Book on life, journey of journalist late N. R. Swami released in Odisha

A book covering journalistic journey by late N. R. Swami, who had worked for PTI, The Statesman and The Hindu from 1940s to late 1970s was released in Bhubaneswar on February 24.

Authored by N. Jagannath Das, son of Swami and a journalist himself, the book titled, ‘The Doyen of Odisha Journalism’ narrated how Swami became a journalist in the late 1930s when this was not a lucrative profession and he braved all odds, stood on principles and had the courage to write on corruption.

“People talked about how he had a camera around his neck, a portable typewriter and a notebook, and he would write many stories either in The Statesman, The Hindu that needed attention from the government,” said Mr. Das

He further said, “in those times Cholera was a disease which was of epidemic severity. Thousands of people attending the Rath Yatra used to die on the streets in Puri and streets leading to Puri. The Statesman asked him to file a report on the situation in Puri. My father took the risk and drove to Puri and filed his story.”

The high point in journalistic career of Swami was his protracted court battle against the one of the strongest State governments in Odisha.

“My father’s reputation as a man of integrity was at stake when he was accused by the government for being on the payroll of a foreign agency. He filed a defamation suit against the Odisha Government in 1958. Among the witnesses were the President of the Indian National Congress, late UN Dhebar and a cross section of professional and social leaders across the country. The national and international press took note of his fight with admiration and The Hindu stood behind him like a rock,” Mr. Das wrote.

“He got justice only in 1970 and was completely absolved of any wrongdoing. He was perhaps the first journalist in a democratic country to win a case against a State government,” said his son. The book exhibited paper clippings of articles written by Swami.

He passed away in 1981. “Four of his sons – Late N.V.R Swami, N. Pattabhi Ramiah, Late N. Ramdas and myself followed in his footsteps to become journalists,” said Mr. Das.  Late N. Ramdas was The Hindu’s State correspondent for long.