Chaturvedi lauded for his noble journalistic mission during the last 50 years and incessant publication of his Hindi Weekly Rashtra Times for 43 protracted years

Rashtra Times renowned Hindi weekly published from Delhi has completed 53 years of its incessant publication despite various odds and challenges.

Edited and published by prominent journalist and socio political activist Vijay Shankar Chaturvedi Rashtra Times has witnessed various ups and downs during its challenging journey of the last more than four decades.

Highlighting various socio political and issues of regional and national significance with progressive views famous for raising local issues of East Delhi in particular and events and grievances of Delhi, its publisher and editor needs to be fully complimented for his multidimensional contribution in the field of pro people journalism and public service.

The event was commenced by lightening of the lamp at Press Club of India by eminent personalities like Jai Prakash Agarwal former MP, Delhi PCC chief and in charge of Madhya Pradesh Congress, Senior journalist and former minister of NCT of Delhi Ramakant Goswami, former Delhi Rajya Sabha MP and editor of Doorandesh eveninger of Delhi R. K. Jain, former parliamentary secretaries to CM Delhi Sheila Dikshit and MLAs of Delhi Surendra Singh , Anil Bharadwaj, and president of Press Club of India Umakant Lakhera.

Addressing the august gathering comprising of journalists , social activists, political activists, writers and members of press club of India the chief guest of the function, former MP and towering Congress leader Jai Prakash Agrawal lauded the socio political and journalistic contribution of Vijay Shankar Chaturvedi for incessantly serving the society selflessly through his impartial writing and serving the poor and hapless and also by way of maintaining the journalistic ethics for over five decades.

He said : Rashtra Times was in true sense a voice of the poor, depressed and the oppressed who could never get opportunity to get space in leading daily papers Hindi or English of Delhi.

Chaturvedi was always supportive, helpful and cooperative to people of the lower strata of the society by coming to their rescue in need and used his paper to highlight their genuine grievances said Mr. Aggrawal.

The former minister in Delhi government having been in active journalism for 43 years protracted years Ramakant Goswami while lauding Chaturvedi and his newspaper for being the sole voice of the downtrodden and lower section of the society without any vested interest said that unfortunately today journalism has lost its credibility and ethical values which used to exist two decades ago being financed by powers that be.

Anil Bharadwaj and Surendra Kumar former parliamentary secretaries of Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit have while appreciating Chaturvedi for his transparent pro people journalism has said that Rashtra Times was so popular during the last four decades that it gave strong competition to Sandhya Times and other popular eveningers of big publications compelling Hindi eveninger Sandhya Times management to file a court case against him.

They lauded Chaturvedi for being supportive and helpful to all sections of the society by his sharp pen and highlighting the genuine people’s grievances giving them relief by resolving their burning issues and grievances.

The former MP Rajya Sabha and editor – Doorandesh R. K. Jain re collected his long association with Chaturvediji saying that his incessant efforts to continue his publication for that last more than forty three years is something unique and outstanding as bringing out a newspaper for more than four decades is undoubtedly a highly challenging exercise that no one can ever do.

He said : his contribution to journalism and Congress party , including his gesture to serve the masses is immeasurable.

The president of Press Club of India Umakant Lakhera said that Rashtra Times has served as the true voice of the people despite confronting several odds and challenges. He said journalism to be viewed as a true service and a noble mission for the good of the people and transparency in its pursuance should be the basic motive. A true journalist cannot do justice to free, fare and independence journalism if he or she do not adhere to journalistic ethics and true values of impartial journalism by being brave, courageous and committed towards the true values.

Umakant Lakhera, said that he came from a small village in Uttarakhand to Delhi in 1986 but even there they had individuals who decided that if they did not stick to journalism who would do their job and devoted their entire life to the profession. Chaturvedi was a living example of this kind of commitment he said amidst cheers.”

He lauded Rashtra Times and it’s editor Chaturvediji for publishing the paper without any barriers despite getting no government aid and support during challenging Covid times. A souvenir of Rashtra Times highlighting the views of journalists from cross section of the society lauding the efforts and initiatives of Vijay Shankar Chaturvedi in the field of Hindi journalism and social service was also released on this occasion.

The event was ably anchored by the former Information officer to former Delhi CM and Delhi government Sheila Dikshit, Mr. Satpal. Several Journalists and social activists were also felicitated in this occasion.

Several senior journalists viz Umesh Joshi, formerly with Jansatta, Vivek Shukla, leading columnist and author of several books, Amitabh SRIVASTAVA, formerly with Hindustan Times ( Evening News) , Lalit Vats, Nav Bharat Times, Sunil Negi, journalist and President Uttarakhand Journalist Forum, Kushal Jeena, senior journalist, PCI chief Umakant Lakhera, Ashol Sharma, formerly with Dainik Hindustan, photo editor Jagan Negi, Rajiv Gupta, chief of News 18 Camera section, Mr. Thapliyal, senior sports journalist, Chenappa from Karnataka, Anil Paliwal, renowned cartoonist with Dainik Jagran Jagjeet Rana, senior photo journalist Sarvesh, etc graced the event by their pivotal presence.