Fashion it is said is seasonal, while clothes or dressing as such is eternal. So is the case, it seems with shoes - in particular shoes worn by journos; especially journos attending press conferences; even more special, journos attending press meets of political leaders/country heads.

While shoes of different sizes and styles are a part of essential dressing, the flavor of the season, is undoubtedly the new role of the lowly shoe, in high profile press conferences. The pen might have been mightier than the sword, but today a pair of shoes or even a single shoe, in the hands of the right journo (I don’t mean only in the right hand!), can do more damage than any pen or key strokes, though, one has to admit, with a tinge of disappointment, that in recent times, the said item has not demonstrated its power, because those who wielded this were not adept at using it.

Related Story : Shoe hurled at Chidambaram at press conference

Jarnail Singh – Singh is King, to thousands of Sikhs – the latest to try his hand! at the above said item, or shoes to be precise, shot to instant fame when he lobbed a shoe at the dais where PC was addressing a pc (press conference) and trying to answer questions on ‘clean chit’ to Tytler. Now that, each one of us, even if we did not wish to, has watched the video footage a million times, one can say with certainty, that he did not throw the shoe at the Minister, but rather, lobbed it gently towards the dais. It did appear that he was annoyed at the endless beating around the bush (not George Bush) while the Min was on the subject, and this was his way of showing his displeasure. It is a moot point if he was in any way influenced or rather inspired by Muntadar al-Zeidi, who can rightly claim to be the author of ‘a growing new trend in high profile press conferences’. Actually, we have our friends in TV, who will dig deep into Jarnail’s psyche, interrogate him, interview him, censure him, cajole him and find out, for the benefit of the human race, if at all he drew inspiration from Muntadar al-Zeidi. Please be patient till then and don’t switch on your TV sets.

One thing in common in both acts is of course both missed their ‘targets’. There are any number of differences, though including Muntadar al-Zeidi throwing 2 shoes one after another, shouting slogans and expressing his hatred for Bush while Jarnail’s was a less vociferous lob. While Muntadar al-Zeidi’s act rained orders on the maker of his brand, Jarnail’s brand has not got that attention, while it has hit a gentleman answering to the name of Jagdish Tytler, a number of Sikhs believe, was responsible for the killing of thousands of innocent Sikhs, following Indira Gandhi’s assassination.

Breaking News!

Communique from Central Govt. & all State Govts: ‘All journalists, media reps, photographers, TV crew have to remove their footwear before being allowed to attend any press meet. The organisers are not responsible for the safety of anything’.

L.Ravichandran
ravi@chennaionline.com