Cuttack, 15th August 2022
My younger brother, Sarat, started a newspaper in Odia by the name of ନିର୍ଭୀକ (The Nirvik) when he was a student of Ravenshaw College. Its first issue was published on 15th August, 1958. It was not published regularly due to lack of finances and was stopped when Sarat went to Allahabad University for his Masters in Political Science. After returning from Allahabad, he became active in politics and became a well-known leader of Odisha at a very young age. He revived the paper in April 1979 when he was a Member of Parliament from Cuttack.
The then Deputy Prime Minister, Chaudhary Charan Singh, inaugurated the 2nd innings of The Nirvik. It was published as a weekly for almost 4 years and became one of the most popular and hard hitting news weekly. Sarat was its editor and I was the Managing Editor. Week after week it carried brave and sharp news, views, and other articles. The gangrape and murder of Chhabi Rani, wife of a journalist, was extensively covered by The Nirvik to expose the role of Congressmen involved in the dastardly act and provide justice to Chhabi Rani.
Sarat was hounded by the then Congress government in Odisha but he was vindicated more than 20 years later when the Supreme Court pronounced the accused to be guilty. The Nirvik had to be stopped again in December 1982 due to financial and logistical issues. I am very happy and proud that Sarat’s children have decided to revive The Nirvik again on 15th August, 2022 and it is to be digitally published by the Sarat Kar & Anima Kar Foundation. I wish it all success and hope it proves to be third time lucky!
Pravat Kumar Kar
Retd. Principal, Christ College, Cuttack
