Contribution of noted jourlist Prafulla Chandra Barua recalled

From a Correspondent

JORHAT, May 6: Hombadpran – Soul of Jourlism, Prafulla Chandra Barua’s second death anniversary was organized at Jorhat Press Club on Wednesday which was attended by senior jourlists of the Assamese media fraternity, besides noted researchers, intellectuals, historians, scientists, senior citizens and a host of others who were closely related to the noted persolity who held the post of editor in prominent Assamese newspapers like the Jambhumi between 1969-86, Dainik Asom between 1987-95 besides being the editor of Uddipam the only weekly for senior citizens of the north-eastern region.

The ceremonial lamp as a mark of respect to the noted persolity was lit by Tapan Dutta in presence of Prafulla Chandra Barua’s wife Labonya Barua, senior jourlist-cum-scientist Choudhury th Saikia, Debendra th Bora, Dr Pradip Hazarika, jourlist and Principal of Rajgarh College in Dibrugarh, Tazuddin Ahmed and others.

Speaking on the occasion, Debendra th Bora reminisced, “Prafulla Chandra Barua was my friend, philosopher and guide of my jourlistic career and one of my biggest source of inspiration. I worked under him in Jambhumi from 1970. He was a disciplined and dedicated worker and even when there were shortage of jourlists in the paper, Prafulla Barua worked till late midnight while ensuring the availability of the paper to its reader every morning. And this was the reason why he was crowned with the title of ‘Hombadpran’. But today the question is how many jourlists actually possess these qualities? Today the fourth pillar of democracy is in shambles because of many jourlists.”

Retired scientist and senior jourlist Choudhury th Saikia said, “Prafulla Chandra Barua was among those persons who had the ability to face any adverse situation but still continued a relentless service for the betterment and uplift of society. He was the star of Assamese jourlism and he was true to his profession and a true man and a true jourlist. I would like to quote a proverb, ‘He is dead when he is still alive’. Prafulla Barua is still alive among us even after his demise. I further believe that there are three categories of people on this earth, first are those who make things happen, second are those who think what will happen and the third being those who wonder what happened. Prafulla Barua belonged to the first category who made things happen.”

Also speaking on the occasion, senior jourlist Tazuddin Ahmed spoke about Prafulla Barua and Media Trust of Assam. In his short speech, Tazuddin Ahmed said, “Media Trust of Assam would have long ceased to remain a dream of the jourlist fraternity if Prafulla Chandra Barua had not taken the first initiative. Closely associated with the documentation and celebration of 150 years of newspapers in Assam by Media Trust, Prafulla Barua was also the executive trustee. He pioneered the opening of the Institute of Mass Communication and Media, the jourlist guest house at Rup gar Guwahati, Media Archive building housing priceless collection of literary works, documents, magazines, articles, short stories and print news. And in order to look over the assets created during his tenure, Media Trust of Assam came into existence.”

Dr Pradip Hazarika Jourlist and Principal Rajgarh College in his concluding speech said, “Prafulla Chandra Barua never bowed before political pressure and was a kind of persolity with tiolistic feelings who devoted his entire life to the Assamese society. He worked for almost 12 to 14 hours every day and was also a researcher who rose to prominence from the primary level having started first as a staff reporter, then a political critic, writer, proof reader and later became the editor. But unfortutely jourlism has undergone a tremendous change in modern times. A persolity who never regretted nor expressed joy and that was what I think is the best trait necessary to become a star jourlist. I don’t understand how a single news occupies different headlines in different newspapers. Earlier the gist or the subject of any news always remained the same whereas now if one newspaper supports a cause, another newspaper opposes.”