By IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, 26 Nov 2015: Media in India has always supported the freedom of individuals to speak out as per his or her conviction, said President Pranab Mukherjee and saluted the Indian press for not compromising on freedom of speech and expression. He was speaking at the release of veteran journalist late K M Mathew’s autobiography at Rashtrapati Bhawan here on Thursday.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said the history of Indian journalism is intertwined with that of the freedom movement. Many national leaders founded newspapers or were closely associated with it during the freedom struggle.
“Jawaharlal Nehru wrote in October 1937 in The Modern Review of Calcutta under a pseudonym and criticised himself for having dictatorial tendencies. People wondered who had dared criticize Nehru. It was only much later that people realised Nehru himself had written the article in order to encourage criticism,” said the President.
The President expressed confidence that the media in India has always fought authoritarian tendencies. He was confident they would be able to succeed in meeting all modern day challenges, including those posed by technology. He complimented the Manorama Group for treating journalism as a mission and commitment to society. He said the Manorama group has demonstrated exemplary leadership in upholding and expanding the high values set by K.M. Mathew.
The President received the first copy of English version of the book ‘The Eighth Ring’, the autobiography of late Mathew, former Editor and Publisher of Malayala Manorama. The book was released by Mammen Mathew, Chief Editor, Malayala Manorama. Eminent Jurist & former Member of Parliament Fali S Nariman and Dr. Prannoy Roy, Chairman NDTV spoke on the occasion.
