Newspaper: My new love

Let’s talk about my new growing love towards the newspaper.

People belonging to my age group definitely hate reading newspapers. When asked the reasons for it… They simply say that newspapers are outdated or they say it’s much time consuming. Well they are partly right as we all know its much time consuming but is it worth spending time on it? Definitely yes. It is still better than watching reels for 2 hours straight and not learning anything from it.
Now let’s address the very first question, are the newspapers outdated? Not exactly but newspapers have grown old like fine wine. I make this statement because the newspapers have survived even after coming under the scrutiny of various authorities and governments in India. There was a threat to Freedom of speech and expression but still the newspapers survived. The internet and broadcast media might have taken the limelight with its ethical and unethical reporting but the newspapers remain ethical. You might disagree but before disagreeing don’t get confused with ethics and bias. Newspapers can be ethical but be biased too. Well, who isn’t biased? Everyone is but they call themselves neutral. It is ok to be biased unless you go too far hiding the crimes and start peddling lies.

That’s too much of philosophy but how did my love for newspapers grow?
During my internship with a daily newspaper I was made to read 6 newspapers for almost 10 days which I absolutely hated. Reading a single newspaper feels difficult but I had to manage reading 6 papers. With time passing I started to enjoy reading the newspaper. My curiosity kept building each day as I saw a developing story and the editorials changed my perspective towards the world.

Diving back in time
As I travel in the train I recall how newspapers were the icebreaker between co-passengers. I remember a random uncle reading a newspaper on the train. When he finished reading my father politely asked him for the newspaper and he happily passed it. After my father completed reading the newspaper he thanked the person for lending the newspaper and from there their conversation started on politics and many more topics and they only stopped talking after we arrived at our station. But today when I travel by train I hardly see people carrying newspapers with them and it is evident that everybody is on their phones. When I say everybody it’s not only the people of my age group but also the uncles and aunties who don’t belong to our age group.

Parliament is no more sacred

Koi shak hai tumhe hamari deshbhakti ka?

Ho bhi toh shak chord do

Agar chordoge nahi toh hum bhi kyun dein tumhe saboot hamare deshbhakti ka?

Hum hi nahi koi aur bhi kyun dein saboot apni deshbhakti ka?

Agar tum sacche deshbhakt hote toh kabhi na puchte tum saboot kisiki deshbhakti ka.

India is a democratic country and parliament undoubtedly is the temple of democracy where discussions and decisions are made for the betterment of the people of the country. It was sacred before, but has it remained the same? NO, with a heavy heart I say this because the people sitting in the parliament don’t really represent the people or the moral values of the country. My NO became stronger when I saw a video in which MP Ramesh Bidhuri was seen using communal slurs at his fellow parliamentarian Danish Ali. He used communal slurs such as “Bharwa” (pimp), “Katwa” (circumcised), “Mullah Atankwadi” (Terrorist) & “Mullah Ugrawadi” (Militant) and that, too, on record. I have never heard such language being used in the parliament, but on this present day, listening to such slurs aches my heart and I’m sure it aches every Indian’s heart. If it doesn’t, then you are not a true Indian.”Bas naam ke hindustani ho”



I feel sorry for myself and my country because the so-called “REPRESENTATIVES OF PUBLIC” have fallen to the steep doing politics. These days, people don’t wash their ass so often as often they ask a Muslim to prove his/her patriotism. And how does one prove patriotism? The answer is by speaking ill about other countries??? I often wonder why people are so obsessed with neighbouring countries that they always keep telling Indian Muslims to go to other countries? To everyone who says this… a big F to you and your masters on instructions of whose you hurt your fellow Indians.

Disss-cussion


On an ordinary day in college, politics was being discussed as usual. The conversation ranged from corruption to the experiences of women in politics and journalism. What really caught my attention was the statement that once women enter the field of politics or journalism, their lives are set and if they are attractive, then they always have the upper hand.

This statement was followed by a story of a female politician who was spotted multiple times accompanying a rich and influential politician. She was also spotted with him in a private property. Here, I would like to pause the narrative and raise a few questions.

Do we respect one’s privacy? Is it really wrong for women to meet men at private property because such meetings may not always mean that they are engaged in a romantic act on it may also be to discuss future endeavours and also maybe the next scam they are going to commit together. Shouldn’t a widow have the right to move on in life? Why is it that people are always eager to pass judgement on women? Do women require someone’s validation? These questions should really be given thought..

Coming back to the current topic, one cannot deny the fact that the politics and media are full of predators and in a hurry to become successful some people choose to become prey. However, it would be really wrong to generalize a whole group on the basis of the actions of a few.

With the intention of avoiding the concluding stand, I raise another question. Should we really be concerned about the people who choose to be prey for their own benefits or do we shift to the topics that really concern us?

A little walk

On my way somewhere I met an old lady who was in her late 80s. I walked past her but she stopped me and asked me for directions to the high court. I gave her the directions and continued walking thinking somebody was accompanying her but she was alone. As I was heading to the same place, I offered to walk with her.



With a bent back she walked slowly and I realised my patience level had gone down. She had already walked a KM and another 600m with me. Though it wasn’t my business, I enquired the reason for her visit to the high Court. She told me that she was going there to get some documents and she told me that the case has been going on from 1971…which is a really long time. I also enquired why nobody was accompanying her, to which she replied “Everyone at home has gone to the office.” I wonder how busy we all have become that we don’t really have time for our parents.

As we almost reached the destination, she asked me if I would like to drink Sugarcane juice. I politely refused but she insisted I drink. I felt as if she wanted to pay me back for walking with her. I still refused and we continued walking to the destination.

We reached the High Court and unwillingly had to bid adieu to the old lady as I ran out of time. I was worried about leaving her alone but the police personnel there assured me that they would help her all the ways possible. With their assurance, I walked ahead thinking about the old lady’s dedication to visit the court frequently from 1971. I admire her fearlessness of walking alone in times where we people are even afraid of such thoughts.




Male-Gaze

While I was lost in the world of my thoughts, I happen to remember on of the poems I’ve read recently. The poem was ‘Stares’ (Choopulu) written by Jayaprabha.

The poem speaks about the male gaze and insecurity of a women under her own skin. Male gaze is not just a male looking at a women steadily but according to feminist theory it is a sexualized way of looking at
women.

Just like always I lowered my gaze whenever
I passed by and I was happy that I made a little but a huge contribution towards saving a women from male gaze. Everything was normal untill I passed by a group of girls. Like everytime I lowered my gaze and I overheard a girl from the group ask her friends if she looked ugly. To which her friends replied NO and instead praised her for looking pretty. When asked about the reason for her weird question. She noted that I, the male who had just passed by her, had turned away upon seeing her.

Well I nowhere intended to make her feel insecure but rather help everyone everyone feel secure from the so called ‘MALE GAZE.’

In conclusion I’m not advocating male gaze instead questioning if one should be bothered of another gazing or not gazing.

PS: Thoughts expressed are subjective… feel free to agree or disagree.