A fascinating journalistic odyssey
Thursday, June 30, 2022
  • Circulation
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Sports
  • Business
  • More
    • RSS in News
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Obituary
SUBSCRIBE
No Result
View All Result
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Sports
  • Business
  • More
    • RSS in News
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Obituary
No Result
View All Result
Organiser
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Culture
  • Defence
  • RSS in News
  • Subscribe
Home General

A fascinating journalistic odyssey

Archive Manager by WEB DESK
Jul 25, 2010, 12:00 am IST
in General
Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement chairman Sohail Abro

Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement chairman Sohail Abro

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterTelegramEmail

WHAT can write about a journalist memoirs except to say that in recounting events in the past, he has woken up dead memories of another day and age? And sometimes led one-a fellow journalist-to shed some unexpected tears? Reading Maniam’s book has been like re-living history, the history of India from the day it became free, free, free, free at last from long years of slavery to the end of the twentieth century, when Maniam retired as editorial writer of the The Statesman early in 1993.

From 1947 onwards Maniam had served in the communication field in many ways. He started this career in The Indian Express in then Madras. Then became a rolling stone, serving many organisation-including, of all places, an insurance firm-getting in and out of four jobs in five years. Then he worked for that patently anti-communist paper Thought for six years, despite “the admittedly poor salary”. Thought was believed to be, in those Cold War years, a foreign-subsidised journal. In 1963 Manian joined SPAN-the magazine put out by the US information Service-his work largely confined to writing captions for photographs, but with a four-figure salary! But, as in the past, he survived in SPAN for no more than seven months. Then came the job he determinedly stuck to, reporting for The Statesman and what a wonderful excitement-filled 29 years they turned out to be! Now Maniam was meeting people live and interacting with them. Name them and Maniam had something to write about them. Familiarity did not breed contempt. Quite the contrary. He came to admire many of them, now mere name in history. He came to know C Rajagopalachari, India’s last Governor General who had a pleasant sense of humour. Maniam once wanted to take a picture of the man. Rajaji’s response was: “I am the same man, what is there to photograph me again and again?”.

He quotes conversations he had with several as if he had recorded them. He remembers time, date and place of events with a precision that is truly amazing. He recalls his connections with politicians, fellow journalists and their like with elan. He covered the Lok Sabha and has lots to say about it. He wrote a weekly column, often expressing indignation at Members’ waywardness, enough to rouse GK Reddy, a colleague, to say: “You take Parliament too seriously”.

This is a book by a journalist for other journalists who will enjoy it immensely. As Memoirs, it is unputdownable, full of anecdotes that recall the past with such precision as to make one wonder whether the author maintained a regular diary. It is not just a journalistic odyssey. It is history in the raw. At one point he asks: “How does one produce a bright, readable newspaper and different from the rest, day after day, by reporting the routine activities of those generally said bodies and the often predictable and almost always tedious proceedings of meetings and conferences? Maniam has an answer. Once, at a press conference given by MG Ramachandran, Maniam asked a question to which MGR gave only a curt answer. Maniam did not give up. He kept standing and when MGR looked at him Maniam asked: “What sort of answer was that?” MGR could only ask: “What sort of question was yours?” Upset, Maniam walked out. So did the entire body of other reporters, one of whom was to call up Maniam to thank him for standing up to bullying and for not being afraid to protest.

For this reviewer who also covered the period Maniam covered, albeit in many other places, this book brings back memories of politics and politicians long dead and gone, but with nostalgia. Recalled are name like MN Roy, CR Mandy, editor of The Illustrated Weekly of India, Melville DeMello, S Mulgaonkar, Durga Das, Devdas Gandhi, Nirad Chaudhuri, Mulk Raj Anand and a whole lot of them who once strode the Indian scene but are now all dead and gone. As Maniam himself speaks of his quiet departure from The Statesman, quoting TS Eliot, that’s the way the world ends, not with a bang, but a whimper. But for recalling the past with all its successes and shortcomings, this reviewer wants to say: Thank you, Maniam. For the GenNext, it would come as somewhat of a revelation; history may change, but the art of reporting doesn’t.

(Yes Dee Publishing Pvt Ltd, New No. 16, Govindan Street, Ayyavoo Colony, Aminijikarai, Chennai-600 029; www.yesdee.com)

ShareTweetSendShareSend
Previous News

World of Women Gender Sensitisation

Next News

Hindu and Greek civilisations A comparative

Related News

“Modi, listen, this knife will reach your neck as well,” shout Islamists after beheading Hindu man in Udaipur

Udaipur beheading: Main accused in touch with Pak-based organisation Dawat-e-Islami, says police

How his friends’ early warnings saved Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar from ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ threats over alleged blasphemy!

How his friends’ early warnings saved Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar from ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ threats over alleged blasphemy!

Odisha: Puri gets ready for Rath Yatra, 15 lakh devotees expected

Odisha: Puri gets ready for Rath Yatra, 15 lakh devotees expected

BJP set to stake claim in Maharashtra; Party core group to meet today to discuss future plans

BJP set to stake claim in Maharashtra; Party core group to meet today to discuss future plans

Uddhav Thackeray announces resignation as Maharashtra Chief Minister ahead of floor test

Uddhav Thackeray announces resignation as Maharashtra Chief Minister ahead of floor test

Election Commission announces schedule of Vice-Presidential election, voting on August 6

Election Commission announces schedule of Vice-Presidential election, voting on August 6

Comments

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Organiser. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.

Latest News

“Modi, listen, this knife will reach your neck as well,” shout Islamists after beheading Hindu man in Udaipur

Udaipur beheading: Main accused in touch with Pak-based organisation Dawat-e-Islami, says police

How his friends’ early warnings saved Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar from ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ threats over alleged blasphemy!

How his friends’ early warnings saved Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar from ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ threats over alleged blasphemy!

Odisha: Puri gets ready for Rath Yatra, 15 lakh devotees expected

Odisha: Puri gets ready for Rath Yatra, 15 lakh devotees expected

BJP set to stake claim in Maharashtra; Party core group to meet today to discuss future plans

BJP set to stake claim in Maharashtra; Party core group to meet today to discuss future plans

Uddhav Thackeray announces resignation as Maharashtra Chief Minister ahead of floor test

Uddhav Thackeray announces resignation as Maharashtra Chief Minister ahead of floor test

Election Commission announces schedule of Vice-Presidential election, voting on August 6

Election Commission announces schedule of Vice-Presidential election, voting on August 6

When Islam Imposes an Emergency on India! 10 Key Takeaways from Sita Ram Goel’s writings

When Islam Imposes an Emergency on India! 10 Key Takeaways from Sita Ram Goel’s writings

Rajasthan: Islamists beheaded Kanhaiya Lal after his son made social media posts supporting Nupur Sharma

#JusticeForKanhaiyaLal NIA takes over Udaipur beheading case, files FIR under UAPA

“Modi, listen, this knife will reach your neck as well,” shout Islamists after beheading Hindu man in Udaipur

Kanhaiya Lal Beheading: Both the terrorists Riyaz & Ghous have links with Dawat-e-Islami in Karachi

Assam Floods: State minister Jayanta Mallabaruah reviews Silchar flood situation

Assam Floods: State minister Jayanta Mallabaruah reviews Silchar flood situation

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Cookie Policy
  • Refund and Cancellation
  • Delivery and Shipping Policy

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Business
  • RSS in News
  • Special Report
  • Sci & Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Books
  • Interviews
  • Travel
  • Health
  • Obituary
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Circulation
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Refund and Cancellation

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies