Monthly Archives: February 2012

Feb 26 2012
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Writing

Food Snobbery/ Vir Sanghvi/ Rude Food

I have skimmed, glanced and sifted through several writeups by Vir Sanghvi on food. Reason being my fondness for food and the dynamics that go into making it tasty. Oft I’ve benefited by the way of knowing the source, quality and methodology of cooking. What leaves me cold is the narration of his experiences associated with the process. The list of endless luxury hotels whose hospitality he has availed globally, the famous and rich who have played host to him, the acclaimed chefs who have tickled his taste buds and the celebrities whose company he has enjoyed is inexhaustible.

To a person like me, who is an ordinary mortal, his encounters and experiences are totally distant. They are the stuff dreams are made of, absolutely beyond reach and purview. I hardly am able to relate to his culinary extravaganzas. The locales are usually exotic, the dishes usually non-existent in my vocabulary, the ingredients must be growing somewhere in his exalted world unknown to us.

What he succeeds in doing is driving home the point that his reach and appetite, both are limitless. His contacts like his taste are not for the likes of me. I’m suitably impressed with his knowledge of every aspect of food, yet am left with a residual irritation. It stems from the fact that the focus of  the narration is as much food as flaunting his contacts and knowledge.

The kinds of food he talks about are not likely to be tasted by the vast majority like me who visit a 5 star hotel about once in a year ,that too on some occasion. We usually wait to be invited for obvious reasons. I’m sure the likes of me would be looked upon as bourgeoise by you and be frowned upon.

I would be scared to pronounce most of the dishes in your presence, let alone have the temerity of ordering them lest considered a wannabe. To me , you sound like a tease, who reveals a bit of this richie- rich world, yet ensures that one can’t actually be a part of it. Your write ups belong to this world which exists only on TV for us.

My staple diet when I step out to eat is Choley Bhatura and all such savoury items. Left to you, you would make ‘it’ also sound like some exotic dish which could probably be traced to Changez Khan. It will rob us of our pleasure. We will end up rolling it on our tongues like your extra virgin olive oil and trying to decipher its flavours and trace where the chanas were probably grown and who sowed them. Today, I wept at all the inferior olive oil I had consumed and vowed to read articles suitable to my socio economic group.

Dear Vir Sanghviji, I would call it food snobbery, clearly meant to alienate mere mortals like me who can’t rub shoulders with people in your league, who have the advantage of being editors and hence are the natural choice of those who want their food and joints to be written about. I would definitely endorse the heading ‘rude food’ as it rudely reminds us of who you are.

Meera

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Feb 24 2012
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Ramdev’s Lila at Ramlila Ground

Finally the much awaited verdict has arrived.  The Supreme Court has decided who is to blame for the drama that had unfolded on that fateful day. But what a verdict! I had never come across blame allocated in % form. The 75% of the share goes to the govt and the remaining rests with the Baba. What a justice! Now in this same ratio the money has to be shelled out for the injured, maybe 75% of the injuries will be paid for by the govt. and the rest by the Baba. Oh baba what a mess!

Now, the entire world had witnessed the turn of events, it was diligently captured by the media and replayed relentlessly. The media had not failed to show even a dog howling in the melee that ensued, so where is the mystery? This whole charade of justice being done was just to palliate some and not to ruffle some. The shared blame made it difficult for anyone to pick cudgels on anyones behalf. The world had already judged the proceedings.

The verdict ensured that none blamed the govt. and yet denial of justice won’t be an issue. It was frustrating to see justice thwarted and only petty policemen prosecuted. It’s more important to unearth who had ordered the unleashed cruelty and nail the culprits who misused the authority. Though you hardly earn any brownie points for solving the mystery. The answers are obvious.

The issue is not about the cause and motive of Ramdev’s followers but it is regarding what could account for the unprovoked attack? It shows a clueless and insecure govt which would do any absurdity to avoid discomfort. The leaders spoke in forked tongues and swung from appeasement to arrest. Where is the balance and maturity required?

Can we trust such bunch of clowns to run such a great nation? As I’m typing this blog, some of our leaders are busy giving asinine and innane interviews on television.People like Renuka Chaudhary go to prove that vocabulary doesn’t translate into content. A fluent Mani Shankar making a case of Narendra Modi not being an apt Prime Minestrial candidate at this moment is also a waste of time as if his opinion and reasons are a secret. It this wastage of nations time that needs to be checked.

Are we interested in knowing which Dalit Rahul Gandhi spent the night with, his menu or his taste in clothes. Please spare us this assault on our senses and do justice to the people and don’t make a mockery of verdicts which have the power to convey a message to the mighty.

Meera

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Feb 17 2012
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Papa CJ versus Vir Das/ World of Stand up Comedy

The world of stand up comedy is maturing and gradually gaining both acceptance and popularity. Some very commendable efforts have been up for viewing in the recent past and both deserve mention. Though the genre was same yet they had different flavour.

The first show that i wish to mention was hosted by PAPA C.J. It was a sheer delight to be the part of the audience. His sparkling wit and impromptu improvisation were par excellence. His engagement with the audience was endearing. The sting was effectively covered with charm. Though at times below the belt yet it never touched vulgarity. The disarming smile left no community offended . I could not remember smile leaving me at any moment. He made every age group a participant and each ethnic group free of rancour.

The secret of his success lay in his great personal charm, a more compact group, more competitive ticket pricing and interactive approach. It was not a pre rehearsed performance and its course was directed by the mood of the audience. He was also graceful at introducing few other promising stand up artists. It was a delightful evening.

The other artist who deserves mention is Vir Das. His show’ History of India’ was an ambitious project aimed at billings more than anything else. It was a mammoth task and required great study, accumulation of facts, the facts linked to contemporary occurrences with lot of effort. It was a script which was followed without deviation. It was aided with the backdrop of scenes corresponding to the narration. I could commend the effort, but the very effort deprived it of its charm.

There was a sprinkling of wit, sometimes generous and often niggardly. Plenty of gaps between laughs. Could not engage the entire crowd as Sri Fort Auditorium could distance you. I would applaud the attempt, but when we try to force wit into a finely crafted storyline, we only manage to ruin its fabric. He could have left history alone and embarked on a journey of pure uninformative fun.

I’m definitely looking forward to their future performances with anticipation. Hope Vir Das would not disappointment. I also wish that PAPA CJ would make more appearances as the Delhi needs a belly full of laughter with ‘malice towards none’.

Meera

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Feb 14 2012
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Love and Marriage- idle/ random thoughts

Some quotations on this Valentine Day. A word of caution to tackle the heady feeling.

Love is the quest, marriage the conquest and divorce the inquest.

– Nothing beats love at first  sight except love with insight.

– Love at first sight may be all right, but it might be wise to take a second look.

– A man doesn’t know the value of a woman until he begins paying alimony.

-‘ Puppy love’ is just a prelude to dog’s life.

-The trouble with blind love is that it doesn’t stay that way.

-Love quicken all the senses except common sense.

-Love is different from delirium but it’s hard to tell the difference.

-Love is a disease you can’t ‘catch’ without being exposed.

-Marriage is a process where love ripens into vengeance.

-Honeymoon is a period between dating and debating.

-Romance is like a game of chess, one false move and you are mated.

-In love cupidity meets stupidity.

-A romantic fire  is often kindled by a little spark in the park.

– Courtship is a period during which a girl decides whether or not she can do any better.

-It is well for a girl with a future to avoid a man with a past.

-There’s nothing like marriage to breakup a beautiful romance.

-Courtship unlike proper punctuation is a period before a sentence.

HAVE A GREAT TIME WITH THESE IDLE THOUGHTS TO SOBER YOU ON THIS DAY.    ISSUED IN PUBLIC INTEREST

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Feb 12 2012
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Salman Khurshid – checkmate

Election Commission’s rap on the knuckle for Salman Khurshid has made him more belligerent rather than sorry. Was it a slip that slipped or it was an intentional slip having desired effect. To rake up Batla House encounter and reservation was definitely deliberately ill and mistimed. The ripple effect got him what nothing else could have. The attention, he was screaming for.

Mr. Khurshid, you have managed to grab eye- balls but at a heavy price to your image. You had managed to keep a secular profile not allowing your Muslim identity to be a bargaining chip, but it seems you have fallen on bad times and have to resort to every trick of the trade. You have anyway been garnering more than your share of prime time since times Ramdev (immemorial). You have been talking non stop unmindful of the diminishing audience. You have spoken about every aspect irrespective of your expertise, which now lies forgotten.

How many reservations can our country take? The size of the pie remains same, only serving gets smaller, but why should you bother as moneyed and influential people like you don’t rely on these quotas. The Muslims are well aware of the fact that there’s nothing left to milk now. The move will only create unrest and benefit none. You would serve your community better by sharing your wealth and knowledge with them. This is also preached by your religion that you should give away some percentage in charity.

You could also spread awareness & enlightenment among them and teach the value of education. Your brethren are both smart and intelligent. They do not need crutches, they are totally capable of making a mark without your having interfered with only elections on your mind and not their welfare.

You are no better than those parties who only use them as vote banks without any connect with their real anguish and needs. You are rather cheating them to please the party you owe allegiance to. You, out of all people was not expected to do this. All the Muslim’s can see through your sudden concern and would be intelligent enough to see you for what you are, which is a ‘puppet’. This is not real you, or I fear that this’ is’ real you. Whatever the reality, you need to face it, and that is — all communities, are only concerned with development, jobs, freedom and equality.

Please don’t isolate them, as their needs are identical to those of any youth irrespective of their religion. Please speak in one voice for the nation. Your forked tongue exposes a petty game which nobody is willing to play any more. There’s a life beyond politics, live that also sometime.

Meera

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Feb 10 2012
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Newspapers at War- Times of India benam The Hindustan Times

The Times of India just glorified itself by printing at regular intervals how they had overtaken The Hindustan Times in circulation, translating into number of copies sold. Passing of this information to its readers became its sacred duty and obsession. It definitely raises the question,” “What is the primary function of a newspaper?” To the best of my knowledge, the purpose is to give information and facts in the most impartial, factual & in a unpartisan manner. Over the years, it has acquired many other roles – through advertising etc., but it is primarily meant to disseminate information in the true spirit of reporting. Herein lies the credibility of a newspaper.

Of late, we have been exposed to commercial face of a paper. The focus has shifted from authenticity to salability. The idea is to sell as many copies & do whatever it takes to achieve this goal.

In this scenario, good reporting, editing and honest appraisal have taken a drubbing. It’s like any other product. Content has become subservient to intent. The style is not to engage but enrage and provoke, honesty and integrity being the first casualty. The reporting of Speak Asia case is an example of boorish, unreasonable, one sided and vicious reporting. Here no effort was made to present the point of view of the company and its panelists whose bread and butter depended on it. Neither the struggle of  the company in Supreme Court to start paying the panelists was reported. No effort was made to show the faith people had on the company. Shame on one-sided poor reporting of The Times of India.

Embellishing the content, though frowned upon, was still tolerated, but biased reporting has become the norm now and the public seems powerless in the presence of omnipotent media.

For long I’ve patronised both these newspapers for different reasons. Both had their own lure, but of late The Times of India seems to have increased readership but touched new lows in standard of reporting. I can now with conviction change loyalty.

It is a sad day for newspapers when it is reduced to boasting of copies sold rather than devote space to something more gravitas in nature touching people’s’ lives. We had more faith on print media vis-a-vis Television for obvious reasons, but it seems this paper is as much of a nautanki as ‘Star Plus’.

We only hope that the learned editors would look at the editors of yester years and rise above mediocrity. Their aim would be reporting, not revenue. Sterling examples of conscientious reporting should find space rather than boastful and childish claims  of two bawling kids. Let this one- upmanship stop News papers should take on the mantle of showing truth to millions of credulous readers.

Meera

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Feb 07 2012
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Kolaveri Di Effect

Why has Kolaveri taken India by storm? It’s strange, isn’t it that mediocrity thrives. No you are not shocked as perhaps you have got accustomed to it. As far as I could see there was nothing to commend the song, lyrics, music or voice quality. What was the appeal? Is it the lack of discernment or refinement that plagues us.

We are swept to the extent that we deem it right to invite the singer to award functions. But what is most confounding is the fact that he has been invited to lecture at famous B Schools. Where has good sense fled? Are we here to be lectured by accidental heroes or analyse how this blasphemy could have occured. I’m sure we need a psychologist to demystify this mass psychology.

Are we so influenced by hysteria surrounding anything that we take leave of our judgement. I’m reminded of the crowd in ‘Julius Ceaser’ which got swayed any way which way by mere rhetoric. ‘Judgement thou are fled to beast’. Are we so bereft of ideas or refinement that we’d idolize anyone? We are inundated with talent in our country and run short of platforms for showcasing them, so why this hue and cry about this very ordinary drag of a song?

Am I missing something vital? Does the song have something profound that has eluded me or there are many others who feel the same way. Is it a  case of ‘Much Ado About Nothing?’I would be glad to hear some opinions which can shed some light on it or I’d keep feeling kolaveri di at this misplaced adulation.

Before we get clobbered by another Kolaveri di, it’s time to shake this herd mentality and develop individual taste, rather than be a nation of philistines.

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Feb 05 2012
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Chidambram- Off the Hook

A collective sigh of relief could be heard when the verdict came, ‘P. Chidambram not co-accused’. What a sigh it was with elections round the corner. I could almost hear Swamy squeal in anguish and BJP releasing the bated breath albeit a bit disappointed. But they are old hands at this game. As if anything would have happened even if he was included. After all he’s the Home Minister and has to put his home in order.

Mr. Chidambram dutifully called the emotion and expressionless Prime Minister who I believe was equally relieved, but you can only guess, as his expressions are stoic or as inscrutable as nothing. Cameras flashed, media charade  and circus began, the Barkhas and Rahul Kanwars would get another excuse to waste prime time. As if they need any excuse! The perennially invited guests, who probably sleep at the studio itself would put war paint on and the battle of light weights would begin with no conclusion.

I had forgotten that it was fashionable to not give conclusions if you wish to look like an intellectual. We should say that discussion goes on and great minds always differ. The Barkhas of the media will look suitably flustered at the so many warring dignitaries and play God while allotting time to them to speak, and then cut them short.

But the question is ,” Where is 2 G?’ I only see 3G on my phone so where has 2 G disappeared? Where is that space and where does it exist? What have we cancelled then? Who has got them now? If they are cancelled then where is the space? A wee bit confusing, isn’t it? Just like our very controlled and angry, patient and snarling Chidambranji. Now that he’s off the hook, what will happen to this hook?? Will it go waste or will it be used by the honourable Home Minister to dangle someone as revenge? Will it be the hook or rope of Agneepath? Then who would be Kancha Cheena? The answer is not difficult to find.

In U.P, which I could equate to ‘Mandwa of Agneepath’, I expect somebody to hang but why should I bother , I’m just an audience who will watch ‘Chikni chameli’ and go out. But the question still hangs in balance,” where is this 2G?” I only have 3G and I don’t who gave it to me?”

Meera

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Feb 02 2012
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Emasculated by Media. The Barkha Dutt Effect

It is with unbridled pleasure that I have commenced writing this post . I have been observing this phenomena for long, but it’s only very recently that I’ve begun to see a pattern in it. All news channels follow it. To simplify it I would call it ‘The Barkha Dutt effect’. I could have called it ‘Rahul Kanwar effect’ also. So you see the name is irrelevant but the effect is the same.

A talk show is organised, some important names are invited, some are permanent members of all discussions! Need I mention names! Why not? Some of them are Renuka Chaudhary, Mahesh Bhatt, Kapil Sibbal …and some ever-present sari clad and bindi bearing social activists etc. The list is long but so are the number of obliging channels.

Some of them barely manage to change clothes to reach the next beaming channel. The war paint never comes off. Help me coin a term for them.

Now come our anchors. The new Demi- Gods. They can zoom you in and out in the blink of an eye. Some of them are so ubiquitous by their presence that you suspect they too are carrying a change of clothes to talk to the next VIP .I often feel these channels have none other save these arrogant, inexperienced, brash, over exposed and over-confident youths.

Coming to what gives me pleasure. It is the treatment they meet out to the invited guests.They usually invite six of them together, reduce them into small frames where only their faces are visible. Then their ears are plugged and the charade begins. Some kind of discussion is kick started and the ball is all set to roll. The anchor asks one of them to speak and others look ready to pounce and the anchor on hot bricks all ready to butt in. Half way through the first speaker, a rebuttal, an interjection, a half accusation and an injured and self – righteous look stares through those frames.

All are begging to be heard, but nobody is listening. The anchor, let’s say Barkha says ,’your turn’, the other screams,’let me finish first’ the unheard says “why did you call me if I’m not allowed to speak’, the comparatively chastened says ‘can I speak’. All this commotion is punctuated by Barkha shrilly adding,’you have only ten seconds each to say what you want’ and the so-called dignitaries latch on to those ten seconds as if the world was coming to an end after that.

I can almost see Barkha’s shoulders shake in silent laughter in having reduced these pompous ,’me, myself’ people reduced into school kids vying for space and attention. This nautanki goes on day after day, like the soap operas of our TV channels. Same faces in different roles but saying the same things in different make-up and clothes.

How dare they eat into our national time when nothing gets said. Lungs have screamed out, hands have been shaken, thanks given and bonhomie enacted. Yet what has been achieved?

Barkha and the likes, if you can’t handle so many people then invite fewer. Let something be said which is complete in nature. Change the faces of invites who have a fresh perspective. Usually idle people are ready to oblige so you can judge their busy schedules by the number of their appearances. Allow them to have the dignity of not being cut short or rudely interrupted. But most important, do change the anchors also. We are quite bored of your all-pervasive and ubiquitous presence.

Please give us a break. We then just might watch your next circus.

Meera

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Feb 01 2012
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Writing

Nursery Admission Woes- Jai Human Resource Dept alias Kapil Sibalji

The nursery admission fracas, like each year raises several issues.The unhappy parents, disgruntled schools and helpless managements look on as govt. goes on a rampage making policies which are only aimed at veiling their failings at all cost. All involved find no justification in the process. Several children are left in the lurch with no points scored. The system is basically flawed and is unable to cater to the parents needs .Except for the points given on the basis of distance from the school and sibling, no other criteria makes any sense.

Schools are vying with each other to showcase their rating on social sensitivity scale. Points are proudly being allocated for being a single parent,  being a girl child or something as irrational as for the first-born. Why should a child with happily married parents be at a disadvantage or the one with both parents alive and healthy  be deprived of admission. Those who have the misfortune of being a male child are eternally doomed. What is their fault? Are we going overboard in the name of social justice or in the effort of trying to right the wrongs.

Let me list some of the fallout of the current system. We have come across some couples who desired to take a divorce on paper for mission admission. People opted to state that they were separated rather than being proud of being happily married which in itself is nigh impossible. The idea was to de- stress  the parents and make the system transparent but it has only compounded stress and added to chaos. Many parents are procuring fake certificates to gain point advantage. New scope for corruption has germinated.

Are we going the same way as the dowry law which has become draconian and is under serious deliberation. Must we always swing in extremes and not bring about balance. Is a male child to be penalised to bring equality? Sadly our govt. as usual is not moving towards root cause, but busy performing cosmetic surgery.

The glaring reasons are the failure of our govt. in providing quality education in its own schools and also its inability to change the thinking of people even after 6 decades of freedom. To hide its shortcomings, it has resorted to earning brownie points by forceful implementation of its rudderless policies.

The disappointment is writ large on parents faces. The point system has failed to make any point. It is a simple case of demand and supply A total lack of will on the part of our politicians has made a mockery of everything that we undertake. Instead of imposing policies on public schools which are by and large delivering, the focus should be on creating model schools at convenient distance for everyone.

Each school has the right to admit students according to its vision and the govt. has every right to make better schools as per their vision and admit students accordingly. But I will be failing in my duty if I don’t thank Kapilji for destroying  public schools, which have managed to do well, only because he had stayed away from them. Now that he has stepped in, we are assured of securing the last position in global ranking .

My next blog would be dedicated to reservations in nursery admissions

Jai Kapil Sibalji

Meera

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