HONKING & HOUNDING

“HONKING & HOUNDING”

   By

           J.L. Gupta

A pleasant winter morning. Thanks to the long week-end, the Children and I do not have to go for work. The grandchildren also do not have to rush to catch the Bus. So, we decided to catch on our sleep. But the elusive sun rays which have been rare this winter were already peeping into the bedroom, lending their warmth and falling straight on my face. And then the incessant honking of horns on the road outside was a clear indication of the fact that some parents had come with the children or sent them for the periodic weekly meeting with the teachers at the School in the neighbourhood. One is left with the impression that in India, we do not believe that noise can even disturb or that it is, in fact, an environmental pollutant. Thus, the young as well as the not so young, driving the latest limousines with horns blaring all the time, never think that they are doing anything wrong or that they can actually disturb someone’s sleep. So, much against my wish, I get up and see that the Tea and newspaper trolley is already there. And what catches the eye? A popular Daily has stories of crime and criminals. Rape and murder. Scams and scandals on the front page. Are we a nation of Criminals only?

A look inside the paper. One finds advertisements. Of all kinds, shapes and sizes. Or news of terror and terrorists. Violence everywhere. In Gandhi’s INDIA? Nothing to bring a smile on the face? Only disappointment and disgust. Nothing interesting to read. No CARTOONS. No crisp Middles. Nor Articles by experts on subjects of national interest. Why? Nobody seems to care or question. If commerce is overtaking the country, can the media managers be really expected to be an exception? Are they not answerable to the big business houses that employ them on fat salaries? Are they not expected to show substantial increase in the receipts? Do they have no targets to meet before ensuring their packet at the end of each year?

Can we really talk of the freedom of the press as guaranteed under the Constitution? Or has it been sacrificed at the altar of goddess LAXMI or subjugated to the arbitrary, unquestionable and unregulated WILL of the Media Managers?

The Print media is not alone. The story is the same in case of even the electronic section. After all, we are all a product of the same society. It is also plagued by similar problems. Commerce, crime and violence dominate the TV screen as much as the newspaper pages. The Anchors, with a few exceptions like Dr. Pranoy; Rajdeep Sardesai and Ms. Barkha Dutt, are invariably trying to bully the guests who are ostensibly invited to discuss dispassionately, talk objectively and present a realistic picture to the public. The guests seldom get the chance to have their say or the voice even heard. Similarly, the people including some leaders also do not miss any opportunity to accuse the media and say “Oh! You have been bought.”

What is really happening? Is the media no longer a watchdog? Is the media fast becoming a monster managed by the Managers? Why are the business houses buying media? Did the Radia tapes not indicate the hard realities? We have to face facts! Can Media too, be easily maneuvered with money bags? I say- A definite No!!But like the Drivers on the road, the EDITORS & MEDIA MANAGERS, the people and politicians need to keep the larger public interest in view. If that happens,  HONKING on our roads and HOUNDING the media men should soon be history in our country.