Swadeshiya Sevaya excels on the intellectual front

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Rasanjali, Vidyawa Saha Darshanaya, Pansilugey Horawa, Salapathala Maluwa, Subarathi - these are just a few of the high calibre programmes SLBC's Swadeshiya Sevaya has to its credit over all other radio stations outside or for that matter even within SLBC territory.

Outstandingly, the Vidyawa Saha Darshanaya weekly broadcast makes extremely interesting listening what with Professor Carlo Fonseka conducting the type of interview seemingly of an innovative nature. From astronomers, audit specialists and PhD holders to artistes and book sellers - all of them are grilled and floored in public interest - the bitter confrontation itself taken up well by all interviewees - no hard feelings whatsoever. Rajitha Dissanayake also performs extremely well with his type of interviews.

The rich intellectual content over here in the absence of such elsewhere deserves more than accolades as it finds its place in the order of things that are currently on the decline - the listnership itself plummeting to record low levels. If looking for France's intellectual cafes is all too futile, satisfied we must be that at least even this little remains over here in Sri Lanka's soil given the rather despicable plight on the intellectual front.

The developed world despite its material growth and high degree consumerism keeps aglow the intellectual flame while, to be sadly noted is even the lack of research in our universities. Sri Lanka over the past few decades has transformed into a highly politicized society - a contributory factor in dulling intellectuality - not to forget that universities too are not what it was what with its administrative matters too not escaping the process of politicisation. What follows is a kind of lethargy on the part of intellectuals that pass through life whose presence go unnoticed and praises unsung.

It is against this backdrop that the above programmes deserve more than one bouquet. In an era of social interaction taking on a very ordinary, mediocre and distasteful nature with all those nauseating, bawdy jokes that make up today's conversations - be it in office, school or even in the country's supreme law making body - the membership knows not what healthy conversation is all about nor the thrust and party of debate.

Take a bus ride and to your utter disgust is the abominable state of music that keeps pounding your ear drums. Tell the conductor about it, you are sure to be treated to even more - such is the sadism more cultured people have distastefully learnt to live with. This situation is not without its presence even in some homes where exposure to noise coming off the TV is common while the more sadist type find it an instant thriller watching others into harassment with parents turning a blind eye over the matter.

Thus the absence of cultured thinking and intellectual growth finds easy entry into social chaos. Male chauvinism, harassment of women, non-recognition of minority rights be they religio/ethno/political/economic whatever is widespread.

Isolating ourselves from the mainstream, disregarding the problem as not our own is certainly no way out if we are to bear social responsibility.

Against this backdrop, the Swadeshiya Sevaya's effort needs to be highlighted and appreciated for its sense of social consciousness. Despite State control of this service, it has done remarkably well and is emulation worthy by other State controlled media mechanisms as well.

Moulding public opinion in the way the Swadeshiya Sevaya does is hopefully public well-being in a relative sense. If the media's role is bringing out the best in man, its realization is not possible when hell bent on bringing out the worst in him.

Given the restricted intellectual capital in hand and its increasing dearth in media institutions, how would this objective of public well-being be realised? Professor Carlo Fonseka himself is no media personality and that he has moved into taking on such task is commendable.

So where do we go from here? The only alternative seemingly of an unwelcome nature would be to hire multi-disciplinary experts to conduct such. In foreign countries many outsiders are involved with the media there in more than one way.

Outside expertise interacting with the media hopefully would enrich the latter's mind and help credibility build up when the one way, one track, linear, fragile thinking would be influenced into richness of content and help bring about quality programmes towards public good.

All this may not be deemed necessary had the local media got the like of BBC's Carry Gracy and some others. She on her own worth is an intellectual stimulant. Listening to her is surely a treat as she conducts BBC's interviews.

As to whether we have the like of Carry Gracy in the local media - the benefit of the doubt goes to intellectually vibrant quarters.

An emerging trend in the print media itself is the presence of techno journalists, internet journalists, photo journalists and the like while writer journalists dwindle in numbers. Reporting of an incident itself would not suffice - more importantly an in depth analysis of the incident itself from an intellectual angle. This then is where journalism and law meet eye to eye for in law significantly the need to see its spirit makes a good lawyer.

The recession of intellectual capital in the local media therefore enables the Swadeshiya Sevaya to stand tall in filling a space which may or may not be realized depending on who remains in the media to train these future moulders of public opinion.

A vibrant judiciary and press certainly could torch bear national progress for on these twin elements alone rests national well-being. Steering clear of politics, not denying what is due to the governing party and opposition, upholding the highest principles in not compromising one's conscience and maintaining the dignity of both fist and conscience is pre-cursor to media professionalism.

A vibrant judiciary and press certainly could torch bear national progress for on these twin elements alone rests national well-being.

Steering clear of politics, not denying what is due to the governing party and opposition, upholding the highest principles in not compromising one's conscience and maintaining the dignity of both fist and conscience is pre-cursor to media professionalism.