Devil’s Advocate: Kartan Thapar corners Dasmunsi

It was interesting to watch the crossfire of words between Karan Thapar and Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Priyaranjan DasMunsi two weeks back on a Sunday evening on the show ‘Devil’s Advocate’ on CNN-IBN. The minister was giving reasons behind his decision to ban FTV and AXN in India. Dasmunsi was really corned by Thapar and that’s precisely why it got steamy. When asked by Thapar to explain what good taste and decency means based on which the above two channels were banned Dasmunsi said, “The book speaks everything. The Cable Network Regulation Act Defines it all.” How convenient? The minister actually had no clear reasons for anything.When Thapar compared the statues and pictures of Kamasutra, Khajuraho Temples, Ajanta and Ellora etc and asked what was the difference between those and the adult content being shown on these channels, Dasmunsi very angrily replied to Thapar, “ Do not compare Kamasutra, and the statues of Khajurao with these channels.” He then specified that he was a student of Art and Literature and does understand the asthetics of art that goes behind Kamasutra and the Khajuraho statues. And one thing I have never understood and was a valid point also raised by Thapar in the interview as that when it has been clearly mentioned in the Braodcast bill that after 11 pm in the night adult content can be shown then what is the problem? To this Dasmunsi conveniently replied back saying we are planning to study and consider the law again. The point is for a channel that does not get viewership of more than 1 or 2 how doe sit make a difference? Moreover I think the content on the English channels are way better than the content on the soaps that is shown on the general entertainment channels which are much watched as well. Surprisingly kids form a large chunk of the viewer profile on GECs. Why not ban the adultrated content on GECs. I mean is there are a defined criteria at all to figure out what is in good taste and what is decent content on channels?