Professor Sarat Mahanta Memorial Lecture delivered in Sivasagar District

 OUR CORRESPONDENT

SIVASAGAR: The eighth edition of Professor Sarat Mahanta Memorial Lecture held on Friday was graced by renowned litterateur-journalist and Sahitya Akademi Award recipient Manoj Kumar Goswami.

The lecture was organized by Sibsagar Press Club in association with Sibsagar College, Joysagar as a mark of tribute to the renowned educationist, writer, journalist and human rights activist. Prof Sarat Mahanta was a former member of the Assam Human Rights Commission and former Head of the History Department at Sibsagar College. He was also a founder member and chief advisor of Sibsagar Press Club.

Speaking on the topic ‘Impact of media on social life in Assam: Changing Relevance’, Sahitya Akademi award-winner novelist gave an overview of the pace, challenges and nature of today’s media. He said that the Assamese media is continuing the use of Assamese language and has given a status to the language. The media has been making a contribution to the language whether it is through newspapers or TV channels. Assamese songs also play an important role in this regard, he said.

On the other hand, Goswami mentioned the lack of funds in Assamese newspapers and said that our people do not care to spend thousands of rupees in their daily lives in the name of food and liquor but do not like to spend ten rupees daily in the name of a newspaper.

Highlighting the trend of diminishing the human importance in today’s present media, Goswami said that the modern tools of the media have increased but the day-to-day issues of the people are lagging behind. This reluctance is especially evident in the national media. Instead of the daily shortages of people, the news of aliens is going to be circulated in today’s media. He lamented that the Israeli-Palestinian news has gained more prominence than Manipur.

He also reviewed the challenges faced by the media, especially the print media, and said that today the newspapers are getting social, political and financial pressure.

“Sales of newspapers are on an alarming decline. As a result, the newspapers have to depend on advertising. The newspapers have to rely on government advertisements due to limited number of companies. This dependence has forced the papers to be guided by the directions of that institution or the government,” he said.

He said that social media will soon become an undemocratic medium. Social media can never be an alternative to mainstream newspapers and TV channels. He said that the role of media that can generate public opinion is immense and always will have its impact.

Prof. Sarat Mahanta’s wife Mina Mahanta, eldest son, IPS officer, DIG (Administration) of Assam Police and Vice President of Assam Table Tennis Association Dr Partha Sarathi Mahanta, daughter-in-law and IPS officer of DIG (CID) Assam Police Indrani Barua, daughter and Dean of OP Jindal University Dr Upasana Mahanta, Sivasagar District Commissioner Aditya Vikram Yadav, Sivasagar Superintendent of Police Subhrajyoti Bora and other noted personalities were also present on the occasion.

The welcome address was delivered by Sarat Mahanta’s younger son, Principal of Gargaon College and President of Sibsagar College Dr Sabyasachi Mahanta.

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