My First Blog. What do I write about? I am not quite sure. And with so many topics to write about, it is virtually impossible for me to decide really! Still I figured I might as well start somewhere. Though I do maintain a personal journal, blogging intrigued me for the freedom of access to the general viewer and provided exciting possibilities. As a writer by profession too it offers me plenty of scope to extend my repertoire to personal jouranalling online ... ok ok no word coinage ... blogging! So here goes ...
Like I was saying I wanted something of general interest to write about. And then it struck me that an incident reported a while ago was more than just interesting. I am talking about the so called 'student rampage' at a well known college turned 'Deemed University' near Chennai. And there have been other incidents reports from then on.
In fact the media's dismissive attitude of the arrested students and the lack of social support to those affected is absolutely enraging. Yet, the masses choose to be silent witnesses. A letter I wrote to the Editor of leading newspaper received no attention. So then I thought I might as well put it in my blog. Even if I choose to join the silent public, I can atleast show a degree of defiance.
Here is an excerpt from the letter that went unnoticed.
It is pretty unfortunate that students in this country are treated with utmost disrespect and disregard. The incident reported in the SRM Institute of Science and Technology (Deemed University) seems to have taken a backburner under the more ‘front-page worthy news’ including the US President Mr. Bush’s arrival in the country and the Union Budget.
It’s even more unfortunate that an esteemed newspaper such as ‘The Hindu’ also took to this trend and chose to give second priority to news that could well decide the prospects of the so-called ‘future citizens’ of the country.
Isn’t it time someone seriously questioned why those ‘responsible’ individuals, who establish educational institutions in the name of imparting value-based instruction and technological excellence, are only in the business for accumulating wealth and influence? Is there going to be no voice against perpetrators who claim to be ‘moralistic’ while they go around assaulting the innocent and even do not cringe from refraining to murder all for the sake of monetary gains and political power?
It is newspapers and television that can act as effective media to act more responsibly, and substantiate claims and provide unbiased information and justice to the deserving. Albeit that there are reports of television crews affected by the incident, the media seems to have given it a lesser preference for coverage. Should the media not stand up in its own right and act as the rightful voice of people whose economic means do not allow them adequate defense and justice?
So much for the media's social role.
What is your opinion on this subject? Would you like to critique my blog? Post your comments!
Like I was saying I wanted something of general interest to write about. And then it struck me that an incident reported a while ago was more than just interesting. I am talking about the so called 'student rampage' at a well known college turned 'Deemed University' near Chennai. And there have been other incidents reports from then on.
In fact the media's dismissive attitude of the arrested students and the lack of social support to those affected is absolutely enraging. Yet, the masses choose to be silent witnesses. A letter I wrote to the Editor of leading newspaper received no attention. So then I thought I might as well put it in my blog. Even if I choose to join the silent public, I can atleast show a degree of defiance.
Here is an excerpt from the letter that went unnoticed.
It is pretty unfortunate that students in this country are treated with utmost disrespect and disregard. The incident reported in the SRM Institute of Science and Technology (Deemed University) seems to have taken a backburner under the more ‘front-page worthy news’ including the US President Mr. Bush’s arrival in the country and the Union Budget.
It’s even more unfortunate that an esteemed newspaper such as ‘The Hindu’ also took to this trend and chose to give second priority to news that could well decide the prospects of the so-called ‘future citizens’ of the country.
Isn’t it time someone seriously questioned why those ‘responsible’ individuals, who establish educational institutions in the name of imparting value-based instruction and technological excellence, are only in the business for accumulating wealth and influence? Is there going to be no voice against perpetrators who claim to be ‘moralistic’ while they go around assaulting the innocent and even do not cringe from refraining to murder all for the sake of monetary gains and political power?
It is newspapers and television that can act as effective media to act more responsibly, and substantiate claims and provide unbiased information and justice to the deserving. Albeit that there are reports of television crews affected by the incident, the media seems to have given it a lesser preference for coverage. Should the media not stand up in its own right and act as the rightful voice of people whose economic means do not allow them adequate defense and justice?
So much for the media's social role.
What is your opinion on this subject? Would you like to critique my blog? Post your comments!
2 comments:
Hi Prabhu,
First thing, I beg to differ when you imply that the affected students in these incidents were the 'upper middle and the high classes'. May I enquire if any of us have any kind of first-hand info on that? It seems to me that most of us (yes I know ... me included), have a tendency to patronisingly assume and presume until we lose all objectivity and rational reasoning.
Point two: The media does not cover issues of poorly-maintained schools and government institutions. Yes! True. Barring a few exceptions when the media did 'showcase' the pathetic state of affairs in most educational institutions controlled by the government. Infact my point holds true in this context. The media seems to be unduly biased to covering the scandalous and the usual, over-hyped fare that the average viewer seems to thrive on, but which is unpalatable to the thinking and discerning audience.
Again I am looking only at using these examples to support my observations rather that state categorically that the media has no values or role. My point is that the media does not realise its true power and more often than not ends up hyping the already hyped and ignoring or giving less preference to events that have a more widespread and lasting impact.
As a student of SRM deemed university i can c that ur worry was that the matter wasnot published in the first page of the newspaper and the media didnt do its duty... well u must understand that no demmed universities had AICTE approval and there was no need to get AICTE approval... so first and foremost the mistake lies on the side of the students... i also feel that the if the media had intervened the problem would have been much more complicated (because the root cause for this probs are some political things)... i think our management did a wonderful job by not allowing media into this whole issue because at the end of the day whats goin to happen by allowing media in is this, bad name for the college and for the students studing in it...so has u think the problem is not with the media or with the dumm public but some where else...
ganesh , chennai
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