Responsible Media?

So there was a lot of misappropriation of money for CWG, the facilities are not world class, nothing is ready when the games are a fortnight away. Need to be thankful to the media for making me aware of these facts. But really can we move on? Every time I switch the TV on, all the major channels are highlighting the sorry conditions of the CWG venue, with the images of everything that went wrong. My point is, things went wrong, it’s totally unacceptable but why do we need to replay the facts over and over again?  One of the leading news channels had a very eye-catching one-liner “India shamed again”, shown on an Indian network as if it’s a matter to be proud of. Then there was this list of western nations that pulled out for various reasons, somehow I feel the media wants the CWG to be a huge failure.

What amazes me is the callous attitude of the media; they have done their job of highlighting our unpreparedness, but now what’s the benefit of replaying it?  I don’t say that let the culprits free, anyway considering the Indian law situation, the culprits behind this are going to go scot-free by playing the right cards or maybe the case would run till next time CWG comes to India and then the media will remember that there was a certain Mr. K who had wronged the nation and then they’ll replay the same images we see every day now.  Then the time would be right, not now!

Just few days back, Mr.Subrato Roy of Sahara made an emotional appeal in all newspapers, asking public to support the sponsors and asking the media to stop. But who listens? The point he raised is totally logical, why are we concentrating on things that went wrong, instead of rectifying the situation? From when did “India shamed yet again” become a thing to be advertised? In the battle of the TRPs why is national image taking a back seat? The media would I guess gain more respect if it now started concentrating on the steps being taken to salvage the situation without being sarcastic, instead of showing worthless interviews of useless Gora’s who have boycotted the games  citing hygiene, safety concerns. Frankly, we don’t need terrorists to come and harm us, the media is enough.   

I very much want an answer from everyone who has wasted my Taxpayers money, but that can wait, right now I want the CWG to be a success as much as the FIFA world cup was in another not-so-developed-country-by-western-standards.

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Another story that caught my eye was on another leading news channel, Mind you, when I say leading news channel, I mean the so-called leading English news channels. I had already given up on the Hindi news after the “Big B ne haath hilaaya” news when Mr. Bacchan was operated upon. So this leading news channel was going to show an exclusive movie on the Ayodhya issue, the real-story of Ayodhya, specially made for the 24^th decision on the issue. My question is, why now? On one hand, the police are all geared up for maintaining communal harmony, the PM issues an appeal to be unbiased, and the media fuels it by pulling out the old videos. I would like to know the real story behind it, but is it necessary to time it now when it can fuel up the minds of some un-employed youths?

It’s not the first time that the media is acting irresponsibly; we have had recent experiences of Mumbai Taj attacks and the coverage of Kargil war, when they in their efforts to lead the TRPs played with the safety of innocents. It’s high time; they woke up and realize that News channels are meant to give an unbiased coverage of happenings around the world. Their purpose is not to shock the world but give a decent account of things worth talking about.  Like Spiderman is taught the valuable lesson, “With great power, comes great responsibility”. It’s time the media woke up to theirs, they cannot bask in their power. Freedom of press, freedom to talk is all great but it comes with a responsibility of being responsible, which sadly the media isn’t.

I have heard from my parents and read the accounts of the media persons working for the National Network, about how they covered the riots connected to the 1984 assassination of Indira Gandhi. They said that they felt responsible for the manner in which they conveyed the news; the idea was to make the nation aware of the loss and not provoke the public. Somehow, that sentiment is absent in the new breed private channels.

The question that remains is, do we as Indians have lost the ‘love for nation’ when we blindly let the media infuriate us with their tone and post comments like “Boycott the games” on social networking sites? I agree that the feeling of betrayal is strong, but why can’t we maturely handle the situation at hand instead of crying over spilt milk? Why let the nation’s image suffer for the mistake of one set of politicians? If we are that hurt by the way it was handled, let’s be a bit undemocratic and sentence all those who were at fault under the strictest laws for tarnishing the image of India, do we have the courage for that?  It’s easy to keep blaming, what’s difficult is setting things right.

Tip for the media: North India and Delhi is flooded, many people (read BPL Indians) are subjected to inhuman living conditions and exposed to water-borne diseases, and I feel coverage of that is much more important than water-logging at CWG village. But guess that doesn’t make for a high TRP.

Nostalgia

Yesterday as I was driving from my Office, back home I was greeted with the verve of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations which stand for Pune as I remember it. The Pandals located at fixed distances, with the magnificent Ganesh idols, the soft hymns, the occasional remixed songs, the lights, the festive spirit, all of it brought about some memories with it.

I first came to Pune in the same period, eight years back to join Engineering College, A painfully shy teenager who daily travelled 30kms to reach college. Pune was different back then. Six-seaters were still running, the roads were full of potholes; vada-paav was for 4 Rs, The numerous malls were not the part of the city skyline.  What remains same though is the spirit of Pune. Apart from the occasional core areas, I never felt left out. I was as much a part of the city as the city is of me.

The first day of college as I remember it was tense, I had joined late, so the groups were already formed. People knew each other and no one bothered to introduce each other. My being shy was not any help either. The next thing I remember vividly is the Ganesh festivities, with the roads jammed; I always worried about reaching home on time.  The extroverts planned a site-seeing throughout Pune and I struggled to reach home before sunset J

First Year of college soon rolled through, what I achieved in this first year was a group of five girl-friends who were fun. Some of them I lost touch with over time and some who are still the best of my friends. I lived on a stringent budget back then, so every day having snacks and juice (patties and sugarcane juice) near the college was indulgence. What significantly stands out is the innocence of the first year of college, the need to prove oneself, the sometimes bitchy sometimes sisterly attitude of teens, the stealing glances at your crush who somehow became a reason to attend college. I have enjoyed my best in the first year of college and still smile at the stupid jokes we cracked back then. I remember stifling laughs throughout the one hour lecture once, and that’s one of my happiest memories. Very soon the year was through and we were reshuffled to join our respective streams.

Second year of engineering passed with me always seated on the front desk oblivious to the rest of the folks behind me. For me no one existed beyond my desk. I vividly remember a very talkative, bubbly girl sitting beside me for a boring Maths session and getting bored more so by my silence. Later as we got closer, she confessed how much she cursed me for my silence.

The years passed through with all the ups and downs and very soon I was out of college. What changed the most in those 4 years was me.  More than the technical education, I value the education which changed me as a person. I still am introvert and take ages to open up. The friends that I made back then, some stayed, some drifted apart, rest are acquaintances I smile at when I run across them. But every one of them contributed to what I am today. As George Adams said:

“There is no such thing as a "self-made" man. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind deed for us, or spoken one word of encouragement to us, has entered into the make-up of our character and of our thoughts, as well as our success.”

I  owe my mental makeup to many of such friends who unknowingly taught me many a things, be it laughing at stupid jokes, enjoying life, managing studies and fun or more deeper values like trust and friendship.  I always thought of myself as a person who has cloaked her shyness under arrogance and I occasionally wear my cloak inside out.

Growing up isn’t about age, it’s about the experiences which you learn from; I owe all my acquaintances the fact that they are the part of my experiences. Good or bad, it’s the experience that counts. Eight years back, as I wrestled in the crowd to catch a glimpse of the all famous Dagdusheth, I realized that the God of learning is not going to bless me based on my efforts to reach him, I am truly blessed because I have accepted and learnt and that’s what is expected out of me. So the silent prayer which I offered all thorough my four years of engineering, almost subconsciously as I drove past the Paud bridge and the Ganesh temple there, suffices for me. Here’s that prayer: “meri  galtiyaan maaf karna aur mujhe  sadhbuddhi dena” That’s all I can ask for. For rest everything, I have the banks and credit card J

Bottomline: This is the first time in years that I am not busy enough, first time in years that I have enjoyed the Ganesh festivities, first time in years when I have actually slowed down my two-wheeler to have a look at the Pandal and first time in years that the deafening music, be it hymns or remixed songs have not irritated me.  So maybe this is the first time that I feel at peace with myself. All thanks to the God of learning.

The Fitness Mantra :-)

Recently I had another bout of fitness consciousness (for those who’ve seen me you’re allowed the snide laugh). Anyway, this post is about what I discovered from my survey which lasted about a month. You see, fitness is a very important issue and needs a lot of consideration before one decides on what should one do for one’s wellbeing. The options are endless:
1. Regular Walking- Tried it for a month, what happens is this: I Sleep anywhere between 12 to 5 and then getting up in morning at 6 (if I slept at all) and putting on the shoes is a headache. So out of the whole month, guess I managed the walk for 12 days max.
a. Pros:
i. It’s a great stress buster and mind reliever.
ii. The morning air does wonders to your thought process.
iii. The only thing you need is your favorite set of songs and a bit of imagination and then you’re separated from the world, into your own dreamland. So it’s like walking on the ground and having the ability to picture yourself in live-karaoke singing ‘Watch me Shine’ or better still imagining the love of your life singing the best romantic song for you. Sweet. Point is the morning walk is totally entertaining.
iv. Pretty cheap. Actually free. No hidden cost, no plus service tax. Just you and your shoes.
b. Cons:
i. As I said, the waking up in the morning without any initiative, I don’t get to measure my performance, no hot guys jog in my joggers park, so it’s about 12 out of 30 days which is pretty undisciplined if one is looking at perfect fitness.
ii. The weather. I tried walking in the rain, but people give you weird looks!! Plus always a fear of coming down with flu. So yeah it’s totally dependent on the monsoon which in turn is totally unpredictable.
iii. The greatest limitation is my self consciousness. I have this ground near my home used by everyone for the morning fitness ritual. So it has a center ground where kids and college kids (Gosh! I am old) play football/cricket. The ground is surrounded by a walking track where uncles, aunties and grannies grandpas walk around. Amidst them, is me walking with my songs- So I complete one circle, then I think next circle I will run but my feet just refuse to obey me, next I think at least I will jog-This command is also rejected by my legs. In turn, my inner voice (the one that always came clad in whites in a mirror in old bollywood movies) shows me the reality. Here’s our conversation:
Me: Guess I will run for the next round.
Inner Voice: You must be kidding!
Me: What’s the harm? I am sure I can jog at least.
Inner Voice: See the kids in the ground? They are going to stop playing and start staring. See the Uncle at 5 o clock angle, yeah yeah! The one who lives opposite you, he is already stealing glances at you, Bet he is going to burst out laughing when u start running. And then slowly the world will come to a standstill and then everyone will be laughing!
Me: Rubbish! No one is even noticing me. No one even knows me here.
Inner Voice: That’s what you think! Go ahead, make a fool of yourself. As if I care!
Me: (Now a bit concerned) yeah, Maybe. Anyways, it’s rained yesterday so the ground is bit slippery. Guess will try the running tomorrow.
2. Swimming: This is something I thoroughly enjoyed. It’s fun + hectic + soothing. I was on cloud nine when I could swim 10 laps without a break in a 25 m pool. Why did I stop? Yes, the rains played havoc. Plus "the cannot measure the performance" thing. I mean I know I was getting good on my stamina but could not see the difference in me also it leaves the hair dry and frizzy throughout the day. (Being a girl, vanity always wins). Another side effect I ate like a pig when I used to swim, which further put me in depression psychologically. Still, given a chance I enjoy swimming now and then.
3. Gymming: Now comes the big market of gyms. Recently, I took a auto from Kalyaninagar to Kothrud and on the route started counting the number of gyms, by the time I reached my destination I had given up after counting close to 40 (including the slimming centers ). Point is this business is flourishing, so now Let’s move on to what I found in my survey:
a. The number of gyms I called for direct enquiry- 4
i. One of the operators of one of the leading gyms (which compared their discounts with the rains in Pune) told me point blank that she cannot give me any details unless I go there. Apparently, their procedure was to scan a candidate and then jot a fitness plan based on the candidate’s extent of obesity and then they decide upon how much to charge. My point was, just because I am calling a gym to enquire doesn’t mean that I am obese, Rgt? (Before anyone says," But you’re" please read the definition of obesity, it’s for people with BMI> 30. I am in the safe range of 25 )
ii. The internationally acclaimed (rich metal) gym: It had a very rude and so-called self acclaimed ‘high society socialite’ at the reception. And I used a two-wheeler to commute. So she asks me to fill up the details and then proceeds to tell me the exorbitant prices. Naturally, by now she had judged me as will-not-be-able-to-afford category. Anyway I walked out before I could throw a fit at their charges.
iii. My old gym  well I contemplated joining that. It was pretty good managed by doctors and they helped me a lot during my previous bout of fitness consciousness last year. But then why had I left? I moved and now its too far.
iv. Another international chain of gyms. So I call them and they tell me that anytime has a time limit. Point taken  the person on phone was concentrating more on his fake accent then the info he was giving me out. I mean I get it that you belong to an international chain, but why fake the accent? I really get put off by this, but anyway I went there in my desperation only to be told that I have to pay a membership fees valid for 9 years + monthly usage fee. My point is, I don’t even know where I will be next year, why would I invest for nine? Plus who guarantees there presence for 9 years? Weird logic!
That’s it about my various options. There were some minor ones which I tried out
1. Badminton: Totally dependent on my sis for that.
2. Sauna: Always in thoughts, never called the telebrand Guess I still have my brains in the right place.
3. VLCC Gels: Seriously, people who do business just know the pulse of the frustrated over-eating Indian.
4. Ree-Tone: 5600 bucks? Are you kidding me? I can join a gym in half the price!
5. GM Diet: Done it when I was younger and stupider  I eat like a pig after the stipulated 7 days and gain all the water lost pretty soon.
6. Weekend trekking trips: Fun actually. Climbed Sinhagad for a month, every Sunday. And barged on bhaji and dahi upon reaching the top. End result: sore feet, eating more than I burned, Flexon MR Addiction.
7. Eating less- Actually trying to eat less. Never works  being a true bred Punjabi I can’t do without my weekly dose of chicken.
Final Decision: Sheepishly, I confess that I ended up joining a gym, where the rates matched the facilities. The people were good enough. No fake accents.Near my home so accessible. My logic is plain- I have paid them, so unlike the free walk which I ditched most of the time, I will at least be regular, i.e. get up and go because I invested my hard-earned money  this btw proves why the health market is flourishing. More so why the gyms are flourishing.