India told the world Sikhs are terrorists and the world believed it. The Sikhs had no weapon to counter this lie. The media was perhaps the greatest tool India used to spread disinformation in its suppression and defamation of the Sikhs over the past decade. Regrettably, the Sikhs do not seem to realize this as they still do not attach much importance to establishing and strengthening their own media both in Punjab and in the West. Public memory is short and it must be constantly reminded as to the whys of our struggle for self-determination. So far we have failed to keep the world and ourselves fully informed of the realities. India has been very successful in its campaign of disinformation and anti-Sikh propaganda for several reasons.
Contrary to the much touted freedom of the Press and democracy in India, newspapers are only theoretically free. It only seems they can publish anything they please. But the truth is that most papers cannot afford to wrong the state as they cannot do without government advertising revenue.
Also, newsprint, the basic raw material of the industry, is under direct government control. India has used these two levers to arm twist most proprietors to toe its line. Radio and television are state owned and operated. A few newspapers, notably the mass circulated English language ones, are owned by industrialists who always have their own axes to grind.
Fortunately, Dr Sohan Singh and his Panthic Committee have begun in earnest to end government disinformation as far as the Sikh freedom struggle is concerned. Last week a code was issued for the press with certain guidelines for newsmen.
The code emphasize the fact that Sikhs are not terrorists but freedom fighters and must be referred to as such. The effort has been to counter government pressure so that news reports are more objective.
The Tribune of Chandigarh a mass circulated English daily, had been in the forefront of opposing Khalistan and its protagonists. But The Tribune over the past few weeks has been publishing the Sikh viewpoint. It published a couple of articles by Dr Sohan Singh as well as the letter of Bhai Harjinder Singh to the president of India. It remains to be seen how long it will continue to do so.
Defaming Sikh nationalists as terrorists and extremists, planting stories to create communal animosity and supporting the government’s repressive anti Sikh policies have been the work of the media so far. It has to be countered with the truth. The nationalists only want an end to Brahmanical oppression and exploitation which can only be achieved in an independent nation.
The government went so far as to ban advertisements of functions of last rites of Sikh nationalists killed by the police. At these functions Sikhs get together to hear leaders whose speeches and ideas the media shuns.
The Sikhs must not neglect the need to develop their own media any longer. We need to inform, educate and share information with one another so that we can unitedly move towards our goal.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 7, 1990
