Website Design: The Guwahati
A recent controversy erupted following a social media post by a television journalist associated with the Gauhati Press Club (formerly Guwahati Press Club) in northeast India. This incident has raised many questions about the media body, which had invited a minister from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s cabinet for a cultural program but shockingly faced derogatory comments. The particular post was generated by a journalist working for a satellite news channel owned by the CM’s family, and his outburst—that the State Health & Family Welfare Minister, Ashok Singhal, disrespected a delegation from GPC—was taken seriously.
According to the journalist, the GPC delegation went to invite Singhal for a forthcoming Bhaona performance in the city. During the brief interaction, the minister allegedly questioned the necessity of a press club organizing a Bhaona. Moreover, the minister reportedly termed the native traditional performing art form as not being secular in nature. The issue suddenly went viral as many individuals, organizations, media outlets, and opposition political leaders started raising their voices, demanding an apology from the minister. Some even labeled Singhal as a ‘non-Assamese’ who had no understanding of the religious performing art form (Ankiya Bhaona), developed by the sixteenth-century Vaishnavite saint, scholar, and philosopher Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev and his prime disciple Madhavdev to enact plays primarily with mythological characters.
However, CM Sarma opined that he did not believe Singhal could make such an immature comment. This was followed by a formal clarification from Singhal, denying the allegation that he made derogatory remarks regarding the Bhaona. Later, in a social media post, Singhal stated that the claim was completely ‘false and fabricated.’ He acknowledged that a group of scribes had visited him to invite him to the cultural program but alleged that a fictitious story was generated by a particular journalist. Singhal tendered an apology, citing that he did not want any unnecessary debate over the matter. However, he maintained his stance that he never made any derogatory remarks about Bhaona.
The issue should have been resolved after the minister’s apology, and the GPC was seemingly satisfied with the development, albeit half-heartedly. However, the city press club later made a puzzling statement that the meeting with the minister was not pre-scheduled. A statement in Assamese, endorsed by GPC President Susmita Goswami and General Secretary Sanjay Rai, claimed that they learned about the meeting with Singhal only through social media.
Social media users questioned why the particular minister was invited, given that he is not in charge of the Information & Public Relations (IPR) or Cultural Ministry. Additionally, why did the GPC delegation approach the minister at his residence in the evening hours instead of meeting him at the Secretariat? More precisely, why would a minister make derogatory comments just after receiving an invitation for an event? Was there any instigation involved, or was it a demand for hefty donations from the minister that somehow did not materialize ?
The media club, currently operating from the Ambari archaeological site, claims to have nearly one thousand members. However, many city-based scribes have publicly stated that they are not associated with the GPC. The club, which celebrated its golden jubilee in 2022, has yet to organize its closing function. Many concerned citizens are now demanding the relocation of the press club to preserve the rich archaeological site for research purposes. The archaeology department asserts that the ruins of Ambari reflect the period of the Sunga-Kushana dynasty. Therefore, the Ambari site, which attracts daily visitors from different parts of India, needs to be made encroachment-free, without any sympathy for illegal occupiers, including the press club.
