I am sure there are thousands of readers worldwide who read this article of mine and yet we do not know each other. One of the primary reasons to start a blog was to reach the furthest of the poles. I want to make new friends and learn about different cultures and traditions but could be that I am not able to connect my way of writing to their thoughts. When I had newly joined Weekend Review as a newspaper reporter sometime back in 2003 my mentor Mr. Sujit Chakraborty used to tell me.
"When you write an article, do make it a point to write it in that way in which you like to read.” The same theory has been with me since then, whenever I write an article I keep in mind it should be the easiest even if the layman could never have any difficulty reading it.
Today I want to share a few of my secrets about the world of blogging. I had been surfing web pages since 2001 and it took me more than five years to start my blog. I here want to mention the name of one person that has in some way or the other influenced me to take different roles.
I am thankful to Saran Chamling of www.Sikkimonline.info fame. It was Saran who made me feel I had to start my own personal blog that would help me discover whatever material I want to publish. I had seen Sikkimonline grow from a mere 6 members to 1338 till this time, I am a regular member at it and really enjoy being there. I never know when moments pass while surfing down the pages. Sikkimonline has given me nice friends in Saran, Vicky Palzor, Nirmal, Arnav, Rinchen, and many more. I would love to mention how a blogging idea gave birth to me. I am interested in accumulating news across the web related to Sikkim and during pre-blogging days I would post it at Sikkimonline.
I was always looking for a place where people like me can find every Sikkim-related news at one place but one day I got to know that the administrator of Sikkimonline had reduced the word limit of the news article. I was surprised and just an idea clicked at the small side of my big head, why not come with a blog on Sikkim news...thus my blog was born. During those days Indian Idol 3 was a craze and Prashant Tamang was emerging as a Nepali icon. I wanted to record every news of Prashant and another blog too got started. The blog on Prashant Tamang was http://prasanttamang.blogspot.com ; today this blog has over 41650 clicks.
I would accumulate Sikkim news from other sources and post it in my blog, this started for over a year. By now I was feeling bored. At this moment it was again in one of the discussions at Sikkimonline, he pointed out the importance of the original content of the blog. It made an impact on me. I had been associated with local newspapers and magazines of the Hills since 2003 and I began to feel why I am not being myself. The meaning of blogging for me has then changed; the articles I have been posting in recent times are well researched and posted. Many more wonderful articles on Sikkim history are in the pipeline. Just to mention a few titles; the first map of Sikkim, the legend of Kavi, Pendem Garhi and its surmise, Mystery beyond Daramdin ladder story, and others.
I do not know in days to come how many blogs shall come from me but I shall ever remain thankful towards Saran for shoving me the way. Apart from this Saran is also my Internet Guru; he is there whenever I am in trouble. Thanks, buddy, thanks for everything!!
Interesting story. I always wondered about the origin of your blog and nice to know the actual story behind it.
ReplyDeleteThe thing with a news blog is - that it gets too impersonal after sometime. Breaking that trend, you here have shared a little bit about yourself, which I think is the "original content" that was talked about in the Sikkim Online discussion some time back :)
Good job, Shital. Keep it up!
Ya Rinchen..its a early day for me as a blogger and in days to come my readers shall read more of me, my thoughts and my way of thinking.
ReplyDeleteThanks Saran for your lovely review....i agree to you the world of blog has had changed from a simple diary blogging to everything you remember under the sun.
ReplyDeleteIts more of a destiny that you named the community on Sikkim and i am die hard fan of Sikkim, just found it by chance i would say. I still remember in our initial chat i did say we can make a difference and today i am happy we have more positive responses for the community.
Guru is more of a teacher, i know very little since i do not know much of the basics of computer and other softwares. So whenever i have any trouble i do not feel hesitate to mail you up.
I shall try my best to give everyone new about Sikkim and off course originality shall be my primary concern.
for me it is a great lifetime experience being online with you guys.. and it's a pleasure being able to add something and be part of this revolutionary thing called internet. keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteThanks Saran....we should ever remain grateful to this so-called "INTERNET".
ReplyDelete