The "D-day" conspiracy

As the D-Day approaches, I am sure all the channels will go into a frenzy, if they already haven't. Speculations will be made, guesses hazarded, conspiracies hatched - all to get an insider's view. Already it is being touted as the event of the year, Shaadi No 1 and what not, and the time and energy spent by the television channels to get a glimpse into what is supposedly happening within the fortified walls of Prateeksha and Jalsa makes one question the whole exercise. Can they not use the same amount of time and energy in a better manner, to really make a difference?

The day before yesterday every channel had at least a 5-minute segment about the Sangeet ceremony for the Abhi-Ash wedding (did you really think I was talking about the Doomsday Conspiracy?), "reflecting deeply" on what songs would be sung, on whether Hrithik would be performing for his good friend Abhi and on how Ash was rehearsing her special number, Kajra re. And coincidentally, all the channels had a similar heading for this segment (worded differently, of course): Ash-Abhi Sangeet: You are not invited!

Now, I can't help but wonder - what is this obsession with this wedding? And what is the big deal about not being invited? Here are two individuals tying a knot (as do thousands others every second somewhere in this country). Just because they happen to be in a profession that keeps them in the public eye all the time, the media and scores of others around the nation seem to presume they have a de facto right to partake in these celebrations. If Abhi and Ash and their families want to have a personal moment away from the public glare and cameras, is it so difficult to give it to them? What irks me is when the so-called national channels on their prime time news bulletins create such a hype over two individuals getting married when there are other important issues at stake in this country? For a week now, almost every news bulletin during the day on every channel must have had at least 3 minutes (on an average) devoted to this. Go, calculate how much time is that?

Now, think of the following stories about children in this country:
1. A report on child abuse in India shows that 2 out of every 3 children face some form of abuse, and usually from someone known or someone in the position of responsibility.
2. Another report throws light on the rampant malnutrition among Indian children, that it is responsible for 50 per cent of the 2.3 million child deaths in the country.
3. That according to NACO estimates there are 2,00,000 children under 15 suffering from AIDs in this country and about 50,000 to 60,000 children are born with HIV every year (And we spend time wondering whether or not it was alright for a Hollywood star to kiss a Bollywood star in public).

Can you recall seeing a detailed analysis of any of these stories on the idiot box? I can't help but wonder where we are going. We have the time and energy and the motivation to reflect for hours together on a kiss that should have been given a miss, or a wedding that essentially is a private affair. Yet, we don't find the same time to focus on things that need to be talked about.