We Salute Our Journalists

Syed Ali Safvi

Press plays a pivotal role in shaping the public opinion. It plays an all important role in developing the conscience of the society. But, in a conflict zone, like Kashmir, it has a much greater responsibility.

Writing against the government policies or state highhandedness may be a routine and trouble-free affair for the journos living in apparently cozy atmosphere in Posh area or metro cities, but the same becomes a Herculean task for the scribes in a conflict area, where you are being literally watched and monitored 24x7. In such a hostile ambience where bulk of the reporters 'manufacture' reports, TRUTH becomes the first and foremost casualty. But then, there are few who muster courage and report TRUTH without caring about the consequences and we cannot but appreciate them.

In a recently organized seminar on "The Growth of Press in Kashmir" by the Mass Communication Professionals' Guild (MCPG), chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Haseeb Drabu – the chief guest on the occasion – made some mortifying and demeaning remarks about the Kashmir press. I fail to understand how come a learned person like Drabu, who is not completely alien to journalistic field given that fact that he edited 'Business Standard' for over six years, forgot the basic principle of journalism ethics which says, "you cannot be judgmental."

It sounds outré to hear a discourse on journalistic profession from a complete 'unprofessional' person who has spent a greater part of his life sitting in the palatial bungalows oblivion of the ground realities in Kashmir.

One cannot find the likes of Sanghvis, Aikman and Fisks every where, but we, Kashmiris, are proud of the fact to have produced some of the brilliant journalists who have stood through thick and thin and have often put their lives at risk in order to report the TRUTH. These journalists are far, far better than the Sanghvis who, more often than not, play into the hands of the establishment.

When human rights violations, fake encounters, custodial killings, et al are routine phenomenon and the order of the day, how can a story on Dal Lake or any developmental work, for that matter, make it to the front page.

…and where is the development any way! Laying down the railway lines, reopening the exhibition ground cannot be termed as real development. These 'developments' make no sense for the dejected Bemina residents where three chief ministers have failed to complete a single bridge from the past 15 years. These works make no sense when the roads narrate a dismal tale of the share callousness of the state government.

There is no denying the fact that the successive state governments have not only failed to develop the social infrastructure but have also miserably failed to protect the interests of the denizens of the state. Moreover, the pseudo-intellectuals add fuel to the fire. They have that uncanny knack of criticizing and castigating the Valley populace. Like in cricket it is easy to criticize a batsman from the stands, but only the batsman in the centre – engulfed by players – knows what he goes through. The same is the case with Mr. Drabu. His example is like those spectators only!

We have to be true to our own selves. As George MacDonald said, " Friends, if we be honest with ourselves, we shall be honest with each other." I believe many of us still lack that honesty.

According to the data several Kashmiri journalists, including a woman scribe, Asia Gilani (JKCCS), have been killed in the strife-torn region of Kashmir since the eruption of mass movement in 1989. Among others, the journalists who were killed while doing their duties include Mushtaq Ali (ANI), Ghulam Muhammad Lone (News Agent), Ghulam Rasool Azad (Paper Owner), Muhammad Shaban Wakeel (Al-Safa) and Pervaz Muhammad Sultan (NAFA).

Among those tortured and illegally detained include Muhammad Maqbool Sahil (Chattan), Rehmattullah Khan (Editor, Rehmat) and Syed Iftikhar Gilani (Kashmir Times/Voice of Germany). Gilani was released after several months of illegal detention during which he was subjected to severe torture. The other two journalists are still languishing in Indian jails.
We salute our journalistic fraternity for showing the utmost audacity and commitment in order to sketch a real picture of Kashmir, sometimes with the colour of their own blood. We salute those indefatigable journos who braved the tyrannical establishment and highlighted the atrocities of the forces and in the process laid down their lives for a cause – the cause so dear to their hearts, the cause of projecting the TRUTH.

Let the TRUTH prevail.