SAR News

Vasai, Maharashtra, Mar 26: Indian Catholic Press Association president and Editor-in-Chief of SAR (South Asian Religious) News Agency, Michael Gonsalves was conferred "Suvarta Journalism Award 2007 For Outstanding Contribution To Journalism" here on March 25.

"As a professional journalist for 20 years, Gonsalves has left an indelible mark in mainstream secular as well religious journalism, covering an array of political, social, economic, religious, tribal and developmental issues affecting the common man," the citation said.

In his tenure as "Editor of Mumbai-based The Free Press Journal and Indore-based Free Press , Pune-based Maharashtra Herald, he showed leadership in journalism and succeeded in providing a voice to the voiceless, hope to the hopeless and campaigned for the rights of the least, lost and the marginalized section of the society", it added.

"Noted for his free, frank and fearless journalism, Gonsalves, who began his career as a humble Reporter rose to be the Editor, revealing there is no substitute for hard work and merit. He has showed that journalism can be a powerful tool if practiced with ethics and values", the citation said.   

The senior journalist successfully launched "Pune Midday" daily tabloid as its Bureau Chief and In-charge of Pune edition, adding considerable circulation figures to the Mumbai-based popular flagship paper and guiding young trainees to take journalism not merely as a "profession but as a vocation".

The award given away by Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari, retired Chief Justice, Bombay High Court, at the silver jubilee Suvarta Lenten Public Lectures series, c onsisted of Rs 5,000 in cash, a 'shreefal' (blessed coconut) and a shawl. 

A visiting professor at several journalism departments, including the Department of Communication and Journalism and Department of Communication Studies of University of Pune, Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication, Indira School of Communications, he has been training youngsters to practice journalism with a "conscience and values". He is also the Consulting Editor of Sify.com news portal, Contributing Editor of Education World national magazine, Special Correspondent of Indo-Asian News Service, an international news agency and The Week, and a columnist for Goa Today magazine.

Vasai diocesan Father Francis D'Britto, editor of 53-year-old, "Suvarta" (good news) Marathi monthly magazine, the award is a recognition of outstanding service in journalism in religious and secular mainstream media. John Colaco, assistant editor of "Maharashtra Times" was the earlier recipient of the award.

In his response to the award, Gonsalves said, "I am humbled by the award. I don't deserve this award but I accept it as a challenge to do much, much more in journalism, till as Mahatma Gandhi said, the last tears of the last and least man is wiped out and given a promising future".

He said the award had given him more responsibility to discharge his duty as journalist, especially to fight against corruption, dishonesty, nepotism in the "noble profession" to serve the voiceless and powerless masses.

Individuals who had made a mark in their respective fields were felicitated on the occasion: Sr Santan Nago from Koli village, Vasai for being elected Mother General of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Fatima, Sr Blessina Tuscano from Gass village, Vasai, Father Solomon Rodrigues, Vasai diocese, for his doctoral thesis on "Socio-economic Impact of the Catholic Co-operative Bank Pvt Ltd on Vasai Region", Father Francis Dabre, newly appointed secretary of Caritas India, a development aid agency of Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, and Jaywant Patil, former Planning Commission member for his contribution to innovative Chicku crop cultivation.