Sexagenarian Gowrishankar Rajak of Jharkhand's Dumka town has been bringing out a handwritten newspaper for last 20 years.
By Girija Shankar Ojha
Dumka (Jharkhand), May 1 : Sexagenarian Gowrishankar Rajak of Jharkhand's Dumka town has been bringing out a handwritten newspaper for last 20 years.
Despite being a matriculate, Rajak has chosen to serve society through paper and pen. His personal mission is to raise the public's daily problems and search for solutions in his newspaper
Everyday, Rajak "publishes" at least 50 copies of his Hindi newspaper named "Deen Dalit".
He doesn't require any type-setting machine or printing press facilities like most newspaper organisations. He writes each word by hand.
These copies are pasted at vantage points across the town for people to read. It addresses issues and events related to the day-to-day life of the common man.
Rajak's newspaper is also registered with the Registrar for Newspapers in India (RNI No.1274/1987).
Rajak, who actually earns his livelihood as a washerman, is passionate about bringing people's problems to the fore and serve society.
"I am not into journalism for money or personal gains. It's my service for the society and the country at large. It gives me gratification to serve the country in this form. I feel the need to discuss people's problems with the intellectuals and reach a solution", said Gowrishankar Rajak, the Editor and Publisher of "Deen Dalit".
Gowrishankar Rajak has taken it upon himself to publish a newspaper and bring people's woes into the limelight.
His efforts for a social cause have won him several admirers and supporters in his town.
Rajak says that he believes in remaining close to his grassroots.
"Deen Dalit newspaper is connected to the common man. There may be things that major papers miss out, but Rajak does not. For, his goal is to highlight and solve people's problems.
He is connected to the people. We wish that his newspaper touches new heights and his mission be accomplished," said Saurabh Kumar Singh, a Deen Dalit's reader.
Although Rajak has received many honours and certificates, he regrets that the Government has not been of much help to him.
"I try to save money and then get fifty copies published which takes away quite a major part of my earnings. I encourage others to indulge in such acts which would benefit society," Rajak candidly admits.
His family--a wife and four children-takes pride in Rajak's crusade through paper and pen but they do point out the hard times that they have been through in the cause of society.
ANI