“The intent is clear. Keep the people drugged so they do not revolt against poverty”
Press Council of India (PCI) Chairman Justice Markandey Katju on Sunday called upon journalists to play a seminal role in promoting scientific and rational ideas in society and raise the intellectual level of the masses by extricating them from the morass of superstition, casteism, bigotry, communalism and feudal tendencies.
Delivering the Jhabarmal Sharma memorial lecture here, Justice Katju flayed the penchant in a section of the media for non-issues — ostensibly to serve its business interests — at the expense of the vital issues which affect 80 per cent of the people in the country facing poverty and unemployment.
“You have lost your sense of proportion, but this cannot go on for long. As your critic and well-wisher, I will bring you to the right path,” Justice Katju told the audience largely comprising journalists and academicians. The venue was Kesargah, which is the headquarters of Hindi daily Rajasthan Patrika.
Taking note of the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival, Justice Katju said the level of participants in the event touted as a mega literary carnival reminded him of Hindi novel Chandrakanta Santati full of fairy-tales and useless anecdotes, which he read in childhood: “What is the level of the people taking part in this festival? Does their work evoke any kind of admiration for them?”
The PCI Chairman regretted that those claiming to be litterateurs had stooped to the level of making indecent remarks on the stage and were justifying perversions. This was happening in the land which had produced illustrious writers and poets like Premchand, Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay, Qazi Nazrul Islam and Saadat Hasan Manto, he said.
Justice Katju said while the nation was “sitting on a volcano,” the media was offering four kinds of opium to the masses in the shape of religious bigotry, films, cricket and falsehood: “The intent is clear. Keep the people drugged so they do not revolt against poverty and the terrible mess created for them.”
The former Supreme Court Judge felt that the electronic media was dividing the people on the lines of caste and religion by creating an impression that Hindus alone had the first claim over citizenship and others were second-rate citizens. “Minority communities are demoralised in various manners. This is unacceptable in India which is a land of migrants,” he said.
Uttar Pradesh Governor B.L. Joshi and Rajasthan Patrika Editor-in-Chief Gulab Kothari spoke.
Comments:
Justice Katju remarks about the way today's media,perticularly the
electronic media are 100% correct indeeed.
Due to the wrong projection of media people like
amitab,sharukh,cricketers are known to more people
than social reformers like anna hazare,medha patkar,scientists and the
patriots sacrificing for the country on the borders...
While I applaud Justise Katju's zeal, in bringing the broom of change to the vaudeville stage that is our media, some of his comments especially one where he says that the electronic media is demoraliziing the minority communities cause bafflement. I refer here to the following.
The former Supreme Court Judge felt that the electronic media was dividing the people on the lines of caste and religion by creating an impression that Hindus alone had the first claim over citizenship and others were second-rate citizens. “Minority communities are demoralised in various manners. This is unacceptable in India which is a land of migrants,”
I am in no way connected to media as a profession, yet I do follow the English and the local vernacular media outlets. I have not seen any such charecterization.
Our media outlets are guilty of much, but surely this is not one of their flaws?
Justice Katju and the Reporter should clarify.
He is right but there is an element of exaggeration as a result of which the core content of the sermon suffers. The fact is that most of the media is owned by corporate houses. Close to 90% of revenues in the print media comes from advertising and something very close to this in the electronic media.
” the media was offering four kinds of opium to the masses in the
shape of religious bigotry, films, cricket and falsehood: “ Among
many scintillating observation of many ills afflicting this country
PCI Chairman Justice Katju critical quote about the visual media is
very much true and relevant. I am so sick and tired of the
chattering of the visual media I have totally stopped watched them
instead rely on print media and internet for all the information I
need. Most of TV channels instead of giving news go about saturating
the air waves with their opinion of the happenings around the
country. People are quite capable of drawing conclusion without
having to listen to highly biased irrelevant blabbering of TV
anchors.
Press Council of India Chairman justice Markandey Katju's statement
made here at the Jhabarmal Sharma memorial lecture on Sunday where he
has remarked that the Media has a greater responsibility in bringing
about the intellectual capacity among the mass. India which is a
floating sea of many superstitions, religion, language, black magic
which is highlighted and given undue advantage for the coverage of
those things where rural people are often blamed for that. Instead of
hyping the same incidents , media has a greater responsibility , where
programmes has to be charted out along with showing the present
situation as it is, it also has the sole duty of imbibing scientific
way to solve the problem, where the poor mass is being always
targetted for the benefit of politics in the system of democracy.
Though media cannot be straight forward, atleast it can avoid such
hyping of news content which makes the illiterate poor prone to
believe it that what they are doing is right.
Excellent observation, glad someone was bold enough to talk about it.
Without the help of media it is almost certain lot of these bigotries
could not flourish.
Even Hindu, some times I really wonder why they write about this particular
article, or why they try to publish this comment by a politician.
Newspapers need to become the voice of the common man not the social
parasites.
I agree with ur point of view to some extent. Even if media could
highlight sport and Art in a proper proportion then it will be helpful
for society. In sport they show only cricket and in art they show sexy
chicks at beaches.I get surprised to see the IQ level of some of the
famous Anchors as in middle of conversation they forget that they are
journalist and its not their right to be agreed or disagreed with the
interviewee. Paid news is also a big issue and i am afraid no Govn
ready to take on media head on as both needs each other. Such a messy
situation and we common people have no other option but to go and
check facts on Wiki.
If the media in India is indeed playing a role to demoralize the religious minorities, then that is wrong. But, the basic premise that Justice Katju calls forth, that "...India which is a land of migrants" is, to say the least, WRONG. India is NOT a country of migrants. This idea is fundamentally due to the Aryan Invasion Theory (AIT) propounded by Max Mueller. Without going into the intent of the theory, which is also questioned, let us get up to speed with latest Archeological research into this. River Saraswati has been discovered. Indic script has been deciphered. There is now evidence of continuity of Civilization. There is no evidence of any "Aryans" invading India. Nor did the "Dravidians" come down from the North. Latest research actually suggests that Indians moved further Westwards, and might well be the ancestors of Europeans. That no one should be demoralized is fundamental humanness, let us not prop it up on the foundation of falsehood.
I support the ideas of Justice Katju, Media should help the masses to come out of entertainment (cricket,films,even news) and promote tolerance and scientific outlook. In the absence of education system which could inculcate these ideas media has to take the responsibility.
I do not believe that India is land of migrants as Katju has not provided any evidence. He is trying to propgate Aryan Invasion theory which has no basis as this theory was propounded well before "Indus valley civilization" was discovered.
Regardless of migrants or aborigines, science and development should find more space in daily life and then there will be reflection of that same in newspaper.
In my opinion again, newspapers are only reflecting the reality and not guiding us to the future which is job of the political leaders. Our political leaders made an issue out of Salman Rushdie owing to elections in UP etc. If there is an issue, newspapers will report that albeit it can be given back seat.
But again, to reemphasize, it is our corrupt, brainless , greedy and shortsighted leaders who should be blamed for all the chaos we find ourselves in today.
India has not been able in spite of holding the reins of Governance over 65 years - to address issues which are affecting millions of people. Some of the issues which need Attention by All Concerned on an Emergency Footing - as detailed below.
1.Child Health- pre and anti natal care,nutrition,access to Medical Care.
2.Lack of accessible Roads,Communication Net Work,Transport Facilities,Routine Visits by Heathcare Staff
3.Lack of facilities for schooling for the poorest of the poor
4.Lack or inadequate BASIC requirements like Drinking Water,Lighting by Electricity or by fuel /alternate energy.
5.Deprivation through exploitation by powerful
6.Dispossession of the weak by brutal force/threat.
7.Denial of Rightful support instituted under various schemes by the Govt.
8.Exploitation of young girls and women by unscrupulous and greedy.
It is a sad state of affairs that these issues are NOT HIGHLIGHTED
ENOUGH
Agreed sir, very unforutnate reality about our media.
Justice Katju is wrong: It is not as if the Hindus are aggrandising
themselves all the beenfits of the citizenshiop leaving nothing but
secondary citizenship to the other reliegionists; the fact is that
Hindus are feeling themselves alone in their own land.
Karl Marx had once said "Religion is the opium of the people". Justice
Katju is right, today's media has also joined religion as an institution
of the elite just meant to control the masses, by keeping them away from
the real problems. By focusing on entertainment mostly, media is just
acting as a comfort blanket against hardships of daily life.
This Honorable man only worry about country and culture. We need these
type of people as a leader for our country.
I'm shocked by the cryptic position of the Chariman of the Press council- suggesting the authors who read verses of the Satanic Verses were 'justifying perversions'. Should he not be standing up for freedom of expression? Is this the man we want supervising our press (for all it's obvious flaws)? I admit initially having been partly seduced by his plea to fight the practice of paid news(rampant), on giving coverage to the underbelly of India's society(we have a strange capacity to take their plight as the 'normal') or even on troubling aspects of a few media houses having disproportionate control on our information sources.
Now, as he settle into office, his views are proving dangerous. Clearly, Katju believes in heavy handed regulation of our fundamental right to freedom of expression. I demand the lifting of bans on all books and I consider anyone in support of bans as NOT qualified to supervise the FREE press. Morale of this episode? Beware crusaders.
The media’s role has been miss spelt these days. It is to sensationalize.
Look at people like Barkha Dutt? They like to live on the lime light and make money out of every topic. Good was the time when there was no TV to sensationalize and people could live life.The breaking news concept should be monitored with strict laws to prevent destabilize peace.
I personally agree with Mr. Katju that we are getting into unnecessary controversies, prevailed during the Jaipur Literature Festival. The issue has turned in such a manner that whole nation started keeping sight over whether Mr. Rushdie would attend or not and if he attends then what would happen and forget the spirit of the fest. The media perfectly covered, bit by bit, news of Mr. Rushdie. If this concern would have been heeded on the fest, it would never miss the very important issues as Mr. Katju mentioned. The quality of literature day by day is deteriorating in Indian context and those who are contributing, are being ignored because of not having solid background. We still under the influence of colonialism that the people of west are advanced then us. Living in London or New York, for example, are considered to be symbol of your intellect and it paves the way for being heard in the crowd of millions in India. In the festival various indigenous wrights are untouched and even not given importance. However the base of literary festival has been increasing then its earlier editions. If it would have furthered the legacy of India wrights, as mentioned, would be worthy of admiration from all section of Indian Society. I hope its next session will never down the common readers’ spirit.
i totally agree with justice Katju. Media are in pockets of vested interests.....they r interested in only Hi Fi characters Pawar, Malaya Amitabh sharuk Ambanis....IPL....but when comes to food security...NO MONEY...says Pawar and they are highlighted, getting free publicity day in day out. As per my experience of 42 yrs in Industries,,....media is another paid profession