Hushed Media. Watch Riots on YouTube
on March 15, 2010
Theme: media : riots : secularismKartikey Sehgal
If you want to have a clear picture of the events,… then you may watch these videos instead of relying on the contents of the traditional media that holds the ongoing Indian Premiere League as more important than the ongoing riots.
The participating minority community has not endeared itself to the nation by indulging in riots at Karnataka and Bareilly. The media has been relatively silent on the riots till now—apparently to not blow it into a national issue—but the shopkeepers and bylane residents of small towns don’t rely on the English papers to direct their emotions and outrage. Many of them will either actively or passively support action against the perpetrators of violence. So let’s brace ourselves for another round of riots.
Among the residents whose women were attacked and homes were looted would be the peace lovers who believe that the nation belongs to all; to every community, caste and religion. They would in a bout of outrage, and in the assured absence of justice, wonder how the minority community can dare to attack members of a community that makes up for most of the nation. His sense of nation-for-all would be dearly disturbed and he would set out on what the media houses would eventually call—communalism.
However, sitting in cities highlighted by swanky buildings and urban-only development, many people are unaware of the nuances of small town riots and would be unfettered by their dreadful living conditions; their life marked by the expectancy of killing and looting and the promise of peace as only a temporary reprieve. The channels would do intermittent features on the event but not of the scale of Godhra. That is until a large number of people die; they will, eventually, when hordes of formerly peace loving citizens will join to defend themselves or plan for revenge. Then the media will bring out it’s favourite card—secularism.
Don’t fret if 10-20 people die
For the rest have just invited me for dinner.
Dissemination of news is among the chief duties of media houses. It must not blow the trumpet only during major big-time riots. The populace is already weaning away from them and looking to alternative media to provide for actual perspectives on issues. Residents of Bareilly have put up videos of the riots/destruction on the internet and bloggers have written extensively on the recent riots, often showcasing the reluctance of the ‘mainstream’ media houses in covering the ongoing riots.
–*–
Whatever community, sect or religion you belong to, it would not be wise to ignore these riots as the handiwork of mad men and sit back in peace; the cast of those affected in the violence includes educated people. Except that they don’t belong to the politically controlled environment of cities. Even in cities, certain areas—non high-profile—are affected by small clashes. An area in Mumbai (probably Chembur) was recently affected by rioters who resorted to stoning cars. The incident did not get much media coverage. However, it affected the local residents of the area, some of whom may resort to revenge-violence in the future. And you may be the next victim of that violence.
That is why people are resorting to alternative media to report their problems. They want to escape from their dependence on the traditional media. They don’t want to be pawns of a secular process that suppresses their issues in the name of peace and semblance. That is why they have uploaded videos onto YouTube and have invited discussions on their problems. If you want to have a clear picture of the events, in the form of examples, then you may watch these videos instead of relying on the contents of the traditional media that holds the ongoing Indian Premiere League as more important than the ongoing riots.
As I write this story, I learn that the police have already released one of the main causers of the Bareilly riots. Purportedly to maintain peace and sanity in the area. Never mind that the accused has already caused much damage to people and property.
–*–
In the videos, you will see:
*weak police
*rioters with swords
*a woman describing her ordeal
*burnt shops
*police fighting the rioters with… stones
*disgust of the people who have uploaded the videos
The Index of Videos
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bareilly+riots&search_type=&aq=f
–*–
Sifting through the religious taunts that make up the comments’ section, here are a few responses to the videos:
*Law and order failure
insult of court
hell to bloody politics
some thing has to be done in future to save our beloved city
*12 days ke lambe time ke baad bhi agar media abbhi tak nahi jagi hai
akhir yah media kya karna chah rahi hai kya yah sab uhi chalta rahega aur hum aise hi sabkuch dekhne ko mazboor rahenge…
Even after 12 long days the media has not wakened
after all what does this media want, that all this continue forever and we become forced spectators to all this…
![[del.icio.us]](http://theyoungindia.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
![[Digg]](http://theyoungindia.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Facebook]](http://theyoungindia.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[Google]](http://theyoungindia.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/google.png)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://theyoungindia.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png)
![[Technorati]](http://theyoungindia.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/technorati.png)
![[Twitter]](http://theyoungindia.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/twitter.png)
![[Windows Live]](http://theyoungindia.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/windowslive.png)
![[Email]](http://theyoungindia.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/email.png)
Comments
‘Whatever community, sect or religion you belong to, it would not be wise to ignore these riots as the handiwork of mad men and sit back in peace’ I didn’t really get what this statement tries to imply. If riots aren’t the handiwork of mad men then what are they? Mad men and educated people aren’t two mutually exclusive classes. And deplore any videos that tell us about particular incidents unless they will lead to a direct identification of the perpetuators. Whether they be from Gujarat or Bareilly. You don’t need to see people crying and describing atrocities to condemn a criminal attack. Such videos do nothing but incite hatred which is later directed towards people who weren’t involved.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
[Reply]
Kartikey
March 16th, 2010 at 01:00
@Muhammad Hasan Khan:the next sentence reads: "the cast of those affected in the violence includes educated people. Except that they don’t belong to the politically controlled environment of cities" Focus on those affected by the violence. The term "educated" is used in reference to the people affected. And don’t confuse ‘educated’ with ‘literate’.
We cannot sit back, condemn the attacks and expect things to be back to normal. This is no solution for those affected. They won’t be satisfied by this armchair condemnation and are likely to strike back sometime. The videos pose as an emotional outlet since the media is more or less hushed about the riots, preferring IPL over the plight of the victims. Yes, these videos may lead to direct identification of the perpetrators. They may force the police and the administration to ‘not’ be inactive. Action against the rioters may prevent revenge-attacks and more bloodshed.
Yes, the videos are important because they explore the small-town realities that have been ignored by the media. After all, the people living there are not guinea pigs to our ideas of fairness and secularism.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
[Reply]