Mandela is no
more and is occupying the centre stage of all news… the African Nation is still
mourning the death of Mandela – they braved driving rain for hours to praise
Nelson Mandela but the crowds at his memorial service were unable to hide their
wish to bury his successor. Tens of thousands of people, who spent most of the
day singing, swaying and dancing, booed every time that President Zuma appeared
on the screens inside the FNB stadium. The
reports state that in front of 90 world leaders - including Barack Obama and
David Cameron - the crowds booed Mr Zuma persistently. They stuck their thumbs
down and even used rotating hand movements - normally used to call for
substitutes at football matches. Archbishop Desmond Tutu scolded the crowd.
"You must show the world you are disciplined. I want to hear a pin drop,"
he said. But it was too late. The crowd had already showed the world what they
thought. The booing surprised even the South African media. The theory went that Mandela's legacy
celebrations should bolster Zuma's image, who flaunted his closeness to Mandela.
We have moved a long way
since times when we had only Doordarshan for viewing……….. DD has also grown
from its modest beginning with experimental telecast way back in Sept 1959 in a
makeshift studio. Regular transmission
started in 1965 and DD had a 5 minute news bulletin in the same year. Ms Pratima Puri was the first newsreader. Salma
Sultan joined Doordarshan in 1967 and later became a news anchor. In 1982, Doordarshan as a National Broadcaster
came into existence. Krishi Darshan was the first program telecast on
Doordarshan. It commenced on January 26, 1967 and is one of the longest running
programs on Indian television.
Viewers will
for sure remember that on Sundays Doordarshan used to show news for deaf and
dumb. From the days of ‘washing powder nirma …. And I love you Rasna….. Goldspot,
the zing thing…’ – commercials have grown by leaps and slowly some of main
features also were stopped. Can you
imagine that people waited patiently to see 6 or less songs in a programme
called ‘Oliyum Oliyum’ [sound and light]…. Telecast on Fridays. This news for ‘hearing impaired’ people was a
good attempt to take DD to those who cannot practically hear ………..
Miles away, there is outcry
over the signs made by an interpreter….BBC and other news agencies report that
deaf viewers of Nelson Mandela's memorial service have complained that the
official sign language interpreter was a fraud who was "signing
rubbish". The Deaf Federation of South Africa told the BBC the man's signs
were "arbitrary" and "did not make sense". The man, who has
not yet been publicly identified, was seen on stage signing as friends and
family of Mr Mandela, and world leaders, paid tribute to the former South
African president. The government is investigating. It said on Wednesday it had
as yet been unable to get to the bottom of the allegations "due to the
demanding schedule of organising events related to the State Funeral". But,
in a statement, the government said it "wishes to assure South Africans
that we are clear in defending the rights and dignity of people with
disabilities".
Major national
and international news channels broadcast Mr Mandela's state memorial service
live on Tuesday. The man, suited and wearing a pass around his neck, stood next
to key speakers such as US President Barack Obama and Mr Mandela's grandchildren
translating their eulogies. During the broadcast, Wilma Newhoudt-Druchen, South Africa 's
first deaf female MP, tweeted: "ANC-linked interpreter on the stage with
dep president of ANC is signing rubbish. He cannot sign. Please get him
off."
The outcry is loud that the
man did not use South African sign language, was "not known to the deaf
community or other interpreters in South Africa ". South African
sign language has its own structure and is not linked to any spoken language
like Afrikaans, Xhosa or English, Mr Deysal told the BBC's Newsday programme. The
BBC's See Hear researcher Erika Jones, also a sign language user, said the
man's signing seemed to have no grammatical base and kept repeating sign
patterns when it was clear that the speaker was not using repetitive words.
Sadly on a day
when the World saluted a man who fought for oppression, someone stood on stage
effectively oppressing another minority …….
Daily Mirror in an updated
report states that the imposter on stage had been identified and is named as Thami
Jantjie. He was wearing an official security pass around his neck during the
event at the 95,000-seater Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg ,
which is now being questioned as some of the 91 heads of state attended the
funeral. People state that they were really upset and humiliated by the gesticulations
and movements of the mystery interpreter.
Sad indeed to read
With regards – S. Sampathkumar .
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