By Yogesh Sharma

Press room of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation became a virtual wrestling ground for journalists with all kind of under the table business interests. And after infrequent phases of closure, the AMC has finally closed it on the pretext of renovation. Press room in Himmatnagar, district headquarter of Sabarkantha in north Gujarat, was closed down after a veteran journalist of 60 plus was caught in act of 'ILU ILU' with a 20 plus lady attendant. Press room in the Secretariat in the state capital Gandhinagar which used to remain open on all working days with STD phone and fax facility remains locked except for four hours on Wednesday!

Press rooms in different government offices are the places for the beat reporters to gather for their professional work. Journalists have to literally fight for a press room. Ultimately, when journalists succeed, these press rooms are opened with much fan fare. And after sometime, these press rooms generally become den of all kind of activities other than professional work and there is a class of journalists that rules the roost.

AMC had a press room for pretty long period. But it got corporate look and feel during the tenure of flamboyant Commissioner Keshva Verma. It was inaugurated by the first woman mayor of Ahmedabad Bhavnaben Dave. Soon it became resting place for journalists who could be seen enjoying siesta in air conditioned environ. It did not take much time for some journalists to turn it into their private office for all kind of under the table services for civic work. They had full time attendant at the cost of AMC to take care of errands.

In a short span there was a metamorphosis of the press room. It had people hardly anyone knew. Armed with a bunch of copies of their weeklies they would flaunt all the media power to senior journalists and senior officers of the civic body. Some started parallel association of journalists to assert pressure for all kind of amenities. Civic Diary has been a major issue. Name in the diary makes the task of these journalists easy. This gives a sense of authority before others with a great touch of legitimacy. Anything can be done to get name in the diary. It has phone number also. Come January, everyone right from the clerk dealing with the diary to the Deputy Municipal Commissioner Captain Dilip Mahajan handling the portfolio move with some kind of apprehension. They prefer to play hide and seek sort of game with these journalists.

Last year, a group showed "power" of media to senior journalists by writing all kind of things and then circulating it among journalists and civic officers. The task was not difficult. They had to move in just 200 meters. One Journalist even used RTI to know about the civic funds given to the AMC Sports Club.

Last year, both elected and executive wings of the AMC saw in the renovation of the headquarters a great opportunity to demolish the encroachment of journalists. In the new building, there are all old offices except the great PRESS ROOM.

Himmatnagar had a press room in the office of the District Collector. The story was more or less same. But it had added sexy touch to the whole affair. It was ILU ILU between a very senior journalist and a lady attendant. Collector thought it wise to turn into a conference room before some more journalists turned into chumma chummi hotbed.

Press room of the secretariat has long story. Enough is to say that the press room used to remain open on all days. Now one remembers those days. It opens for four hours on Wednesday only. This is the day of weekly cabinet meeting. Journalists come from Ahmedabad in a government bus to attend the briefing. Initially it had two phones with STD connections and a fax machine. Now there is only fax machine with no STD. Journalists used to make calls to friends and relatives to find out the menu of the noon food and exchange all kind of pleasantries.

During the time of chivalrous Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela there was rise in women power in the press room. A woman journalist told Vaghela of the gender bias of others and soon Vaghela had a wooden cabin within the press room.