50 - with a sheepish smile on his face and then goes my gyaan-sharing session - Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, are you listening ?)

Me: Aap log yahan meter kyon nahin lagate ho ?
AD: Sir ji, yahan meter se koi chalta nahin hai. Humein lagane pe koi aitraaz nahi hai. Bas yahan ki public chahti nahin hai. Usme humara koi galti hai ?
Me: Main yahaan ka nahin hoon, humare shehar mein toh meter bilkul chalti hai, bas yeh aur Chennai do shehar hai jahan meter ka naam lena gaaliyan jaisa hota hai
AD: Aap kahaan ke ho ?
(A perfect bait for me to push my Mumbaikarisms)
Me: Hmm...Mumbai
AD: Aap bolte ho ki yahan meter nahin lagta, udhar ek kilometer ka rate kya hai ?
Me: Rs. 6.50, abhi aap rone lagoge ki aapko bas Rs.4.50 milta hai. Dilli mein toh CNG ka bhaav sasta hai. Mumbai mein Rs. 28 hai, aur idhar to Rs. 20 - toh abhi bolo - faida kiska hai ?
AD: Sahi hai saab, lekin hum kya karein, majboori hai.
Me: Aap bahut kuch kar sakte ho - pehle apne aap ko sudhar lo, meter daalna shuru karo - sab theek ho jayega
AD: Saab, aap samajhte nahin hai. Idhar yeh nahin chalti.
Me: Yeh toh aapka log roj ka ch***** banane ka dhanda hai boss.
AD: Ab aapko main kaisa samjhaoon
Me: Mujhe mat samjhayiye, khud ko samajhna seekho - b******* aap jo kar rahe hain, woh sahi hai ? Kanuni hai ?
AD: Kya samjhe aap apne aap ko ?
Me: Kuch nahin.

And by the time, this conversation gets into top gear, thankfully we reach outside HT House and I disembark from that auto.

Take out the money from my pocket - give him a Rs. 100 rupee note

AD: Saab, khulle nahin hai aapke paas ?
Me: Nahin, chutta nahin hai (I emphasize on that word, since it comes naturally)

Out comes the change -

AD: Yeh lo bhaisaab.
Me: Agle sawari ko c****** banane wale ho ki nahin ?
AD: Nahin saab, meter daalenge.

Does he switch on the meter or solicit with his sawaari - I dont know. But I had things my way !

These autowallas in Delhi, I tell you are the biggest nutmegs in the planet. Delhi is going to host the Commonwealth Games in 2010, but they must get their public transport systems right before that happens. Autowallas must stop being rogues and act as per the law - for which a law is necessary. The blue-lines must be phased out with immediate effect and those new modern-looking green Tata buses must replace them. The Metro or Matro as they pronounce it here, is doing perfectly fine. I think thats the only way forward for this city, as it takes that pressure off the other public transport systems here. More and more autowallas are on the hunt for dead ducks, who do not know the city well.

Channel War : Indian of the Year

One does, the other follows - thats all I have to say about the "Indian of the Year". Irrespective of whoever wins the award, my vote goes to that Indian who sits in front of his idiot box with a mobile phone in his hands and thumbs typing "IOTY" (CNN-IBN Indian of the Year) to 52622 or some other four/five letter word and some number for NDTV. I don't quite understand this logic about having such an award. With due respect to the award, this whole channels-awarding-personalities is a bit unnerving by itself. It was originally intended to be India's response to Time's Person of the Year, but intentions are not what they are made out to be most often.

Its resulted in a channel war, which might not be a good thing in the context of the Indian electronic media. I am myself confused at "Who decides who should be awarded ?" or for that matter "Who really should be awarded ?" - the newsmaker or someone who does his bit behind the glare of this media ? I do not know. The IBN award looks a bit genuine, since they believe in honouring some anonymous Indians who have deserve their due of recognition. Arvind Kejriwal, was honoured with the award last year for his public service - and rightly so, because since then the Right to Information has become a household name in India's citizenry. NDTV doesn't have it. Again, a glaring omission from one of India's primary opinion leaders.

The jury is interesting on both sides -

IBN: Soli Sarabjee, Deepak Parekh, Kiran Bedi, Geet Sethi, Nandan Nilekani, Shobhana Bhartia and Mohanlal (now, this seems truly representative with media barons, IT tycoons, judicial luminaries, real estate barons etc etc.)

NDTV: Kiran Karnik (NASSCOM Chief), Shekhar Gupta, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (today, known as Saif's father), Ramachandra Guha (one of the country's best historians today), JS Verma, Leila Seth and Shobaa De.

Where is the citizenry representated in both juries ? Baffling to be honest.

Viswanathan Anand is the Sportsperson of the Year on both fronts - a good selection I must say, for he has always been the unheralded flagbearer of Indian sport on a global platform. P Chidambaram's name for Politician of the Year on IBN is somewhere questionable. What are the drastic economic measures he has taken this year ? The budget was reasonable to say the least. Nothing much, a weird choice. Businessperson of the Year on both sides - interesting choices I must say - State Bank of India's OP Bhatt for IBN and Mukesh Ambani for NDTV. I would have been tempted to give the award to Ratan Tata, for the sort of tact he showed in handling a) the Singur issue and b) producing what was considered to be the impossible - Tata NANO.

Inspirational Indian Leader of the Year Award in NDTV is an interesting award. Abdul Kalam, not a bad choice for someone who has gone back to his books, after his Presidential tenure. Yet, he remains an inspiration for every one of us. Entertainer of the Year in NDTV goes to Rajnikant and rightly so. Not because I am South Indian, but because how well his movie appealed across India and not just the south, where it is a one-man industry inevitably. The Actor With the Most Impact on Indian Cinema - uncalled for to be honest and Shahrukh bagging the award, smells of some nothing but glam. AR Rahman is deservingly the Musician of the Year (NDTV) - right from Guru to Sivaji to Lord of the Rings musical to Azhagiya Thamizh Magan, Rahman's notes have been really consistent and he deserves every bit of that award.

CNN-IBN has kept some of its big awards under the wraps, leading up to 26th January, when on Republic Day, these awards will be announced and given. I somehow feel, between the two, they still have the right ingredients and the guidelines of how these sort of awards must be given. An award must be in sheer recognition of the person's achievements and not the amount of money/revenue the man or his product earns for the organization and that is where IBN scores over its counterpart big time.

Do we need the Indian of the Year awards at the first place ? Or does it make for a good media war ? Maybe or maybe not. Yes, we the media need to roll the platform to the people who have really made a difference to this country. But, we the media also need to realize that these awards are not something to score browny points over each other in terms of TRP or TAM ratings.

If you ask me, I am the Indian of the Year - for I have been keeping my eyes on these two programmes to sit and waste an hour of my time writing about the same...

A Spiritual Synthesis Indeed !

I have been addicted to this one song - Khwaaja Mere Khwaaja from Jodhaa Akbar since the day I managed to get hold of the Audio CD. Keeping my Rahmaniac leanings beside, the song is perhaps one of the best Hindi songs I have heard since a long time. And as I wrote in my e-mail to the music director himself - it could have only been him to have composed such a soothing number and secondly sung it. The song takes you to a new level, quite literally.

There is an alleviating feel to it - right from the time Rahman goes "Khwajaji...Khwajaa". The beats gradually come in - the claps, the tablas and the ever-imposing harmonium with bass strings unseemingly reticulating their chords - ah the feel is something different. And between those is a voice ever so rich, unruffled by the high pitches and more importantly has all the divinity the song needs. And then the interlude with "Ga Re Ga Ga Ga Re" and "Sa Re Sa Re Sa Re" is simply amazing - taking off from where the genius left off at Tere Bina from Guru.

And then the aalap carries the verses - The one between "Tere Darbar Mein Khwaaja" is simply outstanding. It would have been easy for Rahman to break the aalap, but he did not - stuck to it and made an otherwise difficult looking note sound so audaciously easy. Rahman's imposing voice gives an ambiance of tranquility which you intend to experience in loneliness. His voice is the company and the lyrics - a destination to that ultimate realization. The classical suave is constant throughout and notably stands out right from the outset.

Rahman's other Sufi creations are gemstones waiting to be treasured forever - Tere Bina (Guru), Al Maddath Maula (Mangal Pandey), Piya Haji Ali (Fiza), Zikr (Bose - The Forgotten Hero). Barring Tere Bina, the others may not quite be as popular as this one, but if you get the chance - please listen to them as each one has its own speciality, waiting to be appreciated from every quarter.

Maharashtra from a distance

First thing in the morning, I enter office and see this headline - "Thackerey says only Pawar can lead India, sparks row". Immediate reaction - shocking, but not surprising. Sitting here in New Delhi, and thinking about the stinky state of Maharashtrian politics - it feels a bit depressing to see the events in what I consider my home-state. First of all, Happy Birthday Balasaheb !

Balasaheb Thackerey's open support to Sharad Pawar comes at a very crucial time in Maharashtra - not even a month ago, both leaders quite publicly flirted in what was considered to be a "courtesy" meeting. Elections beckon in 2009 and as much as the Shiv Sena looks seemingly frustrated with the BJP, on several issues, the NCP (Pawar's party) has also developed a gradual apathy towards Vilasrao Deshmukh and the Congress' politics. The Congress has also gotten into a big time muddle within its own ranks as Narayan Rane's public outcry against Vilasrao Deshmukh's handling of the state. And, some of the policies of that Congress-NCP Government is nothing but sham of the highest order. With the exception of Mumbai, the city - some of the outer suburbs are put to a two-hour load-shedding run everyday and this is not good for a state, which was once a power-surplus one. Farmer suicide at Vidharba is not a major issue for Mr. Deshmukh, who surprisingly has got himself re-elected from that constituancy. His interview to Karan Thapar's Devil Advocate in 2006 is worth a mention, where he went on to say, "Maharashtra is not a failed state" and as Stephen P Cohen mentions about Pakistan's description - I'd like to call Maharashtra a "flawed state".

Mr. Thackerey, let Sharad Pawar lead Maharashtra first, forget about India. As of now, only Anil Kumble can lead India.

Maharashtra has got into a bad TINA state of affairs. There is no alternative. Period.

Booked !

Irony, I say - simply irony...I have never been an avid reader. In fact, I used to detest reading at one point of life, arrogantly rubbishing it as a mundane eye-straining exercise. Today, at 21 going on to 22, I have absorbed it as a part of my life. And that has got something to do with me moving my arse from Mumbai to a completely new city. While this shift has reduced my exposure to television completely, except for the odd loud "Ramayan Ad" that appears between overs during cricket matches, unfortunately for fortunately, my eye-balls have taken a good good break. Apart from my notebook (whatever you want to call it as), books have been keeping me busy.

People often ask me, what sort of books I am into and oddly enough, no JK Rowling (past those days even though Derek O'Brien once mentioned about Harry Potter's ageless relevance), no Jefferey Archer or even Stephen King/Robin Cook. My booklist is highly populated with some heavy-readers. I am presently reading - Sri Lanka: Voices from a War Zone by Nirupama Subramanian, with Frontline Pakistan by Zahid Hussain next in line. Occasionally, I do indulge in something outrageous, like a book called White Angels, about David Beckham's euphoria hitting Spain during his Real Madrid view, did manage to read John Terry's autobiography "My Winning Season" (basically to get an insight into what Chelscum if not Chelsea is) and somethings here and there. And, I want to get hold of Barack Obama's "Dreams from My Father"- considering his multiple identities going into the US Elections 2008. Maybe, then I will know what "Change" really means in Obamanomics.

Keeping in mind that my ultimate ambition is to do something related to foreign affairs or even international relations, I think these sort of heavy readers come in handy use then. There are some colleagues in my workplace who remind me that I am a sports journalist by designation, and sometimes it is a very tricky thing to be. Being a sports journalist doesn't really mean that I am bound by events in Australia or for that matter what Sharapova is expected to do in the Aussie Open.

Reading has never come natural to me. Its just something I have picked up to kill intense boredom and loneliness. But, in hindsight, its not quite a bad habit that I have managed to grab !

A New Blog...Yet Again

Ah well, the rigours of signing up for a new blog are well known. Nonetheless, makes for a good effort I guess. Well, I do not intend to get into the "Hello guys, welcome to my new blog" mode - and coming straight to the point - this blog is about everything I feel writing about - be it some dog being killed by a Blueline Bus in Delhi or how AR Rahman's music is a celebration by itself - everything, absolutely everything ! *Keeping my cold fingers crossed*, I intend to be regular at this one - knowing the snail-like frequency of my other blogs ! Inshallah, as they say !

Regards,
Venkat Ananth