The second wave of the Covid-19 Pandemic in 2021 had snatched away veteran journalist and long-time Delhi correspondent of The Assam Tribune in New Delhi, Kalyan Barooah, along with his wife Nilakshi Bhattacharyya, also a journalist with The Times of India.
During a memorial meeting held on May 1, 2022, organised by North East Media Forum (NEMF) in association with Press Club Of India, Mr Sunil Deodhar, founder of social organisation My Home India (MHI), had announced that My Home India would initiate journalism awards in memory of late Barooah to immortalize his immense contribution towards bringing issues of North East India into focus in the national media.
My Home India, in collaboration with North East Media Forum, will present the 1st “Kalyan Barooah Award” on December 11, 2023, at the Constitution Club in New Delhi.
The jury committee comprising veteran journalists Ashish Gupta (Asomiya Pratidin), CK Nayak (Reuters & The Shillong Times) and Utpal Borpujari (journalist turned filmmaker), has selected five media personalities for their outstanding performance on the field of journalism.
The winners selected by the Jury are:
In Print Media category: Ranju Dodum (Arunachal), freelance.
In Electronic Media category: Partha Jyoti Borah (Assam), Associate Editor, News18 Assam
Photography category: Gitika Talukdar (Assam), Freelance
Videography Category: Binod Tamang (Sikkim) NE Live
The Lifetime achievement award: Mr. Deepak Dewan, New Delhi.
Announcing the awards, Sanjib Kr Baruah, President, NEMF, and Pranjal Pratim Das, General Secretary, NEMF, said: “It gives the North East Media Forum immense satisfaction that one of our leading members, who is no longer with us, the late Kalyan Barooah is being honoured by instituting media awards in his name. We are thankful to My Home India for that. We hope this cooperation among us for such good causes continue uninterrupted in the times to come”.
Announcing the awards, My Home India President Baldev Raj Sachdeva said: “My Home India is happy to announce the Kalyan Barooah Awards. Kalyan Barooah was a true pioneer of journalism. He always fought for right and rights. This would surely inspire young journalists. Like My Home India, Kalyan Barooah always stood for North East and we are happy to pay tribute to him.”