top of page

By:

Correspondent

23 August 2024 at 4:29:04 pm

Platform Politics

Meta’s apology to the Government of India revives the uncomfortable question of who really controls the flow of political information in today’s turbulent times, the voter or the platform? When the world’s largest social media company admits that it wrongly restricted Prime Minister Modi’s post during a volatile moment in Indian democracy, the issue extends far beyond a single moderation error. Meta’s chief global affairs officer, Joel Kaplan, apologised to Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw...

Platform Politics

Meta’s apology to the Government of India revives the uncomfortable question of who really controls the flow of political information in today’s turbulent times, the voter or the platform? When the world’s largest social media company admits that it wrongly restricted Prime Minister Modi’s post during a volatile moment in Indian democracy, the issue extends far beyond a single moderation error. Meta’s chief global affairs officer, Joel Kaplan, apologised to Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for restricting the PM’s post, attributing the incident to an ‘operational’ mistake. That explanation does not answer the larger concerns surrounding Meta’s role in shaping political narratives in India. Technology companies insist that they are neutral conduits. But experience suggests otherwise. Their algorithms decide what millions see, what remains invisible and what goes viral. As was evinced in protests in Nepal and Bangladesh, those decisions have influenced public opinion profoundly as any political campaign. These questions are particularly serious given the allegations surrounding the campaign mounted by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which spearheaded the protests over the NEET paper leak. The degeneration of the protests has raised strong suspicions that the protests were hardly organic but receiving paid amplification on social media. Public opinion in a democracy should be shaped by genuine public sentiment and not by opaque algorithms operating inside corporate headquarters thousands of kilometres away. This is not simply about Narendra Modi or the BJP. It is about India’s sovereignty over its own democratic conversation. Elections, protests and political debates must be decided by Indians, not by Western recommendation engines whose workings remain secret and whose executives answer primarily to shareholders in California. If Meta has nothing to hide, it should voluntarily disclose whether content relating to the CJP protests received preferential treatment, whether any exceptional amplification occurred, who authorised it and under what policies. Transparency, and not carefully worded apologies, is the only credible response. No democracy can permit foreign technology companies to become unelected arbiters of its political discourse. When they amplify selectively, they risk manufacturing political momentum that appears organic but may not be. The concern is not confined to one company. Increasingly, global technology corporations possess powers once reserved for states. They curate information, moderate speech, recommend narratives and determine digital visibility for billions. Yet they operate with limited public accountability. That imbalance between influence and responsibility is becoming one of the defining democratic challenges of the digital age. If Meta can inadvertently silence the elected Indian Prime Minister, we are entitled to ask what else its invisible systems may have amplified, buried or shaped without their knowledge.

Pioneer of education leaves behind a lasting legacy

Kolhapur: Padma Shri awardee, eminent educationist, former Governor and renowned philanthropist Dr Dnyandeo Yashwantrao (D Y) Patil passed away at his residence in Kasaba Bawada, Kolhapur, on Tuesday morning following age-related ailments. He was 91.


With his demise, the country has lost one of the foremost architects of modern private education and healthcare, whose institutions transformed the lives of lakhs of students and patients across India.


Born into a humble farming family, Dr Patil believed education was the most powerful instrument of social transformation. Guided by this vision, he established a vast network of educational institutions across Maharashtra and other parts of the country, making professional education in medicine, engineering, dentistry, nursing, management, agriculture and allied disciplines accessible to generations of students.


Political career

Dr Patil entered public life in 1957 after being elected to the Kolhapur Municipal Council. He later represented the Panhala Assembly constituency twice in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Known for his development-oriented and consensus-driven approach, he earned recognition far beyond state politics.


In 2009, he was appointed Governor of Tripura. He subsequently served as the Governor of Bihar and, in 2014, also held additional charge as the Governor of West Bengal.


Transforming Education

Dr Patil's contribution to higher education remains unparalleled. He established universities, medical colleges, engineering, pharmacy, agriculture, nursing and management institutions, besides schools, at Kolhapur, Pune, Navi Mumbai, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Belagavi and several other centres.


Today, lakhs of graduates from institutions founded by him are serving in India and abroad across diverse professions.


Alongside educational institutions, Dr Patil developed state-of-the-art multi-speciality hospitals that significantly expanded access to quality healthcare in both urban and rural areas. By integrating medical education, clinical services and research, he created institutions that have become benchmarks in healthcare delivery.


Social Service

A committed philanthropist, Dr Patil worked tirelessly to expand educational opportunities for underprivileged students, strengthen rural healthcare and support numerous social initiatives. He was also a strong patron of sports and was instrumental in creating world-class sporting infrastructure, reflecting his belief in the holistic development of young people.


In recognition of his outstanding contribution to education and social service, the Government of India conferred the Padma Shri on Dr Patil. He was also the recipient of several honorary doctorates and lifetime achievement awards from universities and institutions in India and abroad.


Large Family

Dr Patil is survived by his wife; former Minister of State (Home) and Congress MLA Satej (Bunty) Patil; Chancellor of D Y Patil University, Kolhapur, Sanjay D Patil; Chancellor of D Y Patil University, Navi Mumbai, Ajinkya D Patil; daughter-in-law Pallavi D Patil; grandchildren and an extended family.


His family continues to carry forward his vision through the D Y Patil group's network of educational, medical and research institutions spread across the country.


Leaders cutting across party lines, educationists, industrialists, former students and people from all walks of life have expressed grief over his demise, describing him as a visionary who redefined higher education and healthcare in India.


The last rites of Dr D Y Patil will be performed with full state honours on Wednesday, at the D Y Patil Educational Campus, Kasaba Bawada, Kolhapur. His mortal remains will be kept at the campus from Wednesday morning to enable the public to pay their last respects. A large number of political leaders, dignitaries, educationists, former students, teachers and citizens are expected to attend the funeral.


‘Cash King’ of yore

By Quaid Najmi

Mumbai: Around 1993, when the new Oberoi Hotel at Nariman Point was still a novelty and credit cards yet to gain currency, the legendary but somewhat rustic education baron Dr. Dynandeo Yashwantrao Patil, had invited a young journalist for an audience there.


After a sumptuous cocktail-lunch and a generous three-hour long, no-holds-barred interview, the immaculate kurta-pyjama clad leader snapped his fingers and called for the bill, possibly running into a few thousand rupees.


The discreet waitperson brought it and politely asked, “Card, Sir?” but Patil did not look up and shook his head. Instead, he moved a little in his cushioned chair, dug into his ‘deep’ pockets and fished out a thick wad of at least five crisp bundles of Rs. 500, much to the shock of the hotel staff and the wide-eyed journo.


Patil again glanced at the invoice, and without batting an eyelid, casually and stylishly flicked out the required number of notes before quietly slipping the bankroll into his pocket mini-treasury.


Later, some senior colleagues enlightened the astounded journalist that “Patil Sa’b always carries a lot of cash, like a King!” A situation like this would be unimaginable in the modern times – what with a horde of state or central agencies keeping tabs on such prosperous political bigwigs, virtually 24x7x365…!

Comments

bottom of page