Special Editorial | Changed masters, strengthened chains
The Vartha Bharati movement has today completed a meaningful journey of 22 years and steps proudly into its 23rd year. On this occasion of celebration, on behalf of the entire Vartha Bharati team, we extend heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to all our fellow travelers, our readers, listeners, viewers, supporters, and patrons.
As with every year, at this moment we find it necessary to recall some troubling realities confronting our society, realities that are directly connected to the role of the media.
In the world’s largest democracy, India, there are voices emerging from vigilant sections of society that democracy itself is gasping for its last breath, and that the hard-won rights and freedoms of the people, secured through immense sacrifice and struggle, are slowly disappearing. Truly, this should have shaken the conscience of the nation. Yet, unfortunately, neither society at large, nor especially the younger generation, seems able or willing to pay serious attention to these developments. A generation that inherited democracy without having endured long and difficult struggles, has come to take it for granted, sleepwalking into complacency.
In such circumstances, the responsibility of awakening society about the importance of democracy, exposing those who are quietly robbing the people of their sovereignty, and shaping public opinion towards collective resistance and struggle, falls upon the media, the so-called “fourth pillar” of democracy. Tragically, that very pillar today has itself been turned into a weapon in the hands of those plotting democracy’s destruction.
We Indians are not strangers to resisting illegitimate rulers. The awareness of having been enslaved, the anger against those who imposed that slavery, and the determination to break free, these were the forces that drove us to rise in revolt against British colonial rule. With clarity about who our oppressors were, our rebellion reached massive proportions, burned brightly for decades, and finally achieved victory. In that process, the press, despite its limited reach then, emerged as the most effective weapon for mass awakening. Countless newspapers in Hindi, Urdu, Persian, English, and regional languages stood fearlessly against suppression, shaping public opinion against tyranny. Many journalists themselves filled the prisons of that era, testifying to the decisive role of the press in the struggle for independence.
But the fruits of that long collective struggle, Indian democracy, today exist only in form, not in substance. Worse still, systematic efforts are underway before our very eyes to snuff out even its formal existence. The British had deployed the “divide and rule” policy and several other conspiracies to tighten their grip, most of which succeeded. Yet, one diabolical plot never occurred to them: planting the illusion in the minds of Indians that they themselves were the rulers. Had that thought occurred, there would have been no need for prisons, lathis, cannons, and firing squads. If Indians had come to believe that they were masters of their own land, and that the British were merely benevolent guides bringing modernity, the colonial project would have been infinitely easier. Ironically, what never struck the British then, has dawned on the informal rulers of independent India today, priests, corporate tycoons, and their political and bureaucratic agents.
That is why those who today demand the removal of the words “socialist” and “secular” from the Constitution deserve a grim sort of applause. For in practice, these words indeed have little place in our current political system or society. Before 1976, when they were formally added to the Constitution, our society and state were at least limping in those directions. Government policies, budgets, planning priorities, social atmospheres, even if imperfect, carried traces of socialism and secularism. Today, however, looking at realities on the ground, one cannot help but wonder whether it was “socialist and secular” or rather “capitalist and theocratic” that was officially inscribed. Even the word “democratic”, present in the original Constitution, has been hollowed out, reduced to an empty shell.
The so-called “masters” of today press the word democracy into the minds of citizens as if to remind them: you are the rulers. Yet, this is only to prevent any spark of rebellion against their exploitation. Thus, billionaires like Ambani and Adani, obscurantist priests, and self-styled godmen have quietly been enthroned as India’s masters, while 1.4 billion citizens are reduced to their subjects, without resistance, without debate, without even awareness.
Even if we ignore these subtle betrayals and look only at stark facts, the illusion of being “masters” crumbles. Untouchability continues to be practiced across the country, with over 25% of people openly admitting they follow it. Inter-caste marriages barely cross 5%. Despite constitutional safeguards, higher caste dominance continues in upper-level positions, while marginalized communities remain trapped in the lowest ranks. Representation in decisive and empowering spaces is inversely proportional to population share. Crimes, atrocities, and violence against Dalits and Shudras persist and increase. And yet, the media, our supposed teacher and guide, refuses to acknowledge, let alone discuss, this grim truth.
In 1922, under British rule, 13% of national income was concentrated in the hands of just 1% of the wealthy. If independence truly made us our own rulers, this imbalance should have been corrected. Especially after the word “socialist” was added to the Constitution, one would expect redistribution. Instead, by 2022, after a century of “democracy”, 22.6% of national income lies in the hands of that same 1%. According to Oxfam, today the top 1% control 40% of India’s wealth, and the top 5% control 60%. The bottom 50% of Indians share a mere 3%. Far from empowering the majority, the system has perfected the art of transferring their share into the coffers of the ultra-rich. Even the government admits 11.28% of Indians, some 160 million people, live below the poverty line. Farmers continue to take their lives under crushing debt, even as the Reserve Bank reports that between 2015 and 2024, corporate giants had loans worth ₹16.35 lakh crore written off. The people, ultimately, foot the bill.
When Ambani’s Reliance earned thousands of crores from cheap Russian crude oil, it was the people who ended up paying the price through Trump’s punitive tariffs. Under the banners of “privatisation” and “liberalisation,” what has actually unfolded is the pauperization of the poor and the monopolization of the rich. The Prime Minister, once proud of making India the “fifth-largest economy,” now sings lullabies of being the “third-largest,” all while the number of billionaires grows. These are not signs of prosperity for the people, but of a dangerous polarization of wealth that must alarm us.
The British were accused of looting India’s resources. After independence, the looters changed, but the plunder continued. Now, instead of foreigners, a handful of domestic oligarchs exploit the people, under the mask of democracy. Worse, those controlling the system are openly preparing to bury democracy itself. One by one, its pillars and institutions are being dismantled, the judiciary, investigating agencies, even the credibility of elections. Citizens’ fundamental rights, freedoms, and entitlements are being steadily stripped away.
At such a juncture, the duty of the media should have been to raise alarm, mobilize opinion, and prioritize the defense of democracy. Instead, a large section of media has abandoned this role, joining hands with those conspiring against the people. It is now up to media consumers themselves to hold the press accountable, to correct it, and to bring wayward platforms back in line. If democracy and society are to remain healthy, this task cannot be postponed.
Recognizing the shrinking relevance of print, Vartha Bharati has long expanded into digital and modern platforms of mass communication. Our digital reach far surpasses our print circulation. Today, about 1.5 lakh people read us daily through our website varthabharati.in. Our English edition, english.varthabharati.in, reaches readers across the world. We have over 10 lakh followers on Facebook, over 2 lakh on Instagram, and 7.25 lakh subscribers on YouTube. Our presence on X, WhatsApp, Telegram, and podcasts ensures that Vartha Bharati reaches lakhs of readers and viewers multiple times a day. Through globalkannadiga.com, we remain in constant touch with the global Kannada community.
There is also good news for our supporters: responding to a long-standing demand from readers in North Karnataka, Vartha Bharati will soon launch its Kalaburagi edition. Preparations are in full swing, and we seek the active support of all well-wishers, especially from Kalyana Karnataka, to ensure its success.
Throughout its 22-year journey, this media companion of yours has been recognized for its commitment to truth and justice, its people-centric stand, its social concern, sensitivity, and its dedication to collective welfare. In the days to come, Vartha Bharati will continue to march boldly towards its declared mission. We hope and expect that you, our readers and supporters, will continue walking every step of this journey alongside us.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Latest: Trump calls for help to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Dubai (AP): US President Donald Trump said he has demanded that about seven countries send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open as Iranian strikes continued to rain down on Gulf countries on Monday.
Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest, gradually restarted operations after a drone struck a fuel tank and started a fire. Authorities said it was quickly contained, and no injuries were reported.
Tehran has accused the United States, without evidence, of using “ports, docks and hideouts” in the United Arab Emirates to launch strikes on Kharg Island, home to the main terminal handling Iran's oil exports, as oil prices soared. Brent crude oil was trading near USD 105 per barrel on Monday.
Trump said the US is negotiating with countries heavily reliant on Middle East crude to join a coalition to police the waterway where about one-fifth of the world's traded oil normally flows, but declined to name them.
Israeli strikes have deepened Lebanon's humanitarian crisis, with more than 850 people killed and over 850,000 displaced.
Here is the latest:
Bahrain reports missile and drone attacks
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Bahrain's Defence Ministry says air defence systems have responded to attacks on Monday morning.
The ministry says four missiles and three drones were fired.
Israel sends troops into Lebanon for a limited operation
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The Israeli military says it sent additional ground troops into Lebanon for what it calls a “limited and targeted operation.”
Military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani says the latest deployment is meant to defend Israeli border communities against attacks from the Hezbollah militant group.
Shoshani says Hezbollah has sent hundreds of fighters from its elite Radwan unit toward the border since the militant group entered the war two weeks ago.
He says Israel carried out artillery and airstrikes on multiple sites before sending in the troops.
Earlier in the war, Israel beefed up the presence of ground troops inside Lebanon in what it says is an attempt to prevent attacks on its northern border towns.
Israeli strikes on South Lebanon kill 3, including 2 paramedics
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Lebanon's state-run National News Agency says one person was killed by an Israeli airstrike early Monday on a home in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Sir.
The agency says another strike occurred after paramedics from the Islamic Health Society, Hezbollah's health arm, arrived at the scene.
The agency says the second strike killed two paramedics and wounded another person.
Israeli military says 70 per cent of Iranian launchers destroyed
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The Israeli military says it has destroyed an estimated 70 per cent of Iran's missile launchers during the first two weeks of the war.
Military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani told reporters Monday that while Iran continues to fire missiles at Israel, the number of launches has been greatly reduced.
He says Israel has carried out some 7,600 strikes in Iran, knocking out 85 per cent of Iran's air defences and targeting a number of Iranian nuclear sites.
Shoshani says the war will go on “for as long as needed” and says Israel still has thousands of targets it is prepared to strike.
China has no comment on Trump's Strait of Hormuz request
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A Chinese government spokesperson did not respond directly to questions about Trump's request for military support from several countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The Foreign Ministry's Lin Jian, at a daily briefing in Beijing, instead repeated China's calls for an end to the fighting, noting the impact on energy and goods trade.
Trump said in an interview with The Financial Times that the US would like an answer from China before his planned trip to Beijing in about two weeks, and that “we may delay.”
Lin said China and the US have maintained communication on Trump's visit.
“Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China–US relations,” he said.
Drone strike starts fire at UAE oil facility
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A fire broke out Monday following a drone attack on an industrial oil facility in Fujairah, one of the United Arab Emirates' seven emirates, authorities said.
The Media Office in Fujairah said a drone targeted the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, causing an “advanced” fire.
No casualties were reported.
UAE says Palestinian killed in Abu Dhabi missile attack
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A Palestinian civilian was killed in a missile attack early Monday in the United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi, authorities said.
The Abu Dhabi Media Office said a missile fell on a civilian vehicle in the Al Bahyah area.
The death raised the toll to seven people in the UAE since the beginning of the war on Feb. 18, authorities said.
EU weighs naval missions to reopen the Strait
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The European Union is weighing two types of naval missions to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“It is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, and that's why we are also discussing what we can do in this regard from the European side,” said Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief.
She made the announcement ahead of a gathering of the bloc's foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday.
Rising prices for energy and fertilisers have brought the war in Iran to the top of their agenda, she said.
Kallas said the EU could expand its Aspides naval mission to protect shipping in the Red Sea up into the Persian Gulf or form a “coalition of the willing” with member nations contributing military capacity on an ad hoc basis.
