Guwahati, Dec 14: Senior journalist Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty has been elected President of the Press Club of India (PCI), marking a watershed moment in the institution’s 68-year history. She is the first woman—and the first journalist from Northeast India—to be elected to the organisation’s top post.
Barooah, who hails from Assam, won by a landslide, securing 1,019 votes against 129 polled by her nearest rival, Atul Mishra—reflecting overwhelming support from PCI members across the profession. One of the country’s most respected journalists, she is known for her sharp insights, integrity, and in-depth reporting on the Northeast. A senior journalist with The Wire, she has carved a distinct niche through fearless reporting and meticulous research, particularly on socio-political issues affecting marginalised communities.
Reacting to her election, Barooah thanked her colleagues for their trust and said she would work to strengthen the Press Club as an inclusive, independent, and united platform for journalists. She emphasised the importance of professional solidarity, press freedom, and ensuring representation of diverse voices from across regions and media platforms.
Her election has been widely welcomed as a significant milestone for gender representation in Indian journalism, signalling a decisive break from decades of male leadership at one of the country’s most influential press bodies.
Barooah previously served as Vice-President of the PCI’s Managing Committee.
In the same elections, Jatin Gandhi was elected Vice-President, Afzal Imam was chosen as Secretary General, while P. R. Sunil Kumar was elected Joint Secretary and Aditi Rajput Treasurer—both unopposed.
Commenting on the development, senior journalist Utpal Borpujari said, “It is quite something that it took nearly seven decades for the media fraternity—often vocal about gender equality—to elect a woman president to the country’s most prominent press club.”
Barooah is also widely recognised for her book Assam: The Accord, The Discord (2019), a powerful examination of the Assam Accord and the complex issues of identity, migration, and politics in the state.
Notably, journalist Seema Mustafa had earlier made history by becoming the first woman to head the Editors’ Guild of India.
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