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एमपी इलेक्शन: सर्वे की कोख से निकली लिस्ट

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  Kamal Nath is going out of way to prove he is not anti-Hindu MP Assembly Election Update: 14 October 2023 NK SINGH कमलनाथ के प्लान के मुताबिक काँग्रेस की लिस्ट इस दफा सर्वे-नाथ ने बनाई है। प्रदेश के नेताओं में आम तौर पर सहमति थी कि लिस्ट इस बार सर्वे के आधार पर बनेगी। पर क्या यह महज संयोग है कि यह लिस्ट राहुल गांधी के गेम-प्लान के मुताबिक भी है? वे अपनी पार्टी के क्षत्रपों के कार्टेल को ध्वस्त करना चाहते हैं, जो 10-15 एमएलए के बूते पर प्रदेश की पॉलिटिक्स चलाते हैं। सर्वे की कोख से निकली लिस्ट कमोबेश जीत की संभावना के आधार पर बनी है। एनपी प्रजापति जैसे अपवादों को छोड़कर कोई सप्राइज़ नहीं। बीजेपी की लिस्ट देखते हुए, काँग्रेस इस बार फूँक-फूक कर कदम रख रही थी। भाजपा उम्मीदवारों की पांचों लिस्ट 2018 के मुकाबले काफी बेहतर थी। नाम दिल्ली ने तय किए, प्रदेश के किसी भी नेता के प्रभाव से परे। चयन का आधार गुटबाजी नहीं, जीत की संभावना रही। इसलिए, दोनों तरफ के उम्मीदवारों का लाइन-अप देखकर लगता है, मुकाबला कांटे है। टिकट न मिलने से निराश नेताओं की बगावत का दौर शुरू हो गया है। यह हर चुनाव में होता...
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Hindustan Samachar Unmasked

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NK SINGH News Agency teleprinter used for political work. Hindustan Samachar is a news agency supposed to be disseminating news and features in 12 Indian languages including English. But if one cares to go into the details of what this agency supplies to its four score and odd clients, one would realise that what they release is not news but a travesty of news.  The reporting is unabashedly slanted in favour of communal forces.  But this is not surprising when it is known that the agency was sponsored and is maintained and controlled by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh It was after the murder of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948 that the RSS decided to sponsor an all-India political party and an all-India news agency to build adequate political strength for the realisation of its dream of 'Hindu raj' in the country.  However, it was envisaged that none of the proposed two organisations should have any formal connection with the RSS, though both should help each other and be indirectl...
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The story of Hindustan Samachar

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  Baleshwar Agrawal of Hindustan Samachar being felicitated by PM Vajpayee NK SINGH In the turbulent period of 1948, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh decided to sponsor an all-India political party and an all-India news agency to be able to build adequate political strength for the realisation of its dream of "Hindu Raj" in the country. However, it was envisaged that none of the proposed two organisations should have any formal connection with the RSS though both should help each other and be indirectly controlled by the parent organisation. Thus, the Hindustan Samachar came into being in 1948 -- two years before the RSS debut in the political arena -- with some trusted swayamsewaks like S.S. Apte and Dharmvir Gandhi as the moving spirit.  To camouflage its birthmarks, it was registered as a private limited company in Bombay under M. C. Sharma.  Though he played a crucial role in getting the ban on the RSS lifted, Sharma became disgusted with the RSS functioning in the new...
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Special Branch Comes Calling

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NK Singh in 1970 NK SINGH During late 60s and early 70s,  Frontier  had carved out a niche for itself among Left intellectuals, activists and academicians. At the same time, it had also become a necessary reading material for sleuths of various intelligence agencies. The magazine offered a ringside view of polemics in radical Left groups. It also provided a rare glimpse into developments in the Naxalite movement. It was the kind of stuff the intelligence agencies would give their right arm for. But it still came as a surprise when two intelligence officers visited my village in North Bihar to make inquiries about me. It naturally alarmed my father. He advised me to shift from Ranchi, as suggested by the ‘CID inspector’. I loved Ranchi – not only for its beauty and climate. It was a civilised, clean, small town, unlike uncouth, dirty and unwieldy Patna, where I was being asked to move. Captain Philip F. Reynolds More than me, the news upset my patron, Captain Philip F. Reynolds...
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A Freelance Journalist's Survival Kit

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NK SINGH A  freelancer survives by his wits and sense of humour. Getting published in newspapers and magazines was not so difficult. But one huge problem was persuading publications to pay for my labour. Many publications, particularly small Hindi newspapers, hated to pay freelancers for their work. They thought that they were obliging the writers by giving them bylines and making them ‘famous’.  I l earnt my initial lesson the hard way. In 1970, I sent an article to  Gujarat Herald , which proclaimed to be the ‘First English Morning Daily’ from Ahmedabad. The article was published. I asked for payment. No payment came. I sent several reminders, week after week. Never underestimate the tenacity of a student, who has free time at his hands, access to a typewriter and a continuous supply of inland letters that cost just 15 paise. I kept up my bombardment with the help of Indian Post Department. Finally I received the following letter from the newspaper’s Assistant Editor, w...
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A Typewriter Guerrila In 1969

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NK SINGH Byline in a reputed journal like  Frontier  firmed up my resolve of joining journalism.  I was advised to learn typing and shorthand if I wanted to become a reporter. So I joined a typing institute. I could never learn shorthand. But soon enough I was able to type ‘A quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog’ without looking at the keyboard. When I could type an article on  Bihar election in 1969 , without making a single mistake, I was pleased as a punch.   The difficult part was commuting from my hostel to downtown Ranchi to attend the  typing class. My roommates,  two brothers who belonged to  Katrasgarh royal family , came to my rescue. I would borrow their bicycle and  paddle downtown to the typing institute. The typing classes also solved the problem of getting my articles typewritten by professional typists which was a costly affair. Almost all publications would accept articles for publication only if they were typewritten...
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My First Guru In Journalism: Samar Sen

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Samar Sen NK SINGH It was in 1969 that I started writing for  Frontier , a radical left weekly published from Calcutta, as Kolkata was called then.  My first article appeared in its issue dated 18 January 1969. The association would continue for a decade, until 1979 when I joined the  Indian Express  which did not allow staffers to write for other publications. Frontier  had been launched by  Samar Sen , a trailblazing Bangla poet and reputed journalist of his time. Frontier was, in a way, continuation of the work he had started during his editorship of  Now . Under Sen’s editorship  Now  had attracted a galaxy of star writers like filmmaker  Satyajit Ray  and economist  Joan Robinson . It’s publisher was former Education Minister  Humayun Kabir . Thespian and film actor  Uttpal Dutt  was  Now’s  Deputy Editor.   The Frontier  provided a platform for discussion among leftists. Among its c...
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प्रधानमंत्री के बाद भारत का सबसे महत्वपूर्ण ओहदा

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Times of India, the Old Lady of Boribunder 2nd most imp job in India & other fables of journalism NK SINGH किस्सा उस ज़माने का है जब टाइम्स ऑफ़ इंडिया के संपादकों को लिफाफों पर पते लिखने का काम नहीं दिया गया था. इस वाकये के कई किरदार अब इस दुनिया में नहीं हैं. श्री राजेन्द्र माथुर की मृत्यु हो चुकी थी और एसपी सिंह नवभारत टाइम्स के संपादक बन चुके थे. तब मैं भोपाल में ही इंडिया टुडे के लिए काम करता था. एसपी चाहते थे कि मैं उनके अख़बार में काम करने दिल्ली आ जाऊं. उन दिनों मुझे ऑफर लैटर इकठ्ठा करने का बड़ा शौक था. साथ ही दूसरे अख़बारों के खर्चे पर दिल्ली-बम्बई घूमना भी हो जाता था. एसपी सिंह साहब ने मुझे मिलने के लिए समीर जैन के पास भेज दिया. तब उन्होंने ताजा-ताजा बेनेट कोलमेन की कमान संभाली थी. बड़ा जलवा था. उनके कमरे में जब मैं पहुंचा तो ६-७ लोग और थे. ज्यादातर टाइम्स ऑफ़ इंडिया और इकनोमिक टाइम्स के सीनियर लोग थे. महफ़िल जमी थी. हलके फुल्के माहौल में गपबाजी चल रही थी. दिलीप  पदगांवकर का इंटरव्यू    उन दिनों टाइम्स ऑफ़ इंडिया के संपादक दिलीप पद...
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