Though I also operate within the realms of Indian English media, though I am aware of its “pseudo-secular” credentials, I was baffled by the kind of lop-sided, anti-Modi coverage of the Gujarat elections, especially in the electronic media.
The English newspapers and news channels declare themselves as “unbiased and secular” while they act as if they are the stooges of one particular political formation. I strongly feel unless you are the mouthpiece of a political party, you are supposed to keep your biases aside while writing and reporting. But on the day the Gujarat election results were announced, I saw open disappointment on the faces on many English news channels, and many were seen commenting in the beginning that all was not lost for the Congress and only the urban results had started trickling in and once the rural and tribal-area results were out, it would be a totally different picture. Is this the way the balanced media should report? I think not.
Once it was known that Modi had swept Gujarat, the discussion took on a different direction. The champions of “secularism” declared that in no time, there would be grave problems in the BJP as Modi had become bigger than the party. They also predicted that his next target would be L.K.Advani’s position. Various news channels speculated on how Modi’s victory would adversely affect the BJP.
But not a single journalist spoke about how ineffective Madame Gandhi’s and Rahul Gandhi’s campaigns had been. Like the sycophantic Congress, the ‘secular’ media also did not find anything wrong with the Gandhis. The fault, the incompetence lay with the local leadership. Or was it the electorate that was to blame for their choice?
The newspapers, like the Communist parties, wanted the Congress to rethink and regroup so that the nation could be saved from the ‘communal’ BJP. Many newspapers, in their editorial advised the Congress on how to stop the “communal” BJP. But the funniest comment came from the CPM; “what is required is a determined and uncompromising struggle against the communal ideology of Hindutva and the capacity to launch sustained struggles of all sections of people who suffered from the right wing economic policies of the Modi government.”
As an Indian, certain questions come to my mind. One is, by talking for the majority, if the BJP becomes communal, what do you call the Congress for exploiting the minority which they have been doing ever since India won independence? If the BJP is polarising the society, what do you say about the Congress that had been polarising the Indian society on caste and religious lines? In Gujarat also, had they not been trying to exploit the Patels? You look at Kerala, how many caste based parties are there? Both the Congress and the communist parties field candidates based on the caste preferences of the area. How do you describe this? Secularism?
Among the news channels, nobody except noted journalist M.J.Akbar was interested in analysing the reasons for Modi’s spectacular victory and his unbelievable rise in popularity throughout the country.
Throughout the campaign, Modi spoke about the kind of development he had brought about in Gujarat but how many newspapers and television channels spoke about that? Gujarat could attract investment of US$ 17.8 billion in 2006-07 when the country as a whole attracted $69 billion during the same period. When India’s GDP growth is 9%, it is 13% in Gujarat. Industrial growth in India is 11% while it is 15% in Gujarat. Gujarat accounts for 20% of India’s industrial output, 25% of the country’s textile production, 40% of its pharmaceutical production, 47% of its petrochemical production and 21% of the country’s exports.
Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, the father of India’s Green Revolution, (who makes it clear he differs with Modi’s politics), recently told me in an interview, “Some states like Gujarat have done good work, so the agricultural growth rate in Gujarat is over 9%. That is because they have been given the soil health cards, they have been given credit; in short, they have been given all the support system. They have a lot of land in the Kutch region, and they have developed it. Whatever may be Modi’s politics, which I may not approve, he is a very good administrator.” Gujarat achieved this when the country’s agricultural growth was a mere 2%.
I wonder if Modi is maut ka saudagar, what do you call the Congress for what happened in 1984? What do you call the Communists for what happened in Nadigram?
It is high time the nation knew what Modi had done for his state rather than talking about communalism? It is high time to find out what the younger generation of India find in him? It is high time to find out why he is the hero of modern India? It is also high time the English media in India came out of the warp of pseudo secularism and see the reality that is there in the country.
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Shobha,
very nice. enjoyed it
PRabhu
Good article. More needed
Incidentally, BBC and CNN calls BJP the right wing hindu party. So what does that make Bush & the british the right wing (christian) anti muslim parties??
Shobha, For the first time in two months i have found an english journalist writing an unbiased view about Modi. The english media went the whole hog to paint mody as a murderer who took out his sword and went about killing the “poor” muslims. You are right when you say if BJP is communal then Congress (for 1984) and Communist(for 2007) is equally guilty. Ultimately it is the prosperiety at the lowest level that decides the popularity of policies - and modi - unfortunately for the cynics has come out with flying colours. Great Post!! Warmly, Sunshine.
I completely agree with your opinion. Atleast now young generation should think of development of our country.
BJP and RSS are just reactions to the horribly wrong politics of divide and rule under secular garb.
Our media and the rulers are scared of facing the truth and they keep blaming BJP/RSS for anything and everything wrong in this country or possibly this universe too.
Sometimes I want to ask that are we Indians truly independant or still under some alien rule ?
It is true that the media many times do not give the true picture.. I do agree with your views.. keep it up…
You”ve said it right. BJP is being kept as a Duck laying golden eggs by rest of the political parties only to get some symapthy votes from the muslims. Whether it is Congress , Communists or any other party, they all behave similar when it comes to Muslims, except for talking. we have seen how the congress dealt with the Muslims during their regime when maximum Hindu - Muslim riots took place in our country,also how they butchered thousnds of innocent sikhs.
Communists are murderers by birth and it needs no explanation. They couldnot lookafter one muslim lady in a state where they are in rule for more than 30 years and now they are trying to be muslim’’s saviors.Mody bashing has become a fashion for the media which is always a slave of the ruling parties . There are only a couple of media barons who has guts to stand up up against the rulers in India. Muslims who are the second majority is projected as the minority leaving the real minority sikhs,parsi, christians in the lurch.
I have stopped viewing NDTV/AAJ TAK long ago,hence I am happy.
I have also stopped purchasing all the items as possible,who advertise on these channels.
Support Modi to save Hinduism:
The anti-Hindu fame MFHussain, who should have been hanged with Saddam, is being sponsored by secular fundamentalists for Bharat Ratna, what an insult to Hindus.
Ahmedabad: A little-known right wing Hindu outfit on Saturday ransacked the NDTV’s office here and assaulted two staffers to protest the news channel’s SMS poll with painter M F Husain as a contender for the Bharat Ratna.
Some 20 activists of Hindu Samarajya Sena, armed with hockey sticks, attacked the television channel’s office located in a residential area.
The activists, who were searching for the reporters, vandalised the office when they did not find them and beat up two office staffers.
The members broke office furniture, equipment, air-conditioner and left behind banners and posters of their organisation.
Well, the media was Shining along with India Shining. Now it goes the Congress way.
Congress and Communists are dividing Indians into Hindus and Muslims/Christians day in and day out.. They are rallying Muslims/Christians against the Hindus… Hindus now have little alternative than nipping in the bud the communal attitudes of Congress and Communists, and RECLAIM EQUALITY FOR HINDUISM IN THEIR MOTHER LAND…….and establish TRUE SECULARISM, WHERE ALL RELIGIONS WILL BE EQUAL..
The media is controlled by western forces-If you see most of the reporters are from christians, or left forces they use the media and reports in baised way. If you see in 15 year rule of BJP Gujarat has grown in west bengal the left rule has spoiled the growth of the state. This shows the reality. In gujarat the riot is due to emotion on a day. But is west bengal nandigram it is a pre planned murder by left forces. Media or human right people are not raising the issue. Left has spoiled the country they are like cancer. Rule of law should be one for a country. There should not different yardsticks.
People of the country will teach lessons to this people.
K.Sriram
We are aware of only anti-sikh massacre. What about 60000 hindus butchered in Kashmir, 5 lakh hindu refugees from Kashmir languishing in pathetic conditions in camps. Are they not human beings like muslims, are they sub-humans. Nowhere in the world except in India we can find the indigenous people as refugees. This is the historu of secularists.
It is wrong to assume that it is the handiwork of terrorists. Such a genocide cannot happen without the patronage of state politicians, police, administration and Kashmir’’s muslim community. Gujarat’’s program is nothing compared to anti-hindu programs of Kashmir, Pak, Bangla and Afghanistan. Why are the human rights activists, secularists silent. They are not even courageous to acknowledge the genocide there. Secular media and secular political parties will have to face this situation one day or the other. They are accountable and entire world must know that secularists have manifested this genocide. Hindus have every right to take revenge
From what I have seen is that media is an extension of the vocal chords of the leaders (depending upon who made the bed for the media and vice-versa -this is just not in India - it is everywhere) unbiased reporting is just a term relegated to the University text books. Every citizen has her or his favorite among leaders and hence you will never be able to find an honest opinion - Modi may be godsend to some while to others not so - in the end -it is all a matter of Opinion. Take care :))))))))))))
Sample the secularist’s outrage:-
Rabid Hindutva; aggressive, intensely chauvinist ,authoritarian, politics of revenge, communal association pogrom, Muslim ghettoisation and disenfranchisement, near-complete upper-caste domination
untempered by social reform, high economic, human and ecological costs. ,Elite resentment,
Vilified, Demonized, Abuse ”avenging” insults, chauvinist venom, injustice, insult,
total absence of middle-class remorse, spread of intolerant and authoritarian ideas, despotic ”decisiveness ruthless decisiveness means fair or foul, the spell that Hitler and Mussolini cast quasi-fascist, the tragedy of Gujarat, mal-developed Gujarat.
LEADER ARTICLE: Why Gujarat Is Special-Editorial-Opinion-The Times of India
When first I started reading this article published in 1st January 2008 “The Times Of India” Editorial page by Prafull Bidwai, I was under impression that some worst state on the map of world is being described where every citizens are
Isn”t Jyoti Basu and Buddhadeb now talking of capitalism? LOL.. Sahadevan must be squirming in his pants. Why can”t we simply dump these communists in the bay of bengal?
BJP now criticises China; but its idiot cadres never think what their leaders do in our country. They make rupees how Mahajan made it. They sell India wholesale to Capitalists in the name of SEZ, never to poor. Befool, divide, kill, frighten and rule.
Indian Psuedo English Press can do only one thing: rally Muslims religiously in India against BJP. However, make no mistake, these are creating backlash from Hindus. They can’t have it both ways: terming rallying Muslims religiously as ’secular’, and terming Hindus doing the same as ‘communal’.
Elite Indian English media is arrogant, and simply refusing to see the simple facts:
1. 3000 Sikhs butchered in Capital Delhi alone. In just 3 days. Not a single Hindu died - whether in counter attack by Sikhs, or at the police bullet. One Hindu died to save Sikhs.
While 1000 died in 3 months in large parts of Gujarat. Close to 300 of those hapless were Hindus- died both at retaliatory attack from Muslims, as well as Modi’s Police.
2. Rajiv Gandhi is on record saying “when a tree falls….”. While Modi’s invocation of Newton is unproven. Indian Law minister rubbished it inside Parliament the very next day.
3. How many rounds of bullets Delhi Police fired to control mob? ZERO rounds.
Psuedo secularism means: 1) Rally Muslims (and Xtians) religiously, and 2) divide Hindus politically along caste. This is NOT Nehru’’s principled Secularism. No wonder, Hindus are now rallying under Hindutva.
Psuedo secularism means: 1) Rally Muslims (and Xtians) religiously, and 2) divide Hindus politically along caste. This is NOT Nehru’’s principled Secularism. No wonder, Hindus are now rallying under Hindutva.
Author raised two important questions :
1. How Sonia/Rahul were ineffective, and people are now being blamed by same discredited English Press for choosing Modi. 2. The votebank politics of psuedo-secularism.
I will add one more thing here:
HOW COME NOT A SINGLE ENGLISH PRESS COULD SEE HUGE WIN , 10% OR MORE VOTES ON AN AVERAGE? FACT IS: ENGLISH PRESS IS NOW THOROUGHLY EXPOSED TODAY.
Interesting article. If we have 27 Modi’’s India will become a super power by 2020.
If we get 27 Achuthanadan’’s we may become a Cuba. Trying to figure out how to distribute prasadam in Sabarimala or fix the fee for colleges during a five year term.
i didn”t read it..since there were nothing new in the intro…and yes the heading was sure a Headeche for me..Modi a Hero!
what prompted you to declaire him a hero! Just because of his works for the state. Then we should love and salute Hitler too…although his countrymen today hate him and there were news that they touch his statue with shoes and sleepers. Hitler was too a progressive..as you said about Narendra Modi, a reformer and fought for nationalism…initially… then started hunting a large number of jews and then he never looked back..and became a mass murderer…
you blamed media’’s stand in Gujrat election…and i too agree with that but surprisingly even your thoughts are not different from what they did…biased.
What’’s your stand..what’’s focus of your story reveals what hardliners say…a progressive Modi should be welcome by all…since congress and communist too are ”mass murderer..”
anyways..if Modi is a hero..can you name villain!!!
What the spohisticated convent educated secular TV acnhors do, is to invite the public school educated hindu political leader, and also invite an even more spohisticated, convent educated, secular politicians from diff secular parties and NGOs, along with him. this secular politician has got maybe a life time of secularism cum political experience. where-as the hindu politician might not be even known by name in much part of india. since relatively the BJP/SS, etc r still new political parties on the Indian political horizon.
and the rest is seen to be beleived. the talk show becomes a mayhem. with the single hindu political leader targetted from all 4 sides(including the anchor himself/herself).
THIS MAYHEM/FARCE HAS TO COME TO AN END!
The secularists r a supremely educated and talented lot. they r the people who practice a wave of experiments in everyday life. they include:
01. pubbing
02. rave parties
03. late nights
04. drugs
05. pre-marital sex
06. extra-marital affairs
07. wife swapping
08. incest
09. sodomy
10. etc.
they do not fear the muslims, terrorists, etc. they precisely fear the hindu political class which they personally feel will put an end to this way of life.
all these above experiments is a part of being ”hep” and ”happening”. unless they dont indulge in these, they wont be accepted inside an elite circle. and because they wont be accepted they will not realize their ambitions.
can one come across a single secularist who is not well to do??
on the contrary, the hindu pilotical class is a reflection of the indian lower and to some extent upper middle class. they do not even match the intelligence and the sophistication levels of the secularists.
Well written… It echoes the thinking and feelings of majority of people. Medai has to do a soul search if at all they want to retain the morela high ground which they held once. Else, they become jokers and looked at by people as marketing agents of a particular party or religious group.
Very nice article.
To save India, first throw Times of India to Arabian sea and then throw communists into Bay of Bengal.
It is a shame that the media doesn”t respect people’’s mandate.
Thanks for echoing our feelings. I too have noted in my blog that Modi won despite a section of English press, print as well as electronic. I am getting increasingly cynic about the kind of reporting being resorted to by our so-called intellectual writers. It looks as if some kind of orchestrated campaign is on against a particular ideology or a religion. You feel pity when some brilliant minds are seen to be bending backwards in a desperate bid to prove thei point. You can”t win elections by resorting to communal rhetoric or by polarising the society they allege Modi had done. No way, people of India, and particularly those of Gujarat are not so gullible. But some people-and mind you only some visible faces-have distorted the truth in such a way that truth has lost its face. It is common knowledge that when you add to or substract something from truth, it no longer remains the truth. If things are alllowed to continue like this, I shudder to think of the scenario 20-25 years hence.
I think the article fit well, but for Dr. Swaminathans comments on Modi. Its presisly these that I am opposed to why is he and people like him averse to Modi. Do they have any proof that he was involved in the 2002 riots, if not then tey should remain unbiased. I think Modi is a great leader and with a nationalist vision justice for all and appeasement for none. So whats wrong with that. The Indian media and the books tat we teach our children are so messed up that we dont know what is right from wrong and remain defensive about our history.
That’’s a wonderful article. You have rightly said that the media seems to be stooges of a particular political formation. The duty of media is to bring both the good and bad of a set-up. However, in case og Modi, Media’’s sole job was to malign him. I don”t understand whom this media wanted to befool. Most of the Indians and particularly the people of Gujrat knew that Modi as chief minister was the best Gujrat can have. Rightly, they have selected him CM for the next tenure. In fact the peolpe of Gujrat have hit the strongest slap right on the face of pseudo secular set-up. The pain will be ever lasting.
This is a very nice article. I can see a lot of Hindu convent bred “intellectuals” and “converts” opposing Modi because the rise of Hinduism is the rise of goodness in India and all these pigs and jackals will lay exposed. Fortunately there are some sections of Hindus who still wish their country well. May the Lord protect the Hindus in their land and everywhere else!
All VHP-BJP-RSS leaders under a roof. What is the difference between RSS/VHP/BJP/Minister? When a person wears ”nicker” he becomes RSS; then removes nicker and wear pants, he is VHP; when he wears coat becomes BJP. Removes everything becomes minister.
I appreciate this unbiased article. However, the article should have contained more fire to match the height of media bias against Modi.
Sonia went in to hiding as usual-as does whenhever Congress faces the crisis. English Media never tries to set accountability on Sonia Gandhi, it lets her off from several mistakes she did- May be English jorunalists worship her white skin and Italian origins.
Excellent article, well established outline for known facts. Fact remains that there are certain sects within the educated community either out of cowardness or out of ignorance or out of sheer bling support or out of act of nobleness, assuming that they are forgiving the wrong deeds of the pseudo secularist for so called pseudo-development.
These sects must be educated, for the damage done by these people are far greater than the ignorance of the common public themselves.
Thanks Shobha for the excellent article.
-STE
EXCELLENT ARTICLE. CONGRATULATION. EVERY ONE SHOULD WAKE NOW.INFORM SOCIETY DAMAGE DONE BY PSEODOSECULARIST.
well said good article
Sam, u from NDTV or SNN-IBN???
See the comments from some of the readers. Even they do not want to believe or talk about the bias against Modi. I am no great fan of Modi but like Shoba Warrier said a fact is to be reported a fact. If i have some views i should not end up airing my views while reporting. Secularism has long lost its real meaning. Today an average indian still practices that fully but politicians have taken the same to God knows where!
Bias? What bias? Every English daily (and their exit-poll) have been shouting at the top of their voice that Modi will get a sweeping victory!
The same English media went gaga over BJP’’s “india-shining” in 2004 lok sabha elections and again based on exit-polls predicted BJP will win by a handsome majority. The English media might be blamed for relying on unreliable exit-polls, but definitely not for anti-Modi bias.
Shobha deserves a million thanks for such a brilliant article exposing the so called “seculars” who are nothing but “pseudo seculars” who are in reality doing a publicity job as a mouth piece of CPI(M).It very clear that they have sold their soul and in reality practising the oldest profession in the name of Media/Journalism. Also thanks to one of your readers-hitright- who has rightly hit the nail by bringing out the relation that wellknown TV channel has with the top Boss of CPI(M) as also who the speech-writer is for Sonia which made her say that “mauth Ka Saudagar”
part!Thanks to Shobha for another reason that by bringing out such fact so forcefully would somehow expose these characters and act as a break
Good one!!
It’’s a very good article to see through the information layer created by MEDIA. I would call it “a defeat of Media”!! The media, political parties like Congress, Communists, etc were all against MODI/BJP and fore-casted a defeat of MODI govt. But MODI proved them all wrong. Having said that I don”t support MODI’’s or BJP’’s philosophy of Hindutava. The manner in which MODI had handled the Godhra massacre might have been handled in a better way. But we can”t judge a govt/person on just a single aspect as the MEDIA had done. There are facts & figures as mentioned in your article which shows the other side of the coin. After all, the GUJARAT LOCALhites have taken a decision giving almost 2/3 seats to MODI govt which proves the facts & figures in the article RIGHT, enough to overcome the few things highlighted by the media.
Keep posting such articles SHOBHA!!
Good Post,
All the english media is eunuchs and idiots.
Very nice article… Mode is a hero not only for Gujarat but also for India. You are also from media can you tell me one thing why English media was so partial which was not seeing work done by Modi but seeing Godhra still? Do these media get money or some kind of pressure for taking favor of any party?
I think Indian media is not doing actually media work they just works for themselves.
Any ways Very Nice article…
The saffron belt is moving forward for development
Gujarat Rajasthan Punjab Himachal MP Chattishgarh orissa bihar….
BJPs agenda is Hindutva plus development - why not for them???
as US UK Europe are all developed and very much adhered to their religions.. india will be developed Hindu nation, if BJP will move forward…on the Center
Good article , Modi deserved for that win. Good development is going on in gujarat.
The views from here - easily can be seen - Educated urbane middle class is very much aware - whts going on?
It is required to MAKE RURAL PEOPLE AWARE OF REALITY… who believe that still Indira Gandhi is PM..!!!
really i wish to congratulate sobha for the best article.the psedeo secularists and communists and soniaand companyshould go through the article and introspect.the english media especially visual media should here after try to correct themselves and report the facts.all these institutions were bent up on to tarnish image of mr. modi. only to call themselves secularists.the congress amd communists forgot conveniantly
what they have done to sikhs and muslims in delhi and nandigram and only speak abt. gujarat.they should note people are observing things happeningand give a fitting reply in forth comming electionsas done in gujarat and himachal.
The views from here - easily can be seen - Educated urbane middle class is very much aware - whts going on?
It is required to MAKE RURAL PEOPLE AWARE OF REALITY… who believe that still Indira Gandhi is PM..!!!