It is a lot harder to make people laugh than to make them cry. But after years of success at the latter - thanks to the saas bahu series of soap sagas - Indian television is finally attempting to tickle our funny bones.
Ironically, the first memorable show on Indian TV was way back in 1983 a sitcom - Kundan Shah's Yeh jo hai zindagi. It is an all time classic. But nothing quite lived upto that for the next two decades.
Indian television comedies were pretty much 'lowest common denominator' - loud and slapstick. 'Hum Paanch' was maybe, slightly tolerable, only because of characters like Kaajal bhai and the dead wife on the wall (Priya Tendulkar) were imaginative (relatively speaking).
But, then the drought finally ended. With 'Sarabhai vs Sarabhai' Star One finally had a winner.
Saaru chhe
Sarabhai had all the elements necessary for a good sitcom -
1) A small but clearly defined cast of characters (like Rosesh the duffer son who wrote insufferable poetry)
2) An inherent - and exaggerated - clash of values producing comic situations (the sophisticated saas vs the middle class bahu).
3) Great acting (not just the big names like Ratna Pathak Shah, Satish Shah - everyone played their parts well!)
4) Great scripts and dialogue
5) Consistency
Sarabhai was (very loosely) inspired by Dharma and Greg but had a life and locus of quite its own. The same team (Jamnadas Majethia & Aatish Kapadia) also wrote, produced and directed another weekly sitcom - Instant Khichdi.
Khichdi started life on Star Plus and was later migrated to Star One. In the process the Gujarati family whose antics the show features also suddenly became crorepatis looking for new - and hilarious - ways and means to spend their money.
Instant Khichdi was also entertaining but of late the Praful-Hansa PJs lost their zing. Sarabhai was more sophisticated - and relied less on physical comedy - and hence got the vote as India's no 1 television sitcom.
Talent galore
What's more, the Great Indian Laughter Challenge - also aired on Star One - was on a hunt for India's "hasi ka baadsha". And was definitely worth a watch. Many a times the audience was struck by the originality and style of many baadshahs who were so good that the judges and audience had to declare a tie.
While some contestants merely related jokes - although with considerable chutzpah - the two who made it to the last round were stand up comics in the true sense. They used their own accents/ background/ world around them to create a very unique and personal brand of humour.
The Hyderabadi chap used his Hyderabadiness to great effect. His song 'Usne Paaya Khaaya' (usne including Bill Kalinton, Mrs Kalinton, Pervez Musharraf, Adnan Sami, and even Saddam Hussein) was absolutely hilarious. But hilarious while making a larger point - which is what the best humour was about.
Deepak Raja from Jalandhar put his own mama, chacha, foofas and taayas to good use while scripting his routine. The fact that he was dressed in an abonimable pink suit teamed with a flowery shirt didn't matter at all. What he said and the way he said it was so ... funny!
India has a long tradition of haasya kavi sammelans where little known and well known poets gathered. These kavis wrought out humour from everyday Indian life - some of it, truly priceless.
These kavis - and other homegrown talents like Deepak and his Hyderabadi counterpart - are the ones who will really raise the standards of humour in India.
And by the way, will someone PLEASE give Navjot Singh Sidhu his own show. Whatever you may feel about his cricket commentary (in English) Sidhu is amazing in Hindi. Witty AND insightful. As a judge on the 'Laughter Challenge' he laughed easily and loudly. A man jiske dil mein koi gile shikve nahin they. Shekhar Suman on the other hand was stiff and 'professional'. Plus he wore dark glasses - on air!
Yeh tha attitude
Shekhar Suman: Sidhuji bataiye, jab log Sardaron ke baare mein jokes sunaate hain, aapko kabhi bura toh nahin lagta
Sidhu: Kabhi nahin! Chaand ke upar agar koi thooke toh kya use daag lag sakta hai??!!
If more of us believed that - instead of taking 'offence' easily when the joke's on us - the world would resound more often with laughter.
Friday, October 1, 2010
On the nightshift
I couldn't sleep last night. So I got up and switched on the FM at 3.15 am. 93.5 FM was playing a series of not-so-well-known - although pleasant - English songs.
A while ago 93.5 decided to accept that there is no life without Hindi music and went 70: 30 (Bollywood: English Pop). I think at that time the Boss must've said, "Look - you can play WHATEVER you want at night (when no one's listening anyways...)".
Initially the channel was rather apologetic about 'having' to play Hindi but over time they've struck a good balance. Their songs are slightly less faltu than Mirchi (which will even play 80s Sridevi / Jaya Prada numbers - some of the most horrendous music ever created).
And RJs have more interesting banter and better chemistry.
Whatever the quality of the films we are producing, the Bollywood music machine sure is getting better and better. Thanks to the 'item number' culture even the flop films produce a couple of catchy 'radio' songs.
Agreed, some of the best stuff is inspired or hijacked. But there's enough originality around for one not to get worried. History has evidence.
They're unlikely to be 'classics' remembered fondly 20 years from now but that's what pop is mostly - a quick and easy musical snack. How many of us can recall Rick Astley or the Bangles... two of the pop artistes back in the '80s!!
Jaago Mohan pyaare
Incidentally, someone believes people DO listen to FM at 3 am which is why 'Nightshifts' are sponsored by various companies. I bet it's the idea of some clever media planner ("Who's awake at night? BPO workers!")
Except they would - should - be busy working. Taking or making calls, not listening to FM on those big black headsets!
A while ago 93.5 decided to accept that there is no life without Hindi music and went 70: 30 (Bollywood: English Pop). I think at that time the Boss must've said, "Look - you can play WHATEVER you want at night (when no one's listening anyways...)".
Initially the channel was rather apologetic about 'having' to play Hindi but over time they've struck a good balance. Their songs are slightly less faltu than Mirchi (which will even play 80s Sridevi / Jaya Prada numbers - some of the most horrendous music ever created).
And RJs have more interesting banter and better chemistry.
Whatever the quality of the films we are producing, the Bollywood music machine sure is getting better and better. Thanks to the 'item number' culture even the flop films produce a couple of catchy 'radio' songs.
Agreed, some of the best stuff is inspired or hijacked. But there's enough originality around for one not to get worried. History has evidence.
They're unlikely to be 'classics' remembered fondly 20 years from now but that's what pop is mostly - a quick and easy musical snack. How many of us can recall Rick Astley or the Bangles... two of the pop artistes back in the '80s!!
Jaago Mohan pyaare
Incidentally, someone believes people DO listen to FM at 3 am which is why 'Nightshifts' are sponsored by various companies. I bet it's the idea of some clever media planner ("Who's awake at night? BPO workers!")
Except they would - should - be busy working. Taking or making calls, not listening to FM on those big black headsets!
Death by Cellphone
You're sitting in a movie theatre and suddenly a cellphone somewhere nearby goes rrrrring! What's more the receiver invariably picks up and starts yakking. I sometimes have this urge to ask: "Is it a matter of life and death?"
Wish poor Prabir De had stopped to consider that question, before picking up his cellphone.
TOI reports that Prabir, a celeb make up artist (who's worked on the likes of Bipasha Basu, Koena Mitra etc) was on a photo shoot on the outskirts of Kolkata. On a whim, they decide to shoot on some railway tracks.
At some point De's cellphone rang and he took the call. Meanwhile, a train loomed in sight... Friends and onlookers yelled, but De was too involved in the conversation. And the worst happened.
What is this fascination people have with their cellphones ? In the same report it said previous year, 27 year old British national Nadia Khan - an assistant director with Kaizad Gustad - died after being hit by a train near Mahalaxmi. She too was reportedly speaking on her cellphone.
There's been a lot of speculation on the long term effect of cellphone use (radiation being linked to brain tumours etc). But the short term effect is no less dangerous. The cellphone is a medium which appears to not only distract but suspend common sense.
What else can explain such 'freak accidents'?
Wish poor Prabir De had stopped to consider that question, before picking up his cellphone.
TOI reports that Prabir, a celeb make up artist (who's worked on the likes of Bipasha Basu, Koena Mitra etc) was on a photo shoot on the outskirts of Kolkata. On a whim, they decide to shoot on some railway tracks.
At some point De's cellphone rang and he took the call. Meanwhile, a train loomed in sight... Friends and onlookers yelled, but De was too involved in the conversation. And the worst happened.
What is this fascination people have with their cellphones ? In the same report it said previous year, 27 year old British national Nadia Khan - an assistant director with Kaizad Gustad - died after being hit by a train near Mahalaxmi. She too was reportedly speaking on her cellphone.
There's been a lot of speculation on the long term effect of cellphone use (radiation being linked to brain tumours etc). But the short term effect is no less dangerous. The cellphone is a medium which appears to not only distract but suspend common sense.
What else can explain such 'freak accidents'?
Changing the world - starting with yourself
I hesitate to use the word 'hero' to describe the influence any person has had on my life because heroes - inevitably - let you down. Suffice it to say that of the many public figures with wide and varied achievements one can possibly look upto.
I read 'Odyssey: From Pepsi to Apple' and that one line jobs used to persuade Sculley to join him has stuck with me ever since. 'Do you want to sell sugared water for the rest of your life - or, do you want a chance to change the world?' Not 'changing the world' in the literal sense but what I think Jobs really meant was you must look for passion - and meaning - in what you choose to do as 'work'.
Connect your dots
In his speech, Steve Jobs tells three 'stories'. The first is 'connect your dots'. Where he explains how a calligraphy course he took after officially dropping out of college had a profound impact on his future - and ours.
None of this (calligraphy) had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, it's likely that no personal computer would have them.
Imagine that! Everything you do - in the end - was somehow meant to be. It may not be immediately or practically applicable. It may do nothing for your CV at this moment. But you are the sum total of all your life experiences combined with your inherent talents. Which is why - like I said earlier - we all need to add some zig to our zag.
So, have those 'irrelevant' experiences. Pursue 'useless' interests. Because you never know where those dots may lead you.
As Jobs says: You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.
The Second Coming
Elsewhere in his speech Jobs talks about how 'getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to him.' It forced him to reinvent himself - freed him to enter one of the most creative periods of his life.
Both the companies he started - Pixar and Next led to their own revolutions. Pixar became the pioneer in animated movie-making while Next was bought out by Apple. And the technology developed at Next ultimately led to the rebirth of Apple with the iPod.
Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. ... If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle.
Even if the great Indian mantra is beta, settle down :)
Live each day as if ...
The third 'story' Jobs shared was about death. A few months ago, doctors told him he had merely months to live. Turns out he had a rare - and curable - form of pancreatic cancer. So the death sentence was repealed.
But, he says once more the point hit home: Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life... Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
As a tidal wave of students in India pass out of class 10 and 12 and with bachelor's degrees - that's what they really need to sit still and listen to. Their own inner voice.
Jobs signs off with 'Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish'. You may not want to take that literally - but everything else he said you certainly should!
I read 'Odyssey: From Pepsi to Apple' and that one line jobs used to persuade Sculley to join him has stuck with me ever since. 'Do you want to sell sugared water for the rest of your life - or, do you want a chance to change the world?' Not 'changing the world' in the literal sense but what I think Jobs really meant was you must look for passion - and meaning - in what you choose to do as 'work'.
Connect your dots
In his speech, Steve Jobs tells three 'stories'. The first is 'connect your dots'. Where he explains how a calligraphy course he took after officially dropping out of college had a profound impact on his future - and ours.
None of this (calligraphy) had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, it's likely that no personal computer would have them.
Imagine that! Everything you do - in the end - was somehow meant to be. It may not be immediately or practically applicable. It may do nothing for your CV at this moment. But you are the sum total of all your life experiences combined with your inherent talents. Which is why - like I said earlier - we all need to add some zig to our zag.
So, have those 'irrelevant' experiences. Pursue 'useless' interests. Because you never know where those dots may lead you.
As Jobs says: You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.
The Second Coming
Elsewhere in his speech Jobs talks about how 'getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to him.' It forced him to reinvent himself - freed him to enter one of the most creative periods of his life.
Both the companies he started - Pixar and Next led to their own revolutions. Pixar became the pioneer in animated movie-making while Next was bought out by Apple. And the technology developed at Next ultimately led to the rebirth of Apple with the iPod.
Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. ... If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle.
Even if the great Indian mantra is beta, settle down :)
Live each day as if ...
The third 'story' Jobs shared was about death. A few months ago, doctors told him he had merely months to live. Turns out he had a rare - and curable - form of pancreatic cancer. So the death sentence was repealed.
But, he says once more the point hit home: Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life... Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
As a tidal wave of students in India pass out of class 10 and 12 and with bachelor's degrees - that's what they really need to sit still and listen to. Their own inner voice.
Jobs signs off with 'Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish'. You may not want to take that literally - but everything else he said you certainly should!
Foodmart fundas
"By 2015, over 90 percent of consumer products (in the US) will be home-delivered. Mothers will give children lists so they can shop for the family's groceries and other necessities over the Internet." - prediction by trends expert Faith Popcorn
Magar yeh hai India. And here, folks are willing to stand in line for an hour on a Sunday evening to check out a cartful of groceries. I landed up at the local Kovai Pazhamudir by mistake this weekend in search of cherries and made a hasty exit from what appeared to be railway station at rush hour!
It's all so new and exciting, being able to touch-feel-choose products of vast range and variety in air conditioned comfort. The visit to the local foodmart has become the middle class family's new weekend 'outing'. A substitute for the local temple/ beach.
Especially since - for reasons beyond my understanding - many malls hold 'events' on weekends. The most popular being putting up a stage where tiny tots can jump around to the tunes of the latest filmi numbers.
Like website hits were in the dotcom era, so footfalls are sacred in the megamall era. Never mind if most of these feet just come, lurk and linger, eat an 8 buck ice-cream at Mac and go home satisfied.
The theory being that ek baar chaska lag gaya to baar baar ayenge aur kuch na kuch to kharidenge hi.
This is where the grocery shops come in. Buying kirana is the one aspect of shopping that is the housewife's birthright. Which husband can say no to a wife demanding to be taken to shop for her monthly quota of Surf-sabudana and Sanifresh. Grocery shopping is thus the perfect, guilt-free excuse for visiting the mall. Further, the foodmarts give you the impression of 'big savings'. Which may be true -but only to an extent.
The local mart sells 2 kgs of Tide at Rs 87 and claims you save Rs 15. Many kiranawala's deliver it at home and charge Rs 88. The 15 rupee off deal is being offered by P & G - not the retailer. But the way it's advertised, you go home feeling happy about being a wise, thrifty shopper.
Two Kinds of Buyers
Local kiranawalas are under 'threat' from hypermarts but they won't just roll over and die so easily. Because there is a growing segment of customers which will - as Popcorn suggests - require home delivery.
Yuppie singles, couples for whom time is money - they are going to simply pick up the phone and order whatever is needed, whenever it's needed. The large chains also home deliver but not in 10 minutes flat. And not 2 packets of milk. However, for 10% of their needs these folks will also visit hypermarts because they are becoming places to shop at for interesting new products.
Last evening I bought 200-300 bucks worth of stuff more on impulse than need. Stuff which caught my attention and seemed worth trying out including :
Nilgiris Farm chicken sausages (very attractive packaging, smelt nice too)
MTR macaroni and veg chatpata sauce (ready to eat thingie which looked intriguing)
Nestle lassi (didn't know they had lassi! Very nice - will definitely buy again!)
'High Range' strawberry preserve (never heard of brand but label explained this was a product of 'Project Dare' which educates underprivileged kids. So thought... why not try)
I also noticed that Cadbury's has come out with a chocolate sauce (like Hershey's) and there's a new snack called Tollywood bites (packed in Pringles type cans). Neither of these products have been advertised. But a good display in a hypermart is enough to at least induce trials.
The thing is that these SuperBazaars take advantage of corporate tie-ups to come up with totally mad deals, kiranawalas couldn't even think of.
The Tropicana shelf had 1Ltr combo packs [500ml + 500ml] selling for Rs. 45. From what it looked like, this was a very outlet-centric promo, confirmed by hours of hunting for the same packs at other places. If only I could handle the infinitely long lines of the enthusiastic shoppers and their child-bearing carts.
Still, I'm sure this is only a very singular example, I've always believed that being a faithful customer of your local grocery store ensures that you get a better deal.
I'm just waiting for the day all the local stores in India get Walmartized.
Bottomline: If you like to keep in touch with what's new, hypermarts are fun. But visit on weekdays only. For everything else, cultivate your friendly neighbourhood kirana shop. He may not accept Visa or Mastercard, but his service and efficiency is priceless.
Magar yeh hai India. And here, folks are willing to stand in line for an hour on a Sunday evening to check out a cartful of groceries. I landed up at the local Kovai Pazhamudir by mistake this weekend in search of cherries and made a hasty exit from what appeared to be railway station at rush hour!
It's all so new and exciting, being able to touch-feel-choose products of vast range and variety in air conditioned comfort. The visit to the local foodmart has become the middle class family's new weekend 'outing'. A substitute for the local temple/ beach.
Especially since - for reasons beyond my understanding - many malls hold 'events' on weekends. The most popular being putting up a stage where tiny tots can jump around to the tunes of the latest filmi numbers.
Like website hits were in the dotcom era, so footfalls are sacred in the megamall era. Never mind if most of these feet just come, lurk and linger, eat an 8 buck ice-cream at Mac and go home satisfied.
The theory being that ek baar chaska lag gaya to baar baar ayenge aur kuch na kuch to kharidenge hi.
This is where the grocery shops come in. Buying kirana is the one aspect of shopping that is the housewife's birthright. Which husband can say no to a wife demanding to be taken to shop for her monthly quota of Surf-sabudana and Sanifresh. Grocery shopping is thus the perfect, guilt-free excuse for visiting the mall. Further, the foodmarts give you the impression of 'big savings'. Which may be true -but only to an extent.
The local mart sells 2 kgs of Tide at Rs 87 and claims you save Rs 15. Many kiranawala's deliver it at home and charge Rs 88. The 15 rupee off deal is being offered by P & G - not the retailer. But the way it's advertised, you go home feeling happy about being a wise, thrifty shopper.
Two Kinds of Buyers
Local kiranawalas are under 'threat' from hypermarts but they won't just roll over and die so easily. Because there is a growing segment of customers which will - as Popcorn suggests - require home delivery.
Yuppie singles, couples for whom time is money - they are going to simply pick up the phone and order whatever is needed, whenever it's needed. The large chains also home deliver but not in 10 minutes flat. And not 2 packets of milk. However, for 10% of their needs these folks will also visit hypermarts because they are becoming places to shop at for interesting new products.
Last evening I bought 200-300 bucks worth of stuff more on impulse than need. Stuff which caught my attention and seemed worth trying out including :
Nilgiris Farm chicken sausages (very attractive packaging, smelt nice too)
MTR macaroni and veg chatpata sauce (ready to eat thingie which looked intriguing)
Nestle lassi (didn't know they had lassi! Very nice - will definitely buy again!)
'High Range' strawberry preserve (never heard of brand but label explained this was a product of 'Project Dare' which educates underprivileged kids. So thought... why not try)
I also noticed that Cadbury's has come out with a chocolate sauce (like Hershey's) and there's a new snack called Tollywood bites (packed in Pringles type cans). Neither of these products have been advertised. But a good display in a hypermart is enough to at least induce trials.
The thing is that these SuperBazaars take advantage of corporate tie-ups to come up with totally mad deals, kiranawalas couldn't even think of.
The Tropicana shelf had 1Ltr combo packs [500ml + 500ml] selling for Rs. 45. From what it looked like, this was a very outlet-centric promo, confirmed by hours of hunting for the same packs at other places. If only I could handle the infinitely long lines of the enthusiastic shoppers and their child-bearing carts.
Still, I'm sure this is only a very singular example, I've always believed that being a faithful customer of your local grocery store ensures that you get a better deal.
I'm just waiting for the day all the local stores in India get Walmartized.
Bottomline: If you like to keep in touch with what's new, hypermarts are fun. But visit on weekdays only. For everything else, cultivate your friendly neighbourhood kirana shop. He may not accept Visa or Mastercard, but his service and efficiency is priceless.
Recycle Raga
This morning, just as I walked out of my house, a strap on my sandal broke."Damn!" I thought, thinking I'd have to run back up and change into another pair. But then I realised, just 50 metres away, sits a mochi.
Two minutes later, the sandal was as good as new. A sandal that in a more advanced country would have to be chucked into the garbage bin because there would be no one to repair it. And all it cost me was 5 bucks.
What's more, this particular mochi seemed to be a pretty satisfied soul. He took a lot of pride in his work. And workmanship. He didin't see handling and repairing a sandal as something 'beneath his dignity'.
But, as time is passing by, mochis are becoming a rarer species. I doubt their children wish to take up the profession. So, like folks in London and New York, we too will someday have to treat as rubbish what we can repair and recycle.
In an article about Tokyo, I read about perfectly decent bicycles left outside subway stations - abandoned by owners who no longer want them but don't wish to pay to take them away!
Old is no more gold
There was a time when our mothers exchanged their old saris for steel bartans. Those days are gone. But we still have raddiwalas who take our old newspapers for recycling. And we still have domestic help who gratefully use old furniture and hardly-used baby clothes.
I guess in the US there is the Salvation Army where you can donate these things. And Oxfam stores in the UK. India too will soon need an organised mechanism where the haves can channel their hand me downs.
Because none of us NEEDS another T shirt or bedspread or pair of shoes but we still keep buying them. Simply because we can. Simply because we went to the mall. Or simply because it happened to be on sale.
We throw away stuff not because it's outlived its usefulness or functionality but its novelty. Which is a new and heady feeling in this country.
A great idea
Here is one organisation which is doing pioneering work in this direction. Goonj asks people 'to give us all such material at their home or in office, which they hardly use'.
I know what you're thinking - the mountain of old clothes which were dumped in tsunami-hit regions a few months ago. Which were of practically no use to recipients.
The nice thing with Goonj is that they take the trouble to do rigorous sorting and in a very systemic manner reach them to needy people in the remotest parts of the country for whom these are very valuable.
No one wants scraps thrown at them. Goonj takes the trouble to see that the items are usable and clean. If it gives someone a sari, a blouse and petticoat is generally given to go with it and if clothes are very old/ torn or unsuitable (who will wear spaghetti tops in villages?!) they are still used as 'chindi' - for making bedsheets/ pattis. If u have stuff to give away, here's a list of collection centres.
I think it's a great initiative and one which a society with as much inequality as our really needs to encourage.
The fact is we Indians do hate to *throw* things away. Which is why we have so many 'give your old TV and buy a new one' offers. Big Bazaar is even buying bhangaar of all kinds by the kg to attract customers! So if your feng shui expert advises you to declutter your home, you know where to head ...
Two minutes later, the sandal was as good as new. A sandal that in a more advanced country would have to be chucked into the garbage bin because there would be no one to repair it. And all it cost me was 5 bucks.
What's more, this particular mochi seemed to be a pretty satisfied soul. He took a lot of pride in his work. And workmanship. He didin't see handling and repairing a sandal as something 'beneath his dignity'.
But, as time is passing by, mochis are becoming a rarer species. I doubt their children wish to take up the profession. So, like folks in London and New York, we too will someday have to treat as rubbish what we can repair and recycle.
In an article about Tokyo, I read about perfectly decent bicycles left outside subway stations - abandoned by owners who no longer want them but don't wish to pay to take them away!
Old is no more gold
There was a time when our mothers exchanged their old saris for steel bartans. Those days are gone. But we still have raddiwalas who take our old newspapers for recycling. And we still have domestic help who gratefully use old furniture and hardly-used baby clothes.
I guess in the US there is the Salvation Army where you can donate these things. And Oxfam stores in the UK. India too will soon need an organised mechanism where the haves can channel their hand me downs.
Because none of us NEEDS another T shirt or bedspread or pair of shoes but we still keep buying them. Simply because we can. Simply because we went to the mall. Or simply because it happened to be on sale.
We throw away stuff not because it's outlived its usefulness or functionality but its novelty. Which is a new and heady feeling in this country.
A great idea
Here is one organisation which is doing pioneering work in this direction. Goonj asks people 'to give us all such material at their home or in office, which they hardly use'.
I know what you're thinking - the mountain of old clothes which were dumped in tsunami-hit regions a few months ago. Which were of practically no use to recipients.
The nice thing with Goonj is that they take the trouble to do rigorous sorting and in a very systemic manner reach them to needy people in the remotest parts of the country for whom these are very valuable.
No one wants scraps thrown at them. Goonj takes the trouble to see that the items are usable and clean. If it gives someone a sari, a blouse and petticoat is generally given to go with it and if clothes are very old/ torn or unsuitable (who will wear spaghetti tops in villages?!) they are still used as 'chindi' - for making bedsheets/ pattis. If u have stuff to give away, here's a list of collection centres.
I think it's a great initiative and one which a society with as much inequality as our really needs to encourage.
The fact is we Indians do hate to *throw* things away. Which is why we have so many 'give your old TV and buy a new one' offers. Big Bazaar is even buying bhangaar of all kinds by the kg to attract customers! So if your feng shui expert advises you to declutter your home, you know where to head ...
Amity astounds
The owner of the Amity group of educational institutes - Ashok Kumar Chauhan - is wanted by Interpol for financial frauds committed in Germany many years ago, reports Tehelka.
Wonder why such a major story - which appeared in the magazine in 2005 - did not hit any other newspaper. Could the fact that Amity is a MAJOR advertiser in both print and electronic media be one of the reasons?
Incidentally, Amity tried - but failed - to 'buy out' Tehelka in more ways than one.
"First the Chauhans tried to stop the story through subtle offers of advertisement support, then made several phone calls and sent several Amity representatives to Tehelka saying they would like to keep copies of Tehelka on their campuses. That having failed, they offered to bear the costs of stopping the printing press. When even this did not work, they tried to buy as many copies at traffic signals and from distributors.
Deepak Sehgal, proprietor of Central News Agency (CNA) which supplied the newspaper to retailers stated that demand for the Jun 11 issue suddenly shot up in the market."
Apparently, the Delhi Police and the CBI had been sitting on an Interpol 'red corner notice' against Chauhan for years. The Ministry of External Affairs has also failed to act on an extradition request.
Tehelka implied that this may be due to the fact that 'sons and daughters of VIPS study in these institutions - and he has links in both the BJP and the Congress'.
'We nurture talent', goes the Amity promise... Maybe evading arrest from banks whom you owe millions of dollars to is one of them.
Ashok Kumar Chauhan and Arun Kumar Chauhan, directors of Amity International committed frauds in Germany, US and the Netherlands. They run Law schools and Journalism schools. Perhaps, they teach the art of fraud in these schools.
Why should it surprise anyone? Amity is a advertiser in both print and electronic media and money can buy any media house be it Indian Express or NDTV or others.
Whenever there is conflict between Money and Truth, these media houses prefer the former and discard the latter. Amity bought as many copies of Tehelka as it could to stop people from knowing the truth about its crime.
As is well known the Amity is always in the media with its advertisments claiming to be the first and largest private university in India. Institutions like Amity are teaching courses in Mass Communication.
This is contrary to the University Grants Commission Act, 1956. Its Section 23 reads: 'Prohibition of the use of the word "University" in certain cases.No institution, whether a corporate body or not, other than a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act shall be entitled to have the word "University" associated with its name in any manner whatsoever.'
Amity was setup by Dr. Ashok K. Chauhan, Chairman of the worldwide AKC Group of Companies who went to Germany over four decades ago and established a great business empire and became one of the greatest NRI’s of Europe.
AKC Group of Companies has Industrial Organisations like Technicom-Chemie India Limited, Bacfo Pharmaceuticals India Limited, Kunstocom India Limited, CHABRO-CHEMIE India Limited besides Amity group of educational institutions.
Amity runs courses in Communication such as Master of Advertising & Marketing Management, Master of Journalism & Communication, Master of Mass Communication, Master of Television & Film Production at its Amity School of Communication, Noida, Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow.
According to the arrest warrant issued against the owners of Amity by the German judicial authorities, the Chauhan brothers fooled credit institutions and banks.
Union Minister of State for External Affairs that time E. Ahmed, in a written reply dated May 12, 2005 to an unstarred question asked by Rajya Sabha mp RK Anand, confirmed: “…valid warrants of arrest issued by German judicial authorities against Shri Ashok Kumar Chauhan and Arun Kumar Chauhan, directors of Amity International, Ghaziabad, UP, exist and the Interpol has issued Red Corner Notices Nos. 453/1990 and 459/1998 at the request of Interpol Wiesbaden… The Embassy of Federal Republic of Germany in India has requested for legal assistance in serving documents/extradition of Ashok Kumar Chauhan and Arun Kumar Chauhan.”
The minister also stated: “As per Article 6 of the extradition treaty between the Republic of India and the Federal Republic of Germany, neither of the contracting states shall be bound to extradite its own nationals. However, as per the same article, criminal prosecution may be effected in India. Therefore, the ministry of home affairs, which is the nodal ministry in such matters has been requested to proceed in accordance with law.”
For the complete Tehelka story "Schooled in Deceit" (June 11, 2005) visit http://tehelka.com/story_main12.asp?filename=ts061105Schooled_in.asp
Business Today's B-School Ranking Year 2005 lists AMITY, Symbiosis have given better ranks than some IIM's.
In a development which exposes media houses like India Today Group and Outlook, directors of all IIMs (Ahmedabad, Banglore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Indore and Kozikode) have decided not to participate in ranking exercises carried out by various media outfits in India, in view of questionable methodology adopted in these surveys.
Amity Business School was ranked number 1 post 1990 private B-School in India by The Outlook Magazine.
Given the fact that the national dailies had been coopted by the Chauhans of Amity, did the Home Minister show the spine to initiate action against Amity owners? Did Prasar Bharati and Information & Broadcasting Minister show courage to ensure that the truth about Amity was highlighted?
Wouldn't it not have been appropriate for Union Human Resource Development Ministry to take over the functioning of Amity group of educational institutions in public interest in the light of the revelations in the Parliament and Tehelka?.
In the backdrop of Supreme Court's order on private university (February 11, 2005) as result of Prof. Yashpal's petition in the apex court, it would have been better if UGC had taken over Amity in public interest as a sensible measure.
P.S: This reminds one of how even magazines like TIME conferred Young Asian Hero status to Gautam Goswami for his "exemplary work" in flood, failing to take note of his role in multi-crore flood-relief scam.
Wonder why such a major story - which appeared in the magazine in 2005 - did not hit any other newspaper. Could the fact that Amity is a MAJOR advertiser in both print and electronic media be one of the reasons?
Incidentally, Amity tried - but failed - to 'buy out' Tehelka in more ways than one.
"First the Chauhans tried to stop the story through subtle offers of advertisement support, then made several phone calls and sent several Amity representatives to Tehelka saying they would like to keep copies of Tehelka on their campuses. That having failed, they offered to bear the costs of stopping the printing press. When even this did not work, they tried to buy as many copies at traffic signals and from distributors.
Deepak Sehgal, proprietor of Central News Agency (CNA) which supplied the newspaper to retailers stated that demand for the Jun 11 issue suddenly shot up in the market."
Apparently, the Delhi Police and the CBI had been sitting on an Interpol 'red corner notice' against Chauhan for years. The Ministry of External Affairs has also failed to act on an extradition request.
Tehelka implied that this may be due to the fact that 'sons and daughters of VIPS study in these institutions - and he has links in both the BJP and the Congress'.
'We nurture talent', goes the Amity promise... Maybe evading arrest from banks whom you owe millions of dollars to is one of them.
Ashok Kumar Chauhan and Arun Kumar Chauhan, directors of Amity International committed frauds in Germany, US and the Netherlands. They run Law schools and Journalism schools. Perhaps, they teach the art of fraud in these schools.
Why should it surprise anyone? Amity is a advertiser in both print and electronic media and money can buy any media house be it Indian Express or NDTV or others.
Whenever there is conflict between Money and Truth, these media houses prefer the former and discard the latter. Amity bought as many copies of Tehelka as it could to stop people from knowing the truth about its crime.
As is well known the Amity is always in the media with its advertisments claiming to be the first and largest private university in India. Institutions like Amity are teaching courses in Mass Communication.
This is contrary to the University Grants Commission Act, 1956. Its Section 23 reads: 'Prohibition of the use of the word "University" in certain cases.No institution, whether a corporate body or not, other than a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act shall be entitled to have the word "University" associated with its name in any manner whatsoever.'
Amity was setup by Dr. Ashok K. Chauhan, Chairman of the worldwide AKC Group of Companies who went to Germany over four decades ago and established a great business empire and became one of the greatest NRI’s of Europe.
AKC Group of Companies has Industrial Organisations like Technicom-Chemie India Limited, Bacfo Pharmaceuticals India Limited, Kunstocom India Limited, CHABRO-CHEMIE India Limited besides Amity group of educational institutions.
Amity runs courses in Communication such as Master of Advertising & Marketing Management, Master of Journalism & Communication, Master of Mass Communication, Master of Television & Film Production at its Amity School of Communication, Noida, Delhi, Jaipur, Lucknow.
According to the arrest warrant issued against the owners of Amity by the German judicial authorities, the Chauhan brothers fooled credit institutions and banks.
Union Minister of State for External Affairs that time E. Ahmed, in a written reply dated May 12, 2005 to an unstarred question asked by Rajya Sabha mp RK Anand, confirmed: “…valid warrants of arrest issued by German judicial authorities against Shri Ashok Kumar Chauhan and Arun Kumar Chauhan, directors of Amity International, Ghaziabad, UP, exist and the Interpol has issued Red Corner Notices Nos. 453/1990 and 459/1998 at the request of Interpol Wiesbaden… The Embassy of Federal Republic of Germany in India has requested for legal assistance in serving documents/extradition of Ashok Kumar Chauhan and Arun Kumar Chauhan.”
The minister also stated: “As per Article 6 of the extradition treaty between the Republic of India and the Federal Republic of Germany, neither of the contracting states shall be bound to extradite its own nationals. However, as per the same article, criminal prosecution may be effected in India. Therefore, the ministry of home affairs, which is the nodal ministry in such matters has been requested to proceed in accordance with law.”
For the complete Tehelka story "Schooled in Deceit" (June 11, 2005) visit http://tehelka.com/story_main12.asp?filename=ts061105Schooled_in.asp
Business Today's B-School Ranking Year 2005 lists AMITY, Symbiosis have given better ranks than some IIM's.
In a development which exposes media houses like India Today Group and Outlook, directors of all IIMs (Ahmedabad, Banglore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Indore and Kozikode) have decided not to participate in ranking exercises carried out by various media outfits in India, in view of questionable methodology adopted in these surveys.
Amity Business School was ranked number 1 post 1990 private B-School in India by The Outlook Magazine.
Given the fact that the national dailies had been coopted by the Chauhans of Amity, did the Home Minister show the spine to initiate action against Amity owners? Did Prasar Bharati and Information & Broadcasting Minister show courage to ensure that the truth about Amity was highlighted?
Wouldn't it not have been appropriate for Union Human Resource Development Ministry to take over the functioning of Amity group of educational institutions in public interest in the light of the revelations in the Parliament and Tehelka?.
In the backdrop of Supreme Court's order on private university (February 11, 2005) as result of Prof. Yashpal's petition in the apex court, it would have been better if UGC had taken over Amity in public interest as a sensible measure.
P.S: This reminds one of how even magazines like TIME conferred Young Asian Hero status to Gautam Goswami for his "exemplary work" in flood, failing to take note of his role in multi-crore flood-relief scam.
Kya School Hain Hum !
Admissions for children at school these days - First day at school or last day of childhood ? The parents have a heart heavier than the new, big schoolbags as they see their kids off at the bus stop. Playschool, nursery, kindergarten - those are mere preparation for separation. Class One is the rough, rigorous, Real Thing.
Twenty odd workbooks, textbooks, notebooks. Parents sit covering them in regulation brown paper, although they have become a lot more colourful and child-friendly than the schoolbooks they remember. Still... the books seem like way too many, especially to carry back and forth.
Not long ago, CBSE asked the 6000 schools across the country following its syllabus to reduce the school bag burden. "Schools should also not set any homework for students of classes I and II," CBSE Director (Academics) G Subramanian said in a circular.
Some schools are making provisions for lockers. Most aren't. What's most frustrating is what parents feel on such issues You may be a 'consumer' of education, paying a pretty hefty fee, but the general attitude of schools is 'take it or leave it.'
No doubt the school cannot satisfy every pushy parent but the more fundamental issue is about balance of power. That lies squarely with the educators. I wonder whether it's partly to compensate for the fact that teachers - even principals - are one of the lowest-paid professionals in society.
There are times when I swear I can hear the teacher thinking, "Hey, Doctor/ Manager/ IAS officer... idhar sab ek samaan. Here, you gotta dance to my tunes."
I'm sure children will learn to live with the system - like I did. And millions of other kids have. But is the objective of schooling to merely survive, or to thrive? Wish someone had the answers... or at least started asking the question!
Twenty odd workbooks, textbooks, notebooks. Parents sit covering them in regulation brown paper, although they have become a lot more colourful and child-friendly than the schoolbooks they remember. Still... the books seem like way too many, especially to carry back and forth.
Not long ago, CBSE asked the 6000 schools across the country following its syllabus to reduce the school bag burden. "Schools should also not set any homework for students of classes I and II," CBSE Director (Academics) G Subramanian said in a circular.
Some schools are making provisions for lockers. Most aren't. What's most frustrating is what parents feel on such issues You may be a 'consumer' of education, paying a pretty hefty fee, but the general attitude of schools is 'take it or leave it.'
No doubt the school cannot satisfy every pushy parent but the more fundamental issue is about balance of power. That lies squarely with the educators. I wonder whether it's partly to compensate for the fact that teachers - even principals - are one of the lowest-paid professionals in society.
There are times when I swear I can hear the teacher thinking, "Hey, Doctor/ Manager/ IAS officer... idhar sab ek samaan. Here, you gotta dance to my tunes."
I'm sure children will learn to live with the system - like I did. And millions of other kids have. But is the objective of schooling to merely survive, or to thrive? Wish someone had the answers... or at least started asking the question!
Smoking mana hai
There's a huge debate going on about the proposed ban on smoking on-screen in Bollywood films. While I agree there is a freedom of choice issue involved, one has to also realise that tobacco marketers have methodically used films to circumvent the ban on advertising tobacco through practically all other mediums.
When all other promotional avenues dry up, there remains a potent 'P' in the tobacco company's arsenal: the People factor. Who is smoking - and how cool that person is perceived to be - is the Invisible Salesman still in operation. Smoking in movies has been linked to adolescents trying their first cigarette, according to a new study by a team from Dartmouth College and Dartmouth Medical School. As a 1989 Philip Morris marketing plan noted: "We believe that most of the strong, positive images for cigarettes and smoking are created by cinema and television."
There is documented evidence of the company paying to get Marlboros placed in Superman II and a host of other popular Hollywood films. When the US Congress threatened to make product placement illegal, the tobacco industry pleaded 'self regulation' and pay-offs officially stopped. But placements didn't. In fact, 82 per cent of the top 10 grossing PG-13 films each week in theatres from May 2002 to May 2003 included tobacco.
A World Health Organization (WHO) study of tobacco exposure in Bollywood films conducted last year revealed similarly shocking figures. The research, conducted by Ambika Srivastava, president, Strategic Mediawork, concluded that 76 per cent of top-rated Hindi films portray smoking as 'the cool thing to do'. It's not just villains and vamps who smoke: today, 50 per cent of tobacco incidents are depicted by the 'good' characters. And increasingly, smoking is being used to demonstrate an assertive and independent mindset.
Documentation of money changing hands in India is unavailable, but 2002's Quentin Tarantino-inspired Kaante certainly merits investigation. "Collar ko thoda sa oopar chadha ke, cigarette ke dhuaein ka chhalla bana ke..." goes a song from the film, which became far more popular than the film itself. Noting these guerilla tactics, the WHO decided to focus on the entertainment, films and sports industries on World No Tobacco Day in 2004.
Actor Vivek Oberoi, who has smoked in both good guy and bad guy roles, decided to 'kick the habit' onscreen and appeared in a series of anti-smoking ad films last year. However, Shahrukh Khan, Ajay Devgan and Sunjay Dutt are all chain smokers, and it is a known fact that the actor/director who smokes at home is more likely to smoke in public and light up in movies.
So yes, you can debate the issue to death but ... there may be a case for the on-screen ban. It's more easily enforcable than trying to restrict sale of cigarettes near schools and colleges (who's to check that anyways!!)
Bottomline: Directors and actors will just have to get more creative. A stick in hand won's be a code-prop to signify gangster or vamp.
When all other promotional avenues dry up, there remains a potent 'P' in the tobacco company's arsenal: the People factor. Who is smoking - and how cool that person is perceived to be - is the Invisible Salesman still in operation. Smoking in movies has been linked to adolescents trying their first cigarette, according to a new study by a team from Dartmouth College and Dartmouth Medical School. As a 1989 Philip Morris marketing plan noted: "We believe that most of the strong, positive images for cigarettes and smoking are created by cinema and television."
There is documented evidence of the company paying to get Marlboros placed in Superman II and a host of other popular Hollywood films. When the US Congress threatened to make product placement illegal, the tobacco industry pleaded 'self regulation' and pay-offs officially stopped. But placements didn't. In fact, 82 per cent of the top 10 grossing PG-13 films each week in theatres from May 2002 to May 2003 included tobacco.
A World Health Organization (WHO) study of tobacco exposure in Bollywood films conducted last year revealed similarly shocking figures. The research, conducted by Ambika Srivastava, president, Strategic Mediawork, concluded that 76 per cent of top-rated Hindi films portray smoking as 'the cool thing to do'. It's not just villains and vamps who smoke: today, 50 per cent of tobacco incidents are depicted by the 'good' characters. And increasingly, smoking is being used to demonstrate an assertive and independent mindset.
Documentation of money changing hands in India is unavailable, but 2002's Quentin Tarantino-inspired Kaante certainly merits investigation. "Collar ko thoda sa oopar chadha ke, cigarette ke dhuaein ka chhalla bana ke..." goes a song from the film, which became far more popular than the film itself. Noting these guerilla tactics, the WHO decided to focus on the entertainment, films and sports industries on World No Tobacco Day in 2004.
Actor Vivek Oberoi, who has smoked in both good guy and bad guy roles, decided to 'kick the habit' onscreen and appeared in a series of anti-smoking ad films last year. However, Shahrukh Khan, Ajay Devgan and Sunjay Dutt are all chain smokers, and it is a known fact that the actor/director who smokes at home is more likely to smoke in public and light up in movies.
So yes, you can debate the issue to death but ... there may be a case for the on-screen ban. It's more easily enforcable than trying to restrict sale of cigarettes near schools and colleges (who's to check that anyways!!)
Bottomline: Directors and actors will just have to get more creative. A stick in hand won's be a code-prop to signify gangster or vamp.
A Novel Pastime
A new Crossword bookshop is coming up on Rue de Montosrier here in Pondy. Ain't that wonderful?? Like the advent of multiplexes brought with it the 'multiplex movie' phenomenon, could the spread of chains like Crossword be ushering in a 'bookplex' too?
Certainly the kinds of books being written in English for Indians has undergone a sea change. The 80s and 90s saw the Salman Rushdie-Arundhati Roy variety off books which were based on India but written for the international audience - with a spillover Indian readership.
Today, you have a new generation of books and authors with no literary pretensions. They're just good time pass reads about people, places and things the urban Indians can connect with. And surprise! many are written by B school graduates.
By day, they are investment bankers and brand managers. By night, they toil away at their keyboards, tapping into their own experiences to spin out slice-of-life stories that appeal to 'People Like Us'.
IIM Ahmedabad graduate Chetan Bhagat relived his IIT days in Five Point Someone with the same being converted into 3 idiots now, with some changes here and there. Swati Kaushal's stints at Nestle and Nokia provided rich fodder for Piece Of Cake, a light-hearted tale set in corporate India. And that was just the beginning. 2005 saw the launch of Mediocre But Arrogant, a story of love and life in the fictitious Management Institute of Jamshedpur (MIJ).
Bottomline: MBAs turning to writing is actually not that surprising because many Indian B-school graduates are simply exceptionally bright individuals who followed the easiest path available to them. Anyone who's been on an elite B school campus will vouch for the many potentially great singers, writers and film makers lost to the world of business.
Or then again - as these novelists prove - maybe not.
Certainly the kinds of books being written in English for Indians has undergone a sea change. The 80s and 90s saw the Salman Rushdie-Arundhati Roy variety off books which were based on India but written for the international audience - with a spillover Indian readership.
Today, you have a new generation of books and authors with no literary pretensions. They're just good time pass reads about people, places and things the urban Indians can connect with. And surprise! many are written by B school graduates.
By day, they are investment bankers and brand managers. By night, they toil away at their keyboards, tapping into their own experiences to spin out slice-of-life stories that appeal to 'People Like Us'.
IIM Ahmedabad graduate Chetan Bhagat relived his IIT days in Five Point Someone with the same being converted into 3 idiots now, with some changes here and there. Swati Kaushal's stints at Nestle and Nokia provided rich fodder for Piece Of Cake, a light-hearted tale set in corporate India. And that was just the beginning. 2005 saw the launch of Mediocre But Arrogant, a story of love and life in the fictitious Management Institute of Jamshedpur (MIJ).
Bottomline: MBAs turning to writing is actually not that surprising because many Indian B-school graduates are simply exceptionally bright individuals who followed the easiest path available to them. Anyone who's been on an elite B school campus will vouch for the many potentially great singers, writers and film makers lost to the world of business.
Or then again - as these novelists prove - maybe not.
Go Spice !
I liked Spicejet. True, this is based on a single Madras-Ahmedabad flight experience but here's why:
a) The flight departed on time and reached on the dot, too. This was an achievement because the other 'budget' airlines were - on enquiry - late.
Yes, much as I commend Capt. Gopinath for being the first to give every Indian the chance to fly.
b) Spicejet is a cheap airline but the way it's packaged - it doesn't feel like a cheapie one. So for example, they give you refreshments worth about 10 bucks on board instead of asking you to buy the same (a small packet of chips, water and toffees).The air hostesses are a little more glamorous and smile a little more - like they do on Jet Airways.
Even the Spicejet logo is far more bright and cheerful. I also liked the fact that they let you select a seat of your choice at the time of booking online.
Small Things matter
Now you might say phooey - punctuality is one thing, who cares about the other factors. Well, you may think you do not. But at some level, you do get influenced. And so, while price will remain THE most important criteria given that both Spice and Deccan are offering you relatively cheap tickets, you may check availability on Spice first.
Air Deccan is going for an IPO - so hopefully they should be able to improve its service. For one, they need to lease better aircrafts ... the ATRs they fly are really scary and make too much noise!! (as per what i've heard). I know none have fallen out of the sky yet but surely long distance flights have enough demand to merit a regular sized jet.
Bottomline: Budget airlines are changing the way India travels. I know my last trip happened only because there was a good deal available. "Impulse" buying has moved beyond picking up a cute t-shirt :)
Well as they say, the more the merrier - "Let There Be Flight". And please, God, let there also be bigger and better AIRPORTS!
a) The flight departed on time and reached on the dot, too. This was an achievement because the other 'budget' airlines were - on enquiry - late.
Yes, much as I commend Capt. Gopinath for being the first to give every Indian the chance to fly.
b) Spicejet is a cheap airline but the way it's packaged - it doesn't feel like a cheapie one. So for example, they give you refreshments worth about 10 bucks on board instead of asking you to buy the same (a small packet of chips, water and toffees).The air hostesses are a little more glamorous and smile a little more - like they do on Jet Airways.
Even the Spicejet logo is far more bright and cheerful. I also liked the fact that they let you select a seat of your choice at the time of booking online.
Small Things matter
Now you might say phooey - punctuality is one thing, who cares about the other factors. Well, you may think you do not. But at some level, you do get influenced. And so, while price will remain THE most important criteria given that both Spice and Deccan are offering you relatively cheap tickets, you may check availability on Spice first.
Air Deccan is going for an IPO - so hopefully they should be able to improve its service. For one, they need to lease better aircrafts ... the ATRs they fly are really scary and make too much noise!! (as per what i've heard). I know none have fallen out of the sky yet but surely long distance flights have enough demand to merit a regular sized jet.
Bottomline: Budget airlines are changing the way India travels. I know my last trip happened only because there was a good deal available. "Impulse" buying has moved beyond picking up a cute t-shirt :)
Well as they say, the more the merrier - "Let There Be Flight". And please, God, let there also be bigger and better AIRPORTS!
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