Zoo Station

I was reading a Sucheta Dalal column in the Financial Express today about the slugfest between Narayana Murthy and Deve Gowda. What struck me was not the larger point she was making -- why don't other businessmen speak up on behalf of NRN -- but a gratuitous swipe she takes at the Indian blogosphere.

Many Indians are global toppers today because they are unencumbered by domestic restrictions. They are outraged that a politician has chosen to attack someone who succeeded while staying back in India. Isn’t this the overwhelming view one has about the Deve Gowda-Narayana Murthy slugfest? Yes, it is. But I found that a cross-section of people who have nothing to do with politics are also gleeful. Let me clarify that I have ignored most of the ‘noise’ on the blogosphere and stuck to serious views in this column.

Given that Ms Dalal's bread-and-butter comes from writing for the MSM, it's not surprising that she would take such a cavalier view about the blogosphere. It could also be breathtaking ignorance. However, it is striking how similar her dismissive views are to that of American media personalities not so long ago. However, after the Trent Lott and Dan Rather episodes, noone in their right mind in America would dismiss the blogosphere as non-serious. I guess the lessons of the IIPM fiasco haven't filtered through to Ms Dalal yet. But it will. Just like it did with the American media firmament.