The Rise and Fall of Godman Nirmal Baba: Role of Electronic Media Vs Newspapers & Websites

Print Vs Electronic: One media Patronises, other Exposes

The meteoric rise of self-styled spiritual guru Nirmal Baba was seen with awe across the country.

Initially it was thought that he was just another new 'saint' on the block.

But, over a couple of months, his 'darbar' became quite popular. When the Baba's photograph started selling in shops and even on streets, people realised that he had also arrived and was to stay.

The live telecast on channels suggested that the programmes were sponsored. However, in a country where there is no dearth of believers, his 'simply and instant' solutions, like wearing a black bead or carrying a brown wallet, attracted viewers.

A person would tell his problem and the Baba would tell him, 'Feed the particular animal' or 'Buy jalebis and share it with entire family'. You might feel intrigued but people were not enjoying it, a huge audience had built up, that was watching these half-hour long durbars which were shown on several TV channels.

The legend of Nirmal Baba was growing, courtesy, News Channels. Media was a silent, proactive partner, and the empire was expanding fast. Baba is right that he had to get money because channels charged him for the air space. If Baba spread superstition, channels are surely to be blamed.

Suddenly, Baba's word seem to be crashing. Once a newspaper published a report, others took charge. A website began a series of articles running into nearly 50 parts. Other publications also targeted Baba. It seemed, rationalism was again the buzzword. Huh.

So one form of media was minting money, making itself available to be exploited. The print media, that didn't get advertisements, can claim to be responsible for 'exposing' the Godman.

To be fair, newspapers still have much more credibility, than TV channels, and this episode again shows why print is needed, even more, in this era. Though there is heat on Nirmaljeet Singh Narula alias Nirmal Baba, it is still early to count him out. Let's see how TV channels resist their love for moolah.

Dumb India: Spreading superstitions on India TV and other channels

I tuned in to India TV and a guy was telling 'what to do if a cat crosses your path'. Could you have imagined that 21st century India will be dumb enough to bear such nonsense.

Rajat Sharma's so-called News channel is not alone. Most other channels also have similar programmes. From Shani to palmistry and numerology guru, we have dozens of strange babas making a fool of Indian audience every day.

Is this the kind of media we need in today's world. And there is no criticism. No questioning. No accountability. It's outrageous. But the age of reason and rationalism has gone, it seems. All the news channels can go to any extent for the sake of TRPs.

At least, the good old newspapers never stooped so low for increasing thier circulation. Strange is the fact that our intellectuals and the so-called educated middle-class have lost its voice. It's sad and shameful.

Zee News 'discovers' Ravana's body, traces of Ram, Sita and Hanuman

The TRP ratings of Zee News was soaring on Monday as it discovered the cave on an 8,000 ft high hill in Sri Lanka where they claimed that Ravana's body was kept in a casket (taboot).

The 'investigative report' went ahead with discoveries like the burnt soil at Raigla because Lord Hanuman had set ablaze Lanka when his tail was burnt. The channel's reporters also reached the place where the air-crafts (vimaan) of Ravana were made and repaired.

And if that is not all. This so-called news channel found the 'golis' (balls) that were thrown by Sita when Ravana had abducted her, to send message to Lord Rama. Though there was no casket or Ravana's body, the channel managed to find some guys, one of whom, said that he went into the cave and there was a red coloured 17-18 ft long Tabut where the Ravana was kept inside and it is guraded by Asuras.

After blending mythology with news and spicing up with sceneries of Sri Lanka, the news channel ended it up saying that it was impossible to reach the top of hill because the 'local say that certain powers don't want people to get there and the body was kept because Asuras believed that with Sanjeevani booti, he could also come back to life from death".

That's awesome. Isn't it. Yes, we were watching Zee news, not Bhakti or Astha. There was something missing though. The ten heads of Ravana were not shown. May be in the next part we will find ten mounds on the hill and the channel can claim that these mounds are because of the 10 heads of Ravana that lay buried underneath.

We all know the truth but then we are all so religious and full of devotion. I would love to believe this. Just that I wished it was not shown on prime time in News channel. That's total fraud in the name of journalism. Though I stand by your right to watch it, believe every word of it and yes go to Lanka and support their tourism sector.

Wah bhai Subhas Chandra Ji. Dhanya hain aap.

If you like to read the 'Mil Gaye Ram' special story and photos. Read it at Zee News site here.