Indian Media: Paralyzed with Insensitivity?

Sensationalizing the tiniest of the matters, and reporting crimes, rapes, murder, kidnappings and bankruptcy with highest level of enthusiasm is by far the most striking features of Indian media.

It is so disturbing and insensitive when these people pop up questions like, “Apke saath kya kya hua tha?”, “Kya aapne madat k liye, guhaar lagae thy?”, or even worse, “Aapko ab kaisa lag raha hai?” to a rape victim!

I had stopped watching news channels, and reading the front papers, only because of this reason! The “news” is either about some party gone bankrupt, political blame game, rapes, murders, honor killing, discussion over the new size zero chick in town, kidnapping, bollywood tamasha, the who’s who, who wore what at a party last night, who dreamt what, whether they sleep with or without their boxers and as if all “this” is not enough, we have the whole multiple paged advertisements to skim through. “Are you battling hair fall? We are the best in town! “Are you 100, and still single? Sign up on our match making site and get a gazillion options!” Wow! Really?

I mean do you really want me to open my mouth and make you stand naked?

In & out, full of negativity, unnecessary and senseless bombardment of shit. This repeated onslaught is hurled on viewers, creating a hopeless feeling among the viewers.

Today afternoon, there was this “Aaj ki chouka dene wali khabar!!” coming on a leading news channel which said, “A mother committed suicide in front of her 5 year old son. While he innocently looked at her and asked “Mummy kya kar rahe ho?”, she was busy tying the knot with her dupatta in the ceiling fan.”

Now. I don’t have a problem with the incident per se. Nor am I here to give my suggestion on whether what she did was right or wrong. But what followed disturbed me.

There was these few reporters, who caught hold of this poor 5 year old fellow and started bombarding him with questions, which were out & out derogative. Here it goes:

“Beta, aapne mummy ko marte hue dekha?”

“Aapne mummy ko kuch bola nahi?”

“Ghar me aur koi nahi tha kya?”

“Apko kaisa lag raha hai?”

“Apko pata hai mummy ne kya kia hai?”  

“Ab aap kya karoge?”

“Kya wo suicide karte samay dukhi lag rahi thy?”

“Kya unhone apse kuch kaha, jaate jaate?”

WHAT THE HELL?????

He is an innocent, 5 year old baby. He just saw, which no child would ever even dream of! He is already disturbed enough. And more so, its not like you don’t know it’s after effects! Is the reporter going to stay back and wipe his tears, when the vision of his hanging mother comes to him?

And it was not like there were no elders available for their Q&A sessions. This is what you call being plagued by insensitivity and sensationalization. What could have been wrapped up with maturity and decency was put on display with all the world’s pomp and show!

Do we realize what impression it may have left on the child’s mind? How can you expect people to babble in front of cameras after getting molested by 10 people? Is simply blurring her face enough? Is that going to bring her solace?

An industry that could have used itself constructively, has clearly tangled itself in the number game. Competition is so fierce, that the channel which gets to know “How exactly the rape happened... (if you know what I mean) Wins!!! Woohooo..

Now that’s interesting.

Sometimes, in a country where glamorizing crime is “the” in thing, I feel I am asking for too much. Is it only I who feels things should be taken on a lower level? Or do you also feel the same?

Tell me!