Bhopal: Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication (MCU), Bhopal, marked National Public Relations Day with a grand event organized by its Department of Public Relations. The event served as a collaborative platform where distinguished public relations professionals shared insights on the evolving landscape of PR, emphasizing the crucial synergy between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and PR in the journey toward 'Viksit Bharat 2047'.
Presiding over the event, Vice-Chancellor Vijay Manohar Tiwari highlighted the importance of networking over mere work. Drawing an analogy from the Chanakya era, he illustrated how information networks are vital for social and governance welfare. Recommending a reading list for students, he urged them to explore Amritlal Nagar’s ‘Naachyo Bahut Gopal’, Vinod Kumar Shukla’s ‘Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rehti Thi’, and the work on ‘Girmitiya’ by Totaram Sanadhya. He stressed the need for closer collaboration between the university and industry experts to prepare students for the future.
Amritesh Shrivastava (NPCIL, Mumbai) demonstrated through the film 'Khushiyon Ki Script' how CSR and PR are interdependent. He asserted that while PR is incomplete without CSR, CSR cannot be effectively propagated without the reach of PR. Sharing inspiring stories of transformation, he narrated the success of 'Tara', who moved from sewing training to running a boutique with exports to Australia, and a youth from the Warli community who reached Google. He emphasized that helping someone achieve self-reliance is the greatest virtue.
Manish Gautam (PIB, Bhopal) stated that the primary responsibility of a PR officer is the effective communication of government policies to the right beneficiaries. He advised students to prioritize truth over speed. Vikram Rawat (NFL, Vijaypur, Guna) noted that a PR officer’s command over language and communication skills requires constant study. He cited the university’s 'Radio Karmveer' as an excellent example of public-utility broadcasting.
Paras Pathak (Jindal Steel, Raigarh) redefined Public Relations as "Purposeful Relations." He argued that PR must be the voice of CSR. If CSR work is impactful on the ground, PR ensures it reaches the people. He advised students to focus on "trust infrastructure" and understanding the "context" behind content, stating, "PR and CSR are a blessed alliance; they are incomplete without each other."
The event also saw insights from other experts including Ashok Manwani, Ankita Das, Saurabh Pawar, Manoj Dwivedi, Amritanshi Joshi, Kirti Chaturvedi, Ayush Ojha, Abhay Karn, Aarti Shrivastava, and Vibhor Sharma.
Earlier, Dr. Pavitra Shrivastava, Head of the PR Department, welcomed the guests and expressed his happiness at seeing so many experts under one roof. The event featured a skit on disaster management and advertisements prepared by students. The program was anchored by Dr. Jaya Surjani, while the welcome address was delivered by Prof. Sanjay Dwivedi and Dr. Avinash Vajpayee. Dr. Deepika Saxena proposed the vote of thanks.