Anupam- The Dreamer

Whenever the results of Civil Services Exam are out, you will see that the most “viral” news items, among others, are those with candidates who were failures in 10^th or 12^th exam or had backlogs (we used to call them “fakka”) in college exams. It is portrayed as if the failures or mistakes in earlier life has earned them their current success, rather than highlighting their hardwork, persistence and dedication which resulted into their success. The fault is not of the TRP-hungry media channels, but the malaise lies deep within the societal mindset of enjoying the mistakes and negativities of others.

It is seen that the masala news is something which is more negative and which shows the negative side of some person. And why shouldn’t it be? Afterall, people in general love to watch the downfall of someone “famous” or a “bigshot”, rather than celebrating the positive things done by them. And the simple reason for this is- It’s hard to become worthy of something or achieving success on your own, but it is rather easy to criticize/blame/reprimand the mistakes or follies of others! People, in general, or to put in other way, majority of common populace, tend to be lazy and avoid hardwork. So, rather than uplifting themselves up, they find it easeir to pull others down. Sort of crab mentality, which I have written about in my earlier article (https://anupamsinghalthedreamer.com/2026/02/08/if-you-have-a-choice-dont-be-a-crab-rather-be-an-ant-instead/).

The TV channels are brimming with negative news, even those which don’t concern the public welfare at large, e.g. Mr. X, a Bollywood hotshot, caught in the drug racket. They will show this for 7 days non-stop, and then as soon as they get another masala news, they leave the first one and latch onto the other. And the sequence continues. But, never will you see, that they show a positive and encouraging news item for 7 days straight! The problem is not with the channels or social media, rather the mindset which encourages this bullshit. Then, it should not be a matter of surprise that good things and humane things happening around us, don’t get the popularity and encouragement that it deserves.

I would like to believe that there are more instances of good and positive things that are happening around than the bad and negative things. But, instead of wasting our time in gossiping about bad things, if we start to devote more time to learn from good things, then wouldn’t it be better for the individuals, in particular, and society, in general? There could be more positive environment in our homes, in our workplaces, in public spaces, and in the public discourse. This could also lead us all to higher levels of success, achievement and motivation. And as it is said that the “Like attracts like”, so if you read positive things, think positive, speak positive and do positive, positivity is bound to come to you.

But, if you indulge in the temporary, inhumane, and sadistic pleasure of enjoying the mistakes and negativities, then it is bound to affect your mindset and you can’t help but slowly and steadily the same things will start creeping into your thoughts, words and actions!

Mindset will not change the things as they are in reality, there will be negatives and there will be positives. And neither one should be blind to the negatives and positives existing around us. But, the things that you focus and invest time on, will eventually determine, what you will become in the long-term.

Till next time….