Even when the going gets tough, keep pegging away

Yet another journalist has been killed in Tripura, the second in two months. Sudip Datta Bhaumik was allegedly shot by a jawan of the 2nd Tripura State Rifles about 20 km from Agartala. He was a senior journalist with Syandan Patrika, a leading Bengali newspaper of the city. 

On September 20, Shantanu Bhaumik, a reporter of Din-Raat, a local TV cable news channel, was killed while he had gone to cover an incident at Mandai, about 40 km from Agartala. And how many of us remember September 5, when Gauri Lankesh was shot dead in Bengaluru?

The brutal killing of journalist and activist Gauri was one of the most horrendous we have heard or seen – of a journalist in India. A hapless victim of hatred, she was about to enter her house after parking her car when three bullets hit her, two on the chest and one on the temple. Gauri Lankesh’s fight was against injustice, she led a crusade against crime. In many ways, it was a moral crusade continuing the legacy of her father who left behind Lankesh Patrike, a hard-hitting tabloid.

Gauri’s killing was a manifestation of something far, far larger – the maiming of a big chunk of the lives and futures of 1.2-odd billion Indians, no less, a big chunk of the fundamental rights of each citizen, and a big chunk of the Constitution that we gave to ourselves with such pride. Muzzling the press is not on. Indeed, we need pluralism and liberalism if we are to progress as a multicultural nation and dissent, whether from journalists, activists or the common man, only strengthens the polity.

In the midst of all the gloom, it’s heartening to see journalists plodding along, reporting on subjects and issues that concern all of us. The Press Institute of India and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) present awards to journalists and photojournalists every year for best articles and pictures on a humanitarian subject.

Malayala Manorama’s chief reporter in Thiruvananthapuram, Mahesh Guptan, sent in a short series of articles. Titled They Are Also Our Pet Children, the articles threw light on the sad plight of children with neuro disabilities, the issues faced by the children and their families, ineffective implementation of government programmes, lack of treatment facilities, and scope for social  support.

Second prize-winner T. Ajeesh, Manorama’s chief subeditor in Malappuram, Kerala sent in an entry, Life on Wheels, a short, moving series of disabled people fighting the odds and winning. Mini Thomas, special correspondent, The Week, Bengaluru, received the third prize for her article, Able to Inspire — a story about how a young woman, after losing her hands in an accident, emerged as a powerful motivational speaker.

The top three winners in the photography category were all from Hindustan Times. HT’s chief photographer in Jaipur had sent in an eye-catching photo-essay on the National Triangular Wheelchair T-20 Cricket Series. The two others, both special photojournalists with the newspaper, had taken some stunning pictures – of 52-year-old Monu, a dwarf, who transforms himself into ‘Charlie Mama’ at Delhi’s India Gate every day at 4 pm, and ofSuyash Jadhav who represented India in the men’s 50m butterfly, men’s 50m freestyle and men’s 200m individual medley at the Rio Paralympic Games. 

A three-part series on the India Spend website by Swagata Yadavar and Prachi Salve, examining what living with disability in India means, particularly with regard to access to education and employment, was cited for a special award.

It’s stories such as these that will help keep the Journalism flag flying high in India and motivate others to raise the bar. Like Gauri Lankesh, Shantanu Bhaumik and Sudip Datta Bhaumik did always – without fear or favour.