Jalandhar, October 14
“The Tribune has stood as a sentinel. It is not a mere newspaper. It has become a part of the family in the society of this region,” Justice R.S. Pathak, President of The Tribune Trust, said while launching the Jalandhar edition of the paper at a glittering ceremony here today.
“There is an easy and intimate relationship between the public and the newspaper,” he added while stressing that the launch of the new edition will further cement the bond.
The robust Punjabi culture, with its accent on “fortitude, initiative, enterprise and dynamism” figured prominently in Justice Pathak’s speech. “The basic roots of the people in historical ethos remain strong.” The region had shown a remarkable capacity for development and prosperity, he said.
Justice Pathak said that Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia had intended to publish a newspaper for educating the masses and The Tribune had been maintaining its standards of “accuracy and objectivity”. He hoped that the “bond between The Tribune and the public will continue to grow in strength and confidence”.
Mr H.K. Dua, Editor-in-Chief, said that The Tribune enjoyed a 125-year-long association with the people of the region. He said that this newspaper had been a witness to history, right from the freedom struggle to the framing of the Indian Constitution.
Praising Sardar Majithia’s visionary approach, he said that the bond between The Tribune and the readers was strong as the newspaper had reported every significant event of history, making people partners in nation building.
Mr Dua said that most press was owned by big business houses that treated newspapers as property and were guided by profit motive. “The Tribune, however, is run by a public trust of men of integrity. That’s why I call it a unique institution.”
He said The Tribune was the “Voice of the People” and it had a vital role in helping readers form “informed opinion” and creating “critical awareness”. It would now be even more effective in its role now as it had “come closer” to readers’ doorstep, he added.
He emphasised that unlike other newspapers, The Tribune provided a large forum for readers’ views on different subjects apart from publishing informed articles by eminent columnists and writers.
Mr Sanjay Hazari, General Manager, said that a newspaper shared a symbiotic relation with the people. “Readers’ outlook changes from time to time. A newspaper reinvents itself to keep pace with changing time.” He added that The Tribune was committed to Sardar Majithia’s principles of “harnessing excellence” and “eliminating ignorance”.
The programme was attended by a galaxy of VIPs from different cities of the region, including Dr Barjinder Singh Hamdard, Editor-in-Chief, daily Ajit, Mr Avinash Chopra, Joint Editor, Punjab Kesri Group of Newspapers, Mr Jagjit Singh Anand, former MP and Editor-in-Chief, daily Nawan Zamana, Mr Amarjit Samra, Revenue Minister, Punjab, Dr Swaran Singh, Commissioner, Jalandhar Division., Mr Ashok Gupta, Deputy Commissioner, Jalandhar, Mr Rajan Gupta, ADGP, PAP Jalandhar, Mr Hardip Dhillon, IG, Jalandhar Range, Mr Ishwar Singh, SSP, Jalandhar, Mr Sarbjit Singh, former DC, Amritsar, Dr S.P. Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Mr Umrao Singh, former MP, Jalandhar, Mr Balbir Singh, former MP, Mr Navjot Sidhu, MP, Amritsar, Mr Avinash Rai Khanna, MP, Hoshiarpur, Mr Iqbal Singh, SP (CID-Zonal).
Earlier during the day, Justice Pathak inaugurated The Tribune press at Bulandpur area of the city. The Tribune trustees — Justice S.S. Sodhi and Mr R.P. Bambah — also attended the inauguration.
