MxMIndia

Category: BLOGS

  • While I understand the show needs crazy and edgy contestants to keep the fights going (and therefore the ratings), do all of them have to be loonies?

    Anil Thakraney: The Bigg Boss Diary

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    Chances are, if I wasn’t hired to write a blog on media and advertising, I would have given Bigg Boss a quiet miss. Watching fishmarket fights right before dozing off isn’t really my idea of fun. But watch I did, now and then, and now that the show is done and dusted, some observations.

     

    I have to grudgingly admit that the show is a success in India. Viewership ratings have been climbing every season, and the fifth season opened with a very healthy 4.3. It later fell a bit and hovered around 2, but even that’s not bad for a 10.30 PM reality show. Of course, the grand finale must have recorded a much higher figure. Another indicator of its popularity is the media’s huge interest in the show. Hindi news channels kept a faithful coverage going (they went near orgasmic when the final results were announced) and the show has been a hot topic of discussion on Twitter as well. Much as I hate to admit is, Bigg Boss is here to stay.

     

    It was quite clear Salman Khan was calling many shots on the show, and was playing way beyond the designated role of an anchor. I would not be surprised if he had a part to play in the elimination rounds, and this makes me wonder. Is the channel not able to stand up to a top actor? Or, is Sallubhai planning to pick up stake in the network? Contestant Pooja Bedi’s absence at the finale raised many eyebrows. She had been tweeting about Salman and Mahak Chahal’s (another contestant) good ‘friendship’.

     

    Sanjay Dutt does not fit into this format at all. A crashing bore. Hope we won’t have to suffer him in the next season. There’s already enough grief coming from the insane inmates.

     

    While I understand the show needs crazy and edgy contestants to keep the fights going (and therefore the ratings), do all of them have to be loonies? Does it not make sense to invite at least a few intelligent people on the show to provide some balance? That way, in between ugly confrontations, we viewers can be rewarded with a few meaningful conversations. Surely that would boost TRPs a bit. Something for Colors to think about for the next season. Even a mental asylum has doctors and nurses.

     

    I failed to see the need for a porn star if she cannot strip on the show. What’s the use of burning so much money on a contestant who cannot do on a family channel that which she knows best? Also, the very burnt-out Shakti Kapoor was a terrible idea, a disaster. And Swami Agnivesh?? Makes you wonder if someone is thinking clearly on the casting.

     

    Finally, can we please be told how many people voted to keep a contestant in the house? Can we have some numbers please? Can we have some transparency please? So that the frequent charges of rigging can be diluted to a certain extent?

     

    ***

     

    [youtube width=”400″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7av4zOpUSk[/youtube]

    PS: England and Chelsea football captain John Terry has threatened the Indian government with legal action. A photograph of the footballer has been cleared for use on an Indian ciggie brand. Well, hope he does file charges and seek compensation. The government makes too much dosh on excise duty in this product category, and smokers will be happy if some of that goes to a footballer.

     

  • When it comes to regional markets, keep an open mind and don't take anything for granted, says Narendra Kumar Alambara.

    The Anchor: Narendra Kumar Alambara’s 5 tips when planning regional media

    By Narendra Kumar Alambara

     

    #1 One shoe does not fit all – Each of the regional (linguistic) markets are different from one another – they cannot and should not be grouped together. If Delhi cannot be same as UP (both being HSM), regional markets are even more different. With each regional market being insular and characteristic in its choices, you need to treat each one independently. Strategize for each market individually, based on client’s focus and consumer potential.

     

    #2 Think beyond TV, dig deeper – For most national brands, South channels are added on to boost deliveries in respective markets. But the market media consumption is distinct and different – with ample scope to use other media to effectively cover the state. Obvious examples include cinema theatres in Andhra Pradesh, and dailies in Kerala.

     

    #3 Visit the markets (should not be optional!) – There was a time this was done a lot during as IRS back-checks, but it doesn’t seem to be followed often. It is essential process to get a feel of the direct consumer feedback on media choices consumers make in the regions. Numbers and data can never replace the actual knowledge of what makes a certain media vehicle tick. Cultural nuances, prevailing political climate, power shutdown timings, distribution timings of newspapers, cable connectivity etc, which determine media consumption, can never be ascertained by any database.

     

    #4 Talk to colleagues / client teams in the markets – The next best alternative to actual market visits! Getting a local feel of the region (even if it is a second-hand POV) is still better than none. Helps make the plan be far more inclusive than just being optimized. Find out what they / their families watch and read at home. It might be a small sample, but it will give a good indication of what works in the market. Ask market-related questions to salespersons from regional media, especially seniors who may visit your office occasionally.

     

    #5 Numbers are only half the story – Use them as indicators, not the absolute truth. Talking to the local market – colleagues – or otherwise will definitely unearth potential options and trends that databases might have missed. For example, the impact of OOH in smaller markets can never be assessed in most databases.

     

    Narendra Kumar Alambara is the Vice President at Starcom Worldwide.

     

  • Ranjona Banerji reviews the content on news television and the morning papers

    Can we pay attention to what’s put out?

    By Ranjona Banerji

     

    There was an intriguing contradiction in the way Indians abroad were carried in the news in the last week or so. While the murder of Anup Bidve of Pune in Manchester and the ill-treatment of Indian traders in China got an enormous amount of coverage, the annual government mela for our brothers and sisters who no longer live in India was not treated with the usual fanfare. Does that mean that Indians who suffer when in foreign lands are newsworthy but non-resident Indians who return to visit us are no longer so valuable? Since the India story is now located in India, is the media now yawning about NRIs? I have no answers, but I find this trend interesting.

     

    Meanwhile, our TV channels have taken their outrage about suffering Indians to new levels. US Republican presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman has been subjected to some racial abuse in the US for his adopted children, who are apparently Chinese and Indian. This had our morning anchors foaming at the mouth. Also, according to the on-screen updates, US Hindus were also very angry. Is this a new category of people, US Hindus? Does it include people of non-Indian origins who might be Hindus? So why would Indonesians or Nepalis (for instance) be so angry about the anti-Huntsman ads? What about followers of the Iskcon movement in the United States? Are they US Hindus? Are US Christians, Buddhists, Muslims and Sikhs (who might be of Indian origin) not bothered? What about the Chinese (regardless of religion or regionality)? Or all people concerned about racism?

     

    It is a futile wish, but one still does occasionally hope that Indian TV channels paid a little more attention to what they put out.

     

    **

     

    As expected, Indian cricket has been under the scanner with all the accompanying hysteria. I understand that journalists have short memory spans but still, don’t they get bored of jumping from one extreme to the other whenever things go right or wrong. Sack the team, sack the board, worship the team (to be fair, almost no one says worship the board!), are the predictable mantras depending on performance. Then it’s an inevitable battle between oldies and youngies – strangely, whenever the selectors lean towards one or the other based on media and expert advice, there’s usually a disaster on the cricket field.

     

    Partly of course, the new belief (most prevalent in the new media) that India has to excel at everything it touches is to blame.

     

    **

     

    The travails of Anna Hazare’s movement against corruption continue. The Times of India on Saturday had a front page story about Shanti Bhushan’s duty evasions and on the edit page, there was Shanti Bhushan lecturing us about corruption! The Indian Express on Monday tells us that Anna Hazare’s followers and friends (of the pre-Jan Lokpal variety) have been redoubling their efforts to point out that India Against Corruption is “100 per cent pro-RSS”.

     

    **

     

    Mid-Day’ Mumbai edition carries a story about how the son of a former Mumbai police commissioner (RD Tyagi) has been accused of beating up customers to his beer bar and the Mumbai police have been slow in taking action. This misuse of power by the Mumbai police needs more exposure.

     

  • This sort of an over-the-top idea is required for a new website that simply deals in great sales offers. Safe advertising would have killed the brand even before the god of death arrived.

    Debrief: Snapdeal: Deadly idea

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    It takes some guts, especially in a superstitious India, to run ads that feature the god of death as the protagonist. Well, the ‘great deals’ website Snapdeal.com has done exactly that, and no, don’t think the site will expire in a hurry.

     

    Termed ‘Yamdude’ in the campaign, the deadly god goes about having fun with scared dudes and the cool Snapdeal deals. He basically saves lives instead of taking them, being distracted by the product offers. In one ad, a sky diver’s ‘time’ has come, so Mr Yamdude arrives mid-air to get him. But when the chap flashes his discount coupons, the god gives him a chance to live, and instead buys himself goodies with the coupons.

     

    [youtube width=”400″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUJc1gyFVb4[/youtube]

    Good, fun advertising. And the wackiness will help get instant brand recall. This sort of an over-the-top idea is required for a new website that simply deals in great sales offers. Safe advertising would have killed the brand even before the god of death arrived. So, a pat on the back for taking the risk.

     

    Seems to have paid off already. Snapdeal.com, because of the cool Yamdude, is being discussed on the social media. Always a good sign for brands targeted at the urban youth.

     

    Rating: (On a scale of 1 to 5): 3.5 Funky idea, entertaining ads.

     

  • Listener first – plus smart programming and marketing. Vehrnon Ibrahim’s tips for hitting the right note.

    The Anchor: 6 lessons radio can learn from abroad

    By Vehrnon Ibrahim

     

    #1 Throw a rock rather than chucking small stones:

    Heart FM London went after 25-44 women. About 20 percent of overall available listenership, but in a market where there are 20-odd stations 20 percent is actually a huge opportunity. I like to say it’s like throwing small stones at a target; you will hit it, always no matter how bad your aim is, but never leave an impact. Chuck a well aimed rock at the target and you will destroy it. If the proposal to allow more frequencies in major metros goes through we will hear many different formats of radio as all the new players will want to go up against players who target such wide demos.

     

    #2 Don’t just Post-it, stick to it:

    People listen to radio for entertainment and that mostly means music – so why loyalty in a market when everyone is pretty much playing the same music? Promise becomes important. Call it a brand, call it a position, and call it a culture, it’s all about telling the listener what you have to offer and making sure you offer that. K-Earth 101 in LA says “Classic Hits” and that’s all they ever play. So when you tune in you know what you will get.

     

    #3 Don’t be anti-social:

    Hitz.FM in Malaysia has a quarter of a million Likes on Facebook. They have cut down dramatically on marketing and messaging spends. Jake Abdulla demonstrated to me by posting a message which generated over 200 likes within 30 seconds! That’s huge, and it went on. It’s a bigger deal in India than we are giving it credit for, and in months to come we will all be using social media for our messaging to our core listeners, our existing CUME.

     

    #4 One promotion every sweep:

    Virgin radio stations around the world do this very effectively. This is an old chestnut in markets where ratings happen once every quarter or half etc… Anytime the diaries go out or the PPM come to town the radio stations send out the artillery and blast away for share. We are the only country in the world to have a 52-week diary. So that implies we should be doing a promotion all the time, and that’s exactly what we should do. Short bursts of firepower don’t win wars, it’s the long-term campaign that works.

     

    #5 Heavy ball, long chain:

    Lay down the boundaries of what the content will cover and make sure the programming team stay within it. London’s Capitol FM is a local station in a capital city. They cover entertainment and London, that’s it. If it’s happening in London or if it’s entertaining then it is happening on Capitol FM.

     

    #6 Character over content any day (my personal mantra):

    Terry Wogan of BBC Radio 2 has been on air for nearly 55 years but once upon a time he was a fledgling talent looking for a break. Though he is not even from the UK, he is a national treasure there. We need to approach recruitments at a different angle and hire for the future, rather than steal from competition and inherit a jock who will continue to give ratings to his old station for years to come.

     

    Vehrnon Ibrahim is the National Programming Head, Oye! 104.8 FM

     

  • It's not about coming first in class. It's about being the best and the most loved in the batch.

    The Anchor: 6 things an agency must keep in mind when pitching for a brand

    By Mahesh Chauhan

     

    #1 Individual(s): You do not pitch for a business! You pitch to win over an individual or a group of individuals. How much we know about them is as important as how much we know about their business.

     

    #2 Pitch presentation: Nothing, not even #1 will help you if you do not understand and deliver well on the brief. Read the briefing doc till every word is understood. And every delivery point covered.

     

    #3 Time-planning: Drawing up a daily plan leading up to the pitch presentation. It has to be exhaustive, inclusive and clearly assign responsibilities. Also adhered to religiously. Remember how during exams, we used to do ‘dil kada kijiye aur panna palatiye’. So if you are not ready to meet a deadline, so be it. Don’t kill the deadline!

     

    #4 The presentation: No democracy. Only as many people as required. Let the best presenter present. Let the best dancer select his best act and his accomplices. Devotees might kill me but Bob Dylan’s lyrics were the music to our ears, not his singing.

     

    #5 Till the fat lady sings: Most of us think the process gets over once the PPT is done. Well, it only gets started then. If you haven’t done well, seek ways to redress. If you have done well, kill it! As we all know, cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties, commentary and Shastri excluded!

     

    #6 Most importantly, it is not about coming first in class. It’s about being the best and the most loved in the batch!

     

    Mahesh Chauhan is co-founder of Salt Brand Solutions.

     

     

  • HR personnel aren’t being held accountable in organizations, and perhaps this is what leads to their laidback behaviour.

    Anil Thakraney: Buck up, lazy HR!

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    I have worked in a few organizations in my career, and across the board if there’s one department I have been left disappointed with, it’s HR. Somehow I never really felt a need for these people. And the failing, I realize, is not of the function itself but the way it seems to be practised, and naturally I speak from my own experiences.

     

    I have always found the HR personnel to be the reactive sort; their presence only gets noticed when there’s a problem. When someone needs to be hired/fired (and that’s essentially paperwork) or when there’s indiscipline in the organization, ranging from regular employee absenteeism to sexual harassment issues. And this aspect too mainly involves lip service and paperwork from HR… all the actions/decisions are usually taken by the line manager or the CEO. And therefore I have always wondered why we need these guys at all.

     

    I think HR personnel aren’t being held accountable in organizations, and perhaps this is what leads to their laidback behaviour. Although I am not an HR guru, here are a few key functions where I think they can become very useful to an organization, if they play a proactive role:

     

    • Keeping a regular, sharp eye on star performers in other organizations, so that they can provide leads to department heads even if the latter haven’t asked for fresh recruits.
    • Bonding with employees from down to top, rather than from top to bottom. So that employees across all levels can confide in them. And by the time the HR team meets the department head, they can share relevant employee information with the managers. Most HR heads I worked with will first meet me, and ask silly questions like: “How’s the morale in your department? Hope all well?”
    • Coming up with useful, scientific and insightful ways in which a department can be structured better to maximize staff resources. Most HR heads have no interest in even going down this path. Either they are too lazy or don’t want to risk upsetting department heads.
    • Drafting innovative and smart employee rewards/motivation schemes. Sending out cold birthday cards is so yesterday. And a cop-out.
    • And of course, formulating kickass employee loyalty schemes and organizing fantastic training programmes. Usually both these chores are left to the line managers to figure out.

     

    [youtube width=”380″ height=”230″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCKgCkubGc0[/youtube]

    Net net: Lots of value additions can be provided by the HR people. But they aren’t. And this can’t be allowed to go on. At some point, organization heads will need to crack the whip. I don’t need a heavily paid HR Vice Prez to meet me once a year and ask me if I am okay. I can do without those homilies, thank you very much.

     

    ***

     

    PS: Ahaha! Totally love this ad. It’s so simple and so funny. Especially the spunky ol’ lady. Too cute.

     

     

     

  • Does my watching television as leisure activity signal my lack of intelligence or did the telly reach out and extinguish my intelligence?

    Gouri Dange: TV, that exhausting hyper child

    By Gouri Dange

     

    Someone once said: the best intelligence test is what we do with our leisure. Oh well. I watched television recently for long hours, and now I am in a dilemma. Chicken and egg kind of dilemma. Does my watching television as leisure activity signal my lack of intelligence or did the telly reach out and extinguish my intelligence, whatever little there was of it?

     

    Because now I’m walking around in a daze of altered reality. For instance, I can’t watch a bird on a tree any more and relax into the moment because, fresh from my TV-watching stint, I’m expecting it to look up and chirp and trill: “Back after this leeetle break” or “Kahin pe mat jaiyega, milte hain break ke baad!” And if earlier I could identify this bird, now I dully wonder if it’s a Crested Shahrukh, or Huffing Arnav or a Rambling Rajdeep or a Ballistic Barkha or some such. I’m also looking at the bottom of my window, searching for those meaningless headlines, or daft messages from viewers (prime example: “All da politishens shud b deported b4 this country can b clean”) crawling right-to-left while the main frame has the bird doing its thing.

     

    This is because watching television has forced me to function in the jargon, the time-slots, the sound-bites and the visual constructs of TV-land. The overwhelming features of TV seem to be advertisements repeated till you are seriously sick, promos of other programmes, and a hundred other interruptions to the programme that you want to watch. I have whined piteously about this before, but I have to say it again. Somewhere along the way TV has taken away your dignified right not to be shouted at, not to be interrupted, and not to be told-sold the same thing again and again, all in the span of half an hour. I mean, even the heart-in-the-right place ads asking youngsters to vote… even those are repeated so heavily that instead of taking their advice and voting, those youngsters that these ads are meant for are likely to run out for a drink.

     

    Only on TV. No other medium is that presumptuous. Imagine a newspaper trying to chop up a report or a feature with a print ad popping up in the reader’s eyes at every other paragraph – would you not immediately throw such a publication away, stop subscribing to it, or keep it only to wrap dirty things in? If newspapers can have ads bunched in the Classifieds or specific pages, where those interested can go and browse, while the rest of us can avoid having things sold to us, then why not TV? Guys, bunch your ads at the beginning or end of the program so there is a chance that people will go look at them.

     

    Interestingly, after 26/11 (which marked a high point in hysterical reporting), news channels, especially the English ones, have cultivated a more sober, quieter tone. Less like children having a blue fit and more like adults having a conversation. All much more sophisticated and ‘responsible’ sounding than the pre and during 26/11 manic hysteria that they were all free to luxuriate in. Something has happened. While these channels and their star yellers did at that time behave as if anyone criticizing them for the way they covered the attacks and aftermath was committing high treason, they seem to have realized that they need to come down off their high and sober up. How this was change effected overnight is an interesting speculation. Lobotomy? Daily dose of tranquilizers? Homeopathic meds in the water supply? Or perhaps a crash course in voice correction and modulation to look and sound less like avenging ghouls and more like humans. But this chatty thing too is all part of the act of ‘acting out’ the news. My grandfather, when TV first came to India, was appalled to see newsreaders smiling at the end of the newscast. He thought it was terribly forward and insolent of them to smile at viewers. Deliver us the news and disappear, was how he and people of his generation liked it. What would he make of all the banter and bonhomie act of the newsgivers today, I wonder.

     

  • Ranjona Banerji reviews the content on news television and the morning papers

    Mumbai papers go aggro on civic issues

    By Ranjona Banerji

     

    The municipal elections due in Mumbai next month are being treated almost like assembly elections. For weeks now, Mumbai newspapers have been giving readers details of the projects undertaken, completed, unfinished, citizens’ grouses, movements and expectations. apart from a ward by ward breakdown of performance by the incumbent Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance, details about new political formations and many citizens’ groups have also been provided, analysed and assessed.

     

    There can be no doubt that this election to the biggest and richest municipal corporation in the country is been seen as a litmus test for the state and general elections. The Congress and Nationalist Congress Party, after some hissing and spitting, have decided on their seat-sharing and are apparently well-prepared to take on the incumbents.

     

    Is there anything to choose between the papers? as is its wont and reach, The Times of India has gone for a carpet-bombing strategy. The Hindustan Times has gone for the focused approach, concentrating on particular issues. Mid-Day has also looked issues as well as the political twists and turns. Saamna, the Shiv Sena mouthpiece, has looked to attack Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, which has certainly eaten into its own constituency.

     

    This is the sort of coverage that Mumbai newspapers are very good at and indeed have taught a lesson or two to other city editions about how to go in-depth into local issues.

     

    Interestingly, the anti-corruption movement led by anna Hazare has not jumped into the fray. Yet, most problems which people have with government non-performance and bribery are at the local and municipal levels. Your Member of Parliament cannot get you constant water supply or smooth roads or garbage disposal.

     

    **

     

    The last six or eight months saw the media looking at internal issues, most specifically the anti-corruption movement and its fallout. But with the suspension of the Lokpal Bill, geopolitics and the neighbourhood have both resurfaced. India’s military capabilities and strategy vis-a-vis China are back on the edit pages and the turmoil in Pakistan is also getting attention. TV channels, predisposed to sensationalism, have concentrated more on former military dictator Pervez Musharraf’s decision to return to Pakistan. The run-up to the US presidential election, however, is yet to find much space in the Indian media.

     

    **

     

    another Test series is due to begin and it will be a good test to see how much hysteria can be generated from a good or bad performance by India.

     

  • India's diversity means that there is a strong need to focus on this side of the geography, argues Bina Sujit.

    The Anchor: 4 reasons South India needs its own special interest mags

    By Bina Sujit

     

    India is such a diverse nation and every region has its own unique characteristic. It is therefore, very difficult to cater to the sensibilities of everyone through a common magazine. There would certainly be a large segment of people who would tend to get neglected in this case. Hence a region-specific, special interest magazine is the answer to fill the gap. Our research before the launch of our magazine JFW (Just for Women), targeted at the women in South India, showed that there was a need to focus on women out here, and the success of our magazine just goes to prove that finding.

     

    The advertisers’ needs also vary from region to region and they would probably need to position/focus various products in different states /regions. That is why brands also have different brand ambassadors at the national and regional levels (for example, if it is Shahrukh for the national campaign then it is Suriya and Mahesh Babu at the regional level for a particular brand). Hence the availability of a regional medium of communication helps companies to communicate their region-specific brand message.

     

    Just like our country, personalities are also very varied in various fields. Speaking from JFW’s point of view, women from South India have been making a big mark in the national and international arena. A dedicated magazine for these women ensures that such achievers are given the focus and recognition they deserve.

     

    The outlook of people across different regions also varies in our country. This results in differing tastes and preferences in what people in South India would want to read and how they would like it to be visualised. Again, a region-specific magazine is the answer to cater to the preference of readers.

     

    Bina Sujit is the Director & Editor-in-Chief, JFW, CLub Class & A la Carte at Options Media Pvt Ltd.

     

  • There's not much of an idea in the new Tanishq Glam Gold commercial. But energetic and engaging treatment makes it come alive.

    Debrief: Female bonding with Tanishq

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    There’s not much of an idea in the new Tanishq Glam Gold commercial. But energetic and engaging treatment makes it come alive.

     

    The setting is an open air party, where lots of young people are dancing. It appears to be a pre-wedding do, given all the finery the ladies are decked up with. One girl tries to bring the couple together on the dance floor, but her plans go for a toss as it suddenly starts pouring. The party abruptly stops, but our spunky girl won’t let her close pal down. She begins dancing in the rain, and then everyone else follows. Much to her buddy’s delight, the party goes on. And yes, as you can imagine, the shots are layered with close ups of the Tanishq Glam Gold jewellery.

     

    [youtube width=”400″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9bcCW8GuBQ[/youtube]

    Like I said, the lack of a strong central idea has been compensated by a happening treatment. You don’t expect commercials for gold to go totally into lifestyle, and this refreshing approach works. The endearing attitude of the girl, unwilling to let her friend down, sets the tone for Tanishq’s brand personality. The power of girlie bonding. Which would aid in brand salience. And of course, the dance party makes for a very entertaining commercial. It’s shot well too, and one won’t mind repeat exposures.

     

    Rating: (On a scale of 1 to 5): 3. The full-on lifestyle approach pays off.

     

  • Ranjona Banerji reviews the fare on primetime news and in the papers the morning after

    Outrage unlimited

    By Ranjona Banerji

     

    So, as expected, the turmoil inPakistanstarted consuming our TV channels. The day started with a video of the exploitation of the Jarawa tribals of the Andamans, put up by an Observer reporter on the Guardian website. There was shock and horror all round, as you could hear someone egging the tribal women to dance. One of the benefits of TV is that you can easily generate outrage at such events and what was earlier acceptable is now seen as taboo. A growth of sorts, perhaps, through exposure because all too often our middle classes are least bothered about the plight of the underprivileged (o dear, do I sound like Katju?).

     

    Unfortunately, though, there seems to be some confusion as to when this Jarawa video was shot and the reporter who got it has claimed protection of sources privilege. This may mean that the horror will die out as officials will do little as they don’t have enough to go on. Follow ups are the only answer, but one wonders.

     

    The disgraceful episode of a Dalit woman being beaten and paraded naked in Maharashtra because her son ran off with an upper caste girl also got some TV time as did rats nibbling on a patient’s face in a Jaipur hospital. The more the “otherIndia” gets noticed, the smaller the divide will become, perhaps.

     

    By the late evening, it wasPakistanwhich was top of the news, as one more military coup seemed imminent. Some channels ran direct feeds fromPakistanand it was fascinating to see that in spite of the difficult times, studio guests did not yell, scream, talk over each other and generally create a massive drama. How would we react under similar circumstances? Sigh.

     

    The international channels did not on Wednesday evening concentrate onPakistan. Other things were happening like the Republican battle to choose a presidential candidate and, as usual,Europe’s economic woes.

     

    * * *

     

    The Darul demand for a visa ban on Salman Rushdie has got far more play on TV than in newspapers. Today’s Times of India has some Muslim scholars and activists asking for more tolerance from fellow Muslims. Meanwhile, Uma Bharti of the BJP was calling the proposed quota for Muslims within OBC reservations another “Partition”. Again newspapers paid her far less attention.