Manikchandra Vajpayee

Manikchandra Vajpayee
A Commemorative postage stamp on Manikchandra Vajpayee, released in 2020
Born(1919-10-07)7 October 1919
Bateshwar, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India
Died25 December 2005(2005-12-25) (aged 86)
Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India
Other nameMamaji
CitizenshipIndia
EducationB.A. & Law
OccupationsJournalist, founder editor of multi-edition Hindi daily Swadesh
Political party
Bharatiya Jana Sangh
FamilyAtal Bihari Vajpayee (nephew)

Manikchandra Vajpayee (also spelt as Manikchand Vajpayee[1]) (7 October 1919 – 25 December 2005), also known as Mamaji, was an Indian journalist, writer, and RSS Pracharak.[2][3][4] He is noted for his contribution to the field of journalism. He was the founder-editor of the multi-edition Hindi daily newspaper Swadesh.[1][5] The Manikchandra Vajpayee National Journalism Awards, which the Government of Madhya Pradesh named after Manikchandra Vajpayee, is one of India's awards in the field of journalism.[5]

He is credited with expanding Swadesh from a small newspaper into a multi-edition daily, which now has eight editions, and his journalism has been regarded within the Sangh as a benchmark. Apart from his work as a journalist, Vajpayee authored more than half a dozen books.[6]

Early life

Manikchandra Vajpayee was born on 7 October 1919, in Bateshwar of Agra district of Uttar Pradesh, India. Vajpayee completed his middle school examination in Gwalior and received a gold medal in the intermediate examination conducted by the Ajmer Board. He later completed his B.A. and L.L.B. degrees.[6]

Career

He started journalism as the editor of Deshmitra published from Bhind district. He worked as an RSS pracharak from 1944 to 1953, working for the organisation's expansion in the Bhind region of present-day Madhya Pradesh. He also worked as a teacher in Lahrauli, Bhind district, for ten years from 1954.[6]

He served as the Organizing Secretary of Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1953. He contested the assembly elections from Bhind in 1957 against Narsingh Rao Dikshit and in 1962 against Vijaya Raje Scindia from Gwalior, as directed by the Bharatiya Jana Sangh.[6]

He served as the editor of the daily Hindi newspaper Swadesh (Indore) from 1968 to 1985.[7] In the year 1975, Vajpayee was jailed during The Emergency, but he did not let his writing stop. He was in Indore jail for 19 months. He continued to write editorials from the jail. He was associated with Swadesh since its establishment in 1966. He also served as the advisory editor of the Bhopal, Jabalpur, Sagar, Raipur and Bilaspur editions of Swadesh. He was editor-in-chief of Gwalior, Jhansi and Guna editions of Swadesh from 1987 to 2005.[7]

Mamaji was also the President of Indore Press Club from 1978 to 1980. During his tenure, the Indore Press Club became quite discussed for his activities. He raised the demand to eliminate the old waste laws through this press club.[8]

In October 2020, his biography book, Shabdapurush: Manikchandra Vajpayee was launched by Sarsanghachalak Mohan Bhagwat and Minister of Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar. The book was jointly published by Prabhat Prakashan and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.[9][10]

Personal life and death

He died on 25 December 2005, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.[1] Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Gwalior to pay his respects.[11]

Manikchandra was married and had a son and a daughter, both of whom died before him. His wife also died before him.[12]

Recognition and commemoration

In 2005, he was honored with the Dr Hedgewar Pragya Award in Kolkata for his significant contribution in the field of journalism.[8]

In 2006, the State Government of Madhya Pradesh, led by CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan established "Manikchandra Vajpayee National Journalism Award".[13] Later, the award was discontinued by the Congress government. In 2020, the award was restarted by Shivraj Singh Chouhan's government.[5]

In 2013, a biography of Vajpayee, titled Patrakarita Ke Yug Nirmata: Manikchand Vajpayee, was written by Kailash Gaur and published by Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, Bhopal.[14]

In December 2020, the Government of India's postal department issued a postage stamp to commemorate Vajpayee. The postal stamp release ceremony was attended by CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and former governor Kaptan Singh Solanki.[15][16]

Selected bibliography

  • Keral Mein Marks Nahi Mahesh
  • Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh: Apne Samvidhan Ke Aaine Mein
  • Samay Ki Shila Par
  • Pahli Agni Pariksha
  • Aapatkaleen Sangharsh Ki Gaatha
  • Bharatiya Naari: Vivekanand Ki Drishti Se
  • Kashmir Ka Kadwa Sach
  • Pope Ka Kasta Shikanka
  • Jyoti Jala Nij Praan Ki
  • Partition-Days The Fiery Saga of RSS

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "RSS veteran Manikchand Vajpayee passes away". Haindava Keralam. United News of India. 27 December 2005.
  2. ↑ "पत्रकार की 100वीं जयंती पर होगा विशेष कार्यक्रम, केंद्रीय मंत्री प्रकाश जावड़ेकर करेंगे अध्यक्षता" (in Hindi). Zee News. October 2020.
  3. ↑ Malik, Dr. Pavan Singh (7 October 2020). "फक्कड़, धुनी और ध्येय के प्रति समर्पित पत्रकार थे मामा माणिकचंद वाजपेयी" (in Hindi). Prabhasakshi.
  4. ↑ "Remembering 'Dhyeyanishth' Mamaji". Organiser Weekly. 12 March 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 "Journalism award in name of Mamaji in Madhya Pradesh to be restarted: Chief Minister Chouhan". The Free Press Journal. 28 December 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Anand, Arun (7 October 2021). "Manikchandra Vajpayee, the pracharak & editor who became benchmark of journalism for RSS". ThePrint.
  7. 1 2 "शिवराज सरकार फिर शुरू करेगी मामाजी माणिक चंद्र वाजपेयी पुरस्कार" (in Hindi). Zee News. 8 October 2020.
  8. 1 2 Singh, Lokendra (7 October 2020). "माणिक चंद वाजपेयी ने धारदार लेखनी से भारतीय मूल्यों एवं राष्ट्रीय विचार को प्रतिष्ठित किया". Prabhasakshi.
  9. ↑ "इंदिरा गांधी राष्ट्रीय कला केंद्र में पुस्तक 'शब्दपुरुष : माणिकचंद्र वाजपेयी' का लोकार्पण" (in Hindi). Amar Ujala.
  10. ↑ "ध्येय के प्रति समर्पित जीवन जिया मामाजी ने" (in Hindi). Panchjanya. 8 October 2021.
  11. ↑ "Vajpayee to pay homage to RSS leader". The Times of India. 27 December 2005.
  12. ↑ Khemaria, Ajay (7 October 2020). "पत्रकारिता के अनुकरणीय परमहंस थे माणिकचन्द्र वाजपेयी". Prabhasakshi (in Hindi).
  13. ↑ "First Vajpayee award presented". Hindustan Times. 28 December 2006.
  14. ↑ Gaur, Kailash (2013). Patrakarita Ke Yug Nirmata: Manikchand Vajpayee. Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication.
  15. ↑ "Postage Stamp To Be Released On December 27 On Birth Centenary Year Of Renowned Journalist Late Mama Manikchandra Vajpayee". India Education Diary. 27 December 2020.
  16. ↑ "Manikchandra Vajpayee National Journalism Award Will Be Resumed : CM Chouhan". India Education Diary. 28 December 2020.
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