Friday 29 March 2019

Splattered Ink, the murky world of journalism



Book Review
They say that journalism is a literature in making but when a senior journalist creates literature out of day to day journalism it sounds interesting, isn’t it? Senior journalist Vijay Shekhar has come up with his crime fiction “Splattered Ink, the murky world of journalism” Though it is his first fiction endeavor, he has created ripples in fiction writers’ pond.
             The book opens the Pandora’s box of journalism field especially of Mumbai, the business capital of India. It has all of masalas of violence and corruption. It also deals with moral dilemma of a journalist who faces it on a daily basis while doing his job. It’s a sort of roller costar ride through murky underworld, corrupt politics and politicians, fake encounters and brutality of Dons.
It is a story Raj Nair, an Ordinary Person with extra ordinary dreams. He tries to remain honest to his profession exposing the dark underbelly of Underworld with his Pen and with that he invites his Death Warrant.
      Though the story is a fictional tale of the trials and tribulations of a journalist in today’s world, it is inspired by many real-life events. Have a look at following excerpts taken from the book and you will get the Idea:
            ‘How about the Biggest Batting Sensation Prahlad Patil’
No one would have blamed Raj if he jumped up on the table at that point. Prahlad was the biggest thing to happen to Indian Cricket. He was God’s gift to Cricket…… he had a Squeaky-clean Image. He was not like the other Player in Team. He didn’t Drink, didn’t Smoke, attended no late-night Parties, did no Womanizing. Though this whole thing was hard to believe, the man in front of him seemed dead serious about his Claim……. (A fallen Icon, pg. 95)
The author Vijay Shekhar is a Mumbai based journalist with more than two decades of experience. He started his career as a Journalist at a leading film magazine Cine Blitz and later on became head of Mumbai Bureau of zee news and zee business. He then moved on to become the editor-in-chief of leading national news channel Live India. In his remarkable career, he has covered Crime Politics and Films extensively. He hit headlines internationally with his story “Warrant for sale” where he procured arrest warrant against the then President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam to prove corruptions in Judiciary.
The Book is written by a field journo who has spent years of his life after news gathering from people in flesh and blood. He has seen Greedy Politicians, Simpleton Mumbaikars., Pakka Policewalas and Rival Journos. He has inked everything skillfully and successfully in this fast paced crime fiction. A must read Book for crime fiction lovers and aspiring journo, all the best Vijay Shekhar…
Publisher: – Partridge
Language: – English  
Price: – 399              
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Monday 18 March 2019






                           ‘ Murder ‘ In The Mandi House


                                                Narendra Modi Censored ( Book Review )

                                                                                                            -Dr. Shirish kashikar


In today’s era where digital media is all set to overtake the powers of traditional media, a lot of
questions are hounding mainstream journalism. Is it “cruel” Phase for Indian journos who are doing their job at best or is it high time for journos to understand their “limitations”? When the entire journalism field is passing through a difficult period, is it just a one person’s ( or a party) folly? Or it’s an overhyped phenomena created by some journos who have lost the favors (or junkets in popular lingo)? If you are really interested to know the answers of all these questions (and some shocking but ‘bonus’ information) then this is the book for you.

Shri Ashok Shrivastav, author of the book is a renowned news anchor, writer & a seasoned
journalist. He has been associated with DD news for last 17 years. In his three decades journey in Journalism he has worked with Navbharat Times, Jansatta, Panchjanya, Vaama & Sunday Mail. He has been awarded as the best reporter by DD news in 2005 &he was selected for best anchor’s award again by DD News.

In his illustrious & topsy-turvy career as journo Ashok shrivastav has seen many shades of
journalism. In this book he reveals how Delhi centric Indian journalism in general & Doordarshan style journalism in particular created a deceptive narrative for people at large. He openly writes ‘’ It’s a fake narrative that after 2014, journalism is a risky job in India. Journos & their voices are suppressed because of undeclared emergencies. The nation must know that those who are creating this fake narrative are not doing journalism but playing politics, some of these political strategies has reached to the heights of hatred for Narendra Modi .’’ (Pg.25)

The book is spread over in 22 chapters. It begins from “Why this Book?” where the author
mentions the real picture of Indian journalism. He questions the policies of media houses & media bosses. Interestingly this book is centered on “controversial” interview of the than chief minister of Gujarat Shri Narendra Modi taken by the author. The interview unknowingly opened Pandora’s box & the interviewer invited wrath of powerful people around him.

To clear his point of view, the author has given manuscript of entire interview in the book. The
author has successfully done the post mortem of entire scenario; How Doordarshan D.G. Mr. Khan & his coterie tried to “kill” the interview, the interview was curtailed to almost half of it’s actual time & how social media played a powerful role. If you want to understand how internal policies of a system (read Doordarshan), bureaucratic hurdles & inflated egos of bosses can almost kill a historic interview, this is the best (or worst) example. A must read book for all journos & aspiring journos.

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Book Title : Narendra Modi Censored

Author : Ashok Shrivastav ( asoka2022@gmail.com)

Language : Hindi

Publisher : Anil Prakashan, New Delhi

Price : 300rs.