Mulk Raj Saraf

Lala Mulk Raj Saraf (8 April 1894 - 21 February 1989) was an Indian journalist and writer,[1] with over seventy years of a distinguished career in journalism and social service.[2] 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. For his pioneering efforts in enabling a free press in J&K, he is known as the "Father of Journalism in Jammu and Kashmir". A freedom fighter, social reformer, and much loved public figure, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 1976. Saraf established the JDGD Saraf Trust for promoting conscientious journalism in 1985.[3] The Trust has emerged as a highly prestigious institution in the realm of journalism. It has played a 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.

He was born on 8 April 1894 in the Samba district of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir to Dayanand Saraf and Jamuna Devi and graduated from the Government Gandhi Memorial Science College Jammu.[2] He started his career as a sub-editor at the nationalist daily Bande Mataram based in Punjab, worked there for a while, and returned to Jammu in 1924 to start J&K's first newspaper Ranbir, and Rattan, one of the most successful children's magazines of the pre-independence era with subscribers from India and what is now, Pakistan.[2]

Saraf wrote several articles and was the author of books such as Meri Pakistan Yatra, Insaniyat Abhi Zinda Hai and Nagooh-e-Ranvir.[2] Meri Pakistan Yatra,[4] which detailed his reminiscences of his trip to Pakistan was selected as the Book of the Year by the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages in 1980.[2] His autobiographical work was published in 1967 under the title, Fifty years as a journalist.[5] Saraf was the author of the first biography published in Dogri language, 'Sher-e-Duggar Lala Hans Raj Mahajan Jeevan Katha', who was born in hamirpur sidhar j&k, which was released in 1968.[6] He was awarded the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1976.[7]

Mulk Raj Saraf died on 21 February 1989, at the age of 94, in Mumbai at the residence of his son, Ved Rahi,[2] a known Bollywood film personality and the director of the film, Veer Savarkar.[8]