Adike Patrike, Shree Padre and Awards!

By B Jayakishore

Yes, He is the same 'Water man’ of coastal Karnataka has made us proud once again. He was conferred 'Charaka Mentor Award' by Charaka National Development and communication Network and Communication for Development and Learning, On Monday July 23. Other two journalists Ravindra G Bhat (Prajavani) and Rajashekar Hegde joginmane (Udayavaani) were conferred the Charaka awards for their excellence in Developmental Journalism. I congratulate them as well.

Shree padre is a man with zeal. A Perfectionist, Straightforward, Creative, Dreamer with mind full of ideas. While talking to him I feel a strong Positive energy is invading me every time. Also a sharp 'Critic' by nature, however, his Criticism had incited many thoughts in me.

You know the secret? I'm sorry sir! I'm disclosing it! Whenever I visit my native place Puttur on holiday, I never tell that to Padre Sir! If he traces any hint about that, he will call me and say: 'Jayakishore...what are you doing? I have an assignment for you...come to Adike Patrike office!’-That is how Padre encourages enthusiasts.

If you submit an article, the care he takes to publish it is remarkable. He informs the 'Missed' points in it and asks to fill it. If not satisfied, he himself calls the 'Hero' of the story or person concerned to the subject on which the article has been written. Then he rewrites it and you can only see how the beauty of article has enhanced only in print. Frankly, I Never saw such an enthusiastic, hardworking and ever thinking Journo in my life.

Another Interested character I have noticed in him that is 'Depth and Detail' in whatever he does and writes. He says 'While writing a story or article ask questions to yourself. Be a farmer whenever you are with a farmer. Then only the ground realities will be revealed to you. What is the point in writing an article which doesn't even incites 'Thinking' in reader if not inspires'

Shree Padre has been striving hard to create awareness about soil and water conservation in Karnataka and Kerala by conducting workshops on the theme since a decade. It was Padre who started series of feature articles on soil and water conservation in Adike Patrike for the first time in the history of farm journalism in Kannada. He has written seven books on rainwater harvesting.

Congratulations sir! You have done it again. He can be reached at: yespee@gmail.com

Adike Patrike and Passing pen to farmers..: If we move back to early 90’s mainstream newspapers used to publish articles on farm subjects only if it was written by farm scientists, professors, industry representatives or so called ‘experts’. Frankly, these ‘DRY’ AC room articles are neither read nor understood by farmers. It never discussed ground realities or farmers actual experiences.

‘Adike Patrike’ a monthly magazine about farming and rural development published in Kannada from Puttur, Dakshina Kannada district has broken all the rules. Shree Padre is the man behind the concept. When severe crash in areca nut prices resulted crisis in Karnataka in mid-80’s, All India areca growers association based in Puttur attempted to search for solutions. It was then that Idea of starting a magazine took birth to represent the interest of areca growers. Since then ‘Adike Patrike’ has been creating an ‘Information revolution’ among farmers by passing pen to them!

It challenged the conventional style of ‘Farm Journalism’ in Kannada, It started publishing true, ‘On-Field’ experiences of farmers by fostering them to write their own experiences, ideas, views on particular farm subject or systems in a simple language, keeping in mind that the published information must have some ‘usefulness’ to their counterparts.

'Our farming community is still suffering from severe inferiority complex. During our 5th anniversary we received one letter from a reader, stating that ‘Now I feel proud to be a farmer’! This shows that we are not only provided information but also instilled confidence in him. This is the biggest compliment we have ever received. I think we have made our place in farmers hearts’’ says Padre.

Style of functioning of ‘Adike Patrike’ is also totally different. To publish a story, visiting the field is common practice here. Whenever a farmer sends an article on his experiences for publication, journalist from ‘Adike Patrike’ visits the spot to cross check the facts. Whenever resources do not permit long distance travel, they collect information through correspondence. ‘Some times this process takes very long. Even months! It tests your patience; But ultimately we feel great when an excellent, useful ‘Farmer interest’ story has taken shape’ says Na.Karantha Peraje, assistant Editor, Adike Patrike.

Awards..: Adike Patrike has even global connections! Robert Trip, a researcher from Dept for International Development, UK and Sophi Levlin, a PG student of Canada Gwelf University flew down to Adike Patrike to study the impact of ‘Pen-to-farmers’ revolution. Till today it got more than 18 state level and national level journalism awards. Recently AP has got another prestigious ‘L-RAMP’ award for excellence in media/ journalist category. On Monday, Padre was conferred Charaka Mentor Award, adding another feather to AP's cap. Obviously, winning awards has become more than a habit for Adike Patrike!

Contact Address: ADIKE PATRIKE,Bhat Building, Yelmudi,Puttur, DK,Karnataka: Ph: 08251-231240; E-mail-adikepatrike@gmail.com