Service should be ideal of journalism: J Nandkumar
Bhopal, May 7: Delivering a lecture on ‘Social and National Concerns and Media’ J Nandkumar, Convener of ‘Pragya Pravah’ an RSS-sponsored think tank, quoting Mahatma Gandhi on journalism said that service to society should be the highest ideal of journalism.
He was speaking at the Narad Jayanti program organised by Vishwa Samvad Kendra Bhopal on Sunday. Nandkumar further exhorted the journalists to follow the ideals established by Mahatma Gandhi, Maharshi Aurobindo and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in journalism.
On this occasion senior journalist Girish Upadhyay was honoured with “Devarshi Narad Samman” for this remarkable contribution in journalism. In addition, journalists Chandresh Malaviya, Atul Tiwari and Rahul Dubey were felicitated with “Devarshi Narad Puraskar”.
On the social and national concerns and media, J Nandkumar said that media is facing a very steep competition to show the news first. This cut throat competition leads to presentation of false, misleading and baseless news many a time. The need is to do some research before publishing the news and spread positivism in the society, he added.
Emphasizing the need for pro-active journalism today he said that the journalists are required to write news with proper homework and research so that the people could be given the correct news. He urged the scribes to think about the effect their news would have on the social psyche before releasing it into the public domain.
Throwing light on the life and mission of Devarshi Narad, he said that his values and ideals are still serving as a beacon light for the journalists of today. His every action and each word were meant for public welfare and interest.
Nandkumar also called upon the journalists to stop spreading confusion. In their mad rush for TRP, the journalists are competing with each other to score over the developments in the country and in the process tend to spread unfounded news spreading confusion and misleading the people. This should not be encouraged, he said.
He also said that it was wrong to equate Sanskrit poet and dramatist Kalidasa with Shakespeare. By doing so we are insulting Kalidasa, he said. Kalidasa appeared years before Shakespear and had a remarkable contribution in shaping the Indian culture and literature. Similarly, by equating Chandragupta with Napoleon the people are undermining the importance of Chandragupta, he added.
Vishwa Samvad Kendra Chairman Lakshmendra Maheshwari proposed the vote of thanks. Executive President Dr Ajay Narang made introductory remarks.
Narad Jayanti observed at Shivpuri:
Narad Jayanti was observed at Shivpuri by RSS Prachar Vibhag. A seminar on “Social Harmony and Medis was organised to mark the occasion. Speaking on the occasion senior journalist and political analyst Alok Indoria said that development and social harmony could be achieved by spreading love for the society.
The program held at Sunrise Hotel in Shivpuri Indoria said that during the print media era there was comparatively less strife and tensions in the society as compared to the electronic and social media era of today. In the pursuit of TRP the gap between social groups has only widened. He also lamented the spread of negative news for the sake of TRP of electronic media.
The best ideals of social harmony such as Sahajo Bai, Sant Ravidas, did not get their due in the history. Same is the case with Rani Durgavati and Tantya Bhil. He appealed to the journalists to work in the national interest and shun all kinds of attractions that might detract them from the path of truth.
Speaking as a chief guest, Additional SP Kamal Sharma praised the Shivpuri journalists for maintaining law and order situation in Shivpuri on April 2. He called upon the journalists to follow the ideals of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Bharatendu Harsichandra and others.
RSS Vibhag Karyawah Rajesh Bhargav, member of Prachar Toli Harihar Sharma also spoke on the occasion. Five journalists of the town were felicitated with shawl and srifal.
Narad Jayanti at Seoni
Narad Jayanti was also observed at Seoni where prominent journalists of the town were felicitated. Seoni RSS Prachar Pramukh Tarun Vishwakarma, Shiv Santosh Survanshi and others organised the program at Hotel Bahubali.
Chief Guest Prasahant Shukla, Bureau Chief of Zee News exhorted the journalists to follow the ideal of Devarshi Narad.
In his address senior journalist Virag Pachpore said that the noble profession of journalism should be used to spread positivity and safeguard public interests at any cost. He said that Narad was an institution of social communicators in the days of the past, but today this responsibility is bestowed on journalists.
The RSS Prachar Vibhag presented pens to all the journalists present at the program as mark of respect for them.