It is the responsibility and duty of the media to give right information, so that the common man can keep faith on it. A good journalist is always fearless, inspiring and exemplary, said Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam, former President of India while delivering a lecture at the Kapoor Chandra Kulish International Journalism Awards function of the Rajasthan Patrika, in Delhi. Missile Man Dr Kalam while guiding the fourth pillar of the society said that the journalists should be innovative in thinking, writing and in action. He suggested five oaths for the young journalists: 1. Journalists should be honest, loyal and sincere to the nation and its citizens. 2. Should not disseminate exaggerated and sensational news. 3. Should give correct information to keep the confidence of the people. 4. Highlight and celebrate the success stories of rural India. 5. Write news after proper investigation of the facts. Dr Kalam presented the Kapoor Chandra Kulish international award jointly to Pakistan'snewspaper the Dawn and the Hindustan Times. The award meant for excellence in print journalism carries a medal and 11 thousand dollars. The theme of the award was Human Development. The Karachi edition of the Dawn had carried a story on ?Why does corporate Pakistan detest democracy?? and the Hindustan Times from Delhi had carried a 10-day series named ?The new Muslim?. Besides this ten meritorious awards were also given to journalists.
Presiding over the function Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Somnath Chatterjee cautioned people against attempts to denigrate Parliament. He said any attempt to ?diminish the importance of Parliament or to stifle its proper functioning is not only an attack on the foundations of our democratic existence but also on our basic constitutional edifice?. He further said that the country'spolity today ?is overtaken by extremely partisan and confrontational politics?. ?There is an atmosphere of intolerance, if not hatred, to each other, which is substantially affecting the political morality of our country?, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajasthan Chief Minister Smt Vasundhara Raje expressed her happiness as saying that the state is proud on the development of the media house Rajasthan Patrika and said that the Patrika is the authentic voice of Rajasthan. She described the founder editor of the Patrika Karpoor Chandra Kulish as a doyen of Hindi journalism. Smt Raje said that the award given by the media house would encourage more journalists to excel in the field.
Dr Gulab Kothari, editor and Managing Directer of the Rajasthan Patrika said that Patrika rooted in the moorings of state'scultural heritage has been serving the people for the last 52 years. Among others present on the occasion were senior BJP leader Dr M.M. Joshi, Union Minister Shri Ramvilas Paswan, Union Minister Shri Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Shri Ravi Shanker Prasad, film actor Shri Anupam Kher, former Rajasthan Governor Shri Madanlal Khurana.
?By Deepak Kumar Rath
