Eye & Ear Witness

We heard this phrase lot many times that "Change is only constant in life." Very true. Nothing is static. Everything is constantly moving, changing, running and going. Two things suddenly came in my mind and I got inspiration to write this article. One is News paper and second is Radio. These two products are kind of eyewitness (ear witness too) of 2-3 generation. News paper and radio both are not much old in terms of their invention and age. Both came in existence since 17th to 18th century. Officially News paper may be elder than radio as in initial period notices, king's order, displays, messages were used write down on cloth or different material to communicate. 

As time advanced our life style, culture, facilities, transportation, communication etc. also got advancement and became hi-tech. Today if we look back then we feel satisfied that we are in much better condition in terms of life standard. Human leap is huge - from telegraph to satellite phone, bullock cart to supersonic plane, cave to classic bungalow etc. I would say, it is from wandering to wondering change - BUT..........BUT...........BUT we can never imagined our life without news paper and radio.

The taste of fresh news paper in morning and listening songs on radio at late night has always maintained a different and unique position in everyone's life.

I have seen people who waits eagerly for new paper in early morning and the smile on their face when they hold it and open it. I consider it as inaugurating something great called - information box. These people do not like news paper if somebody else has read it first - because it has lost that freshness. Today more than 15 news channels are delivering live news that to 24 X 7 but none of the channel has won the news paper's position - Number one position. I personally prefer to read paper in morning instead of news channel. Let the news be of yesterday but there is something which channel does not contain. I believe news paper maintains the news values whereas channels just keep on bombard the same news again and again which finally lead us to boredom. No doubt that form, format, size and ethics of all news papers have also advanced with time and they do differ in so many aspects but ultimately they all are categorized under one umbrella - Print Media - A paper. The head line, the front page, the editorial page, city news, district news, state news, national news, international news, share market, investment fundas, letter to editors, quotes, advertisement, opinions, articles, sports, police diary and so many other things in just Rs. 3-5 (Approx.). Additionally one supplement almost every day and the taste and subject of this supplement also differs day to day. People wait for some specific day as because on that particular day supplement will of his liking. There are columnist of different subject and each author or writer or columnist has his/her own readership class. Reader's favorite writer, popular writer, famous writer etc. and all these stuff in one news paper. I think "wow effect" comes from this. Channels might be doing number of things behind the screen and before telecasting news but I don't think channel can serve this much variety to us. The basic difference what I feel is news paper has "READER" and channel has "VIEWER".  The habit of reading can not be replaced by your viewing efficiency or listening capacity. Reader prefers reading over viewing and listening. 

Second is radio. The journey of radio is also very interesting. In one line it has traveled from K.L. Saigal to Baba Saigal. From power based to wireless radio. From desk size to pocket size. Radio is a wonderful companion of everyone. Radio telecast almost everything touching to our routine life. It is like someone sitting in station is directly linked to everyone's life and airing programs of our choices. Bhajans, news in slow speed, news in different languages, agricultural guidance, debate, talk, play, songs, letters with messages, dedicated songs, advertisement etc. There was a time when television was not much familiar as well as affordable asset to people and cricket was the game interest. People used to sit at one place by holding small radio near to ear and other people used to sit around him. The importance of commentary was due to radio, now a days watching cricket mach is like watching a movie but at that time "isi ke sath char run" and "ye laga sixer" were famous phrases. People used to celebrate such explanation of match situation with noise. Recently Sunil Gavaskar stated that on each ball how can we bring novelty to explain cricket as now entire situation is visible to cricket lover. This was quite possible in radio era. Anyway this was just an example of radio importance but in current time radio has become companion at almost every place. Our car, public transport bus, public places like garden, railway station is having radio and we are getting entertainment every time. This has become possible only because of radio. Like TV, on radio also we have now different option available - different FM frequencies are at our service almost 24 hours. They keep on airing programs of our interests like songs, debates, opinions poles, games, movie review, quiz, informative news etc.

Personally I do not have anything against television but let the design of TV range from "idiot box" to "smart flat frame with internet" it will not affect the position of paper and radio in our life.