THE REALITY SHOW AND THE CHILDREN.
Sometimes I think about the influence of reality shows involving children on their lives. It may have some positive sides. They can meet many talents of their age, make new friends, receive good guidance of renowned capable personalities, an atmosphere to develop their skill etc.
But on the other hand, I think there are some very negative sides. First of all, the kids no more remain kids. They exhibit or have to learn such things to show their skill which are meant for adults and suit the adults. The innocent enjoyment of child performances and the basic guidance to develop skills that suits the children are absent.
They are jumping into the rat race of selling their creativity at a very tender age and their parents pushing them into the hard competitive market of the world. As a result whoever wins, finds a way of earning money and gaining publicity, but many of them neglect further improvement of their skills. The rest who lose, what lesson they gain! Some have mental strength, of coming back again to join this rat race. Some lose their confidence on themselves, some face nervous break down. So we see many sad incidents.
I also feel the judgement process in the reality shows as defective. The jury or the judges are there. But the key of final selection rests on viewer vote by sms. Most of the time, the participants from wealthy families and having many connections get the highest number of votes and obviously win the race. Only the mobile companies benefit. Then there is also some provincial bias that influences the vote. As a whole this is an unhealthy competition which gives faulty notion about life and creativity.
Of course everyone, primarily children, need inspiration, encouragement, scope and proper judgement of their creative faculty to improve. But the most important things for all artists are devotion, love and passion for their art and skill and the will, patience, sincerity and dedication to learn more and to brush up their skill regularly.
In my life I met some very gifted people. One is Tapas da. He is a genuine creative personality. Apart from painting and writing poems, he is a innovative sitar player. He throws exhibitions for his paintings, publishes his poems but does not indulge in self-publicity. His whole day is spent in pursuing his interests in art. His day starts with writing. Thereafter he spends hours with his painting. Sometimes he is so involved in playing sitar that he forgets his meals. Apart from his creative activity he is a vociferous reader. In a way his mind and time is occupied with classical, folk and progressive culture. He is also a good human being and continuously encourages others to get involved in some sort of cultural activity.
Another such person is my friend Swati who is a remarkable singer. She learnt classical vocal music for many years from a rewound classical 'guru'. She also learnt Nazrul Geeti and Rabindra Sangeet from famous singers. She was a student of Dakshini Music School. She is still continuing learning and is always trying to improve her skills. Music is her life and travelling is her hobby. She herself is very simple, free from any meanness and complexity of society. So she takes all people on their face value. Her world is all music. She is such a good singer that sometimes during her music performances, many unknown passersby got spellbound by her songs and came to meet her. In spite of some offers and scope she has kept herself aloof from self advertisement and backbiting. To me she is an idol for musicians and a gold mine of music.
Kalpana and Rubi, two of my friends are very powerful, dedicated and progressive writers who never compromised in the rat race of commercial world. Ruby is also a very good actress and director. She has written many plays, acted and directed those in many districts in West Bengal. She is also a good 'Ganasangit 'singer.
Laltu is truly an example of dogged devotion. For some reasons he did not complete his studies in due time. But later when he decided to continue his studies, he completed his graduation and post graduation, learnt typing and stenography, joined a respectable job through hard struggle and in spite of adverse situations. Most remarkable is that he has been continuing his swimming, singing, reading and writing and always trying to improve his creative faculty after fulfilling all of his official, social and family obligations with utmost sincerity.
I feel myself very fortunate, for having met these people. I would like to share my experience about them with the parents of the child participants in the reality shows. I think if the children like to choose any creative skill as their profession, they will be more benefited if they can have the passion, dedication and sincerity of my friends. They will also be good human being like them. They could then enjoy their life in the divine world of art and music.
