The Return .............

Manas Pal

After about three years I am back to where I belong- active journalism. As it appears, the return of the native was always on the card. During the past three years I could not discard the tag of a ‘journalist’ and whenever, wherever I went I was introduced as a ‘Senior Journalist’. My friends from all spheres of life and mostly the younger ones in the media were always asking me to return to the media. Even some top political leaders openly and unambiguously expressed their disapproval of my decision of staying out of active journalism. It is not that I was totally out of touch - I used to write articles in magazines and newspapers and appear before the TV channels , but those were just on request. There was nothing professional. None gave me a one rupee even. But at least I was in touch.  But to join a TV channel as Editor was never on my card. I spent three decades in print media - both in desk and in field, contributed to national and international newspapers and journals, also, held the position of Editor in Chief of a news portal. But as far as TV channels are concerned my experience was limited to the ‘Talk Show’ room.

So, when Sebak Bhattacharjee asked me to join News Vanguard as Editor I was reluctant. I told him in straight and clear language --TV channel is not my cup of tea and I am old enough to try my hand there, learn and then contribute. But Sebak had his own plan. And the discussions- all in informal ways-- continued for sometimes. In the meantime, I also acted as consultant sans any financial involvement for the Vanguard. Anyway, Sebak was confident and he kept on pressing in a very subtle way. I edited a collection of articles ‘People’s Vanguard’ ^* ( Editorial of the publication is given below) . Ultimately, I had to agree. And on September 1, 2015 I found myself landing in News Vanguard office as 'Editor'. Sebak posted a thread on this in Facebook and also tagged me and I found too many likes and too many comments congratulating me. Then, followed the phone calls. All expressed their happiness that I have joined the Vanguard.,

As I understand News Vanguard under my command would need a facelift as far as coverage, speed, presentation, look etc are concerned. We have to touch upon many other facets of life which are not usually covered by TV channels here.  We have to reach out to cross sections of people. Penetration should be made more intense, effective and meaningful. There should be some more inclusions as well as exclusions. These will come steadily but in no uncertain terms. News items should be made more objective and all subjective rhetoric should be cleaned off the texts the way one burns extra fat. But for that it will need some serious in-house exercise at all levels.  As for entertainment and other sections, more resource persons should be pulled in and more talents should be tapped.

 My first priority is, however, to ensure teamwork and infuse quality reporting. And for this motivation is the first step. The onus rests on me for this.

But no institution – media in particular – can survive and seek improvement without support and cooperation from the people. As everyone will agree, support from people will come only when we shall be able to give voice to their aspirations and their dreams, their agonies and their visions. I, along with my friends in the News Vanguard, hope we shall be able to do that- to give voice to the silent mass and in return we shall seek their support.

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*Editorial/ People’s Vanguard

Any publication with articles on varied subjects is essentially a collection of expressions that seek to rearticulate the experiences and understandings of individual writers with different and asymmetrical learning, often, extremely contradicting ideas and meanings- subjectively and otherwise. But in cold prints these are not merely a combination of knowledge or information but, in broader sense, an attempt for our assignation to what is called ‘Historical Attitude’ – which defines in perspective our journey through a particular time and space. But then, as the ‘time’ flies by and ‘space’ stands volatile either narrowing down or broadening up with unbelievable speed, this historical attitude gained in a given moment also tends to disappear fast, leaving behind enough areas for exploration of a new equivalent of the same attitude.

People’s Vanguard’s this issue published on the occasion of Second Anniversary of the News Vanguard can be called a narrative of this historical attitude derived from and designed by the immediate backdrop of a fast emerging globalised world with unambiguously persistent consumer-friendly policies, in which Tripura has also taken a deep plunge, notwithstanding, quasi-socialist rhetoric at the socio-political as well as economic realm.

This issue of People’s Vanguard with subjects of different kind written by eminent personalities seeks to engage the readers- in cases seriously and sometimes in a lighter mood, with the past, present and future of this state – Tripura. The articles you will read here are chosen from as varied fields as possible involving the authoritative interpreters of the subjects. Our endeavour is to ensure that all the write ups here employ an amalgam of modern idioms which are readily exciting in our very familiar context.

The engagements we talk about here are not necessarily complete and wholesome, but certainly an important effort to create a reader’s relation with a cluster of experiences that emanated from an individual writer’s moral and intellectual understanding on their chosen subjects which are translated into a style and form of ‘articles’ that will, we believe, insist on reader’s appreciation. And, as all will agree the experiences at the surface of it are not always perfect and immaculate- often they appear unfinished- though when recollected they are definitely at times invigorating and refreshing.

Manas Pal

Editor