Around a week ago, after calling it a day following the regular tradition, I switched on my laptop and straight away switched to my favorite night activity,Tweetering! While 'tasting' my timeline, I realised that most of the tweeters had mentioned Tarun Tejpal. According to the reports he had taken a sabbatical for 'unknown' reasons. Till then it was only the tip of iceberg, murky details emerged the next day.
A veteran journalist, novelist of the respected Tehelka fame and 'someone-budding-journalist-look-up-to' had allegations leveled against him for sexual assault. The victim, a young woman journalist who was assisting him during thINK fest 2013 had been assaulted not once but Tarun had the audacity to repeat the action and later easily termed it as a drunken banter!
In the whole drama during course of the week, what dissapoints me the most is the failure of Tehelka as an institution. It has failed to protect it's own employee against such a grievous crime. Hypocratic standards of the top bosses has been revealed. Shoma Chaudhary instead of setting up a formal committee of investigation comforted the victim by gifting Tarun a sabbatical of 6 months. Cover up and more cover ups.
The whole issue has progressed from sexual assault to a case of alleged rape. Even though FIR has been lodged still the media baron hasn't been arrested. Instead, there is a bail plea submitted before the Court. Meanwhile the veteran investigator of dirty politics has himself started indulging the cheap tricks. He complains of being victimised by BJP-run Goan government who according to him are in vengeance mood. There has been a constant demand from his supporters to shift the case in Maharahtra and not Goa so as to ensure 'fair trial'.
As a mark of unity, The victim as well as many colleagues of the brave journalist have resigned from Tehelka.I can still understand the position of the victim who nomore wants to be associated with the organisation. But in case of other employee's, is that even a solution? After all Tehelka hasn't committed the crime, odd one out is the person who created the brand once. Instead of jeopardizing their individual careers, the employees should collectively think and demand for removal of criminals and save the magazine. There already looms the possibility of it loosing major investors.
Whats done cannot be undone. Thorough investigation, non media trial, unbiased attitude, punishment to the guilty as well as those who tried to save his misdeeds should be ensured. The victim has already suffered enough! No unconditional apology in the whole world can heal the permanent scars. Justice should be done. Fair, unbiased and fast.
The democracy in this country is celebrated with much fanfare. Personally, I feel that the real win-win situation is when the competition is tough. When one has to do brainstorming to choose the leader. 