Padma Bhushan Conferred on Veteran Journalist Shri Ram Bahadur Rai

The Ministry of Home Affairs presented the Padma Bhushan to Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, a distinguished journalist and President of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) Trust. The award was handed over by Shri Satpal Chauhan, Director General of the Ministry of Home Affairs, during a special ceremony at IGNCA’s office in New Delhi.

This honor, which includes a medal and a citation signed and sealed by the President of India, was awarded in recognition of Shri Rai’s exceptional contributions to Indian journalism and public discourse. As he was unable to attend the official Padma Awards ceremony earlier this year, this presentation took place in the presence of senior dignitaries and scholars.

Notable attendees included former Delhi Lieutenant Governor Shri Najeeb Jung, Prof. Ramesh Chandra Gaur of IGNCA, Shri Manmohan Singh Chawla of SGT University, and respected journalists such as Shri Hemant Sharma and Shri Santosh Bhartiya. The event also featured participation from academics and intellectuals from Delhi University and other institutions.

Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, who serves as the Chancellor of SGT University in Gurugram, has had a journalistic career spanning over 40 years. He began with Hindusthan Samachar and later held senior editorial positions at Jansatta, Navbharat Times, and Yathavat. Notably, he was imprisoned during the Emergency under MISA for his involvement in the JP Movement.

Several prominent personalities paid tribute to Rai’s lifelong dedication to journalism. Shri Najeeb Jung described him as “an inspiration to all,” while Shri Hemant Sharma commented that “honoring Rai Sahab is an honor for the award itself.” Shri Santosh Bhartiya suggested that a book should be written to document his rich legacy.

Throughout his academic and literary career, Shri Rai has authored and edited several notable books and columns. He has also served on various national committees and has received multiple prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri in 2015.

The event concluded with a reading of the official citation by Shri Anurag Punetha, Media Controller at IGNCA. The gathering expressed admiration for Shri Rai’s lifelong commitment to democratic values, media integrity, and intellectual leadership.