At the Ethancaud junction in the vicinity of Kanniyakumari the people are told to make way for the CM's convoy that would be hitting the roads at an opportune moment. At breakneck speed the vehicles prior to his convoy move. Since the waiting time is too long, there is a guy on a cell giving up-to-date information on the reasons for being stranded and when he would gain freedom. The information that he is dispensing with also includes on the shapes and sizes of vehicles that have been set aside and who all have been allowed to proceed. He is also trying to inform his bosses on his probable time to reach office is probably linked with the probability of CM's convoy to pass at a probable time.
Cops on walkie takie and cell at alternate hours can't figure out when the CM would make a grand appearance. When his convoy finally makes an appearance it is a good one-and-a-half hour after the first vehicle was flagged to stop and stray to a side. After the rally got over the CM was quite pleased with the outcome and outpouring of affection of the masses and perhaps brooding over the next opportunity when he could have a grand rally giving one platform to his extended family to share.
At the dinner table some days later, the family members join in to suggest him what all he could have achieved and accomplished at the rally had he stayed to the script agreed upon. Stalin first to step in: "Pa, you could have announced my ascension to the throne. Kanimozhi later: "Pa, you could have announced my induction into the Manmohan Singh Cabinet as Civil Aviation Minister. I have a strong desire to open up a series of airports in the state to be named after you and other members of my extended family."
Raja the last to be heard and counted: "Sir, all the revenue models in the Telecom Ministry have been exhausted. I need to move to Finance given the networking it engages.
CM to Raja: " The Rural Development Ministry is set to get a sizeable allocation in the next budget. You should set your sights on this sizeable opportunity that would come your way.
To Stalin: "Your ascension to the throne is linked to the support you can engineer from the Cong, given the fact that they would perform handsomely in the next assembly polls which by all indications suggest we would have less seats to occupy in the House. Once they agree i would have no issues. Later when Raja had left, Karuna told Kanimozhi that her induction in the Central Cabinet is unlikely as long as Raja is at the helm.
Moments later Karuna received a call from Alagiri based in Madurai. Though Alagiri didn't attend the rally at Nagercoil but he made his representative read the content of his address. "Once Pa steps down the unilateral and unequivocal decision would be that i would take over where Karuna left. I would be spearheading the agitation and assimilation of thoughts towards the occupation of Chair."
Having made his stand crystal clear, Alagiri wanted Pa to do the honours as far as opening of a departmental store in Madurai is concerned.
Quite agitated at Alagiri's direction the father fumed: "What is this i am supposed to do ? To inaugurate a departmental store? Few minutes later Karuna received a call from Manmohan Singh. The PM sidesteps the celebration issue and tells him point blank that he has dropped A Raja from his Cabinet as he has been found prima facie guilty of tapping the phone conversation between him and Obama. Quite devastated, Karuna takes this blow in his stride. Some moments later there is another call for Karuna. This time round it is Obama from Washington. Karuna declines to take the call citing his inability to take the second blow given the vast time difference between the two places.
With Raja gone it is time for Queen to step in. He tells Kanimozhi that she would be inducted into the Manmohan Singh Cabinet. "What about the portfolio?" To this Karuna said that it would be decided after he has spoken to Obama and retires for the day. Probably the DMK patriarch has to keep Obama in good humour given the Raja's straying agenda that has spoilt the family ties between the first political family of Tamil Nadu and the first political family of United States.
Showing posts with label Govinda Tiru. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Govinda Tiru. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
The rally that could have been avoided
On the way from Nagercoil someone in the bus lost his cell and i lost my peace/piece of mind. It would probably take ages for sanity to get restored in entirety. Never in the history of my existence have i ever cared to attend a political rally in the hindi heartland what to talk about my showing solidarity for the Marxists/Trinamool Congress in the State of West Bengal. And here i pitch for a rally for which all modes of transport were out of view and sight for over one hour before the ageing patriarch hit the road. You are literally ripped apart when you have to try three different modes of transport to reach close to the venue and literally gasping for breath when the centre of activity is full 2 kms away. Who forced you to mark your presence for a rally with which you can hardly identify by any stretch of imagination. The crowd began to disperse even before the well groomed leader could arrive (well the ageing patriarch arrived well past 6 and his extended family had arrived close to 6) and the gates had been shut on the large audience which had been waiting since morning. Probably they had a large to count on the leader and his followers. I, for one, won't step outside to get identified with a party with whom i have had no frail association what to talk about seeking its membership.
It was a decision made in haste and to be regretted for decades provided i get a call from the masses to address them in neat Tamil, which in all probability would happen once the new crop begins to curry favours with the audience which has begun to show respect to entities from the Hindi Hearland aspiring to hit the Tamilland. It was a rally meant for those who came in limos,trucks, trollies and trawlers and geared to sway the audience with the Tamil they could babble on for hrs. Not a word to get a sense of it was a senseless decision given my sensitivity to stay away from places that have no public transport and even if one that arrives after senseless wait you can't secure a seat as fisticuffs have already broken over the cell lost and the police station missed to lodge a report. It would have been better to get cuddled up in the room you occupy for the past few days than step out for a SENseless proposition where even the greying crowd won't make you stay a minute longer.
It was a decision made in haste and to be regretted for decades provided i get a call from the masses to address them in neat Tamil, which in all probability would happen once the new crop begins to curry favours with the audience which has begun to show respect to entities from the Hindi Hearland aspiring to hit the Tamilland. It was a rally meant for those who came in limos,trucks, trollies and trawlers and geared to sway the audience with the Tamil they could babble on for hrs. Not a word to get a sense of it was a senseless decision given my sensitivity to stay away from places that have no public transport and even if one that arrives after senseless wait you can't secure a seat as fisticuffs have already broken over the cell lost and the police station missed to lodge a report. It would have been better to get cuddled up in the room you occupy for the past few days than step out for a SENseless proposition where even the greying crowd won't make you stay a minute longer.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
All-party meet and the 12th man by Puneet Rajhans
All-party meet and the 12th man
What is this all-party meeting and who all are supposed to blast their way to these time honoured and agenda adhered meets? There are big time speakers and a long list of listeners to complete the proceedings. It normally begins with the lighting of the traditional lamp and post customary exchanges and pleasantries everybody gets to the serious business of nodding and dozing off as the need of the hour demands. Only one agenda is taken up. Given the fact that representatives from major, minor and mofussil parties attend the meet, one agenda at a time is the mantra.As each gets an equal and opportune moment to present himself/herself before the reigning kings and queens, it opens with a lot who were dethroned by the current administrators blasting the present regime in a state, followed by those at the helm in all-praise mode for their efforts to continue in this unforeseen state of affairs and the prospective ones who fancy their chances at some time stressing on the need to move on. Each and every soul attempting to show that his heart and soul is with the threadbare discussions underway thereby prolonging the agony of the participants and of those serving tea and coffee. Some meets even break for lunch/dinner.
The common ailment dogging such meets are that no sooner the representative of a party has spoken up he dozes off only to be shaken up when the time has come to exit. If the duration of the meet isn't long enough some bare their heart during lunch/dinner breaks, literally deranging the host with suggestions and windfall gains that would accrue if the authority take recourse to their scheme of designs. For the moment, these parties are seasonal in nature, having been out of bounds for those adorning seasonal glasses; something that was not to be seen in the previous editions. THese seasonal glasses are a torment for others for the simple fact that the one with them have ulterior motives up their sleeves and no amount of coercion would make them part them.
As this round of all-party meet got over the overwhelming demand was to convert them into all-sections and all-community meets.Where not just the politico but the biggies of corporate world, bollywood, sanitation department and strike and stir union heads would be invited to hear and heed. In such an all-weather friendly meet it is believed that saints from different worlds would rub shoulders with Bo'wood hearthrobs. The Bollywood in particular would seek the locations in the Kashmir Valley out of bounds for aam janata to be accessed by them for prolonged shoots thus giving the Kashmir centric package the boost it aspired for. The corporates would seek more active participation of greying crowd of Bollywood in a large number of endorsements thus handing out on platter an invitation to the politicos to associate with their products.
As for the likes of us, we too have been getting invites for such meets in places as distant as Kazipet and Kaziranga. As the 12th man to the proceedings we are supposed to oversee the preparation of tea/coffee and ensure the washrooms are up and running. As long as the meet was confined to the politicos, the rush to the washroom was unbelievable and with some staying put for the entire duration. And this resulted in their being marked absent for the meet. To preempt such ruling from the powers-that-be, these politicos do rush to the washrooms now only to leave soon. The state of the loos are a reminder of the last time you visited the bus terminal relieving centres. Early exit from washrooms has their unbuttoned shirts and pants with the fly thick and wide open. It's an embarrassment for the ruling junta when they look at the state of affairs. To cut such possibilities they are attempting to convert the present format to all sections meet.
Changed format or no format we would continue to skip them as long as we are not listed in the playing contingent rather dismissed as 12th man to oversee the washrooms and suggest how better they can be maintained. It's precisely for that the sanitation heads would be invited for future meets.
What is this all-party meeting and who all are supposed to blast their way to these time honoured and agenda adhered meets? There are big time speakers and a long list of listeners to complete the proceedings. It normally begins with the lighting of the traditional lamp and post customary exchanges and pleasantries everybody gets to the serious business of nodding and dozing off as the need of the hour demands. Only one agenda is taken up. Given the fact that representatives from major, minor and mofussil parties attend the meet, one agenda at a time is the mantra.As each gets an equal and opportune moment to present himself/herself before the reigning kings and queens, it opens with a lot who were dethroned by the current administrators blasting the present regime in a state, followed by those at the helm in all-praise mode for their efforts to continue in this unforeseen state of affairs and the prospective ones who fancy their chances at some time stressing on the need to move on. Each and every soul attempting to show that his heart and soul is with the threadbare discussions underway thereby prolonging the agony of the participants and of those serving tea and coffee. Some meets even break for lunch/dinner.
The common ailment dogging such meets are that no sooner the representative of a party has spoken up he dozes off only to be shaken up when the time has come to exit. If the duration of the meet isn't long enough some bare their heart during lunch/dinner breaks, literally deranging the host with suggestions and windfall gains that would accrue if the authority take recourse to their scheme of designs. For the moment, these parties are seasonal in nature, having been out of bounds for those adorning seasonal glasses; something that was not to be seen in the previous editions. THese seasonal glasses are a torment for others for the simple fact that the one with them have ulterior motives up their sleeves and no amount of coercion would make them part them.
As this round of all-party meet got over the overwhelming demand was to convert them into all-sections and all-community meets.Where not just the politico but the biggies of corporate world, bollywood, sanitation department and strike and stir union heads would be invited to hear and heed. In such an all-weather friendly meet it is believed that saints from different worlds would rub shoulders with Bo'wood hearthrobs. The Bollywood in particular would seek the locations in the Kashmir Valley out of bounds for aam janata to be accessed by them for prolonged shoots thus giving the Kashmir centric package the boost it aspired for. The corporates would seek more active participation of greying crowd of Bollywood in a large number of endorsements thus handing out on platter an invitation to the politicos to associate with their products.
As for the likes of us, we too have been getting invites for such meets in places as distant as Kazipet and Kaziranga. As the 12th man to the proceedings we are supposed to oversee the preparation of tea/coffee and ensure the washrooms are up and running. As long as the meet was confined to the politicos, the rush to the washroom was unbelievable and with some staying put for the entire duration. And this resulted in their being marked absent for the meet. To preempt such ruling from the powers-that-be, these politicos do rush to the washrooms now only to leave soon. The state of the loos are a reminder of the last time you visited the bus terminal relieving centres. Early exit from washrooms has their unbuttoned shirts and pants with the fly thick and wide open. It's an embarrassment for the ruling junta when they look at the state of affairs. To cut such possibilities they are attempting to convert the present format to all sections meet.
Changed format or no format we would continue to skip them as long as we are not listed in the playing contingent rather dismissed as 12th man to oversee the washrooms and suggest how better they can be maintained. It's precisely for that the sanitation heads would be invited for future meets.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Of Manmohan, Steward and PAS by Puneet Rajhans
Of Manmohan, Steward and PAS
Manmohan has clocked 2280 days in office. The steward, who was at the helm for 28 years and made dramatic exit,wants his job back. A little fame here and few support there has evaporated (such churning episodes don't have long shelf life) - and only thing steady in his life was the job he parted with. With an innings spread over 2280 days, Manmohan won't hang up his boots as there is no pressing need to do the same. And clearly we haven't reached a stage where exasperation is writ large on the faces of partymen over prime leader's reluctance to quit. Well, the steward had taken recourse to Public Address System to let out his growing frustration with the attitude of the travelling janta - and he being in the firing line on different occasions would be the last thing on his mind. Would a politico take recourse to PAS to announce his disengagement from the political process. Never heard on that from a politico of any shape, size and status. Even if separation from political assignment is ephemeral, no such luck for Indian Janta from greenhorns to veterans. The political class sees merit in babbling in Parliament(speaking out of turn is a ritual neatly followed)but never straying that far to explore exit venues.They take recourse to PAS to connect with their voting audience. They would never do that to make way for a better alternative. So why do leaders (sticking to the political terrain)and steward (the strong urge to get back) want to cruise on tested and tried waters. Probably the perks and privileges are too formidable.
A more factual status gets us close to the judges who recuse themselves from cases as it borders precariously close to the interest they are pursuing.At least the conscience metre is ticking or the fear of getting a bad press forces them to part ways. When lawyer Jethmalani noted that he had nothing to lose, probably what he meant was he won't care for his repute in the face of flurry of allegations hurled at him. Against this the current crop of leaders try to hold on to the last lifeline even if wildest allegations tail them.
So if in the heat of the moment the steward gave up the job, could we have a new class of emerging leaders who would chuck the job in the same breath? Well, we have no clue on that but a definitive one on the innovative skills the leaders from across the border employ. A leader based in PoK addressed the gathering in Kashmir over mobile phone last week. His voice on the mobile was relayed to the gathering over megaphone.The clarity in the voice and the uninterrupted one way street conversation left the audience on the Indian side spellbound. The PAS and the increasing recourse to by Pak leaders (unprecedented intrusion into Indian space)has made the establishment here sit up and take notice.
A request to the Pak establishment that leaders from India would like to address the public there would be flatly refused.
Their rationale:"With so many groups working against them, they can't afford another front against them. Let the Pak leaders have the privilege of PAS as they hardly get an opportunity to reach out to the audience at home. The audience across the border is lapping up every such address. Your PAS is best suited for poll stunts which our country rarely has a date with."
The last is yet to be heard on PAS and the ones who would be employing it. Perhaps the iconic star could take the plunge.
Manmohan has clocked 2280 days in office. The steward, who was at the helm for 28 years and made dramatic exit,wants his job back. A little fame here and few support there has evaporated (such churning episodes don't have long shelf life) - and only thing steady in his life was the job he parted with. With an innings spread over 2280 days, Manmohan won't hang up his boots as there is no pressing need to do the same. And clearly we haven't reached a stage where exasperation is writ large on the faces of partymen over prime leader's reluctance to quit. Well, the steward had taken recourse to Public Address System to let out his growing frustration with the attitude of the travelling janta - and he being in the firing line on different occasions would be the last thing on his mind. Would a politico take recourse to PAS to announce his disengagement from the political process. Never heard on that from a politico of any shape, size and status. Even if separation from political assignment is ephemeral, no such luck for Indian Janta from greenhorns to veterans. The political class sees merit in babbling in Parliament(speaking out of turn is a ritual neatly followed)but never straying that far to explore exit venues.They take recourse to PAS to connect with their voting audience. They would never do that to make way for a better alternative. So why do leaders (sticking to the political terrain)and steward (the strong urge to get back) want to cruise on tested and tried waters. Probably the perks and privileges are too formidable.
A more factual status gets us close to the judges who recuse themselves from cases as it borders precariously close to the interest they are pursuing.At least the conscience metre is ticking or the fear of getting a bad press forces them to part ways. When lawyer Jethmalani noted that he had nothing to lose, probably what he meant was he won't care for his repute in the face of flurry of allegations hurled at him. Against this the current crop of leaders try to hold on to the last lifeline even if wildest allegations tail them.
So if in the heat of the moment the steward gave up the job, could we have a new class of emerging leaders who would chuck the job in the same breath? Well, we have no clue on that but a definitive one on the innovative skills the leaders from across the border employ. A leader based in PoK addressed the gathering in Kashmir over mobile phone last week. His voice on the mobile was relayed to the gathering over megaphone.The clarity in the voice and the uninterrupted one way street conversation left the audience on the Indian side spellbound. The PAS and the increasing recourse to by Pak leaders (unprecedented intrusion into Indian space)has made the establishment here sit up and take notice.
A request to the Pak establishment that leaders from India would like to address the public there would be flatly refused.
Their rationale:"With so many groups working against them, they can't afford another front against them. Let the Pak leaders have the privilege of PAS as they hardly get an opportunity to reach out to the audience at home. The audience across the border is lapping up every such address. Your PAS is best suited for poll stunts which our country rarely has a date with."
The last is yet to be heard on PAS and the ones who would be employing it. Perhaps the iconic star could take the plunge.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
From bench strength to house strength by Puneet Rajhans
Who is losing cool? From bench strength to house strength
Debates on Channels leave much to be desired. It is slow, sluggish, with no incremental efforts to raise the bar. Be it half an hour or one hour, the existential dilemma is no different. Participants look tired and tested entity and the anchor sick enough to take a walk out of the window. A man hooked to a cell taking a walk from an office window in an insurance ad is the closest we can get to that situation. A simple situation built against two individuals, Ramesh and Suresh, dripping themselves in choclate heavy moments in a kirana store could get you more eyeballs six months down the line than an argumentative senseless debate played out in the tv theatres. For the poor anchor, tied with a fixed format, he literally lives and bleeds day in and day out by sticking to this ritual.
Compare this to some real life situations and the eyeballs they could be inviting. The skirmish that played out on the streets of Delhi last week (car hitting the stationary truck)when the woman, in the thick of action, taking the battle right into the enemy's territory. Well there were no enemies or friends here but the ensuing argument had trappings of a plot that could keep you fixated. It's 2.30 in the morning and the traffic movement is as heavy as seen during the day. Here you have a bunch of guys who were through with their performances and now it was the turn of the lady to deliver. And she delivered from the rooftops.(i am not in any way defending the skirmish that broke out or the conduct of the lady; both were reprehensible; the intent is to show how a losing proposition these debates have become in our national conscience with none to bat for them).
From the woman of the street to the man of the moment.
This is Finance Minister's third foray (this year)into a territory where the opposition doesn't mind stepping in at every other moment. THe silver lining being he hadn't rushed to the well of the House. He lost his cool; necessitated by members across party lines taking a potshot at him. The previous day all that came from him were Muted Interventions. Today he was firing all cylinders. "You can't hold the House to ransom. " Well, this line he has belted out in the past with a performance that easily gets registered at the back of your mind. Some years down the line we could well be witness to proceedings in the House where members from treasury benches could rush to the well of the House as the Opposition wasn't prepared to relent. THe assault from the other side could well streamline the yawning gap between the opposition and treasury benches. The bench strength of lower house is 543 and effective strength during the debate yesterday was below 300. Well the members may not be that keen to associate with day to day House proceedings, but the level of interest that such debate generates permeates through different sections.
How about someone who couldn't intervene and yet was heckled by the crowd. With Yuvraj Singh confined to the dressing room, with an odd outing here and there, the interventionist in him has taken a back seat. Three probable reasons come on the table for someone's exclusion: Ailment; consistent bad outings; and the playing 11 belting out strong performances. Coupled with this the baggage of brash and brazen identity is enough to nail you down. The previous day as he shuffled between dressing room and field, he was heckled for a long time.He kept his cool armed with the confidence that he could find his way back to the playing contingent. Now this desire of his is in sharp contrast to the flamboyant image he carried. Probably the date with the dressing room would have mellowed him down. Contrast this with Inzamam ul haq's brazen ways when armed with a bat he stormed the seating venue in Toronto to rain blows on those who were heckling him. If he were asked to take that route now, in all probability he would shy away. The circumstances and sentiments you cruise with are enough to publicise your soft image.
We are faced with A season of auqats (the lady in the traffic skirmish invoked it repeatedly ) to a season of holding someone to ransom. The times have changed and so has the component of interaction. You give it to the house members that they don't come to blows (seen widely in state assemblies). And the souls like Yuuraj win hands down when confronted with unpleasant turn of events they keep it to themselves. The innumerable debates that Parliament sessions see are a delight as it rekindles the hope that issues of the common man get listed and heard lest these very members would find hard to get reelected. The bench strength of lower house is strong enough to see a good number flock to Parliament to watch proceedings - and with doordarshan showing it the numbers haven't dwindled a bit. And the likes of Pranab, Yuvraj would continue to have a winning outing with some misses here and there. As for the Vijay Chowk spectacle, there would be no end to conversations that would be sought with the leaders in action. THis is almost an extension to the house proceedings and why miss on that. THe focus is whether Obama would have a date with Vijay Chowk? Possible if his aircraft gets in with no reports of radar going kaput.
Debates on Channels leave much to be desired. It is slow, sluggish, with no incremental efforts to raise the bar. Be it half an hour or one hour, the existential dilemma is no different. Participants look tired and tested entity and the anchor sick enough to take a walk out of the window. A man hooked to a cell taking a walk from an office window in an insurance ad is the closest we can get to that situation. A simple situation built against two individuals, Ramesh and Suresh, dripping themselves in choclate heavy moments in a kirana store could get you more eyeballs six months down the line than an argumentative senseless debate played out in the tv theatres. For the poor anchor, tied with a fixed format, he literally lives and bleeds day in and day out by sticking to this ritual.
Compare this to some real life situations and the eyeballs they could be inviting. The skirmish that played out on the streets of Delhi last week (car hitting the stationary truck)when the woman, in the thick of action, taking the battle right into the enemy's territory. Well there were no enemies or friends here but the ensuing argument had trappings of a plot that could keep you fixated. It's 2.30 in the morning and the traffic movement is as heavy as seen during the day. Here you have a bunch of guys who were through with their performances and now it was the turn of the lady to deliver. And she delivered from the rooftops.(i am not in any way defending the skirmish that broke out or the conduct of the lady; both were reprehensible; the intent is to show how a losing proposition these debates have become in our national conscience with none to bat for them).
From the woman of the street to the man of the moment.
This is Finance Minister's third foray (this year)into a territory where the opposition doesn't mind stepping in at every other moment. THe silver lining being he hadn't rushed to the well of the House. He lost his cool; necessitated by members across party lines taking a potshot at him. The previous day all that came from him were Muted Interventions. Today he was firing all cylinders. "You can't hold the House to ransom. " Well, this line he has belted out in the past with a performance that easily gets registered at the back of your mind. Some years down the line we could well be witness to proceedings in the House where members from treasury benches could rush to the well of the House as the Opposition wasn't prepared to relent. THe assault from the other side could well streamline the yawning gap between the opposition and treasury benches. The bench strength of lower house is 543 and effective strength during the debate yesterday was below 300. Well the members may not be that keen to associate with day to day House proceedings, but the level of interest that such debate generates permeates through different sections.
How about someone who couldn't intervene and yet was heckled by the crowd. With Yuvraj Singh confined to the dressing room, with an odd outing here and there, the interventionist in him has taken a back seat. Three probable reasons come on the table for someone's exclusion: Ailment; consistent bad outings; and the playing 11 belting out strong performances. Coupled with this the baggage of brash and brazen identity is enough to nail you down. The previous day as he shuffled between dressing room and field, he was heckled for a long time.He kept his cool armed with the confidence that he could find his way back to the playing contingent. Now this desire of his is in sharp contrast to the flamboyant image he carried. Probably the date with the dressing room would have mellowed him down. Contrast this with Inzamam ul haq's brazen ways when armed with a bat he stormed the seating venue in Toronto to rain blows on those who were heckling him. If he were asked to take that route now, in all probability he would shy away. The circumstances and sentiments you cruise with are enough to publicise your soft image.
We are faced with A season of auqats (the lady in the traffic skirmish invoked it repeatedly ) to a season of holding someone to ransom. The times have changed and so has the component of interaction. You give it to the house members that they don't come to blows (seen widely in state assemblies). And the souls like Yuuraj win hands down when confronted with unpleasant turn of events they keep it to themselves. The innumerable debates that Parliament sessions see are a delight as it rekindles the hope that issues of the common man get listed and heard lest these very members would find hard to get reelected. The bench strength of lower house is strong enough to see a good number flock to Parliament to watch proceedings - and with doordarshan showing it the numbers haven't dwindled a bit. And the likes of Pranab, Yuvraj would continue to have a winning outing with some misses here and there. As for the Vijay Chowk spectacle, there would be no end to conversations that would be sought with the leaders in action. THis is almost an extension to the house proceedings and why miss on that. THe focus is whether Obama would have a date with Vijay Chowk? Possible if his aircraft gets in with no reports of radar going kaput.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Krishna, Kalmadi and the duo from Karnataka by Puneet Rajhans
Krishna, Kalmadi and the duo from Karnataka
S M Krishna was all ears to PC's take on Bhopal gas incident in the Rajya Sabha the other day. Seeing him deflect criticism and carry on with his arguments with seeming ease, he began to ponder on how he could get a performance-without-a-break tag aligned to his profile. The next day he reached out to Pak Foreign Minister Qureshi offering flood assistance to the neighbouring country. By making this call, he was preparing the ground for Qureshi's visit to India later this year. But Baburao Godbole was still finding it difficult to come to terms with the events that happened last week. There were versions and more versions to the tale of mails. This week as well there is no end to the mail tales.
All that we have is one life. For others it is one life saddled with three wives. Imprints are visible in some parts of the country, more prominently in the South. The office discourse; heaps of classified documents and the emotional connect that we are besieged with now and then have more than one side to them. Simply put, the coin with two face is enough to dislodge the solitary take.
Kalmadi reached out to S M Krishna early morning to clear the air on taint tailing the CWG. Krishna to Kalmadi, "I have been waiting for this opportunity for ages." Not to be outdone, KMD clarified that preparations for Games had begun just two years ago.
Krishna stepped on the gas. " The murkier deals during Queen's baton hands me the lost and found opportunity to reach out to an audience that is waiting for ages to see me speak (Perhaps the mayhem the father-son duo had unleashed in K'taka was enough to see the likes of Krishna to go underground even during his tenure). The line i take here would open line of communication with Pak Foreign Minister, whose bullying tactics won't hold good once the discourse begins in B'lore and definitely not in New Delhi. This fact would be conveyed once Qureshi's aircraft enters Indian air space. THe inclement weather and airport disruptions stories would be a sureshot way to make him land in Bangalore." But KMD wasn't here to relive the Krishna-Qureshi spat moments. He cuts him short and produces the email sent by Indian High Commission, London. SMK has a close look at it and brings out another piece of email and throws at KMD. "i have been in possession of this email for ages, do you get this?"
KMD goes through the mail and time for him to bring clarity to the entire tale of mails and mates. Snatches of this conversation are available in the market.
"When Organisation Committee of CWG and IHC, London reached a stage of compatibility, they wanted the future discourse/discussion to be handled through email. The proposal of letter exchange was also taken up and subsequently dropped as it would have entailed huge outflow of cash and time. So email was propositioned and settled."
Continuing further, "We were literally carpet bombed with quantum of mails that emerged from IHC. Unfortunately, the OC office came across instances of poorly drafted contents and appearance and disappearance of footnotes in the series of communications. We couldn't leave at that. Our officials had to apply themselves and incorporate necessary changes here and there."
At this point SMK observed that OC office had actually hacked into the system of IHC, a charge vehemently denied by KMD.
He added, "the changes incorporated in the different contents were then sent back to IHC for final approval. The line that goes missing in your one page mail is in fact the footnote that my mail had running into second page. We didn't doctor or tamper it except place the footnote right next to the last para to give a ring of continuity and credibility to the content on car rates and future setting." At this point SMK looked at KMD and his officials and began to leave. Before the Foreign Minister could disappear from the scene, KMD brought another proposition to him. "The Passport Office in Pune is in shambles. There is a new commercial centre that has come up right at the heart of the city. I would request you to look into this proposal. Details have been sent on the email, entailing two and not one page." Krishna looked at KMD, broke few sentences in Kannad. And this was enough for Kalmadi to disappear.
Again an illustration of Krishna caught in a dilemma of sorts paralysed at the extraordinary tale weaved by no less than a man hailing from his neighbouring state.
He reached out to Gowdas of Karnataka to secure a perfect place for him to host Qureshi and he would love to live that moment where media is miles and miles away.
Gowdas had brought two conditions on table. First, the father-son duo should be made party to the parleys between Krishna and Qureshi. Second they should be allowed to share dais with both foreign ministers during the press conference.
Krishna wasn't aware that Gowdas love Qureshi no end and they have a born desire to be photographed with ISI chief. That way they would be able to increase their shelf life in the State.
SMK had a poser: "Was the Krishna-Qureshi spat script prepared in Karnataka."
S M Krishna was all ears to PC's take on Bhopal gas incident in the Rajya Sabha the other day. Seeing him deflect criticism and carry on with his arguments with seeming ease, he began to ponder on how he could get a performance-without-a-break tag aligned to his profile. The next day he reached out to Pak Foreign Minister Qureshi offering flood assistance to the neighbouring country. By making this call, he was preparing the ground for Qureshi's visit to India later this year. But Baburao Godbole was still finding it difficult to come to terms with the events that happened last week. There were versions and more versions to the tale of mails. This week as well there is no end to the mail tales.
All that we have is one life. For others it is one life saddled with three wives. Imprints are visible in some parts of the country, more prominently in the South. The office discourse; heaps of classified documents and the emotional connect that we are besieged with now and then have more than one side to them. Simply put, the coin with two face is enough to dislodge the solitary take.
Kalmadi reached out to S M Krishna early morning to clear the air on taint tailing the CWG. Krishna to Kalmadi, "I have been waiting for this opportunity for ages." Not to be outdone, KMD clarified that preparations for Games had begun just two years ago.
Krishna stepped on the gas. " The murkier deals during Queen's baton hands me the lost and found opportunity to reach out to an audience that is waiting for ages to see me speak (Perhaps the mayhem the father-son duo had unleashed in K'taka was enough to see the likes of Krishna to go underground even during his tenure). The line i take here would open line of communication with Pak Foreign Minister, whose bullying tactics won't hold good once the discourse begins in B'lore and definitely not in New Delhi. This fact would be conveyed once Qureshi's aircraft enters Indian air space. THe inclement weather and airport disruptions stories would be a sureshot way to make him land in Bangalore." But KMD wasn't here to relive the Krishna-Qureshi spat moments. He cuts him short and produces the email sent by Indian High Commission, London. SMK has a close look at it and brings out another piece of email and throws at KMD. "i have been in possession of this email for ages, do you get this?"
KMD goes through the mail and time for him to bring clarity to the entire tale of mails and mates. Snatches of this conversation are available in the market.
"When Organisation Committee of CWG and IHC, London reached a stage of compatibility, they wanted the future discourse/discussion to be handled through email. The proposal of letter exchange was also taken up and subsequently dropped as it would have entailed huge outflow of cash and time. So email was propositioned and settled."
Continuing further, "We were literally carpet bombed with quantum of mails that emerged from IHC. Unfortunately, the OC office came across instances of poorly drafted contents and appearance and disappearance of footnotes in the series of communications. We couldn't leave at that. Our officials had to apply themselves and incorporate necessary changes here and there."
At this point SMK observed that OC office had actually hacked into the system of IHC, a charge vehemently denied by KMD.
He added, "the changes incorporated in the different contents were then sent back to IHC for final approval. The line that goes missing in your one page mail is in fact the footnote that my mail had running into second page. We didn't doctor or tamper it except place the footnote right next to the last para to give a ring of continuity and credibility to the content on car rates and future setting." At this point SMK looked at KMD and his officials and began to leave. Before the Foreign Minister could disappear from the scene, KMD brought another proposition to him. "The Passport Office in Pune is in shambles. There is a new commercial centre that has come up right at the heart of the city. I would request you to look into this proposal. Details have been sent on the email, entailing two and not one page." Krishna looked at KMD, broke few sentences in Kannad. And this was enough for Kalmadi to disappear.
Again an illustration of Krishna caught in a dilemma of sorts paralysed at the extraordinary tale weaved by no less than a man hailing from his neighbouring state.
He reached out to Gowdas of Karnataka to secure a perfect place for him to host Qureshi and he would love to live that moment where media is miles and miles away.
Gowdas had brought two conditions on table. First, the father-son duo should be made party to the parleys between Krishna and Qureshi. Second they should be allowed to share dais with both foreign ministers during the press conference.
Krishna wasn't aware that Gowdas love Qureshi no end and they have a born desire to be photographed with ISI chief. That way they would be able to increase their shelf life in the State.
SMK had a poser: "Was the Krishna-Qureshi spat script prepared in Karnataka."
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Three idiots for the second time by Puneet Rajhans
Sony provided the opportunity to have a second go at Three IDiots.
Three Idiots provides interesting insights into the working of the Indian system. But the flick trips on occasions and could have been further edited.
The sight of three characters (Aamir, Joshi and Maddy) atop a water tank with Qutab Minar in the background brought forth the Aamir's recent releases having Delhi link.From Rang de basanti to Fanaa, the shots were in places like Humayun tomb, Lodhi Garden and India Gate. In 3id the taxi he boards at imperial college has a fictitious number plate DL 2T C 2347. Because majority of taxis in Delhi have DL Y number plates. Well, the SUV that maddy drives from Delhi to Shimla has a proportionate number DL 3C BA 0778. But the route shown in the first part where water is flowing alongside the road stretch comes on the way to Manali and not on the Delhi-Shimla route.
When Farhan is seen arguing with his father on the career he should take, there is a tinge of Bihari accent in it. Probably to do with his stay in Jamshedpur where he did his schooling. "Ignore kar yaar" is his riposte to every challenge that comes his way.
The character of Virus who goes by rule book and is the most inflexible specie on earth has a strong resemblance to the man from south who has been nominated to Upper House and his strong urge to see the games don't succeed as his nomination didn't happen earlier. Virus had the knack to kick off unnecessary ruckus, thus giving the three ids enough elbowroom to create nuisance. Punctuated with these situations, the film strays a bit in the second half but recovers fast when the action shifts to Shimla. Chatur character has been overplayed and his idiosyncracies on West triggered dreams and moolah is a bit unrealistic. The price tag character played by fiancé of Kareena brings the twist in the tale.
Finally the man with 400 patents and locked in the climes of Ladakh are something one needs to ponder over. All in all a good attempt with few glitches here and there.
Three Idiots provides interesting insights into the working of the Indian system. But the flick trips on occasions and could have been further edited.
The sight of three characters (Aamir, Joshi and Maddy) atop a water tank with Qutab Minar in the background brought forth the Aamir's recent releases having Delhi link.From Rang de basanti to Fanaa, the shots were in places like Humayun tomb, Lodhi Garden and India Gate. In 3id the taxi he boards at imperial college has a fictitious number plate DL 2T C 2347. Because majority of taxis in Delhi have DL Y number plates. Well, the SUV that maddy drives from Delhi to Shimla has a proportionate number DL 3C BA 0778. But the route shown in the first part where water is flowing alongside the road stretch comes on the way to Manali and not on the Delhi-Shimla route.
When Farhan is seen arguing with his father on the career he should take, there is a tinge of Bihari accent in it. Probably to do with his stay in Jamshedpur where he did his schooling. "Ignore kar yaar" is his riposte to every challenge that comes his way.
The character of Virus who goes by rule book and is the most inflexible specie on earth has a strong resemblance to the man from south who has been nominated to Upper House and his strong urge to see the games don't succeed as his nomination didn't happen earlier. Virus had the knack to kick off unnecessary ruckus, thus giving the three ids enough elbowroom to create nuisance. Punctuated with these situations, the film strays a bit in the second half but recovers fast when the action shifts to Shimla. Chatur character has been overplayed and his idiosyncracies on West triggered dreams and moolah is a bit unrealistic. The price tag character played by fiancé of Kareena brings the twist in the tale.
Finally the man with 400 patents and locked in the climes of Ladakh are something one needs to ponder over. All in all a good attempt with few glitches here and there.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Rewinding in Delhi by Puneet Rajhans
You got to give to the city the choices it offers. Choices the political establishment throws up; choices the working class seeks and the ones that we are confronted as we step out. You are spoilt for choices and all these situations look good as long as the evening doesn't set in. A late evening outing could be as painful as hitting the jungle terrain with no safety kits. Looking back the city's transformation isn't all that a sweet deal as the beast is on the prowl. A tinker with possibilities could be promising or a drain on your thoughts depending on how compatible you are with the surroundings. Time to do a rewind.
Once upon a time in Delhi
- the much-revered JRD Tata sweating it out at Jt Secy's office when licence raj was the norm.
- when Dhiru bhai came to the city and all the big politicos in attendance to have a word.
- the much-respected Ratan Tata pitching tent in Delhi to secure an alliance with S'pore airlines only to be thwarted by sinister elements.
- the traffic was nearly proportionate to the number of people residing in the city.
- the city was witness to Ambys and Fiats sharing space with the much-desired DTC buses. The DTC buses of that make are visible on the Delhi-Ajmer route alone these days.
- you could possibly reach DU (North Campus) from your place of residence in just under 10Rs; nowadays it sets you back by at least 40Rs. JNU could also be reached in just under 5Rs.
- the DTC tickets priced at 25, 40 and possibly 60 paise with 12.50 Rs bus pass the most cherished possession.
- you could enter Parliament from C Sec side and exit towards Vijay Chowk with seamless ease.
- you could possibly see Indira Gandhi's convoy of three to four Ambys coming from Sunehari Bagh Road side and proceeding towards 1 Saf Road. The windows had just curtains and there was no such thing as tinted glasses or taint tailing a leader. The last time you saw the leader of that calibre was Narashima Rao as his convoy passed through Krishna Menon Marg with pedestrian movement not restricted to the scale that is visible now.
- your access to the picture of Super Star of '70s and '80s peeing off in the bushes of Willingdon Crescent Road.
- the Illustrated Weekly of India having a cover story "Finished?" following a series of misses from AB. The star had his comeback opportunity with "Hum".
- AB marking his presence in J N Stadium in '82 Asian Games and the crowd going berserk when he left.
- AIR in the evening news bullettin confirming AB's resignation from Parliament in the summer of '87 as the cesspool of politics was too much for him.
- a boy (barely in his teens) going to Ajmer (his maiden visit)with a prayer to Khwaja (as he put the 50 Rs note in the big vessel placed on the right side in the Dargah) that he could make it to the film industry only to be rudely told that vacancies weren't there for the next 10 years.
- India Post and Business and Political Observer newspapers hitting the stands in '87 only to fold up later.
- the Jat leader from Haryana giving his piece of mind to A Shourie on a landline and the entire conversation (all expletives included) carried in toto the next day and this setting in place an entire new tribe which couldn't do away with abuse.
- the Human Rights concert taking place in J N Stadium in '88; the tickets for which could be procured from Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg (TOI).
- the Vijay Chowk wasn't the den for Journos to spell out the rights of every child to free education in India, Pak And B'desh.
- Salma Sultan and Raman taking to news bulletin reading on Doordarshan, with none leaving the chair until the exercise was complete. Nowadays the likes of Ka Se do a disappearing act (for a while) while sharing space with another anchor in the 8 pm news slot. Still the Sena tigress/airport gatecrasher takes the cake on thoughts tears and prayers (day in and day out). Govinda Willing would root, pray for Ka Se for entire life (Aug.to Dec. to be carried in 2011 as well)
- enamoured by the success of India in '83 World Cup, Indira Gandhi and a host of others visited Feroshah Kotla Stadium only to witness the mayhem that Malcom Marshall had unleashed as he ripped apart Indian batting lineup in the India-Windies Test match.
- the flicks like Chashme Buddor (Farooq Sheikh waiting for a bus right opposite Embassy of Nepal) and Burning Train (Dharmendra speeding with his machine in the city) showed the breathing space that city roads were blessed with.
- the Delhi Cantonment Station having metre gauge trains going right up to A'bad'; and there were no such trains with which you could return from Ajmer the same day.
- the Delhi Mumbai sector having not more than four flights a day with Indian Airlines having the first and last mover advantage.
- the landline being the sole mode to connect, we were years and years away from the cell soaked conversations that is as pathetic as the innumerable TV debates. The scene from “Jane Bhi Do Yaaro” where Naseeruddin Shah is all hooked up to a landline conversation with his opponents sums up the invincibility of this machine.
- the city theatres like Kamal and Archna playing host to flicks like “Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyo Aata hai”and “Return of Bruce Lee” have metamorphosed themselves to commercial enterprise of a different order.
- the city's airport/station/bus terminals were more of an isolated spots. Nowadays you are assailed by bunch of thugs as you step out from theses places of never-ending commotion. You haven't been through with one battle; the second is staring you right at your face.
-the rude contests were few and far. Now there aren't good tidings that you can emotionally connect to.
- the seat of power Parliament didn't face as much disruptions as it sees today. The Finance Minister is on a short fuse and this is his third foray (this year)in that direction.
Once upon a time in Delhi
- the much-revered JRD Tata sweating it out at Jt Secy's office when licence raj was the norm.
- when Dhiru bhai came to the city and all the big politicos in attendance to have a word.
- the much-respected Ratan Tata pitching tent in Delhi to secure an alliance with S'pore airlines only to be thwarted by sinister elements.
- the traffic was nearly proportionate to the number of people residing in the city.
- the city was witness to Ambys and Fiats sharing space with the much-desired DTC buses. The DTC buses of that make are visible on the Delhi-Ajmer route alone these days.
- you could possibly reach DU (North Campus) from your place of residence in just under 10Rs; nowadays it sets you back by at least 40Rs. JNU could also be reached in just under 5Rs.
- the DTC tickets priced at 25, 40 and possibly 60 paise with 12.50 Rs bus pass the most cherished possession.
- you could enter Parliament from C Sec side and exit towards Vijay Chowk with seamless ease.
- you could possibly see Indira Gandhi's convoy of three to four Ambys coming from Sunehari Bagh Road side and proceeding towards 1 Saf Road. The windows had just curtains and there was no such thing as tinted glasses or taint tailing a leader. The last time you saw the leader of that calibre was Narashima Rao as his convoy passed through Krishna Menon Marg with pedestrian movement not restricted to the scale that is visible now.
- your access to the picture of Super Star of '70s and '80s peeing off in the bushes of Willingdon Crescent Road.
- the Illustrated Weekly of India having a cover story "Finished?" following a series of misses from AB. The star had his comeback opportunity with "Hum".
- AB marking his presence in J N Stadium in '82 Asian Games and the crowd going berserk when he left.
- AIR in the evening news bullettin confirming AB's resignation from Parliament in the summer of '87 as the cesspool of politics was too much for him.
- a boy (barely in his teens) going to Ajmer (his maiden visit)with a prayer to Khwaja (as he put the 50 Rs note in the big vessel placed on the right side in the Dargah) that he could make it to the film industry only to be rudely told that vacancies weren't there for the next 10 years.
- India Post and Business and Political Observer newspapers hitting the stands in '87 only to fold up later.
- the Jat leader from Haryana giving his piece of mind to A Shourie on a landline and the entire conversation (all expletives included) carried in toto the next day and this setting in place an entire new tribe which couldn't do away with abuse.
- the Human Rights concert taking place in J N Stadium in '88; the tickets for which could be procured from Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg (TOI).
- the Vijay Chowk wasn't the den for Journos to spell out the rights of every child to free education in India, Pak And B'desh.
- Salma Sultan and Raman taking to news bulletin reading on Doordarshan, with none leaving the chair until the exercise was complete. Nowadays the likes of Ka Se do a disappearing act (for a while) while sharing space with another anchor in the 8 pm news slot. Still the Sena tigress/airport gatecrasher takes the cake on thoughts tears and prayers (day in and day out). Govinda Willing would root, pray for Ka Se for entire life (Aug.to Dec. to be carried in 2011 as well)
- enamoured by the success of India in '83 World Cup, Indira Gandhi and a host of others visited Feroshah Kotla Stadium only to witness the mayhem that Malcom Marshall had unleashed as he ripped apart Indian batting lineup in the India-Windies Test match.
- the flicks like Chashme Buddor (Farooq Sheikh waiting for a bus right opposite Embassy of Nepal) and Burning Train (Dharmendra speeding with his machine in the city) showed the breathing space that city roads were blessed with.
- the Delhi Cantonment Station having metre gauge trains going right up to A'bad'; and there were no such trains with which you could return from Ajmer the same day.
- the Delhi Mumbai sector having not more than four flights a day with Indian Airlines having the first and last mover advantage.
- the landline being the sole mode to connect, we were years and years away from the cell soaked conversations that is as pathetic as the innumerable TV debates. The scene from “Jane Bhi Do Yaaro” where Naseeruddin Shah is all hooked up to a landline conversation with his opponents sums up the invincibility of this machine.
- the city theatres like Kamal and Archna playing host to flicks like “Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyo Aata hai”and “Return of Bruce Lee” have metamorphosed themselves to commercial enterprise of a different order.
- the city's airport/station/bus terminals were more of an isolated spots. Nowadays you are assailed by bunch of thugs as you step out from theses places of never-ending commotion. You haven't been through with one battle; the second is staring you right at your face.
-the rude contests were few and far. Now there aren't good tidings that you can emotionally connect to.
- the seat of power Parliament didn't face as much disruptions as it sees today. The Finance Minister is on a short fuse and this is his third foray (this year)in that direction.
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