Monthly Archives: January 2007

What is in a designation?

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I have had a lot of respect for designations back in India. A director or a senior manager in India would be of certain age with lots of experience and depth in his arena. His qualification and salary would commensurate his skills and experience. But, here in Oman, I have seen a trend wherein people are given fancy designations without any correlation to their job skills or salary. Don’t be surprised to find a Managing Director with a RO600 salary or a Senior Accounts Executive with a RO800 salary. Next time, you ask your boss for a promotion, you have two choices – fancy designation or decent salary. Choice is yours!

Second time unlucky

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Oman lost to UAE in the final of the Gulf Cup held in Abu Dhabi yesterday. For me, Ismail Mattar was the man who changed the course for UAE in the tournament, despite losing to Oman 2-1 in the opening match. His goal against Oman yesterday was among the best finishes I’ve seen for sometime now. Mattar deserves a bow, and I should say the future is very bright for this emerging star.

Oman played well, but were second time unlucky in the finals. Last time, they lost to Qatar two years back. A fine showing in the tournament will get them a grand reception planned in Sultan Qaboos stadium today, plus loads of gifts and cash prizes.

Muscat City Centre expands

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Muscat City Centre – Oman’s top shopping mall –– will be bigger and better very soon. Eighty new shops will be added, and also a three-tier car park to accommodate around 2,500 cars is almost nearing completion. Interestingly, a flyover has been constructed for movement of cars from the Sultan Qaboos highway directly into the car park.


Expansion on the main building.


The multi-level car park under construction.


Flyover work in progress.

Shah Rukh rocks, big time!

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He is good, very good. You can freeze that. Shah Rukh Khan on Amitabh Bachchan’s seat surely rocks. Joking, hugging, massaging, one lin(er)ing, he seems to be doing just the right things. Just a week, and I am sure the audiences are thrilled with Shah Rukh’s intrusion into their living room.

It looks like the man has been brought to take the coveted seat to unwind the stressed out office goers who are coming back to a rollicking Shah Rukh instead of a hot cup of chai. Grandmoms, moms and kids are keeping a perpetual smile to his wit and humour.

No surprise though. He is keeping the joke, spirit, energy and enthusiasm flowing by the minute. To Amitabh’s composure, there is Shah Rukh’s vigour. To Amitabh’s distance, there is Shah Rukh’s warmth. The composure and distance worked, the vigour and warmth is sure to see the superstar laughing all the way to the bank.

Sure Amitabh’s magnanimous presence and baritone voice is missing, but there is Shah Rukh’s wit, humour, persona, warmth, charm and intelligence in place.

There is no doubt that Shah Rukh Khan is a super star. But what is most admirable about him taking the coveted seat from Amitabh Bachchan for KBC 3 is that he has not taken his super star status for granted. Homework, effort, and sincerity – all is in place too.

For the Telugu contestant there is smattering of Telugu he mutters, for the Bengali there is Bengali. It is hard to resist his charm, because he is touching the common man where it matters most – their heart and that too with his bare hug.

Shah Rukh rocks, big time!

Consolidation, TOI style

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Image source: Arun

The Times Group has launched a new Kannada daily with the name – The Times of India. Well, the daily is limited to Bangalore city initially, and depending on the success, it will be published in Mysore and Mangalore. The new daily is supposed to be the translated version of the English newspaper, and reorganised a bit to suit the Kannada palette.

Last year, the Times Group had acquired Vijayanand Printers, which was successfully running three newspapers – Vijaya Karnataka (Kannada daily), Usha Kirana (Kannada daily) and Vijay Times (English daily). Vijaya Karnataka was the No.1 Kannada daily then, and even now maintains the same position. Usha Kirana was discontinued by the Times Group some months back for lack of revenue, and there is a strong rumour that Vijay Times will be shut down very soon. Reason – Vijay Times was getting quite popular with a circulation of around one lakh, and it could pose threat to reigning king, Times of India.

The Times Group is planning to start a tabloid on the lines of Mumbai Mirror in Bangalore. Now, with English and Kannada No.1 dailies under their grip, the group will try to monopolize the market so that the second and third players are left in the lurch.

The race of life

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Every morning in Africa, a gazelle awakens. It has only one thought on its mind: To be able to run faster than the fastest lion. If it cannot, then it will be eaten.

Every morning in Africa a lion awakens. It has only one thought on his mind: To be able to run faster than the slowest gazelle. If it cannot, it will die of hunger.

Whether you choose to be a gazelle or a lion is of no consequence. It is enough to know that with the rising of the sun, you must run. And you must run faster than you did yesterday or you will die.

This is the race of life.

- African Proverb

Tech-savvy singer

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Normally, what does a promising singer’s entourage comprise of? Musicians, managers, publicists, family, etc? Yeah, yeah, you guessed it right. But, for, Atif Aslam, the upcoming singer from Pakistan, there is one more addition to the list – a photographer to keep his official website updated with his latest shows.

Gone are the days an artiste would rely on his pure talents to speak for himself. Now, all it matters is how you market the product and packaging. Normally, artistes from the sub-continent are very slow in embracing technology to promote themselves. But, Atif Aslam proves otherwise. May his tribe increase.
Atif belted out popular romantic numbers during a show held as part of the Muscat Festival celebrations at the Al Bahja Beach, Seeb, on Friday.

A screenshot of Atif’s website.