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Crocodile
tears Brutal
attack |
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Dying
folk arts
Countering
chemical weapons
Ode to a
vanishing ritual
CINEMA:
NEW Releases One for
the scribes Torturous
story
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Brutal attack
Seven
young men who had brutally attacked a student have been sentenced to 10 years in jail by a Sessions court in Jalandhar. The victim, Yannick Nihangaza, a 23-year-old boy from Burundi in Africa, was studying for Bachelor of Computer Science. He has been in hospital since the incident which took place on April 22, 2012. The brutal attack on the foreigner has sparked off an outrage, and it is shameful that the police acted only after it came under considerable pressure to apprehend the assailants. To paraphrase what the judge said, the assailants, one of whom was the son of a police officer, formed a gang and acted with no regard for life and liberty of others. They acted with a sense of impunity “to teach anyone a lesson or even eliminate those who dare to cross their path”. Thereby, they became a menace to society. What these young men did, unfortunately, is happening too often in the region. Many of the incidents that turn into bloody confrontations arise out of a misplaced sense of importance of those basking in the reflected glory of their parents or otherwise. It is, therefore important that people convicted of such crimes be given a stiff sentence, so that it acts as a deterrent for others. It is shameful that two of the accused have still not been apprehended by the police. The judiciary, which has acted swiftly in convicting the assailants, is to be commended. Even as the focus has been on the attackers, the victim has been in coma in a hospital in Patiala since the incident. The Punjab government did act on the plea of the victim’s father, and promised to pay the medical expenses of the unfortunate student, but this is not enough. The state should not be tardy in its duty of taking care of the victim. His father, who is looking after him, too should be provided with a comfortable accommodation by the state. It is the duty of the state to provide the best possible treatment to a person who came as a student and now lies confined to a bed.
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Dying folk arts
It
is indeed ironic that while the government pays lakhs to superstars, it holds back the payments of folk artistes. A RTI application in Punjab has revealed that many artistes of Punjab the talented dhaadis and kavishris who performed at various government functions are still awaiting their payments. Considering that their emoluments are barely a few thousand rupees the government’s poor financial health can’t be an excuse for artistes not receiving their dues. In fact, it is this apathy of the authorities concerned that has contributed to the decline of folk arts in the state. In the absence of state patronage and changing tastes of public, but for a few folk artistes who have reinvented themselves in sync with popular demand, the position of most folk artistes is far from enviable. Even legendary singers like Yamla Jatt were found to be living in penury. Algoza player Chood Khan was forced to work as a daily wager. Ajaib Singh, who wrote more than 250 poems and songs, was reported to be languishing in an orphanage. Strangely though the trivia concerning celeb stars continues to make news, the sorry plight of these men and women working against all odds to keep folk forms alive is rarely brought to notice. While the need to preserve art forms is often highlighted at seminars and other platforms with the government paying due lip service, the reality is both dismal and painful. What to talk of taking more initiatives, the Song and Drama division of Punjab Public Relations has all but ceased to exist. Living in times when tradition is under assault the least that the governments can do is make prompt payments for services rendered by artistes whose art is otherwise priceless. In this particular case one hopes that the assurance of the Director, Public Relations will bear fruit. However, paying paltry sums to these artistes is not enough. What Punjab needs to do is put a proper cultural policy in place. Our folk traditions are priceless and can’t be allowed to vanish at the altar of governments who couldn’t care less.
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One doesn’t discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time. — Andre Gide
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Countering chemical weapons
On
August 21, 2013, the world witnessed with shock and disgust employment of chemical weapons in Syria against its own people. It was followed by a drama enacted by the powerful nations which are permanent members of the Security Council. These nations claim to be protectors of human rights and are responsible for ensuring world peace. John Kerry, US Secretary of State, made a forceful speech against the Syrian regime. He claimed that the US had identified the perpetrators of this barbaric act. It appeared to the world that US was ready to punish them even without the endorsement of the Security Council. But the US and its allies failed to execute that threat due to many internal and external pressures. The United Nations sent its teams to investigate the matter. These teams confirmed that chemical weapons were used but failed to name the agency responsible for their use. The whole episode has revealed the impotence of the world body and the inability of the super powers to be able to act in such situations. One can go back in history and can see that US intervention in Iraq too was not solely for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction but to pursue and achieve their own economic goals. It is indicative of the future trend of the attitude of these nations. After going through this entire charade it is only now that the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has been tasked to destroy 1000 tonnes of chemical arsenal housed in about 40 sites in Syria. There is no clear declaration about whether the Syrian regime or the rebels were responsible for using the chemical weapons. It is also being debated as to whether President Putin or President Obama came out the winner in this game of gaining supremacy of the world. While this debate lingers, I am sure authorities responsible for the security of their nations, including India, must be examining their vulnerabilities and evaluating their preparedness if confronted with a situation like Syria. It is quite obvious, notwithstanding the prevalence of the Chemical Weapons Treaty, every country will have to meet this challenge from within their own resources without looking over their shoulder for outside help. India is surrounded by hostile neighbours. Its borders are disputed and volatile. Forces inimical to us are pushing terrorists into our country. It is not far-fetched to presume that these elements can lay their hands on chemical arsenal lying unaccounted for after the cold war. International terrorist organisations are capable of sharing their booty. In fact, there is no need for weaponisation of the chemicals; destruction or damage to the chemical industry can create the same havoc. Our attitude towards granting licenses to the industry without much care for safety and security aspects is well known. Bhopal is still fresh in our minds. In the recent past we have witnessed the use of gases by terrorists in theatres and metros to cause maximum damage. We also have forces within the country that are willing to create disturbances through unethical means and yet remain unaccountable for it. India is a country ripe for rogue chemical attacks. Are we prepared to counter this threat? Our military preparations to protect soldiers from weapons of mass destruction started in right earnest only in the early 1980s. A number of officers were sent to western and eastern bloc countries to gain first-hand knowledge and study the philosophies of individual and collective protection systems. These officers brought back sufficient information about their organisations, equipment and training. This became the basis for our own preparations. Till that time our knowledge of the subject was theoretical. We were naïve enough to think that if we covered our naked body parts with polythene it would be sufficient to provide protection from chemical gases or liquid droplets. Some of the chemical suits with expired shelf life meant to be worn during decontamination operations of ships were being considered for individual protection in case of emergency. These suits can cause unbearable exhaustion in a matter of a few minutes. Our laboratories tasked to produce chemical masks were satisfied by manufacturing these by borrowing moulds and using untested materials. A gas mask, to be effective is required to undergo a seven-stage inspection, including a mustard gas test. It is also not common knowledge that if a mask is worn over even a slightly unshaven face it will not seal properly to prevent entry of the gases. It may also not be known to most that a hood mask which seals at the neck is essential to protect bearded personnel. By now, militarily we seem to have reached a sound level of preparation to fight in the nuclear biological and chemical battlefield. But are we prepared to save civilians if chemical weapons are employed by the terrorists or due to industrial leakage? The equipment is very expensive and hundred per cent protection for a large population is almost impossible. The short shelf life of the equipment adds to the economic burden. Unlike natural disasters, where there will be a warning period, man-made disaster will appear without any warning. We may not be able to save casualties by handing over the situation to the military as has been the common practice in the past. India’s National Disaster Management Authority was established in 2005, primarily with the assistance and knowhow of the military. Despite occasional criticism of it being handled by non-professionals, it has performed reasonably well while dealing with natural calamities. But our state-level disaster management authority does not seem to be in full gear. Probably it has the same mindset and level of preparation which was prevailing in the military in the early 1980s. Unlike natural disaster, where there will be a warning period, manmade disaster will appear without any warning. We cannot expect the National Disaster Management Authority to react so swiftly. Keeping in mind the spread of our country and its population, it will be the state authorities, local government officials and public at large who will play a predominant role to minimise casualties in the situations and scenario projected above. Fine-tuned intelligence gathering may be able to prevent rogue elements from using chemicals at will. The public itself needs to be educated in the detection of chemicals in the air and taught immediate action drills to save themselves and others around them from becoming its victims. Well-rehearsed arrangements to evacuate people from crowded places like theatres, underground markets, metros and habitation near the chemical industry will help in reducing casualties. The civil administration will have to be very strict in granting licenses after verifying safety and security aspects and subsequently ensuring implementation. A well thought out strategy, that includes a public awareness programme, is required to be formulated by state and the local administrative authorities, lest we regret that we did not heed the warning from the Syrian
episode. The author is a former Army Commander and DGMO.
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Ode to a vanishing ritual Our
hi-tech world is surrounded by iPads, mobiles, telephones, faxes and emails. Where does that leave letter-writing? It definitely is easier to send an e-mail across continents, call anywhere within a few seconds or whatsapp/ text/ viber a message. But I feel the same can be done more eloquently with the written word. Today, most resort to using slang and abbreviations and struggle to form complete sentences when they have to actually put pen to paper. Vocabulary, spelling and grammar were of great importance during our school years but I feel they have lost their value and shine in the new-age technology that lets you off lightly with short forms and auto-corrections. Letter writing is indeed an art, the need is to convey your feelings, for which the choice of words is most important. The joy your letter gives will linger long after the contents have been read and the sheets folded and put away. Receiving a letter transcends all emotions. The ritual of receiving and savouring the joys of letters begins with the inspection of the envelope, scrutinising the handwriting, investigating the stamp and postmark to find clues as to who has sent the missive. Of course, the envelope is then eagerly torn open and the letter extracted. It is quite usual to scan the letter hurriedly at first and then savour the contents in peace later. A letter can be read and re-read many times — each piece carrying news of happy events or sad occasions conveying either the joy or the pathos the writer is experiencing.Your first reaction invariably is to pen a reply immediately, sharing the news. I doubt such emotion can be conveyed over the phone or via email. My mother recounts, “I treasure a letter from a Dutch friend who has been to us a couple of times. Once at the time of departure from the Delhi airport, she was so overwhelmed with emotion she dashed off a farewell letter on a brown paper bag as that was all she could find. I have preserved it carefully.” Over the years, I have treasured many letters: The last letter written to me by my grandmother in 1978, before she passed away; my mother’s letters to me during my college years and a handful from my father who almost never writes. I had letters written to me by my grandfather who, despite being paralytic, made an effort to scrawl his feelings to me while I was recovering in hospital after an accident. My friends tease me because I am the only one who corresponds with them by “snail mail” but they love it. I have converted to the ‘e-mail’ but I still enjoy writing letters — it gives me a lot of happiness to pen down my thoughts. The “gift” of letter writing that passed on from my grandmother to my mother and then to me, now passes on to my daughter. I cannot explain the feeling of pure joy we feel when we receive the letters she writes from the hostel. My son’s letters are few and far between, typical of a boy. But when he writes, the letters are simply beautiful. The written word still contains character and strength. Who knows, this art may go full circle and come back in vogue again. So remember, the next time you pick up the mobile or sit in front of your lap-top, pull out a writing pad instead and put pen to paper. I am sure it will be an exhilarating
experience.
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CINEMA: NEW Releases
This virus won’t bug you In short, they are infected by the computer virus that runs in their blood and determines fantasises. No wonder Mickey Arora is known as Mickey Virus! But amidst this whole new computer literate world also live a few who are using their expertise to commit fraud and theft. What happens when the two meet…welcome to the domain of computer hackers which is where is set Saurabh Varma's film, part comic and part thriller. Of course, much of the thrill runs the predictable course. When the film trudges along the intermission the twist is exactly as you imagine it would be. And thereafter it's not so predictable but is so convoluted that even if it takes you unawares it's not a surprise that you quite relish. In fact, the film's delectable quotient goes up and down. Now fun now tedious, now relatable now ludicrous, now believable now outlandish and it's this inconsistency that saps the fun element of the film, which otherwise deals with a refreshing subject. Without a doubt, cyber crime is a new subject for Bollywood. And Varma makes sure the complex intricacies of the web world do not get into the way of the narrative. The two facets of the film, the quirky ways of youth who even have the audacity to address assistant commissioner of police as Sid and the dark seamier side of crime are adequately intertwined, at least to begin with. The contrast between tech-savvy new generation and the technically challenged others is well-established. For a while the director keeps you on tenterhooks and creates enough dramatic tension. Besides another plus is the acting. Performances are right on the mark. If Manish Paul fits the part of couldn't-care-less computer hacker Mickey, Manish Chaudhary carries the demeanour of a police officer with aplomb. The heroine Elli Avram currently part of Big Boss is more than an eye candy. However, the real scene stealer is Varun Badola. As the upfront police constable Bhalla with Haryanvi accent in place, he delights you with many a wisecracks and hits home with not just funny one-liners but even when he proffers some serious wisdom.All this while not even once does he go over the top. Even bit parts of policemen are suitably etched and have a fair share of their dialogues. Actually the dialogues by and large are crisp, intelligent and witty; quite in sync with the subject. Where the film falters is when it creates too many holes in its plot and then tries to cover up the gaffes in an equally unconvincing, if not outright amateurish manner. Besides, there are far too many bad men here for you to abhor or take anyone seriously. While the romantic angle is crucial to the plot…songs and fights clearly were not needed in a film that is certainly not run-of-the-mill. Sadly, despite the novelty factor it doesn't quite deliver fully and turns out to be at best a promise half-fulfilled. Still can be watched for even if the virus is not infectious enough to fill you with gleeful delight it won't bug you either.
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One for the scribes Did power go to his head? Was his ego king-size? May be, because it led to a misunderstanding between him and his close aide David Deschendell-Berg (Daniel Bruhl) because the latter did not want innocent accomplices to suffer by the expose. May be The Fifth Estate is a tad too technical but this cannot be helped because of the modern technology involved and reams of information passes hands as key editors the world over are just waiting for the green signal. Though Assange has his own explanation for his white hair, the cities he covers has to be seen to be believed. One night he crashes into Deschendell-Berg's house causing a rift between him and his wife Anke (Alicia Vikandh). At other times it is hard to trace him. Assange quotes Oscar Wilde's line "give a man a mask and he'll tell the truth" and his goal is safety for the informant and bringing out transparency in public life. Though he slowly musters support it is a steep hill to climb as there are an equal number opposed to it. That is just why it is called the System. Josh Singer's screenplay is intrusive and moves along a number of fronts with deft editing and director Bill Condon exercises a good deal of objectivity as he holds the viewer very nearly entranced. Benedict Cumberbatch does well to get under the skin of the role without making a meal of it and he is ably supported by Daniel Bruhl who underplays the part well, just the opposite of his depiction of race driver Niki Lauda in Rush. Alicia Vikandh with Anthony Mackee and Stanley Tucci (serious, for a change) play cameos in the Washington hierarchy. An absolute "must" for journalists.
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Torturous story
Gia flutters between Neil and Kabir while Ann gets drawn back into Kabir's world while appearing to develop a friendship with Neil. It's as complicated as it seems and the four principal characters take the entire length of the nearly two-hour long movie to arrive at a suitable conclusion. The dialogues are terrible, word delivery pathetic; performances listless and the narrative taxing. Even the songs sound alien. The major fault lies with the completely ridiculous script. The direction and editing are quite clueless. There is absolutely no effort being made to connect with the audience. Stay away if you value your sanity!
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Movies on TV Saturday OCTOber 26 Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is a biographical sports drama film based on the life of The Flying Sikh Milkha Singh, an Indian athlete. The film has been produced and directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra on a script written by Prasoon Joshi, with sports action by Rob Miller of ReelSports. The film stars Farhan Akhtar, Sonam Kapoor, Divya Dutta, Pavan Malhotra, Meesha Shafi and Yograj Singh. ZEE CINEMA 8:54AM Keemat Roti Ki 11:31AM Aparichit: The Stranger 2:31PM Ram Lakhan 6:08PM Mard 9:00PM Ghanchakkar INDIA TALKIES 9:30AM Namastey London 1:00PM Bhagwan Dada 4:30PM U Me Aur Hum ZEE CLASSIC 9:41AM Biwi-O-Biwi 12:51PM Bagawat 3:49PM Hero 7:00PM Baton Baton Mein 10:00PM Desh Premee STAR MOVIES 7:26AM Ghostbusters 9:37AM The Front Row with Anupama Chopra 10:07AM Frankenweenie 12:05PM Bruce Almighty 2:16PM Police Story III: Super Cop MOVIES OK 8:55AM Na Tum Jaano Na Hum 11:40AM Ek Aur Ek Gyarah 2:40PM Kurukshetra 5:10PM Tere Naam 8:00PM Dangerous Khiladi 10:40PM Ajnabee STAR GOLD 8:45AM Kismat 11:25AM Khatta Meetha 2:25PM Jaan 5:10PM One Two Three 8:00PM Bhaag Milkha Bhaag 11:55PM Vijaypath FILMY 9:00AM Vaastu Shastra 11:30AM Infomercial 12:00PM Hum Kaun Hai? 3:00PM Chachi 420 6:00PM Gair 9:00PM Raaj Tilak ZEE ACTION 7:00AM Ek Lutera 10:30AM Jeeo Shaan Se 1:30PM The Great Robbery 5:30PM Karz Chukana Hai 8:30PM Chandramukhi Ki Pratigya SONY PIX 8:24AM Peter Pan 10:37AM The Tuxedo 12:26PM Mission: Impossible 2:27PM Total Recall (2012) 4:49PM The Terminator SET MAX 7:00AM Bhawani The Tiger 10:30AM Veer-Zaara 1:00PM Raaz 3: The Third Dimension Sunday OCTOber 27 Life of Pi is a fantasy adventure novel by Yann Martel. The protagonist, Piscine Molitor Pi Patel, a Tamil boy from Pondicherry, explores issues of spirituality and practicality from an early age. He survives 227 days after a shipwreck while stranded on a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. ZEE CINEMA 8:09AM Jaadugar 11:31AM Ghanchakkar 2:30PM Shiva: The Super Hero 2 5:24PM Toofan 9:00PM Judaai INDIA TALKIES 9:30AM Jagir 4:30PM Love Aaj Kal 8:00PM Tere Naam ZEE CLASSIC 9:12AM Trishul 12:22PM Mera Naam Joker 3:51PM Charas 7:00PM Satyam Shivam Sundaram 10:00PM Hum Paanch MOVIES OK 9:00AM Main Krishna Hoon 11:40AM Heyy Babyy 2:40PM Kaalo
4:25PM Haathi Mere Saathi 8:00PM Fukrey 10:55PM Virasat Ki Jung STAR GOLD 9:00AM Jajantaram Mamantaram 11:25AM Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
3:20PM Kaalo 5:00PM Hera Pheri 8:00PM Golimaar 10:45PM Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara ZEE ACTION 7:00AM Saazish 10:30AM No.1 Mard 1:30PM Tada 5:30PM Kaala Samrajya 8:30PM Police Police FILMY 9:00AM Ragini MMS 11:30AM Infomercial 12:00PM No Entry 3:00PM Rangeela 6:00PM Indra: The Tiger 9:00PM Darna Zaroori Hai STAR MOVIES 8:27AM The Medallion 10:19AM John Carter 1:00PM Life of Pi 3:31PM Gladiator (2000) 6:44PM Ghost Rider 9:00PM Life of Pi 11:31PM Death Race SET MAX 10:30AM Koi... Mil Gaya 1:00PM Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai
Dobaara!
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Life of Pi