In 2001, the maverick website tehelka.com ripped a lid off corruption in the upper echelons of the Indian defence sector through a series of ‘stings,’ spycam-generated evidence in which reporters taped themselves successfully bribing some of the top officials in the Indian Army and government, forcing political upheaval and nationwide scandal. In her new book, veteran journalist Madhu Trehan researches and analyses that story, and the narratives surrounding it. A book of investigative journalism about a landmark moment in investigative journalism, Tehelka As Metaphor begins as meta-reportage and expands beyond its subject to grapple with the nature of truth itself. Trehan takes Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon as her model for unfolding the story laid bare by her investigations. Liable to evoke pity, terror, disgust and laughter in equal parts, Tehelka As Metaphor is told in vivid, forthright prose, through colloquialism and first-person conversation, a style which belies both the exhaustive research and the judicious psychological inquiry that make up its weight. In this work, truth is not the Biblical weapon that you shall know and shall set you free. Murkier, messier, it is, as Oscar Wilde said, rarely pure and never simple.

Excerpts from an interview with Madhu Trehan:

Did your opinions of the Tehelka sting operation undergo any changes while working on the book?
I started my research and interviews with a clean slate without any preconceived notions. It evolved as I went along and I could only write my conclusions at the end of the book. The book, you see, turns out not so much about Tehelka or their sting operation. It had to be enlarged to what happens in India to average people as well as powerful people. How the government – and I include all the parties in this – uses instruments of democracy to destroy people without leaving any footprints.

What was the most difficult thing about putting it together?
Actually it was not difficult at all. I enjoyed being cut off from ‘real’ life. I loved the research, interviews and then finally the writing. I learned more in writing this book than if I had spent five years running after politicians with a mike.

A lot about the Indian media has changed since 2001. Where do you see the influences of Tehelka?
Definitely Tehelka’s Operation West End was a watershed. It also shows that one has to stick to one’s ethics in journalism.

What’s next on your agenda?
I would like to study under Camille Paglia because social criticism interests me hugely, given the context of how India is hurtling through an anarchic modernity completely out of control. I would also like to study under Ken Wilber, the integral thinker. But I think if we want to communicate to the larger Indian population then film is the medium. A book is so limited and the impact is negligible – a screenplay is the way to go. Tehelka As Metaphor has it all – tragedy, comedy, sex, heroism, cowardice…. ?Dard toh hai, disco daal daingeh!

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