Veteran journalist Radheshyam Agarwal, the Founder Editor-in-Chief of the Hindi daily “Uditvani,” passed away on Saturday following a severe cardiac arrest at Tata Main Hospital in Jamshedpur.
Radheshyam Agarwal, Founder Editor-in-Chief of Hindi Daily “Uditvani,” passed away at 83 due to a severe cardiac arrest. His cremation will take place at Shiv Ghat in Jugsalai this afternoon.
JAMSHEDPUR – Radheshyam Agarwal, 83, the founder editor of South Bihar’s first daily newspaper “Uditvani”, died of a severe cardiac arrest at Tata Main Hospital.
He launched the Hindi daily “Uditvani” in 1980 after resigning as Assistant Commissioner of Sales Tax in Madhya Pradesh, where he worked for 14 years.
He also served as a Professor in the Economics Department at Ranchi University.
Radheshyam Agarwal was also the Media Advisor to the then Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Sibu Soren, for a brief period from 2nd to 12th March 2005. He was also accorded the rank of a cabinet minister during his tenure.
He was admitted to TMH following a heart attack on Wednesday night and succumbed to a severe cardiac arrest early on Saturday, according to his elder son Udit Agarwal, who is also an editor of the daily.
Agarwal leaves behind two sons and a daughter.
His younger son, Himanshu Agarwal, resides in the USA, while his daughter, Mukul Jain, a former NDTV journalist, lives in Dubai.
The cremation will take place at Shiv Ghat in Jugsalai Saturday afternoon, Udit Agarwal said.
Agarwal’s passing has been met with widespread condolences from across society. Dignitaries from across politics, corporations and society condoled the death of Agrawal.
Radheshyam Agarwal was regarded as a significant figure in journalism in Jamshedpur.
He is credited with establishing the South Bihar’s first Hindi daily newspaper, “Uditvani,” and creating a substantial readership and advertising base, which later benefited other newspapers that decades later started publishing from Jamshedpur.
He also formed the first group of dedicated and professional journalists in the city.
The Governor of Odisha and the former chief minister of Jharkhand, Raghubar Das, in his message said: “I am deeply saddened by the news of the demise of my friend and founder of the daily newspaper Uditvani, Shri Radhe Shyam ji Agarwal. His demise is a personal loss for me. His invaluable contribution to the world of journalism will always be remembered. I pray to Mahaprabhu Jagannath to give his soul a place in his own abode. I express my deepest condolences to his family. Om Shanti.”
Arjun Munda, the Union Minister of Tribal Affairs and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, in his condolence said: “Very sad news of the demise of respected Radheshyam Agarwal ji, editor of Jamshedpur’s oldest and most trusted daily Uditvaani. His demise has caused a great loss to the world of journalism. May God give him a place in his lotus feet and give strength to his family to bear this sorrow. Om Shanti!”
Banna Gupta, the state Health Minister, in his condolence message, remarked: “Today, a star of the journalism world has been lost. I always had his company and blessings in my life of struggle. May God give him a place in his lotus feet and give his family the courage to bear this loss. Humble tributes!”
Jamshedpur MP and BJP leader, Bidyut Baran Mahato, in his condolence message, said: “We received the very sad news of the demise of Radheshyam Agarwal ji, a senior journalist of the city and founder cum editor of the daily newspaper Uditvani, who was of simple and humble nature, this morning.”This is not only our personal loss but also an irreparable loss at the journalistic world and social level. May God grant his departed soul a place in his lotus feet and give strength to his family to fight this sad moment.
Mourning his demise, the former MLA Kunal Sarangi, remarked: “I have received the news of the demise of respected Shri Radhe Shyam ji Agarwal, founder, editor of the daily newspaper Uditvani and my guardian. This is a big loss for journalism and the social sector of the state. May God give strength to the family to bear the grief and give peace to the departed soul.”
The president of Brahmarshi Vikas Manch and director of KK Builder, Vikas Singh, said in his condolence message: “Radheshyam ji was the Bhishma Pitamah of the journalism world. I have a personal attachment with his family. His demise is my personal loss. My family has had a relationship with his family for about 25 years.”
The former State BJP President, Dr. Dineshanand Goswami, in his condolence message, said: “The news of the demise of Shri Radheshyam Agarwal Ji, editor of Dainik Uditvani is extremely sad. He has made a significant contribution to the world of journalism, his demise is an irreparable loss for all of us. May God grant him a place in his lotus feet and give strength to his family to bear this sorrow, this is my prayer. Om Shanti!”
BJP leader Abhay Singh, in his message, said: “Received the news of sudden demise of Shri Radheshyam Agarwal ji, the Chief Editor of the first popular newspaper of the steel city Jamshedpur “Uditvani” and the father of journalism. May God give him a place in his lotus feet and give strength to the whole family to bear this sorrow.”
Sunil Kumar Bhagat, Media Incharge at NIT, Jamshedpur, in his message, said: “The news of the demise of Uditvani’s founder and editor Shri Radheshyam Agarwal ji this morning is an irreparable blow to the media world. Shri Radheshyam ji was a true devotee of his passion for life. He established many new dimensions in print media. His demise is the end of an era. May God give peace to his soul and strength to his family to bear the loss. Om Shanti.”
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