RELEASE OF COMMEMORATIVE STAMP ON LATE SHRI DURGA DAS
The Prime Minister has urged
the journalists not to compromise on credibility. Releasing a
commemorative stamp on Late Shri Durga Das at a function here
this evening, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee said that in the race
for readers and viewers, in the end, only those names and products
of journalism survive the test of time that also meet the test
of credibility. He said that people’s expectation that what they
read is of credible and truthful news has not changed over the
decades. The Prime Minister said that in these days when a new
breed of journalists called "embedded journalists" have
emerged, the journalism will be embedded only in Truth and Professional
Values. Describing late Shri Durga Das as an outstanding figure
in Indian journalism, the Prime Minister said the eminent journalist
set high standards of excellence in the profession. He complimented
the Communications, IT and Disinvestment Minister, himself an
outstanding name in Indian journalism, for bringing about a commemorative
stamp in honour of Shri Durga Das.
Earlier, paying tribute
to Shri Durga Das, the Communications, IT and Disinvestment Minister,
Shri Arun Shourie described him insiders’ insider who had a singular
passion for public affairs. He exhorted the journalists to rededicate
themselves to public affairs. Speaking on the occasion, the former
Prime Minister, Mr. I.K. Gujaral said, Mr. Durga Das was among
those who shaped and recorded history.
The five rupee stamp in
the denomination of Rs. 5 was released by the Department of Posts
in association with Durga Das Ratan Devi Trust at a simple but
impressive function. The function was attended among others by
the Deputy Prime Minister, Shri L.K. Advani, the former President,
Shri K.R. Narayanan, several Union Ministers, eminent journalists
and officials from the Department. The News and Features Association
(INFA) Chief, Mr. Inderjit who is himself a senior journalist
and the son of late Shri Durga Das related several anecdotes relating
to Mr. Durga Das illustrating his eye for professionalism and
dedication.
