Guwahati, Dec. 7: Twenty-seven individuals and organisations from Assam, including The Telegraph, were given awards for their contribution to the uplift of the society at the concluding function of the VII Assam Sports and Cultural Festival (ASCF). The function was held at the Kumar Bhaskar Natya Mandir here this evening.
The awardees include the producer of Prag News (mass communication), Arup Chakravarty (veteran actor), Makhan Doley (social service), Molaya Goswami (actress), producer-director of Din-Pratidin Jayanta Baruah, DDK (best media organiser), The Telegraph (best newspaper institute), Dilip Sarma (lifetime achievement in music), Badal Das (veteran comedian), Cotton Collegiate H.S. School, TCHS & MP School (best educational institutes), Sobha Brahma (lifetime achievement in arts), J.P. Das (best musician), Jayanta Bhagawati (best comedian) and Toufique Rahman (best actor).
The other awardees include Ramen Das (best swimming organiser), Pranoy Bordoloi (adventure journalism), Kalika Prasad Dutta (lifetime achievement in sports), Bikash Baruah (best sports organiser), Indira P.P. Bora (lifetime achievement in classical dance), Bipul Das (classical dance), Jagannath Das (social service), Kanyadan (best Assamese feature film), Bidesat Apun Manuh (best Assamese TV serial, DDK, Guwahati), Bedanta Kumar Sarma (best Assamese newsreader), Bordoisila Theatre (best Assamese mobile theatre group) and Premodhar Sarma (lifetime achievement in journalism). The organisers also felicitated Mahendranath Bhattacharjee, Bhrigumohan Goswami (literature), Monoranjan Banerjee (veteran sportsman), P.G. Baruah (journalism) and Manima Chowdhury (social service).
However, the latter three could not be present due to some personal problems.
Announcing the award for The Telegraph in the “best newspaper institute” category, Kailash Sarma, former chairman of the ASCF and sportsman of international repute, said the newspaper was selected for the award for its “yeoman and path-breaking service” to the region by coming out with a Northeast edition which has been “consistent and balanced” in its coverage of all states of the region, “though its roots are in Calcutta”. The prizes were given away by president of Assam Sports Association Jugal Kumar Saikia. He is also the chairman of the organising body of the festival. The chief patron and Assam sports minister Robin Bordoloi could not make it to the award presentation ceremony due to “unavoidable circumstances”. Former international umpire Suren Ram Phukan was the special invitee.
Phukan said that the contribution of Lauhapurush Premoda Kanta Sarma, in whose name the award is instituted, would remain unparalleled. A multi-faceted genius who excelled in sports and theatre was born in 1914 at Sualkuchi. Sharma has been honoured with numerous awards and titles in his 81 years of “glorious” existence. His feats also find mention in the autobiographies of Lakhyadhar Chou-dhury and Bhupen Hazarika.
