PCS to honour Karma Paljor & Pema Wangchen Lama on its 23rd Foundation Day

GANGTOK, : The Press Club of Sikkim (PCS) has announced the recipients of its annual awards to be presented during its 23rd Foundation Day on 17 July 2025. The club continues its tradition of honouring individuals who have made contributions to journalism and the larger media ecosystem in Sikkim and beyond.

This year’s highest honour, the Khangchendzonga Kalam Puraskar 2025 will be conferred upon Karma Paljor, an award-winning journalist, editor-in-chief and co-founder of a digital news portal East Mojo, said the PCS in a press statement on Sunday.

A native of Rabong in Namchi district, South Sikkim, Paljor has dedicated over 24 years to journalism. He began his career at The Times of India before moving into television with CNBC TV18, and later became one of the founding faces of CNN News18, where he worked for more than a decade, producing and anchoring flagship shows like Budget Yatra, Axe the Tax, India Positive, and Reporters Project.

In 2018, Paljor co-founded Atvi Infotainment, which launched EastMojo, a pioneering digital platform focusing exclusively on Northeast India. His journalistic excellence has earned him numerous accolades, including the ‘Reporter of the Year’ award from Indiantelevision.com in 2010, and the RamnathGoenka Award for Excellence in Journalism in both 2011 and 2014. He was recognised by the ENBA Awards for his coverage of the Uttarakhand floods in 2013 and Cyclone Phailin in 2014. Most recently, he received the RG Baruah Memorial Award for Excellence in Journalism in 2024 byThe Assam Tribune.

Paljor is also a Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellow and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

The LagansheelYuwaPatrakarPuraskar 2025 award will be awarded to photojournalist PemaWangchen Lama, whose work has left a distinct mark on Sikkim’s visual storytelling landscape. From the lush landscapes of Gangtok to the dynamic scenes of Bangalore, Wangchen has built a career on capturing the essence of life through his lens.

Wangchen gave up a job at a software localization firm in Bangalore to return to his roots in Sikkim and pursue photography full-time. His work ranging from events, fashion, culinary shoots, and government documentation has been featured in both local and national publications. His compelling coverage of the recent Sikkim floods earned international recognition, with his photographs published by Reuters, BBC, CNN, and the Japan Times.

In 2016–17, he was awarded the Ram Patro Memorial Award for Best Working Journalist by Sikkim Express and HimaliBela. A self-taught professional, Wangchen is also the creative mind behind community art installations such as the Moon Monument at Ridge Park and the Heart Monument at the Wellness Park, underscoring his multifaceted contribution to public life and culture.

In line with its long-standing tradition, the Press Club of Sikkim will also felicitate senior journalists who have devoted over two decades to the field.

This year, the club will also honour:

BinodTamang, a veteran video journalist with experience of over 25 years beginning with Sikkim Cable Television, Nayuma Television, CNN News 18 and currently North East Live.

ChitraBahadur (Rajen) Chettri from Siliguri and based in Gangtok has worked as a video and photo journalist for Nayuma Television, Sikkim Reporter newspaper among others.

Narendra Kumar Rai from Geyzing, a regular contributor for over two decades in newspapers, audio and visual news.

Hem KumariKhawas from Gangtok who is a senior weekly newspapers editor.

All of whom are being felicitated for their dedication and service to the media fraternity in the State.

Furthermore, recognizing the role of those who work behind the scenes to ensure news reaches every corner of society, the SamacharPatraVitarakSamman will be presented to MD Ramzan Ali, a newspaper distributor since 1985 based in Namchi, who has served the people of South Sikkim with diligence and humility.

The Press Club of Sikkim observes July 17 every year as its Foundation Day through a series of events and recognitions that celebrate the values of press freedom, media responsibility, and service to society. This year’s awards reflect the club’s continued commitment to honouring journalistic excellence, community impact, and emerging talent in the field. The club looks forward to celebrating the occasion with grace and inspiration, acknowledging those who continue to shape and strengthen the media landscape of Sikkim and Northeast India, the PCS release from informs.