Broadcasting along LOC 

Prasar Bharati transmitter at the border district of Poonch has miserably failed its listeners on our side of the border. If one of the purposes of opening the Poonch transmission unit was to counter malicious propaganda of Pakistan, and at the same time, unveil the truth, we have miserably failed in it. We must be honest enough to concede our failure. What exactly has happened is that three FMs established by Pakistan close to the LOC are so effective and pervasive that people on our side, having met with disappointment with Prasar Bharati, now switch on to POK and Pakistani radio to listen to a variety of programmes relayed from these transmitters. It is a matter of indignity that our people deeply interested and enthusiastic to listen to our own radio are frustrated because the existing transmitter does not reach even the citizens of Poonch town not to speak of people on or across the LOC. The transmitter is old and worn out and has exhausted its utility. It is dysfunctional and serves no purpose whatsoever.

Poonch is a border district. It is vulnerable to infiltration. It has tremendous strategic importance for our State and the country. The people living in this district speak at least four dialects, viz. Poonchi, Pahari, Gojri and Urdu. In Mandi region and Loren-Gagren area people speak Kashmiri. All of these linguistic entities deserve to be taken care of by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It is criminal on the part of I&B Ministry to kill the desires and aspirations of these people and force them to switch on to Pakistani radio channels just because our own channels are hopelessly dysfunctional.

And what is the method of three Pakistani FM channels that are operative to optimum. They present absorbing cultural programme and intersperse it with vicious and malignant anti-India propaganda to indoctrinate its listeners. More often than not its broadcasts are laced with religious propaganda with tacit intention of whipping up communal passions of listeners on our side. Apart from this, they have undertaken massive disinformation campaign, fabricating falsehood and distorting history. These distortions are amazing and carefully planted to influence the psychology of listeners and do good job of brainwashing. Not only the Poonch branch of Prasar Bharati but I&B Ministry also knows well that it is an uphill task to counter this vast and horrendous propaganda. As long as we have no counter strategy and cannot reach the listening public, our adversary has a field day.

It is a reflection on I&B Ministry to underestimate the importance of having a strong and forceful broadcasting network along the LOC. It is part of national security and we cannot understand how officialdom is allowed to tamper with our secularity concerns by hanging on to mundane and obsolete official routines and paperman-ship. Why broadcasting stations along LOC don't serve the purpose for which they have been established with great fanfare? Who is to monitor it and where are monitors? Why the number of staff has been reduced, and how can just two or three persons man it? Apart from technical and professional issues even logistics remains neglected.

Essentially the stations along LOC should cover the cultural aspects of populace because that is what will make it popular and endearing with the people. Political propaganda is only a by-product of its current function; it is not a permanent feature. Once relations between the two countries improve, the quantum and force of propaganda will dwindle automatically. That is why we say that essentially emphasis has to be given to culture. The people of the region have tremendous originality and potential which need to be explored and exploited in service to culture. Poonch has still retained its literary tradition. Once upon a time, Poonch produced stalwarts of literary fame and intellectuals who made distinct mark in the history of the nation. Krishan Chander, Ramanand Sagar, Thakur Poonchi, Maulana Charag, Hasan Hasrat, Pandit Dayanand Kapoor and Motilal Kapoor are a few among them. The traditions and social trends they established need to be highlighted from time to time for younger generations. That is essentially the task radio and cultural academy has to undertake. Poonch has not to be seen just from the angle of a war zone, a border strategic town and then relegated to oblivion. That means striking irreparable blow to our own cultural history.

We would beseech I&B Ministry to give teeth to this very important unit of Prasar Bharati and not disappoint the sensitive people living along LOC. Old transmitter should be replaced and these stations should be made the powerful unit and most competent staff with originality and innovative brain should be deputed to man this station.

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Courtesy: The Daily Excelsior: 15th January, 2024