Negotiating Communication Rights : Case Studies from India

Communication rights are a barometer of the degree of transparency and fairness in a democracy. India, the world's largest democracy, has found itself at the centre of this debate. This book, through five case studies in India, explores communication rights movements here. It encompasses pivotal areas of movements, such as, Right to Information, Free and Open Source Software, Women and Media, and Community Radio and Citizen Journalism. The complexity of specific agendas in India, such as, rights of women, citizen activism and role of media is analyzed while placing the subject in a broader theoretical context. The author makes a strong case of the right of people to be able to access information. He also explores processes through which ordinary citizens are able to develop spaces for self-expression; a concept synonymous with media democratisation in this century. The author highlights the need to 'localise' communication rights struggles in those places facing real communication deficits daily.