"At my age my father had confronted bigger challenges," says Meghna Ghai-Puri, daughter of showman Subhash Ghai. In this interview with Prasanna Zore, the 35-year-old president of Whistling Woods International Institute for Films, Media, Animation and Media Arts talks about her struggles and the lessons she has learnt as an entrepreneur.
'The moment they fall foul of the party in power, they become unsafe. Then nobody can guarantee their safety.'
'This type of comprehensive legislation has never been introduced before in Parliament's history.' 'A bill that simultaneously affects ministers, chief ministers, and the prime minister represents completely uncharted Constitutional territory.' 'Throughout our nation's legislative history, the established policy has consistently held that public office holders should face punishment only after receiving conviction from a competent court of law. Without this safeguard, we risk systematic destabilisation, and our federal structure would face complete collapse.' 'Any central government could potentially deploy this legislation against state governments they oppose politically. This represents the most frightening prospect and dangerous possibility that these bills create.'
'...they always address problems superficially, never tackling root causes.' 'Currently, the policy response will focus on immediate relief -- getting people to safety, providing facilities, clearing debris.' 'This is necessary, but once immediate relief operations end, everything returns to 'normal' without addressing underlying vulnerabilities.'
'...from the recovered part of the throttle quadrant -- the control panel that manages engine power -- it is hard to say at this stage if the locking mechanism was damaged in any way.'
Prasanna Zore, like many fans, was there at the Wankhede stadium on the opening day of the second Test between India and the West Indies to see 'God' play one final time.
'Who gave the Tatas the right to discontinue technically sound practices related to safety and security?'
'Maharashtrians are facing a dual battle -- numerical battle with North Indians and financial battle with Gujaratis and Marwaris.' 'This has created anxiety about survival and ownership over Mumbai and Maharashtra.'
Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde, Vijaypat Singhania and Shaina NC wish Rahul Gandhi on his birthday.
An exhausted-looking Patkar, into the fourth day of her fast-unto-death amid the rubble that was once home to scores of people, told rediff.com's Prasanna Zore that Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan is insensitive to the issues of the urban poor.
'I was motivated to do something better -- to improve my life and my parents' lives.'
Vivek Oberoi does well in this film but he cannot save it.
Rediff.com's Prasanna Zore is wondering why these stylish attendees are not walking the ramp.
Retired justices B G Kolse Patil and P B Sawant of the Lokshasan Andolan are in no mood to withdraw their agitation until the Jaitapur nuclear power plant is abandoned despite the state government's reign of terror against the locals, reports Prasanna Zore.
The hits and misses of the week.
'A Mayday at 600-800 feet followed by descent to 450 feet suggests the pilot still had control.'
'The Indian Army won't induct anyone who has killed Indian soldiers.' 'That's why the army respects these reformed men so much -- they're on the frontline now, protecting India.'
'There are tall personalities who have utilised Mumbai and Maharashtra for their career growth, but they never thought it is their responsibility to learn Marathi.'
Anti corruption crusader Anna Hazare surprised everybody at the Ramlila Grounds when he landed at the place at 2 pm even while a couple of India Against Corruption speakers kept telling his followers that he would be at Rajghat at 2 pm. Prasanna D Zore reports.
A year after Tushar Gangaram Kolbe, 28, died in the July 13, 2011 triple blasts in Mumbai, life has slowly gone from bad to worse for his bereaved mother, his unstable elder brother, Tushar's widow Tanuja and his father who shifted to Sanderi, their hometown in Alibaug after his son's death.
Nadita Das, who was named as one of the Global Young Leaders for 2010 by the World Economic Forum, speaks about Indians' obsession with fair skin, the portrayal of women as objects of desire, live-in relationships, increasing awareness of sexuality among Indian youth and whether to legalise prostitution or not.
Rediff.com's Prasanna Zore visits ground zero at the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal.
'Operation Sindoor is still ongoing. The Prime Minister himself said that blood and water cannot flow together, that talks and terrorism cannot go together. So how can we have a cricket match with a country that indulges in terrorism?'
In his unassuming style Anna Hazare fielded a volley of questions -- related to charges of corruption in his trust, Narendra Modi, threat to his life from people who he has named as corrupt, his movement being propped up by the RSS and charges of him acting like a dictator --from the press without ever showing his fatigue after a 97-hour long fast unto death that ended on April 9. Here's Anna Hazare unplugged
'The AAIB will collect every single retrievable piece of the aircraft and transport it to a secure location -- usually a large hangar capable of housing a Boeing 787.' 'The entire aircraft will be laid out, each part marked and tagged, and practically rebuilt like a jigsaw puzzle.'
Had it not been for Pankaj Tripathi, who must have worked hard to get those Vajpayee intonations and mannerisms so perfectly well, Ravi Jadhav's flattering portrait of Vajpayee would have been more vacuous than what we get to see, observes Prasanna Zore.
'... when the process isn't transparent, people will naturally raise questions. 'The AAIB's own press release says they had the black boxes by June 16.' 'Why wasn't decoding initiated until the 24th? What were they waiting for?'
'In multi-pilot operations, no critical switch can be moved without the other pilot's consent.'
Two year after the most gruesome and daring act of terror by 10 Pakistani terrorists on Indian soil hope seems to have given way to cynicism as people talk less about 26/11 heroes and more about CWG, 2G, Adarsh and housing loan scams.
'The market's nervousness ahead of anticipated US tariffs has led to a significant downturn in Indian equities.'
'You don't realise your life has changed in just three days.' 'It's when you come back to the city that it starts hitting you but you now have the power to manage the challenges Life throws at you.'
Dausa, represented by the Pilot family for 25 years, sees a complicated contest with no Pilot around.
Rediff.com narrates the story of four families whose lives were wrecked by the serial bomb blasts that ripped apart Mumbai's calm on the balmy evening of July 13, 2011
'China has thus far been cautious, emphasising its focus on development rather than weaponising water resources.'
'His dismissal could backfire -- not just as a PR problem, but as a crack in the BJP's coalition of castes and communities.'
'I don't know whether the top Gujarati leaders of Indian politics (Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah) in Delhi realise that the narrative of HindiHinduHindustan will eventually destroy their own language too.'
The hits and misses of the week.
Salman Khan's big Eid release Tubelight is also a major loser.
'India's letter to Pakistan on April 24 (2025; two days after the Pahalgam terrorist attack) didn't tear up the treaty -- but it did put it on ice.'
Salman Khan's much awaited Eid release Tubelight turned out to be a damp squib at the box office. Distributors stand to lose on their investments.
