Hafta letters: Respecting NL’s old subscribers, story ideas, and a letter to Abhinandan

Soumya  

Hi NL and TNM team! I was listening to Sunny Sen’s podcast with Abhinandan. Some of his replies were delightful. I have completely stopped watching TV news these days. However, I still feel the urge to watch them now and then to know what ‘masala’ news is going on, but somehow I have been able to control myself. I guess this urge is what TV guys exploit to broadcast news 24x7, which then becomes masala and not news. You guys have opened my eyes!

I must thank Manisha for accepting my request to interview Justice Murlidhar. It was amazing! Pull it out of the paywall after some time so that it reaches as many as possible. 

I have one recommendation and one suggestion. The recommendation is to watch the new documentary by PBS Frontline regarding the alliance between the Saudis and the Trump family. It's amazing! The suggestion is to interview Martin Smith of PBS to understand the complex politics of West Asia. Keep up the excellent work!

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Rafa

This week’s Hafta was quite interesting despite Abhinandan’s absence. I was wondering whether he’s gone to the U.S. to watch a live FIFA match, or if he was playing as a goalie in the Cape Verde team.

I want to recommend two books to Anand for his recent interest in the sciences — The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins and Storm in a Teacup: The Physics of Everyday Life by Helen Czerski. You will thank me. Thank you for the excellent reporting by your team, especially Basant and Anmol, whose reports have really touched a chord with me. Keep up the good work.

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SC  

Hi NL Team,

I listen to Hafta religiously, and something the panel touches on at least once in every weekly discussion is the sense of fear among anyone trying to work in the public interest – journalists, activists, lawyers, historians, environmentalists, and political artists.

In the last Hafta, you guys were talking about how only the privileged are in a position to challenge authority, except that's such a dismal thing to hear for young people from humble beginnings and lower middle-class income groups, who have lived insights guiding them in public interest professions and can make incisive contributions for a better world. For people like these, who have so much to offer but may be discouraged by the current state of media or the criminal justice system, what would your advice be?

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Arindam

I’m writing to share a few thoughts on coverage and story ideas.

First, a man in Mumbai was recently caught distributing "painkiller" capsules to poison people during a Muharram procession. Mainstream media largely missed it, and I was disappointed to see Newslaundry skip it too – this narrative deserved sharper focus.

Second, I followed a Twitter debate involving Hartosh Singh Bal disputing unofficial figures regarding state atrocities and missing persons during the Punjab insurgency. This deeply nuanced historical issue would make a fantastic NL Interview.

Finally, consider establishing small East and West bureaus with one or two permanent reporters and interns to unearth regional stories. For an NL Sena project, a series that tracks state governments by matching election manifestos to actual delivery would be incredible. If assessing an entire state is too broad, you could track specific MP/MLA constituencies to audit exactly how MPLAD/MLALAD funds were spent on the ground.

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Sumanth

Hi Team, Please read the letter in the image below. It is within 150 words. Thanks!

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Srinath 

On Hafta 596, you discussed protests, whether Indians are good or bad at them, the role of social media in them, etc. I was surprised that you didn’t discuss the 2020-21 farmers' protest, which prompted the usually authoritarian-leaning current dispensation to repeal laws passed by Parliament. 

That’s unthinkable in terms of outcomes for students who’re asking for the education minister’s resignation for sustained incompetence. With the gift of hindsight, what do you think made the farmers' protest successful in achieving its clear demand of “kaale kanoon wapas lo”? 

Thanks, 

Srinath 

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Sajeev

Looks like you are always ignoring my letters. If you do not wish to read it, at least send me a reply saying you will not pick it up.

Please show some respect to one of your oldest subscribers.

Hi, I realised the value of independent media many years ago from a small corner of Kerala and have been a subscriber for over five years.

As CJP evolves into a broader movement, I have a question for Abhinandan.

You were closely involved in the Jan Lokpal movement, including its finances, alongside Manish. With hindsight, it is clear that individuals and groups with political and business interests were either part of the movement or later became associated with it.

While I believe genuine intentions drove your participation, the movement is often seen as one of the factors that contributed to the rise of the current right-wing government.

Would you consider conducting a detailed interview to reflect on the movement’s origins, organisation, finances, key decisions, challenges, and outcomes? Conducted by Manisha, Jayashree, or another suitable interviewer, it would serve as both a transparency exercise and a valuable historical record.

Such a conversation could help younger generations understand how mass movements emerge, evolve, and shape political outcomes.

Please let us know if this would be possible.

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