Well it now looks as if the so called rogues are having the last laugh.The film industry is showering both Shakthi Kapoor and Aman Verma with irrefusable offers.Starring them opposite Aishwarya,Rani and the like.They have apologised to the film industry and the whole matter has been forgotten.Life after the sting operation has never looked better for both of them.
Even BBC will be doing a 45 minute documentry on Shakthi Kapoor called the 'Uncrowned Star of India'.BBC wants to shoot his life and work in Bollywood.Also to trace the history of sting operations in journalism and its impact on people's lives.'Duniya main hungama ho gaya',says Shakthi.And Aman says he had never received so many offers from the TV channels and from Bollywood.A blessing in disguise,says he.His hands are literally full and Aman is on a roll.
What an irony!.And now the tormentor is becoming the tormented.Both Shakthi and Aman have filed cases against India TV for invading upon their privacy and defaming them.What happened Rajat Sharma?.Cowed down by Balasaheb? Or some invisible force?.Or is it not adding to the TRP?.Or has it boomeranged?
Thursday, March 31, 2005
What Gandhiji thought about mercy-killing
While the Terri Schiavo controversy rages,I was reminded of an incident in the Sabarmati ashram about which I had read many years ago.A maimed calf lay in the ashram and despite the best medical attention,the doctors and surgeon threw in the towel.The suffering of the calf was severe and Gandhiji after dicussions with fellow ashramites decided to end the acute pain and agony which the calf was going through by ending its life.He got the doctor to inject the calf with with a quietus(a poison injection) and in a few minutes it was all over.
Now,the question that arose in Gandhiji's mind was would he apply the same principle in the case of human beings?.And what about himself?.His answer was in the affirmative.Just like a surgeon who commits himsa when he uses his knife to cut a patient's body,under exceptional circumstances it may be necessary to go a step further and disconnect life from the body and relieve the sufferer of the most acutest pain he was experiencing.
Now,the question that arose in Gandhiji's mind was would he apply the same principle in the case of human beings?.And what about himself?.His answer was in the affirmative.Just like a surgeon who commits himsa when he uses his knife to cut a patient's body,under exceptional circumstances it may be necessary to go a step further and disconnect life from the body and relieve the sufferer of the most acutest pain he was experiencing.
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
To Live Or Not To Live,To Die Or Not To Die
That is the controversy which is raging over Terri Schiavo.And almost all conceivable groups have jumped into the fray.Politicians,religious groups,social conservatives,social liberals et al.For the last 15 years,Terri has been in a vegetative state.And during this period,the feeding tube has been inserted and removed several times due to judicial intervention.And Terri continues to live.Though she may not live any longer as the countdown stated some 11 days ago.As per medical experts she might live for another three or four days.Her husband Michael does not want her to live in such a pathetic state and says Terri would not have wished to live in such a manner.Her parents though insist that there is a glimmer of life still and there is hope that she might still survive.Of course all these are debatable issues and experts will have their own say.
The key question that arises is whether she should be allowed to die with dignity or should be kept further under a life-support system.And if so for how long?.So it is a case between reality and morality.Surely fifteen years is along period to decide on such a matter.But then who is going to bell the cat?.Terri has become a cause celebre for the right to life movement.And they are moving heaven and earth to get the tube back.Unfortunately,Terri has not left a living will behind.Perhaps then Michael could have done what she wanted.To die honourably.It will be a great tragedy if she were made to live in an incapacitated state just on plain moral grounds.
I think the answer lies in leaving it to nature and allow it to take its own course.It is not even euthanasia.It is the right thing to do than keeping a comatose person artificially alive for an indefinite period.Just as there is a right to live,there is also a right to die.
The key question that arises is whether she should be allowed to die with dignity or should be kept further under a life-support system.And if so for how long?.So it is a case between reality and morality.Surely fifteen years is along period to decide on such a matter.But then who is going to bell the cat?.Terri has become a cause celebre for the right to life movement.And they are moving heaven and earth to get the tube back.Unfortunately,Terri has not left a living will behind.Perhaps then Michael could have done what she wanted.To die honourably.It will be a great tragedy if she were made to live in an incapacitated state just on plain moral grounds.
I think the answer lies in leaving it to nature and allow it to take its own course.It is not even euthanasia.It is the right thing to do than keeping a comatose person artificially alive for an indefinite period.Just as there is a right to live,there is also a right to die.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Pahele Aap,Bade Miyan
It was a sad sight to see the cookie crumbling.The Indian cricket team collapsed on the last day of the third test and allowed Pakistan to level the series by playing defensive cricket whereas they should gone for the shots and played aggressively.
When you consider yourself to be a team of international class challenging the very might of the Aussies,how can you play such a pathetic game?.To me,the answer is very simple.It is a contrarian view.And I will be criticized for hitting below the belt.The fact of the matter is that BCCI is persisting with a captain who has lot his touch both with the bat as well as his strategic skills for which possibly he has been able to hang on to his captaincy so far.Saurav Ganguly has let the team down and the country.Even in the tests at Mohali and Eden Gardens we did not come out in flying colours.The current Pakistani team is not a great team.They lack a strong bowling attack though they have good batsmen.And Inzy is not the smartest of captains.But he has outwiited our 'Dada' or 'Maharaja' if you would like to call him so.
It is time for BCCI to replace Saurav.You don't have to go too far.Rahul Dravid is knocking at the door.We want captains to lead by example.Not drop catches and get fooled by googlys.We want them to talk with the bat and/or ball as the case may be or both.And not make gallant statements about out superiority.We want them to pose less as models for the various fmcg companies and concentrate on what really matters.
I think Australia can be kept as the role model.They have fantastic teamwork and don't chase individual landmarks.Their captain Steve Waugh has led by example and is certainly one of the greatest captains test cricket has seen.They are a fit lot who never say die.
Let us change our captain and open a new leaf.Miandad summed it up beautifully when he said that we lost the match because of the 'mind'.We panicked when a few wickets fell,our captain couldn't remain in the crease for long,and Kumble had to show our socalled batting stalwarts a few lessons in batting.
And importantly, even the bigwigs have to be accountable for their performance.Just because you have made it,does not mean that this is a pensionable job.
We have in characteristic Lucknowi style passed on the baton to our honourable guests-the Pakistani team.For them it is a great morale-booster and will go a long way in reestablishing their supremacy in international cricket.
When you consider yourself to be a team of international class challenging the very might of the Aussies,how can you play such a pathetic game?.To me,the answer is very simple.It is a contrarian view.And I will be criticized for hitting below the belt.The fact of the matter is that BCCI is persisting with a captain who has lot his touch both with the bat as well as his strategic skills for which possibly he has been able to hang on to his captaincy so far.Saurav Ganguly has let the team down and the country.Even in the tests at Mohali and Eden Gardens we did not come out in flying colours.The current Pakistani team is not a great team.They lack a strong bowling attack though they have good batsmen.And Inzy is not the smartest of captains.But he has outwiited our 'Dada' or 'Maharaja' if you would like to call him so.
It is time for BCCI to replace Saurav.You don't have to go too far.Rahul Dravid is knocking at the door.We want captains to lead by example.Not drop catches and get fooled by googlys.We want them to talk with the bat and/or ball as the case may be or both.And not make gallant statements about out superiority.We want them to pose less as models for the various fmcg companies and concentrate on what really matters.
I think Australia can be kept as the role model.They have fantastic teamwork and don't chase individual landmarks.Their captain Steve Waugh has led by example and is certainly one of the greatest captains test cricket has seen.They are a fit lot who never say die.
Let us change our captain and open a new leaf.Miandad summed it up beautifully when he said that we lost the match because of the 'mind'.We panicked when a few wickets fell,our captain couldn't remain in the crease for long,and Kumble had to show our socalled batting stalwarts a few lessons in batting.
And importantly, even the bigwigs have to be accountable for their performance.Just because you have made it,does not mean that this is a pensionable job.
We have in characteristic Lucknowi style passed on the baton to our honourable guests-the Pakistani team.For them it is a great morale-booster and will go a long way in reestablishing their supremacy in international cricket.
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Best Pav-bhaji
I visit Suk Sagar almost every Sunday afternoon.The pair of Chandrakant and Pujari are the most friendly chefs one can imagine.And they make sure your return a happy man.And I have a promise to keep.Give them prints of the pictures I have taken.Surely,I will hand it over to them next Sunday.They deserve it.
Photo 292
Which foodophile in Mumbai has not heard of the famous Mumbai vegetarian fast food chain?.I decided to take some packed pav bhaji and pizza home from this friendly and attractive food joint strategically located at Chowpatty.Loads of Amul butter on the Pav(bread). and a yummy paste of potatoes,peas,coriander leaves,jeera and green chillies and onions.that is the bhaji.delectable absolutely.
Friday, March 18, 2005
Casting Couch
Frankly,I had not heard of this expression till very recently.But then,now it is the talk of the town.Bollywood baddie Shakthi Kapoor and Indian Idol compere Aman Varma(Sharm a ?) seeking sexual favours from film aspirants.Separate sting operations using spy cameras done by India TV channel catching our heroes with their pants down.What I can't understand is that while Shakthi got no support from the film fraternity,Aman got a lot of "hum hai na",from his filmy buddies.Salman Khan,Arbaaz,Sanju,Govinda et al.
Whatever that may mean,the key question that arises out of all this is whether such exposes should be permitted or should they be banned?.The media has no business to peep into their private lives say the film stars and ask why industrialists and politicians have not been targetted.In the same breath one of them said it was a frame-up.
While I was doing some research on this subject,I read about similar happenings in Hollywood where quite a few top film actors and actresses were targetted and exposed.I think the peeping tom saga will get debated for quite some time in the newspapers and television channels.Nothing much is likely to emerge from all these debates and discussions.One thing is certain.Our film stars will be now very very careful lest they fall into the wide net thrown by the sting operation team of India TV-Ilyasi and aka ruchi.
Whatever that may mean,the key question that arises out of all this is whether such exposes should be permitted or should they be banned?.The media has no business to peep into their private lives say the film stars and ask why industrialists and politicians have not been targetted.In the same breath one of them said it was a frame-up.
While I was doing some research on this subject,I read about similar happenings in Hollywood where quite a few top film actors and actresses were targetted and exposed.I think the peeping tom saga will get debated for quite some time in the newspapers and television channels.Nothing much is likely to emerge from all these debates and discussions.One thing is certain.Our film stars will be now very very careful lest they fall into the wide net thrown by the sting operation team of India TV-Ilyasi and aka ruchi.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Sania Mania
Sania has created history by her scintillating performances at Australia and Dubai.She is a terrific fighter and has risen like phoenix from the ashes in several matches.That is what makes her world champion material.
Sania Mania
Sania has created history by her scintillating performances at Australia and Dubai.She is a terrific fighter and has risen like phoenix from the ashes in several matches.That is what makes her world champion material.
Sania Mania
Yeah,that is a different ball game.But then she is good at that too.In anycase it is only a pleasant diversion.Her concentration and willpower are superb.And it is only a question of time for Sania to get into the very top league.
Sania Mania
Sania is the latest tennis sensation to happen in India.She is on a roll and waiting to rapidly move up the rating scale.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Sania Mania
For a country starved of icons,Sania Mirza has won the hearts of millions of fans.The brave,beautiful and bold girl from Hyderabad,who was spotted at the tender age of 8 while playing tennis in Bangalore, has firmly positioned herself on the international tennis map.After becoming the first Indian girl to win a WTA title at Hyderabad,she has gone on to win many more laurels.
What really propelled Sania to fame was her match with Serena Williams down under in the Grand Slam tournament.Serena shivered and sweated before she finally won the match.And then Sania's dream performance in Dubai where she got a wild card.She took full advantage of the opportunity and humbled world champion Maria Kuznotsova.The oz flight of fancy and the Dubai dream has jettissoned her to 77 from 450 0r so.She now wants to get into the top 20.It is her focus which is her great strength besides of course a lethal forehand and a booming serve at 160-170mph compared to Serena's 190mph.
Jassilike bespectacled and flashing her nosering which has just come back in vogue,Sania with puppy fat on her face has a mind of her own."I know my Indian culture well,I am not going to pose in a bikini",and "Sometimes I think I am 30,so I definitely feel different from other kids my age".That was what she said and on a recent power trip to New Delhi when she met Sonia,Kalam and Sunil Dutt. Sania even administered polio drops to babies during an awareness campaign in New Delhi. Modern in her outlook, she is a great fan of Eminem,wears short skirts while playing and dresses quite hep.She prays 5 times a day and fasts during Ramzan.
Globosport who handle her commercial work say that she has both the achievement and personality.The italian sports company Lotto has signed her up for 3 years and she will be their international ambassador and will have a signature line of her own.The second woman to do so after her idol Steffi Graf.
Making the impossible possible has become a habit with this tennis diva.She is getting ready for her next big tournament in Europe and who knows she may still pull off similar Houdini acts.Her coach Bob Brett is working on all her weaknesses and if her ankles don't give way she may still serve it up,all aces.
What really propelled Sania to fame was her match with Serena Williams down under in the Grand Slam tournament.Serena shivered and sweated before she finally won the match.And then Sania's dream performance in Dubai where she got a wild card.She took full advantage of the opportunity and humbled world champion Maria Kuznotsova.The oz flight of fancy and the Dubai dream has jettissoned her to 77 from 450 0r so.She now wants to get into the top 20.It is her focus which is her great strength besides of course a lethal forehand and a booming serve at 160-170mph compared to Serena's 190mph.
Jassilike bespectacled and flashing her nosering which has just come back in vogue,Sania with puppy fat on her face has a mind of her own."I know my Indian culture well,I am not going to pose in a bikini",and "Sometimes I think I am 30,so I definitely feel different from other kids my age".That was what she said and on a recent power trip to New Delhi when she met Sonia,Kalam and Sunil Dutt. Sania even administered polio drops to babies during an awareness campaign in New Delhi. Modern in her outlook, she is a great fan of Eminem,wears short skirts while playing and dresses quite hep.She prays 5 times a day and fasts during Ramzan.
Globosport who handle her commercial work say that she has both the achievement and personality.The italian sports company Lotto has signed her up for 3 years and she will be their international ambassador and will have a signature line of her own.The second woman to do so after her idol Steffi Graf.
Making the impossible possible has become a habit with this tennis diva.She is getting ready for her next big tournament in Europe and who knows she may still pull off similar Houdini acts.Her coach Bob Brett is working on all her weaknesses and if her ankles don't give way she may still serve it up,all aces.
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