May 16

Witnessing press statements on television is one thing, but putting ourselves in the shoes of ‘the media’, quite another. As we neared the CPM Party office to cover the events on Saturday during peak hour of peak summer, we did not know what to expect.
 
Initially we stood staring at their huge symbol. The same sickle and star which had authorized its unchallenged monopoly in West Bengal for 32 years, and left its mark on all lower class peoples out there, had just received a stab in the back. The deserted feel about the place said it all – Left was beaten comprehensively in both Bengal and Kerala, to usher in a new era. TV Journalists were waiting outside for live feeds and surround any politician like swarm of bees. It took us some time to assimilate the whole flavour of such election coverage and take initiative. It was like the discovering of a whole new world out there – a world consisting of journalists who hobnob with popular and unpopular people of our society.
 
Soon CPM MP Nilotpal Basu arrived. The media immediately formed a circle around him. “We will have a dispassionate objective analysis on our performance in our Polit Bureau meeting on May 18. We will continue with our policies of secularism, national integrity and sovereignty”, he said. “We will analyse our performance in the meeting”, was his pet answer to all questions bombarded to him. I personally asked him about Singur and Nandigram issues being a reason for his party’s performance in Bengal (and patted myself on the back), and you guess the reply.
 
I realized the hollowness of those formal statements, there was no sign of genuineness as no one wanted to provide an interesting or controversial ‘byte’. Everyone had his/her own interests in mind, and were trying to save their skin. Brinda Karat, as expected, was a disappointment too.
 
I made myself familiar with the tricks of the trade and learnt about the subtleties involved in this profession. A friendly Mr.Partho told us about his experiences in this field and broadened our horizon no end.
 
It was in the evening that Mr.Sitaram Yechury arrived at the party office to oblige journalists in turn. Exclusive interviews with India TV and Star News took place in front of us, before we were finally allowed to ask a question. This time, there was some substance, “we must understand that people voted keeping the Centre in mind, and not for local issues.” On their defeat, he also added, “It was the Congress alliance with Mamata that most likely brought us down,” apart from the one-liner.
 
Refreshed yet fatigued, we left Bhai Vir Singh Marg with a smile on our faces. It was our first step into the unforgiving and creative reality of our field. May 16, 2009 would remain etched in our memories for a long time.