ON  TOI  AMU  CONTROVERSY

"Sahab pitayee se dar nahin lagta, lekin akhbar ki khabar se mere hosh ud jate hain."

 

This is what a newspaper hawker  the elederly Jain sahab selling newspapers for over half a century, told me this morning when I wanted his opinion on the banning of Times of India in AMU campus. Jain said "even today the high and mighty, the don and the minister, fear most the written word published in a newspaper of repute." This is indeed a tribute to the free and vibrant Indian media.

 

Now we hear from the official spokesperson of the AMU that the TOI has been banned on the campus, as desired by the students union.

 

This step only reflects the fear and over reaction of the authorities. Vice Chancellor Shah is an honourable man, clear-headed and no nonsense man with a fauzi background. He should have stood his gun and ignored the issue.

 

Banning a newspaper is interfering with the freedom of the media and a risky signal to the journalist who reported what he said. More than the VC the free speech and free press votaries would love to raise a toast in honour of the young reporter who has shown what the power of the pen can achieve. After the furore and the hype, even the Allahabad High Court has sent out unpalatable signals to the AMU  mandarins.

 

How long will the ban last and whether the young reporter would be allowed to freely work in the campus remains to be seen. But it would be have been more sensible and pragmatic if the authorities had taken the criticism in the right spirits and mended their own fences before launching the offensive. If the students of the Women's College as a matter of right, are some day allowed equal rights to enter the Maulana Azad Library, the panga TOI and its reporter has taken would be well worth it.