Monday 2 January 2012

Who is Responsible?

The image of Karnataka has taken a beating over the last couple of years. The "Nataka" in Karnataka seems to be getting worse or better for the Media who are getting far better air time than they could have even imagined a couple of years ago. No wonder then that there are numerous Kannada channels that have sprouted in the last couple of years. Each channel somehow seem to be inspired by a program that used to be popular on a popular channel a few years ago. From the programming to the diction to the voice over seem to be truly inspired by that particular program.

Yesterday's incident in the City Civil court premises has definitely taken this to a whole new level. All news channels across all demographics have been hell bent on blaming the Lawyer fraternity for the whole fiasco and they had me convinced that it was my Friends who were to blame. Fortunately I spoke to a good friend of mine and got to know the other half of the story and began to see the coverage in a whole new light.

I am not writing this to condemn the Police atrocities or defend the actions of the lawyers. I am instead glad that this happened. It was time that we mortal voting population actually understood the system and that this whole episode took place in a court complex actually gives me reason to celebrate.

For a few years now, The Media has been the eyes of the law as they like to call themselves and fed us with filth that I would not have accepted left to myself. My friends in the legal community to a large extent have actually been endorsing the views put forth by these news channels and spoken about how people like me are far removed form actual reality. I would instead say that a lot of people have been clinging on to things that didn't need clinging on to. There is in fact not one news channel in the country today that is not biased. Everybody has their own personal gains and if not for the remote in our homes, people like Arnab Goswami would have probably become a Dictator by now.

The Authorities (Police etc), Media and the lawyers actually baffle me. To a large extent they are 2 sides of the same coin. And this is why I think so. I was impressed when the Media decided to go against the Govt. in power and actually showed 3 desperate Middle age Ministers watching porn in the Assembly and the same was carried all across the country. 3 weeks down the line, the Govt. is actually investigating the persons who brought this out and their friends in the Media has decided to play safe and I haven't seen one newspaper or a television channel condemning the Govt. and supporting their colleagues except for a stray article or a useless discussion on PRIME TIME TELEVISION. Its the same media that highlights a so called RAVE PARTY in a farm house and while one side gets the so called moral police to accompany them and then speaks about demoralizing standards of today's generation, the other side acts as the guardian of democracy and upholding the rights of a citizen to his fundamental rights. The truth is that the Media today is only after TRP 's. The Media in our country will do anything to stay afloat in their business. There was a huge support for Anna Hazare and the Media backed him all the way. Unfortunately for Anna and team the lack of a good PR agency did them in and the whole Janlokpal bill debate has become a bit of a joke. Of course, Anna's team has also messed up every step of the way is another matter altogether. If the Media is actually serious about its duty, they would have published the names of all those who have money stashed away abroad. Instead, they just make a huge hue and cry and think of new debates for PRIME TIME TELEVISION.

Dear Lawyers, wake up, you are as much to blame as anybody else. To a large extent, you prefer to keep the authorities in your good books so that you get the best desired results for your client and there is nothing wrong in it for you have a job to do. However, it is the same attitude that has today put you in the spot that you are in and tomorrow will also put us in a similar position. You know the law better than all of us and yet you prefer the easier route to get things done. It is time to stop being nice and the whole goody two shoes attitude needs to go.
I for one feel its time that we are not used as pawns in a chess game sand actually get our due. I am the voter and the tax payer. the Govt. will not be in power without me and the authorities will not get their salary if not for the taxes I pay. And its time I get my due.

Nobody can justify violence when there are various other means to get the point across. Though I personally feel that for somebody to take notice, violence is a necessary tool at times. India has seen it over the ages, The Quit India movement of 1857 was the first instance where the British actually decided that India needed a law and it was the Queens proclamation of 1858 that got the ball rolling towards actual governance in India. So, dear Lawyers The time to act is now. Let the Media and the Authorities understand that we will not be fed with bullshit anymore. Take this whole incident in your stride and uphold the sanctity of the profession that I would have loved to be a part of.

On a lighter note, if you need an activation plan to bring out your grievances, I am just a phone call away.

Like Bob Marley says,
GET UP STAND UP, STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHT,
GET UP STAND UP, DON'T GIVE UP THE FIGHT!!!