The Mizoram government's Information and Public Relations department and the Mizoram Journalists' Association (MJA) today declared Lalbiakthanga Pachuau, the editor of 'Zoram Tlangau', a Mizo language daily, as the "oldest working journalist in the country".
The declaration was made by state Minister for Information and Public Relations Lal Thanzara at a simple function here recently.
The 90-year-old soldier-turned-journalist started editing his own newspaper in 1970 and was elected the president of MJA for three terms.
He co-founded the Association for Voluntary Blood Donation in Mizoram as its general secretary and was later elected its president several times from 2001 onwards.
Under his leadership, the blood donation collection in the state rose from 22.47 per cent to 94 percent.
Pachuau's contribution in this field has earned him three special awards of the State Blood Transfusion Council, not to mention the numerous state awards.
He has also held the post of President, World War-II Veteran Association, on numerous occasions.