Nagpur: Veteran journalist Shri SN Vinod has a flourished and inspiring journey in his career, and a leaf from his past is enough to prompt many in the field and even those engaged in other social cause. Shri Vinod has completed 75 years of his age and a function to felicitate him was organised by Shri S N Vinod Amrut Mahotsav Satkar Samiti at Sai Sabhagruha.
The chairman of editorial board of Lokmat Media and Rajya Sabha member Vijay Darda, senior social worker Girish Gandhi, senior journalists Pradip Maitra and Joseph Rao, businessman Prafulla Gadge, Poornima Patil and former legislator S Q Zama were seated on the dais.
Speaking on the occasion, Vijay Darda said, “There are two stalwarts on the dais. One is Shatrughan Sinha and another is S N Vinod. Shatrughan Sinha is my family friend. He maintains friendship. He is also a good forecaster. During a discussion between me, Yashwant Sinha and him once, he made prediction about Delhi election which came true and now in case of Bihar election, once again his prediction has come true. I have become used to live in two roles. Because I am a politician as well as a journalist. As a journalist, I look at all developments with different angle. We gave editor like Vinodji to Vidarbha. Respected Babuji had wished to start a Hindi newspaper of nationalist thoughts from Nagpur. At that time, among many names, Vinodji’s name came forward. He brought fearlessness in journalism. He not only practiced journalism but showed that how Hindi can be written with simplicity. We gave complete freedom to the journalists of Lokmat. Owners should learn to honour editors. Lokmat is an example of how a newspaper can become one readers only when owners give complete freedom to editors. S N Vinod gave new definition to Hindi language journalism. It is for this reason that he deserves this honour.”
Girish Gandhi made the introductory remarks while Poornima Patil introduced S N Vinod. On this occasion, a video clip of Nitin Gadkari’s message wishing S N Vinod all the very best was screened, while former Member of Parliament Datta Meghe’s message was read out. Senior journalist Bal Kulkarni conducted the proceedings.
SN Vinod said, “I am working as an editor from 1961. I had came to Nagpur on August 17, 1988 on the invitation of founder editor of Lokmat Group and veteran freedom fighter Jawaharlal Darda alias Babuji. Babuji had shown immense faith in me and that is the reason I could successfully work as an editor. His guidance and blessings helped me to work as a successful editor. Hence I am dedicating all my success to Jawaharlal Darda,”
He further said Babuji had always asked me to worry about readers rather than thinking about political leaders and administrative officers. He always insisted on establishing Lokmat as a reliable voice of people. All his instructions were on that lines only.
While sharing few incidences during his tenure as an editor with Lokmat, S N Vinod said, “Once Babuji called me from Yavatmal during election days and told me that elections are near, so help us too. Being owner, he could have ordered me. He never interfered in editorial work. Journalists and editors have full freedom to write in Lokmat, I have experienced that. Same legacy is being carried forward by Vijaybabu. Under Babuji’s leadership, Lokmat has successfully established itself as a credible and favourite newspaper. Babuji had always insisted on newspapers’ credibility, expressed S N Vinod.
In the same breath, he lauded the work of Vijay Darda. “If Babuji had not shown trust on me and given me the freedom to work, I would have never succeeded as an editor. Achieving success was impossible without Lokmat,” said S N Vinod.
Sinha said, “Though S N Vinod is also from Bihar, Maharashtra is his karmabhoomi. He is a role model in field of journalism. Role of journalism is important in the development of the country. Therefore, country needed journalists like S N Vinod. India got independence 68 years back and the country is nearly in competition with developed countries. But in many areas, we have not attained desired level of development. India is becoming capital of diabetes. Cases of TB patients and blindness are growing. Nuclear power will not develop country. For this, journalists should make people aware and guide the society through journalism which is very important. While felicitating Vinodji, there is a satisfaction of honouring a right person. Once upon a time, Bihar ranked third in terms of prosperity and administrative work. Now it is lagging far behind. Blindness and leprosy patients are growing in Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh. Due to this, there is a need to give more attention.”
