Death of Journalism

While reading today's news paper, there were quite a few articles over bomb blast accuses been arrested by the Police all over the first page and rest occupied with advertisements. Excited to read the details of these terrorist with the feeling of safety that they are at last in lock up, I moved to the next page, stories of flood, celebration of Rakhi, PAK firing at Northern Border, J&K situation - it was action packed sensational journey of news . It went on till i reached a crap page which I do not usually look for reading. A small caption in the top corner,

"Entertainment leads the way to Electrification of 100 Villages"

After going through small narration for it, I was taken aback and held on to think about the situation. I am not going to discuss who the celebrity was and what was the news all about but to give a feel of it, On a world tour of stage show, A big Celebrity decides to give out a few millions of rupees to a foundation called " The Energy Research Institute" to electrify some geographically challenged villages by solar energy.

Being in the cities where we know what to do when we feel heat, when we feel cold and how to get read of these discomfiting zones, we simply go to a scientifically proven wonder of an equipment which works on electricity, and switches it on. What a relief.!!

No-one would have ever imagined ,that an invention of Mr. Thomas Alva Edison, gonna be an integral part of our life. We use it every place but had never thought "Our life is cuddling ard these flowing electrons (Electricity) !!"

We hear, Prime minister fighting for nuclear deal for better future of India. We heard Chief Minister of Gujarat feeling proud to say we are surplus in our energy resources. Other states envy to the growth of Gujarat, thanking the industries powered without industrial power cuts. We know, Energy is essential for growth but opposition is more interested in toppling the Govt in Center. Who will go and say Mr. Prakash Karat that we may not get the benefit of nuclear power till 20 Yrs is correct, we have thermal efficiency for next 30 Yrs is also correct but dose it mean we should not go for nuclear deal until we are starved for growth on energy sources?? His American education has given up over the Marks Communism? Deal or No Deal , with or without US , Goal set for India should be, 100% electrification.

The media has never noticed, the news channel never covered but fact is there are villages where students study under the light of lantern. All of them would be eying up to get in the list of 100 villages, which are to be benefited out of the charity by " The Energy Research Institute"

No matter how the science has developed, the will to reach the smallest part of the India is still not there. If at all government manage to make up their mind to electrify all the parts, which I am sure they have, there are financial hurdles. Cost of reaching to thousands is in many millions. They are geographically placed in such a scattered way that its really difficult to reach to every inch of these villages. Best way to reach compared to conventional power distribution grid is Solar Energy. Subsidies being offered on solar equipments and there are steps taken by the respective state governments and Central Government but the. A few millions spent in the cause by a privately managed organization will help solving so many hurdles towards 100% electrification of India.

Electricity is still a dream for many Indians. Its hard to belive but there are thousands of villages still, which aren't electrified. Watching "Swadesh" will just take you through a rosy side of story where it ends up with a ray of hope to them. A scientist comes to his village in interiors of India and glows up the village by setting up a small hydro-power station. A sincere effort to change the situation, but has to say quite far from reality!!

So far, on account of No Electricity in many such villages, there are no industries to work in, there aren't nights with glowing bulbs to read famous authors, there are a few still unknown to Ekta kapoor's melodrama. Only source of income or I should say bread and butter is farming which is only dependent on irregular rain.

What do you do if you are to sit at home for a whole day without Power, You don't have books to read. You cant go out for work.....!! Scary hmm?? than lemme make it difficult, u have no food but family...!! You don't have phone to get in touch with the world!! Spending a day is so scary, they have been living for generation in this way.

It light with what you just read, you may be able to understand the sincere effort of this Gentleman who made this donation. A step taken by some1 who wants to payback for the love he gets from the politically portrayed "Aaam Aadmi" of India. Participating in the growth of India may be a dream of every nationalist but gesture to do it is lacking in quite a few of them.

Media which can cover sensational & breaking news which are hot cake on stalls, neither oblige their profession nor respected the gesture of a celebrity. Journalism has reached to such a stage that they gave three column article to a porn clip narration - details but could give only a small caption to the growth of India. I can bet , most would have preferred to read 3 columns of a cheap journalism than the news in a small caption. I am still happy, they gave some space to the news. A man, if he suffer to cold becomes front page news, could not manage a space for his gesture towards his nation.


Mr. Big B - Even You Can't provide Front Page space to a few 1000's Dream.

By Rikin Desai

Ahmedabad.