---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: divya trivedi <divyatriv@gmail.
Date: Apr 4, 2010 1:33 PM
Subject: ACJ Scholarship: N. Ram says We need more Dalits in Indian journalism
Dear Friends,
Let me begin by thanking all of you who responded enthusiastically to
our previous mail regarding the expansion of scholarships for Dalit
students at the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai.
Many of you are in touch with Chittibabu and are updated on the
progress that has been made towards the endeavour. The college has
received only one formal application till date, which is a little
disappointing. Some of us are talking to institutions and Dalit
organisations and are hopeful of more applications with time.
Putting his verbal commitment to writing, Mr N Ram, founding trustee
of the Asian College of Journalism and Editor in Chief of The Hindu
Group of publications has sent an email to Chittibabu Padavala and I
would like to share it with you all.
We hope that it expresses the earnestness with which the college and
its Trustees are considering the matter and working towards it.
We urge those amongst you who are or have been associated with Dalit
organisations or persons to take this information to them so that they
can make use of the scholarship.
Warmly,
Divya
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: CHITTIBABU PADAVALA <afchittibabu@
Date: Sat, Apr 3, 2010 at 7:51 PM
Subject: N. Ram says We need more Dalits in Indian journalism
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: N Ram
Date: 3 April 2010 18:36
Subject: We need more Dalits in Indian journalism
To: CHITTIBABU PADAVALA <afchittibabu@
Cc: sashikumar <sakumar@vsnl.
<jacob@thehindu.
April 3, 2010
Dear Chittibabu,
As a founding Trustee of the Asian College of Journalism, I write
strongly to support ACJ Chairman Sashi Kumar's letter seeking your
assistance in "meaningfully enabling and enlarging the scholarships we
have instituted for candidates from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes for study at the ACJ."
As Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu and Group publications, I would
emphasise that this is a challenge not only for the best journalism
schools like the ACJ but also for major media organisations like our
Group and Editors like me; and that only all-out, special measures
adopted here and now can enable us to meet this challenge. In this
connection, let me also record my personal commitment to try and
enhance the Dalit presence and participation in mainstream Indian
journalism.
It is well-established that there are very few Dalit journalists
working in mainstream newspapers and other media organisations in the
country; and where they are present, hardly any of them are to be
found in senior editorial positions. A systematic survey across
India's newspapers and media organisations should throw more light on
this. This absence or very weak presence of Dalit journalists in
mainstream newspapers cannot be treated as just a 'diversity deficit.'
It means, among other things, that the news media are deprived of the
lived experience of a significant section of the Indian population and
therefore of the capability to represent Dalit conditions and issues
in depth and with sensitivity. Going beyond this, if hitherto
suppressed voices, lived experiences, and harsh realities within
Indian society cannot find expression in contemporary journalism, that
journalism cannot be said to be truthful, democratic, or just.
It is clear there are many entry barriers -- social, economic, and
other -- for young Dalit men and women wishing to enter the field of
mainstream Indian journalism and therefore even a first-rate and
progressive post-graduate journalism school like the ACJ. There is
also, it appears, the problem of awareness and motivation. As Sashi
Kumar notes in his letter to you, the ACJ's experience has been that
"there are not enough applications to select candidates..
[full] scholarships we already have" and that "while we have offers of
more scholarships.
agree with his view that "the real reason for the inadequate response
to our scholarship scheme is that we have not really been able to
connect with, and interest, the target group which can beneficially
avail it."
I ask for your active assistance, as a talented and sensitive Dalit
journalist who studied at the ACJ and now work in The Hindu Group, in
discovering, motivating, and helping young Dalits enter the field of
journalism by, first, qualifying themselves for admission to, and
availing themselves of the scholarships available at, India's premier
post-graduate journalism school, the ACJ; and also for coming into the
profession year after year in good numbers. I would also like Dalit
organisations, other public service organisations, governments, and
the private sector to take this mission seriously and offer their help
and cooperation.
With our joint and coordinated efforts, I am confident that the
challenge can be met.
Best.,
Ram
N. Ram
Editor-in-Chief and Publisher
The Hindu and Group publications
Kasturi Buildings
859 & 860 Anna Salai
Chennai 600002
(T) +91-44-28414253
(F) +91-44-28410853
www.thehindu.
Email: nram@thehindu.
--
Divya Trivedi
The Hindu Business Line
Ahmedabad
# 9376543949
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