I spent my life exposing someone else's actual image, hidden mis-intentions, and pointing lacunae in their governance. Be it the economy or the social welfare; be it their way of diplomacy or their tackling of national calamities; be it the prosecution of religious minorities in the country or the sorry state of the downtrodden - I left no stone unturned in taking them by the collar. A couple of months ago, due to some high-level drama and the latent involvement of the 'central government' (ahem ahem) in the day-to-day functioning of media conglomerates, I parted ways from my workplace, to which I gave my heart n soul in the last 30 years. The specific reason is the transfer of the chair of NDTV into the hands of one of the wealthiest groups in the world - The Adani.
I couldn't make an easy transition to some other media house because of my stern, honest, rational, and outspoken nature that doesn't allow me to compromise with my values and ideology. It could be my attitude of non-acceptance and active questioning of the ambiguous and tainted moves of the present central government that the other media houses saw me as an alien who doesn't follow the mob mentality. I have been critically used to sailing upstream against the central government (since 2014), and my huge fan base hasn't let my cruise sink, irrespective of how choppy waters I have entered into.
 |
| Courtsey: Telegraph India |
Going with the flow, I decided to mark a significant dent in the social media platforms that have way more potential than conventional television to make my voice and opinion reach millions in a quicker, clearer, and more convenient manner. It's nearly been a couple of months since I dedicatedly embarked the YouTube's journey full of glitz-n-glam (at least for the fortunate ones). And miraculously, the huge fan-following has helped me get a whopping 4 million subscribers in under two months. Through my Prime Time show on television, my voice used to reach thousands and lacs of people, but I am elated that this mode is doing the same, in fact, in an even better manner.
I have more professional and personal liberty now, and there's no one above me to keep a
(suppressive) check on my critical opinion. With God's grace, gradually, all's
going hunky dory now. But one wish is yet to be fulfilled for the last 9 years and doesn't seem to be happening even in the long future. Despite
all the stupendous efforts I put in objecting to the government's authoritarian motives, ulterior vested interests, and having a substantial benevolent fan base that has been, is, and will forever be my most precious asset,
the change in central power doesn't seem imminent. I may have millions of
people unconditionally supporting me and agreeing with my say, but it hardly
gets pronounced in the votes. The BJP won 303 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and aiming for an unbelievable 404 in 2024; I wonder if my critical and fearless journalism will ever be able
to contribute to bringing down that share?
PS: above post doesn't intend to malign his (or anyone's) image by any means. In fact, I have been a big fan of his journalism (at least to some extent) since the day I developed enough conscience.