Honouring unknown women who 'enable' journalists' success? How my apprehensions went wrong

By Rajiv Shah 

I felt a little uneasy when I received an invitation from well-known Gujarati writer Urvish Kothari, issued in the name of Navajeevan News and Prashant Dayal—a distinguished name among Gujarat’s crime reporters. The invitation was for the initiation of the Shiva Journalism Award in memory of Shivani Dayal, Prashant’s wife, who had passed away a few weeks earlier.

The invitation suggested that the award, instituted in Shivani’s name, was established against the backdrop of the "challenges and risks" journalists face. It emphasized that journalists would not acquire their "distinct identity" without the support of those standing by their side—"mother, spouse, sister, or daughter."

Claiming that "the true credit for a journalist’s recognition and success belongs to these individuals," the invitation underlined, "Through the Shiva Journalism Award, we honor the courage, patience, and dedication of the women who support journalists."

A random thought crossed my mind: Do the organizers of the award believe that journalism is primarily the domain of male reporters, while women—whether as "mother, spouse, sister, or daughter"—are to be honored for merely playing a supporting role?

Indeed, the invitation explicitly stated that the award would recognize "the courage, patience, and dedication of the women who support journalists." The reference seemed to be to Shivani, who had "stood firmly" by Prashant through thick and thin until her untimely death.

Fortunately, I was proven wrong. The Shiva Journalism Award function honored two Gujarati women journalists who had played a pivotal role in delivering news to the public. The recipients were Anita Patni, a crime reporter for VTV News, a Gujarati news channel, and Gopi Maniar-Ghanghar, who previously worked for Aaj Tak and now runs her own YouTube channel.

What made the event unique—held at the Navjeevan premises—was that not only were these two women journalists honored, but also the women who stood behind them, providing the support system essential to their success as TV/video journalists.

The audience was told that Anita comes from the Devipoojak community, a backward class derogatorily referred to as Vaghri by so-called upper-caste people. Her mother was awarded for her unwavering support. After all, as a female crime reporter, it would not have been possible for Anita to work late hours without her mother’s active encouragement.

As for Gopi, whom I have known since my Times of India days—when she used to travel to Gandhinagar to report on political and administrative events as an Aaj Tak correspondent—her mother-in-law was honored for playing a crucial role in supporting her young children whenever she had to go out to cover important news stories.

While the women journalists received certificates of recognition for their outstanding work, the elderly women who supported them were honored with a citation and a ₹25,000 award.

Speaking at the event, Prashant explained why he decided to institute the award in memory of his late wife. He described Shivani as a simple yet strong woman who had supported him in resisting the allurements, pressures, and threats that honest journalists often face from those in power.

Prashant, who recently completed a series in Navjeevan News in memory of Shivani, is perhaps Gujarat’s best-known crime journalist. He broke several major stories, including the notorious Sohrabuddin fake encounter case. A former colleague of mine at The Times of India, he faced sedition charges for his investigative reports on then-police commissioner O.P. Mathur in 2008.

Later, when he joined the Gujarati daily Divya Bhaskar as chief reporter, his bosses asked him to leave Ahmedabad and relocate to Dhanbad, Jharkhand, after he refused to sign a management-drafted letter stating that he would not accept the Justice Majithia Wage Board Award for working journalists.

The Majithia Award, based on recommendations from a Government of India-appointed commission, proposed a 50-60% salary hike for journalists. Prashant reportedly told the Bhaskar management that while they were free to withhold his salary increment under the award, they could not force him to sign the letter.

"Throughout my struggles, Shivani stood by me like a rock. She inspired me to establish this award in her name with the support of Navjeevan News," he told those present at the award ceremony. "This award is meant to honor the women who make it possible for journalists to do their work without hindrance."