HT Correspondent
SIVASAGAR, June 10: The fortnightly newspaper published from Sonari, ‘Charaideo Batory’, observed its 13th anniversary on Sunday in a well-attended program at the Tourism Guest House near Charaideo Maidams. The management of the newspaper conferred the ‘Charaideo Ratna Award 2024’ upon noted young artist and singer Prasanta Rajkhowa. Dipak Bora, the Nitaipukhuri correspondent of the Dainik Janambhumi, was awarded ‘The Best Young Reporter of the Year Award’. The executive president of the Assam State Journalists Union (ASJU), Manoj Kumar Borthakur, presided over the award-giving function.
MLA, Sonari LAC, Dharmeswar Konwar, attended the function as the chief guest and in his speech, he emphasised the role of journalists in enlightening people with new ideas for developing their lives. He added that while journalists have the responsibility to publish the truth, the dissemination of wrong or fabricated news can seriously harm individuals and society.
Delivering a lecture on ‘Value-based journalism’, Pradip Deka, the general secretary of ASJU, highlighted the close relations between newspaper owners and the ruling party, which he stated is detrimental to the free ecosystem for journalists. Earlier, Pranob Borgohain, the organising secretary of ASJU, lit the ceremonial lamp to initiate the function, and Dhrubajyoti Barua, the secretary of ASJU, Charaideo district unit, spoke on the objectives of the organisation. Mridul Kumar Shahu, a senior journalist and editor of Charaideo Batory, shared insights into the journey of publishing a newspaper from a small town.
The meeting also felicitated reporters Ananta Kalita, Sanjeev Gogoi, Bitu Kar, senior advocate Mahesh Gaduka, president of Sonari Press Club Halim Ahmed, educationist Luhit Gogoi, and artist Sunil Lahon.
