Thanks, but no thanks

FROM TODAY’S WORLD VIEWS ONLINE

I could not make a difference between a Media and a Political Party Mouth Piece writes Blogger and Columnist Barun Roy

It all began with the hope of deliberating on the issue of Gorkhaland with a panel and a live Television Feed. 24 Ghanta, a Bengali Television Channel had done a yeoman’s work by putting on the panel, at Darjeeling, a group of learned local elders and intelligentsia. Of course, 24 Ghanta did also have their own panelist back in studio at Kolkata on whom they ultimately relied upon.

The live show started at 8 pm with standard questions on how and why the question of Gorkhaland rose. And the panelists back in Darjeeling answered wisely and promptly. Their remarks however were further deliberated upon by the panelist at Kolkata who declared solemnly and resolutely that the blame of disillusionment among the ‘hill people’ laid on the fact that Subash Ghisingh ruled upon the Hill people as an absolute ruler. “Their outrage is not against Bengal but against Ghisingh.” The awkwardness of the show ultimately found vent in Uday Mani Pradhan, a former Governor of the Rotary District’s remark, when the grandson of Dr. Parasmani Pradhan rose up in arms crying, “What an absurd question?” The 24 Ghanta correspondent who had filled in the shoes of an impromptu host had asked, “Mr. Uday Mani, is Gorkhaland viable?” Uday Mani controlling himself did go on to on to explain the viability of Gorkhaland but all of his remarks were of no consequence since the show ended with a 24 Ghanta declaration…. “We would like to end this show hoping that everything is resolved and peace returns back to Darjeeling Hills, without ever having to divide Bengal”. An anticlimax for sure… I was so shocked that I immediately dropped writing the names of the panelists and the hosts of the show…what a farce….if the verdict was already set even before the show was started… what was use of the show itself…unless, a distinct attempt had been made to malign the panelists back in Darjeeling – To debunk the aspirations of Gorkhaland and to make it known to all that ‘Autonomy’ was all that the ‘Hill People’ ever wanted. How did 24 Ghanta reached to the conclusion that Bengal should not ‘ever’ be divided? How did 24 Ghanta reached to the conclusion that peace ‘return back’ to Darjeeling Hills? Is there a Civil War going on in the Hills – An armed mutiny where the people have been forced to face mortal threat. Has the nation been held to ransom as the national media have been ranting all along? Absurd, is the only word that comes to my mind…. The presumptions that our fellow Television and National Daily Scribes seem to make even though being stationed in Darjeeling leaves much to be asked for. I wake up early in the morning, go for a walk, return home and pursue all my endeavours without ever having to for once being worried for the safety of my well being. I wonder what kind of violence are these scribes and these Television News Reporters talking about. The violence, they are talking about never did occur in the Hills or the Dooars Terai. In fact, whatever, violence that occurred, occurred at fringes of Siliguri like Hamiltonganj, Kalchini, Methibari etc where Amra Bangali and Jana Jagaran Cadres Gorkha dominated areas. If the Government or the media has to wish for the return of peace, it would have to be these areas.

I cannot teach and preach about Journalism but then again after authoring two books on the same and both of them being now in their 4^th editions, I think I ought to indulge in pointing out some facts if not challenging the very ethics that fuels the editorial policies of these organizations. Journalism must be candid. It should not portray shades of truth instead of one, naked unadulterated truth. In fact, I am of the view that beyond truth there should be no other things. We, as journalists should learn to tread away from the obvious, for the obvious might not always be the truth. While I will not go to the extent of calling these papers and news media as mouth pieces of political parties, in power or in opposition, I will like to state that Journalism or Mass Media as a whole, have begun a trend of going ‘in the popular way’ – reporting what the majority people wants. The result is that instead of the ‘right’ thing being published, the ‘most popular’ thing is published. If ‘Bengal cannot be divided’ is the most ‘popular’ and hence most ‘saleable’ news then go with it. This applies as much to the local press in the Hills and Dooars Terai as it does in Kolkata or in the capital of the nation. The Press as a result is slowly but steadily losing its objectivity. Instead of being an eye-witness to the happenings it is becoming part of the happenings. There are so many examples of such media organizations today, that it becomes almost impossible to find a candid, unbiased journalistic endeavour. This is perhaps symptomatic of the society we live in.

The only thing that I can do today is hope that out there, there are still dedicated scribes for whom their craft is not just a job but a duty with a great, great responsibility!