Aizawl, March 25 Lalbiakthanga Pachuau, the country's "oldest working journalist" and recipient of the Padma Shri, turned 99 on Wednesday.
As a gesture of goodwill, the Territorial Army, under the aegis of the Assam Rifles, celebrated the veteran's birthday in a ceremonial function held at the Assam Rifles base in Aizawl, a defence spokesperson said.
In the morning, the force's band performed "Happy Birthday" to congratulate Pachuau at his home, she said.
All ranks of the Territorial Army, Assam Regiment, and Assam Rifles paid tribute to the veteran. Family members of Pachuau also joined the celebration with enthusiasm, she said.
Pachuau joined the British Indian Army's Assam Regiment in 1945 and fought against the Japanese during World War II, earning numerous medals.
He had a passion for journalism even during his service and began his journalistic career after retiring in 1953 with a small newspaper called "Zoram Thupuan". Later, he started his own local daily, "Zoram Tlangau," which he has been editing since 1970.
Besides being a journalist, he is also an active social worker. He founded the Mizoram Social Defence Union in the 1990s and actively campaigned against alcohol and drugs.
Pachuau was one of the founding members of the Association for Voluntary Blood Donation (AVBD), a philanthropic organization based in Aizawl that promotes voluntary blood donation.
He was awarded the Padma Shri, the country's fourth-highest civilian award, in 2021 in recognition of his distinguished contribution to Literature and Education (Journalism).
Pachuau was declared "the oldest working journalist in India" by the Mizoram Information and Public Relations Department and the sole journalist body in the state, the Mizoram Journalists' Association (MJA), in 2016, a title that remains unchallenged to this day.