Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The day was hot and sunny but the party lawns at the Speedwell complex in Rajkot on April 11 were exceptionally cool in the evening. Something to do with the Venturi Effect — when a garden nestled in the midst of an urban canyon of concrete buildings funnels cool air towards the centre.
The dais was decked up with the imposing high chair for Governor Acharya Devvrat, lush sofas for Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Blitz Media Group, Deepak Dwivedi and other distinguished dignitaries including Director and Executive Editor for the Gujarat edition, Parth Nadpara; Lok Sabha Member from Rajkot, Parshottam Rupala; Rajya Sabha Member, Rambhai Mokariya; Former Member of Parliament from the UK, Henry Smith and President of the Chintan Research Foundation of Adani Group, Shishir Priyadarshi.
The LED backdrop set the context for the elite gathering — launch of the first state edition of Blitz India, from Rajkot, Gujarat, in local language. Technically the 18th edition of the group, Blitz India Gujarati is the trail-blazer which has set a precedent for other state editions in the coming months.
Giant coolers, positioned strategically towards the VIP enclosures and the front rows, were adding to the misty breeze but the atmosphere was taut with palpable excitement. Rows upon rows of local families were already in their seats when the guests from all over the country — senior officials from Central ministries, retired bureaucrats, Blitz India editorial team from New Delhi, legal luminaries, members of Parliament, friends and family of the local partner – started arriving.
Governor Devvrat arrived sharply at 7 PM and left exactly at the stipulated time, an hour later, at 8 PM. In between, in those 60 minutes, a new history was written and a new foundation of development journalism was set in Rajkot with powerful invocation to readers and policy makers by the Editor-in-Chief. The Governor congratulated the entire Blitz Media team for walking a path where few dare to tread.
The evening ended with more cool breeze, music, laughter and dinner, including some khakhras and fafdas, Gujarati style.