Guwahati: Veteran media personalities of Assam voiced concern over the threat to vernacular media industry in North East Book Fair on Wednesday.

Participating in a felicitation programme held by the fair's organising committee, Sashi Phukan, the editor and owner of Bismoi, said the future of Assamese vernacular magazines is under threat from social media and a changing trend in primary education medium.

Bismoi is the one and only popular Assamese monthly magazine which will complete 50 years in January.

"In my career as a publisher and editor of Bismoi which I started just after completing my graduation, I have seen drastic changes in the readers of Assam. Bismoi created a record in circulation. But now after introduction of social media in our society, number of readers has decreased drastically. Many people are sending their children to English-medium schools rather than the vernacular medium. So many new-generation Assamese are not able to read the language. It is a threat to vernacular Assamese magazine," Phukan said.

He urged the new-generation publishers to give mileage to the industry by innovative ways. "There were lots of challenges and obstacles that I faced in 50 years. But if there is a will, there is a way. I hope Bismoi will complete 100 years in the hands of new-generation readers."

Phukan started publication of Bismoi in January 1968 as an infotainment monthly magazine. He is also the publisher and editor of Assamese women's magazine Priyo Sakhi which has recently completed 17 years.

Pradip Barua, editor of Prantik, another successful vernacular magazine in Assam which has already completed 16 years, said: "At this book fair I have seen huge gatherings of new-generation people. Even writers from outside the state get very good response here. Unfortunately I have noticed that local young writers, who have penned very good articles in the past few years, are neglected. To maintain a good reading ambience, we have to encourage our writers."

On Wednesday, the Assam Publishers and Book Sellers Association, the organiser of 19th North East Book Fair also felicitated G.L. Agarwala, Chohanlal Ladia, Bijay Kumar Dutta and Karunakanta Adhikari for their lifelong contribution to the publishing industry of the state.