Role of Media in Times of Social Disharmony: by Yash Sinha



The world is changing faster than ever before and sole reason is because of the Human Civilization where civilization here means a Complex society characterized by urban development, social stratification imposed by a cultural elite, symbolic system of communication (such as writing system) and a perceived separation from domination over natural environment. Further, the definition of human society which is characterized by patterns of relationships between individuals that share a distinct culture or institution, is broad. As a result all arguments for its definition can be equally valid.

The beginning of 21st century has shown a dynamic phase of development affecting different countries and social group differently. These social development are in several numbers of ways; facilitating the individual in advance communication, travel, health care, education, migration and urbanization, technological reformation, etc. Although all human species live on our 7 different continents like in 195 different countries facing their own social, economic and political problems but they all are connected as one. This connection is in form of their developed communication or their integration in growth, trade and business, education system, lifestyle, cultural exchange, etc. which comes out from their own cultural-religious faith, their attainment of common objectives and agendas or for their believe of world harmony leading to equitable-sustainable growth and development for nation.

However, it was well said by Aylet Baron that, ‘leading from the edge brings us into contact with a far wider range of relationships, and in turn, this increases our potential for diversity in terms of thought, experience and background. Diversity leads to more disruptive thinking; foster change and better outcomes.’

Likewise, apart from the approaches of similarity, alignment or connection between all human beings the so-called social, economical, political problems namely gender discrimination, child marriage, domestic violence, poverty, wage discrimination, accurate policy making in respect to abortion, same sex marriage and many more issues create a huge wall between the opinion of individuals in accordance to their own needs and wants. These needs and wants are in favour of those selective group of entities but it creates invisible blockade which just stand on hopes, strict laws etc. They stand tall but cannot hold enough water in it so they works on distancing people far apart in every aspect of society which later cultivate hostility, discordance, or friction amongst themselves. These two groups where one believe in its favour and other is against further they the start to propagate their own conjecture and attend the power of multiplying themselves which lead to widen their gap of differences. Resulting into revolution and reformation in the society where only the group with dominant idea or beliefs survive crushing the other one. There outcome includes major changes in culture, economy and Socio-political institution usually in response to perceived overwhelming autocracy. Hence it can be said that a social revolution bring fundamental change by shifting of power in society. And a case in point is the fabled revolution of  France that was known as The French Revolution (1789–1799) which was mainly caused due to social inequality, financial crisis, rise of bourgeoisie, insufficient leadership of Louis XV and Louis XVI in France but after the end of the revolution the people of France were able to end the monarchy as King Louis XVI was executed which solved majority of their problems. In mist of structural and fundamental changes in the human society individual visualise the transformation of various platforms from its rock-bottom to its towering heights. These platforms provide grain ground to every entity who come in contact with it. One of the most effective and efficient platform of the current century is the MEDIA. The word media is the plural form of the Latin word ‘medium’ meaning ‘middle ground’ or ‘intermediate’. Here media is generally referred to the mass media which is specifically envisioned and designed to reach a very large audience such as population of a nation state.

In general sense, mass media refer to a diverse array of media technologies  that reach a large crowd via mass communication. In the late 20th century, mass media could have been classified into eight mass media industries: books, internet, magazines, movies, newspapers, radio, recordings, and television. Where as in early 21st century a new dimension to the communication technology was given by its digitalization; inventing the digital communication technology for the world to access. Now, media has become the fourth pillar of the society in democratic nations gaining great power as it is the best instrument for enlightening the minds of men. Malcolm X once stated that, ‘the media is the most powerful entity on the earth they have the power to make the innocent guilty and make guilty innocent and that's power event do not travel reports do and through this they are able to influence the mind the mass.’

In  correspondence to the social and communal harmony, the society use different ways and medium to strengthen themselves where media plays essential and potent role as in wide reach, effective delivery mechanism and ability to mobilize the public opinion. However, the positive assertive role of media is to alley the fear, hatred end-suspicion which is important in generation of communal harmony. It ensures inclusive growth on all fronts and for all sections of our society leading to communal harmony, national integration and peaceful co-existence. It fosters sense of belongingness and concerns for each other among masses as it can be easily be proclaimed in the rights of late 60s and violence of 80-81, the separatist movement of mid-80s and early 90s — the incident at Ayodhya, Mumbai and Gujarat where media enjoyed  utmost freedom of expression, and had played a great and vital role in moulding public opinion on correct lines in regard to the need of friendly and harmonious relationship between various communities and religious group and thus promoting national solidarity.

It is always stated that pen is mightier than the sword and in context to media which hold the enormous power to direct or to divert the channel of opinion of the individual and also have the capacity of conceptualizing the ideology in the human society. Hence, it is necessary to use the pen with restraint and circumspection so as to protect and to prevent the individuals from the claws of disharmony and discordance. So as to ensure this protection and prevention a heavy responsibility devolves on the author of given piece of news or article. The author has to be sure that not only his or her analysis is free from any personal bias, prejudice or notion but also that they should be based on verified, accurate and established facts. Other than the above actuality the author also have one more important responsibility that they should be sure about their piece of  news or article that it would not cause any disharmony or enmity  between caste, community, races or nations.

The role of media is a kind of peace maker in the current society as it spreads the message of peace and communal harmony. One of the most basic raw duty of media is to provide information to all individual through without any bias, prejudice or notion so as to leave the task of judgement of information in the hands of the individuals or the viewers in the society which help them to develop their own opinion that are generated on the ground of correct or true facts.

Lastly to summarise it can be mentioned that as Mark Twain has highlighted the role of media in information dissemination. He stated that, "There are only two forces that can carry light to all the corners of the globe ... the sun in the heavens and the Associated Press 'down here”. In the favour of the above statement it can be said that media helps in curbing anti-social activity, promotes justice and relief with rehabilitation. It also projects the ill effects of communalism so as to maintains and promotes national unity and communal harmony. It further help the society to promote the right values to their young ones. Task of development of human society do not belong to any one individual, group, community or platforms but it is shared among each one of them. And it can only be possible when each and every part of this human society contributes in its enhancement. However, media plays a crucial role in connecting individuals to individual binding each one of them in one chain no matter where or in what status they stay. Hence it can be said that media direct that all the channels of the country towards peace and harmony.

About Author-

My name is Yash Sinha, student of Fairfield Institute of Management of Technology. Topic of my article is ROLE OF MEDIA IN TIMES OF SOCIAL DISHARMONY. As we all know media is one of the most important pillar of a democracy hence it shoulders a major weight of peace and  harmony in the nation. Media have taken the world to a whole new level of advancement in for better communication, better technology etc. Though media is a kind of magic wand, the magic that comes out is some times positive and some times negative too which I have elaborated in my article!


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