Nowadays, another very popular means of social interaction and propagation that has emerged along with the print Media is the rise of Electronic Media.
The birth of electronic media took place with the invention of Radio when a single voice mile away thrilled millions across the continents who marveled at this miraculous hearing of a voice. People wondered and were over-joyed with this great invention. It was the beginning of an entirely new era. Science was hailed as the mistress of all knowledge become it had made the impossible happen – a voice travelled and reached every nook and corner of the word. Owning a radio becomes a symbol of pride and social status.
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When the voices get a face through Television, the people were left aghast. How could they see a person sitting miles away? And that hear him? So clearly so closely? It was the miracle of miracle, wonder of wonder. Science is a park of magical things. Television is a revolution in itself. The whole get shrunk into that one room of the house. The on September 15, 1959, Doordarshan was inaugurated in India. It was a great privilege to have a Television set every evening either to watch Chaupal or Humlog or Chitrahaar. Sunday were the eagerly awaited days with the Sunday Feature-film and then in the late 80s and early 90s with the nine to ten show or Ramanand Sagar’s epic creation “The Ramayana” and later BR Chopra’s ‘The Mahabharata’ The entire nation used to come to a standstill with great love, respect and interest the greatest epics of all times dramatized on the silver screen.
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These also reflect upon the social impact that television has. With the introduction of cable Television in 1993, electronic media has emerged as a greatest social force than ever. Gone are the days when television was a monopoly of a few rice. Now the ‘Idiot box’ as it has been called by many is found in every home, shop and office. Television now has invaded not only every home, but every sphere of life. In fact, in some way or the other television now-a-days dictates our life. It has invaded and cut shot our social life .People prefers to watch television instead of visiting people or socializing. It has severed all homely conversations around the hearth. People don’t want to talk to each other as they don’t want to miss even a single image displayed on the Idiot-Box. Thus, Families sit around as strangers watching sacrificing their family bonds at the alter of Television. Visitors too are unwelcome when the favourite serial or movies is being aired. Moreover, with the host of channels, Television is also responsible for quarrels within the families for people wanting to watch different programmes on different channels at the same time.
But blaming Television for all this solely would be an utter foolishness. Such things happen when human beings are enslaved by technology, when they let such thing to guide their lives and master them. If used judiciously, the electronic media can prove to be very useful, educationally as well as socially, political and economically. TV can in fact, be used to as a powerful medium to spread social awareness among the illiterate masses against various social evils. Discussions on various topics can help the educated masses increase their intellectual abilities and widen their horizons. The various news channels keep the vigilant citizens updated. Channels like Discovery and national Geographic keep the inquisitive mind busy and satisfy every intellectual query of a probing mind. Along with these are endless number of entertainment channel have come up to cater to this special section of the society of the society. Television can help popularize technology and internationalize and universalize our outlook.
Along with TV, there are other means of electronic media like the internet or cinema which are fast growing and are extremely popular TV can help strengthen our diversity, strengthening our unite and integrity and shake off social evils and superstitions. Thus electronic media can play a great constructive role in help build of the social and cultural infrastructure of the nation if wisely within the limits of decency and intellectuality.
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