Kartik Lokhande's blog

By Kartik Lokhande Long ago, someone had said that social media will strengthen democracy. While one tends to believe this statement on the basis of positive usages of social media platforms, one is also encouraged to think otherwise because of caste-based usages of the same platforms. In true sense, the platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook etc have turned into tools to deepen the social divides in virtual world. There was a time when the media was controlled by ruling political class. Then, especially during the British Raj, the freedom fighters in India used mainly the print media to express their dissent. When there was no space for expression of dissent in so-called mainstream media, they resorted to starting secret publications devoted to the cause of struggle for Independence. There were instances when radio or television media working from foreign soil became useful platforms for Indian freedom fighters, to make the world know their views. Since India earned her In...