In a spectacular celebration of vision, innovation, and leadership, Times Network, in association with Byatikram Group, proudly hosted the prestigious “Gems of Northeast” awards ceremony on Friday, May 23, 2025, at Hotel Vivanta, Guwahati. The event brought together a constellation of distinguished entrepreneurs, professionals, and business leaders who are shaping the future of the Northeast with vision and purpose. Dr. Saumen Bharatiya, Patron-in-Chief of Byatikram Group, remarked, “Times Network Gems of Northeast is not just an event — it is a movement to recognize and encourage those who are shaping a progressive and self-reliant Northeast.” The evening commenced with a mesmerizing Sattriya dance performance by Sanskriti—an institute of Dance and Music, founded by Jolly Moni Saikia, recipient of the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2020. This was followed by honouring the eminent dignitaries, including Shri B. Kalyan Chakravarthy, IAS; Padmashree Dr. Illias Ali; eminent singer Manisha Hazarika; retired IAS officer Swapnanil Barua; Padmashree Surjya Kanta Hazarika; actor Chetana Das; Assamese novelist and writer Manikuntala Bhattacharjee; Prof. Nachiketa Tripathi; Navin Bhuwalka, Director of SRMB; Professor Usha Ranjan Bhattacharjee; and Dr. Saumen Bharatiya. The highlight of the evening was the award ceremony, where 36 exceptional individuals and institutions were honoured as “Gems of Northeast” by Times Network for their outstanding contributions across various fields.
The awardees included Prof. Dr. Sangeeta Tripathi, Director of NERIM Group of Institutions, Guwahati (Outstanding Contribution to Education); Nababrata Bhattacharjee, Environment Advisor and EIA Expert (Excellence in Environment Conservation and Sustainability); Pawan Kumar Agarwalla, CEO of Datamation (Most Inspiring Business Leader); P.S. Reddy, Director of Sai Vikash Group of Institutions (Outstanding Educationist of the Year); Nipon Kumar Talukdar, CMD at N.K. Power & Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. (Excellence in Corporate & Social Responsibility); Dr. Biplab Halder, Vice Chancellor, ICFAI University, Tripura (Pioneer in Building Universities and Educational Leadership); Jayanta Das, Area Director, Taj Group (Outstanding Leader of the Hospitality Industry); Jayashree Ghosh, President, Gyan Educational Trust (Outstanding Educator of the Year); Sankha Subhra Devbarman, Eminent Novelist & Poet (Outstanding Literary Bard of the Year); Navin Bhuwalka, SRMB (Outstanding Contribution in the Infrastructure Sector); Junmoni Devi Khaund, Film Producer & Advocate (Excellence in Social Film Production and Women Empowerment); Lou Majaw, Musician and Lyricist (Outstanding Contribution to Music); Avik Dutta, Country Manager India, Academic America (Excellence in Global Education and Innovation); Archna Barman, Numerologist (Iconic Vastu & Numerologist of the Year); Dr. Rakesh Das, Orthopedic Surgeon and Founder, Prime Medical Centre, Hojai (Excellence in Orthopedic Surgery); Sanjay Aditya Singh, Co-founder, MD & CEO, Jettwings Airways (Outstanding Contribution in the Field of Aviation); Dr. Sobur Uddin Ahmed, Director & Chief Consultant, Gastrocity, Guwahati (Excellence in Gastroenterology); Dr. Naresh Jain, Managing Director, Everyday Salt (Outstanding Excellence in Entrepreneurship); Soheli Seal Sarkar, Advocate (Excellence in Innovation and Social Advocacy); K.K. Choudhury, Retd. Director & Regional Officer, CBSE Guwahati (Excellence in the Field of Education); Amitabh Dutta, Founder of ONLY CHEF_The School of Culinary Art (Excellence in Culinary Art & Education); Dr. Mahibul Islam, Senior Consultant Robotic Surgeon, Agile and Midland Hospital (Outstanding Surgeon of the Year); Urmila Mahanta, Actor (Outstanding Versatile Performer of the Year); Dr. Bhabananda Das, CMD, Health City Hospital, Guwahati (Pioneer of Cardiac Surgery); Mintu Ranjan Dutta, Director & CEO, Zestmed Health Pvt. Ltd. (Excellence in Healthcare & Hospital Management); Rabin Bar, Speed Artist (Outstanding Contribution in the Field of Speed Art); Anu Mandal, CMD, AVA Creations Social Impact Foundation (Outstanding Contribution in Handloom Weaving); Poet Ashok Chakraborty (Outstanding Multifaceted Personality of the Year); Huma Abia Kanta, Student (Young Achiever in Academics and Social Impact); Lion Pankaj Poddar, District Governor 322G (Outstanding Humanitarian Service); Sanchita Chakraborty, Tantric & Spiritual Leader (Excellence in Psychic Astrology and Tantric Arts); ICFAI University, Tripura (Outstanding Emerging University in Northeast India); NERIM Group of Institutions, Guwahati (Outstanding Institution for Higher Education); Kaushik Dev, Career Counsellor (Excellence in Career Counselling and Mentorship); Abhishruti Bezbaruah, Singer (Excellence in Indian Classical and Fusion Music); and Amaresh Roy, Social Activist (Outstanding Social Activist of the Year). The “Gems of Northeast” stands as a proud testament to the thriving talent and transformative efforts blossoming in this vibrant region.
