Mukti Rijal

I had worked for The Rising Nepal daily for about twenty six years and retired from senior editorial position of the paper nine years ago. When I joined TRN during the late eighties, Panchayat polity under absolute tutelage of the active monarchy was at the helm of the state affairs. As the government-owned English daily - a sister publication of the esteemed and historic Gorkhapatra vernacular daily that was reportedly conceived and initiated at the behest of the late King Birendra when he was the crown prince during the late sixties, TRN was, indeed, under close purview of the state officials and the then Royal Palace mandarins.

Time and again, we the editorial staff had been instructed that the paper was free to publish comments and offer critical analysis of the government officials based on the facts and evidences provided that such critical remarks and snide observations did not prejudice the prevailing Panchayat political system and cast aspersions on the institution of the monarchy.
Not all the editorial team members and journalists associated with the daily in those days seemed to be the Panchayat polity conformists and sympathisers. Nor was their allegiance was strictly verified during the process of recruitment. However, we were all aware of the limitations and restraints and therefore did not cross the Rubicon.

Punitive actions
Though many of us in the editorial team appeared not to be entirely happy with this self-internalised limitations and restrictions, we seldom dared to defy and challenge the norm. We knew that this could probably invite the punitive actions ranging from suspension to sacking from the job. We had been aware as to how to act, behave and follow the established script though it was not laid down in the terms of reference or letters of appointment given to us. However, I have realised today the working ambience and discipline in TRN taught to me a sense of sobering, balance and moderation which do more or less reflect in my write-ups.

As I remember, the job of the desk editors deployed for the night shift used to be very much tedious and hazardous especially when the then King used to go out for the tour of the five development regions. Since the photographs of the then King and Queen had to be obtained and published mandatorily in the paper's front page of the succeeding day with proper and due highlight, we had to keep vigil and awake sometimes throughout the night and wait till the dawn of the next day before the photographs were available to the paper on behalf of the then Royal Palace Press Secretariat.

The paper printing and distribution was rendered to be inordinately delayed contrary to the veritable logic of daily newspaper which is anticipated to reach out to the curiously waiting readers as earliest as possible in the break of morning. In those days, as the newspapers had been the sole means of communications, delayed delivery and circulations did cost dearly on the accessibility and credibility of the Corporation’s publications particularly the Gorkhapatra and The Rising Nepal daily.

The democratic change of the 1990 brought about a change in the operating environment, space and functionality of TRN daily, too. The multiparty democracy had its impact on the functioning environment of the paper as the editorial staff had not much to worry about the placement, veracity and order of precedence especially of the news and photographs related with the Royal Palace involving the then King and the queen. However, during the multiparty dispensation too, gradually political party leaders, both ruling party and sometimes even the opposition party sought and demanded their share of prominence, space and coverage in the Gorkhapatra publications. During these days of plural and polyarchic republic order, the risks lie lest the Gorkhapatra and The Rising Nepal dailies degenerate into the publicity organ of the ruling political party with ministers, party leaders and functionaries featuring in their respective pages in a disproportionate manner.

Even while keeping associated with TRN during post-democracy days as several broadsheet dailies took the media spotlight and after my retirement, I used to usually ponder over the relevance and need of the government-owned newspapers in the prevailing format and structure. Even in these columns during the previous years, I had argued that that the existing structure of the Gorkhapatra Sansthan needs to be changed and reformed through liberalised arrangements. Though structural reform of the Gorkhapatra Sansthan is definitely needed, the discontinuation and dissolution of this institution cannot be thought of.

Rationale
Take the recent case, the rationale and relevance of its regular publications has been vindicated on account of the services they have rendered during the time of corona pandemic, among others. At a time when the country was forced to brace for a complete closure and shutdown with all economic and social activities halted, almost all newspapers and weeklies were closed down. Even the widely circulated newspapers and dailies were not seen in the market for some days as they are gradually spotted during these new normal days. However, Gorkhapatra and The Rising Nepal daily kept continuing their print, circulation and supply unabatedly and catered to the readers.

This indicates that the national newspapers and publications that are not basically motivated and guided by business purpose can serve the public especially at a time when the nation is confronted to grapple with the greater crisis. I congratulate The Rising Nepal especially for its additional space and coverage accorded to the Corona-related features and articles which were very much useful to inform the readers during the crisis. I realise the value of the Sansthan and its publications and feel immensely proud of having worked for it during the prime time of my life.

(The author is presently associated with Policy Research Institute (PRI) as a senior research fellow. rijalmukti@gmail.com)