Hindustan’s journos honoured with Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award

Amarnath Kashyap and Shahab Ali, two of Hindustan’s journalists, have been honoured with the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award for their investigative story on Asha Kiran Barla, a young athlete from Jharkhand. 

For decades, the Ramnath Goenka Awards, instituted by The Indian Express Group, have celebrated journalists who go beyond headlines, question the status quo, and bring out the truth. It is an award that recognizes courage, accuracy, and the ability to create real impact—a mission that Hindustan has always stood for.  

Hindustan’s award-winning story highlighted the extraordinary yet challenging journey of Asha Kiran Barla, a 16-year-old athlete from Nawadih village in Kamdara, Gumla district, Jharkhand. Despite winning 13 gold medals, including at the Asian Under-20 Athletics Championship in Kuwait (2022) and the Junior National Athletics Championship in Guwahati, Asha’s village lacked basic amenities such as clean drinking water, electricity, and proper roads. 

Through a four-day in-depth coverage, Hindustan shed light on the harsh realities of Asha’s hometown, bringing nationwide attention to the challenges faced by rural athletes. The report triggered swift government intervention, leading to infrastructure development in the village. The administration responded by installing borewells for clean water, electrifying homes, improving roads, and providing government assistance for building Asha’s house. 

"Hindustan has always been known for its relentless pursuit of truth and commitment to social change. Over the years, its reporting has gone beyond mere storytelling, creating tangible impact in the communities it covers. The Ramnath Goenka Award for Amarnath Kashyap and Shahab Ali is a testament to Hindustan’s ethos—journalism that not only informs but drives meaningful action. This recognition reinforces Hindustan’s position as a leader in fearless reporting, proving that journalism, when done right, has the power to transform lives and shape a better society," said the publication.