The electronic media is often extremely successful in their attempts to expose governments’ failures and complicity on serious issues, goading the authorities to action. One of the finest examples of the impact of the electronic media was the results of the last general elections. One might call the Press the voice of the people, or the pen mightier than the sword, but the print media has not been as lucky. The reason, surely, is that there are far much more viewers than readers – newspapers are not as accessible to the people as the TV is. The authorities, too, are generally more alive to the reports and comments appearing in electronic media than in print and act out of fear of possible repercussions. That is, unfortunately, not always the case with the Press. Most of what is written or reported is overlooked or disgustingly willfully ignored because it is convenient to do so and those responsible to make amends are confident that any reactions it may trigger will soon die down due to lack of persistence to take things to their logical end. In fact, the authorities often seem to derive some sadistic pleasure in thwarting attempts at getting justice, until people frustrated and disgusted give up their efforts. During the Portuguese regime, censored matter struck by a red pencil, would remain unpublished, but apparently submitted to the respective deptartment/authority for being redressed. It is sad that it never happens now even when serious issues need to be addressed in the interest of all. Today, both the authorities and the politicians have become so shameless and so thick-skinned that no matter how much they are hit or ridiculed they couldn’t be bothered and remain unmoved by whatever the Press says about them. Hence, I often wonder whether articles, letters and reports appearing in the Press on various issues needing remedial measures, yield results or whether, more often than not, they are just a waste of time, energy and paper. On the other hand, it does also strike me that some of us, who frankly express our views in the Press are surely looked upon by many, particularly those in power, as some sort of moralists or self-righteous people, who are ever ready to throw brickbats with hardly any bouquets to offer as if there is nothing good that comes from the Government. I am also often led to question myself whether given the circumstances and had I been in the shoes of those I am critical of, would I have acted differently. But be that as it may, while we may accept limitations, constraints and compulsions of any government to act in a particular direction, the people just cannot be expected to remain mute spectators particularly when actions or inactions of the authorities can have a direct or an indirect adverse effect on our State or our people. In fact, it would be irresponsible and criminal to do so and we would fail in our duty towards ourselves and our State if matters detrimental to us or to our future generations are not brought to the notice of those concerned and we do not have them redressed. The media may, at times, be very unforgiving or go overboard on trivial issues. Arnab Goswami’s view that Parrikar made a joke of rape when he just quoted it to prove a point, was certainly misplaced. The debate itself on the issue was unwarranted and Arnab’s criticism of our CM most unfair to him, as the joke was taken out of context and blown out of proportions. But, nowadays, it has become a fashion to call even innocuous remarks on women as “sexist”.
But while we must concede this, in no way can most of the issues raised in the Press be underestimated or ignored. It is certainly no fun to keep writing or to be on the streets regularly to bring the authorities to their senses, particularly when we felt that the time for fighting was over and we had a government that would protect our interests, which are theirs too. It is not only regrettable that it has not been so but it is even more unacceptable that there is a growing tendency now to curb dissent, that signals are being sent that there are limits to criticism and that the consequences could be grave. This is something that Goans, irrespective of their party affiliations or loyalties, must oppose with all their might, oblivious of the consequences. While Muthalik – surely perturbed by the perfect harmony that prevails among all communities in Goa, which he is trying, unsuccessfully though, to disturb – is getting ready to distribute swords to every Hindu house but is exonerated by our inefficient and incompetent Police, Devu Chodankar and now Savio Almeida are being hauled for something much less serious, solely because they chose to target the powerful in the present dispensation. These are the signs of the things to come. The government seems to think that it is free to push wrong decisions, take U turns or commit the same blunders of the past government, without being subject to public scrutiny and adverse reactions. I will not deal with them now, but what should be of real concern to us is our freedom of expression which is surely under immense threat. Under no circumstances can we return to the dark days of Emergency, no matter how much admiration our CM has for its proponent. Intolerance and despotism seem to be making a comeback. Hopefully I am wrong, but we have to be on guard and never let it happen. “Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom”
(The author is a retired banker, presently working as Goa’s Area Manager for a Foreign Exchange Co.)
