Page 36 - English Tehelka Issue 7 - April 15, 2018

OpiniOn
dilemmas
HumrA
QurAISHI
The Delhi-based writer
and columnist’s books
include kashmir: the
Untold story. She co-
authored a series of
writings with the late
Khushwant Singh and
her short stories are
part of anthologies.
The views expressed
are her own
It’s time to speak
out, loud and
clear. Otherwise,
unsaid thoughts
and unleashed
emotions have
the tendency to
throttle and kill
the very spirit, if
not the form
36-37 Opinion Humra.indd 2-3
media
Journalism isn’t a glam Fear does not end after you’ve spo-
ken out. Even after you’ve spoken,
job, it involves life threats fear lies in wait for you with its nets
and snares.’ But I had spoken and I
was free.”
And I simply loved these un-
complicated lines. Perhaps, they
Young and daring researchers and journalists focusing on the are of significance not just for the
media should put forth their stark findings at various forums and media personnel but for the masses
trying to fight the injustices heaped
platforms so that ground realities are projected on the disadvantaged. To quote
him — “Ask yourself one question:
Are you afraid of speaking out, of
seminar on ‘Media together with the hurdles and difficul- criticizing authority? Why are you
afraid? Do you choose a system
ties that reporters face whilst trying to
Studies: Pedagogic and
A unearth an story and then detail the • Freedom permission was granted their • 20 journalists killed only to inflict fear on yourself? Are
Methodological Engage-
ments’ was recently findings. They could die but that report- attacked freedom was curbed, strict laws and • Several kidnapped and illegally you scared of being killed or being
organised by the Jawa- age has to be done! Media regulation like Jammu and Kashmir detained isolated, of being alone? If you are
harlal Nehru University’s Other speakers focused on varying Press and Publication Act of 1932 • More than 25 injured not fearful of being killed, then
Centre for Media Studies (CMS). Several interesting and offbeat dimensions to fraternity is were introduced and implemented • 80% of the Valley’s journal- also banish the fear that you will
angry over the
young researches of the CMS came up journalism. Dr Mohinder Singh focused deaths of three to ban publications, seize printing ists believe that no freedom of fall alone among your friends. You
with refreshing inputs to their research on the beginnings of Punjabi journalism presses, or demand heavy securities expression is enjoyed by them as can risk at least this much. If you
findings and ground realities based on in the undivided Punjab. Senior journal- journalists who from the journalists. guaranteed. have friends whose devotion is to
their field work. ist Ajit Kumar Jha spoke of the ground were run down “After India gained independ- something you think to be wrong,
and killed by
Researcher Mithilesh Priyadarshi’s work required for setting up of new vehicles in ence, it guaranteed freedom of And just when I thought, enough tell them that. If you cannot speak
work on the 2013 riots in western Uttar newspapers (after all, he is the founder three states speech and expression to all its stark realities to the varying dimen- up before friends, how will you
Pradesh carried several crucial aspects editor of the Oman Tribune in Muscat citizens including the citizens of sions to the media have come to the ever stand before the government
to reporting from the mofussil towns. In and the Qatar Tribune in Doha). Author the State of Jammu and Kashmir, fore, came in Ravish Kumar’s latest to criticize it? You will have to start
fact, he not just spoke of the role of the and head of INTACH’s Delhi chapter, but nothing changed for the press. book — The Free Voice (Speaking practising speaking up somewhere.
local correspondents and stringers but Swapna Liddle, traced the history of pre Older laws were amended and new Tiger) where this brave journalist Things aren’t so bad yet that no one
also highlighted the crucial ‘connect’ 1857 Delhi through Urdu memoirs and laws were implemented to muzzle writes ever so strongly about the can speak out.”
between the readers and newspapers writings. the press. …The inordinate circum- times we are living in. He highlights Yes, it’s time to speak out, loud
during communal rioting and the after- I could go on and on as the sessions stances in Kashmir from 1990s the fear factor hitting and gripping and clear. Otherwise, unsaid
math. How I wish he publishes his stark were laced with fresh and hitting find- further worsened the scenario. Not us on a daily basis; scared that we thoughts and unleashed emo-
findings in a national daily so that many ings. In fact, Head of the Journalism only the freedom of expression was are of the very system and of those tions have the tendency to throttle
would get to grasp the harsh realities Department of the Islamic University of endangered, but there were now who are manning it. Yes, the scare and kill the very spirit, if not the
prevailing in that entire stretch, not very Science and Technology (IUST) situated increased threats to the life of jour- of the aftermath of criticizing the form. But whilst speaking out, one
far from the national capital New Delhi. in Kashmir’s Awantipora)), Dr Ruheela nalists. Their freedom of movement fascist rulers holds sway. ought to be laced with precise and
And whilst I was chairing a session Hassan, did not mince words whilst and right to assess information was Ravish Kumar does not shy away thorough and exact facts. Young and
on ‘notes from the field’, I was wonder- focusing on the daily round of strug- also snatched. Several journalists from detailing his own fears as a daring researchers and journal-
ing why on earth we have stopped gles faced by journalists in the Valley. lost their lives and many were put journalist. To quote him from the ists focusing on the media should
focusing on these very crucial aspects Peaking as never before in these recent behind bars. Journalists also fought opening essay ‘Speaking Out’ in put forth their stark findings at
various forums and platforms so
several battles with the state. Some
years. To quote her — “The struggle
his book — “ ‘Now, whatever will
to journalism and journalists! Why is it
that the general public thinks journal- of media in Kashmir throughout its struggles they won, such as with- be, will be.’ This closing sentence of that ground realities are projected.
ism to be one of those highly glamor- evolution is witness that the media drawing of Press Bill by state, and the NDTV India Prime Time Show Seminars and talks and meets and
of November 23, 2017, was for my
some they lost.”
in Kashmir has never enjoyed real
ous professions. No, it isn’t! Its tough
discussions on the ground realities
and tougher it gets, especially if one is freedom. Be it the Dogra Rule in 1924, Dr Ruheela Hassan also focused viewers and also for myself .I had are actually a must in the times we
reporting from the so-called ‘conflict nationalist government (1947-1953), on several of these hard hitting found release from the fear that had are surviving in. Several realities
held me in its suffocating grip for
zones’, ‘disturbed areas’, ‘Naxal belts’. In
Sheikh Abdullah (1948-1953), Ghulam
I heard at JNU’s Centre for Media
realities—
fact, detailed accounts of two senior Mohamad Bakshi (1953-1963), Ghulam • 21 % of the Valley’s journalists two days. Through the duration of Studies, were refreshing and offbeat
and for that one must thank the en-
have been booked or summoned
journalists — Smita Gupta and Sonia
Mohamad Sadiq (1964-1971), National
the show, I’d felt that every single
Sarkar — of their experiences whilst Conference (1975-1982/1986-1990), me- by the state or national authorities word was holding me back, as if tire faculty of the CMS, particularly
reporting from conflict zones and situa- dia in Kashmir has never breathed free (mostly booked under draconian to warn me: ‘Enough, don’t go any Dr Rakesh Batabyal.
tions, were not just stark but absolutely
air. At one time, the state was resistant
laws like OSA, PSA, security of the
further. You cannot put yourself in
honest portrayals of the challenges, to granting permission and when the state) danger just to overcome your fear. letters@tehelka.com
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