December 2007 - January 2008 Blog Mela

The December 2007 blog mela is horribly late and so is the one in January. Blame it on my busy schedule. Really sorry but it seems I will have to combine the two melas. Here are the ten best Indian blog posts for the two months -

Krish Ashok thinks there should be a wiki to collaborate on the Ramayanapedia

And he's also coming up with new ways to make Indian weddings green

Falstaff experiences Saravana Bhavan during a trip to California

India Uncut writes a letter to Cynthia Mort

8 by 52 devises a prototype for Kashmir ka cauliflower

Jabberwock attends a north Indian wedding

The Compulsive Confessor gets almost famous

Mitali Saran asks God who?

Suchitra Krishnamoorthi doesn't like people calling her to get in touch with Shekhar Kapur

Rashmi Bansal goes ga-ga over Jassuben Jayantilal Joshi ki Joint Family

That's all for now. The February Blog Mela returns later this month. But before leaving, do please vote for the best post in the December 2007 and January 2008 Blog Mela.

Check out previous Blog Melas
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007

The best of Dec 2007 - Jan 2008 Blog Mela
	Krish Ashok 1
	Krish Ashok 2
	Falstaff
	India Uncut
	8 by 52
	Jabberwock
	The Compulsive Confessor
	Mitali Saran
	Suchitra Krishnamoorthi
	Rashmi Bansal
	None of the posts were that good
pollcode.com free polls

Did you just come across a quirky, interesting or something-that-tugs-at-your-heartstrings blog? If yes, feel free to nominate it for the February Blog Mela being hosted here on March 2



Blog Mela Rules
- Posts must have been written by Indians or have an Indian angle
- Only posts published between 1-29 February, 2008 would be accepted
- If possible, please nominate individual posts, not the whole blog
- Feel free to nominate something you have written. Immodesty appreciated
- You can nominate as many blog posts as you like - provided you really like them
- Only nominations received before midnight on March 1 will be featured
- No, you don't get any moolah for nominating or getting featured in the Blog Mela. That could change once I am a millionaire but for now you'll just have to bear with me
- Yours truly reserves the right to nominate good posts which you ignore

How to Nominate
- Leave a comment on this post OR better still - Mail me at toeknee (at) gmail (dot) com

Memories of Ahmedabad: A trip to Modi-land

A bustling market, trendy restaurants and gleaming marts welcome me as I step outside the Maninagar railway station in Ahmedabad, home turf of Gujarat's controversial chief minister Narendra Modi.

At first glance Maninagar, located in southern Ahmedabad, is no different from up-market areas in Delhi or Mumbai. But a few kilometres away hovels line the roads, stray cattle roam the alleys and little boys in rags chase runaway kites.

I have been hearing a lot about "vibrant" Gujarat and how Modi has brought development to its people.

Yes, there are Reliance Marts but I am not impressed.

Except maybe by the electricity situation here. It amazes me that there are no power cuts here - till I am told power has been privatised.

I am on one of my rare visits to Ahmedabad, the city of my birth - where my Malayalee grandfather had migrated in the early half of the 20th century. No, I am not conversant in Gujarati - my parents shifted lock, stock and barrel to New Delhi when I was five years old.

And the nursing home where I was born no longer exists, apparently burned down in one of the frequent communal clashes that hold the city and the state in a deathly grasp.

"It's good Modi has been re-elected," says my cousin wryly. "Christians and Muslims will be left alone for another five years."

I make my way to the market at Lal Darwaza, to a section populated mostly by Muslims. It's here that you get quality stuff - the best bedsheets are invariably found in shops owned by a Khan, Salim or Mohammad.

Shops here are burned and looted during riots, then re-built and re-stocked. Hiccups may come and go but life goes on as usual.

I hear shouts behind me and I turn to look - but it's only a bunch of unruly kids fighting over kites. It's Uttarayan festival here, the time when the Ahmedabad sky is replete with kites.

Kites in all possible hues are everywhere and Modi smiles at me from several of them. A little boy in a skull cap is happy wresting a Modi kite - I guess he doesn't care his prize catch flaunts the face of a man hated by most Muslims in the country.

As night falls, I walk down the main Maninagar street. And am surprised to see several women riding scooters even at 10 pm. It's like committing hara-kiri for a woman to go out alone in Delhi or Mumbai but my young cousins have no qualms venturing into deserted lanes at night.

Well, cases of rape and molestation (except during riots) may be fewer in Gujarat but it doesn't really mean the men here are saints.

"There are lechers around but they would think twice before molesting a headstrong Gujarati woman," explains my cousin.

But the autowalas here are really nice. They ply by the meter. Whether it's actually honesty or morals kept in check by local residents, I may never know.

And what of prohibition in the land of Mahatma Gandhi? Downing liquor in Gujarat is illegal and I was indeed impressed - until I saw a tramp walk home drunk.

Happy New Year 2008

Contrary to popular opinion, I spent Christmas and New Year's Eve wrapped in a quilt watching reruns of blockbusters on HBO. My nose is as red as that of Rudolph - if not bigger - and when people clapped, slapped and generally behaved inappropriately at the stroke of midnight, I had been fast asleep for over an hour.

Have been lazy this year and my blog has been resuscitated in fits and spurts - but if I do make any resolution for 2008, it's just that you will see my blog fit, fine and active more often.


Toe Knee Unplugged wishes all its readers a smashin' New Year.

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival Short Film Contest

Are you a filmmaker under 25? Just the right person for the Short Film Competition at the 10th Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, Mumbai (February 2-10, 2008).

Only 20 films are being screened at the 9-day event, so the sooner you submit the better your chances.

All you have to do is make a short film titled TEN.

Duration
1 min - 5 mins
Format
DVD only
Deadline
January 26, 2008
Submissions
Brinda Miller, Millernium, 665, Cadell Rd, Next to Dadar Catering College, Dadar West, Mumbai - 400 028
Inquiries
Smriti Garach 09819242246
Jethu Mundul 09820254429

Official Blog

Focus on India at Annecy animated film fest

India is the country in focus at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France (9 - 14 June 2008) and Market (11 - 13 June 2008).

Indian animation will be showcased through special programmes, premieres and numerous events.

Interested? Film studios, production companies and creatives can submit films (features, short films, TV series, graduation films) for selection at Annecy 2008 by contacting: Laurent Million at laurentmillion@annecy.org

But do remember these deadlines
- 15 January 2008
Film submission (shorts films, features, TV and commissioned films, graduation films)
- 15 March 2008
Submission and reception of feature films

"The Annecy festival will be a huge platform for the Indian animation industry to showcase its talent, technology, services and post-production facilities," Mohamed Bendjebbour, head of French film and TV office in India told The Times of India.

An Indian pavilion will be set up at the Market giving industry visitors the opportunity to find out about artistic techniques and production from India.

Wanna join the Indian delegation - contact:
Mickael Marin at mickaelmarin@annecy.org
Stéphane Loison at stephaneloison@annecy.org

Official website

Viagra for Impotent Cars

Well, I spotted this masterpiece at an automobile workshop near my house. Needless to say, I doubt if any "imported" car ever did make it to ARA Motors. How did they propose to "ripair" the "impotent" car anyway - giving it Viagra?

And I thought I was bad at spellings.

December 2007 Blog Mela - Nominate Now

Did you just come across a quirky, interesting or something-that-tugs-at-your-heartstrings blog? If yes, feel free to nominate it for the December Blog Mela being hosted here on January 2



Blog Mela Rules
- Posts must have been written by Indians or have an Indian angle
- Only posts published between 1-31 December, 2007 would be accepted
- If possible, please nominate individual posts, not the whole blog
- Feel free to nominate something you have written. Immodesty appreciated
- You can nominate as many blog posts as you like - provided you really like them
- Only nominations received before midnight on December 31 will be featured
- No, you don't get any moolah for nominating or getting featured in the Blog Mela. That could change once I am a millionaire but for now you'll just have to bear with me
- Yours truly reserves the right to nominate good posts which you ignore

How to Nominate
- Leave a comment on this post OR better still - Mail me at toeknee (at) gmail (dot) com

Check out previous Blog Melas
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007

November 2007 Blog Mela

Chronicus Skepticus wonders if all 33 million Hindu gods are deaf

Krish Ashok comes up with a Facebook mini-feed for the Mahabharata

Falstaff explores why a crowded Starbucks is better than an empty one

8 by 52 battles dengue and is thankful to be alive

Great Bong reports on the killing fields of Bengal

Jabberwock may just find Blogspot is his new employer

The Compulsive Confessor addresses all the boys she loved before

Mitali Saran is sleeping with the enemy

Suchitra Krishnamoorthi tries hypnosis to quit smoking

Sidin Sunny Vadukut is feeling nostalgic about growing up in the Middle East

That's all for now. The Blog Mela returns later this month. Keep watching this space for nomination guidelines. But before leaving, do please vote for the best post in the November 2007 Blog Mela.

Check out previous Blog Melas
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007

The best of November 2007 Blog Mela
	Chronicus Skepticus
	Krish Ashok
	Falstaff
	8 by 52
	Great Bong
	Jabberwock
	The Compulsive Confessor
	Mitali Saran
	Suchitra Krishnamoorthi
	Sidin Sunny Vadukut
	None of the posts were that good
pollcode.com free polls

Hello Delhi - Am back from Goa

Back from a hectic fortnight in Goa. No, I didn't spend time on the beach. Was cooped up watching flicks at Panaji's INOX multiplex. And with good reason.

The 38th International Film Festival of India was on - with 176 films from 46 countries screened by the time the 11-day event wrapped up.

And with most of Bollywood giving it a miss, watching films was a pleasant affair. Why? Well, the absence of tinseltown celebrities meant I could focus my attention on watching films. See official blog.

And here's some of the stuff I wrote -

"Elizabeth" director inspired by cockroaches tale

Jesus Christ gets an evil twin in fantasy film

Goa's bell boys inspire U.S. director's Hindi film

Bollywood shorts on AIDS to get YouTube release

Goa stirs colonial memories in Portuguese filmmaker

Taiwan film triumphs at global Indian film festival