‘Honour killings’ a scar on civilized society

By Chaudhary Sandeep Datta

Living in today’s world where the proverbial thin line between love and lust seems fast vanishing, many Indian villages are cautious on attempts that threaten their family values and reputation being eroded by individuals’ amorous urge.

Though largely disapproving any justification given in support of taking extreme steps like ‘Honour Killings’, one can feel there’s a tacit approval in many villages for stringent measures to safeguard the ancestral village culture and family life.

The Panchayat that often comprise the wisest men of all communities residing in a village also finds itself too restricted to act justifiably against barbarism when the perpetrators cite the compelling reason being family and village’s pride.

Honour killing depends upon the nature of crime and families involved. In case of objectionable relations, the entire village may get driven to support it. Any aggressive or illiterate family may see killing the guilty couple or person as the only option to bring end to the matter. But any restrained or non-aggressive family may expel or disown the guilty member in same circumstances.

Besides, there are also politically motivated killings or for dictating one’s upmanship. But it is also true that, in case of a boy, the family asks him to mend his ways. In case of a girl, the same family’s preferred approach can be or is generally quite harsh.

“There have been instances at different villages where brothers killed their guilty sister and the father committed suicide out of shame. Some of the families, eager to demonstrate their muscle power, settle objectionable relations-related matters by killing their daring member. But other families, not having that much guts or mindset, would marry off the guilty person to some far off place to keep their family reputation intact and also keep the problem child away,” said Chaudhary Azad Singh Bidhuri of Jasola Village near Apollo Hospital in Delhi, while adding that usually, honour killing is a collective decision.

Honour killings are often done to set precedence and scare anyone daring to spoil village culture which disapproves relations not based on the unwritten village guidelines or any relation that may show village in poor light.

“No way the ‘honour killings’ can be justified in today’s world. Instead there could be social boycott of any unwanted person. Actually, such acts are generally taken to set a trend mostly by the most illiterate people. It’s also true that it is usually done as a family decision. I don’t believe any Panchayat comprising men of wisdom can be party to such a heinous act. If it has to take such a decision, it is only under intense social pressure of the village. But often it is the family concerned which resorts to prove its faith in ‘reputation’ by going so barbaric and killing their own flesh and blood,” Yudhweer Singh Chauhan, a freelance journalist and resident of Jasola Village.

In villages, there are many unwritten rules that include marrying in only specified villages, not conducting marriage within one’s own village as girls and boys of a village should treat each other as part of one joint family and thus behave like brothers and sisters, respecting the village way of life and abiding by Panchayat’s wisdom.

Anyone found going against its way of life and reputation is debarred from society, the family supporting the person also faces social boycott by villagers.

“We need to understand our villages exist as a structure where people have been living since generations with family elders. In cities, people have started living together though they originally belong to different places. So, in cities, people have no sense of attachment with each other’s family but in villages it does exist,” said Chaudhary Surinder Singh Bidhuri, resident.

“Parents of any marriageable person, in cities, often evaluate a family’s goodwill by its wealth. But, in villages, it is not the money but one’s existing reputation and goodwill in the society that earns him social respect,” Bidhuri added.

Another unwritten rule in village system is to settle issues including cases related to betrayal in money-lending, property disputes, social relations or love marriages in objectionable castes or relations have to be solved within the village’s Panchayat. Anyone going against the Panchayat’s verdict and getting approval from courts as per law instead of village culture, risks a social boycott.

“Even if the court gives its decision in favour of a person or couple, in cases related to love marriages or other social issues, the person or persons involved is socially boycotted. He stays in the village but is not allowed to participate in any social function. He has to live on his own till the boycott continues. It is only after a public apology after some years that he is given consideration to be included back socially in village,” Chaudhary Raghubir Singh Nambardar of Jasola Village.

For villagers, their old way of life remains the supreme thing. Their accepted norms and rituals defining its culture are abiding for everyone residing here.

“Anyone found contradicting village culture has to leave the place and live elsewhere as per his wished lifestyle. If denied, he or she faces expulsion either from the village or social boycott for his of her entire family for rest of the life at times,” Ch. Raghubir added.

“Anyone getting involved in any illicit relation, in a marriage relation or before that is prohibited to live in the village. Anyone seeking approval of his way of thinking or logic through court is often left alone in the village. One can live but cannot be part of the village as its member. For, the society in village doesn’t embrace such a person anymore and hence the social boycott,” said Chaudhary Jagansingh Pradhan of Jasola Village.

“A marital relation based on village culture gets acceptance and is also protected from falling apart. When need arrives, the rights of the wife are first protected by village elders and the man is expelled from the village,” said Chaudhary Moolchand Nambardar of Jasola.

In villages, Panchayat’s decision is the ultimate for all. It is usually in urbanized village that the concerned parties can seek refuge from the courts on being disappointed by Panchayat’s decision.

Though no civilized society can approve killing in the name of foolish honour but it’s also a fact that when any consensus-based request is presented for approval before the Panchayat or any authority in the world, it is respected at times. It cannot be outright ignored. In many villages, there have been incidents when the matter was brought to the knowledge of Panchayat after the crime has already been committed by a family against its boy or girl, the Panchayat found itself helpless. The reason being that the family involved cited the step was taken for family’s pride.
--

Searching for a life partner..?


Isn’t it surprising to notice the way individuals commit themselves to others for life with utter joy but regret later? These are the people who soon feel the craving to turn to others, just as they realise they made a wrong choice in haste.

On Sunday, while watching Serendipity I just felt like writing after all why and how we should or shouldn’t choose our prospective partner in life. After all life is not about moving from one flower to another like a butterfly only interested in the nector.

“We shouldn’t marry till we want to spread affection and sense of care in someone’s life instead of just expecting it. We shouldn’t marry anyone for money, as it may go any day. We shouldn’t marry for position, it has its own opportunity cost. We shouldn’t marry someone just beauty, it will fade within a few years and be replaced with a wrinkled face. We shouldn’t even marry someone for his or her romantic approaches towards us, as they often prove meaningless and superficial in actual life.

We shouldn’t accept someone for how he or she looked on special occasions but how that person feels to us in everyday life.
Instead, we must marry the one whom we may like forever spending time with, the one to whom we may turn to as the first or last resort when all things fail, somebody who is not just willing to do something or anything for us but also for whom we are happy doing anything or feel unhesitant giving up even our invaluable thing. For they joy of winning a heart lies in the joy of giving everything we can than just expecting it without gratitude.

The Ungrateful

The partition of Hindustan into India and Pakistan in 1947 was such a tragic incident that even after over six decades its pain is felt in various Mushaiyaras, Kavi Sammelans and occasional meetings of people from both sides of the border.

The exodus of people to either side of the border was biggest ever recorded in history books. Millions of people migrated to India from that side through Punjab borders. A large group of these migrants were Punjabi families, which suffered attacks on their way to India by their long time friends, neighbours, and well-wishers as part of mob violence.

Most of these Punjabis somehow managed to reach to Indian side leaving behind their ancestral properties. But even today many of these people develop goose bums on their body if they were to recall those terrible days of migration, the consistent fear of being slaughtered or looted or even physically molested.

It is said that an uncounted number of women preferred diving into the wells while running to save their modest from being outraged or save their girl children from suffering similar treatment from a chasing mad-mob that also included blood thirsty and savage individuals.

The lucky ones, who could reach the Indian borders, with or without families devoid of any belonging were offered shelter in the refugee camps, especially set up for their help. But due to limited resources the government wasn’t in a condition to arrange for their two square meal, clothes to wear or other basic amenities.

The then Jansangh or the present-day Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, a Hindu cultural organistion, came forward to help these refugee families in such a desperate time, irrespective of religion.

The women, the children, the elderly and the injured all were helpless and urgently required help to survive. And, at this moment, the RSS volunteers served them with a dedicated spirit and enabled them to feel actually sheltered at this pious land.

With the passage of time, the kids of that time are now aged; in their seventies or above. But they still recall the timely help extended to them from the RSS swayamsewaks at that time.

However, it shocks when one comes across the grown up children of those children of Partition days. It is wished they were narrated properly about those desperate days of Partition and families’ plight. Today these new-age children of those refugee families consider themselves quite 'modern' while condemning or making fun of RSS with other ignorants.

They call RSS as a fundamentalist or Hindu militant group! They consider that savious organisation as soemthing that aims to disturb communal harmony in India or the most cruel face of fundamentalism.

It is well-known that the political wing of RSS is today known as Bharatiya Janata Party and religious wing as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. But RSS as the mother of these two wings remains dedicated to the cause of protecting the right to life and respect of all Indians, without allowing discrimination against the Hindus in their own country and also without being oppose to the same right available to member of non-Hindu communities in the country.

But it looks galvanising to see such new-age kids speak ill of the very organisation which actually saved their mothers, aunts, and loved ones from dying or getting their modesty by not any Muslim but a mad mob which belonged to no religion or caste but should always be remembered or mentioned by its madness and savagery.

My meal and the winters...

It's been very very diffcult and agonisiing to search for food in the last two months. I have solely been dependent on a cup of tea, bread butter, maggie and lately on a nearby Tandoor for last two months following my mother's ailment.

Tea was the ulitmate source to keep my body warm after returning from office at 11.00 p.m or a little late at times during to 'important visits of dignitaries in foreign'. Driving in dense fog, the chill of the open route, and the sight of the Tandoor being closed at times was quite agonising. But I had no choice except to just rush up to have anything I found or could manage to access to at home and just retire into bed.

In the morning, I would again prepare tea but didn't get enough time to go and get breakfast. As, at the best I could get Chole Bhature or Kachori which I already have to take in lunch. And, it's double consumption could affect my stomach very badly. So I preffered remaining busy and forgetting I have to have something. Sometimes my busy ness helped, but most of the times it just reflected in my irritating mood. I would just rush to canteen everday for lunch time , the minute I reached office at 1.3o or 2.00, if work permitted.

Two or three friends were very very kind enough to understand my agony and limitations, as I don't know how to cook beyond maggie or tea. They brought sumptous food on days from home for me. I had tears in my eyes to see their sense of care and affection for me. I am indebted to their gesture.

At night I used to get late from office and whenver it was over 11.00 p.m. the Dhaba was closed. My meals have largely been Maggie or a cup of tea or at times bread and butter.

The neighbourhood Tandoor been a bliessing though as it prepares homely food which doesn't affect stomach.

I even arranged for my dinner from some local Dhaba for some days. But after seven days I stomach and through were badly affected due to it being a spicy food. I preferred cancelling it and restarted wtih teh Tandoor.

I used to rush to home to reach the Tandoor before 11.00. but at times it was closed by 10.30. As the other customers would visit it earlier dur to dense fog. It was actually very emotional feeling for me at times, whenver i slept with a cup of tea, which was at time not drinkable at times ...Kachi Pakki chai.

In the morning, I would again prepaer tea for myself but won't hve enough time most of the days to bring breakfast.

Chole kulche have been a blessing though. I had it like five days a week. On the other two days I would try to skip it for stomach's sake.
Canteen food was of immense help too. As it was the only source, which gave me actual complete food in entire day. Evenings have been for Chai.

Contd.....

It's true this had been a very scaring time for me becasue of my mother's health. Everyday passed in the fear that she should not get paralysed. Her brain stroke and occasion tilting of lips kept giving me goosebums. I always prayed insided my heart. Bhagwan bus ye sardiyan tapa de..... But it was also very difficult remaining occupied to justfiy salary, as it is the only source of earning, attending to phone calls with their own demands to talk, reading newspapers and surviving in the challenging phase of jobs despite always remembering my mother. The evening shifts were a blessing, as in morning I could spend time with her and fog and chill in air was nothing for that convenience. It simply felt convenience of different sort to me. But it was particularly in morning she always had difficulty, as it's been chilling all these days. My compulsion and biggest regret was I didn't know how to cook. And, she could not cook for her only Roti which she required for breakfast before having her first dose of medicine. Whenver there was trouble of lips, me or my elder brother would take her to our family physician, as she would generally have high BP in morning or develop sweating at 5 a.m.. I would come to learn of it only at 9.00 when i used to enter her room at first floor. I found it very very distressing and embarrassing to notice her in such a condition.

She would just say: Mainu zara doctor kol le javein ga? Maine paseena bada aanada hai sawere. Or..she would say at times...mainu doctor kol lai chal..blood pressure mahsoos ho raya hai. It pained me a lot for not being a Doctor or a proper cook to make anything available to her in that time also. I was solely dependent on Bhabhi's help, the indivudal i have never felt taking obligation from.

I know her moody temperament which could tranlate into obligation at any day of life. But as I was incapable in such a condition I allowed and didn't object she preparing Phulka for her in morning. I felt very nice that at least she is getting some help at home. In such a condition I was naturally oblivious to what was happening to me, as it never felt even a bit after watching her in such a condition. Mumma would never demand anything from me, as she was feeling guilty of not being able to cook for me.

Despite her suffering, which aggravated in morning, but reamined ok in day time during sunny days, she would enquire from my Thali at night what i had the previous night. It was actually very touching to see her love for me even in such a condition.

But I decided I would always have sth. to eat and sound as much as i can that I am completely happy with my night food even if it included Maggie or bread butter. But on days when I had just tea at night, I would pretend Office which kha ke aaya si....tumhe kuch nahin pata...ai te samjdhar hon di training ho gayi hai...hun main samajh raya han kivein Mere toon hostel wale mundey Khan-Khoon da arrangement kar lende ne. I tried my best to make her believe me that I was speaking truth and nothing but truth....but....I know she is afterall my mother.

Only once she uttered her pain saying: Tainu ki pata ...Mainu kivein lagda....jad main roti ne de sakdi tere layi....aur tu khali cup cha da pi ke Guzara chala lena hain....tu ki samajh na hain....mainu samajh nai aandi......bhudape which aa ke ....aini mushkil ho gayi hai....main badi sharminda haan. It shocked me. I was in tears in my bedroom.

Those words were an actual revealation of a mother's heart and belongingness with her child. I always thought I could befool her with my tactics. I forgot she was afterall my Maan.

By the way, she is improving a bit I believe. We still have to see a cardiologitst. But she can eat one chapati on some days, otherwise it doesn't go inside. milk, tea and don't know other, if any, liquid stuff is digestable for her in small quantities.

"The Mission Accomplished"

Today, Jan.29, 2010, is one of the most delightful days for me. For others, it may have been just another day of daily life. But for me, it turned extra special when I managed to click the pics of an illuminated Rashtrapati Bhavan finally.

As two years ago I started clicking that by mobile camera, then again on next year I clicked some but always wished to have a camera.

But Ajita, a journalist friend, now in Australia said....Sir you should take camera at least.It just made me realised that I actually needed it and after a long research and enquiries bought this Nikon S 700.

But I kept waiting for this day, Jan.26, when the Rashtrapati Bhavan is illuminated and thousands of people converge to watch it. I waited very excitedly the whole year.

And after so many clicks throughout the year of trees, clouds and many other things I finally managed it today. I had also clicked a lot of them on Jan.26 twoo but due to night time clicks being first occasion for me, they didn't come well. All got blurred or lens had problem of dots. I was utterly disappointed from my camera's limitation to capture this one time illumination of the magnficent Rashtrapati Bhavan.

But today, on Jan.29, (the last day of illumination) once again I happened to cross this place.

Despite it being my weekly off day, I just went and clicked them again. Though the results could be better, but I am thoroughly delighted.

Not many may know this majestic builiding is the most fascinating place for me whole year, as I have tried to capture it many a times in day time. But this special day, was the most awaited. Thank you God....u inspired me to take photography as a hobby and now making it my most absorbing passion after writing to have happened in my life in last 10 years!

Hence, it wasn't just another set of pics by me. It's actually "The Mission Achieved".

I am speechless......

My remorse cannot be explained through mere words. As words are afterall just words, one can play with them or hide behind them to pretend and remain a rogue in the disguise of an honest man. Still, I value the sanctity of words and choose to speak up from my heart. I have just words and that's how I can reveal my mind and soul.

I have felt guilty for not being available when it mattered the most on three occasion in last two months. Two of the occasions were the most regretful incidents of my life, as they belonged to two closest friends. One of them lost her father and the other, her mother. I express my condolences from the depth of my heart. I felt ashamed of not being of any worth or use for them when they should have someone trustable with them. I just could not be there with them due to responsibiilites at the workplace.

But it is also true that I genuinely wanted to be with them at any cost. But I couldn’t. The sorry is too little word to say anything about my guilty and moral and social crime.

One of them being Lakshmi, my closest friend and a supporter of the most difficult phase of life when I was in search of first job at any cost. She is my classmate and still a big mental support which helps me carry on in professional life with solace. Her beloved father had been suffering from cancer for a few months. She would tell me almost on routine basis how she was undergoing mental agony but could not share with mother. She wanted to avoid giving shock to her sensitive mother. The father and Lakshmi had promised each other not to let the mother learn of this disease. Both would keep mum and put up a smiling face till the last few weeks were left and doctors informed the days were numbered.

I admire the control of Lakshi and express utter sorrow that despite entire family’s best efforts, her beloved Daddy left for heavenly abode.

She wanted to handover ‘green grass’, as the father wanted to drink its juice. He was told by someone it helps dramatically in cancer. But the problem was that the special grass was available in Delhi only and father was hospitalized in Chennai. Despite best efforts to coordinate with each other , Lakshmi and me could not meet each other despite living in the same city. Whenever I would have time to meet her, she couldn’t and vice-versa.

Finally, she left for Chennai at the desperate call from her sister to be with her father for the last time.

For not being able to be of any use to her will remain lifetime guilt in my conscience.

The other girl is Gayatri, a former colleague at ANI. Though we never worked in one section, as she belonged to electronic media and me, print media, but our vibes made it sure that we were like-minded. I remember she even left her job at ANI for her mother’s health four years ago. She had tears in eyes and couldn’t control them on her last day at ANI, as she left for Kolkata to be with her ailing mother.

We met after four years on roadside. She had joined Live India channel. Both of us were thrilled to meet once again. We shared a good time talking like school kids reuniting after a long phase of life. But then we would talk over phone and share laughter. He mother had carried on with the disease all this years somehow. So I never doubted she would be visiting the hospital for the last time. Last October (2009), Gayatri told me he mother was again hospitalized. I thought it was routine.

Later she informed she was in ICCU. I felt worried for Aunty but avoided visiting her in hospital. She said the mother was recuperating gradually and been shifted to the ward. But she added that the mother was not keeping on well still. I didn’t feel the seriousness of the statement. I hoped she would be alright again and prayed in my heart for her earliest recovery. The office routine kept me heavily occupied in the meantime and I just couldn’t call Gayatri for a long time.

Once I called her up and she said she remains on night or day duty at hospital for her mother, as she required somebody to be with her. It worried me and I avoided calling her up lest I should disturb her at an odd hour of the day. She could be relaxing at home after the night duty or just been attending her darling mother by her bed side. I avoided calling, hence.

But one day, when I did to ask about aunty…I was shocked. Gayatri said: “Mummy to Guzar gayi”.

The answer left me inexplicable to utter any more word. I felt as if her whole world had come to an end. It was because I knew she valued her mother the most and had literally devoted her entire young life for her well-being. The grief overwhelmed me. I just put down the phone and left the room in silence. I narrated that to my mother. She also felt pained to hear that news.


But, inside my heart, the guilt of not been able to be with Lakshmi and Gayatri, the two loving friends of lifetime, hurt me the most. Till date, I am ashamed of my ‘busy’ routine.

It's Sunday!!

Meaning of celebrating a day in our daily life can take a completely different meaning some times by mistake. I learnt this new fact of life today.

I felt how at times it could be disastrous but funny anecdote of life as well.

So many surprises occurring in just an hour’s time on January16 (2010) left me in peels of laughter, as I realized it all happened due to a silly mistake about the exact day, after I mistook Saturday for a Sunday.

As a routine, bosses take their weekly off on Sunday and the workload is relatively less. Hence, I had reason to be cheerful about the day.

Even in the morning by 9 o’clock, my senior colleague Pankaj Chaudhary’s call regarding some problem in a blog, felt a bit surprising. As I was astonished to think after all what made him turn up on this day, as he is also off on Sundays. It must be for increment, I felt, as he woke me up early in the morning (9’o clock)!

Feeling it was Sunday, I left early for office thinking it would allow me to leave for home on time or earlier, if nobody pointed out.

On my way to office, the sight of everything and everyone I usually come across on working days looked a bit like a ‘Surprise of the Day’.

I was perturbed to see so much traffic on roads despite it being a Sunday. I said: “Oh, this traffic has swelled actually beyond limit.” Usually, most of the office-goers’ vehicles are off roads. “So much cars, so many scooters and even Rikshaw-pullers are adding to the traffic snarls on a day like Sunday,” I said it myself.

Well, I arrived in office at 12.30, half-an-hour earlier, thinking the bosses will not be there. And, this was good enough reason to be happy. I was content that in any case I would not have to see the terrifying faces. I looked so cheerful, thinking it was Sunday and not much work would be there.

I climbed up the stairs to the third floor of the office building in a lesuirely mood. I felt so relaxed.

I was surprised to smell the aroma of food coming from canteen into stairs. “The canteen guy must be overworking or been forced to come for half day,” I thought and smiled.

But little did I have any idea that the friends I often find absent on Sundays would be greeting me today. Their full presence in office surprised me, as I kept walking towards my seat while responding with my smile and surprise to the “Hello” or “Good Morning Sandeep Sir”.

But the very first sight of my News Editor, Dixit assigning some task to a colleague in office near my seat, surprised me. How come he is there in office today? , I asked myself. Well, it could be some important work, which must have brought him to office today, I replied to myself.

I was surprised to see so many people being present on this 'Sunday'. I even asked one of my friends on Chatting box how come she was in office today...she didn't realise it .nor did it doubt my absent mindedness.

But I was woken up from my day-dreaming, only after a loving friend emailed for not greeting her as I do everyday, to say Hellooooo it's Saturday Kaurange ...

:)
I was speechless.

Indian Media's expose` or political party's sting on media moghuls ?

A recently circulated email stated how most of the news organisation are being by some particular business group or 'supported' or unoffically controlled by individuals.

Though it could be quite interesting for anyone seeking material to substantiate criticism of media in daily life, I would view it as how much constrained journalists are to bring out shades of truth as long as they serve in any organisation.

Once out of the organisation, even the readers who expect so much from them may not find even a little worth in reading such journalists' write up.

And, on practical side, one can never deny the fact that every organisation needs finance to run its show and for that it has to bear the influence of outside forces just like any other business organisation.

Even if such a 'revealation' or information is publicised by private platforms like blogs or emails, the general public should appreciate that at least something is coming out for the betterment of society off an on!

Otherwise, everyone is entitled to have its own view. I cannot obstruct someone's freedom to speech and expression as is available to the media persons as a fundamental right under Indian constituion.

Who owns the media in india ?
The Email stated advising --A VERY INTERESTING ARTICLE...ONE MUST READ--headlined "Who owns the media in India ?" stated:

Recent Gujarat election have witnessed unaccountable money
paid to media persons of both, print and electronic by Saudi
Arabia to discredit Modi and the Hindutva forces, which
Media did very faithfully without success.

There are several major publishing groups in India , the
most prominent among them being the Times of India Group,
the Indian Express Group, the Hindustan Times Group, The
Hindu group, the Anandabazar Patrika Group, the Eenadu
Group, the Malayalam Manorama Group, the Mathrubhumi group,
the Sahara group, the Bhaskar group, and the Dainik Jagran
group.

Let us see the ownership of different media agencies.


NDTV: A very popular TV news media is funded by Gospels of
Charity in Spain Supports Communism. Recently it has
developed a soft corner towards Pakistan because Pakistan
President has allowed only this channel to be aired in
Pakistan .

Indian CEO Prannoy Roy is co-brother of Prakash
Karat, General Secretary of the Communist party of India. His wife and Brinda Karat are sisters.

India Today which used to be the only national weekly which supported BJP is now bought by NDTV!! Since then the tone has changed drastically and turned into Hindu bashing.

CNN-IBN: This is 100 percent funded by Southern Baptist
Church with its branches in all over the world with HQ in
US.. The Church annually allocates $800 million for
promotion of its channel. Its Indian head is Rajdeep
Sardesai and his wife Sagarika Ghosh.


Times group list:
Times Of India, Mid-Day, Nav-Bharth Times, Stardust,
Femina, Vijay Times, Vijaya Karnataka, Times now (24- hour news channel) and many more...

Times Group is owned by Bennet & Coleman. 'World
Christian Council¢ does 80 percent of the Funding, and an
Englishman and an Italian equally share balance 20 percent. The Italian Robertio Mindo is a close relative of Sonia Gandhi.


Star TV: It is run by an Australian, who is supported by
St. Peters Pontifical Church Melbourne.


Hindustan Times: Owned by Birla Group, but hands have
changed since Shobana Bhartiya took over. Presently it is
working in Collaboration with Times Group.

The Hindu: English daily, started over 125 years has been
recently taken over by Joshua Society, Berne , Switzerland .. N. Ram's wife is a Swiss national.

Indian Express: Divided into two groups. The Indian Express and new Indian Express (southern edition) ACTS Christian Ministries have major stake in the Indian Express and latter is still with the Indian counterpart.

Eeenadu: Still to date controlled by an Indian named Ramoji Rao.

Ramoji Rao is connected with film industry and owns a huge studio in Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Jyothi: The Muslim party of Hyderabad known as MIM along with a Congress Minister has purchased this Telugu daily very recently.


The Statesman: It is controlled by Communist Party of
India.

Kairali TV: It is controlled by Communist party of India
(Marxist)

Mathrubhoomi: Leaders of Muslim League and Communist leaders have major investment.

Asian Age and Deccan Chronicle: Is owned by a Saudi Arabian Company with its chief Editor M.J. Akbar.

Gujarat riots that took place in 2002 where
Hindus were also burnt alive, Rajdeep Sardesai and Bharkha Dutt working for NDTV at that time got around 5 Million Dollars from Saudi Arabia to cover only Muslim victims, which they did very faithfully. Not a single Hindu family was interviewed or shown on TV whose near and dear ones had been burnt alive, it is reported.


Tarun Tejpal of tehelka.com: Tehelkacom regularly gets blank cheques from Arab countries to target BJP and Hindus only, it is said.

The ownership explains the control of media in India by
foreigners. The result is obvious.

PONDER OVER THIS. NOW YOU KNOW WHY EVERY ONE IS AGAINST TRUTH, HOW VERY SAD.

Please pass this on to as many as possible. Let them know
who feeds them with biased news and information- yet call
themselves secular," the email concluded.

Surely, it would interest a lot of media critics take cudgles against their favourite punching bag. But still one tends to put a question to them: "What if tomorrow there is NO MEDIA?"
-- RegardsChaudhary Sandeep Datta

My eight-day holiday

Getting a holiday has been as difficult for me as it could be for an increment in the news organisation I work for. But that's part and parcel of a journalistic life, I believe.

It is quite difficult to explain what actually I did during all these holidays. Still, I wish to so that at least I could understand much before I could explain.

First day, Dec.28, 2009
As I had spent the previous day in much excitement, I wanted to perform or rather live every moment of my each day as per my solid plan. I wanted to make most of it.