In celebration of free speech and tolerance
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: September 21 2011 -

The Hueiyen Lanpao (English edition) is three years old, a toddler, much too young to talk about its tradition and achievements, trials and travails.

But looking at it from another angle, this could well turn out to be a blessing in disguise as we carry no baggage of the past to bog us down. Being young and energetic, we have the energy, the exuberance to innovate, to chart out new territories and open up new vistas.

Having said that, Hueiyen Lanpao (English) is not, and can never be an isolated entity, independent of the history and evolution of the media, the technological advances which provided a fillip to its growth, the social, economic and political changes which impacted the media and vice versa.

Hueiyen Lanpao (English) also has this history of evolution of media behind it and is a product of it. Being born, as it was, in the present era, one can say it had a fairly soft landing.

Especially, as regards the technology associated with print media which has made writing reports, sub editing, page layout and printing much more effortless, smooth, efficient and time saving.

On the manpower front, having taken lessons from the experience, dedication and sacrifice of the pioneers in the field of journalism in Manipur and having built on that, the present day journalists are much better equipped and more professional in their approach.

The public too, is much more aware of the importance of press as a treasure of information, as a means of communication, a platform to air ones views, grievances, a tool to fight injustice etc.

But the task ahead is not an easy one. There is enormous responsibility on our shoulders and living up to the expectations of the public is a challenge we must accept with humility.

Manipur today is the site of many contestations of nationality, ethnicity, language, class, gender etc. Various forces are active, each pursuing its agenda which in their perception is sacrosanct and nothing should come in its path.

Some are armed groups; some unarmed but equally powerful and equally committed to their goal.

While the press should and has been acting as a platform which accommodates diverse opinions and ideologies (save those, which spread communal hatred, xenophobia and such like, which might disturb peace and harmony and harm the society and humanity at large), many forces at work in Manipur entertain no views or opinion critical of or which runs contrary to those held by them.

There is a general lack of tolerance; a strong disinclination to accept that there might not be one absolute truth but many truths. The Press many a times has had to face the wrath of this intolerance.

The public and the various organization, armed or otherwise, should not put undue pressure on the press, they should let it function freely, only then will the press be effective.

As Albert Camus, the French writer and philosopher puts it, "A free press can be good or bad, but, most certainly, without freedom a press will never be anything but bad."

The press, on its part, has to maintain its neutrality, its objectivity and not let considerations of favour, fear, allegiance to a particular group, community, subscription to a particular ideology cloud its judgment and sense of fair play.

As we, at Hueiyen Lanpao (English) celebrate our third anniversary, let's us celebrate freedom of speech, let us give others this freedom also, just as Voltaire did, "I detest what you write, but I would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write", let us air our views with passion, with conviction and most importantly, let us not close our ears when others do the same.