Why Doordarshan Hisar shouldn't be shifted, an analysis

Closure of the Doordarshan Kendra (DDK) Hisar is not only an issue of loss of some regular and some casual jobs  for the locals or the loss of a medium that provided agricultural tips to farmers from the local experts of Haryana Agricultural University. It is also very much an issue of loss of a significant indicator of identity. Haryana was the last state in the country to have a Doordarshan Kendra in 2002. Just 20 years later, the state is the first to lose its only Kendra at Hisar.  It would be shifted to Chandigarh on 15th of January this year. The eight acre prime location Doordarshan office and staff colony complex with its studios and costly digital equipments will be locked as no use has been announced so far. Economy drive by the Prasar Bharati (the administering body of  Doordarshan) is the prime reason for closure of the Hisar DD Kendra.The move has invited strong protest from most sections of the society that consider the move as an attack on their identity.

Most states have their regional channels like DD Punjabi, DD Rajasthan, DD Bihar etc. DD Hisar had been christened as DD Haryana about two years ago for its international exposure. This is being written off now. First the All India Radio and later the Doordarshan has contributed immensely in promoting and propagating regional cultures throughout the country beside educating farmers about the latest technologies of agriculture and allied areas like horticulture and dairy farming.Hisar is previleged to have  two well established universities, one for agriculture and another for veterinary sciences that provided resource persons to AIR and Doordarshan. 

Haryana has been the playground of Indian history. Battles right from the Mahabharata to three battles of Panipat and the 1857 uprising are the milestones of India's history raised in Haryana. Folksingers have carried the sagas of bravery and sacrifices in these battles through oral medium from generation to generation inspiring the youth to take up jobs in armed forces where  Haryana is the biggest contributor in the ratio of it's population. It is the issues like this that need serious consideration with a long term view regarding the impact of denial of motivational input to youth through the mass media like Doordarshan Hisar.

The argument that the shifting of DD Kendra from Hisar to state capital Chandigarh is only an exercise in consolidation of resources doesn't hold much water. Chandigarh is a modern urban settlement with no established culture of its own.  It is a seat of three governments and a city of serving and retired goverment employees. As Jalandhar is the cultural capital of Punjab, so is Hisar of Haryana. Jalandhar has contributed a lot in preservation, promotion and propagation of Punjabi culture  and continues doing so. Closure of DD Kendra at Hisar would deny Haryana these impetus. It needs to be recognised that AIR and DD have emerged as significant indicators of identity of most regions in the country since independence. 

Some people argue  that  Delhi already covers Haryana's territory with high power AIR and DD transmitters. That is a big fallacy. The people who don't see or listen to their own people on radio and television, tend to feel as non-persons. They feel culturally subjugated. Of course, there are issues of employment of local talent in programmes of DD at Hisar. Some of the fresh graduates from the local Guru Jambheshwar University who found casual jobs in DDK Hisar, have in due course moved to established news channels at Delhi, Chandigarh and other places. It is time the state government takes up the issue with the Centre to stop the shifting of DDK Hisar to Chandigarh. Current agitation on the issue has been gathering support from opposition parties, trade unions and farmers bodies. If prolonged, it may also emerge as an  issue in Loksabha and state assembly elections due next year.