In a ceremony celebrating the spirit of truth and public welfare, senior journalists were conferred with the Devarshi Narad Sarthak Jeevan and Excellence in Journalism awards on Monday. The event, organised by Vishwa Samvad Kendra, Madhya Pradesh, was held at the Devi Ahilya Sabhagruh within the Kukkut Vikas Nigam premises in Bhopal to mark the occasion of Devarshi Narad Jayanti. The awards serve as a vital recognition of long-term, society-centric contributions to the field, drawing a large gathering of intellectuals, writers, and media professionals dedicated to the ethics of national discourse. The ceremony featured a deep dive into the intersection of media and history, led by chief speaker Prakhar Srivastava, who addressed the theme ‘RSS’s 100-Year Journey and the Media.’ He discussed the ideological roots of free speech in India, referencing historical milestones like the Nehru-Liaquat Pact. Joining him was chief guest Ashok Pandey, the Prant Sanghchalak of RSS (Madhya Bharat Prant), who emphasised that Devarshi Narad remains an eternal symbol of truth and dialogue. The session was presided over by Lajpat Ahuja, Chairman of Vishwa Samvad Kendra Nyas, with proceedings conducted by Dr Sudip Shukla and a vote of thanks delivered by Trustee Shubhada.

 

The pinnacle of the evening was the presentation of the Devarshi Narad Sarthak Jeevan Journalism Awards, which celebrate a lifetime of meaningful contribution to the craft. For the year 2025, the honour was conferred upon veteran journalist Mahesh Srivastava, while the 2026 award was presented to Kailash Narayan Gaur. Both awardees were recognised for their unwavering commitment to journalistic integrity and their roles in shaping the media landscape of the state over several decades. In addition to the lifetime honours, the ceremony recognised a talented group of professionals with the Devarshi Narad Excellence in Journalism Awards. The 2025 honours were shared by a distinguished group, including Bhavana ‘Aparajita’ Shukla, Pramod Sharma, Yogiraj Yogesh, Smita, Anuj Maina, and Govind Saxena. For the year 2026, the excellence awards were presented to Ambuj Maheshwari, Praveen Savarkar, and Brijesh Jain, each noted for their significant contributions to contemporary reporting and analytical journalism.

 

The event also focused on nurturing future talent through the announcement of winners for a national essay competition themed around Devarshi Narad as a communicator of public welfare. Stuti Kumari secured the first position, followed by Nandan Kumar in second and Anjali Singh in third place. The proceedings, which included a classical dance performance by Ayushi Sharma and the traditional lighting of the lamp, concluded with a shared vision of maintaining high ethical standards in the ever-evolving world of media.