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Aerial support Need a balancing act |
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Nepal: Promises to
keep
Making every word count
No funny bones to
pick Down the black hole Dishing out a spicy
tale
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Need a balancing act If
the draft Bill to replace the Juvenile Justice Act leads to a fall in the rate of delinquency among juveniles, there is no cause for worry. The statistics of juvenile crimes against total crimes in the country indicate a steady decline in the early 1990s which has been rising significantly ever since. India moved from the penal law to the reformative law by repealing the 1989 JJ Act and enacting the JJ Act 2000. At the time, there was a unanimous decision that the age of the juvenile in conflict with the law should not be lowered from 18 years, supported by two Supreme Court judgments. Now, the Juvenile Justice Care and Protection Bill, 2014, cleared by the Cabinet to replace the JJ Act, 2000, under which 16 to 18-year-olds who commit heinous crimes can be tried as adults. Are we once again moving towards the penal law? Under the draft law, even if convicted, the delinquents won't be sent to jail till they turn 21; the convicts will have to be kept in places of safety to be provided by a state government. Even though the proposed changes are in tune with the changing times that recognise early adulthood among juveniles, going by the existing condition of the remand homes-- meant to reform the convicted juvenile -- one shudders to think of these 'places of safety' for the convicts of heinous crimes. Convicted juveniles for petty thefts live in the over-crowded remand homes -- a thinly disguised euphemism for prison -- that brutalise the weak and young who have a potential to be reformed. Then several problems were encountered in the effective administration of juvenile justice even under the JJ Act 2002. First, most of the states are yet to constitute juvenile courts to cover all districts as required under the Act. As a result, the powers of such courts are exercised by other authorities who may not have special knowledge of child psychology and child welfare. The government must ensure that those entrusted with the responsibility of juvenile justice must give preference to reform over penalty.
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History will be kind to me for I intend to write it. — Winston Churchill
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Germany and the war
Press censorship in India
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Nepal: Promises to keep
Prime
Minister Narendra Modi has had a highly successful visit to Nepal. The visit has radically changed the discourse in Nepal on India -- from being cantankerous to friendly and cooperative. This has improved the atmospherics in the bilateral relations between the two countries. He was the only foreign dignitary to address Nepal's Constitutional Assembly cum Parliament and the only Indian Prime Minister who performed a special prayer ("Basuki Puja" and "Rudra Abhishekam Puja") at Kathmandu's holy shrine of Pashupatinath Temple. In his well-articulated addresses and wide ranging political and cultural engagements, he highlighted the civilizational bonds that exist between the Indian and Nepali people for centuries; he tickled Nepal's developmental aspirations and promised that India will stand by Nepal in harnessing its potential to reach the Himalayan heights of prosperity; he hailed Nepal's unique example of mainstreaming its Maoist insurgency into a peaceful democratic process, he urged Nepali lawmakers to frame a "federal, democratic and republican constitution" on time as not only India but the whole world is looking towards Nepal's efforts in this respect; and while underlining India's commitment to Nepal's sovereignty, he promised that India would never interfere in Nepal's affairs. Most Indian leaders have always been doing so earlier but Modi's eloquent oratory and poetic presentation touched Nepali hearts and minds. Only mild murmurs could be felt from two sections; first, the Madhes groups, as he did not speak against their felt discrimination and instead asked them to work with the hill people for building a strong and united Nepal; and secondly the religious minorities who did not relish Modi's omission of the word "secular" in identifying the broad contours of Nepal's expected Constitution. Minorities might have found Modi's loud personal projection of Hindu identity a bit jarring. Recall Sushma Swaraj's crisp response to a Hindutva query in Nepal two weeks earlier in which she claimed her constitutional loyalty to a Secular Indian State. Modi did well in not mentioning China or India's security concerns in Nepal publicly in his addresses and interactions even once. This is to avoid any possible irritation to China with which Modi wishes to build a strong economic relationship. But it also silenced those Nepali critics of India who like to see Nepal-India relations only in Chinese shadow. Security questions related to the India-Nepal border management were discussed at the delegation level during the visit. The joint statement issued on the visit reiterated that "India and Nepal will not allow their territory to be used against each other". "Competent authorities" were directed to ensure that 'open border' between the two countries is "not misused by unscrupulous elements posing security threats to either side". The Chinese commentators have described Modi's Nepal visit as rhetorical, but that was a tongue-in-cheek expression. Modi, in fact, went much beyond only promises to address Nepal's deep-rooted trust deficit vis-a-vis India. He offered a $1billon worth of soft loan to Nepal for developing hydro-power potential and building infrastructure requirements. He raised scholarships for Nepali scholars to study in India and proposed to work with Nepal on HIT- Highways, Information ways and Transmission ways. He agreed to revise and update the "Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950" between India and Nepal for which Nepalis have been long agitating and he set time lines on the completion of many other pending agreements in the fields of 'power trade', extradition, trade and transit, border management and hydro-power projects. He also agreed to the Nepali proposal of laying a pipeline for transporting petroleum products from India to Nepal. It will, however, take long in turning Modi's promises and Nepal's expectations from India into concrete reality. The obstacles will come from both the Indian and Nepali sides. In India, Modi has to move the bureaucracy, which has made a huge contribution in creating a 'trust deficit' with Nepal. Recall former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral's offer of "non-reciprocity" in India's neighbourhood policy which thrilled all the neighbours, including Nepal. But the excitement soon died as matters did not move on the ground. Indian diplomacy at times feels either nervous or arrogant in Nepal and indulges in senseless micro-management of Nepali affairs hurting Nepali sensitivities. Asking them to shed old habits will not be easy. A number of Indian ministries, departments and agencies are involved in carrying Modi's Nepal agenda forward. Pushing them into timely action and coordinating their processes will pose a huge challenge to Modi's leadership. On the Nepali side, political parties suffer from an acute crisis of leadership and there is dearth even of intra-party consensus, leave apart inter-party consensus, on what kind of relationship they want with India. For long, Nepali politics has fed on anti-India sentiments and aggressive nationalism. Until this dynamics is transformed into developmental politics, in Nepal's relations with India, bilateral matters will not move smoothly. If the Nepali politicians are not committed to improving the economic status of their own people, how can India or any other country help? Many of the previous and present Nepali Prime Ministers have failed in carrying even their own respective parties along on India-related issues. As a result, a number of bilateral agreements like the Mahakali Treaty, the Pancheswar multi-purpose project, the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA), signing of the strip maps on the India-Nepal border etc remained stuck in official files alone. Even on the eve of Modi's Nepal visit, India was hopeful of signing the Power Trade Agreement between the two countries, but lack of a political consensus among the major Nepali political parties has delayed the move. The real test of the Nepali political response to Modi's initiatives lies in how they address the question of developing Nepal's hydro-power resources and negotiate the review and upgrading of the 1950 treaty. The Nepalese side has eroded almost all the treaty provisions that they were uncomfortable with. The treaty as it stands today on the operational ground is in fact tilted against India. It remains to be seen if Nepali leaders would be willing either to sacrifice the preferred national treatment for Nepalis in India or accommodate India's security and developmental concerns in lieu of this
privilege. The writer is Professor Emeritus, JNU, and a former Ambassador
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Making every word count “... your words will be fewer and more effectual, and while you make less ado, what you do will be more profitable.” —Quiller Cough (The Art of Writing)
1. The Company intends to sponsor a small number of employees for training. The phrase “small number of” can easily be replaced with a one-word equivalent, “few”. Such equivalents not only lend precision to the message, they also cut down on the clutter of words. However, sometimes it may be essential to retain a long string of words for the rhythm and tone of the text. 2. In the event of another principal joining the college, we are of the opinion that our tuition fee will be revised. Though clear in meaning, “in the event of” does not contribute much to the semantic worth of the sentence. To avoid verbosity, “if”, a sharper alternative, can be used in place of the phrase just as “we are of the opinion” can make way for “we believe”. With minor modifications, the sentence can read as “If another principal joins the college, we believe that ....” Rambling can make readers lose track of thoughts and affect comprehension. 3. I beg to inform you that the Organizing Committee has cancelled the visit. Phrases like “beg to” in “I beg to inform you” or “I beg to differ from you” are no longer considered fashionable. For the writer to report the matter, the sentence can be rewritten as “May I/ I may inform you ...” or as “I wish to/ would like to inform you ....” And if an apology is expected, “I am sorry to inform you ....” Similar phrases like “your esteemed self”, “your good name” and “your goodself” projecting humility in fact smack of flattery and misplaced modesty. They detract the reader and may be simplified as “you”, “your name” and “you” again. 4. We acknowledge the receipt of your letter and the report attached herewith ... and we hereby deny your claim for compensation. The excerpts sound pompous though such usage is fairly common in formal correspondence. Terms like “hereby” and “herewith” are old-fashioned and currently belong to the legal register. They deserve to be phased out from other forms of communication. Once trimmed, the excerpt can be rearranged as “We have received your letter and the report attached ... but are unable to honour your claim for compensation.” While condensing a piece of prose, it is important to remember that the rules of trimming do not apply everywhere. For instance, we cannot meddle with idiomatic expressions and we cannot drop articles and similar elements of language if they are needed in the text. Barring that the text can be tightened by making every word count.
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CINEMA: NEW Releases
No funny bones to pick Tu mujh pe line maarega... kyon mein pencil hoon kya Tu mujhe kiss karega.. kyoon Emraan Hashmi hoon kya
Now this was a sample test. If you find these cheesy one-liners funny, the good news is the film packs these by the bagful and the chances are bright that you might enjoy this no-brainer. But if like us your funny bone isn't tickled by the inane tukbandi, the film is to put it mildly — a torture. Dog is a man's best friend, is a lesson we learn in early childhood. Now to drive home the same message... pray why did the makers have to take such a circuitous and crazy route? Ah, suddenly we remember the movie is actually slapstick comedy meant to bring the house down. And herein lies the rub. Actually, it's in the comic tricks department that it fails most miserably. But for stray one-liners, most dialogues are singularly unfunny and same goes for the supposedly comic situations, which are at best crass and at worst dreary. No doubt the premise is interesting. A billionaire bequeaths his fortune to his dog Entertainment, which the rich man's illegitimate son Akhil Lokhande (Akshay Kumar) tries to usurp. His bid(s) to kill Entertainment are supposed to be funny, aimed to raise laughs. Since there are none (all the capers succeed in doing are eliciting guffaws) coming we go fast forward. He forms an everlasting bond with the most loyal of all animals. No issues with that either. In fact, how one wishes the movie had been a heart-warming tale of a man and his dog and exploited the sentiments of dog-lovers. Instead, it falls just a trifle short of making a mockery of canine breed's loyalty. Food for thought...frankly the film doesn't offer any meat to chew on. Bones, (no pun intended), of course, you can pick several... with the storyline, the comic timing and above all the litany of senseless un-amusing dialogues Krishna Abhishek as Jugnoo is made to utter. Sample this — Jaisi karni waisi Mamta Kulkarni. And this is only the tip of the filmy iceberg with which he inundates us. In fact, none of the teases the film incorporates really work. Be it the comic villains (Prakash Raj and Sonu Sood), called Karan Arjun, with the famous song from the film Karan Arjun, Yeh Bandhan Pyar Ka Bandhan playing in the background each time they discover brotherly love. Or the lovely lass Tamannaah's (as Sakshi) attempts to woo them. Or the antics of Johny Lever and Mithun Chakraborty! Actually neither the gags translate into laugh out loud moments nor do the comic men get it right. Convoluted digs at all and sundry are fired so often that these not only miss the funny bone but are also agonisingly irritating. Lest you think the film doesn't warn you. Well, early enough in the film Krishna Abhishek's character says — hum film wale hain thodi bahut liberty le sakte hai. Alas, it takes too much liberty. Not only with our intelligence, senses and sensibility but most importantly our patience is tested to the brim. In case you are wondering why the makers titled the film Entertainment…well, they perhaps knew this will be the only entertainment quotient in the film. And any idea why they dropped It’s from its initial title It’s Entertainment? For better sense must have prevailed for IT certainly isn't remotely entertaining. So irrespective of whether you are an enthused dog lover or a committed Akshay Kumar fan, wisdom lies in staying away from this lustreless fare. Sure Junior as Entertainment is cute and endearing. But here, at least the dog can't save the day!
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Down the black hole
An extension of the Bard of Avon's famous quote "All the world's a galaxy and it is peopled with all creatures bright and ugly," coupled with zooming spaceships — the FX team made them all. That's Guardians of the Galaxy 3D for you — all razzle-dazzle and even a story if one watches intently. It all starts with a little boy hesitantly meeting his mother on her death-bed. Cut to 26 years later and we are shot into a space amidst a bevy of characters, but we shall deal with only a few. There's Peter Gill/Star Lord (Chris Pratt), who was abducted from Missouri as a child in 1988 and brought up by a group of smugglers called Ravagers. Naturally, he's confused. Gamora (Zoe Saldana) is an orphan from an alien world, but trained by Thamos to be a warrior and personal assassin. "Make war, not love," is her creed; so, Gill isn't able to make an amorous headway. Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), a mighty warrior, is all out to avenge Ronin the villain who has murdered his wife and kids. Groot (Vin Diesel) is another. All eyes look for Ronin, but guess he's lost in the blink of an eye. Those looking for razzle-dazzle will be satiated, but its little content can make sitting through 122 minutes a little trying. The dashes of humour are few and far between and whatever acting talent there might have been has probably fallen to the floor of the editing room. Much ado about little!
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Dishing out a spicy tale
Food, glorious food! Heard the line? Also, to win a woman's heart, one has to start with the stomach. So, if you haven't got it by now, food is the premise and focal point of The Hundred Foot Journey, which is a delightful entertainer by director Lasse Hallstrom, who earlier gave us the equally sumptuous Chocolat nearly a decade ago. With lines like "life has its own flavour" and "there's a hundred-foot divide between cultures" the ambience is being made to launch our Indian restaurateur family to the South of France to introduce Indian cuisine to the locals, after their own place has been burnt down in a riot. Hasan Iqbal Kadam or Hasan Haji for short (Manish Dayal) is a budding cook and it is Papa's (Om Puri) idea to migrate. Not sure what his religious leanings are, but Papa has great faith in the Indian culture ("The oldest civilization," he says) and ability to prosper anywhere. But, as luck would have it, he chooses a spot bang opposite a French restaurant owned by the eccentric Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren) and it doesn't take long for the fireworks to light up the cool night air. From cornering the local market to other gimmicks — they are at war. Could cupid be knocking at their door? It's only a main road running between the two houses. Yes, it is a modern-day fairly tale and there are no prizes for guessing the ending. The pace is steady, even slow, with shades of European cinema, not Hollywood. The Indian-foreigner divide comes up from time to time, but its 122-minute duration is a tad too long and Hallstrom tends to become indulgent. He should have stuck to the 'less is more' formula. AR Rahman's music also contributes to the romantic mood. Helen Mirren, who has made an appearance after a long absence, is her usual suave self, very much at home with her use of French. She has always been my favourite British actress. Our own Om Puri hams his way about, but is partly redeemed by his bilingual lines. Juhi Chawla goes in the blink of an eye. Manish Dayal shows promise and Charlotte Le Bon is pretty as a picture. All in all, The Hundred Foot Journey is worth taking.
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TV movies Saturday August 9 9:00PM star gold
STAR GOLD 10:05AM Dulhe Raja 12:45PM Beta 3:35PM Bhagam Bhag 6:25PM Garam Masala 9:00PM Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara 11:45PM Chamku ZEE STUDIO 1:25PM Top Gun 3:30PM The Avengers 6:35PM Mission Impossible II 9:00PM Megamind 11:00PM Unbreakable ZEE CLASSIC 10:07AM Prem Bandhan 1:20PM Muqaddar Ka Sikandar 4:48PM Mere Sanam 8:00PM Jigri Dost 11:14PM Andaz MOVIES OK 10:55AM Sivaji: The Boss 1:45PM Ghar Ho To Aisa 4:30PM Om Shanti Om 8:00PM Jeene Nahi Doonga 10:55PM Vachanbadh ZEE CINEMA 8:08AM Don 2 11:11AM 36 China Town 2:07PM Deewana 5:29PM Shaan 9:00PM Mard STAR MOVIES 11:30AM Speed 2:00PM Spider-Man 4:30PM The Adventures of Tintin 9:00PM Resident Evil: Extinction 10:30PM Resident Evil: Apocalypse MOVIES NOW 10:05AM Salt 12:05PM Jackie Chan's First Strike 1:50PM Independence Day 4:45PM The Grudge 2 6:50PM The Matrix Revolutions 11:35PM Ip Man 2 Sunday August 10
Men in Black 3 is an American 3D science fiction action comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and starring Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, and Josh Brolin. It is the third installment in the Men in Black series. STAR MOVIES 12:00PM Men in Black 3 2:00PM I, Robot 4:00PM Men in Black (1997) 6:00PM Bad Boys II 9:00PM Men in Black 3 11:00PM The Croods ZEE STUDIO 10:10AM Armageddon 1:00PM The Avengers 4:00PM Mission Impossible II 6:25PM Enemy of the State 9:00PM The Guardian 11:40PM The Village ZEE CLASSIC 9:49AM Zanjeer 12:48PM Laawaris 4:29PM Sharaabi 8:00PM Naseeb Apna Apna 10:59PM Banarasi Babu MOVIES OK 10:05AM Jajantaram Mamantaram 12:30PM Bhaag Milkha Bhaag 4:25PM Agneepath 8:00PM Chup Chup Ke 11:25PM Hero The Action Man ZEE CINEMA 4:45AM Krishna Aur Kans 8:27AM Lal Baadshah 11:13AM Ramaiya Vastavaiya 2:22PM Hum Saath Saath Hain 6:00PM Journey Bombay to Goa 9:00PM Taare Zameen Par STAR GOLD 12:55PM My Name Is Khan 3:50PM Luck by Chance 6:35PM Game 9:00PM Patiala House 11:35PM Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne FILMY 9:00AM Chachi 420 11:30AM Infomercial 12:00PM Tum Mile 3:00PM Jo Bole So Nihaal 9:00PM Indra: The Tiger
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Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
is an Indian coming-of-age comedy-drama road film, directed by Zoya
Akhtar and produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani. The film
features an ensemble cast including Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol and
Farhan Akhtar.
12:00PM star movies