21 Veteran Journalists Honoured at MIET as Hindi Journalism Completes 200 Years

Meerut: Marking the 200th anniversary of Hindi journalism, a grand felicitation ceremony titled “Kalamkar Samman 2026” was organized at Meerut Institute of Engineering & Technology (MIET), where 21 senior journalists with over three decades of distinguished service to the profession were honoured for their contribution to journalism and society.

The event was jointly organized by The Press Club Meerut and the Uttar Pradesh Association of Journalists (UPAJ). Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Dr Somendra Tomar, who attended as the chief guest, presented mementoes and certificates of honour to the awardees.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Tomar said that Hindi journalism traces its roots back to May 30, 1826, when Pandit Jugal Kishore Shukla launched Udant Martand, the first Hindi weekly newspaper. He emphasized that journalism is not merely a medium of information but a powerful instrument for social transformation and strengthening democracy. He also acknowledged the significant contribution of journalists in Meerut’s development over the years.

Rajendra Singh, State Information Commissioner, described the media as the fourth pillar of democracy and highlighted its role in amplifying the voices of society and ensuring accountability. He stressed the importance of impartiality, constructive criticism, and social responsibility in journalism.

District Information Officer Sumit Kumar extended greetings on Hindi Journalism Day and stated that journalists serve as a crucial bridge between the government and the public. Vivek Rastogi, Metropolitan President, praised journalists for their role as vigilant guardians of society.

Among those honoured with the Kalamkar Samman 2026 were Indra Mohan Ahuja, Neeraj Kant Rahi, Pushpendra Sharma, Suryakant Dwivedi, Harishankar Joshi, Anil Bansal, Abhishek Sharma, Mukesh Goyal, Ashok Goswami, Vinod Goswami, Rambol Tomar, Gyan Prakash, Sant Ram Pandey, Naresh Upadhyay, Nitin Sabarangi, J.M. Shakal, Kunwar Naushe Mian, Richa Joshi, Anil Gaur, Vijay Raja, Jaiveer Tyagi and Sanjay Gautam.

The ceremony was attended by Gaurav Agarwal, Vice Chairman of MIET; Ravi Sharma, President of The Press Club Meerut; Kunt Kumar Sharma, General Secretary of The Press Club Meerut; Ajay Chaudhary, State Vice President of UPAJ; along with prominent journalists, academicians and distinguished citizens.

The programme was conducted by Payal Agarwal, while Ravi Sharma expressed gratitude to all guests, participants and organizers for making the event a memorable success.