This post is also available on Mutiny
People say it’s the age of ‘media’. The very fact that a simple blog with articles ranging in interest from movies to hardcore social critique being written by a handful of non-experts has an enviable readership of its own (reference to mutiny.in) is a testimonial to this claim. However, not many would disagree that quantity and quality seldom go together. It takes a lot of character to insist on an ideology when business demands take you elsewhere.
‘Page Three’ was initially an experiment in a supplement to the Times of India. Today, to the exception of The Hindu, there is probably no other English daily in India which does not publish titillating photographs of women on some or the other page. If it sells, why not?
In wake of all this, however, there are some journalists out there who are fighting the temptations of market demands to stick to an ideology. In the 70s it was the Indian Express and probably India Today a little later. Well, the Express has almost lost the battle (readership has declined tremendously) and India Today has compromised itself beyond recognition. However, it looks like there is indeed a media group that is at least making an honest attempt to fill that void - Tehelka.
Whether we agree or not with its method of uncovering the defence scam (which continues, by the way), we must admit that it takes a lot of character to withstand the slaughter from the government that they faced in full public view, post the defence expose. And to come out from all that to launch and sustain a magazine with the highest stature in the Indian market - well, that takes more than just character. It takes passion. And attitude.
Tehelka, since January 2004, has maintained unparalleled standards in both journalism and quality of literature amongst mainstream magazines. Be it the extraordinary series on Gujarat and the Godhara genocide, or the issue of Taslima facing eviction from India, or M F Hussain’s reasons for having to quit the nation, or dedicating a deserving pre-release cover story to the artist that Amir is, or having the guts to expose the Chief Justice of India and face contempt charges - in less than 4 years, Tehelka has done much more than every other magazine combined in a decade, probably.
Opinions differ and they must. I believe that, in a democracy, the right to hold an opinion contrary to any overwhelming majority is the most sacred right. You may not agree with quite a lot that Tehelka publishes, but I earnestly believe that it deserves to be given a chance in order to continue its fight against the market forces. And a lot other hurdles which need not be specified.
I am not an agent of the magazine and I do not ask you to buy a copy. However, I do request you to visit the website to give it a chance. Most of what they write does not merely deserve to be read but needs to be read by Indians.
To understand what prompted me to write this post, let me take the liberty to refer you to this story. Most such stories escape the attention of mainstream media. Reason? Market Forces, which means Readers, which means - Us.
By the way, subscriptions are available for Rs. 200 for a year. Less than Rs. 4/issue.