After a restful and dreamy night, Ramu the dreamer was reading his favourite 123-year-old paper, and then after sipping tea, he casually scrolled through some other local news and came across some headlines.
“We are with the people on Mhadei and are confident of solving the issue”, read one. Another read “Compensation to all the land losers of Mopa has been paid except for a few who have title issues”.
Each day he would read similar stories, not in his own 123-year-old wise paper but elsewhere, of other claims and promises like compensation to flood victims of last year has been disbursed, or for that matter “App-based taxis will be available when flights touch down at Mopa” or statements like “It is my assurance that Dabolim airport will never be shut down”.
This is from a Goa minister who has no jurisdiction or authority over the Union Civil aviation Ministry or any of the private airlines.
Wondering why many of these stories are not reported in his 123-year-old veteran daily, Ramu decided to go to the wise one and broach this issue.
Ramu got up, had a shower and picked up his umbrella, and strolled toward Chintamani’s house. There was a line outside of fans, followers, and opinion seekers who valued Chintamani’s wisdom and sagacity - at least in his village, where his word was final.
Ramu had easy access to Chintamani’s durbar and was the only one who could pull him out of his audience darshan and speak to him privately.
Why are you looking a little tensed Ramu?’, Chintamani asked
Ramu said, “Well it’s about our 123-year-old people’s paper. The minister has made such an important decision that Dabolim will never be closed, but our people’s voice hasn’t reported it as a huge front page headline as others. Or the story of another minister asking us not to worry about Mhadei at all. All will be ok and he has already told the Karnataka government not to spoil cordial relations with Goa, so there will be no problem at all”
A smiling Chintamani chiding him gently and smilingly said, “Go on Ramu, what else have you read or not read in the 123-year-old”
Ramu replied, “And one politician said compensation for all those who lost farms and property in the last floods has been given.”
Chintamani quipped, “I get the drift Ramu, but have these media outlets asked why are MOPA land losers who have lived their lives on that land, made to go from pillar to post or has anyone asked if those who lost their entire homes and belongings in the flood have actually received the compensation in their hand.”
“The senior 123-year-old paper has asked. It has also told us that it is the airlines and the civil aviation ministry that will decide if Dabolim is feasible or not. Will a major airline take a decision that will involve crores, based on the desires of hotels, taxi drivers and residents of South Goa? Closing Dabolim was always the plan, the 123-year-old had said long ago, so these announcements and tall claims are nothing but fooling the people. And by the way the 123-year-old has already said that Mhadei will be solved in courts not by Karnataka or the Centre,” Chintamani added.
Ramu nodded, trying to understand and be convinced and he remarked: “But these reports in the other media are announcements from the government.”
Chintamani smiled sweetly: “My dear Ramu, that is the job of government gazettes. We have many government gazettes and they are doing a good job. But your people’s paper, on the other hand, asks what has happened to the promises, because it will never allow the official system to fool the people.”
Chintamani has the last word: Let the “His Master’s Voice” media do their excellent ‘professional’ job for the official system, while the people’s voice will filter out the claims and call their bluff each time so that truth prevails and falsehood is drained out and people know he reality.
A satisfied and relieved Ramu went back, knowing fully well the difference between His Master’s Voice media and the People’s Paper.