Birth Centenary of Shri Jawaharlal Darda

Media Coverage | 19-02-2023

 

Union minister for home and cooperation Amit Shah and deputy chief minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis releasing the book ‘Babuji’, which is based on the life of founder editor of Lokmat Media Group and veteran freedom fighter Jawaharlal Darda. Chairman of the editorial board of Lokmat Media and former member of Rajya Sabha Vijay Darda, State BJP chief and MLC Chandrashekhar Bawankule, editor-in-chief of Lokmat Media Group Rajendra Darda, managing director and editorial director of Lokmat Media Group Devendra Darda, joint managing director and editorial director Rishi Darda, executive director and editorial director Karan Darda, and group editor Vijay Baviskar are also seen.

 

‘Shades of Sardar Patel reflected in Amit Shah’

Chairman of the Editorial Board of Lokmat Media Group and former member of Rajya Sabha Vijay Darda said in his address that shades of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel are visible in Home Minister Amit Shah. The whole country is impressed by the courage with which terrorism in Kashmir has been stamped out. Today, around 150 flights are arriving in Kashmir. Even in the North Eastern states, the no-nonsense approach to dealing with the neighbouring countries is openly challenging those thinking of dividing the country.  Darda said that there were home ministers before Shah as well and they had graced the programmes of Lokmat several times. But Shah is altogether different because he has taken many decisions in national interest, which were not easy to take. He said everyone has seen the lion-hearted Shah, but very few people know that he also possesses expertise in Urdu. Music resides in his soul. He plays tabla very well and used to play the sitar, too. Amit Shah, who looks tough from the outside, is soft from the inside. He is also deeply attached to cricket. Recalling Babuji on the occasion, Darda said, “Babuji taught us that we should always be loyal to the readers. Every day we are reaching about six and a half crore people. Lokmat will always work for the strengthning democracy and for the benefit of society. From the age of just 18, Babuji dedicated himself to the freedom struggle of India. He cycled from Yavatmal to Sevagram to meet Mahatma Gandhi. He remained imprisoned in Jabalpur jail for 1 year and 9 months. He also established the Azad Hind Sena in Yavatmal in 1944. He did a 400-mile padyatra and awakened the spirit of freedom among rural people. In 1942, he also participated in the Quit India Movement. After independence, he took command of Lokmat. Considering this contribution, a commemorative coin has been issued in his memory. He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for this decision of the central government.

Darda welcomed Shah with these lines from Nooh Narvi’s poetry –

Aap jinke kareeb hote hai…
Woh bade khushnaseeb hote hai..
Mujhse milna phir aapka milna..
Aap kisko naseeb hote hai…!!

 

Truth & courage behind Lokmat’s success: Shah

‘Established its identity in all areas of media and communication’

Union minister for home and cooperation Amit Shah and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis appreciated Lokmat in a programme organised to celebrate the birth centenary year of founder editor of Lokmat Media Group and veteran freedom fighter Jawaharlal Darda alias ‘Babuji’ and the golden jubilee year of Nagpur edition of Lokmat. Shah said that Lokmat had established its identity in all areas of media and communication. While gaining popularity, it followed the religion of journalism. Truth, courage, and continuity are the formulae of success of public opinion. On the strength of this, it achieved success and crossed the milestone of 50 years.

Shah further said that it was very difficult to maintain popularity of a newspaper while following religion of journalism. Journalism in Maharashtra had a bright history. Lokmat group was associated with the tradition of Lokmanya Tilak. Shah has lived in Pune for two years while his in-laws’ house is in Kolhapur. He has seen the development journey of Lokmat.

He said journalism was considered fourth pillar of democracy. When there is a little laxity in the society, every area is affected to some extent. However, Lokmat has travelled till this point on the basis of its values. If the newspaper is popular then its owner is also famous. To some extent, senior journalists also are known figures. However, running a newspaper requires a lot of effort, Shah said.

 

Babuji established ideals of fearless journalism: HM

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that a lot should be learnt from the life of senior freedom fighter and founder-editor of Lokmat Jawaharlal Darda alias Babuji on the occasion of his birth centenary year. After independence, being active in politics, he set the standards of how a good newspaper can work for the society. Babuji did not write any charter in this regard. Rather he took these elements to the last constituents of the organization with his hard work and established the ideals of journalism. Shah said this at a function organized in Nagpur on Saturday on the occasion of Babuji’s birth centenary year and the golden jubilee year of Nagpur edition of Lokmat. The Home Minister said that Babuji participated in the freedom movement and remained in jail for almost two and a half years. He founded Subhash Chandra Bose’s Azad Hind Sena in Yavatmal in the year 1944. There are only two or three chances to take up a solid role in life. This is the time when one has to decide whether to think about oneself or give more emphasis to the element and this is the time that makes a person great. Such times are faced on the basis of a person’s elements and sanskars. The concrete stand that Jawaharlal Darda took in front of Indira Gandhi was a courageous step. Such incidents only give immortality to a person like Babuji. This is the reason why the sapling planted by Babuji has become a banyan tree today.

 

Babuji never compromised on  ideology: DyCM

Deputy chief minister Fadnavis while talking about current politics reminisced about an incident related to Jawaharlal Darda. When Maneka Gandhi left home after a dispute with Indira Gandhi, social worker Seema Sakhre wrote an article in her ‘Madhumalati’ column, commenting openly on Indira Gandhi. This article reached Indira Gandhi. Jawaharlal Darda was called and asked about it. On this occasion, Babuji said “he has given full freedom to journalists to write in his newspaper.”

“I will suffer for the freedom of the press but will not compromise,” was the ideal established by Babuji, Fadnavis said.

 

‘Opposition in politics should be ideological, not personal’

Highlighting an incident related to Jawaharlal Darda in the current political context, Fadnavis said Babuji and Vasantrao Naik had a close relationship. But they had to go their separate ways due to some reasons. Nevertheless, Babuji wrote a article with the title ‘Runanubandhachya Tutlya Gathi’ in a polite language. In that article, Babuji praised Naik. He wrote: We may have separated ideologically, but we remain united emotionally. Underlining this was necessary today because people are treating each other like enemies. There should be ideological opposition between people in politics, not enmity at individual level. Babuji followed this tradition. For this reason, Babuji was popular among all strata of society, cutting across party lines. He gave a valuable lesson there should be opposition to ideas, but not to individuals, Fadnavis added.

 

Today, Vijay Darda has set an ideal by honouring the colleagues working in all the fields of Lokmat. The one who respects his team and respects each person becomes a good leader.

Amit Shah,
Union home minister

Shah praised the contribution of late Jawaharlal Darda in the field of journalism and social work. He also lauded the group for carrying forward the values of Jawaharlal Darda.

 

Aur phir zindagi rishton ke saath chalti hai: Rajendra Darda

Editor-in-Chief of Lokmat Media Group and former minister Rajendra Darda thanked the dignitaries who were present at the ceremony. He said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had honoured the Lokmat family by taking time from his busy schedule. He expressed his gratitude to Shah by saying ‘Rishte ek bar bante hai, aur phir zindagi rishto ke saath chalti hai’. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had come to take blessings of Babuji when he was the mayor. Darda expressed his gratitude to him saying Fadnavis is a senior member of the Lokmat family.

 

‘Nagpur Meri Jaan, Nagpur Meri Shaan’ anthem launched

Lokmat’s Nagpur anthem ‘Nagpur Meri Jaan, Nagpur Meri Shaan’ was launched to mark the centenary year of senior freedom fighter and founder-editor of Lokmat Jawaharlalji Darda at the hands of Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday at Kavivarya Suresh Bhat auditorium. After the launch, Shah handed over this anthem to Nagpur guardian minister and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. The anthem, conceptualized by the chairman of the editorial board of Lokmat Media Group and former member of Rajya Sabha Vijay Darda, was composed by renowned playback singer Shankar Mahadevan.

 

Bigwigs from all fields grace function

Leaders from across Vidarbha were present in this function. Ministers, former ministers, MPs, MLAs and other public representatives were present. Dignitaries from other fields were also present along with government officials.

On this occasion MPs Ramdas Tadas, Ashok Nete, Krupal Tumane and Sunil Mendhe, former union minister Hansraj Ahir, MLC Praveen Datke, MLAs Pankaj Bhoyar, Sameer Meghe, Shweta Mahale, Krishna Khopde and Namdev Sasane, former minister Ramesh Bang, Adv Sulekha Kumbhare, former MPs Ajay Sancheti and  Padma Shri Dr Vikas Mahatme, former MLAs Wamanrao Kasawar, Ashish Deshmukh, Sudhakar Kohale and D M Reddy, ex-MLC Nago Ganar, Divisional Commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari, District Collector Dr. Vipin Itankar, Municipal Commissioner Radhakrishnan B, Police Commissioner Dr Amitesh Kumar, Special Inspector General of Police Nagpur Zone Chhering Dorje, Joint Commissioner of Police Aswati Dorje, Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Parishad Saumya Sharma, Superintendent of Police Vishal Anand, Director of Information Hemraj Bagul, District Information Officer Praveen Take, Member of National Khadi Commission Jaiprakash Gupta, Cooperative Leader Arvind Savkar Poraddiwar, State President of Congress Traders Cell Atul Kotecha, Kishor Darda, State General Secretary of MNS Hemant Gadkari, Zilla Parishad President Mukta Kokadde, former president Ashok Dhote, former Mayors Archana Dehankar and Dr Kalpana Pande, Nagpur District President of BJP Arvind Gajbhiye, Vice President Charan Singh Thakur, Dr Rajiv Potdar, Organisation Secretary of BJP Upendra Kothekar, Sanjay Tekade, Avinash Thakre, Congress leader Dr. Amol Deshmukh, NCP’s Rajabhau Taksale, Entrepreneur Pyare Khan, Adv Firdos Mirza, Adv Sameer Sohni, Adv Ramesh Darda, Adv Tushar Darda, Dean of GMCH Raj Gajbhiye, District Health Officer Dr. Deepak Selokar, Dr. Sanjay Darda, Dr. Harish Warambhe, Dr. Shrikant Mukewar, Former President of Nagpur Chamber of Commerce Kailash Jogani, President of Kosia Vidarbha Julfesh Shah, President of Wardhaman Bank Anil Parekh, Director of Karan Kothari Jewelers Pradeep Kothari, Managing Director of Sneha Tuition Classes Prof. Rajinikanth Bondare, etc were present.

 

‘Babuji’, ‘Suvarnmudra’ released 

A special function organised at Kavivarya Suresh Bhat auditorium to mark the birth centenary year of Jawaharlal Darda alias Babuji, and the golden jubilee year of Nagpur edition of Lokmat was replete with publica-tions, unveilings  and honours. A book ‘Babuji’, based on the life of Jawaharlal Darda was released by the dignitaries. ‘Suvarnmudra’ a special issue of ‘Lokmat’ to mark golden jubilee of Nagpur edition was launched in the presence of executive editor of Lokmat Shrimant Mane, and senior editor of Lokmat Samachar Vikas Mishra. Nagpur Anthem specially prepared for this occasion was handed over by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Deputy Chief Minister and Guardian Minister of Nagpur Devendra Fadnavis. The recently relaunched edition of Lokmat Times was presented to Shah in the presence of its Editor N K Nayak. Postmaster General Shobha Madhale unveiled the special postage stamp issued by the Indian Postal Department to mark the golden jubilee of Lokmat Nagpur. ‘Pancharatna’ – five employees who have dedicatedly worked with ‘Lokmat’ from the beginning were honoured on this occasion.

 

Five senior employees (panchratnas) working since the launch of Lokmat were felicitated during the event. Former editor Madhukar Bhave, former editor and editorial coordinator Kamlakar Dharap, director-circulation (1971 to 2005) Nirmal Darda, technical director Wing Commander (retd) Ramesh Bora and director (operations) of Lokmat Media Group Ashok Jain who all made outstandingl contributions to the growth of Lokmat were felicitated at the hands of Union Minister for home and cooperation Amit Shah by presenting them with a shawl, shrifal, a scroll of honour and mementos.

 

Union minister for home and cooperation Amit Shah and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis releasing the ‘Suvarnmudra’, a special issue of Nagpur edition of Lokmat. Chairman of the editorial board of Lokmat Media and former member of Rajya Sabha Vijay Darda, State BJP chief and MLC Chandrashekhar Bawankule, editor-in-chief of Lokmat Media Group Rajendra Darda, managing director of Lokmat Media Group and editorial director Devendra Darda, joint managing director and editorial director Rishi Darda, executive director and editorial director Karan Darda, group editor Vijay Baviskar, senior editor of Lokmat Samachar Vikas Mishra and executive editor of Lokmat (Nagpur) Shrimant Mane are also seen.

 

Editor-in-Chief of Lokmat Media Group Rajendra Darda presenting a bust of Babuji to Union home minister Amit Shah.

 

Home minister Amit Shah handing over the Nagpur Anthem to deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

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