Khelen Thokchom Trust announces media fellow for 2022-23 on journalist Khelen’s birth anniversary

Imphal: Khelen Thokchom Trust (KTT) has announced its media fellow on the occasion of 62nd Birth Anniversary of journalist Khelen Thokchom observed at Manipur Press Club, here, on Friday.

Taorem Bishwajit Singh, sub-editor of Sanaleibak, a Manipuri daily published at Imphal, was declared as the media fellow for the year 2022-23.

The topic of the current year media fellowship is “Challenges in sustainable agriculture in Manipur’s limited paddy land resources”.

The media fellow has to report eight reports on the topic by six months beginning in November.

People from different walks of life attended the birth anniversary observation. Professor MC Arun of Anthropology department, Manipur University was among the invitees who talked on the contribution of Khelen in the society through his reporting. He said,” My friend Khelen, among few in the state, is different from others in news reporting and making news. He tried to picturesque the causes, impact, role of people and government in different issues like Manipur integration among others.”

Professor Arun said Khelen gave priority to the context rather than the event or issue by collecting information from all related angles in his news reports. Remembering him is important as concerned to news reporting as well as in pointing out the mistakes in the system and the society, he added.

Khelen passed away on April 1 during his tenure as a special correspondent to The Telegraph, a Kolkata publication. His birth anniversary falls on October 27. Due to Ningol Chakouba festival the anniversary was observed a day later.

The gathering led by Thokchom Memcha, founder of KTT; Irengbam Arun, editor Imphal Free Press and the trust’s advisor; Khogendra Khomdram, Sangai Express Manipuri edition editor; and W. Shamjai, president of All Manipur Working Journalists Union led the gathering in paying tribute to the portrait of Khelen Thokchom.

Bishwajit told Pothashang that he was happy to choose him as media fellow for the current year. “Encouraging the present reporters by providing fellowship in reporting on various subjects will help reporters to minutely provide a through researched report. Such encouragement is a must in the present scenario.

In the name of modernisation many paddy lands in the state have been turned to industrial sites and minimised the arable lands against the objective of producing agricultural products to sufficiency. Measures to stop such situations and to find a solution will be highlighted in the fellowship reports with views and suggestions of experts, farmers, people and officials, he added.

This was the fifth media fellowship sponsored by KTT. It carries a fellowship amount of Rs 50, 000.

Previous year’s media fellow Huidrom Ronibala Chanum, reporter of Naharolgi Thoudang, was felicitated with a shwal and a certificate on the occasion. She shared her experience in reporting under the fellowship programme stating that she has got a new experience and learned many on reporting. She thanked KTT for giving her the opportunity.

KTT was initiated as soon as Khelen passed away to follow his path in journalism and guide young journalists to a proper stream of reporting as the departed journalist dreamed of in shaping Manipur.