HT Correspondent
HOJAI, Sept 19: Apna Manch commemorated Hindi Diwas with a two-day extravaganza held at Rashtrabhasha Vidyalaya High School in Hojai. The event featured the felicitation of 13 distinguished individuals who have made significant contributions to Hindi literature, teaching, and reporting. Each honouree was presented with an Assamese phulam gamosa and an appreciation certificate.
The chief guest for the occasion was Saurabh Gupta, superintendent of police, Hojai district, while Dr Manoj Kumar Swami, associate lecturer at Rabindranath Tagore University, graced the event as the chief speaker. Dr Pijush Nandi, associate lecturer at Hojai Girls’ College, and Shivsankar Bora, a social worker, were among the esteemed guests of honour. The event was presided over by Ashok Kejriwal, working president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Hojai district, and conducted by Nikhil Kumar Mundra, the founder of Apna Manch.
The proceedings began with the ceremonial lighting of a lamp and a floral tribute to the late social worker, Pradeep Kumar Sureka. A minute of silence was observed in his memory to wish for his eternal peace.
Vishal Choudhary, co-founder of Apna Manch, delivered the welcome speech. The 13 personalities who were felicitated during the event include: Literary figure Baccha Lal Gupta; poet and former journalist Rajendra Prasad Gupta; Dr Manoj Kumar Swami, associate lecturer, Rabindranath Tagore University (for teaching); Dr Rajen Singh Chauhan, associate lecturer, Hojai Girls’ College; Gopi Kanta Das, teacher, Don Bosco High School; Surendra Gupta, teacher, Abdul Hasib High School; Madan Dutta, teacher, Nabakalpa High School; Shioji Prasad, retired teacher, Narsingh Isthan High School; Damodar Mishra, teacher, Gandhi Vidyapith High School; Niranjan Sarawagi, for significant contributions to Hindi journalism; Ramesh Mundra, for exemplary contributions to Hindi journalism; Raj Kumar Chauhan, for commendable contributions to Hindi journalism; Shivdayal Singh, for his dedication to free teaching and contributions in Hindi reporting.
Addressing the gathering, chief guest Saurabh Gupta emphasised that Hindi is not just a language but an emotion deeply ingrained in our culture. Chief speaker Manoj Kumar Swami commended the celebration of Hindi Diwas as a commendable step, highlighting that Hindi serves as a unifying thread for the nation. He stressed the importance of connecting with Hindi at a deeper level, considering it as a part of our body and soul.
Dr Nandi and Ashok Kejriwal also shared their perspectives on the occasion, praising the efforts of Apna Manch in organising such a meaningful program.
Additionally, prizes for the Recitation and Quiz Competition were distributed to the deserving winners. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Mayank Kayal. Members Rohit Choudhury and Nikhil Beriwal, along with school staff and students, collaborated effectively to ensure the smooth execution of the program. Many distinguished guests attended the event and expressed their appreciation for the social initiatives undertaken by Apna Manch.
