On the morning of 5th of September, 2019, there was a huge crowd of people associated with the Cable TV industry at the residence (22nd Mother Crescent Road, New Delhi) of Hon’ble Union Cabinet Minister of Jal Shakti & Sh. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, because on that auspicious day Dr. A.K. Rastogi (Chairman, All India Aavishkar Dish Antenna Sangh) was
ready to start his 15th Chetna Yatra, which was to be flagged off by Hon'ble Minister Sh. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Ji. In past, Dr. A.K. Rastogi has done 14 such Chetna Yatras, which is a record in itself.
Before leaving for the journey, addressing the people associated with the Cable TV industry and media persons, Dr. Rastogi said : "I have done 13 Chetna Yatras across India so far. This is my 15th Chetna Yatra, in which I will travel about 20000 kilometers by my car. This journey will pass through 400 cities, where I will organize meetings, workshops, seminars with LCOs, MSOs, local politicians and
distinguished citizens of the particular city, in connection with the changes in Cable TV and Broadcasting industry, as well as I will also try to convey the efforts of the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to the masses regarding 'Digital India', 'Fit India' drives. The main purpose of this Chetna Yatra is also 'Digital India-Fit India'.
"As Cable TV operators are spread across the country, so if they can be explained that the BJP is the only party which can be trusted, they may play a special role in these polls in the favor of BJP. Not only this, they can also campaign for BJP in their areas.
“This is the main purpose of the 15th Chetna Yatra. Apart from this, we will go to every section of the society, especially those associated with the Cable TV industry, and tell them about the technological changes in the industry during the last few years. Is MIB playing its role correctly or not? Or has it made important decisions recently? What is TRAI's Tariff order and who will benefit from this? Such things will
also be discussed in the journey."
As soon as the clock reached 5 AM, Hon’ble Union Cabinet Minister of Jal Shakti Sh. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat ji reached the place of flag off. Dr. A.K. Rastogi received him cordially and briefly told him about his 15th Chetna Yatra and thanked him for accepting the invitation for the flag off.
The Hon'ble Minister gave his best wishes to Dr. Rastogi for his 15th Chetna Yatra and said that the main aim of this Yatra was 'Technology Ka Zamana Hai, Abki Bar Pani Ko Bachana Hai, Yahi Sandesh Jan-Jan Tak Pahunchana Hai...'. He said, “Spreading awakening about water conservation by traveling through 400 cities in 51 days and debate through awakening and contemplation through debate and achieving awakening through contemplation and once in such a people-rich and culture-rich country,
where nature left no shortage in giving, if the water will become the subject of public discussion, then surely our country can be safe from the rising water crisis. The way the Hon'ble Prime Minister has discussed in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio program which aired on 30 June, the discussion has been started on this subject continuously. Certainly a new atmosphere has been created in the country. The common man has started thinking about this subject of saving water and I believe that if all the media channels,
print media and all the responsible people of the country take this responsibility as their onus and move forward with a sense of liability, then surely our country will be safe from the water crisis and our tomorrow will also be safe.”
As soon as the Hon'ble Minister flagged off, Dr. Rastogi's car diappeared from the sight in seconds. Following the 15th Chetna Yatra flagged off by Sh. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Hon’ble Union Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj & Mines Mr. Narendra Singh Tomar flagged off this Chetna Yatra from his residence. Prior to the flag off, he greeted Dr. Rastogi for this journey. Mr. Tomar said that Dr. A.K.
Rastogi would travel across the country with "Technology Ka Zamana Hai, Abki Bar Pani Ko Bachana Hai, Yahi Sandesh Jan-Jan Tak Pahunchana Hai... movements and it would really create awareness among the people about Jal Shakti. 15 th Chetna Yatra was also flagged off from Nirankari Biodiversity Park and Rani Bagh.
Dr. A.K. Rastogi has unfathomable courage, zeal and fearlessness in him. His earlier 15 successful Chetna Yatras are a proof of it. By nature he is nomadic, as well as the ardor of doing something for the country also exists in him. He is visionary. He understands the need of hour very nicely. Therefore, he finds a solution even before the problem arises. His heart always palpitates for the good of the society. 'Beti
Padhao, Beti Bachao', 'Padhega India, Badhega India', environmental protection, Yoga etc are his favorite topics about which he likes to educate the young generation by visiting different schools and colleges time to time.
Dr. A.K. Rastogi is among those people who laid the foundations of Cable TV business in India. By sheer hard work, he dedicated the important years of his life to Cable TV. During this many ups and downs have come in this business, which Dr. Rastogi took as a challenge. When this industry was growing, foreign broadcasters continued to infiltrate into India rapidly. Then Dr. Rastogi laid the foundations of
the All India Aavishkar Dish Antenna Sangh to curb foreign broadcasters and emphasized the then government for introducing a Broadcasting Bill. The draft of the Broadcasting Bill was readied, it was placed several times in the Parliament, but regret that it never could take the shape of law. Apart from this, Dr. Rastogi has always struggled to improve the condition of Cable TV operators and his struggle continues even today.
Since Dr. Rastogi stepped in Cable TV business, he started the publication of 'Aavishkar' magazine for connecting Cable TV operators together and providing the news of broadcasting. Today this magazine has entered in its 27th year. Perhaps this is the first such trade magazine of India, which publishing never stopped, while many such magazines were published in India but they could not survive for a longer period. Some of them died in their initial phase. 18 years ago, Dr. Rastogi started publishing a tabloid 'Aavishkar Darpan'. This fortnightly newspaper is still being published. News and articles related with the Broadcasting and Cable TV industry are published in it.
Dr. Rastogi started the BCS Ratna Awards to keep the whole Broadcasting and Cable TV industry together. These awards are presented annually to media persons for their special contributions. So far 9 BCS Ratna Awards nights have been organized.
The Aavishkar Media Group also organizes the SATCAB Symposium every year. In this Symposium, personalities of Cable TV and Broadcast industry participate. So far 8 SATCAB Symposiums have been organized.
There are many feathers in the cap of Dr. Rastogi, but what is the most courageous and challenging task is the Chetna Yatra. Even in such an age, Dr. Rastogi are capable to travel thousands of kilometers. This is a great achievement of him.
We wish him success of his 15th Chetna Yatra.
