“When nation is being divided, between Hindus and Muslims by forces of political opportunism, and our unity is being destroyed, a powerful voice is needed”
‘Anandabazar Patrika’ marks its 100th anniversary with a reality check from a real icon, Prof Amartya Sen. @MyAnandaBazar
2️⃣ Either because ABP did not want to, or because @PMOIndia did not bite, there is no @narendramodi at the centenary fete to bloviate on the role of free media in a democracy.
In craven media houses, Modi is default option despite his advertised contempt for it. @MyAnandaBazar
3️⃣ ABP, as ‘Anandabazar Patrika’ is known, was first published as a 4-page eveninger on 12 March 1912 (cover price 2 paise).
It was named after Anandamoyee, the sister of Amritamoyee whose name adorned ‘Amrita Bazar Patrika’.
As it was Holi, the first issue of ABP had red ink.
4️⃣ Four generations of the Sarkar family have captained ‘Anandabazar Patrika’ since birth: Prafulla Sarkar, Asoke Sarkar, Aveek Sarkar, and Atideb Sarkar.
It was under the visionary Aveek Sarkar that #ABP broke out of its linguistic and geographical comfort zones. #AveekSarkar
5️⃣ Under #AveekSarkar, ABP launched The Telegraph and Business Standard; Sunday and New Delhi; BusinessWorld and SportsWorld; Ravivar, Desh and Sananda; Penguin; @ABPNews—and the Sarkar Bengali font
#ABP spread its wings wider and better than any other Indian language group.
7️⃣ As the natural home of Bengali letters, ABP marked the death of Rabindranath Tagore and Satyajit Ray with stellar special issues without the clutter of advertisements.
For the 100th anniversary, it has brought out a book of 100 writers who made their name through its pages.
8️⃣ “May your words be just to all, whether friend or foe. Raise high the throne that is the nation. But remember: truth is higher still. If you desire your Nation rise still higher, belittle not Humanity before Country”
—Rabindranath Tagore’s advice to ABP, in 1933. @SankarshanT
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2️⃣ When Uber was trying to “get Delhi back live” after the Dec 2014 rape ban, an Uber general manager in Asia wrote that “he planned to set up meetings for co-founder Trevor Kalanick “with prime minister @narendramodi and cabinet officials”. @washingtonpost@PMOIndia#UberFiles
3️⃣ Sivakumar Sundaram, the chairman of the executive committee of Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd, denies Times Group facilitated Uber “with any form of political access”.
But the @EconomicTimes editor’s email to Kalanick suggests much.
Times Group actively courted Uber after it was banned; urged its founder Travis Kalanick to present his “insights [to] set the agenda for policy formulation” at ET summit, in Jan 2015. Two months later, Uber invested Rs 150 crore in @TimesInternet.
🪡 While upholding the findings of the Special Investigation Team that gave a clean chit to @narendramodi in the #ZakiaJafri case, SC added that SIT had “come out with flying colours”.
Q: When exactly did Modi learn of the massacre on 28 Feb 2002—and how well did SIT quiz him?
2️⃣ In his reply to SIT in 2010, Modi claimed he learnt of the #GulbergSociety massacre only at a meeting that evening, at 8.30 pm.
Really?
While a mob of thousands attacked a Muslim pocket in #Ahmedabad, the CM—who *also* held the home portfolio—was unaware for 5 full hours?
3️⃣ The implausibility of Modi’s defence is brought out by former @IndianExpress and @timesofindia legal affairs editor Manoj Mitta.
In his 2014 book, ‘The Fiction of Fact-Finding: Modi and Godhra’, Mitta reveals how #SIT bought into Modi’s claim with barely any challenge.
🪡 Taunting and tormenting Muslims has become India’s national bloodsport, post-2014. Barely a day passes without #Muslims being hectored by bigots on how they should live, love, eat, dress, pray, work, marry and procreate.
How would the 24th Maharaja of Mysore have viewed this?
2️⃣ ‘Nalvadi’ Krishnaraja Wadiyar was the Maharaja of Mysore for 39 years. He presided over a golden period of progress in health, education, industry, infrastructure, arts, culture, literature—i.e. vikas.
3️⃣ In 1902, when he formally ascended the throne at the age of 18, he committed himself to “social care without discrimination”.
Like his parents before him, he said he would “continue to promote the welfare of all classes and creeds among my subjects.” deccanherald.com/opinion/the-co…