The Buck Stops at the LOC

Photo Courtesy / Credit nationalviews.com

Article first published in +Medium Click here


Much has been written and flushed down Twitter about L’affaire Barkha and Arnab — the two most popular and — arguably — respected anchors of English News Channels. I too added my two penny tweets to it in jest (another one) .

Frankly, I admire both Arnab and Barkha — each in a different sort of way. Both have their own distinctive styles — which make people either like or dislike them. They say — a good brand has to create an ‘emotional surplus’ — either positive or negative — that gives it recall and attachment. Marketers call it SSP or ‘self-selling provocation’. Lalu Prasad, Mamata, Kejriwal — all have loads of it. So one may not like them — but still cannot ignore them. SSP is also what sets Arnab and Barkha apart from the rest of their tribe.

So, some people may be put off by Barkha’s Oprah Winfrey punched into Christiane Amanpour style of journalism and others are repulsed by Arnab’s haranguing on The Newshour a la Fox News anchors they allege — but none can deny they have become stars in their own rights and command higher TRPs than their peers in the trade. And, that is bound to make a few hearts burn.


The comparisons do not end there. Barkha and Arnab grew as journalists by the dint of their hard work. Neither of them owes their successes to anyone but themselves. Both cut their teeth in the Television industry in a channel, which is reputed to put a premium on pedigree. Though Barkha’s mother, Prabha Dutt, was an intrepid journalist — she was not exactly high profile. Arnab comes from a less known political family of Assam — but his entry ticket into journalism was his Oxford degree rather than family antecedents like some of his erstwhile colleagues at that channel. Therefore, it is perfectly understandable that both would be driven by strong ambition.

Many believe the eminently forgettable film by Aziz Mirza — Phir Bhi Dil hain Hindustani — was a take on Barkha and one of her male contemporaries in the electronic media. People are almost certain that, the character of the TV anchor Nandita Malik in Peepli Live was crafted after her. It would be a cliche — but not wholly inaccurate — to say, Barkha fought a lone battle to make her place in the galaxy. And, to do so — as Meryl Streep had once said — one cannot be just pure gold but need some brass in them as well.

Arnab’s story is a little different. He was never counted among the charmed circle of the Roy Boys (and girls). His boldest gamble was not just in joining Time Now — but create a News Channel away from Delhi, when news in India is primarily politics. To make a success of it -without having the daily access to politicians in the capital was no mean feat. He fashioned himself as a cross between Tim Sebastian and David Frost changing the paradigm of TV News (whether for good or bad) with Times Now TRPs soaring. That was difficult to digest for his “upper caste” counterparts on the Lutyens’ beat.

From hatchet jobs in friendly magazines (that carried scathing profiles of Goswami as a boss and journalist)- to barbs like “you don’t have to shout to be heard” — when Arnab pulled off the coupe with the twin interviews of Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi in the closing phases of 2014 elections, he became the ultimate trespasser in the cozy club of Delhi media.

The best (or worst — depending on which side you are) was yet to come. The recent interview with Narendra Modi — his first to an Indian Channel after becoming the Prime Minister — was the proverbial last straw. Apart from Twitter tirades — articles were written on the ‘questions he (Arnab) did not ask”. Instead of critiquing the PM’s replies — the ire was entirely directed on Arnab. That something had snapped — was clear in Arnab choosing a business magazine (not affiliated to any media group or industrial house) to put out his rebuttal.

However, it could not or did not stop there. In today’s charged and polarized world — “if you are not with us then you must be with Modi”. And, that I presume must have got Arnab by his new long hair. There begins the new ditty.

Have met Arnab a few times. I have seen very few journalists who are so polite and soft spoken. Therefore, I — for one — was never taken in by his TV persona — which appeared largely put on for audience effect.

Barkha on the other hand has been more touchy about criticism and reactive — be it on Kargil or Radiia. That could be a function of individual personality, but on screen I have always found her to be dignified and restrained. She is basically a reporter at heart who revels at being out in the field — rather than be caught in debates within the confines of the studio. I think she is one who gets the medium of television better than most.

Strident nationalism is the chosen ‘positioning’ for Arnab — while soft ‘liberal’ could be Barkha’s brand. Both have worked brilliantly — while many others of the same vintage have faded away.
At the end of the day — let us face it — Barkha and Arnab remain the two real stars if Indian News TV. Peer rivalry is common in all professions — especially those when they are high profile public persona. Be it movie, politics, cricket — even among lawyers, academics, scientists and doctors.

So, we — the lay viewers — should not get too worked up over it and sucked into their spat. Just leave it the two of them to spar it out and enjoy the show.


And, there is no need to question the patriotism of either – as the Buck finally stops at the LOC that neither Barkha nor Arnab are likely to cross.

The Red Queens and Silver Haired Peacocks - Colourful World of Corporate Espionage

I too had my dalliance with corporate "lobbying" – but obviously not a good one as I can’t tell you anything about the views of senior ministers on adultery and extra-marital affairs or juicy bits on real affairs between corporate mata-haris and journalists.

Sometimes our collective public innocence can be touching. The recent hullabaloo over the discovery of a "corporate espionage" racket in important ministries and consequent arrests has this sense of déjà vu. Corporate lobbyists have existed probably since the inception of business and should not have come as a surprise to anyone. That big businesses have elaborate networks of contacts and sources to access sensitive government documents by means foul or fair is elementary knowledge even for a cub reporter.

In a command and control economy, still to outgrow the hangover of Licence Raj - business fortunes have been made either through influencing government policy in their favour or using prior knowledge of impending changes for windfall gains. It is all par for the course in a world where business and politics feed off each other. In the '90s – there were apocryphal stories about the famous liaison office of a large conglomerate in the commercial wing of a five-star hotel in central Delhi where the first drafts of government notifications were reportedly prepared. This spawned a virtual industry – euphemistically called "public advocacy" or business intelligence consultants – with Radiia bees and silvered haired peacocks at one end and rogue hacks like Saikia on the other – not to mention a chain of touts, pimps, brokers and wheeler dealers in-between.  

So the news isn’t about the existence of "corporate espionage" but why the new government chose to come down heavily upon them – making it a point to leak news of raids and arrests – implicating both small and big fishes. One can think of a few reasons:

1.) The government wished to drive the fear of God among a compromised bureaucracy and corporate houses whose business models rested on commercial intrigues.

2.) It wished to send out a message of transparency and fair-play to international investors – who may have been shying away from India due to negative publicity  about corruption.

3.) Correct its image about being excessively pro-business and impressions of indulging in "crony-capitalism".

4.) To spite specific businessmen towards whom the current dispensation are not well disposed.

It could be all or some of the above reasons.  At the same time – it needn’t be any of them too. For example – if the government’s intention was to pick on one or two particular players – why did they have to cast the net so far and wide. Similarly – it would be naive to believe all foreign investors shy away simply at the thought of corruption. What businessmen want is speed and predictability. Even MNCs are used to operating in environments far more corrupt than India. Again in an age when examination papers are leaked over Whatsapp – spies don’t need to rely on peons and photocopiers to steal documents.

Modi is too seasoned a politician not to recognise the symbiotic relation between business and government. But, he also realises it is potential Frankenstein that needs to be kept in a cage. To my mind – therefore – this is Modi’s way to create "space" for himself and his team to govern – breaking from the stranglehold of bureaucrats-business nexus. The message he wishes to send out is – I am the boss and play by my own script, you can’t dictate the agenda to me. This is also borne out from disparate list of companies caught in the investigation net. He has also, advisedly one feels,  kept business honchos at a distance by not appointing any of them to high office – as rumoured from time to time. If the grapevine has to be believed – he even ticked off one of his ministers for displaying backslapping bonhomie with his "Bombay Club" pals in early days of the government.

Having said that – "advocacy" per se is not a bad word. Many of us would look to make an honest living out of it. It provides the platform for exchange of ideas and opens up channels of communication between business and government that if practised responsible within an ethical construct works to the advantage of both. Abroad lobbying is both legitimate and institutionalised – with very explicit terms of engagement and ethics. India needs to develop such a culture of transparency and trust. For this enlightened business leaders have to show the way and industry bodies must also play a pro-active role rising above their present penchant for event management.  Otherwise Coalgate and Spectrum scams will soon be back on the scene.

Article first published in the @DailyO_ (click here to read the original piece)