Poor darshan

In the event, there was novelty attached to seeing the President interviewed and disappointment in listening to the Prime Minister speak. The former was strongly reminiscent of American President Franklin D.Roosevelt8217;s fireside chats with the nation. There was a fireside, without the fire but with a peculiar circular object d8217;art instead. There was a chat. The President, armchaired,spoke at length on many issues in answer to leading questions from journalist, N.Ram. He was careful when speaking his mind.

That8217;s perhaps the other signficant fact: he did speak his mind, however carefully. Only once did he read out a prepared statement 8212; on Indo-Pak relations and the nuclear blasts. Only once did Ram depart from his static delivery and blank expression: when the President spoke of waning communal forces, a look of incredulity crossed Ram8217;s face.

Was the interview worth the departure from the tradition of reading out a prepared speech? Inasmuch as it gave us the opportunity to hear the President on subjects such as Presidential powers, yes. Inasmuch as it has set a precedent of its own kind, one that can be exploited or abused, no.

Mr.Vajpayee was disappointing because our expectations of him are higher than they8217;ve been of anyone since Nehru. His Red Fort speech would have done any other PM proud but coming from a poet-Prime Minister, it was off beam.

Except towards the end,there was no fire in his belly. He sounded tired, appeared saddened.

Independence Day is one of the few occasions when Doordarshan gets a public.

Otherwise, ratings and ad revenue for its programmes continue to fall like a steady drizzle. Transmission quality is so hazy leastways, it8217;s as bad as it always was that DD has become synonymous with BP Bad Picture. As for the content, there8217;s nothing on. Far more serious is the bottomless pit it8217;s hurtling down, courtesy the continuing conflict between the Minister of Iamp;B, Sushma Swaraj and the Prasar Bharati CEO, S.S.Gill. Talk about irreconciliable differences. It8217;s a fight to the end. And like a ripe karela, a bitter end it is destined to be. He8217;s an immovable object and she is an irresistible force. Now, in a TV serial, this would be compelling stuff. Except that this isn8217;t a TV serial. As Swaraj and Gill exchange blows, its Prasar Bharati which is being knocked down. Flat on its back, it8217;s waiting to be carried out on a stretcher.

Think this isexagerrated? Absurd? Alright: when was the last time Prasar B was in the news for any reason other than SS versus SS? When was the last time you saw anything really worthwhile on DD? When was the last time you switched to Doordarshan to watch anything, worthwhile or otherwise? The football World Cup? And before that? And after that?

The Swaraj-Gill battle has dominated and overwhelmed Doordarshan/AIR and Prasar Bharati. At a time when it is facing the stiffest challenge in its history from the combined forces of private satellite channels and an industry in recession, at a time when it the biggest merger in media Zee-STAR is rumoured to be taking place, at a time, therefore, when it should be regrouping for the battle ahead, what is Doordarshan doing? Putting out old serials such as Chekhov Ki Kahani. That8217;s what.

Both Ms.Swaraj and Mr.Gill have placed their personal agendas before the organisations they are supposed to serve. Unfair? Then, truthfully answer this question: as of today, how will Swarajor Gill be remembered? As the Minister who is accused of introducing new legislation to remove an officer; as the officer who refused to move any other way. All the other policies and plans initiated by the two have been blanked by this war of attrition.In the process public service broadcasting is breathing its last. But that8217;s another story.