Today, the 5th of July 2016, we, at the Daily Excelsior, are commemorating the fourth death anniversary of Shri S.D Rohmetra, the founding father of Daily Excelsior and the doyen of State’s journalistic enterprise.
Fifty-one years ago, he pioneered the publication of the Daily Excelsior, first as a weekly, and later on, as a daily newspaper. During its half a century plus service to the fourth estate, Daily Excelsior has meticulously maintained, rather upstaged, the established standard of objective and impartial journalism.
Shri Rohmetra had laid solid foundation of this newspaper, and over the years, built its superstructure brick by brick. Today, fifty-one years from the day of its inception, Daily Excelsior enjoys the pride of place among a host of English dailies being published in the State.
Strictly adhering to the norms set forth by the late founder S.D. Rohmetra, the team Daily Excelsior has been able to meet all norms of impartial and objective coverage of news and events, and presentation of high rated commentaries on current affairs.
We at the Daily Excelsior, and our readers, all know that for last two decades and half, the State has been going through a spate of turmoil with highly sensitive political undertones. In such an unusual situation, the media is required to maintain highest degree of objectivity, neutrality and restraint, all in the wider interests of the nation. These have been challenging times, not only for us, but for all sensible and visionary political commentators.
Shri Rohmetra’s very close association with mainstream political personalities in and outside the State, and his deep understanding of the nuances of J&K politics were strong credentials on the basis of which all kinds of governments in power at the Centre, notwithstanding their affiliations or parameters of coalition, invariably solicited his sane, balanced and mature opinion on a variety of issues related to the State.
His status as a senior and distinguished journalist from the State was a strong qualification for him to be included as part of Press Corps accompanying the highest State dignitaries like the President and Prime Minister of India on their official visits to foreign countries.
An ardent nationalist, Shri Rohmetra had drawn certain guidelines of nationalist journalism, which he held dear all his life. It is a matter of satisfaction to us that we have succeeded in steadfastly upholding them in all circumstances. Whatever decisions we take in regard to policy and approach of the Daily Excelsior to current situations, we never lose sight of those fundamental outlines which are crucial to national interests.
We feel satisfied that we have been able to inform, educate and inspire our readers, not as partisans but as pathfinders in an environment beset with prejudices and eccentricities.
In rendering this enviable social and national service, we are indebted first to our highly conscientious and hardworking staff whether behind the desk or in the field, and secondly, to the vast reading public which has evinced keen interest in the material that we feed them with. In discharging professional responsibilities, we have been often guided by their response. We value their comments. We are highly thankful to both vital components of our enterprise.
This is the age of Information Technology. More than any other social service, technological revolution has affected the media, particularly in a country that has adopted democratic dispensation as its form of governance. We have tried to induct latest media technology into our enterprise, thanks again to our dedicated staff, and we hope to keep pace with whatever kind of improvement takes place in this area.
We pray to God Almighty to give us strength and courage to carry forward the mission and vision of our late father in service to the people of the State and the nation at large.
-Kamal & Neeraj
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