Bangalore: Befitting ceremony marks 11th anniversary of Vartha Bharathi
Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (EP)
Bangalore, Oct 1: Even though Vartha Bharathi started on a small scale, it has become the voice of the weaker section of people, with social well being and determination as their motto, said N Ram, former chief editor of ‘the Hindu’ newspaper.
Speaking after inaugurating a programme held here to commemorate 11 years of Vartha Bharathi, Ram praised the newspaper for having maintained the trust of the readers amidst competition from other newspapers.
The programme was attended by well wishers, politicians, senior journalists and a large number of Vartha Bharathi staff.
"Vartha Bharathi has retained the values of journalism by being the voice of minorities, dalits and the downtrodden. The efforts put in by the newspaper in bringing the minorities to the mainstream is noteworthy," he said.
"Good journalism should be the voice of the society. However the neglect of dalits in mainstream Indian journalism is regrettable. Dalits rarely get opportunities in the media. Our offices should have diversity similar to the one that we have in society. Only then can we hope to give voice to all sections of society," he opined.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah was the chief guest. Addressing the gathering, he said, "The rich in our land have a voice. The newspapers thus have to work for the illiterate and downtrodden." He also praising Vartha Bharathi for its fearless search for truth in journalism.
Expressing his concern for journalism which creates a divide between castes and religions, he stressed that journalists should identify political parties that work for their selfish ends.
He praised the Vartha Bharathi for achieving so much in a short span of time. He said the newspaper has a big responsibility on its shoulders for having earned the love of the readers.
The CM felicitated senior columnist Sanathkumar Belagali of Vartha Bharathi with a shawl and a momento.
Jnanapeetha award winner litterateur Dr U R Ananthamurthy released the eleventh year special edition of Vartha Bharathi news magazine.
In his address, Dr Ananthamurthy said, "Media has the responsibility of joining minds with uniform thinking. A newspaper should make sure that the mind does not dry up and feelings are expressed in a way that can be heard, thereby making the country exist and grow."
He opined that caste politics is much more dangerous than corruption and said that though the corrupt get punished, casteist politicians escape from punishment despite orchestrating mass killings. He lamented that indications of more such mass killings have started to appear.
He said in the circumstances the responsibility of newspapers such as Vartha Bharathi has increased.
Author Devanoora Mahadeva, guest of honor, also spoke.
Madhyama communication director H M Afroz Assadi was the special invitee. Syed Abdul Khader Bashu, president of Green Valley National School and P U College presided over the function. Chief editor of Vartha Bharathi Abdussalam Puthige also address the gathering.
Sangharsha Kolara, Shailaja Ethadka and Kumar Shringeri expressed their views on behalf of the readers.
B M Basheer, news editor of Vartha Bharathi welcomed and delivered the keynote address. Senior reporter C Prakash Ramajogihalli thanked. Abdul Razak Ananthadi and Dr Mohammed Farhan conducted the programme. Bangalore’s presidency college students sang a prayer song.
Ministers B Ramanath Rai, U T Khadar, K Abhaychandra Jain, MP Jayaprakash Hegde, Sri Veerabhadra Channamalla Swamy of Nidumamidi Math; former minister B A Moidin, Bearys Group’s Sayyed Mohammed Beary; MFar’s Yenepoya Rizwan, author Prof G K Govindarao, Lankesh Patrike editor Gauri Lankesh, media advisor to the chief minister Dinesh Amin Mattu; director of news department Vishu Kumar; dignitaries from business and literature, officials from government departments and large number of readers witnessed the event.