Lala Mulk Raj Saraf, My Idol To Be a Journalist

Commemorative volume is not merely a tribute to an individual; it can be a source of great inspiration. If sincerely brought out it encourages those who want to follow their dreams believing that not even the sky is the limit. From this particular commemorative volume I understand that although life is full of surprises marked by pain, sorrow, peace and amusement it is within a human being’s hands to endeavour to seek his or her goal.

When we were small, people asked us often “what would you do when you grow up?” or “who is your idol?” Those were the tricky questions weren’t they? Some people have more than one idol, for someone it is a superstar, superman, or even the president! But when it came to me..... I tried to escape this question every time. The reason- because it confused me each time.

I never realised that all these years, the answer was lying in my bookshelf, on the rack, just sitting there patiently waiting for its turn and the right time. A black coloured book with a legend’s picture in the middle. His face reflected his modesty, his undying sprit and his willingness. That legend was none other than my great grandfather- Lala Mulk Raj Saraf. His life was no less than rollercoaster ride – full of ups and downs. Though he was raised in a hopeless milieu he never gave up and went on to bring up a formidable family. He faced many hardships, but never lost hope and worked his way through without compromising with his principles. I could never meet him but, after going through the commemorative volume, I felt him telling me that if one works hard, he becomes a leader; but if one becomes lazy, he never succeeds. Moreover, he has also taught me that without passion and desire of what one wants to achieve, life can’t attain a meaning. Chachaji, as he was called by all members of the family cutting across generations, loved to read and write and never missed a single opportunity to do so. And, because he aspired to serve the people at large he discovered the journalist within him.

Chachaji confronted his work as a challenge and struggled to get one door of success after the other opened. With his determination he created history on 24thJune 1924, when he gave the state of Jammu and Kashmir its first independent newspaper - ‘RANBIR’, which meant ‘The knight of battle field’.

On 18th May 1950 Ranbir chose to disappear instead of compromising with the values for which it had worked all through and for which it had been founded. But Chachaji still lived his dream of serving the common man through other newspapers in the rest of the country and abroad. This was because he had a clear vision, a steadfast conviction and a sense of purpose.

And now I am proud to realise that I am the great granddaughter of a visionary called Lala Mulk Raj Saraf, the Father of Journalism in Jammu and Kashmir. This consciousness makes it a lot easy for me to have a close look at my own priorities in the years to come as I finish my schooling.

-Sama Saraf
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