20

Mar

V.P.  Prabhakar  -a “gentleman journalist “

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Today’s Edition

New Delhi, 20 March 2024

Prabhjot Singh

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Memories, sweet and sour, invariably freshen you up. They put you on the front seat of a live theatre that takes you back to umpteen years and relives the golden moments you had once experienced.

Today was one of those days, when a group of journalists, especially those who remained associated with The Tribune group of newspapers or the allied organisations, including rival Indian Express, besides the official agency – Department of Information and Public Relations - that constantly feeds media channels, got together at a book release function.

It was to celebrate the 87th birthday of Tribune’s first Bureau Chief in Chandigarh, Mr. V.P. Prabhakar. Some of his ardent fans put their hands and efforts together to bring out a book dedicated to Mr. Prabhakar, whom, even the then Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, Mr. Hari Jaisingh acknowledged as a “Gentleman journalist”.

To be honest, journalists are known more for their notoriety, blatant bluntness, and even their stubbornness than for normal niceties expected from members of the Fourth Estate. But Mr. Prabhakar belonged to a different class – suave, polite, firm, and ethical.

Mr. VP Prabhakar, who started as a Sub Editor and was subsequently transferred to the field as a Staff Reporter by the then Editor, Mr.R. Madhvan Nair, remained posted in Shimla and Patiala before his final posting in Chandigarh where he rose to be the first Bureau Chief of The Tribune in Chandigarh.

VP Prabhakar in his own words:

“I owe my entry into journalism to two friends and classmates- Prem Kumar, former Resident Editor, the Indian Express, Chandigarh, and Arvind Kumar, former Associate Editor, Caravan, New Delhi.

“I did a diploma course in journalism from Panjab University in 1958, when the department was based in New Delhi, and classes used to be held at Harcourt Butler School, Gole Market. I got practical training at Sevagram, a weekly published by Mr. G.P. Jain, my teacher. Prem Kumar, Arvind Kumar, and I worked in the Caravan and Sarita.

“A week after joining Sarita, I got an appointment letter for a translator from the Rajya Sabha. I was in two minds when Arvind Kumar and Prem Kumar asked me whether I wanted to pursue journalism.

“I decided to continue and within a month, The Tribune, which was then published from Ambala, advertised two posts of Sub Editor. After the written test and interview, V.N. Malhotra and I were selected.

“After a few days, the then-news editor, A.C. Bali, met me in the courtyard and welcomed me. Senior colleagues on the desk were very nice and prepared to welcome newcomers.

“They taught me all the niceties of subbing. They included Prakash Ananda, A.C. Bhatia, M.L. Kapur, J.M. Sharma, and Jaswant Singh. Mr. Amolak Ram was the Editor.

“There was a vacancy in Shimla after the then Special Correspondent resigned. I was selected for this post after a written test and interview. I joined Shimla as a Staff Correspondent on December 1, 1971. I met an old classmate from D.A.V. School, Shimla, T.R. Kapur, who was a PTI Correspondent.

Some of his colleagues also recalled their association with him and wrote in the book. Besides Ujagar Singh and Sharda Rana, they include Dr. D.C. Sharma, Dr. Bhoj Raj, Mr. Manmohan Singh, Mr. P.C. Lohumi, Mr. P.P.S. Gill, and Prof (Dr.) Saroj Rani, Mr. Saurabh Duggal, and Mr. Yogendra Mohan.

The book also contains some of his memorable stories in The Tribune.

There could not have been a better tribute to him as many of his old colleagues, mostly his juniors, turned up at the book release ceremony. Rupinder Singh, who retired as Associate Editor, was joined by Naresh Kaushal, Editor, of Dainik Tribune, and Surinder Singh Tej, former Editor, of Punjabi Tribune, as special guests of honor at the book release ceremony.

They were joined by H.S. Sidhu, a senior bureaucrat, Dr. D.C. Sharma of PCMS Association, Journalists Yogendra Mohan and Saurabh Duggal, senior Public Relations functionaries Dr. Megha Singh and Ujagar Singh besides Sharda Rana, who along with Ujagar Singh and Mohit oversaw the production of the book.

Long-time colleague H.S. Sodhi, too, recalled his association with Mr. Prabhakar. At the same time, many other contemporaries like Sarbjit Dhaliwal, Geetanjali Sharma, Vibha Sharma, Sham Singh, Baljit Balli, Umesh Sharma, Arshdeep Arshi and Daljit Singh Sra were conspicuous by their presence.

Ms. Leena Nair, a bureaucrat, and daughter of Mr. Madhavan Nair, a former Editor of The Tribune, recalled the incident when Mr. Prabhakar was shifted from the desk to the field as a Reporter. It was a great break and he never looked back.

Mr. Prabhakar shared some of his cherished moments when he was transferred from Patiala to Chandigarh recalling how he became attached to the princely city that had so much to offer to write about. (Words 810)

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