Curtains down for 'The Hindu'

I don't remember a time when we didn't get 'The Hindu' at home. We changed that now. It's Indian Express.

Indian Express is carrying out a huge campaign to promote itself as an alternative to both 'The Hindu' and 'The Times of India'. The campaign itself didn't play much of a role in our choice. It was mostly because of the increasing political party loyalty of 'The Hindu'.

At times 'The Hindu' seems almost a mouth-piece of CPI(M) and Prakash Karat. It is not just the amount of space devoted to what they say in the day. It isn't just the leftist tone of the editorials.

On the 123 Agreement for example, the editor called it a 'sound and honourable' deal one day and when Prakash Karat slammed the deal, the editor did a volte-face.

The Hindu also runs a vilifying campaign against specific individuals. During the time Abdul Kalam was planning to contest for the post of President once again, the editor directed his guns against what he called 'clever' moves of Kalam. Of course, had the Left not been rooting for a woman candidate, the editor's stance would have been different. It also ran a sustained 'Opinion' column against Clinton, in support of Obama. And the Dalai Lama is never spoken of with respect.

And of course, the newspaper seems more loyal to the Chinese government than the chinese themselves. In the recent earthquake when more than 25000 people died, the editor said something like, 'had it not been for the swift action of the government, many more would have died'. Yeah, let's forget about the lax housing construction regulations in an earthquake prone area.

I remember reading somewhere that during the Tibetan crisis, 'The Hindu' was the only newspaper to derive its news from Xinhua - the chinese government's official news agency.

So, all in all, it's curtains down for 'The Hindu' at home. I'll miss the crossword, but my pals have been asking me to move on to Economic Times crossword anyway.

Bureaucracy, bureaucracy and red tape

I went to ThIs company for an interview. And it made me realize immediately that all big organizations tend to get bureaucratic. I waited for almost an hour before anyone told me what the schedule was for the rest of the day. I had to interact with the reception and then the HR. They made a security pass for me and was then taken to the technical managers.

In contrast, when I think about it, the interview process with UPSC was very smooth. Heck, even the security guard at the gate was fully informed and as I showed my admission card, he told me the procedure and what I'd have to do. And that too politely. For every group of students, there was a clerk, helping out with all the formalities and making small talk. Sometimes I think, people don't give enough credit to the smooth processes in the government, at the higher levels at least.

Incidentally, the head of the panel which interviewed me is apparently slated to become the next Chairman of UPSC. It could be just a rumour though. Rumours abound when it comes to UPSC.

Guru brings gujjars to table!

It's all over the news. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar mediated to bring gujjars back to the negotiating table.

Sri Sri's attempts to bring a transformation in the world are mindblowing. Last I heard from someone, he was working with the LTTE too.

Check out his courses on breathing techniques, if you haven't. I vouch for their efficacy!

Byelections

Lok Satta made a debut in the recent byelections. It contested in four assembly seats. It did not win any seats. It lost the deposit in two of the seats.

It still is very creditable that in the Khairtabad seat, it polled more than 58,000 votes, ahead of the TRS.

It's important to understand that these 58,000 people came of their own volition, without incentives like money or liquor, and made a statement in favour of clean politics.

Of course there is a long way to go before winning seats in the next general elections. Apart from trying to pull people out of their unreasonable party loyalties, Lok Satta plans to have better poll station planning, identify bogus voters in lists etc., to better its performance.

The aim of Lok Satta isn't to capture power. It aims at cleaner politics. And it accepts that cleaner politics might come in through other parties too, like the yet to be announced party of Chiranjeevi. It's transparent and rational policies should appeal to all thinking voters.