New Delhi, April 10: Fifteen leading journalists, including veterans like Khushwant Singh and H K Dua, were today honoured for their achievements in the field of media. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni gave away the awards to the prominent journalists, including Vijay K Chopra, Managing Editor of Punjab Kesari. The awards are being given by the Global Punjabi Society (GPS), a body that recognises achievements of Punjabis worldwide.
While Singh and Dua were given lifetime achievement awards, Chopra and Vikram Chandra, CEO, NDTV Convergence were also honoured for their contributions to journalism.
Popular novelist Chetan Bhagat, who is one of India’s largest selling authors and Tarun Tejpal, Group Editor of Tehelka, were also awarded for their contributions to mass media.
K Narendra, Editor of Daily Pratap, was also conferred with life time achievement award.
Pankaj Vora from Hindustan Times; G S Virk, Editor of Despradesh Weekly in the UK; HT City Editor Sonal Kalra; Lok Sabha TV CEO Sunit Tandon and Bahar Dutt, Environment Editor of CNN-IBN were also awarded.
Khushwant Singh was not present and was honoured in absentia. In a message to the function, he said, “I am more a Punjabi than a Sikh, more an Indian than a Punjabi and more a world citizen than Indian”.
Speaking on the occasion, former Minorities Commission Chairman Tarlochan Singh said it is important to highlight the achievements of Punjabis.
“This does not mean that we are parochial,” he said. Former CBI Director Joginder Singh, who is also the chairman of GPS, said a free media was very important in the present time and it also acts as an unpaid intelligence bureau in some cases.
“I believe even sting operations should be legalised in public interest,” he said.
–PTI