Mechanisation has made people mental patients: Prasanna

Mangalore, June 30: The overdependence on machines in the post-industrialization era has changed people's approach towards life. The fast-paced lifestyle is taking a toll on the modern man's mental health. In the olden days people used to put in lot of hard work to make a living, but still the physical exertion would make them get a sound sleep in the night. But the mental pressure brought about by increased mechanization has made life miserable. We are not able to enjoy a good night's sleep because of the fatigue caused by an overburdened mind. This is also making us more and more prone to mental diseases, said Prasanna, celebrated theatre person, here on Saturday.

He was presiding over a programme organized by the Journalists Study Centre, at Roshni Nilaya in Mangalore to commemorate the Kannada Press Day, which will be celebrated on July 1.

Stating that the society has come quite far on the road of mechanization and industrialization, Mr. Prasanna recalled the assurance recently given by the prime minister after taking over the finance portfolio to put the country back on the path of liberalization to arrest the current slowdown. “This can be compared to the predicament of a person riding on a tiger's back. He does not know how to climb down. Similar is the case with mechanization. We are paying for it in terms of global warming, disappearing rains. But still we are continuing with it because we don't know how to come out of the mess,” he said.

Mr. Prasanna called upon journalists to be truthful to their conscience while discharging their responsibilities and rise above the confines of personal ideologies and isms. “The question of morality is not a problem exclusive to the media. People in all vocations face similar situation. A journalist should respond to such challenges by considering himself as a human being first and not a votary of any political party or ideology,” he said.

The speech was followed by a question-answer session. In reply to a question posed by a student, Mr. Prasanna said the industrialization has also harmed journalism. “Can we expect journalists working in the newspapers and channels run by industrialists and politicians to write something against the interest of their bosses. Today owners of media houses also run several other businesses. A transport tycoon owns a newspaper while the leading English daily of the country is owned by a group, which is into an array of other businesses. How can one expect independent and impartial journalism in such a situation?” he asked.

Safiya Naeem compered the programme. Praveen Padigar announced the launching of the Patrakarthara Adhyayana Kendra's blog.

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