GUWAHATI, Nov 30: Veteran actor Nipon Goswami today urged the young generation to imbibe a strong work culture with dedication and perseverance and strive for excellence in their chosen fields.
Goswami, who was addressing the prize distribution ceremony-cum-inauguration of exhibition of the Singhapurush RG Baruah Memorial All Assam Drawing Competition, 2018, at the Assam Tribune Sports Club complex, added that at the same time, one needed to be responsible citizens and contribute to society and nation building.
Goswami, one of the most popular actors of the State who has worked in around a hundred films in different languages, went down memory lane as he narrated his artistic journey beginning with a child�s role in the film Piyoli Phukan in 1957.
Recalling his association with The Assam Tribune which he termed a steadfast opinion moulder in the region, he said it was after seeing an advertisement in the newspaper that he joined the famed Pune-based Film and Television Institute of India, something that marked a turning point in his life.
�There is never an end to learning� I�m still trying to improve as an actor and keep going as long as I can,� said Goswami, who was the guest of honour in the event.
The art exhibition will remain open from 12.30 pm to 6 pm daily till December 2.
Earlier, delivering his speech as an appointed speaker, Dr Ankuran Dutta, head of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Gauhati University, stressed the need for keeping alive childhood innocence and spontaneity among children in an age where technology is increasingly invading the personal space of everyone.
�The joys and innocence of childhood should not be allowed to be lost in a technology-driven environment, as also in the rat race for success. We should let children enjoy life in its simplicity and spontaneity. The growing cell-phone addiction among young children is a cause of serious concern with disturbing and long-term implications for society as a whole,� he said.
Referring to �Loralir Khel� (childhood games), one of the two themes of the drawing contest � the other being �Manav Sewa� (service to mankind) � Dr Dutta said many traditional children�s sports and games that were also intrinsically linked to an idyllic rural life were vanishing rapidly and there was a need for keeping those alive.
Dr Dutta, who has been a campaigner against medical negligence, said that while the profession of doctors represents a most important form of service to mankind, it is disturbing that driven by the motive of maximising profit, a section of doctors is straying from the avowed objective of the profession. �This needs to be resisted by society,� he said.
Veteran artist and film personality Pulak Gogoi, who inaugurated the exhibition, recalled his long association with The Assam Tribune and said the newspaper played a big role in making him what he is today.
�It all began in 1953 when I participated in a children�s art contest organised by The Assam Tribune and won the first prize. It was the turning point and later I also worked in the newspaper establishment as probably Assam�s first cartoonist,� he said in a voice choked with emotion. He also paid glowing tributes to RG Baruah, the architect of modern Assam.
Veteran journalist DN Chakravartty and newspaper distributor and social worker Mukut Ch Bhuyan were felicitated at the function presided over by Munin Bayan, Executive Editor of Dainik Asam.
Stating that RG Baruah was undoubtedly among the 10 greatest Assamese of the 20th century, Chakravartty once again emphasised that the Govt of India should confer the Padma Bhushan on the Singhapurush for his illustrious contributions and the people of Assam should put in a determined effort to make it a reality.
Tribune Group Managing Director PG Baruah and Director Babita Rajkhowa, who were also present at the event, distributed prizes to a number of winners. The other prizes were given away by the invited dignitaries.
The three judges of the competition, Champak Barbara,
Debashish Bezbaruah and Ankur Deka were also felicitated.
Barbara, in his speech, lauded the participants for the high quality of their drawings and said it was a tough task for the judges to select the best 20 drawings from among thousands in the two categories.
The winners were each given a trophy, certificate, plaque and a memento each besides cash prizes of Rs 15,000 (first), Rs 10,000 (second), Rs 7,000 (third) and Rs 1,000 (fourth to tenth). Their drawings will also be published in The Assam Tribune and Dainik Asam in a phased manner.
Hiranya Kumar Barman gave the welcome address on behalf of the organisers. Assam Tribune Sports Club general secretary Bhaskar Das offered the vote of thanks.
