By Prasanta Patnaik
His parents had named him “ Nirakar “ meaning a person who has no shape or “Akara “, but he was one of the most handsome and pleasing young person I had met in my personal and professional life. His bright and talking eyes, non-ending smile in his lips can even make his bitter critics to admire him and fall in love with him at the first site. I met this cute young man during my first visit to STv Samachar to participate in a group discussion during its early lunching days being invited by Media Guru’s  Executive President Faizul Islam , who was my colleague in INDIA TV.

There I was introduced to some of the staff members of the new channel and when I was introduced to Nirakar, by an young Bulletin Producer Kumar Bhimsen, who use to call me “Baba “, I was simply charmed by his personality and it was virtually a “ love at first sight". 

That day’s introduction ended abruptly. But I could not forget the smiling face, bright talking eyes of that young man. After that whenever I gave bytes to STv or participate in any studio discussion Nirakar use to preserve the visuals for simply out of his love for me.

On 14th August, 2012 at 1.50 a.m. curtain was drawn on the colourful life of young, sincere and  brilliant visual editor Nirakar Puhan , who breathed his last in the ICU of HIGH-TECH Medical College Hospital, Bhubaneswar. Nirakar was suffering from Pancreatitis and was admitted into the KIMS Medical College Hospital on 31st July, 2012. But subsequently he was shifted to HIGH-TECH Medical College Hospital and was shifted to the ICU . As his condition deteriorated he was put under ventilator ( Life Support System ) until his last journey.

Nirakar was a dreamer and was blessed with lots of creativity. His honest desire was to serve faithfully to the Electronic Media world  and create something unique by utilizing his talent. But the God did not allow him to live long to fulfill his dreams.

This young , handsome genius was born on 20th May, 1982 in Thakurapal village under Gondia block in Dhenkanal district in a middleclass family. He had his High School education in Kenduapada High  School and passed his H.S.C. examination in 1997. He graduated himself from Dhenkanal Autonomous College in 2002 and did a short term course in journalism.

Since he had a cultural bent of mind and was interested for audio-visual journalism he had started an editing studio by his personal efforts in Dhenkanal and edited a number of C.D. films and Albums. He also acted in a number of Album songs and films.

To make his career in TV journalism, he joined Naxatra TV and worked for two years. During his tenure he became a blue-eyed boy of all the senior reporters and colleagues for his descent behavior and creative ability. To enlarge his professional horizon he joined STV Samachar in January, 2011 and  was able to win the hearts of all his colleagues.

His untimely death has not only created a big vacuum in the heart of his young wife , family members and friends, it has also created a big vacuum in the field of TV Journalism and world of visual communication.

Nirakar’s untimely demise at the age of 30 is no doubt a great personal loss to me as I will miss his smiling face for ever . Now I am left with no other option than to pray Sai Baba to bless him and ensure that he will live long and create history