Public Discourse Rapidly Turning Frivolous In Country

Prof N.K. Singh

Former Chairman International Airports Authority of India

The media, both the print and electronic, is getting replete with frivolous posters or allegations that are of no consequence. Freedom given by the internet is getting more and more abused. I always defended the freedom of expression offered by internet and various sites like Twitter. But of late, it is full of petty and abusive tweets which seem to hit that very quality of thinking that it was projecting earlier. In majority of the cases even if the tweet is not abusive it is misleading and spreading motivated information.

A national newspaper head lines disruption in universities of India whereas it is limited to three or four out of 800. Idea is to sensationalise and create panic harming the public interest. There has been enough public opinion against the paid news but no one is protesting against such misreporting which is prevailing in many channels.

Latest non- issue dominating the media is a picture of girl holding placard showing. “Pakistan did not kill my father, war killed him”. On the first sight, it appears innocuous enough to take seriously but it carried a message as the girl is daughter of a martyr who was killed in terror strike in J&K. She apparently exonerated Pakistan. Media continued to report first that she is daughter of Kargil war martyr whereas he did die in course of terror strike in J & K.

Mentioning Kargil incorrectly was deliberate attempt to sensationalise as it was an emotive issue for Indians when Pakistan attacked India in Kargil. This kind of thinking was the product of JNU type ethos which idolises anti- national figures like Afzal Guru who was hanged after conviction for being involved in attack on Parliament of India. The JNU became a den of such students who supported separation of Kashmir and sloganeered for making pieces of India. Poster wielding girl was associated with AAP and Left movement. What was great news in this innocent but foolish act? But it continued to grab media space for days.

What happened to Roy Mathew who committed suicide by hanging from a tree? He was victim of a sting operation of a new channel and gave an interview exposing misdeeds of officers in defense forces when treating their helpers. He spoke on assurance of confidentiality but when the reports appeared, these carried his identity fully jeopardizing his career. He was forced to die as he apprehended punishment. What happens in army was open to remedy by grievance or personal complaint or reporter raising a point on reforms with the Defence Ministry. But he fell for a reporter offering him an opportunity not knowing that the media reporter will let him down. Suicide might become talk of the town but more important was the ethics of journalism.

Why items like a mullah in West Bengal asking for the head of Prime Minister for a reward or a BJP member asking for the head of Kerala CM or Muslim fundamentalist Owaisi for a price, are not important national issues but aberrations of some mad people. These need not hog headline space as one knows what these insane people are doing and could be consigned space on the back page. But these are debated and become rage of controversy fanned by the media.   Like fad of opposing Valentine Day or such other issue, it has become another fashion to debate defying standing for National Anthem. Do we need to debate this item even when court prescribes it as mandatory? It is not a matter of personal choice it is tribute to national honour which flag and the anthem represent. Every country’s citizens have their own way of honouring these symbols. But some people are freaks and declare openly that they will not stand to honour anthem.They receive a good deal of coverage and all kind of opinions are expressed. Don’t we have important national issues that deserve a debate and coverage?

So much so scientific development is taking place which receives minor share in din of non-issues. Tolerance is another theme promoted by people in the academic or journalistic circles who are not prepared to honour another view. Tarek Fatah is thrown out of a seminar that advocates freedom of expression and tolerance but they could not tolerate his views. Similarly Shazia Ilmi is muffled by removing her from the panel of speakers by a university which claims to represent freedom. Those who are demanding Azadi are making full use of the open political space without any hindrance but they don’t want others’ Azadi.

We are debating things which are axiomatic or so frivolous that no debate is needed to prove a point. No one debased the debate so much as CM of AAP in Delhi. The constitution of India provides freedom of expression in Article 19 but within the framework of national or public interest and decency.

Bus Stand

First Passenger: Kejriwal is going to make Delhi like London in one year?

Second Passenger: I don’t know but certainly he can make London as Delhi in one year.

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