Eventful journey

 Nagaland Post, the first newspaper of the state achieved another milestone on its journey, when it attained 31 years on December 3,2021. A deep sense of commitment to provide a platform to the state and its people was the prime driver for launching the newspaper. A daily newspaper today must have enough funds, latest technology and trained human resources without which it is unthinkable to start a newspaper. However, when Nagaland Post was launched, it had hardly money beyond three months working capital, an outdated 15th Century- letterpress machine using hand composed lead alphabets and no trained or experienced staff. It was not difficult to understand why people predicted that the project was doomed to failure and cannot last beyond three to six months. What made the difference, was a deep belief in one’s ability and acknowledging God as the ultimate arbiter in overcoming obstacles and dangers along the journey. During the disturbed 90s, staff of Nagaland Post often faced perilous situations from armed forces on one side and armed factions on the other side. It was a period when explosions, ambushes, assassinations and operations were the order of the day. The newspaper gave a spot account about the attempted assassination on Speaker of the NLA Thenucho who miraculously survived a deadly ambush near Lahorijan on August 14,1991. Some eight Nagaland Police personnel were killed and many injured. As Nagaland Post used outdated letter press, it could only publish photos of the ambush using zinc plate. Nagaland Post also widely covered the “Bloody Christmas” in Mokokchung town on December 27,1994 when personnel of Assam Rifles and 16th Maratha Light Infantry went on rampage after the CO of 16th Maratha Light Infantry was killed in an ambush. This newspaper, reported accounts of eyewitnesses and police pointing to security forces torching shops and buildings. However, news agencies and national media however claimed that fires were caused by electrical cables which were snapped during the firing. The accounts included alleged rapes by security forces as documented by local organisations. Another incident which Nagaland Post factually reported as against inaccurate accounts by national news agencies and uncertain stand by other local media, was the “Black Sunday” in Kohima on March 5,1995. This incident happened when a convoy of 16th Rashtriya Rifles(RR), returning from Imphal enroute Dimapur, resorted to panic firing after loud explosion caused by a tyre burst from one truck, led to panic firing by the 16th RR and other security forces. One person died and several others were injured in the incident. The newspaper also carried reports from the site where armed persons ambushed a motorcade of then PWD Minister Neiphiu Rio near Dimapur on May 30,1995. Again, on November 29,1999 then chief minister S.C.Jamir miraculously escaped the third assassination attempt on his life, when 14 high explosive(RDX) were planted along the road near Piphema as his convoy was passing. Barely a year after its launch, Nagaland Post faced off serious challenge from a web offset broadsheet newspaper launched in 1992. Nagaland Post finally switched to offset in 1999 and in 2002 became the first newspaper in Nagaland to come out in colour. By 2004 Nagaland Post became the first newspaper in the north east to have multi-page in color. Today, on completion of 31 years, Nagaland Post looks back with satisfaction of playing a vital role in moulding opinions among the thinkers while also looking ahead with renewed commitment to continue serving society as a catalyst for transformational change.