Media need to decolonise Bharatiya minds

New Delhi: “We have a long tradition which sees divinity in everything. It is the speciality of the Bharatiya culture. Many artists do not go to the stage wearing shoes. Many sadhaks, drivers start using the instruments or vehicles after paying respect to them. Many sportspersons start playing after paying respect to the earth. This relation is very significant and the media persons should also have this feeling. Apart from strengthening this relationship with divinity, the media persons also need to dedicatedly decolonise the Bharatiya minds so that we look at our things with our own perspective,” said RSS Sahsarkaryavah Dr Manmohan Vaidya, while addressing a big gathering of journalists on June 29 during the Narad Samman function held at India International Centre. Union Minister of Textiles and Women and Child Development Smt Smriti Irani was also present.

 

 The journalists felicitated with this year’s Narad Samman with the guests at the function in New Delhi

 

On this occasion, some journalists were felicitated for their outstanding contribution to the media. Those who were felicitated included eminent journalist Shri Ram Bahadur Rai who was honoured with Lifetime Achievement Narad Samman. Shri Siddharth Zarabi from ‘Business TV India’ was honoured with Samagra Utkrishta Narad Samman. Deputy Editor of ‘India Today’ Shri Udai Mahurkar was honoured with Print Patrakar Narad Samman. Freelance journalist Shri Nalin Chauhan was honoured with the best Columnist Narad Samman. Chief Reporter of ‘Firstpost’ Shri Debobrat Ghosh was honoured with Digital Patrakarita Narad Samman. Deputy Editor of ‘India TV’ and senior anchor Shri Sushant Sinha was honoured with TV Patrakarita Narad Samman. ‘Clean the Nation’ team was honoured with Social Media Narad Samman. Senior Correspondent of Panchjanya Shri Arun Kumar Singh was honoured with Rural Journalism award while Richa Aniruddha for women and Shri Ganesh Radhakrishna from Organiser was honoured with youth award. The cameraman of DD News the late Achyutanand Sahu was honoured with the best photographer award posthumously. The late Sahu was killed in an attack by the Naxals while covering elections. His wife received the award.

 

Dr Vaidya appealed to the journalists to know the words that we inadvertently use due to the influence of colonisation. Referring to the term ‘India is a country with diverse cultures, which is widely, used in the media he said this message can be dissimilated by writing “India has a culture that celebrates diverse cultures. Similarly, instead of writing the victory of ‘nationalism’ we can write the ‘victory of national expression’.

 

In her brief speech, Smt Smriti Irani suggested honouring some journalists from language journalism, technological journalism, science and culture journalism also. Shri Ram Bahadur Rai said Narada had to never express apology on his reporting. Social activist and entrepreneur Shri Rakesh Bandhu presided over the function. President of Indraprastha Vishwa Samvad Kendra Shri Ashok Sachdeva proposed a vote of thanks.