Bold and daring step
It’s an unusual but most desirable and daring move. Media, on
both sides of Indo-Pakistan border, have felt a strong urge to bridge the
gulf between the two neighbours 63 years after they had been sliced up by the
British government for whatever reasons. The Times of India and the
Jang group of Pakistan have come together under the banner of
Aman Ki Asha (what a name!) in this direction.
T
he Aman ki Asha movement is being rolled out from January 1, 2010. The Times of India, a leading English daily, feels that the fourth estate can perhaps achieve what the political class and diplomatic communiqué were unable to clinch over the decades. Not that such efforts were seldom made since the partition in 1947. But not in the collective mode in which this programme is being put together with big names on both sides of the fence mounting a mammoth campaign. Constructive engagement is the name of the game. Go beyond printed words seems to be the motto behind this exercise as far as the media is concerned.
“A brave new initiative…to bring the people of two fine nations closer together. Culturally, emotionally and peacefully,” announces a campaign unleashed by the Times of India group in its flagship daily. Officials claim that it is a people-to-people project – an open platform for a series of cross border cultural gatherings, business seminars, music and literary festivals and citizen meets.
Pakistan’s Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and India’s Shankar Mahadevan are lending voice to a Gulzar lyric to ignite the emotionally charged Indians and Pakistanis. Honestly speaking, there is no difference between these two nationalities. They think, dream dress, speak, and eat alike, playing the same games. Alas, also nurse hatred against each other – mostly fuelled by vested interests on both sides of the borders. Gulzar - an expert in Urdu, born in Dina of Pakistan - could not have asked for a better option to pour his heart out for bridging the gap with a lot of hope. The lyrics speak for themselves: nazar mein rehte ho jab tum nazar nahi aati, yeh sur bulatey hai jab tum idhar nahi aati.
The Aman ki Asha initiative plans to drive on the substantial groundswell of positive attitude towards each other in India and Pakistan. An opinion poll conducted by the Times-Jang powerful media houses reveals that hardly seventeen percent of Indians and eight percent of Pakistanis believe in perpetual war against each other till one side is annihilated. But that is a crude way of looking at things. The big plus is for all to see. That is, 83 percent Indians and 92 percent Pakistanis prefer peace over war. Lot of positivity!
It is pertinent to note the contents of the joint statement issued by the proponents of Aman ki Asha viz., The Times of India and Jang group. The statement leaves nothing to imagination on the role of media in building bridges between the two nations. “The media in India and Pakistan speaks directly to the hearts and minds and stomachs of the people. It can help in writing a final chapter, adding a happy twist to a story that seemed headed for tragedy. It can do so by shaping the discourse and steering it away from rancour and divisiveness. It has the maturity to recognize the irritants and obstacles to peace and will not take a timid stance towards the
more intractable and contentious issues – whether relating to Kashmir, water disputes or the issue of cross-border terrorism. It can offer solutions and nudge the leadership towards a sustained peace process. It can create an enabling environment where new ideas can germinate and bold initiatives can sprout. The media can begin the conversation where a plurality of views and opinions are not drowned out by shrill voices. It can cleanse polluted mindsets and revive the generosity of spirits which is a distinctive trait of the subcontinent. It can help cool the temperature and wean away the guardians from fortified frontiers. It can argue the case for allocating scarce resources where they are needed the most. It can begin the process of converting swords into plough shares.”
The pertinent question is how receptive the rulers on both sides of the fence will be to the media-initiated peace initiative. Tough question indeed to response to. Politicians, on both sides, have their own gameplan which is difficult to fathom. If ‘Love Pakistan’ banner headline is considered provocative in India, ‘Love India’ headline would equally be raising eyebrows in Rawalpindi, Lahore and Islamabad. But, indeed a bold initiative. The Times of India editor Jaideep Bose bares his heart when he admits that while media can easily play the role of facilitator in “fostering greater understanding between people, it invariably adopts a negative attitude”. Time for a collective reprieve? Perhaps, excellent move by the fourth estate.
Media can easily shape up public opinion either way. “The media is a double-edged sword. It can be frightful weapon of violence when it propagates messages of intolerance or disinformation that manipulate public sentiments,” writes Ross Howard in his often-quoted, ‘An Operational Framework for Media and Peace Building’ treatise authored eight years ago.
In his document prepared for the Institute for Media, Policy and Civil Society (IMPACS), Howard maintains that media can be an “instrument for conflict resolution” as well when it presents “reliable information, respects human rights, and represents diverse views” correctly. He goes on to add that “it is the kind of media that upholds accountability and exposes malfeascence. It is the kind of media that enables a society to make a well-informed choices which is the precursor of democratic governance. It is a media that reduces conflicts and foster human security.”
Howard catalogues five types of media intervention in peacemaking. Type five fits the kind of the role The Times of India-Jang initiative falls into. By the way, what is Type Five credentials? “Intended outcome programming is specially intent upon transforming attitudes, promoting reconciliation and reducing conflict. It is not conventional journalism. It is conducted by non-governmental organizations. The content is determined by its appropriateness to foster peace. The programming and delivery mechanisms can be innovative adaptations of a popular culture such as radio, television soap operas and dramas, street theatres, wall posters and more…Media workers may play a role themselves as conciliators in the field.”
The Aman ki Asha initiative perfectly falls under this Type Five category. Irrespective of the outcome of this bold step, it shows the seriousness of The Times of India group which of late has come under a barrage for fire for several ‘for-pure-profit-motive’ steps. It is easy to see motive behind every step of everyone. So, if some detractors of The Times of India group were to announce from the ramparts of their respective citadels that the Aman ki Asha initiative is a publicity or circulation-boosting step, let it be so. In this process, if even one single heart is won over towards peace, weaning away from war-mongering, it is the worth it. As the Aman ki Asha publicity campaign puts it, “the only war we need is a war for peace,” Well said.
(Ramesh Kumar is a journalist, with more than 25 years exposure to the world of print, radio, television and web in India and abroad as well. Send in your feedback to procon@aol.in)
