A hope for tomorrow

So there i was attending this annual day function at Geetanjali Devashala as part of my work when i was hit by a wave of memories that just flooded me. It was a different sensation altogether being in the audience of a school's annual day and not being part of one.

I remember how much fun i used to have during my annual days. The excitement, the enthusiasm and just that feeling of doing something on stage for your school, is something that will never come back. The crazy costumes, the rouge that's applied on your face, the anxious teachers and parents-annual days were fun.

It's been years since i have been to one-not after i passed out of school and i felt so good and so positive as i watched the performances begin.

School annual days and sports days are a big deal in our country. And am glad they are. Because to me they are those few opportunities that you as an Indian student (of course times have changed now) have to present yourself, to put your best foot forward and to shine. It is also the time for you to get over your crazy fears and just do your best, not to mention learning to work in a team.

Today, as i sat in the front row and watched the students-from the tiny tots to the teenagers-i felt a strange sense of harmony. I felt at home, though this wasnt my school or these weren't my classmates.

And perhaps what made me feel so peaceful and positive was that even after 9 odd years after having passed out of school, the school annual day routine was still the same. It still reflected India, its diversity, its challenges and still brought out the patriotism that few of us adults feel or can identify with nowadays.

The innocence and enthusiasm with which they performed those dances-traditional dances of different states-and participated in plays, gave me hope. It for once silenced the cynic in me which keeps telling me oh nothing is going to change... for once there was this really strong positive voice in me which told me-hey there is still hope.

If my next generation and their next generations are still getting the message of Indian independence, of religious tolerance, of terrorism and corruption, then there is hope. Because, this generation too, like many in my generation will strive for a better tomorrow. And they are so a very aware set of youngsters. Aware of their rights and responsibilities. And that thought gives me hope.

It was with a lot of pride as an Indian i watched them unfold the different facets of my beautiful country. I was filled with pride as these little ones showcased the diversity of my nation and made me realise that in my cynical little world, i was missing out on the larger picture-that despite all the problems and challenges, we as Indians have managed to live with tolerance and in harmony.

Yes, we have problems but then we also have people like u and me and those students who performed today at that Annual Day with their full heart and soul, who will find solutions.

And yes, the feeling of singing your national anthem with others is a different feeling altogether.

Reality Check

When i started this blog in January 2008, it was started with a purpose. To enable people to read my articles and reports on my experiences following the covering deprivation trip to Vidarbha.Soon, i added a couple other reports and at some point it also turned into a personal diary with lot of my random thoughts becoming a part of it.

But this is not a random blog post. Nor is it a fun one. It is a serious one. Perhaps it might be at some level be rhetorical. But it certainly is a post which aims to do what this blog was meant to do-a reality check of our times.

And this time its a reality check of media houses. If you are tired of reading criticism about Indian media you are most welcome to close the window and walk away. If you are wondering where this leads to..read on. Ps: This is purely my perspective gained out of my experience in the media industry.So, If anyone gets offended reading this, you are welcome to ignore it.

It's been almost two years since i have joined one of India's leading English dailies and been a part of the media industry. I had never imagined media to be clean industry and had heard tales of corporatisation of media, of manufactured consent and what not. But to face it in reality far from the lectures and seminars was something that i was perhaps not fully prepared for.

For all our rhetoric about freedom of speech and expression, the fact remains that media industry is perhaps one of the many industries where freedom of expression and speech are hardly exercised. There is no scope for wider discussions and debates among reporters, more so if there is a hierarchy at place. As a journalist you have the right to question everything and anything, except your own editor or your paper's editorial policy. You have no freedom to challenge a viewpoint or present your perspective. And if you do chose to exercise this constitutional right, then you will be bringing upon yourself wrath. So, at the end of the day..all this hype about "getting truth to people" falls flat because you are not allowed to write truth-not the plain truth at least.

Most papers hide under the garb of being just, neutral, objective, apolitical and what not. But most media houses are quite opposite to that and that includes even self-proclaimed objective papers which believe in 'plain reporting'. The agenda, is often hidden under all this self-righteousness and rhetoric. And those who do 'real reporting' are shown the middle finger. Most media houses are corrupt and stink of nepotism and egoism at its worst can be experienced here. And journalists are as good as stenographers or glorified Public Relations Officers selling their souls by typing out reports and press notes.

And the power of 'Power Seat' corrupts them all.The media which goes on and on about corrupt politicians, society and questions and analyses how 'Power of Kursi' corrupts people should do a reality check and have some internal analysis. And no this doesn't mean having a seminar where the so-called and self-proclaimed journalists sit on a dias along with other 'intellegentia' to discuss this.

Like old politicians (not wise-old), the senior journos too are not open to perspectives from 'juniors' or 'youngsters'. And these youngsters who i think should ideally be used to the fullest extent are relegated to frustrating menial jobs..and so you are caught in a vicious circle of frustrations..anger etc.

News sense: This is another aspect that really worries me. We are living in a world where romps by Swamiji and greying Governors are aired prime time and published as front page news. Where 'issues' are relegated to third, fourth and sometimes district editions. Where real news is used as fillers and meaningless reports and press conferences cram your daily newspaper and news channels. As an opinion maker, media has forgotten its role of analysing the news and simply dump its viewers and readers with 'infotainment'. Every rule in journalism is broken every single day by countless papers and channels and no one questions or critiques them. Sensationalism has reached a nauseating level and we will do anything for TRPs even expose rape victims or publish photos of rape victims in our so-called attempt to get the truth out.

Objective news analysis are far and few in between and opeds by so-called Magasaysay winners fail to address the issue internally, in their own organisations. Journalists and media houses don't waste a minute in criticizing and at the same time are highly intolerant to criticism of any sort. Honest straightforward opinions are not welcome in this industry. Real stories are squashed because your boss's friend may be in the thick of it all; And meaningless reports are given space because it concerns your boss's friend. Some reports are killed because you don't want legal complications (read you may lose ads!) and a couple others because you don't want to offend the sentiments of the readers. Question all this and you are in a soup. And you are cooked in the soup in a slow,painless manner!!

Of course the 'higher-ups' remain oblivious to all this. While some papers do all this by wearing multiple masks, others do it shamelessly and blatantly. There is absolutely no intelligent reporting and majority of news that you read or watch is absolute nonsense. Reams of paper and hours of prime time is wasted on talking about inane issues which are not issues in the first place.

Price rise is discussed but the real story behind price rise is hardly told by anyone. Why doesn't anyone report on the food-stock that is wasted every year? Or talk about the tons of pulses that are exported as cattle-feed? Why doesn't anyone tell you that USA has access to our traditional seeds through a brilliant -'Knowledge Exchange' programme? Why doesn't anyone tell you that hundreds of children are employed in cotton farms by Monsanto, Bayer etc? And why doesn't anyone report fearlessly on how shamelessly soft drink companies are allowed to exploit ground water resources in this country just to 'quench the thirst' of those who can afford them?

Till two decades ago, journalists were a feared lot. Journalism was a honourable profession. 2010 A.D journalists are 'people who can be brought' and are not feared. Journalists are people who throw tantrums if they are not given 'complimentary' gifts, passes and tickets. Journalists are people who will threaten you with an 'expose' for personal gains.

Of course, what do i know about journalism? Am after all a 'junior'.