Bengaluru, 28 Jan

Speaking at the "Gauri Day 62nd birth anniversary: Re-Constructing the Fourth Estate", on Sunday Bhanwar Meghwanshi, a social activist and journalist focusing on the Dalit movement, stressed the importance of preserving Gauri's legacy for the welfare of India's Fourth Estate. The event organized by the Gauri Memorial Trust at the Indian Social Institute on Sunday.

Gauri was a Bengaluru-based activist and editor of Lankesh Patrike. She was shot dead outside her home on 5 September, 2017.

"Gauri’s legacy will remain alive as long as journalism presents the truth to the people. It is the responsibility of the media to always present a two-sided story and not focus solely on one-sided elements. Gauri Lankesh, a prominent journalist, serves as a role model for this,” he said.

Meena Kotwal, Editor of Mooknayaka, echoed similar sentiments, stating that journalists should not succumb to political influence. Kotwal highlighted Gauri's dedication to truth and her impact on journalism, urging journalists to avoid political puppetry and prioritize factual reporting.

Journalist Sumit Chauhan emphasized the resilience required by journalists, citing Gauri’s enduring legacy as inspirational. Chauhan advocated for journalism to be people-friendly and free from spreading hatred or anti-national sentiments.

Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, a senior independent journalist, criticized the growing bias in the media and emphasized the importance of journalists framing questions independently. Thakurta urged journalists to adopt Gauri's positive journalism approach and uphold journalistic integrity.

The event was attended by senior journalists including Navin Kumar, senior journalist of Article 19.