Ravish Kumar to Receive First Gauri Lankesh Award for Journalism
Magsaysay awardee Ravish Kumar is the recipient of the first Gauri Lankesh Memorial Award for Journalism.
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Senior journalist and Magsaysay awardee Ravish Kumar will receive the first Gauri Lankesh Memorial Award on 22 September. The award was announced on Thursday, 5 September, on the occasion of the latter journalist’s second death anniversary.
Gauri Lankesh, a prominent activist and an outspoken journalist, was shot by an assailant in front of her house in Bengaluru’s Rajarajeshwari Nagar on 5 September 2017.
The award was announced by Gauri Lankesh Memorial Trust, formed after her death. The organisers of the event said Kumar has been chosen for the award for ‘sharp news analysis and uncompromising secular stance’.
The winner was decided by a selection committee comprising senior journalist Siddharth Varadarajan, activist Teesta Setalvad, and academic Rahamat Tarikere. The award ceremony will be held on Sunday, 22 September at 4 pm at the Town Hall, Bangalore.
Gauri’s Sister Requests Special Court
During the function commemorating the second death anniversary of Gauri Lankesh, her sister, Kavitha, requested the government to set up a special court and fast-track the trial.
“We have seen how they can go on for so many years. As you know, it has been, professor Kalaburgi died four years ago. It’s over many years now since Dabhoklar died. If the state government could set up a special court for our (Gauri Lankesh) case and the Kalaburagi case, it would be very good,” she said.
She added that this was the family's decision as well.
Kanhaiya Pays Respects to ‘Comrade & Teacher’
Watch Kanhaiya Kumar's speech on the occasion of Gauri Lankesh’s second death anniversary.
Former student leader and long-time ally of Lankesh, Kanhaiya Kumar was also present at the event to pay his respects.
“She was a teacher and comrade to me. Nobody had a claim on Gauri. Those who had faith in her and connected with her will take her ideology forward. She loved her comrades and friends more than family. Where there was a fight for justice, Gauri tried to have a lively relationship with all the people involved. Gauri will get justice when the idea of justice is protected. It is about living this ideology and practicing it everyday,” he said.
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