India’s Oldest Journalist Pachuau, Litterateur Kamlova From Mizoram Receive Padma Shri

Mizoram, Nov 9: Mizoram was honoured this week with two Padma Shri awards, the fourth-highest civilian honour in the country, Lalbiakthanga Pachuau, India’s oldest surviving journalist and war veteran, and C. Kamlova were honoured by President Ram Nath Kovind at a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

The Padma Award in 2020 will be given to 141 individuals, including Patchuau and Kamlova.

C Kamlova received the award in the category of literature and education, while Pachuau received the award in the category of literature and education. Ministers from the Union attended the event, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister Amit Shah.

A world war-II veteran and a social worker, Pachuau is known as one of the oldest working journalists in the country.

Pachuau was born in Saichal village (now in Saitual district), 80 km outside the state capital Aizawl, 80 km away from Britain. He fought with the Assam Regiment of the British Indian Army during World War II, earning several military medals.

As a journalist, he began working for a relatively small newspaper in 1953, Zoram Thupuan, and he began editing a local paper, Zoram Tlangau, in 1970.


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The state’s Information and Public Relations Department and Mizoram Journalist Association (MJA), a federation of all journalists in the state, declared the veteran journalist to be the oldest working journalist in the country in 2016.

As a founding member and the former president of Mizoram’s Association for Voluntary Blood Donation (AVBD), Pachuau successfully campaigned against alcohol and drugs during the 1990s.

During the presentation ceremony, the journalist Pachuau expressed his gratitude for receiving the award, which he also received from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During his time in the Army in the 1950s, Pachuhuau had a passion for journalism, and he is confident he will continue to do so until he can work.