Imphal: The 47th Foundation Day of the Manipur Press Club was celebrated at its complex in Major Khul, here, on Friday. The event was organised by the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU).
Dr Thangjam Dhabali, Chairman and Managing Director of Babina Group of Industry, was the function’s chief guest; Wangkhemcha Shamjai, President of AMWJU; Khogndra Khongdram, President, Editors’ Guild Manipur; and Ningombam Ibochouba were guests of honor.
While acknowledging the importance of the media as the fourth pillar of a democratic polity, Dr Dhabali expressed his desire to see it involved in spreading awareness in three areas, namely instilling the importance and value of time, keeping the environment clean, and adhering to traffic rules. This, he felt, will sow the seeds of a disciplined society, and as a result, will bring development and progress.
In his presidential speech, Wangchemcha Shamjai emphasised the importance of understanding the history of how journalists organised themselves against all odds, fighting divisive forces to eventually emerge as AMWJU, the state’s credible journalists’ body.
He urged the younger generation to remember the sacrifices made by previous generations of journalists in order to leave behind the legacy we enjoy today.
Earlier, former President of AMWJU, N Tombiraj, took the younger generation of journalists down the path of how the press club came into being, the contributions of the founding members of AMWJU and individuals from various walks of life to bring it to what it is today.
As part of the celebration, former presidents, general secretaries of AMWJU, and press club secretaries were honoured with tokens of love as a mark of appreciation rendered to the union.
