|
BY DILIP BOBB
Paparazzi
Pictures
The world-wide debate over the rolls of the
paparazzi has been largely unfocussed in India. Most
Indian editors are so enamoured of their own writing --
even if no one else is -- that they prefer their
newspapers to feature no photographs at all. Their
self-imposed code of conduct has meant that the Indian
public has been deprived of 'titillation' except for the
rare occasion when the phrase was taken literally by
Protima Bedi streaking on Juhu beach. However, there are
some photographs that any editor would die for. Examples:
- Any picture of Prime Minister I.K. Gujral which
doesn't show him looking like the chief mourner
at a funeral.
- Criminals being evicted from Parliament which
leaves the Lok Sabha benches as empty as it was
during the special Independence session.
- Mamata Banerjee chucking Sitaram Kesri under his
chin (both of them) while cooing, "You old
bandicoot."
- Renuka Chowdhary surrounded by her children
holding up a blown-up poster which says:
"One is fun, five is a riot."
- K.P.S. Gill pinching someone's bottom while
holding up a copy of his book, The Nights of
Falsehood.
- A picture of Railway Minister Ram Vilas Paswan at
a train accident site which will be a rare change
from the publicity shots of him inaugurating the
same train the previous day.
- The Indian cricket team holding up a trophy after
winning an international tournament. The last one
was so long ago, everyone has forgotten the
event.
- Bal Thackeray wearing a green silk outfit and
sporting a button which says; "I love
Muslims."
- Laloo Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi sitting in an
air-conditioned cell watching Tu Tu, Main Main on
his colour tv.
- Sonia Gandhi giving a political speech which
lasts more than 30 seconds and does not include
the phrase "Jai Hind".
- V.P. Singh officially "retiring" from
politics instead of merely threatening to do so
at every opportunity.
- A photograph showing any street in the capital
which is free of stray cattle or uncollected
garbage.
- A government office which shows people actually
working hard instead of hardly working.
- A fashion show by any well-known Indian designer
which features clothes that people can actually
wear.
- Finally, the front page of a newspaper which
doesn't contain news that's depressing -- and
features some sexy paparazzi pictures.
|
