Media self-regulation
Photo courtesy: V&A Images, Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Sevanti Ninan’s “Towards a common code” (October 12) made interesting reading. The formation of regulatory body for TV channels may not be taken well by the electronic media for the reason that the government is infringing into its fundamental right — but given that certain channels are going overboard to sensationalise trivial issues, self regulation seems to be the way out.
H.P. Murali
Bengaluru
Neglected chapter
This is regarding article on Malik Ambar by A. Rangarajan in Magazine, dated October 12. The article is informative and throws light on the life of great statesman, Malik Ambar, which is a somewhat neglected chapter in our history. However I would like to point out a couple of errors in the article.
The author states that Maloji, Shivaji’s grandfather, was a trusted right hand man of Malik Ambar. However, Maloji died in 1605 A.D while the Battle of Bhatawadi was fought in 1624. Perhaps the author meant Shahji, Shivaji’s father and not Maloji.
It is a fact that Habshis and Marathas fought on the same side against Mughals in the Battle of Bhatawadi. However attributing Shivaji’s success later to the training give by Malik Ambar is far too outstretched. One reason is, Marathas did not start serving Royal armies in Malik Ambar’s time. The tradition can be traced back to about 50 years after the fall of Yadav empire of Marathas at the hand of Khilzis in 1318 AD.
Secondly, among important commanders who supported Shivaji in early days, none received training under Malik Ambar. Be it be Tanaji Malusare, Yesaji Kank, Suryaji Kakade, Baji Pasalkar or Murarbaji Deshpande. Except for the last, all others were handpicked by Shivaji from the villages around Pune and these simple poor peasants went on to write a glorious chapter in the history of Maharashtra and India. Their idol was Shivaji and their noble mission was independence for their land. None of them can be traced back to the training of Malik Ambar.
Girish Khare,
Pune
Towering kindness
This is with reference to Mini Krishnan’s “On the highway” (October 12). Urban life has made us impervious to the nuances of human behaviour. An in-built feeling of distrust and suspicion takes over while meeting strangers. Tight-lipped and restless, people in cities mostly do not have the time or inclination to “feel” for fellow citizens. The farmer has proved that a spontaneous act of kindness, however small it might be, brings joy and hope to people.
K.M.G. Vivekanandam
Madurai
Drawing a line
Freedom of speech is prized by democracies because only in a climate of free speech can the people remain informed on issues that affect their society and thus make an informed choice of government to reflect their best interests. Yet nobody in most free societies can have a platform to incite violence, murder, sexual abuse, racial abuse or any other activity deemed repugnant by the vast majority of people.
Random House’s decision to bow down to a hypothetical terrorist threat is surely a good decision.
There is a clear demarcation between intellectual discourse and subjecting a group of people to crass verbal abuse. Every society permits their citizens to express themselves within its legal limits. People should always know what constitutes hate or where to draw the line on free speech and it is not a license to target vulnerable groups.
Dr. T. Marx,
Lecturer, Department of English
Pondicherry University
Puducherry.
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