They wanted to kill me??

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. 

Only thing I was told was to report to the newspaper office at Gangtok every Thursday to file a report. 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 next 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.

Well 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 inside along with 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 sort of articles I was writing, but I wasn’t scared for once. I was happy, I felt I was doing something better towards 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!!