Controlling media to administer people is beyond legalized
Hope for a free media with the New Year 2011

S Bhubol *

Should we make it taken for granted that this New Year 2011 was begun with pressurized press depriving people's right to information and the same may continue like a prevailing wind throughout this year and more. It should be taken seriously for a man or a society is not immortal.

Inspite of living with various complexities, people's history and mindset are not to be tempered with the will for gain of a section of the society and of state or non-state entities. People always long for the peace on its own course being emerged by democratic practices and not of a section's curiosity.

The first royal commission on press pointed out that "Freedom of speech and of the press lay at the foundation of all the democratic organizations, for without free political discussions no public education, so essential for proper functioning of the processed of popular government is possible." It is the reason why a free press was regarded as an inestimable boon in England in the middle of the 19th century.

And so the term Fourth Estate is conceived as another name of the press in these modern societies. It is clearly understood today that a society can never be a competent society without having a free press. That was why press was widely accepted as a public right even in the early part of the 20th century.

Mr justice JR Mudholkar, former judge of the Supreme Court of India soulfully expressed in his press law that "Freedom of expression is among the foremost human rights. The freedom of press means freedom from censorship by the government and freedom from all kinds of restraints in expressing opinion freely, in an uninhabited manner."

And it is also known to all that under the constitution of India, the press, in the same way it is doing in England, America and other developed countries, does not enjoy any special right, other than that is granted to an ordinary citizen. But it is accepted that a pressman or a journalist enjoys the privilege of not disclosing the sources of information except when he is asked by a court only as a last resort.

It is interesting to quote the words justice P.B. Sawnat that today press or media has almost become the first estate, since it can criticize a governance and give comment upon the omissions and commissions of all individuals or institutions of the society whether the institution belong to a civil or political society. It indicates that a free media is an indispensable part of a democratic society and any act of disturbing this consensus is meant an illegal activity of implanting autocracy.

In India since the first newspaper was produced by one Augustus Hicky, the press in the country, facing with various obstacles and controversies has been working hard to make a well informed Indian society. But in its history, the sanctity of media was seen divided with sectarian outlook and baised reportings to serving the interest of bureaucrats, the political parties and of a government but sidestepping from the concerns of the people.

In the same way, in Manipur too since the first newspaper was produced by Irabot in 1922, the media or the press has been struggling to serving Manipuri society facing a lot of obstacles and disadvantages. But the media in Manipur too was inflicted with the same diseases of Indian media since Maniupur was annexed to Indian Union in 1949.

Today media is purchased, owned or sold by the powered sections of the society such as the powerful bureaucrats, the powerful minister or political party or a government and the powerful non-state entities defiling the truism of democracy and democratic right of the people.

Their powers were not willingly given by people but snatched it away from the people with all kinds of malpractices. So journalists' union like All Manipur Working Journalists' Union is facing hardships to maintain a free media for it is being intervened by both state and non-state entities.

It is really unfortunate that media in Manipur today is not given freedom to express people's voice and it is targeted by the groups or the parties of the state and the non-state actors in the course of their so called revolutionary and counter insurgency measures. It is time to know that media should not manipulated with sectarian agenda and media persons should be given free to report the facts and the fake parts of any incident sticking to media ethics.

We all know that there is still many controversies between the press or media and the judicial procedure regard to the access of media to the courts during the trial or hearing of cases; to report the post hearing or post trial conditions; to the cases of the contempt of court act and to investigate or to collect information about a cases etc.

But, it agreed to one and all that after the passing of the Right to Information Act, the work of the media is more meaningful and the true reporting by a free media is an inevitable asset to make a civilized society. Unluckily Manipur is not a place where this truism is being followed and individuals are directed with any available means other than reasoning.

But we should not give up the hope for a bright future of Manipuris who could form a state in 33 A.D. and will exist in all human generations to come. We still hope for a brighter New year with free media expressing people's voice freely without bondages of sectarian interests.

Any section of the society should never think of suppressing the freedom of press and all what is being done people know it; people know who is right and who is wrong. And it is the worst state if the state actors become perpetrators for they one the protections.

To conclude media men should not be politicized in any case and act courageously within its media ethics with the objectives of serving people with ethical pen.