As the Chairman of The Doha Debates and with his seven-year run as the host of Hardtalk, Tim Sebastian is known for his hard-nosed inquisitions and tough-as-nails on screen attitude, having interviewed some of the most powerful people on the planet.
As BBC’s foreign correspondent based in Warsaw, Moscow and Washington, he has over 30 years of experience reporting from over 25 countries. Sebastian is now in India to chair The Outsider , a debate series focused exclusively on India.
Slated to go on air in mid-August, this 13-part series is an attempt by Bloomberg-UTV to reinvent its identity and increase its reach. The programme, produced by Sobo Films, will feature debates on major social, political and economic issues faced by India including subjects like education, Kashmir, business and corruption, dynastic politics, to name a few.
A safe platform
There is no doubt in Sebastian’s mind about what he wants from the show. “The idea is not to shock; it is to provide a platform, a safe platform, for intelligent discussions and debates on important issues. We are going to try and look at the cracks in society, the issues that matter to people, and the problems that people face.” Asked what he thinks are some of the pertinent issues in India, Sebastian says, “The issue of women is something we will definitely be discussing in detail in one of our debates”.
Sebastian founded The Doha Debates, in 2004, to promote free speech in the region and explore vital issues affecting the Arab and Islamic worlds.
“One of our debates involved putting together two sparring factions of Palestine society. We got people from both factions to come together and express their views about their leaders. Something like this had never happened before; they realised, suddenly, that they could speak openly about what they thought of these leaders, something they couldn’t do anywhere else in the country. They could tell their leaders how fed up they were; that they wanted them to go. And these leaders had never had young people talk to them like that.”
Since India already has a number of popular debate shows that bring together people from all walks of life to discuss pertinent issues, Sebastian explains how The Outsider will differ.
“Yes, we want to join the incredibly vibrant debate that is India today but we want to do it in a way that tries to pick key problems and address questions that often go unanswered. My job is to make sure these debates contain both the heat of passion and the light to illuminate extraordinary things to a curious world. India matters more than ever. There’s no escaping that.”
He adds that that show will concentrate on young voices while also talking to experts. “Our subjects are controversial and will address concerns raised by Indians. This is a show that’s going to be backed by facts. I won’t be airing my views. My job is to pick holes in people’s arguments and, believe me, there are always holes.”
Aired globally over four continents, the show will also work towards providing the world with a closer insight into India.
“Everyone is an expert on India, but no one listens to what Indians are saying. This show comes at a very good time, when the west is faltering economically, and India and China are two of the fastest growing economies in the world. India has huge ambitions, and its decisions are being watched by the world. This is Asia’s century and it’s time to look at one of the two biggest powerhouses in this continent. We need to see where the problems are; what the problems are. There was a time, in the 1700s, when India had 25 percent of world trade. Maybe there will come a time when you will have that again.”
Of course, the social scenario will be different from the Doha Debates. While Sebastian hosts the show again as an outsider; this time, he has to face a different crowd; one that he has faced before.
When Sebastian got the Doha Debates to India, “We were discussing whether Muslims had got a fair deal in India. We had students from St. Stephen’s College as part of the audience, and they were very good. We got some excellent feedback. It was a productive exercise.”
Perfect time
The Outsider will follow a pattern similar to the Doha Debates and, already, Sebastian is into rigorous research. “I’m known to do my homework. A research team similar to the Hardtalk one will work on this show.”
This is, according to Sebastian, the perfect time to come to India. “Because the view in the outside world is that India is at a crossing point. Maybe it’s no longer shining in the way it was five or ten years ago. Maybe the national mood has sunk a little bit.”
With no particular affiliations to any particular view or party, Sebastian hopes to fulfil his role as the ultimate outsider, looking in and shedding light on an insider’s problems.
Does he hope to make revolutionary changes in society and influence policy making? “We aren’t politicians, we aren’t policy makers, and I’m definitely not hoping for a mass conversion. This is a platform to provide free speech and healthy discussions. By raising such issues with politicians and other influential figures, we will encourage young people to hold them to account.”
He says that debates are becoming more fashionable and these platforms are the only way for people to make sure their voices are heard. “I am not interested in huge audiences. But we want to attract those who are interested in issues that matter to them. In other words, the politically involved.”
