HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, May 2: “Journalism is the most difficult job of all and today is a special day for journalists as May Day,” professor Shambhu Nath Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Tezpur University highlighted the role of journalism in his speech while attending as the chief guest in the commemoration and award giving programme held at the office of the Sonitpur Journalists’ Union to commemorate senior journalist and founder president of Sonitpur Journalists’ Union Pranab Sinha on his tenth death anniversary. The programme organised by the Sonitpur Journalists Union on Monday was presided over by president of the organisation Sanjib Hazarika.
Professor Singh lauded the efforts taken by the journalist union to keep alive the memory of the senior journalist and said that the award initiated in the name of such a personality is very precious and highly honorable.
Receiving the Pranab Sinha memorial award, senior journalist Gautam Sarma said that journalists still get less remuneration than MGNREGA workers. Describing the state of journalists, he urged specially the local correspondents/journalists to come forward with joined hands to raise their voice in demand of adequate remuneration for them. Further in his speech he said that the journalists who are not popular but skilled and honest can benefit the society.
Gautam Sarma who was conferred with the Pranab Sinha Memorial Award for his unmatched contribution towards the field of journalism started his career as a student in Tezpur and worked in the field of journalism for 30 years.
Sarma after receiving his award recalled the days of his attachment with Pranab Sinha and the newspaper Mahajati which was edited by Pranab Sinha’s father Dr Purna Narayan Sinha. Highlighting on the medium of teaching in our schools, journalist Sarma in his speech further opined that the journalists of Assamese newspapers are likely to face great challenges since only a few schools like Jatiya Vidyalaya and Sankardeva Sishu Vidya Niketan are now teaching students in their mother tongue.
The event moderated by Pulak Kumar Deka, senior journalist, was started with the lighting of lanterns by Prithiraj Rabha, MLA Tezpur at the portrait of Pranab Sinha. Retired Professor Dr Pranjit Hazarika and distinguished writer, playwright, director Aisharjya Kakati in their speech recalled their close attachment with noted journalist Pranab Sinha and his role as an ideal journalist.
Among other dignitaries, Advocate Dulumani Sinha, Ramesh Chandra Kalita, president Tezpur Sahitya Sabha, prominent writer Manik Bora, Bhuban Chandra Gogoi, Dadul Borkakoty, president Sonitpur district Congress Committee, Jiten Borthakur, president Tezpur district sports association, Neena Barua, District Information and Public Relation Officer, Manoj Kumar Saikia, general secretary , Sonitpur Journalists Union, Pankaj Barua, Bikram Kalita, Jaan Talukdar, Biwajit Boro, Gopendra Bhuyan, Sanjay Krishna Gohain Barua attended the programme and paid rich tribute to the late journalist while Piku Mahanta and Anwesha Kashyap presented Ghosa and Borgeet respectively.
