Reporting from Jail

I am delighted to inform you about the launch of another book by Delhi-based journalist and journalism teacher. The author,
Dr. Vartika Nanda, has penned this book after a thorough investigation in the wake of her study on prison reforms. The book, Tinka Tinka Dasna,  deals with human rights, prisons and the media.

She has been working on prison reforms for the last few years. Dasna is a prison in Uttar Pradesh. ders. Written after intensive research and hard work, the book is one of its kind, narrating stories of those who are redefining  themselves while serving imprisonment. This book is an authentic media and literary report on jails trying to create space behind bars for the enlightenment and creativity of the inmates.  The book, split in nine parts, is a reportage which contains a journalist, a narrator, a plot, a poem and a truth.

Another salient feature of this book is the poems composed by two prisoners who are household names and convicts in the infamous AarushiTalwar murder case. Rajesh and NupurTalwar in their poems have penned their experiences, which has so far been turbulent. The English version of this book has been translated by NupurTalwar. 

Her earlier book, Tinka Tinka Tihar, is already in the Limca Book of Records.

The book is available on Amazon.

AMAZON HINDI

http://www.amazon.in/Tinka-Dasna-Hindi-Vartika-Nanda/dp/9352657292/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474291751&sr=8-1&keywords=TINKA+TINKA+DASNA

AMAZON ENGLISH

http://www.amazon.in/Tinka-Dasna-English-Vartika-Nanda/dp/9352657306/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1474297264&sr=8-2&keywords=TINKA+TINKA+DASNA

Media and Communication for Development edited by Dr. K. John Babu

Media and Communication for Development edited by Dr. K. John Babu

Review  by Prof. C K Sardana, Bhopal

Sequentially, there are three main words in the  book title. These are Media, Communication and Development. Needle stops at the last and most important word Development. Other words are pathways to help achieve Development.

Development is a participatory process aimed at creating or/and maintaining social structures and institutions which allow a society's present and future needs to be met, Central  point is People whose needs are paramount in the process. For knowing and reaching out to the People, we need Media as also Communication.

Policies for development are framed by the bureaucrats under the overall guidance and direction of the political masters. In the framing of these policies, inputs are required about the areas under ‘development’, status thereof, peoples’ needs, data, views of scholars and activists, media to be used according to the understanding levels and expectations of the people and so on.

The volume, under review, is rich in contents containing  different views needed in the formulation of development-oriented policies and programs. In particular, as the title suggests, the volume covers media and communication for development.

 Media has undergone a sea change in the last 2-3 decades with several New Media emerging. Notable features of the New Media are richness in contents, speed, reach and overall impact. In simple words, media and communication has to be right for the target publics whose quality of life has to be improved.

 Media includes print (newspapers, magazines, posters, brochures), broadcasting (radio, television), digital (social media and online content)), street (billboards, murals, graffiti) and others (novelties, merchandising  especially social marketing to promote behavior change). Communication means a process of creating and stimulating understanding as the basis for development rather than information transformation. It is the articulation of social relations among people. 

In the above backdrop, the volume ably edited by Dr. K. John Babu, Assistant Professor, Department of Convergent Journalism, Central University of Kashmir, Srinagar is timely, relevant and nearly all-comprehensive.

The volume takes a fresh look at development communication in the Indian context. Grouped under six  sections, articles number as many as 27. The sections are: Media and sustained development; Education and health development; Agricultural development, environment and disaster management; Community development and media technology; Media for the elderly and women; and Media for regional development.

Topics selected together with writer's narration thereof is commendable. Lot of research would have gone into the writing of the articles by scholars, researchers etc.  Foreword is by Prof. J V Vilanilam, the eminent Professor & Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kerala. 

Prof. Vilanilam has rightly said in the Foreword "The success of development depends on how effectively mass media is used by the nations for advocating development targets and use pf 'public information'. Developing countries should focus on cutting-edge information technology industries. For that, we need to set up technology parks and allow environmental-friendly technology to penetrate in the fields of health, education, agriculture etc. for easy transformation of a nation towards development.'

In a volume like this, one looks for a bibliography which is missing. But, then, this is made up by detailed references given at the end of each article thereby lending credibility to the contents. Price of the book Rs. 1695 is high. Even so, the volume should be of great use tyo students, researchers and teachers of communication and journalism, besides decision-makers in the Central & State Governments, Local Bodies, NGOs etc. not just in India but in all developing countries.

Publishers:

2016, Dominant Publishers & Distributors Pvt. Lt., New Delhi, Pages 364, Rs. 1695.

Prof. C K Sardana

M-177 Gautam Nagar

Bhopal-462023

Email id: casardana@gmail.com

Who killed Osho? Book launched

--By Kiran Thakur

Pune-29032017

Who killed Osho? 

Pune-based journalist Abhay Vaidya’s book is finally out. 

The book lovers and Osho watchers in India and abroad have been waiting for the release of this book for last several months. The Om books International has launched the book in leading bookstores in the country last week, although the Amazon has already made it available online for over a fortnight ago now.

It is the outcome of nearly three decades’ of the reportage and investigative journalism painstakingly carried by one of the finest newsman in India. I am delighted to write about the launch of his book today because he was my colleague in Pune with the defunct Indian Post during the late 1980s. Among our regular coverage, those days used to be Osho. He was hitting the headlines all over the world because of the controversy associated with everything he did in India and abroad. Abhay has remained the only journalist who covered the death on January 19, 1990, and subsequently the controversy over how he died. For quite some time, there used to be a detailed coverage on the death in the media. Some newspapers continued to raise doubts over the death. Speculations continued over the suspicious in which Osho died.

Abhay follows the controversy for the last three decades piecing together threads across the continents. This is a rare piece of investigative journalism that readers come across in India. He had the covered Rajneesh Movement and the book is based on extensively recorded audio and video interviews with Osho’s followers, and a mass of official documents, testimonies, and press reports.

The book traces the early years of Osho, his Neo-Sanyas, Rajneesh Movement, and his magnetic appeal that drew a large number of Indians and Westerners, many of them highly accomplished, to him.

The revolutionary in his thoughts and ideas, Osho struck a chord in many hearts through his powerful oratory and exposition on religion, spiritualism, and meaning of life itself. His meditation techniques are part of his unique contribution to the world and are popular across the globe.

His death on January 19, 1990, triggered a tense factional fight and intrigue among his closest followers for the control of the fonts, intellectual properties, and other lucrative assets of the Movement.

Who killed Osho? not only captures the history of the movement but is also the definitive account to date of Osho’s death and that of his soulmate Nirvano. Throwing fresh light on the controversial circumstances of their death, this book makes a case for investigations into the affairs of the Osho’s trusts as they exist today.

--

About Abhay Vaidya

Is an independent journalist based in Pune? He has worked previously with The Times of India as its Washington correspondent, the newspapers Asst resident editor and DNAs resident editor.

A gold medallist in journalism from the University of Pune, he graduated with a Master’s in political science from Indiana University of Pennsylvanians under Rotary foundation scholarship. He is a fellow of lead India

He has reported extensively on the readiness moment in his career of nearly 3 decades. Other noteworthy news stories include the genesis of the multi-billion dollars Lavasa Lake city project and issues of political patronage and environmental concerns around it; IIM CAT paper leak in 2003, banker borrow or nexus and fraud at a nationalised bank and the seemingly unchecked proliferation of fake currency in the country. He writes a commentary on social and political issues and media ethics on a regular basis.

Passionate about journalism and the role of a free press in the Rocky odyssey of Indian democracy and secularism, Abhay is a visiting faculty at most leading journalism institutes in India.

Briefly About the Book

Who killed Osho?

Om books International

ISBN; 978 – 93 – 86410 – 02-03

editorial@ombooks.com

corporate and editorial office

A– 12, Sector 64, Noida 201301

Uttar Pradesh, India

www.ombooks.com

Requesting journalism teachers and journalists

Requesting journalism teachers and journalists:

If you come across a story of the following type, please send me a link to be published in my blog. I intend to publish such stories as I believe young journalists in India will be benefited in the long run if these are discussed in such a platform.
If you have noticed, there is a dearth of examples to be showcased and discussed in the classes for Development Journalism/Development Communication. You can comment on such stories so that media teachers and senior journalists can discuss the language, presentation, and details of the story . I believe this will inspire peers, critics, and potential development journalists.

Please respond to me at drkiranthakur@gmail.com

KT

Mar 16 2017 : The Times of India (Pune)

Latur village transfers all homes & fields in the names of women

Bhavika Jain1@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:

There is a village in Maharashtra which is not only run but virtually owned by women. Anandwadi, a nondescript village in Nilanga taluka in Latur district, with a population of only 635, is leading the way in social transformation in the state.

Much before movies like Dangal prompted several villages in north India to put up names of their daughters outside their doors, this tiny village in Maharashtra started transferring the house and the fields in the name of the women in the family . Why , even the names of the women along with their mobile numbers are displayed on the nameplates. They didn't need any film to inspire them -a suggestion made by villagers in their gram sabha meeting was enough to make them approve the suggestion with a thumping majority , and it soon became a rule in Anandwadi.

“Like we bring the goddess Laxmi to our house every Diwali, we decided to honour our Laxmis (wivesdaughters) by taking this decision. Women shouldn't feel the need to be dependent on anyone, since they run the home.Why shouldn't they also own it? This will also help to get rid of the patriarchal mindset of people,“ said Nyanoba Chame, member of the gram sabha.There are about 165 homes in the village, all of them in the women's name, and some people have taken a step ahead and have transferred the fields in the name of women.

The village, like its name suggests, is always happy , they haven't had a police case in the last 15 years and have been awarded as best village award under the `dispute-free village scheme.' The residents of this happy village also want to bring cheer to many others, and for that, the entire adult population of the vil lage has pledged its organs and some of the villagers their bodies for medical research.

“410 people from the village have pledged their organs. From now on the village has taken the responsibility of looking after the health of its residents.So smoking, chewing tobacco and drinking are strictly banned here,“ said Bhagyashree Chame, sarpanch of Anandwadi.

Villagers have just one request from the authorities of the state government, who have not even acknowledged their efforts: to provide for organ transplant facilities in government hospitals in Latur. “Currently , there are no facilities for organ transplant in any of the government hospitals in Latur,“said Ram Sagar, a resident.

The main occupation in this village is farming, but to comfort the parents of girls, since last year all the homes have contributed to conduct the wedding of girls from the village. “Since last year, we have been announcing a date on which mass weddings will be conducted and the entire cost is to borne by . We all contribute, and this takes away one big cause of worry that a daughter's father has,“ said Madhav Nagmode, a resident.
This year, the date is April 29. 

--

http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31814&articlexml=Latur-village-transfers-all-homes-fields-in-the-16032017013007

National Conference On “Women’ and Media Past Present & Future” 30th and 31th March 2017

Following from Prof  Dr. Tukaram Daud:

North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon

National Conference

                                          On     

“Women’ and Media Past Present & Future”

30^th and 31^th March  2017

Organized by

Department of Mass Communication and Journalism

School of Arts and Humanities

North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon

Venue

Senate Hall, University Campus,

North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon

P.B.No. 80, Umavinagar, Jalgaon – 425001 (M.S.)

About the University:

            North Maharashtra University was founded on 15 August, 1990, as an exercise of decentralization and reorganization of University education in the state of Maharashtra, NMU is committed to the education on all development in the Khandesh region of the state. University is jurisdiction is over three districts Jalgaon, Dhule and Nandurbar. Recently, According to survey conducted by renowned periodical “India Today” in 2013. North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon is ranked at number 40 amongst 620 Universities in India. Also university Ranks 27^th amonst 742 universities in India and first     The campus is spread over 650 acres of land on a hilly terrain with a good landscape and beautiful, spacious, academic, administrative and residential buildings that include 13 Schools which comprise educational departments. Under the leadership of Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor Prof. P.P. Patil University has taken up the projects in various fields.  In future University is about to develop Bio – Diversity Park and Tribal Academy.

The School of Arts and Humanities: 

            The School of Arts and Humanities has been established by the university authorities in the academic year 2010-11. At present the school has a total of four educational departments viz. Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Department of Library and Information Science, Department of Arts and Fine Arts and Department of Defence and Strategic Studies. The school has been committed to work in conformance with the objectives of the University for strengthening the teaching and learning processes. Faculties of the School are continuously striving to keep the students abreast of the current knowledge about recent trends of their subject domain and also inculcate in them curiosity about education, research and extension by forming a study circle.

Department of Mass Communication and Journalism:

            The Department has started two years post graduate course called M.A. in Mass Communication and Journalism from the year 2006-2007. Well designed practical and experienced faculties are the backbone of the department. The Department publishes a periodical namely ‘UMAVI VARTA’ It is operated by students. The department always tries to impart the best Journalistic Wisdom and as a part of it seminars, workshops, speeches of major media personalities and the arrangement of study tours are organized by Media knowledge an initiative. The department takes to develop of all individuals and it organizes national and international Media related events and research activities including creative Journalistic workshops. Presently 60 percent of our students working in Print media, 25 percent in electronic and broadcasting media.

Theme of the Conference:

“Women’ and Media- Past Present & Future”

1.      Sub-Theme –

1)     Women in Media during pre and post-independence period

2)     Women in the age of Digital Media

3)     Indian Cinema and Women

4)     Women in Print Media

5)     Role of media in women’s empowerment in India

6)     Women Contribution to Print Media and Electronic Media

7)     Women  images in Electronic Media T.V. Radio, Internet

8)     Women  in Media Production & Media Industries

9)     Portrayal of Women in Social Media

10) Women  Centric Media

11) Women Media & Education

Call for Papers:

            Papers are invited on any of the relevant topics pertaining to the theme of conference. The said conference is an initiative to bring well-know academia, critics, scholars, teachers and students to explore the academic impulse in building of social responsible media. To create greater awareness about the topic and ideas Research Papers on the main theme and sub themes of the conference are invited from well known academician, teachers, researcher and students. Quality research paper including field studies from scholars, researches, teachers and students are invited. Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, North Maharashtra University, shall not be responsible  for any violation of copyright; the author of the respective paper shall be solely accountable for the same.

Paper Submission Guidelines:

            Research paper should be based on main or the subthemes of the conference. It should have proper research questions and should also reflect the findings. Abstract length should be between 250 to 300 words. Full Paper should not be more than 3000 words. It must be typed in Times New Roman font size 12 with 1.5 line spacing using MS-Word application in English and only ISM DVB-TT Surekh Font 14pt in single space Marathi/Hindi. The author should give his/here-mail ID, contact number and address with pin code. At the end of the paper.  The research paper should be submitted to the following e-miles and Contact No.-

1.      Dr. Tukaram Daud -                                                                         Organizing Secretary

Ph. – (0257) 2257446, 2258008, Mo. – 9420438453

Email: tvdaud@gmail.com

2.      Dr. Sudhir Bhatkar -                                                                         Convener 

Ph.: - (0257) 2257436, Mo – 9423490044

Email: dr.bhatkarsudhir@gmail.com

3.      Sandip Kedar  -                                                                                  Co-ordinator

Ph: - (0257) 2257445, Mo.- 8600070099

Email: sandipkedar.jal@gmail.com

4.      Rahul Kapure  -                                                                                Co-ordinator

Ph.:- (0257) 2257445, Mo.- 9763103431

Email: rahulkapure123@gmail.com

Important dates :

Full paper with abstract submission:               25^h March 2017

Conference dates:                                           30^th  &  31 March 2016

Registration Fees:

Delegates from Academic Institutions                       Rs.1200/-  (Full Conf. Kit)

Research Scholars                                                       Rs. 700/-   (Only Folder Kit)

Students                                                                      Rs. 500/-  (Only Certificate)                                                             

 Registration fees include participation in all technical sessions, conference kit, tea and lunch will be provided at the venue. Fee is payable by DD in favour of “Finance & Accounts Officer, North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon” payable at Jalgaon (M.S.) INDIA. All the authors of paper and participator are required to pay the Registration fees.

Accommodation: Accommodation will be arranged at North Maharashtra University campus on first cum first served basis. Please inform or mention it in advance your application form.