Cricket v/s Media

I must confess I am not an ardent follower of any form of cricket. As a sport, I think I have better options to go for. However, recently concluded 2nd test match between India and South Africa had all the sparkles of highest level of competition. After a fine batting display, India could bowl out SA twice. Absence of Zaheer Khan was not to deter fine bowling performances from Harbhajan and Co. I think, coming into the game, if any player had the most amount of pressure on him, it must be Bhajji. On the heals of not having great performances in recent past, he led the attack in true style with lots of aggression. He clearly led the emotional display at the fall of last wicket in his own unique style. But I am not going to go on any longer praising Indian team. Hashim Amla played a superb knock; coming into the sub-continent, he stood out apart from some of the star players of SA team. Infact, Indian team has not been able to get his wicket so far.

But what I really want to highlight is the misery of sub-standard local media here. After India lost the first test of the series, sensationalist media personnel were acting like rottweilers hounding for Indian team players' blood. Like blood sucking vampires, players were called - traitors, villains and what not. Such channels and personnel should be ashamed of themselves and have dug their own graves after India has levelled the series. These personnel should do a bit of introspection and apologise to public and viewers. But I know nothing of this sort will happen simply because they are catering to the poor taste of some of the ill-educated, rude and ill-mannered and viewers. However, these channels and personnel cannot wash their hands on the basis of this group of viewers accepting them. A small group of people if given a chance can loot, rape or do arsoning but that does not make these activities, acceptable to a fair society. Standard of some of the media reporting is so gross that you almost feel repulsive and nauseating. It is high time media should report facts and truth with no salt or spices. We have enough of that on our dinner tables anyway.

NH24 - Complete Chaos

To Authorities/NHAI,

Please wake up and do something about the chaos on NH24 between Delhi and Ghaziabad. I need to use the highway to reach work and the chaos ensues every day unabated.
I invite fellow commuters to share their frustration.

Shobhana & Troupe - Interesting Fusion

Watching Shobana after watching Arangetram at Mandi House clearly exposed differences in a mature v/s newbie performances. After my last visit to Sai Audi (when the evening was wet, with spring setting firm foot on Delhi weather map), this visit was relatively calm and dry. Performance, in the beginning was quite traditional. Some idiot in the audience tried to record/click some photos of the danseuse to which she came up with the remark ... "please kill it". Immediately afterwards, another idiot got up and almost screamed from one of the back rows proclaiming his appreciation for her performance on behalf of Delhi-ites. To such people, I have a suggestion - you better speak for yourself, Sir! Amidst all this chaos she continued her performance till the time she was joined by her troupe of talented ladies. Till then, I had not seen Bharatnatyam performed on fast, peppy and even spicy pop tunes. But to top it all, the concluding performance of the dance moves on Bach's piece was beyoind imagination. This was an amazing fusion of Western classical music with traditional Indian dance form. I don't have enough words or wisdom to describe the experience at this stage, but I hope I am able to witness more such performances!

दया शंकर की दिअरी

आज शाम बारिश और खराब बारिश मैं दिल्ली की सड़कों पर जाते ही शंका थी की पता नहीं मेहनत सार्थक होगी या नहीं। साईं ऑडिटोरियम तक पहोंचने मैं कुछ वक़्त लगा; और प्ले था की शुरू होने का नाम ही नहीं ले रहा था। अन्ताथा प्ले शुरू हुआ और करीब करीब पूरे समय दर्शकों को बांधे रहा। आखिरी के १५ मिनेट कुछ पकड़ कमज़ोर रही पर उसका कारन स्क्रिप्ट ही है। आशीष विद्यार्थी, जैसी आशा थी उसके अनुरूप ही रहे - संवेदन शील और शक्तिशाली। इस सब के आलावा मजेदार रहा "सहयात्री" के साथ शाम ("संजोग" के बिना वोह भी ;-) ...

पारिवारिक पाठकों के लिए अर्थ समझना शायद मुश्किल नहीं होगा।

Times Of India Group - bunch of jokers

TOI Group is a bunch of jokers and nothing else! Imagine, I tried this morning to get complimentary invites to weekend events at Old Fort but was told that passes have finished by then. How is it possible to run out of passes within 30 minutes of disbursement. There was complete mayhem at their BSZ road office. People were shouting and obviously grieving the fact that I found least amusing. Anyway, Times jokers, start behaving and managing the show better; and do something about the quality of Times Of India (your c&£p newspaper). Sensationalism is your hallmark; now start behaving and start delivering real news.