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Mar112008
What is happening to India and its media?
I have always taken pride and will take pride at being an Indian. The pride arises from the fact that our country is really tolerant and welcoming.
For instance, just look at the number of religions and languages spoken in our country. It is hard to believe that some many people of difference races, religious upbringings and linguistic backgrounds live amicably amongst each other. A scenario seemingly unheard of in many nations of the world. Of late, a few news reports coming out of India, although unrelated, seem to indicate that India’s social fabric is being stretched to the maximum and these reports are quite disturbing.
For example, the attacks on North Indians in Mumbai – known to be the melting pot of cultures. Or take case of molestation of women by mobs which came to light in various cities ranging from Kolkatta, Mumbai and Delhi around the New Year. Or even the news report by Times Now television where boys were punished for speaking to girls (Does that bring back memories of the Taleban rule in Afghanistan?).
Though disparate these incidents may be, what I am trying to say is that all these thoughts are put in the peoples’ heads by a few vested interests. Not all the people who attacked the North Indians wanted to do so. Nor do all party revelers want to molest women. If I am not mistaken, I am quite sure that a lot of academics feel that interaction between boys and girls is good and not the contrary, as per the “rules� in certain Chennai Engineering colleges. It is only a few individuals who decided to enforce their beliefs upon people and then, spread it. And they cannot be spread without the use of a form of media – be it television, newspapers, pamphlets, radio or even a loud speaker blaring at the corner of a street.
People are easily influenced and it doesn’t need much to influence the public. Just a good speech with some telling analogies (need not be true – mind you) and there will tons of people following before long. That is the most dangerous part – mob mentality is infectious. All it needs is a small spark to ignite an inferno.
There is a divide which is forcibly being created among people and ideas are being forcibly thrust onto people’s minds. All this can be kept in check if the right kinds of messages are given out.
And the media does not seem to be responsible enough of its role. Some media groups take the right path bringing out the dark facts into the open while others believe in sensationalizing all they can find and they twist and turn it so much, that even a Rajinikant stunt would look highly believable.
Vested interests control a lot of media groups of late and that is something which is quite terrifying. They use the(ir) media to the maximum and try to sway people.
It is high time that a government body, viz. the I&B ministry, starts examining what is being put forth in front of the public. Be it through speeches, newspapers, television or radio.
Are you listening Mr. Priyaranjan Dasmunsi?
The views expressed in this post are those of the writer and are not necessarily endorsed by Mutiny.in
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Tiger Lover
001
12:34 pm
“Though disparate these incidents may be, what I am trying to say is that all these thoughts are put in the peoples’ heads by a few vested interests. Not all the people who attacked the North Indians wanted to do so. Nor do all party revelers want to molest women.”
Oh Really! It is always easy to blame someone else for our own mistakes. Everybody has an organ called brain. And notwithstanding what Raj Thackeray or someone else says, if I use my brain, I will not attack a North Indian. If I attack a North Indian just because Raj asked me to do so, then that means the primary problem is with me, not Raj. Blaming “vested interests” is simply a convenient way of absolving oneself.
If people choose to get manipulated, then that means that problem is with the people. But why do we behave as if people in general can never be wrong? Is it some silly political correctness? Or is it because we, as a species, are arrogant enough to believe that the majority of us are sane and rational unless provoked by “vested interests”?
The next time you want to blame “vested interests”, please remember about an organ called “brain”.
Kanishk
002
4:18 pm
I totally agree that people need to use the brains. But we also need to understand the fact that most of people who are involved in riots and anti-social activities are the ones who are not educated or the other sect who have power in their hand. The former go by whats publicized and latter for the common interest of their group even though they know it isn’t right. At least media should publicize only those issues which need public attention and they need to do in the right way. I sometimes feel the ethics that the media in the yester years held to, are all buried deep under and they no longer exists. Media publicizes those issues that gives them the most revenue. In other words, media which was a way to get to the common man, has turned into the one of the best business that a young entrepreneur can take up in the present day !!!
Aishwarya
003
2:14 am
“Vested interests control a lot of media groups of late and that is something which is quite terrifying. They use the(ir) media to the maximum and try to sway people.”
This has been going on for a long time in all the countries I’ve been in. Look at how the Iraq war and the Israeli-Palestinian issue gets such lop-sided coverage in the US.
Like Tiger Lover said, mere words by some stranger on the telly shouldn’t take over one’s own decision making capabilities coz there’d always be propaganda. Seriously, do you really believe that a person capable of attacking a woman for dressing less conservatively or slaughtering another human being for not having the same faith is inherently innocent and just provoked by ideas floating around?
Jay
004
10:21 pm
Yes, the media is doing as much harm to India as the naxalites, the LTTE and Pak-sponsored terrorism.
It’s called internal terrorism.
joy
005
1:47 pm
Hi!
I am looking for what is really happening now in India? Thanks. I hope somebody could help me…U