Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Urmila's Letter :: Tadpole or Chameleon


The position of journalism in a democracy is almost as powerful as a nuclear bomb; but not so.... for the journalists. Their position is precarious. After all, it is a job, a career for them; they wish to marry and maintain family-like other and not to be martyrs like freedom fighters.
But they need to act like that of a 'vocal hero' with a digital pen which is mightier than the sword' throughout the career- life: double role! A double-coloured balloon pumped with (questionable!) patriotism. In one hand they project themselves as a supporter of social welfare to cajole and coax the public sentiment. Because people are the King-maker in democracy; so the axis of journalists is tilted towards the mass . And Government also holds silent support to the social media to fuel the people's sentiment by criticizing government's act at random so that people,s steam of anger is vaporized by them through the 'rights' to express free opinions. Freedom to criticize the ruling party is a great catharsis for the people to keep the political atmosphere cool down. So media acts as a cooling conductor between the public and the ruling party to protect the government from unwanted rebel and fury of the mass.
So the status of journalists in a democratic state is to remain either as chameleons or tadpoles in water but near the land; tadpoles look like a school of small fish or baby snake; journalists need to please both: the public and government..Like tadpoles sometimes need to kiss the frog or snake or dive underwater like fish, depending on the situation. They need public support for their sustenance but for the survival?.. They need the favour of the ruling party; they encourage the thief to steal in one hand and warn the householder to be alert on the other hand. But never forget to maintain an under-current connection with the ruling power, the oxygen supplier.
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