Mumbai. The ‘Devarshi Narad Journalism Awards 2024’ ceremony, organized by ‘Vishwa Samvad Kendra – Mumbai’, concluded with great enthusiasm at Kirti College, Dadar, Mumbai, on Saturday, August 17, 2024.
The ceremony, held annually by Vishwa Samvad Kendra to honor journalists who have made significant contributions in the field of journalism, witnessed this year’s awards being conferred in a grand event. The chief guest, Brijesh Kumar Singh (IPS), emphasized in his speech that Bharat stands as the only robust democracy in the region, spanning from Iran to China. He expressed concern over the declining standards of journalism today and highlighted how some parliaments across the world have started expressing worries about social media.
Adding to this discussion, social media influencer Gaurav Thakur pointed out that the divisive narratives being spread on these platforms must be collectively countered. Senior journalist Ajit Gogate, while sharing his thoughts, mentioned that this was the first award he had received in his professional career.
Dr. Nishith Bhandarkar, the Chief Communication Officer of Vishwa Samvad Kendra, Mumbai, provided insights into the awards, stating that this year marks the 23rd edition of the event. He also informed that eight individuals were honored with the ‘Devarshi Narad Journalism Award 2024’ for their remarkable contributions to journalism and social media. The awardees included Ajit Gogate, Dheeraj Watekar, Pragya Powle, Akshay Mandavkar, Sachin Gaikwad, Gaurav Thakur, Omkar Dabhadkar, and Vanshri Radye.
Sudhir Jogalekar, the President of Vishwa Samvad Kendra, Mumbai, shed light on the significance of the Narad Award. He highlighted the unique feature of this award-no applications are invited for it, and the selection is made by a committee. The award is given to journalists who practice value-based journalism and possess an impeccable character.
The event commenced with the national anthem and concluded with a vote of thanks by Sudhir Jogalekar.