‘Roopkar Awards’ presented to Utpal Datta and Sanjiv Hazorika

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 9, 2025

The prestigious Roopkar Awards, instituted in memory of renowned cine-journalist and litterateur Pabitra Kumar Deka, were presented to eminent writer-film critic Utpal Datta and noted actor-filmmaker Sanjiv Hazorika for the years 2023 and 2024, respectively.

The awards ceremony, held on January 5 at the Pabitra Kumar Deka Archive, was an intimate and low-key event.

Established in 2011 in honour of Pabitra Kumar Deka, the Roopkar Awards are conferred biennially. This year, the awards were presented by the state’s eminent fine arts artist Chandan Chutia.

Reflecting on his association with Deka, Utpal Datta, upon receiving the award, shared, “Despite being surrounded by many accomplished writers, Pabitra Kumar Deka always encouraged fresh writers like us to contribute to the ‘Roopkar’ magazine. ‘Roopkar’ was more than just a magazine; it was a school where we learned about cultural journalism.”

Award-winning filmmaker Sanjiv Hazorika, while accepting the honour, fondly recalled how Deka had inspired him to write for ‘Roopkar.’

The ceremony was hosted by cinejournalist Bidyut Kumar Bhuyan. Dilip Chandan, editor of Asam Bani and a prominent writer, shared how his journey as a cinejournalist began after meeting Pabitra Kumar Deka during his student days. Chandan also reminisced about his first novel, Majulit Atiya Gadhuli, which was published in Roopkar.

Mime artiste Moinul Haque added a humorous touch to the occasion, recalling his interactions with Deka and the late actor Jayanta Das, while noted film critic Nayan Prasad spoke about how he began writing under Deka’s guidance. Journalist Mrinal Kumar Bora highlighted the confidence he gained from Deka to approach prominent personalities.

The event was a blend of nostalgia and celebration, with attendees sharing anecdotes about Deka’s influence on their careers and cultural pursuits.

The intimate gathering included notable personalities such as Rana Deka, Nayan Prasad, Moinul Haque, Hemanta Kumar Das, Namrata Dutta, Dilip Chandan, Mrinal Kumar Bora, Montu Saikia, Amardeep Gogoi, Hemanta Debnath, Jitumoni Bora, Rosy Bora, Dhanjit Das, Hemchandra Pathak, among others.