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Talks without results |
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Return of hope
Mid-day pangs
The Man Sagar saga
‘Distant’ cousins
CINEMA: NEW Releases
Tired and tested
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Talks without results
The
two-day India-Pakistan Foreign Secretary-level talks ended in New Delhi on Thursday without any tangible result. This was quite expected in view of the past experience of dealing with Pakistan on the issue of cross-border terrorism. The talks, held soon after the arrest of one of the Mumbai terrorist attack masterminds, Zabiuddin Ansari, also known as Abu Jundal and Abu Hamza, were bound to be dominated by this development. The details revealed by Ansari about the principal actors — both state and non-state — behind the 2008 Mumbai mayhem strengthened India’s argument that the perpetrators of the terror attack like Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed must have been brought to justice by now had the Pakistan government been serious about it. But Islamabad has been only looking for alibis to justify its inaction. Its failure to pursue the case against Saeed and others like him has helped them escape the clutches of law. Such an attitude cannot lead to an atmosphere when the trust deficit between the two neighbours gets reduced. In fact, the whole world wants the known culprits behind the Mumbai terrorist killings to be punished to send across the message that anyone indulging in terrorism cannot go scot-free. Ansari’s revelations that Saeed was guiding from his Karachi “control room” the terrorists killing innocent people on that fateful day in 2008 leave no excuse for Pakistan to justify its argument that lack of concrete evidence helped them to get freed by courts. Despite Pakistan’s record on the terror front, India has been engaged in the peace dialogue with Islamabad because of its conviction that nothing should be allowed to come in the way of efforts for normalisation of relations between the two neighbours. As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said time and again, India and Pakistan cannot ignore their common history and geography which make it imperative for them to find ways to live in peace with each other. That is why India’s stand has been that people-to-people contacts and other such measures need to be promoted so that the dividing line in Kashmir becomes irrelevant. But this should not be interpreted to mean that India would accept the terror masterminds based in Pakistan not getting their just deserts.
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Return of hope
With
Dr Manmohan Singh taking charge of Finance, investor sentiment has perked up, the rupee has recovered and stock markets have rallied. There is hope of India staying on the right path. Some major investment proposals have come up. The world’s largest furniture maker, IKEA, plans to invest Rs 10,500 crore in India. Coca-Cola is to invest Rs 28,000 crore in the country. The Prime Minister is trying to dispel misgivings created by retroactive tax proposals in the budget. The move to introduce GAAR (General Anti-Avoidance Rules) had unnerved foreign investors as it was seen as giving unbridled power to tax officials. Pranab Mukjerjee as the Finance Minister initiated steps to tax all Vodafone-like deals from a back date. Besides, Mr Mukherjee believed that Indian companies were bringing back black money through Mauritius, taking advantage of the anti-double tax treaty. Uncertainty about the fate of the treaty had created a scare among foreign investors in India. About 30 per cent of foreign direct investment (FDI) comes to India through Mauritius. While there is need to check tax evasion, the system should not be seen as unfair or vindictive. Trying to remove the fear-psychosis, the Prime Minister has held out an assurance of “a fair playing field” to foreign investors. In an interview to a daily, he has said: “We want the world to know that India treats everyone fairly and reasonably and there will be no arbitrariness in tax matters”. This is in sharp contrast to the message that Pranab Mukherjee had sent out. Secondly, the Prime Minister and his team members are no longer silent about economic issues. They are interacting with the media more often to remove doubts and clarify policy issues. Being the chief architect of reforms, Dr Manmohan Singh’s priorities are clear: controlling the fiscal deficit, boosting infrastructure, achieving clarity on tax issues and fast clearance of foreign investment proposals. He should also focus on agriculture and push for FDI in multi-brand retail as this would check the waste of food as well as the price rise.
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Mid-day pangs
The
expense is just Rs 250 crore a year, but it could mean the difference between education and illiteracy for the more than 20 lakh students who benefit from the mid-day meal scheme in Punjab. At least 70 per cent of these students are wards of labourers, many of them uneducated, who may not otherwise be keen to send their children to school. Also, more than 90 per cent of the beneficiary children come from Scheduled Caste or OBC families — essentially, people who are unable to afford paying the fee in private schools. Studies in some of the poorest states in India have found significant improvement in the health as well as learning standards of children served by the scheme. Given the huge benefit and relatively small cost at which it comes, it is shocking that Punjab, the granary of the country, is unable to run the scheme for its children efficiently. Bills of crores are pending in nearly all districts, with grocers and cooks not paid for months. In most schools teachers have been contributing from their pocket to keep the service going, running up dues of thousands in some cases. While sufficient funds not being put aside by the state was bad enough, the government also cites administrative reasons for the delay in payments, which is worse. Just because it cannot manage the clerical affairs of releasing payments is no reason for children to suffer. Many schools have already stopped serving meals. While the cereals for the scheme come free from FCI godowns, all other ingredients as well as cooking costs have to be paid from the Rs 3.11 per day per child allowance for primary classes, which is due to be increased by nearly 30 paise. It is good that this money is being spent for the purpose, but by any account it is a meagre amount. No surprise then that the meals contain very little vegetable or protein, which comes essentially from the pulses. The state government has to realise that if a child goes hungry, the teaching effort goes waste too.
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The soul's joy lies in doing. — Percy Bysshe Shelley
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The Man Sagar saga
Processes
obviously matter but seldom more than outcomes. The aphorism ‘Operation successful, patient dead’ expresses a great truth. Procedures are established for the orderly transaction of business and normally demand obedience; but it is action, based on due diligence, that impels progress. This thought came to mind in the context of a controversy over a contemporary issue of natural and built heritage conservation. Something of beauty and pride has been restored to historic Jaipur, busy refurbishing its pink facades, squares and traditional bazaars to bid for coveted recognition by UNESCO as a world heritage city. More than historicity and ego are involved. The label adds considerably to civic and national elan, tourist income and employment. Jaipur has splendid monuments, Amer Fort, Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar among them. Nothing so enhances a desert as a lake or oasis. And so it was that Raja Man Singh built the Man Sagar Lake below his citadel at Amer by damming a nullah coming down the Aravallis. The reservoir was developed by his successor, Raja Jai Singh, founder of Jaipur, to supply water to his new capital and provide local irrigation. This pearl was further embellished by building the three-storey Jal Mahal with a roof garden, a pleasure island to which the Maharaja, his queens and courtiers would repair from time to time to enjoy cool air, go boating, watch the busy birds or soak in reflections of the shoreline. Alas, with the integration of princely States, or maybe earlier, the lake fell into disrepair. City sewage was diverted into it, while uncontrolled irrigation drained it, giving rise to draw-down farming, grazing and encroachments. A reduction in the water spread shore erosion, a build-up of sludge, destruction of the shoreline habitat, loss of bird and fish life, eutrophication and hyacinth invasion inevitably ensued. Ground water quality deteriorated sharply. A foul stench filled the air. The Pavilion fell into disuse and, untended, the monument was reduced to a derelict shell. Jal Mahal was a protected monument from 1968 to 1971 when it was delisted for reasons unknown. The civic and state authorities subsequently made efforts to restore the lake and monument but, whether on account of a lack of resources or sustained interest, nothing was achieved. The new millennium saw a revival of interest and consensus on a long-lease build-own-operate-transfer public-private partnership emerged as the best answer to sustainable conservation. The project entailed restoration of a lake that had become a fetid swap and sewage dump to its pristine condition, alongside rehabilitation of its shoreline precincts, restoration of the Jal Mahal as a cultural treasure; and development of the 100 acre precinct area, partly reclaimed by de-silting the lake, for use as an open air crafts bazaar to showcase Rajasthan’s famed arts and craftsmen at work, a food court for visitors and tourist resort with a 400-room hotel and some cottages recessed towards the hills. These would not merely enhance tourist interest but generate employment and income for the care and maintenance of the complex with an assured return to the private partners who were expected to build and operate the scheme. The precinct area reclamation was actually executed by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests under its national lake restoration programme, virtually making it a third partner in the project. Pre-bid explorations indicated that nothing short of a 99-year lease of the 100 acre craft-food-hotel complex would attract the quantum and quality of investment required. The Jaipur master plan of 1971 had set aside 200 acres to the south and west of the lake for tourism and a hotel and in 2001 the Government of Rajasthan (GoR) submitted a detailed project report to MoEF for conservation-cum-tourism. Two project bids failed for lack of incentives. Thereafter, nine parties submitted expressions of interest in a 99-year lease arrangement with 100 acres set aside for tourism. As many as 20 parties attended a pre-bid meeting in April 2003, including the Taj, Oberoi and Neemrana groups. Four bids were actually tendered a month later and after pre-qualification, technical and financial screening, the highest bidder, MGK Enterprises, was awarded the lease. The process was transparent and competitive and was endorsed by GoR and Jal Mahal Resorts Pvt Ltd, established by MGK Enterprises as the executive partner. Following approval by the Chief Minister, a Licence agreement was signed between GoR and Jal Mahal Resorts in November 2005. MoEF’s environment clearance for the larger project was gazetted in November 2006 and by August 2010, Phase I of the project, namely, the lake and Jal Mahal restoration were complete. Sewage drains had been diverted and polluted city storm waters were passed through canalised sedimentation basins and settling tanks and purified before seamlessly emptying into the main body of the lake. Water quality vastly improved. The shoreline was restored, plastered with special mud, grasses and rushes to provide suitable bird habitat. Trees were planted and nesting islands created. Earlier resident and migrant birds and fish returned – a sure test of water quality and a healthy environment. The transformation was dramatic. The monument stood resplendent, its roofs and arches artistically embellished, the corridors elegantly empanelled with Rajasthani miniatures beautifully enlarged several hundred-fold to capture the finest detail. Crowning the edifice was the restored “Chameli Bagh”, a scented roof garden with chattries and a translucent, lotus-shaped marble floor designed for classical dance and music performances. The project had been approved by the BJP and Congress governments in Rajasthan and the NDA and the UPA at the national level. Work had progressed unhampered until February 2011. Jal Mahal Resorts had invested almost Rs 80 crore when a series of PIL suits by local interests were admitted by the Rajasthan High Court against Jal Mahal Resorts and various GoR entities. Fraud, criminal conspiracy, violation of rules, conventions and environmental norms, and flagrant profiteering were cited. A 99-year lease was said to be tantamount to gifting precious public trust land for a pittance. On May 17, 2012, the High Court ordered restoration of the status quo ante, an astonishing decree that dictates restoration of the sewage intakes, removal of the settling basins and sedimentation pond and, in effect, the return of sullage and desilted material to the lake. The result would inevitably be to kill Man Sagar Lake and its bird and aquatic life, leave Jal Mahal to rack and ruin, and recreate a malodourous sewage pond and swamp amidst an aspiring world heritage city. On the face of it, the order appears unbelievable. Even given process-malfeasance and knowing that the law can sometimes be an ass, the remedy would be to impose severe penalties on those found guilty of malfeasance but not nullify a much-desired, long sought and obviously greatly pleasing outcome. This menacing order has been stayed by the Supreme Court, whose ruling will be a landmark. Does India wish to remain pettily rule-bound to nobody’s benefit — if any meaningful rule has indeed been violated — or should it move swiftly and purposefully to shed dirt, indolence and poverty, build the future and conserve its wonderful built and natural heritage for the greater common good? Much is at
stake.
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‘Distant’ cousins
Growing
up, we were constantly in and out of our cousins’ homes. Our parents tried very hard to foster kinship ties despite constraints. Birthdays, festivals and even the shraddh ceremonies of long-departed grandparents meant that the entire extended family would get together. For the children, it meant unlimited play-time. Since there were only two ‘good’ schools in town, it also meant that the male cousins attended the boys’ school and the females went to the all-girls’ convent. This in itself was responsible for close bonding –— with underlying rivalries, arguments and fights thrown in. The eldest among the cousins was called out when one of the little ones took ill or broke the rules in some terrible way. After the teacher and the principal had finished admonishing the offender, the cousin would take over and soon the whole clan would get to know. One also acquired some ‘alternate’ education from older cousins. ‘Knowledge’ of the birds and bees, quotable quotes from eavesdropped-upon conversations, the foreign thrill of forbidden words and a sense of fashion were usually picked up from elder siblings and cousins. When I was seven years old, I attended my cousin’s thread ceremony in a traditional outfit. I had on a beautiful necklace with red, white and green beads (of the finest plastic, thankfully). A 10-year-old cousin unexpectedly yanked the precious jewels off my neck in a spontaneous gesture of malice. Dozens of shiny beads lay strewn all over the floor. My elder cousins rushed to my rescue. One marshalled all the younger ones into bead-collecting duty while another went after the absconding miscreant like an over-zealous cop. Once, at a crowded wedding, a group of under-nines, me included, were seated in a circle playing Chinese Whispers. We overheard two of our older cousins having a hush-hush private conversation. “She’s sexy,” said one to the other about an unknown female. Our ears perked up at this new word. We asked them what it meant. Hastily, the two offenders first denied using the word and then clarified that it meant, “nice.” They added for good measure, “You know, like this table is ‘sexy’, that chair is ‘sexy’.” Soon the younger lot was using this word for the flowers, the shehnai, the payasam and, perhaps deservedly, for the bride. Once the adults caught on, the two wordsmiths got the thrashing of their lives for ‘polluting’ innocent minds. It is sad that communication technology has improved in scope and speed but our relationships have diminished in quality. Socialising among adult cousins is negligible —- distance being one barrier, marriage being another. By rare chance, one might find oneself standing next to a childhood hero at a clan event. A vague family resemblance is neutralised by a double chin, receding hair-line, smarter clothes or maybe even a nose job. Or perhaps a podgy teenager with thick spectacles has morphed into a gym-toned, designer-clad specimen from overseas until you recognise the twinkle behind the Cartier eye-frames. Telephone numbers are excitedly exchanged, perhaps to be lost later. But just for a day, a slice of childhood tastes delicious.n
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CINEMA: NEW Releases Sans the sensibility Nonika Singh
Movie: Bol Bachchan Every penny discounts Back in time, there was a delightful comedy Golmaal by Hrishikesh Mukherjee which till date finds its place in the hall of comedies. So what happens when the same fine comedy with some truly memorable performances is reinvented? Well, it comes nowhere close to the original, either in terms of treatment or comic flair. In fact, as the movie turns around the original storyline of Golmaal, adds dollops of action and peppers it with Bollywood tadka, the net result is a meaningless drama that actually goes nowhere. Sure enough in many Bollywood films grey cells needn't be exercised. Dimaag ghar par chod kar aao is the common refrain attached to several Hindi films which thrive on the business of entertainment and rightly so. But in this one, it seems the makers simply forgot how to apply their minds or their creative sensibilities if they have any. The very first scene of the movie that opens with a song picturised on the lead actors Ajay Devgn and Abhishek Bachchan along with Amitabh Bachchan is a deadly precursor as to what is likely to follow. Predictably what ensues are unwanted twists and turns and conjectures that are downright ludicrous. A brand new car gets punctured, kheer as a delicacy on Eid… clearly Shetty couldn't care less about details. Even that would have been forgivable had it scored in other departments. Or at least had been an out and out laugh riot. Amusing in bits and parts, the bid to create humour is sporadic. Acting too barely passes muster. Abhishek perks somewhat in the part where he is doubling as the queer dancer. The only visual relief comes by way of Prachi Desai who looks pretty. But clearly her petite frame can hardly prevent the film from sinking into a morass of ennui. If attempts at humour remain laboured so does the romantic angle, actually angles, that are sans spark and chemistry. The film meanders along too many paths. There is a brother-sister duo Abbas and Sania (Abhishek Bachchan and Asin) who have to leave Delhi for they lose a court case and forfeit the right to their house. Soon enough they find themselves in Ranakpur, where lives Prithviraj Raghuvanshi, the monarch of all he surveys, all brawn and a heart of gold. Inadvertently, a lie is concocted at the spur of the moment all for good a cause, of course. Thus Abbas gets a new name, which by the way also explains the title of the film. How one lie leads to another and yet another makes for the drama and comedy. Sure the movie has some moments of mirth but these come too late, mostly in the second half. Shetty tries to pay a tribute to Hindi cinema as well as create a spoof. Neither works. Instead Devgn's dig at his dark complexion does. Watch it if your funny bone is easily tickled. Our advice – rent the original Golmaal DVD and enjoy at home.
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Tired and tested
Movie: 3 Bachelors Back
in school, do you remember the teacher talk about a mythological bird Phoenix that rises from its ashes? Director Ajay Sinha’s abandoned movie 3 Bachelors reminds us of the bird who has resurrected at a wrong time. No surprises for guessing the bird here. Sharman Joshi! In all objectivity, this wasn’t his time to resurrect especially when the audiences have lapped up his newer version in 3 Idiots and Ferrari Ki Sawaari. You would have to take a complete round of the solar system to find out the newness in the subject. Somewhere it reminds us of Sharman Joshi’s old flick Xcuse Me. A done-to-death storyline, with the two male actors posing as husband and wife. Eventually, their lives become complicated and they fall in love with the landlady’s nieces. How new is this? While once-upon-a-chocolate-boy Sharman and his friend add sad punches, Ria and Raima Sen add a sad dose of romance. There are hundred loopholes in the movie, big enough to take an aircraft through it. But again, knowing the fact that this movie was lying in Ajay Sinha’s kitty for a long time, and God-knows-why he decided to release it now. He made this film much before he made Khap, but it wasn’t released because the distributors were not interested in it. The new found interest in 3 Bachelors is perplexing. Some things should never be let out! It’s really hard to find any solace in 3 Bachelors, dont even look forward for it. Music, definitely not! Suddenly singer Mika appears on screen with his old, very old number Something something. No respite still. The music is composed by Daboo Malik. As far as character artists go, Himani Shivpuri plays the principal of the college and Manoj Pahwa adds his usual tired punches. The phoenix shouldn’t have returned at all. Now that it has, watch it at your own peril.
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Saturday,
July 7
It’s a story of a daughter of a wealthy nobleman secretly falls in love with her bodyguard. The film was produced by Atul Agnihotri and features Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor in the lead roles. It is the third remake of the director's own 2010 Malayalam film of the same name. The film broke many records upon its release. Within the first day of its release, it went on to become the highest opening day grosser. ZEE CINEMA HBO SET MAX STAR GOLD INDIAN TALKIES STAR MOVIES Filmy Sunday
July 8
The film starts with ACP Yashvardhan played by John Abraham recalling the accident that changed his life forever. Yash is a dutiful, responsible and stone-hearted police officer whose only passion in life is crime-fighting. He has no family or loved ones and has been alone in life since he can remember. Everything changes when Yash meets Maya played by Genelia D'Souza, an independent and lovely woman. ZEE CINEMA HBO SET MAX STAR GOLD INDIA TALKIES STAR MOVIES FILMY
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That's
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