Shashi Tharoor may not have proved to be a good Member of Parliament or even a Foreign Minister, but in academia he seems to find his groove. This speech at TED is a perfect example of exhaustive research, excellent editorial skills, fabulous felicity with words and an impeccable diction. For those who are trend spotting, this one is a little gem on India.
Shashi Tharoor: Why nations should pursue "soft" power | Video on TED.com
Friday, October 22, 2010
Creative Coincidence, Plagiarism, Inspiration or Adaptation? Skoda - Is it Fab?
Way back in 2002 an advertisement was done for BHIMA Jewellers in Trivandrum promoting solitaire diamonds. BHIMA was a revered and traditional name in Trivandrum and was patronized for generations by some of the older and established families. The ad is attached below:
The Headline says : Shout with a whisper and the body copy says "They say old money whispers, while new money shouts. Make your point with our solitaires collection. Bhima, for those who know better."
his was blogged and uploaded into my portfolio in .http://vinodnatesansportfolio.blogspot.com/2008/04/2002-2005-mayan-consultants.html
Going by web analytic data, the blog has been viewed by almost 9700 people. It was also uploaded on the afaqs creative showcase almost a year ago and has been viewed by more than 195 people.
BHIMA JEWELLERS SOLITAIRE DIAMOND DONE BY MAYAN CONSULTANTS- VINOD NATESAN
I was therefore shocked to see an ad last week for Skoda Fabia done by Saints and Warriors titled "Style shouts, pedigree whispers' which seems to be quite similar in intent and approach to the ad that I had done in 2002 for Bhima Jewellers. It then talks about lineage in the body copy. The advertisement that appeared in the Economic Times of 15th October 2010 for the brand Skoda Fabia. This has the key number of Saints and Warriors (SAW/SKODA956-10).
While I do admit that creative coincidences are unavoidable and this one seems to be "inspired" and almost "imitated",there is possibly a second opinion also, that even if inspired, it is an adaptation and therefore acceptable. I frankly don't know. I guess the jury is out on this one.
Anyway, as far as aggrieved parties go, I don't seem to be in a club of one. A writer overseas also is in this august group and in her case, the accused is the editor of one of the most respected weeklies in India :)
http://www.slate.com/id/2271859/?from=rss&ref=nf
Some interesting comments have started comming in. This link is dedicated to plagiarism or copy cat advertising:)
http://bloganubis.com/category/copy-cat-ads/
DECEMBER 5TH 2010 - UPDATE
Post this blog and social media posts, Saints and Warriors have changed the Skoda advertising. We salute the gesture and are grateful to Pushpinder Singh for making the effort and doing the right thing.
creative-coincidence-or-plagiarism Skoda Fabia Revised ad
The Headline says : Shout with a whisper and the body copy says "They say old money whispers, while new money shouts. Make your point with our solitaires collection. Bhima, for those who know better."
his was blogged and uploaded into my portfolio in .http://vinodnatesansportfolio.blogspot.com/2008/04/2002-2005-mayan-consultants.html
Going by web analytic data, the blog has been viewed by almost 9700 people. It was also uploaded on the afaqs creative showcase almost a year ago and has been viewed by more than 195 people.
BHIMA JEWELLERS SOLITAIRE DIAMOND DONE BY MAYAN CONSULTANTS- VINOD NATESAN
I was therefore shocked to see an ad last week for Skoda Fabia done by Saints and Warriors titled "Style shouts, pedigree whispers' which seems to be quite similar in intent and approach to the ad that I had done in 2002 for Bhima Jewellers. It then talks about lineage in the body copy. The advertisement that appeared in the Economic Times of 15th October 2010 for the brand Skoda Fabia. This has the key number of Saints and Warriors (SAW/SKODA956-10).
While I do admit that creative coincidences are unavoidable and this one seems to be "inspired" and almost "imitated",there is possibly a second opinion also, that even if inspired, it is an adaptation and therefore acceptable. I frankly don't know. I guess the jury is out on this one.
Anyway, as far as aggrieved parties go, I don't seem to be in a club of one. A writer overseas also is in this august group and in her case, the accused is the editor of one of the most respected weeklies in India :)
http://www.slate.com/id/2271859/?from=rss&ref=nf
Some interesting comments have started comming in. This link is dedicated to plagiarism or copy cat advertising:)
http://bloganubis.com/category/copy-cat-ads/
DECEMBER 5TH 2010 - UPDATE
Post this blog and social media posts, Saints and Warriors have changed the Skoda advertising. We salute the gesture and are grateful to Pushpinder Singh for making the effort and doing the right thing.
creative-coincidence-or-plagiarism Skoda Fabia Revised ad
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Indian Economics and Politics:The Bihar Story
Ever since the Government of Nitish Kumar came to power, the State of Bihar has been on the path to progress. It used to be famous for kidnappings, caste wars and lawlessness and its people started migrating out in large numbers leading to unrest in cities like Mumbai. Things have changed dramatically and with an improvement in law and order, the economy of the State has grown rapidly.
This link provides you with the details.
http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4483599
This link provides you with the details.
http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4483599
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Indian Culture: Hindu Religious Practices: Sahasranamas. Lalitha Sahasranama
17th October 2010
I consider myself an agnostic, however, I do find myself dabbling in religious thought and spiritual pursuits.. I do not practice most rituals except to be part of a group and to join in when family members get together. I realize the social function that these rituals perform and respect it for that.
Today is VijayDashmi, which falls after the 9 day Navratri festival. It is also celebrated all over North India as Dussehra . While Vijay dashmi and Dussehra are celebrated for various reasons, the common theme is the victory of good over evil. In the North, it is believed that Lord Rama vanquished Ravana and in the East, it denotes the killing of the demon Mahisha by Goddess Durga.
During Navratri, it is common to hear prayers in praise of the female form which is worshiped as Goddess Saraswati( Goddess of learning), Lakshmi ( Goddess of Wealth) and Durga (Destroyer of Evil). Sankaracharya, the renowned philosopher saint who expounded the thesis of Advaita, composed the Lalitha Sahasranama which is a 1000 name evocation of the female Goddess Lalitha ( a version of Goddess Durga) who is described as the consort of Lord Kameshawara, a form of Lord Shiva. I always felt that there was an allegorical truth behind this prayer and my cousin provided it. Lalitha Shasranama, has a nama which goes thus, "Kameshwara, mukhaloka kalpitha Shree Ganeshwara". It suggests that Vigneshwara, or Lord Ganesha the destroyer of obstacles, was born, when Shiva or Kameshwara, looked at the face of the Universe( mukha aloka) and decreed(kalpitha), the birth of Vigneshwara. The implication, I think is that if one were to contemplate the Universe and try to be one with it, the key to removing obstacles, manifests itself. Vigneshwara incidentally also overcomes "ignorance"( the rat). I believe this to be true. On many occasions problems which were vexing, have been solved when one has thought about it dispassionately and sometimes it manifests itself in what someone says innocently about something that is completely unrelated. I guess things sometimes happen when you let them and don't force them:) The eternal truth is not to be hung upon results and cosequences, but to do things with joy, playfully, savoring the task and with complete presence of mind... the power of now... Kameshwara mukhaloka kalpitha .. shree ganeshwara....
The link below gives you all that you need to know about the Lalitha Sahasranamam
http://www.scribd.com/doc/21737584/Sree-Lalitha-Sahasranama-Stotram
I consider myself an agnostic, however, I do find myself dabbling in religious thought and spiritual pursuits.. I do not practice most rituals except to be part of a group and to join in when family members get together. I realize the social function that these rituals perform and respect it for that.
Today is VijayDashmi, which falls after the 9 day Navratri festival. It is also celebrated all over North India as Dussehra . While Vijay dashmi and Dussehra are celebrated for various reasons, the common theme is the victory of good over evil. In the North, it is believed that Lord Rama vanquished Ravana and in the East, it denotes the killing of the demon Mahisha by Goddess Durga.
During Navratri, it is common to hear prayers in praise of the female form which is worshiped as Goddess Saraswati( Goddess of learning), Lakshmi ( Goddess of Wealth) and Durga (Destroyer of Evil). Sankaracharya, the renowned philosopher saint who expounded the thesis of Advaita, composed the Lalitha Sahasranama which is a 1000 name evocation of the female Goddess Lalitha ( a version of Goddess Durga) who is described as the consort of Lord Kameshawara, a form of Lord Shiva. I always felt that there was an allegorical truth behind this prayer and my cousin provided it. Lalitha Shasranama, has a nama which goes thus, "Kameshwara, mukhaloka kalpitha Shree Ganeshwara". It suggests that Vigneshwara, or Lord Ganesha the destroyer of obstacles, was born, when Shiva or Kameshwara, looked at the face of the Universe( mukha aloka) and decreed(kalpitha), the birth of Vigneshwara. The implication, I think is that if one were to contemplate the Universe and try to be one with it, the key to removing obstacles, manifests itself. Vigneshwara incidentally also overcomes "ignorance"( the rat). I believe this to be true. On many occasions problems which were vexing, have been solved when one has thought about it dispassionately and sometimes it manifests itself in what someone says innocently about something that is completely unrelated. I guess things sometimes happen when you let them and don't force them:) The eternal truth is not to be hung upon results and cosequences, but to do things with joy, playfully, savoring the task and with complete presence of mind... the power of now... Kameshwara mukhaloka kalpitha .. shree ganeshwara....
The link below gives you all that you need to know about the Lalitha Sahasranamam
http://www.scribd.com/doc/21737584/Sree-Lalitha-Sahasranama-Stotram
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