there is mention in the linked story published in The Hoot about the 'whistleblower' role i had played in The Hindu to bring to the notice of the editor certain unhealthy tendencies in the newspaper. i opted to retire from the newspaper two years ahead of my normal time of retirement because good journalism was becoming impossible and there was no point in hanging around...
this is the link: http://www.thehoot.org/web/Paid-news-in-The-Hindu-/8122-1-1-5-true.html
*****
3 comments:
Ha, bit of an oxymoron you and good journalism in the same sentence. and what about all those planted stories you wrote?
I read the article and then the response to your post and immediately, this came to mind.
The Gift of Insults
Near Tokyo lived a great Samurai, now old, who decided to teach Zen Buddhism to young people.
One afternoon, a warrior – known for his complete lack of scruples – arrived there. The young and impatient warrior had never lost a fight. Hearing of the Samurai’s reputation, he had come to defeat him, and increase his fame.
All the students were against the idea, but the old man accepted the challenge.
All gathered on the town square, and the young man started insulting the old master. He threw a few rocks in his direction, spat in his face, shouted every insult under the sun – he even insulted his ancestors.
For hours, he did everything to provoke him, but the old man remained impassive. At the end of the afternoon, by now feeling exhausted andbhumiliated, the impetuous warrior left.
Disappointed by the fact that the master had received so many insults and provocations, the students asked:
How could you bear such indignity? Why didn’t you use your sword, even knowing you might lose the fight, instead of displaying your cowardice in front of us all?
"If someone comes to you with a gift, and you do not accept it, who does the gift belong to?" asked the Samurai.
"He who tried to deliver it." replied one of his disciples.
"The same goes for envy, anger and insults." said the master.
“When they are not accepted, they continue to belong to the one who carried them.”
You hang in there, Mr V! No justification is needed!
dear sam,
thanks for the nice zen story. nowadays i am not provoked easily. but i confess i was tempted to respond to the first comment politely... your warning comes just in time...
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