Notebook: Ravish Kumar Ka NDTV Se Chale Jaana

         Journalist Ravish Kumar had a watershed moment in the history of TV journalism. No doubt, he did everything for a cause on the turf of dying fourth estate of democracy, as I felt while watching his documentary ‘While We Watched’ last night. 

Screenshot from a documentary based on him, that shows him reading news in NDTV studio. (YouTube)

         The documentary, directed by Vinay Shukla, tells how he reported news stories, and why and how he was outcasted. Although the 1 hour 21 minutes drama is not free from its prejudices, but it makes the people realised why Ravish’s casting off from mainstream media is not good at all. 

Tale of media bifurcation era- 

         It was year 2014 when Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, a Hindu-nationalist leader, claimed the throne of Delhi. A fear began spreading among self proclaimed liberals, leftists, feminists and specially Muslims. 

Screenshot of a hoarding informing Ravish Kumar’s show on NDTV. (From a documentary based on him, YouTube) 

          It was also the time when cow vigilante violence was hitting the headlines. In a trail of violence Gauri Lankesh, Govind Pansare and MM Kalburgi were killed due to their voice against injustices in the society, as it was said by their tribes. They also blamed BJP-led central government for boosting up the morale for these killings. 

         In another trail to suppress the naxal, anti-national and terrorist-sympathising voices, many activists were also arrested just after the Bhima Koregaon violence. A term ‘urban-naxal’ became frequent to vanquish their voice. Film director Vivek Agnihotri became the poster boy of this campaign and came with several films such as ‘Buddha in Traffic Jam’, ‘The Tashkent Files, and ‘The Kashmir Files’, and books especially ‘Urban Naxals’.

Screenshot from a document based of Ravish Kumar, that shows him reading news on TV screens. (YouTube) 

         The fire had already been ignited. Its flames spread beyond its potential after an unfortunate incident of raising anti-national slogans in JNU. JNUSU leaders including Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattaachaarya were apprehended for organising the event ‘A Country Without Post Office’ where these slogans were voiced, but no charge sheet has still been filed in this case. 

          Just before the 2019 general election, 44 CRPF personnel were killed in a horrific explosive blast in Pathankot. In response, a surgical strike was carried out across the Line of Control, that awoke the sentiments of nationalism. With the announcement of dates for Lok Sabha election, media industry was completely divided between ‘nationalist’ and ‘anti-nationalist’ approach. 

Screenshot from a document based on Ravish Kumar, that shows a teleprompter just before he reads news. (YouTube) 

          

Screenshot from a documentary based on Ravish Kumar, that shows him in his newsroom working office. (YouTube) 

         Start of Ravish Era - 

         The propagation of so called ‘nationalism’ by several media houses had become juicy prime time shows for TRP, which was termed ‘godi media’ by Ravish Kumar. And, the democracy’s fourth estate was bifurcated by the trail of actions and reactions when Zee News anchor Sudhir Choudhary created a new term ‘designer patrakar’. 

        The divide was clear. The unfortunate JNU episode of raising anti-national slogans was a triggering point to spread the debate over nationalism. It was ‘masala’ for both parties and media houses. The BJP, whose origin is based on nationalism, utilised its potential for the political and ideological benefits. 

         JNU, that gave charming stars in every field, was targeted and the dominance of leftists in the university has been eradicated. JNU that was a core of leftist triangle has already been shaped against its previous recognisance. Although the Jadavpur University still stands, but the Jamia has bowed down. 

        In this row, Umar Khalid, accused of JNU episode, was shot but fortunately he escaped unhurt. No other channels criticised this extra-judicial attack, but Ravish Kumar was one who raised his voices against this uncivilised shooting. 

       Channels were full of Hindu-Muslim debates. Employment, health, education, per capita income and good governance, that actually determine developmental nuances, were out of the debate arena, and still it is. But, it seemed that Ravish was chosen for these and without any fear, he raised the mass’ grievances.

Screenshot from a documentary based on Ravish Kumar, that shows him in his newsroom office. (YouTube) 

         Although the language used during his ‘prime time’ show was out of journalistic standard, but it was good for a vibrant democracy. He was on the way to make procedural and participatory democracy still relevant, even after his words targeted directly at the government. It created a balance in the TV industry. 

         At this point, Ravish Kumar missed the opportunity to be part of a reform in the media industry. He showed his overexcitement like ‘The Great Gatsby’ who lost everything after achieving all. 

         He should have balanced his approach and shown impartiality. He ought to have used his activism cleverly. Keeping the TV screen ‘black’ and presenting ‘mime’ actors for a show were a clear activism. It could not be accepted in journalism even a journalist is a face of a channel. Also, no government can tolerate this.

        These actions attracted reactions including the investigation of NDTV promoter Prannoy Roy, and an order to keep the channel off for a day by the government. Acquisition of the channel by the Adani group was the final nail in the coffin, and Ravish Kumar, a mouthpiece of the latest period of journalism, was asked for resignation.

Screenshot from a documentary based on him, that shows him in TV screen. (YouTube)  

         It was an end of journalistic era, but the end should have not be like this even after I never liked his latest episodes due to my leaning towards the ‘centre-right’ on the ideological spectrum. His outcast created a vacant in the TV industry. 

“Ravish Aapko Aise To Nahi Jaana Thaa.”

Notebook: Why ‘Bharat’?

        “India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States”, Article 1(1) of our Constitution reads. Have you ever thought why ‘Article 1’ had not been phrased as ‘Bharat, that is India, shall be a Union of States’?

          Its answer is traced back to Constituent Assembly debates when members agreed to the name ‘India’, arguing that it retained a sense of continuity and familiarity, especially among foreign nations. (The Hindu, Sept. 6, 2023.)

          When our constitution was written, India was just a young bride wedding to her destiny i.e. freedom after centuries of slavery. A constituent assembly was busy to jot down a rule of book that should be living and dynamic. 

          But, those groups, whose representations were not sufficient in the assembly, still claim that many of the members were not free from the imposition of British supremacy; Bentinck Macaulay minutes were in work, and during debate over naming our country many of them termed ‘Bharat’ as ‘looking backward’ and India as ‘looking forward’. 

          Also, a particular set of facts propagated by some historians was accepted that ‘India’ is derived from the name of the River Indus for those who live on its banks and to the east of the river. But, some other facts are also not deniable that the Britishers used the name ‘India’ as a backward state like the West Indies and Red Indians in the USA. 

          Although ‘India’ is the most branded name for our nation in the world, but it also senses erstwhile ‘backwardness’, whereas, ‘Bharat’, displays ‘forwardness’, meaning, ‘shining’, always attempting to attain enlightenment. 

          Debating over ‘What’s in the name?’, RSS ideologue VD Savarkar wrote in his book ‘Hindutva’, “Ah! call Ayodhya, Honolulu, or nickname her immortal Prince, a Pooh Bah, or ask the Americans to change Washington into a Chengizkhan, or persuade a Mohammedan to call himself a Jew, and you would soon find that the 'open sesame' was not the only word of its type.”

         It indicates that naming our country ‘Bharat’ is an old debate, but, at present, it gained mileage when the opposition alliance named ‘INDIA’ and the BJP-led central government started using ‘Bharat’ against it. 

        No doubt, naming the alliance ‘INDIA’ was a master stroke by opposition parties. There was no counter-argument for the ruling parties except promoting ‘Bharat’ against the alliance as ‘INDIA’ vs ‘Bharat’. But, it also did not work so the ruling parties start saying the alliance ‘INDI’, not INDIA. 

       Note: Don’t connect it to politics, think ideally why our country’s name should not be ‘Bharat’.

Notebook: Crack 8-8-8 code, become master of own life

       If one belongs to middle class and sleeps 8 hours a day, no doubt, one is trapped by an elitist theory of ‘8-8-8’. It works to keep one away from the charming elite group. An elite never sleeps 7-8 hours.

       Elites are the richest, most powerful, best-educated, or best-trained group in a society, Cambridge Dictionary defines. 

        ‘Elite’ theory is actually a refined thought that is displayed in every human activity i.e. dressing, walking, talking, gossiping, conversation, table manner, kindness and a duty to a society and a nation, that influence all actions in the society and decision-making process of the government.

         Relating to the middle class, it should a motivation to be successful as a member of any elite group. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan said many times in interviews that he sleeps only 4-5 hours and gives first preference to his work. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi also says that he sleeps only 4-5 hours. Billionaire Elon Musk also sleeps 6 hours even after working 7 days a week and taking 2-3 leaves a year, many websites claim. 

        Having seen many roller coaster examples of sleeping less hours to be successful, why middle class sleeps more hours? The answer is in the above-mentioned ‘trap’ propagated by the elite group that sleeping 8 hours is good for health. The ‘8-8-8’ theory (work, other stuff and sleep) has been put up in the mind of middle class to keep it away from competition. But, one who  has cracked this code and reduced one’s sleeping hours has reached to the uppermost of any profession what one has desired.

2nd part of the story…

        To follow ‘elitism’ is a human tendency that can be understood by some other examples which are faced in daily life. 

         While travelling in Rajdhani Express from Delhi to Patna, a Patna-based lawyer said to me that after discussing a case with a client, I always prefer to say him to go to the court by his means, even I also go to the same court by my vehicle. Do you know why? Because, after travelling with him, he will negotiate my fee and later on he will deny me recognising as a lawyer. No one can compromise with his profession hence a reasonable distance is a requirement of hours. It is an example of elitism.  

         A General Study paper (for IAS) faculty at Old Rajendra Nagar in Delhi, famous for civil services examination preparation, also told that he helped enrolling many of his friends for content writing, copy-checking and teaching jobs at several IAS-oriented institutes, but never assisted them to be joined higher than his position. He also followed elitism norms in this context even he is at his initial phase of life after lapsing his all civil services attempts. 

        There are several examples of ‘elitism’ followed by many because they have already cracked ‘elitist’ code of ‘8-8-8’. They never sleep 8 hours. They utilise their leisure time to learn new and newer skills to be master of their own life. 

         Summing up the content, Nani Palkhivala, lawyer, jurist and expert in constitutional law, famous for writing many books on law, was famous to sleep less and is still on the tongue of eminent lawyers for his works as a defender of fundamental rights. 

        Interns and new professionals are guided by saying ‘Palkhivala and his brother who were working for law affairs in daylight and writing books in night till 3, and also came to court at 10, when both were even peak of their career. Everyone knows writing books is a tough business because it demands hours to read books for literary review and to extract aspects that have been unknown. 

Politics: After Sengol, BJP attempted with Nataraja statue to come over south turf

      ‘Lotus blooming’ is still a long-awaited project in Tamil Nadu, even after several attempts made by the BJP to come over the fortress of the south, including the party’s victory over the gateway to the region i.e. Karnataka, years ago. 

‘Natraja’ statue at G20 Summit venue ‘Bharat Nandapam’. (Screenshot via PM Narendra Modi YouTube)

       Always-unconquered south has been striking back, even in the Sultanate and Mughal periods, whenever it was targeted by the reigning capital Delhi. It was also out of control from British rule. 

        BJP’s efforts to get entry in the south battlefield by a different way are the latest in the row. 

        Installation of ‘sengol’ in the Parliament House is one of the symbolic bids by the BJP-led central government and putting up the Nataraj statue at the G20 Summit venue ‘Bharat Mandapam’, is the second one. A ‘swayamsevak’ (RSS volunteer) said to me that this real symbolism will fill the cultural and civilisational gap between the south and the north. And, when the gap will be filled, the turf will be easy to contest in the electoral playground.

         His statement has reason to believe that the BJP with its mother organisation RSS has been endeavouring with this way since its inception in the 1980s to expand its support base to the region where the party has already been at margin. Remembering, how BJP expanded its wings to the eastern states of India, where the party was historically weak. With social engineering, mergers with regional parties and specially ventures by the associate organisations of RSS, the saffron party are in power in all the North Eastern states and a leading opposition party in Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

        To be a true national party, the BJP should have a strong cadre and deep ground support in the south, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Both states are especially tough to be electorally triumphed by the saffron party because of the less chance of religious polarisation and radicalisation, where ‘Dravida’ politics and high philosophy-based left governments are respectively in power. ‘Dravida’ beliefs make the politics of BJP’s ‘Hindutva’ unfit in Tamil Nadu. Until the ‘Hindutva’ will not go parallel to ‘Dravida’ dogma, the party’s dream will be only in vain. 

        But, BJP chose another way to get entry in the state i.e. the expansion of soft ‘Hindutva’ with the rise of local leaders. Lately, Aggressive rhetoric by the party against the controversial remarks by Tamil Nadu Minister Udaynidhi Stalin over ‘Sanatan Dharma’ is one part of its strategy and promoting former IPS officer as party’s state chief K Annamalai as a local leader is another.

        By this approach, the BJP has achieved a relative success in the recent urban body polls in the state. Out of the 12,838 seats across municipal corporations, municipalities, and town panchayats, the BJP fielded candidates in 5,400, and won a total of 308 with 9.26 lakh votes — 5.4 per cent of the total vote share — in the polls. 

        “If the trend of gaining vote percentage in Tamil Nadu goes on and the BJP’s approach continues, the saffron party will lead the state”, an another ‘swayamsewak’ said in a gossip, adding, “wherever there is a tough ground, RSS and its associates grow easily and rapidly.”