Indian Space Odyssey
Sunday, June 24, 2007
"The Indian Space Odyssey" read the headline in one of the Indian newspapers.
"India stayed up to track Sunita's return" read another one.
It was reality television at its best. Packed with spine-chilling thrills, nerve-wrecking action and ending with an outburst of cheers and tears, Sunita Williams’ journey back to terra firma was watched with rapt attention throughout India. While some Indians performed pujas through the night, others tracked her return by the microsecond on the NASA website. Most, though, just chose to sit glued to their television sets.
"India stayed up to track Sunita's return" read another one.
It was reality television at its best. Packed with spine-chilling thrills, nerve-wrecking action and ending with an outburst of cheers and tears, Sunita Williams’ journey back to terra firma was watched with rapt attention throughout India. While some Indians performed pujas through the night, others tracked her return by the microsecond on the NASA website. Most, though, just chose to sit glued to their television sets.
How can one not think what this all about? Sigh!! Is there really something wrong or is it just me? Can our country [India] claim any role in the so called "Indian" space odyssey? The answer is simple - No. Why then do our folks act the way they do is beyond my comprehension. NASA has a right to take proud in whatever they have accomplished and so do the Americans. But these folks in the Indian media - are nothing but a bunch of jokers.
For one, she was born in Ohio and has an Indian origin because her father hails from India. But thats it. There's nothing wrong in making the Atlantis story a big deal, there's a way to do it. The reasons that our folks back home quote are quite stoopid. And then run SMS campaigns praying for the safe return back home of Sunita Williams. I personally don't have anything against the astronaut, she has achieved many milestones and has reached heights that other's haven't. The problem that I have is with the media and the people back in India. We do have more than enough pagans back home don't we? Why then do we spend energy and time for folks like Williams, Jindal etc.etc.
A quick check on the news aired in Slovenia reveals the difference. Afterall Sunita is a half Slovenian yeah? So a quick check revealed that they have other things going on. The top headlines were -
I only have two words to say "Shut Up". Make claims when ISRO sends folks on a space trip. Back them up and give them credit for what they have been doing. Support their effort and teach children back home the "facts" instead of making someone (who's not even looked back at India) an overnight hero.
For one, she was born in Ohio and has an Indian origin because her father hails from India. But thats it. There's nothing wrong in making the Atlantis story a big deal, there's a way to do it. The reasons that our folks back home quote are quite stoopid. And then run SMS campaigns praying for the safe return back home of Sunita Williams. I personally don't have anything against the astronaut, she has achieved many milestones and has reached heights that other's haven't. The problem that I have is with the media and the people back in India. We do have more than enough pagans back home don't we? Why then do we spend energy and time for folks like Williams, Jindal etc.etc.
A quick check on the news aired in Slovenia reveals the difference. Afterall Sunita is a half Slovenian yeah? So a quick check revealed that they have other things going on. The top headlines were -
- Slovenia Cracks down on smoking.
- Slovenian ambassador visits Bethlehem
I only have two words to say "Shut Up". Make claims when ISRO sends folks on a space trip. Back them up and give them credit for what they have been doing. Support their effort and teach children back home the "facts" instead of making someone (who's not even looked back at India) an overnight hero.
Labels: India, ISRO, Media, NASA, Space, US
Posted by Rajesh @ 10:50 AM; PERMALINK,
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See Both Sides Of The Story
Saturday, June 16, 2007
The timing couldn't have been better. My last post - "what a week" highlighted my displeasure towards news channels in US. All these years in the US I have been watching Fox News, CNN and some local news channels to get to know the news from different parts of the world. Here's how it looked -
- Their reach was limited to the War in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and Korea. Countries like Russia, India, Japan, Australia that existed when I was back in India were somehow off the charts the very moment I landed here.
- News channels aired scores and snippets not from International sports like Soccer, Cricket, Tennis but from Universal games like Football, Baseball and NBA - winners claiming themselves to be World Champions.
- Stories like Cat rescued by fire fighters, Tiger gives birth to a calf, Man sues laundromat for million bucks are prime time news and there's a panel discussing pros and cons of rescuing the cat.
- Biased opinions and the opaque curtains denied understanding what exactly occurs (occurred) after an incident.
- Witnessed accusations and verbal fights on evening news/interviews and most often the interviewee gave up while the interviewer made a fool out of himself in front of a million viewers.
- Someone who's a Smoker is a big big issue (in this country?) and if that person happens to be a Presidential Candidate - then FORGET ABOUT IT. They will rip him apart.
- Shows like O'Reilly Factor and The Situation Room try to add spice to a news that wouldn't appear even on Page 3 in other parts of the world.
Thanks to BBC World - they announced their entry to the States and that they would try to come up with the other side of the story. This would be great; at least one can get out of the monopoly prevalent out here.
I'm looking forward to it.
Labels: Asia, BBC, CNN, Fox, Media, News, US
Posted by Rajesh @ 2:32 PM; PERMALINK,
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