The Whizard

Best Tactic To Handle Reverse Swing --- The Sehwag Way!

2009-12-12T10:06:00.002+05:30

Batsmen like Sehwag are rewriting the rules of cricket. I particularly liked this anecdote in an article on Sehwag in this week's issue of Tehelka.

What kind of man is this innocent assassin who has elevated batting, and thinking, to a level of such simplicity? The story that captures him best has been told often enough, but it bears repetition here. England batsman Jeremy Snape pointed out in a match where they were batting together that he was having a problem with the reverse swing. Perhaps it was the ball that was aiding it? Don’t worry, Sehwag told him, I will hit this ball out of the stadium and then they will have to find another ball. And he proceeded to do exactly that. The replacement didn’t swing as much.

Extravagance Personified!

2009-12-11T16:02:00.005+05:30

Perhaps, "extravagance," too, would be an understatement to describe this wedding described in this week's issue of Tehelka.

ON THE NIGHT of November 22 , some 5,000 people, among them the exquisitely dressed and elegantly propelled Ludhianvi elite, attended realtor king Gulshan Kumar’s son’s prewedding ceremony. Opulence was not restricted to the BMW-Mercedes-filled parking lot. It continued past the impressive Sphinx statue guarding the entrance, past actor Bipasha Basu welcoming the guests into a six acre plot converted by 60 artisans from around the country into a replica of the sets of the movie The Mummy. Blessing the Ludhianvi Tutankhamun’s wedding amidst roving laser light glory were 500 life-size statues of Cleopatra, Nefertiti and the Egyptian pantheon of gods, all made-to-order with Hollywood assistance. When asked how much he spent on the wedding Gulshan Kumar, said ‘peanuts’. Those ‘peanuts’ also brought the IT department knocking on his doors.

What a SHEER WASTE of money! In our country, we have thousands and thousands of people who find it difficult to make ends meet; we have farmers who commit suicide because they cannot bear to see the misery of their families anymore; and we have bright children who end up working in inhuman conditions instead of studying because they won't get food if they don't work.

And whatever happened to the recession?

Wish all such people who have loads of money find loads of good avenues to spend on rather than waste away on extravagant weddings.

The Genius Of Sir Don!

2009-12-03T12:17:00.002+05:30

Its often been said that it's a privilege to live in a generation that has seen an absolute genius such as Sachin Tendulkar. What must it have been like to see Sir Don in action?

I really liked this anecdote posted on cricinfo.com:

A fanciful story from Michael Henderson on Don. Absolute Gem . "I think I have a beauty. It was told to me by the great Australian batsman, Dean Jones, who positively swore on the head of his daughter it happened, and I have since been told that Merv Hughes also confirms its truth.

The scene is set at a Test match between Australia and the West Indies at Adelaide Oval back in February 1989. These were the days when the Windies were the greatest power the cricketing world had ever seen, the days when they used to select 11 fast bowlers in the team and a 12th man who was a fast bowler just to be on the safe side.

And it was into just such a furnace that the young bowler Mervyn Hughes walked - with bat in hand. Figuring fortune favoured the brave, Hughes wielded the willow like an axeman his axe, and somehow - after snicking fortutiously, connecting full-bloodedly, and missing entirely - he finished the day's play at 72 not out.

The tradition in Test cricket is that the batting side take a few beers into the fielding side's dressing-room afterwards, but not on this evening. Instead, Merv took an ice-box full of bottles, so keen was he to give the men of the Windies the full blow-by-blow account of every run he'd made. So it was that half an hour later, Jones - who himself had contributed 216 - and Hughes and several other Australian players were in the Windies dressing-room, when a sudden hush fell upon the gathering.

They looked to the door and there was Sir Donald Bradman himself, being ushered into the room by several South Australian cricket officials. The Don had expressed a desire to meet this mighty team, and now here he was.

For the next 15 minutes or so, the great man was introduced to the visiting players, with each West Indian standing up well before Sir Donald got to their position on the bench. Then, when their time came, they warmly shook his hand and had a few words.

This all proceeded splendidly until Sir Donald got to the last man on the bench, Patrick Patterson - the fastest bowler in the world at that time. So the story goes, not only did Patterson not stand, he simply squinted quizzically up at the octogenarian. Finally, after some 30 seconds of awkward silence, Patterson stood up, all two metres of pure whip-cord steel of him, and looked down at the diminutive Don.

"You, Don Bradman!?!" he snorted. "You, Don Bradman?!?! I kill you,mun! I bowl at you, I kill you! I split you in two!"

In reply, Sir Donald, with his hands on his hips, gazed squarely back at Patterson and calmly retorted: "You couldn't even get Merv out. You'd have no chance against me, mate!"

SammaaN To The Common Man!

2009-02-03T12:12:00.003+05:30

Looking at the string of pieces on the devastation caused by the recession, many readers might be thinking that I am a pessimist. This is not the case. I believe that this recession will hopefully change things for good. Just that the present system will take a good beating.

On a tangential note, I am really impressed by efforts by social enterprises such as SammaaN in Patna. Do check this out. Very few people or corporations actually undertake initiatives that help improve the life of the comman man.

Wish something like this could happen in Kolkatta too -- the sight of human powered rickshaws is deplorable -- wish they get a better alternative soon.

People Need To Change Their Ways...

2009-01-28T11:24:00.003+05:30

People need to change their ways and control their excesses. Today's editorial in the Guardian (UK) discusses bankers' bonuses. We can only imagine what investors would feel when they read something like this:

As for Merrill Lynch boss Mr Thain, he blithely splashed out $1.2m mid-crunch to redecorate his office. The bank may have been haemorrhaging both staff and money, but that was no reason not to spend $35,000 on a commode.

Do read this piece. It's quite enlightening.

The Satyam Fiasco

2009-01-09T11:47:00.003+05:30

This has got to be one of the best satirical pieces I've read. Do read this article by Sidin Vadukut on livemint.com.

The Satyam fiasco has turned out to be the Enron of India, and believe me, it couldn't have come at a worser time.

Scams such as these happen every other day in our political landscape; however, our corporate honchos were believed to be clear of wrongdoings of such magnitude. As the economy goes into a further tailspin, we can only expect some more skeletons falling from the Indian cupboard.

On a different note, most of our politicians get away scot free after being involved in scams worth crores of rupees; what happens of Raju, only time will tell.

Punch Yourself To Make It To That Elusive 70%!

2008-07-08T09:12:00.003+05:30

What does the Railways Tribunal want a victim to do? Punch oneself in the eye? Even a permanent speech problem and damage to the skull does not qualify for the all-important 70%!

Do read this report in Mid Day.

He lost Rs 50,000 as he suffered 1% less injury

By: Sneha Shah Date: 2008-07-08

Narendra Lodhia is not a student, but he knows the importance of one per cent. The 44-year-old damaged his hearing on July 11, 2006, when the 6.07 Virar-bound local he was in, blew up.

And, if being part of that disaster was not enough, the railway tribunal has refused to pay him the Rs 50,000 compensation, as he has suffered only 69 per cent injuries. The eligibility for compensation is 70 per cent.

"The blast and the deafening sound damaged my eardrums, cut one of my fingers and damaged my skull. The shrapnel injured my eyes and I have a permanent speech problem.
But the railway authorities have declared it to be 69 per cent and rejected my claim," said Lodhia.

Lodhia has certificates from JJ Hospital and Ali Jung Yavar Hospital at Bandra Kurla Complex about his disability, but the railway officials have not honoured them.

He's not alone

Lodhia who cannot hear without the help of hearing aids has also suffered professionally. He was working as a senior accountant with a religious trust in Mumbai Central during the time of the blast. According to him, the management brought in another person in his place and has not given him the due promotion.

According to former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya, who has compiled information on blast victims and has helped many get compensation, "Around 80 per cent of the victims have had hearing loss." There are around 65 people who have had successive surgeries for hearing loss, 200 people now depend on artificial hearing aids and 25 have undergone three to five surgeries in the last two years and are still unable to hear.

The Next Time You Feel Like Complaining About Mobile Bills...

2008-07-03T15:15:00.003+05:30

The Next Time You Feel Like Complaining About Mobile Bills... Read This....

Zimbabwe: Mobile Network Operators Hike Tariffs 100 Percent

The Herald (Harare)

2 July 2008
Posted to the web 2 July 2008

THE country's three mobile network operators - Econet, TelOne and Telecel - yesterday hiked tariffs by slightly over 100 percent.

Econet Buddie intra-network now costs $143 million on average per minute during peak periods, while off-peak calls have been pegged at $136 million on average.

Calls on Liberty diamond, gold and silver now range between $137 million and $143 million per minute during peak period.

Charges for a call to other network subscribers was raised to $148 million and $140 million during peak and off-peak respectively.

International calls to fixed receivers in group one, which comprises European countries was raised to $256,7 million from $130 million previously.

SMS service, the cheapest and most popular mode of mobile communication is now going for $21 million up from $10,7 million locally while international messaging is at $82,521 million.

NetOne subscribers now have to part with $116 million every time they make a call to another NetOne subscriber, $120 million to Econet and $126 million to Telecel subscribers. A local SMS has been pegged at $50 million.

Calls between Telecel subscribers at $100 million per minute are now the cheapest. Regional calls made from a Telecel subscriber now range between $196 million and $250 million for both mobile and fixed calls.

A local Telecel SMS attracts $50 million intra-messaging and $60 million when messaging to other subscribers.

Subscribers using prepaid services are still struggling to get recharge cards with NetOne subscribers being the worst affected.

According to service providers, the problem was largely caused by the hike in the tariff structure and hence supplies outstripping demand.

Telecommunication providers say the current network congestion is the result of subscribers extending talk time because of the "low tariffs".

On the other hand, Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority still maintains that, "low tariffs are not the major cause of congestion".

Of course, the figures are in Zimbabwean Dollars.

English Learning

2008-04-07T08:57:00.001+05:30

Conversation overheard at a hotel

Waiter A: Arrey sunaa kya. Mainey kal Behraambaag mein ek board dekha. English seekhney ke liye. 600 rupiyah mahina.

Waiter B: Abey jaa. Mein teen hazaar rupiya dekar nahi seekh paya aur tu 600 rupiye mein seekh jaayega?

Waiter A: Arrey nahi sachhi mein. Ek Sir aayega waha par padhaney ke liye. Suna hai who accha padhaata hain.

Waiter B: Abey tu Sir ki baat karta hai. Hum logo ko to ek Madam aakar sikhaa ti thi. Hum log madam se nahi seekh sake to tu Sir se seekh lega. Aur who bhi 600 rupiye mein. Tera dimaag to tikhaaney hai? Aaya bada English seekhney.

Then, they veer away a bit from near my table to attend to other customers. A while later, they resume their conversation.

Waiter B: Sun, ek kaam kar. Mere books mere paas abhi tak rakhey huey hai. Tu mere paas aaja. Mein tujhey 150 rupiye mein English sikha deta hu.

Puppy On The Road

2008-03-26T07:43:00.002+05:30

In present times, just about everyone seems to be very busy. Everyone is rushing to reach somewhere (although few people are actually punctual). No one has the time to stop for anything. But then, there are exceptions. Today morning while on the way to my office, I was touched by the gesture of a private bus driver.

As I was passing by Mumbai University, I heard this bus screech suddenly on the other side of the road. It was a pleasant surprise, as I saw a tiny, very tiny puppy (could fit into one hand) near the front tyre of the bus. The driver had stopped just in time. The cleaner got down from the bus and put away the puppy to its safety.

Few people actually take the pains to do such things. If we all can start doing such things everyday, the world would be a much better place.

“Tum Zameen walo par rahem karo, Aasmaanwaala tum par rahem karega.” (Have mercy on those who inhabit the earth, and the Almighty will have mercy on you.)

Khan Sahab Is No More!

2008-03-21T11:17:00.000+05:30

Khan Uncle is no more! I feel that the best way to give you a glimpse of the wonderful personality of this man would be to quote his own words. Immediately after his engagement with Shama aunty, her brother came up to Khan Uncle and said “Khan Sahab, meri behen Shola hai shola!” Not to be outdone, maintaining his composure, Khan Uncle wittingly replied “Koi baat nahi! Tumhari behen shola hai to mein baraf ki laadi hoo… usey pighla doonga.” This probably exemplifies the personality of this humor-loving and witty personality.

Khan Uncle passed away last month (I’ve been wanting to put up this post since long!) after a prolonged illness. But even in death, he showed his true character. After he suffered 2/3 continuous heart attacks, the doctor said that he would survive a maximum of 24 hours. Well, he struggled for a full three weeks before his end finally came!

Who Khan Uncle is and how was he related to me is a long story. In short, he was a family friend and had worked in Indian Oil Corporation (IOC)—the same company in which my father worked. At IOC, he worked from one table and one office for 25 long years! Reason: Every time he was due for promotion or transfer, his superiors insisted that his salary be increased and he be retained in the same office. The result was that after his retirement, the department itself was closed (amalgamated with another department)!

Every person right from his colleagues to the peon approached him with their problems. Why even peons approached him for help them with the admissions of their children. He would readily grab a pen and write a letter to the principal of the school as if he/she was his childhood friend. The interesting thing is that such ideas did work a considerable number of times. So, for every problem, Khan Uncle had one solution: Ok, get my pad, Ha, so what is the name of that person…. Ok… Dear…. Remember we had met at the park last month?

Hearing the news of his death, my brother remarked “Now, Shama aunty will find it very hard and lonely to carry on with life. Khan Uncle had very good Akhlaakh (loosely translated, mannerisms).”

Truly, nowadays, very few people have the kind of akhlaakh he had. He’ll always be an inspiration for me. It’s a pity that there are very very few people with good akhlaakh around now.

M J Akbar Shunted Out Unceremoniously!

2008-03-14T07:58:00.005+05:30

One of the few reasons for one to read "The Asian Age" was the fact that M J Akbar was its Editor-in-Chief. M J Akbar is one of the few genuine columnists who travel considerably and have many contacts around the world. His weekly column "Byline" is one good reason, or in my case -- probably, the only reason -- to read the Asian Age.

During our college years, we've always had this debate about freedom of speech and whether the media was free. I've always maintained that freedom of speech is nothing more than a fallacy. Huge media conglomerates all over the world decide what goes out as news to the public. A careful consideration of all news items in most news carriers -- be it websites or newspapers -- reveals that virtually every article has some commercial interest behind it.

In this age of advertorials, good columnists are a rare breed. Its a pity that someone of the caliber of M J Akbar, whose columns are appreciated even by his one time mentor Prof. P K Ravindranath, had to be shunted out so unceremoniously. It shows that finally... it all boils down to the economy... who cares if it translates into sheer prostitution of journalism!

The rumour doing the rounds is that it was his byline "Double Play" that cost him his job. The smart guys in the Congress probably realized that the theory of E=MC2 proposed by M J Akbar in his byline might cost them dearly in the forthcoming elections. On one hand, this shows the power of true journalism, and on the other hand, it also proves the fact that the "powers that be" do have the final word.

To sum up my feelings I'd like to quote M J Akbar verbatim. On his blog, he says "For reasons that need not detain us, I must say farewell. I was under the impression that I might have been able to do so with more grace. But judging from this morning edition of our paper, it seems I might have overstayed my welcome… We may not have been the biggest, but we held our head high because there was one nonnegotiable asset in our family: we could not be bought. We were independent. We were free. We held our head high. Never let your head stoop, not as long as you are a journalist."

He is one of the few people who are keeping the spirit of journalism alive! Hats off!

Speechless!

2007-06-10T15:35:00.000+05:30

In an age when PR journalism seems to be taking over, few things seem to provide that glimmer of hope. Notable among them are some columns by renowned journalists. Although, most columns today merely paraphrase the news of the day, there are few columns that keep the hope of true journalism alive.

I've for long been an admirer of M J Akbar, Editor-in-Chief, Asian Age. His Byline every Sunday is something definitely worth reading. Speechless is one such article that makes me acknowledge the insight possessed by this man. Do read (and I wish our PM Mr. Manmohan Singh, too, reads this article).

Try this if the link doesn't work:

http://www.asianage.com/presentation/leftnavigation/mjakbar

The tea towel explanation of cricket!

2007-06-05T12:02:00.000+05:30

The tea towel explanation of the game of cricket is a comic explanation of the game that has been current in the UK since the 1980s. It was made popular when the text was printed on a best-selling tea towel. The text runs as follows:
Cricket: As explained to a foreigner...
You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that's in the side that's in goes out, and when he's out he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out. When they are all out, the side that's out comes in and the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in, out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out.
When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out, and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in. There are two men called umpires who stay out all the time and they decide when the men who are in are out.
When both sides have been in and all the men have been out, and both sides have been out twice after all the men have been in, including those who are not out, that is the end of the game.
Although intended to be comical and being very difficult to understand, this is an entirely correct explanation of Cricket.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_towel_explanation_of_cricket

Mid Day Turns YUMPI

2007-04-23T10:38:00.000+05:30

Just when I was wondering...Can journalism get any murkier?........The news came along today.....

Recently, Mid Day organised an orientation seminar for its employees .... and expectedly... the presentation was given by a representative from The Times Group. All the reporters, editors.... were directed to focus all their news gathering and editing abilities on getting "YUMPI" news features.. i.e., Young Urban Mobile Professionals across India. This is their target audience...i.e., probably... the ones with the highest level of disposable income.

When one of the reporters enquired whether all stories had to be focussed around this one concept... the answer was... Yes! Tailor all your stories to fit into this segment... only 200 word stories.

What if the story isn’t based on this perspective.... then either reshape it to fit into this slot or... dump it, simple!

You might say.... this is simply a good marketing strategy by a business house... after all they are running a business.... I agree... In fact, it actually is a shrewd marketing strategy.. but the only thing that pains me is that..... why ... why... why all this in the name of Journalism?

A senior Journalist has aptly described what TOI (and now MID DAY) are doing ... as "sheer prostitution of Journalism" ................. and its a sad moment for all present and future Journalists.

Dare I say "Journalism is dead...... Long live PR (Journalism)"?

The Big Bad World Of Mumbai's Buildings, Builders & Banks!

2007-01-04T22:16:00.000+05:30

Haven't we been feeling for long that there is some dirty game behind the unhindered development gobbling up the remaining open spaces of Mumbai? Well, I was just browsing through the website of "The Week" and I came across this wonderful article. It gives a lowdown on the big game behind the scenes and a peek at the reality of ever increasing property rates in simple words. Do spare a couple of minutes to read this.

Some Interesting Facts!

2006-12-14T14:13:00.000+05:30

These amazing facts were uncovered by the Strategic Foresight Group, an Independent Think Tank, during the course of their research:

A weekly in Europe, Ekaitza, was fined in France in February 2002 for publishing a cartoon in the week after 9/11, showing the two collapsed towers with the caption that said "We dreamt of it – Hamas did it" and the publisher tendered an apology for publishing the cartoon. (This episode is mentioned in Globalised Islam by Olivier Roy, eminent French scholar, published in 2004 in UK.) .
The Arab world is the founder of the modern thought, particularly in science and technology. Al Khwarizmi is the founder of modern algebra (circa 9th century). Al Kindi wrote 250 books on philosophy, physics, medicine and metallurgy. Ibn Haiyan founded chemistry. Ibn Haytham discovered the science of optics and also explored momentum and gravity of the earth 600 years before Galileo. Al Biruni determined the earth's circumference. Ibn Sina wrote 450 books on medicine and philosophy, mathematics and astronomy.
About 400 million people have been killed in all the wars of the last 2000 years. Out of them more than 100 million were killed in the 20th century alone.
About 100 million children die every decade because of hunger, malnutrition and preventable diseases; at this rate 500 million children will die in the first half of the 21st century.
According to a UN report, there are 88 million unemployed young people in the age group of 15-25 years. As the UN methodology is liberal, the actual number of unemployed youth might be more than 100 million.
The Gulf Cooperation Council states are likely to accumulate a surplus of more than $1500 billion from oil revenue during 2006-2010, if the price of oil is around $55-60 per barrel. The surplus of all oil exporting countries is expected to be over $2500 billion by 2010.
Lashkar-e-Taiba, based in Pakistan, is the new leader of Islamic International Front created by Al Qaeda.
Lord's Resistance Army, based in Uganda, is probably the most brutal terrorist organisation in the world; it forces its new recruits to kill their own siblings. Yet this group has drawn hardly any punitive action from the international community as compared to some of the other groups.
In the first Crusade, the French and German Christians first killed Jews in large numbers in their areas before they marched to the East.

I read the Blog today! ....Oh Boy.....

2006-12-12T15:29:00.000+05:30

Just when people had written off any kind of alliance or tie up between the Times Group & Mid Day, we get to hear this!

Ravi Dhariwal, Executive Director of Bennett Coleman, and Tariq Ansari, Managing Director of MiD DAY Multimedia, made the following joint statement in Mumbai: ‘The Times of India, with its leadership position in the morning broadsheet market and MiD DAY, with a successful formula for the middle-of-the day, are in fact complementary players. With this alliance we will endeavour to garner a larger market share of both readers and advertising in major metros of the country’.

For the complete story, check out this link:

http://www.mid-day.com/news/city/2006/december/148260.htm

Exhibit 19 on http://www.mediaha.blogspot.com/ posted on March 01, 2005 had fuelled rumours that the Times Group might up its stake in Mid Day. With the kind of financial powerhouse that the Times is - I guess, this too isn't much far away.

Scroll down a bit more - Exhibit number 11 on mediaha says:

Exhibit Eleven
Saturday, February 12, 2005

Apology

This refers to the item ‘Times to tie up with Reuters for news. Name and last-minute hiccup over Sunil Lulla appt to be resolved’ that appeared on Mediaah! on Thursday, February 10, 2005.We have received a legal notice from Mr Rajnish M Singh, Advocate, on behalf of his client, Bennett, Coleman & Co Ltd, saying that the item harmed the reputation and goodwill of his client. That was not the intent of the news item and not the intent of Mediaah!In his letter, Mr Singh has also said that the item is totally baseless and has no substance or truth in it.While Mediaah! would stand by the information published, Mediaah! apologises to Bennett, Coleman & Co Ltd and has deleted the above mentioned item with immediate effect.

And I was thinking 'Times Now' is a tie up between Times & Reuters (sic).

The mission statement of the Times Group reads, "We are in the business of aggregating and delivering customers to our advertisers." I keep getting this feeling that strategic or non-strategic, commercialisation and profit-making are gaining credence over everything else within the media domain. So, what do we expect next? I guess this:

Exhibit Three
Thursday, January 01, 2004

Shocker! Times to allow advertising on edit page and sell Medianet Buoyed by the response the main edit page article on Aventis that The Times of India carried earlier this year, the newspaper has taken a dramatic decision of allowing advertising on its edit page as well as allowing Medianet to get active with some of the content on the page.

Can it get any murkier? I guess we should now expect the Gen-Next of Advertorials - any guesses?

Does Free Media Exist? I Seriously Doubt!

2006-12-09T23:31:00.000+05:30

I had thought of trying to avoid dealing with something serious and textbook material - but then I guess to start off - this issue would interest any journalist or media student to start off with.

Well, this issue has been discussed threadbare and put to death in every other media studies and journalism class. But then, in spite of all the talk of free media - media regulation in the developing world and supposedly free media in the developed world - I guess it is high time we all let the cat out of the bag and discuss an open secret - that free media is more or less extinct.

Numerous instances in the western media - supposed to be at the pinnacle in terms of freedom of the press - vindicate the stand that the media in all its forms is invariably controlled and its direction steered by the powers that be. Sadly enough, respected publications such as the New York Times too have given in and have taken a pro-government stand on the Iraq war. Thomas Friedman - touted to be the next Walter Lippmann was supposedly bought over (or maybe caved into pressure) to support the Bush administration in their Iraq misadventure (bloggers might provide you more on this).

Advertorials have made their way into respectable international publications. So when money can buy you editorial space in the supposedly 'Free Media' - what remains is just a farce. Especially with the print media struggling on the revenue front and looking for newer avenues to remain in viable business, commercialisation seems to be ruling the roost.

The fact that the world's leading news agency's primary revenue generating business is its financial news arm is an indicator of the scheme of things. I guess what we have now is an edited form of the media - even before it reaches the editor's desk. News is not what we get from the newspapers - it is out there and being ignored at the cost of the affluent readership of the newspapers.

To quote an example - we all heard of various stories happening in Mumbai on 26/7. But honestly, tell me, how many of us know of what happened to thousands of slums in Govandi? We all heard of Air India Colony - Kalina made news on the international front. But then - they could at least climb onto their terraces - where do the slum dwellers go?

Well, let me have this very clear - I am no slum welfare activist - this example was quoted to me by a Professor from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. This was just an example to illustrate that it is money that counts. It all finally boils down to economics - plain economics. The Times Group makes no bones about stating this very clearly - our target group is the cream layer - around 12% of the population provides for more than 70% of the revenue - so doesn't it make sense to cater to their taste (read page 3) ?

In the present scenario, aren't commercial interests dictating the tone and direction of our supposedly free press?? (I guess it is a subtle but smart way to control the press). Think about it!