“Journalism was considered a noble service during the freedom struggle. But, now it has nosedived as mere a business activity. The readers’ right to hear the truth is negated and media turns intellectual cancer, which does nothing else but misguiding the people. The realm of media is under the grip of commercialisation hence infested by intellectual cancer. The names of some senior media people have come out in connection with the AugustaWestland Helicopter deal and the 2G scams,” said RSS Akhil Bharatiya Sah Prachar Pramukh Shri J Nandakumar while speaking at the Narad Jayanti function organised in Kochi on May 25.
Shri Nandakumar said we come across tendencies to replace good thoughts with absurd and substandard ones. Some people eulogise Mahishasura and project Durga as prostitute. Same sort of people ridicule Narada, the treasure of all knowledge and know-how. They visualise Narad as an obnoxious buffoon. A book Dr. Ambedkar – Samoohya Viplavayathra, authored by the late Dattopant Thengadi, founder of BMS, was also released on the occasion. Veteran journalist and editor of Janmabhoomi Malayalam daily Leela Menon was felicitated. Shri MV Benny, former general secretary of Samastha Kerala Sahitya Parishad presided over the function. Senior journalist P Rajan and Justice PS Gopinathan (Retd judge of Kerala High Court) also spoke on the occasion.
In Imphal, Manipur, the function was organised on May 22. Chief Editor of ‘Impact TV’ Shri Yumnam Rupachandra Singh was the chief guest. Retired Principal of Manipur Sanskrit College Amusana Sharma Shastri was guest of honour. The function was presided over by VSK president Shri A Brajakumar Sharma. Shri Langpoklakpam Shyamjai Singh, retired Indian Information Service officers was honoured on the occasion.
In Hyderabad, the Samachar Bharati, organised a function on May 28 at the Keshav Memorial High School. The celebration was graced by Shri Mandali Buddha Prasad, Deputy Speaker of Andhra Pradesh as Chief Guest, Shri Vaddi Vijaya Sarathi, former editor of Jagrithi weekly, and was presided over by Shri B Narasimha Murthy, vice president of Samachar Bharati. Shri Vaddi Vijaya Sarathi said three key points of Dr Ambedkar’s life—how he exposed British rule in India with several facts and figures in 1931, Dr Ambedkar’s thoughts on Pakistan book written in 1941, and his conversion to Buddhism in 1956, should be noted by everyone to understand his national perspective. Shri Bandaru Sadhashiva Rao’s Smarak Puraskar was conferred to Shri Rakasudhakar and Smt D Suprashantha Devi. Shri Vadlamudi Smarak Puraskar was conferred to Shri Narsinga Rao and Shri Satish Kumar for their contribution in media.
Speaking at a function in Meerut, IIMC Director General Shri KG Suresh said the way vigilant voters are necessary for success of the democracy, equally vigilant viewers or readers are required for healthy journalism. He said the field of journalism is becoming challenging and negativity is growing in the media. CCS University Vice Chancellor Prof NK Taneja, Chancellor of Motherhood University Shri Dharmendra Bhardwaj and editor of Rashtradev Shri Ajay Mittal also spoke. Shri Santoshi Shukla (Dainik Jagran), Shri Deepak Kaushik (Amar Ujala), Shri Neeraj Srivastava (Hindustan) and Swami Bhatia (I Next) were honoured on the occasion.
In Deoband, Saharanpur, Meerut Prant Prachar Pramukh and editor of Rashtradev Shri Ajay Mittal said the growing tendency of paid news is harmful for both journalism and the democracy. He urged the government to constitute a Media Council on the pattern of Press Council of India
bringing electronic media under its purview. The function was presided over by senior journalist Shri Surender Singhal. About a dozen journalists were honoured at the function.
(T Satisan with inputs from VSKs)
