- This event is over. However, time travel possible through our Audio & Video! See upcoming events
374. A Perfect Storm
Jyotsna Mohan and Azeezullah Baig with Maya Sharma.
Speakers
What happens when a defiant chronicler and an idealist revolutionary converge in the playground that is India’s freedom struggle? Urdu newspaper Pratap, launched in pre-partition India, was a torchbearer against the British Raj. The man who publicly defended it against colonial censorship was none other than Jawaharlal Nehru.
The pen picked up by freedom fighter Virendra, the paper’s editor and the founder’s son who once walked shoulder to shoulder with stalwarts like Bhagat Singh was equally fearless despite threats by the imperial government, Indira Gandhi’s Emergency and a parcel bomb sent to Pratap’s office during terrorism in Punjab.
Virendra was first arrested in the historic Saunders murder case. He was also in jail with Bhagat Singh the day the legendary revolutionary was hanged, sharing a rare first-hand witness account. In Independent India, too footsteps filled Pratap and its editors with dread and terror.
Pratap: A Defiant Newspaper is a timely reminder of the ethos of a struggle, a template for speaking truth to power at all costs. It is the story of a perfect storm. The book is written by Virendra’s son, distinguished editor Chander Mohan and journalist granddaughter Jyotsna Mohan. Jyotsna and Azeezullah Baig will be in conversation with Maya Sharma.
In this episode of BIC Talks, Jyotsna Mohan and Azeezullah Baig will be in conversation with Maya Sharma. This is an excerpt from a conversation that took place in the BIC premises in Jun 2025.
Subscribe to the BIC Talks Podcast on your favorite podcast app!
BIC Talks is available everywhere, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Overcast, Audible, and Amazon Music.
Speakers
Jyotsna Mohan
As an award-winning writer and journalist with nearly three decades of experience across TV, print, and digital media, Jyotsna has always sought to hold up a mirror to society. A former Senior Editor at NDTV, her journey led her to pen her debut book Stoned, Shamed, Depressed – an Amazon bestseller that dives deep into the secret lives of India’s teens and reveals challenges that resonate with young people globally.
Based on the family newspaper, her latest book Pratap, A Defiant Newspaper, which she co-authored with her father, was released by HarperCollins India in February 2025. It is already an Amazon bestseller. A columnist for publications in India and abroad, her writings reflect societal issues and challenge the status quo, which she says is her family legacy! She brings this outlook to her online talk show ‘Table Talk with Jo.’ Jyotsna is the recipient of the Sanatan Puraskar, 2025 for Literature.
Azeezulla Baig
Azeezulla Baig began his career as a reporter for the Urdu newspaper Daily Salar while pursuing his studies, later teaching Sociology at Al-Ameen College for two years. In 1977, he joined the State Civil Service and served until his retirement in 2007. Over the years, he has held several prominent positions including Consulting Editor at Daily Salar, Managing Editor at Daily Siasat, Chairman of the Karnataka Urdu Academy, and President of the Mahmood Ayaz Memorial Trust. He also serves as Secretary of the Ekam Sat Trust, and as a Trustee and Patron of both the Hindustani Urdu Manch and the Research and Development Centre for Inclusive Growth.
Maya Sharma
Maya Sharma is a senior journalist with over 35 years of experience in Indian television news. She began her career with Doordarshan as part of India’s first batch of trained TV journalists and went on to work with NDTV for 26 years as a reporter, anchor, and Executive Editor, heading the Bengaluru bureau. Maya has extensively covered politics, including every general election since 1989, along with human interest, gender, environment, and culture. Her major assignments include the 2004 tsunami, Veerappan’s death, and the COVID-19 pandemic. She has reported from South India and abroad, including Nelson Mandela’s inauguration and the ASEAN Summit. A Fulbright Fellow, Maya has produced award-winning documentaries and was a Visiting Professor at IIJNM. She currently works as an independent journalist and serves on the boards of various academic institutions.
