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.