#ARTICLE NO :-07
BY : Syed Mustafa Ahmad.
“RUMOURS AND TRUTH”
Rumours dominate our society. In the age of science and technology, it has
become easier to blow or spread rumours from one area to another. Rumour
basically is a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth. It
is a well known fact that any doubtful thing should be avoided in the society. If
the situation arises, there should be an addition of doubt added to a statement or
a news. Without adding doubt to it, can prove disastrous. We have lot of
examples that make clear that how rumours are harmful and I am not going to
discuss them here.
The main point that is of utmost importance is that why rumours spread
quickly from one area to another. What are the factors that make it possible to
spread rumours? In this piece of writing, I will discuss some causes.
Firstly, we are uneducated people. We have high degrees but we lack
intellectualism. An educated persons spreads oral things from mouth to mouth. It
is advised that every news should be verified. Its origin and effects should be
thoroughly discussed or observed. No news should be forwarded without in-
depth analysis. But this is not the case in our society.
Secondly, we live in a conflict zone. Any incident of minute nature can blow
things out of proportion. If a bullet is accidentally fired, we take it is an encounter.
In the conflict zone, truth is difficult to find which a rumour reigns.
Thirdly, we are prejudiced people. We have some pre-occupations in mind
that don’t allow us to look at the other side of the tunnel. When someone or
something is bad in our minds without any proof, the slightest mistake forces us
to spread the doubtful truth here and there. We hate them. And in this way, we
give some solace to ourselves. On the contrary, if someone is good without having
any merit, his or her mistake looks a virtue and we lose no time in declaring that
he or she is on the righteous path. This information is shared by many people and
the result is destruction.
Fourthly, we don’t know how to distinguish between a rumour and the truth.
We are never taught to make a difference between the two. Whatever comes in
our way is either right or wrong, because our nourishment is in such a way that
wrong is wrong and right is right. We never bother to look at both the terms again
and introspect again.
Fifthly, we live in an ignorant society. The orthodox principles are transmitted
from one generation to another. Children inherent things from their parents and
the chain goes on. The parents never learn to question. How can the children do
this? They think it is better to follow than to fall in a long discussion, which they
don’t know.
Sixthly, the introduction of the internet has changed everything. A small child
can spread rumours at the click of a button. It becomes viral in moments. He or
she does it due to fun or lack of knowledge but it takes a dangerous shape in the
society. We read text in haste and make abrupt decisions. We never bother to
look at the origin of news. Simply, we go on sharing the news and the result is
that we reach nowhere and feel ashamed.
Seventhly, we want fame. To be a famous person, means that we can adopt
any way. A person doesn’t feel satisfied if he or she doesn’t have something extra
ordinary to do. So, they devise rumours and get publicity. In the end,truth gets
killed.
Eighthly, we love something to discuss about. A rumour makes us active.
Without having a rumour to discuss, we feel something missing in our lives.
Having a rumour among us does miracles. We weave unimaginable stories and
the time passes by very quickly.
Ninthly, we imitate others blindly. We never bother to look where we are
going. We feel that others have taken lead while we have remained behind. This
approach goes against the truth.
Tenthly and lastly according to my opinion is that we never learn from past. If
the past experience teaches that we have got nothing by spreading rumours,
what rumours can give us in the future is quite clear!
The need of the hour is to remain conscious. Leniency can prove dangerous.
We must differentiate between the truth and a rumour. We come to senses when
it is very late. Let us rise to the occasion.
