Suraj Punj Journal For Multidisciplinary Research ISSN NO: 2394-2886 A SURVEY-REPORT ON THE PARENTS ABOUT PARENTAL CONTROL OVER THEIR CHILD IN CONNECTION WITH TELEVISION CARTOONS AND MOBILE-GAMES: A PHILOSOPHICAL STUDY Submitted by – MIHIR RANJAN BISWAS, Assistant Professor in Philosophy, Gangarampur College,P.O+P.S = Gangarampur, District – Dakshin Dinajpur, State –West Bengal, Country – India, e-mail:[email protected], Mobile: 7001618388. [Procedure of the survey on parents: I have done the survey work on parents on and from 30th June2018 to 30th July2018. I had taken direct interviews of kids of primary-schools through the printed questionnaires, with the help of different class teachers and the head teacher/principal. Kid submitted filled questionnaires to their class teacher after a stipulated time at the same day. Now, another questionnaire for their parents has been handed over to kids who must have to deposit to their class teacher after filling up within 3 to 4 days intervals. Such deposited questionnaires I had collected from the principal after a few days. Therefore, the process of my survey on parents is the indirect and without face to face interactions through the printed questionnaires where as the kids interactions was direct.] In my survey work on children, I had seen what the kid choices in the animated cartoon serials are showing on television. Mainly, I shall explain and analyze the television cartoons because, in the modern times television-cartoons are most developed animations and it is easy to getting by the child. It is the established truth in my chapter-IV; that the cartoon serials namely, CHHOTA BHEEM (425 Volume 8, Issue 12, 2018 Page No: 246 Suraj Punj Journal For Multidisciplinary Research ISSN NO: 2394-2886 out of 1084), DOREMON (356 out of 1084) and MOTU-PATLU (288 out of 1084) are placed top ranks by the kid’s choice; where the cartoon ‘SINCHEN’ (210 out of 1084) ranks 4th positions. Therefore, I think, I have to discuss precisely the main themes of these above said cartoon serials to find out the ethical messages for the kids. The entire above said cartoon serials have so many good and bad influences on kids; but with the best of my scrutiny I find that a lot of immoral influences are there into these cartoon serials. So, I shall explain such cartoon serials by heading them as ‘Complaint (necessarily moral degradations) against Cartoons Names’ which becomes top ranking through the kids choices obtained by the survey work. Let me explain such ‘Complaint’ or ‘Negativity’ of these cartoon serials: Here I shall briefly show a sample of a set of causes of moral degradations by analyzing the four top viewed cartoon serials namely; CHHOTA BHEEM, DOREMON, MOTU-PATLU and SINCHEN. The content of cartoon analysis or synthesis of cartoon serials is not my targeted purposes; I am not against or infavour of any particular cartoon or cartoon serials; I have no suggestion to modifying such cartoons; My analysis do not have any business oriented pre- planned intention to reach at the profit or losing levels of the analyzed cartoons. Only I shall try to show how the moral degradations occur in the society through the some popular electronic gadgets, especially through the cartoons of television. I do not disagree with others that cartoon have a lot of positive qualities; it is true that from the very beginning of a kids-life, cartoon have a lot of good impacts on them. Except these good qualities the animated cartoons have innumerable bad and harmful impacts on children; I shall here show some bad impacts of cartoons especially of CHHOTA BHEEM, DOREMON, MOTU-PATLU and SINCHEN. Because, these three cartoon serials placed in top ranking in my survey work among the primary- children of class K.G to class IV standard. Volume 8, Issue 12, 2018 Page No: 247 Suraj Punj Journal For Multidisciplinary Research ISSN NO: 2394-2886 1. Complaints against CHHOTA BHEEM: 1. A viewer raised his opinion against CHHOTA BHEEM after watching the episode ‘RUBIX CUBE’ where a women character of AFRICAN inhabitants is called ‘BLACK QUEEN’. Fat kids are called ‘KALIA’- is it not racism? 2.Abusive language always used into the CHHOTA BHEEM cartoon. Kalia in every step used the word ‘RASCALS’ towards his two friends Dholu and Bholu. 3.In an episode of CHHOTA BHEEM, it is found as the notice in written form that “This is a break free show. Do not go to the bathroom”. A mother complaint to the BCCC and wrote ‘what kinds of advice is this to kids to not attend nature’s call’? 4.CHHOTA BHEEM is a super hero. His habit is to eating Ladoo – which can make him powerful to fighting against the harmful power and creatures. So, kids also love to eat Ladoo which is not good nutrition for them. 5.A petition has been started online by Mr. Susnata Seal, against contents showing on CHHOTA BHEEM cartoons since 2008. Mr. Seal think that the cartoon is not ‘innocent’ as the makers claim it to be. “The show constantly feeds concepts of violence, bullying and rivalry to the children and sets unrealistic standards of strength, which causes kids to be more violent towards others. ………. The storylines are unnatural which virtually leaves nothing for the kid’s brain. …… The lower level of intelligence shown by the current generation kids. ….. But, kids like CHHOTA BHEEM due to super heroism of a 9 years old boy, who is companion-like with them (or friend)”1. The petitions which demands a ban on CHHOTA BHEEM has received over 700 signatures till now. In fact, I must have to say something here because, I had done survey among the primary- school-student to find out some relevant information. Unfortunately and co- incidentally some of information received from my survey directly support Mr. 1 Petition demands ban on CHHOTA BHEEM: http://www.thenewsminute.com-Flix. Volume 8, Issue 12, 2018 Page No: 248 Suraj Punj Journal For Multidisciplinary Research ISSN NO: 2394-2886 Seal’s allegations against cartoon‘CHHOTA BHEEM’. Of course, it is debatable to me that the ban on such cartoons is proper solution or not. 6.The Hindu, one of the Indian leading daily newspaper, stated on 27th August,2017 that: “Over 40 million viewers (majorly kids) watches the CHHOTA BHEEM cartoon daily; and CHHOTA BHEEM merchandise from toothpaste to toys-flood Indian stores. But, the Hindu claims that the cartoon CHHOTA BHEEM is full of sexiest, racial, linguistic and other discriminations. Let see what the Hindu feels: (i) There is explicit gender biasness: Chutki has fair skin and has two pink spots on the cheeks. She loves playing with the boys but keeps herself busy with all sorts of arts and household. She never participates when their team meets in the physical fighting or movements are involved. Bheem is the last word. Always his heroism rescue the team; not by any girls. There is Racial prejudice and Linguistic abusiveness also.”2 2.Complaints against DOREMON: The basic and key importance’s of the cartoon serial DOREMON is as:- 1.The cartoon persuade a kid to be a lazy kid like NOBITA who depends on gadgets to get his home work. 2.Four to Five years old boy NOBITA wants to marries a girl SHIZUKA. 3.All the kids in DOREMON cartoon believes that entire home work will be solved automatically by some miraculous gadgets other than own brain processing . 4.DOREMON KIDS do not respect their teachers. “Some of audiences demand ban on the Doremon cartoon’s screening on Indian television. One of them had given maximum interesting objectives before the name of that cartoon; these are as follows – NOBITA is a leading cartoon 2 WORLD OF CHHOTA BHEEM – THE HINDU. https://www.thehindu.com-opinion-open page Volume 8, Issue 12, 2018 Page No: 249 Suraj Punj Journal For Multidisciplinary Research ISSN NO: 2394-2886 character in the whole serials, he is foolish, stupid, idiots, mad, cheater, ugly face, dirty worker and he wants to marrie SHRIZUKA even, he also goes to see SHRIZUKA naked when she is bathing. One expressed oneself view toward DOREMON cartoon that, the cartoon will spoil our kid’s future. NOBITA is doing nothing without useless and adverse work through the cheating to his teachers, parents, friends even Doremon as well. Let see the harmful unethical activities of Doremon cartoon on the eyes of a parents: His complaint against this cartoon bearing head line ‘Cartoon serial Doramon definitely a threat to the generation’. The lead role NOBITA is a lazy, undisciplined, manner less boy who; (i)who does not study nor does his home work and cheat his teachers. (ii)Does not do any work at home, cheat parents. (iii)Does not attempt any sports or activities but wants to be successful through other means. (iv)Never feels guilty about his mistakes. He is only proud he could cheat. (v)Always thinks about proposing a girl of his same age.”3 3. Complaints against MOTU-PATLU Mrs. Hameeda Syed’s post in the Free Press Kashmir Blog on July30, 2018; she had written with the head line ‘The dark side of cartoons’ that “Next time when your child nags, cries, or fight for saying glued to a cartoon show, pause and ponder: How’s that moving picture influencing your child’s behavior? Because not everything they show in the name of animation is healthy for your child’s mind and manners”.4 3 Complaint Board: National Consumer Complaint Forum: Consumer Complaint and Reviews about cartoon serials DOREMON – NOBITA. https://www.complaintboard.in/complaint...../cartoon serials..../ doremon- nobita-1314073.