News Papers like Vartha Bharati, upholding Constitutional ethos are need of the hour: Dr. KP Ashwini
Vartha Bharati's 20th annual special issue released
Bengaluru: The 20th special annual edition of Vartha Bharathi was released on Saturday morning by Dr K P Ashwini from Benagluru, the first Asian expert selected to the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Addressing the program held at the Vartha Bharati office in the city, Dr Ashwini lauded the efforts of Vartha Bharati in upholding Constitutional ethos by giving priority to equality, liberty, fraternity and harmony.
“It is extremely important at the current juncture that print media plays a very responsible role in terms of making people conscious. Developing social consciousness and political consciousness particularly the youth is a major responsibility of the print media. Media is not an easy challenge but a huge ocean that one has to navigate through, with regard to finances and establishment support among other things,” she said.
“I believe that Vartha Bharati has tried to navigate all these challenges and has emerged as one of the prominent newspapers with genuine concern towards marginalized communities, especially the Adivasi, the Dalit and the minority communities. When we look at the variety of issues that have been focused on, including gender-related matters, policy-making, international, national and state news, we find that Vartha Bharati is not limited to our nation or our state. People of many other countries too read Vartha Bharathi and they have an extreme positive and progressive opinion about the newspaper,” Dr Ashwini added.
“It is the need of the hour to have a newspaper like Vartha Bharathi, which reflects the most fundamentals of the Indian Constitution,” she stressed.
“I wish a very great success to Vartha Bharati in the coming years,” she said, adding that it was an honour for her to release the 20th annual edition of the journal.
Vartha Bharati editor-in-chief Abdussalam Puthige, retired officer Prasanna Kumar, director of Vartha Bharati S M Ali, columnist Girish Kote, entrepreneur Sadique Puthige, Bengaluru bureau chief Prakash C Ramajogihalli and others attended the program.
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Prez confers Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar on 17 children for excellence in various fields
New Delhi, Dec 26: President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday presented the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar to 17 children, recognizing their exceptional courage and outstanding achievements across diverse fields, including art, culture, sports and innovation.
The President underlined the importance of nurturing and celebrating young talents.
"Providing opportunities and recognizing children’s talents has always been a part of our tradition. This tradition should be further strengthened to ensure that every child realizes their full potential," she said.
The award celebrates extraordinary accomplishments in seven categories: art and culture, bravery, innovation, science and technology, social service, sports and environment.
The honourees -- seven boys and ten girls selected from 14 states and Union territories -- were presented with a medal, certificate and citation booklet.
Among them was Keya Hatkar, a 14-year-old author and disability advocate, recognized for her excellence in art and culture.
Despite living with spinal muscular atrophy, she founded initiatives like "IM POSSIBLE" and "SMA-ART," promoting inclusivity and disability awareness.
President Murmu highlighted the importance of honouring such talents, saying, "The tradition of recognising and nurturing children's potential has always been part of our culture. Their contributions will lead India to the pinnacle of progress."
She further emphasised the Ministry of Women and Child Development's role in sharing these stories of inspiration with the wider public.
The President also paid homage to the unparalleled sacrifices of Guru Gobind Singh's sons, commemorated as 'Veer Bal Diwas' on December 26, saying, "Their sacrifices for faith and self-respect continue to inspire countless generations. On this day, the nation bows in reverence to their bravery and spirit."
Among the other awardees was Ayaan Sajad, a 12-year-old Sufi singer from Kashmir, honoured for his soulful contributions to Kashmiri music, while 17-year-old Vyas Om Jignesh, who has cerebral palsy, was lauded for his dedication to Sanskrit literature, having memorised over 5,000 shlokas and performed in over 500 shows.
In bravery, Saurav Kumar (9) was recognised for saving three girls from drowning, and 17-year-old Ioanna Thapa was honoured for rescuing 36 residents from a fire.
"Examples of courage and patriotism in children strengthen the nation’s confidence in its future. Such acts are truly commendable," President Murmu remarked as she presented the award to the two children.
In the innovation category, 15-year-old Sindhoora Raja was awarded for creating self-stabilizing devices for Parkinson's patients, and cybersecurity entrepreneur Risheek Kumar (17) was honoured for launching Kashmir's first cybersecurity firm.
"Contributions to science, technology, and innovation by children like these show their unparalleled potential to transform lives," the President observed.
Hembati Nag, a judo player from a Naxal-affected area was awarded in the sports category. She overcame numerous challenges to win a silver medal at the Khelo India National Games.
Mentioning Nag's story, President Murmu said, "Hembati's resilience amidst adversity is an example of unmatched courage and determination."
Chess prodigy Anish Sarkar, the youngest FIDE-ranked player at just three years old, was also honoured.
The President envisioned a bright future for the awardees, adding, "In 2047, when we celebrate the centenary of our independence, these award winners will be enlightened citizens of the country. Such talented boys and girls will become the builders of a developed India, shaping its destiny through their talent and efforts."
"May every child of this nation have a bright and prosperous future, for in their success lies the future of India," she said.
President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar on 17 children for their exceptional achievements at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre. The President said that examples of patriotism among award-winning children reinforce our faith… pic.twitter.com/BD94KqE3b0
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) December 26, 2024
