Chandigarh, April 14. The new Governing Council of the Chandigarh Press Club was installed at a largely attended function comprising club members and special invitees at the club premises last night. The governing council led by President Sarabjit Pandher and Secretary General Naveen S Garewal took over charge from the outgoing team with the handing over of the club accounts.As a mark of respect and appreciation to past presidents and general secretaries and to acknowledge their efforts in bringing the Chandigarh Press Club to its current prestigious position, the function was dedicated to all past governing councils. Past presidents and general secretaries including the founding president B.K Chum and Founding Secretary General Sukhdev Singh were honoured on the occasion.
It is for the first time in the 28-year old history of the club that so many past presidents and general secretaries were present on the occasion. A tribute was also paid to founder member H.S Sodhi and former presidents like Samuel Banerjee, Sushil Bali, Najm-ul-Hasan.
Speaking on the occasion club President Sarabjit Pandher thanked the club members for reposing faith in his leadership and promised to take the club further in every sphere. Thanking the outgoing President Balwant Takshak for establishing the club on a sound financial footing, Pandher promised to protect and preserve the institution.
Sharing his vision for development of the club Secretary General Naveen S Garewal said that the new team would try to provide an intellectually stimulating platform that provides an opportunity for a meaningful debate and discussion. The club cannot be treated as a place for merely eating and drinking; it has to provide opportunities for growth of journalists through refresher courses and training programmes, seminars, workshops, etc conducted by professionals.
The outgoing president Balwant Takshak highlighted the achievement of the club during his tenure. One of the major achievements he said was to make the club a favourite visiting place for politicians and many chief ministers viewed with each other to be invited here. A special tribute was paid to former secretary general Nanki Han’s mother, who passed away recently in the UK. The ceremony also saw the handing over to the club accounts to Indepreet Singh by the outgoing treasurer, Sandeep Sharma.
The North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC) regaled the audience with classical and folksongs and dances that were very well received. Noted stage personality Amarjit Narang conducted the stage.
