WE KILL- EEKKS…!!!

Don’t go by the name because you might just tend to read it otherwise. It is all about the Wikileaks! Though it was the inauguration of the First Amphitheatre of Manipal, somehow the main topic of discussion under a panel comprising of Dr M V Kamath, Honorary Director of Manipal Institute of Communication (MIC), Varadesh Hirengange, Director of MIC and Arvind Kumar, HOD Geopolitics and International Affairs, was the most intense event of the evening. Not forgetting there was band performance by the Death and the Strawberry and a very good street play by Adaa, a theatre club.

The evening started with the band performing soon after which Adaa took the audience on a roll with their play on the themes of nationalism and how the youth is favourably unsupportive of national interest causes. It was an outstanding play not only because of the theme but also due to the brilliant acting by the members of Adaa.

The next hot topic of discussion or rather the only topic of discussion was Wikileaks- An apt form of Journalism? Every member from the panel was to give their opening remarks and opinions on the topic and then the floor was thrown open for discussion amongst the panel and the audience (comprising of students from Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), MIC. Kasturba Medical College (KMC) etc).

M V Kamath started with his opening statements where he very strongly opposed the actions of Wikileaks by calling them unethical as according to him, no government, country, citizens or a group of people have the right to tap information of any kind. Following him was Arvind Kumar, who spoke about Wikileaks in terms of national security. He said that the actions of Wikileaks could come as a threat to the national security of a lot of countries as foreign policies were being devastatingly affected due to the exchange of information which takes away the trust of the people from their government. Varadesh Hirangange, spoke quite on the contrary to both the former speakers calling Wikileaks’ work completely genuine and good as citizens, people and the other governments have the right to know what is going on in the world.

After this, as if the audience were possessed with the topic at hand, opinions, questions, statements, comments poured in like crazy. They were aggressive open debates on sub topics some of which were:

1. If USA’s sensitive spots are revealed wouldn’t it be a threat to the nation’s security?

2. To tap a phone a person/group needs the permission of the Ministry.

3. There are some things which journalists get as information but they cannot be revealed keeping people’s interest in mind.

4. What exactly is in people’s interest and the interest of the people?

5. How different or similar is diplomacy and people’s representation in a democracy or a country?

6. If USA is behaving like a global police isn’t it right in saying that it is also a global terrorist?

This and many more points were raised to an unsatisfying audience as the debate had to be closed down due to the time constrain. But every talk, every comment was worth the time given. Organised by MUTBI, this was the first event in the amphitheatre.

As per for the title of the entire article, I thought why not modify it and tell what Wikileaks is according to me. So as I have defined it, Wikileaks is “We kill- eekks...!” This is because the information passed across nations has created quite a ruckus among them and more or less media, in a broader sense is being blamed as many people think that all of this is entirely responsible for it. I do not know if I should say yes or no, but indeed, media has taken quite a pivotal role in guiding this movement. So, “we kill” means “we, the media has been responsible in one way or another in killing different emotions (in form of trust of the citizens on their governments, as an example), treaties, information, revelations etc.” As a matter of fact, this title happened to me as a result of brain storming with the word Wikileaks. So, keeping my opinion in the end, for all those people who weren’t present at the venue, guys you did miss out on a lot of wonderful and intelligent talking.!

WINDS AND TIME…

Have you ever heard the winds growl in anger, waiting to be free, broken form the bondage they are in? Have you heard them scream at you angrily because you would not let them go? I have! But telling you about it could be a little funny.

Currently I am living in a place called Manipal which is a very small, land locked town of Karnataka. Majorly comprised of the Manipal University, this town is a nature-at-its-best place. It has all that you could think a town could have and there is nothing about this town that would make you despise it. Oh, I forgot, except the weather. The weather is mainly extreme and even though Karnataka has the privilege of being close to the sea, Manipal is no good as it is land locked. Moral of the story, Manipal has its own sadistic weather.

So, as I was talking about the winds and how I heard them growling in anger. It so happened that one fine day when I was having my pleasant Sunday afternoon long shower I heard something very scary and yes, nerving. For a moment I froze because believe me readers, I actually thought that indeed my fears have come alive. Finally there is a ghost in my bathroom (yeah not my closet!!)!! And I froze there for a minute thinking okay what the hell do I do now?!!? Freaking out would be a better word, because that is precisely what I was doing.

I waited, listened again and then broke into a fit of laughter. I laughed so loud that my roommate knocked on the door and asked me if I was fine, assuming that I had slipped and fallen so I was laughing (which I normally do, laugh when I fall and not cry!). Eh, yeah I am a little weird. Coming back to why I was laughing, it was the wind of course.

When a strong wind blows through a small crevice, it makes a growling noise which seems like one of the horror effects given in a movie. So, putting the pieces of the story together- small gap in the window of my bathroom, wind blows through it, I freak out, realize it is but the wind and break into laughter. Tadaa a small story!!

My main aim of writing this piece was of course a little humor (at which I am very bad), but there is another message to it too. People around us there a lot of things keep happening. These things are so minute that we don’t notice them because we are too busy with our own lives. We do not have time for ourselves, leave alone our parents and friends. If only we could take a few seconds out of our busy schedules and give that time to our loved ones and to Mother Nature, we would be sparing time for our own happiness indeed. It is these small moments which lighten us up when there is no one around us and we really need someone to come and comfort us. Listening to nature could be a very good habit or hobby as it not only alerts our senses but it also gives a little peace to our ever tiring body and soul.

So the next time something freaks you out, stop, look, observe, listen and then laugh it off….unless there is really a ghost in your closet!!

LOOKOUT….

Question: Sir, you said that you were unemployed for around eight months after you resigned from the Independent. So, does this mean there is no job security in the field of journalism?

Answer: No. absolutely not. Well, if you do want a job security why don’t you join LIC instead?

And at this the entire audience in Chaitya Hall broke into a huge applause and cheered out loud. I joined them too saying, ‘Oh my god. Now that was a punch in the face.’ A fellow college mate sitting in front of me turned around and said, ‘Oh yes, that was a big hard punch!’

It wasn’t the student’s fault to ask that question. Little did he know he was talking to Vinod Mehta, editor of the Outlook magazine. Yes indeed, that is what Vinod Mehta is. A witty, in-your-face, spontaneous and intelligent person. But at the same time he will sit back and take a minute off, think and then answer a question. Though he gives fire and energy with every answer, he still insists that there are a few questions which need time and can’t be just buttered out.

A man who in one of his letters to his readers in the magazine said that he wouldn’t take offence on anything the readers spoke about him unless they spared his wife, paternity and his dog whom he calls-Editor, he would be a happy man. He has a clear cut policy-believe in the truth and bring it out. He also says that journalism is about commercialization because journalists are out there not to be Public Service Announcers but they are there to do their job.

Printing a paper or a magazine, or even broadcasting a television show or a radio show has its own costs and if a journalist is working towards earning that cost it isn’t a bad deal. But having said this, he explains why he says that. He isn’t supporting paid news or fake news or even asking reporters to take bribes. All he says is that journalists need to understand their sticking to ethics is good but if it hurdles in getting the truth out, then they must try methods not so conventional, in bringing out the truth. Still, he insists to keep ‘that’ money away.

He adds being friends with politicians isn’t really a very good idea. Being a critic is important and when a journalist is a friend to a politician or a celebrity, he/she cannot be a critic. Having mock tails at a party, lunch or dinners with celebs and politicians is good, but being too close and sharing personal information or sharing an emotional bond with these people can cost a little too much to a journalist’s profession. That is because he/she cannot freely criticize them. So maintaining a good distance and keeping an official contact to get the truth out is important.

He is not a non-supporter of ethics but he says if Wikileaks had chosen Outlook instead of The Hindu, he would give out his right arm and gladly support them. By this he meant, stick to your ethics but work hard towards getting the truth out. At the end of the day, bringing the truth out to people is more important than anything else.

Protection of source is vital and to an extent mandatory. He is against the concept of revealing his source because he honestly and openly believes that if he lets out his sources’ name, he is losing him/her forever. So, he says even if he had to go through the worse, he wouldn’t mind it but he would never reveal his source.

I do not normally choose to write about people in my blog, but here I am doing it. There is a reason behind it. Vinod Mehta is a man who is not a preacher, not a pretender. He tells you to wake up, look at the truth and the reality. Preaching about ethics, saying that a certain institution (here even a media organization), is not exchanging money under the table or indulging in corruption or even being exclusive for a piece of news is false and an ideal situation which is good in theory. What is important is being right and if you are wrong, accepting that you are wrong. He will bring the right thing and give it to you in your face. He will not beat around the bush or pretend to know something. He is what he is. And without a doubt I am in complete awe of the man.

He says, ‘Any media house is run by a business man. I am here to do a business and I am not working towards preaching for the public. I am working towards bringing the truth to them and thus doing my job. I support and will always be a supporter of the truth, no matter what.’

AN ASSOCIATION

A real time work for a real time purpose- this is how I see the new website coming as. I always wanted to be a part of something real time, something which was different from my course, something extra, something nice. Joining the Manipal The Talk.Net 2.0, I feel there could be a new beginning and I could actually work towards it-work towards making a certain difference in others and hence my life.

Every big work/task needs a small step. I see this website as a small step to a huge ocean of knowledge and improvement in my writing skills. There are a few basic things which make a good website and I feel the Executive Team has put in almost everything that could make it a hooker for students. Also, there are more ideas which are still pouring in and would be uploaded in the near time period.

Every member of the Executive Team has some quality which makes them stand out from the rest be in terms of literally skills, painting drawing, selling a product (publicity mainly) decision making or coming up with the most weirdest and never-heard of ideas. Hence, all in all, the 19 members so far hold an important position in the team and have been working equally hard to get the site to heights of which others can only dream but we CAN achieve.

A site you should look up to and look for as it is going to be the next best thing in the ‘www.’.

IT’S ALL FAITH…

The most impatient and toughest hours are the ones when it’s nearing its end. I lose my patience always pray to God to help me survive through the last few minutes. I am talking about my fast on Maha Shivratri. I have been doing them for around four years now and each year it just gets better. No troubles, no worries, only God and me. It is eternal and out of the world experience.

The only problem that comes is what I have mentioned above. However, it is sweet to wait for the last few moments to come to an end so that I could take my first drop of water and that too the jal from the puja. This year I thought why not write about it.

I am an ardent believer of Lord Shiv and I do all that in my power to pray and worship Him. My mother would always tell me that it is very difficult to please Shiv but He being the bhole baba, the innocent one-once pleased, He will give you whatever you wish for. Where my attraction for him started I have no idea. Maybe because I was born on a Monday and Monday is the Shiv pujan day which is why I am such a strong believer in Him…

This year, everything went as smooth as the butter only until nine pm after which weakness hit me hard. I knew I had started to fall apart physically but I had to keep up with the fatigue. Anyway, the fast includes not drinking water or eating anything for 24 hours and keeping maun i.e., not talking either. My friends asked me how can I not speak to which I just think ‘God makes you do things if you believe in Him’ and smile. At the end of the 24 hours, I break my fast with the Holy Water and then eat food. Also once seated to eat, getting up and eating a second time isn’t allowed. So it’s always better to keep everything ready before hand which I make sure of.

Breaking the fast isn’t the best thing about the day though. I’ll tell you why. The whole day I am on nothing and when I suddenly eat I feel nauseous with a heavy head and sweaty forehead. This is because breakdown of food inside the body is an exothermic reaction hence releasing heat. And as I am empty stomach the whole day, this reaction speeds up there by releasing heat immediately. Not wanting to eat after two spoons is another feeling which comes in. As the heat releases, the body moves into fatigue and the muscles stiffen up wanting rest. But pushing the body towards gaining a little energy is the only way to keep my stomach full. As I break my fast and I am done eating, I relax pray again and fall asleep thanking Him for making the fast good and easy.

A sense of nausea hits me and I wish I could doze off, travel to another world where I could pray more and reach the eternal. I know I am tired but I know He will save me from all my troubles and grant me peace in the end. He knows that I will come back to Him year after year till I am there. I also know He is there for me, always by my side smiling from above and saying-look I am inside your heart.

NEVER SAY DIE….

Modern Times, a Charles Chaplin, 1936 movie was a laughter bug which bit the audience with a message. Indeed it would be an understatement to call it just a message as the movie revolves around a clear cut idea of spreading lot of social, economical and human emotions and problems.

Highlighting the plight of people during the Great Depression (a severe world wide economic depression after the World War II) and their frantic situation to get employed in a subtle yet so humorous way was the most outstanding feature brought out by the director-actor Charles Chaplin.

In a story which begins from The Tramp (one of the most famously recognized characters of Charles Chaplin) working in a factory where he has a nervous breakdown and is taken to a hospital. It is after his recovery that the main story begins. One after the other, incidents happen and put the Tramp in a position where he is either guilty of the crime or he wants to be guilty of a crime. To begin with, he was arrested as a misinterpreted communist leader. It is there that he realizes that life inside the prison is better than the world he has to move out into after serving his term. Proving to be a good, responsible and behaved citizen and prisoner, he is given a comfortable zone inside the prison itself from where he does not wish to move out from. However, after serving his term when he is released on good grounds and given a letter which would get him employment easily, he still leads a life of misery as things do not change for good.

Change occurs when the Tramp meets a young woman and takes care of her. Together they look for a house and employment both. When the Tramp is arrested again the girl finds a job in a café where she sings and dances for her audience. The girl is a runaway from an orphan house where she and hers sisters where taken after her father dies in a clash between the government and the unemployed people. After Charles Chaplin’s release, he also sings for the same café. But short-lived is their happiness as the officers from the orphan house find the girl. She is however not ready to go back and the Tramp and girl restore to running ending on a note where they do not wish to give up finding an employment and making a home for themselves-a never say die attitude.

Charles Chaplin has brought out all the necessary emotions and problems in a very in- the-face way where he has sharply yet subtly shown how the law and the government act in their own way imposing themselves on people. Where at one point, the government and law did little to employ the unemployed, poor, hungry ad starving people, on the other hand it imposed itself on the people clearing them away from streets, arresting without reasons and also getting hold of them by force under the name of security. The sharp contrast of the high class and the low class is also brought out well in the scene where the lady who sees the girl stealing a bread of loaf informs the police officer about the same. Resorting to means which are unlawful, by people who are tired of hunger is depicted well too. He is created his story in such a way that the audience could connect to the movie immediately as they are the ones on whom the entire story is based. More over, the characterization and the story of each character individually also give s more room to understanding in an audiences’ mind even if the character had appeared for hardly a few minutes.

All through out the movie one concept has clearly been kept in the mind-showing the problems through humor. The same scene carries both the extremes of the movie. For example, in the scene where the Tramp is fired at by the crooks is a sheer contrast as in one case it is funny with the Tramp not being able to balance himself on the skates and at the same time it is sad when the crooks tell him that they have taken to stealing only to feed themselves and meant no harm.

The music adds to the story and gives meaning to every scene. Though, the movie also has a few dialogues by a few characters, it was a silent movie. The direction of the movie is done in a way that the important scenes are shown with close up shots and the others with long shots, though the movie does not carry many face shots. The background and setting of the movie is made as realistic as possible and with no extra credits or efforts. The backgrounds are made by taking real places into consideration instead of making a set or scene or a back drop.

Considered to be one of Charles Chaplin’s best movies, it came as a good break of knowledge and humor to the people of that period. It is a remarkable story where Charles Chaplin has showed his talents, all as an actor, director, producer and screenwriter. He is at known to be at his best, because he was able to make the immediate connect ion with his spectators as he knew best about what they felt. He gave away messages and hints to make people understand that life is a struggle and it should go on. Giving up was no solution and the only thing that keeps life going is-never say die!

CULTURE, EXPERIENCE, IDENTITY: CONTEMPORARY PEOPLE

The Webster’s Dictionary defines the word contemporary to anything that occurs or exists at the same period of time. More often than not, the word contemporary is associated to music, culture and arts. Little is it understood with terms like society or modernisation except when used by historians or scholars. Anything which ranges from advancement in technology, working towards globalisation or women empowerment can be termed as a model in the realm of the contemporary world.

Personalities influence us in more than one ways and indeed they are a key role in deciding how the contemporary age differs or is similar to the present age. Every generation sees someone with a contemporary vision which differs from the rest. amPlus met Shwetha Ganesh Rao, a lady driving instructor from Sri Ganesh driving school and Guru Murthy, an ex lecturer in Manipal Institute of Communication (MIC) to get their views on the present and contemporary age.

Shwetha has been driving for the past nine years. She is working in Sri Ganesh since four years and has had varied experiences. She chose this as her first profession after her graduation. When enquired about why she chose this profession, zeal was her prompt reply. She has a passion for driving and loves to teach the same. She feels that being a woman makes her job easier as women are more patient and keep their cool when it comes to teaching. Her idea of being different by choosing such a profession was to prove to men that women are equally talented, smart and bold. She places herself in the present generation and says that it is easier to teach young people as they pick lessons quickly in comparison to the older people who take quite some time. Irrespective of the age, she thoroughly enjoys her work.

Lecturer Guru Murthy worked in MIC for five years. In his five years of experience he has seen himself in two varied generations and places himself in both of them. He is presently doing his PhD in two fields one of which is on the modern period and secondly a field work on pre-historic sites. He says that he admires the present generation because they have all the opportunities which his generation lacked. The present generation has greater knowledge and skills in what they do. They have a thirst for information and are mostly aware about the happening of the world. But he feels very dejected when he looks at the mannerisms and behavior patterns of the present generation. He sends out a message saying the world today is ‘horribly’ competitive and people have to understand the need to be best at what they do. They can’t simply get lured into random distractions. It is here where he is proud to be from a generation which is value and tradition bound and knows where to draw the line.

Every preceding generation learns something from the following generation. Stagnant thoughts and actions cannot be the reason for the development of any generation. Hence, believing in the old generation and improvising the ideas of the new generation should be the order of the society.