Chennai Super Queen!

By Sanjay Pinto

Jayalalithaa's Report Card

A First Class Could Have Been A Distinction But For The Power Cuts

Tamilnadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa is known to be a voracious reader. I'm sure she has read Dale Carnegie's "How To Win Friends & Influence People". As the pendulum swings every five years in Tamilnadu, that's what the Chennai Super Queen has been doing every decade. Winning allies and influencing voters. Every new innings has been the result of a huge comeback; a landslide victory that would make psephologists eat humble pie. I've reported extensively on Amma's election campaigns, her second innings and the start of her third stint.

2011 so far, in some measure, comes across as an encore of 2001, in more ways than one! I'm not merely referring to the Michael Jackson style wave and the flashing of the victory sign to the sea of supporters from her balcony that I witnessed outside Poes Garden as a twenty eight year old correspondent; and now an Editor in my late thirties! It's the will to take her opponents head on, the will to fulfill election promises and the will to take tough, even 'unpopular' decisions.

So after one year in office, what does Jayalalithaa's report card look like?

Comparisons can be odious. To be fair to Jayalalithaa, her performance must be viewed keeping in mind, two important facts. First, running a Govt not as an ally of a ruling coalition at the Centre is not quite the same as a regime with a 'Most Favoured State' tag. Unlike the previous DMK dispensation, the present AIADMK Govt has got the short end of the stick from the Centre. And the Tamilnadu Chief Minister has made no bones about the "discrimination meted out to non Congress ruled States" ; through a slew of letters to the Prime Minister on a host of issues, ranging from financial assistance to the demand for more power from the Central grid or at least the entire power generated from Koodankulam. Secondly, the State's coffers were not just empty; a one lakh crore debt greeted the new incumbent.

Against this backdrop, Jayalalithaa's Robert Frost like 'I have promises to keep' persistence deserves encomiums. From free rice to mixies and grinders, cows & goats, laptops, the list goes on. This was enough to prompt one of her Ministers to break into a customary adulatory tone with this gem: "All along our hearts used to beat 'Lub Dub, Lub Dub. Now it's Laptop, laptop!" Doling out freebies after inheriting a huge debt, calls for a great deal of financial skill. That's a big tick mark.

Talking of freebies, would inverters be a good bet?! When Karunanidhi gave ration rice for a rupee, (a DMK election catchphrase coined by former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran, then was 'a kilo and a hello for one rupee!) and  free TVs in 2006,that needed cable connections for a hundred rupees, there were questions raised by critics. Now, is it pertinent to ask: 'Mixies & grinders but no power?' The State is reeling under a massive power shortage, exacerbated by the Centre's refusal to pitch in, despite repeated pleas for help. If Chennai faces a two hour power cut everyday in peak summer, there are districts that suffer upto 8 hour outages. Power is well and truly the Govt's nemesis. Quite like Mathematics on my school report card, this singular issue is pulling down the overall score.

And the biggest plus point? Ask any average resident of Tamilnadu about the AIADMK's biggest USP; and you will get a stock reply: Law & Order. You will not come across cops making excuses like "our hands are tied" during the AIADMK rule. A free hand is the hallmark of  effective policing. A simple prescription that led to the elimination of the Veerappan menace during her previous tenure. This matters more than fund allocation for the police budget. If officers are to be believed, the khakhi clad dept doesn't have party workers poking their noses into their work.

 Like a shrewd captain, Jayalalithaa knows how to pick the best players in the bureaucracy and where to field the right hands just like she did during that massive tsunami reconstruction project. The first posting soon after being sworn in as Chief Minister was that of J.K.Tripathy as the Chennai Police Commissioner. A tough, no nonsense, honest officer with a firm grasp of city policing, his appointment resulted in many rowdy gangs taking to their heels! K.Ramanujam, known for his high integrity and a seasoned intelligence officer as the State Police Chief, the US educated S.George, who was sidelined by the previous Govt as his second in command and to also oversee the entire crackdown on land grabbing, Sheila Priya who had a record stint as Secretary to the Governor as her main trusted lieutenant, along with good officers like Rama Mohan Rao & Ramalingam, Debendranath Sarangi, an efficient officer as the Chief Secretary, Amaresh Pujari, with his rich experience in the Inelligence Bureau, as the IG Intelligence & Dr.J.Radhakrishnan, former Nagapattinam Collector during the tsunami to head the implementation of Special Programmes, speak volumes about the intention of the Govt. What's noteworthy is that many officers who held plum positions in the DMK Govt were not sent to the boondocks but have been posted in key positions, some like Dr.Karthikeyan, were even retained as Chennai Corporation Commissioner. Bringing back retired DGP R.Nataraj as the Chairman of the Tamilnadu Public Service Commission to ensure that the body that was involved in a scam earlier,  is "more about service and not about 'commission' was a masterstroke.

However, the sudden transfer of Sheela Rani Chunkath from the Home Dept, the young dynamic IT Secretary Santhosh Babu, P.W.C. Davidar and five Transport Commissioners in one year, have been discussed in hush tones in the Secretariat.

If there were doubts expressed about the competence of a particular law officer, the appointment of P.H.Arvindh Pandian, as Tamilnadu's youngest Additional Advocate General has certainly sent the right signals in legal circles. With the disproportionate assets case in Bengaluru still quite a thorn in her flesh, Jayalalithaa will need all the acumen at her command to overcome the last legal hurdle placed by her bete noire.

The handling of the Mullaperiyar stand off, not just along the Tamilnadu-Kerala border but also the legal battle that the State recently won on raising the height of the dam, are feathers in Amma's cap.

The convent educated Chief Minister, who has often said that she would have become a top notch lawyer, had she not entered tinsel town, seems very comfortable in corporate conclaves, rubbing shoulders with world leaders, like Hillary Clinton and business tycoons. Tamilnadu has well and truly emerged as the Detroit of Asia with automobile goliaths like Yamaha, Daimler, Eicher & Nissan, among others setting up shop here. The huge employment spin off is too conspicuous to be missed. However, there are murmurs about clearances for building sanction plans and some other projects being mired in red tape. Political opponents cite the delay in the approval of the renovated portion of the M.A.Chidambaram cricket stadium, under the auspices of BCCI Chief N.Srinivasan, said to be close to the Marans, as an example. However officials insist it boils down to rules and there is nothing political about it.

Jayalalithaa, has time and again, demonstrated her crisis management skills. We saw that during the tsunami in the past and we've seen that with the response to the devastation caused by the 'Thane' cyclone. When sufficient vitamin-M didn't seem forthcoming from the Centre, she made an appeal to the public, that opened the floodgates to donations.

If it was banning religious conversions the last time that caused heartburn among Christians, it is a different sort of conversion that has sparked criticism from many quarters! The decision to convert the new Secretariat Complex and the Anna Centenary Library - both pet projects of Karunanidhi, into hospitals may not have been what the doctor ordered and will have to stand the test of judicial scrutiny. To some extent, goodwill of the laptop scheme for students may have been dented by the Government's perceived intransigence over the Uniform School Syllabus; ultimately resolved by the Supreme Court.

Taking tough decisions is not new to the 64 year old Chief Minister. Government employees who resorted to a strike the last time, got a taste of the iron hand. That hand resurfaced just after the Sankarankovil by poll and took the Koodankulam protestors, who thought the State Govt was on their side, by surprise. A placard: "Why is the Govt slapping cases of waging war against the State on thousands of its own people who are peacefully campaigning for solar energy as against the hazards of nuclear power?" summed up the standoff. AIADMK insiders point out that their Amma who pioneered the rain water harvesting scheme and who has now banned plastics and is setting up another tiger reserve in Sathyamangalam, needs no environmental lessons from anyone. And that the nod for Koodankulam was given only after a safety audit.

The 2001 midnight arrest of Karunanidhi may have backfired. But that didn't deter the AIADMK Govt this time, from cracking down on land grabbing and arresting almost three fourth of the erstwhile DMK cabinet. The vendetta card was predictably flagged by the DMK. But with the party that is not even the principal opposition in the assembly, ensured that the backlash was minimal, if at all.

Setting her own house in order, quite literally, Jayalalithaa even expelled her aide Sasikala and the entire 'Garden Coterie' that observers felt were interfering in areas that didn't concern them, was a bold move. Sasikala, of course,is back after an explanation. But the line between household and government and party, one hears, has been clearly drawn.

Contrary to common perception, Jayalalithaa can be quite courteous to the media. She is one political leader who, no matter what, will always wish you back, when you greet her. When she took over as Chief Minister for the first time in 1991, she started on a great note, in the absence of a real political opposition, requesting the media to play that role. But in course of time, the equation changed. In her second innings, about a hundred defamation cases were slapped against mediapersons but later withdrawn. Last year, as she drove in to Fort. St. George, her promise or rather "deal" with the media - of a weekly interaction, was music to all our ears. Sadly, it lasted just three weeks! But her PR Dept has been efficiently sending out press releases; something that doesn't help the electronic media adequately.

Politically, Jayalalithaa is on a strong wicket; with even the BJP cosying up to her. Not to speak of other regional parties. If the AIADMK manages to win about thirty seats in '201 whenever' Amma could well emerge as King Maker. I will never forget her smile and the response 'Thank You For The Compliment' when I asked her if she would like to be Prime Minister one day, given her experience and competence.

Now for the final score card! Keeping in mind the constraints it has had to work under and based on a dispassionate assessment, I'd give this Govt a First Class. I'd perhaps top that up to Distinction if I get that exclusive interview! Meanwhile, Congratulations, Amma!

By Word Of ‘Mouse’!

By Sanjay Pinto

Imagine the initial Cola war being fought in the social media age! Or for that matter, consumers buoyed by that old Doordarshan serial ‘Rajini’ and armed with twitter and facebook, taking on business establishments that seek to short change them. The power at your finger tips and the instant reach of your 140 character grouse or feedback is a different form of empowerment. It has made Corporate India sit up and take notice of tweets and wall posts that can go viral and spread much faster than the common cold. As after sales service is quite pathetic in the country, several international brands now claim to address consumer complaints through the social media. It could be a win-win for both sides. For the consumer, a simple sentence could end in redressal. For the company, a sort of brand building exercise and a bid to deflect negative feedback. However, if companies have such a facility, and don’t really solve issues, consumers could vote with their feet! A mobile phone manufacturer has been drawing flak for not even responding to complaints about defects in a few new models and instead just going overboard with promotional content. One wonders why they exist on such platforms. Silence is not eloquent. And tokenism can be quite counter productive.

At the start of the new financial year, many top notch companies  have stepped up their presence on the social media by signing up tech & media savvy individuals and firms with an annual retainer model. Some have even hired professionals to manage their social media, as part of the Corporate Communications department. Because the 'word of mouse' can supplement the  traditional advertising blitzkrieg. Ad gurus may soon have to reinvent the ‘deal’!

Alongside the common man and India Inc, the political class has also ‘invaded’ the social media. Unlike crowds at political rallies, an educated ‘follower’ of a politician does not need biriyani and booze to paddle ideology or indulge in online sycophancy by attacking opponents or those with a different point of view or simply retweeting – a classic ‘Follow The Leader’ game. While there are a few Chief Ministers who connect with people by tweeting on their development agenda, it’s refreshing to see the Prime Minister Of India on twitter. It’s probably the handiwork of his new Communications Advisor Pankaj Pachauri, who admittedly,  is himself attracting close to five hundred followers a week. @PMOIndia has about a lakh followers. Strangely, the PM only follows ten people or organisations like Sam Pitroda, UNICEF, the World Bank, the White House, the Russian President and the UK Prime Minister, among others!

But the medium can be a double edge sword as Abhishek Manu Singhvi learnt the hard way. The former Congress spokesperson and legal eagle may have got a court injunction against the mainstream media from publicising a sex video. But there was nothing to stop  people from uploading versions or copies on youtube and then posting those links in the social media.

The ‘do it yourself’ syndrome that I often come across on facebook is fascinating. A group in one of our metros called ‘Chennai Shopping’, started as a sort of hobby by a young corporate executive Sarah Natasha with a handful of shopoholics has, over a few months, leapfrogged to over eleven thousand members! A simple post like “where can I get good baking soda?” results in an avalanche of options in minutes. Everything from second hand jewellery to a year end garage sale pops up. The proof of its reach lies in status updates from business establishments. Here’s a whole new platform for free ads. And discounts for members too!

PMK: The Mango & Its Roots!

By Sanjay Pinto

The PMK that has been out in the political wilderness for a while,put up a show of strength at its Vanniyar Youth Festival in the tourist hotspot - Mahabalipuram. The party of former Union Health Minister Dr.Anbumani Ramadoss managed to rustle up a crowd of a few lakh Vanniyar youth as a sort of answer to Vijaykanth's DMDK party that eroded its vote base in both the 2009 Lok Sabha Poll, where Ramdoss' party drew a blank and the 2011 Assembly election where it managed to win just 3 out of the 30 seats it had wrenched from the DMK led alliance.

Although the PMK had all along insisted that it is not a party meant only for Vanniyars - a powerful community of traders concentrated in the Northern belt of Tamilnadu, recent electoral setbacks have forced it to go back to its  traditional vote base. At the Mahabalipuram gathering, party founder Dr.S.Ramadoss played to the Vanniar gallery by reviving old demands in a new meet! Reservation for Vanniyar Youth in education & employment, a series of protests between July & August, a fair caste based census and its pet prohibition call were the resolutions passed.

For more than a decade, the father-son doctor duo seemed to have had their finger on the pulse of winning alliances ; moving from one coalition to another, earning the party the nickname 'fence sitter'. But smarting from what the party called 'shabby treatment' by the two dravidian juggernauts, the PMK recently vowed to maintain a safe distance from both the AIADMK and the DMK. Does that ring a bell? That's just the sort of  detached innings 'Captain' Vijaykanth set out to play when he launched the DMDK. But the actor-politician who calls himself the 'Black MGR', realised his bread would be buttered by being in an alliance.Winning 29 seats in the assembly, many felt, was possible only because his party rode on the massive Jayalalithaa wave that swept Tamilnadu last year. The feat catapulted the action hero as the Opposition Leader; a role that soon made him a "villain" in the eyes of the ruling party and landed the DMDK out of the AIADMK led alliance!

Back to the PMK; these are tough times for Ramdoss & Co. The top brass is now mired in a criminal case in Tamilnadu. Anbumani too has been recently chargesheeted by the CBI in an Indore Medical College scam.However, in Tamilnadu, you just cannot write off any party. The PMK may not have won many seats but it does have its vote share among the Vanniars; not to forget women voters who identify with its anti alcohol crusade; which could tilt the scales in any close contest. One reason why the party, whose election symbol is the mango, is moving back to its roots. On the sidelines, there are soft targets like actor Vijay, whose film poster showing him smoking, are enough to stay in the news.

'Atmospheric' Pressure!

By Sanjay Pinto

It's not often that you fight medication induced drowsiness to hammer out a blog. But I've been provoked to write this as a few important aspects of the debate on transferring a case out of a State due to a "vitiated" atmosphere seem to have been overlooked.

When the Supreme Court  transferred  the Rajiv convicts mercy plea out of the Madras High Court today, on a petition filed by a Tamilnadu Congressman citing a "surcharged"  atmosphere in the State, I told myself "this is a hat trick !" A few years ago, Jayalalithaa's disproportionate assets case was moved to Bengaluru on a petition by the DMK. The sensational Kanchipuram temple murder case in which the two Shankaracharyas are the prime accused was also transferred out of Tamilnadu to neighbouring Puducherry for "a free and fair" trial.

The fundamental difference here is that the Rajiv convicts case is not a trial. It is in fact a sort of super appeal; having passed through all the tiers of judicial wisdom; and beyond! After the Supreme Court awarded Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan the death penalty for a 'rarest of rare' murder; the trio appealed to the President for mercy. A plea that was rejected; and that gave rise to this fresh petition for commutation of the death sentence to life imprisonment on the ground that an inordinate delay of 11 years amounted to cruelty. The claim is backed by a legal precedent in Triveniben Vs State of Gujarat (1989) where the Court had held  that undue delay in execution of the death sentence entitles the condemned prisoner under Article 32 of the Constitution to seek commutation. What the Madras High Court had to grapple with was an important Constitutional question on whether a delay in disposing off a mercy plea, given the facts and circumstances of the present case was a sufficient ground for clemency. The case involves no investigation, no examination of witnesses, no cross examination and no fresh forensic evidence that could be tampered with.

True, there was a crowd on the Madras High Court campus on the day of the hearing of the case. There were reports of  a judge who initially wasn't keen to hear the case. There were slogans shouted. And there was a resolution passed by the ruling party; another indication of the race to capture popular Tamil sentiment. By transferring the case out of the Madras High Court what is the message that the common man would probably get? That the judges here could have been influenced by the crowd? By a few slogans? By political posturing? I think judges are made of sterner stuff. Moreover, with the present comprehensive security system that is now in place in the Madras High Court, crowds can no longer gate crash. Which is why I personally feel the Supreme Court could have called for a report of the Registry of the Madras High Court - one of the oldest chartered courts in India. Even Courts should be entitled to the principle of natural justice!

I remember covering the first bail application of the Kanchi Shankaracharya in the Madras High Court many years ago. Here too, the firebrand Ram Jethmalani appeared for the petitioner. The matter came up before Justice Balasubramaniam on a Saturday morning. The court hall was jam packed with lawyers, Shankaracharya devotees and media persons jostling for space, some of us almost forced into a Nataraja pose! On the court campus, a violent clash erupted between a political outfit whose ideology centred around atheism and a section of Kanchi Mutt devotees. We were the only channel to have the action live. If there is Tamil sentiment involved in the Rajiv case, there were religious sentiments in the Shankaracharya bail plea. Despite the tension, none of the judges seemed ruffled. In fact the Seer got bail only after a few attempts. That's my point. There is a marked difference between a trial and an appellate procedure. A crowd and slogans can intimidate a witness, not judges. For that matter, in every high profile case, there is 'pressure' stemming from 'media trial'. We don't end up transferring cases because the atmosphere is not conducive.

 The Supreme Court's logic is understandable. As it is hearing a similar issue in the Davinderpal Singh Bhullar case, taking this case on file would make things easier. But that has effectively deprived the Tamilnadu petitioners of an extra appellate shot! Justice must not only be done but also be seen to be done. That lofty ideal can be meaningful only if we trust our courts enough - that they will be able to rise above pressure tactics. And for that matter, today's verdict must serve as a lesson to those who indulge in posturing. Sloganeering can be quite counter productive.

Katju-isms & The Rules Of Discourse

By Sanjay Pinto

Press Council Chairman Justice Katju quit twitter in five days. The experience and feedback from many quarters was probably what egged him on to recently recommend some form of regulation of the ‘Rules Of Discourse’ in the social media. That was enough to open the floodgates of  vitriol. Why do we need to follow the George Bush dictum of the Gulf War vintage: ‘You are either with us or against us.”?  If what Justice Katju has in mind is not blocking fair comment but filtering vulgar, inflammatory and defamatory content, how can anyone have a problem with that? A disturbing fact is that if you say something remotely critical of the social media, you inevitably subject yourself to scorn and abusive tweets, blogs and posts. The public resentment of the ‘system’, of politicians and of the mainstream media too  may have contributed to this ‘touch me not’ syndrome . Or as a tweet put it, this is the new ‘Janata Ki Adalat’.

It takes all kinds to make the social media. There are scores of unsung heroes on twitter. Take for instance, this group ‘@BloodAid’. It’s an initiative to bridge the gap between blood donors and patients in need. The facebook pages of Alex Paul Menon, the  abducted Sukma Collector and that of his wife Asha Alex,  have been overflowing with messages of support, prayers, sharing of numbers, pictures, links and condemnation of the act, from the minute the news broke. Thank God his wall didn’t disallow posts, which is a privacy option. Today, the fastest way to confirm news is through the social media. Earlier this month, the tremors and the tsunami scare played itself out on twitter and facebook. With mobile networks jammed, these updates  were the saving grace.

No one should be allowed to police free speech and thought. Sufficient leeway for criticism, humour, disagreement and rebuttal is essential. But hold on. Just recently, an actor while engaging in an innocuous discussion on the Shah Rukh Khan detention in the US, had a nasty reply popping up: “You want actors to be worshipped in the US the way they are in India? They are no more than prostitutes.” This isn’t banter that you can shrug off. Neither is it a wisecrack like a post I came across on facebook: “bird brains tweet the most.”! This is the difference between facebook and twitter. On the latter, strangers can usually invite themselves to someone’s party and vitiate it. You can chose to confirm those who follow you on twitter but that’s an option few exercise. I was horrified to see uncharitable comments on the religion of the abducted Collector. And in response to a clever message on Easter “You can put truth in a grave; but it won’t stay there”, there were sarcastic comments on the resurrection. Can any right thinking person hold a brief for such tweets? Invariably they emanate from those who hide behind vague profiles. You need to be at the receiving end of vilification to appreciate the need for some control of what has become a behemoth.

It’s easy to say, ‘file cases if content is offensive’. How? It’s not as if the hate comment comes with a full postal address! The service providers are sitting in a foreign land and establishing identity of an offender is a challenge.

It’s not the genuine users but mischief mongers who need to worry about reasonable restrictions. Films have a Censor Board. Television needs an uplink licence and is governed by the Cable TV Act, apart from being subject to the laws of the land and self regulatory bodies like the National Broadcasters Association. Today, when you post video links on the social media, you become a sort of broadcaster yourself. It’s an extension of citizen journalism and I welcome it. But the danger of such tools, when unregulated, falling into the wrong hands, is too serious to be ignored.

To those who are already itching to throw their hat into the regulation ring, it’s worth recalling a quote attributed to Voltaire: “I may disagree with what you say but I will defend to death your right to say it”. But there is a difference between  dissent and abuse. All the stake holders must realise that ‘be you ever so social, the law is above you.’

My Friend Abducted

By Sanjay Pinto

There was something very warm about Alex Paul Menon that gave me the feeling that we were buddies from our diaper days when he first sent me a message on Facebook. It was a simple, polite introduction accompanied by a friend request. Having given the Civil Services Exam a shot and sans the customary 'sour grapes' syndrome (!) I always look up to those who make the cut in this fiercely competitive three tier test. That this young officer, from Tirunelveli in Southern Tamil Nadu was full of idealism was more than evident in  the story ideas he shared with me, that I passed on to my Headquarters. Honestly, when I come across such talent and drive, I have no regrets for not getting those three letters after my name. Because, I know better guys earned it.

Alex and I used to ping each other for a chat now and then. And what a minuscule world we live in! His fiancee - Asha, better known as Pushpa Bhagyam, was a classmate of my sister in law Kavitha Subramaniam at the MBA programme in the Madras University. Asha had participated in one of my live debates a couple of years ago. A bright spark, like her Prince Charming! Alex jogged my memory a bit with a "now that you know us both, you must come to our wedding" invitation on Facebook. I promised to be there; but in the rough and tumble of breaking news, you often miss out on such things in life. And Murphy's Law took over.

When I got the news from the Assignment Desk on Saturday evening, it felt like a personal setback. I logged into Facebook and there were already posts on Alex's wall. In hindsight, it's not a good idea to disable wall posts. Here, thanks to this tool, family, friends & well wishers, even his school alumni group, were able to  share and collate whatever little information was trickling in. From a Free Alex Paul Menon page to personal accounts like this one from Suhasini Ayer : "I have been working with Alex; the collector of Sukma, Chhattisgarh on a land use and development plan for the district that is environmentally sensitive with the participation and consultation of the local people. His first priority is to bring health services, education and meaningful livelihood to the area", the abducted officer's Facebook page is just a small barometer of his popularity.
 

I had Alex's mobile number and his wife Asha's Chennai number stored as 'Pushpa Bhagyam'; both were understandably switched off. A post on his wall seeking contact details of his relatives in Tamil Nadu and direct messages to his wife and a couple of mutual friends like Kavitha Ramu, Nagarajan and Sundar Lakshman worked like magic. Kavitha, a Tamilnadu officer texted a number of his father in law in Chennai. The next thing I knew was that our office driver Sam seemed hellbent on proving that he is a fan of Michael Schumacher! Mylapore to Mogappair West with the 'one way' chaos in half an hour was quite something!

The scene at the Venugopalans home in Nolambur in Central Chennai was justifiably tense but in control, when cameraperson Edwin, Engineer Suresh and I reached a couple of hours after the kidnapping. A retired Chief Engineer at LIC, Venugopalan made an emotional appeal to the abductors to release his son in law. As I finished my interview, a cop friend - Tamil Nadu IG Intelligence - Amaresh Pujari, called on my mobile. On my request, I passed on the phone to Venugopalan who was suitably relieved to get a dose of  hope and confidence from the IG.

Asha is in the family way; 6 months away from her due date. And has been associated with NGOs, fully immersed in social work. She was supposed to attend the convocation at the Madras University for her MBA degree on Saturday - the day Alex was kidnapped; but had decided to skip the function as she was indisposed. Imagine  a new bride; away from home, in a Naxal infested area, just 7 months into her marriage, 3 months into her pregnancy, coming to terms with the fact that her husband has been abducted by Naxals after the gunning down of his security officers. It takes rare courage, maturity far beyond 24 years and amazing grace and dignity to conduct herself the way she has. This young lady is clearly made of sterner stuff. "I am sure he will be back soon. I miss him", she wrote a message to me on Facebook but seemed concerned about how her husband would manage without enough medicines for asthma. I've seen such courage in films like Roja. Now I'm seeing this in real life.

Alex did not join the Civil Service for the trappings of power. Not many are aware that he was first selected for the Indian Revenue Service. That would have meant city postings and what many consider a 'cushy life.' But his heart is in rural service and development. Which is why he went through that gruelling exam all over again and made it to the IAS. Allotted the Chattisgarh cadre, Alex is a hands on officer. Despite an intelligence warning, he placed duty above his personal safety; even going on a bike to remote parts of his district. When the Naxals who had surrounded the car shouted "Who is the Collector?", an unruffled Alex stepped aside and identified himself.  That's a leader. A pro-development, pro-poor officer, a simple middle class young man who made it on his own steam, a father in the making. There is zero reason for a man like him to be away from his family and the people he is meant to serve.

I'm sure Alex, like most Tamilians, is a Rajinikanth fan. To quote a dialogue of the superstar from the film 'Basha' "God will test good people but never let them down." I'm praying for my friend to be set free soon. And I'm waiting for him to ping me again.

Transparency Leads To Privacy!

By Sanjay Pinto

It may seem like an oxymoron but transparency can result in privacy! And India's real life hero - Yuvraj Singh knows that better than anyone else. It's a different matter that the Indian cricketer successfully battled cancer in a hospital abroad. Even if he had been treated in India, Yuvi may just have obviated the need for intrusive reportage. And that's thanks to his personal PR manager called twitter. All that news organisations had to do was to follow his tweets that were perfect news updates on his progress, his state of mind, his support, (including an inspiring message from his very own "real life hero" Lance Armstrong) and his will to bounce back. The 'tweet while you're treated' policy was also a great way to connect with his twelve and a half lakh followers. The sheer positive energy that flowed and came right back from well wishers and fans must have been quite therapeutic.

@ Yuvstrong12 is a classic example of how the social media, if used fairly and innovatively, can have a salutary effect on nosey-parker reporters who invite themselves into hospitals and thrust microphones before critically injured patients with that gem of a cliche "How do you feel?". We've seen that in the aftermath of bomb blasts, earthquakes, the tsunami, rail accidents, air crashes and stampedes. Or for that matter the paparazzi outside maternity hospitals whenever a celebrity delivers a baby.  Before my readers get thoughts of 'look who is talking', may I plead 'Not Guilty'? Broad brushing is always a temptation. 

Even what may be a routine medical check up or post operative care, turns into a media event. Amitabh Bachchan, better known for his candid, rather than candied tweets, got a taste of the hyperactive media baying for his news yet again, prompting this tweet: "Dearest tv media and vans outside my home, please do not stress and work so hard. Its nothing, just another visit to my doctor!!". Perhaps the best way to disperse journalists is to tweet a little information!  At one level, it’s the champagne bottle theory playing out in full fizz – the more you suppress information, the greater is the urge to unravel it. The  strategy will hopefully sound the deathknell of a brand of meaningless, insensitive journalism. And don’t be surprised if  celebrity management metamorphoses into social media management.

Like twitter, facebook also allows you to display transparency and have your privacy too. The art of diplomacy, a wag once quipped is to “remember a woman’s birthday, never her age!” You don’t need to publicise your age here, unless you choose to flaunt your grey eminence. Privacy settings include the option to disable wall posts from friends or the public. There is a marked preference for just direct messages. The birthday tracker remains a favourite tool. Reasonably popular users could get upto five hundred wishes on their birthdays. When people, prompted by facebook, of course, take the trouble to post a wish, a real turn off would be a round robin style, generic 'Thank You, All' reply; almost reflecting an overnight celebrity status! For those who construe individual replies as a form of birthday bumps, Facebook could consider adding a 'Thank You' icon next to the 'Like' button.  So if you have wishes galore, you can do the ‘Acknowledgement Due’ honours at the speed of, well, five hundred expressions of gratitude in a little over eight minutes! Please redo the math. That has always been my nemesis!