At the turn of the 21st century, nearly half of the world
population still lacks access to free information. Freedom of information is
the freedom that allows you to verify the existence of all the other freedoms.
GUARANTEEING ALL THE
FREEDOMS
In 1948, the United Nations said in article 19 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights that “freedom of opinion and expression”
implies the right to “seek, receive and impart information and ideas through
any media and regardless of frontiers.”
GUARANTEEING HUMAN
DIGNITY
UNESCO’s constitution says the unrestricted pursuit of
objective truth is indispensable to human dignity and freedom. Freedom of
information is a sine qua non of growth in all the social, economic and
political possibilities available to the individual.
PROMOTING DEMOCRACY
In dictatorial regimes, the state apparatus is able to
dominate and a few monopolize most of the wealth because journalists are
neutralized. Independent journalism is therefore crucial for a “high intensity”
democracy.
Story Sequence
International media has long documented assaults, arrests, and even killings of journalists who covered sensitive issues in India, including human right violations, vigilante groups, and corruption, including around access to minerals and natural resources. Authorities have used the various Act ( Arms Act, Information Technology Act , IPC 153A and even sedition ) to try to silence critical coverage.
It may seem that the odds are against us at this moment, but human rights have always won and will this time also. The arc of the moral universe is long, as Dr Martin Luther King said, but it bends towards justice.
While constitutional definition of SECTION
153 A: its here ….
Shooting the messenger –
Why I prefer to remain Independent Journalist?
o
I prefer to be identified as ‘independent journalist’
at least I can do hard hitting stories which corporate media never allows to do.
I m not a pro government journalist rather I m anti establishment journalist. I
raise voice of voiceless to uphold value of democracy and write to expose
State-sponsored terrorism because I m byproduct of independent journalism (anti
corporate controlled journalism).
Why Corporate media is
dangerous for democracy?
Unfortunately we are living in an era of gross inequality,
total surveillance, global war and rampant lawlessness of state powers, the
role of corporate media in this escalating tragedy has come under increasing
scrutiny.
o Along with the
obvious conflicts of interest of lobbyists and CEOs serving on interlocking
boards, print and online newspapers depend heavily on news agencies both in
general and for information that would otherwise be too expensive to obtain.
Under this system, statements of government officials and agencies are published
verbatim and uncritically. Obviously societies in decline have no use for
visionaries.
o The lesson here is
very simple: journalistic negligence of any sort – which can be caused by
conflict of interest, editorial framing, or fear of challenging powerful
figures for career reasons (loss of future access) — has cost innocent lives by
the million.
Conclusive note –
o
o
I never lived a life of excuses and misguided beliefs about
what is and is not possible. It’s time to realize the truth and I take it in
positive manner that the odds are not against you. It’s time to get out of your
own way and start living the life you have imagined (being a writer /
journalist ).
o I feel it’s just a phase and it will pass. I m hopeful that bitter harsh realities of India might change in future. You will find that the common streak running through lives of heroes, their ability to stand up every time they fall.
It’s the time to keep fighting odds. Keep writing from
wheresoever I m. constantly updating Indians (common masses) informed about me and
let them decide. I am proud I stayed true to myself. With respect from others
and most important
: PRIDE and RESPECT
from myself.
Just prayers won’t
bring peace in the world. We have to take steps to tackle the violence and
corruption that disrupt peace. We can’t expect change if we don’t take action.
Although I am sad to leave India and the many wonderful
friends and colleagues, I find comfort in the fact that goodbyes are not
forever; they are just temporal gestures made in anticipation of a future
meeting.
If I have said anything which appears to you to be erroneous,
I hope you will pardon me. I know you always like people to speak truth. That
is what has emboldened me in writing this long letter.
With respectful Pranams,
Pushp Kumar Sharma
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