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Sagar Watch News: Opinion
Only in Kerala does one see a major newspaper devoting an entire page to the passing of an eminent Indian scientist. Mathrubhumi’s detailed tribute to the life and legacy of Professor Madhav Gadgil was not just an obituary; it was a lesson in values—an assertion that intellect, integrity, and lifelong contribution to the nation still matter. Sadly, this kind of respect is an exception rather than the rule in the rest of the country.
In most other states, one would struggle to find even a small column acknowledging the death of a scientist of national and international stature. This raises a deeply troubling question: have our media houses become so obsessed with sensation that they have forgotten substance?
Today’s front pages are dominated by controversies, celebrity gossip, political theatrics, and manufactured outrage. These may attract eyeballs, but they do little to build minds or inspire futures.
Scientists like Professor Gadgil—who spent their entire lives working selflessly behind the curtain, shaping policies, protecting ecology, advancing knowledge, and strengthening the nation—rarely make it to prime space.
Yet it is precisely such lives that should be showcased before students and young citizens. If the youth never see scientists celebrated, how will they ever aspire to become one?
The media is not just a business; it is a powerful social institution. It plays a decisive role in shaping national consciousness and priorities. When scientists, researchers, educators, and thinkers are consistently sidelined, the message is clear: glamour matters more than gravity, noise more than knowledge.
This is not merely a failure of coverage; it is a failure of vision. A nation that does not honour its intellectual contributors risks discouraging generations of quiet, dedicated minds who could otherwise transform society.
Kerala’s example shows that another approach is possible—one where newspapers recognise their responsibility to history, not just to trends. Media houses across the country must introspect and revisit their editorial policies.
No one is asking for daily full-page tributes, but surely there is space for at least a thoughtful column or a respectful obituary for those who have contributed so profoundly to the nation’s development. Celebrating scientists is not a regional preference; it is a national necessity.
If we truly care about the future of India, we must begin by valuing those who build it silently. Giving scientists visibility is not charity—it is justice. And it is time our mainstream media remembered that.
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