Nava Thakuria
Guwahati : Devarshi Narada Jayanti Award Bestowed upon Nava Thakuria; Lakshyajit Gohain, Ranjita Rabha, and Mridul Haloi Felicitated
GUWAHATI: In journalism, the propagation and judgment of half-truths pose a greater danger than outright falsehoods. This significant observation was made by Prakhar Shrivastava, Senior Consulting Editor and Anchor at Delhi Doordarshan Kendra, while delivering the keynote address on the occasion of Narada Jayanti.
Organized under the auspices of the Vishwa Samvad Kendra, Assam on 7 June, the event featured the presentation of the Devarshi Narada Award and a felicitation ceremony. This year, the prestigious Devarshi Narada Award was conferred upon veteran journalist and editor of Ishan Darpan, Nava Thakuria. Additionally, three promising journalists namely Lakshyajyoti Gohain (Senior Journalist, NK TV), Ranjita Rabha (Chief Reporter, Pratham Khabar), and Mridul Haloi (Sub-Editor, Dainik Asam) were accorded special felicitations.
Speaking at the event held at Sudarshanalaya in Barbari locality of Guwahati, Prakhar Shrivastava delivered a factual and profound speech addressing the contemporary socio-political landscape and past historical errors. Shrivastava made significant remarks regarding the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is currently celebrating its centenary year.
“While the media maintains a positive outlook toward the Sangh in today’s altered political landscape, such an attitude was rare in the past. When the media paid scant attention to the Sangh, founded in 1925, the nation was on the brink of partition. At that time, senior Congress leaders from Pakistan’s Sindh province migrated to India with their belongings. During that tumultuous period, RSS swayamsevaks (volunteers) risked their lives to rescue Hindus, Sikhs, and others targeted by fundamentalist attacks in Sindh,” Shrivastava stated.
He further highlighted a historical letter written by the then Defence Minister Baldev Singh to Home Minister Vallabhbhai Patel shortly after independence. Sardar Patel had suggested placing the letter before the Cabinet, which urged the government to cooperate with the Sangh’s efforts to rescue people stranded in peril in Pakistan following the partition.
“Regrettably, these developments fueled resentment in Prime Minister Nehru’s mind. Nehru imposed a ban on the RSS not primarily due to the allegations surrounding Gandhi’s assassination, but rather out of displeasure over the rescue operations conducted by the Sangh in Pakistan during partition,” Shrivastava remarked significantly. He added, “The first incident of mass lynching in independent India occurred in the wake of Gandhi’s assassination. This mass violence was perpetrated by a section of self-proclaimed Gandhians, and its first casualties were Dr Narayan Savarkar including the family of Veer Savarkar, who became the first in the country to pay the price of mass lynching.”
Shrivastava also commented on the influx of immigrants since the era of Sir Syed Muhammad Sadullah, demographic changes in Assam, and the roles played by Moinul Hoque Choudhury and Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed. The solemn ceremony witnessed the presentation of the ‘Devarshi Narada Award’ to Nava Thakuria, which carried a cash prize of ₹50,000, a seleng sador (traditional stole), a citation, a portrait of Bharat Mata, and a bundle of valuable books.
In his speech, Thakuria remarked that Narada, who created engagement through incisive questioning and well-meaning counsel, remains a guiding light for journalism today. He emphasized that the credibility of the mythological character Narada is immensely relevant to contemporary journalism. Thakuria also pointed out that the western model of institutionalized, individual-centric journalism has adversely affected India’s culturally rooted and nature-centric news values.
At the commencement of the program, Kishore Shivam, Secretary of Vishwa Samvad Kendra, presented a brief overview of Devarshi Narada, depicting him as the seeker of knowledge and the eradicator of flaws. Shivam noted that a deeper research into Narada’s 84 Bhakti Sutras could enrich the aims and objectives of modern journalism.
The event also featured the unveiling of a souvenir, alongside a captivating rendition of Saraswati Vandana by Tribeni Bujarbaruah. Dr Gouranga Sarma, President of Vishwa Samvad Kendra, also addressed the gathering. The meeting, anchored by Naba Bujarbaruah, concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Guru Prasad Medhi. The event was attended by over three hundred people representing various sections of society.
