Words are precious, use them wisely: Guv Bagade

 Media Coverage  |  28-03-2025

Jawaharlal Darda Smriti Lokmat Journalism Awards ceremony: 10 journalists from Rajasthan honoured

Jaipur

Rajasthan governor Haribhau Bagade on Wednesday said, “words are our most precious asset and should be used wisely. Do not waste words, unnecessarily.”

Governor Bagade honoured 10 journalists at the Jawaharlal Darda Smriti Lokmat Journalism Awards distribution ceremony at the Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur under the aegis of Pink City Press Club in memory of veteran freedom fighter and founder editor of Lokmat Media Group Jawaharlal Darda alias Babuji.

The chairman of editorial board of Lokmat Media Group and former member of Rajya Sabha Dr Vijay Darda, editor-in-chief of Lokmat Media Group Rajendra Darda, Rajasthan Assembly speaker Vasudev Devnani, leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully, minister of state for urban development Jhabar Singh Kharra as well as senior journalist Vijay Vidrohi and senior president (corporate affairs) of Lokmat Media Group Omprakash Kela were present on this occasion.

In an auditorium full of journalists and students of journalism, governor Bagade shared memories of the time spent with Jawaharlal Darda. He said, “During the Emergency, a small landholder farmer had mortgaged his daughter for `500. The report created a pandemonium in the Assembly. The chief minister said angrily, if this news turns out to be false, I will put the father and his two sons in jail under MISA. I will confiscate their property. On this Babuji said, Lokmat’s news cannot be wrong. My readers are my real asset.”

Other distinguished personalities from various sections of society who attended the programme included Padma Bhushan Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Padma Shri duo Ahmed Hussain and Mohammad Hussain, Purva Darda-Kothari, senior editor of Lokmat Samachar (Nagpur) Vikas Mishra, editor of Lokmat Samachar (Nagpur) Ravindra Bhajni, director of AIIMS Jodhpur Dr S S Agarwal, industrialist Pramod Derawala, Abhay Chordia and sarpanch of Panchroliya, the ancestral village of the Darda family. The assistant vice president of Lokmat Media Group Mateen Khan conducted the proceedings while Rajasthan business head of Lokmat Media Group Himanshu Patni proposed a vote of thanks.

Lokmat never compromised on

ethics in journalism: Dr Vijay Darda

The chairman of editorial board of Lokmat Media Group and former member of Rajya Sabha Dr Vijay Darda said journalism has never been in danger. However, the only condition is that one must have the courage to speak the truth irrespective of the consequences. He said different governments thrice stopped the advertisements to Lokmat. But Lokmat never compromised on its ethics in journalism. In the Independence Special issue of Lokmat, Babuji wrote, “Until the country is freed from curses such as poverty, hunger, illiteracy and communalism, the basic objective of independence cannot be achieved.” These lines are guiding us even today. “Lokmat is not an institution but a family,” he noted.

Lokmat first group to

give awards in its editors’ name: Rajendra Dard

The editor-in-chief of Lokmat Media Group Rajendra Darda said, “Lokmat Media Group is giving awards to people from sarpanch to MPs who do outstanding work. So, how could we stay behind in honouring journalists?” “In Maharashtra, journalists from all media organisations were honoured with awards instituted in the name of our first editors Padma Shri P V Gadgil and M Y alias Baba Dalvi. Lokmat is the first group to institute and give awards in the name of its editors,” he said.

Jeevan Gaurav

Award for 95-year-old Praveen Chandra Chhabra

Jaipur resident Praveen Chandra Chhabra, a 95-year-old senior journalist, was honoured with the Jeevan Gaurav Award. Similarly, Balmukund Ojha (Jaipur), Hariom Sharma (Jaipur), Manish Godha (Mahanagar Times, Jaipur), Vimal Bhatia (Times of India, Jaisalmer), Suresh Vyas (Rajasthan Patrika, Jodhpur), Devkumar Singodia (Rajasthan Patrika, Jaipur), Lalit Tiwari (Rajasthan Patrika, Jaipur), Awadhesh Singh Akodiya (Dainik Bhaskar, Jaipur) and Megha Jain (Rajasthan Patrika, Jhalawar) were honoured too.

LOKMAT HONOURS outstanding journalists

Rajasthan governor Haribhau Bagade honoured 10 journalists with the Jawaharlal Darda Smriti Lokmat Journalism Awards at an impressive ceremony at Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur. Seen (from left) are the senior editor of Lokmat Samachar Vikas Mishra, senior president (corporate affairs) of Lokmat Media Group Omprakash Kela, senior journalist Vijay Vidrohi, chairman of editorial board of Lokmat Media Group and former member of Rajya Sabha Dr Vijay Darda, governor Haribhau Bagade, editor-in-chief of Lokmat Media Group Rajendra Darda, Rajasthan minister of state for urban development Jhabar Singh Kharra, Lokmat’s Rajasthan bureau chief Jitendra Pradhan, Rajasthan business head of Lokmat Media Group Himanshu Patni, editor of Lokmat Samachar Ravindra Bhajni and assistant vice president  of Lokmat Media Group Mateen Khan.

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