Editor of the daily Mumbai Tarun Bharat, Kiran Shelar’s bold stance

Refuses to accept awards from those who deny the existence of Lord Shri Ram!

(Kiran Shelar, Editor – Mumbai Tarun Bharat, Credit – OpIndia)

Mumbai – Editor of daily ‘Mumbai Tarun Bharat’ Mr. Kiran Shelar refused to accept the ‘Darpankar Balshastri Jambhekar Memorial Award’ from Mr. Prakash Pohare, editor of the daily ‘Deshonnati’ who denied the existence of Lord Shri Ram. Mr. Kiran Shelar’s boldness is being appreciated everywhere.

To commemorate Journalists Day and 23rd Anniversary of the Marathi Newspaper Writers Association on January 5th, an award distribution program was held at Mumbai Marathi Library auditorium in Dadar.

At the Marathi Newspaper Lekh Sangha awards, Mr. Kiran Shelar, editor of ‘Mumbai Tarun Bharat,’ was to receive the ‘Darpankar Balshastri Jambhekar Smriti Award’. Mr. Prakash Pohare, editor of the daily ‘Deshonnati’ present on the stage made remark aimed at atheists stating, ‘There are two sections in this country, those who believe in Shri Ram and those who do not. Some people think that Shri Ram is an abstract concept’.

Mr. Pohare, who chaired the program, highlighted several issues in the country. He was also supposed to present the award to Mr. Kiran Shelar, but Mr. Shelar straightforwardly declined to accept it.

Commenting on the controversial statement made by Mr. Prakash Pohare, Mr. Shelar said, “The problems of this country raised by the earlier speakers are real and the existence of Lord Shri Ram is also real. So, I don’t want awards from those who believe that Shri Ram is an imagination, I will not accept it. However, I don’t want to insult the pioneer of Marathi journalism Balshastri Jambhekar. Therefore, the Mumbai Marathi Journalistic Writers’ Association should decide whether to give the award or not.”

Mr. Shelar’s stance was welcomes by the audience, leading to a unified chant of ‘Jai Shri Ram’. After this, Mr. Sukrit Khandekar, editor of daily ‘Prahar’ presented the award to Mr. Kiran Shelar.

Expecting Hindus to respect everyone’s beliefs and faiths; but no one respecting their feelings; this is not acceptable anymore! – Kiran Shelar, Editor, Daily ‘Mumbai Tarun Bharat’.

Whatever happened was not good. I agreed to accept the award only because it was being given in the name of Acharya Balshastri Jambhekar. I disagreed with the speeches of the other speakers; but those were their opinions. Mr. Prakash Pohare, however, made impertinent statements questioning the very existence of Shri Ram. There was no reason to speak like that in the program. In my opinion it was inappropriate to accept the award from such a man. Hindus should respect everyone’s beliefs and faiths; but no one respecting their feelings; this is not acceptable anymore. I did not want to disrespect the award given in the name of Acharya Balshastri Jambhekar. Therefore, I left the program after accepting the award from senior journalist Mr. Sukrit Khandekar.

Editorial Perspective –

Congratulations to the editor of ‘Mumbai Tarun Bharat’ Mr. Kiran Shelar for taking a brave stance! For the past several decades, Hindu religion, scriptures and culture have been subjected to hateful criticism in the name of secular journalism. As a result, Hindu community has experienced a lot of sufferening. The bold and straightforward stance taken by Mr. Shelar for Hindutva is an inspiration for everyone!