It is time media owners took cognisance of the lopsided or nil representation given to various underprivileged communities, set right the anomaly and revolutionised the coverage of the real Indian society — those living on the other side of the track (“Missing from the Indian newsroom,” April 9) .
Let me narrate my own experience. I am a Dalit Christian. Since I do not belong to the Scheduled Caste, I had to fight it out with the candidates of general category. And I am proud that I worsted them in many academic fights. I have two post-graduate degrees. After acquiring a PG degree in journalism, I was appointed an apprentice sub-editor in one of the leading English dailies. Unfortunately, I was betrayed by an “upper caste.” Within no time, the management sent me packing, labelling me incompetent. I cannot help wondering whether these are the same people who write lofty editorials about Kandhamal and the Ram Sene. I sincerely hope The Hindu will not stop with the publication of the article and will set an example by putting into practice the American ideals of journalistic ethics.
Karthick Roy,
Bangalore
There may be innumerable reasons for the absence of Dalits in the media. They might have got better opportunities. A government job is more secure. The power that comes with it is such that no one would want to give it up. Media jobs are demanding and they are not preferred by most people, irrespective of caste. The absence of Dalits in newsrooms is not a unique phenomenon.
M.S.R.A. Srihari,
Khammam
