NEED OF Sikh’s OWN MEDIA

Dear Sikh Brothers and Sisters,

Let me start with two well known sayings “A picture is worth thousand words”, and “A well delivered speech is much more worth than the written words of the same length”.  However,  “A video or TV program is worth thousand pictures”.  Since a TV program, with a theme-related video, audio and a written documentation can be much more effective than an ordinary picture or a vague video.  That is the reason why:

1.       The American TV is so effective in molding the views of the American people and why both the political parties (Democrats and Republicans) try to collect and spend the maximum funds on the TV.

2.       The party in power of the Indian Democratic Government would not give up its hold on the electronic media for their propaganda values.  This is true of any party in power.  Although in the recent years there has been a number of cable TV stations cropped up in India, yet their access is limited to small rich population of city folks, where as 85% of India’s rural population is fed by the Government owned and controlled electronic media.

3.       The Soviet’s President Mr. Putin, answered a criticism of Mike Wallace Sixty Minutes TV program about the declining democracy in Russia, and justified his dictatorial control by quoting the Indian democracy that (a) the Indian constitution allows the central Government to appoint all the Governors of its provinces and even suspend its provinces elected assemblies and (b) India owns and controls its electronic media. He asked Mike Wallace that why does not the western media question Indian democracy instead of Russia because Indian laws, in respect of Appointment of State Governors and control of electronic on-the-air media, are worse than those of Russia’s.

  1. Indian Government has been encouraging its exclusive ownership and control of the satellite TV stations in the foreign countries, either by itself or in cooperation with the few rich Indian immigrants settled abroad.

 

  1. The Conclusion is obvious: the powerful Indian electronic media has served as the mouthpiece of the Government at both domestic and international levels and has been the chief custodian of “truth”-- or at least, the official version of events. Following the attack on the Golden temple and 39 other Sikh Gurdwaras in the first week of June 1984, Government of India flooded the news media in India and the rest of the world with a propaganda of labeling Sikhs in the Golden Temple, as terrorists and justifying the killings of thousands of innocent men women and children.  It was designed to show the world and label every Sikh a terrorist.  If such a label were left unchallenged, it would become difficult for our children to get better jobs and live a dignified life in this country, USA.

    For foreign reporters trying to grab these sensational tragedies of 1984, the Indian govt. was the most visible gatekeeper, making it impossible to approve journalist visas for foreign correspondents.  Consequently, all foreign news organizations were left with no choice but to take the twisted news of the then local Government controlled media and rebroadcast over their own networks abroad. It was much later that the foreign media knew only the partial truth about ‘India’s Unknown Holocaust.’

    Since India’s electronic media continues to remain state controlled, the western world will have no access to the actual truth even after 21 years of those grave tragedies. The main objective of 1984 attack on Sikhs was believed to cow down the spirit of Sikhs and Sikhism. So far they have been unsuccessful to tarnish the Sikh image and the Sikh spirit. But they did succeed in maligning Sikhs by the use of media (newspapers, Radio and TV) and the Sikh leadership failed to respond since they did not own or operate any newspaper, radio or TV to counter the false allegations.

    Had Sikhs have their own English language prominent newspaper in India and/or Radio or TV network like ZTV or TVASIA etc. outside India, they could have responded effectively to the Indian propaganda in India and abroad. Even after 21 years, Sikhs do not spend or support any media outlet. 

    Guru Gobind Singh’s teachings inspired us with courage and it was in this context that we with our own resources initiated a weekly Radio and TV programs. We have also archived some of these programs on the Internet at web site www.passionfortruthtv.com for worldwide viewing. You can also view the mission statement and article on “The Sikh’s Own Media” at:

http://www.passionfortruthtv.com:/PassionForTruthMissionStatement.htm

http://www.passionfortruthtv.com:/NEED-OF-Sikh-OWN-MEDIA.html

Although our TV programs have been pretty effective in projecting the reality to our viewers in Washington, DC area, we realize that our small efforts need to be expanded to access the international community so that we could reach a wider set of viewers and make a larger impact.  To start and run a Sikh TV satellite channel similar to ZTV or TV Asia etc. we would need 4-5 million Dollars.  Of course we will continue to work as unpaid volunteers.

Therefore I request to Sikh Diaspora to join in this noble crusade of visionary endeavor and help us in creating a permanent media and institution to propagate and accomplish the following objectives:

(1) Guru Nanak’s noble and eternal message of Unity, Compassion, Truthful Living, Service to humanity and meditation through Naam Simran, Gurbani, Kirtan and Katha that combines a balanced mixture of spiritual and soldierly strength.

(2) Highlight Excellence of Sikhism, Quality of Life intellectually simulating, culturally enriching, Glories of Sikh History and Traditions that we all Sikhs feel proud of it.

(3) Highlight Sikh heritage, Punjabi culture and day to day endeavors that are more noble and honorable and enhance the Sikh image in America, India and the world over, thus inspire our future generations and act as a guiding star for humanity at large.

(4) Search for a Think Tank of Intellectuals able to change the human history.

(5) Search for Advisory Council in order to monitor and spend the money on the most effective medium of TV.

(6) Search and create a voice of Sikh Conscience that will preserve Sikh Heritage and carry on our glorious history and traditions we inherited from our great 10 Gurus, Guru Nanak-Guru Gobind Singh, who built strong family and moral values and a strong Sikh Nation of self respecting people devoted to humanity and One God.

(7)Create a new chapter of Sikh history in this land of opportunity, United States of America and be among people of Great Vision, Sikh Conscience, Compassion, blessed with rare combination of Scholarly and Divine knowledge.

(8)Pledge your commitment of $5000, $10000, or $25000, $50000 or $100000 for setting up the satellite TV channel.  You do not have to send this money right now, but do give us your commitment so that we could proceed with the planning and implementation of the plan. We will request for the actual money at that time when we will be able to give you all the details of the operation.

(9)In the meantime, however, please send $1000, $5000, $10000 or more tax deductible donation to “Punjabi Community Hour Inc”, a 501©(3) corporation, which is running the present TV programs in Washington, DC area by writing a check to take advantage of tax write-off in your taxes.

Therefore, your continued efforts and participation are essential.  Every dollar contributed in this noble and worthy cause will add glory to your name and family.

 M. S. Chawla
Producer, 2004 Telly Award Winner &

2005 The Accolade Competition TV Prog.
"PASSION FOR TRUTH" TV Program
"PUNJABI COMMUNITY HOUR" TV Program
"PUNJABI COMMUNITY HOUR" Radio Program On the Web
Web Pages: To view archived TV Programs
www.passionfortruthtv.com
                    www.geocities.com/~mschawla


PRESENT SCHEDULE OF BOTH tv programs “Passion For Truth” and “Punjabi Community Hour”

 

 

FAIRFAX      CH. 10

Or CH.30

MONTGOMERY

      CH. 19

  or CH.21

ARLINGTON

    CH. 69

 PRINCE

WILLIAM

   CH 3

  D.C.

 CH 5      OR

CH 10

 

SATURDAY

  9:00 AM

 10-11 PM

       9-10 PM

 

 

   5:30      PM

SUNDAY

  9:00 AM

 

      10:00 AM

   2:00 PM

 

 

MONDAY

 2:30-3:30 PM

       

 

 

 

 

TUESDAY

    8-9 PM

 

 

 

   8:30 PM

 

WEDNESDAY

 

 

   4:30 PM

 

 

 

THURSDAY

   2-3 PM

       

 

  10:00 AM

 

   1:00      PM

FRIDAY

7:30 PM

 

      7:30 PM