Sightings

IT'S confirmed now. Shocking as it may be. Fifty-six per cent of Indian women surveyed have said that it was acceptable for husbands to beat them up, specially if they were found ignoring the family or the children. Even as feminists all over the country are bristling with righteous anger and feeling let down, ordinary middle class women feel that wife beating is an acceptable norm.

THE entire world watched in horror when a home video shot somewhat clandestinely at what has been called a routine exercise, showed police dogs in South Africa savaging Black prisoners at what has been called a training exercise for the canine unit. The video showed White policemen jeering, kicking and punching the black prisoners as they screamed and begged for mercy. Though the present government denied such a thing could have occurred six years after apartheid had been flushed out, the six officers have been arrested.

WHY, oh why, do authors insist on seeing only the ugly realities of life? There is so much more to life than the grim notes that most Indian authors insist on penning feels Jyoti Jafa, as her book, Really Your Highness was released recently. Jafa, who is an aristocrat herself said that her book was about the celebration of the grandeur that "my people have created in the State of Rajasthan." She goes to lengths to educate the uneducated that she is not "royalty, but aristocracy, and because all royal houses are related to each other. I grew up in the Bikaner Palace."

The book is something of a comeuppance at the delightful idiosyncracies of the royal entourage. Based on stories that Jafa has been regaled with over years, "It is a laughathon a minute," said Jafa. The book deals with the life and times of the erstwhile Rajputana. She also sets out to explode the myth of docility of royal women.

WHAT'S in a name? Everything, according to Dominic Knight, Managing Director of Palgrave, the new name that Macmillan and its American sister company St. Martin's Press, have taken on. Knight, who was in Delhi after 15 years, said that under the single banner, the company would be able to confront the challenges of the Century, especially the American market, which he considers the "single biggest market for academic books." Knight predicted that India would take off in the next 10 years as a market for academic books, what with the boom in infotech.

IT could have been nostalgia time for many that afternoon as Shahryar Khan flanked by Gayatri Devi of Jaipur and Natwar Singh, spoke at length at the release of his book, Begums of Bhopal. The book is an amazing collection of facts and figures of the women of Bhopal in pre-partition days. Four of these ruled the State, clever as they were, with a shrewdness for political detail. The British of course were never happy about the maharanis who ruled with an iron hand behind their burkhas.

THE indefatigable Mallika Sarabai has got herself a new role - as hostess for CNN's "Style South Asia" on its South Asia channel which will beam the latest on technology, fashion and lifestyle in the sub-continent. Sarabai called it "breaking down of political barriers to explore a common heritage across Asia." Added this lady with original spunk, "We hope to become zany trendsetters".

HER diminutive size belies the powerful voice she has. Padma Bhushan Gangubai Hangal, doyen of classical vocal music, enthralled audiences with her exquisite rendering of morning ragas on a cool morning under the auspices of the New Delhi Municipal Councils concerts being held in the Capital. Even at 84, she has continued to captivate with her music year after year.

IT was a fashion show with a difference. And left even the gliteratti in urban metros gasping. Rubbing shoulders with some of the top ramp models, eunuchs in India finally created a history of sorts when they sashayed down the aisle in designer wear. "My aim was to give these eunuchs a chance to be accepted in society like any one of us," said Kumkum Roychoudhury, director of Tanpriya Creations which held the show. While Roychoudhury was nonchalant about including hidden talent, choreographer, Rashmi Virmani, said that she was surprised at the inclusion initially, but working with these newcomers who had unbounded enthusiasm, made her task pretty simple. For the models, once the initial apprehension wore off, they realised that the eunuchs were perhaps as gifted and talented as anyone else. And while Paayal, Hina, Raveena and Paaro cannot get over this chance in a lifetime, others like them are hoping that finally they will be able to make the crossover.

SUCHITRA BEHAL

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