Kohima Press Club (KPC) members during the 18th Foundation Day at the NSF Conference Hall, Kohima on January 20. (Photo Courtesy: KPC)
Kohima, January 20 (MExN): Kohima Press Club (KPC), the oldest Press Club in Nagaland, observed its 18th Foundation Day on January 20 at the NSF Conference Hall in the state capital.
Delivering the presidential address, KPC acting president Atul Sarma shared in brief the history of the club. Sarma, who is also a founding member of the KPC, recalled how journalists struggled during the 1990s, stated a press release from Kohima Press Club General Secretary Alice Yhoshü.
He said it was during this period that a few likeminded journalists came together to form an organisation to oversee the welfare of those who worked in the profession.
The KPC officially came into being in 2001 with an objective to promote both organizational and professional respect as well as to protect the interest of the press fraternity of the state capital.
He expressed pride to still be a part of the club which had grown into a big family along with ‘brotherly organisations’ like Dimapur Press Club and Mokokchung Press Club who are strengthening the press fraternity of the state, encouraging the younger generation to come into this noble profession to serve the people with valour.
He called upon the members of the fraternity to continue to strive towards doing good for the people.
Sarma also paid tribute to the pioneering members of the club and all the former presidents for their efforts and farsightedness in steering the organisation to where it stood today.
During the programme, KPC advisor Kopelo Krome, former president H Chishi and senior members Oken Jeet Sandham, Narain B. Sagar and Vincent Belho delivered brief speeches and shared their concerns for the welfare of the club.
They spoke about the importance of being united and also encouraged the members, particularly the younger journalists, that to become somebody, they sometimes need to take risks and turn up the tempo in their reporting.
Earlier, KPC member Rana Chetri prayed for the gathering while KPC general secretary Alice Yhoshü delivered the annual report for 2018 and highlighted the forthcoming activities of the club. The programme was chaired by KPC member, Emilo K Konyak.
Altogether, 31 members and well wishers of the club attended the programme. The gathering observed a minute of silence in remembrance of the club members who have passed away, including Xavier Rutsa, who passed away on June 11, 2018 while serving as the president of the club.
Meanwhile, the KPC extends gratitude to the Naga Students’ Federation for letting the Press Club use its conference hall to conduct the foundation day programme.
