Mufti, others visit residence
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 9:- The condolence messages on the sad and untimely demise of S D Rohmetra, Editor-in-Chief, printer, publisher and owner of Daily Excelsior are continuously pouring in. The friends, well- wishers and readers of Excelsior are in a state of shock over SDR’s demise and term it a great loss to the state in general and field of journalism in particular.
They while recalling the services of Mr Rohmetra said in his demise the state has lost a veteran journalist, a towering personality and a great nationalist.
Patron of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed along with senior leaders of the party today visited the residence of Mr Rohmetra.
While expressing his heartfelt condolences with the bereaved family Mufti recalled his decades long association with S D Rohmetra. He termed Rohmetra as icon of Journalism who had contributed a lot in the development and growth of English journalism in Jammu and Kashmir. He prayed the Almighty for the peace of departed soul and courage of the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.
Later Mr Sayeed along with PDP leaders also visited the residence of party leader S K Raina whose mother passed away a couple of days back. PDP patron also visited the residence of veteran Kashmiri Pandit leader Amar Nath Vaishnavi, who passed away some days back. He expressed his condolences with the bereaved families.
Mufti was accompanied by Thakur Balbir Singh, Ved Mahajan, R K Bali, Jagjit Singh Jagga, Fallail Singh, Rajinder Singh Manhas, Abhijeet Jasrotia, Ashok Jogi, Ramesh Koul, Ashok Sidha and others.
Expressing his grief over the demise of Mr Rohmetra, A M Watali former DIG Police said he has no words to condole the demise of Mr Rohmetra, which is a great loss to the society. Mr Watali, while recalling his long association with SDR said he was his good friend since sixties. Terming him a trustworthy friend, he said ‘my grief is so intense that I can no longer continue to write, except that let us pray for peace to his soul. May God grant a place to him in heaven’’. Mr Watali has conveyed his heartfelt condolences to bereaved family also.
Dr Usha Kher a renowned singer has also expressed her grief and shock over the untimely demise of SDR and termed his death a great loss to civil society of Jammu and journalistic fraternity. She said Mr Rohmetra groomed Excelsior with his dedication and devotion. She said he was a veteran journalist who took the Excelsior to heights and made it a leading newspaper in the state.
Kundan Kashmiri, president Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) while mourning the
demise of Mr Rohmetra said his death is a great loss to the state in general and field of journalism in particular. Kashmiri while recalling the role of Excelsior during the mass exodus of Pandits from Valley said, the paper under the stewardship of SDR highlighted the plight of the community fearlessly without succumbing to any pressure.
H N Ticku president, J&K Confederation of Voluntary and Charitable Organizations has also expressed his grief and sorrow over the untimely and sudden demise of Mr Rohmetra and termed his death a great loss to the society.
Jammu and Kashmir Batwal Welfare Association held a condolence meeting at Shahzadpur Koti here today to mourn the demise of Mr Rohmetra, The Association described him an iconic and reputed journalist who stood for fearless journalism throughout his life. It said his contributions in the field of journalism can’t be forgotten. Those who paid tributes to Mr Rohmetra included Lt Col (retd) Manohar Lal Kaith, ex MLA, Sat Pal Lakhotra, R L Kaith, Dr Ramesh Kaith, Capt (retd) Raj Kumar Kaith and others.
Dr Manoj Nazir a Floriculture Scientist has also expressed his profound grief and shock over the demise of SDR and termed his death a great loss to world of journalism. Mr Rohmetra was an encouragement as well as an inspiration for budding journalists, Dr Nazir added. He also conveyed his heartfelt condolences to bereaved family.
The management and staff of Vinayak Institute of Nursing & Paramedical Sciences, Kunjwani has condoled the sad demise of Mr Rohmetra. A condolence meeting was held in the institute today in which two minutes silence was observed as a mark of respect to departed soul. The meeting also expressed its deep sympathy with bereaved family at this hour of grief.
Youth Hostels’ Association of India, Srinagar Unit, Jammu Wing has also condoled the demise of Mr Rohmetra whose contributions to the society as a journalist are laudable. The members of the Association observed two minutes silence as a mark of respect to departed soul and prayed for grant of courage to bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.
K L Dhar a regular reader of Excelsior from Durga Nagar has also expressed his profound grief over the demise of Mr Rohmetra. In his condolence message Dhar termed his demise a great loss to society, journalists and intellectuals also.
He said Mr Rohmetra was a journalist of high caliber and readers of this highly acclaimed newspaper were taken aback by his sudden demise.
All J&K Plus 2 Lecturers Forum has expressed its grief and sorrow over the sad demise of SDR a prominent and veteran journalist of the state.
The Forum president N S Jamwal while recalling the services of Mr Rohmetra said
he was an inspiration for budding journalists who worked very hard with honesty and dedication in the field of journalism. They prayed for the peace of departed soul and courage to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.
Dr Gurmeet Singh president SAWERA has also expressed his shock and grief over the demise of Mr Rohmetra whom he termed a legend and a great personality as a whole.
Pardeep Thakur Youth Congress leader Kishtwar has expressed grief and shock over the demise of Mr Rohmetra a pioneering journalist who has done tireless service in the filed of journalism. He termed his demise a great loss to the state.
Former MP Choudhary Talib Hussian has expressed his profound grief and shock over the demise of Mr Rohmetra. In his condolence message he said the state has lost a great person and a leading journalist who always espoused the cause of down trodden and voiceless people. He expressed the hope that that Excelsior team will successfully carry forward his mission.
Arya Samaj Mandir Sector 3, Trikuta Nagar has expressed profound grief and shock over the demise Mr Rohmetra and highlighted his contributions to the society.
Sanatan Dharam Sabha J&K Geeta Bhawan held a condolence meeting here today to mourn the sad and untimely demise of Mr Rohmetra and A N Vaishnavi the veteran KP leader. The meeting observed two minutes silence as a mark of respect to departed souls and highlighted their contributions in the respective fields.
The meeting was presided over by Jagdish Dogra president of the Sabha and among others it was attended by its general secretary, Jagdish Sharma, Pawan Pandoh, Prem Khajuria and Bodh Raj.
Rajindra Razdhan a freelance journalist has expressed his shock and grief over the untimely demise of Mr Rohmetra. In his condolence message Mr Razdhan said his demise was a big jolt to the journalist fraternity and has also shock the entire populace of the state. Mr Rohmetra was an institution in himself who wholeheartedly worked for almost every section of society without consideration of caste, creed and colour. The newspaper he gave to the masses of the state is not a paper of an hour but a paper of all times, Mr Razdan added.
He along with his other journalist friends expressed heartfelt condolences to bereaved family and expressed the hope that his legacy would be carried forward by his progeny in true spirit of journalism.
Kabotra Mahajan Biradri Bakshi Nagar Jammu has expressed its heart felt condolence on the sad and untimely demise of Mr Rohmetra a veteran journalist and towering personality of the state. In its condolence message here today it said SDR’s demise has created a great void, which will not be filled for years to come. He was a man of high ethics, a towering personality and high ideals who spent his whole life in the struggle of creating a history in taking the Daily Excelsior a prestigious paper to heights.
The members of the Governing Body and Executive led by its president Ram Swaroop Gupta prayed for the peace of departed soul and courage to bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.
A meeting of Executive Body of Mother India an NGO was held under the chairmanship of Raj Kumar Choudhary its president to mourn the sad and untimely demise of Mr Rohmetra an icon of journalism in J&K. The meeting observed two minutes silence in memory of the noble soul. Mr Choudhary termed SDR a dynamic journalist who always maintained the high standards in journalism and never compromised on ethics of the journalism.
A condolence meeting was held in the premises of All India Radio, Kathua to pay tributes to SD Rohmetra. The meeting was attended by Senior announcer Ramesh Marahatha and casual announcers including Sandeep Sharma, Amit sharma, Sonu Salaria, Maya Dubey and others. On the occasion all the present paid tributes to the departed soul and held silence for two minutes for peace to his soul.
Ramesh Marhatha highlighted achievements of Mr SD Rohmetra especially his contribution in the field of journalism. He also highlighted the days of his early career. Marahatha said that state has lost a gem in field of media and his loss can never be filled up.
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