“From Chandigarh to CHILE & CHINA”
By
J.L. Gupta
I am a Panjabi by birth. Completed my schooling at the S.D. High School, Patiala. Then, joined the Mahendra College, Patiala in 1956. Same year, in Oct., I had shifted to the Govt. College, Chandigarh. Finally, in 1962, I had graduated in Law from the Punjab University, Chandigarh. As such, the language spoken in the streets and cities of Punjab has been my mother tongue. Despite all this, I may have been able to acquire some ability to communicate in English but it is in no way close to Panjabi. Resultantly, I have grown up with a feeling that I cannot speak or write English as well as those who have studied in Public or at least in English medium schools. Though always aware of my limitation, it could never deter me from writing or saying whatever appeared appropriate at a given moment.
Some time back, Judiciary was being treated as a punching bag. It was accused of a lack of accountability and transparency. I felt that the Judiciary was one of the few institutions in the country that was functioning effectively and had actually delivered. The criticism was unwarranted. Thus, silence was not an option. So, I wrote a piece and forwarded it to the Editor of a local Daily. I was informed that the article shall appear ‘on the Edit Page on ….’ Later, for some reason, it was not used. Ultimately, on coming to know of it, I had sent the article to a Law Journal. It was published. Probably, it got a larger audience. However, the incident had left a bad taste. So, I decided not to write for the local Daily.
I toyed with the thought of starting a blog. And in Aug. 2013, I made a beginning. In retrospect, I wonder, why the thought had not occurred to me earlier?
Today, I am convinced that the Social media provides an excellent alternative to the print media. It actually effectuates the Constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech and expression. You can post the piece on the blog at any time of the day and night, month or year. Publish it at will. The world, across the seven continents is your audience. It is objective and receptive. The readers are free to agree or disagree with you. They can express their views. They can make and publish their comments freely. Sometimes, there is a debate. A free and frank exchange of ideas. All very educative and enlightening, interesting and even instructive. The technology, permits not only an exchange of ideas but one can also see as to how many Readers have viewed the blog in a particular country. A click on the computer gets the complete data about the audience. And then, it is heartening to see that the viewers are from continents that are wide apart; from places in Asia to Australia; Chile to China; Nigeria to New Zealand; Ukraine to USA. Which Daily has such a wide readership? Where else would the readers get a chance to have their say so frankly and freely? Without any mutilation by the Editor so as to make it conform to his own views or the Management’s unwritten instructions. And without having to suffer anyone’s arrogance or gratitude. In any case, the social media has given me the satisfaction of being absolutely independent and sharing my thoughts freely with people from all over the globe.
Totally simple and satisfying! I thank the viewers for making it such a pleasant experience.
Brilliant expression as always! I think you have accurately conveyed a number of important issues. The success of the judiciary and the relative failure of the fourth estate in our country are stark realities. The political executive has left no stone unturned to control and corrupt the other pillars of our democracy. While the judiciary has remained largely insulated from these immoral efforts due to the constitutional scheme of separation of powers, the fourth estate has succumbed. Today paid news and editors being appointed by the political executive are common. In this environment, the ability of the mainstream news media to remain an effective independent medium for expression of opinion with freedom stands severely impaired. Blogs and non-mainstream news media are today recognized as the fifth estate! I find the fifth estate much faster and much more independent while reporting news as well as opinions on sensitive issues. The day is not far when we will depend on the fifth estate for independent and free news and opinion. This blog will surely contribute to the stature and credibility of the fifth estate!
ReplyDeleteIts great to have responsible and stable minded people as you share your thoughts and experiences with the public at large ... The problem with Social media freedom and lack of editing is that there is a whole lot of trash too that flies around ... Its tough to sift and find good reading .. And also there are a lot of extremists out there who can influence a lot of tender minds with their fanatic ideas ..thats the worry !! BUT I agree the positives of free media and social web surfing far outweigh the negatives. Hopefully it shall make this world a better place for all of us to live in.
ReplyDeleteYou have highlighted the undue craze of public schools for English speaking or other merits and the rightful theme that it is the person's own ability and effort that matters-proved by your writings that are crystal clear and lucid and many English medium graduates would stand dwarfed in front of 'JawaharLal' of ordinary schools!
ReplyDeleteThe repercussions of the social media have been highlighted by the untimely death of Ms. Sunanda Pushkar. The country is still reeling under the shock. This media must realise the need for restraint which otherwise can adversely affect the personal lives of the people. However you on the other hand as a responsible citizen have in your blog portrayed different aspects concerning the society, with the added advantage of the spicy humour peppering the articles. Your claim of the rudimentary knowledge of the English language is falsified with the evident and the expert turn of the phrase. Eagerly waiting for the next one!
ReplyDeleteI always remember some words that I heard many years ago... The speaker stated that in their opinion there are only two problems in the world, there is either too much or too little. Such is the case with social media... there is often too much junk and too little value.
ReplyDeleteIt behooves us broaden our view of the world as much as it does to bring specifics into play. Recently a friend became upset over an article in the NYTimes concerning a medical condition they had been dealing with. After some research I discovered that the author of the newspaper article did not have a medical background and was in fact just espousing a point of view promoted by the newspaper...
It's somewhat easy to ignore junk on the internet... more challenging if the information (or source) comes with a degree. The old truths are still valuable, we are sometimes better served when we go wide and deep...
I always enjoy reading your comments...
The Fourth Estate today can turn a respectable citizen to a "tea-boy" and make a bar-girl an elite ruler. There is no check on their arrogance or their conduct. However, the Fifth Estate has a better set of balances as it provides the opportunity to read about "the other side of the story". Agreed that this relatively new Estate has its own drawbacks. The best thing about your expression in this article, like all the ones before this, is that you have a never-dying spirit of positivity in you, around u and all that surrounds you. Hats off to that!
ReplyDeleteNotwithstanding politically motivated labels by the news media, the Fourth Estate, the “respectable citizen tea boy” and the “bar girl” have done well and emerged as elite Indian leaders.
DeleteThe bloggers and Internet enabled 'networked individuals’ are the Fifth Estate. They operate outside and often in opposition in ways that can hold the other four estates accountable. They offer subjective and objective opinions and often revelations. They can be watchdogs of the society. They recognize the greying of reality and unearth the truth e.g., that the “tea boy” in fact helped at his brother’s tea stall, and the “bar girl” in fact worked while a student at the Cambridge university cafeteria to supplement her funds to advance her education - just like thousands of other students do in the developed world.
The emerging blogosphere, self-organizing and self-regulating without editorial supervision and governmental censorship is in the process of maturing into a full-fledged social institution. We are moving beyond traditional thinking to a broader perspective in which anyone with access to a computer and the Internet can contribute to the global political change. Though only few bloggers show a real power to influence the governmental policy-making process and take a stance on issues to help cultivate grassroots movements.
Jai Hind
Wow, great article, I really appreciate your thought process and having it explained properly, thank you!
ReplyDeleteBest school in Phagwara
I agree uncle that the social media has brought in tremendous freedom of expression and ability to free exchange views and idea. No wonder the world over, dictatorial rules have tried hard to curb the internet in general and social media in particular. The Arab spring owes much to social media. But I also feel like Amandeep that there is a lot of trash going around and one has to be careful what one believes. I for one feel very lucky to be able to read your write ups sitting so far away. Look forward to more posts.
ReplyDelete