Mysuru: Vedic Sage Narada, famous in Hindu mythology as a travelling musician and storyteller, who carries news and enlightening wisdom, was the world’s first journalist, opined D.G. Lakshman, former Editor of ‘Hosa Digantha’ and ‘Vikrama’ organs of RSS.

He was speaking on “Freedom of Expression and Contemporary Journalism” at a programme organised by Vishwa Samvaada Kendra on the occasion of Sage Narada Jayanti at Madhava Krupa on JLB Road here yesterday.

“Hermann Friedrich Mogling, a German missionary from the Basel Mission who spent most of his career in Karnataka, started ‘Mangaluru Samachara,’ the first Kannada newspaper. This is the reason why we recall Mogling’s contributions every year on July 1 celebrated as “Journalists’ Day.” Unfortunately, we don’t recall the name and contribution of Narada, who was the world’s first and superior journalist,” he said.

Lakshman said that Kannada poet D.V. Gundappa, who was also a famous journalist, had mentioned Narada as the world’s first journalist in his book ‘Vrutta Patrike’ which was published in 1928. It is apt to celebrate Narada Jayanti as  Journalists’ Day, he said.

D.V. Gundappa served as a Reporter and Editor of ‘Mysore Times’. “He did not have a formal degree in journalism and chose the profession to earn a living. As a profession, he laid certain basic principles for journalism. Post-Independence era,  journalism became a source of employment not so much a service to society.

“A journalist does not belong to any caste or religion. His mind should not be influenced by ideologies and only facts must be sacred for him,” he said.

Star of Mysore Editor-in-chief K.B. Ganapathy presided over the programme. RSS Karnataka South Region Sangh Chalak M. Venkataram was present.