- Bidyasagar Narzary ( courtesy- PIB, Guwahati, Thursday, Feb 08)
P.K.Singson, popularly known as Singsong, is the first tribal Deputy Director General of Doordarshan and All India Radio from the North East. This eminent broadcaster from the North East has retired from active government service on September 30, 2004.
Son of Siehpu Singson and Neichong Singson, he was born on September 14, 1944 at Lungphulien village near Churachandpur of Manipur. Being from a Royal family and prevalence of restriction of their movement, his early education began in the village school itself. After passing primary school in the village, he enrolled his name at Pherzawl High School, Churachandpur where he studied up to class VII. Thereafter he studied at Churachandpur High School, Imphal and passed his matriculation in 1960. He graduated from Govt. D.M. College, Imphal in 1964. Later on, he did his post graduate in History from Gauhati University in 1967. He married V.L.Peki Singson in 1970. He has three sons and one daughter.
P.K. Singson was very much fascinated by the programmes of All India Radio when he was a mere child. It was a quite a new thing for the people of those days that they could hear songs and other programmes by sitting in their own homes. Thus he developed a liking for the broadcast media from his early childhood and started his career as a staff artist at All India Radio, Shillong/Gauhati on September 26, 1967. Although he could get better job at that time, he continued to serve in All India Radio as a staff artist for more than 8 years.
After working in AIR for more than 8 years, P.K.Singson decided to guide the student community in their pursuit to higher education. He felt that society needed him in other areas too and he should not confined his energy to Radio only. His friends and relatives desired that he should take up a teaching job immediately and guide the young students in building their future careers. Accordingly, he joined as a lecturer at Govt. D. M. College, Imphal in 1975 and worked there till 1978. During that period, he helped the student community by imparting proper education as a college teacher.
However, P. K. Singson, who had indomitable spirit in broadcasting, decided to come back to broadcast media from teaching life. He realized that he could contribute more to the society by being in the broadcast media. Accordingly, he appeared in the UPSC examination for Assistant Station Director of All India Radio in 1978 and was selected. In 1979, he appeared in another UPSC examination for Station Directors of All India Radio and was selected again. He joined Commercial Broadcasting Service of All India Radio at Cuttack station as Director.
Since then he has had a long innings as a broadcaster in various capacities and was promoted to the higher grade due to his excellence in service. In 1993, he was promoted to the post of Deputy Director General, N.E.R., Doordarshan with the additional charge of DDG, AIR, N.E. Region.
As Deputy Director General of Doordarshan, P.K.Singson initiated various steps for the expansion of Doordarshan service in the North East. He contributed a lot in the introduction of Assamese Satellite Networking Service as well as North East Satellite service originating and up linking from Guwahati, which is relayed by HPTs and LPTs of entire North East Region. He also introduced Assam Regional Satellite Service with terrestrial support on the auspicious occasion of Rongali Bihu on April 14, 2000. He had also been instrumental in commissioning 24 hours North East Satellite Channel in December 2000, which caters to the information and entertainment needs of the seven sister states of the North East.
A man of multifaceted qualities, P. K. Singson has achieved many laurels for his outstanding contribution to the North East. The North East Chambers of Commerce and Industry selected and felicitated him as one of the five achievers of the North East Region for his outstanding performance and exemplary achievements. He also got nomination for International Whos Who of 20th Century Achievements and Leading Intellectuals of the World on contemporary achievement for 1999 by the American Biographical Institute. He was also nominated by ABI for 500 Leaders of Influence who have made significant contribution to society and profession. P.K.Singson was also nominated by Commonwealth Relation Trust United Kingdom and attended training at BBC, London in 1983.
Considered as a Samaritan by his friends, P.K.Singson never failed to render a helping hand to the poor and the needy people. He had associated himself with various social works benefiting the people at large. He has been the President of Guwahati Mizo Association for the last 18 years. He has also been the Chairman of Inter-Media Publicity Co-Ordination Committee (Assam) for more than a decade.