Guwahati: The recent portrayal of Assam’s revered Maa Kamakhya Temple by CNN News18 has reignited an old and festering wound: the national media’s persistent failure to represent the Northeast with accuracy, nuance, or respect.
In a now widely criticized segment, CNN News18 claimed that human sacrifices continue to be performed at the Kamakhya Temple—a claim not only historically and factually incorrect, but also culturally inflammatory. The fallout has been swift. The Media Association of Assam has issued a sharp condemnation of the channel’s reporting, describing it as “misleading, harmful, and rooted in ignorance.”
“This is not an isolated incident,” the Association’s statement read. “It is part of a troubling legacy of misrepresentation that the Northeast has been subjected to for decades.”
A Pattern Repeating Itself
The outrage surrounding the Kamakhya coverage comes on the back of another recent controversy: the national media’s sensationalist treatment of the Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder case. In that instance, channels rushed to push tabloid-style narratives, glossing over facts and displaying a deep cultural disconnect with the region they were reporting on.
Together, these two events reflect a recurring pattern—one where the Northeast is treated as a theatrical backdrop, its stories stripped of context and its people reduced to tropes.
Kamakhya: Sacred, Misunderstood
The Kamakhya Temple, perched on Nilachal Hills in Guwahati, is one of the oldest and most important centers of Shakti worship in India. Far from the grotesque imagery that mainstream channels seem eager to sensationalize, Kamakhya represents a rich spiritual tradition centered on feminine divinity and tantric philosophy.
To link this site to practices of violence and sacrifice, without credible evidence or cultural sensitivity, is more than just poor journalism—it is an act of cultural disrespect.
“Kamakhya is not a curiosity to be exploited for headlines. It is a living temple, and a living culture,” said Hiren Chandra Kalita, President of the Media Association of Assam.
Demand for Accountability
The Media Association has called on both the Central Government and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to hold CNN News18 and other outlets accountable for this repeated pattern of negligent reporting. The association emphasized the need for editorial checks, cultural education, and regulatory scrutiny, especially when reporting on sensitive subjects tied to faith and identity.
Why This Matters
Misinformation about the Northeast doesn’t just distort public perception—it isolates the region further. In a country as diverse as India, such media malpractice widens the cultural gap, reinforcing an ‘outsider’ narrative that continues to plague the Northeast’s relationship with mainstream India.
The media, at its best, is a bridge. But when national outlets peddle half-truths and stereotypes, they become agents of division instead of connection.
As the backlash grows, this moment is not just about correcting a story gone wrong—it’s about demanding a higher standard of journalism and a deeper respect for India’s cultural complexity.