The tehelka in Tehelka
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: November 27, 2013 -

Overshadowing all other cases, the news of sexual assault charges levelled against Tehelka founder-Editor-in-Chief Tarun Tejpal is all that one could read on newspapers, see on televisions or heard in discussion among different groups of people everywhere today. And, there are some obvious reasons for that.

A sexual assault is nothing but just that, a sexual assault, and there is no difference from other similar cases.

But the present case has been treated and looked upon differently, again for some obvious reasons.

First of all, the incident has shaken the edifice of the whole media fraternity.

Secondly, it has exposed how the news magazine which has been at the forefront of fighting for the rights of the people, particularly the marginalised sections of the society including women has tried hard to conceal the gravity of the crime committed by its Editor-in-Chief, which is equivalent to rape under the amended IPC.

And, thirdly, the political conspiracy angle which the accused Editor-in-Chief has unnecessarily dragged in while trying to wriggle out of the mess he has fallen into from his 'drunken banter', 'sexual liaison' or 'a bad lapse of judgement' (whatever that may be) with a junior colleague, who is not just the daughter of his late friend but also the friend of his own daughter.

It is to the courage of the junior colleague who stood firm on her ground notwithstanding the smear campaign launched even on the social media sites vilifying her character that the issue is going to have its logical conclusion.

From the first complaint letter that the victim wrote to Shoma Chaudhury, the Managing Editor of Tehelka on November 18 telling her about the sexual assault incidents that occurred on two occasions during the Think festival at Goa on November 7 to the resignation letter that she had to submit citing lack of support from the side of the organization, every word cries for justice and for living up to the social responsibility of what Tehelka stands for.

Over the years, the news magazine, which has redefined the whole concept of 'independent journalism', through its in-depth reporting on rights of women, custodial rape, sexual molestation at the workplace, intimidation and character assassination of those who dare to speak out against sexual violence.

But this time, Tehelka has failed its own staff, a woman victim, and resorted to the same tactics of intimidation and character assassination for she dares to speak up against the wrong done to her by a senior colleague, all in the name of protecting the institution.

This is indeed very sad. What is even more sadder is the fact that the Managing Director of Tehelka is a woman herself, and yet she dares to call the victim a liar.

When a woman is not ready to listen and understand the trauma that another woman has been going through, then who would?