A Journal of the press Institute of India ISSN 0042-5303 January-March 2017 REPORTING NEWS Volume 9 Issue 1 Rs 50 We need sensitivity, CONTENTS • Varied colours of corruption, and few answers / Sakuntala Narasimhan not sensationalism • Chipping away at privacy, autonomy / Sakuntala What about the morality of the so called ‘guardians’ of society? Narasimhan How can they decide who can indulge in what, when and • Can we graciously agree to where? Why are only a few subject to moral ‘standards’, even disagree? / Shreejay Sinha if the ‘standards’ can be accepted, ever? And can journalists • Two sides of the ‘India’s afford to be judgmental or unethical? Unless we deal with these daughters’ coin / Gita V. Pai issues, the depravity and bias in some news media outlets • Reflecting the changing and specifically the televised form, will probably remain, if not face of the Indian woman / worsen, says Pushpa Achanta, while trying to relate to such Ranjita Biswas • The gendered view from fundamental questions behind the lens / Kirthi Jayakumar oyeurism. Gossip. While the latter can be harmless at times, the former • Can we have less never is. Actually, voyeurism represents a baser attribute of human violence and more respect nature. And that, or its outcome, seemingly attracts many readers or please? / B. Radha and V P. Govindaraju viewers and titillates the senses or provides vicarious pleasure. One cannot ignore this, considering the market for B-grade or adult-rated (A) films and • Role of the media in a pornographic material featuring children. Unfortunately, such items are easily democracy revisited / available for sale through outlets (selling pirated books, censored videos or Santosh Kumar Biswal ‘blue’ films) and the Internet. Of course, piracy must not be confused with • Can media literacy be an resources available for free or declared Copyleft, Open-source or that which alternative to censorship? / can be used under the Creative Commons licence. Madhusmita Boruah However, the sorry and shocking reality is that the dissemination of news, • Of the Vietnam War, turmoil, especially by television channels, seems to have become a source of sensual and Richard Nixon / Partab enjoyment and distorted interpretation of morality. This is evident from how Ramchand two television channels (TV5 and ABN Andhra Jyoti) defamed the students • Journalist’s murder turns the of the NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad in March-April 2013. Also, a focus on illegal timber trade correspondent with the channel, News Live, apparently incited a mob to molest / Nava Thakuria a teenage girl in public, in Guwahati, in July 2012, to enable him to broadcast • Can we look at a second the episode. coming of new-wave Incidentally, the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) of India, cinema? / Bharat Dogra ordered TV9, another regional news channel, to pay a fine and telecast an • Of fiction, film, Bob Dylan apology for invading the privacy of homosexual men in Hyderabad. Under and Marie Curie / Shoma the guise of investigative reporting, the news channel broadcast a programme A. Chatterji titled, Gay Culture Rampant in Hyderabad, in February 2011. The videos • Voicing Indian opinion, of the men were shot undercover. While NBSA responded in a quick and fighting for a liberal press / commendable manner to protests and complaints lodged with it, such cases are C.V. Narasimha Reddi • Remembering M. Balamuralikrishna / (Continued on page 3) Om Puri

January-March 2017 VIDURA 1 From the Editor

Dear Reader,

The past ten weeks or so of information and most a certain article, it doesn’t have been eventful – the of it available at a mere necessarily mean that we passing away of former touch (smartphones, IPads, agree completely with what Tamil Nadu Chief Minister what have you), that it is being said. As an editor, I J. Jayalalithaa, Cyclone Var- often becomes difficult for believe in giving writers the dah, Donald Trump taking the reader or viewer to sift freedom to express what they office and creating a stir, the the truth into a bowl as it want and as long as an article kind of which hasn’t been were, or to sift relevant data is in context, relates to the quite seen in recent times, from the rest. Everywhere, readership and has sufficient unprecedented protests in people are looking for substance and flavour, it is Chennai and elsewhere credible information and accepted for publication. against jallikattu (a spectacle that ‘something extra’ to help Other than subjects sport that is all about stopping them make up their mind and concerning the media, we a raging bull) ban, the heat form an opinion. The reader provide space for issues and dust in the run-up to does not want sensationalism. relating to women and the elections in Punjab, Goa, Honest investigative report- children, portrayal of women Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh ing is welcome, but hard to in films, gender parity, and Manipur (in that order) come by. The other thing is, mental illness, education, the and, as I write this, V.K. in today’s world of Facebook environment… the canvas Sasikala quietly and quickly and Twitter, the ordinary is fairly wide. We also offer emerging from the shadows citizen seems to want to space for films – films that are of Jayalalithaa and getting be the first with the news, different, that strike a chord – ready to take charge as Tamil tweeting, posting a status or for sport, and for nostalgia (of Nadu’s next chief minister, WhatsApping friends – it’s people and places). Reviews creating yet another situation all about showing others that of books that we find useful unprecedented in recent you are clued in and, more are published. And, last but times. The media, especially importantly, that you can not the least, not just obit electronic media, has been peddle credible information pieces, but also remembrances in the forefront, covering all (not malicious gossip) on the of people – a singer, an these events with expected go. Remember the old adage, actor, a writer, a journalist, a relish. On television, each knowledge is power? sportsman, virtually anyone of the occurrences has been As always, we have an – who have died after making played out 24/7, exhausting interesting bouquet of articles. a mark and touching our lives even seasoned viewers. As a rule, we stay clear of in some way or the other. Mainstream newspapers politics, although in this issue Here’s wishing all of you a and the leading online news you may find a smattering of it Very Happy New Year! sites have tried to provide in a couple of articles. And as perspective and comment always, the views expressed while covering the news. by writers in Vidura are their Sashi Nair But there is such a deluge own. Because we publish [email protected]

2 VIDURA January-March 2017 (Continued from page 1)

exceptions. Sadly, TV9 presented a false picture of the transgender community (captured through a sting operation) in Karnataka through a Kannada programme named Operation Anandi aired in September and October 2016. However, no complaint could be lodged with the NBSA nor could the body take any action against the channel / organisation as it had ceased to be a member of the NBSA. Nevertheless, this adversely impacted the personal and social lives of many transpersons in Karnataka with their families, home owners and employers ostracising them.

According to Vinay Sreenivasa of Photo: PA the Alternative Law Forum (a non- Transgender activist Vyjayanti Vasanta Mogli speaking on Gender in profit organisation in Bangalore Media at Network of Women in Media's meet in Hyderabad. Others in the that litigates and does research on picture are (l-r): Ammu Joseph, Laxmi Murthy and Kalpana Sharma. human rights, civil liberties and social justice issues), the Press Even reports of rape, sexual persons continue in movies and Council of India has recognised the abuse, harassment, assault, violence television programmes despite right to privacy of even an accused towards girls, women and gender appeals, protests and criticism. person. Utilising a spy camera or sexual minorities (LGBTIQAP+ Unfortunately, distribution of such violates the right to privacy, the persons) often show survivors or insensitive visuals via social media code of ethics and broadcasting victims as weak and ashamed of cannot be controlled easily. standards, and does not necessary being assaulted, through videos, Donna Fernandes, co-founder and enlighten the public at all times. pictures and graphics. Further, seasoned activist with Vimochana, Speaking at a public discussion videos of the crimes captured live a reputed forum in Bangalore for on Gender in Media: Continuities and available to the news media women’s rights remarked, “TV and Discontinuities, organised by are replayed multiple times while news channels and newspapers the Network of Women in Media photographs are reprinted widely highlight the misogynistic remarks in Hyderabad recently, Vyjayanti which are all unnecessary. This of politicians and ministers which Vasanta Mogli, transgender happened in the reportage of a few harm the interest of girls and women activist and founder Telangana of the incidents of sexual assault and strengthen the patriarchal Hijra Intersex Transgender Samiti that occurred in Bangalore, Bhagpat mindset.” Asking why the media observed, “The news media has in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Pune and continues to seek sexist people for published some positive stories Mumbai between 31st December their views gender violence, a writer on transpersons. However, it 2016 and as this article is being on thenewsminute.com answered has not raised enough questions written. that such news attracts readers on the draconian Rights of Victims were also portrayed easily – a shameful reflection on Transgender Persons Bill 2016, insensitively in news stories of contemporary mindsets, if true. the poor implementation of the the gang-rape and murder of the However, the media does minimal historic NALSA judgment by the teenaged Dalit girls whose bodies sensitive and in-depth coverage or Supreme Court in April 2014, were suspended from the branches follow-up stories, especially when the few provisions, benefits and of a tree in Badaun in Uttar Pradesh social or cultural activists, Dalits, schemes available specifically for in 2014, or the various extra- adivasis (tribal people), gender, transpersons and the deaths or judicial killings of alleged Maoists ethnic or religious minorities gruesome assaults on in Chennai and terrorists. Similarly, stalking, are raped, assaulted, murdered, and Hyderabad last year or minimal harassment, abuse, sexism and looted or falsely accused and education, employment and negative stereotyping of girls, incarcerated. housing options for transgenders.” women, transgender and gay This is obvious from the

January-March 2017 VIDURA 3 insufficient reports questioning and various human rights violations that complaints can be lodged exaggerated charges of anti-national and social injustices by the state and against the content, is useful and activities against members of Kabir other elements. necessary. Kala Manch who were jailed until Such imbalanced ‘news stories’ However, many viewers are recently in Maharashtra, relentless reveal the reality of sensationalism unlikely to express dissatisfaction discrimination against Northeast and voyeurism, particularly in about a programme or news item Indians in Bangalore and Delhi, television news presently although and corrections, punishment or the violence against Dalits in 2012 some wrongly categorise it under penalties being levied on this basis in Dharmapuri District of Tamil investigation journalism. This is are not very high, unfortunately. Nadu, sexual assaults on adivasi mainly due to assignment and Additionally, the NBSA supposedly women by the police between significance of ‘target rating points’ has minimal staff, insufficient October 2015 and January 2016 in (TRPs) which are themselves financial and other resources Bastar, Chhattisgarh, attacks on questionable, to television news and also power. Apart from this,

Christians in Kandhamal District channel content. Even if TRPs are becoming or remaining a member < of Odisha between December 2007 valid, they are supposed to rate the of NBSA is optional. and September 2008, periodic but content of leisure and entertainment questionable allegations of ‘love programmes. But with televised (The writer is a journalist based in jihad’ against young Muslim men news also being subject to TRPs, it Bengaluru. She is also a trainer on in southern Karnataka, ‘honour has largely become an element of human rights and social justice issues, killings’ in Haryana, farmer competitive sensationalism which and enjoys penning verse, nature suicides, denial of labour rights of does not seem to stop at anything. photography and mentoring youth.) workers, acquittal of perpetrators of Of course, displaying information gender, caste and communal crimes (scrolling at the bottom of the screen)

PII-ICRC Awards presented Rubin Joseph and Santhosh John Thooval, both of the Malayala Manorama, together bagged the First Prize in the 10th edition of the PII-ICRC Annual Awards, which was instituted to honour the finest in humanitarian reporting in India. Their piece, which addressed the impact of the use of endosulfan on children in Kerala, was adjudged the best by the jury in the ‘best article on a humanitarian subject’ category. For the same category, Priyanka Kakodkar from The Times of India was awarded the Second Prize for her article on the Photo: ICRC drought in Maharashtra, while Samrat Sinha was awarded Rubin Joseph from Malayala Manorama receives the the Third Prize for his piece, ‘Victimization and survival in joint first prize in the Best Article category from Prof Bodoland’, published in the India Defence Review. Muchkund Dubey, India's former foreign secretary, The First Prize for the ‘best photograph on a humanitarian and now president, Council for Social Development. subject’ category was awarded to Murugaraj Lakshman, Looking on are (l-r): Surinder Oberoi, Political adviser, ICRC; Sashi Nair, director, PII; and Jeremy England, chief photographer of Dinamalar, for capturing compelling head of the ICRC Regional Delegation. images of the rescue efforts during the floods in Chennai in December last year. The Second Prize in the same category was awarded to B. Muralikrishnan, chief news Thursday, November 10th. According to the jury, photographer of Mathrubhumi, for an image showing a the winners were chosen from a total of 61 entries soldier who benefitted from a hand transplant expressing that were received from national and regional appreciation to the wife of the donor. There was, however, publications across the country and covered a wide

no winner for the Third Prize category in this year’s (2016) variety of humanitarian issues, ranging from the edition. effect of drought in different parts of country, to the < The awards were presented at a well-attended ceremony floods in Chennai. held at the India International Centre in New Delhi on

4 VIDURA January-March 2017 DEMONETISATION Varied colours of corruption, and very few answers

How is demonetisation going to eliminate all kinds of pervasive corruption? Who can say that ‘small time, petty’ corruption is not as corrosive as ‘big time’ corruption involving hundreds of crores? How do I explain and justify demonetisation in terms of a move to “fight corruption” when I hear the day-to- day experiences of voiceless, invisible, citizens? Sakuntala Narasimhan seeks suggestions

en year old Ramu, the son of amounts. If we are a democracy roadside urchin, but nothing came a tailor, is busy writing very – as we profess, especially on of it, passersby advised me that I seriously in his notebook, Republic Day, Independence Day better not “mess with” the police, T or they can always take it out on covering entire lines with what and Gandhi Jayanthi, ritually and looks to me like an endless series annually – Ramu’s rights to basic me, harass me. Or beat up that of zeroes. “What are you doing, needs are as legitimate as those of hapless boy even worse, after I Ramu?” I ask, and he says “Trying our VIPs and VVIPs and industrial moved away. to see how big a number two and a ‘barons’. Any suggestions on what Cinnasami, a handy man who half lakh crores will be.” I discover I say next to Ramu, when I explain often comes to do odd jobs for me that he has just finished reading national news to him to ‘educate’ on weekends, arrives with a swollen the day’s paper (I encourage him him? lip and difficulty in speaking. I ask to keep abreast of happenings Mallika is a roadside banana him what happened. He works around the country, not just do his seller in south Bengaluru. A in the city at construction sites school homework and be done for deserted wife and grandmother to but goes to his village to see his the day). a teenage girl (who learned nothing family once a month by overnight When I ask him why he wants in the government school she was bus. This time while returning, the to figure out how many zeroes the going to, and dropped out after bus had an accident and he lost number will have, Ramu points to the teacher thrashed her for wrong two teeth and got a bad bruise on the day’s news item: “It says here, answers), Mallika nevertheless has his lip. I gave him a note for the that this is the amount of money the a broad smile for me whenever I dentist, paid him some money, but government has collected over the pass by. Today she is glum-faced, also told him that he is, under the last eight weeks, under its drive,” and I ask her why. With tears in law, entitled to compensation if he he replies. For those on the lower her eyes she narrates her story – the was in a road accident. economic strata – and they add up to police come round every now and “Just produce the bus ticket as a few hundred millions – whatever then, and “evict” these roadside proof that you were on that bus,” I ‘poverty criteria’ you adopt – one vendors as part of a “cleaning tell Cinnasami. He gives me a dazed crore is an unimaginable figure. and beautification drive”. The look , and says, “Ah, so that is why Lakhs of crores goes beyond policeman lets her be if she lets the bus conductor asked us all for comprehension, becoming almost him help himself to the largest and our tickets, saying that he needed meaningless for families that heaviest bunch of bananas from her it, and took them away.” Now he survive on a few thousand rupees basket. has no proof, the bus company can a month, and will never ever see a This morning, Mallika gave him claim he was never on that ill-fated lakh, forget about lakhs of crores. just a small bunch as she needed bus and escape responsibility. I And yet, news reports are money for treatment for a swollen have spent two years educating increasingly about lakhs of crores leg, and he promptly kicked her Cinna, teaching him the alphabets of rupees, whether it is subsidy basket, mashed up her entire stock and enough arithmetic to do his for diesel and LPG (Rs 1.63 lakh of fruit and stamped on the mess own calculations about wages, crores) or non-performing assets for good measure, before moving etc, but now – too late – he also (NPA) of banks (Rs 2.67 lakh crores) away with a triumphant leer. Any knows about accident claims and or black money (don’t even hazard suggestions on what I can tell her to compensation. No school teaches an estimate). Ramu and his ilk are sooth her distress? I did try to argue these ‘survival’ techniques. And as much citizens of the country, as with another policeman last month there are thousands, tens of those mouthing figures in 13-digit when I found him whacking a thousands of such Cinnas, among

January-March 2017 VIDURA 5 Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration:

the illiterates as well as literates, from the print to ask me, “Amma, mentioned therein exist in flesh and who are unable to claim their this man who owned many planes blood. None of them wanted their < legitimate entitlements, even if we and a big liquor factory, it says he pictures taken. have tomes of laws for citizens’ owed many thousands in unpaid ‘protection’. Laws do not deliver, loans. But he has flown away, (The writer, based in Bengaluru, is only their enforcement does. And out of the country, and cannot be a recipient of the Media Foundation’s lackadaisical enforcement is also a caught. Is it that one can get away Chameli Devi Award for Outstanding form of corruption. with corruption involving large Woman Journalist 1983. Her The punch line came this morning, amounts, because one is rich and fortnightly columns on gender issues from Cinna himself, when he can fly away?” and consumer rights ran in the glanced through an old issue of a Deccan Herald for 27 years. She daily paper (his idli breakfast came Disclosure: I swear that the following had earlier worked for The Times of wrapped in it) and raised his head incidents took place and that the people India in Mumbai.)

Deccan Herald closes Delhi edition English daily Deccan Herald is reported to have closed down its Delhi edition. The last local edition of the southern publication was printed in the national capital on December 15. While the local edition of Deccan Herald will cease, the political bureau in Delhi will continue with its reportage. In 2011, when Deccan Herald arrived in Delhi,

it informed its readers that the edition was the “seventh for the newspaper” and the “first outside Karnataka”. The Delhi edition was edited by Ashwani Talwar. <

(Courtesy: exchange4media.com)

6 VIDURA January-March 2017 THE DIGITAL DOWNSIDE Chipping away at privacy and autonomy

Supposing you erected a barbed wire fence with a moat beyond and, in addition, installed solid steel crossbars to secure your door, and still found an intruder slipping in every now and then, how would you feel? That’s what modern technology is doing – intruding, prying, snooping, and always keeping one step ahead of our protective defenses and personal preferences. Where’s the policing for online intrusions, asks Sakuntala Narasimhan, wondering whether the average user even knows what’s happening

arriage on your don’t have a car, buddy, to consider visit (even if it was a year ago). mind?” says the turning it into anything, cash, trash And I don’t like that – I want my “Mmessage at the top of or chariot. Delete. autonomy and the right to choice, my inbox. No sir, not really. Not And so it goes. Day after day. even the right to change my mind after 52 years of marriage, I say to Ever since I got a new hard disk, if I so desire. I don’t like having my myself as I hit the delete key. “Find and my laptop was ‘reconfigured’, mind’s workings tracked, recorded, the love of your life,” it suggests and began ‘sorting’ my mail into monitored and preserved. a day later, as I check my mail. ‘promotions’, ‘social’ and ‘personal’ Besides, if Google had all details Thanks, but as I said, it is a bit late, without my choosing the option, the about me tracked and filed, how by over half a century… and I press intrusive, irritating messages keep come it does not know that I have the delete button wth a vicious popping up, despite ‘firewalls’ and been married for half a century jab – if I can’t get to the intrusive various other ‘blocks’. I am simply and don’t have “marriage on your sender, I can only take it out on the unable to understand how and mind”? It is not just the computer; keyboard. why they sneak in. Even a BSNL it is all state-of-the-art gadgets. I But that’s not the end of the ad keeps popping up, uninvited switch on my recently acquired matter. “Please tell us why you and unwanted, with enticing offers, iPad, and it says, “Your iPad dismissed the ad,” it says the every time I log on or sign off. has not been upgraded for three moment I delete it, with the ‘please’ BSNL comes under the Telecom weeks.” May be a good thing to and ‘why’ underlined for emphasis. Regulatory Authority (TRAI) which be reminded, but the fact that it Too bad, buddy, but why should I? mandates facilities for blocking watches, monitors and keeps track I don’t want to tell you. unwanted ads. is somewhat unnerving – akin “Looking for cheap hotels?” I compose a message to three of to a chaperon overseeing your the message reads the day after. my students, Sheila, Shubha and activities and movements – where I am not looking for hotels, cheap Nandita, and click on send – and all you have been, who all you or otherwise, I mutter to myself the message pops up, “Consider have visited, what all you have through gritted teeth before I delete adding Veena, Vidya and Vijaya” been up to. this unwanted ‘message’, too. An (three other students to whom I had There are times, of course, when hour later, it is “Submit your resume marked an earlier message). I don’t modern technology – electronic or now”. What resume? For what? To like someone keeping track of who other – seems like a fantastic boon. whom? My temper rises as I silently all I sent messages to, much less Like GPS in a car – miss a turning, raise each question in my mind and advising me on who all I should and it says, “Ooops, you have to – again – delete the exhortation (or send to, subsequently. How does take a U-turn and go back fifty is it just a suggestion?). one disable such a feature on the metres…” As for facilities such “Increase your income,” the computer? as Skype and video conferencing, messenger says later in the Google looks at your previous that’s absolutely marvellous (I can afternoon. That’s more like it – who visits and refines its search results remember a time when calls to wouldn’t like more of the moolah? accordingly, explains a tech-savvy another city or country had to be Not even Ambani – but again (sigh) friend, with amusement at my booked as trunk calls, which would I am not interested, thank you very irritation. It is like a waiter at a materialise after several hours). much. At my age I should learn to restaurant deciding what I should – Now, one scans and sends even be content with whatever I have. or will – order, on the basis of what book length text via email, all in a “Turn car into cash in 30 minutes.” I I chose and ordered on a previous matter of a few seconds. Produce

January-March 2017 VIDURA 7 Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration: a debit card, and the point of sale familiarity with the technology our being able to confront the machine can check your bank covers accessing and sending persons who are doing this, or balance and okay the transaction mail, and occasional browsing, telling them where they get off. in seconds. And a small, inch-long but not removing such unwanted That’s the crux – the rendering of pen drive carries a whole folder of ‘reminders’ (except by laboriously thousands, millions of ordinary, photos, text, even books. clicking on delete). peace-loving citizens helpless at Fine – but the intrusive bit? It is as The downside with technology is the hands of runaway technology, if someone was listening in, on my that it chips away at my autonomy sometimes even holding them to conversations on the phone, and – and being at the mercy of a ransom; who knows who could use keeping track. A child (or friend) machine that always seems to these intrusions for purposes other making the same suggestion, stay one step ahead of me, brings than the betterment of the human would be considered guilty of in shades of Frankenstein-ian condition? intrusion and bad manners. If my dominance. Commonsense dictates “Pay for better protection,” virus protection has expired, it that man should be master of the advises a friend. Exactly – like

keeps track, and every time I switch machine, not the other way round. paying for a larger lock on my on, there’s a box telling me that the ‘Big brother is watching’ – not just door because there are goondas < renewal is “132 days overdue”. watching but tracking our activities around? A good thing, or an irritant? My and filing away details, without

8 VIDURA January-March 2017 MEDIA ETHICS AND A FREE PRESS Can we graciously agree to disagree?

In today’s age of information overload and a 24x7 news cycle, it’s not easy to resurrect a months-old issue and lend it relevance. Shreejay Sinha tries to do so, laying the larger debate of press freedom and journalism ethics against the backdrop of a day’s ban on NDTV India. The issue of press freedom is, to a good measure, a derivative of journalistic ethics, he says

n November 2th last year, were critical of Lytton’s apathy India for its alleged transgressions on a day when India’s towards the victims of the Great was a clear case of government OPrime Minister Narendra Famine of 1876-77. In a remarkable overreach and one that was aimed Modi was waxing eloquent at a display of ingenuity, the editors at triggering a chilling effect on the journalism awards function about turned their language newspapers free press. the horrors of the Emergency, into English ones overnight. There is no gainsaying the fact his Cabinet colleague, Venkaiah On June 25, 1975, Indira Gandhi that there is a discernible shrinkage Naidu, the Information & proclaimed the Emergency, of scope for nuanced, dispassionate Broadcasting minister, ordered a suspending civil liberties and debates on issues facing the nation. day’s ban (subsequently put on censoring the press. In yet another Anyone questioning an act of the hold) on NDTV India for allegedly act of ingenuity, The Indian Express establishment is intuitively derided compromising national security by and The Statesman left their lead and his patriotism suspected. Forced its live coverage of an operation editorial spaces blank in a powerful to live the simplistic and reductionist to neutralise terrorists who had mark of protest. binaries of ‘us or them’, ‘nationalist attacked the Pathankot airbase on Barely days after the current or anti-national’, there is no middle January 2nd, 2016. prime minister exhorted the media ground where we can graciously Let us take the example of the at the journalism awards function agree to disagree. Social media, NDTV India ban and examine it to “put news ahead of views”, hailed for providing a platform closely within the larger framework magnanimously assuring that he for free and fearless conversations of free speech and liberty of the did not mind his government being to widen and deepen the remit of press. The order to black out the criticised by the press, his junior democracy, is being increasingly Hindi news channel triggered a Home minister brushed aside overtaken by trolls, or cyber bullies, furore, and rightly so, with media reporters who sought his reaction to who control information and direct organisations closing ranks to the Bhopal encounter in which eight mass thinking. denounce the move as a brazen terrorists were killed. “We should Ravish Kumar punned on hawa, attempt to clamp down on press stop this habit of raising doubts and or air, to drive home the point that freedom. The government beat a questioning the authorities and the it’s not just the air quality that has hasty retreat. police. This is not a good culture.” worsened in Delhi, but political Speaking at the Ramnath Goenka Ravish Kumar, senior executive climate, too, had turned suffocating. Excellence in Journalism Awards on editor at NDTV India who hosts However, to put the entire blame November 2nd, the prime minister the popular Prime Time show, at the doors of the government said: “The colonial rulers were wondered what journalists should would be simplistic and absolve scared of those who wrote and do if not ask questions, and when the media organisations, as well as expressed themselves through the did authorities really become free media personalities whose various papers.” He was right. It is just that, from answering questions – “Hum acts of omissions and commissions today, rulers of all hues and origins sawaalnahi karen toh kya karen?Aur embolden the authorities to trifle have rarely concealed their distaste authorities kab sawaal se mukt ho with the press and invite ridicule for a free, inquisitive press. gaye?” He brought two mime from the public at large. Remember Lord Lytton’s artistes to help explain to viewers As argued, press freedom may not Vernacular Press Act of 1878? The what a person of ‘authority’ would be seen in isolation of journalistic legislation sought to strike at the want to be questioned about, if at all. ethics. The infamous Radia tapes heart of language newspapers, The Information & Broadcasting tragically exposed the underbelly of which enjoyed a wide reach and Ministry’s order to black out NDTV the press, where the country’s most

January-March 2017 VIDURA 9 powerful TV voices and columnists journalists. They metamorphose have the facts, it doesn't matter. were heard negotiating ministerial into cheerleaders. It is because of You just put a flag in the frame and berths for individuals at the behest this that ministers chide journalists you hide behind it.” He went on to of corporate entities, whittling for ‘questioning authorities’. point out that we cannot blame the down the credibility of the entire The January 20th issue of Frontline government as far as credibility of institution of the press. details how a serving senior editor the media is concerned. “That is The ‘paid news’ phenomenon, of a popular and widely-circulated our job, we need to look within.” which was at full play during the English newspaper was serving Senior BJP leader L.K Advani 2009 General Election, included as the eyes and ears of the Central had once observed that during the mainstream media outlets government and the BJP in their Emergency the press crawled when according favourable, sometimes battle against the AamAadmi Party’s asked to bend. Today, “You get the gushing, coverage of politicians Delhi Government. As journalists, sense that people are willing to crawl

in exchange for money. “The giving political and corporate when nobody is bothering to ask us phenomenon of ‘paid news’ goes gossip is considered par for the to even bend,” veteran journalist < beyond the corruption of individual course, but when senior editors Shekhar Gupta lamented. journalists and media companies. allow themselves to be spies for the It has become pervasive, structured state, as the Frontline story suggests, (The writer is a journalist based in and highly organised and in the it’s a betrayal of the fiduciary duty New Delhi.) process, is undermining democracy towards the public as also of the in India,” a Press Council of larger media fraternity. India sub-committee report had In his closing remarks at the observed. Ramnath Goenka Excellence in When journalists get busy with Journalism Awards, The Indian clicking selfies with the powers that Express editor-in-chief Raj Kamal be, instead of asking fundamental Jha hit the nail on the head: “In questions, they cease to be this selfie journalism, if you don't

Deccan Herald, Outbrain sign exclusive partnership Content discovery platform Outbrain has announced that it has signed an exclusive long-term partnership with Deccan Herald, one of South India’s top English newspapers. The partnership with Outbrain will allow Deccan Herald, to fully leverage the Outbrain Engage platform and to maximise on insights and analytics that will help it to surface the best recommendations across both organic and sponsored content. As part of the platform offering, Deccan Herald,will draw on Outbrain’s proprietary technologies and tools, allowing it to marry editorial curation with personalisation, increase audience engagement and growth, and enhance its digital strategy by connecting content creation to revenue. “Digital content consumption is on the rise in India and we are excited to tap into Outbrain’s offerings to better understand and engage our growing base of digital users through powerful and strategically placed native experiences,” says Om Sharan Pandey, Digital Business head, The Printers (Mysore). “In the fast-paced world of content marketing, content distribution has become fundamental to our strategy, and we are confident that Outbrain will help us take our digital capabilities to the next level.” Sigrid Kirk, vice-president of Engage, Asia Pacific at Outbrain, says, “We are delighted to launch this partnership with Deccan Herald. Our focus is on equipping publishers with the tools to drive monetisation through enhancing user experience, trust and loyalty, especially against the backdrop of a saturated digital environment. Audience attention is increasingly difficult to secure, but content personalised for its digital users and based on unique insights and analytics will provide the Deccan Herald with meaningful cut through.” Outbrain continues to work with some of the world's best and most premium publishers to provide brands, agencies and content marketers with a high-quality environment against which to deliver their digital campaigns. “Through this collaboration, Deccan Herald will be able to draw on one of the top revenue generating platforms for

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(Courtesy: exchange4media.com)

10 VIDURA January-March 2017 Two sides of the ‘India’s daughters’ coin

It is the best of times and the worst of times for females in India, given how the nation treats them, says Gita V. Pai, adding that India has a long way to go in battling its social and political structures of inequity

ix days after the 2016 Rio Since BBBP began in Haryana 'India’s daughter' has not always Olympics’ closing ceremony, where she was born, Malik became evoked national pride. A promising Sa half-page advertisement in its ambassador after her Olympic medical student in Delhi exemplifies Indian newspapers featured Prime success. the nation’s nadir. Her 2012 Minister Narendra Modi with the One of BBBP’s objectives is to brutal gang rape and subsequent country’s only Olympic winners, persuade Indiansto “take pride in murder on a moving bus is the both women: silver-medalist daughters and oppose the mentality subject of India’s Daughter, a 2015 shuttler P.K. Sindhu lifts India’s of bojh [burden] and paraya dhan British Broadcasting Company flag and bronze-medalist wrestler [someone else’s wealth]”. Modi’s documentary I screen in my Sakshi Malik, wearing the flag’s appearance in the ad supports undergraduate course on South colours, raises her medal. The these aims as does his statements Asian women in the Midwestern national tiranga (tricolor) of saffron, within it: “India will progress only University where I teach. white and green swirls down the when the girl child progresses” TV channels worldwide planned horizontal layout. and “India’s daughters are India’s to air India’s Daughter on March 8th, Living temporarily in my parents’ future”. 2015 to coincide with International birthplace, I, too, applauded the first Post-Olympics, India’s prime Women’s Day. However, the Indian badminton player to clinch minister commended “India’s Government of India banned its a silver medal and the first-ever daughters” to reinforce the showing on Indian television since Indian wrestler. Dipa Karmakar, importance of females. His 28th the convicted rapist’s unrepentant India’s first gymnast to qualify in August (2016) radio address remarks are an “affront to the the finals, also garnered admiration reminded the nation: “We won dignity of women” and its release although she narrowly missed the Rio Olympics medals. Our would “incite violence against bronze medal for the vault. daughters proved themselves women” and “defame India”. More than an expression of once again, that they are not less British filmmaker Leslee Udwin national pride, the advertisement than anyone.” His 30th August tried unsuccessfully to get the prime with India’s top politician and speech at a pipeline’s inauguration minister to lift the ban. medal-winning athletes was a push reiterated: “Our daughters saved Women’s rights activist Kavita for Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana India’s face in the Rio Olympics Krishnan, who appeared in the (girl child prosperity scheme) that and brought honour to us. That is film, criticised the film’s title and Modi introduced last year. The the true power of our daughters.” the resultant Daughters of India Indian government-backed savings Modi then discussed social issues campaign: “Why refer to India’s plan coaxes parents to open bank plaguing India — including gender- girls and women as ‘daughters’?” accounts for their daughters’ based discrimination — and the “In India,” she explained, “we education and marriage expenses. importance of BBBP and beti khilao are continuously told, ‘You are Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana falls (let girls play), a new initiative the nation’s women. You are the under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao that urges parents to support their nation’s daughters. You are the Campaign (save girls, educate girls) daughters’ sports interest. nation’s mothers. And therefore, launched two years ago to “prevent While the sportswomen’s behave yourself because Indian gender-biased sex selective Olympic performances became the women behave themselves.’ So to elimination, ensure survival and platform for Modi to encourage see this reflected unthinkingly in protection of thegirl child, and Indians to think differently about the [film’s title] is problematic to ensure education of the girl child”. women (and sports), the moniker me.” When the star-backed global

January-March 2017 VIDURA 11 campaign to confront gender As Sindhu, Malik and Karmakar’s India’s Daughter. India has a long inequality and violence adopted the athleticism bring fame to India, way to go in battling its social and film’s name, she wondered: “Since the horrific death of the medical political structures of inequity. India’s leaders hail Indian women student underscores the nation’s When news about an infant girl as ‘India’s daughters’, why should shame, something a British director abandoned in Delhi surfaced late the campaign do likewise?” relayed in her film and India’s last year, a police official vented: Although it was the Indian prime minister addressed in his “Recently when a young woman media who first connected Singh speech. “Our heads hang in shame won an Olympic medal, Indians to the epithet ‘India’s daughter’ when we hear about rapes. Why celebrated. And now we find a

to protect her identity, Krishnan’s can’t we prevent this?” Modi said in baby girl being dumped on the concern is noteworthy. When a 2014. “When a daughter steps out, pavement to die. We are people < foreign filmmaker, global feminism parents demand to know where with such double standards.” activist, and Indian politician label she’s going. But when a son returns female citizens as the country’s home, does anyone dare ask where (The writer is assistant professor of daughters, they respect them not he is coming from? Why don’t South Asian History at the University as people, but by their relationship parents apply the same yardstick of of Wisconsin-La Crosse, USA. This with a nation-state that is itself good behaviour for their sons as for academic year, she is a Fulbright- patriarchal. Such a characterisation their daughters?” Nehru Fellow at the French Institute suggests that women are children In the month that the nation of Pondicherry, India.) rather than adults; it also imposes extolled its female Olympians, the a burden on them, whether they Delhi High Court refused to interfere are winning athletes or stellar with the Indian Government’s students. decision to block the broadcast of

Afghan TV station bags prestigious award Independent Afghan TV news groups as a "war crime". Lotfullah historic events in Asia during a station TOLO has won the 2016 Najafizada, the director of TOLO career spanning four decades. She Agence France-Presse Kate Webb News, said the loss of so many valued made her name in Vietnam and also prize for its consistently fearless work friends and colleagues had made worked in Cambodia, Indonesia, reporting in one of the world's most 2016 a difficult year. “The late Kate Thailand, the Philippines, India, dangerous countries. The prize, Webb was an inspiration to dozens South Korea and West Asia. She with a 3000-euro purse, honours of our journalists, who like Kate, have was known for her kindness and journalists working in perilous or earned a reputation for being fearless compassion and became a mentor difficult conditions in Asia, and in the face of adversity." to younger Asian journalists. The is named after a crusading AFP Rachel Miller, Kate Webb’s sister and prize is administered by the AFP reporter who died in 2007 at the a member of the jury, said the family Foundation – a non-profit-making, age of 64, after a career covering was delighted by the special award of organisation set up to promote the world's trouble-spots, including the prize to TOLO. “Afghanistan held press freedom through training Afghanistan. a very special place in Kate’s heart,” journalists in developing countries TOLO News is a privately-run said Miller. “She worked there in the – and by the Webb family. It was station that is often critical of 1990s and forged close friendships first awarded in 2008. the insurgent groups that wreak with Afghans that lasted for the rest of AFP is a global news agency carnage across Afghanistan. Its her life.” “Kate was always awed at the delivering fast, accurate, in-depth journalists are among a small band incredible work of Afghan journalists in coverage of the events shaping of media workers who put their unimaginably difficult circumstances. I our world from conflicts to politics, lives on the line to explain what is know she would have been very proud sports, entertainment and the latest happening in their war-wracked of TOLO’s extraordinary courage and breakthroughs in health, science country. Seven of its employees contribution to Afghan journalism.” and technology. With 2326 staff were killed in a targeted Taliban Born in New Zealand, Kate Webb spread across almost every country,

AFP covers the world 24 hours a suicide bombing in January 2016, earned a reputation as a fearless < an attack denounced by rights reporter while covering wars and other day in six languages.

12 VIDURA January-March 2017 Reflecting the changing face of the Indian woman In the last couple of years, something is changing, though quietly, about the portrayal of women in mainstream Indian films, aka Bollywood or Hindi films. That these films have proven to be successful in the box office too is perhaps a barometer of how society is adjusting to the emerging woman. Wonder of wonders, she is not portrayed as cut-outs of purported social values but as a flesh-and- blood person who also explores her sexuality and even can be unapologetic about it. Ranjita Biswas takes a close look

omen as protagonists Rajasthan, as portrayed in Parched. in films is gaining These films draw attention Wground. It’s not that to another aspect of women women-centric movies were not empowerment: trying to ensure made before. Going as far back their own space in a society that as Mother India, films have been ignores or tries to impose its own made, though in a minuscule attitude towards female sexuality, number, to portray women whether in the urban spectrum winning against odds, often shown (Pink) or in the rural one (Parched). as standing against patriarchal It’s refreshing to find that even in a norms. However, it’s perhaps only patriarchal society they find scope In Angry Indian Goddesses, when recently that films are also talking to go beyond ‘victimhood’. four old friends meet in Goa to attend of women who talk / think of sex, a Take, for example, the three the wedding of one of them, there is a somewhat taboo subject and swept friends in Pink – modern working kind of abandon that is easily relatable under the carpet as it’s thought to women living in metros on their by women cronies, away from the hurt sensibilities of a conservative own who we routinely come across confines of home, talking about society. The latter would rather in Indian cities today. Minal Minal everything under the sun, including see the heroine / protagonist in the (Taapsee Pannu), Falak (Kirti sex. image it has chosen to perceive – as Kulhari), and Andrea (Tariang) ‘good’ women who can fight goons are from different corners of the openly about sexual behaviour, it’s if necessary but not step beyond country coming to Delhi for jobs. even more revolutionary to come that. They are independent women, across a response to a question like Hence, it’s a relief to come across have their own opinions, and ‘are you a virgin?’ in the court and real characters – like a woman problems too, as to be expected in the girl admitting that she and her who does not balk at admitting conflict of Northern India’s male boyfriend had indeed physical being physically intimate with her idea of machismo. Their nightmare relations because they ‘liked’ each boyfriend as in Pink or village starts with stalking and molestation other. Isn’t it natural after all for two women exploring hidden desire as Minal ‘dares’ to resist a man adults in an intimate relation? How in a brutally suppressive village in with political connections, who many films have been so frank with tries to sexually abuse her. The a woman character saying that? film emphasises the message, It’s perhaps one of the worst- universally accepted in case of kept secrets that young Indian sexual harassment today, ‘No’ women and men ‘have sex’ if they means No. Even if the person is the are together but the emphasis woman’s partner or companion. As on virginity always portrays / the girl’s defence lawyer (played portrayed her in films as pure as by Amitabh Bachchan) says in the morning dew till ‘she gets married’ film, “‘No’ is an entire sentence in to ‘sleep’ with her husband / lover. Village women exploring hidden desire itself.” If she does gives in to desire, see in a brutally suppressive village in While it’s quite path-breaking what happens as a consequence Rajasthan, as portrayed in Parched. for a Bollywood film to talk so (remember the song Roop tera

January-March 2017 VIDURA 13 The three friends in Pink - Minal (Taapsee Pannu), Falak (Kirti Kulhari), and Andrea (Tariang) - pictured here have come to Delhi for jobs. They are modern working women living in metros on their own, the ones we routinely come across in Indian cities today. Amitabh Bachchan (top, left) plays the role of their defence lawyer with gusto. Photos: RB mastana from Aradhana?). That such a scene in Fire that offended upbringing, Rani accepts her as a film puts up today’s reality people in some states even leading she is and has a ball. Think of the without much romantic frills, and to its screening. Then there is the heroine’s friends in older Hindi the audience accepts it as a matter scene where the three women jump films in the mould of goody goody of fact rather than castigating the into a lake to swim, abandoning girls. Sexual innuendo and the woman as a harlot, displays a their inhibitions to enjoy some ‘me inviting look were confined to the maturity and pragmatism rarely time’ which comes out as bold and vamp while the heroine fluttered observed in earlier films. Women beautiful. her eyelashes to show interest in themselves have said in interviews In Angry Indian Goddesses, the man wooing her. that “it’s our story”. Once again, when four old friends meet in Goa The fact is, the image of the to repeat a cliché, films reflect to attend the wedding of one of woman is changing silently in contemporary society. them, there is a kind of abandon popular media, though you would Cut to rural Rajasthan from urban that is easily relatable by women not think so going by the endless Delhi, to the setting of Parched, cronies, away from the confines saas-bahu intrigues that dominate directed by Leena Yadav. In the of home, talking about everything the small screen. She exists side by brutal, suppressive village milieu under the sun, including sex. They side with item-number churning three friends, Rani (Tannishtha are equally unself-conscious while heroines whose inviting gyrations Chatterjee), Lajjo (Radhika Apte) enjoying a ‘female gaze’ on a bare- is only grist for the voyeuristic and Bijli (Surveen Chawla) manage bodied hunk from next door. There eye. In a way, these unnecessary to have their own space and is even a lesbian wedding on the episodes in mainstream learn to deal with their exploited cards. Subjects way off the usual commercial cinema only add to situation with a lot of humour. Bollywood path. the already embedded image of That Bijli is a village fair dancer- In super hit Queen, where the woman as a sexual object. The cum-sex-worker does not deter Kangana Ranaut’s timid Rani of success, and recognition, of films the other two from bonding. They conservative Rajouri Garden of like Pink, Parched and others offer share their personal agonies, Delhi morphs into an assertive a ray of hope and makes us believe sexual fantasies and explore the woman going on her own that there is subtle change in the

mystery of their own desire too. A ‘honeymoon’ in Paris (without the age-old attitude towards women, scene where Rani (who is widowed husband who ditched her), she is even if it is confined to a section of< early) and Lajjo (brutalised by an hugely influenced by Vijaylakshmi society. impotent husband) explore each (Lisa Hayden) who openly talks other’s body in an expression of about physical relations. After the (The writer is a senior journalist suppressed desire reminds one of initial shock, quite natural for her based in Kolkata.)

14 VIDURA January-March 2017 The gendered view from behind the lens In India, most girls ‘learn to live by the rules’ and even though they may feel stifled they never really speak out, says Kirthi Jayakumar. Here, she narrates the story of Vaishnavi Sundar who switches from a corporate career to become a full-time writer, actor and filmmaker, and sets up a community of filmmakers who identify themselves as women and who bring to life on screen anti-bourgeois, anti-bigotry, pro-gender and equality messages

ver since Vaishnavi Sundar Reminiscing about her carefree was little she was really childhood days when life was Euncomfortable with the way uncomplicated and sheltered, patriarchal social rules defined she says, “I was born with many her entire existence. As a child, the complications and had to be in family “dictated what I needed to an incubator for weeks. Due to wear, who I needed to talk to and that I developed several ailments, which uncle’s lap I could sit on…” especially severe breathing Then, when she left the “safe” problems, which kept me in and out confines of her home in Avadi, a of hospitals. As a way to overcome small town outside Chennai, it was my physical weaknesses, my “the city spaces and the job [read mother introduced me to cycling. bosses] that defined my boundaries, Eventually, cycling became my rewards and expectations”. access to a world outside the home. Frustrated with the status quo, It set me free. Had it been up to me

Sundar decided to break the mould: I would have travelled everywhere Photos: WFS she switched from her corporate on my bike but as I grew up I knew Sundar, whose films question career to being a full-time writer, I had to step into the city for higher patriarchy, débuted with Pava, a actor and filmmaker, and set up a education and, later, work.” story about the metamorphosis of community of filmmakers who are Sundar’s first few days in the the relationship between a young women – or identify themselves city as a university student were girl and a barber. as women. The 85-member strong not the easiest. She shares, “I was global network is a year old and a gullible, ignorant teenager and so I quit a career in human resource going strong with its anti-bourgeois, my first contact with the city was and marketing to be able to make anti-bigotry and pro-gender and very traumatising. Be it my poor movies that project an alternative equality messages that are brought English language skills, my inability to the norms.” to life on screen through innovative to negotiate public transport or Sundar may have decided to use storytelling. just the fact that I was a young progressive cinema as her medium woman trying to make it on my to tell different kinds of stories but own, all these factors contributed her chosen path has been fraught to endless episodes of harassment. with trials. “The challenges that While I was suffering, I realised come with independent filmmaking that I wasn’t really alone; there start right from when one is laying were millions of girls and women out the plot – whether or not it going through the exact same thing. will be accepted by the audience. However, since no one ever spoke When I am writing, I consciously of these enormous life hurdles that make sure I do not conform to Vaishnavi Sundar is an independent women have to encounter to make any societal generalisation for the filmmaker, actor and activist who their place in the world, each one sake of selling it to the masses. The has set up Women Making Films, a was struggling on her own. It’s world already has enough of that; community of filmmakers who are this awareness about the collective filmmakers with a rational mindset women – or identify themselves as struggles that propelled me towards are few. There are always mobs women. writing, filmmaking and activism. ready to lynch you for different

January-March 2017 VIDURA 15 reasons. While some are ready to besiege you for making a film on homosexuality, others encircle you for making one on the irrationality of the Indian mindset. Not to mention the added aggravation when you’re a woman. A major part of my work speaks of the persecution faced by female filmmakers, as well as those belonging to the other minorities. There have been very few instances where a woman has managed to be funded for her project, on its face value,” she points out. Nonetheless, the young filmmaker has refused to back down. “It does not take a genius to pick on biases Sundar’s second film, The Catalyst, was a crowd-funded project inspired by the in a country like India even though story, Taxi Driver, written by well-known Indian writer Kartar Singh Duggal. many tend to deny it. I have seen a lot of established women refuse to acknowledge the disparity. I despite the odds I have been able is no different, yet she feels there’s have been a victim of patriarchy to create a one-of-a-kind group, no point in shying away from throughout my life and that is the and bitter because the community these. “I do not mind myself being reason I am drawn to feminism and hasn’t got its due. There are no Page addressed as a ‘female filmmaker’ art. Through every form of art that 3 affiliations or star endorsements and I certainly think no woman I make, I have deliberately brought to make it sound elite and upper should. We need it the most right in elements of equality and rights,” class,” she says. now, when female recognition she explains. For WMF, Sunder has hopes that is in jeopardy in every field. But At the same time, Sundar has it will “grow exponentially with as what I utterly despise is when “promised myself to constantly many collaborations as possible”. I am labelled just to spot the keep calling people out for their She reveals, “I want it to go global. ignorantly assumed incapability bigotry, no matter how filtered or I have successfully hosted one of my gender. If I am sitting in an ‘glorious’ it seems to them”. She film festival in New York this year interview and the male interviewer says, “Today’s cinema has fallacious and I hope to do more. I aspire asks me: ‘What problems do you portraitures. I have recently started to establish WMF as a not-for- face as female filmmaker, my a series, Misguided Portrayals, profit organisation and work with answer to that is, traffic, pollution, in which I try to congregate the many schools and colleges. I have rising temperature, etc. Language ridiculousness in delineating the recently collaborated with a similar has a very important part to play lives of homosexuals, women and organisation in Pakistan and I am when we discuss gender equality. all the other minorities within very excited about it. We intend We need awareness, sensitivity to films. It features some of the most to create a cross-border solidarity manoeuvre conversations in the rational and liberal filmmakers movement and use cinema as the right way. Of course, these things who have done it right. And I’ve medium for promoting gender don’t stop me from doing what I unapologetically called out those equality, and peace between want to do. Resistance is a given. who have got their very professions countries. I also am planning to People hate it when their delusions wrong.” organise countrywide workshops are disturbed and they hate it even more when reality screams Sundar’s “community of and seminars on niche topics, at them (and of course, if a woman filmmakers”, which she has sim- roping in eminent filmmakers to is condemning them). Dissent in a ply called Women Making Films share their views. And I would be country like India is on life support. (WMF), shares her ideology and over the moon if I can collaborate Everyday there is news about some passion. “I started WMF a year with various feminist organisations,

author/writer/artist being shamed back. It is an online community and keep making noise to break the or assaulted. But that cannot stop < with an offline collaboration model. deafening silence that women have us.” One could call it the result of a been subjected to.” lot of angst, disappointment and For a woman who is an acti- frustration. So far, the experience (Courtesy: Women's Feature vist and a filmmaker, labels and Service) has been bittersweet – sweet because liabilities are a part of life. Sundar

16 VIDURA January-March 2017 PORTRAYAL OF WOMEN IN TAMIL FILMS Can we have less violence and more respect please?

Constant exposure to violent scenes as forms of entertainment can normalise violence as part of everyday lives. Onscreen violence dehumanises women and this can change the way women in our families and around us are viewed. All women have the right to be respected as human beings. Narratives which reflect the real life contributions and struggles of women without exaggerations are the need of the hour, say B. Radha and P. Govindaraju

inema has been one of the practices, have been influenced by many incidents of assault and most powerful branches of cinema in one way or another. abuse on women take place Cmass media, especially in The Tamil film industry is one merely because of the victims the context of post-Independent of the key players in the regional being born as women. Films India. The powerful visual medium language film industry in India. have a language of their own and has the potential to influence public In this context, it is important to influence dominant discursive opinion relating to various socially, understand the representation and social practices. Many films culturally and politically important of socially-crucial issues such as demonstrate social situations that issues of our society. Further, violence against women in cinema justify violence against women. several studies have found that the and its relation with real-life They reflect, construct, legitimise everyday life practices of common situations of women in our society. and reinforce social disparities and people, be it their way of dressing, Violence against women is an rarely question them. By observing hairstyle or their beliefs relating important social issue that concerns film narratives over the years using to socio-cultural and political many of us. Research shows that a feminist perspective, some visual patterns in Tamil cinema in relation to violence against women have been deduced here:

Violence as ‘heroism’ Revenge on the hero by villains is a theme usually built into film narratives. Violence against the women characters in the hero’s life are portrayed as ‘inciting incidents’ in the plots. Such women characters can be the hero’s sister, mother, wife, lover, colleague, etc. In the film Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985), an action-hit film, the sister of the protagonist is raped and murdered, for which the hero takes revenge on the villain. Similarly, in the film Chinna Thambi (1991), the mother of the hero is insulted and humiliated. In the film Paruthiveeran (2007), the heroine, who is first shown as an assertive character, is later

Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration: portrayed as a helpless victim of rape in order to bring in a revenge motive. Even in the box office hit

January-March 2017 VIDURA 17 Theri (2016), the cold-blooded Trivialisation of women characters to violence when they go beyond murder of the hero’s mother The trend of showing educated, traditional boundaries, and ignore and wife by the villain is a major assertive women as arrogant and the individual’s right as a human component of the plot and goes threats to the so-called culture of being. towards establishing the character Tamil people implies that the ideal The language of films is of the police officer, the lead role, woman is ‘innocent’, ignorant and constructed mostly by men in the as a person who would not tolerate dependent on men. Assertive women industry from a male’s point of violence against women. characters are teased and even view. Such onscreen depictions of insulted by the heroes on screen in social realities relating to women

Normalising violence films like, Mannan (1992), Patikada hardly recognise the many women In the national award winning Patanama (1972) and Padayappa who live lives of compromise,< film, Puthiya Pathai (1989), (1999). Songs in the same vein are sacrifice and hard work. the heroine marries the rapist seen as mere entertainment. (an anti-hero role by a lead Stereotypical portrayals of issues (B. Radha is assistant professor, actor). Similarly, in films like relating to women, celebrating Department of Communication, Sakalakala Valavan (1982), forced marriages, polygamy, Manonmaniam Sundaranar Pannakaran (1990), and a number patriarchal family norms and University, Tirunelveli. of others, the women characters end suppressive symbols like the marks P. Govindaraju is the department’s up marrying the men who raped of widowhood are still part and professor and head.) them, as a ‘natural’ solution to the parcel of films. Such depictions crime. The other denouements to propagate the impression that men sexual violence are either suicide have the right to subject women by the rape victim, or her death as a result of the rape. Films like Priyanka (1994) in which the heroine fights against all odds to nail the perpetrators of the crime through legal means are rare. Creating a community of Love stories do romanticise violence by partners, portraying women in the arts them as normal and acceptable, and shown in the light that when a man Women’s Feature Service (WFS) has launched its flagship programme, Her is in love, overriding a woman’s Canvas, a platform for women artists, film-makers, poets, sculptors, objections is all right. The film storytellers, potters, dancers, musicians, for providing a creative space for Remo (2016) even justifies stalking presenting their life and work, for learning and leaning in. The programme in the name of romantic love. is aimed at amplifying women’s voices, and creating a platform for them Hate crimes such as acid attacks to talk more about their lives and work, to not define ‘art’, but to let this be and sexual assaults against women a fluid freeplay of thoughts, ideas and inspirations. by men who are questioned by them Her Canvas was conceptualised through creative conversations around or repudiate their sexual advances the need for women to express themselves through their art, and forming a are very common sequences in collective of women artists with a strong voice. Rakhee Bakshee, director, films. In horror and mystery films, WFS, says, “The intention is to provide institutional support to women’s like Sivappu Rojakkal (1978), creativity, as I receive requests from several women authors and artists who Alavanda (2001) and Vetaiyadu seek avenues for showcasing their work in a supportive environment.” Villayadu (2006), portrayals of cold- Her Canvas creates a community of women in the arts through book blooded murders of women are launches; creative workshops conducted by poets, artists, storytellers; shown as a result of psychopathic screening of films/documentaries made by women; organising exhibitions heroes’ aversions towards women. and sales for women’s artwork, handicrafts and other fares, have regular

online and offline meet-ups to discuss issues and spread awareness, raise Such plots justify the act of serial < killers by somehow bringing in a our voice on issues of social importance, through art. twist in which the women in their lives are made to seem responsible for creating such hatred in them.

18 VIDURA January-March 2017 Role of the media in a democracy revisited

Numerous defamation suits against journalists, mounting pressure on whistleblowers and RTI activists, low level of media activism and rise of political infotainment, are potent threats to the effective functioning of the media, says Santosh Kumar Biswal

ndia, with a population of more deliberative democracy? Numer- is also about a number of reporters, than 132 crore (1320 million) and ous defamation suits against editors, filters and gatekeepers Ielections at regular intervals, journalists, mounting pressure on of content. The Indian media, has more than one lakh news- whistleblowers and RTI activists, especially the news media, is weak papers and periodicals and 1000 low level of media activism and rise in respect of ownerships patterns, television channels registered with of political infotainment, are potent top-level editorship, promoters the Ministry of Information and threats to the effective functioning and proprietorship, which have Broadcasting. The role of the media of the media. Political Public multiple vested interests. However, in initiating, framing and executing Relations as a discipline further the readership, viewership and democratic values through various hampers journalism which is in the Internet penetration are on the forms of communication, has best interests of the public. rise and this can strengthen Indian gained paramount importance Since participation is the lifeline democracy. in the light of the corruption, of democratic ethos, dialogue and Sandeep Sahu, a senior nepotism, unemployment and interaction between the media correspondent with the British anti-social activities plaguing and the public in general are of Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the nation. However, factors utmost importance. The emergence asserts that the role of the media has such as ‘institutionalisation’, of digital media in general and undergone a sea change after the ‘politicisation’ and ‘corporatisation’ social media in particular has advent of social media. More often of the media have proved to have given massive impetus to culture, than not, news these days breaks a pernicious effect on the nature governance and society at large. first on social media rather than on and growth of government-public The advent of citizen journalism - a mainstream media. Consequently, relations, ultimately resulting in platform of user-generated content the monopoly of mainstream media malfunctioning of democracy. - is a boon and a sharp weapon on news and wisdom has been The role of the media from the in the hands of common citizen, seriously undermined, he says. pre-Independence period to the according to some quarters. Opinion Social media has also made it era of globalisation has changed, is divided among journalists on the virtually impossible to sweep and is now defined in the light importance that should be given any news or information under of preserving, enriching and to citizen journalism and social the carpet as it often happened generating democratic values such media. earlier. This has been a healthy as fundamental rights, duties, Krishna Prasad, former editor- development for democracy despite directive principle of state policy in-chief, Outlook, underlines that the all too obvious pitfalls of new- and the ‘none of the above (NOTA)’ journalism is a special skill which age- or Internet-based media such option in elections in the world’s can be learnt through a certain as peddling of unverified news and largest democracy. amount of training and experience. trolling, he points out. Democracy is accepted when There is no doubt that social media The media as a whole is now a it extends its supports to good is a democratising force. But mere much more democratic space than governance. However, for various re-tweeting, sharing or ‘liking’ a it ever was, he says, adding, on the reasons, democratic choices are Facebook post is not adding to negative side, corporate control of increasingly founded on prejudice journalism or democracy. Several the levers of the media has emerged and ignorance. Rational thought social media posts are just border- as a major threat to independent and careful deliberation on the line truths. It is at best spreading media because commercial con- part of citizens are declining. What the news, or adding noise to the con- siderations invariably supersede responsibility does the media hold tent. There is a difference between public interest and sound editorial as a source of information in a content and journalism. Journalism judgment these days. Political

January-March 2017 VIDURA 19 < Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration: parties have two major roles – one The media should be committed to of democracy. In this context, when in power and another when address the issues of women, Dalits, Krishna Sankar Kusuma, AJK Mass in Opposition. The motto should be Muslims and other disadvantaged Communication Research Centre, ruling the state under democratic sections of the society in the light of Jamia Millia Islamia University, standards. They admit that certainly social justice, he says. New Delhi, reasons that the there is a strong relationship Commercialisation of the media pedagogy needs to be amended. between media and democracy in drives political communication Journalism students should be the state. and this undermines the level of given updated knowledge on With reference to this, Prof P.L. democracy. In other cases, corporate political science, public policy Vishweshwar Rao, convener, Aam houses have hijacked the media’s and governance. Judging by the Aadmi Party, Telangana State, social agenda and made it their own guidelines laid down by UNESCO, points out that the mainstream with an eye on profits. Indians are not consuming media is not able to perform its job of However, Kamlesh Sharma, minimum media content. Hence, retaining democratic norms in India director, Public Affairs and more and more students should be because of the political economy of Communication, Coca-Cola India trained so that the dearth of media

the media and monopoly of media & South West Asia, stresses that the professionals and media content ownership. Indian media is not media is called the Fourth Estate, can be corrected, he says. < reflecting plurality and diversity which instantly clubs it with the in its coverage. It is not rendering a other three pillars that ensure the (The writer is assistant professor voice to the voiceless. Social media functioning of a vibrant and healthy with Symbiosis Institute of Media is not an apt platform to disseminate democracy. In the business of media, and Communication, Symbiosis information on democratic norms what matters most is honesty, ethics International University, Pune.) such as fundamental rights and and reliability. As long they hold duties, directive principles of state these values, ownership should policy and NOTA because of the not be an impediment to good digital divide, he feels. There is no journalism. Media pedagogy has reflection of freedom of expression. bearings on the smooth functioning

20 VIDURA January-March 2017 Can media literacy be an alternative to censorship?

With the effectiveness and even the goal of censorship under debate, how can the public make informed decisions? People must know how to identify a stereotype in media text, reject a social cliché and distinguish truth from propaganda, says Madhusmita Boruah

Her innocent eyes were full of tears as would show the most violent where the owner is also the editor of images of the burnt school bag and the images created a controversy, but the newspaper or the news channel, lone shoe kept flashing on the television the truth is that the TRP games of censorship is an invisible tool to screen. “Why?” she asked. Her father media houses is playing havoc with implement political and business was silent. There was nothing he could sensitivities. If the basic objective of agendas. The 24-hour news culture say that would satisfactorily answer his censorship is to reduce the negative highlights some market-oriented little daughter’s question as she looked impact of media content on society, news story or the other, selected at the dead faces of her classmates on then the question arises, why are by internal censorship processes. TV. images of violence telecast by the For instance, the same event is he media coverage of the 2008 news media not censored? covered differently by different Guwahati blast, for example, In the 21st Century, censorship channels. So, who decides what is Tthat almost turned into a has become the hidden means of to be shown, and what is not to be competition about which channel propaganda. In a media scenario shown to the public? Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration:

January-March 2017 VIDURA 21 Critics of censorship believe that in the third position among 40 democratic media choices. The a system of filtering out media nations in the impact of alcohol youth must be equipped with content assumes that the audiences use. The government’s reluctance skills of self-censorship; they or readers are too immature to to ban production of intoxicating must cultivate critical thinking to have their own opinions. The substances can be put down to the strengthen their cognitive skills. ban on the BBC documentary chaos such a sudden move would They must know how to identify India’s Daughters on the infamous cause in the economy, but at the a stereotype in media text, reject a Nirbhaya incident, directed by same time, it has failed to take into social cliché and distinguish truth

Leslee Udwin, is an example of consideration the negative impact from propaganda. Introduction coercive action against supporting of surrogate advertising, specially of media literacy education is the < human rights. Similarly, the on the youth. need of the hour. controversy over censoring the In such a situation, promoting film Udta Punjab (2016) directed by media literacy can be an alternative (The wirter is a PhD research Abhishek Chaubey, centred around to censorship. It can be used to scholar in the Department of Mass the drugs issue in Punjab, has led train the audiences to become Communication and Journalism, to a debate on the role of the Indian active consumers of media texts. Tezpur University, Assam.) Censor Board. Though initially the Audiences can be taught how to Board ordered a total of 89 cuts in exercise autonomy in making the film, the Bombay High Court subsequently gave permission for its national release with only one cut. (It has to be noted that Sakuntala Narasimhan receives the Censor Board does not pass strictures on the objectification of Rajyotsava Award women, but finds the portrayal of society’s ills a problem). Veteran journalist, author and activist Sakuntala It is not censorship that will Narasimhan of Bengaluru, a frequent contributor channelise thought and behaviour to Vidura and Grassroots, received the Karnataka Government’s prestigious Rajyotsava Award on into desirable avenues, but Sakuntala cognitive skills which determine 1st November (State Day) last year. The award consisted of Rs one lakh, a gold medal and a Narasimhan (right) how an individual interprets events after receiving or negotiates meanings based on citation. Awards are usually given under different the award from independent decisions. categories (Music, Dance, Media, Social Service, Karnataka CM A similar contradiction can be etc) but Narasimhan was awarded under a special Siddaramaiah. seen in the Censor Board’s banning Sankeerna (multiple) category for her lifetime of advertisements of intoxicants achievements as classical musician, columnist and activist. She has such as cigarettes and alcohol. received national awards in all three categories, and has in addition two The makers of these products are doctorates, one in Sociology (women’s studies) and another in Musicology. allowed to promote them in the Earlier last year, she was awarded Doordarshan’s Chandana TV award guise of pushing some innocuous for her contributions to music. product, through a process of As a journalist, Narasimhan worked for The Times of India Group in surrogate advertising. For instance, Mumbai for six years and, thereafter, wrote fortnightly columns for Deccan McDowells subtly promotes its Herald, on gender and consumer rights, for 27 years, which brought alcohol by advertising its water. her the Media Foundation’s Chameli Devi Award for Outstanding Woman The irony is that only direct Journalist of the Year, the PUCL award for Human Rights Journalism, advertisement of these products the Deepalaya National Award for Child Rights Journalism and the is banned, there is no bar on Government of India award for Consumer Rights journalism. Her writings have been translated into Swedish, Italian, German, Japanese, Russian, the production of these noxious Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam. She has taught journalism substances itself. in Bengaluru and Mumbai, presented papers at the conference of the According to a report published International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) at Manila, and taught by the Paris-based Economic in the US on a Fulbright fellowship. Cooperation and Development Of the 11 books Narasimhan has authored, three are on music, three (OECD), which examined the on consumer rights, one a collection of short stories, a biography of economic and health implications Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, one on sati (commissioned by Penguin in the

of alcohol use among its 34 wake of the infamous Deorala sati incident of 1980s), and two on women’s member countries and a few non- issues (one of which was used as a text for women’s studies courses). < members as well, India stands

22 VIDURA January-March 2017 Climate Change: Onus on the media to be more proactive

The Canadian High Commission, in association with the Women’s Feature Service, organised an interactive workshop titled, Media and Climate Change: Cool Reporting on Hot Issues, in November last year, in New Delhi. This was the seventh edition in a series of media workshops organised to promote a better understanding of the role of media in the contemporary global environment

ess Dutton, deputy high commissioner, Canadian High JCommission, commenced the proceedings speaking on Climate Change – a Priority for Canada. He emphasised that the science was clear: climate change was real; it was caused by human beings, and was happening now. “Year after year,

our planet was getting warmer, Photos: WFS sea levels were rising, wildlife was Representatives from Canada, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal seen at the being impacted, and communities workshop. all over the world were feeling the effects of climate change. It was Agreement. Dutton stressed the Chaturvedi, founder and director affecting our health, our economies, media’s role to not only create of Chintan, the session had Nitin and our very way of life,” he said. awareness among the masses, but Sethi, senior associate editor The Canadian Government was also encouraging governments of Business Standard, and Kanchi taking strong action to address to form environmental-friendly Kohli, researcher and writer, sharing climate change and grow a “clean policies. their views on balance in coverage. economy”. In December 2015, Matt Friesen, counsellor and head, Sethi mentioned that most of the Canada played a positive role Advocacy Program, facilitated the coverage on global negotiations in Paris to help reach a historic, day-long session. The workshop was covered by journalists from ambitious, and balanced agreement was attended by 45 participants, developed nations and carried in to fight climate change, and along including journalists from India, other countries. Kohli felt that there with India ratified the Paris Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. was space in the media to present Twenty-three guest speakers, factual, well-researched stories on including journalists, experts and climate change.Participants shared activists, participated in the six their concern over the lack of sessions on climate change and inclusiveness in media coverage of media. climate change issues. Norman Sacuta, Communications In the second session on media director, Petroleum Technology coverage perspective from outside Research Centre, Canada, shared his India, Rakhee Bakshee, director, country’s experience in the context WFS, facilitated the discussion with of climate change. The sessions Norman Sacuta (Canada), Sulochana deliberated on the following issues Ramiah Mohan (deputy editor - and were followed by interaction News, Lakbimanews, Sri Lanka), Md with the panelists: Abu Bakar Siddique (Dhaka Tribune, Jess Dutton, deputy high In the first session, panelists Bangladesh); and Harigovinda commissioner, Canadian High debated whether media Shrestha (Nepal Television, Commission, was convinced that coverage of climate change was Nepal). Bakshee, pointing out the climate change was for real. balanced. Moderated by Bharati lack of women in the discourse on

January-March 2017 VIDURA 23 was moderated by Aditi Kapoor (director, Alternative Futures), with Bahar Dutt (envir- onmental editor, CNN-IBN), Dinesh Sharma (columnist and writer), and Manish Anand (senior special correspondent, The New Indian Express) as the panelists. Sharma mentioned that the challenge before science reporters was new evidences coming out every day. Dutt stressed the need to educate the editors on climate change and to bring together the scientific facts and the human interest angle of the story. Anand spoke about focussing on marketing of stories on climate A group picture of organisers and participants. change and communicating in simple language. The final session of the day was climate change, asked the speakers Vinay Kumar (editor, Indiansaga. on the impact of new age media to share how their respective com) moderated the session on on reporting on climate change, country media provided space to the media’s role in creating moderated by Norman Sacuta. stories on the issue. awareness on climate change, Meenakshi Arora (managing The session on sources for re- with Urmi Goswami (special editor, India Water Portal - porting on climate change and correspondent, The Economic Times), Hindi), Sanjoy Hazarika (director, environment was moderated Nivedita Khandekar (independent Commonwealth Human Righ- by Bijayalaxmi Nanda, an journalist working on water, ts Initiative), and Chandra academician, with Savita Hiremath, environment and climate change), Bhushan (deputy director- a blogger, and journalists Chetan and Himangshu Watts (editor - general, Centre for Science and Chauhan (senior associate Energy, The Economic Times) as the Environment) were the panelists. editor, Hindustan Times) and Rohan speakers. India Water Portal focuses on Singh (correspondent, CNBC Kumar mentioned that there was water, sanitation and hygiene Awaaz), as the speakers. Chauhan, certain degree of acceptance of issues. Arora said she found it lamenting that most of the research climate change issues with national easier to communicate to her was sourced from the West and dailies sending reporters to cover the audiences in Hindi through the was biased and not highly credible, Marrakesh conference. Watts talked portal. She mentioned that though mentioned that local people, about the emergence of “green climate change issues were global, institutions and NGOs could concern” in politics with initiatives there was the need for local connect provide credible information. such as odd-even cars running on and social media provided that As a blogger, Hiremath was alternate days in Delhi. He pointed opportunity. practising what she was reporting out to the lack of comprehensive Chandra Bhushan felt that the on her blog, Endlessly Green, studies. media had failed to connect climate Khandekar mentioned that while and given her expertise, enjoyed change with people. Regarding the there was need to reach out to the credibility among her readers. She social media, he mentioned that believed in going out and collecting scientific community, on a positive while it had a global reach, it was information on her own. note there was proliferation of rhetorical, insular and targeted, Singh mentioned that resources independent journalists writing on providing instant gratification. posed more problems than sources environment. On climate change Sanjoy Hazarika felt that social for stories on climate change. issues, Goswami stressed that out- media was an extremely powerful

Journalists usually did not have of-the-box thinking was required tool, and the new medium could time to cross-check the facts; since everyone had an opinion on influence the old media and vice < besides there were pressures from such matters. versa. lobbyists and PR groups as well as The fifth session on scientific (Courtesy: Women’s Feature advertisers. facts vs human interest stories Service)

24 VIDURA January-March 2017 FESTIVALS AND POLLUTION Sustained coverage could help raise awareness

Is the media making use of the avenues open to it to create awareness about the health and pollution problems associated with various festivals? How far has it been successful in this respect? What are the limitations it faces? Bharat Dogra focuses on these questions and more

t’s festival time in India from from use. The response has been and Madhya Pradesh, there September to December. The very good. The campaigns were was growing concern about the Iseason peaks during Diwali. supported by media coverage, increasing idol immersions choking Traditionally a period of joy, and the use of firecrackers actually up the relatively small Mandakini celebrations of late have been declined for one or two years in a River. I have heard much about the marred by serious concerns over big and polluted city like Delhi. issue during my visits to the region water and air pollution as well as of However, though the media over the past several years. mishaps and injury. This is a good continued its efforts to bring down Gaya Prasad Gopal, a respected example of opportunities for the the use of fireworks, the impact senior social activist, says, “As our media to play a constructive role could not be sustained over a long concern increased, I must say that and spur reform. period. the media played an important The media has played an Firecracker-related accidents role in highlighting this issue important part in drawing attention in Sivakasi and Delhi prompted repeatedly so that the chances of to several problems associated with some newspapers to point to the some remedial action increased.” festivals. These problems have wider safety hazards associated “There was fairly widespread been widely reported, and pleas with firecrackers, but the coverage agreement among the have been made for individual, was not adequate. Every year after representatives of various community and government Diwali, newspapers write about the efforts to address them. While large number of fires and injuries such efforts deserve appreciation, caused by firecrackers. It would be their limitations should also be better if there is more coverage of realised. An important aspect of safety aspects well before Diwali reforms should be the curbing of so that parents and children can wasteful consumption and, instead, be motivated to avoid firecrackers, channelising funds to areas of particularly the more risky ones. social relevance and ecological It is also worth noting that the protection. However, due to the media focus was largely on the media’s dependence on marketing polluting effect of fireworks, and the and advertising campaign revenue, issue of safety is equally important particularly for high-value and and deserves attention. luxury products during the festive Similarly, as the concern for season, there are obvious hurdles river pollution has increased, to its effectiveness in this respect. there has been increasing coverage The issues associated with of problems associated with the firecrackers and immersion of immersion of idols in rivers. idols in water bodies are two areas Reports of the rivers being choked to which the media has given and photographs of the state prominence over the past decade of water bodies soon after idol and more. Several campaigns were immersions have helped raise

organised in schools to educate public consciousness about the Photo: TOI children about the harmful effects attendant problems. A vast expanse littered with flowers, of fireworks and motivate them Relating to the famous Chitrakut 'puja samagri' and residues of to either reduce usage or abstain pilgrimage covering Uttar Pradesh decorative pieces.

January-March 2017 VIDURA 25 Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration: newspapers that this issue should show of religiosity may lead to a festivals less consumerist and be taken up as a priority. We helped big increase in the overall number wasteful, so that people can be to create a favourable opinion on of idols. encouraged to save and contribute a touchy issue so that when legal While the media has been to causes of high social relevance orders came for checking idol publishing many reports and and justice. This is at least partially immersion in rivers, they were articles on the many-sided problems because the media is also tied up in accepted more easily,” says Shekhar associated with festival celebrations the great marketing and advertising

Dwivedi, a local journalist who was and also pointing out possibilities rush, which is increasingly making in the forefront of the media effort. of reforms, the coverage suffers our festivals more and more < However, on the whole, in most from some limitations. The reports consumerist. parts of the country the damage are all concentrated around a few done by firecrackers and idol days of the festival in focus, which (The writer is a senior writer based immersions has not decreased. This is all right for drawing attention in Delhi. He has authored several is due to several factors at work, and to a problem, but if this has to be booklets and articles on panchayati in many places other factors which linked to actual change and reform, raj, for which he received the Sarojini lead to an increase in problems may then the coverage should start well Naidu Award.) be weightier. For example, while before the actual festival date and media emphasis on reform and there should be proper follow-up other factors may prompt some to after the event. switch to eco-friendly idols, the Secondly, the media has not prevailing tendency for a greater given adequate attention to making

26 VIDURA January-March 2017 BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH WAN-IFRA

Your Guide to the Changing Media Landscape World News Publishing Focus Top 5 digital challenges for publishers in 2017

It has never been more challenging for publishers to engage with their audiences meaningfully, and at the same time it has never been more crucial for publishers to create new sources of revenue, says Ben Shaw

s the print business the busiest intersections in a given quickly gaining acceptance, and continues its transformation market, so should editorial teams the barriers to entry are becoming Aand publishers are faced create outlets on the busiest online low enough that newsrooms should with sluggish growth in digital destinations. at the very least be experimenting advertising, myriad new social The need to drive traffic back to with it. With the uncertainty as channels sprout quickly, new types a publisher’s core website or app to whether VR will truly catch of video emerge, and new chat should not be dismissed, since it is on, many newsrooms wonder if apps are drawing users away from a key method by which publishers they should invest in training and social media. We publishers must will maintain control of their brands equipment. The consensus is that continue to innovate in the way we into the future. That said, Google’s VR has great potential to tell stories communicate with our audiences solution gives the publisher more but should be seen as an additional and must strategically test and control over the distribution of their medium, not one that will replace grow promising new business areas content, while Facebook’s solution other forms of storytelling. in which to participate. As many most likely offers the larger boost in The Knight Foundation reports that news media companies begin to engagement and stronger protection the overall VR market is growing. plan for this year, we at WAN-IFRA from mobile ad blocking. The number of new investors Advisory believe there are five Publishers must focus on their in technology, content creation, must-face challenges for publishers core audiences, determine which and distribution of virtual reality in 2017. platforms their readers are most experiences was up 27 per cent in likely to access and create content 2015 from the previous year and is Challenge Number 5: Platform that works well on a given platform, projected to continue growing . publishing all while focusing on attracting One low-cost solution is to partner Google and Facebook have locked loyal and engaged subscribers with an academic institution. Robert horns in the battle to speed up the to their owned and operated Hernandez of the Annenberg School mobile web for publishers in order platforms. The fragmentation of for Communication and Journalism to take a dominant position in the platforms is only beginning, and at the University of Southern distribution of news content online. with the rising use of messaging California says it makes perfect With Google’s Accelerated Mobile apps that allow for private-group sense for newsrooms to collaborate Pages (AMP) and Facebook’s Instant social networking, publishers will with universities. His students are Articles vying to make reading news need a clear platform distribution experienced and well equipped for stories easier and faster on mobile, strategy. 360-degree video production. how should publishers approach The 2016 edition of the Trends in these opportunities? Challenge Number 4: VR and 360 Newsrooms Report by WAN-IFRA’s The question is not whether to join video World Editors Forum includes the platforms, but rather how. In While virtual reality (VR) a section on VR among other the same way a circulation manager clearly is not yet a mainstream examples of how publishers around would position single-copy boxes at phenomenon, the technique is the world are using their insights

January-March 2017 VIDURA 27 and organisational strengths to print for far too long. Our readers, the newsroom of 2016. Change is engage their audience in exciting customers and competitors in the part of a thriving media operation, new ways. For more information, online space have become too especially when it comes to the see http://www.wan-ifra.org/trends_ unpredictable. technology it employs. Project scopes newsrooms_2016. In today’s media markets, we that were financially impossible cannot afford to spend months or become affordable, and powerful Challenge Number 3: Video years developing a single long-term devices are now in the hand of every Publishers around the world strategy that will save our brands. reporter and editor. are diving into online video – but Media companies must rely on a Is innovation at the front of your turning video investments into pipeline of smaller, yet profitable, newsroom? Do you have a process incremental revenue streams is initiatives that are launched in a in place to develop your next new one of the core challenges facing strategic fashion to sustain their digital product? If you do not, you news publishers today. Pre-roll digital growth. Simply managing the will always find your newsroom advertising will not be enough, decline of the legacy business while and your business behind the curve. because it negatively affects the user hoping that digital revenue makes So many new technologies and so experience and generates a limited up for it is a doomsday scenario. But many potential new directions are amount of inventory. So how can where to start? emerging that bringing concepts you develop your video business? There are three basic approaches from design thinking and project Online video is the fastest- that publishers can employ to grow management into your operation growing advertising category, their revenue streams: expand becomes the only solution. thanks to exploding mobile video activities that are already in your As publishers continue on the long consumption and the spread portfolio, use existing strengths to and often difficult path toward digital of Internet-connected devices. finance ventures into completely transformation, they must commit According to Zenith Optimedia, new areas – or do both. The five most themselves to being bold, thoughtful global online video advertising will important areas for publishers to leaders that bring a reachable vision grow by an average of 20.1 per year drive new revenue are diversification, for change and a sense of urgency to between 2015 and 2018. digital marketing services, local their teams. And it has become clear

But how can a publisher develop events, e-commerce and video. that the future will involve many a realistic, effective digital video WAN-IFRA has published an in- more digital activities than any of us < strategy? WAN-IFRA Senior Video depth report on alternative revenue are currently engaged in. Consultant Robb Montgomery streams that highlights many cases says, “To support a higher level of of how publishers around the world (The writer is director of Global video literacy across the enterprise, are successfully tapping into new Advisory, WAN-IFRA. This article managers must allocate video skills sources of income. More information was originally published in the and resources wisely.” is available at http://www.wan-ifra. September-October 2016 edition of the WAN-IFRA Advisory re- org/revenue_report. World News Publishing Focus, the commends that publishers begin bi-monthly magazine published by by establishing a vision and focus Challenge Number 1: Change WAN-IFRA.) for their brand’s video presence. There is only sure thing about the Following that, a publisher must newsroom of 2017: It will not be like focus on the ‘nuts and bolts’: how to produce the video, where it will be hosted, who will manage it, how 'Education for all' it will be monetised, and finding a partner organisation that can enrich it and fulfill capacities that will not is still a distant dream! be carried out internally. Annual Challenge Number 2: Alternative Subscription revenue stre-ams It has become apparent that we Rs.180 are not going to find a one-to-one Get to know the replacement for the print business real face of India. model that served many of us so Subscribe today! well for so long. As an industry, we have been focused on finding RIND Premises Second Main Road. Taramani CPT Campus, Chennai 600 113 a single answer to the decline of Ph: 044 2254 2344 Fax: 044 2254 2323 www.pressinstitute.in

28 VIDURA January-March 2017 ‘Mobile media disrupting long- held assumptions’

Jay Lauf, the publisher and president of Quartz, ‘a digitally native news outlet’, says statistics have shown that people are spending more time on mobile phones than ever before, especially when it comes to news consumption. In a survey, 73 per cent of respondents said they used mobile, and 23 per cent desktop, while print, TV and radio accounted for only 4 per cent. Susan Philip reports

obile is exposing our mobile over-taking desktop” in part of their daily habit. long-held incorrect September 2012, Lauf took the b. User interactions on “Massumptions about audience through a brief account mobiles are very different digital media – particularly of history and ways to avoid from those on desktops. around advertising,” says Jay Lauf, terrible advertising experiences, c. There is an infinite speaking at the WAN-IFRA India illustrating his talk with case number of other things the 2016 Conference held in Kolkata studies drawn from experience. reader could choose to be recently. Lauf, the publisher and Quoting Derek Thompson in The doing right now. president of Quartz, ‘a digitally Atlantic, March 2013, he said “Most d. Most people will not put native news outlet’, said statistics mobile ads today are either banner up with bad ads just had shown that people were ads – little rectangles clinging to the because they are loyal to spending more time on mobile edge of your screen – or disruptive our brand or the story is phones than ever before, especially interstitials… In other words, they really good. when it came to news consumption. are lousy desktop ads shoehorned Elaborating on the process of To the question, when it comes to into your smartphone.” ‘reframing the problem’, Lauf said, news, which device are you most Talking of avoiding terrible ad “Because we have started relying likely to be using, 73 per cent of experiences, Lauf said ‘empathy’ on robots to put our ads all over respondents answered “mobile” was key. He put forward a the Internet, we describe the ads and 23 per cent responded with framework for preparedness: in robot words, instead of human “desktop” while print, TV and radio a. Question your asumptions ones.” accounted for only 4 per cent, he b. Reframe the problem And finally, on the subject of told participants at the Conference. c. Practise empathy ‘practicing empathy’, Lauf focused However, said Lauf, advertisers Elaborating on assumptions, he on the ‘Reply all’ section. Stewart and publishers had been slow to said one common assumption Butterfield, Slack CEO, had said, adapt to this new reality. was: “People will page through “We wanted to create something Explaining that Quartz had every section of our site like they people would watch a second, “launched on the precipice of would the morning paper.” But third, fifth time…” The feedback this is belied by statistics. Other received for the ads by the Slack common assumptions are: “People team was extremely positive, Lauf will watch this because they are said. It received 16 million views used to tuning in every night to the on YouTube. evening news” and “Readers will Lauf cited other examples of put up with bad ads because they successful programmes, and reader think our content is worth it.” But / viewer feedback. “I love the way feedback from readers rubbished you handle ads so much that I such assumptions, he said, quoting disabled adblocker for qz.com,” examples of comments from said one satisfied viewer, James readers. Thigpen. “Quartz didn’t forget the On the other hand, Quartz works ads like many redesigns do. They on a different set of assumptions: made display ads that look good on

Photo: WAN-IFRA a. Most people are not going phones,” said another – Benjamin Jay Lauf. directly to qz.com as Pescoe of Facebook. And, “I just

January-March 2017 VIDURA 29 intentionally watched a Rolex ad »»Premium prices closest at hand: tablets and mobile on Quartz,” reported Jack Marshall, »»90 per cent retention rate phones”. At Quartz, Lauf’s focus is digital media reporter with the »»Almost 5 per cent revenue growth on “figuring out how to make high Wall Street Journal. in two years quality, high integrity journalism Lauf quoted case studies to show Quartz, owned by Atlantic Media commercially viable for the long

how news should be delivered on Company, publisher of The Atlantic, term,” according to the company the mobile and how advertising National Journal, and Government website. < should be experienced in such a Executive, is a digitally native news setting. And is the strategy working outlet for business people in the for Quartz? Yes, and how? Lauf said new global economy. It publishes the positives were: “bracingly creative and intelligent »»More than 160 blue chip journalism with a broad worldview, advertisers built primarily for the devices

The best reports on mental health bag SCARF-PII Awards Damayanti Dutta and Mini Thomas (English Language Print category), Puja Awasthi and Dipti Nair (English Language Online) and Richard Joseph and R. Samban (Regional Language Print) were the winners of last year’s SCARF-PII Media for Mental Health Awards, the fourth edition. Damayanti Dutta, deputy editor, India Today, bagged the First Prize for her story in the magazine titled, The Great Depression. Lucknow-based Puja Awasthi, who has spent the past 20 years covering politics and social justice across North India, won the First Prize for her story, When the Man in the Family is Branded a Terrorist. It had appeared on the online portal, India Together. She is a former Laadli Media Award for Gender Sensitivity winner. Richard Joseph, who has been a journalist with Deepika and Rashtra Deepika in Thiruvanthapuram the

past eight years, was awarded the First Prize for his Photo: PII-RIND/NS story, Bestiality beyond Human Capacity. He was a Winners (front row, l-r) R. Samban, Puja Awasthi, winner of the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Damayanti Dutta, Mini Thomas, Dipti Nair and Award 2015. Richard Joseph pose for a picture with (back row, l-r) Mini Thomas, a former SCARF-PII prize-winner and Dr R. Thara, director, SCARF; Dr Jaya Shreedhar, jury senior correspondent at The Week in Bangalore, won the chairperson; P. Sainath; Sashi Nair, director, PII; and Second prize for her article, Blue’s Clues, in the magazine. Susan Philip, jury member. Dark Side of Entrepreneurship: Is Depression a Well- guarded Secret? The article on Your Story, an online site, particularly praiseworthy that the winners and others won for Dipti Nair the Second Prize. She began her career who had sent in entries had succeeded in finding space with the Free Press Journal, moved on to The Telegraph for their articles on mental health in a media situation and later became editor of Deccan Herald 's Sunday which was increasingly getting revenue-driven. Awards Magazine. R. Samban, bureau chief of Deshabhimani in were a way of keeping an issue in focus, and opened Malappuram, Kerala, was placed second for his article, up more space for the subject, he noted. “Journalism is Tender Minds in Darkness. Samban has won the Press a profession based on idealism, and the need to change Council of India National Award twice, the Ramnath something,” he said, adding that every nationalist Goenka Award for Environmental Reporting, and The leader of note during the freedom struggle had doubled Statesman Award for Rural Reporting. up as a journalist. He was confident that the gene pool P. Sainath, founding editor, People’s Archive of existed, and would continue to throw up people who

Rural India (PARI), and former Rural Affairs editor at chose to go for what was not popular, and difficult to The Hindu, who gave away the awards at the SCARF sell. < premises in Chennai on November 8th, said it was

30 VIDURA January-March 2017 BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH WAN-IFRA

Video – hot property but still uncharted territory

Turning your video investments into incremental revenue streams is one of the core challenges facing news publishers today. Pre-roll advertising will not be enough – it impacts the user experience and is limited by inventory. So how can you develop your video business? Based on a visit to Los Angeles with members of the WAN-IFRA eRev Exec Programme, Cecilia Campbell has compiled the following observations and advice on streamlining production and exploring new forms of revenue from video

Review your ambitions and video content related to hot it worthwhile? Plus it’s hard to Our visit to Los Angeles showed news stories, drives more traffic than get advertisers to spend against both the challenges and the nascent just about any other video content. YouTubers they haven’t heard of,” opportunity around online video Of course it’s not something you can says Darren Cross, senior vice- revenue. Even The Young Turks, budget for in terms of revenue – but president - Business Development the YouTube news channel with it’s worth investing in a high level of at Maker. billions of video views and highly preparedness, including the ability The other aspect of talent in video efficient production rates, has not to publish videos captured by users has to do with what goes on behind yet reached profitability. 2016 is who are on the scene. the camera. It may be an idea to unlikely to be a breakthrough year look outside your core of news for monetisation – but you should Focus on talent to build audience journalists to generate fresh video. be looking at ways to build audience This is a change of mindset for One publisher we spoke to runs a and off-set production costs as the many newsrooms, where a ‘group video lab and pays a local university market develops. culture’ rather than a star system to provide journalism interns whose The first step in identifying a prevails. But stars attract audience, task it is to produce “viral videos.” video strategy is to determine what and the high-profile journalists you type of content and/ or shows you have on the payroll could become Master YouTube for brand should invest in producing in- very popular. In addition, you should marketing house. Everything else will follow search for additional relevant talent. YouTube may not be a great from this: which social platforms YouTubers, for example, tend to be platform for video monetisation, but you should publish to externally, digital natives with a natural affinity Awesomeness TV CDO Kelly Day what distribution partners you for presenting to camera – and have says that concluding that you can’t should seek, what talent to hire, the undeniable added advantage of make money on YouTube because what sponsors to go after, which bringing their audience with them. CPMs are low and the platform YouTubers to align yourself with – The risk with young YouTube takes 45 per cent of the revenue is and so on. talent is that even the biggest have a overly simplistic. “We think that’s a News is a good start. News video low profile among older age groups. narrow view of the value of YouTube. can be expensive and difficult to Maker Studios have creators with If I only looked at AdSense revenue monetise, but it draws audience. strong local presences, but in terms on the Awesomeness TV [YouTube] If done right, it’s something that of monetisation they still constitute channel, we’d not be profitable on distribution platforms like Apple TV a challenge. “If you are a creator in the 28 shows we produce a week. look for. Denmark, there are opportunities at And yet we spend almost US$ two Many news publishers testify to the right scale for you. The question million a year on content specifically the fact that breaking news video, is how big is an ad buy that makes for that channel. We do that because

January-March 2017 VIDURA 31 In the autumn of 2014, Aftonbladet in Sweden started producing a 2.5-hour daily live morning show. The show is produced to be cut into clips, each of which is headlined and served on demand throughout the day across the website.

of the power of that audience and as a search engine. Ninety per cent early November and also distributes how it has translated into movies, of the exclusive web TV content of videos through Spotify, Instagram, TV, etc – that’s how we built our the group’s entertainment portal Facebook, Canal Digital, Viasat, SBS brand.” For a news publisher, Mazhavil Manorama is put on Discovery and ComHem. “We’re YouTube can indeed be a valuable the eponymous YouTube channel. not sure how this will pan out – our platform for marketing. And when “We’ve realised that the more content focus has very much been on our considering your YouTube strategy, we put up there, the more money we own platform. I’m not convinced keep in mind that the platform is make – because we come up more we’ll make much traction on other essentially a search engine, meaning and more in the search results,” says platforms – except YouTube and the more video content you publish Mathew. Facebook,” says Lotta Folcker, head to your channel, the better you’ll of Programs. score in the search results – and this Partnerships for content and It might be worth exploring is how you can attract completely distribution possible partnerships with other new audiences. If you get to the point where you content providers, including Indian regional publishing have established a strong enough broadcasters. With a revenue share group Malayala Manorama has video offering in news, for instance, model, a news publisher can get developed a sophisticated YouTube incremental revenue streams are access to valuable content, with no strategy. Mariam M. Mathew, available by distributing through production costs – including sports COO of Manorama Online, says, an app on platforms like Apple TV, clips. And even if such a venture “The cooking, health and crime Amazon Fire TV, Spotify and local doesn’t generate big profits, it’s a shows we produce are published set-top box providers. way to drive return visits as well as on Manorama Online, where we Don’t expect big numbers, though. attract new users. build our brand and our audience. Swedish news publisher Aftonbladet Entertainment shows, however, we has a uniquely strong position in its Facebook video monetisation - yet put up on YouTube, where there’s market (total daily reach 3.66 million to come a big opportunity to get walk- users in a country with a population While Facebook has recently been ins, which we can then push to of just over 9 million). Eighty per focused on providing new video Manorama Online.” cent of the traffic to Aftonbladet TV tools, notably the Facebook Live The Kerala-based publisher has is direct. Nevertheless, Aftonbladet product, monetisation options are also realised the value of YouTube launched an app on Apple TV in limited for publishers so far.

32 VIDURA January-March 2017 But things are apparently moving – though as yet nothing has been officially announced. In mid-April the company launched a Rights Manager, which lets content owners keep track of users who are pirating their clips on Facebook as well as set rules for how their videos are used on the platform. And rights management matters for monetisation – which is why YouTube launched its Content ID take-down product as early as 2007. Content ID allows users to track who is using their clips and either have them taken down or be monetised on the content user’s behalf. So

Facebook launching an equivalent Photos: WNPF product might be a sign that video The biggest news channel on YouTube is The Young Turks, with four million ad products are on their way. subscribers and 60 million unique visitors a month. The company has 60 Digiday has been following employees working in a studio in Los Angeles. developments, and quotes (anonymous) publishers who are National Lottery sponsors as a Sharethrough. Both companies collaborating with the platform. whole, and Aftonbladet also sells provide auto-play ad video units, According to several of those sponsorships around the content which allow publishers to sell publishers, Facebook is considering types (the sponsor’s clip is put at the (and play) pre-rolls as stand-alone

introducing an in-stream ad format: end of the OD clip) plus pre-roll – on pieces of content – that is, they can “According to publishers, pre- a total of 90 million started streams in be placed in non-video inventory. < roll video is still off the table, but the first year. “Aftonbladet Morgon a commercial that plays during is the first TV show that’s profitable (Most of this text is adapted from downtimes in a broadcast could for us, thanks to the pre-roll plus the recently published WAN-IFRA work.” This would then apply to Live sponsorship monetization, coupled Report, Alternative Revenue Streams broadcasts, presumably. According with the cost-efficient production,” for Publishers. This article was to the sources, any such video ad says Lotta Folcker. originally published in the April- product may still be months away. If you’re not in a position to churn May 2016 edition of World News out daily live shows, and you are Publishing Focus, the bi-monthly Sponsorships and native often sold out on video inventory, magazine published by WAN-IFRA.) advertising another way to monetise video is With pre-roll presenting a dual through platforms such as France- challenge – a 45/ 55-per cent revenue based Teads or San Francisco- based share on YouTube and frequent lack of video inventory on publishers’ own websites – one of the most robust means of monetising video Gautam Bhattarcharya quits ABP is sponsorships. Gautam Bhattarcharya has quit as associate editor of ABP effective from In the autumn of 2014, Aftonbladet January 31, 2017. Bhattacharya has been with ABP since 34 years. Apart started producing a 2.5-hour daily from being a cricket writer of the paper, he wrote columns for for live morning show – a show that is Desh seven years and was the Sports editor for more than 14 years. Bhattacharya produced to be cut into clips, each has also edited Saturday Patrika for the last 21 years and was managing of which is headlined and served the past four years. Bhattacharya joined ABP in January 1983 on demand throughout the day Ananda Plus as a trainee journalist with (Kolkata). He has written many

across the website. Each hour of The Telegraph

books including Sach, a biography of Sachin Tendulkar. As a sports writer, the live show has four slots, each < Bhattarcharya has won several awards. with different content and with commercial breaks in between. The slots are like shows within the show: (Courtesy: Exchange4media.com) There’s a travel show The Swedish

January-March 2017 VIDURA 33 BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH WAN-IFRA

BEST PRACTICE IN EDITORIAL ANALYTICS How Germany's Die Welt uses metrics The recently published report ‘Editorial analytics: how news media are developing and using audience data and metrics’, by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, looks at how newsrooms across Europe and North America are developing and using analytics in their newsrooms. This excerpt from the report focuses on the Axel Springer-owned daily, Die Welt

ews organisations around used to track commercial objectives. as the Guardian and the Financial the world are gradually Older metrics such as page-views Times produce their journalism and Nembracing the use of and unique browsers are increasingly make informed editorial decisions. analytics and metrics in the editorial being bolstered by new measures The study found that geography, decision-making process, but the such as social interactions, attention scale and resources were not crucial degree of sophistication of their time, and loyalty as news outlets factors in defining a sophisticated approaches varies significantly. seek to extend the shelf-life and approach to editorial analytics. It‘s There is no shortage today of off- distributed reach of their content. more a question of how resources are the-shelf tools to track audience At the same time, new tools such as allocated. Many legacy organisations behaviour, often represented by big Chartbeat, Parse.ly, and NewsWhip with large newsrooms use far more monitors with real-time traffic data have emerged to help with editorial primitive analytics than some small spread around the newsrooms. But decision-making – article placement start-ups interviewed for the report. many news organisations do not and headline testing, for example. With a few significant exceptions, go beyond rudimentary or generic most continental European approaches focused mainly on More in-depth detailed analysis newsrooms have adopted analytics short-term, day-to-day goals. What By supplementing more generic in an incremental and bottom-up sets aside best practice examples – analytics platforms such as Omniture manner as various online editors what we call ‘editorial analytics’ – is and Google Analytics, the newer tools pick up new skills in the course of a strategy that is tailored to a specific allow for more in-depth and detailed doing their jobs and less as a result outlet’s particular editorial priorities analysis, enabling newsrooms to of a strategic decision made at the and organisational imperatives. gain an even deeper understanding top of the organisation. A role, let (What is your organisation trying of how their stories are performing alone a whole team, fully dedicated to achieve editorially, who is your and what makes their audiences tick. to audience development is not audience, is your business model Broadly speaking, a small number common across continental Europe. based on subscriptions, advertising, of publications in the US and in the Audience development is performed, non-profit?). UK pave the way, but some legacy but frequently on the side by people Driving the development are market leaders and new startups with many other responsibilities. new roles in the newsroom such across Europe are following closely as audience editor, audience behind. Sophisticated approaches in development editor, oraudience Despite being primarily associated Europe engagement editor. Thesse with digitally native brands such But some European news individuals are responsible for as BuzzFeed, Gawker, and The organisations are developing their developing and using analystics for Huffington Post in the past, analytics own sophisticated approaches editorial purposes - analytics that are becoming increasingly central to to editorial analytics. Die Welt were in the past predominantly how legacy news organisations such in Germany and ONet in Poland

34 VIDURA January-March 2017 have more in common with market leaders in English-speaking countries than they do with some of their less sophisticated domestic competitors. Die Welt provides a good example of a clear, strategic attempt at equipping journalists in the newsroom with tools that are in line with the organisation’s editorial priorities and that take into account its business model. The Axel Springer-owned title has developed an in-house tool to calculate an ‘article score’ for all published articles. The score represents the performance of each article, aggregating data from different analytics tools including Chartbeat. It ranges from 0 to 30 points and the total comprises five elements: Page Impressions, Time Spent on the Article, Social Media Shares, Video Views, and Bounce Rate. While the traffic element has a prominent place, accounting for between 0 and 10 points, it's balanced by the other elements, which account for between 0 and 5 points each, up to a total of 20, which is two-thirds of the total maximum score (30). The different elements are chosen to reflect Die Welt‘s overall priorities – not only high traffic but also engagement and various forms of multimedia and social use. Die Welt is an example of an organisation that sees analytics as a strategic priority and has tailored them to their needs: quality content and a business model based on a Photo: WNPF The cover of the Reuters Institute Report. metered paywall, which allows users to view 20 articles for free on the same browser every month. Welt Managing Editor Kritsanarat aims to empower journalists by Analytics are especially important Khunkham explains, the article helping them understand how their to Die Welt, given that most of its score aims to provide journalists content performed, where there is commissioning is done by online with simple and clear indications room for improvement, and what editors. The daily print edition of how their articles are performing, actions can be taken. It ultimately – produced by a dozen editors, while promoting quality content encourages journalists to use photo editors, and designers, rather than just reach. metrics and analytics to support who don’t assign stories – draws their editorial judgement and make exclusively from the stories that Encouraging journalists touse data-informed decisions. have been published online first. metrics The clearly communicated Die Welt also shows how good The scores are also included in metrics in Die Welt's article score analytics are as much about tools a daily email sent by Editor-in- are democratising data by making and technology as they are about Chief Jan-Eric Peters to the whole story analystics accessible toevery culture and organisations. As Die newsroom. In this way, the system member of the newsroom. Another

January-March 2017 VIDURA 35 example of this is the Guardian's the expertise to use these tools, and metrics and forms of analysis, and Ophan, an in-house analytics tool a newsroom culture that embraces better integrate a culture of analytics launched in 2012 as the result data-informed decision-making. into their organisations. of an internal hackday, which Die Welt’s development of the However, the publishing industry offers minute-by-minute data on article score, for example, is part of still very much lags behind leading individual articles. Such open a strategic process that focuses on technology, advertising, and and user-friendly tools are rarely making sure the outlet produces e-commerce companies in terms found in organisations with a more quality content rather than click-bait of its use of analytics. It’s clear that generic or rudimenary approach to – stories that readers will actually editorial metrics are still evolving, analytics. want to spend time with, perhaps as newsrooms seek to develop a In-house tools such as Ophan share, maybe even pay for. process where quantitative evidence

and Die Welt’s article score are a supplements more qualitative powerful addition to general tools A different method at Bild editorial expertise. < such as Google Analytics and On the other hand, Bild – a Facebook Insights, and editorial tabloid Springer title with a greater (The Reuters Institute Report, tools like Chartbeat, Parse.ly, and emphasis on advertising and high based on more than 30 interviews NewsWhip. However, because traffic volume, and operating under with senior executives, highlights editorial analytics are most a ‘freemium’ pay model rather best practices in analytics strategies. effective when they are tailored to than a metered paywall – calls for a Authors are Federica Cherubini, a the priorities and goals of a given different method. media consultant and editorial organisation, as well as the context Yet while approaches to analytics researcher who has worked on in which it competes, there is no vary depending on the organisation numerous projects for WAN-IFRA, single method for doing analytics and its goals, they are fundamentally and Rasmus Kleis Nielsen, director of ‘the right way’ – or indeed one set of about helping journalists understand Research at the Reuters Institute. The tools that will give an organisation and effectively navigate a changing report is available for downloading everything it needs. media environment. New media from the Reuters Institute at [http:// News organisations need to trends, such as the rise of distributed bit.ly/21jBhcd]. This article was consider how they can develop content on social media and originally published in the April- their analytics capability by messaging apps, online video and May 2016 edition of World News ensuring they combine the right the rise of the mobile web, require Publishing Focus, the bi-monthly set of tools. Equally important is publishers to continuously re- magazine published by WAN-IFRA.) an organisational structure that has examine how they can develop new

The Hindu website sports new design The Hindu has relaunched its website www.thehindu.com with a contemporary architecture and design that “showcases the traditional strengths of this 138-year-old newspaper -- its independent, credible reportage and its in-depth analyses and opinion pieces”. The site, India's oldest newspaper website, is fully responsive, and adapts seamlessly to different devices and screen sizes, from desktop to laptop, tablet and mobile phone, says an announcement in the newspaper. The site's navigation and information architecture is designed to help readers easily and intuitively access content. It also integrates social media sharing options to help users refer articles easily to friends. The site features larger display for videos, photo galleries and podcasts on trending news, entertainment and lifestyle's issues. The Hindu is also working towards personalisation of the website and a full-width view. The popular Hindu crossword, created by a dedicated team of setters, can be played online. Each section page has been designed to be a destination in itself, so get ready to explore new sections that showcase the best content from the newspaper and its supplements on a variety of subjects. The site has been designed by Itu Chaudhuri Design and the integrated print and web workflow solution is by CCI

Europe A/s, Denmark. The beta website was displayed to users for over a month and some of the valuable feedback received from over 10000 people was incorporated. <

36 VIDURA January-March 2017 NOSTALGIA Of the Vietnam War, turmoil, and Richard Nixon The recently concluded American Presidential Election was considered to be the most divisive since 1968 because of the diversity of the two candidates, their vastly different views on various issues and the vicious tone during the campaign marked by personal attacks. Partab Ramchand goes back 48 years and recalls how the unpopular Vietnam War divided the American people and the Democratic Party, leading to a turbulent phase in American history and culminating in the comeback victory of Richard Nixon

have always been fascinated by divisive since 1968 and with good he accept his party’s nomination the US Presidential Elections reason. for another term as president. Iever since I followed the 1960 Forty-eight years ago, the Vietnam That left Vice-President Hubert election as a eleven-year-old. I War had divided the nation. The Humphrey as the one who had to was too young to understand the mood at the start of the year was carry the Vietnam War baggage implications of the contest between one of anger and frustration as going into the campaign though he Richard Nixon and John Kennedy the American involvement had was soon joined by Senator Robert but I know it generated a lot of escalated in a war no one in the Kennedy. The assassination of the excitement much of it because country seemed to want. Moreover, latter in June after he had made a of the televised debate between it was proving to be costly in terms rather impressive showing in the the two candidates – a first in US of lives lost and quite unwinnable, primaries meant that Humphrey presidential history. and Lyndon Johnson’s popularity was more or less assured of the Fifty-six years later, I noticed had taken a steep nosedive since Democratic Party’s nomination that the enthusiasm had not the heady days of four years before, but by then the mood had turned waned a bit as I closely followed when he had won the election in positively ugly. Protests broke the campaigns of Hillary Clinton a landslide routing Republican out everywhere and became most and Donald Trump as well as their nominee Barry Goldwater. He was vociferous on the eve of the party three debates. Unlike the historic dealt an early shock with the strong convention in Chicago. occasion in 1960, televised debates showing of his fellow Democratic Protesters and police clashed are very much part of the campaign senator Eugene McCarthy in the repeatedly throughout the four being held in every contest since early primaries and, sensing the days of the convention and even 1976. The recently concluded public mood, announced in March inside the divisions within the campaign was called the most that he would not seek nor would Democratic Party on the Vietnam

Richard Nixon (left) made a remarkable political comback in America in the 1960s, defeating Hubert Humphrey (centre) in a tight contest and making up for his loss to John Kennedy (right) earlier.

January-March 2017 VIDURA 37 Oh yes, 1968 was a year of turmoil in America. The escalation of the Vietnam War, the decision of President Johnson not to seek re-election, the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy, the divisions within the Democratic Party, the polarisation of the people with regard to the war, the violent protests, the comeback of Nixon, and finally, a grimly fought election that marked a watershed in American political

Photos: Internet history. The televised debates between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were fiery, There was precious little to sometimes ugly, and, overall, left a bad taste in the mouth. cheer for the American people but in December they got the best War were palpable. Humphrey As the campaign rolled on through Christmas gift they could have

duly won the nomination and September and October, Humphrey expected – Apollo 8’s successful commenced the campaign with tried his best to unite his party and mission in going round the moon < Ed Muskie as his running mate. made a last ditch attempt to win and returning safely to earth. But the unpopular Vietnam War over the electorate by promising had divided not only the people that as president he would curb the (The writer is a senior journalist but also the Democratic Party and bombing in Vietnam. who had covered sport and cinema for this gave the Republicans the edge That helped Humphrey to almost The Indian Express for many years. going into the campaign. close the gap but it was not enough, He is based in Chennai.) As luck would have it, the for Nixon was always well ahead. Republican nomination had When the election was over, it been sewn up by Richard Nixon was Nixon who emerged winner Navika Kumar promoted who made a strong showing in in an excruciatingly close contest Times Network has announced the primaries. The former vice- in the popular vote the difference the elevation of Navika Kumar president had made a remarkable being less than one per cent, both as managing editor – Politics political comeback. After going candidates polling 31 million votes. at Times Now. In her new role, down narrowly in the 1960 election A crucial factor was the entry of Kumar will lead the political to Kennedy, he lost the race for the George Wallace the governor of team of Times Now. Based in governorship of California two Alabama as a third party candidate Delhi, she will directly report years later. Blaming a hostile press and he proved to be surprisingly to Rahul Shivshankar, the chief for his loss, Nixon, in a famous strong, winning almost 10 million editor. Kumar is a post graduate interaction with reporters said, “You popular votes and carrying five in Economics and is among few will not have Nixon to kick around states. journalists who have made their anymore because, gentlemen, this However, when it came to imprint in both political as well is my last press conference.” the electoral votes, Nixon won as business reporting. Known for Nixon was the front-runner when fairly comfortably winning 301 to her extensive interest in Indian the campaign got underway. But Humphrey’s 191 carrying 32 states politics, she has been credited for there were factors against him too. to his opponent’s 13. This time, it investigating and breaking some The divisions within the Democratic was Nixon who gave the victor’s of the most significant stories Party had pitch-forked him into speech saying, “Losing a close which include Office for Profit the position of favourite largely one eight years ago and winning a story that led to the resignation by default. Americans, however, close one now, all I can say is that of Sonia Gandhi, the CWG scam seemed unsure of whether he winning is a lot more fun.” But one that led to the exit of Suresh could be trusted (very much along could sympathise with Humphrey, Kalmadi, the Augusta chopper

the lines of Hillary Clinton in the a decent man and a seasoned scam and Aircel Maxis deal to just concluded election) and his politician, who was fated to lose name a few. < detractors called him Tricky Dicky. because of serious divisions within Moreover, his choice of the governor his party and an unpopular war (Courtesy: exchange4media. of Maryland, Spiro Agnew, as his through which he was an integral com) running mate was not received well. part of the administration.

38 VIDURA January-March 2017 Exploitation of women in prostitution denounced

Sex work is illegal in most countries across the world, yet it exists everywhere. There are an estimated 40 million sex workers worldwide, according to French charity Fondation Scelles. Focused on the theme Last Girl First, the Second World Congress against the Sexual Exploitation of Women and Girls, was held from January 29 to 31 in New Delhi, organised by the Coalition for the Abolition of Prostitution International (CAP Int’l) and Apne Aap Women Worldwide and had representatives from over 30 countries. Safina Nabi sent us this report

he three-day Second World “There has been an appropriate added that her “lifetime earnings” Congress against the Sexual emphasis at this World Congress would be 40 per cent less compared TExploitation of Women and about putting the onus on the to her male counterparts. Girls started with a panel discussion perpetrator, where it belongs, and Apne Aap’s survivor activist by survivors of prostitution the person who thinks that girls and Fatima Khatoon from Nat along with Ashley Judd, CNN women's bodies are purchasable,” Community said, “I have a right Freedom Hero, Anuradha Koirala, she said. to live, and my daughter has a Vimal Thorat of the AIDMM Judd, who is a survivor of right to live, just like other people and Pers-Anders Sunesson, sexual abuse herself, shared her in the society have a right to live. Swedish Ambassador at Large for experiences with violence as well I asked the mothers in my own Combatting Trafficking. as income inequality. Recounting community that why should we Judd (well-known American a conversation with her mother, sell our daughters? Why should we actress, activist and goodwill singer Naomi Judd, Ashley Judd be sold?” In the Nat Community, ambassador of the United Nations said: “There was some sort of inter-generational prostitution still Population Fund), who gave the chatter about what my antique prevails. keynote address on the first day pearls would cost and I said, ‘You Speaking at the press conference, of the Congress, spoke about her know, mom, if I experienced pay Ruchira Gupta, founder, Apne Aap, experience with online abuse, as equality, my pearls would be even said, ”We are hosting this Congress well as how it reminded her of more expensive and I would be at a time when a new Trafficking being assaulted as a child. dripping in diamonds.” The actor Bill is going to be introduced in Parliament. This Bill needs to address sexual exploitation and prostitution and have provisions for the prevention of trafficking through budget allocations for investment in the food, clothing, housing and education of at risk girls. It needs measures for ending impunity of traffickers and sex-buyers. It must do away with Section of 8 of the ITPA that criminalises women for soliciting in a public place. This is in keeping with the UN Protocol and Nordic laws, which are now considered best practice in the world.” The Trafficking Bill was released by the Ministry of Ministry of

Photo: SF Women and Child Development on Ruchira Gupta (left) and Sarah Benson listen as Ashley Judd addresses 30th May last year, but has still not the audience. been tabled in Parliament as inter-

January-March 2017 VIDURA 39 ministerial meetings are going on. Statement about ownership and other particulars The Congress highlighted the about“VIDURA” the English Quarterly Newspaper, Chennai, vulnerability of the last girl, the most vulnerable of all human as required to be published under Section 19-D Sub-Section (b) beings, to prostitution because of the Press and Registration of Books Act read with the Rule 8 she is a poor, female, teenager, of the Registration of Newspapers (Central Rules) 1956 low-caste in India, Black in USA, indigenous in Australia and Canada, Form IV of a minority religion or ethnicity, VIDURA - Quarterly perhaps a refugee in Africa and 1. Place of publication : Chennai Europe, and is, therefore, preyed on by traffickers. Participants 2. Periodicity of Publication : Quarterly included former sex workers from 3. Printer’s Name : V.B.S. Mony South Africa, Canada, India and the Nationality : Indian United States who shared stories of Address sexual slavery and demanded for No. 10/2 Second Loop Street an end to prostitution by punishing clients, pimps and traffickers. Kottur Gardens The Congress also had 250 civil Chennai 600 085 society representatives – survivors 4. Publisher’s Name : Sashi Nair of sexual exploitation, frontline Nationality : Indian services, representatives of the Address most marginalised women and girls Flat 3C, GRN Akshara (indigenous, low caste, migrant, minorities and women of colour), D112, Sangeetha Colony student movements and trade Ashok Pillar Road unions – joining forces to denounce K.K.Nagar, Chennai 600 078 the worldwide economic, sexual 5. Editor’s Name : Sashi Nair and patriarchal exploitation of Nationality : Indian women and girls in prostitution. Sarah Benson, Chair of CAP Address International, stated, “As an Flat 3C, GRN Akshara affiliation of 19 frontline NGOs D112, Sangeetha Colony providing daily assistance to Ashok Pillar Road thousands of women, girls and K.K.Nagar, Chennai 600 078 men affected by prostitution in 6. Names and addresses of individuals who own 16 countries, we have a collective duty to expose the realities of the newspaper/magazine and partners or sexual exploitation.” She added, shareholders holding more than one per cent “While our societies remain widely of the total capital: deaf to the distress of victims of The Press Institute of India - Research Institute prostitution and trafficking, we for Newspaper Development stand in solidarity with survivors advocating for their universal RIND Premises, Taramani, CPT Campus decriminalisation, for unconditional Chennai 600 113 access to protection, justice and exit Shareholding of more than one percent of the capital options, and for the implementation does not arise as the The Press Institute of India - Research of policies targeting their economic Institute for Newspaper Development, is a non-profit society

and sexual exploiters: pimps, < registered under the Societies Act No. XXI of 1860. procurers and sex buyers.”

I, Sashi Nair, hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Sashi Nair Publisher 03.02.2017

40 VIDURA January-March 2017 AIDS still remains a largely unfinished business One out of five new HIV infections globally is among young girls in the age group of 15-24 years. Why do young girls continue to fall victim? Earlier this year (2016), at the Women Deliver Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, Syed Mohammad Afsar had the opportunity to meet Eva (name changed), a 24-year-old young woman from one of ILO’s project areas. Eva is educated but could not find stable work. The odd jobs she did were not enough to give her a regular income. During her struggles, she came to know that several young women of her age were engaged in transactional sex work in the neighbourhood and they were making good money. She got involved too. This certainly improved her financial status but it also gave her HIV

he situation transcends to make a living. Some got HIV in geographical boundaries. the process. TIn India’s financial hub, Neither Eva nor young women Mumbai, the International construction workers in India Labour Organisation (ILO) had would have contracted HIV if they conducted a risk assessment study had a regular income or a formal on construction workers before employment. Precarious jobs in initiating work on HIV amongst the informal economy and gender migrant construction workers. The inequality enhance their risk to study had reveal-ed that women HIV and adversely affect their workers were not only paid less, access to HIV services. This clearly they were sexually exploited and points to the fact that pills and when they went without work for a condoms alone will not end AIDS. Photos: WFS There is acritical need to address few days they resorted to sex work On World AIDS Day, it's time to focus on inclusive measures, better accessibility and greater funding.

the underlying structural drivers of the epidemic, such as poverty, unemployment, the lack of social protection, unequal gender norms, and stigma and discrimination, which continue to persist. The integrated framework under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a great opportunity to do so. Ending AIDS by 2030 as a public health threat (Target 3.3 under SDG 3 - Health for All) is inextricably linked to SDG 8 that addresses decent work and employment for all and SDG 5 on gender equality. But this will not happen easily. There is a need to have actionable multi-sectoral plans with adequate funding and mechanisms to ensure theirimplementation. It is complex Women working on construction sites and engaged in other forms of informal but doable. We need leaders and work are among those at great risk of getting HIV. implementers who are able to see

January-March 2017 VIDURA 41 seemingly unreachable objective a reality. But, increasingly, it looks like the call may have boomeranged. Instead of upping efforts to tackle the deadly disease, policy-makers appear to have perceived this as: ‘AIDS is under control now’. I can already see signs of complacency setting in. And this makes me worried. AIDS response is slowing down at a time when it needs to accelerate. How will weaddress the root causes when we are struggling to achieve the core HIV indicators? Empowering young girls such as Eva through education and jobs will be key so that they can take control of their life and well- being, and don’t get into situations that will put them at risk of getting HIV. AIDS remains an unfinished business. There is a lot of work that is still to be done to end it. It should Putting more than 17 million people on lifesaving anti-retroviral treatment is no be on the radar of every leader and mean achievement but another 20 million are in the need of it. every implementer. They specially need to keep young girls like Eva the connections between these goals 2015, new HIV infections rose by in mind while drawing up plans and develop indicators that best 57 per cent in Eastern Europe and and strategies and appreciate the capture the results of an integrated Central Asia; by 9 per cent in the interconnected nature of Sustainable response. Caribbean; and by 4 per cent in Development Goals. < In this context, the message that West Asia and North Africa. There has been projected for some time have been no significant declines in (Courtesy: Women’s Feature now, that ‘we can end AIDS by HIV infections in any other regions Service. The writer is senior technical 2030’, is extremely misleading. In of the world. specialist, Gender Equality and none of the key indicators is the The message, ‘we can end AIDS Diversity, ILO AIDS. The views world more than half way through. by 2030’, was meant to inspire expressed in this article are his own.) Putting more than 17 million people and leaders to work harder people on life-saving anti-retroviral and faster towards making this once treatment is no mean achievement but another 20 million are in the need of it. How soon can treatment be provided to them while ensuring Rajmohan elected president, AIM adherence for those who are already R. Rajmohan has been elected as the president of Association of Indian on this life-long treatment? And Magazines (AIM), at the AGM held in Mumbai. Rajmohan, chief marketing while treatment exists, how will it officer ( North) & head, Special Projects, Malayala Manorama Group, is a be funded in the era of reducing veteran in print media, having worked with The Times of India, India Today, resources forthe AIDS response? Hindustan Times, Outlook and Open Media Network Groups, and has UN AIDS released a report during been a governing council member of AIM since its inception. B Srinivasan, the International AIDS Conference managing director, Vikatan Group, will be the new vice-president, and in Durban in July 2016 highlighting Indranil Roy, executive director and publisher, Outlook Group, has been major gaps in HIV prevention. elected the general secretary. Pradeep Gupta, chairman and managing

According to the report, an director, CyberMedia, a former president of AIM, was re-elected as the estimated 1.9 million adults have treasurer. < become infected with HIV every year for at least the past five years. (Courtesy: exchange4media.com) New HIV infections are rising in some regions. Between 2010 and

42 VIDURA January-March 2017 We must overcome the shame around the C-word

According to projections of the Indian Council of Medical Research, India is likely to have more than 17.3 lakh new cases of cancer by 2020 with cancers of breast, lung and cervix topping the list. Cancer of the cervix is the third most common cancer with estimated one lakh new cases in 2016. The numbers are so high because few cervical cancer survivors address an issue in public. Mehru Jaffer talks about how the disease can be prevented and also treated with more openness

ver since Genevieve Sambhi, Sambhi was in India to participate 45, managed to survive in an international conference on the Ecervical cancer seven years prevention and control of cervical ago, she has taken it upon herself to cancer held in New Delhi recently. talk about the disease and caution Apart from emphasising the need and counsel other women about it. to spread greater awareness she has She wants to tell them that regular suggested the creation of a “global screening, early discovery and family of cervical cancer survivors proper treatment can be help fight who can reach out to other women it successfully. It was an annual test to say that cervical cancer can be that had revealed her condition in prevented and can be cured in a 2009. world where more than one million A former Miss Malaysia and a women are currently living with well-known model in her country, the disease”. Women are hesitant to discuss cervical cancer as it is often confused Despite the fact that both her with ‘sex talk’. parents are medical professionals – her father is a gynaecologist while her mother is a nurse – Sambhi capital of Kuala Lumpur and points out that even she had no despite her regular appearances on idea that all women are at risk of television and radio, a mere four having cervical cancer or that early members of the survivors group detection can save lives. “If I did not have come forth so far to have a know anything about this cancer talk about the disease. imagine the plight of others,” she “It is this veil of silence that remarks. Sambhi was diagnosed continues to kill,” says Sambhi early and after treatment, which who would like cervical cancer included rounds of chemotherapy, survivors to be as organised and she is now cancer free. It is sad but as vocal as breast cancer survivors. true that not many women know She reiterates that it “is crucial about the importance of early to understand that even though detection and even fewer go for a cervical cancer is the second most regular check up to a gynaecologist common type of cancer suffered by or get vaccinated. women worldwide, it is also one of Soon after her treatment, the the most treatable and preventable National Cancer Society Malaysia cancers”. had asked Sambhi to become an Effectively, regular pap smears Photos: WFS ambassador for an awareness and vaginal examinations are all Malay model Genevieve Sambhi, campaign. She has been openly that is needed to save lives. So, 45, who was diagnosed with sharing her experience and for over it’s imperative to spread the word cervical cancer in 2009, says she that any discussion about cervical has been able to survive the disease half a decade. Incidentally, although thanks to regular screening, early she has founded a cervical cancer cancer is about prevention of the discovery and proper treatment. survivors group in the Malaysian disease and genital hygiene, and

January-March 2017 VIDURA 43 not about sexual promiscuity. But women continue to remain hesitant to discuss it as it is a sensitive issue and often confused with ‘sex talk’. In fact, there is a sense of shame attached to talking about one's body, particularly amongst women who hail from traditional homes. This is also another reason why a majority of women never go for a vaginal check up or a pap test, which is the screening procedure for detecting cancerous cells, and named after Georgios Papanikolaou, the doctor who first concluded that the test was a useful way to discover signs Sambhi spreads awareness about cervical cancer, regularly cautioning and of cervical cancer. counseling other women about it. Expert after expert claims that the disease can be prevented by a great tragedy particularly when for vaccinations, screenings and vaccinating girls while they are the disease is not only preventable treatment. India needs to do the still in their teens and before they but also curable. same. To safeguard themselves, get sexually active. The vaccine Cervical cancer affects women all women need immediate access to is a protection against the virus over the world but the global burden services that are affordable and that is responsible for 70 per cent falls heavily upon low- and middle- equitable. It will help save millions of cervical cancers. However, due income countries, India included, – because women’s lives do matter. to ignorance and cultural reasons where healthcare facilities are not < parents are reluctant to get their available to the large majority. (Courtesy: Women’s Feature daughters vaccinated. The result is Today, over 65 countries have Service) that most cases are detected by the introduced national programmes time it is too late. In a short film screened during the conference, Indian women of different age groups were asked the Print media registrations up 5.13 pc simple question ‘what is a cervix’, and most did not know the answer. Bucking global trends, the print media in India grew by 5.13 per cent The cervix is the lower part of the as 5423 new publications were registered in 2015-16, according to the uterus that produces some of the annual report of Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI). The total number moistness that lubricates the vagina. of publications as of March 31 stood at 110851. Of the total registered Since cervical cancer develops publications, 16136 were dailies and bi-tri weeklies, while the remaining in stages, a regular pap test is 94715 were of other periodicities. The number of publications in Hindi valuable for an early detection. was the highest at 44557, which was followed by 14083 publications in Women between the ages of 35 and English. 65 years and those from lower socio Releasing the annual report, Information & Broadcasting Minister M. economic groups are most at risk to Venkaiah Naidu said Hindi publications continued to lead with over 31.44 the silent killer. crore copies per publishing day, followed by English with over 6.54 crore Greater social awareness is copies and Urdu with over 5.17 crore copies. “At the end of the year essential to break down the cultural 2015-16, the state with the largest number of registered publications was barriers that prevent women from Uttar Pradesh with 16984 publications, followed by Maharashtra and going in for regular screening and Delhi with 15260 and 12482 registered publications, respectively,” an vaccination. Apart from a clear lack official statement added. < of information, many lives are also lost as patients do not have access (Courtesy: The Hindu BusinessLine) to health services for prevention, curative treatment or palliative care, especially in a country like India where every eight minutes a woman dies of this disease. This is

44 VIDURA January-March 2017 ‘Position family planning as a people’s issue’

Talking about family planning has never been easy. Political parties have for too long shied away from the subject, not wanting to earn the ire of their vote banks. The hangover of the nasbandi (forced sterilisation) days continues with vasectomy being seen more as an ill than panacea. Myths and misconceptions thrive and the only way of keeping a check on the population has been by holding sterilisation camps for women and doling out condoms by way of contraceptive choices, says Taru Bahl

hen the Supreme It calls for stopping the practice of Court recently gave holding sterilisation camps within Wa historic verdict to a period of three years. It has freed ensure sterilisation procedures state governments from pushing are conducted in accordance with family planning targets, putting legal norms, medical procedures a stop to forced/ non-consensual and provisions of the manuals, and sterilisations. The judgment also that those suffering from failure recommends improving imple- or complications are adequately mentation of family planning compensated, it finally stirred programmes by ensuring easy up a larger conversation on access to empanelled doctors, planning families and women’s making information available reproductive rights. As someone in local languages and ensuring Ankit Gupta/WFS Photo: with decades of activism behind informed consent of patients. Poonam Muttreja calls for a her, Poonam Muttreja, executive more vigorous and inclusive Why is there is a need to discussion on advancing sexual director, Population Foundation of and reproductive rights of India (PFI), which has been at the reposition family planning and women and men with the media forefront of policy, advocacy, and how should this be done? as a powerful ally. research on population, believes A major focus of the national that the landmark judgment has programme so far has been on promoting family planning. This stabilise population, we must look come at the right time and will be at providing services. vital in paving the way for a more has to change, given that the vigorous, inclusive discussion on largest group of young people in Indian history is currently in Deep-rooted myths surround advancing sexual and reproductive the issue of family planning, rights of women and men – with, their reproductive years. Even countries like Indonesia, Sri Lanka, including the notion that certain of course, “the media as a powerful religions want their women to be ally”. She answers some questions: Bhutan and Nepal offer at least six contraceptive choices whereas baby-producing machines. It is unfortunate that women’s Why is the recent Supreme in India we have only female sterlisation at 74.4 per cent, followed bodies and their fertility Court judgment significant and become objects that fuel fires of what does it mean for the family by condoms at 11.4 per cent, the pill at 7.5 per cent and IUD (Intra communalisation. Improvement in planning programme in India? fertility/ decline in population is The judgment has taken the Uterine Device) at 3.7 per cent. Not only must we provide more options dependent on education, income conversation on family planning and and employment opportunities and women’s rights forward, moving to the youth but also put as much not on religion. Declining trend in from the narrow prism of numbers emphasis on repositioning family population growth is secular. The to prioritise issues of women’s planning and maternal and child reproductive health and rights. The health policies and programmes sex ratio among Muslims as per verdict underlines the importance within the women’s empowerment Census 2011 stands at 951 females of quality of care in provision of and human rights framework. for every 1000 men which is family planning services with From promoting ‘population significantly better than 939 among special reference to sterilisation. control’ approaches as a solution to Hindus. Further, it shows marked

January-March 2017 VIDURA 45 focus clearly must be on creating to demonise family planning. It awareness, making services is time to create champions and available, expanding the basket of join hands in ensuring women are choices, ensuring quality of care educated, men and boys are part and increasing family planning of the discussion and women’s budgets. sexual and reproductive rights are protected. If awareness building is a key aspect, how do you think media can Why is involving men contribute to mobilising support so important in something and initiating sustained action to traditionally viewed as ‘woman’s enhance reproductive and sexual business’? rights of women? Our experience has been that if Media is a vital ally and partner to you reach out to men, they will be all of us working to improve access responsive. They treat women’s to sexual and reproductive health reproductive health as a ‘woman’s rights for youth and adolescents. issue’ because that’s the belief that Family planning programmes and It plays a crucial role in bringing has been perpetuated widely. It policies must prioritise women’s issues around family planning is necessary to involve them in reproductive health and rights. This to the attention of policy-makers family planning. There should be poster urges couples to space the and influencers. However, so far, an emphasis on changing mindsets children for better health for mother coverage around stories on family and stereotypes so as to enable and child. planning remains negligible. women to take decisions regarding PFI recently conducted a media their own health and increasing improvement from 936 in 2001 consultation in Delhi in an attempt spousal communication. There to 951 in 2011 among Muslims, to initiate a robust debate on family remain myths and misconceptions whereas for Hindus it shows planning, women’s health and around vasectomy, including marginal improvement from 931 in reproductive rights. We wish to see baseless speculation on loss of 2001 to 939 in 2011. It is a proven fact family planning become part of the virility. Men must be encouraged that female education, employment mainstream media narrative. PFI to accept vasectomy as a family opportunities and access to bigger has worked with media to generate planning method. At the same basket of contraceptive choices evidence-based coverage on time, male engagement should not help women make the right choice. family planning and reproductive be confined to vasectomy alone Contrary to popular belief, women, health. Our behaviour change but extend to their involvement in across the board, want a smaller communication initiative, Main decisions related to the education of family. Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon, addresses their daughters, choosing the best social determinants of health and contraception available, spacing In the context of family has deep outreach and impact. and age of pregnancy. planning, what have been the biggest missed opportunities post- Media can help in positioning What are the strategies for the Independence? family planning not as a women’s future? Not addressing the unmet need issue or men’s issue but as a people’s We need to be vigilant and monitor and robbing millions of women issue. Highlighting negative events on-ground implementation of the the choices for contraception is a through sensational headlines and SC directives. Having said that, huge missed opportunity. This has photos that shock and awe are we need to continue supporting forced young women to opt for important but so is following up the government and reviewing abortions, many of them unsafe. with those stories and tracking what adherence to quality guidelines In the absence of counselling and happened to those featured in them. in implementing the injectable open discussion, they are using This would help put pressure on the roll-out and generating evidence emergency contraceptive pills as a government and related agencies to through research on contraceptive family planning method. According act and take responsibility. Media options of Progestin Only Pill and to national data, the unmet need can also contribute greatly to the Centchroman. This will enhance for family planning is a staggering initiation of dialogue and debate the basket of contraceptive choices 32 million. More than six lakh around positive decisions that have for women and young people. < abortions were recorded in 2013- the potential to impact demographic 14, majority of which resulted from trends and quality of life. So far, (Courtesy: Women’s Feature lack of access to contraceptives. The there has, in fact, been a narrative Service)

46 VIDURA January-March 2017 When children think abuse is ‘normal’ “What’s there to report about violence?” remarked a child candidly, while responding to a research investigator who was conducting a group discussion in a small village in Maharashtra as part of a one-of-its-kind survey on child abuse and safety. In fact, for more than half the children who participated in the state-wide opinion poll, Play It Safe, violence turned out to be such a “commonplace, everyday matter” they didn’t think there was anything unusual about being hit or abused, says Alka Gadgil

tartling revelations have actual violence itself children have I was ultimately enrolled into one, emerged from the survey to struggle with the dilemma of but my parents didn’t provide me Sdone among 5000 children whether to share such events with with anything… no school uniform, across eight districts in the state. outsiders. It’s a conflict between: “I no books… nothing… I am now The respondents, in the 13-17 love my parent… I hate my parent.” living in Mumbai and I’m much years age group, were asked to fill The school, the other key safe space, better off.” Sheelu, a little one from a questionnaire that sought their too, comes across as a major letdown. Yavatmal District, reveals, “I feel views and experiences regarding Corporal punishment, standing for unsafe at home as there are angry the different forms of violence hours outside classrooms as well fights between my mother and they may have witnessed or been as regular thrashing are portrayed grandmother.” And Meenal shares, subjected to, including punishment, as widespread and frequent “I feel unsafe at school as there are humiliation, discrimination and occurrences. no bathrooms or toilets.” verbal abuse. The idea behind the Voicing the despair she felt at These are far more covert – and exhaustive exercise, undertaken being denied an opportunity to go common – forms of dangers and by UNICEF Maharashtra, Nine Is to school, a reality that many girls in violations that post a real threat to Mine and Mumbai Smiles, was to India live with, Manjushri, a young children as opposed to the more identify and track violence against girl from Marathwada Region, says, obvious and gory incidents such as children in the state and work “When I was in the village, I was rape and murder, which garner a towards creating safe spaces for totally neglected. I wanted to go to lot of public and media attention. them within homes, schools, and school, but my parents disregarded In addition to highlighting their communities by encouraging my pleas. After I continued to insist, their vulnerabilities at home and them to break the silence around abuse. Apart from filling the questionnaire, the youngsters were encouraged to share their feelings through engaging activities such as storytelling, drawing and poetry. The children surveyed reported five forms of violence they are subject to – physical, sexual, psychological, economic abuse and neglect. Significantly, the seemingly sheltered confines of the home have emerged as an arena of violence even as parents were identified as caregivers as well as tormenters. Most children have reported being hit by or beaten with implements, kicked around, or inflicted with Photos: Bernard Gagnon via burn wounds. Unfortunately, such Commons Wikimedia violations are seldom reported and A new child-led survey has documented the types of violence children and so have the capacity to scar the caregivers in Maharashtra are exposed to in order to better inform child child irreversibly. Apart from the protection strategies.

January-March 2017 VIDURA 47 school, the survey also documents study which demystifies many the discrimination, neglect and popular notions attached to child economic violence that children abuse and violence. Traditionally, face. There are scores of girls and issues around violence against boys, who not only work at home, children has either been sexualised in the fields or in small business or been discussed in the context establishments at the cost of their of a legal framework. With this basic rights. For instance, the survey poll, child safety issues have been brings a moving account of a 12- demystified, de-intellectualised year-old boy who can only go to and de-sexualised. Fights among school after filling water, sweeping family members, domestic violence, the house and delivering the tiffin alcoholism, brawls among children, to his family members working in deserted public spaces, absence of Photo: UNICEF India the field. His teacher punishes him basic infrastructure facilities like These young girls are among the and his friends make fun of him toilet and poor lighting in school, 5000 children who shared their for his late-coming. After school, among many others, have been experiences of violence in the Play it he can’t relax, but has to join his identified as unsafe situations and Safe survey. parents in the field. spaces. “Marginal land-owning families “The preparatory phase for the and swears as violence. We are find it difficult to engage labour. survey – that included seeking so used to those. However, I now Consequently, children have no permissions from schools and know that verbal abuse, too, is option but to lend a helping hand parents – was time consuming. violence against children.” to their parents in the farms. Daily- Initially, we pre-tested it in Raigad Just recently, the passing away of wage agricultural labourers are District. The response from the Aradhana Samdhariya, 13, on the expected to bring their children children was forthcoming and the heels of a 68-day-fast created major along to chip in as well. They process became truly interactive. headlines across India. As she are frequently asked to be part In Nandurbar, students at one undertook the inhuman ritual, her of agricultural activities such as of the Kasturba Gandhi Balika parents and family members made sowing, tilling and harvesting, Vidhyalayas (KGBVs) were so no attempts to stop her particularly besides going to class and assisting moved by the discussions around when her health began failing. in home chores. They work full-time the concerns of the children that Today, they have been booked for on Saturday, Sunday and holidays. many said, ‘No one had thought of culpable homicide not amounting The children told us that corporal or had asked us about our concerns’. to murder and for violating the punishment is very commonly Feedback like this kept us going,” Juvenile Justice Act. Incidents like used to get more work done. They explains Fernandes. these point to the fact that the idea are beaten up if they don’t show Of course, their work wasn’t that children are the ‘property’ up for work,” elaborates Daulat without its share of adverse of parents and family, with no Phoge, a research investigator from reactions. Sister Mary Colaco, a independent rights, is actually Jalna District. research investigator in Raigad, at the root of horrific violence For children from socially recalls, “It was far tougher to perpetrated against them. backward castes and tribes, as handle adults, the gatekeepers of “The father of the nation practised well as those living with disability, the community, than the children. and preached ahimsa. If only my the violence quotient, whether at When we were with children, they drunken father could do that, too,” home, in the neighbourhood or in would linger around; try to pry wishes a 14-year-old interviewed school, increases exponentially, on our conversations. They would for Play it Safe. Reality, awakening, informs the survey. These children ask, ‘what are you talking to our and hope for a childhood free from are usually insulted, shamed and children about’.” violence… children finally have threatened with bodily harm, Nonetheless, group discussions their say in this unique survey. < especially being locked up in a and interviews have turned out room. Those from marginalised to be the ideal ways to reach out (Courtesy: Women’s Feature castes or the minority community and connect with the children and, Service. Names of children have been are segregated and often forced to in the process, spread awareness changed to protect their identity.) sit outside classrooms. among them on their rights and, According to Sarah Fernandes importantly, recognising violence. of Nine is Mine, a child advocacy Nirmala, who participated in the movement that has supported this survey and discussions in Raigad, survey, Play It Safe is an important says, “I had never considered yells

48 VIDURA January-March 2017 Grappling with depression, and no solution in sight

Unsound mind, deranged, demented, crazy, unhinged, nuts, bonkers… these are just some of the words that are thrown at anyone who doesn’t conform to the ‘social’ standards of accepted behaviour. However, today, one-in- every-20 people in India suffer from depression, according a recent survey conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences in 12 states. So, is a whopping 10 per cent of Indians ‘nuts’? For most people to even recognise that they may be suffering from clinical depression doesn’t come easy. There is little to no awareness, treatment that is affordable isn’t easy to find, there are NGOs working in the area but have limited scope and reach, and popular culture depictions of mental health medicines Photos: WFS make it look like a really bad idea and For most people to even recognise that they may be suffering from clinical further promote ideas of shame and depression doesn’t come easy as there is little to no awareness around the disease. the stigma associated with the disease. Drawing from real-life experience and counselling is a cultural thing. are. And I am so weak that when and exhaustive research, Shubhrata However, an order is an order, and my husband was hospitalised with Prakash shares her expert knowledge willy-nilly I agreed. My husband a platelet count of 3000, I single- on what it means to have depression, and parents convinced me to look handedly managed that first and in The D Word: A Survivor’s Guide at the positive side of it. As it is, I critical day alone, before the cavalry to Depression, published by Pan was in no position to go to work. came in the next day. Macmillan. Excerpts: Time off from work in Bangkok also ‘Depression? You look pretty meant time to heal and get well. normal!’ Sorry, I forgot to wear uddenly, I had misgivings I was also too tired of explaining my tattered rags today and sorry, about this move. We were my illness to people I met all the my hair is not matted today. Sliving quite a comfortable life time. ‘Depression? But why are you ‘Look at so-and-so. Look at what in Ahmedabad. We had not yet depressed? You have everything a mess their life is. Still they are completed two years there. From one could want in life.’ Yes, I know, not depressed. You should learn Chennai to Delhi to Ahmedabad but what to do, being depressed is from them,’ or ‘Oh, I went through to Bangkok – all within a span my hobby. ‘Be strong!’ Yes, I am so such-and-such a thing in life but of four years – was too much weak that I walked into my UPSC I found a way out and didn’t go dislocation. The biggest concern interview two weeks after my heart into depression.’ Good for them or was my illness and availability of surgery and still scored a high rank. good for you. I got depression only related healthcare in Bangkok. It I am so weak that during my student delivering a baby. Of course, all is a well-known fact that India is a days, I used to stay in Delhi on my the difficult times in my life that I very strong medical centre with the own with my friends, and would fought through without developing best of healthcare facilities. And we do the Delhi–Patna commute alone major depression don’t count, do had lived in cities like Chennai and while in my teens. I am so weak they? Ahmedabad, which have the best that I gave up a high-paying job ‘You should just pull yourself healthcare facilities in India. I had at Leo Burnett for the uncertainty up and say “get out” to settled in well with my therapist, that the UPSC Civil Services exams Depression.’ Aww ... how could

January-March 2017 VIDURA 49 for which we dug deep into my old diaries and journals. We were short on time, and I got busy writing new poems too. I had something real to get excited about. Once I had finished the poems, Vandana and her team did an excellent job of interpreting them through their beautiful graphics. Since it was my very first publication, and it was being released on Mother’s Day, I decided to dedicate the book to my parents. So, on Sunday, 10 May, 2015, my first book was released. The chief Shubhrata Prakash. guest asked my entire family to come up to the stage for the unveiling of I? I love depression and all its the first copy. So my parents and friends – anxiety, irritability, children, with my husband and depersonalisation, derealisation – me standing beside them, eagerly so much that I can’t live without received the first copy. Too many them. I have to see them once daily hands, only one book – still, many at least. ‘Your poor husband! He happy hearts! For me it was a dream come true, and for a few days I was has to put up with so much!!’ Oh, The book cover. he is not really my husband – we in a genuinely happy daze. are living in sin. He did not legally We were shifting to Bangkok marry me and take responsibility in June, and it would be a while like I miss Chennai. These are the for me. He did not take marital vows before we got settled enough to two best Indian cities to live in, I around the holy fire promising to find a suitable doctor. I did not feel. We travelled from Ahmedabad protect me. And if it was the other want anyone to tamper with my to Delhi. We stayed there a couple of way round, I would have left him present medication, so I had to find days and met up with close friends. and run away, would I have not? a doctor who would understand (We are so grateful to all the friends Or, by the way, is it that you are and prescribe the same drugs. As who came to meet us.) And then, jealous of our love? for therapy, we had decided that I towards the end of June, we flew So, in this scenario, with society would continue the sessions over the out of India to Thailand. < driving me crazier than I already had internet with my trusted therapist become, it was probably a blessing in Ahmedabad. To help me with (Courtesy: Women’s Feature in disguise to shift to Bangkok. But the anxiety related to the move, Service. Excerpted from The D Word: there were problems that remained. I was put on a very heavy dose of A Survivor’s Guide to Depression I loved writing and had been writing clonazepam. I was drowsy, groggy, by Shubhrata Prakash; Published by since I was a child. The writing of irritable and still quite anxious Pan Macmillan; Pages: 216; this book would require time. So, about the move. Finally, it was time Price: Rs 299.) before we left India, I wanted to to leave. I would miss Ahmedabad, write something for publication I knew. I still miss it very much, just that would give satisfaction to the writer in me. Who knows how that might help in the healing process? Atideb Sarkar to oversee operations at ANN My blog was doing well, though on On the back of the resignation of Ashok Venkatramani in his role as a very small scale. CEO at ABP News Network, Atideb Sarkar, executive director at ABP, will In fact, posting on the blog had oversee operations at ANN (formerly a News Corp International and ABP helped me find a creative outlet apart joint venture). Avinash Pandey now takes on the role of chief operating from the painting I occasionally officer, ANN; he was earlier chief operating officer, ABP News. < did, and also helped soothe my frayed nerves. It was towards the (Courtesy: exchange4media.com) end of March that my husband, my friend Vandana Raj and I conceived Ink on Water, a collection of poems

50 VIDURA January-March 2017 PRESS FREEDOM IN MYANMAR Journalist’s murder turns the focus on illegal timber trade

Murders of journalists as revenge for their investigative reporting are not uncommon in the Indian sub-continent. But Myanmar is one of the countries with a low number of such cases. In this context, the murder of Ko Soe Moe Tun is attracting considerable attention. Nava Thakuria has more

urders of journalists are who reported on critical issues, massive deforestation because of nothing unusual in the including those of environmental its prized teak wood and wildlife. MIndian subcontinent – concern, has attracted attention. According to the UN Food and around 10 journalists lose their Ko Soe Moe Tun (35), a Monywa Agriculture Organization, the lives in this way each year in (Sagaing)-based Burmese journalist, country lost one-fourth of its forest the region, with India, Pakistan was found dead on December 13th cover in the last two and half and Afghanistan leading the list. last year. His body carried marks of decades, which in turn affected the Sixteen journalists were reported severe injury. Police are following wildlife. The government, under the to have been murdered in India, up leads, including some missed mentorship of Nobel laureate Daw Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh calls listed on his cell phone which Aung San Suu Kyi, had partially and Myanmar in 2016. In India, the was recovered from the site of banned timber exports and logging victims were Tarun Mishra from the murder. He leaves behind his earlier. It has now declared that it Uttar Pradesh, Indradev Yadav mother, young wife and minor will impose a nationwide ban on and Akhilesh Pratap Singh from son. logging. Jharkhand, Rajdeo Ranjan and Soe had extensively investigated Overall, freedom of the media in Dharmendra Kumar Singh from and covered wood smuggling Myanmar has improved since 2011, Bihar, Anshita Bawa from Punjab, and illegal logging and mining when the country’s military rulers and Kishore Dave from Gujarat. in northwest Myanmar. He was handed over power to a quasi-civili- Myanmar is comparatively less working with the Daily Eleven an government led by President prone to such incidents, with newspaper, published by the Thein Sein. Soon afterwards, only five journalists having been Yangon-based Eleven Media Group. the government abolished pre- murdered there in the last one- Soe had also posted a few details publication censorship and allowed and-a-half decades. As such, the about the people involved in the privately owned daily newspapers recent killing of a young journalist illegal timber trade on his Facebook to hit the stands. The situation in the Buddhist-majority country account. further improved after the massive Family sources claimed he was win by the National League for targeted because of his reports on Democracy in the November 2015 illegal logging, karaoke lounges and elections. the controversial Chinese-backed However, Myanmar is still one Letpadaung copper mine project. of countries with the most press The Myanmar Journalists Network, censorship. The idea of freedom which expressed sorrow at the of the media is still new in this young journalist’s death, concurs nation with poor literacy figures. with the view. The organisation The Burmese journalist fraternity claimed that Soe had often received continues to work under threat. threats to his life from those If the threat was previously from involved in illegal logging. The military forces, now it comes from Myanmar Press Council said threats various anti-social elements. against journalists were common in Meanwhile, the Committee to the country. Protect Journalists, Reporters Myanmar, which still possesses Sans Frontiers, Myanmar

Photos: NT some of the richest reserves of Journalists Association, Inter- Ko Soe Moe Tun. biodiversity in the world, faces national Federation of Journalists

January-March 2017 VIDURA 51 Journalists (APFEJ) chairman Quamrul Chowdhury said: “Killing of a scribe is a serious offence, but the assassination of an environmental journalist should be recognised a major crime both against humanity and Mother Nature. We demand a fair probe into Soe’s murder and visible punishment to the culprits.” Choudhury also appealed to the Burmese government to adequately compensate the family of the slain journalist and support his son’s education. The Yangon-based Myanmar Frontier, in one of its editorials, argued that there were many challenges for the new democratic government, “but ensuring a media that is free from threats and is able

Myanmar is still one of countries with the most press censorship. The idea of to carry out its work would be a freedom of the media is still new in this nation with poor literacy figures. The sign that the country (Myanmar) is < Burmese journalist fraternity continues to work under threat. If the threat was moving in the right direction”. previously from military forces, now it comes from various anti-social elements. (The writer is a senior journalist and others deplored the murder recently arrested three suspects and based in Guwahati.) of Soe and demanded action investigations continue. against the perpetrators of the Reacting to the incident, the Asia- crime. Myanmar authorities Pacific Forum of Environmental

Discovery launches new sports channel, DSPORT With a commitment to deliver the biggest and best sporting moments from across the world to sports-obsessed fans throughout India, Discovery Communications has announced the launch of DSPORT, an all-new premium sports channel in India. The launch marks the first time in over 10 years that a media company has introduced a new sports channel for the Indian market. It elevates Discovery’s 20-year history in India, ensuring a new generation have access to the best in live sports content. Discovery already has a strong reputation for its expertise in fuelling the passion of sports fans in Europe and connecting them with the greatest sports events in the world through Eurosport, the number one sports destination in Europe. The launch of DSPORT in India perfectly complements the wider strategy to provide fans with more live action across a plethora of sporting genres. DSPORT has a clear ambition to redefine sports engagement, by giving viewers access to unmatched ‘live’ sporting action from around the world. With a rich catalogue that covers 4000+ hours of ‘live’ content every year, DSPORT’s offering is unrivalled in the Indian market. The DSPORT coverage in India will initially include: • Horse Racing: exclusive rights to telecast daily live racing from the best of UK and Irish tracks totaling over 7000 races/ year • Football: Brazilian League, Chinese Super League, Portuguese League, Major League Soccer (USA) • Golf: British Open (The Open Championship), US Open, PGA Championship, LPGA • Motorsports: NASCAR, FIA World Rallycross Championship • Rugby: 6 Nations Rugby • Cycling: Tour de France (a property of Eurosport)

DSPORT is in advanced negotiations for selected high quality cricket events to add to the above-mentioned portfolio. At launch, DSPORT will be a part of the Sports Tier via a subscription model on both DTH and Cable in < both HD and SD.

52 VIDURA January-March 2017 Whither India’s national development? Time to ponder

More than any other country that achieved its political freedom in and around 1947, India has fared well, particularly in maintaining democracy, conducting free and fair elections. But has our educational system done anything much to prevent the rise of casteism and communalism through a well-organised national scheme? J. V. Vil’anilam tries to find out

t the time of Independence, Here are some points for A study of India’s modern history Jawaharlal Nehru expre- consideration: will not be complete without Assed apprehensions about Education has been treated awareness about the ancient history three threats to the nation’s future: by planners as a State subject, of Muslims, the most important provincialism, casteism and perhaps because of the multiplicity minority segment in India. Their communalism. of languages and sub-cultures. contributions to occidental and Are these threats still in The practice of setting up caste- oriental basic sciences and arts existence? Provincialism raises and religion-based, multi-ethnic have to be studied. Similarly, other its ugly head rarely these days, institutions is not conducive to the minorities such as Christians, Sikhs, but casteism and communalism promotion of a national perspective Parsis, Buddhists, Jains, etc, deserve are still major threats, along with and outlook among citizens. For national educational attention, and, others: illiteracy, inadequate educational progress and for the of course, the tribes and aborigines education, ignorance, ill-health and promotion of knowledge and skills, who have their own languages and a widespread lack of skills. And a national perspective is the most cultural traits. terrorism and national, regional essential. The education policy of A historical study of the religions and individual insecurity are other a nation should be designed and of the minorities is equally major threats. Environmental practised from this perspective. important. Such studies will make and occupational hazards are not Though there can be local stress the majority community aware negligible. Demonetisation and the wherever needed, certain common of the multifaceted texture of the consequent long lines at banks do national factors should be Indian population. not help. emphasised. Food and eating habits in various More than any other country that Science, technology, fine arts, parts of the country and among achieved its political freedom in audiovisual arts and popular various groups are of varied origin. and around 1947, India has fared entertainment may attain a national Although there is a huge majority well, particularly in maintaining and universal character and, hence, of vegetarians, they need to be democracy, conducting free popular use and acceptance. aware that vegetarianism has no and fair elections. But has our Eventually, popular technological religious link. Many Europeans, educational system done anything and scientific disciplines will gain North and South Americans, and much to prevent the rise of casteism national and global stature with Africans are vegetarians too. Many and communalism through a universal acceptance and norms. ‘vegetarians’ in India are meat- well-organised national scheme? Certain branches of knowledge eaters, not necessarily cow’s meat. Are we giving enough attention will be widely known and utilised The Brahmins of Bengal are great to education so that people are not only by scholars but also by fish-eaters, for example. In short, aware of these threats and work ordinary people. there are no pure vegetarians in towards reducing them? Or, has In addition to pure science and several parts of India. it by omission and commission technology, the social sciences Thus, dividing people into nourished a system whereby these such as history, politics, sociology, vegetarian and non-vegetarian is evils have been strengthened anthropology, ethnology, ethics, not a scientific exercise. Food habits through artificial political equality? media studies, linguistics and of people should be purely personal Can democracy in the real sense communication science, deserve and voluntary; they should not be be sustained and developed by special attention from the national generalised according to the diktats just one aspect, namely periodical perspective in the framing of a of any particular government or voting? national educational policy. religious group. In fact, a scientific

January-March 2017 VIDURA 53 Equally important to the leaders who fought for Independence, and to the framers of the Constitution, was the idea of secularism. The state should not have any religion as such. There is no Hindustan as such. We are not a theocratic nation, but a democratic one. A re-reading of history will show us that there are millions of Muslims in the southern part of India, particularly in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, who are descendants of Arab traders who established economic and marital ties with the rulers and people of these regions from the 7th or 8th Century onwards. People of the South do not consider these West Asian brethren aliens any more, as they have blended into India, speaking regional languages from childhood, and eating the Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration: same food as non-Brahmin Hindu fellow citizens. Similar is the case attitude should govern our eating reorganisation was a demand of the with Christians of Kerala and Tamil habits and preferences, not the Congress from the 1920s onwards Nadu – a substantial proportion perceived sacredness of certain as the leaders were convinced that of them were not converted by food items, because what we say the country could be culturally the British missionaries but much and do are far more important than unified in a better and easier earlier. Their literary, scientific, what we eat. A rational and social manner linguistically. Eventually, a technological and cultural scientific approach to national language that is understood by the contributions have been considered

problems could convince many of most number of people – Hindi or as valuable to the building of India < us to adopt systems and practices Hindustani (a combination of Hindi as those of other communities. that are environmentally safe, and and Urdu) – could become the medically good for all citizens. national language. Meanwhile, the (The writer is former vice- The Constitution of India gave regional languages could be given chancellor and head, Department us a republic that is federal in form all encouragement since they were of Communication and Journalism, but unitary in spirit. And sticking the languages of the people living in University of Kerala.) to the Constitution in all matters the different regions of the country of governance is a healthy trend, for many thousands of years. a great boon indeed. And the credit goes to leaders such as Bhim Rao Ambedkar, Anantasayanam Ayyangar and others -- great Lydia Polgreen is editor-in-chief, HuffPost Parliamentarians who upheld The Huffington Post has appointed Lydia Polgreen as its new secularist and rationalist attitudes editor-in-chief, the website announced recently. HuffPost CEO are not to be denigrated for quick Jared Grusd described Polgreen as “somebody who is mission-driven, political advantage. somebody who believes in values and, very specifically, the deep authentic The Planning Commission has values of journalism and the role of journalism in today’s marketplace.” already been dismantled; further Polgreen has served as the Times’ West Africa Bureau chief, South Asia dismantling of national institutions Bureau chief and Johannesburg Bureau chief. is in the offing. A re-look at the The Columbia University graduate also acted as deputy International decision of dismantling national editor, helping to oversee the launch of The New York Times en Español, institutions is quite essential. and, in April, she became the editorial director for NYT Global, part of a

The Indian States were re- $50 million investment to grow the paper’s reach into multiple international < organised on a linguistic basis markets. on November 1, 1956. Linguistic

54 VIDURA January-March 2017 Odisha’s health communication fares rather poorly

The health issues that continue to plague Odisha underline the need for revamping the existing system. There have been gaps between the planning and implementation of various health programmes in the state because of poor communication. Concerted efforts by the government, NGOs, the media and civil society are needed to strategise and implement plans for health-related issues. Santosh Kumar Biswal has more

he Government of Odisha Malkangiri District; the SUM are only some reflections of the has put in place many health Hospital fire tragedy claimed 25 flaws in the system. Tmanagement strategies. lives, and the blame was laid at Take the case of the outbreak Interpersonal Communication the door of ‘faulty certifications’; of Japanese Encephalitis – the (IPC), Beahvioural Change the wide reportage on Dana Majhi, authorities’ stand, blaming the Communication (BCC) and a tribal, having to carry his wife’s monsoon for the spread of the Information, Education and body for over 12 km due to the lack disease, exposes the nonchalant Communication (IEC) are some of of ambulance facilities prompted attitude of the Department of them. Yet, there have been serious the National Human Rights Health Family Welfare and Women lapses on the health front in the Commission to ask the government and Child Development towards state of late. for an explanation; 53 infants lost the issue, and the reluctance Japanese Encephalitis is their lives at the Sishu Bhavan in to address it through effective spreading, and has taken a toll of Cuttack in 2015; the Health minister communication. over a hundred lives in the state’s stepped down from office – these The Department of Health and Family Welfare brings out a yearly communication calendar which provides health- related information. Through IPC, Swasthya Kantha Campaign, social mobilisation drives, folk shows, hoardings and mass media campaigns, information on various programmes under State Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) of the Odisha (National Health Mission) is being effectively disseminated. Many of the initiatives have become effective in mitigating health-related issues across the state. Mobile Kunji, a health communication strategy operating in 10 districts of the state on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A), is in full swing through the communication strategies of Facts for Life (FFL) Video, Participatory Learning and Action (PLA), Shakti Varta and

Department and Health Family Welfare, Government of Odisha Government Welfare, Photos: Department and Health Family Swathya Kantha campaigns. Posters such as these are meant to attract attention, trigger curiosity and The Swathya Kantha (Health create awareness about reproductive health. Wall) campaign, launched by

January-March 2017 VIDURA 55 chief minister Naveen Patnaik ensuring better communication. in 2011, is operational in several However, many of them are rural areas. The electronic unhappy with the present scenario. media campaign Kantha Kahe Samir Ranjan Mishra, director, Kahani telecast on Doordarshan Center for Integrated Sustainable every Tuesday and broadcast by Development, points out that AIR every Wednesday has a wide there have been gaps between reach. the planning and implementation According to a study, in villages, Dissemination of health information of various health programmes 92 per cent of the respondents material at Swathya Kantha. in the state because of poor see and 84 per cent of the communication. Moreover, people respondents are aware of accredited in rural Odisha are not aware social health activists (ASHAs) via of the 108 ambulance service. Swasthya Kantha. Even though Communication at the grassroots is 81 per cent of respondents report weak. Hence, health communicators good visibility of the health wall need to be trained. Digital and around 96 per cent of health communication interventions could walls are functional, only 28 per be a major step forward. cent of the respondents regularly Unlike crime and entertainment read the messages on it. A funds beats, media in Odisha does not crunch and irregular reviews of stress on health. Hence, health IEC and BCC activities affect its needs to be developed as a special Using traditional and folk media to efficacy. Also, the performance of spread pertinent messages. beat for the greater cause of the auxiliary nurse midwives, ASHAs society. It is quite apparent that and panchayati raj institutions is there is a missing link among yet to be enhanced to upgrade the mainstream media government level of health communication. officials and NGO staff, and this Both Mobile Kunji and Swathya has to be amicably bridged. There Kantha are are operational in is need for concerted efforts from Malkanagiri District. Why then did the government, NGOs, the media

more than 100 people succumb to and civil society to strategise and Japanese Encephalitis? The health implement plans for health-related < issues that continue to plague issues. the state underline the need for Social mobilisation drives are also revamping the existing system. An undertaken. [The writer is assistant professor, official of the Department of Symbiosis Institute of Media Health Family Welfare said the senior journalist, feels that the Odia and Communication, Symbiosis ICC, BCC and IEC activities were media fails to cover health- related International University, Pune.] hit by scarcity of funds. Also, re- issues in a critical manner. orientation of communication staff Several NGOs in the state have is an urgent need. been drawn into the issue of Journalists complain of inadequate communication about workshops, seminars and other Rajeev Beotra appointed CEO, HT English programmes and the government’s health policy. Several journalists Rajeev Beotra, who recently quit Star India as president of Ad Sales, will be taking over the reins at English, effective from December. He will working in Odia newspapers and HT be responsible for the P&L of HT English including Delhi, Mumbai, Punjab television channels are not skilled and other editions and will report to Rajiv Verma, CEO of HT Media. enough to report on health issues Beotra had joined Star India from Hindustan Times in January 2014 after such as Japanese Encephalitis. All spending more than eight years at HT. He has been mandated to synergise too often, there is a lack of critical the HT English editions, ensure speedier decision-making, optimise the assessment of health situations. price benefits for customers, and deliver HT’s commitment to give readers

Even Doordarshan and private an exceptional media experience that is informative, educational, and < television channels, as well as entertaining, and a key part of their daily lives. English newspapers, do not provide adequate and sustained coverage (Courtesy: exchange4media.com) of health issues. Bijay Mohanty, a

56 VIDURA January-March 2017 Can we look at a second coming of new-wave cinema? Several high-profile Hindi films have taken a beating at the box office recently.Bharat Dogra speculates on whether this will trigger the much-needed set of reforms in Bollywood. Overall, conditions are becoming conducive for new- wave cinema to re-emerge, but strong commitment and hard work by groups of film makers, artistes and technicians will be needed to make it happen, he says

series of box-office disasters given that these were made at very more recent stage in which several involving Bollywood’s top low budgets, they could still recover big corporate interests, including Aproducers and stars and their their costs and make modest profits. multinational companies, entered big budget films has forced several A somewhat similar but hopefully the field of Hindi film production. corporate entities to reconsider their wider breakthrough can and should However, the experience of some ambitious production plans for the be attempted now. of the leading corporate entities massive Hindi film market. The The market for Hindi films did not prove to a happy one as resulting turmoil will undoubtedly has always been a huge one, a several films produced by them cause difficulties in the near future factor which ensured the inflow and publicised with great fanfare but, from a wider and long-term of adequate finance from an early failed to do well at the box office perspective, this phase may even stage of the film industry when and, in some cases, even reported turn out to be a blessing in disguise the pattern of film making was huge losses. if it leads to some badly needed quite haphazard. Gradually a few One after another, much-talked- reforms. institutions like Bombay Talkies and about films backed by big banners The reforms can help improve Prabhat came to be recognised as failed to attract viewers. The list the economics of film-making in reliable centres of good film-making, includes Fitoor, Tamasha, Mohenjo Mumbai in significant way, and, attracting talent as well as finance. Daro, The Flying Jatt, Great Grand hopefully, spread to other regional In the post-Independence period, Masti, Bombay Velvet, Hawaizaada centres. What may ultimately prove the overall conditions remained and Tewar. Huge amounts were even more important is that these chaotic but thanks to their immense spent on the films and quite a reforms can help create conditions talent or huge popularity or both, few of the new, smart corporate in which new and younger film- a few outstanding individuals like youngsters who entered the film makers (plus some experienced but Vimal Roy, Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor, industry were left wondering neglected ones) have a better chance Dev Anand and V. Shantaram could where they had gone wrong, and of making and exhibiting films on a create institutions which supported how. They may not get enough wider diversity of issues which are teams of talented professionals in time to make amends, as some of closer to social reality and society’s various areas of film-making. their financial backers are already real needs compared to what is The next stage came with the scaling back plans of Hindi film normally offered by Bollywood increasing infiltration of finance production. (with some significant exceptions from dubious sources possibly The financial losses being cited in of course). linked with crime, particularly trade circles for some of the films are Old-timers will recall the new- smuggling. This led to increasing huge – for example Rs 550 million wave cinema heralded by films like need for government-supported (55 crore) for Fitoor. This brings Bhuvan Shome and Garam Hawa institutional finance which for some us to one of the biggest problems in Hindi, Nirmalayam (Malyalam) years became a significant supporter of film-making in Bollywood, one and Kaadu (Kannada) in the late of quality low-budget films. At the which has been worsening over the 1970s. People, fed up with big same time, on the strength of their years instead of being corrected. formula films, had welcomed the well-deserved reputation, film- The problem relates to an artificially aesthetically better and socially makers like Hrishikesh Mukerjee created over-dependence on a few more relevant films and lined up to and B.R. Chopra continued to make big stars for selling films and the see them, not just at film festivals quality films more or less steadily. consequent willingness to making but even in mainstream cinema Nevertheless, the need for better huge payments to them. halls. Of course, the audience for management practices was voiced The problem has become so huge such films was not too large but, from time to time and this led to the that even in these times of rising

January-March 2017 VIDURA 57 Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration: production costs, as much 50 per big star names. Story and script play significantly reduce budgets and, cent of the total budget may be taken a very important role, as also good in addition, create more space for up by payments to a few stars. In dialogues, lyrics, editing and all the new acting talent to flower in the addition, a lot of money gets spent other qualities of good film-making, film industry. on syncing the entire shooting including, of course, good acting Above all, the weakening hold of schedule to the dates given by the and direction. A preoccupation with the star system will make it possible stars who may be working on too the star system and other high-cost for new film-makers who could many projects simultaneously and gimmicks such as shooting in exotic not afford such stars and make on meeting the expenses of the locations have been an unnecessary their presence felt. It also improves retinues of stars. burden and led to the relative the prospects of film-makers who When the big corporate houses neglect of important aspects of film- want to make films based on social

came in, they did not really try making. reality, particularly if they can to challenge or correct such long It is in this context that the form collectives for mutual help < prevailing problems. Rather, they possibility arises that the recent and co-operation. appeared to have thought that huge losses suffered by several they could use the star system big-budget and big-star films may to their advantage. However, lead to a review of the existing things did not work out because economics of the film industry. If ultimately it is a good film which such a review causes a weakening the audience appreciates, and not of the star system, it will help

58 VIDURA January-March 2017 Of fiction, film, Bob Dylan and Marie Curie

The recent news of Bob Dylan having been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature drew quite a bit of controversy. But controversy is nothing new, neither to Dylan nor to the Nobel Prize, says Shoma A. Chatterji

any years ago, best-selling short stories, plays, dance dramas of the 500-odd songs that make American author Irving and stories for children. Applauding up 37 albums. His immortality is MWallace wrote The Prize, a Dylan’s contribution to the field of carved in his lyrics that continue to piece of fiction based on the subject literature, the Swedish Academy, thrill his fans around the world. of the Nobel Prize. A year after it the institution that bestows the Dylan’s response when officially was published in 1962, a celluloid prize, said that the honour was in informed about the Nobel Prize adaptation starring Paul Newman recognition of his “having created was lukewarm, probably because was released. The novel and, new poetic expressions within the his emotions, feelings and passion consequently, the film, is a suspense great American song tradition”. remain confined to his creations thriller, set against the backdrop of Dylan had won an honorary Pulitzer – his lyrics and his music. The events leading to the awarding of Prize in 2008 for his “profound Swedish Academy was for a long the Nobel Prize, the ceremony itself impact on popular music and while unable to learn whether and its aftermath. American culture, marked by lyrical he would attend the Nobel Prize Wallace, also screenwriter, compositions of extraordinary ceremony or not because he was authored many other books on a poetic power”. untraceable after the names of the variety of subjects and subsequently Robert Allen Zimmerman, better winners were announced. And then wrote The Writing of One Novel known to millions of fans as Bob came the shocking announcement, that fleshed out in minute detail Dylan, chose the name because he ending weeks of speculation: Bob the research he did. The book was influenced by the poetry of Dylan will not attend the Nobel was considered an outstanding Dylan Thomas. Songwriter, singer, Prize ceremony next month owing illustration of how an author’s artiste and writer, his influence to “pre-existing commitments”. mind works in conceiving an idea reaches beyond the country of his for a novel and how he researches, birth. He was an artiste who started records the research, writes, out as part of the folk music revival rewrites, edits, and weaves fiction movement; his songs evolved into with fact to arrive at a complete anthems for the American Civil novel. Rights and Anti-war Movements. The recent news of Bob Dylan His most prolific period was the having been awarded the 1960s, with songs like Blowin’ in Nobel Prize for Literature has the Wind and The Times They Are drawn probably the maximum a-Changin acquiring cult status. controversy around this category Unlike other winners of the of the prestigious prize. A report Nobel Prize for Literature, those in the Hindustan Times, Delhi, says, who have never heard of Dylan will “Bob Dylan has become the first not find any published work of his songwriter in the history of the displayed or stocked in any book prize to win it, taking many by shop, with the possible exception surprise.” of Tarantula, a strange blend of This is not entirely correct because, experimental poetry and stream though Rabindranath Tagore won of consciousness prose that Dylan the prize in the same category for said he never wanted to write, and Bob Dylan has become the first Gitanjali, his collection of poems, he Chronicles: Volume One, the first songwriter in the history of the Nobel also wrote songs, composed music part of his memoirs. His rich and Prize for Literature to win it, taking for the songs, and authored novels, immortal treasure lies in the lyrics many by surprise.

January-March 2017 VIDURA 59 children. The affair broke up under tremendous pressure from the media, with Langevin’s wife garnering all the sympathy. The member who defended Curie’s selection for the second time, saying the Prize was bestowed not on the person but on the success of his/her discovery, was one of those who opposed Curie’s coming to attend the ceremony. “Had we known earlier, we would not have given you the prize. But now, we are asking you not to come to Stockholm to receive the prize,” was the message that she got. A shocked Marie wrote back, “The prize is being bestowed for the discovery of polonium and radium. I do not think that my Photos: Internet research and my personal life Marie Curie won the Nobel Prize twice, once in 1903 for Physics and, eight should be linked. On principle, I years later, for Chemistry. cannot accept that a scandalous attack on a person should cast a Dylan, 75, is no stranger to of whom went on to win the Nobel shadow on the evaluation of that controversy. His entire career in Prize years later. Her meeting with person’s research.” music and poetry is generously Pierre Curie changed the direction Curie went to Stockholm to dotted with them. The first was of her life forever. The 1903 Prize for receive the prize. In her acceptance rooted in his decision to abandon Physics went jointly to Marie Curie, speech, she detailed how much his folk roots and switch to an Pierre Curie and Beckerel for the of the research was done by her electrified Rock N’ Roll sound at discovery of radioactivity, and the husband (Pierre) and how much the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. attendant research and analysis. by her. Mathematician Emile Borel, The audience responded with loud Years later, after her husband scientific director of the Ecole boos. The latest, around the Nobel died tragically in a road accident, Normale Superieure, sheltered Prize, brings to mind an interesting Marie Curie was chosen for the Curie and her daughters even when anecdote about one Nobel Laureate Nobel Prize in Chemistry. When her the minister for Public Instruction who was asked by the Swedish name came up for discussion, some threatened to fire him for sullying Academy not to come personally members of the committee raised a French academic honour. The to collect the award. It happened in few doubts. But Marie was chosen antagonism against Curie faded 1911. The winner was Marie Curie. “in recognition of her services to the only after World War I broke out. Incidentally, 2016 marks her 150th advancement of chemistry by the Curie journeyed from one war birth anniversary. discovery of the elements radium field to another with her X-ray Marie Curie won the Nobel Prize and polonium, by the isolation of machines to take care of injured twice, once in 1903 for Physics and, radium and the study of the nature French soldiers. By the time she eight years later, for Chemistry. and compounds of this remarkable passed away of leukaemia in July Apart from the historic achievement element”. Then, why was she 1934 at the age of 66, Curie was an of being chosen for two Nobel Prizes requested not to accept the honour international celebrity. Had death for two different disciplines within in person? evaded her for one more year, she a gap of eight years, she was one The problem began with a would have witnessed daughter of the most formidable women in scandal that rocked the scientific Irene and son-in-law Frederick

history because her life story is one world. Curie, then 38 and a widow, being bestowed the Nobel Prize of struggle against extreme poverty, was romantically linked to fellow- for their further research on < lack of proper space, environment, physicist Paul Langevin five years radioactivity. equipment and money to carry her junior and once a brilliant on with the unending demands of student of her husband, Pierre. (The writer is a senior journalist scientific research and, of course, The scandal snowballed because and film historian based in Kolkata.) bringing up her two daughters, one Langevin was married, with four

60 VIDURA January-March 2017 CONTEMPORARY BOLLYWOOD CINEMA Defying, confronting and challenging patriarchy

Visual imagery has changed. Perceptions have dramatically altered. Newspaper headlines, TV grabs, ad campaigns and Bollywood – virtually every media platform has been working to create a very progressive and modern face of India’s women which are mostly cosmetic or spiced up to add the needed glamour. But has reality changed? Unfortunately, it hasn’t, says Shoma A. Chatterji

he portrayal of women in Bollywood has changed Tdramatically in some ways and radically in other ways in recent times. And Pink is perhaps the culmination of this. However, it is interesting to note that not a single poster of the movie features only the three girls around whom the story revolves – they are charged with a crime they either did not commit or perpetrated in self-defence. Most different example of the modern, posters carry prominent images urban woman. Ashima Roy (Yami of Amitabh Bachchan, who has a Gautam), who the sperm-donating major role in the film. hero Vicky Arora (Ayushmann Indian women, urban or rural, Khurrana) falls in love with, is a no- educated or uneducated, married, nonsense, stiff-upper-lipped bank divorced, single, deserted or officer who is not easily taken in widowed, are going through a state by the naïve flirting of the young

of financial and social flux so far as Photos: SC/Internet man. She submits subsequently, their working lives are concerned, but cannot accept the truth of her irrespective of their occupation. The cart began rolling with husband being a prolific sperm A housewife who does not earn is English-Vinglish. The film takes donor till she is convinced of the not considered a ‘working’ woman pot-shots at the patriarchal welfare-motive behind it. though she is working 24x7 just marginalisation of a housewife Sharat Katariya’s Dum Lagake fulfilling her duties as wife and though she is a self-respecting Haisha places the size-zero concept mother. Do our films reflect this earning woman, simply because of a heroine on its head. The film patriarchal belief? They did, till she cannot converse fluently in is about a mismatched marriage around a decade ago. But not English. Shashi Godbole (Sridevi) between Prem Prakash Tiwari anymore. earns a comfortable income through (Ayushmann Khurrana) who owns her home-based business making a cassette shop in Haryana and the laddus. In the US, she gets an ego- highly educated Sandhya (Bhumi boost when her English teacher calls Pednekar), who holds a very good her an “entrepreneur.” But back home, she is made the butt of jokes by her husband and daughter. Her husband has the gumption to tell her to give up her laddu business and she stares back at him and asks “Why?” Pictures on this page and the next Shoojit Sircar’s wonderful film show posters / images from some of the Vicky Donor produced jointly films mentioned by the writer. with John Abraham throws up a

January-March 2017 VIDURA 61 job but is really fat. The marriage arranged by their parents but against Prem’s wishes results in bad blood between the couple. He makes no bones about his disappointment with his wife and shares this with his friends. But Sandhya refuses go on a crash diet or join a gym. She is happy the way she is and is in no mood to please her husband. In the end, the husband learns to accept her as she is and the film ends on a happy but not a patriarchal note. Meera (Anushka Sharma) in NH10 defines the sheer power of being a woman, bringing out the strength inherent in a high- powered corporate executive forced by circumstances to resort to violence – the only window of escape to survival. But every time she seeks escape, the route is filled in these films. There is no attempt an otherwise unpredictable story, with more villains than the ones to veil the harshness of the subject with the box office in mind. In that went before. She invents and or the underlying brutality of the Queen, Kangana Ranaut delivers improvises her own arms and exacts narrative with surface romanticism a power-packed performance her revenge, to walk back, tired and or cinematographic glamour. that offers brilliant entertainment sad and beaten because she could Strangely, the characters hardly find value, but the film fails to do away not save her husband and did not a place either in the reviews of these with its brazenly commercial ever want to resort to violence. films or in terms of the sociological packaging, including a Paris setting Take also films like Parched, impact of their characterisations. for additional box office value. And Akira, Badlapur and perhaps Place these against three films sorry, there is no woman-oriented Talaash. What they have in common with ‘bold’ women who are not half agenda involved. is that, apart from the fact that they as bold as their stories spell out. Contemporary Bollywood cine- all feature sex workers, they are sex The theatres a couple of years ago ma as a medium of mass appeal workers with a difference. Unlike virtually soaked in celluloid tales which inspires, influences and Nagesh Kukunoor’s Lakshmi, they revolving around ‘bold’ women. motivates the audience, also has do not look for sympathy. Each Gulab Gang, Highway and Queen another use for the image of the woman is very strong, lives life on were slick, well-made, informative woman within its framework – this her own terms and does not try and socially relevant. But were sometimes peeps out and offers to curry emotional favour or seek they truly aimed at creating mass the potential to defy, confront and martyrdom. Realism, in the shape awareness about issues around challenge patriarchy. < of characterisation, script, dialogue us? Are these filmmakers shocked and narrative define the sex workers by the atrocities against women in public domain with justice dragging its feet? Or, are they ready-made, cleverly structured packages Log on to riding piggy back on the subject of women? www.pressinstitute.in Gulab Gang, produced by Anubhav Sinha and directed by to read more such Shoumik Sen, was more song-and- dance than true grit, distorting the articles authentic picture of the woman who founded the movement and the women who are carrying it ahead. Highway, directed by Imtiaz Ali, falls back on a cheap gimmick in

62 VIDURA January-March 2017 REMEMBERING JAMES SILK BUCKINGHAM (1786-1855) Voicing Indian opinion, fighting for a liberal press

He was the first European to fight for a liberal press in India and advocated self-rule for Indians – a man who had the courage of his convictions. He was the father of Indian journalism, just as A.O. Hume was the founder of the Indian National Congress and the father of Indian nationalism. C.V. Narasimha Reddi provides a portrait of James Silk Buckingham and dwells on his times

wo dominating personalities On 2nd October, 1818, the Calcutta The Letters to the Editor column of great vision – James Journal made its appearance, with was a notable feature of the Calcutta TSilk Buckingham and Raja James Silk Buckingham as the Journal and was very different Rammohan Roy – appeared on the editor. It was a bi-weekly issue of from what used to appear in the Indian press scene in the early 19th eight-quarto size pages, priced at earlier newspapers, especially the Century. Together, they fought one rupee. It went on to become Hicky’s Gazette. The space was open not only for a liberal press in India the first daily to be published from to anyone with a grievance. One but also for the abolition of sati Calcutta. Buckingham described letter which the Calcutta Journal (where a widow is burnt alive on the functions of an editor as “to carried was from a military man her husband’s funeral pyre). In admonish Governors of their who questioned the promotion fact, James Silk Buckingham was duties, to warn them furiously of system in the Army and wrote that perhaps the first European who their faults and to tell disagreeable he looked forward to a time when opposed the East India Company’s truths”. The journal would be a power would be in the hands of rule, besides advocating an elected chronicle of political, commercial those who would protect Indians. Indian legislature. Jawaharlal and literary news and views, A furious government traced the Nehru described him as “among the he declared. In the absence of author – one Lt Col Robinson of earliest champions of the freedom a legislature, he considered the His Majesty’s 24th Regiment of of the press in India”. Sadly, he is press a very necessary check on an Nagpur – and ordered him to leave now a forgotten hero. irresponsible government. India. That was how the press was Born on 25th August, 1786, Buckingham brought a breath of suppressed. Buckingham was basically a fresh air to an atmosphere polluted However, in another instance, mariner and a Whig in political by the intrigues and scandal- when Buckingham questioned the affiliation. Most of his youth mongering in the European credentials of one Dr Jameson, who was spent travelling widely in community. He focused on news was appointed to four positions the Arab countries. In June 1818, of local conditions, the life of the he was commanding the ship, people and constructive criticism Humayoon Sha, when he was rather than invective. He published ordered to proceed to the coast of extracts from the home newspapers, Madagascar carrying slaves. Rather though the choice was coloured by than embark on such an obnoxious his own political inclinations. The task, Buckingham surrendered his carelessness of the police and the command in protest. fact that certain Europeans were He published two books – Travels a constant nuisance on the streets in Palestine and Travels among the of Calcutta during nights were Arab Tribes – as well as articles fearlessly pointed out. on his impressions of the Arab Charts and illustrations were countries in some Calcutta journals. also used to add to the impact of They attracted the attention of John the reports. Through the journal, Palmer, head of a well-known Buckingham introduced English mercantile house, who felt the need literary masterpieces such as Lord

for a journal to voice the problems Byron’s Don Juan and the Sir Walter Photo: NR of merchants. Scott’sIvanhoe. James Silk Buckingham.

January-March 2017 VIDURA 63 simultaneously – superintendent of his attitude to the press, became True to his promise, Buckingham the Medical School, secretary of the officiating governor-general in 1823. started a journal, Oriental Herald Medical Board, surgeon of the Free The tide turned against Buckingham. and Colonial Review in London School and clerk to the committee His repeated disclosures of official (1824-29). It reproduced articles for controlling the expenditure of malpractice and his success in from the Calcutta Journal in the fight stationery – Lord Hastings, who securing redress of public grievances for freedom of the press and other was the then Governor-General, proved a danger to the East India problems in India. Buckingham took no action against the editor. Company. John Adam appointed continued to fight against East Editorials in the Calcutta Journal former editor of Asiatic Mirror, Rev India Company rule from London. concentrated on the omissions and Samuel James Bryce, as a clerk of The rulers could hardly tolerate commissions of government policies the stationery, at a salary of 600 the reprints and, consequently, in regard to military and public pounds per annum. Buckingham Sandford Arnot, assistant editor, affairs. Buckingham was fearless not only criticised the appointment Calcutta Journal, was not only in condemning Hindu customs like but also made a sarcastic remark imprisoned but also deported. sati and the government’s failure that the knowledge of the clerk Soon after this, the Calcutta Journal to put an end to them. He was a of the stationery may seem to be closed down. friend of the Indian-owned press incompatible with theological Buckingham became an MP and defended its right to exist to education. A furious John Adam in 1832 and not only opposed voice Indian opinion. In tune with revoked Buckingham’s license and the renewal of the East India his editorial policy, Buckingham he was deported to England in Company’s charter but also urged gave prominence to news and 1823. the institution of posts of viceroy views in Bengali and Persian Though Buckingham was and secretary of state for India. He journals and published a summary deported, his journal continued to pressed for an elected Legislature of such news in his own journal. function under the editorship of to reflect Indian public opinion. In He did not spare even the chief Sandys who, having been born in 1832, Buckingham also advocated justice, the Governor of Madras or India, could not be deported. While rule by Indians in India. At the time the Lord Bishop of Calcutta. In fact, leaving India, Buckingham said “I of his death in London, on June 30, in 1819, the editor was warned for would lose no time in directing all 1855, Buckingham was at work on attacking the Governor of Madras my personal exertions in another his autobiography. < in his journal. With his fearless and higher quarter to obtain for my writing Buckingham infused a new countrymen in India the freedom (The writer is editor, Public dimension into Indian journalism. and independence of mind.” He Relations Voice, and former director, As the Calcutta Journal became also promised that he would try to Information and Public Relations popular, other papers like the stage a comeback to India. Department, Andhra Pradesh.) Government Calcutta Gazette, the India Gazette, the Bengal Hurkaru and Asiatic Mirror launched violent campaigns against it. The Asiatic Mirror made false allegations against Buckingham. However, with the demise of that paper, the Calcutta Journal had increased its popularity and, by 1822, the subscribers numbered more than 1000 – civil servants, military officers, merchants and the educated section of Calcutta. The paper became a success, with its own building and a new printing press imported Journals from London. It was described as well-conducted, independent and a clever publication that gave voice to the people. Unfortunately for Buckingham, when Lord Hastings’ term came to an end, John Adam, known as Adamant Adam because of

64 VIDURA January-March 2017 NOSTALGIA The cleft-chinned, virile star of Hollywood’s Golden Age

Kirk Douglas who celebrated his 100th birthday on December 9 last year is one of the imperishable figures of Hollywood’s Golden Era. Partab Ramchand pays tribute to the legendary star and actor who played several memorable and varied roles in his 60-year career

e is among the last surviving Productions, named after his stars associated with the mother. HGolden Era of the 1930s Douglas’s durability was and '40s when Hollywood made legendary and he remained a numerous classic films. And as he major box office star through the celebrated his 100th birthday on 1950s, '60s and '70s, churning out December 9, it can only be hoped one memorable film after another. that Kirk Douglas was in a condition His versatility is best underscored to at least have hazy memories of by the list of the movies he made the era he helped create. As only to during that extended period. be expected, given his age, he is not Whether it was serious dramas exactly in the pink of health. But or epics, Westerns or war movies, he has always remained a fighter Douglas excelled in the role and as he proved following the severe made for compelling viewing. In stroke he suffered in 1996. After a quick succession he made Detective

regime of daily voice therapy that Story, Ace in the Hole, The Bad and Photo: Internet lasted several months, Douglas’s the Beautiful, 20000 Leagues under Kirk Douglas. ability to speak returned although the Sea, Lust for Life, Gunfight at it was still limited. But he was able the OK Corral, Paths of Glory, The to accept an honorary Academy Vikings, Spartacus, Lonely are the focusing on renewing his spiritual Award two months later and thank Brave, Seven Days in May, The War and religious life. the audience. He wrote about this Wagon, and There was a Crooked Known for the cleft in his chin, experience in a book, My Stroke of Man. an inimitable manner of vocal Luck. Douglas maintained his delivery that appeared to emanate Douglas came in only towards popularity in the 1980s and '90s, from between clenched teeth and the end of Hollywood’s Golden slipping comfortably into strong a strong, muscular body, Douglas Age, making his debut with Barbara character roles besides making received three Academy Award Stanwyck in The Strange Love of several TV movies. Indeed, during nominations – for Champion, Martha Ivers (1946), but by the end a 60-year acting career, Douglas The Bad and the Beautiful, of the decade he starred in one of appeared in over 90 films besides and Lust for Life; an Oscar for his best movies, Champion (1949) producing under the Bryna Lifetime Achievement in 1996; the in which his tough guy image was Productions banner films as varied American Film Institute’s Lifetime established. A non-conformist and as Paths of Glory and Spartacus. Achievement Award in 1991; and fiercely independent, he decided to As late as 2003, he appeared in It the Presidential Medal of Freedom succeed as a star from then on and Runs in the Family, interestingly in 1981 from Ronald Reagan, his as he famously said, “I don’t think enough, along with his son Michael contemporary from Hollywood’s I’d be much of an actor without Douglas. Golden Era. He is currently No 17 vanity. And I’m not interested in A well known philanthropist, on the American Film Institute’s list being a modest actor.” Early in his Douglas has donated to various of greatest male screen legends. < Hollywood career, he demonstrated schools, medical facilities and his independent streak by breaking other non-profit organisations in (The writer is a film buff.) his studio contracts to gain total California. The 1996 stroke which control over his projects, forming followed surviving a helicopter his own movie company, Bryna crash in 1991 has led to Douglas

January-March 2017 VIDURA 65 NOSTALGIA A former reporter's memories of 'the best place in the world'

Today, like everyone else he says he is a ‘victim’ of technology and works from the comfort of his home with all kinds of information being available on the Internet. Partab Ramchand recalls his regular visits to the libraries in Chennai where he spent a lot of time assimilating knowledge and doing a lot of research in the course of his profession

eace and quiet is for proud of my association with the and stay till closing time, which libraries,” says Bette library which lasted almost half a was 6 pm. And if there was a movie “PDavis in the 1950 classic century. As a teenager, I remember they would stay back for that too. film, All about Eve. There is a lot going to the old premises of the Over the past three decades, of truth in that even though the library which houses the Bank of however, because of circumstances legendary actress’ memorable America building on Mount Road. I am sure all of us can comprehend dialogue was meant to be rather That was in the late Sixties. I also things have become very different. caustic. I have spent a good remember the Madras public’s The place has become a fortress; many hours of the day in various open mouthed admiration for the perfectly understandable given the libraries and the time I have been majestic new premises at Gemini volatile nature of protests especially there has been marked by imbibing Circle when it was inaugurated in against the US Consulate buildings knowledge about various subjects 1969 and where it still stands as part the world over. It all started with and, hopefully, becoming a more of the American Consulate. the hostage crisis in Iran around erudite person. One just cannot The best time I had at the library 1980 and since then as we all know think of a better place in which the was in the Seventies and early the situation has become worse time can be spent more usefully Eighties when I was with the Indian with the result that security is very and creatively. Express doubling up as a sports strict and entry comes with a lot of These days, of course, there may reporter and film critic. Not only restrictions. not be much need of making the was I a daily visitor to the USIS As a result, it has lost its old charm trip to the library, for anything or American Center as a film buff and not many people frequent and everything is available on the I also frequented the lovely little the library as they used to and I Internet. Just sit at your table top auditorium in the basement to see myself go once in a way basically (or laptop) go to Google, Wikipedia, some of the best movies I have ever to relive my memories. And what YouTube or other relevant sites seen. For me and many of my friends memories! I shall always cherish and almost any information can the library was “the best place in the time I spent at the American be obtained about a person or a the world” as we used to describe library assimilating knowledge, place, a discovery or a disease. And it. The books were informative, making good use of the reference while it certainly is a convenient magazines colourful, newspapers books which were very useful tool to have, I frequently go off entertaining, the staff affable, in my professional capacity as a on a trip down memory lane and helpful and courteous, and the air- journalist and making friends with think about the leisurely hours I conditioning – so important in a nice people. Yes, nice people and have spent at the libraries in the place like Madras – was perfect. amiable surroundings. That would American Centre, British Council, And, of course, on Election Day be my abiding memory of the Max Mueller Bhavan and Russian every four years, the library wore a American Library. Consulate. carnival look as they were festoons, But then the British Council just Among all the ‘temples of balloons, TV programmes and giant off Mount Road and behind the old knowledge’, pride of place must boards showing the latest results. I American Centre Library would go to the American Centre Library know of many people who would come a close second. My two where I used to spend hours making walk in around opening time 9.30 passions in life are films and sports maximum use of the available am, walk across to Woodlands and if the American Centre Library facilities. Even though I have not Drive-in Restaurant around 1 pm came up trumps in improving visited it for a couple of years I am for lunch, come back to the library my knowledge about films, the

66 VIDURA January-March 2017 Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration:

British Council was where I went expected some amount of policing ways, this is more convenient, not when it came to sports books and was required. I am afraid my visits to mention much more faster. All magazines. The facilities there, too, to the Russian Cultural Centre and the same, there are times when were worldclass and the staff no the Max Mueller Bhavan were very I take off on a nostalgic trip, go less friendly and helpful. Indeed, I limited and I have only fleeting down memory lane and remember made a lot of friends over the years memories of these places. the good times spent at the various at the two libraries and some of The past decade or so I too have libraries. Oh yes, as Mary Hopkin them have stood the test of time. become a ‘victim’ of technology. The sang, “Those were the days…” < The British Council screened films research for my articles is all done in their courtyard and I remember on the Internet in the comfort of my seeing a lot of British classics over own home where I sit in my shorts the years. The security there was and hammer away at the computer not as stifling but as only to be as I am doing right now. In many

January-March 2017 VIDURA 67 Book Review

Bringing alive the Tagore household as well as the milieu

and framed against a period when a new wind was blowing in the social milieu and the Freedom Movement was getting momentum. This makes the work an absorbing read, both aesthetically satisfying as the author generously intersperses the narrative with Tagore’s poetry, their contextual references, also giving a glimpse of the andar-mahal (palace insides) of Jorasanko, not so idyllic as would seem but nonetheless representative of the time. Hence, it would seem rather shocking today that even in this liberal, highly-educated family, girls of the family were married off in early adolescence and daughters- in-law entered the portals as young an age as nine. Yet, later, into this house Tagore brought a child-widow, Pratima, as his daughter-in-law. Naturally, Rabindranath Tagore looms large in the narrative and the women characters – his relatives, daughters, muses – are intertwined around his immense personality. But readers also get introduced to the sensitive Kadambari, Tagore’s elder brother’s wife, who helped his hidden creativity to bloom (she committed suicide at 23), dynamic Jnanadanandini, another daughter-in-law of the house who broke tradition by travelling all across India with her ICS officer husband and also introduced the way the saree is worn, still followed today, She is often called the DAUGHTERS OF JORASANKO ‘first modern woman’ of Bengal. AUTHOR: Aruna Chakravarti Tagore’s wife Mrinalini who died young, Ranu PUBLISHER: Harper Collins Adhikari (later Lady Ranu Mukherjee known for PAGES: 327 her great beauty and finesse and the force behind PRICE: Rs 399 initiating Academy of Fine Arts) who inspired the poet to come out of listlessness after many personal In the illustrious house of the Tagores, at the forefront tragedies, Argentinean Victoria Ocampo who was his of the Bengal Renaissance, there were many women muse in his autumn years (he named her Bijoya, the whose contribution was no less in fields such as arts victorious) all form part of the book. and culture. There were also those who remained The author also brings out minor characters, women behind the curtain of domesticity without a voice of who rebelled, even questioned the poet on his their own. Aruna Chakravarti’s Daughters of Jorasanko judgment, the poet himself regretting that he could is the story of these women. Though presented like not ensure a happy married life of his daughters, and a novel, the women who walk the corridors of the lost them to untimely death. These are the nuggets palace of Jorasanko and, later, Rabindranath Tagore’s that often do not come out in other narratives. beloved Santiniketan, are real-life characters; their Chakravarti’s book helps us to understand the times names too are retained without change. In that sense we have passed through in the pre-Independence era. it could be called a semi-fictional work. As she says in the foreword, the book “…maps the The book is a sequel to the author’s earlier work, histories of the unknown women of the Tagore family

Jorasanko, which sketched the history of the Tagore in the aftermath of the Bengal Renaissance, [and] it family who made the mansion in North Kolkata their also foregrounds the events of the poet’s life and the < home. The present book is time-framed between 1902 way he saw those events.” to the death of the poet in 1941. Chakravarti’s skill lies in blending the essence of (Reviewed by Ranjita Biswas.) fiction with in-depth research on the famous family

68 VIDURA January-March 2017 Book Review

specificity of Tamil cinema and its complex relationship Presenting a ringside view of with Hollywood. Madras studios Given this background, it comes as no surprise that Madras Studios comes across as a well-researched work. Indeed, the first thing that strikes the reader on completion of the book is the amount of hard work and deep study and investigation that Pillai has put into various aspects of how the studios functioned and how the films were made along with interesting details, anecdotes and quotes of all those involved from studio heads to actors to technicians. For example, not many may know that Sivaji Ganesan was paid a meagre Rs 250 a month for his famous role in Parasakthi or that S.S. Vasan, showing rare enterprise as a boy, commenced his career through the VPP – Value Payable by Post – business. In the course of detailing the working of the five major studios, Pillai focuses on some major classics and so we have long but fascinating chapters on Uthama Puthiran, Manthiri Kumari, Parasakthi, Avvaiyar, Pathala Bhairavi and Missiamma. The close relationship between politics and cinema in Madras has been well documented and Pillai takes care not only to mention this but also give new details particularly MADRAS STUDIOS - Narrative, genre and with reference to the Dravidian Movement and its ideology in Tamil cinema influence on Tamil cinema. AUTHOR: Swarnavel Eswaran Pillai Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the book PUBLISHER: Sage Publications India centres round the stories of the studio heads and PAGES: 332 how they came about establishing the business. TR PRICE: Rs 1250 Sundaram of Modern Theatres, S.S. Vasan of Gemini Studios, A.V. Meiyappa Chettiyar of AVM studios, L.V. The contribution of the Tamil film industry to the Prasad of Prasad Studios and Nagi Reddy of Vijay- growth, development and popularity of Indian cinema Vauhini are all portrayed as larger than life figures but the world over is well known. The output of popular with a human touch. There are some dull passages and highly acclaimed films in the Tamil language is because of the author’s emphasis on facts and figures inarguably the most influential after Hindi in terms but the interesting bits more than make up for this. of scale of production and reception. Indeed, many Pillai notes that traces of the studio system and its leading Hindi film stars have spoken about the high continuing influence in terms of narratives and genres level of professionalism in film-making in Madras can still be seen in Tamil cinema of today, particularly (now Chennai) and have readily come over to appear in the films made during the past decade. Thus, there in movies made in the southern metropolis. are many references to the movies made even in the Much of the lofty reputation stems from the 21st Century making the book up-to-date. Many rare studio system in Madras which modeled itself on photos add immense value to the book. the famed studio system of Hollywood in the 1930s, Overall, Madras Studios is a must read for anyone Forties and Fifties. The five major studios in the associated with or interested in Tamil films. It presents southern metropolis have been Modern Theatres, a ringside view of Madras studios; it is meticulously AVM, Gemini, Prasad and Vijay-Vauhini. Through researched as the author has combed through the vast the years, some of the most popular and critically archives of Tamil cinema writings backed by detailed acclaimed films have been made in these studios but interviews and close reading of the films he writes in the book the author has concentrated on the period about. As one critic has written: “It is indisputable 1937-1957 when the studio system was at its peak. that this book will emerge as a standard bearer for

Pillai is well qualified to write the book. An assistant scholarship on cinema studios and will be an extremely

professor in English and in the Media and Information hard act to follow.” That is the kind of praise this book < Departments at Michigan State University, he is a is deserving of. graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India and an accomplished documentarian. His research (Reviewed by Partab Ramchand.) areas include the history, theory and production of documentaries and experimental films and the

January-March 2017 VIDURA 69 REMEMBERING M. BALAMURALIKRISHNA (1930-2016) A legendary musician who was full of love and great charm

M. Balamuralikrishna was the rare genius that is the stuff of which legends are made – singer, composer, instrumentalist, linguist and a vaggeyakara (writer-composer) of the highest calibre. A yuga purusha (immortal being) indeed. Seetha Ratnakar says she was truly blessed to have known him, learnt from him, interacted with him, worked with him and been the recipient of his warmth and affection. She pays a loving tribute

have vivid memories of grow-ing to have had such memorable scintillating tillanas along with my up in the midst of a great cultural interactions which nurtured in me a sister, Ratna Papa. It was challen- Imilieu where many great deeper understanding of the divine ging to say the least but the songs artists were like extended family art. were infused with so much intrinsic members of our household and In 1961, my mother, Vinjamuri joy that they translated effortlessly music used to be our staple ‘diet’. Anasuya Devi, requested into dance. The highlight of our Padma Vibhushan Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna-garu to sing artistic career of course was when Balamuralikrishna was one such playback for a Kannada feature the great maestro sang for the dance family friend, and he was largely film Mahatma Kabir, for which she drama, Vipranarayana, where my responsible for inculcating in me a was the music composer. Since I sister did the lead role of Deva Devi profound love for classical music. I was acting in the film, I was lucky and I was Lord Ranganadha. This grew up listening to his songs and enough to watch and enjoy the entire was the very first time he sang live interacting with him at different recording process, noting how he for a dance performance and we levels. He was an affable, easy- sang even the most complicated were the blessed beneficiaries of going person and kept us all in lines with consummate ease. this historic artistic experience. splits with his ready wit. As a dancer, I have happy We travelled together from But when Balamuralikrishna memories of performing intricate Madras to Hyderabad for the show sang, he transported us to another rhythmic patterns for his and I remember that we got stuck realm by the sheer genius of his musicality. I used to be mesmerised by the rich timbre of his voice, his crisp enunciation, the ease with which he covered lowest to the highest octaves in the span of a few seconds, and the depth of emotion in his singing. His melodious rendition of Nagumomu, Pibare Rama Rasam, Yaamihe and Nee Namamu Naa Jeevamu are the earliest recollections of favourites that date back to when I was a five-year-old. Some years later, I remember going to All India Radio with my aunt who worked there as Folk Music producer, and Balamuralikrishna- garu taught me Swati Thirunal’s Jamuna Kinare Pyare. Every nuance that he sang that day is still clearly and deeply etched in my mind

even after five decades. My focus Photo: SR later shifted to classical dance from Balamuralikrishna presenting the Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Samman Carnatic music, but I was fortunate Award to Seetha’s (left) mother, Kalaprapoorna Vinjamuri Anasuya Devi.

70 VIDURA January-March 2017 in a traffic jam and missed the concert was before an invited very special birthday to cherish and train. Balamuralikrishna remained audience and both the artists gave reminisce. unperturbed even though we took a scintillating performance that It is difficult to come to terms with the next train to Warangal and kept the viewers rivetted for more the fact that he has left this material completed the rest of the journey than three hours. world, but there is a timelessness by bus and taxi and reached the Balamuralikrishna-garu graced to his music and a freshness to his Ravindra Bharathi auditorium my house with his presence on 6th singing that make him immortal. barely in time for the show. August in 2012, to personally hand I am grateful to God that in some

And what a show it was! Lilting over the Sangeet Natak Akademi small way I have also contributed lyrics in the Yakshagana style by Tagore Samman award to my to keep the music of this legendary < our great uncle, Padma Bhushan mother, Vinjamuri Anasuya Devi. musician alive. Devulapalli Krishna Sastri, brilliant Since it happened to be my birthday, music by Balantrapu Rajanikanta I had invited some close friends (The writer was former assistant Rao and superlative singing and family. He was the epitome of station director, Doordarshan, whose by Balamuralikrishna-garu and charm as he posed for pictures with area of specilisation for more than four Vinjamuri Lakshmi, exemplary everyone and graciously joined us decades was art and culture.) choreography by our revered for a celebratory lunch making it a guru, Padma Bhushan Vempati Chinna Satyam, and outstanding performance by all the dancers – all these factors created visual magic New editor-in-chief for that made Vipranaraya a most Prabhat Khabar memorable dance experience. I Ashutosh Chaturvedi, Amar Ujala’s executive editor, has been appointed was so fortunate to be a part of this the group editor of Prabhat Khabar. He has 30 years of experience in hallmark production though at that journalism and was associated with BBC for eight years (three years in time I was too young to realise the London and years years in the Delhi office). Chaturvedi started his career magnitude of its significance. as a trainee journalist in Maya and then moved to India Today, Sunday I joined Doordarshan, Madras, Observer, Dainik Jagran, followed by BBC. He has wide experience across in 1975 and a year later I was reporting, production of newspaper, and website. He was also a key given independent charge of member of the launching team of the BBC Hindi website.

producing a fortnightly magazine Chaturvedi has played an important role in the expansion of Amar Ujala programme in Telugu. I requested and was looking after the entire news operation of the Amar Ujala < Balamuralikrishna-garu to com- Group. pose music and sing for the inaugural programme, which (Courtesy: exchange4media.com) he complied graciously with his effusive charm. He composed such New CEO for Zee News regional channels unforgettable melodies and one of them, Oka Thummeda Madhilo Jagdish Chandra will be joining ZEE News as CEO Regional Channels, Jhummandi penned by Devulapalli which includes Zee Marudhara Rajasthan, Zee Madhya Pradesh- Krishna Sastri, still rings fresh in Chhatisgarh, Zee Purvaiya (Bihar-Jharkhand), Zee Uttar Pradesh- my ears. Uttrakhand (India 24x7), Zee Salam, 24 Ghanta, Zee 24 Taas and Zee Over the years, I have had Punjab-Hariyana-Himachal Pradesh. Chandra will be on a five-year the privilege of recording contract. Balamuralikrishna-garu’s Carnatic Chandra is credited for turning around a loss-making regional News vocal, violin and viola concerts, Network ETV into a profit-making venture. He was a senior administrator

Jugalbandhis, light music, fusion in Rajasthan before he took voluntary retirement in 2008 to join ETV and many thematic presentations. Madhya Pradesh and ETV Rajasthan and also head the editorial section. < I also recorded two vibrant dance dramas, Narakasura Moksham (Courtesy: exchange4media.com) and Neela Madhavam, for which he composed music and sang. The last recording with him was an exceptional jugalbandhi with Pandit Ajay Chakraborthy in 2010 to commemorate the golden jubilee celebrations of Doordarshan. The

January-March 2017 VIDURA 71 REMEMBERING OM PURI (1950-2017) A versatile performer, and a brilliant ‘crossover’ actor What makes Om Puri stand out among hundreds of actors who have shone on the Indian screen is his confidence in dreaming of a career where good looks, a good physique and a wonderful voice were mandatory, apart from having family contacts which could get you backdoor entry, says Shoma A. Chatterji. He was as forthright as they come, never shy of voicing his opinion, reserving his acting talent for the camera and the audience

he first time I tried to That interview did not happen of 16 who joined a very prestigious interview Om Puri was at a either, and I had to wait for the theatre group to learn the tricks of Tlocation shoot for Govind International Film Festival of India acting even dream of making it big Nihalani’s film Aghaat at atamasha where he was a regular because one in a glamour-crazy industry like platform in Parel. Tamasha is a folk or more of his films were always cinema? Puri lived out his dream form of song-dance performance part of the Indian Panorama. through a career spanning nearly of Maharashtra that draws an Om Puri was born into a very 40 years, working under directors all-male audience because of its poor family in Ambala. His father and with actors spanning three adult and sizzling content. But had a petty job in the Railways. generations of filmmaking. the interview did not take place His body was skeletal when he first “I was fortunate to find my first because there was a police lathi- appeared on the large screen. His mentor in Harpal Tiwana and his charge and the shoot was cancelled. skin was dusky, his face covered in wife, Neena, both graduates of the I telephoned Om. At the time, he pockmarks, his nose bulbous. But National School of Drama who ran a lived in a rented flat in Chembur. his voice was a rich baritone. Why group called Harpal Tiwana Centre He was already a very well- the pock-marks? They are the relics for Performing Arts that honed the known face through his masterful of a severe case of small pox which acting and technical skills of many performances in Nihalani’s he survived, though six of his seven youngsters who later made it big. Aakrosh and Ardh Sathya, yet he siblings were not so lucky. They Harpal Tiwana is considered to be bubbled with enthusiasm when he made him a unique departure as one of the most prominent Punjabi heard I wanted to interview him. an actor. How could a young boy playwrights of his time. Tiwana later formed Punjab Kala Manch and I did many plays with this group,” said Puri. Before moving to Mumbai, he worked in many plays in Hindi, Punjabi and Hindi translations of English plays, among which he liked to highlight Strindberg’s Father, Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex and Camus’s The Misunderstanding. Though he was raised poor, Puri managed to go to the National School of Drama where he made friends with Naseeruddin Shah, who went on to further his training at the FTII, Pune. Shah persuaded Puri to come to FTII. For the latter, the problem was money - he did not have any. He had to muster support from his friends who helped to

Photo: Internet some extent. Until his last day, he An iconic picture of Om Puri and Smita Patil from Satyajit Ray's Sadgati owed FTII Rs 280. (1981), which saw Om Puri brilliantly essay the role of Dukhi, a village My encounter with his per- shoemaker, and set him up as an actor of rare calibre. formance on stage was almost

72 VIDURA January-March 2017 by chance. Jennifer Kapoor had Puri did not take payment for character. In Ardh Satya, he plays organised a theatre festival at the some films he worked in. When I Anant Velankar, son of a policeman National Centre for Performing asked him if this was true, he said, father who was extremely violent Arts where different groups staged “It is true. But this is nothing new. towards his wife. Velankar becomes plays. The play was Bichhoo I quote my price depending on the a policeman himself, but slowly, (scorpion) in Hindi under the project, the banner, the script and is sucked into the same vortex of banner of Majma founded by Om the film, though not necessarily violence as his father, an expression Puri. I was amazed at the way he in that order. I try my best to of the rising corruption in society executed fluid leaps and bounces choose good roles, preferably a and in the police. using the proscenium space in little offbeat, not very commercial Crossover, also in terms of the every way to comment on the and I quote my rate accordingly. I kinds of characters that contributed then-existing socio-political order am saddened by the fact that such to his evolution as an actor – from in the satire. He was a star by films are hardly being made today. the 90-second role of an aggrieved then, but when I went backstage So, when a project like this film father in Richard Attenborough’s to compliment him, he was as comes, I am ready to help out the Gandhi, to the lovelorn middle- thrilled as a teenager making his only way I can – by taking it up aged man in Chachi 420 (1997) to stage debut. And I was a nobody. and by compromising on my fee the laugh riot Malamaal Weekly That sums up Om Puri – a man depending on how significant the where he plays one of the leads, to completely grounded, so forthright film and the filmmaker are.” the diabolic police officer in Dev that he often put his foot in his Once, on the sets of Subhankar who did not balk at planning his mouth and had to either eat his Ghosh’s debut film Woh Chhokri, childhood friend and colleague’s words or tender a public apology. in which he portrayed a diabolical, murder to the confused/ surprised/ He could not continue with theatre two-faced political leader who does shocked professor husband of a as later, film engagements left him not hesitate to have his illegitimate wife who gives him lessons in sex no time for the stage. daughter killed when she threatens in Basu Bhattacharya’s Aastha, to Puri's debut in cinema was to expose him in public, I asked the doddering old security guard in the Marathi film version of him what method he used while who protects the women working VijayTendulkar’s controversial play essaying a role. His answer was, “I in the red chilli factory with his life Ghasiram Kotwal in 1976. Though do not follow any definite ‘method’ in Ketan Mehta’s Mirch Masala… the film did not take him anywhere … you must understand and the list is endless. special, he caught the attention of internalise the character you are Puri crossed over to the other Govind Nihalani who picked him playing to some extent. On the other side of the world and portrayed for the role of the oppressed and hand, you cannot entirely follow important characters in some tortured Dalit, Bhiku Lahanya, the Stanislavikian suggestion of excellent films in English such in his directorial debut, Aakrosh. “getting under the skin” of the as East is East, Charlie Wilson’s Nihalani felt Puri had just the looks character and must decide on a War, The Hundred Foot Journey, to fit the lowly character. With not blend between the two and add A Million Rivers, Code 46, The a single line of dialogue throughout your own inputs to it. For instance, Mystic Masseur, City of Joy, The the film, Puri did more than justice if I were to play a killer, would I Parole Officer and the yet-to-be- to Bhiku with those piercing, fiery have to kill someone to experience released The Viceroy directed by eyes of his staring at something we his feelings?” Gurinder Chadda. The awards and could not see. Puri is perhaps one of the most titles he has earned along the way Our paths kept crossing every successful ‘crossover’ actors Indian – the Padma Shri, several Filmfare year at various festivals and though cinema has produced. Crossover, Awards, two Lifetime Achievement he did not always remember my in the sense of playing different Awards, two National Awards name, his face would light up characters across various genres. for Best Actor, a BAFTA Award with that wide smile and he was Place a commercial, badly made and the OBE (Honorary Officer of ever ready to sit down for a one- film like N. Chandra’s Narasimha the Order of the British Empire) to-one and share insights into (1991) next to Nihalani’s Ardh Satya – were bestowed on him for his acting, cinema and even life. He (1982) and you will understand his versatile contribution to cinema. gained weight over the years and range. In Narasimha, one of his Sadly, his personal life was a mess his hair turned white much before earliest mainstream films which and the great actor died a lonely it is should have. Just as he did was a box office hit, he plays a man, leaving behind two broken

not bother to get cosmetic surgery nasty capitalist who has anyone marriages and Ishaan, his 16-year- done to his face, he did not colour and everyone killed at his whim old son. < his hair unless a role required him and runs a fiefdom. His portrayal to do so. fills you with disgust for the

January-March 2017 VIDURA 73 OTHER NEWS

Padgaonkar was part of a team of interlocutors selected Cho Ramaswamy is dead by the Centre to design a road map for peace in Senior political satirist Srinivasa strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir. A staunch liberal, he Iyer Ramaswamy, popularly known wrote passionately, eloquently and tirelessly against as Cho Ramaswamy, died in Chennai communalism, Hindu nationalism and terrorism recently following a cardiac arrest. He among other pressing issues of the day as reflected was 82. Cho was a nominated member in his books like When Bombay Burned (on the 1992-93 of the Rajya Sabha from 1999 to 2005. Mumbai riots which he edited) and numerous essays Cho He was a close friend of former Tamil and articles. He was equally passionate about the arts, Ramaswamy. Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, penning a book on Italian cinema maestro Roberto who died a few days before he did. Rossellini’s eventful sojourn in India, titled Under Her Born on October 5, 1934 to senior lawyer-turned Spell. agriculturist Srinivasa Iyer and Rajambal, Cho grew (Courtesy: The Hindu) up in Mylapore and studied law. During his college days, he was a member of an amateur theatre troupe. He had practised law in Madras High Court for six Nirmal Shekar is no more years before joining TTK Group as its legal advisor Nirmal Shekar, former Sports for several years. editor of The Hindu and former editor Cho founded and edited the political of Sportstar, passed away a few days magazine, Thuglak, and was fearless in criticising the ago. He was 60. Nirmal, who was one of ruling government in the state or at the Centre. He India’s most widely read sportswriters scripted nearly 23 stage plays, including Mohammed in a career that spanned more than Bin Thuglaq, where he resurrected Sultan Thuglaq Nirmal three decades, joined The Hindu in from his grave to become the prime minister of India. Shekar. 1980 and was with the institution till He acted in 200 films, directed four and scripted he retired on September 30, 2015. He another 14. He got the name ‘Cho’ from a character he became The Hindu’s Sports Editor in 2003 and took enlivened on the stage in a play called Thenmozhiyal. independent charge of Sportstar in early 2012. In the He scripted and directed TV serials and acted in early 1980s, Nirmal studied in the United States on a them. fellowship. He was part of the visiting faculty in the (Courtesy: The Times of India / Firstpost) Asian College of Journalism at Chennai. Nirmal became synonymous with The Dileep Padgaonkar passes Hindu’s coverage of tennis, especially Wimbledon and he also reported extensively on big-ticket events like away the Australian Open and Davis Cup. His despatches on tennis particularly, and on sport at large, evoked Noted journalist Dilip Padgaonkar the big picture, dwelling on the personalities of the passed away recently. He was 72 sportspersons and the aesthetics of their game. His and had been ailing for some time. rich prose style had a legion of admirers. Many years Padgaonkar was born in Pune in 1944. ago, in an interview about his approach to writing, He graduated from Fergusson College, Nirmal said: “I don’t restrict myself to sports, but try and got a doctorate in Humanities from and bring in a life’s perspective; try understanding the Sorbonne University in France Dileep the psychology of sports and fit sports into the wider in June 1968 before commencing an Padgaonkar. context, rather than stick to the backhands and the illustrious career in journalism. cover drives alone!” Fluent in French, he joined The Times of India as its After his retirement, he remained a columnist Paris correspondent, serving the paper in various with The Hindu. In his last published piece on January capacities before he was appointed its editor in 1988, 28, Nirmal concluded with these lines: “But the truth a post he held for six years. In April 2002, he was is, nothing may be forever – except perhaps Bradman’s honoured with the Legion d’Honneur, France’s highest Test batting average of 99.94 – immune to evolution. civilian distinction, for his services to journalism. He And, sport is no exception.” also served with UNESCO in Bangkok and Paris from (Courtesy: The Hindu) 1978 to 1986. In 2010, along with academician Radha Kumar and former Information commissioner M.M. Ansari,

74 VIDURA January-March 2017 Annual Subscription Advertisement Tariff for VIDURA for VIDURA

Inland: Full Page: B&W: Rs. 5,000 4 Issues Rs. 200 Colour Rs. 10,000 A Journal of the press institute of India 12 Issues Rs. 500 Half Page: B&W: Rs. 3,000 The Press Institute of India - Research Institute for Newspaper Development Colour Rs. 5,000 Second Main Road, Taramani CPT Campus, Chennai 600 113 Overseas : USD 30 Tele: 044-2254 2344 Telefax: 044-2254 2323

Director & Editor Mechanical Details Sashi Nair Material (images / pictures [email protected] Page : 185 mm x 255 mm Bleed : 210 mm x 280 mm in 300 dpi and text in 600 Assistant Editor Vertical half page : dpi) as a PDF file (created Susan Philip 93 mm x 255 mm in CMYK), can be sent to Horizontal half page : [email protected] Assistant Manager 185 mm x128 mm or by CD to our address & Editorial Coordinator R. Suseela [email protected]

Design & Layout Seetha Ramesh

Senior Manager - Accounts & Administration Read every month N. Subramanian [email protected] A journal that looks at social Manager - Advertising, Administration development issues in India, & Library Services R. Geetha human interest stories and [email protected] people who defy the odds Office Assistant B. Rajendran Published by the Press Institute of India The Press Institute of India does not take responsibility for returning unsolicited material. It may not always be possible to reply to senders of unsolicited material. Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or publisher. Annual Subscription Advertisement Tariff for Grassroots Full Page: B&W: Rs. 5,000 Every effort has been taken to assure that the accuracy 12 Issues Rs. 180 Colour Rs. 10,000 of information contained in this publication is based on 36 Issues Rs. 500 reliable sources. All trademark and trade names mentioned Please note that the cheque Half Page: B&W: Rs. 3,000 in this magazine belong to their respective owners. In case or demand draft or at par Colour Rs. 5,000 of error editor / publisher shall not be liable for any loss cheque payable in Chennai, or prejudice caused to the reader. The publisher reserves for the subscription amount the copyright of the materials published in the magazine. should be drawn in the No part of the articles or photographs can be reproduced name of Press Institute of without the prior permission of the publisher. All disputes India ONLY and NOT in will be subjected to the jurisdiction of Chennai only. the name of the magazine. Material can be sent to Published by Sashi Nair on behalf of The Press Institute of India - Research Institute Mechanical Details [email protected] for Newspaper Development, from RIND premises, Second Main Road, Taramani CPT or by CD to our address Campus, Chennai 600 113 and printed by V.B.S. Moni at Print Shop Private Limited, Bleed: 275 mm x 350 mm 4/310 Gandhi Street, Kottivakkam, Old Mahabalipuram Road, Chennai 600 096. Editor: Sashi Nair

January-March 2017 VIDURA 75 Registered with The Registrar of Newspapers for India under TNENG/2009/27484 76

76 VIDURA January-March 2017