the times they are a-changing back
So a historic decision has been made in the Vohra-Andheri (E) household.
Some years ago, fed up of the page3fication of the TOI I decided to move to the Indian Express. It wasn't easy because all my life newspaper matlab TOI just like orange boleto Gold Spot. But if the Parle factory could change its goldspots to bisleri surely I could change my paper? In truth, I went back and forth - to the Express, then back to the TOI until I finally made the transition in 2003.
I stuck with the Indian Express for the next few years, even though it got thinner and flimsier and less and less satisfying. So what if the main paper was iffy - at least Newsline was good I'd tell myself. IE was the default choice of the progressives.
Then in 2005 the Hindustan Times which I used to read and like in Delhi, came to Bombay and without thinking I switched, relieved that I had a way not to give in to the insistent promotions of DNA and Mumbai Mirror. And I was quite happy with it for a while - it was a meaty paper with lots of interesting, provocative columnists and enough about environment, film, art, archaelogy etc. I didn't even succumb when Meenal, the editor at Mumbai Mirror said to me -'you don't get the mirror? Ok,I won't say anything.' although I felt a bit guilty given I write for them. Well, three years on, it's not quite so rosy. The papers gotten thinner than Kareena Kapoor. The columns are a bit centrist and shrill. They don't even really have an editorial of any gravitas. The supplement is depressing. They have tonnes of mistakes of language and of fact - recently in some article on porn the Milos Forman movie was referred to as Larry Flynt vs. Larry Flynt - when the real title is The People vs. Larry Flynt (as a google search would have confirmed). And even the initial campiness of Under Honey's Hat has gotten very ho hum and not fun.
So today, standing at the door, paying the newspaper bill, complaining - aap Tehelka itni der se kyon dete ho etc. - I slipped in the words I never thought I'd say - kal se roz ka paper Times of India.
I get the Times on Sundays and I've noticed that it's really improved. I see it at other people's houses and I do feel its changed in the opposite direction to itself. And one can just not read the Bombay Times.
Now there's been no change in the ownership, the basic philosophy etc. of the management so what's changed I wonder? I tell myself political growth lies in not being rigid but in responding to the reality as you see it.
We'll see what happens - tomorrow being the first day of my changing times.
Comments
Now I read blogs. :D
However, let us see how this tryst with The Times goes. I may yet change again!!!
I've seen other newspapers at the dentists, doctors, libraries n railway stations and i cant help feeling better for having HINDU cos i feel none other paper can be as satisfying as the HINDU. Now i may be BIASED. it may be conditioning but i still love my HINDU although now as it is changing with TIMES (pun intended) i dont seem to like the increase no. of full page advertisements n nonsensical info (rarely) in its supplementary papers.
But now , i think i should also try other newspapers, what if I'm still living in an alternate reality that probably doesn't exist. however I dont think I can ever buy a TOI and Malayala Manorama . I so totally hate these two.
i should mention TEHELKA, its sad to see that our magazine shops in trivandrum keep only abt 2-3 copies of TEHELKA. Ever since i got my first copy, i havnt missed any cos this is where i find some of he best writings ever . (Paromita, pardon me , my language)
Its so much painful sometimes, to read some unbelievable political n social articles.
hmm anyways, i think i digressed a lot from the topic. Sorry Paromita. I took so much of ur space.