If it can happen to someone like Gauri Lankesh, it can happen to anyone.Javed Ansari, veteran journalist
On a hot Wednesday afternoon in Delhi, the Press Club of India was crammed with journalists of all hues — selfie-stick wielding young women, a man furiously scribbling in Urdu in a small notepad, TV correspondents with mics and off-duty journalists discussing senior Bengaluru journalist Gauri Lankesh’s murder.
However, a common sentiment bound them all – disbelief and anger at the brazen way in which a well-known and a fearless journalist was killed. The motive behind Lankesh’s murder will be revealed in the coming days. But journalists, students and lawyers at the protest were worried about something else as well – the vile nature of reactions to Gauri Lankesh’s killing on social media and offline.
A Journalist Dies, But Where’s the Compassion?
On social media, specifically Twitter, the aftermath of Lankesh’s killing followed a predictable pattern. Genuine expressions of grief were countered by whataboutery (“What about RSS workers who died in Kerala?”) and vile celebratory tweets. Some of those who celebrated Lankesh’s death or said “Amen” to this were journalists themselves.
Speaking to The Quint, Ravish Kumar angrily spoke about the lack of empathy in the response to Lankesh’s death. He said:
There has been one murder, but so many murderers have been revealed. Go to your Twitter timelines or anywhere else and see how people are justifying the murder. Lankesh has a record of being a journalist who wrote against everyone, if such a journalist dies and there’s no compassion in the country towards her, then what’s left?
The apparent polarisation of public discourse to the extent that a journalist wouldn’t condemn the death of another journalist, just because she differed politically, was at the centre of every conversation.
Knots of journalists discussed a Twitter user followed by political leaders, who abused Lankesh in grave tones. In the background, panelists spoke about the need to speak out against killing of journalists and the urgency of safeguarding press freedom.
In India, journalism is a risky profession. India ranks eighth in the list of highest number of media professionals killed, with 93 journalists who’ve been victims of targeted killings in 2016, according to International Federation of Journalists.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) labelled India as “Asia’s deadliest country for media personnel” – ahead of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Recently, with Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s conviction sparking violence, reports focused on how journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati was killed in 2002 for publishing the truth about him.
The country’s terrible track record at protecting their journalists was a heavy presence at the protest. Most journalists informally spoke of the fear of “being next” – after all, aren’t death threats a common enough occurrence on Twitter timelines of most journalists?
But where does the inherent polarisation in a society come from?
Supreme Court advocate Vrinda Grover said, “Those sitting at the helm of the affairs politically and socially need to take responsibility for spreading hatred and for creating such a sharp division, that citizens who would celebrate the murder of a citizen whose only task has been to stand up for those who have been oppressed.”
“A Spirited Person With Strong Views”
How do you mourn a journalist? By reading her works?
Most journalists had interacted with Gauri Lankesh personally and remembered her for her fearlessness and courage. Speaking to The Quint, Rajdeep Sardesai, Consulting Editor at India Today said, “She and I had our disagreements, but I respected her. A friend told me she’s mad, but I said you need madness to be courageous, so nothing wrong with that. She was a spirited person with strong views.”
Others remembered her convictions, her opinions and how she was aware of her life being in danger. Kanhaiya Kumar, student activist and her ‘adopted son’ said, “There are so many things which are flashing in my mind right now but when I spoke to her around 5 August, I remember she used to say that I know am a target but I will not be scared. I will keep writing, she said.”
As the social media churn on Lankesh’s death goes on, Rajdeep Sardesai reflected on the viciousness of trolls on social media. “Those who are celebrating her murder should look in the mirror and ask themselves what kind of India they want.”
In the coming days, it’s a question that will haunt everyone in India – journalist or not.
Video Editors: Purnendu Pritam and Ashutosh Bhardwaj
Producer: Anubhav Mishra
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)