Moffusil scribe receives Parag Das Award

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Feb 24: Moffusil jourlist Shubhit Kumar Chetri from Moran was given away the Parag Kumar Das Jourlism Award, 2016 at a function at Guwahati Press Club here today. The Parag Kumar Das Jourlism Award has been given away for fearless and bold jourlism since 2010.

The award-giving function was presided over by veteran  jourlist Sivath Barman amidst the presence of newly elected Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) president Taren Boro and writer Ratneswar Basumatry.

Taren Boro said: “I’m elated that Shubhit has received this award as his reportage against illegality smacks of his fearlessness. Jourlist Parag Das was slain for writing against illegality and militants boldly. There are as many as 14/15 militant outfits creating a havoc in Manipur. Apart from the government, the general mass should also be aware of it so as to put an end to militancy from society. We remember jourlist Parag Das for his bold and clear writings against illegality. The present day jourlists should also be bold and fearless while writing what’s right and just. They should stay away from writing anything that may lead next generation going astray. They should be accountable to society.”

Speaking on the occasion, writer Dilip Kumar Bora said: “We recall Parag Kumar Das for his fearless write-ups against anything illegal and unjust. The sacrifice of the deceased jourlist is yet to pay off as the government has not been able to punish his assassins as yet.”

After receiving the award, Chetri, an adviser of the Assam Press Correspondents’ Union (APCU), said: “I don’t think myself fit to receive the prestigious award. What Late Parag Das did in a short span of life is peerless. He had his eyes on all issues. His love for the tion was beyond question. I’m not associated with a single newspaper, I’m writing for a number of media houses. I write what I think right and just.”   

Meanwhile, a documentary on the life of jourlist Parag Kumar Das was shown today at Kaklal Baruah Auditorium near Dighalipukhuri by the Department of Jourlism, Gauhati University. The new generation will know much on the slain jourlist from the documentary.     

The award carries Rs 25,000, a citation, a memento and an angabastra.