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“Corporatised media no more supporting the oppressed”
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- Democracy means different things to different people and the concept of democracy varies between the perceptions. In India the cry is over democracy not facilitating greater access for deprived sections to resources while in Pakistan the attempt is to get more democracy and greater opportunities to be heard.
- Ms. Roy said one should look at democracy in the larger context of electoral identities. While there is a hierarchy in governance and problem solving, the essentials are being guaranteed. The people in India's rural areas are aware of their empowerment through voting. As for dissent, “the rights are protected through laws but when it is not convenient to those in power, they are denied”.
- Ms. Jalal said in Pakistan the long history of authoritarianism has brought about more dissent. “It is not just the right to dissent but it is all about being able to be heard.”
- Mr. Vajpeyi said more than the media, Indian literature — especially Hindi literature — theatre and art contain expressions of dissent but unfortunately that is not heard. “There are a small number of people who get a hearing. The other voices go unheard.”
- Ms. Dayamani said the media which used to wholeheartedly support the causes of the oppressed is not doing so any more as the sector is increasingly getting corporatised. The journalists in India do not focus on injustices. The trouble with the media was that, apart from being genuinely not interested in issues, they were ignorant as well.
- Ms. Roy also spoke strongly in favour of reservation. Responding to a question from the audiences on the quota issues, she said 5,000 years of oppression could not be remedied in just 50 years.
