C -23 Book Review — The Free voice (On Democracy, Culture, The Nation)
“The socialization of fear is complete. To be afraid is to be civilized in this new democracy.”
The author, Ravish Kumar, is one of the most renowned journalists in India who was included in the 100 most influential people list by Indian Express in 2016. He is currently the Senior Executive Editor of NDTV channel. He is famous for his vocal dissent against authoritarian governments and has authored the books ‘Free Voice’, and ‘Ishq Me Sheher Hona.’ The book, Free Voice was originally written in Hindi and was further translated by Chitra Padmanabhan, Anurag Basnet and Ravi Singh. The book talks about the importance of freedom of expression for the full realization of a democracy.
The book begins by intimating us about the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case of Gujarat. The author, (as a journalist) had explored this case in his Prime-Time episode but was later met with threatening calls. This incident set the premise of the book by highlighting the shrinking spaces of freedom of speech and dissent in the country. The author also gives anecdotes about his prior life to acquaint us to his background. He further goes on to warns us about the Robo Public who base their beliefs on WhatsApp forwards. He wittingly also shed light on a speech given by the Prime Minister of the country that was based on fake news, highlighting the importance of fact checked verified news sources and their impact on impressionable minds. He talks about the national project for instilling fear, by illustrating the assassination of the renowned journalist, Gauri Lankesh. He also audaciously spoke out against faux Babas and the so-called Anti Romeo squads that are attempting to spoil the social harmony of our country. Most importantly, he sets out what we must do as citizens if we are to reclaim lost ground and build an intellectually progressive, inclusive and truly democratic nation.
Each assertion made in the book was backed by a factual evidence or a detailed case study which proves the veracity of his claim. There were also various anecdotes and personal stories of the author. The entire book is written in first person to depict his personal engagement with the subject. The author dared to speak out against the government and authorities confidently. He catalogues the many ways in which the media, elected representatives and the institutions of the land are collectively failing us. I personally could resonate with his arguments as they were lucidly put and well supported. More emphasis was laid on the arguments than on jargons. The book has the obvious left orientation for which ravish Kumar is known in India. Yet, the book doesn’t attempt to widen the already existing political factions of the society but gives the commentary on the current space to speak out, which inarguably is shrinking. The book is a must-read for communication professionals who are currently stepping in the professional world.
