Durga Das (1900-1974) was a legendary journalist of India who did signal service to the 'national cause through his vocation.

Hailing from the Jalandhar District of Punjab, he started taking interest in journalism from a relatively young age. His interest in news and news reporting also drew him towards the national movement.

His career, spread over fifty-five years, fell into four distinct phases. He was with the Associated Press of India, now known as the Press Trust of India, from 1919 to 1937 and was its Chief Parliamentary Correspondent, ace reporter  and  editor.  Thereafter, he  worked  as  a Special Representative (and in other capacities also) of The Statesman of Kolkata and Delhi from 1937 to 1943. He became Joint Editor and political columnist of the Hindustan Times in April 1944 and Chief Editor of the paper in 1957. He founded The India News and Feature Alliance, a feature agency devoted to the regional press, on 14 November,  1959 and was its Managing Director, Editor-in-Chief and political columnist.

As a journalist Durga Das was fair and objective in reporting, informative and analytical in writing, constructive in editorial comment, and a supporter of the voice of dissent as a political columnist. For him, journalism was an opportunity to serve the motherland. Professional honours came  to him in various forms. These included positions like the Chairman of the Press Gallery Committee of the Indian Parliament, President of All India Newspaper Editors' Conference, founder­ President of the Press Club of India and member of the Press Council. Durga Das authored two important books, namely India and the World (1958), and India from Curzon to Nehru  & After (1969).

His love for the profession found culmination when he founded the Durga Das Ratan Devi Trust in 1969 to give five annual Durga Ratan Awards for excellence in journalism.

The Department of Posts is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp in honour of Durga Das.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India