Desicritics Author: srinadhm

Candle-light! - How Rang De Basanti Is Changing Society

srinadhm — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 00:08:44 EST

The outrage caused by the acquittal of Manu Sharma and his friends in the Jessica Lall murder case of 1999 sparked widespread protests. In fact, in an unprecedented move, NDTV urged its viewers to send SMS messages in support of a demand for a retrial. They promptly received well over a quarter of a million messages. So outraged were people that they flocked to marches and rallies, including a well-attended candle-light vigil at the India Gate.

Apparently, some sections of the press reported that the protesters were inspired by a very powerful scene from the recent Bollywood hit, Rang De Basanti. In the movie, an Indian Air Force pilot is killed while flying the dreaded MIG-29 Aircraft due to a faulty spare part. The Defence Minister squarely blames it on pilot error and neglect. The ensuing public outcry culminates in the mother of the pilot, played by Waheeda Rahman, leading a candle-light vigil at the India Gate demanding justice and her son's honor.

How a new generation of seemingly unlikely revolutionaries awakens is what the movie is about. This new brand of revolutionaries resorts to a rather simplistic solution of violence in the end and the poignancy of the non-violent candle-light vigil is somewhat undone, one might argue. What we can't argue with is that the movie itself struck a chord and has been a runaway success.

Now back to Jessica Lall. Late on an April night in 1999, 34 year old Jessica was working at a trendy bar frequented by Delhi's elite. Well past closing time, Manu Sharma, who is the son of a rich sugar mill owner and politician, demands a drink. Upon being refused, he allegedly shoots and kills Lall, with several people watching.

He is arrested, confesses, then retracts saying that his admission of guilt was under stress. Several years go by and several witnesses dramatically change their versions of what happened that night. And now, Sharma and his alleged accomplices are acquitted.

Traditionally, middle class, urban India has been a reluctant participant in protest marches, rallies, elections and the like. However, Jessica Lall seemed to have touched a chord with many. And the frustration with the ability of the rich and powerful to get away with murder, literally, seems to have triggered these unprecedented protests.

For now, they seem to be having some effect. For starters, the Delhi police have ordered a probe into evidence tampering in the case. While there have been no announcements about it, some acknowledge privately that the pressure from the public is going to be hard to ignore, as far as a retrial is concerned.

The Rang De Basanti style vigil seems to work. The SMS demands for retrial do seem to matter. Justice might not be elusive forever and with time, it might actually arrive.

And perhaps with time, we will learn not to look to Bollywood or NDTV to be the source of our collective social conscience. We might even come to realize that we don't need to look as far as Delhi to find instances of injustice.

And when we do come across injustice, here's to each of us finding it in us to light our own candle.

Bush Yatra: We Want Full Disclosure!

srinadhm — Sun, 5 Mar 2006 14:34:26 EST

Long after Bush departed for Pakistan and back for Washington since, we are left with one unanswered question:

What did President Bush eat for lunch when he was in Hyderabad?

How and why did the media miss out on this one? Did the CM of Andhra, YSR, feed him anything? I mean, were the Hyderabadi chefs unable to tickle the President's taste buds or what? Surely, if that was the case, this is an insult to the land of the Biryani. The most powerful man in the world comes calling and the journalists did not even report what he had for lunch?

Contrast that with the news from the previous day in Delhi, where we read about how Chef Oberoi put out an opulent platter featuring delicacies like Khumbi-ka-ras, Zaffrani Ghosht, Tandoori Salmon and Masala Chai Creme Brulee, among other things at Taj Palace. In fact, apparently, Bush approved of the food so much that he forgot to eat dessert because he was so busy thanking the chef for the outstanding food!

If that was lunch, dinner in Delhi was not to be left behind. Unlike previous state dinners, we are reliably informed, Rashtrapati Bhavan's chefs seem to have got their act together that night, serving up one appealing dish after another. The President and the first lady looked mighty pleased with the chow. And all this from a man who is not known to usually venture into ethnic fare.

Don't moments such as these make us all proud? Whether congress approves the nuclear deal remains to be seen, but for now, Bush's approval of desi food will do.

Beyond the nuclear deal and where the sniffer dogs and security men were put up and what the Prez had for lunch/dinner, there were some other stories that were featured as tier-2 news items. For example:

** There was this story about how several Members of the Lok Sabha who staged a dharna to protest against Bush's visit in the well of the Lok Sabha on Thursday morning were also spotted at the Purana Qila on Friday evening to hear the President speak.

** Then, there was this story about how US embassy officials acted high handed with prominent members of the Indian press at Hyderabad house. Evidently, the journalists in question refused to comply until someone from the Ministry of External Affairs in the Government came to request them.

** The "beggar story" was also buried underneath the main headlines and pictures of Bush with farmers and artisans at the N G Ranga Agricultural University (axe, basket, straw hat and all). The story goes that several thousand beggars were "shifted" out of Hyderabad by the Government due to a perceived security threat that they posed to the most powerful man in the world and his world class security cordon around him.

** And finally, the protests. While news about the ceremonial parade, the 21 gun salute, the parleys at Hyderabad House and the press conference thereafter was being belted out on the networks, hundreds of thousands of people were protesting against Bush, some protests even leading to injury and two deaths.

These tier-2 news stories might have led to some debate. They might have even evoked passions and a diverse range of opinions.

In the meantime, I am sure someone will tell us what Bush ate for lunch in Hyderabad.

Tendulkar - Is This The Beginning Of The End?

srinadhm — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 03:24:17 EST

Day 3 of the Faislabad test between India and Pakistan: Shoaib Akhtar pitches one short, Tendulkar thinks he has gloved the ball as it went through to wicketkeeper Akmal and decides to walk without waiting on the umpire.

Turns out, he actually had his hand off the handle at the moment of impact and hence might have been ruled not out had he stuck around for the decision.

If Moin Khan is to believed, Tendulkar was so terrified of Shoaib Akhtar steaming in to bowl on the dreaded Faislabad pitch that he decided to bail out. Fair enough? Well, after all Shoaib is one of the most feared bowlers of our time and he was pretty charged up (ask Dhoni for he bowled one aiming for his throat not too much later). Could Moin be on to something here?

Well, let us see.

The Faislabad pitch was indeed dreaded. Up until the point Sachin did his hasty retreat, no fewer than 824 runs had been scored in the test match for the loss of 12 wickets. When Sachin walked into bat, the score was 236 for 2.

The Faislabad wicket was indeed turning out to be a dreaded one. But not for anyone carrying anything remotely resembling a bat.

So, what is Mr. Khan talking about? Isn't it absurd? I mean, how dare he accuse a great like Sachin of running away from fast bowling on a dead pitch?

But then again, this is just the next in the series of phases that Tendulkar and the circus that goes along with his insitution go.

1989 to 1990: Debut at the age of 16. Breath of fresh air phase.
1990 to 1996: Young genius flaying attacks across the world phase.
1996 to 2004: The best batsman in the world phase.
2004 to now: No longer the best but senior statesman/run accumulator phase.

And now, in 2006, Moin has begun the debate on whether this is the "beginning of the end" phase.

All through these different phases, corporate houses, journalists, authors, editors, politicians, cricket administrators, coaches, agents and commentators alike have ridden the wave.

His emergence coincided with a time when sweeping changes were underway. Markets were being liberalized. Doordarshan was giving way to Cable Television. With Gavaskar having retired and Kapil Dev on the decline, a fresh, young, dynamic figure-head was needed.

Back in in those days, there were no Paes/Bhupathi, Sania Mirza, Miss World titles, Infosys, Lagaan at the Oscars or American Presidents coming the Delhi way.

Sachin was the good news everyone was waiting for. And often times, the only good news around.

All through the saga from 1989 to date, a multi million dollar industry has thrived with him at the center. It showed stellar growth in the pre -Dravid/Sehwag/Yuvraj days when he was the only wicket standing between opponent teams and victory. It continued to flourish through the dark days of match fixing where he emerged squeaky clean. It got a shot in the arm when he returned from his Father's funeral to be with the World Cup squad. Even an indifferent captaincy reign and a series of painful injuries did not prevent the industry from chugging along nicely.

Books were written. Newspaper columns by former and current players paid their "Tendulkar tax" faithfully. Visiting team captains were made to mouth a tribute to him in every interview conducted on Indian soil. Commentators were besting each other to win the "Praise Sachin" contest. Awards were bestowed from a range of people from Tyre companies to the President of India. And of course, he was out there selling us everything from energy bars to automobiles and everything in between.

In the post 2004 era, the industry slowed down. Sehwag, Yuvi and Dravid now sell more on TV. Rival captains now talk of others as being the prized scalp. And Mandira Bedi can talk about others without feeling guilty. Most pundits would probably agree that Tendulkar has at least another couple of years at the highest level. I mean didn't Steve Waugh score most of his runs at the twilight of his career?

So, there is still some life left in the Tendulkar industry. And it is that life that Moin Khan is trying to latch on to.

What better way to do that than to question how much life he has left.

It Is Included!

srinadhm — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 01:40:23 EST

"Do you want Cucumber Salad or Spicy Potato Salad with your Veggie Wrap, sir?".

I get asked this question every time I go to my favorite Desi fast food place in Dallas. My reflex response to this question used to be "Well, who the heck really cares, just give me the darn wrap". Oh well, after hearing the usual "But sir it is included with the wrap" reply a few times, I have softened up and invariably end up munching the actually not-spicy-at-all Potato salad or the very mundane Cucumber salad with the oh, so delicious veggie wrap.

"It is included, sir" also rears its head when I am traveling. For instance on more than one occasion I have been on flights in India which are so short in duration. For example, the 40 minute Mumbai-Baroda flight. Take the 10 minute for take off and 10 minute for landing out of that and the flight attendants have 20 minutes to get the meal service out of the way.

Never mind the fact that my sister in Mumbai has just fed me my evening snack and my Mom will have a hearty meal waiting for me in a short while, when the flight attendant comes around and asks "Veg or Non-Veg, sir?", I invariably co-operate in pulling off yet another "feed everyone in 20 minutes" routine. Hey, but what the heck - it is included.

There is definitely something about food that comes as part of something else you have paid for. It is like you feel, you've earned it. I mean honestly, how many people have you seen refuse an Airline meal? I have seen very few. If you're asleep when the meal service came out, you almost feel left out when you wake up and see everyone else with plates on their tray tables.

I had to get my Multiple entry visa to the US stamped again recently when I was in Mumbai. I had availed of the "lounge facility" by paying an extra Rs. 150. The facility included a place to sit before the interview, a locker to put your stuff, a bus ride to the American consulate with a jump in the queue there and of course a choice of Tea/Coffee and Sandwich/Samosa.

I was about an hour early for my 11 am appointment. As I took a seat and awaited my batch to be called out, I heard the officer calling out the 10 am folks to proceed. "But, what about 9 am sir", a voice shouted out to him. It was the guy in a brown shirt who had just entered the lounge. The officer looked at the guy strangely and asked him to cut the queue and come with him since he was already an hour late and there was a chance that the consulate would not admit him. It could take weeks before he could apply again, if he didn't get there pronto.

"Wait 5 mins, sir", the guy with the 9 am appointment said to the astonished officer. Before the officer could react, he quickly grabbed himself a Samosa and a Chai.

But, of course. It was included.