Tag: Bhaskar Das

The question is self-explanatory. Let’s hear what our dear Dr Bhaskar Das says. Without further ado, the November 5, 2020 edition of the Das ka Dum series. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. The other day I was speaking to someone about you. She isn’t a marketer and isn’t from the media. While I have a great amount of adjectives for you (Gyaani, Wizard with Words, Superstar Salesman etc), I was at a loss for how I should describe you. Since you are now more into academics than industry, though it’s the latter that you are so well-known for. Can you help?

A. I wonder why a tag is always required to describe a person. But I understand that such artificial sobriquet is a standard behavioural procedure (SBP). You may try this one for me: I am a spiritual being passing through a temporary human experience.

It’s a personal peeve. We think this observance is regressive. So we asked Dr Bhaskar Das this question as part of the Das ka Dum series. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. It’s karwa-chauth today. In many ways, it’s a regressive tradition. Should the media even cover such observances or festivals, if they can be called that?

A. I am of the opinion that while it is important for every society to constantly revisit its rituals, behaviour and culture and social mores. It is equally important to do so with empathy and objectivity. If an individual celebrates out of volition (and not under duress) inside the house, why should one brand it pejoratively or positively. Coming to coverage by media entities, it’s their decision. There is no black or white answer. After all media only reflects society.

Ha ha. We tried to put our dear Wizard with Words in a corner, but as always he put a philosophical spin on it. Here’s Das ka Dum by Dr Bhaskar Das. Dated November 3. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. We just had a webseries made on Harshad Mehta. If you were to select a person from the media who you think a biopic should be made on, who would it be?

A. There have been many luminaries in media in the past and present on whom such a biopic can be made. But for any biopic to be successful (at least commercially) some formulae are followed by any production house in terms of twists and turns, inspiration, milestones that provide national pride etc etc. These presuppose enough archives of episodic events to dramatise the chronicling of them into a docudrama. Since I have no data points on that, I can’t comment authentically on the same.

As the number of people (including in the media) testing positive is not going through a significant decline, we asked Dr Bhaskar Das this question. Here’s Das ka Dum dated November 2. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. 01. For once being positive is actually a negative. The number of people affected by the Covid-19 virus is growing, including in the media. Your message or word of advice to someone who has tested positive?

A. What can’t be cured has to be endured. And endurance of the Covid-19 pandemic can be developed only through following circumspection about  the way we live our daily lives and developing immunity through following a strict regime of health including exercise and meditation. And not to forget that it’s also a time to upskill oneself (read change one’s mindset per se) to keep one’s powder always dry to pivot anytime to the demands of time.

Okay, so you know what/who we are hinting at. But, for the moment, let’s take the question at face value. Here’s Dr Bhaskar Das in Das ka Dum dated October 30. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. A Friday Question: Would you say that people who say they are the ultimate in bravery aren’t lions but often big cowards?

A. Seems to be a sweeping generalisation, I feel, without enough data points. Never faced such contra characters in one individual in my lifetime. In fact, it would be impossible to nurture two opposing characters simultaneously. So, I don’t subscribe to your observation. Even if there is existence of such human species, they would be more an exception, than a rule.

It’s been a horrible year indeed. Let’s read what Dr Bhaskar Das says in response to our question in Das ka Dum dated October 29. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. In 1992, Queen Elizabeth II referred to the year as ‘Annus Horribilis’ indicating a horrible year. How do you think will the Queen label 2020?

A. ‘Annus Mirabilis’ perhaps. As an incorrigible optimist, I believe this can be a remarkable year in terms of innovation and transformation. I know it’s counter-intuitive when we are witnessing an unprecedented crisis for human civilisation, but a crisis can be an opportunity also. So, as Winston Churchill had opined once: never let a good crisis go to waste.

No current context, and no specific reason for asking the question. Here’s Dr Bhaskar Das in Das ka Dum dated October 28. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. As someone who has earned a doctorate after much effort – and not once, but twice over, do you feel cheated when you find people sporting a ‘Dr’ for near-nothing-at-all?

A. A doctorate is a recognition of one’s commitment to learning and contributing to a new knowledge space. In some cases, it happens through an academic rigour. In other cases, the life of an individual itself is a material for doctorate and the contribution through empiricism earns them the accolade. Hence, I feel there is no one way to contribute to knowledge creation.

Short question, long, detailed response. Here’s Dr Bhaskar Das in Das ka Dum dated October 27. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. The jackets are back in the papers. But are the monies also back? (we’re sure you have inside info)

A. When one sows seeds, the reaping process usually has a lag. In case of the bamboo tree, I understand, it takes years. In the same way, if winter comes, can spring be far behind (courtesy ode to west wind). I was so far commenting on metaphors. The moot point is to get out of the classical metrix of yield, volume etc. When volumes comes and advertisers get response to their communication, yield would automatically follow. Fetish for yield should not reduce a media company to lose its power of resilience. The new normal demands that flexibility.

Welcome back to an all-new work week. We are on October 26, 2020 – the 300th day of the year. Just 66 days to go in the year. It’s the 43rd Monday of the year and we are in Week 44. We know these stats aren’t of any use to you or us, but since we chanced upon them, we thought we may as well serve them to you. So you obviously know the context for today’s question, which our Wizard with Words very sportingly answered. Without any further ado, , here’s Dr Bhaskar Das in Das ka Dum on Day 300 of 2020. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. A career advice: Do you think it will help if mediapersons of today (and tomorrow) are also well-versed in law (given the possibility of having to defend oneself) and statistics (given measurement science etc)?

A. Horizontality of knowledge in today’s gig economy is very critical for any eventuality of pivoting requirement. So it’s not about the discipline one develops expertise in. The moot point is what kind of skill would be relevant for improving both capability and copability. If law and statistics serve that purpose, let that be the case. Incidentally, both the disciplines mentioned by you are also relevant for media , depending on the role expected by an organisation from the candidate.

It’s our Friday question. Not provocative, no tease. Just a straightforward one. Here’s Dr Bhaskar Das in Das ka Dum dated October 23. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. We know you will put a philosophical spin around this question, but we would still like to know: how do you deal with lows in life?

A. What is Low? What is High? Highs or lows are a creation of the mind as the mind loves to oscillate between narcissism and victimhood, so that individuals need not focus on the Present which contains the seeds of an equanimous star of mind. When life is in the NOW, in the MOMENT, one has to distrust both the imposters of High or Low. I practise this philosophy. Oops, have I given it a philosophical spin? May be I am a spinner only

Straightforward question. Straightforward response.  Presenting the October 22 edition of Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. Dassera is coming up, marking the victory of good over evil. Any prevailing/current evil that you think the media should be combating?

A. Dassera is celebrated as a victory of good over evil… it is also called Vijayadashami which is made up of two words– Vijaya meaning victory and Dashami meaning the tenth. To my mind, if the world implements UN sustainable development goals, that would form the real victory of good over evil.

This is a question we received from a reader. And add some of our two-bit to it. Presenting the October 21 edition of Das ka Dum with Dr Bhaskar Das. Read on…

If you wish to access the archives, please go to the Das Ka Dum tab on the website’s top navigation bar.

Q. The revenues of many news organisations have been hit because of the absence of events. Esp the film and numerous other end-of-the-year awards. But in a sense it was not their core activity anyway… news companies ought to be in the business of news, not doing events. Your views?

A. Yes, that’s a collateral damage of Covid-19. In fact all proximity business have been affected in some way or the other. I am sure this would change once vaccine comes in the market. Meanwhile, the resilience and ingenuity of organisations have already enabled them to initiate experiential engagements virtually. But to suggest that it’s not core to news organisation’s operations is not a fair assessment. Ultimately, it’s a monetisation route to an audience access point and it’s relevant for advertisers to leverage that.