Pallavi Sharma
Chamba: Quoting the iconic Bollywood dialogue “Mere paas maa hai”, Executive Editor of The Newz Radar, Sunil Chadha, struck a powerful emotional chord during his welcome address at the Shining Star Awards ceremony in Chamba. Speaking before a gathering of over 2,000 people, including meritorious students and their families, Chadha said, “The Newz Radar may be taking baby steps, but we are ready to spread our wings — because what we have is credibility. That alone makes us different.”
Addressing the Chief Guest of the event, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Chadha emphasized that credible journalism isn’t just a profession, but a necessity to maintain the balance of power in any democratic society. “We stand by our stories. Journalism that questions, that informs, that holds power accountable — is not optional. It is essential,” he said, drawing applause from the audience.
Highlighting the purpose behind The Newz Radar’s initiative to honor students who scored above 90% in Classes 10 and 12, Chadha said the awards aim to spread positivity and reward excellence. “This is not just about marks. This is about recognising sincerity, discipline, and the will to excel — values that our society desperately needs to celebrate today,” he added.
In a thoughtful reflection, Chadha invoked the age-old association of journalism with Maharishi Narad, often misunderstood in popular culture. “People remember Narad as a messenger or a stirrer of conflict, but they forget how deeply his role was rooted in truth, wisdom, and social transformation,” he said. “That’s the role The Newz Radar aspires to — to question wrong, celebrate right, and contribute meaningfully to social change.”
The Shining Star Awards ceremony in Chamba was part of The Newz Radar’s state-wide initiative to recognise academic brilliance without any commercial backing. Attended by senior officials, educationists, and civil society members, the event stood as a rare media-led public effort to promote merit and values.
As the evening progressed with applause and emotional moments, it became clear that The Newz Radar is not just reporting news — it is becoming a movement to rebuild trust in journalism, one credible story at a time.
