Communication, relationship, dialogue, sharing, communion.… all these are pillars of harmonious living. Communication is important to express oneself and also for satisfying one’s needs. Everyone must be an effective communicator for the advancement of society and its needs. Similarly relationship with others will help for building communities. 

There are so many basics in communication and relationship. It must be the concern of everyone to grow in deep and worthwhile communication and relationship. Sharing of information is one of the basics for it. This is also the basis of media which has a great role in the society. Media forms the fourth pillar of democracy, the other three being legislature, judiciary and executive. 

Apart from being the fourth pillar, media has the unique role of being the “watch dog”, guarding democracy always. If a government is wrong in its performance, media has a great responsibility, which now a days no one cares. Every government  controls the media, and makes it a “lap-dog”; if the lap-dog resists, the government uses many methods to fall in line. 

In communicating with others we must know the ethos that is the distinctive character, attitude, moral values, cultural elements, spirit etc. of the particular person, group, or society of people. This may be of a particular period or place (as we may say covid-19 period, migrant area, flood time, make-shift centers during calamities, etc.). Knowing these ethnic factors and the limitations of the people or group, it is easy to enter into effective communication. Otherwise one is bound to make mistakes, and/or the communication could be too shallow. 

Emotions have a role in relationship and communication. One has to be sensitively and reasonably balanced and we cannot ignore it. To meet any person or group, one must be tenderly accommodating. Love, compassion, sense of forgiveness, patience, and taking time and going an extra mile, are of paramount importance. Communication and relationship must be lively, pleasant, and in events of disagreement, it must be frank.

One must never break ties, nor create any rifts; discuss, not debate; present facts, not argue; ask, but not confront; in disagreements, variances, opposite views, different solutions must be negotiated; deeper background of relationship must be investigated; this will guide for effective communication; important values of family relationship, work place relationships must be maintained; these are accepted areas which cannot be disturbed without sufficient reason; these areas must be taken into account in their own context and milieu. Good communication must maintain the values expressed as 4Cs -- Clear, Concise, Complete and Courteous. Good relationship is the outcome of good communication, and poor communication breaks relationship.