The Inkstained Mind: Has India found its Tahrir Square?

7 Apr 2011

Has India found its Tahrir Square?

"So, is Jantar Mantar the new Tahrir Square?" asks columnist, G Vishnu at Tehelka.

Since social movements are good for ratings amd soundbytes, the mainstream media is on the bandwagon too. But this time they have the opportunity to make a real difference... It's the difference between playing "nation's conscience-keepers" and "corporate opportunists". Either way, I hope Anna Hazare's gesture will not degenrate into a frenzied media circus!

As an aside, there seems to be a close parallel with the exasperation against both corruption and politicians seen in Middle Eastern protest... If the parallel continues, the issues will not stop at cosmetic changes. I do hope someone within the GoI is thinking seriously of a systemic overhaul.

Perhaps it is time for an new (Indian or Eastern) paradigm for progress... The current one doesn't seem to be working too well.

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WHAT IS ADVERTISING?

It's often called the world's second oldest profession.

But while the scope of the oldest one has changed little over time, the evolution in the way we communicate has had profound impact on Advertising.

In the ancient and medieval world, Advertising meant word-of-mouth. In the 1500s with the development of printing it became a 'paid public notice', disseminating the message to many. And it had Copy & Art.

Then came radio, TV, computer, cable TV, Internet, mobile phones, Internet on mobile, and it's still not done... Even what we perceive as 'change' is changing. Continuously.

So what is Advertising today?

Honestly, I don't know.

But I do know from a dozen years evolving with the business, that Advertising is most valued when it can make a tangible difference for the advertiser.

That has not changed. And probably won't.

UPDATE: Nothing's changed. But in a way, everything has.

As you see, my focus has shifted - evolved in a way - to a larger canvas. The shift or evolution was gradual, and may be have been discernable to the more observant reader.

While I was delving into the influence of media in society to better understand how perceptions are created, evolved and disseminated, I chanced upon a thread of knowledge that I frankly never knew existed.

My conclusion is that a deep pool of awareness and consciouness exists beyond the shallow narcissistic boundaries created by the convention view of social media and the Internet.

My aim is to send my readers down any path that can lead to this quenching pool.