In a ceremony held on Monday, five distinguished journalists were bestowed with the inaugural Kalyan Barooah Journalism Awards, recognizing their exceptional contributions to highlighting and promoting the under-reported issues of the northeastern region. The event, organized by My Home India and the North East Media Forum (NEMF), took place at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi.
The recipients of the awards, each receiving a trophy, citation, and a cash prize, are as follows:
1. Deepak Dewan - Lifetime Achievement Award
2. Ranju Dodum - Best Print Mediaperson
3. Partha Jyoti Borah - Best Electronic Mediaperson
4. Binod Tamang - Best Video Journalism
5. Gitika Talukdar - Best Photography
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, presented the awards in a ceremony that coincided with the birth anniversary of the late Kalyan Barooah. Speaking at the event, Minister Sonowal acknowledged Barooah's unwavering commitment to northeastern issues, stating, "This kind of ceremony is helping us not only by giving awards, but I do firmly believe that this is giving a special memory for Kalyan Barooah."
Minister Sonowal reminisced about his interactions with the late Barooah, highlighting his dedication to learning and his invaluable contributions to significant news events. He shared a personal memory of Barooah providing him with the first news about the Supreme Court's verdict on the repeal of the IMDT Act in 2005.
Praising the activities of NEMF, Minister Sonowal emphasized its role in uniting the country and acknowledged the remarkable development witnessed in the Northeast over the past nine years. He stated, "Northeast is now the 'new engine' for India's growth," highlighting the region's increasing importance in national development.
Concluding his remarks, Minister Sonowal expressed optimism about the Northeast playing a pivotal role in India's self-reliance by 2047, urging everyone to prepare for the challenges ahead to achieve this ambitious target.
My Home India and NEMF, the organizers of the event, aimed to commemorate the legacy of the late Kalyan Barooah, a respected journalist from The Assam Tribune, and his wife Nilakshi Bhattacharyya, who tragically succumbed to COVID-19 in 2021.
The Kalyan Barooah Journalism Awards serve as a fitting tribute to the late journalist's dedication to northeastern issues and aim to inspire continued excellence in journalism focused on this crucial region.