Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 5: The sudden and sad demise of Editor -in -Chief and Printer Publisher of Daily Excelsior S D Rohmetra has been widely mourned.
His news came as a rude shock to his well -wishers, media fraternity and colleagues across the state. Many could not believe it at first instance that the man who dominated the filed of journalism for over five decades is no more.
The condolence messages from all over the state and outside are continuously pouring in the office of Daily Excelsior.
Zafar Mehraj a veteran journalist of the state termed the sudden demise of Mr Rohmetra as shocking. In his condolence message he said “another colleague full of life is gone”. Zafar who closely knew Mr Rohmetra when he headed UNI in J&K state prayed for the peace of departed soul.
Yousf Jameel another senior journalist of the state has also expressed his profound grief and shock over the demise of SD Rohmetra. He termed Mr Rohmetra a caring helpful, kind and down to earth person. In his condolence message he said Rohmetra can be an inspiration for the journalists.
Air Tan tray of Hindustan Times has also expressed his shock and grief over the sudden demise of Mr Rohmetra. In his condolence message, Air said “Hazaroon Saal Nargis Apni Be Noori Pe Routi Hai- Badi Mushkil Se Hota Hai Chaman Main Deedawar Paida”.
Peerzada Ashiq Correspondent HT, Srinagar while condoling the demise of Mr Rohmetra said it was painful to hear this sad news. In his condolence message Ashiq said he never got the chance to meet the person who revolutionized the profession of journalism by making it a sustainable one. He nurtured a rare newspaper, which provides social securities like health insurance, PF, Bonus, advance salary system, festival hikes to its employees, he added.
He further said Excelsior groomed by Mr Rohmetra has no history of expelling people on flimsy ground or laying off after utilizing a persons energetic years of youth. His paper continues to give decent salaries, as good as lecturers to his most reporters. One can remember Mr Rohmetra for being kind enough to continue paying an employee’s widow when the employee died young in service. His paper is only news paper where one gets to see old staff in their later 40s and 50s and not feeling lay off. He never considered aging employee as deadwood but responsibility to sail them through in life and would respect their contributions made during their energetic years. “We should all join to salute him for institutionalization the profession by giving a sense of security and freedom to a great degree to journalists” Ashiq added.
Sohail Kazmi senior journalist and secretary general Press Club of Jammu while condoling the sad demise of Mr Rohmetra termed him a noble soul who contributed a lot in shaping up journalism as an institution. He termed Mr Rohmetra a person down to earth. He while expressing his deepest sympathy with bereaved family prayed almighty to grant peace to departed soul.
Tarun Upadhyay Correspondent HT Jammu has also expressed his profound shock and grief over the demise of Mr Rohmetra. In his condolence message Tarun said it is sad to know about his demise but he has left a legacy, which can be the role model for owners of serious newspapers, he added.
Rajesh Gupta Editor -in -Chief News Till Date while mourning the demise of SDR, which, Mr Rohmetra was popularly known as, termed his death the end of an era. Terming Mr Rohmetra a legend and a visionary person he has set an example for journalism in J&K State by institutionalizing his newspaper and making it No. 1 paper of the state with his hard work, dedication and enthusiasm, he added.
The Press Council of Mendhar (PCM) held a condolence meeting today under the chairmanship of M S Nazki its president in which profound grief and shock was expressed over the demise of Mr Rohmetra.
K N Pandita a veteran columnist has expressed profound grief and shock over the demise of Mr Rohmetra. In his condolence message he said he has not only lost his patron but also his brother. He also recalled his over 20 years association with Mr Rohmetra.
Sujat Bukhari Editor -in -Chief Rising Kashmir has also expressed his grief and shock over the demise of Mr Rohmetra whom he knew from last many years. He said Mr Rohmetra is credited with shaping up journalism as an institution in J&K.
Rouf Ahmed, president Civil Secretariat Non Gazetted Employees Union has expressed his shock and grief over the demise of Mr Rohmetra whom he termed a veteran journalist who pioneered the cause of oppressed and suppressed people in the state. Mr Rohmetra was mouth peace of the employees of the state fighting for their demands from time to time.
Aijaz Loan an employee of Civil Secretariat and a reader of Daily Excelsior for last 50 years has expressed his shock and grief over the demise of Mr Rohmetra and termed it a personnel loss to him. He expressed his all sympathies with the bereaved family.
National Conference senior leader and MP from Anantnag Dr Mehboob Baig was also shocked to know about the demise of Mr Rohmetra. Dr Baig in his condolence message termed Mr Rohmetra a veteran journalist who worked with his utmost responsibility to maintain the regional balances in the state and took his newspaper to heights by dint of his hard work, dedication and professionalism.
PDP MLA Bijebehara and former Minister, Abdul Rehman Veeri has also condoled the sudden demise of Mr Rohmetra and termed it a great loss for the state. He said Mr Rohmetra worked with utmost responsibility and dedication as a journalist and it was by the dint of his hard work that Excelsior emerged as the leading daily of state.
Mr Veeri has expressed his deepest sympathies with bereaved family.
JKPCCC vice president Varun Singla has also expressed his shock and grief over demise of Mr Rohmetra.
VHP state president Dr Rama Kant Dubey while expressing his shock over the demise of Mr Rohmetra termed it a great loss to the state.
Adarash Ajit a prolific writer of the state has also expressed his shock and grief over the sudden demise of Mr Rohmetra and termed his demise a great loss to journalism in the state.
Former district president Youth Congress Kishtwar Sheikh Nasir has also expressed his shock over the demise of Mr Rohmetra.
Indian Media Centre, J&K Chapter in its hurriedly convened meeting expressed shock and grief over the sad demise of Mr Rohmetra and conveyed their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. Those who paid tributes included Vijay Mahajan, Vijay Kumar, Ravi Khajuria and Anil Sharma.
Hotel Restaurant Association in a meeting here today under the chairmanship of Shyam Lal Kesar expressed shock and grief over untimely demise of Mr Rohmetra.
Muslim Federation Jammu in its general body meeting under the chairmanship of Abdul Majid its president has condoled the demise of Mr Rohmetra and termed it the end of an era.
Captain (retd) Tickoo has also expressed his grief over the demise of SDR and conveyed his condolence to the bereaved family.
RSS Pracharak, J&K Ramesh Pappa and BJP state secretary (organizational) Ashok Kaul while condoling the demise of Mr Rohmetra termed him a great nationalist. They said that his demise was a great loss to the nation as a whole.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Tulsi Dass Langeh while mourning the demise of Mr Rohmetra said it has created a vacuum, which can’t be filled for long.
J&K Pradesh Congress Committee held a condolence meeting at PCC Headquarters here today to condole the demise of Mr Rohmetra. The meeting also highlighted his contributions in the field of journalism. The meeting was presided by Dharam Pal Sharma senior vice president of the Party.
MLA and senior NC leader Radhey Sham Sharma was also grieved over the sudden demise of Mr Rohmetra. Mr Sharma conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
Associated Chamber of Traders Federation held a condolence meeting to mourn the sad and untimely demise of Mr Rohmetra here today. The meeting put on record the services of Mr Rohmetra in the field of journalism.
President All India Kashmiri Samaj, Moti Kaul while condoling the demise of Mr Rohmetra termed him an institution in himself, man of determination, a true nationalist and a patriot and his death was not a loss to the journalist fraternity but entire state.
Panun Kashmir leaders Dr Agnishekhar, Dr Ajay Chrungoo, Ashwani Chrungoo, Vijay Bhat, JKVM senior vice president , Dr R L Bhat its general secretary H L Bhat, ASKPC, general secretary, H L Chatta, N C MLC, Vijay Bakaya, AIKPC, president H N Jatu, KPC chief Kundan Kashmiri, PK leader Ramesh Manwati, Kashmir Samiti Delhi chief, Rakesh Kaul, JTC president Shadi Lal Pandita, JCC leaders R N Dhar and Dilip Ji, AMCCC, president Desh Rattan, Swami Kumar Ji of Geeta Satsang Ashram, N C leaders Anil Dhar and M K Yogi have also expressed profound grief and shock over the demise of Mr Rohmetra and recalled his pioneering role in the field of journalism.
Farooq Nazki, Ex-Director All India Radio Srinagar, (Kashmir), ANC provincial chairman Gian Singh, Jammu Newspapers Guild, Udhampur Journalists and several other organizations have mourned the demise of Mr Rohmetra.
PCC secretary Manmohan Singh and Gopal Sharma president Welfare Committee Indira Colony have also mourned the demise of Mr Rohmetra.
Col J P Singh, a resident of Gandhi Nagar, Maulana Ghulam Qadir, well known religiously acclaimed scholar and member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board and Rajiv Chuni, Chairman SOS International also mourned the sad demise of S D Rohmetra and said that Editor-in-Chief of Daily Excelsior would be remembered for his sustained and dedicated efforts to keep the society and nation informed. They prayed for peace to the departed soul and courage to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel