-APS Noorpuri
Chandigarh: A large number of social, religious, and political dignitaries offered floral tributes to former Chandigarh Press Club (CPC) president Nalin Acharya at a prayer meeting held in his memory. All the attendees unanimously said that Nalin Acharya was soft-spoken, cheerful, widely loved, and someone who always stood by others in their joys and sorrows. Speakers fondly remembered him as a friendly, helpful individual and praised his commendable contribution to social service and the welfare of the journalistic community.
While conducting the proceedings, Dr. Anees Garg, Vice Chairman of the Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi, said that Nalin Acharya served twice as the president of the CPC and worked in various capacities in the club for nearly three decades. He began his journalism career in 1975 in Shimla with his father, Santosh Kumar (Bandhu Ji), and remained wholeheartedly dedicated for fifty years. Senior journalist Jagtar Singh Sidhu highlighted Acharya’s five-decade contribution to journalism and made special mention of the trend-setting “Breaking News Creatives” he initiated during the Covid period.
Bhajan singing for the peace of Nalin Acharya’s soul was performed by Shyam Bhaiyya Ji, Director of Shri Hanumat Teerth, Sector 25, Panchkula, and Ishwar Chand Shastri, former president of Devalaya Pujak Parishad.
Among those who paid tributes were senior BJP leader and national executive member Sanjay Tandon; former Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal; Additional Solicitor General of India Satyapal Jain; Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu; senior Punjab BJP leader Vineet Joshi; local Congress president H.S. Lucky; former Mayor Subhash Chawla; Senior Deputy Mayor Jasbir Singh Bunty; Dr. Yashpal Sharma, Head of Cardiology, PGI; Punjab Public Relations Director Vimal Setia; Chandigarh Public Relations Director Rajeev Tiwari; senior IAS officer V.K. Singh; Rohtak University Vice-Chancellor Amit Arya; CPC president Saurabh Duggal; Chandigarh Brahman Sabha president and National Chief General Secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Brahman Mahasabha Yashpal Tiwari; Chandigarh Vyapar Mandal president Sanjeev Chaddha; Himachal Sabha president Prithi Singh Prajapati; Shri Sai Dham president Ramesh Kalia; Indian Cultural Knowledge Institute president Anup Sareen; office bearers of Shri Shiv Sai Mandir Seva Samiti, Kharar; Seva Bharti Chandigarh president Rajender Jain; Vishva Dharma Chetna Manch president Suresh Gupta; senior litterateurs Prem Vij and Ashok Nadir; Acharyakul Sanstha president K.K. Sharda; along with office bearers of these organizations, several former CPC presidents, editors, journalists, and social workers.
In addition, condolence messages sent by BJP national president J.P. Nadda; Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda; Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and former Chief Ministers Shanta Kumar and Prof. Prem Singh Dhumal; Union Minister Manohar Lal; and former Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur were also read out. Political dignitaries from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi were also present at the prayer meeting.
