‘Today’s media is diverting attention of people from issues’
| Date :07-Oct-2020 |
Rajendra Diwe addressing while Gaurishankar Bisen, Shivalika Verma, Pranay Shegaonkar look on.
Staff Reporter :
A webinar on ‘Role of Media in Nation Building’ was held on Sunday at Gayatri Shaktipeeth. Under the aegis of Akhil Vishwa Gayatri Pariwar (AWGP) Shantikunj Haridwar, Dev Sanskriti Vishwa Vidyalaya’s Department of Mass Communication and Gayatri Pariwar Nagpur the webinar was held on-line on zoom. The webinar was inaugurated at the hands of senior journalist Rajendra Diwe and senior member of Nagpur Gayatri Pariwar, Gajanan Patekar. Vishram Dhole, Assistant Professor, Department of Mass Communication, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune was the chief guest delivered a keynote address.
Dhole in his address expressed a concern over the present condition of print and electronic media. Once the media played a constructive role in nation building, today, the focus has been diverted to other issues. The person could witness the role of the media at the times of war or other outer threat to the country. But considering the responsibility, the media is not seen taking it as a nation builder, he added. Dhole discussed the historical approach about the nation as a whole. He said, there is a difference in nation and country. Country could be treated as a geo cultural unit while a nation is above all countries. Media is lacking its responsibility of maintaining harmony in each unit of nation.
The issue of influx of money, fake news, lack of understanding and biased thoughts have ruined the media, he added. Senior Journalist of ‘The Hitavada’, Rajendra Diwe explained the principles of understanding, honesty, responsibility and bravery preached by the Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya, founder of All World Gayatri Pariwar. Pandit Shriram Sharma lit the Akhand Jyoti in 1936, it is not just a magazine but it is continuously published about 90 years without any advertisement in it. The periodical Akhand Jyoti does not contain any byline of the writer of an article and no advertisement is seen. Still, the periodical is contributing to the nation's building.
Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya who was a freedom fighter and had a strong role in freedom struggle was a journalist of higher level. He set an example of writing over 3,200 books and periodicals like Akhand Jyoti, Pradnya Abhiyan etc about how a journalist could contribute to nation building. In this era of lack of communication, understanding and commercialisation of everything, the life of Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya is a lighthouse for the media, he added. Gaurishanka Bisen made introductory remarks and proposed a vote of thanks. Deepak Bidwai commented on the theme. Shivalika Verma from the Department of Mass Communication, Dev Sanskriti Vishwa Vidyalaya, Haridwar conducted the proceedings. Pranay Shegaonkar extended his technical support in organising the webinar.