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An Open Letter to 'journalist' HEMEN RAJBONGSHI

20/8/2015

43 Comments

 
PictureHemen Rajbongshi | Photo Courtesy- Hemen's facebook
Dear Mr. Hemen Rajbongshi

Greeting! Your social media bio says you are a reporter serving Pratidin Time- a vernacular satellite news channel catering to the regional Assamese audience. It further states that you began your stint with News Live, another regional channel in 2009 and quit News Live to join Pratidin Time in 2013 where you continue to work. This goes on to say that your tenure stretches to a span of six years which is a pretty bulky experience. Thus, Sir compared to your experience I am mere novice in this vast arena of journalism. However, since you with your recent reportage ‘Scantily clad girls, a summer time nuisance’ you went on to establish that you’re an earnest believer that everything which we esp ought to be symbolic! Hence, trying to put forth my credentials before I opine. Sir, just humbly informing you that I have been into working journalism from the tender age of 17, having accredited with bylined reports at that age. Added to that academically, I am a graduate in Journalism and have been recently selected for fellowship in International Journalism at University of Sussex, United Kingdom with a full scholarship. I have contributed to regional, national as well as international publication including the BBC. The reason why I am stating about myself is because you have already proved to be a stereotypical person who tends to judge a person character through her attire. So, I hope given my credentials would help you to objectify my opinion.

However, I write to you today not as a journalist or your counterpart but as a common young Assamese who is hurt, ashamed and equally furious for wrongfully utilizing the forth state. By using your channel, Pratidin Time for moral policing and your voyeurism of women's clothes and bodies, you have tainted the sanity of journalism. Sir, you said in your report that attired in knee length dress is bringing disgrace to Assamese culture, but filming young girls’ body parts without blurring their face is neither safeguarding culture nor journalism. Sir, when confronted you went on to say with all audacity that, just because your mother or sister doesn’t wear knee length dress, thus your work doesn’t disrespect anybody. You didn’t even spare little girls from being captured on camera! If so, Sir what about those thousands of women of the state who are comfortable in their own attire? I am sure they too are mothers, sisters, wife, beloved or daughters of someone, so would you personify them as immoral and lose-character? You also spoke about male psychology and believe that it’s visually stimulated! No, Sir absolutely not, I being a male condemn and object to such irrational generalization. Your opinion only stripes off your own perverted, hypocritical, sexist and male chauvinistic set of mind

I and my sibling have been brought up in an environment where I was acclimatized to both foreign culture and taught about the essence of Assamese tradition. I am well appraised about the history and personae of Valentines day and also is exhilarated by the sound of a ‘pepa’ and celebrate Bihu giving my heart out to it. My mother looks as beautiful and respectful in a Mekhela Chadar and being a working lady she is equally respected when attired in a jeans, t-shirt or skirt! The same goes for my sister as well. But, who knows tomorrow just to feed your news sensitization and voyeurism you might film by mother and sister to objectify them as public indecency!

No, Sir, never! Enough is enough! If you think in the name of news you would do anything and everything, that’s not going to happen. You can’t go scot free. In a country where women are often involuntarily considered  the flagbearers of morality, where have we left these women, who will now have to deal with  families and a society prone to quick judgements and uncharitable tags? You and your channel have no business to use the television medium to propagate hatred against women in this fashion.

I am resentful when I come across the word ‘presstitute’, but what hurts me even more is people using such derogatory word have enough arguments to establish their claim and individuals like Hemen Rajbongshi are crux of their argument. But, the fact that people have started identifying the individualistic reason who brings a shame to the profession, ushers us with ray of hope.

Assam having a galore of news channels bounty of non-professional and untrained people are appointed in low stipend and these channels air stuff which are profitable for the channel owners. Thus, along with HEMEN RAJBONGSHI, the Editor-in-chief, NITUMONI SAIKIA along with the entire editorial wing at large is also accountable for granting permission to air such illicit package.

Please do not take me mistakenly for I ain't generalising, but perhaps representing the Hemen Rajbongshi strata believes having a logo engraved microphone and shoving it every now and then gives them the liberty to walk an inch above the ground. The outrage that you are presently espying is just the tip of the ice-berg. This flame will keep augmenting and look to burn down every mess created in the name of news. It will melt down every insanity thriving in the name of journalistic practice. This collusion of news maker, audience and news breaker will stitch a new dawn to the fabric of journalism, of which we will be proud of!

May you soon come out of your sick mindset,

Shamim Zakaria



(This letter comes in response to a news story entitled 'Scantily clad girls, a summer time nuisance,' by Hemen Rajbongshi who went on to claim in his piece that, knee length attire symbolizes public indecency. Later on a social media campaign demanding apology was run which wen viral and sparked a nation wide outrage and was further given mileage by national media. The details of the entire episode is available here- 
(https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1033309753380806&set=a.301914279853694.75433.100001053731683&&theater   )

43 Comments
pronoyjeet
20/8/2015 03:26:08 am

I tried to saying this on the Page of Pratidin time, they blocked me without replying. Such is the mindset of a channel who claims to be different from other media houses. Such a shame...

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Arnon Rabha
20/8/2015 06:00:06 am

Third class news...

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Aslam Khan
20/8/2015 12:19:38 pm

This poor mantelity journalist with narrow mind attitude can come up with such news only. In recent days I have noticed that when this bugger don't have any news they poke their nose on other personal life. A family spending good time in bar cum restaurant late at night are uncivilised people of city. Now a days just because of such stupid news I have stopped watching regional news. Its disgusting

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rahul
20/8/2015 06:27:13 pm

same with me, i stopped watching regional news 3years ago.

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asish adhikari
20/8/2015 12:21:07 pm

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Bhaskarjyoti kalita
20/8/2015 01:44:38 pm

I think hemen is sick...get well soon bro

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Pallav Baruah
20/8/2015 02:30:50 pm

Hemen, you pathetic soul. No wonder you are so ugly and no wonder you compare girls with apes. Maybe that clothed chimpanjee is the only female which suits you. I am sure this guy never got laid. This guy was so scared of girls when he tried to approach them that all he could see were their legs, because he could neither get his eyes or hopes or his junk up. PITY YOU puff. Nijoke axomiya xangbadik buli koboloi ahiso. laaz laga nai. chee mori thak korobat goi hemen

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Nisha
20/8/2015 03:41:13 pm

Instead of showing girls in short dresses in ur so called news channel, I think there are many more issues which are really useful for the society to be aired in ur channel. Change ur mentality hemen, not our dresses. First of all look urself in the mirror after that compare girls to monkey.according to u we are monkey,then what r u, a donkey?????

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Sabbir
21/8/2015 04:51:49 am

Moja....

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Kausthab
20/8/2015 04:22:32 pm

Shamim,

Nice piece!

But I doubt he will understand the language used here or the crux of your letter.

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Bipul
21/8/2015 12:50:34 pm

You are absolutely right. And I don't think Mt naturalist saikia will translate it for him. Uske aukaad ka likha cahiye that, like something with legs covered.

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heman boruah link
20/8/2015 04:45:40 pm

Well, unfortunately my name is also Heman(prohnounced the same as that monkeyman), but my view on dress code or culture is totally different, first of all my Q goes to the editor, how could u allow such a topic to be aired on? second , Pratidin is an established news paper and the channel also is a part of that, there are so many so called BUDDHIJIBI etc, dint they realise that the whole topic is baseless, moreover u can not go on shooting girls on roads, even other news channels do during festive times, dnt u think that we are progressing in a new era , not stoned age, i feel u guys gonna support DAINI HATYA type sensitive issue also, few hrs back saw some post by the monkey journo saying nothing is wrong from his part, well these are useless people making a hell lot of money by showing 75% shitpiece. stop###newstime.

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AlId
20/8/2015 05:48:35 pm

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Mayukh Hazarika
20/8/2015 07:06:57 pm

I am ashamed of my own people. I feel ashamed of being an Assamese after seeing such views. I was always proud of my people and use to cite our rich culture and respect towards women in my culture to my friends from other parts of India.
This report shows how shallow we have become as a society where we discuss clothing of a gender and equate it to obscenity.
What is obscene is the way these news channels have sprung up. How anybody who can deliver a pizza can be a journalist. And how the people of Assam consume and tolerate such content. If we as Assamese people have some self respect we much stop accepting such content and raise our voice to the highest decibal in saying that this is NOT OUR CULTURE

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Niloy
20/8/2015 07:55:00 pm

I think the Indian government needs to give you some sort of punishment, but wait out government is BJP, the government for whom "Hinduism" means more than the welfare of the nation.

Now let's get to the main point. You sir, are not fit mentally to be a reporter, you'll be better off being a waiter of a restaurant or a worker in an industry where you won't be needed to use your shallow head and bring disgrace to our culture and our people. And for the people who made sure that such a disgusting video was aired in national TV, your channel needs to be "banned", once and for all. I could go on, but I think you get the point.

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chand
21/8/2015 01:42:33 am

Why not Assam government bro?

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PKB link
20/8/2015 09:03:00 pm

Blue journalism....

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Rashmee Lahon
20/8/2015 10:27:46 pm

Disgrace is when a journalist forgets his journalistic ethics. If anyone has a problem with women wearing even knee length dresses, forget shorts, because wearing shorts is considered as a heinous crime by our intelligent Journalist Mr. Rajbonshi, then kindly don't marry them. Rather please stay single and save girls. How the hell are we to judge someone's morality and character based on their cloths? And how did he know that men in shorts don't provoke women? I guess, we are able to control our emotions better than the genius Mr. Rajbonshi. I don't wear shorts either, but slamming young girls and young adults like this is preposterous. Absolutely ridiculous.

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Pranami
20/8/2015 11:36:40 pm

Its not the first time that assamese journalism has demonstrated its ignorance and stupidity in such pride. 2012 when the girl was molested outside a bar and the media was there to add fuel to fire, I thought it would be a lesson for all news channels to learn and to seave their stories before broadcasting. And yet again.. just another lame story to get TRP rating. I am irritated because journalist like Hemen Rajbongshi simply exist -and be a cause of humiliation - who under the cloak of democracy subtly propagate their talibani opinion on how a nation should run and sadly men (like his editor) and many others are backing him up.
Thank u for speaking out Shamim.

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Manashi
21/8/2015 01:02:42 am

Hi Hemen,

You are the most sick person in the name of media. I equally celebrate Assamese culture even I have stayed away from Assam for more than 15 years and only visit Assam for vacation.

Do you even know what is journalism ? To me, you are just an uneducated and illiterate sick person who think women dressed in knee length cloth are indecent.

I think it is your pervert mind and that's why you think men are aroused when they see a woman dressed in knee length attire. There are hardly women as compared to men, who says that they are aroused when they see half naked men!!

Men like you need to control your private parts!!

Better clean up yourself first!!!

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Mikon
21/8/2015 03:24:31 am

"but filming young girls’ body parts without blurring their face is neither safeguarding culture nor journalism." I agree. Very articulated article,

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rupam
21/8/2015 03:50:44 am

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barun
21/8/2015 04:11:28 am

THE MAIN REASON OF THE MORAL POLICING IS TO GARNERING
BUSINESS BY UTILIZING THE EMOTION IN THE NAME OF CULTURE.

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Rakesh
21/8/2015 05:05:20 am

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Abhijit
21/8/2015 06:43:09 am

The point is not whether short dresses imply decency.....what does matter is that these so called journalists have no right to pry into our private lives or project us on TV without our consent.....to run a news channel 24*7, these news channel come up with crap n think they are impacting the society....nonsense....before u come up with another genius story, just think for a moment if ur sister or wife or mother is projected in this fashion on TV, how will u feel? don't disgrace girls in this fashion....u are not the saviour of axomiya culture so don't think of yourself as a hero.

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Dhruba js
21/8/2015 07:10:09 am

Bunch of jokers running those Local News channels..unprofessional News...They only want the power of tag, ( PRESS). See he is defending himself like a Devil's Advocate.

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Dr M P Das
21/8/2015 10:39:27 am

Heights of stupidity . No body knows what their mission is

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Pooja Rajkumari
21/8/2015 11:39:44 am

Okay, we girls should wear decent clothes, according to some old-and-gray. And it so very true that instead of COPYING American-styled only, we should also learn to work style.But will it improve the mindset of the perverts? Even if we are clad in burkha, the shameless ones will surely give sickening stares. Some say tha when girls wear short clothes, it arouses the boys and it's a natural phenomenon. Oh come on! Plus, there are many more burning topics that require the attention of the media.

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Pooja Rajkumari
21/8/2015 11:49:47 am

Sorry. Some typing mistakes are there:
LINE 2: And it is so very true that instead of COPYING American-styled attire only, we should learn how to work like them.
LINE 5: Some say THAT...

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Bipul
21/8/2015 12:47:37 pm

He is untrained and also underpaid. I doubt his education and most like he would never understand your letter unless someone translates it to him. He thinks whatever his mom and sister does is ideal and traditional be it witchcraft.

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Amit
21/8/2015 12:52:43 pm

His mom and sister are so decent they cover their asxxx and legs even while shitting

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Dimpee
21/8/2015 04:26:50 pm

Garbage like Hemen needs to be cleaned as soon as possible if we want our forthcoming generation not to face what we have faced. And, Assamese news channels should start hiring quality people.

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madhurjya
21/8/2015 04:37:09 pm

there r lot more garbages like Hemen in Pratidin Times..

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Madhurjya
21/8/2015 04:34:34 pm

Nonsense News channel nd its jounalists....

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Jay link
21/8/2015 05:17:51 pm

Pathetic!!! Dats all i can say...In the video he compares Assamese girls to monkey.....Mr Hemen u r still in that stone age...plz change ur mentality... How will u feel if someone takes offensive pictures of your wife and daughter ...Pity on you wife and daughter ..." If u have any"

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Nilotpal
21/8/2015 06:50:59 pm

The media personals claims to be thethe 4th pillar of democracy, but to be honest the electronic media had became too ridiculous these days by engaging themselves in such cheap activities.

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Subhasish
21/8/2015 07:12:01 pm

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Bitasta Das link
21/8/2015 07:18:11 pm

Its heartening to see so many men speak up. Its not about one news channel or one reporter, what is most frightening is that a few rotten mindset claim to speak for an entire community. I think more than women, all sane thinking men should thwart this regressive claims he is making on the "male psychology". If more and more upright voices speak up such untoward perspectives, comments and behaviour will be suppressed in the long run.

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Raju
22/8/2015 03:28:44 am

Go to hell with chanels like Pratidin

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gaurab
22/8/2015 12:24:24 pm

Thats the reason we can never be treated like civilised ppl!!America granted gay marriage and here the same so called "girls should dress decent" has been repeating for years...globalisation ki toh dhajjia ura dali isne!! If ths trend keeps on going like ths...we all would be in serious trouble one day..yat k tu Val asl primeval era..becasue ajikali nu civilised hoi ki krise!!!shame

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Bipul Kr Rabha
22/8/2015 12:26:23 pm

I have a mike, with the cameraman. There is no any important news to send to the news desk of the channel (Actually I don't know which news are important). People will not see me in TV. I have to send something. Otherwise, my friends, family will ask me what I am doing now-a-days. Camera hain, mike hain, kush to karna hai. I strongly condemn you Mr Hemen Rajbongshi.

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Joel Jayakar
7/9/2015 11:18:39 am

Mr. Hemen ! First you wear the dress properly and ask the others to follow that. If you have the right to wear anything, girls/women have equal rights. God created both equally and its only God who can change. If you feel short skirts are not related to decency, you ask shopkeepers to ban those. If you cant do that, just stay calm in this. You know how you feel when you look at a girl wearing short skirts and just for sake of channel you dont act like this. Be transparent. If you worry about dressing of women, first you correct the dressing of men. If skin show causes rapes or indecency in society, after watching these many girls wearing short skirts - are you aroused ? If you are not, others will not. Its time to behave yourself rather than a machine.

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pranjit deka
20/9/2015 08:37:31 am

This person is of sick mentality along with their editor Nitumoni. We are ashamed because of this two illiterate person. He shud have been sacked. Both came from newslive. Bakwaas byproduct.

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