The Hindu : Opinion / News Analysis : Corrections and Clarifications

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Tuesday, Jul 11, 2006

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Opinion - News Analysis

Corrections and Clarifications

In "Delhiites witness first monsoon showers" (July 10, 2006), the sentence was: "`Weather in North India has seen a turnaround since Saturday due to a fresh upper air cyclonic storm originating from North Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir,' the official said." A former Deputy Director-General of Meteorology says the phrase should be "upper air cyclonic circulation", and not "upper air cyclonic storm". A cyclonic circulation means an anticlockwise rotation of winds and is usually a benign phenomenon, producing some rainfall. A "cyclonic storm", in India, means a tropical cyclone which can cause very severe weather.

A few readers have pointed out that it was clumsy to have used the word "desecrate" to describe the act of vandalism to the statue of Meenatai Thackeray in Mumbai. The Oxford Dictionary says "desecrate" is to "deprive of sacred character, outrage, treat a sacred place or thing with violent disrespect, spoil something which is valued or respected". A better choice would have been "defile" (which is to "make dirty, befoul, pollute, corrupt, desecrate, profane; make ceremonially unclean"), "vandalise" or "deface". The reference was to the report "Don't politicise issue: Deshmukh" (July 10, 2006). Another reader has pointed out that the report was incomplete. It was due to an editing error.

In "11 tiger reserves have lost forest cover", (July 10, 2006), it was stated that "Forest cover in the outer surround (10 km radial distance from the periphery) has decreased in 21 reserves, increased in 21 reserves and is unchanged in five." A reader says that India has only 27 tiger reserves and that the number of reserves, 28, is wrong. Aarti Dhar clarifies: "The `Forest Cover in Tiger Reserves of India — Status and Changes' is a survey based on 28 tiger reserves of the country. The Forest Survey of India and Project Tiger Directorate put the number of tiger reserves at 28. As far as the forest cover in the outer surround is concerned, there is indeed an error. The increase has been in two tiger reserves, while there has been a decrease in 21. Five have shown no change."

Factual errors. Raja Rao was 98, and not 96 as the UNI report "Raja Rao passes away" (July 9, 2006) said. He was born on November 8, 1908. He did not get the Padma Vibhushan in 1969, as the report said. In 1969, Raja Rao was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Bhushan. Raja Rao was not at the University of Austin, as the report said, but at the University of Texas, Austin.

The caption of the standalone picture "Happy in the company of kids" (July 9, 2006) was: "Day to Remember: The former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu, with children who had come to wish him on his 92nd birthday at his residence in Kolkata on Saturday." In "Corrections and Clarifications" (July 6, 2006), we had pointed out that "wish him/her" is bad English, commonly used. It should have been "wish him a happy birthday" or "greet him". Referring to the same picture, a reader wonders whether it is Jyoti Basu's 92nd or 93rd birthday. Mr. Basu's date of birth is July 8, 1914. As a birthday is the anniversary of the day on which a person was born, it is his 92nd birthday.

The sentence in "Madras High Court quashes ban on film" (July 8, 2006, page 1) was: "`It would be dangerous to allow the State to straightjacket the right to Freedom of Expression, as artistic expressions may be asphyxiated by law if a petulant group of self-appointed `censors' prescribes the paradigms for suspending the screening of a film, which has got the approval of the Censor Board,' said Justice Prabha Sridevan." Should it be "straitjacket" or "straightjacket", ask readers. "Straightjacket" is a variant spelling of "straitjacket", which is "a severe restriction on freedom of action, development, or expression".

It is the policy of The Hindu to correct significant errors as soon as possible. Please specify the edition (place of publication), date and page.

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