Face of news

Indian anchor-cum-reporter Barkha Dutt is a fireball of energy

Occasionally when you surf channels on television, her face flashes across the screen. Earnest, is the word that crosses one's mind as she grapples with political and social issues in a public forum.

Almost elfin-like, Barkha Dutt, anchor-cum-reporter for New Delhi Television (NDTV) programmes in India, is a fireball of energy.

A broadcast journalist, Barkha made her mark with coverage in the Kargil crisis coverage, nearly two years ago, when India and Pakistan had a military stand-off over the issue of the northern state of Kashmir. She anchors two shows on Indian television namely Reality Bites and We The People.

She was recently in Dubai to act as moderator for the first edition of a special discussion titled StraightTALK that evaluated the issue of India's need to project itself as a superpower.

Barkha spoke to Gulf News about the thrill of being a journalist, the shades of grey on the Kashmir issue and the need for India's masses to rise against ruination of its integrated society.

She said: "I think of myself as a reporter first. Being a broadcast journalist is different from being a print journalist. It's 24-hour news and the pressure is very high, especially keeping in mind the logistical baggage, editing and camera work required.

"Broadcast journalism is a package of all those elements."

Barkha said her field has evolved to a great extent in India. The initial glitches have been relatively ironed out, especially as competition increases and more new channels open up.

"The only problem with being a broadcast journalist is the issue of becoming a story yourself," she said. "There is a lot of glamour attached to the field and the person becomes the story."

She said the nature and quality of programmes has evolved over the past decade on Indian television. "There is more indepth reportage, programmes, building on sources and stress on stories," she said.

Barkha dismissed the notion that the development of broadcast and Internet journalism would push print away.

She said: "The nature of India is such that Internet is accessible only to a small niche. Internet is developing in fits and starts, like the episode of Tehelka.com, which exposed official corruption.

"They can continue to function in this manner. However, the larger market would turn to their television or radio for news.

"When it comes to breaking investigative news, it would still be done by a newspaper. Television may break news of an event, but when it comes to the story... newspaper still does it. The Indian market is stratified in this respect.

"Ultimately all media have to continually reinvent themselves to keep it relevant."

Speaking about her work as a journalist in the past seven years, Barkha said Kashmir and its issues impacted her the most.

She said: "People have a rather simplified view of Kashmir but things are not that black and white. It has been my beat and made me realise that there are a lot of shades of grey in Kashmir.

"There are human right violations on both sides including the government and the militants. "However, it's the people of the Kashmir valley who are suffering. They are trapped between the militants and the security forces that have taken over control.

"Targetted killings and lobbing bombs that kill women and children is as bad as a boy being picked up by the security force, and he never comes back home."

Barkha said the only answer according to journalists who cover the state is that the violence should abate and both Pakistan along with India should give greater autonomy to the people. She felt that a porous border has to be created so that the religious separatism can be eliminated.

She said: "This is an ideal solution that I don't see happening for at least the next 50 years." Barkha said being a journalist covering Kashmir has been tough, as she is constantly accused of taking sides, treading the fine line is a difficult task.

Speaking about the destruction to India's image as a secular country, especially with the recent communal violence in Gujarat that lead to several hundred deaths, Barkha urged the people of India to rise against politicians who are threatening the very fabric of the nation. She said they are using faith to drive in the religious wedge between communities.

She said: "Gujarat shamed us all. We have the image of India being a pluralist, heterogeneous country. That is in the danger of being shattered.

"The silent majority has to make its presence felt and show through their vote. They cannot remain indifferent and have to rise."

Barkha said the people of India have to take the reins into their hands and cope up with the political system.