Nava Thakuria
The controversy erupting after a social media post from a television journalist, associated with Gauhati Press Club (formerly Guwahati Press Club) brought many questions for the media body, which invited a minister in Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s cabinet for a cultural program, scheduled for 15 March in the city, but ended in receiving derogatory comments from him.
According to the particular post the State health & family welfare minister Ashok Singhal made disrespected comments in front of a delegation from GPC, while extending the invitation. The delegation went to Singhal’s residence and during the brief interaction, he questioned the necessity of a press club to organise a Bhaona.
The minister also allegedly termed the native traditional performing art-form as not secular. The issue suddenly went viral as many individuals, outfits, media outlets and opposition political leaders started making a hue & cry and demanded an apology from the minister. Some even termed Singhal as a ‘non-Assamese’ with no idea about the religious performing art form (Ankiya Bhaona), which was developed by the sixteenth century Vaishnavite saint, scholar and philosopher Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev and his prime disciple Madhavdev to enact plays primarily with mythological characters.
However, CM Sarma opined that he did not believe Singhal could make such an immature comment. It was followed by a formal clarification from Singhal denying the allegation that he made such derogatory remarks regarding the Bhaona. Singhal stated that it was completely ‘false and fabricated’ after acknowledging that a group of scribes visited him to invite for the cultural program. Even though he tendered an apology citing the reason that the issue might have hurt the sentiment of many people in Assam. But he did not admit any derogatory remark on Bhaona and simply stated that he did not want any unnecessary debate over the matter.
The issue was almost resolved after the minister’s apology (though it was half-hearted), but soon the GPC made a puzzling statement that the meeting with the minister was not prescheduled. A statement from its president Susmita Goswami and general secretary Sanjay Rai claimed that they came to know about the meeting with Singhal from social media only. But initially the GPC stood firmly with the outspoken television journalist, who leaked an indoor conversation unethically and with no substance.
The social media users soon started questioning why the particular minister was invited even though he is not in charge of information & public relations or cultural ministry? Moreover, why did the GPC delegation approach the concerned minister at his residence in the evening hours (but not in the Secretariat)? More precisely, why would a minister make derogatory comments just to receive an invitation for any event? Was there any instigation and it was none other than a demand for some hefty donations from the minister, but somehow it did not materialise? Why will the GPC committee not apologise to the media fraternity for the mess as the play was already supported by the North East Zone Cultural Centre under the Union Ministry of Culture, New Delhi?
One can remember, even five years back the media club used to organise regular health camps for the benefit of journalist-families, interactive sessions with foreign media persons, classic movie shows and other programs to enlighten the member-journalists. City-based journalists of all ages used to come to the press club for rational needs. But it has slowly gone down to a club of only some people, who have no vision, quality and commitment. The current committee claimed that the GPC has nearly one thousand members, but many senior scribes had publicly stated that they are not associated with it.
They were either denied membership (reasons best known to the committee only) or compelled to take such a decision after observing many irrational activities of the GPC policymakers. The club, which celebrated the golden jubilee year in 2022, is yet to conclude the celebration with a closing function. Many conscious citizens have already demanded to relocate the press club as it continues to run the office from Ambari archaeological site. The ruins of Ambari reflect the period of Sunga-Kushana dynasty and it needs proper preservation for research activities. Should it not materialise soon?
