By Nava Thakuria*
Guwahati: In a democratic society, any citizen who expresses views constructively through various means, especially popular digital platforms, can be regarded as a journalist. This designation applies irrespective of their main occupation and does not necessitate a connection to a media organization; however, it diverges from the definition of a ‘working’ or professional journalist.
The Journalists’ Forum Assam (JFA), a group of media professionals from northeast India, argues that recent debates triggered by the arrest of a local journalist highlight how certain motivated individuals have sought to confuse the public by merging the identity of a ‘working’ journalist with that of someone involved in journalistic activities while primarily serving as a lawyer.
The person in question, Dilawar Hussain, was arrested and then re-arrested recently by the Assam government, after he reported corruption allegations against a co-operative bank managed by the ruling party bigwigs. In New Delhi, the Delhi Union of Journalists also condemned his arrest and rearrest and congratulated Guwahati journalists who organised a protest against a “vindictive” government.
Notably, many people took to the streets, convinced that this individual was a full-time journalist with no links to a legally recognized profession, yet the key figure leading the movement has remained silent about the true identity of the journalist in question.
Despite repeated inquiries from State Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma and Information and Public Relations Minister Pijush Hazarika, the Gauhati Press Club remains unresponsive to the situation. The press club’s leadership needs to clarify whether its constitution permits a practicing lawyer to hold general membership, which could lead to a position on the executive committee, while simultaneously restricting freelance journalists who have dedicated decades to the field of journalism, as stated by the JFA.
The Journalists’ Forum Assam further urged both Chief Minister Sarma and Minister Hazarika to specifically use the terms ‘working,’ ‘practicing,’ or ‘professional journalist’ when referring to individuals whose sole profession is journalism, regardless of their employment status with recognized media outlets, to prevent unnecessary misunderstandings.
Additionally, rather than continuing to criticize the Gauhati Press Club, the government should address a significant concern for its member-journalists by providing them with a designated plot of land for a permanent location of the Club within the city, with necessary funding also being allocated.
JFA president Rupam Baruah emphasized that the Gauhati Press Club should be encouraged to vacate the Ambari archaeological site, which dates back to the Sunga-Kushana dynasty from 187 to 75 BCE, to ensure its proper preservation and facilitate further research.
*Senior journalist and secretary, Journalists’ Forum Assam
