| Vinaya
Kasajoo is an advocate of pro-people media and an eminent Nepali
short story and satirical article writer. He is also one of the
senior Nepali journalists and has been awarded Prakash Human Rights
Award (1995) and Gopal Chandra Gautam Journalism Award (1995) for
his outstanding contribution in the field of journalism.
He had been a publisher and editor of a popular regional newspaper
Satya which was published for twelve years (1983 - 1994) from Palpa.
The paper was renowned for its struggle for democracy and he was
put to jail in 1985 and 1987 for reporting, writing and publishing
articles against the then autocratic Panchayat system.
He is the founding editor of Gaunle Deurali, a unique
rural weekly newspaper in South Asia, which was started in 1993.
He is the promoter of Community Media, particularly rural media
and Barefoot Journalism. The essence of his work is empowerment
of people through media which is so vital for strengthening democracy
and enhancing development.
He was born at Tansen, Palpa, West Nepal on 18 July, 1947. He
grew up at Ridi, Gulmi, neghbouring district of Palpa where he worked
as a schoolteacher, Pradhan Panch and a social worker. He moved
to Palpa in 1970, and to Kathmandu in 1996. He has been working
as a free-lance journalist since 1967.
As an Ashoka Fellow he is developing community media tools and
preparing training manual for barefoot journalist training, since
September 2001. http://www.ashoka.org
His satirical short stories and editorials are widely appreciated.
Three anthologies of his short stories, Pashutantra (1982), Lisno
(1996) and Thopa Thopa (2000) and a collection of his selected editorials,
Sancho Kura (1988), have been published. He has edited some books
and magazines. His book, Samudayik Radio (2000) is designed for
the empowerment and development of local community through community
radio.
He has also been working as media consultant and media trainer,
particularly community media. He was advisor of Press Council Nepal
(1996 - 1999) and board member of National News Agency (RSS). He
was the board member of human rights organization, Informal Sector
Service Center (INSEC) and presently he is the advisor. He is managing
director of Media Services International (MSI), www.msinepal.com
.
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