It is observed that old newspapers are used in various ways before they are discarded
by the people as waste causing too much dishonor to the Hindu deities, whose pictures are
placed on the pages of the newspapers of India. Although the purpose behind placing the
pictures of the deities in newspapers is different from the purpose behind placing such holy
pictures on packing materials of consumer products, the ultimate consequence of the deities is
the same, i.e. they are dishonoured in all possible ways. Moreover, it is humanly not possible
to separate all the pictures of the deities from the pages of all the newspapers in order to
protect them from being dishonoured. As such, it has become necessary to restrict printing of
holy pictures of the deities in the newspapers. This should not be taken as an attempt to
deprive the newspaper of its right to make people well informed or to deprive the people of
their right to information. It should be accepted as a noble attempt to save the honour and
dignity of the Hindu deities, placed in the newspapers. Protection of honour of these deities
should be considered far more important than enjoying the so called right, while one is
unaware of the actual situation arising after publication of hard copies of holy pictures of the
deities on the newspapers, which are ignored and discarded later on. As such, the cooperation
of the newspapers of India in this regard will be highly appreciated. If the newspapers of India
bring a qualitative change on their pages by adopting a creative and self-disciplined alternative
arrangement, it will set an example for the entire newspaper industries of the world.
Given below are some suggestions in this regard which may be considered:
(1) The use of pictures and symbols of Hindu deities on commercial advertisements and
greetings, published in the newspapers during festive occasions and on normal days,
should be stopped completely as a matter of principle.
(2) The responsibility of extensive photographic coverage of activities related to the
deities during religious ceremonies and festivals, celebrated round the year, may be
given to electronic media only, because by doing so the misuse and dishonouring of
the deities, arising due to publication of numerous hard copies of their pictures in the
newspapers, can be controlled to a great extent.
(3) The photographs of activities and incidents such as idols under construction, finishing
touches given to idols, idols being transported from artists' workshops to places of
worship, idols being sold at shops and on the footpaths, painting and sculptures
depicting deities in indoor or outdoor exhibitions, idols being worshipped inside
temples, cases of theft inside temples, idols discovered from different places, idols
being broken or burnt by antisocial, group photographs of members of puja
committees posing before the idols at pandals, politicians and film stars visiting the
deities at puja pandals etc. may be avoided for publication in the newspapers.
(4) The placing of pictures of the deities can be avoided at the top of the first page with
or near the names of the newspapers, on the strips at the top of pages indicating
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regional and festive news and with reports related to festivals in newspapers.
(5) While introducing newly published books in newspapers, the photographs of the front
pages of the books may be avoided, in case they contained pictures of different
deities and instead the names of those books only may be mentioned.
(6) While publishing photographs of stage programmes, where the chief guests are
lighting the lamps before the idols or pictures of the deities during inauguration of
cultural programmes, while the artists are performing before the idols or banners,
depicting the deities and while the organizers are presenting idols or
certificates/citations, depicting the deities, to renowned personalities etc., the pictures
of the deities in these photographs can be blurred completely using special techniques.
(7) While taking outdoor or indoor photographs for the news, carefulness can be observed
to avoid idols or pictures of deities in the surroundings from being recorded in the
photographs and in case they cannot be avoided then the pictures of deities can be
blurred before publishing them in the newspapers.
(8) Limited, selected and dignified pictures of the Hindu deities may be printed on high
quality papers along with names of the newspapers, which may be presented to the
readers as supplementary gift pages along with the newspapers. For examples, pictures
of the concerned deities which accompany the spiritual articles, the photographs of the
best few idols prepared during festive occasions, photographs of traditional paintings
& sculptures depicting different deities and photographs of the best artistic works by
children and elders depicting different deities may be printed and presented to the
readers. It is hoped and believed that people will be encouraged to preserve the rare
holy pictures of the deities with love and respect.
If the newspaper industries of India realize the gravity of the situation and
take fruitful steps to protect the deities from being dishonoured, then others will be
inspired to take care of the deities as a moral duty.
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