Hyderabad : The Hyderabad Chapter of the Public Relations Society of India celebrated World Public Relations Day 2026 on Thursday at the Surana Auditorium, Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Red Hills, Hyderabad. The programme was attended by PR professionals, Chapter members, public relations teachers and students of Journalism and Mass Communication from various institutions.
Welcoming the gathering, Dr. Kambhampati Yadagiri, Chairman of the Hyderabad Chapter of PRSI, said that this year’s global theme, “The Golden Age of Strategic Public Relations,” provides communication professionals across the world with an opportunity to reflect on the growing importance of credibility, trust and relationship-building in an increasingly interconnected world. He said that the Hyderabad Chapter has been at the forefront of promoting the Public Relations profession and creating greater public awareness about its significance and role in society.He explained that World Public Relations Day, initiated in 2020 by a consortium of international public relations and communication organisations, recognises the vital contribution of Public Relations in promoting ethical communication and strengthening democratic societies.
Presiding over the programme, Y. Babji, Editor, Public Relations Voice, described Public Relations as a multidisciplinary hybrid profession that integrates knowledge from communication science, journalism, management, sociology, psychology, marketing, economics, law, information technology, behavioural sciences and the creative arts. By blending these disciplines, Public Relations enables organisations to build and sustain trust-based relationships with their diverse stakeholders, making the profession more relevant today than ever before. He recalled that the observance of World Public Relations Day coincides with the birth anniversary of Ivy Ledbetter Lee (16 July 1877), widely regarded as the founding father of modern Public Relations, whose historic “Declaration of Principles” laid the foundation for truthful, transparent, and responsible communication.
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He distinguished Public Relations from propaganda, lobbying and public affairs, emphasising that PR is fundamentally rooted in ethics, mutual understanding and long-term relationship management. Referring to the rapid expansion of the profession worldwide, he noted that, according to recent industry estimates, the global Public Relations market is valued at over US$100 billion and continues to grow steadily as organisations increasingly recognise the importance of reputation management, stakeholder engagement, sustainability communication and crisis communication.
Delivering the keynote address, Chief Guest Ajay Mishra, IAS (Retd.), former Special Chief Secretary to the Government of Telangana, appreciated the pioneering role being played by PRSI in advancing the Public Relations profession through its Chapters across the country. He observed that sustaining a professional institution successfully for nearly seven decades is itself a remarkable achievement.
He remarked that Public Relations exists in every sphere of human activity and stressed that one of the most essential abilities of PR practitioners is effective public speaking. Recalling the inspiring communication skills of Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, he said these visionary leaders successfully projected India’s ideals before the world during critical periods of the nation’s history.
Ajay Mishra further observed that while digital technology enables a single message to reach millions within seconds, the rapid spread of misinformation, fake news and deepfakes poses unprecedented challenges to public trust. “This is truly the Golden Age of Strategic Public Relations, not because communication has become easier, but because ethical, transparent and responsible communication has become more necessary than ever before,” he remarked.
Nawab Raunaq Yar Khan, a descendant of the last Nizam of Hyderabad and the Guest of Honour, briefly traced his royal lineage and appreciated the professional services being rendered by the Hyderabad Chapter of PRSI. He expressed his willingness to support the Chapter’s initiatives aimed at promoting communal harmony, peaceful coexistence, and greater social awareness.
Proposing the vote of thanks, Rajesh Kalyana, Secretary of the Hyderabad Chapter of PRSI, expressed gratitude to the National Mineral Development Corporation for its continued encouragement of the Public Relations and communication profession. He also thanked the Telangana Offset Printers Association for extending its support to the programme.
He recognised the presence of Ch Srinivasa Rao, DGM of NMDC, C Ravinder Reddy, President of All India Federation of Master Printers; Krishna Baji, Convener of Student Forum Committee; P Mohan Rao, Associate Editor of PR Voice; Smt Aparna Rajhans, Convener of Women’s Wing and others. He thanked Smt Rajeswari Iyer for connecting with the Chief Guest and the Guest of Honour with the Chapter.
He highlighted that the Hyderabad Chapter has consistently promoted professional excellence through conferences, seminars, workshops, symposia, round-table discussions and student engagement initiatives, including the Nalanda-PRSI Student Forums in colleges and schools. The programme concluded with a renewed commitment by Public Relations professionals to uphold the highest standards of ethical communication, professional excellence and responsible public engagement in an era increasingly shaped by digital media and emerging communication technologies, while steadfastly upholding the profession on the enduring tripod of Truth, Trust, and Transparency.
