The 'weak' that was – TOI fails Gurgaon - Again

Not satisfied with transferring vast tracts of lands, heritage sites and industrial estates to Gurgaon, Delhi Times has achieved the impossible – it has transferred Mr Satyendra Garg as the JCP (traffic) in the Locally Vocal pages  18 of Gurgaon In Delhi Times on 22^nd April, where he was spotted curbing drunken driving, though assisting him in his job were a team of Delhi Police.

Delhi Police, did you say? There must be something wrong here. Or is it that the whole Delhi Police is now functioning under Commissioner Deswal? Congrats, Sir!

Also mentioned was the art of ‘wall’ hanging. Though where it was hanging was not mentioned, but still the Delhi Chief Minister and her daughter did visit it.

There was, though, one article on the ‘concept’ of penthouse living which is catching on in Gurgaon – bingo – right on the nose!

Art is a favourite with Gurgaon, the Gurgaon Locally Vocal pages. And on 23^rd April, just below the signature photo of Signature Towers is an article on an exhibition which is on till April 25^th at ‘Habitat Centre’. I tried to Google ‘Habitat Centre’ in Gurgaon but it kept on coming up with some address in Delhi! Maybe Google is not so advanced as our colleagues at Delhi Times – they have the latest info on Gurgaon.

Another article was on the works of Satish Gujral at Lalit Kala Akademi. Again Google failed to give me the Gurgaon address. Google really needs to work hard to keep up with The Times (pun intended)

The third article on 23^rd was about a cultural fest at North Campus of ‘Delhi’ University. I think it was a typo – should have been ‘Gurgaon’ University. Anyway, one typo a page is allowed.

Sunday was TWO WHOLE pages of Gurgaon news – Locally Vocal – very vocal, very local.  There was so much news about Gurgaon that TOI had to sanction two pages.

There was an item about the Wadali brothers performing at the Rang Utsav being organized by ‘Delhi’ Tourism! What, another typo. Bad, bad! Sheila Dixit will be the Chief Guest – The toll plaza will be blocked, again.

Jim Corbett National Park and Delhi University’s Hindu College, where a photography exhibition is being held, have recently been transferred to the District of Gurgaon and were, thus covered in the Locally Vocal Pages.

But credit where credit is due – there was an article on the Rewari Loco Shed – nice one and about Radio Taxis being allowed to ply in Haryana Towns. I didn’t know radio cabs were not allowed in Gurgaon and Faridababd earlier. But, still, now that they have been allowed, the traffic scene should improve.

Of the thirteen articles covered this week, ten were of the newer entrants to Gurgaon, about whom Google and even the residents are unaware! But they’ll learn, slowly and surely.

THREE OUT OF THIRTEEN. May be good enough, but had it been a weekly test, the result would have said:

‘Weak’ in Geography. Could not differentiate between Delhi and Gurgaon ten times out of thirteen.

Result : F

When I narrated the sequence to my son he had only one word ‘Again?’

Is it not time that the ‘Times’ did justice to the readers of Gurgaon.

(c) Dr Rajiv Bhatia