Pioneer of rural journalism
The 179th birth anniversary of Kangal Harinath, the pioneer of rural journalism, was observed in a befitting manner.
On the occasion, a discussion was held at 'Kangal Kutir', the ancestral home of Harinath in Kumarkhali upazila in the district on Friday evening.
Kushtia district administration arranged the programme. Kangal Harinath Smriti Trust, an organisation dedicated to the preservation of Harinath's legacy and Kumarkhali Upazila Administration supported the organiser.
With Moniruzzaman upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Kumarkhali in the chair, Dr. Mohiuddin, Chief Executive Officer of Kushtia Zila Parishad was chief guest in the programme.
Among others, President of Kumarkhali Press Club Bablu Joarder and Ansar Ali and journalist Sohel Habib, member-secretary of Kangal Harinath Smriti Trust, were present on the occasion.
The speakers termed Harinath as a pioneer of journalism in undivided India. They also urged the government to take more initiatives to preserve the memory of this erudite personality and to undertake intensive programmes to introduce him across the world.
Harinath (1833-1896) was one of the few dedicated souls who through his writings relentlessly sought to alleviate the misery of the masses by rescuing them from the clutches of the zamindars.
Harinath first published a newspaper called “Sangbad Probhakar” in 1854. Later, he began publishing “Grambarta Prokashika” in 1860, which set out as a monthly and finally emerged as a leading weekly magazine.
The local administration has already constructed a memorial complex at 'Kangal Kutir'. The historic landmark, Mathuranath Press, from where Harinath published “Grambarta Prokashika”, and his contributions are being preserved.
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