BALASORE: ‘'Maila lo ...maila lo…Akhi thara maila lo…rasikia hindi mastara...Dhaila lo… dhaila lo…kana mora dhaila lo…rasikia hindi mastara…Paila lo…paila lo…bhala mote paila lo…rasikia hindi mastara.” (Teasing me teasing me, fanciful Hindi teacher…ah …twitching my ear, twitching my ear…fanciful Hindi teacher, loving me…loving me…fanciful Hindi teacher) Crude and provocative, modern Oriya video albums have spared none and encompassed all - people in remote villages, cities and towns. These albums are a dime a dozen these days and have even belittled the student-teacher relationship.
With none sparing a thought to stop airing of these double-meaning albums songs, the teacher community has expressed concern over the impact of the songs on the student mass. On the occasion of Teacher’s Day yesterday they demanded a ban on such ‘vulgar’ album songs. They feel the observance of the day has no meaning when these albums sell like hot cakes.
“While these songs are blaring out from shops, puja pandals, buses and marriage processions, the music videos have proliferated numerous TV channels. The albums may be in much in demand, but they have an adverse impact on the students,” said Nigamananda Panigrahi, former secretary of Orissa Secondary School Teachers Association (OSSTA). “The State Government should immediately take steps to ban these songs and warn the album producers not to promote such songs which are aimed at tarnishing the image of both teachers and students,” he demanded.
Several other teachers also objected to the Education Department’s silence over the matter. “Aping Hindi remixes, these Oriya songs are full of raunchiness. Lyrics are tasteless and to a great extent cheap while their presentation aims at titillating the viewers. The Education Department should take cognisance of it,” pointed out Nabasundar Sahani, a teacher.
Agrees popular lyric writer Nizam. ‘’We should think twice before writing something about the Gods and Goddesses and even the teachers and students. There should be a limit.” The teachers have also taken strong exception to the way the students are now observing the Teachers Day by sending SMSes like ‘Happy Teachers Day’. “Earlier, the students used to take blessings from us. But now they are sending SMSes and greeting cards. I think with these practices the sanctity of the day is lost,’’ rued Sanghamitra Das, a teacher.
Higher Education secretary Madhusudan Padhi admitted that there should be a check on production of such cheap songs. ‘’But I don’t think the Higher Education Department can do anything on this issue. I think the Information and Public Relations Department or the Culture Department can do something to ban these songs,” he said.