Investigative journalism : The need of the hour

Thoudam Imomacha Singh *

The term investigative journalism was born very late in the history of journalism all over the world. As late as the 19th and 20th centuries we had not come across this type of investigative writings, very often. But, it would be pertinent to say that investigative journalism had originated from the United States (US), when the wrong doings of the then President Richard Milhous Nixon in his attempt for his own re-election as President for the second consecutive term were discovered.

The Committee for the re-election of the President (CRP), which was responsible for the campaign for the re-election of the incumbent President had been detected transacting an unprecedentedly huge amount of US dollars. This was the first signal of suspicion about the credibility of the Nixon campaign being revealed by two young American reporters namely Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. The reporting of these two scribes being published in the New York Times had culminated into Nixon's quitting from the American Presidency.

The episode had brought a singular vicissitudes in the course of American political history. Such a sensational disclosure had, in fact, perished the political career of one of the most erudite and seasoned politicians. Although, the credit for dismantling Nixon from the world's most powerful office had gone to Jack Anderson, the details of the offence that had Nixon brought to book had been divulged by Bob and Carl. Ultimately the Federal Supreme Court of the US indicted Nixon on charges of Watergate Conspiracy.

Such a political episode had caused a nasty amount of shame and huge loss of credibility to the politicians in the US in general and the American Presidency in particular. In fact, the Watergate Conspiracy was an unparalleled interpretation of American political obloquy. In a book of history of investigative journalism, Watergate Conspiracy, the My Lai massacre and the Iran contra deal must be the most significant chapters which could identically attract the attention of scribes as well as the general readers.

In India, investigative journalism is still comparatively young in the sense that it has only lived a life-span of about four decades. As a matter of fact, the beacon of Investigative journalism in India was kindled when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in her most enigmatic temperament proclaimed the infamous 'emergency' on 26th June 1975 to retain political power after the Allahabad High Court delivered its verdict setting aside her election from Raebarely Parliamentary Constituency.

The High Court had also debarred her from holding any elected office for six years. Her wantonly act abrogating all constitutional norms was never approved or accepted by the Indian nationhood. The mass arrest of eminent political leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan, Morarji Desai, Atal Behari Vajpayee, LK Advani, Charan Singh, Ashok Mehta, M Karunanedhi in the wee hours of June 26th had, indeed, accumulated a political nuclear power on the side of the Jayaprkash Narayan group. Jayaprakash Narayan had called Mrs. Gandhi's autocratic action the 'Rape of democracy'.

The formidable dissent and the non-acceptance of the Draconian Law effectuated by Mrs Gandhi had aroused an enthusiasm in the minds of the young journalist of the country to launch an investigation into the conspiracy of the proclamation of 'Emergency'. The said younger set of scribes was led by Arun Shourie. He, indeed, stood out as the most eminent scribe who catapulted himself to fame on the firmament investigative journalism in the country.

His revelations of many misdeeds and murky affairs clandestinely operated by the government had resulted into the ouster of atleast one state chief minister from power. As such Arun Shourie may aptly be called the 'Father' of Investigative journalism in India. Of course he was not always triumphant in his investigative manoeuvres due to want of adequate evidence but what was important is that he had atleast shown the avenue to others in the profession how investigative journalism could be applied to or carried on and also laid down the ground rules for the professionals in the field.

Investigations have revealed that the proclamation of 'Emergency' in India had aroused a vigorous resentment from the British political psyche. British Foreign Secretary James Callaghan had spoken to his Indian counterpart YB Chavan questioning the incarceration of the volatile socialist George Fernandes. Eminent member of British Parliament Fenner Brockway condemned the 'Emergency' and the arrest JP in no uncertain terms.

He said: "……Four years ago you sent him to London to put across India's view about the brutal suppresation of the people of East Pakistan by Pakistan. I arranged a meeting of Conservative and Labour members of Parliament here to meet him. Jayaprakash Narayan spoke with feeling and sincerity. His presentation of India's case was convincing and his speech made very favourable impression on the members of Parliament. Now, you want me to believe that he is traitor?".

In the concluding months of 1976, the 'Emergency' had also reached the end of the road. Mrs Gandhi could no longer bear the brunt of the fallout of the 'Emergency' which ultimately was about to engulf her government and the party. At this time Mrs Gandhi was firmly assisted by a triumvirate of sycophants comprising DK Barooah, Siddhartha Shankar Ray, Rajni Patel.

Her so called advisers went to the extent of suggesting to her to extend the term of the Lok Sabha to six years from the earlier five and also 'Emergency' being continued. Nevertheless Mrs Gandhi had come to her senses. She gathered her political courage and announced the Lok Sabha polls to be held in the beginning of 1977. It is imperative to say here that investigative journalism had, in fact, taught Mrs Gandhi a new dimension of politics in India.

The Bofors affair was a scandal of Himalayan proportion that had tremored the Rajiv Gandhi regime. N Ram of The Hindu in Madras had given the best journalistic effort of investigation to expose those persons in high places in the government who received kickbacks in the purchase of Swedish Howizer guns. In his venture of investigation Ram had been given ample support by a proficient lady Journalist Chitra Subramaniam, who was then based at Geneva.

In the early stage of the investigation he was able to get hold of some secret documents and diaries that had clearly established payment of kickbacks to Indians connected with the deal. But before he could accomplish his mission of investigation his relation with his editor became strained and the investigation process had to be abandoned half-way.

Although many other newspapers in India took up the work of investigation with Chitra Subramaniam to help them, the venture could not gather momentum and rouse public psyche widely in their favour. The diclosures of N Ram and Chitra Subramaniam on the Bofors case were responsible for the debacle of the Congress government led by Rajiv Gandhi in the 1990 Lok Sabha elections.

As we all know corruption is rampant in Manipur. Money-power is indeed another factor for governance in the state. Money-power can subside dissidence in the ruling party. It seems most of our lawmakers do not feel safe to play a political game of do or die. Because they take it easier to stay in comforts than serving the common man.

Many of them are always more interested in self-aggrandizement than serving the masses. It is high time that our younger generation of scribes come forward and take to investigative reporting ad if a duck takes to water so that the politics of nepotism and corruption could be brought to an end.