Hon’ble Governor starts IJA’s Centenary Celebrations
IJA President, Mr. S. Sabanayakan, presenting a commemorative plaque to Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal, Dr. C. V. Ananda Bose, during the function to start IJA Centenary Celebrations.
IJA General Secretary, Mr. Sekhar Sengupta, according a traditional welcome to Hon’ble Governor.
IJA Secretary, Mr. Debashis Das, presenting a memento to Hon’ble Governor on Sunday, March 26, 2023
Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal, Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose, on Sunday, March 26, 2023, began the Centenary Celebrations of the Indian Journalists’ Association (IJA) at its 99th AGM.
Hon’ble Governor, who consented to be the chief guest of the function in a very short notice, gave a lovely speech on media and on freedom of speech. In his nearly 10-minute address, Hon’ble Governor brought in anecdotes and stories to buttress his points of expression that caught the audience, most of them journalists from the city and districts of West Bengal, in rapt attention.
With this programme, the IJA’s 99th Annual General Meeting also got off to a start.
IJA’s President, Mr. S. Sabanayakan, General Secretary Mr. Sekhar Sengupta, Assistant Secretary, Mr. K.D. Parth received Hon’ble Governor as he arrived at the Press Club, Kolkata, the venue of the AGM.
Dr. Bose was ushered into the main hall where the stage was prepared for the function. As Hon’ble Governor took his seat, President, General Secretary, IJA guests Mr. Taranjit Singh, Mr. Jigor Ramesh Doshi, President and Secretary of Press Club took their seats on the dais.
IJA secretary Mr. Debashis Das, acting as the Master of Ceremony, took the half hour programme to its conclusion starting with the National Anthem and ending it with the National Anthem.
In between Mr. K D Parth presented a bouquet of flowers. Vice-President Shyamal Mukherjee presented Dr. Bose with a shawl. All the dignitaries seated on the stage were given a warm welcome with flower sticks.
Mr. Sabanayakan, IJA President, then delivered his welcome address in which he recalled the rich history of IJA and how it was the forerunner for all the Unions in India. He highlighted the issues concerning present journalists and how the Unions are being sidelined. He insisted that still the journalists’ unions have a lot of scope to work on core issues and the unions need to focus on them in the coming days.
Felicitation of the Hon’ble Governor continued. After the speech by the Press Club President, His Excellency highlighted the 100 years of existence to 100 years of vigilance as a journalist body and went on to speak about journalism and the importance of freedom of speech. The Hon’ble Governor ended his speech saying that the journalists are answerable only to People.
After General Secretary Mr. Sengupta delivered his Vote of Thanks, the function concluded with the National Anthem.
After a break, the 99th AGM began at the same venue. After completing the business as per the agenda the house elected a new team that will take over the Centenary Celebrations to its conclusion before the beginning of 100th AGM in March 2024.
