#!/bin/bash
SERVICE='pidgin'

if ps ax | grep -v grep | grep $SERVICE > /dev/null
then
    echo "$SERVICE service running, everything is fine"
else
    echo "$SERVICE is not running"
    $SERVICE
fi



========OUTPUT========
pidgin is not running

(Pidgin:26754): Gdk-CRITICAL **: gdk_display_get_name: assertion `GDK_IS_DISPLAY (display)' failed

** (Pidgin:26754): WARNING **: cannot open display: unset
Pidgin 2.7.0