Gibberish- the journal

Photo: Prabir Das

25 is a big number, especially for a newspaper that has been successfully delivering to the people of Bangladesh for a quarter of a century. Not only has The Daily Star managed to build generations of confident writers, speakers and entrepreneurs, the paper has also represented the true picture of Bangladesh to the world outside. We went beyond the depressing images of floods and people trying to survive natural calamities to a Nobel Peace prize, youth activists working for street children, climbing the 7 summits and so much more.

Of course there are certain elements that I have noticed in the last 13 years (shy of a few weeks) — which would identify one as a journalist. They are way beyond the way a journalist dresses or speaks.

One of the shocking truths that I came across in the last decade is that journalism is so much more than jumping into burning buildings, surviving with the uniforms at a war ridden state or even running with a camera strapped to your body, photographing the strikes, country wide shut downs, michils and burning buses. Yes, all this definitely are part and parcel of being a journalist — but it is dangerous work, and probably roughly 30-40 percent of the work. The rest of the 60-70 percent is writing the article, re-writing it, editing, justifying points of significance to the editor and then finally going for the layouts. Its funny how ad-films and films fail to highlight the writing and editing parts while showcasing lives of journalists! Some adverts have even gone to the length of showcasing female journalists still managing to keep their skin 'white' and fresh, attending evening parties and attracting the 'right men', even after being the 'super-women' that they are.

But despite going through the gruelling tasks of writing and re writing, a journalist still tries to make time to think — for people, neighbourhoods, the road and transport system, the government, music, art, cinema, children and development in general. They go through sleepless nights to promote a positive Bangladesh to the world. All he or she needs is some tea! The journalist — a super-being, someone who does not need sleep and is forever prepared to fight the villain, to voice out against the corporations and change worlds if necessary runs on plain old Bangali  dudh cha (milk tea) and that too several cups at a time — to think, to decide and of course for some adda.

The messy table - yet another trait of an 'efficient' journalist! The table with a computer will comprise of books which he or she will need read, mountains of contributions from the general public waiting to be read, edited, accepted or rejected; receipts from the last tea break, pins, staplers, Filmfare magazines and diaries from 1991.

Here's wishing The Daily Star happy 25th birthday!