THE INDIAN NATION DEMANDS TO KNOW: WHEN WILL JOURNALISM REFORM ITSELF?

No offence to all my journalist friends, but the state of the journalism in India is becoming more and more intolerable. Sensationalism, rowdiness and bad reporting have become the order of the day. After watching several news channels and reading newspapers (baring a few of course), I feel I just waste time and not gained anything in the process. People debate with each other, but they rarely have a dialogue or hear each other out. Each channel/newspaper is out to thump the other. 

This post refers to three specific instances where I believe that media, in all its forms, is overstepping its boundaries in India, especially with regard to India's foreign policy. Let me state at the outset, that this is not a post to defend the Government of India, which is weak and has no long term vision. 

The first instance deals with instances of border incursions by Pakistan and China. If it was left to a couple of our news anchors, India would go to war everyday. Ceasefire violations on all ill-defined borders are common occurrences and the two armies have their own standard protocols to address these issues. What is generally reported in very nationalist terms as intrusion, is sometimes just a confusion on where one country's border ends and the other begins. Taking strong, belligerent stands by GOI against Pakistan and China is not going to help. For frankly nothing can be achieved militarily, considering both our neighbors are nuclear armed states and equally capable militarily. In the process of calling the Indian state weak and incapable, significant alternative mechanisms get over-shadowed because our 'weak' government is forced to act under 'popular/public opinion.'

The second instance deals with our stand over the Indian ship detained by the Iranian authorities in Bandar Abbas port in Iran a couple of days ago, on allegations of causing oil bilging (oil spill). Most ground sources and international agencies have implicated the Indian ship (belonging to Shipping Corporation of India) of having violated international environmental laws and being non-compliant. Ordinarily these issues are dealt with the insurance company of the ship, which conducts investigations and fulfills insurance claims. But in this particular case, an abridged version of the event was leaked to a News Channels, again with the rhetoric that being an Indian ship, it was targeted by Iran for geo-political reasons. A particular cause cited was Iraq taking the place of Iran in supplying oil to us. What is the actual truth is not the case here, what matters is within days the MEA took a belligerent stand demanding that the Iranians release the ship immediately and making it a major diplomatic stand-off. Maybe Iran is playing a geo-political game but the Indian ship was also non-compliant. The way ahead was letting the investigation run its course and back channel negotiations. Such stand-offs with our major energy suppliers is quite pointless. 

My third instance deals with this tiring see-saw between Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi. Really, I have heard so many debates on who should be the next PM candidate, when frankly I still know as little about their positions as I did when all of this started. How does Modi plan to bring us out of the economic mess we are in, what will he do about inflationary pressures, weakening currency and Current Account deficit. Similarly does Rahul have a vision on education, women's safety and growing unemployment. These are the things that I want to know, want dialogues on, want to understand more. 

An active media is often considered the 'fourth pillar' of a vibrant democracy. But when it becomes the judge, policy maker and lobbyist - it is a worrisome situation. Yes, Indian media flags up issues but the narrative/understanding is so weak that it does not lend to any meaningful solutions. Indeed some of the language and rhetoric disturbs me. This is not to say that all journalism is devoid of any content, India has some amazing writers and thinkers as journalists and academicians. However, this trend that began some years ago of loud talk, even louder accusations and no substance has now become the norm. We need to find a balance between reporting and flagging issues in the national conscience and becoming arbitrators, judges and decision makers.

How to break a shackled system: Curious case of Indian administrators

'It is much easier to abandon a sinking ship than to brave the storms' - Anonymous. I have lived with this philosophy all my life, particularly with respect to India. Having studied and traveled abroad very extensively, I have often been given the advice that I am wasting my time in India and should be working in some 'high-up' organization in the 'Western world.'

I will state at the outset, I love my country, yet am very critical of it. At this juncture, criticism of some crucial aspects is overpowering my love for India. About two years back I decided to follow my idealistic dreams and work with the Indian government to 'make a difference'. I went into this without having any idea of what I can make different, but an innate belief that once I present my capabilities to the officials and powers of Government of India, they would see the merit and allow me to contribute to the fields of - trade and economic policies and India's geo-strategic positions. Two years down the line and I have started re-thinking my own position. 

Reiterative cycles of attempts - faxes sent to various bureaucrats, trying to touch base with autonomous organizations, writing to Ministers. About 99% attempts are wasted - 'maybe they are too busy, have seen too many phonies, have many political compulsions'. With 1% you break in - several rounds of meetings. appreciation of work, endless rounds of free consulting, promises of moving forward and yet after 6-8 months, nothing moves forward. And if that is not disillusioning enough, several rounds of interactions make you realize three vital things;

• Most people in the government are fire-fighting. There is no strategic vision of why and how a decision should be taken, especially at the lower levels of bureaucracy - but no one admits to wanting help
• Different ministries and departments do not talk to each other. 
• System crushes all crusade type sentiments in any moralist person.

Several of my friends and acquaintances who had left lucrative careers abroad to 'make a difference' through the GOI in this country have left, become frustrated or worse become disillusioned. As India catapults from one crisis to another, it becomes imperative to examine if the rigidity of our system is excluding popular participation, especially of young and engaged persons. Is this syndrome of 'I Know the Best' slowly leading to a situation where 'Out of the Box' thinking and 'Long Term Strategic planning' giving way to mediocrity and everyday firefighting. That being the case we are going to lose heavily in this fast moving, hi-tech world. The saddest consequence would be the disconnect between the government and the young generation that can be a source of new ideas and innovative thinking.

Do our Cops Need to be Defended?

Another major incident of rape in New Delhi and the blame game between the authorities has begun yet again. The Delhi police has emerged as a convenient scapegoat (though not totally undeserved), by the administration, judiciary, media and common people. I recently watched the interview of the Delhi Police Commissioner on TimesNow and a couple of points he made stood out for me. Let me say this at the outset, I have met several people from the Delhi police and have always thought of them as progressive, driven and truly committed to doing something. But here maybe I am only talking about the top brass. Also, this article is not to absolve the Delhi Police of the responsibility for the incident, rather it is to highlight the structural flaws of the entire system, and take steps that can help bring a 360 degree change in law, attitude, mindsets and political system.

I am going to concentrate on making four vital points here:

First and foremost, North Indian culture has always been patriarchal and misogynist, where women are glorified as sexual objects to be used, abused and dominated. From female foeticide, to dowry deaths, sexual harassment to representation in Indian cinema and TV – all reflect this basic misogyny and attempt to restrict women to the private sphere. This then is the structure from which most policemen come, imbibing and often perpetuating this social mindset. Awareness and sensitization programs, training sessions, regular talks etc (which are absent within the Police right now) can perhaps make a dent in their way of thinking, which states in extreme terms ‘that if a women is sexually harassed, she probably did something to entice the man’. However, if this attitude is to be fully combated, familial structures will have to change, the way the sons and daughters are bought up will have to change. Holding the Delhi Police Commissioner responsible for this mindset, absolves millions of India parents of their culpability in cases of women’s humiliation. It spares actors like Salman Khan whose movies constantly send out the message that ‘if a girl says no, she means yes.’ Or the serials on Indian television where physical abuse and manhandling is glorified as ‘manly romance.’

Second, relates to a more legal structure. Delhi police does not decide upon the security that is provided to the VVIP’s nor does it have any say in the number of police employed, vans deployed or technology available. Yes, it can make recommendations and the policemen should be held accountable for their lack of willingness to upgrade themselves to usage of better technology, fitter exercise regimes and more aware patrolling. However, the legislature and the Home Ministry are also equally responsible for these incidents, by not understanding the priorities and needs of the police.

Third and here I believe that the courts are equally a part of the problem. The proposal of fast track courts for Rape cases has been pending with the Delhi High court for the last couple of years and they have no right to absolve themselves of the responsibility. Strong judges capable of taking strong stands, building in strong procedures are a need of the day.

And last, I am going to blame the legislative bodies. When the parliament was envisaged by its founding fathers, it was a platform for sane discussion, for experts to give their opinions, which would then be deliberated by people’s elected representatives. Death penalty or not, fast track courts or not, need for better transport, change in societal attitudes – all these are very deep issues whose decisions cannot be taken on spur of the moment, dictated by popular sentiments. It is the legislature and our elected representatives, who have to take these tough calls.

Thus to conclude, the need of the hour is not to scapegoat or assign guilt to certain parts of the whole. Deep rooted reforms are required and they need a change in our families, societies, parliament, police and courts and will have to be thus viewed. There is only so much that a certain wing of the government can do without assistance of the others. It is time to assign responsibility and accountability and not guilt and blame.

Getting into the Shoes of Minorities

Nationalism/Identity in most countries in South and Central Asia has come to be defined in terms of the 'other' rather than 'within'. Whether it is Islamic State of Pakistan vs the Ahmadi community, Shias vs the Sunnis, the dalits (lowest caste in the Indian caste hierarchy) vs. the upper castes, Hindus vs the Muslims - fabric of each nation state has become rife with differentiation and the consequent demonization.

I remember a very casual line that my Political Science teacher once said in our Indian Government and Politics class 'in multicultural, multi-lingual and multi-religious countries, you can become a minority anytime'. Mumbai's Shiv Sena is a classic example, it started it's 'so called career' with attacks on the South Indian migrant workers, went on to Muslims and finally Biharis. Same has been the case with Pakistan - the divide began with the Ahmadi community, went on to Hindus, Christians and now increasingly Shias. The claim often is that it is the politicians who use these tactics of 'Divide and Rule', but for me 'politics is the reflection of societal thinking'.

The aim of this post is not to criticise any nation state or take any sides, rather it is to understand the impact of this 'othering' on the fabric of the nation state that is being evolved and suggest social and national behaviour that can help control it. Mahatma Gandhi once said that 'peaceful and stable nation cannot arise out of a violent, exclusionary independence movement' and whether or not we agree with his concepts, this is very true. History has been replete with examples that 'othering' can never stop with one community, caste or religion - once established within a body politic, it acquires a life of its own, often manifesting itself within the oppressed communities as well. In Sri Lanka, alienation of the Tamil Tigers from the mainstream, led to the formation of the LTTE. Claiming to represent the Tamil population, it in fact gained strength not only for anti-Singhalese propaganda , but also by eliminating moderate Tamil voices. The result is creation of a Frankenstein monster that starts devouring the basic premise of multi-culturalism and peaceful co-existence.

So, given that several communities in the region are today facing threat of majority opinion, what needs to be done. This urgency is not only about mutterings of my concious mind, but instead a necessary ingredient if nation states are to be preserved.

First, an active debate needs to emerge acknowledging the injustices done to certain communities and reiteration of the belief in harmonious if not a democratic society. This is not about apologizing for the mistakes of past generations, rather it is am assertion that these things cannot continue in the present. National Integration Councils, Reconciliation Commissions, Community participation forums can all contribute to this goal.

Second, politicians have to be held accountable for their rhetoric and actions. Media can play a constructive role here, but citizen debate groups, platforms at schools and colleges to discuss burning issues, think tanks are also equally important.

Third is understanding the underlying economic and social characters of the 'anti-minority' grievances. Often, targeting of certain communities is related to economic/social degeneration and as such has to be addressed in this framework. Any signs of anti group sentiment is a trigger that somewhere something is malfunctioning in the social and economic fabric.

Fourth is the addressing of the genuine concerns of the majority as opposed to rumours. For example, in Mumbai, statistics have indicated that most crimes can be attributed to immigrant population from North India. However, this reflects a failure of law and order more than the character of the people implicated. Creation of deterrence becomes a key factor here.

Fifth, creation of strong cooperation between civil society activists, NGOs and the government to promote dialogue between the targeted groups, general populace and authorities, while at the same time keeping checks and balances on corruption or misuse of power by any of the three.

These recommendations sound very idealistic I know, but if successful societies are to be built we have to convert this idealism into realism. All instances of group/minority targeting have an economic/social character that needs to be addressed, a vested interest linkage that needs to be broken and a stakeholder cooperation that needs to be fostered. Creation of such social mindsets has to begin at the level of schools, colleges and research institutes.

Claiming the Night Back: A fight against sexual harassment of women

I have lived in Delhi all my life, and I can say without qualms that Delhi is slowly inching towards a 'Failed City' for women. The recent gang rape of a girl in a moving bus and her brutal torture is just tip of an ice berg. In the last few years almost all women in Delhi have this cloud of fear hanging over them when they are in public spaces - fear of molestation, sexual harassment or at least intimidation. The discourse post all such incidents (numbering 570 in 2012 alone) has been at the two ends of the spectrum - either harsher punishments like death penalty and torture for the criminals, or the other end, which states that it is the women's fault for breaking unwritten laws of society, therefore restriction on her mobility in the public space is the solution. As I see it, rapes in North India are part of a larger patriarchal discourse that views women as objects to be enjoyed, dominated and kept under control. How can a girl travel in public space, late at night, that too with a male escort? is the general presumption.

Since the discourse is so entrenched, the solution will have to be equally invasive and multi layered.

 1. Strengthening the implementation side of law and order - Police patrolling at night, Instant arrests and quick punishments, quick medical examinations and collection of evidence, fast track courts and judges and jury that are trained in the psychological framework needed to dispense such cases

2. Psychological counseling of victims to make them realise that its not their fault and help them fight the social stigma and prejudices.

3. Sensitisation and creation of public spaces where children can interact with each other on issues of Sex education, consequences of ignoring consent, impact on families and ultimately society. Such a program is implemented in schools of several Western countries. It works in removing the feeling of 'otherness', fostering respect and mutual understanding between the two sexes

4. Take the Night Back Campaign - A hallmark of 1960's feminist movement in countries like the USA, Scandinavian countries etc, involved women and their families in organising groups of women citizens, who would collectively go to public areas like public transport, bars, discs, theaters and take quick action against men who were indulging in any crime against women. They were also responsible for interacting with the police, building trust with law enforcers and sensitising communities of men. Maybe something like that could be thought of in Delhi. 

An awesome tweet just sums up my view 'Do not teach your daughters not to go out at night, instead teach your sons to respect women.'