A Journal of the press Institute of India ISSN 0042-5303 January-March 2018 Volume 10 Issue 1 Rs 60 Fight against surveillance – is it a losing battle? CONTENTS • UP civic polls: how different It is not just Aadhaar (a 12-digit unique identity number issued interpretations queered the to all Indian residents based on their biometric and demographic pitch / Bharat Dogra data), demanding finger printing, iris records and now, facial • The dichotomy in Indian sensibility / Samatha profiling, along with other personal details. The issue goes Sharma deeper, whittling away citizens’ autonomy in ways small and not- • How not to educate our so-small, says Sakuntala Narasimhan, who is also worried about schoolchildren / S. Muthiah other manifestations of intrusion, large and small, into our daily • Why does sport get such routines, thanks to the introduction of technological sophistication low priority in the media? in the name of ‘progress’ Alok Srivastava • Why should a happy marriage be out of reach for n a recent chilly January morning, while I was busy in the kitchen preparing the disabled? / Rakhi Ghosh breakfast, my mobile phone rang in the living room. I hurried to take the • Skills training boosts Ocall as I was waiting for confirmation of a medical appointment. The caller confidence of women with said “I am D.K. Shivakumar” and went on to offer greetings for the New Year. disabilities / Aditi Panda Shivakumar is a minister in the Karnataka Government (and has been under • A press club initiative investigation by the Supreme Court in a land grabbing case and also had searches spreads health awareness / conducted by the Income Tax Department for alleged tax evasion). I do not know Nava Thakuria him. This was a “promotional” call, seeking political mileage (elections for the • There’s so much that state are approaching). I resented the unwanted intrusion into my routine. Gandhians teach us / Once upon a time, before sophisticated technology made such unsolicited/ Sakuntala Narasimhan unwanted calls possible, politicians had to trudge from door to door with folded • An editor who brought hands, seeking votes; now they can save their energy and make me scurry to take fairness, moderation, into their calls. Intrusive? You bet. I am not even sure if it is a recording that some play / Mrinal Chatterjee assistant or clerk is put in charge of, to be sent to thousands of citizens. For all • Baahubali transforms I know, it could be, without the minister having to exert himself. It could even dynamics on the silver screen / C.S.H.N. Murthy be a prankster calling up and pretending to be the minister. Either way, it is an • A man from Canada who unwanted call, interfering with my routine when I could be busy or resting. As a made India his home / senior citizen, I resent the intrusion even more. Shoma Chatterji On my mobile again, I get messages reminding -- and urging -- me to listen • The romance of watching to the prime minister’s monthly Mann ki Baath broadcast. Thousands/ lakhs of Casablanca / Partab such messages are obviously being sent – at whose expense? If it is a commercial Ramchand promotional call for selling some product, the law allows me to register under a • Remembering Ritwik Do Not Disturb registry (but even that works only partially – as I will describe Ghatak, Girija Devi, Shashi presently). Do politicians’ calls of this kind come under the DND law? Why not, Kapoor, Rita Henley Jensen

(Continued on page 3)

January-March 2018 VIDURA 1 From the Editor No invasion of our privacy, please

t’s been a while now since freedom and expression seem to journalist S. Muthiah turns the we have been talking about matter so much more than ever spotlight on several problems that IAadhaar. Wikipedia defines before. bedevil education in India. He Aadhaar as a 12-digit unique The Unique Identity Authority says the majority of students from identity number issued to all of India (UIDAI) stresses that state syllabus schools are found Indian residents based on their Aadhaar is an identification tool, unemployable by organisations biometric and demographic data. not a profiling one. However, the around the country. If we are to turn How hard we have had to toil to confusion in the common person’s out employable college graduates, get our Aadahar card! We know mind continues. To compound we have to produce better high that too well, don’t we? There are matters, there have been been school graduates, he says. This so many stories, it would take a reports in the media about how not means that the graduates have to book recounting. having an Aadhaaar card can affect be focused not only on Maths and Aadhaar has been spoken about your life. A pregnant woman in the Sciences (and Accountancy, so much in recent times that Oxford Jaunpur District in Uttar Pradesh, if from the Commerce stream) Dictionaries chose Aadhaar as the for instance, was forced to deliver a but must be all-round students as Hindi word of 2017. Supreme Court baby at the gate of a medical centre knowledgeable in the Humanities judge D.Y. Chandrachud said he after she was allegedly turned away as they are presumed to be in would better want to be known as by doctors for not having a bank Maths, Physics and Chemistry/ a “nationalist judge” rather than account or Aadhaar card, a report Biology. Also, English language for an “Aadhaar judge” (the judge was stated. A Times of India report said teachers as well as students must be irked when a senior lawyer, while many people living in various old an area of strong focus, whatever making submissions on behalf age homes across Uttar Pradesh had be the medium of instruction in the of one of the petitioners against been denied pension benefits in the school. Aadhaar, used the term “Aadhaar absence of Aadhaar cards. I received an article from a judges”). The latest step taken by UIDAI schoolteacher conveying the Aadhaar has been the subject to increase Aadhaar security is to message that there is so much more of several rulings by the Supreme introduce face recognition. The to life than competition and success Court of India. One of the early measure, which is likely to be in an examination. How true! Wish orders stated that “no person implemented by July this year, will more parents and teachers thought should suffer for not getting be used in ‘fusion’ with existing like her. What do students think Aadhaar”. The question arose modes such as fingerprints, iris about school education? whether Aadhaar was voluntary recognition and one-time password An essay competition was held or mandatory. The apex court said (OTP) used for authentication. in Chennai to get students to that the government could not Will this be enough to quell fears indicate their views on the present deny a service to a resident who of the ordinary citizen? We are all state of school education in Tamil did not possess Aadhaar, as it was happy to comply with rules and Nadu and provide suggestions for voluntary and not mandatory. requirements as long as our privacy improvement. An article here that Then arose more pertinent is not compromised in any manner. lists out the observations made questions – will the Aadhaar card Is there a way the government can by students makes for interesting affect the privacy of an individual, guarantee that? The Economic Times reading. will it intrude into our lives, says the privacy debate will be Here’s wishing all of you a Very compromise our privacy? Sakuntala settled once and for all and that 2018 Happy New Year! Narasimhan’s lead piece in this is likely to be “Aadhaar's breakout issue addresses these questions year”, whatever that means. Well, Sashi Nair (of not just Aadhaar) – about we can only wait and hope that all [email protected] harassment and our privacy being ends well. lost so easily to all and sundry. These questions are especially here is some focus on education important in today's context when Tin this issue. Veteran editor and

2 VIDURA January-March 2018 (Continued from page 1) Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration: if they disturb me and I do not want under DND? Doesn’t forcing me to access the landline. Which may be them? Where does one draw the listen to the call, instead of cutting a good thing, for people dependent line, in demarking the boundaries the call as soon as I realise that it on commercial or work-related of ‘intrusion’? is a promotional message, make a contacts, but not for everybody. I have registered under DND, mockery of the DND facility? However, a mobile has become but when I complained about Which means I am at the mercy almost a compelling need today, receiving promotional calls from of unwanted callers – sellers, whether one likes it or not. Even for some company, I was told that politicians, promoters – whether I those who do not need one and feel under TRAI (Telecom Regulatory like it or not. Just because I own a it is an intrusion. No one is asking Authority of India) rules, my phone or Internet facility. Should why. complaint cannot be taken up technology help citizens to enjoy While the debate on the unless I describe the contents of the freedom from intrusion and safety of citizens’ biometric call received. Why should I spend enhance our autonomy, or victimise data under Aadhaar (and the time listening to the contents of an us? Do these come under ads -- constitutional validity of its being unwanted call from some unknown selling their party ideology, or made mandatory) is being hotly company trying to sell me something themselves as political candidates discussed in and out of the apex and note the gist down, when I am for forthcoming election – which is court, I am also worried about in the middle of my work? Why is it what they are? other manifestations of intrusion, not enough if I provide the number Mobile phones put citizens at the large and small, into our daily of the caller who got through in mercy of callers at all hours, not just routines, thanks to the introduction spite of my having registered when they are home and able to of technological sophistication

January-March 2018 VIDURA 3 in the name of ‘progress’. If when even the law says a person is numbers I dial, and what I buy, ‘progress’ and ‘development’ innocent till proved guilty through is also unacceptable intrusion, mean greater autonomy and due process (in a court of law) ? driven either by commercial profit freedom for individuals, we need Using the same argument, can we motives or political surveillance. to question some of the more justify locking up every house from The debate on surveillance and subtle – but intrusive all the same outside by the police, to ‘prevent privacy needs to be widened to – manifestations such as those robbery’? Isn’t snooping also an ensure that personal autonomy mentioned above. invasion of privacy? does not get truncated in the name The right to be left alone as long I once surfed the Internet to of ‘improving services’ or efficiency. as I am not breaking any law is also check the best airfare available for Citizens’ rights are paramount. Or as important in a democracy, as a Boston-Bengaluru trip. Thereafter, should be. Along with ethics. In the right to privacy and personal every time I opened my computer, all walks of life. Which is what

data. There have been many public I got fare charts, though I was no our Father of the Nation always mobilisations based on this -- the longer interested. I did not want emphasised. < Take Back movements (take back the information any more, and I the night, for women’s safety; did not want to waste time deleting (The writer, based in Bengaluru, is take back the commons’ protests information that I was seeking. a recipient of the Media Foundation’s against the privatisation of public If I have ordered a laptop online, Chameli Devi Award for Outstanding resources such as grazing pastures, that fact is carefully preserved and Woman Journalist 1983. Her water sources, public land and followed up, with further offers fortnightly columns on gender issues forests on which tribal people and (which I am not interested in) from and consumer rights ran in the rural communities depend). the retailer or manufacturer. Granted Deccan Herald for 27 years. She had In the obsessive pursuit of that tracking call records or website earlier worked for The Times of India economic growth and gross visits can help solve crime, that is Group in Mumbai.) domestic product (GDP) as the again no different from locking up dominant mantras in the corridors all doors from outside as a tactic to of power (regardless of the political prevent theft. party in power), ‘privatisation’ You do not inconvenience (or spy has caused the curtailment of on) thousands of citizens in order to resources to the deprived sections, cope with one criminal (or potential thereby whittling their safety nets wrongdoer). Peeping into what I and security. Families ousted from do, where I go, who I contact, what their ancestral lands to make way for industrial ventures (Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh Sourav Majumdar appointed editor of Fortune – and elsewhere); dams that divert water for power generation to Sourav Majumdar, previously editor, Forbes India, has now joined mega industries while cutting Fortune as the editor. With a career spanning over two decades, Majumdar off access to rural communities has worked with Indian business dailies like Business Standard and The (Andhra Pradesh) – if these make Financial Express, heading editions and leading news and features teams.

news as unacceptable erosion He also reported extensively on the Indian financial markets, in particular, of the democratic, basic rights of the Securities & Exchange Board of India and the Reserve bank of India. He < individuals, the other kinds of holds a first-class Economics degree from St Xavier’s College, Kolkata. intrusive truncations that violate the right to be left alone are equally (Courtesy: exchange4media.com) worrisome, but do not get debated because they are non-dramatic, not ‘life threatening’. Technological sophistication causes another kind of erosion of privacy too – surveillance. Keeping track of my emails and website visits for instance. “But that’s to prevent terrorist activities”, says one argument. Why is it assumed that we are all potential terrorists,

4 VIDURA January-March 2018 BUDGET AND THE MEDIA Issues need careful scrutiny through the year

The presentation of the Union Budget is obviously the time when budget-related issues get the maximum attention in the media. However, such issues need to be followed up later as they remain relevant through the year. Unfortunately, the follow-up exercise does not generally get due attention, says Bharat Dogra

hen the Union Budget is people prefer to stick to those first where revised estimates are presented, often the views hurried observations. significantly different from budget Wone gets from the media, It will be helpful if TV channels estimates. Information about such particularly the electronic media, can have a second round of detailed revised figures is available rather are hurried views. Comments are discussions on the budget after late. The result is that when there mostly made based on what is heard about a week or so, so that a more are cuts or reductions in allocations in the budget speech as there is little well-informed and comprehensive for important priority areas that time for a detailed examination of view becomes available. The print merit media attention immediately, the various facts and figures. media is in a better position to the coverage comes too late in the The Finance minister, who provide such analysis but then both day. presents the budget in Parliament, print and television often seem to To give an example, during FY naturally tries do so in as much a have a reluctance in examining 2015-16, the budget allocation for positive and achievement-oriented the budget from the perspective the Ministry of Housing and Urban way as possible. Hence, it is likely of weaker sections of society and Poverty Alleviation was Rs 5635 that the initial comments miss out focus on priority areas such as crore but the actual expenditure on some of the not-so-obvious but poverty reduction and meeting the the ministry incurred for the period nevertheless important and critical basic needs. was only Rs 1761 crore, despite aspects. Of course, for a more complete the fact that so many pressing Later, of course, some of the points picture, one needs to look at state needs of the urban poor, including are covered by the print media or budgets as well, and coverage of homeless people, were crying out even some of the TV channels, but state budgets is often inadequate in for attention. If only the media can a crucial public opinion forming the national media. So, a complete report on such realities quickly, phase has passed by then. The and comprehensive view or picture the situation on the ground may overall impression one is left with covering the Union and state improve with some form of remedial is that the most critical public view budgets generally does not emerge. action initiated by the government. forming phase is dominated by There is far less coverage of finances Equally important is the point about very hurried responses. of local government institutions. keeping people informed about

In this context I recall a In the context of some of the larger such non-utilisation of funds and, conversation with an expert on cities, there may be reasonably in some cases, diversion of funds < agricultural issues whose views adequate coverage, but in smaller from priority areas. are often sought by TV channels. towns and especially in rural areas He said that his first comments where the vast majority of India’s (The writer is a freelance journalist immediately after the budget population lives, there is very little based in Delhi who has been associated speech were favourable but he coverage of the finances of local self- with several social movements and had doubts when he later came government institutions (including initiatives.) across some worrying aspects in the three-tier panchayat structures the budget. Once he had made a in villages). thorough study, he became critical, Then again, after the Union and he said. In this case, the expert state budgets are presented, there happened to be a very frank person is the need to look at the process who did not hesitate to admit his of revising estimates, providing own possibly mistaken and hurried supplementary grants, etc. This initial statements but, generally, becomes important in situations

January-March 2018 VIDURA 5 UTTAR PRADESH CIVIC POLLS How different interpretations queered the pitch

Were the results of the recent civic polls in Uttar Pradesh as overwhelmingly in favour of the BJP as initial media coverage made it out to be? Bharat Dogra says the immediate coverage of elections, which is most important in influencing public opinion, was highly distorted and biased

n analysis of the media in the overall electoral mathematics more favourable to the BJP than coverage of the recent civic of India and, furthermore, it has been they actually were. To achieve the Apolls (elections to three witnessing several controversies. objective, selective statistics were tiers of urban self-government The national media devoted a good used. However, at a later stage, institutions) in Uttar Pradesh once amount of space to the results (all some balance was restored in the again demonstrates that a hurried references to print media in this overall coverage. interpretation of results can be very article are limited to Delhi and As the results were announced on misleading, particularly if there is National Capital Region editions). December 1, most TV channels and pressure to make the interpretation A study of the coverage shows that radio news bulletins were quick to in a particular way. at least initially there was a strong present it as a more or less clean There was a lot of interest in the tendency in the print media, radio sweep by the BJP. That was the way elections as Uttar Pradesh is rightly and TV, apart from other sectors, to the headlines in the following day’s considered the most important state portray the results as being much newspapers projected it as well. Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration:

6 VIDURA January-March 2018 The interpretation was based on Bahujan Samaj Party got good space suggests that the BJP’s vote share the single fact that the BJP had won in the newspapers on December 3. may have dropped by a total of 10 14 of the 16 mayoral seats in Tier I The Indian Express carried several to 12 per cent points from the 42 cities with municipal corporations. reports and charts on page 8, trying per cent share it achieved in the UP The point was in fact a very small to give a more balanced picture of Assembly polls earlier this year,” part of the overall results. the results. The detailed analysis the report said. However, Dainik Bhaskar, the revealed that although various The report went on to say that the Hindi newspaper, took care to opposition parties were lagging BJP won less than 30 per cent of the give more detailed statistics. While behind the BJP, they had managed 652 posts of heads of urban bodies the Bhaskar also presented it as a to hold some ground in their areas in all the tiers that went to polls. BJP victory on the whole, the data of influence and it would not be As for the heads of panchayats presented in the lead story on correct to call the election results a in the nagar (town) panchayats, December 2 conveyed a different clean sweep by the BJP. Independents won 182 seats, BJP picture. On the basis of the data, On the same day (December 100, the Samajwadi Party 83, the BSP the main headline of the newspaper 3), The Wire (thewire.in) carried 45 and the Congress 17.While initial was: ‘BJP wins 46 per cent seats in a report by one of its editors, M.K. reports had described the outcome cities, 15 per cent in rural areas’. Venu, saying that the election as a ‘clean sweep’ by the BJP and The term ‘rural areas’ referred to results actually showed that the a ‘complete rout’ of the Samajwadi

the smaller towns and areas in the BJP’s vote share had decreased Party, the data suggested a close process of being urbanised. The compared to Assembly elections in race between the two at that level. < data showed that the figure of 15 many areas. “An examination of the per cent was an average for Tier votes cast in the three tiers of urban II and III towns. The headline was, governance bodies in UP roughly thus, not appropriate – a 15 per cent victory rate in two of three tiers could not be interpreted as a clean sweep by any stretch of HT scores in Delhi NCR and Mumbai imagination. The overall data presented in the According to the latest round (2017) of the Indian Readership Survey Bhaskar report showed that the BJP released recently, Hindustan Times emerges as the largest brand in the most had won 46 per cent of the total important English markets of Delhi plus Mumbai with a combined average wards in Tier I cities (Nagar Nigam), issue readership or AIR (main + variant) of 24.4 lakh. 17 per cent of the total wards in In Delhi-National Capital Region, Hindustan Times re-established itself Tier II cities (nagar palika parishad) as the undisputed No. 1 newspaper for the 15th time. HT continues to be and 12 per cent of the total wards the most read newspaper in Delhi-NCR with more than 16.2 lakh AIR, in Tier III cities (nagar panchayat 36 per cent higher than The Times of India, making TOI a distant No. 2. sadasya). The biggest victors in Tier HT has made strong inroads into Punjab and has emerged as the No. 1 II and III towns were independent newspaper of the region with an AIR of 2.7 lakh, powering ahead of The candidates by far. Tribune (2.4 lakh). In Mumbai, HT has grown its readership significantly Moreover, the Bhaskar report said once again to 8.3 lakh AIR, which is nearly 70 per cent of TOI. It is now the that in Tier I cities electronic voting undisputed No. 2 daily in the city. with 5.2 crore total readers is the second largest paper in the machines (EVMs) were used, while Hindustan country with dominance across its major markets. IRS 2017 re-affirmed in Tier II and Tier III cities, ballot Hindustan as the second largest newspaper in the country with an TR of papers were used. In view of the 5.2 crore and AIR of 1.8 crore. Hindustan continues to be No.1 in Bihar, fact that apprehensions have been Jharkhand and Uttarakhand, and a strong No. 2 in UP and Delhi. These expressed by several opposition results are a clear reflection of Hindustan's aggressive expansion in UP/ parties regarding the EVMs being Uttarakhand, and its dominance in the states of Bihar and Jharkhand. doctored to favour the BJP, this Hindustan is published by Hindustan Media Ventures, a subsidiary of HT piece of information attracted a lot Media. Mint consolidates its position as the second largest business daily

of attention and several opposition in India. Mint, HT Media’s business daily, consolidated its No. 2 position < leaders immediately issued among the leading business dailies in India with an AIR of 2.39 lakh. statements alleging that EVMs had been used to favour the BJP at the (Courtesy: exchange4media.com) Tier I level. Statements to this effect by spokespersons of the Aam Aadmi Party, Samajwadi Party and

January-March 2018 VIDURA 7 The dichotomy in Indian sensibility — sad, but true

What is the explanation then for a dichotomy in our sensibilities? Is it our hopelessness about the political system? Is it our tiredness with the terrible over-crowding? Is it that we are such die-hard traditionalists that unless our family elders say so, we cannot create and innovate beauty around us? Samatha Sharma lays this out as an open question to readers as she does not have an answer

have travelled to a few countries East Asia. They are closer to us in to the east and to the west terms of affordability and culture. Iof India. It has come to my Even in comparison to Thailand or awareness lately that India is one Bali, the Indian Sub-continent does of the dirtiest of countries. When very badly in terms of care and you live inside of it, especially sensitivity in public spaces. Be it in its urban quarters, the open parks or beaches or roads or public sewers, the men squatting on the transport. beaches do not bring a sense of Our buses and trains continue total revulsion. It seems like a part to remain dirty and overflowing. of the urban landscape. However, The work done by our Railways to return from a trip abroad really to improve quality standards has opens our eyes to the squalor. been commendable. However, poor Leave alone the Westerners sanitation continues to happen. I calling us polluted, noisy and poor; think the blame for this should rest that impression comes from their squarely on the shoulders of the over-sanitised public spaces. What people who use these services: Us. we need to learn from or look at is Largely, we continue to be insensitive to garbage disposal or leaving toilets clean for others. Both the class hierarchy and the way housework is handled in most homes seems to me to be the reason for this apathy. To keep our houses clean we need a maid. We are taught that someone else will always pick up after us. Similarly in public spaces, the middle class is waiting for the working class to pick up after them. And the working class does not seem to be able to come up with final solutions. Hence, for the amount of cleaning we do as a nation we seem to be getting nowhere in The writer says she would love to terms of cleanliness. see jasmine flowers sold on roadsides Once I was traveling in the AC wrapped in leaves. coach of a long distance train. There were young and old people gazing of our coach. I suppose under into their cell phones or laptops. As the assumption that the railway is the pass time on trains, each of cleaners would come to sweep the Photos: Energy Clinic Sadly, open sewers, men squatting us consumed a lot of snacks. Now, floor. This continued for a whole on the beaches, etc do not bring a the wrappers of the snacks packets day till there was garbage all over sense of total revulsion in us. were being dropped onto the floor the floor. No one batted an eyelid.

8 VIDURA January-March 2018 Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration:

To me this was a revelation as to to the jeans and T-shirt. Indeed the public spaces there would systems how garbage is being created in our attention we pay to our costume is that would support such care and country and how we train ourselves phenomenal. encourage it. For example, I would to be in denial of it. Safely throwing Take the sari. First we pick a sari love to see the jasmine flowers sold the responsibility onto someone material from about a hundred on roadsides wrapped in banana

else. choices. Next we pick a matching leaves. Not in environmentally What is in direct contradiction blouse and a matching inner skirt. unfriendly plastic bags. That would < to our insensitivity around public Next we get the blouse stitched to be small but precious win for me. hygiene is our intense sensitivity our exact size at the tailors. There towards personal hygiene. We is even a small piece of cloth called (The writer is an artist and clean and mop our floors daily. I the sari-falls that is matched to alternative therapist based in Chennai. do not know any other part of the colour and patiently stitched on the She runs the Energy Clinic.) world in which that happens. We sari. It stuns me that a person who wash, starch, iron our clothes on a provides such exquisite attention to regular basis. personal beauty turns a blind eye to Again, unusually fastidious, in the surrounding ugliness. comparison to most of the world I would like to dream, however. which seems to have taken en masse Maybe if one attempts to care for

January-March 2018 VIDURA 9 How not to educate our schoolchildren Where are we headed with such syllabuses as we have at present, especially as we are also without the teachers who can teach outside the book, wonders veteran journalist and author S. Muthiah, who, for over 40 years now, has been teaching, mainly college students and graduates, Journalism, Public Relations and Printing

am not a school teacher. The as a life member of the Tamil Nadu strongly focused on, whatever be the students I have taught have History Congress and visiting medium of instruction in the school. Icome through various high faculty at Anna, Madras and SRM There must be specialised training school systems, the majority from Universities, I have been writing to for teachers in Communicative state syllabus schools, a few from the secretaries of Education, making English and they would need CBSE schools and even fewer from certain suggestions regarding high to pass on the knowledge to the ICSE schools. To say there is a gap school curriculums. There are not children. Children must be ready in quality between those from the even responses to these letters. to answer in English questions first-named institutions and the The general drift of these letters about their subject/interest asked in rest is putting it mildly. What is sad has been that if we are to turn out English. In fact, they would need is that even after college, given the employable college graduates, we to be prepared to ask questions and indifferent way tertiary education is have to produce better high school carry on a dialogue in the medium offered these days in the hundreds graduates. These graduates have to of instruction as well as in English. of mushrooming but recognised be focused not only on Maths and Also compulsory must be moral institutions that have sprung up, the Sciences (and Accountancy, instruction/ ethics, a vocational the majority of the first group of if from the Commerce stream) subject chosen from three or four students are found unemployable but must be all-round students as options offered (carpentry, motor by organisations around the knowledgeable in the Humanities as vehicle or electrical engineering, country. they are presumed to be in Maths, farming, needlework, nursing, There was a time when in one Physics and Chemistry/Biology. weaving, etc), physical education, highly rated institution I used to In my day, History, Geography, and sports. Every student needs feel at the end of the course that a Nature Study/ Environmental to learn to be hands-on and also substantial part of the second and Science, and Civics-and-Constitution appreciate the dignity of labour. third groups would go abroad, the were compulsorily taught as They also need to develop values, rest of them and the very best of separate subjects from Class 3 till and healthy bodies with healthy the first group would go into the Class 10 by specialist teachers, not minds. If there are no grounds private sector, and the rest of the grouped together as Social Studies, for sport, space can be made for SSLC group would wind up in low- taught by an ad hoc teacher. The indoor games like table tennis, level government jobs or in no jobs studies in the first three subjects, if squash, wrestling, boxing, at all. Where does the fault lie? adopted to India, must follow this gymnastics, volleyball, basketball For the past 50 years, even scheme: Class 1): City/town/local and badminton, for example. before teaching part-time but area of the school; 2): District; 3): And last but not least, there must while recruiting so-called qualified State; 4): South, North, East or West be a library in each school with a personnel for a factory, I’ve India depending on the school’s variety of books and every child been bemoaning the standard of location; 5): Rest of India; 6): South must be encouraged to read at least education in schools, particularly and Southeast Asia; 7): Rest of Asia; one book a week. It was from such SSLC schools. Since the 1970’s, 8&9): Rest of the World. The heritage reading that I got my first lessons as head of a publishing house, and environment of every student’s in history and language. as an office-bearer of the Indian domicile must be known to him/her, Each of the four points listed Cartographers’ Association, the leading him/her to a later and better warrant expounding at length, but Indian Geography Teachers’ appreciation of these features in the all I wish to add at the moment Association, INTACH Tamil country and the wider world. is that most schools in advanced Nadu, the Madras Booksellers’ Secondly, the English language for countries follow a rather similar and Publishers’ Association, and teachers as well as students must be pattern of education and this was

10 VIDURA January-March 2018 Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration: There is so much more to life than competition and success Why can’t we just be our natural selves instead of being forced to compete every time, to defeat, to win and to succeed at the cost of others, wonders N. Padma Everyone born needs to be looked after, nurtured, cared for, encouraged, and supported – through life. Each one of us makes a contribution to society, whatever it be. Each person’s contribution matters, each of us have a role to perform. We are similar in many ways. For example, we are all eager to know what is happening, we continuously seek information, we try and integrate accumulated knowledge and wish to keep ourselves up-to-date. But basically, we are all different and so comparisons are best avoided. . Unfortunately, jobs and professions are graded – some are considered superior, others inferior. Similarly, people too, based on region, religion, caste, etc. A class system is thus willy-nilly fostered. If we look at our natural selves, each one of us is inherently loving, kind, compassionate, good, intelligent, committed to justice, and fun loving. By nature, we care for one another, care for the environment, enjoy a cooperative relationship, and enjoy living too. Our inherent attitude is to see that everything goes well for all. Our capacity in many ways is limitless. However, we have been nurtured and conditioned to compete with one another, excel, defeat and surpass others. We are always compared with another person. We are being evaluated all the time. In the process, we become victims. This happens right from elementary school. Children are compared with other children and judged and valued. We are sometimes taught to look at our own friends, college mates and fellow beings as opponents and obstacles to our success. When we compete, there are winners and losers. We lose the joy of being together; we are deprived of the joy of working together. Competition makes us suspicious of others; we hesitate sharing things or feelings with them. And, often, we suffer from poor self-worth. For children, it is about being deprived of the joys of childhood. The fear of losing makes us afraid of taking risks and of being ridiculed. We forego our creativity. Innovation is restricted. The fear of winning or losing can have dangerous effects; it can mar you psychologically. When will we ever realise all this? (The writer is a teacher in the primary in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Ponmalai, Trichy.)

January-March 2018 VIDURA 11 Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration: the case in private schools (the so- of facts for exams. Are discussion (The writer, educated in Ceylon, called public schools) in India, till and understanding of a 1500- India and the US, has been a they got enamoured of the SSLC to year-old kingdom not necessary? journalist for more than 60 years. He be able to participate in the rat-race Closer home, shouldn’t heritage, is a prolific writer of non-fiction and for college admission. environmental and civic issues be a chronicler of the European era in One last point. Even if it is said the taught from the point of view of South India, with a focus on Madras.

present Social Studies syllabuses being put into practice and not just He is the author of over 40 books, are more than adequate to turn out to pass exams? < has been writing a weekly column an all-round student, this blinkered for The Hindu for over 12 years and view is in effect saying that about is the editor of Madras Musings, a 50 History or Geography topics can fortnightly.) be covered in a year in about 120 classes. Ask yourself then can such compression – into a list of facts – really teach a child a subject like the Cholas in two hours or does it only enable the child to ‘by-heart’ the list

12 VIDURA January-March 2018 FOCUS ON TAMIL NADU What students think about school education Nandini Voice for the Deprived, a Tamil Nadu-based non-governmental organisation (nandinivoice. com) recently organised an essay competition for school and college students in Tamil Nadu on what is needed to improve standards of school education in Tamil Nadu. N.S. Venkataraman sent us the findings

he objective of conducting Reform, a repetitive exercise be no conflict of interests between the essay competition was to In the past few years, several them. The only difference is the Tprovide an opportunity to the reform measures have been accountability, which is much less students to indicate their views on initiated by Government of Tamil in government schools compared to the present state of school education Nadu to improve the quality of private schools. in Tamil Nadu and provide school education in the state. The Private schools are often accused suggestions with regard to the very fact that reform measures of being run as business model changes and improvement needed. are now considered necessary in with profit motive and collecting The Tamil Nadu Government has 2017 after so many reforms earlier, exorbitant fees from the students now taken some special steps to only highlight the fact that the under various pretext. This is a introduce reform measures for past reform measures have not fact. school education in Tamil Nadu achieved the desired ends. While In Indian society, there is and appointed an expert committee implementing the new reforms bound to be disparity in income to evolve recommendations. The in 2017-18, it is necessary to between various families for long recommendations of the expert investigate, before repeating the time to come. To meet the needs committee have been announced. exercise, as to why the past reform of students from lower income While the expert committee measures have not benefitted to the group, government owned and has consulted educationists, level of expectations. government aided schools are parents, teachers, politicians and absolutely necessary. Let those who government officials in framing its Too many systems for school can afford to pay go to the private recommendations, it appears that it education schools, if they want. has not consulted the students and There are different kind of The economically poor students has not given opportunities to the systems for school education in complain that education in private student community to submit their Tamil Nadu such as state board, schools have become beyond their views on the subject. Through the CBSE, ICSE, Matriculation, Anglo reach. As the standard of education essay competition, the students Indian system. It is necessary that in private schools are better than in have expressed themselves and the system of school education in the government schools, students have come out with original views Tamil Nadu should be only one from the lower-income group who and praiseworthy suggestions, and should be tuned with national have to go to government schools which should be duly considered trend. Different types of system feel that they are deprived of quality in framing the school education should be abolished as they serve education. The fault lies not in the policy by expert committee and no special purpose and only CBSE type of ownership of the school nor Government of Tamil Nadu. system of education should be in syllabus. The problemslies in the Among the participants, 92 per adopted in Tamil Nadu, so that poor management of government cent were girls and rest boys; 56 per the performance of Tamil Nadu schools by the government. cent of those who participated were students can be evaluated at an all- school students, the rest college India level and they can compete. Basics of syllabus sound students. The views of the students Repeatedly, once in every three are being submitted to Tamil Nadu Private vs government schools or four years, the government is Government for its consideration. The objective and goal of the tampering with the syllabus in Highlights of the observations and private schools and government- various classes. This is unnecessary. suggestions of the students are owned and government-aided Subjects such as Chemistry and given below. schools are the same. There need Physics do not change and where

January-March 2018 VIDURA 13 Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration: is the need to tamper with the Further, considering the fact that government has decided not to syllabus? In the name of changing students opt for different types of support any more number of the syllabus, the government is courses at the degree level, many government aided schools, which introducing more advanced aspects of the advanced subjects taught to is an unfortunate and a negative of subject in the school curriculum, the school students are not useful to decision. thinking that this would improve them in the long run. Families from lower income the standard of education. In doing group often admit their children so, government is not taking into Government schools drag down in government schools reluctantly consideration, the capacity of the performance and helplessly, as they cannot pay cross section of the young teenage It has to be admitted that the fees demanded by private schools. students, who have to understand overall performance and standard Even the officials in education such complex subjects in short of school education in Tamil department and teachers working period of time. Nadu look dismal, mainly due to in the government schools do Better syllabus need not mean poor performance of government not want to send their children to a more intensive syllabus, which schools, which are in large number government schools. school students often find difficult and cater to thousands of students. This makes it amply clear that to understand and appreciate The performance and standard in the conditions in government but have to blindly accept and government aided schools, however, schools are far from desirable reproduce. It is often seen that some are better than government owned level. Any attempt to reform school of lessons in the subjects taught in schools, corporation and panchayat education without reforming the the schools are repeated in degree schools. administration and management of level classes. However, it is reported that the the government schools would be

14 VIDURA January-March 2018 Statement about ownership and other particulars about“VIDURA” the English Quarterly Newspaper, Chennai, as required to be published under Section 19-D Sub-Section (b) of the Press and Registration of Books Act read with the Rule 8 of the Registration of Aditanar’s contribution to Newspapers (Central Rules) 1956 Form IV Tamil in Class 11 syllabus VIDURA - Quarterly The illustrious life of Si Pa Aditanar, founder 1. Place of publication : Chennai of the Daily Thanthi Group of publications, and his contribution to Tamil language and 2. Periodicity of Publication : Quarterly the newspaper industry will be included in the 3. Printer’s Name : V.B.S. Mony revised syllabus for Class 11 students. Nationality : Indian “The contribution of the founder of Daily Address Thanthi to the Tamil language, and his efforts No. 10/2 Second Loop Street to make news accessible to the common Kottur Gardens people, will now be a part of the new syllabus for Class 11,” said Education Minister K.A. Chennai 600 085 Sengottaiyan recently. The minister pointed 4. Publisher’s Name : Sashi Nair out that through the Daily Thanthi newspaper, Nationality : Indian Aditanar made Tamil simple and accessible Address to everybody, enabling those from remote Flat 3C, GRN Akshara villages to get news much faster, understand it easily, besides encouraging and improving D112, Sangeetha Colony their reading skills. Ashok Pillar Road A senior school education department official K.K.Nagar, Chennai 600 078 said, “The lives and journeys of leaders from 5. Editor’s Name : Sashi Nair Tamil Nadu will be part of the new syllabus Nationality : Indian and Si Pa Aditanar is certainly one of the most significant Tamil leaders. He has played a Address pivotal role in making Tamil language easily Flat 3C, GRN Akshara read by all.” D112, Sangeetha Colony Anandakrishnan, who heads the new Ashok Pillar Road TN Curriculum Framework Committee, had K.K.Nagar, Chennai 600 078 earlier said they would expose students to 6. Names and addresses of individuals who own contemporary Tamil literature. “Lives of great leaders will also be taught to students,” he the newspaper/magazine and partners or said. shareholders holding more than one per cent Si Pa Aditanar, a prominent lawyer and of the total capital: politician, launched Daily Thanthi on November The Press Institute of India - Research Institute 1, 1942. The newspaper rapidly grew to for Newspaper Development become the largest circulated daily in Tamil RIND Premises, Taramani, CPT Campus Nadu, and the fifth largest read newspaper in the country. He was the founder of the Chennai 600 113 Naam Tamilar Party, served as the member of Shareholding of more than one percent of the capital the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly for four does not arise as the The Press Institute of India - terms and was the Speaker of the Assembly Research Institute for Newspaper Development, is a during 1967–68. He was also Minister for non-profit society registered under the Societies Act No. Cooperation in M. Karunanidhi’s cabinets of 1969 and 1971. XXI of 1860. In his memory, two annual Tamil literary awards have been set up. Daily Thanthi recently I, Sashi Nair, hereby declare that the particulars given celebrated its 75th anniversary. Prime Minister above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. Narendra Modi, who graced the function, lauded the efforts of Si Pa Aditanar and his contribution to society. Sashi Nair (Courtesy: DT Next) Publisher 03.02.2018

January-March 2018 VIDURA 15 waste of time and is bound to end the students by way of ranks, all students in today’s scenario up as an exercise in futility. forcing the government to suspend in Tamil Nadu, as the family No doubt, government spends as announcement of ranks itself after and economic backgrounds of much as around Rs 30,000 crore a the examination. It is often seen students are different and the year in supporting education. Most that students with several centums standards of teaching in schools of such expenses of government are have done poorly in professional vary significantly. However, it is spent towards providing freebies to courses. Examination systems are certainly possible to improve the the students in government-owned faulty. Often, the questions are overall standards of education by and government-aided schools, straightaway selected from the paying greater attention at micro such as uniforms, textbooks, textbooks and with lot of choice levels to various issues. geometry boxes, cycles, laptops, of questions. Students who can The government owned and shoes, free bus pass etc. Money memorise score marks without even government aided schools have spent in improving the facilities in understanding the basic concepts. very big role to play, as the students

the schools are much less, which is Instead of taking the Plus-two from lower income group often in great disservice to the poor students. marks alone for eligibility for higher deprived conditions study in these < Teachers in government schools are courses, the average marks of 10, schools and they need support. well paid. But they often resort to 11 and 12 Standards should be agitation and go for public protests considered. Testing and marking (The writer is the founder and indulge in strikes, not caring systems need recognise the original trustee of Nandini Voice For The that they should be role models to contribution of the students in terms Deprived, formed in 1995, which the student community. of creativity. aims to highlight the problems of It is certainly not possible to downtrodden and deprived people and No time for introspection, impart ideal kind of education for support their cause.) assimilation Students are locked in a closed system in both private and government schools. Education Daily Thanthi, Lokmat, Manorama top regional dailies is imparted to the students only to get academic qualification. The latest Indian Readership Survey (IRS) 2017 has once again reiterated Not knowledge for the sake of the power of the regional press. The survey covered a full year sample size knowledge but knowledge only to of 3.2 lakh households, a sample size increase by an unprecedented 34 get grades in the exams. In several per cent over the previous edition of the study in 2014. Among the regional of the schools, in the 11th Standard, players, Tamil newspaper Daily Thanthi and Marathi daily Lokmat command only 12 Standard lessons are highest readership followed by Malayala Manorama. According to IRS taught skipping the 11th Standard 2017 data, Daily Thanthi is the largest read language daily in the country. syllabus, as there is no public exam Telugu daily Eenadu is the fourth largest read language daily followed by for 11th standard. Bengali newspaper Anandabazar Patrika at No. 5. Tamil daily Dinakaran, Crowded with the heavy syllabus Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi, Gujarati daily Gujarat Samachar, Tamil and with little time for anything, daily Dinamalar and Marathi daily Daily Sakalare are also among India’s the students rarely visit the library top10 regional dailies in the schools and do extra reading. Among regional magazines, Malayalam fortnightly magazine Vanitha Most of the schools have libraries continued to be the largest read regional language magazine in the country but there is no period for students to with a huge margin, according to the latest readership survey IRS 2017; the sit and read in them. Some schools total readership of the magazine stood at 6126000. The No. 2 magazine even refuse to give books to the is Tamil Weekly AnandaVikatan, which had not featured in the top-10 list of students to take home for reading. regional language magazines in IRS 2014. Malayalam monthly Mathrubhumi While framing the syllabus, it is Arogya Masika is at No. 3 followed by Tamil weekly Kumudam at No. 4 and necessary to provide extra time Malayalam Weekly Mathrubhumi Thozhilvartha is at No. 5. to students for introspection and The latest IRS 2017 Report also offers new readership metrics. Apart assimilation. from the standard and well-established Average Issue Readership metric, one can now look at data from the perspective of Total Readership (TR), School exams a joke and Readership of publications by timeframes of Last seven days and Last

It is strange to see so many three days. These new metrics have been introduced to provide a true students get centum in so many representation of the changing consumption habits among Newspaper < subjects including language. readers. Inflation of marks is so high that (Courtesy: exchange4media.com) it has become difficult to grade

16 VIDURA January-March 2018 Why does sport get such low priority in the media?

Young Indians should not remain content with watching sports events on television or reading about them. They must participate in sports with passion and a commitment to excel. The role of the media, both electronic and print, in promoting sports among youth, is critical, says Alok Srivastava. The fact that sports is given such low priority by the media is a key reason for Indian sportspersons not being able to give good account of themselves at international levels, he says

ndia’s demography is turning with gadgets such as tablets and, news and information on current young. Nearly two-thirds of smartphones, on Facebook, Twitter, events and only 10 per cent read IIndia’s population is below 35 WhatsApp and video games. They for entertainment. Young Indians years of age and over 50 per cent binge on junk foods too. According should not remain content with of the people are below the age of to an article by Manu Raj and R. watching sports events on television 25. No doubt this is an abundant Krishna Kumar in the book, Obesity or reading about them. They must human resource available, but are in Children & Adolescents, every participate in sports with passion all stakeholders, including media, hour of sedentary activity increases and a commitment to excel. doing enough to efficiently engage the chance of obesity in adolescents The role of the media, both them and instill a love of sports in and children. electronic and print, in promoting them? Are Indian youth healthy No doubt, since early the 1990s, sports among youth, is critical. enough, with the necessary energy with the expansion of cable and Television coverage remained and stamina, to participate actively satellite TV channels, exposure to confined mainly to cricket matches in sports? national and international sports at the international level till 10-15 According to the recently released events has grown. Now sports years ago, and that too of men’s National Family Health Survey events are not limited to youth of cricket only. Apart from this, to 2015-16 (NFHS-4), in India, nearly metros or big cities. Even those some extent other major sports one-fourth of men aged between living in towns and villages can events such as Olympics, Asian and 15 and 49 years are anaemic and watch live telecasts or repeat Commonwealth Games, Football around 19 per cent are overweight telecasts of various sports events. and Hockey World Cups, Tennis or obese. Among women, the Thanks to television, in the last two and Badminton Grand Slams situation is much worse – more or three decades, sports other than and select international athletics’ than half are anaemic and nearly 21 cricket, such as football, hockey, meets were covered by television per cent are overweight. Estimates kabaddi, tennis and badminton, channels. released in 2015 by the World have seen a meteoric rise in audience In the past decade, privately Health Organization (WHO) show and viewership among adolescents sponsored and promoted leagues/ that the prevalence of obesity and youth. As per National Youth tournaments for cricket, football, among adolescents (13-18 years) Readership Survey report (2010), hockey, kabaddi and badminton has grown from 16 to 29 per cent television remains the most popular are getting live coverage by some over the past five years. source of information for the youth, sports TV channels. However, One of the major concerns is followed by newspapers. A literate the coverage of sports by the the growth of lifestyle disorders. youth spends an average 98 minutes print media (mainly newspapers) Societal changes due to daily viewing TV, 32 minutes on continues to be consigned to the globalisation, economic reforms newspaper reading, 44 minutes last couple of pages, many often and removal of trade restrictions reading magazines, 70 minutes disregarding local sports. Radio have contributed significantly surfing the Net, and 61 minutes and TV news bulletins also relegate to disorders in childhood and listening to the radio. sports-related news to the end of adolescence. Children, adolescents However, while 54 per cent the broadcast. and youth, rather than engaging of the youth view television for Such positioning seems to reflect in outdoor sports, are now entertainment and 22 per cent for neglect or less importance being pursuing sedentary activities such news and current affairs, about 63 given to sports and related topics. It as watching TV or spending time per cent read newspapers to gather reflects the importance of sports in

January-March 2018 VIDURA 17 Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration: the common man’s life. As a Hindi men’s cricket to an extent) is given (between 8 pm and 10 pm) at least saying goes, Padhoge likhoge banoge such low priority is a key reason for once every week. Such small but nawaab, kheloge koodoge toh hoge Indian sportspersons not being able concrete initiatives by the media kharaab – if you study hard, you to give good account of themselves at will not only sensitise citizens, will excel in life, but if you spend international levels in spite of being but also put national and state time on games, you will waste your a country which has the advantage governments and policy makers life. Parents often use the saying to of a huge youth demographic. on their toes, to work sincerely to motivate their children to focus on The media has a catalytic role to improve sports facilities across the academics. play in ensuring recognition and country. There is no denying that a respect for sports in the country. Of course, the media’s efforts sportsperson has a shorter ‘shelf- Sports and related topics should be should be suitably supported by life’ than those engaged in other given as much importance on the other key stakeholders. Government kinds of activity. Parents worry front page or at the start of news agencies should ensure availability about how their children will bulletins, as politics, economics or of sports facilities in each district. sustain themselves once they pass crime. Corporate houses can help, too, by

the playing age. Most people think Newspapers can think of dedicating adopting districts to provide sports of sports as a hobby to be pursued one day a week for putting sports- facilities as part of the corporate< or, at best, a route to a good college based news on their front pages, and social responsibility initiative. or job via the sports quota. No focusing on the topic in editorials, in doubt, education is important for order to motivate children and also (The writer is director, CMS leading a good life, but focusing on parents to encourage their children Social, Centre for Media Studies, a a sport with the aim of excelling in to take up sports seriously. TV News multi-disciplinary social research and it is equally praiseworthy. channels should air discussions on advocacy organisation.) The fact that sports (except for sports related issues on prime time

18 VIDURA January-March 2018 Invest in a healthy generation for the years ahead

Infectious and childhood diseases continue to be significant problems, especially in the Empowered Action Group States, and are responsible for the high burden of premature deaths in children under five years. Soumya Swaminathan says if we do not invest in health, we will face a future with huge healthcare bills and non-productive individuals

or the first time in India, development. The burden of The burden of outdoor air disease was mapped at a state under-nutrition is 12 times higher pollution has increased in all parts Flevel by the Indian Council of per person in India than in China. of the country since 1990 due to Medical Research, Public Health While the risk factor is relatively pollutants from power production, Foundation of India and the worse in the major northern EAG industry, vehicles, construction Institute for Health Metrics and States and Assam, it is the leading and waste burning. However, the Evaluation in a report that was risk in over three-fourths of Indian burden of household air pollution released late last year. It found that States. has reduced due to decreasing non-communicable disease and Second, air pollution levels in use of solid fuels for cooking and injuries have together overtaken India are among the highest in the schemes such as the PM Ujjwala infectious and childhood diseases world, making it the second leading Yojana, which offers subsidised in terms of the disease burden in risk factor that caused 10 per cent LPG connections to poor families. every state of the country. Though of the total disease burden in India. Air pollution is higher in north the more developed states in the We know that it increases the risk India, with the vast majority of the South saw the transition about 30 of cardiovascular diseases, chronic population exposed to this risk, years ago, the poorer states are respiratory diseases, respiratory but it is considerable even in the seeing the change happen over the infections and cancer, and are southern States. past few years. learning more about its other effects, The third major group of risks So, the reality that India awakens like potentially inducing diabetes include unhealthy diet, high blood to in a New Year is that it faces a and lowering birth weights. pressure, high blood sugar, high rising burden of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, mental health problems and chronic respiratory diseases, while not being free from infections like TB and diarrhoea. In fact, injuries, falls and suicide account for 12 per cent of the disease burden and are also increasing yearly. The state-level Disease Burden study reveals that three types of risks are the most common in the country: under-nutrition, air pollution, and a group of risks causing cardiovascular disease. Child and maternal under- nutrition is still the single largest risk factor in India, responsible for 15 per cent of the total disease burden in 2016. Under-nutrition increases the risk of contracting common infections, and stunting in early childhood permanently Aksoy Illustration: stock.com/Enis affects physical and cognitive India faces a grim health horizon at the dawn of 2018.

January-March 2018 VIDURA 19 cholesterol and overweight, which protein, fibre and micronutrients – healthcare bills and non-productive together increase the risk of heart are a double whammy, contributing individuals. Besides, these

attacks, stroke and kidney failure. to both malnutrition and obesity! interventions are good not just for These factors accounted for a tenth Luckily, all these are reversable humans, but for the environment < of the total disease burden in India and preventable risk factors. We need as well, so it’s a win-win. in 1990, but in 2016, this increased a concerted multi-sectoral response to 25 per cent. The rates of diabetes that includes the health, food, (Courtesy: The Hindu and obesity are increasing in all agriculture, environment, petroleum, BusinessLine. The writer is deputy states and, worryingly, the poor housing and urban development director-general, Programmes, with are showing accelerated rates. sectors and cooperation between the the World Health Organization, High blood pressure affects about Central and state governments. We Geneva.) a quarter of adults – and most are have a choice – we can invest now unaware of it. Unhealthy diets – to ensure a generation of healthy rich in carbohydrate and poor in Indians, or face a future with huge

Dainik Jagran most read newspaper In India Dainik Jagran is the top read publication in India with total readership of over 7 crore, according to the Indian Readership Survey 2017 released on January 18, 2017 after a gap of four years. The second and third most read publications in all languages are Hindustan and Amar Ujala with over 5.2 crore and 4.6 crore respectively. In English language publications, The Times of India is the top ranking publication in readership with over 1.3 crore readership, according to IRS 2017, while Hindustan Times with over 68 lakhs readership is the second most read English newspaper with The Hindu English securing third position with a readership of over 53 lakhs. Interestingly, The Economic Times despite being a business newspaper came up with a readership of a little over 31 lakhs leaving behind other big publications such as The Indian Express with 15 lakhs and Mumbai Mirror with over 18 lakhs. India Today (English) and India Today (Hindi) emerged as the most read magazines, as per the IRS 2017 data, with a total readership of over 79 lakhs and 71 lakhs, respectively. Samanya Gyan Darpan (Hindi) holds the third position with a readership of over 68 lakhs. IRS 2017 covered over 600 publications, 71 product categories (at penetration and brand level), covering 28

states and 4 union territories, 95 cities with 5 Lakh+ population, 91 districts and 101 district clusters. Around 330000 households (urban 2.14 lakh and rural 1.16 lakh) have been included as compared to 235000 < sample size in IRS 2013. (Courtesy: exchange4media.com)

Sachin Kalbag is executive editor, HT Sachin Kalbag has been appointed executive editor of Hindustan Times. He will be based in Mumbai. Kalbag

will join Hindustan Times from The Hindu, where he was resident editor of Mumbai. He has previously been editor of Hindustan Times as well. From 2008 to 2011, Kalbag was senior editor at Mail Today. He has also < worked with Daily News and Analysis (DNA).

(Courtesy: exchange4media.com)

20 VIDURA January-March 2018 Porn proliferation and sex crimes – a worrisome link Media coverage of violence against women has indeed yielded results – several cases have been resolved, and culprits punished. However, a fresh development has added a worrisome dimension to the problem, says Bharat Dogra, pointing to studies revealing the close link between screen porn and real life sexual violence. Available evidence points to the fact that there is no room for self-denial regarding the potentially disastrous implications of the proliferation of pornography on the safety of women and children. The evidence should be clearly examined in an unbiased way and corrective action initiated at appropriate levels, he says

t a recent workshop on the they reported that the growing village. The women, equipped with role of media and violence trend of men and even young a good grasp of the fast changing Aagainst women, activists boys accessing sexually explicit rural scene, told reporters that working to prevent gender-based material on their mobile phones they had no control over the new violence told journalists that had complicated the scenario. development. Extended exposure media coverage of violence against The activists, mainly women, were to sexually explicit material led women had succeeded to an extent interacting with journalists at the to changes in the way they saw in checking the problem. However, workshop, which was organised in a women and this, in turn, increased Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration:

January-March 2018 VIDURA 21 Children given a chance to think aloud

If someone touches a child – it may be just on the hand – and the child is not comfortable with it, then it is child sexual abuse. Bring perpetrators of child abuse to trial under appropriate laws, such as the POCSO Act. If they are tried under other laws, they get to walk free. Even if a girl is over 18, it is wrong to pressure her to get married if she doesn’t want to do so. It is important to stress gender parity right from the school years. Girls, don’t limit yourselves, don’t think that jobs like driving are meant only for men. These were not words born of the wisdom of age. They were comments and suggestions given by a group of children, both boys and girls, aged between 12 and 17. Some of them had just passed out from government schools and were pursuing college degrees, others were still in government schools. They were participating in the First World Children’s Day organised by the UNICEF in Chennai on November 20. It was a day ‘for the children, by the children’. At a special function organised to mark the occasion (this is the first time that the UN has designated a Day for children), a panel of children interacted freely with Job Zachariah, chief, UNICEF State Office for Tamil Nadu and Kerala; M.P. Nirmala, chairperson, Tamil Nadu Commission for the Protection of Child Rights; and Trisha Krishnan, popular south Indian actor who was conferred the Celebrity Advocate status by UNICEF on the occasion. The bright and vocal audience of over 50 children had no inhibitions in asking or responding to questions either. “Cases of sexual abuse against children are on the rise. Suicide among adolescents is growing. Half the children in both Tamil Nadu and Kerala are anaemic,” said Zachariah. “Child labour and child marriages are still happening despite laws against them. We need to give space for our children to speak – in schools, in families, in society. They will have lots of suggestions and solutions to problems,” he stressed. “History will ask us what we have done to solve issues of children. If we take action, India will be a better place, not only for kids but also for adults.” Nirmala, delivering the special address, gave statistics on malnutrition, child morality and child abuse. Accepting the status of Celebrity Advocate, Trisha Krishnan said she was gratified at being chosen for the honour. She said she would like to create awareness on health, education and nutrition, and made a commitment to work towards making Tamil Nadu and Kerala malnutrition and open defecation free, reducing anaemia, and doing away with child labour and child marriage. Sugata Roy, communication specialist, UNICEF State Office for Tamil Nadu and Kerala, said all over the world, children were taking over media houses, legislatures, stock exchanges, school administration, police stations and other public offices in a symbolic act, to focus attention on critical issues faced by children, and also to give them an opportunity to assert their views and determine their own potential. At the Chennai event, children and adults quizzed each other on topics such as corporal punishment by parents (there’s no law against it in India, clarified Zachariah – but there’s no law permitting it either, pointed out Nirmala), the Child Helpline, the No-Go-Tell mantra (an action plan when a child feels threatened), teenage love, the reasons for school dropouts (poor access to schools, particularly for girls, and lack of facilities like separate toilets for boys and girls), child marriage, and the negative influence of films on young minds. Reported by Susan Philip the possibility of violence against don’t commit any sexual offence. form of force, as marriages were women, they said. However, journalists who breaking down if the women didn’t There has been much research heard the activists speak at the cooperate, the activists said. and debate on the extent to which workshop were left in no doubt It is well documented that when pornography promotes sexual that a connection did exist. The alien influences appear suddenly violence against or harassment of activists attend to complaints from and forcefully in traditional, women and children. Some studies rural women on a daily basis. They conservative cultures, the impact show a close link between screen have met traumatised women who can be very disruptive. There is no porn and real-life sexual crimes. On told them that their husbands use time to adjust and take corrective the other hand, some sections are of their phones to show them clips of action so that the disruption can the view that there is no connection some form of sex which is culturally be reduced. In fact, at times even between the two, arguing that many offensive or degrading, and tell the need for corrective action is not people who watch porn regularly them to copy such acts. That was a realised, or the form of such action

22 VIDURA January-March 2018 decided upon till it is too late. This years of rapid proliferation of such videos were being prepared seems to be the case regarding the pornography have also been years to blackmail the victim. Now, with proliferation of pornography in of a big increase in sexual crimes filming having become very easy, many parts of India, including small against women and children. While it is being done simply for sale. In towns and even villages. Internet there is a lot of anecdotal violence, such clips, the face of the victim can connectivity on smartphones has the link between porn and sexual generally be seen but the faces of the perhaps speeded this up more than violence needs to be established perpetrators are blurred. The crime anything else, but other mediums by comprehensive studies. Police is committed for profit but, in the have also been used. officials have been quoted by the process, the woman is subjected to To place the matter in perspective, print media from time to time as untold degradation and suffering, let us consider some studies on stating that the perpetrators of and is scarred for life. this issue. Seiya Morita quoted sexual crimes watched a lot of porn. It is likely that the perpetrators a study in his widely discussed Some offenders too have said as of such crimes were themselves paper, Pornography, Prostitution much. One very young offender influenced by exposure to rape and Women’s Human Rights in recently confessed that he had not porn, probably pirated. These Japan. The study was based on the wanted to commit a sexual crime, locally-created clips are likely to be answers given by persons accused but since he had been watching even more influential in terms of of rape and indecent assault to the porn, he could not stop himself driving consumers towards rape. question whether, while watching from attempting a similar act in real There is indication that this may a pornographic video, they felt like life. already be happening and is likely

doing the same thing in real life. Perhaps the most disturbing to burgeon unless urgent steps are As much as 33 per cent of the men trend reported recently is that of taken to check the trend. < answered in the affirmative. The preparing and selling video clips of percentage was 50 among juvenile rapes. There is reportedly very high offenders. demand for such material and it Of course, it is true that different commands very high rates. Earlier, men react differently. Many men, perhaps a majority, may not commit any sexual violence despite consuming porn regularly. But those who deny any link between Vinay Kamat is new editor of Mint pornography and real life violence Vinay Kamat, editor of Khaleej Times, Dubai has been appointed as ignore the fact that even if a small the new editor for Mint, one of India's leading business and financial percentage of those who are exposed dailies. He will join the office on February 16, 2018. The post had been to pornography indulge in actual lying vacant since late September 2017 after Sukumar Ranganathan, was sexual violence, it is disastrous, appointed to head Hindustan Times. Kamat is a postgraduate from the because the exposure is of such high University of Banglore and holds 30 years of editorial experience with him, level. Assuming that half a million across platforms like print, magazines, digital and mobile. Prior to Khaleej men in a city consume porn and Times, Kamat was the resident editor for The Times of India, Bangalore. He

just 10 per cent of them are driven has also worked with where he launched the broadsheet product in DNA < towards real life sexual violence, Mumbai and Bangalore. the figure is around 50,000! It is in this context that the (Courtesy: exchange4media.com) potential of porn proliferation to increase sexual crimes should be taken very seriously. Another study in Japan tried to analyse trends in crime during the years which witnessed the first big increase in porn proliferation, particularly porn videos. It revealed that during the period, all other violent crimes decreased as a part of other wider trends in Japanese society, but sexual crimes increased. In India, too, we see that the

January-March 2018 VIDURA 23 Why should a happy marriage be out of reach for disabled? Disabled people don’t have a problem expressing love, care, commitment and loyalty, the main components of a successful relationship. Yet, very few such people get partners of their choice, and a happy marriage is a distant dream for many, says Rakhi Ghosh

h e e l c h a i r - b o u n d happen, as in our society people still with a life partner. Her mother Suchismita* was in her late don’t accept disabled persons as says, “Like other parents, we too W20s when she experienced life partners. With the qualities I do started searching for grooms for feelings for a smart young man who possess, if I had not been disabled, our daughter through friends, was a colleague at the educational he would not have rejected me,” she newspaper advertisements and institute where she was working. says, her eyes growing watery at the matrimony sites. But the mindsets They had the same qualifications, memory of the hurt. of people have not yet changed likes and dislikes, and this drew “When my parents searched towards disabled women. Even them to spend time together. for a groom for me, they always though she is earning and can take However, when she expressed her explained about my disability, but care of herself, she does not fit into feelings for him, he was unable to most prospective families turned the typical expectations of a bahu consider making a disabled person me down, even if their own son was (daughter-in-law).” his life partner. disabled. They look for able-bodied Sucheta*, a disabled woman Suchismita wept for days. It women to take care of their son and who works in the administrative was difficult for her to accept that perform traditional roles of home- department of a private company she was rejected because she was maker, wife and mother. A disabled says, “Like every human being we disabled and therefore did not fit woman can’t fit into this frame,” she have also feelings and emotions into a man’s concept of a dream says. but, often, other people take woman. “It took me months to Asmita* has mild cerebral advantage of us. If they get a hint come out from that phase of life palsy. Her parents too dreamed of that you harbour feelings for them, even though I knew that it could seeing their daughter settle down or have a crush on them, there is every chance that they will take advantage of it and later abuse or harass you”. Activist Sneha Mishra points out, “It is not that disabled persons are not getting married or sustaining relationships in our society. It is just that disabled men are more fortunate in this regard. Parents of disabled men often search for a bride from a lower economic background who will be willing to marry and take care of their son. However, in the case of a disabled girl, right from her childhood parents develop the misconception that disability is a problem when it comes to marriage, as people are only looking for the ‘perfect’ bride”. Disabled men are also subject to social taboos and find it difficult to

Photo: Jitendra Biswal find acceptance in love. Disabled Jitendra and Shefali, who together overcame the odds. rights activist and motivational

24 VIDURA January-March 2018 Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration: counselor Jitendra Biswal, who is Many disabled people prefer of marriage and family life. a quadriplegic, explains, “Like any partners who are also disabled. However, because of stigma and other young man of my age, I too “We feel a disabled person will discrimination, lack of access to had crush on a woman and waited understand us better,” says Sriya information and services, especially for years to get the nod from her Rani Dei, a disabled woman who in sexual and reproductive health, family to get married to her. But I recently got married to a disabled many do not marry and have was never accepted even though man. Manoj Barik, who is visually children. I am qualified and a successful challenged, agrees. “One can stay There are various conflicting entrepreneur.” In his mid 40s, he single or can get married; it is up to myths with respect to sexuality met another woman, and he and each one’s choice. But, if a disabled and disability prevalent in society Shefali are now living together. person wants to get married she or which perpetuate and reinforce the “This happened because we are he should choose a partner from the marginalisation and discrimination both physically challenged and same group, because we don’t need of persons with disabilities and we understand each other,” says sympathy. Rather, the partner has create an aversion and fear for Biswal. to understand disability”. marriage among PwDs, the study Biswal recently acted in a film However, very few such people says. Most people don’t realise that titled The Desire, which tells of a get partners of their choice, and a disabled women can lead active disabled person’s desire for love and happy marriage is a distant dream sex lives. There was a view that how he was rejected by his beloved for many. A study titled ‘A profile disabled women could not have on account of his disability. “The of disability in Odisha – trends, sex or produce children, the study main components of a relationship development and dynamics 2012’ found. are love, care, commitment and by Swabhiman, a non-profit The myth that PwDs will loyalty and disabled people don’t organisation, finds that many always give birth to children with have a problem expressing these,” persons with disability (PwD) disabilities stems from a lack of he stresses. in the state enjoy the experience knowledge. Genetic disabilities

January-March 2018 VIDURA 25 occur in only a small number of births and can occur even if parents do not have disabilities. Ramnath Goenka Journalism PwDs should be provided access to information and counselling on Award for Ravish Kumar the effects of pregnancy and child birth on their bodies, appropriate Ravish Kumar, senior executive editor, NDTV India won the Ramnath medical care during pregnancy and Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award in Hindi broadcast category delivery, care for the child, genetic and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor won the award for his book, An Era heredity issues and mental well- of Darkness: The Age of British Empire in India. While Rahul Kotiyal of being. Satyagrah.scroll.in received the award in the Hindi print category, Reshma According to the study, only 36.5 Sanjeev Shivadekar of Loksatta won the award in the Regional Language per cent of PwDs have life partners. category. The rest live solitary lives. These Vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu, who was the chief guest at the function, include people who are single, handed over the awards to 27 winners – in 25 categories, including print divorced, separated or widowed. and broadcast – for outstanding work done in 2016 during the 12th edition People with visual impairment of the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards held recently in are most likely to find spouses, Delhi. followed by those who have The winners were chosen by an eminent jury who scrutinised over impaired mobility. Those who are 800 entries. The jury members included former Supreme Court Judge hearing impaired are less likely to B.N. Srikrishna, HDFC Chairman Deepak Parekh, former Chief Election find partners than those with visual Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi and senior journalist Pamela Philipose. or mobility impairment, while The awards, which come with a trophy and a reward of Rs 1 lakh to mentally challenged people find it each of the winners, aim to celebrate excellence in journalism, recognise the most difficult. courage and commitment and showcase the outstanding contributions of Manoj, a bachelor, feels that of journalists from across the country. Here is the full list of winners: late, matrimony sites exclusively for disabled persons have been PRINT helpful in match-making with Reporting From J&K And The Northeast: Abhishek Saha, Hindustan Times regard to PwDs. Earlier, parents Hindi: Rahul Kotiyal, Satyagrah.scroll.in or friends would choose partners Regional Languages: Reshma Sanjeev Shivadekar, Loksatta for disabled persons but, often, Environmental Reporting: Jimmy Philip, Deepika Daily such alliances failed due to lack of Uncovering India Invisible: S.V. Rajesh, Malayala Manorama proper understanding. “However, Business & Economic Journalism: Utkarsh Anand, The Indian Express you can register on these exclusive Political Reporting: Muzamil Jaleel, The Indian Express marriage sites and select a person Sports Journalism: Qaiser Mohammad Ali, Outlook suitable for you. But there should On The Spot Reporting: Shubhajit Roy, The Indian Express be proper discussion and meeting Investigative Reporting: Ritu Sarin, P V Iyer, Jay Mazoomdar, The Indian between the two persons before Express you solemnise the marriage,” he Feature Writing: Sangita Barooah Pisharoty, The Wire cautions. Foreign Correspondent Covering India: Ellen Barry, The New York Times There are many qualified PwDs Commentary And Interpretative Writing: Tamal Bandyopadhyay, Mint who are established in their Civic Journalism: Chaitanya Marpakwar, Mumbai Mirror careers, but choose to be single Photo Journalism: Waseem Andrabi, Hindustan Times as the mindset of society towards the disabled has not yet changed. BROADCAST “Normal people don’t see their Reporting From J&K And The Northeast: Moumita Sen, India Today ideal life partners as a disabled Hindi: Ravish Kumar, NDTV India

person, because PwDs are seen as Regional Languages: Dinesh Akula, TV5 News unattractive and incompetent”, < Environmental Reporting: No winner says Biswal. Uncovering India Invisible: Manogya Loiwal, TV today Business & Economic Journalism: Harshada Sawant, CNBC Awaaz *These names have been changed to Political Reporting: Ashish Singh, News X

protect identity. Sports Journalism: Bipasha Mukherjea, TV Today (The writer is a freelance journalist On The Spot Reporting: Ashish Sinha, India News < based in Bhubaneswar.) Investigative Reporting: Sreenivasan Jain, NDTV 24×7

26 VIDURA January-March 2018 Skills training gives confidence to women with disabilities A government initiative to impart skills to the disabled has brought about a dramatic change in the thought processes of girls hailing from interior pockets of the country who have to face various bottlenecks to access income generating opportunities, hampered as they are with disabilities. Aditi Panda has more

n India, persons with disability have to endure a lot of hardship Ibefore they can find work, because they have less access than others to acquire job skills. Despite the fact that India has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disability (UNCRPD), such people continue to face many difficulties in the labour market, and the women among them are doubly discriminated against at every step. According to the 2011 census, there are 2.68 crore persons with disability in India, 1.18 crore of them women. The figures certainly indicate that people with disabilities account for a noteworthy proportion Hearing-impaired girls get hands-on with hair styling on manequins. of the population of India. Yet, their need for employment remains Ram Kishor Sharma, assistant based in Bhubaneswar, talked of mostly unmet, in spite of the director (Employment), National the significance of skill training to Persons with Disability Act, 1995 Career Service Centre for empower the women with disability: being in force for almost a decade. Differently Abled (NCSC for DA), “Before 2014, hardly 10 per cent got training under skill development whereas in neighbouring countries people are having better skills.” The present government at the Centre started the Skill India Campaign with the basic objective of providing different skills to as yet untrained people, so that they could get into earning avenues. “The NCSC for DA, earlier known as VRC, is working across the country and has 21 centres. Bhubaneswar is doing very well in terms of skills training because of the cooperation the state government is providing,” Sharma said. The acquisition of skills goes a long way in empowering persons A girl tries her hand at the keyboard. with disability, he stressed. It

January-March 2018 VIDURA 27 develops their confidence, boosts their fluency of speech, brings them out of stereotypical thought processes, and most importantly, helps them turn their dreams into reality. “We honestly feel that it is very essential to mainstream people with disabilities into the productive work force. We work with state governments, and organisations like the Dr Reddy Foundation. We have collaborations with big entities like the Orissa Mining Corporation, the Paradip Port Trust and NALCO, and they invest their CSR funds to help us provide tool kits to persons with disabilities who have completed their skills training,” he Ambarika Tejaswini Nayak plans to take up sewing. said. Successful candidates are also given certificates. “We encourage self employment. This has reduced mehndi designs as well as bridal “Not only will I not be dependent migration from rural areas and make-up, which will help me when on my family, but can also help increased the socio-economic status I start my own parlour,” she says my younger sibling to study,” she of our trainees, specially women, with a big smile. She will get a tool says. who have become employers by kit when she competes the training. It is indeed awesome to see the giving work to others,” Sharma “I regularly browse the Internet to dramatic change in the thought added. stay updated with the latest fashion processes of these girls who come Lopamudra Parichha, who is trends, especially those followed by from the most interior pockets learning the necessary skills to start Bollywood actors,” she confides. of the country and have to face her own beauty parlour, is upbeat. There are many other women various bottlenecks to access She has a speech impairment, who are taking the same training income generating opportunities but that doesn’t hold her back. “I as Lopamudra, getting the better without any skills, hampered as love dressing up and to dress up of their physical challenges they are with disabilities. others, and so I decided to take up because they have an urge to Sujata Behera, who teaches this course,” she explained in sign become economically independent. beauty parlour work and Sandhya language. “The course includes Ambarika Tejaswini Nayak, confined Rani Das who teaches tailoring, to a wheelchair, hails from Koraput. were unanimous in the view that

She says: “Koraput has no facilities, these women were fast learners so I could not complete school and and had the hunger to gain more < get any job, but thanks to Skill India knowledge. that imparts specialised training and also provides hostel facilities, I (The writer, based in Bhubaneswar, could take up this course.” She says Odisha, works freelance for the state she will be provided a motorised government and several funding sewing machine after the course, agencies of repute. Her area of which will help her earn a decent expertise is documentation, training income. “If my business does well, and reporting, and field of interest I will even be able to employ many disability, gender, child rights, child others,” she says, bursting with protection and accessibility.) confidence. “The Tally course will definitely help me get a placement as a data entry operator, and I can earn a minimum salary of Rs 5000 to Rs

Photos: AP Photos: 7000, which is enough to meet my Lopamudra Parichha hard at personal expenses,” says Deepa work. Nayak, who has a visual impairment.

28 VIDURA January-March 2018 Breaking out of shackles, bringing aspirations alive

For most people even a casual mention of the term hijra brings forth a rush of images, sounds, movements and attire. Likewise, a conversation concerning the community would invariably lead to comments, impressions and opinions that have been reinforced over time. How far removed is such a stereotypical image from the lives lived in India by thousands of hijras or ‘transgender people’ as they are called today? A show put up by them bowls over Sujata Raghavan, and she brings us up to speed with the reality

he India HIV/AIDS Alliance approaches transgender Tissues with sensitivity, candour and creates platforms that allow the community to articulate their concerns, of course, but also equally demonstrate their talent and capabilities. The organisation’s annual signature event, Hijra Habba, now into its fifth consecutive year, aimed to do just that and sought to bridge the distance between the transgender community and society. Foot- stomping music, reverberating beats, lights and a full-throated cheer going up ever so often from the milling crowds. There was a buzz for sure at Select Citywalk, a Hijra Habba in full swing at Select Citiwalk in Delhi. swanky mall in south Delhi on a Friday evening in September. Anyone walking in from any of the gates could sense a pull towards a plaza on the ground floor. This was the Hijra Habba in full swing – a signature event organised by the India HIV/AIDS Alliance, an NGO founded in 1999 that supports sustained responses to HIV in the country and protects the health and social rights of communities that are amongst the most vulnerable – transgenders or TGs. Conceptualised as a sequence of performances by various TG groups from across India, the event showcased the immense talent, raw energy and amazing grace of the dancers. More than that, it was a celebration of the TG community, their aspirations, their An enthusiastic audience watches TG groups perform.

January-March 2018 VIDURA 29 Madhuri Sarode, the three founding members of Dancing Queens formed in 2009. All of them TGs, all of them dancers, they signalled a breaking out of shackles. There was a daring certainly, a risk but also a sense of excitement, of heightened creativity. The group moved out of its niche to explore new forms, including the mujra and cabaret, Western style. As they pushed their boundaries, new avenues opened up. “In the past, we were invited to perform only

Photos: SR at gay parties. Over the last two or The Dancing Queens team celebrates after a riveting performance. three years things have changed,” says a visibly thrilled Madhuri. “We were asked to perform at the achievements and underlying all of The community has developed Godrej Culture Lab and then at the this, their connecting with people, a collective voice and identity to Kashish Film Festival,” she said, with society at large. advocate for affirmative policy adding that each such event gave Loosely translated, the term action. In this, India HIV/AIDS the group a push, a morale boost, hijra habba means transgender Alliance has played a role. In fact, a recognition of their talent and amalgamation. The scene on the first half of Hijra Habba brought tireless efforts. that day certainly was about together close to 200 leaders from the There were several challenges, ‘amalgamation in action’. There TG/ hijra community across India, too. There was a time when they did was no sense of ‘us’ and ‘them’. It government officials, implementing not have costumes or the money to was all of humanity, united by the partners, legal experts, and activists. buy or even rent them. Bipan Tanna, sole purpose of swinging to the The session saw intense deliberations a friend who was a side-dancer in beats, of enjoying the dancing to the on key concerns, current policy Bollywood, hit upon an ingenious hilt. Not only were there crowds on provisions as well strategies for idea. Once the shooting of dance the ground floor, but literally a sea advocacy and action plans. routines for films was complete, of humanity watching from the In this larger scenario then, costumes were discarded. Tanna circular balconies above. what is the role of a group like the persuaded his production teams to Then the voice of the anchors Dancing Queens or DQs? Often it donate these to the DQs. rang out announcing the next group is the momentum on the ground, For the group members it has –“Dancing Queens from Mumbai!” the changing perceptions that drive meant much more than a platform And a roar went up. The ‘Queens, advocacy and ultimately lead to for dance. It has been a life journey around eight of them, picked a dance systemic change. DQs represent together. “We are like a family,” routine that was tough, combining this change at the ground level – of says Madhuri. “We love, fight, sulk folk and Bollywood styles. There expanding aspirations and horizons. and then make up – this is exactly were quick changes within the Interestingly, the composition of the what happens in families, isn’t it?” performance as they brought alive group itself speaks of amalgamation. Perceptions are changing, too. the traditions from three distinct As Narendra Belose, a senior dancer For example, Bharat, a student of states Maharashtra, Gujarat and and choreographer, puts it, “Dancing Fashion Communications hanging Rajasthan. It was riveting, simply Queens comprises Lesbian, Gay, out at the mall with a friend, enjoyed took your breath away. Bi-Sexual, Transgender plus the show thoroughly. It gave him For the TG community in India, Heterosexual or LGBT plus H.”

something to ponder over. “They things have not been easy. They For generations, TG dancing are human beings too, actually we < have had to battle discrimination, groups in Maharashtra had been are all the same,” he said. deprivation at so many levels performing only local dance styles from the personal to the political. such as laoni. Platforms available (The writer documents and reports This is a continuing struggle. to them were severely limited too issues of social development. Based in The Transgender Protection – mainly the Ganesh Utsav mandals Delhi, her work takes her across India, Bill addresses their legitimate and Natale Tumlha manch. Things often remote rural pockets, to gather aspirations – the right to marriage, would have continued in the same ground-level stories and community adoption, insurance, health care, fashion but for the grit and spirit perspectives.) property and indeed life choices. of Abhina Aher, Urmi Jhadav and

30 VIDURA January-March 2018 Documenting biodiversity on a digital platform

A citizen science initiative has been able to link amateur naturalists with experts on an online portal to report and record species of plants and animals. Since 2008, the India Biodiversity Portal has recorded more than 26000 species from 1.3 million observations. The quality and quantity of reporting has improved over the years, indicating a strengthening of biodiversity literacy, says S. Gopikrishna Warrier

here is an increasing interest in exploring natural habitats Tin India in the recent years. Encouraged by better connectivity and more conservation-related discussions in the public domain, many amateur enthusiasts are stepping into the countryside and forests. Observing and recording new plants and animals has become easier. Since 2008, the India Biodiversity Portal (IBP) has been working to bring information from enthusiastic citizens to a common digital platform, so that it can be vetted by volunteering experts.

Together, they have been able to Photo: Sunny Joseph/IBP create a buzz on India’s biological The metallic jumper spider Siler semiglaucus was reported by an amateur from diversity. The public discussion is Chilavannur in Kerala and validated by an expert in Pune through the IBP.

gaining in traction with 1.3 million observations having been recorded on the portal. R. Prabhakar, the conservation scientist who made this possible, talks about how it all started and how the citizen science project evolved.

Why did you start the IBP? What was the need? Who were the partners involved in the initial stages? The Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment laid the initial beginnings of this portal when it proposed to the national Knowledge Commission the idea of establishing an open access collaborative and participative biodiversity information system.

Photos: India.mongabay This built into the initiative that the R. Prabhakar, who coordinates IBP activities. NKC had started in 2007 to establish

January-March 2018 VIDURA 31 data portals involving citizens, and to be hosted by civil society groups. As a part of the initiative, the India Biodiversity Portal was proposed by ATREE along with other partner institutions. The IBP initiative was proposed as a collaborative effort between five partner institutions – Agharkar Research institute, Pune; ATREE, Bengaluru; the Foundation for the Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions, Bengaluru; the National Chemicals Laboratory, Pune; and the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru. The idea was to develop a portal that would provide a platform for sharing information and also be an open- access source for biodiversity information. Other institutions have come together as partners on the portal by committing resources, sharing data and The home page of the IBP. providing intellectual leadership for the evolution of an open and participatory portal. These are the Foundation for Ecological Security, Anand; the Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore; the French Institute, Puducherry; and Strand Life Sciences, Bengaluru.

Who funded it then? The 2011 funding was part of the Critical Ecosystems partnerships Fund (CEPF), which was trying to make investments in biodiversity hotspots for conservation. CEPF is a large fund, created to support civil society activities for conservation. In 2011, CEPF was funding studies for the Western Ghats. As part of this, they thought that it would be worthwhile to build an information system to host all the studies and reports. They earmarked some funding for establishing a Western Ghats biodiversity portal. This later developed into the India Biodiversity Portal (IBP).

Is this the only Indian biodiversity information system that has gone big? The distribution of the elusive Malabar tree toad Pedostibus tuberculosus was What we do is only the tip of the crowdsourced from 38 locations by contributors. iceberg of what can be done in India.

32 VIDURA January-March 2018 You should see some of the country- species page has been updated on occurrence records in database level portals, for example in Sweden. the IBP. systems. And if you look at global The kind of observations that the The Malabar tree toad Pedostibus databases, you will find more citizens put together is remarkable. tuberculoses is an arboreal species, contributions in accessible areas, They achieve in one day what we and there is very little known of its along roads, etc. So any use of such achieve in 15. It concerns the way distribution. It is only seen during data for scientific studies must in which societies behave, and the the monsoon when it descends recognize these biases. importance they give to data-based for mating. Frog researchers have biodiversity science. been using the portal to try and How have you structured the In India, there are people all over crowdsource the distribution of this IBP? the country that are interested species. And there are currently 38 In a sense, we have developed in nature. People are travelling records on the portal and growing. the IBP as a flexible and modular through biodiversity-rich areas. If There are other instances where the system. We have different modules all of them contribute biodiversity portal has been used by researchers, and groups (which are thematic, data, it can be fascinating. like mapping the distribution of such as the Western Ghats). Simultaneously, there must be a set invasive species across India. And These are like micro-sites that are of people who are willing to spend there are many more possibilities. completely independent, which a certain amount of time helping can decide whether they want to to clean up and curate that data. Did the IBP improve citizen be a closed group or an open one. This is where experts are needed to participation in biodiversity The groups can decide who can be involved – to clean up data and information gathering? Did it contribute content to that group provide correct identification. strengthen biodiversity under- and format it. All data rests at the There is more that can be done in standing among the larger public? mother portal, which is the India India. For instance, we have a huge All observation data on the portal Biodiversity Portal. These groups diversity of moths in this country. is by citizen participation. There are or micro-sites are subsets or filtered Moths are very interesting. As some very serious and enthusiastic views of this data. caterpillars, they feed heavily on citizens who are carefully plants. But there are not many documenting biodiversity around Has the quality of information experts in this country to help us their area and putting them up on improved since you started the identify these moths. By using a the portal. The portal provided a portal? platform such as the IBP, we can platform for some of these people Quality has been reasonably link field enthusiasts and experts to contribute information. For good, and we are taking steps to and strengthen our understanding example, there is this banana farmer strengthen this. Posting public of moths. This is the potential of a outside Bengaluru who stumbled documents can improve quality, and platform like the IBP. on the portal and since then has we are also developing mechanisms been actively contributing insect where we have quite a few experts You were talking about the IBP data on the portal. Initially, he had verifying observations. Quantity is as an example of citizen science. experts identify species, and now he definitely increasing. For instance, Can you please elaborate? has been actively identifying other there is much data from Assam, There have been some interesting moth observations on the portal. and we may load information examples of amateur citizen There is also a serious biodiversity from the people’s biodiversity contributions that have been documenter from Pune, who has registers in Assam. Taking a cue helpful to science. There is the been extensively curating and from Assam, we are hoping that case of an attractive looking spider contributing fantastic observations other Indian states may also use the being photographed and reported from the rocky outcrops of the platform to aggregate state specific by a nature lover and photographer Western Ghats outside Pune. biodiversity data. With each of these

from Kerala. A researcher soon new collaborations, we build new features on to the platform, which < picked it up. The researcher and Have you seen biases creeping is available to everybody else. the amateur started interacting in because of people’s preference with each other on the portal. for certain kinds of animals – say (The writer is senior contributing They collected the specimens and birds or reptiles? editor with Mongabay-India. This validated the identification and Of course, there are biases is a slightly shortened version of the finally published the occurrence as in citizen participation in interview that was first published at a new distribution record for India biodiversity information. There are https://india.mongabay.com) for the metallic jumper spider Siler geographical as well as taxonomic semiglaucus. The publication is biases. Globally, birds are the most available on the portal, and the observed and most contributed

January-March 2018 VIDURA 33 FOCUS ON SRINAGAR Unplanned growth a threat to sustainable development

Srinagar, one of the oldest cities in the world, has been rapidly growing in haphazard and unplanned manner. Unplanned urbanisation has degraded the overall quality of environment. Integrating land use planning with environment has become inevitable for sustainable development of the city. Srinagar’s unabated development along the flood plain of River Jhelum poses a key challenge for city planners, says Afsana Rashid

floods, landslides and avalanches that has paid heavily in terms of social, environmental and economic losses apart from a significant loss of human lives.” Singh goes on to say, “Horizontal growth of the city especially in posh areas including Hyderpora, Sanat Nagar, Bemina, Narbal, Zakura, etc emerge as a huge challenge for the sustainability of the city.” He explained that though there was some misunderstanding and reservation among masses related to vertical growth in the city, they ought to be educated about pros and cons of city’s vertical growth through print and electronic media. It would automatically take care of all the basic infrastructural needs of the city including roads and transport. Community activity like schools, Photos: AR/Charkha Features Photos: houses and hospitals could be River Jhelum, a day before the September 2014 floods hit Srinagar City. well-planned and people ought to be made aware about earthquake he Draft Master Plan Srinagar “The entire Srinagar city is in resistant structures, reiterated the Metropolitan Region – 2035 the flood plain of river Jhelum environmentalist. T(Planning for Sustainable except for old city (Zaina Kadal “Mass level vertical growth of the Growth and Change) prepared etc) that is secure from floods”, city has to be promoted,” argues by Town Planning Organization says Gurcharan Singh, well-known Huneef Mohammad, technology Kashmir mentions that Srinagar environmentalist. He says that the design expert, adding there had to has been growing very fast after developed areas of the city such be clear alignment with building 1947 mostly in a haphazard manner as Jawahar Nagar, Raj Bagh, Gogji codes and design as per the with insignificant contribution of Bagh, Wazir Bagh and Humhama seismicity of the region. “Vertical the planned housing colonies. It had been in the flood plains of river growth has to be in consonance says that the Master Plan 1971-91 Jhelum, about 40-60 years ago. He with the building codes.” triggered growth in the west and adds, “Srinagar is a historical city “Srinagar city that was 50-60 sq southwest direction of Srinagar and has been suffering from floods, km about a century ago has now mostly in the low lying areas, time and again. In fact, Jammu and expanded to more than 1000 sq wetlands and flood absorption Kashmir is a multi-hazard region km on all the sides,” Singh points basins adjacent to Flood Spill that has a long history of facing out. “Kashmir Valley,” he says, Channel. disasters in the form of earthquakes, “is about 16000 sq km. out of

34 VIDURA January-March 2018 oxygen requirement and ensured its cleanliness. The historic Jama Masjid, he says, was surrounded by Deodar forests (known as Tashwan), but presently such forests can be seen only in remote parts of the Valley such as Tral in South Kashmir around 50 kilometres from Srinagar City and Lolab in border district Kupwara in North Kashmir. He said that karewas (plateau- like terraces) in South Kashmir’s Pampore and Central Kashmir’s Budgam provides a firm base for urbanisation that can save the city from floods and earthquakes. The wetlands especially in the south, southwest, west and northwest have been acting as flood sponges protecting the city in times of floods. These have been urbanised in the aftermath of the Master Plan 1971-91 making city more vulnerable to natural disasters. Historically, wetlands and lakes were not only the reserves of biodiversity but also acted as flood sponges. Srinagar, according to the Draft Master Plan, has evolved along the banks of River Jhelum and has subsequently developed around the peripheries of some water bodies such as Dal Lake, Nigeen Lake, Khusalsar, Brari Numbal etc. Consequently, the city has increased in size and scale to such an extent that the domestic waste finds its way in nearby water bodies. According to the Draft Master Plan, Srinagar City lacks modern sewerage facilities. Septic tanks are prevalent and those without such facility discharge their wastewater into open drains. Most houses in the old city have service privies connecting surface drains which A view (exterior and interior) of a house damaged in the September 2014 floods finally drain into water bodies. in a posh locality in Srinagar. Abdhesh Gangwar, regional director, CEE Himalaya, attributes which about 8000 sq km is under a century ago. Similarly, the area floods in Srinagar to improper forests and about 8000 sq km is from Batmaloo to Narbal was also drainage system and unplanned used for farming and other land a wetland that has been converted urban development. The technology use activities.” The city, according into residential colony. design expert, however, emphasises to him, had many wetlands, now Singh says Srinagar was that flood prevention roadmap encroached. The area from the left surrounded by forests only few should include both short-term and side of Badshah Chowk to Dal Lake years ago, which acted as lungs long-term measures, which will was a big wetland, about more than for the city and catered to its stipulate several diversions of River

January-March 2018 VIDURA 35 Public transport in the city. An aerial view of Srinagar near the busy street of Jehangir Chowk.

Jhelum at multiple points along have been building up that have about 1500 MW is just six per cent its trajectory and construction of not been released by any major of its potential capacity, according multiple dams. The dams, he says, earthquakes or a large number of to the Draft Master Plan. The will additionally act as a reservoir smaller earthquakes in reliably expected power demand of the for generating electricity during recorded history, highlights the Valley is going to be 2500 MW by winters. Draft Report. Srinagar City falls in 2035 while that of the Srinagar The Draft Report further states Seismic Zones IV and V, reiterates Metropolitan Region 1164 MW, that Srinagar City was built using Gangwar, adding that more than the Draft Report adds. To meet the wood as the main source of local earthquakes, the unsafe buildings power supply pressure, the Report construction material best suited are dangerous. focused on development of mini- to climatic conditions of the region. Says Mohammad, “While winter hydel power projects and exploring Over a period of time, the wooden infrastructure here has to be built alternative sources of energy. The material used for the construction up as in the European countries, government, it says, should focus of residential and religious mass level identification and on the smart grid system which uses structures had dried up and the construction of habitable colonies analogue or digital information vulnerability to catch fire had on the outskirts of the Srinagar City and communications technology to increased, especially in the core city ought to be developed with major gather and act on information in an areas where houses were huddled upgradation of transport, road automated fashion to improve the together, providing limited access connectivity, introduction of several efficiency, reliability, economics for firefighting during such metro wings within the Srinagar and sustainability of the production calamities. city. Major revamp is required vis- and distribution of electricity. Awareness has to be built up à-vis health and sanitation. Strong Keeping in view the eco-fragility about fire hazards and smart auditing framework is to be created and flood and seismic vulnerability infrastructure must be developed which would ensure adequate of the region, appropriate urban along all the critical buildings such dimensioning of healthcare and planning has to be devised and as hospitals that would be centrally sanitation needs for all citizens.” He implemented. The government has monitored, says Mohammad, also called for plantation drive to be to come up with unequivocal policy adding that such guidelines should carried out at mass level and framing for preservation of city-ecosystem be included in building codes as and enforcing of strong legislative to increase its resilience to several well. “In fact a roadmap should measures against deforestation. disasters. Despite repeated attempts be framed to adhere to earthquake Despite its huge hydel potentials, joint commissioner (Planning),

resistant structures within a time Jammu and Kashmir is a power Srinagar Municipal Corporation bound manner even if it involves starved state. Gangwar, too, points (SMC), Ghulam Hassan Mir, could < subsidies. It should be periodically that despite huge potential of water not be contacted. reviewed and published.” resources in the state there is no The city falls in a seismic gap proper supply of electricity. As (Courtesy: Charkha Features) zone, where due to centuries of against its huge potential pegged at tectonic plate movement stresses 25000 MW, the installed capacity of

36 VIDURA January-March 2018 VIEW FROM THE NORTHEAST A press club initiative spreads health awareness The vast majority of media persons in India’s Northeast do not have medical insurance coverage and earn very little. They find it hard to afford healthcare expenses for themselves and their loved ones. The Guwahati Press Club has been conducting ‘evening clinics’ to address the issue. Nava Thakuria has the story

asundhara (not her real name) Though the doctor and I both blood pressure, sugar and thyroid often comes to the Guwahati tried to convince Sailesh that he had disorders among journalists and BPress Club to meet friends a condition which should not be their families, and doctors have and kill time. She works on the news ignored, he refused medication. It advised them on how to handle desk of an Assamese newspaper. was almost a week before I saw him such conditions. On one of her visits, the weekly out- again. This time, he had a bandage Most Guwahati-based hospitals patient department (OPD) clinic around his head. To my questions, have supported the initiative, was in progress, and I suggested he replied that he had had a fall at sending their doctors by turn to that she get her thyroid level and his home, and had to be rushed to attend the media clinics. Even other parameters checked. Though hospital, where doctors had again specialists from various dis- she was reluctant, she finally detected high blood pressure and tinguished healthcare institutions agreed to let the health workers diagnosed him as hypertensive. in other parts of the country, like collect a blood sample from her. Sailesh was lucky to have escaped Apollo Hospitals (Chennai), SIMS The next day, Basundhara collected without any major injury and Hospital (Chennai), Manipal her results and, to her horror, admitted that he had been wrong Hospital (Bangalore), Fortis found she had a high thyroid level. to ignore the advice of the doctor at Hospital (Bangalore), Medanta the Fortunately, it was not a major the Press Club clinic. He had begun Medicity Hospital (Gurgaon), etc. problem, and could be corrected taking medication to control his have attended the camps. They with timely medical intervention. blood pressure. were encouraged by the post-event The OPD clinic is being conducted The 40-year-old Guwahati Press media coverage. regularly at the Press Club since Club started the initiative titled It is worth noting that around 90 August 2016. Basundhara is not the ‘Evening with a doctor’ in August per cent of media persons in the only one it has helped. 2016 with the aim of spreading Northeast Region of India do not Sailesh (name changed) comes health awareness among its have medical insurance coverage. to the Press Club only when there members and their families. Since Most journalists working with is a meeting scheduled. Far from then, over 75 health clinics have regional newspapers and news young and a confirmed bachelor, been organised at the Press Club channels earn very little as salary, he has always been confident that his large extended family will premises, benefiting hundreds and other benefits they are entitled take care of him, should the need of media families. Under the to are nominal, at best. Hence, they arise. During one of his visits, an programme, a practicing physician find it hard to afford healthcare OPD clinic was being held, and he comes to the Press Club every expenditure and, often, when they casually went in to have his blood Saturday evening and offers free are faced with medical emergencies pressure checked. The nurse’s eyes consultations. Often, screenings of either for themselves or their loved widened at the reading. When the weight, hypertension, blood sugar, ones, they end up depending attending doctor checked Sailesh’s bone density, pulmonary function, on financial support from the pressure, it remained at a high 180 thyroid levels, etc are organised and government and donations from by 110 mmHg. The doctor asked if follow-up consultations arranged. well-wishers. Sailesh had his blood pressure taken Started with support from The Press Club has more than earlier. He replied in the negative, Dr Jayanta Bardoloi, managing 300 regular members, mostly saying that it was an unnecessary director of Assam’s well-known professional journalists working for exercise as he had always enjoyed Dispur Hospital, to set up a doctor's regional, national and international good health. He refused to accept chamber at the Club premises, the media outlets. Though the camps the reading at the clinic. health camps have helped detect are meant for enrolled members

January-March 2018 VIDURA 37 Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration: and their families, any journalist dL. The doctor spent a long time (The writer is an Assam-based of the region (also the country) and giving him medical advice. John, journalist and secretary, Guwahati their dependants are welcome to when he came out of the clinic, Press Club.) make use of the clinics. Other media had only this to say to me: “Dost organisations, including press clubs (dear friend), you have made me a

in the region, are being encouraged sick person today. God bless you.” < to take similar initiatives to enhance the health of their members and also boost healthcare-related journalism Nalin Mehta is executive editor, TOI Online in this part of the country. The Times of India (TOI) has promoted its consulting editor, Nalin Mehta, Finally, meet John (a rural and assigned him the new role of executive editor, TOI Online. Mehta has journalist from Jayantia hills of previously been managing editor, India Today (English TV news channel) Meghalaya), who recently came to and is also an award-winning social scientist and author. He has authored the Press Club when an OPD clinic four book, three edited books and over 20 refereed academic journal was about to start. I asked him to articles and book chapters. He is co-director, Times Literary Festival; senior

join in. Initially, he declined, but fellow, India Development Foundation (IDF), an editor, South Asian History < later agreed to get himself tested. and Culture (Routledge) book series and journal. A random test revealed that his (Courtesy: exchange4media.com) sugar level was almost 400 mg/

38 VIDURA January-March 2018 No lessons learnt yet in quake- prone Northeast It is often said that earthquakes don’t kill people; it is the buildings that do. If building codes are not enforced in seismically active zones, even moderate intensity quakes can cause widespread damage to buildings and injure people. This is what is happening in the Northeast, a new study has pointed out, says Dinesh C. Sharma

anipur was hit with an Results of the study have now been construction,” the study has earthquake of intensity published in the journal, Current concluded. The 2016 quake, it said, M6.7 on January 4, 2016, Science. “should be regarded as a preview which caused devastation in state It was found that while several of what is likely to happen in the capital, Imphal, and adjoining reinforced concrete (RC) buildings event of a greater shaking expected areas. It provided an opportunity in Imphal suffered varying degree for the region and should hasten to scientists to understand risks of damage, traditional wooden the community to take necessary posed to buildings and the state of houses made using bamboo and steps.” construction practices in the region. wood, known as shing-khim, Durgesh C. Rai, a professor of civil While many buildings collapsed, reported no damage. Government engineering at IIT Kanpur, who led it was noted that the damage buildings, covered in the study, the study, told India Science Wire that caused to public building was were damaged heavily because “despite considerable awareness disproportionate to the observed they did not conform to seismic in public about earthquakes and intensity of shaking. code of practices, and there was associated risks, both public and Scientists from three Indian general lack of enforcement of administrators, chose to ignore Institutes of Technology (IITs) – existing regulations and codes. In the threat and continued to Kanpur, Guwahati and Patna – addition, factors such as inferior build structures which were not undertook a reconnaissance survey quality of raw materials and earthquake-resistant.” of earthquake-affected regions shoddy workmanship contributed Due to such negligence, he said, immediately after the quake, and to collapse of buildings. “many publicly-funded buildings revisited the area after three months “The seismic risk in the region is suffered severe damage under to see the condition of the damaged growing at an alarming pace with shaking intensity of VI–VII which is structures and restoration work. increasing inventory of vulnerable not only ironic but also represents

Collapse of a three-storey building in Keishampar (a). Collapse of 4-storey building in Dewlabland, Imphal (b).

January-March 2018 VIDURA 39 Photos: India Science Wire Good performance shown in traditional construction—a two-storey wooden house (known as shing-khim) at Dewlabland in Imphal (left) and a single storey shing-khim at Noney Bazar near Epicentral. the utter betrayal of the public Keithel or Mothers’ Market, too, is not adequately prepared due trust.” suffered damage. The market earlier to lack of implementation.” He Buildings at the Inter State Bus operated from bamboo structures said the lessons from the Manipur

Terminal (ISBT), Government which were functional but were quake were applicable for the entire Polytechnic and Central in poor condition due to lack of northeast region. < Agriculture University (CAU), maintenance. So, the government all government-funded and dismantled the market and built (Courtesy: India Science Wire. The supervised constructions, were three concrete structures in 2010. research team included Durgesh C. expected to perform satisfactorily All three buildings have similar Rai, Hemant B. Kaushik and Vaibhav during earthquakes, but they all elevation and plan but only one of Singhal.) experienced moderate to severe them showed better performance damages. Large building campuses during the earthquake. such as CAU were constructed on “The traditional constructions landfill soil and they performed using lighter timber and bamboo extremely poorly during the have performed well and no damage earthquake shaking, the study to such structures in Imphal was pointed out. reported,” Dr Rai added. “Despite The newly constructed concrete available knowledge, seismic safety buildings of world famous Ima remains neglected and the society

Ira Joshi is director-general, Doordarshan News Press Information Bureau director-general Ira Joshi was on Nov 20 appointed as the director-general of Doordarshan News following the retirement of Veena Jain, according to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Press Information Bureau DG Ghanshyam Goel has been made the new DG of Directorate of

Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP), replacing Esther Kar, who was put on "compulsory wait", a ministry order said. Doordarshan News is currently producing news content in Hindi, English, Urdu and Sanskrit languages. <

(Courtesy: exchange4media.com)

40 VIDURA January-March 2018 There’s so much that Gandhians around the world teach us Twice a year, on October 2 and January 30, the nation pays tributes to the Father of the Nation. The rest of the time, it is “on with the global race, along the path of profligrate, non-sustainable use of resources, in the pursuit of profits”, disregarding the ill effects of such inappropriate ‘development’ paths in a country like India says Sakuntala Narasimhan

ahatma Gandhi’s life bemoaned the obsession with ‘big’ 40 years ago. Small is Beautiful is an and philosophy had a -- big industries, mega dams, big indictment of the global obsession Mprofound influence on two projects, massive outlays, without with ‘big’ and ‘bigger’, and world renowned leaders – South addressing the effects of such ‘mega’ indiscriminate adoption of capital Africa’s Nelson Mandela who led projects on the people, especially intensive models by the developing the anti-apartheid movement before the poor. If development is for the nations simply because these models becoming the country’s president, people (who else?), nothing can worked in the West, forgetting that and Martin Luther King Jr of the justify massive spending that does big may not always be better -- US who likewise led a massive not benefit disadvantaged sections, “To be a good shoe maker,” he movement of blacks for equal rights. and instead widens inequalities, all said, “ it is not enough to know a Both lived in the 20th Century, and four said – isn’t that exactly what lot about making shoes, it is also both adopted Gandhian ideologies Gandhi said, when he suggested, necessary to know about feet; the of non-violence inspired by the “ Whenever you are in doubt, shoe made for the big fellow doesn’t Mahatma’s movement for freedom recall the face of the poorest and fit the little fellow, small feet need in India. As yet another January the weakest man you have seen, different shoes, not an inferior one 30th has passed by, I am thinking and ask yourself if the step you but of the right size.” Quite. One of four others who espoused the contemplate is going to be of any size fits all, nah? same Gandhian ideals and made use to him… will it restore him In 1962, the Indian Government significant contributions to the to a control over his own life and invited him to tour the country and furtherance of the idea of social destiny? Then you will find your submit a plan for development. equity as the only meaningful test doubts melting away…” He suggested the adoption of of true progress. Gandhi was not just about “intermediate technology” which One of the four was a refugee satyagraha and ahimsa; his wider would make use of abundant who fled from Nazi Germany to philosophy encompassed insights labour that is available (unlike in Britain. Another was an American into meaningful development, the West) while capital is scarce. journalist who became famous now popular, six decades later, as The government dismissed his as an author and stood for public the global Real World Economics suggestion, and he left India in a office. The third Gandhian whom movement in the wake of the 2008 huff. (The same government, he I met some years ago in Europe, financial meltdown that paupered remarked, organised a conference is from Chile; and the fourth, millions, while the banks that on ‘appropriate technology’ 15 an Indian to the core, was an caused the devastation got billions months later) He was also called a extraordinary visionary but a self- of dollars as bail-outs. Without social crank (just as Gandhi was ridiculed effacing son of Andhra whose birth equity, mere GDP growth becomes as a “half naked fakir”) for warning centenary was celebrated two years a travesty of progress. Especially against blindly embracing capital ago; he set benchmarks for the if a nation professes democracy. intensive projects – and he retorted: application of Gandhian concepts No government decision that is not “Good, a crank is a useful gadget in academics that predate Nobel ‘people-centric’ can be validated on that causes revolutions.” laureate Amartya Sen’s pioneering grounds of monetary profits. This Rapacity, Schumacher said, “capacity building” theory of is what Gandhi said, and all four is “inherent in modern capital human development. Gandhians on my list reiterated intensive models, while “ads All four emphasised the need with great passion and conviction. stimulate greed” – recall Gandhi’s for ethics and “people-centric” The German refugee who settled comment that there is “enough policies if development is to be in Britain was E.F. Schumacher, for everybody’s needs but not for meaningful. Like Gandhi, all four author of Small is Beautiful, who died everybody’s greed”. Both spoke

January-March 2018 VIDURA 41 Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration: of the dehumanising effects of for eight hours a day robs him of the market driven, profit-centred modern industrial processes that his humanity and his soul – that model of development that has treat labour as merely a factor of is not progress”. Gandhi’s spinning become the global norm. production (Schumacher called it was not just the creation of rough Long before modern analysts “soul destroying”). Work is not thread; it stood for a philosophy, a came up with discussions about the merely something a human being statement and stance that acquired anomaly of rising GDP alongside has to do for survival; it brings far greater value and importance widening gaps between the haves fulfillment and stimulates creative than the value of the spun thread. and have-nots, Schumacher, Henry energy (which machines throttle). No one called Henry George George (and Gandhi) tried to offer “God forbid that India should the ‘American Gandhi’ because he more viable, ethical and socially ever take to industrialisation after lived much before Gandhi became egalitarian alternatives (promote the manner of the West, under known and died 120 years ago. In local initiatives , empower at the local the spell of giant machines… this his book written in 1879 focusing level for true democratic equity). would strip the world bare like on socio-economic inequalities, George wrote about “trusteeship” locusts,” said Gandhi, writing in he emphasised the need for of common resources; Gandhi Young India (1931.) Juxtapose this economic development based on too urged us to treat common with what Schumacher said: “Man “moral principles” (the Real World resources as held in trusteeship becomes not the master of the Economics movement of today (whereas under the fashionable machines he handles but its slave; denounces neo-liberal policies as ‘public-private partnership’ that pressing a button or pulling a lever amoral). George too denounced we are advocating, even water

42 VIDURA January-March 2018 supply is being privatised, and was greatly admired by leading common lands and tribal forests are economists like Prof V.K.R.V. being appropriated for ‘industrial Rao (who served on the Planning development’). Commission and as Union In the Machkund Dam area in minister), Prof P.R. Brahmananda, Andhra Pradesh, the tribal women former Prime Minister P.V. who used to access the river water Narasimha Rao, and RBI Governor before the dam was built, now have C. Rangarajan who respected him to walk much farther, taking long for his extraordinary devotion to detours, to reach the river because right living and Gandhian ethics. their path is now blocked for Long before Amartya Sen came security reasons. Then there are the up with his theory on capacity Narmada Dam oustees, rendered building as a vital ingredient for homeless because a dam has come meaningful development, Professor up in the name of ‘development’. Rao espoused the same theory, Why is it okay to dispossess some emphasising human development, to feed others? Under what norms social equity and “relevance of of ethics? academic research to real life Henry George’s book Progress Prof Manfred Max Neef. problems” (which he called “action and Poverty sold more copies than research”; as part of the observance any other book before his time, and “abolition of hideous inequalities of his centenary celebrations an when he passed away his funeral resulting in the existence of millions endowment has now been created was reported “the biggest since of have-nots and a handful of to promote inter-disciplinary Abraham Lincoln’s”. haves”. So what kind of tribute research on socio-economic areas Chilean academic Professor is the nation going to offer, to the pertaining to ground realities for Manfred Max Neef, whom I have Mahatma, 77 years after he made the poor and disadvantaged, as had the pleasure of interacting that comment? against armchair theorising based with, says the same in his book on But how do we works for the on sophisticated models). Experiences in Barefoot Economic, adoption of a different, more ethical The latest validation of Gandhian based on his personal experience model? “Civil society has to rise to economics comes from Washington in poor countries. Winner of the the challenge, by mobilising,” says DC no less, where the World Watch Right Living International award Prof Neef. If Gandhi could mobilise Institute, in its State of the World (1982) and founder of the Centre an entire nation to rise against report urges “more voice for the for Development Alternatives, he colonial rule, isn’t it possible to people, local governance, and more declared himself an “admirer of mobilise the populace against equitable distribution of economic Gandhi”. As an economist, he had plans, priorities and allocations plenty to say, just like Schumacher, that cause violence of another about today’s obsession with capital kind (social, communal, emotional, intensive developmental models. psychological)? We look at profits, Neef observes, Did not thousands of faceless, but do not factor in the social costs unknown citizens toss their jewelry (rootlessness suffered by immigrant and imported cloth and precious labourers moving to the metropolis, savings, in support of the freedom erosion of the sense of community, movement, without calculating loss of identity as a dehumanised any personal returns or rewards ? ‘cog in a machine’). Capital intensive Have we perhaps lost that capacity development has increased poverty for ‘social involvement’ and -- worldwide, incremental incomes mobilisation today, because humans have gone steadily to the upper one are now assessed not in terms of percent, the bottom 99 per cent have ethical involvement but in terms of not benefited; in Bengaluru, the money, power and position? number of billionaires has risen to Professor Bhavaraju Sarveswara 13130 today, while simultaneously Rao spent a lifetime as an the number of slums has risen from economist at Andhra University 480 five years ago, to 520 today. in Visakhapatnam, consciously Some ‘development’! Writing in The A humane economist - the cover of the refusing high profile and lucrative book published on Prof Rao's birth Harijan, in 1940, Gandhi urged the international assignments, but centenary.

January-March 2018 VIDURA 43 requirements, the report stresses, are “non-negotiable components” of sustainable development. So we come back, circuitously, via Washington DC, to the fashionable engagement with issues of ‘sustainable develop- ment’ and ‘nurturing planet earth’, via Gandhian ideas – of thrift, trusteeship of resources, contentment rather than greed for more, simple living, and eschewing waste that the report calls “sinful”.

Combining ethics and morals with economic assessments, in other < words. Photos: SN Prof Sarveswara Rao (right) with former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao. returns because a more equitable spawned by disgruntlement, world is a more secure world” (and frustration, envy and anger security is a global concern today, at injustice). These democratic

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44 VIDURA January-March 2018 GREAT INDIAN EDITORS An editor who brought fairness, moderation, sobriety into play In 1838, a son was born in Calcutta to Ishwar Chandra Pal, a man of modest means whose mastery over the English language would invite praise even from colonial masters. The boy by the name of Kristo Das Pal was to turn an ace journalist, editor, orator and bureaucrat. Twenty two years time was enough for Kristo Das to prove his mettle in the fields of mass media, mass communication, legislation and public service. Mrinal Chatterjee on the man and his times

fter receiving an English was severely criticised by Meredith education at the Oriental Townsend, in Friend of India, in an ASeminary and the Hindu article titled, VanitasVanitatum. The Metropolitan College from Calcutta public was surprised, when Calcutta, Kristo Das Pal devoted it was subsequently announced himself to journalism from an early in the Calcutta Literacy Gazette that age. A student of D.L. Richardson, the author of the essay was only a he acquired an admirable pro- schoolboy. ficiency in English. In 1857, Kristo The fame made Kristo Das’s Das started the Calcutta Monthly aspiration to work for the Hindoo Magazine jointly with few friends, Patriot a reality. In 1860, he was but it survived only for about appointed assistant secretary (and six months. He then contributed afterwards secretary) to the British regularly to the newspapers Indian Association. The weekly such as Morning Chronicle, the magazine was transferred by a Citizen, Phonix, and Harkaru, and trust deed to some members of the occasionally to the Englishman. British Indian Association. Hurish

When the Central Star was started Chunder Mukerji, editor of Hindoo Provided by: MC at Cawnpore (now Kanpur in Uttar Patriot died the following year; the Kristo Das Pal. Pradesh), Kristo Das became its paper and the chief editorship was Calcutta correspondent. He was handed over to Kristo Das. Under practise lopsided journalism, his next enrolled as staff of the Hindu his editorship, the newspaper grew flair for accuracy and balance in Intelligencer. He also wrote a series in stature. news reporting won him praise of articles to the newspaper Hindoo As a journalist, Kristo Dascame from the Europeans as well. Patriot on the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny, more than once into conflict with Law member of the Viceroy's which made its editor Hurish the authorities. In 1866, Sir Cecil Council Sir C.P. Ilbert remarked, Chunder Mukerji think that Kristo Beadon, then Lieutenant Governor “Succeeding, at the age of some Das Pal “would be able to do much of Bengal, replied publicly to of the graduates of today, to the for his country, if God spared certain remarks made in the Hindoo management of some of the oldest him”. Patriot about famine and, in 1874, organs of public opinion in this Kristo Das wrote several Sir George Campbell recorded in a country by the readiness and pamphlets on such subjects as minute that the Hindoo Patriot was versatility of his pen, by the patient ‘Young Bengal vindicated’, ‘The a paper which cherished ‘ill-will industry which he displayed mutinies and the people’, and towards government’, to which, of in mastering the details of the ‘Indigo cultivation’. The first paper course, Kristo Das sent a suitable subjects with which he undertook was read at an anniversary meeting reply. Critics say in later years, to deal, by the fairness, breadth, and in commemoration of David Hare, the paper was looked upon with moderation of his utterances, he and it was printed and published great favour by the authorities gradually and steadily advanced for Hurro Chunder Ghose, a judge and they referred to it always to its (Hindoo Patriot) reputation of the Calcutta Small Cause Court, ascertain native opinion. He edited during his twenty-three years of to whom it was dedicated. The the paper with conspicuous ability editorship, and raised it from a essay attracted much attention, and for twenty-three years. Not one to nearly moribund condition to the

January-March 2018 VIDURA 45 first place among native Indian children. In 1874, he married again A full length statue of him was journals.” after being widowed for two years. unveiled by Lord Elgin at Calcutta In 1879, Kristo Das was made None of his three children from both in 1894. The emphasis on presenting secretary of the Board of Bengal weddings survived. He died on the moderate views as an editor Landlords – the British Indian July 24, 1884, reportedly of diabetes, and sobriety of Kristo Das Pal’s

Association. As editor of a widely leaving behind no bloodline but his criticisms is a lesson for the present read native newspaper of the legacy which is etched in India’s lot of editors and journalists. < day and as secretary to the most history. important political association in Viceroy of India Lord Ripon (The author, a journalist-turned- Bengal, Kristo Das rose rapidly in condoled his death thus: “By this media academician, presently public office. He was appointed melancholy event, we have lost heads the Eastern India campus a municipal commissioner and from among us a colleague of of the Indian Institute of Mass Justice of the Peace in 1863. In 1872, distinguished ability. Kristo Das Communication in Dhenkanal, he was nominated a member of Pal owed the honourable position Odisha. This is the fourth in a series the Legislative Council of Bengal. to which he had attained to his of profiles of great Indian newspaper The following year, he was made own exertions. His intellectual editors who have, through the course a Companion of the Order of the attainments were of a high order, his of their work and career, made a signal Indian Empire, a rare distinction rhetorical gifts were acknowledged contribution to India's Freedom for an Indian during colonial by all who heard him, and were Movement, to the development of rule. In 1883, he was elected by enhanced when addressing this society and to the development of the British Indian Association as council by his thorough mastery Journalism.) its representative in the Imperial over the English language.” Legislative Council, with the approval of the Viceroy. He was also a Fellow of the Calcutta University. In all these different capacities, National Awards for Excellence in Kristo Das laboured hard to earn distinction. “However keenly he Journalism announced may have felt, however vigorously or eloquently he may have defended The Press Council of India has announced the winners of National his own position in any matter, he Awards for Excellence in Journalism 2017. Sam Rajappa and Sarat could speak and write on the most Mishra, eminent journalists, were jointly designated awardee in the burning questions, with an amount category Raja Ram Mohan Roy Award for their outstanding contributions of good temper, and fairness, and towards Journalism. moderation which was an example Shalini Nair, senior assistant editor, national bureau, Indian Express, to all public men,” said Sir Richard Delhi, was chosen for the award of Rural Journalism & Developmental Garth, late Chief Justice of the High Reporting. Court of Calcutta. K. Sujith, senior reporter, Mangalam Daily, Kannur and Chitrangada Despite rising to the top most Choudhury, freelancer, Odisha, were jointly selected in the category of echelons in journalism and politics, Investigative Journalism. Kristio Das remained humble. C.K. Thanseer, news photographer, Chandrika Daily, Calicut, Kerala, After being conferred the title and Vijay Verma, principal photo journalist, Press Trust of India, New of Rai Bahadur at the Imperial Delhi, were jointly selected in the category of Photo Journalism - Single Assemblage, on the January 1, 1887, News Picture. he made light of the honourary J. Suresh, chief photographer, Malayala Manorama, was selected in title and remarked, “May we ask the category of Photo Journalism – Photo Feature. what dire offence did we commit Gireesh Kumar M.P., Times of India, Kochi, Kerala, was selected for

for which this punishment was the award in the category of Best Newspapers Art: Covering Cartoons, reserved for us? We have no Caricatures and Illustrations. < ambition for titular distinctions. If we had a voice in the matter, we would have craved the permission of our kind and generous rulers to leave us alone!” Domestic happiness, however, eluded Rai Kristo Pal Das Bahadur. He was married in 1856 and had two

46 VIDURA January-March 2018 Celebrating press freedom

Today’s news is tomorrow’s history was an adage coined at a time when the print media was striving to record all noteworthy incidents that took place anywhere in the world. It continues this effort even today. The Newseum, an initiative of the Forum Foundation in USA, offers a ‘window to the world’ of news coverage, says M.R. Dua

he print media has acquired a venerable status in India’s Tvibrant and lively democracy. The proof of this is that a plethora of newspapers and magazines publish news stories and articles about national and international developments, often surmounting many handicaps to make this happen. Newspapers and magazines brought out in India by intellectuals, political observers and social activists such as Ramananda Chatterjee (Modern Review), Gandhiji (Young India in English and Harijan in Hindi and Gujarati) and Lala Lajpat Rai (VandeMatram in Urdu) once published news about the Freedom Movement. These publications are referred to even today for tracing many significant and landmark developments during the Independence Struggle. Kolkata’s National Public Library in the First Amendment of the preserves and maintains files of country’s Constitution – a new some selected newspapers and a and larger building was envisaged few periodicals. to be built to house the institution But far away in the US, a beginning on Pennsylvania Avenue, in was made by a non-profit, non- Washington DC. The total cost was partisan foundation, the Freedom estimated to be around $450 million. Forum, for this very purpose. It set Several media organisations, such up the Newseum, considered to be as The New York Times and Time a landmark in the American media Warner, and several TV networks scenario. It started life in 1997 and family foundations like those in a small building in Arlington, set up by the Bancrofts and Pulliams Virginia, close to Washington DC. generously contributed to the cost Exhibits at the Newseum, of front During its nearly ten-year service of the new building. pages of the world's newspapers, to the media, the Newseum had The current Newseum premises, including Indian. created an excellent impression inaugurated in April 2008, is an and earned laurels in foreign media architectural icon. It can cater reputation of being a champion circles too. to over two million visitors in a of free expression in the world. It Since the Newseum is treated year. It is considered a worthy is dedicated to the five freedoms as the symbol of press freedom – celebration to the First Amendment. guaranteed in the US – religion, an integral part of USA’s ideals The Newseum’s motto is ‘Window speech, press, assembly and of liberty and equality enshrined on the World’. It has earned the petition.

January-March 2018 VIDURA 47 Photos: MRD

A screenshot of the Newseum website.

Every day, the Newseum’s seven network, a Qatar-owned TV network per head. The prohibitive fee limits floors exhibit the images and PDF which functioned from this studio the visitors but, even so, it records versions of front pages of over for some time, was wound up in around 80000 footfalls every year. 450 newspaper from around the April 2016 for economic reasons. Despite hurdles, the Newseum world, including of English and The Newseum’s most remarkable keeps pursuing its basic media local language dailies from India. media exhibits include a 90-foot objectives. Recently, it conducted In addition, it maintains an archive high screen that shows the latest an exhibition of photographs and

of front pages carrying reports of headlines from around the globe. media coverage on the occasion notable events since 2001. The Newseum’s Media Institute of former US President John F. < Hard copies of select front pages, is affiliated to the University of Kennedy’s death anniversary. including one from every US South Dakota, Center for Southern State, are displayed in galleries. Journalism and Politics with the (The writer, now living in A Journalists’ Memorial carrying University of Mississippi and the California, US, is a professor and the names of media personnel Vanderbilt University. It conducts former head of the Journalism from around the world who were seminars organised by Association Department at the Indian Institute of killed in the line of duty is part of Opinion Journalists on topics Mass Communication, New Delhi.) of the Newseum. Photographs of such as Minority Writers. members of the Committee to Pro- The Newseum is funded by tect Journalists, ReportersWithout donations and the entrance fee of $25 Borders, the International Federa- tion of Journalists and the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers also feature. These Log on to exhibits are updated annually. The Newseum has television www.pressinstitute.in studios that have been used by the ABC cable network to broadcast its to read more such articles This Week progammes. Al Jazeera- America (AJM) cable television

48 VIDURA January-March 2018 Baahubali transforms dynamics on the silver screen The Baahubali series demonstrated the tremendous potential latent in Indian cinema, especially the Telugu film industry. Experts -- both in India and abroad -- have asserted that Indian film making is not going to be the same henceforth, says C.S.H.N. Murthy. Embracing new audiences overseas as well as at home, and the technological changes that have been adopted in film making have changed the economic dynamics of Indian cinema, he points out

t was 9 am on July 10, 2015. The be a blockbuster reboot, or the by becoming the highest grossing film Baahubali—The Beginning first blockbuster ever made, a dubbed film in India. Iwas screened in 4000 theatres reinvigoration of archetypes that Baahubali – The Conclusion, across the globe. The first screening is always entertaining, and often collecting approximately UD$ 120 was over at 12 noon. That the film thrilling, to behold”. million worldwide within just six would be a resounding success was days of its release, went on to be obvious. The finesse, the superb Future of Indian cinema the first Indian film to gross over integration of technical and visual Baahubali —The Beginning and US$ 160 million in all languages. effects, the screenplay, the actors’ its sequel were the highest grocers However, its stupendous success performance and the director’s individually at the Indian box office has raised several fundamental skill —were the subjects of critical in the recent past. According to Uday questions about the future of appreciation in the following few Singh, chairman of Los Angeles Indian cinema, especially Telugu weeks both in India and abroad. Indian Film Council (LAIFC), India and South Indian cinema. The Hollywood Reporter, The is the largest producer of films (over Eminent multilingual director Screen Daily, Huffington Post and 1000 films per year) with annual Ram Gopal Varma tweeted The Guardian were among the ticket sales of nearly 2.8 billion, #@“BB2 impact on Bollywood will newspapers which published a $ 1.53 billion growth across be tremendous bcos every super favourable reviews. It was a great international markets every year. director and superstar for their turn around for Indian cinema. According to a recent report from next blockbuster will have to refer Paradoxically, some Indian film PwC (2017), the Indian media and to BB2. Rachit Gupta from Filmfare critics were not as appreciative entertainment (M&E) industry is gave it a rating of 4.5/5, stating, "SS due to their obsession with post- expected to grow at a compounded Rajamouli's much-awaited sequel modernist perspectives such as annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5 is the kind of movie Indian cinema casteism, feudalism, imperialism per cent to touch $45.1 billion by should make regularly. It’s the kind and colonialism, etc. 2021 from the current $27.3 billion. of sweeping magnum opus that Two years later, on April 28, Baahubali –The Beginning (2015) Indian mythos and culture deserve. 2017, the sequel, Baahubali—The and Baahubali – The Conclusion It’s the biggest film we have ever Conclusion, was released on 9000 (2017) are two examples of the made and barring a few minor screens across the world. The growing investment in Indian film glitches in CGI, this film is possibly jubilation over its tremendous making. the greatest spectacle you'll see on a success at the box office was several Made at a whopping budget big screen, in your life." times greater than that of the of US$ 27.9 million in Telugu, Tamil, True, in the last one decade Indian predecessor. Experts in the film Malayalam and Hindi (dubbed), cinema has undergone a number of industry -- both in India and abroad Baahubali I & II were the most radical changes in every sphere. -- have asserted that Indian film expensive films ever produced in Today the revenue that cinema making is not going to be the same India to date. It was the third highest garners for the nation’s exchequer henceforth. The Baahubali series grossing film worldwide and first has a bearing on its future, be demonstrated the tremendous ever highest grossing South Indian it Hindi (Bollywood), Telugu potential latent in Indian cinema, film, surpassing Enthiran (Robo- (Tollywood) or Tamil (Kollywood). especially the Telugu film industry. 2010) of Shankar’s direction. Its Especially, the investments, the Mike McCahill of The worldwide box office gross stood at distribution chains, satellite rights, Guardian gave the film four stars US$ 100.9 million. Its Hindi dubbed overseas distribution of Indian out of five, saying the film “could version also broke several records films, functions for release of

January-March 2018 VIDURA 49 Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration: posters, teasers and audio discs of categorised and placed in different a few years ago, blockbusters newly produced films, and film ‘clubs’: the Billion Dollar Club, Half involving heroes like Shah Rukh festivals have given a new face, a Billion Dollar Club, Million Dollar Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, direction and momentum to Indian Club, etc. This way of measuring Rajinikant, Chiranjeevi, Kamal cinema. a film’s success has added a new Haasan, etc were screened in barely dimension to the economics of the 500 cinemas. New yardsticks industry, resulting in introducing Earlier small/ low budget Earlier, a film’s success was radical changes in the aesthetics of films were not shown in more judged by how many weeks/ filmmaking. than a hundred cinema theatres. months it kept the interest of One of the main reasons for the However, due to the digitised audiences in theatres. Today, this is boom in Indian cinema commerce, model of delivery through satellites, no longer a yardstick for the success be it Bollywood or Tollywood, is the movies can now be screened across of an Indian film. Starting with the maximisation of revenues due to the the world at one go. Thus, the reach first day’s collection, the revenue change in delivery platform. “It is of Indian cinema has gradually the film collects for each show is essential that theatre collections are risen, to between 3000 and 9000 relevant on a day-to-day basis. maximised in a short span, and this screens across the globe. With the Therefore, the box-office grossing is possible if a film is simultaneously technological manoeuvre, even has become the new yardstick to released in an optimum number of small budget films have got a boost, determine a film’s success. On the cinemas,” says Puneet Mehrotra with the flexibility to gradually basis of these figures, films are of Business World (2016). Just increase the number of screening

50 VIDURA January-March 2018 theaters as the film’s success reports keep coming in through the print and television media. Dainik Bhaskar largest Shivaji Chatterjee of SVP Hughes Communications says, “Digital circulated multi-edition daily cinema has enabled a huge cut in cost of delivery of movies to The largest number of publications registered in any Indian language theaters. Distributors are happy is Hindi followed by English. Also, registered publications witnessed with the new delivery system a growth of 3.58 per cent growth with Uttar Pradesh leading the list because earlier ‘number of reels to of largest number of registered publications followed by Maharashtra. print’ was a distributors’ risk. Today Both the findings were revealed by the latest Registrar of Newspapers no distributor loses money because for India (RNI) annual report, Print in India 2016-17, launched on unlike earlier there is no investment December 15, 2017. in reel cost”. Hence, hundred per According to the report, there are 114820 number of registered cent digitalisation of movies is publications. Out of all the Indian language registered publications, a game changer in defining the Hindi language has most number of publications followed by the English future of Indian cinema commerce language with numbers standing at 46827 and 14365, respectively. In in a way.” 2016-17, 4007 new publications were registered and 38 publications This alone will not suffice; the were ceased, said the report. Dainik Bhaskar is reported to be the storytelling and the screenplay largest circulated multi-edition daily followed by The Times of India with have also taken a new turn to meet circulation figures of 4736785 and 4268703, respectively. the stepped up demands of viewers for variety in Indian cinema. For The report lists the following: instance, the huge use of graphics and visual effects, with the The largest circulated daily: Ananda Bazar Patrika, involvement of overseas graphics Bengali, Kolkata: 1116428 agencies, has had a dramatic effect on Telugu and Tamil cinema in the The second largest circulated daily: The Times of India, recent past. English, Delhi: 956054 In fact, even in low budget films like Eega (2012 directed The largest circulated Hindi daily: Punjab Kesari, by Rajamouli) graphics and CGI Jalandhar: 714888 (Computer Generated Imagery) played a decisive role in the film’s The largest circulated multi-edition daily: Dainik Bhaskar, success at the box-office. Legacy Hindi (46 editions): 4736785 Effects and the Hong Kong- based visual effects companies The second largest circulated multi-edition daily: The Times of India, Kinomotive Studios and Menfond English (33 editions): 4268703 Electronics are involved in South The largest circulated periodical: The Sunday Times of India, Indian film making today. Makuta

VFX, Firefly in Hyderabad, Tau English / weekly edition, Delhi: 835269 films in Malaysia, Dancing Digital The largest circulated periodical in Malayalam: Vanitha / fortnightly <

Animation and Macrograph in edition, Kottayam: 647104 South Korea were involved in the < (Courtesy: exchange4media.com) making of Baahubali I and II.

(The writer is professor and director, Paradigm Institute of Media and Film Studies, Secunderabad.)

January-March 2018 VIDURA 51 GASTON ROBERGE Documentary on a film scholar who made India his home Master Preacher of Film Theory is a good biographical documentary, the first on a film scholar, Father Gaston Roberge, who migrated to India and made Kolkata his home forever though he had chosen to become God’s own man. Credit, Shoma A. Chatterji says, goes to K.G. Das for making a film that is fit for the film archives of India

his is the first ever meaningfully set against a beautiful focuses on guiding the audience documentary, as far as charcoal sketch of his favourite on interpreting Indian cinema Tmy knowledge goes, on a film filmmaker, Satyajit Ray. through the lens of Indian culture, scholar who is originally a migrant Father Roberge talks with a which he feels is lacking in critical from Canada but specialises in distinct lisp that adds to the charm and scholarly review of Indian Indian cinema. Master Preacher of a very grounded personality who film. “To understand Indian film, of Film Theory is a graphically talks ever so slowly, permitting one must go back to Bharat-Muni detailed documentary on a ‘God’s each syllable and consonant to sink and his Natya Shastra,” he says. man’ originally from Canada who deeply into the mind of the listener. Father Roberge says at one point created an Indian film theory. When asked what motivated him to in the film that for him, just coming The film is made by veteran make the film, Das says, “I decided from one country to a new one by documentary filmmaker K.G. to create this cinematic tribute to this boat with a passport and a visa, Das who had earlier worked with great man because, as a filmmaker landing on the ground of the city the Films Division and also won of long standing, I felt indebted to does not translate actually into National Awards for his films. make this film,” adding, “I had “coming to a different country”. The film is both his tribute and heard his speech at the Jeebonanda “You have to know the people in his guru dakshina (tradition of Sabhagriha in the Nandan Complex order to arrive at a new country,” repaying on’e teacher or spiritual during the celebration of 60 years says Father. On his way to Kolkata, guru) to a person he considers his of Pather Panchali which triggered the ship made a one-night halt at mentor in film theory. The 80-year- in him the desire to study Indian New York and Father learnt that old academic and film theorist, cinema differently and create a a trilogy of Indian films was being Father Gaston Roberge, arrived theory of Indian cinema from the screened in the city. He made use from French-speaking Montreal understanding and knowledge he of that one night by visiting the to Kolkata in 1961 and his small had gleaned from this film and cinemas and watching all the three quarters, filled with books on others.” stories of Apu through the night. his neat table complete with a Das has adopted a no-nonsense, “I was deeply impressed by that desktop computer and printer, is narrative structure that focuses on particular scene in Pather Panchali Father Roberge during his lectures where the sister Durga and her at St Xaviers, or elaborating on how brother Apu are clandestinely a specific scene in Pather Panchali sharing some sour pickles unknown impressed him deeply, or, holding to their stern mother. I discovered forth on Indian cinema at the that while these two children Nadia Archive founded and run by were sharing a secret joy of eating Basudeb Mandal who generously pickles, we, the audience, were agreed to produce the film. Father sharing their joy in a different way.” Roberge has almost totally lost his This is what shook him forever and hearing and the Church he belongs to Indian cinema became his passion, has given him an expensive hearing his love and his commitment. aid but this does not affect the film The film is intercut with the at all though Das found it difficult to subdued voice-over of Jagannath place his conversations with Father Guha when Father Roberge is not on film at certain moments. talking and backed by the low-key

Provided by: K.G. Das In his book, To View Movies The music by the director himself. Master Gaston Roberge. Indian Way (2007), Father Roberge Preacher of Film Theory becomes a

52 VIDURA January-March 2018 film truly fit for the archive that will Canada as a priest and stayed on for a given film in large numbers or become a learning experience for 60 long years using the time to create not and gives the example of the film lovers, film students and film and evolve his Indian Theory of Bangladeshi mainstream hit Beder critics and scholars for all time. Das Film. It is a simple, straightforward Meye Jyotsna. The voice-over also has provided diversion and relief narration that mainly follows the focusses on Father’s working out through still photographs of Father 80+ Father, now hard of hearing a fine balance between his priestly Roberge with different personalities who has authored not less than responsibilities within the church like Satyajit Ray, Mother Theresa 35 books on different aspects of as a Jesuit father and his teaching and so on besides backing Father’s cinema, mainly Indian cinema assignments bridged by his writing

explanations about his idea of an and taught cinema to hundreds of of books, mainly on cinema and Indian film theory with original students many of who in course of some on theology. < clips from Pather Panchali, Raja time, became noted directors and Harishchandra, Sholay, Debi and even dedicated their first film to (The writer is a senior journalist Ivan the Terrible, a film he has this great teacher. and film historian based in Kolkata. explored and analysed differently “Cinema is an imaginary She has won the National Award for from the way it was analysed experience triggered by audiovisual Best Writing on Cinema twice, the before. projections of visuals, sound and Bengal Film Journalists Association The film, spanning 39 minutes of music on screen,” says Father Award, and a Lifetime Achievement screening time, captures, in slices, Roberge at one point. He says Award from Laadly-UNFPA. This montages and narrations mainly that it is necessary for the mass article had appeared in a different in the first person, the long career audience to decide on a film’s version in Silhouette Magazine.) of an unusual man who came from destiny, that is, whether they like

I&B Ministry introduces single-point online service The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a notification on January 3 informing broadcasters about the provision of online submission of applications for change of channel name, logo etc. and other services such as foreign remittance proposals. “It is requested that hereon all such applications should be made online only through the web portal www. broadcastseva.gov.in,” the notice read, making it mandatory for all broadcasters to use the online service for submitting their applications. According to the notice, applications for temporary uplinking, permission to set up a teleport, foreign remittance, change of satellite, channel name/logo, language of channel, category of channel, mode of transmission, teleport and teleport location are available on the government portal. The notice also added, “Annual permission fee module is active and payment of annual permission fee should be made online only." The website says this move is in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative for Ease of Doing

Business, Digital India and Make in India and “provides a single point facility to the various stakeholders and applicants to make their applications for various permission, registrations, licences, etc. issued by MIB for < broadcast related activities.”

January-March 2018 VIDURA 53 Bengali children’s literature – a forgotten resource?

The Bengali language has a tradition of excellent literature for children. Just recently, Nabaneeta Dev Sen was honoured with the Big Little Book Award. But how aware is the Bengali Diaspora about this excellent way of keeping roots strong? Mou Mukherjee-Das goes back in time while trying to find out

n July 2017, when Nabaneeta Sahitya Kutir publication house was -- Gyanoday (1831), Vidya Darpan Dev Sen was awarded the BLBA the most sought after puja edition, (1853), Satya Pradip (1860), Rahasya (Big Little Book Award), no and Kishore Bharati, Mouchak and Sandarva (1863) and Abodh Bandhu I Ramdhanu caught up with it later. (1873) were among them. During media house covered the news. This undoubtedly innovative initiative Phantom, created by Lee Falk in the period, the first novel for by TATA Trusts and Literature the USA, was the earliest English Indian children was brought out Live to honour authors for their comic strip to be published in by Wood, an Englishwoman. It was contribution to children’s literature Bengali newspapers. In fact, called Chhoto Henry. Iswar Chandra in Indian languages was hampered Phantom comics were published Vidyasagar also brought out novels by the missing communication in many Indian languages. But the for children, although they were element. earliest Bengali comic strip was mostly educational in intent. Madan Bengali literature is full of stories Shiyal Pandit, created by Pratul Mohan Tarkalankar brought out for children and rhymes called Chandra Lahiri for the Jugantar the first anthologies of poems for chcharas that have been passed down newspaper. Shuktara and Kishore children in Bengali – Padyamala through generations. The rhymes Bharati published cartoons like and Padyapath. Later, collections are often peopled by imaginary Nonte-Phonte, Handa-Bhoda and of stories by Dakshinaranjan creatures, such as the Hattim Batul the Great, alongside Phantom and Upendra Kishore, including a Tim Tim (Hattim a tim-tim/ Tara and Tintin by Belgium cartoonist folktales, fairytales and funny mathe pare dim) created by noted Georges Remi. stories from Bengal became poet Ananda Shanker Ray), and More and more authors started bestsellers and continue to be children with magical capabilities, to bring out children’s magazines favourites with children. like Khokon, the little boy who can cross a river in a boat pulled by seven crows (Khokon khokon korey maye). The chcharas transcend social and other barriers and have a spontaneity and magnetism that catches the fancy of children. The golden era of children’s literature was marked by the emergence of writers like Dakshinaranjan Mitra Mazumder, Upendra Kishore Ray Choudhury, Dinesh Chandra Sen and many others. The first children’s magazine, Digdarshan, was brought out by the missionaries in Serampore in 1818, followed by Pashwabali in 1822. The publishing of children’s stories started with special puja

editions, with many established Pictures provided by: MMD authors contributing a story or two for children. The Shuktara of Dev Cover pages of cartoon comics Handa-Bhoda (left) and Batul-the great (right).

54 VIDURA January-March 2018 Khirer Putul (1896) brought out by famous for his Feluda series, and Mukhopadhyay, Amarendra Abanindranath Tagore is another Bhibuti Bhusan Bandopadhyay Chakravorty and Kartik Ghosh timeless classic. The story Goopi who wrote Chander Pahar, the first have been nominated for various Gyne Bagha Byne (fantasy, adventure adventure story for children in awards in children’s literature. and comedy) was made into a film Bengali. If series like Harry Potter, Tintin, by Satyajit Ray. Ray brought out a Authors starting from Ashapurna Asterix and Batman can a have popular children’s magazine called Devi and Mahasweta Devi to Sunil such a huge fan base, then the Sandesh, the editorship of which was Gangopadhyay (Kakababu series) cornucopia of Bengali children’s later taken over by his son, Sukumar have written books for children. literature is also sure to win the Ray, one of the most brilliant and Narayan Debnath, Narayan hearts of millions of Bengali kids

loved writers for children. His Gangopadhyay, Sashtipada spread across the globe. What collections of poems Abol Tabol Chattopadhya, Sukumar Ray better way of bonding with roots< (The Weird and the Absurd) and and Shibram Chakroborty have and culture? HaJaBaRaLa (Mumbo-Jumbo) are produced classics. Narayan still most popular among children Debnath, the first and the only (The writer is an educator who is of all ages. comic strip creator to receive a D presently engaged in research work on As children’s literature emerged Litt degree in India, has scripted and cartoons and media literacy of children as a new genre, more and more drawn comic strips continuously and their impact. Her areas of interest writers experimented with forms for the past 50 years (Handa Bhoda include media studies and new media.) like adventure stories, science series). fiction, sports, comics and detective Chalachittachanchari by Sukumar stories. Jagadish Chandra Bose Ray, another masterpiece, is and Hemendra Kumar Roy wrote considered to be equal in quality science fiction, Moti Nandy wrote to Alice in Wonderland, the stories around sports, Manoranjan famous children’s classic by Lewis Bhattacharya wrote the first Carroll. Some modern day writers Bengali detective story for children, like Nabaneeta Deb Sen, Sahitya followed by Satyajit Ray, who was Akademi winner Shirshendu

Kannada Prabha celebrates 50 years of publication Kannada Prabha, is one amongst the oldest serving and most trusted Kannada dailies in Karnataka. It has just turned 50 years old . Kannada Prabha was founded in 1967 by Gandhian freedom fighter, Ramnath Goenka, who was also a politician, businessman and a media mogul. It has inherited the ideals of its founder and has been practising straight, bold and relentless journalism, since its first issue on the 4th November, 1967. The paper was part of Indian Express' fight against the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975. It also played an active role in Indian Express' campaign against Ms.Gandhi, and was instrumental in creating a public opinion in favour of the first non-Congress government at the Centre 1977. Under the editorship of Khadri Shamanna, Kannada Prabha took a valiant stand on issues of the state and its people. The newspaper's support in favour of the fight against Hindi imposition, the Gokak Agitation, the Cauvery dispute are a few examples of its pro-people reportage. It has also scripted many firsts in Kannada journalism: from publishing PUC results, to bringing out a special supplement on the occasion of Deepavali; to publishing weekly exclusive magazines for women, magazines related to commerce, cinema and health; as well as, printing daily calendar pages and publishing daily serials. Kannada Prabha's journalistic breakthroughs also include, a separate column for legal matters, students, Kannada comics and colour printing. Celebrating the 50th Anniversary, the January 18th issue was a 134 page collector's edition which received rave reviews from readers and advertisers. The publication is now part of Asianet News Network Media Group. With its strong digital news portal, Kannada Prabha is accessible

to Kannadigas all over the world and with its sister News TV channel Suvarna News, advertisers have an unbeatable combination to reach the Kannada speaking markets. < (Courtesy: exchange4media.com)

January-March 2018 VIDURA 55 The romance of watching this classic simply never wears off

It is the most watched movie in history. Whether on the wide screen or on TV, on YouTube or on the mobile, no film has been seen by more people than Casablanca and this does not come as a surprise. On the 75th anniversary of its release, Partab Ramchand analyses why the film is considered a cult classic

asablanca has remained is cinema par excellence, a studio and Victor Laszlo immediately every moviegoer’s favourite bound Hollywood melodrama bring to mind the three principal Cfilm and its outstanding which has emerged impeccably into actors, Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid qualities have charmed and one of the outstanding entertainment Bergman and Paul Henreid, enraptured audiences now for experiences in cinema history with but even Capt Louis Renault 75 years. Yes, this year marks the romance, intrigue, excitement, (Claude Rains), Ferrari (Sydney platinum jubilee of the general suspense and humour expertly Greenstreet), Ugarte (Peter Lorre), release of the classic which noted deployed by master technicians Major Strasser (Conrad Veidt) and film critic Andrew Sarris summed and a perfect cast. Truly, if one Sam (Dooley Wilson) bring to mind up succinctly by terming it as “the were to take just one movie with many memorable moments of the most decisive exception to the him on a desert island it would be film. Even the so called bit players auteur theory”. Casablanca. make the most of their screen time. No film has had the sort of The unforgettable characters The fact that as many as six lines universal appeal more than the and the witty and tense dialogue from the film’s dialogue – the most Warner Brothers presentation, exchanges are amongst the most for any single movie – appear in which was produced by Hal Wallis cherished memories of Casablanca. the American Film Institute’s ‘100 and directed by Michael Curtiz. It The mention of Rick Blaine, Ilsa Lund years, 100 movie quotes’ list stands testimony to the witty and taut screenplay by the Epstein twins, Julius and Philip, with Howard Koch chipping in. Technically, too, the film cannot be faulted with Arthur Edeson’s camerawork brilliantly catching the ‘film noir’ mood of the movie while the editing by Owen Marks is crisp with each scene blending smoothly with the next. Both received Oscar nominations for their work as did Max Steiner for his immortal score that enhances the enduring qualities of Casablanca. Bogart and Rains narrowly missed out the Oscars for best actor and best supporting actor but the film could not be deprived of Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director and the script. Curtiz, a master craftsman, helped maintain interest in the

Photos: Internet proceedings with swift direction This iconic picture from Casablanca reflected the remarkable chemistry while, with the experienced Wallis between Bogart and Bergman. in charge of the film production,

56 VIDURA January-March 2018 values were predictably high. And though created under the most extraordinary conditions of haste and confusion with new pages of the script being delivered as shooting progressed and the players uncertain of the ending, it has the contrary look of a thoughtfully prepared and lovingly crafted romantic melodrama. Almost every film classic has scenes that live in memory for long but in this aspect Casablanca probably outshines any other picture. There are simply too many to be retold and like the characters and the dialogue even the song ‘As time goes by’ is part of cinema folklore. The ultimate tribute to One of the last scenes in the film where Bogart and Bergman go their Casablanca is that no one needs to separate ways, much against her wishes. be told of the plot as everyone is well aware of it. announced were Ronald Reagan, inspiring film.” Although the initial Even away from the film proper Ann Sheridan and Dennis Morgan release date for Casablanca was the enduring stories that characterise – hese are the only the start of the anticipated for early 1943, the film the making of Casablanca and other innumerable stories that almost premiered at the Hollywood Theater tales associated with it are part of every filmgoer is well aware of. in New York City on November 26, cinema history and very much part In the ultimate analysis one has to 1942, to coincide with the Allied of a book, The Making of Casablanca. say that the respected film critic of invasion of North Africa and the The strange chemistry between The New York Times Bosley Crowther capture of Casablanca It went into Bogart and Bergman underlined by got it absolutely spot on. “A picture general release however on January the latter’s famous quote, “I kissed which makes the spine tingle and 23, 1943, to take advantage of the him but I never really knew him”, the heart take a leap. They have so Casablanca Conference, a high level the fact that no one really knew combined sentiment, humour, and meeting in the city between British how the movie would end and pathos with taut melodrama and Prime Minister Winston Churchill who Bergman would end up with bristling intrigue that the result and American president Franklin and that the film’s original leads as is a highly entertaining and even Roosevelt. Thanks to modern technology, Casablanca continues to bewitch the generations who were born well after its release. I for one saw the film for the first time at the American Centre auditorium in 1972 when I was a youthful cinema enthusiast. Since then, the next generation is already familiar with the film and

of course future generations too will have the opportunity to appreciate < the classic that is Casablanca.

(The writer is a senior sports journalist who has more than a passing interest in cinema.)

The film is set in a nightclub and gambling den in Casablanca during World War II. The place is visited by refugees from France and Germany eager to get to the US.

January-March 2018 VIDURA 57 SPORT India’s pace bowling attack comes of age

As a witness to the farce that the Indian new ball attack was in the 1960s and early 1970s, Partab Ramchand is amazed at the metamorphosis of the Indian pace bowling line-up these days and is of the view that the current phase could well turn out to be the golden age of Indian fast bowling

s one who observed closely Umesh Yadav have really attracted might have been lost because the farce that was the Indian considerable attention all over the of poor batting but there was Anew ball attack in the 1960s cricketing world. All of them have nothing but praise for the pace and early 1970s I am amazed at the got time and age on their side trio of Bhuvneshwar, Shammi metamorphosis I see in the pace and they are bound to get even and Bumrah who matched the attack of today. Five fast bowlers in better with the benefit of further much more experienced quartet of the team to tour South Africa and experience. Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Vernon matching anything that the home These days, the new ball attack is Philander and Kagiso Rabada in team’s quartet of fiery pace bowlers anything but a joke or a farce. The every aspect of the fast bowler’s can hurtle down is something present set is the best compared to craft. The manner in which they that not even the most optimistic the numerous fast bowlers that have bowled out the formidable South followers of Indian cricket would appeared on the Indian cricketing African batting line-up restricting have envisaged some half a century horizon since Kapil’s arrival. The them to totals of 286 and 130 ago. Haryana Hurricane has been an constituted pace bowling of the It’s such a joy to watch the Indian unparalleled inspiration and thanks highest class. pace attack giving as much as the to him the pace bowling revolution The great thing about the present opponents are able to dish out. It commenced in this country. set of Indian pacemen is the variety has been particularly gratifying Whoever would have thought in the in their bowling. All the qualities for someone like me who has dark ages of half a century ago that that go into the making of a good been witness to the time when India would one day produce a pace fast bowler are in ample evidence. the new ball bowling was a joke, bowler who would be the highest Pace, swing and accuracy is their when Eknath Solkar and M.L. wicket taker in Tests? Soon, many forte and the batsmen up against Jaisimha were regular opening other world class pace bowlers them know they have a task on bowlers and those in charge of appeared on the scene and among their hands. They have to display the new ball included the likes of them Javagal Srinath and Zaheer concentration, determination and M.A.K. Pataudi, Salim Durrani, Khan were the best. India’s improved technical application of the highest Ajit Wadekar, Budhi Kunderan, V. display internationally in the 1980s, level to combat these bowlers who Subramanyam and Sunil Gavaskar. 90s and in the New Millennium was are always looking for weaknesses The sight of Bishen Bedi warming as much due to pace bowling as the in the armour. up even as the first over was being traditional strengths of batting and Like all good fast bowlers they sent down and coming on to bowl spin bowling. give India the early breakthrough the third over of the innings was a The present set of pace bowlers has and when it comes to bowling at the common sight in those days. played its part in making India the death in limited overs cricket they Spin bowling has traditionally No. 1 ranked team in Tests and No. are among the best in the game. been India’s strength but, of course, 2 in ODIs. The feeling was always They can never really be collared since Kapil Dev burst upon the there that if they could perform so as numerous top batsmen have scene in 1978 pace bowlers too well in Subcontinental pitches there found out much to their dismay. have played starring roles in many was every reason to believe that they The bouncers and yorkers are of India’s victories. Even if there would bowl even more menacingly used judiciously and in the middle are signs that Ishant Sharma, for on the bouncier and faster pitches overs they are able to stifle the runs long the spearhead of the pace abroad. besides picking up a wicket or two.

attack, is in decline, the feats of The first Test against South And in a tight situation they are Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Africa at Cape Town proved this able to hold their nerve as they have < Bumrah, Mohammed Shammi and in no uncertain terms. The game demonstrated on many occasions.

58 VIDURA January-March 2018 NOSTALGIA When an editor made a reporter’s innings memorable

In his 50th year as a professional sports writer, Partab Ramchand looks back on the 12 years he was the Madras correspondent for Sportsworld and relates why these were the best years of his career

am into my 50th year as a the teleprinter or phone. But his managed it. After the interview was professional sports writer and instructions were always polite, over, a pleased as punch David said Ias only to be expected the long his voice remained soft, however as we were leaving the Amritraj journey leaves me with a blur of harassed he might have been at residence on Sterling Road: “Now memories. Sure, I remember the the Sportsworld desk in Calcutta. I know why your initials are PR significant matches I covered, He didn’t bark out his instructions, (meaning public relations).” the important people I have but only made suggestions. “Why I did make a few visits to Calcutta met or interviewed and have don’t you work on such and such during those 12 years and what a pleasant memories of those who story?” he would ask, and gave me joy they were! The Sportsworld team have touched my life along the a few angles on which to base my was a young one, full of energetic, extended period. But the happiest queries. And whenever I came up enthusiastic but knowledgeable memories would be the 12 years with a story idea and discussed it members. Under David’s benign spent as Madras correspondent with him he was always receptive guidance they produced some of for Sportsworld magazine brought to them and encouraged me to go the best work done by magazine out by the Ananda Bazar Group of ahead. reporters (it was a weekly which publications in Calcutta from 1982 People have said nice things about later became a fortnightly). They to 1994. me during my long career but the also had some of the best young As far as my work was concerned, best tribute was paid by David. He writers in the land, notably Andy I was given a free hand, my wanted me send a feature story and O’Brien and Rohit Brijnath. When colleagues at the head office always set a deadline. Unfortunately, while David migrated to Australia in 1988, respected the opinions of the man working on it I became unwell Andy took over as associate editor on the spot. But the chief reason and so just missed the deadline in before he too migrated to Australia for the pleasant time during the sending it. I sent him a teleprinter in the late 1990s. period was the fact that I had David message apologising, explaining Working with them was a McMahon as my immediate boss. to him that it happened because I pleasure, for the team members To say that David was the nicest was taken ill. I remember his reply were full of fun and fresh ideas. But person I met in my life would be an to this day. “Don’t worry about it. relaxing with them was even more understatement. He couldn’t do a I know you must have been very enjoyable. They worked hard for mean thing even if he tried. We hit it ill because you are the kind of guy five days and made the most of the off during our first meeting in July who will send his copy even if you weekends, loving their food, drink 1982 when I took over from Ashok in an oxygen tent.” Why won’t and camaraderie at the Calcutta Kamath who was going to Calcutta anyone do anything for a guy like Cricket and Football Club. Some to join The Telegraph newspaper, that? weekends they were off to Puri in which was just being launched. On another occasion, being a Orissa to spend time at the famous I was senior to him in age and in tennis enthusiast (he covered beach there. the profession by a few years and Wimbledon for many years), David In 1994, I took over as sports when Ashok introduced us David wanted to do a lengthy cover editor at The New Indian Express exclaimed, “Oh, this is the great story on the Amritraj brothers and in Madras and that meant saying Partab Ramchand. Well, who has suggested that we do it together and goodbye to the Sportsworld gang. not heard of him!” How can you whether I could make arrangements The memories, however, remain not like a person who greets you for for the interview. Getting the globe- and sometimes I wish we could all the first time in this fashion? trotting Amritraj family together for meet up again and recall the great

Working with David was a an interview in the early 1980s when days we all spent together in the dream. We were 1000 miles apart Anand and Vijay were at their peak 1980s and 90s. Who knows, maybe < and communication was through was not very easy but somehow I that time will come.

January-March 2018 VIDURA 59 Well, no wonder men are just men! Reams and reams have been written trying to explain why men and women are the way they are. From claiming that they are from different planets to going into their traditional roles in prehistoric times, everything has been tried. Dr Manju Gupta presents a fascinating theory based on reproductive biology

here is no medical-ese ahead follicle ruptures and releases the that matter, the sperms also know and you won't get lost in long ovum in the peritoneal cavity. For this but don't care. Once a sperm Twinding words. We all know those who don't grasp the enormity enters, the ovum tries to make the that a baby is made by the union of of the statement, let’s just say that sperms see sense by making its the mother’s ovum and the father’s it is a space big enough to get lost in. walls impregnable, the equivalent sperm. So let me take it from there. But this ovum with single-minded of hanging a ‘house full’ board. But First a little on the development determination finds its way up the the sperms cannot take no for an of the ovum. There are two ovaries funnel-shaped end of the fallopian answer and keep trying anyway. in a women's body and at the tube and travels to the cavernous In the process, many are beheaded beginning of a menstrual cycle ampulla for its rendezvous with the and maimed. Their fate does not both gear up to form follicles which sperm. stop more from banging against house the ova. Many follicles On the other side, in what can the walls and getting killed too. begin this journey but once one only be called a colossal waste of Now sometimes, due to a freak outgrows the others and becomes protoplasm, billions of sperms are accident of nature, persistence dominant the rest recede. This released with each ejaculation. pays off and two sperms manage allows their chosen representative Such is the mob mentality of this to fertilise the ovum. In such a to get enough nutrition and grow overzealous tailed cell that it scenario two things are known to unhindered. Such is the sense of cannot function without its peers happen. Sometimes the maternal purpose in these follicles that if per for company. So much so, that nucleus excuses herself and leaves chance more than one matures there although it takes only one sperm to the sperm nuclei to their own is a risk of conceiving twins, triplets fertilise the ovum, even millions of devices. In their misguided notion and more. them are said to be too few to get of self sufficiency, the paternal Now, once a month, at the the job done. These sperms, teeming nuclei try the baby-building designated time, this mature with nervous energy, are deposited business on their own and end up quite close to their with a bunch of grapes called a destination but get lost molar pregnancy. At other times, in all types of crevices the sperm nuclei force the maternal and spaces because they nucleus to stay and do the job. This are too arrogant to ask union results in a pregnancy which for directions. They run is partly molar and never viable. amok, driven by a sole There is a limit to what coercion purpose but, sadly, with can yield! no game plan. Finally, a Aristotle averred that the whole few thousand, more out is greater than the sum of its parts. of good fortune than We can infer from this cell theory

anything else, catch that women are determined, smart, sight of the ovum and organised and know what they < race each other to reach want. Men, well, are just men! it. B i o l o g i c a l l y (The writer is a gynaecologist. She speaking, only one blogs at alifeextraordinarilyordinary. sperm is required for com about the trials and tribulations fertilisation and the of living in a small town of Haryana.) Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration: ovum knows this. For

60 VIDURA January-March 2018 TRAVEL Tips for an enriching break from the routine Mindset is the key to any travel programme. If you approach travel as an adventure without unrealistic expectations, but have a clear idea of what you want to do or see at your destination, how much money you can afford to spend and how many days you can spare, then it is the best way to broaden your horizons, boost your confidence and find peace of mind, says Dr Sumithra Shanmugham

ome just like to travel merely and evenings and nights just from the routine. to escape from the city and relaxing. Senior citizens might want Here’s a cheat sheet for a pleasurable Smonths of pounding the to undertake long, slow journeys, travel experience: pavements and the keyboard. not for the purpose of ticking • Choose a destination They want to slough off emails destinations off a list, but simply • Choose congenial travelling and Facebook updates, and be free to cultivate their minds. Whatever companions to salute the sun in the mornings, the reason, travel is not just another • Decide what you want to do at spend afternoons in the hammock activity; it can be an enriching break your destination of choice • If you are an art lover, you can put museums and galleries showcasing antique and contemporary culture on your agenda • If you are a nature lover, chalk out programmes like nature walks, trekking and even water- based activities like scuba diving and snorkeling • If you are a foodie, make a list of eateries that cater to your taste buds • If you want to help the less- privileged while you enjoy yourself, there are hotels which support street children or old age homes. You can also arrange to spend time with disabled children. Visit under-

Photo: SS developed nations, and see A magnificient view of the Cindarella Castle inBavaria. how you can be of support

The world is a book and those who don’t travel read only one page. – Augustine Hippo Once in a year, go someplace you have never been before. – The Dalai Lama Broad wholesome charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all the time. – Mark Twain Investment in travel is an investment in yourself. - Mathew Karsten, Blogger Hasad se dil agar afsurda hai, garm-e-tamasha ho, Ki chashm-e-tang shayad kasrat-e-nazzara se va ho This Mirza Ghalib ghazal translates as: “If you are feeling oppressed by negative thoughts, go see the world. The spectacle you encounter will perhaps open up your narrow vision.”

January-March 2018 VIDURA 61 • If you love luxury, there are rich Mayan experience), Georgia (to Richard Burton: “The gladdest stunningly restored palaces and see the less explored side of Europe) moment in human life, methinks, is

royal residences, complete with and Kenya, (to enjoy serene safari a departure upon a distant journey sparkling lakes and gorgeous lodges). into unknown lands”. < greenery, where you can soak No doubt you may encounter up opulence flight delays, go a couple of days (The writer is an obstetrician and • If you are looking for a romantic without a shower or be forced gynaecologist who has a passion for getaway, you can choose from to subsist on minimalistic airline writing. She has served as president an array of destinations that meals, but just forget the potholes of the Woman Doctors Association of will heighten the emotions and on the road and enjoy the journey; Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.) lay down memories for ever take back memories and leave your And if you like to get off the footprints behind. beaten track, try Gautamala (for its I conclude with the words of Sir

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62 VIDURA January-March 2018 Book Review

Establishing the socio-economic context of disease

I accompanied Dr Yogesh Jain, a senior, internationally acclaimed doctor affiliated to JSS, when he went to meet two leprosy patients at their native village. Dr Jain had earlier treated them at the hospital but was travelling to their remote village in order to understand the background. We met one of the patients while he was working on his farm and then went back with him to his house so that we could meet the entire family. Many important dimensions began to emerge in the course of the detailed conversation the doctor had with the family. The possibility of the children contracting the disease came up, and after preliminary examination they, too, were asked to report to the hospital, so that they would benefit from early diagnosis and treatment if needed. Says Dr Jain says in his introduction to the Atlas: “While we have tried to document disease patterns and distribution among the populace and occasionally published them in peer reviewed journals, we have also felt the need to explore and to understand their causes – not just their proximate biomedical causes but also the social, economic and cultural roots of these diseases. As physicians and health workers interested primarily in the whys and hows of health and disease and with the primary objective of reducing inequity in health care among rural and tribal poor, we have AN ATLAS OF RURAL HEALTH – CHRONICLES also investigated regimes of political and economic FROM CENTRAL INDIA values and policies that condition tacit aspects of Publisher: Jan Swasthya Sahyog, Chhattisgarh socio-cultural practices that in turn impact the cause Price: Rs 400 and occurrence of disease – specifically, the role of Pages: 318 structural violence. So, in a sense, this book is also about the political economy of the ailments of the rural and tribal poor in India.” While treating patients, doctors ask about the Dr Jain explains that the book has been called an symptoms, conduct clinical examinations and call for ‘atlas’ because it records the journey of specific various tests to be done. However meticulous they ailments through time and includes graphics to are, one critical component is almost always missing highlight causes. “We went back to the patient, to in doctors’ efforts to understand disease – the socio- his/her family, hamlet and village, and thus we economic conditions in which patients live, some discovered the geographic, cultural, social and aspects of which may be very relevant, particularly in economic predicaments that lay behind the illness.” preventing recurrence or spread of the ailment. It is in The Atlas has 27 detailed reports with pictures on this context that a recent publication is noteworthy. various diseases and ailments. In addition, there are An Atlas of Rural Health – Chronicles from Central India about 50 short picture stories on other diseases. This has been prepared by the Jan Swasthya Sahyog (JSS), is complemented by several other useful features. an initiative of doctors and other medical workers who On the whole, it is a very useful and interesting book

are committed to serving some of the poorest people on public health. The Hindi edition is expected to be in very remote villages. This organiSation is based in published shortly. < Chhattisgarh and covers people in Madhya Pradesh as well. Jan Swasthya Sahyog doctors familiarise (Reviewed by Bharat Dogra.) themselves with poverty, hunger and other problems of their patients.

January-March 2018 VIDURA 63 REMEMBERING RITWIK GHATAK Using violence brilliantly as a metaphor for life’s decay

November 4 last year marked Ritwik Ghatak’s 92nd birth anniversary. Shoma A. Chatterji explains how his unforgettable classic, Meghe Dhaka Tara, paints a brutally frank picture in stark black and white images, of the family as a cannibalistic consumer of one of its own members

he characters come in stark women, men, women and children, black and white. Nita, her boss and subordinate, rich and Tfather and Shankar are the poor, employed and unemployed, 'white' characters. Gita, Montu and so on. Power may be a balance and their mother are the 'black' of advantage or an inequality of ones. Sanat is somewhere in the resources within a household, at the middle of the two extremes. He is workplace or in a larger institution. weak, spineless, indecisive and, Organisational control, of which finally, as cannibalistic towards the Indian family is a microcosm, is Nita as the others. In Meghe Dhaka pervasive, subtle and determined by Tara, Ghatak seamlessly weaves in the ideologies they are based on. violence as metaphors. Nita accepts the family's ‘moral’ The Shorter Oxford Dictionary says right to control her on the basis “violence is inflicting injury or of its emotional power over her. damage to a person or property”. These are elements that thrive in Violence thrives in the victim’s her acceptance of her victimisers – Photo: SC acceptance of the victimiser’s her family and Sanat, the man she The enigmatic Ghatak. moral right, social superiority loves. She once confesses to Sanat: and physical power. These myths "My sin is that I have never ever power. In Nita's case, violence sets could have been exploded through expressed by protest against any a strikingly unusual example of the effective protests, but this has been wrong. Really, I should not have weak exploiting the 'powerful.' fractional. been quite so ordinary." “Ordinary” Interestingly, Nita's example When oppressed and marginal here is a pointer to the unquestioned does not necessarily throw up groups like women, the Dalits and acceptance and tolerance of violence notions of gender violence based the poor, protest against violence to by women like Nita. on patriarchy. Violence within their person by men, other women, Violence exists in Nita being Meghe Dhaka Tara is gender- social groups or government coerced to give up her music, an neutral. The film presents a classic machineries, they are again made art she is genuinely talented in. example of the violators being victims of violence for their ‘guts’ She is denied the right to continue victims themselves. It throws up to protest. Covert or overt, direct her studies, suggesting the violence the reality of the victim becoming or indirect, visible or invisible, of denial. She is not even aware the victimiser. Every single structural or social, oppressed that her economic responsibility character of Meghe Dhaka Tara is groups are always, both targets vests her with power. Would she a victim of circumstances. Every and victims of violence across the have used her power had she been single character victimises Nita, world. aware of it? Not really, because she manipulating her emotionally. Violence is often much subtler is simply not made that way. Her Nita's mother is victim of repeated than we have been made to ‘chemistry’ is different. Her changed pregnancies borne within growing understand. It forms part of a status within the family — from stages of impoverishment. Her complex that involves social being a young woman with simple bitterness with her environment is institutions and the way in which dreams of marriage and education the product of this victimisation. these institutions are organised – to one who is burdened with a She is trapped by a husband who in terms of framing relationships responsibility she buckles under – hardly earns enough to feed, between their members – men and does not change her in any way to clothe, shelter and educate four women, men and men, women and make her use, misuse and abuse her children. She shamelessly asks Nita

64 VIDURA January-March 2018 as an older brother. Nita's father where Nita left off. The single is victim of the uprooting due to leitmotif of a torn slipper, used as a the Partition. He is a schoolteacher framing device, is Ghatak’s strong who placed honesty, integrity and indictment on Calcutta. Calcutta, commitment above everything in Meghe Dhaka Tara, sustains the else. He feels betrayed by Partition. vicious circle of poverty and social Though he is conscious of the injustice almost with a vengeance. family's victimisation of the elder Nita's death, in this sense, is not a daughter, he too participates in moral lesson from Calcutta to its the violence by failing to raise his massive refugee population. Rather, Supriya Choudhury and Anil Chatterjee voice. Once, he sarcastically says it is a sustained threat, a warning in a scene from the film. that young girls are no longer that wears a pervasive, real and married to old men because, "we violent face. to give over her jewellery for Gita's are civilized, we educate them and In the end, her family 'consumes' marriage, fully aware that Gita is exploit them to the full," accepting her as fatally as her tuberculosis marrying the man Nita was in love his participation in the family’s does. One is not sure about with. She makes Nita, Shankar pervasive and collective infliction of whether it is TB that takes her life and her husband the target of her violence on Nita. As if in a strange or whether her family has virtually frustrations and bitterness while irony reflective of the contradictions ‘killed’ her. The line between the she actually participates in the hidden within people, he retains family's brutal cruelty towards 'escape' of her other two children in his love for Wordsworth on the her and the spread of tuberculosis their search for a 'better' life. one hand and for folk music on the within her body gets blurred as Nita's pretty sister Gita is victim other. the narrative moves towards its of a cloistered life. Unlike Nita, she The city of Calcutta, too, is both dramatic climax. Her desperate cry is not educated. The only males she victimiser and victim. It is the "Dada, I want to live," underscores gets to see are her brothers and her victim of the changed geography the family's casual indifference to father. She has no future. So, when of the state borders, truncated by Nita as a human being and as the Sanat comes back to meet Nita after Partition. It inflicts violence on girls sole earning member of the family. a long interval, she snatches the only like Nita, forced into a life created The family as 'consumer' of the chance she has to seek some kind of by Partition and forced migration. very member who holds it together happiness in marriage with him. Ghatak’s love for Calcutta, if ever marks the uniqueness of Ghatak's Aided and abetted by her mother, he developed any, was concentric presentation of decaying values in Gita blatantly betrays the love and – confined to some marginal the impoverished scenario of the the implicit trust Nita places on her pockets. His attention repeatedly refugee family. by marrying Sanat. Had she not focusses on the marginal fringes Ritwik Ghatak had a unique and acted the way she did, she would of a Calcutta most of us have never perceptive vision. It was a vision that have been condemned to a single known or cared to know. It is shorn assimilated the searing spectacle state lived out in extreme poverty. of the glitzy chutzpah big metros of Partition, the black memory of Montu and Shankar are victims are famous for. refugee camps, the degradation of too. Life offers them no choice. Their In Meghe Dhaka Tara, the narrative rootlessness, the dehumanisation only point of escape is by absolving unfolds against the backdrop of of the alienated and the emerging themselves of family responsibilities refugee colonies concentrated definitions of a new class struggle. and turn to rescue their own lives. in Jadavpur, Netajinagar and With an iron discipline in his But in so doing, they make Nita Bijoygarh. The film opens with Nita head and a majestic compassion their target, stripping her of dignity halting to pull at a torn slipper on in his heart, Ghatak externalised in life and death. When Montu fails her way to work. She is the only his private anguish into a global in exams, he quickly takes up a job earning member of a sprawling perspective. This heightening in a factory. He moves out after the refugee family and cannot stop to sensibility turned his art into a accident on grounds that he will be have her slipper attended to by the language that could be understood able to get a nutritious diet there wayside cobbler. The closing shot in distant Punjab and the rest a football player like him needs. completes the circle. This time, it of India, in Poland, Germany, Shankar’s dream of making it big is not Nita, but an anonymous girl Korea, Vietnam, Palestine and any as a singer is constantly fed with who takes Nita's place to feed her country that had been sundered the confidence Nita places in him. refugee family. She falters because by the trauma of separation and

His ambition takes priority over her slipper is torn. Her gait and her the bleeding scar of an overnight his sister's well-being and that is body language is a duplication of border. < his failing as a human being, and Nita's. She quietly takes on from

January-March 2018 VIDURA 65 REMEMBERING GIRIJA DEVI (1929-2017) A humble, classical singer who dedicated her life to art The queen of thumri is no more. Girija Devi, one of India’s most unassuming, grounded vocalists passed away recently. She will live through her music, her disciples and the particular style of thumri she evolved over the years. Shoma A. Chatterji pays a tribute

hen I was barely 13, I had she said, “I still follow the gurukul the golden opportunity of system whenever I can, by keeping Wparticipating in the Annual students in my home where they Music and Dance Conference of the live and practice the whole day. I Prayag Sangeet Samiti in Allahabad love to teach students who are truly in January 1957. My performance dedicated to learning music.” When comprised a half-hour recital of the father of one of her disciples Kathak of the Jaipur Gharana insisted on paying tuition fees for

(gharana is place where the musical his daughter’s training, she put the Photo: Internet ideology originated) and despite money in a bank account in the The Purab Ang style of music become my nervousness, it went without child’s name and refused to accept synonymous with Girija Devi. a hitch. After the performance, I the fee. When asked why, she said, saw a dignified woman dressed “You cannot put a value on what we my forte and my major strength – in a gold-bordered white sari, are doing because we have dedicated thumri, dadra, kajri, hori, chaiti and diamond nose-stud glittering in the our entire lives to art." lavni, these have been my constant spotlights, looking at me from the Her father, Ramdeo Rai, a zamindar companions in music,” Girija Devi front row of the auditorium. I was (land owner) was not only a lover said. told that she would give a recital the of the arts but had also mastered “My mother and my grandmother same night. My mother whispered the harmonium. He was proud to were severely opposed to my to me that the woman was Girija discover that his daughter, born in musical training because in those Devi, the renowned vocalist who Varanasi in 1929, was endowed with days, girls from respectable excelled in the Thumri School but the gift of music and rhythm and families did not learn music or any reached out to many other schools. voice, and he took the gift seriously, other art and were expected to get That was my first encounter with a progressive attitude in those married. I agreed to get married one of the greatest living legends of days. He placed her under training with one stipulation – that I was Indian classical music. from the age of five with the Senia not stopped from pursuing music. I Not yet initiated into the Gharana veteran Pandit Sarjuprasad got married at 16 to a businessman rudiments of thumri (Hindustani Misra and, later, for more rigorous who encouraged me right through classical music), I listened, training in khyal under Pandit my career with one condition mesmerised, to the great artiste sing Shrichand Mishra. This was before – that I should only perform at to an audience that maintained pin- she was launched into the world of public recitals and conferences and drop silence till the wee hours of the puran ang thumri of the Benares programmes and never take part in the morning. Gone are those days Gharana, which became her forte. private functions as was the wont of all-night programmes in classical “For light songs, Bade Ramdasji in those days. We both kept our music and dance. Yet, Girija Devi and Chhote Ramdasji of Varanasi promises till the end,” said Girija lived on, for many more years, trained me for some time. I took Devi, with a charming smile. performing, singing, giving recitals lessons in dhrupad (a genre in Devi’s first public concert was till a ripe age and teaching her Hindustani classical music) as well in Bihar in 1951. She was not only disciples without charging a paisa. because it gives classical singers a one of the leading vocalists in the She even founded and ran a trust solid base. But the many changing dominant classical genre of the khyal for poor students who were deeply pitches in the dhrupad tend to but also in lighter forms of North interested and involved in music. affect the voice of female singers, Indian classical music including Many years later, when I had the investing it with a masculine tenor. tappa and tap-khyal. She specialised opportunity of interviewing her So I did not sing dhrupad very much. in the Purbi ang, also made famous during her brief visit to Kolkata, Light classical numbers have been by Siddheshwari Devi and Begum

66 VIDURA January-March 2018 Akhtar. She recalled that her guru a Girija Devi Foundation where keeping me cheerful all the time,” would bring home thumri experts music is taught regularly; till Devi confided. like Rasoolan Bai and Bade Moti recently, by Devi herself. Devi is Apart from two honorary Bai who appreciated the young to Hindustani music what D.K. doctoral degrees from two girl’s talent but she did not learn Pattammal is to Carnatic music. Indian universities, Girija Devi from them. One noted journalist recalls how collected many awards for her rich "I concede that times have her music and her singing carried contribution to music. She was the changed and to a certain extent, a philosophical strain and also a recipient of the Padma Shri (1972), we must adjust to these changes, stroke of soft romance. But perhaps followed by Padma Bhushan like it or not. I have discovered the greatest learning she had to (1989) and the Padma Vibhushan that it is possible to compromise offer was her cheerful demeanour. (2016). She won the Sangeet Natak without diluting my music for my She was incredibly unassuming. Akademi Award (1977), Sangeet audience. Audiences these days One continued to be amazed at Natak Akademi Fellowship (2010), want a little bit of this and a little her endless energy, vitality and Maha Sangeet Samman Award bit of that, what you would call a good humour even after 60 years of (2012) Sangeet Samman Award 'package programme'. They want travelling all over the globe, giving (Dover Lane Music Conference) and to hear a bit of Ali Akbar Khan, a music recitals. How did she do it? the GIMA Lifetime Achievement bit of Girija Devi and watch a bit of “I do not have a magic potion. Award in 2012. a Birju Maharaj Kathak recital. So, I lead a simple life, filled with While performing at a music I have adapted to suit these tastes. happiness, cheer and music. I do conference in Patiala, Girija Devi I have taught myself to condense not involve myself in needless lamented that traditional styles my concerts to present shorter, tension or conflict.. When I was of music were in danger of fading digestible pieces. And there is a very very young, I heard musicians in away. “The future of classical music positive side to this variety. This their eighties belting out brilliant is safe but that of folk forms is not way, people can imbibe a sense of music in their liquid honey voices. so safe. There are hardly any gurus the immense variety of Hindustani It was an unforgettable experience left. Also, these styles are more music from the serious khyal to the to watch how they had conquered challenging than classical forms light dadra and a lilting folk number. age with their talent and their that need improvisations within But I am always conscious of not dedication. Today, artistes seem to the raga. They tempt you to walk ever compromising on the purity of succumb to age more easily. I did out of the raga and find your way the raaga or making a khichdi of the not. I still feel young. I am a purist back into it. It is like being led away gharana" she said. in personal life. I involve myself from home and being asked to trace Devi was professor of Music at in the daily puja rituals, practise the road back. And homecomings the Benares Hindu University for yoga and meditation. All this helps are always tough.” she said. < several years. Varanasi also has in increasing concentration and

REMEMBERING SHASHI KAPOOR (1938-2017) An actor everybody loved, whose dignity marked him out

Shashi Kapoor, one of the handsomest actors of his time, is no more. We will never see that dimpled, naughty smile on screen or off it. A young friend, who is a great fan of the actor, sadly said that she would see him quietly seated on his wheelchair in his last days at Prithvi Theatre. “No one would even say ‘hello’ to him because they were not sure whether he would respond or not,” she said. But actress Simi’s moving tribute to her co-actor in Siddhartha mentioned how the actor still recognised her when she approached him to say “hello.’ Shoma A. Chatterji provides a snapshot of the actor’s career

his reminds me of my very feet in Hindi cinema. It was a time We were at the All-India Bengali first glimpse of the star who when the term Bollywood had not Conference being held at the Twas still groping to find his entered the lexicon of Indian films. Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, if I

January-March 2018 VIDURA 67 on the pair in the hotel. It is such a beautiful piece of architecture filled with antiques, paintings, photographs, an old piano and other knick knacks that it should be declared heritage property in the city. Shashi Kapoor continued to stay in this hotel in Room 17 every time he visited Kolkata till 2005 which marked his last visit. Kapoor was the slender, handsome youth in the early Merchant-Ivory film Shakespeare Wallah, and as an outraged father in Stephen Frears's Sammy and Rosie Get Laid. He portrayed the

Photo: SC lead in seven English films and A young, dashing Shashi Kapoor. worked as a supporting actor/ narrator in five English films. His remember right. I was listening to purity of Urdu. He was surrounded roster includes around 148 Hindi a recital by the late Suchitra Mitra by television crews and print media films filled with some of the best one morning. Then, I suddenly saw journalists and though he responded song tracks in Indian cinema at the a young man with a little blond to their questions with the quiet, time. He gravitated smoothly and boy with curly hair perched on his gentlemanly grace he was famous effectively as supporting actor in shoulders standing on the sidelines for, he withdrew soon after. Purist 21 films, worked in four films as a of the row I was seated in. Standing scholars of Urdu slammed the film child artist and made seven guest beside him was a young foreign for its wrong use of Urdu specially appearances. He portrayed the lady with a little boy holding her in the poetry but the film unto itself famous detective character Feluda hand. The man’s face immediately was a downslide for the Merchant- created by Satyajit Ray for the echoed familiarity with and Ivory-Shashi Kapoor trio that had television series Kissa Kathmandu knowledge about Hindi cinema. set new standards of cinema on Ka in 1986. This was Shashi Kapoor himself and Indian stories where English was Kapoor did not run after roles the little boy was Kunal and the boy mostly the lingua franca. and films. Producers and directors, holding his mother Jennifer’s hand I also had the good fortune to see too, did not chase him the way they was Karan Kapoor. and talk to Violet Smith, the then 90- would chase an Amitabh Bachchan Shashi Kapoor was hardly star year-old Anglo-Indian lady who ran or a Dharmendra at their peak. Yet, material at the time and his visit the Fairlawn Hotel on 13, Sudder he did not budge from living life almost went unnoticed. At 16, I Street, Kolkata where Kapoor spent on his own terms that extended to was too shy to approach him and his days with his bride Jennifer defining his career as an actor and introduce myself. He was dressed Kendall, after they eloped and producer. It was his dignity that completely in white, down to his married unknown to Jennifer’s very marked him out among both the shoes with that mesmerising smile angry father Geoffrey Kendall whose Kapoors and the film industry he on his face, oblivious of those who theatre group Shakespeareana belonged to. He began his career recognised him. As people began Kapoor had joined as a young as a child actor in Raj Kapoor’s to recognise him, he beat a hasty teenager of 18. Smith regaled me Aag (1948) and then in Awara as retreat with family, stepped into his with her memories of the very young the younger Raj. He did his stint car and sped away. Kapoor and his older wife Jennifer as child actor in several other films I met Kapoor many years later who stayed in Room Number 17 that till he veered to theatre as he grew at the Calcutta Club in 1993. He has now been turned into a sort of up. He did a child role in Sangram had gained a lot of weight by then. museum of memories surrounding (1950) too. Ismail Merchant had thrown a party the Kapoors. Kapoor seemingly had no qualms following an invited screening of Smith took me around and playing characters secondary Muhafiz (In Custody) in which showed me the walls along the to Bachchan in many films that Kapoor played the great Urdu poet, winding, wooden, antique staircase turned out to be box office hits, Nur, who acted as a bridge between of the hotel plush with photographs with Deewar turning out a classic. the modernisation and tradition of the very young Kapoor and his Kapoor’s sober performance in the conflict that had evolved within the bride alongside newspaper articles film fetched him Filmfare’s Best

68 VIDURA January-March 2018 Supporting Actor award. One of Deewar to end after twelve films came across in several films. Some the most memorable scenes in the together. Kapoor also cast Bachchan memorable performances that film is the exchange between the in the lead in his home production will remain etched in memory two estranged brothers who live Ajooba in 1991 which turned out are in Shyam Benegal’s Kalyug, separately. Bachchan tells Kapoor to be a flop. He produced Aparna in Gulzar’s Ijaazat (a guest what has Kapoor got in life being Sen’s directorial debut film 36, appearance), a supporting role an honest cop – a job, a uniform, Chowringhee Lane, which Sen in Trishul as the brother of Vijay a government quarter! Look at never forgets to mention, is her most played by Bachchan and as the me, Bachchan says, I have wealth, memorable film ever as director. naïve teacher going through his property, everything. And then His choice to produce films was newly married teething troubles in comes that line from Kapoor that never based on market possibilities his first appearance in the English stole many heats – Mere paas ma hai and he did not turn a hair when language film The Householder (I have mother with me). they flopped. based on a novel by Ruth Prawer The Bachchan-Kapoor pairing Kapoor’s smashing looks Jgabvala and Romesh Sharma’s began with Manoj Kumar’s multi- somehow suppressed his talents New Delhi Times that finally fetched starrer melodrama Roti Kapda as an actor par excellence. Even him a very belated National Award aur Makaan and went on through so, glimpses of his histrionics as Best Actor. <

REMEMBERING RITA HENLEY JENSEN (1947-2017) A fearless and compassionate journalist, one of a kind

Her last email to Sakuntala Narasimhan said, “I hope we get a chance to meet. It’d be wonderful.” That meeting never took place. Rita Henley Jensen passed away recently in New York. Born on New Year’s Day, 1947, she was 70 when she succumbed to breast cancer in October last year. Narasimhan sent us this piece, full of reminisces

ita was founder and editor- objectivity to uphold journalistic a few of the honours that came her in-chief emeritus of Womens standards, giving readers around way for her work promoting gender ReNews, a pioneering online the world insights into feminist equity through the media). daily news service devoted to issues specific to regions different In May 2016, Rita was in Delhi gender equity on a global canvas. from one’s own. In the sixteen years to receive the Thought Leader of The website, which has followers since it was started, the website the Decade Award at the Women’s and supporters around the world and its founder received over 46 Economic Forum. According to one (from New York to New Delhi) prestigious awards, including an obituary, when she visited the Taj received a whopping 2.4 million award for Best of the Net’s Stories” Mahal at Agra and asked how Shah visits during 2017 (at last count, (2015), the Forbes 100 Best Websites Jahan’s wife had died, and was told well before the close of the year) Award, and the Best Internet Site that she had died in childbirth, her and also has contributors who Award of the National Federation thoughts went to her investigations write and report from different of Press Women (USA). into the reasons for so many women continents, spotlighting gender Founder Rita was named Media (especially African-American) dying dimensions of region-specific Person of the Year by the New of childbirth-related fatalities. issues encompassing politics, York State Women’s Press Club The news stories commissioned by religion, workplace discrimination (2006) and chosen for the Woman Womens eNews became resources (and victories), education, health, of Excellence award of the National for commercial mainstream media sports, legislation, women with Association of Female Executives, including the New York Times, disabilities, gender linked cultural and the Alumni award of Columbia Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, practices. University’s Graduate School of plus publications in the Philippines The coverage is comprehensive, Journalism. She was also named and Kaula Lampur which used the each story carefully vetted by the ‘One of the 100 most influential reports generated by the website . editorial staff for veracity and women in New York’ (to name just

January-March 2018 VIDURA 69 In 2006, when Maneka Gandhi, minister for Women and Child Welfare suggested that sex determination tests should be made compulsory in India to monitor and fight the destruction of female foetuses, Womens eNews ran a story detailing the ramifications of such a move (with doctors pointing out that making fetal sex determination compulsory is not the right way to tackle the pervasive cultural preference for sons, and that this could in fact promote illegal abortions and maternal distress). An American follower of Womens eNews reacted to the report, by pointing out that it had opened her eyes to social issues that were so different from the controversy about abortion and right to life, in Photo: SN her country. Rita Henley Jensen who inspired everybody with her indefatigable An adolescent schoolgirl from a enthusiasm. small town in South India following the Teen Voices series, likewise, was In 2013, Womens eNews also lost a Titan,” said one comment. “She intrigued by teenagers’ obsession introduced a Teen Voices series, was a valiant woman... a warrior with dating and boyfriends, in with contributions from teenage for women’s rights... a trail blazer the West. The website opened girls from around the world (who) made life better for so many,” “windows that helped us peep (including Veda, a schoolgirl from said another obituary. “Fearless into women’s lifestyles in other Bengaluru who had three articles journalist and a compassionate regions and continents,” as one published recently, about training soul,” said yet another. Nepali housewife (who hails from in self defence for schoolgirls in Taking off from Jim Crow a conservative family and sees India – in the wake of the Nirbhaya (discrimination against blacks in the no chance of her ever travelling rape case in Delhi – the obsession US), she was working on a Jane Crow abroad ) put it. with skin ‘fairness” as an ingredient project, to focus on discrimination The website will go on, carrying of the Indian concept of ‘beauty’, based on gender as well as race. By Rita’s ideas and work forward. That and inter-generational cultural all accounts, it was a life dedicated would be the best tribute that the conflicts in a changing society like to a passionate involvement with staff can pay, to a woman whose India). “By reading Teen Voices, I justice and fairness, through mantra was Onward! – undeterred got to know about the issues that journalism, a life that lent inspiration by obstacles or setbacks, including girls of my age in America and to younger aspirants ranging from the illness that claimed her on Africa are concerned with – which schoolgirls to housebound women October 18 last year. < are so different from what I and my and professional achievers. All friends see as ‘teenagers’ issues’ in this, after coming out of an abusive India,” says Veda. In that sense, the marriage, surviving on welfare website opened women’s eyes to a with two small children to care for, broader canvas of gender issues in and still doggedly enrolling for different parts of the world. journalism courses, and graduating Even after radiation treatment with honours. In her 16 years as and days before she passed away, editor-in-chief, she also mentored Rita was reportedly working in many young girls, took them on as bed, with a laptop; praise for her interns and saw them develop into indefatigable enthusiasm for work trained journalists. A scholarship is poured in, from all quarters when now being set up in her memory, at she passed away. “Feminist media Columbia’s School of journalism.

70 VIDURA January-March 2018 Journalists from Malayala Manorama, Hindustan Times bag PII-ICRC Awards

ahesh Gupthan, chief reporter, Malayala Manorama, Thiruvananthapuram, bagg-ed the Mfirst prize for his article, They Are Also Our Pet Children, at the 11th edition of the PII-ICRC Annual Awards. In the Photography Section, the first prize went to Himanshu Vyas, chief photographer, Hindustan Times, Jaipur, for his photo-essay on the National Triangular Wheelchair T-20 Cricket Series. This year, the theme was Living with Disability – Triumphs and Challenges. In the Best Article category, T. Ajeesh, chief sub-editor, Malayala Manorama, Malappuram, Kerala, won the second prize for his article, Life on Wheels. Mini Thomas, special correspondent, The Week, Bengaluru, received the third prize for her article, Able to Inspire. Raj K. Raj, special photojournalist, Hindustan Times, won the second prize in the Photography Section for his photo-essay titled, Meet India Gate’s Charlie Mama. The third prize went to Kunal P. Patil, special photojournalist, Photos: PII-RIND Hindustan Times, for his photo-essay, Lost Hands, Not The award-winners pictured with the chief guest, Dreams: India’s Para-swimmer Heading to Rio Olympics. members of the jury, Surinder Oberoi and Jeremy England, ICRC, and Sashi Nair, director, PII. A special award was announced for Swagata Yadavar and Prachi Salve for their three-part series, Why 12.1 Million Indians with Special Needs Are Illiterate, which member, Asian College of Journalism, and former special appeared on the IndiaSpend website. correspondent, Frontline.” The jury members this year included Kamlendra Kanwar, The awards were presented by Dr Santosh Babu, senior journalist/ columnist and former editor of The chairman and managing director, Tamil Nadu Tribune, The Indian Express, and the Ahmedabad edition Handicrafts Corporation Ltd, and officer on special of The Times of India; S.R. Madhu, former journalist and duty, Chief Minister’s Special Cell, at a well-attended now writer-editor; and Dr Jaya Shreedhar, adjunct faculty programme held at Hotel Residency Towers in Chennai on November 17. Also present were the jury members, Surinder Singh Oberoi, political advisor, ICRC, and Ashish Bhatia, head of Production and Online Interaction, Communication, Research & Public Affairs Department, ICRC. Sashi Nair, director, Press Institute of India. The awards, instituted by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Press Institute of India (PII), are presented every year. They are designed to promote and recognise the outstanding work of Indian journalists in the field of humanitarian reporting. Entries are required to depict the human suffering caused by

disasters and situations of violence, and highlight the extraordinary resilience shown by people. <

It was a packed hall at the Residency Towers.

January-MarchJanuary-March 20182018 VIDURAVIDURA 71 To breathe, or not to breathe? Air pollution is a major concern for environment, health and human development world-wide. Despite well-documented consequences, 92 per cent of the world’s population lives in places where the standard of air is below WHO norms. Meanwhile, air quality monitoring is inadequate by and large, and reporting on it is not efficient. As a result, air pollution is neither recognised nor addressed as the public health crisis it is. Susan Philip reports on a seminar conducted recently by the Press Institute of India

he Press Institute of India increase the lung capacity, they could to around 30 per cent of ambient (PII) collaborated with Health not remove the deposits from polluted pollution in India. TEnergy Initiative and Huma air that clogged th vital organ, he Ronak Sutaria, scientist, Urban Lung Foundation to conduct a said. “And the bad news is, no one Science, Mumbai, talked of the seminar for journalists on January is a non-smoker in India, not even science and data behind pollution. 29, titled, Understanding & Reporting a new-born child, because the air He explained technical terms used Climate, Air Pollution & Health. The quality is so bad that the mere act of in connection with air pollution, such aim was to help environmental and breathing for a day equals smoking as PM10, PM 2.5 (particulate matter health journalists understand the several cigarettes.” that is 30 times smaller than human scientific data around air monitoring, Nandini Kumar, TERI University, hair), TSPM and RSPM. Stressing the its health implications and the need put the harm that pollution did in importance of continuous air quality for immediate action, with particular perspective by showing how every monitoring throughout India, not just reference to Chennai. place was a part of the large whole in Delhi and a few big cities, he walked Setting the context, Sashi Nair, – the Planet Earth, “which is all we the audience through the features of Director, PII, said it was vital that have”. Effects of pollutants were all- Atmos, an affordable PM2.5 monitor journalists got information from pervasive, she said, and explained indigenously developed by his team. credible sources, and also know how that some pollutants had short life- Coordinator of the Community to interpret the huge scientific data spans, others longer ones, and the Environmental Monitoring Programme that was available on air pollution, movement of air and water spread the in India, Shweta Narayan, and her and present accurate information in a pollutants to all corners of the earth. In team demonstrated low-cost devices way that was easily understandable. effect, there was no longer any place to monitor and collect air samples. Addressing the seminar, Dr Arvind on earth that was absolutely clean, “The catch is that these samples need Kumar, chairman, Centre for Chest she stressed. to be sent abroad for analysis, as at Surgery, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, S. Shankar, head, Environmental present, the prohibitive cost of the New Delhi, made it clear that the Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra necessary equipment keeps Indian effects of pollution on the human lung University, focused on the finding of labs from offering the facility,” she were non-reversible. Yoga, exercise studies conducted by the department, said. and other such methods could at best that residential biomass contributed Writer-activist Nityanand Jaya- raman translated the proceedings at intervals in Tamil for the benefit of journalists from the Tamil media. A panel discussion where story ideas were thrown up and discussed by the audience made a fitting finale to the seminar. < Photo: PII-RIND Journalists and others at the seminar.

72 VIDURAVIDURA January-MarchJanuary-March 20182018 OTHER NEWS

Journalist Gnani Sankaran TOI's Gautam Siddharth dies passes away suddenly Journalist, playwright and Prominent journalist Gautam Siddharth passed literary critic Gnani died in Chennai away recently. Siddharth, a senior editor at The Times recently. He was 64. He is survived of India, was at work when he collapsed and died by his wife Padmavathi, who is also of a heart attack, sources said. According to a report a writer, and son, Manush Nandan, in Exchange4Media, Siddharth's colleagues heard cinematographer. Gnani had been a sound from the washroom where they found him Gnani undergoing dialysis the past five unconscious. He was immediately rushed to the nearby Sankaran. years. His illness could not prevent GB Pant Hospital where he was declared brought the firebrand journalist of the 80s from dead. His body was sent for post-mortem, according indulging in what he thought was to the report. Siddharth hailed from Jharkhand's right and the principles he stood for. He was vocal in Ranchi district but he later moved to Bilaspur, now expressing his opinion always. in Chattisgarh. He did his graduation from Bilaspur's Gnani, whose original name was V. Sankaran, began CM Dubey College, and he later obtained a degree in his career at the Indian Express. He set up a Tamil journalism, from the noted Benaras Hindu University periodical, Dheem Tharikada. He was also in charge of (BHU). He later moved to Delhi in the early 1990s to editorial production of the Sunday magazine section pursue journalism. of Murasoli in late 1980s and Junior Post in the early Siddharth started his career at a small bilingual 1990s. His columns, O Pakkangal in popular Tamil magazine, printed from East Delhi. He later joined The journals became a big hit and sometimes, his views Pioneer. A long-time columnist and writer, Siddharth triggered controversies. covered a variety of issues ranging from national Gnani ran a theatre group, Pareeksha. In his 40- politics to world affairs. In the years before his demise, year-long career, he had directed plays based on the he has been working at The Times of India's Delhi office, works of several prominent writers, including Harold and he lived alone in the city. Pinter, Bertolt Brecht, J.B. Priestley, Vijay Tendulkar, (From a report in First Post) Ashokamitran, Sundara Ramaswami and Jeyanthan. He had produced around 40 documentary films and half-a-dozen tele films. Among them was Ayya, which Andolana editor Rajashekar was based on Dravidian movement’s prominent Koti is no more figure, E.V. Ramasamy. Born in Chengalpattu, Gnani passed out of Madras Christian College and was Rajashekar Koti, senior journalist later, trained in theatre by Badal Sircar. He went on to and editor of Andolana, a Kannada produce in Tamil over 50 plays in various languages daily, passed away on November 23 like Bengali, German and English. after suffering a massive heart attack. In the early 1990s, a video he inadvertently shot He was 71. A native of Huilagol near of a V.P. Singh public meeting helped the special Gadag, Koti hailed from a family of investigating team strengthen its case and investigation Rajashekar Koti. landlords who later settled down in into the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. In the video Mysuru. shot by Gnani, Sivarasan was seen conducting a recce Popularly known as Koti in the media circles of what led to LTTE's eventual successful mission in and by his readers, he was a staunch progressive eliminating Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991. espousing socialist as reflected in the news columns Over the past decade, he found a novel way of of Andolana, which gained popularity in the Mysuru bringing together Tamil writers and enthusiasts and surrounding areas, and which he launched in to discuss Tamil literature and way forward. After Mysuru in 1972. He began his journalistic career finding a well in the backyard of the residence he with Prapancha and Vishwavani publications (now rented in K K Nagar, he devised the idea of 'Keni', defunct) before launching Andolana an informal meeting of enthusiasts of Tamil literature Koti drew inspiration from several socialists and on the second Sunday evening every month. litterateurs. His daily covered the events associated Considered to be the left-of-centre, he never hesitated with JP Movement threadbare, when socialist leader in expressing his views. He contested the Alandur by- Jai Prakash Narayan was at the helm but stopped poll unsuccessfully in April 2014 on the Aam Aadmi operations during the Emergency after raising a voice Party (AAP) ticket. against it. Koti inspired several youth and his daily has large following in Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Kodagu, (From reports in The Hindu/ The Times of India/ Hassan and Bengaluru rural districts. Koti associated The New Indian Express) himself with many social welfare organisations to help the disabled and all those in need.

January-March 2018 VIDURA 73 OTHER NEWS

A member of the Karnataka Media Academy and a He was critically ill for the past four months, sources recipient of many awards, Koti was a strong patron close to the litterateur said. He was 90. of sports. The last rites were performed without any Born in Faizabad, Narain was a post-graduate in religious rituals in deference to his sentiments and English literature like several other Hindi poets of beliefs, but Koti was accorded a guard of honour after the time. His first book of poems, Chakravyuh, came which the cremation took place out in 1956 during the early, heady years of the Nayi (Courtesy: The Hindu, NewsKarnataka.com) Kavita (New Poetry) movement. He earned further notice after being featured in Teesra Saptak (1959), a seminal anthology edited by the renowned Agyeya Humourist Ja Ra Sundaresan Narain's mother and sister died of tuberculosis when is dead he was 11. An article by Arundhati Subramaniam for poetryinternationalweb.net says that the event had Senior Tamil journalist, writer and "an enduring impact on his life" and "contributed to humourist Ja Ra Sundaresan died the recurrent theme of death in his writing." Among after a brief illness. He was 87, and other things, "a close and sustained interaction with is survived by his wife and three socialist politician Acharya Narendra Dev shaped his sons. Born in Jalakantapuram of awareness of Indian politics and the philosophies of Salem District in September 1930, Marxism and Buddhism in particular." Sundaresan, who assumed the Bhakkiyam Apart from writing verse, Narain penned short Ramasami. pseudonym of Bhakkiyam Ramasami, stories and literary criticism. He translated poetry, joined Kumudam, the Tamil weekly, notably of Argentine litterateur Jorge Luis Borges. as a member of the editorial desk in And he also wrote extensively on world cinema before 1953, and worked for the journal as assistant editor writing on the subject became fashionable. and deputy editor till 1990. (Courtesy: The Times of India) Charukesi, Tamil writer and journalist, says that Sundaresan had even worked for Kalkandu, another Tamil journal, for a few years before joining Kumudam. Journalist shot dead by A prolific writer, Sundaresan authored over 1000 unidentified assailants short stories and two dozen novels. His main fictional characters were Appusami and Seetha Patti, whose Naveen Gupta, a Kanpur-based journalist, was images were ably produced by cartoonist Jayaraj. shot dead in November by unidentified assailants While Sundaresan’s hilarious pieces were published on a bike in Bilhaur, Kanpur. Gupta succumbed to under the name of Bhakkiyam Ramasami, his serious his injuries on the way to the hospital. Gupta was works were published under other pen names, such a contributor for Hindustan, a leading Hindi daily. as Mrinalini, S. Vijayalakshmi and Vanamali. He was The incident came days after a Tripura journalist, considered to be a part of the ‘trio’ who had written Sudip Datta Bhawmick, was allegedly shot dead by answers to readers’ questions under the popular a Tripura State Rifles personnel at the headquarters column Arasu Pathilgal of the Tamil weekly, the other of 2nd Battalion in RK Nagar, around 30 km from two being S.A.P. Annamalai and Ra.Ki. Rangarajan. Agartala. Sundaresan’s commentary on the Bhagavad Gita Similarly, another journalist from Tripura, Santanu was written in such a way that enabled ordinary Bhaumik, was allegedly beaten to death by tribal people to follow the scripture. Another novel of his, party cadres while he was covering a clash between Poongaatru, dealt with a veena maestro, and he was the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) helped by his relative, flautist N. Ramani Sundaresan, and the Tripura Rajaer Upajati Ganamukti Parishad in writing the piece of work, which drew appreciation (TRUGP) in Mandai, in September. Journalist and from violin maestro Lalgudi G. Jayaraman, Charukesi activist Gauri Lankesh was shot dead outside her points out. Bengaluru residence by unidentified men on a bike (Courtesy: The Hindu) on September 5. In the latest World Press Freedom ranking released in April, India was ranked 136 among Kunwar Narain, Jnanpith 180 countries, indicating the dismal conditions in recipient, passes away which Indian journalists work. Jnanpith award recipient Kunwar Narain, whose distinctive humanist Journalist shot dead in voice made him one of the most Tripura distinguished poets in post- independent Hindi lit-erature, passed Yet another journalist was killed in Tripura, the away at a city hospital on Wednesday. second in two months. Sudip Datta Bhaumik was Kunwar Narain.

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allegedly shot by a jawan of the 2nd Tripura State Rifles (TSR) at RK Nagar, about 20 km from Agartala. First Urban Journalism Nandagopal Reang, the TSR constable has been Academy in Delhi arrested by the police. The incident occurred two months after another journalist, Shantanu Bhowmik United Nations commenced the first Urban was killed by a mob allegedly in the presence of the Journalism Academy in New Delhi with broad police at Mandai, about 40 km from Agartala. participation from more than 40 media professionals “Sudip Datta Bhaumik, who was a senior from across India. The academy shone light on issues journalist with our newspaper, had gone to meet that are key to urban spaces today in light of rapid the Commandant of the 2nd TSR at RK Nagar after urbanisation and ever limited resources. The academy obtaining a due appointment from him. But when he was a two-day precursor to the World Urban Forum 9 reached there he apparently had an argument with (WUF 9) to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from a PSO of the Commandant outside the latter’s office, 7 to 13 February and focused on Cities 2030, Cities for during which the PSO shot at him. Sudip died on the All: Implementing the New Urban Agenda. spot,” Subal Kumar Dey, editor of Syandan Patrika, In the spotlight was the New Urban Agenda a leading Bengali newspaper of Agartala, told The (NUA), adopted at the Habitat III in Ecuador in 2016. Indian Express over telephone. It provides the critical course to the holistic cities of (Courtesy: The Indian Express) the future that are inclusive and sustainable and assimilate the Sustainable Development Goals. The first day of the academy saw introductions tothe Delhi journalists condemn WUF 9 and the New Urban Agenda. Keeping with the theme of the WUF 9, some of the issues deliberated on action against The Tribune were housing as the most critical element in cities that Journalists from various media houses condemned can be the stimulus for economic development and the UIDAI’s decision to file an FIR against The poverty eradication. Tribune for exposing the possible threat to the private The afternoon session focused on climate action, data of people enrolled with Aadhaar. At a meeting environmental sustainability and resilience. The organised by the Delhi Union of Journalists, the concluding session on day one focused on urban journalists said the Centre is misusing law to intimidate development, management and policy and the key and harass the Fourth Estate. They further said it is enablers of urban prosperity. The second day of the their duty to oppose the manner in which the legal academy saw sessions on innovative governance, system is being misused. The meeting also expressed urban economy and municipal finance. concern at the proliferation of false information and fake news and said the country is going to an era of darkness, where no discussion is allowed on matters of public importance. Editor of The Tribune Harish Khare said in a message to the meeting that he is “thankful” to the Centre and the UIDAI and the police for slapping a criminal case Subscribe to against The Tribune and its reporter Rachna Khaira. “I wish to reiterate — with all the seriousness and as responsibly as possible — that what Khaira did was nothing more than perform her duty as a professional journalist. And, we at The Tribune did nothing more than what any other set of editors would have done,” VIDURA he said. Khare added that journalists in The Tribune believe in the Constitution and its values and seek to provide Rs 240 for space to the voices of dissent. “And, yet, we are sought to be hauled up for doing a spot of honest, legitimate investigative reporting; we are sought to be intimidated for practising a bit of old fashioned four issues journalism,” he said. (Courtesy: The Hindu BusinessLine)

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