Making A Difference — Indian Media And Ravish Kumar

Today's Bulletin: Priya Prakash Varrier’s killing wink, Taimur’s daily schedule, 'Rashtramata' Padmavati, Donald Trump tweets, Different types of jihad - love jihad, hate jihad, cow jihad, North Korea’s ‘mental dictator’ Kim Jong Un's preparation for a nuclear war, and last, but not the least —An esteemed panel of 'alleged' experts and politicians engaging in an ‘alleged’ debate.

If you are a consumer of Indian media, particularly the news channels, you might have got the idea of what my opening words are and where I’m trying to point it. If you think, all mediawallahs (media personnel) are same, or that these are really important topics worthy of your time, you need to think again.

Ravish during his hate-speech

There is a 'proven' left-wing terrorist, and an atheist, perhaps, NDTV journo named Ravish Kumar who is different. The non-Hindi Indian states might not have heard his name. He is not interested in covering ‘big stories’, no loud debates, no panel of Pakistani alleged ‘defence experts’ to assault verbally and come out as a national hero. But, watch him with caution, you might be tagged as anti-national. (no pun intended)

Ravish Kumar is one of the best popular anchor/journalists in the present age of Indian media. Though all sorts of people appreciate Ravish’s work, he has a direct influence on the youths of this country. And among the youths, he is incredibly popular among those in underprivileged class and the college-going students. And, of course, in JNU, which needs a special mention.

A few years back, I had a conversation with one of my friend who happened to be a Ravish’s fan. I, just for fun, called Ravish as Rubbish. But, he got offended with that and said: tujhe toh woh zee news wala dalal accha lagta hoga (your favourite must be that zee news tout). I wasn't offended. There was no reason to be offended. Neither ‘zee news wala dalal’ was my favourite, nor I’ve been a hardcore fan of any other journalist. I used to watch Arnab Goswami at Times Now, but I didn't tell him. I also used to outrage over issues raised by him on Twitter. Now, I realized, how I wasted my time and energy on Arnab’s ghatiya (senseless) ‘newshour’— an ‘alleged’ news show.

After attaining some enlightenment, I stopped watching news channels. Everyone seems to be promoting his own agenda. For news, I just rely on newspapers, but that's too, not in detail. My unsolicited advice would be that, even if someone recommends you to watch TV debates for enhancing 'group discussion' skills, think thrice before actually start watching news debates. In a job interview GD, if you behave like anyone of those unruly Netas or the one claiming to be an expert, your rejection is guaranteed. Note it somewhere.

Coming back to Ravish, I find his fans real and solid. They become his fan because he raises their genuine problem. He, therefore, holds an incredible power — trust and credibility of the youths, which is a blessing. It's up to him whether he utilizes the divine power in some good use, or rather misuse it, as it is often used to brainwash youths by a terror outfit. Modi, too, had this trust before the 2014 election, he still retains a significant part of that, but it is in a declining phase. The ‘Exam Warrior’ written by the PM, or in his name, is an attempt to secure this trust. Nevertheless, this trust and respect I’m talking about must not be mistaken with that of Dr Kalam’s. You know a Neta or a journalist cannot enjoy such admiration of the masses, no matter how big or influential they are. The unexpected pouring of love to Ravish mostly stems from the degrading standards of TV news and with a trend of an unholy boxing match debate culture.

The Pakoda debate

Is Pakoda-selling an employment?

It started with an episode PM Modi’s Mann ki baat in which he said, ‘agar koi naujawaan pakoda bhi bech raha hai toh wo bhi ek rozgaar hai.’ (If a youth is engaged in pakoda-selling business, it too is a means of employment)

Now, If you're a Bhakt (BJP supporter) —who don’t listen to Modi’s Mann Ki Baat— you'll say, what's wrong? Isn’t it true?

If you're anti-Modi —who listen to Modi’s Mann Ki Baat with great interest (for outraging on social media)— you'll say, rozgaar nahi de paya isliye pakoda bechne ko rozgaar bata raha hai. (Unable to provide jobs, Modi is now glorifying pakoda-selling business).

If you're free from party politics and still unemployed, you might have listened to PM’s Mann Ki Baat but only with half-heartedness, as you don’t have to outrage later.

And, if you're free from party politics and employed too, you would not have listened to Mann Ki Baat, neither watched Ravish’s Prime Time and, certainly not read this blog post.

Amit Shah ne pakode wali baat ko jumla nahi bataya hai. Lagta hai sarkar is mamle me kaafi gambhir hai. (Amit Shah has not declared pakoda remark of the PM as ‘jumla’. Seems government is quite serious about this matter.)

(to be continued...)

Till then think: Is Pakoda-selling an employment?

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