Skip to content Skip to navigation

Guwahati scribes celebrate R-Day

By Nava Thakuria |

Journalists and conscious citizens of Assam on Monday once again defied militants’ diktat and celebrated the 66th Republic Day at Guwahati Press Club. Hoisting the national flag, senior journalist Pramod Kalita called upon one and all to pay respect to the Tricolour, which symbolizes the spirit of freedom and also the sacrifices of numerous freedom fighters.

Kalita pointed out that India, unlike many of its neighbours, has maintained the spirit of democracy since the days of Independence. He however cautioned that every Indian must be cautious against anti-national elements and also some veiled entities pretending to be progressive, secular and patriotic.

Earlier, senior journalists Rupam Barua and Ranen Kumar Goswami described how a section of journalists took the challenge to defy the diktat of separatist militants in 1998 and hoisted the national flag in the press club and continued the spirit to observe both the Republic and Independence Days.

Journalists and citizens then took out a procession raising patriotic slogans. Those who attended the programme included Dr Jagadindra Raichoudhury, Vivekananda Choudhury, Hem Bora, Jahnavi Goswami, Mrinal A. Hazarika, Hrishikesh Dutta, Pranabjit Doloi, DN Singh, Kailash Sarma, Purabi Barua, Pradip Thakuria, Nava Thakuria, Sumana Dutta, Anita Kalita Goswami, Akhyamala Thakuria, Namita Bora and many others.

Over the years, it has become almost a reflex action for various banned militant outfits of Assam, Manipur and north Bengal to call for boycott of the R-Day programme, protesting against the ‘colonial Indian government’ allegedly exploiting the resources of the region. This year too was no different, and people responded to the boycott call with near total indifference.

Add new comment

Random Stories

Bhutan blamed for devastation in Manas National Park

15 Oct 2016 - 8:10pm | Mubina Akhtar
The Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve suffered huge loss as flood waters of river Beki inundated 60 per cent of the Park since the last four days. Floodwaters entered the Park breaching the...

NSCN-K militants killed

14 Aug 2015 - 10:42am | AT News
Two hardcore NSCN-K militants were killed at an encounter with security forces in Nagaland a day before its Independence Day on Friday.According to information, the encounter with Assam Regiment took...

Mohilary, Sonowal worshipped in Kokrajhar!

6 Nov 2017 - 10:30pm | AT Kokrajhar Bureau
 In a symbolic agitation to draw  government attention over  a bridge in Kokrajhar, peoples from greater Kamalachara,Makrapara near Bhotgaon southern worshipped Hagrama Mohilary, BTC...

Here comes the polls: Modi tells Assam BJP legislators

25 Sep 2017 - 2:39pm | AT News
BJP leadership at the Centre have asked the party leaders in Assam to gear up for the next Lok Sabha polls with clean image and dedication for the common people. In his address at the party...

Other Contents by Author

Bhutanese author-journalist to interact with Guwahati scribes

Guwahati: Thimphu based author-journalist Gopilal Acharya will interact with Guwahati scribes on Friday (21 December 2018), where the young writer is expected to speak on various socio-political and cultural issues of Bhutan. Author of Bhutanese Folk Tales, Dancing to Death, With a Stone in My Heart etc will address the member-journalists of Guwahati Press Club through video conferences from the Bhutanese capital city of Thimphu. Born in Gelephu of the Himalayan Shangri-La in 1978 and educated in Bhutan and Sweden, Gopilal regularly contributes for CNN, South Asian Monitor, Straits Times, Telegraph, Kuensel, Bhutan Times etc. The award winning journalist will highlight bilateral...

India’s active & diverse roles sought in Myanmar

Guwahati: As India and Myanmar (formerly Burma) maintain a strong legacy of friendship, trust and cooperation for centuries, the southeast Asian nation expects an active role in diverse fields from New Delhi. But reasons, best known to the Indian government, visible efforts from New Delhi continue to be rare in contrast to hyper activism adopted by the Beijing based Chinese administration. Speaking to a group of scribes at Guwahati Press Club from Bogo near to Yangon on 7 December 2018 through video conferencing, Debbie Stothard, a journalist turned pro-democracy human rights activist, also pointed out the unusual delay in functioning of much hyped Kaladan multi-modal project that would...

‘Islamist fundamentalists in Bangladesh a threat to northeast India’

Guwahati: Rise of Islamist extremism in Bangladesh is not only posing a serious threat to the Muslim dominated country, but also to its neighbouring north-eastern States of India along with West Bengal. Speaking to a group of scribes at Guwahati Press Club from Dhaka through internet on Friday, prominent Bangladeshi journalist Saleem Samad made this comment. An Ashoka Fellow and Hellman-Hammett Award recipient journalist also added that an upsurge of fundamentalist forces in Bangladesh poses serious threats not only to the religious minority communities there, but also to the secularists, intellectuals and other sects within the Muslim community. Samad narrated how atheist &...

Chennai Apollo to conduct media OPD clinics

Guwahati: The Apollo Hospitals Chennai will conduct two media OPD clinics at Guwahati Press Club on 22 September and 5 October next. Dr S Kannan (ENT/ Head & Neck Surgeon) will be available for free consultations to scribes on coming Saturday from 3 pm to 4.30 pm. The participants can get free consultations on throat problems, mouth ulcers, ear infections etc from the attending physician. On the other hand, Geriatrician Dr Rajendran Magesh will be available for consultations on general medical problems to the participants (who are above 40) in the second health camp on Friday between 5 pm and 7 pm at the press club premises. Organized under the series of ‘Evening with a Doctor’...

Physiotherapy camp concludes at Guwahati Press Club

Guwahati: On the occasion of World Physiotherapy Day (8 September), a health camp for the benefit of member-journalists of Guwahati Press Club was organized on Saturday. Initiated by of Indian Association of Physiotherapists (Assam branch), Indian Association of Physiotherapists Women cell (Assam branch) and All Assam Physiotherapy Association, the camp was graced by Dr Chatrajit Das (PT), Dr Mayur Das (PT) and Dr Trishna Saikia Baruah (PT). They were assisted by Banashri Das (MPT), Dikshita Rabha (MPT), Bhargab Bhattacharya (MPT), Laizu Yeamin Lipa (MPT), Mathew Lalruatliana (MPT) and Karan Yangma (MPT). Till date, the press club health clinic has been supported by Down Town Hospitals,...

Eye screening camp concluded at press club

Guwahati: Most of the city based scribes need thorough eye check-ups as they constantly use digital screen for hours in a day. In a day long eye screening camp, organized EYE DOCTORS, a city based eye institute and surgery centre, at Guwahati Press Club on 7 July 2018 it was observed that half of the participants were in need of thorough check-up and necessary treatments. Senior eye surgeon Dr Bindu Singla Goel conducted the camp, where around 60 journalists participated and went with preliminary screening of their eyes. The practicing physician was assisted by health workers Afsana Khatun and Robita Roy. Few employees of Cipla and Alcon were also present to support the camp.

Film screening initiative begins at GPC

Guwahati As part of a wider initiative to help member-journalists add value to their professional experience, Guwahati Press Club has begun to screen award winning and critically acclaimed films and documentaries every week. On Friday (11 May), the non-verbal documentary ‘Glass’ was screened at the GPC auditorium. An Oscar-winning documentary made in 1958 by eminent European filmmaker Bert Haanstra, ‘Glass’ brilliantly contrasts glassblowing techniques used at the Royal Leerdam glass factory in Netherlands, with modern machines churning out glassware on industrial scale. The film captures the art of the glassblowers with great sensitivity, their marvelous craftsmanship imparting each...

Lipid profile tests for Guwahati scribes

Guwahati: Assam’s well known Dispur Hospital organizes a free lipid profile tests for the journalist-members of Guwahati Press Club starting on Monday (9 April). The series of camp will continue for five days till Friday at the press club premises where 20 blood samples will be taken every day (from 12 noon to 1 pm). It may be mentioned that the lipid profile (lipid panel) test includes various types of blood screenings to measure the level of cholesterol and triglycerides. The tests can identify certain genetic diseases and determine approximate risks for cardiovascular disease, certain forms of pancreatitis, and other related diseases. In case the number of participants increases (even...

Singer bats for State Sangeet Natak Academy

Acclaimed Assamese music composer and singer Kula Barua emphasizes on a State Sangeet Natak Academy for the benefit of performing artistes and also the new generation who would study the Assamese culture in future. Attending the ‘Guest of the Month’ program at Guwahati Press Club on Thursday (2 November 2017), the soft spoken gentleman also insisted on relentless appreciation of Assamese music and songs. Answering various questions raised by the participating journalists, Barua expressed concern that the lyrics have now been ignored by a section of present time singers. He remembered Dr Bhupen Hazarika’s contribution to modern Assamese lyrics and termed him as an emperor who used to create...

Physiotherapy camp organized at press club

On the occasion of World Physiotherapy Day, a physiotherapy camp has been organized tomorrow (8 September 2017) at Guwahati Press Club. The free camp, open for all member-journalists of the press club, will start at 1 pm and conclude by 5 pm. The camp, planned for detailed physical assessment & effective treatments for the participants, will be supervised by senior physiotherapists namely Dr Kangkan Talukdar (PT), Dr Lopa Das (PT), Dr Pankaj Das (PT) and Dr Pooja Saikia (PT). They will be assisted by a number RCPHS, CPMS, ADTU College students namely Anuradhapura Das, Rupam Kalita, Munindra Gogoi, Rijuwana Begum, Himashree Medhi, Soni Phom, Gautam Das, Sneha Das, Sasanka Mahanta, Mr...