On Friday, January 5, Kiran Shelar, the editor of Mumbai Tarun Bharat, declined to accept the Darpankar Balshastri Jambhekar Memorial Award for Journalism (दर्पणकार बाळशास्री जांभेकर पत्रकिताता पुरस्मिता पुरस्कार). Prakash Pohare, the editor of the Marathi daily newspaper Deshonnati, expressed doubts about the existence of Lord Shri Ram and criticised the Ram Mandir, which is scheduled to be dedicated on January 22. The editor of the Marathi daily newspaper Prahar, Sukrut Khandekar, who was also a guest on the show, gave Shelar the prize after that.
The sixth of January is observed as Journalists’ Day in Maharashtra to honour Balshastri Jambhekar, who is regarded as the forerunner of modern Marathi journalism, for launching the English and Marathi periodical “Darpan” and its initial publication. He began work on “Darpan” on January 6, 1832. Every year on January 5th, the Mumbai Marathi Journalistic Writers’ Association, which was founded in 2001, honours Balshastri Jambhekar by presenting an award to a journalist on this day. Kiran Shelar was the recipient of the prize this year.
The Mumbai Marathi Granth Sangrahalaya’s Surendra Gavaskar Memorial Hall served as the venue for the event, according to a report by Maha MTB. This time, there was also a writers’ and journalists’ lit-fest. Dr. Bhalchandra Munagekar, a former vice-chancellor of Mumbai University, was the program’s main guest. On the dais were Sukrut Khandekar and Ciciliya Carvalho, among other dignitaries. This program’s president was Prakash Pohare. For this programme in the Dadar neighbourhood of Mumbai, many journalists, writers, and other attendees were joined by Eknath Birwadkar, the chairman of the Mumbai Marathi Journalistic Writers’ Association, as well as other association office bearers.
Before the award ceremony, every attendee gave a speech. Prakasha Pohare shared his opinions as well. He criticised the Ram Mandir, the impending consecration event of the Ayodhya temple, and the Ram Mandir itself during his address, casting doubt on the existence of Lord Ram. Prakash Pohare went on to describe the issues facing Dalits, tribal people, the “have-nots,” etc.
In response, Kiran Shelar took the stage and declared, “The issues this nation faces, as brought up by the previous speakers, are real, and Lord Shri Ram does exist.” Therefore, I will not accept accolades from people who think Shri Ram is a fabrication. But I don’t want to offend Balshastri Jambhekar, the father of Marathi journalism. Therefore, the Mumbai Marathi Journalistic Writers’ Association should decide whether to present the award or not.
The audience enthusiastically welcomed Kiran Shelar’s decision to decline the award and chanted “Jai Shri Ram” in unison with everyone in the auditorium. The audience applauded him more for taking this stance than for winning the prize. Lastly, comply with the organisers’ request. Sukrut Khandekar, the editor of “Prahar,” gave Kiran Shelar the award.
In her response to the prize, Kiran Shelar disputed a number of Prakash Pohare’s points. Simultaneously, he demonstrated other approaches rather than merely objecting to the ideas put forth by the previous speakers. “There are many ways of enlightenment in society today,” Kiran Shelar remarked. Before the erroneous impulses travel down any routes that we haven’t yet seen, an aware society needs to make an effort. You must consider such options and carry out your duties in an honest manner. Moving forward with your loyalty will not be easy, but in my 24 years as a journalist, I’ve learnt a lot. I have been awarded this for my journey.
“So long as writers and journalists continue to produce meaningful content, society’s appetite for higher quality will not be satisfied,” he continued. Mumbai Tarun Bharat is a volunteer-run daily newspaper published by the RSS. However, all philosophies are solely focused on the wellbeing of humans. Nobody ought to throw them away. The production of high-quality material must continue. These days, non-literary items are displayed on the literary festivals’ stage. It shouldn’t occur at a stage like this that is connected to journalism. On the platform, there should be room for the younger generation as well.
Later, Kiran Shelar posted a comprehensive account of this incident on Facebook.
Later, Kiran Shelar shared information on the entire series of events via his Facebook page. “A month ago, I was asked if I would accept the award given in the name of Balshastri Jambhekar by Eknath Birwatkar, president of the Mumbai Marathi Journalistic Writers’ Association,” the post’s author stated. The late Yashwant Padhye founded the Mumbai Marathi Journalistic Writers’ Association and “Mumbai Tarun Bharat,” and our editor at the time had a great working relationship with the group. Nothing was objectionable. I was informed that this award was for innovative journalism projects. I concurred as well.”
“Upon receiving the invitation letter, it was discovered that Prakash Pohare, Sukrit Khandekar, and Bhalchandra Munagekar would be presenting the award,” Kiran Shelar continued. There was nothing at all wrong with that, in my opinion. Munagekar delivered his typical, dull speech, but at least he made no fun of anyone. But Prakash Pohare ruthlessly tripped over Lord Shri Ram. The speech was weird and utterly contradictory. Later, his remarks about Lord Ram and the Ram Mandir infuriated me.”
In a Facebook post, Kiran Shelar added, “Sukrut Khandekar was seated next to me. I informed him that I felt it was improper for me to take the award from him. I refuse to accept it. “That was his personal stand,” Khandekar stated. not by the committee that organised it. You shouldn’t disparage Balashastri because this prize bears his name. As a system-abiding individual, it is actually not in my character to lose my cool over things that are proceeding a certain way. After that, I stood up straight, took the mic, and stated my position.
Kiran Shelar went on to write, “Our faith about Lord Ram is as real as the problems in this country presented by the speakers,” describing what transpired next. So, from someone like him, I do not want an award. I mentioned this right away. The crowd members began chanting “Jai Shri Ram,” and there was an uncontrollable commotion. Khandekar gave me the award and helped the organisers at the time avoid seeming foolish. I was so furious that I left the award there and made my way through the throng after leaving the stage. While some were yelling catchphrases, others were congratulating me. Adamya Kiran Shelar, my seven-year-old son, tightened his fists, raised both hands, and chanted, “Jai Shri Ram, Jai Shri Ram.” I grinned. We left the area. The show concluded far too soon.
“It is not appropriate to question the existence of Lord Ram in front of me,” declares Kiran Shelar.
As he reflected on his development as a journalist during the previous 24 years of employment, Kiran Shelar further explained his position towards Lord Ram. “In fact, twenty-four years ago, I decided not to leave ‘Mumbai Tarun Bharat,’ no matter how big a package I got,” he stated in his Facebook post. That’s where my Ram was located. For my employment, the organization’s respectful compensation, my coworkers’ support, and my seniors’ independence are sufficient. I’m not the type to apply for awards, and I don’t expect any.
“In actuality, I am a total believer,” he continued. However, I am a man who looks for Ram not in any ritual but in work, or duty. Even in the worldview I reject, I still think that some decent individuals exist and that they do admirably. They ought to consider the reasons behind the lack of support that they are receiving. I can’t seem to get over the fact that I have a lot of work to do as a “Hedgewarite.”
Finally, he remarked, “I was furious.” Because you continue to doubt the existence of Lord Ram, despite the fact that Hindus respect everyone’s views and faiths. It is not going to work. It will not function at all in front of me.
The significance of Kiran Shelar and the left-liberal, anti-Hindu attitude of Marathi media
Notably, the Marathi media has boasted of having a leftist-liberal anti-Hindu slant for a long time, just like every other well-established national and regional media in India. The goal of social reformers in the 18th century was to introduce a “modern” way of thinking to the Marathi people. But throughout the course of the last more than a century, it evolved into more of an organisation that regularly spreads anti-Hindu ideas.
The progressive liberals in the Marathi media have long since forgotten about the contributions made by luminaries from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, such as Lokmanya Tilak and Veer Savarkar. They do not highlight these names because of their fundamentally leftist slant. If they do, it’s to denigrate, disparage, smear, and misquote them in order to support the story they wish to promote.
Before these journalists resort to abusing Brahmins, the so-called traditional custodians of Dharma, and worship rituals, they regularly question the existence of Lord Ram, criticise Ram Mandir, take potshots at a Prime Minister who wears his Hindu identity on his sleeves, guilt-trip Hindus for demolishing a disputed structure at Ram Janmbhoomi, abuse Hindu festivals, disrespect Hindu traditions, and distort the meanings assigned to various Hindu rituals.
Girish Kuber once questioned Mother Teresa’s sainthood as a result of Christianity. He promptly retracted the Loksatta editorial and offered heartfelt apologies. Mukesh Machkar incited caste-based Hindu women to be burned. The “Nirbhay Bano” campaign by Vishwambhar Choudhari and Nikhil Wagle against Narendra Modi has been used as a platform for anti-Hindu propaganda.
Asim Sarode’s adamant support of the defendants in the parliamentary security breach illustrates urban naxalism masquerading as constitutional activism. In a book about Justice Loya’s passing, Niranjan Takle claims that hearsay and insinuations are the sole proof used to charge Union Home Minister Amit Shah with planning the late justice’s supposed murder.
Actually, Kiran Shelar’s Mumbai Tarun Bharat and its website, Maha MTB, provided the most extensive coverage of this occurrence due to the deep-seated intolerance of the Marathi media against Lord Ram. Mruga Vartak, who attended the ceremony as well, reported this to Maha MTB. She verified to OpIndia that numerous other media representatives were also in attendance.
In light of this, Kiran Shelar’s strong stance and refusal to accept the award from a journalist who questioned Lord Ram’s existence offer hope for Marathi media. The only way to make being a Kiran Shelar an exception in modern Marathi media is to increase the number of such journalists who fervently defend the interests of civilization, respect others without compromising one’s own pride and faith, and enjoy widespread recognition and support from the public.