11

Dec

Why and how of Wednesday Wisdom

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A close-up of a person with glasses Description automatically generatedThe idea of writing a regular weekly column “Wednesday Wisdom” has been with me but penning it required determination as it demands discipline and mental exercise for identifying an issue or subject which will appeal to Media Map readers. So, it remained buried in my subconscious.

It got suddenly reignited when my senior colleague and mentor-friend Prof Pradeep Mathur informed me about his proposed column “Friday Fuss”. It gave a fillip to my long-buried passion for writing a column which I did during my days at ‘Delhi Mid-Day’ where I worked for close to three years as Chief of Bureau under the leadership of another friend and a brilliant journalist John Dayal who had inspired me to write a regular column on every Friday. I wrote a column for both Hindi and English editions on the relevant political topics and current issues.       

Returning to ‘Wednesday Wisdom’, I owe a responsibility to my readers in weeks to share what went behind deciding this particular name. It matches with the overall being which refuses to accept any wrongdoing or injustice to weak, marginalized and deprived sections of our society in particular and elsewhere in general. To stand with women fighting for their rights in a patriarchal structure deeply ingrained in male chauvinism is my conviction. Along with this, I am committed to democracy with a strong opposition to keep a check and maintain a vigil on the ruling dispensation of the day.

 

At A Glance
The article announces the launch of the author’s new weekly column, “Wednesday Wisdom,” inspired by discussions with mentor Prof. Pradeep Mathur and the recent debut of Amitabh Srivastava’s “Monday Musings.”
Wednesday Wisdom
By Satish Misra
Drawing from past experiences at ‘Delhi Mid-Day,’ the author emphasizes a commitment to addressing social injustices, particularly concerning women's rights and media freedom. The column aims to uphold democratic values and act as a watchdog against government overreach.
The author also raises concerns about the UP Police's obstruction of Congress leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi from visiting riot-affected areas, underscoring the necessity for representatives to connect with impacted communities. “Thursday Thunder” is set to be a platform for advocating justice and accountability in society.

 

Yet another subject which digs me out to open is defending media freedom right of expression and freedom of speech guaranteed by the Constitution- holier than all the books and religious texts to me.  

Any violation of the issues that have guided me through my life and profession first evokes a feeling of anger in me before a sobering thought after which inner calm makes me settle. Here I consider my duty to mention that I belong to the ‘Old School’ of journalism that was guided by the principles and values of the Mahatma Gandhi-led freedom struggle. The first guiding principle of a working journalist was to act as a watchdog of society and maintain a vigil performing the role of a communication bridge between the people and those in power. While no party or individual was sacrosanct, the Executive of the day always remained under our vigil. The good work of the government will speak for itself and be appreciated by people at large, its machinations to remain in power at any cost was an anathema to us. To amplify the voice of the legitimate opposition was also part of our journalism. To me, Gandhi was one of the greatest journalists of his time.                 

With these words, I salute my future readers offering them the first glance at my  renewed attempt at a regular column.

 

No valid reason to stop Rahul-Priyanka Visit to Sambhal

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by his freshly elected sister Lok Sabha MP Priyanka Gandhi, was stopped on Wednesday (04 December 2024) by the UP Police from going to Sambhal where communal riots broke out on 25 November on the Delhi-UP border. At the heart of the riots is a 17th-century mosque which is claimed to have been built on the ruins of a temple. The Local courts had ordered a survey of the mosque on a petition of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) protagonist Hari Shankar Jain in direct and blatant contradiction to the Places of Worship Act. 

From the video recording of his engagement with the police officials, it becomes more than evident that the two Congress leaders were stopped at the behest of the top political executive of the state who also goes with the sobriquet of “Bulldozer Baba”. The Police gave a standard reason of “Law and Order” for not allowing them to proceed to “visit the town and speak with affected families.

The Congress leader shared a video of an exchange with a police officer at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border in Ghazipur. The video shows a huge battery of cops on duty to stop the Congress delegation from entering Uttar Pradesh.

"It's my right to go there. On what basis have they denied the LoP (Leader of the Opposition) permission to go?" he is heard asking a police officer on duty. "It's an issue of law and order," the cop responds. "Am I going to disturb law and order?" Gandhi asks. The cop says, "It is a sensitive (situation)". The Congress leader responds, "I am going to go with the police quietly and come back. I am going alone."

Earlier, other opposition leaders like Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and many others were not allowed to visit the riot-affected town.

Denial of people’s representatives from visiting a place where communal peace has been disturbed and people are suffering from the loss of life and property to listen to them providing a sort of valve to release pressure from within goes a long way to resolving an issue amicable provided the government of the day is at all interested in taking humane approach.

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