Friday, April 11, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Kinder Surprise
I did a story on summer classes in the city recently for which I spoke to a mother of school-aged kids who made a very interesting comment. She said that while summer classes in the city were great and offered a child with important experiences, she was often concerned that the children who attended them were from the same background. That is, the children were predominantly from affluent homes whose parents were willing to shell out large sums of money in order to ensure that their children used their time away from school in the most constructive (not necessarily always fun for the child)way possible. So when her children attended similar groups, she was concerned that they weren't being exposed to a healthy cross-section of society. I thought that made a lot of sense and was something that hadn't crossed my mind before.
But the other day I was flipping through the newspaper and I saw that an organisation in the city was holding classes for kids from varied economic backgrounds. In fact, the article specified that if a parent was concerned that their child spent his/her time in a rather 'homogenous' environment, opting for these classes may actually be a great decision. These classes invited slum children and those belonging to Scheduled Castes and Tribes. That meant, rich kids could spend the entire month under the sun learning theatre forms to aero modelling alongside lesser priveleged counterparts. Besides putting their creativity to use, they would have the chance to meet chidren that they probably wouldn't have a chance to in their priveleged schools or neighbourhoods. That, quite frankly is more learning than money can buy. And finally, the organisation had introduced a new clause in its applications this year where a parent couldn't decide what class the child had to take. Children needed to select the activity that they 'wanted' to take. In a world so closely governed by stereotypes, the slightest deviations from the norm come as a welcome change.
But the other day I was flipping through the newspaper and I saw that an organisation in the city was holding classes for kids from varied economic backgrounds. In fact, the article specified that if a parent was concerned that their child spent his/her time in a rather 'homogenous' environment, opting for these classes may actually be a great decision. These classes invited slum children and those belonging to Scheduled Castes and Tribes. That meant, rich kids could spend the entire month under the sun learning theatre forms to aero modelling alongside lesser priveleged counterparts. Besides putting their creativity to use, they would have the chance to meet chidren that they probably wouldn't have a chance to in their priveleged schools or neighbourhoods. That, quite frankly is more learning than money can buy. And finally, the organisation had introduced a new clause in its applications this year where a parent couldn't decide what class the child had to take. Children needed to select the activity that they 'wanted' to take. In a world so closely governed by stereotypes, the slightest deviations from the norm come as a welcome change.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
The Jeans in my Genes
This is the beginning of my tribute to what I consider perhaps the best invention of all time and by far my most favourite item of clothing:
Many of us can identify with the convenience of jumping out of bed every morning and slipping on a pair of jeans. Most of us have that special pair that fits the contours of our body just right, a brand that we couldn’t dream of being disloyal to or even that stonewashed pair that we’ve had since high school that we refuse to throw out. Jeans are as synonymous with style as they are with comfort and durability, almost acting as a witness to our outings, break-ups and infinite happenings. And it seems as though they’ve been around forever. The truth is, they have. Well, almost.
The earliest form of the jeans began in India in the 16th century. A coarse material called ‘dungaree’ was dyed indigo and sold near the Dongarii Fort near Mumbai, which sailors cut to their preference and wore. However, it gained recognition by German dry goods owner, Levi Strauss, who sold blue jeans in the 1850s under the name, Levi’s, to the mining community in San Francisco. Levi noticed that a regular customer, a tailor, would consistently buy cloth from him to reinforce torn pants. It was then that he came up with the idea of reinforcing the pants at the most common points of strain, such as the edges of the pockets and base of the button fly, with copper rivets. This innovation is what we see on almost every pair of denims we pick up today.
Over the years, jeans have given rise to a specific culture. From merely being clothing that was worn during World War 2, particularly by factory workers, jeans became a mild form of protest against conformity, in the 1950s in the US. They, developed into a fashion statement in the same country in the 1970s. Besides sailors and workers, cowboys and convicts have also been wearing jeans for years. Today, children, teenagers and adults have adopted the versatile apparel, usually as a form of casual wear.
Flared or ‘boot cut’ jeans were popular during the 90s after a sudden blast from the 70s past. But after the millenium, they gradually faded into oblivion with the straight leg making a powerful comeback. British supermodel, Kate Moss, is attributed with popularising the very famous skinny jeans and ballet flats ‘look’ that several girls around the world imitate. Besides Ms Moss, James Dean, also played a role in catapulting jeans to iconic staus.
Some of the major achievements of jeans have been in acting as a symbol of gender equality ever since women began wearing them in the 60s, at the peak of the Feminist movement. The moment a woman slipped on a pair of what was considered solely a man’s outfit, she transcended the sterotypes that society imposed on her previously corsetted frame. The best part is that jeans look as flattering on a woman as they do on a man, if not more. They’re also a great social leveller, with everyone, from the blue-collared to the blue-blooded, being brought together by the blue fabric.
The latest invention has been organic jeans in the light of the international community becoming increasingly environmentally-sensitive. Emerging as ‘a company with a conscience’, Netherlands-based Kuyichi Jeans has developed organic materials, eco-friendly manufacturing procedures and a fair trade policy in relation to Peruvian cotton farmers, who cultivate the raw material for this particular jean-maker. Other companies have also joined the green brigade, with Levi’s making it’s entire Fall 2006 prodcution line 100% organic. A small company based in the Denman Islands (British Columbia, Canada), Rawganinque, has come up with jeans that are wholly made of organic cotton and hemp.
Considering that they’ve been around for so long and that they have inflenced so many fashion and other changes, it doesn’t seem as though jeans will find a suitable replacement soon. But if that day ever comes, the new product will have some very tough shoes to fill, or match as the case may be! Until then, whether it’s lounging around at home or something semi-formal, jeans make for the perfect garb.
Long live the Jeans:)
Many of us can identify with the convenience of jumping out of bed every morning and slipping on a pair of jeans. Most of us have that special pair that fits the contours of our body just right, a brand that we couldn’t dream of being disloyal to or even that stonewashed pair that we’ve had since high school that we refuse to throw out. Jeans are as synonymous with style as they are with comfort and durability, almost acting as a witness to our outings, break-ups and infinite happenings. And it seems as though they’ve been around forever. The truth is, they have. Well, almost.
The earliest form of the jeans began in India in the 16th century. A coarse material called ‘dungaree’ was dyed indigo and sold near the Dongarii Fort near Mumbai, which sailors cut to their preference and wore. However, it gained recognition by German dry goods owner, Levi Strauss, who sold blue jeans in the 1850s under the name, Levi’s, to the mining community in San Francisco. Levi noticed that a regular customer, a tailor, would consistently buy cloth from him to reinforce torn pants. It was then that he came up with the idea of reinforcing the pants at the most common points of strain, such as the edges of the pockets and base of the button fly, with copper rivets. This innovation is what we see on almost every pair of denims we pick up today.
Over the years, jeans have given rise to a specific culture. From merely being clothing that was worn during World War 2, particularly by factory workers, jeans became a mild form of protest against conformity, in the 1950s in the US. They, developed into a fashion statement in the same country in the 1970s. Besides sailors and workers, cowboys and convicts have also been wearing jeans for years. Today, children, teenagers and adults have adopted the versatile apparel, usually as a form of casual wear.
Flared or ‘boot cut’ jeans were popular during the 90s after a sudden blast from the 70s past. But after the millenium, they gradually faded into oblivion with the straight leg making a powerful comeback. British supermodel, Kate Moss, is attributed with popularising the very famous skinny jeans and ballet flats ‘look’ that several girls around the world imitate. Besides Ms Moss, James Dean, also played a role in catapulting jeans to iconic staus.
Some of the major achievements of jeans have been in acting as a symbol of gender equality ever since women began wearing them in the 60s, at the peak of the Feminist movement. The moment a woman slipped on a pair of what was considered solely a man’s outfit, she transcended the sterotypes that society imposed on her previously corsetted frame. The best part is that jeans look as flattering on a woman as they do on a man, if not more. They’re also a great social leveller, with everyone, from the blue-collared to the blue-blooded, being brought together by the blue fabric.
The latest invention has been organic jeans in the light of the international community becoming increasingly environmentally-sensitive. Emerging as ‘a company with a conscience’, Netherlands-based Kuyichi Jeans has developed organic materials, eco-friendly manufacturing procedures and a fair trade policy in relation to Peruvian cotton farmers, who cultivate the raw material for this particular jean-maker. Other companies have also joined the green brigade, with Levi’s making it’s entire Fall 2006 prodcution line 100% organic. A small company based in the Denman Islands (British Columbia, Canada), Rawganinque, has come up with jeans that are wholly made of organic cotton and hemp.
Considering that they’ve been around for so long and that they have inflenced so many fashion and other changes, it doesn’t seem as though jeans will find a suitable replacement soon. But if that day ever comes, the new product will have some very tough shoes to fill, or match as the case may be! Until then, whether it’s lounging around at home or something semi-formal, jeans make for the perfect garb.
Long live the Jeans:)
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
The Voices in my Head
For the past few days I had been thinking to myself whether my life had gone in the best possible way that it could have so far. Sure, it might seem absurd that these thoughts crept in in the first place. I mean, no one has a picture perfect life and I'm no exception. But I was wondering how different my life would have been if I had made different decisions. What would it have been like to study medicine and become a doctor? Should I have taken a year off after graduating from high school and travelled? Should I have gone overseas many years ago and completed a Bachelor's degree there? What would it have been like to attend a class composed of students of twelve different nationalities?
These thoughts continued to race around in my head with no answer in sight. I didn't need an answer. I wasn't sure what I needed.
Then the other night, a girlfriend and I were sprawled out with Cosmo magazines in front of us. We girls can never get enough of staring at women's glossies and giggling incessantly over their every nuance. At that moment, my friend made some comment about something in the magazine. And that was it. Just then I knew, we were just like any other girls on any other part of the globe. Our prime interests included make-up, boys and fashion, and shopping of course - things that we have found which are often a common thread that binds most of our sisterhood. We enjoyed late night gossip and midnight snacks. As a plus point, we were educated, pretty (we'd like to think so) and at a stage in our life when we thought we could do just about anything. In my book, that's a lot to have.
Conclusion: I think my life has gone just fine. Pleased to say, all doubts have been laid to rest.
These thoughts continued to race around in my head with no answer in sight. I didn't need an answer. I wasn't sure what I needed.
Then the other night, a girlfriend and I were sprawled out with Cosmo magazines in front of us. We girls can never get enough of staring at women's glossies and giggling incessantly over their every nuance. At that moment, my friend made some comment about something in the magazine. And that was it. Just then I knew, we were just like any other girls on any other part of the globe. Our prime interests included make-up, boys and fashion, and shopping of course - things that we have found which are often a common thread that binds most of our sisterhood. We enjoyed late night gossip and midnight snacks. As a plus point, we were educated, pretty (we'd like to think so) and at a stage in our life when we thought we could do just about anything. In my book, that's a lot to have.
Conclusion: I think my life has gone just fine. Pleased to say, all doubts have been laid to rest.
Monday, April 7, 2008
The Darker Side of Order
“We don't need no education
We dont need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!”
- Pink Floyd, Another Brick in the Wall
A decision that many parents really think through is the school that they enroll their children in. Usually the process involves going through many and eliminating according to individual criteria, after which parents battle with themselves to overcome ‘letting go’ issues, and they finally send their child away for a few hours each day to become better people.
In that context, teachers are seen as extremely influential people in a child’s life. While having almost complete authority on children during their time at school, they play a huge role in moulding those impressionable minds. So it’s scary when that power is used without responsibility. The condition is reflective of the spate of corporal punishment cases that the country has recently witnessed. Caning and other forms of corporal punishment weren’t that unheard of a few years ago. But it’s appalling that these statistics raise their ugly head in an age where there is a growing awareness on not physically abusing a child in an effort to get them to obey.
· A 15-year old Delhi schoolgirl , who lay comatose for three months after being hit on the head with a stick by a teacher, died this March.
· A 6th standard child was beaten up by a group of teachers for failing to complete her homework.
· A 4th standard child in a Hassan government school was beaten by her teacher for asking for more food at lunchtime.
The Supreme Court of India has banned corporal punishment in Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Tamil Nadu. Proposed guidelines in the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights make it illegal to even scold a child or call them names like ‘stupid’ and ‘mindless’ in class. Despite these meaures, plenty of cases still take place, the majortiy of which go unreported.
Children are helpless. They depend on adults to guide them through life until they arrive at a stage where they can do it themselves. Misusing that position and delibrately inflicting pain on them in an attempt to ‘discipline’ them is nothing short of perverse. Chirdren have a right to attain an eductaion in an environment that is free from fear and abuse, physical or otherwise. ‘Grown-ups’ who fail to understand that are obviously the ones in depserate need of an education.
We dont need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!”
- Pink Floyd, Another Brick in the Wall
A decision that many parents really think through is the school that they enroll their children in. Usually the process involves going through many and eliminating according to individual criteria, after which parents battle with themselves to overcome ‘letting go’ issues, and they finally send their child away for a few hours each day to become better people.
In that context, teachers are seen as extremely influential people in a child’s life. While having almost complete authority on children during their time at school, they play a huge role in moulding those impressionable minds. So it’s scary when that power is used without responsibility. The condition is reflective of the spate of corporal punishment cases that the country has recently witnessed. Caning and other forms of corporal punishment weren’t that unheard of a few years ago. But it’s appalling that these statistics raise their ugly head in an age where there is a growing awareness on not physically abusing a child in an effort to get them to obey.
· A 15-year old Delhi schoolgirl , who lay comatose for three months after being hit on the head with a stick by a teacher, died this March.
· A 6th standard child was beaten up by a group of teachers for failing to complete her homework.
· A 4th standard child in a Hassan government school was beaten by her teacher for asking for more food at lunchtime.
The Supreme Court of India has banned corporal punishment in Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Tamil Nadu. Proposed guidelines in the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights make it illegal to even scold a child or call them names like ‘stupid’ and ‘mindless’ in class. Despite these meaures, plenty of cases still take place, the majortiy of which go unreported.
Children are helpless. They depend on adults to guide them through life until they arrive at a stage where they can do it themselves. Misusing that position and delibrately inflicting pain on them in an attempt to ‘discipline’ them is nothing short of perverse. Chirdren have a right to attain an eductaion in an environment that is free from fear and abuse, physical or otherwise. ‘Grown-ups’ who fail to understand that are obviously the ones in depserate need of an education.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Girl Power!
This was a really great ad I saw the other day:
Shah Rukh Khan – Actor
Earns Rs.247 per minute
Amitabh Bachan – Actor
Earns Rs. 255 per minute
Mukesh Ambani – Industrialist
Earns Rs. 413 per minute
Sachin Tendulkar – Cricketer
Earns Rs. 1163 per minute
Indra Nooyi – CFO, Pepsico
Earns Rs. 2911 per minute
And that's just the beginning of the many fabulous things she's capable of
Don’t abort the girl child.
Disclaimer: I am not a feminist and refuse to be considered as one. I believe in the goodness of men having had several great guys in my life beginning with my father and both my grandfathers. I am simply a pragmatist and a firm optimist who belives that women have a pivotal role to play in the world's walk towards progress.
Shah Rukh Khan – Actor
Earns Rs.247 per minute
Amitabh Bachan – Actor
Earns Rs. 255 per minute
Mukesh Ambani – Industrialist
Earns Rs. 413 per minute
Sachin Tendulkar – Cricketer
Earns Rs. 1163 per minute
Indra Nooyi – CFO, Pepsico
Earns Rs. 2911 per minute
And that's just the beginning of the many fabulous things she's capable of
Don’t abort the girl child.
Disclaimer: I am not a feminist and refuse to be considered as one. I believe in the goodness of men having had several great guys in my life beginning with my father and both my grandfathers. I am simply a pragmatist and a firm optimist who belives that women have a pivotal role to play in the world's walk towards progress.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Mediocre Movie Madness
I was looking at a recapitulation of movies that have hit the silver screen this year and I was disappointed. Apart from one movie that documented the love story of two royal Mughals, pratcically all the others were centred around the industry from which they were generated in the first place - Bollywood. They were half-hearted stories of struggling actors in India's filmdom, of starry-eyed hopefuls and other painfully mind-numbing nuances that dominate desi tinseltown. My question: Who cares?
I understand that creativity levels cannot always be through the roof. But I'd say that that's true of individuals at different points in time. Not of an entire fraternity for an entire season! That's plain ridiculous.
I've never been one for comparisons. But it's hard to ignore some of the brilliant stuff that comes out of foreign markets. And no, I don't mean just Hollywood. Besides American masterpieces, it only requires a glance at Italian, French and sometimes Oriental cinema to see the facts for yourself.
As a firm movie-buff and one who has great faith in India's talent, it is my earnest appeal to the country's scriptwriters and other media folk to get their act together and push themselves a little further. To challenge themselves and come up with work whose viewpoint extends beyond the tips of their nose. Because frankly, if this is the state of affairs right now, I'm in mortal fear of the prospects of the future of this industry.
Indian fashion has already proved beyond doubt that it is capable of holding its ground in an international arena. There's no reason why Indian cinema should be an exception.
It's only April. There's still time to save this year. I'm also a firm optimist.
I understand that creativity levels cannot always be through the roof. But I'd say that that's true of individuals at different points in time. Not of an entire fraternity for an entire season! That's plain ridiculous.
I've never been one for comparisons. But it's hard to ignore some of the brilliant stuff that comes out of foreign markets. And no, I don't mean just Hollywood. Besides American masterpieces, it only requires a glance at Italian, French and sometimes Oriental cinema to see the facts for yourself.
As a firm movie-buff and one who has great faith in India's talent, it is my earnest appeal to the country's scriptwriters and other media folk to get their act together and push themselves a little further. To challenge themselves and come up with work whose viewpoint extends beyond the tips of their nose. Because frankly, if this is the state of affairs right now, I'm in mortal fear of the prospects of the future of this industry.
Indian fashion has already proved beyond doubt that it is capable of holding its ground in an international arena. There's no reason why Indian cinema should be an exception.
It's only April. There's still time to save this year. I'm also a firm optimist.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Desert Flower, Desert Rose
It's not for nothing that the term 'woman of subsatnce' was coined. Women, all women, really are made of substance - some just more than others.
I was reading model, Waris Dirie's story online recently and was shocked at how much she has been through and has still managed to carve out a constructive life for herself.
She was born into a nomadic African tribe and her childhood home consisted of a portable grass hut. At the age of five, she recalls being held down by her mother while another woman cut away her genitals. She was tightly stitched up afterwards, leaving an opening only the size of a matchstick that naturally made it difficult to even walk. Imagine being robbed of your womanhood.
Though she managed to survive this brutality, her sister and two cousins were not so lucky. At 13, she fled Africa after being promised to a 61-year old man in marriage in exchange for five camels. The limits that those in power in a male-dominated society are capable of pushing is distressing. Suppression of women is seen as almost a validation of that power.
Waris reached Britain, where she stayed illegally for a while, surviving by scrubbing floors at McDonald's until she was dicovered by photographer, Terence Donovan, who put her face on the cover of the Pirelli calendar. It's amazing how much she had to do at such a young age in order to have a shot at a semblance of a normal life.
Today, she spearheads a strong campaign against female genital mutiliation.
Women like Waris inspire others to challenge themselves.
I salute her courage, her spirit, her woman.
I was reading model, Waris Dirie's story online recently and was shocked at how much she has been through and has still managed to carve out a constructive life for herself.
She was born into a nomadic African tribe and her childhood home consisted of a portable grass hut. At the age of five, she recalls being held down by her mother while another woman cut away her genitals. She was tightly stitched up afterwards, leaving an opening only the size of a matchstick that naturally made it difficult to even walk. Imagine being robbed of your womanhood.
Though she managed to survive this brutality, her sister and two cousins were not so lucky. At 13, she fled Africa after being promised to a 61-year old man in marriage in exchange for five camels. The limits that those in power in a male-dominated society are capable of pushing is distressing. Suppression of women is seen as almost a validation of that power.
Waris reached Britain, where she stayed illegally for a while, surviving by scrubbing floors at McDonald's until she was dicovered by photographer, Terence Donovan, who put her face on the cover of the Pirelli calendar. It's amazing how much she had to do at such a young age in order to have a shot at a semblance of a normal life.
Today, she spearheads a strong campaign against female genital mutiliation.
Women like Waris inspire others to challenge themselves.
I salute her courage, her spirit, her woman.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Meeting a Stalwart
It wasn’t chatter, it wasn’t banter…it was superbly presented matter.
I attended a talk by developmental journalist, P Sainath the other day. Before you think that I’ll head off on a wild rant about how perfect the man was until this space begins to resemble a literary shrine, let me assure you that I intend to do no such thing. But it’s important to know why I chose to write about him at all.
I didn’t know much about P Sainath before I attended this talk, largely because rural reporting and all related doesn’t really interest me. I am a much more materialistic person and the simple life doesn’t fascinate me. That’s just who I am and I’m OK being honest about it. So when the man walked in through the doors of Senate Hall, Central College on a sultry afternoon dressed in a khadi brown waistcoat on a white kurta pyjama, I thought to myself, “Oh no, not another intellectual who’s going to try and convert me to numb my fashion sensibilities and don a similar brown garb in an effort to become a better journalist.” Boy, was I wrong.
From the moment P Sainath began speaking, he had an audience, an entire room filled with people, who were keenly hanging on to every last word that he uttered, simply because it made so much sense. The man who spends close to over 300 days in a year in interior India began by saying that the biggest problem today was the divide between mass media and mass reality – the media wasn’t reflecting pertinent issues that the public needed to know. And one such issue was the crisis plaguing Indian farmers. The community that puts food on the plates of the rest of the nation, goes to bed hungry every night. Scores of them have committed suicide in a very short span leaving their families subject to financial and sexual harassment. Where does the injustice end?
Another glaring disparity is between the recently released Forbes billionaire list that boasts of a substantial Indian presence versus India’s position as one of the highest on the World Hunger Index. Who’s about to explain that?
What really struck a chord with me was that he repeatedly addressed the young journalists and student journalists in the room. It felt wonderful to be given that kind of importance when we’re usually the lowest rung of an educated gathering. He gave some important advice as well. Not the empty nonsense that fades away after the applause dies down. It's advice that’s likely to ring in my ears for as long as I choose to be a journalist. Those words were that, the success of a journalist depends on how relevant they make themselves to the great processes of their time. If you’re out of sync with that vital component, you can’t expect to serve much of a purpose.
Finally, three points stuck with me at the end of the talk. The first was P Sainath’s tip that journalists should never lose their sense of questioning, their skepticism. But he clarified that point by saying that there was a fine difference between skepticism and cynicism. Skepticism breeds questioning but cynicism breeds negativity. The second point was his statement, “What the heart cannot feel, they eye cannot see”, which is so true. If you don’t really connect with a topic don't try and be passionate about it. There’s no bigger turn off and it’s the easiest deception to spot. Finally, he ended with Don Maclean’s lyrics from the song, Homeless Brother…”Where wealth has no beginning and poverty has no end”. That’s one of the most haunting lines I’ve come across in a long time. And it was so relevant to the topic of discussion.
Great going Mr. Sainath. By the way, you actually look really good in that khadi brown waistcoat. That’s because I get why you’re wearing it. You’ve convinced me. Obviously, your heart and deeds are perfectly in sync.
I attended a talk by developmental journalist, P Sainath the other day. Before you think that I’ll head off on a wild rant about how perfect the man was until this space begins to resemble a literary shrine, let me assure you that I intend to do no such thing. But it’s important to know why I chose to write about him at all.
I didn’t know much about P Sainath before I attended this talk, largely because rural reporting and all related doesn’t really interest me. I am a much more materialistic person and the simple life doesn’t fascinate me. That’s just who I am and I’m OK being honest about it. So when the man walked in through the doors of Senate Hall, Central College on a sultry afternoon dressed in a khadi brown waistcoat on a white kurta pyjama, I thought to myself, “Oh no, not another intellectual who’s going to try and convert me to numb my fashion sensibilities and don a similar brown garb in an effort to become a better journalist.” Boy, was I wrong.
From the moment P Sainath began speaking, he had an audience, an entire room filled with people, who were keenly hanging on to every last word that he uttered, simply because it made so much sense. The man who spends close to over 300 days in a year in interior India began by saying that the biggest problem today was the divide between mass media and mass reality – the media wasn’t reflecting pertinent issues that the public needed to know. And one such issue was the crisis plaguing Indian farmers. The community that puts food on the plates of the rest of the nation, goes to bed hungry every night. Scores of them have committed suicide in a very short span leaving their families subject to financial and sexual harassment. Where does the injustice end?
Another glaring disparity is between the recently released Forbes billionaire list that boasts of a substantial Indian presence versus India’s position as one of the highest on the World Hunger Index. Who’s about to explain that?
What really struck a chord with me was that he repeatedly addressed the young journalists and student journalists in the room. It felt wonderful to be given that kind of importance when we’re usually the lowest rung of an educated gathering. He gave some important advice as well. Not the empty nonsense that fades away after the applause dies down. It's advice that’s likely to ring in my ears for as long as I choose to be a journalist. Those words were that, the success of a journalist depends on how relevant they make themselves to the great processes of their time. If you’re out of sync with that vital component, you can’t expect to serve much of a purpose.
Finally, three points stuck with me at the end of the talk. The first was P Sainath’s tip that journalists should never lose their sense of questioning, their skepticism. But he clarified that point by saying that there was a fine difference between skepticism and cynicism. Skepticism breeds questioning but cynicism breeds negativity. The second point was his statement, “What the heart cannot feel, they eye cannot see”, which is so true. If you don’t really connect with a topic don't try and be passionate about it. There’s no bigger turn off and it’s the easiest deception to spot. Finally, he ended with Don Maclean’s lyrics from the song, Homeless Brother…”Where wealth has no beginning and poverty has no end”. That’s one of the most haunting lines I’ve come across in a long time. And it was so relevant to the topic of discussion.
Great going Mr. Sainath. By the way, you actually look really good in that khadi brown waistcoat. That’s because I get why you’re wearing it. You’ve convinced me. Obviously, your heart and deeds are perfectly in sync.
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