Thursday 26 June 2014

Technology and Ashirwad

॥श्री॥ 
A morning walk on beach is good for body, mind and soul. while the walk exercises the body, the mind gets time to ponder over things that we often overlook in our day to day life. The wind on your face with the sound of the waves make for a perfect setting. It is often at such a time and place, that you may stumble upon a pearl of wisdom.

During my morning walk today, as I walked past by a few sandcastles, I overheard a small conversation between a young lad, maybe around 21 years old, and an old retired couple. The boy was trying hard to explain some deep-techie-Gyan in simple Hindi. It appeared that the old couple had some technical difficulty with their new Mobile phone and asked the young man for assistance. Though I hope their problem was solved, It is difficult to conclude the same. The Old man while leaving placed his palm over the Lad's head -
an age old Hindu way of giving your blessings to someone. As they parted, the 3 of them shared smiles.

Normally, I wouldn't have  even noticed this conversation, but watching them all smile as they walked away made me think - how technological difficulties can help us overcome the giant gap between generations, New and Old - how a difficulty can be changed into an opportunity. The couple in asking the Lad for assistance, let go off their ego. Ego left and smiles blossomed.

While the young can help the elderly with technology, let us not forget, the former is equally in need of  spiritual guidance and support from the latter. Unlike earlier times, the exchange now is two way and the need to share is greater than ever. The key is to lose the EGO. The opportunity is here, lets embrace it. Let us RECONNECT.

Monday 9 June 2014

Baking bread on Pyre - ABP News

Monday 09/06/2014, Time: around 2 pm.

"how serious is this?"
"How serious? I've lost my friends. How serious do you think this is?"

An ABP News correspondent asked this question  to one of the survivors of the tragedy for a special News report on the unfortunate drowning of 24 students from Hyderabad in Beas River in Himanchal Pradesh. Allegedly, the students were clicking photographs when Hydro electric power project opened its flood gates sending tonnes of water downstream. Hence, it seems, the News channel chose the title 'Maut ki Photography'. (photography of death)...How Creative! 

 The News host in the studio then continued to question if this could have been prevented. 



Every time a news channel uses a tacky title such as this for a sensitive issue, I'm reminded of a roadside hooker that wears loud makeup and provocative dress to attract customers. On a second thought, this comparison is an insult to sex-workers. 

While the families of those 24 young boys and girls mourn their loss, these vultures with such tacky titles and over-emotional punches bake their bread on pyres.

This is not the first time that I've seen a News correspondent ask such a moronic and insensitive questions. The same has been used in many dark humor scenes in a number of movies - Someone dies in an accident or is killed, and a News reporter is seen with a mic pointed out to the survivor or a family member of the deceased asking, "How do you feel about this?".

These same insensitive bastards take moral high grounds while delivering punch lines at the end of news reports on sensitive issues like rapes. No one and absolutely no one is beyond their criticism, and rightly so. But the moment anyone points fingers at these vultures, they don't lose time in hitting back. One of the best examples of this is when the incompetent Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav retaliated back at the media saying "Crime is only visible in UP to media." We all expect the Yadav Father and Son to take responsibility for the law and order situation in their state and though they are, morally, in no position to point a finger at others, what Akhilesh Yadav said wasn't totally incorrect. 

Last, when Nirbhaya suffered, Delhi won the title 'Rape capital of India' thanks to News Media's obsession with the same kind of news. Currently the title has been won over by Uttar Pradesh. During such times, in their greed for TRP, the same subject is played over and over again. They run their own MEDIA TRIAL on everyone, but when the court acquits the accused of the charges, not a single VISIBLE apology is aired. Will a news correspondent ever let her/his colleague cover any mishap that involves her/his own personal life? I doubt. 

ABP News proudly plays its tagline  - 
"ABP News, aapko rakhe aage" - "ABP News, always placing you ahead". 
Based on the kind of News reporting the channel does, this is how I see it :