Newswallah: Long Reads Edition

ReutersA magazine stand on a railway platform in Mumbai.

An article in Open magazine titled “The Villain Nobody Knows” looks at the beginnings of the Babri Masjid controversy. “The idea that eventually changed the politics of India emerged for the first time among three friends,” write the authors, who trace its origins to Maharaja Pateshwari Prasad Singh, head of the princely state of Balrampur, Mahant Digvijai Nath, politician and religious leader, and KKK Nair, an Indian Civil Service officer, whose friendship was formed over a shared interest in Hindu communalism (and tennis).

In 1947, when the maharaja organized a large-scale yajna, or ritual of worship, he invited his friends, along with Swami Karpatri, a Hindu leader. In 1948, when the Swami Karpatri founded the Ram Rajya Parishad (Ram's Kingdom), a Hindu extremist political party, the three friends were deeply involved.

The article says the idea “that Hindu religious places which had been under occupation of foreigners must now be liberated,” Babri Masjid in particular, emerged from interactions between Mahant Digvijai Nath, KKK Nair and Swami Karpatri. In a lengthy investigation, the piece argues that Mr. Nair used his position in the civil service after independence to further the cause of the Hindu extremists.

Outlook magazine's latest cover story (not currently online), “Ratan's Tata,” looks at the legacy of 74-year-old Ratan Tata as he bids farewell to the Tata Group, the conglomerate he built over a period of 21 years. Upon retiring as chief executive, Mr. Tata plans to remain chairman of the trust that controls Tata Group; in his spare time, the article says, he wants to continue flying, and to study music. But while the piece discusses his retirement plans, it touches only lightly upon the controversies that have sullied Mr. Tata's career, most notably the publication of his conversations with the lobbyist Niira Radia.

As Mr. Tata prepares to hand control to Cyrus Mistry, Outlook looks back at his years at the helm of one of the largest conglomerates in India, including the restructuring that helped to consolidate the group and drive its international business.  But Arindram Mukherjee, co-author of the piece, says Mr. Mistry will have many challenges ahead, like overcoming the blow to the group's reputation caused by the Radia tapes and an overreliance by the conglomerate on Tata Motors and Tata Consulting Services.  The co-author, Arti Sharma, says Mr. Mistry is up to the chall enge: “Tata watchers say that unlike RNT [Ratan Naval Tata], Mistry has a reputation for being sharp, focused on numbers, intent on change without being dramatic about it,” Ms. Sharma writes.

In Tehelka, Shoma Chaudhury writes about the state of the Indian media, a much-debated subject of late. The story is pegged to the most recent media scandal, which came to a head last week when two top editors of Zee News were arrested on charges of extortion, based on accusations made by the Jindal Group conglomerate.

Of the far-reaching corruption in India's Fourth Estate, Ms. Chaudhury writes:  

For a variety of reasons, it's indisputable that the Indian media is coasting in several danger zones now, but are we, as a fraternity, sufficiently willing to acknowledge that? Are we putting in the correctives?  Do we even agree the water is hot? And, if so, why?

Enumerating the recent media controversies, Ms. Chaudhury questions whether the response will inspire public confidence . Widespread corruption, a status quo of unprofessionalism and growing public disenchantment are leading to a dangerous situation, she writes. She says the answer lies in self-regulation; by responding to public concerns, the media can become more accountable and approachable, a step toward remedying its troubles.  “Just the opening of the conversation is a start,” she writes.