Pioneer launches Hindi edition in Lucknow

The Hindi edition of The Pioneer was launched by its Chief Editor Chandan Mitra at a simple function at Taj Residency in Lucknow on Saturday. The regular publication of the Hindi edition Pioneer will be available from Sunday.

On the occasion, Chandan Mitra assured Hindi readers of impartial and quality news. He also recalled the journey of reviving the glory of The Pioneer which was in its 146th year of publication.

“It was in 1998 when I took over the reins of The Pioneer with just two editions — Lucknow and New Delhi. Presently, it has seven editions and many more are to come,” said Mitra. He regretted that in 1996, the Hindi publication of the group Swatantra Bharat parted ways and the need to fulfil the gap for its Hindi readers was increasingly felt. “We were planning to launch our Hindi edition for long and it has to be from Lucknow as The Pioneer is considered to be UP’s newspaper,” he said.

Regarding the quality of news in the Hindi edition, Chandan Mitra, who is also a member of the Rajya Sabha, said that it would follow the high principles for which The Pioneer had always stood. “There will be no compromise in quality of news for the Hindi readers. There will be separate stories for it besides containing regular articles and features written by eminent writers and personalities,” he said. Mitra also stated that The Pioneer had the unique distinction of being managed by journalists and they all stood for high values and principles in journalism. “We are steadfastly upposed to paid news. We do not agree with such a practice. For us, it is hardcore journalism. We also do not aspire to be industrialists,” he added.

Responding to a query, he promised that the Hindi edition would remain impartial with no leanings towards any political party. “Though I am a Member of Parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party yet my political activities have never interfered with the newspaper. I firmly believe that the newspaper should remain neutral and not align with any party. I do not use this medium for my political gains,” he added. The Chief Editor also urged senior journalists present on the occasion to alert the paper with their valuable suggestions.

Earlier, Resident Editor, The Pioneer, Vijay Prakash Singh welcomed Chandan Mitra and thanked him for his undaunting support in realising the dream of launching the Hindi edition.

Several journalists, including Sharat Pradhan, Sanjay Bhatnagar, Siddharth Kalhans and others, were also present on the occasion.

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