AS MAN KI BAAT COMPLETES A CENTURY

 

Mann Ki Baat ( Inner Thoughts) is an Indian radio programme hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which he addresses the people of the nation on All India Radio, DD National and DD News on the last Sunday of every month. Since the first show on 3 October 2014, come April 30, 2023 India awaits to hear the 100^th episode of Man Ki Baat. So, what is it that has made this programme such a hit with the masses?

At the very outset let me remind you about my take on this programme which I have brought out in a previous blog: https://surajitbrainwaves.blogspot.com/2021/03/man-ki-baat-new-discovery-of-india.html

I think this is Sri Narendra Modi’s Discovery of India which he is not writing alone in a solitary jail cell but the people of India are richly contributing to it since reacting to the very first episode. Both Discovery of India and Man ki baat are documenting the contemporary records of the time so that we can get a complete picture of India through the ages. History is visited and re-visited only to draw inspiration from and to create a new India of the future.

As television is not widely available in India yet, especially in isolated rural regions, the Prime Minister chose All India Radio (AIR) as the official medium to reach the largest section of the population. In 2015, in a very special episode, former US President Barack Obama was part of a special Mann Ki Baat show, while he was in India as the Chief Guest of our Republic Day Parade. The programme is being broadcast by more than 500 centres of the All India Radio. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, 'Mann Ki Baat' is broadcast in 11 foreign languages such as French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari and Swahili.

 

A new survey

As the popular radio programme marches towards its century episode, Prasar Bharati, India's state-owned public broadcaster, a statutory autonomous body set up by an Act of Parliament and comprising of the Doordarshan Television Network and Akashvani All India Radio, set up a survey to study the popularity of Man Ki Baat. The Indian Institute of Management, Rohtak was entrusted with this arduous task.

The surveyors of IIM Rohtak reached out to 10,003 respondents in four zones - North, South, East and West - and across various age groups, with a majority of them being self-employed and those in the informal sector. Of the study sample 60% were males while 40% were females. This population was spread over 68 occupations sectors with 64% being from the informal and self-employed sector while students constituted 23% of the studied audience. The study distributed the audience across 3 platforms with 44.7% people tuning in to the programme on a TV while 37.6% accessing it on a mobile device and only 17.6% were radio listners.

 

Some mind boggling statistics

So, what did the survey show? It found that more than 100 crore (1 billion) people have listened to the programme at least once, while around 41 crore (410 million) were occasional listeners. The report further added that nearly 23 crore (230 million) people tune in to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann ki Baat' programme on the last Sunday of every month with 65 per cent listeners preferring to hear the talk in Hindi.

Viewing the programme is favoured over listening to it, as 62% of the respondents between the ages of 19 to 34 preferred watching it on a TV. 

 

Why is Man Ki Baat popular?

The report delves into the reasons behind the popularity of this radio broadcast and lists out the most liked characteristics that hook people to the broadcast. A powerful and decisive leadership that speaks to establish an emotional connect with the audience is cited as reason for the following of the programme. The Prime Minister has been credited by the population of the country as knowledgeable and having sympathetic and empathetic approach. Direct engagement with the citizens and guidance is also cited as a reason for the trust the programme enjoys. The survey concluded that Mann Ki Baat influenced behaviour of listeners with 60% interested in nation building and 73% felt that nation was going in the right direction and they were optimistic about the government's working and the country's progress, while 58% said their living conditions have improved. As many as 59% responders reported increased trust in the government and 63% respondents said their approach to the government has become positive.

The survey found that the most popular themes of the 'Mann ki Baat' programme were scientific achievements of India, stories of common citizens, gallantry of the armed forces, issues related to the youth, environment and natural resources.

Modi ji liberally quotes from all the languages spoken in India to make his point. Whether is is Kabeer or Tulsi, Gurudev Rabindranath or Subramania Bharatiyar, or today's Gulzar, when he has to make his point he liberally draws inspiration from them. While increasing the awareness of nutrition among students he quoted “Yatha Annam Tatha Mannam”, which means, mental and intellectual development is directly related to the quality of food intake. He also draws inspiration from Tribal history and mentions stories that were known to only few till they found a mention in Man Ki Baat. Thus freedom fighters like Birsa Munda, Karam Tammanna Dora, Alluri Seetha Ram Raju were all introduced to the present generation on Indians by Man Ki Baat.

A cultural renaissance of sorts is attempted by Modi ji when he talks of tribal fairs. Thus, Mahakumbh of Telangana, is celebrated in honour of two tribal women heroes - Samakka and Saralamma about whom the rest of India knew nothing! Maridamma fair in Andhra Pradesh, Siyawa ka Mela in Rajasthan, Mawli Mela of Narayanpur of Bastar in Chhattisgarh were all made popular by their mention in Man Ki Baat! Such old links of the society are vitally important to strengthen the spirit of Ek Bharat- Shreshtha Bharat. He asked the youth to visit these fairs and share the pictures on social media. Not only that, he informed that the Culture Ministry is going to start a competition where those who send the best pictures of the fairs will be rewarded.

Festivals of India, whether the hugely popular Diwali, Dussehrah, Holi, Eid and Christmas, or the lesser known ones in different states routinely find a mention in Man Ki Baat. He once said 'festivals further the spirit of love, affection and brotherhood in society and they carve a way for the journey from 'me' to 'we'.

The economic future of the people of the hinterland is intricately related to their skills but if these skills do not find patronage then both the art and the artisan suffers. The boost to both artisans and local art that this programme has provided, may it be the silk sari of Banaras, the carpet industry of Bhadoi, the brass ware industry of Moradabad or the toy industry of Koppal in Karnataka and the traditional Khadi is simply exemplary. His encouragement to breed Indian dogs - Mudhol hound and Himachal Hound, Rajapalayam, Kanni, Chippiparai and Combai was again an eye opener to dog lovers who run after foreign breeds.

The Prime Minister’s focus on the themes of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) and his vocal for local campaign, his encouragement to start ups and obscure but outstanding achievers, his popularizing tribal art, craft and culture, his respect for forgotten freedom fighters from various tribes and states and his encouragement to indigenous industries all make Man Ki Baat so very popular with the masses. It gives them an opportunity to discover the new India.

 

Is the programme always liked and is it universally popular?

Most certainly not; nothing and nobody in India is above criticism. The liberals hate the Prime Minister’s direct outreach to his electorate in the hinterland and consider this to be an unfair advantage. People too are critical at times, when he sidesteps issues that are important to them. Over 500,000 dislikes were marked for the 68th episode on August 30, 2020 in BJP's YouTube channel for not addressing issues of JEE(Mains) postponement and NEET(UG) examinations. The video later became one of the most disliked videos with over 1.2 million thumbs down.

 

Who pays for Man KI Baat?

Since its beginning, the programme became a major source of revenue for All India Radio (AIR) as 10-second advertisement slots earned AIR Rs 200,000. The show commands much higher advertising rates than any other programme on AIR, including live commentary of the India-Pakistan world cup match, which is usually rated at Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000.

 

‘Mann Ki Baat’ has today become a wonderful medium for expression of public participation. As we approach the 100^th.episode the Prime Minister and his team of researchers deserve all credit to establish the bond of trust between his government and the electorate. The programme has helped to find the hidden gems of India who are today being honoured by the Padma Awards, the People’s Padmas!

 

CHILDHOOD OBESITY - ALARM BELLS SHOULD START RINGING

 

Childhood obesity is a known precursor to obesity and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in adulthood. The term overweight refers to excess body weight for a particular height whereas the term obesity is used to define excess body fat. Overweight and obesity primarily happen either due to excess calorie intake or insufficient physical activity or both. Furthermore, various genetic, behavioural, and environmental factors play their undeniable role. Childhood obesity is a forerunner of metabolic syndrome, poor physical health, mental disorders, respiratory problems and glucose intolerance, all of which can track into adulthood. So, it is an attack on the foundation of good health, from which the individual may never recover.

 

The magnitude of the problem

Developing countries like India are still fighting malnutrition and so we presume that childhood obesity is the disease of the affluent west. Nothing can be more wrong as has been borne out in a recent research published in Indian Journal of Medical Research. Prevalence data from 52 studies conducted in 16 of the 28 States in India were crunched and the results were astounding! A combined prevalence of 19.3 per cent of childhood overweight and obesity was observed, which was a good 3% higher than a similar study conducted ten years ago! The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, conducted in 2019-21), the most comprehensive household survey of health and social indicators by the Government of India, found that 3.4% of children under five were overweight compared with 2.1% in 2015-16.  More than 14.4 million children are obese in India, second only to China according to another study published in the journal Nutrients in 2022. So, there is convincing data to infer that overweight and obesity rates in children and adolescents are increasing not just among the higher socio-economic groups but also in the lower income groups where underweight still remains a major concern.

 

According to UNICEF's World Obesity Atlas for 2022, India is predicted to have more than 27 million obese children, representing one in 10 children globally, by 2030. It ranks 99th on the list of 183 countries in terms of preparedness to deal with obesity and the economic impact of overweight and obesity is expected to rise from $23bn in 2109 to a whopping $479bn by 2060.

 

This is a global problem and the prevalence of childhood obesity is constantly on the rise. The International Association for the Study of Obesity (IASO) and International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) estimate that 200 million school children are either overweight or obese. India is a fast growing economy, currently undergoing major epidemiological, nutritional and demographic transitions. These transitions tend to promote obesity in all age groups. With childhood malnutrition still more common India faces a double whammy, with urgent crises at both ends of the nutrition scale. Our people are under-nutritioned and over-nutritioned at the same time. We need a balanced and sensitive approach addressing economic and nutrition transitions to effectively tackle this double burden paradox in India.

 

The nutritional illiteracy

If children are given balanced meals that include carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, fruits and vegetables, then it would prevent both under-nutrition and over-nutrition. But people don't know what good food is, they eat to fill their bellies. Those who can afford are giving their children more carbs, more convenience food. This it is more common in urban richer families where children are being fed a diet of food and drinks high in fat, sugar and salt. Youngsters sleep late and often resort to midnight binging, mostly on unhealthy snacks. They do not burn any calories after eating late at night as they sleep after that and during the day, they are lethargic which means they burn few calories. Moreover, children are spending a lot more time on computers and phones instead of running around and playing. I have talked about this in one of my previous blogs: https://surajitbrainwaves.blogspot.com/2022/03/limiting-screen-time-for-children.html

 

Market forces are not helping

Food apps and online gaming are driving up childhood obesity. If you watch TV now for half an hour, you will see many advertisements about junk food and those glorifying soft drinks. This constant false messaging about benefits of unhealthy junk food must stop, and it can only be done by the government.

City planners are also victims of market forces. They want to squeeze every square inch of space for commercial purposes. Our cities have no footpaths, there are no safe cycle tracks, and there are few playgrounds where children can play. I have mentioned this issue in one of my previous blogs: https://surajitbrainwaves.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-pleasure-of-walking.html

Our schools are mostly the only places that offer a safe place for children to play, so schools must play their part in combating obesity. But many, if not most, of our schools do not have playgrounds or sports periods. We do not realize the heaps of benefits sports can have on the development of our children besides fighting childhood obesity.

 

Don’t nag the child

It is essential to understand the emotional consequences that children are subjected to when their guardians fail to handle the issue of obesity correctly or with consideration. All a child really needs is to be regarded with love, respect, and admiration irrespective of his/her body shape. So, how concerned parents should handle their child's weight in a way that doesn't damage their self-esteem is truly challenging. How to speak to a child regarding their weight is an issue that must be approached with both sensitivity and bravery. There isn't a single answer that works for everyone, but there should be no deception about the situation. Lying about the problem will make it difficult to discuss and can lead to incorrect conclusions. It's important not to ignore the subject, but also not to make it the focus of the entire home. Whenever in doubt talk to your pediatrician and seek professional help. When parents themselves become nutritional advisors to their children and nag them all the time, you can be assured that there is trouble ahead. Parents should set up a system with reasonable rules, but without going overboard and they must shop intelligently and stack their refrigerators responsibly.

 

Personal example and good parenting

You cannot be an irresponsible food gulper and expect your child to be a responsible eater.  You cannot sit in front of the television and have your dinner while watching your favourite soap opera and expect the child to have his/her dinner on the dining table. A personal example has an influential effect. The power of saying 'come and see there's a cucumber here' becomes background noise, but if you eat a bowl of salad with every meal, and really enjoy it and not pretend, and serve as a positive personal example - your children will start eating salads if not this week, certainly in days to come. The fact is that parents have tremendous influence over the child, and as soon as the child feels that they are not happy with their appearance or eating - this is a very difficult event for the child. How to channel this discomfort constructively, without nagging, with lots of useful information and dietary tips from authentic sources is what good parenting is all about.

 

BEING ALONE AND BEING LONLY ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS

 

 

Last year, in one of my blogs I had mentioned the value of idle relaxation in life and stressed the fact that it is certainly not equivalent to wasting time:

https://surajitbrainwaves.blogspot.com/2020/06/idle-relaxation-is-not-wasting-time.html

 

Today I wish to ponder on another set of conditions that are often confused – being alone and loneliness. There is a world of difference between being lonely and being alone. Loneliness is a negative feeling of isolation, sadness, and is never by choice. But being alone and spending time with our own self is invariably by choice and it substantially adds to our mental growth. Alone time can be cultivated and made enjoyable and peaceful. You can turn the hours spent on your own into a time of recharge and growth, rather than waiting for the next ‘thing’ to happen.

 

Being part of a group, be it family, friends or colleagues, means that we are often more likely to go along with what the group is doing or thinking. But this may not always be the action that we would take, nor would it be a decision that we would make had we been on our own.

 

 

Why time alone is vital?

While I enjoy spending time with my loved ones, I do treasure moments when I am alone, disconnect from the distractions around me. I cherish these occasions as they give me those precious opportunities to tune into and reconnect with myself. Seeking solitude is something that I take the time to do often, and being alone with myself has had its benefits on my health and well-being too, contributing to both physical and psychological effects. It is often the most productive part of the day when I can plan newer surgical strategies, innovate newer teaching tools and do deep thinking on a topic which so far was in the periphery of my imagination radar.

 

In today's constantly connected world, our minds are continually on 'on' mode, whereby, we hardly give our brain a chance to rest and replenish itself. Spending time alone, however, with no distractions, is one of the best ways to clear the mind. It enables us to focus, to think more clearly and it also gives us the opportunity to revitalize, not only our mind but our body too.

 

Vipassana

Vipassana is one of India’s most ancient meditation techniques and an extreme form of spending time alone in complete solitude. It was popularized 2500 years ago by Gautam Buddha. Vipassana means "to see things as they really are". It is a logical process of mental purification through self-observation. 

 

Seeking solitude takes us away from distractions and interruptions that bombard us every day. Without these distractions, we are better able to concentrate, thus enabling us to get more work done in a shorter amount of time, clear the cobwebs in our mind and search for the most perplexing problems deep within our own mind.

 

So what do we do in time alone?

This is my time of ticking off my ‘to do list’ – read that book, visit that place, listen to that music and so on! Everyday chores, responsibilities, as well as stress and worries, can often get the better of us. This constant motion, of feeling as though we continually have something to do or to think about, prevents us from engaging in deep thought and reflection. But not taking the time to reflect on our life can often inhibit creativity and lessen productivity.

 

Constant incoming information either through electronic means, or from actual people keeps us engaged all the time. This makes us so much preoccupied that we tend to postpone our personal problems and desires. Seeking solitude gives us the time to think through our thoughts and our issues and get our life sorted out to the best of our liking. Spending time alone gives us a better understanding of who we are and what we desire in life. It also enables us to make better choices about who we want to be around. And, we also tend to become more appreciative of the relationships that we do have, once we have spent time alone.

 

The big confusion

So how do you explain to people who are of the view that being alone amounts to loneliness, which is the worst curse of life and a modern epidemic for the elderly? They will point fingers at people who have never married or lost their spouses and pity them saying “It’s just the same every day. I don’t look forward to it”!

 

Social loneliness is felt when we do not have a confidante and are unable to get support from peers, colleagues, family, or friends. Emotional loneliness is more likely when there is a lack of intimacy in close, exclusive relationships with one’s romantic partner, parents, or kids. Loneliness, in its different forms, can lead to despair and depression.

 

I think there is a huge confusion here – their loneliness is by compulsion of their habits and circumstances, while I am advocating an occasional ‘me time’ by choice.  If we are less likely to know our neighbours and less likely to have dependable friends the problem is with us; we are creating boundaries around ourselves and sequestrating ourselves into loneliness. Being alone, on the other hand, is an occasional choice which we make to recharge ourselves.

 

How to be alone constructively?

1. Shift the Narrative and get rid of the stigma: As a society, we are conditioned to value socializing. Having friends and spending time with them is normal and enjoyable. I don’t mean to take away from the importance of friendships, but what I am emphasizing is that wanting to spend time with our own self is perfectly normal and extremely necessary. So the first step to embracing your alone time is letting go of the stigma attached to it.

 

2. Schedule the Time: For some people, the packed schedule of everyday commitments just doesn’t have enough space for quality me time. If friends, both real and virtual are eating up a lot of your time it is time to re-schedule. Make it a point to give your alone time a place of importance, and it is not just a filler between events. It is a conscious choice you are making for your own wellbeing!

 

3. Stay Away from Social Media and gadgets: One of the biggest mood killers and time-wasters, when you’re relaxing by yourself, is social media. Seeing what others are up to or checking emails might interrupt your peace of mind. If you have already made the time to enjoy your own company, you would do yourself a favor by putting your phone aside for a bit.

 

4. Get Creative: Being on your own is the perfect time to let your thoughts wander. We rarely have the capacity to think freely without any external interruptions. Give your thoughts and ideas an outlet by practicing your creative field of choice. It might be writing, painting, cooking, playing an instrument, or even small house repairs. Being creative is one of the most satisfying feelings there is.

 

5. Talk and Listen to Yourself: The time you spend alone gives you the chance to process things that happened while you were out there in the social world. Pay attention to the thoughts and emotions that come up, that you may not have noticed before. This awareness can make you better prepared for your upcoming social interactions, too. Whether the problem in hand needs coaxing, cajoling, gentle persuasion or strong action with pros and cons of each action is best planned now.

 

6. Plan Ahead: Reflecting in your time alone can often lead to thoughts about the future. Whether planning your day or your next trip this can only make you better prepared for eventualities. Figure out what your personal goals are and how you would go about attaining them. Take care of short-term goals first, and then make sure you’re on the right track for long term ones.

 

7. Go Out and About: There is something very liberating and special about doing something you would normally do with others, by yourself. Go to the movies, go out to dinner, or visit a museum. No one will ask for ‘a bit’ of your kebab, or argue on what film to watch. It might be scary at first, and some of us can feel self-conscious about being in public spaces on our own. It might help to remind yourself that people are not as engaged with you as you think. They’re just doing their own thing, the same as you.

 

8. Observe: If you have decided to go out for tea, or any other outdoor activity, don’t take out your phone and pretend to be busy. Look around you, watch the flora and the fuana, look at the sky and the street and watch the people around. You’ll be amazed at the things you’ll notice.

 

9. Learn Something New: Time alone is most profitable when you utilize it for learning something new. Always wanted to learn a language or how to play an instrument? There is no better time to start!

 

10. Realize You Are Self Sufficient: One of the biggest upsides to getting comfortable with your own company is that it makes you more attractive to others! Learning how to rely on yourself leads to a feeling of independence and confidence. There is nothing wrong with relying on your loved ones when you need to, but relying on yourself is an invaluable skill.

 

Benefiting from solitude starts with carving out a ‘me time’ in the first place. This is a skill that can be difficult when balancing relationships and work. Often it means negotiating with your family for time and space to be alone. It helps to explain that everyone will benefit if you get some time to yourself, because you’ll feel recharged and ready to reconnect.