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| Lala Mulk Raj Saraf - the pillar of Jammu city | | " A social activist" "father of journalism " " lion of Duggar land" | | Ravi Rohmetra | 4/7/2012 11:08:30 PM |
| Lala Mulk Raj Saraf was Pioneer in Journalism especially in J&K State. He was born on 8th April 1894 at Samba to father Sh. Dayanand Saraf and mother Smt. Jamuna Devi.
After matriculation , he joined Prince of Wales College (Now Government Gandhi Memorial science College Jammu) and graduated from Punjab University Lahore . Congress Leaders and started working for " Daily Bande Matram " a leading news paper of the time which gained popularity among leading papers of the country and consequently it was here that Mr. Saraf joined a very Nationalist daily Bande Matram as a Sub-editor being brought out by the great Nationalist Leader Lala Lajpat Rai Popularly known as the Sher-E-Punjab . Mr Saraf was elevated as Sub-editor by the management but he resigned and returned to Jammu .
At Jammu , he started his own daily urdu paper " Ranvir" and an Urdu Journal " Rattan' in 1924 . " Ranvir " became one of the Leading Urdu daily papers of the country due to which Lala Mulk Raj Saraf was given the title of " Baba - e- Sahafat" (Father of Journalism).
He was awraded " Padamshree" in 1976 . working Journalists on the occasion of National Conference at Cuttak (Orissa) in 1986, through its President Mr. K.Vikram Rao wrote to him " we wish to honour ourselves by honouring you , " to honour him in another function , Chief Minister of J&K , Shiekh Mohammad Abdullah had rightly remarked - Shri Saraf earned the distinction of Padmashree because of his superb qualities both as Journalist and a freedom fighter and the best service , we could do the country was to emulate his example .
Widely travelled Mr. Saraf took extensive tours to soviet union , Britain , germany , China , America and Pakistan etc. His visits to Pakistan and America at the age of 86 and 92 respectively speak of his good health and his commitment to Journalism and social cause.
He used to say I am still young and hope to be young even at the age of 100.
When he visited Pakistan in 1979 Several papers of that country had written articles praising him for his contribution in the field of Journalism . on his return he wrote a book - " Meri Pakistan Yatra" which was selected as " Book of the year " and was also awarded by J&K Cultural Academy.
He also wrote - " Insanyat Abhi Zinda hai " and " Nagooh - e - Ranvir " Besides he wrote more than two hundred articles on Socio - economic , Political and cultural topics which were published in his own paper " Ranvir and " Chand" weekly edited by Dewan Narsingh Dass Nargis and in many other leading Journals of the country . Today hundred of Journals both dailies and Periodic are being published from Jammu and kashmir state one cannot even think of the heroic task for obtaining even permission to bring out the first newspaper which ultimately appeared in 1924 from the state .
Never the less Mr. Mulk Raj Saraf displaying the steel will got over all the hurdles with all the meagre resources at his disposal , all necessary arrangments were made interestingly . Maharaja Partap Singh donated rupees one hundred while Raja Hari singh rupees fifty annually for the "Pioneer Enterprise" . A dummy edition of the first newspaper " The Ranvir " was issued on May 20th , 1924 which was received by the public very warmely. Thus the Ranvir made the history of press when its first regular issue appeared on 24th 1924.
It was only the dedeication to Journalism and determination of (now) Late Mr. Mulk Raj saraf that over came the obducracy of the bureaucracy not to allow any outlet for voicing the grieviance s of the people , that made it possible interestingly as Mr. Saraf wrote in his fifty years as a Jounalist" in early 1970's the attitude and keen interest of the ruler of the state Maharaja Partap Singh who encouraged him in realizing in Pioneering venture in Jammu and Kashmir even then it took Mr. Saraf over three years to persuade the bureaucrats of the state to get the permission to bring out the first newspaper from the state. It would be interesting to go through that saga of struggle by Lala Mulk Raj Saraf who is deservedly known as " Father of Journalism " in J&k and whose 118th birth anniversary fell on 8th April . He wrote a book on Sher-e-Duggar Lala hans Raj Mahajan Jeevan Katha in which he wrote a life history of the founder of Mahajan sabha Sher-e-Duggar Lala Hans Raj Mahajan . In 1931 year becaome the President of Akhil Bhartiya Mahajan Shiromani Sabha.
It was only on June 24, 1924 that a social activist of Jammu , Mulk Raj Saraf started a weekly called the ranvir with the social regeneration as its motto.
The publication of Ranvir in Jammu prompted others also to Jump into the Banwagon of the social reform movement. This great Journalist breathed his last on 21st February 1989 at the residence of his son Ved Rahi ( a well known figure of film industry) in Bombay .
He would be remembered for all the times to come.Today is the 118th Birth anniversary of " Father of Journalism " Lala Mulk Raj Saraf. On this occasion social worker and writer Ravi Rohmetra recalls the contribution of Mr. Saraf in the society and recollects some rememberances of the great man. He said real tribute to the great man is to follow their footsteps and accomplish their vision. |
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