HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The future of sound democracy also depends on the performance of the press. If the press is diligent and balanced on problems confronting the society then one has no doubt that the democracy will survive. But if the press fails in its responsibilities, democracy will fail. Driven by this sense of responsibility, the Kohima Press Club (KPC) came into being on 20^th January 2001.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN…

While journalism in the state of Nagaland has been in existence as early as the 1930s, the idea of setting up a Press Club in Kohima, the state capital emerged in 2001. It was a meeting of twenty likeminded journalists based in Kohima at Hotel Khochiezie, near Kohima Local Ground that led to the formation of Kohima Press Club.

During this meeting, the Constitution Drafting Committee was constituted with Gideon L.Sumi as the Chairman, Kopelo W. Krome as Secretary, and Xavier Rutsa, Mhalezolie Kire, and Atul Sarma- as members, who completed their assigned duty on 15^th February, 2001.

Following this, the first ever General Body Meeting was held on 17^th February, 2001 wherein the house adopted and passed the draft constitution and also elected a new team of office bearers with Dipak Chetri as the President, Gideon L. Sumi as the Vice President, Mhalezolie Kire as the General Secretary, Sentinaro Jamir as the Joint Secretary and Xavier Rutsa as the Treasurer.

One of the major initiatives taken during 2001 was organizing a KPC Buffet to raise fund for the Club. In 2001, KPC team also took part in the Open Table Tennis Championships organized by Kohima District Table Tennis Association. Together with Ram Chandra Biswas, a renowned World Cyclist and magician who was on tour to Nagaland, the KPC also organized a “Magic Show” at the Children Christian School, Mission Compound, Kohima Village to facilitate Biswas’ tour to other parts of the World.