Free search engine submission Addurl.nu The Views Spectrum: August 2011

Friday, August 26, 2011

I Support Anna Hazare & YOU!!

In new age India where every citizen is busy for their own needs, wealth accumulation and power chase, have you ever pondered what drove this dhoti-clad 74-year-old ex army man to go on a self-inflicted starvation to clean India? The reason for his fight is corruption and the only weapon he has is his voice and the Lokpall Bill. In his crusade against ‘Corruption’, the big word that has almost become a part of our lives, he was joined by a crowd of people including noted reformist Swami Agnivesh, former IPS officer and activist Kiran Bedi and Magsaysay award winner Sandeep Pandey on one side, and the ‘Aam Janta’ consisting of young men and women; students, doctors, medical professionals, corporates, daily wage earners, labourers – every Indian who hopes for a better tomorrow. The follower of this modern-day Satyagraha Movement, as we coin it, is Young India.

                                    picture source: Milind Tashildar (picasa)
                                                     know more about the picture

74-year-old Hazare began his hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi after paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. "I will observe a fast unto death till the government agrees to form a joint committee comprising 50 per cent officials and the remaining citizens and intellectuals to draft the Jan Lokpal Bill," Hazare said at Rajghat. Hazare went ahead with his agitation despite the Prime Minister's Office expressing disagreement over his decision to go on a fast unto death.

As we see Anna in his struggle there are questions in our mind-Can our government blame a non-violent protest march by a common man as a ‘Threat to Country’s Peace’? Can Indian government call this protest unconstitutional? Is it because the movement is against the government itself? Should we, the common man of India be concerned against omnipresent corruption in the society and government machinery or is it time for a second war of Independence?

The day has come when the nation demands answers to the questions hovering in the minds of every Indian, so can a leader only answer them or can we seek solutions from people on the streets? As these unanswered issues give birth to a revolution I think it’s time when we realize that “We the people Of India” those mighty words on our Constitution has far more power than a corrupt political system.

I feel proud to witness this revolution. Anna Hazare is not a name, he is Gandhi incarnated. His movement is timeless and an example to live a life of selflessness. We know that pen is mightier than the sword and a genuine weapon for us who love to write; so why not express a voice against corruption and join a part of this great movement. Pen down your voice India!

About the Author-

Srirupa Ganguly is Editor, WinCentre, Financial Services Hub, Capgemini "India",Hyderabad. Having a distinct style of her own and wide experience in writing for quite a period of time, she is known for her insightful view on events.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Online Media As It Stands Today

Academics and professionals have already arrived at a consensus that Internet publication has acquired a journalistic status equal to that of print media, radio and television. Internet publications have also provided a fillip to the communication companies as they consider Internet as a strategic factor for their progress in future.


                                                picture source: Luis Assardo (picasa)
                                                      know more about the picture

Online journalism is relatively new in India but in the west it has taken deep roots. Web masters and content writers abound in the field of IT. Some of them make news from newspapers, magazine and websites in typical glossy formats while others operate as full news portals where the reporters write reports from the place of the event which is then edited and placed on the website. Presently in the west Internet journals have already mastered the web and started making their presence felt on the info-sub-highway. Many Internet journalists get support from the print media that put up their web sites on the Net. Some others depend upon print media, wire news services and the Net to gather news and information.

India woke up to the potentiality of cyber world quite late in 1995. To start with, Internet was accessible only in the four metro cities. Computer penetration was very low. However, penetration started to improve as the price of computers came down and private service providers embarked on the scene.

By 2007, India had an estimated base of 42 million Internet users, which was 3.6% of the world users. Although this base was far below the Internet users of USA, China, Japan or Germany, India ranked fifth in the list of top twenty countries using Internet.

Unlike conventional back lit flat panel displays, electronic paper displays reflect light like ordinary paper. Its technological edge is that it can hold static text and images indefinitely without using electric while providing the option to change images later.

In India, many reputed newspapers and magazines have already made foray into Internet. Some prominent examples are www.hindustantimes.com, www.timesofindia.com , www.frontline.com . On line journalism is a marriage of journalism and the Internet technology.

The newspapers did not invest much on the Web sites during the nineties, a decade marked by a steep rise in the number of Web pages. Online journals reformatted content from the newspapers and posted them on their website.

More than a third of active Internet users – 56 million adult – visited newspaper Web sites in May 2006, a 30 percent increase from the same period in 2005, according to Nielsen/Net Rating. These website users are predominantly young, better educated and active Internet users.

For newspaper website users, the printed newspaper is still the primary sources for local advertising but the newspaper websites beat TV, Radio and Yellow Pages as the next best source.

There are some disadvantages of online media. Eyestrain is a major problem followed by backache which breaks the back of the Net surfer. Internet Addition Disorder (IAD) can lead to restlessness, stress and depression. The Net has not reached most parts of the country. Its reach is not still at desired level. Currently the bandwidth of the country's ISP is less vis-à-vis those of foreign ISPs. This act as hindrance to the forward march of online media. However, despite the problems, the future looks bright.

About the Author

Priya Panda is student of Journalism and Mass Communication at Muralidhar Girl's College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Recapturing the community through team spirit

Over the past few months, messages about new local social groups and clubs have been popping up a lot on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. It’s part of a trend that has steadily been gaining steam over the past few years – the “meet up” craze, where people with a shared interest get together to socialise and chat, and participate in whatever their chosen hobby is. However, it looks like the craze has got legs, as the popularity of these groups shows no sign of waning. But what is the secret of their appeal?

In my opinion, the blueprint for these groups’ success comes from the original “meet up” group – the sports team. You know the ones, perhaps you have seen the rowing club or running group in their matching personalised hoodies. Obviously, these teams present a great opportunity for you to meet people with the same interest – and of course you often necessarily need at least a few people to play a lot of sports – but these would be unlikely to last if there wasn’t that “x-factor” that makes you choose to spend your spare time at that particular place, with those particular people.

The answer lies, I believe, in the sense of community and “belonging” that the group environment creates. Science tells us that human beings have an innate compulsion to socialise, and to be able to socialise with people who share our common interests (as opposed to say, people you work with, who you may or may not necessarily choose to spend your time with normally), is the happiest realisation of this need. In sports groups, whether it’s a swimming team, local cricket club or even a fantasy football league, you’re working towards a common goal, which fosters a real sense of community and team spirit – you feel part of something. Plus, there is often the opportunity further develop this camaraderie off-pitch, as most sports teams will socialise even once the game is over. You can take your common interest, and build it into a friendship.

Joining a team can be a daunting experience, especially if you’re a beginner. But it’s invariably worth it, as it’s a chance to learn new skills in an encouraging and supportive environment. With the vast amount of choice out there, it’s easy to find a team or group that will suit your skill level, so you can learn together. And aside from the obvious health benefits of doing sports, there is even evidence to suggest that there are additional health benefits of taking exercise with others. Research has found that social contact can help reduce the risk of cancer, improve mental health and even reduce blood pressure.

Taking part in a team or group, whether sports-related or not, allows us to build up those close-knit social bonds that in today’s fragmented world are so much harder to cultivate in the natural course of your day-to-day life. It’s a need we must nurture – so I think the group phenomenon is here to stay.

About the Author- 

This article was written by Louise from HoodieTee, a supplier of personalised hoodies for clubs, schools and sports groups.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Anna Stiffens Stand: The Nation Rallies

                        picture source: ramesh_lalwani (flickr)
                                                    know more about the picture
Anna Hazare, a representative of 120 crore Indian people, raised his voice against corruption in India so vociferously that even the Government is now shaken to the core. The huge support among masses made him stronger to exert pressure on Government of India to enact the Jan Lokpal Bill, a strong anti corruption act.

Kisan Baburao Hazare, renowned as Anna Hazare, has remarkably contributed to the development of a village in Maharashtra, Ralegan Siddhi. He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1992 by Government of India for his excellent effort to establish Ralegan Siddhi as a model village. 
 
On 5th April, 2011 he started ‘fast unto death’ at Jantar Mantar in Delhi for the enactment of Jan Lokpal Bill. The Bill speaks of a law to establish Lokpal with enough power to deal with corruption in public offices. Govt assured him of giving heed to most of the demands & the fast ended after 4 days. This activity got a nationwide support.

In 2011 Anna has become one of the most influential public personalities in India. The 73-year-old Gandhian initiated Satyagraha movement to move public opinion against corruption & to make government aware that we the ordinary people will no longer tolerate the corrupt system. He got support from many famous social activists, including Arvind Kejriwal, Medha Patkar, Kiran Bedi & so on. Thousands of people showed support to the movement on internet via social media like facebook, twitter etc. Online Signature Campaigns like ‘Avaaz’ got 6.5 lakh signatures in just 36 hours. Many celebrities also supported his protest.

On 16th August Anna Hazare planned a hunger strike in Jay Prakash Narain Park for stronger Lokpal Bill. However, he got arrested in his own residence in the morning when he refused to sign the bond under section 144. Govt did this to avoid media attention that the issue would get if it was done at the place of the agitation. Seven protestors including Kiran Bedi & Arvind Kejriwal were also sent to jail. Orders came for release of Anna after being remanded in 7-day judicial custody. Government had fears that if Anna spend 7 days in jail, public support will go in favor of him. But he refused to come out of Tihar Jail as he made it clear that he would come out only if he is given the permission to fast at J.P. Park, the original planned venue. Hundreds of people gathered outside the Jail in support of Hazare. Anna continued his fast in the jail. Till reports last flew in the fast is taking place in Tihar in place of J.P. Park to keep the movement alive.

A meeting was held by Congress Government in the centre to decide on a compromise formula to steer clear of the present situation. They also deliberated upon whether the Prime Minister makes a statement in Parliament on this issue. The Government arrived at a decision to give Anna the right to carry out his movement for seven to ten days at Ramlila Maidan & there will be no restriction on people who want to join in the fast. This decision, however, failed to make the situation better as Anna refused the compromise formula and wanted a fast for thirty days. He declared that he would not go for any consideration & he did not come out from jail till the time of publication of this article.

In evening his supporters did a candle march in protest of the Government's role at India Gate. Not only in Delhi, allover India people showed support for Anna’s movement through rally or candle march. In midst of all these happenings Anna suddenly fell sick in Tihar jail this evening & a team of doctors rushed for his treatment. 

Sickness has not deterred Anna Hazare from his movement to see a corruption free India. The awareness of ordinary citizens right is fast catching up with the nation. One can hope for better days in future with young people in India eager to follow in his footsteps.

About the Author

Shayani Gupta is student of Journalism & Mass Communication at Muralidhar Girls College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Taarif Karun Keya Ushki Jisne Tumhe Banaya, The Junglee star : No More

Shammi ji........ An entire life full of optimism and happy spirit, caring loving to all.......... Now suddenly silent.”- Amitabh Bachchan.
                                   picture source: Qamaal Mustafa Sikander photos (picasa)
                                                       know more about the picture
50 years ago who gave millions of Indians the famous word ‘Yahoo’ is no more. The veteran actor Shammi Kapoor , hailed as ‘Elvis Presley of India’ and whose famous yell ‘Chahe Koi Mujhe Jangli Kahe’ signified the arrival of a rebel star against the reigning trio of his time Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand and Dilip Kumar, passed away here on Sunday morning due to chronic renal failure.

Brother Raj Kapoor brought out the pathos of the masses, Dilip Kumar taught that tragedy is all ,Dev Anand made the believe in romance but it was Shammi Kapoor who hammered home the message that being sexy is fun. His style of dancing was compared to Elvis Presley’s. It was also action packed. He rolled , jumped and did everything, which heroes of his time would have never done or even thought of.

The true blue flower child of the 60s Shammi Kapoor was born as Shamsher Raj Kapoor on October 21, 1931 in Mumbai. His father was the great theatre and film doyen, Prithviraj Kapoor. Shammi Kapoor was the second of the three sons born to Prithviraj (the other two being Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor), both of whom were, like their father, successful Bollywood actors. Though born in Mumbai, he spent a major portion of his childhood in Kolkata as his father was involved with New Theatres. He did his Montessory and Kindergarten in Kolkata. After coming back to Mumbai he first went to St.Joseph’s Convent and then to Don Bosco School and after that he finished his schooling from New Era School at Hughes Road. He went on to study engineering before entering the world of cinema with Jeevan Jyoti in 1953. Shammi Kapoor had a short stint at Ruia College in Matunga Mumbai. After that he joined his father’s theatrical company ‘Prithvi Theatres’.

Shammi ji like his elder brother Raj Kapoor got involved in both theatre and films. In his younger days he was with a pencil moustache and lanky figure and used to look too much like Raj Kapoor. Hence in the initial years he got similar social dramas like Rail Ka Dibba with a very young Madhubala. He entered in cinema world in 1948 as a junior artist at a salary of Rs 150 per month. He stayed with ‘Prithvi Theatres’ for the next four years and collected his last pay check of Rs 300 in 1952.

Much like Amitabh Bachchan later, most of Shammi’s initial films turned out to be huge flops at the box office.Despite acting with the biggest of heroines like Madhubala,Nutan,Suraiya,he just didn’t click with the audience. And then came the makeover. Perhaps taking a cue from the men making waves in the west at that time,James Dean and the Beatles, Shammi shaved off his pencil moustache and shaped his hair in the famous ducktail style. Tunsa Nahin Dekha in 1957 finally worked wonders and the new Shammi , channelizing an easy, infections energy , besides the change in appearance was a hit. His rebellious image was further endorsed by hits like Dil Deke Dekho (1959) and Junglee (1961) which made him the definite challenger to the Dilip-Raj-Dev troika. Films like Dil tera Deewana(1962), Professor(1962), Rajkumar (1964) , Janwar (1965) and Teesri Manzil (1966) further added to his box office charisma. In Brahmachari(1968) he got his Film Fare Award for best actor playing a man who ran an orphanage for abandoned children.

In the 1970s, Kapoor’s weight problem proved an obstacle in his path of success and ended his career as a romantic hero. One of his last hits , in which he played the lead role, was Andaz(1971). With time, he moved to character roles and acted in films like Zameer, Hero and Vidhata. In 1974 he donned the hat of a director and made Makoranian. Two years later he made Bandalbaaz(1976). However, both the films failed to create magic at the box office. His last appearance as a character role was in the film Sandwich in 2006. Recently he decided to act with his great nephew Ranbir Kapoor in Imtiaz Ali’s next movie Rockstar.

Professional success was marred by personal tragedy as he lost the love of his life Geeta Bali to small pox in 1965. They had a son Aditya Raj Kapoor and a daughter Kanchan. After that Kapoor lost heart and reportedly took to alcohol and food for solace. In 1969, he married Neela Devi Gohil from the Royal Family of Bhavnagar in Gujarat.

Always a man of technology Shammi ji took to the Internet in a big way and become the founder and chairman of the Internet User Community of India. It helped to set up many more cyber organisations in India.

Kapoor was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital on 7th August 2011. He was suffering from chronic renal failure. His condition remained serious for next few days , kept under ventilator support. However, the actor passed away on 14th August 2011, 05:15 am at the age of 79.

We pray to Almighty to bless his soul.........

Ho Sake To Lout Ke Aana” 

About the Author

Priya Panda is student of Journalism and Mass Communication at Muralidhar Girl's College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

The Story Behind the London Riots

Anger Sparked by Tragic London Shooting

On Thursday, August 4th, a Scotland Yard police officer shot and killed a London man named Mark Duggan, 29, while attempting to arrest him. The officer indicated later that he fired under the belief that he and his fellow officers were in mortal danger.

An illegal firearm found at the scene is thought to have been in Duggan's possession and is still undergoing ballistics tests to determine if it was fired, although preliminary results suggest that the weapon was not used against the arresting officers.

The tragedy occurred in a neighborhood called Tottenham, a low income, ethnically diverse area in North London. As news of the shooting spread a sense of unrest and injustice grew among the area's residents, inflamed by the fact that a statement by law enforcement officials regarding the shooting was not immediately given.

Law Enforcement Overwhelmed by Rioters

Two days later on August 6th, an initially peaceful march of more than 200 London protesters angered by Duggan's death became ugly as members of the group turned against police with violence that included throwing missiles and setting cars and buildings around the neighborhood ablaze.

Outright looting began after midnight in the Tottenham Hale Retail Park, and law enforcement officers in the area were quickly overwhelmed by the large number of rioters. The violence spiraled out of control throughout the night, with vandals breaking glass storefronts, pillaging shops and burning empty shelves. Fires smoldering in emptied stores and in cars on the street kept fire crews working throughout the day.

Escalation of Anarchy

Over the next two days the riots escalated further, with looting and general lawlessness peaking in the wee hours of each morning. With London youths spurred on by a sense of anarchy, chaos quickly spread to neighborhoods around Tottenham and even outside of London. By August 9th, violence had been reported in nearly all boroughs of London, and a police station in the British city of Birmingham had been set on fire.

News statistics report more than 1,000 people arrested and five killed in connection with the week of rioting. To deal with the enormous number of detainees, London courts were forced to work through the night for several days in a row. The damage to already impoverished communities left London residents in a state of shock, afraid for their safety and personal property.

Motives of a Mob

The rapid spread of destruction perpetrated mostly by young, lower income London citizens has raised widespread speculation about the motives behind the turmoil. Many theories point to a combination of anger at the British government, a feeling of unimportance in society and pure opportunism as possible reasons that a mob mentality grew so quickly.

Recently enacted austerity measures, including sweeping cuts to public programs such as community youth centers for the poor have left many members of the British lower class feeling abandoned, with a growing fear for their futures in education and employment. This sentiment, coupled with a sense of restlessness at the lack of jobs and the public outcry against the police at the shooting of Mark Duggan could have created the perfect storm of emotion in which the riots began.

While the debate over the motives behind the London riots continues and politicians use the tragedy as a platform for their own agendas, the citizens of Tottenham and its outlying areas will quietly go about rebuilding their lives. Average citizens armed with household cleaning items have begun clearing the rubble from the streets, proving that dignity can prevail in the face of fear and anger.

About the Author-

Eric Johnson is a contributing writer at privatestudentloan.org .


Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.

Monday, August 15, 2011

India at 65

The clock turned twelve at midnight and one could clearly hear the crackers bursting. India's Independence became 65 years old. Like any other year celebrations were lined up seven days in advance for this special event. Patriotic songs were blaring from sound systems reminding us of the great heritage of the nation. Earlier in the evening as I moved past one of the pandals constructed for the purpose the portraits of our great freedom fighters caught my imagination. Suddenly I was feeling good about being an Indian. I basked in the glory of this new-found patriotism for some time before feeling somewhere something was wrong. I pondered over my new dilemma. How come till the last day I was not feeling in this way? Whats wrong with me?



                                         picture source: Munna Kumar (picasa)
                                                          know more about the picture

Well this dilemma is not unique in my case, most of my country men suffer from this dilemma. One day remember those who sacrificed their future for the nation and the next day its business as usual! Two days later these great portraits are just trivial decorative items which must be kept in oblivion. No one can be blamed for this also. The world that we leave in is too busy to get stuck on one issue. Time is money and time is of essence!!

Indian Independence was no doubt hard-fought but it is a pity that our present great leaders of the nation are working over time to make it look listless. In fact their present activities are just in contrary to what Mahatma Gandhi would have liked them to do. Corruption is eating the country from within, a fact acknowledged by the President of India also in her address to the nation. Questions abound on the way the administrative machinery of the country is functioning. Problem of over population and environmental decay are constant irritants.

However, it is not proper to be cynic about the country's present scenario. A growing thought that every machinery of the country has fallen apart is the result of the manner in which media portray issues. There are problems but there are emerging silver linings as well. The latest furor over the Lok Pal Issue is classic example of a nation which has started to come out of its comfort zone and taking stock of situations. People are increasingly becoming aware of their own rights and are fighting for it. The day is not far when truly it will be a people's democracy and not democracy at the mercy of the political leaders. It is also encouraging to see that voices are growing louder among sane politicians to stop the institutionalised graft that is plaguing the nation.


                           
                                       picture source: Ahmed Zubairi (picasa)
                                                       know more about the picture                        
Our armed forces are always a source of strength. On this 65th Independence Day we can celebrate because there are men of steel who are maintaining strict vigil over our borders. The internal security situation of the country is becoming complex by the day because of separatist forces and Naxalites who are posing constant threats. Pakistan and China continue to be hostile neighbours. India's defence preparedness is making international experts feel that it is on course to become a global military power. The forces are quickly modernising themselves to meet any challenges. If the experts are to be believed India will continue to assert itself as a regional power in the Indian Ocean. The country is developing strategic partnerships with different nations to bolster its modern military capabilities.

                                    picture source: U.S Army Alaska (flickr)
                                                     know more about the picture



                                picture source:  amorozy el-masry photos (picasa)              
                                                         know more about the picture

Great nations are not made in a day. Failures are part of the way forward. It is a fact that there are numerous issues which pull the nation backwards but it needs to be felt as well that many positive events also add to its strength. Presently it is a mixed bag of unfulfillment and fulfillment. Hope next time when the clock strikes 12 at midnight the country has gone few miles forward towards prosperity and happiness for all sections of the population.


Let Children Breathe


Children and innocence go hand in hand. When we utter the word children automatically sweet, cute, joyful nature and especially innocence comes to our mind.Children likes to play, they have all naughty tricks in their mind. They always wait for opportunities to try pranks on others but slowly it is fading away from our society.

                                    picture source: www.morguefile.com
When a baby rests peacefully in his mother’s arm, he is very innocent. That time he is free of corruption, torture, pressure (physical and mental), even it is said that he is in a heavenly world where he talks and plays with Almighty. As time passes he grows but keeping his angelic nature intact he tries to copy an elderly person who always stays in disguise. When they are kids they do not know from which religion, caste, creed, sect they belong to. But they know what they are, he or she, it is just restricted till there. Gradually they try to adopt the negative nature of the society knowingly or unknowingly. If one can keep the negative and positive tracks in parallel position then for them making a difference between the two would not be difficult. Everyone wants to be good human being but at times they are unable to fulfill it due to pressure or torture or any influence, they lose their own track and forget the differences.


                                       picture source: www.morguefile.com
When one goes into the world of education they forget the two tracks as described earlier. But then and now education system of our country is different. Previously women were not allowed to receive education but the present scenario is quite different. They are now no less than men in any field. Till 20th century the competition between the two candidates was not much high. In recent times competition is growing by the day. Due to huge transformation of competition children are losing their innocence at a very early age. Especially the parents want their own child to be a genius who knows everything in this world. But this is not exactly possible. Parents are creating pressure on their child to get high percentages in studies and besides that the child also needs to be a champion across a number of extra curricular activities. There is a reason behind creating physical and mental pressure which is employment. When India was under British rule they gave a larger shape to our education system and English became a very important language. Parents want their children to go to an English medium school as people think that if one cannot communicate in English the person is not literate enough. That is why young generation people tend to forget their own mother tongue. Still guardians send children to English mediums to have a better job. As India is a third world country the rate of employment is low. India not only has a high rate of seasonal unemployment but educated unemployment also prevails.

Parents are concerned with just one fact, their child needs to come first in every sphere. This is creating a mental torture or pressure on the young ones. They are not able to play or nurture their hobbies. This is spoiling their childhood and they become extra mature in a very primitive age losing their charming innocent nature. Teachers and parents tend to lose their temper and start torturing physically which is a burning issue today and the children go into the phase of depression. Looking back to the educational institutions, they are also creating a huge pressure on students. Teachers do partiality between students for which pupils suffer from inferiority complex. When they lose the limit of tolerance they attempt suicide. They want to be an escapist from the world of torture where no freedom exists. They become so much introvert that even mother cannot make out their evil intention. As many students do not have enough strength to commit suicide they become psychological patients. 

If this continues many talented people will fade away from our society. Directly or indirectly we the people will be responsible for their erosion.

About the Author

Nilika Banerjee is student of Journalism & Mass Communication at Rani Birla Girl's College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Reality of Reality Shows

What do we mean by the word reality? Reality means which is not imaginative.What ever we think is not real, but what we face in practical life is real. In this world of modernisation reality shows on television is very common phenomena. Nowadays when we hear the word ‘reality show’, one word strikes us i.e 'gambling with emotions'.

While we trace back to the History of television, hardly we find any kind of reality shows though from late 20th century reality shows came to existence. At that time literacy rate of India was much low, to increase the literacy rate national channels took initiative to start quiz show. After few years private channels started penetrating into mass media giving it a larger shape. They started reality shows as cultural events to involve the ordinary mass. Their aim was to relate the viewers’ interest with the show and to increase publicity (T.R.P) & presently reality shows are becoming most popular events of the T.V channels.

Coming to the modern trend reality show underwent an immense change. Though entertainment should be the sole motto of the later, now it has become a part of the commercial world. The original talent is getting suppressed due to money laundering. Reality shows have different categories: talent hunt shows (Saregamapa, Indian Idol, Indias’ Got Talent, Kaun Banega Crorpati, Dance India Dance, Just Dance, Dadagiri Unlimited, Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega, Bornvita Quiz Contest, Roadies, Fear Factor etc.) & Non-talent shows (Emotional Atyachar, Raaz Pichle Janam Ka, Sach Ka Samna, Splitsvilla, Dare To Date etc.). Talent hunt shows started with cultural sectors which were exclusive of winning amount, but now it is more materialistic. In the past these shows were judged by highly cultural people who were professionals & were impartial while judging. But now all reality shows are judged by ordinary people through audience poll. They give votes to a contestant they like even if they do not have enough knowledge on that particular field. Even while voting the difference in casts, creed, gender, regions work on the minds of people. Therefore, nowadays the judgement of real talent is becoming lame. Though the shows claim that the importance of audience poll is to let the common mass find their stars themselves, the real motto is to earn huge amount of money through s.m.s, emails, phone calls etc. Besides non-talent shows are more dangerous as those not only play with money, play with peoples’ emotions & even life. Non-talent shows are pure business. These are specially based on exciting gossip related matters which sometimes affects people very badly, acts upon minds. Besides sometimes it becomes mental & physical torture. But still these shows get huge popularity for its spicy stuff. Not only non-talent shows make people’s life miserable, talent hunt shows have their own drawbacks. Most of the participants of these shows suffer mentally when they do not succeed. They take it so seriously that it becomes ‘do or die’ situation for them. Some of them cannot bear the pressure of it & become sick either mentally or physically. When failure comes some of them even attempt suicide without a second thought. Reality shows affect children mostly as they think that it is the goal of their life. Parents are also responsible for this kind of mentality of the children. Their prime education is disturbed & sometimes they lose their self-confidence. Though reality shows bring us entertainment it takes much more from our life. Moreover reality shows are like an epidemic which is spreading its virus and affecting almost the whole of mankind.

Therefore an important question lies here, ‘Do we really need reality show?’ Actually we do not when we know that life is more important than entertainment. Still ordinary people always like to dream & when a platform like reality show exists, people will always take the risk to make their dreams come true & these shows will grow larger every day.

About the Author

Shayani Gupta is student of Journalism & Mass Communication at Muralidhar Girls College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Hands-Free Camera! Now On the Head Band

dreamhost discount code


Gadgets are so much a part of our lives that at times we forget what it would have been like without them. Of course we remember them when they break down or stop working.

It is now accepted universally that most of the customers like to buy modern gadgets. When one chooses gifts for near ones on birthday or some other special occasions latest gadgets first catch the imagination. Gadgets are of help to people of any age. It is hard to find a young man without modern gadgets like laptops, portable Mp3, Mp4 music players, iPods, iPad, e-readers, etc. All this modern gadgets become a symbol of belonging to an élite class, mainly for the students.

Now one can take part in the unforgettable moments of one’s life and capture them as well through newly invented hands-free camera worn on a headband.

The hands-free camera worn on a headband is smaller and sleeker than its early variants. It is easy to record the unexpected memories as they unfold while one is busy holding her infant son or erupting in cheers seeing her daughter's basketball game. If one attach one of these cameras to the snowboard, he or she can capture own efforts while racing down a mountain side or during other activities.

This hands-free camera has all the qualities for becoming popular in the business world as well as among journalists. The camera has the potential to revolutionise the world of journalism. It can help a journalist who wishes to perform a questionnaire or collect important information in a jiffy by aiding in taking some quick clips. The concerned journalist can do away with the need of a photographer because the hands-free camera does the job for him.

Government officials can use this camera to document their interactions, observations or actions taken and use them as evidences in time of need. This will put an end to a lot of speculations that rise with handling of situations on the part of the government officials.


This unique camera helps to capture the scenic beauty of a place while travelling even when both the hands are engaged on any other essential activity. An accident or an incident can also be recorded instantly while flying with the help of this camera.


The hands-free camera also has unique distinction of functioning as a blue tooth. This helps in answering a call while shooting a video.


New technologies are enriching the lives of human beings every day. The world of camera is fast evolving and this is the latest addition to the revolution. Hands-free camera worn on a head band is designed for the generation next.


About the Author-


Anwesha Guha Thakurta  is student of Journalism & Mass Communication at Muralidhar Girls College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.

The Riot and the News

Today’s newspapers carry a headline…three Asians were killed by a car in Birmingham, London. These three Asians were protecting their property in the riot-hit area. And that carries a message, a warning to the Asians. Do not dare try and protect your life, property and religion, or else. The riot-torn London is too numb to react. All the newspapers, agencies and the audio-visual media of the world are giving us the news and we get to know about the smoke, the cricket-commentary and the victory…In the room women come and go/ talking of Michelangelo….

Now we know there is a riot, looting and destruction of property and the creeping fear-psychosis in middle-class London. We know that the rioters are teenagers on a spree of destruction. What we do not know is who these teenagers are? WHITE or BROWN? Well, we have our surmises. But do we know them as facts? Is the news-machinery doing its part in letting us know what we should know? Now, there is another question that crops up here. Should we know? Does our Right to KNOW allow us to know what may be dangerous to the society?

The danger is already there. As we see. And there is no visible effort to contain the malicious elements. It is said that the police are afraid to violate the human rights of the violators. So, areas of London are already under fire. Without any aggravating circumstances. And the administration is trying to explain away the riot by citing the critical unemployment problem. It is a situation where all the colours are involved…White, Black and Brown. Where is the harm to know the truth in such a situation? Or there is harm? Harm of the exposure of the White London’s fear and hatred of the colour Brown?

So, basically, if we analyse the news-situation regarding the riot-scenario of London, the top-down approach of the first world and the world information order becomes quite clear. It’s not about the events. It’s about how the events are talked about. When any serious event concerns the so-called third world, the news-hunters are all for the right of fair comment and true reporting. Or what their idea is about the RIGHT TO INFORMATION. But when it comes to the backyard of the FIRST WORLD, lets sweep facts and questions under the carpet and serve the public with half-truths and lame-explanations.

About the Author

Anuja Bagchi is presently engaged as University Research Fellow at Department of Mass Communication, University of Burdwan. She has expertise both in the field of mass communication and law and has widely commented on a range of topics.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Trend of Online Jobs and Online Marketing: Can This Help the Economy?

Speculation abounds in the summer of 2011 about what will improve sluggish US economic growth and whether the country is bound to slip back into a recession. The other billion dollar question that looms large and unanswered by economists is: when will the economy start growing again? How technology factors into these questions is widely debated. Technology by definition is designed to allow companies and people to do more, with less. That is both the good news and the bad news.

Online Business Economic Impact Gets Mixed Reviews

Companies can conduct online marketing campaigns for about half of what they once spent to achieve the same results in print and on TV. Less manpower is required to run an online business. This is bad news for unemployed workers and brick and mortar operations. Some of the positive news to be considered when evaluating Internet business ventures is that companies are more likely to stay open 24/7 to service customers all over the globe. This factor could increase the payroll for companies seeking to do business internationally. Depending on which factors discussed have the greatest overall economic impact, the shift to doing business online could be a blessing or a deflationary economic disaster.

Internet as Savior

If the recent Global Information and Communications Technology Department of the World Bank and IFC global report is to be believed, then technology drives economic recovery. The report correlates high-speed Internet connections with economic growth. With 30 percent of the US population now using Smart Phones or Blackberries, the Internet is even more accessible for the privileged. Based on this trend, marketing executives are factoring in mobile advertising as an important part of a comprehensive marketing campaign.

The Internet opens rural markets, expanding the world marketplace dramatically. Company executives are approaching new markets internationally, no longer confined by the expense of reaching out to an overseas market. Rather than establish a physical presence in a foreign country, many companies are happy to perfect their Internet store as the best way to profit across borders.

A barrier to entry for marketing in other countries is the exchange rate. For companies who operate with a low profit margin, being versed in the nuances of exchange rate navigation is crucial for profitability. Many small companies hire experts in that field so they can successfully market overseas.

Google's Impact on the Online World

Many companies cry foul as they consider the impact that Google has on technology industries. Ironically, Microsoft is one of those companies claiming that Google is enjoying monopoly status, with no competitors to speak of. Most recently the country of France levied a claim that Google was a monopoly with an unfair market advantage.

About the Author-

This guest article was contributed by Jennifer Bell from Health Training Guide. Jennifer is a freelance  writer and mother of 2 based in Los Angeles, CA. Check out her site to learn more about psychologist training and other exciting health careers.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Cell Phone Makes Us Fill Complete


Whenever we talk about gadgets the first thing that comes in our mind is a small technological object called mobile phone. Mobile phones are considered to be cleverly designed than normal technological objects at the time of their invention.

Gadgets like cell phones are not just meant for entertainment they provide lot of help in our day to day life. The word gadget is more than we could think of. Gagdets have solved a number of problems for the physically disabled persons. No one can deny that gadgets have not only simplified our lives but also made them comfortable and luxurious.

                                          
                                                     picture source: www.morguefile.com

Today's communications would not be what it is without the contributions made by Richard H. Frenkiel and Joel S. Engel. The big breakthrough came when AT&T Labs researchers Frenkiel and Engel divided wireless communications into a series of cells and then automatically switched callers as they moved so that each cell could be reused. This led to the develop of cellular phones and made today’s mobile communications possible.

Present day development in communications would not have been possible without the contribution of H. Frenkiel and Joel S. Engel. They heralded the start of a new era by dividing wireless communications into a series of cells and then automatically switched callers as they moved in progression in a bid to reuse each cell. This made cellular phones possible and revolutionized modern mobile communications.


Undoubtedly, Mobile phones have become an urgent need for us. With rapid technical advancement, these devices come with various user friendly features. They keep the people in touch not only through calls or messages, but also through social networking sites like face-book, and twitter etc. Enabled with E-mail service, the latest mobiles can let the user to share information all over the globe in any form, from a friendly message to a business document. What has increased the potential of these wireless devices is the convergence of media forms like Internet, TV and radio into them. From Blue-tooth connectivity to GPRS, the latest mobile technology has shown a tremendous growth over the past few years. Integration of music player, video system and digital camera into mobile phones has made it possible to cut down on carrying multiple gadgets, serving all these purposes through one device. Video calling is one of the attractive features which set a mobile phone apart.

                                                 picture source: www.morguefile.com


It often happens that we sometimes go out but forget our cell phone at home and feel incomplete all day long. Deep inside we feel that our life is missing something, something which is so essential.

Cell phones are having a great influence in our lives and are very convenient to maintain. Cell phones are a faster and more effective way to transfer information. 


                                                   picture source: www.morguefile.com


Some people (especially teens) get so much addicted to cell phones for talking, video, messaging, games, etc that they forget the real purpose of the phone and waste large part of their time in unnecessary interaction over their cell phones. But nothing more than a cell phone comes to great help in times of emergency. A call from your cell phone can save your life and can also save the life of many in times of crisis. As we know everything has its advantages and disadvantages, so instead of keeping  the cell phone aside for its disadvantages we can simply ignore its bad effects and adopt its advantages which is beneficial for us.

About the Author-


Anwesha Guha Thakurta  is student of Journalism & Mass Communication at Muralidhar Girls College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

All Is Not Well With Modern Lifestyle

Hominids, the early humans understood only one thing, survival of the fittest. From the beginning of civilization humans came to know the difference between good and bad, started making coins and added value to products. Society made steady progress and tryst for a luxurious lifestyle made life complex.

Moving on to the new trend of life style humans want to live more luxuriously and lavishly. Due to this society is now divided into two classes. One class is getting or taking all the opportunities and the other is suffering. The word new trend means going to mall, five star hotels, spending nights in club etc. Going to malls or somewhere else and spending lots of money is fashionable. This mall culture came to our mind from British people itself. We the people of India try to copy all the western cultures forgetting about our own heritage. Whatever the western culture, good or bad, we try to adopt that. Due to globalisation this western tradition has occupied a pivotal position. In this new lifestyle everyone wants to live like a king which is not possible. If we go back a few centuries we will observe that this class division had its existence but the gap between them was narrow. With passage of time this gap has widened a lot creating tension between every societal group. This culture has a great impact on young generation of 21st century. They want to go to malls, expensive cafés, buy branded clothes and accessories etc. They take pride in saying that their clothes, shoes, ornaments, cars etc cost a fortune. They flaunt mainly to those people who do not have that much money to buy it and compare things with people who maintain the same standards. This kind of nature in a youngster results into poor friendship and the one who cannot compare himself or herself with the trend feel bad about his or her condition and get depressed. If these things tend to grow into one’s life he or she may even commit suicide or become psychological patient. Western culture has made people think materialistically. The economical differences between two groups are perpetually growing. There is increasing friction in almost all societal groups resulting in societal evolution. Society is changing round the clock.

 
We created money for our own use but now money is using us. Globalisation has caused money value to go down leading to inflation. Due to inflation cost of all goods are rising which is even more creating the gap .New lifestyle is better than previous times but forgetting our own culture and inheriting things western blindly is not good. Living standards of many people have increased but for the poor there is no help, they are living a life which is going on from bad to worse. They get suffocated by trends. People are simple and they want to live simple life but this western culture is making humans complex day by day. Nowadays people think money is everything, money is life and they tend to run after money sacrificing their life which is more important .Money is a paper note but its valuation is more than a human being. New lifestyle is awesome for those who have money but those who do not have it suffer the most. This lifestyle has turned humans into machines and nothing more than that. Globalisation, adaptation of western culture is the root cause for the economic disequilibrium between different groups.

About the Author

Nilika Banerjee is student of Journalism & Mass Communication at Rani Birla Girl's College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.

Virusasur Mardini-Mahalaya with a Difference

Mahalaya is round the corner and most of us are not feeling the vibe this time thanks to COVID-19! There is also an unusual wait of 35 days...