Mangalore: Mahesh Bhatt Lauds Vartha Bharathi on Completing a Decade
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)
Mangalore, Sep 15: "Secularism is still alive in India, and we need to raise our voices against anti-secularists, just as Vartha Bharathi (VB) is doing. VB has been doing what each Indian needs to do. Society is highly effected by media that focus on unwanted issues and powers," said popular Bollywood director, producer and human rights activist Mahesh Bhatt.
He was addressing the Readers' Convention on the occasion of Vartha Bharathi Kannada daily's decennial celebrations held on Friday September 14 at Town Hall. A special commemorative issue was also released on the occasion.
Mahesh Bhatt further said that his one eye is Muslim and the other one is Hindu, because his mother was a Muslim and his dad a Gujarati Hindu.
"India is safe today because we Indians are ready to give our lives to one another, and this is because we share a strong brotherly bond between us and not because of any police force or politics. Moderate forces are being supported by VB, which is the best they have been doing in todays world," Bhatt said.
He added, "Corruption is increasing in India, and we all need to be revolutionaries to fight against such evil, especially through such media. The mainstream media are getting more glamourized, but VB's focus has been on bringing out the truth and not on glamour."
Addressing the gathering, litterateur and Central University of Karnataka, Gulbarga chancellor U R Ananthmurthy said that in today's scenario, we are confused over whom to vote for as all parties are involved in major scandals and all parties are corrupt.
"VB is not a Muslim paper, it’s Karnataka’s paper. 'Guardian' is the best and most honest newspaper of England, and has created a revolution in the whole of its nation. In the same way, Vartha Bharathi is Karnataka's Guardian," he lauded.
"Many TV channels are taking up communalism as a subject of discussion, but it is a crime, not a subject of discussion. Muslims have come to the mainstream to support the poor, downtrodden and the backward classes of the community, and VB is following this same agenda. Media needs to show the right path to the public, just as VB has been doing," added.
Earlier, the programme was inaugurated by Mahesh Bhatt and the special issue was released by Dr U Ananthamurthy. The evening began with a prayer song by the students of Bearys Public School.
The programme was presided over by Abdul Salam Puthige, editor-in-chief, Vartha Bharathi.
In his address, Puttige said that there is usually a big difference between production cost and the cost of the newspaper. "In VB the production cost is 100 percent higher than the cost of the paper," he said.
"Papers should not only give news, but focus on bringing out the truth. But truth differs from paper to paper. There are many media that give totally wrong and false information.
"Newspapers should be based on certain values. Newspapers have the power to turn right into wrong and vice-versa. In the same way, they also have the power to do both right and wrong things," he said
"Some say, reservation is the main cause for corruption as officlas are chosen based on reservation, and not on their merits. The new and latest technologies are for our good, but people are misusing them," he said.
"Media shouldn’t be a business. People should also support the media and be their backbone. They should be active participants in the media and not just readers," he said.
Aga Sulthan, founder member, AICTE, VTU and Bangalore University, H M Afroz Assadi, director, Madhyama Communications Ltd and Syed Abdul Khader Basha, managing trustee, Green Valley National School and PU College, Shiroor were the guests of honour.
Selected readers namely Narayana K Kyasamballi, K Sanjeeva Poojary, Bollai, Zahida Jaleel, Sheena Shetty, Udyavara Nagesh Kumar and B M Shabeer, news editor, Vartha Bharathi were also present on the dais.
The readers on the dais also spoke on the occasion and put forth their ideas, thoughts, best wishes and their views on VB. Mahesh Bhatt and Dr Ananthamurthy also expressed their best wishes to VB on its 10th anniversary.
Mementos were presented to the guests, selected readers and the entire staff of VB.
Yaseen Malpa welcomed the gathering, B M Basheer rendered the keynote address. Pushparaj, bureau chief, VB, proposed the vote of thanks. The programme was compered by Abdul Razak Ananthady.
Ramanath Rai, B A Moideen, Rohan Monteiro, Siraj Ahmed, Ivan D’Souza, U T Khader, Abhayachandra Jain, Krupa Amar Alva, Mithun Rai, special invitees and well-wishers were present in large numbers.