AN ENVELOPE
A PIECE OF PAPER
LIST OF ADDRESSES
INSIDE THE ENVELOPE
I was part of a successful newspaper at Gangtok; the weekly newspaper “Weekend Review” was then considered the third party in Sikkim after the Sikkim Democratic Front led by Pawan Chamling and Congress led by N B. Bhandari, former Chief Minister of Sikkim. I had just completed my graduation when I got a chance to join the big-wig WR team. It took me a week to decide, and I was a news reporter. Even then, my primary concern was looking for Sikkim's old history. The new job was interesting, challenging, and more of an adventure. I never knew what I would do the next day or where I would be.
I was only told to file a report to the newspaper office at Gangtok every Thursday. I was associated with
the WR team for more than two years till our editor was replaced, and I
found it uncomfortable to work with the new editor. His lack of journalism ethics made me leave WR. Within the following year, Weekend Review went through a silent death. I had seen this
newspaper grow from rags to riches and back to rags. If somebody takes a note on the print media account in Sikkim, the name
Weekend Review shall have its position among the peak. In the context of Sikkim, no print media has reached the place WR created. Investigation journalism had a new meaning, and stories were highly appreciated in every age.
Today, I speak of one incident that always makes me think of my days as a news reporter. In an incident, a due-letter envelope was sent to me with a surprise note and a page with a list of people with their addresses. The sender's address on the front of the envelope showed the name of Orissa State, but I am sure this letter did not come from Orissa. The small note only said, "Idiot, we want to kill you; don’t try to act over-smart.”
This piece of paper took me by surprise, I showed it to Sujit
Chakraborty, my editor who asked me if I had any doubt on the
culprits. But I never thought I ever had anyone to name. He wanted me to file a FIR in a police station, but I disagreed. I am sure the
people who sent me the letter weren't happy with the articles I
wrote, but I wasn’t scared for once. I was happy. I felt I was doing something better for my society, as one of my friends told me
it showed my writing flair wasn’t a failure. I never gave importance to the issue, and it slowly went off my mind, but even today, when I see the envelope, I am amazed and ask myself who could have sent me!!
Omg! Who would've sent something like that. You know, maybe the addresses inside the envelope were the list of senders or something.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see a sikkim blog by a fellow sikkimese.
ReplyDeletekeep writing.
and yes as a journalist, threats are imminent.
It's a profession of courageous and intelligent people.
Well Rinchen i never knew who send me....those were old stuffs now. It happened during 2003.
ReplyDeleteThanks Vivek for your comments....ya being in this field it's more like playing with fire.
Omg! I can't believe that someone would actually send a letter like that but again I am not surprised by the fact that someone want to kill you or anyone[in general] because those are the people who are so jobless and unhappy by the fact that you are bringing to peoples' notice of something that they might not be happy about.As a journalist, your life is at stake but what matters is how much risk you take. I hope you keep posting great articles in your newspapers and blog.
ReplyDeleteAs for your safety, don't worry, those who can't face you have no courage to k*** you so they can just burn in hell.
GAWWDD....itz so shocking ya....y cant pple better do sum constructive thing rather than sending such useless threats.....
ReplyDeleteYou should have logged FIR. Atleast ppple wud cum to kno who doz beasts were....These kind of people can never see their fellow citizens rising high in life...they must me jealoue of ur success...
Its a blow not only to my ears but i assume to many of the readers here ....though it happnd long tim bk..we r now awaitin for a new year 2010 . n we r cumin to knw about it aftr 7 lng yrs...my god..but Mr Sheetal m sure it was a prank played by some jealousy people who knew u so vry well....anyways i really hv respect for the journalist who writes truth and only truth.... Risk is sumthing tat evry person shld taste it once in a life time....GOOD JOB.....
ReplyDeletethats lyf ya....giv a damn 2 al dat n carry on wid ur good job....
ReplyDelete