Perils of writing the truth in Media

Biggest problem a columnist in a news paper faces it how to access truth and report it. Often truth is inaccessible due to unconscious bias as one nurtures beliefs and attitudes over years from early age. But most dangerous bias stems from motivated writing with a view to strengthen own self belief or expected gains by serving a section. During last six months before the elections to Lok Sabha and after, there had been complete misreporting or prejudiced reporting by the English and foreign media. Foreign respected journals like Economist wrote ‘Modi may become PM but he should not  It was based on wrong reporting of communal charge as in the incidents under question Supreme court monitored SIT had cleared him. I wrote to the journal that they have misrepresented the truth but they refused to publish it and later when I appealed they conceded. Back home almost all English media wrote what they thought in their left centered and hyper secular approach. They thought Modi can never become PM and pointed out party differences and election outcome that may not go in his favor.Some found him neglecting his wife or mother and continued to play the stories.  Prevailing opinion in almost entire English media was that India will get fractured verdict.  I wrote in this column that Modi has become a tornado and the outcome will be a surprise. Finally I forecast in March and April that Modi will become PM and he will have the support of 289 to 303 legislators. All survey and papers had forecast fractured mandate and uncertainty of forming government. Many readers ask me now how could I anticipate this as at that time no survey or paper wrote this. My answer is simple- one should look at events and available data without any bias. In this case I was not in favor of BJP but I made effort to cleanse my mind of my association and loyalties and focus on impartial reading of facts as were available. I asked many of my critic friends as to why they don’t see straight into eyes and responses of masses? Why do we see with colored glasses? For example one of my critic columnists was deeply connected with a political party in a state next to Himachal. He could only tell me what he wished to see and not what is there. His assessment was colored and I told him it was wrong. Later he admitted his misreading.

It is heartening that many columnists who presented distorted picture have confessed that they were wrong. Recently a senior columnist Dileep Padgaonkar accepted in editorial of Times of India ‘We goofed’. One Indian columnist quoted Pakistan papers to criticize Modi and is repentant. But even now a new problem has cropped up. Modi has closed the sources of information leakage and he does not speak unless needed. Consequently there are no stories or informal letting out of the tidbits. So we have stories of his dress making, his designers and his control on colleagues. The worst part is communalizing the individual misdemeanor like a Shiv sena man pushing down a chapatti on a cook who made bad food. The event turns national attack on a community which is obviously not intended but it is disservice to journalism to give it such a color. Similarly clashes in some parts are being reported in partisan manner and this is one area where not only neutrality but graceful silence should help in stopping the spread of violence. Look at Gaza conflict that has its human side of destruction but at the same time it is linked to a question-Should a tiny state surrounded by many of 22 Arab states die quietly? It cannot destroy others but it is most vulnerable. There should be effort to stop violence on both sides. But most of the media has to prove that it is secular and that means it should condemn Israel. Media must stand for the values of truth, courage and peace. Here the problem is that most of our left-cantered colleague intellectuals and writers too hold similar bias and would like to propagate anti-Hindu stance masquerading as secularism. Secularism must stand of equality of treatment and not preferential treatment of any religious groups. The basic question in our writing for media is how to ensure we stand for values and not personal predilections.  Above all the question is how to deal with open threats and pressure from those in authority. I know this might mean losing privileges or gains or even sometimes friends but it is sacred duty of scribes to write that which approximates truth. Urdu poet Hali wrote very aptly:

Hamna kehte the Hali chup raho /rast goyi main hai ruswai bahut ( Was I not telling you Hali  that keep quiet/ Truth telling would spell troubles for you))

Bus Stand

First Passenger: These days every housewife wants to go to expansive places. What to do if my wife asks me?

Second Passenger: Take her to Petrol Pump!

------Prof N.K.Singh former Chairman International Airports Authority of India.

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Now Modi is turning a Tarnado in Politics

“No one can stop an idea the time for which has come”, said Napoleon. But no one anticipated and no one knew last year that the time for Modi has come.His constant and whirlwind rallies throughout India attended by millions  of people have become his symbol of public dialogue in free flow style. He aptly remarked in his massive rally that he seeks to find solutions to the problems of masses whereas his opponent is seeking to find ways to stop him only. No doubt there is not much to say with the opponents and only thing they harp is to invoke 2002 riots in spite of the fact that highest judiciary has cleared him. Some time they find his errors and blame his lack of knowledge as if the job of Prime Minister has to be a post of Dean Research of a university. They have nothing substantial to beat him.Some time they say he is giving wrong picture of Gujarat as it was already developed which is a laughable statement as the data speaks otherwise on most of the indices that are acknowledged by foreign journals too.  Last year I was waiting that his opponents would make all efforts and clandestine plans to rid of him. All conspiracies have failed and for that matter he is too clever as any other simpleton would have fallen in some trap. No one will believe that Government that rated various states on power supply last minute cancelled the conference to announce it as Gujarat was emerging at the top. Can we shun the truth so that limit and that also not a political party but government that under oath, is constitutionally expected to be fair to all. Obviously there is appalling fear in declaring him good. Europe, England and even US finally gave in to his achievement and established contacts with him on his terms. That is why he says ‘Desh ko nahin jhukne doonga’.

There have been many pre-poll surveys before announcement of elections and he is emerging on the top . There may be many who would doubt some paid ones while there is massive paid news against Modi but he directly communicates to masses in his huge rallies where people even pay to attend. I am inclined to believe  Chetan Bhagat, who owns the outcome of his  own survey covering almost million  respondents and it is not possible to cheat easily on net voting inspite of the fact that there are limitations of all surveys. He has done four surveys starting from 13January to 3^rd March.His results are BJP60% (75%) AAP 36%(21%) and Congress 4%(4%). These are January figures whereas brackets show the latest March figures. It is because of Modi wave that BJP is rising by 15% and AAP going down by 15%.

In terms of ideology and vision Modi has made sea change in BJP’s original religion focus to parity of sarva dharma by asserting that he will treat everyone equally and national interest and Constitution will be the religion. His right of the centre vision is meant to bring more jobs and investment to grow at faster rate. AAP has no ideology and Congress seems to have lost its glorious principles mauled by scams and minorityism. It pains me personally to see the decline of ethos of Congress as I have still large number of their top leaders close associates dear to my heart but one cannot shun truth and this failure to see truth is lethal for congress.

I am looking at phenomena of change as a social scientist without fear or favor to any political party. I wish if we all look at the transition in these high inflation and depressing times and see coming storm of change and transformation, we will find hope in Narender Modi as a leader of the nation. Modi might proclaim et ala Faiz “ Yon hi hamesha ulajhati rahi hai zulum se khalaq / na unki rasm nai hai na apni reet nai/ Yon hi hamesha khilaye hain hamne aag main phool/ na unki har nai hai na apni jeet nai’

Bus Stop

President Himachal Pradesh Congress

Dear Sukhvinder ji.

Thanks for your message about holding Intellectual department of Pradesh Congress meeting and your efforts to diagnose the massive and historical failure in Himachal to lose all seats in Parliamentary elections. We cannot take shelter behind the central leadership as all over the performance is bad but we had the government in power that won election a year back  and a high confidence that claimed from house top that we shall win all seats. How the leaders failed to notice Modi wave and failed to counter it with good governance rather than indulging in nepotism and favoritism leading to public discontent especially with the hope of good governance by Modi sarkar.

Vichar Vibhag first time started a Website that was opened by you. We had ten meeting in Dharmshala,Mandi, Joginder Nagar.Nahan , Solan and Shimla. We constituted the organization in all districts as none was in existence earlier. We planned to hold seminars on Roads , Health and education and also started a survey of blocks and working of grass root organization as was known to you. This was to counter the good governess blitzkrieg from Modi that had to be met with equal good governance in which we failed, even to hand down some work done  and as no one took interest and we had to go dormant.

 I regret to say that the Government and its head our Chief Minister never cared to consult us or even to acknowledge that there is any such wing of the party. He never met us when he had meetings with all other departments and organizations. In fact the indifference to intellectual input or wide consultation within party, the government displayed high arrogance and know all style. Even the leaders became in accessable after election and their cell phones are found by the workers only switched off. All tickets in the constituency were allotted to favorites or relations with clear policy of creating a party within party. Government ruled with arrogance and nepotism.

My personal loyalty to almost dozen of former Central Ministers and respect for Gandhi Nehru tradition only kept a weak link as there was totalitarian one man rule in Himachal.

I had personal experience in central government at top during the Prime Ministership of Rajiv Gandhi  and with UN as expert,and was available to the state to render badly needed help for aviation and airport development but no one bothered except Madam Vidya Stokes who once asked me to help the state but later could not proceed further. Vichar Vibhag time and again tried to stress that grass root is not functioning and we need to pay all out attention to it that needed complete cooperation of Government with the party as inter group problems were too many and CM never bothered to resolve them except to enhance his own tribe’s interests. It functioned as personal party of CM and not Congress party. Our Survey reveals that 50-60% opinion leaders believe that block and booth is getting day by day weakened and groupism is gaining ground.

Considering this we remained silent spectators although a lot of help and support could be garnered but no word of encouragement or advice was available nor there was any interactive and free discussion. The prevailing impression was that one man can do magic but ground situation was completely different that was not known to higher up in absence of free and frank talk and mutual help.

Now since you have reminded we will hold the meeting soon in Shimla. I will again plead that party must bring radical changes in Government and local units of party to regain the strength as we have still time to recover.

With best wishes and regards

Prof N.K.Singh

Former Chairman International Airports Authority and ExUN Adviser

Chairman Pradesh Vichar Vibhag

Pradesh Congress committee

Rajiv Bhavan Shimla

6/6/2014

Copy for information and action to –Smt Sonia Gandhi

Congress could draw roadmap for recovery instead of acting frivolous

Recent revolts brewing in Assam, Maharashtra, J&K and Haryana besides other places should alert Congress. Massive and historical defeat of Congress in the election to Parliament should compel it to stand up again from the fall and make all efforts to learn from its mistakes. Unfortunately the party that had glorious history of fighting for independence of India has been reduced to sycophant’s shrine and stuck in the marshes of frivolity.

The debate of private secretary of P.M. or Vedik is totally frivolous and not a serious national issue. Any PM entitled to select his own staff and the way he did is logical since TRAAI had made an illogical law preventing its head to join Government after two years but join private sector. It should be other way round to prevent a chief from entering into understanding for personal gains with private parties; one of the Chiefs after completing two years is working with Radia.  Congress wasw islolated inthis needless fight. Again Vedik is private person and Government has clearly disowned him. He has met Sayad but got nothing substantial that a journalist would have liked to do. A mere hello meeting with tea has no significance unless Government doubts his motivation and it has right to question him. Kashmir separatist have gone to Pakistan and met anybody that is not on record. These issues are of completely frivolous and party should focus on major problems. Modi has done unthinkable feat of demolishing all caste and regional leaders except in Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

Let us agree that today the party does not have leaders of the stature of Gandhi, Nehru, Patel and Azad besides numerous other stalwarts. No one can take the place of Gandhi family as no one worth the salt is capable to replace them.  As the situation stands today, Gandhi family is not there because they need party but the party needs them and without them the party will be doomed as no one can fill the vacuum. It has happened as for almost five decades it failed to groom new leaders and was sunk in the culture of mutual backslapping or slavery to higher authority without entering into fearless debate and dissent. Now those who think they can replace the dynasty are totally sold to an illusion that is nothing but mirage. Time has come that Sonia Gandhi should take the command and deal with restructuring party for new challenges deftly and strongly. No doubt Rahul has failed to prove his mettle but he can be trained by professional experts rather than murky political coterie. Antony report is another washout as there are neither substantial findings nor remedies suggested in his report. One expected that being an honest man he will come out with truth but he too has done a white wash. Some media reports have aptly summed up his conclusion ‘Rahul is right but his decisions were wrong’. Such absurdity cannot salvage Congress.

Congress high command should take three bold decisions immediately. First to deal with revolts it should fix the accountability and Sonia Gandhi had clearly held the respective state leaders will be held accountable for results. Even now nothing is known about Assam and Maharashtra leaders.

Second step needed immediately is to select competent –not yes men- as spokespersons. Why only unknown quantity is pushed into dealing with media when senior and able persons are available? Alongside this two deputies of Rahul should be selected from the top most brains in the party to assist him.

The party organization in states, districts and blocks should be revamped. Today Congress is smeared with faction fights and it is for high command to sort it out and not allow it to simmer always making the party dysfunctional with inner quarrels. One can take lesson from BJP as how it settled its internal dissensions before elections to fight with unity but nothing in the Congress was done. Simple dictate to remain united will not do, the central leadership will have to act. Unfortunately inaction after the debacle is frustrating to cadres and that is igniting revolts.

It is a reality that Modi government has come with solid majority and leadership of Modi is dynamic. They will certainly try to change the course for better days. There is no use making noises unnecessarily. Many Congress leaders think it is better to watch and wait and organize themselves rather than wasting energy in fighting with majority by making noises on any frivolous issues. India needs a strong opposition and Congress should wait for their chance till they come back, and play role of stronger opposition.

--Prof N.K.Singh former Chairman International Airports Authority of India

Increase fares and reform railways, Mr Minister

A forward looking Railways budget has been proposed and before the budget government announced fare increase that was due since long.  165years back the steam engine puffed out of Mumbai station at a speed of 30KM per hour and today our best trains Shatabdi and other such sister services run at a speed that matches the pre second war speed of European trains. I travelled in China’s bullet at 300KMH speed and Japanese trains are doing much faster. We continue to slog at speed as slow as some trains run at a speed less than 50km per hour. Modi’s launching a semi bullet train between Delhi and Agra is a step forward. No doubt institution of Railways is old and covers 64000KM carrying 25 million passengers each day. It offers cheapest train fare in the world. Advantages of high speed are many that more frequency enables rush clearance and there is no waiting. Safety is assured due to advanced systems replacing the existing fixed signal system of India. Precious time is saved. Reforms must begin at the earliest in this sector.

I often travel between newly established Amb station of Himachal to Delhi. The overnight train takes ten hours but it costs hardly six hundred in A/C second class compartment which provides sleeping bed with linen. Travel in a Volvo overnight bus costs double of it, without sleeping facility. But worst part of train is coaches need to be modernized and cleaned properly. Due to small crowds the stations in himachal are clean but larger ones are bad. Once you reach Delhi the real ordeal is to get out of station. As many trains reach different plat forms there is only one bridge to connect passengers to exit platform. It is virtual stampede and many detraining passengers have reported losing cash at the hands of pickpockets in the mêlée. A book seller told me that some security personnel and pickpockets have some understanding. It badly needs escalators but seniors and children face the mobs in climbing the stairs of only bridge. There are no lifts. The only escalator is at the end at first platform only for climbing down or for those coming in and it is never found working. The station is full of garbage and crowds pushing each against other. Going out of the main gate is ordeal when you pass hundreds of men and women sleeping on the ground and when outside taxi drivers start pestering and there is virtual scramble for bodily lifting you to any one of the standing vehicles. Once you are out you face worse situation on return journey. The entry to old Delhi station is nondescript as wrong signage are shown, finally one learns that you have to take a u turn after going farther from the majestic old building. Through a side road you drive inside to the porch of the station. What a glorious entry to the capital !New passengers and drivers, who do not know this labyrinthine  entry to the Capital’s station, face unlimited problems as sometime they are dropped wrongly at distant spots. At the entry there is only one X-ray machine and in the name of security everyone tries to squeeze in the baggage through it. The waiting room is absolute unkempt and its toilets are running ankle deep water and when I complain the keeper expresses helplessness. There are no escalators or lifts and senior citizens plod through the stairs counting each step and going out of breath. Dirty platform is littered with people sleeping on the ground, stray dogs freely moving and rats gnawing at the crumbs or passenger baggage. It stinks and some ladies have stuffed their scarf to their noses. The train is being cleaned and only half an hour before the departure it opens. Still I find compartment not clean as many leftovers are there. When I complain to conductor he shrugs his shoulders and says these men are contractor workers and what could he do ?.This is great outsourcing by the Railways!

Mr Minister many of these things can be easily remedied by strict supervision and management of plat forms to bring new service culture. I am sure this will form part of our PM.s good governance to set these things right.

Equally important matter is concerning policies. Speed and safety are uppermost in my mind but equally I want to remind you that politicizing of train connections and opening new lines is bane of India’s administration. Mamta, Lalu, Nitish and Bansal in past took care of their own home states and there was no Railway Minister from Himachal or North east. But top most priority must be given to connecting all corners of India and Himachal as well as north east deserve priority that no one has bothered to give so far. It is high time now PM fulfills his promise to connect all part of the country as he said while opening Shri Shakti train service. In budget or post budget these are priorities for Government.

Bus Stand

First Passenger: Why Himachal people are excited about Rail Budget even when fares go up?

Second Passenger : They are waiting for Bullet train one day .

------Prof NKSingh former Chairman International Airports Authority of India