Perfectionism

The job of the media is to gather information and present the news and views to the people. They do raise questions to bring out the facts. Sometimes by exercising this right, they presume that they are masters, judges, avatars to set right and establish a perfect universe.

Searching and evolving perfection on any issue or system is a process. It may involve many individuals, groups of people from various sections of society and institutions. Media also  plays a part but do not get any superior knowledge or supernatural powers by questioning people.

These puritans are pushing perfection everywhere with imperfections galore in their own midst. What the media could manage over decades of search and push for perfection was to foist jungle raj observing no rule or law; destroying all that was planned and built meticulously.

Most of these ‘intellectuals’ in the media are driven by their own past prejudices, presumptions and predispositions. They are neither free nor neutral as they are unable to liberate themselves from their mental blocks. It is their characteristic failing as a group for decades.

We are never a perfect society that includes the media. We try to move towards a better society removing all hurdles, impediments in between if the right kind of people and situation are available to work towards it. Our anxieties for quick results may be counterproductive.

A typical example is of JP, getting restless perhaps with the slow pace of Bhoodan of Vinobaji; launched Total revolution; became conscience keeper of Janata experiment. His disciples gave ‘Conscience Dan’ and divided society. This laid the base for Total destruction in 45 years.

There is nothing wrong with agitations or revolutions as such. It is a democratic expression or outlet of pent up feelings and emotions. It should not be an artificial and manufactured build up under ‘Gandhian’ mask leaving out his insistence on the strict moralistic process.

Jaiprakash Narayan was not equipped with necessary political acumen to carry through the process of a revolution in its natural course. He believed in a conglomerate of people with contrasting aptitude, mindset, beliefs with a common thread of opportunism, ego and ambition.

The emergency was a political retort rather than an offshoot of a fascist mind but it became a handy tool for the media to join the chorus. But the Janata party soon started pulling in different directions, playing politics within; dividing people into groups; destroying moral values. 

Many of the journalists may contend that they cannot be blamed and what is happening in the country is due to the failures of politicians. Every pillar of democracy is responsible for it. Media is not an exception. In fact, the role of the media is immense. 

All sections of the media miserably failed in their role. It is not that they could not see through the games people played. The media closed its eyes when it suited their thinking and not raised voices when needed. The failure of everyone should be analysed and presented.

Such an in-depth analysis, debate, discussion will bring out the truth about everyone’s role and the extent of damage they have done. We have many retired judges to give a balanced view, judgement considering all angles, arguments in an open all-inclusive discussion.

This in a way will help to carry out the necessary correction and reinforcement needed for all the pillars and it will be a way to go for strengthening our democracy. If we do not look back and analyse failures, admit, correct mistakes we can never succeed as a true democracy.

Media lacks vision

Here we have to mention that Mahatma Gandhi was the best and perfect political leader India, maybe the world ever had in recent history. Jawaharlal Nehru could absorb many of his ideals with a modern, socialistic vision that suited our large sections of poor and downtrodden.

It is not that we do not have people with such high qualities now. We are obstructing them to become one in our political arena due to our crab mentality with a negative, selfish bent of mind characterized by not allowing others to get ahead of or do better than oneself.

We should not live in Utopia and expect perfection in everyone, every politician and every institution. People do make errors, misjudge or maybe they are ill-advised on issues. It should be treated as part of the business risk if there is no ulterior motive behind such errors. 

The fault-finding mission should be issue-based, not personality-based unless they are repeated or habitual. We are against sins, not sinners. Efforts should be directed towards finding facts and not nitpicking which hurts self-confidence and creates distrust among people.

One of the important missions for the development of the nation is to allow and encourage the growth of confidence of people and leaders in all sections of society including politics. Instead, the atmosphere deteriorated and degenerated leading to lack of trust in leaders and people.

Sermonising about facts and truth; advising not to spread lies, half-truths and untruths is not an attractive proposition as the practical world is not interested. But this is the only and best possible approach one can adopt for finding solutions for the problems of people.

In fact, the absence of problem-solving mechanisms or its dysfunctioning and inadequacy is the main cause for continued existence and proliferation of unsolved issues that confront us. It is basically a systemic failure, its provisions, monitoring and solving issues at all levels.

Most of the issues are due to inadequate search of information, exchange of views, analysis and evolving solutions. Can we not have problem-solving mechanisms independent of or in addition to courts of law? Are we not having people who are trustworthy, neutral and impartial?

There are deliberate attempts to keep problems alive; to get it twisted, complicated so that everything reaches the highest levels of political, judicial and executive authorities. If not arbitration the scope for threadbare analysis, discussion is not fully explored and exploited.

The media has a large role to play in this search for solutions for the problems faced by the people and the country. They should function as conscience keeper of the nation and help people. Alas, the media has become more problematic; people are trying to solve media’s problems.