The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has faced criticism for biased and distorted coverage against India, a former British colony, over the past several decades. Funded by British citizens, the BBC’s reporting is often perceived as hostile towards non-Western leaders, governments, and cultures under the guise of international liberalism and journalistic expression. Its apparent bias against the British government is an attempt to appear neutral and while exacerbating tensions in the developing world.
People have accused the BBC of undermining India’s security and sovereignty by supporting separatist movements and Islamic terrorism and consistently disparaging Hindu cultures, history, and festivals. Recently, it faced legal issues related to money laundering in India. The BBC was expelled twice during Indira Gandhi’s regime for defamatory journalism in its documentaries.
In contrast, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) founded post-colonially and funded by Australian taxpayers, is an Australian counterpart to the BBC. ABC is proving to be an Australian version of BBC. Concerns arise over the influence of left-leaning individuals at ABC, who are perceived to align with Islamist groups and target Hindus as aggressors both in India and Australia. Although the ABC coverage of India is limited, derogatory articles about Hinduism and India frequently appear online.
The Indian diaspora in Australia, a million -strong community known for its economic and educational success and high tax contributions, has no history of separatism or terrorism. However, neither ABC nor taxpayers address potential misuse of ABC, which could affect India-Australia relations and fuel backlash against the diaspora because of mainstream media stereotypes.
Euro-American misrepresentations of India and Hindus ran deep colonial roots. Dr.Kundan Singh’s work ‘Imagining the Hindus and Hinduism’ reveals how British historian James Mill’s The History of British India(1817) institutionalised false knowledge about Hindu society in British universities. Mill’s influence has perpetuated damaging stereotypes about India for more than a century that even persist today.
European discourse on India often reflects more about Europe than India itself. Mill’s projection of British societal flaws onto Indians aimed to reform the British Parliamentary system. Despite succeeding, the colonial paradigm he established remains uncontested in academia and media.
Prof. S.N. Balagangadhara from Ghent University in Belgium argues that “epistemic truism” reveals the West’s self-description, offering insights into the culture that produced it. His 2012 book, “Reconceptualizing India Studies,” presents a new framework for post-colonial India studies.
ABC has faced criticism for promoting intolerance and unethical practices, diverting attention from domestic issues such as migrant challenges, racism, and mental health. It emphasises all evils originate outside Australia’s borders. ABC’s recent program “Four Corners” aired ‘Infiltrating Australia’, sparking speculation about personal motives following the denial of a visa extension to an Indian -origin journalist. The program’s portrayal of Hinduism raised concerns about biases against the Hindu diaspora.
Effective media representation is crucial. The Indian government and missions abroad struggle to counter misinformation spread by Western media, academia, and activities. It is essential to question whether foreign governments should offer refuge to Indian separatists and extremists under freedom of expression. The diaspora must not forget past incidents, like temple attacks, and must analyse the underlying causes. This requires coordinated scholarly efforts, as narratives constructed in studios and academic institutions influence policymakers and the public.
My forthcoming book, “India-Australia- Bharat’s Legacy of History, Connection, and Diaspora,” includes a chapter titled “Caste, Hindutva, and Hinduphobia”, where I delve into examining the roots of Hindu stereotyping, tracing it back to British India.
Links:
https://iview.abc.net.au/show/four-corners?utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared
Notes:
Singh, K., Maheshwari, K. (2024). Imagining the Hindus and Hinduism. In: Colonial Discourse and the Suffering of Indian American Children. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-57627-0_4
R.Jagannathan (2024) Why BBCs Famed ‘Independence’ Does Not Mean being Unbiased, Fair or Impartial.Swarajya