THE COMMISSIONER FOR LOST CAUSES

"THE WORK DONE BY ARUN SHOURIE AND HIS COLLEAGUES ROCKED INSTITUTIONS AND GOVERNMENTS: THE FREEING OF 40,000 UNDERTRIALS; REVEALING THE BHAGALPUR BLINDINGS; PURCHASING KAMLA; DISLODGING A 'SULTAN'; FOILING 'STRIKES'; CONTROVERTING JUDGES; BATTLING PRIVILEGE MOTIONS; COURTING CONTEMPT OF COURT CHARGES; NAILING CORRUPTION, FORGERIES, LIES, AND THE OPPORTUNISM OF RULERS; UNCOVERING SUPPRESSED REPORTS... WHAT LAY BEHIND THESE AND THE CONSEQUENCES THAT FOLLOWED?

A COMPREHENSIVE ACCOUNT OF DRAMATIC INCIDENTS LIKE GETTING GOVERNMENTS TO SWALLOW LEGISLATION AGAINST THE PRESS, UNSEATING OF CHIEF MINISTERS, A PRIME MINISTER UNSPOOLING HIMSELF EVEN AS MANOEUVRES TO UNSEAT HIM ARE SCOTCHED, A DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TRYING TO DISLODGE COLLEAGUES WITH FABRICATED DOCUMENTS, PEOPLE'S MOVEMENTS ENDING UP AS RIVULETS IN THE SAND, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LOST CAUSES DISCUSSES SHOURIE'S INNINGS, THE CALUMNY HURLED AT HIM, HIS DISMISSAL, AND HIS BEING RECALLED AND REMOVED AGAIN."

अरुण शौरी हे वादळी पत्रकारितेचं दुसरं नाव. आपल्या सहकाऱ्यांच्या साहाय्यानं त्यांनी सरकारला अक्षरशः हादरवून सोडलं. त्यांच्या पत्रकारितेमुळं ४० हजार अंडरट्रायल कैदींची मुक्तता झाली. भागलपूर ब्लाइंडिंग्स उघड करणं असो किंवा कमला विकत घेण्याचं वादग्रस्त प्रकरण असो त्यांनी सत्तेपुढे नमतं घेतलं नाही. राज्यकर्त्यांच्या संधीसाधूपणाला खीळ ठोकून त्यांनी अनेक दडपलेल्या अहवालांचा पर्दाफाश केला. सरकारला पत्रकारांविरुद्धचे कायदे बदलायला लावले. यात कधी हातची नोकरी गमावली तर कधी नव्या संधी. पण परिणामांची फिकीर न करता त्यांच्या पत्रकारितेनं पत्रकारितेत नवे मापदंड निर्माण केले. अशा झुंजार पत्रकाराची ही आत्मगाथा.