Eminent journalist and President of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) Trust, Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, was presented the ‘Padma Bhushan’ award by Shri Satpal Chauhan, Director General, Ministry of Home Affairs. The honour comprised a citation bearing the signature and seal of the President of India, along with the award medal. As Shri Rai was unable to attend the official Padma Awards ceremony at RashtrapatiBhavan, the presentation was made at the IGNCA office by Shri Chauhan, accompanied by Director Shri Pandey Pradeep Kumar and other senior officials of the Ministry.

Also present on the occasion were former Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Shri Najeeb Jung; Prof. Ramesh Chandra Gaur, Head of the Kala Nidhi Division and Dean (Administration), IGNCA; Shri Anurag Punetha, Media Controller, IGNCA; Shri Manmohan Singh Chawla, Managing Trustee, SGT University; Shri Santosh Bhartiya, Editor and former Editor of ChouthiDuniya; noted journalist and editor Shri Hemant Sharma; former Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Vijay Mishra; Shri Rakesh Singh from PragyaSansthan; and Prof. Anil from Delhi University, among other intellectuals and dignitaries.

On this occasion, Shri Anurag Punetha read the official citation issued in honour of Shri Ram Bahadur Rai. Extending his congratulations, Shri Najeeb Jung remarked that Rai Sahab remains a source of inspiration to all and wished him longevity and continued achievements. Shri Santosh Bhartiya suggested that a book should be written on Shri Rai’s life and work to inspire future generations. Shri Hemant Sharma stated that honouring Rai Sahab is the honour of the award itself. He acknowledged him as a warrior of the Emergency who carried the struggle forward with resolve. Expressing gratitude on behalf of IGNCA, Prof. Ramesh Chandra Gaur noted that Shri Ram Bahadur Rai has led the institution not merely as its head, but as the guiding elder of a family.

About Padma Bhushan Awardee Shri Ram Bahadur Rai

Shri Ram Bahadur Rai currently serves as the President of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) Trust and as the Chancellor of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary University, Gurugram. He also guides several other institutions. Motivated by a vision to intellectually contribute to the rebuilding of India, he chose journalism as his path and has over 40 years of experience in the field. Before stepping into journalism, he was actively involved in student politics and movements for nearly 15 years.

Shri Rai began his formal career as a journalist with the multilingual news agency HindusthanSamachar. Over the years, he held editorial responsibilities at Jansatta and Navbharat Times, as well as with the Hindi fortnightlies PrathamPravakta and Yathavat. He also served as the Group Editor of HindusthanSamachar and its associated publications. His long-standing column ‘KahatKabir’ in Yathavat was widely followed. Prior to this, he regularly contributed the column ‘Padtal’ in Anayas and Jansatta. He has written for Rashtriya Sahara (Hastakshep), Amar Ujala, PrabhatKhabar, Rajasthan Patrika, and BBC Hindi.

An alumnus of Banaras Hindu University, Shri Rai holds an M.A. in Economics. He was actively involved in the JP Movement and was jailed under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during the Emergency. He is the Managing Trustee of the ‘PrabhashParamparaNyas’ and was nominated as a member of the Executive Council of Delhi University by the President of India. He serves as a member of the Best Parliamentarian Award Committee and the Gandhi Samadhi Committee, Rajghat, Delhi. AwadheshPratap Singh University, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, conferred upon him an honorary D.Litt. degree.

Selected Publications by Padma Bhushan Shri Ram Bahadur Rai

Awards and Honours

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Sunil Kumar Tiwari

pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

Bhushan Press Release