Social Activity Done By Rajasthan Patrika
Tuesday, September 5th, 2006Patrika has played an important role in enriching values and ideals which society always yearns for. It has continued to publish books on varying aspects of our glorious cultural heritage and universal values even since it saw the light of the day. The Patrika Group has looked after this materialistic aspect very well. It has been in the forefront of the humanitarian work. It explored various strategies to rush humanitarian aid to the largest number of the victims of natural calamities or the people languishing in poverty. The establishment of Jan Mangal Public Charitable Trust in 1984 was a milestone in this direction. Patrika made a great endeavour to rush help to the people of Maharashtra and Gujrat when they were hit by the most disastrous earthquakes in Indian history. It didn’t lag behind when the entire state of Orissa was invaded by the cyclonic destruction. The sight of the wailing uprooted inhabitants of this unfortunate state melted even stony hearts. Patrika mobilized support for the people of this state and rendered yeoman service. It came to the rescue of the war widows whose husbands died in the Kargil war. Patrika itself contributed a large amount and campaigned for public awareness who responded generously. As a result the afflicted families were saved from another disaster that loomed large in their minds after the death of their members.
Most notable among its crusades against suffering was its campaign for the donation of a handful of grain (muthibhar anaaj) by every citizen when the continuous spell of drought in Rajasthan pushed millions of its people to the brink of starvation. Patrika called upon students to bring handfuls of grain to its office. The campaign electrified the student community and the general masses in the entire state who flocked to Patrika Offices in various cities and created heaps of grain. Patrika sent trucks loaded with the bags of grain to the areas where people were dying. It was a new value Patrika inculcated and showed the people the way to help the needy. What generated the tremendous enthusiasm was its slogan ‘bacha bacha Bhamashah’ i.e. every child is Bhamashah, the legendry philanthropist of Mewar who donated every penny to his people. Thus Patrika rose above the narrow familial boundaries and considered the entire humanity as its own.
Besides organizing sports events, social and cultural festivals, Patrika also undertook the challenging task of publishing important books and that of helping the educational institutions or enriching libraries. It organized many adventures or helped NGOs who initiated such projects as inculcated the spirit of courage among kids or youths. It was never motivated by considerations of fickle fame but thinking that social concerns and human values deserve utmost attention, it fulfilled its obligations to society in the spirit of selfless dedication. When the Indian Army was sent to the borders to face the threat of war from Pakisthan, Patrika sent adventurous youths on motorcycles to the snowy valleys to ‘ boost the soldiers‘ morale with auspicious messages of good wishes and greetings. When Patrika realized that common ordinary citizens encounter great difficulties in getting their legitimate problems solved everyday on account of bureaucratic redtapism, it started a helpline and called upon the people of the state to write to Patrika about their problems and grievances. Patrika fought for their cause by taking the issues to the departments concerned and saw that their grievances were redressed.
Hundreds of retired Govt. employees or ordinary citizens have benefited from this initiative. Not only this Patrika came forward to help the people of a particular region to get their problems solved. The response was overwhelming and the bonds of love for Patrika grew stronger.
Everyone in India had heard that Vedas had in them an ocean of wisdom but since they were written in Sanskrit ordinary people remained ignorant about them, Patrika’s founder editor Mr. K.C. Kulish began to study them and wrote a series of books in simple language and thus brought the Vedic wisdom within the reach of the ordinary people.
The voluminous book entitled SHABD VED which Mr. Kulish compiled after years of hard work is a living testimony to Patrika’s contribution to enrichment of values and preservation of our cherished ideals.
Patrika has always been ahead for public service and in this field it has organized many Learning License camps for the common people. Patrika has always showed its keen interest in the field of public health and in this direction it has organized several Blood Donation Camps which has turned out to be a huge success. Being a newspaper Rajasthan Patrika has always fulfilled its duty to make the people of Rajasthan aware of their rights. In this regard Patrika did a campaign in which the reporters traveled all over Rajasthan and tried their level best to make the people aware of their right to vote. The people appreciated this gesture and gave their full corporation. Patrika has even organized many cultural events. Patrika every year organize a Book Fair in public interest. This fair is organized in a large scale where people can find books on all subjects and beside that people also enjoyed the cultural programme. Recent addition to the list is the Health Fair organized by Rajasthan Patrika. This fare got a lot of appreciation from the masses and people from far and near participated in the fair and satisfied their quarries related to health. Rajasthan Patrika not only plays the role of a newspaper but also the role of a social reformer.