Indian social fabric & Media

Indian social fabric & Media

Khan Yazdani

January, 2013

Indian social fabric is basically secular. And, our political system is unfortunately is communal.

Unfortunately, the communal virus has been spread to media and become epidemic.

Media is a subsidized commodity that lives on the patronization of ad revenue. Ad revenue can only be generated from majority community of the country.

Hence, the media will lend all its services to the majority community.

Most of the media editors, rather hypocritically, originate the media to the great proclamation of eighteenth century French philosopher, Voltaire, “ I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it ” 

The twenty first century media proclamation is face off of the Volataire.

“ I may disapprove of what you say, but I will allow it if you pay the price”

Ads were separate islands and  separate slots and insertions in the earlier days. Now they become integral parts not only for the news items but also for the editorials.

Advertorials is a great coinage of the first decade of the twentieth century.

Advertorials means, Advertisement in a publication that looks like one of its normal articles.

By giving us the opinions of the uneducated, journalism keeps us in touch with the ignorance of the community.

- Oscar Wilde

While some Hindi papers are known for their balanced reporting, the vast majority, are infamous for their obviously pro-Hindutva leanings, not even making a pretence of secularism, as in the case of many of their English counterparts.

Since independence till the demolition of Babri Maseed, Telugu media has vaguely continued the lenience of left lineage. And, the scenario has been changed during last decade of last century. New millennium saw the advent of Neo corporatism and crony capitalism that inherently promote the dominant community and further suppress the weaker social groups. In this backdrop, while playing a central role in promoting Hindutva , the Telugu media has further cemented  prejudices against Muslims and other marginalized groups such as Dalits, Backward Castes, and Tribals.

Do media cover and disseminate the happenings of Muslim society? The answer is YES. The answer is NO.

The answer is YES because it prefers to cover the every detail of the incident that further  spoil the image of the community.

The answer is NO because it prefers to ignore the news that really enhancing the image of the community. 

1.   It never gives emphasis over the sacrifice part of the Id ul Zuha. But it will give exhaustive coverage over the animal slaughtering.

Animal slaughtering is not a unique phenomenon for Muslims as the other communities also slaughter animals and birds in a very big way during Jataras and on some particular festival days.

2.   In Babri Masjid – Ram Janmabhoomi Case, the friendship between Mohammad Hashmi Ansari, and Mahant Bhaskar Das- , the main plaintiff in the case on behalf of theSunni Central Waqf Board and the President of Nimrohi Akhara respectively, -  was never projected as good gesture.

3.   Some two hundred years ago, the erstwhile Nizam has offered  Managlasutras, Ear Studs and  Nose Studs to Sri Durgamalleswaraswamy , the goddess  of Vijayawada city as part of a ritual duty of a brother to sister.   In the year 1998 a thief from Orissa has stolen the jewelry of deity. The case is not just a robbery but the cremation of a great good gesture by a Muslim King.

4.   Tomorrow if the Telangana state is formed and the Bhadrachalam is reunited with East Godavari district, I am skeptical  about the new state government send the Hyderabad pearls to the historical temple on the eve of Srirama Navami.  Which will another cremation of good gesture of Muslim rulers.

 As I mention earlier, Muslims are not the lone victims of the media. There are numerous  other marginalized groups.

I am of the opinion that Muslims can achieve some better results by joining hand with other marginalized groups in social and political front.

I am also aware that there are lots of cultural differences among the marginalized groups which cannot be solved overnight. Even then we have to build a unity to achieve the common goals.