National PR Day: Honouring the Founding Fathers of PR Industry

Public Relations is the culmination of creativity and intellect. Throughout history, various figures have played the role of early Public Relations managers. For example, Narad Muni, Bhadra, and Lord Krishna facilitated communication, advised rulers, and maintained peace and prosperity among their subjects. With time, the PR industry became more dynamic and has evolved from traditional journalistic influence to the rise of social media and several emerging trends in the industry. However, it got its rightful place in India in 1958.

Every year on April 21, we celebrate National Public Relations Day by holding conferences, sharing stories, and recognizing emerging contributors to the industry. However, many of us may not be aware of the industry's roots, including its historic implementation, the first encounter, and most importantly, the founding fathers.

The National PR Day provides an opportunity to recognize the vital role public relations and communications play in our world. While it is essential to move forward and think ahead, it's equally important to look back and honor those who blazed the trail of public relations and never looked back since then. This year, let's acknowledge the giants whose shoulders we stand on – the ‘Unsung Heroes’ who shaped the dynamic Public Relations industry. We'll honor their ground breaking ideas, the challenges they faced, and the lasting impact they've had on the ever-evolving world of communications.

Kali H Mody

Kali Homi Mody is known as the father figure of professional PR practitioners in India. He was the founder President of PRSI from 1966 to 1969. He was the pioneer that introduced credit card operations in India. Furthermore, he was instrumental in bringing the Diners Club franchise to India in 1960. However, his leadership and PRSI’s efforts helped raise awareness about PR’s importance in corporate communication and reputation management The Mody family's legacy had a profound impact on his skill set as he was the son of Sir Homi Mody, a revered entrepreneur, and Lady Jerbai Mody.

K.S. Neelakandan

K.S. Neelakandan was a distinguished figure in the field of Public Relations, who made significant contributions and achieved various milestones in his career. He was also known in the industry as 'Neelu'. Although he began his career in advertising, he later shifted to the field of public relations and joined Dumex (now Pfizer) as the Director of Public Affairs and was closely associated with the Public Relations Society of India. Over his five-decade-long career, he made noteworthy contributions to the profession of Public Relations. One of his most significant achievements was conceptualizing and implementing the World Public Relations Congress in the early 1980s. Additionally, he conducted several educational PR programs to promote Public Relations as a profession.

Minoo Masani

Minoo Masani is a multifaceted personality who led a diverse career spanned across politics, diplomacy, and corporate leadership. However, his career path showcases enormous contributions to the development of PR in India. He was the champion of communications and a strong believer in the power of communication. His political career involved influencing public opinion and managing his image, representing his core PR practices.  He even founded publications like "Freedom First" to promote his views and emphasize on the importance of strategic communication. After Independence, multinational companies in India felt the need to communicate with the people more meaningfully. In order to adjust their corporate policies, these companies increasingly turned to Public Relations. At that time, the Tatas had already set up a Public Relations Department in Mumbai in 1943 which was headed by Shri Minoo Masani. 

Anil Basu

Anil Basu was one of the pioneering members of the India Foundation for PR Research (IFPR), which was set up by the PRSI (Public Relations Society of India) in the early 1980s. He has made significant contributions to the field of public relations including innovative PR techniques, advocating for ethical practices, and fostering meaningful relationships. His work is so influential that there is an award named after him - the Dr. Anil Basu Memorial Award for Public Relations Professional. This award is conferred to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development of the public relations profession and have made exceptional efforts towards brand building.