Forever With Me

Years before, when I was begotten on mother’s bed
It was you who fondled with your hands my forehead.
Few good years after, when I was a toddler,
You taught me to take the stride far and farther.
So, there was someone, forever with me.

Walking alone amidst trees and chirping o’ bird,
When I'm joyless and a bit sad,
Your warm hand fills my finger gaps.
That makes me bloom and full o’ raptures.

In pang, when I sob with hot tears,
Your soft kisses dry my wet eyes.
When dusk will hover above me sans moon,
You’ll enlighten my ways with lamp o’ boon.

In my last days, when voice turns feeble and bones lazy,
Your one touch will make me feel rosy.
E’en on my deathbed, far happier will I be
Because, I feel, there’ll be someone, forever with me.

(The poem - a dedication to God - fetched me a nomination of Amateur Poet Of The Year 2005 by International Society of Poets, US.)

A Review On Tehelka Expose

From match fixing to army deal, Tehelka team has set up an epitome of courageous journalism in the history of Indian journalism. An arms deal scandal is one of its biggest achievement in its credit.

The controversary

Tehelka.com came out on March 12, 2001 with some damning disclosure of how defense deals are struck. It exposed widespread corruption in defense purchases engineered by army officers and senior politicians of the country.

At largely attended media conference in the capital, editor-in-chief, Tarun Tejpal, took the lid off operation West End, investigated by Anirudha Bahal and Mathew Samuel, which exposed the nexus between politician, senior defense personnel and fixers, who came together every time defense deal were in offering.

A film, shot by hidden camera was also screened, which showed how deals were struck. In the film, the then BJP president Bangaru Laxman was shown accepting Rs 100,000 towards the Happy New Year party fund. The scam involved BJP president Bangaru Laxman, the then Samata Party president Jaya Jaitley, and a number of army officials accused of receiving bribes in a fictious arms deal.

The technology used

The scam, which exposed widespread corruption in defense purchases took Tehelka reporter an arduous job of 8 months to investigate and shot the film, in which hidden camera was used. Tehelka reporters had bribed army officials and politicians while posing as army dealer representing a fictious foreign firm that wanted to sell night vision goggles to the Indian Army. Army suppliers were even supplied prostitutes, as Anirudha Bahal said, “When demands (of call girls) were so forceful we were foxed.”

The impact

BJP president, Bangaru Laxman resigned soon after meeting the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Stung by expose, BJP accused senior Congress leader Arjun Singh of formenting trouble for BJP Govt., as Tarun Tejpal’s father is closely associated with Arjun Singh, and Samuel is close associate of Tom Vadakkam, in charge of Congress media cell.

Contradictly, Tarun Tejpal blames PMO, especially Brajesh Mishra of carrying out a witch-hunt and slender campaign against his media house. Soon Venkataswami commission is set to probe and give the report of scam. Union home ministry provided Z security to Tarun Tejpal after intelligence agency reported serious threats to his life, while Tejpal said that he never demanded any security, nor did he get any threats. On January 04, 2003, justice S N Pukhan was appointed to probe the scam, again.

Status as of now

On February 04, 2004, justice Pukhan probe cleared defense minister George Fernandes of any ‘impropriety’ in the defense deal examined by it. On May 18, 2004, army officer Major General PSK Chaudhry, Brigadier Iqwal Singh, Col. Anil Sehgal, on which the army had already launched general court martial proceedings, were found culpable of omission and commission in Tehelka case.

Currently, last year on April 29, in a twist to controversary surrounding the ‘clean chit’ to the then defense minister George Fernandese, Outlook claimed that it has details that justice Pukhan, his wife and some lawyers of Tehelka case were provided a special chartered VVIP aircraft of the IAF to travel to Shirdi, Pune, Ahmednagar and Mumbai from Delhi in December 2003. It was before 6 weeks, justice Pukhan gave clean-chit to George Fernandes.

Indian Media on the Global Wheel

Powerful media conglomerates have been increasingly eyeing India (and China) as good investment destinations since these are the countries where media business is expected to grow very fast. Therefore, be it CNN’s tie up with Indian Broadcast News (IBN) or Reuter’s pact with The Times Group, the influence of globalization is undeniable.

In the early 1990’s, Dr Manmohan Singh, the then Finance Minister, inaugurated liberalisation in the country. More than a decade later in 2002, this touched the media when the Union Cabinet overturned a 1955 cabinet resolution that prohibited foreign ownership of Indian news publication. The new cabinet decision allowed 26% equity in news and current affairs publications and 74% equity in non-news and non-current affair publication.

Dominant gateway

The media has arguably become the most dominant gateway through which globalisation is virtually marching in the country. Following the opening of media to foreign direct disinvestment (FDI), foreign media players have begun to enter into tying up with their Indian counterparts to expand their own empires.

Entry of foreign giants like BBC, Reuters TV and CNN is only confirmation of the fact that India represents an increasingly attractive market to major corporations. They provide media with the content and services across borders and regions. Others from countries like USA, UK, South Africa, Qatar, Australia and Ireland are said to be keen to exploit the potential here.

Understanding globalization in media requires a compelling urge to weigh the pros and cons of its effects on the country’s economy. According to certain media critics, FDI in news media is unlikely to remain restricted to the stipulated 26%. This is only the thin end of the wedge that would culminate in the floodgates being opened.

These experts fear that this could eventually see the entire media passing into foreign control. The outcome of this would be annihilation of most of the small and medium scale Indian newspapers, as only a few major national players would have the strength to face up the competition.

Foreign players

Looking at it from another perspective, the entry of foreign players can also benefit the small publication houses, as they will now find a readymade access to global capital. This way, the smaller publication houses will have a good chance to rise and give stiff competition to established players. For example, Economic Times, publication of TOI Group had monopoly in publication of a business daily. But Business Standard after selling off its 14% stake to Financial Times Of London has thrown a punch back, as it is now published in seven cities of India, sold in 500 towns, and gets access to editorial and marketing expertise of international financial media.

The presence of FDI in media ensures a heavy pay package to the media professionals, and renders to have easy access to world-class magazines like the National Geographic. However, if the primary focus of foreign player is on profit, then there will be increase of advertisement, especially of foreign commodities. Media will, then, be more and more advertisement oriented, and the main role of the press will be lost in the bargain.

Some people consider globalisation of media responsible for westernisation of our culture. A recent study shows that teenage abortion rose by 20% in a year, as teenager feel themselves pressurised to indulge into such acts due to the explosion of sexually explosive material, which is n now readily available . An other disadvantage is that the coverage of international events in Indian newspaper is predominantly supplied by western news agencies like AP, AFP and Reuters. This gives more westernized approach to the news content.

However, its not one-way street. India has also contributed its bits towards globalisation. The biggest example is the explosion of interest in Bollywood. Hindi films are exported to more than 100 countries resulting in overseas booking and video rights that account for 30% of film revenues.

Role of the press

The question that arises now is that in a democracy like India, where press plays an important role, including building national integration, will the foreign investors will have same commitment, as they are primarily profit driven? Relief can be sought in an example of transnational operators like Rupert Murdoch, who have recognized the values.