Books written by Prem Bhatia
Essays in Honour of Prem Bhatia
Edited by
Asha Rani Mathur.
The Indian Media : Illusion, Delusion and Reality is a volume of essays to honour the memory of the late Prem Bhatia, an outstanding journalist who was widely admired for his intellectual integrity, courage and commitment to truth.
Beyond this purpose, the book brings, together journalists, media professionals scholars and activists in a series of lively and candid articles that examine various aspects of the media. Today print and TV have set a scorching growth rate; never before have we witnessed such an explosion regionally and nationally. But to what avail? In a society and economy buffeted by simultaneous forces of tradition and modernity, what role does the media play and how does it address the many issues that confront us daily? Has the media broadened its reach only to narrow its focus?
These are a few of the larger questions this book raises, and it does so through some of the most distinguished figures of our times. Veteran journalists and authors Ajit Bhattacharjea, sir Mark Tully and the late Dr. Rafiq Zakaria , internationally know activists Medha Patkar and Bittu Sahgal, award winning writers P. Sainath and Raj Chengappa, Strategist K. Subrahmanyam: these are only some of the more than thirty contributors to this book. Between them they consider a gamut of the media, from politics and ideology to cartoons and sports, from development issues to the digital divide, from roadcasting to broadsheets.
Critical and thought-provoking, the contents of this book will be of as much interest to a general readership as to media watcher.
"ALL MY YESTERDAYS"
All my yesterdays is a human document, dealing with the human side of people—great and small—and its humanity comes across whether one is familiar with his subjects or not ….. Readable and entertaining.(The Straits Times)"INDIAN ORDEAL IN AFRICA"
The Author expresses the whole question of Indians in East Africa in simple and highly readable language but he has not forgotten the more serious political implications for many countries with minority groups.(The Nation, Bangkok)"OF MANY PASTURES"
Seasoned media man and diplomat Prem Bhatia draws on his experience over the years to present, an objective, no-holds-barred account on journalism and politics. For many of his generation it would be of considerable interest; for others who are just arriving on the stage in journalism and diplomacy it would equally interesting, if only to show how times have changed.(The Times of India,Sunday Review.)"WITNESS TO HISTORY"
It’s a book endlessly to savour and deeply to ponder over. It is journalism’s pride and tribute to journalist’s glory.(M.V. Kamath)Witness to History is a reader’s delight but very possibly a politician’s night mare. Every aspiring journalist could benefit much from it. It is Prem Bhatia’s gift to the dying art of sane and sensible writing. The reader is taken on mental journey to Pakistan, China, Soviet Union & USA and more than adequately traces the genesis and status of India’s relationship with these majors and super powers.(Himmat Singh Gill Sunday Tribune.)
"REFLECTIONS ALONG A POLITICAL JOURNEY"
Stepping out of the office of President of India can be traumatising. Former presidents can always while away those endless hours writing their memoirs, but some find it hard to retire from the limelight. Giani Zail Singh was sometimes tempted into other diversions. In a collection of his columns published after his death, former Tribune editor Prem Bhatia recalls how Zail Singh relieved the tedium of retirment by going on a dharna outside the UPSC office to protest against English as a compulsory subject. He was joined by then leader of the Opposition, Atal Behari Vajpayee. (Outlook 27-07-2002)