Rastriya Patrakarita Kalyan Nyas (RPKN) was inspired by eminent freedom fighter and journalist Late Bapurao Lele, one of the founding fathers of the nationalist Indian multilingual news agency – Hindusthan Samachar. It is a Trust Organisation. It was founded in April 2002, with eminent jurist and former member of the National Law Commission Dr. N. M. Ghatate as its Chairman. The current Board of Trustees or the Nyasi Mandal is as follows,
The Nyasi Mandal (Board of Trustees):
- Chairman: Shri. Ravindra Manilal Sanghavi
- Vice Chairman: Shri. Rakesh Bahal
- Vice Chairman: Shri. Chandrashekhar Garge
- Secretary: Shri. Rajkumar Sharma
- Treasurer: Shri. Deen Dayal Agrawal
- Member: Dr. N. M. Ghatate
- Member: Dr. Ravindra Agrawal
- Member: Shri. Haribhau Mirasdar
- Member: Shri. Shyam Parande
- Member: Shri. Laxmi Narayan Bhala
- Member: Shri. Paresh Kant
- Member: Shri. Arvind Mardikar
- Member: Shri. Shriram Joshi
- Member: Shri. Pannalal Bhansali
The Nyas stressed upon upholding the best practices in the profession of Journalism vis-a-vis Media. It, at the same time felt need for research and modernisation – up gradation of journalism practiced in India. It was also found there were very few programmes and institutes to provide refresher courses for journalists, where they could be updated on newer trends and development in the profession. Hence it was also decided to create such training facilities as and when needed.
Publication of issues and books relevant to the time and topic; grant of scholarships to researchers and students; provide training facilities for budding journalists; organise seminars and discussions on timely topics, promote national integration and fraternity among journalists and media are a few activities of the Nyas.
The Nyas provides financial assistance for health – care of the elderly, disabled, poor and needy journalists. About 12 senior journalists – Shri. Ranjeet Ray (Kolkata), Shri. Ramasheesh (Kathmandu), besides Shri. Sitaram Patil, Shri. Shriram Joshi, Shri. Atrikumar Dadhichi, and others – were provided with financial assistance for treatment of cancer and other ailments so far, by the Nyas.
RPKN grants scholarships to various students of journalism to achieve excellence in their studies. First batch of such 14 young journalists was graduated in 2009 January. Since then many more have been granted scholarships and training. Recently it has instituted a Fellowship in memory of one of the Founder Trustees of the Nyas, and renowned social worker Late Shri. Shrikant Joshi ji. The Fellowship will be offered for the studies in contemporary issues and issues of national importance. Shri. Shrikant Joshi Fellowships would be awarded this year for the studies in following four subjects – 1) Concept of Secularism among the media in India, 2) Coverage of 16th Lok Sabha Elections in the Urdu Press (Print Media) and its role, 3) Political, Social, Cultural, Geographical and Ecological Challenges thrown by the Illegal Cross-border Insurgency in North – East India, and 4) Indian Concept of Media / OR / Concept of ‘Being Indian’ among the Media (?) The Fellowship is in collaboration with ‘ Makhanlala Chaturvedi University of Journalism’, Bhopal. The Nyas has contributed Rs. One Lakh towards it, while the University has contributed an equal amount for the fellowships to be awarded.
Late Shri. Shrikant ji Joshi was the leading light and the force behind welfare activities of the RPKN. He put in lots of untiring efforts and energy in persuading objectives of the Nyas including felicitation and healthcare assistance to senior journalists. He also made all possible efforts to put Hindusthan Samachar, the only Co – Operative multilingual nationalist news Agency of the World, on a sustainable platform.
RPKN felicitates every year outstanding journalists, both women and men, of India, for their exemplary contribution to journalism. It has instituted three Awards in the names of Founding fathers of Hindusthan Samachar, the news agency. 1) Bapurao Lele Award for Journalism, 2) Dadasaheb Apate Award for Photo – Journalism, and 3) Shantabai Paranjapye / Asha Rani Vhora Award for Woman Journalist. Besides, recently the Nyas instituted two more awards for young journalist – 1) Shrikant Joshi Award for Young Journalist – the first in the series was awarded to Shri. Amrut Joshi of Hubali in 2013 and 2) Baleshwar Agrawal award for an outstanding Columnist from the year 2014. These Awards comprise of Rs. 51,000 for Bapurao Lele award and Rs. 21,000 each for other awards besides a shawl and shrifal. More than 30 senior and other journalists have been felicitated with the award so far. The Nyas has also felicitated a magazine – Brail Path – from Deharadun, for its efforts of printing it in the Brail Script for the benefit of blinds.
Rashtriya Patrakarita Kalyan Nyas has brought out many topical and informative publications. Hindusthan Samachar Navotthan Ank (Issue); Patrakar Maharshi Bapurao Lele Smruti Ank; Vikasit Bharat Aur Patrakarita; Bapurao Lele – Vyakti Aur Karya, by Vasant Apate (in Marathi, Hindi and Gujarati); Dadasaheb Apate – Vyakti Aur Karya, by Dr. Kuldeep Chand Agnihotri (in Marathi, Hindi and Gujarati); Satyameva jayate – by Shri Gopal ji Vyas; Shrikant Joshi, Krutartha Jeevan by Dr. Kuldeep Chand Agnihotri; are but a few of the publications of the Nyas.
Other prominent activities of RPKN included organisation of Birth Centenaries of S. S. Alias Dadasaheb Apate, the founder of Hindusthan Samachar; and of Shri Guruji (M. S. Golwalkar), the Second Sarsanghachalak of RSS; besides it also organises seminars and conventions on subjects relevant to media, including modernization and nationalism.
RPKN has received accolades and applauds from vary many national and social leaders such as former Prime Minister Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Sarsanghachalak Late Shri. K. C. Sudarshan, former Deputy Prime Minister Shri. Lal Krishna Advani, former Sah-Sarkaryawah Shri. Madandas Devi, Patron Leader of Bharatiya mazdoor Sangh (BMS) late Shri. Dattopant Thengadi, Patron of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Shri. Ashok Singhal, renowned Gujarati litterateur late K. K. Shastri, Union Minister for External Affairs smt. Sushma Swaraj, Acharya Kishorji Vyas, former Election Commissioner shri. G. V. G. Krishna Murthy, Shri. Amrut Batra, Editors and Journalists – Nanda kishor Nautiyal (Blitz), Dr. Deepak J. Tilak (Kesari – Pune), Shri. Achyutananda Mishra, (Former Vice Chancellor, Makhanlal Chaturvedi University of Journalism, Bhopal), Dr. B. K. Kuthiyala (Vice Chancellor, Makhanlal Chaturvedi University of Journalism, Bhopal), Shri. Satchidananda Joshi (Vice Chancellor, Kushabhau Thakare University of Journalism, Raipur- Chhattisagarh), Dr. Vijay Bhatakar (Vice Chancellor, Nalanda University, Bihar and creator of Param Sanganak of India).