Aizawl, Mar 25 (PTI) Lalbiakthanga Pachuau, the country’s “oldest working journalist” and Padma Shri recipient, turned 99 on Wednesday.
As a goodwill gesture, Territorial Army under the aegis of Assam Rifles celebrated the birthday of the war veteran in a ceremonial function held at the Assam Rifles base in Aizawl, a defence spokesperson said.
In the morning, the force’s band party performed ‘Happy Birthday’ to congratulate Pachuau at his home, she said.
All ranks of Territorial Army, Assam Regiment and Assam Rifles paid tribute to the war veteran. Family members of Pachuau also joined the celebration with enthusiasm, she said.
Pachuau joined Assam Regiment of the British Indian Army in 1945 and fought against the Japanese during World War 2 and won many medals.
He had a passion for journalism even during his service and started his journalism career after his retirement in 1953 with a relatively small paper ‘Zoram Thupuan’. Later, he started his own local daily ‘Zoram Tlangau’, which he has been editing since 1970.
Besides being a journalist, he is an active social worker. He founded Mizoram Social Defence Union in the 1990s and campaigned vigorously against alcohol and drugs.
Pachuau was one of the founder members of Association for Voluntary Blood Donation (AVBD), an Aizawl-based philanthropist organisation working for voluntary blood donation.
He was awarded the Padma Shri, the country’s fourth-highest civilian award, in 2021 in recognition of his distinguished contribution to Literature and Education (Journalism).
Pachuau was declared “oldest working journalist in India” by Mizoram’s Information and Public Relations Department and the lone scribe body in the state, Mizoram Journalists’ Association (MJA), in 2016, which remain unchallenged till now. PTI CORR ACD
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