No Country For Young Journalists

For the young women journalists entering the profession, Gauri’s death comes with several questions.

Youngsters aspiring to be journalists gather to protest Gauri Lankesh’s murder.

(Photo: The Quint)

As thousands of voices screaming “I am Gauri, we are Gauri” echoed in the streets of Bengaluru on Tuesday, the message was clear – attacks on voices of dissent will not be tolerated, and the fight left behind by slain journalist Gauri Lankesh will go forward.

The ‘I Am Gauri’ campaign insisted that Tuesday’s rally was not a condolence meet, but a show of strength. The release of the special edition of Gauri Lankesh Patrike affirmed that promise.

Also Read: I’m Gauri, We Are All Gauri: Thousands Chant on Bengaluru Streets

(Image: The Quint) 

(Image: The Quint) 

However, for the young women journalists entering the profession, Lankesh’s death comes as a setback. The brazenness of the attack has raised questions in their mind about safety.

The worst part, as one student pointed out, is that Lankesh lost her life doing what she was meant to do.

She was just creating awareness for a cause she felt strongly inclined towards, as part of her job, and it is unfair to kill her for it.

The most pressing concern was that through these attacks, the watchdogs of democracy are being intimidated, and their freedom of speech and expression curbed.

(Image: The Quint) 

(Image: The Quint) 

The students also felt that they could not write or say anything without the fear of being harassed for it.

I don’t think we can ever write anything online or express our views freely, without receiving threats by political parties and their followers.

Her murder, according to the journalism students, not only let down every parent who took a leap of faith to send their child out to report, but also the country that claims to be a tolerant, secular democracy.

As the energy of the crowd rubbed off on the students, even they became part of the movement to save the ideology their idol Lankesh stood for.

Video Editor: Sandeep Suman
Video Producer: Anmol Saini