# Prasoon Joshi Honored With Hindi Ratna Award 2026 as Rajat Sharma Highlights Growing Stature of Hindi Language > Prasar Bharati Chairman Prasoon Joshi received the Hindi Ratna Award 2026 at Hindi Bhawan in Delhi on 1st August 2026. Chief guest Rajat Sharma noted that Hindi news channels now command 140 percent higher viewership than English channels. **Type:** article · **Category:** Culture · **Published:** 2026-08-01 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/culture/hindi-bhavana-men-prasoon-joshi-ko-pradana-kiya-gaya-hindi-ratna-sammana-rajat-sharma-ne-rekhankita-ki-rashtrabhasha-ki-barhati-ta-12887 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Prasoon Joshi, Rajat Sharma, Hindi Ratna Award, Hindi Bhawan, Prasar Bharati, Delhi News, Hindi Journalism Renowned lyricist and Prasar Bharati Chairman Prasoon Joshi was honored with the prestigious Hindi Ratna Award 2026 at a ceremony held at Hindi Bhawan in Delhi on 1st August 2026. Senior journalist and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma attended the event as the chief guest and presented the award. Organized annually on 1st August by Hindi Bhawan to commemorate the birth anniversary of Rajarshi Purushottam Das Tandon, the event brought together prominent figures from literature, journalism, and public broadcasting to celebrate Prasoon Joshi's significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of the Hindi language. ## Prasoon Joshi Expresses Gratitude as Rajat Sharma Applauds His Legacy Accepting the award, Prasoon Joshi expressed his gratitude, noting that receiving the recognition from a senior personality like Rajat Sharma was a moment of immense personal pride. Rajat Sharma remarked that presenting the award to Prasoon Joshi was equally a privilege for him, as the lyricist has consistently elevated the global stature and dignity of Hindi. Applauding his creative brilliance, Rajat Sharma shared lines praising his uniqueness and observed that Prasoon Joshi truly deserved the award for preserving the rich essence of Hindi even while operating within predominantly English-speaking corporate and creative spheres. ## Rajat Sharma Shares Nostalgic Connection with Hindi Bhawan Addressing the gathering, Rajat Sharma reflected emotionally on his childhood connection with Hindi Bhawan, describing the venue as a deeply meaningful place in his life journey. He recalled associating with the institution from the age of six or seven, as his grandfather worked there as a librarian. His family relied on his grandfather's salary, and the books brought home from the library helped shape his early reading habits and love for literature. Having received his early education in the Hindi medium, he initially experienced cultural friction upon joining Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), where the academic atmosphere was entirely conducted in English. ## The Influence of the JP Movement and Early Career Crossroads During his college years, the historic JP Movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan swept across the nation. Rajat Sharma noted that public movements naturally draw their strength from the language of the masses. His active participation in the movement eliminated any lingering hesitation regarding his native language. After entering journalism, he wrote extensively in Hindi for two years, but faced a lack of recognition. He subsequently transitioned to English journalism, rising to the position of editor. However, when the opportunity arose to produce his first television interview show, he deliberately chose Hindi as the medium. ## The Memorable Episode with Lalu Prasad Yadav and Television Success Sharing a memorable anecdote from the launch of his television career, Rajat Sharma recalled planning to record his inaugural episode with veteran author Khushwant Singh, with politician Lalu Prasad Yadav scheduled third in line. Unexpectedly, Lalu Prasad Yadav called at 10:00 AM, insisting on recording immediately despite his appointment being fixed for 4:00 PM. The team adjusted schedules to record the session, which ultimately became a landmark broadcast. Rajat Sharma emphasized that had the program been produced in English rather than Hindi, it would never have achieved such massive nationwide popularity. ## Hindi News Viewership Surpasses English Channels by 140 Percent Concluding his speech, Rajat Sharma highlighted the robust strength and expanding reach of Hindi in contemporary society. He stated that Hindi is no longer a vulnerable or neglected language, but rather the commanding voice of top government leaders and millions of citizens across the nation. To illustrate this shift, he cited television industry data showing that Hindi news channels currently command 140 percent higher viewership than English news channels. He affirmed that this remarkable metric reflects the enduring resonance and dominance of Hindi in modern Indian broadcasting. ## What this means for you **Across India:** Highlights the dominant presence of Hindi media across the nation, supported by news channel viewership exceeding English networks by 140 percent. **In Delhi:** Demonstrates the continuing cultural role of Delhi's Hindi Bhawan in celebrating literary and broadcast excellence on the birth anniversary of Rajarshi Purushottam Das Tandon. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. Who was awarded the Hindi Ratna Award in 2026? Renowned lyricist and Prasar Bharati Chairman Prasoon Joshi was awarded the Hindi Ratna Award 2026. ### 2. Who attended as the chief guest at the Hindi Ratna ceremony? Senior journalist and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma attended as the chief guest and presented the award to Prasoon Joshi. ### 3. When and where was the Hindi Ratna ceremony held? The ceremony took place at Hindi Bhawan in Delhi on 1st August 2026 to mark the birth anniversary of Rajarshi Purushottam Das Tandon. ### 4. What personal connection did Rajat Sharma share with Hindi Bhawan? Rajat Sharma recalled visiting Hindi Bhawan since age six or seven, as his grandfather served as the librarian there and brought books for him. ### 5. What statistic was shared regarding Hindi news viewership compared to English news? Rajat Sharma stated that Hindi news channels currently command 140 percent higher viewership than English news channels. ## Inspiration & Lessons **Inspiration & Lessons:** - **Embrace Your Roots with Pride:** Success comes from preserving core cultural and linguistic values even in competitive global environments. - **Persevere Through Early Setbacks:** Persistence in one's chosen passion eventually creates pathbreaking career opportunities. - **Turn Challenges Into Advantages:** Learning new skills while remaining deeply connected to one's native language unlocks true impact. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._