November Medley - Bharat Ratna, National River, Half-White House

A decade from now, this is how I wish to remember November 5 of a certain year.
"1. The Government announced the award of Bharat Ratna to Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. The newspapers gave him a 1/2 inch space. No channel resounded with his music. A kid's voice could be heard - Who is he, mom?
(Image from India Today site)
Salutations to the Maestro.

2. The Ganga has been declared as National River.
Best wishes to the Ganga River Basin Authority - may they work with sincerity of purpose to stop pollution and degradation. The newspaper allowed Ganga to take up a little more space.
Perhaps one can feel much happier when listening to Bhupen Hazarika's Ganga behti ho kyon

3. (The thought occured that)  the White House in a certain Nation could be renamed a Half-White House. The newspapers and the channels went disproportionately overboard."
Image from infoplease.com

Comments

  1. Indrani05 November, 2008

    :))
    Glad you gave him a big space here.
    I love that Bhupen Hazarika's song, thanks for the link.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Inner Vision05 November, 2008

    very thoughtful... its really sad. good job done.

    ReplyDelete
  3. RAJI MUTHUKRISHNAN05 November, 2008

    Hmm, when will they ever learn...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Swarna06 November, 2008

    Indrani, IV, Raji
    The lesson continues to be - Moderation in Everything and Everything in Moderation'.

    ReplyDelete
  5. lipi07 November, 2008

    Ouch! Being in America, and having to be, of necessity, politically correct, I first did not understand the reference to the renaming of the Presidential residence. And, when enlightenment dawned, my eyes grew wide at the audacity! I applaud you for being natural. Keep it up!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Swarna07 November, 2008

    Thanks, Lipi
    That was just an off the cuff note (only pun intended)-in the context of news that I saw as locally important.
    I'm glad that is seen as natural - as it should be!
    I don't wear a hat,else I'd have said hats off to Mr BHO. I can however greet him with a very Indian Namaste!

    ReplyDelete
  7. RAJI MUTHUKRISHNAN07 November, 2008

    Forgot to say I appreciated your wit re Half - White house!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Swarna07 November, 2008

    Raji - thanks -for re-visiting and re-commenting

    ReplyDelete
  9. Salil07 November, 2008

    Swarna,
    Did the channels and newspapers go overboard with Obama's victory?
    As far as US is concerned, it is a historical moment to put an African-American in white house.
    Cheers,

    ReplyDelete
  10. Swarna08 November, 2008

    So it is, Salil
    But - The lesson continues to be - Moderation in Everything and Everything in Moderation'.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Lakshmi Bharadwaj09 November, 2008

    Yay for Ganga being declared the national river!! I hope they really put in more work to make the basin cleaner! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Swarna11 November, 2008

    Lakshmi - and then Yamuna, and Cauvery, and, and, ..... the Cooum!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Gowri Mohanakrishnan11 November, 2008

    After reading what you write, I really wish our government would recognise artistes like Bhimsen Joshi when they are in their prime. Wouldnt it be encouraging to receive an award when the artiste is young ansd has many performing years ahead of him?
    Should all awards be given in retrospect?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Swarna11 November, 2008

    Gowri, thanks for visiting.
    Well, in India those in power believe that life begins at 60 or later (remember we have a 81-yr ol' PM-prospect!)
    So we should be content with better late - than later - than never!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Kat13 November, 2008

    Somehow such great news are eclipsed. Nice of you to have highlighted them.

    People do go overboard on the USA matters, but somehow I like Obama!

    ReplyDelete

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