The Hindu Business Line : Subhas Ghosal Foundation

The Subhas Ghosal Foundation (SGF) organised a lecture by Shyam Benegal at the ITC Grand Central. It was heartening to see so many non-JWT types patronising the function. In fact, the JWT types like Colvyn Harris were conspicuous by their absence. Titoo Ahluwalia conducted the event with panache. Shyam Benegal spoke on `Communication and Culture' with feeling, and though some younger folk felt it was `too intellectual,' it was well received on the whole.

One noticed Piyush Pandey, Alyque Padamsee, Mike Khanna, Sam Balsara, Ramesh Narayan, M. G. Parameswaran, Kalpana Rao and Pranesh Mishra in the front row. One also saw Shekhar Swamy, Ameen Sayani, Kaushik Roy, Ishan Raina and several other advertising heavies in the audience. It was nice that so many industry leaders showed their solidarity with the spirit of professionalism that the late Ghosal epitomised.

Just in case someone joined in late, Subhas Ghosal was the legendary figure who built up HTA to a position of unassailable strength. He then had the grace to retire, handing over the baton to Mike Khanna, and proceeded to mentor Contract, another agency that bore his stamp of excellence. One could say that Rajasthan Patrika, the sponsors, got more than a bang for their buck. Titoo announced that the SGF would be organising an event called `Provocation' where Alyque would quiz Piyush in a no-holds barred session. Can't wait to get invited to that event.

New editor at Mid-Day

So now it's official. Aakar Patel, the editor of Mid-Day, has decided to move on. Tarique Ansari announced the change to the editorial team one evening and evidently someone ran to the media because the portals carried the news the very next day. Aakar had a fairly long stint at Mid-day, coming in after Ayaz Memon left to join the Bombay Times, and his tenure will be known as the phase when Mid-day decided that a tabloid needs to be sensational. If that doesn't strictly conform to the good olden rules of journalistic prudence, to hell with it. The Divya Bhaskar group which he will be joining can look forward to some fireworks.

Evidently, Tarique said that a new editor would be found in the three-month notice period that Aakar is currently on. Oh to be a senior journalist in Mumbai these days!

Bombay Times party

The Bombay Times party with Guha at the helm was always considered the mother of all parties. This time Bhaskar Das has decided to take it to new heights and make it more exclusive. Strictly 650 couples (650 cabins have been booked) will be invited to a night-long party on the high seas on board the Star Cruise ship Libra. They take to the seas on October 1 and return at 10 a.m. on Gandhi Jayanti day. Hic!

Incidentally they will be the first to experience the delights of this ship that starts regular cruises from Mumbai on October 2.

TOI ad

Readers of this column will recall a slug fest between The Times of India and Mid-Day when the old lady of Bori Bunder carried a piece that reported on what was a reduced circulation for Mid-Day. Well, looks like Mid-Day has taken its case to the ABC (Audit Bureau of Circulations) and someone there has thrown the rule book at The Times. The Times of India carried a sober advertisement on Page 3 of its main edition (with a black border to boot) quoting from ABC rules, and in a manner of speaking, retracted its claim. It's heartening to know that that there is some place to go when you want quick action.

ASCI gets new Chairman

The Advertising Standards Association of India which tries to ensure self-regulation in the Indian advertising industry has a new Chairman. Ram Poddar, Chairman, Tobacco Institute of India, has taken over the reins of this august and very important association.

Just in case you are wondering what the Tobacco Institute does, you are in an overwhelming majority. We do know it publishes a periodical which we read. We also think it is a good idea that someone representing the tobacco industry be elected to head the self-regulatory body in India. Especially as tobacco advertising is almost completely banned in India. His move to get all the associations in the advertising industry to work together is laudable. We wish him well.

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