http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=54240&typeid=1
An era of journalism comes to an end with S Gopal Sharma’s demise The Imphal Free Press Imphal, Aug 9: The editor of the popular vernacular daily ‘Poknapham’ Shamurailatpam Gopal Sharma of Thangmeiband Lourung Purel Leikai in Imphal who was also the founder president of the All Manipur Working Journalists Union passed away early this morning at around 2.30 am at the Shija Hospital after illness. He was 63. All editors and working journalists of the state observed two minutes silence at the Manipur Press Club in Imphal for the departed soul. The body of the senior journalist was carried in a procession from his home up to the Maniput Press Club at Major Khul this morning around 8.30 am where all working journalists and editors of various local dailies along with state YAS Minister N Biren, former editor of local daily ‘Naharolgi Thoudang’, state Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution minister, Y Erabot and MLA Bijoy Koijam paid homage and floral tributes to the senior editor. Later, a funeral rally was taken out through the main streets of Imphal town from Manipur Press Club up to his local crematorium ground at Khuyathong where his body was consigned to flames as per custom. An emergency meeting of the AMWJU was convened this morning at the press club and it was decided to leave the editorial column of all local newspapers published in the state blank for a day on August 10. It may be mentioned that Shamurailatpam Gopal Sharma was editor cum proprietor of ‘Poknapham’. He was born on July 23, 1947 at Thangmeiband Lourung Purel Liekai and completed his graduation from the Guwahati University. He joined the Paojel daily in the year 1970 as reporter and was promoted to joint editor and worked there in the same capacity up to 1980, while Naorem Birendrakumar Singh edited the paper. Later, he became editor of ‘Poknapham’ daily on February 1, 1980, and was member of Indian Newspaper Society (INS) and founder member and Treasurer of AMWJU. Gopal Sharma was the recipient of the Best Editor Award from the Rotary Club of Imphal in the year 1997. As the editor of ‘Poknapham’ he was responsible for many innovations including popular columns in his paper like humor, cartoon, comic strip, arts and culture, sports, economic and development, film and theatre reviews, literature, health and medical, children’s column, science and technology, photo feature and matrimonial column. During his lifetime, he organised reception and felicitation of Manipuri sportspersons who participated in the Beijing Asian Games, 1990. He also published Manipuri books which are out of print written by pioneer Manipuri writers and poets, collected volumes of Dr. Lamabam Kamal (Madhabi, Lei Pareng and Devajani) and Manipuri books by Manipuri scholars, well known poets and young writers. Altogether 17 books have been published till date. Gopal Sharma is survived by his wife G Shanti, two sons and two daughters. In the meantime, the state chief minister O Ibobi Singh along with other political leaders and various civil society organisations of the state extended condolences on the sudden demise of Gopal Sharma. The chief minister in his official condolence message sent to the local media in connection with the sudden demise expressed his heartfelt sorrow over the death. The official statement of the chief minister praised the selfless contributions that were delivered by Gopal Sharma by providing information and news to the common people of the state. He also shared the sorrow of the deceased family. Condolence messages were also sent by the Manipur State Council, Communist Party of India, Manipur People’s Party (MPP), United Committee Manipur (UCM) and AMADA. ------------------------------------ -- INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Get all ZESTMedia mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. 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