New Delhi- Media in Delhi always looks at Kashmir through the prism of the Centre and National media has contributed to the jingoistic discourse on Kashmir pushed forward by the State.
This was stated by Rajdeep Sardesai, consulting editor at the India Today group in an interview with the Kashmir Observer.
Sardesai, one of the few credible voices left among the cacophony of news channels, condemned the way National media has narrativsed Kashmir, especially over the last few years.
He believes that, with regard to Kashmir, it is time that everyone takes a hard look in the mirror which will produce a view of a scarred Valley failed by consecutive governments.
He also doesnt deny the fact that National media has contributed to this jingoistic discourse pushed forward by the State.
The problem, according to Sardesai, is that the media in Delhi always looks at Kashmir through the prism of the Centre. National media is unwilling to give the kind of space that the Kashmiri deserves. His voice is essentially seen by us as a peripheral voice or a voice that has to be stifled or condemned says Rajdeep Sardesai.
He also admits that for a very long time Kashmir has been represented on national television by fixed stereotypes.
It is tragic, but thats the way it has been. Not just with Kashmir but all contentious issues. We get people who fit into the stereotype. So Shabnam Lone is the raving loony Kashmiri woman who can effectively speak what we see as the voice of Kashmir.
While the current narrative is flawed, Sardesai also admits that the current narrative also omits certain many nuances especially that of the Kashmiri woman.
I agree the Kashmiri woman has not been given voice. While covering the Kashmir floods I realised that maybe in our own minds weve stereotyped the separatist is the man and the flood victim is a woman, he says. Read the full interview
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