I am not really the most up to date with current affairs. I try, I really do, but sometimes it just flies above my head, too fast for me to even blink and reach up to catch it. There is always something going on - scams, court cases, other stories we wish we didn't know. True, buried deep under all these are stories of success, happiness and pride - of students cracking exams, of people saving their neighbour's life, of senior citizens becoming socially involved.
I wasn't planning to write this piece. I didn't think I had much to say. I still don't but what I do have are a bunch of questions I would like to throw up. When a cell-addicted friend of mine said 'Soon, I'll just leave my phone in my room and walk away', I decided I would go ahead and ask them.
There is an 'exodus' underway in the country. Thousands of citizens originally from the North East are fleeing from the southern states because of threats issued against them. Without going into the details of who is threatening and why, let us look at what that has led to.
Earlier this year, the number of free SMSs we could send was limited to a hundred. The 101st text message will not get delivered. There was much protest and the number was raised to 200 with texts being charged after the 125th SMS but we let out a sigh of relief. Today, thanks to the fact that much of the hate messages were spread through text, I got word from my mobile operator this morning that "In support of the Government's decision and in the interest of National Security, we are immediately implementing the restriction on bulk SMS. You will be unable to send more than 5 SMS a day."
Next to no text messages. All free SMS websites have been blocked. Today's newspaper tells us some ministers are calling for temporary ban of social networking sites. What does this mean? Are all these measures tackling the symptom or the cause? Where are we headed as a country when such evident fractions remain, unable to live in co-operation if not in harmony? Is the power to communicate a fundamental right or a boon?
What does the future have in store for India? Do we want to know?
I wasn't planning to write this piece. I didn't think I had much to say. I still don't but what I do have are a bunch of questions I would like to throw up. When a cell-addicted friend of mine said 'Soon, I'll just leave my phone in my room and walk away', I decided I would go ahead and ask them.
There is an 'exodus' underway in the country. Thousands of citizens originally from the North East are fleeing from the southern states because of threats issued against them. Without going into the details of who is threatening and why, let us look at what that has led to.
Earlier this year, the number of free SMSs we could send was limited to a hundred. The 101st text message will not get delivered. There was much protest and the number was raised to 200 with texts being charged after the 125th SMS but we let out a sigh of relief. Today, thanks to the fact that much of the hate messages were spread through text, I got word from my mobile operator this morning that "In support of the Government's decision and in the interest of National Security, we are immediately implementing the restriction on bulk SMS. You will be unable to send more than 5 SMS a day."
Next to no text messages. All free SMS websites have been blocked. Today's newspaper tells us some ministers are calling for temporary ban of social networking sites. What does this mean? Are all these measures tackling the symptom or the cause? Where are we headed as a country when such evident fractions remain, unable to live in co-operation if not in harmony? Is the power to communicate a fundamental right or a boon?
What does the future have in store for India? Do we want to know?
Sadly, we just can't look at the power to communicate as a right or a boon, given the state of affairs. Irritated though I am, I kind of go with the Government on this move. Given that a fraction of our countrymen's safety is at stake, the Government's move to try and curb it is only justified.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right that the government is just killing of the symptoms without treating the disease. This is true for most governments. My experience in Russia is also bans and the use of law to solve such "problems". In the states they throw money - billions - at symptoms such as their flawed educational system but with no long term effect. In germany they sometimes keep people from doing things by making things so buaraucratic that nobody gets it anymore. The common reason i think is the 'apres moi la deluge' thinking style of most politicians. Why should they think and work hard to solve a problem long term if in four years or so at the new elections they get replaced again anyways?
ReplyDeleteThe second part is that as far as i know india is a firm supporter of the declaration of human rights but the new policy goes completely against it. Where is the freedom of expression? The right for use of internet? Access to uncensored data? India will have to face international. Criticism such as china and egypt for banning social media what is very harmful for a developing country. So lets hope they will not do it. I might be wrong on some points as i dont know exactly whats going on in india that caused this conflict but i believe that no matter what, certain rules and standarts as to how government should treat its people should always be upheld. Anyways, very nice article and questions Yash:)
ReplyDeleteRaja - It brings be back to a simple question. Has what they have done guaranteed the safety of our countrymen? People are still fleeing, there is still fear and the attitudes have not changed, right? Or have they?
ReplyDeleteJulia - I don't know if it is heartening or the opposite that the world shares the same problems. This particular case is caused by a conflict between one religious group and another ethnic community. There have been threats of murder and such and so, the mass exodus.
No state can guarantee the safety of its countrymen. It is just a utopian ideal, regardless of whether it is a superpower or a "developing" country. What governments can do at best is to mitigate contributing factors to a problem and hope they help. In this case, since SMS and social networking sites were proven to be part of the fuel for the mass internal displacement of our citizens based on ethnicity, it is only logical that a short-term restriction was imposed. I see no infringement of any fundamental right here.
ReplyDeletehere in Egypt (before the revolution and after to some extent ) they didn't care about treating the symptoms nor the problem itself, they are just protecting themselves from "the people that they - I mean politicians and men in power - are underestimating them "
ReplyDeleteAnd many problems here were made by the government or under it's supervision just to grab the people attention and concern and then no one asks about his rights (and that's what they want ) and then whatever you do , whether you used social media , or even protested , for them you are nothing and you will not do anything , so that's why they used to let the people talk on social media and their blogs just to say "we live in democratic country " which wasn't true of course just to face the criticism that julia was talking about ( and of course lots of bloggers and journalists was jailed , tortured ....)
and then when they found that those outlets ( social media ....) would threaten there stability and security , they banned everything even the mobile connections ( which prevented an injured protester from calling an ambulance that could have saved his life )
I hope that this would change , it's now better but of course not the best
And I talked too much and talked in many things may be not very related to the main topic :D but great job yasha :)
Hadeer, it is wonderful to hear how things work around the world! Thanks so much for telling us all about Egypt!
ReplyDelete