Dr Vijay Darda’s new book ‘The churn’ released

 Media Coverage  |  04-04-2025

‘Dr Darda has courage to take up diverse issues in interest of public’

Says Acharya Lokesh Muni at ‘The Churn’ book release event

New Delhi

The chairman of editorial board of Lokmat Media Group and former member of the Rajya Sabha, Dr Vijay Darda, has the courage to take firm stand about various issues impartially and in the larger public interest, said top dignitaries who were in attendance at the launch of ‘The Churn’, the latest book about the veteran parliamentarian’s 18-year-term in Parliament.

Speaking after launching Dr Darda’s new book, founder of World Peace Centre & Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti, Acharya Dr Lokesh Muni said, “There are very few people in our society today who are fearless. But this is one person who, while writing in the interest of the society, the nation and people, does not worry about the consequences. This is why I admire him.”

Dr Lokesh Muni also pointed out that some of those attending the event referred to the book as “charan”, others “churan” but, in his view, “it is poorna (complete)”.

He advised all the eminent personalities in attendance at the event to read the book. “You will find it to be complete in all respects,” he said. “For forthcoming parliamentarians as well, this book will pave the way.” Union minister of state for fisheries and animal husbandry S P Baghel, said, “This book is a compilation of his speeches. From them it becomes evident just how well informed he is about this country’s social, political and economic issues. At different points of time, he has raised his voice effectively and in an impartial manner about public interest issues — whether it is through his newspaper or in Rajya Sabha.”

‘Dr Vijay Darda inspired by his father’s public service’

Senior NCP leaders, member of Parliament and former Union minister Praful Patel, pointed out that, “Many people from Delhi may not know this but all of Maharashtra knows him as Vijay Babu.”

Reflecting on the Darda family’s rich legacy of public service, Patel noted how Jawaharlal Darda ji’s patriotic thinking, social work and contribution as a political leader and tremendous commitment towards public service influenced Dr Darda’s political career. “This was reflected during Vijay ji’s speeches and conduct over 18 years in Parliament. The book compiles all that and refreshes our memory about it. I congratulate him,” said Patel, matter-of-factly.

‘ An active parliamentarian’

Rajya Sabha member and former journalist Rajeev Shukla noted how Dr Darda was an active parliamentarian. “There is so much churning in his life that he has to cope with himself. He knows how to find a way through it all,” he said, admiringly. “He was with us in the Rajya Sabha. Everyday he would ask some questions, mention things during Zero Hour, special mention or amendment about some issue. He was an active parliamentarian and this is worthy of appreciation. I am hopeful that he will come back to the parliament again.”

‘Popular among all political parties’

BJP leader and former Union cabinet minister Shahnawaz Hussain said, “Dr Darda is popular among all political parties. The way in which his paper is impartial, Dr Vijay Darda is also impartial.”

The senior BJP leader also reflected about the prolific nature of Dr Darda’s writing. “Often times, I feel that those who become politicians, for them writing even one page is difficult. But Darda’s pen has the strength that he has written many books. In this book, his work in Parliament is reflected. I congratulate him and I hope he keeps writing,” he said.

‘He has set an example in Maharashtra’

Senior Maharashtra politician and member of Parliament Sunil Tatkare went down memory lane and noted that when he became a member of Legislative Assembly for the first time in Maharashtra, Dr Darda was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an independent.

“Getting elected to the Rajya Sabha despite contesting as an independent was something only he could do. He is great in writing but how great he is in politics, he set an example in Maharashtra during the decade of the 90s,” said Tatkare.

‘Person with high energy level’

Veteran journalist and consulting editor of India Today Group Rajdeep Sardesai  said, Dr Darda has a “speciality” that, despite being an editor, proprietor and parliamentarian for many years, his “energy level” has not reduced. “The energy that I saw in him 30 years ago, he has maintained it to this day. This is the secret of his success. He converts everything that he writes into a book every 2-3 years. If you read the book, you will know his speciality. One day he writes about wildlife, next day he writes about the Naxal attacks and the following day he writes about an issue on which very few people write — farmers’ suicides. His diversity is evident and he writes impartially and fearlessly. But his smile ensures that he has friends everywhere,” said Sardesai.

‘A peek into a person

 who thought of India’

Senior journalist and Editor of Law & Policy at NewsX English Channel, Tarun Nangia, appreciated the far-sighted nature of interventions in Parliament made by Dr Darda.

While speaking about the book, Nangia recalled one instance of particular relevance to the public interest. “As I was going through the book, because I mainly deal with the subject of law, being an editor of a legal show that I host, he way back in 2007 in Parliament gave a speech on the need to set up a Supreme Court bench at Nagpur. It gives us a peek into a person who thought of India. There has been a lot of talk about having a bench of the Supreme Court in south India. Obviously there is none as of now in India. But Dr Darda raised this issue 18 years ago that we need a Supreme Court bench,” he said.

Several dignitaries from different walks of life attended the glittering ceremony in the national capital. They included Shiv Sena MPs Sanjay Deshmukh and Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Congress MP Bhaskar Bhagare, Vaibhav Dane, NCP general secretary Brijmohan Shrivastav, resident commissioner of Maharashtra Sadan R Vimala and others. The programme was compered by Chandini Sehgal.

‘Write a book about

Narendra Modi’

Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, in his characteristically light-hearted speech, said, “Vijay Darda ji Jawaharlal Darda ji ka sapna kar rahe poorna, isiliye aapne kitab likhi hain The Churn. (Vijay Darda is fulfilling the dream of his father Jawaharlal Darda, this is why he has written the book The Churn).” Athawale also noted that Dr. Darda had written about various politicians including Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Indira Gandhi, Ram Manohar Lohia, Somnath Chatterjee, among others. “You have written about all these politicians but you haven’t written about Narendra Modi ji. In the next book, you must write about him too,” said the veteran Dalit leader from Maharashtra. “Your relations are good with everyone, including Narendra Modi ji,” he said.

Well informed about social, political & economic issues, says Union minister Baghel

Union minister of state for fisheries and animal husbandry S P Baghel, said, “This book is a compilation of his speeches. From them it becomes evident just how well informed he is about this country’s social, political and economic issues. At different points of time, he has raised his voice effectively and in an impartial manner about public interest issues — whether it is through his newspaper or in Rajya Sabha.”

Chairman of editorial board of Lokmat Media Group and former member of Rajya Sabha Dr Vijay Darda’s new book, “The Churn”, was released at the hands of Union Minister of State for Fisheries and Animal Husbandry S P Singh Baghel, founder of World Peace Centre & Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti Acharya Dr Lokesh Muni, senior NCP leader and member of Rajya Sabha Praful Patel, senior Congress leader and member of Rajya Sabha Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, senior Congress leader and member of Rajya Sabha Rajeev Shukla, senior BJP leader and former member of Parliament Shahnawaz Hussain, senior NCP leader and member of Lok Sabha Sunil Tatkare and veteran journalist and consulting editor of India Today Group Rajdeep Sardesai, publisher of Lokmat (Delhi) Rakesh Sharma and senior journalist and editor of Law & Policy at NewsX English Channel Tarun Nangia in New Delhi on Thursday. Rajesh Tickley

View Image