[Reader-list] Today's "media circus" at Jamia

[radhikarajen at vsnl.net]

Dear Shakeb, Rahul,

 when a new life is brought on earth, that child knows only one truth, its mother, then comes the feel and faith of father, then is the will to live life, and the society in which the new life lives gives it a faith of a way of life. As the child grows, the mind of the life of that child gets conditioned to faith, rituals, society and then nation. But unfortunately, in the system of the society does not ensure the societal rules being equal to all, irrespective of birth, the opportunity to live life as good human being is lost in the fight for right and opportunities to live a dignified life. By then death visits the life, and it is unfortunate that death does not discriminate the humans because some one is a hindu or muslim or of any faith. For every birth, death is also surety, the issue is how do we live that life, worthy of being in the society, of use to others in the society or otherwise.?

Regards. 

----- Original Message -----
From: shakeb ahmed <ahmed_shakeb at yahoo.com>
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2008 6:13 pm
Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Today's "media circus" at Jamia
To: Reader List <reader-list at sarai.net>

> 
> Actually I completely agree with you Rahul...we should factor in 
> the death of the police inspector - only then does it becomes even 
> more desirable to understand the complexity of this 
> event!!!Remember Ansal Plaza encounter...there is a big grey area 
> there, maybe ACP Rajbir and our martyred inspector made a mistake 
> then...but the question is do they have an unaccountable 
> immesurable power at times to keep making these fatal mistakes. So 
> surely I will factor in this tragic death! And again, not to 
> malign the man, all I want to reject very fast is the red herring 
> the deceased might end up being made into - just a passport photo 
> with Lata mangeshkar elctronically forced to croon in the 
> background. And yes there should be no guilt. There is no guilt!
> 
> --- On Sat, 9/20/08, Rahul Asthana <rahul_capri at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> > From: Rahul Asthana <rahul_capri at yahoo.com>
> > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Today's "media circus" at Jamia
> > To: "Reader List" <reader-list at sarai.net>, ahmed_shakeb at yahoo.com
> > Date: Saturday, September 20, 2008, 7:58 AM
> > If someone is desiring to inquire deeper into the complexity
> > of the whole episode,they have to factor in the death of the
> > police inspector.That was all I wrote and meant.Yousuf said
> > he didn't know about it and I accept that.IF you want to
> > feel some kind of guilt on account of that question,and then
> > explain why  you will not be silenced, help yourself.
> > 
> > --- On Sat, 9/20/08, shakeb ahmed
> > <ahmed_shakeb at yahoo.com> wrote:
> > 
> > > From: shakeb ahmed <ahmed_shakeb at yahoo.com>
> > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Today's "media
> > circus" at Jamia
> > > To: "Reader List"
> > <reader-list at sarai.net>
> > > Date: Saturday, September 20, 2008, 12:58 PM
> > > To all the friends.
> > > In the wake of the Zakir Nagar Encounter thread a very
> > > funny stance being demanded of people who have a
> > simple
> > > desire to enquire deeper into the complexity of the
> > whole
> > > episode, and hence to make them suddenly feel a guilt
> > that
> > > actually does not belong to them, eventually managing
> > in a
> > > very subtle way to silence them if possible is that
> > they
> > > should attach a coda to all their uncomfortable
> > questions by
> > > attesting to "I 'should factor in that an
> > honest
> > > cop has died' and I respect him (because he died,
> > and my
> > > tv newswallah tells me the number of gallantry awards
> > he won
> > > and the number he was about to win)" What
> > I'll say
> > > and be very firm about is that I dont know who
> > Inspector
> > > Mohan Sharma was and is (strange jingoist portraits of
> > him
> > > on TV being now the only source through which I for
> > the
> > > first time become familiar with his good work or bad
> > > exploits). What is more important in this case for me
> > is
> > > that as somebody who lives very close to this ground
> > zero, I
> > > am
> > >  increasing more familiar with the way the
> > inefficiency and
> > > incompetence of our humdrum security forces(and their
> > > subsequent desperate and maybe very dangerous methods
> > of
> > > saving some face!) and hair-brained media would
> > eventually
> > > end up being very successful in routing the fragile
> > dignity
> > > and self respect of this geographical locality. I am
> > more
> > > worried about what motivations these encouncounter
> > > specialist, right or wrong, forced or unforced, work
> > under
> > > or are made to work under; and very similarly what
> > > motivations these young boys (against whom nothing is
> > yet
> > > proved and still the case is almost getting shut with
> > a
> > > definitive verdict in the larger public imagination),
> > right
> > > or wrong, forced or unforced, work under or are made
> > to work
> > > under. I think we should be gravely concerned with the
> > fact
> > > that the criminal absurdity that accompanies such
> > incidents
> > > is left quite unpacked, unprobed, and unaccounted once
> > the
> > > shameless larger media footsoldiers run
> > >  sweating to another more grotesque fare in an attempt
> > to
> > > makebelieve their cut into the banal vestiges of
> > reponsible
> > > journalism.
> > > I categorically refuse to say I respect Inspector
> > Mohan
> > > Chand Sharma just as strongly as I say I refuse to
> > > disrespect him - very solely for the reason that I
> > dont know
> > > him! And all the blah media is feeding about gallantry
> > > awards etc...havent we been in knowledge of the
> > decorations
> > > that Daya Naik and other encounter specialist have had
> > > before thier un-decorating begins.
> > > Everybody who is asking the right questions should be
> > > encouraged to throw any demanded Apologist Behaviour
> > in the
> > > face of the more ill informed tv-paper-net-magazine
> > > intellectuals.
> > > 
> > > Shakeb
> > > 
> > > 
> > > --- On Sat, 9/20/08, Yousuf <ysaeed7 at yahoo.com>
> > > wrote:
> > > 
> > > > From: Yousuf <ysaeed7 at yahoo.com>
> > > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Today's
> > "media
> > > circus" at Jamia
> > > > To: "Shuddhabrata Sengupta"
> > > <shuddha at sarai.net>, rahul_capri at yahoo.com
> > > > Cc: "sarai list"
> > > <reader-list at sarai.net>, "Peace
> > Initiative"
> > > <peace_initiative at yahoogroups.com>
> > > > Date: Saturday, September 20, 2008, 1:02 AM
> > > > Friends
> > > > I wanted to make a clarification. When I wrote
> > and
> > > posted
> > > > my message about the media circus (at 8:25 m IST
> > on
> > > 19th
> > > > September), the news about the police Inspector
> > Mohan
> > > Chand
> > > > Sharma was not available to me – I saw it only
> > in
> > > the
> > > > morning. I am saddened by his unfortunate death
> > as
> > > much as I
> > > > would be on the death of other innocent people
> > > affected by
> > > > terror attacks. But the inspector’s death would
> > not
> > > make
> > > > me change much of my message. Please read my mail
> > > again: I
> > > > did not make a claim about this being a fake
> > encounter
> > > – I
> > > > was only expressing the public opinion here -
> > which is
> > > writ
> > > > large if you visit the area. But more importantly
> > I
> > > was
> > > > making two points: (1) the role our media plays
> > in
> > > > strengthening the version of the state and
> > ignoring
> > > the
> > > > public, and (2) how an area like Batla House has
> > been
> > > left
> > > > deliberately (by the authorities) to become a
> > breeding
> > > > ground for criminals which can be cashed when the
> > time
> > > is
> > > > ripe. Can anybody deny these two points?
> > > > 
> > > > Yousuf
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > --- On Sat, 9/20/08, Rahul Asthana
> > > > <rahul_capri at yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > > 
> > > > > From: Rahul Asthana
> > <rahul_capri at yahoo.com>
> > > > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Today's
> > > "media
> > > > circus" at Jamia
> > > > > To: "Yousuf"
> > <ysaeed7 at yahoo.com>,
> > > > "Shuddhabrata Sengupta"
> > > <shuddha at sarai.net>
> > > > > Cc: "sarai list"
> > > > <reader-list at sarai.net>
> > > > > Date: Saturday, September 20, 2008, 6:02 AM
> > > > > Did you guys factor in the small detail that
> > a 
> > > > policeman
> > > > > has died?Was it to get more ratings for the
> > > > "media
> > > > > circus" ?
> > > > >
> > http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/sep/19del1.htm
> > > > > Mohan Chand Sharma, inspector of the Delhi
> > > [Images]
> > > > Police
> > > > > Special Cell who was critically injured
> > during an
> > > > encounter
> > > > > with Delhi blasts-linked terrorists, died in
> > a
> > > > hospital on
> > > > > Friday evening.
> > > > > 
> > > > > "We have lost our best man," Joint
> > > > Commissioner
> > > > > of Police (Special Cell) Karnal Singh told
> > PTI.
> > > > > 
> > > > > Forty-one-year-old Sharma, a highly
> > decorated
> > > officer
> > > > who
> > > > > received three bullet injuries in his
> > abdomen,
> > > thigh
> > > > and
> > > > > right arm in the gunbattle at Jamia Nagar in
> > > South
> > > > Delhi,
> > > > > succumbed to his injuries at the Holy Family
> > > hospital
> > > > at 7
> > > > > pm, doctors attending him said.
> > > > > 
> > > > > A recipient of seven gallantry medals,
> > Sharma,
> > > who had
> > > > led
> > > > > the police team against the terrorists
> > wanted in
> > > > connection
> > > > > with the Delhi and Ahmedabad [Images]
> > blasts,
> > > > underwent an
> > > > > operation to remove the bullets from his
> > body.
> > > > > 
> > > > > The profusely-bleeding officer was taken to
> > the
> > > > hospital.
> > > > > --- On Sat, 9/20/08, Shuddhabrata Sengupta
> > > > > <shuddha at sarai.net> wrote:
> > > > > 
> > > > > > From: Shuddhabrata Sengupta
> > > > <shuddha at sarai.net>
> > > > > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Today's
> > > > "media
> > > > > circus" at Jamia
> > > > > > To: "Yousuf"
> > > <ysaeed7 at yahoo.com>
> > > > > > Cc: "sarai list"
> > > > > <reader-list at sarai.net>
> > > > > > Date: Saturday, September 20, 2008,
> > 2:01 AM
> > > > > > Dear Yousuf,
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > Many thanks for this post and for
> > sharing
> > > your
> > > > > thoughts on
> > > > > > the 'media  
> > > > > > circus'.
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > Watching the 'media circus'
> > unfold
> > > on
> > > > > television, I
> > > > > > was appalled at  
> > > > > > the manner in which the
> > 'spectacle'
> > > was
> > > > > priming
> > > > > > itself up through the  
> > > > > > day. A channel called 'News 24'
> > for
> > > > instance,
> > > > > was
> > > > > > repeatedly  
> > > > > > informing us that it 'was the first
> > to
> > > > transmit
> > > > > > pictures of the  
> > > > > > encounter' etc, as if it had just
> > won
> > > India
> > > > yet
> > > > > another
> > > > > > sharp- 
> > > > > > shooting gold medal in the Olympics.
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > A thought that did strike me was,
> > > "'how
> > > > much
> > > > > more
> > > > > > disrespectful can  
> > > > > > the blood-lust of this spectacle of a
> > hunt,
> > > get
> > > > to all
> > > > > > those who died  
> > > > > > in today's 'Encounter' , be
> > they
> > > > policemen
> > > > > on
> > > > > > duty, or 'alleged'  
> > > > > > terrorists ?"
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > I think we need to give some serious
> > thought
> > > to
> > > > the
> > > > > fact
> > > > > > that these  
> > > > > > days police encounters are actually an
> > > extended
> > > > part
> > > > > of
> > > > > > 'Reality  
> > > > > > TV' (which in any case, the entire
> > genre
> > > > should be
> > > > > more
> > > > > > appropriately  
> > > > > > called 'Surreality TV'). That
> > seem
> > > > scripted
> > > > > well in
> > > > > > advance. How else  
> > > > > > (as you so cogently point out) can one
> > > explain
> > > > the
> > > > > sudden
> > > > > > appearance  
> > > > > > of large OB vans, with heavy duty
> > equipment,
> > > > battling
> > > > > heavy
> > > > > > rush hour  
> > > > > > traffic, in a congested area like Jamia
> > > Nagar,
> > > > just at
> > > > > the
> > > > > > 'nick of  
> > > > > > time'?
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > The TV commentators, throughout the
> > day,
> > > referred
> > > > to
> > > > > what
> > > > > > their  
> > > > > > 'sources' in the Special Cell,
> > or in
> > > the
> > > > Delhi
> > > > > > Police, told them. I  
> > > > > > wondered to what degree the entire
> > > > 'Operation'
> > > > > was
> > > > > > co-scripted,  
> > > > > > between these 'sources' and the
> > > newsrooms
> > > > of
> > > > > > Television channels.  
> > > > > > There seems something almost
> > monotonously
> > > > repetitive
> > > > > in
> > > > > > these  
> > > > > > situations. A strange feeling of
> > Deja-Vu.
> > > > Something
> > > > > tells
> > > > > > me we have  
> > > > > > seen this before. Or is it just that I
> > have
> > > > watched
> > > > > way too
> > > > > > much  
> > > > > > 'reality' ?
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > regards
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > Shuddha
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > On 19-Sep-08, at 8:25 PM, Yousuf wrote:
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > > Friends
> > > > > > > I have titled this message the
> > “media
> > > > > circus”,
> > > > > > although I am  
> > > > > > > actually referring to this
> > morning’s
> > > > so-called
> > > > > > encounter killing of  
> > > > > > > two young people referred to as
> > > > “terrorists”
> > > > > in
> > > > > > L-18 Batla House,  
> > > > > > > Jamia Nagar, by the Delhi police.
> > I
> > > call it
> > > > media
> > > > > > circus because  
> > > > > > > that’s what I think it really
> > is,
> > > like
> > > > many
> > > > > more
> > > > > > such incidents.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > The incident happened in my
> > > neigbourhood,
> > > > about
> > > > > 150
> > > > > > meters from my  
> > > > > > > house. So I have the opportunity
> > to see
> > > how
> > > > > things are
> > > > > > turning up.  
> > > > > > > I had gone out of the area for
> > some
> > > work
> > > > while
> > > > > the
> > > > > > incident was  
> > > > > > > taking place around 11 am, but
> > found it
> > > > > impossible to
> > > > > > reach back  
> > > > > > > home 2 hours later, because the
> > road
> > > for
> > > > about 1
> > > > > and a
> > > > > > half  
> > > > > > > kilometer (on both sides) was
> > > completely
> > > > blocked,
> > > > > not
> > > > > > by the police  
> > > > > > > vehicles, but by the parked OB
> > vans of
> > > the
> > > > > countless
> > > > > > TV channels,  
> > > > > > > some of which I never heard of
> > before.
> > > Each
> > > > of
> > > > > these
> > > > > > vehicles had  
> > > > > > > its generators on, and thick video
> > > cables
> > > > jetting
> > > > > out
> > > > > > of them for  
> > > > > > > several meters to the other end
> > where
> > > the
> > > > > cameraperson
> > > > > > and the  
> > > > > > > excited anchor were shouting how
> > two
> > > > terrorists
> > > > > have
> > > > > > been killed in  
> > > > > > > the fierce encounter. Most local
> > people
> > > are
> > > > > surprised
> > > > > > at the speed  
> > > > > > > with which the TV crews arrived
> > here
> > > and in
> > > > such
> > > > > large
> > > > > > number.  
> > > > > > > Apparently, the Delhi Police had
> > > already
> > > > told a
> > > > > > section of the  
> > > > > > > press they are going for a raid in
> > > Batla
> > > > House,
> > > > > based
> > > > > > >  on the suspect Abu Bashir’s
> > tip-off
> > > (I
> > > > heard
> > > > > this
> > > > > > from a anchor on  
> > > > > > > Times NOW channel, although Police
> > > chief
> > > > Dadwal
> > > > > is now
> > > > > > denying  
> > > > > > > there is any link with Abu
> > Bashir), but
> > > they
> > > > > didn’t
> > > > > > obviously say  
> > > > > > > it was going to be an encounter.
> > Its
> > > strange
> > > > that
> > > > > the
> > > > > > local  
> > > > > > > residents got to know about the
> > > incident
> > > > only
> > > > > after
> > > > > > the two people  
> > > > > > > had been killed – many in fact
> > learnt
> > > it
> > > > from
> > > > > the
> > > > > > Aaj-tak channel.  
> > > > > > > They claim they heard only the
> > police
> > > firing
> > > > and
> > > > > no
> > > > > > gunshots from  
> > > > > > > inside the flat, which the police
> > claim
> > > have
> > > > > injured
> > > > > > two of their  
> > > > > > > constables.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Most of you watching news TV in
> > your
> > > homes
> > > > may
> > > > > have
> > > > > > already heard  
> > > > > > > the cacophony of the TV anchors,
> > each
> > > trying
> > > > to
> > > > > be
> > > > > > shriller than  
> > > > > > > the other to provethat the local
> > > members of
> > > > the
> > > > > > Indian Mujahideen  
> > > > > > > have been killed. They now seem to
> > have
> > > > memorized
> > > > > > their lines on  
> > > > > > > this issue well, since they have
> > to
> > > repeat
> > > > the
> > > > > same
> > > > > > thing again and  
> > > > > > > again. The graphics, animated
> > logos,
> > > > crawling
> > > > > tickers,
> > > > > > and dramatic  
> > > > > > > music/soundtrack to go with such
> > > coverage
> > > > are
> > > > >always
> > > > > > ready in the  
> > > > > > > cans to be used at short notice. A
> > > cameraman
> > > > > running
> > > > > > towards Batla  
> > > > > > > House is nibbling at a burger
> > while he
> > > holds
> > > > on
> > > > > to a
> > > > > > camera in his  
> > > > > > > other hand. I saw two members of a
> > TV
> > > crew
> > > > > outside the
> > > > > > Holy Family  
> > > > > > > Hospital (where the injured
> > policemen
> > > have
> > > > been
> > > > > taken)
> > > > > > fiercely  
> > > > > > > fight about which camera angle
> > would
> > > look
> > > > best
> > > > > for a
> > > > > > sound byte.  
> > > > > > > Everything looks as if planned and
> > part
> > > of
> > > > the
> > > > > usual
> > > > > > business. The  
> > > > > > > cops are happily allowing the
> > media to
> > > climb
> > > > any
> > > > > wall
> > > > > > to get the  
> > > > > > > best shot while they beat the
> > local
> > > > > > >  rickshawpullers to leave the
> > roads
> > > clean.
> > > > The
> > > > > message
> > > > > > has got  
> > > > > > > across loud and clear: we told you
> > –
> > > Batla
> > > > > House is
> > > > > > a haven of  
> > > > > > > terrorists.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > But many things sound fishy.
> > I’ve
> > > been
> > > > hearing
> > > > > a lot
> > > > > > of angry  
> > > > > > > conversations in the neighborhood:
> > > people
> > > > are
> > > > > asking
> > > > > > that if the  
> > > > > > > police had only planned a simple
> > raid
> > > (which
> > > > they
> > > > > did
> > > > > > 2 days ago in  
> > > > > > > Zakir Nagar and Abul Fazl Enclave
> > too),
> > > why
> > > > did
> > > > > they
> > > > > > have to bring  
> > > > > > > battalions of police and encounter
> > > > specialists
> > > > > with
> > > > > > AK-56 and other  
> > > > > > > deadly looking guns (that I myself
> > saw)
> > > in
> > > > > advance.
> > > > > > And why is the  
> > > > > > > media called in even before the
> > > residents
> > > > are
> > > > > told. Of
> > > > > > course the  
> > > > > > > fact the this happens in the month
> > of
> > > > Ramzan, on
> > > > > a
> > > > > > Friday, and near  
> > > > > > > a large mosque where people were
> > going
> > > to
> > > > gather
> > > > > in
> > > > > > large numbers  
> > > > > > > later for prayers, sounds just too
> > > > predictable
> > > > > and
> > > > > > clichéd for  
> > > > > > > anyone’s imagination. Some
> > locals
> > > claim
> > > > that
> > > > > the
> > > > > > police had been  
> > > > > > > visiting this place (and that
> > > particular
> > > > house)
> > > > > since
> > > > > > last few  
> > > > > > > days, and the so-called terrorists
> > and
> > > their
> > > > > weapons
> > > > > > were probably  
> > > > > > > “planted” last night for this
> > > encounter.
> > > > This
> > > > > > claim would obviously  
> > > > > > > find no takers in the presently
> > > > > > >  created euphoria (did you see any
> > > channel
> > > > > showing a
> > > > > > sound byte to  
> > > > > > > this affect?) I didn’t find a
> > single
> > > local
> > > > > resident
> > > > > > who is not fed  
> > > > > > > up with this oft-repeated image of
> > > Jamia
> > > > Nagar as
> > > > > > harboring  
> > > > > > > terrorists. But none of the
> > channels I
> > > saw
> > > > aired
> > > > > the
> > > > > > public angst  
> > > > > > > against their portrayal.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > To be honest, one shouldn’t deny
> > that
> > > the
> > > > Batla
> > > > > > House area has some  
> > > > > > > criminal and anti-social elements,
> > just
> > > as
> > > > Darya
> > > > > Ganj
> > > > > > or Shahadra  
> > > > > > > or Govindpuri would have. But most
> > > local
> > > > > residents
> > > > > > believe that for  
> > > > > > > Jamia to become a haven of such
> > > criminal
> > > > > elements, the
> > > > > > local police  
> > > > > > > and land-mafia are equally
> > responsible.
> > > > Jamia
> > > > > area is
> > > > > > one of the  
> > > > > > > rare localities of Delhi where the
> > rule
> > > of
> > > > law
> > > > > > doesn’t apply in  
> > > > > > > most spheres. The land mafia
> > openly
> > > indulges
> > > > in
> > > > > > illegal  
> > > > > > > construction; no rules of traffic
> > apply
> > > > here, the
> > > > > > condition of  
> > > > > > > civic amenities is abysmal.
> > Illegal
> > > shops,
> > > > > factories
> > > > > > (many with  
> > > > > > > child labour) and businesses
> > operate
> > > here
> > > > > actively
> > > > > > with police  
> > > > > > > connivance. The local politicians
> > (MLA,
> > > > > councilors)
> > > > > > are actually  
> > > > > > > part of the problem rather than
> > the
> > > > solution.
> > > > > There is
> > > > > > a full-scale  
> > > > > > > illegal ISBT (bus stand) running
> > in
> > > Batla
> > > > > House’s
> > > > > > backyard to bring  
> > > > > > > hundreds of migrants everyday from
> > > small
> > > > towns of
> > > > > UP
> > > > > > (you can see  
> > > > > > > the police openly accepting bribe
> > from
> > > its
> > > > > > >  operators any day).
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > There is no question of sealing
> > > whatever the
> > > > heck
> > > > > > business you may  
> > > > > > > run here, and most places stink
> > with
> > > heaps
> > > > of
> > > > > garbage
> > > > > > everywhere.  
> > > > > > > There are no RWAs or citizen’s
> > > initiatives
> > > > to
> > > > > > discuss the problems.  
> > > > > > > It is truly a manufactured ghetto
> > of
> > > Delhi
> > > > –
> > > > > why
> > > > > > don’t all these  
> > > > > > > problems happen in Lajpat Nagar or
> > > Kalkaji?
> > > > I am
> > > > > > positive that the  
> > > > > > > authorities are aware that
> > criminals
> > > (or
> > > > what
> > > > > they
> > > > > > call terrorists)  
> > > > > > > exist here. But they deliberately
> > allow
> > > them
> > > > to
> > > > > thrive
> > > > > > here – never  
> > > > > > > to be touched in the
> > normal/peaceful
> > > times
> > > > –
> > > > > keep
> > > > > > them for the  
> > > > > > > right time. It is as if Batla
> > House is
> > > a
> > > > > laboratory or
> > > > > > breeding  
> > > > > > > ground where things are allowed to
> > grow
> > > by
> > > > > providing
> > > > > > all the  
> > > > > > > required ingredients and safety.
> > The
> > > fruits
> > > > are
> > > > > > plucked only when  
> > > > > > > they are ripe (or required). So
> > today,
> > > they
> > > > > simply
> > > > > > came to gather  
> > > > > > > the fruit they had sown, and made
> > a big
> > > > > exhibition of
> > > > > > it by calling  
> > > > > > > the media. The local people,
> > frightened
> > > that
> > > > the
> > > > > next
> > > > > > encounter may  
> > > > > > > happen in their house, simply
> > > > > > >  squirm and hide in their personal
> > > ghettos.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > In all this, a big responsibility
> > lies
> > > with
> > > > the
> > > > > media,
> > > > > > and I am yet  
> > > > > > > to come across bold and honest
> > > reporters who
> > > > are
> > > > > ready
> > > > > > to go beyond  
> > > > > > > the obvious and investigate the
> > truth
> > > –
> > > > not
> > > > > simply
> > > > > > repeat what is  
> > > > > > > told to them by the authorities or
> > > their
> > > > channel
> > > > > > bosses.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Yousuf Saeed
> > > > > > > September 19, 2008
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > _________________________________________
> > > > > > > reader-list: an open discussion
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> > > > > the
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> > > > > > 
> > > > > > Shuddhabrata Sengupta
> > > > > > The Sarai Programme at CSDS
> > > > > > Raqs Media Collective
> > > > > > shuddha at sarai.net
> > > > > > www.sarai.net
> > > > > > www.raqsmediacollective.net
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > >
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