Virag Pachpore
Journalists should strive to spread positive values and dialogue to ensure proper sustenance of the society while fully utilising the technological innovations, observed RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat in Nagpur.
Shri Bhagwat was speaking at the function organised by Rashtriya Patrakarita Kalyan Nyas, New Delhi to felicitate noted journalists in Nagpur recently. President of Vanrai and social activist Shri Girish Gandhi was present as special guest on the occasion. Chairman of the Nyas Dr NM Ghatate, Dr Harshvardhan Mardikar and Shri Yashwant Indapurkar also shared the dais.
The Nyas conferred the coveted Bapurao Lele Patrakarita Puraskar on noted journalist, consumer activist and social worker of Nagpur Shri Rajabhau Pophali while Dadasaheb Apte Photo-journalist award was given to Shri Ganesh Bisht from Delhi and noted Hindi writer Smt Mridula Sinha was honoured with Asharani Vorha Mahila Patrakarita Puraskar. All the awards were given jointly by Shri Bhagwat and Shri Girish Gandhi on this occasion. The awards carried a citation, shawl, coconut and a memento besides cash award of Rs 51,000 for Bapurao Lele Puraskar and Rs 21,000 each for the remaining two awards.
In his speech, the RSS chief drew attention of the gathering towards the position of media in the society and the importance it wielded in shaping the social atmosphere. Tracing the development of media from newspaper to mass communication Shri Bhagwat stressed on increasing responsibility of the media towards the society.
He said the fundamentals did not change with changing times and situations. The values that sustain the society were eternal. What was needed was to present those values to raise the standard of the society by highlighting the duties. The media have to play an important role to keep the process of dialogue and communication on the right track so that the society develops itself on the positive values, Shri Bhagwat said.
The media should never forget its responsibility and commitment to the society, the RSS chief asserted appealing to the journalists to identify positive actions and values and spread them among the masses for a better future.
Lauding the efforts of the Nyas to bring into light what is best in journalism by felicitating such personalities, who strived for certain values and morals while remaining in this field. The society should come forward to sustain and support such noble efforts, he appealed to the people.
He said highlighting positive attitudes and values was necessary to create a positive atmosphere in the country. Journalists could achieve this through their writings, he added.
Addressing the gathering Shri Girish Gandhi said the media must highlight the fundamental issues without devaluating their standards and commitment to the society. He said it was wrong to apply ‘code of conduct’ to field of journalism only when there was a downward trend in all the fields related to social life of the country.
He praised all the journalists, who were felicitated on the occasion for their courageous reporting and writing on issues of public concern.
Shri Rajabhau Pophali and Smt Mridula Sinha expressed their gratitude on the occasion in response to the felicitations.
President of the Nyas Dr NM Ghatate proposed a vote of thanks while Yashwant Indapurkar read out the citations besides making the introductory remarks about the Nyas and its activities.
Noted luminaries from the field of journalism including former RSS spokesman MG Vaidya, former editors of Tarun Bharat DB Ghumare, LT Joshi, and others were present on the occasion.
