Assam government has decided to confer the prestigious Republic Day Journalism Award 2018 to senior journalist and former President of Asom Sahitya Sabha, and Chief Editor of Assamese daily ‘Dainik Agradoot’ Kanak Sen Deka for his life-long and immense contribution to the field of journalism.
Deka, who will be the second recipient of the Award, will be honoured at the State-level function of the Republic Day on January 26 at the Khanapara Veterinary College playground in Guwahati. Assam Governor Prof Jagadish Mukhi and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will present the Award to Deka.
Kanak Sen Deka will be honoured with an amount of Rs 1 lakh, a citation, a memento, a sorai and an angabastra.
It may be noted that the ‘Republic Day Journalism Award’ has been instituted under the Information and Public Relations Department to honour persons of eminence in the field of Journalism. The Award aimed at honouring the excellence in the field of Journalism, has been conferred at the State Level function of the Republic Day, i.e. January 26 every year in Assam. Eminent journalist and Editor of ‘Dainik Asom’ Late Radhika Mohan Bhagawati was the first recipient of this prestigious Award.
Born on July 16, 1933 at Belsor in Nalbari district, Kanak Sen Deka has been serving as the Editor of Agradoot Group of Newspapers since 1971.
He has authored ‘Natun Puruse Juktir Adharat Natun Samaj Garhak’, ‘Youth in Turmoil: Assam’, ‘Amar Yuba Samaj Biswa Bijay Kariboloi Olai Ahak’, ‘Suryya Pubot Nuthe’ , etc.
Deka was elected President of Asom Sahitya Sabhain 2005 and was re-elected for the second term in 2007.
During his tenure, Sanmilit Sahitya Sabha Mancha was formed with 34 literary organizations of the State and all ethnic literary organizations were brought under one umbrella with the motto of ‘live and let live’.
He was the recipient of prestigious ‘National Citizenship Award- 1993’. Besides this, he was also conferred ‘Dr Ram MonoharLohia National Award’ for outstanding contribution in the field of journalism.
Deka was also awarded the highest honour of the State, ‘Srimanta Sankardev Award’ in 2016.