Conclaves, all the fashion now, are no brainstorming sessions as they consciously exclude the very people they discuss — the aam aadmi
Almost every leading newspaper and magazine in India these days seems to think it is necessary to organise an “intellectual” event. They call these events summits, conclaves or conferences. The organisers project these events so as to appear on the side of “thought” or “ideas,” as if seeking credibility and justification for their existence. But these gatherings are nowhere close to the brainstorming sessions they are cracked up to be. Basically, they are huge “talking” extravaganzas in which every participant is a performer before an audience, and like any other performer, craves its approval. To hand it to them, the performances are quite extraordinary, and those who anchor them are equally skilled in the art.
Speakers are drawn from politics, cricket, Bollywood and a variety of other arenas, not to forget the smattering of international personalities, without which no conclave is considered worth its salt. Of course the activist who is the flavour of the season has to be included and given a prime spot, so that the social-political-cultural spectrum is covered. We also need to bring in the gossip and romance, which is provided by at least one well-known Bollywood star. If his or her film is being released at the same time, it is only a coincidence. The audience consists of the usual suspects from politics, bureaucracy and media, with some socialites in tow; among them will be those who can ask intelligent questions, playing to the script, to bring out the best performance from the lead characters. Everyone looks serious. The clothes are appropriate. Nobody is overdressed such that the event is misconstrued as a social gathering. But everyone is still distinctive enough to be noticed. So what we have is a well-scripted film with abundant funding, which also exudes a sense of social responsibility.
Why are such events needed? This basic question must be answered to assess their efficacy. Presumably, the concept is to provide a platform where thoughts are expressed, initiated, exchanged and discussed, leading to some kind of ideation. If so, such events must leave us with perspectives that are incisive and important.
Question of integrity
But what are the speakers saying? Nothing new, nothing thought-provoking, nothing that changes your life, or even makes you think about life. It’s nothing. It’s just talk — yes, loaded with wit, drama, controversy and intrigue, but beyond that, nothing. Content, if it is present, is often lost; if there is one speaker who brings out an important issue and deals with it seriously, it is but an accident.
Let’s not forget that a lot of money is involved in these events. Why should we care so long as it is private money? But we should, as these are the same institutions that question the way public money is being spent. When such questions are being raised, every citizen has a right to question private practice too. Huge corporate houses back many such events and some speakers are chosen due to the financial support available for them, bringing into question even the basic integrity of such events. Are thoughts being manipulated? Are speakers succumbing to corporate pressure? These are serious ethical issues that need to be addressed.
I wonder why there cannot be a televised conclave with the same aam aadmi that the politicians, bureaucrats and media houses love to talk about. Perhaps they are not intelligent enough to add to or receive the wisdom that is being purveyed at these events. The aam aadmi seems to have only two roles: to make a noise about the issues that hurt him most and provide a foundation for a discourse at a summit by the chosen people; and, to cast a vote that gives the same people an opportunity to continue to be a part of the discourse.
This way we can conveniently forget the person on whom most of these discourses are based. But if anyone needs to speak and talk about real issues, it is this aam aadmi. I haven’t seen a single event — excluding award ceremonies or political events — organised by the power houses where the speakers as well as the audience consist of this section of society. Such a summit would not sell. Economics finally decides even the basic format of discourse. We need television to partner such events, but it won’t unless we have the same people who say the same things in the same way, and we consume exactly as we have, always.
Such events are thus no different from anything else that we consume. Those who expect something different from such platforms are bound to be disappointed. We need serious dialogue with serious people who will change the way we think. Conclaves must trigger change but that will not happen unless the intentions change. This will in turn influence the curation and quality of the engaged audience. At the same time we need to provide the farmer, carpenter, household help, clerk, craftsman — and everyone else we refer to as the aam aadmi — a national platform to speak. They should be speaking not just to the politician, bureaucrat and media but also to people like themselves, other aam aadmi. Only this can integrate society in the search for answers to our problems.
(T.M. Krishna is a Carnatic vocalist.)
Keywords: Media conclave, Indian media
these seminars,conference,conclave whatever they are called ...they are
just a way to promote one self and create personality. It some time give
3-4 novels old idiots right to express and influence us by what they
feel seating in cosy airconditioned rooms. Just a age of too much
commercialisation and sensalisation and an act of 'Intellectual
Mast...ation thats all.
Media Conclave and such events are the latest of the Isms - "Intellectualism" - It is supposed to give showmanship to the intellectual and an intellectual aura to the Showmen - But in reality it can only 'dumb' both of them fantastically well !!
vedapushpa@gmail.com
I appreciate your thoughts, I would like to bring to your notice that
the Tamil political weekly "Thuglak" conducts an anniversary conclave with aam aadmi ever since its inception in 1970. It is the only one of
its kind in the whole world where the readers/ aam admi questions the
editor on his position. Until few years ago, it used to be conducted in
different parts of tamil nadu.You were born and brought up and living in Chennai for 30+ years, I >presume that you should have known about this and mentioned about this in your article.
That would have been eye opener for the readers throughout india.
Dear Sir
When i came to read your piece, i thought my thoughts (and those of
numerous others like us) were put on paper.. i am glad that you could
bring this to the notice of others who understand what is "really"
going on and for those who would read this and then realize it after
watching such shows which to me are sheer waste of time and money.
time spent on these shows (hosting, participating or watching) better
be dedicated for something productive.
Thank you TMK, for writing about these rather showy kind of shows.
I recently attended a TEDx event, which is by and large meant to
encourage thought among the audience.
If only the organizers of the conclaves that you have written take a cue
from events such as TED. But then, to do so, they will require the
courage to think differently. Are they capable of that?
In USA, every leading news edition organizes conferences every year on
subjects of concern to the Industry, Economy and General public.These
are addressed by experts.The summary gets circulated to those who can
influence change. Corporates in the area of health care, auto,
Software etc. organize Industry specific conferences. The usefulness
of a conference depends on the Organizer and the subjects discussed.
It is the prerogative of the Companies to sponsor certain meets that
help in reaching out to a large section of their prospective
customers. No private organization will invest in anything which will
not fetch any return either in the short term (or) long term. To an
outsider, the benefits are not visible.India is changing fast.Even
Sports is a money spinning venture.Everything is 'for profit' only.
"Aam Admi" has to suffer when the nation of over 1 billion people is
in the process of changing to a Capitalist Economy from Socialism.
Mr. T.M. Krishna has proved that he is not just a superb singer, but also a superb
thinker! The invocation of "Aam Aadhmi" or "Common Man" is the best
diversionary tactic to rob the country of its riches, the citizen of their rights and
the workers in general of their livelihoods. We currently live in a country where the
serious thinking about people's basic needs are ceded to experts ( the more
corporate the better ) and real solutions that emanate from the people are given
short shrift. A shining example is the continued use of "manual scavenging" and its
constant denial. How can we move to be a global power when we have our heads
deeply buried in the sand? Kudos to Mr. Krishna for speaking out and for the
Hindu in publishing his thoughts!
I agree with Shri. Krishna. An additional point: Many of these conclaves are actually supported largely by Government Public Sector Undertakings (PSU). Many of the sponsors of one such recent conclave organized by a Delhi based newspaper, where an ex- Pakistani Dictator participated were such PSUs. How can one justify Government money being used for such purposes??
Hit the nail right on its head. Who are these guys kidding? In our country with fast paced headlines every "issue" that gets discussed gets washed out by the next useless headline which happens to be yet another useless diversion. And people have no memory or bother. Blah blah blah..all talking, no action. It's become a cultural malaise of ours. India went to the dogs about 20 yrs ago and now it's going to the pigs. It's phenomenal to see how tolerant aam aadmi is and has absolutely no backbone to stand up to anything. The colonial mindset seems to have robbed mental ability of a billion people for generations to come. And some still truly believe India is shining. Let's get real folks. We fit right into the
definition of "lowly/cheap" people by being alarmingly callous about our own future.
Nice article. The angst is understandable. Unfortunately for the few of us who feel the hypocrisy of such events hiding behind the garb of addressing the aam aadmi's concerns, there are thousands more who will gladly watch such programmes like dumb driven cattle. To them it is perhaps entertainment. For some it is a vicarious illusion that makes them think they care for the aam aadmi.
Society is unfortunately layered. With the haves at the top regularly using money, power, media, politicians and business to keep the have-nots where they always have been. And the media's role is to paper over the issues and present the spectacle, the story as it were, in an entertaining format to the unsuspecting (nay foolish) public. Leaving a very few behind, who don't really matter. Some write articles (and other activism) and try to make a difference. Most, stay away, take care of themselves, and do nothing more than make the occasional comment like I've done just now. Life (of Pi? of Lie?) goes on.
aam aadmi, still remains a tool for many. the public figures wants to say that, they are really involved the changes that happens in the society but not interested to involve the real depth of the issue or do not have the ability.
A very well articulated article about how the all those who pretend to be the caretakers of society are actually hypocrites.They have seemingly serious discussions on how to bring about a difference in the lives of aam admi but never care to know about how they feel and what they want.
Thanks Mr. Krishna for bringing this up....even Ramchandra Guha was
raising the same issue on TOI yesterday. I think media in general
is looking for the same set of famous politicians or the familiar
retired bureaucrats for stories and new wisdom thats simply not
there. The idea there is that if the person saying it is known
then what is said matters less, and guaranteed more eyeballs for
the story. Young and talented writers, students, intellectuals,
scientists, farmers etc. are seldom given their due here, except
for the ones who are known enough to sell a product.... of course
it takes more effort for the media to find real excellence and
hence the easy way out with the known! We surely are not a society
for/of real achievers but a society 'for' the 'famous'.
Looks like The Hindu newspaper is becoming the catalyst in the changing
of our society and its entire nature for the better. Publishing of this
article and various others indicates that. I agree with T.M.Krishna
about the emptiness of these events, but there is change -slow and
steady I believe.
A former UGC Chairman once remarked "Acquiring a Ph.D is a personal affair. How it influences the social development is what matters. Most doctorates do not help to solve social problems after acquiring the doctorate" Similarly what happens after an enclave, conference, symposium etc., is what is important. Most often allcelebrations end with a vote of thanks.
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