Lakshman turns 60: VSK’s wishes

Veteran Journalist, writer, social thinker Du Gu Lakshmanturned 60 today, July 13.  Lakshman had associated himself with ‘Hosadigantha’ for the last 26 years. He will be remembered as a most valuable contributor, who worked untiringly for the upliftment of the newspaper right from the days of its inception.

However, even after his retirement, Lakshman will continue as one of the Director of Jnana Bharati Prakashan Limited, under which ‘Hosadigatha’ (Daily), Vikarama (Weekly) and Aseema (Monthly) are being published. He will henceforth continue to head the oldest Sangh Journal of Karnataka, ‘VIKRAMA’ which was instituted in 1948.

Born on 13 July, 1952 at a Megur village of Sringeri Taluk, Karnataka, Lakshman happens to be a science graduate from DVS College, Shimoga. From his student days he was actively involved in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. The tryst developed in him skills of effective writing of articles and their analysis, coupled with skills of narration. And soon he plunged himself into the world of professional journalism, from which there has been no looking back.

Lakshman served as Pracharak (fulltime worker) with the RSS for 12 years from June 1975 to 1986. During his tenure, he served as Pracharak in Arasikere  (1979), Shimoga Jilla (1980-1985) and Mangalore Jilla (1985-1986).

The year 1975 witnessed sterling contributions by him along with like-minded RSS cadres. The group launched ‘Kahale’ and ‘Rana Dundhubhi’, Kannada publications, as underground journals, which made its way into the hands of thousands of young men, inspiring them to raise their voice against the Emergency that was imposed. The publishing of Kahale and Dundhubhi never came to a halt, where Lakshman untiringly contributed razor sharp critiques. Along with HV Sheshadri, Dattareya Hosabale and KS Nagaraj, Lakshman even journeyed to pen ‘Bhugilu’. The book remains a vivid and accurate depiction of every recorded incident that took place during the 21-month long Emergency Movement. Lakshman was even jailed in Madikeri for 3 months and released later on bail, after which he continued his activities underground, from Bellary.

It was in August 1986 that Lakshman joined Hosadigantha, at the Mangalore Bureau.  He began by serving different posts, from where he became the Editor for Bangalore Edition in 1995. He remained Chief Editor for all 4 editions: Mangalore, Bangalore, Shimoga and Hubli, till as Thursday.

Lakshman also has to his credit, his weekly column ‘Nera Nota’ (straight sight) which has been published unfailingly each Monday in Hosadigantha. One of the popular columns in the world of Kannada Journalism, the write-ups invited a perennial stream of readers from far and wide.  Every article written by Lakshman had a common aspect: they were centred around national faith, with a staunch focus on patriotism. A masterpiece article written by him and published on 24 March, 2010 articulated his views on Israel’s national resurgence.

Other books penned by him are ‘Kargil Kampana’,  based on the Kargil war and ‘Ghosh Tapaswi’ on the RSS Pracharak Subbu Srinivas.

Lakshman was honoured with the prestigious Nachiketha Award in 2003 by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajapeyee. In 2009, he was conferred the Na.Ba.Lele Award by the Hindustan Samachar group. Others that followed were Charaka Award from Governor of Karnataka in 2010, Rajyostava Award in 2010. There have been a string of exalted honours conferred on him by several social organisations, which have gone a long way in enshrining Lakshman’s contribution to the field of journalism.

Currently, Du Gu Lakshman serves as Sah-Pranth Prachar Pramukh for RSS Karnataka. He will henceforth continue to head the oldest Sangh Journal of Karnataka, Vikrama which was instituted in 1948. He is also an advisor for Vishwa Samvada Kendra, Karnataka.

Vishwa Samavda Kendra showers on him the best of wishes for more glorious and illustrious years in the field of national faith and devotion.