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-Top News Media UAE News

‘UAE Set to Become Global Hub For New Media’

Commenting on the 1 Billion Followers Summit, Al Gergawi said the event has started big and continued to grow in its second edition….reports Asian Lite News

Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, said that the global media sector today is going at a turning point that could bring about huge and unexpected shifts in both media and technology.

The minister noted: “Our goal for the UAE is to become the focal point for new media. Thanks to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to establish a permanent influencers headquarters in Dubai, the UAE will be a global hub for influencers by supporting them to create positive content.”
“Content creation is not an easy job, because content has the power to build communities or bring them down. Creating specialised content requires support and training, which helps build knowledge,” Al Gergawi said.

“The UAE government is an active government, as H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum always says: “We do what we say, and we say what we do”. And while many said that the global economic downturn marked the end of dreams, but the UAE proved it has just started… We have reached Mars; we are part of the lunar space station project; and we continue to affect a cultural and humanitarian transformation that serves all humankind. The UAE’s mission extends its positive impact well beyond our national boundaries, serving a larger, global purpose.”

Commenting on the 1 Billion Followers Summit, Al Gergawi said the event has started big and continued to grow in its second edition. He promised bigger and more influential future editions, highlighting the growing importance of new media, and the need to create exceptional content that adds value to humanity.

1 Billion Followers Summit Wraps Up 2nd Edition

The 1 Billion Followers Summit concluded its second edition in Dubai on Thursday reiterating the importance of digital content creation and its rapidly evolving role in communication, learning, and entertainment, in the region and around the world.

Organised by the New Media Academy on January 10- 11, the event engaged over 300 million social media users across various digital platforms.

The summit’s hashtag #1BillionSummit ranked among the most followed hashtags worldwide in the past couple of days, with engagements exceeding 489 million. Additionally, the summit was the focus of 300+ local and international journalists who took the summit’s voice to the world and conducted exclusive interviews with some of the world’s most famous influencers on social media.

Up to 195 speakers and content creators from 95 countries and regions shared unique experiences, advice, and secrets to success across the fields of art, sports, education, health, business, and environment. The event attracted 7,000 attendees and participants, including 3,000 content creators, who hailed the platform as a unique opportunity to connect and collaborate with content creators from different countries and cultures.

Saeed Al Eter, Chairman of the UAE Government Media Office, affirmed that the UAE continues to boost its influence on the international media scene, introducing the world to its collective achievements. He also lauded the country’s exceptional ability to stay ahead of developments and anticipate major transformations in the field of new media, to embrace this vast space and invest in its unlimited potential.

He said, “The 1 Billion Followers Summit embodies the UAE’s commitment to developing the creative industries and writing a new chapter in the evolution of digital media and content creation. This is achieved by providing a nurturing environment to attract talents and innovators, organizing events that bring together influential names in the field to benefit from their experiences, and inspiring journeys that serve as a motivation for new content creators in developing visions, goals, and tools”.

He added, “The Summit is a new affirmation of our country’s strong presence in every positive change aimed at advancing means of communication among people. We have great confidence that the success of this event, which brought together more than 7,000 participants from 95 countries around the world, including over 3,000 content creators, influencers, and creatives, will be a qualitative leap in its journey, as well as the journey of new media and content creation in our country, the Arab region, and the world,” affirming that the UAE will remain a cradle of creativity.

Alia Al Hammadi, CEO of the New Media Academy, affirmed that the vibrant regional and global engagement with the summit – its events, activations and discussions – asserts Dubai’s leadership in providing a nurturing and supportive environment for creative industry professionals and emerging talents. It also solidifies the city’s position as a preferred destination for content creators and influencers of various nationalities and cultures.

She said: “The summit offered a pioneering and comprehensive platform for exchanging experiences and knowledge among participants. It has offered the tools and the right guidance to empower social media practitioners to hone their talent, creativity and capabilities, asserting that communication is the new and most widely used global currency. Dubai will continue striving to offer the best platforms and services to advance the value of this sector and those who operate within it.”

Al Hammadi thanked the partners, sponsors, speakers, and attendees who contributed to the success of the second edition of the summit and expressed her hope to meet them again in the next edition.
The summit, over the course of two days, organised 24 panel discussions, hosting an elite group of the world’s leading social media pioneers. These discussions covered the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the creative industries and digital media. The event also featured speeches from top executives and international business leaders, highlighting the role of new media in enhancing community development, the importance of producing content that elevates the audience’s tastes and embedding awareness in generations in line with the summit’s vision.

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-Top News USA

Former Trump Aide’s Warning to Media on Potential Trump Return

Patel’s comments come as the former president faces 91 felony counts across four different court cases to which he has pleaded not guilty, saying that he is being prosecuted for political reasons…reports Asian Lite News

A top Indian-origin aide to Donald Trump has threatened action against people in the media — “criminally or civilly” — if the former president storms back to power in 2024.

Kashyap ‘Kash’ Patel, who was Trump’s counter-terrorism adviser on the National Security Council and chief of staff to the acting secretary of defence, made the remarks on Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast.

“We will go out and find the conspirators not just in government, but in the media,” Patel, who may reportedly serve in a senior national security role in any new Trump administration, said, referring to the 2020 election in which Biden trounced Trump.

“We’re going to come after you whether it’s criminally or civilly… “We’ll figure that out,” the former Defence Department official said.

Patel clarified that they are going to use the Constitution to “prosecute them for crimes they said we have always been guilty of but never have.”

However, the Trump campaign has distanced itself from Patel’s comments, saying that proclamations “like this have nothing to do with” them, according to ‘The Guardian’.

Patel’s comments come as the former president faces 91 felony counts across four different court cases to which he has pleaded not guilty, saying that he is being prosecuted for political reasons.

The charges against Trump include unlawfully trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

In September this year, Patel released a book, which he said “exposes the corruption of the Deep State”.

“A sinister cabal of corrupt law enforcement personnel, intelligence agents, and military officials at the highest levels of government plotted to overthrow a President,” the synopsis of the book read.

Patel said in his book that corrupt officials have continued to secretly pull the levers of power without any accountability to the American people.

In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, Trump said: “The biggest problem we have? The media. The media is fake… I came up with the term a long time ago, and they won’t talk about it.”

During his tenure, Trump has had an uneasy relationship with the media with him blocking CNN, Politico and the New York Times from White House media briefing.

He has called news outlets as “fake news” and the “enemy of the people” in the past.

Leading the Republican presidential race with a huge margin, Trump has also reportedly promised to use the Justice Department to “go after” his political adversaries.

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-Top News Media Politics

Global media commends BJP after saffron sweep  

The UK-based news agency, Reuters, dubbed the poll victories as a ‘big boost’ for PM Modi ahead of the general elections next year, heading its story as, “In boost for Modi, BJP sweeps polls in three Indian states.”…reports Asian Lite News

After BJP swept three of the four states, the results for which were declared on Sunday, global media commended the victory as an ‘expansion of PM Modi dominance’, adding that the outcomes were ‘vital’ ahead of the Lok Sabha elections next year.

Prominent US daily The Washington Post ran a detailed story hailing the BJP’s stupendous poll wins in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, calling the mandates ‘crucial’.

“The crucial poll has pitted India’s opposition against the ruling party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of next year’s vital national vote,” the Washington Post stated in its report.

The global media affirmed that the victories in three states would strengthen PM Modi’s chances of scoring a hat-trick of poll wins and returning for a third straight term at the country’s highest office.

Al Jazeera ran a report with the headline, “India’s BJP wins three of four state polls months before the national election”, terming the BJP’s poll victories “historic and unprecedented”.

The UK-based news agency, Reuters, dubbed the poll victories as a ‘big boost’ for PM Modi ahead of the general elections next year, heading its story as, “In boost for Modi, BJP sweeps polls in three Indian states.”

“The election results indicate the voter mood ahead of the national elections in May in which Modi is eyeing a third consecutive term,” it stated in its report.

A saffron Tsunami swept the Hindi heartland on the counting day for four states that polled for their assemblies last month, the BJP, with its stunning mandates in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, stumped not just their rivals but also some pollsters who had predicted tight races in these states.

The election results in four states, especially the losses in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, came as a huge to the Congress’s hopes for 2024 as it is now out of power across a vast swathe of the Hindi heartland.

In Rajasthan, the vote count painted a starkly different picture to what some of the pollsters had predicted, with the BJP poised to form the government, winning 115 seats, and the Congress trailing at 69 seats.

Of the 90 assembly constituencies in Chhattisgarh, the BJP bagged 54 while the Congress won 35.

The counting for Mizoram is set for Monday, where BJP’s regional ally, the Mizo National Front, is the incumbent.

Assembly elections to five states were held last month, with more than 160 million people, or a sixth of India’s electorate, registered to vote. (ANI)

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-Top News Media UAE News

Global Media Congress Sets New Standards in Industry Collaboration

The second edition of the Global Media Congress saw a phenomenal increase in attendance, with 23924 visitors compared to 13556 the previous year, showing a 76.48 per cent increase in attendance…reports Asian Lite News

On the final day of the Global Media Congress, attendees and speakers reflected on a series of groundbreaking sessions that provided insights into the current media landscape as well as its future trends.

With the Congress having broken records in terms of attendee numbers, speaker participation and business and brand participation, the event’s closing sessions offered yet more diverse perspectives, creative ideas, and collaborative spirit, all converging to redefine the role of media in an ever-evolving global society.

The second edition of the Global Media Congress saw a phenomenal increase in attendance, with 23924 visitors compared to 13556 the previous year, showing a 76.48 per cent increase in attendance.
There was also an increase in participating countries, with 172 countries featuring during the congress, with 31 new countries participating for the first time. Covering 32,000 square metres, the Congress’s footprint grew 78 per cent from last year, attracting 77 leading industry speakers from 18 different countries.

Under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the day was marked by a series of compelling keynote speeches, insightful panel discussions, and exclusive interviews that all contributed to the Congress’s overarching narrative of driving innovation and business growth in the global media landscape.
Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Director-General of Emirates News Agency (WAM) and Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee for the Global Media Congress, said, “Once again, the Global Media Congress has gathered together leaders, decision-makers, and executives from renowned media institutions around the world to successfully shape the future of the global media industry. Through coordinated efforts and the productive exchange of creative concepts and breakthrough technological solutions, we have further consolidated the UAE’s position as a key global hub for advancing the future of the media industry and setting the groundwork for its productive growth to serve the world’s economies and societies.”

Day three of the Congress gave a special emphasis to the themes of tolerance and community harmony, sport and the media, and the impact of technology on different media platforms.

Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of ADNEC Group, stated, “As we bring this edition of the Global Media Congress at ADNEC to a close, I am profoundly grateful to the many excellent participants that have joined us from around the world for their enthusiasm and invaluable contributions. I also wish to thank the wise leadership of the UAE for their vision and unwavering support for this globally significant event. In keeping with ADNEC Group’s commitment to advancing Abu Dhabi’s economic diversification through expanded business and tourism opportunities, we look forward to repeating the outstanding success of this Congress in its future editions.”

Among the MoUs concluded at the conference were two agreements on the final day between New Media Academy and Core 42, the UAE Journalist Association and American University in the Emirates.
The ingenuity on display in the startup competition exemplified the Global Media Congress’s focus on unlocking the potential of new talent in the media sector. Also important in this respect was the launch at this year’s event of the Education Stage and Co-Production Majlis as new features were designed, along with the return of the Innovation Stage, NexTech, and Future Media Lab, to explore education and Al as key drivers of the sector’s future evolution.

Additionally, the elite-level discussions held at the Future Media Labs are expected to lead to a new White Paper on the industry’s future that will build on a similar publication in 2022. Through such game-changing initiatives, the 2023 Global Media Congress has confirmed its status as an essential forum for thought leadership and visionary new partnerships. (ANI/WAM)

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Arts & Culture Lite Blogs

Redefining Boundaries with Mixed Media Art

In its upcoming ‘Present Future’ Contemporary Art Auction, AstaGuru will present an exceptional array of mixed media works. Here are some of their unique creations…reports Asian Lite News

Indian contemporary artists have been at the forefront of embracing mixed media creations in recent years, giving rise to a dynamic and diverse art scene that fuses tradition with innovation.

This artistic movement involves combining various materials, techniques, and mediums to create unique and thought-provoking pieces that defy conventional boundaries. One of the key reasons for this surge in mixed media art in India is the country’s rich cultural heritage and history.

Artists draw inspiration from India’s ancient art forms, textiles, and crafts, infusing them with contemporary elements to produce visually captivating works. This fusion of tradition and modernity results in pieces that resonate with both local and global audiences.

Indian artists often employ a wide range of materials, such as textiles, found objects, ceramics, metals, digital media, and more. These unique creations not only challenge artistic norms but also invite viewers to explore the intricate layers of meaning within each artwork, making them a vital part of India’s vibrant art landscape.

In its upcoming ‘Present Future’ Contemporary Art Auction, AstaGuru will present an exceptional array of mixed media works. Here are some of their unique creations.

Vox Humana by Jitish Kallat: The presented lot comes from the oeuvre of Jitish Kallat, a multifaceted artist who embraces varied mediums, including painting, sculpture, video, photography, and even telescopes, Jitish Kallat delves into themes encompassing our modern era, the cosmic realm, and historical remembrance. His extensive narratives, enriched with personal, political, and artistic allusions, reflect an ever-evolving India.  Kallat’s creations frequently traverse different scales, oscillating between contemplations of the individual, urban streets, the nation, and the cosmic expanse. This allows him to scrutinize the fleeting versus eternal, the commonplace in relation to history, and the microscopic juxtaposition with the telescopic.

Untitled by Jagannath Panda: This work perfectly encapsulates Jagannath Panda’s mixed media art practice, which is a testament to the profound impact of minimalism and abstraction on contemporary art. Despite their apparent simplicity, his works possess a captivating depth that beckons viewers to explore the nuances within. Panda’s art deftly blurs the boundaries between reality and illusion, with delicate forms and lines that seem to defy gravity, drawing subjects into a realm of ethereal uncertainty.

Untitled by Raqib Shaw: The artist takes a meticulous approach to executing these extraordinary creations that open up the world of the artist’s imagination to the audience. With a deft tackling of varied mediums of metallic enamel paints, gems, glitter, and rhinestone, the labour-intensive process also includes using a porcupine quill to apply these enamel paints on different surfaces, a technique similar to ‘cloisonné’ used in early Asian pottery to decorate metalwork and ceramics.

The Castle of Otranto (Vision 2) by Aditya Pande: Works by Aditya Pande are made up of masses of undulating lines and frantic concentric circles, making each piece appear as if it is made up of several whirlpools of energy. The viewer’s focus constantly shifts from one density to another, some with movements that draw the eye inward while others seem to spring out of the surface with wild abandon. The artist uses computer-aided graphic design to create these hyperactive works of art. He further enhances these equation and vector-based works by overlaying the prints with materials such as ink, tinsel, and acrylic paint along with beady, pop-artist eyes.

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India News Interview Politics

National media coverage on Manipur is weak: BRP Bhaskar

In an interview with Abhish K. Bose, eminent journalist BRP Bhaskar speaks about a number of issues including the national media reporting of the troubles in Manipur; the lack of proactive action from the government side.

Ninety one year old BRP Bhaskar is perhaps the senior most functioning Journalist living in the country. Mr Bhaskar who worked in senior editorial positions at The Hindu, The Patriot, Deccan Herald, The Statesman, United News of India, was also a columnist with the Gulf Today Newspaper published from Sharjah. A voice of sanity and clarity, Mr Bhaskar is an active presence in the socio cultural scene of Kerala and an activist who comes down against human rights violations. He was also an editorial advisor to The Asianet News, and handled Media Watch programme for the channel.  An eminent scholar on the socio political scenario of India Mr Bhaskar is the recipient of the Swadheshabhimani – Kesari media award given by the Kerala government for comprehensive contributions to Journalism.

In an interview with Abhish K. Bose, he discusses a number of issues including the national media reporting of the troubles in Manipur; the lack of proactive action from the government side; the Kerala government registering case against a TV channel reporter; and against online media groups; a comparison with the intolerance against media and political dissent by the Modi government and the LDF government of Kerala.

Excerpts from the interview 

Abhish K. Bose:  The new coalition of  the twenty six opposition parties named INDIA has  recently formed in Bangalore in a bid to challenge the BJP led NDA in the general elections 2024. What do you think will be the prospects of this alliance? Can the alliance break the strangle hold of BJP in the frays?

BRP Bhaskar : I think  It is too early to come to any conclusion regarding the prospects of the new formation. Because we have to see how it functions over a fairly long period. The election is still some time away. How this grouping functions can only be assessed realistically after we have seen its workings over a fairly long period to the extent of cohesion in the alliance and the extent of leadership in the alliance. Regardless of what ever they may say in their documents the impression the public is gathering regarding their stand on the political, economic and social issues should have to be taken into account before we can reach any informed conclusion on its prospects. 

Abhish K. Bose: Though Prime minister Narendra Modi has broken  his silence over the atrocities against the minority tribal communities in Manipur can we take the PMs condemnation of the incidents in Manipur in good sense with little assurance from the government comes in the form of proactive actions to mitigate the crisis. Do you think that under the BJP rule in centre the religious and ethnic minorities of the country will be safe? 

BRP Bhaskar :  The BJP must realistically accept that there are doubts in people’s mind about its position with regard to religious or any other minorities. This is because they have a majoritarian kind of philosophy on which this party has been built. In the course of their first few decades of working, people have formed certain opinion about the political positions of this party.  All this has to be taken into consideration to come to a conclusion on this matter.  

Abhish K. Bose: Do you think that the BJP government at the centre has effectively intervened to mitigate the crisis ongoing in Manipur?  

BRP Bhaskar :  The government actually faces the criticism for being silent on Manipur. The Prime Minister was keeping silence on Manipur. There were reports circulated that the ruling party was also involved in some of the troubles taking place there. This is a very sensitive area, one is a border area, the other is a tribal area where different types of tribes are living and this area has a history of disquiet. Judging by the reports I have seen, I was not able to come to a firm conclusion about the involvement of various political forces in the scene. The reporting of the media is very weak. There are certain regulations with regard to the coverage of sensitive issues of this kind. The media has to be watchful, and should make sure that the situation there should not be worse. By and large the kind of coverage I saw in the media I prefer I will not reach any conclusion. Because of that I do not make any firm categorical statement.  

Abhish K. Bose: You said about the functioning of the media is weak in the reporting of the events ….

BRP Bhaskar : I was not speaking about the Manipur media. Manipur has been going through a crisis for weeks now. What is the kind of information we are getting in the national media? I was pointing to the weakness of the national media coverage. I have no access to Manipur media. I don’t know what the Manipur media is doing. I depend on the national media for getting the information. Let me be honest on this, there are problems. The media has to be careful and there are standing guidelines which prohibits the media from identifying groups which are involved in the conflicts. At this moment I am more interested in knowing how authorities are handling things more than how the media is covering things. The Union Home Minister visited the place. But despite his visit the trouble went on. His intervention seemed ineffective. In many parts of our country there are  situations of different kinds. There are tensions which can broke out into conflicts. So the first duty of the authorities is to handle the system. They have the intelligence machinery. So when the trouble is brewing they have the means of knowing it and they should nip it in the bud. If they are not able to do it things eventually break out into a confrontation. Then of course the authorities have to act speedily. I also suspect whether the governments interventions was effective because the trouble in Manipur went on for several weeks.  The governments intervention is with an announcement especially when it is a law and order situation. I can’t reach any conclusion that they are not acting or the security agencies are not acting. But it is clear that they have not succeeded. So it was primary for them to oversee what steps they have took and why it was not effective so far, and take necessary steps to bring peace to that area.   

Abhish K. Bose: The reigning political dispensation spends a lot of money by way of supporting pro-BJP publications, promoting the dissemination of stories profitable to the BJP. Is there any way the practice of journalism can be made once again free and fair as conducive to the health of Indian democracy? 

BRP Bhaskar : Various people who have been monitoring the state of the Indian media have published  a recent annual report that the situation is getting progressively worse. There are some global agencies which monitor the state of the media all over the world and there recent report shows that the condition has been deteriorating from year to year. So this is a matter of concern to us. This is a matter which should actually be a concern to the government also. Because international agencies are monitoring and publishing reports and their reports of the deteriorating situation brings a bad name to the government. So I think the government should also be watchful to the development and take steps that are in their power to bring back the media freedom. This will improve their own image.     

Abhish K. Bose: Many among the political leaders of the country are exuding the hope that Kerala the sole state which is ruled by the left should carry forward the mantle of leadership in the fight against BJP and it’s fascism. However, the Kerala government led by the left  is also displaying intolerance against political dissent. In what all ways this government is different from the previous governments of the state?   

BRP Bhaskar : There is a kind of contradiction in the way the question is framed. You start with the thing that Kerala is the only left state and then you say that they have to play a proactive role. See one must be very practical about this thing. The party which is in power in only one state can effectively make a difference at the national level? The one state party has a very limited role to play at the national level.   

Abhish K. Bose: I was referring about the ideology of the left which is a global ideology rather than its ruling presence  in a particular state?  

BRP Bhaskar : As a global ideology it has collapsed all over the world and where it survived like in China where they practice is not Marxism. The second part of your question is very broad and is not very easy to answer. The governments have their own logic and their own dynamics. It can be very different from what they profess.  What they profess need not be what they practice.  Today if you look at the totality of the Indian situation, you have a large number of parties in power in different states. There are several national parties, several regional parties and then you know the so called national parties their hold is very limited. So no party today is in a position to say that we have reach across the nation. At the time of independence Congress is the only party which has a national reach. But that is not the situation today. Many of the parties are regional parties and some of them are confined to their state. In the last couple of decades regional parties are also a presence at the national level. But they come to play only at the election time. After the election time they play a very small role in the coalition. There are so many parties in the NDA led by the BJP.  To what extend they have an impact over the BJP government. The situation is extremely amorphous and now everybody is preparing for an election and as far as I can see the chances of the next elections bringing material difference is too dismal.  Regarding the criticism of the government intolerance I would like to make it clear that when we compare two governments one is the UDF government led by the Congress party and the second the present government led by the LDF.

If we examine the political parties which leads these two alliances there is a big difference in the approach of the two political parties leading the two fronts. There is an expressed different in the approaches of the UDF government led by the Congress and the LDF government led by CPM. In these two parties the differences of the two major parties in their approach to the democratic system is apparent. The Left is led  by the fundamental belief that what is happening in the name of democracy is not proper. However,  they are not openly saying it now. The Left front is able to capture power now through elections. However, they reiterate on several occasions regarding their belief on democracy that what is ongoing now is not democracy. That fundamental differences will be reflected in their approaches also. They believe that the right kind of democracy happens as a result of revolution.What they perceive as democracy in India and outside are some games inside capitalism.  However, they are not elucidating it now since they are able to win elections through the present mode. In the initial period they said that they did not believe in this kind of democracy, however, they wanted to give political lessons to the public thereby  participating in this democracy.  However, there occurred a change in their approach once they came to know that they were able to win elections through this mode.  Every government’s which is in power are supposed to function on the guidelines of the constitution. The Left parties are also participating in the democratic processes by taking into account that limitations.     

Abhish K. Bose:  There are criticism from a section that the present government is  perpetuating such a larger than life halo thereby dismissing all manner of dissent and resistance from the Kerala society. The pandemonium for the K Rail project is one such instance cited by them?       

BRP Bhaskar : I  don’t think one should draw any wild conclusion from the  K Rail project. When the K Rail project came there were people who favoured it, people who opposed it. It is not possible to go forward with any major railway projects by any state governments unless the central government is with you. Because the Railways are the central subject.   The criticism you refered here is binding for all governments. The difference between  professing  one thing and practicing. There is a near unanimity among all parties functioning in democracy regarding their speech and what they practice once they come to power.  The difference when what they say while in opposition and when they come to power is apparent.  In a place such as Kerala there are no political party which have the belief that they can come to power on their own. The parties bypassed this limitation through the coalition politics.  When Communist party comes to power in the state initially in the state, there were only individuals in coalition formed by them and no parties in the coalition. Later on they formed coalition. No party in the state has the confidence to capture power by their strength. Two parties leading the two coalition are big parties that is Congress and CPM. This will be explicit if we evaluate the election results of the state closely. 

Abhish K. Bose: It also needs a unanimous support from the people of the state for the projects implementation…

BRP Bhaskar :  I agree. In Kerala, we don’t know where these projects are coming from. There should be a way from which the projects should emerge. A project should emerge through the proper way. We have a long terms of grievances about the railway. The Railways should do a systematic study of the states traffic needs. The state government should set up a body to study Kerala’s traffic needs and evolve an integrated policy regarding what should be the role of the Railways in the state.    I think you should probably think of the development of the waterways aimed at the development of Kerala tourism.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan addressing the Loka Kerala Sabha regional summit in London

Abhish K. Bose: The peculiarity that no party can single handedly win elections may strengthen democracy to the extent that there are less chances for authoritarianism ideally. But is that the ground situation? 

BRP Bhaskar. : The tendency to behave with authoritarianism is included in the approach of the concerned parties the circumstances may compel them to do so. But ideally in democracies  we consider those parties who respects democratic values to be fit to function in the democracies.  But it is a fact that those who participate in democracy need not believe in  democracy. When such people comes to power there surfaces a contradiction.  Democracy is a belief system that should be assimilated.  When the first participated elections in Kerala, the Communist party said that they are not believing in democracy but they are making use of it. Theoretically they have deviated from the stand they have adopted initially. 

Abhish K. Bose: The media institutions of the state are facing immense pressure in discharging their functions as the watch dog of the society and to be the perpetual critic of the government and the system. It seems they are imbued by intimidation in the wake of the police  registering cases against journalists often reminiscing days of emergency. The case against a TV Channel reporter while reporting an allegation while on  live is a testimony. As a journalist you worked at the time of the emergency. How far the current scenario is qualitatively different from that of the period of emergency?  Or is it an exaggeration to equate it with the emergency period?     

BRP Bhaskar : Emergency has become a kind of benchmark whenever we discusses the interference with the media.  We must make a difference. Because the emergency was a measure which is provided for in our constitution. The constitution specifies on what grounds the emergency can be declared.  So the 1975 was an unjustified emergency, because it was not intended to meet any of those purposes mentioned in the constitution. Now the situation is different. Emergency cannot be used for those purposes. But,  attempts to interfere with the media is what is going on.  Emergency and all happened at a particular situation. Now, various methods are used to suppress critical media and some highhanded actions were taken in Kerala against some online media.  It is totally illegal. 

Abhish K. Bose: You are referring to the actions taken against Marunadan Malayali ? 

BRP Bhaskar : Marunadan Malayali, various other things are happening like that.  If there are any objections against Marunadan Malayali they should be prosecuted.  But what did they do?  The police raided the residences of the employees of Marunadan Malayali from one end of India to the other harassing their family. What is the purpose?  So the intention was not to deal with the illegal actions of Marunadan Malayali but to intimidate the online publication. Is that how things happen in a democratic society. So these are very dangerous tendencies which are raising their ugly hood in Kerala.  

Abhish K. Bose: What are your views on the silence personified by the Kerala civil society over such breaches of the government and the administration. Are they too scared by the menacing posture of the state? 

BRP Bhaskar :  What we have to realise is that civil society in Kerala is very weak. Most of the organizations or movements which should be part of the civil society are actually under the control of some political party or some caste organisations or religious organizations. So they are not really part of the civil society, they have come under the control of some parties or non political organisations.  When we realise this we can understand that a real civil society is not easy to find in Kerala. Civil society organisations should work for certain principles, but that is not happening here.  We have parties or groups which are representing sectarian interests.  But we must also realise that in  the past twenty five or thirty years you will find several programs of the successive governments were opposed by the people and the governments were forced not to go ahead with it. So many projects have to be abandoned due to the opposition from the public.  On the other hand the public has the ability to mobilise and defeat several government schemes which they consider not for the good of the state, despite the weaknesses of the civil society.  But they don’t have the ability to pressurise the government to take up schemes which they think will benefit the society.  

Abhish K. Bose: Is it due to the reason that the intelligentsia of the state, a section of the writers, journalists, and other opinion makers got groomed by the leftist intellectual circles help, which hinders them to defy the government? 

BRP Bhaskar :   There was a time when left was having tremendous influence over the sections you were talking about the so called intellectuals or whatever it is. But I don’t think it is so today. That scenario has been overcome by the Congress by organizing it’s own groups, they also have their bodies and their own intellectuals. So we don’t have that kind of a situation now. But there is one problem in Kerala that the bulk of our society is under the influence of a political or a caste or a religious organization. That is one of our problems. A society remains divided on certain lines then there is no room for any discussion or anything.    

Abhish K. Bose: Though the state government and the LDF are strident critics of the high handedness of the BJP led government at the centre, vis a vis media and other opponents, the state government is executing the same when it comes to the expression of intolerance. What do you think are differences of intolerance of the LDF government compared to the BJP government at the centre?  

BRP Bhaskar : There is absolutely no point in comparing these two governments in this manner. The problem is between the party in power or the government in power in one place and the media which report news which the people in power did not like. The whole issue can be seen in terms of one single statement. When there is a conflict between power and truth this kind of situation develops. Because power tries to suppress truth. 

Abhish K. Bose: Regardless of ideology you mean?

BRP Bhaskar : When it is inconvenient to them power will act against truth. That is the situation.

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‘GMC ideal platform for fast-tracking media sector development’

Dr. Al Zeyoudi stated that the GMC serves as an innovative gathering for professionals in this key sector to exchange success stories and accumulated expertise…reports Asian Lite News

Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said that the second edition of the Global Media Congress (GMC), held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, is an ideal platform for fast-tracking the development of the media sector locally, regionally and internationally.

In a statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Dr. Al Zeyoudi stated that the GMC serves as an innovative gathering for professionals in this key sector to exchange success stories and accumulated expertise, through hosting a select group of media leaders, experts, and academics.

He affirmed that the event’s second edition will cover several important themes, including facilitating global communications and rebranding in the new media world, and will play a pivotal role in supporting business relations and forecasting future opportunities for media companies.

Hosting such important events enhances the UAE’s status as a preferred global hub for hosting major international events and conferences, especially as the GMC, scheduled for November, coincides with other significant international events, such as COP28, which will also take place in November, he added.

Additionally, the eighth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development “World Investment Forum 2023” is set to be held in October, along with the 13th World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC13), which will be held next year with the participation of representatives from 164 countries, Dr. Al Zeyoudi further said.

He then stressed that the media industry is among vital sectors that thrive on knowledge, innovation, and creative idea, noting that focusing on this sector aligns with the country’s plans to attract and retain the world’s best talents, innovators, and creative minds in various fields.

The media sector combines creativity with the latest technological innovations to deliver media content to a broader audience, enabling it to attract talented individuals in both areas, as well as those seeking promising investment opportunities, especially as the UAE provides a conducive business environment for growth in all areas, including the media, he added.

Al Zeyoudi then stressed the media’s importance in achieving sustainable development goals and driving the efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by raising public awareness about these fundamental issues.

He also highlighted the significance of the topics to be discussed at the GMC’s second edition, which will focus on the role of the media in supporting sustainability and defining the concept of environmental media, as well as employing social media tools to promote environmental awareness.

He then expressed his anticipation for the upcoming edition of the GMC, which will build on the success of this important event, which acts as a culmination of WAM’s efforts to build relationships with media outlets from around the world through the signing of cooperation agreements, further enhancing the UAE’s leading position as a global hub for shaping the future in all areas.

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Arab News Community UAE News

OIC urges media to confront Islamophobia

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called for cinematic, television and radio productions to confront Islamophobia and insults against religious symbols, reports Asian Lite News

The General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) called on public and private media in Member States to direct their cinematic, television, radio, journalistic and social media to present products to combat Islamophobia and insults against religious symbols, and to clarify and strengthen the tolerant principles of Islam calling for coexistence, tolerance and respect for the other and renouncing violence, intolerance and hatred.

The call came in the statement delivered by the Director of the OIC Information Department, Mr. Wajdi Ali Sindi, at the emergency meeting of OIC States Broadcasting Union (OSBU) to discuss a mechanism for confronting desecration of religious sanctities in the media following the incident of burning a copy of the Holy Qur’an in the Swedish capital.

Mr. Sindi indicated that the Final Communique of the OIC Emergency open-ended meeting of the Executive Committee, regarding the incident, held on July 2, 2023 at the headquarters of the General Secretariat, included 26 items that constituted a road map and an integrated plan to address the recurrence of such incidents and insulting sacred religious symbols.

It called for collective efforts at the level of national parliaments, the media and civil society organizations, to pronounce the OIC position and urge the relevant authorities to take the necessary legislative measures to criminalize such attacks.

Mr. Sindi pointed out that, through its Department of Information and the Islamophobia Observatory, and its media arms represented by the Standing Committee for Information and Cultural Affairs (COMIAC), the OIC States Broadcasting Union (OSBU), and the Union of News Agencies (UNA), the OIC is making great efforts with its partners, to enhance understanding of the responsible use of freedom of expression in the media , and to establish national mechanisms to hold accountable the media that continue to feed hate speech and intolerance, and implementing the OIC media strategy to combat Islamophobia.

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Media Literacy is the Remedy for Fake News: Prof. Dwivedi

Khushboo Agrahari speaks to Prof. Sanjay Dwivedi on different issues concerning the Indian media and particularly his vision for the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC)

Prof. Sanjay Dwivedi,Director General of Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), India’s premier media training institute under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, is the man who has been working tirelessly to take IIMC to new heights in academic and professional excellence. He has introduced a new course of Digital Media in three campuses and also extended Hindi Journalism course to two more campuses of IIMC. His vision for IIMC is to produce ‘newsroom leaders’ for the global media. He underlines the need to make media literacy a mass movement to arrest the spread of fake news. Khushboo Agrahari spoke to him on different issues concerning the Indian media and particularly his vision for the IIMC. Excerpts:

Journalism is active, buzzing, functioning as a healthy arm of the nation’s democratic process. In reality when seen from the inside, newsrooms are brazenly sensationalized to compensate for the deliberate blackout of exclusive stories. What is your assessment of journalism in India – print, TV and digital media – as it is today?

Journalism has undisputedly played a significant role in empowering the citizens and strengthening democracy not only in India but also globally. As far as exclusive news is concerned, even the mainstream media giants are deprived of it due to the penetration of internet and digital devices. However, I don’t think the media today has no opportunity for exclusive stories. There are countless stories in remote areas. But the reporters have to come out of their comfort zones to detect and report them. Today, the problem with a large number of journalists, whether in print, TV or digital media, is that they expect everything from Google at the convenience of their desks. They don’t want to go to the ground. The moment they come out of their comfort zones they will have numerous exclusive stories. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discuses a lot of out of box initiatives by ordinary people and institutions in his monthly radio programme, ‘Mann Ki Baat’, but why is that talent missed by the mainstream media. Sensationalism is heavily denting the credibility of media, particularly TV news. Digital media is very powerful and is growing rapidly, but fake news is costing it immensely. In this situation, people have a lot of expectations from print. I think negativity is also heavily denting the credibility of media across the globe. Various studies at the world level have revealed that readers in high numbers have started distancing from the mainstream media citing that their news stories generate the feel of depression, anxiety and disappointment in them. They feel that there is scope for a lot of positive stories as well and the media should bring them to forefront as well. I completely agree to this. The media should contemplate over it.

Journalism is one of the most noble and pure professions that exists but it is being trafficked for power and money. Do you agree it has lost its innocence, identity and purpose? Why did things dip to such an abysmal low?

Journalism is still a noble and pure profession and I don’t think it has lost its innocence, identity and purpose. It is still a strong pillar of democracy, has maintained its sanctity and keeps people informed. It cannot be discarded due to the misdeeds for some vested interests. All professions witness change of dynamics with the time. Hence, media landscape too is undergoing changes at a global level. The content and language used in the Indian newspapers during 1780’s or 1820’s, witnessed significant changes during 1900’s and 2000’s. It happened perhaps due to the thinking of the new generation and change of technology with every new phase. We cannot compare the present-day media with the media of pre-LPG era. Further, television and digital media have emerged as more powerful tools of information sharing, comparatively. As they are evolving, some issues are also coming up simultaneously and I think both the television and digital media would overcome this phase and would alter its conduct more responsibly in the times to come. As I have mentioned, the media is a very powerful tool and everybody wants to use it and consume it. The politicians are using it for the political gains, while content creators are focused towards higher consumption of their content. What we need today is media literacy and we have to start sensitising our citizens right from the schools. Children should be taught about its nuances since the very beginning. Media literacy should become a mass movement in the country. The day we achieve this goal, nobody will be able to misinform and misguide people in the name of media.

How would you describe freedom of press?  Once that is accomplished, ‘watchdog’ journalism has now become ‘lapdog’ journalism.

Press freedom, in my opinion, is the liberty that the media enjoys in expression through different tools of communication on the matters concerning the public. I think media is still a watchdog of democracy and is contributing significantly in canvassing India’s growth story. We should understand a fact clearly that there are multiple agencies, including some foreign powers, which are trying to push their agenda through a section of the Indian media. Their agenda is aimed at destabilizing India because they fear that they would lose their monopoly if India emerges as a global power. We normally consider foreign media as unbiased and progressive, but I find a significant section of foreign media is busy in knitting a fabricated narrative portraying India in a bad light and they are doing it as per the agenda provided by their financers. While doing so the foreign media should understand that the Indians do not trust it today as much as they used to trust some decades ago.

Do you think investigative journalism is dead or dying out?

No, certainly not. I have already mentioned that the journalists have to come out of their comfort zones and widen their horizons. They have to look beyond internet. I have seen the era in media when the editors did not allow their reporters to sit in the office. They always wanted their reporters to be in the field, meet people because they knew that stories would come from the field only. The editors or the people in leading positions in the newsrooms should consider it. The newsrooms should have a dedicated team of investigative journalists and they should not be engaged in day-today reporting. Investigative journalism does not mean only investigating economic offences or criminal cases. There are a lot of opportunities like investigating the implementation of government schemes and projects, investigating the side effects of digital technology in collaboration with the researchers, investigating how foreign powers are destabilizing India’s growth story, assessing the impact of different government projects. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, former President of India, repeatedly expected the Indian media to be an active partner in national missions. The Indian media needs to pay more attention to it, as it will help them regain its credibility too.

Democracy with the left and radical Islamists and other separatist groups joining hands to bring democracies to their knees. Do you agree this is happening with the help of media politician’s nexus who only want power and stand not for a democratic system but for a dynasty or even fascists disguised as liberals to get them into power?

These are ideological and political issues. I don’t want to comment on them. The Government agencies are already dealing with them as per law of the land. Media-politician nexus is a cause of worry and it dents the credibility of the media fraternity, the media bodies have to deal it. Extremism only complicates the solution process. Ultimately, peaceful dialogue solves the issues in a democracy.

Gone are the days when authentic news used to be delivered on our screens. Authenticity does not even find a column in the newspapers nowadays. It may sound disturbing but the reality sometimes is truly what we don’t see through. Journalism is not journalism until the journalists don’t attain the freedom to pen down their thoughts. What are your views.

Surely, authenticity or truthfulness is the core element of journalism and news reports have to be distinguished from infotainment and advertisements. But I think there is still authenticity in media reporting. As I have mentioned there is a section in the media which is always agenda-driven and it is because of that section, the media is sometimes seen as biased. Another fact that should not be ignored is that after corporatization the media is like any other business where high profit is the ultimate goal wherein news is treated as a commodity and no longer a service. We teach media ethics in classrooms, but the moment a student enters the newsroom, he/she has to work as per the editorial policies of the media house and which are decided by the circulation and advertisement departments and the main goal of these departments is only profit. It is a global phenomenon.

What we see now is qualitatively different then the days of truthful, courageous, moralistic and a propaganda free media. There is much more behind the scenes and news management corporations which has not only fallen in the lines but also set boundaries for themselves. Do you think media has been taken over completely by corporates entities? If yes how correct is that?

Yes, it is true that media has globally been taken over by corporate entities. The largest media houses in India also are basically the extended wings of corporate giants. After Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization (LPG) process in India, the doors of Indian media were opened for foreign direct investment (FDI). We all know that FDI comes through a set process and every media house opting for FDI has to function in more transparent and professional manner. There is no harm in it. As I have said, the editorial policy of a large number of media houses across the globe is today decided by MBA professionals whose ultimate goal is to ensure maximum profit. From a second to a millimeter, everything holds monetary values in today’s media landscape. The prime job of media is to inform, educate and entertain. These objectives can be fulfilled in a corporate entity also. For it, we need to revive and strengthen the editor’s role in the newsroom in real sense if we want authentic information for the readers.

In a country like India, Indian media, a powerful entity, has been defined as the “Fourth Pillar of Democracy”. Being one of the pillars of India’s democratic nation, it has a huge responsibility to make the nation because it affects the political leanings of people and therefore enables them to make the right decision when choosing a government. How do you think Media has helped shaped the nation in choosing the right politicians and the government?

No doubt, the media has strengthened democracy and has been helping people to play an active role in democratic process. Since the first general elections held in India in 1952, the media has been shaping their opinion about politicians, government policies, actions and the democratic process. Democracy cannot function without vigilant media, as it not only informs but also educates and empowers people. People know about different government initiatives through media only. However, different alternate media tools are available now and the mainstream media has its own significance. Agenda setting in newsroom is hugely impacting the people’s choice of politicians and government.

Media plays a crucial role in the democratic life of the country’s citizens as it keeps people informed about the socio-economic and political state of affairs. Fake news is on the verge of increase day by day. What measures required to end it?

Yes, fake news is the new virus, which is tarnishing media’s image across the world. It is a challenge not only for the government agencies but also for the common citizens. The best remedy, which I think can be adopted, is to make media literacy a mass movement. From schools to colleges and universities it should be part of curriculum and special campaigns should be undertaken to educate people about how to detect fake news and how to curb it. Not only government agencies and public but also the media and academic institutions should join hands for it. Every citizen should be the target audience in this campaign, whether or not he/she uses a smart phone.

How would you differentiate modern journalism from the pre-independence era press of the colonial administration then enacted several acts to regulate the country’s press?

During the colonial era it was very difficult for Indian media to function. Different regulations were introduced to strangulate the Indian media but even then, visionary and missionary journalists of that era defied against all odds and instead of surrendering, preferred to languish in jails for no offence. Can you imagine six editors of a newspaper published from Allahabad were sentenced about 95 years of jail in Andamans. The British government did everything to crush the Indian media, particularly the language media, in those days. Compare to that the media in post-Independence era is working freely. Many ill practices including paid news, fake news, hate news, agenda setting, cross media ownership and propaganda, are seen denting the image of media. Even then the government agencies avoid interfering in the media functioning. The government agencies still expect the media to follow self-regulation. This is the major difference that I understand.

What will media freedom look like in the future. What is the legal status of the media and media freedom in India?

There is no special provision in the Constitution of India to ensure special freedom to media. The media enjoys the same freedom that has been guaranteed to an ordinary citizen under Article 19(1)a. However, this freedom was compromised in 1975. People fought against and it and finally the freedom was restored in 1977. I don’t see any such threat to media freedom in India in coming days.

Journalism is not journalism unless the journalist has the right to think. Would you agree that India lags far behind in providing its journalists with an independent pen and a place to work fearlessly?

There is complete freedom to every journalist in India to pen or think. People are working fearlessly. India is far better in media freedom compared to many other countries of the world. Once you cross the limit, law of the land acts everywhere in the world.

Sir you have been experienced journalist with decades years of experience with time you switched to academic side of it now as the Director General of the prestige Media Institute, IIMC. Which role did you enjoyed the most?

I enjoy both the roles. Even after joining academics, I write every day. My articles appear in dozens of newspapers across the country. I believe media education is all about strengthening the roots with theoretical knowledge and widening the branches with practical exposure. Teaching and writing simultaneously helps me with both.

What’s your future planning after retirement? Do you wish to join Politics?

You will have to wait a lot for my retirement from academics. I have no plan to join politics. I want to shape generations of responsible and trained journalists who shape the media landscape across the globe in coming years.

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The media that sees only what it already believes

They are those who even before visiting India have already made up their minds about ‘Fascist India’, writes Prof. Madhav Das Nalapat

Many international correspondents, both from within the Atlantic Alliance as well as the Sino-Russian alliance, churn out stories filled with horror and despair after sojourns in India. Interestingly, less than a dozen India-based individuals serve almost all such visiting correspondents as their sherpas.

These are hired over and over again in deference to their ability to locate citizens across India who can be expected to mouth the view of India that has been implanted in the mind of each such correspondent. Of course, under the shepherding of the usual sherpas, less than complimentary stories ensue, pleasing editors in CNN, BBC, DW, the New York Times, the (UK) Guardian and the People’s Daily that are among the foreign media outlets working hard at giving an impression to their readers that India is a lost cause.

Someday, a factual expose needs to get written about the way in which the same set of individuals get interviewed again and again. Whether for the publicity or for payment, although seldom out of conviction, such reliable (in the bias sought by the correspondent) sources repeat the same condemnatory or dismissive phrases about the situation in India to foreign television channel after television channel, or to newspaper after newspaper, and therefore get called upon to be interviewed multiple times by editors and correspondents.

They are those who even before visiting India have already made up their minds about “Fascist India”. In their narrative, the country is either already a fascist state, or is irretrievably on the route to becoming one. The same “victims of fascism” recite from the same playbook that the sherpas who book them have relied on over the years. This portrays India after 2014 as a flailing, failing state.

There are in India some who have lost out as a consequence of measures introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi such as sending government assistance directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. Direct transmission has eliminated the cachet secured by politicians and officials through distributing such largesse to the people they are presumed to serve. Not to mention the commission charged on every such transaction.

There is no doubt that there are still cases of harassment by that segment of the official machinery that is dishonest, and which uses the laws and regulations introduced during the UPA period to extort money in exchange for giving a clean chit to an activity that is regarded as criminal only in India with its legacy of colonial-era practices, and not in any other democracy.

Out of 67,000 mostly unnecessary regulations and laws that were embedded in the administrative system when he took charge, over 29,000 have been sent to the dustbin by Narendra Modi, and if such a pace is kept up, by 2024, entrepreneurs and professionals would no longer be at the mercy of unscrupulous elements in the bureaucracy who utilise the draconian laws enacted by past governments to try and ensure that their kingpins make enough illicit money to comfortably settle sons and daughters in Singapore, if not the UK.

However, the other side of the story is that much progress has been made to ensure that the banking system in India gets cleaned up, and that more and more of the venture capital needed for startups launched within India by brilliant but impecunious minds are from citizens of the country, rather than from abroad, as was the case until recently. Under the rule of those who had almost from birth been fluent in the language, the teaching of the English language was all but abandoned in government schools, but no longer.

UP, Uttarakhand and Delhi are among the states where the teaching of English has been made a priority by their state governments. Such a policy is yet to be visible in Bihar, although this is a state where educational institutions grant marks to examinees in a manner far more generous than witnessed in other states, something that other states are noticing and thinking of emulating.

After a while, the beneficial changes that are taking place in India will become too numerous to ignore. At that stage, perhaps the sherpas who have for so long lived off the embedded biases of all too many foreign journalists about the situation in India may lose their livelihoods, for the horror stories churned out in the media as a consequence of their exertions would no longer be believed by their audiences. There is a reason why Narendra Modi remains far and away the most popular politician in India, and that is because of changing realities on the ground that are experienced by hundreds of millions of citizens.

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