THE PRINTED WORD/A mirror to the media By Frederick Noronha [email protected]
'Saralvaat' is retired editor Suresh Walve's autobiography of his times in journalism. For those interested in knowing about the men -- our media is only just overcoming its gender imbalances -- who shape our thoughts each morning, here is one interesting book related to Goa itself. Literally, the title translates to The Straight Road. This book by the editor from Bicholim is dedicated to the late editor Chandrakant Keni of the Rashtramat and industrialist Vasantrao Dempo of the Dempo group. This mining group, as readers would know, publishes the Navprabha, where Walve had a long stint, and the Navhind Times. Walve credits these individuals made him "a journalist first, and only then an editor". In the book, together with 50 essays from the editor, there are also a number of photographs included. A rare pic from the yesteryears shows Walve with a suit-clad Narayan Athawalay (Gomantak editor-turned-MP) and a young Raju Nayak, in Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim annexed to India in 1975. The book is in Marathi. Introductory remarks are by another ex-editor, Uday Bhembre. Each essay in the 240-page book is short and focussed on a specific theme. Topics covered themes such as Walve's entry into journalism, his joining Rashtramath, his inability to keep up with his love of cinema, his first steps in the media, bidding aideu to Rashtramath and so on. When this book reached that informal 'Press Club' of Goa, Cafe Prakash in Panjim, there was some interest evinced in it. Other journos, and even those who rub shoulders with mediapersons often, showed an interest in knowing more about this book. Being in Marathi, a language one only learnt for three years in school, there are limitations to how much of it this reviewer could comprehend and how fast. But apart from his densely packed text, Walve also tells the story in pictures from his archives -- and these he has in plenty. For instance, on page 35, there's one showing the initial team of Navprabha. With editors like D. B. Karnik, Shantaram Bokil, and others. Others who played a key role in shaping the Goa of today -- by way of their writings -- also feature in this book's pages. These include ex-editors Uday Bhembre and the late Chandrakant Keni, sports writer Vijay Gaad, Lakshimidas Borkar, Madhavrao Gadkari, Datta Saraf, Tukaram Kokje (all former editors), author and columnist Ravindra Kelekar, and others. There are other unexpected stories on its pages: Walve as candidate for a council election, felicitating chairman Vasantrao Dempo on his birthday, language politics of the 1980s, Brahman Sangh felicitations, with politicians (Ramakant Khalap, Ravi Naik), at Ashok Dhande's scenic garden in Taleigao, entering politics, being felicitated by Arun Shourie, and more. Walve's is a story of his times, whether one agrees or not is another issue. He has a chapter on the Konkan Railway. It pays to be an influential writer, if not someone close to the powers that be. Walve is photographed durign his images abroad, en route plane flights, in Davos Switzerland, before the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, in London, posing with a kilt-clad bagpiper in Scotland, and elsewhere. Page 149, for instance, has this photo of editors of those times posing with Governor S.C. Jamir. For a section which influences public life so much, the media -- in Goa at least -- is largely under-studied. At best, one can get an insight into the mind of the media by reading what they have to say about themselves. Walve's book, though in Marathi and therefore not easily accessible to all readers, is an interesting insight into understanding mediapersons and the media. The 240-page book is priced at Rs 250 and available at Varsha Book Stall (Near Azad Maidan) and other locations. [First published in Gomantak Times]
