Guwahati: Vishwa Samvad Kendra, Assam organizes the annual Devarshi Narad Jayanti program at Sudarshanalaya in the Barbari area of the city on 1 June (starting 3:30 pm sharp) to commemorate the birth anniversary of the world’s first journalist with a series of intriguing programs, where prominent Assamese children’s writer and editor of Shantanu Tamuli will be presented the Devarshi Narad Jayanti Award-2025. Three city-based working journalists, namely Himanshu Pathak (Asomiya Khabar), Diganta Saharia (Prag News) and Khanin Deka (Niyomiya Barta) will also be felicitated on the occasion. Nationally acclaimed journalist, a progressive thinker and political commentator Harshvardhan Tripathi will be present in the function as keynote speaker.
Devarshi Narad, a celestial sage and divine messenger for Devatas, Asuras and for human beings on Earth, is worshipped by the Hindus for his wisdom. Manasaputra of the Lord Brahma, Devarshi Narad was a revered devotee of Lord Vishnu and his famous quotes are popular as ‘Narayan Narayan’ in Assamese literature since time immemorial. Blessed with immortality, Narad gets mentions in Ramayana, Mahabharata and also in Puranas indicating him as an institution and not an individual. The celestial journalist is usually adored on Pratipada Tithi of Krishna Paksha in the month of Jyeshtha (Jeth). The Narad Jayanti award carries a citation, cash prize, and a collection of books, said VSK Assam secretary Kishor Shivam.
Addressing last year’s program, DD News’ senior editor Ashok Srivastav commented that the first and foremost principle of journalism should be an uncompromised commitment to serve and protect the interest of the motherland. Along with the media persons, every citizen should come forward to play their roles with utmost responsibilities for the nation, where the journalists should support the people to fight against fake narratives. He also criticized the anti-Indian elements, promoted by some foreign media outlets, who described the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 as anti-Muslims for their selfish political interest and wanted to burn the country in the name of democratic protests.
