WEEK for the weak

The road side stall didn't have much of a choice to pick from. I went for the better looking magazine 'THE WEEK'

Now WEEK is owned by one of the biggest media tycoons in India- Manorama Group. Based in Kerala they have spread their tentacles all over India. The media group as such has passed on the reins to younger generation of the family and they have diversified from print media to different other versions and businesses.

The Manorama family is Indian version of Murdoch, using sensationalism and masala to tickle the insensiblities of Indian people. Prior to gaining a pan national image, they played the communal card very well. It became a matter of pride for a true Christian to read Manorama. Christians being the most influential people in Kerala, they had no problems spreading out.

The matter that pains me is the extent to which these people discard the basic ethics of media to influence people's minds for vested political and corporate interests.

WEEK sounded the feel-good- publication for the government. They had good words for Rahul Gandhi. They praised the works of erstwhile royal Digvijay and his son! They even had good words for the way government dealt on terrorism.

Thankfully the left and the BJP is out of power in most of the places. WEEK has no scope to write any bitter write ups in coming few years

Rule of the fourth

The week so another cabinet minister quitting. Moreover we saw the great portrait called Karunanidhi lamenting the monstrous power of media. He and his party has become part of the media witch hunt.

The same teams who once distributed free Televisions, cable connections, Radio channels and threatened other media moghuls to sell their stake now fear the fourth estate. The king maker is merely a pauper now. Can’t help but reminiscence an old poem wondering at the amazing site of a King reduced to an alm seeker.

It’s not just case with India. The media moghul Murdoch, who specialized in exploiting the weak minded, is living up to see his most famous publication close down.

Look at poor Hazare. He was the modern day Gandhi, now we are too bored of him and prefer the clown, Ramdev.