The Times of Today

It is 6:00 in the morning, your alarm rings and you’re up. You open the main door and probably bring in the packets of milk and then pick up the paper and glance at the headlines. Do they make you smile or leave you worried?

The last time I remember being happy after reading the main headline was the day after India won the cricket world cup. It made me very proud indeed. Do you remember any good news that was published after that?

The front page talks about the haphazard state of politics in the country or which minister made how many crores in the latest scam. If it’s not this, then it is about the latest round of shootings and bombings in yet another unstable city of the world.

The local news talks about rising water shortage, little kids being mauled by stray dogs, old ladies being mugged in broad daylight, young couples succumbing to the mounting pressures of today and the case of another lady being harmed by a taxi driver on her way back from work.

The international section is no better. There are articles about attacks based on racism, students terrorizing their schools with guns and talented youngsters found dead due to drug abuse. Have you seen what else passes of as “news”? There will be some obscure university in some obscure city making statements like “People who drink coffee while standing on their head are able to drive faster than people who do not”. Or some scientists will discover the world’s tiniest elephant or largest housefly and tell us how it is such a wonderful finding.

The finance bit  should surely how some sign of progress, no? No. Sky high debts faced by the world’s superpower countries and the inflation rates that are just spiralling upwards can depress you enough to take a day off from work.

The sports segment is pretty bad too. Great icons are caught red-handed in scandals of varying degrees and upcoming athletes are stuck in doping controversies. Whatever happened to sportsmanship and the spirit of the game?

The most colourful and apparently entertaining part of the newspaper is the tabloid. Every day it is adorned with pictures of a new semi-clad diva proclaiming that she’s still waiting for the right script. The last page has a bunch of celebs declaring that they’re dating one another’s exes and yet are a part of one big happy family!

When young kids start reading, parents let them start with the newspaper. In schools, teachers further encourage reading the papers as a good habit. But what are children learning really? Why should all our days start with so much negativity?

There is a silver lining though. Reading the comics may bring a smile to your face. Once in a while, there will be a well written piece in the editorials which can actually make you think. At times, there will be an article about an auto driver who took pains to return a forgotten bag to his customer. There is news about a teenager who risked his life to save a younger child from a burning vehicle. There will be a middle aged professional who gave up her job to start a school or a shelter for under privileged children. There are educational supplements which discuss new upcoming fields of study. 

If only the papers had more of such heartening news every day, people would start their days happier.

If only people were happier, maybe there wouldn't be such disturbing news.

If only the world was a better place!