New Delhi
India today got a new Parliament Building. Tomorrow, that is May 29th, 2023, 'Nagaland Page' will complete 24 years of operation and will enter the 25th year. Credibility is often called a dream palace, a metropolis --- it is not built in a day.
Editor Monalisa Changkija and her meticulous team comprising Dilip Sharma, Moa Longkumer and Temjenrenba Anichar, non-journalists and office boys and I can name more -- all have done their part over the years to let the show run. One staffer Sumit Chakraborty lost his house in a recent fire mishap. But the show must go on.
Credibility comes much harder in print journalism and more so in a state where advertising revenue is solely dependent on government mercy. I was always fascinated by the manner the paper ran with its modest budget and other resources and the 'manly' manner the challenges were faced. "I will always lead from the front," once cricketer Kapil Dev had said so. The soliloquy can apply to the Editor of this newspaper.
Challenges have been faced in the past. Some were equivalent to life threats, and crises are far from over. There are critics and there are a good number of those who disapprove of the manner the edit/news content is decided.
My association with the paper might have added more worries to the newspaper and the Edit team. The so-called candid writing and displaying a garb of bravery may be easy from a distance in Delhi; but to publish the news and hard-hitting and below the belt comments on ground zero is a different ball game.
There have been occasions the newspaper and the staff got caution and questioned 'kuun asey etu, (Who is
this... writing all whimsical things from Delhi?)". But the paper never allowed such things to influence the decision
on what to write the next day.
If merely surviving as a print journalist is a 'tough mission' in circa 2023; to be blessed to work for a paper
like 'Nagaland Page' is something one can always cherish. Thanks to the paper that I got back my
readers in Nagaland.
And many Naga friends - ex Babus and politicians and former student leaders - all seem to accept you yet again.
They might differ with you but they appreciate you having a different opinion. Some also express happiness and astonishment that the woman-editor is giving you so much indulgence. It's a man's world - everyone still presumes.
On the other front we know the state government and those in power have their problems. No government can allow the holes to be exposed. On the other side of the table, we also understand that the state too has its own governance and economic challenges.
Since 1999 when the paper started, the employment opportunities have not grown 'fast and good enough' to absorb the
new entrants to the labour force and the backlog of previous unemployment.
The overall economic development has fallen short of the aspirations of the people and every five years they have to
face elections. We - working journalists - will continue to do our job. But a moot point may be underlined that
we can continue to do so when you have a respectful platform. And we know behind all these running and
wrangling we face -- the publication will stand by you. 'Nagaland Page' can face that test.
A newspaper can grow up as a powerful institution in terms of its coverage, reach and influence in shaping public
opinion only when it banks on objectivity and the good old definition of journalism A,B, C -- accuracy, balance and
clarity.
The success is also dependent on another set of ABC -- Ability, Breaks and Courage. Fortunately, yours truly
'Nagaland Page' has all the six elements. Nagaland Governor La Ganesan recorded his appreciation
of the newspaper. One retired army general I interacted with wanted to know, ".... Does that lady still run your
paper". That's a big compliment.
Finally talking about readers-journalists bond, one will pick up a quote read somewhere --
"The love in me salutes the love in you".
ends
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