Expressnews
New Delhi, November 2024
Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a commemorative postage stamp to mark the centenary of Hindustan Times in New Delhi today. Speaking on the occasion he said:
“Completing the journey of a 100 years is a historic accomplishment. I congratulate everyone who has been a part of this enterprise, who has fought adversity, but remained steadfast.“
Welcoming the Prime Minister and setting the context for the release of the commemorative postage stamp, HT Media Ltd chairperson and Hindustan Times editorial director Shobhana Bhartia said:
“I thank the Prime Minister from the bottom of my heart for releasing the commemorate postage stamp. This is a milestone in our long journey, and we know that our mission is far from over.”
HT was launched on September 15, 1924 by Mahatma Gandhi. The daily served as the voice of the freedom movement. Run initially with money pooled in by the Akalis, and later Lala Lajpat Rai and Madan Mohan Malviya, it was soon taken over by GD Birla at Gandhi’s request.
In its early years, it was the chronicler of the struggle for independence and the birth of the Republic, acting as a cradle to ideas and debates that shaped a young nation. Over the years, its pages were illuminated with words from icons such as Subhas Chandra Bose, Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Martin Luther King, MS Swaminathan and Satyajit Ray. In 1936, it launched a Hindi daily, Hindustan.
For more than a century, HT has been an upright witness to landmarks in India’s history as the country overthrew colonial rule, established democracy against all odds, pulled millions out of poverty, and stamped its presence on the world stage. It transformed from a newspaper to a global media conglomerate, launching editions across the country, digital offerings, and a business publication, Mint. It was at the forefront of the global race to professionalise the newsroom, introduce data journalism, and has a strong presence across mediums. But throughout this remarkable arc, HT remained true to its mission – to chronicle the progress of this remarkable country fearlessly, accurately and thoughtfully. It stood for trust and truth. And it remains India’s first voice and last word.
Facets of the newsroom’s and India’s journey were captured in the HT@100 Exhibit that the Prime Minister walked through before the launch of the stamp. Commenting on the exhibit, he said:
“I saw a splendid exhibition. It was not just an exhibition. It was an experience. It felt like the 100 year history of the paper came alive before my eyes. I saw the editions printed on the day of independence and the day India became a republic. I noted the luminaries who wrote for HT, such as Martin Luther King Jr, Babu Subhas Chandra Bose, Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and MS Swaminathan. The words of these icons have illuminated your newspaper. “
