GUWAHATI: The University of Science & Technology Meghalaya (USTM) on Thursday honoured media personalities from the region recognising their contribution in the field of News Media giving legitimacy to people’s voice and augmenting the role of media as the “Fourth Estate”. The Awards were conferred today on the occasion of USTM PR Day-2018 held in a glorious function presided over by Prof Nirmal Kumar Chaudhury, former Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University while the Chief Guest of the event was former Meghalaya Governor Shri R S Mooshahary. A galaxy of media persons and dignitaries from the region, including Mr PJ Baruah, Executive Editor, The Assam Tribune and Dr PK Goswami, Vice Chancellor, USTM has graced the occasion.
This year’s USTM Media Excellence Award went to four media stalwarts of the region:
MZarir Hussain, Chief Managing Editor, News Live Television; Dileep Chandan, Editor, Asom Bani; Samudra Gupta Kashyap, veteran journalist & author and Ms Maini Mahanta, Editor, Nandini. The USTM Media Achiever Award-2018 went to eight senior journalists from the region. They are: Sujit Chakraborty, Special Correspondent, IANS, Tripura; Satyanarayan Misra, Staff Reporter, Dainik Purvoday; Imtiaz Ahmed, Senior Reporter, The Telegraph, Guwahati; Ms Monmoromi Mahanta, Journalist, Prag Channel; Mridul Haloi, Sub Editor, Dainik Janambhumi; Aafaque Hussain, Staff Reporter, The Shillong Times; Ms Tinakali Sumi, Senior Sub Editor, Nagaland Post and Ms Evanjoplin Dkhar, Senior Reporter, Meghalaya Guardian, Shillong. The awards were handed over to the recipients by the eminent dignitaries.
Delivering his keynote address on “Role of Universities in Outreach Activities”, Padma Shri Manas Chaudhuri, Managing Director, The Shillong Times, said that universities have immense responsibility in shaping the future of a generation by community engagement, public service and knowledge exchange, apart from its main areas of teaching and research.
Another keynote speaker on the occasion was, Shri Prasanta Rajguru, Editor, Amar Asom. Delivering a lecture on “Role of Universities in Socio-Political Awareness”, Rajguru said that educational institutions are temple of knowledge and universities being the highest level of educational institution, have a great deal of responsibility in creating social and political awareness among the people.
Addressing the gathering, RS Mooshahary, former Governor of Meghalaya said that there are very few private universities that have seen such level of growth within few years of their establishment as USTM has experienced. Delivering the media awards, Mooshahary said that media too has its social responsibilities and it can play a positive or negative role in the society. He urged all media persons to contribute positively to the society and the country as a whole.
Mahbubul Hoque, the Chancellor of USTM, stated that it has been a challenging journey for USTM which began with only six students in 2011 and now the University takes pride to have more than 5,000 students. The University has adopted a holistic approach for social development, besides its consistent mission towards development of individuals and the society in the field of education. The University’s outreach programmes and activities are gradually being expanded to reach those areas and people requiring support and assistance. “We are placing the University Progress Report in front of media and other dignitaries in this USTM PR Day”, he said.