Draft:Ram Dutt Tripathi

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This page is about Ram Dutt Tripathi. For other uses, see Ram Dutt Tripathi (disambiguation).

Ram Dutt Tripathi (born c. 1953) is an Indian journalist, political analyst, social activist, jurist, and communications expert based in Lucknow, India. He worked as a correspondent for the BBC World Service for 21 years (1992–2013), covering a large part of northern India.

Tripathi has experience across various forms of journalism, including newspapers, radio, television, and online platforms. He has worked for daily, weekly, and fortnightly newspapers. He has adopted new technologies in his work and has a presence on social media. After his retirement from BBC, he continues to work as an editor, freelance journalist, and legal advisor in Lucknow. He has served as President of the UP Press Club and as secretary of the Indian Federation of Working Journalists.

Early Life and Emergency-era Activism (1970s)

Ram Dutt Tripathi hails from Kitganj village, about 60 km from Allahabad (now Prayagraj), from a farming family background. He pursued a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Allahabad University, where he also began his involvement in journalism. During his student life, from 1973 to 1975, he worked for the fortnightly newspaper "Nagar Swaraj" published from Allahabad.

During the Indian Emergency (1975–1977), Tripathi, then 22 years old, was a law student and student leader at Allahabad University. He actively participated in student and youth movements protesting the Emergency imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Tripathi joined Jayaprakash Narayan's "Youth for Democracy" movement, aligning with groups like Sarvodaya Vichar Prachar Samiti and Tarun Shanti Sena. He also served as the managing editor for the underground publication "Nagar Swaraj."

To evade arrest, Tripathi went underground, frequently changing his hiding places across Allahabad, Delhi, and Rajasthan. He engaged in clandestine printing and distribution of bulletins to counter censorship and spread awareness. He was arrested along with two associates, Santosh Bharati and Vimal Kumar, on September 14, 1975, at Gandhi Ashram in Varanasi. He spent approximately nine months imprisoned in Varanasi Central Jail and later Naini Central Jail. During his imprisonment, he continued his studies, and recalls being incarcerated with political figures such as Kalyan Singh, Azam Khan, Rajnath Singh, Ram Naresh Yadav, Janeshwar Mishra, and Murli Manohar Joshi. His imprisonment concluded with the Emergency's withdrawal on March 21, 1977. His family experienced distress due to his fugitive status, and his 17-year-old younger brother was also arrested by police in an attempt to locate him.

Tripathi's work related to the Emergency era, particularly his underground press activities, has been featured in exhibitions. His Emergency-era works were exhibited at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, and also featured in a London gallery.

Journalism Career and Contributions

Following the restoration of democracy in 1977, Tripathi decided to pursue a career in journalism. He began his career at the Hindi daily "Bharat" published from Allahabad, then joined "Amrit Prabhat" Hindi daily in 1978. When "Amrit Prabhat" began publishing from Lucknow in 1980, he moved there. In 1990, Dr. Kanhaiya Lal Nandan recruited him as a special correspondent for "Sunday Mail" weekly.

In September 1992, Mark Tully, then South Asia Bureau Chief of the BBC, invited Tripathi to join the BBC. Tripathi worked for the BBC World Service until his retirement in 2013, covering a large part of northern India. His long tenure at BBC, spanning 21 years, was mentioned when the organization made redundancy offers to its India correspondents. He has continued as an independent journalist since then. He also runs "Media Swaraj," an independent channel focused on media freedom, which has faced issues like being temporarily shut down by YouTube.

Tripathi reported on significant national events and issues, including the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992. His coverage of social, cultural, political, and economic changes in North India contributed to his journalistic career.

His reporting areas include:

• The Ayodhya dispute.
• Social justice and Dalit rights movements.
• The encephalitis epidemic in Purvanchal.
• Work on environmental issues, education, health, and agriculture.
• News gathering and media planning for Kumbh Melas in both Haridwar and Prayag.
• Coverage of political developments and the Maoist movement in Nepal, including interviews with Maoist leader Prachanda while he was underground, which involved venturing into challenging areas at personal risk.
• Experimentation in radio journalism, including on-site reporting.
• Experience in photo and video journalism.

Political Leanings and Editorial Approach

Tripathi has publicly stated that he was never affiliated with any political party during his years of student activism and journalism. His activities and writing advocate for democratic values, transparency, and civil rights. As a journalist, he holds authorities accountable. He has criticized political partisanship, supported press freedom, and provided platforms for debate on governance and society. His work with independent media platforms, including Media Swaraj, reflects a commitment to non-partisan, public interest journalism and media integrity.

He has provided commentary to independent news outlets on media ethics, press freedom, and the political landscape in India.

Awards and Recognition

Tripathi has received several awards for his contributions to journalism:

• Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Puraskar (2006): Awarded by the Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan for his contributions to journalism, including a cash prize of one lakh rupees.
• Asia Broadcasting Union (ABU) Award (2008): His program 'Aao School Chalen' (Let's Go to School), which investigated primary education in India, was selected for this award.
• Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman (2019): Honored on July 25, 2019, with this award.

Social Engagement and Associations

Tripathi's involvement in social causes includes various organizations:

• Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ): He served as the National Secretary of IFWJ, an organization for working journalists in India.
• U.P. Manyata Prapt Samvadadata Samiti (U.P. Recognized Correspondents Committee): He served as president of this committee, where he implemented improvements to facilitate news gathering through coordination with political parties, government, and police during his tenure.
• U.P. Press Club, Lucknow: As president of the UP Press Club, he worked on literary and cultural activities and the club's financial management.
• Uttar Pradesh Patrakarita Sansthan (Journalism Institute): He held positions as Vice President and General Secretary, organizing national-level seminars on topics like the Right to Information and other subjects.
• Teaching and Mentorship: He is involved in teaching subjects related to journalism and information dissemination.
• Gulistan Club: Through this club, he worked on civic amenities, safety, and fostering harmony within the community.
• Environmental Activism: He has been active in voluntary movements for urban environmental improvement and the cleaning of the Gomti River in Lucknow. He has studied and written about the pollution and environmental issues of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Gomti rivers.

His involvement in democracy, press freedom, social equality and harmony, social welfare, village self-governance, and constructive work is part of his public activities.

Personal Life

Tripathi hails from Kitganj village, approximately 60 km from Allahabad, and comes from a farming family background. His 'gauna' (the custom where the bride moves to her husband's home) occurred barely a month before the Emergency was declared, making his fugitive status distressing for his family. He continues to engage actively with political, legal, and environmental issues in independent India. He has also given interviews recalling historical events, such as the Babri Masjid demolition.