A letter to Editor Nagpur Times.

Respected Sir/madam

Being a regular reader of TOI, I appreciate your efforts during General Elections 2009 and now Assembly Polls 2009 to provide youngsters of the town a chance to interact with the poll candidates.
I, myself was a part of team which interviewed a MP from Nagpur, thanks to TOI, obviously.

Few junctures where I think you missed the homework or maybe we overestimated the brand TOI.

1) All so called youth-interactions with NETAJI are published in Nagpur-Times, which makes this interactions look inconsequential and non-sincere endeavor (as it is published along with other stories generally not more-worthy than dog droppings). Since all the versed and socially aware readers of TOI try n save their time by avoiding NT, sometimes even serious news in NT catches dust by default. I strongly feel this interactions with NETAJIS deserve better place in TOI.

2) If the purpose is to actually make people aware of their candidates, in the interactions, as I was part of a few I would like if TOI could widen its scopes to look for politically, socially or at least mentally aware youngsters to be part of these interactions than just looking for “talent-lessly good-looking and yet smug “ people who need two briefing sessions and questions ready-made by TOI before they meet the NETA. C’mon youth is not just about being a sycophant to earn a photo in NT. By inviting these talentless people to your office you are actually helping NETAJI and not at all the one you say you intend to “THE JANTA”.
And if you could do this the “YOUTH” won’t feel ignominious at least. Even you know that Nagpur is no dearth kind of ABLE YOUTH I am talking about.

3) I am not a male chauvinist. No, not at all. I just feel there should be other more important attributes required in a girl to be part of the TOI Youth Gang than sheer “good-sometimes even average looks” and good clothing sense. I think the brain deserves brighter limelight here.

4) You define NT as lifestyle supplement to TOI. With my average common sense I think that YOUTH is not just about NT type “life-style”. If, what you publish in NT is what you understand as youth-cult, either you horribly missed homework or may be u need to revise.

5) I understand that NT helps u sell in market. If TOI is product looking for higher market share, you are doing exact job by supplementing it with NT, but just that not every news is to sell, some are about serious journalism too.

I am not a critic, i have a reason .

I know you agree with me but may be market forces you to do what you are doing, not your fault then.

Its not that I Dislike TOI. It needs to be appreciated for many better jobs. I would do that next time I find time.

Nothing personal. :)
Period.

Regards
Amit Damaha
Amit.damaha@gmail.com
amit-damaha.blogspot.com
09975321038