[Reader-list] The Importance of Being Arnab (Goswami)

[Shuddhabrata Sengupta]

Dear All,

Apropos of the recent small flurry of TV news, and specifically Arnab  
Goswami related posts on the list - here is something that I enjoyed  
reading enormously, and so, thought that I would pass along to the  
rest of the list - it was posted on a blog called www.rollon.in on  
the 19th of December, 2009.

Enjoy,

Shuddha
--------------------
Arnab Goswami Allows Interviewee to Answer

http://www.rollon.in/2009/12/19/arnab-goswami-allows-interviewee-to- 
answer/
In an unprecedented event earlier this evening, Arnab Goswami, the  
Editor-In-Chief for Times Now, stayed silent for a full 5 seconds  
during News Hour, allowing his guests to speak, and sending the TRP  
ratings for the channel soaring through the roof. This shocking  
moment occurred while the usually chirpy Arnab was interviewing an  
expert panel of celebrities, regarding Borivali’s recent demand for  
statehood.

The news has been received with varied reactions from all over.  
Rajdeep Sardesai, from a competing news channel, said he’d like to  
maintain a dignified silence regarding this development, right after  
pointing out that the gimmick was ‘too low even by Arnab’s dwarfish  
standards’. Mahesh Bhatt called in earlier today from his mobile home  
parked permanently outside the offices of 24×7, saying that the news  
was provocative, communal and biased. He further demanded that the  
censor board be banned for this. When pointed out that the Censor  
Board had no role to play in this incident, he said that it was  
beside the point, and the censor board should be banned regardless.  
Throughout the telecon, Suhel Seth, seated beside Mr. Bhatt, kept  
shouting obsceneties. When asked to comment, he said that he was  
infuriated with the situation for no particular reason and threatened  
to go without a hair cut for a further six months.

The most candid response came from the expert panel itself.  
Apparently, they were flabbergasted that Arnab betrayed their trust  
on national television. As usual before News Hour, the panel had been  
briefed that absolutely no answers would be required from them  
throughout the program, since Arnab will keep questioning without  
pauses; their role was restricted to trying to fit in as many  
interjections and conjunctions (Whoa!, But, Ah!) in between to give  
the illusion of them actually having something to say. So, fifteen  
minutes into the program, Ms. Ameesha Patel was understandably  
embarrassed when she found herself forced to sing ‘Yeahhh lazy lazy  
lamhe…’ to Arnab’s question on her opinion on a federal government  
structure.

On the other side of the border, Pakistan Interior Minister, Mr.  
Rehman Malik, noted that this was a difficult time for Pakistan, and  
urged the citizens to be brave and help the nation to collective  
overcome these forces of evil. When reminded that it was the Times  
Now incident and not another bomb blast for which his reaction was  
being sought, he noted that this was a difficult time for Pakistan,  
and urged the citizens to be brave and help the nation to collective  
overcome the forces of evil.

Arnab himself chose to downplay the incident, pointing out that the  
magnitude of the incident had been blown out of proportions by the  
media. ‘I remember being silent for a full 6 seconds back in 1985  
while honing my interviewing skills on my pet dog. That being said, I  
know that the people of India are dying for an answer. So, you can  
join us today on News Hour to find out WHY ARNAB PAUSED,’ said Arnab  
with his trademark authoritative voice, while leaning over the desk  
on one arm.

Note: All of this is obviously untrue. Arnab didn’t pause.

Shuddhabrata Sengupta
The Sarai Programme at CSDS
Raqs Media Collective
shuddha at sarai.net
www.sarai.net
www.raqsmediacollective.net