Thinking like the simple people

When the British came to India, they found that the disciplined population of India is willingly working and contributing to the riches of the aristocracy. This was very inviting, they just had to take the position at the top like that of the rulers, and systematically absorb the wealth of the country.We cannot continue doing that to our own people.

Those who are educated can think about the inequalities that divide the people. In essential we cannot compare ourselves to the simple people who are condemned to uncertain existence.For that we have to put ourselves in that position. Capitalism, industrialisation along with liberalisation has brought prosperity to many Indians. But this is at the cost of the poor farmer, the simple worker and the hard working labourer. Their labour was not paid for completely. They were exploited at all places, as weavers, as farm labourer, as factory hands, as tailors, as cotton pickers, as matchbox makers, as bakers, as dairy producers, and so on. Those who exploited them became the new aristocracy. They just had to keep the arrangement going by buttering the political elite. And they had to devise ways to keep their position secure.

The divide between the worker and the rich is quite visible. Politics involved getting the votes of the poor. So came the need to pretend making "reforms" or schemes for the poor.The so called reforms that the political elite pretends to make do not reach the masses for whom it was intended for. The government is one giant dinosaur which eats up all the wealth of the nation by dividing it among the various dysfunctional departments.

The industrialists just took the position of the neo-aristocracy. Several of the educated Indians became bankers, charted accountants, lawyers and businessmen, while catering to the needs of the neo-aristocracy.The poor just keep on working their way to their own individual ends and have not reaped the benefits that industrialisation modernisation, and mass production has brought.

They just go on, living out their small lives with few cultural celebrations, few prayers to their gods and  finish off quickly. They do not have the time to think about what is really happening. They are really not aware and may be this lack of awareness makes their  life a little less painful.Belief that the elections and their leaders will bring development gives them sense of false hope. 

The simple Indians are happy Indians. May god give them happiness in their endeavour for betterment. 

These are the nine days of the "Navaratras" when the Indians pray, as they take "vrat" or religious abstinence from food.May God give them prosperity, lots of food and happiness.

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What to do about the price rise of fuel

Why is petrol very very costly now? The price rise was kept on hold till the assembly election were over( in the beginning of the month)So that people are not enraged and will vote against those caused the rise. The international price was $ 109 per barrel during Dec 2011 and it is $134 per barrel now. And government has been shielding us from the steep rise. It was introducing price rise in small steps(by making small increases time to time). But now that elections are over, government shows no mercy on the public. Rise in petrol will cause increase in all commodities as they are brought by vehicles which need fuel to operate. Transport to work will be very costly and will burden the average Indian. The poor Indian is pushed  to lower levels of impoverishment. The average Indian after paying for high petrol,will  live in smaller homes, wear fewer variety of clothes and cut down on essential food items. He will not be able to save enough to send his children to better schools, and never be able to buy his own home. This is the state that Indian government has condemned him to.

Government is controlling the price of diesel, so that farm equipment will be kept running. And kitchen fuels like LPG are kept low by cash subsidies to the retailer. When diesel prices are kept low, rich people take advantage of it, by using it for their big luxury cars which run on diesel, and hence the subsidy does not reach the actual poor farmers for whom it was meant for.

Now petrol will cost 5 Rupees per litre more but the oil corporation says that it should be 7.72 Rupees  or more than 9 Rupees. And individual oil companies will determine the rate after approval from their parent company. Competition between companies is not going to lower the price of petrol.Price will climb higher and  is not going to come down.World oil market is influenced by global politics-- stopping of oil exports from Iran.We are part of global economy and have to bear the price rise.

Government is coming up with a profit sharing contract for oil-exploration fields. And ‘oil blocks’ will be auctioned for it on competitive basis. Thirteen contracts with different firms for ‘oil blocks’ were made after the 9^th round of new oil-exploration policy. There is hope that we won’t have to import all of our oil when we will  have several of our own oil fields. Believing in these policies can be hazardous, Indian government might hike oil prices higher than it is available outside as it pleases.And the poor people are at their mercy.Bio-fuel made from marine algae has been invented by our scientists, its an organic resource for it  is created by sunlight capturing algae which can be grown in large scale.Till its mass produced,let us go for battery-powered cars or solar powered vehicles. We can start believing in pedal power of the good old bicycles— an eco friendly companion.May be a battery powered cycle will be used in future.

Why are we not doing well?

In the year 2005, coal blocks were allocated as a means of creating revenue for the country. And in 2010 legislative amendments were made, so that it can be carried out this year. But audit of the government has shown that deals were made in a wrong manner.

Whether it is allocation of resources like coal or making deals for the army and defence, Indians in prominent government positions do not care for the nation’s wealth. We Indians make committees and more offices to conceal the off-record deals. The confusion is purposely created hide the bribes. When there is enquiry, all act as if nothing had happened. When the deals are confirmed, then it is another excuse—“We had just heard of it”

Audit reports have revealed that 10.7  crores loss was due to non-transparent deals. Now the mediocre officers will start the ‘blame game’. “I did not do it” or “they did it” and so on. Coal blocks are our nation's wealth.What was in the mind of people in high positions, while giving it away? Mediocrity here rules supreme in the affairs of the government.

We Indians when working independently make good professionals, but while we work for the government, we loose all our senses on ‘what is right’ and ‘what is wrong’. It is as if nation’s wealth is their own resource to be utilised. Sense of public responsibility is totally absent while holding key positions. This sense is not taught in any colleges. Those who do not have this sense can stay away from government.

If mediocre persons implement policies and laws it negates our national progress.The result is that people ordinary innocent citizens are suffering. Do the people believe in their government? No. For the people the daily ordeal of survival occupies their all thinking ability, they do not have the energy to give thought to “what to do about the government”

Responsibility and honesty in working for the government will come automatically by proper education. Now, it is up to the educated elite to bring reforms in mindsets of government officials for making the future of India bright.

How poor are the poor

New values for the poverty line was defined. Anyone earning less than Rs.22 per day in rural India would be considered poor.Anyone earning less than Rs.28 in urban areas would be poor. This is a redefined as it was previously 32 for urban. Government's subsidy for the poor will be determined by values from the Socio-economic Census, and not based on poverty  lines redefined.But these definitions cannot describe poverty, as the cost of living is very high. It would be considered a way to decipher the economic realities.The reality that the Planning Commission is clearly out of touch with the plight of the poor.

The survey indicates that poverty has gone down. But this is a wrong interpretation.The percentage of poor in India has gone down. but the number of poor in India has increased.In the State of UP 73 million were poor in 2004-2005, and 73.7 million poor exited in 2009-2010.In the state of Bihar 49.3 million to 54.3 million and in New Delhi from 1.9million to 2.3 million. 

More men moved out of poverty than women; more in urban areas moved out of poverty than in rural India.In the bottom 15% of people with low per capita monthly expenditure have increased in numbers. That means that impoverishment has taken place,when one analyses the data.But improvement is visible, people live in better homes, have better meals and send children to school and so on.And the National Rural Employment Schemes have worked well. We have to analyse statistics in a better way.

The divide between the rich people and the poor people has widened.That is the richest 10% are much richer than the 10% of the poorest than ever before. Our policies to bring about equality has failed.

We have government which supports the very rich businessmen. The government wants the investments made by the rich to increase; and policies are made accordingly. The poor are under great pressure to earn their basic food just to survive. Can they do it? That is the every day test of an ordinary Indian.

Martyrdom remembered

Our country won freedom from foreign rule(British rule) after many years of struggle and after many many sacrifices. Great freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh, Rajaguru and Sukhdev were hung by the British. And today is observed as the day for these brave martyrs. In remembering these courageous freedom fighters, we are able the value our freedom.And we struggle to give citizenship rights to the people.And at every turning point we have more obstacles, and more challenges. With our daily struggle to survive and live with dignity, we are trying to hard make the future of India bright. 

We can feel the pain of sacrifice when we see the Tamils of Sri Lanka. Genocide and war crimes cannot be forgiven. We cannot always maintain normal ties with cruel people. Today there is live media which gives us a clear picture of what is going on there. We cannot close our eyes or act blind when we can see the reality. 

Out of genuine love for peace and for maintaining calm diplomatic relations in our region, we did not intervene. But now we have voted against Sri Lanka in United Nations which has noted the human rights violations there.Although we respect the sovereignty of another country, we cannot tolerate torture inflicted on the people and have to speak against the militant government there. 

May those who have died in the island always be forever remembered for they are victims of crimes that men have committed against men.May peace come to the island which resembles the shape of a tear drop in the Indian Ocean. May God bless the Tamils, so that that they get their promised land, and please God wipe away their tears. 

Whether we will have good weather

Today is observed as World Meteorological Day. We think that weather is an insignificant topic, but it is most relevant in shaping future India. And least attention is being given to this by the government. Global warming is affecting our country greatly--glaciers are melting very fast. Rainfall directly determines agricultural output of our county; whether we will have a bumper crop this year depends on weather. And cyclone predictions and warnings are needed to protect lives. And dissemination of weather information by radio, TV and mobiles are now most effective and thus most useful.

Today, there are only 12 centres where data is collected. And at least 55 centres are needed and provisions for this are going to be made by the central government. This is needed for monitoring and collection of data. And prediction of weather comes from analysis of this data. Many trends in climate change have been observed. Now we have more amount of rain than before during raining season; but rains are not distributed during the whole season; its lots of rain on few rainy days. That means we must store our rain water. If lots of rain falls and runs off the land, then we won’t have a good water table level to sustain us through the year.  We must conserve and store water for survival due to this change/trend. In future water wars may ensue when we might ask other countries for water, if we do not conserve now. Our glaciers from where the Ganges rises are melting at a greater pace and they will become dry soon, and then no more water! Then what? Increased use of automobiles and corresponding rise in temperatures will speed up glacier melt down.

Due to global warming, there are frequent thunder storms and cyclones. We can predict cyclones three days before they come and trace its formation seven days in advance.  We can warn our fishermen by radio on rough weather and send sms messages. And already 25,000 individuals are linked to receive such messages. Rainfall can be predicted 48 hours in advance and this is good news for farmers as they can cut their crops in advance and save it from rain. And correct prediction means a greater output.

Forests attract clouds. Deforestation means clouds carrying water will not give rain here and go to forested areas outside India. No rain means no rivers, no agriculture and so on. Conserving forests is the only way to make future India survive in this planet. For the Indian Civilisation to live,we must protect our environment and preserve our forests.

Future will be the result of the present

The various budgets and parliament sessions and government’s large bureaucracy have produced best educational environment and made possible making of largest number of engineers, doctors, teachers, lawyers, and entrepreneurs in the world. Because of this, we are the biggest success story as a nation. And where ever we go, we will always be Indians at heart.

We know that India’s resources cannot provide for all of us. So many many educated Indians have moved outside the country seeking jobs and pursuing careers. Many try to open more colleges in their homelands. Many seek to invest in India’s industries. Many wish to return to India for celebrating festivals and rejuvenate themselves. Many want India to develop further by making infrastructures. And the Indian government is trying to make this possible by new investment policies.

Those of us who did not leave our mother land are extremely concerned about the future of India. We know that the growth of Indian economy is being hampered by lack of political will. And we are worried about inappropriate policies in India. We ourselves have no self-confidence that India will do well. We must gather more spiritual strength within us and act with sense of purpose and believe  that we will do well in future India.

Developing agriculture with industrial mode of production will yield great results. Government should spend only as much as we need to make us self-sufficient and have food security.  Use of machines in agricultural process and storage of agricultural produce are very important. Processing industries should be established. Making industries and infrastructures must be our next aim. Market economy develops itself, provided the correct climate of growth.

Making of good quality colleges and professional institutions will ensure a good future of our citizens. But making livelihoods in India for the educated Indians is important; they will support the state. When dull citizens vote, they would choose the wrong leader; and the intelligent educated citizens will choose a good leader. And thus our democracy will thrive.
Uneven growth of wealth and lack good quality schools increases the number of crimes. Instead of spending on rehabilitation of criminals, a big police force and large jails, we can easily spend more on very good education systems now. More expenditure in effective schools will  mean less and lesser expenditure on future enforcement systems.

Fast Industrialisation will result in degradation of the environment--our water and air. Poisoning of air and water will lead to desertification. With poisoned land and water, where will we go? There is exploitation of the ordinary Indian whose labour is forms the pillar of the infrastructures of modern India. If care is not given to him, there will be no future labour resource.

When going for non-transparent means of land acquisition, the real owners are cheated of their land. They must be the main stakeholders of industries/infrastructures in that land. And the lack of education, sophistication and business acumen of the farmers should not be taken advantage of. When there is uneven growth of wealth and opportunities, the local people feel cheated. Vengeance takes root in criminal minds which start holding the state to ransom like Maoists who are now trying to threatening us.  

Good values for future India

India is a tourist’s haven. When people visit India, they are treated very well. Local people think “OK westerners are our guests and we must treat them well”. But when Westernised Indians live a luxurious life in India, they become victims of hatred of local semi-literate poor population. Deep seated resentment arises with growing anger and hostility side by side. These modern Indians have lavish life-styles which the local people cannot match with. When there is direct encounter of the local population with different kind of modern people, there is cultural conflict and a clash which needs mediators. Vandalism, bashing, robbery, kidnappings, gang-rape, and other crimes have become extremely common.The crimes are a refection of the people--rural India hitting back on westernized Indians.

We cannot just build big infrastructures and become world class citizens and a part of the post-modern world. We must have correct values appropriate to the times we live in.Along with rise of varied urban classes new values should be taught to all students of all schools/colleges, because these students will in future eliminate class differences and arrest rising crime rates.Social divide must be bridged by teaching children of today tolerance and peaceful living.

What is uneven development doing to the cities? They have incapacitated bottled up resentment that for they cannot be part of the glitter of today's ultra-modern world;this makes the men turn into savages and vent the inherent hostility. Carrying guns and riding motor cycles, they want to live out westernised life-style and play a role in the modern world. They have an insatiable desire to be part of modern India and they feel that it is beyond their immediate reach. Clashing cultures result in hostile encounters of parallel culture groups. Robbery and theft at gunpoint is a very frequent crime.Bashing party goers at night outside five-star hotels, vandalising their cars are their ways of expressing hatred. This is an expression of their helplessness to acquire modern social status symbols. Social distance will disappear with effective education. These local people can become part of the modern growth story when they educate themselves. They need not look at the educated with hatred and vengeance.

There is the rise of the urban neo cowboys. Emergence of neo rich who want to be part of the modern India an cannot fit in. The emergence of new dons of "gonda raj" in the sub-urban India has given us a lesson on future India. There is a sharp rise in the number of crimes against women at the national capital region of Delhi. This can be traced to existence of parallel set of rich classes of suburban Delhi. When it cannot deal with rising crime rates the administration tries to give excuses--women should dress more decently, women should return from work early(“safe” time is prescribed); it is required that women will be going to work with escorts or body guards. etc, etc. These are not the solutions. Medieval mindsets have got to go.Soon local panchayat will give”khap justice” to the crimes and honor killings will rise and then a "neo-medieval" society will arise. Clashes will continuously arise and police will have to intervene. There will be increased policing in future India.Law enforcement systems will be at the top of the state’s expenditure list in the years to come.Unless we inculcate the new generation with correct values sets and allow them to participate in India's growth story,we may have to allocate a large amount of our national budget on law enforcement system. The cost of that would be much much more than the cost of good educational institutions.

National Budget for this year is announced

The Finance Minister has presented the annual budget. We now know how the government is going to spend its revenue, how it is going to collect its revenue and what benefits we will be getting. Taxes for the citizen who are earning 2 lakhs per year is now reduced, and those earning upto 2.5 lakhs is 10%, and those earning more than 10lakhs is 20%. But service tax has been increased from 10% to 20% and this means that we have to pay more taxes than before. GST and DTC will soon be implemented. Indirect taxes are increased. But inflation will keep rising higher than expected and we cannot control the run away inflation by any measures. The ordinary average citizen will get hurt; the inflation is high and his purchasing power is diminished; and he gets no help. Deprived persons will be affected, and will get hurt.

National deficit is increasing; that is government is going to spend more that it earns. Subsidies that the government makes will be reduced. The farming sector will feel this. There is a standing committee to review the ‘decontrol of sugar’ but other plans for the sugar industry have been made. Cane harvesting machines will be subsidised while being imported; fertilisers will be delivered without middlemen benefiting from its subsidy. Micro watering facility will be funded and marginal farmers will be encouraged to make cane cooperatives.

Who will benefit? Aviation companies can now seek help from foreign firms as they have been allowed to. This will bring relief to them. Retrospective amendments on court rulings regarding corporate sector will disincentivize foreign firms from entering Indian market.

Many details have been charted out for water projects, rural infrastructure.  R&D in all sectors will be encouraged. There ever growing need for greater revenue.Where to cut down and what to cut down? Basic needs are too many and resources limited. We will be spending more than we are acquiring. Deficit will increase further with welfare schemes, which are to be implemented. Coal price will reduce when monopoly of CIL(Coal India Limited) is would be broken,soon. That is good news, as power will become cheaper.

Soon the stock market will react. We cannot please all. Budget will affect the family budget of all, that’s for sure. 

Success as a Nation depends on Cooperation

We,as individuals, work very well but we fail miserably when we work together in a formal group. Why? Individuals make the Nation but they work in the form of formal organisations. How we make new associations and organisations determines our success as a Nation. 
Human elements are involved in making of the office environment of formal organisations, not just the balanced equation of work and pay. Understanding of these elements will result in good output, efficiency and hence transparency in an organisation. The relentless frustration of repeated work and the fear of invigilation will be eliminated by the efficient functioning of the office. Smooth functioning can come only if there is increased training (in working together) and if there is better communication amongst the contract workers and the superior officers. If harmonious relationships are encouraged, the drudgery of the work load at the office will be reduced greatly.

Firstly, increased use of computers will lead to a near perfect efficiency. Technology up gradation--Office procedures(office automation) is urgently needed.Once automated computers will remove gaps in the coordinated efficiency of office work. As there are several varied roles and lack of consensus in correct behavior among office personnel;there should be reduced verbal instructions and increased formal communication using  emails/computers;this will result in better working environments. Formal industrial relation related codes must be incorporated for the proper functioning of an organisation. Organisational/office environment must comprise of new redefined roles as per latest modified policies. Changes in employment policies, coupled with improvement of sub-ordinate and super-ordinate relationships will make a far better office. Motivating the worker to perform well -- goal-setting and positive appraisals can improve the quality of work, and not verbal threats/abuses. Threats must be completely abolished.

Secondly, longevity of an efficient office/organisation depends on its stead-fast dedicated workers. For an organisation to last through time its workers will have to be treated well. It may be done through pay revisions or other incentives. Unjust dismissals or use of rough language or threats exercised by persons with power cannot motivate humble workers. Workers need dignity as well as proper pay for working efficiently. Unless there is optimum level of social justice in workplace, employees will resign and move on to other organisations. So a balance has to be struck in meeting out sense of justice at work place and a higher level of morale has to be established. Consensus between authority and egalitarian democracy of the office has to be evolved.And new office relations must be re-defined to make a favourable workforce at the organisation/office.

Thirdly, inequality rules our minds, and our obsession with hierarchy causes much tension. We always see each other standing in an imaginary "status staircase"; "I am superior so I won't work with him" attitude stops us from working together.In an average organisation there is multicultural environment and persons of varied backgrounds/classes are working together. There is much discrimination in behaviour patterns amongst the superiors with power and the workers (without power). Bias in formal roles blocks efficient functioning. Lack of consensus between social gains of ordinary workers individual gain of superior officers reveals great deal of inequality of statuses. This non-egalitarian mindset leads to a terribly frustrating organisational environment. Lack of environment of cooperation in joint work amongst the office staff causes much friction in formal office relations and hence inefficiency.

The peasant culture of the past era is reflected clearly in our formal organisations. Land lords had ruled supreme in the previous centuries, over riding the rights of the worker/labourer/landless farmer. Now ‘neo-zamindari mentality’ emerges as inequality in human relations become pronounced in formal organisation.  Unfair labour practises must be discarded (no threats,no shouting, no negative remarks,no verbal abuses). And mutually agreeable conditions of employment will have to be evolved and established. Criticising and humiliating remarks should be forbidden.Only when we learn to work on organisations with an egalitarian mindset,we could successfully attain goals cooperatively together. Only when we work well, we would truly arrive in the post-industrial era.Till then we would be held back from progressing and will be lagging behind other nations.We must work cooperatively and become successful as an organisation and and as a nation.

Women's Day is observed

International Women’s day was celebrated all over the world. In India women in main urban centres, who are educated, employed and belonging to the upper elite had celebrated with enthusiasm. It was celebrated in several ways like, by having a meeting to discuss issues, or by going on outings or by attending a party. Only the women belonging to upper socio-economic status are having access to higher education and jobs.  By and large the Indian women are defined by culture to occupy a subservient role of a home maker— a wife and a mother. But women with career get home support by relatives or servants, and enjoy comfortable lives.Educated parents, educate daughters and strive to make their daughters independent professionals.

Those women who are in the lower social strata are pushed to the extremes. They are forced to make a living in pathetic circumstances like that of a domestic servant or maid. And without education or career opportunities, they cannot survive with dignity. Those in rural India have even more difficult situations to face, doubled with poverty and traditional societal pressures, they have no redemption. There are gender specific issues like harassment at workplace, which are dealt with legally. People are not sensitised to the issues faced by the Indian women and the social realities in which they live in. CEDAW (Convention on Eliminations of all forms of Discrimination Against Working women) tries to solve problems of women. The judgement on the “Vishaka vs State of Rajasthan” case and the Sexual Harassment Bill of 2011, try to redress the problems faced by the working women. Many women who work in inferior positions are harassed by their bosses who are men. When complaining, women get transferred and the cost of displaced has to be borne by her. This discourages women from complaining. The domestic workers do not get protected under any law.
 In some educational institutions female students are molested, but it is not “workplace” technically and hence the law cannot be applied here. Men pass lewd remarks which are equivalent to intolerable social ostracism.There can be no law to protect them from such emotional hurts.Crime against women goes unreported for it gives a bad name to the women affected. 

The Indian culture inculcates the value that the role of men is important and that role of women as unimportant, and this leads potential parents to seek birth of sons and despise birth of daughters. When ultra sound technique (in gynecology) was introduced in India 25-30 years ago, it grew popularity for it meant that the female fetus can be terminated before it is born. Our male female ratio is skewed now, but female infanticide still continues despite legal abolishment. Thus rules can exist only on paper; the Indian society itself has to change for status of women to rise.But they do not solve the fact the Indian society dictates inferior status on the females.Many plans are made to empower the women.

Women’s rights are  human rights; and efforts are taken by the government to give them their rights. Women have to be represented by one third in the local panchayats (local political bodies) and this is working out well. Now the number of women representatives is 42% and more than the reserved 33% prescribed. But number of women in the parliament is still only 10%. Laws have been enacted which had redefined traditional culture.For example in Goa, it was declared that 50% of the family property will be given to wife at the time of marriage. This had changed the unstable nature of the households; women, with half of the rights over property and money, had managed the home better and made sure that the health and wealth of the family increased.The stability of the Goan home/household was now strengthened.The law of inheritance gives daughters equal rights in property rights of parent, but the traditional culture is observed and daughters do not ask for property rights. 

This year in the last elections held, more women had voted than men; this reveals that there is increased political awareness amongst Indian  women. Given the chance, Indian women excel in their social roles, in the political sphere and in being committed workers.In future they will ask for the rights guaranteed and given to them.

Election Results-Voting patterns while Exercising our rights

Voting patterns can be easily traced by the results of the elections which has come out just now. The results were declared where the elections were held : in the state of Punjab, the state of Uttar Pradesh, state of Goa, the state of Uttrakhand and the state of Manipur.Results reveal that the Indian people want young politicians who can deliver results; they want those who can empathise with them on  the sad state of economy.They want new ideas and progress from newer technology; promise of laptops and tablets for the students appealed to all voters. More women had voted than ever before, they are totally aware of what is going on and want to exercise their voting rights to select the best. Although dynastic rule was admonished,father-son duo was most preferred as the patriarchal traditions were honoured. Promise of  transparent and honest government was appreciated.Persons of simple origin were adored; and those who indulged in self-praise were not supported. Modest leaders were voted to power.Those who promised crime free country were highly praised. 
Thus we can note that the people have matured and have voted with logic and insight; caste,religion or regional politics did not have any role this election.Only admirable personalities who had promised progress were elected. The media/T.V. channels had shaped personalities to a great extent.Those who had delayed "anti-corruption bill" were voted against decisively.People were not voting for party or symbols, but for good leaders.

Ordinarily, the role of media is to spread education and give the masses a view of the true state of affairs. Election time makes the media lock horns with the political aspirants. The fallacies of the conservative political élite stand exposed. Aspirants’ efforts to paint themselves to be plain people is futile as the media is ultra intelligent and shows the people the reality. ‘These are leaders who arise from the aristocracy’ and ‘those who come from grass roots’ are vividly depicted. Even aspirants’ personalities are built by the media. Media has shaped the minds of the people in the last election. In India, media has thus redefined democracy in the making of new leaders.

Media can play a more important part of nation building in addition to election propaganda. Media should popularise the progresses made and not lament over the lapses of the government. Promote positivism and not depreciate achievements.