Cultural journalism is in crisis – Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi

*- Senior journalist Ajit Rai’s book ‘Drishyaantar’ launched at IGNCA.*
*- Along with the launch, there was also a meaningful discussion on the book.*

New Delhi, 15th April, Monday.

Senior journalist and writer Ajit Rai’s book ‘Drishyaantar’ was launched in the Umang Auditorium of Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts (IGNCA) by Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary of IGNCA, Dean (Administration) of IGNCA, Prof. Ramesh Chandra Gaur and senior journalist Girijashankar. Author Ajit Rai, theater critic and journalist Sangam Pandey, Vani Prakashan Chairman and Managing Director Arun Maheshwari and Executive Director Aditi Maheshwari Goyal were also present on this occasion. Along with the launch of the book, there was also a serious discussion on it. In fact, under the pretext of discussing the book, a meaningful conversation took place on the importance, condition and direction of cultural journalism in India.
In his presidential address, Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi said that everyone, especially students, should read this book. He said that documentation work should be done in the field of cultural journalism. Today cultural journalism is in great danger. He said that there is no cultural heritage like ours anywhere in the world. He expressed concern that today cultural journalism has been marginalized and today it is more or less limited to page-3 journalism.
During the discussion, senior journalist Girjashankar said that the publication of Ajit Roy’s book is important in the present scenario, because the way literature and culture remain at the last rung of power, the same condition of literature and culture has taken place in present day journalism also. He told that in earlier newspapers, special weekly issues of literature and culture were published. But in today’s times, literature and culture have almost disappeared in journalism. At the end of his address, he said, today when the tradition of documentation is slowly ending in our society, the coming of books like this will encourage other writers to write such books.
Aditi Maheshwari of Vani Prakashan, while highlighting the writing journey of Ajit Rai, said that there is history of world cinema and also the future of Indian cinema, both can be seen in ‘Drishyaantar’. The book’s author Ajit Rai said that his passion for cinema brought him to the red carpet of the world’s biggest film festival, Cannes Film Festival. This was the first time in the 67-year history of the Cannes Film Festival, when a Hindi journalist reached there. He stressed that Hindi has got so much honour in foreign countries because of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also narrated many interesting stories during his speech. Senior journalist and drama critic Sangam Pandey spoke about the background of the creation of Ajit Rai’s book ‘Drishyaantar’. Prof. K. Anil Kumar, HoD, Janapada Division, IGNCA; Prof. Richa Kamboj, HoD, Kala Darsana Division, IGNCA and many dignitaries as well as literature lovers were also present in this event.