The She(i)tty Times of India

Okay, Shilpa Shetty at the Big Brother show in UK has been causing quite a stir over the supposedly racist comments by her co-participants. But is it the only thing that happened this week? I read only the Times of India, and sadly think so.

The Sunday Times center page is replete with articles by eminent journalists on matters of varying interests. The TOI, has however been more notorious for being a 'Masala' Times because of the unproportionate weightage it gives to the reel life.

So, today's center page has six articles. The first one is from the very eminent Shobha De. She talks about hypocritical Indians who are so quick to claim that whites are racist when each one of them themselves is no better.All this in light of the Shilpa Shetty issue. Yep, true.

The second article is from CP Surendran, who asks readers not to give in to the sensitive Shilpa Shetty issue, since it is a publicity stunt. Yep, true.

The third one is from Bachi Karkaria and she asks the same question that Shobha De had already posed. And you know my reply to that.

The next one from Chidananad Rajghatta who, in the light of the racism controversy of the Big Brother show guesstimates how long it will be before racism stops. Hmmm, even I wonder till when.

Only Jug Suraiya talks on real estates, and Swaminathan Aiyar on Inflation. Swaminathan, the poor chap must not have found one angle how he could link the Shilpa Shetty issue to the Indian economy. So, he thought, 'Ok, let me write about this inflation thing that came in that small box in TOI yesterday...'. Oh yes, I understand that.

So., with four out of six articles on Shilpa Shetty, and couple of more about the same issue on the front page as well as somewhere in the middle, India is definitely worried about what's going to happen next at the Cebrity Big Brother.

Bachi Karkaria makes a punch statement with her article title which reads, "Is there life after Celebrity Big Brother". Sadly for you madam, it is for your own newspaper to realize that. The rest of us know it is since ever.

Insanity at its best : Orkut communities

I am amazed at how people crave to form communities on Orkut for every chilly and pepper in life. Today,I received an invitation to join a community, "Save Shilpa". The community is apparently trying to save Shilpa Shetty from her 'ignominy' at the Big Brother show. Wow, she gets paid to participate, she gets paid to get 'racially abused'. And now, there is this guy who forms this community!

If you did not have an Orkut account, never mind, I shall quote the community description for you.

It’s amusing how voting for a reality television is supposedly a reflection of personal politics. The glory of out country Shilpa has been targeted & victimized due to her color, nationality, cultural values, religious believes, social status and looks. Ms. Shilpa Shetty is bullied and harassed by Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd, and Jo O’Meara (three fellow house mates) to an extent that it’s unbearable. I strongly feel that 100 crs people must contribute 1 Rs. each and pay back to all the participants for just saying we love Indians and we love India.

Let’s join hands and pass your message through this community against this gross injustice being done to Shilpa and many others. We need your voice to tackle these racists against their filthy minds....stand up speak up!!!!!!!

That apart don't worry about missing to see the link. There are hardly three members in the community and zero discussions on!