Foundation Statement | Working Journalists | Presidents &
Secretary Generals
Office
Bearers | History of NUJ(I)
National Union of
Journalists (India) in the
Service of Working Journalists
Born on January 23, 1972 the National Union of Journalists (India) crystalised the long felt desire of working journalists for an organisation independent of political affiliations and dedicated to constructive trade unionism and high professional standards.
The birth of the new organisation was announced at a convention on that date held in Delhi with delegates from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Tamil Nadu, Justice M. C. Chagla had inaugurated this convention presided over by eminent journalist and editor Frank Moraes. Founding members included veteran trade unionists L. Meenakshisundaram, Somnath Bhattacharya, S. K. Rau, and others.
Emergency and NUJ(I)
The emergency tested the mettle of the NUJ. Some of its important leaders were put behind the bars and some of them languished for the full 19 months of the dark days. Some other leaders found their accreditation taken away and hounded out of their government accommodation. But the NUJ did not bend or kneel to the powers of the day.
An NUJ delegation led by the then Secretary General Prithvis Chakravarti met Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in July, 1975 at her invitation. It refused to endorse the Emergency. It told her in clear cut terms that censorship would not be tolerated. It demanded the lifting of censorship and release of journalists held in detention. Our parting shot to her administered by Mr. Chakravarti was "Madam, those who are telling you that you are above the Constitution and the law are doing no good service to you". Mrs. Gandhi stared at the speaker and was speechless. She got up and terminated the meeting. She also tickled us off. But that was the price to pay for opposing censorship and the Emergency. In contrast the other unions were confabulating with Chief Censor and welcoming the Government steps. We refused to sign a declaration welcoming the Objectionable Matters Publication Ordinance-but they welcomed it. As a result our leaders remained in prison and our organisation was not recognised by the Government.
In 1977 when the country was delivered from the darkness of the Emergency, we also were liberated from the prejudice of a few leaders. The NUJ got recognition on its own strength. Even earlier the Press Council had notified the organisation as one representing working journalists.
Contribution to Wage Board Work
The NUJ’s contribution both to the Palekar Tribunal and the Bachhawat Wage Board had received universal commendation even from its rival union. Justice Palekar acknowledged our contribution in open court in presenting the working journalists case before the Bachhawat Wage Board, the NUJ created history by using graphs and charts with overhead projects to explain the issues lucidly and convincingly
Pension Scheme
NUJ’s relentless pursuit of the demand for a pension scheme succeeded when the then Finance Minister Mr. N. D. Tiwari announced in the Parliament of Feb. 29, 1988 that the government would introduce such a pension scheme for working journalists. Subsequently, we pursued the formation of the Experts Committee to formulate the scheme. That NUJ representative was the sole nominee on this committee on behalf of working journalists in the beginning is the best evidence of the work we did. The IFWJ representative who came in much later. Attended only one session of the committee.
Call to young
The NUJ’s is a phenomenon in working journalists trade union movement. Our record in the last 20 years is something to the proud of. With the newspaper monopolies growing and even middle level newspaper owners graduating into publishers in the Big League, the fight for our trade union right, for improvement of our working conditions, for safeguarding journalists values in news gathering and presentation against commercial pressures, to ensure that the Press remains watchdog of public interest stronger trade unions are essential. It is from the organisation that the individual derives strength. And today NUJ is not only a closely knit network of state level trade unions but also has links with journalists the world over through the International Federation of Journalists based in Brussels.
We can proudly claim that for young journalists seeking to better their working conditions and their professional skills, NUJ is the organisation. With the dawn of the last decade of the 20th century we are already thinking of the vast technological changes forecast for the next decade and the next century.