VSK Assam Announces Devarshi Narad Jayanti Award 2026 for Journalist
Guwahati: Vishwa Samvad Kendra (VSK), Assam, has organized its annual Devarshi Narad Jayanti Lecture on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at Sudarshanalay in the Barbari locality of Guwahati. The programme will commence at 10:30 a.m.
Nationally acclaimed news presenter and Senior Advisor with the News Division of Delhi Doordarshan, Prakhar Shrivastava, will deliver the keynote lecture highlighting the life and contributions of Devarshi Narad, regarded as the world’s first media professional.
On the occasion, senior journalist and Editor of Ishan Darpan, Nava Thakuria, will be conferred the Devarshi Narad Jayanti Award 2026. Three working journalists—Lakhyajit Gohain of NKTV, Ranjita Rabha of Pratham Khabar, and Mridul Haloi of Dainik Asom—will also be felicitated for their contributions to journalism.
“Media plays a vital role in keeping society informed during adverse situations. At times, it also performs the important responsibility of questioning wrongdoing by authorities and safeguarding public welfare in a democracy. Narad Mahaprabhu similarly played a significant role in keeping society aware and vigilant. Inspired by that philosophy, VSK Assam has been observing this annual festival,” said Kishor Shivam, Secretary of VSK Assam.
He added that several distinguished media personalities from the region, including Dhirendra Nath Chakrabarty, Dhirendra Nath Bezbaruah, Kanak Sen Deka, Mahendra Barua, Shashi Phukan, Anil Baruah, Gautam Sarma, Rupam Baruah, Prashant Jyoti Baruah, and Shantanu Tamuli, have previously received the Narad Jayanti Award.
This year’s awardee, Nava Thakuria, began his journalism career in 1990 with the Assamese daily Natun Dainik before moving into English-language journalism. His articles are regularly published in Ishan Darpan, The Statesman, TerraGreen, Indian Printer & Publisher, Scribes News, and several news portals. He is also a frequent participant in television discussions on contemporary issues.
Thakuria’s journalistic work primarily focuses on socio-political, cultural, and environmental developments in Northeast India, as well as in neighbouring regions including Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet/China, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. He has also closely examined the transformation of mainstream journalism in the era of alternative and digital media.
An alumnus of Assam Engineering College, Thakuria has received several fellowships and awards during his career. In 2021, he became one of the first Indian journalists to receive global recognition from the Geneva-based media rights organization Press Emblem Campaign (PEC).
