M. C. AND “NATIONAL HERALD”
INDIRA GANDHI
It is always difficult to speak about one
whom one has known all one’s life. Public praise is somewhat artificial to the
receiver as well as the giver. And Chalapathi Rau is
extremely sensitive about these things and I can guess how embarrassed and
uncomfortable he must be feeling. My father not only had regard and unfailing
trust in him but regarded him as a friend. My husband and I felt privileged to
count him also a friend. Rarely does an editor preside over the destinies of
one newspaper for 30 continuous years. Because of this old association of ours
with the Herald and of M. C., as he is fondly called by all who know
him, we thought we should express our appreciation a\ld gratitude, for his
services.
The country thinks of the Herald as
Jawaharlal Nehru’s paper. But it is equally M. C.’s
paper. A true editor and his newspaper develop a peculiar sense of identity.
The only parallel in the relationship is between a good principal and his
college. This comparison is not inappropriate because a good editor is always a
good educator. At its best the press is a people’s university.
Jawaharlal Nehru had very clear and definite
ideas regarding the role of the press. He did not consider newspapers as
commodities to be bought and sold. To him the press was an educating influence,
an aid to rational thinking, a check against irrational forces, one of the
instruments for building a nation–a new kind of nation. This is the kind of
newspaper he wanted the Herald to be. He did not think of it as an
establishment which should justify itself merely by profit earning. In fact his
aim wasn’t profit at all–it was a purpose.
If the Herald has become the sort of
newspaper which it is, its
credit largely goes to two remarkable – and wholly dissimilar – persons: Rama Rao and Chalapathi Rau. By his steadfast and unwavering devotion to his paper, by his deep
understanding of the working of political and historical forces and of motives
which activate men and nations, by his feeling for style no less than his sense
of history, and above all by his own integrity, his insistence on judging
between right and wrong and writing what he believes, without fear or malice, Chalapathi Rau has become an institution. As was said of
another great editor, C. P. Scott, he has made righteousness readable. I only
hope that his friends won’t make him a monument. He has too much humanity and humour for that. Efficiency experts and actuaries may not
think highly of the Herald. Yet it has commanded influence and respect.
For 35 years it has moulded the thoughts and
attitudes of people, in particular of Congressmen in this part of the country,
and has accumulated a considerable reputation in the profession of journalism.
Today cynicism is the besetting sin of world
journalism. Chalapathi Rau is to be congratulated on
keeping his faith undimmed. Another fault of today’s press is the desire
constantly of making more money. I am shocked at the filth and falsehood that
sometimes appear in newspapers, the pain inflicted and the harm done by them,
all in pursuit of a higher circulation and advertisement revenue. Isn’t it time
that the more earnest men and women in the profession do something, about
checking vulgarity in the press and related media?
It is said–and I agree–that the press is one
of the indispensable institutions of democracy. Newspapers have become an
integral part of society, democratic or otherwise. But since democracy provides
opportunity for openly expressing dissent, freedom of the press is part of
democratic freedom.
Today, we are gathered here to honour a person who symbolises
editorial integrity. It is because his feet are firmly planted on certain
ideals that he can be feared. What he is saying, what he has said is not a
remark to please or to offend, not to make or to destroy, but to carry forth
the programme towards the sort of what you have which his friend Jawaharlal
Nehru and our other great leaders had put before the nation. It is because of
his strong conviction and also his deep comprehension of my father’s mind and
approach that he is able to put them into writing and to continue to put them.
We find many people whether they call themselves Gandhites
or Nehruites or any other “ites”,
they confined themselves to what was said at a particular period in a
particular context which shows that they did not really understand the person
deeply and therefore have to restrict to themselves to certain written or
spoken words.
But because M. C. has this deeper
comprehension, he is able to assess and to interpret today’s contemporary
forces, contemporary events and contemporary personalities keeping in view the
same ideals. This is what makes his writings so important and so relevant even
today and I can say that quite often–Dikshitji has
mentioned a certain simplification of language–but what has struck me most
about M C.’s editorials is his ability to go straight
to the crux of the problem, not bothering about the many details and frills but
straight to what it is that matters, what it is that has to be got across and
explained and this is his true greatness as an editor. So, today, we honour not only a great editor, but a lovable human being
who has compassion and understanding for his fellow men and women.
On your behalf and on my own I wish him long
life and a greater sense of fulfilment.
[Excerpts from the speech made by the Prime
Minister Smt. Indira
Gandhi, at the function arranged to felicitate M.C. on June 30, 1976, at Teen Murti
House,