Of words and vibes

  Inclusion elevates all – Elaine Hall The India Inclusion Audit conducted by the Together magazine in the month of November-December 2022 throws new light on how diverse political views and ideas can lead to excluding behaviours in our society. 15% of the respondents felt that they have been excluded or sidelined because of their political stand which is based on the political ideology that they believe in. In the survey, exclusion due to political views and beliefs stands fourth right after religion (31.9%), gender (17.8%), economic class and language (both ranked at 16.7%). At the heart of every good democracy is the ability to discuss, agree, disagree , ‘agree to disagree’ and to dissent in a civilized manner. And at the heart of every elevating political discussion or conversation is the ability to have diverse views and engage with them effectively and inclusively. Without the co-existence of these two parameters, democracy as an institution falls short considerably. I...

Train journeys have always held a great fascination for me. The rhythmic sound of the moving train is music to my ears. I almost feel warm and snug as the gentle sway of the train lulls me to a state of calm and tranquillity. Of course, I love to stand on the platform and watch the meandering railway tracks beckoning me to places far away. And as a child I used to think that the engine driver had the coolest job in the world as the trains whizzed speedily ahead. I guess, I sometimes feel the same way even now, too! Since the pandemic hit us, my train journeys had been non-existent. And I missed them terribly. However, last week, I got an opportunity to embark on one such journey from Bengaluru to Madurai. And believe me, I couldn’t conceal my excitement. The moment I set foot on the station, I felt right at home as always. The familiar sights and sounds felt warm and inviting. People dragging heavy luggage, children squealing excitedly on seeing an approaching train, hawkers peddling...

I recently went on a short trip to a seaside town with a group of ladies, mostly middle-aged working women and it was indeed a trip to remember. We met at the railway station. Initially the conversations revolved around husbands stranded at home with zero-knowledge of cooking, much at the mercy of food delivery boys; and teenage kids who were more than happy to say good-bye to their hovering moms. The train arrived. We got on board and soon the clanging wheels got us excited about a lot of other things. We chattered on about being free from domestic responsibilities for two full-days and being on our own. The compartment was filled with silly jokes and senseless laughter as we got younger in years. My mind travelled to my college days and I was reminded of the educational trips I went with my friends. Yes.  We were teenagers, once more. As the night wore on, we realised we were teenagers only in terms of our endless giggles and jokes. We were given several upper berths for bed ...

 Recently, the Supreme Court came down heavily on Television channels for using ‘hate and all such spicy things’ to increase their ratings especially during their prime-time debates. Terming hate speech a ‘poison’ affecting the social fabric of the country, the Supreme Court asked, “Where is our nation headed to if hate speech is what we are feeding on?” Mainstream channels still hold sway and the role of the anchor becomes critical. Media must have freedom of expression but should know where to draw the line, the apex court added. The Supreme Court’s rap for Indian Television media comes at the heel of several controversial and often polarizing discussions that prime-time debates usually delve upon. These vitriolic debates often reach heated heights when communally or socially inflammatory issues are discussed with an eclectic ‘panel of experts’ who most often out-shout each other. Media traditionally is called as the fourth estate, the fourth pillar of democracy that is the w...