New Delhi. On the birthday of senior journalist, editor and writer Achyutanand Mishra, the book ‘Achyutanand Mishra: Inclusive Shabd Sadhak’, focusing on his personality, work and leadership, was launched at Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts (IGNCA) on Monday. The editor of the book is Dr. Manishchandra Shukla and it is published by Pralek Prakashan, Mumbai. The book was launched by IGNCA President Ram Bahadur Rai, Member Secretary Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Chairman and Dean (Administration) of Kalanidhi Division, Prof. Ramesh Chandra Gaur, founder-coordinator of Madhavrao Sapre Museum, Bhopal Vijaydutt Sridhar, Minister Director of Madhya Pradesh Rashtrabhasha Prachar Samiti, Bhopal Kailashchandra Pant and famous litterateur Prof. Chandrakala Tripathi and Prof. Kripashankar Choubey did it. Achyutananda also had a dignified presence on this occasion. The book’s editor Dr. Manishchandra Shukla and publisher Jitendra Patro were also present at the launch.
During the programme, litterateurs and journalists who were associates of Achyutananda Mishra shared their memories. Everyone’s recollections were different, but the same thing emerged from everyone’s recollections that Achyutananda, like the elder of the family, cared a lot for everyone and was extremely inclusive. Anyone can share their happiness and sorrow with him without any hesitation. The feeling of affection and belongingness within them is amazing. Professor of Hindi, Prof. Ramashray Ratnesh said that he has amazing decision making ability. His personality was magnetic. Senior journalist Arun Tripathi said that Achyuta is an enemy of journalism. Rajkumar Singh, editor of Tribune, Chandigarh, senior journalist and journalism teacher Prof. Govind Singh, Microsoft Director Balendu Sharma Dadhich, senior journalist Sant Sameer, Professor of Indian Institute of Mass Communication. Pramod Kumar, senior litterateur Mrs. Neerja Madhav, Abhay Pratap of Acharya Kripalani Memorial Trust, senior journalist Umesh Chaturvedi, famous litterateur Jyotish Joshi shared their memories. Everyone wished for him to live to be a centenarian.
Expressing his gratitude towards all the speakers, Achyutanand Mishra said that all the good adjectives used by the speakers towards him are their love. He said, “I have not done any new work, I have not done any unique work. I am from among you all and you all are very dear to me.” He also talked about the journalists and editors of the past and present day journalism and said that editors have had to struggle in every situation. He said, “The people who did journalism of that era, from Bharatendu Harishchandra to Pt. Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi, were very great, but the generation that came after that, after 1950, even Paradkar was alive at that time, Agyeya. Were alive, all the new generation editors were alive and they have struggled no less.”
He said, “We have also seen those editors, this has happened in front of us, whether it was Agyeya or Vidyanivasa Mishra, in what ways their management humiliated them, under what circumstances they were kept, All these pictures are in front of us. In the current situation of Hindi journalism, the owners of the name Technolocke were the first to change their mind and change their circumstances. I remember that after print media, when electronic media came, at that time it was understood that print media would end, now ahead of electronic media, digital media has come. So in every situation the editors have had to struggle, because the role of the owners has changed. And even after independence, the editors whom I mentioned, all of them have been witnesses to this struggle and have been involved. Today’s editors live with the owners and behave according to the owners. He has no role in taking a stand for his colleagues. It is only after meeting the owners that they interact with their colleagues.”
While presiding over the program, Ram Bahadur Rai said that none of the views expressed by the speakers regarding Achyutanand have been exaggerated, rather the personality and work of Achyutanand is truly great. Every person is different, but is integral to Achyutananda and this difference is manifested here and the integrality is also manifested. He also said that all the parties have come forward in the book released, but the support that Achyutanand has given to the people’s movements while being a journalist and editor should also be revealed to the people. And, all this should come in an autobiographical book. He also said, “Read the first article written by Mahasweta Devi on Achyuta in this book. Today Mahashweta has raised the question of how to nurture the desired thoughts and if anyone can answer it, it is Achyutanand Mishra. May he live to be a century, remain healthy and continue to guide us like this.”
Kailash Chandra Pant, Minister Director of Madhya Pradesh Rashtrabhasha Prachar Samiti, fondly remembered his relationship with Achyutanand Mishra and said that as the title of the book suggests, Achyutanand is a seeker of inclusive words. The practice of words and the practice of Brahma are the same. When the word is cultivated, the seeker becomes inclusive. In the absence of words no thought can take birth. Vijaydutt Sridhar, founder-editor of Sapre Museum, Bhopal, narrated many inspiring memoirs related to Achyutanand Mishra. He said, “I am very close to him. My one-sided perspective expanded after meeting him. Makhanlal Chaturvedi National Journalism and Communication University taught me a lot during the tenure of Achytanand as Vice-Chancellor. The credit for that goes to Achyuta only.”
IGNCA member secretary Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi also narrated some memoirs related to Achyutananda, which also included a memoir related to Kurta. She said, “Achyuta once asked me what was the size of my kurta and then he brought a very beautiful kurta for me. I am wearing the same kurta today. Even today, the color of this kurta has not lightened at all, rather it has become stronger. Similarly, the relationship between Achyuta and me has only deepened with time. This is a relationship of life.” Pro. Chandrakala Tripathi said that uncle (Achyutanand Mishra) used to worry a lot about everyone. He has taught me a lot in life.
Before this, Prof. While giving the welcome statement, Ramesh Chandra Gaur wished Achyutanand Mishra a happy birthday and introduced the guests. Professor, Chairman of the Department of Mass Communication, Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University. Kripashankar Choubey gave the introductory statement and conducted the program. Besides, he also narrated some memoirs. In the end, the editor of the book, Dr. Manishchandra Shukla expressed his gratitude to the guests and visitors.
about the book
Describing about the book, famous journalist and Rajyabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh has written on its flap – “This book focuses on the personality, work and leadership of the famous journalist, writer and editor Achyutanand Mishra. This book tells how Mishra discharged the responsibility of the best editor in prestigious newspapers like ‘Navbharat Times’, ‘Jansatta’, ‘Amar Ujala’ and ‘Lokmat Samachar’, Makhanlal Chaturvedi, Vice Chancellor of National University of Journalism and Communication, Bhopal. How did he preserve the history writing of Hindi journalism of independent India with his innovations and new experiments as a journalist and what notable works did he do as the long-time general secretary and national president of the National Union of Journalists? did?
The first section of this book evaluates Mishra’s creative contribution. It includes his original books ‘Sarokaron ke Daarey’, ‘Contribution of three great poets to Hindi Journalism’, ‘Kuch Sapne, Kuch Memoirs’ and edited books – ‘Major Hindi Newspapers and Magazines’ (four volumes) and ‘Time and Culture in Letters. There are criticisms of. The second section focuses on Mishra’s multifaceted personality. The third section is Jansatta Parivar, in which the journalists who were associates of Mishra have presented his personality and work in a consolidated form. The fourth section contains selected works of Achyutanand Mishra. The fifth section is of dialogue, which includes the conversations of many scholars with Achyutanand Mishra. This book will undoubtedly prove useful for journalists, journalism students and researchers.
