Uditvani Founder’s Second Death Anniversary Observed With Tributes Across Jamshedpur
Key Points:
Radheshyam Agarwal founded Uditvani, Kolhan’s first Hindi daily, on August 22, 1980.
He served as editor for nearly 44 years, shaping regional journalism with integrity.
His legacy of credibility and public trust remains a benchmark for modern media.
Ishwar Krishna Ojha
Today, June 1, 2026, Jamshedpur and the entire Kolhan region are reverently remembering a pioneer of journalism whose name is inscribed in golden letters in the history of this region’s media journey. This day marks the second death anniversary of Radheshyam Agarwal, the founder-editor of the Hindi daily Uditvani. In the world of journalism, he was known with respect and affection as “Agarwal Sahab.” He was not merely an editor or the founder of a newspaper; he was the architect, guide, and patriarch of modern daily journalism in Kolhan.
Today, when Jamshedpur holds a significant place among the country’s important media cities, if one were to search for the single greatest contribution behind this achievement, the name of Agarwal Sahab appears foremost. He dreamed of daily journalism at a time when even its imagination was unthinkable in this region.
On August 22, 1980, when he began publishing the Hindi daily Uditvani from Jamshedpur, there was no daily Hindi newspaper in the entire Kolhan region. At that time, the means of information were limited, and people’s access to news was not easy either. The culture of newspaper reading was also not as developed as it is today. Starting a daily newspaper in such an environment was not merely a commercial decision, but a major campaign for social awareness.
Agarwal Sahab did not merely establish a newspaper; he laid such a strong foundation of journalism in this region that the entire media industry later expanded upon it. Today, all the news media active in Kolhan are, directly or indirectly, heirs to that journalism culture which Uditvani had initiated.
In the world of journalism, credibility is the greatest asset. This asset is not earned with money, but with years of sacrifice, principles, and public trust. Radheshyam Agarwal gave the greatest importance to this asset throughout his life. He never tried to mould news according to the interests of any individual, institution, political party, or industrial house.
For him, journalism meant accountability to society. He believed that a newspaper’s first responsibility is towards its readers, not towards power, the market, or any influential class. This is why, despite all pressures and adverse circumstances, he never compromised on his values.
His editorial vision was clear. He believed in presenting news as news. He was not in favour of making journalism a propaganda tool for any ideology, organisation, or establishment. He never practised journalism by hoisting the flag of any political party, nor did he run the newspaper by aligning with any industrial establishment. This independence and impartiality gave him a distinct identity from his contemporaries.
The greatest strength of Uditvani has been its readership. This trust was not built easily. Behind it was Agarwal Sahab’s thinking, which considered the newspaper to be a platform of the people. He always said that a newspaper is published for its readers and its greatest responsibility is also towards its readers.
Perhaps this is why people considered Uditvani their own newspaper. It was not merely a collection of news, but became a medium for the expression of public sentiment. The seriousness with which Uditvani gave space to ordinary people’s problems, public interest issues, and the voice of society gave it a special identity among the public.
Another important characteristic of Agarwal Sahab was his extraordinary news sense. He was considered a great judge of news. He had an exceptional ability to understand which subject is important for readers and which news can have an impact on society. He did not merely observe events, but also understood the social and political signals hidden behind them.
His command over political and electoral journalism, in particular, was remarkable. As an editor for nearly 44 years, he closely observed many Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections. His ability to understand political circumstances, public sentiments, and electoral trends was so accurate that on most occasions his assessments proved very close to the actual results. This capacity for political analysis placed him among the most respected editors of the region.
An editor does not merely select news; he also gives direction to the journalists of coming generations. Agarwal Sahab did exactly this. Many journalists began their careers under his guidance and learned the fundamental principles of journalism. He made the new generation understand that journalism is not merely a profession, but a social responsibility.
His working style clearly reflected discipline, seriousness, and an insistence on quality. He took even the smallest piece of news seriously and laid special emphasis on the accuracy of facts. For him, in journalism, truth and credibility were more important than haste.
Today, the form of media is changing rapidly. In the era of digital platforms, social media, and artificial intelligence, the flow of information has become much faster than before. But along with this, the crisis of credibility in journalism is also deepening. Unverified information, rumours, sensationalism, and the blind race of competition have challenged the values of journalism.
In such times, journalists and editors like Radheshyam Agarwal become even more relevant. The ideal of journalism that he presented is the greatest need of today. He taught that technology may change, mediums may change, but the soul of journalism must not change. And the soul of journalism is credibility.
If credibility disappears from news media, their existence is limited to merely a structure. The trust of readers is the true strength of journalism. Agarwal Sahab gave this very message through his life and work — that a newspaper’s greatest asset is its reader and their trust.
Remembering him today on his second death anniversary is not merely paying tribute to an individual, but remembering those values that made journalism the fourth pillar of society. This occasion is also an opportunity, along with recalling his contribution, to ask oneself whether we are able to preserve that journalism for which he had dedicated his entire life.
Radheshyam Agarwal may no longer be among us today, but his ideology, his principles, his editorial vision, and the tradition of journalism he created are still alive. His presence can be felt in every issue of Uditvani, in every value of journalism, and in every trust of the readers.
On his second death anniversary, the land of Kolhan offers its heartfelt tribute to this great journalist, editor, and guide.
Crores of salutations. Humble tribute.
