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October 2017 Edition of Power Politics is updated.  Happy Diwali to all our subscribers and Distributors       October 2017 Edition of Power Politics is updated.   Happy Diwali to all our subscribers and Distributors       
Issue:Sep' 2017

DISTURBING SIGNALS

Silencing of dissenting voices

Gauri Lankesh

Syed Nooruzzaman

The gunning down of B a n g a l u r u - b a s e d journalist Gauri Lankesh, who edited Kannada weekly Gauri Lankesh Patrike, on September 5 led to the expression of mainly two kinds of views. Those opposed to the suppression of dissent looked at it the way they viewed the killing of rationalists like former Hampi University Vice-Chancellor MM Kalburgi in 2015, Narendra Dabholkar in 2013, Govind Pansare in 2015 and Sirsa-based newsman Ram Chandra Chhatrapati in 2002. Those on the side of the rationalists stand for protecting liberal values and allowing anyone the right to differ as reflected in India's age-old socio-cultural ethos.
Contrary to this, those who believe that inconvenient voices or dissenters must be silenced whatever the means refused to shed tears on the cold-blooded murder of Gauri. People holding such views do not hesitate to describe their opponents as antinational elements who, in their opinion, deserve no mercy and, therefore, must be consigned to the dustbin of history. Such people have not been as vocal as those who stand for tolerating dissenting voices under all circumstances. But they have made their presence felt through social media.
However, the point that is intended to be discussed here is a little different, having little to do with these two sets of viewpoints. The killing of crusaders engaged in a humanitarian cause can

The identification of Gauri's killers is essential to expose these elements as also to prove that such people are the real enemies of the nation. The activities of the elements behind the journalist's murder must be curbed to prevent them from promoting a culture no different from that of the Kalashnikov culture that prospered in Pakistan as a result of its own shortsighted policies and damaged its reputation considerably in the global community.

never be condoned as some people, unfortunately, tried to do through social media after Gauri was done to death in front of her own house. Even otherwise, taking the law into one's own hands, directly or through hired goons, must be condemned by one and all. Those who believe in such methods should remember that physically eliminating an individual can never hurt the cause dear to that person.
The ideals Gauri stood for as a journalist and social activist are unlikely to be forgotten even if she is no more in our midst. More Gauris may be born to espouse her ideals, remembering her as a symbol of resistance against the forces which try to mislead people that anyone who refuses to accept their idea of nationalism is a traitor and must be dealt with accordingly.
A liberal to the core, she fiercely fought for the emancipation of Dalits and protecting the rights of farmers, spoke openly against the rising clout of the Hindutva forces and for bringing Naxalites to the social mainstream.
She had been getting threatening messages off and on, yet she did not get scared. She was, perhaps, ready to make any kind of sacrifice to continue her drive to promote her ideals. That she was considered a source of trouble for some of her family members is not surprising.

Gauri and Chhatrapati are among 16 journalists who lost their lives during the past seven years in the process of exercising their constitutional right of freedom of expression, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

People like Gauri, generally, do not bother about the interests of their family members if there is a clash between the interests of the two sides. So, any idea about who killed Gauri can be had only after a thorough enquiry into the circumstances leading to her physical elimination. The truth, in any case, must be laid bare so that the forces behind the gruesome act are made to realise that they cannot escape the long arm of law, irrespective of how powerful they are.

Ram Chander Chhatrapati was killed for allegedly exposing rape cases against then Dera chief Ram Rahim The identification of Gauri's killers is essential to expose these elements as also to prove that such people are the real enemies of the nation. The activities of the elements behind the journalist's murder must be curbed to prevent them from promoting a culture no different from that of the Kalashnikov culture that prospered in Pakistan as a result of its own short-sighted policies and damaged its reputation considerably in the global community.
India has never been known for a culture of killing people having their own opinion on issues and events in sharp contrast to those who hold the levers of power. There is need to ensure that a Kalashnikov culture never grows roots in this country. The way Gauri has been done to death for holding liberal views on various issues cannot scare journalists to succumb to any kind of pressure brought to bear on them. Rather they will now get more emboldened to exercise their constitutional right of freedom to express their opinion freely and fearlessly.
There are similarities between the case of Gauri and that of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chandra Chhatrapati, who paid with his life in 2002 for the cause of exposing the dark deeds of jailed Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, then head of the powerful Dera Sacha Sauda movement. How the socalled godman reportedly indulged in the sexual exploitation of his women disciples would not have come into the open had Chhatrapati not carried write-ups in his Hindi paper, Poora Sach, in this regard.
It was Chhatrapati's drive against the questionable goings-on in the Dera that led to the registration of two cases of rape of his followers by Gurmeet Ram Rahim, resulting in his getting sentenced for 20 years in jail by a special CBI court in Panchkula. The so-called Baba may never be able to come out of jail as he faces a murder case too; Chhatrapati was alleged to have been gunned down at the behest of the controversial godman. Gauri and Chhatrapati are among 16 journalists who lost their lives during the past seven years in the process of exercising their constitutional right of freedom of expression, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Since these media persons were in most cases based in mofussil towns, their contribution to society did not get the attention it deserved. The good work of these heroes needs to be documented to help understand media persons' contribution to the cause of fighting for the wellbeing of people belonging to different sections of society.