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Finally, from an Android app! Hope it helps me post more often...

What Will You Remember About the Year 2010 in India?

Here is what I will remember the first year of second decade of second millennium - 

Apart from the scandals mentioned in the advertisements here, look how each news channel claims of exclusivity and popularity. With the 'paid news' controversy and the involvement of media personalities in 2G scam (aka RadiaGate), the media ethics have become the main point of a vigorous debate in 2010.

Keep your fingers crossed for a positive outcome of all these corruption scandals which marked the year of 2010.

* All these pages have appeared in these 2 magazines - Outlook, Open.

Media In Dilemma

Here is the link to my post on Indian media facing a dilemma. It is published on blog of MediaNext - my company.

The Unsung German of India [CWG, Sports]

In spite of all the controversies that preceded the Delhi Commonwealth Games, I must say that I enjoyed every moment during the last 11 days. Sometimes I even wondered where are the falling roofs? Where are the clogged toilets? What was on screen was pure sports, pure joy. Isn't it these sports moments which shape the pride of a nation - the stock index of happiness and pride moving up or down with every medal that is won or lost?

And, all these controversies went completely into oblivion when India put a stellar performance at the Games. In India, we are raised to believe that there are only 2 games at which India can win - Cricket, and then Cricket (- add corruption and babies-making to it, might say some mockingly). So, one never expects an Indian to win in other games, more so in athletics. No way! No way, unless he or she is raised, bred or trained from childhood in US! 

But in 2010, India did win some medals (a spectacular 1-2-3 in women's discuss throw, and a gold medal in 4X400 relay - women's, and some more).

In this context, I came across the story of the day - a story of a hero whose connection with India only a few might be knowing. His name was Otto Peltzer - a German athlete who made tremendous impact on India athletics.

Here is his story from Australian newspaper the Age -

J.S.Saini, the 83-year-old track and field guru who for two decades was India's chief national coach, called him the father figure of Indian athletics. Norris Pritam, who ran under Peltzer as a teenager, said no one had made as big an impact on Indian athletics as the man they knew simply as ''Doc'', and no one ever would.

His story is a moving story, in the sense that he is a forgotten hero in India. Let's hope that his efforts will find recognition as India continues on the path of more sporting glory.

Here is the link to the story.

Here is the Wikipedia entry for Otto Peltzer.

*Image - Wikipedia

Muddy Disaster in Hungary

The photo appeared on one of the most popular photoblogs - Big Picture.

Other photos

Photo Link