A Personal Journey
When I was new to blogging, there was so much to know and write about. I was serious about what I wrote. I read all I could find. I dug offline for information to support and validate what I wrote. I devoted a few hours each day to learn stuff if that learning was only to defend my position. Blogging has doubtless educated and enriched my life. In a way, it helped me discover what I was most passionate about.
Then something changed.
I no longer read news and articles on the Internet like before. I’ve been struck by either a severe strain of cynicism or my spirit has withered. Okay, that was my dramatic best.
My incessant hollering about sodomies such as pseudo secularism have begun to sound pointless to me. I even contemplate shutting this blog down.
Seriously Sandeep version 1.0 was a disorderly heap of assorted links and disjointed muddles of bombastic text dripping with adjectives. Now read the previous sentence again.
I hadn’t the faintest clue about post-1947 Indian politics. My half-baked brain idolized people I now classify under Pseudo Secularism Hall of Shame. Blogging transformed that permanently. It taught me that the coin has two sides. That there’s something really deep behind the dreaded Hindu Fundamentalism. That India actually needs to revert to the fundamentals of Hinduism –Hindu Fundamentalism is one of the finest contemporary political oxymorons–to regain its primacy in the world. That the Indian media is lazy, dishonest, and actually curbs free speech. Which is where Varsha Bhosle steps in.
Not a Tribute
My intent isn’t to euologize Varsha but to illustrate how even seemingly-balanced media houses play truant. I owe a great deal to her because she challenged my set convictions on several topics and changed the way I thought about things. That gave my blog its current reputation.
I admired her fearlessness bordering on effrontery. I have had serious fun reading especially, her jibes and factual rejoinders to others who challenged her articles.
Rediff didn’t take long to dump her. But her combative response is characteristic:
Actually, you’ve got my so-called ploy all wrong. However, I don’t expect guys with your mentality to understand that.
You’ll be pleased to know that you ’secularists’ have a successful and time-tested way of tackling free speech: I am no longer writing for Rediff since its top honcho, Ajit Balakrishnan (also involved with discredited SABRANG communications Communalism Combat , ), finds me ‘very inflammatory.’ That’s surely something to rejoice over. Yes, please do post my comments on your newsgroup.
Her articles towards the end were increasingly harsh and somtimes, contumely. But they also were painfully factual.
Varsha has vanished since June 2003. To my knowledge, she’s not written for other papers–which mainstream paper would touch her? I haven’t seen either her messages on forums or her comments on messageboards or blogs.
Which validates my original point.
Claims of seamless information on the Internet doesn’t really apply in the Indian context. The web site of Indian Express or Hindustan Times still publishes the same half-truths and lies. I doubt if it would touch Varsha in its online edition even if she toned her language. To that extent, the fate of opposing voices remains the same. The influence of blogs is almost zero in Indian public discourse. A seemingly-neutral portal like Rediff dumped her but it has thankfully retained Rajeev Srinivasan and Aravind Lavakere. A Subash Kak or Rajiv Malhotra also get space to write there. An staggering majority of Indians don’t have Internet access, which effectively bars them from turning the coin to see the other side. The mainstream media retains its stranglehold on information.
The other side of the coin briefly, is that Sanatana Dharma faces a new assault and newer forms of assault everyday. That news is either wholly censored or reported partially or worse, misreported. My post earlier today is a good example of misreporting.
Lastly, the ugly fuss over Reservations is from a wider perspective, one of the most comprehensive onslaughts aimed at the heart of Sanatana Dharma. The most distressing element is it is engineered from within. I’ll need a separate post to explain that.
Look out for Varsha’s new articles till then. If she’s allowed to publish them. And let’s thank Rediff for retaining her archives.
Tags: Indian Politics, Media Watch, Pseudo Secularism Hall of Shame, Society & Culture, War on Communism, Weblogs
Wonderfully written Sandeep
Keep the energy and the dream alive.
We’re better off today than we ever were 20 years ago.
Sure — the challenges and the pressures on Sanatan Dharma have increased manifold.
But, for the first time, we have a voice, albeit a small one (”A minority of 1″ as Orwell said in 1984).
But it is a start. Hopefully over time, there will be newspapers that are unafraid to say the truth. A newspaper edited and managed by people like you.
While the media is universally rotten, i think people have their heads on their shoulders.
Reading readers’ comments about the ghoulish steps taken by the UPA types gives me hope that a better tomorrow is possible.
It is going to be a long hard slog. And there’s a lot to learn in the meantime. But, atleast now, we know we can do it. Indeed we’ve come too far. Only issue is that a different kind of effort is needed today. I personally admire Bill Buckley and Irving Kristol in what they’ve achieved for their own, here in US. The intellectual movement that they have built from scratch is one tour de force performance worth emulating.
Hi! Sandeep.
The Bolgs and Bloggers are in minority,no doubt and as yet their importance/influence in ‘public discourse’ is ‘minimal’.I do not agree that it is zero.
It will be unfair to compare blogging with Newspapers because ‘press’ has been here for long,and blogging is in it’s infancy.Yet,I believe we bloggers are being noticed,and listened to.I agree with you that as a blogger we have found a new meaning , a new perspective,an insight and I cherish that.
You’re truly has neither any ‘pretension’ nor the knowledge to qualify even as a modest blogger,leave alone a respectable one.Yet I find this ‘medium’ very effective,as I get to express my views and earlier I used to ’seethe’ in ‘Impotent rage’.At least I can dare to take fight directly to them.
One more reason for me to blog is to contribute and work for the India I want my children to live in safe,secure and with bright prospects.
I tank this medium because where else I could have found such an august company of you people!I come here to learn and I am a ’sponge’ I have absorbed so much,reading you people.
Last,though it will be “Imprudent” on my part to trow any wisdom at you…please excuse me … I believe in this ‘couplet’.Do read.
Kaun Kaheta Hai Ki;AasMaan Mein Surakh Nahin Ho Sakata,
Ek Pathhar Tou Tabiyat;Se Uchaloo Yaroon.
PI.
I think Varsha deserves some space on Pragati, the review magazine you guys have launched. You can probably ask her to be a guest contributor for the magazine. I am sure she does not write for the money, else she would be an “esteemed” columnist in the “Tabloid of India” or “The Anti-Hindu”
Prudent,
Thanks for the lovely couplet and all those words of praise.
Mayuresh,
Not a bad idea. Let’s see what we can do.
Sandeep,
It is a pleasure to read your blog, because it exposes the facts covered by MSM media. Our education right from school is tailored to present a ‘corrective’ perspective. There is no mention of a Vedic civilization. The 10th class history book used to have a whole chapter on the Russian revolution, which only detailed the atrocities committed by the czar. Stalin’s gulags where not mentioned anywhere, as such things didnt exist in the socialist paradise. Indian freedom struggle didnt cover leaders like Sardar Patel and Shastri in any detail.
Much was made of the fact that a Hindu fundamentalist assassinated Gandhi, but it was not mentioned that Gandhi was fasting to release money to Pakistan when we were at was with it. Nehru’s bungling in Kashmir in presented in a positive light. Our NAM policy was also praised, saying that it made India a leader of the 3rd world, but today we are unable to get ourselves elected to the security council.
The economics book praised our public-private sector approach, but didnt mention the license raj anywhere. If a person doesnt look beyond what is taught in the school, he will be pretty similar to liberal-left type of person which pervade the media.
Do try the online version of The Organizer some time, it has some pretty good articles (inspite of the fact that it is brought out by the big bad communal wolf called RSS).
Even a small insignificant act of defiance performed in unison can shake up the establishment. The great patriot and orator of the 1930s, Satyamurthy, is known to have said that if Indians spat together at once, it would submerge the British Isles. It is an exaggeration alright, but illustrates the point. For a start how about not patronising the establsihment? I read the Pioneer and News Today, and the Express once in a while. That gives me all the news I need about India and the South. Make allies where you can, it helps.
I agree with AG above.
Sandeep, cynicism is not bad. Many young people new to public discourse waste their time passionately debating with Congress “journalists”, commie “intellectuals” and other assorted crooks. It will be a long while before they discover their folly. You and I have the advantage of experience!
It’s essential though, that we never lose our sense of humor. Don’t debate the crooks, ridicule them. Fact is, they are far more widely despised than you think they are. We are not aware of this fact because they control the “mainstream” media. They fear dissent and censor it.
Keep up the good work.
Sanddep,your blog’s really good..especially the way you take on the commies…keep it up!!
PS:Why the frequent template changes?
Anon,
>>Many young people new to public discourse waste their time passionately debating with Congress “journalists”, commie “intellectuals…
That is true to a great degree but we should keep calling their bluff if only to let them know that not everybody is a fool.
Sri,
>>PS:Why the frequent template changes?
Not anymore!
Kalpa,well what you said is right,almost.
Some fine tuning it is ‘U….’ not spat (I will stand corrected,proven otherwise..I am referring to KS).
Now as for newspapers! Ah! The least said is the best.
I read three,means I subscribe daily and pay for- why?- don’t know self).
1.HT
Since I have been reading when I was too young and father used to read it so got familiar with this paper and now I read it in toilet and at times feel like to use it for…
2.IE
IE or spinindia,you need some ’shock’ therapy to awaken up.Next time do read more carefully and learn to be a cynic.Here are too many cynics.
3.Pioneer.
To some extent or as long as they support the right course (I trust Chandan Mitra for that),but once again I read them with a pinch of salt.
PI
>>>”Many young people new to public discourse waste their time passionately debating with Congress “journalists”, commie “intellectuals…”
Perhaps not passionately, but a case needs to be presented nonetheless. The easiest way to get your message across is to juxtapose it with the cliche of the moment. Smart audience will have no issue in making an educated choice. MSM drives most of the public debate. It is difficult to escape their reach just now. For the long term however, I agree with your sentiment.