Honourable Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

If my father were watching today, he would have been quite impatient with the first clip — too one-sided, he would have said, let’s get straight to the story.

And he wouldn’t have been disappointed. For it’s a story that celebrates two things closest to him: fine journalists and the finest in journalism.

That’s the foundation he laid for The Indian Express. And he then gave his life working to ensure that the foundation didn’t develop even the slightest crack, whatever the pressure, whatever the strain.

That’s the Ramnath Goenka Foundation. And its event this morning, the first Excellence in Journalism Awards, is a testimony to how far Ramnathji’s vision has travelled.

For Ramnathji, getting the story was an award in itself, the search for answers, the sifting of noise from news, the last piece of the puzzle falling in place.

As all our nominees today know, this is what takes them from story to story. Today’s awards means that all of us, not only journalists, applaud this spirit.

Because for excellence to be sustained and nurtured, more importantly, for excellence to be inspired, it needs to be acknowledged and celebrated.

Joseph Pulitzer, one of the most passionate American editor-crusaders against dishonesty and misuse of power, a man whom Ramnathji held in awe and respect, set down, way back in 1917, the most important reason for acknowledging journalistic excellence.

‘‘I am deeply interested in the progress and elevation of journalism’’, he said, ‘‘having spent my life in that profession, regarding it as a noble profession and one of unequaled importance for its influence upon the minds and morals of the people. I desire to assist in attracting to this profession young people of character and ability, also to help those already engaged in the profession to acquire the highest moral and intellectual training.’’

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