Founder-Editor of Poknapham, Sh Gopal Sharma passes away
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 09 2010: Founder, Editor, Publisher and owner of the hugely popular vernacular daily, Poknapham, Shamurailatpam Gopal Sharma passed away in the wee hours of today after a protracted illness.

He was 63 and is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.

Fondly called Eigya Gopal by the present lot of young journalists in the State, Gopal Sharma was one of the pioneers in journalism in Manipur and was also among the first to realise the importance of hi-tech printing along with carving an identity of its own, which is hard to match.

Born on July 23, 1947 to late Sh Brajamohan Sharma and late Sh (O) Padma Devi at Thangmeiband Lourung Purel Leikai, Gopal graduated from Gauhati University and then joined Paojel in 1970 as a reporter and worked his way upto to the position of Joint Editor of the said daily, which had Naorem Birendrakumar as the Editor.

AMWJU chief Khogendra Khomdram leads in bidding farewell

Gifted with the rare talent of anticipating the unexpected as well as understanding the pulse of the people and what they want to read, Gopal started Poknapham on February 1, 1980 and since then there has been no looking back.

As news of his death spread in the morning today, members of the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union and senior Editors gathered at the Manipur Press Club where a condolence meeting was held.

Apart from observing a two minute silence to pay respect to the departed soul, president of AMWJU led the others in paying floral tributes to the late man.

A number of personalities turned up at the condolence meeting, including CAPD Minister Y Erabot, IFCD and YAS Minister N Biren and Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Board, MLA Bijoy Koijam, and paid their last respect to the late man.

Later during the condolence meeting held with the president of AMWJU in the chair, many recalled the contributions of Sh Gopal to journalism in the State.

Many descirbed his death, not only as a loss to Poknapham but to the media fraternity of the State as well.

The staff and management of The Sangai Express have also condoled the demise of Sh Gopal and a condolence meeting was held in the evening today.

During his days, Sh Gopal was associated with a number of organisations and associations and was also among the founding members of AMWJU and the Manipur Press Club.

He won the State Journalist Award in 2003 .