I abhor watching shows of Burkha Dutt and in general any NDTV reporting! They are so skewed and twisted. Very interestingly, I came to know about the arm wrestling between burkha Dutt and a fellow blogger who apparently criticized her for her reporting. Such is the state of freedom of expression in our country. I got the original post from another site and thought of posting it here for my records and for others who are interested in reading this..
Shoddy journalism
Appalling journalism. Absolute blasphemy! As I watch the news from home, I am dumbfounded to see Barkha Dutt of NDTV break every rule of ethical journalism in reporting the Mumbai mayhem. Take a couple of instances for example:
In one instance she asks a husband about his wife being stuck, or held as a hostage. The poor guy adds in the end about where she was last hiding. Aired! My dear friends with AK-47s, our national news is helping you. Go get those still in. And be sure to thank NDTV for not censoring this bit of information.
In another instance, a General sort of suggests that there were no hostages in Oberoi Trident. (Clever.) Then, our heroine of revelations calls the head of Oberoi, and the idiot confirms a possibility of 100 or more people still in the building. Hello! Guys with guns, you’ve got more goats to slay. But before you do, you’ve got to love NDTV and more precisely Ms. Dutt. She’s your official intelligence from Ground zero.
You do not need to be a journalist to understand the basic premise of ethics, which starts with protecting victims first; and that is done by avoiding key information from being aired publicly—such as but not limited to revealing the number of possible people still in, the hideouts of hostages and people stuck in buildings.
Imagine you’re one of those sorry souls holed-up in one of those bathrooms, or kitchens. A journalist pulls your kin outside and asks about your last contact on national television, and other prying details. In a bout of emotion, if they happen to reveal more details, you are sure going to hell. Remember these are hotels, where in all likelihood, every room has a television. All a terrorist needs to do is listen to Ms. Barkha Dutt’s latest achievement of extracting information from your relative, based on your last phone-call or SMS. And you’re shafted—courtesy NDTV.1
If the terrorists don’t manage to shove you in to your private hell, the journalists on national television will certainly help you get there. One of the criticisms about Barkha Dutt on Wikipedia reads thus:
During the Kargil conflict, Indian Army sources repeatedly complained to her channel that she was giving away locations in her broadcasts, thus causing Indian casualties.
Looks like the idiot journalist has not learned anything since then. I join a number of bloggers pleading her to shut the f⋅⋅⋅ up.
Update: In fact, I am willing to believe that Hemant Karkare died because these channels showed him prepare (wear helmet, wear bullet-proof vest.) in excruciating detail live on television. And they in turn targeted him where he was unprotected. The brave officer succumbed to bullets in the neck.
Update 2 [28.Nov.2300hrs]: Better sense appears to have prevailed in the latter half of today—either willfully, or by Government coercion2, and Live broadcasts are now being limited to non-action zones. Telecast of action troops and strategy is now not being aired live. Thank goodness for that.
Update 3 [30.Nov.1900hrs]: DNA India reports about a UK couple ask media to report carefully:
The terrorists were watching CNN and they came down from where they were in a lift after hearing about us on TV.
— Lynne Shaw in an interview.
1. Oh, they have a lame excuse pronouncing that the television connections in the hotel has been cut, and therefore it is okay to broadcast. Like hell!
2. I’m thinking coercion, since Government has just denied renewing CNN’s rights to air video today; must’ve have surely worked as a rude warning to the Indian domestic channels
By the way: I am a proud member of "Barkha Dutt for worse senior journalist on the planet". Join in..
Monday, April 26, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Mother Terasa : An eye opener
When I was in my ninth standard, we had a chapter on mother Teresa in our oriya literature book. It was really heartening to read that article, and I would lie if I said I did not cry reading that chapter. In my young mind, it had left a long lasting impression and I wanted to be just like her. Time passed by and as I grew older, I have slowly forgotten all the promises I made to myself. Now I understand things a lot better and I have access to sources that can show me the truth rather than what printed media says. I had got airs about the reality behind mother Teresa few months back, but I quickly brushed it off thinking people are just jealous. But today I came across a book(that you can read online), which is very hard to dismiss. It is an eye opener on what we read in the newspaper or watch on television or in our text books is not always true! Facts are carefully concealed by our educators, government to show things in different color.
For those that are interested, here is the link to the book - you can read online.
Mother Teresa The Final Verdict
By
Aroup Chatterjee
For those that are interested, here is the link to the book - you can read online.
Mother Teresa The Final Verdict
By
Aroup Chatterjee
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Few quotes that captured my imagination
These are not mine. I happened to find them on web and thought of putting them here - in my safe heaven..
Few quotable quotes!
“When I read the Bhagavad-Gita and reflect about how God created this universe everything else seems so superfluous.” ~ Albert Einstein
“When I read the Upanishads, I found a profundity of world view that made my Christianity seem like third grade.” ~ Huston Smith
“India was the Motherland of our race and Sanskrit the Mother of Europe’s languages.India was the Mother of our Philosophy, of much of our Mathematic’s, of the ideals emboded in Christianity …of Self-Government and Democracy, In many ways Mother India is the Mother of us all..” ~ Will Durant
“Land of religions, cradle of human race, birthplace of human speech, grandmother of legend, great grandmother of tradition. The land that all men desire to see and having seen once even by a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for the shows of the rest of the globe combined. India had the start of the whole world in the beginning of things. She had the first civilization; she had the first accumulation of material wealth; she was populous with deep thinkers and subtle intellect; she had mines, and woods, and a fruitful soul.” ~ Mark Twain
“The Hindu religion is the only one of the world’s great faiths dedicated to the idea that the Cosmos itself undergoes an immense, indeed an infinite, number of deaths and rebirths. It is the only religion in which the time scales correspond, to those of modern scientific cosmology. Its cycles run from our ordinary day and night to a day and night of Brahma, 8.64 billion years long. Longer than the age of the Earth or the Sun and about half the time since the Big Bang. And there are much longer time scales still. A millennium before Europeans were wiling to divest themselves of the Biblical idea that the world was a few thousand years old, the Mayans were thinking of millions and the Hindus billions” ” ~ Carl Sagan
“In India, our religions will never at any time take root; the ancient wisdom of the human race will not be supplanted by the events in Galilee. On the contrary, Indian wisdom flows back to Europe, and will produce a fundamental change in our knowledge and thought.” ~ Arthur Schopenhauer
“Access to the Vedas is the greatest privilege this century may claim over all previous centuries.” ~ Julius Robert Oppenheimer
“I like to think that someone will trace how the deepest thinking of India made its way to Greece and from there to the philosophy of our times.” ~ John Archibald Wheeler
“The Bhagavad-Gita is the most systematic statement of spiritual evolution of endowing value to mankind. It is one of the most clear and comprehensive summaries of perennial philosophy ever revealed; hence its enduring value is subject not only to India but to all of humanity.” ~ Aldous Huxley
“In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous and cosmogonal philosophy of the Bhagavad-Gita, in comparison with which our modern world and its literature seems puny and trivial.” ~ Henry David Thoreau
“After a study of some forty years and more of the great religions of the world, I find none so perfect , none so scientific, none so philosophical and none so spiritual that the great religion known by the name of Hinduism. Make no mistake, without Hinduism, India has no future. Hinduism is the soil in to which India’s roots are stuck and torn out of that she will inevitably wither as a tree torn out from its place. And if Hindus do not maintain Hinduism who shall save it? If India’s own children do not cling to her faith who shall guard it. India alone can save India and India and Hinduism are one. ” ~ Annie Wood Besant
“The marvel of the Bhagavad-Gita is its truly beautiful revelation of lifes wisdom which enables philosophy to blossom into religion.” ~ Herman Hesse
“Perhaps in return for conquest, arrogance and spoliation, India will teach us the tolerance and gentleness of the mature mind, the quiet content of the unacquisitive soul, the calm of the understanding spirit, and a unifying, a pacifying love for all living things.” ~ Will Durant
Few quotable quotes!
“When I read the Bhagavad-Gita and reflect about how God created this universe everything else seems so superfluous.” ~ Albert Einstein
“When I read the Upanishads, I found a profundity of world view that made my Christianity seem like third grade.” ~ Huston Smith
“India was the Motherland of our race and Sanskrit the Mother of Europe’s languages.India was the Mother of our Philosophy, of much of our Mathematic’s, of the ideals emboded in Christianity …of Self-Government and Democracy, In many ways Mother India is the Mother of us all..” ~ Will Durant
“Land of religions, cradle of human race, birthplace of human speech, grandmother of legend, great grandmother of tradition. The land that all men desire to see and having seen once even by a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for the shows of the rest of the globe combined. India had the start of the whole world in the beginning of things. She had the first civilization; she had the first accumulation of material wealth; she was populous with deep thinkers and subtle intellect; she had mines, and woods, and a fruitful soul.” ~ Mark Twain
“The Hindu religion is the only one of the world’s great faiths dedicated to the idea that the Cosmos itself undergoes an immense, indeed an infinite, number of deaths and rebirths. It is the only religion in which the time scales correspond, to those of modern scientific cosmology. Its cycles run from our ordinary day and night to a day and night of Brahma, 8.64 billion years long. Longer than the age of the Earth or the Sun and about half the time since the Big Bang. And there are much longer time scales still. A millennium before Europeans were wiling to divest themselves of the Biblical idea that the world was a few thousand years old, the Mayans were thinking of millions and the Hindus billions” ” ~ Carl Sagan
“In India, our religions will never at any time take root; the ancient wisdom of the human race will not be supplanted by the events in Galilee. On the contrary, Indian wisdom flows back to Europe, and will produce a fundamental change in our knowledge and thought.” ~ Arthur Schopenhauer
“Access to the Vedas is the greatest privilege this century may claim over all previous centuries.” ~ Julius Robert Oppenheimer
“I like to think that someone will trace how the deepest thinking of India made its way to Greece and from there to the philosophy of our times.” ~ John Archibald Wheeler
“The Bhagavad-Gita is the most systematic statement of spiritual evolution of endowing value to mankind. It is one of the most clear and comprehensive summaries of perennial philosophy ever revealed; hence its enduring value is subject not only to India but to all of humanity.” ~ Aldous Huxley
“In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous and cosmogonal philosophy of the Bhagavad-Gita, in comparison with which our modern world and its literature seems puny and trivial.” ~ Henry David Thoreau
“After a study of some forty years and more of the great religions of the world, I find none so perfect , none so scientific, none so philosophical and none so spiritual that the great religion known by the name of Hinduism. Make no mistake, without Hinduism, India has no future. Hinduism is the soil in to which India’s roots are stuck and torn out of that she will inevitably wither as a tree torn out from its place. And if Hindus do not maintain Hinduism who shall save it? If India’s own children do not cling to her faith who shall guard it. India alone can save India and India and Hinduism are one. ” ~ Annie Wood Besant
“The marvel of the Bhagavad-Gita is its truly beautiful revelation of lifes wisdom which enables philosophy to blossom into religion.” ~ Herman Hesse
“Perhaps in return for conquest, arrogance and spoliation, India will teach us the tolerance and gentleness of the mature mind, the quiet content of the unacquisitive soul, the calm of the understanding spirit, and a unifying, a pacifying love for all living things.” ~ Will Durant
Friday, April 16, 2010
Third Annivarsary of VT massacre
Today is the third anniversary of VT massacre!! I am reminded of this day painfully every year. We get a message from VT president as well as Virginia Governor every year this date. Today is also no different.. At about 9.40 AM EST, there will be a moment of silence remembering the victims.
I remember this day very clearly in 2007. I was in CA and was heading my way to Virginia to attend the annual VBI conference. I was worried that I did not print the poster and at the same time I was happy that there were some errors and I will be able to correct them. I usually route my trip through Pittsburg where one of my close friends stay. A drive from Pittsburg to Blacksburg is a pleasant one. It is full of mountain terrains and lots of greenery. So, I was very happy that I will be able to drive the stretch of 350 miles again! I reached the Van Nuys airport at about 10 AM, it was unusually crowded then with very long line for security check in. I was worried that I will miss my flight. Soon, I got a call from my cousin, asking me if I was safe. Surprised, I asked why? Then he reported to me about the incident.. I brushed it aside thinking he is joking, and it is impossible that such a thing will happen. Just then came another call from another cousin and then another call from a friend and all seem to have known what had happened except for me. Shocked I was could not believe my ears. Blacksburg is such a peaceful small town, I could not have expected anything as terrible as this to have happened there. Somehow, I got into the plane and was hooked into the news channel on the air plane. The clippings showed injured being carried to the hospital and it was a snowy day in Blacksburg that day. All through my 9 hours travel I was listening to just one thing - about how and what had just happened!
My drive to Blacksburg was not a pleasant one. I reached Blacksburg the next day and found the roads are empty, on campus there are huge satellite cameras and camps of TV crews. There was memorial services in the church. The next day I managed to go to the students squires center. There they had laid small stones with small bouquets in memory of each of the deceased as well as one for the perpetrator. It was a surreal sight.. Seeing all the student volunteers offering free counseling brought tears to my eyes. 32 innocent people lost their lives including Indian students and professors. It could have happened to anyone that day! With this I offer my silent prayer to the victims..
I remember this day very clearly in 2007. I was in CA and was heading my way to Virginia to attend the annual VBI conference. I was worried that I did not print the poster and at the same time I was happy that there were some errors and I will be able to correct them. I usually route my trip through Pittsburg where one of my close friends stay. A drive from Pittsburg to Blacksburg is a pleasant one. It is full of mountain terrains and lots of greenery. So, I was very happy that I will be able to drive the stretch of 350 miles again! I reached the Van Nuys airport at about 10 AM, it was unusually crowded then with very long line for security check in. I was worried that I will miss my flight. Soon, I got a call from my cousin, asking me if I was safe. Surprised, I asked why? Then he reported to me about the incident.. I brushed it aside thinking he is joking, and it is impossible that such a thing will happen. Just then came another call from another cousin and then another call from a friend and all seem to have known what had happened except for me. Shocked I was could not believe my ears. Blacksburg is such a peaceful small town, I could not have expected anything as terrible as this to have happened there. Somehow, I got into the plane and was hooked into the news channel on the air plane. The clippings showed injured being carried to the hospital and it was a snowy day in Blacksburg that day. All through my 9 hours travel I was listening to just one thing - about how and what had just happened!
My drive to Blacksburg was not a pleasant one. I reached Blacksburg the next day and found the roads are empty, on campus there are huge satellite cameras and camps of TV crews. There was memorial services in the church. The next day I managed to go to the students squires center. There they had laid small stones with small bouquets in memory of each of the deceased as well as one for the perpetrator. It was a surreal sight.. Seeing all the student volunteers offering free counseling brought tears to my eyes. 32 innocent people lost their lives including Indian students and professors. It could have happened to anyone that day! With this I offer my silent prayer to the victims..
HANDBOOK 2010
I got this as a "forward" today and one of my friends suggested to post it here. So, here it is:
Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner
like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less
food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5. Make timeforprayer.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9 Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.
Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what
their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control.
Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her
mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate
others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems
are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like
algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 &under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your
family and friends will. Stay in touch.
Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Always speak the truth even if it leads to your death.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.
Last but not the least:
40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about.
Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner
like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less
food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5. Make timeforprayer.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9 Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.
Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what
their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control.
Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her
mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate
others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems
are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like
algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 &under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your
family and friends will. Stay in touch.
Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Always speak the truth even if it leads to your death.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.
Last but not the least:
40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about.
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