Absence and deprivation
Sparrows, once a huge community in the city of Madras seem to be absolutely missing last few summers. I miss them.
The other genus I miss is something I am sure everyone of you folks miss too – A good magazine to read. I sorely need some reading material that is neither a political nor a niche magazine. Something more on the lines of a Man’s World or Esquire. God, I miss the old Reader’s Digest. Outlook is good only for the last two pages, India Today sits there, collecting dust, and the others are either too constipating, or too boring. I would give my soul to someone who can take a Man’s World and make it better.
On the other hand, there’s always a blog to turn too. Especially, this one. I can always pretend I am someone else and read my own posts. And enjoy the writing. 
RSS/XML
March 28th, 2005 at 9:00 pm
Sparrows are supposed to be an indicator of the environments health. If sparrows are starting to disappear, something bad is happening/will happen to the ecology of Chennai (if there was one).
Last summer atleast, a couple of couples used to frequent the balcony of my apartment, singing vociferously.
March 31st, 2005 at 11:15 am
The sparrows were gone at least ten years ago, so whatever is making them disappear has been around for a long time.
As for magazines, remember Aside? It started out as a Madras magazine, and later expanded to cover stuff of general TN interest. Best movie reviews ever, by Sudha G. Tilak, and commentary and urban studies by Randor Guy.
I think they got bought out by தின மலர், and it turned into a gossip rag. Pity. It was the best magazine out there.
March 31st, 2005 at 7:09 pm
Gopi,
I personally remember seeing a few sparrows as recent as 3 years ago, but true. The numbers have been dwindling over the years.
I don’t think I have read Aside. Pity, I didn’t get it during its best years. But right now, Man’s WOrld seems to be the best bet