Role of television n print media in a democracy

Perhaps the most important privilege in a democratic country is the right to information, which is a monopoly of the privileged in a totalitarian rule. For the past few decades, television and print media have been the primary source of information for the common man. In a world which is increasingly influenced by ‘self projection’ instead of ‘self insight’, the importance of the way in which information is projected is immense. Assuming the world to live in subtle shades of ‘black and white’, a slight shift in focus, jumble of words, bending of facts may completely change the nature of perceived reality.

An intelligent use of media had brought Hitler to power by a majority vote. Misplaced facts in media had called for the whole Godhra episode. Right initiative by media brought unprecedented aid to the tsunami hit nations.

Like any power, depending on usage media can make or break the world. The choice lies with them to take initiative, use the power in a constructive manner, bring the right news, advertise all the aspects, black or white, and let the people choose. After all, they enjoy the privilege of the ability to change the past, present and future of the country.

To give real service, one needs to add something, which cannot be bought or measured like sincerity and integrity.

Do all the successful personalities have something in common? What was it that Mother Teresa has in common with Bill Gates or may be Gandhiji? Is it sincerity or honesty or integrity or acuity? Or is it something else, something that cannot be measured, something that leads to endeavor. Many people who have a perfect mix of qualities required for success fail to perform. It’s not because they lack the potential to do it, but they lack something else which cannot be embedded in a person by practice or by good upbringing. . It’s like a lifeless body with all its physical organs intact but unable to function because it has no soul.

The principle in industrial psychology says that a person with all the essential qualities required for a job will fail to perform if he lacks the identification with the goal and the confidence in its purpose. Essentially, that is what provides the soul to any work. All the successful people had believed in what they did, and why they did it for. Even Hitler with his inherent ideological problems was able to rise to that level of power, just because he had a cause which he passionately believed in. A painter with no financial support may still go on painting because he loves it and has confidence in his purpose. That has been the source of energy for all the real works and will always be required for it.

I am great; God may be great as well.

I’ve heard of him, but I’ve known myself. I’ve never met him, but I’ve lived with myself. I cannot control him, but I hold the power to control my actions. That’s why I believe before him, in myself.

The statements are not meant to challenge the authority of that ubiquitous presence but to question that unquestioning faith in his superiority. Just imagine what would have happened if man had left his life for him to look after. Probably we’d still be in the Stone Age. That’s why even the most die hard believers have said, “God also helps those who help themselves”. That means you have to win over your life before you wish for any luck. And you will have to win even over your bad lucks.

If you trust in your own abilities don’t be afraid of offending him by your lack of faith. Atheism didn’t stop China overtaking the believer’s economies. It’s because the people believed in their potential and decided to rely upon it rather than submitting themselves to an unknown, unproven force. He may be there or he may not be. But you are there with enormous energy waiting to be unleashed. And even if he’s the creator, then like a father who finds unselfish pleasure in watching his children learn to walk without his help, he too will be proud only if his creations can learn to unleash their potential and write their own destiny.

Asked which of his works would he select as his masterpiece, architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright at the age of 83 remarked, ‘my next one’.

Defying all the laws of nature that require objects to reach the state of minimum energy, human nature can at best be described as ‘insatiable’. It remains unobstructed by any of the hurdles; let it be time, energy, resources or age. This insatiable creative instinct can be explained to be the result of infinite potential of any work and relative nature of its achievement. Although people may create milestones, the possibilities of improvement remain infinite. Franklin may take the credit for discovering electricity but the potentials of electricity remain undiscovered.

Possibly, this is what keeps the world running -- the desire to be ‘Better than the best.’ To explore the unexplored, never to be tired and to be active until the only factor that limits human potential grabs you. And if the human race continues to progress at the same pace may be some day it’ll no longer need to worry about the biological constraints. That day every individual will be able to test the true limits of his creative potential.