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| R.K. Kak: Doyen of Kashmir Journalism | | Tribute |
By V K Wattal
A veteran scribe, writer, analyst and a political commentator, R.K. Kak was known for his rare qualities of head and heart; and was one of the first icons of journalism from the valley. He was a legendary who had set up high ethics of journalism with other icons Prem Nath Bazaz, N L Wattal and Prem Nath Kanna to name a few. They were the trail blazers of modern journalism in J&K state.
Kak Sahab, as R.K.Kak was known in political, bureaucratic, social and media circles was born in Naidyar, Rainawari. He was the eldest of the four brothers and a sister. His father, Pt. Laxman Joo was a government employee. The house was big with a large vegetable garden consisting of several kanals extending up to the tributary of Dal Lake. This vegetable garden also known as "Nar Bhaton Bagh" was famous in Rainawari for growing high quality vegetables. It is said that though he was heading a large family, his father was very particular about the education of his children. In fact all of them did well and the youngest, S K Kak, rose to the position of Director Tourism J&K.
It is not known how Kak Sahab entered the field of journalism. One theory is that in 1936, Col. Launders who was a senior journalist in "Statesman" came to Srinagar and came into contact with Kak Sahab and with this started the long journey of Kak Sahab, in journalism which spanned for more than six decades. Kak Sahab became the correspondent for the "Statesman" which was considered a highly prestigious newspaper those days because it toed the line of British empire and all the senior positions were occupied by the British nationals.
Kak Sahab was the first working journalist of the state. He was the first journalist to represent newspapers or news agencies outside the state. It was in 1939 that Prem Nath Bazaz, appointed sub editors (N L Wattal, P N Kaul, J.N.Sathu ) for his paper "Hamdard".
By 1936, political awareness in the state in general and the valley in particular had already started. In the valley, Sheikh Abdullah and Mirwaiz Mohd Yusuf were up against Maharaja's rule. The majority community was feeling that the Dogra rulers are not treating them fairly. It was in 1939 when Muslim Conference was converted into National Conference. With the change in the name many non Muslims who considered themselves as progressives joined the fray in asking for the ouster of the Dogra rule. With the passage of time the voices against the Dogra rule gained momentum.
The political parties including National Conference which was spear heading the movement for the ouster of Dogra rule from the state wanted that the country outside the state should come to know about the movement. Most of the newspapers published from the valley had limited readership of the valley. So in order to make people of India aware of the movement they sought the help from the media. There were handful of Kashmiri working journalists - Sh. R K Kak, N L Wattal, P N Kaul, J N Sathu. R K Kak was much sought after because he was representing several national dailies at that time.
All these gentlemen of the media commanded great respect. This was also a difficult time for journalists. They were kept under constant vigil by the police and intelligence agencies. The Maharaja's government had been shaken by the independent movement and the government thought that journalists were responsible for giving wide coverage outside the state. The fourth estate was like a red rag to the bull.
Come 1947, the whole scenario of the country underwent a total change. India became free. Maharaja Hari Singh adopted a vacillating attitude and did not accede to India by August 15. His attitude became a problem between the two countries. Pakistan took advantage of the situation and sent tribal raiders, aided and guided by Pakistan army, to invade J&K State. The invasion unnerved the Maharaja, who after signing the instrument of accession fled to Jammu.
Veteran journalist, Late S P Sahni, in his book "My Dismissal" writes after the Maharaja fled to Jammu, there was no government worth the name in the state. The administration had evaporated and as National Conference leaders would say they picked the Government from Lal Chowk. According to Sahni, the new government led by National Conference started in Palladium Cinema. According to him there were only 3 journalists --------- R K Kak, N L Wattal & S P Sahni who would come to Palladium for briefing. All the three journalists covered war from Uri front.
Post 1948 proved to be all the more difficult for the journalists. By now Kashmir problem had been globalized . The journalists in the valley had to tread very cautiously over the fine edge of the sword. With the leaders both at state and central level issuing statements and making speeches Too much was being read between the lines penned down by the journalists. While covering Sheikh Abdullah's speech at RS Pura, Jammu, one PTI reporter lost his job.
Kak Sahab with his vast knowledge performed with grace and aplomb. His dispatches and news items were being read with all seriousness and respect. His incisive and perfect professional approach won him laurels both with the politicians , political anaylists, the bureaucrats heading the Home and External affairs Ministries and senior journalists both Indian and foreign. Whenever these senior journalists would come to the valley it was must for them to meet KAK Sahab, before they returned to Delhi. During his six decades long journey in journalism Kak Sahab, worked with more than 8 to10 Prime Ministers /Chief Ministers, in pre 1947 and post 1947 era. His contemporaries would accept that he was very close to the seat of power but never threw weight around.
Kak Sahab lived a simple and dignified life. Happily married he had three daughters and one son. Till mid fifties he lived in his ancestral home of Naidyar, Rainawari. With growing commitments of the profession he had to shift and had been allotted a duplex type accommodation at Pratap Park next to the present Press Enclave by the state Government. Professionally he was neither a friend nor a foe to anyone. Till his death he maintained the strict ethics of journalism and never compromised which would sometime bring him into conflict with the powers that be. Before sending a news item or write up he would go through it several times, reading every word of it. Professionally he was an "open book with no skeletons in his cupboard".
A very handsome looking personality, he had a penchant for good clothes. He maintained a nice wardrobe and was always immaculately dressed. His usual day would start by going to the Coffee House where fans and friends would be waiting for him. He would interact with them, listen to them patiently asking more questions rather than answering them. A voracious reader who maintained a large library, he was considered as "China Expert" among the Press fraternity. Sometimes, he would spend the afternoon at the office of Daily "Khidmat" with N L Wattal with whom he had a long association since 1939 when he had joined Prem Nath Bazaz's "Hamdard". Much before sunset he would be back at his home. He shunned evening parties and receptions mostly. Very few people knew that he was living only on one kidney, hence he maintained a strict dietary control. On the advice of the doctors he would enjoy one or two small drinks.
KAK SAHAB was an inspiration for the budding journalists who had joined the profession in post independent era. He was a guide and mentor to them . They would seek his advice at the beginning of their professional career and earned name and fame for themselves in their later professional life. . They included M K Dhar (Political Editor H.T.), O. N. Ganjoo (Statesman& Hindu), O N Kaul (Economic Times), SHYAM KOUL (Author, Radio Kashmir), M L Kak (Tribune), B L Kak (Amrit Bazar Patrika), to name a few.
Kak Sahab, after retiring from the "Statesman" worked for "Motherland" till it ceased publication during Emergency. Then he joined "Indian Express" as its bureau chief.
(Disclaimer: The views, observations and opinions expressed in above write up of Scoop News are strictly author's own. Scoop News does not take any onus or liability for the veracity, accuracy, validity, completeness, suitability of any of information in the above given write up. The information, facts or figures appearing in the write up in no way manifest the position, standpoint or stance of Scoop News and the Scoop News does not assume any encumbrance or answerability of the same.)
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