Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 21: Press Club of Jammu today conferred Sixth Ashok Sodhi Memorial Awards for Best Photography 2022 here at a function.
The first prize went to Nitin Kanotra, Staff Photographer, NHI, Jammu. He was awarded a cash prize of Rs 11,000 and a certificate.
The second prize winner was Ishika Jandiyal, a student of Woman College, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu while the third prize was won by Ankush Sharma, Cameraman, ANI News, Jammu.
They were awarded a cash prize of Rs 8000 and Rs 5000 respectively with a certificate.
Meanwhile, the consolation prizes went to Ankur Sethi, Senior Photographer, Himalayan Mail, Jammu, Arushi Attri, Sstudent, Government Women College, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, Randhir Singh, Videojournalist, ANI Jammu, Amit Sharma, senior Video Journalist, Times Now, Jammu, Surjeet Singh, Senior Photojournalist, Ajit Samachar, Jammu, Pardeep Bakshi, Photojournalist, Dainik Jagran, Jammu, Shilpa Thakur, Photojournalist, Jammu, Versha Devi, Student, Government Woman College, Parade Ground, Jammu, Diksha Sharma, Student, Government Woman College, Parade Ground Jammu and Sandhia Bhardwaj, Student, Government Woman College, Parade Ground, Jammu.
Rs 2000 was awarded to the consolation prize winners with a certificate.
The event could not be organised due to Covid pandemic in 2020 and 2021 while this year as many as 50 entries were received for the competition with participation of photojournalists increased manifold.
The competition was judged by the three-member jury comprising Sanjit Khajuria, Veteran Journalist, Sunny Dua, senior journalist and Khushwinder Singh, Senior Journalist, Jammu.
The awards for the first three positions were presented by president of Press Club of Jammu, Sanjeev Pargal, senior journalists Arun Joshi and Ashwani Kumar (former PCJ President).
Meanwhile the consolation prizes were presented by senior journalists Pradeep Dutta, Adarshpal Gupta.
Earlier welcome address was presented by Secretary General, PCJ, Dinesh Manhotra and vote of thanks by Executive Committee Member Dinesh Mahajan while Executive Committee Member, Vishal Bharti compered the programme.
Vice President, Zorawar Singh Jamwal, Secretary Finance, Channi Anand, Executive Committee Members, Nishikant Khajuria, Kunal Shrivatsa, Deepak Khajuria, Govind Chauhan, Ajay Meenia and senior journalist Sominder Koul were also present on the occasion.
Senior Daily Excelsior photojournalist Ashok Sodhi had attained martyrdom while performing his professional duties during a fierce encounter between militants and security forces at Samba on May 11, 2008.
Press Club president Sanjeev Pargal recalled his association with Ashok Sodhi and paid glowing tribute to him. He said Sodhi sacrificed his life for the national cause and his memories will always remain alive with entire media fraternity especially with his organisation Daily Excelsior with which he remained associated for several years.