Is the print media dying, given the plethora of cable channels, revival of Radio and the Net?
’’No way’’, feels Subroto Roy of Sahara India Pariwar – the fastest growing Pariwar. We all know Sahara because Sachin’s T-shirt said so during World cup and because Air Sahara could make Jet sweat. Its Para banking operations and foray into consumer goods may not be so well known, though its TV channels are ’’Karishma(Tic)’’ (hey cheeky..!). Many hindi speaking community are aware of its national daily ’’Rashtriya Sahara’’. I am here to tell you about another one that has hit the stands recently.
I went to Charni Road newsstand where I first spotted Sahara Samay, and besides it was Sahara (in black) Time (in Red). When did Sahara come out with a newspaper? I pulled the thick bundle – 48 pages. Huge! The vendor said, ’’Abhi chalu hua, teesra-chautha rahega. Yeh weekly hai.’’. It had a catch line ’’The unique weekly reading experience’’. With my curiosity now beginning to affect my blood flow, I got one copy for Rs. 5.
Disclaimer: This review is based on a single copy dated June 21, 2003.
«« IT’’S A NEWSMAG »» Well it looked like a newspaper, and I expected some events/news happened in the past week. Nopes! The front page has article on excavations by ASI at the disputed site of Ayodhya, CBI’s apprehensions about Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) bill and the phenomenal booking orders of ’’Harry Potter and Order of Phoenix’’. It took me a while to understand that there are no news in it except for few briefings in week scan and international pages. It has more of thoughts, analysis, views and insights on subjects that affect our lives, it’s more of a magazine that looks like a newspaper. I call it newsmag. And I am confirming that it is indeed ’’unique reading experience’’.
The quality is OK (though, June 28 issue doesn’t have clear photographs); the font is slightly bigger than other which makes it easily readable. And I do not know if it has something to do with its recent quiet launch or lack of readership, but there were absolute no advertisements except for one full page advt. by Asia Pacific Institute of Management and one small advt. of Lookman-e-Hayat Tel. That’s all. It caters to all age groups by providing a good balance between TOI and Hindu (u know what I mean). It is not Chennai specific or Delhi specific or Mumbaikar’s delight, but seems to have articles that would interest any person, irrespective of his location and religion – any Indian.
«« IT COVERS ALL SPHERES OF LIFE »» This is so good. There are several categories covered under Main and In-Depth i.e. 16 +12 pages. It has good political analysis, pages on Health, Business, International issues (but affecting Indians) & issues from various States. Well it has a page on Security & Defense. It talks of Development (harvesting rainwater by Goa College….yes that level of development...down to earth paper, touching the common ’’us’’ and not just celebrities). There is a category called Spirit & soul that has an article of Late Gregory Peck. The Spotlight this week is on educational mess due to different methods and principles of adopted by different education boards. ’’Spotlight’’ is one area I am looking forward to in the next issue. The Edit & Op-Ed are one of the best. The MLA page produces a report card of some MLA.
«« NO, NO IT IS NOT BORING »» Ahem, that’s what you felt reading the above. Nyet! It has 8 glossy pages as Vanity Fair that covers well, Cinema, Glamour and Lifestyle. Then again there are 12 pages of Panorama that has articles on Art – Paintings, Photography. It covers Careers. Read that tattoo stuff in Youth. Then again it covers RAPA awards in Television. Oh it even has comic strip and stories. Latest music releases, interviews with likes of Shreya Ghosal or maybe Pandit Ravishanker, articles on Rock or Remixes can be found in Music. Then again beautiful destinations are covered in Travel. Latest Book releases and their reviews can be found here.
«« IT IS THOUGHT PROVOKING »» Yes some articles in main paper and In-depth did leave me pondering. The article on Sino-Indian relationship in wake of Bajpayee’s visit to China talks of consensus like a) No country should see the other as a threat and b) Historical baggage should not stand in the way of all-round development between Sino-Indian relationship. Interesting thought! But the same article points to China military support to Pakistan and Bangladesh, interference in Nepal’s politics and its growing interest in Maldives, thus in effect encircling India. Is that a threat?
«« IT IS BOLD »» The Sahara Samay team attempted to cover the nexus between DPCC, Police and owners of polluting factories operating within Delhi city limits despite Supreme Courts orders against it. They were attacked with knives and swords. There’s an article that coyly covers foreign jaunts undertaken by Parliamentarians (at State’s expense) under pretext of ’’building goodwill’’ and returning w/o any MoU or any deal. Now u know where your taxes go.
«« SPORTS »» They have Pargat Singh as a columnist. Who’s he? …I don’t blame you. Point is they cover hockey and even wrestling besides tennis and cricket. It also covers apathy in sports such as tragic death of Dattaram Hindlekar due to shortage of funds to treat himself. Who’s he?...And you say you are a cricket fan! And if all that does not interest you enough to grab your copy, here’s a solid reason.
It has a full page pin-up of Mallika Sherawat in close to nothing.