We
Salute Our Journalists
By Syed Ali Safvi
14 May, 2007
Countercurrents.org
Press
plays a pivotal role in shaping the public opinion. It plays an all
important role in developing the conscience of the society. But, in
a conflict zone, like Kashmir, it has a much greater responsibility.
Writing against the government
policies or state highhandedness may be a routine and trouble-free affair
for the journos living in apparently cozy atmosphere in Posh area or
metro cities, but the same becomes a Herculean task for the scribes
in a conflict area, where you are being literally watched and monitored
24x7. In such a hostile ambience where bulk of the reporters 'manufacture'
reports, TRUTH becomes the first and foremost casualty. But then, there
are few who muster courage and report TRUTH without caring about the
consequences and we cannot but appreciate them.
In a recently organized seminar
on "The Growth of Press in Kashmir" by the Mass Communication
Professionals' Guild (MCPG), chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank,
Haseeb Drabu – the chief guest on the occasion – made some
mortifying and demeaning remarks about the Kashmir press. I fail to
understand how come a learned person like Drabu, who is not completely
alien to journalistic field given that fact that he edited 'Business
Standard' for over six years, forgot the basic principle of journalism
ethics which says, "you cannot be judgmental."
It sounds outré to
hear a discourse on journalistic profession from a complete 'unprofessional'
person who has spent a greater part of his life sitting in the palatial
bungalows oblivion of the ground realities in Kashmir.
One cannot find the likes
of Sanghvis, Aikman and Fisks every where, but we, Kashmiris, are proud
of the fact to have produced some of the brilliant journalists who have
stood through thick and thin and have often put their lives at risk
in order to report the TRUTH. These journalists are far, far better
than the Sanghvis who, more often than not, play into the hands of the
establishment.
When human rights violations,
fake encounters, custodial killings, et al are routine phenomenon and
the order of the day, how can a story on Dal Lake or any developmental
work, for that matter, make it to the front page.
…and where is the development
any way! Laying down the railway lines, reopening the exhibition ground
cannot be termed as real development. These 'developments' make no sense
for the dejected Bemina residents where three chief ministers have failed
to complete a single bridge from the past 15 years. These works make
no sense when the roads narrate a dismal tale of the share callousness
of the state government.
There is no denying the fact
that the successive state governments have not only failed to develop
the social infrastructure but have also miserably failed to protect
the interests of the denizens of the state. Moreover, the pseudo-intellectuals
add fuel to the fire. They have that uncanny knack of criticizing and
castigating the Valley populace. Like in cricket it is easy to criticize
a batsman from the stands, but only the batsman in the centre –
engulfed by players – knows what he goes through. The same is
the case with Mr. Drabu. His example is like those spectators only!
We have to be true to our
own selves. As George MacDonald said, " Friends, if we be honest
with ourselves, we shall be honest with each other." I believe
many of us still lack that honesty.
According to the data several
Kashmiri journalists, including a woman scribe, Asia Gilani (JKCCS),
have been killed in the strife-torn region of Kashmir since the eruption
of mass movement in 1989. Among others, the journalists who were killed
while doing their duties include Shabbir Ahmad Dar (Kashmir Times),
Mushtaq Ali (ANI), Ghulam Muhammad Lone (News Agent), Ghulam Rasool
Azad (Paper Owner), Muhammad Shaban Wakeel (Al-Safa) and Pervaz Muhammad
Sultan (NAFA).
Among those tortured and
illegally detained include Muhammad Maqbool Sahil (Chattan), Rehmattullah
Khan (Editor, Rehmat) and Syed Iftikhar Gilani (Kashmir Times/Voice
of Germany). Gilani was released after several months of illegal detention
during which he was subjected to severe torture. The other two journalists
are still languishing in Indian jails.
We salute our journalistic
fraternity for showing the utmost audacity and commitment in order to
sketch a real picture of Kashmir, sometimes with the colour of their
own blood. We salute those indefatigable journos who braved the tyrannical
establishment and highlighted the atrocities of the forces and in the
process laid down their lives for a cause – the cause so dear
to their hearts, the cause of projecting the TRUTH.
Let the TRUTH prevail.
(The writer is a freelance
journalist and can be reached at [email protected])
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