Rajasthan Patrika is an Indian Hindi-language daily newspaper. It was founded by Karpoor Chandra Kulish in 1956 and published as Rajasthan Patrika in Delhi and Rajasthan, and as Patrika in 6 other states.
As per Indian Readership Survey 2013 , Rajasthan Patrika and Patrika together emerged as the No. 4 newspaper in India.
Rajasthan Patrika was founded by Karpoor Chandra Kulish on 7 March 1956. Over the years, it became a leading national daily. Kulish got awards for his contribution to journalism. In 1990, he got the B.D. Goenka Foundation award for "Outstanding Contribution in the Indian Language Newspaper" category for the year 1987. In 1991, he was felicitated by the then Prime Minister of India, Chandra Shekhar, for influencing the national mainstream through his contributions at the golden jubilee of the All India Editors’ Conference.
Rajasthan Patrika is published from the following 36 cities of eight states : Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Sikar, Sri Ganganagar, Udaipur, Alwar, Bikaner, Banswara, Ajmer, Pali, Kota, Bhilwara, Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ujjain, Ratlam, Satna, Rewa, Raipur, Bhilai, Bilaspur, Bastar, New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Surat, Kolkata, Chhindwara district, Jagdalpur, Hoshangabad, Mandsaur, Hanumangarh and Neemuch.
Early in 2015, Rajasthan Patrika announced a Delhi-based English news website, called Catch, under the aegis of senior journalist and editor Shoma Chaudhry.
Rajasthan Patrika also publish two bimonthly Hindi language child magazines — "Balhans" and "Chotu-Motu".
Natural calamities
During earthquakes the Trust collected Rs. 2 lakh in 1991, Garhwal(Uttarakhand), Rs. 45 lakh in 1993, Latur (Maharashtra) and Rs. 1.69 Crore in 2001, Gujarat. The funds remitted to their Chief Ministers or Prime Minister’s relief funds for the rescue operation of the victims.
Collected funds during Orissa Cyclone, Kawas Flood and Mehrangarh Stampede.
In 1999, during India-Pakistan war the Trust collected about Rs. 3.08 crore for the families of martyrs and delivered that amount to the doorsteps of martyrs' families. The residual fund with accumulated interest i.e. Rs. 154 Lac was donated to the Governor of Rajasthan for his Excellency’s welfare fund.
Came forward with Ek Muththi Anaj Yojna in the time of famine in Rajasthan.
Collected Two Crore for the welfare of victims of the tsunami tragedy.
Infrastructure
Constructed a school and hospital buildings in the village Soda Tonk, (Rajasthan), a backward area.
Undertook a project to develop the Man Sagar Dam (Jaipur) in 1992 and after its renovation has become one of the spot, which would considerably contribute to the development of tourism in Jaipur, costing around Rs. 50 Lac.
The Trust has also undertaken a Project of Rs. 5 Lac for development of a playground for the Shree S. S. Jain Subodh Shiksha Samiti, Jaipur.
Amritam Jalam: The campaign focuses on saving water through restoration and renovation of neglected and derelict water bodies.
Hariyalo Rajasthan (Green Rajasthan): Started in 2005 in Rajasthan to hold the growing desertification. Every year campaign kicks off with onset of monsoons with thousands of volunteers planting trees in schools, colleges, factories, temples and other places where the young saplings can be nurtured into strong trees. From 2005 to 2012, 1,087,274 trees have been planted in 14,090 places with a survival rate of more than 60%.
Helpline: A unique grievance mechanism to offset bureaucratic red tapism.
Jaago Janmat (Wake up voter): Pre-Election Voter Awareness campaign to encourage people to cast their votes and strengthen democracy. To choose young and educated candidates with clean image. Jaago Janmat campaign has been successful in increasing voter turnout by 5-8% in Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
Vision 2025: Vision 2025 was started on 16 June 2013 in 520 assembly constituencies of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to envision a road map of future with active participation of each and every citizen. More than 5200 meetings have been organized with 70 – 100 people participating in each meeting. People gave their opinions for the improvement of basic infrastructure, education system, medical facilities and transportation system etc.
Patrika Connect:With the motto of–Aawaz do Halat badlo (Raise Your Voice and Make a Change), the campaign is focused on ward sufficiency, democracy and development and active volunteering in each ward in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Strategy included Opening ward offices in each district, building teams of volunteers (above political and religious interests) to engage people and trigger action for community benefits.
Right to education (RTE): When Right to Education was implemented by the government, Rajasthan Patrika ensured that it became a reality for thousands of underprivileged children. This massive campaign focused on the issue of 25% reservation in private schools of poor and disadvantaged as part of provisions in right to free and compulsory elementary education act, community mobilization, awareness, pressure building, editorial campaigning and expose. Campaigning started in 3 states with 77 districts team, 60 reporters, 63 social organizations and more than 600 Media Action Group volunteers, this led to 8000+ admissions (as of now) through direct intervention, officially, 70,987 lakh children in M.P and 275 children in Chhattisgarh have been enrolled on the provisions of RTE in favor of the deprived.
Mobile Tower Radiation: The campaign created mass public awareness about the growing menace and also got TRAI to set rules and regulations to control mobile tower and the electromagnetic radiation emitting from them. Taking the news in cognizance the High Court ordered to remove mobile towers from the premises of Hospitals, Schools, colleges, other educational institutions and from areas with dense population also formed a committee and prepared a guideline to decide and set the rate of emission from mobile towers.
Ahsaas: Ahsaas raised the issue of Ramps for universal mobility for the people with special needs, brought the people with special needs and others on same forum for better mutual understanding and empathy. A medical health check-up camp was organized in 2012, free check up and treatment were given by the Doctors at the camp, tricycles, clutches and hearing-aids were also distributed.
Game Changers: Game Changers brought together children and adults, haves and have-nots of the society for better communication through sports.
Bitiya Bachao (Save a girl child): An endeavor to save the girls in womb and to get respect for women. Rallies, pledge ceremonies were held in the state of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh where thousands of people pledged to save girl child.
Bitiya in Office: ‘Bitiya in Office’ strengthens bonding between father and daughters. To encourage parents to educate girls and to make them financially independent.
Ayushman-Cancer: Patients of cancer not only need medical treatment but emotional healing too. At Ayushman camp patients who had won the fight over cancer talked to other cancer patients, listened and shared. Patients learnt about alternative therapies which can reduce their pain.
Media Action Group (MAG): Established to design an internal structure to take up the tasks requiring policy interventions, advocacy and campaigning by building multiple linkages for spiral effect and envisioned a division which could wholly dedicate itself to newer media strategies for social change.
Karpoor Chandra Kulish International Journalism Award
In 2007, Rajasthan Patrika instituted the Karpoor Chandra Kulish International Journalism Award in the memory of Karpoor Chand Kulish, the founder editor. This annual international award carries prize money of US$11,000 and a trophy. The award is aimed at recognizing efforts of thought leaders in media, journalist's outstanding contributions to upholding professional values as well as protecting and promoting ethics and morality, right and freedom of the people for better quality of life. Dawn Pakistan and Hindustan Times Delhi were jointly given the inaugural award in New Delhi on 12 March 2008.
As a part of its CSR initiatives and social partnering for a better world, Rajasthan Patrika instituted the Concerned Communicator Award in 1997. The winner is awarded a cash prize of US $11,000 and a certificate.
Awarded the highest honor of Prayag ‘Sahitya Vachaspati’ by Hindi Sahitya Sammelan Honored by the Maharishi Sandipani Rashtriya Ved Vidya Pratisthan, Ujjain.
Rastriya Bhoomi Jal Samvardhan Puraskar( National Water Conservation Award )instituted by the Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India in March, 2010.
Moortidevi Puraskar -2011 of Bhartiya Jnanpith
National Media Award 2013 to Jaago Janmat campaign- for best voter awareness campaign
Among 5 most successful community newspapers AMIC – UNESCO
3rd Largest Hindi newspaper group as per ABC Jan-Jun 2013
3rd most trusted newspaper BBC-Reuters Survey ’06
5th most read Hindi Daily-IRS Q4’ 12
Notable columnist
S. Gurumurthy
Feroze Varun Gandhi
