NOTES FROM THE NEWSROOM
Shourie’s latest book chronicles his innings as an editor, the importance of freedom of press, and the many battles he waged against those in power
For those who do not know, the title of the book is the one that was actually ascribed to legendary editor, author, politician, activist Arun Shourie by none other than Ramnath Goenka himself. Shourie’s illustrious career, especially his innings as editor of The Indian Express made him a household name in the 1970s and 1980s.
The excellent reportage and work done by Shourie and his colleagues rattled institutions and governments. To name a few – the freeing of 40,000 undertrials; the Bhagalpur blindings exposé; purchasing Kamla; dislodging a ‘Sultan’; nailing corrupt officials and politicians. The book brings alive issues as well as people who were involved in it. Shourie also throws light on the modus operandi government’s adopt to put pressure on the ‘Freedom of Press’.
The book is a detailed account of dramatic incidents like the removal of chief ministers, forcing governments to swallow legislation against the press, a prime minister unspooling himself even as manoeuvres to unseat him are scotched, a deputy prime minister trying to dislodge colleagues with fabricated documents among other scoops.
The book also has some Hindi and Punjabi paragraphs which can be a bit daunting for some English readers who are not well-versed in those two languages. But overall it is a riveting read with characters ranging from honest folks to conmen, from crafty politicians to indignant editors and the public at large. No wonder Shourie is acclaimed as one of the fifty ‘World Press Freedom Heroes!
SHOURIE ALSO THROWS LIGHT ON THE MODUS OPERANDI GOVERNMENT’S ADOPT TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE ‘FREEDOM OF PRESS’