TACT VERSUS FACT

          A few years ago I watched a movie called Kramer Versus Kramer. The film conveyed the unmistakable message that any infighting between two elephants (in this case Mr. and Mrs Kramer), leads to nothing but the grass (their only child) getting squashed.  For the last few months however, there has been no dearth of such sequences being unfolded into our drawing rooms. And these are hardly the once-in-a-lifetime-emotional-classics of the serene yesteryears. Instead they are the crudely designed reality shows of the chaotic today. Those that come sensationally packaged in an all round the clock TV channel called ‘NEWS’. Apart from the senseless ‘Saas Vs. Bahu’ serials that have invaded into our lives via the prime channels, the mushrooming of the countless News channels, instead of providing information also add to the mindless entertainment. There is the standard ‘Peace Vs. War’, ‘ Security Vs. Terrorism’, ‘Ruling Vs. Opposition’ and so on. Not to mention the monotonous bickering of ‘Congress Vs. Congress’ or the ‘BJP Vs. BJP’. But what stands out in the recent past, are two unique but shocking events that once again highlight the bombardment of investigative journalism into our private lives. One of course is an emotional power struggle that India today terms as ‘Ambani Vs. Ambani’ and the other, a scandalous triangle of ‘Religion Vs. Politics Vs. Law’.

It is not as if wars have never been fought before. It is not as if backbiting amongst leaders never happened previously. It is not as if internal strife amidst politicians and conglomerate kings never existed earlier. It is not as if disrepute never touched the folds of any sanctified person or place before. The issue is the appalling way in which it is being dragged into our bedrooms, the disturbing method in which it is being told to the nation and the alarming manner in which images are being tarnished. Not to mention the way in which it is consuming our waking hours and poisoning our sleeping minds.

To imply that Television is not a medium of education would be like saying that medicines are not for the purpose of healing. But when drugs are misused or overused, everyone knows the dangers that follow. Human tendency is such that everyone loves to have his or her regular cup of ‘news’, with an extra teaspoon of sensationalism stirred into it. Only a few viewers are mentally equipped to filter out the facts to be able to see through the lens of reason. The rest of us, however obvious the truth, would still prefer to look at the world through sleaze coloured glasses. And what better when these glasses come, not only in different dimensions, but are also perched right over our eyes?

Is it all right to be hounded and pounded by the paparazzi at every step in one’s life? Is it all right for us to have developed into a boggled race that is ‘force fed’ on baseless information day after day, hour after hour? Is it all right to constantly be subjected to a mechanical pursuit of Tact Vs. Fact? If you are the lucky one with the shoe that fits, everything is hunky- dory. But if you happen to be the one with the shoe that bites, I think the answer is obvious. As for the luminaries that want to keep on shining, it would be better to prepare themselves to be minutely scrutinized too. After all, one cannot seek the rainbow without any rain.

It is very well to advocate for the freedom of the Press. But to take liberties with liberty is stretching it a bit far. Where does one draw the line? How much is too much? In 1979, I remember visiting my Uncle in Pune who then worked for the Film and Television Institute. In our month long stay in the campus we grew quite accustomed to the functioning of the ‘Film’ section. The ‘Television’ tours that we were sometimes given appeared a bit queer to me. I secretly wondered what the purpose of those numerous small boxes was. What sort of information could they possibly be able to give? Maybe I was puzzled because then we were a raw nation devoid of a dreadful distraction, which had already taken the other parts of the world by storm.

Now almost four decades later, when we have evolved into a country that offers limitless information through this idiot box, I still wonder. I wonder if it would have been better for us to have remained the way we were- blessed with a rare naiveté of reading (newspapers), listening (radio), thinking (jogging our brains) and arriving to conclusions ourselves.

Nargis Natarajan.