Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Mumbai Carnage Of 2008 - A Look Back

I have compiled few articles as well as videos that illustrate media's
perception towards Mumbai carnage. The media has uncontested power in
capturing the history through yellow lens of biased attitude, vested
interest as well as misinformation. Unfortunately, long after the
survivors, the victims and the preparatory are gone, it is the
imprints that media chooses to leave that will shape the history.
Earlier it used to the winners to write the history. In modern times
no matter who wins the contest, the only winner that emerges is the
media.

1) The New York Times doesn't have brightest brains to cover India.
They have only couple of dedicated writers who routinely cover India
related news and Somini Sengupta happens to be the most printed
journalist from India. After getting the late start in picking up
events in Mumbai, Somini Sengupta came up with this 'brilliant'
article where she clearly demonstrates that the political fighting that ensued
post-Mumbai carnage is all fault of 'Hindu nationalist' B.J.P. and
specially of Mr. Narendra Modi – 'arguably India's most incendiary
politician. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/29/world/asia/29india.html)

       She later quotes Mr. Yogendra Yadav  - guy with no known
qualification in statistics as well as proven record of predicting
wrong election results (Gujarat Elections, M.P. Rajasthan and Zarkhand

election as well as 2004 Central elections)  - according to whom
terrorism ranks lowest as decisive factor in the elections. In short,
all though BJP is trying to win votes over this incidence (and
Congress, the party happens to be in power is not) the Congress should
win the elections.

 Increasingly New York Times is hell bent on projecting the terrorist
attack as a fall-out of Kashmir issue as well as 'poor' treatment that
Muslim receives in India. It can't be mere coincidence that the pitch
that Muslim leaders as well as their 'secular' savior make finds its
echo into respected foreign media.

2) To my surprise in the same newspaper William Kristol wrote a sane
commentary on the behavior of 'pinko-leftists' among foreign media.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/01/opinion/01kristol.html?_r=1&emc=eta1


3) Take a look at this moron Shekhar Gupta - Editor in Chief of
national daily.  All though this interview was conducted long time
before Mumbai carnage, the questions that Shekhar Gupta asks astounds
any sane personality. Perhaps this kind of thinking line permeates not
only the press but also the political class. Unfortunately it is the
common man that bores the brunt of stupidity of so called
'intelligentsia'.

My favorite questions are "But why is your state a major victim? Is
it because Gujarat is next door? And • Do you think Maharashtra is
paying a price for being Gujarat's neighbor? The questions were in
regards with prior bomb-blasts that shook Mumbai.
(http://www.indianexpress.com/news/it-a-breakthrough-is-expected-as-early-as-possible.-i-cant-say-whe.../8691/)


4)  Our 'celebrated' journalist Barkha Dutta failed to recognize why
there is anything wrong in seeing Pakistani flags flying high in
Muslim communities in Mumbai
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/video/video.aspx?id=45735


5) But all is not lost. Some of the articles, especially from Wall
Street Journal were of highest standard and presented the actual
picture from the ground.  Following article that chronicles this
macabre drama should be a 'must' read for all Indians.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122809281744967855.html?mod=todays_us_nonsub_page_one
(p.s. I am also attaching word file of this article)

As media frenzy reached its nadir the news networks were running out
of experts. Bright brains in CNN thought that Deepak Chopra would be a
good person to talk to about this incidence. Of course, Mr. Chopra
ever ready to let his steam off on TV at every given chance was at his
best in making mess out of an already messed up situation. WSJ printed
a well written, humorous and sarcastic opinions piece on Mr. Chopra's
appearance.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122809544395968075.html

Some of the good articles published by Indian media are as follows -:

M. J. Akbar – Editor in Chief of Asian Age, succinctly captured the
whole situation and provided glimpse of sanity in Indian media.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/dec/02mumterror-pakistan-will-have-to-pay-a-heavy-price.htm

Same thing with Swapan Dasgupta in Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/28/mumbai-terrorist-manmohan-oped-cx_sd_1128dasgupta.html?feed=rss_news

It was surprising to see good commentary of current issue getting
published in Cricinfo. But kudos to them that they managed to capture
the reality as it is instead of getting polarized.
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/380239.html
-----Gideon Heigh

I will  also request readers to regularly visit Mr. B. Raman's blog
http://ramansterrorismanalysis.blogspot.com/2008/11/indias-day-of-infamy.html

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