Gustakhi Maaf Haryana-Pawan Kumar Bansal

Gustakhi Maaf Haryana-Pawan Kumar Bansal

Fourth pillar of democracy or intellectual prostitutes?

Prostitution of the Intellect; John Swinton, former Chief of Staff of the most powerful and prestigious newspaper on earth, The New York Times, when asked to give a toast to the “free press” at the New York Press Club stated:

“There is no such thing, at this date of the world’s history, in America, as an independent press. You know it and I know it. There is not one of you who dares to write your honest opinions, and if you did, you know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid weekly for keeping my honest opinion out of the paper I am connected with.
Others of you are paid similar salaries for similar things, and any of you who would be so foolish as to write honest opinions would be out on the streets looking for another job. If I allowed my honest opinions to appear in one issue of my paper, before twenty-four hours my occupation would be gone.

The business of the journalists is to destroy the truth; to lie outright; to pervert; to vilify; to fawn at the feet of mammon, and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread. You know it and I know it and what folly is this toasting an independent press? We are the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are the jumping jacks, they pull the strings and we dance. Our talents, our possibilities and our lives are all the property of other men. “We are intellectual prostitutes”.

On basis of my experience as an investigative journalist covering Haryana for Last five decades I agree with John Swinton. Barring few expectations a large section of Media including Editor and owners dance to the tune of politicians in power. Situation is worst at present amidst reports of interference of political boss in posting and transfers in a Media group controlled by a trust but to talk of media owned by businesses tycoons. Chief Ministers have screwed media with their on style by bait of advertisements or discretionary quota in allotments of residential plots.At present several newspapers and TV channels in Haryana are owned by politicians and expecting Investigative Journalism from them is like living in fools paradise or day dreaming.