FOR SOME IT’S A TRAGEDY. AND FOR MANY AN OPPORTUNITY. Devastated Uttrakhand has a story of insensitivity to narrate and strangle our nerves. Those who have survived the cloudburst and flood have harrowing tales to share with the media and public. But the moment their stories get intense, we get to see Binani Cement, Shakti Pan Masaala, Sharda University or Swagat Baniyan. TRPs (TV Rating Points) has always been a number game. 2 minutes of news followed by correct 7 minutes of an ad break. The perfectly selected sad background music followed by a few funny advertisements kept both (me and my husband) watch the idiot box for continuous 45 minutes to listen to just one sad story and witness another, simultaneously. I wonder, our insensitivities need music, drama, excitement, colours to get the facts right. A few facts (not dramatized thankfully) on the internet: 1. A lady had to pay Rs. 5000/- for one meal for a family. 2. Rs. 200 for a Rs. 5 biscuit. 3. Rs. 200 for a Rs. 15 water bottle. 4. Some locals are fleecing the trapped pilgrims and tourists in the wake of shortages of food supply, shelter, medicines and drinking water. 5. Earlier, the VVIP’s aerial tour had resulted in rescue operations being suspended for several hours. 6. Uttarakhand CM is going to go to Switzerland. 7. And Price Charming is all set to go to Europe. Undoubtedly, good things too are happening. But the point is, (scientifically proven too), the human mind is attracted to receive the bad news first. The sadder the story, the bigger the TRP. That’s how the business module works. And seriously, except for donating a few packets of eateries, WE are not doing anything to save our own countrymen who are still trapped in far-flung areas. All we can do is, pray for the ones who are trapped, to be safe and alive. And pray mother nature to tweak the weather forcast for Monday and the gushing waters to calm down. The trails of death and destruction has played enough with our levels of sensitivities. Everyone is bathing in this game. With loses and gains, tragedies and opportunities, let’s not get immune to this drama. Acknowledge it, SENSIBLY. Because, our immunity might again become an ‘opportunity’ for someone to again think something out-of-the-box and entice us to watch their ‘2 minutes of news’. Followed by a 7 minutes trail of Swagat baniyan, Pataka Chai, Sharda University and Zatak Deos. -Shalini.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Jun 2013 18:31:38 +0000
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