BLASTING some sections of the media for spreading rumours, Union Minister Of Information and Broadcasting Mr. Prakash Javdekar has insisted that that did not represent the concept of freedom of press. Citing the example of how one journalist portrayed the death by accident of one protesting farmer as death by a police bullet, Mr. Javdekar suggested that such an approach meant abuse of the freedom the media has in India. This is not the first time that somebody responsible is making a comment to this effect. In the past couple of years, the Indian media has come in for sharp criticism from many quarters. The criticism mounted to a new high during the coverage of the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput when some sections of the media took upon themselves the task of so-called independent investigations and promoted outlandish theories. All that coverage had led many well-meaning celebrities across various sectors to urge the judiciary to save the society from uncouth coverage. Unfortunately, the issue has continued to dog the thinking and actions of some sections of the media community, which Mr; Javdekar has highlighted so very very well.

 

 

BY ANY standard, Akhtar Ali was one of the true legends of Indian tennis. His passing away at 83 years of age opens a massive chest of memories that showcase his grace, his style, and his gentlemanliness as a mark of a true sportsman. As a player, and later as a coach of India’s Davis Cup team, Akhtar Ali did advocate a forceful stroke-play that bordered on aggressiveness. But there was nothing aggressive in his persona. Even though most knew him as a no-nonsense person, many also basked in his personal kindness that went far beyond tennis. The task of coaching the Davis Cup team was never easy, so to say. For, those who played for India were truly good players and actually did not ball-by-ball, stroke-by-stroke coaching. But then, Akhtar Ali, too, was nothing less, having represented India with distinction on numerous occasions. But the difference he made was in the zone of psychology of the player and the philosophy of sports in general. In those zones, Akhtar Ali stood taller than most of his contemporaries. It mattered little how many trophies he won. What mattered most is the class he helped bring to Indian tennis, even as he imperceptibly shielded it from unnecessary elitism of the rich.