Radio Pakistan: then and now
Village life used to be very simple and sweet. Farmers would share their views with one another in a hujra or some other common place after toiling all day in the fields.
The only window open to them to learn what was going on in the world outside happened to be the noble and honest Radio Pakistan which would either present the government’s version of every issue or play patriotic songs on special occasions or during a national crisis.
Now, though, the situation has changed altogether. People even in remote areas have access to information and events occurring anywhere in the world thanks to the ubiquity of cable TV, satellite communication, and social media on the internet. All this has had profound implications for the way they think, eat, and dress. In other words, there is a complete cultural transformation underway in the rural areas.
But despite such a radical change, Radio Pakistan continues to play its traditional role of disseminating selective information and perspectives. Both the format and content of a programme are so well-defined that one can precisely predict what would follow each segment.
For example, the news regularly begins with a moving eulogy of the president’s leadership followed by a resounding glorification of the prime minister for his selfless efforts to combat the scourge of terrorism, solve the energy crisis, and create economic opportunities for a better future. Next in line to be praised would certainly be the minister for information and broadcasting whose performance in projecting the image of Pakistan has to be shared with everyone.
The chief ministers, too, get their share if the interior minister has not issued a fresh warning to terrorists and other criminals of stern action against their anti-state activities. The most recurring news item is a morbid and lethargic reference to Kashmir where Indian atrocities are matched with the uncompromising struggle of the Kashmiris for self-determination.
A typical feature of Radio Pakistan is its emphasis on patriotism expressed through national songs and speeches. People are explicitly and implicitly advised to work for the prosperity and solidarity of the country and obey the law of the land.
Missing from a typical discussion on governance would, however, be any reference to the way rulers can be held accountable for what they do or fail to do. No one in the village would ever know their rights as citizens. Any developmental work done by the government is recognised and promoted as a special favour done to the people.
Local politicians would remind them of those projects whenever they ask for a return under the norm of reciprocity. More importantly, people have very little expectations from the state and are content with life as it is. Politicians can cleverly manipulate them by invoking religion, biradari (clan system), and historical alliances. Economic and social development, in real terms, is rarely seriously discussed in any public forum including Radio Pakistan.
No one can dispute the importance of the media in shaping perceptions. What, however, is contestable is the fact that too much exaggeration and skewed emphasis often prove counter-productive. People become even more sceptical and cynical when they find striking discrepancy between narratives given on radio and TV and the objective conditions on the ground.
The policy of ‘make-people-believe’ through fabricated stories and window-dressing is bound to backfire. One should walk the talk or the talk will push people to walk out of their loyalty to the state. We already witness this phenomenon in various forms and manifestations.
In the midst of the information revolution, Radio Pakistan can survive as a useful platform for discussion, analysis, and promotion of state interests if it transcends its parochial approach of appeasing the sitting government at the cost of concealing the truth to fool the masses.
You may also like
Archives
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- September 2023
- July 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- April 2021
- February 2021
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- December 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- June 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- November 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- December 2011
- October 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
Calendar
M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ||||||
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
30 | 31 |
Leave a Reply