The new poster boy of 'sexual misconduct', Mr Tarun Tejpal, finally arrived at Goa Airport on 29th November 2013. It does seem like a good Friday -- The weather is pleasantly good. The political weather however, seems to be getting hotter with the elections just around the corner. Anything and everything that holds any value in the social domain is utilized by the political parties. Vijay Jolly is the new 'Great artist' of India and his masterpiece; painted on Shoma Chaudhury's nameplate is the latest attraction. The black abstract art, so gloriously painted by him, at the entrance of the Managing Editor of Tehelka's house turned out to be a major embarrassment for the BJP. He did say sorry and senior BJP leaders say we must forget the matter now. Well! do we have a choice??
I may have chanelled out into a different topic but the main topic of discussion isn't forgotten. Tarun Tejpal it is. Today the media has finally taken their eyes off him -- but just for a night. Come tomorrow and the hysteria will resume. Channels will compete in frenzied chaos. Each channel will try to outdo the other in the coverage of the case. Some channels can disgust you with their enactment and dramatization of the case. This new case is of one of their own bretheren and all media houses want to show their unbiased approach. I will not do justice to this piece of writing if I do not mention Arnab Goswami. His new found toy is Tarun Tejpal and he's bound to play with it till he's assured that there's no life left in Mr TT.
The cause of the girl, a journalist, is lost amongst the whole fiasco. She has openly claimed in her mail to the Managing Editor of Tehelka that she was sexually molested by the 'Boss'. The MD covered it up by asking Tarun Tejpal to quit. He quit with an apology that claimed that it was just a drunken banter. He thought he would be let off by using his excellent writing skills but things weren't as easy as was made out to be. The email got leaked out into the press and all hell broke loose. The girl, mustered up all her strength and has decided to fight one of the strongest men in the country. He was after all one of the best in the media.
Almost every institution goes through their 'in-house' punishments and hush-ups. Very few cases reach the courts. A friend just mentioned that the Indian men's 'sexual awakening' was suddenly on an upward drive. I disagree with her. It's the women/girls who have become bolder. They are at par with their male counterparts and know how to deal with men. They know they have to take a stand at work place. Tarun Tejpal, when he appeared at the Delhi airport had a smirk on his face. A near shadow of amusement at being on the other side of the camera. A man who has had such a graceful and strong media presence for almost two decades was at the receiving end. It was almost as if he didn't believe this was happening to him. The ladies of his house hold went all out to protect him by shielding his face and shooing away the cameramen. It was a very unfortunate sight and they didn't deserve all this. But, a persons wrong doings does pave the way for a lot of embarrassment for the family too.
This case ceases to be just about Tarun Tejpal and his subordinate. It is about all women who go through sexual advances in work places. However, it doesn't happen everyday that a man of such stature is caught in the midst of such heavy artillery. The entire country wants some kind of reaction from the judiciary. It isn't a secret that the man in question was inclined towards the Congress govt. That makes it even more interesting. Would the situation still be the same had he done the same thing in a Congress ruled state? Certainly not. He would've been a free man and the whole case would've been brushed under a carpet of lies and concocted stories. But, things are different and there is hope. Hope, that the girl will get justice. The entire country is watching this high profile case which would certainly be a benchmark in the history of Independent India.
'Tehelka' it is. The magazine has reached a full circle. With the resignation of two stalwarts of the magazine, things will never be the same. And, before Tarun Tejpal exits from the media scene, he can have a 'Think Fest' in his mind and let the world know what he was thinking !!
I may have chanelled out into a different topic but the main topic of discussion isn't forgotten. Tarun Tejpal it is. Today the media has finally taken their eyes off him -- but just for a night. Come tomorrow and the hysteria will resume. Channels will compete in frenzied chaos. Each channel will try to outdo the other in the coverage of the case. Some channels can disgust you with their enactment and dramatization of the case. This new case is of one of their own bretheren and all media houses want to show their unbiased approach. I will not do justice to this piece of writing if I do not mention Arnab Goswami. His new found toy is Tarun Tejpal and he's bound to play with it till he's assured that there's no life left in Mr TT.
The cause of the girl, a journalist, is lost amongst the whole fiasco. She has openly claimed in her mail to the Managing Editor of Tehelka that she was sexually molested by the 'Boss'. The MD covered it up by asking Tarun Tejpal to quit. He quit with an apology that claimed that it was just a drunken banter. He thought he would be let off by using his excellent writing skills but things weren't as easy as was made out to be. The email got leaked out into the press and all hell broke loose. The girl, mustered up all her strength and has decided to fight one of the strongest men in the country. He was after all one of the best in the media.
Almost every institution goes through their 'in-house' punishments and hush-ups. Very few cases reach the courts. A friend just mentioned that the Indian men's 'sexual awakening' was suddenly on an upward drive. I disagree with her. It's the women/girls who have become bolder. They are at par with their male counterparts and know how to deal with men. They know they have to take a stand at work place. Tarun Tejpal, when he appeared at the Delhi airport had a smirk on his face. A near shadow of amusement at being on the other side of the camera. A man who has had such a graceful and strong media presence for almost two decades was at the receiving end. It was almost as if he didn't believe this was happening to him. The ladies of his house hold went all out to protect him by shielding his face and shooing away the cameramen. It was a very unfortunate sight and they didn't deserve all this. But, a persons wrong doings does pave the way for a lot of embarrassment for the family too.
This case ceases to be just about Tarun Tejpal and his subordinate. It is about all women who go through sexual advances in work places. However, it doesn't happen everyday that a man of such stature is caught in the midst of such heavy artillery. The entire country wants some kind of reaction from the judiciary. It isn't a secret that the man in question was inclined towards the Congress govt. That makes it even more interesting. Would the situation still be the same had he done the same thing in a Congress ruled state? Certainly not. He would've been a free man and the whole case would've been brushed under a carpet of lies and concocted stories. But, things are different and there is hope. Hope, that the girl will get justice. The entire country is watching this high profile case which would certainly be a benchmark in the history of Independent India.
'Tehelka' it is. The magazine has reached a full circle. With the resignation of two stalwarts of the magazine, things will never be the same. And, before Tarun Tejpal exits from the media scene, he can have a 'Think Fest' in his mind and let the world know what he was thinking !!
