Vile Attack On Sadhguru And Amit Shah In This Tamil Tabloid Sinks Public Discourse—Action Needed From Authorities

The boundary between genuine freedom of expression and the dictates of public morality is as delicate as it is perilous. What one may uphold as the rightful exercise of free speech, another might denounce as an affront to the core principles of decency and ethics.

Ethical journalism must continually tread this razor-thin divide, balancing the pursuit of truth with a commitment to objectivity and the highest standards of integrity.

Yet, one need not search far for the very antithesis of such a principle.

Tamil tabloid Nakeeran and its editor Nakeeran personify such an antithesis. Earlier also this magazine and its editor have published scandalous stories against former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, the late Jayalalithaa and former Governor of Tamil Nadu. In 2020, the magazine even apologised to then Governor of the state.

Even within the murky depths of tabloid journalism, Nakeeran plunges to an unparalleled low.

A fervent DMK loyalist, 'Nakeeran' Gopal was bestowed with the 'Periyar' award by the DMK government in 2010. Subsequently, in 2012, ‘Nakeeran’ stooped to sensationalism, publishing a cover story alleging that the then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, in a private conversation, had supposedly recalled a reference to her beef eating habit. This was unsubstantiated and scandalous.

True to its tabloid nature, 'Nakeeran' plastered the inflammatory headline related to Jayalalithaa across posters statewide, from tea stalls to petty shops, ensuring the insult echoed far and wide.

In the events that followed, the Madras High Court offered 'Nakeeran' Gopal bail on the condition of apologising to the Chief Minister. Gopal expressed regret in the Madras High Court for publishing the article and agreed to publish an apology in the forthcoming issue.

Now, ‘Nakeeran’ has done it again.

The tabloid has long waged a relentless campaign against Isha Yoga founder Jaggi Vasudev, peddling scandalously edited videos to malign both the Guru and his Coimbatore-based centre.

Such attacks are a staple of Tamil media, which perceives his organisation as a direct challenge to the ‘Dravidianist’ ideology. This animosity persists despite Isha’s inclusive practices, with priests from all castes serving in its temples.

The hostility seems less rooted in a genuine commitment to rationalism and more in an entrenched aversion to anything Hindu. These assaults often descend into vulgarity, far removed from meaningful critique, reaching their fever pitch during Maha Shivaratri, when Isha hosts its grand all-night celebration.

The event has been in the past attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Draupadi Murmu. This year it was attended by Home Minister Amit Shah and Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka D.K. Shivkumar.

Nakeeran has once again plunged into the depths of sensationalism with its latest cover. The image depicts Home Minister Amit Shah bowing reverently while holding Jaggi Vasudev's hand, accompanied by the audacious headline, "Sex Godman (‘Sammiyaar’)’s Function with Amit Shah."

By now, this inflammatory title has undoubtedly reached every corner of Tamil Nadu, from tea stalls to petty shops, and now, with the added reach of social media, it echoes even louder.

This affront is not merely an insult to Jaggi Vasudev as the leader of a global organisation and as an individual; it is a blatant denigration of Amit Shah, the Home Minister of India. It is a collective slander against the thousands of families and the countless Isha volunteers and followers who participated in the event.

This is not journalism; it is character assassination masquerading as reportage, a libellous attack on both an individual and a movement.

One need not be affiliated with Isha to feel the sting of this outrage—it is an assault on the fundamental dignity of every individual who attended their event, including women, children, and the elderly.

As citizens of India, it is not just a right but a duty to demand decisive action from both the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Government of India against this brazen affront.

A mere perfunctory apology is a hollow gesture, woefully inadequate in addressing the profound damage inflicted upon the freedom and dignity of countless individuals.

Instead of indulging in quixotic theatrics like temporarily blocking a website, the authorities, along with every concerned citizen, must democratically and legally ensure that such scandalous provocations by Nakeeran and its editor, Gopal, are not repeated against any individual in the future. Anything less would be a disservice to justice and a tacit endorsement of such vile practices.