Delhi Internship Report - Rakesh Nair (35)

 There is an unending list of people and places which could nourish a budding cub. The Delhi visit by first year students of Journalism and Mass Communication Department of Pune University primarily focused at making the good out of its tightly packed three day schedule from 8^th March to 13^th. 

Day 1

Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, ex member of Press Council has briefed us on ‘How fourth estate became real estate’ during an interaction at the Maharashtra Bhavan. Thakurta a member of PCI subcommittee on paid news claims that PCI is not adequately empowered to regulate media houses. He feels that a regulatory authority is the need of the hour, since even the smallest political parties and MNCs have their own media house. He commented that corruption in the media is not individualized but institutionalized and appealed that young journalists should not succumb to temptations.

Anuj Dayal, the Chief public relation officer gave insights about how PR of an organization vital. He explained it in the background of DMRCs, PR department’s activities when a series of mishaps grappled metro for a short period. He explained how DMRC started communicating even to the grass root of Delhi convincing them of the project? It was evident that making of one of the most prestigious urban transport system was much demanding.

Vijay Naik, a veteran Maharashtrian journalist stationed at Delhi interacted with the students at his Mayur Vihar residence. He shared his experiences while covering news for Saakal in various countries and told that there is always a space for budding Marathi journalist in Delhi. He said that presence of eminent men of power from Maharashtra at centre increases Maharashtrian journalists’ scopes there. 

Day 2  

A trip was organized to Egyptian embassy in the backdrop of revolution that happened in that nation. The Ambassador Khalid Bakly tactfully defended the revolution as the most peaceful revolution ever. The stepping down of Hosni Mubarak was seen as a positive sign by the ambassador. He defined it as a fresh page in the history of democracy. The skills of an ambassador to deliberately glorify an unrest in his country was evident.

Vilas Rao Deshmukh Minister of Science and Technology and Earth science gave us briefing on NREGA. He gave us an insight on social reasons like taboo to work in industries adds to the farmer suicide in Vidharbha. He also believes Gram Panchayat, Panchayat and Zilla Parishad’s are the best schools for leadership development.

An interactive session between pioneers in media studies and students were organized in JNU. Suhas Borkar, Pushpesh Pant led the event and the discussions extended from Community radio to rural development. Various issues like corporatization of media were discussed here.




Day 3

 K. Kamala Kumari, member of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and her representative breifed us on how the commission empowers the members of Scheduled Tribes from exploitation. They briefed us on the modus operandi of commission in guarding the rights of scheduled tribe after providing brief insights of what the real problems faced by tribes.


Vijay Deodhar , a BJP leader spoke about his NGO  ‘My Home India’ ,which protects the rights of students from North East. He was concerned about students from North East being discriminated in rest of India and urged us to bridge the gap between north east and rest of India. In BJP office we met Vinay Sahasrabuddhe political advisor of BJP supremo Nithin Gadkari

Students witnessed the proceedings in Rajyasabha from the visitors’ gallery. The house was being presided by an acting chairman Varghese. Legislators like MS Swaminathan were present in house. The parliament premises were cluttered with statues. Before entering the etiquettes to be observed inside the parliament and ideas on functioning of parliament were briefed to us. Multilayer security checks failed to impress.

Day 4 

While in Press Information Bureau (PIB) students were briefed by Director General S.M Khan on how PIB is more than just an information provider for the media. Though the basic function of PIB is disseminating information through its 8 regional and 34 state centres, it strives to track and stop rumors from circulating. It has started SMS services for journalist. PIB opens 24x7 control room in the event of emergencies like the ‘eve of Ayodhya verdict.’




Vijay Satokar briefed functioning of news agencies as compared to newspaper. He explained ‘Who and what’ composes PTI and how it’s modus operandi in Delhi is different from that in smaller cities like Pune.

Students got a probably once in life time oppurtunity to interact with BJP's top brass L.K Advani at his residence. He said that "though lot of people predicted early death of our state our democracy in has succeeded because people have very high tolerance towards diametrically opposite views. Tolerance to different relegion or views is the true ingredient of democracy.” He cud on his early days in Karachi and talked about the systematic cultural, social and economic growth of India over the time.

Burning issues related to Indian economics like inflation, recession etcwere discussed with Narendra Jadhav , a planning commission member. He looks after the states- Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Goa and the union territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra Nagar Haveli. Being ex Vice Chancellor of Pune University, he also shared his experiences as academician. He sounded concerned over education becoming pure business. He also commented on the problems in Public Distribution system and said that middle men should be eradicated

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