By Phrangsngi Pyrtuh
The attempted murder of Journalist Tongam Rina from Arunachal Pradesh is a reminder yet again of the vulnerability that this profession entails. Last year another murder of a well known Journalist J Dey of Mumbai’s Midday made national headlines ( and still does). He was known for his hard hitting coverage of Mumbai’s crime world. Soon enough another journalist Jigna vora was reprimanded for her alleged role in conspiring to murder Dey. Investigating authorities are unraveling disturbing professional rivalry in India’s vibrant media world. This could be tip of the iceberg. But there are far more serious questions. The assault on the media fraternity in fact represent the intolerance from a section of the society against free and independent thoughts.
The media is a medium where information is processed and dispersed and made it possible for ordinary citizens to accessed. With bountiful information and their critical views, the media has been an important influence in shaping how specific and hidden information is circulated for wider reach. Such action has shape the outcome of most policies, action, social movement and what have you where the media space is respected and given a free hand. However this spatial distribution wherein the media operates is inflicted with a sharp edged sword. The problem is not processing information but in protecting the frontliners from the claws of nefarious elements and state repression. Journalist and freelance writers as citizens enjoy as much freedom and right to express themselves. And they also have a right to do it without intimidation and threats to their lives or their loved ones. However this has not always been the case. Professional blacklisting, assassination, kidnapping, murder etc are very much real in this occupation.
In a pseudo-democratic society such as ours beset with religious intolerance, social acrimony, sectarian strife, caste politics and such which is further compounded by an illiterate population and chronic poverty, the media has to tread with extreme caution and extra vigilance less its action boomerang leading to social and political tension as has been the case in this country. All this talk of a free media is nonsense. Being ensnared and restricted by these forces that is beyond the reach of the media to address, the Indian media is generally praised for displaying non-partisan role in an extremely difficult plural setting. But of course, it can do much more. If the media is given an environment where it can work in a free setting with an indemnifying support (the government or the society), we may perhaps nullify the prevailing insecurity as well as the cut-throat competition that exist in the field. But we still have a long way to go before this happen. The indian media is still stuck in the cocoon stage yet to emerge and mature.
To start with it is imperative for the society to accept that the absolute freedom of the press is akin to the freedom that prevails in the society. Everyone of us is a journalist. We have a right to express any grievances which is growing exponentially in a developing society like ours where the shackles of tradition and orthodoxy is slowly breaking away to make place ( read progress) towards an enlightened society. The media is not just an outlet but a mass mobilizer. There is a need to move from private expression which is current to what I call public expression- where the society rallies together through the media to address issues that confront it. This is one way of removing the hazard that this occupation entails. When journalist W. Lyttan was beaten black and blue by Mawlai MLA legislator Founder S Cajee – we were all shocked and the only thing we have demanded so far is an unconditional apology from the legislator with a petition for government interference. This wanton display of might and abuse of power is appalling indeed. In many other places, the legislator may have been forced to resign or relinquish all his privilege as a representative. But it is not to be in our society and the legislator is all gearing up for re-election. There is an inherent conflict between the political class and journalist which requires closer examination. One is compelled to look back and remember the assault on journalist-turned legislator Manas Chaudhuri by his fellow legislator- Sanbor Shullai. Recently ST columnist HH Mohrmen was reprimanded by the state police for no fault of his. Is free thinking and expression not permitted anymore or should we all opt for sticks and stones like the Kashmiri youths to fight the indifference of our political leaders. But we prefer to turn a blind eye towards these disturbing events. One therefore cannot blame the Christian leader P. A Sangma for his eagerness to show magnanimity by brushing aside the entire Orissa Christian killings and Graham Steins murder- in his failed quest for the presidentship. His mantra of forgive and forget is in fact a reflection of the larger society that he comes from. The consequence of our silence and callousness till things exasperate themselves of course will hit us hard and in such a way that it will be irrevocable.
There are of course other problems tarnishing the image of the Indian media. Media corruption such as the paid news scandal, the Radia tapes etc have dented its image. However we cannot deny the fact that at about the same time the media has played a powerful role in unearthing corruption and loot of public money of the most unprecedented kind. The government of the day (central and state) were rocked by the 2G scam, CWG , Adarsh scams and many more – exposed by the media. In the meanwhile the state is increasingly flexing its power and looking for reasons to clip the wings of the media to a more tolerant level. The government is considering censorship of the media. Justice Katju Chariman of PCI while calling journalists uneducated, favored stringent censorship and expressed his desire for self-regulation of electronic media. The Supreme Court recently has indicated its interest to set guidelines on the media and journalists reporting court proceedings. How far will the media be allowed to play its role effectively in a highly restricted environment, remains to be seen. These are of course against International convention such as those of the UN declaration of universal rights which include among others the rights of the media to free and unfettered expression. It is to this endeavor that several organizations of repute have worked incessantly to protect and campaign for the independence of the media such as Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalist etc. These will amount to nothing however if we choose to undermine the contribution of the media and the sacrifices that journalists make in a world that is completely uncertain. We may choose to love or hate them. I choose the first.
(The writer is a research scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi)