NEW DELHI, MARCH 31: The 1997 Chameli Devi Jain Award was awarded to Anita Pratap, South Asia Bureau chief of CNN, for her outstanding contribution to media at a function at the India International Centre Auditorium on Monday evening. The award, instituted by the Media foundation, is given every year to a distinguished media person.Reading the award citation, B G Verghese, chairman of the Media Foundation, said Pratap had the ability to depict the human and social condition with remarkable sensitivity and skill.
``Television has brought violence and war into our homes, the ghastly impact in broken bodies and shattered buildings, of deadly weapons fired in anger have become routine, but to convey the pain and agony of the survivors is important,'' he said. ``It is in bringing these wounds of violence to the small screen that Anita Pratap excels,'' said Verghese.
Pratap, a former Indian Express reporter, has had a distinguished record in the media. Reporting from violence-gripped areas like Afghanistan,Sri Lanka and Kashmir, she had the eagerness to undertake dangerous assignments, says the citation. She later joined the Sunday and then, India Today. She became the part of the Delhi bureau of the Time magazine.
Her career with the visual media began when she was appointed the CNN, bureau chief for South Asia. In 1996, she won the 1996 George Polk award together with Christine Amanpour of CNN for their special feature Battle for Afghanistan.
Accepting the award, a beaming Pratap said, ``I am honoured to receive this prestigious award. What gives me great pride is that this award has been instituted by a family that was part of our freedom struggle,'' said she.
Highlighting the important role of media in a democracy she said that as a journalist functioning in a democracy she has seen her role as providing information, accurately, quickly and objectively.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
