The recent Meghalaya High Court ban on coverage of calls for bandh, shutdown, hartal, road blockade and others issued by militant organizations, pressure groups and NGOs (Non-Governmental Organization) has put the fourth estate in a spot of botheration. The social media is aghast with the ban whereas the general public – who are the worst sufferers out of such shutdowns – hailed it. Interesting comments can be seen in the social media where there are opinions that people may be caught unaware about a proposed or effective bandh and rest of it, if that is not disseminated. Then there are also opinions about the judiciary infringing into the Free Press and exerting its authority on it. These versions are debatable since if a tourist, say, wants to visit this part of the country, they enquire in advance about the ground situation. Over these years of militancy, NGOs, pressure groups and the rest of it has created such a psychosis about this region in the minds of one and all elsewhere that despite the ground realities visitors makes it doubly sure before visiting here. Even the local tribal from Meghalaya who are settled in mainland follows the same trend since they too aren’t sure about the existing state. Moreover there are enough instances when strikes, rallies etc. were publicized in the media beforehand and yet people caught unaware. A prime example from recent history in this regard was the Khasi National Awakening Movement rally of 2013 when local tribesmen dressed in traditional attires attacked innocent tourists and traders in broad daylight in Laitumkhrah area of Shillong town. So what is this fuss about media dissemination?
About media’s rights being infringed upon by the judiciary it is a farcical opinion. The rights which the Free Press carries are not as fragile as the much touted “theoretical and imprisoned” matrilineal setup we get to see in Meghalaya that by not carrying some hoax messages, as termed by the High Court, it is going to be diluted. The writer have come across many media persons in the state including editors of dailies who are skeptical about such nondescript emails sent by organizations and groups and publishes them hesitantly. The writer is told that such practices of publishing emails as lead news in front pages of local dailies is not found or seen elsewhere in the country other than the Northeastern region of India. This practice of feeding verbatim to the press, sometimes even via sms, has spread like plague and it is indeed painful to see media houses embracing them despite being sent by some vested interest groups. Soon after the ban order by the High Court, this writer received several responses from the commoners. One comment came from an aspiring journalist who said that letters to the editor are dumped by local dailies since editors suspect their genuineness whereas these hoax messages finds place in front pages of dailies. So what trend are we setting here? Nonetheless, the uncertainty that loomed large over such messages and their publication have been put to rest and many media persons too along with commoners have hailed it since now there is clarity.
There were enough calls from citizens of Meghalaya to stop publishing calls for bandh, blockades etc. by organizations in the local media but those were never adhered to. And now when the state DGP (Director General of Police) had moved the High Court with a writ petition on which the court pronounced the ban there are questions being raised about the dilution of rights of the Free Press and the rest of it. Should it not have been prudent for the self regulating Free Press to ponder over these messages instead of giving publicity to the minutest of calls from any tom, dick, harry organizations, asks right thinking citizens of the state. Does it need rocket science to realize that had there been some thoughtful action then the move of the incumbent DGP could have been seen elsewhere. In fact these citizens and those from other northeastern states who are in Meghalaya on account of their occupation observed that it is high time that the DGP of their respective states take a leaf out of the Meghalaya episode and reciprocate the same back home. Some residents of Nagaland and Manipur observed that their DGP must initiate similar action to take on organizations verbatim to the local press. Is it not a type of holding the Free Press to ransom that if you want to remain in circulation then obey us? The irony is that these two states have no ban on coverage and relatively a peaceful Meghalaya has a ban in effect.
This development interestingly also brings in the statement by the incumbent state Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma in the floor of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly in the recent past when he likened the local media houses as mouthpieces of militant organizations in the state. The CM since then is facing a media vacuum but if two-legged snipers from the main civil secretariat are to be believed then he can’t be more dissatisfied with the development since the ban is in line with what he said. In a democracy every citizens have the right to give an opinion. According to canteen gossips and social media chats, there is another alleged version where many are of the opinion that the ban has been orchestrated by the government in power through the police chief. But the press fraternity here should not give too much importance to these issues since their freedom is not chained like that of the government which literally scrambles whenever the banned militant outfit HNLC (Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council) declares a bandh. Now with the ban in place it will be interesting to see what changes take place if there happens to be another bandh. The Free Press should be bold enough to scrutinize this. If there is any marked change visible sans coverage to such calls for bandh, blockade etc. then it should be understood that the media was the shoulder from which these organizations were shooting for so long. And if that is not so then the Free Press knows how to go about it. The press need not clarify that it is the mouthpiece of the people – who forms the greater civilization. Given the condition in Meghalaya with so many parallel governments in NGOs, district councils, student unions, pressure groups and what have they, one can only wonder the pandemonium around if there are no media here.
The Congress debacle was imminent and equally looming was a harsh post-mortem that followed. The Congress in its latest sitting in New Delhi have arrived at communication strategy of the party was the main reason for the disaster. But that is only one side of the story. An over hundred year old party lost a general election, eyeing for a hat-trick, only because of communication is indigestible. But even this post-mortem is not free from encumbrances as it was more ‘structured’ and looked like a show. Chief Ministers of states and the party’s president and vice-president have offered to resign but the party refused to accept their resignations. If a debacle of the magnitude of 44 seats out...
An acclaimed exponent of Manipuri dance and Rabindra Nritya Natya, Nibedita Dey has curved out a niche of her own as an innate danseuse. She is indeed a new promising upcoming artist. Her maiden audio-video DVD – Nrittye Sangeet e Tomaye Pronam – dedicated to Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore on his 153rd birth anniversary was launched at Shillong’s Brookside Mansion by Meghalaya Arts and Culture, Director, MW Nongbri during the recently concluded Rabindra Jayanti. The nine songs, 45 minutes CD – produced by Nibedita Dey Production – was a humble effort by Nibedita and her team to present Rabindra Nritya in its very quintessential form away from the increasing classical lean...
As the date approached to implement the Majithia Wage Board (MWB) recommendations that speak about pay hike for journalists and non-journalists for newspapers and news agencies w.e.f. April 1, 2014 media houses scrambled to do their bit in Meghalaya. These recommendations that ensure fair pay structure for employees are implemented by the media bosses reluctantly and in some cases dubiously, as many say. The Information and Public Relations Minister of Meghalaya has recently sent letters to media houses towards implementation of MWB. Thereafter, media houses are in the process to execute the same. But these are not free from encumbrances. That media bosses are increasingly angry with the...
With the biggest event on earth coming to an end the stage is now set ostensibly for the NDA to take over the reins at 7 Race Course Road, New Delhi. The exit polls that are doing the round now is just a precursor to a possible BJP led government at the centre. This is going to be the best ever show by the saffron party and worst ever by Congress. In fact, after Rajiv Gandhi the country may well be giving the strongest ever government in BJP post May 16. And what else can be expected from the electorate if it empowers the saffron brigade – at which they are looking up as the best alternative – a full majority. If this proves to be true then the stitching and horse trading that is associated...
An essential facet of BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s campaigning is that he has addressed considerably on those issues on which no other political parties and their leaders have dared to speak. The Congress party, which is expected to have addressed these issues of the commoners have shamelessly stayed away from it deliberately and spent all its time, money and energy in containing the ever growing influence of Modi. Like him there is none other who has travelled all over the country. Even Sonia Gandhi’s countrywide tour of 2004 could not grab such euphoria that Modi is gathering like a star. And in all these rallies, which is accounted to be over 400 so far, over 95%, has...
The emerging trends overtly indicate that a BJP led government will assume power in New Delhi after May 16. And going by the poll pundits’ version and opinion polls, it appears that the BJP’s election slogan Aabki Baar Modi Sarkar will actually get cemented. The BJP’s electioneering campaign has been centred on its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and that his wave has swept the length and breadth of this country can be gauged not only by the opposition campaigning statements but even school going kids are heard rhyming Aabki Baar Modi Sarkar. The non-stop blitzkrieg by Modi is not only commendable but a tremendous feat that he has achieved because it needs countering the...
Exactly 113 years ago, on 27th April 1901 Swami Vivekananda gave a historic speech that not only pierced his countrymen but also the then Chief Commissioner of undivided Assam, Sir Henry Cotton and other officers of the British establishment here at the Quinton Memorial Hall at Shillong later came to be known as the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Cultural Centre (RKMVCC). Vivekananda’s visit to the northeastern region was not any coincidence but it was a preplanned one by the world renowned revered monk-philosopher, who has travelled worldwide spreading the wisdom of ancient Indian. In April, 1901 Swami Vivekananda visited the then undivided Assam from Dhaka. In fact, in that year...
Silicon Valley, which is home to many of the world’s largest technology corporations as well as thousands of small start-ups, located in Northern California precisely the Southern Bay portion of the San Francisco Bay area, has a comparative reference in Bangalore in India – which is called the Silicon Valley of India. This reference to that of the original Silicon Valley in USA is attached to the Southern Indian city because of its status as a hub for IT companies, research and development, electronics and software production. Bangalore is also the ten most preferred entrepreneurial locations in the world. Now whether the North-Eastern (NE) region of India can go nearer to these technical...
The uncontrolled polarized campaigning that the people of this country are witnessing of late has started to boomerang now. And rightly so, that plethora of anything is not good is what can be seen here. The two national political parties – BJP and Congress – along with other regional parties are now falling in their own soup as most of their leaders are caught making irresponsible comments thereby blushing the party leadership most of whom have distanced themselves from the culprits. These political parties have even issued rejoinders condemning the statements given by their leaders. Of late the vibratory speeches made by Praveen Togadia of RSS, Giriraj Singh of BJP, Shazia Ilmi of AAP,...
Well if you think that Meghalaya is only famous for Cherrapunjee – the rainiest place on earth, Mawsynram – renowned for its hot water springs that can heal arthritis and other bodily pains, Mawlynnong – the cleanest village in Asia, Balpakram national park and the rest of it then you are wrong. There is another attractive side to this state, which is hilarious indeed. The names of the tribal people of this state, which has the potentiality to make people guffaw, endlessly. Have you ever heard of ‘Latrine’ and ‘Submarine’? These two terms, the former does not only mean the place where we go early morning to lighten ourselves and the latter is a vessel that can operate underwater. These two...
Add new comment