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Time-bound services
A chit to Cabinet |
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One more Women’s Day
Indian pivot towards Asia-Pacific
Those were the days
CINEMA: NEW Releases 
Nonika SinghIt's a ruthless world…. You bet when Sahib Biwi aur Gangster Return, they have not left their devious ways behind. Hence, the drama of deceit, intrigue and viciousness rolls over. Enter sahib, biwi minus one gangster (Randeep Hooda) and plus another one (Irrfan Khan). POWER PLAY: Jimmy Sheirgill & Mahie Gill
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Time-bound services
The
Union Cabinet has cleared a draft Bill providing for time-bound services like pensions, passports, birth and death certificates. The proposed law will cover government departments, constitutional bodies, statutory authorities and private-public partnerships, which will be required to publish lists of services offered with the names of officials responsible and the time limit for the delivery. In case of delay or any deficiency in service the official concerned will have to pay a fine of Rs 250 a day with the maximum limit of Rs 50,000 from his own pocket. This is indeed a major step towards checking corruption in offices and making the bureaucracy accountable. For the citizen it will remain another law until it is implemented in the right spirit and the desired results are seen at the ground level. Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir have already passed laws based on the Citizens’ Charter. But the change in the functioning of government offices is yet to be felt. Getting anything done in a government office is a herculean task. Babus sit on files, sometimes to extract bribes and sometimes just because they hate the work. A new law alone will not improve the way government offices work. The official mindset requires a change. There may be genuine problems in implementing the proposed law. Decision-making may have to be decentralised, procedures simplified and e-governance introduced for a quick disposal of cases. Staff shortage can create problems. The BJP claims the proposed Central law will intrude on the domain of the states, hence it will vote against the Bill. Though the Central Bill is expected to take care of subjects on the Central and Concurrent Lists, confusion needs to be cleared. If police verification for a passport is not done in time, who would be held responsible – the passport office, which comes under the Centre, or the police, which is a state responsibility? The states will have the final say in providing services which come under their jurisdiction. The Law Ministry will, hopefully, make the Bill fool-proof.
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A chit to Cabinet
The
Punjab Vigilance Bureau has found Gulzar Singh Ranike not guilty of any wrongdoing in the Rs 2.5-crore embezzlement in the Attari Assembly constituency. Apparently, he had been found clean by November 2012 itself, as the challan filed at the time did not include his name. Accordingly, Ranike has been handed back the same portfolios in the Cabinet as he had resigned from after the scandal came to light. To say the least, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has shown haste in taking Ranike back, for the larger case is yet to be closed — therefore, not all is established — even if the Vigilance has given him the ‘clean chit’. Ranike had sanctioned grants that went into bank accounts opened on fake identities, allegedly operated by his personal assistant, who is now the prime accused. Was it not the responsibility of the minister, in whose constituency the funds were supposed to have been spent, to ever see what works had been done? If, as he claims, he was not aware what his PA was up to, then not only was he acutely inept at administrative matters, but also showed scant interest in the development of his constituency. The embezzlement happened over years — during which Assembly elections also took place — and yet the minister would have everyone believe that no one from his constituency complained of not having received the discretionary funds he promised them. There is no escaping the charge of letting his PA do what he allegedly did. The government owes it to the people to explain exactly what happened in the scam, who played what role, and how Ranike was not involved. Why should he be still considered responsible enough to be in the Cabinet? There may be political compulsions for the SAD to accommodate Ranike with a certain dignity, but that is exactly what a party — and ruling alliance — with a clear strength in the Assembly should not be concerned about. Credibility should be their motto, which at the moment is under attack on several counts. Akali chieftains are known to be highhanded with the police, which in turn is rough with the people. The government could well do without the charge of corruption.
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One more Women’s Day
One
more year with one more theme to celebrate Women’s Day is over. By the time all the special discounts offered by beauty saloons, restaurants and shopping malls on women’s outfits are over, a few more panellists would have debated over new rape laws on different TV channels. A few more women would have placed trophies awarded to them around this time of the year on the mantelpiece. And many more cases of crime against women would have been filed, triggering fresh debate over demands to include marital rape in the legislation or for lowering the age of consent, etc. The issue will continue to go round in circles and everyone will get a chance to be an expert on women’s issues. If one looks at the themes taken up by the UN for celebrating Women’s Day, one would find that during the last few years the focus has shifted from women’s role in establishing peace to more on violence against women. As though to justify this year’s official UN theme “Time for Action to End Violence Against Women”, one finds the graph of crime against women rising, across globe. Perhaps, this change in focus should remind us that International Women’s Day was originally called International Working Women’s Day and was celebrated as a socialist political event for empowerment of women. Call it the force of capitalism, the day is turned out to be celebratory like one more Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day, when women are made to feel good receiving small gifts and forget the real issues. After hundred and two years of celebrating Women’s Day, it is time to move towards maturity and ask a few disturbing questions. Why is it that women’s presence still remains negligible in the decision making bodies, while they contribute efficiently at the lower and middle level of the pyramid? Why is it that they perform exceptionally well and rise to top positions in the new industries like IT, but do not find a significant role in traditional industries? Will the UN address this theme in 2014?
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The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook. — William James
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Indian pivot towards Asia-Pacific
India
has been looking towards the east since the 1990s. Now, there is a renewed emphasis on this in India owing to recent developments in Southeast Asia along with growing international interest in the Asia Pacific. In the changing context, how far should India look east? Should it look only towards Southeast Asia, or extend up to East Asia and Australia as well? Does the renewed international interest in this region demand an Indian pivot towards Southeast Asia and East Asia? Should India redefine this region as Indo-Pacific and pursue its interests accordingly? The US has already taken the lead on the two above crucial aspects—in terms of its return to the Asia-Pacific along with its new strategies—the pivot and rebalancing. More importantly, Washington’s emphasis is on redefining the region starting from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific as Indo-Pacific. From an Indian perspective, it will be imperative to expand the focus from “looking east” to “Indo-Pacific” for the following reasons. First, in terms of international interests, this region is likely to become strategic, especially as the US and the International Security Assitance Force are winding up their operations in Afghanistan. The Indo-Pacific is becoming the next international theatre and is likely to witness a substantial attention, investment and development. Recent happenings already hint this shift, with tensions building in the South China Sea and the East China Sea. North Korea’s nuclear tests and Japan’s likely political direction in the next few years will substantially shape global interests in this region. Second, in economic terms, given the presence of organisations and structures such as ASEAN, the ARF and the EAS, this region will become the global economic power-house. With the economic crises in the US and the EU, the strength of these organizations and the trade potential will make this region as the driver of the global economic architecture. Third, the maritime expanse of this region along with the oceanic trading routes cutting across the Indian Ocean and the Pacific has already made the Indo-Pacific perhaps even more important than the European Union. In the next decade, the sheer volume of trade and movement of goods across these two oceans will also increase the vulnerability of this region. The imperative to protect the sea-lanes across the two oceans and the need to secure maritime traffic will make not only the Malacca Straits but also the entire Indo-Pacific the most important area. Fourth, the rise of China — peaceful or otherwise — will be felt more acutely in this region, starting from East Asia to South Asia. In fact, the pangs of China’s rise are being already felt both in East Asia and Southeast Asia in two maritime disputes involving Japan (East China Sea), Vietnam, the Philippines and Taiwan (in the South China Sea). The recent developments within ASEAN, especially its failure to arrive at a code of conduct, and Cambodia’s role in playing spoilsport highlight the growing Chinese influence and Beijing’s ability to manipulate the regional consensus. As the region gets integrated with China more, the ability of Beijing to influence the political outcomes in Southeast Asia will become substantial; Currently, China is building a north-south rail network and a road network linking its Sichuan and Yunnan provinces to Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Singapore. Once these two projects are finalised, along with Mekong which China shares with Southeast Asia, the economies of ASEAN and China will be even more integrated, giving more political space to Beijing to manoeuvre. While this economic integration between China and Southeast Asia is inevitable, given the geographical proximity, how will Beijing use this influence vis-a-vis the rest, especially India? And what will that mean for India’s Lookeast policy? If Beijing’s reservations and objections to India’s presence in Vietnam have to be measured as a yardstick, the rise of China is unlikely to be peaceful and beneficial to the interests of everyone. And given its recent responses in the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and using Cambodia to scuttle the political consensus within ASEAN, there is not much scope to believe that a rising China will play by international norms and rules. The above four aspects will have to considered while looking east in the third decade. Like the US, India also needs a new strategy in the Asia Pacific. And like the US, India also needs to have its own pivot in the region. Re-visioning the Asia Pacific as the Indo-Pacific and pursuing a strategy to increase India’s economic and political presence in the region will provide more space to New Delhi to manoeuvre. But the crucial question is: is there a space for India in the Indo-Pacific? There could be two answers. First, irrespective of its availability, New Delhi should reorient its strategies to find political and economic space. Second, and more importantly, New Delhi should make use of the space that already exists for India to play a greater role. While many Indian analysts are highly critical of the American pivot and rebalancing, what is not sufficiently explored is the window that is opened for India as a result of American pivoting and rebalancing. For example, in Myanmar, the increased American attention towards Naypidaw provides a substantial space. As a part of its rebalancing, the US is likely to work with partners such as Japan, South Korea, Australia and ASEAN. Whether India would want to be a part of this partnership with the US is a different issue; however, this provides an opportunity for New Delhi to work with other countries. There is also an increased interest among the other countries to work with India; the visit of Australian Prime Minister in 2012 and the agreements signed clearly show that Canberra is reworking its strategy and opening up to India. Multiple statements made by the former Australian High Commissioner to India will also underline this. In fact, there is more discussion in Australia about the Indo-Pacific than in India. South Korea and Japan should become the second pillar of India’s approach towards finding more space in the region. New Delhi should forge a strong economic and strategic partnership with these two countries, and take the existing relationship to the next level. Within Southeast Asia, despite New Delhi’s slow progress in the last two decades, there is a positive image about India, as a benign and democratic country, with a potential to play a larger role. Japan, South Korea, Australia and countries of ASEAN are also looking forward to building a new Asian architecture; this provides ample space to New Delhi to have its own pivot and make the Indo-Pacific as a logical extension of its Lookeast policy. To realise the Indian pivot and operationalise the Indo-Pacific idea, New Delhi should forge long-term partnerships with the countries concenred. Within that larger pivot to the Indo-Pacific, New Delhi should also consider a special pivot to Myanmar, and convert into a land bridge to Southeast Asia. This will provide geographic proximity and a land bridge to Southeast Asia. Though New Delhi has been working on this, such a strategy towards making Myanmar as a land bridge should include Bangladesh and India’s Northeast; only by conceiving these three as an integrated region, India will be able to achieve its long-term goals in the Indo-Pacific. One of the primary problems in India’s Lookeast policy has been our failure to integrate this region, and get Bangladesh and India’s Northeaster on board. Instead, India’s Lookeast policy positioned itself in New Delhi, jump-starting from Bangkok and Singapore while operationalising. A special pivot to Myanmar along with India’s Northeast and Bangladesh will rebalance and provide the land bridge that India has been looking for. Finally, to make the Indo-Pacific a reality, India should perceive the Indian Ocean as India’s Ocean, and pursue a strategy that will increase its political clout. A strong Indian Navy is imperative along with an extended maritime doctrine up to the Pacific Ocean. During this decade and the next, the region starting from Indian Ocean to the Pacific is likely to become the primary international focus, and the shift from the EU and the Middle East has already started taking place. India should ensure that its interests are addressed. An Indian pivot to the region and the Indo-Pacific as a strategy may provide the space to achieve our interests.n The writer is Director, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi
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Those were the days Since long my son had been pestering me to buy him a bicycle. Most of his friends had a nice time in the evenings riding cycles in the park as he pleaded. Some even cycled to school. At last, his insistence overcame my apprehensions about maddening traffic on the roads. The boy did get a shiny black bicycle, at last. Excited and thrilled over the new possession, he would clean it every five minutes. We too shared his joi de vivre. It took me to the times when buying a bicycle was considered a rare achievement. Hallmark of status next to possessing a tonga it was. And if someone got it in dowry the whole town would think highly of him. He would feel taller than he was on account of this ‘priceless’ possession. Sweet nostalgia perforce took me to the day a cycle shopwallah started giving bicycles on hire. Wow! Only twentyfive paisa per hour. I mean glistening ‘chavani’. What else could be better news for the teens than getting cycles to ride for a paltry amount? Surely, a heavenly boon. It became hot news for the youngsters. Sheer excitement ran in our veins. We would vie with one another in obtaining a bicycle on hire. Our priorities too did change. Preferred to spend pocket money on getting bicycles on hire rather than on ‘santre (orange coloured) ke goli’ or ‘kulfi’ served on a piece of newspaper. Neither the chilly winds of Dec-Jan nor the blazing heat of May-June could deter us from devoting our after-school hours to the new pastime. Even getting hurt while cycling didn’t matter. Going for picnic on hired bicycles still stands vivid in my memory. So many of us. Three on one bike. Changing seats by rotation on the way. It added to one’s prestige to get perched on the ‘cushioned gaddi’. The friend on the rear was granted liberty to apply peddles. The one on the front, much to our laughter, would ring the bell even if nothing crossed on the road. Surely, a novel experience that carried an aura of sheer romance. But natural to pour out our hearts humming, “Jhoom jhoom ke nacho aaj, gao aaj…../ Bachpan ke din bhula na dena……”. We had picked up craze of watching movies too by then. We adored actors riding bicycles and felt proud of handling the same with one hand. A big scar on my forehead tells the tale even today. Cycling did impart us strange feelings. One felt like flying in an aeroplane high in the sky. Pedestrians! Pooh! We took them to be simply crawling on the road and enjoyed making faces at them. Presumably we were a class apart. A rare de’ ja vu — an experience so rich and memorable that is indelibly imprinted on my mind. Gone are the days when bicycles ruled the roost. Now only the latest brand of cars and motorbikes lure the youngsters. Amidst frightening traffic the poor cyclists are not safe on the roads. Those were the days, indeed. Won’t you agree with
me?
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CINEMA: NEW Releases Nonika Singh In the first half of the movie which establishes the character of Irrfan as Inderjeet Singh who has personal scores to settle with Saheb the pace is a bit languorous but seductive nevertheless. Tigmanshu builds a fine cinematic graph that unleashes with greater force and action in the second half. The games these adult men and women play, gets more taut, tension ridden , dangerous and violent too. Who will outwit whom, who will checkmate whom….step by step the game of chess moves ahead. Tigmanshu surprises at each interjection. Little is predictable and best is for the last. With one stroke he depicts the vicious cycle of never-ending tragedy and the dynamics of power play. In the seesaw battle of erstwhile rulers trying to grab power, actors become characters and Tigmanshu doesn't play any favourites. Jimmy as the saheb confined to a wheelchair with his domineering spirit intact is as convincing as the brilliant actor Irrfan Khan out to get his pound of flesh and his lady love. Actually Tigmanshu aptly offsets Soha Ali Khan's nymph like beauty with the raw sensuous appeal of Mahi. Mahi's transformation from an inebriated, insecure woman to a wily one is remarkable. In the acting department you can't fault a single actor. Be it minor ones like Rajeev Gupta, the porn watching politician or stronger cameos like that of Raj Babbar and Parvesh Rana, detailing of the characters is equally compelling. If you have had your fill of sugar syrupy tales go for this lustful slice of complexity. Just in case you are curious if the film will work for you even if you have not seen the previous part, well it's a complete film in itself, but yes it might whet your appetite to watch the prequel too. Tigmanshu has kept the doors open for a trilogy in any case.
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No great magic In the first place the hero Oscar Diggs alias the Wizard (James Franco) is a shilly-shally character, indecisive and unconvincing. Actually a carnival magician who has the garb of wizard thrust upon him but for most of the time he keeps denying it. How and why he changes is known only to director Sam Raimi and the pathetic scriptwriters. The Emerald Island and the Land of Oz is moderately well depicted though a shade lifeless but the townsfolk, especially the Master Tinkerer (Bill Cobbs), Sourpus and Ginly the monkey do better than the more distinguished stars. That such a weak story and colourless characters should chug on to all of 130 minutes is no credit to director Sam Raimi. "Grow up, keep up and shut up" is the banal advice given halfway into the film but none heeds it. If one has to look for plus points, well Peter Demings camerawork is good. The acting is mediocre with James Franco a real fright. How can they even think of making such nincompoops heroes is unbelievable! As for Rachel Weisz and Mila Kunis it is sad to see them struggling through such an apology of an entertainer.
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Costly time lost! Now, how interesting can that be! SJSM is a simple story of an ideal middle class family, a story which has been plucked from reality. Did you hear reality…well, that bites! So, SJSM starts to pinch in the very beginning. Not because we cannot accept in-you- face characters like Puttan Pal (Sanjay Mishra) or his younger brother Gopal (Ranjan Chabbra), who smiles ear to ear when he gets a recharge mobile coupon for Rs 30, or for that matter Puttan's wife Noori (Pragati), who innocently tricks her clients in getting full legs waxed, but because we are eager for a solution. The storyline is simple and likeable but drags till someone finally decides to walk out with a tub of popcorns excitedly purchased while buying the ticket! The cast of the film is new save for Sanjay Mishra, whom we have been seeing off and on for ages now. We expected he could make us laugh, but in SJSM he makes us wonder as to when he would make us laugh! It might sound cruel wanting to laugh on a topic that is common to many Indians, but this is how a satire on the system ought to be. The film is slow and endlessly dragged although it is has some hard hitting dialogues. The movie has been made without any extra mirch masala, but how can one survive a two-and-a-half-hour ordeal without any spice!
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Juvenile fare From the guys who made Hangover (two of them) Jon Lucas and Scott Moore we now have 21 & Over the same juvenile boy's night out with wild parties, male camaraderie, female bonding, drugs, liquor, the works as though there is no tomorrow. With two directors at the helm, Lucas and Moore it isn't easy but they seem to get along like two peas in a pod. Cassey (Skyler Astin) and Miller (Miles Teller) are two dudes looking for fun and excitement and when Asian/Chinese youth Jeff Chang (Justin Chou) is becoming 21 they think it's as good a time as any to paint the town red. It's far from absorbing but if one gives one's grey matter a holiday one might even enjoy the fare. But it's primarily for the youth. So leave the floor to them.
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Saturday,
March 9
Bunty Aur Babli Bunty Aur Babli is a Bollywood film directed by Shaad Ali and starring Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukerji and Abhishek Bachchan. It was the first film to feature both Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek Bachchan, and featured guest appearances by Aishwarya Rai and Tania Zaetta. ZEE CINEMA 7:15AM Phool Aur Angaar 10:35AM Bin Bulaye Baraati 2:00PM Viewers Choice 6:00PM Big Brother 9:00PM Dhamaal STAR GOLD 7:40AM Kya Kehna 10:55AM Bodyguard 2:00PM Celebrity Cricket League 2013 6:00PM Pyare Mohan 9:00PM Ek Tha Soldier SET MAX 6:30AM Maharaja 10:15AM Golmaal: Fun Unlimited 1:35PM Bunty Aur Babli 6:05PM Darr 9:00PM 58th Idea Filmfare Awards 2013 STAR MOVIES 7:26AM E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial 9:59AM The Front Row with Anupama Chopra 10:29AM Armour of God 12:41PM Spy Hard 2:06PM Fantastic Four 4:21PM The Mummy 6:59PM Chronicle 9:00PM Safe House 11:30PM Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade SONY PIX 9:00AM Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas 10:35AM DOA: Dead or Alive 12:15PM Spider-Man 2:30PM Shrek 4:20PM Agent Cody Banks 6:05PM Watchmen 9:00PM Kung Fu Panda 11:00PM Mission Impossible 3 MOVIE NOW 7:45AM Vampires Suck 9:30AM Home Alone 3 11:30AM Die Another Day 2:15PM Star Wars 5:00PM Final Destination 3 7:00PM Rocky III 9:00PM Unstoppable 11:00PM Inception FILMY 9:00AM Blackmail 12:00PM Astitva 3:00PM Ram Aur Shyam 6:00PM Sherni 9:30PM Dosti Dushmani ZEE ACTION 10:30AM Jeo Aur Jene Do 1:30PM Khilona Bana Khalnayak 5:30PM Gundaraj 8:30PM Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani Sunday, March 10
Mission: Impossible III is an American action spy film co-written and directed by J. J. Abrams. This is his first film as a director, starring Tom Cruise, who also served as a producer, in the role of IMF agent Ethan Hunt. The film was first released on April 26, 2006, at the Tribeca Film Festival, and widely released in the United States on May 5, 2006. ZEE CINEMA 7:15AM Har Har Mahadeva 10:25AM Aparichit: The Stranger 1:55PM Yamlok 5:00PM Hum Aapke Hain Kaun...! 9:00PM Mr. India STAR GOLD 8:10AM My Friend Ganesha 2 11:00AM Celebrity Cricket League 2013 3:00PM Dil Hai Tumhaara 7:00PM Celebrity Cricket League 2013 11:10PM Ek Aur Qayamat SET MAX 8:05AM Jai Santoshi Maa 11:20AM Kyo Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta 2:50PM The Dirty Picture 5:55PM Ishaqzaade 9:00PM Rowdy Rathore STAR MOVIES 8:46AM The Green Hornet 11:22AM Jingle All the Way 1:05PM Safe House 3:36PM Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of The Black Pearl 6:23PM Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 9:00PM You Pick The Flick 11:38PM Gone in 60 Seconds SONY PIX 7:00AM Mega Snake 8:45AM Jerry Maguire 11:10AM Shrek 1:00PM Men in Black 3 3:15PM Mission Impossible 3 5:50PM Transporter: Harvest 6:55PM Kung Fu Panda 9:00PM Men in Black 3 11:15PM Vantage Point FILMY 9:00AM Malamaal Weekly 12:00PM Sandwich 3:00PM Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam 6:00PM Gair 9:30PM Indra: The Tiger ZEE ACTION 7:00AM Kurbaan 10:30AM Police Aur Mujrim 1:30PM Elaan 5:30PM Geraftaar 8:30PM Khauf ki Raat
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Mission: Impossible III