THE BIGGEST CULPRITS IN SPREADING CASTEISM IN THE MEDIA SYSTEM: ADV ATUL PRAKASH, PRESIDENT, JANHIT PARIVAR PRATINIDHI SABHA

THE BIGGEST CULPRITS IN SPREADING CASTEISM IN THE MEDIA SYSTEM: ADV ATUL PRAKASH, PRESIDENT, JANHIT PARIVAR PRATINIDHI SABHA

4-NOV-ENG 4

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA---------------------------It's election season, and conversations about caste-based candidates and caste equations dominate street corners and community gatherings. People speculate on who will split whose votes, who might win or lose by certain margins, and which castes will sway the outcome.

The primary instigators of these discussions are journalists and media personnel, who analyze caste equations with statistical breakdowns. In Bihar and throughout India, caste-based politics is a persistent problem, but it is especially acute in Bihar.

The media has been instrumental in propagating the casteist slogan "Bhoora Bal Saaf Karo" (Cleanse the Brown and Black) in Bihar. Such divisive propaganda, disseminated through media channels, heightens caste-based polarization and fosters hatred in society.

Today, leaders and political parties are evaluated through the lens of caste demographics and electoral trends, which sows seeds of caste-driven resentment.

The chief offenders in perpetuating casteism are these self-proclaimed journalists who tally votes by caste, thereby eroding the integrity of journalism. The true role of journalism is to uncover facts, enlighten the public, and unite society—not to fuel divisions along caste or religious lines.

Agree or disagree, election periods inevitably spark talks of caste-based candidates and vote-bank arithmetic, which deepen societal rifts. Journalists and media outlets frequently dissect caste equations with data, inadvertently advancing casteism.

Journalism must uphold its mission to expose truth and inspire societal progress, rather than exacerbate divisions based on caste or religion. We need to enforce higher ethical standards in media and hold accountable those journalists who incite casteism.

Let us commit to fostering positive societal transformation and actively resist forces that perpetuate casteism.