[Note : I have removed comment of Mr. S. Bagchi from the comment section as Mr. Sanjiv N. Singh, the counsel of Ms. Farhang found a part of it objectionable. I too think that the word 'extortion' is quite strong and improper to use without any evidence. Though I cannot take the responsibility of the comments made by different commentators here, but I may exercise my choice if any objection is raised which I feel have merit and is logical. The aim of this blog is not to make any call on legal matters against any individual or an organization. The aim here is to show the lack of balance or gaps in media report that shape public opinion and can apparently be linked to an attempt to defame IIT-KGP. Mr. Bagchi's comment without the objectionable part is appended at the end. Mr. Bagchi is welcome to express his unedited view in his blog or forum of his choice. If he thinks that his message without the removed part is incomplete, I can remove the whole of it as per his desire. I have kept it to give the readers his perspective minus the part on which objection is raised. Thanks for your understanding.]
'IIT-Kharagpur in trouble over US tech transfer case' : ToI runs a story story with this title. It is followed up by another story titled : 'IIT-Kharagpur in US tech theft mess' (same content but different title) and today a new stub at economic times (again same content). It is yet another campaign against IIT-KGP on half-truths or should I say quarter-truths! I posted following in the comments section of the first article which is not published fully yet :-( There are three parts due to 3000 character limit there.
------------------------
PART I
I have sweet memories of IIT-KGP. I feel like commenting when I see that there are overt, covert and systematic campaign to malign this institute which is one of the finest institution of independent India, a symbol of national pride and regeneration in the field of science & technology. There is a more civilized way to correct error in an institute, if any than smear campaign in media based on biased report and allegations only. I have taken ToI sentences from succeeding paragraphs of the article and have put my comments against them. Requests your patience as it became long.
Thanks and regards
Purab
1. “The case against IIT-Kharagpur … has taken a serious turn.”:
Who defines what is “serious”? A journalist with questionable credentials? A journalist who has been exposed before to be hand-in-glove with elements who want to defame one specific institute of national repute? Is he reporting all such “serious turn” that are going in favour of IIT-KGP or going against other institutes? No. The journalist works with an agenda. He has been previously exposed of yellow journalism with his systematic hate campaign against IIT-KGP.
2. “What could further complicate matters for IIT-Kgp” :
Why take refuge of words like “could”? This is to put a needle of suspicion in reader’s mind subtly. Why don’t you report facts as it happens? Why do you put phrases like “could complicate matters for IIT-Kgp”. Who are you to decide that? This is part of your long term campaign to malign IIT-Kgp which started when Charu Sudan of HT, Akshay Mukul of ToI, tainted suspended Prof. RK of IIT-Kgp formed a cartel. Having been suspended RK is not in a position to leak privileged information to his media friends which he regularly did violating service rules. The journalists are now starved of juicy stories against IIT-Kgp. No sooner than Akshay gets an opportunity in a sub-judice matter, pounces upon with claws wide open. Please refer to http://storiesandinsidestories.blogspot.com and my points to the motive behind RK’s misdemeanor (raised by an IISc Prof.) at http://purabspeaks.blogspot.com
3. “IIT-Kgp is said to have breached the contract … allegedly passing to others” :
Why don’t you complete your research and consult legal correspondent of ToI? Isn’t it in the domain legal correspondent of ToI? Or does that correspondent not find any merit in the matter or the case to report about? ToI editorial team seems not to be responsible enough. Perhaps, the desire to generate more ‘clicks’ allow them to pass such ill-conceived articles which is one-sided, biased and un-researched. There is no exigency here that is of national interest to run a half-baked story in a lead newspaper. Or is there an exigency? Now that young aspirants all over the country are joining different IITs after IIT-JEE, including IIT-KGP - the nexus finds an immediate need to run a smear campaign against IIT-KGP? The manner, the timing and the urgency seems to point to that.
(Continued)
Part II
4. “N Singh, co-lead counsel for plaintiffs Farhang and MA Mobile, told TOI from the US, "IIT-Kharagpur should be very worried about the Farhang case.” :
Who is he to tell what IIT-KGP “should be very worried about”? He is not IIT-KGP’s counsel. He should advise his own client from whom he gets paid. Probably he himself is worried that IIT-KGP is not worried about. And if you have Akshay Mukul lending an ear, at least you can try a public outrage (by publishing misleading information in national media) and make IIT-KGP worry. Akshay Mukul again at its height of yellow journalism.
5. N Singh, continues (and ToI publishes it) " -- confirms that the Farhang case will be a winner and will very likely result in a significant verdict for our client.” :
OMG! N Singh himself has confirmed that Farhang will be a “winner“. You no more need a jury or prosecution for that. Does it amount to contempt of court? IIT-Kgp may look into this when they proceed before the court. Singh then may say that I was misquoted by Akshay Mukul. I wonder if Akshay Mukul will follow that up. On “Significant verdict” again, who decides what is significant? That ToI gives so much space to these rabbles of Singh shows its editorial policy and attempt to defame an institute of national importance systematically through Akshay Mukul.
6. Singh said, "There is compelling evidence that agents of IIT-Kgp … appear to have misappropriated … for their own benefit ..." :
Why don’t you put some of them before the readers? Are you not ashamed to show one of the finest institute of independent India in poor light based on allegations only? Govt. should take note of subtle anti-national propaganda by some media people against Govt. institutions of repute. This may be a larger part of the campaign to make room for some foreign institutes who want to come here. There should be a proper inquiry into this angle. Time and again, it has been shown that media houses or correspondents are not saints themselves.
7. “Farhang and her affiliate shared not only critical technology and confidential information with IIT-Kgp but also disclosed critical trade secrets” :
Does anyone share ‘critical’ technology without protecting it? Who are they trying to fool? I am more concerned why ToI is trying to make an issue out of it.
8. “The complaint in court said while IIT-Kgp promised it could deliver because of its influential status in India” :
This is really funny line of argument. That it gets space in ToI report is not funny and proves the motive behind running this story.
(Continued)
Part III
9. “The complaint also charged IIT-Kgp with delaying tactics and launching concurrent court proceedings in India” :
This is more funny. Here is a person who is trying to protect a technology developed in 2000 as per her claim in 2010-2011 and making such an accusation! I wonder if this article has merit at all to come in mainstream media. This again proves that there is a nexus involving media working against IIT-Kgp
10. “It also said filings submitted by IIT-Kgp in the HC were "rife with egregious factual errors". :
Again, why don’t you put something here for the readers? ToI spends so many words on allegations but does not produce a single fact of the matter. Long live freedom of press!
(Concluded)
-------
Copying Reader's opinion that refers to my post here from ToI. This is to help audience to have all related matter at one's place. Please refer to original link http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/IIT-Kharagpur-in-trouble-over-US-tech-transfer-case/opinions/9019622.cms for all comments
-------------------------------------------------------------
Edited Comment : Part objected has been removed
--------------------------------------------------------------
TOI is a national daily but in recent times its turning more of a masala tabloid. Go thru their entertainment sec articles and you'll get the idea. Yet we expect better class articles when it comes to these. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX But here she got pitted against IIT lawyers. She is yet to produce even a single proof against IIT. As far as my knowledge of the case goes, Prof Partha Chakrabarti and Pallab Dasgupta are infact protecting the rights of their students who made these technology. They have nothing to loose but they are making sure the technology remains with the boys who worked hard. PS: I had posted the same even on TOI site but that has been deleted. Can anyone explain what was wrong with the comment??? I fail to get why See more...TOI is bending down to Rajeev Kumar who already has been suspended for supplying media with false news?? That's not expected from one of the top national daily!
'IIT-Kharagpur in trouble over US tech transfer case' : ToI runs a story story with this title. It is followed up by another story titled : 'IIT-Kharagpur in US tech theft mess' (same content but different title) and today a new stub at economic times (again same content). It is yet another campaign against IIT-KGP on half-truths or should I say quarter-truths! I posted following in the comments section of the first article which is not published fully yet :-( There are three parts due to 3000 character limit there.
------------------------
PART I
I have sweet memories of IIT-KGP. I feel like commenting when I see that there are overt, covert and systematic campaign to malign this institute which is one of the finest institution of independent India, a symbol of national pride and regeneration in the field of science & technology. There is a more civilized way to correct error in an institute, if any than smear campaign in media based on biased report and allegations only. I have taken ToI sentences from succeeding paragraphs of the article and have put my comments against them. Requests your patience as it became long.
Thanks and regards
Purab
1. “The case against IIT-Kharagpur … has taken a serious turn.”:
Who defines what is “serious”? A journalist with questionable credentials? A journalist who has been exposed before to be hand-in-glove with elements who want to defame one specific institute of national repute? Is he reporting all such “serious turn” that are going in favour of IIT-KGP or going against other institutes? No. The journalist works with an agenda. He has been previously exposed of yellow journalism with his systematic hate campaign against IIT-KGP.
2. “What could further complicate matters for IIT-Kgp” :
Why take refuge of words like “could”? This is to put a needle of suspicion in reader’s mind subtly. Why don’t you report facts as it happens? Why do you put phrases like “could complicate matters for IIT-Kgp”. Who are you to decide that? This is part of your long term campaign to malign IIT-Kgp which started when Charu Sudan of HT, Akshay Mukul of ToI, tainted suspended Prof. RK of IIT-Kgp formed a cartel. Having been suspended RK is not in a position to leak privileged information to his media friends which he regularly did violating service rules. The journalists are now starved of juicy stories against IIT-Kgp. No sooner than Akshay gets an opportunity in a sub-judice matter, pounces upon with claws wide open. Please refer to http://storiesandinsidestories.blogspot.com and my points to the motive behind RK’s misdemeanor (raised by an IISc Prof.) at http://purabspeaks.blogspot.com
3. “IIT-Kgp is said to have breached the contract … allegedly passing to others” :
Why don’t you complete your research and consult legal correspondent of ToI? Isn’t it in the domain legal correspondent of ToI? Or does that correspondent not find any merit in the matter or the case to report about? ToI editorial team seems not to be responsible enough. Perhaps, the desire to generate more ‘clicks’ allow them to pass such ill-conceived articles which is one-sided, biased and un-researched. There is no exigency here that is of national interest to run a half-baked story in a lead newspaper. Or is there an exigency? Now that young aspirants all over the country are joining different IITs after IIT-JEE, including IIT-KGP - the nexus finds an immediate need to run a smear campaign against IIT-KGP? The manner, the timing and the urgency seems to point to that.
(Continued)
Part II
4. “N Singh, co-lead counsel for plaintiffs Farhang and MA Mobile, told TOI from the US, "IIT-Kharagpur should be very worried about the Farhang case.” :
Who is he to tell what IIT-KGP “should be very worried about”? He is not IIT-KGP’s counsel. He should advise his own client from whom he gets paid. Probably he himself is worried that IIT-KGP is not worried about. And if you have Akshay Mukul lending an ear, at least you can try a public outrage (by publishing misleading information in national media) and make IIT-KGP worry. Akshay Mukul again at its height of yellow journalism.
5. N Singh, continues (and ToI publishes it) " -- confirms that the Farhang case will be a winner and will very likely result in a significant verdict for our client.” :
OMG! N Singh himself has confirmed that Farhang will be a “winner“. You no more need a jury or prosecution for that. Does it amount to contempt of court? IIT-Kgp may look into this when they proceed before the court. Singh then may say that I was misquoted by Akshay Mukul. I wonder if Akshay Mukul will follow that up. On “Significant verdict” again, who decides what is significant? That ToI gives so much space to these rabbles of Singh shows its editorial policy and attempt to defame an institute of national importance systematically through Akshay Mukul.
6. Singh said, "There is compelling evidence that agents of IIT-Kgp … appear to have misappropriated … for their own benefit ..." :
Why don’t you put some of them before the readers? Are you not ashamed to show one of the finest institute of independent India in poor light based on allegations only? Govt. should take note of subtle anti-national propaganda by some media people against Govt. institutions of repute. This may be a larger part of the campaign to make room for some foreign institutes who want to come here. There should be a proper inquiry into this angle. Time and again, it has been shown that media houses or correspondents are not saints themselves.
7. “Farhang and her affiliate shared not only critical technology and confidential information with IIT-Kgp but also disclosed critical trade secrets” :
Does anyone share ‘critical’ technology without protecting it? Who are they trying to fool? I am more concerned why ToI is trying to make an issue out of it.
8. “The complaint in court said while IIT-Kgp promised it could deliver because of its influential status in India” :
This is really funny line of argument. That it gets space in ToI report is not funny and proves the motive behind running this story.
(Continued)
Part III
9. “The complaint also charged IIT-Kgp with delaying tactics and launching concurrent court proceedings in India” :
This is more funny. Here is a person who is trying to protect a technology developed in 2000 as per her claim in 2010-2011 and making such an accusation! I wonder if this article has merit at all to come in mainstream media. This again proves that there is a nexus involving media working against IIT-Kgp
10. “It also said filings submitted by IIT-Kgp in the HC were "rife with egregious factual errors". :
Again, why don’t you put something here for the readers? ToI spends so many words on allegations but does not produce a single fact of the matter. Long live freedom of press!
(Concluded)
-------
Copying Reader's opinion that refers to my post here from ToI. This is to help audience to have all related matter at one's place. Please refer to original link http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/IIT-Kharagpur-in-trouble-over-US-tech-transfer-case/opinions/9019622.cms for all comments
great there are so many Purabs; Purab, purab(kolkata) and Purab.mukh(kolkata)! are these differebt avatars of PPC?
Dear Sir, Allow me to take the credit of all the posts made today. While submitting comments by default my email id initial purab.mukh came. When I was not in a hurry to post, I wrote Purab in the name field (as purab.mukh looks odd) and in the location field Kolkata. I tried to reply to your previous comment to my post. In both the cases, you seem to be obsessed with a specific person with initials 'PPC'. You seem to be his good old friend and enjoy a very special and warm relationship with him :-) I have nothing to complain about your relationship with the person named 'PPC' but pls. don't shower all your favours to him and reserve something for ordinary individuals like me. Pls. give us the credit wherever due. Anyways, I am flattered when you equate my analysis with that of the caliber of a renowned IIT Prof. who is your good friend. Finally Sir, isn't the matter more important than the form? You seem to divert the attention of readers from main issues. Apology if I am wrong in my assessment of your snippets. Thanks for your understanding and with regards Purab Mukherjee from Kolkata (the full name may help you resolve)
No Mr Rajeev Kumar. We are being forced to use diff names as you with TOI are trying to stop our voice by blocking our mail IDs. Its payback time now through Purab's blog. As "purab" some friend of yours tried to post anti IIT comment. So real Purab posted as "Purab". His comment did not get posted. (Why, well that could be another story). So finally he posted in his blog and showed us. PPC don't have free time like you to maintain blogs. But he has few true friends like us who believe in following the truth and people of truth. We'll show the whole world what you really are. What your real face is besides ofcourse of this reporter. -- Your loving past student - Nee-kunj. Now go and guess who am I. :)
Dear Purab what is it that you are trying to say: PPC is innocent don't bring his name in public. No my friend he is stuck and stuck in it deep. Only God can save him..........
Dear Sir, Thanks for your comment on my post. I only wanted to show what the reporter tried to hide through my analysis. I am happy that you appreciated the arguments I put forward. The persons named in the article or by you are educated, empowered and capable enough in defending themselves. They must be doing that in the forums of their choice which may be different from this. I just tried to point out the fallacy in the one sided reporting and how it is a part of systematic campaign to defame an institute of national repute. Thanks for your understanding and with regards Purab
Getting scared again seeing the blog post. Should be, now truth will open there like can of beans. Till date PPC has had Gods Blessing as he is on truth side. Untrue ones are the ones who are sitting at home bitting nails.
Thanks. Have few things to add there. Will do so now.
You have written a lot here. What else is required to be said? Why not say it here? Pl don't bother Purab.
Part III 9. “The complaint also charged IIT-Kgp with delaying tactics and launching concurrent court proceedings in India� : This is more funny. Here is a person who is trying to protect a technology developed in 2000 as per her claim in 2010-2011 and making such an accusation! I wonder if this article has merit at all to come in mainstream media. This again proves that there is a nexus involving media working against IIT-Kgp 10. “It also said filings submitted by IIT-Kgp in the HC were "rife with egregious factual errors". : Again, why don’t you put something here for the readers? ToI spends so many words on allegations but does not produce a single fact of the matter. Long live freedom of press! (Concluded)
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Dear Purab Sir from London, May be people are confusing us because our first names are same. Earlier I commented strongly against anti-IIT campaign by a section of media in a different forum. Then many a persons with 'Purab' pseudo appeared in that forum and tried to dilute everything. Probably, some commentators misunderstood you and thought you are one of those Purabs. Apology for the same. Good to find my namesake in London. My analysis of this article can be found in today's posts and at purabspeaks [dot] blogspot[dot]com We all love IIT-KGP and it hurts us all if a negative news comes. Let us understand that the equation within media has become much complex and it is story and NOT news that sells. They create ones even when nothing is there. They are trying to play God by making or breaking people or institutions. We have to objectively analyze media articles, read between the lines and not digest as it is presented by them. Also the sequel should not be missed to understand why a certain thing is reported in a particular way and not the other. Thanks and regards Purab (Kolkata)
Why you have to be sad about it? These days IITKGP is very often in the news for its wrong doings. Infect IITKGp has now hired an international standard firm for fighting its court cases. So it will come out clean. Don't you worry about it.
The FAKE-id of purab and khabri have been posting here. You need not be sad man. There is absolutely nothing to be sad. I assure you of that, yeah you should be if you are with the detractors of IIT. I believe it is not true, but I know what you are thinking at the back of your mind. If I read the case history through google - I see that there are no issues with IIT at all. IITs will sail through this for sure. Be rest assured of that. Hope that gives you some consolation.
Edited Comment : Part objected has been removed
--------------------------------------------------------------
TOI is a national daily but in recent times its turning more of a masala tabloid. Go thru their entertainment sec articles and you'll get the idea. Yet we expect better class articles when it comes to these. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX But here she got pitted against IIT lawyers. She is yet to produce even a single proof against IIT. As far as my knowledge of the case goes, Prof Partha Chakrabarti and Pallab Dasgupta are infact protecting the rights of their students who made these technology. They have nothing to loose but they are making sure the technology remains with the boys who worked hard. PS: I had posted the same even on TOI site but that has been deleted. Can anyone explain what was wrong with the comment??? I fail to get why See more...TOI is bending down to Rajeev Kumar who already has been suspended for supplying media with false news?? That's not expected from one of the top national daily!
