According to Wikipedia,' "Satyameva Jayate" (satyam-eva jayate सत्यमेव जयते; literal English: Truth Alone Triumphs) is a mantra from the ancient Indian scripture Mundaka Upanishad. Independent India adopted it as the national motto of India. It is inscribed in Devanagari script at the base of the national emblem.'
On various occasions, many Indians have used this term to describe some truthful and noble effort of their own making. Thus there is at least one Hindi film called Satyamev Jayate, released 1987; on social networking sites, the name frequently pops up , as declaration of truthful intent, as a userid, as the name of a website .
And now, a just concluded tv series, Satyamev Jayate, without the a at the tailend of the first word from the motto.
What is Satyamev Jayate, the tv series of 2012 ?
And now, a just concluded tv series, Satyamev Jayate, without the a at the tailend of the first word from the motto.
What is Satyamev Jayate, the tv series of 2012 ?
To quote Wikipedia again :
Satyamev Jayate (English: Truth Alone Prevails) is an Indian television talk show that airs on various channels within Star Network along with Doordarshan's DD National. The first season of the show premiered on May 6, 2012 and marked the television debut of popular Bollywood actor and filmmaker Aamir Khan. While Hindi is the primary language of the show, it is also dubbed and simulcast in other Indian languages such as Bengali, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu.Satyamev Jayate received positive response and feedback from both the critics as well as the public. The show was widely appreciated by several film and television personalities, politicians and social activists for its research, format, presentation and content. The show has highlighted sensitive social issues prevalent in India such as female foeticides, child sexual abuse, dowry, medical malpractice, honor killings, insensitivity towards the physically disabled, domestic violence, overuse of pesticides leading to pesticide poisoning, alcoholism, untouchability, plight of senior citizens and water crisis.'
The final and 13th episode was a wrap up episode without one single theme --and yet it manged to make a hope-filled final statement as it showcased real-life heroes and survivors of chaotic ungainly modern India.
Over the past three months I have followed each 66 minute episode (running time, without the ads); it was a tv show that
informed , often saddened, made me reflect,
empathize , smile occasionally, reflect
anew…sometimes the topic was not one to which I had given much thought;
frequently the episode talked of an issue that concerned me almost on a daily
basis (episode 8, Toxic Food ; episode 12, on water conservation).
Being a frequent net browser, I couldn’t help noticing that
while the general Indian public took to the show in a positive manner, many supposedly progressive media
sites used this as another opportunity to assert their own so-called intellectual superiority plus display the latent cynicism that is killing
this country. After all here was documentary type chat show on real issues,
being helmed, by God help us, an Indian movie star. How could one openly support such an enterprise? And so,
supposedly wise media names ( among others, a liberal Indian weekly , viz.the cover story
of Open magazine dated 9th June 2012 -- http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/art-culture/does-he-mean-it
) -- used their platforms to mock a well-intentioned tv
show –that truth to tell, has been pretty good, if not perfect.
Sadly, the media sites continue to bark even after the show
has ended last Sunday. While the show’s followers have bid a warm regretful goodbye to this well-made and
well-meant effort ( a tv venture
that made temporary tv fans
out of people who have sort of given up on tv), the usual suspects (like
www.firstpost.com) have been banging
away their skeptical views on a show that involves
a certain acceptance of idealism towards one’s nation.
Perhaps nationalism and idealism are not exactly cool topics
in these tough times. It’s more about surviving these uncertain times, when a train trip could leave
one in flames.
Still, there are many Indians who seriously feel that 65 year old Free India has not lived up to
its full potential. Rural India soldiers on gamely , muddling through, whilst Urban India despite its
malls and flyovers, is quite a mess. China has outstripped us in the development stakes -- though of course we are a better democracy ; and thank god we are not what Pakistan is ( a failed state). But for every plus point, there are many demerits waiting to be ticked off, corrected, if we are to survive as a sovereign ,secular, socialist and democratic republic. Overpopulation eats away at whatever progress has been made. Men and women are still not equal; women have
progressed in certain fields and yet…the other day a group of four louts teased and harassed a female co-passenger , then threw
the protesting girl off the train .
The horror and injustice of it all.
The horror and injustice of it all.
Perhaps the times are also ripe for a show like Satyamev
Jayate, a tv show that takes a good long look at topics that have been
brushed aside in the race to survive. Thankfully it’s been a 360 degree look,
where the warts are uncovered, but a
resolution is also attempted.And the show did end on a note of hope.
Many Indians ( and surprisingly,
a section of non-Indians
too) have watched the show through three months – and at least some viewers, would have understood
the need to be hopeful and positive
-- much like it’s
actor-anchor Aamir Khan. The man has in fact said so in his last
column ( which has been appearing in the Indian press as a corollary to the
show, on Mondays following the Sunday telecast). Here are some excerpts from Aamir’s
latest and last column
‘The future of our nation depends on whether we decide to be
determined followers of dreams or cynical naysayers.’
‘I think somewhere along the way too many of us have become
a little too clever, a little too practical, a little too cynical, a little too
materialistic, a little too selfish. Maybe we need to let go a little. Allow a
little space in our hearts for hope, for idealism, for belief, for faith, for
trust, for innocence and… for a little madness. If one Dashrath Manjhi can move
a mountain, imagine what 120 crore Dashrath Manjhis can do.’
Well, Aamir has had his say all these weeks; he now returns to
his filmmaking. He has said that he and
his team are game for a second season next year, as a follow up; he has mentioned that they will follow up on old topics, plus cover new ones untouched so far, but needing attention.
Meanwhile, people – viewers, journalists, bloggers, all – are perhaps rightly wondering whether the thought process started by the show – will it
fizzle out?
My feeling is that it is upto us, to keep alive, the hope of a better India, better
life. All we need to do is put into practice what we occasionally debate – and let go, in the hurry of every
day living.
For starters, rewatch this show’s episodes as and when time
and inclination permits. They are available on
youtube. Here is a guide to the show, courtesy cnn-ibn channel’s
website.
Also, and this is important, do check out the ‘ASAR'
programmes telecast on ABP News (Star News in new avatar), on the
Friday following the Sunday telecast. These asar (impact) shows are as good as
the original episodes . They discuss the episode's immediate effect , involve more experts, government
functionaries, plus of course Aamir
himself, along with the channel’s well-informed anchor, all discussing the
cumulative fallout of the last episode. Asar
every week, it’s one solid hour-long meaningful show; all are
available on youtube --
One understands that the various NGOs involved with the
show, these worthies can still be helped with donations, till August 31st
2012.
And here is the show’s own website -- http://www.satyamevjayate.in/
Now on to some
practical suggestions, with regard to keeping the spirit of a show alive and going.
Start by watching episodes that one has not watched; or revisit a favourite. All have interested, touched me, some particularly. And I have actually hooted with laughter at the comments made by certain guests--like the feisty Dr.Gulati ( Medical Malpractices episode); or the silver-haired, sharp-tounged ,wise and witty Kamla Bhasin (Domestic Violence episode).
So watch, and decide what steps one can take, to improve one's life and society. I have generally been pro-active in this respect, but this show certainly woke me up even more. It has helped marshall my thoughts and action ... a few pointers follow.
So watch, and decide what steps one can take, to improve one's life and society. I have generally been pro-active in this respect, but this show certainly woke me up even more. It has helped marshall my thoughts and action ... a few pointers follow.
1.The monsoons should hopefully be upon us soon, without
playing truant too long. If you are a Chennai-ite like me, check whether your rainwater harvesting pit is clean and clear
enough to let the water percolate through to the ground. As mentioned in episode
12, Chennai was fortunate to get the services of an IAS officer who worked with
the state government CM and made
rainwater harvesting mandatory. Thanks to the efforts of these fine ladies
(back in 2002-2003 when Chennai was reeling under the impact of increased
urbanization and decreased water table), we now in 2012, are in the happy
position of being fairly comfortable with our ground water supply.
Anybody who lives anywhere in India—harvest rain water, catch it, store it.
Ask the experts and act before rain water gets wasted into the sea or open
drains.
The sooner we become self-sufficient in many respects, the
better for all of us. The government’s piped water supply is erratic, dependent
on availability. Use it only as a bonus or standby.
2. The episode on Toxic Food (Poison on the Plate, episode
8) –it affected me in a big way, particularly because this was an issue that I
was well aware of. For some years now, we have
all been aware that the shiny plastic looking pears apples and tomatoes may not really be all that perfect for
consumption. So one has taken recourse to
available known measures –buy organic when possible, or
soak vegetables and fruits in rock salt
solution, or cook in same, then drain out the
residual pesticides (hopefully). The best solution would be growing veggies in one’s own vegetable
patch/pot, whatever possible.
In episode 8 and
later in the follow up Asar programme, Aamir himself said something interesting
–he related something that a farmer had told him; a black spotted fruit may
actually be better than a clear looking
sprayed and cleaned up fruit –since a fruit bug has found the fruit good enough
to eat and left behind a black mark!
Shop wisely for food, try and use your own groundwater ; it
is less likely to be contaminated -- as compared to commercial canned water or even municipal supply, if at all it is available.
3. Child Sexual Abuse, at home, as delienated in episode 2 -- it was
frightening as it was enlightening. What one has read about frequently in the papers --the topic was finally discussed on tv, probably a rarity on Indian tv.
Ironically there was a positive fallout even to this grim episode –over
a lakh cases of child abuse was reported
to the Childline helpline 1098,
advertized on the show. One learns that Childline is spread in many towns all
over India. Similarly, the Alcoholics
Anonymous number too was used to good
effect within a few hours of the
telecast of episode 9.
Moral of the story –it helps to know that there is a lifeline out there. So many lives could be saved in so many ways.
Moral of the story –it helps to know that there is a lifeline out there. So many lives could be saved in so many ways.
4. The episode on medical malpractices –besides raising the
ire of a section of doctors – it also raised the important question about the
need to make available medicines at an affordable price. Thankfully, state
governments have started taking this issue seriously, and many Indian states are now in the process of setting up generic
medical stores. Check out the
inexpensive and safe options available already…and watch out for further
news in this regard.
5.And as one expert noted in epiosde 11 (Sunshine Years, Sunshine Life)--retirement is a time to Rewire, not Retire. Well said.
5.And as one expert noted in epiosde 11 (Sunshine Years, Sunshine Life)--retirement is a time to Rewire, not Retire. Well said.
Knowledge empowers ; it helps one make the right
choices -- and help others in need.
People, books, films…they have always inspired. Now a tv show has done it. Let’s not dismiss it.
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