By Prof. Sanjay Dwivedi
The education of mass communication and journalism has today evolved into a distinct and specialized academic discipline. Across India, four universities dedicated specifically to this field are currently operational. However, it was Pandit Makhanlal Chaturvedi who first dreamt of a dedicated Journalism University.
Addressing the Editor’s Conference in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, in 1927, he voiced a revolutionary idea, “To ensure the entry of qualified individuals into the offices of Hindi newspapers—choose any name from the flood of modern terminology—I say there is a need for a ‘University for the Art of Editing.’ Such an institution should be situated in a suitable location and managed by intelligent, industrious, and experienced editor-teachers. This seat of learning must house a profound library encompassing a diverse range of subjects.”
It is a poetic coincidence that the Madhya Pradesh government realized this dream in 1990 by establishing a journalism university in Bhopal named in his honour. Following this, the Kushabhau Thakre University of Journalism and Mass Communication was established in Raipur, and the Haridev Joshi University of Journalism in Jaipur. Furthermore, two years ago, the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) was granted Deemed University status. This progression highlights how deeply our ancestors desired to see their craft established as a formal academic pillar.
A Multidimensional Legacy
Makhanlal Ji’s personality was multifaceted. He appears in history as a poet, writer, journalist, editor, and freedom fighter. He was an unparalleled orator, leading the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, to remark:
“The rest of us merely talk; only Makhanlal knows how to deliver a speech.” Mahatma Gandhi held him in such high regard that he once stated, “I am going to a small place like Babai only because it is Makhanlal Ji’s birthplace. I wish to honor the land that gave birth to him.” It is a significant coincidence that the death anniversaries of both Mahatma Gandhi and Makhanlal Ji are observed on the same day—January 30.
The renowned poet Firaq Gorakhpuri was also a fervent admirer of Makhanlal Ji. He observed:
“Reading his writings felt as though the Primordial Power (Adi-Shakti) was manifesting in the form of words, or the Ganges was descending from the heavens. This style is a rarity not just in Hindi, but in other Indian languages as well. Thousands like me learned our language and the art of writing from Makhanlal Ji alone.”
‘Karmaveer’: Journalism as a Crusade
The publication Karmaveer, edited by Pandit Makhanlal Chaturvedi, remains a name whose resonance is felt even today. In the realm of Hindi journalism, Karmaveer is a name without which the holistic evaluation of Indian journalism is impossible. Similarly, the life journey of its editor was that of a warrior fighting against the surrender of the soul.
He was fighting on multiple fronts simultaneously, and there was no front where he did not leave an indelible mark. In the truest sense, the editor of Karmaveer gave meaning to the name of his paper, as Makhanlal Ji himself became a “Karmaveer” (a hero of action).
Born on April 4, 1889, in the Babai district of Hoshangabad (M.P.), he began his journalistic journey when the national movement was sweeping the country. Sentiments of social reform and the drive to expel the British were gaining strength. The arrival of Mahatma Gandhi’s radiant personality infused the movement with new energy, and “Dada” Makhanlal Ji joined the ranks of Gandhi’s devoted followers. Inspired by Gandhi’s philosophy, the speed with which he energized the national movement through both his writing and his actions is a subject of great historical importance.
The Era of the “Newspaper as a Weapon”
Journalism of that era was heavily influenced by Gandhian thought. It was a unique time for Hindi journalism, governed by the popular saying: “When faced with cannons, start a newspaper.” The freedom fighters had realized the true power of the press. Leaders associated with the independence movement launched their own papers to create a public consciousness that eventually allowed India to breathe the air of freedom. During this period, newspapers were effectively utilized as weapons of war.
In 1913, through the high-quality magazine Prabha, Makhanlal Ji made a significant intervention in literary journalism. By publishing works that shook and awakened the masses, Prabha became an essential name in the Hindi world. Throughout his 56-year journey of vigorous journalism, publications like Pratap, Prabha, and Karmaveer served as his various milestones.
Despite being a senior leader of the Madhya Pradesh Congress, his political status never overshadowed his identity as a poet and journalist. When it came to priorities, he chose the devotion of Ma Saraswati (knowledge and art) over any position of power. He lived until April 30, 1968, after independence, yet the greed for power never touched him. In 1967, after the Indian Parliament passed the Official Languages Bill, he returned the Padma Bhushan award he had received in 1963 in protest. He continued to awaken people against compromises, writing:
“An immortal nation, a defiant nation, a liberated nation—this is my voice. This banter of ‘reforms and compromises’ does not appeal to me.”
The Price of Fearlessness
To describe what kind of editor he was, Makhanlal Ji once said: “We have set out to squander the heavens of our carefree dreams. We are not cobblers who make shoes at someone’s command.”
This fearlessness formed the bedrock of his journalism. Karmaveer became a leader in fanning the flames of the independence movement. Few know the heavy price he paid: his editorial office and home were raided 63 times, and he was imprisoned 12 times. Karmaveer had to shut down several times due to lack of funds. In those lean times, he performed every role himself—from writer to proofreader.
For him, journalism was purely a medium for national service and social awakening. At the Bharatpur conference, he called upon the journalistic world: “If a newspaper is a great power in the world, the risks upon its head are no less. The mountain peaks that shine with snow and become the great wall of national defence must be high. If newspapers have attained greatness in the world, their responsibility is also heavy. What is the value of greatness without responsibility?”
(The author is the Head of the Department of Mass Communication at Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, Bhopal.)
