Debojit Saha struggling to survive

Living out Darwin’s theory
- Survival of the fittest is the unwritten law that governs music industry
Idol Chat Telegraph India

Voice of India Debojit Saha writes about the rules of survival in Mumbai’s highly-competitive music world...
When I came to Mumbai to be part of the Zee Sa Re Ga Ma Pa contest, I thought winning it would mean the end of my struggle. After winning the contest, I realised that the real struggle had just begun, for the Mumbai music industry is the last place in the world to welcome you with open arms. Survival of the fittest, as Darwin had theorised, is the unwritten law that rules this industry.
And harbour no doubts, when I say “survival”, I don’t mean a “flourishing” career, I mean just a toehold.
I am still fairly new to this industry. But I have managed to gather enough information to understand how it operates.
Like any other organised sector, the industry, too, has its own set of rules.
Competition defines this place. Fierce, ruthless competition. In fact, so fierce is the rat race that it is now beginning to tell on the artistes’ work.
When I talk about competition in the industry, I take into consideration both the newcomers, established and veteran artistes.
Apart from oodles of talent, one needs to be blessed with pots of luck to survive the acid test and make it big in the industry.
And like any other family, the music industry, too, is big and beautiful. But then again, like any other family, this industry is not free of faults and fallacies.
I am not saying this to court any controversy. That is the reality.
The industry is divided into groups and each group has its own set of artistes — from the music director and singer to the arranger and lyricist.
Favouritism rules the industry, but that does not mean one can make it big without any talent.
It is, of course, always good to have a godfather. Otherwise, the way to the top is a rather steep one.
My advice to anybody who wants to be part of this industry is — first, make Mumbai your home.
And then begin the journey for a chance to prove your mettle. Once that is done, hectic lobbying is needed and the struggle never ends. Perhaps, this competition is also good in a way. Since only the best survive, the work done is also of the best quality.
I feel proud to be a part of the competition and I firmly believe in one mantra, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (the winner is the king).
My struggle for the crown continues…

Power problems of Barak valley going to end

Two 25 MVA transformers for Panchgram, Power problems of Barak valley will be solved

Transformers for Panchgram sanctioned
From Our Correspondent
BADARPUR, Aug 1 – The Central government has sanctioned two 25 MVA transformers for Panchgram. 132/33 KV substation, which will reach the site very shortly.

It is expected that after these transformers reach, the power problems of Barak valley will be solved, official sources said. Sources also said that these two transformers are coming due to earnest efforts of Union Minister Santosh Mohan Dev.

India-Pakistan One-Day International in Silchar

Silchar eyes big league
OUR CORRESPONDENT TELEGRAPH INDIA

Nehru Stadium: Role model

Hailakandi, Aug. 3: Satindra Mohan Dev Stadium in Silchar is all set to be the second venue for international cricket in the state after Guwahati’s Nehru Stadium.
Union minister of state for heavy industries and public enterprise Sontosh Mohan Dev said an India-Pakistan One-Day International was on the cards in Silchar. The match, to be held the next time Pakistan tours India after the scheduled tour in November this year, will be a day-and-night affair, he said.
Sources said Dev had spoken to BCCI president Sharad Power about organising an official Indo-Pak one-dayer on behalf of the Silchar District Sports Association. The BCCI chief has given Dev the green signal with some preconditions, which include infrastructure development of the stadium, particularly the floodlight system.
Dev announced that Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (Bhel) has sanctioned Rs 3 crore for the installation of high-mast lights at the stadium.
The minister said Bhel had decided to donate the amount from its net profit of Rs 5,000 crore earned last year. A team of experts from the firm had visited the stadium last month to assess the feasibility of developing the stadium.
The stadium will also have a back-up generator to ensure uninterrupted power supply during matches.
The stadium has already organised an official women’s One-Day International between India and England. In the last 12 years, the stadium has witnessed three international- standard exhibition cricket matches, including two benefit matches involving the India, Pakistan and the West Indies.

Silchar and Lumding gauge conversion by 2012.

NFR shifts deadline for broad gauge
OUR CORRESPONDENT TELEGRAPH INDIA
Silchar, Aug. 11: The Northeast Frontier Railway has revised the deadline of the conversion of the metre-gauge line between Silchar and Lumding into a 201-km broad-gauge track.
The slow pace of the construction has forced the railway to shift the deadline from 2009 to 2012.
NF Railway (construction) chief engineers Arabinda Kumar and N.S. Chouhan gave a Power Point presentation to a delegation of BJP leaders from the south Assam districts at the railway’s Maligaon headquarters early this week.
They said attacks by militants had slowed down the pace of the conversion project.
The BJP delegation comprised five legislators, led by the party’s leader in the House, Bimalangshu Roy.
However, in a letter to Union heavy industries minister Sontosh Mohan Dev last month, the Indian Railway authorities claimed that the conversion work had gathered momentum in the past three months when Rs 210 crore was spent on the project.
This project is estimated to cost Rs 1,676 crore, of which Rs 702 crore has been spent. Both the engineers drew the attention of the BJP leaders to the sense of insecurity under which the construction agencies were working.

Barak to invest Rs 20 cr to increase cement capacity

25 Jul, 2007, 1850 hrs IST, PTI

NEW DELHI: Aiming to tap the rising demand for cement in the north-eastern states, Barak Valley Cements plans to invest about Rs 20 crore in the next one year to increase its annual capacity to 2.1 lakh tons.

The company, which has a plant at Karimganj, Assam with an annual capacity of 1.5 lakh tons, is also setting up a bio- mass captive power plant of 6 MW at a cost of Rs 24 crore.

"We are planning to increase the capacity of our cement plant to 700 tons a day from the present 500 tons," company's Managing Director Kamakhya Chamaria told media.

He said the proposed expansion in the capacity would entail an investment of Rs 20 crore. The company has also applied for taking mining lease in Meghalaya, which would take care of its current and future expansion plans.

"We are setting up a bio-mass based captive power plant, which is first of its kind in north-east at our existing site with an investment of Rs 24 crore," Chamaria said, adding the project was being implemented through a wholly-owned subsidiary -- Badarpur Energy Ltd.

The company would save about Rs 5.5 per unit once the power plant gets operational in late August, he said, adding that about Rs one crore would be earned annually by selling carbon credit.

In the north-eastern states, the annual demand for cement is 3.5 million tons while the supply is only 1.5-1.75 million tons, he said.

Barak Valley is also planning to launch its IPO sometime this year. It has filed the draft red herring prospectus with market regulator SEBI and is currently waiting for the latter's nod.

Dilapidated roads bane of commuters in Silchar
From Our Correspondent
SILCHAR, Aug 20 – Dilapidated roads in Silchar town are creating traffic jams and also problems for the pedestrians. After long tolerance, public submitted a memorandum to the district administration for the immediate repair of the roads.

In this content, the district administration has decided that if the roads are not completed, the administration will be bound to change the concerned contractors. This decision was taken in the conference hall Deputy Commissioner, Cachar recently.

The meeting discussed that the public has given many complaints about roads particularly Capital point to Sonai road which comes under National Highway. This road is in a very bad condition and covers mains areas of Silchar town including market place. It was further decided in the meeting that only on Sunday, the work will be carried out and on other days the work will be in night shifts.

The district administration has taken proper step to complete the road repair immediately.The meeting was presided over by the Deputy Commissioner Gautam Ganguli. As a chief guest SM Dev, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises was present. K Bhattacharjee MP (RS), Bithika Dev, MLA and Chairperson, Silchar Municipal Broad were present.

But sources said that the roads of Silchar town have been damaged for not having proper drainage system. In the rainy season, the roads are waterlogged and thus easily damaged. Sources also said that the earlier work done from Capital point to Sonai Road was of poor quality. Many complains were put forward but no proper initiative was taken by the concerned department.

Karimganj Municipal Board takes up beautification works
From Our Correspondent
KARIMGANJ, Aug 3 – The master drainage scheme will be started by the Karimganj Municipal Board from this month and for the purpose the State Government has already accorded technical sanction for Rs. 11.80 crore.