A Journal of the press Institute of India ISSN 0042-5303 January-March 2019 Volume 11 Issue 1 Rs 60 Time to bust the fake, CONTENTS • A new year – and still waiting for acche din / Sakuntala Narasimhan move away from TRPs • Scars heal faster if we show more sensitivity / Sudha Umashanker News journalism is in the midst of a crisis, says N. Bhaskara Rao. • ‘I am an Indian woman’ / And yet, we continue talk about symptoms than the root causes, Sangeetha Shinde he adds. More than twenty years ago, Rao signalled the twist • Where are women’s voices in and shift within the journalism paradigm, even cautioning the television debates? / unions and associations of working journalists that they were Rina Mukherji going to be the worst affected. Today, journalists world over • The world is in danger – is the face threat, harassment and risk to life. The trend is to muzzle media listening? / Bharat Dogra independent journalism and investigative reportage, which is • Is the ‘hate plastic’ campaign already shrinking anyway, he points out necessary or viable? / N.S. Venkataraman e are today at a point when for the news media it is no longer the • Who said the newspaper reading journalist who matters. Indeed, the profession itself may no lon- habit is dying? / Nava Thakuria ger count as it did some years ago. Yesterday's schools of jour- W • A man of many parts, he stayed nalism are today's school of communication, which means more of corpo- clear of politics / Mrinal Chatterjee rate communication and public relations. Journalists exist today only to • Heart-wrenching portraits of the extent he or she has adjusted and adapted to changed priorities in the displacement / Ranjita Biswas media and alignments outside. • Mainstream cinema enters Nevertheless, it is time to introspect. First, the context of journalism and academia – Calcutta University journalists. Here, let us look at three aspects – freedom of the press, what it scores a first / Shoma A. Chatterji means today and who decides. It is the government and the corporates who • Is he India’s greatest decide the scope of press freedom today, not so much the Constitution of sportsperson ever? / the country. Second, is journalism a job or profession? If it is a profession, Partab Ramchand with what standards and self regulation? Third is the human development • A blend of ethnic heritage, tourism angle. Unless this larger context is understood, the deep malice troubling and ‘big data’ / Sarita Brara journalism cannot be addressed. • A small town wears old-fashioned A second factor for the paradigm shift is the conflict of interest (reflected politeness on its sleeve / in many spheres of activity). Of late, this important aspect is being ignored Pushpa Iyengar or brushed under carpet. This has to do with the fundamental question – is • Remembering Mrinal Sen / news media a service or a business or both and with what restrains or under Nirendranath Chakraborty / what regulatory jurisdiction. It is a lobby of the powerful which decides Alyque Padamsee / Iravatham Mahadevan / Kader Khan / what matters. This is also because journalists are cornered, divided, with S. Viswanathan / Kalpana Lajmi some of them hankering for individual advantages and producing stories without substantiating facts and figures. We don’t see them any longer as a community of professionals or as critical stakeholders in society. (Continued on page 3)

January-March 2019 VIDURA 1 FROM THE EDITOR No bias please, we need balance

ith general elections com- of press freedom today, not so much they've only got worse. As Sakun- ing up in India, it is poli- the Constitution of the land; it is a tala Narasimhan asks, are we worse Wtics all the way. Politics lobby of the powerful which decides than animals, then, that we keep is often a dirty game and, today, what matters, Rao points out. With hearing of sickening gang rapes we seem to have plumbed new objectivity and independence giving from around the country, with the depths – politicians who are sup- way to manipulation, influence and victim sometimes no more than a posed to show the way, use words quick profits, the journalist has lost mere child? What can we as a soci- that shouldn’t be used, belittle out, Rao is convinced. He refers to ety really do? Narasimhan feels opponents in the most unsavoury the “TRP mania” that has “misled a elders, family members, teachers, manner and castigate them vehe- nation”. The onus is on journalists community leaders can help. Focus mently. There is a sense of hatred to retrieve what has been lost. Some in particular on boys, she says – everywhere. You can be treated independent-minded, courageous girls seem far more empowered. like an outcast even if you happen editors and journalists are indeed Senior journalist Sudha Umashan- to have a balanced view. Which is trying to do that, but whether their kar says women choose to simply what journalists ought to have – a efforts will be successful, we will struggle in silence. So, how do balanced view at all times, never have to wait and see. wounds heal when there is just no wearing political affiliation on the support? We know how difficult it sleeve. I have been frankly aston- ******************** is for a woman to stand up and fight ished at how some senior members the system. For a torchlight view of of the profession throw balance to Achhe din (good days) – now, that what Indian women go through the wind in blind admiration for a is something we have been hearing every moment of their lives, please particular person and party. Also, over the past five years. But achhe read Sangeetha Shinde’s absolute what those who engage in never- din for how many? Veteran Sakun- gem. The words resonate: ending discussions via email and tala Narasimhan’s story about a I have no voice, my power has been social media fail to realise is the fact cobbler, the sole earning member of stripped from me by an inhuman social that the people who vote are only his family, gives us an idea of what code and I have no recourse to jus- concerned about the bread-and- the poor in our county still undergo. tice. A financial burden to the family... butter issues of politics – two square His sister needs to stay at home to Not deserving of nutrition or a decent meals a day, housing, employment, look after the sick mother. He has education…. taxation, etc. To assume we (arm- become grey-haired and haggard- Read also Rina Mukherji’s piece chair critics, if you like) know far looking even as he continues to wait about how women’s voices and better than what they do is nonsen- by the roadside, to polish shoes and opinions are seldom heard, in spite sical. earn some money. He and his neph- of them making up half the popula- The media, itself, is responsible ews sit and watch shops at the mall tion of India. Their opinions invari- for creating perceptions that are not across the road being decked up for ably tend to be shouted down in a true. Facing the challenges posed the New Year. The achhe din that suc- sea of male voices. by fake news isn’t easy. The need cessive governments have promised Here’s wishing all of you a Very for journalists to establish credibil- have passed them by, as they have Happy New Year! ity is paramount. Bhaskara Rao, millions of similar poor in India. founder, Centre for Media Studies, New Delhi, in this issue, says it is ******************** Sashi Nair no longer the journalist who mat- [email protected] ters and that the profession itself Sexual harassment, women abuse, may no longer count as it did some molestation, rape… we must have years ago. It is the government and thought that after Nirbhaya things the corporates who decide the scope would get better. But they haven’t;

2 VIDURA January-March 2019 Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration:

(Continued from page 1) websites, voices supporting the pro- be on larger issues within the media A third factor is the way journal- fession. The research is for numbers. and outside. Two – take to research ists have slipped as a credible force. Those who have 'clicked' matter, not and analysis. Substantiate with facts Despite the Wage Board, issues con- necessarily those who have read. A and figures what is being pursued. cerning journalists were never taken good example of making a difference Avoid the allusive style of writing. up at a macro level in a systematic is about how the Andhra Pradesh Three – professional objectivity must way, resulting in fake, planted news Union of Journalists brought the be visible. Be cautious and concerned and compulsions of new media paid news phenomena to the fore. while using words such as activism, becoming routine. With objectivity The need is for more such studies conspiracy, Dalit, etc and while cov- and independence giving way to and initiatives. ering fake, false and planted stories. manipulation, influence and quick The task is challenging. It is a Four – while reporting, use anec- profits, the journalist has lost out. national task. Journalists themselves dotes, humour, analogies. Bust, blast That is the challenge independent should come forward; no one else and black out the false and fake. And and objective voices are facing is going to come to risk to retrieve five – cover citizen and civil society

world over. journalism. The unions and asso- and the basic concerns of grassroots And, a fourth factor is decay of ciations should come together, and far more. Move away from the TRP< instruments and institutions of a take to analysis with transparency priority frame. profession. For example, journal- and debate substantial issues to do ism or communication schools are with the profession forthrightly. (The writer is founder, Centre for no longer run by journalists but by Such bodies themselves are dwin- Media Studies, New Delhi, and management and PR people. The dling, getting isolated or being lim- the author of The TRP Trick, TRP mania has further misled a ited to micro issues. Unleashing Power of News nation. The school syllabus is more I have a five-point agenda for jour- Channels – An Indian Perspective about management and PR. There nalist fraternity. One – a show of and Poll Surveys in Media – An are few professional magazines or strength and solidarity. This has to Indian Perspective.)

January-March 2019 VIDURA 3 A new year – and still waiting for achhe din For him – I don’t even know his name, the poor remain nameless, faceless – and his ilk, those ‘living below the poverty line’ as the economists say, there are no blinking lights, coloured or plain. Like the shoppers who pass by, the achhe din that successive governments promise, also passes them by. A gripping piece by Sakuntala Narasimhan

first saw him 22 years ago when heap) to protect him from sun and was a rebel, didn’t work and kept I relocated from Mumbai to rain. He had a thick mustache now, getting into trouble, smoking and IBengaluru and moved into a but there was still not much muscle gambling with a gang of rowdies, flat facing the crossroads at a busy or flesh on his body. Sometimes, an aged mother who was bedrid- junction. He was a lanky youth, lean I saw constables from the nearby den, a sister who was abandoned by and obviously malnourished, with police station stop by, to get their her husband and was back with her sunken cheeks and bony limbs, sit- shoes polished (of course, they never two children. The father had died ting under a tree facing the dusty paid; and he never asked for money, of TB many years ago. This cobbler road, waiting for passersby to get or they could evict him for occupying was the sole earning member. The their shoes polished. Beside him a portion of the pavement). sister needed to stay home to look he had two brushes -- one for black One day, presently, I noticed a after the sick mother. polish and one for brown -- a cou- little girl, not yet two years old, sit- Over the years, he has become ple of tins of wax polish and some ting bedside him. She, too, seemed grey haired and haggard-looking. rags. He would look up entreat- malnourished and stunted, but she There is still little flesh on his bones, ingly at men scurrying past, and quietly sat all day, watching the and he continues to sit on his pre- some would stop to get their shoes street or sometimes sleeping on his carious perch by the roadside, wait- shined, toss a coin or a rupee note lap. His daughter, I presumed. ing to polish shoes to earn some to him and hurry away. The years rolled by, the girl grew money. Last week when I saw him, Soon he also began to stitch and up to be eight or nine, and I won- I was struck by how old he looked – repair shoes, replacing a sole, or a dered if I should ask whether she 60, 65, although he was perhaps not buckle. A year passed, then two, went to school – but, of course, she even 45. and I noticed he had fashioned for didn’t, that was obvious. I wondered The world around him has moved himself a small shelter using a bit fleetingly whether I should offer to on – there is a huge new mall that of tarpaulin overhead, tied to bam- help him enroll her in some school has come up across the road, with boo sticks along the pavement. One but I had my own preoccupations, fancy shops; more cars and two day I saw him working at putting and went on my way. One day she wheelers whiz past than there did a together a small wooden box, using disappeared. I wondered, but again decade or two earlier. More people pieces of wood salvaged from a put the thought away – perhaps she too – but fewer people want their nearby pile of debris from a demoli- was ill (or may be even at school) or shoes repaired. “They just throw tion, and nailing the pieces together. perhaps, married away, so that he away the old pair and get new The makeshift box held the tools of had one mouth less to feed. ones,” he said wryly. his trade – balls of twine, needles, How many children did he have? That’s progress – when people leather, spare straps for torn hawai Did his wife work as a cleaning have more incomes so that they chappals (slippers). maid all day to eke out the family’s don’t need to get old shoes repaired I went away abroad for a year and finances? Was that why he brought and salvaged. Bengaluru has a half, and on my return saw that he the girl with him to his shop? I dis- become a ‘prosperous’ metropolis, had managed to put up two corru- covered, much later, when I brought where once, when he set up shop gated iron pieces as ‘side-walls’ for myself to stop and talk to him one first, a quarter century ago, it was a his two-by-two metres ‘shop’ (again, afternoon, that he had eight mem- clean, green and quiet Pensioners’ salvaged, I presume, from some scrap bers to feed – a younger brother who Paradise as they called it.

4 VIDURA January-March 2019 Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration:

What has this prosperity brought Some days he tries to teach his that successive governments prom- him and his ilk – if it erodes his daily sister’s sons to stitch leather, but ise, also passes them by. < earnings and makes life harder? what is their future? He and his His mother passed away, he didn’t nephews sit and watch shops at the (The writer, based in Bengaluru, have money to cremate her, “Even mall across the road being decked is a recipient of the Media the employees at the crematorium up for the New Year. Strings of Foundation’s Chameli Devi Award for wanted a bribe,” he says. coloured blinking lights are put Outstanding Woman Journalist 1983. He is a Dalit, and declares that he up like festoons all round the Her fortnightly columns on gender wants to vote for Mayawati “because approach road to the mall, while issues and consumer rights ran in the she is sympathetic to Dalits”; he hordes of shoppers go in, clutch- Deccan Herald for 27 years. She had doesn’t realise that he cannot vote ing credit cards, to make their pur- earlier worked for The Times of India for her because she doesn’t stand for chases. Group in Mumbai.) election from Bengaluru. As an illit- For him – I don’t even know his erate, he doesn’t know this. He has name, the poor remain nameless, decorated his roadside ‘shop’ with faceless – and his ilk, those ‘living a framed photo of Ambedkar, and below the poverty line’ as the econ- spends a rupee each day, from his omists say, there are no blinking meagre earnings, to buy a string of lights, coloured or plain. Like the fresh flowers, to put on the photo. shoppers who pass by, the achhe din

January-March 2019 VIDURA 5 Can 2019 bring hope to our troubled world?

We customarily begin a new year by wishing our near and dear ones happiness and prosperity. However, the dawn of a new year is also a good time to ponder about the future of our planet and all its inhabitants. How can we ensure happiness for all of them? Bharat Dogra offers suggestions

rankly, the present situation crisis. Secondly, highly destruc- Most people are preoccupied causes deep concern. The tive weapons capable of destroy- with day-to-day issues of survival, Fconcerns are much more for ing most forms of life several times while the bigger problems are left to the future even though present- over have accumulated, and there experts to tackle. The experts on their day problems are also serious. is a race among many countries for part have been sounding one serious The main concerns can be put into acquiring more. This adds to the warning after another. The world's three categories. First, a number of survival crisis. Thirdly, numerous leaders have at best responded in serious environmental problems, forms of deprivation and distress very inadequate and weak ways, including climate change, have remain at shockingly high levels, as they are occupied with the nar- combined to create what amounts notwithstanding humankind's abil- row, short-term concerns of staying to nothing less than a survival ity to lower these. in power and serving the interests Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration:

6 VIDURA January-March 2019 of forces that back them. In the pro- more people become involved in needs to be propagated widely so cess, problems which constitute the resolving critical survival issues, that more and more people regard survival crisis have not received the other achievements will not be sus- the entire world as their own, and kind of urgent and careful attention tainable and catastrophic problems give up narrow considerations and that is needed; and in some cases will increase in the near future. The discriminations based on such con- these problems have been worsen- effort should be oriented towards siderations. Once this concept is ing. This is worrying, as many of motivating people to take construc- accepted by an adequately large these survival problems have tip- tive action without creating undue number of people, then the pos- ping points which, once crossed, scare and pessimism. sibilities for simultaneous action will unleash disasters that human- As people become more conscious by significant numbers of people kind will have only limited means about urgent issues and join public across the world will increase. to control. action to resolve them, there will be Mobilisation efforts should also In such a deeply troubled world, more pressure on governments and work to increase people’s commit- what hope can we expect in the institutional structures (including ment to peace and non-violence as New Year? First of all, solutions can international ones) to devote more a way of life. This will increase the emerge only if the majority of the attention to finding credible solu- creativity of the effort. This, then, is

people know the full seriousness tions to the most critical problems. the message of hope for our trou- and extent of the problems that As some good decisions emerge, bled world. < exist. It is in humankind’s interest again, in a situation of increasing that increasing awareness is gener- people's consciousness, implemen- (The writer is a senior freelance ated about the man-made crisis that tation of these decisions will be bet- journalist and author who has is unprecedented in human history, ter and speedier with the co-opera- been associated with several social its import in the present and impli- tion of people. movements and initiatives. cations for our future generations. If such large scale mobilisation of He lives in New Delhi.) In a better-informed world, the people takes place in many coun- chances of mobilising people on tries simultaneously, it can force pressing issues will increase. How- institutions and governments of the ever, it is also important that such most influential countries to step up mobilisation should be linked to the pace of badly needed change. larger survival issues. It should be The concept of vasudheivakutum- made clear that unless more and bakam – the universe as one family –

Jagdish Gandhi receives first Maurus Award

The Father J Maurus National Award for Innovation in Education was conferred on Jagdish Gandhi, founder- manager of City Montessori School, Lucknow, in Mumbai on 10th December last year. The Award was instituted by the Society of St Paul and Better Yourself Books, Mumbai, on the occasion of the 55th year celebration of The Teenager Today founded by Fr J. Maurus in November 1963. Gandhi is the first recipient of the Award which was instituted with the purpose of recognising the unique contributions made by educationists, principals of schools or founders of educational institutions, who

Photo: Fr Alfonso have made their mark in the field of education by using Jagdish Gandhi speaks. Behind him is a picture of innovative methods. The Award consists of Rs 25000 and < Father J. Maurus. a citation.

January-March 2019 VIDURA 7 SEXUAL HARRASSMENT An anniversary to ponder over 2019 marks the 40th anniversary of the passing of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which was adopted and ratified by 183 countries in 1979. What do we see as we mark the anniversary? Let us find out from Sakuntala Narasimhan

uriously, and, coinciden- So what is the remedy – should women, to put up with unpleasant tally, the world has seen a they keep quiet? Isn’t this discrimi- and offensive overtures. That may Cmassive uprising in the form nation against women on the basis be true. But part of the problem is of the #MeToo protests. India, in of sex, demeaning them for being also women’s self-perceptions of particular, saw a nationwide prolif- born female and treating them as their persona – in a survey reported eration of MeToo accusations, nam- sex objects ? What then is the rel- in Time magazine, 42 per cent of ing top male achievers in different evance of CEDAW and its ratifica- women interviewed said that they fields, from sports, to TV icons, tion by nations around the world felt “pressure to look attractive” film stars, writers, journalists, even (including India)? India even had while only 21 per cent said they felt priests. One minister had to resign a follow-up assessment of progress pressure to “excel at work”. while the Editors Guild has deleted under CEDAW – so what have we Are women, then, merely con- two from its rolls. All this has been achieved, by ratifying? forming to social expectations, or chronicled by the media in suf- As one activist sees it, the #MeToo reinforcing them through confor- ficient detail, but in the context of surge was itself a positive sign mance? What about news items like CEDAW, it is time to go behind the of increasing reluctance among the one that appeared on 8 October, chronicling, to examine the deeper gender-linked malices in society. In answer to the women’s accusa- tions of sexual harassment, some of the responses from men give us insights into their mental make-up. One has said, he will “not employ any woman under 40, and reduce interactions with women, because of the danger of accusations”. Another has said, he will “not recruit any females at all” because they could be “trouble makers”. One man has declared that women are “paranoid about their bodies”. The Economist carried a cartoon saying, ‘Men today are under siege’ (issue dated October 6, 2018). In an earlier issue (September 22), the mag- azine has even referred to Kavanaugh as an alleged ‘sex pest’, though he went on to get confirmation to the Supreme Court, with Trump thumb- ing his nose at detractors. Some men have sued, slapping their accusers with court cases that could drag on and on, caus-

ing the women much harassment. Arun Ramkumar Illustration:

8 VIDURA January-March 2019 with the headline ‘Mob attacks over the name of modernity, and substi- nity leaders). And focus in particu- 30 schoolgirls who resisted harass- tuted these addresses with ‘hi’ for lar, on boys – girls seem far more ment’ (dateline Patna)? The girls everybody. empowered, in terms of psyche, had objected to lewd comments We also had other conventions about gender equality than male and graffiti, and thrashed the boys of behaviour (greeting with a nam- siblings. We still continue to have when they refused to leave after askar, rather than a handshake, for men who say with a shrug, “Boys entering a girls school. At least 12 instance) which may or may not will be boys”. That shows lacunae girls received grievous injuries. Is have contributed to codifying the in male sensitivity to what females this the price girls pay for objecting relationship between the sexes. At undergo, whether it is lewd com- to sexual harassment? the same time, we also have other ments, molestation or worse. This When persons in high positions traditions that require the woman is no longer acceptable. condone unacceptable behaviour to eat last and sleep last – a Tamil When morals are being dumped (like Trump did when he supported proverb even says the woman has right and left, by everyone includ- the elevation of Kavanaugh to the to wake up before the husband and ing our political leaders and those Supreme Court), what message sleep after him. These social conven- occupying the highest offices, when does that convey to impressionable tions co-exist along with our proud mammon rules and money becomes youngsters?There are no simple and citations of ancient women achiev- the ultimate power that can buy all straightforward answers, though it ers like Gargi and Maithreyi, and other powers and privileges, it is not is abundantly clear that we need our veneration of female goddesses UN Conventions or legal statutes major changes in basic social per- (Lakshmi, Parvati, Kali, Durga). Per- that will help, but promoting pro- ceptions. haps it is this coexistence that con- bity in daily life. For all, including Just think – even primates do fuses the male. (and particularly) the powerful and not gang rape – I have seen mon- So, where do we stand? And the VVIPs. How do we do this? That keys trying to mate and follow the where do we start? Frankly, I do not remains the big question, though female, but without the female’s know – what I do know, however, is not one that cannot be addressed by

consent and cooperation, even ani- that it is time to restore some dimen- all of us, collectively, if we pool our mals cannot force sex on the female. sions of ethics and morals into daily ideas and strategies < Are we worse than animals, then, lives – through precept (elders, that we keep hearing of sickening family members, teachers, commu- gang rapes from around the coun- try, with the victim sometimes no more than a mere child? By a sad coincidence, I am writ- Call for UN Convention to ing this on the anniversary of the infamous Nirbhaya gang rape case protect journalists of Delhi. A young life was lost, due to a gang of goons deciding to ‘have WAN-IFRA has joined forces with a coalition of international organisa- fun’ with a girl whose only crime tions to campaign for the adoption of a new UN Convention dedicated was that she was a female. She had a to the protection of media professionals. The consortium includes repre- rusted iron rod, used to jack up vehi- sentatives of journalists, media workers, broadcasters, and newspapers cles, pushed into her body. How do from around the world. we explain CEDAW to the victims Meeting at the UN headquarters in New York with state representatives or their families, or pat ourselves on from Europe, the Middle East (West Asia), North Africa, Latin America, having ratified that convention? Asia and North America, the coalition set out the case for a new UN India had some traditional cus- Convention with the objective to rectify a gap in international law for binding toms that prevented the commodi- norms establishing safeguards for journalists and media professionals, fication of females – the custom including cameramen, photographers, technical supporting staff, drivers of addressing unrelated women and interpreters, editors, translators, publishers, broadcasters, printers as amma or maaji, behenji, akka or and distributors. maami – not that this completely The initiative was launched by the International Federation of Journalists,

eliminates commodification, but with a Convention drafted by International Human Rights expert Carmen Western culture has no parallel for Draghici, senior lecturer in Law, City University in London. < such respect. We have lost that in

January-March 2019 VIDURA 9 SEXUAL HARRASSMENT Scars heal faster if we can show more sensitivity For a woman, the onus of healing is to a large extent on her shoulders, says Sudha Umashanker. Whether she chooses to put the incident behind her, be more circumspect in future or look at her own personal growth as the right response and /or seek professional help, it is all entirely in her hands. It is clear that a number of factors have to come together for healing and closure to emerge from a deeply traumatic #Me Too experience, she says

hen Tarana Burke, New quently, big names across industries abuser takes a toll. As Bhuvana York-based civil rights and segments (film, media, adver- Seshan, a playback singer who also Wactivist and founder of tising, music, the corporate world) does stage shows, put it, “it is like the Me-Too Movement, went about were charged. reliving the trauma all over again”. creating a safe space for coloured With many victims taking to Harking back to the economic women to share their stories of sex- social media to out the abusers, it consequences, for one, it is felt that ual harassment way back in 2006, seemed as if women had shaken off hiring of women could be affected. she actually did envision a time their fears about divulging details This is because men are nervous when the movement would acquire of the trauma and sexual harass- about how to conduct themselves a momentum of its own and assume ment they had experienced and around women and clueless about a proportion that it has today. were not going to hold back any what to say to a woman and know When not one or two but over longer. But these disclosures were what is acceptable and what is 80 women levelled charges against not without adverse reactions and not. There is the impression that Harvey Weinstein, a highly success- consequences. Though in terms of employing women is tantamount ful former film producer and entre- punishment there were a few men to inviting unnecessary trouble – preneur in Oct 2017, he succumbed whose services were terminated, much less travelling with them on to the ‘Weinstein effect’. An impor- performances cancelled or who vol- work or putting in late hours with tant fallout was the birth of the untarily resigned, there were also a woman in the office. Some men Me-Too hash tag thanks to actress others who went ahead brazenly maintain that in times of any alle- Alyssa Milano who urged women daring the women to file a com- gation it is only a woman’s word to use #Me Too if they experienced plaint and take legal action. that will count. How much support sexual assault or harassment. Need- The women were accused of ven- is forthcoming from the women at less to add the hashtag went viral. detta, witch-hunting and twisting large to the movement and the vic- More followed. Raya Sarkar a law out of context what was indeed con- tims? Not much, it would seem on student at the University of Califor- sensual at one point in time. Women the ground. nia, Davis, published on Facebook artistes like Chinmayi Sripada who Recently, during the thick of the the LoSHA – List of Sexual Harass- levelled accusations against lyricist Music Season in Chennai, I hap- ers in Academia – which eventu- Vairamuthu reported that there was pened to be seated next to a lady ally came to contain 75 names from a marked dwindling of assignments. whose guru was one of the Car- around 30 colleges and universities She was also expelled from the Dub- natic vocalists who was called out. in India, UK and the USA. bing Union with whom she has had Naturally, I asked her if she had In 2018, skeletons tumbled out a running feud on other issues and any unfortunate experience with quickly in India after Tanushree asked to pay a sum of Rs 1.5 lakh the said gentleman. “Absolutely Dutta, model, actor and former and issue a public apology to be re- not. He was like a father figure to Femina Miss Universe, accused co- instated. me and I have even provided vocal actor Nana Patekar of harassment It is easy to see that women will support to him during concerts on during the shooting of ‘Horn OK be hit quite hard financially even as occasions,” she replied. Whereupon Pleassss’ nine years ago. Subse- the mental trauma after outing the another lady who was listening

10 VIDURA January-March 2019 Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration: chimed in, “These women who are is lost in all this crossfire. I asked Dr otherwise-confident women find it complaining – they are all loafers.” Vijay Nagaswami, well-known psy- extremely hard to speak up. If the In the film fraternity, too, the chiatrist and author, what happens abuser is someone she has ped- response is lukewarm. Yesteryear to a victim mentally and psycholog- estalised or had high regards for, actress Sowcar Janaki in a recent ically in the aftermath of an instance the feeling of betrayal is even more interview to theatre artiste Y. Gee of sexual harassment? What keeps intense and sadly, some part of her Mahendra made clear her distaste her back from speaking up? blames herself for allowing the situ- for the Me-Too Movement. “For “One of the principal reasons that ation to happen. the sake of cheap publicity people women who’ve been abused haven’t Often, women don’t escalate are raking up what happened to spoken up earlier has to do with the matters for economic reasons or for them years ago. It suited them social context they function in. In a fear of being “tainted by scandal”, fine back then. Have they thought social environment defined by patri- because many people in their about the repercussions to their archy, many women, from the time environment make their judgements family and what it can do to their they are children, are conditioned on the “no smoke without fire” spouse and children? Utter crap,” to believe that they are powerless principle, and an already violative she remarked. against men and their shenanigans. experience becomes unbearable The important point to note is that Add to that the horror, shock and when the victim is considered the very purpose of the movement – feeling of violation a woman expe- complicit in the situation. However, of healing and closure for the victims riences when she's abused, even with the MeToo Movement

January-March 2019 VIDURA 11 establishing itself, there is hope that with. Given the pendency of cases How do they heal? Does time do the social environment will become and the attendant delays, Akila says the job or nature or family support? more sensitive and will encourage it is difficult to predict for how long What helps and what doesn’t? Says women to stand up more for the legal proceedings will stretch. Dr Nagaswami: “Time does heal, themselves without fear of censure However, the Sexual Harassment but often leaves a scar. The popu- when they’ve been victimised and at Workplace Act stipulates that lar belief in destiny or karma may abused,” explains Dr Nagaswami. the Internal Complaints Committee help a person ‘accept’ such a ter- Does he think outing the abuser should complete its enquiry within ribly traumatic event. But the pres- alone helps in healing? “Not alone. 90 days. With a few men who have ence of supportive and loving fam- But it is an important step of the been called out complaining that ily and friends who understand the healing process. The outing of the great damage is being done to their emotions she is experiencing and abuser helps in that it facilitates a names and careers by allegations keep encouraging her to recover process of punishing, rather than which are as yet unproven, what are her equanimity and balance is prob- papering over, an injustice, and the options ahead of them for redres- ably the best facilitator of healing in creates some positive energy for the sal of their grievances? such a situation.” victim. However, she still has more “Men who are called out in the But if the victim is largely fight- healing to do, specifically moving MeToo movement have remedies. ing it out alone without much sup- from being a victim to being a sur- They can defend themselves by tak- port from family and friends as is vivor,” Dr Nagaswami points out. ing to social media or mainstream sometimes the case, how can some While taking recourse to the law is media, as many have done. They can semblance of justice be dispensed? one option, it is fraught with its own also defend themselves in any legal “‘Justice’ is what the victim / com- hurdles and comes at a cost. process that may be initiated against plainant defines for herself. Some Says R.S. Akila, a Chennai-based them. They are also well within their may find it sufficient to name and advocate: “Several MeToo rev- rights to initiate proceedings for shame a perpetrator to attain clo- elations have pertained to old inci- defamation if they have been falsely sure; whereas others may want dents. Legal proceedings, either named. It is important to note that prosecution to the fullest extent of criminal, civil or under the Sexual allegations against a person are the law. It is far more important that Harassment at Workplace Act, may defamatory only if they are untrue. A persons in the justice system, be it be time-barred. Limitation period woman's right to freedom to express the police, or other authorities, are depends on the nature of the com- her story truthfully is a fundamental, sensitive towards these issues and plaint and also the type of legal pro- constitutional right. While it is true treat complainants with dignity ceeding that the complainant wants that some persons who have been and respect so that they would feel to pursue. Evidence may be hard named and shamed in the MeToo trust the system and find it acces- to come by. Recollection of eye- Movement have suffered some set- sible,” explains Akila. witnesses will be diminished with backs in their career and reputation, And that is indeed the bottom time, physical evidence or other we need to recall that we live in a line for the cases are not going to circumstantial evidence may also patriarchal set-up that is far more stop overnight given that our coun- be difficult to gather. In addition, forgiving of men's trespasses. There try still suffers from a feudal mind- credibility of a complaint suffers are already news articles that high- set, has a large, unorganised sector, with delay in reporting.” light how several prominent persons deeply ingrained cultural beliefs As for the cost, she points out, “It who were called out have moved and a marked power differential is true that legal proceedings can ahead in their careers without any in many workplaces not to forget get expensive. However, this should significant impact. We know that fewer numbers of women which not prove a deterrent as free legal scores have women have lost their makes it difficult for a woman to

aid is available through the State jobs, careers, health, well-being stand up, fight the system and Legal Services Authority. There are and even their lives due to violence avenge herself. < also several NGOs and pro bono and sexual harassment. The MeToo legal service providers who can be Movement is a small but significant (The writer is a senior journalist accessed.” step in reminding us of the enormity based in Chennai.) And with legal matters taking for- of this social issue,” observes Akila. ever, the feeling of hanging fire end- A large number of female victims lessly is another thing to contend choose to simply struggle in silence.

12 VIDURA January-March 2019 SEXUAL HARRASMENT ‘I am an Indian woman’ We all know about the violence perpetrated against women and the horrors some of them have to face almost on a daily basis. But how much do we as individuals try and help women who often fight a losing battle against the odds? Or, how many of us go out of the way to help them? Very little. Very few. It is a sad reflection of the kind of society we live in that we needed a #MeToo Movement to embolden several women to speak out on matters of public concern. Many were fired by enthusiasm for the movement and the urge to come out with their own experiences. Who is a woman? A mother, wife, daughter, a person you love…? Don’t they all deserve respect? Then why does a woman in India have to be frightened, feel exploited, face humiliation? Sangeetha Shinde’s sensitive ode will perhaps help us understand

I am the daughter of Kali, sister to Saraswathi and the embodiment of Lakshmi.

I am Mary Magdalene, I am the Virgin Mother, I am Khadeeja, I am the mother of Buddha.

I was delivered through pain and that was just the start.

I am the woman who is beaten by her husband while friends look on. “I am too busy with my life to get involved,” they say.

I am the daughter too dark to be of merit to her own family, so I am denied a voice and denied choice.

I am the woman who is told how to dress. “Wear bright colours,” says my friend, the mental health therapist, with skin like driven snow. “Cover up your shame,” says the village.

I am a woman, so I have many advisers to teach me how to think. “Don’t leave the country,” says my teacher, “you’re running away from work to be done here.” “It looks bad when women smoke,” says the doctor. “Have children, it will cure your acne,” says the old lady down the street. “Discolour your face to look pretty,” says Unilever.

I am the female accused of harlotry at the age of 14. No one says anything to the uncle – apparently as a girl and a child, the guilt is mine alone. They threaten to break my legs if I go near him again and so I am sent to a prison in my own home.

I am the woman trapped in an unhappy marriage that I cannot leave, for what will people say? I am the one that dared to leave her man and then found another. And when that too fails, I force a smile and endure it for I can be a hero no more than once in this lifetime.

I am the woman that likes her own kind. And I swallow my fear and my secret as I see my matrimonial ad in a newspaper selling me to the highest male bidder.

I am the vulnerable guilty party. I am the thief in the house, says a male relative who listens to Tchaikovsky and has misplaced some silver I have never seen.

I am the girl who runs away at 18 to be with a man she has fallen in love with. And I am her girlfriend who is brought to trial for her treason for there is no one else to blame now.

I am the rebel who runs away from home to escape abuse. Everyone is shocked, but no one asks why.

January-March 2019 VIDURA 13 Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration:

I am the bereft wife whose husband picks his mother over me and leaves me to suffer the crushing and brutal aftermath of his unreasonable departure. I am the woman whose mother-in-law threatened to pour kerosene over her.

I am the Indian woman who chose not to have children. Barren, lesbian, unfortunate, soulless, and worthless am I.

I am the successful career woman. Other women who have chosen the norm treat me like a pariah, while taking all the generosity and benefits I have to offer. I am the subject of gossip, aversion and betrayal. Over and over.

I am the writer, the dancer, the poetess, the engineer, the fighter pilot. The hostess, the employer, the employee, the unpaid maid in the home.

I am the 12-year-old child-woman that goes to work in the houses of the wealthy. They have baby daughters, but to them I am just a machine to cook and wash and clean.

I am the woman in the slum, the one you see, but don’t see, every day. I am ‘these people’ to those whose accident of birth prevented them from living my life.

I am the girl that ran away from home to get married, and when things went wrong I had nowhere to turn to. Even renting a house, as a single woman, is fraught with terror, it seems.

I am a divorcee, and it is my only claim to fame, says the rich lady from Bombay. She forgets the jobs I have done, the books I have written and the friendship I have shown her. She thinks her tawdry affair is not a reflection of her married state.

I am the girl born in the slum. I am sick from dirty water all the time and I can only go to a toilet when the sun is still in the sky. I am her fearful mother who cannot let her out of sight for who knows what may happen to her.

I am the other woman, and I am forever in shame, for I sinned against all that is considered virtuous. The man escapes unscathed, and his wife blames me and not him.

I am the widow and I may not walk in sunlight for fear my unlucky shadow may fall on another soul bringing him or her misfortune.

14 VIDURA January-March 2019 I am the actress of stunning beauty and talent and my path to success is via the casting couch.

I am the struggling writer and I want to tell the story of India’s unsung women. “Your stories don’t have happy endings,” says the publisher. In the bitter ether of the online world, I send back a fervent message, “There are many in India who do not get happy endings. Let’s give them one by telling their story.” Silence is my only answer.

I am the small-town rebel. I am the big-city conqueror. I am the woman that tries to find her ayw through the crushing onslaught of misogyny, patriarchy and injustice that block my every step wherever I go.

I am the woman on the bus and the train that your brother groped. I am the young girl your father leered at while speaking from the pulpit at church. I am the one your husband called out vile names to on his way back from offering flowers to the Goddess at the temple.

I am Nirbhaya. I am Sridevi, I am Malaika who spoke out loud against hypocrisy. I am the Rani of Jhansi. I am the women that Raja Ravi Varma painted. I am Arundhati Roy, and I am the bai in your home.

I am the ten million girls that have disappeared in the last ten years.

I am the widow that dares to live. I am a financial burden to the family. Not deserving of nutrition or a decent education, for those are the purview of my brothers.

I am the ugly, dark-skinned female bearing the daily cross of my genetics and gender.

I am the one men fear and despise for I refuse to conform to their narrow standards.

I am female. I am Indian. My thoughts, my life, my soul, my body are not mine, but belong to my parents, my husband and a society that worships mothers and reviles daughters.

I am Shakti, I am Parvati, I am Mother Theresa, I am Indira and Priyanka. I am Jayalalithaa and I am the sweeper on the road. I am the forgotten wife of the Father of the Nation.

I am Asifa. I am the girl that went out in the fields to tend to her horses and never came back. I was the one that cried for my mother as I was drugged and pinned down by a policeman and his friends. By a man old enough to be my grandfather. I am her grieving mother and I am her neighbour. I am the lawyer that defends her, and I am every woman that is helpless in the face of this horror.

I am the one who cries out silently from behind a laptop for what else can I do.

My religion is submission. I have no voice, my power has been stripped from me by an inhuman

social code and I have no recourse to justice. I am an Indian woman. And I am raped every day. <

(The writer who hails from Coonoor and now lives in Greece, won the Nilgiris first prize for an essay on World Peace when she was 14. She went to on establish and run three international magazines, and was contributing editor of Living Well, the leading Jordan-based lifestyle magazine in West Asia. She was until recently managing editor of The Business Innovator, a magazine published out of Brussels. She retains her directorship of Incubation Worldwide, UK, a London- based consultancy house. Her third book, A Book of Anglo-Indian Tales, was recently launced in Chennai. She has a Master’s in Business Administration, a BA in English Literature and a thirst to tell the stories of women who have survived, and to help other women grow and thrive.)

January-March 2019 VIDURA 15 NETWORK OF WOMEN IN MEDIA IN INDIA STUDY Where are women’s voices in television debates? The world moved out of the Victorian era two centuries ago. But the belief that, ‘women should be seen and not heard’ persists in this day and age. ‘Manels’ or men-dominated panels at conferences and debates the world over continue to discuss ‘Women in Math’, ‘Abortion law restrictions and protests by women’, or ‘Gender balance in the US armed forces’. Nearer home, all-male panels on television discussed the entry of Priyanka Vadra into politics. Rina Mukherji analyses the gender disparity in the constitution of panels and selection of anchors, the absence of women in several discussion forums, and how women’s opinions tend to be shouted down

he sad absence of women’s voices in the broadcast media Twas recently corroborated by the findings of a month-long study titled, Panels or Manels? – Desper- ately Seeking Women in Indian TV News Debates (Report on a Study on the Representation of Women in Indian TV News Channels) by the Network of Women in Media in India (NWMI). Conducted over a month (22nd April to 21st May 2017), the study examined programmes aired by 28 channels in 12 languages: six in Eng- lish, four in Hindi and 18 in various other Indian languages. One prime news show and one top weekly talk show were reviewed for each channel, with the exercise aiming to collect and collate information on the participation of women – as anchors / interviewers and as dis- cussants / respondents – in panel discussions. Almost a quarter of the research- ers’ responses (24 per cent of the total of 506 forms) related to Eng- lish language channels, while Hindi language channels accounted for 14 per cent and Bengali channels for 11 Illustrations: NWMI per cent. In all, a total of 390 hours cent were prime time news pro- for 45 per cent of the programmes of programming were viewed by grammes and the rest were daily and surveyed (229 of the total of 506). 11 researchers over the one-month weekly talk shows. Crime was the second-most dis- period studied. Of the total number Politics was found to dominate all cussed topic, followed by Agricul- of programmes monitored, 69 per news panel discussions, accounting ture; but both of these accounted for

16 VIDURA January-March 2019 in terms of representation of women among panellists than Tamil, Punjabi and Odiya, which showed just about 5 per cent female representation.

KEY FINDINGS Women as panelists • Women’s representation in panel discussions broadcast by Indian TV news channels is 13.6 per cent, compared to 86 per cent for men. • Nearly two-thirds of all panel discussions (65 pc) did not fea- ture a single woman; in other words, they were manels. • Hindi channels had the best less than 6 per cent of the total sur- Further, debates pertaining to cer- representation of women in veyed time (29 and 28 programmes tain fi elds were almost exclusively panels: an average of 23 pc respectively). dominated by men: sports, religion, (still less than a quarter). Looking at the number of women law enforcement and farming. • English channels lagged who participated in debates as Language-wise, Hindi, Gujarati, behind on women’s represen- anchors, victims, and as expert dis- English and Urdu fared much bett er tation, at 17 pc. cussants, it was found that nearly three quarters of the anchors were men (72 per cent). The imbalance Subject Matter & Gender Parity in Debates was highest in Hindi language channels, where men constituted about 89 per cent of the anchors. In this, English channels fared excep- tionally well with almost as many female as male anchors. Panellists, though, were over- whelmingly male across all channels, whether English, Hindi or regional languages. While male panellists stood at 86 per cent, women were at a litt le less than 14 per cent, with trans- gender (TG) panellists constituting a miniscule 0.2 per cent. Hindi chan- nels fared bett er here, with women panellists at 23.5 per cent, compared to English at just 17 per cent and regional language channels at a dis- mal 10 per cent. Interestingly, about 65 per cent, or 2/3rds of all panels did not feature a single woman; that is, they were ‘manels’. With regard to the professional background of panellists, there were more women artistes and law- yers than academics, students and journalists on television debates.

January-March 2019 VIDURA 17 • Gujarati channels fared relatively bett er than other regional language channels, with an average of 21 pc women in their panel discus- sions, while Tamil and Pun- jabi channels brought up the rear with only 5 pc. • Bangla and Telugu were not much bett er at 11 pc; ditt o for Malayalam at 10 pc. • Most of the women seen on TV news panels were journal- ists, artists, lawyers, bureau- crats and activists. • None of the panels featured women sportspersons, reli- gious leaders, police offi cers and/or farmers even in dis- cussions on related topics. • Only 5 pc of the professional and independent analysts fea- tured on panels were women; the corresponding fi gures for party spokespersons and sub- ject experts were 8 pc and 11 pc respectively. • Regional language channels the world over, with social media • In contrast, female panel- surveyed fared much bet- shaming calling them out, and ini- lists made up 50 pc of panels ter with an average of 24 pc tiatives such as @genderavenger assembled for discussions of women anchors (nearly a and manpanels.org pushing for cor- on so-called women’s issues; quarter of all anchors). rective action, the study has stressed interestingly, 30 pc of the • Interestingly, however, there on how the absence of diversity in panels on events and issues was no diff erence in the repre- debates deprives viewers of the relating to religion and crime sentation of women as panel- perspective of a large chunk of the were women. lists in programmes anchored population. • On the other hand, in discus- by female and male anchors. For a country which has almost sions on politics, which con- 43 per cent of its women in regu- stituted nearly half (45 pc) of In short, women’s voices and opin- lar salaried positions, with 11.7 per all panel discussions on news ions are seldom heard, in spite of cent of India’s 5100 pilots being television, only 8 pc of the them making up half the population women (against a global average panellists were women. of the country. Notably, even when of 3 per cent), and more than half they were on a panel, women’s opin- of India’s banking sector headed Women as anchors ions tended to be shouted down in a by female chiefs, gender parity on • Nearly three quarters of the sea of male voices.

specialised panels should defi nitely anchors were men (72 pc). Calling for ensuring greater gen- < not be diffi cult. • English channels were an der parity in the constitution of pan- exception, with the number els and in the selection of anchors, (The writer is a senior journalist of female and male anchors the study has gone on to recommend based in Pune. She was one of the almost equal. that channels make a conscious researchers on the NWMI study.) • The imbalance was highest eff ort to look out for female experts in Hindi language channels, in various fi elds to represent on pan- where men constituted about els. Noting how the issue of manels 89 pc of the anchors. is now a matt er of serious concern

18 VIDURA January-March 2019 When the media pitched in to do good Guidelines for the media enjoin objectivity and distance in reporting. Sakuntala Narasimhan brings an interesting story about how the media can promote social good without compromising on credibility or probity

andu (official name Vasudev) on Bandu, with pictures, in early als help in bringing a story to read- Markad is a farmer in Niv- December, by Yogesh Sapkale, Mon- ers who are in distant places. Bdunge Village of Ahmedna- eylife’s deputy editor. Fine, lots of publications organise gar District in Maharashtra, who Instead of leaving it as a mere flood relief or disaster relief funds was growing pomegranate on his news report, Sucheta Dalal, one and pass them on to the distressed land for a living, but severe water of the founders of Moneylife (who communities, but this story goes shortage put the crop in jeopardy. became famous as an investiga- two steps further. First, the money In order to keep his 1200 plants tive reporter after she broke the went straight into Bandu’s account, alive, he was forced to hire water Harshad Mehta scam), decided to with transparency in every trans- tankers which charged Rs 500 per explore whether Moneylife could action (scanned receipts from the 6000 litres. When he could not pay go beyond reportage and help him bank were put up on the website). the water charges and ran up a debt in some way, and came up with Bandu repaid the money he owed of over Rs 70000, the tanker owner the idea of taking up a collection. the water tanker, but decided that refused to supply more water. She obtained details of Bandu’s he would use the balance that To add to his woes, Bandu found bank account and promptly put remained (Rs 87,000) for the ben- that the fruit he harvested could not the details on the website, along efit of other farmers in distress in fetch even Rs 10 per kg (when the with a video of the hapless farmer the community (although he still usual rate for a crate of 20 kg is Rs throwing his fruitharvest away had loans outstanding at the coop- 800 to 900 in the mandi – city buyers in anger. erative bank to be repaid; that could pay three times that price or more, The consequences were hearten- wait, he decided). at metropolitan retail outlets). In ing – readers from far and near sent When farmers are in distress, unbearable anger and frustration, remittances, large and small, which their cattle too suffer, and so it was Bandu sat with a pile of unsold all added up to nearly Rs 2 lakh. decided to set up a fodder camp, and fruit and threw them on the street, There was even a dollar remittance also organise water supply for other moaning dementedly all the while, from the US. Reading about a farm- farmers (there are photographs as passersby watched the fruit being er’s distress and loss is one thing, chronicling these activities) in the pulped and trampled. watching pictures of him in distress drought-prone district of Maha- The usual story, of an indigent is quite another. Here is where visu- rashtra. When news of the initiative farmer flinging his harvest away by the roadside in distress – tomato, potato and onion growers in differ- ent parts of the country have done that earlier, with newspapers carry- ing pictures of such occasions, but this story has a very different end- ing, thanks to the media. Moneylife (www.moneylife.in), started in 2006 as a fortnightly online resource for news and opinions

(mostly pertaining to the financial Photo: MoneyLife sector initially, but now covering a A farmer stands helplessly beside the pomegranate crop in her field, which is drying widened canvas), carried a report without water.

January-March 2019 VIDURA 19 Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration: spread, others from nearby commu- receipts displayed to ensure trans- I recall one news report that nities decided to pitch in too, and parency and above-board dealings. I alleged that some of the clothing, began an on-going self-help project cannot remember a similar initiative blankets, etc sent as donations from for the residents. started by the media for the common other parts of the country for the When outsiders were assisting good, with such meticulous attention flood affected areas, through other with cash remittances, the -com to transparency. One mainstream collection initiatives, were partially munity decided that they too could publication – TheTimes of India – did misappropriated by middlemen. pitch in, each according to one’s own carry a report on Bandu, but without The media can help fight such alle- resources. Sandeep Rajale, another any mention of the role that Money- gations and misdeeds, by ensuring rural resident like Bandu, came life played in generating a public that photographs and other sup- forward to offer free water to those process of reaching out at the com- porting evidence are recorded and whose crops needed it urgently, to munity level. shared with the public. Here is an

avoid a calamitous loss for the fam- Earlier too, during the devastating example of an initiative that can be ily. One farmer offered the use of his floods in Kerala and other parts of emulated and replicated. < land for setting up the fodder camp. southern India, Moneylife had orga- The community is thus taking the nized collection drives for cloth- Note: Details of Vasudev (Bandu) Babasaheb initiative forward, to reach out to a ing, food and other necessities, and Markad’s bank account: wider circle of beneficiaries. arranged for the parcels to be sent to A/C No.: 80013090201 This is the kind of media-gener- those in distress (pictures of the pro- IFS Code: MAHG0005404, MICR 414570501 ated story that inspires and sets a cess, with the office room piled with Branch code: MADHI 005404 Maharashtra Grameen Bank at Madhi Tq chain reaction in motion. And every parcels ready for dispatch, were car- Pathardi, Ahmednagar District, Maharashtra norm has been adhered to – with ried by the website).

20 VIDURA January-March 2019 The world is in danger – is the media listening? Foreseen environmental challenges and the risks inherent in the ongoing nuclear weapons race have put the life- nurturing conditions of Planet Earth under unprecedented stress. Is the media giving this sufficient importance? Bharat Dogra shares his views

If not checked, many of our current threats from military use of robots. the risk that vital global systems will practices put at serious risk the future These risks are increased if we take be damaged beyond repair.” that we wish for human society and the into account the interactions among The scientists concluded, “We the plant and animal kingdoms, and may them as well as their accumulated undersigned, senior members of so alter the living world that it will be impact. the world’s scientific community, unable to sustain life in the manner Warnings have been voiced hereby warn all humanity of what that we know. Fundamental changes increasingly in recent decades by lies ahead A great change in our are urgent if we are to avoid the col- prominent scientists, and yet they stewardship of the earth and the life lision our present course will bring have not led to the action needed. on it is required, if vast human mis- about. – World Scientists’ Warning to Instead, despite growing recogni- ery is to be avoided and our global Humanity (1992 Statement of 1575 Top tion of their seriousness, most of home on this planet is not to be irre- Scientists) the problems have gone from bad to trievably mutilated.” On the 25th anniversary of their call, worse. In fact, during the past one The follow-up statement titled, we look back at their warning and eval- or two years the world appears to be World Scientists’ Warning to uate the human response by exploring moving even further from corrective Humanity: A Second Notice, said, available time series data. Since 1992, action. Yet, we need to keep alive the “Especially troubling is the current with the exception of stabilizing the hope of adequate response to these trajectory of potentially catastrophic stratospheric ozone layer, humanity threats before it is too late. climate change due to rising GHGs has failed to make sufficient progress in The World Scientists’ Warning to from burning fossil fuels, deforesta- generally solving these foreseen envi- Humanity was signed in 1992 by tion and agricultural production – ronmental challenges, and alarmingly, the Union of Concerned Scientists particularly from farming ruminants most of them are getting far worse. – (including 99 of the 196 living Nobel for meat consumption. Moreover, World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity: Laureates) and sent to government we have unleashed a mass extinc- A Second Notice (2017), A Statement leaders all over the world. The docu- tion event, the sixth in roughly 540 Signed by 13524 Signatories from 180 ment warned that, “Our massive million years, wherein many current Countries tampering with the world’s inde- life forms could be annihilated or at pendent web of life – coupled with least committed to extinction by the he most critical issue of our the environmental damage inflicted end of this century.” times is that the life-nurturing by deforestation, species loss, and The statement concluded, “To Tconditions of our planet are climate change – could trigger wide- prevent widespread misery and being threatened by man-made fac- spread adverse effects, including catastrophic biodiversity loss, tors as never before. The most dis- unpredictable collapses of critical humanity must practice a more cussed concern is climate change, biological systems whose interactions environmentally sustainable alter- but there are at least eight other seri- and dynamics we only imperfectly native to business as usual… time is ous environmental problems which understand. Uncertainty over the running out. We must recognise, in can be treated as survival threats. extent of these effects cannot excuse our day-to-day lives and in our gov- In addition, there is the great risk complacency or delay in facing the erning institutions, that Earth with from weapons of mass destruction, threats… Current economic practices all its life is our only home.” including nuclear weapons, chemi- which damage the environment, in Nearly 100000 people were killed cal weapons and biological weap- both developed and underdeveloped within a few minutes in Hiro- ons, as well as the emerging serious nations, cannot be continued without shima and Nagasaki after being

January-March 2019 VIDURA 21 hit by nuclear weapons in 1945. If experts have warned that ultimately, changes needed for resolving them we count the longer-term deaths military use of robots may prove to are generally neglected. caused by internal bleeding, leuke- be the most destructive. Stephen Last but not the least, some sur- mia and other forms of cancer, then Hawking, Elon Musk, Bill Gates and vival issues have been covered at the death toll is likely to be around several others believe that, if ade- times in a highly distorted way. For 350000. In addition, the subsequent quate care is not exercised general example, nuclear and robot weap- generations continue to suffer in the AI (Artificial Intelligence) can be an ons have sometimes been covered form of mental retardation, physical existential threat to the human race. in such a way in some countries as deformities and other serious health While all of these survival threats to suggest that the acquisition of problems. are important in themselves, their such weapons should be speeded Given the destruction caused by interaction and accumulated impact up with no consideration to the the first two nuclear weapons, it is can be much more destructive than adverse impact of triggering such truly scaring to know that today individual threats. The biggest chal- a destructive arms race. Keeping in the world has around 15000 nuclear lenge for human society in the next view the increasing importance of weapons. And most of them are three decades or so is to significantly critical survival issues, it is clearly much more destructive than the reduce all these survival threats extremely important that signifi-

first two nuclear bombs. The US while meeting the basic needs of cant steps be taken to increase and Department of State has provided all people in a broad framework of improve media coverage of these < the following data on the number justice, peace and environment pro- issues. of nuclear weapons with various tection. countries: Russia: 7000, USA: 6800, Unfortunately, these most critical (The writer has recently authored a France:300, China:270, Britain:215, survival issues have not received book, The Planet in Peril, Survival Pakistan:140, India:130, Israel: 80, adequate attention in the media. Crisis and People’s Response, and North Korea: 10. In addition, This can be seen at three levels. On which looks at several serious several countries are being men- the one hand, some issues have problems which together constitute a tioned as possible future processors received very little attention. On survival threat, examines the record of nuclear weapons. They include the other hand, coverage of some in tackling such problems, and Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Japan survival issues like climate change emphasises the need for taking such and South Korea. has been increasing but the perspec- issues to people in a big way so that In a review of nuclear weapon tive on these issues leaves much to justice-based solutions can be taken race, The Economist (January 27, be desired. The issues are presented forward by people’s movements.) 2018) noted that “Both the USA in a narrow frame and the wider and Russia are committed to costly long-term modernisation programs for their strategic nuclear forces that should ensure their viability for the rest of the century. Other states with nuclear weapons, such as China, Pakistan, India and, par- ticularly North Korea are hard at work to improve both the quality and size of their nuclear forces.” It says several disruptive new tech- nologies and worsening relations among some of the nuclear weapon countries may increase the risk of To read articles, please visit actual use of nuclear weapons. Despite the efforts to ban chemi- cal and biological weapons, the threat of their highly destructive use remains, not just by govern- ments, but also by terrorists. Some

22 VIDURA January-March 2019 Why think tanks matter in electoral politics? Think tanks' role in Indian electoral politics has to be contexualised in the current global environment, says Col R. Hariharan. The world is witnessing a rise in populism, nationalism and protectionism that are challenging the established world order. Issues such as refugee crises, mass migration, climate change and non-traditional security threats have put countries and international institutions essential for their cooperation under enormous stress, he points out

ndia is poised to elect a new par- • Violence weakening democracy: Minister Narendra Modi is seeking liament in the next three months, Mahatma Gandhi once said “the a second term against an opposi- in the back drop of three issues spirit of democracy cannot be tion coalition that has come together I to provide an alternative option to that affect elections world over: established in the midst of ter- rorism, whether governmental or the citizens. So, the decibel level of popular”. Terrorism can manifest political discourse is rising and the • Cult of ignorance: Issac Asimov, slanging match between political before and during elections in var- one of the arch priests of science parties is adding to the din. While fiction writing, was quoted by ious forms including extremism, this is how democracy shows up the Newsweek (January 22, 1980) criminal intimidation and violence in our streets during every gen- as saying, “There is a cult of igno- or black propaganda. eral election, the influence of elec- rance in the United States, and • Non-participation in politics: Clas- tronic media has vastly increased there always has been. The strain sical Greek philosopher Plato says, due to the common man’s access to of anti-intellectualism has been a “One of the penalties for refusing instant information through mobile constant thread winding its way to participate in politics is that you phones. through our political and cultural end up being governed by your It is not surprising that politi- life, nurtured by the false notion inferiors.” This is so true to this day, cal parties are making wide use of that democracy means that ‘my particularly in our urban areas. the electronic media for election campaigns. Election-related news ignorance is just as good as your The 2019 general election has cre- knowledge’.” hogs increasing space both in print ated a great deal of interest as Prime and in the electronic media spec- trum. This has triggered a real-time propaganda war via instant news reporting, trend analyses, opinion polls and endless debates on TV news channels. Electronic media is offering a smorgasbord of options ranging from electronic editions of print media supported by visuals to social media sites like Twitter, Face- book, Instagram and other special- ised websites in various languages with lots of visual content. Often, it is supported by embedded fake information, with morphed visuals masquerading as news. This has made it difficult for voters to objectively understand key national Photos: MoneyLife issues. As a result, spread of rumour The writer speaks at a seminar at the Press Institute of India, which looked at the and disinformation has increased role of think tanks, media and civil society in electoral politics. the threat of electoral violence in the

January-March 2019 VIDURA 23 society already divided by religious • Disrupt spread of fake news and well-recognised think tanks. TI and caste differences. rumours before and during elec- survey of 27 think tanks of global tions repute found only ten think tanks Role of think tanks in electoral • Provide advice on systemic were highly transparent and politics improvements to neutralise social seven broadly transparent in dis- Think tanks are non-profit organi- media threats to secure conduct of closing who were funding them. sations created with the objective of elections. Six think tanks were opaque, one carrying out research and analyses was deceptive and three did not in specific disciplines to enable a Are think tanks ready? disclose the details. better understanding of issues for India has a very large number of • Networking: For real value addi- evolving suitable policy formula- think tanks varying in their quality tion, think tanks have to network tion to improve the quality of life of performance. Some of them serve with academia, administration, of citizens. Think tanks can help a ideology-based perspective on vari- civil society and other think tanks great deal in providing an objective ous issues affecting the quality of life relevant to their discipline. Then understanding of national issues. of people. only their research will be broad They have an important role in the based to meaningfully serve their following aspects: • Competency and leadership: Many objectives. think tanks are handicapped by a • Promotion of the cause of culture that does not encourage Management legend Peter Drucker democracy vision-oriented research and anal- in his seminal book Managing • Specialised research in framing ysis. This is compounded by lack the Non-Profit Organisation [1989] and improving electoral laws, dynamic leadership to motivate provides excellent examples and practices and systems to conduct the organisation. As a result, they explanations of mission, leader- free and fair election in secure stagnate in performance. ship, resources, marketing, goals, environment and much more for think tanks. For • Vision and goal orientation: Unless • Provide understanding and effective functioning of think tanks, there is goal orientation towards knowledge related to key issues the leadership should ponder over contributing to a national vision, affecting the election including five questions on their mission, on think tanks would not be fulfilling foreign policy, governance, devel- their customer, on what the cus- their role. tomer values, on their results and opment and national security • Financial constraints: Lack of pub- their plans. This is what think tanks • Keep public informed on the lic philanthropy has made think in our country need to do to con-

implications of developments tanks dependent on government tinue to be relevant to the people of < during the run up to the election grants or foreign contributions. the country. • Advisory function to the election Unless there is financial autonomy commission at least to some extent, think tanks (The writer, a retired military • Influencing policy making on will not be able to make an objec- intelligence specialist on South Asia, issues that affect democratic tive contribution. has been associated with a number elections • Trust deficit: Some think tanks of think tanks including DESH, the • Electoral forecasting and trend are linked to international think Chennai Centre for China Studies, analyses tanks with goals contrary to gov- and South Asia Analysis Group. ernment policy. This has drawn This is an excerpt from the author’s Role against social media keynote address delivered at a disruptors adverse notice of media and secu- seminar, Why Think Tanks Matter Think tanks can develop the rity agencies. This increases their in Electoral Politics, organised by the knowledge and expertise to combat trust deficit among the public as Chennai Centre for China Studies social media disruption, which can many people believe think tanks’ jointly with the National Maritime play havoc with the electoral envi- functions are limited to charity or Foundation (Southern Regional ronment and peaceful conduct of social causes. So, think tanks in Chapter) and Press Institute of India elections. In addition, they can: other disciplines are not given the recognition they deserve. under the auspices of Think Tanks • Use social media for proactive • Transparency: Transparency Inter- Civil Societies Program, University of affirmative action against anti- national (TI) has found that lack of Pennsylvania on January 31 this year democratic forces in multi-media transparency in funding sources is at PII-RIND.) format. a common feature even in many

24 VIDURA January-March 2019 Is the ‘hate plastic’ campaign necessary or viable? A vigorous and noisy anti-plastic crusade has been gaining strength around the world, backed by a strong media drive. So much so that it has more or less acquired the hue of a ‘hate campaign’, giving the impression that plastic, in any form and application, is bad for public and environmental health. But how true is that? N.S. Venkataraman examines the issue.

he intensive global campaign plastics in India by 2022. This has tions. This has given an impression against plastics has now vir- won it global acclaim. The vast to the common man that plastics in Ttually descended into a ‘hate majority of states have imposed all forms should be rejected, and pro- plastic’ campaign. The negative either a complete or partial ban on ducers of plastic goods are viewed impact of such a movement amongst single-use plastic.However, neither as polluters by some section of the the public who do not have adequate the Central and state governments people. It has made the anti-plastic technological understanding of vari- in India nor environmentalists and campaign anunrealistic, counter- ous related matters is severe. activists have cared to educate the productive and negative effort. The Government of India has public on the types of plastics that Plastic now plays an integral and pledged to eliminate single-use are put to different uses and applica- inevitable part in many economic Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration:

January-March 2019 VIDURA 25 and industrial activities and this has comparably efficient and convenient filament yarn, nylon, etc are non- to be recognised by the anti-plastic substitute materials. bio degradable themselves, but are campaigners. Eliminating the use of Around the world, research is used in some countries, including all types of plastics in all types of being done to develop and produce India, as substitutes for conven- applications is technologically and bio-polymers such as polylactic acid, tional plastic carry bags. economically unfeasible. starch-blended polymer etc. to make Obviously, the anti-plastic cam- Millions of tonnes of different plastics bio degradable. However, paign is being carried out without categories of plastic are being used the efforts are still largely in the tangible plans to supply alterna- around the world for various appli- formative stage and commercially tives. It is doubtful that any system- cations. These include polyethylene, available bio-degradable products atic study has been carried out to polypropylene, polyacetal and poly- in adequate measure and quantity assess the availability of substitute carbonate used for various appli- to replace conventional plastics are products. The campaign deplor- cations including in construction, unlikely to be available in the near ing the use of plastic entirely is not pipelines and fittings, packaging, future. The cost of production of such appropriate. It is high time that the electronics and telecommunication, bio-polymers is also a vital issue, as campaign is tempered and a dis- agriculture, medical diagnostics higher costs would make competing tinction is made between plastics of

and fishnets. with conventional plastics difficult. different types for use in different The main campaign against plas- The present use of single-use plas- applications. < tics centres around the fact that tics is so high that replacement with plastic is non-biodegradable. Cam- paper or jute or cotton products can (The writer is founder-trustee, paigners underline that plastics will be done only to a limited extent. Nandini Voice for the Deprived, and retain shape even after athousand Also, products made of textiles such lives in Chennai.) years.However, non-biodegradabil- as polyester staple fibre, polyester ity as such need not be a negative aspect, as permanence is desirable in several applications. Campaigners also point out that New vice-president for WAN-IFRA plastic has been found in the dung and entrails of animals like elephants During its general assembly of members held in Amsterdam on 13th and cows which eat them and that December, WAN-IFRA appointed Fernando de Yarza, president of vast amounts of plastic are dumped Henneo Group in Spain, as its newly elected vice-president. De Yarza, into our oceans and seas, making along with Michael Golden (USA), Lisa MacLeod (Tiso Blackstar, South them reservoirs of waste. They also Africa), Paul Verwilt (Mediahuis, Belgium), and David Callaway (The assert that plastic products are car- Street, USA) will now form the new presidency of WAN-IFRA until the cinogenic when incinerated. But the incoming board elections planned for June 2019. question is, why should plastic be Fernando de Yarza is a member of the board and the executive committee either dumped or burnt? of Vocento, the leading general interest news publisher in Spain (with its The problem is not the use of plas- flagship daily ABC, and 11 regional newspapers including El Correo). tics itself, but the lack of facilities to He is chairman of Taller de Editores, Spain’s largest magazine publisher; recycle and reuse plastics. While president of News Media Europe, the association of European publishers; some baby steps have been taken in and vice-president at the Association of Media and Information (AMI). this regard, a pragmatic and mas- De Yarza has held management positions at Telefónica-Terra, where he sive worldwide campaign to recycle was in charge of content purchasing and was director general of Dasa- used plastics is yet to be launched. Logística editorial. And it has to be considered whether Formerly the Heraldo Group, publisher of Heraldo de Aragon founded the ban on single-use plastics signif- in 1895, Henneo is the seventh-largest Spanish communication group icantly reduce this problem. by turnover and a leading media group in Aragón. The group employs Plastics are used in packag- more than 1400 employees in four business areas: news media, ing products like food, cosmetics, audiovisual production, technology, and industrial services. Henneo is

industrial goods, etc and this prac- the publisher of Heraldo de Aragón, 20minutos, Diario del Alto Aragón, tice is sure to continue for a long and Information. < time to come, due to the absence of

26 VIDURA January-March 2019 Taking menstrual hygiene to weaker sections While a lot of emphasis has been placed on menstrual hygiene management in recent times, the extent to which these changes are reaching the weaker sections in remote villages remains a moot point. Bharat Dogra discusses the issue

ome recent efforts have been Kubauliram Panchayat (Samastipur Kunj Devi, a woman of the village, made by the Aga Khan (AK) District of Bihar), a small hut was explained, earlier there were a lot SDevelopment Network and recently constructed, and meetings of restrictions on girls and women related organisations to take the of adolescent girls and women are going through menstruation but issue of menstrual hygiene man- held there. after the initiative began, the situa- agement to remote villages as well AK field workers Rajlakshmi and tion has improved significantly and as to schools catering to children Suneeta have been using the meet- such restrictions are not imposed. from weaker sections. In Paswan ings to disseminate essential infor- Adolescent girls are now much Tola (a hamlet of the Paswan Dalit mation and consciousness about better prepared to face the onset of Community) in Khera Village, menstrual hygiene management. As periods, she said. Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration:

January-March 2019 VIDURA 27 At this and other such centres, consciousness regarding menstrual tipur), said, “What we learn from sanitary pads and soap are read- hygiene management has improved AK didis (regarding menstrual ily available and accessible. This significantly and they are in turn hygiene management) helps to has helped to reduce infection and able to take this information to remove doubts and fear. What we health problems among adolescent other girls. learn here we tell other girls also.” girls. Further, the separate female sani- Anchal Kumari in Ranipur Middle The Meena Manch held in schools tation blocks recently contributed by School (Patna) is an active member is another forum for meeting ado- the Aga Khan Rural Support Fund of Meena Manch. One among six lescent girls and improving their and Dettol Banega Swachh Bharat sisters in a poor household, she was consciousness about menstrual initiative in several schools have encouraged by teachers and Aga hygiene management. Modified helped a lot. Khan field staff and has come up Snakes and Ladders games have Access to sanitary pads has been very well. “We learn about hygiene been designed to convey important improved in schools as well as facili- here and also take this knowledge menstrual hygiene and sanitation ties for their disposal. to our families. Now girls here are

messages. Meena Manch members Shivani, member, Meena Manch, not confused and afraid at the onset from various schools said their Gopalpur Middle School (Samas- of periods,” she says. <

Air pollution killing more people than tobacco: study

One in every eight deaths in India is attributable to air pollution in India, making it a leading risk factor for death in the country. This makes air pollution a bigger contributor to the disease burden than tobacco, according to a new study released recently. In 2017, over 12 lakh deaths occurred due to air pollution, primarily through lower respiratory infections, chronic obstructive lung disease, heart attacks, stroke, diabetes and lung cancer. The burden due to air pollution includes 6.7 lakh deaths due to outdoor particulate matter (PM) air pollution and 4.8 lakh deaths due to household air pollution, says the study published in medical journal Lancet Planetary Health. In comparison, the deaths to tobacco are 10 lakh every year. Both air pollution and tobacco use are risk factors for respiratory diseases, heart disease and diabetes. Therefore the study assessed disease burden attributable to air pollution and compared it with that of tobacco use for the diseases that result due to both risk factors. It was found that disease burden attributable to air pollution was much higher for lower respiratory infections than attributable to tobacco use. For chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, lung cancer and cataract, the burden attributable to air pollution was as high as that attributable to tobacco use “Although air pollution is commonly thought to be associated with lung disease, a substantial 38 per cent of the disease burden due to air pollution in India is from cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Another notable aspect of air pollution in India is its contribution to the disease burden from ischaemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer, which are commonly associated with smoking,” the study pointed out. The average life expectancy in India would have been 1.7 years higher if the air pollution level were less than the minimal level causing health loss. As much as 77 per cent of India’s population is exposed to outdoor air pollution levels above the National Ambient Air Quality Standards safe limit, with the northern states having particularly high levels. The country has one of the highest annual average ambient PM2.5 exposure levels in the world. In 2017, no state in India had an annual population-weighted ambient PM2.5 less than the WHO recommended level. The highest PM2.5 exposure level was in Delhi, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Haryana. The study has been conducted as part of the India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative, which is joint project of

the Indian Council of Medical Research, Public Health Foundation of India, and Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). < (Dinesh C. Sharma, India Science Wire, New Delhi)

28 VIDURA January-March 2019 Whither the trade union movement? Expression of public disappointment and frustration with the present functioning pattern of the trade union movement could perhaps bring about a much-needed change in the structure and fabric of trade unionism in India, hopefully sooner than later. N.S. Venkataraman takes a look at the changing face of the trade union movement in the world in general, and in India in particular

t was the clarion call given a few everywhere have been collectively Marx envisaged. Many feel Marx centuries ago by the great revo- struggling for their objectives. would have in fact disapproved Ilutionary and philosopher Karl Over the past few decades, how- of the mechanism of the modern Marx, urging the workers of the ever, the trade union movement movement, and might have issued world to unite as they had nothing around the world has been tak- another call to the workers, tell- other than their chains to lose, that ing on a different style and shape, ing them they have nothing to lose spawned the world trade union raising the question whether the except the vice-like grip of political movement. Since then, workers present-day pattern is what Karl leaders who have virtually taken Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration:

January-March 2019 VIDURA 29 control of the unions and converted revision is a frequent trigger for agi- daring enough to defy a strike them into political organisations of tations, despite the fact that employ- call, as the dictator-like leader- diverse hues. ees of government and public sector ship of the trade union movement This is particularly true in India, organisations like banks are by no ensures that those who don’t fall where there is really no trade union means poorly paid and come under in line are isolated and humiliated that is not affiliated to one political the middle or upper middle-income and possibly harassed. party or other. Today, government groups. It is unfortunate that the Indian and public sector employees go on To bring this into perspective, one trade union leadership does not strike very frequently on one pre- only has to remember that 30 per have the practice of conducting a text or another, to serve the interests cent of Indians, not employed in poll amongst members to ascertain of their political masters. government departments or public their views and get their concur- Teachers in government institu- sector undertakings, live below the rence for planned action before tions, bank staff, postal department poverty line, not knowing where issuing a strike call. Such healthy employees, even those who provide their next meal is to come from. practices are prevalent in some essential services, like doctors in What is particularly tyrannical developed countries, though. government hospitals, routinely go about the Indian trade union lead- The ground reality today is that on strike, so much so that such pro- ership is that the decision to go on the trade union movement, as tests have become the new normal strike is taken by a coterie of politi- inspired by Karl Marx, has lost its in India today. These strike calls are cally inclined leaders who call the face and is no more considered a so frequent that the common man shots. The general mass of employ- movement of the oppressed class. no longer bothers to find out what ees is not consulted but compelled to The Indian trade union movement the cause is. join the strike. needs reform and this can happen Many of the triggers for the On many occasions, the majority only if employees in government strikes are of debatable justifica- of the agitating employees do not departments and public sector tion. For instance, the privatisa- understand the justification for the undertakings and other organisa- tion of sick public sector units or strike, but participate as a matter tions who hold the country and the merger of weak public sector of routine. Many of them don’t join government to ransom by frequent banks with stronger entities are public demonstrations, but use the strike calls can free themselves from

policy matters to be discussed and ‘strike days’ as time to relax. political leadership and the control decided by Parliament, not dictated However, it is worth noting that of self-seeking vested interests. < by trade union leaders by resorting whether they agree with or under- to agitations. The demand for wage stand the cause, no employee is

I&B Ministry hikes ad rates for print media

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has taken a decision to revise the advertisement rates for print media by announcing a hike of 25 per cent over and above the existing rate structure for advertisement in print media by the Bureau of Outreach and Communication (erstwhile DAVP). A press release uploaded on the website of the Press Information Bureau of India said that the decision will be effective from January 8 and will be valid for a period of three years. The last such revision had taken place in 2013 when an increase of 19 per cent had been announced over and above the rates of 2010. The decision has been taken based on the recommendations of the 8th Rate Structure Committee constituted by I&B Ministry which took into account several factors, including the increase in price of news print, processing

charges and other factors which go into the computation of advertisement rates. The press note also said that the decision would benefit especially the medium and small newspapers, including a large number of such papers in< regional and vernacular languages.

(Courtesy: exchange4media.com)

30 VIDURA January-March 2019 NEWS FROM THE NORTHEAST Who said the newspaper reading habit is dying? When newspaper hawkers in Guwahati decided to stop distributing newspapers in an effort to get news publishing houses to accede to their demands, people didn’t seem keen to pick up newspapers from the stalls that had been put up temporarily in the streets. So, don’t we bother much about newspapers anymore? Nava Thakuria sent us this report

n February 2014, print journal- Recently, while interacting with Calcutta Chronicle (1811), Sambad ists in Guwahati had a scare. a group of Guwahati-based scribes Kaumudi (1822), Mirat-ul-Akhbar INewspaper hawkers decided to through video conferencing from (1822), Bombay Samachar (1822), etc. boycott distributing newspapers in Australia, editor and publisher of Speaking to Guwahati reporters order to press media houses to con- news portal Newsblaze.com Alan from Paris, Reporters sans Frontiers cede some demands. Printed news- Gray predicted that Indian news- (RSF) representative Daniel Bastard papers piled up, and some media papers in various languages would also expressed the view that news- groups even erected temporary continue serving a huge population papers in countries like India would stalls in prime locations in the city with news, views and analytical survive even though mainstream so that people could get their daily pieces for some more years. journalism is increasingly going paper. But there were few takers. Even while fighting an enormous online. The Asia-Pacific deskhead of We expected a backlash from the credibility crisis, the Rs 320000 RSF pointed out that with the inven- public. million Indian newspaper industry tion of photography, many people But strangely, it did not happen. continues to grow. Regional thought painting would vanish as an Does that mean that we are not as newspapers, particularly, have art, but it did not happen.“Similarly, dependent on the printed newspa- shown promise in the recent past we thought, with the spreading of per as we thought? Even in 2014? and the trend can be expected to the television network, the radio In the West, most media groups continue for a few decades to come. will be obsolete, but the medium have experienced a slow but steady The newspaper has a long his- has bounced back in the recent past shrinking of circulation figures and tory in the subcontinent. Despite with new technology, content and have gone in for online editions only 10 to 15 per cent of the Indian presentations,” he said, adding that to tap more readership. In India, populace being able understand the newspapers today must improve the situation is yet to reach alarm- English even today, the first quality, publishing more in-depth ing proportions as Internet access newspaper in India (The Bengal analytical pieces rather than com- remains a dream for half of our Gazette),was published in that peting with alternate media for mere populace. So, a sizeable chunk of language on 29th January 1780 news content. the population is still in the habit of by James Augustus Hicky dur- Coming back to the February buying newspapers. ing British rule. It was a two-page 2014 anecdote, some senior journal- The country has nearly a billion weekly newspaper where most of ists called the agitating newspaper potential readers, and supports over the space was occupied by govern- distributors to the Press Club, and 82000 registered newspapers with a ment advertisements. requested them to resolve the issue cumulative daily circulation of 110 Then came the Indian Gazette in amicably. To our relief, they acceded million. With the literacy rate going the latter part of 1780 and it was to our request. And we escaped an up to 75 per cent, more people are followed by other newspapers like almost disaster. now able to read newspapers, even Calcutta Gazette (1784), The Bengal on digital platforms. Further, more Journal (1785), Madras Courier (1785), A government-media partnership and more middle-class Indians are Bombay Herald (1789), Bombay Courier The media can play a vital role in accessing the Internet through their (1789), Bombay Gazette (1791), Madras helping the downtrodden sections mobile phones. Gazette (1795), India Herald (1796), of society access welfare schemes

January-March 2019 VIDURA 31 Photos: NT Participants at the media interactive workshop in Musalpur. government has instituted for the cent of Baksa households were cov- sensitise the media about the need benefit of this sector, said Ansumwi ered, and the gas connection initia- to disseminate proper information Khunguri Boro, executive member tive which had achieved 100 per cent to the common people. of the Bodoland Territorial Council. coverage. Journalist Nava Thakuria empha- Addressing a media interactive ses- “In the field of animal husbandry sised the importance of a responsi- sion in the Baksa locality of western and agriculture too, Baksa has ble and credible media nationwide. Assam, he said “We, the govern- achieved significant success. I appre- Internet connectivity had made ment and the media alike, should ciate the initiative of media persons reporting easier, but also posed a ensure that people are aware of the here because of which we succeeded serious threat to professional jour- various government programmes in disseminating information about nalists, he pointed out. “The role of and schemes so that they can avail these policies affectively,” Gogoi a journalist has simply grown with of the benefits of those schemes. said. About 50 journalists from dif- the increasing number of Internet There is a huge range of schemes ferent parts of the district attended users in India. Now the media is being implemented by the govern- the workshop. held accountable for every word ment with the main objective of K.S Dhatwalia, director-general we write or speak. So it becomes

making the citizens’ lives better.” for NE Zone in the Union Infor- extremely important to present facts Organised by the Press Informa- mation & Broadcasting Ministry, without any bias,” Thakuria said. < tion Bureau’s Guwahati office in addressing the participants, pointed collaboration with the Baksa District out that Vartalap was an attempt to Administration in Musalpur Town, the media interactive workshop titled Vartalap was also addressed by Baksa District Magistrate San- jeeb Kumar Gogoi. Abhijit Bose to head “Baksa is now considered an aspirational district and hence we WhatsApp India have to put in extra effort in all developmental spheres so that the WhatsApp has announced the appointment of Abhijit Bose as head of residents can benefit from vari- WhatsApp India. Bose will build WhatsApp's first full country team outside ous government schemes. Journal- of California and will be based in Gurgaon. Bose and his team will focus ists should play a proactive role in on helping businesses, both large and small connect with their customers. making the public aware of these He joins WhatsApp from Ezetap where he served as co-founder and CEO.

welfare schemes,” said Gogoi.The He is a graduate of Harvard Business School and Cornell University. Bose district has been commended for its will join WhatsApp in early 2019. < excellent coverage of government schemes, he added, and cited the (Courtesy:exchange4media.com) UjjalaScheme, under which 90 per

32 VIDURA January-March 2019 GREAT INDIAN EDITORS A man of many parts, he stayed clear of politics

Behramji Merwanji Malabari was a journalist, poet, publicist, author, and social reformer. He is best known for his ardent advocacy for the protection of the rights of women and for his crusade against child marriage. Mrinal Chatterjee on his life and times

orn at Vadodara on 18 May Florence Nightingale (Müller and vruddhi vishena bhashan, in 1881 in 1853, Behramji Merwanji Nightingale would also participate Bombay. His English interpretation BMalabari’s father was Dhan- in his struggle for social reform, of Max Mueller's Root and Growth jibhai Mehta, a Parsi gentleman and the latter would compose the of Religion was unveiled in 1881 at who served as a clerk in the admin- preface to a biography of Malabari.) London. istration of the Baroda State Gov- Later, Behramji moved to Bombay, In 1879, Behramji acquired the ernment. Mehta of whom nothing the centre of commerce and Indian Spectator, a weekly publica- more is known "than that he was a administration of British possessions tion, and penned articles which mellow, peace-adoring man, with in Western India brought him wide acclaim. He a weak constitution and not over- Behramji took up the task of inter- remained the editor of the journal much power of character" passed preting in different Indian dialects for 20 years until it was merged with away when Behramji was six or Max Mueller's Hibbert addresses the Voice of India, which Malabari seven. Thereafter, his mother remar- on Hindu religion and philosophy had been editing along with Dada- ried her relative, Merwanji Malbari. conveyed in 1878 with the support bhai Naoroji and William Wedder- He received his stepfather's name. of different princely states and pub- burn since 1883. Merwanji possessed a shop in lished Gujarati interpretation of the In 1901, Behramji became editor of Surat offering sandalwood and dif- addresses, Dharmani utpatti tatha the monthly, East and West, a position ferent merchandise from the Mala- bar Coast and thus was known as Malabari. Behramji passed matricu- lation in 1872 and came to Mumbai at a young age to serve as a teacher at Fort Proprietary School in 1876. He married Dhanbaiji at age 21 and had three sons and two daughters. Behramji was a distinct Parsi poet who used to write in the traditional Gujarati dialect. He published small Gujarati poetry books called Nitivinod, extolling the joys of ethical morality, in 1875. He was a bilingual litterateur, fluent in English and Gujarati. In the same year, he also published a volume of poems in Gujarati, followed in 1877 by The Indian Muse in English Garb, which drew applause Photos: MC from eminent personalities like Behramji Merwanji Malabari, and (right) the cover page of his book published Alfred Tennyson, Max Müller and in 1877.

January-March 2019 VIDURA 33 he would hold until shortly before his death. With time, he turned a ruthless critic of the colonial rule through his paper. However, posi- tive transformation of the society had always been his main focus. He raised several socially relevant issues such as women’s education, widow remarriage, and fought for the women’s rights through his writings and lecture tour. As an editor, Behramji wrote exten- sively, favouring raising the age of girls for marriage. The initiative enthused the sensitivity of the intel- lectuals as well as the general popu- lation. With time, priests of Benares and Mathura started listening to his Other books authored by Behramji. addresses on social reform and began to accept some of his fair arguments. Behramji’s work as a social 11 July 1908. There were requests He travelled across India and made reformer was acknowledged by for designating him a sheriff and three voyages to England. In order many. In 1898, renowned French conferring a knighthood but he to gain support from the imperial researcher Miss Mennant consid- declined both. policy-makers, Behramji published ered him a great reformer and Though he considered himself a a book in England titled, An Appeal Indian leader and published his life ‘nationalist’ and attended the Con- from the Little Girls of India. sketch in French. The book was later gress session in Bombay in 1885 Behramji was always passionate translated and published in Gujarati and was close to DadabhaiNaoroji, about the eradication of social evils. by Manekbai Dadina, daughter of Behramji stayed away from Indian He fearlessly fought against child Dadabhai Naoroji. The following National Congress. As an editor marriage and other social evils. year, she published another book too, he stayed aloof from politics. In Seeking gender justice, he said, "If titled, Behramji Malabari, A Great a way, it helped him to get support new India is to be honoured with Poet, Philosopher, Politician, Social from British politicians in his cam- an age of free and illuminated chil- Reformer, Travel Writer, and Allevia- paign for social reform as well as dren, a country to deal with its own tor of Others’ Misery. from the Indian princes of Patiala, affairs, the Hindus of today might Behramji produced Gujarat and the Gwalior and Bikaner. see in their midst a race of free, Gujaratis in 1882 and The Indian Eye Behramji Merwanji Malabari

edified mothers." Inspired by Lok- in English Life in 1885. He addition- breathed his last in Simla on 10 July manya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, he tire- ally brought out books and maga- 1912. He was 60. < lessly persisted in his mission and zines – Anubhavika, Sagarika, Aadmi- succeeded to a great extent. aneteniduniya. (The author presently heads the Behramji was among the few intel- In 1887, Behramji became a Bom- Eastern India campus of the Indian lectuals of his time who raised the bay University Fellow and the first Institute of Mass Communication issue of Hindu widow remarriage, person to be felicitated with the Kai- in Dhenkanal, Odisha. This is the which generated heated debate ser E Hind gold medal, an award for eighth in a series of profiles of great through out the country. His tire- his public services amidst the fam- Indian newspaper editors who have, less battle during 1884-1891 helped ine. He tried to build a hospital for through the course of their work and in the passing of the Age of Con- tuberculosis patients at Dharampor career, made a signal contribution sent Act in 1894. His idea of social on the way to Simla. In 1888, when to India's Freedom Movement, to reform was based on the principles he was only 40, Dayaram Gidumal the development of society and to of justice and humanity. One of his wrote his biography. the development of Journalism. This most significant works, Notes on For the upliftment of women, article was written in association with Infant Marriage and Enforced Widow- Behramji set up the Seva Sadan in Hrusikesh Mishra.) hood, was published in 1894. Bombay, which was inaugurated on

34 VIDURA January-March 2019 Heart-wrenching portraits of displacement To be displaced from one’s own homeland or ‘home’ as defined by an individual can be one of the most traumatic experiences in life. Literature, cinema and art works from different corners of the world often reflect the pain and dilemma of people who are torn apart from their place of birth. Today, as the world witnesses an overwhelming number of people taking refuge, or trying to, in lands other than their own, it is even more in evidence, says Ranjita Biswas

We live in the age of the refugee, the married off (or sold) to a much older to feed the baby and himself. He age of the exile. – Argentinian novelist man. He fails to prevent it and runs dreams of getting away from it all Ariel Dorfman away in grief. During the journey, and the unscrupulous agent prom- he makes new friends, especially an ises to send Zain to a rich country t is but natural that cinema, the illegal migrant Ethiopian woman; for adoption only if he can produce most modern of arts, often por- abandoned by her lover, she has to his birth certificate. Itrays human stories vis-à-vis carry along her baby to work. She Zain leaves the baby with him to displacement. At the recent 24th takes pity on the destitute Zain and be looked after by a family (later Kolkata International Film Festi- gives him shelter while he bonds to be found among children about val (KIFF, 2018), a bunch of films, with the child. to be trafficked) to go home to though located in diverse lands, However, unable to collect retrieve his ID paper. “What paper? seemed to have a common strand – enough money to renew her paper We don’t have any papers,” his that of uprooted lives. to stay on, as demanded by adubi- father rants. Zain comes to know Take, for example, Lebanese direc- ous ‘agent’, the woman is arrested that his beloved sister, only 11, died tor and actress Nadine Labaki’s lat- by the police. Zain is left alone to during childbirth. Driven by rage he est film Capharnaum (Chaos). The fend for himself and the little boy, goes out to stab the husband and is award-winning director focuses begging for food and a roof over arrested by the police. on life in Beirut’s poverty-stricken his head. The journey itself is heart- There is a positive note amid all ghetto where survival is the mantra. rending as resourceful Zain tries the bleakness as Zain manages to The title of the film, Capharnaum, refers to the Biblical city in Palestine which was‘cursed’ by God because the people did not believe in Him. Later in French literature it meant ‘the chaos’. The story opens with a hearing in the court where Zain, 12, sues his parents ‘because he was born’. And what does he want, when the law- yer asks, he says that they should not have any more children because they do not take care of them. The background story to the bitter asser- tion is told in flashback. Zain’spoverty-stricken Syrian parents make the children work as

street vendors but they continue Photos: RB having children. Zain is protective of his younger sister who is forcibly A long journey — a still from Rabbit Proof Fence.

January-March 2019 VIDURA 35 memories, and at the same time liv- Their fathers are white fence work- ing a dual life – one part in India and ers who are cut off from white Aus- the other in Tibet. tralian society, the only connection Directors Ritu Sarin and Tenzing being the weekly ration day at Jiga- Sonam, both of whom live in Dharam- long Depot. sala, said at the KIFF that the initial Meanwhile, in Perth, the area’s inspiration for the film was triggered chief protector of aborigines, who by an incident in September 2006 on believes that the answer to the the 5800-metre Nangpa-La Pass on ‘coloured problem’ is to breed out the Tibet-Nepal border. Chinese bor- the aboriginal race, passes the order A still from Capharnaum Lebanon. der guards opened fire on a group that children of mixed marriages of Tibetans attempting to escape to cannot marry full-blooded aborigi- connect with a helpline of a TV real- India and shot dead a 17-year-old nes. Settlements are set up across ity show and draws attention to the nun and injured several others. the state and ‘half-caste’ children plight of adolescent prisoners like The incident was captured on are removed from their families to himself. Following a public outcry, video by a Romanian mountain train them as domestic servants and the government takes steps to free climber. Questions arose in their labourers to serve the white bosses. them. The Ethiopian mother too mind: who were the escapees and Molly, Gracie, and Daisy are gets reunited with the child. what was their journey like? Why, removed from their homes and The last scene sees Zain being after nearly 60 years of Chinese family and are relocated 1200 miles photographed – for a proper ID occupation, Tibetans still risk their away. The harsh conditions of the card. In real life too, the wonderful lives to escape to India? Why were settlement are not for the free-spir- child actor Zain Al Rafeea is a Syr- so many of them children? And what ited girls and they decide to run ian refugee. After the film, he finally happened to them after they made it away. Despite having Moodoo, a got an ID with the help of the UN to India? cruel and master tracker on their and now lives in Norway. “It is an exploration of the themes tails, they evade the pursuers and Another story of displacement of exile, memory and guilt, and the take a gruelling three-month jour- begins in the snowy terrain of the unexpected consequences of the ney home, following the rabbit- Himalayas and ends in Delhi’s choices we make in life,” the direc- proof fence as a guide. Tibetan colony. The Sweet Requiem tor duo articulated. The film got The story portrays the agony of (KyoyangNgarmo) tells the story of the NETPAC (Asia Select) award the displaced Aborigines in that Dolkar, 26, an exiled Tibetan living at KIFF. era, thousands of whom were forc- in Delhi. She had escaped with her From the snowy mountains, the ibly removed from their families. father 18 years ago, leaving behind setting changes to arid Gibson Des- This is one of the darkest chap- her mother and a sibling. Her father ert in Western Australia. Celebrated ters in Australia’s history. In2008, wanted her to have a better life. The Australian filmmaker Phillip Noyce’s Kevin Rudd, then prime minister, treacherous trek across the Himala- Rabbit Proof Fence is based on a true apologisedfor causing “the pain, yas proved disastrous for most of story of three Aborigine girls escap- suffering and hurt of these stolen

the escapees. ing from a detention camp that the generations, their descendants and Now in Delhi, Dolkar tries to then Australian government set up for their families left behind, we < suppress the recollection of that to ‘educate’ and ‘civilise’ the indig- say sorry.” traumatic journey. But when she enous people. unexpectedly encounters Gompo, It is1931. From a small depot, Jiga- (The writer is a senior journalist the guide who abandoned them long, at the edge of the desert, runs based in Kolkata.) during their journey, memories a rabbit-proof fence bisecting the of her escape are reignited and continent from north to south. The she searches for an answer and purpose of the fence was to keep retribution. rabbits on one side and pasture on Doklan’s story resonates with the other. Molly, her sister Daisy, many Tibetans living in exile, their and their cousin Gracie, are three life tense for news from home, independent-minded aboriginal reports of self-immolation cases, girls in the close-knit community.

36 VIDURA January-March 2019 Mainstream cinema enters academia – Calcutta scores a first Film studies (theory) as an academic discipline emerged in the 20th Century, decades after the invention of motion pictures. Film studies departments were mostly confined to universities in the UK and USA before slowly spreading to other places. So, when Calcutta University introduced Cinema in its syllabus for a master’s degree in English Literature, it raised hopes in many young people. The course aims to look at certain sections of popular culture, examining the idea of both ‘popular’ and ‘culture’. Shoma A. Chatterji shares her thoughts

ot very long ago, academia However, this was not mainstream nity in Kolkata? Not really, because and cinema were at two academia, at least not in Indian uni- it expands the horizons and takes a Nextreme points of a straight versities. Film studies departments look at cinema from a completely line that would never meet. As were mostly confined to universities new perspective. These two are part children, when television had not in the UK and USA before slowly of one paper, while another called stepped into our drawing rooms spreading to other places. So, when Popular Culture covers a much yet, our parents would ban us from Calcutta University introduced larger screen of world cinema. going to the cinemas unless it was a Cinema in its syllabus for a mas- This does not mean that Chaucer, children’s film or animated cartoons ter’s degree in English Literature, it Milton, Shakespeare, Eliot, Beckett, of Walt Disney or a biopic of a great raised hopes in many young people. Pinter, Derrida, Foucault and Mar- personality like Swami Vivekananda Perhaps for the first time, two main- quez will be shown the door. The or, when we were taken to the stream Indian films that have been course aims to look at certain sec- movies as a group by the school. thundering box office hits, are part tions of popular culture, examining During adolescence, every film of the syllabus, which includes the the idea of both ‘popular’ and ‘cul- had to be ratified by parents who whole Harry Potter series and other ture’. Through both theory and 20th would accompany us to watch films like The Godfather. Bob Dylan, Century models, the course aims to them, be it The Sound of Music, or The Beatles, Cole Porter and famous introduce students to basic concepts Roman Holiday, Mughal-e-Azam, folk tales like Thakurmar Jhuli also and enable them to understand how Jagriti or Mother India. Anything find place in this elective. culture constructs function in soci- beyond that was a big no-no. So, The two Indian films in the syl- ety. The other two films that form in the absence of television and the labus are Sholay and Saptapadi part of the paper are George Lukac’s Internet or YouTube, as we grew (Bengali). Has this angered the Star Wars and either Alladin or The older, we got into the habit of cut- intellectual and academic commu- Lion King. ting classes, saving from our mea- gre pocket money and making it to the nearest theatre. Film studies as an academic disci- pline emerged in the 20th Century, decades after the invention of motion pictures. Not to be confused with the technical aspects of film production, film studies pertains to film theory – which approaches film critically as an art – and the writing of film histo- riography. Because films became an industry only in the late 19th Cen-

tury, a generation of film producers Photo: SC and directors existed before the aca- The epic film (Sholay) is in the Calcutta University English Literature master’s demic analysis began. degree syllabus.

January-March 2019 VIDURA 37 Illustration: Arun Ramkumar Illustration:

Saptapadi (1961), directed by ken in West Uttar Pradesh. Khariboli, It would be superficial, even tactless Ajoy Kar, who did cinematography considered a more rustic version of to ape Sholay but then originality is for the film, includes a fictionalised Hindi, was later used in the TV soap, a very rare virtue. Showbiz every- recreation of the last scene from Wil- Hum Log. Sholay was replete with where has a process of effect and liam Shakespeare’s Othello where one-liners, packed with unforgettable cause, not the other way around. So, the voices of Othello and Desde- dialogues but the unique blend used I find all attempts to find sociologi- mona were dubbed by Utpal Dutt for Gabbar Singh's lines and Amjad cal implications in the film amaz- and Jennifer Kapoor. Desdemona Khan's sinister delivery of them ing. I feel that it succeeded because dies in the play. But Rina rises phoe- meant that Bollywood's baddest guy it portrayed the concept of every nix-like from her own ashes, saved got some of its most killer lines. Indian being genetically a villager

by Krishnendu and his deep love In an interview with Lalita Pan- with aspirations to sophistication for her in the film’s climax. icker for DNA, Javed Akhtar, one of and Westernisation.” < The ‘intertextuality’ – use of the story creators and script writer another text within the main text – a of the film, said: “Sholay has gone (The writer is a senior journalist prominent feature of post-modern- beyond being just a film; today it is and film historian based in Kolkata. ism, was employed when Indians part of a culture, a collective mem- She has won the National Award for did not even know of the term. This ory, a reference point. Sholay is a tra- Best Writing on Cinema twice, the too remains a high point of the film. dition. Society's psyche has absorbed Bengal Film Journalists Association Rina and Krishnendu, after some the film, it finds indirect references Award, and a Lifetime Achievement severe spats, fall in love, decide to in the media, in advertising, in films, Award from Laadly-UNFPA. She marry, part, and then reunite dra- it has provided a metaphor which is was presented the South Asia Laadli matically after some time. used everywhere. I see Sholay pop- Media and Advertising Award for In Sholay, the dialogues for Gab- ping up in political speeches, in con- Gender Sensitivity 2017.) bar Singh were written in a hybrid versations of youngsters who were of Hindi and khariboli, a dialect spo- not around when Sholay was made.

38 VIDURA January-March 2019 A much-needed lesson in film preservation and restoration Though we are very rapidly veering away from celluloid film towards a digital world, the value of old classics on celluloid film can never be overestimated. Shoma A. Chatterji provides details about a workshop which discussed the best practices of restoring and preserving filmic and non-filmic material

he Film Heritage Founda- This was the fourth workshop tion and the International being conducted by the Film Heri- TFederation of Film Archives, tage Foundation in India, which was in collaboration with the Kolkata founded in 2014. The first workshop International Film Festival and the was organised in Mumbai in 2015. Indian Council of Cultural Rela- The Kolkata workshop was special tions (ICCR) and in association because it coincided with 100 years with similar foundations across of Bengali cinema. Besides, FIAF the globe, recently put together a was celebrating 80 years of exis- seven-day course on film preserva- tence. “Bengal is the jewel in the tion and restoration, Training and crown of India’s film heritage as it is Outreach, coordinatored by FIAF the home of masters like P.C. Barua, Shivendra Singh Dungarpur. (International Federation of Film Debaki Bose, Nitin Bose, Bimal Archives), in Kolkata. Conducted Roy, Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Rit- the most effective record, whether it by David Walsh, it covered both wikGhatak, Asit Sen and Ajoy Kar is fiction or non-fiction, it is a record theory and practice and included and screen icons like Uttam Kumar, of history in the making. Because practical sessions in the best meth- Suchitra Sen… the list is endless,” what you shoot and record is the ods of preservation and restora- writes Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, perennial present and that is the tion of film and non-film material. who is the founder-director of the most important quality of cinema Besides, there were daily evening Film Heritage Foundation in India. which no other medium can actually screenings of restored classics from “Film is unfortunately a perish- reproduce. I think that is the great- around the world. able commodity, but it is probably est value of film and that is why film must be preserved,” is what Shyam Benegal said about the preservation and restoration of films. Why is restoration and preserva- tion necessary? Though we are very rapidly veering away from celluloid film towards a digital world, the value of old classics on celluloid film can never be overestimated. These films are an integral part of our socio-cultural history and if you want to look deeper, they are also studies in cinema technique through silent cinema and its evo- lution to talking film in terms of sound, cinematography, editing, art direction and so on. It is our collective responsibility to see that Photos: SC celluloid classics do not fade away A still from Bicycle Thieves. over time.

January-March 2019 VIDURA 39 As Dungarpur rightly comments, “The sheer magnitude of the heri- tage to be preserved is overwhelm- ing: a century worth of celluloid stored in thousands of film cans mostly rusted and reeking of vine- gar, tattered film posters, yellowing lobby cards, curling film stills, reams of moth-eaten newspapers, fraying magazines abandoned and littered all over the country – dying a slow death. We are fighting a war with no army, limited resources and close to empty pockets – no surprise then that there are days when we feel like players in a Greek tragedy.” Dungarpur is deeply committed to the preservation and restoration of cinema. He travels the world to meet and extensively interview on camera great masters of cinema for his personal archive. He has spent time with Manoel de Oliveira in Porto and shot documentaries on Jiri Menzel and Raoul Coutard. He has also shot in-depth interviews with Andrzej Wajda and Krzyszt of Zanussi in Warsaw, Miklós Jancsó and IstvánSzabó in Budapest and VěraChytilová, Juraj Herz and Jan Nemec in Prague. “The idea for the Foundation was born because I realised the dire need to preserve India’s cinematic heritage that has been severely neglected for all these years. We have lost a significant part of our cinematic history and this will Suchitra Sen and Uttam Kumar bring alive a poster announcing the film restoration workshop in Kolkata. continue to happen if we do not take immediate steps to save this components, which, like all organic To restore a film one needs to find legacy,” says Dungarpur about his material, are prone to decay. Poor a copy that is as clean, sharp and non-profit organidation. The Foun- storage and handling take a fur- as clear as possible. Although the dation is dedicated to supporting ther toll on them. When exposed to film’s original negative is the ideal the conservation, preservation and heat and humidity, films deteriorate source from which to begin the res- restoration of the moving image rapidly — a process that is hard to toration, these are often either not and to develop interdisciplinary reverse. Attention must also be paid available or in such poor condi- educational programmes that will to a film’s “micro environment” or tion that they cannot be used. This use films as an educational tool the condition inside a film can. Films is because commercial films were to create awareness about the lan- stored in humid conditions can shot on nitrate film before the early guage of cinema. become a host for mould, mildew 1950s. This film stock is highly Film preservation is a key pro- and fungus that will soon damage it flammable and often decomposes cess because films have organic beyond repair. quickly if not stored properly.

40 VIDURA January-March 2019 Another reason is that early film the metamorphosis in the human people in an Italian village called negatives were often discarded by psyche. Even to this day, Indian Rimini during the reign of Mus- production companies after the film filmmakers and keen viewers will solini. It won the 1974 Academy had gone through the distribution be amazed at this film about a Lon- Award as Best Foreign Film. The cycle, since it was felt there was don photographer who may or may film's greatest asset is its ability to no longer a market for them. The not have witnessed a murder, who be sweet without being cloying, acetate "safety film" used from the lives a life of cynicism and ennui, mainly because of Danilo Donati's early 1950s until recently has also and who ends up in a park at dawn, surrealistic art direction, and to the been found to be unstable, and it watching college kids play tennis frequently bawdy injections of sex has a tendency to fade rapidly. with an imaginary ball. and politics by screenwriters Fellini The attractions for cinebuffs The Magnificent Ambersons is one and Tonino Guerra. On the other attending the 24th KIFF were mul- of the earliest films in movie history hand, it is also a semi-autobiograph- tiplied by the fact that the Film in which nearly all the credits are ical tale about Titta, an adolescent Heritage Foundation along with spoken by an off-screen voice and boy growing up among an eccen- its collaborators had curated an not shown printed onscreen – a tech- tric cast of characters in the village excellent package of films, Indian nique used previously only by French of Borgo San Giuliano situated near and International, which had been director and player Sacha Guitry. The the ancient walls of Rimini. restored from the terrible condition only credits shown onscreen are the “Films are a part of our cultural they were found in. These films RKO logo, ‘A Mercury Production history. I was shocked to discover were – Satyajit Ray’s Apu Trilogy – by Orson Welles’, and the film's title, that of the 1700 silent films made PatherPanchali, Aparajito and Apur shown at the beginning of the picture. in India, only nine survive thanks Sansar, Uday Shankar’s Kalpana At the end of the film, Welles's voice to the efforts of Mr P.K Nair. He and international classics like Ama- announces all the main credits. Each travelled to remote parts of India to rcord, Blow-Up, The Magnificent actor in the film is shown as Welles collect and save cans of rare films. Ambersons and Bicycle Thieves. announces the name. As he speaks The fact that Dadasaheb Phalke is A description of Vittorio De each technical credit, a machine is recognised today as the father of Sica’s Bicycle Thieves in The Cri- shown performing that function. Indian cinema is Mr Nair’s doing. terion Collection goes like this: “In Welles reads his own credit – "My He was truly democratic as an poverty-stricken post-war Rome, a name is Orson Welles" – over the top archivist trying to save any film man is on his first day of a new job of an image of a microphone which that he could get his hands on be it that offers hope of salvation for his then recedes into the distance. world cinema, Hindi popular films desperate family when his bicycle, Federico Fellini's Amarcord is a or regional Indian cinema. He even

which he needs for work, is stolen. beautiful and warm nostalgic piece. took world cinema to the villages of With his young son in tow, he sets It explores the everyday lives of India,” says Dungarpur. < off to track down the thief. Simple in construction and profoundly rich in human insight, Bicycle Thieves embodies the greatest strengths of the Italian neorealist movement: Firstpost newspaper to be emotional clarity, social rectitude, and brutal honesty. 20-page broadsheet Michelangelo Antonioni’s Eight years after Firstpost.com, Network18 will be launching its first weekly Blow-Up, the highest-grossing art newspaper – Firstpost. Positioning itself as the last word on news, Firstpost film of its time, was picked as the will be a 20-page broadsheet appearing every Saturday and shall cater best film of 1967 by the National to readers in Mumbai and New Delhi. Aiming to change the way in which Society of Film Critics, and got the consumer perceives newspapers, Firstpost emphasises on narrative,

Oscar nominations for screenplay long-format journalism with a focus on national politics, culture and art

and direction. The film still offers a < and being a mix of hard and soft feature news. With a strong and vibrant< model lesson in cinematography, in design, the newspaper has been designed by Jacek Utko. self-referential filmmaking, in sur- realistic imagination that also raises (Courtesy: exchange4media.com) moral and ethical questions about

January-March 2019 VIDURA 41 Can the Great Indian Bustard be saved? Three conservation organisations – the Corbett Foundation, Conservation India and Sanctuary Nature Foundation – have come together to launch an emergency campaign to save the Great Indian Bustard from extinction since December 7 last year by demanding the laying of underground cables for power transmission. The trigger for the campaign came after three deaths in quick succession over the year through collision with power transmission lines that are now choking the region in and around the Desert Sanctuary in Thar (Rajasthan), the only remaining prime habitat of the bird in India. Rina Mukherji has the story ith just around 150-200 as far back as the 1970s. Listed in Reasons behind decline individuals left world- Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife The largest flying bird in the Wwide, the Great Indian Protection Act, 1972, and in the world, Ardeotis Nigriceps, as it is sci- Bustard is probably on its last legs. National Wildlife Action Plan (2002- entifically named, has a wingspan Of the total number, most are con- 2016), and identified as one of the of 210-250 cm, and is around one fined to the north-western states of species for the recovery programme metre in height, and weighs 15-18 Rajasthan and Gujarat, with few under the Integrated Development kg. Easily distinguished by its black scattered groups found in Maha- of Wildlife Habitats of the Ministry crown and brown body, the bird rashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Kar- of Environment, Forests & Climate breeds during the monsoon with nataka, which is a pity. Especially Change ( MoEFCC), the bustard females laying a single egg on open since, just around 50 years ago, had as many as ten sanctuaries set ground. It is most often found in there existed a thousand birds of up for its conservation in the 1980s. arid and semi-arid grasslands, open the species roaming about in the Yet, the decline in its numbers has country with thorn scrub, areas of Indian grasslands. been more than 90 per cent, with scanty to medium rainfall, in asso- Ironically, the Great Indian Bus- the species now marked Critically ciation with blackbucks sharing the tard has been bestowed a lot of Endangered on the IUCN Red same habitat. As an omnivorous attention by the authorities since List. bird, it feeds on sorghum, millets, groundnuts, legume pods, grass seeds, grasshoppers, lizards and beetles, avoiding irrigated areas. In recent years, improved irri- gation has increased agricultural acreage, with a shift from monsoon crops such as sorghum and millets to cash crops such as sugarcane and grapes, which are ill-suited for the bird. With the general tendency to dismiss grasslands as wasteland, grasslands have nearly disap- peared with land being reclaimed for agriculture. Forest Department policy too, until recently, converted grasslands into forests under social forestry and compensatory affores- tation schemes resulting in further loss of habitat. Setting up protected Photos: Devesh Gandhavi Photos: Devesh areas for conservation of the bird The sad decline over the years of the Great Indian Bustard. has not helped either, since sanctu- aries set up by the government are

42 VIDURA January-March 2019 either too small or covered agro- cation in most sanctuaries causing pastoral landscapes that included encroachment by agro-pastoral large townships, making them communities. Livestock often stomp untenable. over the bird’s nest and eggs, and For instance, the initially suc- come in direct conflict with the cessful Karera Bustard Sanctuary ground-dwelling birds. in Madhya Pradesh (surrounded Within sanctuaries, infrastructural by privately owned lands) saw an development in the form of irrigation explosion in the resident blackbuck canals (as in Nannaj Great Indian population resulting in crop dep- Bustard Sanctuary), wind turbines, redation in adjoining agricultural electric pylons and roads often eats lands. This antagonised local com- into the bird’s habitat. This has Another bird is gone. munities resulting in a backlash that made it locally extinct in Raneben- ultimately saw the local extinction nur in Karnataka and Gaga-Bhatiya of the Great Indian Bustard and a in Gujarat, while bringing down its not given the strict environmental reduction in the black buck popula- numbers in Lala-Naliya Sanctuary, scrutiny they deserve before devel- tion due to poaching. Gujarat. In Madhya Pradesh, mining opmental projects are sanctioned. Rapid industrialisation and, hence, and quarrying have made it locally an explosion in the human popu- extinct. Hostility of local commu- Solutions suggested lation in the Bustard Sanctuary of nities has also been a factor, as in Conservationists have now come Maharashtra, which covers the town- the Ghatigaon Bustard Sanctuary together to demand the under- ship of Sholapur, worked against the near Gwalior, where mine-workers ground laying of all power trans- bird. In both Karera and Sholapur, affected by mine closure directed mission lines as part of their emer- improved irrigation has resulted their ire against the bird. Feral dogs, gency campaign to save the Great in a shift from crops like sorghum meanwhile, continue posing a threat Indian Bustard. Falling back on the and millet to sugarcane and grapes, everywhere, destroying eggs and MoEFCC’s guidelines of 2013, they which are not suitable for bustards. disturbing nesting adults. are demanding the declaration of The same holds true with the Des- Of late, the government’s zeal in ‘no infrastructure’ zones in bustard ert Sanctuary in Rajasthan, where promoting renewable power has territories to save the bird. the Indira Gandhi Canal Project has become a major threat for these While this should prove a good caused drastic hydraulic changes and low-flying, heavy birds with com- beginning for the recovery of the massive agricultural conversion. paratively limited frontal vision. bird, it is essential to understand Overgrazing is another major The danger has been exacerbated by the biophysical conditions that help problem, with lack of clear demar- transmission lines being laid across bustard populations flourish in its or in close proximity to present distribution range in Kutch, sanctuaries. According where scanty rain, sparse vegeta- to the Wildlife Institute tion, lack of hillocks, and seasonal of India (WII), ten birds drainage create a distinct ecosystem were killed due to col- that harbours species that help the lisions with overhead bird thrive on. The government has transmission wires in already initiated many significant 2007-2017. steps such as restoring grasslands, The erection of power demarcating sanctuaries, sensitis-

ing communities and neutering lines in and around bus- < tard habitat is against stray dogs to protect the bird. the 2013 guidelines for the recovery of the spe- cies given by the Min- istry of Environment, Industrialisation on the one hand and over-grazing on the other have resulted in encroachments in sanctuaries Forest and Climate and forest areas reserved for the bustard, shrinking the Change. Unfortunately, already little available space for the bird. vital grasslands are

January-March 2019 VIDURA 43 Can the hangul be brought back from the brink?

The critically endangered hangul or Kashmir stag is fi ghting shrinking habitat and predators, including humans. Afsana Rashid explores what is needed to ensure that these graceful animals are safe in the wild

he hangul, popularly known of Wildlife Sciences, Sher-e-Kash- postulates that the hangul popula- as Kashmir stag, endemic to mir University of Agricultural Sci- tion showed a consistent decline Tthe Kashmir Valley, is cat- ences and Technology-Kashmir from 5000 deer estimated in 1900, egorised as a critically endangered (SKUAST-K). to 2000 deer in 1947 and just 218 species by the International Union While Dachigam National Park in 2011. for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). has around 180 hangul, the adjoining Human intrusions and excessive The declining population of Han- Shikargah-Tral and Overa have 10 livestock grazing in its habitats, gul is restricted to the Dachigam to 12 individuals each, according to poaching, urbanisation, habitat National Park in Srinagar and its offi cial fi gures. Ahmad in a research degradation, fragmentation and adjoining areas. “Hangul was con- paper, ‘Kashmir Red Deer or Hangul loss of corridors for free movement sidered a sub-specie of European Cervus elaphushanglu at the Brink of have pushed the hangul to the point Red Deer but, recently, on the basis Extinction – Conservation Action, of extinction. The paper says the of research interventions and stud- the need of the hour’, writt en along threats to the long-term survival ies, it has been found that it is a sep- with Parag Nigam (DSG newslet- of the hangul include declining arate specie, Cervus elaphushanglu ter dated April 2014), notes that the population trends and distribu- with sub-species Bactrian deer and hangul was once widely distributed tional range, very low adult sex Yarkand deer,” says Khursheed in the Kashmir Himalayas along the ratio (23 males:100 females) and Ahmad, scientist / head, Division Zanskar mountain range. The paper fawn to female ratio (30 young:100 females), excessive predation by the common leopard (Panthera pardus), black bear (Ursusthi betanus) and shepherds’ dogs and degradation due to excessive livestock grazing in Upper Dachigam. The researchers caution that the current population trends indicate that the species could become extinct if serious interventions are not taken immediately. Ahmad, who is also principal investigator for two research projects – hangul con- servation using satellite telemetry and hangul conservation breeding – adds that there is stress on hangul population if their movement is restricted and this leads to physi-

Photos: Khursheed Ahmad Photos: Khursheed ological disturbances resulting in problems such as low breeding. Categorised as critically endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), hangul in the Dachigam National Park in Ahmad says eff orts are on to bring Srinagar. hangul to the safe zone and augment

44 VIDURA January-March 2019 its population through conserva- tion breeding and reintroduction. The projects related to conservation of hangul started a few years ago and have brought some relief. The continuous monitoring and protec- tion of the hangul’s habitat by the Wildlife Department is a big step forward, he adds, but stresses the importance of protection of habitat, checking poaching and overgrazing in Upper Dachigam. And above all, Ahmad says, there must be political will to bring about the desired change.“Removal of sheep farms was possible only because there was political will, the department alone could not have done it. Even sensitisation pro- grammes will not bear fruit unless The hangul is generally hunted for its meat, fur, hide and antlers. linked with the livelihood of peo- ple,” he points out. a shy animal and cannot cope with by providing them with alternate Last year, the university took the human presence, he adds. grazing lands and involving them initiative to develop and promote The university has organised three in eco-development and conserva- eco-tourism as an alternate sustain- international conferences specifi- tion activities. A supplementary able livelihood opportunity for the cally on hangul conservation in 2009, diet to be provided to the hangul community around protected areas 2010 and 2011, and certain recom- during winters and management and people showed interest in it, so mendations have been sent to the of and conservation efforts in dis- it has been taken forward. “Govern- government. However, no concrete tribution range areas outside the ment has to help us to strengthen action has been taken so far. Dachigam National Park are other this initiative,” he asserts. Poaching Ahmad and Nigam have sug- recommendations. of hangul is still happening, but it gested that the hangul population in The hangul is generally hunted is not rampant, the scientist noted, Dachigam National Park and adjoin- for its meat, fur, hide and antlers. A adding that the hangul population ing areas need to be intensively hangul head complete with antlers is is being monitored for the past 15 monitored. Further reproductive considered a hunting trophy, while years. and behavioural ecology studies are other parts of the animal are used A part of the hangul conservation required to better understand fac- in traditional medicines and also as using satellite telemetry project to tors affecting population growth. In ornaments. They command a very determine the range of hangul move- addition to traditional measures of good price in the market, accord- ment, a male hangul was captured hangul protection that include pro- ing to the J&K Envis Newsletter, and collared in March 2013. The viding protection to the animal and Department of Ecology, Environ- animal was tracked by satellite and its habitats and strengthening the ment & Remote Sensing (Volume 3 this yielded valuable information conservation breeding programme Issue 2, April-June 2016). on behaviour / movement patterns and anti-poaching measures, some However, Ahmad is optimistic: for two years before it was killed by key recommendations for a rapid “If you take immediate measures, a predator, Ahmad explains. Other recovery of the Hangul population the hangul can easily thrive and it

hangul have since been collared and and its lost habitats were made. would just take few years to get a continue to provide valuable infor- These include steps to ensure viable population.” < mation. Satellite studies indicated expansion of the range and habitat that the animals’ movement to of the hangul to the alpine mead- Upper Dachigam was restricted due ows in Upper Dachigam, such as to large-scale grazing. The hangul is rehabilitation of livestock owners

January-March 2019 VIDURA 45 Capturing nature through digital art Sudhakar Biswal is an independent designer for a host of consumer products, book covers, TV channels, and animation, rural / developmental communication, and tourism / culture projects. He has created many posters and designed books on nature and wildlife for conservation and heritage initiatives of the Odisha Forest Department, earning recognition for his work. Aditi Panda talks to Biswal about his evolution as an artist and the way wildlife inspires him

he natural world is a huge of Bhitarkanika, the migratory birds canvas and the miracles of of Chilika and the breeding grounds Tnature can be shown using of Oliver Ridley Turtles have made a wide range of colors and in Odisha famous globally. myriad ways. A few do so by pen- Presently, people visit websites ning expressive poems to describe or consult travel brochures to check nature; others seek to capture the out the best sightseeing spots. The marvels of nature using the camera most eff ective way to catch att ention lens. And then there are many tal- is through illustrations or photo- ented artists who immortalise mag- graphs. And telling stories through nifi cent fl ora and fauna through visual representation is what Sudha- inspired illustrations or graphics. kar Biswal, a talented artist in Bhu- Biswal Sudhakar. Odisha has always been given high baneswar does with passion. priority by nature lovers and travel- Sudhakar completed his formal and banners in the capital. During ogue writers because of the variety education in Fine Arts from the BK his college days, his professor, Prof of forest life, abundant wildlife parks Arts College, Bhubaneswar, in 1986 BaladevMaharatha, encouraged and sanctuaries. The Crocodile Bank and dreamt of painting hoardings him to try new things and dabble in innovative ways to use art as a medium of communication. By 1988, he was working part- time at a fl edging ad agency, and that opened to him the world of design and commercial art. By 1990, he met Siddhartha Raut, who had come to Odisha after work- ing at leading advertising agencies of the country in Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. Though Siddhartha stayed for just six months, he chan- nelised Sudhakar’s ideas and intro- duced him to new avenues. Today, Sudhakar is an indepen- dent designer for a host of con- sumer products, animation projects, book covers, TV channels, rural and developmental communication projects, tourism and culture proj- ects and many other fi elds. He has Photos: AP Photos: created many posters and designed A poster that says it all – designed by Sudhakar for Chilika Wildlife Division. books on nature and wildlife for

46 VIDURA January-March 2019 Some of the pictures (above and below) taken by Sudhakar used on the pages of brochures designed by him.

servation Department. My designs a notch higher. “Such books need a were appreciated, thus opening a lot of patience, hard work and the new path into designing books on detailing take more than two years forest life and nature.” to complete, but every picture has a Speaking about his tryst with wild- story and needs no words to com- life, he said, “I started capturing for- prehend it,” says Sudhakar. est life in illustrations way back in He believes that it’s very impor- 2003 by doing a promotional draw- tant to visit the site which he is to ing for Satkosia Wildlife Division, work on and does not believe in Angul, after which I never looked relying on hearsay or others’ per- back. The encouraging response ception. “For every artist, his eyes conservation and heritage projects was a big boost and it augmented are his camera and there’s a direct of the Odisha Forest Department. my enthusiasm to try out new ideas connect with the heart, after which He earned recognition for his work to capture the tiny nuances of wild- the creativity and ideas keep pour- on books on the diff erent facets of life more clearly than the camera.” ing in. I don’t need a particular time nature. After designing numerous pam- or place to work but being given a “Earlier, art was restricted to pen- phlets, brochures and campaigns, free hand and the confi dence in cils and paint brushes but, after Sudhakar got an opportunity to me brings out the best in me. I was digitisation, penetrated the arena design a book titled, Birds of Chilika, fortunate that people trusted me of creative art the scenario changed for the Chilika Wildlife Division, immensely, so the onus was on me completely,” says Sudhakar. “I dedicated to the birdman of India, to do my best. The creative pas- decided to accept this change and Salim Ali. He recalls, “This book sion that is unleashed in me when

slowly learnt this art after a lot of was well received on both the working with wildlife is beyond hard work. I gained expertise in national and the international level comparison,” he adds. < putt ing across my vision through only because the standard of the the digital media. My association pictures, paper quality and illustra- (The writer is a freelance journalist with INTACH introduced me to tions were at par with any foreign based in Bhubaneswar.) the fascinating world of nature and publication.” wildlife. I started modestly, doing His latest book on wildlife, Photo- small assignments for the state gov- graphic Field Guide to Birds of Sunder- ernment, designing brochures and garh Forest Division, brought out by pamphlets for the Forest and Con- the Government of India, is in fact

January-March 2019 VIDURA 47 LEISURE A eulogy to a garden

A garden is the only place where all the five senses are heightened and are in touch with the true essence of life itself – Nature, says Anju Agarwal. Here’s her paean to gardening

s children, we were always jungle, the chemical-laden vegeta- garden started blooming, it brought attracted to the soil. We bles and fruits and the junk food about a change and the house has Aloved to play with sand take their toll on us. We are what we become much cooler. That's the and get dirty. We humans are all eat and what we eat is from nature. kind of immediate effect which we connected to nature. We cannot do Plants make their own food and give experience. without nature though nature can us food. We need to comprehend I realised the importance of recy- do without us. It's the five elements this and imbibe it in our day-to-day cling my kitchen and garden waste outside and within us that we need life. How can we do that? Why not only after I started composting. The to balance, and gardening brings us give back to nature what it gives us smell of this black gold when ready to a closer understanding of this. so selflessly? is just like the smell of the wet earth Our culture has been predomi- Gardening started as a hobby and after the first rains. My garden nantly an agricultural one. Our now it's my passion. I find it amus- flourished. We wanted to conserve ancestors knew the importance of ing when people say they have zero water, so we arranged for rainwater being in harmony with nature, pre- interest in gardening without even harvesting and installed a drip irri- serving it and growing with it. It's trying it. The joy of growing your gation system in the garden. time we learnt from their wisdom own food from ‘pot to table’, the We planted a whole lot of trees, and did our bit before the concrete very taste of it and the satisfaction vegetables and fruits along with one gets on eating it flowers like marigold, jasmine, lil- cannot be described ies, roses and many more. They in mere words. It brought strength, vigour and vital- can only be felt. The ity into our life. The scent when happiness one gets you walk in the garden is heavenly. on seeing flowers The natural cure for a lot of com- blooming and fruits mon ailments came from our gar- and vegetables den. Herbs like kapooravali, ranakali, growing is some- thippli, lemon grass, tulsi, celery, thing that everyone turmeric, ginger, mint and green must experience. leafy vegetables like thavasikeerai, Plants give us manathakalikeerai, ponnanganikee- oxygen to breathe, rai, thandukeerai, araikeerai, methi, absorb a lot of bac- palak… the list is endless. teria from the sur- The more we immersed ourselves rounding air and in it the more we learnt. We are still make our environ- learning and there is so much more ment a better place out there. It is only after I started to live in. Before I gardening that I realised the effort started my terrace that a farmer puts in to provide us garden, the walls with the food we eat. Gardening of my house would taught me so many life lessons. feel so hot, air con- Which is the largest and greatest Photos: AA Photos: ditioners would not thing in the world? Some will say A fresh crop of bananas in the writer’s garden. help. But after the humans, some lions, others may

48 VIDURA January-March 2019 Adenium and Vincas make for such a pretty sight, and (right) the garden packed with okras, bitter gourds, Vincas and a cabbage patch. say an elephant. I would say it is a way no other music is. Each plant (The writer, a Commerce graduate tree. The tree gives us food to eat, feels different to the touch. Some are with diplomas in administrative and oxygen to breathe, gives shade in smooth, some rough, some velvety, computer management, was born and summer and wood to burn. Is there some thorny. Every fruit and vegeta- brought up in Bombay. Her parents anyone else who can do that for us? ble has its own distinctive taste and were into kitchen gardening and her We have a lot to learn not only from flavour, titillating the taste buds. interest in gardening was “a gift” the tree but also from the tiny seed. When we give back to nature from them. Moving to Madras after The seed teaches us a huge life les- through what we sow, we are giv- marriage, it was her mother who sent son which is that one has to strive ing back what we have snatched her the first lot of pots from Bombay and keep trying, and success will and taken as our right. We are also to start a garden. She now loves ultimately come. It tells us to be taking care of our environment and experimenting with her terrace garden patient. To become great one needs ensuring that our future generations produce to make her own soaps, gels to work hard, never give up and find will continue to receive the same. So and other products.) the strength within to grow tall. let us all grow something today, let Greenery is always a pleasing us learn to compost, let us practice sight for our eyes. We inhale the rainwater harvesting and learn to heady fragrance from the flowers use only biodegradable items in in the garden and the scent lingers. our daily life. We must plant and The buzzing of the bees, the chirp- nurture at least one tree in our life- ing of the birds, the rustling of the time. Let us be the change we want

trees as they sway in the breeze, is to see instead of waiting for things music to the ears and soothing in a to change. <

January-March 2019 VIDURA 49 SPORT Is he India’s greatest sportsperson ever? Is Viswanathan Anand the greatest Indian sportsman ever? He has had an ELO rating of over 2800, won the Chess Oscar six times, received the Padma Vibhushan, and been the first recipient of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award. Also, the honour he achieved last year of being in the world’s top ten for 27 consecutive years – including 21 months at No. 1 during 2007-08 – only confirms this belief, says Partab Ramchand

have often wondered why countries with a passionate follow- of the chess greats mostly from the Viswanathan Anand doesn’t ing in many of them. There was a Soviet Union as it was then, until Iget enough recognition for following for chess in India fittingly Fischer broke the monopoly. How his unique achievements and the enough, for the country is said to we wished that someone from the enormous inspirational role he has have invented it and people were country that gave birth to chess played in almost single-handedly familiar with the great names asso- could shine on the international popularising chess in the country. I ciated with the sport like Petrosian, stage. But through the years no one mean, what was the chess scenario Tal, Spassky, Fischer, Karpov and of that stature emerged until the in India before 1987 when Anand Kasparov. late 1980s when Anand suddenly became the first Asian to win the I know for sure that the famous started showing signs of becoming world junior title and shortly after- world championship between Fis- the first Indian chess great. wards became the country’s first cher and Spassky in 1972 was fol- Record breaking was a habit for grandmaster (GM)? lowed keenly by chess fans in this the cherubic lad from Madras, for he There were just a handful of country as was the long, intense and became the youngest national sub- International Masters (IMs), India’s sometimes bitter rivalry between junior champion (at 14), the young- standing in world chess was next to Karpov and Kasparov in the 1980s est Indian IM (at 15), and youngest nothing and chess itself was looked and 90s. national champion (at 16). Being upon as a leisurely relaxation and However, all we in India could aware of the infuriating penchant pastime instead of a serious sport do was to sit back and applaud for Indian sports prodigies to falter that is played in well over 180 from a distance the achievements and fade away rapidly, we were a bit cautious or even skeptical. We need not have been for Anand even as a teenager was mentally very strong. Besides talent aplenty, he had an ideal temperament, a burn- ing desire to succeed and even become the best in the business. For him, being second best was nothing less than being a loser. It was when he performed the dual feat in 1987-88 of becoming the first Asian to win the World junior title and followed it up by becom- ing India’s first GM that we realised that here was a really special talent who could go far. Anand was not Photo: Internet going to be a fluke, a meteor but Viswanathan Anand – the ‘lightning kid’ was India’s first grandmaster. one who would go on to greater

50 VIDURA January-March 2019 things. In racing parlance, he was a Currently ranked No. 8 in the of his longevity and consistency stayer, not a sprinter. And over the world, Anand in classical play has that he has been able to match the last 30 years he has made the coun- slipped slightly going down to best chess playing brains for over try proud by his manifold achieve- younger opponents but in rapid a quarter of a century. It cannot be ments culminating in being crowned and blitz it was his turn to teach the easy to excel among the elite in a world champion five times. GenNext of players a few tricks. By highly competitive field over such In a chess world that is fiercely winning the Tal Memorial Rapid an extended period. Let the last competitive and dominated by Rus- Tournament in Moscow and the word come from his great friend sians and Eastern Bloc countries, Tata Steel India Rapid and Blitz and rival Vladimir Kramnik who Anand is the one opponent who is tournament in Kolkata last year, put it succinctly when he said he respected and even feared. From he showed he had lost none of his always considered Anand to be ``a the ‘lightning kid’ days when he skill in getting into winning posi- colossal talent, one of the greatest

used to mesmerise audiences and tions and then closing out the game. in the whole history of chess and in opponents alike with his aggres- In his 50th year, Anand has finally terms of play no way weaker than < sive, superfast moves in the game made the transition from ‘lightning Kasparov’. of 64 squares, Anand has gradually kid’ to elder statesman of interna- acquired defensive skills that has tional chess. (The writer is a senior sports seen him outwit the best of oppo- As the first player in chess history journalist based in Chennai. He nents. He has come a long way hav- to win the World Championship in had served The Indian Express ing an ELO rating of over 2800 (only three different formats - Knockout, for 19 years and the ABP Group one among five players in history to Tournament and Matchplay - Anand (Sportsworld / The Telegraph) break this mark), winning the Chess has an aura all his own. There is lit- for 12. After retirement, he has been Oscar six times and being awarded tle doubt that he is fully deserving writing freelance and proved to be the Padma Vibhushan, besides of his exalted status in world chess quite prolific.) being the first recipient of Rajiv and Indian sport. It speaks volumes Gandhi Khel Ratna Award. Is he then the greatest Indian sportsman ever? Certainly, it would be easier to argue for him Ramnath Goenka Award for than against him. The honour he achieved last year of being in the The Hindu journalist world’s top ten for 27 consecutive years – including 21 months at No. S. Vijay Kumar, senior deputy editor with The Hindu in Chennai was 1 during 2007- 08 – only confirms recently presented the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award this belief. But even more than these for Investigative Reporting (Print). accomplishments and accolades Instituted by the Ramnath Goenka Memorial Foundation, the award Anand is remembered as a role was presented by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh at a ceremony in model and a mentor. New Delhi. No one in Indian sport has played The award for Investigative Reporting in the broadcast category was a greater inspirational role than won by Anand Kumar Patel of India Today TV. The awards for Political Anand and this is underlined by the Reporting went to Brajesh Rajput of ABP News Network and Sushant simple fact that since he broke the Kumar Singh of the Indian Express. M. Gunasekaran with News18 Tamil barrier there are now 57 GMs and Nadu (broadcast) and Nishant Dattaram Sarwankar and Sandeep Ashok about 100 IMs in this country. India Acharya both with Loksatta (Print), bagged the awards in the Regional is fifth in the world rankings behind Languages category. The awards in the Environmental Reporting category Russia, China, USA and Ukraine. were presented to Sushil Chandra Bahuguna of NDTV and Sandhya The Anand effect has produced Ravishankar of the online magazine, The Wire.

world champions from under-10 Awards were presented to 29 journalists across India in various to the junior level. Boys and girls categories. < want to be the next Anand. He is the yardstick by which others in India, (Courtesy: The Hindu) even world chess, are judged.

January-March 2019 VIDURA 51 SPORT The statistics against his name get dizzier by the day Virat Kohli is acknowledged to be the leading batsman in world cricket today and also the best batsman in cricketing history across three international formats. Partab Ramchand tires to analyse why

he stats against Virat Kohli’s But to run up stats that brings you is to average a hundred every four name get dizzier and dizzier next only to the game’s greatest bats- Tests. But Kohli averages a hundred Talmost every time he bats. It man ever is something that gives the every three Tests – 25 in 77 matches. is now taken for granted that the Indian captain an aura all his own. Bradman of course is way ahead records held by Sachin Tendulkar Cricket has thrown up several with 29 hundreds in just 52 Tests. will be broken by Kohli. When the great batsmen since Bradman played Kohli’s six double hundreds – one great man retired, it was thought his last Test 71 years ago but none of such landmark every 13 Tests – is that the figures against his name them came close to even threatening joint second to Walter Hammond would stand the test of time for his major records. Kohli too is some and next only to Bradman who an extended period. A little matter distance away but the fact that he is notched up 12 such scores. of 15921 runs in Tests, 18426 runs second only to Bradman at least in In the past few months Brad- in ODIs, 51 hundreds in Tests, 49 some cases speaks volumes of his man’s name has cropped up repeat- in ODIs, besides a host of minor prodigious gifts, a driving ambition edly when discussing a Kohli feat. records, indicated that it would be to be the best in the business and an The Indian captain got to his 24th Mission Impossible for anyone to insatiable appetite for runs and big Test hundred in his 123rd innings even come near let alone surpass scores. next only to Bradman who needed these marks. For example, a benchmark for a just 66 innings. On the way Kohli And yet just over five years since batsman to be hailed as truly great surpassed Tendulkar (125 innings) Tendulkar played his last Test, we have someone like Sunil Gavaskar who is as cautious in his predictions as he was in his batting approach, sticking his neck out in his newspa- per column and saying that by the time Kohli finishes playing the game most batting records would be his. Even those who believed that Ten- dulkar’s records were unsurpass- able are now more or less convinced that if there is one batsman who will go past them it is Kohli. While it can be taken for granted that Tendulkar’s marks are no longer safe – and that goes for his ODI fig- ures too – what is absolutely mind- boggling is that some of Kohli’s records are next only to Don Brad- man. Of course, unlike in the case of Tendulkar, it can be safely said that Bradman’s major records will Photo: Internet stand as long as cricket is played. Virat Kohli always seems to play as effortlessly as ever.

52 VIDURA January-March 2019 Statement about ownership and other particulars about “VIDURA” the English Quarterly Newspaper, Chennai, as required to be published under Section 19-D Sub-Section (b) of the Press and Registration of Books Act read with the Rule 8 of the Registration of and Gavaskar (128 innings). It is clear now that Newspapers (Central Rules) 1956 in future whenever he passes another landmark it may not be Tendulkar’s name that will crop Form IV up but Bradman’s – the ultimate tribute to any VIDURA - Quarterly batsman. In ODIs, Kohli’s tally of 39 hundreds is pres- 1. Place of publication : Chennai ently second to Tendulkar’s record of 49. The 2. Periodicity of Publication : Quarterly way he is going, that is probably going to be 3. Printer’s Name : Sashi Nair the first of Tendulkar’s records to go overboard. Nationality : Indian And whoever has heard of a batsman averag- Address : Flat 3C, GRN Akshara ing virtually 60 after playing well over 200 ODIs D112, Sangeetha Colony and notching up over 10000 runs? Ashok Pillar Road Perhaps even more remarkable is his perfor- K.K.Nagar, Chennai – 78 mance in cricket’s newest and shortest format. It is a format that calls for very quick scoring 4. Publisher’s Name : Sashi Nair marked by big hits which means the risk fac- Nationality : Indian tor is high. Moreover, the restricted number of : Flat 3C, GRN Akshara overs means that knocks are generally explosive Address and entertaining but short on the duration fac- D112, Sangeetha Colony tor. Kohli averages 49 in T-20 internationals to Ashok Pillar Road go along with a highly impressive strike rate K.K.Nagar, Chennai – 78 of 136. To put these figures in proper perspective, 5. Editor’s Name : Sashi Nair let’s examine the figures of two T-20 players Nationality : Indian who have a sky-high reputation – Chris Gayle Address : Flat 3C, GRN Akshara and Brendon McCullum. The former has a strike D112, Sangeetha Colony rate of 143 but he averages only 33 while the lat- Ashok Pillar Road ter has the same strike rate as Kohli’s but aver- K.K.Nagar, Chennai – 78 ages 35. Mesmerising as these statistics are, what Names and addresses of individuals who own stands out is Kohli’s temperament. Unlike many 6. others who are burdened by the responsibilities the newspaper/magazine and partners or of captaincy, he relishes the challenge and has shareholders holding more than one per cent scored more runs and centuries as captain than of the total capital: as a player. He is least overawed by a bowler’s The Press Institute of India - Research Institute reputation or the precarious position his side is for Newspaper Development in and displays a ruthless streak. He plays his RIND Premises, Taramani, CPT Campus strokes freely – even with gay abandon – befit- Chennai 600 113 ting someone who is confidence personified. His Shareholding of more than one percent of the capital hitting is bold and vigorous but he also plays does not arise as the The Press Institute of India - cultured strokes all round the wicket even as his Research Institute for Newspaper Development, is a defence is secure which makes him the toughest non-profit society registered under the Societies Act No. batsman to bowl to in world cricket today. He is XXI of 1860.

without question the best batsman in cricketing history across three international formats. < I, Sashi Nair, hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Sashi Nair

Publisher 12.02.2019

January-March 2019 VIDURA 53 Short films tread unchartered territory, make a mark The short film format has come to stay. It is winning awards across the world. Digital cinema has made more and more short films possible, with wonderful exhibiting platforms on the Internet and screenings at film festivals all over the globe. Shoma A. Chatterji draws attention to four short films made by debut or young directors, in different languages and in varied genres

Rain Host Rain Host is a fictional film based woman were once in love. The man ain Host is directed by the on the real-life accounts of how some had ditched her. The woman went young Nirmalya Majum- people in Mumbai responded to the onto make a success of her career Rder who already has several incessant rains that flooded parts of and life while the man turns out to awards for short films in his pocket. the city in July 2017. Mumbaikars be a failure at love, life and work. He had made 14 or 15 short films took to social media and opened The low-key handling of the story, Before Rain Host, most of them fic- their houses to strangers. The film is including the light effects and the tion. The first recognition came with about what happens when a young cinematography, stand out. Confessions made in 2009. It bagged man steps into the luxurious apart- “What pulls me is the weirdness him the best script award at the Kal- ment of a young woman who acts as of human nature, its unpredictabil- panirjhar Festival. His next film, The his rain host. The unspoken under- ity and dynamism. The humanness Final Flight of the Soul, won him the standing is that the guest leaves of people being prepared to open second runner-up award at the 48 when the rain stops and waters their houses to complete strangers is Hour Film Contest in 2010. During recede. With minimum dialogue itself a statement,” says Majumder. the following eight years, other com- and much of the emotions expressed mitments took over and then came by the two protagonists, both little- 7 Lives Rain Host. It has been shown at three known actors (Devaki and Jayesh), The film, directed by Runjiv K. festivals, and won three awards, through body language, voice mod- Kapur, traces the obstacles in the including at the Seventh Kolkata ulation and facial expression, the way of organ donation where, even Shorts International Film Festival. story reveals that the man and the if the family of a comatose person gives consent for his organs to be harvested, sociological factors come in the way. The title of the film is inspired by the fact that one body donated can save seven lives awaiting organ transplants. Organ donation is one of the most under- represented causes in India. The number of 0.8 donors per million is shamefully low for a country with population of 125 crore. The direc- tor stresses the importance of public awareness and the fact that donat- ing one’s organs is an act of love. Filmmakers have not really explored the area of organ dona- tion, so 7 Lives fills the void to an extent. A young girl is shot at by

Photo: SC a man who will not take no for an answer to his marriage proposal. The Rain Host film poster. In following page, stills from some of the other films. She is declared brain dead and the

54 VIDURA January-March 2019 7 Lives. I, Reborn. surgeon persuades her parents to famous screenwriter and direc- donate her organs to save seven tor Kamalesh Roy (Sabyasachi lives. Do her parents agree? Does Chakraborty) and his ambitious the brain-dead young girl get to and optimistic intern, Natasha save seven lives? The film explores Sen (Kankana Chakrabarty). On Written By? the questions to convey the signifi- a rainy night, Natasha arrives at cance of organ donation. Kamalesh’s flat to finish the final and fall of the waves of the sea, the The story is based on a real-life edit of the script of his film. What crackling of wood from the burning incident though it isn’t placed in transpires during this brief meeting pyre, the cries of a baby, the father any particular geographical region. about the script Natasha has writ- beating his stick on the sand to “Some relatives who had fixed ten based on the life story Kamalesh draw his son’s attention – is incred- views against harvesting organs has narrated to her makes for the ibly imaginative and yet real. from a brain-dead person, or even story of the film. The cycle of life and death takes a cadaver, informed the local “The story is not directly based on on a new meaning when the familiar panchayat of the move and, at the any incident, but I have had friends face of a woman who had aroused last minute, efforts to save seven who have said ‘oh this film matches his inner craving for a family of lives were ruined,” says Kapur. It my idea…’ or ‘oh I was supposed his own arrives as an abandoned is a very dark film shot in tones of to do that song…’ or ‘oh I wrote the corpse at his doorstep. I, Reborn, darkness and grey but manages not article but it has someone else’s name is the awakening, rising, dying and to turn death into melodrama. on it.’ Being a part of this industry, the re-awakening of this eternal uni- we are scared of sharing our stories versal cycle that we all invariably Written By? with our peers. We are busy claim- traverse. Kankana Chakrabarty recently ing something as our work and “Death as a subject has always bagged the Best Director Award for wondering if someone had stolen it fascinated me. I had always wanted Written By? at the 6th Siliguri Inter- fromus. This is really sad. We are all to make a silent film on death as of national Documentary and Short here to create, then why do we lack life's ultimate truth – the truth that Film Festival. The film has bagged conscience?” says Kankana. rekindles the breath of life again. nine awards in India and abroad. What was difficult was to formu- It even got Kanaka and Sabyasachi I, Reborn late the screenplay and convey the Chakrabarty the Best Acting Duo Directed by noted filmmaker relationship between father and Award at the Los Angeles Top Shorts Manoj Michigan, I, Reborn is a son, pointing out the nuances, the recently. It has also been selected for silent film shot on the beaches of role-play, the emotions, the anger, screening at the prestigious Kalpanir- a deserted village somewhere in the joy and, ultimately, the realisa- jhar Short Film Festival in Kolkata West Bengal. The film opens a win- tionof the end and the beginning. The film is a scathing attack on dow to the world of an undertaker Thanks to my producers, my team plagiarism that is rampant across / dom who lives in isolation with of friends and technicians, this the creative world in general and his aged father. He takes care of dream was realised. They worked literature and cinema in particular. his father, and the father observes with a minimal budget without any But few have attempted to make his son continuing his own voca- demands, and passionately made it

films on the subject or even write tion, that of cremating the deceased their own film. This is their film,” around it. It has just two charac- from the nearby village. The sound the director sums up. < ters – an out-of-work but once- structure – dominated by the rise

January-March 2019 VIDURA 55 A whole lot and more for film buffs to savour Winter heralds the festival season in Kolkata. All sorts of events – music conferences, theatre, food and literary festivals – jostle for space after the Durga Puja festivities are over. The season is launched by the Kolkata International Film Festival in the second week of November. Ranjita Biswas savours and shares the flavour from the City of Joy — the city of Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen and Ritwik Ghatak and, of course, the several film clubs dotting it

ast year (2018), the Kolkata Every year, KIFF holds a retro- Vittorio de Sica’s Bicycle Thieves. International Film Festival spective of works by a renowned A workshop on restoration of old L(KIFF) celebrated its 24th filmmaker. Even though the films in films was also organised as part of year of existence. The enthusi- this section are screened as early as the festival. asm after all these years has not 9 am, you do not find the hall empty. Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi waned – the atmosphere around Senior citizens mingle with film is a favourite with the Kolkata the Nandan-RabindraSadan-Sisir school students to enjoy the oeuvre crowd. The Children of Heaven Mancha complex, the hub of the of great filmmakers. This year, Ing- director was in the city with his festival, was evidence of that. Alto- mar Bergman’s films figured in this much-anticipated film, Muham- gether, 170 films from 70 countries section. mad: The Messenger of God (on were screened this time. Selected Federico Fellini’s fully restored Prophet Muhammad’s emergence cinema halls in different localities film Amarcord (1973) was shown from the internecine tribal warfare of the city screened internation- in the section of restored classics. in the sandy deserts). Considered ally well-known films too, giving Among the films shown in this sec- controversial in some quarters due an opportunity to connoisseurs to tion were Satyajit Ray’s Apu Tril- to the subject, Majidi countered, enjoy them. ogy, Uday Shankar’s Kalpana and “Muhammad talked about peace and humanity. More than ever, it’s important to know about his mes- sage today... His religion did not carry the message of hatred and violence.” The KIFF also chooses a Focus Country, screening the best of the films from that country. This year (2018), it was Australia which cel- ebrates 100 years of cinema in that continent. The package was an eclec- tic mix of old and new, blockbusters and introspective ones. Celebrated filmmaker Phillip Noyce (The Bone Collector, The Quiet American) was present, as also actors, editors, pro- ducers from Australia. Their inter- action with the press and audience gave a glimpse of the continent’s film industry. The festival also celebrated

Photo: RB 100 years of Bengali cinema and A striking collage of Bengal cinema greats at the Kolkata International Film Festival screened some of the milestone catches the eye. films in the industry, starting from

56 VIDURA January-March 2019 A still From The Third Wife and (right) a collage of Hollywood greats.

Pramathesh Barua’s Mukti (1937) to platform to showcase works from Panorama Section, Praveen Morch- films by Rituparna Ghosh (Unishe the ‘other’ India, which mainstream hale’s Widow of Silence (about a April) and Gautam Ghosh (Padma cinema often ignores. woman whose husband has disap- Nadir Majhi). Since the past two The international competition sec- peared in conflict-ridden Kashmir) years, a section has been dedicated tion was a treat, providing a glimpse won the Best Film in Indian Lan- to ‘Unheard India: Films no one has of lands and cultures beyond. The guage Award. The Network for the seen before’, made in indigenous Third Wife,lyrically portraying the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NET- languages. This time, there were patriarchal society of 19th Century PAC) Asian Select Award went films made in Tulu, Kurmi, Banjara, Vietnam and women’s growing pro- to The Sweet Requiem, a story on Khasi and Nagamese. The initiative test, walked away with the Best Film Tibetan refugees and their journey is praiseworthy because it gives a Award (Rupees 51 lakh), while in the to India, directed by Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam. Adding to the charm were food stalls offering Bengal’s traditional pithe (sweetmeat), biriyani, chow- mein, kathi roll, and lebu-cha (lemon tea). And, of course, with food, there were discussions galore. Long queues, young and old seated in the foyer, seminars, debates and ‘meet the director’ events kept film lovers thoroughly engaged. Film clubs, film federations, publishers of books

on cinema also put up stalls offering space to browse and buy. <

Nandan, the festival venue, has a certain buzz.

January-March 2019 VIDURA 57 Remembering an outstanding filmmaker and his oeuvre Every year, by tradition, the Kolkata International Film Festival holds a retrospective of works by a famous filmmaker. In its 24th year recently, it screened films by Swedish director Ingmar Bergman as a Centenary Tribute. Ranjita Biswas sent us this report

ergman was born in 1918. he decides to drive all the way to the For Bergman, the island was Faro He died in 2007. Before he town where he was being honoured Island where he spent his last years. Bforayed into the world of cel- instead of taking a flight. The jour- He had gone there to shoot and luloid in 1944, Bergman was more ney juxtaposes with his memories of fell in love with the quiet village known in Europe as a dramatist. At childhood and youth. While giving a and the sea instantly. “Even then I first, his films did not attract much lift to an exuberant young group of decided that I’ll settle down here,” attention. But celebrated French hitch-hikers, he learns to appreciate he had told Nyrerod. film critic Andre Bazin recogised life again. Even as a child, Bergman was early the talent of the Swedish Persona is based on the relation- fascinated by moving images. He genius congratulating him for “cre- ship between an actress who has sud- recalled how as a six-year-old, he ating a world of blinding purity”. denly gone mute and her nurse. Two was dying to receive a projector as Some of the most important films of Bergman’s favourite actresses, a Christmas gift but, instead, his in Bergman’s oeuvre were screened LivUllmann and Bibi Andersson, elder brother who was not inter- at the recent Kolkata International enact the roles. The director himself ested all, got it; so, he bargained Film Festival. Through a Glass had said the psychological drama was and exchanged his gift with him for Darkly is about a family’s secrets one of his most important works. the projector. and disintegration built around Cries and Whispers is again on “The clock always fascinated a schizophrenic daughter. It had inter-personal relationships among me,” Bergman once recalled, “we won the Academy Award for Best three sisters, one suffering from can- had one at our home at in the the Foreign Film. cer and awaiting death and the other centre . Remember the clock with- Wild Strawberries begins with a two sisters’ disconnection with each out hands used symbolically of nightmare when scientist Isak Borg other when they come take care of time ticking by in Wild Strawber- dreams of his own death in a sur- her; their selfishness is countered by ries? In Fanny and Alexander, too, realistic sequence. In the morning, Anna, the maid, who is like a mother as Alexander hides under a table, to the ailing girl. it’s a clock that hangs above him. Fanny and Alexander is about In his 59 years as a filmmaker two siblings growing up in a loving (1944-2003), Bergman wrote or family. While the widowed mother directed more than 60 films. It is marries a puritan priest, they suf- often said that his films dwelt on fer in his authoritarian home, until harsh parenting, infidelity, death, they escape. Bergman himself was humiliation and faith. As Bergman brought up strictly by his parish himself said, “I think we are the minister father. sum of what we have read, seen Winter Light focuses on a small- and experienced. I do not think time pastor and his self-doubt about artists are born from emptiness. I his own profession. In The Seventh am a small stone of a tall building, Seal, a man plays chess with Death, a I depend on each element of the subject Bergman often explored. building, next to, above, below.” Bergman Island, a documentary Bergman’s work has influenced on the director by producer-director filmmakers around the world, how- Photo: RB

Marie Nyrerod, is a gem. Ir provides ever different their styles. His leg- Ingmar Bergman. an intimate glimpse of the legend. end only grows with the years. <

58 VIDURA January-March 2019 An ageless entertainer with the Madras connection Against the backdrop of the 11th World Anglo Indian Reunion that was held in Chennai in January, Partab Ramchand traces the career of Engelbert Humperdinck who was born in Madras during the British Raj in 1936 and went on to become an international singing sensation

s a teenager growing up and enjoy the music of Cliff Richard ber. Now in retirement, I never in Madras in the early and and Elvis Presley, Jim Reeves and miss a chance to listen to his mel- Amid-1960s, I closely followed the Beatles, Engelbert became my lifluous voice on YouTube and the Western pop music and my life was new favourite thanks to numbers songs bring back happy memories governed by the songs of Elvis Pres- like ‘The first time ever I saw your of my teenage years and youthful ley and Cliff Richard, Jim Reeves face’, ‘For the good times, ‘Winter days and I marvel at the boy from and the Beatles, and the tunes of The world of love’, ‘The way it used Madras who went on to become an Shadows and the Ventures. Tuning to be’, ‘There goes my everything’, international singing sensation. in to All India Radio on Saturday ‘Sweetheart’, ‘Spanish eyes’, ‘Put Engelbert was born Arnold George night for the Listeners Choice pro- your hand in the hand’ and ‘Les Dorsey to an English military offi- gramme and listening to the Binaca Bicyclettes de Belsize’. cer, Mervyn Dorsey, who was of Hit Parade (the equivalent of Hindi’s His rich, velvety voice, the mean- Welsh descent. His mother, Olive, Binaca Geet Mala) on Sunday morn- ingful words that were crystal clear was of German and Southern Indian ing on Radio Ceylon were a must. and his inimitable style which made descent. His father was on duty in However, suddenly, towards the him effortless while crooning popu- what was then British India when he end of the decade, my interest was lar ballads or belting out energetic was born in 1936. The family moved diverted to a new singer and a melo- pop numbers, made him one of the to Leicester in England when Engel- dious song which was proving to be most popular singers of his time. bert was ten and he soon showed a a big hit. The singer was Engelbert Certainly, he enjoyed Humperdinck and the song was immense popularity in Release Me. The soulful rendition India and at his peak there of the number immediately led me was not a single listener’s to find out some more details about choice programme which the singer and the first thing that I did not feature an Engel- rejoiced in was to learn that he was bert number. His casual born in the city where I have been style and good looks com- all my life, Madras. plete with one of the big- Thereafter, I just had to follow his gest sideburns in the busi- career and one by one collected his ness earned him a large singles which were a succession of following particularly super hits from the late 1960s through among women. His hard- the 70s. The Last Waltz was released core female fans in fact almost the same time as Release Me called themselves Hump- and the two songs topped the music erdinkers. charts in Britain in the late 1960s and Through my youth till sold enough copies to help Engelbert the late 1970s, I continued achieve the rare feat of scoring two to follow his music and million sellers in one year. whenever I was called Through the early 1970s, my West- upon to sing at parties ern music preferences remained the I inevitably used to belt Photo: Internet same but while I continued to listen out an Engelbert num- Engelbert Humperdinck in his younger days.

January-March 2019 VIDURA 59 keen interest in music. He began by adopted the name professionally if vocals to the song, Ten Guitars, for learning the saxophone and by the not legally, and he has been Engelbert the album, Space Farm. early 1950s was playing the instru- ever since. The year 2017 marked the 50th ment regularly in nightclubs. But It speaks volumes of Engelbert’s anniversary of Engelbert’s first it was not till he was 17 that on the vitality and his ability and willing- international success and two major coaxing of his friends he entered a ness to keep pace with changing celebratory discs were released. He singing contest in a pub. His impres- times and tastes that he continues supported the albums with a tour sion of Jerry Lewis prompted friends to be popular today half a century which included a performance in to begin calling him Gerry Dorsey after the release of Release Me. Why, Manila, one of his favourite and fre- a name that he worked under for at the age of 76 in 2012, the BBC quently visited cities. There is just almost a decade. announced that Engelbert would no stopping the ageless entertainer In 1965, Engelbert teamed up with represent the United Kingdom in who in his 83rd year still fulfills a Gordon Mills, his former roommate the final of the Eurovision song con- regular schedule of annual interna-

in London who had become a music test to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan. tional concert dates performing in a impresario and the manager of Brit- The song ‘Love will set you free’ was range of venues and events. < ish singer Tom Jones. It was Mills unveiled in March the same year. who suggested a name change to Engelbert became the oldest singer (Apart from being addicted to sport, the more alluring Engelbert Hump- ever to participate in the popular the writer also has more than a erdinck borrowed from the German annual contest. The following year, passing interest in English cinema 19th Century composer of operas he collaborated with Australian surf- and Western music.) such as Hansel and Gretel. Dorsey rock band, The Break, by providing

Editors Guild suspends Akbar, Tejpal

The Editors Guild of India (EGI) has suspended the membership of journalist-turned-politician M.J. Akbar and former Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal over allegations of sexual misconduct. “Office-bearers of the Guild discussed the EC’s comments and took the decision on the matter. It has concurred with the majority view that Akbar should be suspended from the Guild till such time that the court case he has filed is concluded. Using the same logic, the office-bearers decided that Mr Tejpal too should be suspended from the Guild,” read a statement from the Guild. The Guild had sought views of its executive committee on what action should be taken against Akbar, a dormant member at present and one of its past presidents, Tejpal, and senior journalist Gautam Adhikari in light of sexual misconduct allegations levelled against them. Akbar stepped down as the junior foreign minister in October

following allegations of sexual misconduct made against him by several women journalists. Tarun Tejpal has been jailed for rape. The Guild decided it would seek Adhikari’s response before deciding on his membership. < (Courtesy: exchange4media.com)

Digital weather initiative launched at ACJ

Asian College of Journalism (ACJ) and The Weather Company, an IBM business, have joined hands to provide a digital weather analysis curriculum to students, which will help them understand various aspects and impact of the weather. ACJ was adding weather to its curriculum in a specialised manner in the form of special elective, which would use all the expertise of the Weather Company. Besides, weather awareness would be part of all ACJ programmes, including compulsory and elective courses. A personal weather station was set up at the college and

the system will provide localised weather information and enable students to interpret data, visualise it through graphs and dashboards and report on weather. < (Courtesy: The Hindu)

60 VIDURA January-March 2019 TRAVEL A blend of ethnic heritage, tourism and ‘big data’ Having visited China’s Guizhou Province under the aegis of the Chinese Embassy in India, Sarita Brara shares her impressions of the area, which is seeking a place for itself among the developed regions while promoting its traditions. She hopes that the thaw in India’s relations with China after the Doklam episode will endure and that the two countries will be able to get rid of poverty and make the dream of living a life of dignity and peaceful coexistence come true for their people

ttired in the traditional cos- best. The girls are hired by compa- against 6.8 per cent at the national tume of the minority Bueyi nies based outside the area and the level. Mountains cover almost 97 ACommunity she belongs competition is tough says Yeng. per cent of the Guizhou Province to, chirpy young Chen Hi Yeng is Yeng was assigned as guide to us, a and you can’t help but marvel at one among 90 per cent of the girls group of Indian journalists sightsee- the connectivity, with roads carved in her village who are working as ing under the aegis of the Chinese out of the hills, passing over bridges tourist guides. The young girls are Embassy in India. Why Guizhou, I and through tunnels. paid a commission on the tourists wondered when we came to know The roads are well-maintained they bring to the famous Huanggu- that the Chinese Embassy was taking and the tunnels well-lit tunnels. oshu waterfalls nearly 45 km from us to what was considered one of the There are reportedly 20000 big and Anshun city in China’s Guizhou poorest and most backward prov- small bridges in the karst moun- Province. inces of the country, with ten million tains. “It is not just the question of The waterfalls are the bread and people living below the poverty line connectivity but also the saving of butter for inhabitants of the nearby five years ago. We got the answer time, which we greatly value,” says villages. Yeng’s mother contributes after visiting some parts of Guizhou. Sun Yilling, a diplomat working in to the family income by cooking at It combines ethnic heritage, tourism the Chinese Embassy in Delhi who one of the canteens while her father and ‘big data’. is accompanying us. is a photographer. The tourist sea- With rapid development over the While travelling from Guiyang to son lasts for just six months and the years, Guizhouis is now tagged as Anshun, we cross the Baling River maximum number of tourists come an ‘upcoming’ province and we are between June and August when the told that it registered over 10 per cluster of 18 waterfalls are at their cent year-on-year increase in its GDP Photo: SB From left, Meiing Fei at his restaurant; Chen Hi Yeng; and a revolving tray in a restaurant with no head of the table.

January-March 2019 VIDURA 61 Bridge, one of the world’s highest This, however, is a guided tour in tourism and hospitality sectors suspension bridges, the first to be arranged by the Chinese Embassy is another way the administration built with three panels, an engi- and we see only what we are shown. is trying to raise the income of the neering marvel. And on our way Do the ethnic minorities living in the local people. back from the waterfalls, we take remote and interior areas have infra- Many hotels, eating places and the 430-meter-high grand escalator structure facilities in their villages? other organisations employ women as it is called, perhaps the longest We have no idea. Guizhou Province belonging to the Miao and other sightseeing escalator in the world. is rich in natural beauty and is home communities, dressed in traditional It takes us more than five minutes to 53 of 56 ethnic minority communi- attire and eye-catching jewellery. to reach the top. ties in China, we are told. Strangely, The Miao are perhaps the largest We also visit the Seven Hole we don’t hear the chirping of birds ethnic group in Guizhou and are Bridge, a UNESCO World Natural at any of these scenic spots though known for exquisite embroidery, Heritage site. As in India, where they are full of trees and bushes. batik art and silverwork. Their skills many places are associated with Like the tribal communities in though don’t fetch them a sustain- myths and legends, this bridge India, the ethnic minorities in China able income, and the administration located in a picturesque area, is too have a rich cultural heritage. is getting master craftsmen to train associated with a love story, which They have distinct customs, clothes, the younger generation in artwork our interpreter Tommy narrates. cuisine, crafts, dance, music, festi- and encourage local women to start Infrastructure in townships in vals and other traditions which they their own businesses. The aim is to Guizhou Province can match any follow in their daily life. The ethnic raise their income and also ensure metropolitan city in the developed minorities living in remote and inte- the survival of traditional arts and world and it is all set to become rior parts of this hill province were crafts. what the Chinese call the Big Data for long left out of development Yet another attempt to raise the Valley. Already technology giants efforts. They were mostly dependent living standards of ethnic com- like Apple, IBM, Foxconn and Ali- on either agriculture in their small munities is to relocate people from baba have invested billions of dol- holdings or forest produce for their the remote villages in Guizhou lars here. A joint Indo-China project livelihood and, again, as it happens and other provinces where it is not in Big Data and Artificial Intelligence in India, many migrated to urban possible to start income-generat- was launched in 2018. The project areas to make a living. ing activities. The people are being includes India’s National Association The Guizhou administration is moved to less harsh rural areas for Software and Services Companies upgrading a number of villages to or townships and made a part (NASSCOM). The Chinese are also tourist villages to check the outflow. of tourism promotion and other eyeing pharmaceuticals as an area Promoting the art and craft of the income-generating activities. The for future cooperation in India. ethnic groups and employing them policy has come in for criticism as

Striking architecture. The Seven Hole Bridge, a UNESCO heritage site.

62 VIDURA January-March 2019 a number of people do not want to leave their traditional homelands. But the Guizhou administration claims that most are willing to move out to improve their lives. The government gives them finan- cial support, easy loans and other incentives. Meiing Fei had to give up farming in his village in favour of tourism- related activities in Libo Town. He now has a restaurant that serves unique Bueyi cuisine, and makes good money. He used to earn about 700 to 800 yuan as a farmer culti- vating mainly rice and corn, but now he earns much more, he says. Fei, who has completed his school- Artifacts at the ethnic museum and (right), the Huanggoushu Waterfalls. ing, has already paid back his loan. His son, a graduate, is working in a government department, he says from within China to Guizhou, the I will cherish the warm hospital- proudly. number of visitors from abroad is ity of our hosts, their earnest pleas “Have you heard about India?” increasing, and there is a need for to “please have some more” at the we ask him. Fei, who watches a lot English-speaking guides, Yeng tells dining table, the image of a 92-year- of TV, replies in the affirmative. “I us. She herself does not know Eng- old Chinese man climbing 800 steps know about India, it is famous in lish and that is a handicap. to see the radio telescope, and the the IT sector and both our countries If freedom of speech and democ- hope in Fei’s eyes as he said, “Being

racy are what China can learn from neighbours, we should be friends.” have high population.” < Language is a huge barrier. Even India, we Indians can learn disci- Amen to that. officials don’t understand English. pline and hard work from the Chi- So, it was really difficult to glean nese, which have given our ancient (The writer is a senior journalist based the views of local people. And neighbour its enviable position in in New Delhi.) this is a problem for the Chinese, the comity of nations in various sec- too. Though a lot of tourists come tors of economy.

Sportstar turns 40

Sportstar, the multi-sport magazine published every fortnight by The Hindu Group in India, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. A 108-page issue was released to commemorate the milestone. "In such an age, it’s a challenge for a sports magazine to stay relevant, but throughout our journey we have reinvented and re-vigourised our content to suit the palate of the changing times. We have been steadfast in offering our readers what they want to read, taking them closer to their sporting icons. Our journey has been made memorable because of the love and encouragement of our readers – who also include the top sporting personalities of the country. We want to thank our readers with this collector's edition of the magazine," says Ayon Sengupta, editor, Sportstar.

On July 1978 the first issue ofSportstar was published with tennis legend Bjorn Borg on the cover. Priced at Re 1, the magazine offered a ringside view to the world of domestic and international sport. <

(Courtesy: exchange4media.com)

January-March 2019 VIDURA 63 TRAVEL A small town wears politeness on its sleeve

She fell hard for Mangalore. And she did fall hard in Mangalore. That’s what happened the first night, a few hours after she and her husband arrived in Mangalore after driving nearly eight hours from Goa on a Saturday in October. Pushpa Iyengar narrates a fascinating story

e went out on the town, So we were hurrying to one of Man- with my friend was we would first stop was a hospital galore’s iconic places, when I tripped shadow her everywhere, even if W(because a friend had to and before I knew it, was flat on the she went out to pay an electricity visit someone) on the way to finding ground. I was more embarrassed bill. We did just that. And almost a restaurant. Driving around, we than hurt, although every bone in everywhere, we were like a couple were totally awed by the neon lights my body rattled. The cringe moment of hicks seeing a city for the first on the road and the first observa- came when this guy supported on time, its shops, the big supermar- tion that stuck was that Mangalore either side by a friend stumbled upto kets with fresh vegetables and was quite a foodie’s paradise. For a me and slurred solicitously, “Are you fruit in large baskets waiting to be relatively small city, it was studded alright? Can I help?” I made to get-up picked apart from a dream grocery with eating places, from humble but my husband and friend clucked list. Let me explain – while we live wayside fish curry / chicken kabab and asked me to sit back down and in a village in Goa where almost joints and places where you can catch my breath. I did. But there was everything, barring our day-to-day buy a serving of sambar for just Rs Mr Solicitous again, weaving up to shopping, was anywhere between 10, to slightly fancy Udipi places me with a look of concern on his face. 5-40 km everywhere, in Mangalore serving neer dosa / vegetable stew So, I hoisted myself up and climbed we had rented an apartment in an and fine dining restaurants, even into the car hastily. area called Bejai which was the cen- liquid lounges. tre of the city. Anyway, hospital visit over, the Small town courtesies All we had to do when we came hunt was on to find a place open to Over the next two months, I fell out of our building was to turn left eat, because by then it was past 10 pm. in love with Mangalore. The “deal” or right depending on what you Photo: PI

St Aloysius Church, Mangalore, and (right) a side view of Milagres Church.

64 VIDURA January-March 2019 Flower sellers line the streets, and (far right) the tiger dance. wanted to buy or what work you a shop, but the space was a bit of its Sulthan Bathery and its beaches had. If it was fish, turn right and a crunch because there was a two- and Bandar is not such a big draw cross the road, if you want a beer wheeler. But the owner of the vehi- except for locals who take in the (you do pay an arm and a leg as cle rushed out, apologised profusely beaches on a Sunday. compared to Goa), you turn left and quickly made space. Wow! No But tourists and locals flocked to and walk down and one will get a blood-letting, no flipping of fingers the St Aloysius Chapel, which was quaint place with a few tables out- or any other vulgar gesture, no hot opened in 1878. The central row of side where you could see Manga- words exchanged. paintings on the ceiling depicts the lore’s citizens bustling past. It was life of Aloysius Gonzaga to whom the kind of place where a woman Cultural connect the college (which sprung up 138 walking in made people choke on Growing up in KGF, about 70 km years ago around the church) and their whiskies. from Bangalore, but living away chapel are dedicated. Aloysius was However, I tentatively asked the from Karnataka for the past several the eldest son and heir of the Mar- waiter whether I could get a cup of decades, I had forgotten how big quis of Castiglione in Italy. There is tea, half expecting him to turf me Dassera was in this part of India. a guide here who takes you around and my husband out. Instead, he Even for shops, this was the time pointing out frescoes and paintings went in, fished out a flask and went of year to attract customers with a under restoration by the INTACH to the restaurant next door, bought good bargain. currently. The painstaking work some tea and served it to me. No Silk saris came out, temples were began in November 2017, which need to mention, most Saturdays decorated, there was a building will be completed this April. Ear- we were regulars there, we loved sit- celebrating Ayudha Puja and there lier, the restoration took place over ting in their chairs outside and felt were decorated arches giving the three years in 1991. Then, there is we were in Europe in the summer. city a festive look, flower sellers the Milagres Church, built in 1680, What also came as a revelation was galore, and huli vesha (tiger dance). and thus the oldest in Dakshina the chain of liquor stores which were The air was rent with the beating Kannada district of which Manga- like veritable supermarkets where of drums wherever you went and lore is the capital. you walk around, peer at labels and young men in tiger masks and their prices and chose what you want. bodies painted in stripes would go A local experience Another observation that stuck from house to house, shop to shop Since we were there to experience was how nice and polite people while little kids hid behind their the city like the locals do, we did were. While Goa, because of its fathers and watched warily as these just that sampling its Cochin Bak- tourists renting two-wheelers and ‘tiger-men’ enacted a dance. In fact, ery, plum bang on the busy high- zipping around has become a far part of the finale was not just the way at Nanthoor, where, if you cry from the civility you took for procession along the main streets wanted a cake, you had a variety, granted on Goa’s narrow roads but also the huli vesha competitions if its biscuits you were looking for 20 years ago, Mangalore was still going on in several cultural centres there was so much to choose from, small town enough to wear its old- small and big. or if Indian sweets and savouries fashioned politeness on the sleeve While Udupi, an hour away along was your thing, you would be spoilt whether on the road, in shops or the highway, is overrun with tour- for choice. There were places where any interface you have. I remember ists, mostly pilgrims to see the you could pick up a packet of neer my husband trying to park opposite Krishna Temple, Mangalore, with dosa or appams, puris or chapathis

January-March 2019 VIDURA 65 to go, or just stop in a small eatery fresh plate. The “sorry” from the All too soon, time passed by and steaming Mangalore bondas. restaurant, when I wrote to them a truth to tell, I did miss the comforts

But this story will not be com- week later, seemed inadequate. of my home. Nothing like home plete, if I do not mention a bizarre After having gone to yoga classes sweet home. < experience I had at Aroma, a res- in a park near my house in Chen- taurant in a hotel called Deepa nai, I was determined to find a place (The writer has worked for the Free Comforts. I had been served neer nearby to stretch the old muscles. Press Journal, The Times of India, dosa and vegetable stew and was And find it I did, in a park nearby Deccan Chronicle, DNA and about to dig in when I heard a where the teacher seemed to be Outlook in a career spanning 35 crack from my plate and, before I made of rubber and her headstands years. She freelances now and edits knew it, the plate had cleanly bro- showed how rusty I had become. Not online for Deccan Chronicle. She ken in two (see picture). While I that I could do anything as athletic and husband Lionel Messias have just was appalled, the waiter seemed after the few weeks of going to the about revived www.goanspirit.com.) very nonchalant just taking the class, at what seemed like the crack plate, giving me tissues to dab the of dawn, but at least I felt that I had table cloth and replacing it with a invested in something healthy.

Have more fruits and veggies, less red meat

If we want to live healthy and also keep the planet healthy, the only way is to align our diets with what is good for us as well as the planet, a new study published in medical journal The Lancet on Thursday has concluded. The global study has recommended a planet reference diet which is good for human health as well as sustainable development. A collective effort to transform diets and food production globally can ensure there is enough food for 10 billion people the planet will have by 2050 and also beyond. The study has been done by The Lancet Commission – a collection of 37 experts from 16 countries. The healthy reference diet recommended largely consists of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and unsaturated oils. It also includes a low to moderate amount of seafood and poultry, no or low quantity of red meat, processed meat, added sugar, refined grains and starchy vegetables. The dietary shift would mean dramatic reduction on consumption of unhealthy foods like red meat by, at least, 50 per cent, with a recommended daily combined intake of 14 grams. On the other hand, there should be 100 per cent increase in consumption of legumes, nuts, fruits and vegetables. Multi-sectoral policies have been suggested for this shift. “Humanity’s dominant diets are not good for us and they are not good for the planet,” the journal said in its editorial. The transformation in global food systems requires changes at multiple levels in the form of incentives, regulations and integration of policies in different sectors. “Rising global demand for food over the next thirty years has to be met by the agricultural and food systems in environment friendly ways that assure good nutrition to all,” observed Dr K Srinath Reddy, president, Public Health Foundation of India, one of the co-authors of the study. Predominantly plant-based foods should be promoted globally, with reduced consumption of red meat in countries where it is unduly high. “A flexitarian diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, a diversity of grains and a moderate amount of fish is appropriate with fowl and small amounts of red meat as an occasional component. For India, the focus should be on improving the production, preservation, processing, supply and consumption of fruit and vegetables while increasing the availability of plant protein sources like pulses. Reducing sugar consumption should be a universal goal,” he added. Sunita Narain, director general, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) who is also co-author of the study, told India Science Wire, “the most important takeaway is that we must recognise that our traditional diet, both in terms of plant-based proteins and moderation in meat consumption, is turning out to the best diet in the world. As I

have repeatedly said, it is not only about meat, but how much is eaten and how it is grown. That is what the Lancet Commission has recognised.” < (Dinesh C. Sharma, India Science Wire, New Delhi)

66 VIDURA January-March 2019 Book Review

‘There is only one caste – the caste of humanity’

Nobel Prize winners for peace, and a galaxy of global leaders from scientists to social pioneers who have made an impact at the international level, and knitt ing them all together to urge a new approach to defi ning ‘progress’. Rao begins with social evolution from prehistoric times, noting how man developed over the centuries, through innovative endeavours, and takes note in the process, of Darwin, Malthus and a host of others. The book then goes on to note that despite all the tomes writt en over the years, there have been few stud- ies that seek to connect ethical-moral dimensions of human evolution, to economic progress and physical well-being. Few evolutionary theses try to address values such as truth and non-violence that are also essential dimensions of well-being and ‘progress’ in a holis- tic sense. Progress should be not just for the body, it should also encompass the mind, soul and spirit (if that sounds like an anachronism in an age of mind- boggling science, remember that pioneering scientist Robert Oppenheimer watching the fi rst atomic bomb blast, cited lines from the Bhagawad Geeta, no less). If true progress means increase in happiness, one cannot ignore non-physical ingredients of happiness HUMAN EVOLUTION, ECONOMIC PROGRESS AND such as peace, security and contentment. And these are EVOLUTIONARY FAILURE exactly the values that today’s market-driven econo- Author: Bhanoji Rao, mies completely ignore – inequalities are rising all over Publisher: Routeledge Studies (Modern World the world, including in the developed and developing Economy series) regions, and inequalities spawn discontent and frus- Pages: 131 tration, which in turn lead to terrorism, and violence. Price: $ 140 So where do all our sophisticated theories of develop- ment and progress and GDP measures leave us? This is an unusual book, using inter-disciplinary Worship of wealth, driven by greed and scant studies that go beyond the usual economics-sociol- ogy-politics-anthropology-gender linkages. And it regard for environmental degradation, is what glo- makes some very pertinent points that merit further balised, market-driven developmental policies have study through the creation, as the author suggests, led to, through the exaltation of ‘me-fi rst’ aggression of a group of intellectuals for Global Peace and Unity and aggrandisement. We would not see the kind of (IGPU), no less, under the auspices of the UN. growing inequalities that we see today, if ethics had For an academic who has been trained in econom- been part of the developmental matrix. Governments ics and served the World Bank and the Asian Devel- and civil society organisations have all been a party to opment Bank as well as the National University of this obsessive aggrandisement of money wealth, dis- Singapore as adjunct professor, Bhanoji Rao brings regarding the degeneration of human values. to this study his interest in Gandhian philosophy and Today, as the author points out, diseases like Zika non-violence, referring to a range of opinions from and SARS travel freely across the world, as do fi nan- the Dalai Lama to Fred Hoyle, Huxley, Amartya Sen, cial meltdowns and their repercussions, past national

January-March 2019 VIDURA 67 Book Review

borders; so does terrorism; however, humans cannot of profi ts. So why is no one focusing on evolutionary travel freely -- immigrants are seen as unwelcome in failure in terms of human values? many countries, despite the fact that all white Ameri- A very pertinent question. Unlike most high-ranking cans were immigrants from Europe who usurped the experts, the author does not shy away from connecting native Americans’ natural entitlements and margina- religious inclinations with his expertise in academics. lised them to become their ‘masters’. The book is profusely indexed, with footnotes, cita- Africans, likewise, were seen as a source of free tions and links to websites, from a wide range of disci- labour and slaves, by colonial whites invading the plines. To quote from the Epilogue: “The hope is that ‘dark’continent (as they called it). Most developed humanity will evolve well beyond just the physical. countries are becoming increasingly hostile to migrants It does not matt er one iota if people diff er in height, from African war-torn areas (where wars are fought weight and complexion… the emergence of a peace-

and supported by the developed countries – one child ful, united world (is what is needed). There is only one in Yemen dies every ten minutes due to no fault of caste -- the caste of humanity.” < its, thanks to bombings by Saudi-US att acks – that’s 144 per day, or over 4300 per month, their only crime (Reviewed by Sakuntala Narasimhan.) being that they lived in Yemen). Millions of children around the world die or are malnourished, while the upper 1 pwr cent enriches itself in billions, in the name

A vivid portrayal of the fi rst struggle for freedom

1801 is a blend of fi ction and history. It portrays real- life characters like Katt abomman,the Maruthu broth- ers, Velu Naicker, Khan Sahib, and several English military personnel who were involved in the Poligar Rebellion, a bitt er fi ght which left both sides reeling from heavy loss of men and material.The novel main- tains authenticity and accuracy of events and person- nel involved. The story centres on Oomaithurai, the dumb brother of Katt abomman, through an interesting and imaginative narrative. In May 1801, the rebellion spread from Tirunelveli to other regions. It marked the fi rst organised mass movement against the British half a century before what is now commonly called as the First War of Independence of 1857. The rebellion assumed the proportions of a popular outbreak, though defeat was inevitable because of the superior military strength of the Company. It spread over an extensive region 1801 in the South and was characterised by ferociousness Pages: 544 and killing. Price: Rs 500 Rajendran has done considerable research on the Publisher: Akani - Vandavasi subject of struggles for freedom from the English by chieftains and local leaders during late 18th and early M. Rajendran, a civil servant from Tamil Nadu, won 19th Centuries. He relies on information from various last year’s Global Biennial Award for his historical primary sources in the Tamil Nadu State Archives and novel, 1801. Instituted by Tan Sri Somasundaram, a prominent Malaysian Indian (b 1930) who was a books like Mahradu, an Indian Story of the Beginning of recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman in 2007, the the Nineteenth Century: With Some Observations (1813) award carries a citation and a purse of 10000 USD. by J. Gourlay, Military Reminiscences by Colonel James

68 VIDURA January-March 2019 Book Review

Welsh, and the celebrated book History of Tamil Nadu agreement between the king and the Company, is also 1565-1982 by K. Rajayyan. eff ectively interpolated by the author. The novel faithfully traces the events from October Since verifi able information is available in the 16, 1799, when Katt abomman Naick was hanged at archives and other records, Rajendran maintains a Kayatar, after which the surviving Poligars formu- tightrope walk to ensure that fi ction does not interfere lated a new strategy of rebellion. The English, with with facts. Colonel James Welsh has recorded with their superior military strength and facility for decep- admiration the valour of the Maruthu brothers and tion, won the batt le on October 24, 1801, though with held in esteem Oomaithurai, Katt abomman’s brother. heavy losses. The capture of the Maruthu brothers was Rajendran uses this resource material eff ectively and not easy and it is graphically described in the novel. the fi ctional characters are included only to make the The British then publicly hanged the brothers at Tir- narrative readable. upputhur Fort.All the rebels, their commanders and Rajendran was inspired by Prof K. Rajayyan in servants, and their families, even the children, were wanting to establish that the South Indian rebellion summarily executed without trial. took place long before 1857 and thus can be called the In February 1802, for the fi rst time, the English took fi rst struggle to free Indians from the clutches of for- the punitive step of exiling convicts to the Prince of eigners. He has achieved this goal admirably. This is Wales Island. On 11th February 1802, prisoners were a novel with a purpose – that of clearing away false

put on board the ship Admiral Nelson, handcuff ed in information and establishing the facts of history to pairs and sent off from Thoothukudi. show the importance of the rebellion. < The narrative regarding the execution of Muthuva- duganatha Thevar, the king of Sivaganga, and his wife (Reviewed by veteran writer and storyteller Gowri Nachiyar, in spite of the fact that there was an K.R.A. Narasiah.)

Two digital editors join World Editors Forum Board

Ingeborg Volan, audience director of Dagens Næringsliv, Norway, and Dmitry Shishkin, outgoing digital development editor of BBC World Service, UK, were accepted on to the board of the World Editors Forum at a meeting in Oslo. Through the board, Shishkin's considerable experience in newsroom transformation will remain accessible when he becomes chief content offi cer of @CultureTrip in January. Culture Trip is a global hyper- growth startup operating in travel, media and entertainment. Volan, a respected digital pioneer, replaces Helje Solberg who has recently been appointed news director of the Norwegian state broadcaster NRK, one of the top

editorial positions in the country. The World Editors Forum is the community for editors and newsroom executives within WAN-IFRA. It is focused on building trust in quality journalism, supporting newsroom transformation and< increased diversity, and promoting and defending press freedom.

Vinay Maheshwari is exec director & CEO, Sakshi Media

Sakshi Media Group appoints Vinay Maheshwari as executive director and CEO. He was previously working as senior vice-president at DB Corp. Sakshi Media Group has its presence in print, TV and digital media across the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Sakshi from inception has created new records in the print industry in India in many areas ranging from being the fi rst newspaper in

the country to launch 23 editions simultaneously to its recent distinction when Sakshi’s 22 printing presses were admitted to the prestigious WAN-IFRA Color Quality Club. <

January-March 2019 VIDURA 69 TRIBUTE TO MRINAL SEN (1923-2018) He churned out masterpieces, taking India to the world stage As the curtains came down on 2018, Mrinal Sen passed away. He was one of three Indian film masters who took Indian cinema to the international platform and gave it an identity –Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak being the other two. Sarita Bose has a summary of his work

n his lifetime, Mrinal Sen made the middle class, exploitation, pov- Festival apart from winning many 27 feature films, 14 short films erty and post-colonial hangovers. National Awards, is one of his best Iand five documentaries. Born The Calcutta Trilogy exposes the known works. The film revolves on May 14, 1923 in Faridpur, now audiences to the different layers of around filmmakers who go to a vil- Bangladesh, he came to Calcutta to society. Being Marxist, Sen experi- lage to reenact the famine of 1943 study Physics. Here, he became a mented for a while with form as well and find themselves in the midst part of the cultural wing of Com- as content, in the manner of French- of turmoil. Another Hindi film munist Party, IPTA (Indian Peoples man Jean-Luc Godard, in an effort to of note is Kandahar (The Ruins, Theatre Association) and came in create a revolutionary cinema. 1983) which won Shabana Azmi a touch with culturally like-minded Mrinal Sen’s first film was Raat National Award for Best Actress. people. The influence of the politi- Bhor (The Dawn, 1955) followed by Film after film, Mrinal Sen cal influence would later be seen in Neel Akasher Neechey (Under the churned out masterpieces, taking films like Interview (1970), Calcutta Blue Sky, 1958) which was banned Indian cinema to international plat- 71 (1972) and Padatik (1973). The by the Government of India for two forms, winning awards and gaining three films together are commonly months. In 1960, he made Baishey global recognition. The themes and known as Calcutta Trilogy. Sravana (Wedding Day). Sen’s rec- the stories that he chose were a com- Though different in storyline and ognition and success as an Indian ment on the post-colonial society of plot, the films revolve around politi- master, however, came with Bhuvan India. He repeatedly depicted the cal and social themes. Sen, being Shome (1969), the first low-budget hypocrisy and the colonial hang- influences by Marxist ideologies, feature film financed by the Indian overs of the upper elitist society and comments on the daily struggles of Government. the daily mundane lives of the lower The film is both funny and lyri- and middle-class. His short films are cal. Its main character in the film is a also of note along with his documen- senior executive of Indian railways taries such as Calcutta My Eldorado who goes on a holiday and meets the made in 1990. His works provide cheeky young wife of a lowly railway reference material if one wishes to clerk. Apart from Bengali, Sen made study the Indian society, especially films in Hindi, Odiya and Telugu. from Marxist political view. His Hindi film, Mrigaya (The Royal Mrinal Sen in his lifetime has Hunt, 1976), with debutants Mithun won many National and Interna- Chakraborty and Mamata Shankar, tional awards and was conferred went on to become a huge hit, bag- Padma Bhusan. He has won the

ging that year’s National Award for National Award for Best Director, Best Film and winning for Mithun Best Screenplay and Best Feature < Chakraborty the National Award Film many times. for Best Actor. Class struggle came repeatedly in (The writer is a lecturer in the his films. The film Akaler Sandhane Department of Mass Communication

Photo: SC (In Search of Famine, 1980), which & Videography, Rabindra Bharati Mrinal Sen in a pensive mood. won the Silver Bear at Berlin Film University, Kolkata.)

70 VIDURA January-March 2019 TRIBUTE TO MRINAL SEN He brought alive the daily struggles of the middle-class A glimpse of Mrinal Sen's filmography reveals a deep obsession with the basic survival needs of people, some of who adhere to their native simplicity and innocence, living through the tragedy of politics and poverty in an environment riddled with every kind of inequality between and among human beings. Sen later gravitated inwards, into the minds of people and into his own mind. Shoma A. Chatterji, who had met him many times, paints a picture of the great film director

ate film critic and scholar mated. I had to make do with what- Chidananda Dasgupta made ever was available. But I cannot say La documentary on Mrinal Sen I am unhappy about the project,” some years ago. One strong element Dasgupta had said. of the film was capturing the ambi- Just when Cinebuffs had begun ence of Calcutta, the city with an to wonder whether Mrinal Sen had evolving history of its own. “When- really called it a day, he surprised ever one tries to recall the ‘voice’ of them by making Amaar Bhubon. middle-class Calcutta as captured It was internationally premiered on film, the first name that comes to at the Locarno International Film mind is that of Mrinal Sen. His films Festival. It is based on a 1993 Ben- offer a microcosm of middle-class gali novel, Dhanjyotsna, penned by Bengali life in Calcutta, their prob- Afsar Amed in 1992. A couple of lems, their hypocrisy, their pain and clandestine screenings in Calcutta

sorrow, their class struggle. So I, my spread the word – Amaar Bhubon is Photo: SC chief assistant Aniruddha Dhar, a beautiful film. It also had a char- Yet another shot of a pensive Sen. and my cinematographer Shirsa ity premiere at Nandan drawing Ray, wandered around the streets full house, the proceeds having Elaborating on the trigger behind of Calcutta, took interior shots of been ear-marked for the victims of Amaar Bhubon, Sen had said, the Town Hall, and some shots from the Gujarat genocide. But the press “Imagine the inner implications of inside a tramcar, traversing through felt Sen had lost his magic touch. the word, loksaan. The poor Paki- streets frequented in the past by About the trigger that led to the stani vegetable vendor may have Mrinal himself who led many an film, Sen had said, “I remember, used it with reference to the loss it adda (discussion) with his friends of while on one of my visits to Delhi, would mean to his business if and yore,” Dasgupta had explained. I was watching Rajdeep Sardesai of when there is a war. But the word The film carries archival clips Star News taking an opinion poll in still haunts me as I wake up to its from some of Sen’s films. “But this Pakistan, on the news channel. The ramifications. War brings about has been one of my main stumbling Kargil War was on at that time. One waste in humanity, in values, in the blocks because many of Mrinal’s of them was a vegetable vendor who mutual trust human beings place in films have just vanished without responded to the war in one word – one another, in relationships. What a trace. Such as Punascha, a tell- loksaan (waste.) How right he was! else does war have to offer but ing comment on the man-woman It made such an impact on me that I waste?” Yet, none of these realities relationship, a film much ahead of decided to work on something that come across in the film in the way its time. And Pratinidhi, another would talk about love and compas- Sen explains the ‘trigger’ that drove strong social comment on how a sion in times of war, conflict and him to make it. It does not trouble woman who goes through a second more.” In course of time, Amed’s him one bit to take up direction marriage but her little boy does not novel served as a take-off point for after a hiatus of eight years since permit the marriage to be consum- the director. Antareen, his last film.

January-March 2019 VIDURA 71 A glimpse of Mrinal Sen's filmog- archival clippings, posters, press Lotuses over the years while he raphy reveals a deep obsession with coverages and photographs are in himself bagged four Silver Lotuses the basic survival needs of people, France which bestowed on him the as Best Director. He represented some of who adhere to their native honour Commander de L'orde des India at the UNESCO Commission simplicity and innocence (Bhuvan Arts et des Letters and also held to celebrate the centenary of cinema Shome, Mrigaya), living through a retrospective of his films, a rare and is the current president of the the tragedy of politics and poverty honour for an Indian filmmaker. International Federation of Film in an environment rid with every Erstwhile USSR gave him the Soviet Societies. He was nominated to the kind of inequality between and Land Nehru Award and he has won Rajya Sabha, too. among human beings, (Calcutta numerous awards at international Sen stopped stepping outside '71, Ek Din Pratidin, Parasuram, film festivals – Cannes, Berlin, Mos- his home after the passing away Padatik). Finally, having wearied of cow, Karlovy Vary, Chicago, Mon- of his wife Gita Sen two years ago. socio-political causes, he gravitated treal and Carthage. He continued to entertain visitors inwards, into the minds of people The Indian Government awarded but seemed extremely tired and and by his own admission, into his him the Padma Bhushan in 1980 found it difficult even to carry on own mind such as in films like Ek while the West Bengal Government a conversation. Mrinal-da, we will Din Achanak and Kharij. gave him the Satyajit Ray Memo- always remember that naughty

Sen picked awards left, right and rial Award in 1994. . He received smile from behind your black- centre. They did not matter to him the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for framed spectacles. < after a point of time. Most of his 2003. His films won several Golden

TRIBUTE TO NIRENDRANATH CHAKRABORTY (1924-2018) Devoted to poetry, his work stirred readers Admirers across three generations of poetry buffs in West Bengal dubbed him Kolkata-r Jishu, meaning ‘the Jesus Christ of Kolkata’, the title of one of his popular poems. It is indeed an irony that the poet departed from the world on Christmas Day. Shoma A. Chatterji pays tribute to a multifaceted litterateur who was also the first Indian to translate Tintin comics

orn in 1924 in Faridpur modern Bengali literary field. He Chakraborty the Sahitya Akademi in undivided Bengal, published his first book of poems, Award. BNirendranath Chakraborty Nil Nirjone, in 1954, when he was The hard-hitting work is perhaps was a dominant figure in the 30. He continued his tryst with more relevant in the present times poetry till recently, when his heath than it was when Chakraborty really began to fail. He passed away first created it, a time when free- recently, at 94. thinking, secular and progressive- This writer, honestly not much of minded individuals were throttled a ‘poetry person’, came across some and labelled ‘urban Naxals’ just of his poems that have left a mark on because they exercised their fun- contemporary Bengali literature and damental right to resist, and the language. One is Ulanga Raja (The right to freedom of expression Naked Emperor), which is a barbed granted to us by the Constitution. take on familiar story, The Emperor’s The poem reminds us that the little New Clothes, giving it a new mean- boy who shouted from the midst Photo: SC ing in today’s socio-political and of the silent crowd, “King, you are Nirendranath Chakraborty. cultural reality. The poem fetched naked; where are your clothes?” is

72 VIDURA January-March 2019 perhaps lost now, when we need Tintin series into Bengali; in fact, the tiful Amalkanti, on a childhood class- him the most. first-ever translation of the series. mate. The poet tells us that while the Chakraborty was a simple man. He changed the name of Snowy to rest of the class dreamt of becoming He insisted that, contrary to what Kuttush and the name stuck. He teachers, doctors or engineers, this his readers felt, he was a man of lim- also penned close to 50 children’s habitual latecomer, slow in studies, ited imagination and almost always books and a dozen novels. a child who could not answer the sourced his poems from what he Chakraborty was editor of the teacher’s questions, wanted to be a saw and experienced around him – a children’s magazine, Anandamela, sunbeam. Amalkanti landed instead popular story or image or incident. for years and he set the tone for the in the dark interiors of a printing However, his poetry was filled with magazine which became extremely press, working in a windowless satire which everyone could easily popular during his tenure. He was basement. Chakraborty’s Kolkatar understand, and that is one reason also associated with the Bengali Jishu (Christ of Kolkata) and Pahari for his popularity among the read- literary magazine, Desh. He was Bichhe (Mountain Scorpion) are con- ing masses. president of the Paschimbanga sidered cult poems. KolkatarJishu (a Nirendranath Chakraborty Bangla Akademi, the official regu- poem about a naked child crossing

emerged as one of the leading latory body of Bengali language in a busy intersection, bringing the city poetic voices in the 1950s, along West Bengal. He was presented the to a halt) questioned development at< with Sunil Gangopadhyay, Sankha Ananda Purashkar and the Bongo the cost of humanness. Ghosh, Sakti Chattopadhyay, Man- Bibhushan Award. indra Ray, Samar Sen and many However, it was poetry that sus- others. Few are aware that he was tained Chakraborty till he passed the first Indian to translate Herge’s away. One of his poems is the beau-

TRIBUTE TO ALYQUE PADAMSEE (1920-2018) An institution in the world of advertising and theatre Alyque Padamsee, who passed away in Mumbai in November 2018, was, in spite of the aura of fame and glamour that he carried, a model of humility, modesty and groundedness. The Father of Indian Advertising and one of the greatest personalities of the Indian stage, he won millions of hearts not just by his achievements, but more importantly, by his charm and warmth. The Advertising Club of Mumbai conferred on him the title, Advertising Man of the Century. He was also the guru of English Theatre in India. Shoma A. Chatterji pays a tribute

adamsee was born into a hakar with whom he has a daugh- traditional Gujarati-Kutchi ter, Shazahn Padamsee. PMuslim family, but described When asked what made him himself as an agnostic since the age marry three times, he once said in of 18. He had three serious relation- an interview, “Creative artists are ships with women. His first mar- by nature restless. So they become riage was to Pearl Padamsee, with restless after a point of time in the whom he has a daughter, Raell same relationship. That part must Padamsee, and a son, Rahul Pad- be true of me too as it is for most amsee; then he had a live-in rela- creative artists across the world. But tionship with theatre personality I also have the guts to live life on my Dolly Thakore, with whom he had own terms, be it marriage, advertis- Photo: Internet a son, Quasar. His third marriage ing or theatre. I have taken all my Alyque Padamsee. was to actress-singer Sharon Prab- three wives and their children to

January-March 2019 VIDURA 73 dine at restaurants. It is not as much Padamsee was too young to under- Death of a Salesman in 1981 and, about fame as it is about being rest- stand what was happening and the again today, in 2014. The audience less and having guts. Marriage is a interest grew on him slowly though belongs to two different generations choice, children are a responsibility. steadily. He studied theatre at the almost. But they respond positively My children are my responsibility Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. which means that the plays are not and I will never ever divorce from In the 1960s, he directed movie stars outdated and they strike a chord my children.” for Lux ads and movie-stars-to-be somewhere across all audiences Internationally, Padamsee is for other ads. across time, place and culture.” well-known for his portrayal of Padamsee’s mother had a deep Among the great personalities Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Sir Rich- influence on him. He once said, who were at one time or the other, ard Attenborough's Gandhi. He is “She was an incredible lady. Mama groomed in his ‘school’ of strict also the only Indian to be voted would work 16 hours at a stretch. discipline, tremendous hard work into the International Clio Hall of My father, in turn, was laid-back. and total concentration is Shyam Fame, the Oscars of World Adver- In my plays, many of the charac- Benegal who painted a wonderful tising. ters strongly reflect the kind of per- mural on the water tank on Pad- Padamsee created Lalitaji for Surf, son Mama was. From Meera Bai to amsee’s terrace. Later, Benegal did Cherry Charlie for Cherry Blossom Begum Sumroo to Evita, my version the make-up for the entire cast of Shoe Polish, the MRF Muscle Man, of Juliet -- they are all strong women. Padamsee’s play, Hamlet. Benegal’s the Liril girl, the Kamasutra couple, I have always been fascinated by the wife Nira did the costumes. Today, Hamara Bajaj, the TV detective strength of women.” Benegal is considered one of the Karamchand, the Fair & Handsome He directed and acted in his own most outstanding filmmakers in the brand, etc. For the golden jubilee plays but quit acting 40 years ago, country. of the Indian Institute Technology only to make a comeback with the Evita – The Musical created a Bombay, his idea of an initiative intriguing role of Willy Lowman in galaxy of stars – Sharon, Shiamak to create 10 Great Ideas That Will Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. Davar and others. Another big Change The World In The Next 50 He had done the same role in the name is Kabir Bedi who Padamsee Years caused great excitement. He same play earlier.It was his daugh- picked for Tughlaq. He has trained also worked on an AIDS preven- ter, Raell, who runs her own theatre artistes across generations. Among tion idea with the Department of group, who made him return to the them are Rachel Reuben, Suneeta Biotechnology. stage as an actor. “I did not realise Rao and Alisha Chinai, who are pop In his best-selling autobiography, what I had missed all these years I stars now; Javed Jaffrey, a wonder- A Double Life – My Double Life in was off-stage. I have always loved ful actor, dancer and reality show Theatre and Advertising, published in theatre much more than cinema. anchor today; and Karla Singh, 2000, Padamsee takes the reader on Now that Death of a Salesman has who went on to become top chore- an exciting and sometimes hilari- become a big commercial hit, Raell’s ographer. Zeenat Aman and Persis ous trip as he unfolds scenes from coercion has worked both critically Khambatta are also part of the list. a career that has encompassed the and commercially. The commercial He shot with the teenaged Zeenat launch of some of India's most suc- success of a play is critical for spon- Aman for Signal toothpaste. After cessful brands. It is a wonderful sorship without which theatre can- a difficult shot, Zeenat, who had book that talks about the advertising not survive,” he said. come from her Panchgani school to scene in India. Not only does he talk Asked to list his favourite plays Bombay, told him, “My God, you about Lintas and JWT between the down the years, Padamsee said, are a slave-driver.” 1970s and 1990s, he gives an indus- “Evita – The Musical, Jesus Christ Everyone who has met him even try overview. He also talks about the Superstar and Broken Images which once, or is familiar with the won- theatre scene in Mumbai, offering had over 100 houseful shows in 16 derful ads he created, or watched rare insights which intrigued me into cities in the USA. I am in love with any of his plays, will agree that Aly- doing more research on the subject. every play I direct at that given point que Padamsee was an institution –

It was eldest brother Sultan who of time. This does not mean I grow in the advertising world and in the died early, who set the theatre trend away from it but, rather, I grow with world of theatre. < among the Padamsees and theatre it and extend myself to reach out and performances were staged on the do more. We did Streetcar Named terrace of their home. But Alyque Desire twice and the same goes for

74 VIDURA January-March 2019 TRIBUTE TO IRAVATHAM MAHADEVAN (1930-2018) An able administrator and a much-respected scholar He knew more about Indian epigraphy and the linguistic aspects of Dravidian and Indo-Aryan than some specialists, says Romila Thapar

heard the news on Monday softest idlis and so she did and we morning of the passing of Ira- would go to their home for an occa- Ivatham Mahadevan and was sional Sunday brunch. deeply saddened. Mahadevan, Mahadevan’s main interests or Jani as his friends called him, were two. One was the study of the was a special person of extraordi- adaptation of the Brahmi script to nary talent and a much-respected Tamil, what came to be called Tamil scholar despite his having worked Brahmi, which was available in in administration for most of his large numbers of short inscriptions professional life. scattered in south India. The second

I met him first in 1968. I had was the decipherment of the picto- The Hindu received a small book from Asko grams from the Indus Civilisation, Parpola of the University of Helsinki: based on the seals in the main, and Photo: it was his initial attempt at decipher- found in large numbers at Indus The extraordinary scholar. ing the Indus script. The news that I sites — what is often called the had a copy spread quickly and I was Indus script. its prestigious series, the Harvard inundated with callers asking to bor- The first was relatively easier once Oriental Series, in 2003. row the book. One of the calls was the language of the inscriptions was The work on deciphering the from Mahadevan: he introduced recognised as Tamil. It required Indus script was a far more compli- himself as the director of Modern a few small adjustments which cated study on which he spent half Bakeries in Delhi but added that Mahadevan recognised and that he a century. His was not a hit-or-miss he spent his spare time working on worked out and that enabled him reading of what the symbols might epigraphy and on the Indus script. to read them. They had names of represent. He applied the rules of lin- He added very quickly that he was people and recorded small gifts. But guistics and determined by positional not a man of idle fantasies but a seri- they were, significantly, the earliest analysis what might have been gram- ous student of the subject. He said written records in Tamil, dating to a matical forms. As in all his work, his he only wanted to come to my house couple of centuries before the Chris- essentially rational approach was and sit in a corner and read the book, tian Era and continuing for a few impressive. He realised that there so I took a chance and invited him. centuries. Both the names and the was a need for an up-to-date con- I was startled to discover that he locations of the inscriptions, which cordance of all the symbols, so he was more knowledgeable about were often found on rock surfaces, spent some years preparing this. It Indian epigraphy and the linguis- were important. was published by the Archaeological tic aspects of Dravidian and Indo- Mahadevan became quite an Survey of India in 1977 as The Indus Aryan than some of the specialists. explorer of the South Indian land- Script: Texts, Concordance and Tables. So we got talking on and off on scape in searching for the inscrip- From this, Mahadevan moved what he was doing and there were tions. He published the corpus with to examining individual symbols even long telephone calls discuss- readings and annotations in 1966 and testing readings in possible ing his theories. This also resulted but the major volume was pub- languages. He was initially more in a friendship between him and his lished as Early Tamil Epigraphy from inclined to read them as designa- wife and my mother and myself. He the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century tions. Gradually, he arrived at an maintained that Gowri made the AD by Harvard University Press in interesting linguistic relationship

January-March 2019 VIDURA 75 where he argued that the Harappans were Dravidian speakers with their own distinctive culture and religion. Man of letters and principles The presence of the later Indo-Aryan Iravatham Mahadevan, 88, one of the world’s leading scholars on the speakers led to some degree of cul- Indus Valley Script, the pre-eminent scholar on the Tamil Brahmi script, tural and religious inter-connections passed away in Chennai recently. He is survived by his son, Sridhar that are apparent in the sources of Mahadevan, and two grandchildren. A former member of the Indian the post-Harappan period. Administrative Service (IAS), the Padma Shri-awardee joined the service In some ways, Mahadevan con- in 1954 and took voluntary retirement in 1980 after holding various tinued the earlier tradition of some positions in the Central and Tamil Nadu governments. He was awarded of the administrator-scholars of the the Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship in 1970 for his research on the Indus 19th and 20th Centuries. What was script and the National Fellowship of the Indian Council of Historical truly amazing was that he was pro- Research in 1992 for his work on the Tamil Brahmi inscriptions. fessionally so good as an admin- In August 1987, he became the editor of the Tamil daily, Dinamani, istrator and, yet, at the same time, where he succeeded A.N. Sivaraman, who held the post for over 45 was acknowledged as a scholar of

years. In the last three decades of his life, he devoted himself to the study of a dimension that many of the best< India’s early writing systems. He kept in active touch with leading scholars scholars would envy. of early India, including the historian Romila Thapar. A man of letters,

principles, and philanthropy, he founded the Vidyasagar Educational (Courtesy: The Hindu. The writer < Trust, in memory of his late son, to support under-privileged students. is a distinguished historian of early India.) (Courtesy: M.V. Bhaskar / The Hindu)

TRIBUTE TO KADER KHAN (1937-2018) An actor who went through the grind to reach the top One of the saddest facts of life is that we really get to know more about a person after he goes yonder. One such actor is Kader Khan who passed away at the age of 81 in Canada of problems related to his knee operation gone wrong and age-related issues. He could no longer walk and moved about in a wheelchair. Also, he could no longer speak – someone who had penned the dialogue of innumerable films.Shoma A. Chatterji on little known facets of the man who wore several hats quite effortlessly

ader Khan perhaps was one So, few in the media had any of the most popular comedi- inkling about Khan’s rich academic Kans in Hindi cinema and, also, background and his success as an often doubled up as villain in many academician in a discipline as differ- films. But his greatest gift lay in writ- ent from films as chalk from cheese. ing dialogues for films, for which he He was a professor of civil engineer- was in great demand. His off-screen ing in which he held a postgraduate persona was known only to those degree. He taught at MH Saboo Sid- who knew him closely, a pointer to dik Polytechnic in Mumbai, where the fact that unlike many actors of he also taught drama. the tinsel world, Kader Khan did not Khan was responsible for taking Photo: Internet believe in blowing his trumpet. efforts to build an engineering insti- Kader Khan.

76 VIDURA January-March 2019 tute called Abdul Razzaq Kalsekar a complete, comprehensive and even educate Khan. His three older Polytechnic in Navi Mumbai multi-layered persona. He was a brothers died when they were boys (2002-03). Abdul Razzak Waghoo, professor, playwright and theatre and that is when his mother decided the vice-president of the OSA [Old actor-director, screenwriter, come- that he must be educated to get out Students Association] at MH Saboo dian and villain. As an actor, he of the poverty trap. Siddik Polytechnic, who was close appeared in more than 300 films. Khan never ceased praying to his to Khan, unfolded such little known He wrote the dialogue for more mother who changed his life when facts about Khan. than 250 Hindi films till the turn of she said that to take the family out Khan was inclined towards the- the century when ill health began to of the desperate poverty they lived atre and directed plays at St Xavier’s bog him down. in, he would have to study and College. “He wrote a lot of one-act Khan’s kind of comedy had funny improve his position in life. That plays and I performed in a few of dialogues delivered in a deadpan completely changed Khan’s life. them. So, I knew him as a playwright voice, complete with a poker face. When his parents separated and and theatre director, not as an actor. Complemented by other comedi- his mother married again, Khan If invited, he would come and direct ans – Shakti Kapoor, Johhny Lever, was at the mercy of his step-father. plays at Xavier's and charge a nomi- Saitish Shah – and even Govinda, Once, when he won several prizes nal fee,” said actor Satish Shah who his style gained great popularity for a play and brought the trophies studied in the college and learnt and there was a time when a film home, the step-father angrily he drama from Khan. without Khan could not be imag- threw Khan out of the house. He Khan’s plays like Badi Der Ki ined. He has acted with most of the was around 24 then and the institu- Meherbaan, Aate Aate, Roti and Bus leading actors over the decades. tion where he studied, offered him Stop would unfailingly draw a full Few may know that Khan spent shelter (a bamboo cot, a blanket and house, according to Mohammed a part of his boyhood in extreme a sheet). There he continued to live, Aslam, Khan’s student. “People poverty in a slum in Kamathipura visiting his mother in the daytime had to take passes for his plays and near Grant Road in Mumbai where when the step-father was out at the whole maidan [ground] used to his father and mother had shifted work. be jam packed. Through dialogues to from Afghanistan. Kamathipura In 2013, Khan was bestowed the

he went into films. It is a matter was a notorious red light area spill- Sahitya Shiromani Award for his of pride for us that someone from ing over with pimps, madams and work and contributions to Hindi< Saboo Siddik earned a name, made prostitutes but his parents did not film industry. a place for himself in the film indus- have the means to shift elsewhere or try and gave a message to the soci- ety,” said Aslam. Khan’s first film was Jawani Diwani (1972) for which he penned the dialogue and essayed a small Printers (Mysore) has new head role. The very next year, he acted in Daag as a prosecution attorney, of digital business a film that starrred Rajesh Khanna, Rakhee and Sharmila Tagore. Man- Arpan Chatterjee has been designated chief operating officer - Digital mohan Desai paid him one lakh and will report to The Printers Mysore’s chief executive officer, Karthik rupees for writing the dialogue for Balakrishnan. The Printers Mysore, publisher of Deccan Herald and Roti (1974) – apparently, Rajesh Prajavani newspapers and Sudha and Mayura magazines, has appointed Khanna who produced the film per- Arpan Chatterjee as its new head of digital business. suaded Desai to pay Khan. While Chatterjee, who joins The Printers (Mysore) from The Hindu Group, has over performing in a play named Taash Ke 20 years of experience across leadership roles in Indian media companies Patey, Khan was noted by comedian and new economy businesses. He has previously worked for companies

Agha who then asked Dilip Kumar such as Nai Dunia, Webdunia, Dice Inc, Andale Inc and The Times of India. to watch the play. Dilip Kumar was He has been associated with industry bodies like MRUC (Media Research < impressed and soon signed him up Users Council) and RSCI (Readership Studies Council of India). to act in Sagina and Bairaag. Khan was an Afghan-born Cana- (Courtesy: exchange4media.com) dian who wore many hats to make

January-March 2019 VIDURA 77 TRIBUTE TO S. VISWANATHAN (1938-2018) A humble bilingual writer and translator who exuded warmth S.Viswanathan, better known as Charukesi, passed away on 30th January, leaving behind many of his readers, friends and admirers mourning. For R.V. Rajan, Charukesi was a dear friend, a person who re-opened a whole new world of the Tamil literary world for him after he had retired. Rajan recalls with affection the writing career of his ‘inseparable twin”

harukesi, who had turned painting, politics, theatre, adminis- English even while he continued to 80 last year, was a multi tration, industry, etc. Noticing his write stories and essays in Tamil. Cdimensional writer who had penchant for humour, Rajendran Charukesi’s reputation as an completed 62 years in writing. He encouraged him to write political excellent translator of books started had his first article published in the satires. While contributing articles with an assignment to translate popular children’s magazine, Kan- for Kalki, he continued to write Sudha Murty’s three books from nan, in the issue dated 15th April, short stories which were published English to Tamil. He then translated 1955. Charukesi was then only 17. by Kalki, Ananda Vikatan, Dinamani books of many others from English He would later regularly contrib- Kadir, Amudhasurabi, Kalaimagal and to Tamil and vice versa. The last ute articles to Kalkandu, a popular Kumudham. book he translated was the autobi- weekly among the youth. During his stint in Pfizer, a com- ography (first part) of former Presi- A writer who was known for his pany where he worked for 38 years, dent of India Pranab Mukerjee. humorous essays in Tamil, Char- Charukesi contributed a few articles Charukesi’s published books ukesi got his first short story pub- in English for the company’s house include three collections of short lished in Kalki Weekly in March, magazine, Crucible, which were well stories for children – Kakitha Padagu, 1960. Kalki, particularly its editor appreciated. That gave him the con- Natpu Valarga and Oru Kilai Paravai- K. Rajendran, encouraged Char- fidence to write in English. Encour- gal; two collections of humorous ukesi to write on a variety of sub- aged by popular English dailies, he short stories – Thummalukku Kai jects, covering medicine, literature, began to be noticed as a writer in Koduppom, Irumalukku Kural Kodup- pom and Oru Nayamaana Kadhal; and a serious short story collec- tion titled, Nagai. His recent book of collection of articles in different Deepavali Malars and other special issues was titled Mammootty Mudhal Manmohan Singh Varai. His book on Kanchi Mahaswami based on actual experiences by his devotees is in its sixth edition. His travelogue, Cheena Anubhavangal, was serialised in Kalki and brought out as a book. Apart from the prizes he won for his stories in Kalki, Kumudam and Kanaiazhi, Charukesi valued the Best Translator Award he received from Kalaimagal Magazine, insti-

Photo: RVR tuted by Ka Sri Sri family. Ka Sri Sri Charukesi receiving a citation from industrialist R.T. Chari at a function held to himself was an outstanding transla- celebrate his 60 years of writing. tor who had translated into Tamil

78 VIDURA January-March 2019 all the works of the famous Marathi churning out interesting articles / lean frame. He was a real gentleman writer V.S. Khandekar. stories in Engliah and Tamil until a and endeared himself to anyone he Charukesi was the second son few months ago when he was diag- came in contact with. A bachelor among nine siblings in a big fam- nosed with cancer. all his life, he was a great support ily. After his schooling in Salem, he Charukesi was also well known as not only to his siblings but also received a diploma in Commerce a music and dance critic. An active extended his helping hand to any- from the Indian Merchants Cham- committee member of the Nat- one in need. ber. He joined Pfizer, the multina- yarangam of Narada Gana Sabha for I was one of the beneficiaries of tional pharmaceutical company as a several years, he was elected to the his generosity. He translated my general assistant in 1960 in Madras executive committee of the Narada autobiography, Courage My Com- and retired as officer-in-charge of Gana Sabha. He was one of the four panion, into Tamil. He took me to the Chennai depot of the company founders of Tamizh Puthga Nanbar- the literary meetings he attended. in 1998. All through his working gal (Tamil Readers’ Forum), which Since I used to pick him up in my career, he continued to write as a has been conducting reviews of car and drop him back home, he hobby. He became a full-time writer Tamil books of well-known authors would jovially remark that he was after his retirement. every month. Charukesi took on getting Rajan’s “car seva”. We had

Charukesi was contributing a the job of identifying an author, his become inseparable twins at liter- weekly column in Dinamani, apart book and a reviewer month after ary meetings. I am going to miss < from writing for The Hindu, Kalki, month for the past five years. He him a lot. Mangayar Malar, Amudhasurabi and was the pillar of the Tamizh Puthaga Madras Musings. A prolific writer Nanbargal (The writer is former chairman, (he has written over 8000 articles Charukesi’s looks were decep- Anugrah Madison Advertising and, and a couple of hundred short tive. A humble and a serious-look- presently, chairman, Anugrah Rural stories in the past six decades), he ing man, his sense of humour in Marketing Academy. A shorter pounded away on his computer for his writings was palpable. He also version of this article had appeared in at least four to six hours every day packed a lot of energy in his thin, The Times of India, Chennai.)

TRIBUTE TO KALPANA LAJMI (1954-2018) A filmmaker who dedicated her life to the man she loved Kalpana Lajmi was a gutsy woman who surrendered so completely to the bonding she found with a much older man that she even lost some of her creative juices in the process, says Shoma A. Chatterji. The fact that she crossed all borders of convention by voluntarily getting into a relationship with Bhupen Hazarika, a larger-than-life legend who sort of ‘dwarfed’ her talents, was a reassertion of her decision to live life on her own terms, she says

orn on May 31, 1954, Lajmi assistant director for Mandi (1983.) grew up in Bombay with She continued to work with the Bher younger brother, Dev- team for ten years till she realised it das. She was the daughter of Navy was time to go her own way because Captain Gopi Lajmi and painter working with Benegal would never Lalitha Lajmi. Her maternal uncle allow her to be independent. was the renowned director, Guru Howver, it was not cinema that Dutt. Shyam Benegal was a cousin was the turning point in her life. It and Kalpana began her career with came when she happened to meet Benegal – as costume assistant on Bhupen Hazarika in 1971, when Photo: Internt the sets of Bhoomika (1977) and as he was writing the music for Arop Kalpana Lajmi.

January-March 2019 VIDURA 79 directed by her uncle Atmaram, an unusual love triangle featuring the central character. Several of her Guru Dutt’s brother. The meeting Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah films are based in Assam, including changed the course of her life for- and Farooq Sheikh, set against the her teleserial, Lohit Kinare, adapted ever. She ventured into direction backdrop of the lush green tea plan- from Assamese short stories. independently and stepped out of tations of Assam. It brought out the In Darmiyaan, Lajmi portrays the her parents’ home to settle down rites and rituals of a strict Assamese raw reality of the pain of being born with Hazarika. She also developed marriage as also the emotional tug- as a person with an ambiguous gen- a special feel for music. of-war of the woman, Priyam, who der identity. Daman (Oppression) When Bhupen Hazarika passed finds herself caught in an adulterous was a poor example of exaggerated away in 2011, few were aware that relationship with a former lover. It melodrama stretched beyond the he had left behind his partner of 39 had a very happy ending with a limits of audience tolerance. The years to cope with the loss. Lajmi strong feminist statement that did film is a crude and extreme por- had stopped directing films in 2006 not seem to dominate the film in trayal of a man in colours so violent because she had to tend to the ailing any way. that the oppressed wife seems weak Hazarika from the time he suffered In my opinion, Rudaali is her most even when she strikes back in her his first heart attack. outstanding piece of work because clichéd Mother Goddess avatar. Laj- It’s one of life’s contradictions that even 26 years after its release, it mi’s last film Chingaari has a rural a fearless, candid-to-a-fault, tem- remains a hot topic among academic base where women in the red-light peramental woman like Lajmi could researchers, film studies enthusiasts area are tortured and exploited con- sustain a relationship with a music and gender specialists. In 1993, Kal- stantly by the temple priest. master, singer, actor and director for pana adapted Mahasweta Devi’s The downfall of Lajmi as a direc- so many years. This led to her career story of the same name to celluloid. tor began with Daman and contin- as director going downhill but she She changed the backdrop from a ued without a break till Chingari. stuck to the relationship. They never remote area peopled by a tribal com- People who knew her closely felt married, and he mostly introduced munity to Rajasthan, immediately the reason was she was too busy her as his ‘secretary’ or ‘assistant’. investing the ambience with the lav- taking care of Hazarika. One thing “It was a tumultuous relation- ishness of colour and glamour the must be said – she committed her- ship because I was an anonymous story did not need. self entirely to the care of Hazarika 17-year-old when we got together The music by Bhupen Hazarika before cancer began to eat into her and at 45, he was an internationally relied on melodies from his home system. recognised celebrity. Besides, there state, Assam, and with one song too Diagnosed with kidney cancer, was the age gap. It is only since 1980 many, the film also became a musical. the 64-year-old film-maker-writer that he publicly began to introduce The casting of two top commercial finally breathed her last in Septem- me as his partner,” Lajmi had said. stars in the two lead roles – Rakhee ber 2018. She shared a close bonding

In her book, Bhupen Hazarika: As as Bheekni and Dimple Kapadia as with her mother, the internationally I Knew Him, Kalpana offers us an Sanichari, her daughter, turned the famous artist and painter, Lalitha < insight into the constant storms that film into a brazen, commercial film. Lajmi, who survives Kalpana. rocked the relationship and placed So, Lajmi did not really need the it in danger of collapsing, because framework of a famous Mahasweta on one hand it involved a legend Devi story. who had created a legacy of his own However, this fondness for specta- and, on the other, a much younger cle might perhaps be rationalised as woman, no less a fountain of talent, Lajmi's way of trying to keep away but a talent that was nipped in the from the image and style of Guru bud. The book was released shortly Dutt. Take away the credits from before Lajmi passed away; she was Ek Pal and Rudali and they could too ill to attend the launch. be the work of any good and skilled Lajmi demonstrated her fond- director from the commercial main- ness for pomp and style with her stream. This means that Lajmi's films first film Ek Pal (1986). Based on were not gender-specific in terms of a story by Maitreyi Debi, it was style even if she chose a woman as

80 VIDURA January-March 2019 ‘Journalism is a service, journalists must be allowed to function freely’

Journalism is a service to society and the nation. Anyone wanting to make money should not be in the profession. Only those who have the flair, the passion and the right attributes should enter, for only such people can take on the challenges and survive in the long run,” said Sashi Nair, director of the Press Institute of India and editor of its journals, Vidura and Grassroots, addressing the ‘Meet the Press’ programme of Guwahati Press Club on Friday via Skype. While stressing the watchdog role of Press Council of India to ensure ethics and quality in news presentation, Nair agreed that the PCI’s ambit could be expanded to include electronic and online or social media as well because print and digital were two parts of one whole entity. National Press Day lent a significance to the programme. “India still remains a country of newspapers. Most Indians continue to trust newspapers as conveyors of factual information,” Nair said, pointing out that the circulation of newspapers in India was healthy compared to downward trends in other parts of the world and that this was a good sign. He agreed that it was in rural India where the newspaper reading habit flourished and where people were often seen gathered around one newspaper and sharing information. One of the main challenges for journalists in the days ahead would be tackling fake news or misinformation, Nair pointed out. Listing out various examples, he said there was no solution in sight yet to tackle the malaise and the onus was on editors and journalists to double-check at every stage. Nair spoke about the hardships journalists in India today faced, especially if they were investigative journalists. He said India ranked low on the Press Freedom Index (complied and published by Reporters Without Borders), that journalists often faced threats and intimidation, and that the killings of journalists who were just doing their job (Gauri Lankesh, Shujaat Bhukari, Santanu Bhowmick, Sudip Datta Bhaumik and others) had cast a dark shadow and created fear. It was not right that this should happen in the largest democracy in the world, he said, adding that journalists must be allowed to function freely and be protected.

When asked about the woeful coverage of subjects such as health and agriculture by newspapers, Nair said that indeed it was true save for a few newspapers and that a lot more attention was being paid towards politics and < entertainment than hard issues that concerned the common person.

Seminar looks at role of think tanks, media in electoral politics

The Chennai Centre for China Studies (C3S), in collaboration with the Think Tanks Civil Societies Program, University of Pennsylvania, the National Maritime Foundation, and the Press Institute of India conducted at PII-RIND a daylong conference on January 31, titled, Why Think Tanks Matter in Electoral Politics: Facts and Issues. Think tanks, the media, NGOs and civil society actors influence public opinion, especially during the elections, which has a significant impact on the outcome of the democratic process. However, the role and impact of civil society has been complicated by the emergence of fake news and propaganda on social media and makes it all the more difficult for the media to verify and present the truth to readers/ viewers. Media organisations have been criticised for bi-partisan reporting, conflict of interest and sensationalising issues. The seminar focused on trends and challenges, and sought to enlighten stakeholders on the subject. Speakers included Commodore R. Seshadri Vasan, director, Chennai Centre for China Studies; Col Hariharan (VSM), former officer, Intelligence Corps, Government of India; B.S. Raghavan, former IAS officer and former policy advisor, UN (FAO); K. Subramanian, former joint secretary, Ministry of Finance, Government of India; V.S. Sambandan, chief

administrative officer, The Hindu Centre for Politics and Public Policy; R.K. Radhakrishnan, associate editor, Frontline, and Prof Janakarajan Srinivasan, officiating director, Madras Institute of Development Studies; Bijoy Bharathan, senior< assistant editor, DT Next; and Peer Mohamed, senior editor, founder and CEO, ippodhu.com.

January-March 2019 VIDURA 81 OTHER NEWS

Hindi author Krishna Sobti CNN News18 managing editor passes away is no more

Eminent Hindi author and essayist CNN News18 Managing Editor Krishna Sobti died recently. She was Radhakrishnan Nair has died. Nair, 93. She breathed her last in a Delhi who had been suffering from kidney hospital where she was admitted ailment for the past couple of years, two months prior. Her latest book, breathed his last in a Delhi hospital. He Channa, was launched at the New had been associated with CNN News Krishna Sobti. Delhi World Book Fair on January Radhakrishnan 18 since October 2006. He was given 11. Born in 1925, Sobti was known Nair. the role of managing editor in 2014. for writing about issues of female identity and sex- Before that, he was the news director. uality. Mitro Marjani, Zindaginama and Surajmukhi Nair had an experience of almost three decades in the Andhere Ke were some of her famous works. She field of journalism. He started his career in Kerala with received the Sahitya Akademi and Jnanpith Awards, news agency UNI and later shifted to Delhi. He was and was also offered the Padma Bhushan, which she associated with print media for nearly five years, cov- declined. ering politics, sports and security. His television jour- ney started in 1995 with TV18 Group. He did several (Courtesy: BusinessLine) programmes for Doordarshan, BBC, Sony and ABNI. Journalist at The Wire dies (Courtesy: exchange4media.com) Senior journalist Noor Mohammad Bhaskar Das is group Khan, who reported regularly on president, Republic Media economics and business matters for The Wire in his capacity as a staff In a major announcement on the eve of the expansion writer, passed away due to a car- of Republic Media Network, the network has announced diac arrest in New Delhi. He was 52. the induction of Bhaskar Das as group president and the Noor Mohammad He is survived by his wife and three Khan. elevation of Vikas Khanchandani as group CEO, Repub- children. lic Media Network. Khanchandani will now assume Noor, as he was known to his friends and col- overall responsibility of all the three network brands — leagues, was a versatile and prolific writer on Republic Television, Republic World Digital, and the India’s economy, international trade, infrastructure upcoming Hindi News channel Republic Bharat. and energy for over 25 years. A graduate in eco- Bhaskar Das was president of The Times of India nomics from Gorakhpur University, his grasp over Group and Group CEO at Zee Media Network. He was a range of current and historical issues made him an also executive president at Dainik Bhaskar Group. invaluable asset in the newsroom. He worked as a researcher for over a decade before entering main- (Courtesy: exchange4mdia.com) stream journalism by providing inputs for a weekly column in the Economic Times called Import-Export Avinash Pandey is CEO, ABP Notes. Noor then worked as an assistant editor at the News Network Financial Express from 2009 to 2015, where he wrote Avinash Pandey has been elevated as the chief exec- extensively on infrastructure and energy. He began utive officer of ABP News Network (ANN) effective writing for The Wire in November 2017, first as a January 2 this year. Pandey was at the helm of the consulting writer and then as a staff correspondent, organisation as the COO of ABP News Network and making a mark with his sharp and incisive analyses. has been instrumental in growth of the network over Over the last year, his pieces have systematically the past five years. He has been with ANN since 2005, exposed the dark underbelly of India’s energy sector, guiding the growth of advertising revenue and play- earning him brickbats and defamation lawsuits by ing a key role in the expansion of the network's reach some of India’s biggest corporate houses. over the past decade. (Courtesy: The Wire) (Courtesy: exchange4media.com)

82 VIDURA January-March 2019 1,400 FOOTBALL GROUNDS EVERY DAY!

Did you know that Indian forests, which provide wood for making paper and packaging materials, have been growing by over 1,400 football grounds every day?

Love Paper? You’ll love it even more knowing that it’s made from renewable and sustainable wood fi bres, which ensures healthy, growing forests.

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84 VIDURA January-March 2019