and that's the way it is.......

I learnt two things on my first night out at NDTV, first i can't procastinate and second it doesn't matter if i'm trying to be rational around a bunch of kids. As my edit shift rolled from the 6pm-10pm slot to the 10pm-5am slot, things got crazier and by morning all i had were sore eyes, a back ache and a bad edit.

I have a deadline of 26th to meet and i am expected to deliver a 6-8 min documentary. The sleepless slumber today morning took me back to my lab in Bose Institute, it now feels warmer, cosier and incubated. Here i feel violated, cold and naked where a thousand eyes are watching my every move.

The icing on the rotten cake was the meeting with Dr. Prannoy Roy. His being in the same room five feet away from me speaks volumes in itself and he looked at us with the expectations a parent has from their child, and that pretty much did it.

The journey is now getting longer and longer and the destination lost somewhere on the misty road that i'm treading on.

Is it a wave of depression?No. It is a bevy of questions that i am not being able to find answers of.

Lost in translation

journal entry november 5th.........

We looked at the masters again today while discussing cubism and abstract expressionism in art. It was overwhelming and makes you realize what a human mind is capable of. I have looked at Picasso’s cubism but Marcel Duchamp came as a revelation of sorts. I think the creative work is not of the artist alone, it connects the spectator with it who adds more meaning to it by adding his/her own interpretations and thus gives the piece its wholesomeness. Though Duchamp had the elements of fragmentation and synthesis of cubists, he also had the dynamism of the futurists. This came across beautifully in his Nude descending staircase No. 2.

Pollock epitomizes the term “action painting” using his hand, wrist and whole body to paint while challenging the conventions of using an easel. Hence he consciously moved from figurative representation to a more immediate means of creating art. I understand his urgency to have his art the way he wanted it to but Damien Hirst was a shocker. The works of this artist are basically lumps of dead animals in formaldehyde. Maybe they were too zany to attract sane people. But I think Hirst is very clever, his tact was to first grab the attention, whether it will stand the test of time is a different question altogether. I think it has and definitely will. Hirst is kind of a showman, derives all his sadist pleasures from his commercial success. He has a league of his own and it here to stay.

and so it continues......

The " dope sheet " Bug

Two weeks of research led to a two page document on it; i think i read about a hundred pages on MS Word to get the whole idea into my stubborn "scientific" head.The fact that i witnessed a Lalgarh (May-June 2009) for the two months that i was at home made me reconsider whether i was actually cut out to do what i would be doing @ NDTV.
The "dope sheet " bug came along pretty quickly and i didnt need more than a minute's time to decide what i wanted to do. The Dope Sheet is essentially the foundation of a news story and it's one of NDTV's ingenious ways of making us know stuff that we all should have long back.It's a verbal,conversational presentation that we are asked to give a group of 40 aspiring journalists for around 10 mins or so.Here is what came out of it.


Naxalism and political insurgency in India: an inconvenient reality

Forty two years after the Naxalbari uprising, it is remarkable that Maoism remains a potent political force. It has survived the retreat of the Left in academia and trade unions, It has survived the rise of caste, politics, even the rise of the NGO sector, provided a platform to separate 'social' work from 'political' work.
While some Naxals of the 60s and 70s did make a few changes in their political beliefs and practices, the movement seems none the weaker for that reason. The Left landscape is a minefield of splinter groups, but for all their differences these organizations pose a serious threat to state power. Therefore, when one takes stock of 42 years of Naxalism, we should understand it as a phenomenon of the present rather than of the past.
The naxalite movement emerged from a violent uprising in Naxalbari on May 25th 1967 by the local peasants in protest of the CPI (M) government lead by Charu Majumdar and Kanu Sanyal.Their main agenda has been to destroy the State legitimacy and to create a mass base, with certain degree of acceptability, with the ultimate object of attaining political power by violent means. This was the period in Europe, Asia and America, when new radical struggles were breaking out marked by the rereading of Marx, the rediscovery of the sources of revolutionary humanism
The Naxalite movement was a part of this contemporary, worldwide impulse among radicals to return to the roots of revolutionary idealism and they went to their base-the peasants who had a long tradition of fighting against imperialism and feudalism.

Presently the movement is restricted to an impoverished region known as the “Red Corridor” under which comes parts of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal states. The main reasons why these areas are significant in such militant activity are because of indigenous tribal populations who are disadvantaged in their relationship with other components of society, deep caste divides and low literacy levels especially in Bihar and Jharkhand.
The movement is highly organized in terms of its hierarchy and uses a 13 member politbureau with state representatives who channelize funds for procuring arms and ammunitions. Their funds come from various sources like government and non-government funds, extorting money from businessmen, contractors and even from illegal opium cultivation in some states. Their modus operandi is predominantly by attacking police stations, infrastructure like rail and road transport and power transmission; manifest themselves through civil societies on issues like the SEZ policy, land reforms, displacement etc.
Interestingly, the involvement of women has been very high throughout its inception and hundreds of women have participated in encounters and ambush operations etc but most of them are now struggling to adapt themselves to mainstream life. Some are even fighting for the rights of surrendered women militants through community groups like the Bandhumitra.
The casualties in civilian lives and security forces in these areas have been over 6000 in the last 20 years and the government is yet to show some definitive action. The obstacles faced by the government are on the lines of weak political leadership in these areas, improper coordination between the centre and the state, also the economic backwardness cannot be ruled out. Another big setback was the failure of the salwa judum campaign. Though according to official claims, the Salwa Judum campaign was a Gandhian, voluntary and spontaneous movement that began in June 2005 but it was a cult of violence let loose. There is also a very strong naxal-politician nexus in the country which has to be disrupted. On paper, several measures to tackle the problem have been taken such as setting up of task forces like the CoBRA , organizational bodies, commissions, coordination teams, a 14-point action plan etc. However, the implementation of these measures is seriously flawed with the exception of the grey hounds in AP. It is important to determine whether this is a national problem or a state problem.
While the Naxalites operate only within geographical boundaries, the government has to operate within both geographical and political boundaries. This explains the divergence of approach between different states i.e in some states, it is possible for the government to hold talks with the Naxals, in others, it is not.
A proper analysis of the Naxal threat is very important given that while some of them are mercenaries and others are ideologues, a vast majority enter the movement because they have no other choice. Despite their theoretical allegiance to Marx and Lenin, they have not made any serious effort to organize urban masses, instead evolving over the years as a political organization of tribals, marginal peasants and Dalits in a corridor of about 150 districts from Bihar to Andhra Pradesh through Chhattisgarh and Orissa. Urban upper middle class ex-Naxals might laugh off the encirclement theory, but for rural cadres exposed to the excesses of urban India after the consumer boom of the 90s the cause remains plausible as ever. Thus the tools in the hands of Naxals are ideologies tailor-made for the oppressed masses, fear of the gun, and a messiah/Robin Hood image.
Another perspective that we could look at is the idea of development with naxals in power, if they are given government resources/private resources/funds for development activity that would be credited to them it would further enhance their image among the tribals ,but the return for the government would be sustained economic ventures enhancing the quality of life of the tribals and economic improvement will eventually bring about a change in perception. Development in Naxal areas will change a lot of existing dynamics.
The intellectuals of the country can and should play a greater role in defining the threat. It is important to spread the government's reach to large parts of untouched territories. Unless this is done, no amount of force can provide a solution. The biggest danger today is that of militarizing the problem. Fortunately, within the armed forces, there is great clarity that the army should not get involved in this problem. The police force, however, is still not capable of providing security. While better training and arming of the police forces is important, it is necessary to strategize various responses. This presents a difficult intellectual challenge and the national effort needs to be directed towards addressing it.
Media interest in such an issue has been substantial with the parallel film industry showing considerable interest in the issue with films like Sudhir Mishra’s Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi and Hazaar Chaurasi ki Ma adapted from Mahasweta Devi’s novel.
The fundamental question therefore still is to understand the nature of the threat before deciding upon the approach to deal with it. To understand today's India, it is essential to listen to these voices that describe the tortuous odyssey of a political movement that had been born from the womb of the bleeding Indian countryside.

Criticism and comments welcome.

An urban intimacy

Time is just slipping me by and the worse hit is my blog.This week there was lots to do at work.The big presentation on Anderson Cooper and then continuing to plunge deeper into my dope sheet issues.I am now really getting the feel of Dr.Nigam's "pressure cooker environment".Anderson Cooper went realy well probably because we contrasted him with Arnab Goswami.

Delhi is getting more simpler,the traffic doesn't piss me off anymore as i take an auto every morning to office,i don't mind if it's raining and i have to wade through a knee-deep puddle to get home,even if i am wearing white that day.I guess i'm growing up.

Saturday got interesting as Vivek Mansukhani started with out theatre workshops,it was essentially for some people to overcome the fear of public speaking but we did some innovative team building exercises.I think it was the first time after coming to NDTV that i let my hair down,never knew that dumbcharades, mimes and role-playing could be so much fun.

Then came "Shob Choritro Kalponik" , Rituporno Ghosh's new film.An intriguing watch after ages i must say after a disatrous spate of films like Chokher Bali and Antarmahal.Bipasha Basu was stunning in her debut bengali film with her tassar and silk sarees,braided hair and her big black bindi. The film spoke of a woman's journey to self-discovery bordering on paranoia after her poet husband's death.The film stood by Ghosh's school of filmaking,his provoking script and out of the box cinematography and edits.The shots were edgy and inanely fluid at the same time taking the solitary viewer on a visual ride especially where bipasha hallucinates conversing with her alter ego.The pace of the film is intersperced with some excellent poetry by Joy Goswami and soulful Rabindra sangeet by Srabani Sen.

Monday found me in office earlier than usual.The day whizzed past like every other,now that our pace is to the power 3 according to Dr.Nigam.Looking forward to lots this week,some of them would be on the lines of

• talking to Mr.Suni Sethi,chairman of FDCI who is organising the first of its kind,men's fashion week in Delhi (and we obviously get passes for the 13th Sep finale!!)
• meeting Vikram Chandra,of The Big Fight fame who is coming to talk to us about changes that could be incorporated in his show.(Woah!!)
• the Delhi book fair at Pragati Maidan
• the innumerable plays at National School of Drama and India Habitat Centre that we bunk workshops to go to.
• not forgetting Quick Gun Murugan on thursday with the entire class.

Delhi is not so bad after all,i get to be with such nice people rather than pubbing all the time which was all i did in Bangalore with some jerks ( for some people i should be doing that here as well,Delhi's supposed to have a great nightlife and all that blah!!).

Also i read two excellent books, Hanif Khureishi's The Black Album and Mohsin Hamid's Moth Smoke. More on them later.

Credibility,anyone??

It was supposed to be another long day of the workshop on news and broadcasting, we were all doing the usual,shuffling the morning paper,getting ready with the beat of the day,discussions were burning up on the editorials... all in a wierd sequence that we've sort of become seasoned and desensitised to for the past ten days here at NDTV.

But here's the nice part,our visit to the Lok Sabha.Intimidated as i always am,it was excitement verging on paranoia that you get to be in the epicentre of the Indian polity,the powerhouse of the democracy where governments are run,bills passed and laws made for the teeming millions in the country.

The drive from Okhla to Janpath couldn't be more impatient,with the flashy NDTV id that i had i couldn't feel any less important.The press clearance made all the security checks hassle-free although i wonder if they could catch me if i stuffed weed into my bra or something!!I know that sounds corny but i guess we could manage some of it considering the women guards were too reluctant to stop their saas-bahu sagas to do their jobs.

The scene inside was nothing short of a movie set with half the house absent,the oldies dozing off at the back and the few in front too involved in bickering with the opposition even before the arguement began.Though i saw the likes of Pranab Mukherjee,Mamta Banerjee,Sushma Swaraj,Varun Gandhi...they vanished within seconds and the house was adjourned every half hour.

I mean,here we are paying taxes,battling inflation,voting these guys so that some good comes out of it all and here they were politicians (in the truest sense of the term) having living room chit-chats with each other.An elated Sushma Swaraj greeted a Pranab Mukherjee with a "Dada kamon achhen?Khawa holo?"before she scurried away for lunch and a Shatrughan Sinha interrupted every speaker (thus adding the comic element) by his famous "Khamosh" quote before leaving the house in session to address a bunch of starstruck school kids.Sure enough he would be on page2 of some local daily the next day.

I was disappointed,ashamed and disgusted at it all.These guys use big words like terrorism,nuclear deals,peace treaties and they were the laughing stock of a bunch of school kids who were more responsible,more sensible and perhaps more credible if you may say so.

I use the word "credible" because everyday we are taught that journalism is dead if you aren't credible,people look up to you and say"hey your story on swine flu made my life a little simpler,i know where i could get my daughter tested" or whatever.Credibilty adds value to an objective,trivial or massive.It helps you connect with a farmer in Rajasthan,a home maker in Pune,a school teacher in Bengal and the business tycoon in Delhi all in one go.It's just one shot at it,either you make it or break it.Period.

I walked out aghast after a forty minute session that seemed to take forever.The bunch of kids sitting in the gallery couldn't wait to get out and giggle the whole day's event at Mc Donald's perhaps.

Questions few, answers fewer, insights many. As we drove back a silent bunch, i still couldn't figure out whether i missed a step or they did climb too many together?? Then again truth is relative,works constantly on closure,it's knowable but it's definitely not belieavable.

Snuggling in....

Finally thought of my blog after a whole month...reasons many....more on them later.
As of now it's been three days in Delhi and i'm loving it.All the color,the heat,the dust,the traffic jams,the new daunting smell of things...i could go on and on.

Work is hectic,class is a mixed eclectic bunch.The NDTV mentors regardless of saying have been scaring the daylights out of us,probably because we are here to deliver so much. Ideas,innovations,brainstorms that would constantly re-brand them and ofcourse live upto choices that we made for ourselves.The mere thought of Dr.Prannoy Roy's workshops,learning camera techniques from Ajmal Jami(he covered the Kargil war for NDTV)is making me jittery.At the end of the day it all comes down to whether you can live upto all that you've ever wanted from yourself,pushing aside all frozen memories and living on the edge.It just couldn't get better.

The city is being nice to me as well,from my landlady(she's above 50 and never looked hotter) to the stranger at the Tata Indicom store(now friend) who helped fix my laptop on my first day out here;the cute family friend whom my mom insists should only be a brother to me(ouch!!) ;17 year old Kalika(roommate in my PG) whom i'm entitled to spoil.....and ofcourse phone calls from a special someone i left behind in Kolkata :(

Right now i'm busy with researching stuff that i'm supposed to know as a "journalist";i like the sound of the word,have yet to get used to it.A long night and a long way to go.....

The Dark Knight

The news was shocking.A deeply disturbed superstar left himself wide open to the vultures as he insisted on living in his own world of fancy.

The fact that MJ lived till 50 was in many ways strange.Footage of the child abuse trial of 2005 showed that he was "tiny,weak,flesh in the face visibly shrinking,pale and in very poor health".I believe facing more than 18 years in jail in more than 10 child molestation related cases;forced to sit through more than 60 days of court proceedings with 136 witnesses and innumerable pieces of evidence against him broke the man.

They say he got acquitted because of a soft jury.It kind of makes a little bit of your soul die every time the courts made a spectacle out of a man who had been so utterly corrupted by everything that's wrong with fame.

Being a showman from the age of 8 made him a terrible judge of character.He didn't know how or when to stop.Practically everyone who met ended up suing him,however he never let go of his of his profligacy till the last day.Completely broke,he lived in a $ 100,000 a-month penthouse !!! All of this has made him only a bigger target.

His controversies in terms of his alleged relationships with children were highly disturbing.any level-headed parent would consider it grossly inappropriate even predatory for that matter.If you refused to believe that his motives were sexual,i suppose you could also argue that children provided MJ with the purity and honesty that adults didn't.

I think children simply fed his messiah complex.After all this as a man who had ordered a giant replica of Da Vinci's Last Supper to hang over his bed with Christ's face replaced with his own.
And in the end it all ruined him.A decade of unemployment and overspending,a series of crippling loan-negotiations.

Now we debate as to whether we should put him with Cobain and Presley and whether he will be greater in death than in life.Well,I don't know.All i know that we are the ones who make maniacs out of them and then want them on stamps to make them immortal
To me MJ is a man of honor, a man of music,i owe him some fond memories of my growing up years.I just want his music to play on.