By Ranjona Banerji
Hidden amongst all the coverage of the successful rescue of 41 trapped labourers from the Silkyara tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand, you will find articles like this one. The headline reads, “Silkyara tunnel collapsed 20 times in past five years”.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/silkyara-tunnel-collapsed-20-times-in-past-5-years/articleshow/105637134.cms
Of course, we must celebrate the rescue, especially the fact that all 41 could be rescued and emerged safe. Over two weeks – 17 days – trapped in a mountain crumbling around you is a traumatic experience. Of course, we must celebrate the hard work, grit, courage and persistence of all the rescue teams, from India and abroad, who worked ceaselessly for a satisfactory outcome. Of course, the remarkable last-hope effort by the rat-hole miners was just what was needed to ensure safe passage.
Stories of hope and heroism are necessary in a difficult world full of despair.
But good journalism unfortunately also means looking at the bad side of life. It cannot be otherwise. Especially when it comes to government decisions and government action. And this where things get tough.
Because the fact is that the entire Char Dham highway project is a problem, even a disaster if you want to be dramatic. The fact that this particular tunnel has collapsed 20 times is not because of human inefficiency, or bad methodology or cutting corners. All these always play a role in any human endeavour. But there is a bigger and larger issue here – the scale of this project in a hostile terrain. Hostile to this extent of human interference that is.
Geologists and environmentalists have all pointed out the problems. The number of accidents, landslides, collapses since road construction began have borne out those warnings. The relentless pursuit of the road by the authorities is down to one thing and one thing only – religious tourism at any cost. Regardless of the damage done now and that is likely in the future.
I know it is unfair to expect most of the media to tunnel much further into reasons for the road when it comes to apportioning blame. A few engineers here and there, some negligence in construction techniques, human error, these are what we will be fed because the road cannot and will not be stopped. And political capital will be made no matter what. The media knows that people forget. The “heroes” of the rescue will soon be tossed aside like stale bread. They are too dangerous to cultivate for too long.
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So, this is the end of anything but desultory coverage of the collapse of the Himalayas thanks to ill-conceived, ignorant ideas.
The outrage in Gaza and the West Bank continues, with Israel’s policy to destroy everyone and everything in its path. A four-day ceasefire is hardly enough. The mainstream media in the western world has shown itself to be far worse than the beleaguered Indian media, which at least faces terrible consequences when it faces up to fascist forces.
Why has MSNBC cancelled popular TV anchor Mehdi Hasan’s shows? The only reason can be his fierce questioning of Israeli officials and all those who demand that all condemnation be reserved for Hamas. Hasan is one of the few Muslim TV anchors in the US, and he is one of the most high-profile ones to face the wrath of propagandists and Israli lobbies.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/nov/30/mehdi-hasan-msnbc-show-cancelled-mohyeldin
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/30/palestine-advocates-decry-msnbcs-cancellation-of-mehdi-hasan-news-show
The whole issue of showing truth to power has once more been corrupted by external factors. You can only guess what they are!
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In the end, I suppose some people may have expected me to write about exit polls. But you and I know they are a bunch of tosh. Or you might as well just toss dice. Sometimes you might get a winner, most times not. We will know the results on December 3. And after that we will see all the underhand operations to form government. And watch the “legacy” media implode, explode, collapse, celebrate and whatever else it chooses to do.
Ranjona Banerji is a senior journalist and commentator. She writes on MxMIndia on Tuesdays and Fridays. Her views here are personal.