My cricket season started today, Sunday 23rd April. I was playing for the University Club against St.Johns in a friendly. The match was to be played at St.Johns which being the richest college in Oxford flaunts it by having a mechanical roller!
The groundsman is paid as well as a post-doc and is highly respected for preparing sporting pitches. The ground is situated North of Oxford up Banbury Road and is among the prettiest grounds in Oxford. The ground is right in the center of a residential area and surrounded by these rows of red brick houses. The pavilion is old and not very large. The ground is manicured,with a fast outfield and very large. The green ground in the foreground of the red brick houses(each costing in excess of 500,000) makes a lovely sight.
The obscene thing about the ground though was that one boundary was incredibly shorter than the other. The pitch was a good pitch,firm and had good carry. However, it was the first game and we were playing in April so I don't think we were playing on the main track. The pitch was bowed from end to end which meant that from the pavilion end the pitch rose a couple of inches, which meant that the ball sat up quite well. However from the other end you were bowling down a slope much like Lords and left a very small length on the pitch from which the ball had carry but anything short of that and the ball kept very low.
The weather - no cricket match can ever be played or planned without looking at the weather forecast. Saturday was a gorgeous day and I thought it was the first day of summer. Unfortunately, Sunday dawned wet and gray. I portered in the morning and by 1.30 it was dry and the sun was bashfully peeking out from among the dark clouds. However, just as I was going to head off for a 2pm start the drizzle began as if just to spite us. I dawdled before heading off to play.
With overcast skies and a bowling attack replete with swing bowlers Martin Booth decided to take the field. The ground was wet,with pools of water on the field. Anyway, I am not going to write a match report simply because its usually done and I shall link to it.
The great thing about the game was the fact that the home team had organised this fantastic tea. There were sandwiches, biscuits, tea,squash,jaffa cakes,crisps - a great spread and it was much required after 40 hours of squatting behind the wicket in a constant drizzle and slippery outfield. St.Johns piled on 200 or so for 6. I kept reasonably well. A couple of byes,one missed catch,one catch!
I went in 2 down,exhausted.My first stroke was a four followed a streaky couple,a big six and a single. Scored 19 and was setting myself up for a big score against a weak attack. Then the expected happened. They gave the ball to a pie-chucker geeky kid whose first ball bounced four times outside the pitch before reaching the keeper. Then in the only ball of the over which he bowled on the stumps, I tried to run it down to thirdman and missed it completely. Bowled Mr.&*$)*#$ 19!
Anyway, we won. I felt stupid and annoyed. End of story. Looking forward to my next match on Thursday for Linacre against Oriel and then the weekend match against Pakistan.
I am very excited about playing Cricket this season. I have worked on my batting in the nets and am actually looking forward to having a decent season. I have a strange feeling that with my heightened anticipation and excitement, I am going to have a disastrous season compared to last year.
Next report to follow soon.
Sunday, April 30
Sunday, March 19
Intolerance?
So, I havent blogged about the muslim cartoon controversy because of two reasons:
1. not much time
2. I havent got my head around it.
So, I am writing this in attempt to clear my head.prepare yourself for total rambling.
Firstly, I asked myself are the cartoons offensive?
I believe they are. These are my reasons:
1. They stereotype muslims as terrorists, and associate Islam and the prophet as instruments of terror.
It would be like drawing Christ torturing Iraqi civilians and keeping them locked up in prisons indefinitely because people who have committed these acts(Guantanamo Bay) are Christians.
2. I spoke to a friend of mine who is a extremely devout muslim and he explained why muslims across the world got so agitated. Muslims do caricature themselves and do make fun of their own community. They have Hodja jokes and even have comedy shows like Shazia Mirza who do make fun of their own religion and community. But, as my friend pointed out all muslims draw a line. They supposedly never make fun of their prophets. They hold thier prophets in the highest esteem and they believe that it is the greatest sin to idolise their prophets. So, in this case where the prophet was drawn it was insensitive of some other religion.
So, my argument here is not that the Danish newspaper did not have the right to print these cartoons but that they printed something that was deeply offensive and dangerously blasphemous in another's religion.
Interestingly, the one cartoon which I think succinctly describes the reason for the publication and commission of the cartoons has been overlooked. It shows a terrified artist drawing a bearded face with Mohammed written looking nervously over his shoulder.
Now, I suspect this cartoon would have presented the world with a clear view of the issue and the reasons for drawing such cartoons.
If you do wish to get a brief overview of the history of the event have a look here.
I got a brief overview from my Danish labmate. The story goes something like this:
Danish children's author wants someone to illustrate his book on Muhammed. He cant find anyone because of artists scared of extremist muslims. Danish newspaper publishes cartoons to show that Denmark has moderate muslims who will not undertake or condone such threats. End of story..beginning of madness.
1. not much time
2. I havent got my head around it.
So, I am writing this in attempt to clear my head.prepare yourself for total rambling.
Firstly, I asked myself are the cartoons offensive?
I believe they are. These are my reasons:
1. They stereotype muslims as terrorists, and associate Islam and the prophet as instruments of terror.
It would be like drawing Christ torturing Iraqi civilians and keeping them locked up in prisons indefinitely because people who have committed these acts(Guantanamo Bay) are Christians.
2. I spoke to a friend of mine who is a extremely devout muslim and he explained why muslims across the world got so agitated. Muslims do caricature themselves and do make fun of their own community. They have Hodja jokes and even have comedy shows like Shazia Mirza who do make fun of their own religion and community. But, as my friend pointed out all muslims draw a line. They supposedly never make fun of their prophets. They hold thier prophets in the highest esteem and they believe that it is the greatest sin to idolise their prophets. So, in this case where the prophet was drawn it was insensitive of some other religion.
So, my argument here is not that the Danish newspaper did not have the right to print these cartoons but that they printed something that was deeply offensive and dangerously blasphemous in another's religion.
Interestingly, the one cartoon which I think succinctly describes the reason for the publication and commission of the cartoons has been overlooked. It shows a terrified artist drawing a bearded face with Mohammed written looking nervously over his shoulder.
Now, I suspect this cartoon would have presented the world with a clear view of the issue and the reasons for drawing such cartoons.
If you do wish to get a brief overview of the history of the event have a look here.
I got a brief overview from my Danish labmate. The story goes something like this:
Danish children's author wants someone to illustrate his book on Muhammed. He cant find anyone because of artists scared of extremist muslims. Danish newspaper publishes cartoons to show that Denmark has moderate muslims who will not undertake or condone such threats. End of story..beginning of madness.
Tuesday, January 31
Clumsy Dude!
I am a really clumsy fellow. Ask my brother who refuses to give me a watch or a pair of glasses to wear. As he quite rightly points out my rate of destruction/loss is about 2 watches or spectacles/year. In a now usual occurrence I lost my new pair of glasses on the Austrian Airlines flight from Mumbai to Vienna. It was a very pleasant flight and I was able to sleep for a long time which probably accounts for it slipping off without my notice.
Anyway, my clumsiness has always made me incredibly cautious when I am in museums and OT's. So, when I read about this I can only shake my head and sympathise. I cant imagine the reaction of the curators,they must be furious and helpless. I am sure breakages in museums must have happened in the past, but its just the first time that I have come across a report.
This happening in England I can just imagine the conversation
Curator : " Gosh! Are you all right, sir"?
Man : ( embarassed) "Yes,yes...I dont know how it happened. I am so sorry"
Curator :(clipped tones)"I hope you are not hurt,sir. Its rather dangerous when one does not tie their shoelaces. I always make sure to tie mine"
Man: "yes,yes. I cant imagine how it happened.Oh, I feel awful. Is there anything I can do"?
Curator: "No thank you,sir.I only hope that you have not injured yourself. Its not very often that we get a Qing vase,so I dont suppose we can do much about it. Please make your way to the front of the museum where we have a first aid kit".
Anyway, my clumsiness has always made me incredibly cautious when I am in museums and OT's. So, when I read about this I can only shake my head and sympathise. I cant imagine the reaction of the curators,they must be furious and helpless. I am sure breakages in museums must have happened in the past, but its just the first time that I have come across a report.
This happening in England I can just imagine the conversation
Curator : " Gosh! Are you all right, sir"?
Man : ( embarassed) "Yes,yes...I dont know how it happened. I am so sorry"
Curator :(clipped tones)"I hope you are not hurt,sir. Its rather dangerous when one does not tie their shoelaces. I always make sure to tie mine"
Man: "yes,yes. I cant imagine how it happened.Oh, I feel awful. Is there anything I can do"?
Curator: "No thank you,sir.I only hope that you have not injured yourself. Its not very often that we get a Qing vase,so I dont suppose we can do much about it. Please make your way to the front of the museum where we have a first aid kit".
Thursday, January 26
Academic Apartheid
This notice issued by the Maharashtra HC is a very important subject and I am really glad that the judiciary has taken note of the issue.
Every year schools across the country divide their students depending on their academic abilities(see examination marks,not mensa quizzes). I first noticed this in Delhi. Delhi Public School(DPS) RK puram had 18 sections in their class XII from class A - R or something insane like that. Of course, you got into division A only if you secured really high marks in your class X exams. Then you are among the privileged bunch of kids who the school believes is destined to greater things,namely competitive Class XII final board exam marks.
I have always felt that it changes the pysche of a child quite drastically especially when he is 15 years old. I am not against competition in school. In fact I think it should be encouraged, fair competition is important. It binds students together and pushes them towards becoming better.
But, if I had a very close friend who suddenly moved up the academic ladder and got shifted into another section because teachers beleived that he is a better student than me, I might(at age 15) get some serious inferiority complexes. Of course, I am pretty sure that our friendship would go through some pretty rocky times.
These special "ability" section of kids get extra coaching to make them perform better and bring accolades to the school. This is serious discrimination. Why should anyone get more or less of the facilites that they pay for simply because they appear to be more intelligent? I have always thought it is a really unfair system and it needed to be impressed on school authorities that it should not be allowed.
I am really glad that someone has brought this to the notice of the relevant authorities and I can only hope that this judgement from the bombay HC echoes across the country.
"Education is one of the few things a person is willing to pay for and not get"
Every year schools across the country divide their students depending on their academic abilities(see examination marks,not mensa quizzes). I first noticed this in Delhi. Delhi Public School(DPS) RK puram had 18 sections in their class XII from class A - R or something insane like that. Of course, you got into division A only if you secured really high marks in your class X exams. Then you are among the privileged bunch of kids who the school believes is destined to greater things,namely competitive Class XII final board exam marks.
I have always felt that it changes the pysche of a child quite drastically especially when he is 15 years old. I am not against competition in school. In fact I think it should be encouraged, fair competition is important. It binds students together and pushes them towards becoming better.
But, if I had a very close friend who suddenly moved up the academic ladder and got shifted into another section because teachers beleived that he is a better student than me, I might(at age 15) get some serious inferiority complexes. Of course, I am pretty sure that our friendship would go through some pretty rocky times.
These special "ability" section of kids get extra coaching to make them perform better and bring accolades to the school. This is serious discrimination. Why should anyone get more or less of the facilites that they pay for simply because they appear to be more intelligent? I have always thought it is a really unfair system and it needed to be impressed on school authorities that it should not be allowed.
I am really glad that someone has brought this to the notice of the relevant authorities and I can only hope that this judgement from the bombay HC echoes across the country.
"Education is one of the few things a person is willing to pay for and not get"
Wednesday, January 25
New Malaria Drug recommendations
WHO has announced the halt to monotherapy with Artemisinin derivatives and issued guidelines to pharma companies to market only Artemisinin combination therapies (ACT's). This is because of the increasing worry of drug-resistant parasites in South-East asia and Africa,although artemisinin is the only anti-malarial drug to which resistance has not been reported.
I think this is probably a good move by the WHO however, it has its own problems.
One is the perennial issue with the UN agency. It can only issue guidelines but cannot enforce drug companies to stop the production of monotherapy drugs.
Second, you cannot issue directives today and expect companies to stop their manufacture tomorrow.It would not be commercially viable for the company and therefore would only lead to resistance on the part of the companies.
Thirdly, you must first attempt to educate health professionals about these guidelines. Provide evidence to support your view and thus exert pressure on the pharma companies using their customers. In India today if you were to be treated at a private clinic in a rural district you might get monotherpay simply because your doctor does not have information about such guidelines. WHO must try and remember that it is a health organisation and it must include all health professionals in their efforts to solve problems. Monotherapy with Artemisinin is also about 8 times cheaper than using ACTs and therefore its eradication will require external funding close to $300-$500 million.
This is an important step in fighting malaria but like any leader,WHO must beware leaving its friends too far behind.
You do not lead by hitting people over the head - that's assault, not leadership
I think this is probably a good move by the WHO however, it has its own problems.
One is the perennial issue with the UN agency. It can only issue guidelines but cannot enforce drug companies to stop the production of monotherapy drugs.
Second, you cannot issue directives today and expect companies to stop their manufacture tomorrow.It would not be commercially viable for the company and therefore would only lead to resistance on the part of the companies.
Thirdly, you must first attempt to educate health professionals about these guidelines. Provide evidence to support your view and thus exert pressure on the pharma companies using their customers. In India today if you were to be treated at a private clinic in a rural district you might get monotherpay simply because your doctor does not have information about such guidelines. WHO must try and remember that it is a health organisation and it must include all health professionals in their efforts to solve problems. Monotherapy with Artemisinin is also about 8 times cheaper than using ACTs and therefore its eradication will require external funding close to $300-$500 million.
This is an important step in fighting malaria but like any leader,WHO must beware leaving its friends too far behind.
You do not lead by hitting people over the head - that's assault, not leadership
Re: [Tootles] 1/25/2006 03:43:09 AM
Dear Buchu,
I think you are quite right regarding the model we follow and the lengths news media today will stretch to be able to run any story. In my opinion thought the turning point in the state of affairs in our journalistic history was the introduction of 24 hour news channels.
If you watch DD national, their reporting of news is restricted to half an hour a day which allows them to focus on important issues with tickers running snippets of other news headlines. However, when you are forced to produce news for 24 hours, there is only a limited amount of relevant, important events that occur in a day and therefore the need to look for alternative stories. Therefore, in the vein of Gustav Graves(Die Another Day)you either create your own news or manufature news out of any event. News is a funny word. Anything can be news. To me, you having icecream with your friends is news but is it really important for me to broadcast it nationally? Similarly, Akshay Kumar walking into Crossroads to buy a Tanishq diamond for his fiancee might be news, but is it of any importance to anyone other than the individuals concerned? I am not saying that covering self-immolations, protests or even NGO events are unimportant but to spend a chunk or your programme live in Renaissance(club in Mumbai) is not really news!
I also attribute another reason for this indifference and the general drop in standard of both print and visual media. Mushrooming of news channels has lead to a huge demand for personnel and this demand is not being met by trained or specialised individuals and I think this is why we are bombarded with such sub-standard presentation and ungrammatical language in our news day in and day out.
Sorry for the rant, but you have to see it to believe the kind of rubbish that is being printed and broadcast everyday. I pick up HT and TOI and by and large I only use it to pass my time while drinking my morning coffee. I would prefer an asterix comic to TOI anyday!
I think you are quite right regarding the model we follow and the lengths news media today will stretch to be able to run any story. In my opinion thought the turning point in the state of affairs in our journalistic history was the introduction of 24 hour news channels.
If you watch DD national, their reporting of news is restricted to half an hour a day which allows them to focus on important issues with tickers running snippets of other news headlines. However, when you are forced to produce news for 24 hours, there is only a limited amount of relevant, important events that occur in a day and therefore the need to look for alternative stories. Therefore, in the vein of Gustav Graves(Die Another Day)you either create your own news or manufature news out of any event. News is a funny word. Anything can be news. To me, you having icecream with your friends is news but is it really important for me to broadcast it nationally? Similarly, Akshay Kumar walking into Crossroads to buy a Tanishq diamond for his fiancee might be news, but is it of any importance to anyone other than the individuals concerned? I am not saying that covering self-immolations, protests or even NGO events are unimportant but to spend a chunk or your programme live in Renaissance(club in Mumbai) is not really news!
I also attribute another reason for this indifference and the general drop in standard of both print and visual media. Mushrooming of news channels has lead to a huge demand for personnel and this demand is not being met by trained or specialised individuals and I think this is why we are bombarded with such sub-standard presentation and ungrammatical language in our news day in and day out.
Sorry for the rant, but you have to see it to believe the kind of rubbish that is being printed and broadcast everyday. I pick up HT and TOI and by and large I only use it to pass my time while drinking my morning coffee. I would prefer an asterix comic to TOI anyday!
On 1/25/06, Buchu <noreply-comment@blogger.com> wrote:
i can't agree more.
the whole thing sounds graphic and awful.
but apart from the individual features of this case, do u think that in the new post 90s liberalized india, with the growth spurt of TV channels, channels will basically do ANYTHING (not unlike american tv that is) to secure viewers. i know i'm setting up a strawman here- the western style media...but there is a part of me that thinks that this is symptomatic of a post 1990s india. maybe i'm wrong...
--
Posted by Buchu to Tootles at 1/25/2006 03:43:09 AM
Journalistic voyuerism
I usually dont react to all the injustices happening around India everyday. I realise that living in India and especially Mumbai you develop a veil of indifference to these acts and atrocities. Its only when I left the country and now have come back do I notice and observe these issues.Even then, I usually only vent my anger and frustration with friends.
However, I was very distressed to observe this news report. Last night, every single news channel in India( and there are a lot of them) carried this story under various names. "Silent Spectators" was a very apt title for this report.It concerned a Congress party worker in Patiala who immolated himself to protest against his shop being seized and closed down. The pictures were very graphic and the TV crew present were able to film the whole scene, about 30 seconds worth of footage from the point he set himself aflame,the few unsuccessful attempts by individuals to douse the flame to him being taken away by the police to a hospital.Every single news channel ran this story, every one of them.
However, the story was introduced with the caption, "Man sets himself aflame and police constable watches". Now, I do not disagree with the message being sent here. The police and passersby were completely indifferent to the entire scene, BUT(and this is what incensed me the most) WHAT WERE THE JOURNALISTS DOING? Are you so desperate for a story that you cant even prevent and save a life? How dare you blame people for being indifferent when you are guilty of doing exactly the same thing? Is filming the story of a desperate man resorting to suicide more important than saving his life? If you see the footage you will understand what I mean - the film crews manoeuvres themselves to be able to get the best shot. There is a man ablaze with his relatives screaming for water,crying for help and all you can do is film it to show on prime time TV? What would you do next, film a rape scene to prove that it is a reality? The man in question has been charged with attempt to commit suicide, why isn't everyone else present there charged with assisting his suicide attempt?
Are we reducing ourselves to such base levels of sensationalistic journalism that we cant make out the trees for the woods? Woe be it the the trees burn and no one cares for then soon the woods will no longer exist!
I must admit I am ashamed of what is happening to TV journalism in India today. I can only hope that there is some outcry against this incident.
However, I was very distressed to observe this news report. Last night, every single news channel in India( and there are a lot of them) carried this story under various names. "Silent Spectators" was a very apt title for this report.It concerned a Congress party worker in Patiala who immolated himself to protest against his shop being seized and closed down. The pictures were very graphic and the TV crew present were able to film the whole scene, about 30 seconds worth of footage from the point he set himself aflame,the few unsuccessful attempts by individuals to douse the flame to him being taken away by the police to a hospital.Every single news channel ran this story, every one of them.
However, the story was introduced with the caption, "Man sets himself aflame and police constable watches". Now, I do not disagree with the message being sent here. The police and passersby were completely indifferent to the entire scene, BUT(and this is what incensed me the most) WHAT WERE THE JOURNALISTS DOING? Are you so desperate for a story that you cant even prevent and save a life? How dare you blame people for being indifferent when you are guilty of doing exactly the same thing? Is filming the story of a desperate man resorting to suicide more important than saving his life? If you see the footage you will understand what I mean - the film crews manoeuvres themselves to be able to get the best shot. There is a man ablaze with his relatives screaming for water,crying for help and all you can do is film it to show on prime time TV? What would you do next, film a rape scene to prove that it is a reality? The man in question has been charged with attempt to commit suicide, why isn't everyone else present there charged with assisting his suicide attempt?
Are we reducing ourselves to such base levels of sensationalistic journalism that we cant make out the trees for the woods? Woe be it the the trees burn and no one cares for then soon the woods will no longer exist!
I must admit I am ashamed of what is happening to TV journalism in India today. I can only hope that there is some outcry against this incident.
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