So you think YOU’VE got Acronyms?

There are four things that got my attention when reading the local newspapers. Newspapers still have relevance here because our high tech center has, overall, a very low penetration of internet. Of course, in HiTec City, the proportion of smart phones to sacred cows is off the charts, but the fact remains that the bulk of the population just ain’t wired. Thus, The Deccan Chronicle published in Hyderabad has become our paper of choice in the morning. Now Deccan refers to the vast plateau stretching south from about mid-country. The original Sanskrit means “south” but more recent texts than the Sanskrit attributed to Alexander the Great suggests it means “where men wear dirty loincloths and possess fewer teeth than they have children.” That definition comes from the north, of course. Here’s one of my new friends named “Smiley” in Hindi. He’s the groundskeeper for one the landlords whose properties we looked at. We had taken him with us to locate the property as I have pointed out, addresses mean NOTHING!
A new acquaintance of mine here in Hyderabad suggests that India has been given a raw deal from the US State Department. It is the largest democracy in the world. That we knew. It is one of only a few countries that is completely surrounded by its enemies: Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. He threw in Afghanistan because he believes the tribes are more likely to side with Pakistan than with their friends in the US or UK. He is not alone. The recently leaked secret documents certainly support that contention. He further contends that the relationship that the US has with Pakistanis is indicative of a screwed up foreign policy followed by the US -- point taken. This is supported by articles like: "Osama hired bombers in Pak: Wikileaks". I could only counter that the US is consistent in its foreign policy screw ups. Successive administrations have continued the same type of screwed up policy going back to the cold war. He then drew a parallel between illegal immigration in the US and a similar problem they have with Bangladesh in which India is getting about a million illegal immigrants a year. The US has it much better. Of the thousands coming across the southern border each year, there is only a handful that really hate us and want to do us harm. The bulk of undocumented immigrants to the US are either indifferent or looking for the nearest emergency room. Conversely, the total illegal immigration from Bangladesh hates Indians (it’s that religious thingy). Add to that the Naxals (that’s the nice term for the Maoists) in Bengal who go around killing rural people for kicks. That group gets pissed when the state police and government troops waste one of their people. And the cycle continues. I guess that’s partly symbolized in the cosmic wheel (Dharma Chakra) in the center of the Indian flag which intends to show that there is life in movement and death in stagnation which is very true if you want to talk about tigers or rampaging elephants. The saffron color of the three on the flag stands for courage, sacrifice and the spirit of renunciation; the white, for purity and truth; the green for faith and fertility. The saffron also stands for the exorbitant prices paid among the non-Indians at any shop. Deb bought two tops at one of the craft booths at Shilparamam and, while I didn’t tell her, I saw the guy close up his booth as we were leaving and post a sign saying he was going on holiday for the next two months.
Oh, yeah, the acronyms. Today’s paper was actually light on the front page. A major headline was “Sohrabuddin case: CBI summons Geetha Johri”. Geetha is in trouble; well, kind of in trouble. No one actually seems to be convicted in criminal cases, particularly what we would consider “white collar” crimes. But since no one really wears a “white collar”, most people describe the issue as corruption or bribery. Go figure. Today’s morning news had an anchor absolutely apoplectic in his questioning of the minister of the 2012 Olympic games. It seems that in the haste to get the venues built, short cuts were taken. Inspections were not made. Accusations of corruption and bribery were being flung about. The anchor continued to ramp up his accusations and with each sentence his voice raised an octave, at least! By the end of the interview, the minister was still sitting calmly saying, “Well, I don’t have day to day ability to visit every site. I certainly don’t know about concrete. I must depend on the inspectors.” The anchor was hyperventilating and frothing at the mouth, surrounded by a pack of the feral dogs who must have responded to the pitch in his voice.
Well, the Deccan is just as rabid with the words, but the flowery language they use, almost arcane syntax, takes the edge off what you get on TV. The only way I can describe the writing is if you listen to the voice-overs from the old Pathe propaganda newsreels from the UK in WWII.
Back to the acronyms, HC is high court, but they don’t tell you whether it’s the state high court or the Supreme Court. You have to read the article to determine the context, location, and players. Maybe that’s good. They don’t write like USA Today, that’s for sure. Another headline was “Lobbying begins for TTD chief post. Well the TTD is defined, but does not give you the context of why it is important or why big wigs would be lobbying for the chairmanship other than the position gives them unlimited access to corruption and bribery. But often the article really doesn’t address the headline until you’re well past the page break.
Then, of course, there is the sports section. Recently, the articles have been focused on the sex scandal with the Women’s field hockey team. Their coach was determining field positions and playing time with positions and playing time on an individual basis. But the triumph of the India cricket team over its wobbly start against Sri Lanka in the beginning of the world cup of cricket. But they got their groove and the paper is now providing almost two pages to the cricketers. Now this shouldn’t surprise you because there are three channels on cable that are dedicated to cricket.
But the best part is the classifieds. Now we’re all familiar with the SWF seeks SWF in the Village Voice or local free advertising newspapers in NYC. But these classifieds for matrimony are far more detailed in what they are looking for and what they have to offer. You find some like “29 years old. Handsome, IT degree, MBA, parents retired doctors. Looking for attractive, light skinned, slim well educated woman 18 to 24 and a half years old. Caste no barrier.” Picky, picky, picky! Also, let’s see what “handsome” really means, and if, with IT degree and an MBA means he’s working as a tea boy at a call center. He’s obviously living with mom and dad, so just how much attraction can you get with the potential of a comfortable inheritance.
Well, we’re putting this piece to bed. Let’s see what comes of our new apartment tomorrow.