Centenary celebration of Assam sports journalism begins

Guwahati, July 3, 2022: 
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.