the journey of a legend chp-03

8/2/2019 THE JOURNEY OF A LEGEND Chp-03

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After the retirement of SardarDurlab Singh from active Journalism,my Dad took over the Editorship of

the Indian Observerand that becamehis first love. Through the columns ofthe Indian Observer and his signedEditorials Shri Harbhajan Singh raisedthe important issues and burningproblems facing the country andcame out with their solutions makingaware his numerous readers includingthe Parliamentarians who wereon permanent complimentarymailing list.

...and his last Editor ial

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ChapterH arbhajan Singh...An E minent Journal ist

AVING entered journalism, while barely in his teens,young Harbhajan Singh was quick enough to make his markin the profession of his choice. Bubbling with youth and

dashing as he was, like his illustrious father, he wasa fearless crusader for the just and genuine rights of theAll-India Small and Medium Newspapers Federationmembers whose number ran into many thousands whichin turn, actually speaking, formed his strength - back-boneand that he utilised to further advance the genuine causesto Federation's Advantage since early 1970s.

Not only that Federation members too loved himfrom the core of their heart- he was their HERO, GodFather - whom they worshipped and adored him - theiridol. In the Annual Sessions and General Body Meetingslong live Sardar Harbhajan Singh and Sardar Harbhajan

H

Not only thatFederation

members tooloved him fromthe core of theirheart- he was

their H ERO,God Father

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Singh Zindabad rented the air he being the Messiah of Smalland Medium Newspaper Journalists.

In the early 70s having played his hectic professionalinnings Sardar Durlab Singh handed over the publicationand editorship of the Indian Observer the popular TabloidWeekly to Harbhajan Singh his eldest son. On taking overHarbhajan Singh changed the format into a magazine sizemaking it a 4-Colour Fortnightly. For him it was a Labour of

Love printing Observer from Single colour offset Pressknown as 5 Star Printers, from Ajmal Khan Road. With thiswealth of experience he acquired the first hand knowledgeof the great difficulties and hardships and the relatedproblems of finances and man power that one faced whilebringing out a small and medium newspaper.

... Honouring a foreign Student with a Journalism Degree and a warm Handshake.

For him itwas a Labour of

Love printingObserver fromSingle colouroffset Press

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A great champion of Indo-Russian relationsHarbhajan Singh's earnest efforts and sincere services willbe long remembered. His notable contribution for thenoble cause of promoting Hindi- Russi Bhai Bhai and Indo-Russian relations and bilateral friendship co-operation will

go down the annals of historic ties between the twocountries. He was a regular visitor to the Soviet Union andthere was practically no change in his number of visits tothe present Russian Federation. I lost count of the numberof his visits which were so frequent. According to a roughestimate by Minister Counsellor Andrey A. Sorokin it waswell over forty times. In fact it was almost double this

number.

As a distinguished Editor and eminent Film Crit ic ofFilm Mirrorhe was a regular invitee to the Tashkent and

Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi addressing the Members of the Fourth Estate. R.K. KaranjiaEditor Blitz and Harbhajan Singh, Editor Indian Observer sit t ing on extreme right

I lost count ofthe number ofhis visits which

were sofrequent.

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... Veterans both Khushwant Singh and Harbhajan Singh discussing about

the Freedom of Press

Moscow Film Festivals and moreover he was the Presidentof Indo-Russian Journalists Association. Not only that hewas a great votary and a live wire of Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhaimovement. He visited Peoples Republic of China many atime and came out with his impressions. Prime MinisterIndira Gandhi was all praise for Harbhajan Singh for his

impressions of China and she congratulated him for that.

As the one not to be cowed down by any body,Harbhajan's powerful pen showed sparks enough againstmajor burning issues. He authored a number of books andit will not be out of place to mention some out of themnamely:- The Great Betrayal on Middle East Crisis, HumanRights, Indira Gandhi- A Prime Minister Assassinated,Soviet Cinema, Changing Trends in Soviet Cinema, Indo-Soviet Relations in the field of Civil Aviation and were highlyreceived and appreciated greatly. Much sought-after for hisexpert advice on all major issues he was made seniormember of many a Body-Newsprint Advisory CommitteeNewsprint Price Fixation Committee of the Government

Harbhajan'spowerful pen

showed sparksenough againstmajor burning

issues.

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of India. Press Council of India, Central PressAccreditation Committee to take care of the interestsof upcoming journalists.

He stood honoured time and again for his

multifarious excellence in more areas than one and itlooked like as if the Awards rained on him. For he was therecipient of Shiromani Award 1979, for being a fearlessoutstanding journalist that he was. The NationalIntegration Award in the year 1982 for his tireless efforts

Harbhajan Singhstarted NRI Link

Magazineto bring NRIs closerto their Motherlandfor keeping them intouch with India andhelp them invest in

Indias development tomake it a strongNation placing it

among the leadingones in the world.

Celebrating 25 NRIInternational

Conferences over acouple of decades.

He stoodhonoured time

and again for hismultifariousexcellence in

more areas thanone and it

looked like as ifthe Awards

rained on him.

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for international brotherhood he being the cementingfactor in bringing together the peoples, journalists andartistes of India, China and the Soviet Union together-

followed by the man of International Media Award 1983,Rotary Club Vocational Award 1986, EmotionalIntegration Award 1987, Bharat Gaurav Award 1988,Mediaman of the Year Award 1989, Best Film Crit ic Awardfrom the Delhi Crit ics Association 1991, and so goes on thenever ending list.

His name engraved in golden letters is bound to

figure in the select gallery of leading luminaries of the journalistic profession. His place stands assured amongstalwarts like M. Chalapathi Rau, Rana Jang Bahadur Singh,Sardar Durlab Singh, Prem Bhatia, R.K. Karanjia, InderMalhotra, Mulgaokar, Frank Moraes, Khushwant Singh toname a few.

... Receiving Shiromani Award and the Gold Medallion from HonbleDeputy Prime Minister L. K. Advani for Excellence in Journalism.

Secretary General of the Shiromani Insitute Mr. Jagmohan Singh in the Centre

His nameengraved in

golden letters isbound to figure

in the selectgallery of leading

luminaries of thejournalisticprofession.

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GLOBAL TRAVEL EXPRESS

Harbhajan Singh started Global Travel Express some16 years ago and with that he opened a window for thecountrymen to see and visit to the Tourist places of theWorld in general and that of India in particular. His main aimwas to explore the hidden places of Tourist interest with inthe vast country beyond Metro Cities in far off remoteareas. Since the country has so much to offer round theyear in different climates and regions from fauna, floranatural beauty, ancient Temples, Heritage Places toBodhgaya and what not. Frankly speaking over the years

that in turn gave a boost to Tourism and brought in themuch needed foreign exchange.

Harbhajan Singh Ji speaking on Priorities ofTourism Industry. Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad

Minister of Civil Aviat ion & Tourism releasedthe Global Travel Express edited by Shri Singh.

the journey of a legend chp-03

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