Global Voices Round-Up: What do bloggers have to say about India?

So far this month the major topic of discussion in virtual India was the world cup cricket match in the West Indies. Now that India is unceremoniously bowled out of the world cup, bloggers have turned their attention to other issues.

Yesterday the Indian Supreme Court temporarily stopped the implementation of Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota or affirmative action in higher educational institutions. The Supreme Court basically said that there was insufficient data available about the OBC demographics.

Bloggers have been busy writing about this hot button topic.

Rahul Gaitonde of 2 Paisa worth writes that the celebration about the SC verdict is premature and writes:

They say the Communists have the best brains in Parliament. Well, Prakash Karat made a very valid point today when he opposed the Supreme Court’s judgment staying the 27% reservation in institutes of higher education.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist also had strong words on the judgment with party general secretary Prakash Karat calling it ‘ unfortunate and uncalled for.’ He said that already several states had implemented reservation on the basis of OBC lists even in Central services and wondered what the problem in extending it to educational institutions was. Karat’s right.

Over at a legal blog called Law and Other Things they write:

Its still a bit early to comment on what the Court has said – we may have to wait a while before informed analysis of the Court’s decision starts pouring in, after people have had a chance to read the actual text of the order issued by the Court.

Nipon at BongBuzz is skeptical of the Supreme Court’s order and writes:

So much for the Supreme Court! So much for India! Living in India, how can we expect justice? This is the land where caste-based reservation will continue and Lalu Prasads and all will continue to rip political benefits out of that. There is only one way out – leave the country!

From an action packed Supreme Court blogs, we move to Bollywood and Bombay and how does one make sense of it all?  Maybe Mark Emmert, President, University of Washington has the answer. He is currently visiting India and writes:

I now have a better sense of why Bollywood movies are so immensely popular. They fit the pace, the rhythms, even the melodrama of Mumbai. One factoid puts the bustle and scurry into perspective: Seven million people ride the train into Mumbai daily. Think of moving all of greater Chicago by train each morning and evening. New York is actually calming compared to the constant movement of Mumbai. 

Have you ever heard of Communist peanuts and Congress peanuts? Well, there is a store in Bangalore that sells peanuts named after the Communist and Congress (India’s oldest political party) that sells them. Watch the video clip and find out how they got their names.

Bollywood Film Music Banned?

Bollywood film music banned? Unthinkable right given the Hindi film music has become a part of the Indian social fabric. But, yes there  there was a time about 50 years ago when Hindi film songs aka Bollywood film songs were banned and not allowed to play on Indian air waves. And, this ban in many ways led to the growth of the popular radio station: Radio Ceylon.

Mr. Ameen Sayani, the eminent broadcaster was in many ways the voice of Radio Ceylon and in this podcast interview Mr. Sayani talks about the ban of Bollywood film music, and how Radio Ceylon came into existence. This is Part-2 of our conversation with Mr. Sayani, who is arguable India’s best recognized radio and broadcast personality.

How does Google make money?

Recently Google held a press day, which has been widely covered by MSM, bloggers and others. There exists reams and reams of data on Google from non-Googlers to find out more about this great little start-up that has become increasingly tight-lipped on many things. We know all kinds of fluff data about Google, but that is it…

The LA Times in an article titled The One Bit of Google Withholds: How it Works (May 22, 2006) makes some interesting points. This is what it says/asks:

“Google’s unwillingness to disclose little more than the legally required basics of how it does what it does — and where it’s headed — has left advertisers puzzled, partners confused, competitors nervous and investors frustrated… All search companies are secretive. But as the largest and most idiosyncratic, Google has drawn the most scrutiny…So Google has kept its ranking formula — which the company says includes more than 200 signals — more secret than the recipe for Coca-Cola….All that depends on imponderably complex mathematical formulas, a sophisticated accounting system, an aloof corporate culture and a growth strategy secret to all but the upper echelon of the company — making Google one of the most mysterious companies of this century or last.”

I guess the pressure is mounting on Google to become more transparent, and as the LA Times article points out people  want to know on how it made over $6 billion in revenue last year.

What do you say?

Shilpa Shetty + Big Brother + YouTube Clip + Reactions

The Shilpa Shetty + Big Brother has escalated into a hot topic button in India and between the Indian and Briitsh government.

Since last evening (Monday) various TV channels in India have been closely monitoring and updating every little movement on the Shilpa Shetty + Big Brother issue. The Indian Government has thrown its weight behind Shilpa, Bollywood starts have thrown their weight behind Shilpa and so have countless Indians and NRIs across the world. The question is about the alleged racism towards Shilpa by some of her house-mates.

Here is the a video cllip link to one of the arguments between Shilpa and her housemates via YouTube.

Here is what the Reuters has to say about the names that Shilpa was called;

The actress has been called a “dog”, one housemate said “she makes my skin crawl”, people refused to learn her name, her accent has been mocked and she has been reduced to tears by a group of contestants ganging up on her.

The issue has acted as a catalyst of sorts and forced the treatment of South Asians in Britain to the forefront as the Reuters article describes it:

“What makes Big Brother uncomfortable viewing for some is the idea that its contestants reflect broader society.

Commentator Germaine Greer argued that Britons should not be surprised at Shetty’s treatment, in a country where bigotry was widespread.

“This is a racist country,” she said in the Guardian newspaper. “There is almost no inter-penetration of English and Indian cultures in Britain.”

In the same newspaper author Hari Kunzru said a contestant’s refusal to learn Shetty’s name was “straightforwardly racist”.

“This is what Big Brother is for. It holds a mirror up to national attitudes. If we don’t like what we see, we ought to change,” he said.

Finance Minister Gordon Brown, widely tipped to take over as prime minister from Tony Blair, was drawn into the debate on a trip to India on Wednesday.

“I understand that in the UK there have already been 10,000 complaints from viewers about these remarks which people rightly see as offensive,” he told reporters in Bangalore.”

Tony Blair has been drawn into this affair. Here is what the BBC has to say:

“…was drawn into the row when, responding to a question in parliament about the TV program, he agreed with former Labour minister Keith Vaz that “we should oppose racism in all its forms.”

British author Hari Kunzru had this to say about Shilpa Shetty and Big Brother in this Guardian piece.

In what is perhaps an unprecedented show of support, thousands of people from all over UK have sent in their complaints to Ofcom, a media watchdog. There is pressure on Channel Four to withdraw the show.

Initially billed as an underdog in the show, today Shilpa’s chances of emerging a winner in the show is ranked pretty high by the British bookies. Shilpa has no clue that her treatment in the show has become such a central issue in the UK and India.

Angelina + Brad + Autorickshaw + PR

Who knew that the Monday evening TV news will be filled with the Angelina and Brad rickshaw chase? Or the snafu/scuffle that a photographer got into at the hotel with Angelina’s bodyguard?

Extra Extra, Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight ran the story, the local evening news folks talked about it….I found the story in every channel.  I suspect it was the second hottest news after the Google acquisition of YouTube.

If you have not seen the famous couple’s ride in the autorickshaw here are a couple of places where you can see them. Here is Brad peeking out of the auto, here is the couple smiling …notice the guy in the green shirt and blue jeans  astride a motorbike? Now, that is the person who will have really interesting stories about this whole auto chase. I bet you that will be one of his all time favorite stories.

Can you believe that there are over 500 news items on Angelina and Brad in India? You can Google it. I kind of feel bad for these folks here….they probably had no clue of what to expect. They probably thought it might be like Nambibia where they were able to cordon off  the hoi polloi. Not so in India folks. We love our movie stars…why, we even have temples built for them (Khushboo and NTR). The word darshan comes to mind…just a jhalak (a peek, a glimpse), a darshan (a sighting) will do.

The hotel they are staying is not tucked away in some remote corner of Pune.  It is on a pretty well-travelled road and you simply can’t miss the hotel when you drive into Pune.

I guess we have not heard the last of Angelina and Brad’s joyride in Pune. Who knows maybe somebody will espy them at the famous Poonawalla ranch? My bet is that we will see some pictures of the couple celebrating Diwali that is just round the corner. The bursting of crackers, the diyas etc. might just be the kind of thing that this family might enjoy….I wonder if they will catch a Hindi film…you know what I won’t be surprised if they do… Don? What do you think? Any ideas?

angelina in India a mighty heart

Tech Mahindra Gets $1 Billion Outsourcing Deal From British Telecom

Tech Mahindra (TECHM), which earlier this year went IPO has bagged the largest outsourcing deal by an Indian IT company. It bagged a $1 billion outsourcing deal from British Telecom. The deal is spread over five years and is reportedly for strategic outsourcing. Tech Mahindra’s biggest client is BT.

There are reports that Tech Mahindra will be expanding its operations and might be in a M&A (merger and acquisition) mode. According to DNA Tech Mahindra might bid for Tiscali’s UK operations. Tiscali is an Italian Internet company that looking to shed its UK operation.

Tech Mahindra has some pretty aggressive growth plans in the telecom sector. Earlier this year it announced that It is partnering with Motorola to set up a mobile application company called CanvasM in Noida. Tech Mahindra has invested $10 million in this venture.

Tech Mahindra is headquartered in Pune and was founded in 1986.

Koffe with Karan : Shilpa Shetty

Guess who is going to be featured pretty soon in Bollywood director’s Karan Johar’s show? Shilpa Shetty and her sister Shamita will be Karan’s guests and I suspect we can get to hear lot of juicy tidbits about what happened at the show etc. Shilpa has hit a jackpot and is busy endorsing deals and is also supposedly writing a book?

If you missed watching Karan Johar with Shweta Nanda (Bachchan) on her new show…try watching a re-run. The show runs on NDTV and is called NextGEN It was pretty interesting to hear what K Jo had to say about his interests etc.

Hello world!

Welcome to My BLog This is my first post. I”ll keep you updated as the time grows…Tata for now