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 'It's
mind your language and watch your step'
Twenty four journalists from 20 countries
have gathered at the Indian Institute of Mass Communications at the Jawaharlal
Nehru University, new campus down Aruna Asaf Ali Marg in New Delhi. The
journalists are from Zwaziland, Kenya, Nigeria, Vietnam, Indonesia, Nepal,
Namibia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Syria, Uganda, Sudan, Tanzania, Thurmekistan,
Kazkaztan, Lithuania, Uzbekistan, South Africa, St. Kitts, Laos covering
different areas of Television, Radio and Press.
The media men and women are expected to be together for many moons learning
and covering all aspects of Journalism at the Indian Institute of Mass
Communication (IIMC) which was formally inaugurated on August, 17 1965
by Indira Gandhi, the then Minister in-charge of Information and Broadcasting.
The Institute is supported by the Ford Foundation and UNESCO.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Campus is situated at a peaceful
place, with green all around and one hears the calls of the Peacocks and
howls of some wild beasts very often. It is a good place to be in with
media people from different countries. It is really 'mind your language'
and watch your step over here'. Twenty journalists from 20 environments
trying to adjust to India's way of life and to each other. Some speak English
very well and fast some speak English well and slow. We have no Mr. Brown
like the Television series, Mind Your Language but Indian professors and
doctors to see us through .Veienne the beautiful woman working for Vietnamese
Times has many stories about the gruesome Vietnam War. Her mother and brother
were victims of the war.
Manuel or our Comrade Castro from the Cuban News Agency, Prensa Latina
is a very interesting man. He says he cannot speak good English but his
English seems to be the best. He is saddened that many Indians are trying
to be Americanized with only Coca Cola, McDonald's and Pizza.
Kamel is from Sudan Television. A very quiet man dressed in Sudanese
garb after hours comes across a sad man. Maybe he is thinking about his
beloved country. Thavisack is the man from Laos. He is a great follower
of Dirty Harry, Clint Eastwood. He pulls his visiting cards like a flash
and now he is short of cards and has sent an SOS to his country. Yusuf
from Nigeria Timco is a great friend of the late Nigerian opposition leader
Abiola. A Muslim turned Christian Yusuf listens to the radio round the
clock and plans to go from here to eternity since he has found an African
Pastor in Delhi. Kiek from Thurmikistan Television always sheds a tear
for her children back home, but is advised by comrade Manuel to take charge
of life and to be a Mother courage. I think she hates Manuel for his guts
but he is right as only courage can see one through.Gabia the Lithuvanian
Television presenter is the fairest and prettiest of them all. Lithuania
wakes up to Gabia as she presents the Breakfast show 'Good Morning'. She
is proud that her country broke away from the Soviet Union and claims that
Lithuania is doing fine with her 3 million population. I will write more
about our friends from the Fourth Estate all over the world in time to
come.
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