As some of you know, I am currently working on converting my Master’s thesis “Imagining National Identity” into a book for Sage Publications. The book looks at the changing Indian mediascape, especially with regard to television and the Internet.
To complete the book, I need to do series of interviews that I will present as either quotes or interviews in the book.
If you are stopping by at this page, I would like to invite you to answer the questions as well. It would just take about 10 minutes of your time (more if you find the subject interesting)… And would be of great help in my research.
If you a friend/friends who would have a perspective on this and would have the time to do this as well… Do ask them to stop by too.
Thanks in advance!
The Questions
1. Going back to the time when we had only on channel in India, how would you say that Doordarshan affected your concept of what it means to be Indian?
2. In the days, when Doordarshan was the only television broadcasting body in India, which are some of the programmes that stand out in your memory?
3. Did you perceive Doordarshan as attempting to create an ‘Indian’ identity? And if so, was this identity accurate?
4. Has your concept of being Indian changed since then, or does it remain the same?
5. Since the time that cable television has been introduced, what are some of the programmes that stand out on TV?
6. Do you think that cable television has in any way changed your concept of what it means to be Indian?
7. Moving on to the coming of the Internet, how do you use the Net?
8. Which are some of the sites that you most often frequent?
9. Has the Internet in any way affected your perception of yourself as Indian?
10. Does the Internet make you feel part of a larger global community, as against an Indian community?
16 Comments
July 13, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Christina, I hope this helps.
1. Going back to the time when we had only on channel in India, how would you say that Doordarshan affected your concept of what it means to be Indian?
ANS: I was pretty young at that time- below 10 and Doordarshan is all I knew. However, even not knowing what else was out there in terms of programming and non-government channels I did know that DD was boring! As for affecting my concept of being Indian, I was too young to even think at that level. DD simply was and that is all we had to watch and we pretty much resigned ourselves to it.
2. In the days, when Doordarshan was the only television broadcasting body in India, which are some of the programmes that stand out in your memory?
ANS: I can remember two programs- Nukkad and Buniyaad. And then there was this one serial of a Punjabi family in pre-partition India I think- cant remember its name unless that WAS Buniyaad.
3. Did you perceive Doordarshan as attempting to create an ‘Indian’ identity? And if so, was this identity accurate?
ANS: Again at that point in time we pretty much took what DD had to give and I was too young to think along the lines of ‘Indian Identity’. However, today I can safely say that much of what DD put out then was Nationalist propaganda and I dont think ‘Mile Sur Mera Tumhara’ is anywhere close to what an actual Indian’s life is like.
4. Has your concept of being Indian changed since then, or does it remain the same?
I definitely think my concept of what it means to be Indian has changed. If I had to say that what was on television influence me I would say that the concept of being Indian has morphed from an ultra-moralistic, propagandist (is that a word) view point where being Indian is the best to a more ‘global’ one where India is only one of many countries, all doing their best to get classified as a ‘developed’ country.
5. Since the time that cable television has been introduced, what are some of the programmes that stand out on TV?
ANS: A lot of the American programming for me- I watched a lot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Picket Fences. I also remember bits and pieces of Baywatch. One thing that particularly stands out is how news channels sprung up, reporting 24/7. Also I watched a lot of Star Plus, especially the movies, and also a few of the K serials.
6. Do you think that cable television has in any way changed your concept of what it means to be Indian?
ANS: Like I mentioned in Question 4 Cable television opened the world up to India. As opposed to watching only DD and having no other choice, now there is a choice. One can choose to watch what they want and also I would say cable tv is definitely more global in the sense of the type of programs on there.
7. Moving on to the coming of the Internet, how do you use the Net?
ANS: I use the net a LOT. For work, at home. At home I mostly use it for blogging or surfing other blogs. I also watch a lot of my programs and movies online at Rajshri.com and other such sites that offer free movies and serials. Also, e-mailing is a big part of computing for me- it lets me stay in touch with family and friends that are a world away.
8. Which are some of the sites that you most often frequent?
ANS: Gmail, Rajshri, rediff, MSN, Yahoo, Google for random searches, Wikipedia, Blogs on WordPress
9. Has the Internet in any way affected your perception of yourself as Indian?
ANS: N0t that I know of. I am still an Indian, only now I am an Indian online, surfing the web. Much like cable television, the web makes me feel global, but I dont know what if anything about the net has affected my perception of being Indian.
10. Does the Internet make you feel part of a larger global community, as against an Indian community?
ANS: I definitely feel like I am part of the world as opposed to just being a part of India or just Indian.
And I like that. I like that on the internet I am not slotted into such narrow and distinct categories.
July 14, 2008 at 5:08 am
Siri… Thanks so much for your responses… This definitely helped
July 16, 2008 at 4:08 am
1. Going back to the time when we had only on channel in India, how would you say that Doordarshan affected your concept of what it means to be Indian?
Lubi: It felt very Indian…there was a lot of classical music, classical dance shows, serious talk shows about the country politics ‘n very little entertainment. There was no flashing of body parts, not much modernization in the way tv programs were made for the audience. Most of the times I felt bored.
2. In the days, when Doordarshan was the only television broadcasting body in India, which are some of the programmes that stand out in your memory?
Lubi: Chitrahaar on Wednesday nites
3. Did you perceive Doordarshan as attempting to create an ‘Indian’ identity? And if so, was this identity accurate?
Lubi: Yes it was, but it was not accurate.
4. Has your concept of being Indian changed since then, or does it remain the same?
Lubi: I think my concept of being an Indian has changed moreso because of all the international travelling ‘n residing abroad.
But what I do see on Indian tv now, does not relate to my sense of Indianness at all.
5. Since the time that cable television has been introduced, what are some of the programmes that stand out on TV?
Lubi: I think Saregamapa ‘n all those endless serials (soap operas).
6. Do you think that cable television has in any way changed your concept of what it means to be Indian?
Lubi: It definitely has changed others’ concepts of what it means to be Indian. I don’t allow tv shows to determine my identity
7. Moving on to the coming of the Internet, how do you use the Net?
Lubi: For keeping in touch (emailing), blogging, surfing to know more information.
8. Which are some of the sites that you most often frequent?
Lubi: News sites worldwide, my blog, my email accounts, downloading torrents sites.
9. Has the Internet in any way affected your perception of yourself as Indian?
Lubi: It has changed the way I think I know my Indian fellowmen
10. Does the Internet make you feel part of a larger global community, as against an Indian community?
Lubi: Definitely it does make me feel part of a larger global community.
July 16, 2008 at 6:40 am
Thanks Lubi!
July 16, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Hi I’m Ausaja, i write on cinema on Tehelka.com. Your friend Ms A Mukherjee asked me to see yr blog. I was impressed with her blog and had asked her to write on cinema, but she told me she doesnt write on cinema and told me to chk out yr blog. I indeed like the way u write, i am looking for sm1 who can write a few books on cinema, i would be giving u the subject as well as research support. I am writing 2 books and my platter is full, but my publisher wants more books, so i am looking out for someone who can write a book independently, so that my publisher is happy, u can contact me on 9820294153, or on smmausaja@hotmail.com. Regards, Ausaja
July 20, 2008 at 7:35 am
Hi Christina,
first of all….love your views on all that you’ve tapped on this blog…i personally never seem to get enough of Moulin rouge, the movie, or the soundtrack…..i think thats says enough for me…
now on to those questions… lemme see if i can do justice to them!
The Questions
1. Going back to the time when we had only on channel in India, how would you say that Doordarshan affected your concept of what it means to be Indian?
….well strangely, ( maybe a little ashamed in a way to admit…) this takes me back to the times when i was in higher secondary school.(‘85)……and having had lived abroad before, like all those who come back with a tiny chip of “i’ve seen and done things better”……. i really did’nt think tooo much of the programmes on DD…..We sort of grew up initially to “Archie”"Night rider”, “Star wars”,”Yes minister”, “Mind your Language” “Dallas”, “Dynasty” (the later two of which we were’nt supposed to be watching as kiddies)….so coming to DD, and switching onto the poignant sloooow “tooonu nuuunu nuuu” of DD was not exciting….then came the images of farmers singing marching tunes of progress and patriotism….with wide smiles, of course….somehow…did’nt seem to gel.
I think that was the start of a confusion…as a environment….are we supposed to be in the tones of the sadly poignant DD tunes….or…are we supposed to be looking towards something cheerful(even though a pasted smile)??
…it sort of took time, but one settled in to discover, “buniyaad”, “nukkad”, “mile sur mear tumhaara”…and slowly felt better about the whole “Being Indian”…and “Living Indian” experience…as a school goer, it felt ok to like, the humour in Nukkad…and at the same time sort of, get sucked into the drama of “Buniyaad”…..overall it was something far more based in “nationalistic” reality, unlike the polished far away worlds of Dynasty!
so i think what it all meant was…it was depressing initially, but then…started making a lot more sense because of the reality of the ‘not so rosy’ world in which we where. As far as dreams went, we could still tuck those visions of western lifestyle into our dreams!
2. In the days, when Doordarshan was the only television broadcasting body in India, which are some of the programmes that stand out in your memory?
Oh very clearly Nukkad, Yeh jo hai zindagi, Wagle ke duniya, Buniyaad…..still, even in todays context, good entertainment, amazing story lines…and even more…great acting.
3. Did you perceive Doordarshan as attempting to create an ‘Indian’ identity? And if so, was this identity accurate?
I think that by the late 80’s with the Ramayan’s and Mahabharat’s hitting the screen and very slowly, a loss of “good” TV serials, ( or was it simply that I had discovered another world of VHS movies!) whatever impressions were to be made had already been made.
Like i said, the identity was always “dual” one of reality, and the other of the dream, from the past(living in another country) and maybe in the future (determination that one could carve out a slice of that world right here in India)…DD did its best in rooting you to the ground, and bringing in reality..not for oneself, but maybe of a life that others could be in…! I guess it deferred from person to person as to wether you bought it, or looked further on to get something better!
4. Has your concept of being Indian changed since then, or does it remain the same?
I think, a college experience is what sets in your mind and heart, what being Indian is. Until then its buying whatever idea your family, or school sells to you. But in college, you begin experiencing first hand, what being Indian is. You slowly start feeling a responsibility towards your country, though on the outside, you are part of the MTV generation that pokes fun of all those Indian quirks!…and then one progresses to building pride in “I am like THIS only yaar!” ( strange eh? dualism doesnt seem to let go!)…..but then….in latter years, when one leaves India to stay in another country…maybe not a more advanced one, you starngely start feeling and experiencing another determined bout of patriotism!
5. Since the time that cable television has been introduced, what are some of the programmes that stand out on TV?
The initial rush of all things western…and aaaaall that one missed out as a teenager!(doses of romance and coy, implications of sex on TV!)(Star world)
Then came in those beautiful glimpses of Animal life, World civilisation, Egypts Mummies…thanks to the national geographic & Discovery!
And then, science fiction, detective …mystery cases CSI, Lost, Monk, Poiret, ….
The clincher….”Friends!” & “Ally McBeal” for once… a simple silly situation that one comes across in ones own circle of friends! and….the other a crazy make believe world of excessive neurotic thoughts!
6. Do you think that cable television has in any way changed your concept of what it means to be Indian?
I think not. It just seemed to further emphasise on how important it was to get to that dream and be what knows can be!
7. Moving on to the coming of the Internet, how do you use the Net?
Currently, its the “missing friend, mom, stranger…that one turns to …anytime…everytime!
8. Which are some of the sites that you most often frequent?
Recipies, How to sites, Med sites, DIY sites, News sites, marketing & Advertising, Photography, ….
Google is the starting point!
9. Has the Internet in any way affected your perception of yourself as Indian?
cant say…but it has let me discover a lot more!
10. Does the Internet make you feel part of a larger global community, as against an Indian community?
strangely, i think with the internet, i sort of choose “my” community. it helps to have only those you really need , and value as your “community!” so i guess i have succeeded in creating a very comfy cosmopolitan but Indian centric community!
Phew!…hope my ramblings help in any way!….but Thanks Chris…you got me going down memory lane!
July 20, 2008 at 10:00 am
Thanks Such
July 20, 2008 at 10:15 am
Hey Christina,
Here are my thoughts on the questions you posed. Hope this helps.
1. Going back to the time when we had only on channel in India, how would you say that Doordarshan affected your concept of what it means to be Indian?
A classic instance is that “mile sur mera tumhara” piece. To me, it brought home the extent of our diversity and the fact that this nation pulls together inspite of all the differences. I think DD succeded in entrenching somewhere in my subconsciousness an acceptance of diversity, of all kinds. To be Indian, to me, is to be open-minded and tolerant.
2. In the days, when Doordarshan was the only television broadcasting body in India, which are some of the programmes that stand out in your memory?
Chitrahaar on Wednesday evenings and the Sunday Hindi movie. Entire schedules got planned according to these slots and parents often used them as bargaining points to get their way with us.:)
3. Did you perceive Doordarshan as attempting to create an ‘Indian’ identity? And if so, was this identity accurate?
Yes, I think DD tried to project a certain kind of ‘Indian’ identity. It was of simple, hard-working, unsophisticated, intellectually-driven, largely middle-class, identity. Though I am not sure if that identity was an accurate portrayal.
4. Has your concept of being Indian changed since then, or does it remain the same?
I hold on to my concept of being Indian as elaborated in Ans 1.
5. Since the time that cable television has been introduced, what are some of the programmes that stand out on TV?
24×7 news. Sometimes the news channels have enough masala to beat even the best of soaps.
6. Do you think that cable television has in any way changed your concept of what it means to be Indian?
The basic concept of Indianness remains. By exposing us to the world outside, perhaps cable television has made the Indian more of an achiever, a go-getter, more progressive.
7. Moving on to the coming of the Internet, how do you use the Net?
Prolifically. For information, for communication, for banking, for entertainment. Life seems unlivable without the Net.
8. Which are some of the sites that you most often frequent?
Sites that fulfill all the above requirements in Ans 7. Google, wikipedia & Yahoo are daily staples. I also frequent a lot of online news sites, magazines, publications, blogs.
9. Has the Internet in any way affected your perception of yourself as Indian?
With the Internet, I feel, being Indian is to be as much a part of the global village as any other nation.
10. Does the Internet make you feel part of a larger global community, as against an Indian community?
Yes. Thats exactly what I mean in Ans 9.
July 20, 2008 at 11:54 am
Thanks Mumukshu… That definitely helps!
July 22, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Hey Chris, I think I’ve done this questionnaire earlier. Haven’t I?
Let me know if you need some more, I can forward it to a few friends of mine…
July 23, 2008 at 7:26 am
Hey Sowm… Yes, you did answer. In fact I still have those answers. That’s why I didn’t send you the questions again.
Would be great if you could send it out to your friends. Will send you a mail on that.
July 27, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Hey Christina,
My 2 cents:
1. Before the advent of cable television, Doordarshan was the only audio-visual medium (apart from the occasional movies), and it naturally exercised a powerful influence on my perceptions and thoughts. Doordarshan projected the image of India as a country that embodied ‘unity in diversity’, that had a glorious history, rich culture and great leaders, that had a secular, socialist and welfare state, and that, though presently impoverished and underdeveloped, was poised to develop into a great nation before long. Being an Indian was being a citizen of such a country.
2. Quiz Time, Chitrahaar, Hum Log, Buniyaad, Ramayan, Mahabharat, Nukkad, Janvani
3. Doordarshan, being a government channel, did try to overlook the darker side of our lives – the hierarchical and feudal character of the Indian society, the corrupt and pseudo-democratic nature of the Indian polity, and the highly inegalitarian and monopolistic nature of the Indian economy – and projected only the brighter side. Thus the Indian identity created by Doordarshan was partly real and partly false.
4. My concept of the Indian identity has definitely undergone a change, as I have access to a variety of media now.
5. News programs with on-the-spot, live footage; reality shows on singing competitions
6. Cable TV channels are different from Doordarshan in that they exist to earn profits from advertisements. They therefore cater to those sections of the society that have purchasing power. So their programs are mostly for and about the high-class, Westernized, urban section of the Indian society. This naturally colours my perception of the Indian identity.
7. This question is not clear to me, yet I will give it a try. I use the Net for several hours every day, and I use it at both office and home. Does that answer the question?
8. Gmail, Google, Wikipedia, Linkedin, Orkut
9. Since Indian engineers have played a big role in the IT revolution, Indians in general have a significant presence on the Net, for example, in online groups, discussion boards, blogs, etc. This makes one more confident and more proud of one’s Indian identity.
10. Yes, the Internet has made me much more of a global citizen. National identities are definitely blurring.
July 28, 2008 at 2:22 am
Thanks Rakesh!
November 3, 2009 at 12:36 pm
1. Going back to the time when we had only on channel in India, how would you say that Doordarshan affected your concept of what it means to be Indian?
A great deal because we had more worthy programs like “Buniyad” and even some classic Indian films.
2. In the days, when Doordarshan was the only television broadcasting body in India, which are some of the programmes that stand out in your memory?
When “Yeh jo hai zindagi” was shown on Fridays there would be no traffic on the roads and there would be silence all over.
3. Did you perceive Doordarshan as attempting to create an ‘Indian’ identity? And if so, was this identity accurate?
It did to some extent.
4. Has your concept of being Indian changed since then, or does it remain the same?
Doordarshan did make an effort and it showed. My concept hasn’t changed since then as most of it was forced down my throat.
5. Since the time that cable television has been introduced, what are some of the programmes that stand out on TV?
none. I see a lot of movies in bits and pieces, but nothing in particular, nothing registers.
6. Do you think that cable television has in any way changed your concept of what it means to be Indian?
Yes a lot, young people wear low-waist jeans, and scruffy clothes.
7. Moving on to the coming of the Internet, how do you use the Net?
I am more into the net because I can interact when I want to and when I have the time.
8. Which are some of the sites that you most often frequent?
Facebook and twitter. Also, ryze.
9. Has the Internet in any way affected your perception of yourself as Indian?
No, not at all.
10. Does the Internet make you feel part of a larger global community, as against an Indian community?
yes it does. I have friends in various parts of the world.
November 3, 2009 at 12:36 pm
christina,
hope you got that.
John
November 3, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Hi John,
Yes… I did… Thank you for leaving your comments!
Cheers,
Christina