Comment
on the role of journalist in VijayTendulkar’s Kamala.
A great
figure in the realm of Indian English literature, Vijay Tendulkar started his
professional career as a journalist and penned daily columns in news papers. As
a journalist he must have particular ethics. In October 1982, Tendulkar has
given statement in The Sunday Observer, “I am against sensational journalism.” In his epoch-making
drama, “Kamala” Tendulkar besides depicting the status of woman in present day
society in comparison to the male chauvinistic world of today has also made a
comparative study between the traditional pragmatic journalism and the modern sensational
journalism represented by Kakasheb and Jaisingh respectively.
Jaisingh
is a sensational journalist and he seeks sensational news risking even his
life. He travels far and wide to get evidence for his news. He faces a number
of troubles on his way. He gets threatening phone calls. He commits a criminal
offence by buying a woman in the flesh market. He does this for money and
publicity. Jaisingh’s journalism is based on eye witness and evidence.
On the other
hand Kakasheb provides the true ideals of journalism. Kakasheb’s ethics of
journalism is based on the social responsibility and the commentary an
incidence instead of writing only the blood thirsty descriptions. To Kakasheb
Jaisingh’s journalism is “another
form of mercenary journalism”. In support of his opinion he says that
five years ago Jaisingh was living in the shed outside a house in Koral Bagh,
and today he is in a bunglow in Neetu Bagh. He has servants, a car. He travels
by plane all over the country. He stays in five stars hotels and so on.
