“Work hard to achieve Goals in life” says Atul.
There are many persons in society, who have achieved their goals they wanted. Today I am going to introduce you such one person, who is from our own city Belgaum now working in Bangalore since last four years.
He is Atul Chaturvedi. He hails from Agra in Uttar Pradesh but settled in Karnataka. It was a very tough journey for him, to start a carrier from a small town like Belgaum, which is disputed between two States Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Let me introduce to him first. His father, KrishnaKumar Chaturvedi was in Air force and his mother Pooja Chaturvedi is a senior staff nurse at district hospital, Belgaum. This is how he got a chance to live here and completed primary & secondary education from Kendriya Vidyalaya Sambra and did college education from RPD College.
He started his carrier from one of the old newspaper called 'Vartha' in 1997. It was just a beginner; Former mayor of Belgaum Sambhajirao Patil was running the paper. Former Corporator and photo journalist Satish Chavan and his friend journalist Raju Kangralkar (Who also ran In Marathi news channel, earlier known as Belgaum Darshan) was the person behind him, who gave a break in a Marathi newspaper. He got his first salary Rs 800. He was not disappointed and since then he has not seen back.
In the meantime he was pursuing his college education in day time and working in evening time for newspaper. Vartha was shutdown and he switched over to another Marathi daily called "Ranzunzar". In the year 1999, Mr. Nagesh Chhabria, who owns Riddhi Vision launched first ever news channel on cable and Atul joined IN BELGAUM, Hindi news channel.
“It was a real good experience, worked for print (from local level, now in state capital) in his earlier days and for electronic media in Belgaum,” says Atul. He worked for nearly three years with In Belgaum and he then decided to switch over to "SAKAL" newspapers Belgaum office in 2002. He was transferred to Sangali, worked for a year’s time there and came back again to Belgaum and joined IN BELGAUM.
All credit goes to him as he started fresh bulletin in afternoon of Hindi News Channel @ 2.30pm every day (Now it is telecasted recorded version). Meantime he thought that there is no future in Belgaum and especially in regional media, he took a decision to switch over to Bangalore & joined "Rajasthan Patrika", worked for two years and got a better chance to work with one of the-the best dailies in India, Times Of India Group's "Bangalore Mirror".
It was really tuff journey for Atul in last 10 years time. But he says, "If someone wants to achieve anything in life, has to keep patience and success will follow you at his door steps."
He is very much fluent in Hindi, Marathi, and English & Kannada. In fact Kannada, he learnt when he came in field of journalism with the help of a book called how to learn Kannada.
Now with Times of India Group's “BANGALORE MIRROR”, he is deputed for election coverage covering mainly Congress Beat in Karnataka state. Apart from this he covers Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike (BBMP), Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and South-Western Railways. He was deputed for state election's 2008 coverage in Ex. CM H.D.Kumarswamy’s constituency.
It was really a nice time to speak to him. Some experts are as follows:
1. What incited you to take up journalism?
Accidentally I entered in this field. Firstly I was not much serious about it; in fact I did not know how to draft a story. It was Mr Shivraj Patil, who taught me about writing skills. Then after I enjoyed and thought to grow in this field. 2. Your dad served in the Air force, so didn’t he want you to join the armed forces?
I lost my father, when I was just 10 years old and studying in 6th std. My mom wanted me to join Air Force, but I was not having any interest in joining armed force.
3. What was the reaction of your parents when you got yourself the Rs 800 job in Vartha.
There was no such serious reaction. My financial condition was not bad, I was good from my mom side and she told me that, it will be pocket money. In fact I still remember after got my first salary of Rs 800, one of my senior colleague asked an Rs 100 from me and sincerely I gave him. He never returned it to me.
4. How is it different working in Belgaum and in Bangalore?
It’s entirely different working in Bangalore than Belgaum. In Bangalore it’s a bit broad minded people and every day is new learning session for me. Due to the border dispute in Belgaum, two communities are having extreme different ideology.
5. You have covered print media and also TV media, which is that you like the most & why?
As I started my carrier from print media and switched over to electronic media. I enjoyed a much in electronic than print. But I was working in a local level, which doesn’t have a much expose, so again I switched back to print media. I got a good support from all my bosses, especially when I switched to SAKAL, worked under the leadership of Mallhar Arhankalle, Mr. Naik (Now with Gomantak in Goa) Mr Uday Jaddhav, CEO of Sakal Group (Now heading Saam Marathi) and many others. But still I have a dream of working again in electronic media for any reputed national channel.
6. Today journalism is also a business, sensationalizing news etc do you agree with this?
I agree with that. Because every person is a businessmen in society and newspapers needs revenue to run their business through advertisement as electronic media needs. Everyone wants to be on top position and that make them for searching something like “Zara Hatke” stories from others and that makes them to do such a kind of work. In fact, a reporter needs to have all proof with him, before he sensationalizes any story or else he has to face music in court.
7. Will you work in Belgaum if you get an opportunity in the future?
In fact my answer will be No. I left Belgaum, because I didn’t find my future there and that made me to leave it. I don’t want to work in a city, where I don’t find my future. In fact now I think I was very late to come to Bangalore. If I would have left Belgaum, when I started my carrier then I would have reached my goal much earlier. I Love Belgaum, mostly I visit every month for my holidays and I will do that for my rest of life. But for working, I don’t think I am ready going back, from where I started.
8. Being in Bangalore what is that you miss the most of Belgaum?
As Belgaum being part of Karnataka I don’t miss much. Because many of friends, who had studied with me are in Bangalore and my journalist friends do call me often seeking some advice on stories. Some of politicians are also in touch with me; they often meet me when they are in Bangalore. So I don’t miss much from Belgaum.
9. Any tips for the upcoming journalists or people who want to come in this field?
Well I have not grown much that I should advice someone. But if someone wants to make carrier for a short term then Belgaum is good. If anyone wants to achieve a goal in Marathi journalism, he should work in Maharashtra and if in Kannada journalism then he can work in any parts of Karnataka including Belgaum. But for carrier in English journalism, the entire world is open for them.
10. Lastly, what do you think about this site?
I was accepting this question. I use to search some information about various cities on search engine. But when I tried searching about Belgaum, I didn’t find much information. Suddenly I went through your blog; it was quite interesting as all kind of information is available in it. Every citizen can’t purchase all the newspaper of Belgaum and read them daily and if a site like AllAboutBelgaum updates all the information’s related to Belgaum is a big achievement for any citizen of the city. But one thing which I wants is that, the phone numbers not only office but cell numbers of Deputy Commissioner’s, SP, Mayor, all Police inspectors of district, Ministers from Belgaum, MLA’s, Corporators, Corporation officers number should be updated. Because every citizen doesn’t have them the numbers and they have to run in search of that for days.
His Blog: http://atulchaturvedi29.blogspot.com/

“Only in UPA ruled states farmers are committing suicide in large numbers. But such incidents of suicide are not found in BJP ruled states in the country”, said BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Sri L K Advani.
Addressing a massive election rally in support of BJP’s Belguam and Chikkodi candidates, he said UPA failed to give an able and effective government to the country during its rule. By coming to power in Karnataka BJP has come out of the tag of being only a North Indian party, he stated.
During the NDA rule under the able leadership of Sri A B Vajpayee the country witnessed all-round progress. It is sad that Vajpayee is not with us today due to his ill health. He further added that country could prosper only when poverty is eradicated and farmer’s condition is improved. BJP will work hard to ensure total development and overall welfare of its people.
Expressing confidence that NDA will get majority in the forthcoming elections Sri Advani said, “UPA government has completely neglected the safety and security of the country. BJP will bring stringent laws to control the menace of terrorism if voted to power”.
Criticizing the Congrss and UP government for invoking NSA on Varun Gandhi Sri Advani said it is a shame that the government is dillydallying to hang Afzal Guru who was responsible for attack on Parliament.
He called upon the people to vote for the BJP to ensure the development, safety and security of the country.