Sightings

They are on an unusual mission this time. Not with guns but with roses. Twenty three war veterans from India, with their spouses, have begun a goodwill and peace trip to Pakistan, urging both countries to recognise the urgency to start a peaceful dialogue. "Who better than us?" said former Indian Navy Chief, Admiral L. Ramdass. "We value peace and understand the need better than anyone; we have fought, won or lost and died, suffered the loss and borne the pain. Who can be a better advocate for peace?" The delegation, led by Gandhian Ms. Nirmala Deshpande, now chairperson of the Association of Peoples Asia, will meet with journalists, academics and retired soldiers. The need of the hour, they stress, is to understand each other and look for areas of cooperation.

* * *

Harry Potter, the young wizard is back in the news. No, you cannot ever wish him away, not even with your magic wand. Because, Potter has now tied up with fizz giant Coke and is to be promoted wholly by the soft drink company. But, say Coke officials, unlike other commercial adverts, Harry will not be seen swigging from a can of Coke. Instead, in deference to author J.K. Rowlings' sensitivities, Coke will back reading and literacy campaigns in local communities.

* * *

Remember the woman who charmed audiences with her role in "Born Free"? Of course it was the pair of lions that stole the limelight. For Virginia Mckenna, it was a role that was going to last her a lifetime. In the capital recently, McKenna was to deliver the inaugural for the Venu Menon Memorial lecture. "It was my role in the film in the 1960s that got me interested in wildlife," confesses the actress. In 1984, she, along with her husband and eldest son, set up Zoo Check an organisation dedicated to preventing the abuse of animals in captivity. Ever since, her work has revolved around animals.

* * *

He says he is "cautiously happy" to receive this award. For Kiran Nagarkar, recognition has come a bit late. Recipient of the Sahitya Akademi award for his book Cuckoid, Nagarkar is sore at the treatment regional writers get. A bilingual author himself, Nagarkar feels that writing is never an easy task whatever the language. Cuckold took him three years to write. Nagarkar, who also writes in Marathi, felt that too much was being made out of the West's craze for Indian authors. Give it time, "said he," we might yet discover some real talent."

SUCHITRA BEHAL

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Features
Previous : Economy on centre-stage
Next     : Waiting for the breeze to blow