Potentials and failings of the Media
Your beloved ‘Vartha Bharati’ has completed 15 years of its journey today, and has entered the 16th year. On this joyous occasion,let us do some introspection on the media.
The end consumers of Media in any society are its people. But if these consumers set out to search for themselves in the media they use, they’d be rather disappointed because none of the Media platforms either recognise their existence or care about their interests or preferences. The policies of the Media houses, their priorities and their tone and tenor are all enigma to the common man. Many of them in course of time get used to this indifference of the Media or gradually learn to reset their own expectations. But the more sensitive among them keep wondering everyday as to why their media does not ever represent them.
The principal function of most of the Media houses today is to convert their consumers into the compulsive consumers of hundreds of other products in the market. Most of the consumers of the Media fail to notice for a long time that they are the direct targets and victims of this conspiracy of the Media.
The masses fail to comprehend how the media turns them addicts of goods and services that they can in fact comfortably live without. When they can afford to buy a bicycle, media lures them into buying a motorbike or a car on loan. By the time people realize what has gone wrong, they would have reached a point of no return. Most of the media do not stop here. They also keep people in dark ignorance about the issues that really matter to them. And all this is done so gently and with such precise planning that people would hardly realize something of this nature is even happening right under their nose.
India does not exist in Kolkata or Mumbai. The country breathes in its 7 lakh villages, according to Mahatma Gandhi. But if you look for those villages or people in the media, it’s hard to find. The number of our villages has come down to 6.5 lakhs. But yet, most of the 70% of our people live in villages. Majority of them seriously suffer from poverty and insecurity. However, the Consumers of most of our Mainstream Media are not likely to be aware of their plight. So is the story of our farmers, peasants and our working class.
On an average, about 45 farmers commit suicide every day in our country. Over 3 lakh peasants have resorted to suicide between 1995 and 2015, But the media has hardly mourned their death just because no one placed an ad of obituary on their behalf. Now there are about 50 crore labors in the Unorganised sector. There are lakhs of unemployed, homeless and destitutes, those suffering from malnutrition – unfortunately none of them are of any relevance to our media houses.
Saddest part is, the media not only refuses to acknowledge the presence of people of this categories, and their travails. Media often strives to focus people’s attention stays on irrelevant and idiotic statements made by politicians, or really frivolous issues such as cattle, cow, temple, mandir, private lives of cinema actors, luxury cars, expensive hotels so on and so forth.
As a result of this, people wouldn’t even notice serious matters that affect their lives such as the conspiracy of the ruling party or the dangerous schemes plans being hatched by capitalists close to power circles. No discussions or debates ever happen on the topics that matter to people that have been compromised. When paths to discussion are closed, solutions can never come by. And hence, the issues remain undercover much to the satisfaction of the perpetrators.
In reality, no problems are without solution. There are enough resources to help find solutions as well. But, we do have a problem with employing the resources, and prioritizing the task of finding solution. We may never be able to arrive at a point of resolution so long as the all-powerful people are reduced to mere puppets who are managed by mega industrialists. Media can change the way things work here by bridging the gap between what needs doing and the resources available, based on priority. With this, if media can help the debate remain alive to find better solutions, this would be the biggest help the most important pillar of democracy would be doing to the people of the country.
Today when Vartha Bharati enters its 16th year, we felt we must take stock of hits and misses of the media. Our Vartha Bharati was started amidst major financial challenges, but today has gathered a good number of readers across the spectrum. Even when value-based journalism is beginning to be a thing of past, Vartha Bharati has strived to stick to its ground and not fall into the trap of irresponsible value-less journalism. As a result of this, Vartha Bharathi has always believed in dissemination of truth or ‘truth everywhere’ as its motto. For the paper to remain an epitome of people’s aspirations, we need your whole hearted and proactive support.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Hemant Karkare killed by RSS-linked cop, not Kasab: Maharashtra LoP Vijay Wadettiwar
BJP writes to ECI for action against Cong leader Wadettiwar for 'defaming' Ujjwal Nikam
Mumbai, May 5: The BJP has written to the Election Commission of India seeking action against Congress and the opposition leader, Vijay Wadettiwar, for allegedly peddling lies and defaming its Mumbai North Central nominee and ex-26/11 prosecution lawyer Ujjwal Nikam.
Wadettiwar, the leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra legislative assembly, purportedly called Nikam an "anti-national" and accused him of hiding the information that then Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare wasn't killed by Kasab's bullet during the 26/11 terror attack, but fell to a bullet of a policeman affiliated to RSS.
His allegations were based on the book "Who Killed Karkare" written by retired police officer SM Mushriff.
"As a responsible leader, the opposition leader should desist from making such comments that can help the enemy nation," Nikam said.
Terming Wadettiwar's statements as "false and not based on facts", Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shekar claimed they were aimed at defaming Ujjwal Nikam and inciting emotions.
"We have written to the Election Commission of India seeking action against Wadettiwar who is a star campaigner (of Congress) and also against the Congress party for peddling lies," he added.
Shelar further said (Ajmal) Kasab was sentenced to death for killing innocent people after following a due process of law.
Kasab was the lone terrorist who was captured alive by Mumbai Police during the 26/11 terror attack by Pakistani terrorists in which at least 166 people were killed and several others were injured.
Shelar wondered whether Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray supported the statement made by the Congress leader.
A former special public prosecutor, Nikam had represented the state in high-profile cases like the Mumbai serial bomb blasts and the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
He is making his political foray from Mumbai North Central seat on a BJP ticket and is pitted against city Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad.
