With the latest argument with The Guardian journalist, I am sure many must be wondering why I take such a combative stand with western media. Why not try and coax them to see our perspective. Here’s why. I know from personal experience how they try to co-opt 🧵
I was once invited for an overseas event. Seemed like a great one with women journalists talking about the challenges they face. I was, of course, going to talk about Bengal and the challenges that comes with documenting Islamic extremism n/n
The logistics were decided from their end. I was to have a discussion with the panel moderator. We hopped on a zoom call. She asked me tell her my story, which I did. In the middle, there was conversation about western organisations working towards safety of women journalists +
I said the argument didn’t hold water because global orgs work for 1% of women journalists - those who sit pretty in studios and those who conform to the western world view. Global orgs have no idea what other journalists go through and therefore, they’re not our representatives
I said there’s a strange hypocrisy when it comes to India - a country which represents a large chunk of world populations with 1000s of publications. India will cover a Charlie Hebdo, nobody would cover a Kanhaiya Lal. I also said that she can’t look at India through west’s prism
I said further that there’s widespread ignorance in the west about the Indian culture. If I wore my Swastika necklace, I would be branded as a “Hindutva Nazi” without realisation that it’s my sacred symbol for 1000s of years +
We then came to my specific case. After I narrated what happened in Bengal, she asked me “has persecution of journalists like yourself increased in India after Modi came to power”. I said I wasn’t driven away by Modi. I was driven away by Mamata +
She persisted a couple of times, trying to get me to implicate Modi and Hindus. I told her that the centre has virtually no control if the state govt decides to file false cases against a journalist in their state. I spoke about Tamil Nadu too. Same thing +
I told her point blank - I know what you’re trying to do and it really won’t fly. You want to use me to talk about the big bad Hindus, when the monster is someone else. You’re creating monsters and looking for people to confirm your theories +
Mysteriously, close to the event, the entire event stood cancelled. It would mean too much backlash had they only cancelled my attendance. One can imagine why.
Had I conformed, had I given in, had I been their willing pawn, I would have had the world thrown open for me +
Had I conformed, had I given in, had I been their willing pawn, I would have had the world thrown open for me +
I could have played along and then given a bombshell speech at the event - but that is simply not me. I also wasn’t sure if they’d quote me out of context. But this is an experience to tell you just how easy it is to enter the western world of fame and money. One simply needs to sell their soul
Another time, a journalist from NYT approached me for my comments on the social media conversation in India around Elon Musk’s takeover. I instinctively knew their line of argument. I was right. Had I played along, the world would open up
x.com
x.com
You see, there is no engaging with these colonisers. With these arrogance propagandists. They see Indian journalists especially as tool for their neo-colonialism. They see Indian journalists as tools to bring Hindus down.
You want all expenses paid foreign trips? Done. You want name? Fame? Money? Cover pages to your name? And entire ecosystem to prop you up as the queen? Awards? All done. Just sell out. Just sell your soul. Just trash Hindus. Just defame your own land. Your own people. Your own ancestors. Just sympathise with your tormentors. Play along. Become a pawn. The world opens up.
I won’t play nice with these elements. I won’t be polite. I won’t become a pawn and I certainly won’t try to engage on their terms. Their terms are rigged. Even if you believe you can cheat their terms, they will quote out of context, cut clips, use you as the token to prove their own neutrality while they trash everything you hold sacred.
Not in my name.
Not in my name.
I will be combative because they started the war. Against my people. My land. My Gods. My ancestors. My faith. They started the war and I was forced to pick up a weapon. I picked up my pen because those meant to fight them became their pawns. They sold their pen (and their soul)
I don’t know how long I will last in this war. I don’t know what I will be able to change or not. I don’t have answers as to how we can change this global ecosystem of blood suckers. But I will plant my feet and fight. And I certainly will be combative with the enemies at my gate
جاري تحميل الاقتراحات...