IMPHAL, Oct 11 MNS NNN: RK Maipaksana was remembered today on his 88th birth anniversary at a glittering function held at Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal organized by RK Maipaksana Memorial Trust and the RK Maipaksana Journalist Fellowship Award, 2012 was conferred to Retd Colonel H Sharat, columnist, Naharolgee Thoudang.
The occasion was graced by Prof H Nandakumar, Vice Chancellor, Manipur University, Prof Gangmumei Kamei as chief guest and president respectively. Nitin Gokhale, editor of security and strategic affairs, NDTV, New Delhi also took part it.
Addressing the function, Manipur University Vice Chancellor Prof Nandakumar hailed RK Maipaksana as political genius and forerunner of political thoughts instilled on the people of Manipur by being an illustrious journalist. He said Maipaksana, who raised political issue in the state during the transitional period of modernity, played a major role in the movement of journalism in Manipur by working as the first publicity officer, editor and correspondent and also working with the news section of All India Radio, Imphal.
He further lauded that Maipaksana was a true journalist who had written news in the face of bad situation that prevailed during his time in the state. The late journalist worked as editor of local vernacular daily Prajatantra, Janmabhumi and as correspondent of Shillong Times and Hindustan Standard.
Expressing his strong desire to mark the anniversary in a much bigger way next year, Prof Nandakumar suggested to all the working journalists in Manipur to tag on the paradigm of Maipaksana.
On the occasion, Nitin Gokhale, editor, security and strategic affairs of NDTV delivered a speech on the topic ‘Stabilise Manipur before Looking East.’
He said if Look East Policy is to make successful, the first and foremost thing is to stabilize the Northeast which is the transit route to the Southeast Asia. Gokhale suggested that proper establishment of small scale industries is entailed in order to bring stability in NE and for this, skillful human resource is needed.
Basic infrastructures like roadways, information technologies, schools, health, agriculture and its processing centres will have to be developed by the Government in the region which is a bridge to South East Asia, the journalist suggested.
He also struck a chord that India should first make the NE a flouring region before thinking of developing Myanmar. Gokale also said looking on its location Manipur could become an ideal hub for exporting finished goods to other Southeast Asian countries through Myamnar.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/maipaksana-journalist-fellowship/
