THE MICROPHONE MEN
Photo by : Incredible India Info
Author: Priyadarshi Dutta, Publisher- Indus Source Books
THE MICROPHONE MEN
Author: Priyadarshi Dutta, Publisher- Indus
Source Books, Price:
INR 799/-, pp – 284, HB
A
gripping account of how a few good men, without any inherited authority or
military clout, laboured to reshape the political destiny of India under trying
circumstances with a newfound art viz. oratory or public speaking. The public
speakers were actually far removed from loquacious men. They were purposeful
readers and serious thinkers who were on a mission to enfranchise their
countrymen. Thus they emerged as the new icons of the era whom people loved and
cheered. They made the audience feel empowered and responsible unlike ever
before in Indian history. They were the first to espouse national interest and
demand accountability from the government. Despite the fact that the British
were irked with their empire of eloquence, and a section of Indians was
doubtful of the effectiveness of speeches, they continued to gain traction with
the masses. Coeval with print journalism, but more directly concerned with
politics, public speaking emerged as a limb of mass communication in India in
the nineteenth century. No national leader was able to ignore the power of
speech. A crop of quality speeches emerged during the late nineteenth and early
twentieth century period. This book is the first attempt to reckon with that
genesis and development of oratory in India. It promises to reconnect us with
the foundational legacy of modern India, which transformed us from subjects
into citizens.
Priyadarshi Dutta was born in the erstwhile French colony of
Chandernagore (West Bengal), not far from the house of revolutionary Rash
Behari Bose. He grew up in New Delhi where he still lives and works. Dutta has
worked at various places notably RajyaSabha Secretariat and lately as
Consultant in the Information & Broadcasting Ministry. He is a regular
writer of articles on national and international affairs in The Pioneer since
2001. He has a deep interest in the history of India.
Related Articles
