Freedom of expression Vs NDTV

Freedom for expression went for a toss once again, as a previously lesser known blogger Chyetanya Kunte became the latest victim of media intimidation. His mistake: to criticize the way a senior Indian journalist Barkha Dutt reported the 26/11 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Outcome: The blogger is made to write an Apology and remove the 'objectionable' post from his blog. Here's a part of the post:

""Appalling journalism," says Chyetanya Kunte, a Netherlands-based engineer, on his web blog Nov 27.

"In one instance, Barkha Dutt of NDTV asks a husband about his wife who is either stuck or held as a hostage. The poor guy adds in the end about where she was last hiding. In another instance, a general of sorts suggests that there were no hostages in Oberoi Trident. Then Dutt calls the head of Oberoi (live) and the idiot confirms a possibility of 100 or more people still in to slay," Kunte says

The above incident outraged bloggers and other free writers, as can be seen on the blogosphere, blogs and forums are flooded with discussions and articles expressing their frustration and anger over the above incident. The perfect proof is that, there is even a group on Facebook,"Can u please take BARKHA off air!" that has close to 5,000 members and numerous discussions.

Now, this Barkha Dutt and NDTV are the same people who have been holding discussions and have been promoting freedom of media and journalism. They cried foul when Indian Government proposed a Censor Board for News Channels and every individual blogger supported them. But sadly, the above incident is in deep contrast to what they have been preaching. This reeks of a double standard so despicable it probably violates some journalistic ethic.

As Patrix puts it beautifully:

"When the reporter becomes the reported, it is usually time to take a closer look at your life and wonder what happened."


However, if bloggers can sit alone at their keyboards, type out their honest opinions, and network with each other on noble causes, they can also fight back against such strong-arm tactics. In this, they’re far more courageous than the media, which infamously crawled when asked to bend. I’m sorry, but Barkha Dutt and her NDTV team cannot gag my right to free speech on the pretext of protecting her right to free speech. If I don’t like a newspaper, I won’t buy it and I’ll say why I don’t like it. The newspaper cannot sue me for that. While we’re on the subject, since NDTV is listed on the Stock Exchange, how about selling its shares if you have bought any?

What’s next, Barkha Dutt and NDTV, are you going to sue the entire Indian blogsphere, and Facebook?

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Blogical Thoughts

"Some goals are so worthy, its glorious even to fail"
Anonymous

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India Bleeds...Yet Again

By Aman Thind

War and Peace (Photo: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty)

Oh God! Not again, please. Exactly that was the expression on everyone’s face that came to know of the brutal terrorist attack on India’s financial capital, Mumbai.

At first everyone thought of it as a minor firing incident and later a bomb blast as in recent past, but as the drama unfolded on our TV screens where “live action” was brought by the news channels, the world was shocked by the intensity, precision and ruthlessness with which the attack on India was carried out.

The Aftermath at CST (Photo: Xinhua/Reuters)

The Mumbai attack was in many ways, uniquely different from the past incidents. Earlier, timer devices were used to carry out simultaneous explosions in crowded places while the culprits slipped away. Instead, this time they were here to make a bigger statement as they carried out a full blown Fidayeen attack using trained and fully equipped gunmen to inflict maximum damage in terms of causalities. In retaliation, Indian Armed Forces, Mumbai Police and NSG commandos, undertook the operation code named Black Tornado to free the hostages and clear the area of the attackers.

NSG Commandos take positions at Nariman House (Phopto: AFP/Prakash Singh)

From there on, in the past three odd days, the world watched, with shock and anger, what happened. Final Blood Count: close to 200 dead, over 300 injured.

Apart from fear and frustration, the question in mind of a normal citizen is that how many more terror attacks, how much innocent blood shed, how many bullets, bombs and AK-47s, will we as a nation have to face before something concrete is done, before this ends?

As they say, history repeats itself, so that we learn from it. If we don’t, it repeats again, and again until the lessons are learnt. And, every time it repeats, its cost to the society increases.

So, having seen and gone through all this, let’s not forget it as another bad incident, let’s not let the terrorism become a part of life. Rather, let’s bring the nation’s best minds to a forum, let’s talk, debate, discuss and find a way out together, and above all, let’s stay united. Surely, there is anger, frustration and shock. However, it needs to be channeled into positive thoughts and action. We need to rise above the divides of religion and region to tackle and overcome this evil.

Let's not Forget (AP photo, courtesy timesofindia.com)

As Mahatma Gandhi famously said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Let’s be that change, a good change towards a better society, stronger nation and a beautiful world. So that the generations to come can sing with pride and honor, “Saare Jahan Se Acha, Hindustan Hamaara.”

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Blogical Thoughts

"Everyone is someone's fool."
Shakespeare

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Continuing the journey: A diary note

Though i did not go anywhere but i am back, back to blogging, back to being myself again. I have been very busy n stressed with my job lately n finally decided to take a break, to have some time for myself and just chill. So, i resigned from the job( which some of you may think as a stupid decision given the current economic recession) and at the moment just enjoying the time off . There is lot to be sorted out before i think of looking for a job again. First and foremost i have to do something about the long pending exam from my Engineering degree, which is due in December. I am looking for a good Maths teacher and will start preparing early as its a do or die this time. And yes, atleast now i can go home for Diwali, I will leave for home on 26th.
Wishing you all a very happy festive season.

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Rafa Wins - Behind Enemy Lines.

"Rafa" became the first man to claim the Wimbledon - French Open double since Bjorn Borg in 1980 and is now laying siege to Federer's coveted number 1 ranking. Nadal won a five-set battle 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 9-7 in 4 hours and 48 minutes to win his first Wimbledon title.

A day before the clash, Federer said, “It’s my time of the season.” But, Nadal proved that time wasn’t right for him, and once again Federer was overpowered, but this time in his own territory, The Wimbledon.

A combination of factors had led to Nadal claiming favoritism for the tournament despite Federer's dominance of the event for five years. Nadal's stunning performance in losing last year's final; Federer's flat start to the 2008 season [due to illness]; Nadal's crushing victory in the recent French Open final; and the Spaniard's improvement on all surfaces this year had caused authorities as respected as Bjorn Borg to favor Nadal before the tournament.

The result has many consequences, most notably; a proof that Nadal is currently the best player in the world and Federer only just holds the #1 ranking. Here are some glimpses of the cliffhanger.

The defending Champion

The New Champion

Clash of Titans

And he did it !!!

Humbled

So near, yet so far........

Champion(Nadal) and The Legend.

Sweet Success

Glory

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"Tumble"don 2008

I think it wont be wrong to call this year's Wimbledon, Tumbledon 2008. It has been a host to some great upsets, with a lot of top seed players tasting grass...i mean...dust in the initial rounds. Here's the story so far:



Round 2

It came as a pleasant surprise to all, including Marat Safin himself when he trounced Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, who is ranked third in the world, in the second round of the ongoing 2008 Wimbledon Championships on Wednesday, June 25. The Russian player Safin, infact, had already booked a flight for his return home on Wednesday evening. But he will now be staying back following his plucky win of 6-4, 7-6 and 6-2 over Djokovic to continue his journey in this Grand Slam tournament. Marat Safin later admitted that he himself was hugely amazed by the way he performed.




Andy Roddick suffered his worst Wimbledon performance when he went out in the second round, beaten 6-7, 7-5, 6-4, 7-6 by Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic. It was the first time he had lost at the All England Club before the third round. The American's serve was still unplayable at times, with 27 aces whistling past Tipsarevic at up to 142mph, the fastest service speed recorded so far. However, the rest of Roddick's game had too many flaws to enable the sixth seed to make further progress.






Round 3



Maria Sharapova arrived on Centre Court sporting an outfit inspired by evening wear, and she now has ample time to put it to more conventional use after crashing out in the second round to Russian unknown Alla Kudryavtseva. It is hardly the first time that Sharapova, the 2004 champion and world No3, has struggled against a compatriot, but no could have predicted that she would lose in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4, to an unknown Muscovite ranked 154th



Top seed Ana Ivanovic crashed out of the 2008 Wimbledon Championships on Friday, only one day after third seed Maria Sharapova exited in the second round.
The 2008 French Open champion was upset in straight sets 6-1, 6-4 by 133rd-ranked Zheng Jie of China. Ivanovic, the current world number one, barely escaped her second round match against Nathalie Dechy on Wednesday, but today she was not lucky enough to escape with a mediocre performance.

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