The honor recognition was conferred by FIA and was attended by Consul General of India NY – Shri Randhir Jaiswal. Mr. Purie’s achievements were awarded citing his stellar career in the media industry which he started in 1970 at Thomson Press as Production Controller and moved on to start the India Today Group with an eponymous magazine in 1975. Today the group is India’s most diversified media group with 32 magazines, 7 radio stations, 4 TV channels, 1 newspaper, multiple web and mobile portals, a leading classical music label, and a book publishing arm. Currently, India Today consists of five facilities across India having a national presence. His recognitions include the Padma Bhushan in 2001, the third-highest civilian award of the government of India, for his contribution to Indian journalism. B.D. Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism (1988), Journalist of the Year.
1990′ award by the Indian Federation of Small and Medium Newspapers, the G.K. Reddy Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution to Journalism among many other recognitions. His associations include several councils, including the Council of Management, Audit Bureau of Circulations (Chairman, 2000–2001). He is on the Executive Committee of The Editors’ Guild of India, Council of Management All India Management Association (Special Invitee). He was Chairman of the CII National Committee on Media (2001–2002), chairman of FIPP (Federation of International Periodicals and Publications), and serving Board member of the Global Editors Network since its creation in April 2011.
Consul General of India NY Jaiswal highlighted the contributions of media in keeping the overseas Indians in touch with the workings of the country and offered his support on initiatives that strengthen the US India bilateral relations. He also empha sized his undeterred support to the community and extensive efforts that the Consulate has undertaken since the pandemic impact to serve the community which includes the consulate being open 7 days a week. FIA Chairman Ankur Vaidya expressed his gratitude to Mr. Purie for allowing FIA the opportunity to celebrate his distinguished career which has brought a trendsetting change in the Indian media industry and provided a brief of the FIA undertaking over the last two years of the pandemic. Anil Bansal, the outgoing President of FIA thanked Mr. Purie for keeping the Indians Abroad in touch with the motherland thru his publications. He also thanked Mr. Purie for accepting the invitation and participating wholeheartedly with the FIA team. Padma Awardee HR Shah addressed the private gathering and thanked Mr. Purie for his friendship and consideration for utilizing his venue of TV Asia Studios in Manhattan for the reception. Mr. Purie thanked the FIA and TV Asia for the honor and putting together this private ceremony and sharing that the recognition was special for him especially since it was the first one by a reputed community organization in the USA. He expressed his keen interest in engaging with the diaspora activities in the US and taking more interest in community-initiated engagements.
The event was held at the TV Asia Studios in midtown, Manhattan and supported by Padma Shri Dr. H R Shah and President Anil Bansal. FIA team consisting of FIA Chairman Ankur Vaidya, outgoing President Anil Bansal, Alok Kumar, Parveen Bansal, Saurin Parikh, and the FIA women wing leaders Rohi Singh, Anu Singh, Mitali Chikhalkar and Sapna Patel offered their admiration and congratulations to Purieji on having been recognized and awarded. Prominent community leaders and members included Prem Bhandari, Albert Jasani, Kamlesh Mehta, Shyamal Modi, Piraan Erachshaw.