Udaipur JAR Honors Veteran Journalists on 200 Years of Hindi Journalism

Udaipur: Journalism is not merely about reporting events; it is a social movement, a force of ideas, and a process of intellectual churning. Journalists play a role as vital as social reformers, thinkers, and spiritual leaders in promoting justice, integrity, good governance, and a cultured society. Saints and reformers who led awareness movements against social evils in their time can also be regarded as journalists in the broader sense. Likewise, great personalities such as Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati should be remembered as communicators and awakeners of society.

These views were expressed by Dr. Ashok Arya, President of the Shrimad Dayanand Satyarth Prakash Trust, while delivering the keynote address at the “Kalam Prahari Samman–2026” ceremony held on Sunday at the Mata Leelawanti Auditorium in Navlakha Mahal, Gulab Bagh. The event was organized by the Udaipur unit of the Journalists Association of Rajasthan (JAR) to commemorate 200 years of Hindi journalism.

Dr. Arya noted that although Maharshi Dayanand was of Gujarati origin, he chose Hindi as the language for his commentaries on the Vedas because he believed it was the most widely understood language across India. He advocated the use of Hindi alongside regional languages for effective communication. He also pointed out that Maharshi Dayanand published his Vedic commentaries in the form of a monthly journal and faced challenges in promoting Hindi against the dominance of English and Persian (Urdu). Today, he said, Hindi faces a new challenge in the form of “Hinglish.” Just as Dayanand struggled to create social awareness in his era, modern journalists continue to face significant challenges in their mission.

Chief Guest Advocate Nirmal Kumar Pandit, District Chairman of the International Human Rights and Crime Control Council, Udaipur, stressed that journalists must continuously sharpen their pens and adapt to changing social realities. While societal progress brings positive developments, it also introduces new challenges, and writers and journalists must boldly express their views to address these issues.

Guest of Honor Gaurikant Sharma, Deputy Director of the Department of Information and Public Relations, praised the dedication of earlier generations of journalists who often worked under difficult circumstances, traveling on foot to gather news. He remarked that modern technology has, in some ways, overshadowed the sacrifices and commitment of those pioneering journalists. He congratulated the Udaipur unit of JAR for honoring senior members of the profession.

Presiding over the function, Subhash Sharma, State Co-Coordinator and former State President of JAR, announced that a series of events would be organized throughout the year as part of the 200th anniversary celebrations of Hindi journalism, including honoring veteran journalists.

JAR Udaipur President Rakesh Sharma Rajdeep informed that six senior journalists from Udaipur—Naresh Sharma, Shrikrishna Jugnu, Rahul Sharma, Rajendra Shekhar Vyas, Rajendra Hiloriya, and Mangilal Lohar—were felicitated during the ceremony. The honored journalists shared memories and experiences from their professional journeys.

In a special gesture, the spouses of all honored journalists were also felicitated. Organizers explained that while journalists often dedicate their time to society at all hours, it is their spouses who manage family responsibilities and provide unwavering support, enabling them to perform their duties with peace of mind.

JAR Udaipur General Secretary Dinesh Hada stated that the program was conducted by Anil Chaturvedi. The event was attended by numerous dignitaries and members of the journalism fraternity, including representatives of the Satyarth Prakash Trust and office bearers of JAR from across the state and district.

Following the ceremony, participants visited the newly established Rashtra Mandir Gallery at Navlakha Mahal. The Satyarth Prakash Trust also presented copies of Satyarth Prakash literature to the journalists in attendance.