“IT IS ALWAYS the obligation of the judiciary to uphold the fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression. This, essentially, includes freedom available to journalists. And, therefore, it is always the duty of the court to uphold the fundamental rights of journalists.” With these words, Supreme Court Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka presented the International Press Institute’s (India chapter) award for excellence in journalism to THE WEEK’s Photo Editor Bhanu Prakash Chandra, for his coverage of the Ukraine war from the frontlines.
Bhanu’s bold foray into the heart of the mayhem in the Donbas region and beyond resulted in a special issue of THE WEEK (published in the summer of 2023), where his lens gave voice to the voiceless, capturing the suffering of war-torn Ukraine. He lived alongside soldiers in makeshift bunkers and shared underground shelters with civilians as missiles streaked overhead and destruction rained down. His work not only documented the devastation but also told poignant tales of local Ukrainians, brave soldiers, and even Indians caught in the crossfire.
While accepting the award, Bhanu said, “Wars are brutal, and no one needs them. When you are on the ground, you question why you chose this path. The people enduring war don’t necessarily expect you to change their fate. But, when they see an outsider listening to their sufferings, it gives them hope. And you realise that your decision has offered someone a small sense of solace.”
Bhanu has decided to use the money that comes with the award―Rs1 lakh―to support civilians affected by the war. “In Ukraine, I have seen civilians dying and suffering, and my heart tells me it is not right to keep the money I received for telling the story of sufferings,” said Bhanu.
Bhanu is no stranger to conflict zones, having covered not just Ukraine but also post-war Iraq, the Israel-Hamas conflict, and, most recently, the unrest in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime.
Ukraine’s ambassador to India, Oleksandr Polishchuk, a special invitee at the ceremony, highlighted the indispensable role of journalists in times of war. He said, “[Journalists are the] bridge between truth and the people. In times of war and injustice, their role becomes even more crucial, which is not just about informing, [but] holding power in account, giving voice to the voiceless, and ensuring that history is not written by the strongest, but by truth itself.”
Former Supreme Court judge Madan Lokur, chairman of the jury that selected the winner, warned against increasing pressure on journalists. The jury included Vijay Joshi, editor-in-chief of Press Trust of India, Riyad Mathew, IPI India chairman and THE WEEK’s chief associate editor and director, and writer Shobhaa De.
Conflict reporting emerged as the dominant theme of this year’s IPI India Journalism Awards, with special recognition for journalists covering strife in Manipur. Winners included Vijaita Singh (The Hindu), Ashutosh Mishra (India Today), and teams of Scroll.in, ThePrint and Caravan.
Former Union home secretary G.K. Pillai pointed out that media had a great role to play in bringing about a change in the narrative on Manipur, on all the issues that have been the cause of discord among the communities. “The way forward is only through empathy to understand the concerns of all communities and foster a dialogue based on facts, and not misinformation or false narratives,” said Pillai.
IPI India Journalism Awards, an annual feature recognising the best in Indian journalism, includes Rs2 lakh (which was divided among the winners this year), a memento and a certificate.
Of course, more than the money or the recognition, at the end of the day, the award symbolises the resilience and resoluteness of India’s media professionals who continue the good fight, fighting against all odds, always keeping in mind the greater common good.
Bhanu summed it up succinctly when he dedicated his award to common people caught in conflicts around the world. “Because the words, pictures and videos I bring are not mine, it's theirs.”