The Hindu Business Line : A lamb, a tiger and a bundle of grass

THE subtitle of Noam Chomsky's Middle East Illusions, from Penguin (www.penguinbooksindia.com), reads `peace, security and terror'. A dangerous cocktail of words that may remind one of the old story of trying to ferry a lamb, a tiger and a grass bundle from one side of the river bank to the other, using a boat that could at best carry only one of the three. Good read, as Chomsky is always, especially for those who'd like to know about the never-ending turmoil in the region. "The importance of control over oil was understood by about the time of the First World War," writes Chomsky, about the time when the British controlled much of the Middle East. It seems Britain didn't have the military strength to control the region by direct occupation after the War, and so it turned to other means. "One was the use of air power and also the use of poison gas, which was considered the ultimate atrocity at that time. The most enthusiastic supporter was Winston Churchill, who called for the use of poison gas against Kurds and Afghans." How depressing!

More a mission than a profession

THERE are nearly 3,000 Urdu newspapers in the country, informs M. H. Lakdawala in his piece that forms part of Practising Journalism, edited by Nalini Rajan, from Sage (www.indiasage.com). "Urdu is the fourth largest press, after Hindi, English and Marathi," but the circulation has been falling, notes the author. "At least 103 Urdu dailies and newspapers have ceased publication during the last five years, while another 100 are on the verge of death... Most of the papers are printed just to maintain records and to get advertisements."

Development is `no story' in the Urdu media, comments Lakdawala. Instead, their focus is on three Es — emotional stories, encouraging stereotypes and embellishing the traditional community leadership. "Ironically, many Urdu journalists behave like preachers rather than as professional journalists. For many, Urdu journalism is more a mission than a profession."

That should ruffle a few feathers!

A ticket to Karnataka

THE names of the rivers that stroll down the ravines of Karnataka are languid and beautiful on the tongue, writes Dom Moraes in The Open Eyes, from Roli (www.rolibooks.com). The book takes you on a journey through the State, with Mario Miranda's illustrations.

"One of the other excellences of Karnataka is the coexistence and intermixture of Hindu and Muslim tradition," writes Moraes in a different chapter, where he describes his meeting with Malikarjun Mansur in his `neat whitewashed house'. "I saw on the wall pictures of his guru: his inspiration, his teacher, a Muslim," narrates Moraes. "There is a folklore museum in Mysore, little known and seldom visited by tourists. It is, however, one of the most interesting things in Karnataka. The exhibits show the fantastic variety of the Kannada culture." Worth checking out.

Wish mountain that never lied!

THE howling storm outside was in stark contrast to the warmth and conviviality within the stately Hall where the Tricentennial Convocation of the School of Wizards was under way... Wait, is this from Rowling? No, this is how Dhruva Chak's Sorcerer's Spring, from Rupa & Co begins.

Many pages later, I come across the Wish Mountain, a score of miles from Nomon. "It was a magnificent structure used by the priesthood to unveil a man's true desires. No one knew its origin... It had the power to show one what one truly valued as distinct from what one merely thought he wanted. It had often caused men to think deeply and to change... The Mountain did not lie." Ah, how I wish we had such a mountain around.

Suggested escape into the land of fantasy!

Financial due diligence

DUE diligence is a measure of prudence, defines the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (www.icai.org) in its publication titled, Financial Due Diligence: A Perspective. Use the phrase `financial due diligence' with caution, because it has to be wide enough to cover all the aspects; "it should not be confused with overall due diligence review".

I turn to the chapter on valuation, because this is what is in the limelight after Reliance announced its plan to split the company into its components. "Valuation is not an exact science," notes the Institute. "Valuation involves the use of judgment, knowledge of the business, analysis, interpretation and use of different methods which may result in assigning different values based on different methods," it explains quite indifferently.

As an instance of cross-selling, the publication cites `Study on Share Valuation' to know more! The topic merits a better treatment, which I guess the ICAI may do in a subsequent edition of the book.

Baba the blue-eyed

RAMPURI is `a blue-eyed yogi', I learn from Baba, his autobiography, published by Bell Tower (www.crownpublishing.com). "The true account of a 19-year-old American (the son of a Beverly Hills paediatric surgeon) who in the late 1960s, after experimenting with drugs, sex, and political activism, set off for India in search of the truth," reads the blurb.

A snatch: "`What a dream!' I said to myself when I woke up. `Freud would have blown a fuse.' The dream was so illuminating that even though the sun hadn't yet risen, the world seemed radiant with light... I closed my eyes and repeated out loud the fifty-one syllables... "

Interesting.

Tailpiece

"See no evil, speak no evil, and hear no evil!"

"Good that I shut my ears before you started!"

ReadingRoom@TheHindu.co.in

D. Murali

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