PRESS LORDS IN INDIA
Sra,—I was amazed to see published in the issue of The Spectator of November 3rd, 1945, a letter from "Ram Singh" containing baseless Insinuations against certain individuals and newspapers. The statements made in the letter are direct and categorical. " If my information from India is correct," says your correspondent, " Lord Kemsley has been
persuaded to open talks with the Indian Marwari firm of Birlas for bringing into existence an institution for checking irresponsible inter- national news reporting." He then goes on to hint at the probability of joint proprietorship of newspapers in Britain and in India. Another reckless statement he makes is that " the Birlas already own in India " several newspapers, including the Hindustan Times, and have an " invisible" control over many others. The entire suggestion about negotiations for common ownership of newspapers in Britain and India is grotesque. I have it from Mr. G. D. Birla that he has had no contact whatever with Lord Kemsley and has no knowledge of any talks opened by Lord Kemsley with any Indian interest of the description indicated in the letter or of any other description.
The further statement that the Birlas own a number of newspapers in India is evidently made to lend credibility to the allegation which involves the British Press magnate. As an enlightened family of industrialists and businessmen the Birlas take interest in public activities including educational institutions and newspapers. They are thus connected with some newspapers but not all mentioned in the letter. The Birlas, how- ever, do not interfere with the policy of the newspapers with which they are connected. All these newspapers follow an independent policy. The Hindustan Times, in common with scores and other newspapers in India, serves the cause of Indian nationalism and freedom vigorously, independently and fearlessly and is, if I may say so, one of the foremost organs of public opinion in the country. It has for that reason unfor- tunately been an eye-sore to certain interests who have nothing to gain from Indian independence.—Yours, &c., DEVADAS GANDHI, Managing Editor, Hindustan Times, New Delhi. New Delhi, November 26th, 1945.
Previous page
