Throwing dirt in a late night soap

On both occasions, there was high moral indignation at the subversive nature of the TV camera which had gone where no camera had been before. Or should ever go.

It was considered unethical, underhand, intrusive and most definitely, improper to tape people without their knowledge and then broadcast it to the world.

The only occasion which came anywhere close to Madhu Sharma’s television durbar was when Sun TV caught DMK supremo Karunanidhi being arrested in the middle of night while he was still in bed, and telecast it immediately.

Still, that incident is a far cry from Panchkula because everyone present knew what was going to happen. In this instance, no one, perhaps not even Madhu. Sharma knew what she was about to say next.

The debate is still out: should television channels have gone ahead and telecast such sensational allegations, without any factual evidence? Did Madhu Sharma deliberately let loose in order to protect herself, to divert attention from her husband or was she suddenly overcome by the moment?

Remember: the media, the television crews have been posted outside her gate for the last two weeks. Every day, she says, they had hounded her.

Certainly, she was articulate but she was hysterical, too, for sure. Another thing for sure: Madhu Sharma has just pushed forward the frontiers of television and expanded the space it now occupies in our public and private lives.

Within minutes of her public deposition, Mr. Mahajan was on every single TV news channel, denying the charges levelled against him. That’s another first.

Whether or not Madhu Sharma represents the exception or the rule for future television revelations, is unclear.

However, there is one unforgettable image that should remain with us: her two daughters, hovering around their mother, utterly distressed, lost, maybe even embarrassed.

‘‘Mum, please,’’ pleaded one. Her plea went unheeded.

Contact: shailajabajpai@hotmail.com