Malayalam Media... still immature

I have been seeing the visuals and images of the deceased and murdered in Malayalam TV channels and newspapers. A month after 26/11, various government agencies and media organizations issued guidelines to print and visual media about the reporting in the cases of accidents and calamities. The media here in Kerala seems unaware of such guidelines. At the national level, the guidelines were followed by the print and TV media. ,especially English News channels. For mentally weak persons, its really disturbing to see the visuals of dead. In fact even normal people feel sentimental when they see those visuals. Last month a bus drowned in a river in Kottayam. The media here in Kerala celebrated the mishap by giving running commentaries on death toll. The visuals of dead bodies in front of the mortuary, the drowned bodies at the accident site were all shown blatantly. Every accident give way to discussions. The accidents happen again and again, still they discuss the same.

Another instance is the follow up done by the media. All Malayalam channels have a crime programme. In all these programmes they recreate the crime scene. Besides, they show the dead person. Worse is the case when it is murder and there is blood spill. Is it the result of intrusion of corporate people in media. Are they cashing the sentiments of people.Its high time for the media in Kerala to introspect. I hope they will do the needful.

Mulayam's view on Women's Reservation

Last Sunday on the magazine section of The Hindu newspaper, there was a column by Kalpana Sharma( I hope I remember her name correctly) on Women's bill. She wrote about the view of Mulayam Singh Yadav on the bill. Mulayam thinks that giving representation for women will result in the under-representation of men. His finding is that, women who are elected by reservation may be unwilling to give upon the seat to others particularly men, when it is de-reserved. His viewpoint may be logical, but I don't think it as possible considering the male chauvinism in Indian politics. The case of women candidates unwilling to give up the seat will happen only in the case of those women who have a pan India appeal or at least pan state.Those women should strengthen women empowerment by contesting against a male candidate. If there is a possibility(I don't think that) of over-representation after two- three decades, then we should remove the reservation. But after all it is India, we had implemented SC ST reservation for two decades but still the reservation had not achieved its aim of the uplift of the downtrodden.

Image link:http://param1988.blogspot.com/2009/11/womens-reservation-in-panchayat.html

CPM leadership disapproves BIG B for Kerala Tourism

The CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechuri voiced his disapproval for inviting Big B as the ambassador of Kerala Tourism. The disapproval was due to Amitabh Bachan's cooperation with Gujarat government for the promotion of Gujarat tourism. The Gujarat state was in news for the pogrom against minorities in 2002. The current government was also the incumbent at that time. The government was criticized for its delinquency to act against rioters. The Chief Minister Narendra Modi even faced the wrath of Supreme Court. All the secular parties,including CPI(M) had severely criticized the state government for joining sides with the rioters. The leadership have taken this step to avoid antagonizing muslims as the state elections are nearby.

But the disapproval didn't find any excuse. Big B was promoting the brand Gujarat not the actions of Gujarat government. Gujarat is a state with rich heritage. It needed a icon like Bachan for the promotion. The current action of CPI(M) was uncalled-for. Bachan is not responsible for actions of Gujarat government. The artists, particularly Bollywood icons have global appeal which may benefit the Kerala Tourism department. In the past the tourism department had tried to rope in Jackie Chan for the promotion of Kerala Tourism. Big B was thrilled to support the Kerala Tourism. All the bonhomie had gone by a single comment of Yechuri. Once again the ideological stand of the red party had affected poor Keralites.

IPL team sued for using Bhagat Sing's name

IPL team, Kings XI was sued for using the name of Bhagat Singh in the commercial ad of the team. The complaint was filed by the grandson of Bhagat Singh, Abhey Singh Sandhu. The ad of Kings XI read "“The stadium was silent. Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru had just walked into the stands. Are you the wildest Kings XI fan in the stadium? Then you are fan of the match...”The complainant filed the suit in view of the commercial nature of ad. He also criticised the greedy nature of IPL. A week ago some NGOs had moved the court and staged demonstrations against the ad. The team administration had taken steps to withdraw the advertisement.Preity Zinta apologized for the advertisement.

One cannot take a stand on this issue. Since Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru are national heroes this may have hurt the feelings of some section of people. Given the stature of martyrs, this was a normal reaction. The team authorities should have consulted someone, considering the volatility of the issue. There is another view in this issue. Pictures of heroes like Cheguevra , Fidel Castro are used in apparels and accessories. They are even used in shoes and chappals. The Kings XI team used our national heroes in an unprovoked way. Now ball is in the court.It is the court to decide.

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Mayawati's 1000 rupees notes garland

Yesterday in Lucknow, the capital of UP witnessed a maha rally on the the occasion of 25th anniversary of BSP. What caught the attention of nation was the extravagant conduct of rally. Mayawati, the self declared savior of dalits was greeted with a huge garland made of 1000 rupee notes[see picture]. A week ago Mayawati was reluctant to give away compensation for the dead and injured in Ram Janki temple stampede for lack of money. She passed off the duty to the central government. The rally had caused anger nationwide. Estimates say that around 200 crore rupees were spent on rally. The whole UP government machinery were in their toes for the rally.Public money was used for the rally. Her state is known for high poverty level. If she was the true messiah of dalits she could have used the money for dalit's upliftment.In a country where millions live under poverty this was a shoddy act of celebration. Who could explain such pity act? Still her supporters seems undeterred in their support for Bahenji.

Numerous occasions like this have occurred in UP for Bahenji. Hundreds of Crores of rupees were spent for statues in UP. Most of the statues were of non other than herself. She seems to be modern Faroah or Nero. Her birthdays are celebrated usually in huge bash. I don't understand why the followers still idolizes her. Even in state like Kerala there are followers for her party.Thousands see Mayawati as a social reformer. She has reasons for everything. Mayawati is the leader of a state level party called BSP, yet she nurses the dream of becoming the prime minister of India. If that comes true then that day would be a doomsday for India.