Malady of the Indian Media

It would be an understatement to say that the current state of Indian media, be it print, digital or television is not what it used to be, say twenty years ago.  While the internet and advanced use of technology have reached news to millions, the quality of this news is lacking in noble intent, in it’s ability to shape public opinions, leave alone change the course of national agenda.

On the face of it, with the proliferation of countless news channels, journalism seems positively buzzing, functioning as an important tool of the country’s democracy. But in reality, newsrooms are mainly engaged in the incessant repetition of routine events couched in brazenness and sensationalism to make up for the lack (at times deliberate) of investigative reports and exclusive news stories.

Traditionally, the media has acted as the watchdog of public interest. Adherence to accepted norms of journalistic ethics and high standards of professional conduct was a natural corollary. But sadly, times have changed. Today, media entrepreneurship in whatever form, is a necessity for a political party, or a growing business house. Journalism, like any other commercial commodity, is being trafficked for money and power. Every news story, report or enquiry is about increasing circulation and TRP’s, rather than credibility. Watchdog journalism is being steadily replaced by ‘lapdog’ journalism; as is evident by the political affiliations of numerous news channels. In such a scenario, how can news be unbiased and fearless?

Real journalists, independent minded and unbiased are being sidelined by newsroom administrators who know whose interests are to be highlighted, how much and on what terms. News is ‘fixed’. Lobbies are catered to. The current style of journalism caters to the lowest common denominators in it’s style, language and functioning. The relaying of news is being dumbed down on a mass scale.  It’s all about quick sound bites to entice viewers. Plagiarised videos without so much as a by-your-leave are not uncommon; and journalists conduct discussions with high levels of melodrama and little substance.

The corporisation of media, the trend of paid news and formation of select treaties are some of the reasons for the malady affecting current media. Powerful politicians and large business houses wield inappropriate influence over news channels via their embedded PR journalists.

The fundamental value of journalism, that is to primarily keep public interest first and foremost, is being eroded.  And if corrective action is not taken, the ticker tape on our screens will continue to flash breaking news that reports the impending divorce between two film stars.

Divorce & the Indian Woman

 

Divorce is too complex a process to produce just winners and losers. But if you, as a woman have made up your mind, it’s worthwhile to consider the effects of the aftermath. Surely, you would have brooded for hours and months, mapping out your future and considering all possible eventualities. Hindsight’s 20/20 and sometimes you may wish you had known a few things beforehand.

Here are a few things you need to keep in my mind before you take the final step:

1. Choose your lawyer well. A lawyer who is well versed with family law and knows the local judges and lawyers is the person to hire. Take a second opinion if necessary to check that the advice you are getting is correct. It’s important to go by your instincts too because at least in India, many a time a lawyer can drag on a case to serve his own interests.
2. Ensure you have all information pertaining to your joint finances. Know passwords to online bank accounts, investments, account numbers and details of investment advisors. 40% of divorce proceedings are based on financial matters, so know your facts before jumping in headlong.
3. Whether you have children or not, your financial wellbeing is of top most priority. Emotions will heal but the impact of poor financial decisions will last much longer. Figure out your future living expenses before the divorce proceedings start so that you have a figure to start with.
4. Be civil no matter how bitter you feel towards your spouse. Badmouthing your ex is more likely to hurt your children than your spouse. Not to mention, it shows you in poor light.
5. Do not lose faith in yourself. Being divorced by no means makes you less desirable or less competent. These stigmas still exist so it’s important to reiterate to yourself that being divorced is not a weakness or a failure.
6. Know that recovery could be long, irrespective of the fact that you were the one to opt out. A divorce is almost never easy. If you anticipate tough times ahead, it’s worthwhile to do a bit of groundwork and rally family, like-minded friends and a therapist to create a support system.
7. Last, but not the least, remember no matter how amicably the proceedings go between you and your spouse, children are bound to feel a sense of responsibility for the break up. Address issues as a family about impending changes and watch out for any behavioral changes, no matter how insignificant.

Remember, this is not the end of the road. Your life is in fact just opening up, with a myriad of possibilities. Divorce can be freeing and totally worth it. The next chapter of your life is just starting and this time you know better.

Indian Women and The Weight Issue

It’s not easy being a large woman anywhere in the world. The current standards of beauty are such that unless you look like an airbrushed Victoria’s Secret top model, you are made to feel like you don’t exist. World over though, women are fighting body shaming and working hard to change the way society and their peers tell them they should look. In India though, this change is yet to happen.

No woman is India is free from the clutches of the weight police. When former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan decided to take a hiatus from her work post her first pregnancy and decided to lose her baby weight slowly and naturally, people ridiculed her for even venturing out in public in her not-so-slim avatar. Everyone agrees that Vidya Balan is one of the finest actors we have in the industry, but when she went to Cannes all the tabloids could talk of were her how uncool she looked in her saris instead of celebrating the fact that she was a part of an elite panel of judges. Now, when our so-called B-town goddesses aren’t free from the weight police, what say of the normal mortals?

It never happens in India

One might argue that since obesity is on the rise globally, a society that doesn’t accept oversized people is a healthy society. Unfortunately, it is not true. As science constantly keeps reminding us, weight is not just an outcome of what one eats – though that does play a major role. Some people gain weight due to medical issues like a malfunctioning thyroid gland. Genetic predisposition towards weight gain also makes us in the subcontinent susceptible to piling on the love handles. Depression and binge eating have been linked to each other in many studies. Being unhealthy due to any reason is not a great thing, but what many in India fail to realize is that the neighborhood kid they have been chiding for being overweight may have some serious health issues they do not know of.

Abroad though, many women have taken to social media to define and voice out against body shaming with Instagram being their platform of choice. They journal their weight loss, talk about how their changing bodies affect them, about the ridicule they face and how they overcome it. Then, instances like the ‘Dancing Man’ happen. Remember him? He’s the guy who was fat shamed in a club for dancing, and two women in L.A. decided to show the world just how wrong it was to berate someone for enjoying themselves just because they did not confirm to a certain notion of ‘beauty’. When will something like happen in India?

The ‘Shaadi ke baad’ concept

With Indian parents being so concerned about how their daughter’s look, one would think they really care about their kids’ health. Sadly, it is only superficial. I have heard so many mothers tell their daughters to not eat much or to stay away from carbs otherwise ‘shaadi kaise hogi?’ (how will you get married if you’re fat?). When we should be teaching our girls to be healthy lifelong, we are instead instilling wrong notions of beauty and relationships in their minds. This is why in our country, even today, calling a girl ‘moti’ and ‘kaali’ is one of the worst insults you can throw at her.

A heavy responsibility

We should all work towards creating a healthier lifestyle for ourselves and with the sedentary hours we spend in front of our computers every day, we sure do need it. But our journey to fitness and health should never be so self-centered that it takes away from our empathy. Body shaming someone is not the way to get them to lose weight – the important thing is to imbibe healthy habits at an early age, to look beyond people’s bodies and accept them, and to ensure that we encourage our loved ones to be as healthy as possible. Always.