Dainik Jagran : True Awakening
Editorial
The cause of the coronavirus outbreak around the world, including in India, has not yet been officially revealed. Yet it is known that China is behind it. India was in a good position during the first wave of coronavirus last year when the situation in Europe and the US was very precarious. For the first few weeks, the number of patients was under control in India; however, when the Tablighi Jamat’s preachers’ camp at Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi was held and the preachers spread all over the country, the number of coronavirus-affected people suddenly increased. Some Tablighis also died due to coronavirus. As a result, the Police had to take action against all the preachers in Markaz and quarantine them. This led to a big hue and cry. Everyone started saying that the coronavirus infection in the country increased due to Tablighis. Everyone calmed down when some people felt defamed by such statements and went to a Court, which ruled that it was ‘inappropriate to say so’. This made the progressives and secularists happy.
However, progressives whose attitude is of blaming others while glorifying themselves, started making noise upon finding some patients of coronavirus at the Haridwar Kumbha Mela during the second wave of coronavirus this year. Kumbha Mela was targeted of spreading coronavirus infections across the country. Many instances of coronavirus infection due to Tablighi Jamat were noticed last year. However, no one has shown a single instance of coronavirus infection in the country due to the Kumbha Mela. Although coronavirus patients were found in the Kumbha Mela, no one has been able to prove that coronavirus spread through them. In Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Goa, Karnataka – from where devotees had not gone in large numbers for the Kumbha Mela, the coronavirus infection increased but everyone is silent about this aspect. The situation is under control even in Uttarakhand, where Kumbha Mela was held. However, those who do not leave any opportunity to defame Hindu festivals are also silent on this. Many Hindus-by-birth also started a hue and cry in the name of Kumbha Mela. It should be noted, however, that they are not talking about the growth in these States.
Even the national media did not make an objective analysis, but it was done by a Hindi newspaper ‘Dainik Jagran’. This is admirable. ‘Dainik Jagran’ said – ‘Kumbha Mela has not increased coronavirus infections in the country’. Through true investigative journalism, it has exposed those who are pointing fingers at the Kumbha Mela. ‘Dainik Jagran’ has done real work of awakening people (‘Jagran’ in Hindi means ‘awakening’ in English). It has set an example on standards of journalism. Journalism should inform readers about the reality; a journalist should be awake himself and awaken people & society by keeping them informed of the truth. Only a handful of Dailies or journalists have done this after Independence. In many cases, capitalist newspapers use such investigative journalism to target political parties for gains. They have their selfish interests at heart. Sometimes false information is provided under the guise of investigative journalism. The current news channels, some information is provided on the basis of actual scenes; however, the incidence of analysing and working in a scrupulous manner are very rare.
Falsehoods of the State administration
‘Dainik Jagran’ has given statistics showing that coronavirus did not spread from the Kumbha Mela. No one has denied this as yet. No State has given statistics that devotees, Sages who came for the Kumbha Mela and returned to their homes, Ashrams, monasteries, etc., infected other people there. Will these States now accept the challenge of proving that the news of ‘Dainik Jagran’ is false ? Will the people who criticised the Kumbha Mela on social media and demanded that it be immediately stopped, reject the figures ? It doesn’t take long for a rumour to spread in India. No one bothers to verify the facts. There is an unwritten rule that journalists should not spread rumours, and this is their duty; however, many people spread news of coronavirus from the Kumbha Mela through some or the other medium. They did not bother to verify it. The verification by ‘Dainik Jagran’ has also exposed the falsehoods of the Uttarakhand administration. According to the administration, 65-70 lakh devotees attended the Kumbha Mela; but in reality, ‘Dainik Jagran’ has proved that not more than 11 lakh devotees reached the Kumbha Mela. The administration has to clarify this, else, it would be presumed that the administration provides false information. Basically, if the BJP Government rules Uttarakhand, and the administration is making a mistake in such a way and defaming Hindu festivals, then this should be considered an unforgivable mistake. The State Government should take this seriously.
Responsibility of journalists
Some reformist Hindus had asked, ‘Was it necessary to organise the Kumbha Mela when the second wave of coronavirus had set in ?’, ‘Could it not have been representative in nature ?’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also appealed that the Kumbha Mela should be made representative as the coronavirus infection has increased in the Kumbha Mela. This was not true, only imaginary fear was created; this was made clear by ‘Dainik Jagran’. This kind of journalism needs to be practised now. What is true must be searched and presented to society. Only then can it become true journalism. Journalists are likened to ‘Sanjay’ (of Mahabharat, who impartially reported the Mahabharat battle to Dhritarashtra).
Journalists and Dailies should do their duty. There are thousands of Dailies in our country today, but only one – ‘Dainik Jagran’ – tried to find out the truth; this does not augur well for Indian journalism !