The Standpoint

The Tragedy of modern day ‘Journalists’

By

Anukampa Gupta

Words of (most) journalists today reflect a sense of desperation, cynicism and pessimism when it comes to their roles in initiating a dialogue on social reform and social development of India. Their responses are all too typical; some say social reform is utopia while others go to the extent of saying that there are no social reformers in this country! (No wonder Rural India remains a history for most journalists.)

The very thought – ‘there are no social reformers in India’ - is criminal. And this having manifested into a journalist's being can be equated to doing a great dis-service to this nation. Yes, one might well argue about the magnitude and pace of social change that is being pushed by those working at the grassroots. One might disagree with the methods and policies being adopted to usher structural changes in the society but saying that there are no social reformers in India is not acceptable. The statement must be countered with the contempt it deserves.

This thought process, especially in the personnel of the fourth estate, is dangerous and notoriously contagious. And the fact that this view is shared by a considerable number of journalists is a cause of worry. This trend needs to be challenged before it becomes an 'epidemic'- another uncontested notion engulfing the people of this country via the media.

In fact, the very thought justifies social ills existing in India. It’s synonymous to going a step forward with the ‘chalta hai’ attitude. It’s equivalent to taking to a whole new level the existing disdainful and apathetic approach of the middle classes and the elite forces. Well, for them it’s no big deal. Why should they bother where the country is headed? What’s their concern about the ‘other half’, which dies everyday? After all, their kids are going to public schools; why should they bother about the state education system? They have access to private hospitals; why should they care about the failing public health system? It’s not their business if rural India (India as a whole for that matter) faces a drastic shortage of water; they have their water pumps roaring, why should they care?

The tragedy is that most of these journalists hail from the ‘chalta hai’ and ‘kaam nikalo’ 'type' middle class and stop questioning the existing distorted paradigms that exist. They stop questioning this cynicism and instead take a higher moral ground saying that journalists are different from activists.

How convenient is that!

Perhaps that is why P.Sainath doesn’t distinguish between most journalists and stenographers.

Here the words of another journalist, Rupashree Nanda, have to be noted. She says, “As it is the nature of water to wet and the nature of fire to burn it is the nature of Journalism to affect change.”

All journalists by default are activists. They ought to be. Otherwise there will be no scope to fight for Truth. There will be zero chance to employ media as a tool for the social development of India. And till that happens, News and Truth will remain two different things.