Indra’s Drishtikona (Viewpoint)

Between Gay Ruling and Economic Survey

Posted : July 3, 2009 at 5:52 pm [IST]

Sometimes I get totally perplexed rather shocked seeing the way media present the Next Generation. Today morning both the national newspapers had only two subjects for reporting-the historic gay ruling and the economic survey. As a man interested in the future of the country’s economy, I was trying to search the text of the survey placed by the new government and its new finance minister in the parliament yesterday on the websites of these newspapers or on the website of the finance ministry since last evening. I remember last year, I could read it in full. I didn’t succeed. But I couldn’t get anything more than the highlights of the survey. But surprisingly, the total of the High Court judgment on gay ruling was available on web.

The gay ruling has been the top news both on TV as well as newspapers at least in English ones. But the contents in the reporting made me infer that it’s because of the readers’ choice. I couldn’t understand the reason behind calling the judgment as ‘a step towards globalization’ and how ‘we’re really in the 21st century‘ with this ruling. As I went ahead into the newspaper, the headlines were varying. ‘Party on, as gay nightlife lights up’. ‘Gay Ho’ rents air at Jantar Mantar.’ ‘They joined hands, kissed and cried as weightlifted.’ And let me confess my vocabulary of English is pretty poor. I was getting confused with words such as ‘gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual and straight’. Is this enrichment and excitement necessary among the younger generation, well dressed men and women or so-called activists and the smart reporters from the media of different hues? Was the judgment so much a necessity to invite so many celebrities to go for their comments on it as well for crowding the court room and around? India becomes the 127th country to fall in line and so was the celebration.

While the religious leaders don’t consider it a part of God’s plan, political parties are hesitant with Congress posing as neutral, BJP split, but the left doesn’t wish to be left out this time. But the activists say, ‘Battle’s has been won, but the war has just begun.’ Some question, ‘Will Delhi HC order apply across India?’ And some columnist also dug out the history and the traditional linkages from the ages when the gayness was out in open and not a matter of guilt.’ And some predict Delhi to become gay capital. I did not know that gay count varies from 2% to 13% of population.

Was the issue of gayness so much of a national importance that the economic survey became less important for the media to cover? Why does this generation follow every movement that is Western or more specifically American, be it management practices or gay rights? Why can’t Indians remain Indians with its own oriental values? Why something that is very personal and private gets so much in out?

I feel bad as I expect next generation to work on and raise voices against many things more important for the nation. Do these movements and the celebration suit to a nation with malnutrition at 46% for the children under three years of age? Do these activists celebrating the ruling throughout the night know that 60 million of Indians might have slept without a meal? Will this ruling bring any happiness to the one-third of India’s adult population with a body mass index below 18.5, the cut-off for malnutrition, or will it any improve the conditions of about half the developing world’s low-body-weight babies of India?
A question at last:

Did our freedom fighters get us our independence to produce these activists and media men?

- Indra

Category: Religious/Social issues |