Durga Prasad Chaudhary

July 31, 2012

A commemorative postage stamp on the Capt. Durga Prasad Chaudhary (Kaptan Sahib), founder of Dainik Navajyoti, a Hindi language daily newspaper published from Rajasthan :

Issued by India

Issued on Jul 31, 2012

Issued for : Department of Posts is happy to issue a Commemorative Postage Stamp on Durga Prasad Chaudhary.

Credits :
Stamp / FDC : Brahm Prakash
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million (0.1 million for the proponent)

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Durga Prasad Chaudhary

Born on Dec 18, 1906 at Neem–Ka–Thana, Sikar district, Rajasthan, India

Died on Jun 29, 1992

About :

Durga Prasad Chaudhary fondly known as “Kaptan Sahib” was a nationalist, a freedom fighter and a pioneer journalist. He was born on 18^th December, 1906 in Neem-Ka-Thana, Rajasthan. His father Muralidhar was also a social reformer.
As a young teenager, Durga Prasad Chaudhary was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi‘s appeal to the youth of the country to join the fight against the tyranny of foreign rule and became his dedicated disciple.
When a camp of Congress Seva Dal was held at Hatundi, Ajmer, a few days before the Salt Satyagraha, Durga Prasad Chaudhary was appointed as Captain of this Seva Dal, a position which he occupied till 1945. He took an active part in Civil Disobedience and Quit India movements. He was imprisoned several times between 1930 and 1947. After independence, he became a Member of Ajmer Municipal Council from 1948 to 1953.
Durga Prasad Chaudhary started “Dainik Navajyoti“, a weekly newspaper, on 2^nd October, 1936 on the birth day of Mahatma Gandhi to write about the British Raj in India. During the Quit India movement in 1942, the paper was suspended due to the repressive policy of the British Government. It resumed publication in 1945 and became a daily newspaper in 1948. The paper has completed 75 years of its establishment in 2011. The guiding philosophy of this paper under the stewardship of Durga Prasad Chaudhary was to propagate the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, inculcate patriotism among the masses and to oppose violence and communal hatred. Durga Prasad Chaudhary was always impartial, truthful and fair in his writings.
Durga Prasad Chaudhary also did commendable work for the upliftment of farmers. As a patron of Kisan Sangh, Ajmer, established in 1982, he organized Kisan Sabhas in 700 villages of Ajmer district to create awareness about social evils. He was of the firm belief that a free India would be meaningless if hunger, poverty, untouchability and other social evils continued in this country. All through his lifetime, he worked relentlessly towards his vision and ideals of a progressive and modern India. He breathed his last on 29^th June 1992.
Text : Based on the material provided by the proponent.