The Hindu : Indian press vulnerable despite guarantees: Ram

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 29, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Indian press vulnerable despite guarantees: Ram

By Our Special Correspondent

N. Ram, editor, Frontline, inaugurating the observances to mark the death centenary of journalist and freedom fighter, Barrister G. P. Pillai, in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM May 28. N. Ram, editor, Frontline, has said that the press in India is vulnerable despite the freedoms and protection it derived from the Constitution.

Inaugurating the observances to mark the death centenary of journalist and freedom fighter, Barrister G. P. Pillai, organised by the Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR) here this evening, Mr. Ram said experience showed that newspapers had to face defamation charges and privilege proceedings when they tried to play their part as socially responsible institutions. The stress appeared to be more on the conditions upon which the Constitutional guaranteed freedom to the press than to the guarantees themselves, he said.

Describing G.P. Pillai as a man of brilliant intellect who represented the finest principles of socially responsible and ethical journalism, Mr. Ram said the strengths of the Indian press was largely shaped by its historical experience. The Indian experience, he said, showed that a pluralist press can serve valuable democratic purposes.

Delivering the G.P. Pillai memorial lecture, eminent journalist, T.J.S. George, said that G. P. Pillai personified, in an exemplary way, the symbiotic union of journalism and nationalism in India. "The coming together of these two forces was important in many ways. Nationalism influenced journalism and journalism influenced nationalism in mutually enriching ways. Their unique juxtaposition shaped the intellectual-psychological underpinnings of the movement for independence,'' he said.

Presiding over the function, the KCHR chairman, K. N. Panikkar, said perhaps G.P. Pillai's most abiding contribution to society was the creation and expansion of a public space in India through his work has a journalist.

The KCHR director, P. J. Cherian, welcomed the gathering and Ms. Indira Ramakrishna Pillai, grand-daughter of G.P. Pillai, proposed a vote of thanks.

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