| ''उसमें प्राण जगाओ साथी'' - 1 |
| (12:40:07 PM) 25, Oct, 2009, Sunday |
| ललित सुरजन |
स्व. मायाराम सुरजन इस साल जबकि ''देशबन्धु'' अपनी स्वर्ण जयंती मना चुका है, यह विचार स्वाभाविक ही मन में उठता है कि यह समाचार पत्र जिस व्यक्ति की कल्पना व आदर्शों का प्रतिफल है उसके जीवन की भी एक मुक्कमल छवि पाठकों के सामने प्रस्तुत की जाए। कहने की आवश्यकता नहीं कि मेरा आशय अपने पिता स्व. मायाराम सुरजन से है, जो हमारे ही नहीं, एक बहुत बड़े दायरे में बाबूजी के नाम से ही जाने जाते थे। मेरे अनुरोध पर उन्होंने अपने जीवनकाल में ही ''धूप छाँह के दिन'' शीर्षक से अपनी आत्मकथा लिखी थी जो देशबन्धु में धारावाहिक रूप से प्रकाशित हुई थी। मध्यप्रदेश के राजनैतिक इतिहास पर लिखी उनकी पुस्तक ''मुख्यमंत्री मध्यप्रदेश के'' तथा संस्मरण पर लेखों के दो संकलनों ''अंतरंग'' तथा ''इन्हीं जीवन घाटियों में'' में भी उनका आत्मपरिचय मिलता है। फिर भी मुझे लगता है कि बाबूजी के जीवन और कृतित्व का समग्र मूल्यांकन होना अभी बाकी है। बाबूजी की मंडली के सदस्य व सागर विश्वविद्यालय में हिन्दी के पूर्व विभागाध्यक्ष प्रो. कांतिकुमार जैन ने लगभग बीस साल पहले इस दिशा में सर्वप्रथम पहल की थी। उनकी एक शोध छात्रा तृप्ति जैन (शायद यही नाम था) ने बाबूजी के संस्मरण लेखों पर लघु शोध प्रबंध तैयार किया था। इधर अभी हाल में माखनलाल चतुर्वेदी राष्ट्रीय पत्रकारिता विश्वविद्यालय भोपाल उन पर मोनोग्राफ प्रकाशित करने जा रहा है तथा महात्मा गांधी अन्तरराष्ट्रीय हिन्दी विश्वविद्यालय वर्धा में भी उनके कृतित्व पर काम हो रहा है। यह जानकर संतोष मिलता है कि पत्रकारिता के अध्येताओं के बीच निधन के पन्द्रह वर्ष बाद भी उन्हें स्मरण किया जा रहा है। इसी सिलसिले में मन में विचार उठा कि मेरे पास उनके जो संस्मरण और छवियां हैं उन्हें अगर लिपिबध्द कर सकूं तो बाबूजी को जानने में बेहतर मदद मिलेगी। लेखमाला का शीर्षक उनकी एक कविता ''जो जीवन से हार गया हो, उसमें प्राण जगाओ साथी'' से लिया है। सीखने की शुरुआत मैं पिपरिया (पचमढ़ी का रेलवे स्टेशन) में अपने दादा-दादी के साथ रहकर प्राथमिक शाला की पढ़ाई कर रहा था। यह 1952 की बात है। मैं दूसरी कक्षा में था और अक्षर जोड़ कर पढ़ना मुझे आ गया था। जबलपुर से बाबूजी याने मेरे पिता स्व. मायाराम सुरजन ने उन्हीं दिनों नवभारत की पार्सल में मेरे लिए ''चंदामामा'' भिजवाना शुरू किया। शब्द और साहित्य के संसार से यही मेरा पहला परिचय था। कुछ माह बाद 1953 में शायद गर्मी की छुट्टियों में मैं जबलपुर आया। बाबूजी अपने मित्र सेन्ट्रल टॉकीज के मालिक शिखरचंद जैन से किसी कार्यवश मिलने गए तो मुझे साथ ले लिया। मुझे उन्होंने वहां हाल में भेज दिया। सोहराब मोदी की फिल्म 'झांसी की रानी' चल रही थी। उसका कुछ हिस्सा शायद टैक्नीकलर था। मुझे दौड़ते हुए घोड़े और चमकती हुई तलवारें ही याद रहीं। यह फिल्मों से मेरा पहला परिचय था। उन दिनों चौथी में ही बोर्ड परीक्षा होती थी। उत्तीर्ण होकर आगे की पढ़ाई के लिए मैं जबलपुर आ गया। घर के पास नवीन विद्या भवन में पांचवीं में दाखिला हुआ। मकान मालिक और वकील मित्र एन.पी. श्रीवास्तव के समवयस्क पुत्र वीरेन्द्र और नरेन्द्र भी वहीं पढ़ते थे। एन.पी. कक्का आगे चलकर मध्यप्रदेश विधानसभा के उपाध्यक्ष बने। स्कूल में गणेशोत्सव मनाया जा रहा था। अपने चंचल स्वभाववश मैंने कक्षा में नाम लिखवा दिया कि कल गणेश जी पर कविता पढ़ूंगा। शाम को दफ्तर से बाबूजी घर आए। उन्हें मैंने बताया कि मुझे कल कविता पढ़ना है। बाबूजी ने थोड़ी ही देर में मुझे दो पैराग्राफ की एक कविता गणेश जी पर लिखकर दे दी। कक्षा में मेरी धाक जम गई। अफसोस कि कविता को मैं संभाल कर नहीं रख सका। लेकिन यह कविता से और बाबूजी के कवि रूप से मेरा पहला परिचय था। जबलपुर के घर में पुस्तकों के लिए खासकर बनाई दो अलमारियां थीं। वे आज साठ वर्ष बाद भी देशबन्धु लाइब्रेरी की शोभा बढ़ा रही हैं। इनमें ढेर सारी पुस्तकें थीं- हिन्दी और अंग्रेजी की। बाबूजी ने अपने इस घरेलू लाइब्रेरी को ''ग्रंथ चयन'' का नाम दिया था। उसकी बाकायदा सील बनाई थी व हरेक पुस्तक की आवक-जावक के लिए लाइब्रेरी की तरह इन्डेक्स कार्ड बनाए थे। बाबूजी के अनेक मित्र उनसे पुस्तकें लेकर पढ़ा करते थे। डॉ. मदन श्रीवास्तव व, डॉ. बी.पी. गुप्ता जैसे गैर-साहित्यिक मित्र घर पुस्तक लेने आते थे, यह मुझे याद है। बाबूजी ने मुझे पढ़ने के लिए प्रोत्साहित किया और छठवीं कक्षा पास होते न होते तक मैंने प्रेमचंद रचित ''मानसरोवर'' आठों भाग, पंडित सुदर्शन की ''तीर्थ यात्रा'' व ''पत्थरों का सौदागर'' एवं हिन्दी ग्रंथ रत्नाकर मुंबई से प्रकाशित संपूर्ण शरत् साहित्य को पढ़ लिया था। समझा कितना था, यह कहना कठिन है। लेकिन बाबूजी ने पुस्तकों की दुनिया के दरवाजे मेरे लिए खोल दिए थे। अगर मुझे ठीक याद है तो गोंदिया में 1955 में मध्यप्रदेश हिन्दी साहित्य सम्मेलन का अधिवेशन हुआ था। शायद बाबूजी भी उसमें गए होंगे। गोंदिया से लौटकर पटना जाते हुए रामवृक्ष बेनीपुरी जबलपुर आए। हमारे घर पर उनके सम्मान में प्रीतिभोज रखा गया। मुझे इतना स्मरण है कि हॉलनुमा बड़े से कमरे में खूब सारे लेखक पाटे पर बैठकर भोजन कर रहे हैं और साहित्य चर्चा चल रही है। इसके आस-पास ही सोवियत संघ से हिन्दी के परम विद्वान व रामचरित मानस के अनुवाद प्रोफेसर प्यौत्र वारान्निकोव जबलपुर आए। रामेश्वर गुरू के घर उनके लिए भोज का आयोजन हुआ। बाबूजी मुझे वहां ले गए। प्रोफेसर वारान्निकोव ने बघारी हुई दाल में जीरा देखकर पूछा- क्या इसी को दाल में काला कहते हैं? अगले दिन नवभारत में पहले पन्ने पर बाक्स में यह रोचक टिप्पणी छप गई। ऐसे अनुभवों ने मुझे रचनाकार और रचनाशीलता का सम्मान करना सिखाया। ऐसी कुछ स्थितियां बनीं कि 1957 की 14 अक्टूबर को जबलपुर छोड़कर मैं सातवीं का विद्यार्थी नागपुर आ गया। अपने नए स्कूल में छमाही परीक्षा का नतीजा आने के बाद शायद पहली बार मैंने बाबूजी को पत्र लिखा। तीन-चार दिन के भीतर ही बाबूजी का प्यार भरा उत्तर आया। उन्होंने मेरे मूल पत्र को साथ में वापिस किया। कापी के पन्ने पर लिखे गए मेरे पत्र में सबसे ऊपर लाल स्याही से निशान लगा था। शेष पत्र में भी भाषा की त्रुटियों पर गोल निशान लगे थे। बाबूजी ने अपने पत्र में समझाया कि पत्र लिखते समय सबसे पहले हमेशा स्थान और तारीख लिखना चाहिए और यह कि लिखने में भाषा पर ध्यान देना चाहिए। मेरे लिए अगर यह पत्रकारिता का पहला पाठ नहीं तो भला और क्या था? मैं जबलपुर के स्कूली दिनों के एक मार्मिक प्रसंग का उल्लेख करना चाहता हूं। मैं अपनी शाला में बालचर दल याने स्काउट का सदस्य था और उसमें बहुत उत्साह के साथ भाग लेता था। मेरे एक सहपाठी के पास स्काउट के लिए अनिवार्य खाकी कमीज नहीं थी। संभवत: उसकी आर्थिक स्थिति भी इस योग्य नहीं थी। अपनी दो कमीजों में से एक मैंने अपने मित्र को दे दी। कुछ दिन बाद सहमते-सहमते मैंने बाबूजी से एक और कमीज लेने की बात की। उन्होंने कारण पूछा और फिर नाराज हुए कि तुमने अपने दोस्त को पुरानी कमीज क्यों दी? वे फिर हम दोनों मित्रों को लेकर बाजार गए तथा दोनों के लिए एक-एक नई कमीज खरीदवा कर दी। बाबूजी की इस उदारता के सैकड़ों प्रसंग उनके संपर्क में आने वालों के पास हैं। मेरे लिए उनसे कुछ सीखने का यह एक और अवसर था। एक और प्रसंग कुछ अलग मिजाज का। जबलपुर में लियोनार्ड थियॉसाफिकल कॉलेज के प्राचार्य श्री मैकवॉन के घर रोटरी क्लब की बैठक हुई। मुझे भी बाबूजी के साथ वहां जाने का अवसर मिला। मैकवॉन साहब का बेटा मेरी ही आयु का था। हम लोग खेलते-बतियाते रहे। चलते वक्त उसने मुझे 'गुडनाइट' कहा तो मैं उसका जवाब नहीं दे सका। पिपरिया से नया-नया आया था। गांव का लड़का गुडमार्निंग-गुडनाइट क्या समझता! बाबूजी पहले थोड़ा नाराज हुए कि तुम्हें भी अभिवादन करना चाहिए था। फिर मुझे शिष्टाचार के ये शब्द बहुत धीरज के साथ उन्होंने सिखाए। उन दिनों के बारे में सोचते हुए लगता है कि सचमुच नन्ही सी उम्र में कितना कुछ सीखने मिला। |
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
उसमें प्राण जगाओ साथी
Friday, 24 February 2012
"Up In The Air"
On last Sunday, I chanced upon to watch this movie-‘Up In The Air’. The protagonist in the movie is a senior company executive whose job requires him to travel by air for more than 300 days in a year. He is a bachelor and for the sake of a house, occupies a one-room studio, where he is rather forced to spend remaining 30-40 days. Ray Bingham, our hero, considers it normal. He is rather uncomfortable being at home. As a loyal air traveler, he gets routine access to many services offered by airlines and at an astonishing rate goes on to collect frequent flyer points. He becomes the 7th person to collect 10 million points and the youngest to achieve this distinction. The chief pilot comes to personally greet this distinguished passenger on reaching the mark during a flight and asks quite innocently- how did you get time to travel so much. Ray in the course of his travels stops at places to deliver talks to business executives and his pet advice to them is not to carry too much load in one’s life- emotional or whatever.
The movie is based upon a novel of the same title written by Walter Kern. I read about this novel in yet another book titled- Aerotropolis- authored by American journalist Greg Lindsay. What drew my attention was a longish dialogue in the novel quoted by Lindsay. Ray Bingham, played by George Clooney, says- “ I call it Airworld; the scene, the place, the style. My hometown papers are USA Today and Wall Street Journal. The big-screen Panasonics in the club rooms broadcast all the news I need, with an emphasis on the markets and the weather. My literature—yours, too, I see- is the bestseller or the near bestseller, heavy on themes of espionage, high finance, and the goodness of the people in small towns…………….Airworld is a nation within a nation, with its own language, architecture, mood and even its own currency- the token economy of airlines bonus miles that I have come to value more than dollars…………..” (Quoted on page 96).
I have not read the novel as yet, but intend to do so; it may be a useful narrative to enhance my own my understanding about the dynamics of the present day world; To know how the wheels of life move in this setup. However, at this point, I wish to talk a little about the book that introduced me to the novel.
Greg Lindsay has penned this volume in partnership with and on the basis of thoughts and experiences of urban planner, John Kasarda. When in India urbanization is happening at a fast rate, I would recommend this book to all those concerned with city planning and administration-- mayors, architects, executive officers and managers dealing with all sorts of activities- sanitation, water supply, road building, traffic and so on. I may also mention yet another book on the subject- Triumph Of The City- authored by Edward Claesar, a professor at Harvard. The writer has immense faith in the very concept of city. He asserts that urbanization is the key to happiness, health, wealth and eco-friendly living. I have read only these two books, and that too, by some strange coincidence; but I know there must be many more books on this subject available in the market. They are perhaps our guide to learn about human habitat in the 21st century and the factors determining it.
When I was reading “Aerotropolis”, my thoughts immediately went to the changing face of Indian metropolises and in particular to the new airports. We know that T-3 terminal of Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi and Rajeev Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad are counted amongst the best airports in the world. T-3 is so big that one has to walk at least a kilometer from entrance to departure gate, whereas significance of Hyderabad lies in its huge expanse. The wide road leading to the airport is miles-long, and adorned on both sides with flowering shrubs and rolling grass. One feels as if passing through a beautiful garden. Not only in metro cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata or Chennai; even in the provincial towns like Bhopal, Nagpur or Raipur, such new-look airports are being developed.
Our prime Minister and his team members never tire telling us about GDP growth and India soon becoming a world economic power. Considering this, it will be deemed quite appropriate that India’s airport, railway stations and other infra-structural facilities match this progress. Since the number of air travelers is increasing, it calls for upgrading of facilities to meet the demand. There also must be a good number of people like Ryan Bingham in our country; that will make it necessary to develop hotel, conference halls etc in the vicinity of the airport so as to save their precious time: alight from one plane, finish your business and take the next flight to another destination. Nowadays, we have big corporate-run hospitals, even air-ambulances; this also makes a perfect case for building hospitals not very far from the airport. That will not only save time, but also indeed may save a patient’s life.
This is a completely new phenomenon: multi-lane carriageways, skyscrapers, malls, multiplexes, more and more automobiles, state-of-the-art airports; but is everything else is so glittering in India! If I talk about airports, at the one hand, one can travel at a cheap fare; but on the other side, the passenger has to dish out seventy Rupee for a cup of tea, which is generally priced at Rs five. When you come out of the Hyderabad Airport complex, the same old India mocks you on your face. In Delhi, it is quite common to see street children selling airplane models on the road junction of old and new terminal.
This is the irony of this country: high flyers soaring in the sky on one side; half-naked children selling toy planes at the traffic lights on the other. There is a sub-plot in the movie ‘Up In The Sky’. The sister of the hero is soon to be married. She asks her brother to bring photographs from exotic locations. She can’t afford to see all these places, but can get some pleasure by seeing the pictures. At the end of the movie the hero transfers 5 million bonus miles to her sister and her husband so that both of them may travel to all the places they were dreaming of. A nice story: straight out from a fairytale.
Lalit Surjan
3rd February 2012.
Note: I wish to put on record my thanks to writers Walter Kern and Greg Lindsay, whose books prompted me to write this piece.
Saturday, 31 December 2011
Indian Media: A Reality Check
Background:
We in India often look upon media as some kind of a valiant mission, as an instrument of change, rather than a profession, a value neutral mechanism. Thanks to the stalwarts of the freedom movement like Tilak, Gokhale, Gandhi, Nehru et al, who published and used newspapers as a powerful weapon to fight with the mighty Raj. As a matter of fact, the very first paper to be published from India in 1780- The Calcutta Gazette of James Augustus Hickey- was so fiercely opposed to the viceroy Warren Hastings that Hickey was incarcerated and later deported home. Given this history, it is quite natural that people expect the media to follow the tradition established by such worthy predecessors and feel aggrieved when expectations are belied.
In the early years of independence the scene looked not that bad. The proprietors and editors were mostly product of the freedom movement, they cherished certain values and there was also a sense of commitment and pride in being a partner in the nation building process. The things started changing gradually after the death of Pandit Nehru on 27th May 1964. Though Smt Indira Gandhi is rightly blamed for press censorship and other excesses towards the press during emergency years, I would like to submit that overall hers was a mixed record. She freely interacted with the press; was suspicious of the so-called Jute Pres, but sensitive to the needs of the small and medium papers; SITE programme as a public service vehicle was launched during her period, large scale expansion of All India Radio took place; and importantly, the press generally remained alive to the needs of the common masses.
Thereafter, three different developments, which took place at three different times, altered the character of Indian press beyond recognition. Firstly, in the post-emergency period many influential newspapers raveling in their newfound freedom very quickly abandoned their social responsibility and became scandal sheets. Secondly, the arrival of TV in the mid-eighties lead the press in believing and deciding that it would not survive without resorting to changes, both in editorial priorities and production techniques. Lastly, the new economic policies introduced in the nineties that opened the gates for corporate houses and foreign players to buy stakes in media ventures resulting in complete transformation of media policy, priority and ethics.
This is the historical background of Indian media against which we may now attempt to examine the current scenario. Though the mass media or simply put the media encompasses a whole range of activities such as press, radio, TV, theatre, cinema, posters, wall-writings, internet etc, but for the purpose of the present discussion, I propose primarily to focus upon the first three that construct the very basis of media in public imagination, namely- press, radio and TV and refer to other forms only wherever necessary.
Let me start by saying what we expect from media. There are four traditionally accepted and broadly defined functions of mass media- 1) dissemination of information, 2) interpretation of events, 3) education- meaning political education in the broadest sense of the term and 4) entertainment. The third function becomes most important in a diverse, plural, developing society like India. But we note that over the last two decades or so the scene has changed so fast that all instruments of mass media together have pushed the first three functions to the fringe and the last one namely entertainment with a capital E has come to occupy the core. As a result, mass media has not only lost its inherent capability to influence public opinion and play its role as a strong pillar of democracy, but also become the talk of much public debate and target of criticism, even ridicule. Witness some recent happenings- Radia Tapes, pronouncements of Justice Katju, defamation case against “Times Now” channel and so on. The question is who is responsible for this sorry state of affairs- media owners, journalists, readers, government or some other forces?
Who Is Responsible?
One too often finds it convenient to put the blame on “media”, without going into the specifics, as if media is some autonomous agency that has some inbuilt mechanism to correct itself. This thought leads to nowhere and on the contrary, rather absolves those responsible for the present state of affairs.The fact has to be recognised that media is what is made by the collective inputs of all of the above and therefore, every one of them has to accept its share of responsibility in bringing about the present state of affairs. Therefore, it would be better to first get a clear picture of how the media operates in the present times and only then talk about the remedial measures
At the outset, we will do well to remember that the modern technology as needed for media operations calls for huge capital investment. The days are over when an enterprising journalist could take the risk with whatever meager resources he had, for launching his own newspaper. A whole battery of media-moguls has eased that quintessential editor-publisher out. Whosoever is capable of investing tons of money in machinery, establishment and start-up losses can only launch a newspaper, a TV channel or a FM radio station. We know that a selected few like business houses, politicians, mafia gangs and foreign investors can alone arrange this kind of money. This as a corollary has resulted, on the one hand, in concentration of media power in a few hands; on the other side has fast eroded the institution of editor and free press has become an outdated notion.
The typical media owner of the day does occasionally play charade about meeting up his social responsibility, but the fact is that he has absolutely no confusion or compunction about what he really wants from his media enterprise. It will be too simplistic to suggest that he is concerned about profits generated by advertising revenue. It’s but only a small part of the scheme. His eyes are really set upon much higher targets- use media to influence and mould policies that concerns his other activities, plough back a part of business profits in media with a view to consolidate his position and to create monopoly in a given market, gain social and political clout; and most importantly, roll out a product that serves his class interests and make others crave to reach that exalted station in life. If religion continues to be the opiate for the masses, media is the new wonder drug concocted in this age.
A newspaper, in the earlier days, generally used to build its identity on the basis of its content- news stories, features, articles, editorial commentaries etc. It enjoyed a loyal readership cultivated through its wee defined editorial policy. Not any longer. The press is now following the example of TV where total stress is on looks and appearance and content has been rendered purposeless. One can’t distinguish one paper from the other and reader’s loyalty has become ever shifting. As regards TV, the question of loyalty hardly arises as the viewers are prone to keep on surfing the channels. I need not cite any examples in this regard as it will be wasting your time on the items that are all too well known. But we need to ask an uncomfortable question at this point that as to how the media owner was able to carry out this transformation. Here the journalist enters the picture.
It is obvious that content is the soul of the media, be it paper, radio or TV. The editorial team under the leadership of an editor is supposed to fulfill this essential requirement. For sure, like the good old days, even today a media house looks out for and hires competent journalists. As a matter of fact, they are a lot better from their predecessors being better educated and better trained. Just take a look at the number of journalism institutes in the country and the graduates passing out from them. Moreover, the working conditions are much better in comparison to the past. Then, what has happened that the output by these brilliant journalists does not pass on the anvil of public opinion?
It might be said without mincing words that a large number of journalists has rather voluntarily been co-opted in the grand design crafted by media owners and their elitist circle. I seek your permission to narrate a scene from a film titled “Naya Daur” made in 1957. In the film, actor Johnny Walker playing the role of a press reporter comes all the way from Bombay to a small place in Madhya Pradesh to report about a road being built by the collective efforts or Shramdan of the village folks. The reporter is inspired by what he sees, keeps his pen and camera aside and joins hands with the villagers in their dream project. Now, this was somewhat idealistic even for those days, but at least press-people were thought worthy of such respect then. Fast forward to 2011 and see a number of journalists enjoying junkets, seven star treats, freebies and in return doubling as lobbyists and middlemen. While, TV journalists shine in glamour and betray arrogance, their counterparts in print media hanker to emulate them.
As a journalist who has spent fifty plus years in print media, I am rather dismayed by the attitude of the readers, too. An average newspaper subscriber is a person who can easily afford the cover price of a paper. Yet, it is pathetic to see him getting influenced by the marketing gimmicks of moneyed media houses. So much so that he makes a choice on the basis of gift schemes introduced by them and keeps on changing the paper accordingly, even month by month. He has come to think that newspapers are flush with advertising revenue and don’t need subscription money any more. The result is that a paper with serious content has no hope to thrive or survive in this atmosphere.
Let us now briefly discuss the role being played by the government. I have always held that a robust democracy and healthy press (media) are complimentary to each other. In a welfare state like India, press was supposed to act as the bridge between the people and the state, between aspirations and actions, between desires and deliveries. It seems that the state, gradually shifting from Nehruvian model of nation building to neo-capitalist philosophy has no need for a healthy press. The leaders have lost touch with the masses and they don’t want their sleep to be disturbed by the travails of the aam admi. There are schemes galore in the name of welfare, but nobody seems to be interested in getting reliable and independent feedback about the implementation of these programmes. The state has turned a blind eye to the growing monopolistic trend in media, spokespersons of various political formations deem it better to debate issues of national importance on TV channels rather then on the floor of the house, and the prime minister has no appetite in meeting with the press.
A word may also be added about various media bodies. Once upon a time there was Press Institute of India (PII) that regularly conducted training courses for journalists. It is almost dead now. IFWJ was a powerful trade union of working journalists; it’s now split in three entities, none of which has the power to influence the course of events. INS and ILNA have also lost their respective relevance and clout with the government. Many newspapers are running their own media training institutes, but their syllabi have nothing to do with democratic values, as we understand them.
Remedy!
This is a dismal picture that I have tried to present based upon my own experience and study of the subject. The million-dollar question is what is the remedy for these ills. For quite sometime now, I have been advocating that it’s futile to depend upon the media controlled by vested interest, and we must rather develop some kind of a parallel press that answers to our needs. Call it guerilla press, if you please. When we want to build a democratic, socialist, secular society, we also need adequate instruments for mass contacts, mass awareness and public education. I envisaged that workers, students, peasants etc would publish their own newspapers, composed on a computer, printed in a small facility and circulated on micro level. It could be a single broadsheet weekly wallpaper pasted on the walls of Gram Panchayat, college notice board, office canteen and so on. The expenditure would not be much and surely there would be some journalist friend around to help in the cause.
Obviously this proposal has its limitations. But I think that we have an alternative available in the form of a people’s initiative. That can be a joint stock company, a cooperative society or a public trust for setting up newspapers and TV channels. In the past some efforts were made in this direction, though they failed primarily due to lack of professional management. There are two different examples from other fields that may be studied in this regard. The first is Amul and the second is Indian Coffee House. You may want to give a cool thought to these ideas! The point is that the media should be in the hands of the people and be not aligned to business interests.
Whatever be my suggestions about alternate media, we can’t and shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that in a democracy polity it is primarily the government that is under obligation to create an atmosphere that is conducive to a vibrant media in order to ensure the cherished right of freedom of expression. We know that the government has faltered on this account, not only because it is under pressure from the capitalist class, but also due to its own political philosophy. This is not acceptable. While we would like to remind the government on this, we may also put forth some practical suggestions for its consideration and appropriate action.
Print Media:
One immediate step that central government must take is to set up the third press commission, which will look at the larger issues like price-page schedule, ownership pattern, devolution of ownership, FDI, ombudsman etc.
A complete revision in the advertising policy of DAVP is also called for in promoting socially oriented journalism. Some suggestions in this respect are as follows-
1. Display Advertisements related to social justice and welfare programmes should be released only to Indian language newspapers. Main beneficiaries of these schemes i.e. general masses read only language papers. Therefore, for example, why should an advertisement about scholarships for ST students be given to ‘Times of India’ or any other English daily published from metro cities?
2. The weeklies and tabloids published from district places and remote towns are often dubbed as Yellow Press, but this perception can be changed through a strategy. These papers circulate in rural areas and thus, have a potential for becoming useful tools to disseminate public information. DAVP may consider giving them display advertisement on a fixed rate- long-term basis and ask for fixed space for publicity of welfare schemes. All newspapers routinely publish publicity material provided by advertisers. DAVP can also demand the same. This will help to curb the rising monopolistic trend and ensure decentralization of print media in the country.
3. Those newspapers, which as a matter of policy run regular pages on developmental issues and Panchayati Raj, be given preferential treatment for DAVP ads. This will ensure greater public participation in designing and implementing public policies in the true democratic spirit, and will also involve the print media in such formulations. It may be made clear that the stories/ articles need not be pro-govt. and that the press will be entitled to its views on the subject.
4. Those newspapers, which as a matter of policy promote small regional languages, (such as Bhojpuri, Chhattisgarhi etc.), and have regular space dedicated to editorial content in a regional language also be given preferential treatment. This will be particularly helpful in the vast Hindi speaking countryside in disseminating information on welfare policy initiatives.
5. Those newspapers, which are published from tribal areas/ schedule V areas, need to be given some kind of special treatment, like extra rate over and above normal tariff etc. They might be treated as pioneering industry in a backward area.
6. Similarly those newspapers, which are published from small towns, district headquarters, having population below 1,00,000 should be given some additional advantage by way of special rate etc.
7. Display advertisements and small tenders etc. should be reserved for regional newspapers. At present English newspapers published from metro cities corner the lion’s share of all govt. advertising (mainly released through private advertising agencies). There is no justification in it. The metro newspapers cater to the elite, don’t reach villages and even otherwise have hardly any social concern.
Radio:
It is an anomaly that while TV has been opened for private players; a cost-effective and people-friendly medium like Radio is still firmly in the hands of the central government. It is hard to understand as to why community radio remains a distant dream, while private operators have been given permission to run FM stations like Radio Mirchee. This selective approach has turned Radio into a vehicle of popular entertainment rather than an instrument of mass education. There might be genuine apprehensions about the abuse of this powerful medium that reaches to far-flung villages and surpasses any other medium, but surely measures can be put in the place to prevent untoward, undesirable and unwarranted happenings on the community radio system. It might be useful to recall that in 1975, SITE programme was launched for mass education through TV. It was taken up as a pilot project in six states. This example can be followed in respect of community radio, too.
TV:
The total number of privately held TV channels in the country runs into hundreds. Quite a few of them have foreign collaboration. Similarly, politicians control many. This glamorous medium is a perfect vehicle to implement the neo-capitalist agenda and has proved to be so in India. While a TV channel should be able to retain its independence, it should not be allowed to shirk its responsibility to the public. At this stage, I suggest that a TV commission on the pattern of the press commission be set up to examine all aspects of TV operations.
The government owned Door Darshan goes on to receive flaks for its performance. Yet, it is the only agency to provide public service telecasting. Earlier it had no rivals; now it has to survive in the face of stiff competition. This calls for a thorough scrutiny of the programme mix being offered by its various channels. It must be ensured that DD doesn’t deviate from the primary purpose for which it was set up in 1959 and takes due care to promote the basic values enshrined in the Indian constitution. . It is a matter of satisfaction that we now have two more channels respectively owned and operated by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha that complement the role of DD.
Even catering to the need of entertainment for the masses, some simple steps might be taken. Like showing award winning regional films on DD National in the Prime Time slot rather than during late night hours as is the practice now. There may be many more ideas but the point is that DD should not be run on the dictates of marketing managers/advertising agencies.
New Media:
At the end of the paper, I propose to return once again to what we, as concerned citizens could and should do to use media in furtherance of democratic value system. We have been hearing a lot about the decisive role played by Internet and various social media sites during political upheavals in Egypt, Libya and even in India in Anna Hazare’s campaign against corruption. The self-laudatory claims made by the new media instruments are no doubt exaggerated, but what prevents us from taking advantage of the opportunity presented by these technological tools? I suggest that all progressive organisations, think tanks, even political parties should optimally use them by joining these sites and start posting material on them.
The simple point is that we have to adopt a two-pronged strategy. One is to continue to put pressure on the elected governments for implementation of a media policy that is in sync with the basic fabric of our society. The second is to keep on exploring possibilities of people’s initiatives in this direction.
Lalit Surjan
Raipur 04-11-2011
Note: This paper was presented in a National Workshop on “India’s Path To Socialism” organised in Hyderabad on 27-30 December 2011.
Friday, 25 November 2011
Privatisation Of Water
At the outset we need to discuss the definition of water. Is it only a resource? Is it merely a usable item like road, electricity, telephone or fast food? Is mankind the only consumer of water? Besides mankind who else has a right on water? Pondering at length over such questions I have come to accept the following definition.
Water is a resource but more than that it is the most precious gift bestowed upon us by Mother Nature. All living beings have a right on it. From the tall trees of the forest to the humble grass in the meadows and from mighty elephant to tiny ant every one needs water to survive. Mankind needs water primarily for drinking. Then only he uses water in other purposes like sanitation, irrigation and industry- in that order. It should be obvious that water can’t be compared with any other resource or service.
Water is our fundamental right. It can neither be curbed nor terminated. But this is what precisely the global machine of profit is trying to do. The authors of our constitution might not have envisaged this situation; otherwise they sure would have enlisted the right to water as the first fundamental right. All constitutions in the civilised world recognise the right to life. Isn’t access to water a part of that right? Then how should one describe the powers, which are trying to take away this right from our hands? Aren’t they the most cruel and heartless exploiters and demons in today’s world?
Water is not something created by man. It is given to us through rains in many forms and mediums. We get it in natural way through mountain streams, meandering rivers and placid ponds; as also through wells, hand pumps, and urban water supply schemes by use of technology. Undoubtedly technology makes life easier and therefore we are naturally pleased when water comes through municipal taps. Unfortunately in the pleasure of this easy availability we tend to forget that water deposits are not endless, and therefore ought to be used in judicious manner. While we discuss the role of WTO and the privatisation of water in this forum, we should also ask ourselves whether there is something like water-consciousness in the society.
WTO is a gigantic machine of profit. World Bank, IMF, ADB etc. are also part of the scheme. They all profess to be working for the development and progress of the world community but our experience over last five decades tells another story. That they have worked relentlessly only for making the rich countries richer and more powerful. On the strength of their ill-gotten wealth in the colonial era these countries have forced the rest to kneel before them and beg for scraps. They are least concerned about the sovereignty of nations and have never cared for cultural traditions and diversities of other societies.
In this background it’s hardly surprising that they now want to trade in water. Water is only a commodity for them, a product- that doesn’t require any manufacturing process. A permission from the government of the country where trading is sought is more than sufficient. Such permission in this uni-polar world order has become much, much easier to seek. National governments, even provincial governments and Panchayati Raj Institutes prostrate before the global traders. Once the permission is granted they need to invest only on bare requirements like motor pumps and pipelines. Thereafter it becomes a game where water suppliers dictate the terms. Those with enough money at their disposal alone can buy water and survive. The rest are free to die of thirst.
This happened in far away Bolivia. In the town of Cochabamba municipal water supply was handed over to the US multinational Bechtel- the same company, which has emerged as the biggest contractor in the war-torn Iraq. This company took over all water resources of the town and started trading on very high rates. So much so that people were forced to spend almost half of their income in purchasing of water. The situation soon became unbearable and agitated people came out in the streets. The government supported the company. It resulted in brutal firing on unarmed civilians in which several citizens died. Yet, the people were not deterred. Ultimately the government had to cancel the contract. The company was sent packing back. Ironically, the company is now demanding an astronomical sum in compensation from the Bolivian government.
It is important to understand the background of this decision of Bolivia to privatise urban water supply. In many countries, governments take huge loans from World Bank et el. ostensibly in the name of development work. But rather then investing in productive activities the money is mostly spent on unworthy causes or finds its way into private coffers. The development projects are never completed in due time resulting in escalation of cost, while the interest on such loans, mistakenly believed to be foreign aid, continues to increase. A major part of the country’s revenue thus goes into servicing of foreign debt, leaving little money for real development. To bridge the gap, governments again lean on institutions to help them out. At this point, lending institutions pounce upon the borrower. They start applying all kinds of pressure on the government to accept their own agenda such as privatisation of public sector industry and services, low interest regime, Voluntary Retirement Scheme, downsizing of bureaucracy, free entry to foreign firms etc. Debt-laden, corrupt and ever-needy governments succumb to these pressures.
We are witnessing the same scenario in India. The central government has bowed down before the foreign capital interests. But that has not benefited the country in any respect. The state governments also seem to be very much attracted by foreign investment. Their leader is Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu of Andhra Pradesh. In his state every year hundreds of farmers commit suicide, as they are not able to repay their debts. In summer 2003, for the first time in its history 1300 people died of heat stroke in the state, as the government was not able to open drinking water kiosk in urban areas. Yet, Naidu is rated as the best chief minister in the country.
Enron is a well-known name. Indian political masters rolled out red carpet for this US multinational. Whatever dreams the company sold turned out to be a big hoax. It went bankrupt in spite of its thick relations with President Bush. This meant losses for the shareholders but the directors went home with handsome compensation packages. The same directors have now formed a new company to try their luck in trading of water. There are more than a dozen firms in Europe and the US in this business. Their operations are mostly in the developing world. I have already cited the case of Bolivia. In Metro Manila in Philippines, city water supply is in the hands of a foreign company. In Karachi, Pakistan talks are going on for a similar project. A river in Michigan, USA was leased out to a soft drink manufacturing company in the face of protest from local residents. But India is the biggest market for these traders.
The National Water Policy, which has been framed by the Govt. of India under the influence of the water industry and WTO advocates private trading of water. The govt. expresses its inability in providing adequate water supply citing lack of resources. It is also of the view that the private sector is more efficient. On such grounds in 1998, the erstwhile government of undivided Madhya Pradesh had privatised Sheonath River in Chhattisgarh. The present government has promised to terminate the contract but no steps have been taken so far in this direction. Then, we have this case of New Delhi where the multinational company “Suez” has been contracted to bring water to the metropolis from far away Tehri Dam on Ganga. In this particular project no consideration has been given to the enormous money spent from the public exchequere in building the dam. In the neighbouring state of Jharkhand municipal water supply of Jamshedpur has been handed over to another multinational “Vivendi”. Periya River in Kerala has been handed over to Coca-Cola and in Tamilnadu Coca-Cola and sakthi Sugar combine has been given rights to extract ground water in Shivganga area near Madurai. In that state water supply of Tirupur- famous for its hosiery manufacturing- has been given to another foreign company. Such examples are on the increase.
The only aim of these local/foreign traders is to earn maximum profits. They are least bothered about the basic water needs of the people. Their profits come not only from selling water, but from other activities, too. Their business interests range from hybrid seeds to chemical fertilisers and pesticides to irrigation systems to construction of big dams and factories. Vivendi owns the Universal Studio in Hollywood. In countries like India these foreign firms may get contracts from building of dams to sale of terminator seeds. Once they have entered our life then there is no escape from their clutches. In Kerala where rivers have been handed over to Coca-Cola, access to drinking water has been cut. In Andhra Pradesh farmers are committing suicide because they are never able to repay debts taken for purchase of seeds, fertilisers, pesticides produced by these firms.
WTO asserts that water supply is a part of the “service industry” as if it is something like a Post Office, Bank or Insurance Office. It is continuously making a case in favour of free trade across the globe. This has resulted in profits mostly for American companies. The US, the champion of the free trade, never hesitates in raising barriers in the areas where it fears losses for its own firms. The call to treat water supply as a service is also motivated to facilitate entry of foreign firms in this trade like already done in banking and insurance. Once the field is opened to them they will take over city water supply, refine wastewater, build huge dams and introduce water related technology developed by them. No need to say that each of these activities will fetch huge profits.
Water will then be supplied on the paying capacity of the consumer. Naturally, top priority will be given to the industrial manufacturers who will be able to recover the charges from the end users. Then will come soft drink manufacturers as the coloured sugary syrup can be sold at, may be, fifteen times higher price. In agriculture sector only rich farmers will be able to purchase water, as they are not only rich but also enjoy political clout. In the cities residents of posh colonies will get preference. It beats me as to how in this scheme of things rural poor, landless farmers, urban labourers and residents of shantytowns will be able to get water for life. The masters of water will lay claim even on the raindrops falling in one’s courtyard.
Once WTO declares water as service, it will not be possible to retract from it. Each member country will have to accept it. Then a situation may arise when water from India will be sold in Singapore. The market will decide the selling patterns. Then a contractor will also be free to decide his own rates in his contracted area, as it happened in Cochabamba or Metro Manila.
The challenge before us is to join hands in fighting with the traders of water, the agencies supporting them and the governments giving them permission. Environmentalists and water activists in India have already rejected the national water policy, but there is an urgent need to launch a nationwide agitation. We must tell WTO and its associates in their face that trading of water is not acceptable to us. If our peaceful appeals are not heard then we must be prepared to come out in the streets.
Written and translated by Lalit Surjan
Keynote address given in pre-Cancun National Seminar held in Bhubaneswar, Orissa on 27th/28th August 2003. Published in Deshbandhu, Raipur on 28th August 2003.
This article may be circulated and reproduced in any form.
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