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Empower people with truth, says Pooja Bhatt NT News Desk Panaji Oct 16: Film director, Ms Pooja Bhatt said newspapers were in an enviable position to safeguard the interest of the citizens to report the truth in public affairs and make the government accountable to the public. "The newspapers alone had the power to wield the pen and write the truth without fear or favor to empower the people. A responsible press is the fourth pillar of democracy", Ms Bhatt said. Speaking at the 73rd anniversary celebrations of Vavraddeancho Ixtt, a Konkani weekly newspaper on October 14 at Pilar auditorium, the Bolllywood film actress-turned-director, said newspapers had a sacrosanct duty and responsibility to tell the truth and nothing else but the truth. "On many occasions parents tell their children to speak the truth but in reality they just do the opposite and children thus learn to tell lies", Ms Bhatt said. Recalling an incident Bhatt, who recently shot a Hindi feature film Holidays in Goa, said that many a time, children are made to behave beyond their years and narrated that at a school-level competition where she was invited as a judge, students were asked what they would do if they won Rs 1 crore in prize money. "Most students spoke about giving the money to charity and other idealistic situations and one of them even won the prize. But I voted for the girl who said that she would spend a part of the prize money on her friends and hand over the rest to her mother. She lost the prize but she had spoken the truth which was more important than winning the prize", Ms Bhutt said. "I would rather lose in life than tell a lie", Ms Bhatt pointed out, adding "telling the truth made a person stronger as finally it is the truth that prevailed over everything." The chief guest Mr Ralph de Souza, secretary, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industries and chairman of De Souza group of hotels said, "today the increasing popularity of many 24-hour television news and entertainment channels had not diminished the importance of newspapers. Despite stiff competition from the visual news media, the printed world continued to command respect from hungry readers and the day was incomplete without turning to the daily newspapers with that morning cup." Praising the yeoman service rendered by Vavraddeancho Ixtt in disseminating timely news, views and investigative reports on a range of subjects for the last 73 years, he said the prestigious weekly had continued to inform, educate and guide the destiny of Goa, and Goan culture, upholding the truth and values and betterment of the common man. Former assembly speaker, Mr Tomazinho Cardozo, bagged the prestigious Vavraddeanch Ixtt Shennoui Goembab Puriskar 2004 for his life time contribution to Konkani literature, journalism and culture while Fr Ave Maria Afonso won the Vavraddeancho Ixtt Pri Lanctancio Almeida Puroskar 2004 for his outstanding contribution to Konkani journalism. Fr Walter Gomes, vicar general of Society of Pilar, said Vavraddencho Ixtt had steadfastly showed the way, giving direction to people's lives and instilling values, building communities and fighting for social justice. "The paper has been a voice of the voiceless", he remarked, adding that the journalism of courage would go a long way in bringing the people together. Ms Bhatt felicitated writers and artistes associated with Vavraddeancho Ixxt including Mr Michael Gonsalves, Mr Willy Goes, Mr Seby Martins, Mr Bosco de Sousa Eremita, Mr Savio Correia, Mr Rajeshree Sail, Mr Elvis Goes and others. -- Cheers, Gabe Menezes. London, England -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 1st Young Goans International Essay contest 2005 | | | | Theme: WHAT CAN I DO FOR GOA | | More details at | | http://shire.symonds.net/pipermail/goanet/2005-October/034190.html | --------------------------------------------------------------------------
