The Indian Express has silently withdrawn the report of sale of #NDTV. It was strange because an Express story does not come that easily to be refused. The track record of the Indian Express as far as the mainstream media is concern, is far superior and authentic to any of its contemporaries. Even today, the news stories in the Indian Express remain far more scathing than including NDTV which has always tried to balance things. Then what happened to this story. Why the Express allowed this story to die or did not speak a sentence. How can such a big story come to an end without any questioning. I dont think that this story does not have some base because ultimately this is the muddy world of financial management and Prannoy Roy is neither stranger nor away from these muddy things. I think Express owes an explanation for its story or now removing it as why it came out in such a way.
We dont expect too much from NDTV. If you expect than it is your problem. Already alternative digital channels are doing much better work yet among all these brahmanical mainstream, the NDTV still remain with some ethics though it is equally hypocrite too.
While people like me dont depend on these media houses for our information yet we believe that there are good and bad individuals everywhere. We appreciate those who despite the suffocating environment inside their editorial offices as well as newsrooms, trying to make it better for us. We acknowledge such friends and support them. We don’t expect them to do the revolution as it is not possible unless brahmanical value system come to a dead end in this country which is difficult as everybody use this according to his or her own convenience.
It is important for us not be enslaved to the idea that a few individuals are the only people fighting against ‘communalism’. The idea of promoting individuals which is being done these days is dangerous and will never strengthen democracy. Individual worshipping is a brahmanical value system who we make sole champions of ‘secularism’ and social justice. Individuals make difference but surrendering to their ‘wisdom’ alone is nothing but seer lack of understanding. A fight against communal fascism has to be inclusive and not an exclusive English speaking club of victorian era academics-journalists or lawyers. As long as this exclusive club of NDTV kind remain at the helm of affairs, Modi and his like will continue to dominate at the ground level. Every issue that we hope to hurt them at the end actually help them at the ground because of our ‘exclusive’ nature of politics. Every Narendra Modi hater or a Hindutva hater may not be a champion of social justice and inclusivity. In fact, a number of them have hardcore brahmanical prejudices in their heart so it is no guarantee to inclusive politics simply because you seems to shout loudest against Modi.
The old model of Congress brand of secularism has been rejected. Neither Congress will gain anything from being a sarv-dharm party unless it convince people of a social justice plank, believe in directive principles of the constitution, give fair representation to the Dalits, adivasis, OBCs, Muslims and others in its power structure. Democracy is not for a few elite to speak for others but also allow them to provide space to new youngs too from these sections of society.
So, no more shedding tears for big people. They have enough money. Nobody will allow these channels or their journalists to die, as I say, corporate and big brahmins will never allow Congress Party to die as they need some one from them only to rule India. Yes, they will do everything to stop if India’s social structure changes, if there is an independent party of the Dalit OBC-Muslim-Adivasis. If these segments challenge mainstream media then they will do everything to curb them otherwise, the brahmanical exclusive club know well who are ‘their’ people. They will not allow their own club members to die in hunger or their parties and channels to shut. They will have enough sponsors from the corporate. They have enough at the moment. We know well that democratisation of the web world is the biggest hurdle for those who made media as exclusive club of the elite classes. It is they who will try to delegitimize it to justify their positions. Use social media, share information, share ideas, get out of the hero worshipping as it is not going to help. Idea of India can not be held hostage by a few as it belong to all of us so no more crying baby.
[Vidya Bhushan Rawat is a social and human rights activist. He blogs at www.manukhsi.blogspot.com twitter @freetohumanity Email: vbrawat@gmail.com. The above article first published by countercurrents.org.]
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