Day One:Teach India

A saturday afternoon,all walking anxiously around the new english school at Bandra unable to locate the KEF LABs centre.What were we expecting,some big billboards with the welcome messages,Nahhhh!!!With the help of the faciliator we were directed to the third floor of the building wherin a class had been converted into KEF LABS.Nicely decorated with ribbons & posters,what my friend Yasmine compares to a five star treatment of the room which is agreeable if you have seen various other NGO centres .We chatted with the fellow volunteers and were treated royally with a cuppa of tea and parle biscuits with a prewarning that this kind of treatment is only for today as they do not have the budget to serve us everyday.This is understable.The induction began with a brief introduction and an interesting game.I won the game and i was happy about that,though the game involved a little alertness and pushing to get hold of your seats,i just did tht by unkindly pushing one of the girls to get my seat of honour.What not for the winner title!

This was followed by an information session about KEF LABS taken by Genevi,the english faciliator.We learnt regarding what would be our roles as volunteer and what we need to take care of.The session was good in terms of simplicity and structure.Next session we will be directly interacting with the children our actual work begins then.

Reality Bytes!!

Bullying,sledging and racial slur row in the confined secluded Big Boss house.Shilpa Shetty shot to fame with sympathy votes resulting in a fantastic win,something badly needed at the time when Bollywood had shown her the doors.

Sixteen guys woo the item girl to win her heart.Drama,romance and a lot of spicy discoveries about the grooms to be shown at break interval to turn the public glued to the television.After dumping her beau who intentionally used her to climb the career ladder was also not spared from the negative publicity.Medium well used Rakhi Sawant's bold show makes the audience want even more.

Cool dudes and wimpy gals drive their way out riding on bikes, working on every challenging & adventurous task coming their way.You don't need immunity to perform those tasks but you do need 'immunity' to get ahead.That's not all,there is politics,leg pulling and a whole lot of drama with each elimination round turning common college going guys into Braggadocios.So much for money so much for fame,Arrives Ranvijay as the new VJ face winning the MTV roadies and surely big fan following.

The time then came to speak the truth.Gandhiji principles being followed now.What works in the west is being experimented in the country.Schultz adapted 'Moment of truth' is now 'Sach Ka Samna'.The participants do have the undaunting courage to face the nation but doesnt seem likely with the Indian Samaj or Indian netas.A heated debate swirls across the Lok sabha,Rajya sabha.Now,even the politicians are discussing TV shows over work ,we were not the only ones.

So the big question, why the Saas Bahu Sagas have faded and its all about reality shows that has been successful in grabbing the attention of our Indian Audience?The immense pleasure that we get by peeking into other person's life is one of the major factors.We love to know what our superstars eat, wear drink and if they are kept under surveillance for us what more do we want!The next big question why are such shows made then?Controvery is the name of the game.More the controversy more the TRPS.TRPS a rating which puts the show into the swim or sink state.A rating on which the whole media industry runs learn more about TRPS .So the media people do make sure to make their shows spicy, controversial or moreover IRRESISTABLE!!!

So much for money,so much for fame,so much for Air time,so much for TRPs ,Are we talking of self regulation.Think Again.