RSS Prachar Vibhag through Vishwa Samvad Kendras celebrated Narad Jayanti as Journalism Day on May 22 and felicitated selected journalists for their contributions
For some time, the credibility of a section of Indian media is under questions. Even so-called big names are found involved in unethical practices. In this situation the ideals laid down by Narad centuries back still shows the way. In order to restore the journalistic values and also to discuss the challenges that the media and mediamen face everyday, the RSS Prachar Vibhag under the banner of Vishwa Samvad Kendras, observed Narad Jayanti as Journalist Day throughout the country on May 22.
The function in Delhi was organised at the Constitution Club. Addressing the gathering Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting Arun Jaitley expressed concern over the misuse of public funds by some State Governments for personal promotion. He said the social media has democratised media so much that it is not possible to control it now. It is the responsibility of journalists and the society at large to use it responsibly. He felicitated veteran journalists Shri Shyam Khosla with Lifetime Achievement Award, Shri Manmohan Sharma with Utkrisht Patrakar Narad Samman and Dr Shanker Sharan with Utkrisht Stambhakar Narad Samman.
Dr. Bajranglal Gupt, noted economist and Uttar Kshetra Sanghachalak of RSS, expressed regret over the way Narad is portrayed in general. He said it is time that the real picture of Narad is brought to forefront today. “Narad should become a source of inspiration for journalists as he worked consistently to keep all the three worlds in a constant state of communication by way of sharing information of one place with another. Narad did not share news with any personal interest. His action was always neutral. It is the duty of the journalists to push people towards purity. There is an urgent need for issue based reporting to take the nation further,” he said.
In Bhopal, former editor of Saamana, Shri Prem Shukla said media is not the fourth pillar of democracy, rather it is soul of all the three pillars. He said the way CNN always think of the interests of the US, Al Jazeera for Gulf countries, BBC for England and Pravada for Russian interest, we lack Indian interest in our media. He said there is a lobby in the Indian media which is bent upon harming the interests of Bharat. Senior journalist Shri Ramesh Sharma said the media today ignores the positive side of the society.
In Lucknow, executive editor of CNN News-18 Shri Bhupendr Chaube stressed the need to maintain a balanced track in the media. “We need to stay away from wrongs and stand with the truth. Associate Editor of Dainik Jagran Shri Ashutosh Shukla said the degradation in the media has crossed limits and nothing should be above the nation. Veteran journalist Shri Rajnath Singh ‘Surya’ presided over the function. Those who were felicitated included Smt Shilpi (Sahara Samay), Sushri Kajal Sharma (Amar Ujala), Shri Brijesh Mishra (ETV), Shri Manish Srivastava (Navbharat Times), Shri Abhinav Pandey (PTI), Shri Prem Singh (ABP News), etc.
In Jaipur, Group Editor of Panchjanya and Organiser Shri Jagdish Upasane said journalism is a passion and a journalist does a jihad every day for discharging his duty. He said the objectives of journalism is sacred, therefore our means should also be sacred. He said Narad had been accepted as first journalist long back because the first Hindi newspaper, Udant Martand, published on Narad Jayanti in 1826 had article on Narada. He also spoke about the growing strength of the social media.
Union Minister of State for I&B Shri Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore declared to start FM Radio in the cities with one lakh population and also at the national highways. As a pilot project this will be started on Jaipur-Delhi highway soon. Shri Pankaj Garg, founder of Jyoti Vidyapeeth also spoke on the occasion. Prominent among those who were felicitated included Shri Mohaneesh Srivastava and Shri Jayant Sharma from Electronic Media, Shri Yogendra Pancholi and Shri Sharad Purohit from Print and Shri Amit Sharma from Social Media.
In Panipat, RSS Akhil Bharatiya Sah Prachar Pramukh Shri J Nandakumar said the objective of every journalist should be public welfare. He described the baseless news routinely published by a section of media as ‘intellectual cancer’ which has to be eradicated. He also hit at the growing cut-paste culture in the media. Senior journalist Shri Radheshyam Sharma was honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award. Shri Sudhir Chaudhary of Zee News, Smt Anita Singh from Times of India, Shri Lalit Sharma from The Tribune, Smt Alpana Fauzdar of Dainik Jagran, etc were felicitated. Haryana Assembly Speaker Shri Kanwarpal Gurjar, National Book Trust Chairman Shri Baldevbhai Sharma and MP Shri Ashwini Chopra were also present.
In Nagpur, Rajya Sabha MP Dr Subramanian Swamy stressed the need to curb corrupt practices adopted by some journalists. Former MP Shri Banwarilal Purohit said wrong people should have no place in the media. RSS Akhil Bharatiya Sah Prachar Pramukh Shri J Nandakumar was also present on the occasion.
In Mumbai, VSK Mumbai Konkan organised the programme at Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh in which Shri Sarang Darshane, senior assistant editor of Maharashtra Times was felicitated. On this occasion Organiser editor Shri Prafulla Ketkar as the main speaker elaborated on the principles of communication propounded by Narad and the rationale for celebrating this as a journalists’ day. He also discussed various challenges faced by journalism in the era of digital revolution.
In Kanpur, Panchjanya editor Shri Hitesh Shankar said the growing business mentality in the media is defeating its very objectives. He called upon the journalists to use the pen with missionary zeal if they want to arrest the ills afflicting this noble profession. Shri Sumit Awasthi from IBN7, in Indore, stressed the need to awaken the readers or viewers also. The function was presided over by Shri Jaideep Karnik. In Patna, eminent journalist Shri Ramesh Patange and Patna Central University VC Prof Harishchandra Rathore addressed the gathering. n Organiser Bureau
