Journalism & Public in Sensitive Times—Prof. P K Sharma

PERSPECTIVE

( Prof P K Sharma )

Over four decades of journalistic experience to my credit, I feel spurred up and motivated to share my free, frank and objective thoughts on journalism that too in very trying, testing, demanding, challenging and sensitive times. Journalism in such charged up, uncertain and awe-stricken times is not sheer dissemination of information but more than that implying sharing of multiple roles and functions in accordance with the demands and requirements of time then and there on the spot.  There the reporter’s personal prestige and dignity do not at all weigh much and matter but the well-being, honour and harmony of the region and nation turn supreme counting a lot. In turbulent emergency times, foresight, wise counselling, humility and at times out of box roles turn obligatory on the part of the scribes in unprecedented and extra-ordinary moments. Public, Press and Public Relations have to swing into action smartly acting in tandem at every moment.

In this context, I have my two personal experiences to cite where many tips and  lessons are worth drawing.

The 22nd day of January 1988 morning found terrorists striking in Baba Ala Singh Park Barnala making RSS activists busy in health exercises and morning walkers their target firing at them indiscriminately.

The moment I got this information rushed immediately to the Civil Hospital Barnala where I learnt that ten persons were killed and many  others injured in the terror attack.I found on the spot that empty bottles for blood collection from blood donors of various blood  blood groups were required.

Then and there, reporting act took the back seat as the situation did press for other urgent tasks to be performed. The chemist shop of my family friend Prahlad Menon infront of the Hospital was locked. He had to be summoned promptly to his shop to make available as many as empty bottles for blood collection at the earliest so that blood could be very promptly transfused to the needy injured victims.

Mr. Karan Avtar Singh IAS then SDM Barnala (who rose to the position of Chief Secretary Punjab later on) in detailed dialogue with me decided to despatch me in his official jeep PJS 11 to Prahlad Menon’s residence for bringing him fastly to open his shop to supply empty bottles for blood collection. I did bring him to his shop to do the needful instantly.

THE SECOND INCIDENT in April 2004 pertained to a sensitive brawl taking place in the Krishna Panchayati Mandir Barnala flared up taking up a violent turn afterwards in which a victim of the violence lost his eye too.There too,I deemed it apt to relegate the news reporting act to secondary one, whereas  helping the administration in bringing the situation back to normal became very much the top most priority.I as The Tribune Reporter offered all-round due support,coordination and cooperation to both public and then SSP Barnala Amit Prasad IPS in diffusing the violent conditions to restore ultimately peace, normalcy and harmony in the entire Barnala region at every cost promptly.

These two experiences of my life on the ground as a journalist always haunt me turning indeed eye-openers for me in my journalistic career. In life, one has to play many many roles as per the dire needs, demands and pre-requisites of the vagaries of time.

All of us including journalists are human beings first of all, harbingers of peace, amity, normalcy and harmony to prevail everywhere in the world by playing too many desired and required roles.

During times of conflict, pell mell, panic, uncertainty and war the media persons must display greatest sense and spirit of patience, precision, vigil, caution, humility and flexibility while shouldering their duties and responsibilities during the very catastrophic occasions .Will all bear these in mind while facing the music off and on?

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Contributed by :Prof PK Sharma Freelance Journalist,Associate Professor of English(Retired),

Pom Anm Nest,BARNALA(Punjab)

Prof P K Sharma is an alumnus of SCD Government College, Ludhiana and has been groomed in the true traditions of Dare To Be True his Alma Mater’s motto. He can be reached at:  [email protected]