The Karmapa is not…

On 26 January, two Indians were arrested with a large amount of cash, which led to the raid on the residential premise of the Karmapa at Gyuto near Dharamsala. The Karmapa, Ugyen Trinley Dorjee, is the spiritual head of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. From the room of the Karmapa's monk accountant, the police seized foreign currencies, including a large amount of Indian rupees, which has become a feast of sorts for the Indian media. Instead of presenting well-researched news, various media channels sought comfort in eye-catching headlines and unsubstantiated allegations. Some of the headlines read:'Tibetan Karmapa a Chinese Agent in Himachal''Foreign money seized at Dalai Lama heir's home''Karmapa may be Chinese agent''11 lakh yuan link: Karmapa may be a Chinese plant'.Journalism, in general, has become rampant and trite in recent years. In India, this disease has percolated throughout the media. The fundamental principle of balanced, intelligent and analytical reporting is being overshadowed by lurid, headline-grabbing and too often irresponsible news presentation. This is a dangerous development in a democracy, where the media has a key role to play..The issue at hand is complex and to some extent an eye-catching controversy — a young, charismatic religious leader and the seizure of a large amount of currencies. However, it requires a proper understanding of the nature and culture of guru-chela relationships. None of the media outlets conducted background researches or interviewed the concerned people to find out what the problems were. The line between reporting facts and expressing opinions was blurred and the facts were wrongly presented. For example, a reporter of a reputed news channel said, 'The third highest spiritual leader, the 17th Karmapa, has been caught with illegal currencies worth INR 3 crore [1 crore = 10,000,000] … [and] that the Karmapa could well be a Chinese spy.'.The journalists have completely ignored the issue of the high Tibetan lamas' moral authority and their roles as unofficial community leaders and initiators in India's border regions. Buddhists in the Himalayan belt automatically turn to the lamas for help and advice on both religious and secular matters. Their wisdom and spiritual advice provide communal harmony and stability. This is, perhaps, worth more for India's national security than posting thousands of soldiers. The media has also ignored the importance of Tibet in India's long-term geopolitical interests..Karmapa Ugyen Trinley Dorjee. In their struggle for survival in the cut-throat market to enhance TRP (Target Rating Point) and attract advertisements, the media has opted for overblown sensationalism. A derogatory term for this is "yellow journalism." The basic ethics of news reporting is lost in the process. In the present context, the story presented may be of financial irregularity, lack of transparency or possession of foreign currencies by the management of the Karmapa's transit refuge, in which case, the law will take its course. As the Dalai Lama commented, 'Better now that a thorough investigation happens. Such inquiry is good.'. However, the media — instead of providing unbiased and objective news — has libeled the Gyalwa Karmapa to create a sensational and exaggerated case. This has forced even the Home Minister, P Chidambaram, to remark, 'Investigations are underway in the Karmapa case. No conclusions drawn on whether he is a Chinese agent or not.'. Incidentally, the media blowing up a situation is not without precedent. During the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the terrorists and their deadly assaults were treated like a reality show, with each channel competing against each other to dramatize the situation. The intelligence opportunities the live coverage provided to the attackers, the obstruction created to the security personnel, and the impact on victims' relatives were ignored.. The most important point that today's journalism misses is: Who provides more threat to India's national security — the Karmapa or China? Since his escape from Tibet, during which he dodged spies, army checkpoints and traveled by foot, car and horseback, the Karmapa has been engaging in spiritual affairs and private study. He has stayed clear of politics and his every movement is overseen by the Indian government. However, on the other hand, the Chinese military has made numerous incursions into Indian border regions and is reportedly building roads. Beijing also provides covert support and arms to major insurgent groups in India's Northeast and the Maoist belt. The mainstream media reports on these bullish Chinese actions are scanty, non-investigative and inconclusive, to say the least.. Tibetan refugees have always placed enormous faith in the Indian democracy and the free press. In fact, it can be said that the survival of Tibetan issues and the exile community depends much on India's democratic institutions — including the media. Hence, while reporting on any infringement of the Indian law by individual Tibetans, the media must uphold its ethics and act as the Fourth Pillar of the biggest democratic country in the world.. But for now, the media's portrayal of this current issue has made the young Gyalwa Karmapa, who is a spiritual guru to millions of Indians in the Himalayan region and devotees around the world, a persona non grata in India. The negative collateral impact may be felt for years to come.. Bhuchung D Sonam is a poet/writer based in Dharamsala, India. The writer can be reached at bhuchungdsonam@gmail.com.