So, I'm back after a while, with a promise to actually make 'cyber active' an active blog. Now that I am working, things have changed. There is lesser free time with added responsibilities. Today, I understand why people often said 'ye josh college ke dino tak rehta hai baad mein sab paise ke peeche bhaagte hain.' I won’t completely agree to this statement but definitely feel that we get succumbed to such situations.
Like most of you, I too was a wanderer in college, I too had ample amount of time with dreams to bring about a change. However, the one change that occurred in this process is that I’ve changed. Having had the opportunity to meet and interact with government officials, police personnel and our mantris, I am familiar with the typical laid back sarkari attitude. Don’t be mistaken by thinking this approach is confined only to these government run setups, but it is equally present in multinational and media homes.
Today, I am part of one of India's largest Media House but even here the attitude towards basic infrastructure remains callous. We are robots that operate from 11 to seven, say yes when the answer needs to be NO, sit without electricity and don't complaint, there are no bell boys to attend to your call but what to do? we're all trying to earn our bread and butter aren't we?
When in college, it is easy to say, I won't let anyone boss over me, I will not do corruption, I will bring about a change by contributing to the society. When a part of the corporate world, these statements change to yes sir! as you say, arre bhaiya dus rupey rakhlo par jaldi se wo kagaz le ao, Yeah, I want to do something but there is no time what to do? And ultimately you also turn into a corporate slave who in his/her free time sits down to indulge in drawing room politics that basically indicates yes, I want to do this, I want to do that, but it turns into all words and no play.
On a serious note, this blog post is pointless. It isn't informative, it isn't powerful, but it is a repetition from what every working man feels. The reason I am writing this down, is to make sure I tell myself that I'm becoming a part of this web. Now is the time to make it or break it, where no one wants to break it.
To be honest I am loving every bit of what I am doing. The writing, reading, traveling, the interactions and most importantly the opportunity to explore the human mind. It is fresh, exciting and different from the routine. I indulge in luxuries and get paid for it, but still somewhere in that corner remains a fire that hasn't fully been washed out. Yes, I still want to get into hard core political reporting, I still want to fight the system but what I want to and need to do most at this time is - explore my potential, learn from mistakes, work towards a goal that will sooner or later give me a platform to do what I wish.
Say yes where you would want to say no, not to please the hierarchy but to challenge yourself at doing what you would't want to, just don't sell yourself out there. Make sure you speak your mind (diplomatically that is) you present your ideas and make your mark because if you get a denial in return it wouldn't pinch when you know you tried. I am not trying to be a social reformer but telling myself and all those who read this that let's not forget our basic principles as journalists and as human beings.
There are thousands of Anna's out there who have noble intentions of doing something good for mankind, but there are also thousands of jaljeera's sitting to bomb our cities. In a situation like this we need to make our individual selves strong and aware of what is what. The government officials aren't the sole ones responsible for what's happening in our country but its also us citizens who are unaware and uninterested of what's around. I am not making a statement that quit your jobs or become so open at work place that you ultimately lose your jobs but think and act. Don't be a mere spectator or blindly follow a happy go lucky movie to follow your dream, but be practical, be confident that you can face yourself in the mirror, and do just one thing a day that would bring a smile on someone's face.
