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The TV news channels have left no stone unturned in spiking their TRPs using false news and the tactics of fiery journalism (quite literally), rues Enakshi. An exclusive for Different Truths.
Welcome to your life
There’s no turning back
Even while we sleep
We will find you
Acting on your best behaviour
Turn your back on mother nature
Everybody wants to rule the world
(Song by Tears for Fears)
Welcome to the Great Indian Circus! It’s free of cost. Come, bring along your family members. Ask them to leave all their important work, for the stunts performed in this circus are going to blow away their mind! Confused still? Let me give you a hint — this is telecast 24 hours on TV. You will find a ringmaster sitting amidst other performers who would come on stage in turns and perform their ‘kartabs’ (acts). As a viewer, you will enjoy all the performances, but you will not take back anything. If you think that the purpose of this circus is to blow away the cobwebs for you, then you are wrong, for the real agendas are appalling.
You will find a ringmaster sitting amidst other performers who would come on stage in turns and perform their ‘kartabs’ (acts). As a viewer, you will enjoy all the performances, but you will not take back anything. If you think that the purpose of this circus is to blow away the cobwebs for you, then you are wrong, for the real agendas are appalling.
If you still haven’t been able to guess what I am writing about, then probably you are too naive and are being deceived by what our dearest media is projecting on the idiot box these days! Whether it is Times Now or Republic TV, the news channels have left no stone unturned in spiking their TRPs using false news and the tactics of fiery journalism (quite literally). Their lack of understanding of the difference between metaphors and literal terms is becoming quite evident with every passing day. The way the reporters are crossing all the lines of decency, integrity and honesty, the day isn’t far when journalism will lose its value completely. Two weeks back, I had written an article on a similar premise because of the angst that was building up inside me against the media. Today, yet again, I am forced to bring forth another ugly ploy that has been put into action by the media. By making a young man’s suicide as the scaffold, they have jumped the guns and reached conclusions that are baseless and impractical. Not only are they influencing the general public by their biased opinions but are also assassinating the character of several people on national TV.
While the country is sinking in the abyss gradually, the media, having set its priorities straight, is keener on investigating Sushant Singh Rajput’s case under its very own jurisdiction. Ironically, in this jurisdiction, the testimonies are one-dimensional, for nobody gives a chance to anyone to say their part. What the reporters decipher from reading ‘chats’ or watching ‘old videos’ becomes the evidence that is submitted to their personal courts. They (media) expose the case in stages, just how the ringmaster reveals the new tricks in the circus layer by layer. The very first stage was that of SSR’s suicide. This was followed by the angle of murder, political wars, money laundering, witch hunting, gold-digging, drug mafia, nepotism and surprisingly, even patriarchy found a place here. Sadly, ‘none of your business’ has lost its meaning because everyone around me is contributing to the investigation as if they were personally related to Sushant Singh Rajput! Who cares if the investigation is not carried out by the experts!
The GDP of the country has declined by a whopping 23.9%, thereby painting a very grim picture for all of us. According to an article by India Today (published in August 2020), around 12.2 million Indians have lost their job during the pandemic. The numbers have been increasing ever since. Jobless, homeless and starved, people are struggling to make ends meet. But who cares! The media is ‘expected’ to bring forth such stories so that ‘such people’ can be helped. However, they are busy converting pennies to pounds by investigating stories beyond bounds!
The GDP of the country has declined by a whopping 23.9%, thereby painting a very grim picture for all of us. According to an article by India Today (published in August 2020), around 12.2 million Indians have lost their job during the pandemic. The numbers have been increasing ever since. Jobless, homeless and starved, people are struggling to make ends meet. But who cares! The media is ‘expected’ to bring forth such stories so that ‘such people’ can be helped. However, they are busy converting pennies to pounds by investigating stories beyond bounds! The India- China dispute hasn’t reached a closure. Some days back, China opened fire in Ladakh on the account of warning the Indian soldiers to retreat. They, very conveniently, violated the agreement that was signed between the two countries in 1996. Amidst border issues, a scary number of Covid-19 cases per day, declining GDP and loss of jobs, we are trapped in a treasure hunt, the treasure being ‘the culprit of SSR’s murder/suicide’!
Knowing that man is a social animal and a selfish being too, it should be quite easy to understand why the media is trying to involve the big names in this case. The idea is to divert the public’s attention from more serious issues to the issues that are beyond our capacity (in terms of solving them). Helpless and unaware, we are totally unarmed to face the adversities that lie ahead in our path. Partly, it is our fault too. In spite of knowing the kind of level media has stooped down to, we still prefer watching news even when the news revolves around the same topic. Sadly, even we have become a part of this great circus. The media is the ringmaster as it governs what we do, what we think and what we see. Depriving us of a democratic surrounding, the media has proved, time and again, that it is not only sly but also selfish. It can go to any lengths, defy any rule, disregard any opinion and restore to violent means to gain profit. The public harassment of Rhea Chakravarthy is the perfect example. No, I am not taking her side. I am only reminding my readers of the Principle of Presumption of Innocence! Who is right and who is wrong — that is not my business! My business is to be aware of what is happening around me and abstain from passing judgements based on half-cooked information.
In spite of knowing the kind of level media has stooped down to, we still prefer watching news even when the news revolves around the same topic. Sadly, even we have become a part of this great circus. The media is the ringmaster as it governs what we do, what we think and what we see. Depriving us of a democratic surrounding, the media has proved, time and again, that it is not only sly but also selfish.
SSR’s case is being handled by CBI and the only one who can pass a verdict is the Indian Judiciary system. I am neither Aristotle nor Socrates. Hence, I cannot preach. We all have a brain and it would be wise to not let it slip into a dormant state!
Photo from the Internet
