COMMUNICATOR The Journal of Indian Institute of Mass Communication Volume LIV, Number-1, January-March, 2019 ISSN: 0588-8093 Message From Editor-in-Chief Mahatma Gandhi was one of the greatest communicators ever. His life was his message. As students of mass communication, we have a lot to learn from Bapu and there cannot be a more appropriate occa- sion than his 150th birth anniversary year that the nation is currently celebrating. In his autobiography or The Story of My Experiments with Truth, the Mahatma, who edited and published several journals, said, “In the very first month of Indian Opinion, I realized that the sole aim of journalism should be service. The newspaper press is a great power, but just as an unchained torrent of water submerges whole countryside and devastates crops, even so an uncontrolled pen serves but to destroy. If the control is from without, it proves more poisonous than want of control. It can be profitable only when exercised from within. If this piece of reasoning is correct, how many of the journals in the world would stand the test? But who would stop those that are useless? The useful and the useless must, like good and evil generally, go on together, and man must make his choice (An Autobiography or The Story of My Experiments with Truth, p. 211). His views remain as relevant today. With his simple lifestyle and communication skills, Gandhi brought himself at par with his audience – the larger Indian masses. His silence also spoke volumes. At a time, when there was hardly any electronic or social media and print media was confined to the literate few, one clarion call from Gandhi brought the whole sub-continent to a standstill. It is this credibility of the messenger that we need to imbibe and inculcate when the Fourth Estate, the world over is facing a crisis of credibility. A strong votary of free speech, free press and the independence of the institution of the Editor, Gandhi vehemently opposed unwarranted restrictions on the media. “The editor of a daily newspaper when he begins writing his leading article does not weigh his words in golden scales. He may be betrayed into a hasty word. Must he pay for it even though he did it obviously in good faith without malice and in the public interest? These libel actions are calculated to demoralize Indian Journalism and make public criticism over-cautious and timid. I am no lover of irresponsible or unjustifiably strong criticism. But the caution to be beneficial must come from within and not superimposed from without”, he said. (Young India, August 7, 1924). It is a matter of great joy that the Communicator – India’s leading mass communication journal – is bringing out a special issue on Mahatma Gandhi as a communicator. I am confident that this collec- tor’s issue would remind media persons, scholars, academicians and students of their sacred duty to the profession, society and the nation at large and inspire them to restore the independence and credibility of the Fourth Estate, which is so critical for our survival as a democracy. K. G. Suresh Director General, IIMC March 25, 2019 New Delhi Editorial It is my pleasure to bring out a collector’s issue on “Mahatma Gandhi as a Communicator” on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary year of father of the nation and world’s iconic leader. This issue of Communicator in its intellectual essence demystifies the journalistic personality of Gandhi and can be seen as a befitting tribute to the Gandhian ways of journalism and communication. Team Commu- nicator received huge response to the call for papers on Mahatma Gandhi as a communicator and has chosen the relevant ones for publication after double blind review process. Bapu’s contribution to India’s Independence can be attributed to his principles of non-violence and civil disobedience. With his peaceful strategies, journalistic abilities and democratic means of communication, he could mobilize millions of people in the freedom struggle. This issue focuses on communication and journalistic endeavours of Gandhi to spread awareness, educate and mobilize the people to attain independence. Being a great Communicator, Gandhi believed in the power of ‘Satyagraha’ (upholding the truth) as a guiding light for communication and also supported ‘Ahimsa’ (non- violence) as a core principle to lead his life. He demonstrated the same when he said, “My life is my message”. Gandhi’s view on journalism and its role and responsibility in the society is well reflected in many of his sayings. To quote a few, he said, “The sole aim of journalism should be service”. He also said “Jour- nalism should never be prostituted for selfish ends or for the sake of merely earning a livelihood or, worse still, for the amassing money “. He further said “I have taken up journalism not for its sake but merely as an aid t be my mission in life. My mission is to teach by example and resent under severe restraint the use of the matchless of weapon of Satyagraha which is a direct corollary of nonviolence and truth”. He believed that “Journalism has a distinct place in familiarizing and expressing public opinion and journalist’s peculiar function is to read the mind of the country and to give definite and fearless expression to the mind”. Regarding the Freedom of press he believed that it is a precious privilege that no country can forego. He emphasized that the fourth Estate is definitely a power, but to misuse that power is criminal. He stressed upon the fact that the newspapers should be read for the study of facts. They should not be allowed to kill the habit of independent thinking. His views remain relevant even after decades of journalism in India. In this special issue, Prof DVR Murthy and Dr. Y D Ramdas emphasized on the practices of Gandhian journalism and how Gandhi could resist the ‘Powers that be’ during his time while adhering to the values of Journalism. Dr. Mrinal Chatterjee and Sambit Pal mapped Gandhi’s journey from a food writer to a journalist to a political philospher and they reflected upon the role journalism played in the transformation of Gandhi into Mahatma. Dr. Sanjay Bharthur, in his paper reflected on Gand- hi’s communication process, strengths and weaknesses of mass media as a variable and how the nation was able to identify with his approach, strategy and achievement of our independence. Dr. Madhudeep Singh proposed a new media theory based on Gandhian philosphy of Sarvodaya, and disucssed the indicators of this theory in respect of diversity and plurality. Dr. Dhiman Chattopad- hyay conducted a textual analysis of Gandhi’s autobiography “The Story of My Experiments with truth” – to explore the communication strategies used by the Mahatma to spread his philosophical and political ideas across the world. Dr. Charu Lata Singh studied how Gandhi envisaged and created roles for women to influence change in their own lives and lives of others. Dr. Ravindra Chincholkar attempted to evaluate Mahatma Gandhi’s contribution as journalist. Prof. V. L. Dharukar paper talks about different prespectives of Mahatma Gandhi’s Journalism. Paper in detail elaborate upon the “Gandhian Philosphy” in respect to Journalist which not only emphasised on the importance of free speech but also the role of individual in the media as an instituion. Dr. Dharmesh V. Dhawankar and Vinit Beley projected Gandhi and his communication strategies in 21st century with tools available in the digital age and envisaged how successful they would be in present scenario. Dr. Bhavneet Bhatti looked at communication approaches of Aristotle, David Berlo, the concept of persuasive communication and the factors of Effective communication by Wilbur Schramm and used these approaches to understand the communication strategies used in journalis- tic writing and speeches of Mahatma Gandhi. Dr. Manash Pratim Goswami worked on the Celluloid versions of Gandhi and studied significant films produced in Hindi and English by Indian and foreign filmmakers on the life, struggle, philosophy, teaching and practices of Gandhi and Gandhism. Dr. Jol- ly Jose explored nine characteristics of the modern development journalism and approach of Gandhi in Young India and Harijan. Chhavi Garg analyzed Gandhi’s non- verbal communication. Dr. Ankuran Dutta and Dr. Anupa lahkar Goswami studied Gandhi’s activist – journalist endeavours. Shabarni Basu and Dr. Saswati Gangopadhyay analyzed how Gandhi communicated his messages with various tools of communication such as his speeches, satyagrahas, padyatras and his ideas as published in newspaper. This issue also comprises of five book reviews one of them being a latest release on Mahatma Gandhi as a Journalist and Editor, edited by Dr. Mrinal Chatterjee and Snehasis Sur. The second book is about the untold story of India’s first newspaper by Andrew Otis. Prof M R Dua has reviewed a book au- thored by Rachel Davis Mersey named as Can Journalism Be Saved? The other two books reviewed in this issue are ‘An integrated approach to communication theory and Research’ and ‘Media, the state and Marginalisation- Trackling challenges’. I am sure that this issue will remind the scholars, media educators and professionals about their du- ties and journalistic responsibilities and help revive journalism practices in the country. “You must be the Change; you wish to see in the world.” Dr. Surbhi Dahiya Editor, Communicator Course Director, English Journalism March 28, 2019 New Delhi INDEX Research papers 1. Gandhian Journalism: A Perspective 01 Prof. D. V.R .Murthy* and Dr. Y. D. Ramdas** 2. Transformation of Gandhi to Mahatma: The Journey from a Food 12 Writer to a Journalist and Political Philosopher Dr. Mrinal Chatterjee* and Sambit Pal** 3.