Yes, Shoma Chaudhury I am the Aggrieved Party!

Shoma Chaudhury the well known face of so called outrageous journalism in India, today is leaving no stone unturned in a never-before-like face saving exercise which is shamelessly continued even after the judgment error confession by the convict.

The way things are unfolding truly shows the duality in the principles of those who have always unanimously scrutinized others on the name of Free, Fair and fearless journalism. When times now correspondent Aditya Raj Kaul asked Tehelka managing editor Shoma Chaudhury that why doesn’t Tarun Tejpal face criminal investigation on serious charge of sexual assault by a female journalist? She hit back with an unimaginable, “Are you the aggrieved party” remark. This comes from the lady who has always taken intrusion in private spaces as a right most granted.

Even in any case that’s the last thing any sane journalist would ever say. Had Shoma forgotten all her voyages she took on the name of outrageous investigative journalism? The lady who always possessed a holier-than-thou attitude has even now kept that thinking shamelessly intact. There is no sign of remorse at all. 

It is amazing to know that she is the same lady who few days back has asked for CBI chief’s resignation over a remark where an analogy by him referred to enjoyment of rape. Now, when her own boss has practically implemented an example of the same volume, she is jumping fences advocating that six month sabbatical as penance is more than enough. Clearly when her own house is on fire, the bandit queen has turned soft-hearted angel of peace.

Shoma Chaudhury is a well known face in corridors of journalism even outside India. In 2011 US magazine Newsweek has featured her in the list of 150 powerful women who can shake the world. Yes, she can and she had, but two years down the line she today comes out as a weak, insensitive, unremorseful lady who has a different yardstick for her own friend and foes and a different one for everyone else. Maybe, that’s what Tehelka always meant by Free and fair motto.
Her ideologies have always offended not one but many, her biased hate-spewing-rhetoric were clearly visible many a times. The journalism she always practiced was not much appreciated even by many of her own fraternity. No doubt she has quite a few remarkable awards in her kitty but her critics fairly outnumber them on any given day. She not only spiced up the stories but has literally cooked them up on occasions.

Shoma Chaudury is second-in-line from the top in Tehelka. It is unquestionable that she isn’t exposed to knowledge of all its resources. How Tehelka manages its high-priced, high-profile yearly event ThinkFest in Goa has always been a matter of question. No doubt how they run this magazine is equally viable one as well. General perception has always branded Tehelka as an unofficial mouthpiece of a leading political party. Now the speculation of Tejpal’s blood relation with a very high profile minister adds to the claim.

In a recent development Tejpal has asked for CBI inquiry in to the matter. I doubt has the views of Shoma Chaudhury for the CBI chief changed overnight, or Tejpal didn’t consult her over the issue. Whatever maybe the reason but there is obviously a different leadership in Goa and centre. Tejpal’s insistence to get case transferred from Goa police to CBI genuinely raises eyebrows. Impeccable Integrity of CBI in recent times is surely beyond doubt!

Ms. Shoma Chaudhury in this case you are going a bit too far as a role of managing-editor in Tehelka. Your job profile as managing editor surely didn’t included managing-for-the-editor. It is high time to realize your mistake and move on to the right side, maybe a six month sabbatical would do for it now. You are losing everything you have earned in these years besides money. As much as Tejpal is concerned howsoever hard you try now, the matter has gone out of your hand and the law would take its course.

And yes as much as your question was concerned, yes I am the aggrieved party in the same way as you and your colleagues have always been, in all these years, in all other cases. 

Unknown

Author & Editor

An Engineer by qualification, a blogger by choice and an enterprenur by interest. Loves to read and write and explore new places and people.