WHEN MODERATOR TURNS MEDDLER

Moderator obstructing the flow of argument of invitee at every point --- this is the everyday scene in an important television news channel where chaos and cacophony replaces reason and order as panellists attempt to deliberate issues. Whether the panellist speaks sense or not is beside the point here. The moderator's job is to help engage speakers in a civilised debate.

In the case under consideration Justice Katju in his rather vicious offensive against Netaji ought to have been countered point-wise in a rationally tenable way instead of being heckled at every turn, and I am no admirer of someone who disparagingly speaks of Netaji, calling him a lackey of the Japanese. Yet, civility must prevail on all sides during a debate or a discussion. This is my firm opinion.

Television journalism that transgresses basic norms of civility is reprehensible when to drive up the television rating points is the sole objective of the moderator for it benefits his channel thus and benefits him as well, for sure, financially. Discussing Netaji in this, so to say, commercially viable way is distasteful. It is such a shame that so much of television time is lost in chasing wild geese when it may well be utilised in the presentation and examination of facts related to the case in point.

Let rationality prevail in Indian television deliberations and those that do deliberately derail rational deliberations, let them be boycotted by a sane audience for the upholding of proper standards of public discourse. We have a lot to learn from the television medium and it is incumbent upon television anchors to remained anchored to basic rational and human principles as they beam their programmes across the air to shape the opinion of millions. Only then may this, so to say, the fourth pillar of democracy be counted on as being conducive to the welfare of the people at large.