A labour of love!
PROMINENT freelance writer and founder of The People’s Alliance party Ajay Bhai Amrit described his book as a labour of love. Titled Sports, Hollywood and Bollywood, Ajay Bhai’s effort is a collection of approximately 100-plus of his favourite interviews which he conducted during his illustrious media career with renowned figures, including famous movie stars, sporting icons and political figures.
Prominent names in the list are Muhammad Ali, Serena Williams, Mike Tyson, Justin Bieber, Denzil Washington, Mariah Carey, Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Amitabh Bachchan, Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan. Ajay Bhai’s media career has been based over 15 years where he has been writing for various newspapers, both local and international, interviewing for television on screen, behind the camera as well as a director and producer, on social media and many other media platforms.
The book, which took about five years to complete, is a large oversized coffee table book which actually weighs over 2kg. According to Ajay Bhai, it took a lot of dedication and man-hours to compile the book, but it was worth it in the end. Ajay Bhai has been writing well-articulated articles on a wide range of topics, and I always look forward to his pieces in The Fiji Times on Saturdays.
I first met Ajay Bhai in 2019 during The Fiji Times 150th birthday celebration and since then we have developed a close tie. His down-to-Earth and simple nature earns him respect and he is a fantastic father. Congratulations on this achievement Ajay Bhai!
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
Cash machine
CAN those certain inconsiderate and insensitive ATM users please pre-plan your transactions before actually engaging with the cash machine?
It is awfully exasperating having to tolerantly wait in vain while being queued up behind some ATM operators who leisurely spend practically five minutes carrying out simple monetary transactions.
Being of an attentive nature, I have frustratingly observed that in most scenarios, users operating these convenient automated teller machines would first:
1. Sluggishly insert card and check their account balances.
2. Card is then withdrawn and re-inserted into the slot for actual cash withdrawal (more users now join the already lengthy queue).
3. Once a transaction has been completed successfully, the same customer would again insert card just because they decided that the initial withdrawal amount was not sufficient, hence carrying out a second transaction. By this period, other customers waiting in line began to get visibly annoyed and mumble profanities under their breath while making hopeless facial expressions.
4. Finally, after the second cash drawing, the user thoroughly scans through his balance receipt and casually walks away (user gives no deliberation or apology for the timeframe he/she appropriated to withdraw despite the long line).
Furthermore, I have also noticed that some would use the machine multiple times to check their balances despite the indication of zero dollars in the respective account.
And no, money will not miraculously appear if you have nil balance, no matter how many times you check, curse and “assault” the innocent ATM!
We have now embarked into the progressive 21st century, please ditch the “junglee” temperament in order to evolve onward.
NISHANT SINGH
Lautoka
Police sirens
EVER since the coalition Government has assumed power, there are no nuisance from police sirens in the Martintar/Namaka corridor. Everything is so quiet and peaceful.
AJAI KUMAR
Nadi
Thank you
A BIG thank you to the people’s Government for telling all the former ATS and Fiji Airways workers that they are needed back at work. Thank you so much to the people’s Government who think about all the people of this country.
GEOFFREY CHAND
Lautoka
Drug issue
DRUGS is a serious and national issue were the words of honorable Pio Tikodudua.
But how did things even get this far? So unnecessary, and unfortunate. This can’t happen overnight, for things to get this far, it has probably taken over 10 years of laxity. I trust there will be a thorough shake up of the authorities. To eradicate this evil from our beloved country. STEVEN CHANDRA
Suva
Political party donors list
WHILE the coalition Government is forging on, please don’t forget to provide the political party donors list for all to see. People want to know who have been sitting on which side of the fence.
AJAI KUMAR
Nadi
Public transport
I WISH to highlight the plight of the commuters, students and residents of Natabua, Lautoka who are commuting by public transport. Those going to Nadi or coming into the city usually converge at the Natabua junction.
There is only one old bus shelter on one side of the road. Those going to Nadi have to fight the elements to catch the bus to Nadi. There is no bus bay for buses going into Lautoka. And the Nadi side is also missing the bus bay and shelter.
I have highlighted this concern to the authorities numerous times but to no avail. The Fiji Times is my last resort. I plead to the authorities who surely go through the pages of our beloved newspaper to please do something about it. The peak hour sees multiple buses moving in both directions and this poses a traffic hazard.
Having proper shelters and bus bays will surely help the residents of Natabua and solve the problem.
RAMNEEL KUMAR
Rarawai, Ba
Vernacular languages
THE recent move towards the recognition of the iTaukei and Hindi languages, is a welcome and much-needed change, from the so-called ban in its official use, in the past 16 years.
I believe that the latter, had somewhat stifled and regressed the natural development of the two main vernacular languages in our country, particular among our young people.
We are far from where we should be today.
I really hope it’s not too late and that we would be able to recoup the loss.
Perhaps, as an afterthought, why not make it mandatory or compulsory, for all official documents e.g forms, to also have the translated versions for each particular item therein.
This will greatly assist those who are not so conversant or proficient in the English language. It will also indirectly help people to see and understand the meaning, use of and relations with, English words in their own languages, like never before.
Bringing back its use in our Parliament will also be very helpful in widening and deepening the debates etc., albeit with some guidelines so as not to hinder procedures. It will also mean the use of interpreters and translators, to facilitate matters.
It will be all uphill from here on, in many ways!
EDWARD BLAKELOCK
Admiral Circle, Pacific Harbour