Manufacturing controversies
Instead of bringing a sense of proportion to the matter in hand, the media revels in creating needless controversies.
SREELATA MENON says it is time our press decides what it stands for. PIX: Rahul Gandhi in Uttarakhand
First, without a thought to the ground realities and unable to comprehend that inclement weather and no roads, work both ways -for the rescuer as well as the rescued, the electronic media hype was on how shoddy and tardy the government’s response to the Uttarakhand tragedy was. Next it was the question posed to a young IAF pilot on his religious affiliation. And that too by the country’s leading newspaper The Times of India. After that it was a panel discussion on why Rahul Gandhi was allowed to go to Uttarakhand when Narendra Modi's visit was strongly criticised. Really? Has the Indian media taken leave of its senses? Has it lost all sense of proportion?
As self appointed keepers of the nation’s conscience it systematically runs down VIPs, institutions and various arms of the executive- to such an extent that people have begun to lose all respect for those who rule us. Now in the face of this horrendous tragedy, should it be continuing to do so? Evening after evening we are subjected to inane debates on news channels interspersed with so called ‘intrepid’ youngsters reporting repetitively in embarrassingly clueless language from ground zero where they have no business to be considering that they are hampering operations and adding to the meleé. Apart from taking up space in rescue helicopters.
Recently a spate of newspapers and magazines refused to consider publishing- without even reading it- an innocuous historical account of Tipu Sultan’s Travancore campaign in the 300th death anniversary. While many said it wouldn’t fit their profile and others didn’t do war stories, only one had the honesty to actually say why. The answer was simple. They didn’t want any trouble since previous stories on Tipu Sultan had invited trouble and vandalism. So in that reply one must fathom laid the crux of all the refusals. In fact, every paper in the country- obviously not interested in any straight forward piece of history telling- has in the past few months only published pieces on the purported ‘controversy’ surrounding Tipu. A controversy created by a clueless government at the Centre, no doubt, who instead of, you might say letting sleeping dogs lie, is hell bent on setting up a university at Seringapatnam much against the wishes of the majority whose ancestors have suffered under Tipu’s diabolic patronage.
Now this media that fights tooth and nail for its own freedom of the press vis-a-viv the government and others in authority and calls them to account on every deemed deed and misdeed, it appears is running shy of a few brain dead fundamentalists who with nothing else to do, threaten, vandalise and attack the very freedom that they- the press- tom tom so much about. It is strange that while it is so quick to call a spade a spade everywhere else, it is scared and unable to stand up for the non-violent citizen’s right to free speech/expression.
But be that as it may, it also does not mind manufacturing controversies; it appears, to create mischief for the sake of TRPs.
For what else can it be when in the midst of all this death and destruction they spend needless air hours on a perceived rivalry between the scion of the first family of the Congress party and the chief minister of a state and then to make matters worse debate on how the latter was able to mobilise the rescue of the people of his state. Isn’t that dangerous and divisive politics that can threaten the very fabric of our nation’s unity apart from being distasteful? Even if it happened, should they be debating that at all, ad nauseum? What is worse is that politicians who should know better are prepared to pander to the media’s dictates even in this hour of distress.
Article 19(1) A of the Constitution of India gives us the ‘Right to freedom of speech and expression’ and the media is not only the vehicle through which we as people exercise that right, the media itself is responsible for guiding, building and mobilising opinions and views on various matters of national interest. And it needs to be done within the ambit of its role envisaged by the Constitution which unfortunately at the moment it does not seem to be doing.
In February this year, Hyderabad was racked by bombs. Rumors flew thick and fast. Fanned by the media, it soon became not only an Afzal Guru/Kasab revenge attack by all sorts of people but an attack for all sorts of reasons. Nobody was spared. Not our intelligence agencies, our cops or especially- our neighbour. Even if it was, doesn’t it behove the media to report with restrain and not speculate especially when it is known how our people react? Freedom of Speech does not include instigation or incitement however innocent. Nor does it allow speculation for whatever reason. A responsible media would follow guidelines. Ours don’t seem to have any.
While these hectoring TV anchors are able to get away with being obnoxiously rude to their panelists or even offensively repetitive in order to steer debates their way, and dictate what ‘we as a nation are asking’- be it the news of why Modi was not invited to Wharton or what Sanjay Dutt ate on his first day in jail- the question is, why is it that in similar fashion we are unable to hold our media accountable for creating mischief and schisms in society as is being done so consistently and constantly by it today? One had hoped after the flak it received during the Kargil war, 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, and even the Hyderabad twin bomb blasts reporting, the media, particularly the TV news channels, had learned its lesson. Alas, it doesn’t appear to be so.
Instead of bringing a sense of proportion to the matter in hand, the Indian media (national and regional) appears to revel only in pitting one against the other for no reason other than to create needless and divisive controversies. Its handling of issues- all in the name of transparency of course- reduces even the most important or horrendous of happenings to a farce. So quick to slap defamation and legal notices- even on hapless bloggers and students- to protect its turf, it appears to be guided purely by selfish motives. So it needs to be as equally and quickly made accountable for its own what is now so obviously apparent irresponsible behavior. Freedom can’t be subjective or selective. Nor can it play mischief or even turn ostrich.
Therefore, our free press/media needs to decide what it stands for. And if it can’t then it is time the powers that be instead of endlessly debating on the need to self regulate –which it obviously is incapable of- does it for them. Otherwise, sooner than later, this constant irresponsible negative nitpicking of issues and non issues will render excellent institutions and good governance useless and ineffective. Unless contained the very unity of our country will be in danger.