Gandhi on quixotic media
24 Oct 2012 9:39 PM GMT
For the past few days, a debate has started on the ‘irresponsible’ role which the media is playing in creating an atmosphere of absolute cynicism. Media’s own credibility has been under doubt ever since it came to light last year that some reputed editors had allegedly played a ‘dubious’ role in ‘cutting’ deals. But this has not deterred the news channels of ordaining themselves with the role of ‘saviours of a nation in crisis.’
This has raised a big question mark about the intent and result of such media activism. Many years ago Mahatma Gandhi had said, ‘Whenever you are in doubt or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test: Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen and ask yourself if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him.’ This became famous as his Talisman. I wonder whether those who believe that they are ordained to look after the nation ever take this test.
Gandhi has answers for the queer and quixotic situations that Indian media finds itself in from time to time. We currently find ourselves in such a situation, where allegations and counter-allegations are flying thick and fast with media lapping it up. Nobody is really bothered, to use Gandhi’s words, ‘if the step (taken by media) is going to be of any use to him (the weakest man).’ It’s another matter that some swear by the weakest man, christened in recent times as aam admi, and some wear his name even on their head to express greater loyalty to his interest.
What does the media propose to gain by practising journalism of heckle and smother? Does it help achieve any social purpose or just keeps them ahead in the rat race for the elusive ratings. These questions Gandhi had raised nearly a century ago. He referred to newspapers as then television did not exist.
Writing in Navajivan on 4 April 1920, Gandhi said, ‘Lack of politeness is a sign of anger. The people at present are in angry mood and boiling over, and therefore, pleased with nothing. They are labouring under a mistaken feeling of helplessness, that they are powerless to do anything which may end their suffering. And so they cling to anything that can make them forget their grief for a while, to anything which may provide them with an intoxicant in place of anger. That is why we see, now-a-days, an excess of sensational writings in the newspapers.’
Gandhi, so very prophetically writes in another instance, ‘It is often observed that newspapers publish any matter that they have, just to fill in space. This practice is almost universal. The reason is that most newspapers have their eye on profits. There is no doubt that newspapers have done great service. Their defects are therefore overlooked. But, to my mind, they have done no less harm. ...On the whole it would seem that the existence of newspapers promotes good and evil in equal measure.’
I am reminded of what a news channel head recently told me commenting of the airtime given to Arvind Kejriwal. He had said with a chuckle, ‘In face of lack of content we earlier ran laughter shows, now we run this blaster show.’
Gandhi’s criticism of media increased with time. Writing in Harijan on 18 February 1939, he said, ‘Newspapers which indulge in untruth or exaggeration harm the cause they profess to espouse. I admit, too, that there are enough lies in newspapers to warrant action. But my experience is that no amount of public criticism will affect the policy of the newspapers which make their livelihood by such policy.’
Gandhi’s enunciations are very relevant today for the Indian television news channels, most of which are loss-making business ventures. No wonder a private, and the oldest news channel, put its editor on the job to extort a fee from a company alleged to be involved in coalgate scandal.
What surprises me is that neither Arvind Kejriwal nor his benefactors in the electronic media chose to speak about the matter. The editor of Zee News has faced a ‘reprimand’ by ex-communication from the association of the news channels. But does this absolve the news channels of the guilt of not having addressed a severe case of corruption in the Indian fourth estate.
Writing on the same issue recently, a veteran commentator rightly said that ‘a thorough exploration of the media will unearth not merely sharp business practices but even horrifying criminality.’ How do the people react to such abysmal situation? How far do they trust what is shown on the channels and what is published in newspapers?
Mahatma once again holds the answer to it. In letter written on 29 November 1934, Gandhi said, ‘The majority of journalists spoil things by judging things. They will discharge their function well, if they will give unvarnished versions of events. When they criticise they must base their judgement on facts strictly within their knowledge.’ And what should the reader and viewers do, when the journalists ‘fail’ in their duty? Speaking at a prayer meeting on 16 May 1946, Gandhi said, ‘Newspapers should be study of the facts. They should not be allowed to kill the habit of independent thinking.’
Sidharth Mishra is with Centre for Reforms, Development & Justice, and consulting editor, Millennium Post.
This has raised a big question mark about the intent and result of such media activism. Many years ago Mahatma Gandhi had said, ‘Whenever you are in doubt or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test: Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen and ask yourself if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him.’ This became famous as his Talisman. I wonder whether those who believe that they are ordained to look after the nation ever take this test.
Gandhi has answers for the queer and quixotic situations that Indian media finds itself in from time to time. We currently find ourselves in such a situation, where allegations and counter-allegations are flying thick and fast with media lapping it up. Nobody is really bothered, to use Gandhi’s words, ‘if the step (taken by media) is going to be of any use to him (the weakest man).’ It’s another matter that some swear by the weakest man, christened in recent times as aam admi, and some wear his name even on their head to express greater loyalty to his interest.
What does the media propose to gain by practising journalism of heckle and smother? Does it help achieve any social purpose or just keeps them ahead in the rat race for the elusive ratings. These questions Gandhi had raised nearly a century ago. He referred to newspapers as then television did not exist.
Writing in Navajivan on 4 April 1920, Gandhi said, ‘Lack of politeness is a sign of anger. The people at present are in angry mood and boiling over, and therefore, pleased with nothing. They are labouring under a mistaken feeling of helplessness, that they are powerless to do anything which may end their suffering. And so they cling to anything that can make them forget their grief for a while, to anything which may provide them with an intoxicant in place of anger. That is why we see, now-a-days, an excess of sensational writings in the newspapers.’
Gandhi, so very prophetically writes in another instance, ‘It is often observed that newspapers publish any matter that they have, just to fill in space. This practice is almost universal. The reason is that most newspapers have their eye on profits. There is no doubt that newspapers have done great service. Their defects are therefore overlooked. But, to my mind, they have done no less harm. ...On the whole it would seem that the existence of newspapers promotes good and evil in equal measure.’
I am reminded of what a news channel head recently told me commenting of the airtime given to Arvind Kejriwal. He had said with a chuckle, ‘In face of lack of content we earlier ran laughter shows, now we run this blaster show.’
Gandhi’s criticism of media increased with time. Writing in Harijan on 18 February 1939, he said, ‘Newspapers which indulge in untruth or exaggeration harm the cause they profess to espouse. I admit, too, that there are enough lies in newspapers to warrant action. But my experience is that no amount of public criticism will affect the policy of the newspapers which make their livelihood by such policy.’
Gandhi’s enunciations are very relevant today for the Indian television news channels, most of which are loss-making business ventures. No wonder a private, and the oldest news channel, put its editor on the job to extort a fee from a company alleged to be involved in coalgate scandal.
What surprises me is that neither Arvind Kejriwal nor his benefactors in the electronic media chose to speak about the matter. The editor of Zee News has faced a ‘reprimand’ by ex-communication from the association of the news channels. But does this absolve the news channels of the guilt of not having addressed a severe case of corruption in the Indian fourth estate.
Writing on the same issue recently, a veteran commentator rightly said that ‘a thorough exploration of the media will unearth not merely sharp business practices but even horrifying criminality.’ How do the people react to such abysmal situation? How far do they trust what is shown on the channels and what is published in newspapers?
Mahatma once again holds the answer to it. In letter written on 29 November 1934, Gandhi said, ‘The majority of journalists spoil things by judging things. They will discharge their function well, if they will give unvarnished versions of events. When they criticise they must base their judgement on facts strictly within their knowledge.’ And what should the reader and viewers do, when the journalists ‘fail’ in their duty? Speaking at a prayer meeting on 16 May 1946, Gandhi said, ‘Newspapers should be study of the facts. They should not be allowed to kill the habit of independent thinking.’
Sidharth Mishra is with Centre for Reforms, Development & Justice, and consulting editor, Millennium Post.
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