I place my opinions here in response to an article written by a renowned journalist commenting on a recent show SatyamevJayate. The author of the article, Mr. Pritish Nandy, believes that Mr. Aamir Khan unlike the journalists, only talks about the social issues rather than actually doing something about them. As the media force actually fights those evils, and creates an oppression for immediate actions, this show is a silent exhibition of sorrowful stories and grievous journeys of people who have suffered. Mr. Khan neither attempts to solve anything (since he brings out the problem, he is expected to solve it), nor does he take the front seat in starting some kind of a campaign and putting his life at risk. My one statement answer to this view of Mr. Nandy would be that he has either deliberately or foolishly, but completely misconstrued the idea underlying this show.
The heart and soul of SatyamevJayate lies in the idea of spreading mass awareness. It intends to bring out issues in front of people who are either oblivious of its existence in the same society they are living in, or they are ignorant of the gravity of those issues. Talking with people who have suffered is a way to bring about that awareness. And I never expected Mr. Aamir Khan to present himself as the intrepid savior of commons coming to our deliverance, trying to solve everything without us taking a single step. I never saw Mr. Khan as a leader of a revolutionary change, or looked up to him as a preacher of any kind. And I would never reckon him to take the bullet in his chest to bring about the change, as Mr. Nandy expects him to. This is because this show is not about Aamir Khan, it is about us.
Mr. Aamir Khan is the face of the show. People know him, like him, admire him, and so will be allured to watch the show. But when you watch it, do you think about Aamir Khan? Or do you think about the wrongs that are happening in our society? Do you wait for Mr. Khan to answer the questions for you, or do you actually contemplate it? This show tries to make you answer the questions yourself rather than someone else answering it for you. And I think that is the perfect start to finding a solution.
SatyamevJayate, unlike media campaigns or live discussions which have an offensive stance, is a serene yet steady demonstration of the social problems. Its sole purpose is to spread the knowledge to the masses for the sake of their information, security and improvement. The facts and statistics shown on the show are definitely in the circle of doubt, but that does not defeat the cause of propagating the idea of self-speculation.
I might also question the purely altruistic motives of Mr.Aamir Khan in making the show, but to quite a good extent, the motives are generous.
The article by Mr. Pritish Nandy is no less than a shoddy ruse of misrepresenting the good interests of the show. And there are people who vilify the purpose of the show and revile the host in the name of religion. I found blogs posting preposterous comments on the misuse of money for religious purposes and talking tripe about the religious differences. I wonder and also pity this parochial view of an Indian citizen by another Indian, who considers India to be rightful possession of a particular denomination. I am optimistic of such people being no more than a few grains of sand in a desert.
The article by Mr. Pritish Nandy is no less than a shoddy ruse of misrepresenting the good interests of the show. And there are people who vilify the purpose of the show and revile the host in the name of religion. I found blogs posting preposterous comments on the misuse of money for religious purposes and talking tripe about the religious differences. I wonder and also pity this parochial view of an Indian citizen by another Indian, who considers India to be rightful possession of a particular denomination. I am optimistic of such people being no more than a few grains of sand in a desert.
I believe that every change, small or big, is self-induced. A second person may at most motivate you, but cannot bring about the change unless you want it. Answers to all questions lie within ourselves. We just need to ask that question to ourselves and not to others.
Pritish Nandy's blog link: http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/extraordinaryissue/entry/does-satyamev-jayate-work
Hi vinny,
जवाब देंहटाएंI agree with u totally. I gave a similar response to friends who quoted this as aamir's publicity stunt. Now, lets have a look at all the journalists, who have done so much service to the society by writing about issues. How many journalists have actually taken one step forwards for the issues they have written? If I or some common man hosts s show like this, am sure no one except the director and hosts will watch it. Aamir, despite whatever the true intentions, have taken a bold and important step in at least willingness to get into the problem. We are not looking for his solution, and i stronly doubt whether he is capable of a solution :). but he just opens the eyes of society blinded by daily needs and greeds, which in their pace to grow forgets to take the slow movers with them.
Hari
Kudos Vinny for choosing to write this rebuttal to Mr. Nandy who has probably gone blind, maybe by force or by choice. While, you are right in pointing out that Aamir was not supposed to become the champion of all the causes which he brings out in his show, on the other hand his show has had quite an overwhelming impact, direct or indirect in bringing about changes in the right direction. If anyone might care to glance at their well maintained website, they clearly discuss the impacts of the show in there. In some of them Mr. Khan is involved directly. He was invited to the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Healthcare where he urged the Government to take measures to make generic named drugs publicly available. He requested the Maharashtra State Government to take action and it has already. The Lok Sabha has passed the child protection bill, schools have organised workshops to make children more aware about sexual abuse. Licences of incompetent doctors and ill meaning health centers have been cancelled. The alcoholic rehabilitation and child abuse help NGOs have much more on their plate than ever before. I can go on, but I think I have made my point. If only Mr. Nandy had not chosen to suddenly appear stupid in front of everyone! Keep up the good work Vinny. For details check out :
जवाब देंहटाएंhttp://www.satyamevjayate.in/impact/impact.php
I agree with you Sourav. The impact list on their website is the unfeigned proof of how the country is reacting. I am amazed to find how Mr. Nandy did not consider these repercussions. Also, on the website they mention about the donation trust as humanityhospital.org, but people trying to tarnish the purpose of the show claim the donation trust to be something other website. It is just a pity. But thanks for your comments!
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