By Ashok Kumar Malik, Poet
On Hindi Patrakarita Divas, a symposium was organised at Marwah Studio, Noida, for veteran journalists and media persons under the joint auspices of AAFT University of Media and Arts and Ram Janki Sansthan Positive Media – RJS Positive Broadcasting House. The symposium was graced by the vibrant presence of Shri Sandeep Marwah, known widely for his scintillating achievements in our country and abroad. The discussions and dialogues took place under the Presidentship of Prof.(Dr.) Gauri Shanker Raina, former Director, Doordarshan, Delhi. The momentous symposium was steered superbly by the visionary National Convener of RJS Positive Media.
Among more than seventy participants of various shades of opinions and depths of experience may be mentioned the names of Dr. Gauri Shanker Raina, former Director, Doordarshan, Delhi, who presided gracefully; Prof. Dr. Vinita Gupta, Head of Department, Patrakaarita evam Jansanchaar Vibhag, Maharaja Ugrasen Institute of Management Studies; Dr. Kondal, Associate Prof. Bhartiya Jansanchar Sansthaan; Sh. Umesh Chaturvedi, Senior journalist and Media consultant, Prasar Bharti; Sh. Parthasarthi Thapliyal, Writer and Journalist; Shri Deep Chand Mathur, former OSD, Delhi Govt. and RJS Observer; Shri Rajendra Singh Kushwaha, Adhyaksh, RJS Programmes Committee; Shri Durga Das Azad, Laughter Ambassador; and many others, among whom were the youth representing young India on this momentous occasion, and whose still freshly tentative grasp of social realities had the merit of shaking grown-up inertia and, to this end, created intellectual excitement and fermentation in the symposium! The veterans may definitely have been made reminiscent of their own youthful times! Light was thrown upon the deplorable reality of much of present-day commercialised media hankering after TRPs and flooding the viewers with much unpleasant stuff, to say the least; which also gave rise to the observation of Dr Ram Sharan Joshi, the Chief Guest at the event, for a need for some sort of social audit, since society is the eventual arbiter of what is good or not. Journalism was a mission in pre-independent days, with revered names of Raja Ram Mohan Rai, Mahatma Gandhi, and many others, then and even after Independence, but it has become so commercialised nowadays that it is hardly a profession, not to mention its being a mission of single-minded devotion to espouse noble causes for the awareness, upliftment, and o betterment of society.
It is in this context that the significance of media such as Ram Janki Sansthan Positive Media-RJS PBH stands out presently as a beacon of positive hope and aspirations of the people. Under the pioneering vision and steermanship of Shri Uday Kumar Manna, the head and national convener of RJS Positive Media, this media having a fresh vision of social welfare has been making strides for the last eight years, discussing in Sunday webinars not only issues apparently close the heart of society but preserving and paying homage to, the cherished memory of our known and not-so-known freedom fighters. While on 24th July, the foundation day of Sakaratmak Bharat Day Andolan will be celebrated, as announced by the RJS observer, Shri Deep Chan’s Mathur, a well -illustrated book will be released on the occasion of the event to be organised of 6th August, 2023 highlighting its objectives and achievements until now.
Among all the various viewpoints, RJS PBH is for now resolved to tread the chosen path of spreading positive energy among the people of our great and ancient civilisation. It will be pertinent to state the philosophical vision of RJS Positive Media as follows.
(i) Nature is astoundingly diverse, as is obvious to anyone who cares to observe for his or her own enlightenment;
(ii) Humanity is for ever an inseparable part of the bewildering complexity of Nature (which has nevertheless refreshing underlying simplicity and unity, which thrills even more than the diversity);
(iii) The World is a global family, and since ancient times, we have believed in Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam, praying for the heath, happiness and peace for all.
(iv) The diversity of Nature continues to be preserved unless disturbed. The diversity of humankind, though they belong to a single species in modern times, derives from their creative imagination: from extended phenotype and from civilisational and cultural sub -speciation! Individuals and societies, and still larger societies, have their characteristic traits of personality and ways and patterns of thought and life, as reflected in their diverse institutions, cherished beliefs about matter, soul, God, purpose of life, spiritual aspirations in the midst mortality. They have their own preferences for dress, food, education and other systems. They have their cherished languages and ways of expressing their outlook upon life. They both desire to influence others, and imbibe influences without diluting their cherished identity, which cannot but have fascination for one and all: just as a bouquet of multi -coloured flowers casts its own spell on our thinking and emotions. However, nothing, except what is timeless, is unchanging in Nature and humankind. Reinterpretations of our cultural heritage from modern and scientifically rational standpoint must seek to avoid the blurring of the outlines of our identity as irradiated and illumined by our own distinct and timeless ideals that propel us on the path of progress. It is, in my view, the duty of media to rejuvenate our great and timeless heritage, and inculcate it steadily and perseveringly in the minds our youth, who will steer our great nation towards wonderful goals of progress in times to come.
