Balbir Punj speaks on the media’s role in nation-building at IIMC’s Foundation Day Lecture

Eminent author and columnist Shri Balbir Punj today spoke on the role of media in realising the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat@2047’ during the 61st Foundation Day Lecture in IIMC. He observed that the “colonization of minds” remains one of the biggest challenges facing the nation and raised concerns about how certain foreign agencies have repeatedly been attempting to tarnish India’s image through biased reports.

Shri Punj underlined that if one is writing for media, one should be objective. But if one’s basic assumptions are wrong, then obviously the output will not right. Media doesn't work in isolation; it works in a set-up, in an ecosystem, which is created by the narratives that have been set up by the media. Hence, the attitude of media is a key factor influencing India's journey towards becoming a developed nation. He urged the budding journalists to pursue intellectual depth and responsibility in journalism.

The eminent columnist pointed out some key challenges for India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation, including issues of employability, agriculture, bureaucracy, judicial reforms, and the attitude of media. He remarked that despite several hurdles, India’s economic growth has been phenomenal — “Ten years ago, India was the world’s 11th largest economy; today, it stands in 4th position. This trajectory clearly shows that India is destined to become a Viksit Bharat by 2047.” He suggested the budding journalists to read some essential books like ‘Hind Swaraj’.

Vice Chancellor of IIMC, Dr. Pragya Paliwal Gaur, highlighted the rich legacy of IIMC since its inception in 1965. She spoke about the history of the institute, the diverse courses currently being offered, and the institute’s new initiatives including the incubation centre for media innovation. Dr. Gaur emphasized that the true strength of IIMC lies in its faculty, staff, students, and alumni, who continue to take the institute forward with excellence and dedication.

The session was moderated by Prof. (Dr.) Pramod Kumar, while the vote of thanks was proposed by Prof. (Dr.) Rakesh Goswami. The Foundation Day lecture was attended by the faculty, staff, and students of all regional campuses in hybrid mode.