Friday, June 26, 2009

Stop Press!

Sri K.N. Balagopal is the Political Secretary to the Chief Minister of Kerala. I have known him over the past eight years or so, since my days in college and he is one of the best-read, most level-headed leaders in today's administration. He is one of those politicians who reads into the details and does not get carried away by the headlines, as most of his ilk are prone to doing.

In a recent TV debate about Vizhinjam, he claimed that "Lanco had been driven away from the project." I do not disagree in the least.

For every crime, there is a How? When? Where? and Who? In this case the When and the Where are pretty obvious. How this was perpetrated was through a mixture of legal, political and media pressure. And finally, the most important question of all - Who sabotaged our Dream? The answers range from the Opposition (who have to oppose to live up to their name) to international vested interests who live in abject fear of their own port projects being relegated to the status of fishing harbours if Vizhinjam does come up. But let's not delve into shady conspiracy theories for which the proof is scant. There is one player against whom the proof is as evident as daylight, due to their own efforts. This media house publishes the self-proclaimed "most popular malayalam daily" of all times and has a TV news channel to ensure that we can't shut them out by not opening the paper. In case some of you are running to check out which paper is most popular today, let me make it clear - I am talking about the Malayala Manorama.

Let me quote just two instances of how this paper which sells more copies in Trivandrum than almost anywhere else has explicitly pursued an agenda which either sabotages or belittles the development of the city.

Last week, the Technical Evaluation Committee of the Vizhinjam bid awarded
61 marks to the Zoom consortium after re-evaluating its Technical Bid including additional documents supported by them. This fell far short of the 70 marks needed to qualify for the opening of their Financial Bid and meant that they were out of the bid for good.

However,
one week before the results came out, the Manorama carried an article whose banner headline ran "Zoom gets 79 marks" or to that effect. It claimed that the Government had no other option but to accept Zoom as the developer since they came through with flying colors. The New Indian Express then shamelessly parroted the same news on June 9th. Of course, they threw a anti-VS twist. Perhaps, a hangover from their former Kerala editor, lately one of the loudest Pinarayi-apologists and VS-inquisitors.

When these papers were proved wrong, they carried on their war against Vizhinjam without batting an eyelid. Sadly, neither did most of us. But if someone told you that your score in the last maths exam was 80 and it turned out to be 39, would you ever believe that person again? But the Manorama and Express still manage to sell their newsprint well.

Then as if needling the Vizhinjam project for the last year or so was not enough, Manorama went to war against Technocity on
June 17th. In its editorial, it claimed that the only reason that developers expressed interest in the Rs 6000 Crore project was because of the so-called "Smart City" project. This was like saying someone bought a Mercedes because of the shiny key chain. And since the demise of their pet project seems to have sunk in even on the Kerala's favorite daily, they opined that the delay in the Technocity project was because the woes of "Smart" City had scared the developers off.



Now, I have been working on the Technocity project in an official capacity since July 2007 and I can assure the editor that no developer who qualified for the project was lured because of "Smart" City. The fact of the matter is that Trivandrum accounted for 75% of Kerala's IT industry and that it is the fastest developing IT destination after the six metros and Pune. And Technocity presents an exciting opportunity for developers to set up as much as 15 million sq.ft. of technology business space. This is why some of the best people in the business including two of the world's leading developers landed up.(And I mean real international developers with portfolios of millions of sq.ft. of operational space and not two-bit players who are 1/3rd the size of Technopark.) And the reason why the project has been delayed is the reason projects everywhere have been delayed, the small matter of the global recession. (Against which "Smart" City uniquely has been completely secure) DLF for example has post-poned development of 20 million sq.ft. of office space. That has nothing to do with Manorama's pet project either.

Perhaps it is time that that 64,000 dollar question of what makes this pet so special is raised. The project that Manorama claims will make its host city "
the center of the IT universe" on many a occasion is just about the size Technopark will be in 2012 or half the size of Technocity. It is not remarkable in comparison to any of the major IT projects in India or abroad. Of course, as the idiom goes, "the rabbit that I caught had three horns"!

And then there came a shameless
volte face. The Manorama very quietly retracted its views when the Hindu Business Line published a much more realistic and optimistic article about the project the next day. Check out the sequence of events here, as put together by my friend Sajith Vijayan. The way this played out is a perfect example of "original" reporting, lol!

These are but two instances in a long running grouse that the media group seems to have with Trivandrum or rather with all things which are contrary to its own agenda. You will be able to identify at least a couple of glaring examples in each day's paper. Things are so blatant that people have started noticing it. The NGO "
Janapaksham" organised a protest against this vicious bias against Vizhinjam outside the Secretariat on June 22nd. Of course, the media gave it a miss. At least they didn't label the protestors "anti-social elements threatening press freedom!" They too must have felt a few guilt pangs. This is the notice distributed on that day. Do take a look at it.



There is little we can do against such media bias than be vigilant against it. Spread the message to everyone who cares and make it a point to send feedback to the concerned organisation when a report of this kind appears. The message conveyed to them should be clear and unequivocal -

WE ARE WATCHING YOU!


P.S. This post is about a media house and not about any city or region. So don't get the wrong ideas and waste everyone's time with us-Vs-you comments. Thanks! ;-)

29 comments:

  1. We suffered a lot..now its high time to react..the real affection and love of Nanorama towards trivandrum should reach to each trivandrumite.

    They may conduct one more capital development seminar soon to make the trivandrumites fool again..

    Well written Ajay..

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  2. Which newspaper would you suggest over Manorama?

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  3. Good work Ajay.
    As you said we can easily spot at least a couple of news which are against Trivandrum.

    If we are staying in Trivandrum and read the local edition of MM we may not feel much of their hatred towards tvm because of their cheap circulation strategy. But if you read the other editionn and online edition they project tvm as a third rate city and the actual third rate city as a heaven in this world !!!!

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  4. Ajay this is devastating news.
    cant comprehend someone from our own state will work against a project which has the potential to change the face of the entire state.how this has happened.
    I personally believe Manorama has been just one of the weapons that has been used by the vested interests who have been behind this.
    Its time that all of us took action. we need to tap into our biggest strength right now. the strength in central cabinet we have ever had as a state.We need to learn from other states especially TN how their ministers used their clout to get the projects for them.

    Media houses are very nasty and react with venom when criticised(like Burkha Dutt vs that blogger), so take care, but be firm.

    Hope some solution is found soon and we dont loose this project.

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  5. Thanks for the support folks. It's time we said something that a lot of us realise should have been said a long while back - ENOUGH!

    It is understandable for a newspaper to be opinionated in an opinionated world, but writing so explicitly against the public interest cannot be brooked. Whoever it be!

    Jason - I would suggest the Kaumudi in the malayalam genre and of course, The Hindu is my all time top choice.

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  6. I am from TVM. I am least convinced by ur points. Since you are nair, great devadasi descedant, you will say like this only. But we christians cannot reject Manoaram, because that newspaper is our soul and represents entire section of christianity. I hope u will accept this commet and reply

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  7. Manorama seems to be buzz-word around, for all wrong reasons! A leading daily trying so hard to sabotage a face changing project of Kerala, quite difficult to fathom for an ordinary soul, easy as single-digit addition for people like us.

    There is an awareness spreding through the blogworld. Im myself compiling one on the ' merits' of this grandma daily.. Wonder if they'll ever change for good?

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  8. And amidst all this where is our new MP. I expect something useful and different from Dr. Shashi. As the saying goes, strike while it is hot. MP if he wants to do something, has to act now.

    And in my opinion if Shashi Tharoor has to choose one thing to do in his 5 years as MP it would working towards realization of the Vizhinjam port. If he does just that and nothing else, Trivandrum will forever indebted to him

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  9. RK - IMHO, Vizhinjam should be taken forward on the MoU route by engaging with the current bidders, except for Zoom & Co of course, as well as other reputed developers (who will have to qualify along the same criteria). A re-tender in this economic scenario is a tough ask. That may have to wait at least a year.

    Rahul - Since it is classified as a Minor Port, Vizhinjam is pretty much outside the purview of the Union Government. However, Dr. Tharoor can take the initiative to tie-up the supporting infrastructure - the road and rail connectivity - in advance as well as to try and identify potential international investors through his contacts.

    Scorpio - I await your salvo, comrade!

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  10. @ Anonymous - Whoever you are mate, you must be a real alien in our midst. The Vizhinjam port project isn't just for Hindus or Muslims or Budhhists, it is for the whole of Kerala and India. If you are not a Christian from Colombo, do grow up. And next time, do bother to sign in when you express the contents of your good Christian soul.

    Sigh!

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  11. I dont think manorama is opposing Vizhinjam port. Vizhinjam port neccessary, it will happen. Even if god opposes it. And manoram alwayd given priority to this project. todays nere chove had tharoor and They discussed about this project and tharoor will take up initiative. Manorama is given ample support and hope they will continue this too. Statutaory warning: if anyone dream that manorama will disappear, they will be fools heaven, as we christians form 20% of the population and we will never give up reading manorama

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  12. Lol, I suppose you assume Vizhinjam is for the other 80%?

    Buddy, I am an atheist, I don't care two hoots whether you worship Jesus or Jackson. All I am asking is that you understand what a newspaper is supposed to be for.

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  13. Ajay, I think we are all familiar with this "anonymous" friend, aren't we? His language and the style of presentation appear very much ditto to our old colleague abroad ssc...:))) devadasi...nair...x'ian... yeah, we all know who this guy is!

    Sad to see people looking at developmental initiatives as Hindu project, Christian project, Nair project, SC/ST project and so on.. And the grand illusion of Christians not letting go MM..wah, I'm enlightened. In that sense Kaumudi should've been the most read paper around because Ezhavas form the majority of Kerala populace. Wonder why our religion-specialist missed the point :))

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  14. Out of control....Daily Terrorist!!!! Stay away from Malayala Manorama. This is the most dangerous Malayalam newspaper

    The Daily Terrorist should be managed with a mass boycott and flown into Arabian Sea via Vembanad Lake very soon.

    If Bhindranwale is regarded as the most dangerous extremist in India ever, I would like to regard Malayala Manorama (Kochi's mouthpiece) in its current form as the most dangerous widely circulated daily that our state has ever had. Not once, not twice, but on too many occasions already has it been the accuser, judge, jury and executioner on several critical issues, supposedly on the pretext of championing our rights.

    Seditious as they downright are, yet, they can get away with it with hardly a slap on the wrist, unlike other publications.

    Seriously Manorama, you're not doing us Keralites, any favors with your antics (or to put it bluntly, you're just making more enemies for Kerala). When other Indian states can already stand and walk on their feet while you're telling us Keralites how we should be grateful and content that we can sit comfortably on our laurels, pulling other people down and making them sit just because you can't and don't want to learn to stand yourself is not going to earn you any fans, let alone the respect you seemingly like to command from others.

    I'm glad that's off my chest. If anybody feels like flaming me for this post, by all means, do. I'd like to see how my flame retardant suit holds up too.

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  15. Out of control....Daily Terrorist!!!! Stay away from Malayala Manorama. This is the most dangerous Malayalam newspaper

    The Daily Terrorist should be managed with a mass boycott and flown into Arabian Sea via Vembanad Lake very soon.

    If Bhindranwale is regarded as the most dangerous extremist in India ever, I would like to regard Malayala Manorama (Kochi's mouthpiece) in its current form as the most dangerous widely circulated daily that our state has ever had. Not once, not twice, but on too many occasions already has it been the accuser, judge, jury and executioner on several critical issues, supposedly on the pretext of championing our rights.

    Seditious as they downright are, yet, they can get away with it with hardly a slap on the wrist, unlike other publications.

    Seriously Manorama, you're not doing us Keralites, any favors with your antics (or to put it bluntly, you're just making more enemies for Kerala). When other Indian states can already stand and walk on their feet while you're telling us Keralites how we should be grateful and content that we can sit comfortably on our laurels, pulling other people down and making them sit just because you can't and don't want to learn to stand yourself is not going to earn you any fans, let alone the respect you seemingly like to command from others.

    I'm glad that's off my chest. If anybody feels like flaming me for this post, by all means, do. I'd like to see how my flame retardant suit holds up too.

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  16. If Manoarama was aginst the development of TVM, it would have never supported Tharoor. However, they have rigorously did compaining for tharoor. You are misinterpreting my opinion

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  17. Are we trying to say a mediahouse alone actually brought down a project this big? Was the project's other links so weak that a newspaper could bring it down? Maybe if there was a stronger business community and better political representation, this would have gone through.

    I do not subscribe to your opinion of Manorama sabotaging this project. Hello, the project is been on paper since the 1960s if I am right and if that is anything to go by, I doubt this will ever surface. Continue to blame the newspaper but be it 1960 or 2009, it is still Kerala's leading.

    Dont you see any other reasons for the sinking of this mega project?

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  18. Ajay,

    I hope technicalities like this being a minor port et al will not stop our MP from getting involved in this actively. As he has been saying all along, he is an MP first and this port proejct is unlike any other when it comes to the potential positive impact it can make to Trivandrum, Kerala and India.

    I think at this time what Vizhinjam needs is a hihg progile sponsor (not with money but with unconditional support)and if Dr. Tharoor can do that, nothing like it. And I am resting all my hopes on Shashi only because (sadly) there is no one out there in the political stage to look up to at this time ...

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  19. Hey Ajay,

    That was a great post! And I completely agree with you..I ve always thought that this "media-giant" does no good ( and now harm!) to trivandrum!

    Anyways, your anonymous friend has a point..The newspaper generally favors xians.. evide enkilum ethelum bishop enthelum paranjal - it would become front page news! nonsense!! Also- they are experts in cheap publicity and the probable reason for it to be soo popular..

    Nyways.. it is surprising (shocking??) that even Gen Y has such weirdos who take sides on the basis of religion/caste..How silly!

    And I'm glad you are putting such sincere efforts for the common good!

    Ambili

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  20. Vishnu - I never said that Manorama was the ONLY reason for the delays to the project. Those are manifold, but media negativism is definitely a reason, especially in shaping public opinion and political opinion. It encourages gentlemen like P.C. George who have no connection with the project to make witless accusations. A newspaper is supposed to be as unbiased, non-partisan and pro-people as possible, which this one is not, by a big margin.

    Ambili, Nishanth, Manoj - Thanks for the support. Spread the word!

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  21. I've never read Manorama except for the passing glances that I gave it when visiting those relatives who subscribe to it... And those passing glances where enough to give me an idea on the 'standard' of this leading daily...But this latest act of theirs, of sabotaging one of Kerala's biggest dreams, just because its not happening near their bloody little headquarters, is unpardonable..We have to spread this and have to pull more people away from this mainstream 'yellow' newspaper...

    @anonymous...
    Pity on u man, Just pity... Either you are one of the editors of Manorama...or you are one who has never left his room to know what things like state, country means.. You speak so much about christianity without realising that people like you are one of the biggest shame for devout christians... You can shove those theories of you up your HOLY arse(sorry ajay for using words like that in your blog...but had to say this)

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  22. Just wondering if it is the media negativism that resulted in the disappearance of the BMWs, IITs, Smart City and Punj Lloyds ? If that is the case, then we must blame our 100% literacy and the fact that we all read newspapers which make us aware of all the crap that is happening around. There are some (most) western countries where the newspaper is an expensive commodity and found only in public libraries and in gas stations - they live much better lives.

    @ the anonymous 'christian' - it is sunday, stop dividing the population with your 20% and have a beer. i am christian too!

    assuming every christian read the MM, it would still not have the readership it has now. so stop branding MM as a christian newspaper. it is true that it originates from the christian heartland but need not necessarily mean the Vizhinjam debacle is a result of christian propaganda.

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  23. Ajay

    After following the Vizhinjam saga for more than 3 years including the PC george allegations i whole heartedly agree with you.
    Something needs to be done about this so that awareness can be created at least among the educated lot. (either a peition online or something similar)

    I am kicking myself for having been a KSU member during my engg days in Pampady (Chandy's pet constituency). Those days we went to every abkari in Pampady area for funding with his backing. I guess this is a curse for every politician where in he has to pay back those who prop him up. Karu did that & now it is time for chandy. But that shouldnt be at the cost of somebody else. Indeed sad situation in our state compared to TN where DMk or Anti-DMK both are for the state.

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  24. Praveen - You are forgiven, I kinda wanted to say the same thing!

    Cool - I am not saying that media negativism is the only reason that projects seem to have a chequered history. I think the BMW plant was never a realistic prospect for Kerala as we didn't have the automobile ecosystem that Gujarat, Maharastra or Tamilnadu has. As for the IIT, the attempt to drag it out of Trivandrum killed the whole deal. Atleast we got the IISER now, which in some ways is better than an IIT, especially since it is a higher degree institute. As for "Smart" City, my opinion is well publicised. We would have been much better off gifting 250 acres of land to a capable Indian developer like DLF or the Rahejas. And like you said, the sabotage of Vizhinjam has nothing to do with creed or case, just with a bunch of vested interests in Trivandrum, Kerala or elsewhere.

    Anonymous - I agree with you 110% of P.C. George, he is almost as bad as the Manorama, just that a lot less people get to hear him. Thank goodness for small mercies!

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  25. Ajay

    The last thing that we want is a split on religious lines for Vizhinjam Project. The anonymous whoever made those nasty comments is one of those nuisance creators. No self respecting Christian, or for that matter from any religion will make such comments. There should not be any deviation from the main issue, this should be clear.

    Media houses like Manorama, cannot bring projects to Kerala(unless they invest themselves), but they certainly can play the negative role. And thats what they have done. They had been wasting tons of newsprint on State Capital Development Issues right from the day they started publishing here. What did they achieve, A big well rounded zero. But whenever they have raised their opposition , unfortunately they have achieved 100% results.

    Its time that people understand the real face of Manorama.

    As I said before, and some of the others who commeted, its time we learnt from our neighbours and their politicians how they approach such development issues. They do have bitter political fights, but they compete with each other to bring better projects for their home state.

    Our UDF and LDF guys in the assembly shed (crocodile) tears lamenting at the state of affairs of development in Kerala. Actually most of these bastards need to be dumped in the sea. If they had any sincerity in whatever they said, we would have been at the forefront of all states in India.

    Some idiots who have never stepped out of our state are taught that we have 100% literacy and we are in the forefront of many social indices in india. Some how these idiots dont understand that, these social indices mean nothing if they are not combined with money and development. Our "literacy" have become our biggest disadvantage, every halfwit has an opinion and think that they know better. See Gujarat/Maharashtra/TN/Karnataka, the supposedly most developed states in India, we will feel pathetic at their social situation if we venture out of their cities. But they have made tremendous progress in infrastructure which has formed an excellent base on which they can bring up their social indices. Look at Orissa, its the most socially backward state, you will feel sad when you travel in their tribal areas, shocked that people do live in such conditions in this "Shining India". But where is Orissa in Infrastructure compared to Kerala, miles ahead...

    So what do they have that we dont, Leadership, well educated leaders, who know what is good for the state, and work towards to get it. What do we have in Kerala, the biggest news item that was our headlines for almost months was who will control Devaswom Board, BS how does that help the common man. Who will get NSS/SNDP support. Who will the church support. How to get mileage out of Madani. Agreed that these might be important to some people, but the fact remains that at the end of the day, Kerala is the most talented non-achiever.

    Feeling helpless, angry, frustrated all at the sametime.

    We need projects like Vizhinjam to come through, excellent highways developed connecting the port inside and outside the state, Efficient Rail and road tarnsport network developed. We have allthe potential to become a great state with a worthy capital and developed cities. The capital leads the state, and carries the whole state forwards.

    Time to identify and expose all those elements involved with Manorama who have worked against this Project.

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  26. hello Geminium,

    dont worry about the anonymous "christian" who commented here. Firstly, he is not a christian, neither a Trivandrumite(as he claimed). He is a lost soul and a retard, totally psychotic and depressed because of his low self-esteem and pathetic way of thoughts. What he needs is an emargency Electric therapy into his peanut brains(if ever he has one) to bring him out of his schizophrenia and fanatism.

    He is a big loser in life because he cant sleep every night in Bangalore or in Punaloor because of the inferiority complex..So Geminium, dont take notice of such sicko muthappan comments

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  27. good good good...a media monitoring is needed.... film is also trying to degrade trivandrum.... we have to stop this anti trivandrum mentality of alayalees...

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Thanks for your comment, I will take a look at it and put it up at the earliest.