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Kokrajhar (Assam), 16 November (HS). Information and Public Relations Department (IPRD), BTC in collaboration with Bodoland Journalists Association organized National Press Day at Kokrajhar Planetarium today. Several activities and discussion sessions were organized on the occasion. The event began with a tribute to the martyrs (Shaheed Tarpan) and a tree plantation drive as a mark of respect for the sacrifices and commitment to environmental protection. After this, a representative meeting of journalists was organized.
After this, Council Head and Regional Officer, Information and Public Relations Department of BTC, Zahid Ahmed Tapadar delivered the welcome address. Greetings from Pramod Bodo, Chief Executive Member (CEM), BTC, Dr. Neelut Swargiari, Executive Member (EM), Information and Public Relations Department, and Akashdeep, Principal Secretary, BTC, who are currently attending the Bodoland Mahotsav in New Delhi. These were narrated to the people present, which gave a positive start to the programme.
The inaugural address was given by the Vice Chancellor of Bodoland University and the chief guest of the program, Prof. Given by BL Ahuja. He highlighted the important role of journalists in maintaining peace and order in BTR. He underlined the challenges faced by the media, such as lack of time, inadequate salaries, impact of Artificial Intelligence and the need to give priority to positive news.
Dr. Zakir Hussain, Editor of Dainik Gana Adhikar and Chairman of NEF Group of Institutions, participated in the program as the guest of honour. He emphasized that the existence of democracy is linked to the independence of journalists, who are considered the fourth pillar of democracy.
Other guests included Colonel Arun Prakash Aggarwal, sharing his views on the atmosphere of the 1990s, highlighting the important role of media in the struggle for freedom and in protecting the motherland. Rakesh Sharma, Editor, Vikasit Bharat Samachar, shared a historical perspective on the significance of National Press Day, its roots and its evolution over the years.
In his keynote address on the topic “Changing Nature of the Press”, senior journalist Mrinal Talukdar discussed the evolution of journalism. He said that the press was once seen as a beacon of truth and a catalyst of social change, but its role and perception have changed significantly over time. He also said that true objectivity in journalism is a challenging ideal given the complexities of modern media.
Recognizing excellence and dedication in the field of journalism, several individuals were honored. These included senior journalists Dhrub Sharma (Baxa), Durlav Talukdar (Chirang), Hari Shankar Thakur (Kokrajhar), Bapu Ram Bodo (Tamulpur) and Gunjit Das (Udalguri). Journalist pensioners Imran Hussain (Udalguri), Khagen Saikia (Tamulpur), Anand Ramsiyari (Tamulpur) and Kokrajhar’s senior-most newspaper distributor Sibtosh Bhaduri were also honoured. Journalist Malaya Deka, who anchored the program, was also honored for her contribution.
Bodoland Journalists Association President Abu Bakar Siddique and journalist Gunjit Das underlined important problems like health insurance for journalists. Raktim Budhagohain, Joint Secretary, IPRD, BTC, spoke on a wide range of topics including the responsibilities of journalists, the impact of social media, and the importance of education. He shared his views taking inspiration from Buddhist philosophy and assured to resolve the health insurance issues raised during the discussion.
The event, organized in the presence of media professionals from all five districts of BTR, became a platform for dialogue on the challenges and responsibilities of the press in the changing media landscape.
