To,
The Secretary,
Ministry of I&B
Government of India
New Delhi
Subject: Regarding
sensationalized reporting by Press on neighbouring countries, particularly
Pakistan.
Sir,
I am Aditya Thakur, a
resident of 5/426 Viram Khand, Gomtinagar, Lucknow. I am a student of Class XII
in Police Modern School. Apart from studies at school, I have also got interest
in social activities and have been involved in social activism too. As a citizen
and an activist, I find that media is really important in bringing the facts
out in today’s world but when the media itself begins to spew venom and conjure
lies, results can be devastating.
Through this letter, I seek
to bring a very disheartening fact regarding the attitude of electronic media
towards neighbouring countries, particularly Pakistan, to your notice. In
recent times, various TV media channels have been acting as a catalyst in the
process of spreading hate towards foreign countries. The latest example of this
was a news report broadcasted by a TV channel ‘India News’. The news report was
regarding the polio epidemic in Pakistan and was titled, ‘Langda Pakistan’
or ‘Lame Pakistan’. While the issue raised was serious, the whole report was full
of stereotypes, denigrations and sensationalized news. The report consistently
addressed Pakistan as, ‘duniya ko tabaah karne ke sapne dekhne waala’,
which can be translated into, ‘The Pakistan which dreams of destroying the
whole world into shambles.’ Various other dialogues such as, ‘bomb ka kya
karoge Pakistan, khaoge?’ (Translating into: ‘What would you do of bombs,
would you eat it?’), and ‘do boond se mat daro, Pakistan’ (Don’t be
afraid of Polio drops), were also used. The manner in which all these dialogues
were spoken was insulting and objectionable. The report also used a jingoistic
spirit to address the problem. Not only this report, but various earlier media
reports have been showing Pakistan not only in a negative light, but have been
denigrating the neighbouring country and a large section of media has been
hurling abuses at the country.
Although, criticism is
a quintessential part of journalism, many of today’s TV news channels have
adopted a habit of biased and often baseless criticism. When it comes to
international matters a much more sensationalized criticism is followed. While
true journalism needs to adopt a spirit of criticism and enquiry, irresponsible
criticism shall not be tolerated.
The relations between
India and Pakistan have already been very strained. But still both the
countries are striving towards peace and harmony in the subcontinent. In such
times when two countries are trying to forgive and forget the mistakes of past,
efforts to fuel hatred towards either of the two countries can result into
serious outcomes. If the media also gives air to these attempts by making the
aforesaid statements, the result would be devastating for the future of the
whole Indian subcontinent. If such a thing happens, all the labors of the
Indian and Pakistani Governments to establish peace can fade away. Thus the
news reports seeking to denigrate entire nations shall be seen as irresponsible
journalism.
It is very important to
analyze the situation carefully and the Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting should dissuade any such attempts to promote hatred among
countries. Although rational and academic criticism shall be endorsed, all
attempts of sensationalizing news regarding any foreign nation particularly
India’s immediate neighbours shall be brought to an end.
Thus, by the means of
this letter, it shall be my suggestion as well as my request to you to take
this issue in your cognizance and to take suitable action needed to stop the
circulation of sensationalized reports that wish to disturb international
peace. I hope that you will understand the gravity of the situation and to the
needful action required.
Aditya Thakur
Aditya Thakur
