Mahanagar Times

Mahanagar Times

Type	Daily Newspaper
Format	Tabloid
Owner(s)	Dr. Gopal Sharma
Editor	Dr. Gopal Sharma
Founded	23 November 1997, 25 years ago
Language	Hindi

Mahanagar Times is a Hindi-language daily newspaper. It was Rajasthan's first tabloid. Known for its exclusive coverage and patriotic vision, Mahanagar Times has been praised by the country's prominent personalities including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mahanagar Times was started as an evening newspaper. In September 2014, it was revamped with a morning edition.

History

Mahanagar Times was founded by Rajasthan's prominent journalist Dr. Gopal Sharma, known for his exclusive and fearless reporting during the Ram Janmabhoomi Movement. On 23 November 1997, Sharma started his own newspaper in presence of then Loksabha Speaker P. A. Sangama, Rajasthan's Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, veteran journalist Prabhash Joshi and Congress state president Ashok Gehlot. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhad, who was then a Member of Rajasthan Assembly, was also present in the audience.

Beginning: Voice of the People

With its sharp editorials and exclusive news, Mahanagar Times soon became the voice of the common man. When the state government, headed by Ashok Gehlot, proposed for renaming the road from the Secretariat to Vidhan Sabha as 'Rajpath', Mahanagar Times called out against this move. As the public sentiment grew stronger, 'Rajpath' was changed to 'Janpath'.

Historic Initiatives

Kargil Shaheed Samarpan Samaroh :

Just after the Kargil War, Mahanagar Times gathered the families of all the 71 martyrs of Rajasthan on one platform, for the first time in the country, and handed the FDR of Rs 51,000 to each family.

Gujarat Bhukamp Seva Nidhi :

After the Gujarat earthquake of 2001, Sewa Nidhi formed under the aegis of Mahanagar Times sent 18 truckloads of relief materials to the most affected areas of Gujarat with public help.

Mahatma Gandhi Saardh Shati Samaroh :

The dignified presence of the freedom fighters of Rajasthan in this function, organized in the 150th birth anniversary year of Mahatma Gandhi, infused the spirit of patriotism among the young generation.

Jalianwala Bagh Martyrdom Centenary Memorial :

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh sacrifice, the families of the martyred patriots including Udham Singh were honored at a felicitation ceremony organized by Mahanagar Times.

Abhinandan :

Mahanagar Times organised "Abhinandan" ceremony to facilitate the five senior most journalists of Rajasthan, in presence of Governor Shri Kalraj Mishra, and handed them Rs. 1 lakh each.

Famous editorial column: 'Kis'se Karen Guhaar'

A column published in Mahanagar Times, named 'Kis'se Karen Guhaar' became an effective medium for providing direct help and justice to the weakest sections of the society. Former Governor of Rajasthan, Kalyan Singh took due note of this initiative by stating: "Hundreds of suffering and seriously ill people received direct help from the government and the public through Mahanagar Times."

Futuristic Vision

At a time when nobody was expecting Narendra Modi to rise as a national leader, Mahanagar Times suggested in 2002 that BJP's politics is taking a turn under Modi's leadership. The first news of the Godhra massacre was published in Mahanagar Times. After the 9/11 attacks in the U.S., Mahanagar Times warned that a similar attack might be planned on India's senstitive premises such as the Parliament. Mahanagar Times had predicted the possibility of Dr. Manmohan Singh becoming the prime ministerial candidate three years before the elections. In 2004, most people were expecting Sonia Gandhi to become the Prime Minister, but Mahanagar Times revealed that she is indecisive due to her children's apprehensions. When most political analysts were not convinced to take the Republican candidate Donald Trump seriously, Mahanagar Times presented a comprehensive ground coverage and explained why the U.S. was compelled to choose Trump on a turning point of history. In all the assembly elections in Rajasthan since 1998, Mahanagar Times's predictions have always proved correct.

Culture & Values: No tolerance for terrorism

Mahanagar Times worked to change the priority of the established newspapers by focusing on the less talked about issues like terrorism, infiltration and religious conversion. Mahanagar Times has the credit of exposing the presence of 'Student Islamic Movement of India' (SIMI) in Jaipur. It alerted the government and the police by running a series against Bangladeshi infiltrators or many years. Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje thanked Mahanagar Times for its role played in the aftermath of the 2008 Jaipur serial bomb blasts. She remarked : "The conspiracy of the terrorists to impound the development of a peaceful state like Rajasthan has been negated by the people. In developing this confidence among the masses, you and Mahanagar Times have played significant roles. I sincerely thank you on behalf of the public and the state government." (20 May 2008)

A journey of 25 glorious years

Mahanagar Times left a deep impression by creating its own identity. Eminent personalities like Narendra Modi, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Jagdeep Dhankar, Dr. Murali Manohar Joshi, J.P. Nadda, Ashok Gehlot, Anshuman Singh, Kalraj Mishra, Dr. Pranav Pandya have visited Mahanagar Times since the initial years of the newspaper. On 23 November 2022, Mahanagar Times its Silver Jubilee in presence of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Vasudevananda Saraswati, Rajasthan's governor Kalraj Mishra, central minister Anurag Thakur, Rajasthan cabinet Minister Dr. B.D. Kalla, Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Dr. C.P. Joshi and BJP state president Dr. Satish Poonia. On this special occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Mahanagar Times in a letter and hoped that it will continue to spread awareness among the people. In the Silver Jubilee ceremony, Mahanagar Times honoured three personalities of Rajasthan, symbolizing harmony, valor and service. Udaipur's Kanhaiyalal Sahu, who was killed by fundamentalists due to his freedom of expression, was awarded Rashtriya Samsarta Samman. Police constable Netresh Sharma, who took the risk of his life in the midst of violence and flames in Karauli, to safely evacuate women and innocent people, received Rashtriya Shaurya Samman. Vimla Devi, who made thousands of poor-malnourished children of Jaipur educated, cultured and efficient through Bharti Bal Vidyalaya, was awarded the Rashtriya Seva Samman. The distinguished guests presented them an honorarium of one lakh rupees along with a memento on behalf of Mahanagar Times.

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