On April 30, 2025, veteran journalist and author, Kedar Nath Gupta’s book, ‘Ink, Saffron and Freedom’ was released at the prestigious Dr. Ambedkar International Centre’s Bhim Auditorium in the heart of New Delhi.
Present were General Secretary of the Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh Dr Krishna Gopal, who was the Chief Guest; and Prem Prakash, chairman of Asian News International, ANI, who was the Guest of Honor, and former Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, as well as other luminaries and many journalists there to cheer one of their own.
Gupta, noted the book launch took place on an auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya.
In “ Ink, Saffron and Freedom” Gupta explores a multitude of subjects that influenced his life and career spanning Indian journalism, Hindu culture, ideology and functioning of the RSS and Indian politics over eight decades since his adolescence.
“My book – INK, SAFFRON & FREEDOM – is 93 years of my life journey. It has been punctuated with personal, professional and nationalistic pursuits and challenges,” Gupta said at the event. Gupta wrote the book with the support of his journalist daughter Manoranjana Sinh.
He said he was motivated and inspired by friends and family to pen down his life journey. Among those who particularly inspired him were Dr. Manmohan Vaidya of RSS, Erik Solheim of Norway, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Prem Prakash, and Aidan White, the former Secretary General of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
“My book is my own tryst with life, India’s Independence, the evolution of India’s fourth estate, and my deep ideological association with the RSS at a time when it is ready to mark 100 years,” Gupta said.
Throughout his life, Gupta said, he was driven by his belief and actions, to struggle for the freedom of speech and press. Gupta was also among those who developed the journalists enclave in Gulmohar Park. “Today, this first in India and the world enclave of journalists is a feather in the hat of the Indian capital,” he said.
Describing himself as a “Dilliwalah”, Gupta said it took him two years to put together his book, and following that, “I present to you my life, my history, my city, my struggle, my work and how I see Dilli and Bharat evolve through my lifetime.”
The event was hosted by members of the Gupta family who included his wife Shama Gupta, and international media and social entrepreneur son, Munish Gupta. The book has been published by Prabhat Prakashan.
From the horrors of Partition violence in Garhmukteshwar to the smoke-filled corridors of Delhi’s early newsrooms, the book keeps its relevance to modern-day India, not leaving out questions of cultural resurgence, political victories, and the role of foreign entities, and it challenges young Indians to reclaim journalism, heritage, and national memory.
“This is the story of a man who refused to simply watch history unfold, and wrote it instead as he witnessed. For citizens, scholars, swayamsevaks, and seekers of Bharat’s truth, this book is essential reading,” says the press release.
“‘Ink’ stands for journalism, ‘Saffron’ for patriotism and ‘Freedom’ is self-explanatory. It isn’t possible to recount them all here but this book digs deep into innumerable turning points in Indian history,” Dr. Gopal is quoted saying in the press release.
“When the RSS was banned, Kedar Nath Gupta, as a 16 year-old boy, was sent to Buxar Jail. It took a long time for independent India to realize what should not have been done and what should be done… This book has it all. It is a two in one: one part of it is about Delhi and another about RSS and the politics of Independent India,” ANI’s Prakash said, adding that while much has been written about Delhi in Urdu, this English-language book offers fascinating insights, especially about Old Delhi. Prakash described Gupta as a revolutionary journalist who continued to write even during the Emergency under then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
