What Really Matters

With the media compromised, people are finding it hard to separate real news from the fake  It's difficult to separate real news from fake.  You can no longer rely on TV news shows for the truth. And social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp) have too much misinformation.  Our broadcasters have become mouthpieces of political parties. The ones, you thought, would hold the government accountable for their actions, have drifted into their arms. Anyone voicing an opinion different from the government is a public enemy. An army of online trolls can discredit anyone who dares to speak out against a state narrative.   Governments have always wanted to control the media. But India's press has never felt so threatened as it does under the regime of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Many Media outlets need government's support, thus, are reluctant to take on those in power for the fear of losing business.  Noted journalist Punya Prasun Bajpai resigned...

Migrant workers with their family on the road as they look to head back to village .  Credit/Scroll.in On March 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus. States sealed their borders and transport came to a halt. Little did anyone know, at the time, the effect it would have on the lives of migrant workers, left to fend for themselves. With all avenues of making money shut, many agitated workers staged demonstration, demanding trains and buses to transport to their native places. Several thronged to the railway and bus stations, flouting social distancing rules and putting themselves and others at risk, all in vain. Clashes erupted at many places including Mumbai and Surat, forcing the police to resort to lathi charge. PM's slogan 'stay home, stay safe' meant little to these workers, who had families to feed. The choice was to either die of hunger or take a chance with the deadly coronavirus and head...

The chemistry between the two central characters in Normal People is so palpable that it only takes a few seconds to fully immerse in their world. Marianne, played by Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Connell, portrayed by Paul Mescal in his first TV role, weave in and out of each other's lives in this intense TV adaptation of Sally Rooney's novel. Set in Ireland in the 2010s, the 12 half-hour-long episodes masterfully capture the complexities of first love. The show will either leave you wanting more or relieved that you no longer have to go through the agony of young love. Marianne and Connell are schoolmates from opposite ends of the social spectrum. Marianne comes from a wealthy background, while Connell's mother (played by Sarah Greene) works as a cleaner in Marianne's family house. Marianne is an outcast at school, opinionated, intimidating, and sarcastic, while Connell is charming, athletic, popular, and shy. Despite their differences, the two share a fondness for each o...

"You need an all-round improvement. It includes writing, editing and page-making. What you write is just basics. Some of your reports are plainly awful. Even the local and around stuffs that you write, have many mistakes. You ed ited copies need editing," the boss said. "It is high time man! your really need to pull up your socks if you are interested in working here. You need to elaborate what you write in your copies. Explain the match. Don't just write the summary. I need the details. Tell me, did you ever play in any sport," he added. Recently, my seniors reviewed my performance, and let's just say the outcome was far from favorable. I was under the impression that I was doing alright, not excelling, but at least meeting the basic requirements. However, the feedback suggested otherwise, leading to an extension of my training period. During the review, my boss didn't mince his words. I was expecting some positive feedback, but what I got was a rea...

I have stopped romanticizing the idea of pursuing a career in writing. For the longest time, I wanted to share my words with the world. Off-lately, I've come to realize that i don't really have much to offer. What I thought was passion, was a phase, which passed away. Reading is imperative for a writer and I hardly do it. It is the most basic exercise but i just don't feel like doing it. I have been advised so many times, by friends, family and even colleagues, to let go of the lethargic attitude and focus on the task at hand. But, those words fell on deaf ears. For the record, I am a journalist. But this was not a deliberate choice; it was more a twist of fate.  This realization alone explains a lot about my current state of mind. I remember reading once that 'when we set sail in search of our life's work, we must first look for passion. Not fame or rewards or riches, but a willingness to quietly do our work'. It appears my search is far...

When you choose to ignore the signs, despite knowing the truth behind this is the result it yields. You cry, curse and regret the decision, which eventually led to this situation. You wonder what you could have done to avoid this condition. then you realise, blaming the past, is not a solution. Sometimes you need a jolt, to see the clear picture, Coz you know it is for your own future. 

Much is expected from the newly formed football league –Indian Super League (ISL) to rejuvenate the sport in India. Co-promoted by IMG-Reliance, Star India, celebrities from sports and Hindi film industry, this venture aims to nurture young talents. Earlier though, there were rumours that suggested, not all is well between Indian football governing body - All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) and the Indian Super League (ISL), because the owners of I-league clubs were against the idea of loaning out their players to ISL. However, it was put to rest when the new league was officially launched on October 21, by IMG- Reliance, Star sports and the AIFF.  ISL, consisting of eight franchises – Mumbai City FC, FC Pune City, Delhi Dynamos, FC Goa, Kerala Blasters FC, NorthEast United FC and Atletico de Kolkata, will play a minimum of 14 matches. The semi-final matches will be played on home and away basis. ISL franchises have landed number of European stars, which includes four...