Chairman NBT, India honoured with ‘Manikchandra Bajpai National Award for Journalism’

Baldeo Bhai Sharma, (Now chairman, National Book Trust, India) has been awarded the Manikchandra Bajpai National Award for Journalism for the year 2014. The award was presented by Shivraj Singh Chouhan, chief minister of Madhya Pradesh in a glittering ceremony held recently at the chief minister’s residence in Bhopal.

Conferring the awards, Chouhan said that journalism has given direction to history and people’s movements. Writings are the basic elements of revolution and over the years they have not only worked for the rebuilding of the country but also awakening the people about their rights. He was speaking in the Indian context when journalism played a major role following independence and in particular during emergency. Stating further he said healthy journalism is an important tool to reveal truth.

Professionalism should not harm the mission of journalism. All positive things that happen in the society should also be given equal coverage, he added.

Rajendra Shukla, minister for public relations presided over the function. Others who also won the award include Shyam Khosla (2011), Baban Prasad Mishra (2012) and Rajendra Sharma (2013). Senior media personality and thinker, Baldeo Bhai Sharma, was the former editor of the National Duniya and the national weekly Panchjanyain. Besides, he has served in various editorial capacities at Dainik Swadesh, Dainik Bhaskar, Amar Ujala, etc.

He has contributed numerous articles on issues of national and social importance to major magazines and newspapers. A noted figure on various Hindi news channels for his participation in socio-political discourse, Baldeo Bhai has also been associated with Akashwani through its numerous programmes for a long time.