MEDIA MANTRA by MRINAL CHATTERJEE: April 2018

Friday 27 April 2018

column (Hindi) | Satrangi Batein

Cartoon Watch, April 2018. Editor: Triambak Sharma

Column | Window Seat

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee

Vernacular Language Journalism

Vernacular language journalism, which began 38 years after the first English language newspaper was launched in India in 1780, has done this country a world of good. It has educated the masses on issues and concerns of the society. It has fought against the superstitions and evil social practices prevailing in the society. It has motivated common people to join freedom movement. It has improved the concerned language, brought the written-language closer to the common people. In some states like in Assam, Bengal and Odisha it has contributed to the growth and popularity of literature. And it has, to a large extent improved the political stock of the concerned language speaking people. It has played an important role in demanding separate state on linguistic basis like in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
However, with changing times, socio-political ethos, and growing competition in the media world in India, language journalism is facing certain grave existential challenges.
For several regions (social, political and economic), language Journalism is gradually veering towards regionalism. Competitive regionalism has the tendency to gravitate towards parochialism and ethnocentrism.
Ethnocentrism (William G. Sumner, famously known as America's first sociology professor coined the term) is the tendency to consider one's own culture or race to be superior over all others. Though it is present in little forms in every culture, history has shown us how it can have tragic consequences if not controlled. Ethnocentrism might seem similar to ethnic pride, which is having pride for your culture and values, but there is a very fine line separating the two. Unchecked ethnocentrism in neighbouring states and conflict of interest in sharing common resources (river water for example) might lead to skirmishes. If the vernacular language journalism looks only at the interest of the state in which it is published, overlooking the facts or the interest of the other state- then the situation will worsen that can seriously damage national integrity.

Nomophobia

A phobia is defined as an abnormal, irrational and extreme fear or something or a situation, despite knowing the fact that it is actually not dangerous or harmful.

But then a phobia is a phobia. No matter how much someone reassures you that the said thing isn’t going to harm you, you still run miles away from it. For example, people, mostly ladies often have phobias of cockroaches, flies, mice or lizards. I mean, what can a teeny-weeny cockroach do to you? Alternatively, some people have a phobia of height, flying, water or even bubbles (ebulliophobia) or butterflies (lepidopterophobia).

The latest phobia to join the growing number is called nomophobia (shortened from no mobile phobia) - the fear of the feelings of anxiety or distress that some people experience when not having their mobile phone with them or battery running out or even not getting wi-fi connection.

Researchers at Iowa State University, USA did a study to map the reasons of nomophobila through carefully constructed questionnaire. Analysis of these data led researchers to identify four components of nomophobia: (1) not being able to communicate with people, (2) losing connectedness in general, (3) not being able to access information, and (4) giving up on convenience. These represented reliably distinct concerns that all contributed to participants’ general distress over not having their mobile devices. (For details of the study, see https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/scientists-study-nomophobia-mdash-fear-of-being-without-a-mobile-phone/)

See how a device, which was invented less than 40 years ago, has begun to impact our lives.

Ayaram, Gayaram, Asharam

There used to a time when people used to give names to their children after Gods and Goddesses primarily for two reasons. One: they used to think that the kids would imbibe some qualities of the God or Goddess after whom he/she was named. Two: they would by default call out names of the God/Goddess and that would accord them some punya, which would help them take to heaven after the mortal life ended.

But the way persons named after Gods and Goddesses are conducting themselves, the first reason seemed to have ceased to exist. In recent past two self-declared gurus- Ram Rahim and Asharam have been put behind bars on henious charges.

I remember a line of a Hindi song which appeals to the audience Ram ke nam badnam na karo (Don’t sully the name of Ram).

Tailpiece: Age

Officer: Madam I need to complete this form... . What is your husband’s age, and what is your age?

Lady: When we got married my husband was 25 and I was only 18. Now he is 50 years old that is double. So... accordingly I am 36.

The officer is still calculating.

(Courtesy: Social Media)

***

Thursday 26 April 2018

Preview | Shakti, a Novel

SHAKTI, a Novel: An engrossing read on the whole

Original Odia: Mrinal ChatterjeeEnglish Translation: Nadeem KhanPublisher: TimePass, BhubaneswarPreview: Elisa Patnaik

The triumph of uprightness over evil, good over bad and honesty over corruption – always make for a fascinating story and effective engagement. This is the underlying theme of Shakti, a short novel by author Mrinal Chaterjee that weaves several smaller narratives to convey the absolute power of authority, greed, depravity verses honest rebellion, generosity and rectitude.

Release expected on second week of May, 2018

Though set in kingdom ruled by a vile king with his retinue of corrupt ministers and staff, Shakti could be the story of any modern day occurrence. The protagonist is Dr Biplap Roy, a brilliant and dedicated scientist, also an honest do-gooder who discovers a machine that traps sounds to convert it to sound energy. Coming from a poverty-stricken, humble background and haunted by the death of his mother, Dr Roy burns with a desire to create something help the poor. He fulfils his dream with his invention and a thrilled and jubilant, Dr. Roy wants to use his invention for the common good, for the underprivileged and for the development of his country. But His Highness, King Vikram Singh, the autocratic and despicable monarch of the nation and his step brother and minister Lalsaheb Duhshaasan Singh have other plans. What follows is a series of events at the behest of the King resulting in the arrest of the Scientist and a diktat to the citizens not to produce any sounds in order to usurp Dr Roy’s precious invention. Unable to endure the monarch’s cruel and despotic ways, the citizens rise in rebellion.

The novel is based on another thought-provoking premise, the need and promise of alternative and sustainable source of energy in a state where in the name of development, and modernisation, greed and exploitation takes over. The threat of an energy-deficient state in the future and the impact on the environment looms large. One also cannot help wondering the impact of such a discovery some day! The book also touches upon the long-standing inequality between the rich and the poor with the former almost always abusing and manipulating the latter to satisfy their ambitions and satiate their egos. Dig up the foundation of any big city in the world and one would find hundreds of thousands of these wretched people…

The novel is replete with interesting characters from the willy personal assistants to the near romantic interest of Dr. Roy. One can almost visualise Nidhiram Patnaik, Mr. Priyanath Pati and Sunanda from the way their characters have been knitted with their typical idiosyncrasies. Dr. Roy’s excitement over his creation and the outpourings of love towards it lend dashes of humour and so does the manners of the other personalities. The characters stand out for their detailed description and characterisation.

Shakti, that symbolises power, energy and potential is depicted in various forms throughout the novel. The author does a creditable job of keeping the pace of the story taut, tickling the reader’s curiosity.

Originally an Odiya novel, Shakti has been translated to English by Nadeem Nadeem Khan who accomplishes the difficult task of delicately balancing the language with the narration keeping the nuances intact. An engrossing read on the whole.

***

Elisa Patnaik, an Iimc Dhenkanal alumna and an avid reader presently works for Ernst and Young in Development Sector

27.4.18

Column | Jagate Thiba Jetedina

Samaja Saptahika 28 April-4 May, 2018

Cartoons on Asaram Bapu

Several cartoons in several languages have been published /posted across the country since the day Asaram Bapu.

Kanika Mishra, a Mumbai based young lady cartoonist won an international award (by Cartoonists Rights Network International -CRNI) for her cartoons on Asaram Bapu braving threats from his followers.

Here are some cartoons on Asaram Bapu

Cartoon by Chandrasekhar Hada

Cartoon by Satish Acharya

Add caption

Admission into Media Courses

For Details see: http://www.iimc.gov.in

Wednesday 25 April 2018

Column (Hindi) | Satrangi Batein

http://www.hindikunj.com/2018/04/timepass-kaise-karen.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+hindiWebsite%2FliteraryWebPatrika+%28हिन्दीकुंज%2CHindi+Website%2FLiterary+Web+Patrika%29

Posted on 25.4.18

Tuesday 24 April 2018

Book Cover | Shakti

Written originally in Odia. It has been translated by Nadeem Khan. Publisher: TimePass, Bhubaneswar.

Sunday 22 April 2018

Column | Window Seat

Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee

Public Relations

Search for the definition of Public relations (PR) on google and you will learn that PR is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics. It has its own dynamics and tools.

As a profession PR has been around for almost 100 years. While many believe that Edward Bernays invented PR profession in the 1920s, others point to Ivy Lee, who opened a “counselling office” in 1904. One of his first clients was the Pennsylvania Railroad.

In India the seeds of PR were sown in 1940s. The then British Government used the term ‘public relations’ for the first time, in 1945. House of TATA established a Public Relations division in their Bombay Head Office. That was the first PR department in the private sector.

PR as a profession evolved over time. The constructs of profession gradually took shape.

The First All India Public Relations Conference was organised in Delhi on 21 April 1968. The theme of the conference was ‘Professional Approach’. This was a very significant public relations meet in our country, when a professional approach was given to public relations (a change from publicity and information peddling through news media) besides adopting a Code of Ethics for PR profession. In fact that was the beginning of professional public relations in India. Since then this day is observed as National Public Relations Day.

Half a century later PR as a profession has travelled a long distance. It is now a recognised and respected profession that attract quite a number of students from elite institutions. Courses to reach PR have been iontroduced in many instituions and universities.

However, as perception mapping, managing and shaping has become easier, thanks to technology the profession of PR is facing a never-faced before challenge, which has an ethical underpinning.

Purpose of Journalism

My journalist friend Sandeep Sahu in his column raised questions about the objective and status of film journalism in Odisha. ((Read here: http://odishatv.in/…/why-no-one-heard-of-hello-arsi-before…/)

The context: A film made in Odisha titled 'Hello Arsi' recently won three National Awards. The film was hardly known in the State. The question Sandeep raised: was it not the duty of film journalists to inform the audience about this film? Was it not the duty of film journalism to highlight films with substance, films with aesthetic appeal, films that people should watch? At a time when most of the Odia films are 'cut-copy-paste' version of Telugu, Tamil and Kannada films, shouldn't Odia film journalism turn the attention of the viewers and the Industry towards an aesthetically pleasing and socially meaningful alternative?
Pertinent questions. Questions that make you stop and ponder over.
There could be rants and excuses, a barrage of blame-games and 'tu-tu.mein-mein', but the questions do stare at us.

And these questions are not only limited to film journalism in Odisha, not even to film journalism. It relate in general to the very purpose of journalism. Are present day Indian media becoming too personality and/or triviality-obsessed? Are media moving away from substance in the search of gloss? Are media moving away from the core issues concerning common people and becoming a circus of entertainers and/or platforms for advertisers or even worse ally of the high and mighty?

Build a Memorial

April 20^th was the 104^th birth anniversary of Gopinath Mohanty (1914-1991), one of the greatest Odia fiction writers after Fakir Mohan Senapati and definitely one of the best in the country to portray tribal life, culture and ethos. He was the winner of first ever Sahitya Academy Award for his novel Amrutara Santan and the first recipient of the Gnanpitha Award from Odisha for his epic novel, Manimatala.

As an Odisha Govt. administrative service officer he used to travel extensively in rural and tribal areas. He stayed for long time in Koraput, a tribal dominated district. It was here that he wrote many of his novels.

The house he used to live in Koraput- a Govt. one- still exists as a warehouse rented out to a private company.

Photo: Rashmiranjan Parida

Houses of legendary writers and artists should be preserved and memorials should be built there so that the posterity would know about their times and works. Celebrated Assamese writer Lakshminath Bezbaroa (1864-1938) used to live in Sambalpur, a Western Odisha town for a long time. His house was in a dilapidated condition. As the matter was reported in media Assam government took notice and requested Odisha government to preserve the house. Odisha Government took necessary steps and a memorial and cultural centre is being constructed there. Gopinath Mohanty’s house also should be preserved and made into a memorial.

It is our duty to preserve the past for two reasons: first so that future learns from the past; and second a sense of history is developed, which we sadly lack.

Tailpiece: Feeling

A Bank Manager goes to a restaurant with his family for dinner. The waiter comes and asks, what would you like to have Sir?

Bank Manager: What do you have?

Waiter: Vegetarian or Non-vegetarian?

Bank Manager: Non-Vegetarian.

Waiter: Chiken malai kofta, Chicken butter masala, Mutton Rogenjosh, Fish tikka…

Bank Manager: OK. Give us Chicken butter masala and Fish Tikka

Waiter: Nan or Kulcha or Rice, Sir?

Bank Manager: Butter nan.

Waiter: Water: regular or mineral?

Bank Manager: Mineral. And yes, Give us veg. malai kofa also.

Waiter: So Sir, your order stands- Nan, Chicken butter masala, Fish Tikka and Veg. Malai Kofta and Mineral Water…

Bank Manager: Yes. Fine. Get us the food quickly..

Waiter: But Sir, there is no food at our restaurant. Everything exhausted.

Bank Manager (Irritated): Then why were you wasting time in asking me so many questions?

Waiter: Sir I go every day to the ATM to withdraw cash. The machine asks me ten questions- pin number, savings or current account, amount to be withdrawn, etc. and then at last says: No Cash. Now can you understand how we feel at that time.

Bank Manager is in coma.

(Courtesy: Social Media)

***

The author is a journalist turned media academician. He lives in Central Odisha town Dhenkanal. He also writes fiction. English translation of his Odia novel Yamraj Number 5003 is being published shortly. mrinalchatterjee@ymail.com

22.4.18

This column is apublished every Sunday in Sikkim times, Gangtok and www.orissadiary.com