Centenary celebration of Assam sports journalism begins

July 2: A year long celebration of 100 years of sports journalism in Assam begins coinciding the day while the first ever news related to a football competition was published in Asomiya (a weekly news magazine mentored by Chandra Kumar Agarwala) on 1 July 1923. Assam Sports Journalists Association (ASJA), which is affiliated to Sports Journalists Federation of Indian (a national affiliate of International Sports Press Association) has taken the lead in celebrating the occasion that will culminate on 1 July next year.

On Saturday, flags of ASJA and the centenary celebration were hoisted by ASJA’s founder president Balendra Mohan Chakraborty and his successor Pabitra Gogoi in presence of senior sports organiser Rajib Prakash Baruah with other dignitaries in the ASJA office premises under RG Baruah Sports Complex in the city. It was followed by a felicitation program to the family members of some pioneer sports journalists.

Organised at the conference hall of Assam Olympic Association (AOA), the program also witnessed the felicitation of many close relatives of deceased sports journalists for their invaluable contributions to the profession. The program was graced by a number of prominent journalists namely Dhirendra Nath Chakraborty, Premadhar Sarma, Pranay Bordoloi, PJ Baruah, Nava Thakuria, Rahul Karmakar, Sanjiv Phukan with others.

Addressing the gathering, AOA general secretary Lakhya Konwar disclosed that the sports journalists have played a major role in the sustained growth of sports in Assam over the decades. He expressed gratitude to the organisers for giving the State’s apex sports body an opportunity to walk hand in hand for the growth of sports. ASJA general secretary Imtiaz Ahmed informed that the yearlong celebrations have been supported by ONGC, NRL, OIL, Topcem, ACA, AOA and other well wishers.

“The celebration also coincides with World Sports Journalists’ Day that falls on 2 July. We will hold a mega inaugural ceremony to the yearlong celebrations on 9 July where some prominent sportspersons of India will be present,” said ASJA president Subodh Malla Baruah, adding that publishing a book on the history of sports & related journalism and building a memorial to mark the occasion are also on the card. ASJA vice-president Bidyut Kalita informed that State chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his predecessor Sarbananda Sonowal, presently a Union minister and AOA president, have assured all possible support.

The felicitated family members including Dr Indira Choudhury (wife of acclaimed author-editor Nirod Choudhury), Kalyan Das (son of pioneer sports journalist Pulin Das), Bipul Barman (son of photojournalist Tarani Barman), Junti Bora (wife of Purbajyoti Chutia), Smriti Sarma (wife of Sanjiv Sarma Thakur), Sima Das (wife of Kapil Das), Urbashi Devi (wife of Dwijen Sarma), Anita Goswami (sister of Kulen Kalita), relatives of Murali Choudhury, Rahman Ali, Gautam Bora, Kingshuk Ghatak, Nanda Kishore Gupta, Gopal Mishra, Debi Ram Das, Ashish Dey, etc offered heartfelt thanks to the organisers.