As the world knows, and it is a fact, the mainstream media is playing a very active role to defame Islam and Muslims. It is portraying Muslims as ferocious persons and Islam as a religion of aggression. They are watched as suspect characters by a large segment of society and the governments across the world. Their beliefs and ideas are twisted by media. Muslims are worried at this picture of theirs in media. In order to remove misconceptions about Islam, they have planned to run their own media institutions and TV channels through which they try to convey the real massage of Islam to everyone and counter all baseless propaganda against Islam. Rujumargam, the first Telugu Islamic TV channel, is a good example of this striving.
Rujumargam, established in 2007, is a Dawah-based Telugu TV channel in Hyderabad, Telangana. It is run by UIRC (Universal Islamic Research Centre). Shaikh Shafi, an expert of comparative religions, is the president of this research centre.
The primary aim of the UIRC is Dawah i.e. clearing the misconceptions of non-Muslims regarding Islam and proper presentation of Islam in the regional language, Telugu. Other aims and objectives include bringing Dawah awareness and spirit among Muslims and train them as Da’yees, and distribution of brochures, pamphlets, pocketsize books on different Dawah subjects.
To achieve these aims and objectives, the Research Centre runs a TV channel. The channel telecasts various programmes of debate, discussions and speeches on comparative religions and religious issues. Apart from TV programmes, they also participate in public debates with religious leaders of other religions on various subjects. In a path-breaking endeavour, they also address public meetings at temples, especially on occasion of major festivals. Even many political leaders and officers also attend such meetings.
Along with disseminating the message of Islam, they also strive to fight against social evils, gambling, rape, other immoral activities and drinking.
They are also utilising different gadgets such as audio and video cassettes/ CDs/ DVDs to propagate their massage.