Objective
01
A healthy press
To encourage the growth of a healthy press by providing awards, scholarships and other incentives to journalists in and outside J&K.
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Four decades of championing the noblest traditions of journalism
The Jamna Devi Gyan Devi Saraf Trust was established on 9 August 1985 — named after two distinguished ladies, the mothers of the founder trustees.
Our History
Established 1985
The Jamna Devi Gyan Devi Saraf Trust was established on August 9, 1985 by visionary journalist and social reformer Lala Mulk Raj Saraf, and his eldest son, Shri Om Prakash Saraf, himself an eminent journalist. They named it after two distinguished ladies who were the mothers of the founder trustees.
Since its inception, the JDGD Saraf Trust has emerged as a highly prestigious institution in the realm of journalism, mainly for two reasons. One, its association with the late Lala Mulk Raj Saraf (1894–1989), who upheld the noblest traditions of the profession for more than seventy years and was popularly called the “Father of Journalism” in the colourful and equally controversial region of Jammu and Kashmir. Two, its crucial role in encouraging the growth of a healthy press by periodically venerating the veterans and decorating the youngsters for their distinctive achievements in the line.
Mrs. Rachna Vinod was nominated as a trustee by the founder trustee Shri Om Prakash Saraf in March 1989, and Dr. Sonali Gupta became a trustee in September 2018. The current trustees continue to be guided by the vision of journalism set forth by the founding trustees, while adapting to a technological landscape that has created newer methods of news creation and dissemination.
Our Mission
What the Trust sets out to do
Objective
01
Objective
02
Young talent
To encourage the development of young journalistic talent through educational initiatives, skill development workshops and mentorship.
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Objective
03
An incubator
To be an incubator for early-stage journalism or media start-ups, students and fledgling journalists working towards an informed and empowered society.
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Objective
04
Access to resources
To enable access to resources that inspire and effect the growth of conscientious journalism.
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Our Programmes
Venerating the veterans, decorating the youngsters
JDGD Saraf Trust envisions conscientious and fearless journalists who uphold the prestige of the profession. Since 1985, the much-coveted “JDGD Saraf Awards for Journalism” have been given to several veterans as well as youngsters who have gone on to bring laurels to the state.
The Trust has instituted annual awards for those securing the first position in journalism courses in Srinagar and Jammu. It also awards prizes to two best students officially adjudged the “best all-rounder of the year” at the leading educational institution at Samba, the hometown of the founding trustees.
In memory of the “Father of Journalism”, the Trust has instituted a special memorial award for outstanding performance by a reporter working in J&K for any of the mass media.
Milestones
A line running from the first press to the present
Dates drawn from the Trust’s own record of the founders’ lives and the institution they built.
1894
Lala Mulk Raj Saraf is born
The man who would spend more than seventy years in journalism and social service.
1924
The first press, and Ranbir
Overcoming every odd, he sets up the first printing press in the region and publishes its first newspaper.
1942
“A Vision of Journalism”
The address at the Newspaper Editors’ Conference in Srinagar, 20 August, that still frames the Trust’s purpose.
1976
Padma Shri
The nation honours a freedom fighter, social reformer and much-loved public figure.
1985
The Trust is established
Founded on 9 August by Lala Mulk Raj Saraf and Shri Om Prakash Saraf, and named for their mothers.
1989
Rachna Vinod joins as trustee
Nominated in March by founder trustee Shri Om Prakash Saraf.
2018
Dr. Sonali Gupta joins as trustee
The reins of a trust named after two women pass to two women.
Trustees
The current team
The expertise of the current team lies at the intersection of journalism, media and entrepreneurship.
Rachna Vinod
Trustee since 1989
Rachna Vinod is a prominent media professional with over twenty-three years of experience in All India Radio. An MA in Political Science, she has a stellar career in broadcasting — writing, presenting and producing programmes for children, youth and women. An acclaimed writer of both poetry and prose, she has authored fourteen books in English, Hindi, Urdu and Dogri, and writes regularly for online and print media. She was the first Indian office bearer in IAWRT.
Dr. Sonali Gupta
Trustee since 2018
A technologist with over twenty-five years of experience across reputed corporates, start-ups, public institutes and academia, Dr. Sonali is an alumna of BITS Pilani and IIM Bangalore, with a doctorate in management from IIM Indore. Her research has been presented in international journals and conferences. She writes for several online and print publications on entrepreneurship, public policy, communication, gender equality and personal growth.
Past Trustees
The visionaries who founded the Trust
Lala Mulk Raj Saraf
Founder Trustee · 1894–1989
A veteran journalist of Jammu and Kashmir with over seventy years of a distinguished career in journalism and social service. With several firsts to his name, he is most renowned for overcoming all odds to lay the foundation of journalism in J&K — setting up the first printing press and publishing the region’s first newspaper, Ranbir. A freedom fighter, social reformer and much-loved public figure, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 1976.
Om Prakash Saraf
Founder Trustee · 1922–2017
A prominent public figure widely regarded as a doyen of journalism in J&K. His journalistic career spans several decades, during which he was news editor of Ranbir and a correspondent for Reuters, UNI, Hindustan Times, Tribune and Indian Express. He ran Rattan, one of the most successful children’s magazines of the pre-independence era, with subscribers from India and what is now Pakistan. He held several public positions and was a Member of the Legislative Council, J&K.
Join us
A nonprofit is as strong as the community that holds it up
Volunteer, partner, nominate a journalist, or mentor a student. Together we can do more than we can do alone.