The deal and the ‘deal’

The nuclear deal is not only causing tremors in government circles, it is also having its aftereffects on the media as well. Expectedly, most media organisations have stopped discussing anything else except the ‘deal’. Hence channel after channel is inviting the same leaders to discus, debate and fight it out (literally).
We sometimes fail to understand as to why several channels are fond only a few politicians. Abhishek Singhvi (Congress), Rajiv Pratap Rudy (BJP), Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP), A. Raja (CPI), Jayanti Natarajan (Congress), Shahid Siddiqui (formerly SP, now BSP) are all favourite of many a channel. But there is no guessing. Their oratory and argumentative skills apart, these leaders can argue their cases well, even against their convictions. A classical case was that of Shahid Siddiqui. He defended the deal tooth and nail in several news channels, only to oppose it a few days later. He thus went to the extent of deserting the party by joining hands with BSP.
Channels like NDTV and Times Now know very well that whenever there is Pratap Rudy, the debate heats up. Rudy is known for his abrasive acumen, where he lacks immensely the decency to allow others to speak. He can argue his case only with certain concocted ‘facts’ which he can present with utmost rhetoric. He further has the uncanny knack to silence the opponent with his curt but illogical remarks. His very presence can stimulate heated discussions, simply because he speaks more from the pigment of his imagination. And with another argumentative Indian like Abhishek Singhvi around the place, there is assurance of sensational debates – whether they are worth all the time and money is a further debatable issue.
So here are media institutions, falling head over heels to urge leaders to come to their studios to discuss the deal. No one, of course, is introspecting as to the ultimate usefulness of such an important debate. That the media, in general, are in favour of the deal is a fact well known. But brining in leaders with vitriolic oratory can add up rich dividends in terms of advertisements and TRP ratings. So no channel wants to forego the ‘deal’ with politicians.
Meantime audience, of course, is fed up seeing the same faces time and again, listening to same arguments from more or less the same people. The issue is the same; unfortunately, those debating the issue also are the same. What does the common man feel about the whole debate, we hardly know. I think to know that we need to wait for the next elections, which may be just round the corner.

Reality show is not so real

Sometimes it is indeed a wonder and a mystery as to how these kids are able to withstand so much pressure of this modern cruel world of reality shows. Children are made to behave like adults. They are asked to perform like adults by the show-men (and women, of course). In the bargain precious childhood which is supposed to be so much fun is lost for good.

The 16-year old Shinjini Sengupta is just one of such many teenagers who today are lured by their parents and relatives into becoming celebrities. She was allegedly reprimanded for poor dance by one of the judges of a reality show hosted by a Bengali channel for . Consequently she fell ill, taking the remarks seriously. They have affected her psychologically.
Shinjini may not even have had any freedom to say a firm ‘No’ to the demands. Perhaps, she was made to believe that becoming a celebrity at her age was the best thing that could have happened to her. So she was caught in the trap of illusions and over-ambitions even before she could realise. Now it is a bit too late to introspect as she is battling for her life in the NIMHANS hospital, Bangalore.
There is nothing real about reality shows that every channel is airing at will these days. Reality show is another name for making life miserable. We know what had happened to Shipla Shetty in UK. Some might call it racism; but it is much more than that. Reality shows, in general, demand that you be a superhuman, possessing extra thick skin and a strong heart to be free of any emotions and feelings. To be more precise, I do not think the demands of reality shows are fair enough for ordinary mortals, especially children.
Indian channels are famous for doing a copy-cat of Western channels, especially of USA and UK. There seems to be very little original in terms of programming and creativity. Any show that gains popularity in the West is immediately re-made in Indian channels. ‘Who wants to be a millionaire’ ‘Are you smarter than a 5th grader’ are some of the many reality shows that have been ‘lifted’ into Indian channels. In the last few years there have been sporadic increase in the number of dancing and music reality shows on many entertainment channels. Many of them are children-centred and have become popular, but at a very costly price.
It is a big question whether children have the wherewithal to withstand the demands of their studies on the one hand and the reality show on the other. Shinjini’s case has grabbed media attention because she has been affected psychologically and physically; but media do not report anything about all those scores of children who are silently suffering the demands and over-ambitions of their parents who cajole them to become ‘famous’. We also do not get to know what happens to their studies and their childhood owing to reality shows. Media are too busy with trivial things that they have little time to address these issues. The ‘shows’ will continue unhindered until another Shinjini falls prey and then media will wake up, at least for a while.