Why Media Will Always Remain A Valuable Partner In Nation Building
Students of India with interest in Politics and Society will agree that Narendra Modi-led BJP’s spectacular rise has been one of the most significant stories of Modern India. BJP has often said that it believes in “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas”.
It is in the BJP era that systemic distortions like minority appeasement and pseudo-secularism were successfully challenged. When every citizen is treated as a citizen, irrespective of his or her religion, language or region, it is indeed “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”. BJP’s rise has had another very significant element -- the party successfully challenged Family-based, Dynasty-based politics.
In a recent interview with “Dainik Jagran,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi made several important and interesting points. One of them merits special attention. In one of his replies, PM Modi said: “… Your question is only centred around Vishwanath Dham. But if you look at the work of the Government, then you will see comprehensive efforts (‘samagra prayas’)”.
The PM then went on to talk about “Kartarpur Corridor”, “Veer Bal Diwas”, “Kushinagar being given an international effort so that Buddhists from all over the world could visit it”, “Dr A P J Abdul Kalam memorial in Rameshwaram”, “sprucing up facilities in Srinagar’s Hazratbal and Tamil Nadu’s Velankanni Church” and “Goa’s Saint Bom Jesus Church”.
“The Government has undertaken many such projects. Those who don’t find such mentions convenient, they don’t talk about it,” he said.
(The above excerpts are a rough translation from the original Hindi version)
This leads to a bigger question. Should the popular media debate its coverage of important issues, events and milestones, and think of newer ways so as to do justice to some of the most transformative changes witnessed in recent years?
As someone interested in Contemporary India, this writer would like to point out three instances of the recent past where the media could have done more in terms of its coverage of important events.
One, on Feb 5, PM Modi inaugurated the “Statue of Equality” commemorating Bhakti Saint Sri Ramanujacharya in Hyderabad. The PM said: “On the one hand, Ramanujacharya ji’s commentaries are the culmination of knowledge, and on the other hand he is also the founder of the ‘Bhakti Marg’. On the one hand, he is a saint of the rich ‘Sannyasa’ tradition, and on the other hand, he also presents the importance of ‘Karma’ in (an) excellent way in the Gita Bhashya’.”
Since then, top Constitutional authorities, Ministers and important functionaries have visited “Statue of Equality”. They have made important points at the landmark event. Did the “Statue of Equality” event merit a more prominent coverage in popular media?
Two, while the UP elections have justifiably kept everyone hooked, and popular media has more or less been in agreement about what prominent issues are, there have been a few misses, too.
Two important points from Union Home Minister, Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah’s speeches can be cited which probably merited greater attention. First, in a speech dated Feb 11, the Minister said: “A ‘Shaheed Smarak’ for Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, and Thakur Roshan Singh at Shahjahanpur will inspire new generations and youth”.
On Feb 3, he made a point which was probably missed by many. The Minister said, among other things: “…Uttar Pradesh has been linked to Ramayan Circuit, Mahabharat Circuit, Adhyatma Circuit, Jain Circuit, Buddha Circuit and Sufi Circuit...”
Three, a few weeks ago, BJP National President J P Nadda made a point at an event in Delhi that was probably not reported. While many would find the reference not worthy of space in popular media, historians chronicling India of this era, and today’s BJP, would find the statement significant.
On Nov 17, after the Delhi event, the BJP president said that “when he came to Delhi to work for the organization in 1986, he was very lucky and honoured to get Shri Rajkumar Bhatia ji as a guardian and true well-wisher”.
While we are used to political leaders glorifying their families (and, by extension, Dynasties), here, the president of the largest political party was paying rich tributes to his mentor, who has also mentored many others, who then went on to rise in various walks of life, including in BJP.
Left domination of media and academia is a reality. However, even well-meaning editors often face issues like multiple stories fighting for space, or pressures of deadlines. One way to address this issue is to probably see if important speeches can be reproduced verbatim, maybe, online. As newsrooms see greater integration, and there is a greater synergy between online and print editions, verbatim speeches on important occasions can probably be carried online, with cross-references in print.
Mahatma Gandhi, the journalist, considered the media as an ally in his larger national mission. While recent years have seen some of the most transformative changes, the task of nation building and crafting a promising future for all will remain incomplete without the media’s whole-hearted, enthusiastic participation.
(The writer, a JNU alumnus, is a political analyst. Views are personal)
