Trial by media

Trail by media is a phrase popular in the late 20th century and the early 21 century, to describe the impact of television and newspaper coverage on a person’s reputation by creating a widespread perception of guilt regardless of any verdict in a court of law. In the United Kingdom there is a heated debate between those who support a free press which is largely uncensored and those who place a higher priority on an individual right to privacy and right to fair trail. Trail by media is one of the most contentious issues. What effect it can have on the effective delivery of justice. This is the age of 24/7 television news there is simply no place to hide from the media which is often accused of sensationalizing events and invade people’s private place.

Publication of details pertaining to the alleged criminal activities of a suspect even before the commencement of a trail was not advisable in the interests of a fair trail. American silent film comedian, Fatty Arbunkle, Football star O.J.Simpson who were acquitted by the jury, the trial scandal ruined their careers. Victims of media trail continued to carry the stigma long after the law has absolved them. The judges are confused that the media pronounces its verdict before the commencement of trail.

The argument that media hype influence the case doesn't really hold good -- for the simple reason that even if the media were to throttle itself at the risk of jeopardizing its fundamental role of conveying information to the public, the celebrity status of the defendant would in any case influence the court. In a country with a vibrant democracy and a highly independent judiciary, it is doubtful that the trial by media in important cases tends to influence judges. Media commentators argue that it is not appropriate for the media to decide whether or not allegation against a person is true and this is the role of justice system. Media cannot don the hat of judge, jury and executioner. But is the Justice system perfect?

The media has every right to express its view regarding the chances of involvement of the accused celebrity on the basis of prima facie evidence. This is required to not let the accused distort the facts using his influence and connections. What’s wrong if media says that the evidences leave little chances for the accused celebrity to evade punishment? If media put in extra efforts in keeping track of the trial and give considerable space for the same, there is nothing unethical, as celebrities require special attention. Considering the high chances of distorting of facts, bribing the officials of the law enforcement agencies, pressurizing the witnesses to change statements, it is media's responsibility to take extra cautions so that the legal process doesn’t get derailed. Every accused is entitled for a fair trial and is presumed to be innocent till proved guilty in a court of Law. There is no denying fact that the media must not resort to malicious campaign as every accused deserves a fair trail and verdicts must not be articulated within the confines of TV studios.

Media activism has helped in highlighting lapses of prosecution and ensured that the rule of the law prevailed in the country. In the recent Jessica Lal, case media far from interfering with judicial process, was in fact helping the society by exposing the lapses of the prosecution. In the Priyadarshini Matoo case the media played a proactive role, many felt the road to justice would have been much longer without media coverge.

Celebrities are a media creation. They enjoy media attention when they are right when caught on the wrong foot; they point an accusing finger at the media for carrying a parallel trail or intruding into their private lives. Media needs celebrities and celebrities’ need media attention. It is Hobson’s choice for both.

Warrior of The Fourth 'Estate' :Book Review

THE GOENKA LETTERS: Behind the scenes in The Indian Express. TJS GEORGE, East West Books (Madras) Pvt. Ltd. PP 239, Rs.250.

With a relatively humble background, from Darbanga, Goenka was a man of varied interests he owned the India’s largest chain of newspapers. The enigmatic press baron, enjoyed a reputation none of the other press barons had. An old man to the game of publishing, Geonka weathered many a storms and came out unscathed. He strode the journalism scene like a colossus. A man who visualized an independent nation with free press, his commitment was unshakable. He stood up to fight the draconian laws. A gritty fighter, emergency brought the best out of RNG. He waged an epic battle against Mrs. Gandhi and her cohorts when the government tried to gag the press.

The present book is collection of 138 letters covering a period of 1950 to 1989(All hand written) pertaining to personal matters, charities to dearer ones and publishing activities. The man who played a prominent role in shaping national politics, the letters come close to as possible to letting us see how he looked at things, how he dealt with high and mighty, and how he sorted his priorities. They reveal the mind of RNG. Columnists and journalist TJS George’s brief introduction forms a good backdrop for the letters. “Ramanth Goenka was not the founder of the Express, but he was overwhelmingly the Father of Express, he was its presiding genius. Indian express has attracted the attention, from its inception, a profile of unusualness evident to all. It went where others did not go. Admired by all, attacked by many and ignored by none. At all times and in all situations, The Indian Expressed mattered.” George aptly sums up the sage of the India’s most influential daily.

P.K.Warrier, Arya vaidya sala, Kottakal, reminds RNG of sending four masseurs and one physician for conducting the special course of treatment to Shri A.B.Vajpayee and Shri. Chandrasekhar. He was instrumental in getting Ayurvedic prescription to Shri. A.B.Vajpayee and Shri. Rameshwar Lal Jatia.

Dr.A.F.Desmonds MS, CMC Hospital Vellore, asks for personal favour for import of Light coagulator for treatment of his son’s detachment of Retina.

Controversial god man Chandra swami, claims himself as only Indian saint ever to be invited to the president’s breakfast prayer meeting, presided and addressed by the then president Jimmy Carter. He also offered hospitality to RNG should he visit the U.S.A.

Goenka knew how to fix people. D.M.Tahilramani, a wire service journalist who boasted his high standard of living ‘” I own a car and my living is high and I hope you will fix my grade accordingly.” He offered him a position on Rs.500 a month ‘in all’. He dismissed cook chacko who did not know how to cook.

He turns down a recommendation by Congress leader S.Nijalingappa for a lady graduate with postgraduate Diploma course in the Indian Institute of Mass Communication as trainee reporter or sub editor, “ she does not answer our requirements.” He firmly told him that room in his guesthouse would not be available, unless prior reservation is made. But recommends a book review in Hindustan Times Weekly edition, in a letter to the then editor of HT, S.Mulgonakar.

In 1966, Hari Shankar Singhania wrote proudly sending an indigenously produced Jaykay portable typewriter.

C.Rajagopalachari, thanking RNG for sending a first class reporter to tell the readers what he said at Guntur.

In a touching letter Vijay Merchant, chairman/organizing committee, Indian cricket team Fund Express Group, thanking RNG and Indian Express for collecting 50,000 Rupees for the victorious members of the Indian cricket team. Vijay Merchant writes: Believe me, Ramanathji, the cricketers would have liked to express their gratitude publicly in many ways but knowing what the reaction would be to such public utterances they refrained from doing so.

Though an astute businessman to the core he was deeply spiritual. He appealed to G.K.Birla, for building a Srinivas temple at Malabar.Sending a flower to Abraham (JP’s secretary) given by a swamiji after 9 days of puja to be made into paste and applied on JP’s forehead.

Geonka shared special relationship with Lala Shri Ram and Jayapraksh Narayan.The business doyen, DCM chief, Lala ShriRam, addressed RNG as ‘my dear king maker.’ Thanking Shri Ram for the compliments he reciprocates “How I wish it were so!”

He admonished a Public Relations officer at B.I.C Mills for “wagging his tail”. He denied waging any tail in front of Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, Rafi, Morarji Bhai, Indira Gandhi, Lal Bahadur, Nanda or T.T and much less before any Birla, Reriya, Mundra, Goenka or Bajoria. He goes on to add “you go about masquerading yourself as Brahmin but fail utterly in hiding your Vaishya Writti’.

RNG had to write to the Exchange control Department of the Reserve Bank of India, for grant of foreign exchange worth Rs.6000, for tour of Europe and USA, U.K and Russia to study first hand reaction “To India after Nehru”, speaks for the rigid financial system prevalent in those days.

P&T Director, New Delhi, in reply to RNG letter regarding priority to trunk calls, it said: RNG can book priority calls from wherever he is in the country by giving his name and designation. Dhiraj Lal Maganlal, president, Indian Merchant’s Chamber, thanking Goenka for improving stock Exchange, Bombay in the matter of margins. This shows the clout he enjoyed as a publisher.

He makes fervent appeal to Morarji Desai, not to allow any facsimile transmission and reproduction facility to any newspaper which will lead to retrenchment and consequential aggravation of the unemployment problem. “It is well-known that “The Hindu” of Madras had reaped a rich harvest of bounties from Congress government as reward for the pro-Indira attitude adopted by it. If however the government is determined to allow the use of facsimile transmission, I would submit we should also be granted the necessary import licences for our existing publications.”

The concluding part has two lengthy pieces. A statement prepared for submission to the J.C.Shah Commission and set of written answers provided to the “ illustrated weekly of India ” In Nov 1978.
He takes a dig at politicians who eulogise the cause of journalists. “ Reporters and other editorial personal have often tried to use politicians, specially those in office to pressurize proprietors and managers for getting promotions, transfers, increments and so on. Similarly Politicians whenever they are in trouble have often tried to use proprietors to interfere with the work of reporters and editors in particular matters. These are the same politicians who talk loudest about the freedom of working journalist.”

“Journalism is a profession in which one must be prepared for every eventuality. All over the world politicians have tried to get better of the press and the only reason the press has been able to stand up to them is that many journalists have demonstrated the great qualities of independence and courage.” a piece of advice for hacks.

Geonka took to publishing not as business proposition but as a form of national service and did not compromise on principles. A strident nationalist he knew quite categorically what a newspaper’s duties were in India. People may differ the methods RNG adopted but none can deny his unparallel contribution to the freedom of the press. His prominent place in the annals of journalism is assured. The success of Indian Express lay in RNG’s choice of editors from Pothan Joseph to Arun Shourie who gave it a distinct identity. While RNG was preoccupied fighting the political establishment of the day, managerial aspect took a beating. After his exit, the daily suffered a spilt, and what Indian Express today is a poor shadow of its glorious past?

The book provides insight during the first decade after independence, a nation in transition and the crucial role Goenka played as publisher. The appendix detailing the milestone in the Express story is a value addition to the book.

Journalism of Development:Book Review

Development Journalism: What Next? An Agenda For the Press. D.V.R.Murthy, Kanishka Publishers, New Delhi pp 140, Rs.395.

Communication experts have defined development journalism in different ways as it helps in transforming the lives of the people. Development journalism emphasizes peoples` participation in development process. Development journalism should go beyond regular reporting. Journalists should identify problems and offer probable solutions that lead to development. Inspite of the growing popularity for development journalism in India, there is still confusion between development journalism and developmental journalism. Even environment reporting, which is an offshoot of development journalism, has gained wider currency as they have succeeded in empowering people. Development journalism focuses on informing the people, rather than offering solutions that lead to development. The role of development journalism assumes greater importance in Third World countries faced with the plethora of social problems. Will mere reporting on poverty and illiteracy be part of development journalism?

In this context, the present book seeks to fill the gap of the dearth of a good book on the subject. DVR Murthy, in his earlier stint as a journalist in a leading English daily in Andhra Pradesh had an opportunity to closely observe and analyze development reporting in all major dailies. With impeccable credentials as teacher, researcher and journalist, Dr. Murthy, is the right man to offer rare insights into development journalism, which unfortunately gets scant attention from the media and academics in India.

The writer envisages a new role for development journalism with the changing times to bring about attitudinal changes among the people. He advocates four news values viz., culture, social capital, social accountability and social development to be given priority in news reports to foster better community relations and social values. Believing indolence, indifference and lack of integrity as the stumbling blocks for progress, he argues that newspapers should not be content in highlighting a problem but make the administration wake up from its deep slumber.

Communication plays a key role in development. The first chapter ‘media and development’, traces the growth of media, how information dissemination through mass communication and interpersonal channels can bring about social transformation among people and the different approaches of development communication practised by the Third World countries. Mass media is an important agent of social change, bringing new ideas and values. The Western models of development communication failed to address problems inherent in Third World countries, which were an inhinderance to development. The lopsided development led to wide chasm between urban and rural area. The different theories of development and communication models and their drawbacks have been dwelt at length. The chapter discusses how the concept of development underwent a change in the 70’s leading to the emergence of alternative models of development.


After attainment of Independence many Third World countries instead of giving priority to local model of development have adopted Western concepts of development, which failed to meet the social objectives. Dominant paradigm became the role model of development in the Third World countries. This model saw mass communication as powerful and direct force to diffuse information and innovation about development issues to the masses. The indicators of development are per capita income, literacy and industrialization. These models have not succeeded, as they failed to take into consideration the socio-cultural aspects of development. Dr. Murthy drives home the point with two case studies and suggests an alternative mode of development for the Third World.

Discussing the different theories of press, the writer is of the view the press has lost it freedom on account of monopolistic tendencies. But how to rein in the erring press has been an unending debate. Opinion is divided on the issue with some media experts urge for separate body on the lines of press council of India. Some opine it should be self-regulatory free from any controls, as any intervention from outside is bound to have deleterious effect on the freedom of press. The book also highlights successful campaigns launched by India’s frontline newspapers and how development reporting has transformed lives of people.


The author traces the commercialization of Indian press, which resulted in change of priorities. Political news, gossips, sensationalism dominate Indian newspapers. It is personality oriented than issue based. Event reporting took precedence over process reporting. The old definition of news has been transformed from public interest to public personality in focus. The rapid proliferation of satellite channels came as a big jolt to newspapers, which forced them to adopt new marketing strategies to bolster their sagging circulation. Newspapers focus on issues that attract the attention of the readers. Flimsy and non-relevant issues get more space in the newspapers With the creeping of commercial interests, the author aptly says the dividing line between serious and tabloid papers is fast disappearing. The press traditionally has been people oriented, privately owned, public spirited, politically involved enterprise concerned primarily with the preservation of democracy. The survival of press is in peril, if it loses its identity. The author forcefully argues that the Indian press should take up development campaign as part of social responsibility. The press should set an agenda for the government and make people participate in national building.

The positive role of media in national development has been recognized in the Third World countries because information dissemination plays a key role in brining social change among receivers. Issues like health, agrculture; literacy require continuous support from media to accelerate development. Therefore media coverage on these issues is important. The writer carried out content analysis to examine the extent of coverage given to development news. The total coverage of development news in all leading dailies did not exceed 6 percent, which is abysmally low. This shows the skewed priorities of our urban centric newspapers.

The strength of the book lies in explaining difference between undevelopment and underdevelopment, development journalism and developmental journalism in simple language. An excellent book, written in a simple, lucid language it comes in handy to researchers, students and journalists. Books on communication tend to be verbose, the present book with its racy style, one can flip through with ease from cover to cover without an iota of boredom.

Reporting in India newspapers is ephemeral. Lack of specialization is the bane of Indian journalism Reporters lack knowledge to write in-depth articles on important national issues. Dr.Murthy lays emphasis on imparting training to journalists and students on the concepts of development, but unfortunately the journalism departments in India are ill equipped to train students to meet the future challenges.

Dr Murthy argues that newspapers have a two-step function: First, newspapers select certain events related to development to attract the attention of the policy-makers and set an agenda for public action, second, newspapers must also frame these issues, telling the readers what is important to know. In light of these functions, the emphasis must shift from market-driven journalism to people-centric journalism. The future of journalism lies in its in closeness with the readers and hence, emerges a model of journalism where the news gatherer is the compiler and the gatekeeper of the news. In this people-centric journalism, multiple sources of a story compel the news gatherer to device suitable methods of reporting instead of summary lead. Instead of a news report, it can be an interpretative story. Therefore, the doctrine of objectivity has no place in this journalism. The journalist records his observations keeping in view the relevance of the stories to society. Hence, he is a judge in this journalism and has a prime place to shoulder a responsible task with a mission. This shift in journalism in future will make the newspapers relevant to society to stand as a public institution, which strives, for the welfare of the society.

In the age of information explosion, it is time for the media to redefine its role with regards to people’s problem. Inspite of the growing information revolution there is yawning gap between the media and people with media becoming insensitive. The media has an onerous responsibility to give fresh direction to the society in the larger interests of the society, and for its own survival. If it fails to live up to people’s expectation it is bound to lose its credibility. If the press is to fulfill its social objectives, as noted journalist P.Sainath tersely put it, journalism should be for people and not for shareholders.

An Insider's view of the Fourth Estate:Book Review

The Press In India: An over view. G.S.Bhargava, National Book Trust. PP 217,Rs 85.

The press in India ever since its inception passed through many tumultuous phases from Marquess Wellesley in the East Indian Company days to the infamous emergency during Mrs.Gandhi’s regime. It was baptism by fire for the Indian media. The history of Indian press is replete with courage and supreme sacrifice by patriotic journalists who perceived newspaper as a vehicle of social reform.

Very little attempt has been made to chronicle the history of Indian journalism in spite of the availability of flood of material on the subject. There are very few books on the subject beginning from J.Natarajan’s classic, History of the Press in India in 1950 to N.S.Jagannathan’s Independence And The Indian Press, Heirs to a Great Tradition in 1999, the present book is a welcome addition, though the study is confined to the growth and development of the English language press.

Veteran journalist and a well know media critic, G.S.Bhargava, during his long and illustrious career, worked at responsible positions with leading national and international dailies. He served in reputed universities as Research fellow at Harvard and Cornell University, Institute for strategic sciences (IISS) London. He was the Principal Information Officer (PIO) during the Janata Party regime (1978-80). His popular media column ‘Blue Pencil’ in the pioneer, won all round acclaim.

Beginning with The pathfinders who had left glorious trail behind them, the author traces the development of the press to the post – independent era which saw a qualitative shift in the character of the media. The political and journalistic movements had run closely with most of the early reformers being also founders and editors of newspapers. They commanded high proficiency in English speech and writing though they lacked training in journalism. Besides reform of the Hindu society, they set out to prepare ground for institutionalization of civic society. Praising Raja Ram Mohan Roy for his active participation in the theological and other controversies he takes a jab at the present day intellectuals who have no stomach for serious debate ‘Although secularism figures in almost daily use nobody cares to define it.’

The outbreak of the Second World War (1939-45) saw India dragged into the fray in the teeth of opposition by the national movement. Interestingly, many owners of Indian run newspapers were ardent supporters of the nationalist movement. They kept their business separate from their ideology and political concerns. ‘They had to keep their factories working for war effort, for otherwise, the British government could have ‘expropriated them.’ Newspapers like the National Herald, The Sainik and Aaj (Hindi) suspended publication protesting against imposition of pre censorship. But the established ones like The Hindu, The Hindustan Times, too had closed down the field would have been free for the Anglo-Indian newspapers to peddle in the pro-British line unchallenged, people would have been starved of nationalist news and comment.

After independence press witnessed phenomenal growth both horizontal and vertical, ‘ With press becoming industry the idealism of the previous period, had dried up.’ and commercial elements have crept in.Liberalization of the economy transformed newspaper industry into big business, which led to price war among major English dailies. He observes that advertisements and circulation became engines of Indian journalism ignoring the professional aspects of journalism. He warns, ‘overflowing news with advertisements distorts the character of newspapers.’

The year 1975 may well be said as the ‘water shed’ year in the history of Indian journalism. The author says ‘it was traumatic and yet revealing experience.’ With a single stroke of pen, the country was pushed into the dark days of Marques Wellesley’s era, and press was subjected to censorship by mindless bureaucrats. All institutions of democracy were subverted, and the press was muzzled. He opines the political establishment of the day lacked the legality and legitimacy to impose restrictions on the press. He laments the indifference of the present day editors, ‘it is depressing that very few journalists, even editors, today demonstrate aversion for the emergency and that steps are under way to white wash it.’

The white paper prepared by K.K.Das Former secretary in the ministry of Information Broadcasting reveals horrifying facts. About 253 journalists/editors, arrested, 110 taken into custody lasting one year under MISA, seven foreign correspondents expelled, entry into India of 27 foreign correspondents was banned, accreditation of 51 Indian correspondents/journalists was withdrawn. Described as the country’s second liberation struggle, this chapter invites study.

Bhargav sadly notes, ‘The transformation of the press from a mission to service and ultimately to industry and consequent conversion of journalism from upholders of values and causes to industrial wage earners had a profound effect on the quality and character of the profession.’ Well said.

He notes reporting has become opinionated writing, news space can be bought for a price, and leading newspapers in their fight for circulation have been stooping low, resorting to all sorts of dirty tricks and in the process losing their credibility.

Editorial space is being used for advertising in the guise of features. Stating the reader has a right to know. ‘Publishing a gushing article about model or product without stating that it is a paid ad is cheating the public and it is time someone takes the paper to the court.’
MP’s have been silent on the issue, and lawyers who launch Public Interest Litigation (PIL) at the drop of a hat have not been moved by revelations that a section of newspaper industry is treating news pages as additional space for advertising. Is their no public interest involved in the developments he questions?

The book has many rare photographs of path breaking journalists, M.V.Desai, S.N.Ghosh, Motilal Ghosh, S.Kasturiranga Iyengar, Makanlal Chaturvedi, Benjamin Guy Horniman, Syed Abdullah Brelvi and C.Y.Chintamani.Some minor mistakes have crept in, the name of Andhra press baron Ramoji Rao, was mentioned as Ramaji Rao (sic). The contribution of noted journalist Manikonda Chalapathi Rao gets a fleeting reference in Bhargava’s other wise a well-compiled book.

To Sting or not to Sting!

The manhandling of a reporter and cameraman of vernacular television channel in Hyderabad, when they were planning a sting operation, opens up the debate on the modus operanda of sting operation, and the ethical issues involved in the entire exercise. The channel went one-step ahead and conducted sting operation on its own staff member, hailed as unprecedented in media history; this is fraught with dangerous consequences. Do we need a sting operation to expose the black sheep among hacks or is it for public consumption is debatable.
Tehelka the Indian version of sex lies and videotape, where high public officials were seen accepting bribes. The Tehelka closed shop, but it left behind a legacy, which is being exploited, to the hilt by politicians and the media. Politicians took over from where journalists left, in a show of political one-upmanship Dilip Singh Judeo and Ajit Jogi bowled swinger and reverse swinger at each other, where no public concern was involved.
With the entry of more television channels there is surge in competition and channels are vying for eyeballs. This has resulted in media resorting to unethical practices. And sting operation is an unfortunate fallout of this development. Today television channels are coming up with sensational disclosure using hidden cameras with an objective of achieving public attention. But how many of them serve any public interest is a different issue.
Is the sting operation ethical? Do means justify the ends? Is the sting operation legal? Can the stinger be challenged in a court of law? What methods are valid to reveal a wrongdoing? Is deception legimate when the aim is to tell the truth? There are no easy answers.
There are serious privacy issues in tapping people without their knowledge. Unlike in the west, In India in the absence of stringent privacy laws, journalists indulge in sting operation and a get away with it. Is it ethical to hold someone responsible for a crime that would not have been committed if the undercover journalist had not encouraged the act? Tehelka people were quick to defend ‘extraordinary circumstances justified the use of extraordinary methods.’
There is the ethical issue, of journalist forcing the man to commit the crime who has no intension of committing the crime at the time. This undermines the very role of journalist, who’s job is not to encourage people to break the law. The ensnarement often results in a violation or distortion of rules of natural justice that no person can be made to incriminate himself using deceitful means. The journalist becomes party to the incident and cannot observe the incident from a journalistic perspective. To put a check on the misuse of sting operation by politicians and journalists the government must enact a law conferring only the investigative agencies of launching such operation.
It is an endless debate with no resolution in sigh to arrive at a consensus on the ethics of sting operation; journos need to determine who will benefit as a result of such reporting. One has to go beyond ethics and assess what is legally correct. If journalism is committed to democratic accountability, will the public benefit as a result of specific investigative reports. Does the press fulfill its social responsibility in revealing wrongdoing? Whose interests are being affected? Whose rights are being invaded? Is the issue at stake a matter of legitimate public interest?
Media of late has been resorting to frequent sting operations, which are of dubious nature, where the identity of those carrying such operations is not known. In a society plagued with high levels of corruption, sting operations have a legitimate role, if the public interest can be firmly established. Journalists who carryout sting operations must function in a transparent way so that their motives as well as source of funds can be identified. In the absence of such safeguards sting operations will be reduced to sheer sensationalism and voyeurism. In the name of exposing corruption, people may resort to black mail.
Investigative reporting is real hard grinding work, which requires hard labour poring through heap of papers. Nixon’s Watergate or Bofors scandal investigation entails months of painstaking step-by-step, methodiacal work before they are published. A short cut is sting operation an unethical recourse to entrapment. In these days of instant fame, who has patience for hard work and commitment to get at the bottom of the truth? Sting operation is short cut to fame for indolent journalists. We live in a decaying society, where ethics and norms have no place and journalism, as a profession is no exception to the rule. This is not to suggest that we need a docile press. Investigative reporting ensures transparency in governance. The bane of Indian newspapers is the absence of honest reporting on slipups of politicians and a total lack of investigative reporting and the media is generally prepared to go with the government view of things. Today’s journalism is so fast paced with no follow up and press shifts its focus from one issue to the other. Readers are treated to spectacle of series of scams without any real insight, when the next issue comes the previous issue is forgotten and the media moves.
The country will achieve full development if media is prepared to uncover and report on corruption and misuse of power by politicians and government officials. A free independent and responsible media is country’s best hope. A passive and weak media leaves a critical void in our democratic structure. We need a virile press in search of truth. Let the power of the pen prevail.

Get ‘Babus’out of sports!

The world cup 2007 is history. Reams of paper are being wasted discussing on what needs to done to revive Indian cricket. Experts have put forward the same old remedies (domestic cricket needs to be made more competitive, preparing sporting pitches so on and so forth), said many a times in the past. Hailed as great strategist Greg Chappell was shown the door for the teams’ poor performance. Are the selectors and board president above law? Are they not accountable for the team’s poor performance? Greg’s presence threatened the careers of some of the key players who took their place in the team for granted. He tried to bring a shift in Indian cricket with emphasis from individual flair and brilliance to a kind of teamwork, in the process rubbed many people on the wrong side. In India merit is often superseded by sycophancy. Sir Vizzy upstaged Lala Amarnath by currying favor with Viceroy Lord Wellindon and his wife with flattery and gifts. Vizzy who never played first class cricket was elevated as captiain. He used to bribe rival captains to go easy against his team. Senior Amarnath who stood for principles lost out.

In spite of not so good performance in all major sporting events abroad, Politicians continue to stick their chairs (to use late prime minister Rajiv’s word) like nymphets. Officials outnumber players for Olympics, Asian and Commonwealth games. How can the country expect gold medals, when ignorant officials, who fail to distinguish between a hockey stick and a walking stick, head them? Politicians irrespective of their party affiliations must be barred from heading sports bodies, this will only salvage the Indian sports from the present morass. Alas! We are neither an industrial nation nor a sporting nation. The state of sports has gone from bad to worse. Excepting in cricket we don’t count in any sports and games. Sharad Pawar’s performance has been least impressive both as a minister and as head of BCCI, with farmers continuing to commit suicides across the country. Finally when the dust settles down Pawar and his men will back playing what they are good at - musical chairs.

While analyzing our world cup performance we have missed a point. One-day cricket has changed tremendously and we have not kept pace with the changing times. Any keen observer might have noticed the changing nature of the game. Cricket is fast becoming like Hockey. We were caught off guard, with the emergence of total hockey in the 70’s. Today international cricket requires fitness of very high order, that where Indians are found wanting. The present crop of players thinks twice before they dive. Aussies success mantra of playing aggressive cricket, with stress on fitness is being replicated by nations coached by former Australian players and the results are before us.

What amazes me is the cricket fans flock before television, even after team’s continued indifferent performance. Cricket fans continue to put their money on the team, which has not won a major international tournament in the recent past. Our cricket fan’s memory is proverbially short, with a win against a low rated team on under prepared wickets at home; our players are back in the reckoning. Some things don’t change with Indians.

I belong to a generation who grew up watching all time greats like G.R.Viswanath, EAS Prasanna and BS Chandersekhar I can vouch cricket has declined in India. There was not much money in the game but older generation players played the game with their heart and soul. G.R.Viswanath’s wristy flicks and flashy square cuts, Chandra’s lethal googlies and EAS Prassana’s graceful run up to the wicket, Venkatraghavan’s floaters were cricket connoisseurs’ delight. Surendra Amarnath hailed, as the most stylish left-hand batsman in the 70’s, his talent was never allowed to blossom. Today, watching players like Dhoni hitting across the line, I wonder am I watching cricket or something else. Slam bang, has replaced Style and techniques. Cricketers playing at the highest level are not technically sound. Let us be frank some of the present crop of Indian players are not up to world class standard. Will cricket fans have the fortune of watching the likes of Neil Harvey, Denis Compton, and Colin Cowdrey, Vijay Hazare and Rusi Mody?

Time to blow the whistle!

The other day when I opened my mailbox I came across an interesting mail sent by a good friend of mine, an article in a leading financial daily, which says SriLanka, has done a word of good for the Indian economy. How come I wondered? I thought it might be a knee-jerk reaction by a journo at Indian cricket team’s poor performance. If India had to play 8 matches, 5.8 million people watching the live telecast for 8 hours, we would have lost 371.2 million productive man-hours. Sounds intersting! If the ardent cricket fans do not watch the rest of the tournament we will be saving 8,64000 kilowatts of energy, saved many more poor souls from untimely deaths. Some consolation for cricket fans and crestfallen advertisers. After Indian team early exist form the world cup tournament sponsors are a worried lot. Television channels and sponsors are in the danger of losing heavy. With a drop in viwership in the subcontinent advertising rates have dropped sharply Sponsors who have booked slots (10seconds 450,000) for India, Pakistan match are demanding their money back. With no Indian interest the viewership for the rest of the tournament would be minuscule. Advertisers have cut back on their spending and are renegotiating advertisement rates with the television company.
Over greedy sponsors have built so much hype against a team, which has not won a major cricket tournament since 1985.The sponsors created such hype as if Indian team winning the world cup was a formality. Sponsors are playing havoc with the sport. It is time somebody blew the whistle.

Cricket fans don’t lose sleep!

World cup cricket tournaments have their share of surprises. The world cup 2007 is turning out to be anticlimax. The teams, which were expected to stand on the victory podium, were knocked out in the preliminary round and the death of coach under mysterious circumstances. The incident has cast a dark shadow and a sad commentary on the gentleman game in the grip of bookies.

Coming to performance of the hot favorites, what was intended to be warm-up matches for the fancied teams, Indian and Pakistan turned out to be their waterloo? Teams from the subcontinent were made to bite the dust by minnows. The Indian’s never looked a confident team of reaching the second round; leave lone wining the world cup. Having watched the India, Bermuda match in bit and pieces, our teams early exist did not come as a surprise to me. Indian players were struggling to middle the ball, against a pedestrian attack. With the writing on the wall in a highly surcharged match Indian took the Lankans and result was predictable. With such pathetic display, they did not deserve a place in round two.

They are lessons to be learnt for cricket fans too! Cricket fans performed Yagnas invoking gods for Indian teams success. When Bangladesh inflicted a humiliating defeat, fans broke into frenzy. Indian fans disappointment at the team’s poor performance can be understood. With crores of rupees being spent on the team preparation, hiring a foreign coach for an exorbitant fee, the least expected from the Indian cricket team is to the reach the second round. The selectors vow an explanation to the nation on team India’s dismal performance. But there is no justification in rampaging our cricketer’s houses and physically harming their family members. Houses of Clive Lloyd, Vivian Richards were not pulled down by irate mobs when lowly rated Indian team dethroned reigning champions West Indies in the 1983 world cup. This shows we are not a matured nation. After all cricket is a game and it and it should be seen as such. We Indian have a hypnotic obsession for cricket, showering our players with gifts, lands and houses and trample them when they fail. The media cannot absolve itself of the blemish as the media hype has made our cricket stars as national heroes, hence the disappointment. There a host of factors that affect the final outcome of a match. It is the great team that emerges victorious and not a good team. And alas! Indian’s have never been a great team. We had lost in the past and continue to lose in the future, if BCCI fails to address the basic problems that plague Indian cricket.
Next time if India loses a cricket match, cricket buffs pull up the selectors!

Higher education at cross roads!

A university should be a place of light, of liberty, and of learning. - Benjamin Disraeli

The country’s higher education has come a long way from mere hand full of universities to more than 300 and the number is growing. Colleges, teacher, students has shown a phenomenal increase in number since 1947. Higher education registered a sixteen-fold increase in the number of universities, 20-fold increase in number of colleges since independence. Indian universities have grown in number, but witnessed rapid downslide in all spheres of their operation. Higher education in plagued with overcrowding, in adequate staffing, deteriorating standards, poor insufficient equipment and declining public budgets. Only three Indian universities figure among the list of 500 best universities in world shows the pathetic state of our higher education. The word ‘Universitas’, from which the idea of university was born signifies that sectarian, religious, caste, and political considerations have no place. But such narrow tendencies rule roost in our universities. With politicians extending their tentacles into the grooves of academics, Universities instead of being centers of excellence have become centers of influence, corruption and nepotism. Starved of funds state run universities are in doldrums.

Higher education serves two purposes. One is creating knowledge, and transferring this knowledge from one generation to other. In fulfilling this aims our universities need to go a long way. A nation’s progress is judged on the basis of its advancement in science in technology. The state of research in Indian university is less said the better. Higher education does not get the priority it deserves; our universities confine themselves to teaching only and do very little research. India has the third largest technical manpower, but year after year Nobel prizes goes for American and European universities. Shortsighted planning hampered the growth of science and technology in India. Since independence the biggest blunder we have committed is setting up autonomous research institutions whereby neglecting research in universities.

Compared to advanced countries students pursuing higher education in the age group of 17 to 23 is less than 8 percent. In advanced countries like US, UK and France it is 15 percent. To achieve this target we need another 1500 universities. When majority of the universities lack basic infrastructure to carry research, Is it prudent on the part of the government to go for more number of universities? We are faced with a tricky problem of widening the base of higher education without dilution in standards. There is growing consensus among academicians that higher education needs to be remodeled to meets the needs of the economy.

In the backdrop of Knowledge Commissions recommendation, there is an urgent need for overhaul of the higher education to meet the countries future challenges. If India is to develop socially and economically, funding for higher education must be increased. The knowledge Commission has recommended a higher allocation from a GNP of 0.34 to 1.5 for higher education. Is the government with its meager resources in a position to fund so many universities? Where will the money come from? This is where Investment from private sector comes in handy. Higher education is one area, which has remained unaffected by winds of liberalization. In the post-liberalized economy, broadcasting and telecommunication has witnessed phenomenal growth and the government with a cautious optimism can allow private investment in higher education sector. The government has do a tight rope walk in view of Supreme court judgment in 2005, squashing the establishment of several private universities under Chattisghar universities Act 2005. Fee structure in universities has remained almost same for the last fifty years, for fear that any hike in fee may lead to backlash form student community. Students who pay thousands of rupees as school fees should be made to pay the actual cost of higher education. There is a need for rationalizing of the fee structure keeping in view of the realities and inflation. The days of free meals are over.

Primary education holds key to education system in any country. Even after six decades of independence shamefully we have not be able to achieve universalisation of primary education. The government with its scare resources needs to concentrate on primary education and allow private participation in higher education. This is not to suggest, private sector be given unfettered freedom. In country plagued with social inequalities education cannot be left to market forces. The state must ensure a good regulatory mechanism to make sure that private institutions adhere to certain norms and standards, there by creating a level playing field for government and private universities. In the changed economic scenario market forces dictate research. Symbiosis between the industry and universities will accelerate all round development of the economy. Higher education transcends physical barriers; with the integration of the world economy, we need to work on education framework that creates trained human power, which is at par with global standards. The WTO’s new Trade in Education Service (TES) Practices, declaring education as tradable commodity, we need to tone up our higher education to make it fit to be marketed abroad. A globalizing economy would presumably need skills of a much wider variety than those offered at our Universities where even the existing syllabi are hopelessly out of date.

The expansion of educational infrastructure must be coupled with emphasis on faculty development programme to man these institutions. Teaching is no more the first choice of the present generation, with MNCs and software industry attracting the best people with good pay packs academics have suffered with teaching posts remaining vacant for want of suitable candidates in many universities. The biggest challenge before our policy makers is to attract the best brains for teaching and research. Higher education plays a dominant role and is an integral part of development in every sphere of life. It ensures faster economic and social development and plays a vital role in building national character. We need to take a re-look at the educational system, which failed to address the problems of the country. Higher education as vehicle of economic growth has brought in new dimension in the education sector. There is an urgent need to re-define the structure and objectives of higher education in the context of our shift to market economy. We need to discard the present education system a ‘legacy of colonialism’ and have an education system based on Indian values and ethos.

My tryst with journalism

Journalism as a profession has always fascinated me. Being a keen observer of what is happening around the world, journalism was my first choice. I became a journalist by intent and not by default. Being a voracious and regular reader of newspaper and magazines, I nursed an ambition to be a good and successful journalist. Going through the newspaper half sleepy and bleary eyes, sipping hot coffee was a routine from my younger days. Newspaperman tossing the paper into the veranda, with the shout of Paper! Was my awake up call?
Daily dose of chiding and reproof from my mother not withstanding, I never gave up the habit of flipping the pages of newspaper, before rushing off to school and latter to college.

With high hopes of a rosy future, at the back of my mind, I entered the department of journalism, Andhra University, with a resolve not to commit mistakes I did throughout my not so distinguished career. Absorbing the rudiments of journalism, enjoyed occasion spat with colleagues, which left among us with no rancor or ill will. We enjoyed greater freedom compared to our friends in other departments of the University.

But, it took me no time to realise, that a degree in journalism was no ticket for plum post in leading dailies. Sneered and lookdown by senior journalists, I was left wondering, whether I committed a mistake in choosing journalism as a profession. Running around newspaper offices only to be informed by the polite editor, ‘you don’t fit the bill’. Promises by journalistic friends of a good break in leading newspapers never materialized. With no contacts, joining newspaper office became next to impossible. Too many people chasing too few jobs, with the competition being cutthroat, I advise people who intend to become journalists to think twice before they jump the gun.

Very few of friends took up journalism as full-time profession. Working in late night shifts and not so good pay pack forced many students to opt for other profession. I thought they would have made a mark for themselves, if they choose journalism as profession. After running around newspaper offices in vain, I settled for teaching profession, training young potential journalists, with a fond hope they would be torchbearers of journalism. Iam greatly endowed to my teachers who have shaped my career, showering on me jewels of wisdom and erudition. To them, I bow in reverence!