The Indian Journalists' Association (IJA) in London has elected a woman president and general secretary for the first time in its 67-year history.
Aditi Khanna, London correspondent for Press Trust of India becomes IJA president, and Rupanjana Dutta, Associate Editor of Asian Business Publications Ltd., its general secretary.
“At a time when all our freedoms are under siege, I hope this association can set a tone for the voices of women and men alike,” said Ms. Khanna. “The media can be a force for good and I hope my team will prove that.”
The IJA was set up in May 1947, with the active encouragement from V.K. Krishna Menon, who subsequently became the first High Commissioner of independent India in Britain.
He allowed the IJA, whose members included K.S. Shelvankar (then correspondent for The Hindu ), Tarapada Basu, and Sundar Kabadi, to use the India League office, located conveniently near Fleet Street and the Indian High Commission. He also located the India Club, which he founded, in the same premises.
The IJA has used the India Club premises for its meetings since then. Now a restaurant and B&B, it’s somewhat shabby and fading interiors are reminiscent of the India Coffee Houses of yesteryears. However, it is for chai and pakodas that regulars come.
