Everyone's envy India's Pride

After god know's how long, I'v felt a sense of pride of India. Think it was when the last time an indegenous accomplishment was reached - pokharan and our NAL made airplace that broke the sound barrier (bare with me if the particulars are incorrect). ISRO's mission to recover the capsule on re-entry after being launched into space was a GRAND SUCCESS. A moment to truly celebrate and realize the possibility of a manned mission to moon, atleast in my lifetime :).

I do not know how many people followed this story amidst the inconsequential HOT debates on TV. How can you, when such an achievement is aired for hardly 5-10 minutes, while debates over trivial issues take up much of the prime time. Oblivious, most of the viewers fell to the trap manipulating their sentiments. Ironically, the debate turned out to be as inconsequential as the matter itself. So much for prime time. If you still don't know what I mean, its the Racism issue in some show which I don't wanna mention here. I just went on to the new channel web sites and as expected none of them had put this on their top stories. This event is over visible under the "More Stories" category. "Shilpa Shetty" & some british female are all in the news while these scientists achievements hardly get 5 mins in the air. Ain't that something to be proud of :(. And thanks a ton to "The Hindu" for having put this new as their headlines.

On another note, a few words on the "India Poised" campaign. I was very glad to realize how there was an unanimous agreement that our education system is the bottleneck towards upliftment of the economically backward sections of society. Another interesting point was made for the question - "Indian political system seems to be in bad shape. What would it take to clean up the mess?". And a gentleman answered - "The system is fine. Its the people who are the problem. You, me and hence the politicians", ha ha, how true. And then of course the fact that the policies of different political parties at the centre marginal differs, esp now that most of them are thinking forward. And this one too - Gone are the days when people used to flock out of India, here is a time when our beloved NRI's are all eyes to get back home. The one point that really caught up my attention was CPO (Creative Process Outsourcing). That was music to my ears ;).

There is a say that goes like this - "A man doesn't understand beyond what it takes to earn his next meal". This is as much the root of the problem as I can see it. Education does help, but it is going to take a long time given to incapability and rigidity of the current system. But I feel that the media can do a much better job in enlightening the people *right now*. Of course "IF" they would choose to air more consequential and motivating stuff at prime time. Unfortunately most of the time they pick on the sentimental side of things and project themselves as the channel which has unfolded a grave situation in the country. Not that they don't make valuable programs, but very very few of these get aired at prime time. "Money" / "Rating" is the operative word.

On the other hand, who can blame them? Every channel targets higher ratings. Most people are more interested in knowing as to what is happening between Abishek Bachan & Aishwarya Rai #-o. I am just wondering as to how much of misplaced values the media is perclorating into the public. Guess am beginning to talk in absolutes now.