Union Minister Jitendra Singh Launches Veteran Journalist Prem Prakash’s Book ‘History That India Ignored’.
Books & Authors
In June 2025, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology (Independent Charge), Dr. Jitendra Singh, unveiled a new book titled "History That India Ignored", authored by renowned journalist and ANI Chairman Prem Prakash. The launch event was hosted by the Prabha Khaitan Foundation in New Delhi.
- Published by Vitasta Publishing Private Limited, the book sheds light on neglected narratives from India’s freedom movement, relying on archival records, eyewitness accounts, and detailed chronological analysis. It revisits events such as the Vellore Mutiny of 1806 and the Barrackpore uprising of 1824, which predate the 1857 revolt.
- The book honours lesser-known freedom fighters including Mangal Pandey, Madan Lal Dhingra, Veer Savarkar, and Subhas Chandra Bose, along with his Indian National Army (INA). It also highlights the role of the INA trials (1945–46) and the Royal Indian Naval Mutiny of 1946, arguing their impact was pivotal in hastening India's independence.
- Author Prem Prakash is a veteran journalist with vast international experience, having worked with broadcasters such as Gaumont Actualités (France), Deutsche Wochenschau (Germany), and Warner-Pathé News (USA). His early international reporting career earned him global recognition.
Main Point :- (i) In 1957, Prem Prakash co-founded Visnews, the world’s first global television news agency, based in London. This organization laid the foundation for global news video syndication long before satellite networks became dominant.
(ii) He reported from the frontlines during landmark events in Indian history, including the 1962 Indo-China War, the 1965 and 1971 India-Pakistan Wars (including Haji Pir and Sialkot), the Tashkent Summit (1969), Emergency (1975–77), and Indira Gandhi’s assassination (1984)—marking a lifetime of journalistic excellence.
(iii) In recognition of his six-decade-long contribution to journalism, Prem Prakash was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Global Education Mentor Awards held in New Delhi in July 2023.
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