Dr.Sunil Kaul received Kaleybungratna Puraskar and Pramod Giri received Excellence Award in Journalism

Dr Kaul receiving Kaleybungratna Award from Geetartha Pathak, the Chief Guest

KalimNews, Kalimpong, 23 May 2014: The 6th Kaleybungratna Puraskar was conferred upon Dr. Sunil Kaul Chief senior research scientist of National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Japan during a ceremony organised jointly by Kalimpong Press Club and Eastern Himalayan Journalists Union in Ramkrishna Rangamanch, Kalimpong. Dr. Kaul, received the award in the field of academics for the year 2014. Along with him Pramod Giri, Principal Correspondent of Hindustan Times was awarded the Excellence award in Journalism.

On the occasion of the 16th Foundation day of the Club Dr. Kaul was honoured with the most prestigious citizen award of Kalimpong sponsored by Capt. P.M.Pradhan, Director of Rockvale Academy and BB Pradhan Institute of management.

Pramod Giri receiving the Excellence Award in Journalism from Dr. Lobsang Lama, Deouty Chairman of GTA

Dr. Kaul is the eldest son of Kashinath Kaul who has a book and stationaries shop in Kalimpong and was educated from SUMI and Kumudini Homes. He completed his graduate and post graduate education from Darjeeling Govt College in Zoology and did his M. Phil and Ph.D from Delhi University. He is Chairman of the Indian Scientists Association in Japan (ISAJ) and Adjunct Professor, Department of Bioengineering, Hanyang University, Seoul,Korea. Dr. Kaul is associated with several international universities, research institutes and scientific association of India, Japan and other countries. He had visited more than 10 countries and delivered talks in different symposiums and seminars.

Rajesh Sharma being felicitated by Dr Lama

His interest is in “Molecular mechanism of stress, aging and cancer” and has been actively involved in promoting the beneficial medicinal effects of Ashwagandha a herbal plant with medicinal value. He is invited throughout the world to speak on this subject. He has 30 patents in his credit and has published more than 175 research papers around the globe.

Dr Kaul is the first regular foreign staff scientist at the Agency of Industrial Science & Technology and presently visiting different Indian Universities including Sikkim University and acted as a resource person for Training Workshops held for students and young researchers in the field of biotechnology. Many young Indian research students are also working under his guidance and assistance. A martial artist Kaul is 2nd Dan Black belt in Tae – Kwon Do and Black belt in Karate and has been practicising Mixed martial arts though he is now 55.

Pramod Giri is President of Siliguri Jounalists Club elected for the second time and has been working as a journalist since 18 years. Giri has also worked for Sunchari Samachar, Himalay Darpan, Asian Age and now working in Hindustan Times as the principal correspondent based in Siliguri covering North Bengal, Sikkim and eastern Nepal and Bhutan.

The Chief Guest of the programme was Geetartha Pathak, Secretary of Indian Journalists Union and Guest of Honour Dr.Lobsang Lama, Deputy Chairman of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.

1st Prize winner Palsang Tshering Lama

Rajesh Sharma a senior reporter and member of the Club was also felicitated for receiving two national media awards the Best Reporter Award in 2013 at New Delhi from News Paper Association of India and IMWA Award on 26 Jan, 2014 at New Delhi from India Media Welfare Association. Sharma has covered SAARC news and had interviewed foreign ministers of SAARC countries and national political leaders. Presently working for Hamro Prajashakti, Dainik Jagaran and KalimNews Sharma had been with the media for the last 19 years and has focused to bilateral relation with Bhutan and news of Bhutan.
The awardees received award, citation, souvenier with Khadas and shawl from the Chief Guest Pathak, Guest of Honour Dr. Lama and the local MLA Dr. H.B.Chhetri. 

2nd Prize winner Bhuwan Bomzan

3rd Prize Aswin Sharma

In the programme dignitaries, representatives of different organisations and students along with media personnel from Siliguri Journalists Club were present. Winners of the Amateur Photography Contest were also awarded in the programme. The prizes went to 1st Palsang Tshering Lama from Kalimpong, 2nd to Bhuwan Bomzan from Bijanbari, Darjeeling, 3rd to Aswin Sharma from Kalimpong and Consolation prize to Shivangi Karkee, Kalimpong

Consolation Prize winner Shivangi Karkee

The sponsors of the award were Kalimpong press Club and Dainik Jagaran. 
A dance and Mimic on the use and misuse of mobile phone was presented by the students PTTI while a talk was presented by Geetartha Pathak on the impact of Dam and Hydro power station on the human civilisation.
In the programme conducted by Rudra Karki and D.K.waiba, A.K.Rai Secretary of Kalimpong Press Club and Eastern Himalayan Journalists' Union presence a report on the activities of the Club. In the absence of the Senior Journalist Swaraj Thapa who was just supposed to deliver a speech on the role of Journalists- dos and donts- in the local perspective, secretary Rai shared Thapa's prepared note on the subject.

The programme was also addressed by Dr. Kaul, Pramod Giri, Chief Guest Pathak, Dr. Lama and Dr. Chhetri.