MEDIA AND POLICY MAKING ( An Abstract of my paper selected for BICON International Conference 2015)

Media play a quintessential role in the daily life of an ordinary human being. In the hegemony created by smart phones, selfie sticks, social networking sites comprising face book, twitter etc, media have given priority for trivial incidents these days. In the hustle bustle of the modern life, people find social media as their safe and quick source to express their opinions, criticisms and comments regarding the daily happenings around them. When new generation strives to express their viewpoints at the earliest on whatever issues, they try to impose their dominance over others and wish to become a hero. The online webs and portals have relegated the status of public opinion to gossips and scandals. My paper will begin by examining the role of media, The Fourth Estate in moulding the “public opinion” and how it varies from the “published opinion”. The online, social and broadcast media have given way for conventional journalism and now it is the era of “citizen journalism” and cut throat competition among individuals who try to become the content makers of the day. I would like to throw light upon the facts that constitute policy making like the identification of problem, policy recommendation, decision, implementation, evaluation and resolution.

Media corruption undermines Indian democracy and it’s quite hard to say whether there exists any difference between fourth estate and real estate. What befalls at times is that media distort the news and we find difficult to make the truth out of that. In order to substantiate this view, I would like to quote the statement of P.Sainath, the renowned columnist and Magsaysay award winner who once opined “if patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel, what the reader wants is the last refuge of every intellectually bankrupt editor on earth”. The arena of media is corrupted like anything and their squalid approach is competent enough to portray wholesale lies as news. In this context, I would like to hint on paid news that can be called a double jeopardy for democracy. The cancer of corruption has penetrated into every nook and cranny of the world and at least media should take some initiatives to get rid of the danger as they are capable of creating a resonance in the minds of multitudes.

Media may be free politically but imprisoned by profit. It is the dire need of the hour to get rid of the anaemic role of media so as to bring forth quality news and content to the public free from all kinds of biases. The paper would also give an idea on the recent trends in media namely whistle blowing, trial by media, sting operation, corporate dominance and political party dominance.

 I like to conclude my paper with an optimistic note that qualitative changes will definitely happen in media in the nearby future and policy making area in these days of media convergence thereby proving that media will become a part and parcel of the wifi life of us and policy making.

A TRIBUTE TO THE TEACHERS WHO FOSTERED ME FOR WHAT I AM NOW !!!!!!!

“The average teacher explains complexity; the gifted teacher reveals simplicity.” ― ROBERT BRAULT.....

My Dearest School Teacher Sister Jenova Mary

Dedicating this very special day to my utmost loving teachers Mohan Ramanan sir, Sr Jenova Mary, Sindhu Ma'am n all those who made me a mark and role in my life. I am utmost glad after talking to my dearest Mohan sir in the mng. I just cant express my feelings after talking to you,sir - your influence and inspiration as an ideal teacher, HCU Dean and above all like a caring grandpa heart emoticon heart emoticon heart emoticon .Thank you so much for ur words of positive energy and determination and wishes...Really glad after talking to my guide Bhoomika Ma'am whose sincere words only make me go amidst all the cultural and regional and religious disparities here and only my Anakha Ajith(meenukutty) n Kavita Jewaria know how I survive in this Bandarsindri village..Last but not the least, my dearest Arpana Ma'am who scolds and encourages me the most in CURAJ campus n someone who is like my Sindhu Ma'am r Girija Ma'am- A teacher whom I respect for the way she is..( even my dearest junior Kamini also shares the same view about her♥ heart emoticon .

Dr Bhumika Sharma,my Research guide cum mentor

Many teachers have taught and created many images in my life but some deserve a special mention inspite of race,religion,category, caste and they taught me not to confine to the prescribed books and go ahead "to strive, to seek and find " something new" and marks never determine our future instead the knowledge, content, how we perceive and make better use of them by implementing in real life.... Special mention to dear Abdul Azeez sir for expounding everything with the touch of my home state cum vernacular language and for teaching me "the culture of silence " which is the dire need of the hour in this campus especially as a Malayali and above all the so- called badge of "South Indian" as if like South African. My dearest Pallavi Tak ma'am for her smiling and usual inspiring face and really glad to share some moments with you and today's morning chat made me happy like anything and conveyed that to my mom n sis as well. Above all Jagdish sir,DP Negi sir, Vijay sir and Atiq sir for considering me more r less a part f their MSW dept and for giving me much opportunities to improve and prove myself. I am truly grateful.....wishing you all a very Great  and Memorable Teachers day.
When education and teaching are relegated to the  mere status of "praising and pleasing " the powerful authorities forgetting the dharma of a Guru-- The one who leads us from the dark and trails us to the light of knowledge, I suspect what the posterity will face as the teachers play a quintessential role in shaping the youth. Even the meaning and role we attribute to teachers undergo radical transformation these days.Still, I expect and conclude with a note of optimism that there will be teachers who strongly uphold the view that their role is not to cut down jungles but to irrigate deserts.Looking forward to see my mother India brimming with such loyal and ideal teachers who can be called the real "makers of the society"

My Days as a college Guest Lecturer 

"MAN" and "INNER SELF"- PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE

Henri Frederic Amiel

Man being a social animal has to be the part and parcel of his surroundings and inhabitants.In order to ensure a peaceful co- existence with his fellow being, man has to curtail some of his personal liberties. Many a times, too much of individual liberty leads to social anarchy. In the hustle bustle of the new life style, he fails to satiate the needs of his heart but only the head. He is in the pursuit of materialistic pleasures and amassing wealth. Man lost the ability to think of his inner self as his urge leads him to fulfill mundane comforts. The dictum of Swiss Philosopher, Poet and Critic Henri Frederic Amiel deserves mention in this regard. He opines that a man who lacks the inner self is literally a slave to his surroundings just like the barometer that acts as an obedient servant of air at rest. When we are devoid of a mighty power or oracle to control or make us aware of the right and wrong in our doings, we become mechanical and our deeds will be to satisfy others. Modern man in the tech savvy world is in a race to gather whatever that gives him physical pleasures. His head and heart are in different paths and there occurs disharmonies to lead his life with rejoice. He forgets the fact that he has a life of his own and it should not be a mere surrender to others comforts. While he dashes to devour the external happiness of life, man really becomes a part apart from his own self. Unless we realize our mental desires and contentment, nothing else can substitute the essence of our entity. It is the dire need of the hour to get rid of the mere approval of worldly luxuries. We must give due importance to our feelings and emotions so as to have a proper balance of intelligence and information.

Dr.S. Radhakrishnan, the former President of India has rightly said long back that humanities and science should hand in hand and they are neither inferior or superior to each other. Similarly, in our real life also, we should not discard the great reality that our self must be given due significance. A life like a slave of others can never have a worth of its own. Even if we lack wealth or money or if we are not that affluent also, we can put up with those circumstances. Freedom and self expression transcend many aspects of life. A caged bird or a domestic animal craves for freedom than anything in life. We should have free thinking and our own dreams and aspirations. It should never be an obligation to a second person’s interests. We must be bold enough to follow what is right and what is our aim. If we lack the competence to know what is good for us, People will make us a mere slave to dance according to their tones. We will then have a life to please and praise others. 

Henri Frederic exhorts us to lead a life of our own and create some “fresh woods and pastures new” .As we all are created by the Almighty, all of us have us equal rights to have a life of our own in this planet where diversity of multitudes co exists.

A SECRET SUFFUSING MUSIC FROM ALEPPEY BEACH:AM I IN A HALLUCINATED WORLD?hahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“MY heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains 
My sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk” 

Here I go to the mighty world of creativity “with the view less wings of poesy”

A much awaited pic finally at Aleppey beach. Especially, an Abhijith Sathyapalan photography (the established professional photographer of our Trivandrum Press Club).Thanks a lot to my dear Gopsi vava and Abhi for this snap that turned out to be very special for me.Really loved the moments we all had together. Looking forward to have some more ever red-letter and eternal cherishing trips with our “yo-yo “gang. We become so close by these journeys far apart from our routine “Thattukada chats n jokes”. I wish we had one more year together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Gopsi, what you told is right dearie-The nostalgic recollections began reverberating in my heart too.Now,I also just can’t imagine a day alone at home and roaming in the nooks of our capital city without you guys. Missing the “goal post dialogues, comments, tvm slang words and our fights (Exclusively for Gopu n Gayu kids)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Yearning for the next suspense Journey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"OUR GANG"-Bt poor appu is missing in dis pic.surya also missing.

A Tribute to “MEMORIES OF A FATHER”

While searching for an Indo Anglian Literature book in my hostel library, my eyes stuck into a book all on a sudden. The name of the writer seemed very familiar and without any hesitation, I captured that book named “Orachante Ormakal (Memories of a Father) comprising 128 pages by Prof. Eachara Warrier.I have hearsay about this book since time immemorial. When I started flipping into the very first page, I saw the description about Eachara Warrier and his son P.Rajan.I was deeply moved by the sorrows that reverberated in the lines of a father’s description about his innocent son Rajan, a student of the prestigious Regional Engineering College, Calicut who became the victim of brutalities of police and joined the majority without enjoying the prime of his life at a time when emergency was brought to force in God’s own country. Like all parents, a lot of spectacular expectations were pinned at the back of this budding engineering graduate by his family. But, but, but ...the fate turned very cruel to him.I cant control my anger towards Lord Yama for seizing the life of an innocent man who had no role in naxal group or party activities.I rapidly got the realisation that whom the God loves, die young. Only this line can render some solace to my sobbing heart.

Right from the beginning till the end of this book, I was inquisitive to know whether this utmost loving father derived justice. But never, never, never. Throughout his life, he strived to grant peace to the soul of his son who used to appear in his dreams craving for a plate of rice given to him with great affection by his mother. He was disappeared one day morning while he was at the bus stand with his friends after spending a night at Farook College on behalf of the cultural competitions held there. He was arrested by the police from REC bus stop along with his friends. Owing to the suspicion that he had a role in naxalism and attacks, he was recklessly beaten and finally lost life. But his friends survived and they all were with his father to support him in his pursuit of truth and justice. The cooperation from the part of REC principal Vahabudeen and other professors were commendable. Rajan was in their good book

 throughout his graduate life. Life once lost cannot be regained. His father under the pangs of sorrow amidst the hardships he had to encounter in the old days of life fought his best to bring to limelight what has happened to his son. I salute such a father from the inner most recess of my heart. But the world turned as if the people living here lack the qualm of conscience in P Rajan case.His mother lost mental balance immediately after his demise. His adieu from the mighty world broke all the symphony of his family. He used to sing melodiously and his presence was felt only through the immortal voice for his mother and sisters. His mother had an inclination to singing and Rajan was also gifted with it.Now his father and mother are no more. They have experienced a lot in their rhythmless life after Rajan bid good bye to this world. Eachara Warrier ends the story with a note of optimism that he still does not close the doors of his house as he always expects that someday his son will come to him. He listens to the songs of his loving son which he had never listened to while he was alive ceaselessly. Now he is involved in his son’s voice as a kind of atonement or guilt.

The original book written by Prof.Eachara Warrier. It was later translated into English.

I don’t get words to curb the feelings that I felt after reading this book. Never have I read such a book that dwells deep in sorrow and it is written with the life blood of pain and suffering. How can any father suffer the untimely death of his child? Absolutely a big no will be the answer. There was no Milton to write a Lycidas mourning his death during that time. I regret........The feelings are really gushing from the heart of a common father who found hard to cope with the harsh reality of his son’s disappearance. The language is quite plain with a great clarity of vision and readers are brought along with his mood and nature of writing. For a moment, I placed myself in the place of Prof.Eachara Warrier and thought.... I just can’t picture  such a fate occupying me. I honestly pray for Rajan and his father. Let them enjoy peace and rejoice in the other world where they are not at all haunted by the limitations of time, space, caste, party, religion and so on. I pray to all the Gods-“Let not any other father be suffered by such an unexpected plight”.

“HONEY MANGO FEST”- Trivandrum brimming with colour and freshness

Trivandrum: It’s time for the contingents of Trivandrum city to relish the taste and sweetness of mango. The coming week of mango fest is ready to quench the thirst and provide relief to the natives of Ananthapuri. The carnival organized under the auspices of District agriculture department, State Horticulture Mission and Kerala Horticorp began at the Suryakanthi ground of Kanakakunnu. The spectators are introduced to 134 varieties of mangoes that comprise himapasanth, bennet, alphons, rasipasanth, neelam, sindhooram, Kulangara mango, chandrakaran, banglora and alamboor benition. In addition to the stalls of mango growers association from different states, there are stalls for honey and honey products. These add flavor to the fest.

 The fest commencing from morning 9 and lasting till 8pm has a collection of 45 Rs.mangalore mango to himayudeen mango that costs around 115 Rs.The event is given more charm by the favorite varieties of mangoes from God’s own country which incorporates kotturkonam, moovandan, karpooram, prayor and kuttiyattor. Malgova, chakkarakutty and kalappadi brought from Krishnagiri that lies in the border of Karnataka and Tamilnadu are also adding beauty to the fest hailing for tenure of one week. Multiple varieties of mango seeds capable of high reproduction are also available in the event. In order to give solace to the people from scorching heat, cool drinks like honey cola, ginger cola and honey mango are arranged. Honeybee colonies are also there for exhibition. In order to make sure that the mangoes are free from calcium carbonate, Food and safety employees have collected samples for scrutiny.

 The entry of the fest is possible through a pass of twenty rupees. Minister K.P.Mohanan inaugurated the function. K.Muraleedharan M.L.A. presided over the function. State Horti culture mission director Dr.K.Prathapan rendered vote of thanks.

ELECTION-A SELECTION?

Only countable days remain for the much expected election. Time has come for the people of India to select new rulers. They are eagerly waiting to vote for their favourite leaders. Election of 2014 has a remarkable specialty that there is a novel option of NOTA(None Of The Above) and an AAP party(Aam Admi Party).Leaders hailing from different part of the country are on the days of powerful campaigning. Everyone views this election with spectacular hopes. People even suspect that their votes will turn out to be worthless. Leaders put forth a number of demands before the election. They act very wisely to make people fall into their tracks. The pitiable part of the story is that how far their words turn out to be reality. They remain only in words as mere words. People really strive hard to select a part which is working on behalf of their welfare. Once the leaders are taken to the thrones of power, they try to make themselves, their families and relatives rich. They lack a sense of brotherhood and fellow feeling. It’s more or less like obscurantism from the part of so called leaders. A sense of fraternity and patriotism are lost these days. It is a great reality that the richer are becoming richer day by day and the poor people struggle a lot to make both their ends meet. Who is there to think of the millions of poor and hapless people? The answer is absolutely none. Multitudes of parties have ruled hitherto. But the plights of tragic people are still the same. There is no one ready to find solutions for their miseries. In every election, people elect people in order to check whether they can rule the country better than the erstwhile leaders. They are in a state of despondency as they are not getting talented and capable rulers.

The advent of Aam Admi Party was like a tale told by an idiot “full of sound and fury signifying nothing”. When it came into power in our capital city, people were in the zenith of expectation that they will do something revolutionary. It came into power as a party of layman. Amidst all the traditional and conventional parties, When AAP gained currency; it opened a world of dreams for thousands of men. But it is really stupid that the party resigned their role in Delhi owing to their failure of presenting Lokpal bill. Thus Arvind Kejriwal and team culminated all the desires they have sown in the minds of people. Even then there is a great contingent of people contesting for AAP from numerous places of India. The soul of common man craving for a social change will definitely think this time in order to reflect the power of their adult franchise.

Another attracting feature of the election is that the most of the people going to vote in this election belong s to the youngsters’ gang.Like the petals of a flower give beauty to it, the young people are the backbone of every nation. The very destiny of the nation is dependent on their hands. They always stand for a transformation in the daily walks of life. Their mind is ready to adapt to the new thought provoking ideas. Their role will be very significant in this election. Women do play a pivotal role in the election. As candidates and voters, they will surely make a stamp of their own. 

The people of India look forward with fabulous expectations regarding this election. All are looking forward to alter the then existing tendencies and priorities in election. Even the option of NOTA has to be handled with care. The shackles of power have made many politicians and parties inhumane. So people are now in pursuit of bringing something innovative through this election. Let us hope that there will be a qualitative change in the situation soon.