Jul 28, 2006 03:32 PM
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How do you distinguish between a little child and a mature individual? The first indicator is how that person reacts to changes. A child is invariably impulsive and reacts to unfavorable changes by throwing tantrums. A mature individual will react to a change by adaptation wherever the compromise does not contravene his ideals too much. We can extend this distinction and apply it in a number of situations.
When it comes to constructing a policy for governing an economy, the decisions must be deliberate and sound. An impulsive decision(equivalent of a tantrum) is unlikely to give results and even if it does yield results, they will only be short term and limited. Social changes also cannot be brought about all of a sudden. Over the past few days, the “Big Bang Theory” of social changes has taken root.(Consider for example the theory put forward by Rang de Basanti). People have begun to believe that drastic and violent measures are needed to awaken the society and such sudden spikes can bring about paradigm changes. However, in reality, most significant social changes have been effected through generations of painstaking, deliberate and persistent efforts and not through Big Bangs. For example, the efforts to weaken the caste hierarchies and associated evils did not succeed because they were Big Bangs but because they were consisent, patient and bit-by-bit.
In most countries where orthodox autocracies were overthrown by an acute explosion of public dissent, the society culminated into a string of social problems that hampered their growth in the modern era. Consider, for example, the Nazi revolution and the consequent Hitler-era of Germany and the stormy Leninist revolution in the Soviet Union.
Let us now put the above paragraphs in the context of the Media. At the outset, it is essential to consider the complexity of the issue with privatization in mind. Post privatization of the media, it has become a business and justifiably so. Therefore, the profit motive operates very strongly and once again, justifiably so. Therefore, the owners of media houses are naturally on the look out to boost sales of their offerings. Print media would want more copies sold while television media will want to boost TRP ratings. Idealists have big issues with these changes. With all due respects to those sentiments, I want to state here that once in business, it is not sensible to allow idealism to overpower profit motive. The Hindu karmayoga does not allow a businessman to run his business like a charity. Consequently, marketing, packaging, sensationalizing and mass appeal are bound to enter the media functioning. We will not call it pollution simply because we are not against it.
What happens as a consequence of this? The consequence is what I have named the Hot-Burning-Issue Syndrome(HBIS). What is HBIS? The explanation is simple. At any given point of time, all media channels are obviously expected to give the same news and report the same events. As far as reaching that particular event is concerned, the industry is in perfect competition. That is to say, it is not at all difficult for news channels to reach any part of the world these days. So, all media houses will have coverage of every important issue. The competition comes in at the later stage. Media houses tend to compete in terms of bringing out the fuller, truer picture. In this race, journalism comes with a flavor of storytelling. I am only repeating what I said above. In summary, all media houses are bound to pick up issues and exaggerate them.
This is not HBIS yet. HBIS is the effect the above race has on people like you and me. The first symptom of HBIS is the increasing belief in the Big Bang Theory. As a society, we need to remember that sensational news should only be a constant reminder for us to continue patient, consistent effort. Sensational news should never become instigating factors for violent reactions. We as a people need to grow up.
And I’m talking about some relevant recent issues. Mature people, take hints.
