“Nurturing value-based journalism for promotion of truth, culture and nationalism to build prosperous, powerful and proud Bharat” – Vision Statement of Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited
The span of seventy years is not very big in the journey of a nation. In case of Bharat having thousands of years of civilisational ethos, it is certainly not; but for a publication, incessantly working as a voice of ‘Bharat’ for the last seven decades, amidst all odds, it is surely an incredible and a proud moment.
The creation of a media house called ‘Bharat Prakashan’ that has been publishing Organiser from 1947 itself is unique process. Most of the media ventures after Independence are either individual owned or started by corporate houses, while Bharat Prakashan has been a share-holding company of thousands of common people committed to the cause of creating a platform for ‘Voice of the Nation’.
During the times when the ‘idea of Bharat’ was contested either as ‘nation in the making’ or ‘never to be one nation’, standing for the ‘idea of eternal Bharat’, which always existed and for which our forefathers fought against series of aggressions, was the pressing need. Firstly Organiser, and then, many other media initiatives in other Bharatiya languages. including Panchjanya (Hindi Weekly). were floated with the same inspiration. Now when there is a fierce contest among political parties and media groups to claim the nationalist space that is rooted in the Hindu ethos, the pioneering effort in this direction was Organiser.
Every publication has some ideological leanings, overt or covert, but they avoid accepting the same. Organiser openly accepted that our inspiration is the thought of ‘inherent cultural integration of Bharat’ propagated by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), especially when the nationalist voluntary organisation was an anathema to many. While doing that, instead of just being a mouthpiece of the organisation, Organiser chose to be the voice of the all marginalised who were speaking for the eternal ethos and therefore, people like Father Anthony Elenjimittam, Purushottam Das Tandon or KM Munshi also find space in the weekly. Dr Ram Manohar Lohia, Jay Prakash Narayan, and even some staunch communists did not hesitate to voice their concern about the overall degradation in political culture through this media platform.
Journalism is more a profession these days and therefore, commitment to truth, culture and certain set of values is a rare commodity. It is not that there are no committed journalists, but by and large, the media environment and market compulsions are pushing the large chunk to opt for commercial interests over the truth. Organiser has been one of the few exceptions in this regard. This is precisely the reason it could stand against the State Censorship within few days of the adoption of the Constitution. Even during the emergency when the then editor Shri KR Malkani was arrested and the State machinery used all the might to curb the freedom of expression, Organiser and the Motherland announced the emergency with the vigour of ordinary people who were working as journalists with the publications. The
uncompromising and consistent position on issues of national interest, whether it is to do with the foreign policy and strategic issues or ensuring probity and integrity in public life, has been the hallmark of the publication. The presentation of positive Bharat to the own people and the world at large is another feature of the publication, along with the well crafted strategy of exposing the divisive forces.
Since Independence, the journey of Organiser is
intrinsically interwoven in the progressive unfoldment of Bharat and therefore, can be considered as a ‘Media Movement. This journey was possible only with the support of innumerable people who worked as reporters, distributors, advertisers, or even in the management without any expectation. Our sensitive readership is the pillar of this process. While completing the seventy years of existence, we are taking this opportunity to thank all those who made this movement possible. This is the time not just to showcase the glory of this legacy but to recommit ourselves to the vision of ‘value-based journalism’ for the nation.
@PrafullaKetkar
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