Yesterday while I was sitting sipping a hot steaming cup of tea that my daughter in law said " papa, the world is going to end in 2012". How come you say so, are you also getting panicky on media reports, I casually remarked. But again empahatically she said this has been a topic in my school among the teachers and  she was absolutely unaware. "I felt pity, why I am not aware of the phenomena that we shall possibly survive until 2012." She was sorry probably because she could not participate in the teachers gossip period and had to listen to whatever other teachers said.

She then pointed out that probably Calendar for years ahead of 2012 have not been planned, just because of this forecast. I laughed and said Calendars are printed on the offset machines and these are still workinmgand shall work after 2012 too. She was apprehensive of what is going to happen.

The above experiece is narrated as to how the rumours find wheels from person to person and none apparently bothers to check the authenticity of the event. So the hype is created by news channels that are telecasting the arrival of the doomsday.But then, the channels in attempting to improve their TRPs have been telecasting material which has not substance. Like Sai Baba appearing in the sky or in the trunck of the banyan tree. Or sometimes a hindu diety is shown as weeping. Ganeshji drinking milk is reported in the media and people rush with packets of milk to temples to see if Ganeshji drinks the milk offered by them.Many persons vouched for this, as their personal experience.

Now do these stories carry the substance that is sought to be brought about in them? No scientific evaluation was ever done on such themes.These media reported items vanished in thin air after a small time. Public memory being short, such stories go in hibernation. And then suddenly a new media/electronic media report comes and starts a new debate and people get swayed by such TRP increasing stories and throng to the TV sets.

Electronic channels carrying stories on 2012 to be the doomsyear also seems to be the product of similar kind of mind. The electronic media circulated stories with emphasis on 2012 and the story that would be just dismissed in the course of a logical debate gets abundant audience that flow money in the channel coffers.

Media hype creates an intoxicant that is probably far more than of liquour. Like liquor the intoxication lasts for a few days, in continuous state if the hype is regularly pumped in and sobriety appears once the effect of the intoxication is over. Maldive island government held a meeting under the sea to send message to the world that the island is on the verge of losing its existence and appealed to world to help save the island. But this remained only a one day news and there have been no subsequent debate on the vital issue.

I donot know if the rumour about 2012 could be drawn from this kind of report, but such hype is addictive and results in hearsay very often. We should work on logic as we are living in 21st ccentury and should accept only that event which has logical, scientific basis. Till the, let us enjoy the best of life. I can assure that we shall live much longer than 2012 in this blossoming world civilization.

Satish Chandra Sharma

The news of Nobel Peace Prize going to Barak Obama stunned many in the world. Obama himself was surprised at getting the prize and  had said that he felt "both suprized and humbled","he did not feel deseerved to be in the company of the past laureates" and termed it as an affirmation of the American Leaadership.

The noble prize committee announced that the award goes to President Obama "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between people." The announcement came as a shock to people in world and Chicago Tribune conducted a survey in which 71.3% of respondents in the Survey said "NO". Only 28.7% condidred Obama a "right pick" for the prize.AThe Republ;ican Party also questioned eligibility of Obama in getting the peace prize.

The Prize has been awarded to Obama for causing reduction in the nuclear war heads and his diplomacy's U turn in providing leadership to the world as people's aspiration. Both the parameters have gone wrong in the context of honouring Obama with with Prize.

American still has about 5500 war heads. It has failed to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. Iran has only agreed to restart to the talks on its nuclear programme.His diplomacy on Russia evoked mixed reactions. His work done in the internation sphere has yet to bear fruit. There were nominations of  205 persons from across the world. However, the peace prize went to Obama for his" multilateral diplomacy" and for adopting "dialogue and negotiations as preferred tool of diplomacy" as per the boble peace prize committe.

The irony is that he has been awarded the peace prize despite he has been holding the presidency of the US only for a small period. His policies have yet nat made any dent on the world scene and the reactions of the world speaks volume of his eligibility. What ever Obama has professed has been surpassed by many great world leaders.

The Award going to Obama is also casating asperations on the committee that awards the prize, may be to please the  great leader of the World, Mr. Obama has been obliged with citation of award, a diploma and US$ 1.4 million by the committee.

This announcement is going to dent the credibility of the committee and it should act pregmatically in future while conferring such prestigious awards.

Satish Chandra Sharma