Lifetime Achievement Award: Pandit Jai Kumar Bilaspur
Citation: Octogenarian Jai Kumar Sharma of Bilaspur was dedicated to the field of journalism since his early days. He treated it as a medium to serve the people for welfare of the society. Jai Kumar Sharma has worked with various newspapers, both in Hindi and English, during his journalistic career spanning over six decades. He was also the first journalist in the country who spent 19 months in Dharamshala jail during the Emergency days.
For his remarkable journey and contribution in the field of journalism, Himachal This Week confers on him Lifetime Achievement Award 2016.
Octogenarian Jai Kumar Sharma of Bilaspur has been dedicated to the field of journalism for the past six decades even as he had to face many challenges during this period. He started writing under the guidance of Hindi and Sanskrit scholar Prof. DC Jain of Haryana while he was in Class VI. Soon a popular Hindi newspaper encouraged him to write Letters to the Editor. Jai Kumar Sharma never looked back since then and was more interested and dedicated to the field of journalism. In the process, he ignored many lucrative offers in other fields and chose journalism as a medium for service to the society for people’s benefit.
A resident of Raura Sector in Bilaspur, Jai Kumar Sharma started working for Hindi daily in 50s and worked for another daily later on. Later he also worked for nearly two decades for Hindi daily published from Chandigarh. He worked for 40 years and 45 years for two Hindi dailiy newspapers simultaneously. During his college days, he raised the voice of Bhakhra Dam oustees vociferously by writing Letter to The editor in an English daily whose Editor invited Jai Kumar to become correspondent from Bilaspur. He has recently retired after working for five decades in English daily. Currently, he is working as a correspondent for a daily newspaper. He has treated journalism as a medium to serve people for the welfare of the society.
First Journalist Jailed During Emergency
Jai Kumar Sharma is the first journalist in the country who had spent 19 months in Dharamshala jail during Emergency days in the country. Known for his fearless writings, Jai Kumar Sharma even refused to sign a paper to ensure his cooperation with the government. He had refused the allurement for his release from the jail. He also laid the foundation for establishing Himachal Pradesh Rajya Patrakar Mahasangh in 1969 to bring media persons under one umbrella. Due to his fine leadership qualities, he is still the president of Mahasangh since its inception.
Raising Voice of Businessmen, Oustees
Jai Kumar Sharma has been raising the voice of Bhakhra Dam oustess before the government in addition to highlighting the problems of small traders and shopkeepers. He is also general secretary of Beopar Mandal. He is also raising concerns of Bhakhra oustees under the banner of Bhakhra Visthapit Adhikar Sanrakshan Samiti.
-By Ashwani Pandit/Bilaspur
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