There was a time in last year, before the general elections,
and before our very own Modiji finally became the Prime Minister of the country, that I
used to have dreams about political discussions and imagine myself sitting in
one of those chairs in Times Now studios and ridiculing INC leaders and anybody
questioning our dearest Modiji. Obviously I was naïve and stupid at that time
and I laugh at my actions now but I realized one very important thing – that media,
over the years, has transformed so much and in so many different ways. From
being just a newspaper, which was to be read in the morning, discussed in the
afternoon, and forgotten by night; it has now become life for some people. I am
sure these people also have dreams like I used to have, about meat
ban, beef ban, minority rights etc. etc.
While there is no denying the role media, esp. the news
channels and social media, have played in highlighting some really important
issues and creating mass movements in getting justice, either through courts or
through social trials and making caste based politics a little less relevant,
but I get a feeling that from being just a medium, it has taken a life of its
own and become all too powerful, dominating people’s lives and passing judgments
on its whims. It is like one of those numerous examples from Indian history,
where some people were made heros and once they got there, they started pulling
down the very people who helped them become heros.
One would argue that media’s job is to report facts and put
forth all the possible point of views which they are perhaps doing. So what’s
the problem! But from where I see it, I only see their endeavours in polarizing
the society. Modi supporters vs. non-modi supporters, jains vs. non-jains, beef
eaters vs. non-beef eaters, dhoni supporters vs. dhoni bashers. The list is
never ending.
Now these discussions / debates are not mere places where
people put forth their point of views but they become battle grounds where you
a) have to choose sides and b) have to defend your point of view till your last
breadth. Typically they start with a statement / ban against xyz community /
group / fan followers. Now people from xyz will start making defensive
statements for no reasons just to prove that they are not on the wrong side (there
could be some stupid people who got inspired by the great Ornab and went and
personally insulted our guy from xyz). But whatever might be the case, now people
from all across will take it upon themselves to prove that xyz is all wrong and
might even quote an example from history which dates back to 1800s to prove
that people from xyz have a history of doing such things. Now does anyone really
care about that era anymore and does anyone really believe that we now have any
personality trait which matches with the people of our group back in the day.
There are some random people who are invited as panelists on these news
channels and they with zero credentials of their own, would slander / pass judgments
under the cloak of their opinion. One example which I distinctly remember is
when Shobha De had come for a discussion on Arushi Murder and had almost pronounced
the parents as murderers as she see didn’t feel any grief in Nupur Talwar’s
voice and also didn’t see her crying!!!
Ultimately it’s the GOD, the messiah, shri shri shri Ornab
Goswami who prevails and has the final word! But people at times tend to
continue these discussions at home/office/other social places. I was also
guilty of this till last year when I thought that the God himself has entrusted
me with the responsibility of making everyone around me aware of the goods that
Modiji will do to this nation J
I obviously don’t think that one shouldn’t have a point of
view. I’d be undemocratic if I say that but I guess it’d be helpful if we do an
internal analysis and decide whether the issue really requires a point of view
or whether it can be conveniently ignored. Whether a Sheena Bora or a meat ban
or a beef ban really makes a difference in my life. Whether I personally have
had a problem with a person of xyz group / religion / community / caste in my
life or I am just getting swayed by what the media is reporting. Sometimes it
is just a stray incident which media projects as xyz vs abc group clash because
they are short of breaking news and we get polarized for no reason.
The media obviously is under the high of being the hero and
it is upon us to make it realize its true place – that we will hear you only if
you make sense! We will endorse you only if you show both positive and negative
news and don’t make our lives unnecessarily more miserable than it really is!!
