Groff no ladies and gentlemen it’s a great pleasure to be here today to meet
great pleasure to be here today to meet
great pleasure to be here today to meet such young people and talk to them about
such young people and talk to them about
such young people and talk to them about things that really matter you’d have met
things that really matter you’d have met
things that really matter you’d have met very few people in on earth who tell you
very few people in on earth who tell you
very few people in on earth who tell you that they get paid to have fun I’m one
that they get paid to have fun I’m one
that they get paid to have fun I’m one of them this is a journey which has
of them this is a journey which has
of them this is a journey which has lasted 40 years and I have not had a
lasted 40 years and I have not had a
lasted 40 years and I have not had a single boring day this is to tell you
single boring day this is to tell you
single boring day this is to tell you that journalism is a great profession
that journalism is a great profession
that journalism is a great profession being a writer is even more because you
being a writer is even more because you
being a writer is even more because you see various perspectives of life you see
see various perspectives of life you see
see various perspectives of life you see various colors you travel a lot I have
various colors you travel a lot I have
various colors you travel a lot I have traveled to every state in India
traveled to every state in India
traveled to every state in India other than Sikkim some time back the
other than Sikkim some time back the
other than Sikkim some time back the shipping Ministry came to me with the
shipping Ministry came to me with the
shipping Ministry came to me with the proposal saying that they wanted a
proposal saying that they wanted a
proposal saying that they wanted a coffee table book on lighthouses of
coffee table book on lighthouses of
coffee table book on lighthouses of India and the first thing they told me
India and the first thing they told me
India and the first thing they told me is we don’t have any money but we can
is we don’t have any money but we can
is we don’t have any money but we can pay for your travel and that’s it and it
pay for your travel and that’s it and it
pay for your travel and that’s it and it took me five seconds to say yes because
took me five seconds to say yes because
took me five seconds to say yes because I told myself how many Indians would you
I told myself how many Indians would you
I told myself how many Indians would you meet who had travelled the entire coast
meet who had travelled the entire coast
meet who had travelled the entire coast of India so I traveled all the way from
of India so I traveled all the way from
of India so I traveled all the way from Gujarat down and up to Bengal it took me
Gujarat down and up to Bengal it took me
Gujarat down and up to Bengal it took me one and a half years to do that but that
one and a half years to do that but that
one and a half years to do that but that travel taught me so much travel is a
travel taught me so much travel is a
travel taught me so much travel is a great educator and I would say it’s
great educator and I would say it’s
great educator and I would say it’s compulsory for all of you to travel
compulsory for all of you to travel
compulsory for all of you to travel because that will teach you much more
because that will teach you much more
because that will teach you much more than what any education or any degree
than what any education or any degree
than what any education or any degree can teach you let me take you through a
can teach you let me take you through a
can teach you let me take you through a few of my experiences as I’ve told you
few of my experiences as I’ve told you
few of my experiences as I’ve told you about journalism this is so varied and
about journalism this is so varied and
about journalism this is so varied and the experience is so rich that every day
the experience is so rich that every day
the experience is so rich that every day you start learning something new I would
you start learning something new I would
you start learning something new I would start with one experience where I was
start with one experience where I was
start with one experience where I was researching on children who were forced
researching on children who were forced
researching on children who were forced into sex work in India that took me to a
into sex work in India that took me to a
into sex work in India that took me to a place called Sunna gachi in Calcutta
place called Sunna gachi in Calcutta
place called Sunna gachi in Calcutta which is one of the biggest red-light
which is one of the biggest red-light
which is one of the biggest red-light areas in Asia I met a girl who is about
areas in Asia I met a girl who is about
areas in Asia I met a girl who is about 13 years old called Sapna I don’t have a
13 years old called Sapna I don’t have a
13 years old called Sapna I don’t have a picture
picture
picture and I don’t want to have one these are
and I don’t want to have one these are
and I don’t want to have one these are new pictures of children in Sona gachi
new pictures of children in Sona gachi
new pictures of children in Sona gachi and it was such a heart changing
and it was such a heart changing
and it was such a heart changing experience for me to be with her for
experience for me to be with her for
experience for me to be with her for about two and a half hours when I told
about two and a half hours when I told
about two and a half hours when I told her that I’ve just come to talk to you
her that I’ve just come to talk to you
her that I’ve just come to talk to you she was very happy and she was more than
she was very happy and she was more than
she was very happy and she was more than willing to talk though I have never met
willing to talk though I have never met
willing to talk though I have never met her before she was talking to a complete
her before she was talking to a complete
her before she was talking to a complete stranger her dream in life was to study
stranger her dream in life was to study
stranger her dream in life was to study at the Shantiniketan
at the Shantiniketan
at the Shantiniketan and she kept talking about it so one of
and she kept talking about it so one of
and she kept talking about it so one of her uncle’s told her that look I know a
her uncle’s told her that look I know a
her uncle’s told her that look I know a lot of professors at Shantiniketan I can
lot of professors at Shantiniketan I can
lot of professors at Shantiniketan I can take you there and it took her to
take you there and it took her to
take you there and it took her to Calcutta and from the railway station
Calcutta and from the railway station
Calcutta and from the railway station you took her straight to Sona gachi and
you took her straight to Sona gachi and
you took her straight to Sona gachi and sold her for ten thousand rupees that is
sold her for ten thousand rupees that is
sold her for ten thousand rupees that is the value of human life one of the great
the value of human life one of the great
the value of human life one of the great benefits of being a journalist is that
benefits of being a journalist is that
benefits of being a journalist is that you see sociology you see history you
you see sociology you see history you
you see sociology you see history you sees geography and you see all the
sees geography and you see all the
sees geography and you see all the changes that you can document down the
changes that you can document down the
changes that you can document down the years when I got up to go after taking a
years when I got up to go after taking a
years when I got up to go after taking a lot of copious notes after my
lot of copious notes after my
lot of copious notes after my conversations with her which was really
conversations with her which was really
conversations with her which was really heart wrenching because I saw that she
heart wrenching because I saw that she
heart wrenching because I saw that she had no faith in men and that she hated
had no faith in men and that she hated
had no faith in men and that she hated religion she hated God she had no faith
religion she hated God she had no faith
religion she hated God she had no faith in natural justice and when I got up to
in natural justice and when I got up to
in natural justice and when I got up to go she asked me how did you come here I
go she asked me how did you come here I
go she asked me how did you come here I said in a car which car Maruti 800 it’s
said in a car which car Maruti 800 it’s
said in a car which car Maruti 800 it’s the private taxi which colour is it red
the private taxi which colour is it red
the private taxi which colour is it red then I asked her why are you asking me
then I asked her why are you asking me
then I asked her why are you asking me all these questions and she said I have
all these questions and she said I have
all these questions and she said I have not sat in a car for ages so I asked her
not sat in a car for ages so I asked her
not sat in a car for ages so I asked her would you like to sit in one and she
would you like to sit in one and she
would you like to sit in one and she said that would be wonderful so I spoke
said that would be wonderful so I spoke
said that would be wonderful so I spoke to the brothel owner she said you had
to the brothel owner she said you had
to the brothel owner she said you had got to pay me a thousand bucks to do
got to pay me a thousand bucks to do
got to pay me a thousand bucks to do that but you cannot take her out alone
that but you cannot take her out alone
that but you cannot take her out alone I’ll send you with an escort so out we
I’ll send you with an escort so out we
I’ll send you with an escort so out we went with an escort and the moment we
went with an escort and the moment we
went with an escort and the moment we got out of the bylines
got out of the bylines
got out of the bylines of Sona gachi by the way brothels don’t
of Sona gachi by the way brothels don’t
of Sona gachi by the way brothels don’t look the way they look in Hindi films
look the way they look in Hindi films
look the way they look in Hindi films they are dirty they are stinky it was
they are dirty they are stinky it was
they are dirty they are stinky it was like patches on the wall and you know it
like patches on the wall and you know it
like patches on the wall and you know it was a terrible experience those two and
was a terrible experience those two and
was a terrible experience those two and a half hours there but the moment you
a half hours there but the moment you
a half hours there but the moment you hit the road she was so excited
hit the road she was so excited
hit the road she was so excited because she could see the roads she
because she could see the roads she
because she could see the roads she could see the payments she could see the
could see the payments she could see the
could see the payments she could see the people the shoppers the mannequins and
people the shoppers the mannequins and
people the shoppers the mannequins and there are trams and the life in Calcutta
there are trams and the life in Calcutta
there are trams and the life in Calcutta and I told myself look how we take life
and I told myself look how we take life
and I told myself look how we take life for granted and look what this means for
for granted and look what this means for
for granted and look what this means for her so I wanted to erase the experience
her so I wanted to erase the experience
her so I wanted to erase the experience a little more so I told her let’s go out
a little more so I told her let’s go out
a little more so I told her let’s go out for that let’s go out and look at the
for that let’s go out and look at the
for that let’s go out and look at the Victoria Memorial now she had never seen
Victoria Memorial now she had never seen
Victoria Memorial now she had never seen that and the moment I had took her to
that and the moment I had took her to
that and the moment I had took her to the Victoria Memorial she stood there
the Victoria Memorial she stood there
the Victoria Memorial she stood there transfixed as if it is the most
transfixed as if it is the most
transfixed as if it is the most beautiful monument ever built by man for
beautiful monument ever built by man for
beautiful monument ever built by man for us I would drive past the Victoria
us I would drive past the Victoria
us I would drive past the Victoria Memorial without even looking at it but
Memorial without even looking at it but
Memorial without even looking at it but for her it was an event so I wanted to
for her it was an event so I wanted to
for her it was an event so I wanted to raise her experience a little more so I
raise her experience a little more so I
raise her experience a little more so I said let’s go out for dinner and I took
said let’s go out for dinner and I took
said let’s go out for dinner and I took her to a restaurant and it was so
her to a restaurant and it was so
her to a restaurant and it was so exciting for her to sit at a table and
exciting for her to sit at a table and
exciting for her to sit at a table and to be served by waiters after we
to be served by waiters after we
to be served by waiters after we finished dinner I told her it’s time to
finished dinner I told her it’s time to
finished dinner I told her it’s time to go and that that’s when she stopped
go and that that’s when she stopped
go and that that’s when she stopped talking to me because all through there
talking to me because all through there
talking to me because all through there was so much of chitter chatter going
was so much of chitter chatter going
was so much of chitter chatter going along as if we were two great friends we
along as if we were two great friends we
along as if we were two great friends we had met after many years but when I said
had met after many years but when I said
had met after many years but when I said it’s time to go there was complete
it’s time to go there was complete
it’s time to go there was complete silence and there was silence all the
silence and there was silence all the
silence and there was silence all the way to the brothel when we reached the
way to the brothel when we reached the
way to the brothel when we reached the brothel she looked at me and with tears
brothel she looked at me and with tears
brothel she looked at me and with tears swimming in her eyes she said today has
swimming in her eyes she said today has
swimming in her eyes she said today has been the most beautiful day of my life
been the most beautiful day of my life
been the most beautiful day of my life thank you
thank you
thank you and when she said this there were tears
and when she said this there were tears
and when she said this there were tears in my eyes to what I mean to say is we
in my eyes to what I mean to say is we
in my eyes to what I mean to say is we need to be empathetic and if you are
need to be empathetic and if you are
need to be empathetic and if you are empathetic we can look at other people’s
empathetic we can look at other people’s
empathetic we can look at other people’s lives from a very different standpoint
lives from a very different standpoint
lives from a very different standpoint these are other pictures of sana gachi
as I said travel teaches you a lot this
as I said travel teaches you a lot this is a picture from Nagaland and I knew
is a picture from Nagaland and I knew
is a picture from Nagaland and I knew nothing about Nagaland and I asked my
nothing about Nagaland and I asked my
nothing about Nagaland and I asked my editor to transfer me to the North East
editor to transfer me to the North East
editor to transfer me to the North East a place which I did not know the reason
a place which I did not know the reason
a place which I did not know the reason why I did that is and it’s important to
why I did that is and it’s important to
why I did that is and it’s important to take risks in life I wanted to be in a
take risks in life I wanted to be in a
take risks in life I wanted to be in a place where no one recognizes me and I
place where no one recognizes me and I
place where no one recognizes me and I do not know anything about that place
do not know anything about that place
do not know anything about that place because familiarity breeds contempt so
because familiarity breeds contempt so
because familiarity breeds contempt so off I went to the Northeast I did not
off I went to the Northeast I did not
off I went to the Northeast I did not even know the name of the chief minister
even know the name of the chief minister
even know the name of the chief minister of the Nagaland at that point of time
of the Nagaland at that point of time
of the Nagaland at that point of time nor did I know the politics of the place
nor did I know the politics of the place
nor did I know the politics of the place but when I went to the Northeast
but when I went to the Northeast
but when I went to the Northeast all the different states seemed like
all the different states seemed like
all the different states seemed like different countries to me as it is India
different countries to me as it is India
different countries to me as it is India is such a rich sociology every state is
is such a rich sociology every state is
is such a rich sociology every state is like a different country you cannot
like a different country you cannot
like a different country you cannot compare Tamilnadu with Missouri for
compare Tamilnadu with Missouri for
compare Tamilnadu with Missouri for example what I’m trying to say here is
example what I’m trying to say here is
example what I’m trying to say here is until you go out and meet people you do
until you go out and meet people you do
until you go out and meet people you do not know what that reality is in life is
not know what that reality is in life is
not know what that reality is in life is like I understood why Nagaland is a
like I understood why Nagaland is a
like I understood why Nagaland is a different kind of state by people in
different kind of state by people in
different kind of state by people in Nagaland hate India why do they want
Nagaland hate India why do they want
Nagaland hate India why do they want independence
independence
independence the reason being when I went a travel
the reason being when I went a travel
the reason being when I went a travel through all the districts of nagaland to
through all the districts of nagaland to
through all the districts of nagaland to write a diary on and I called it the
write a diary on and I called it the
write a diary on and I called it the Nagaland a reporter’s diary or Naga
Nagaland a reporter’s diary or Naga
Nagaland a reporter’s diary or Naga Nagaland I came to know harrowing
Nagaland I came to know harrowing
Nagaland I came to know harrowing stories of what people told me or what
stories of what people told me or what
stories of what people told me or what had happened when insurgency started and
had happened when insurgency started and
had happened when insurgency started and the security forces moved into Nagaland
the security forces moved into Nagaland
the security forces moved into Nagaland and their sisters and wives were raped
and their sisters and wives were raped
and their sisters and wives were raped in front of them these were memories
in front of them these were memories
in front of them these were memories that they could not forget and that had
that they could not forget and that had
that they could not forget and that had built the hatred for India the security
built the hatred for India the security
built the hatred for India the security forces for them signified that this was
forces for them signified that this was
forces for them signified that this was what India was all about I want to once
what India was all about I want to once
what India was all about I want to once again take you to another hair-raising
again take you to another hair-raising
again take you to another hair-raising experience of mine while covering the
experience of mine while covering the
experience of mine while covering the war in Sri Lanka we were travelling
war in Sri Lanka we were travelling
war in Sri Lanka we were travelling through the war zones and believe me
through the war zones and believe me
through the war zones and believe me there was no fear because the adrenaline
there was no fear because the adrenaline
there was no fear because the adrenaline was so high I was so excited about the
was so high I was so excited about the
was so high I was so excited about the fact that I was there watching history I
fact that I was there watching history I
fact that I was there watching history I was there watching war as it happened in
was there watching war as it happened in
was there watching war as it happened in front of me
front of me
front of me we went off to jaffna and the
we went off to jaffna and the
we went off to jaffna and the hotels would not give us a room because
hotels would not give us a room because
hotels would not give us a room because they said that you need LTT permission
they said that you need LTT permission
they said that you need LTT permission to get a room here so off we went to an
to get a room here so off we went to an
to get a room here so off we went to an Ltd camp and we wanted to stay there
Ltd camp and we wanted to stay there
Ltd camp and we wanted to stay there because I thought this is a great
because I thought this is a great
because I thought this is a great experience to be with the LTTE but the
experience to be with the LTTE but the
experience to be with the LTTE but the LTTE said you can’t stay with us because
LTTE said you can’t stay with us because
LTTE said you can’t stay with us because we might get bombed at night and if we
we might get bombed at night and if we
we might get bombed at night and if we get bombed and you two guys get killed
get bombed and you two guys get killed
get bombed and you two guys get killed me and my photographer the international
me and my photographer the international
me and my photographer the international press would go to town saying that we
press would go to town saying that we
press would go to town saying that we killed two journalists so off they took
killed two journalists so off they took
killed two journalists so off they took us 40 minutes away to a very far off
us 40 minutes away to a very far off
us 40 minutes away to a very far off place and put us in a small little house
place and put us in a small little house
place and put us in a small little house and I was guarded by a little boy who
and I was guarded by a little boy who
and I was guarded by a little boy who had a cyanide capsule around his neck
had a cyanide capsule around his neck
had a cyanide capsule around his neck and he had a machine gun with him he was
and he had a machine gun with him he was
and he had a machine gun with him he was guarding me so I said we don’t need to
guarding me so I said we don’t need to
guarding me so I said we don’t need to be guarded he said no you could be
be guarded he said no you could be
be guarded he said no you could be attacked so it is our job to secure you
attacked so it is our job to secure you
attacked so it is our job to secure you the next day they took us back into the
the next day they took us back into the
the next day they took us back into the town and they left us in Jaffna to do
town and they left us in Jaffna to do
town and they left us in Jaffna to do our job and like a good journalist I did
our job and like a good journalist I did
our job and like a good journalist I did everything I did a lot of interviews I
everything I did a lot of interviews I
everything I did a lot of interviews I met the police commissioner I met the
met the police commissioner I met the
met the police commissioner I met the LTTE I paint the Sinhalese
LTTE I paint the Sinhalese
LTTE I paint the Sinhalese and all the kind of people that you need
and all the kind of people that you need
and all the kind of people that you need to meet to put a good cover story for
to meet to put a good cover story for
to meet to put a good cover story for India today together but there is a
India today together but there is a
India today together but there is a element of greed always you know you
element of greed always you know you
element of greed always you know you want to do something little more because
want to do something little more because
want to do something little more because you think you will get something more so
you think you will get something more so
you think you will get something more so I kept pushing my luck and suddenly I
I kept pushing my luck and suddenly I
I kept pushing my luck and suddenly I found our car was stopped by a guy who
found our car was stopped by a guy who
found our car was stopped by a guy who is drying riding a motorcycle and he
is drying riding a motorcycle and he
is drying riding a motorcycle and he beckoned us out and he said who are you
beckoned us out and he said who are you
beckoned us out and he said who are you so I said we are Indian journalist so he
so I said we are Indian journalist so he
so I said we are Indian journalist so he said oh you’re Indian dogs and I didn’t
said oh you’re Indian dogs and I didn’t
said oh you’re Indian dogs and I didn’t fight with him my photograph I wanted to
fight with him my photograph I wanted to
fight with him my photograph I wanted to fight with him but I said relax take it
fight with him but I said relax take it
fight with him but I said relax take it easy and I put him back in the car
easy and I put him back in the car
easy and I put him back in the car negotiated with him and I asked him who
negotiated with him and I asked him who
negotiated with him and I asked him who are you so he took out his wallet and
are you so he took out his wallet and
are you so he took out his wallet and showed me a picture the picture was of a
showed me a picture the picture was of a
showed me a picture the picture was of a skull he said this is my identity I put
skull he said this is my identity I put
skull he said this is my identity I put it back in his pocket and he said get
it back in his pocket and he said get
it back in his pocket and he said get out of my country and he pushed off a
out of my country and he pushed off a
out of my country and he pushed off a few minutes later I heard police sirens
few minutes later I heard police sirens
few minutes later I heard police sirens behind me and they were three police
behind me and they were three police
behind me and they were three police cars which came the police pulled us out
cars which came the police pulled us out
cars which came the police pulled us out of the our taxi threw us into the police
of the our taxi threw us into the police
of the our taxi threw us into the police Jeeps
Jeeps
Jeeps took us to a police station
took us to a police station
took us to a police station and dropped us there and they pushed off
and dropped us there and they pushed off
and dropped us there and they pushed off and they took up a sports away the cop
and they took up a sports away the cop
and they took up a sports away the cop at the police station after some time I
at the police station after some time I
at the police station after some time I went back to the cop I told him please
went back to the cop I told him please
went back to the cop I told him please give us a passports back because we have
give us a passports back because we have
give us a passports back because we have work to do so he looked at me and he
work to do so he looked at me and he
work to do so he looked at me and he smiled and he said you won’t need your
smiled and he said you won’t need your
smiled and he said you won’t need your passports again so I asked him why so he
passports again so I asked him why so he
passports again so I asked him why so he smiled again and he said have you heard
smiled again and he said have you heard
smiled again and he said have you heard of garland a garland is a term in sri
of garland a garland is a term in sri
of garland a garland is a term in sri lanka at the time of the war where the
lanka at the time of the war where the
lanka at the time of the war where the LTTE would capture sonali’s soldiers and
LTTE would capture sonali’s soldiers and
LTTE would capture sonali’s soldiers and the sonali’s would capture LTT soldiers
the sonali’s would capture LTT soldiers
the sonali’s would capture LTT soldiers and they would put a tower around them
and they would put a tower around them
and they would put a tower around them so your hands are locked and your hands
so your hands are locked and your hands
so your hands are locked and your hands can’t move and they light the tire and
can’t move and they light the tire and
can’t move and they light the tire and they leave you there so you can’t even
they leave you there so you can’t even
they leave you there so you can’t even move you burn slowly burnt to death and
move you burn slowly burnt to death and
move you burn slowly burnt to death and all along our route from Colombo to
all along our route from Colombo to
all along our route from Colombo to Jaffna we saw numerous bodies on the
Jaffna we saw numerous bodies on the
Jaffna we saw numerous bodies on the street where bodies were charred and all
street where bodies were charred and all
street where bodies were charred and all you had was a metal wire which of the
you had was a metal wire which of the
you had was a metal wire which of the type which could not burn that is the
type which could not burn that is the
type which could not burn that is the only moment in my life in 40 years that
only moment in my life in 40 years that
only moment in my life in 40 years that have got scared and suddenly I thought
have got scared and suddenly I thought
have got scared and suddenly I thought of my wife I thought of my son I thought
of my wife I thought of my son I thought
of my wife I thought of my son I thought of my dad mom my relatives my friends
of my dad mom my relatives my friends
of my dad mom my relatives my friends and this is not the way I wanted to go
and this is not the way I wanted to go
and this is not the way I wanted to go but there was nothing to do he said go
but there was nothing to do he said go
but there was nothing to do he said go and sit in that corner so off I went i
and sit in that corner so off I went i
and sit in that corner so off I went i sat on a bench for one hour
sat on a bench for one hour
sat on a bench for one hour it seemed like years to me I did not
it seemed like years to me I did not
it seemed like years to me I did not know what to do and I kept thinking of
know what to do and I kept thinking of
know what to do and I kept thinking of what is the way to get out and to get my
what is the way to get out and to get my
what is the way to get out and to get my passport back suddenly I saw a taller
passport back suddenly I saw a taller
passport back suddenly I saw a taller guy walking in the compound he was
guy walking in the compound he was
guy walking in the compound he was wearing bathroom slippers he had shorts
wearing bathroom slippers he had shorts
wearing bathroom slippers he had shorts and he was wearing a vest
and he was wearing a vest
and he was wearing a vest and he had a handlebar mustache and I
and he had a handlebar mustache and I
and he had a handlebar mustache and I said oh this must be the top cop here so
said oh this must be the top cop here so
said oh this must be the top cop here so I ran to him and I said look sir you are
I ran to him and I said look sir you are
I ran to him and I said look sir you are in trouble you have taken our passports
in trouble you have taken our passports
in trouble you have taken our passports and do you know what the defense
and do you know what the defense
and do you know what the defense minister of Sri Lanka said on television
minister of Sri Lanka said on television
minister of Sri Lanka said on television he said I invite international
he said I invite international
he said I invite international journalists to come to Sri Lanka to
journalists to come to Sri Lanka to
journalists to come to Sri Lanka to report the war so that they know the
report the war so that they know the
report the war so that they know the truth and you hear you are stopping us
truth and you hear you are stopping us
truth and you hear you are stopping us from doing a duty so he said why are you
from doing a duty so he said why are you
from doing a duty so he said why are you here I said I don’t know the police of
here I said I don’t know the police of
here I said I don’t know the police of just land thrown us here and you have
just land thrown us here and you have
just land thrown us here and you have taken our passports so
taken our passports so
taken our passports so he rushed into the police station he
he rushed into the police station he
he rushed into the police station he asked for the passports took the
asked for the passports took the
asked for the passports took the passports checked it give it back to us
passports checked it give it back to us
passports checked it give it back to us and said please continue your job and do
and said please continue your job and do
and said please continue your job and do not talk about this and that’s why I’m
not talk about this and that’s why I’m
not talk about this and that’s why I’m here telling you the story but the
here telling you the story but the
here telling you the story but the lesson to learn here is it’s very
lesson to learn here is it’s very
lesson to learn here is it’s very important to take risks as I told you
important to take risks as I told you
important to take risks as I told you but it’s important not to take foolish
but it’s important not to take foolish
but it’s important not to take foolish risks another story I want to talk to
risks another story I want to talk to
risks another story I want to talk to you about which one means that I’m not
you about which one means that I’m not
you about which one means that I’m not going to award for excellence in
going to award for excellence in
going to award for excellence in journalism is pesticide in food we have
journalism is pesticide in food we have
journalism is pesticide in food we have you just had some of it now we have
you just had some of it now we have
you just had some of it now we have pesticide in in a breakfast in a lunch
pesticide in in a breakfast in a lunch
pesticide in in a breakfast in a lunch and dinner and India has become the
and dinner and India has become the
and dinner and India has become the largest producer of pesticides in the
largest producer of pesticides in the
largest producer of pesticides in the world it has also become the last
world it has also become the last
world it has also become the last largest user one of the reasons is
largest user one of the reasons is
largest user one of the reasons is because we use pesticides in a very very
because we use pesticides in a very very
because we use pesticides in a very very careless way I would quickly want to
careless way I would quickly want to
careless way I would quickly want to tell you that the most dangerous
tell you that the most dangerous
tell you that the most dangerous vegetables to eat is cauliflower cabbage
vegetables to eat is cauliflower cabbage
vegetables to eat is cauliflower cabbage brinjals ladyfingers tomatoes this
brinjals ladyfingers tomatoes this
brinjals ladyfingers tomatoes this contain large amounts of pesticides
contain large amounts of pesticides
contain large amounts of pesticides including palak which is spinach one way
including palak which is spinach one way
including palak which is spinach one way to do that is when you go to the market
to do that is when you go to the market
to do that is when you go to the market and buy vegetables do not encourage your
and buy vegetables do not encourage your
and buy vegetables do not encourage your moms to buy cauliflower which are white
moms to buy cauliflower which are white
moms to buy cauliflower which are white in color they are white because they are
in color they are white because they are
in color they are white because they are dipped in a bucket of pesticides before
dipped in a bucket of pesticides before
dipped in a bucket of pesticides before they are sent to the market so that they
they are sent to the market so that they
they are sent to the market so that they bleach natural cauliflower looks a bit
bleach natural cauliflower looks a bit
bleach natural cauliflower looks a bit dirty yellow always by the dirty yellow
dirty yellow always by the dirty yellow
dirty yellow always by the dirty yellow one because that is safer grapes is
one because that is safer grapes is
one because that is safer grapes is again a very very dangerous fruit to
again a very very dangerous fruit to
again a very very dangerous fruit to have if you’re who you want to eat
have if you’re who you want to eat
have if you’re who you want to eat grapes please put it in water for at
grapes please put it in water for at
grapes please put it in water for at least one hour and wash it rinse it well
least one hour and wash it rinse it well
least one hour and wash it rinse it well the only good thing I have to tell you
the only good thing I have to tell you
the only good thing I have to tell you about pesticides is that pesticides are
about pesticides is that pesticides are
about pesticides is that pesticides are water soluble but the pesticide which
water soluble but the pesticide which
water soluble but the pesticide which has gone inside the fruit or the
has gone inside the fruit or the
has gone inside the fruit or the vegetable cannot be removed and we all
vegetable cannot be removed and we all
vegetable cannot be removed and we all have to fight for organic farming to
have to fight for organic farming to
have to fight for organic farming to come back into this country hundreds of
come back into this country hundreds of
come back into this country hundreds of years ago there was nothing called
years ago there was nothing called
years ago there was nothing called pesticide farming it was all organic
pesticide farming it was all organic
pesticide farming it was all organic farming but today boy our land has been
farming but today boy our land has been
farming but today boy our land has been poisoned with pesticides Punjab is a so
poisoned with pesticides Punjab is a so
poisoned with pesticides Punjab is a so example of how our land has been
example of how our land has been
example of how our land has been poisoned communion rights have been
poisoned communion rights have been
poisoned communion rights have been another thing that has exercised me a
another thing that has exercised me a
another thing that has exercised me a lot because I’ve covered a hell of a lot
lot because I’ve covered a hell of a lot
lot because I’ve covered a hell of a lot of communion rights in this country I
of communion rights in this country I
of communion rights in this country I lived in Gujarat for nine years so you
lived in Gujarat for nine years so you
lived in Gujarat for nine years so you know I’ve covered almost all the
know I’ve covered almost all the
know I’ve covered almost all the communion rights there I’ve even written
communion rights there I’ve even written
communion rights there I’ve even written a book on communion rights my last book
a book on communion rights my last book
a book on communion rights my last book was on Ramadi
was on Ramadi
was on Ramadi it’s called Modi demystified the making
it’s called Modi demystified the making
it’s called Modi demystified the making of a prime minister and when I go and
of a prime minister and when I go and
of a prime minister and when I go and talk to journalism students I always
talk to journalism students I always
talk to journalism students I always tell them you are not Hindus or Muslims
tell them you are not Hindus or Muslims
tell them you are not Hindus or Muslims or Christians or Sikhs
or Christians or Sikhs
or Christians or Sikhs y’all are journalist that is your
y’all are journalist that is your
y’all are journalist that is your religion and we should never forget that
religion and we should never forget that
religion and we should never forget that communion riots you know nobody is
communion riots you know nobody is
communion riots you know nobody is communal in this country but it is the
communal in this country but it is the
communal in this country but it is the politics of this country which has made
politics of this country which has made
politics of this country which has made people communal and we need to
people communal and we need to
people communal and we need to understand that don’t believe everything
understand that don’t believe everything
understand that don’t believe everything that you read today because the media
that you read today because the media
that you read today because the media today does not get you the truth always
today does not get you the truth always
today does not get you the truth always understand this truth is what someone
understand this truth is what someone
understand this truth is what someone somewhere wants to hide the rest is all
somewhere wants to hide the rest is all
somewhere wants to hide the rest is all advertising what you guys are seeing on
advertising what you guys are seeing on
advertising what you guys are seeing on television today what you’re reading in
television today what you’re reading in
television today what you’re reading in print today is all advertising and that
print today is all advertising and that
print today is all advertising and that is why young people like you need to
is why young people like you need to
is why young people like you need to develop something called critical
develop something called critical
develop something called critical thinking always start thinking on your
thinking always start thinking on your
thinking always start thinking on your own read between the lines it’s very
own read between the lines it’s very
own read between the lines it’s very important to get to the truth I think we
important to get to the truth I think we
important to get to the truth I think we must tell the truth even if it hurts and
must tell the truth even if it hurts and
must tell the truth even if it hurts and I want to end by saying this it does not
I want to end by saying this it does not
I want to end by saying this it does not matter how big your audience is but it’s
matter how big your audience is but it’s
matter how big your audience is but it’s very important to continue doing the
very important to continue doing the
very important to continue doing the good work thank you
”
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