One institute, tradition I admire most in this country is the press and media freedom and how it is exploited by dedicated journalists who so often risk, sacrifice their lives to bring g us the latest news, views and interviews from battlefields from some of the most remote parts of the world, although on very few occasions they do distort news, even spread outright lies, especially when it comes to Russia, Iran, North Korea and even India, PM Modi and BJP. People are so brain-washed by media that they believe these half-baked truths and only a tiny minority thinks independently, especially those who watch international news channels besides BBC and Sky news.
Recently some national newspapers concentrated their efforts to draw our attention to child poverty in one of the most advanced and fifth biggest economy in the world where so many children go to school on a glass of water and without free school meals, they would go hungry. The food banks and rough sleeping has more than doubled in recent times. Some schools even provide free school meals during summer holidays with the help of volunteers and the community at large. It is indeed a shame on us, especially our politicians, when we are so eager to feed the world with mind boggling 14 billion “Aid Budget” while ignoring the most venerable people at home. Grenfell tragedy is another example of our indifference to our own people, especially for those struggling at the bottom end of the economic ladder.
Although we call it free press but in reality most newspapers reflect thinking, political views and affiliation of their owners. Thus we have right, left and center leaning newspapers. Who can forget the concerted effort by politicians, especially on Labour side, to taint, marginalize and exploit the peace loving, highly educated and extremely law abiding Hindu community with caste legislation, as they could not attack Hindus (Hindus, Sikhs and Jains) on any other front, although caste has no place in our liberated, free society, thanks to our highly educated younger generation where 90% of the marriages are inter-caste marriages, as they find their own partners while studying at universities or from their own friend circle. Now the equally law abiding and highly successful Jewish community has become the target of envy and hate in one of our leading political party. But unlike politically and socially divided Hindu community, Jewish people are united, politically active and capable of fighting tooth and nail for justice. It is time for these two most successful ethnic minorities to unite for common good.
Bhupendra M. Gandhi
By email
