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