The movie compares and contrasts Pearl’s life with that of one of the terrorist, Omar Sheikh, also the mastermind for his killing. Where Pearl sought to bring people together through his work, Sheikh took a path that led to religious extremism

Moneylife Digital Team

"It is dangerous to pursue truth and it is even more dangerous to publicize what you have found. Many journalists, trying to expose the wrong doings of the authorities, are killed in India. But it is often unregistered and tagged as accidents, suicides, etc. Media also highlights such killing only if takes place in urban cities like Mumbai or Delhi," said veteran journalist, Dilip Raote, at the screening of the documentary, The Journalist and the Jihadi - The Murder of Daniel Pearl organized by Moneylife Foundation, on Saturday. This was the third session on documentary screening conducted by the Foundation.

The 75-minute film screening was followed by an animated free-wheeling discussion. The film, The Journalist and the Jihadi- The Murder of Daniel Pearl, is directed by Ahmed Jamal and Ramesh Sharma, documents the life of the reporter Daniel Pearl, working with Wall Street Journal, who was kidnapped and executed by a terrorist outfit in Karachi. The movie compares and contrasts his life with that of one of the terrorist, Omar Sheikh, also the mastermind for his killing. Both of them well educated, Pearl graduated from Stanford University, while Omar studying at London School of Economics, chooses different path. Where Pearl sought to bring people together through his work, Sheikh took a path that led to religious extremism. The film showcases how Pearl's death reverberated through much of the world.

After the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre on 11 September 2001, Pearl along with his wife went to Pakistan to report on the Al Qaeda, responsible for the attack. On his research, Pearl is intrigued to interview Sheik Mubarak Ali Shah Gilani, an Islamic cleric. However after being refused by his initial source, in Pakistan, to interview Gilani, he comes in contact with Omar Sheikh, posing to him as Bashir, who promises him an interview. After exchanging few e-mails with Bashir, Pearl is set to meet Gilani in a restaurant in Karachi. He vanishes from the there and five weeks later a video is sent to the American consulate showing Pearl's execution.

Apart from showcasing series of interviews of people connected to Pearl, such as his family, his wife Mariane Pearl and close friend Asra Nomani, a former Wall Street Journal reporter, the film also includes original footage such Omar's arm-wrestling video, his arrest, Daniel's wedding clips. It also encompasses, through interviews and narration, the struggle of Mariane, then pregnant, and Asra after learning about the kidnapping of Pearl.

Participants were a mixed group of people including journalists, social activists, writers, people involved in research work with think-tank groups and also a diplomat from the consulate general of Singapore.

Attendees discussed about how in the era where whistleblowers are attacked and efforts are made to stone-wall information, lives are risked to bring out that information and present reality to the people. "At a time when paid news is holding all our attention, it is probably important to watch and reflect on a different kind of journalism too, where lives are risked and sacrificed to bring information to us, the people," says Sucheta Dalal, founder of Moneylife Foundation and managing editor of Moneylife.

Mr Raote, who led the discussion, explained how historically attempts had been made to silence the voice which questioned the authorities. "History is full of instances where power has been used to hide the information on wrong doings. In the current situation, the media is often hand-in-glove with corporations and governments, as they are the advertisers; hence the reports/ exposé are times stopped, many times, from being published to shield their interest."

Journalists, during the discussion, highlighted the need of relying only of trustworthy sources to avoid any trouble.

"Many whistleblowers make explosive information in public without understanding the consequences to themselves. Consequently they end up endangering their lives and even getting killed. We have no structure to counsel whistleblowers and help them built support system or get help," said Ms Dalal, narrating the killing of activist Satyendra Dubey, who complained to the Prime Minister's Office about corruption in road projects and also asked to keep his name anonymous as there was possible threat to his life.

Mumbai-based social activist, Indrani Malkani, present at the screening, said, "As activists many a times people jump to help us, but later everyone backs out. So if one is determined than he or she has to continue to fight for the cause despite the odds and issues."

Participants also discussed the usage of social media for publishing the information and its possible drawbacks.