By Anantha Krishnan M
Bengaluru, Oct 2: Rajeev Kumar Mishra (45), a Chief Sub-Editor with the Bengaluru edition of Rajasthan Patrika, has been selected for the 2nd G Santha Teacher Memorial Journalism Award 2017. The award has been instituted by Inspired Indian Foundation (IIF), a writers’ movement spearheading silent missions for unsung heroes.
The award will be presented on October 11 in Bengaluru, during the 2nd Guru Kalam Memorial Lecture being organised by IIF in association with Abdul Kalam International Foundation (AKIF), Rameswaram.
The award carries a specially-crafted crystal memento, a certificate of appreciation and Rs 10,000 in cash. The awardee will be onboard IIF’s national missions as a special invitee for the next one year.
Rekha Satheesh, a Senior Chief Sub-Editor with The New Indian Express, Kochi, was the first recipient of the G. Santha Teacher Memorial Journalism Award last year.
"This year too we had a tough task in picking one from the shortlisted six journalists. Finally, it was Rajeev Mishra's consistent commitment to the reader as a writer that helped us in choosing him for this prestigious award. We found his writing well-researched, sans any sensationalism," says Dr Kota Harinarayana, Mentor of IIF.
IIF began the process of shortlisting the nominees in January this year. Once the final list of candidates was drawn up, a confidential report from their Editors was sought to measure some of their performance parameters.
“Our endeavor is to recognize electronic, print and wire media journalists, from both reporting and desk, who make invaluable contributions to their profession. We seek the opinion of readers/viewers as well, while short-listing the awardees. Next year, the award will be given to a television journalist,” says Sindhu A, National Coordinator, IIF.
Consistent & committed writer: Rajeev has been covering all beats — ranging from politics, crime, sports, business, science and technology, to space and defence — often doubling up as a deskperson-cum-reporter. His specials on India’s space programmes ensured that the non-English-reading segments benefitted immensely, especially in the non-metro cities.
Hailing from Siwan district in Bihar, Rajeev has been a journalist for the last 13 years. Born to farmer-parents, he was a casual announcer with All India Radio in Jamshedpur before starting his career with Dainik Uditwani in 2004.
Later, he moved on to Lokmat Samachar before joining Rajasthan Patrika in 2008. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Vardhaman Mahaveer Open University, Kota, Rajasthan. He is married to Nisha Mishra and blessed with a daughter and son.
Reacting to the news of his winning the award, Rajeev says that his responsibility as a journalist has increased with the honour. “It’s a matter of pride for me. I dedicate this award to my newspaper and all its readers. I am delighted that my selection was done by highly revered jury members,” says Rajeev. (rajeevnmishra@gmail.com | Twitter: @rajeevmishra25)
About late Santha teacher: Born to scholar parents in 1942, G. Shantha (my mother) was a post-graduate in English literature and hailed from Thalavadi in Kerala’s Alappuzha district. She first taught English in colleges (Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College, Trichy, Tamil Nadu and Devasom Board College, Thalayolaparambu, Kerala) before settling down at Mahatma High School for Girls, Chennithala, Kerala. She passed away at the age of 65 on 17 February 2007, following a heart attack. She went the extra mile in spreading the essence of English literature among rural children, even after her retirement.