The Page 3 guest-list By Debasish Panigrahi Friday, February 11, 2005 14:35:40 IST http://www.cybernoon.com/DisplayArticle.asp?section=features&subsection=guestcolumn&xfile=February2005_debasishpanigrahi_standard35&child=debasishpanigrahi
Early last month I received a call from an unexpected quarter. It was from a big-time television serial producer. He invited me to his daughter's marriage reception for which he was throwing a party at a five star hotel in the suburbs. I was both surprised and excited. Surprised at how the producer had got my mobile number; and, excited because he had considered a crime reporter an important enough guest for such a social occasion. Not that we crime reporters are anti-social. But the invitation did make me feel that we had been elevated to the status of celebrities. As the occasion drew near, the producer began calling me with flattering frequency to remind me of the reception and how necessary it was for me to be there that night. I was pleased by his calls. Until, one day, he casually suggested in the midst of one such call that I bring along my photographer for the reception. I smelt a rat (as they say in detective novels). And, on careful consideration, I realised the producer expected me to publish photographs of the reception party in my newspaper. On Page 3, he subsequently said. I politely told him that the Page 3 in my paper is not meant for parties or socialite marriages, but for the reader. I decided not to go to the party and declined the invitation. I was to see later that the producer had managed to get the pictures published in some other newspapers that had a Page 3 culture. And among his distinguished guests at the party were some policemen (serving and retired), journalists and even some BMC officials. How they must have gloated over their pictures on Page 3. And that too in the company of celebrities! I am sorry to say that our senior police officers get invited to most socialite evenings by the host as an insurance against the party getting shut down because it played music beyond the court's deadline. Also so that the irregularly parked cars of the other guests are not towed away by the traffic police. Likewise, BMC officials make the guest list because food and drink is often served at denotified places. My former editor, Behram Contractor, had once sent me to cover such a socialite occasion. I went from work, smelling of the sweat and grime of the crime beat, and in my work clothes. But not before stepping into Akbarallys next door and spraying myself with one of the deodourant samples kept for potential customers.I met a journalist who often came and tried to get my editor to publish some on his rackets with a photograph. Three pegs down, and he was already a celebrity there! I also met a senior policeman dressed in a floral shirt who was pontificating on the crime scenario in the city. Two members of his audience were former TADA detenues. And there was former additional municipal commissioner G. R. Khairnar who beat a quick exit. I followed. Last month when my photographer asked me why I had missed the producer's party, I told him that I was not Page 3 material. I have been given Page 2 in my paper! Debasish Panigrahi is a Senior Reporter specialising in Crime, Law, Security and Political Science. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Meet the McDonald�s� Lincoln Fry get free digital souvenirs, Web-only video and bid on the Lincoln Fry prop charity auction. http://us.click.yahoo.com/U0ptCC/fV0JAA/Zx0JAA/uTGrlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> �������������������������������������������������������� Members of the ZESTMedia list exchange news and views about the media in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bhutan. Write to [email protected] If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTMedia by sending a blank mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ Get all ZESTMedia mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED], OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ ====== theZESTcommunity ====================================== [1] ZESTCurrent: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCurrent/ [2] ZESTEconomics: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTEconomics/ [3] ZESTGlobal: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTGlobal/ [4] ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/ [5] ZESTPoets: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTPoets/ [6] ZESTCaste: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ [7] ZESTAlternative: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTAlternative/ [8] TalkZEST: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TalkZEST/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
