Shrug it off!!!

Love them or hate them। They are there, and will remain there. Cause they have risked their lives for it. They are the toughest breed of the nation. Sitting in your air-conditioned rooms, it’s very easy to condemn. I admit, they have contributed in spoiling the system, but why don’t you start the cleanliness drive? Why don’t you take the charge and come ahead before criticising them? Cause you don’t have the guts! You simply love to hate.

Yeah, you got it right! I am talking about the politicians of the country। They are the most hated lot of the country, but have you ever thought what it takes them to reach there.

I said this to someone who was blaming the politicians for every problem in the society, from water logging to traffic jams। From poor garbage management to the failed drainage system। Why do we only blame a particular group for everything---from broken roads to scarcity of water! Aren’t we all having some responsibility towards the society, the nation? Actually we shrug it off, by putting the blame on others.

If we are blaming the politicians, why are we leaving aside the bureaucrats? If we blame the bureaucrats, why should we leave the technocrats and so on? Why don’t we put the blame on each and every citizen of the country? Aren’t we all responsible?

The society is like a pyramid, if any brick---on the top or at the bottom---is not its place, the pyramid can’t stand perfectly, if at all it is standing।

On our mistakes, we run away by saying, it was a small one and I didn’t do it intentionally। Oh! I jumped the red light cause I was getting late for my office. I had to bribe Mr. X cause I needed my work to be done urgently. But don’t our small mistakes slowly make it a part of the system. They do, and then ultimately we start blaming the system.

But we should realize that its not only a particular group which makes up for a society, we all are a part of it and we all are responsible for either ways it goes।

Which way are taking our society, when we kill someone just because his vehicle touched ours। We shot at someone just because he was talking a bit aggressively. Indian was once known throughout the world for tolerance, selflessness, brotherhood, camaraderie and leadership. But look what we have made out of our society? Our ancestors in heaven must be feeling bad about it.

They say, it’s never too late to mend. I request all my friends to get up, come ahead for the country. It’s not about big tasks cut out for anyone, even the smallest of the contribution will help a lot. Even not crossing a red light and managing your garbage properly will ultimately result in a better India.

To the news now…

Who is Mika Brzezinski? Even I was unaware of this name till recently. Brzezinski is a TV news anchor and she is working with US cable news channel MSNBC. But the question arises, what is so different about her?
There is something. Which can change the way the news world moves, if she is emulated. Brzezinski shot to fame when she raised a defiant fist in the face of one of the most powerful forces in the modern world: a celebrity. She refused to read a news item on air, which was about Paris Hilton.
For Brzezinski, Hilton and the news item about her release from the jail was not a news, not at least to be on top of the bulletin. It became evident when she moved ahead with other news items saying, “To the news now…”
Hail Brzezinski, at least something can be learnt from her. Is the Indian media listening? Better they listen; otherwise it will be too late to mend.
The Breaking News concept is hard to understand. Although I am a media professional, I am yet to understand what is Breaking News.
Sometimes they say, its Abhishek’s Baarat reaching Aishwarya’s place, sometimes its Mika kissing Rakhi Sawant! But how much are we affected by these.
Standing on the podium at a seminar, one of the most respected Journalists of India commented adversely about another channel and its Breaking News concept. I was a spectator to it with my other friends at the IIMC auditorium. But soon, when it came to his own channel, the content was the same; I was amazed to see it. Then why did he comment, why did he say so?
Is it the market dynamics, or is it the mad race of TRP (Television Rating Points). You would be astonished to know that most of the country is not included while calculating TRP; it’s the metros and some of the other big cities with a small sample of TV viewing houses.
It should be a common concern for the Journalist Fraternity. We should ponder upon, where are we taking our world? Senior Journalist from NDTV, Mr. Ravish Kumar has written very right in his blog about the media world and the launch of a probable “Bhu-Chu” Channel (Read Bhut Chudail Channel). Most of the channels at the prime time are either playing on the concept of Bhut & Chudail or SEX. Recently Aaj Tak recently aired a half an hour repeatedly, which was titled “Aao Sex Khoje”.
Where are we heading, are we finished with the news content or we are out to beat each other. Some people in the family (read the family of journalists) say, we show what people want to. But is it an excuse enough?
We should see it the other way round. People see what we show. If all the channels are showing the same stuff, what is the option left with the viewer. I don’t say that a discussion on Sex is bad, but is it justified that we air lewd videos in the name of discussion on sex?
A very senior journalist said very right during a discussion on Indian Media, while watching the news channel Al Jazeera, we will not be able to reach such heights ever. The Indian media will die before reaching the heights.
Correct me if I am wrong, what is the priority of the newsmen today, it is not the problems of the society, but what they look for are juicy stories with some complimentary visuals.
I am not being judgmental, I just want to know, are we moving in the right direction? It’s just my personal feelings.
Will anyone from among us will try to emulate Mika Brzezinski!!!