Wanted: better news TV culture

Punjabi antenna

By

Randeep Wadehra

As one watched the Punjab poll coverage on TV one wondered whether news television could perform better. It kept its cameras and microphones fully primed as decibel levels soared upwards during the election campaigns that plumbed new depths, with rivals conjuring up metaphors and similes featuring canine faces and simian posteriors. With the polls’ conclusion the decibels plummeted to bearable levels. The political rhetoric simmered down even though tension has remained tactile because the entire election process has not yet been completed thanks to the rather long period of wait for the results. Interestingly, even as the votes were being cast in the late afternoon various Punjabi news TV channels went into the analytical mode peremptorily. Who will win, and by what margin? What does the unusually high voter turnout signify? Various experts had ready answers. On the PTC News they proclaimed ideology’s demise as a vote-catching device. Only the track record and image of individual candidates matter for the voter, they declared. They also were perceptive enough to tell us that those above fifty years of age would vote on pre-decided party lines while “45 and below” would vote for candidates and parties having credible developmental agendas. What about the significant chunk of voters in the 45-50 age group? I am whingeing, of course.

Zee Punjabi’s panelists had a different take altogether. One of them observed that if individual candidates were such “sohnay atey changay” then the credit should go to the parties that selected them. Although the effect of delimitation on the fortunes of some of the established politicos was factored in the experts’ general view was that people would vote on ideological lines. Now, if ideology is such a strong factor then both SAD-BJP and the INC stand to lose because they have hardly anything distinct to offer on this score – one being the Tweedledum to the other’s Tweedledee. The former have more or less veered away from their panthic-dharmic agendas and the latter is swinging between socialism and free market economy; and both cynically exploit various caste and communal equations in the state. The PPP campaign, on the other hand, has focused on development and governance, with emphasis on transparency and probity; this should enthuse at least the young voter. So, ideally, PPP should have an advantage. But, would it? Taking into account the huge voter turnout, one of the panelists predicted that there would be surprises in the election results. What would these be? Would there be a regime change; or, perhaps, even a rank outsider may become the next Chief Minister? Although some are predicting retention of power by the Akali-BJP combine the following equation appears more likely: Anti-incumbency + Manpreet Factor = Heavy Voter Turnout = Advantage Congress. The quality of debates invariably improved whenever politicians were absent, or in a minority.

Another event that caught the media attention was the exercise of the ‘Right to Reject’ by a section of the voters. The media pundits were quite excited. However, certain questions need to be answered first. What purpose does this right serve? Can it compel the authorities to order re-poll, replacing the rejected candidates with new ones? Obviously, this is not possible unless a majority of voters in a constituency reject the existing candidates. Nevertheless, this could be a promising start.

One yearns for the news TV culture that would encourage prospective candidates from various political parties to answer voters’ questions, live on television, on their track records, as well as future plans vis-à-vis development and governance. Or, hold a public debate among various candidates on major issues confronting the people of Punjab. This should help energize the state’s political culture and set a healthy precedent for other states to follow. Wouldn’t this make for great news TV?  

Published in The Tribune dated February 18, 2012

Asking for the Utopia

Punjabi antenna

By

Randeep Wadehra

Like Heer and Jugni, the Challa folksong reverberates throughout the Punjabi countryside on both sides of the Indo-Pak border. Although there are many versions of this song the ones sung by Alam Lohar of Pakistan and Gurdas Mann and Rabbi Shergill of India have become extremely popular. Recently, one watched on Zee Punjabi another version filmed on urban youngsters, with guitars etc as accompaniment. This contemporary rendering was pepped up with some western sounds. It may well become a hit among the college going youth.

Since elections have more or less obliterated all else on the small screen one has to revert to the scenario although by the time this gets published the polling in Punjab would be over. As usual the main issues facing Punjab seldom found any worthwhile mention in the various electoral speeches. Most of the politicos preferred to get personal vis-à-vis their opponents. Like Sukhbir Badal trying hard to link the Patiala Peg with Captain Amarinder Singh’s lifestyle. Captain Amarinder Singh preferred to focus on the Congress rebels. Since he has the propensity for politically incorrect speech the PTC News gleefully latched on to his “katl-e-aam (massacre)” remark and played it several times along with the nikhedi (criticism) of the remark by several Congress rebels. Some sanity to the political discourse was restored with PM Manmohan Singh’s rally. But, again, PTC News focused more on the sparseness of crowds than on the contents of the PM’s speech. Later on, the BSP leader Mayawati’s rally too was covered and, for a change, we had a variety in perspectives, however skewed, on the small screen.

It appears that the PTC News is not very comfortable with any positive views aired in favour of the Sanjha Morcha. In its Chon Charcha (21 January, afternoon) when the PTC News Bureau Chief mentioned how the PPP led Sanjha Morcha has advantage in the Banga constituency not only was he cut off but also not included further in the program. Although the channel did maintain a modicum of neutrality by showing the snaps of various candidates in the poll fray its underlying message was clear – the SAD-BJP combine is the favourite to win the polls. On the other hand Zee News mainly focused on the chances of the Congress party, and gave prominence to the PM’s rally.

Last fortnight Khabarsaar’s (Zee Punjabi) examined the reasons behind health being ignored as a poll issue, when more than 80% children are anemic and four to five kids die every minute due to malnutrition. A panelist suggested that politicians focus on visible achievements like buildings, roads etc because these catch the people’s imagination. Healthcare is “invisible” and, hence, does not figure in poll manifestos. Strange, one thought that people would be agitated over the issue that directly affects them and their progeny. But then, in a land where karma explains all the disparities and inequities, people tend to forgive their corrupt, insensitive and inefficient representatives. In an earlier edition Khabarsaar had focused on Punjabi artistes’ political aspirations. Lots of reasons were put forward for the need for them to enter the political arena. Even the examples of Ronald Reagan and MGR were cited. But, the question is, where are the Punjabi artistes with comparative charisma, and the ability to govern? Hans Raj Hans has already burnt his fingers and the likes of Bhagwant Mann are hardly taken seriously by the voters.

In its social messages slot Zee Punjabi had been showing kids demanding a government that would provide good roads and sanitary conditions, fair enough. But when some of them started wishing for a corruption free, honest and efficient government one felt that they were asking for the… no, not the moon, which has become accessible thanks to technology, but the Utopia.

Published in The Tribune dated February 04, 2012 

Polls, manifestos and environmental pollution

Punjabi antenna

By

Randeep Wadehra

Has internet become an important factor in Punjab polls? Going by Zee Khabran it would appear so. On 08 January its bulletin showed how various Punjab Congress bigwigs are reaching out to voters via the internet. But apart from beaming shots of Bhattal, Amarinder etc it did not tell us how internet has made a difference in the current poll campaigns. It could have thrown some light on the number of internet users in Punjab who visited the website/Facebook pages of different politicos. By the way, what is the extent of penetration of connected computers in Punjab’s rural and semi-urban areas?

When a channel takes up an issue that is not really hot – talking from poll politics point of view – you sit up and take notice. And wonder. Wonder whether this is a case of thinking out of the box, boredom with all those hot air balloons floating on Punjab’s political firmament, or genuine concern for an issue that affects us all. On 7 January, Masle took a look at environmental problems facing Punjab. There were three prominent and familiar environmentalists and one prominent and familiar university don facing the anchor. Although they were well versed with the problem and genuinely exercised over its spread and intensity they, understandably, had nothing new to say – the general theme being that the government should have taken steps to identify and alleviate the menace; the contesting political parties should give prominence to environment in their poll campaigns… But, perhaps, the problem lies as much with the attitude of political parties as with the voters at large who seldom take their representatives to task over environmental issues. Meanwhile, the menace grows. Apart from such symptoms like underweight babies, premature ageing etc pollution has taken debilitating and lethal dimensions with cases of cancer, skeletal fluorosis, arthritis etc spreading among youngsters in different parts of the state. The number of places with availability of clean, potable water is shrinking at alarming rate. Not that efforts are not being made to fight the pollution of air, earth and water, but these are clearly not enough. So, it is natural to expect environment to become a hot political issue with polls approaching fast. However, despite the appeals made by eco-warriors like Balbir Singh Seechewal and others environment remains more or less an afterthought or, at best, a footnote in the various political parties’ manifestos. Another panelist on the show, Umendra Dutt has been campaigning for a Green Agenda for sustainable Punjab. He had been repeatedly appealing to the state government to come out with a vision statement on the issue; but, in vain. Nevertheless, it is good to see Masle take up an important issue for discussion.

Incidentally, DD Punjabi runs the longest running show on environment, which has acquired the traits of a campaign of sorts – even if quite a few of its episodes are repeated. On 09 January, 2012, at 10.10 am it telecast a documentary on water pollution and conservation – with specific reference to the situation in Punjab. It was pointed out how the traditional sources of water like ponds and lakes have dried up in the rural areas; how the march of civilization has led to depletion of underground water sources and pollution of surface waters like rivers and canals. The documentary’s message was clear: resurrect the traditional methods of water conservation like chhappars (ponds that retain rain water in villages) and stop the mass-scale pollution of rivers, or else a time will come when this vital life source would vanish, leading to unimaginable tragedy. As an interviewee said on the show: technology can manufacture every type of consumables but there is no way it can manufacture air and water; so, time to heed the writing on the wall, no?

Published in The Tribune on January 21, 2012

Of cultural symbols and platforms

Punjabi antenna


By
Randeep Wadehra

The other day I watched Virsa on PTC News. The slot features a short film of two to five minutes length, which is used as filler; it highlights various aspects of Punjabi culture and lifestyle. One recalls its earlier episodes on such traditional fashion accessories as parandee and Patiala jutti. This particular episode focused on the symbiotic relationship between Punjabi dhabas and truck drivers. The manner in which this mini telefilm established a link between dietary needs of a Punjabi truck driver, who transports loads of goods to different parts of the country, and the dhaba that serves typical Punjabi fare was interesting indeed. The rustic music and songs that accompany the dining add to his delight. To complete the picture, there is always the manji (charpoy) to rest one’s travel weary body upon. Often the dhaba is described as Punjab’s answer to the French bistro. But the dhaba plays a more substantial role than being a mere eatery. In India this culinary institution serves a socioeconomic purpose while rendering service to a vulnerable stratum of the society. It keeps the truck driver going in the daunting, inhospitable terrains that range from the mighty Himalayas to the nerve-wracking deserts. Even otherwise to be on the road to distant places, with every possibility of encountering violence from anti-social elements playing on your mind, and our policing system being what it is, one must understand the emotional support that dhabas provide to the average, law and god fearing  truck driver. This could have been a full-length documentary. 

On Zee Punjabi’s Ikk Khaas Mulaqaat Balwinder interviewed singer Kanth Kaler. It was basically a feel good tête-à-tête focusing on the singer’s journey to success and his forthcoming album. Balwinder is knowledgeable about Punjabi folk songs, literature and other creative genres. It is always interesting to watch his talk show. Actually, Zee Punjabi has too many of such shows, viz., Sohni Saver, Pindaan Vichhon Pind, Sat Sri Akal Pradhanji etc that basically promote an artiste or a politician. What is needed is at least one hard talk show that will put a public figure onto the hot seat. It is time to ask searching questions of our administrators, politicians, NGOs, civic bodies etc so that the public may be genuinely involved in the governance and nation-building related issues. Similarly, I find that there is a sense of complacency vis-à-vis Punjabi cinema and literature. It is becoming essential to take a hard look at these two very important cultural platforms. 

Since the announcement of dates for the polls things are really heating up on the small screen. With Zee Punjabi and PTC News telecasting special election-oriented programs the decibel levels of political rhetoric have predictably gone up. What one finds amusing is the persistence with which TV channels stick to their political bias. For example, on 02 January, the PTC News bulletins contrasted between two SAD aspirants for poll tickets. One of them – on being denied the ticket, which was granted to Chandumajra – left the party in a huff and joined Manpreet Badal’s PPP. While briefly mentioning the defection PTC News gave prominence to another aspirant who had decided to stick with the SAD even when he had been denied the ticket from a constituency he had assiduously nurtured and was considered a cakewalk for him. Describing him as wafadaar he was even given airtime to tell the world how he had great faith in Parkash Singh Badal and would never leave the party. How one wishes the channel had given some airtime to the disgruntled aspirant too, so that he could give his version of the happenings to the viewers. But then, where journalism has turned into “please thy master” phenomenon you can’t expect such balanced approach to a political episode.

Published in The Tribune dated 07 January, 2012

Ringing out the forgettable 2011

By

Randeep Wadehra

A character in the Czech born British dramatist Tom Stoppard’s Night & Day says, “No matter how imperfect things are, if you’ve got a free press everything is correctable, and without it everything is conceivable.” Although the Constitution of India guarantees press freedom this fact has not registered with private Punjabi news television channels. Owned by powerful vested interests, promotion of specific political personalities, groupings and agendas appears to have become the raison d'être of their existence. Consequently, the year 2011 has witnessed the fall of Punjabi TV journalism to the level of pamphleteering. You just have to watch the news bulletins and talk shows to realize the manner in which political discourse has been turned into waffle – in PTC News afternoon bulletin on 13 December Navjot Sidhu described Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as “Pappu”. Rhetoric and invective have replaced objective, informed and well reasoned discourse. Some of the participants in TV debates clearly appear out of depth vis-à-vis the issues being debated. Worse, most channels suffer from a lack of seasoned and talented TV anchors capable of moderating discussions competently.

Zee Punjabi’s news-based talk show, Khabarsaar, tries to keep debates interesting and unbiased. DDJ’s Khas Khabar Ek Nazar remains the best news-based talk show, thanks largely to Jatinder Pannu’s pithy observations. He is the only Punjabi television news analyst who combines traditional wisdom with professional journalism. His imagery is so apt that even the most complex economic and political issues become intelligible to common TV viewers. He is absolutely unbiased and fearless while calling a spade a shovel.

Many promising TV journalists kept a low profile in 2011. Davinder Pal Singh of the Lok Bani fame (PTC News) used to be quite incisive while interrogating local authorities in matters relating to citizens’ rights, civic amenities and development. However, the show later worsened to the level of becoming a promo for SAD-BJP politicians. Something that Zee Punjabi’s Sat Sri Akal Pradhanji is presently doing for Congress politicians and agenda in Punjab. Daljit Singh of PTC News is another intrepid journalist who was missed in 2011. Misha Bajwa Chaudhary of the Day & Night News created waves when she beat the mainstream channels in bringing to the Indian television the 2011 IIFA Awards function held in Toronto.

The year 2011 witnessed a slow, inexorable, decline of Punjabi television. Once upon a time Alpha Punjabi (now Zee Punjabi), ETC Punjabi and Doordarshan Jalandhar appeared to be robust platforms for Punjabi creativity and culture. Quality programs comprising talk shows, road shows and stand-up comedies etc kept the eyeballs glued to the small screen. No more, alas!

Nonetheless, there were a few bright spots. Despite all the constraints DD Jalandhar/Punjabi remained the flag bearer of the old-world Punjabi culture with its documentaries on Punjab’s history, its various cultural traditions and personalities. Mukesh Gautam – both when he was with Zee Punjabi and PTC Punjabi – did come up with impressive programming on Punjabi music and culture – be it Sajda or Great Masters. Although the TV entertainment scene remained dismal PTC Punjabi’s Preeto Top Ten anchored by the talented Anshu Sahni continued to be a favourite. Zee Punjabi’s Pindaan Vichchon Pind is another worthwhile culture oriented program. However, most of the reality shows in 2011 had been mediocre and forgettable.

Approximately a dozen Punjabi channels are being aired – mostly through cable operators. Most of them sell airtime for promos of music videos and movies; they hardly generate any content of their own. Obviously, they are focused on quick and easy money. It would be overly optimistic to expect any meaningful programming from them. Will Punjabi television be able to reinvent itself and make a comeback in 2012? Fat chance; it would be a miracle if renaissance visits the Punjabi infotainment scene in the foreseeable future.

Published in The Tribune dated 24 December 2011

Poll campaigns and public ire

By

Randeep Wadehra

Last fortnight, two mainstream news items overshadowed, albeit temporarily, such major regional events as the Punjab State Assembly elections scenario and the Viraasat-e-Khalsa complex’s inauguration. First was the assault on Sharad Pawar on 24^th November. Apart from the usual video clips there were comments that seemed to be not unambiguously condemnatory of the incident. However, mercifully, the news channels did not pay up the incident unduly and give undue boost to a lunatic’s quest for cheap, instant “fame” for which physical assaults on important people is now apparently becoming a preferred mode, remember Jarnail Singh? As Jatinder Pannu pointed out in DDJ’s morning show Khaas Khabar Ek Nazar on 25 November, let us not forget that we are a democracy and there are very effective, constitutional methods for registering our ire against government’s policies and actions. The second news item was about the impasse in the parliament –something that has now become a regular feature of its functioning. Although both corruption and inflation are important issues our opposition parties forget that legislation and governance cannot be ignored. So many important bills on such important matters as land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation, judicial accountability; Lokpal, etc are still awaiting discussion and clearance. However, the Khaas Khabar… episode will remain etched on one’s mindscape for Pannu’s comparison of the black money controversy with camel’s lower lip. “As camels’ lips droop but never fall so would the black money conundrum hang on the parliamentary horizon without ever precipitating… it comes in handy for disrupting the parliament’s work.”

However, coverage of regional events was not exactly blacked out. Zee Punjabi and PTC News telecast programmes on the Viraasat-e-Khalsa. The former concentrated on presenting an encapsulated history of Sikhs, especially the gurudwaras of historical importance, while the latter telecast live the entire inaugural proceedings with commentary on the significance of the complex.As is the practice with the SAD organized events, telecast by PTC News, as much was said about the event’s actual significance as about the greatness of the Chief Minister of Punjab who was presiding over the proceedings. Again, on 29 November, it telecast the observation of Ghallughara Day under the SGPC/SAD aegis, wherein less was said of the Day’s significance and more of Badal’s achievements. Poll politics reigned supreme.

The approaching Punjab Assembly elections have energized the political scenario. Apart from the usual mergers and break-ups of political factions and the aya-ram-gaya-ram syndrome the Dalit factor found resonance in some talk shows. Dalits form 27% of Punjab’s population. This translates into a formidable political factor in the highly stratified Punjabi polity. Khabarsaar took stock of the recent upsurge in the activities of the Ramdasia sect that can have long term influence on the power equations in Punjab. Subsequently, on 23 November, the same talk show discussed whether campaigns for the forthcoming polls should be issue based or allegations based. As a panelist pointed out, there is not much to choose between the Congress and the SAD-BJP as far as their precepts and practices are concerned. Both the political rivals have substantial numbers of the corrupt and the criminal in their ranks. Both try to obfuscate the real issues that affect the common Punjabi and try to rely on emotive issues to score brownie points with their respective vote banks. In fact the Congress and Akali panelists did not desist from resorting to fiery rhetoric even during the debate. However, both were quite dismissive about the Manpreet Badal factor although they seemed to acknowledge that the anti-corruption campaign by Anna Hazare has induced the common man to become more demanding vis-à-vis probity in politics. Nonetheless, each panelist asserted that his party was cleaner than of the other’s. How would this detergent-ad style debate affect the voters’ choice? Let us wait and watch.

Published in The Tribune on 11 December, 2011

Kabaddi: no panacea for drug addiction

By

Randeep Wadehra

Feudalism is alive and kicking in Punjab. The sixty odd years of socialistic policies and emphasis on egalitarianism has hardly made a dent on the Punjabi mindset. This thought assailed one’s mind while watching the Kabaddi World Cup (!!!) on PTC News. Anchors and invitees missed no chance of singing hymns in praise of the presiding deity Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was invariably present with his consort, along with the retinue comprising courtiers and nobility from the state’s Akali-BJP pantheon. There were film stars and dancers performing in the improvised durbar, with minions fawning all over him at every available opportunity. Even the modest kabaddi grounds reminded of the Roman Empire amphitheatres wherein gladiators fought for the pleasure of the Potentate. It was not difficult to perceive whether the “World Cup” was held for the benefit of the aam Punjabi or the state’s ruling elite. Some other stray thoughts too nagged one’s mind. For example, Sukhbir Badal had often declared that the intention behind holding the “World Cup” was to fight drug addiction among Punjabi youth – currently hovering in the region of 65% to 70% as per government as well as private surveys. But, according to media reports, several among the participating players were found by WADA and NADA using banned narcotic substances! Now, what sort of role models would these be for Punjabi youngsters?

The government’s focus should be on providing quality education and generating jobs and not indulge in gimmicks. Sukhbir Badal had entered the portals of power projecting the image of a progressive youth leader with 21^st Century mindset. He was expected to lead Punjab’s efforts in reclaiming its former position of flag-bearer of India’s march into the 21^st Century.  Alas, his kabaddi fixation is not doing that image any good. Kabaddi used to be a popular rural sport in the days of yore because it performed a specific utilitarian function. Then Punjabi youth actually toiled in the fields and needed a robust physique. Therefore, rich diet and physical culture involving sports like wrestling and kabaddi kept him in shape. The scenario has changed now. Technology and cheap labour on hire have taken Punjabi youth off the fields. He is more interested in going abroad or doing a white collar job or simply ‘enjoying’ a decadent lifestyle. Kabaddi really has no place in his scheme of things. Despite the hype there were not many young men among the audiences – the few one espied on the screen were certainly not kabaddi material by any stretch of imagination. This sport is an anachronism really and will do nothing to usher a healthy, drugs-free sports culture into the state. The Punjab government will have to come up with schemes that would actually encourage the state’s young population to imbibe healthy habits. How about making a beginning at the school level?

Now, let us have a look at the rather presumptuous “World Cup” title. The women’s event was more or less a showcase or “demonstration” addition. The men’s event had more entries; barring the countries from the Subcontinent all others were “represented” by Punjabi expatriates. So we had Punjabis from Australia, Spain, UK, Canada etc in the so-called international teams. Even the “Indian” team was not representative; although kabaddi is played in different parts of the country and there are quality players elsewhere too only players from Punjab had been chosen to represent the country. Wouldn’t it have been more accurate to name the event as Punjabi Diaspora Cup or, at best, Punjabi Kabaddi Cup? Nobody knows whether the event had been recognized by the IOC or any other authorized sports body. But then who cares? If the Deputy CM of Punjab proclaims that it was The Kabaddi World Cup, well who are we to even think otherwise?

Published in The Tribune dated 26 November 2011

Youth, women & nation building

By

Randeep Wadehra

On 29 October DD Punjabi’s morning show, Sajjri Saver, discussed women’s contribution towards nation building efforts. The invited guest’s emphasis on political success stories like Pratibha Patil, Sheila Dikshit, Mayawati, Jayalalitha, Mamta Bannerjee etc would have us believe that individual success is a sure sign of contribution to nation building – which is, at best, partially true. Success in politics is indeed a praiseworthy achievement but it is faceless women in less glamorous roles as housewife, teacher, farm/factory worker, executive, sportsperson, journalist, writer and thinker etc who contribute far more substantially; generally their contributions are more enduring too. Nevertheless, the discussion was thought provoking.

In somewhat similar vein was the debate on Punjab’s youth on Zee Punjabi’s Khabarsaar. The panelists debated whether young Punjabi men and women were being involved in the state’s developmental efforts. They also discussed the youths’ general apathy towards economic and social issues facing Punjab. Although some valid points were raised one thought it would have been pertinent to mention the absence of governmental policy and structure that would involve them in the state’s development related efforts. Endeavors need to be made to find out why our youth prefer to slave in inhuman conditions abroad to working in Punjab. Perhaps, the state government needs to revisit its youth and employment related policies. When the anchor raised the issue of ideology deficit among the youth a panelist, who was an academician, said that even at the university level student leaders were not really concerned with any ideological issue. Their vision was so myopic that most of their concerns centered on non-issues like canteen facilities, mundane problems in the hostels etc. Such shortsightedness precludes any possibility of focusing on the quality of education. No road map for improving the academic standards has ever been even conceptualized by student leaders at the university/college levels. In a subsequent edition, Khabarsaar discussed the latest education policy of the Punjab Government. The panelists were exercised over the withdrawal of government participation in education related activities. Privatization of education may not be the answer to Punjab’s woes, some felt. We all know that a robust governmental presence can ensure that students get highest quality of education in private institutions; otherwise these will continue to be mere commercial undertakings that look upon students as gullible customers.

While discussing youth and women one can’t ignore the ongoing Miss Punjaban contest on PTC Punjabi. What exactly are these young women displaying in the contest? The show is designed merely to present females in assorted attires. Their grooming, artistic skills and social consciousness as well as cultural/intellectual sophistication are given cursory consideration. Are these Punjabans from 21^st Century or…?

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was implemented in Jammu and Kashmir in 1990 when separatism had become particularly virulent. Ever since then the Act’s implementation has been discussed on various forums. The recent move by the J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to seek abolishment of AFSPA has ignited another round of controversy. On Masle (PTC News) the panelists, comprising an ex-cop, a retired soldier and an advocate, appeared to agree that the Act could not be withdrawn in the state as this would strengthen the separatists’ hands. However, it needed to be examined whether the concerned authorities were strictly following the AFSPA related guidelines issued by the Supreme Court in 1997. Other pertinent issues ought to have been addressed during the debate. For example, what has been the social cost of keeping AFSPA in force for about two decades? Have the intended political and strategic aims been achieved? Now that the government has subdued the militants wouldn’t it be prudent to gradually withdraw the Act from the state? Sadly, the debate was poorer for the lack of a genuinely informed and authentic voice from J&K.

Published in The Tribune on November 12, 2011

Waiting for Punjabi Godot

By

Randeep Wadehra

Last fortnight Khabarsaar (Zee Punjabi) debated Gursharan Singh’s contribution to the evolution of Punjab’s socio-political thought processes. His plays espoused leftist ideology, which is no more in vogue thanks to the Soviet Union’s disintegration, China’s revisionism and the Indian communist parties’ inability to come to grips with the changed economic and political realities. However, nobody can deny the fact that its influence on capitalism has been profound and abiding. Concepts like corporate social responsibility and egalitarianism etc have had a humanizing impact on not only the profit-seeking behemoths but also the manner in which democratic governments function in various parts of the world. People like Gursharan will be remembered for helping in making this humane factor a constant in our society as well as general governance.

The passing away of singer Jagjit Singh was mourned by people from various parts of the country. Hailing from Rajasthan’s Sriganganagar he was a Punjabi all the way. He will be remembered for changing the grammar of ghazal singing. Not only did he replace traditional instruments with guitar and dholak but also did away with many a classical embellishment in order to make ghazal popular with the lay audience – and he succeeded phenomenally. Actually, this set me thinking. Punjabis have been immensely successful in Mumbai’s entertainment industry. But, their successes there have failed to trigger off a revolution in Punjabi cinema and television.

Who will believe today that Punjab was among the leaders in film production during the pre-partition days? Lahore had Hari Ram Seth’s Punjab Film Company and AR Kardar’s United Players’ Corporation among the pioneers and frontrunners of Indian cinema. The dawn of talkie era saw frenetic production of movies by several producers. KD Mehra’s Punjabi films Sheila and Heer Sayal were a success, inspiring other producers and directors to enter the field. Soon, Lahore became the most important centre of Hindi film production in the country. But the partition knocked Punjab off the pedestal. In spite of such memorable movies as Madhi Da Deeva, Satlaj De Kande, Nanak Naam Jahaaj Hai etc Punjabi cinema does not figure among the best in the country. Most of the stuff churned out comprises poor Bollywood imitations or the hackneyed vendetta narrative. Since the recently introduced NRI theme too is being flogged to death there is little hope for Punjabi cinema’s recovery anytime soon.

There really is no systemic process to recognize and nurture talent for the entertainment industry. The so-called academies in the region are neither interested in nor capable of doing the job. One has yet to hear of an actor, director or cinematographer from these academies making any impact on the regional, let alone national, entertainment scene. Most of the successful Punjabi actors, directors, cinematographers and media persons have only their own talent and efforts to fall back upon.

The Punjabi TV scene is disheartening too. Most of the reality shows based on general knowledge, comedy or music are products of unoriginal ideas; creativity is at its nadir. The likes of Sajda don’t last long and the Great Masters has gradually lowered its benchmark to bring in anybody ready to sing for the show. Even news based productions, more often than not, fail to live up to expectations. Most of these are poorly researched; the debates often remain substandard as most of the participants are either ill-informed or politically biased. Sadly, even those from the academia become mealy mouthed while discussing economic issues facing the region for reasons best known to them. If our intellectuals refuse to face up to a problem how would it be resolved?

Punjabi television and cinema lack skills in content management and human resource development. Only committed persons with vision can remove these deficiencies. Will the Punjabi entertainment industry’s wait for Godot ever end?

Published in The Tribune dated 29 October 2011

Free Media good for Governments

Media wars are fact of life in any democracy. However, the propensity for monopoly and even totalitarianism among certain media entities backed by politicians needs to be firmly checked. Read all about it at Smart-Scholars.Com

Sab golmaal hai

Corruption, money power and muscle power are but three facets of the hydra-headed monster that has come to grip our society. You realize this as you watch PTC News reveal a case of brazen manipulation of law by a Zirakpur based transport company. Its owners owed three months’ salary to a driver of one of its petrol tankers. Instead of paying him the paltry amount they framed him in a theft case. Charged with stealing a tanker the driver turned to media for help. Daljit Singh, a PTC News journalist and social activist – known for his intrepidity – investigated and found that the tanker was actually not stolen. The red faced police are now “looking into the matter”.
On Tirchchi Nazar’s sets former national hockey captain Pargat Singh revealed how corrupt the system has become. “No opportunity is lost to make money through foul means, while the players suffer” agonized Pargat. On Straight Talk KPS Gill sardonically observed that we as a nation are not comfortable with excellence.
Budget 2010 led to animated discussions on its pros and cons in such talk shows as Masle, which made an attempt to contextualize the budget to Punjab’s economic scenario. On the other hand, Khabarsaar solely focused upon Punjab’s economy. The panelists pointed out that if the rampant tax evasion could be checked in the state its economic profile can improve phenomenally. Moreover, increased and relatively unfettered cross-border Indo-Pak trade can help generate substantial revenue. They lamented that the state has taken the easy way out – proliferating liquor vends; revenue from liquor sales forms the backbone of Punjab’s budgetary structure. But the panelists ignored the profligacy of the state’s rulers when it came to sanctioning perks and pays for themselves.
There was much violence on the small screen last fortnight. One is not talking of the usual stuff like crimes of passion, murders, agitations etc, depressing though these are, but of the more horrible kind – violence with political message where innocents are killed just to send a signal to those in power. The increasing Naxal violence was spine chilling enough when the beheading of the Sikhs by Taliban in Pakistan increased the horror quotient. Heart-rending scenes of grieving kin of the killed only darkened the gloom.
Khabarsaar’s next episode discussed Naxal violence in detail; while its political aspects were not ignored the panelists focused on the socio-economic dimensions. They admitted that our governments – both at the centre and the states – have become insensitive to public opinion. Peaceful protests do not have any effect on the powers that be – contrast this with the times when Gandhiji’s mere going on fast used to send alarm bells ringing right from New Delhi to London! Now, unless protesters burn public property and a few lives are lost even the media does not take notice. Is it any wonder that our society is becoming increasingly violence-prone? There was a general agreement that one of the vital steps to pull the polity back from the brink would be to make the governance more responsive and transparent. Any takers?
Sports have always been a vital part of the Punjabi culture. Hockey, wrestling and kabaddi have constantly been popular in the rural areas as have been various track events as well as bullock-cart races and sports of endurance and physical prowess. The recently concluded Kila Raipur “Rural Olympics of Punjab” proved the Punjabis’ love for physical culture to the hilt wherein men and women participated. PTC News, as usual, was in the forefront of telecasting all the events live, following up with edited and abridged recordings later on in the evenings and the following days after the sports concluded. Zee Punjabi too showcased the events in its Sports Round Up slot.

Punjabi Antenna
www.tribuneindia.com

Understanding the Bt in Baingan

Agriculture in general and genetically modified crops in particular dominated the talk shows like Masle (PTC News) and Khabarsar (Zee Punjabi) which devoted considerable time and effort in understanding the various aspects of Bt brinjal and Bt cotton related controversies (Bt stands for Bacillus Thuringienses – a bacterium used in pesticides which is naturally available in the guts of caterpillars, moths or butterflies). Experts from such disciplines as agriculture, medicine and biotechnology explained the various environmental and health hazards that may ensue if such crops were allowed to be regularly cultivated on a large scale. Fears were also expressed that dependence on the genetically modified crops would ensure monopoly on seeds of MNCs, opening up the prospects of neo-colonialism where the corporate sector would actually take over third world countries. Although no economist was present in the discussions telecast by the two channels – the long term economic effects too were mentioned. However, it was clear from the experts’ admissions that enough data was not available for coming to any conclusion regarding the desirability of going in for GM crops. Nevertheless the sentiment – uninformed or the result of disinformation campaign – was strongly against this new breed of agricultural products. Two questions figured prominently: Has the insecticide lobby been stoking the recent fires of anti Bt brinjal agitation in the country? Is there a veiled government agenda to take out the marginal farmers (who form about 70% of the farming community) from the agriculture sector and deploy them elsewhere?

The insecticide lobby definitely stands to lose substantially if Bt crops become acceptable for human consumption. Already there are increasing numbers of scientific reports favouring these crops although the arguments against their consumption have not yet lost their potency. With further research and fine-tuning of the toxin factor it is quite possible for genetically modified crops to become staple diets globally. It is this scenario that has turned the pro-insecticide and anti-Bt lobbies desperate. Although the granting of permission to go ahead with Bt Brinjal farming has been postponed for the time being the sheer logic of feeding their burgeoning populations will force governments around the world to allow the cultivation of genetically modified crops.

The second question might be merely speculative but one hard fact mentioned during the discussions needs to be seriously studied. The average monthly income of a farmer in India is less than Rs. 3000/- whereas a government chaprasi’s monthly salary is Rs. 15,000/-. This, in a nation where the farmer is often referred to as annadaata!

Are the Bhasha awards, given by the Punjab State Language Department, leading to unhealthy practices? This question was debated on the sets of Samwad (PTC News). The invited guests were such litterateurs as Piara Singh Bhogal, who has been recently given the Shiromani Punjabi Sahitkar Award and is a noted literary critic with dozens of books to his credit, including four novels, apart from several short stories; Dr. Dalbir Singh Sirjana, who won the first ever Shiromani Punjabi Sahitak Pattarkar Award and runs the Magazine Sirjana since even before Amrita Pritam started Nagmani; and Dr. Sutinder Singh Noor, the eminent writer, poet, critic, and Vice President of Bharatiya Sahitya Academy as well as Member of the Governing Council of the Punjabi Academy.

While it is true that no award is free from controversy the panelists pointed out that the Bhasha Awards started attracting acrimony only after the prize money was recently jacked up several fold. Sifarish, including political pressures, is a potent tool in influencing the outcome. There were several suggestions to make the system immune to such pressures. But, the point is, no system can work without having people to man it and there is no system that can cure human frailties.

By Randeep Wadehra
Punjabi Antenna
www.tribuneindia.com

Of changing culture and values

On Saturdays Doordarshan Jalandhar telecasts a show on Punjab’s history; last fortnight it described how the British, after taking over Punjab, modernized the administration and systemized the governance – they replaced smaller parganas with larger zilas, as administrative units; jagirdari system gave way to more hierarchical bureaucracy etc. The channel is a repository of information on our traditions and culture. It regularly focuses on our traditional arts and crafts. Recently, it telecast a show on the Patiala jutti, the footwear with a royal past and, currently, fashionistas’ favorite – something you learn from the lore narrated by the traditional craftsmen of Patiala, who have been struggling against all odds to preserve one of the disappearing arts of Punjab.

Noted for his column, Tirchhi Nazar, in Ajit since 1995 Baljit Balli had started his career as trainee journalist in the Punjabi Tribune. Now, this Shiromani Pattarkar Award winner and PU graduate anchors a talk show named Tirchhi Nazar on PTC News featuring people from different walks of life. Last fortnight, Ujjal Dosanjh was presented. Apart from tracing his career-graph as politician in Canada, Baljit elicited an interesting observation: Dosanjh averred that NRIs in Canada unabashedly flout conventions while enrolling members to the political parties there, attributing the phenomenon to the cultural reflexes carried over from India. While pointing out the difference in political cultures of the two countries, Dosanjh underscored the need for the system in India to be more responsive. Baljit Balli’s style of interview is more conversational than formatted questionnaire, which gives the show a drawing room ambience. However, contrary to what the title suggests, the talks seldom become tangential let alone contentious. Wanted more bite in the bytes, please.

Culture, in its social connotations, was the topic of discussion on Doordarshan Jalandhar’s morning show wherein the principal of a reputed women’s college went retro with a vengeance, like “jeans are evil because they expose female body… our women are being compelled to dance onstage to promote commercial products…” etc ignoring the fact that dirt – like beauty – lies in the eye of the beholder. Sari and salwaar kameez can be as “exposing” as any other apparel – depending upon how one wears it or how it is perceived by others.

Admittedly, values and traditions form vital ingredients of our cultural identity; but, we err in assuming that these are static concepts. True, certain values like honesty, integrity, respect for elders etc, remain constant, but other values – like unquestioning acceptance of whatever is written in our scriptures or treating physical appearances as non-negotiable – need revisiting. One is not advocating brazen irreverence but a healthy skepticism so that our generations do not wallow in stagnation. Blind faith warps one’s intellect. Even traditions change as they must. For example, the veiled woman is anachronistic in today’s world. The ghoongat or hijab does not necessarily stand for chastity; ditto for our traditional dresses like sari and salwaar kameez. You wouldn’t become less traditional if you wear modern apparel. For a working woman traditional dresses can be quite cumbersome.

Not that the esteemed Principal had nothing reasonable to say. Her protest against giving costly gifts like cars, motorcycles etc, as birthday presents to under aged children is valid. As a teacher her opposition to students carrying cell-phones to school/colleges is understandable – especially in the light of what our youngsters have been doing with these gizmos. The misuse is not limited to messaging odd video clips, but now these are being doctored and uploaded on porno websites as well. However, she was eager to put all blame on parents. Certainly, a line needs to be drawn here. Although, to a large extent, parents are responsible for the spreading cellphonitis the guru fraternity ought to do some introspection too.

By Randeep Wadehra
Punjabi Antenna
www.tribuneindia.com

Ask uncomfortable questions too

Subaltern discourse is something you don’t expect in Punjabi cinema. In the past there has been, arguably, only one exception, viz., Madi da diva. Otherwise, we have been watching the stereotypical vendetta movies that catered to the lowest common denominator. The benchmark was raised significantly with the coming in of Manmohan Singh’s NRI narrative. But the emphasis remained on the upper-caste/middleclass milieu. Going by the characters as well as general plots in Punjabi cinema it would appear that Dalits simply do not exist in Punjabi society. This skewed perception is somewhat corrected by director Jatinder Singh Mauhar’s debut movie Mitti. However, the movie is not purely a Dalit story, but of the Punjabi youth gone astray. How they are used by various vested interests, especially politicians. All this comes to the fore on the sets of Zee Punjabi’s Sohani Saver (January 10) wherein Balwinder interviews Mauhar as well as theatre director Samuel. But what remained unasked was why should commercial ingredients dilute Mitti’s Dalit narrative? If Mauhar had shown the courage of making a truly Dalit-centric movie he would have configured a new paradigm in Punjabi cinema.

Samuel expanded the interview’s scope by giving account of how Punjabi theatre is being taken to the common man in the best traditions of Gursharan Singh and other pioneers of street theatre. This theme was further improved upon in Samwad (PTC News). Why has Punjabi theatre not gained popular acceptability? Many alibis were put forward – the coming of television being the most cited. However, one tends to agree with Charandas Sidhu when he points out the inferior quality of productions. One can’t expect the public to become patron of mediocrity. Why have we failed to have Punjabi answers to Ghasiram Kotawal and Adrak kay Panje? Nobody asked this question, alas.

Asking uncomfortable questions is one of the less pleasant duties of an anchor. He is there to see that an interview or a talk show does not end up as a promotional exercise but becomes a meaningful, thought-provoking and enlightening conversation. Take, for example, Masle’s treatment of the recent run in of hockey players with the establishment. There was hardly any attempt at providing Hockey India’s perspective. To rub in the anti-HI bias former national hockey goalkeeper Baljit Singh was allowed to get away with statements like “I was treated like a prisoner”. Why wasn’t he asked to comment on the union sports ministry officials’ claims that more than Rs. 35 lakhs had been spent on Baljit’s treatment? If the official claims are true then what or who impelled the player to come up with such allegations? Obviously, the player as well as the panelists and the anchor had wittingly or unwittingly become pawns of a political game aimed at maligning Mattoo.

Pindaan vichon pind is another talk show on Zee Punjabi that has been focusing on the villages which have been home to various singers, writers, poets and artistes. While watching Sarabjeet Cheema’s interview one was struck by the havoc that has been wrought in the countryside – as epitomized by the twin villages of Cheema Kalaan and Cheema Khurd – due to the large scale migration of Punjabi youth to foreign lands. Unattended, locked houses are turning into rubble. The camera focused on a lane that had at least two big houses, shuttered and in a state of disrepair due to desertion. Sad. But, apart from the usual homilies the anchor as well as the star singer had nothing much to say on Punjabi youth’s search for greener pastures abroad.

Happily, Sohani Saver hosted the noted Punjabi anchor and theatre personality Asha Sharma on 17 January. She stressed upon reading good literature as well as keeping oneself in touch with the events as necessary for becoming successful anchors. Hope the wannabes were listening.

By Randeep Wadehra
Punjabi Antenna
The Tribune

The media needs to wake up

What never fails to surprise one is the tendency of the regional TV channels to stay in the rut and play safe. There was a time when music on TV was just a slot spanning about thirty to sixty minutes. Therefore it made sense to go in for musical extravaganza on the New Year Eve. It attracted viewers’ interest. Now, with channels like MH1 playing music 24x7 and others like PTC Punjabi, Zee Punjabi and ETC Punjabi virtually feeding on music albums, it does not make sense to air musical shows to usher in the New Year. But, with the exception of MH1 – which decided to go spiritual on 31st December – most of the channels including DDJ went through the song-dance-mirth routine. Talking of mirth – one has yet to come across a novel gag on the Punjabi small screen; most of the jokes fall flat, slap-stick comedies have become a big yawn.

The annual round-ups too fail to evoke much interest. The PTC News channel’s review of soap opera scene only underscored the poverty of Punjabi entertainment industry. Moreover, although the channel did a commendable job of telecasting various political and sporting highlights, it could not restrain itself from reciting the Badal-Chautala Chalisa. While the Akali-BJP combine has nothing tangible to show as achievement in Punjab, and had fared poorly in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the reviewers sang paeans to Sukhbir Badal’s leadership qualities. Similarly, even though the INC was able to retain power in Haryana it was Om Prakash Chautala who seemed to be the reviewers’ hero. When bias becomes brazen a news channel’s credibility becomes a casualty.

The development versus environmental degradation debate is the current favourite of our chattering classes. Zee Punjabi’s Khabarsaar took up the issue last fortnight in the light of what happened at Copenhagen. Every “summit” on environmental issues has so far proved to be a comedown for optimists. The reasons are not far to seek. The developed world wouldn’t like to compromise on its privileges and comforts in terms of environmentally harmful activities. On the other hand the developing countries cannot afford the relatively clean technologies to boost its industrial progress. The stand-off continues.

The Ruchika case has become quite prominent in the news bulletins. Frankly, the media took a long time in joining forces with Anand and Madhu Prakash in their selfless fight for getting justice for Ruchika. There has always been a hesitation on the regional media’s part to take on the high and mighty whenever they have gone astray. The channels have been rather tardy in organizing talk shows on the Ruchika issue. Contrast this with their alacrity vis-à-vis political/parochial issues. However, Haryana Speaks (PTC News) pointed out how injustice flourishes when powerful persons get away with heinous crimes. The punishment announced for Rathore was far more lenient than what a juvenile delinquent would have got. Masle took up the issue of treating every complaint as FIR by SHOs – a fallout of the Ruchika case, especially the way her brother Ashu was treated by the police.

Timely talk shows help understand a given issue in greater depth and are powerful opinion-making tools too. There is a need to set off a process that would make our polity genuinely safe for women and children. No public servant, politician or bureaucrat, should be allowed to behave like a tyrant. We live in a liberal-democratic country and not in some banana republic ruled by a tin pot dictator. This is where the role of media becomes pertinent. It can help build a strong value system that would facilitate prevention of harassment and exploitation of the weak and the vulnerable.

But, is the Punjabi electronics media capable of playing this vital role?

By Randeep Wadehra
Punjabi Antenna
www.tribuneindia.com

Enjoying the retro on Doordarshan

PTC Punjabi’s Watno Door reminds one of ETC Punjabi’s Pardesan Vich Punjabi as far as the show attempts to become a conduit between the NRIs and their kin in Punjab. However, unlike Pardesan Vich…which highlighted the Punjabi diaspora’s lifestyle abroad Watanon… focuses on people in Punjab whose kin have gone abroad – parents, siblings and spouses indulging in bitter-sweet-sour nostalgia and recalling his (it is invariably “he”) quirks and foibles. The show’s anchor Satinder Satti attracts one’s attention right from its beginning, when she appears reciting relevant verse with aplomb while the camera lingers on her colourfully dressed, ornamented and made-up visage from different angles.

The more one watches Doordarshan Jalandhar the more one wonders at its hidden retro charms. Last fortnight, its regular show Khazana telecast a perspective on Punjabi Cinema. There was a lot of valuable information on Punjabi cinema’s glory during the pre-Partition era when it dominated the scene in such cultural centres as Lahore, Calcutta and Bombay. Post-partition, its fall became perceptible although some excellent movies like Madhee da diwa, Satluj de kandey and Chann pardesi etc were made. It was a treat to watch stills/clips from some of the old productions.

Dovetailed to this documentary were tributes to the Punjabi actor Varinder, who was killed by extremists while shooting for a movie. However, the clip was obviously old as among those who paid tributes were young looking Dara Singh, Preeti Sapru, Rama Vij and the late Sunil Dutt.

DDJ’s another show that caught one’s eye was Shauk Awalle (unusual hobbies). Last fortnight it focused on a young man– I think his name was Manpreet Singh – from Amritsar who has built a medieval looking house in the Verka village. It contained utensils, hand-pumps, kerosene lamps, spinning wheels, looms and various utensils etc that used to be part & parcel of our daily life several decades (even a century) ago. Of particular interest was a bed said to have been gifted to Maharaja Ranjit Singh on the occasion of his marriage to Rani Jindan. A lot of time, effort and money must have gone into building the house and collecting the artefacts etc from different parts of the world – including Pakistan and England.

However, DDJ’s third show under review needs a lot of improvement in its presentation. Zaika – as the name suggests – deals with food, generally Punjabi cuisine. The anchor was not very comfortable in front of the camera and was less than lucid while explaining the ingredients and method of cooking a meat recipe. Hope she will spruce up her act next time.

Samwad on PTC News discusses literature. Last fortnight it discoursed upon the indifference of Punjabi litterateurs towards the tragic events of 1984. One of the panelists, Reema Anand, attributed this to the trauma that the community has still to come out of, while others seemed to be more interested in scoring brownie points with their respective constituencies. There is certainly a need for honest investigative and introspective literature that would interrogate Punjabiat’s failure in countering the political shenanigans borne out of inter-party and intra-party rivalries that led to the tragedy; chief culprits being the region’s two major political parties, viz., Shiromani Akali Dal and Indian National Congress. The much maligned foreign hand came into the picture later on when things started going out of control. It is time for us to decide that never again shall we become gun-fodder for the manipulative politicians’ turf wars.

Talking of politicians Masle took up the recent fracas in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha over the issue of violence in Ludhiana. The invitees represented the SAD and the INC, who stuck to their predictable stands. The point is that politicians can generate a lot of hot air but when it comes to shedding light they fail miserably.

Punjabi television: Covering the polls

Are the General Elections 2009 going to be a watershed event in the brief history of Indian democracy? Have politicians been deliberately ignoring substantive issues and indulging in frivolous backchat (Amarinder V/s Badals, Manmohan Singh V/s Advani)? If so, what could the purpose be? More importantly, what does the increasing Naxalite violence indicate vis-à-vis the future of democracy in India? These were some of the issues that the panelists on Zee Punjabi’s talk show, Khabarsar – Prof. Manjit Singh, senior journalist Gobind Thukral and trade union leader Chandershekhar – discussed threadbare. They pointed out how the focus on mainly urban middle-class issues, along with the vote-bank politics that marginalizes the rural poor and the urban underdog, is causing resentment among the deprived masses. The leftist discourse has been dominating the last few episodes of the show. Whether it was the edition related to Punjab’s developmental issues or young politicians’ lack of ideals and vision, leftist intellectuals were prominent panelists. One may not agree with their ideology but leftists remain major legitimate repositories of idealism.
Khabarsar’s moderator, SP Singh, is a seasoned, grassroots-to-treetops journalist. A product of “Ludhiana’s Punjabi medium schools, sitting in classrooms on mats, cross-legged…” he has worked on the national as well as foreign desks with the Press Trust of India. As a guest of the European Commission in 1996 he had toured various European countries with special interest in the EU’s formation. He has also been a fellow of the IIAS, Shimla, “working on the socio-cultural layers of the civilian discourse between conflict societies like India and Pakistan”. He has been covering Punjab politics quite extensively. In the various episodes of Khabarsar SP Singh comes through as a sharp, witty and well-informed anchor. However, it would enhance the viewing experience if he eschews the propensity to cut off panelists in mid-sentences.
Coming back to the coverage of elections, the Zee Khabran has been carrying extensive reports on individual candidates – their declared assets, past performances and current promises. On the other hand the PTC News has come up with quite a number of election-related programs. In its Faisla 2009, a special segment in the PTC news bulletins, it provides daily updates, several times a day. Poll Hour, an hour long program telecast Mondays to Saturdays, discusses latest poll related developments. The show has three segments i.e. Chon Sargarmiyan, Campaign Trail and Halkeyan Di Choun Gatha. Chon Sargarmiya highlights daily special updates on Punjab elections, which is followed by Campaign Trail, following a contestant as he/she campaigns through the day. It also focuses on the problems faced by their respective constituencies and the steps they plan to undertake to resolve them. The last segment, Halkeyan Di Choun Gatha, profiles various locales in Punjab.
Another show, Chon Mudde, discusses issues that are of national importance with a potential to impact the region, viz., the nuclear deal, agriculture related problems like loan waiver, maximum support price & food security, and also internal security & terrorism as well as recession. Of course, Masle remains the most thought-provoking talk-show with adequate gravitas.
Zee Punjabi telecast Taliban da Jazia on 24 April. The medieval age has apparently arrived in our neighborhood where non-Muslims have to pay the extortionist tax Jazia (a tax that the Mughal emperor, Akbar, had reputedly condemned) to the Taliban in Pakistan’s Swat valley and elsewhere. According to the TV report, recently Sikhs had to pay two crores as Jazia! Many Hindu and Sikh families, who have fled to Amritsar to protect their life and honour, were interviewed by the channel. Is the region in for another humanitarian crisis à la the one that had engulfed the country during the Bangladesh liberation war, or perhaps like the hapless Chakmas?

THE TRIBUNE

Punjabi television: Of polls, promises and propaganda

Punjabi Antenna

By

Randeep Wadehra

Although the din and bustle of General Elections 2009 would have tapered off by the time this review is published, the echoes will take some time to fade away. We witnessed the spectacle of perfectly sophisticated looking sons, sons-in-law, daughters and daughters-in-law from Punjab’s two dynasties – including associated clans – indulging in not-so-genteel blame game while seeking aashirvaads of the hoi polloi in the earthy lanes of their constituencies; during the political hubbub at Ludhiana NDA politicians made tall claims and promises to an uncomfortable-in-the-sun and visibly bored audience. Accusations, justifications and explanations mingled to provide the Punjabi TV viewers a mélange of rhetoric. No wonder they overwhelmingly voted for the Congress.
Kudos to Doordarshan Jalandhar for providing detailed and real-time analyses of the election results as they unfolded on May 16. Politicians and political analysts were invited to the Faisla 2009 show to provide perspectives to the emerging poll result scenario. Although Akali Dal’s Mahesh Inder Singh and the Congress representative Chatrath did try to lower the standard of discussions by indulging in unwarranted tu-tu-main-main the various senior journalists and other intellectuals from the region provided a balanced view, peppered with Pannu’s earthy humor. Before that Doordarshan Jalandhar had telecast its regular Khaas khabar ik nazar wherein Pannu’s pithy and impartial comments provided rich insights into the region’s political scenario. We would like to have more of Pannu’s wisdom filled wisecracks in future talk shows.
The only other channel that came up with a serious program on the election results day was PTC News which had quite a few senior journalists and editors from the print media as panelists, viz., Vipin Pubby, Sidhu Damdami, Gobind Thukral, Vinayak etc. The analyses were informed and in-depth.
Masle, anchored by Ritesh Lakhi, exemplified the manner in which our politicians manage to avoid substantive issues by indulging in shadow-boxing, accusing each other of such, by now clichéd, wrong-doings as betraying the interests of Punjab, encouraging unemployment, indulging in corruption and what not.
A discussion, however well meaning, loses its credibility when it becomes one-sided. It is media’s bounden duty to present pros and cons of an issue without prejudice. It should never appear to be having become an instrument of partisan politics. Two examples are cited below.
PTC News telecast a special discussion, CBI gawah atey clean chit, having Davinder Pal Singh as moderator and HS Phoolka, along with the former CBI Director, Joginder Singh, in the panel. The CBI was denigrated without any counter-argument from the ex-CBI chief.
Even though Faisla was supposed to deal with updates and issues related to the general elections – with Punjabi perspective – on May 12 it came up with a special edition dealing with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement in Amritsar regarding the 1984 riots issue. The panelists – this time Phoolka with the former Minorities Commission Chairman Tarlochan Singh as co-panelist and Davinder as anchor – seemed to take umbrage at the PM’s remarks. Phoolka’s emotional outburst and intemperate remarks made one feel terribly let down. One expected weightier proposition from a trained and experienced judicial mind like Phoolka’s. Tarlochan Singh too held Congress alone as guilty for the 1984 carnage. In a debate, when panelists agree with each other, and the anchor loses perspective and contra-points are deliberately ignored, it takes on the hues of partisan propaganda and ceases to be a debate. There is a need for keeping things in perspective – no matter how odious this may prove to be. Let us ask ourselves a question – has any effort been made to analyze the events before 1984? The ten years of violence in Punjab by Bhindranwale’s hordes left behind countless victims whose agony has neither been documented nor addressed by the successive governments, the media or the human rights wallas.
It is time to accept that wrongs have been done by more than one set of people; that more than one set of people suffered; that there is need for healing the wounds of all – irrespective of the socio-religious-political strata they belong to. It is time to generate and broaden the discourse-sans-rancor. It is time for introspection. Will the Punjabi media measure up to the challenge?

THE TRIBUNE

The small screen sizzles

 PUNJABI ANTENNA

By

Randeep Wadehra

For the past fortnight or so the Punjabi small screen has been sizzling. On 13 April a petroleum tanker, carrying natural gas, exploded on a busy road near Ambala railway station killing several people and destroying property, including passing vehicles, worth crores. It took several hours to bring the fire under control. First reports indicated “gas leakage” as the cause of explosion – providing a prophetic halo to Maut de license – an expose by the PTC News reporter Daljit Singh, telecast only a couple of days earlier. Various government agencies have prescribed norms for constructing and certifying petrol tankers/storage tanks. But, Daljit and his camera team revealed how, instead of a qualified engineer, a non-technical man – who appeared to be a Class IV employee – inspected the tanker. The report also showed money changing hands. The ‘Certificate of Safety’ was thus issued after enacting a charade of technical inspection. Shockingly, the engineer, who has purportedly signed the certificate, is not available at the address provided in the certificate; the PTC expose informs that he probably does not live in India. Various persons, including manufacturers, tanker owners and touts, admit on camera that most of the tankers on road seldom go through the prescribed testing/certification procedures. The expose then goes on to focus on storage tanks. Daljit discovers a firm in Baddi that had applied for renewal of the license for its over-ground petroleum storage tank. Instead, the GOI’s Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization, Nagpur, issued a license for “One underground petroleum storage tank…”! How could they do this when all the relevant documents submitted pertained to an over-ground tank? Was it sheer inefficiency or were the sarkari babus playing Office, Office?
One fears the above expose is going to escape due attention owing to the political pyrotechnics that have been triggered off following the journalist Jarnail’s shoe throwing exercise in PC Chidambaram’s press conference. TV screens came alive with people – including women and children – storming police barricades, various political outfits taking out morchas, Akalis announcing reward for Jarnail and senior Punjab journalists expressing their displeasure at the transgression of professional Lakshman Rekha. However, while Doordarshan, Jalandhar, has predictably confined the incident to its news bulletins, Zee Khabran remained satisfied with replaying the clip a few times. When queried by this columnist they informed that Zee Punjabi was not contemplating any special/talk show on the issue. Thus PTC News is not only the first off the block with three talk shows in a row but also the only Punjabi channel to interview Jarnail Singh (Straight Talk); all the three shows were anchored by Davinder Singh. His incisive and provocative questions set off heated exchanges between Chaman Lal and Phoolka. In another show Naresh Gujral and Makkaul (who flung his son’s case file at the Chief Justice of India during his visit to the Punjab and Haryana High Court), while criticizing Jarnail’s action, gave it the 1984 context and cited CBI’s clean chit to Tytler as the immediate provocation. The frustratingly slow judicial proceedings often provoke illegitimate forms of protests, they argued.
But it was Jarnail Singh who proved to be a cool and crafty customer. All the tricky/loaded questions by Davinder Singh (Straight Talk) were parried. While expressing regret over his action Jarnail did not exactly deny explicitly harboring political aspirations. Whilst pointing out how he got congratulatory messages from around the world he could not hide the gleam in his eyes. “Shoeing” as a shortcut to prominence? May not work always. Ask the retired teacher Ram Bhaj who, four days later, had followed Jarnail’s example and, in the bargain, got thrashed by Jindal’s followers.

THE TRIBUNE

Create a rainbow for the pot of gold

Punjabi television

By 

Randeep Wadehra

“it’s not just any movie, it’s a mission… a mission to save the girl child”, Director Mukesh Gautam is emphatic as he elaborates, “Realizing how propaganda blitz often puts viewers off even the most socially relevant issues we have decided not to get preachy. Let the message sink in while people watch this entertainer Jashan Manaiye Saare.” Earnestness and confidence ooze out of his words. Although Hindi television is awash with soaps featuring girl-child related themes, and the Punjab government too has initiated a movement against female foeticide, a commercial movie tackling such an “unglamorous” subject is a first for Punjabi, if not Indian, cinema. Gautam assures us that the theme has been handled with sensitivity, keeping cinematic aesthetics in view. Even as movie buffs are expected to get full entertainment value for their money they would be returning home with something to chew over. To seamlessly weave a powerful anti-female-foeticide statement into the framework of commercial entertainer requires a deft touch – something that Mukesh Gautam possesses in ample measure. The film has been shot in Amritsar and Himachal Pradesh. The excellent camerawork promises a visual treat too. The cast has Lakhwinder Wadali and Harpreet in the lead while the thespians Gugu Gill, Nirmal Rishi and others like Rana Ranbir, Sudesh Lehri etc are in interesting supporting roles. There was a time when parallel cinema used to enrich the Bollywood corpus with its intellectual and socially relevant content. Will Mukesh Gautam’s Jashan… do the same to today’s Punjabi cinema? Well, Punjabi Cinema is certainly moving a notch higher – this movie is proof enough.
Talking of the regional cinema one cannot but cast a speculative eye on its track record on the small screen. There was a time when private television channels used to telecast Punjabi movies at least once a week if not more frequently. Today only Doordarshan Jalandhar does so, but the fare is so stale that it reeks and has become unappetizing. Flicks from 1980s and even earlier decades – with faded prints – are telecast as poor substitutes for something better. Other channels are not doing even that. Don’t they have resources for buying latest, or at least fairly recent, Punjabi flicks like the crowd pulling Jee Aayan Nu, Mehndi Wale Hath and so many others? Balwinder, a producer with Zee Punjabi, points out that the channel’s subsidiaries in the USA and UK regularly telecast Punjabi movies because they find it lucrative thanks to the Punjabi diaspora. In India, owing to the overwhelming popularity of Bollywood productions even Punjabis keep away from movies made in their mother tongue, hence no sponsors and no advertising revenue. It is sheer economics, asserts Balwinder.
That might well be true but surely channels like Zee and PTC have enough resources to come up with quality Punjabi productions? Hindi movies draw on talent from various parts of the country as well as abroad whereas Punjabi producers are unwilling to invest even on local talent. So, if the two channels decide to underwrite quality ventures then, after a reasonable gestation period, there is no reason why the audiences cannot be won back. Please remember, shoddy production values and poor storylines have been responsible for alienating up-market viewers from Punjabi movies. The only way to win back their patronage is to offer fresh plots produced imaginatively. Mere exotic locations will not do.
Today’s Punjabi television and cinema are akin to a vast canvas waiting to be painted in rainbow colours which can be achieved given the right imagination and skills. The pot at the end of such a rainbow will definitely be full of gold.
Any takers?

The Tribune