Guru Magazine's editor responds to accusation that his magazine is "racist"

From: Voranai Vanijaka / Editor, Guru Magazine

With reference to the letter by “Anti-Racist”.

Dear Anti-Racist,

I was deeply saddened and dumbfounded by your letter. How can an individual make accusations of RACISM and IRRESPONSIBLITY without a single ounce of proof to back any of it up, not one piece of evidence?

The only example you gave was “How to pick up Indian girls” – how does this constitute “Racism”? Especially since the article was written by an Indian? Since the column is about the lifestyle of young Thai-Indians of the Punjabi community? Are you saying young Thai-Indians do not date?

These are very strong accusations and I request an apology.

We are a media publication and we serve to provoke thought, pose questions, and invite debate. We stand by our beliefs in freedom of expression, freedom of thought and progressiveness. We despise censorship and threats. That is the integrity and duty of the media.

If we are to kowtow to unfounded accusations, then we should be ashamed to call ourselves journalists. However, if we’ve made mistakes in our writing, we would happily apologize for those mistakes. But the burden of proof is on the accuser. And no, (excerpt from the article) “sending a team of scientists in search for hairless people” is not a mistake, as it is intended to be humorous. And no educated adult with ability to understand creative writing would take that as historical fact. Humor and creative writing are the backbone of a lifestyle publication.

The article was written by a Punjabi Thai-Indian to offer a humorous, satirical look at the lifestyle of young Thai-Indians. Nowhere in the article is there any racism. But the main point of this (unpaid, freelance) writer was/is to provide his own (Punjabi) community with a voice of the young generation for his community.

Furthermore, had you taken the time to actually read the article for what it was, rather than simply picking out all the parts that you deem as ‘racist’ you would find a well-written article covering relationship issues. Yes, the persona identified in the column may be a chauvinistic idiot, but racist he is not. And he is intended to be a chauvinistic idiot, to shed light on the behavior of young people, to let them have a look at themselves in mirror, in their quest to score girls. To provoke thought and make them question themselves. He’s ridiculing young male’s behavior in relation to young female through creative writing.

You say you have over 30 people complaining? I also have over 30 people complimenting the article. You can read them in this Friday's issue of Guru Magazine. There may be less people who like the column, and more people who dislike it, but again, we are a media organization with principles and integrity, not media prostitute that kowtows to ratings.

On a weekly basis, we parody different segments of Bangkok and Thailand, in the interests to encourage people to examine ourselves, take a look at the good and the bad within ourselves, in order to develop and improve as individuals and as a society. Share ideas, exchange ideas and offer debate. Provoke and make impact. That is the job of the Media.

Which is why, more so than recommendations of restaurants and parties, Guru Magazine is most popular for personal columns that examine politic, society and people.

If we make one person think, question himself/herself and reexamine his/her role in society; then we have done a good job as journalists. The language (slang) we use is the language of our generation. You may not speak the same language, but that doesn’t give you the right to try to prevent us from speaking our language. You cannot prevent a generation of people from speaking out.

Thai society has come a long way. And like it or not, the Thai-Indian community is a part of that society. We are all Thais and we are all equal. It is the writer, Vikster’s interests, to bridge the gap between the two communities. Offer more understanding and common ground, after all, we are all Thais and we are all people.

Like many young Thais, Vikster and those like him, wish to no longer be blind, deaf and dumb by kowtowing to censorship, whether self-imposed, community-imposed, government-imposed or media-imposed. They wish to speak out. They wish to make progress. They wish to evolve as people and society. And it’s the duty and responsibility of the Media to be the platform for such people, or any people.

The article shows that young Thai-Indians have issues with traditions and the older generation, just like everyone else in Thailand, be them Thais, Chinese, Farangs or whoever. The article shows the lifestyle of young Thai-Indians (clubbing, studying abroad, romance and courtship, facebook/hi5/myspace etc…), a similar lifestyle to others within the society. The article shows the beautiful and the quirky, the smart and the silly – all that which makes us HUMANS.

It is the author’s interests, and of those like him, to dispel stereotypes, to reach out to their own community and bridge the gap with other communities. Their aim is for the ethnic-Thai community to no longer view the Thai-Indian community as an entirely different breed, some alien group that no one understands or doesn’t even care to have dealings with.

The truth of the matter is: Most Thais do not have any Thai-Indian friends, and most Thai-Indians do not mingle with Thais. We treat each other at arm’s length, with suspicion and paranoia. (And your letter is proof of that.)

But with a column such as this, with people such as Vikster, at least the Thais can go, “Wow, they are really no different from us. Similar issues, similar problems, similar struggles, similar quirks, similar silliness. We are all just people.”

And if Vikster and those like him wish to bridge the gap between the communities, then we will continue to support him, as it is our job, our duty as the media to do so. And if any one has a contrary opinion, we are a media platform. You are welcome to write in and express your opinion and we will be more than happy to debate the issue further, like educated adults.

That is the spirit of responsible journalism. It’s not to kowtow to censorship and threats in order to increase readerships and make money.

We at Guru serve our community, and that is the Bangkok community, which is made up of various ethnic groups. We serve to inform, to question, to provoke, to debate – all for the sake or progress and evolution.

In closing, I request an apology for your accusations of being Racist and Irresponsible. But unlike you, I leave it to your freedom of choice whether to apologize or not – without having to resort to making threats.

This is the integrity of the media. This is the responsibility of the media. This is the duty of the media. And I am proud to be a member of the Media, of The Post Publishing and of Guru Magazine.

Respectfully,

Voranai Vanijaka



-Original Message-

From: Anti Racist

Dear Editor,

With reference to an article on page 12 of last Fridays GURU magazine (I think the article was PUNJABI PLAYA by Vikster). I would like to convey to you how badly that has hurt the sentiments of many people with Indian ethnicity.

I have been a loyal subscriber of your newspaper for many decades. This is the first time i am ever writing to your paper. The Bangkok Post has always been outstanding in providing news, information and entertainment for all it's reader. A result of that has been your growing success.

I was deeply sadden and dumfolded by the above mentioned article. How can a publication under the Bangkok Post publish an article that ridicule and mock a certain ethnic group. I am amazed how could you have a journalist with a lack of understanding of responsible journalism. I do not know that individual as he had contributed this article under his pen name (' VICKSTER'). This article is demeaning and has sadden many Indians, most of them living here for more than 3 generations. This article suggests way to pick up Indian girls!!

Dear editor and all responsible, I hope you will take neccessary actions against those responsible for the publication. An apology alone will not suffice as I and many of my friends and associates will not contribute to a publication that will ridicule, mock and talk dirt about any ethnic group. Pls also check the language and abbreviations used in this article. YOur publication suggest this magazine caters to the young generation of the Thai Society so how can such language be used? We are all aware that everyone is familiar with the slangs (or suggestive slang) but its your moral duty as a leading newspaper not to culture it further. I am amazed how did this article pass through the editorial table of GURU magazine!! If you think it's ok then our nations newpapers will be spewed with slangs and abusive language. Pls kindly note that alot of youngsters pratice their English reading skill by reading your newpaper and it's supplementaries.

Since last Friday I have made contact with many people in my community and we have come to a conclusion that if there's no PUBLISHED APOLOGY and if the journalist in question remains under your payroll we will not renew our subscription to your newspaper. Till now i have gathered 30 people who have pledged to do the same. This is not all i will be circulating emails to our community to boycott your publication. We have already discussed with various centers for the Indian community (Temples, Associations, Clubs...etc.) and we will push for the boycott of your publication. A few hundred subscribers will not matter much for you as you are a big publishing house, but do remember that in todays time the best form of advertising is by word of mouth. I will do all i can within my reach to get the maximum people to boycott your newspaper. Pls keep in mind the number of Indian readers you have. We have an alternate in the form of THE NATION.

I plead with you to take responsibility and show us the spirit of responsible journalism.

I would appreciate any correspondance via this email.

Thanking you.
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