- IFWJ decides to constitute a “Core Group” comprising the three vice-presidents Gopal Mishra, Upendra Singh Rathore and Mohan Kumar and Rajat Mishra, Treasurer IFWJ to manage the day-to-day issues
- The IFWJ National Vice-President, Upendra Singh Rathod, offers to host an IFWJ meeting of the National Councilors in Rajasthan later this year
- Dr Vikram Rao was targeted and suffered for opposing the 1975 Internal Emergency and was implicated in the Baroda Dynamite Case along with George Fernandez, one of the most admired national leaders of India.
NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, JULY 14
Journalists, media teachers across the country representing various trade union outfits (Federation of PTI Employees Union, Times Employees Union, Confederation of Newspaper Employees Union, National Federation of Newspaper Employees), including the representatives of the journalists unions, and the leaders of the press workers assembled on a cloudy morning of Saturday, July 12, 2025, at the Constitution Club, New Delhi, to mourn the death of comrade K Vikram Rao, a journalist, who was living legend.
They pledged to take the legacy of Late Dr Rao, who served the IFWJ as its president, to take forward the spirit of the press freedom, protecting the ethics of journalism, financial and job interests of the fellow journalists and non-journalists, while maintaining the high-standard of judicious and independent writings.
Later, the meeting of the IFWJ working committee took place at the Press Club of India to streamline the functioning of the country’s oldest and most admired organization for carrying out the legacy of Dr. Rao. It was also decided to constitute a “Core Group” comprising the three vice-presidents Gopal Mishra, Upendra Singh Rathore and Mohan Kumar and Rajat Mishra, Treasurer IFWJ to manage the day-to-day issues and the Secretary General Vipin Dhulia to be serving as the coordinator of this task force till the new president and his committee is elected by the end of 2025.
Earlier, at the condolence meeting at the Constitution Club, the convergence of the common interests of the employees of the newspapers and the news agencies was further cemented, when with their choked voices most of the speakers recollected that even a few hours before his sad death, he was contributing to journalism. Rao had quit the country’s coveted Indian Police Service to join the Times of India as a journalist.
He had an excellent command over English as well as Hindi. He also knew Telugu, his mother tongue and Urdu. Being a devout socialist, he was keen that Hindi should be the most accepted communication language of the country, his write-ups appeared in more than 80 publications in different languages. He was targeted and suffered for opposing the 1975 Internal Emergency and was implicated in the Baroda Dynamite Case along with George Fernandez, one of the most admired national leaders of India. Later, George also served as the country’s Defense Minister. Some of the speakers pointed out that despite having opportunities to join public life, Rao decided to serve India’s journalism, which had suffered a huge setback during the press censorship imposed during the Emergency years. The IFWJ National Vice-President, Upendra Singh Rathod, from Rajasthan offered his cooperation in spreading the spirit of press freedom by associating the local journalists with the social and religious institutions, which his unit has been doing in Rajasthan. Later, he also offered to host an IFWJ meeting of the National Councilors in Rajasthan later this year.
The speakers included the leaders of the Confederation of Newspaper Employees Mr Manoj Mishra Vice President, the union leaders of the Press Trust of India, Shri Indukant Dixit, President PTI, Shri Balram Dhaiya General Secretary, Shri C. L. Gupta, In-charge of PTI’s North India wing and Ms Kavita, a senior journalist in PTI. They detailed how India’s biggest news agency is facing the wrath of a section of the country’s ruling establishment. A document on the behalf of the IFWJ Vice President Shri Gopal Mishra was also circulated cautioning the government the international and geopolitical implications of the weakening of the PTI workers for the country’s national interests. It was also stated that during the past 10 years, the Chinese news outfits and proxies have emerged on the international horizon adversely affecting India’s security and strategic interests. It was felt that their propaganda can be countered only by the reinvigorating the free and impartial media, especially PTI, known for its truthfulness in the country.
Speaker from various IFWJ units from across India Mr Vipin Dhuliya Secretary General IFWJ, Mr Rajat Mishra Treasurer IFWJ, Mr Haseeb Siddiqui, President UPWJU, Mr Shiv Sharan Gharwar President Lucknow Union, Mr Nitin Srivastava Member Working Committee LWJU, Mr Pramod Dutta President Bihar Union, Mr Sudhir Madhukar General Secretary Bihar Union, Mr Abhijeet Pandey, Mr Salman Khan President Madhya Pradesh Union, Mr Hariom Pandey WC member, Mr Upendra Singh Rathore President Rajasthan Union, Mr Benu Panda General Secretary Utakal Journalist Union Orissa, Mr P Anandam Secretary Telengana Union, Mr Somaiah Mamidi Founder President Telangana Union, Mr Basava Punnaiah Bodige Member Telangana Vidhansaba Media Advisor, Mr Prabhakar Yelogi, Ms Shanta Kumari Conveyner IFWJ Karnataka, Mr Santosh Chaturvedi Secretary IFWJ, Mr Parmeshwar Rao President Andhra President Andhra Union, Mr Maroof Raza Convener IFWJ New Delhi paid their heartfelt tribute to the departed leader.
Representatives of the Confederation of Press Workers also paid their heartfelt tribute to the departed leader, the most noticeable included Shri Ayodhya Prasad Vashisht Founder President of N.F.N.E., Mr Umesh Chaturvedi, an eminent trade union leader from Bhopal, Professor Shivaji Sarcar of NUJI, Mr C M Papnai General Secretary N.F.N.E., Mr Pradeep Phutela Uttarakhand, Mr Havaldar Singh President Times Employees Union, member of Times Union Mr Umashankar Kukreti, Mr Rajendra Pandey, Mr Hari, Mr Suresh Dobarial Sr. journalist, Ms Saroj Dhuliya Vice President Indian Women’s Press Corp shared their personal anecdotes that how Mr. Rao had helped them in their professional and trade union tasks. Some state members who could not attend due to unavoidable circumstances sent their messages. Messages from Secretary General of Confederation, Mr G Bhoopathi, Mr Mohan Kumar Vice President IFWJ, Ms Namita Bora, Assam, Mr Amit Kumar of W Bengal, Mr B R Prajapati and Mr R Manickam, President & Secretary Gujrat Journalists Union, Mr Bijay Paul President Tripura Journalist Union and others were read out.
One of the close friends of Mr. Rao, Shri K.B. Mathur, who served as the Editor of the Northern Indian Patrika and Amrit Prabhat, now based in Toronto, Canada, recollected that how he had taken refuge for a few hours at his residence before his arrest in Lucknow. Professor Pradeep Mathur offered his support for helping journalists to improve their writing skills. The presence of Pramod Rawal, a former top civil servant with his doctor wife Ms Amita Rawal, recollected their warm lifelong relationship with Late Dr Rao and his wife Dr. Sudha Rao, when they were neighbors in Lucknow.
A two-minute silence was observed for the departed soul.
Later the IFWJ Working Committee held its meeting at Press Club of India and pledged to complete the movement initiated by its president Dr K Vikram Rao. The details of the National Council session to be held in Rajasthan was finalised. Discussions were held on proposals received from various states for inculcation as new units of IFWJ, they were forwarded to the IFWJ Core committee for approval. The IFWJ Working Committee applauded Mr Maroof Raza a senior TV journalist and Delhi convener of IFWJ for his efforts in making the tribute to our leader Dr K Vikram Rao a graceful event.
With heavy hearts, the team bids farewell to Comrade K Vikram Rao, whose vision and dedication have shaped this journey of IFWJ. It is an honour. An exemplary path has been set, and it is determined to be followed.
