CommonWealth Games, New Delhi, India

It's has been a month already, since the CWG mess became the point of discussion on every possible forum. You look at the newspapers, it forms the headlines. A glimpse at the news channel, you have a breaking news on it every minute.

It was in 2003 that India won the bid to host the gala event. We all know, by now, how it managed to achieve such a feat. Actually, no one wondered, back then, about it, except feeling jubilant about the win. Let's not dig more into that. We won and New Delhi was getting ready for the spectacle 7 years down the line.

7 years is a lot of time if you see the glass as half empty and too less a time if you are a pessimist. Fortunately, or unfortunately, Indians were optimistic and everyone, the politicians, the reporters, the news channels, the bureaucrats and almost every Indian, including me, went into a dormant mode. Only to wake up just a few months before the coveted event, to realize that, a lot is still left to be done. Panic stuck, and then began the rush of controversies, the corruptions followed by minute-by-minute updates on the preparation and the so called "Games Village".

Having lived with optimism for such a long time, the news, of India, not ready for the games, was not digestible to anyone in the country. Instead of trying to save the nation from shame, everybody indulged in maligning the image of the country. All the dormant souls were now looking for scapegoats. Our news reporters were busy pointing out at the minute cracks, the shabby surroundings, the plight of the delhities, the collapsing bridges. And people, around the country, including me, started blasting out at the government, the organizers and everyone responsible for the shabby state of affairs.

I am not saying what we all did was wrong. In fact, we should always raise our voice at the need of the hour. But not, at such a sensitive state, when we are on the verge of hosting the games. At least, we should not have exaggerated the issue to such an extent. We should have instead, tried to come forward to help the committee to ensure a smooth arrangement of the Games. I am thankful to the corporate houses to have pitched in their help on time. Even China, our biggest competitor gave us a lot of encouragement. The corruption, the incompetency of the organizers, the illegal contracts, the hefty payments, the over shooting of the budget etc; all can take a backseat for the moment. It's our national pride at stake guys.....

Alas, everything has been fixed up, the players have arrived, they are happy with the arrangements and it seems the stage is now set for the Games. We hope to have great and peaceful 2 weeks ahead of us. Let us all pray for the Games extravaganza to be huge success and wish out athletes all the very best.......

Unsolved Bhopal Mystery - A fodder for news channels

The news channels in India for the last few weeks have been occupied with the news of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. It all started with the verdict on the issue where, the accused were sentenced for imprisonment of just two years. There were backlashes and protests against the judgement all over the country with every one finding a reason.

What started then is continuing till today and would drag for days to come. The issues gathers most of the footage on all these so called news channels, who have started digging all the past history the case has gone through over the last 20 years. And with these news channels in race to garner high TRPs, you have a breaking update on "WHAT THEY CALL AS A TOP STORY" for the day.

And as if the government and the Carbide Boss were not enough, they have even gone back to Bhopal into the lives of the people who have been affected. The camera rolls through these villages, showing the plight of these villagers and their children. How their lives have never been the same again. And how these wretched souls continue to live in those villages drinking the toxic water.

Where were these news channels for these few years. I never saw anybody investigating the case, collecting past footages that could act as an evidence. Nor were these media guys going to these villages to take you through their pain. And least bothered about the trying to address their grievances. 

I believe the meaning of journalism has changed over the years. And it no longer is to show the TRUTH, its just to keep proclaiming to be "SHOWING THE TRUTH", by whatever means possible. Its all about sensationalizing trivial issues and blowing them out of proportions and that too as long as the issue is hot. After a while, the issue dies out, taking with them these TRP hungry channels.

I understand it's easy saying all these things and criticizing the media. And I know, I am not the only one to do that. I even don't know if it would reach any of these people. Still, I want to make a request -

"SHOW ME THE NEWS AND NOT BREAKING NEWS EVERY HOUR" 

Please......