By the time this article is published, most of you will be deep in Diwali preparations. I hesitate to wish you a ‘Happy Diwali’: A glum pall will have enveloped those who live in Delhi or nearby cities in north India, as pollution turns our world grey and poisonous.
Well, I can’t do anything about the AQI but I can certainly compliment readers of ThePrint, on your IQ! So, happy IQ, if it’s possible to say that. From the mail I receive as Readers’ Editor to the interactions I have had with the participants of our digital course at ThePrint School of Journalism (now into its second term), I have learnt that you are knowledgeable, acute and observant. Nothing misses your eagle eyes.
That’s very helpful and challenging. You are not only ThePrint’s readers, but our watchdog, too—please continue to be both; please, keep the mail coming.
This month the Readers’ Editor column is dedicated to all of you, our readers. And, so without any further fuss, let me share what’s been on your minds for the past few months.
Also read: Criticism, kindness, complaints—ThePrint readers don’t hold back. And we don’t want them to
Readers want to write
The majority of you have written in either with suggestions for articles you think ThePrint should be writing—or articles you have written. The number of submissions has increased exponentially over the last few months: And you write about topics that stretch across time, geography and the socio-political spectrum.
One reader wanted to commemorate the past: “(I am)…writing this mail to you in regard of my ancestors and I hope you will be pleased to learn that they belong from erstwhile estate (Taluqdar) at Bulandshahr District, Uttar Pradesh…and they played a significant role during Great uprising of 1857…”
Another took us sailing: She submitted a piece on “Silk, Spices and Sailing: The Golden Age of Indian Ocean”, which focuses on the journey and significance of the Indian Ocean in the history of India…”
Others brought us back to the present: One reader asked if we would be interested in a report on the “roof leakages” at Indian airports. This followed leaks at Lucknow, Hyderabad and Bengaluru airports during the monsoon.
The events in Bangladesh, this summer, with street protests which forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to take refuge in India, agitated many people. We had several submissions, including a piece on, “Why Indian Muslims must voice against anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh!” and “Sheikh Hasina: An Autocratic Poster-Girl Behind Economic Achievements?”.
In the realm of ideas, one reader wrote in with “A Call for Accountability: The Despair of Justice in a Failing Democracy”.
Several readers asked ThePrint to write about the alleged rape of a minor girl in Ayodhya—something ThePrint has been tracking: See here and here.
We were also requested to write about Naveen Patnaik’s ‘shadow cabinet’, the Booker Prize, the Magsaysay Prize, and “the issue of the suicide of a young, bright CA (that) has captured the national imagination…”
We welcome these ideas and that so many of you want to be published in ThePrint. My suggestion to you is: Become subscribers, if you aren’t already, and submit these interesting articles to ThePrint’s “Your Turn” section. As the title suggests, the section is there to publish your pieces.
Another piece of advice: Try to write on current topical ideas—as a current affairs portal, ThePrint is in the news business.
Also read: Dear readers, ThePrint has heard you — We now offer you a login-based, ad-lite experience
‘Views are personal’
As expected, there has been a fair bit of criticism of reports and opinion pieces in ThePrint, written either by our editorial team or by outside experts. A piece by political commentator Vir Sanghvi annoyed at least one reader: “He (Sanghvi) claimed the UP Kanwariya order was for “Muslim” shop owners? was it so? This is a blatant lie and u r well aware of that…Or Leftists and their allies at ThePrint have stopped caring for facts?”
There was anger at our alleged neglect of rape and murder of a young doctor in Kolkata: “Why is the outrage by ThePrint missing in the Kolkata case?.. Or Justice and constitution only need to be followed in “Hindutva” run states while the great “democratic” leaders like Mamata Banerjee get a free pass?”
I pointed out that ThePrint had deplored the rape and murder in a 50-word edit and written extensively on the case, but the reader remained unimpressed: “How many of those seven stories were critical of Mamata Banerjee? Did u hold her accountable?”
ThePrint reported on the crime consistently—and published opinion articles on it – we have regular news updates from agency reports and own reports: Please check out our coverage here.
We have been critical of Mamata Banerjee, too: in reported articles and opinions.
A dissatisfied reader objected to ThePrint publishing an opinion piece by senior advocate Dushyant Dave “pleading that Ms.Vrinda Grover should have been designated as a senior counsel.”—“I strongly feel that The Print must not allow itself to used for personal agenda…”
I agree that ThePrint must tread carefully when it comes to being “used” for personal agendas. However, here a senior advocate believes another lawyer ought to be elevated for professional reasons—he has a right to voice his support.
There was also this from a reader who wanted “some corrections” on this opinion piece: “I will provide corrections with authentic sources.’’ When I said that it wasn’t possible, he persisted and wanted to be put in touch with the writer for further debate.
As a rule, ThePrint does not share e-mail IDs or mobile numbers of contributors.
Oh, and I got called “dumb”. In this case, a reader protested against an opinion on the Haryana elections by Arvind Kumar who referred to Punjabi Hindus as ‘refugees’. When I offered Kumar’s explanation, the reader wrote: “I objected but got a real dumb reply from the print…I had no choice but to sign out.”
Do note, ThePrint does not subscribe to the views expressed by Dave or Kumar—or to those of anyone who writes opinion pieces. This is clearly stated at the end of each article.
Fixing glitches
If there was criticism, there was also praise.
“A BIG THANK YOU !” wrote in regular correspondent with the Readers’ Editor. He thanked me for quoting him in last month’s column and for ThePrint’s efforts to reduce advertising with content for subscribers.
Another frequent mailer also expressed his gratitude: “Thank you for responding in person to my email (I assume its you in person and not some AI/Bot). Your Subscriptions Dept did revert to me on my subscription details, I appreciate the promptness…”
I’m glad to say that complaints about subscription issues or technical glitches are fewer than earlier—hopefully, we have sorted out issues and readers will continue to enjoy reading ThePrint without difficulty.
Also read: App demands, ad complaints, admiration — what’s really trending in ThePrint’s mailbox
Thoughts on…
Besides article submissions and suggestions for reports, complaints and compliments, there are what I call the casual writers. I receive regular mails from some readers who want to share their opinions.
Here’s one: “Can we write anything about Rahul Gandhi as he is a political leader & grandson of Indira Gandhi , son of Rajiv Gandhi & great grandson of Nehru ji & these leaders are covered day & night 24 hours a day & their greatness has no end & their great works are sung day in & day out & people are supposed to listen to them all the time…”
There were “Thoughts on Israeli war” and “Thoughts on US elections and Kamala Harris win…” from one reader.
And then came a somewhat confusing message which goes, “Topic : Who is Ram & Demons of the world at present
‘tadka was a demon/ram killed tadka & many other demons/ram liberated the world from tadka’s & other demons atrocities/who is tadka of the world at present/who is ram of the world at present’ –Can you write about this?(sic)”
Right. That’s about it. As you may notice, readers have a quarrel with opinion pieces—quite naturally—but there have been few complaints regarding factual mistakes.
That’s good news for ThePrint’s editorial team.
Please continue to write in with all your views—we always appreciate feedback.
Until the next time.
Shailaja Bajpai is ThePrint’s Readers’ Editor. Please write in with your views, complaints to readers.editor@theprint.in
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)