Perhaps a defining moment in Arunachal's Media

Assault-Black out-Pen down-Surrender-Bail-Ban: All in 10 days of media outburst!!

Two young lady journalists- Appu Gapak and Nyapi Bomjen- who are working with local english daily, The Sentinel Arunachal- have had to go through trying times since 8 pm on the night of December 12, 2010; but little did they realise that their defiance against a rogue who was drunk with 'male chauvinistic ego' of a patriarchal society would shook the media fraternity to a new height represented of unity and stubbornness to punish the culprit.

 Even that drunk cop, who has been working as personal security officer (PSO) to one of the political big-shot may have never dreamt of such huge public opinion that swayed in favour of two young girls and media fraternity.

Even now most of us in the media have not yet realised the gravity of our actions; Entire media fraternity of the region and nation stood by us on their own and highlight our grievances.

We all have set the record straight for entire rogue elements who appears and disappears from media offices in the form of leaders and office bearers of 'x,y, z' union and association in most unruly manners, many a times.

As the incumbent president of the Arunachal Press Club, I am humbled by the response that we received from journalists fraternity but also from the owners of the media houses. And I am appalled by the slow response of the captains at the helms and their tentacles at ground level. 

As a matter of reflection, December 16 was another high points when senior journalists like Pradeep Kumar and V Ravindran stood shoulder to shoulder with Editors of other papers like Nani Kojin and Audrey Apang. Perhaps, for the first time, many of us were face-to-face  with each other. That day heralded a new dawn of which dusk shall never set-in lest 'stupidity' engulf all of us.

Another high point during this entire agitation period was the support that we received from couple of civil society groups in the state who stood by us and gave us their assurances to be us for any decision and any eventuality in our agitations.

Although culprit is still out on bail and yet to be punished in this particular case; yet it is a solace to know that state government has already suspended the culprit from its job in police department. Our fight for space in the society still continues and we continue to crawl one step at a time!
This note is to say, " Thank you all and we are indeed highly indebted to all of you." Last but not the least, this note would be meaningless if I don't sign-off with the hope  and prayer that in future too, you would stand by our stands.

Happy New Year To All and God bless Appu & Nyapi!!