Interview: Save students from language divide: Prof. Sanjay Dwivedi

Pro. Sanjay Dwivedi is an eminent journalist, editor, writer, academic manager and media guru of the country. Handled important responsibilities like editor, news editor, executive editor, input head and anchor in media organizations like Dainik Bhaskar, Navbharat, Haribhoomi, Swadesh, Info India.com and Chhattisgarh’s first satellite channel Zee Twenty Hours Chhattisgarh. After active journalism in Raipur, Bilaspur, Mumbai and Bhopal, you joined the academic field. Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, Bhopal, besides being the Chairman of the Department of Mass Communication for 10 years, was the Registrar and Vice-Chancellor in-charge of the University. Organization dedicated to value-based journalism – is the chairman of ‘Value-added Media Initiative Committee’. Writing and editing of 32 books on media and political contexts so far. Distinguished by regular writing on political, social and media issues. Awarded by various organizations for his contribution in the media sector. He is currently the Director General of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi. IndiaTheNews.com had a special conversation with him. Presenting the main parts-

– Going to complete three years in Delhi as the Director General of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, looking back how would you rate yourself?

You can evaluate your work yourself, but cannot advertise and publicize it too much. The real evaluation of my work will be done only by those people who are connected with IIMC or are watching my activities carefully. Even after two years of Corona period, I did whatever was possible. I am satisfied with my role.

How far have you progressed in the direction of IIMC’s development dreams?

IIMC has a total of six campuses including Delhi. In terms of infrastructure, the campuses of Jammu, Kottayam and Aizawl are ready and studies have started there. The Dhenkanal campus is already doing very well. Appointment of teachers and new courses have been started in all the campuses. Like three courses are running in Amravati and Jammu. Two courses are running at Aizawl, Kottayam and Dhenkanal. A lot of work is yet to be done in terms of expansion of the campuses in the coming time. Along with this, our publication department is doing very important work through its five intellectual publications. Our relationship with the rest of the society has been made through interactive events. Which I consider very special.

You are basically a journalist. Came in the educational field and is also performing administrative responsibilities. How different do you get these tasks?

One should be ready for every role. Newspapers and channels also run with administrative skills. Educational institutions too. The basic thing is understanding of work, understanding of people and getting the right work from them. Not every man will do every work. But every man can do some things very well. It is the role of the head of the institution to understand the person and to awaken the sense of responsibility by giving him the right work. We say “Work for everyone. Person for every work and where less, there we.” You see our Prime Minister is an ideal hero both in terms of management and communication skills. There are many people in such diverse fields who have come from ordinary circumstances and given extraordinary results.

Your love for Indian languages ​​is very evident, why is it important to emphasize this?

Indian languages ​​are not just a medium of expression. These are the languages ​​of justice. If we want to make our democracy successful, then all the arrangements will have to be made in Indian languages. Democracy will be meaningful only when the last man will get justice, education, administration, rights in his own language. Otherwise there will be inequality in the society. There is also a colony of language, we are free from these tragedies in the amritkal of freedom. These are the resolutions of Suraj. It is such a good thing that the Government of India is taking initiative to give respect to mother tongues and Indian languages ​​in the nectar of independence. Regarding education, Mahatma Gandhi used to say, “National education must reflect national conditions to be truly national”. To fulfill this visionary idea of ​​Gandhiji, the idea of ​​education in local languages ​​has been kept in the National Education Policy. Now local language will also be an option for ‘medium of instruction’ in higher education. 14 engineering colleges in 8 states are going to start engineering education in 5 Indian languages- Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and Bangla. A tool has also been created for translation of engineering courses into 11 Indian languages. The biggest benefit of this will be to the poor class of the country, middle class students living in villages and towns, Dalit-backward and tribal brothers and sisters. Children coming from these families had to face the most ‘language divide’ i.e. ‘language division’. The promising children of these families had to suffer the most. Education in mother tongue will increase the self-confidence of poor children, justice will be done to their ability and talent. They will be able to fill their dreams with confidence.

– Your book ‘Bharatbodh Ka Naya Samay’ has been in the news a lot in the past, what is its message?

India and Indianness is our biggest and only identity, let us all accept it. No book, no creed is bigger than this love of India. Let us be of India and make India. Know India and believe in India. In this resolution is our salvation. There are solutions to our questions. We can never become a great country fighting in the name of small identities and sentiments. While comparing with Israel, Japan, let us not look at their population, but look at the feelings of the citizens of those countries towards the country. That’s the solution to our troubles. It’s a very simple book. Which has been written for the common people to inculcate the feeling of nationalism. In this, emphasis has been laid on introducing India to India. This is probably the main reason for the popularity of this book.

– An event was organized at IIMC on the birth centenary of eminent Gandhian thinker Shri Dharampal. Why is it relevant to remember such thinkers?

Remembering respected Dharmapal ji is a repetition of our culture and tradition. At one time our villages were also full of such Siddhas. Our villages were full of artists, artisans based on deep artistry, inner qualities. Those who used to make things for the use of the society, the society used to protect them. Shri Dharampal has described such prosperous villages in his writings. Which were full of prosperity, self-sufficient too. Behind this was the hidden karma yoga in rural India. ‘Gita’ was created in his mind. These conscious Indian artisans, hardworking artists had made India a world leader. Kabir is a popular poet, social reformer of his time, but he is also a karma yogi. They do not leave their original work. Kept on picking flimsy sheets too. Saint Raidas also continued to do his work after attaining success. Here karma was combined with knowledge. That’s why in the Gurukul tradition, all the arrangements there are handled by the students themselves. They get the education of Karma Yoga and Gyan Yoga together. His thirst for knowledge does not deter him from action. There the princes also live in sanyasi garb and prepare themselves for the war of life by doing the work of chopping wood, begging, farming and horticulture as per the orders of the Guru. Ground realities make them worthy, create them. There are no five star schools for the princes. There are ashrams only. There are similar arrangements. India is made of these sources only, by forgetting them, they have come on the path of disorientation and are increasing their troubles.

What is your message for the new generation coming into journalism?

I am not in a position to deliver the message. I can suggest Any new generation is more intelligent than its old generation. The time to come belongs to him. He has new eyes, new understanding and energy. Anyway media or communication is the world of ideas and creativity. Here the work does not speak the name. Thoughts speak. So learn by doing and take praise from the world. Make people yours. It’s a tough job. Language, technology and you together make up this whole universe. The new generation is certainly doing well. It is a generation born in India, not hopeless, but aspirational. He will get the nectar of immortality provided he does not lack in his efforts.

Director General, Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) Prof. IndiaTheNews editor Neeraj Kumar Dubey’s special conversation with Sanjay Dwivedi