The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) cancelled an invitation to scientist Gauhar Raza for a lecture after the institute reportedly discovered that he had made a documentary on the Gujarat riots.
Mr. Raza, a chief scientist at the National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources in the Department of Science and Technology, was to address Group A officers of the Indian Information Services at IIMC on April 8. But a day before the event, the institute withdrew its invitation without offering any reason. “The institute called me on April 7, the day before the event, to enquire about sending a car for transportation. I was later informed that the programme had been cancelled,” Mr. Raza said. It is learnt that institute officials got cold feet on learning that he had made a documentary, Junoon Ke Badhte Kadam (Evil Stalks the Land), on the 2002 Gujarat riots. IIMC Director-General Sunit Tandon however, said: “The event was scheduled at a time I could not attend. It was also clashing with other engagements.” Funded by the I&B Ministry, the IIMC turns out 350 media professionals every year and also exposes officials of the information service to workshops by media experts. The Secretary, I&B Ministry, is the chairman of the institute.