The Teacher Who Built Journalists as Humans | An Academic Leader of Statewide Impact
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Prof. Bhaskar Hegde is a rare kind of educator in the life of an institution. His influence extends far beyond classrooms and syllabi. He quietly had shaped generations of brilliant journalists. He instilled values that outlived changing trends. He leaves behind students turned professionals, who are independent thinkers. His legacy continues to echo through newsrooms, classrooms, and public life across Karnataka and beyond. His work reflects a lifelong commitment to integrity and discipline. His presence will continue to guide many, long after his formal retirement, which itself became a celebration of gratitude.
For over three decades, Prof. Bhaskar Hegde stood at the confluence of journalism and education, embodying both professions with uncommon integrity. His career, spanning 33 years of service, was not merely about teaching journalism as a craft but about nurturing it as a responsibility anchored in ethics, discipline, and social consciousness.
From the Field to the Classroom
Before becoming a revered academic, Prof. Bhaskar Hegde began his professional journey as a working journalist in Hubballi, where he spent three formative years reporting from the field. This grounding in real-world journalism would later define his teaching philosophy.
He did not teach journalism as a theory divorced from reality. He taught it as a lived experience.
In August 1993, he joined SDM College, Ujire, marking the beginning of a relationship that would transform the institution and leave an indelible imprint on journalism education in the state. Over the years, he rose to become Head of the Department of Journalism, a role he fulfilled with quiet authority and unwavering commitment. Students continued to learn with him for long years after they joined the media career.
The Teacher Who Built Journalists and Humans
Those who studied under Prof. Bhaskar Hegde remember him not for flamboyance, but for discipline, clarity, and purpose. His classrooms were spaces of seriousness and sincerity, where deadlines mattered, facts mattered more, and ethics mattered above all.
Former students often recall how he insisted on accuracy over speed, verification over sensation, and responsibility over recognition. In an age increasingly dominated by noise, he remained steadfast in teaching journalism as a public trust.
His mentorship extended far beyond lecture hours. Students sought him out for guidance, moral clarity, and reassurance during moments of doubt. Many who passed through his classrooms today serve as journalists, editors, educators, communication professionals, and civil servants, carrying with them the quiet imprint of his influence.
Journalism at SDM – a real model for rural India
Under the leadership of Prof. Bhaskar Hegde, the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at SDM College, Ujire grew into a truly state-of-the-art academic centre, setting a national benchmark from a rural setting. At a time when quality media education was largely urban-centric, he demonstrated that excellence could be built in a village through vision, discipline and academic integrity. Over his 33 years of service, the department evolved with modern studios, strong practical orientation, community-centred pedagogy and a rigorous academic culture, making it a model studied and admired beyond Karnataka. This transformation was made possible through the unconditional institutional support of the SDM management, particularly the foresight and encouragement of Late Prof. B. Yashovarma, then Principal of the college and Secretary of the SDM Educational Society, Ujire, whose faith in decentralised, value-driven education enabled the department to grow without compromise.
One of the most enduring contributions of Prof. Bhaskar Hegde’s leadership is Nammoora Varthe. This grassroots journalism initiative went far beyond classroom training to become an instrument of development support journalism. Through consistent, ethical and people-centred reporting, Nammoora Varthe highlighted local issues related to livelihoods, health, education, governance and social welfare, leading to tangible improvements in the lives of hundreds of families across the region. Several cases saw long-ignored civic problems receive administrative attention, welfare benefits reach deserving households, and community initiatives gain wider participation. By giving ordinary citizens a credible voice and following up on real issues with responsibility, Nammoora Varthe demonstrated how journalism, when rooted in empathy and accountability, can act as a catalyst for positive change at the grassroots level.
An Academic Leader of Statewide Impact
Prof. Bhaskar Hegde ’s contribution was not confined to a single institution. Over the years, he served as a member and head of Boards of Studies and Examination Boards of several universities and autonomous colleges across Karnataka. In these roles, he helped shape curricula, assessment standards, and academic frameworks that influenced journalism education at a systemic level.
His peers recognised him as a principled academic, methodical, fair, and deeply committed to academic rigour. Decisions under his guidance were known to prioritise long-term educational value over short-term convenience. He remained an authority in Journalism.
Bhaskara Parva: A Tribute Written by Gratitude
When Prof. Bhaskar Hegde retired, it was evident that his leaving marked the end of an era. Journalism students from batches spanning more than three decades, dating back to 1993, returned to SDM College, Ujire, to honour the mentor who had shaped their lives.
The event, aptly titled Bhaskara Parva, was not a farewell in the traditional sense. It was a celebration of gratitude. The atmosphere was one of nostalgia, reverence, and collective memory. A documentary chronicling his life and contributions was released, alongside souvenirs dedicated in his honour, capturing the scale of his influence. What stood out most was not the formality of the event, but the emotion it carried.
Students across generations were united by a shared respect for a teacher who had asked little for himself but demanded the best from others for the enrichment of their own career and future.
A Legacy That Endures
Prof. Bhaskar Hegde ’s legacy does not reside in titles or positions alone. It lives in the newsroom editor who refuses to compromise facts, in the reporter who chooses courage over convenience, in the teacher who insists on ethics before excellence.
He demonstrated that journalism education is not about producing content makers, but about shaping conscience keepers of society. His life serves as a reminder that the true measure of a teacher lies not in what is taught, but in what endures.
As institutions evolve and media landscapes shift, the values Prof. Bhaskar Hegde stood for discipline, integrity, humility, and service remain timeless. His journey affirms a simple but profound truth. When a teacher teaches with conviction, generations listen, even long after the classroom falls silent. We salute the Master and honour Prof. Bhaskar Hegde, as the enduring power of education rooted in values.
