Gopal Sathe (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} gopal_sathe) wrote,@ 2005-11-27 00:28:00 |
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Censured
I've been covering the IITF here in Delhi everyday since it began on the 14th, and coming up with new things to report about everyday from that damn place has been a difficult experience. There were actually some nice stories that I let slip in the last couple of days because I was simply sick of it.
Yesterday, to take out my frustration, I purposely filed a story that simply could not be used in the Express. So today, the boss takes me to a side and gives me a quiet little lecture about it. I was officially censured scolded and ticked off even! My story wasn't used, naturally, so I've decided to put up my story here.
filed
GOPAL SATHE
NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 25
The most colourful part of this years trade fair is certainly the toys and gifts exhibition set up just in front of the Kerala pavilion in hall number 16. Huge crowds of whining kids were demonstrating pester power at its peak here, while hassled parents tried to explain that they already had whatever it was they wanted to buy.
Plastic and rubber ghost masks stared down displays of crayons and the latest kiddie craze, "Bey Blades". Ugly jewellery of the kind normally seen at Janpath meanwhile had crowds of girls and also guys who wanted to impress girls, and there were two also stalls selling cotton hankies and socks, which seemed a little out of place.
One of the most interesting stalls was selling "magic toys" like cups with false bottoms and special card decks. What drew the crowd was not the toys but the magic tricks being demonstrated by the attendant, who patiently went through the same routine again and again through the day.
One of the pricier items was the magweb, sold by the Magnetics Company, a toy with magnets inside from which children can construct large and intricate meshes, or just small messes, depending on what takes their fancy.
If this wasn't enough there were also stalls selling mosquito repellants, lizard repellants and rat repellants, and one of the cutomers was quite convinced that this was also some sort of a magic trick. Funnily enough, the stall right opposite was selling plastic rats, snakes and lizards, though no plastic mosquitoes could be found.
There were also stalls selling body massagers and weight loss belts, with large banners saying, "As seen on TV" and "No exercise no Dieting Only weight loss" and even the slightly overweight were harassed into trying out the devices.
Completing the carnival atmosphere in the exhibit was the stall selling candyfloss, popcorn, and of course, absolutely inedible burgers, which of course, also did excellent business among the kids as their parents watched helplessly.
ends
And while I was censured, my story was censored, and the subs reduced it to a five line brief. I love my job...
I've been covering the IITF here in Delhi everyday since it began on the 14th, and coming up with new things to report about everyday from that damn place has been a difficult experience. There were actually some nice stories that I let slip in the last couple of days because I was simply sick of it.
Yesterday, to take out my frustration, I purposely filed a story that simply could not be used in the Express. So today, the boss takes me to a side and gives me a quiet little lecture about it. I was officially censured scolded and ticked off even! My story wasn't used, naturally, so I've decided to put up my story here.
filed
GOPAL SATHE
NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 25
The most colourful part of this years trade fair is certainly the toys and gifts exhibition set up just in front of the Kerala pavilion in hall number 16. Huge crowds of whining kids were demonstrating pester power at its peak here, while hassled parents tried to explain that they already had whatever it was they wanted to buy.
Plastic and rubber ghost masks stared down displays of crayons and the latest kiddie craze, "Bey Blades". Ugly jewellery of the kind normally seen at Janpath meanwhile had crowds of girls and also guys who wanted to impress girls, and there were two also stalls selling cotton hankies and socks, which seemed a little out of place.
One of the most interesting stalls was selling "magic toys" like cups with false bottoms and special card decks. What drew the crowd was not the toys but the magic tricks being demonstrated by the attendant, who patiently went through the same routine again and again through the day.
One of the pricier items was the magweb, sold by the Magnetics Company, a toy with magnets inside from which children can construct large and intricate meshes, or just small messes, depending on what takes their fancy.
If this wasn't enough there were also stalls selling mosquito repellants, lizard repellants and rat repellants, and one of the cutomers was quite convinced that this was also some sort of a magic trick. Funnily enough, the stall right opposite was selling plastic rats, snakes and lizards, though no plastic mosquitoes could be found.
There were also stalls selling body massagers and weight loss belts, with large banners saying, "As seen on TV" and "No exercise no Dieting Only weight loss" and even the slightly overweight were harassed into trying out the devices.
Completing the carnival atmosphere in the exhibit was the stall selling candyfloss, popcorn, and of course, absolutely inedible burgers, which of course, also did excellent business among the kids as their parents watched helplessly.
ends
And while I was censured, my story was censored, and the subs reduced it to a five line brief. I love my job...
