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August 10, 2005
Of Columns and Columnists (...and Bloggers)
I was sitting for dinner late tonight and saw the latest issue of Fortune on the credenza. I picked it up and immediately started off with the last page, which is Stanley Bing’s column called “While You Were Out”. In fact this particular piece titled “Do You Know Who I Am” should be mandatory reading for all of us who land up occasionally or regularly wallowing in our own self-importance.
It’s the same with the Sunday Mid-Day. Until Khalid Mohamed left and though I detest the way he plays favorites with Shahrukh and Sridevi and Karan Johar, his movie reviews still had to be read with the Sunday morning tea. The next column my wife and I both, have to read, is Anil Thakraney’s “In Bad Taste”. I may not agree with everything that he says, but he writes from the heart and has still remained angsty.
Uma today introduced me to Mahmood Farooqui’s column, which I guess comes out on Monday, but which I will have to read only online, since I just don’t get the time to read Mid-Day on a working day. Every Mumbaiite (I hate Mumbaikar) should read his recent piece on the Mumbai rains.
I start Time magazine from the back page as well, first reading the op-ed or essay that comes there. My favorites are Pico Iyer and Charles Krauthammer, who is a regular columnist with the Washington Post.
For the last few days, it’s been Uma’s and Dilip’s blogs along with Seth Godin.
I am a sucker for the “personal essay” or “opinion piece”. Maybe it’s the voyeur in me, but I guess it is exciting to get that one little extra insight into another individual’s mind, with each new piece, getting to know someone through a mosaic of words, which reveal small bits of information, but with enough held back to make you want to come for more.
Whew!
Posted by bhavinj at August 10, 2005 10:11 PM
Comments
thanks, mfm, for the kind words!
Posted by: uma at August 14, 2005 04:51 PM
hey ! really very well said !
BTW. I was one of MFM fans and felt the same way about your columns too .....
what I have seen is that if a writer/columnist doesn't TRY too hard and just speaks himself/herself out, the writing CONNECTS ...
We can't agree with everyone about everything but as you say " it is exciting to get that one little extra insight into another individual’s mind..."
Rgds
Posted by: shally at October 3, 2005 01:44 PM
so, im not alone! i, too, only subscribe to sunday midday for anil`s in-your-face, edgy columns, and for khalid`s out of the world, hilarious reviews.
too bad khalid`s left midday now.
and up to the extent, i have a question in my 'feature and opinion' paper(that`s right, im a journo student -tybmm board this yr) which asks us 'who r our fave columnists and why..' dont take a wild guess, its anil al right....but is there a chance sum1 can provide me with more info on him..?i know he also writes for outlook, tehelka apart frm 'in bad taste' in midday..but since how long, his other credentials etc..
to add to this i find prem shnakar jha`s column particularly boring.(i hope hez not readin this..)
Posted by: Bhavs at October 7, 2005 08:16 PM
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