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Award for Nanda K Dewan

By AT News |

Kathmandu, Nepal Friday 10th Dec 2021: National Press Club, Nepal and America Nepal Press Club awarded Community Development & Global Peace Journalism 7th International Award 2020 to Nanda K Dewan, a community journalist based in Guwahati.

Along side International Human Rights Day, in an award function presided by NPC president Ram Krishna Kramacharya, Federal Democratic Government of Nepal's cabinet minister for Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration Right Honorable  Rajendra Prasad Shrestha presented the International Journalism Award to Nanda K Dewan here in Kathmandu, Nepal on Friday in presence of members of journalism fraternity, representative of various foreign embassies, news executives and distinguished guests co-ordinated by Ishwor Raj Dhakal, ANPC Nepal chapter president.

Yam Kumar Sunuwar, president, America Nepal Press Club Inc. stated , 'The 7th edition of this International Journalism Award being awarded to Nanda K Dewan out 11 nominations from 10 nations world wide for his continuous contributions towards community and development journalism over the last 15 years documenting socio economic and political developments and leading community civil society organisation being a frontline journalist, recording recent affairs and historical matters of the community, raising issues, plights and concerns in democratic parameters and ensuring their rights enshrined in the constitution."

The National Press Club, Nepal's president Ram Krishna Karmacharya - a senior journalist, founder and editor-in-chief of 'Astitwa' congratulating Dewan on being awarded - said: 'It is an International Triennial award initiated in the year milleniom year 2000  which was previously decorated by journalists from America twice, Canada, Germany and France  to name a few. For the first time in its 21 year old history, the institution of this award NPC, in association with the ANPC jury committee for it's 7th edition selected young 33 year old community development journalist from long ago, trouble torn North Eastern state of Assam from  our immediate neighborhood India, is being awarded. I'm blessed and expect him to contribute to cross cultural ties between the tribes of Nepal and NE India, hence working Indo Nepal Relations with a broader look beyond boundaries and border trade.'

As part of his award speech, Senior Community Development Journalist from North East India's Assam, based in Guwahati, Nanda Kumar Dewan, acknowledged the award as one of the  highest honours for his journalism fraternity and the community he represents. He explained  that community development journalism is the result of the evolution of digital media raising community concerns and documenting developments. It specializes in independent streams of journalism evolving from developing countries, small cities and towns to draw attention to the authority's concerns and seek solutions. He added that community development journalism yields results only after continuous coverage and rolling reporting over time so that public opinion is generated and authorities act on the matter. He also picked examples from his place in his own region and mentioned the democratic demands of tribes and communities in NE India, where some of them achieved statehood while several were given autonomy.

Responding to the NPC president's advice, the Top 10 Gorkha of Assam, elected by Sapariwar News Analysis magazine published by Guwahati Dewan, said that Indo Nepal Relations cannot be reviewed from the prism of trade and diplomacy, it's about cultural connections connecting communities and human civilisation, we should rise from geography and take pride in our rich and shared heritage.

Chief Guest Shri. Rajendra Prasad Shrestha, Cabinet Minister, Government of Nepal congratulated the awardee Nanda K Dewan after decorating him with the Gold Medal and Citation, Shwal, Flower Garland and Bouquet. He spoke on the role of Global Peace and Community Development Journalism along with Freedom of Press. He hugely appreciated awardee Nanda K Dewan's exemplary work at such a young age in community development journalism for over a decade and being able to win this Distinguished International Award.

Nanda Dewan, who travelled to Kathmandu with his father will take part in media workshops as a resource person in Nepal during his week-long visit and shall take part in various community programs. He is expected to courtesy call on top news executives from Nepal and foreign news bureaus here in Kathmandu.

 

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