Is Indian Media - Misusing Its Freedom?

This post is my entry for the Blogadda contest on the topic "Is Indian Media - Misusing Its Freedom?"
In association with Pringoo - 


http://www.pringoo.com/custom-designs/Soccer~South~A-Soccer/did-25999/mid-1/ppid-496


News? It’s such a jape these days.

There was a time when media was very influential and enhanced critical thinking and analysis for general public. It was the time when reporters did serious journalism and brought up "issues of significance".

It was the time when the badges of journalist were worn with pride.

But now, with the news channels broadcasting 24/7, they have started broadcasting" anything" their news cycle. Not only has the idea of what constitutes news changed but also the way people look at it changed.

I recently watched Halla Bol, a Hindi movie digging into the connection between news and sensationalism. What they impersonated was very similar to what we’re barraged with in the name of news, day and night.

This morning, I was skipping channels when I again noticed this news on a news channel:


It was regarding the cricketer's Dhoni wedding. It was on for almost 10 days now and I still cant figure out the hoopla! Why am I supposed to know the bride? And details of their vacation together? Why cant reporters get a life!

Is this what we’re reducing “news” to?
Striking visuals and beside the point stories — to entertain but not educate.

Whenever I ask this from an elder, I am told that it is viewer's choice!

Is it?

Is this kind of blunder acceptable instead of the problems that really need to be looked into? Have we given it up to the media for telling us what the news should be?
If not, why don’t we articulate our repulse?

Or, are we viewing TV just for entertainment sake making an assumption that real news can be read in the newspapers too?

Media is supposed to be a reflection of  the society  but is this what we have become? 

Now, don’t go for tweeting this.
It might just show up on a news channel!

So-called "Breast Cancer Campaign"

Around 8pm, I saw a weird Facebook status update from a friend. The update read, "Black" Huh? Over the next few hours, more than half the status updates in my feed turned out to be colors, mostly pink, beige, and black. I figured out later that these were colors of bras. I somehow thought it to be stupid and did not participate!!

I just thought it to be pointless!! And you know what I didn't do? Think about breast cancer. That, however, was supposedly the point of the exercise. No one knows who started this but there are reports that it was started by a Detroit woman to spread breast cancer awareness! And there it was... a pointless campaign for breast cancer (that’s what media says)!! I received a message that said

"We are playing a game...... silly, but fun! Write the color of your bra as your status, just the color, nothing else!! Copy this and pass it on to all girls...... NO MEN!! This will be fun to see how it spreads, and we are leaving the men wondering why all females just have a color as their status!! Let's have fun”

I wonder how did the message aware me of breast cancer and how could I do such favors by doing this superfluous activity. In this exposed age, this campaign doesn't strike me as very naughty thing to do—typing in the word "beige" is a far cry from dirty talk. But ultimately, what's the point of it? Almost all the people who are updating their status boxes with bra colors are doing only that. They're not saying a word about cancer. This isn't awareness or education; it's titillation.There's nothing wrong using nontraditional and goofy marketing tactics to raise awareness of public-health issues. Sometimes, if it's done really well, it can make people laugh while they're learning something serious. Other times, it's done in ways that are hugely successful. But what was the purpose?? I still cannot get the answer.

I am not sure if I can find anyone in this world right now who is unaware of breast cancer. What we need now is not the far-fetched knowledge but a scientific clarity to the people as to its cure!! Such campaigns could have been of some help a decade back but know, we need measures... strong ones!!

I liked a status by a writer that read, "Post what your arteries look like and support a cure for heart disease!"

Repressed desires of the "toddler"

Reading about celebrities and their lives is not my cup of tea. And so, Delhi Times is something I try and stay away. But it was something different yesterday! Actually the headlines caught my attention.

"11 year old reality TV star kills herself!!"

What the heck!! How can 11 year old girl kill herself!! It has actually left me aghast. When I was this age, I didn’t even know the word "suicide". Is it the exposure to the television or what? She has been a participant in boogie woogie and some other shows. A great dancer... that is what her parents n neighbors say. But why suicide. That’s because her parents asked her to discontinue with the dance classes and concentrate on studies. the first thing that comes to my mind after the suicide thingy is that she was passionate about dancing thing but how can she be so crazy! How can she even think of hanging herself with the dupatta?? Common, she is just 11!

This cannot be her own idea. She must have seen it somewhere and it cannot be anything other than TV. I am sure watching TV is an educational activity but exposure of children to this extent can surely be harmful. Harmful to this extent!! Anything cannot be important than a life... Especially when it comes to the reality shows for children, I strongly believe that they should be banned. A child can not be allowed to ruin his life by doing these shows. I am sure that their education suffers during the process and that is the most crucial part. Education can make or ruin the life. Education makes you rational and in that case, it is less probable that you would take such uncanny steps.

I am still trying to figure out the psyche of the child. What she must be going through... what must be her state of mind while doing this! Dance must have become life for her. but to this extent!! It shakes me from within to think of her parents. They must be unaware of such psyche. Otherwise they could have stopped this for sure. Damn! I wish it wasn't this way!

All said and done, it leaves nothing for anyone except a lost artist and remorseful parents...

I wish CAT@IIM's and parity could go hand in hand...

The first phase of CAT 2009 was from November 28th to December 8th, 2009. The second phase of CAT 2009 will be on January 30th and 31st, 2010.

The following candidates would be scheduled for a test in the second phase of CAT 2009:

1.those who could not take the test due to planned or unplanned closure of their test lab and were not rescheduled later in the first phase. (This does not include voluntary no-shows.)
2. Those who were rescheduled but could not appear for the test because of notice period of less than 48 hours.
3. Those who were rescheduled but could not appear for the test as they were rescheduled in a city different from their original choice.
4. Those who pressed the End/Quit button within the first 120 minutes during the first three days of the testing window and have not been rescheduled yet. (If a candidate in this category chooses not to take the rescheduled test, then his/her score from the first phase of testing will be retained.)
5. Those who completed the test in more than 140 minutes of clock-time* due to computer disruptions. (If a candidate in this category does not appear for the rescheduled test, then his/her score from the first phase of testing will be considered null and void.)
6. Those who completed the test in 136 minutes to 140 minutes of clock-time* due to computer disruptions would have an option to take the rescheduled test. (If a candidate in this category does not appear for the rescheduled test, then his/her score from the first phase of testing will be retained.)
7.those who experienced difficulties due to various kinds of disruptions such as frozen computer screen, blank screen, and data/graphic elements not displaying properly; identified through site reports recorded at the test labs and have not been rescheduled yet.

I feel so happy... I hope IIM's can maintain the parity this time.
I felt pang in my heart to see some serious candidates not being able to give the exam. No doubt, they will get 2months of extra preparation and IIM's cannot answer this question. Candidates like me, who have given the exam in December, will be at a disadvantage surely.
Consequently, I pity the guy who did all 60 questions in 3 fucking hrs and wrote on one of the forum, “bhagwan bhi meri 6 IIM se call nahi rok sakta!" such guys are such a big disgrace!

Mixed emotions sinking in.....

A Book, A Film and the controversy!!

I was scrolling through the channels and I saw a news flash of “3 idiots” on “Aaj tak”. Out of my curiosity, I stopped by to see that the producer of the movie, vidhu vinod chopra made it to the headlines. In an interview with the media, he shouted out on the media for relating 3 idiots with Chetan Bhagat’s novel. Followed by his rage, Aamir Khan pointed to the media and said, “you guys are being used and so are we!!” what a statement!!! How can they trying befool people so easily!!

Readership of five point someone is more than 5lakhs. Everyone who will watch the movie cannot do anything but reconnect with the novel. No doubts, movie is great!! But work of Chetan Bhagat cannot be ignored and should be given the due respect.

Pre-release, the makers made press statements like the movie is only ‘very loosely’, ‘2%-5% inspired by the book’. But the movie portrays 70% of the books. The plot line was same. People meet at ragging, the first class starts with definition of machine, the friends separate, Alok’s paralyzed father, Alok (Raju) moves with Venkat (Chatur), Ryan (Rancho) helps Alok’s father, Alok rejoins group etc etc. From Alok (Raju) jumping to stealing the papers and calling out from Cherian (Virus’) office – the book came alive on screen. It cannot be a coincidence.

I seriously think that Chetan Bhagat should be given the credit he deserves and vidhu vinod chopra and the team of the “idiots” should definitely apologize for the issue. If they are not ready to give the credit, then Chetan Bhagat should take the legal action against the team!!

Miseries of an Indian student!!

I have always been fascinated to see new born babies. And even this time, as soon as I heard of the birth of a baby girl at my neighbor’s place; I went to the hospital to see her. Trust me, she was the cutest ever born on Earth!! I was having a usual conversation with the new mother and I heard her saying," she has to be a bright child. She'll crack GMAT" It actually came off to me as a shock! A baby just born will crack GMAT. I actually stopped for a while and thought," Have I ever thought of cracking GMAT in 20yrs of my life??"

I could now connect myself to the reason of this cutting edge competition in India. I am not saying that competition is bad for India. But the competition has gone beyond the limits. It has now become grueling for the children. Parents want their children to be the best and in the process of being the best, children are losing their childhood, their own self!! On the more, Education system of India enhances this problem.


The education system doesn't believe in practical knowledge, Rather, it works on cramming. Students who cram well can achieve everything they want. I have recently seen 3 Idiots, and I am happy to see that at least someone cares about the issue. Such issues, if discussed in media, can possibly help me making the change.


The movie talks about the engineering students who have been instigated by their parents to be the engineers. They even have to leave their own interests aside to be what their parents wanted them to be. It’s a great movie portraying the pressures of the Indian students. And as always, Aamir Khan was able to convey the social message very clearly.


I seriously believe that if all of it goes like this, Indian student will never be able to pursue their own interests. Instead, they will go on meeting up their parent interests.  We need to change. Not only the parents need to change, but the education system, peer group and everyone who influences the destiny of the Indian student. I know that the change won’t happen in a day. But we can wait.

Wait for the revolution in the Education system!!!

HAPPY COMMONWEALTH!!

It was 13th November, 2003 in Jamaica; when Commonwealth Games Federation took the decision on the basis of an election process that INDIA will host commonwealth games 2010. It came off as a surprise to the Indians that after 7 years, common wealth will be held in Delhi. Indians knew it very well that we were not ready for this. But we believe in “athithi devo bhava” and so we held our hands together towards making Delhi the best host ever. There were a lot of preparations to be made.


The first agenda was to improve our public transportation system. And as we can see, metro came to us as a surprise. Nobody could expect metro running through almost all parts of Delhi (even places like chandni chowk!!). Metro helped people with convenience and so a lot of people preferred commuting daily to their offices, etc by metro. But the volume of people travelling through metro is enormous. Less availability of the trains is making the situation even worse. New projects coming up in gurgaon, airport, etc cannot start until we have adequate supply of the trains to meet the need.

Even the BRT corridors, made in order to provide buses proper routes to travel, remained to be of no use. They instead gave rise to traffic jams in that area. Several flyovers are under construction. Construction of these flyovers has made those areas more prone to traffic. In short, all efforts to control traffic in Delhi go unnoticed. I have serious apprehensions as to whether the flyovers will be done before 2010 commonwealth.

No offences to the government who is working hard towards being a good host but what I fear is that the budget of the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games has touched Rs.5165 crores ($11.53 billion). And these 5165 crores won’t come from anywhere but the public. so judicious use of the funds should be the priority.

But to look at the bright side; In spite of several problems lingering around, Delhi looks great and ready to go!! With the metro, new flyovers coming up, wider roads, welcoming people; green Delhi would definitely leave a mark behind on the time stamp.

HAPPY COMMONWEALTH!!