Letter from the Editor-in-Chief

Dr. K.K.Jhunjhunwala

It all started in April 1992 with the launch of the first fully fledged English News Magazine of North East India, Eastern Panorama. With EP the plan to create history was going on for quite some time in the minds of members of Team EP.

In our first issue we broke the news of the spread of HIV in the state of Meghalaya. In the early nineties communication and the access to information was very difficult. Getting information from all the eight states of North East India was not an easy task. (Yes even before the Government of India at the Central reckoned Sikkim to be part of the North East India we at Eastern Panorama had been reporting the state in our magazine.) The turbulent history caused by the anxiety of some of the local populace who could not see any bright light in their future led to the insurgent movements in practically all parts of North East India except Sikkim. Reporting such events were most of the times the journalist are left in a precarious position of ‘to report or not to report’. Eastern Panorama had won the confidence of the people and that of the reporting world. The bravery shown by team EP fetched it the National Award for free, fair and fearless journalism in the year 1995.

Team EP had started the weekly North East Business Chronicle, Hindi and Mizo version of Eastern Panorama, Woman’s panorama the first full fledged English magazine dedicated to the region.

Symposium on Uranium Mining was held by Eastern Panorama then in the year 1994. Eastern Panorama kick started the fashion shows for the region in the name of Sparkle. An event which was appreciated even by the industry based at Mumbai and Delhi. Experimentation and failures have been the motivating factor in reaching this mile stone that we have reached. The urge to create and not to copy has made Eastern Panorama the pioneer in its field in the region.

This special issue is dedicated to this journey of EP with the changing face of North East India. The story of our North East India which was once engulfed in violence led by extremist and militants even before the likes of Al-Qaeda or ISIS were born and the change today when the region is poised to become a beacon of hope and prosperity is a story that will be marveled in times to come.

In this issue our Editorial Desk have put forth this journey of Team EP coinciding with that of North East India. We are also sharing with our readers some of the photographs over the years. Also in the current affairs for the first time ever BJP had formed government in three states in the region. How this ushers for the entire region is a ‘tell-a-tale’ story where it will be worth to watch whether the people are being served the same old wine in a new bottle or the brewery has really changed? Whatever they do the media will be watching as the region needs development and peace more than anything else and there shall be no compromise on that front.

Today with the epic change in how technology works, the challenge facing any print media is of great proportions. We thank our readers, team members, distributors and every single person who has played his or her part in this historic journey of Team Eastern Panorama whichwe all have shared together. We hope to march ahead as we know our readers are the ones who will give us the energy to go that extra mile in times to come.