Ex Political Editor
Deccan Chronicle
---Interesting news/stories that created sensation in the State during my days in Deccan Chronicle days 1978—2019.
---My interactions with top political leaders and funny, interesting episodes
---How sensationalism, wrong news could create havoc
in people’s lives!
1.
Mix
up of dead, injured in APSRTC bus accident in Dilsukhnagar Hyderabad in 1980s
A major APSTRC bus
accident occurred near Dilsukhnagar Hyderabad in the wee hours where nearly 20
persons were killed.
Deccan Chronicle
carried a banner item on the front page and list of dead and injured.
Among the “dead”
list was a school teacher from BHEL Higher Secondary school, Ramachandrapuram.
After the
accident, the lady teacher and other survivors left for their respective homes early
morning while police shifted charred bodies to Osmania General Hospital.
However, after
reading Deccan Chronicle where the lady teacher was in the dead list, the
school management declared a holiday.
Parents, relatives
and well-wishers rushed to the home of the school teacher with wreaths thinking
their teacher was dead.
When they knocked
the door, the teacher who was in deep sleep was shocked to find people with wreaths,
garlands. The visitors were shocked to find the teacher hale and healthy!
The visitors
informed the teacher that she was listed as “dead” in Deccan Chronicle. They
hugged each other and there was a heaved a sigh of relief….
BHEL union office
bearers, school authorities called up Deccan Chronicle and were furious over
the wrong news declaring teacher dead when she was hale and healthy, alive!
PNV Nair, Deccan
Chronicle Editor apologized to the callers. He then arranged a bouquet, a sweet
box and sent two persons to BHEL Ramachandrapuram to personally apologies to
the lady teacher. The team got angry reception but subsequently things cooled
down.
2.
Satya
Sai Baba and golden chain!
Deccan Chronicle carried an article on November 23,
1992 where Sri Satya Saibaba took out a gold chain from nowhere and presented
it to a contractor at a function in Satya Sai Nigamam, Srinagar Colony
Hyderabad.
I, C R Gowri Shanker covered the event and story
published in the Deccan Chronicle. Since were at a distance, we could not see the
sensational chain episode.
Doordarshan TV team including Ramakant covered the
event. While I filed the report, Ramakant during editing in Doordarshan Studios
found something amiss in Satya Sai Baba presenting gold chain.
DD recorded Sathya Sai Baba materializing a gold chain
for a devotee. When viewed in slow motion, the footage appeared to show him
secretly taking the chain from his assistant's hand rather than creating it
from thin air.
This news report and the associated video footage
sparked significant international debate, drawing commentary from both sceptics
and researchers trying to explain the mechanics behind the perceived miracles.
Ramakant, who had worked as Sub Editor in Deccan Chronicle,
called up then Editor, Mr PNV Nair and informed him about the suspicious gold
chain.
He brought in a video cassette to DC office. Mr Nair
called me, Natraj, Kasinath Bh got a video player and saw the clipping. Nair
was sure Saibaba took the chain from an assistant and decided to carry a story
in Deccan Chronicle.
He immediately had four copies of the original video
cassette and gave one to me, Natraj etc and kept one with him. I have the video
copy even today.
He took my event story and asked Mr Venu Kodimela, a sub-Editor
to file a comprehensive story combining my story and what they saw in the video
cassette.
Next day Deccan Chronicle carried the sensational
banner story with photos from Doordarshan video tape.
Satya Sai devotees staged dharna in front of Deccan
Chronicle office at Sarojini Devi Road Secunderabad. It was talk of the town.
Interestingly, Mr T Venkatram Reddy, our chairman’s
mother Mrs Urmila Chandrasekhar Reddy was reportedly in Puttaparthi as she was
Satya Sai Babu bhakt when the story appeared.
I covered Sri Satya Sai Baba’s death, staying for
almost 10 days in Puttaparthi. The story is talked even today.
Sathya Sai Baba (born Ratnakaram
Sathyanarayana Raju; 23 November 1926 – 24 April 2011was an Indian godman and philanthropist. At the age
of 14, he claimed to be the reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba and
left his home for religious cause.
Sathya Sai Baba's followers have attributed to him a
range of miraculous abilities, including the materialisation of Vibhuti (holy ash) and other small
objects such as rings, necklaces, and watches. He was also believed to have
performed spontaneous healings, resurrections, and exhibited clairvoyant abilities.
Additionally, claims were made regarding his ability
to be in multiple places simultaneously (bilocation), as well as his omnipresence, omnipotence, and omniscience.
Sathya Sai Baba faced numerous accusations over the
years which include sleight of hand, money laundering, fraud,
and murder. However, he was never charged with
any offence.
3.
Jubilee
Hills bomb blast…Actor Tarun wrongly declared dead by DC instead of another
Tarun.
In Jubilee Hills
car bomb blast attack on November 19, 1997 outside Ramanaidu studios, 25 people
were killed including six journalists from Eenadu TV network and over 30
injured.
The target was
Paritala Ravi, politician and film producer. Actor Mohan Babu was also present.
The attack was allegedly orchestrated by Gangula Suryanarayana Reddy alias Suri
to assassinate Paritala Ravi for the 1995 murder of Suri’s family.
Among the dead was
one Tarun, son of a film financier.
Deccan Chronicle
carried a detailed story but wrongly carried photo of Film actor Tarun!
Actor Roja Rani,
mother of Tarun called up Deccan Chronicle and was furious at Deccan Chronicle
for wrongly publishing a report saying her son Tarun was killed in the bomb
blast when nothing happened to him.
Deccan Chronicle
carried a rejoinder next day and staff were sent to her home to tender an
unconditional apology with a bouquet!
4. Tamil
word " Puratchi Thalaivi “(Revolutionary
Leader) creates ruckus at Fisheries Ministers conference in Hyderabad
It all began when a Tamil Nadu Minister for Fisheries
repeatedly used “Puratchi Thalaivi” towards his leader and Chief Minister J
Jayalalitha during his speech at a conference of Fisheries Ministers from the
country.
He was praising Ms Jayalalitha’s various initiatives
in their State Tamil Nadu for the benefit of fishermen.
After hearing couple of times “Puratchi Thalavi…Puratchi
Thalavi”, the Minister from Uttar Pradesh asked his Tamil Nadu counterpart “Yeh
kwon si machili hai.” (What type of fish
is this?)
The Tamil Nadu Minister who could not understand Hindi
asked an official what he was asking. When told, the Tamil Nadu Minister was
furious at the UP Minister for insulting their revolutionary leader Ms
Jayalaltha and threatened to walk out unless he apologised.
When informed, the UP Minister profusely tendered apology saying he did not mean to insult their leader and only wanted to know its meaning and nothing else. The meeting continued.
5. Latur
Earth Quake, confusing death toll and challenging reportage
When death toll is reported more than the village
population, then better sense prevails!
This is exactly what has happened when I and my
colleague Sushil Rao left Hyderabad when earth quake struck Latur, Killari,
Holi and other villages in Maharashtra State.
The Latur earthquake occurred at 3.56 am local time on
September 30, 1993. The main area affected were the districts of Latur and
Osmanabad, including the Ausa block of Latur and Omerga of Osmanabad in
Maharashtra, Western India.
Mr PNV Nair, our Editor, asked us to rush to the Latur
for a coverage. We left by car around 7.30 pm the day quake occurred carrying
some water bottles, biscuits fruits.
We reached Latur town around midnight and there was
deadly silence with little or no street lights. We found a hotel and myself and
Sushil checked in with a typewriter.
We called up Deccan Chronicle and described the
scenario. DC staff watched Doordarshan and compiled the stories along with PTI
and UNI agency copies.
We came out in search of food, but there were no
hotels open. Finally, a family spotted us and asked us what we are looking for.
We told them we are journalists to cover the quake. They offered us food and we
left for hotel.
Our driver Sanjeev Reddy refused to sleep inside the
hotel saying the hotel may collapse if quake occurs again. He also advised us
to keep doors and windows open for emergency exit. That was scary!
In the morning we left the hotel for reporting to
Killari and Holi villages, which was worst hit. We spoke a large number of
people. Infact, Latur more specifically Killari was famous for grapes.
We went by Doordarshan death figures which put death
toll at about 10,000 on the first day. It was more a guess based on flattened
villages.
The next day local Marathi and other newspapers
reported 15,000 to 20,000 dead. We reported about 15,000 deaths. Officials
refused to give guess figures saying they cannot give information unless the
body is physically counted.
We decided to meet the Collector IAS officer Praveen
Singh Pardeshi. We met him and asked about the varying death toll in newspapers.
“What can I tell you? When the village population is
8000, some have survived and are in relief camps, you people reported 10,000, 20,000
dead. Please confirm and report. We cannot give you figure unless the body is
recovered and accounted for. It takes time to get correct casualty and injured
figures.”
In the nights, outskirts of Latur were really scary
with officials disposing off bodies in mass funerals. Series of pyres were lit
along the roads.
We were sceptical about the death toll and decided focus
more on human interest stories like who people escaped from jaws of death, how
families lost kith and kin and ghostly villages etc.
There were after shocks and we were advised by Mr Nair
to stay in safe place. We moved to Solapur nearby.
After days passed by the
final figures was:
- Death of 7,928 people
- Injury to 16,000 individuals
- 15,854 livestock perished
- Complete destruction of 52 villages
- 30,000 houses collapsed entirely
- 27,000 houses sustained severe damage
to amenities and infrastructure
- 2,11,000 houses across 13 districts
suffered varying degrees of damage.
The devastation was largely due to extremely
vulnerable housing stock constructed of uncoursed random rubble stone masonry
with heavy earthen roofs supported by timber planks and posts.
About 67 villages around Killari in Latur district and
contiguous areas were completely destroyed. The total property loss was
approximately $333 million (Rs. 11.8 billion).
In response to the scale of the destruction, Govt. of Maharashtra
launched an equally massive reconstruction program, known as MEERP (Maharashtra
Emergency Earthquake Rehabilitation Program).
This program involved the relocation of 52 totally
destroyed villages, the reconstruction of 22 severely damaged villages, and the
repair/strengthening in about 2400 villages. The initiative placed a strong
emphasis on rebuilding with better housing and infrastructure.
Our fortnight stay in Latur, Solapur was a great
experience. Spot reporting was quite challenging. We typed out reports sitting
under a tree or hotel and faxed it to Deccan Chronicle from Solapur post
office. Several journalists from Mumbai and other places too were present.
My wife Dr C G Bhagirathi, Susheel parents were worried
as there were after shocks and death toll was rising. We called up our families
daily and assured nothing to worry.
Mr T Venkatram Reddy, Deccan Chronicle Chairman, Mr PNV Nair, Editor, Mr M P Rabindranath Asst. Editor and other staff members congratulated us for the excellent coverage. We visited again after a year to report on rehabilitation and resettlement.
6.
Congress
leaders went to flood hit areas in Andhra Pradesh and got sensationalized!
సమరసింహ, నానపనేని సరసలకు కోడండరెడ్డి కపాల!
According to Mr.
Kodandareddy, they had checked into a government guest house.
In the morning,
they planned to visit some flood hit areas. Meanwhile Samarsimha Reddy and
Rajakumari were cracking jokes and laughing while sitting on a sofa.
Feeling out of
place, Kodanda Reddy got up from sofa and came out. He stood at the door.
Then a reporter of
Telugu magazine “Commando and Encounter came. He wanted an interview with Mr. D
K Samarasimha Reddy. But Mr. Kodanda Reddy said they would speak to media after
returning from the tour of flood/rain hit areas.
Commando, the
Vijayawada based magazine is known for sensationalism. It was run by Pingali
Dasaratharam who was known to publish raw, investigative and indulged in
aggressive journalism.
However, what
shocked the three leaders was the photo and caption in Commando.
“Samarasimha,
Nanapaneni Sarasalaku Kodanda Reddy Kapala!
“
సమరసింహ, నానపనేని సరసలకు కోడండరెడ్డి కపాల!
After returning,
Kodanda Reddy met me on some occasion and narrated the incident. He was furious
and said its bad journalism.
Asked for my
advice, I suggested if he was so hurt he can file a defamation suit in the
court.
Kodanda Reddy said
it will drag on for years. Moreover, circumstantial evidence shows I am
standing at the door and both Samarasimha Reddy and Rajakumari were laughing on
some issue. I don’t know want they were discussing and laughing.
He can interpret
in any manner in the court. It will be a futile fight….
More stories to be added
