Profile of Dr. Ved Pratap Vaidik
Dr. Vaidik is a well-known Scholar, Political Analyst, Orator and a Columnist on national and international affairs. Dr. Vaidik worked with Press Trust of India for a decade as the Founder-Editor of its Hindi News Agency “BHASHA”. Earlier he held the position of Editor (views), Nav Bharat Times – (the then largest circulated National Hindi daily). Currently, he is the Chairman, Council for Indian Foreign Policy and Bhartiya Bhasha Sammelan. More than two hundred newspapers carry his column regularly.
Born on the 30th December 1944, Dr. Vaidik has been throughout afirstclass student. He wasawarded the degree of Ph.D. in International Affairs fromJawaharlalNehruUniversity in 1971. He knows Russian, Persian, English, Sanskrit, Hindiand several other Indian languages. He won severalallIndia awards in debating and elocutionary contests.
While doing research on Afghan Foreign Policy, Vaidik studiedatColumbia University,New York, School ofOriental and African Studies,London; Institute of the Peoples of Asia,Moscow and did extensive field work inAfghanistan. As an expert on international affairs and an Editor, Dr. Vaidik has had an opportunity to rub shoulders with Prime Ministers, Foreign ministers, dissidents and guerilla leaders of several Asian and Western countries. He has been a member of the Indian Delegation to the UN in 1999. He also had the honor of inaugurating the Annual Conference onSouth Asia organized byWisconsinUniversity in 1999.
As a Ph.D.StudentatIndianSchool ofInternational Studies, Vaidik,insisted on writinghisthesis in his mothertongue , Hindi. It led to his expulsion from the School. The principled stand of Vaidik evoked nationwide response and the Indian Parliament went through unprecedented debates and uproarious scenes in 1966-67. Vaidik createdhistory by winning the right forall Indian languages to be the medium of expression at the highestacademic level.
He has been frequently appearingonIndianandForeigntelevision and broadcasting networks since 1962. Apart from the Indian Channels, Dr. Vaidik has been interviewed by BBC, CNN & CCTV. He is one of themostreputedmass orators inIndia. He has also beeninvited by several Indian and foreign universities to deliver special lectures onInternational Politics and Journalism.
Dr. Vaidik has taught Political Science at Motilal Nehru College, Delhi University. He has been a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses and at SIS Jawaharlal Nehru University. He has several award winning research publications to his credit. Books ; 1) Soviet-American Rivalry in Afghanistan; 2) Hindi Journalism : Various Dimensions ; 3) Indian Foreign Policy : New Pointers; 4) Bhartiya Bhashayen Lao : Kyon Aur Kaise; 5) Hindi ka Sampurna Samachar Patra Kaisa ho ?; 6)Vartmaan Bharat ; 7) Afghanistan : Kal, Aaj aur Kal ; 8) Mahshakti Bharat (All in Hindi) ; 9) Ethnic Crisis in Sri Lanka : India’s Options (In English).
Dr. Vaidik is a widely travelled scholar-journalist. He has visited more than 80 countries on various missions. Dr. Vaidik has won more than a dozen Nationaland Internationalawards foracademic and journalistic excellence. He has been a member of severalAdvisory Committees of Government of India.
Dr. V.P. Vaidik, 242, Sector 55, Gurgaon-122011 , (Phone) (0091-) 0124-405-7295
Mob. : (0091)98-9171-1947, e-mail : dr.vaidik@gmail.com
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DATE OF BIRTH 30th December, 1944 (Indore)
OCCUPATION Political Analyst, Activist and Journalist
EDUCATION (1) Ph. D. (International Politics)
Thesis subject: “A Comparative Study of the Relations of the US and the USSR with Afghanistan, 1946-63” (School of International Studies. Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 1971).
While doing research, studied at Columbia University, New York:, the School of Oriental and African Studies, London:, the Institute of the Peoples of Asia, Moscow and did extensive field work in Afghanistan in 1969.
As a Ph.D. Student at Indian School of International Studies, Vaidik insisted on writing his thesis in his mothertongue, Hindi. It led to his expulsion from the School. The principled stand of Vaidik evoked nationwide response and the Indian Parliament went through unprecedented debates and uproarious scenes in 1966-67.
Supported by Messrs Dr. Rammanohar Lohia, J.B. Kripalani, Indira Gandhi, Dr. Zakir Husain, A.B.Vajpayee, Deendayal Upadhyaya, Madhu Limaye, Raj Narain, Bhagwat Jha Azad, Hiren Mukherjee, Rabi Ray, George Fernandes, Chandra Shekhar, Prakashveer Shastri and almost all political parties, Vaidik created history by winning the right for all Indian languages to be the medium of expression at the highest academic level.
(2) M.A., Political Science, 1965 (Christian College, Indore University). 1st Div.
(3) B.A., Philosophy, Pol. Sc., Sanskrit, 1963 (Vikram University). 1st Div.
(4) Russian Language, 1967 (Jawaharlal Nehru University). 1st Div.
(5) Persian Language, 1968 (Jawaharlal Nehru University). 1st Div.
(6) Sanskrit Language, 1955 (Satvalekar Exams). 1st Div.
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FELLOWSHIPS (1) National Merit Scholarship, 1963-65.
(2) University Grants Commission Fellowship, 1965-70
(3) Senior Fellowship, Indian Council of Social Science Research,1981-83.
(Affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru University and Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses as a Senior Fellow).
TEACHING Taught Political Science at Motilal Nehru College, Delhi University, during 1970-74.
Conducted various courses at several Indian and Foreign Universities in the field of International Studies and Journalism.
JOURNALISM (1) Editor, ‘PTI-Bhasha’ (1986-95).
Dr. Vaidik was invited by the Press Trust of India to set up its Hindi News Agency, ‘PTI-Bhasha’ in 1986. ‘Bhasha’ blazed a new trail in the field of Hindi Journalism by introducing a succinct news-idiom, standardization of Indian and foreign names and winning scoops on a number of important events.
(2) Editor (Views), Nav Bharat Times-1986, the then largest circulated Hindi daily.
(3) Assistant Editor and Leader Writer, Nav Bharat Times,
1974-1985. Have written about 2000 editorials on various subjects.
(4) Columnist on national and international affairs. More than 200 newspapers all over the country publish his weekly column. Entered into the field of Journalism in 1958 as a proof reader. Contributed more than 1500 articles to various magazines and newspapers like Times of India, Hindustan Times, Pioneer, Dharmyug, Dinaman, Saptahik Hindustan, World Focus, Strategic Analysis, International Studies, Navbharat Times, Dainik Hindustan, Jansatta, Bhaskar, Nai Duniya, Rastriya Sahara etc. Dr. Vaidik’s interviews with the top leaders of Afghanistan, Iran, Sri Lanka and Czechoslovakia won international recognition.
(5) Editor, Agrawahi (Monthly), Indore, 1962-66.
(6) Editor, Annual Magazine, (Christian College Indore, 1963-64).
(7) Director, Hindustan Samachar (1974-77), a leading Indian Languages New Agency.
(8) Edited and Produced ‘Hindi Patrakarita : Vividh Ayam’ -a book of about, 1,100 pages on the history, art, and the latest trends in Journalism. The book was released by the President of India at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
(9) At present, Editorial Adviser to several News Papers.
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PUBLIC SPEAKING Selected as the Best Debater throughout the University career. Won several All India Prizes in Debates and elocutionary contests. Have been addressing large public meetings on various occasions and also had the pleasure of presiding over the functions addressed by the high dignitaries like the Presidents and the Prime Ministers of India. Delivered three speeches at the United Nations General Assembly in 1999. Invited by several Indian and Foreign Universities to deliver special lectures on International Politics and Journalism. Delivered the keynote address at World Conference on South-Asia organized by Wisconsin University and also the First President Gyani Jail Singh Memorial Lecture. Appeared on TV and gave Radio talks both in India and abroad frequently. Interviewed frequently on TV and Radio as an expert on Afghanistan by BBC and VOA. Held several Grand Dialogues in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Nepal, UK, USA & China on subjects ranging from International Politics to Spiritualism & the Future of Human Civilizations.
PUBLICATIONS (1) Afghanistan Mein Soviet – Ameriki Pratispardha (The Soviet-American Rivalry in Afghanistan) National Publishing House, New Delhi, 1973, pp.350.
The book on Afghanistan is a research work based on Persian, Russian and English primary sources. It has won wide acclaim from discerning reviewers in learned journals and major newspapers.
(2) Hindi Patrakarita : Vividh Ayam (Hindi Journalism : Various Dimensions) ed. National Publishing House, New Delhi, 1976,pp.1100.
The President of India released the book.
The book is prescribed as a standard reference work in most of the Indian Universities. The reviewers have called it as an “Encyclopedia of Hindi Journalism”.
(3) Bharatiya Videsh Niti : Naye Disha-Sanket (Indian Foreign Policy : New Pointers), National Publishing House, New Delhi, 1980, pp. 187.
This book is a first serious attempt at analyzing the post-Nehru Period with special focus on Janta Government’s foreign policy. The reviewers have hailed it for its “originality and incisiveness.”
(4) Ethnic Crisis in Sri Lanka : India’s Options (National,1985).
This is a pioneering study of the Tamil problem in Sri Lanka.
(4) Angrezi Hatao: Kyon Aur Kaise (Prabhat Prakashan, New Delhi,
( 6th Edition 1991).
The book has been translated into Sanskrit, Konkani, Sindhi, Assamese, Bengalese, Tamil, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi, Telugu, Urdu and Orriya. Several editions. Sold more than 100,000 copies.
(6) A Complete Newspaper in Hindi (Praveen Prakashan, 1994).
A conceptual pamphlet, which influenced the course of Hindi Journalism profoundly during the last one decade.
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(7) Vartman Bharat (Contemporary India), Rajkamal, 2002.
Released by the Deputy Prime Minister in a memorable function and hailed as an outstanding work on contemporary Indian Politics.
(8) Afghanistan: Kal, Aaj aur Kal (Afghanistan: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow), Rajkamal, 2003.
Received by the Prime Minister and was presented to the Afghan President by him. The reviewers held it as one of the most original and insightful work on Afghanistan.
(9) Mahashakti Bharat ( India the Great Power) Rajkamal, 2005. The latest collection of Dr. Vaidik’s essays and research papers on Indian Foreign Policy. The main onus of the book is to explore the possibilities of making India a Great Power.
(10) Hindi Kaise Bane Vishva Bhasha (How shall Hindi become the World Language) A special lecture delivered at the Indian Institute of Public Administration.
TRAVELS ABROAD The United States of America, the Soviet Union, China, Japan, Britain, France, Canada, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Burma, Nepal, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Trinidad, Suriname, Singapore, Thailand, Korea, Hong Kong, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizistan, UAE etc.
AWARDS AND
FELICITATIONS: (1) Vishva Hindi Samman (World Hindi Honor), 2003 at Suriname for serving the cause of scholarship and journalism in the National Language, Hindi.
(2) Patrakarita Bhushan Samman, 2002 (The Best Journalist Award) by the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
(3) ‘National Academy Award’ (Dinakar Rashtriya Shikhar Samman), 1991 conferred by the Prime Minister.
(4) Hindi Academy, Delhi awarded a prize of Rs. 21,000 for Excellence in Journalism, 1990.
(5) Felicitation by “Madhuvan” (Bhopal) as one of the ‘Best Masters’ in the field of Journalism, 1989.
(6) Purushottam Dass Tandon Gold Medal for Hindi-Seva by U.P. Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, 1988.
(7) Govind Vallabh Pant Puraskar by the U.P. Government on “Afghnistan Mein Soviet Ameriki Pratishpardha”, 1975 as the Best Book of the Year.
(8) Kabul University awarded a prize of Rs. 10,000 on the Ph.D. thesis, 1972.
(9) Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia facilitation, Kanpur, 1991.
(10) Lala Lajpatrai Award, Indian Culture Society,1992.
(11) Received Several “Special Merit Certificates” for obtaining highest marks in subjects like Political Science, Philosophy and Hindi during the academic career.
INSTITUTIONS AND
ORGANISATIONS (1) Chairman, Bhartiya Bhasha Sammelan.
(2) Chairman, Council for Indian Foreign Policy.
(3) Trustee, National Book Trust of India.
(4) Member, Editor’s Guild of India.
(5) Convener, Committee for Peace in Afghanistan.
(6) Life Member, India International Centre.
(7) Director, Hindustan Samachar, 1974-77.
(8) Secretary General, Hindi Patrakarita Samiti, 1974-80.
(9) Secretary, Angrezi Hatao Sammelan, 1978-79.
(10) Vice-President, Indian Council for Child Education, 1984-86.
(11) Secretary, Dilli Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, 1970-71.
(12) Member, Haryana Sahitya Academy, 1978-79; 1991.
(13) Member, Saturday Lunch Group.
(14) Member, Hindi Advisory Committee, Ministry of Defense, 1987-1990.
(15) Member, Hindi Advisory Committee, Ministry of External Affairs, 1990, 2004.
(16) Member, Hindi Advisory Committee, Ministry of Railways, 1990/2000-2003.
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(17) Member, Hindi Advisory Committee, Ministry of Petroleum, 1980-83.
(18) Secretary, Arya Kumar Sabha, Indore, 1957-60.
(19) Boy Scout, Everest Troop, Indore, 1955-58.
(20) Convener, Students Action Committee, Indore, 1959-65.
(21) Chairman, Darshan Parishad, Indore 1961-63.
(22) Chairman, Political Science Association, Indore, 1963-65.
(23) President, Residents Association, Hostel, School of International Studies, 1966-67.
Dr. Vaidik has been politically quite active since an early age. He was arrested for the first time when he was only 12. He led several student movements in Madhya Pradesh and on national level. Most of the Indian leaders are known to him personally. He has played an important social and cultural role amongst the Peoples of Indian Origin in Mauritius, Fiji, Trinidad, Suriname, Gulf Countries, the UK and the USA. He has been promoting the cause of Hindi vigorously among them.
As an expert on international affairs and a renowned journalist Dr. Vaidik has had an opportunity to rub shoulders with several Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers, dissidents and guerilla-leaders of Asian and Western countries. Dr. Vaidik represented India at the United Nations as an Official Delegate in 1999. Dr. Vaidik has been playing an active role in the Afghan Affairs by helping the contending parties negotiate peace. Almost all the Presidents and Prime Ministers of Afghanistan since World War- II and Mujahideen leaders have known Dr. Vaidik personally.
17 February, 2007
Dr. Ved Pratap Vaidik, 242, Secotor 55, Gurgaon-122011
Tel: (0091-0124)-405-7295, M: (0091) 98-9171-1947
dr.vaidik@gmail.com
