War and Peace!

One more day gone, one more opinion formed. What I experienced today was something completely unexpected and came as a shock to say the least. Gone are cold wars, what took place, was an outright battle. The only difference-it was one-sided. Throughout.

Yes, the people concerned know what I'm talking about. A class of 60 odd MEDIA students, 19-20 year olds, discussing political parties, film-making etiquette, concepts of humanity and how can we forget, the all time favourite- RELIGION. (And may I stress on the fact that people not involved from the very beginning of the process also had the audacity to speak about the particular issue.) Twisted opinions, sensitive issues and individualistic ideologies. It didn't paint a very pretty picture.

I've always believed in the concept of the experienced having more knowledge. But 'learning' as I realised today, knows no age. We had 87 year olds talking about a man who was apparently 'dangerous' just because he had the guts and the courage to showcase what was actually happening in the world, and more importantly our country. No, not to create prejudice, but just to tell it as it is.

First things first, when we talk about equality and fairness in terms of a debative issue. Both sides must have some kind of representation. In this case it wasn't so. Ego clashes are not an excuse. If you have such a strong opinion, have the courage to face your enemy and fight. Why show signs of cowardness and insecurity later? We are in this institution to study, agreed. But does that mean you stunt our knowledge about reality and stagnate the very stimulation to think and then rationalise accordingly?

Education teaches you limits, morals and ethics as well as all the 'right' things drawn out in the text books. But documentaries like the ones we recently saw tell you what exactly the super learned want to hide from you. If Anand P wished he could have brain washed all the people sitting in his audience right then and there, such is the power of that man. But he didn't. Unfortunately, he was still accused of doing so, time and again, by one and the same person. All he did was screen his work, answer certain questions related to them and leave. Not corrupt young minds. And why are we so scared of portraying the truth anyway? Hasn't that always been the aim of journalism if I'm not wrong? And that too, here we are talking about a film maker who has all the rights to put forth his views and opinions in his work. But on the contrary we had an experienced journalist speak about his religious inclinations.

If you feel strongly about a certain issue, say it. But do not attack the stand taken by another individual. For at the name of being unbiased and objective you are unconsciously taking sides. Tell others what you think, but use the appropriate approach to do so. Crying foul is not the solution. At least in this situation it didn't prove to be.

One hour of talk by a respected personality did what two days of exposure to reality couldn't do-spread immense hatred. With all due respect, we do know how to treat our elders, but I also do think that we are mature enough to distinguish the right from the wrong and form our own opinions as a result of productive thinking and not plain influence. I think it is high time that 'freedom of expression' is practised in the truest term and not given the name of 'terrorism'. If you really want us to learn and be called educated, please do not edit reality to your convenience. Show it all- let us decide.