The book 'Assi ke Rai Sahab' is a collection of articles written by friends, colleagues, and contemporaries of the distinguished journalist on various aspects of his life. However, as one reads, it becomes evident that this work is a fundamental text for understanding contemporary politics, society, and the world of journalism. Published by Prabhat Prakashan, the 448-page book details the personality and creative work of Rambhadrachandra Rai.
In an era of constant debate about the influence of market, power, ideology, and institutional pressure on journalism, 'Assi ke Rai Sahab' goes beyond being a mere document celebrating the journalist's eightieth birthday. It raises the question of how a generation that viewed journalism not just as a profession but as a life value and social responsibility saw and lived its time.
The book was edited by senior journalist Hemant Sharma, who knew the journalism and life of Rambhadrachandra Rai intimately. It compiles over a hundred articles dedicated to the JP Movement, the period of emergency, cultural issues, and social life.
It would be unfair to limit the personality of Rai Sahab merely to a journalist. Rai Sahab's life began as a student leader who initiated the JP revolution in Bihar. He was first arrested in Patna under the Assembly Rules Act. After his release, he found himself in a state of emergency and was sent to prison again.
His contemporaries, such as Lalu Prasad Yadav, Sushil Modi, and Ravishankar Prasad, later became prominent political figures in the country. Nevertheless, after reaching the pinnacle of a political career, Rai Sahab shifted to journalism. Working for publications like Hindustan Samachar, Jansatta, and Navbharat Times, he never allowed his personal views to dominate his journalism. He strived to bring even ideas with which he disagreed into the debate.
As editor Hemant Sharma notes, his worldview combines the legacy of Gandhi from 'Hindraj', Saptakranti Lohia, the JP Comprehensive Revolution, Ambedkar's Jatimukt Bharat, Dindiyayal Upadhyay's 'Last Man', and Acharya Kriplani's Gandhian socialism. Hemant Sharma emphasizes that the influence of Gandhi from 'Hindraj' on Savarkar's nationalism is significant in his works. The headlines written about him in the book confirm that he is more of a thinker, mentor, and seeker of culture than just a journalist.
In his editorial essay, Hemant Sharma justifies the necessity of this book, stating that Rai Sahab shames today's journalism and all modern journalists. Despite being in power, he maintained a distance from the magnetic fields of power. He kept his distance from influential people, opportunities, and invitations. It is well known that he was a major leader of ABVP. He himself admitted that he was released from prison thanks to the efforts of Rashtrani Swasarg Sang during the emergency, but he never allowed his connections to override his journalism.
Hemant Sharma writes that he strives for the search for politics, not for ruling in power, and lacks ideological narrowness; he unites nationalism, communism, Gandhism, and socialism. His circle even included card-holder-nationalists, so his acceptability was astonishing even in contradictory camps, including Chandrashekhar, V.P. Singh, Chitrandjan Singh (ML), and proponents of Singh politics.
Being non-violent in speech and conduct, Rai Sahab openly opposed the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the head of Sangh Cup Sudarshan, despite his ideological commitments. After the exposure of the 'Operation West End' corruption case, Rai Sahab faced sharp criticism from the Vajpayee government. On September 3, 2000, he wrote in a column: 'Atal Bihari Vajpayee, take moral responsibility and resign. The Vajpayee government will be remembered in history with hatred because of this new grammatical rule.' Hemant Sharma notes that it was precisely for this frankness that Rai Sahab was loved by Prabhash Joshi, while subsequent editors felt irritation towards him.
Another instance is cited: Rai Sahab wrote a news report about Sushma Swaraj. The report stated that Ramesh Sharma was an ambitious person obsessed with politics. At that time, he began touring the country, buying helicopters. He created a political party supported by Sushma. When Sushma's office was called to stop the news in Jansatta, Ram Bahadur Rai did not agree and wrote a new article about Ramesh Sharma's falsification. This news was published, and Ramesh Sharma was arrested.
The editing of this book itself is an achievement. According to Hemant Sharma, Rambhadrachandra Rai initially did not want to publish such a book. Only after much persuasion did he agree. Hemant Sharma worked in journalism for a long time, and his relationship with Rambhadrachandra Rai was not formal. Therefore, the sincerity in the book is natural. However, the editor's task was likely to give structure to such a collection of memoirs and articles so that the book did not turn into merely a 'collection of praise for Rai Sahab.'