Volume 1 | Issue 12 | November 1, 2012 | Rs 10
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INTERVIEWS ’Encounter’ Daya Nayak 3 Novelist Manu Joseph 19 CAREER Work-from-home virtual assistants 7
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Indian strays are migrating to the West as adoring families vie to adopt them, reports SAVIE KARNEL 16-18 PHOTO: JACLYN MARKS
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team talk
Talk needs to take a sharper view of the world Talk’s content needs to be more varied and fresh. Take your cycling story for instance (The twin-pedal revolution, Issue 10). Your approach should not have been similar to what has already been written. A new angle on cycling in Bangalore should have been highlighted—like the problems cyclists face in killing traffic, and not so much the feel-good experience of cycling, which isn't entirely true. In general, stories need to be more provocative, and not just feel-good. Overall, could the magazine take a sharper view of things? Shravanti B Sarjapur Ilaiah wrong about Islam The Talk interview with Dr Kancha Ilaiah (Castrating caste, Issue 10) was interesting. However, Ilaiah is wrong in saying that “caste in Islam is limited to professions.” There is no caste system in Islam. It is true, though, that in some countries
some communities among the Muslims have continued to be identified with the professions they have been engaged in for generations, even after their forefathers converted to Islam. Likewise, some tribal customs and practices are still prevalent in Muslim communities in certain countries. Some of these are totally antagonistic to Islamic priciples— they have no scriptural sanction. In short, there are quite a few things that many Muslims practice that have nothing to do with Islam. I M Khan by email Coverage you can relate to Talk magazine offers a refreshing perspective on stories that revolve around our lives as Bangaloreans. Everyone can relate to the articles, which vie with each other for
attention. The coverage offers a good blend of objective facts and subjective analysis, without compromising the essence of the story. Parinitha Shinde by email Wanted: Wheels column I recently heard about Talk magazine from my newspaper distributor. I appreciate your efforts. After glancing through the first few pages of the magazine, I realised you are putting in great effort. With the influx of automobiles in the past few years, people of all ages, especially the youth, are interested in the sector. Young people prefer articles related to sports, gadgets and automobiles, rather than politics and other serious issues. It would be helpful if you could publish a column about the automobile industry. Siddarth Lakshmanan, by email What do you think of this edition? Write to letters@talkmag.in
EDITORIAL
EXECUTIVE TEAM
S R Ramakrishna Editor Sridhar Chari Consulting Editor Prashanth G N Senior Editor Sajai Jose Chief Copy Editor Savie Karnel Principal Correspondent Basu Megalkeri Principal Correspondent Bhanu Prakash E S Senior Reporter Prachi Sibal Senior Features Writer Sandra Fernandes and Maria Laveena Reporters and Copy Editors Anand Kumar K Chief of Design Shridhar G Kulkarni Graphic Designer Ramesh Hunsur Senior Photographer Vivek Arun Graphics Artist
Sumith Kombra Founder, CEO and Publisher Ralph Fernandez Manager - Marketing Aaron Jones Asst Manager - Marketing Abhay Sebastian Asst Manager - Sales Aman Preet Singh Asst Manager - Sales Mithun Sudhakar Asst Manager - Sales Kishore Kumar N Head - Circulation Vinayadathan K V Area Manager - Trade Mahesh Javvadi Asst Mgr - Corporate Sales Yadhu Kalyani Sr Executive - Corporate Sales Lokesh K N Sr Executive - Subscriptions Prabhavathi Executive - Circulation Sowmya Kombra Asst Process Manager
Printed and published by Sumith Kombra on behalf of Shakthi Media Ventures India Pvt Ltd - FF70, Gold Towers, Residency Road, Bangalore -560025 and printed at Lavanya Mudranalaya, Chamarajpet, Bangalore-560018. Editor: SR Ramakrishna. Editorial Office: FF70, Gold Towers, Residency Road, Bangalore -560025 Email: info@talkmag.in Phone: 08049332100, 08040926658. © All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited.
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law enforcer
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Daya Nayak, back in uniform, talks carefully He’s the controversial ‘encounter specialist’ whose story has inspired several movies. The Karnataka-born Mumbai policeman, reinstated after six years, says killings are carried out not individually but on orders from the top BHANU PRAKASH E S bhanu.prakash@talkmag.in
he tough, honest, policeman who blows away the bad guys in a system that routinely thwarts the law: that’s how Dayananda Badda Nayak is portrayed in many films. The Karnataka-born Mumbai police sub-inspector, an ‘encounter specialist’, has inspired half a dozen films in Hindi, Kannada, and Telugu. Popularly known as Daya Nayak, he came under a cloud in 2006 on charges of amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The case—filed in a Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act court on the basis of a private complaint by a journalist now in jail for his alleged links with the underworld—was thrown out by the Supreme Court. Ketan Tirodkar, the journalist had also accused Nayak of
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HIT MAN Daya Nayak has ‘done’ more than 80 encounter killings as part of Mumbai police’s Crime Intelligence Unit
eliminating Chota Shakeel’s rivals at the don’s behest, and ‘supplying’ an encounter victim, Sadiq Jamal, to the Gujarat police. Jamal was later killed in a ‘fake’ encounter in 2004. This latter charge is still being investigated by the CBI. Tirodkar’s still in jail, but Nayak was reinstated by the Mumbai police in June this year, and he returned to duty last week. When Talk called him up, he spoke in English and was every bit the guarded, tough cop who wouldn’t discuss, say, the school he set up in Karnataka, as he was “in uniform.” Edited excerpts from an interview spanning three phone calls:
Tell us about your life during your suspension on charges of corruption, abuse of power and links with the underworld? Were you disappointed at the lack of support? Legally speaking, I wasn’t under suspension. I was instructed by the police department to hand over charge and stay away until the verdict was delivered. I took up my own case in the Supreme Court and submitted all relevant details. The court directed a special investigation unit to check the facts against the allegations. The results matched and by God’s grace I’m back in my seat now. The judgment is available to the public and anybody can go through it. Tell us something about some of the criminals you tracked and killed in your service? How closely did you track them? (Silence for five seconds) It’s not just me; it’s for any police officer to carry out decisions made by superiors. I have been in a special unit of the Mumbai police tracking criminals and their activities. That is a routine part of my job, and that of any police officer. The unit where I started my career has gunned down more than 100 criminals in the last five years. Any decision of ‘encountering’ a criminal associated with the mafia starts with the issue of a red corner notice. When the accused doesn’t respond to it, we get permission from the department to arrest him using any means. Sometimes, such rational decisions end up as encounters. Why don’t you apply for an RTI regarding our unit? You started a school, named after your mother, the Radha Nayak Government High School in Yennehole in Udupi district? (Nayak was born there). I don’t want to talk about it. You can call me some other time to discuss it. I’m in my uniform now. Continued on page 4
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editor talk The story of Bangalore’s FM radio stations is ironic. It is a story of poverty amidst plenty. We have 11 stations, and with the exception of All India Radio, none has the space or the equipment to record original music. On private channels, the city’s singers and musicians get almost zero airplay. All India Radio, which still records some original music at its sprawling studios, keeps its procedures so stringent and old-school that younger artistes just can’t get their recordings on air. (For example, all artistes featured on an album need to be AIRauditioned and graded for their music to be eligible for broadcast. That is an unrealistic expectation in this day and age). Private FM channels only play commercial music, and show little interest in anything other than film songs. While private channels are desperately market-driven, All India Radio, governed by Prasar Bharti, is neither here nor there. It has made no recruitments in 17 years, and many of its talented employees are demoralised for want of creative and promotional opportunities. All of which has produced an FM radio culture that offers little more than cheerful, silly chatter and the musical equivalent of junk food. We have this week a story by Sandra Fernandes on a language battle that is brewing between the private channels and the Kannada music industry. Bangalore is a city of changing demographics, with a recent influx of Hindi speakers. But it also remains a Dravidian city, where Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam speakers understand and relate to Kannada. Bangalore’s musical diversity encompasses Hindustani, Carnatic and Western classical music, sugama sangeeta, rock, fusion, and all these genres face neglect. It is time radio stations addressed these larger questions. S R Ramakrishna ram@talkmag.in
law enforcer Continued from page 3 You are also known for the network of informants you have developed in the Mumbai criminal world. How do you ensure their safety? Yes. Having a good intelligence network is always an asset for police officials. You never know what awaits you. Each day you wake up not sure whether you will live through the day. Every police officer working in the special unit has to look after his own sources. I can’t possibly tell you any more (laughs). What are your plans now that you are back after six years? It is my fighting spirit that sustained me and helped me clear all allegations. I don’t want to hold anybody in particular responsible, nor point to any masterminds who thought they could finish me. I am immensely happy I have an opportunity to serve again with the special unit. How did you get close to Bollywood bigwigs like Amitabh Bachchan, who inaugurated your school? It was just a friendly gesture on his part. People say you have killed wantonly, and the film Ab Tak Chappan, said to be based on your life, was quite critical. They make films on anything and everybody. And how can I be held responsible if they do something based on my life,
When the action hero visits the sets Six films in three languages have been made, based on the life of Daya Nayak and the idea of the ‘encounter cop’: Ab Tak Chappan (Hindi), Golimaar (Telugu), Encounter Daya Nayak (Kannada), Kagaar (Hindi), Risk (Hindi) and the most recent one, Department (Hindi). In his home state of Karnataka, veteran D Rajendra Babu directed Encounter Daya Nayak in 2005. The Kannada film starred debutant Sachin with Spoorthi as the love interest. Despite the publicity it received after it was announced, it flopped at the box office. When the film was being made, Daya Nayak visited the sets, as Babu confirmed to Talk. "We did a lot of research and visited the places where Nayak grew up. I consider it a warm gesture that Nayak frequently visited us on the sets and gave his inputs on the script and the action sequences,” Babu said. Daya Nayak brought real guns and bullets with him that helped the unit shoot the encounter scenes. For all that, the film flopped. “Maybe we could have added more entertainment elements,” he said. He is thinking of a sequel and plans to moot the idea when he meets Daya Nayak next. Not all films about Daya Nayak are in awe of him. Ab Tak Chappan (2004), in Hindi, had Nana Patekar playing Daya Nayak, and was directed by Shimit Amin who later went on to direct Chak De India and Rocket Singh. It was produced by Ram Gopal Verma.
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but add to it from their imagination? disproportionate to my income. I I should check whether they are mak- have never been to the Gulf in my life. ing a sequel on my win in the I don’t find time to go on vacations. Supreme Court! What do you think of criminals turning real estate developers, creating a They say you own star hotels in the Middle East and have investments in big mafia in almost all the major cities including Bangalore. Is real other sectors as well. Anybody can check my assets. I have estate more lucrative than violent won the case alleging I possess assets crime today?
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I don’t know about that. It is rumoured you were trying to contest an assembly seat on a Congress ticket? Those were rumours created by a local daily in Mumbai. I don’t know how it travelled everywhere. My only ambition is to serve the oath I took while joining the police force.
fun lines
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political diary
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A separatist tamasha RAMESH HUNSUR
Agriculture Minister Umesh Katti is demanding a new state, but is he serious?
BASU MEGALKERI basavaraju@talkmag.in
griculture Minister Umesh Katti has become a hero of sorts in north Karnataka after he raised the demand for a separate state last week. Known as rebel B S Yeddyurappa’s man, Katti has been going around saying the region can develop only if it breaks away from Karnataka. Opposition parties are now demanding that he be sacked from the cabinet. It is no secret that Yeddyurappa is banking on the northern districts to bring him back to power. Some leaders held a protest in front of Katti’s house, but he isn’t budging. “I’m just being honest,” he said. Yet, despite his stubbornness, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and party president K S Eshwarappa are in no position to remove him. If they go after him, he could join Yeddyurappa’s proposed Karnataka Janata Party, and project himself as a martyr for the north Karnataka cause. That way, both he and Yeddyurappa can garner more votes. But not all is well in the Yeddyurappa camp. Till recently brimming with energy, the former chief minister is slowing down. As his formal exit from the BJP becomes imminent, his supporters are dwindling. And the silence of his close associates Renukacharya and Shobha Karandlaje is his biggest worry. The Lingayat politician’s chances aren’t looking all that bright any more.
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PLAYERS ALL Umesh Katti projects himself as a champion of North Karnataka. (Below) B S Yeddyurappa with Siddalingaswamy, who’s likely to contest against Siddaramaiah of the Congress. Deve Gowda’s JD(S) wants to field rich candidates who will fund themselves
of Yeddyurappa, is all set to queer the pitch. Siddalingaswamy was an orphan who grew up in the Suttur mutt, a Lingayat organisation that wields clout among politicians. When Yeddyurappa visited the mutt, the If action is taken Swamiji deputed Siddalingaswamy to Sidda vs Sidda in against Katti, he assist him, and the Varuna might project two have been The Varuna conhimself as a together ever since. stituency in Mysore martyr In fact, Siddalingais Siddaramaiah’s swamy was considstronghold. He is sure to be a front-runner for chief ered the de facto chief minister when ministership if the Congress wins the Yeddyurappa was running the gov2013 elections. But Kapu ernment. Siddalingaswamy is now set to Siddalingaswamy, a close confidant
challenge Siddaramaiah in Varuna, and the buzz is that he is already meeting voters and being generous with his money. Siddaramaiah is doing his best to counter the threat. He has organised a conference for backward castes in Shikaripura, Yeddyurappa’s constituency in central Karnataka. But that may not be enough to counter his wily rival.
Got cash? Welcome to JD(S) With elections around the corner, both the BJP and the Congress parties have a ready list of potential candidates. And both parties being in power, the BJP in the state and the Congress at the centre, they aren’t short of cash.
This leaves the JD(S), the third big party in Karnataka. H D Deve Gowda and his family are looking to induct rich newcomers, and they are going after real estate players. Syed Mudeer Agha became an MLC on a JD(S) ticket recently. Balaraj of Anekal and E Krishnappa of Nelamangala have aligned themselves with the JD(S). BEML Krishnappa, who was murdered recently, was also a leader of this party. And then there are the film types. Actor, director and producer Ravikiran, who has made a fortune from daily soaps, has joined the JD(S) and will be contesting either from Padmanabhanagar or Rajarajeshwari Nagar.
career trend
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RAMESH HUNSUR
HOME WORK Deepa, originally a teacher, became a VA after she had a baby. (Facing page) Jessie D’Sa deals directly with clients and calls herself a ‘business owner’
www.yourvirtualassistant.com A peek into the lives of Virtual Assistants, the new breed of office secretaries—mostly women who prefer to work from home—who assist executives overseas remotely
SAVIE KARNEL savie.karnel@talkmag.in
essie DSouza’s weekly timetable goes like this: laundry on Monday, dusting on Tuesday, sweeping and mopping on Wednesday, shopping on Thursday, gardening on Friday, and repairs on Saturday. Her day is divided into cooking and picking and dropping her daughter from school. But between 10 am and 12 noon, when her daughter is away at school, and after 10 pm, you can find her at her new Apple computer, working on her projects. Her clients
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are scattered all over the world, and deadlines strictly. “If my work is the odd hours are spent calling or unsatisfactory, I may lose my clients. Skyping them. During the day, Reputation matters,” says Jessie, who between her chores, she is busy build- has been a VA since 2010. Jessie was a teacher, and became ing her online presence and marketa VA after her daughter was born. ing herself on forums and blogs. “With this I could be Welcome to with my daughter and the life of the virtu‘Working from also work,” she says. al assistant (VA), home is harder; She has been underwho work for execthere are many taking administrationutives around the related tasks, accounts, world using the distractions,’ market research and Internet. Though says Deepa social media marketVAs like Jessie work ing. from home, it certainly doesn’t mean Deepa Govind works for her they have all the time for household chores. “People think working from many foreign clients from her house home is easy. But it is more difficult in Bangalore. She took up virtual than working in an office,” she says. assistance soon after her marriage in People don’t consider work serious if 2006. Six years on, she says working it is done from home, and besides, the from home is still not easy. “When distractions are numerous. Jessie bal- you go to office, there is a working ances her domestic work and her pro- atmosphere. You don’t have to worry ject work with the help of a schedule. about what’s happening at home. She sweeps her house once a week, or Once you leave office, you can forget whenever she finds the time, because about work. Here, you have to juggle she is “not answerable to anyone at the two worlds,” says Deepa. She home”. But she sticks to her work prefers to work on her projects dur-
Websites that connect virtual assistants with clients
ing the day, and update her clients at night, when the family sleeps, which she says suits both parties. Deepa is a mother of twins just six months old, and is already back at work. “Just two months after the delivery, I started work again. This is a competitive field. There are many VAs out there. A prolonged absence could drive away clients. Thankfully, my in-laws are supportive. They look after the twins when I am working,” she says. Deepa has been a VA since 2006 and specialises in Zoho-based programmes. The Zoho Office Suite is an online office suite with word processing, spreadsheet, database, invoicing, and other applications. When Deepa started work, she learnt mostly on the Internet, since there is no formal training for VAs. “I researched a lot, read up and participated in discussions. I also took up online classes,” she says. She then registered herself with VA websites, which helped her find assignments. Continued on page 8
va4u.com | odesk.com | elance.com | freelancer.com | twango.com
career trend Continued from page 7 Deepa has also improvised, and made herself a teacher of Indian languages through Skype. She currently teaches four languages including Kannada, which are mainly aimed at foreign students who want to intern in India. In addition, she also takes up content writing and management of company websites, all of which put together brings in about Rs 25,000 to 30,000 a month. While Deepa prefers to continue being a freelance VA, Jessie has moved to the next level, and prefers to call herself a business owner. “There are different kinds of VAs,” she explains. “Those who work in a BPO-like setup get a fixed salary, and there are the freelancers. They sign up with websites who send work to them for a fee.” Business owners are those who work like Deepa, who has built up a client base and directly deals with them. Jessie, who makes Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 per month, says, “I have no tax deductions. Since I work individually, I don’t have to share my earnings with websites that function like agents,” she says. But Jessie still has to meet the challenge of keeping ahead of her competitors, and maintain her online visibility. She regularly participates in discussion forums, blogs,
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and keeps her website up to date with the latest in the world of virtual assistance. She also gets testimonials and recommendations from clients, which she ensures are displayed well. In addition to all this, she announces special offers and discounts. VAs usually commit to a number of hours of work to the client. If she finishes the work early,
Jessie offers to carry over the remaining hours into the next project. She puts in effort to keep abreast of the latest applications, and is now keen on starting a service for corporate women. “They have obligations like sending greetings and gifts to business associates, family and friends. I will be their assistant where I maintain their social calendars, shop for them,
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online or offline, and send out greetings and gifts.” Not everyone wants to experiment like Jessie. Most are like Deepa, preferring to work as freelancers because it involves fewer hassles. “We don’t have to make invoices or keep a record of the number of hours we have clocked. The websites that give us work take care of all that,” says Deepa. Then, there are also those like Kavya N, who take up virtual assistance on a parttime basis. “I have a full-time job, and take up assignments just to earn some extra money,” says Kavya. Because of the commitments of her day job, she does not always make as much money as VAs who work full-time. “There have been months when I earned just Rs 5,000 in a month, and months when it went up to Rs 30,000. It all depends on the projects I get and the time on hand,” she adds. Bala Kumar had been a virtual assistant for a short time, before joining a major search engine firm. “It was a four-month project, when I had to do market research. After I took up a full-time job, I was unable to take on new projects. VA assignments require dedication of the kind you sometimes can’t give when you have a regular job,” he says.
A word for ‘real’ that came to denote the unreal
Virtual SAVIE KARNEL savie.karnel@talkmag.in hen we hear the word virtual, we now immediately associate it with computers. In its current usage, the word stands for something imaginary yet real, created in cyberspace. Beyond our monitors, we believe, there lies a realm that cannot be touched, but that still W connects real humans. The easiest way to describe it is simply by calling it virtual. This one word takes care of what is a complex concept. The association of the word virtual with computers may make us think it is of recent origin. We may even assume the term was coined after the advent of The Talk computers. column on That cerword origins
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tainly isn’t so. Virtual dates back to the 14th century and originated from the Latin word virtualis. Back then, the meaning had nothing to do with technology. Instead, it meant “as far as essential qualities or facts are concerned.” In the 15th century, it came to mean “in effect” or “as good as.” For instance, a sentence with the old meaning would read: “The floods have virtually destroyed the town.” This meaning still holds good and continues to be in use. The change in meaning hasn’t been sudden. The first recorded change is in the 1650s, when virtual came to stand for something present in essence or fact, but with no physical form. Things like music, art and literature came to be considered virtual. We know music exists, but it doesn’t have a physical form. Music has no body or shape, and can only be heard. We can say music is present in a virtual space, which we cannot otherwise access. Many imaginative things
K E Y
O R D S
were also said to be ‘virtual’. Perhaps, this meaning gave way to the meaning of virtual associated with computers. It was in 1959 that the word got its computer-related meaning. It came to mean something that does not physically exist but is made to appear so by software. With the advancement of computers and the Internet, the meaning of virtual has expanded. We have become familiar with what we call virtual reality, which denotes an environment that simulates reality that is created by computer programs. Cyber space too is referred to as the virtual world. Though we do not live in the virtual world, we increasingly pretend to do so by creating virtual identities, or avatars. Now, even this meaning seems to have changed. These days, we use virtual for things that exist in the physical world, but are connected through the Internet. Virtual communities or groups have actual people sitting in different parts of the world. They meet in virtual rooms or forums that do not have a physical exis-
IMAGINED Second Life is an online ‘virtual’ world where real people take on avatars
tence. But the discussions take place among real humans. Virtual assistant was earlier used to mean a computer-simu-
lated assistant. Now, it stands for real people doing the job of an assistant, connected to their clients through the Internet.
hiss buss
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Traders keep it at home for good luck. Others believe it restores their virility, and helps them destroy their enemies. The Indian red sand boa, wrongly called the ‘twoheaded snake’, is in much demand in Bangalore
’Black magic snake’ market thriving BHANU PRAKASH E S
market, and the price can go up to Rs 1 crore in the international market. bhanu.prakash@talkmag.in The snakes are usually smuggled out to China, Japan, Malaysia and the he Indian red sand boa is UAE. The red sand boa is informally considered a lucky pet by some, and a requirement known as the two-headed snake, as in black magic by others. its tail resembles its head, a survival Despite wildlife activists’ feature to protect itself against predabest efforts, an illegal trade in the tors. Folk belief in many Asian countries attributes endangered reptile supernatural powcontinues to thrive A snake sells for ers to the snake, in Bangalore and its up to Rs 5 lakh including the ability vicinity. to restore sexual Three cases here, and Rs 1 virility, and cure have come to light crore in the paralysis and over the last two world market intractable skin dismonths. Adugodi eases. police arrested Raja Police say many celebrities, from Tamil Nadu and Harish and Ganesh from Lakkasandra in astrologers, and businessmen, espeBangalore on October 13. Earlier this cially traders from some north Indian week, on October 24, the communities, keep the snake at home Yeshwantpur police were out on a for good luck and protection. Snake Shyam, a reptile specialist patrol when they found a crowd standing around a red sand boa. They who lives in Mysore, says, “The say they released it in the snake’s so-called power to attract a fortune is a myth created by those Bannerghatta forest. A red sand boa reportedly fetch- who earn a fortune by selling it to es Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh in the local astrologers and businessmen. I have
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FANG SHUI Three men arrested by the Adugodi police when they were allegedly trying to sell a red sand boa, called ‘eradu tale haavu’ and ‘kempu mannu mukha’ in Kannada
received hundreds of calls asking for the red sand boa.” He said the snake is found in Bagepalli, Tumkur and Sira more than in other parts of the state. These towns are within a two-hour drive from Bangalore. The red sand boa is protected under Schedule 4 of the Wild Life Protection Act of 1972. While people call the reptile a two-headed snake, the real two-headed snake, with a genetic malforma-
tion akin to that of conjoined twins, also exists. Two-headed snakes are very rare, and do not live very long. Inspector S Sudhir of Audugodi police station says the three men arrested earlier this week were trying to sell a snake for Rs 5 lakh. “I don’t know how people want to keep a red sand boa at home. Just two days in the station and the whole place was stinking. People should not follow such superstitious beliefs,” he told Talk.
letter from denmark
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At home with Andersen In Odense to cover the Denmark Open—which India’s Saina Nehwal won—Dev S Sukumar takes a detour to a colony where the world’s most famous children’s storyteller once lived
t is 5 am, cold and dark, and nobody out. I stand outside the home of the great storyteller Hans Christian Andersen in Odense, Denmark’s third largest city. It’s a small house, low-roofed, and is at the centre of a colony of houses. Andersen was born in poverty, and this was a poor settlement then, but today it is an upmarket quarter. The paths are paved with cobble-stones, probably the very ones laid in the late 19th century. Andersen is a Danish icon. His creations can be found all over the country - I even found a train ticket with the image of one of his paper cuttings. In his birthplace of Odense—now the third biggest city of Denmark—one can scarcely pass by the town without being reminded of him. Andersen’s house is now a museum, with a rich display on his life and work. Close by is the Fyrtoejet (‘Tinderbox’), a playhouse for children that is themed on the stories and characters from Andersen’s stories. Storytellers act out his stories to children and their parents, and most are spellbound as they listen. We have all read his stories in our childhood: The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Ugly Ducking, Thumbelina, and so forth. But we grew out of them, and we thought of them as no more than fairytales for little children. Why then does Andersen continue to be a central figure in Denmark even today? “His stories to me are very modern,” says Pernille Holmskov, the leader of the team. “I realised that once I started working. You can paraphrase his stories to modern times in magnificent ways. I think he doesn’t have enough room in Denmark. We often treat him as a children’s fairytale writer. The little mermaid— everybody thinks they know the
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Dev S Sukumar Writer and biographer of badminton legend Prakash Padukone
HAPPILY EVER AFTER A Hans Christian Andersen sculpture, outside a hotel in his hometown Odense
story, because they’ve seen the Disney the water sparkling. There’s a statue of Andersen in a version, and it has a happy ending. But actually, in his version, she dies, park by the stream. A few children are and the prince gets the princess. It’s playing by. I take a look - they’re all very deep and moving. We try to give dressed as wizards, as Harry Potter this extra dimension that the fairytale and his friends. offers in its original form, which is a little sad. There’s longing and desire Where clubs are nurtured for a different world.” The motto of the town of Odense is There are lessons aplenty in his ‘To Play Is To Live’. It is an unusual tales. “There’s this sculpture we’re motto, but the town council adopted making, it’s is based on the Mother of it in 2008, sure of the importance of the Sea,” continues Holmskov. play in everyday life. “When people of the land get too The emphasis in Odense, and greedy, she gets angry, and we relate indeed in Denmark, comes from the it to the present, realisation that nurwhere we’re pollutturing spaces for play The town has ing the ocean.” reduces other proban unusual For Dorrit lems, like crime, and Lillesoe, storyteller saves a lot of money official motto: at the playhouse, spent on healthcare. ‘To Play is to the job is all about The Danes are Live’ letting children among the sportiest travel in their people on the planet. minds. “Andersen says the most beau- You can spot even elderly men and tiful thing about stories was looking women running or cycling on cold into eyes of children, because he days. There are 500 clubs in Odense, could see they were travelling. So you which is home to 1.5 lakh people. As make a space that’s very special, that Stina Willumsen, Deputy Mayor of you don’t find in the world today,” Odense, and minister in charge of she says. children and sport, says, the club culNor far from Andersen’s child- ture is considered an important unit hood home is a stream. That is where of democracy. “We believe clubs are his mother, a poor washer-woman, important, because you have to condid the clothes. The sun is out and duct regular meetings and elections,
and submit your accounts for audit,” she says. “These are the requirements of a democracy, and so the government will fund anybody who wants to start a club. The requirement is that the club should be open to everybody, and members will not take a salary.” No surprise, then, that Odense should also plug the benefits of open air gyms or sports parks. One such park has elderly women and children working out. The equipment— including some for weight-training— is simple, well designed, and requires little maintenance. Stig Jonsson, Sales Director of Norwell, the company that installed the equipment for the town council, says the equipment is free for anyone to use. “We were inspired by the Chinese folk parks,” he says. “So far we have set up 100 parks in Denmark, and we’re exporting all over the world.” Jonsson says the park has four elements: it should be for everyone; it requires you to work against your own body weight (which means no risk of injury); it is open 14x7, and it serves as a social meeting place. The equipment is ‘Scandinavian in design’, and is particularly useful to those who find gyms claustrophobic and intimidating. Now that’s something we could use in Bangalore as well.
film legacy
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The emblem of Bollywood preferably with snowcapped mountains in the background and rivers or apple orchards in the foreground, stories populated by beautiful women dressed in chiffon. The critical term long used to describe Hindi cinema was ‘escapist’, although with its global success commercially, one finds the epithet being applied more hesitantly. he untimely demise of Yash Chopra, a Yash Chopra’s style evolved to doyen of the mainstream Hindi film, embody ‘escapism’—moving out of will be a matter of great distress to any- the real India into a magical realm one acquainted with Hindi cinema. for two or three hours, at least helping Apart from a career as director begin- people get away from peak-hour traffic. It should be noted here that the Hindi ning with Dhool Ka Phool (1959) and including such popular landmarks as Waqt (1965), Ittefaq (1969), film was not always ‘escapist’ in intent and Deewar (1975), Silsila (1981), Dil To Pagal Hai (1997) there were once directors who preferred and Veer-Zara (2004), he was a leading producer, themes or genres with social observation and and the founder of Yash Raj Films. As importantly, concerns—those like Mehboob Khan, Guru his son Aditya Chopra is one of the most proficient Dutt and Raj Kapoor who were also successdirectors in mainstream cinema today, with suc- ful. The films of these pioneers were hardly cesses like Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995), dull, and audiences were caught up in the Mohabbatein (2000) and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008). excitement of the stories—following them Given Yash Chopra’s position in mainstream cine- was their primary entertainment. But that ma as its biggest emblem, this may be an appropri- was in the 1950s when the Hindi film still had faith in the Nation. After ate moment to reflect on what the debacle of the SinoBollywood has itself come to Chopra’s most Indian war in 1962, when mean today. important film is national optimism was its Yash Chopra’s most significant film as director was perhaps Deewar, but how lowest, Hindi cinema began to move out of the teeming Deewar—it launched Amitabh much credit he city (the emblem of Nehruvian Bachchan as the angry young deserves for it is optimism) to picturesque hill staman—but one is uncertain about debatable tions and foreign locales, and the the credit that should be apporstories also became flippant. The tioned to him for the film. In the general rush to bestow ‘authorship’ upon the direc- 1970s and the ’80s may have been different but tor of any film, one loses sight of the fact that Hindi Hindi cinema reverted to escapism with a mainstream cinema is not a director’s medium but vengeance after the economic liberalisation of one that rightly belongs to the scriptwriter. The 1991-92. The era of cinema as idle amuse‘story’ in any film circumscribes its entire meaning ment arrived in the early 1960s and one can for the audience and cinema is only the visual actually see Hindi cinema transforming means of delivering the story. One is hard put, between Dhool Ka Phool (1959) and Waqt therefore, to identify an element in Deewar which (1965), two films by Yash Chopra. In Dhool Ka was not conceived by Salim-Javed. Perhaps sensing Phool a judge is judged in his own courtroom this, most of Hindi cinema’s best-known directors for having abandoned the woman who have turned producers and the new faces assuming mothered his son, while Waqt, more giddily, the director’s role today still deliver huge hits. Yash is about three brothers being separated by Raj Films’ last big hit Ek Tha Tiger (2012) was direct- an earthquake, the oldest brought up by a ed by Kabir Khan, who is not well known. criminal... This being the case, the next question pertains One is not suggesting that social concern to the director’s contribution in any film, whether should be mandatory in entertainment but the he can lay claim to ‘style’, as distinct from the story. mainstream Hindi film would perhaps have Yash Chopra’s distinctive ‘style’—imitated by other been a more laudable artifact if it had set its filmmakers—perhaps evolved over a period of time. stories in recognisable milieus, and if the In films like Veer-Zara, he uses lush landscapes action had been made plausible. A film like 3
Yash Chopra (1932-2012) was the mainstream Hindi filmmaker of his generation. He began with social observation but switched to escapist fare, offering the Swiss mountains as a magical realm to which weary Indians could get away
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M K Raghavendra is the author of Seduced by the Familiar: Narration and Meaning in Indian Popular Cinema (Oxford, 2008), 50 Indian Film Classics (HarperCollins, 2009) and Bipolar Identity: Region, Nation and the Kannada Language Film (Oxford, 2011).
DREAM WEAVER Yash Chopra died of dengue, a disease associated with the poor
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film legacy
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HIT FACTORY Chopra made his name with the gritty Deewar (1975), but later came to be known for romantic hits like Dil To Pagal Hai (1997). The last fim he directed is the yet-to-be-released Jab Tak Hain Jaan
Idiots (2009)—which professes to show ‘concern’—has its protagonists driving from Manali to Leh, one of the most dangerous roads in the world—as though they were driving between two suburbs in Mumbai on a Sunday morning. Direction and cinematography have therefore come to mean something quite different in the Hindi film from what they mean in cinema. They neither assist in relaying the story and nor do they provide visual
emphasis of any sort; they are simply intended to distract the audiences with spectacle—because the story is too weak. Even as this is happening, the milieu is deteriorating steadily and the gap between the India known by the public and the one acknowledged by Bollywood is increasing. Bollywood is completely unfazed by all this. As an instance, a recent Hindi film was set in Ooty. Anyone who has seen Ooty knows that it has been so ruined by
tourism that it cannot pass for the pristine space that the story required it to be. The way the director solved the problem was to move the crew to a spot in Switzerland, pretend that it was Ooty, and shoot the entire film there! The most shocking thing about Yash Chopra’s demise is that he died from dengue fever. Dengue is emblematic of the condition of our cities, the garbage choking the drains, spilling on to the roads and
gradually usurping our parks. The disease is associated with the poor who live in squalid spaces where mosquitoes breed — but it has now begun to claim the rich as well. If anything, dengue is reality asserting itself, and not being pushed under by apple orchards, snowcapped mountains and women in chiffon. It is horribly ironic that Bollywood’s biggest emblem was claimed by one of the most frightening emblems of India’s reality today.
radio ruckus
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A battle is in the air With private FM channels switching from Kannada to Hindi one after the other, audio rights owners suspect the stations are forming a cartel to thwart the southern language
SANDRA M FERNANDES sandramarina.fernandes@talkmag.in
he Kannada film music industry is up in arms against Bangalore FM radio channels switching to Hindi. Red FM, owned by the Chennai-based Sun group, is the latest to move from Kannada to Hindi. Their change in programming came into effect earlier this month. The Kannada audio industry is planning a big protest in the first week of November to counter private FM channels dropping Kannada from their shows. The industry is puzzled. The channels aren’t telling them why they are switching to Hindi. ‘They haven’t written to us, nor have they had a word with us,’ says Velu of Lahari range of Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 a Recording Company, south India’s month, whereas we should be receiving a minimum of Rs 1 lakh.’ biggest audio label. A highly placed source at a priWhen Talk contacted the Bangalore offices of Red FM and vate radio station said Kannada songs Fever 104, they said they were not end up being more expensive than authorised to respond. RadioOne said Hindi. But Velu counters that claim, saying the royalty is fixed by the reguit wouldn’t comment either. Over the last four years, three latory authorities, and can’t be FM channels that used to play determined by audio rights owners. The Karnataka Kannada music have Audio and Video switched completely Owners’ Association to Hindi. The first to Neglecting (KAVOA), headed by change was RadioOne Kannada is Velu, suspects the chanin 2008. The station, against licence nels are forming a cartel then owned by Midso that they can thwart Day Multimedia, norms the Kannada music began with Kannada industry. ‘The bosses at and Hindi, and then switched to Hindi. Fever 104, which the radio channels have no clue about used to play only Kannada, changed Kannada language or culture,’ says its format to Hindi in July 2011. It Velu. ‘They just want to impose their now calls itself the ‘Baap of prejudices on the city.’ Plans are afoot to protest the Bollywood’. There was some talk that the change of language. Musicians, audio Kannada labels were demanding label owners and representatives of higher royalties, but that is not borne the film industry are talking about out by what the Kannada music how to take on the ‘cartel’. Many are suggesting they should take to the industry says. Velu says, ‘The royalties a label streets and protest. Neglecting Kannada is against here receives are meagre, and in the
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licence norms, and private channels could be hauled up on that score. ‘FM stations in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh play their regional music. Why can’t we?’ Velu says. ‘This negative attitude is affecting not just our business but also our language.’ If channels in Bangalore start playing Hindi, what will happen to the Kannada music industry? That’s a question bothering labels, the film music industry, RJs and listeners. FM radio has a history of 11 years in Bangalore. The first private channel to come to Bangalore was Radio City, launched in July, 2001. It started out playing only English pop numbers. All India Radio launched Vividh Bharti and FM Rainbow in the same year in September. Gyanvani was launched in January 2004, followed by Amrutavarshini, the only channel in India to play classical music. Next to join the league was Radio Mirchi, launched in April 2006. RadioOne followed in August, Radio Indigo in September, Big FM in October and Red FM in November. The next year saw Fever 104 making its presence felt in the city.
FM Stations that have changed their format Red FM (93.5): Kannada to only Hindi Radio One (94.3): Hindi and Kannada to only Hindi Fever 104 (104): Hindi and English to only Kannada to only Hindi In the past, radio channels have run into trouble when they tried to keep Kannada out of their programming. Vasanthi Hariprakash, radio host and TV reporter, experienced the ire six years ago. ‘I happened to be the anchor of a breakfast show on Radio City, and I remember people protesting against Hindi music. They came in on a Saturday when I was in fact hosting my weekend Kannada show Bengaluru Talkies,’ she said. The KAVOA says it has approached the channels, but nothing has come of it. Sanjay Prabhu, MD, Radio Indigo, denies that anyone has approached his channel regarding
radio ruckus this issue. ‘There is no rule that says the local language needs to be promoted, instead it is the local content—like local talent and shows—that need to be promoted on radio.’ That will be seen as clever hair-splitting, but, says N Raghu, programme executive in charge of Amrutavarshini, private FM channels are promoting neither the local language nor local talent. ‘Rarely do we see local bands being promoted on these channels. They are promoting recorded content.’ That is because private FM stations are not equipped to record original music. They have neither the space nor the equipment to invite musicians over and produce a professional recording. The only channel with such infrastructure is All India Radio. ‘In order to promote local talent and content, these channels need to change their attitude,’ Raghu says. Prabhu of Indigo, which plays English pop, says he is willing to hear out any request for alternative programming. ‘We will react when we are approached,’ he said. FM channels say they play only Hindi or English music because of the ‘cosmopolitan nature’ of Bangalore, and young audiences prefer Hindi and English to Kannada. V H Suresh, former vice president and secretary of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), isn’t con-
vinced. He says, ‘FM channels are misusing the term ‘cosmopolitan’. They are taking unfair advantage of the culture and generosity of the people of Bangalore.’ But defining audiences narrowly has its problems. Vasanthi says, ‘In my own experience as RJ, whether at Radio City or AIR’s FM Rainbow prior to that, I have seen
Lahari’s Venu and KFCC’s V H Suresh
how traditional Kannadigas have a fine grasp of not just Hindi film music, but also ghazals, retro numbers and even Western music.’ Many non-Kannadigas, by contrast, are not open to Kannada music. Their excuse: they do not understand the lyrics. Ashwin, a software engineer, says he listens to Kannada songs at his gym or at wayside
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restaurants, that is, only when he has no other option. ‘I appreciate the music but listening to it won’t be my first choice,’ he says. Prabhu says people who tune in to Radio Indigo are not just the city’s Englishspeaking population. ‘Our audience listens to Hindi and Kannada music too,’ he said. FM Rainbow, run by All India Radio, caters to everyone’s tastes by playing Kannada, Hindi and English music. Rajeshwari, transmission executive, FM Rainbow, says, ‘Even though we are a central government-run channel, we give preference to Kannada. A majority of our content and hosting is in Kannada. At the same time, we devote three hours to Hindi and one hour to Western music every day.’ The Kannada film industry says it will suffer if radio channels play more Hindi than Kannada. ‘Since the Kannada film industry has a small market, the FM channels should encourage us and not ignore us,’ Suresh said. When a channel changes the language of its programmes, RJ careers are directly affected. Some are given non-RJ jobs within the station, while others go looking for alternative jobs, mostly outside radio. A Kannada RJ at Fever 104 was jobless for a while when the channel switched to Hindi. He now works for a Kannada TV channel. Melodee Austin, RJ, Radio Indigo,
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RJs Vasanthi and Melodee Austin (Radio Indigo)
considers a scenario where her channel, now exclusively English, plays Kannada. ‘We may have to learn the language and Kannada music. Those really passionate about music and the medium will go to the extent of learning both, but how comfortable they will be is a question,’ she says. Channels like Radio Mirchi and Big FM still play only Kannada music, and, if industry insiders are to be believed, are doing well commercially. As for the others, Suresh says, ‘Even if they play 50 per cent Kannada and 50 per cent Hindi and English, I think the issue will be resolved.’
woof! woof!
From desi streets t Street dog adoption in Bangalore
Since 2009, around 360 dogs have been adopted through Let’s Live Together, a Bangalorebased organisation. Individuals who fell in love with a dog on the streets have taken it home, and their numbers are big, too. Dr Mansi Jaysal, a dentist, organised The Great Indian Dog Show in Bangalore, and received 65 entries. It was a show meant only for Indian dogs, and pure breeds could not participate. “There were people from all walks of life and with different stories about how they adopted their pet. They were welloff people who could afford to buy a pure breed, but still chose to adopt a stray,” she says. She feels many Indians choose a foreign breed because they see it as a status symbol. They feel ashamed to say they own an Indian dog. Achala Paani also has to do a lot of convincing during the adoption camps of Let’s Live Together. “Many prefer only male pups. It is difficult to find homes for female pups. Black and white pups are easily adopted. But Bangalore has many brown dogs, and they don’t easily find a home,” she says. Achala keeps the pups in a foster home before putting them up for adoption, so that the pups grow healthy and also get used to living with a family. “Those who cannot commit to keeping a dog can volunteer to foster them for us for a couple of months. Some could also sponsor food— Cerelac, biscuits or Pedigree,” she says. Achala can be contacted on 99864 13916.
Indian dogs—often unfavourably compared to their foreign counterparts by the natives—are increasingly in demand from pet lovers abroad. What’s more, some actually prefer these naturally evolved canines to those that are bred by humans.
SAVIE KARNEL savie.karnel@talkmag.in
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yari was a little brown puppy wandering at a construction site in Bombay. She foraged for food in garbage, drank from sewage and hid behind sand bags to escape being stoned or beaten by a passerby. Her life changed dramatically one day. She was picked up, bathed, vaccinat-
ed and nurtured in a shelter till she grew healthy. Then she was off on a plane to the USA. Her new home was in Beverley Hills and Hollywood celebrity Pamela Anderson was her new mom. Pamela Anderson told Talk in an email, “When I came to India to appear as a guest on Bigg Boss 4, the plight of the dogs I saw on the streets captured my heart. So when I learned that the CEO of PETA India was headed to the United States to meet with her overseas colleagues, I asked if she would bring an
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to overseas homes
WELL-ADJUSTED 1. Boomer with her Abbotsford family. 2. Bangle with Dieter at Adopt an Indian Desi Dog (AAIDD) in Vancouver. 2. Bella with her family in Seattle.
Indian dog in need of a home over to me. I decided to name the new member of my family Pyari, since it means loved one.” But Pyari is not unusual. Hundreds of Indian dogs like her have found homes in the USA, Canada and Europe. There is a demand for Indian dogs in these countries and agencies there have been sourcing dogs from our streets. Dr Premalatha Chaudhary, a Delhibased vet who rescues dogs from streets and sends them to families abroad, says foreign interest in ‘desi’ dogs is on the rise. “They insist the dogs look typically desi. They specify it should have a curled tail, perked ears and short coat. And they prefer black or tan,” she told Talk over the phone. She claims to have given homes to
activities but is calm indoors.” They also easily adapt to varying climate. “The desi loves snow and doesn’t mind the mild cold. They play for hours in fresh snow fall, but don’t go out in the rain,” she adds. Rajshree Khalap, a desi dog enthusiast, has started the INDog project, a knowledge centre, which aims to create awareness on native Indian dogs. INDogs is short for Indian Native Dogs, which she believes are a truly indigenous breed that evolved naturally. Their kind is seen only in India and the subcontinent. “Information about indigenous dogs is usually restricted to a small academic circle of researchers and enthusiasts, resulting in an information gap where the public is concerned,” she says. over a thousand stray dogs and cats Rajshree disseminates information throughout the world. The majority of through her website, blog, social media them go to Canada and the United pages and with the help of other online States. “The rules are more relaxed in tools. Surprisingly, many pet-parents these countries when compared to participating in the discussions live overEurope. The paper work happens faster,” seas. “There are INDogs all over the she says. world, including in South Africa, Egypt, Barbara Gard, founder of Adopt an Finland, Denmark and Japan,” she says. Indian Desi Dog (AAIDD), is the Most of these owners picked up Canadian link between people who want streets dogs when they were visiting to adopt Indian dogs and dog shelters in India, and took them along. Some even India. Since the setting up kept them at their of AAIDD in 2009, she has friends’ places and came 'The desi dog is found homes for over 200 back to take them. athletic, highly Indian dogs. Rhada’s is a touch“They are primarily ing story. This Indipup intelligent, alert in the greater Vancouver had come under a car and sensitive,’ area, but also in several US and both her hind legs says AAIDD states. We are not far from were broken. Lisa founder Gard Seattle so several adopPerrine Brown took her tions go into Washington home, and treated her. State; we have also placed a dog in Juneau When the time came for Lisa to return to Alaska, in Yellowknife in the North West the US, she took Rhada along. Along with Territories, Canada (NWT), in San her, Lisa took two more pups. She took Francisco, California; Portland, Oregan; Otis, whom she rescued from a puddle in and New York and New Jersey,” she wrote which the pup had almost drowned, and in response to e-mailed questions. another pup Mahendra Singh Snoopy. People who prefer Indian dogs over They now live with Lisa in her Michigan other breeds do so because of their home. unique temperament and build. The AAIDD has also adopted Gard notes, “The desi dog is athlet- injured and deformed dogs. “We have ic, highly intelligent, highly alert and sen- taken in dogs that have had legs sitive to the environment.” amputated, (besides) one that What increases the appeal of desi survived being thrown in a dogs is their ability to be comfortable fire, and one that was blind at both indoors and outdoors. As Gard says, birth,” says Barbara Gard. “They are very quick learners, calm Bangalore-based NGO indoors, and very fast and agile outdoor. Let’s Live Together has been This area of Canada/USA is very outdoor promoting adoption of oriented with most people enjoying hik- Indian dogs in the city. ing, walking, biking, and running. The Continued on page 18 desi is a good fit. They like that the dog can keep up with them on their outdoor
What makes Indian dogs better than pedigree dogs? Rajshree Khalap of the INDog (Indian Native Dog) project in Mumbai explains why the desi has such international appeal. “The real difference between INDogs and the so-called pure breeds is in how they developed. INDogs evolved their typical appearance and character through natural selection, just like aboriginal breeds in other countries and continents. All the other breeds were created intentionally by humans, by selecting for desired traits,” she says. Other ancient breeds that evolved like INDogs through natural selection are the Canaan Dog and the New Guinea Singing Dog. The African Basenji was bred from free-roaming aboriginal dogs of the Congo. Since they are the product of natural selection, all their traits are prosurvival; they don't have any known breed defects and are generally healthy. ‘Pure’ is a very confusing and misused word in relation to dog breeds," she notes. Most popular modern breeds, specially the Eurobreeds, were actually created by mixing several breeds. For instance the Golden Retriever was created in the 19th century by crossing a number of breeds, including the Tweed Water Spaniel, Irish Setter, Bloodhound and others. The Labrador Retriever has its origins in the St John’s Water Dog, which was a mix of small water dogs and Newfoundland. “In comparison, the despised INDog consists of only one breed, the INDog, and that is of considerable antiquity going by archaeological record. Preliminary findings of the Cornell Village Dog Genetic Diversity Project show that INDogs have a distinct genetic profile, unlike dogs sampled in any other country. Even the mix-breeds on our city streets are not really more ‘mixed’ than the average modern ‘pure breed,’” she says. Barabara Gard, her counterpart in Canada too feels that the genetics of the desi or INDogs makes them healthier and more preferable. “People like that the desi dog has not been genetically manipulated, is genetically healthy and is a natural, original, native dog,” she says. Veterinarian Dr Premalatha Chaudhury agrees, as do the owners. “Desi dogs are low maintenance. They do not fall sick easily and don’t need to be taken to the vet frequently,” she says, and Monique Nerman in California, who adopted Goa-born Tommy, adds: “My vet here said I would be most likely very happy with this dog as he would not have any inherited illnesses.”
woof! woof! Continued from page 17 “We have also received many emails where people from other countries have expressed their desire to adopt an Indian dog,” says its founder Achala Paani. The paperwork involved is a hurdle (see box). “So, currently, we are just focusing on our adoption drive in Bangalore,” she says.
Hardy and brainy Desi dogs have proved wrong sceptics who believed that they could not be trained. They are not only used as sniffer dogs, but also as therapy dogs. “One INDog is a ‘Canine Good Citizen’ through the American Kennel Club programme, and has also worked as a certified therapy dog in the US and Europe,” says Rajshree Khalap. Goa-born Tommy was adopted by Monique Nerman, who took him to California. There she enrolled him in the Canine Good Citizen Program of the American Kennel Club. Tommy not only passed all the obedience tests, but also got the trophy for being the first in the class. The tests included heel, lie down, meet other dogs and
behave well and not react to loud noise. Says Monique, “Tommy’s job as a street dog used to be to survive, and here in the West his job is to protect me — but he also has to be a good dog. It’s not about having a dog that’s trained as a monkey but about a dog that does things right and communicates well with his owner.” (See box) Indian dogs have proved their mettle as sniffer dogs too. The Counter Terrorism and Jungle Warfare College (CTJWC) located in Kanker (Chhattisgarh), experimented with training Indian dogs, and they were pleased with the results. They trained Indian dogs in detecting bombs and the dogs passed the grading exams along with Labradors, and are active in Naxal areas. Besides road clearing and VIP duties, they have also performed in complete harmony with their Labrador and Alsatian counterparts at Republic Day and Independence Day parades.
Doggie paperwork Though many Indian dogs have found homes outside India, the process is not easy and pups have to wait for months before they get a permanent home. A lot of paperwork is involved to get an export permit from India and an import permit in the recipient country.
Barbara does the checks in Canada and the USA. “We check if the houses have enough space for a dog. We prefer to give the pets to those who have their own houses. If they live in rented houses, we ask them to get a noobjection letter from their landlord,” Dr Chaudhury says.
Dr Premalatha Chaudhary, a Delhibased vet, says, “Besides the vaccination and deworming, blood tests have to be conducted to detect illnesses. In the UK, the rules are stricter and they demand that on arrival to UK, the dogs be kept in quarantine for six months. With tests and correct paper work, we can do away with the quarantine period, but it takes time.”
If they are satisfied with the applicants, the dogs are airlifted. On reaching there, the dogs first go to a foster home. “After their flight the dogs are housed at AAIDD. It takes them nearly two weeks to get over the jet lag. During this time, a professional dog trainer assesses the temperament of the dog,” Barbara says.
Adopting an Indian pup may not be as easy as picking it up and carrying it home. The pet parents are screened, and they are trained to handle Indian dogs.
The pet parents are encouraged to meet the dog and the trainer checks if they get along. “There have been times when they come for one dog, but go with another. The pet parents also undergo training on how to take care of an Indian dog,” says Dr Chaudhury.
When a pup is ready for adoption, Dr Chaudhury posts an advertisement on her website and that of AAIDD, the Canada-based Adopt an Indian Desi Dog, run by Barbara Gard. The applications received are screened. She also checks if the dog matches the specifications of the pet parents.
Many times pet parents pay about 50 per cent of the cost of airlifting the dog, which is about Rs 25,000. “Some even pay the full amount. There are also some who may not be able to afford it. If we like them and think that they will love the dog, we do not take any payment from them,” says Dr Chaudhury.
The adoption process
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MY BOY Monique with Tommy, proudly displaying the prize he won in a California competition
‘He has a most human way of connecting’ onique is an artist and filmmaker from the USA, currently in Italy. She adopted Tommy from Goa in 2009. Excerpts from an e-mail interview.
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Where did you find Tommy? What made you fall in love with him? I came to Goa in 2009 for six months and Tommy lived on the street outside the house I was renting. He was only seven months old and had been mistreated. There was an older dog on the street with him. Tommy had wounds that were infected. I cleaned him up and got to know this very pretty young dog with gold-coloured eyes. He turned out to be the most gentle and sweet-natured dog, and soon enough, stood every day outside my door waiting for me. I fell in love with his almost human way of connecting. Did you face any difficulties while taking him to California? Is the official procedure cumbersome? It was a much easier process than expected. Since I had to leave for America before Tommy, I used a handling agent that took care of all the paperwork and two good friends helped me with preparing and transporting Tommy to the airport in Goa. After an 18-hour flight Tommy landed in America, and the US customs had already cleared his paperwork while he was on route. The flight is long, but the airline company and the handling agent did a great job. Except for the longest pee in history once he got out of the crate, Tommy was alert and okay after such a long trip. Tell us about Tommy at the Canine Good Citizen Programme and Tommy’s work as
a therapy dog. The Canine Good Citizen is a programme with the American Kennel Club (it now exists in other countries too) to promote responsible dog ownership. The dog has to pass 10 tests that include basic obedience skills. You leave the dog to sit with the judge and you walk away and hide for a certain time, and the dog is not allowed to move. Therapy dogs are tested for their ability to give emotional support in a hospital environment. Tommy is a natural, he walks in to the ward and patients’ rooms wagging his tail and just knows what to do. He loves people and patiently stands next to wheel chairs or beds while being touched and stroked. He doesn’t get scared by oxygen machines or loud noises. He brings so much joy to people and seeing him “in action” makes me so proud of my ‘INDog.’ What difference has Tommy made to you? All the difference! I wasn’t really prepared for the amount of responsibility a little dog takes in a western country, and the way I had to grow up and put Tommy before my own wishes and learn to be more organised and make choices based on what is best for him. It is an amazing journey seeing this little guy live his life and discover the world. Because we have been travelling a lot, he always has to come first, so that he can handle all the changes. I think that most of all, it’s such an amazing experience to have someone trust you so much and make that special connection with another living being—I sometimes have to pinch myself to be so lucky to have a dog that allows me to love him so much!
authorspeak
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‘I don’t try to be satirical at all’ a story revolving around a suicide case. Overall, The Illicit Happiness of Other People is an engaging book that makes the journey through the 300odd pages worthwhile. The delight lies in the smaller bits and not in the whole. That said, the honest storytelling from Serious Men, and the appealing simplicity of that book’s last 100 pages was thoroughly missed. Excerpts from an email interview:
Manu Joseph’s second novel The Illicit Happiness of Other People may be full of comic descriptions of everyday life, but he tells Talk he only describes things the way he sees them
PRACHI SIBAL prachi.sibal@talkmag.in
anu Joseph, editor of Open Magazine and author of the novel Serious Men, recently launched his second book, The Illicit Happiness of Other People. Joseph has already proven his mastery as a storyteller in the unusually honest first book. Illicit Happiness, which was ‘eagerly awaited’ as the blurb-writer says, is a complete departure from the first book, at heart a simple chronological story of the ‘manufacturing’ of a child genius. Illicit Happiness is the story of Unni Chacko, a 17-year-old cartoonist of Malayali origin living in Madras. He does something terrible, something that is evident but not recounted until halfway into the book. Nobody knows why Unni did what he did, but the answers, it seems, lie in some comic strips he has left behind. His father Ousep Chacko, a journalist with UNI, is a man of grave ethics and lives a poverty-stricken life with his wife Mariamma and younger son Thoma in one of four identical buildings on Balaji Street in Chennai. Ousep has a mission; to find out why Unni decided to kill himself one fine afternoon by jumping off the terrace of their building. When he starts off meeting the boy’s friends, the journey turns out to be more about getting to know his own son. The book doesn’t follow a particular chronology, but is roughly set three years after Unni’s death, when Ousep discovers something forces him to re-examine the tragedy. This may make it sound like a classic whodunit, with journalist turning detective, but it isn’t. As the characters take centre stage, we delve into the secret life of the household. We learn of its idiosyncracies: for example, Mariamma’s talking to the walls, and Thoma’s longing for Mythili, the
Why Madras when your story could have held true in any urban setting? Most novels can be set anywhere if we see them as mere stories, but then the place where it’s set becomes a character in its own right. This particular story, inspired by events that happened in Madras at a particular time, belongs to Madras and Madras alone. The time when the events occur, too, was inescapable for the same reason. Time, too, is a character.
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Who according to you is the real protagonist of the book—Unni or Ousep? Does it matter, really?
One of the side-stories, an inciTamil Brahmin girl next door. There is much delightful satire dent involving a character called in Joseph’s descriptions of life in 1990 Philipose (we won’t tell you more), Madras, a city that is as much a char- creates a lump in your throat. It also acter in the book as Mariamma or makes you look closely at perhaps the Ousep. These standalone satirical most endearing character of the passages are perhaps the biggest book, Mariamma. Her relationship strength of the book. The imaginative with Unni is heart-warmingly sensidescriptions of Unni’s cartoons, that tive. It is she who brings out different almost makes you feel you have seen layers in the other characters, and it is through her eyes that them all yourself, Joseph gives the give the book more The standalone reader an insight weight than the satirical passages into the Malayali actual story. Catholic community The story, are the biggest in Madras. though unusual and steength of The disappointfast-paced through Joseph’s book ment lies at the fag most of the book, end of the book, gets muddled in the last 100 pages, with many distractions when the mystery is unravelled and too many loose ends. In his through numerous theories that leave unsatisfied. Here, too, exploration of unusual psychological you states, Joseph obsesses with disorders Mariamma is the one character who like The Folly of Two and the Cotard manages to pull the narrative Delusion or the Walking Corpse through. Another detail that works Syndrome; these interest you, but not against the book is the absence of the police, something that bothers you in for long.
Why did you rename the street you lived in to Balaji Street? That too when references to Arcot Road give a fair idea of what part of Madras it is that you are talking about. I believe that a novel should either concoct events and places, or be true to facts, be journalistic. When I describe a place in a novel, I want it to assume its real name only if I have been accurate about everything about it. I grew up in Rajaram Colony in Kodambakkam and Balaji Lane is derived from that. I did not name it Rajaram Colony because around the years when the novel is set, there was—apart from four identical redand-white buildings—a cow shed and some independent houses, which were distractions I did not need in my novel. So I made it Balaji Lane where there are only the four buildings. Do you hate the IIT JEE (Joint Entrance Examination)? Did you take the exam? You seem to write a lot about it, including in the magazine you edit. I don’t hate the IIT JEE at all. I have not written more than two or three articles about it. Continued on page 20
authorspeak passing off memoirs as novels and I Continued from page 19 It was a dark, menacing, powerful and wanted to achieve a novel that was not unparalleled cultural force when I was autobiographical—though Serious Men growing up in Madras, and I could see was so in a way that people cannot easily that it was the worst thing that could see. I am more comfortable now with the have happened to generations of boys, view that you really cannot write a novel including very smart boys. I did not take unless there is a lot of your own experience in it. the exam because I imagined I was going to ‘I have no How much research went be this great writer who did not need anything identity, really, into the book? What’s the of researching a but a place to write—I and I don’t care advantage fictional work? don’t know why I was so about it’ There was a bit of sure about it even then. I research. What research did lose my nerve about three years later as I began to meet some gives you is the confidence to stay with journalists and writers and was very your opinions or an honorable opportuunimpressed. But circumstances nity to discard your silly opinions. ensured that I never strayed too far from What inspires satire in you? Does having writing. biases (like hating Delhi and disliking the IIT JEE) sometimes help an author bring in How far has Unni’s character been taken humour? from reality? I don’t try to be satirical at all—honestly, Largely. Can I say, 88.7 per cent? I only set out to describe things the way I see them. Your second book takes more from your own life than your first, whereas with most Do you dislike Salman Rushdie? You seem authors it is usually the other way round. When I was writing my first book, to criticise him a lot in your writing and Serious Men, I had this somewhat imma- speech? ture contempt for writers who were I don’t know why you get this impres-
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sion. I cannot dislike him. Like many people of my generation, I believed I could be a novelist after reading Midnight’s Children—though I have a different view of the book when I read it now. I find Mr Rushdie, as a person, very interesting and impressive. It is very rare to read a very famous writer who does not offer a single startling view but is still somehow widely admired. What inspires you as an author? Any writers who influenced your style or thinking? I want to tell a good story, and I want to tell this story without boring you, and I want to write about relationships between men and women, which is the only thing that matters in this world and it covers everything that we try to do. And, of course, I want to explain time and again the sweet melancholy of pointlessness. No writer has influenced me, and I don’t know why. I love some writers but they don’t influence me. How does being a person with a multicultural identity help your writing? I have no identity, really, and I don’t care about it.
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Extract The correct profile of a Madras street As things are, it does not take much to be a spectacle on this narrow tarred lane. It waits all day to be startled by the faintest hint of strangeness passing through. Such as a stray working woman in the revolutionary sleeveless blouse, who has the same aura here as a divorcee. A man with a ponytail. A north Indian girl in jeans so tight you can see daylight between her legs. It is as if such apparitions are a sign that the future, which has arrived in other places, is now prospecting the city. Here now is the final stand of an age, the last time one can profile a street in Madras and be correct. Men are managers, mothers are housewives. And all bras are white. Anglo-Indian girls who walk in floral frocks are Maria. Page 5 (Extracted with permission from HarperCollins India) The Illicit Happiness of Other People Price: Rs 499
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Rewind
21
Forward
The week that was
The week ahead
Rajat Gupta sentenced: Gupta, former Goldman Sachs board member, was sentenced to two years imprisonment for feeding insider information from board discussions to a hedge fund owner.
Inquiry sought: The father of BBC journalist Russell Joslin who apparently killed himself, has called for an inquiry into how his son’s complaints about alleged harassment by a female colleague were handled. Peter Joslin said Russell’s bosses “could have done more.”
UK colleges shut down: Britain has announced that it has so far shut down 500 bogus colleges over the last 18 months. The UK is high on the list of Indian students wanting to go abroad for a degree, and many of them have been affected.
Dream of becoming a publisher? The National Book Trust is holding a twoweek training course in book publishing in Bangalore from November 19 to December 1. The course will cover all aspects of the business, including editing, production, electronic publishing, marketing, sales promotion, finance and copyright.
designed to be participatory and interactive.
Eminent professionals from leading publishing houses will provide insights into the many aspects of book publishing. The course includes case studies, group discussions and workshops, and is
For more details, visit www.nbtindia.gov.in or call Amit Karki, regional manager, Southern Regional Office, National Book Trust, on 26711994.
Applicants should ideally be graduates. Candidates with higher qualifications will get preference. Course fee: Rs 1,000 (payable at the time of enrolment). Last date for receipt of applications: 10 November
US elections - close contest: Various poll surveys ahead of the Nov 6 US presidential elections indicate a close contest between Democratic incumbent Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney. Zynga cuts jobs, games: The company known for games like Farmville popular on Facebook, has laid off five per cent of its global workforce and is planning to retire 13 games. Gadkari in the spotlight: Nitin Gadkari, who was accused of a land scam by Arvind Kejriwal’s India Against Corruption, also finds himself at the centre of a fresh set of media exposes Virbhadra Singh: Virbhadra Singh, the fivetime chief minister of Himachal Pradesh struggled to fend of allegations of corruption and amassing of wealth, an even threatened the media. Mysore Dasara: Jamboo Savari, the elephant procession, brought the Dasara festivities in Mysore to a colourful end Legislature session: CM Jagadish Shettar has said government will organise a 10-day legislature session in Belgaum every year Garbage crisis: Tonnes of garbage continued to accumulate in Bangalore, exacerbated by a festival week, as the government continued to flounder in its attempts to resolve it.
The name’s Skyfall The latest edition of hugely successful James Bond franchise, Skyfall, starring Daniel Craig, is set for an international release. The theme song by Adele has already been making waves, and the preview has got excellent response. Expect to be shaken and stirred. Guantanamo Bay At Guantánamo Bay, terrorism suspects Abd al-Rahim alNashiri said that belly chains hurt his back and that he might refuse to appear at court hearings if the guards did not treat him better
Fellowships for translators The Charles Wallace India Trust, in association with the British Centre for Literary Translation, is offering fellowships for translators from India to spend two months at the University of East Anglia, where they can work on a translation project of their choice. The translators will live on
campus in a single-person self-catering flat within easy access of university catering outlets. CWIT pays a stipend and also contributes to the cost of international travel. Translators are strongly encouraged to engage in the academic, cultural and social life of the faculty. There are opportunities to lead seminars for post-
graduate students, present papers, and talk about work in progress. Two residencies are offered in 2013 and will run from April 9 to June 8. Applications are open till November 14. For more information, visit: www.bclt.org.uk/opportuniti es/residencies/charleswallace-india-trust/
50 years of Silent Spring The book widely credited with helping launch the American (and later worldwide) environmental movement, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The book, first serialised in The New Yorker, documented the detrimental effects of pesticides on the environment. The book argued that uncontrolled and unexamined pesticide use was harming and even killing not only animals and birds, but also humans. Its title was meant to evoke a spring season in which no bird song could
be heard, because the creatures have all vanished as a result of pesticide abuse. Carson accused the chemical industry of spreading disinformation, and public officials of accepting industry claims uncritically. The book caused an uproar, and eventually led to the strengthening of pesticide regulations and a ban of the pesticide DDT in 1972 in the United States, and later in the rest of the world. Incidentally, India is the only country still manufacturing DDT, and remains the largest consumer of the chemical.
Google Chromebook Google is pitching a new Chromebook ad campaign as it competes with Apple’s Macbook Air laptops, the iPad Mini and the Microsoft Surface tablet. Radio protest The Karnataka Audio and Video Owners’ Association (KAVOA) have warned local FM radio stations against what they call a bias against Kannada in favour of Hindi and English. The organization has set a month’s deadline, failing which the KAVOA will lead a massive agitation with the active participation of proKannada organisations, writers, film personalities and all wings of the music industry. Ex-CMs in the dock More allegations are expected to surface against three former Karnataka chief ministers--former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and B S Yeddyurappa, on a complaint alleging irregularities in the BangaloreMysore expressway project. Lokayukta Court has ordered a probe against them.
concert review
Spanish music sensation Enrique Iglesias who returned to town after 2004 has not left his stage routine behind. He continues to give fans ‘unforgettable’ performances—and no, we're not talking about the music
PRACHI SIBAL prachi.sibal@talkmag.in
t was in the late 1990s that news of this soon-to-be heartthrob reached this part of the world. If fact, ‘heart-throbness’ is almost a hereditary trait for Enrique Iglesias, whose father Julio is one of Spanish music’s all-time best-selling artistes. Initially at least, it was about the music. A few catchy numbers like Rhythm divine and Bailamos helped propel Iglesias Junior on to the world stage, and widespread adulation. The focus soon shifted from the music to other details like ‘the mole’ and celebrity girlfriend Anna Kournikova. A rare pink diamond for a gift caught some attention too. Years may have passed since then, but
I LATECOMER Enrique’s India tour comes two years after his last album Euphoria was released
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Antics for sale not much seems to have changed like white balloons, confetti and fireworks. with Enrique, the performer. Now, does this make Enrique At his Bangalore concert last weekend, I found myself among a any less of a performer? Going by the 6,500-strong crowd of swooning star-struck crowd and a strangely satwomen (and men), who did not seem isfied feeling I had at the end of it all, to mind that the singer arrived fash- no. From the moment he arrived on ionably late at 8.45 pm, after an open- stage, there wasn’t a dull moment. ing act that lasted nearly two hours. The phenomenon that is ‘Enrique They also did not seem to mind that Iglesias live’ requires another underhis last album, Euphoria, was released standing of what people really look in 2010, and his India tour came two for, and want to leave with, in a show that has very little to years later. do with music. And that’s not all Enrique’s stage Unlike at a rock they had to put up antics were or metal perforwith; for there were mance, the crowd many disappointpredictable: here isn’t in search of ments through the the fans knew music to which they show itself. First, the all his moves can head bang. Here, performance lasted in advance hands are held out as no more than 75 mineverybody wants to utes and was a mashup of popular numbers with one touch and feel the star they grew up repeated even. The 2003 album 7 was with. Enrique, on the other hand, is completely off the list. There was also more than willing to oblige. He the lip-synching—more than once, sprinted from one ramp to the other, Enrique dropped the mic and a famil- extending his hand for his fans to iar voice still lingered in the back- touch. His penchant for kissing fans ground track. Far too much time was spent chatting with members of the on-stage—whether it was the then audience and on other distractions 24-year-old bemused Rosy of
Bangalore in 2004 or Vinamrata of Pune in 2012—seems to work every time. Last week’s performance was no exception. Enrique pulled up a woman from the crowd and crooned to her one of his most popular numbers, Hero. He hugged her and gave her a customary peck before we saw the woman return teary-eyed. This wasn’t all. He also called onstage a policeman who was positively frightened and even attempted to get off while Enrique wasn’t looking. But it also seemed like his stage had become predictable; the fans, far from being surprised, were anticipating each of those moves. When a young boy was called on stage to sing along Ben E King’s popular number Stand by Me, he did so, but not without blurting out into the mic, “He did this is in Pune too.” The audience reacted to his every move and costume change with loud cheering, singing along through it all. In the end, it was a crowd of exhausted yet satiated fans that walked out. Enrique may not have given the money’s worth to a music buff. But to his star-struck fans, that wasn’t a dealbreaker.
L I S T I NGS
talk|1 nov 2012|talkmag.in
food
crafts
Bake like a pro: Want to make those perfect scones and cupcakes? Head to this baking workshop where you can learn how to make pizzas, basic baking tips, baking recipes and some tips from well-known food critic Priya Bala. Cilantro, Kormangala, October 28, 4 pm to 7 pm 9844707517 Fun with spooks: This Halloween put on your funniest and scariest outfit and enjoy food that is fit for a king. You can sample some salads, main course and desserts along with some beer and mocktails. Priced at Rs 1,300 for adults and Rs
Concoct your own poison: Learn from Rohan Carvalho how to make that perfect cocktail and mix classic and trendy cocktails this week. Get tips on cocktail styles, bar equipments, glassware, bar tricks and more. Fee for the class is Rs 900. Fava, 203, 2nd floor, The Collection, UB City, Vittal Mallaya Road, October 31, 6 pm, Log onto www.munchwithus.com 595 for children. Activities such as mask colouring and face painting will keep your children busy all day. Toscano, 2nd floor, Whitefield, October 28, 11.30 am to 3.30 pm 25939224
music
Indo-Jazz fusion: Fusion Dreams, an Indojazz fusion ensemble featuring classical violinist Dr Jyotsna Srikanth will perform this weekend. Watch
Gold rush this festive season: At Swensen’s you can dig into the Gold Rush, their latest offering comprising of scoops of rich chocolate and Turkish coffee ice cream with caramel, hot fudge topped with nuts and cherry and celebrate this festive week. Available at all Swensen's outlets
Idlis in a mall: Craving for a dosa or vada while spending time in your favourite mall? Well your wish is granted as MTR gives you all that and more. So, have a crispy dosa with their trademark filter coffee and make you mall experience memorable. MTR, 1st floor, Forum Value Mall, Whitefield It’s all about BBQ and steaks: Sink your teeth into beef steak minute, fillet mignon, pork chops, chicken steak with red wine and thyme moorish harisa potato, pumpkin mash, balsamic grilled tomato, sauteed mushroom and pepper eggs and more. Muse Terrace Lounge, 1206, Manan Arcade, 100ft Road, Indiranagar, October 28 9844707517
Feel the blues?: Watch Indian Blues from Kolkata perform live in the city. Inspired by Hindustani classical music, the band’s music is an amalgamation of Western classical, blues, jazz, gypsy and soft rock, among other genres. bFlat, 100 Feet Road, Above ING Bank, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, October 27, 8.30 pm 41739250
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Begin your festivities on a sweet note: Celebrate this festive season with sweet hampers. You will be spoilt for choices as you choose from Dry Fruit & Nuts Hamper, Little Red Riding Hood Hamper, Orange Square Basket, Perfect Hamper, Basket of Gold, Passionate Hamper, Big Bundle of Joy and more. Bliss Chocolates, Ground Floor, Forum Value Mall, Whitefield
Celebrating Karnataka The Handmade Collective, a yearly event by A Hundred Hands is back and this year with a Karnataka focus. While handmade artifacts from all over the country continue to make it to the stalls here, arts and crafts from the state will be given special space to commemorate Rajyotsava day. Local crafts like Kasuti embroidery, khadi weaves from Melkote, lacquerware from Channapatna, tribal jewellery from Bijapur and more will be available in
their design-friendly forms. You could also get your hands on some interesting books on Karnataka and Bangalore at one of the stalls. A Demo A Day! is another section that can’t be missed, where a traditional Karnataka dish in its native form will be showcased on each of the days of the exhibition. The Handmade Collective, No 4, Ashley Road, Behing Ajanta Hotel, Off Brunton Road, October 31 to November 4, 11 am to 7 pm
retail therapy her as she will be accompanied by other artists like Karthik Mani, Rudy David and others performing at the Bengaluru Sangeeth Utsav. Chowdiah Hall, Gayathri Devi Park Extension, 16th Cross, Malleswaram, October 27, 6.30 pm 9945511831 The techno don is here: He’s worked for production labels like John Digweed’s Bedrock, Umek’s 1605, Adam Beyer’s Drumcode, Tom Hades is now in the city to perform live. Head to this performance and
start your weekend on the right note. Counter Culture, 2D2, 4th Cross Dyavasandra Industrial Area, Whitefield, October 26, 8.30 pm 41400793 Pandit Jasraj live: Renowned Indian classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj will be in city to perform live. Watch him as he performs his Mewati gharana’s style of khayal. Tickets priced at Rs 250 to 1,000. Chowdaiah Memorial Hall, 16th Cross, Vyalikaval, Malleshwaram, October 28, 6.30 pm 23445810
Pandit Jasraj
Traditional yet modern: Thread Intrigues, the latest from 1090F shows off the beauty of embroidery in threads of silk and cotton. The embroidery in this collection is inspired by flowers, creepers, Aztec prints and ethnic Indian patterns. Prices start at Rs 1599 onwards. Available at all 1090F outlets For all F1 fans: Fans of the F1 are in for a treat as Pepe Jeans introduces their latest offering, the Formula One Merchandise Collection. Choose from different designs of tees and be a part of the Formula One mania. Prices start at Rs 1,099. Available at all Pepe Jeans London Stores Reason to shop: Choose from various designers such as Tavare, Sushma Desai, Kris and Ishika and more this weekend. You can pick up tunics, kurtas, bags, accessories, jewellry and antique furniture. Basava Ambara, 93, Kanakapura Road, Near Gunasheela Nursing Home, Basavangudi, till October 29 65461856
For that complete look: Florsheim latest offering, Tuxedo Shoes, will complete that formal look you've always wanted. Pair these shoes with your classic tuxedo and look picture perfect. Made
from leather, these shoes will be comfortable and fashionable. Available at outlets like Metro, Mochi, Regal, Inc.5 Shop till you drop: At the Sahara Art and
Crafts Festival, you can shop for Odisha paintings, Rajasthani block print dress materials, beads, Jari items, Lucknowi chicken sarees, dress materials, blue art pottery, Kashmiri cotton tops & shawl, Chinon sarees and more. Open Ground, Next to SKR Kalyana Mantapa, Varthur Main Road, Kundanahalli Gate, Marathahalli, till October 28 9341127886 Foot fetish: Find sandals for all occasions at Metro shoes this season. Available in many colours especially pink and blues with geometric designs and adorned with beads, they will complete that diva look. Prices start as Rs 990. Available at all Metro shoe outlets, till October 31 Lift your spirits: Grace this festive season with scented candles and add a dash of comfort to your house. The collection includes floral candles, scented candles, floating candles, gel based candles, tea-lights, aromatic oil candles and more. Available at @home, Hosur Road, Kormangala, till October 31 25501012
L I S T I NGS theatre festival
talk|1 nov 2012|talkmag.in
talk picks
Piya Behroopiya originality. Ranga Shankara, 4th Phase, JP Nagar, October 30, 7.30 pm 26493982
Ranga Shankara in its Annual Festival this year brings a collection of Shakerspearean classics across languages. Performed by troupes from across the country, the plays keep to the basics of Shakespeare’s classic scripts but reinterpret them in their own ways. Expect plays in Hindi, English, Gujarati and more Piya Behroopiya:
The Company Theatre from Mumbai brings down Atul Kumar’s acclaimed Piya Behroopiya. A take of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, the play goes back to the nautanki-style of performance native to Indian theatre. With vibrant costumes and music, the play will not just take you back to the classic script but also give you a few laughs. Ranga Shankara, 4th Phase, JP Nagar, October
27 and 28, 7.30 pm 26493982 Maqbool: For all those who haven’t already watched this onscreen adaptation of Shakerspeare’s Macbeth, here is a chance to catch it at the Shakespeare festival. Directed by Vishal Bharadwaj, Maqbool is an ingenious adaptation set in Uttar Pradesh. While the storyline borrows from Shakespeare, the film doesn’t compromise of
Hamlet and Lady Macbeth: These two performances based on the classics come from Karnataka. Translated by Ramachandra Deva, these are unadulterated performances in the vernacular. Catch performers Srinivasa Prabhu and Laxmi Chandrasekhar enact Shakerspeare’s unforgettable works. Ranga Shankara, 4th Phase, JP Nagar, October 30, 7.30 pm 26493982 Maro Piyu Gayo Rangoon: This critically acclaimed Gujarati play directed by Sunil Shanbag is a take on the classic All’s Well That Ends Well. The play is a musical and has received rave reviews for the treatment of the actors during its tours nationwide and abroad. Ranga Shankara, 4th
Phase, JP Nagar, October 30, 7.30 pm 26493982 Painting the bard: The Shakespeare festival isn’t about stage acts alone. Artist SG Vasudev will display a painting of the bard at the opening of this event. Nine students from city art colleges like Chitra Kala Parishath and Kala Mandira School of Arts will also join in the mural painting session and paint images of the playwright in the theatre foyer. Ranga Shankara, 4th Phase, JP Nagar, October 27, 4.30 pm 26493982
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The Avengers (English) Directed by: Joss Whedon Starring: Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans Price: Rs 539
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Gangs of Wasseypur (Hindi) Directed by: Anurag Kashyap Starring: Manoj Bajpai and Richa Chaddha Price: Rs 240
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L I S T I NGS film
talk|1 nov 2012|talkmag.in
performance Chakravyuh INOX, Swagath Garuda Mall, Jayanagar- 1.35 pm
Paranormal Activity 4 English: Nothing is revealed about the disappearance of Katie and Hunter, who went missing five years back. The fourth installment in the Paranormal Activity franchise, this movie is about a suburban family who begin witnessing strange things in their neighbourhood when a woman moves in with her child. Directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, you are sure to be sitting on the edge through the movie. Cinepolis, Bannerghatta Road- 10 am, 2.20 pm, 6.45 Q Cinemas, ITPL, Whitefield- 10 am, 4.30 pm, 7.40 CineMAX, Total Mall, ORR- 3.30 pm , 9.40 Fame Lido, Off MG Road- 12.30 pm, 10 INOX, Garuda Mall, Magrath Road- 12.20 pm, 7.35 INOX, Mantri Mall, Malleshwaram- 10 am, 5.15 pm PVR Cinemas, Kormangala- 12 pm, 7.10 Rush Hindi:
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The movie is about media, politics, crime and romance and is based on Sam Grover, a struggling news reporter. Though he doing very well at the professional front, his talk show is successful, he experiences a downfall in his personal life, where he is having problems with his wife. In the midst of all this he accepts an assignment offered by a dynamic media tycoon named Lisa, through which he plans to make a lot of money. But Lisa along with Roger Khanna , one of the wealthiest men in the country, put him in a tough situation that involves violence. Directed by Shamin Desai, the movie stars Emraan Hashmi, Sagarika Ghatge and Neha Dhupia in the lead. Fame Forum Value Mall, Whitefield12.20 pm, 5, 9.55 Rex Theatre- 12.20 pm Urvashi Digital 4K cinemas- 11 am Fun Cinemas, Cunningham Road- 10 am, 12.20 pm INOX, Mantri Mall, Malleshwaram- 11.50 am, 5.50 pm
Ajab Ghazab Love Hindi: A remake of the hit Telugu film Seema Takapai, Ajab Ghazab Love is the story of a rich guy who has a penchant for cars and leads a luxury life. He falls in love with a girl but the problem is that she hates rich guys. In order to win her love, pretends to be poor. Will he win her love? Will he be able to face and convince her strong-headed, angry big brother, who cannot stand cheaters and dishonest people. Directed by Sanjay Gadhvi, the film stars Jackky Bhagnani, Nidhi Subbaiah , Arjun Rampal and Kirron Kher in the lead. Forum Value Mall, Whitefield- 10 am, 1.05 pm, 2.35, 7.20, 9.45 Rex Theatre- 10.10 am, 7.45 pm Urvashi Digital 4K cinemas- 2.30 pm Fun Cinemas, Cunningham Road- 1 pm, 6.50 pm Ballpen Kannada: This children’s’ film is the maiden production of actor Srinagara Kitty and his wife Bhavana Belegere. The film is directed by Shashikanth and stars Skanda Prasad in a prominent role with Master Samarth, Shalamraj, Chetana, Bhoomika and others. Suchindra Prasad plays a key role. Kailash- 10.30am, 1.30 pm , 4.30, 7.30 Chakravyuh Hindi:
Chakravyuh is the story of six extraordinary characters, each with an all-consuming dream and a promise that they will uphold above everything else. The movie is about the youth of the country who are rebelling against injustice, tyranny, exploitation that prevails in our country. Directed by Prakash Jha, the movie stars Abhay Deol, Arjun Rampal, Esha Gupta and Manoj Bajpai in the lead. Fun Cinemas, Cunningham Road12.30 pm, 3.30, 6.35, 9.45 Forum Value Mall, Whitefield- 10.5 am, 12.55 pm, 3.35, 4.20, 6.30, 9.20 Everest theatre, Frazer Town- 6.30 pm, 9.30 Rex Theatre- 5.05 pm, 9.55 Urvashi Digital 4K cinemas- 6 pm, 9.30 PVR Cinemas, Kormangala- 10.30 am, 12.45 pm, 3.30, 6.30, 9.15 INOX, Swagath Garuda Mall, Jayanagar- 10 am, 3.25 pm, 6.20, 9.15 INOX, JP Nagar- 10 am, 12.55 pm, 3.25, 6.20, 9.15 INOX, Garuda Mall,- 10 am, 12.50 pm, 3.45, 6.15, 9.15 INOX, Mantri Mall10 am, 12.55 pm, 3.25, 6.20, 9.15
Ballpen
Remo Fernandes with Aurko live: Remo Fernandes along with with his band The Microwave Papadums will perform in the city, followed by city-based band Aurko. Remo Fernandes, a noted musicians is known for his high energy performances and unique style of music. Remo’s music is inspired by Goan and Portugese music and his genre mostly is pop and rock. Aurko has performed in over 100 concerts and has been a finalist of the TV show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. Phoenix Market City, October 27, 7pm onwards 9980545600
martial arts
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DEMONSTRATED BY PRIYA CRASTA AND VINAY KUMAR. PHOTOS BY RAMESH HUNSUR. TRANSCRIBED BY RADHIKA P
Change at the dining table Way of Budo 5 Sensei Avinash Subramanyam on why rigidity is not the way to go in diet
ast week, we discussed food and dieting, and I offered some tips on how to balance the desire to eat and the desire to be fit. Do not be rigid with your diet because a body unused to discipline will rebel against a strict regime. Treat your body not with severity but with an expansive understanding. Be not like steel but a bale of cotton. Small changes go a long way. Here are some tips: Avoid masalas, they cause irritation in the stomach. Eat the ‘dangerous meals’ earlier in the day; keep dinner light. When not possible, eat the large dinner at 6 pm instead of 9 pm and drink fluids if hungry later. Eat a big salad before lunch and dinner. In your meal, eat more vegetables or fish/chicken than rice, and avoid ghee and butter. Chew till the food becomes pasty; it helps digestion. Cultivate the habit of drinking lukewarm water. Drink three glasses of lukewarm water
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for every spoon (not ladle!) of that mousse. Drink a full glass of water with every pint of beer. Change the way you cook food—make it raw, grilled and baked rather than fried. While watching TV, be aware of how much you eat. Use the TV as an aid to slow down your eating. If you’re early at the cinema, eat a sandwich rather than fries. Do simple, minimal fitness training. Practise for at least 15 minutes a day and keep yourself active even otherwise. Our grandparents did not obsess over fitness, but they were active. Nor did they eat power breakfasts and power lunches; they ate idli-sambar and rice-rasam. Be tough and fit eating ordinary Rs 20 food and not fancy Rs 2,000 packets. Practise table etiquette, but not for mere appearance. Close your mouth while eating; the saliva will work on your food. Use cutlery carefully. Don’t eat noisily. Table etiquette can help your dieting. If you have a stress-related eating disorder, substitute
your fries with a fruit or fruit bar, and drink vegetable or fruit juice. Sometimes you need a burger and a Coke to boost you. This is neither good nor bad. There should always be a balance between the yin (cold, wet, slow, negative, female, the earth, moon, and night) and yang (hot, dry, fast, positive, male, the sky, sun and day). Every do is a don’t and every don’t is a do; just ensure that the don’ts are fewer than the dos. Remember, there should never be a hard don’t. Hardness is brittle. Train to understand why you indulge. Whenever you eat a steak or burger, eat happily and not with regret so that the body accepts it. Regret causes negativity that damages the body. Share your steak with others and spread happiness; satisfy the stomach and the soul. Eat frugal. A poor man’s meal measures well for the body and the mind. Believe that you are fit and tough. Eat 60 per cent instead of 80 or 100 per cent of your capacity. At restaurants don’t order
too much at one go. Order only after you finish the first plate. Don’t eat in a hurry; eat slow. Give yourself space and time to find if the stomach wants the food or not. Spend time on the presentation before you eat—see, smell, touch and feel the dish, then savour it. The experience of food should be a harmony of the five senses. Don’t eat just because you have paid money. At buffets, especially, don’t gorge. Don’t spend more than 30-45 mins on a buffet meal. Eat in small plates and serve yourself not more than twice. Zen and the art of eating: Give a thought to the millions who starve. Many of us eat because of habit rather than hunger. Experience that state of hunger. And when the hunger doesn’t genuinely disturb you, it is the beginning of the kaizen (continuous improvement) of your soul. Sensei’s suggestions are based on decades of experience. Use discretion while making dietary changes.
SELF-DEFENCE FOR WOMEN A third technique: What to do when sexually harassed on the street
You are preoccupied when a man comes up.
Swing it back hard and deliver a blow on his knee.
He tries put his hands around you.
Put your weight on your left leg.
Use your body weight to make the kick impactful.
Swing the right leg forward.
Pull the leg back so you land safely. Walk away.
memoirs
Are you a Naxalite? Prof Babaiah of Bangalore University is illegally detained and tortured for his ideological sympathies
Last week: It’s the year 1986, and the Naxalites in Andhra Pradesh are on the run from the police. A group of them bring their leader Kondappalli Seetharamaiah to Bangalore, where they approach academic and civil rights activist Professor Babaiah to get medical help for him. A sympathiser of their cause, Babaiah agrees, and later help them rent a house in the city. he owner of the house was happy: his tenant Bhaskar Reddy paid the rent regularly and kept to himself. After about six months, Bhaskar Reddy disappeared, but the owner wasn’t bothered. No one visited the house for three months. One day, burglars tried to break in through a window. The alarmed owner then lodged a police complaint. When the police entered the house, they discovered a heap of arms: rifles, revolvers, and countrymade pistols. The house was adjacent to former chief minister Kadidal Manjappa’s, and the news became sensational. Babaiah was taken to the Ashok Nagar police station on April 23, 1986. Inspector Dharmesh
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VIVEK ARUN
spoke to him in a familiar tone, saying he was a Bangalore University student, and his wife, too, was doing her MA there. Babaiah was relieved to find a university student among the policemen. Dharmesh took him to the outhouse, conducted a search, and spoke to someone on the wireless. It was past 2.30 pm. Babaiah was hungry, but the atmosphere was grim. Raghunath, assistant commissioner of police, took Babaiah in a car and searched his house, but couldn’t find anything suspicious. He asked Babaiah to go back with him. Babaiah’s son was anxious to know what was happening. The professor assuaged his fears and said he would be back soon. But that was not so simple. The police took Babaiah back to the station, and asked him to sit on a bench. It was 4.30 pm. In the morning, by contrast, they had given him a chair. Their attitude had changed. He was hungry and was blacking out every now and then. At 11 pm, the police took him in a van to the Ulsoor station. The vehicle was full of Teluguspeaking policemen. One of them asked, “Mr Babaiah, do you know any Telugu radicals?” “The revolutionary poems of Sri Sri, Karunasri, and Chalam are on my lips,” said an unsuspecting Babaiah. “So for how many years you have been a Naxalite?” A shocked Babaiah said, “I have never been a Naxalite. I am a sympathis-
er, but not an active member of the movement. I am a member of the Karnataka Civil Liberties Committee.” “You were involved in the Kondapalli incident in which two policemen were murdered, weren’t you?” Babaiah broke out in a sweat at this question. “I have nothing to do with it. You can ask anyone in Bangalore about me. Why, we have a university student here, ask him,” he said, pointing to Dharmesh. Dhramesh was toying with a paperweight, which he suddenly flung at Babaiah. As he ducked, it hit the knee of a police officer who screamed in pain and collapsed. The policemen rushed him to hospital. Enraged further by this turn of events, they started treating Babaiah brutally. A superintendent of police from Andhra Pradesh, addressing him disrespectfully, ordered him to remove his clothes. The police, who had been behaving like humans till then, had suddenly turned into monsters. Their politeness was gone, and they had started abusing him in foul language. They also started booting and caning him. One policeman said, “I know you are from Chittoor, and so am I. You are a Naxalite in the guise of a professor. You used to give shelter to absconding Naxalites. If
crime folio
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Fabled ranconteur and Bangalore’s top-notch criminal lawyer brings you moving, sensational and bizarre stories from 40 years of his practice
C H HANUMANTHARAYA
you don’t want us to beat you, you better admit it.” When Babaiah denied he was a Naxalite, the policemen said, “You won’t speak unless we put you through the treatment.” They laid him flat on his back and rolled a baton on his legs with a policeman standing on it. They sprinkled water on his face when he fainted. A deputy superintendent of police, who said he was from Chittoor, said, “If you don’t accept the truth, we will bring in your wife and children. We will strip your wife, and rape your daughters right before your eyes.” “Please don’t. My wife is a heart patient and she will die if she sees me in this condition. Please ask me about the activities of the Karnataka Civil Liberties Committee. I am a member there. But I can’t confess that I am a Naxalite. I am just a sympathiser,” Babaiah pleaded. Babaiah was taken to Ashok Nagar police station on the morning of April 23. By then, he had been so
memoirs badly tortured that he was not in his senses. From there, the police took him to Commercial Street police station. To his surprise, they didn’t torture him there, but offered him some tea and a cigarette. The police had drugged Babaiah using the tea and the cigarette. They interrogated him again, hoping he would confess, and they could tape an incriminating statement. They asked him to reveal the whereabouts of Kondapalli Seetharamaiah, and even tempted him with Rs 1 lakh as reward. But Babaiah didn’t know any of those details. They locked him up in an 8x8 ft cell in Ashok Nagar police station with eight others. I would have not come to know of Babaiah’s ordeal if my friend Mohan hadn’t whispered about it in my ear as I was arguing another case. I had heard of Babaiah. His friends came to court to discuss the case with me. I quickly grasped the details. The police had confined Babaiah without showing his arrest, which was illegal. After interrogating him for a couple of days, they had handed him over to the Andhra Pradesh police. Some women, including Babaiah’s wife, were in the group. I recognised the labour leader Nandana Reddy. She said, “There is a possibility of the Andhra Pradesh Special Task Force taking Babaiah
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away. They are notorious and could kill said. The magistrate understood the situahim in a fake encounter.” Babaiah’s wife’s face darkened. I said, tion. He called up the inspector of Ashok “They can’t do that so easily when people Nagar police station and said, “Produce like us are around.” These words gave her Babaiah before the court immediately, or you will face legal action.” hope and tears rolled down her cheeks. Babaiah’s friends feared the police I got cracking without any delay. “The Karnataka police have booked a case would turn vindictive as he had written a against Babaiah and taken him into cus- negative report about them after a firing. I tody. He must get an opportunity to tried to comfort them. After a while, a explain his position before he is handed police van came into view, and we saw Babaiah alighting. over to another state,” I said. We followed him as “Besides, they are takThey rolled a he was taken to the ing him away even without magistrate’s chamber. producing him before a baton on his Women’s rights activists magistrate,” Mohan interlegs with a cop Kurian Kumar D’Souza jected. standing on it and Donna Fernandes “Let us go and meet the (wife of former defence magistrate and appeal to him to set that right,” I said and took them minister George Fernandes’ brother Fernandes) were there. to Magistrate Indudhar’s chamber, where Michael G Ramakrishna (later the editor of Hosathu he was relaxing after lunch. “Sir, members of civil society have magazine) of the Karnataka Civil Liberties come to meet you. They are protesting Committee also joined us. Babaiah slumped to a squatting posiagainst the Karnataka police handing Prof Babaiah over to the Andhra Pradesh tion on seeing Mohan. His wife rushed to Special Task Force. The police have neither hold him. He seemed to have lost hope. I produced him before you nor given him an held his hands. We knew each other, but opportunity to defend his case. They have had never met. I told an assistant to fetch fooled you. I have taken up the case. If the some curd rice, and Babaiah recovered a bit mistake is not corrected, we will be forced after eating it. Magistrate Indudhar allowed the to call the press and expose the injustice,” I
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arguments at 3 pm in a courtroom at Mayo Hall. “The Karnataka police have tortured Prof Babaiah, treating him like a thief or murderer. You can inspect the injuries on his body,” I said. I told the magistrate the police were about to hand him over to their counterparts in another state, and requested him to move him from police custody to judicial custody. “The Andhra Pradesh police must get a warrant from a court in that state if they want to take him away, and they don’t have one now,” I argued. The legal points I put forth gave hope to Babaiah, his activist-friends, and Mohan, who threw admiring glances at me. The prosecutor argued for the Andhra Pradesh police. The magistrate was convinced with my arguments and remanded Babaiah to judicial custody. It was a double victory in just twoand-a-half hours. I had not only saved Babaiah from the cruel hands of the Andhra Pradesh police, but also managed to rescue him from the Karnataka police. Babaiah’s wife walked up to me. “I can never forget your help,” she said, her eyes welling up. Translated by B V Shivashankar Next week: A wave of support
T I M E P A SS 1st Cross
Talk’s weekly crossword for Bangaloreans who know their way about town 17 In the near future you can rent one of these from certain Metro stations (5) 18 Karnataka ____ : Our IVL team (5)
1 2 3 5 6
DOWN Music style associated with Karnataka and other south Indian states (8) Popular Bangalore based rock group which disbanded in 2009 (6) Capt ____ ____ : First woman from Karntaka to climb Mt. Everest (6,8) National park near Lakya dam (9) River often in the news these days (7)
Last week’s solution Across: 4 Fibre optic, 6 KSPCB, 7 NIMHANS, 13 Basavanagudi, 14 Harvard, 16 Gold bars, 17 Vijay Mallya, 19 Yeddyurappa.
4 6
8 11
ACROSS Indian Institute of Science locale (9) Over 1,3000 BBMP ____ have halted work claiming unpaid pails of Rs 2,000 crores (11) City lake used for Ganesha Chaturthi immersion. (6) Karnataka was known as the
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State of ____ till 1973 (6) 12 Kannada television actress who was recently murdered (8) 14 City area home to Asia's largest clock tower (5,5) 15 Nearly 18 kgs of this illegal drug was seized by customs at Bengaluru International Airport (8)
Down: 1 Lions, 2 Third, 3 Hoffmann, 5 Enrique Iglesias, 6 Kanakapura, 8 Silicon Valley, 9 Bellandur, 10 Kambar, 11 Ugly Indian, 12 Gopalan, 15 Thirty, 18 Yana.
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Popular travel guide which ranked Bangalore as 3rd in the top 10 cities to visit globally (6,6) 9 A fake bomber tried to loot the HDFC bank branch in this area (3,4) 10 Minister who recently demanded a separate state for North Karnatka (5,4) 13 Nearly ___ crore rupees were recently spent on cloud seeding in the Cauvery basin (4) 16 Famous college on Bannerghatta road (4)
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The perils of sitting on the front bench This incident happened when I was in college. I was always among the first-benchers. When I say first-bencher, you may think I am one of the studious types, always busy taking notes. But that was hardly the case. One day, during a lecture, I felt very drowsy (not entirely my fault) and kept nodding off. Unable to hold on any longer, even though my lecturer was still talking, I decided to put my head down. Just for a second, I told myself. The next thing I knew, I was being violently shaken by my friend sitting next to me. I got up with a start and saw that my classmates were giggling all around me. Imagine my surprise when my friend told me that I had slept for ten whole minutes, and if that wasn’t enough, had snored so loudly that the whole class could hear me! Khubi Sharma, by email Share the humour in your life, multiply the fun! Keep those anecdotes coming to: features@talkmag.in
T I M E P A SS
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31 Prof Good Sense My love affair is two years old. I have now started feeling things are not all right, and definitely not as they used to be. My boyfriend tells me he is in touch with his former girlfriend. Last week, I sent him a friend request on a social networking site, but he turned it down. Later, when we met, he justified his action saying he only wanted his college-mates on his social media friends’ list. What should I do? Can I trust him? Rani, Benson Town
Can a social networking site determine your boyfriend's love for you? Facebook pages usually focus on projecting a certain image. Such sites promote superficial relationships and give people a false sense of security. I doubt if your boyfriend loves his ex-girlfriend more than he loves you; otherwise wouldn’t he have chosen to be with her? Whether he is still in touch with her or not shouldn't be your concern. In fact, it is high time you overcame such complexes. If he is, in fact, still in contact with her and doesn’t want you to know about it, there’s nothing you can do. Wanting so desperately to be on his friends list is not a healthy idea at all. Being omnipresent in each other’s lives will be suffocating to both of you. Remember this.
Prof M Sreedhara Murthy teaches psychology at NMKRV First Grade College. He is also a well-known photographer. Mail queries to prof@talkmag.in
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Don’t cry for me Argentina… … the truth is I left you for just a few days. My ‘friend’ had called me down to Kerala, to open his jewellery showroom (what else). I kept my promise, and couldn’t keep my distance, because I needed the cash (you understand). They seem to love me here. Though it did feel
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Didi bites the bait Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh recently sent a letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee, announcing the release of Central funds to her state. The last line cheekily said: ‘Incidentally, may I add that this reflects how sensitive the so-called ‘brain-dead government in Delhi’ is to the needs of the people of West Bengal?’ Ramesh was referring to an earlier comment made by Mamata
weird to have so many admiring cops protecting me, when usually all they do is frisk me for dope. Just as well. After all, one cannot count on the hand of God always. Especially here in His own country, where He seems to have His hands full. Be back soon. Yours, Diego Chettan.
Maa ka doodh for sale Women in Britain are selling their breast milk online, using Facebook and websites such as onlythebreast.co.uk to make some quick cash out of their ‘extra’ milk. Supplied either fresh or frozen, it costs about one British pound (Rs 85) an ounce. (Doctors, incidentally, have warned new parents against privately obtaining their baby’s food). Last year, a restaurant in London’s Covent Garden had
announced a new range of ice cream, made with breast milk, which it had called Baby Gaga. According to Andrew Cox, business editor at the Financial Times, “the emerging breast milk industry is one of the few high-growth sectors in an otherwise tanking economy, and perhaps the only remaining one where the country can leverage its superior technical knowhow globally.” Okay, we made that up, but only the last line.
about the UPA government. Predictably, hyper-sensitive Didi flew into a rage, and promptly posted the letter on her Facebook page. Her note said she was ‘stunned’ to receive such a ‘distasteful statement’ from a union minister, and asked the public to comment. Hmmm. Poor Didi, her enemies know only too well how she cannot help biting every bait that comes her way, and make herself look ridiculously angry.