PM Vajpayee and Journalism - A personal Musing

I don't blog about my official dealings.This is different.

 I was PIB officer to PM Vajapyee from 1998 to the end of his tenure in 2004. He was, in a sense, my first boss. As happens with naturally charismatic people there is a deep bond one feels towards such leaders. I started on a series on various topics which was aimed at culling out his views on important topics. The plan was to release them when he was to come back to office in 2004. But that was not to be....Only this piece was written.

I want to place this piece in public domain  as a personal tribute as TV Channels are expecting the worst any time. This was written in 2004 and uses present tense. I want to keep on using the  present tense.

The rawness of my language and bit of unfinished feel is evident. I don't want to tamper with it at all as this is what it was .. Opportunity to be in the vicinity of an icon at a very formative age and I want to retain that. I know he is going but ......

Here goes.

            Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee is on record about his confession that premiership was not his first choice of career.  He always wanted to be a journalist first and he realised this ambition on becoming founding editor of ‘Panchjanya’, which went on to become the nation’s leading ideological organ of a party. 

Atalji is a veritable wordsmith – a man of words, he plays with them to great effect.  As a poet and, more so, as an orator he has proved time and again his felicity with words.  Among his closer circle, his editorial capacities are well known.   He has an uncanny knack to spot a mistake, tightening of prose and shedding undue verbosity from any written piece.  It is only natural that his views on journalism as a profession acquire great importance.  He knows the ways of the journalistic craft and profession and as one of the most seasoned political figure of international repute, he knows the other side also.  No wonder his views on the ‘fourth estate’ have a statesmanesque ring to them. 

The PM has been steadfast in his refusal to treat media as just another business.  He is fully aware of the need for financial viability of any medium of mass communication.  He is clear that the media’s task of enriching social consciousness makes it a superior calling.  Media deserves to be given a special status as keeper and shaper of pubic opinion.  At the same time, this places a special responsibility on it.  Media just can’t be dictated by crass commercial concerns.  His views are laced with a certain degree of idealism, which is natural for a person who has refused to compromise his values for short-term gains.  His accommodation and liberal spirit is suitable for governing a diverse country like India, but this follower of middle path is a fanatic of sorts, when it comes to maintaining basic principles of integrity and unimpeachable personal conduct.  Similarly, he is all for economic well being of media organisations, but he is also clear that public responsibility not profit-motive should underwrite the endeavours of journalism.

He is deeply respectful of the breed of journalism, which contributed to the freedom movement and later to the cause of social development.  For such newspapers “Journalism was not a commercial proposition, but a mission that demanded unimpeachable integrity and fierce intellectual independence.”  As a statesman, the premier has been a strong votary of media’s role in development.  He has time and again exhorted to use media as a ‘force multiplier’ in developmental process.  From his speeches it emerges very clearly that free flow of information can play a pivotal role.   Media can be a powerful force for information, rather than propaganda, for education rather than prejudice, for awareness rather that misinformation.  At the recently held conference of SAARC Information Ministers in New Delhi, Shri Vajpayee pointed out that free-flow of information can improve regional cooperation more than any thing else.  In his characteristic style of blending eternal principles and modern perspective, he has always championed the cause of adoption of latest technology for media.  

For a man tutored in the old school of journalism, PM has shown a remarkable readiness for technological advances in the field of journalism.  He is against suppressing technology, but at the same time he is also against creating a divide by denying technologies.  He recognises with satisfaction the explosion of media platforms and formats as result of new technologies.  

“Journalism is a sacred calling.  Newspapers are not brought out like goods come out of factory, nor should it be so….. No newspaper or magazine can be sold like soap.  Soap stops at body only but issues raised by media reach deeper inside.  They touch human heart.  One who picks up pen and dons the mantle of editor, does not do so just to collect advertisements and profit.  Journalism is a great responsibility.”  

When he talks of high idealism in media, it sounds very plausible – as his idealism is tempered by great degree of pragmatism.  However, as happens with great statesman, pragmatism never outshines idealism.  He advocates firmness but does not allow it to turn into harshness.  He favours ideology in papers but abhors fanaticism.  He likes newspapers with flavour of their own but disagrees with exclusivity.  He does not equate malice with professionalism.

“If you can bring to fore some thing elusive or esoteric, well congratulations, but creating mountain out of mollhill by mixing malice with criticism can never strengthen good journalism.”

As a leader of both opposition and government the Prime Minister has grappled with the question of criticism in great details.  A deep-rooted democrat, he considers criticism as the lifeblood of democracy.  He never flinched from his duty, even if he was taking on someone he deeply admired.  He did not hesitate while confronting Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. His criticism of Pandit Nehru earned the great man’s admiration. With such a distinguished initiation in Parliamentary democracy, Vajpayee’s values were bound to be in tune with the greatest democratic traditions.  He often reacts sharply to personalised criticism.  He never crosses the limits of decorum and half a century of politics has not changed that.  Perhaps this is the reason that he belongs to the rare species of a poet-politician.  Opposition is an integral part of democracy, but opposition should remain within the limits of decency.  As a master of words he knows that lack of harshness and indecency does not reduce the sting in the criticism.

“Today there is crisis of decorum, what limit is to be reached.  Democracy has been defined as an arrangement where publicity could be done without hatred, where government could be changed without violence, but today bitterness is being promoted.”

Lack of malicious reporting and dedication to values, ethics, nationalism and integrity can keep any criticism howsoever strong, from falling into destructive propaganda.

He believes that growing tendency of sensational reporting weakens media’s capacity to set the agenda for natural discourse.  Ability for a deeper analysis is being given the short shrift.  He realises that media should be driven by higher values and ideals that just cheap thrills and titillating sensationalism.  As a staunch democrat, he never even hints at state censorship.  A belief in the maturity of our democracy he urges media to exercise self-restraint and decide what is best for people.  Like Nachiketa of Kathopanished, the poet PM said:

“It is the duty of journalist to raise voice in favour of truth and justice and expose lie and injustice.  But this duty should be performed in such a manner that decency, moderation and good taste is maintained.”  He doubts “that a valueless media can take the society in the right direction”.

Like any visionary, PM Vajpayee is a believer in principled existence.   Despite all his accommodative spirit he treats values of nationalism, service and integrity as anchoring traits. He praises newspapers for their strong stands.  He is deeply respectful of newspapers, which refused to be co-opted by imperial enterprise.  (Assam Tribune)  Newspaper should have a flavour of its own.   He is clear that media should spread “a grand all inclusive and idealistic nationalism.”

Though he trashes labels like national press or regional press as misleading (4.12.99), his few media related activities like meeting with representatives of regional media (22.12.98).  He is clear that as an instrument of change and information dissemination, regional papers both big and small, make equally significant contribution and any so-called national newspaper.  Intellectual independence was a virtue commonly found in regional media.   If he attended functions related with mainstream players like HT, PTI and India Today, he was equally happy to preside over anniversaries of regional papers such as Andhra Patrika, Mathrubhumi and Assam Tribune.  He says: “Those of us who live in Delhi are rarely aware of newspapers published from other States, they are referred as regional papers.  But just like India’s national identity is a sum total of her regional identities, India’s national media would be incomplete without what is described as the regional press.”

Interplay of various elements of Vajpayee mystique is a larger part of his enormous appeal.   A poet and a politician, a moderate, but a fanatic when it comes to some basic values, soft words, but concentrated actions and energy behind the moves.   A centre of power, but the greatest democrat who gives full freedom to his lieutenants.  Each and every aspect acquires a new shade when seen in the context of the entire personality and the enormity of impact of interplay of these elements on national life.  It is fascinating to see the journalist in him operating within the broad contours of his leadership persona.  He emerges as a statesman, deeply aware of implications of media trends, who treasures the role of media in a democracy.   He exhorts players in the field to contribute positively.  As a pragmatic politician he knows that newspapers need to be financially viable but he insists that this should not be the sole criterion.   Idealism is not unviable.  His belief in the success of ideal position is strengthened by his own success where there was no compromise on values.  Despite a lifetime in opposition, he never let sensationalism, bitterness or narrow self interest overpower and overtake him.  His sole touchstone was prestige and development of the nation.   He always found these to be feasible and right course of action.

He is patient and articulate with media persons, lensmen love his understanding of their demands.  Often it is a smiling PM, who gives some more time to photographers much to the dislike of security personnel.  He has played generous host to a wide array of media persons.  Editors, foreign journalists, women media persons, photojournalists and even cartoonists have enjoyed lavish hospitality at what Shri Vajpayee often describes as a ‘temporary residence’.  This has increased the accessibility of the leader to the Fourth Estate.  However, PM continues to still remain an enigma and people are left interpreting those pregnant pauses during his speeches, that meaningful smile or gestures like the swish of the hand. Photographers admire his stillness which, at the same time is an opportunity and a challenge to peel off the layers of his rich persona. He may not have done too many press conferences in the capital but his views are always available on most of the issues. Innovations like the annual musings have resulted in increased communication.

There are times when he finds himself flummoxed by the values of new age media.  He bemoans the negativity in media discourses.   Selective highlighting of his statements have resulted in some disclaimer or clarifications by the PM.  He presumes that media will do its duty of taking a holistic perspective.  Problem arises when mediapersons completely black out his entire speech and quote one or two sentences and blow them out of proportion.  He takes all this in stride, criticises the tendency and moves on. In almost child-like manner the hurt is healed and no bitterness is left. Over the years he has come to terms with new realities and occasions for clarification have reduced drastically. He knows when to keep quiet. On the occasion of release of Savarkar Samagra, the atmosphere became charged by the heated speeches. When the Prime Minister rose to speak, mediaperson sensed blood and were expecting some indiscretion from the Prime Minister, given the surcharged atmosphere it was not very unlikely. Shri Vajpayee just smiled and simply recited one of his poems based on Veer Sawarkar. Atmosphere was calmed and a sober normalcy returned to Panchvati  (auditorium of the PM House)

Similarly he uses his famed wit to come out of awkward corners during  press conferences.  Instead of giving  half baked answers for still emerging situation he takes a witty way out without ruffling too many journalistic feathers.  He will avoid making any personal comment or raging an unnecessary controversy. He uses wit to enhance his articulation not to undermine anyone.  His wit makes the listener smile without hurting anyone.  

His interviews and press conferences are relatively rare.  This is perhaps because of pressures of a coalition government.  He has to keep a degree ambiguity which will give him space to manoeuvre  in coalition arena.  As a synthesiser of conflicting views he can’t pin himself  to a position.  Still a soft assertion was always there perhaps that is why outlook magazine says that Atal Bihari Vajpayee has moulded party and government in his image.  He takes stand but avoids any attending harshness decorum is never takes leave of.  He expects the same from media.  A good idea can dominate without making much song and dance about it.  Quite persuasiveness of a great vision makes itself felt without much hoopla. 

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