Homage !!
My friend Kirti Patil, now a former journalist and more keen about family life and pounds, posted a message -
Mr H Seetharama Rao, owner of Flat 31, (that is Samachar society, Mayur Vihar, East Delhi) died this morning in London after a brief illness. He was 85.
Mr Rao was Samachar resident till 2000 before he moved to London as PTI Correspondent. He was 85.
G Sudhakar Nair, a PTI colleague of Mr Rao since 1979 and staying in his flat since 2008, is in touch with Mr Rao's daughter Aparna, who shared the sad news a short while ago.
HSR is also survived by his son Rajesh . Our heartfelt condolences to the family ."
 |
| Homage Sir jee |
H S Rao (HSR in PTI lingo) was AGM when I moved to PTI headquarters. As stated above in 2000 - he moved to London replacing A K Dhar - who returned to Delhi. I remember interacting with him cordially and not so cordially -- during official and un-official meetings.
After he was posted to London, R C Rajamani had said - "In life luck matters a lot". HSR made a humble beginning and rose up the ladder becoming AGM and then the foreign posting in London. Eyebrows were bound to be raised. I have worked in several organisations after quitting PTI and a few in north east before that - nowhere non-journalists took so much interest in the affairs of news and newsrooms.
Hence, I never had good friends among non-journalists once I had moved out of PTI. With HSR - a few rounds of meetings worth recalling was in September-October 1998 --when PTI bosses decided to delay our confirmation.
My Aizawl friend H C Valalruata (Ruata) screamed - "Omlo reng reng ... (No No, Nothing doing)". I joined him. Though a Bengali by birth - the 'Naga spirit' was still in me. By then my father affectionately - would say "He(his eldest son) thinks and argues like a Naga".
We had a third friend -a Bong - from Agartala. A practical fellow who did not want to rebel. But two of us went to HSR more than once. Our message was clear -if the confirmation was not done within six months as was assured in writing - we would quit. In HSR's chamber - at times - I would give angry look towards Ruata and even gesturing my hands. Ruata would do most of the talking. HSR complained once or twice -- "Why you are misguiding him".
In fact, our negotiations were going as per plan. Inside we also used code language - small Mizo phrases and words such as - "Om lo" and "pam lo". Every time, I would say such words - Ruata would harden his position.
PTI had redtapism culture. Fear was the key word. We called it chamcha giri. As me and Ruata took a rebellion stance; everyone would suggest - " Do not do all these ... you will get nothing".
Only two other north eastern boys encouraged us - Late Yanger Thakkar (son of a Naga mom and Gujarati Gandhian dad) and Utpal Borpujari (an Assamese boy next door neighbour-type friend).
Utpal even said : "Fight on ... they will have to confirm you. Invite me for dinner at PTI, Guest House".
And we did host him at E-20 Jungpura Extension. I brought pork curry from Nagaland House. Ruata arranged vital juice.
In the ultimate, we won the battle and we were soon confirmed.
One additional prize was -- our third friend from Agartala also benefited though (typical of most Bengalis), he never acknowledged that. Forget thanking us. HSR was also called Bhim bhai - perhaps for his height -- he was 6.5 or even more.
But once we were confirmed and Ruata left to take charge in Aizawl and I was retained in PTI headquarters -- HSR became friendly and would invite me to his room for South Indian tiffin and tea.
He would be also liberal and gave me a few bylines - those were like trophies in a conservative era.
Even after he left for London - the friendship sustained for first few months.
On getting news of HSR's demise as I called up Ruata - he sounded emotional and said - "Oh, that's sad. He was like a Guru. Some people wanted to delay our confirmation". Nostalgic.
In the ultimate, homage to HSR. It is a fact somehow he was responsible for our confirmation in the autumn season of 1998. Had he not done the negotiations the manner it was done - our stories would have been different.
Maybe I had to go back to Kohima, and by now - some gunmen could have me shot me down. Many Nagas were unhappy with me (an Indian talking and writing so much about Nagas) and they are still unhappy - I am confident about it.
Life as a journalist - like politics - hardly follow straight lines. We dig, we stare and we may scratch. But we have to start again and again. Freelancing is that part of the process.
But our world is changing. Kirti - a fantastic sports journo - is now with a AI company. Ruata also quit PTI after a brief differences with a much junior desk person in Kolkata office. He is now a much dependable Times of India man in Aizawl. He did a few award wining good BBC projects too.
 |
| Ruata and Me : We know how to fight PTI and also how to talk to HSR |
In journalistic sense - I remember HSR telling us -- two things matter a lot in reporting. -
One, be very particular about "sources". He also cautioned - "Yes, I know uncle Jack... that's not source for responsible reporting". He was so right. Then he said -- "Reporting death is the most challenging thing".
He told us during those (confirmation-negotiation) days -- "In 1984 when the news about Indira Gandhi's assassination was flashed; large crowd had gathered and threatened to burn PTI office".
He also said - "Even if you see five bodies taken in an ambulance ... that does not mean, five people died .... three of them may come back to sense by the time they reach hospital".
So crucial.
HSR was honoured at a function held in the House of Commons.
ends
No comments:
Post a Comment