The last session was an internal discussion on the venue of the next national meeting, and the publication of a statement.
The Patna Declaration was discussed and unanimously adopted. Titled ‘Stand Up for Media Freedom’, the declaration took note of the increasing attacks on freedom of the media and called upon journalists, media workers and the public to stand up for press freedom, ethical journalism, gender equality and social justice.
The NWMI Goes dolphin-spotting
Membership of the NWMI extends beyond engaging in conversations about journalism—and an exhilarating trip along the Ganga to spot the Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica), known locally as susu, was a chance to have some fun and adventure.
Guiding us on the dolphin-watching expedition was Dr. Gopal Sharma, a seasoned researcher and scientist with the Zoological Survey of India. A wooden boat cast off from the Gandhi ghat with excited NWMI members on board. The Ganga presented a picturesque backdrop, with the crisp air adding to the ambiance. Together with Dr. Sharma, the boatman Rajender Saini, an experienced dolphin-man himself, explained dolphin habits and habitats and the optimal spots and times for observation during the hour-long expedition. The deeper reaches of the river were where the dolphins were likely to surface.
As they ventured deeper into the river, the solitary figures gracefully broke the surface, their dorsal fins visible in the water. The members counted at least a dozen of these majestic creatures.
Report contributors:
Laxmi Murthy, Aheli Moitra, Jyoti Punwani, Divya Arya, Neha Dixit, Sehar Qazi, Revathi, Siva Kumar, Rifat Mohidin, Sweta Singh, Tasneem Kutubuddin
Report Editor:
Shalini Umachandran