President Pranab Mukherjee released a commemorative postal stamp on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the Times of India here on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion, Mukherjee referred to the statement made by the Managing Director of the Times Group that it has no political master and no hidden agenda, and said let that be the motto of this great institution.
The President recalled how the Times of India has documented every twist and turn of India's history. It reported on the coronation of Queen Victoria as the Empress of India. It welcomed the formation of the Indian National Congress in 1885 with the following words: "Surely, never had so important and comprehensive an assemblage occurred in recent times on the soil of India."
Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev's valiant struggle of 1931 was extensively covered. The Times of India reported how Bhagat Singh never appealed for mercy. The only petition the freedom fighter moved before the judge was a plea that he be shot and not hanged. The judge was taken aback and 'You call that a petition for mercy'.
Mukherjee pointed out that the Times of India reported every step of the political reforms that preceded the Indian Constitution. It was also there as India created and adopted the Constitution. It covered the arrival of the telegram, and also reported on the day that the last telegram was sent.
The President concluded by complimenting the Times of India and the Department of Posts for having chosen R K Laxman's Common Man as the subject of the stamp and theme of the 175th anniversary.
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He also paid tribute to all the editors and journalists who have shaped the newspaper and created its path for the future.
Minister for Communications and Information Technology Kapil Sibal also attended the function.