As I assured few days back, the news about “Superstar in CBSE curriculum” has now emerged as top news in leading newspapers and other media sources and websites. I wish to share you some minor disappointments I got while circulating this news to media. (Nothing is easy. Isn’t it?) Please take this in the sense of heart speak. Not more than that.
Not ordinary news
When I first gave this news to a paper they downplayed it and published it without knowing its importance. I stressed them that the news is not ordinary news and it will surely make waves in coming days.
The next day I contacted some other dailies and told them about the news and also sent mail to them. Alas, they didn’t show interest. I reminded a quote: "We never realize the value of something that comes easily to us."
Here I would like to confess that it’s very tough and embarrassing to deal with media people and journos. Sometimes you have to collate your prestige! I have done so even with my friends who are there!!
Initial ignorance
Apart from dailies I forwarded the news to some portals with a short write up. It worked out well. The next day it started appearing in websites and a website which initially ignored the news later published it.
Hot in FM channels too...
Why, even some FM channels including Big FM today interacted with its listeners over this and asked them, like Superstar in CBSE what achievement they would love to embrace in future and in which book they would love to read it....Amazing isn't it?
Some English papers they themselves sniffed the news and published it. Grt.
Sify comes out with moral of the story
Later this noon, i saw the article in sify too. Wow...its very nice to see the article in sify. As usual sify has hit the nail. I like the way sify presents the news with simple but compact write-up without beating around the bush. In the article it has said that the moral of the story is: Rajini has not forgotten his old friends.
http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14684404
Now finally the news has appeared in today Daily Thanthi and The Hindu.
The Hindu, chumma sollakoodathu, fanstastic coverage with vital inputs from top guns associated with the book. Please read it fully without skipping.
Those who were reluctant to publish the news initially would feel very much now. But ignoring the bitter side, next time too I will pass them any important news like this.
Why?
Remember the quote you saw in the auto's canvas in recent “MGR & Superstar” article in the blog?
- Sundar
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Hindu's coverage:
Staff Reporter
The wrapper of the OUP book that contains a chapter on actor Rajinikanth.
CHENNAI: English textbooks may have had lessons on grammar, some poetry, essays and stories. Now, an English textbook brought out by the Oxford University Press for class VI students has a superstar component, too.
Come June, class VI students going to schools opting for this textbook will learn about actor Rajinikanth, his life, and how he grew to become one of the top actors in the country.
The textbook is part of the publishing house’s ‘New! Learning To Communicate’ (NLTC) series, a revised edition of the ‘Learning to Communicate’ series.
When the author Paul Gunashekar suggested featuring Rajinikant in this book, the publishers endorsed the idea and introduced it in the revised edition.
Managing Director of Oxford University Press, Manzar Khan says: “We have chosen to feature Rajinikant in the NLTC Course Book 6, aimed at Indian students in the age group of 12 years. Rajinikant’s achievement of superstardom from absolute humble beginnings makes him a pan Indian icon that can inspire children across the country.”
Speaking on the content, he adds: “The story of his friendship with the bus driver Bahadur and the latter’s noble sacrifices add a touching appeal to this biographical tale.”
Chinmaya Vidyalaya is one of the city schools which has opted for this series of textbooks. Principal of the school’s Chinmaya Nagar branch P. Vijayalakshmi says: “We will be using the book. However, since I am yet to read the lesson, I will not be able to comment on it.”
While it is still early to find out how students would respond while reading about ‘The Boss,’ fans of the actor are clearly thrilled. Says Shravan Ramnath, a college-going student and a hardcore fan: “How I wish we had this chapter while we were in school. I would have scored really high in the English paper.”
High school student S. Aparna also says she would have really liked to read about the actor. “In fact, I’ve been waiting to read his biography that was launched recently. Success stories of people from modest backgrounds finally making it big are always fascinating to read.”
http://www.hindu.com/2008/05/30/stories/2008053058610200.htm
