Media is a tool to dispense information, but it has ..........

I wrote this post at Human All Too Human Blog. Gautam helped me in editing this blog. Do leave your comments at Human All Too Human and not here.

Yesterday, I had been to a meeting with some friends regarding the challenges facing the IT industry, the story shifted to the traits of media in India.

Lets take a typical example of what they are doing now. When Sanjay Dutt was sentenced to jail, all the tv channels ran a live coverage of his movement from Arthur Road jail in Mumbai to the Yerwada Jail in Pune. In the same state, Maharashtra that is, where thousands of people who are committing suicide, they did mind covering this. The hot discussion was whether Dutt will celebrate his Diwali incarcerated or free?

Worse still, Times Now conducted a SMS poll on whether Sanjay Dutt should be acquitted or not? Crazy indeed. I don't understand why there is a court then? Some ran a story asking whether Sanjay deserves prison after imparting Gandhijiri to the people after Munnabhai. Isn't it completely insane? For the sake of TRP, they are just telling whatever they want. Times of India ran an article whose purpose I am yet to understand.

Whenever a natural calamity or accident happens, TV channels race to show the debris and injured. They believe showing people dripping with blood is an excellent coverage which precisely isn't. Never do they make an analysis of why it happened. Constructive journalism has almost vanished off in Indian Media.

In the events of 2007 listed by CNN IBN, one of the events was Bipasha Basu kissing Ronaldo, Sanjay dutt getting sentenced and lot of other crap. It seems the development of high-speed interceptor missile, Advanced Air Defence by our DRDO is a lesser achievement compared with Bipasha kissing Ronaldo. There is not a single event which shows the challenges faced by India. They seem to show all is well, which is were the purpose of Media fails.

These days they are even influencing the decisions by the court by conducting sms polls on what the people think and putting pressure on the judiciary itself. Why do these people give an opinion provided they don't know the facts about the case.

It doesn't end there, the stories which deserve a mention, issues which require attention are never mentioned. For a state to be successful, media must be rational, it must act as a tool to dispense information not as an entity to influence decisions.

Lets thank our teachers........

Everybody knows the social problems facing India. Today I was talking to my friend regarding the same during lunchtime. We were trying to get deeper into the problem to find out what actually is responsible for the mayhem that we are seeing around.

One of the things that usually crops up during these kinds of discussions is politics. Though politics is a major factor, there is another thing that is more critical. It is the education everybody receives. If, each and everyone learn good ideas, ability to think and self-reasoning, this world will become a very beautiful place to live in.

Thus teachers play a very important role in a society. There are a lot of teachers who inspire students and probably every one of us must have certainly come across one. A good teacher isn’t a one who teaches a great deal of things, he (or she) is a one who makes us believe that we can scale new peaks, invent things, makes us realize the potential in us. In short a good teacher is a one who ignites the spark in our minds.

Though the quality of teaching is slowly and steadily facing a downhill in India, the primary reason for decline is mainly it is a non-lucrative job. These days, persons who aren’t able to find a proper job become teachers. With time, the breed of good teachers is slowly ebbing out.

What can we do?

Do we need to forgo our careers and take teaching? Anyone will call it absurd. It is going to be very difficult to give up this cozy life we are enjoying. So, what can be done?

We should at least encourage, compliment the teachers who are doing a good job. Just think about the best teacher whom you have come across in your life. While you are well enough to read this article in a computer, odds are high that he/she might be leading a pretty normal, some even struggling for the same.

Remember we fume at not given a proper bucket in appraisal after six months of hard work, we abuse our team leaders saying that they have not thanked us for the work we have done.

Have we ever thanked our teachers who are responsible for the lives we are leading now?

I haven't, I don’t think a lot would have. Let us do one thing for this New Year. We will find out the address of our favorite teachers and send out a New Year card thanking him / her.

Just imagine the happiness in their faces when they see the card. I bet many will cherish it and it will motivate them more to wield more responsible citizens. This might be a little thing, but I believe little things like these can change the society.

Sending cards is not only a way of thanking them, but also making them feel that are responsible for the society’s well being.

Quarter-life Crisis

My friend had just sent this, really good, made me think, oho I am not alone. Also is of the same genre post.

They call it the "Quarter-life Crisis." It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are many things about yourself that you didn't know and may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now. You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met, and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you don't recognize is that they are realizing that too, and aren't really cold, catty, mean or insincere but that they are as confused as you.You look at your job... and it is not even close to what you thought you would be doing, or maybe you are looking for a job and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom and that scares you. Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and are constantly adding things to your list of what is acceptable and what isn't. One minute, you are insecure and then the next, secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life.

You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly, change is the enemy and you try to cling on to the past with dear life, but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away, and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward.You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you. Or you lay in bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough that you want to get to know better. Or maybe you love someone but love someone else too and cannot figure out why you are doing this because you know that you aren't a bad person.

You go through the same emotions and questions over and over, and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision. You worry about loans, money, the future and making a life for yourself... and while winning the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender! What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it.

We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.

Musings of a Confused Mind

When I first started this blog, I had called it 'My views.' After a long time only it stuck to my mind that everybody express their views only in their blogs, hence having a title "My views" is as good as not having a name. After understanding that I changed it to the Rene Descartes's quote "I Think Therefore I am". Though I knew that it is just a statement of what I am and doesn't give a glimpse of what I am going to write, my mind which doesn't have much of creativity couldn't think of another appropriate name for my blog.

If I tell that "Today evening when I was driving in the pleasant, cool road of IIT, Chennai the words 'Musings of a Confused Mind' stuck my mind", I myself would laugh at it. Because I know my limits.

Actually one of my friends who knows me quite well had sent a long mail regarding the state of India in response to my previous post. Its subject was title "Musings of a Confused Mind". On reading the subject, I was confused, because I didn't know that there existed a word called Musing. Then as usual I Googoled and found out the meaning of Musing. As I was thinking about his mail today evening I felt that, those words are apt for my Blog.

I am really confused and cannot understand this world. I cannot understand why the world has become so much materialistic. I am confused why nobody cares about others in this world. I am really confused why people don't even have basic ethics. I don't understand why many youngsters don't understand there a lot of things beyond Money and Sex in this world. A lot more can be asked.

I generally try to figure out why everything is happening, the reason is "Because I don't like the idea that I'm not in control of my life" just as Neo says in Matrix.

Anyway I would like to thank Gautam (he was the one who sent that mail) for giving me this title. Also I would like to apologize to him for not asking permission to use this title. Gauthi, hope you don't mind this.

Believe the musings will continue..............

It is really beautiful

I happened to see the trailer of Saawariya. Though I don't know Hindi, I enjoyed it. The camera, lighting, costume, music seem to be good. Lets hope the film would be a good one. Ravi.K.Chandran has proved that why he is a leading cinematographer in this country.

There are thousands, other than orphans and old aged who need help in this country

One day, last week, I got down from my Office bus and was walking along the Valluvar Kottam High Road, to buy some stationaries. While I was walking along, a few feet in front of me, a cyclist fell down in the midst of road. The way he fell almost everybody, including myself, in that place easily figured that he was drunk. Though I hesitated a few seconds whether to help him or not, my inner sense told that he must be helped first, and luckily it prevailed.

I took his cycle from the road, parked it on the sidelines, and that guy silently followed me. Meanwhile my mind had made up that I should not talk to him as he was drunk. Hence, I just started walking without a look. He called back saying thanks, which promoted to advise him not to drink and drive. (I believe a majority of Indians enjoy giving advice and I am no exception).

On hearing me, he started blabbering some thing. I thought to myself, "If this kind of stuff had happened to some of my friends, I wouldhave sat down with them and heard their story. Poor guy, lets hear what he says for some time." (The reason is many Indians drink mainly because they are sad, though there is no logical reason behind that.) So, why not patiently hear what this man has to say.

He said many things, (I feel they are not necessary to be mentioned here) which I don't know are true or not. I listened to him for about four minutes, after that I remembered my routines, hence gave him some consoling words and left. (Had it been one of my dear friends, maybe I would have talked longer. I am selfish indeed).

His life would have been different had he got a friend who would have corrected him. Majority, almost 99% of the people in this world are what they are, because of the environment around them.

I am no exception, I am writing a blog titled "I Think Therefore I am" not just because I knew Rene Descarates right from my birth. It is because my bringing up, friends acquaintances made me to think about Western Philosophy a bit.

It is really sad that, these days youngsters don't know what Marx said? Or what Bertrand Russell said? Or what J.Krishanmurthy said? Or what our Periyar said?

You may ask the question, why I need to know these guys If I am getting my food and I am living happily without knowing them.

The reason you must know these things, or at least have social awareness is because you are reading this in a computer just because 1 USD = 40 INR. Other wise we would have been in some town or village toiling hard for getting at least single meal a day. And the irony is majority of Indians are still experiencing it. Just because we are reading this sittting somewhere in an expensive laptop or a cosy office chair or an internet cafe doesn't mean that we have developed a lot. And what is happening to millions of Indians, humans might happen even to you some day, if the Dollar crashes. Beware that anything is possible in this capitalistic and materialistic word.

If people like us who are educated don't do things, it will be difficult to change things in this country.

I am not asking to discuss the Communist Manifesto or Dravidian Principles with your friends. I am not asking you to donate some hefty amounts to a NGO. But you can do small small things by not drinking a coke and drink a fruit juice. It will make a difference to an agriculturalist living somewhere.

I am not asking you to not go to onsite remain in India and be a swadeshi, bla, bla, etc. But you can donate 1% (or a fixed amount of say Rs.1,000) of your annual income to some organization in India which does some social service. It will certainly make a difference in the life of many.

I must thank that guy whom I met that day, he reminded me that there are thousands of persons other than orphans, old age people who need attention in this country.

Arise, Awake and lets stop not till the goal is reached.

BJP, please act sensibily

The Ramar sethu issue has been the food on which Indian news channels are feasting upon in the past few days. The most comical thing about the issue is that the party which initiated the study regarding this project itself is vehemently opposing this project.

Do they think that every one in this country is foolish enough not to see this truth. BJP are making themselves a comedy act these days. First their blind opposition to 123 deal with US was really annoying. At no point they were prepared to discuss regarding the deal in Parliament nor they agreed to an all party meet, instead they just stalled the the entire proceedings of the Legislature.

They need to act as a more sensible opposition instead of just trying to make news.

Regarding the Sethu Project, a more detailed study needs to be done regarding the ecological damage. Otherwise the project can be executed.

They have just won a World Cup

The winning of the inaugural ICC World Twenty Twenty championships has sparked celeberations across the entire country. A victory like this not only invokes celebration, it lifts the entire spirit of the nation. You can see the spark in the stride of a milkman doing his work in the wee hours, the delight in the persons assorting the newspapers in the early hours, the eagerness of the kids to go to school for discussing the beautiful moments, every where around us we can feel it.

Certainly these kind of triumphs lift the entire nation, but the question is whether BCCI & politicians are giving it too much of a hype. The bounties being announced for the players bemuses me.

Does Yuvraj deserve two crores and a porsche car when the domestic cricketers have not got their salaries and the coaches have earned only pennies when compared to the players.

If the Indian team needs to do consistently then, the domestic cricket must be strengthened. New pitches must be laid, academies must be created in every state, stadiums and ground staff must be properly maintained. It is not just the players alone who must reap the benefiets, the entire cricketing fratenirty must live.

If a player plays (just in squad, no need to play) an entire season, he will earn a minimum of 50 lakhs as match fee alone. Apart from that sponsorship deals, prize money for tournaments, etc. So, there is no need to worry about these players, instead attention must be shown on the relentless coaches and passionate grounds men who toil hard to create players.

Maybe BCCI can announce prize money for players, since it is making huge profit in the recent years, but I can't understand the logic in which the state governments are announcing prize money when a lot of more things require immediate attention in this country.

We need to realize that we have just won a world cup, lot of people in this country are still struggling for a single meal a day.

Manmohan, atleast reprimand Anbumani

At last Anbumani Ramadoss has agreed to sign the degree certificates for AIIMS students after Delhi High court stepped in.

I still cannot understand the logic behind which Anbumani had threatened the suspending the doctors if they fail to come back to work. Years and years of handwork of the doctors were stopped just because of the prestige problem for Anbumani.

I think the correct way of showing that everybody si equal before law is by removing him from the Union Cabinet. This will not be done by this boneless government. Hence, at least give a public reprimand to him.

Sen , should he be recalled?

Some fuel was added to the already flaming nuclear deal fire by Ronen Sen's interview to Rediff Abroad. Sen was quoted in Rediff Abroad as "It has been approved here (in Washington, DC) by the President, and there (in New Delhi) it's been approved by the Indian cabinet. So why do you have all this running around like headless chicken, looking for a comment here or comment there, and these little storms in a tea-cup?"

Though he has given out a statement today that he was quoted Out of Context, the remarks by Rediif Abroad's editor Afiz Haniffa seem to contradict his statement. Haniffa has categorically stated that these comments were given by Sen when he was contacted.

The Remarks undermine the legislature, most important part part of any democracy.
Sen must be called for an inquiry before a parliamentary committee. If the Sen's comments are true, then he must be recalled immediately.

It is really amazing to find that the protest against Sen have ebbed out slowly. In India just like the media, the politicians also keep on shifting their focus daily?

If you have 10 lakhs, you can rape a girl

Seems ridiculous isn't it?

But this what High Court has decided on a case.

A man committed a rape and he was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment by a trial court . He was acquitted by the High court after he proposed to pay Rupees 7 lakh as compensation.

It is absurd t0 see this judgment.

The person is Mansoor Ali Khan, a Tamil actor.

For more details read this article.

Don't where this country is heading towards. A rapist must be punished at any cost.

This case seems like bribing the judiciary straight away.

The judge should have secured that 7 lakhs for the girl and sentenced him to prison also.

I am back..........

I had dreamed of blogging on a daily basis when i wrote my last blog, but now it has been almost 13 months (to be exact 478 days) since i wrote my last post.

It is quite easy to visualize things, but thats not how things are actually are.

One of the main reasons is the work i have been doing. It has been really hectic out there at office, for some time i even forgot that i have a family and many friends.

Sometime back only, i realized "work is just a part of life, not life".

Then didn't have a proper net connection back at home. If you ask, when did you move into this house? The answer is 3 months, i have become bloody lazy over the past one year because of working in this damned IT industry. Maybe we can talk about IT some time latter.

Signing off now, hoping to put posts more frequently from now on.