Slurping the hugging saint

Mata Amritanandamayi (also Amma) is quite popular and is sometimes referred to as hugging saint for her penchant for hugging people. It is firmly held that some mystical energy transfer happens during this brief bodily engagement. It may be true or not is not my concern, I haven’t met her though I have listened to her few times and didn’t find anything remarkably stirring in her utterings, maybe because her reference is Bhakti. She comes out as benevolent person without any malice against anyone. That she being a woman, that too from the lowest section of the society in a frigid and uninspiring consumerist Kerala, has risen to this level is undoubtedly remarkable. She has over the years used her position to improve the lots of the downtrodden and the needy. Her followers cross the boundaries of religions and regions. She has been quite a positive presence over the years.

But in the last decade or so her name has become some kind of a brand, and is being furiously promoted. Well I don’t have problems with that too since the colleges (and hospitals) running under her name do give preference to talented candidates from economically and socially weaker sections, and the standard of the colleges are also relatively good. It though need to be pointed out that they deal with market friendly courses, which surely has money. Why isn't the concern Humanities or Art or other important but precarious studies that find difficult to sustain in market assault. Why is Amritha so market conscious? It seems Mata Amritanandamayi is a front for big money greed. 

My problem is also with the TV channel (goes by the name of Amritha TV) that is like any other crass channel on offer. Indian TV channels, with very rare instances, are muck that comes in different languages. It’s crude and meant as interludes between ads to sell all kind of crap. Amritha TV isn’t different whether in terms of exploiting children or providing space for regressive mindset, as also presenting platform for consumerism of the worst kind (there is huge stampede in India because of population). Amritha TV doesn’t challenge or provide any alternative worldview nor attempts to bear any standards on these matters. However I do recall some year’s back one program that attracted my attention from this channel was one where candidates made newsbites/reports which were evaluated by senior journalists for its skill and intent. Quite interesting that one, probably one of the very few Indian TV programs worth mentioning in this nation of more than a billion that thrive on mediocrity all the while hounded by cheap sellers. Mediocre Indian film industry (in all languages) sneaks everywhere, the one past the expiry dates (in terms of popularity) or probably not suited for anything at all are judges, some are presenters others have even start to venture into wildlife channels, while some are interviewed for their personal lives others liven us with their opinion on serious issues. It’s amazing Indians lack of standards on any matter. India’s contribution to National Geography is documentary on Champu or recently IPL!! Professionalism or even hint of calibre is no concern; it’s about having good time and buy some detergent or cola. We should be proud to be able to watch “America’s best with Americans”. Gawk at American funny home videos while India’s talents (I am told even the culture) decided by sellers who invade and barge us to fault and spent. We have children gyrate on adult songs where as adults behave like buffoons, all for entertainment so that some products get sold or atleast the black money is converted.  What a mediocre society is this? Then there are small time spiritual gurus who work to assuage our conscience and make us pliable to the market. Discrimination or exploitation is none of their concern, they have packaged temple squatters traditions to the need of the market. Mediocre India seeks its redemption through sellers.    

Mata Amritanandamayi should be ashamed of herself for being conduit to this exploitation and promoting crassness in the name of entertainment. Her name is being used to suck profit in a very wrong away (which is quite normal here, extending liquor time by few hours in Bangalore is how freedom gets defined!! The Market media is in celebratory mode, so are the journalists! So much is the hold of money bags and black money). The progressive gains over the decades are being undermined and crude nature of society is being promoted. Is Mata Amritanandamayi here to endorse gold jewellery? I am sure she is aware of the regressive mindset associated however liberal or emancipation pitch is given to the sell. Either she should refrain from these and forbid her name being used or convert her channel as qualitatively different from regular, and bring concern about context and excellence, both these unfortunately missing in this TV channel. But then why should we complain it’s quite normal for Indians who thrive on mediocrity.     

The illusion of media freedom in India

There are thousands of newspapers and TV channels in this nation of more than a billion. Unfortunately though it doesn’t mostly reflect the reality of the nation, they are generally frivolous sensation seeking profit intending conceptions. They tread dominant mainstream narration and attune themselves to these, in the meanwhile they also try to be abreast with international nuances so as to show themselves as liberal and progressive. Indian constitution has been quite egalitarian, providing all the possibility but the Indian mediocre society has hindered.  Out of 179 countries India ranks 140 in terms of press freedom, just below Libya, Zimbabwe and Burundi. Shocking indeed. You might wonder what is preventing the media freedom, and you may wonder!! The news channels are full of chattering and opinions, the news columns are full of columnists and news. Everyone seems aware of moral high ground and quite assured of their rectitudinal role as self-appointed benevolent guardian. Ready to scream hoarse to any intrusions onto their turf. So what is the problem here? Why is India ranked so low on Press freedom? Much lower than countries that cannot even claim democracy while India preens it status as world’s largest democracy? 

Curtailing of media freedom in India happens at two levels. Firstly, the Market: in terms of people who control, as also those who sponsor. Both these have acquired a vicious form in this part of the world as the control is with few and immense potential of exploitation. So the reason for manipulation and corruption, it is being given the name of competition. Almost all media outlets in India is controlled by people with dubious background either they are beneficiary of feudalistic nature of society or product of corrupt system. With this foundation it is bit farfetched to expect them to be sensitive to the needs of the society or to even show some professional commitments. The sponsors too are another viscous breed, peddlers of cheap inane products that is sought mass appeal. The stampede is most vulgar here as the market (read unthinking population that is their prime target) is huge, recruiting mediocre actors and equally substandard sportspersons who are referred to as cricketers, their personal lives are manipulated to be squeezed, since professionally it seems they are quite limited. So their trials and tribulations are national concerns and subsequently milked in an elaborate con act. In this milieu the market even tries to bring in favour by taking up cause and placing up their product right up the throat. In crude India subtlety is like, as mediocre-but-truly-pseudo-secular-muslim-symbol Salman Kurshid meant ‘no mardangi’. This fellow is also our Foreign minister, thanks to sycophancy to The family.    

Market therefore will only allow those news or views that are market friendly or friendly to the friends and well-wishers of its owners and sponsors. The reason why Indian media is referred to as market media. Then there is huge black money that is doing the round that obviously the media honchos too are beneficiary of. With these kinds of money it is market which sets the agenda for this nation that thrives on mediocrity. Market censoring of news is of the worst kind in India, that has made even some well-intentioned journalist slaves to the great Indian fate. 

Second type of censoring is that of the Traditional form. This uniquely Indian phenomenon is the reason why India is bottom of the pit despite all the possibilities. Media is generally controlled by people with money and power, but when it comes from certain section of society because of deviant nature that thrived because of discrimination, then the situation becomes acute. That precisely is the problem of Indian media and its lack of sensitivity. The reason why in a country where the news channels role is so very critical but they have been reduced to pedalling entertainment related news of some really mediocre people. The humongous problems due to discrimination that most deprived of this country face and the news related to the vast land don’t seem to exist except maybe for some sensational market exciting events. There is a bias even in the way the news is approached, objectivity doesn’t seem to matter.  What is expected from the media is to deal situation objectively and once the reality is understood the section who are wronged should be supported. 

Statistics will confirm that the people who control, sponsor the media, and the journalists, are mostly from temple squatters and their hang arounds background. The reason for these censors therefore has a very deep traditional bias. The reason why Indian media is in the pit is because they have been used (with rare exceptions) for furthering these discriminations with silence, perpetuate it with their nuanced ignorance and redeem themselves with smokescreen of market friendly causes. Most likely the bias is so entrenched that they don’t even see it. Indian media is reduced to meeting point of cheap hawkers and opinion hagglers. 

Satyamev Jayathe is back

So what Crude woman has to say?

 “Mua Amir hath me aagya to gala got dalungi”

Journalist zombie said “Aisa kyon kehthe ho ji kuch tho tameez dikhao”, expecting some spicy footage that will help digestion of their viewers and sponsors.

“Arre tameez gayi gaye charane. Madamji ne kudh bola tha ki desh ko bachane ka tekka hum logon ka hai. Jab tekka hamare pass hai tho ye mua kahan se aagaya?”

ZK informed “copyright violation tho hai magar mua bohuth aage nikal chukka hai, hath se nikal gaya murga”, he should know, if you cannot defeat them join them, so has already hoodwinked into the show.

 “Tho hum kon se kam hai ji” Crude woman wasn’t ready to be evicted from her traditional turf. Her PR intervened for a saving grace “Tony bola ye gandhian hai tho ye gandhian hai”

It was their sad looking servant (who had got tired of disposing empty complimentary liquor bottles) who had the last say on the matter “Tony kya bola Anthony kya bola isse hamko kya, ghatiya log tho ghatiya he rehenge!”

Later I met the sad looking servant and asked “ye log ithna kyon peethe hai?”

“Kya malum saab inka kuch patha nahi kabhi khoon peethe hai kabhi daru, kal thenthees bootle ek he meh pee gaye dhono ke dhono”

Later I came to know that it was symbolic Number one friendship ka spirit for 33% women’s reservation!!