Antara Echoes

Manjunath S gets his justice today, precisely on the day when Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev & Rajguru were hanged. To juggle our reader’s memory – Manjunath Shanmugham an employee of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) was murdered on 19th November 2005 in cold-blood because he stood up against a corrupt owner of a petrol bunk. The news of the killing of a brave young official sent shock waves across the country. Thanks to nationwide protests, online petitions and candlelight marches the case was given its due and after a full enquiry today the eight accused have been found guilty . Now we have to await and see what punishment is meted out to these accused. [Image Source: Businessworld India]

Isnt it ironical that the laws designed to prevent discrimination are by themselves discriminatory? Take college admissions (its admission time now) or for that matter the case of people looking to work with the public sector. Does'nt it sound outrageous that you may lose an opportunity to someone, otherwise your equal, simply because they belong to a minority community. These laws like the "minority quota", I beleive are actually insulting to both the majorities & the minorities. I would like to believe that these laws are in place because they are necessary, meaning that they actually help prevent racism. Sometimes, though, I can't help but think otherwise. Is this affirmative legislation? On one hand it leaves some students with a strong bitter taste in the mouth and on the other hand it leaves others who use it to their advantage with a deep seated subconscious sense of intellectual inferiority and self worth ..... What a way to start life and step into the re...

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high; Where knowledge is free.. Into that heaven of freedom, let my country awake. Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls; Where words come out from the depth of truth; Into that heaven of freedom, let my country awake. Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection; Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit; Into that heaven of freedom, let my country awake. Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action-- Into that heaven of freedom, let my country awake. -- Rabindranath Tagore This was sung as a hymn in my school. I wonder what made me think of this all of a sudden today. How very apt & relevant it sounds even today.

Vijay Times (part of the Times Group) and a local daily in Bangalore published my article " Straying Thoughts on Stray Dogs ". It appeared on Page 04 of their supplement called VT Life on Sunday March 11, 2007. It's a bit of a thrill to see one's name in print, even if it doesn't result in more traffic to the blog. :D

******************************************************************************* The riveting excerpts below are from the revealing accounts of 20 award-winning journalists in the highly acclaimed book Into the Buzzsaw. These courageous writers were prevented by corporate media ownership from reporting major news stories. Some were even fired or laid off. They have won numerous awards, including several Emmys and a Pulitzer. Join in building a better world by helping to spread this news across the land ******************************************************************************* Jane Akre —Fox News. After our struggle to air an honest report [on hormones in milk], Fox fired the general manager [of our station]. The new GM said that if we didn’t agree to changes that the lawyers were insisting upon, we’d be fired for insubordination in 48 hours. We pleaded with [him] to look at the facts we’d uncovered. His reply: “We paid $3 billion dollars for these stations. We’ll tell you what the...

Dolphins have always been considered to be amongst the most intelligent of animals and even helpful in nature. These ocean-dwelling mammals have come to the rescue of several humans and are a delight to watch. But the Japanese seem to think differently. Check this video where they show how brutally these beautiful animals get slaughtered in Japan. http://www.glumbert.com/media/dolphin Now, how much more cruel can this world get?

A lot has been written, said and criticized about beggars and begging, movies have been made which exposed the high level hierarchy & the racket behind this dirty business. Yet it is one of the banes that India is trying hard to battle with little success. Why would it ever succeed if begging can provide them an income that is otherwise unthinkable? Sarvatia , who boasts of two insurance policies with annual premiums for 36000, a sizable bank balance is a professional beggar. And there are many such successful professionals (sic) spawned thanks to this ever growing industry . A beggar in Bangalore should be making more than a junior executive. Let me tell you how. Bangalore is well known for its heavy slow moving traffic and long traffic signals. Those traveling through Koramangla, Silk Board Junction, and Airport road will really know what I am talking about and these beggars lose no time to stalk the hapless souls stuck in their bikes and cars. And most of the times these beggars...

The latest Nike ad has me hooked. Am not one of those ardent cricket fans nor do I care much for those 'inspiring' pepsi-coke ads. But this ad has seriously made one sit up and notice. For one they have steered clear from some of the ad cliche's that we are often subjected. This one is new, unique and enjoyable for: 1. No Bollywood stars, who would'nt know the wicket from a stump. This is just a group of cricket loving gali-ka-guys 2. No Javed Akhtar-ish patriotic lyrics in Hindi but a cool goan number. 3. No funny punchlines like "Ooh Haah India". Thankfully! Full Marks Nike. You Just Did It!.

Its a bizzare world out there. Britney Spears' freshly-shorn hair has been put up for auction @ BuyBritneysHair.com, with a starting bid at $1 million. The website, supposedly to have been set up by Esther Tognozzi, the owner of Los Angeles' Esther's Hair Studio, where Spears cut off her hair. It was first put up on eBay but it was removed from the website for reasons unknown. Meanwhile its been reported that britney has apparently tried to kill herself, all the while crying herself hoarse that she was a fake. Duh! Britney, get a grip on yourself girl & try be in the news for the right reasons.

It’s the billion-dollar question running on every cricket loving Indian’s mind these days and is one question that is quite impossible to answer at this stage. Yes, we are a strong one-day team with an impressive batting line-up, a good bowling squad and undoubtedly we have a capable captain, yet will we be the World Champions? And here’s an interesting story in the Indian Express saying, “ Why Team India Needs to Win the World Cup ” and Arjuna Ranatunga states that “ India Should Win the World Cup ”. With less than a week for the action to begin, the tension is getting to build up. Cricket seems to be the ruling topic of all discussions, be it at the office pantry or among the group of girls walking down the corridor. The vegetable pushcart vendor down our street opines candidly – “India will win only if they stop their dependency on Sachin and don’t fall like a pack of cards when he gets out.” “What India lacks is killer instinct!” rallied my neighborhood aunty in her high-pitched v...

The first set promo's of Munnabhai Chale Amerika are out. And here are some Munnabhai's nuggets - Circuit: What if someone asks us our address in Amrika? Munnabhai: Dhobhighat Circuit: If we need to tell them that in English? Munnabhai: Washington Circuit: How do we say "Aye chale hat, Hawa aaney de?" Munnabhai: Simple hai yaar, Ae you, move sideways, Let the airforce come in. Munnabhai: Now you answer me, "Aye Maamu, Bheja mat phira." Circuit: Aye Mother's Brother, Dont rotate my head. Munnabhai: Now you answer me, "Aye Maamu, Bheja mat phira." Circuit: Aye Mother's Brother, Dont rotate my brain. Munnabhai: Bahot sardi hogayireeli hai Circuit: I got big winter in small nose

Even as this topic was being discussed another victim succumbs to the menace called stray dogs. And this time the victim is all of four years, a toddler who went out to play with his friends but was killed by wild street dogs. Manju was playing hide-and-seek with his friends when the dogs attacked him and caught him in their jaws and dragged him across the open ground. He was spotted by his neighbours and rushed to Manipal Hospital late last night. Doctors battled for his life close to nine hours but could not save the kid. Deep felt sympathies with the family of Manju Read the entire article here in the Times of India . [Manju, Pic Courtesy: Deccan Herald] [His grieving parents, Pic Courtesy: Deccan Herald]

25 days ago the Cauvery verdict was announced and it has been 25 days since all prominent Tamil channels have been banned in Karnataka. What’s the connection one may ask? Apparently one section of the society states that the cable operators association is supporting the government’s decision in opposing the decision of the tribunal, while others feel that the cable operators fear the wrath of the Kannada activists. Yet another group rationalizes that viewers may get influenced or agitated, as the case might be, seeing the reactions in Tamil nadu. But nobody, not even the cable operators seem to know how this ban came into effect and nor are they aware when the situation is going to be reversed. Freedom of expression is one of the most fundamental of all rights yet our government feels the need to regulate it. So what can we next expect after banning channels, websites & blogs? What kind of a freedom do we enjoy if we need to be spoon-fed predigested news, either on TV or in mainstr...