Indian Newslink does not profess to be a placid publication, purveying what is perceived to be ‘good news’ but a newspaper that takes a definitive stand on people and matters. The publication does not keep anyone’s soul except its own and has in the process, been a constant target of criticism.
In pursuing our duties, many have seen us as crossing their path and have made their displeasure known in no uncertain terms.
We have been taught to pursue journalism without fear or favour and lead on issues for the larger benefit of the society and the community we serve.
We have also been told that modesty is among the finest attributes for scribes, which is why, staff photographs are seldom seen in this publication. That, you would notice presently, includes even this Special Sixteenth Anniversary issue.
Justifying Exclusives
We have, sparingly, if at all, called an exclusive report as such, never claimed to have been broken stories even on occasions when we did. Because those were all a part of our job, our duty call and our service to the people.
In trying to lead a self-effacing existence, we have conscientiously avoided accolades that invariably form a part of every letter that is sent to the editor-some 200 per issue. They are skimmed, filtered and published, always sans the intro.
The belief that Indian Newslink belongs to the extended Indian community including Indians from India, Fiji and rest of the world, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Sri Lankans, Nepalese and people from the Middle East, the publication has been on the forefront of a number of issues of concern to the community.
Here are a few samples:
- Exclusion of New Zealand by the Indian government in announcing the list of countries from which people of Indian origin could apply for dual (now called overseas) citizenship
- Reversal of a clause in the Identity (Travel Document) Bill making it retrospective in operation
- Identification of fraudsters who duped the government to obtain benefits such as work permits and permanent residents through investigation and encouraging the public to bring such persons to justice
- Assistance to the police in nabbing perpetrators of aggravated robberies and such other offences and
- Bringing down the level of video piracy through consistent reports, partnership with the authorities and affected parties
- Pursuing the problems faced by clients accessing services at the Indian High Commission, first from 2004 to 2006 and thereafter in 2016, resulting in improved services in Wellington
- Issues relating to Immigration; problem of migrant worker exploitation, students working under pathetic circumstances and unfair treatment
- Why a Free Trade Agreement with India would not be easy to negotiate and how it would be better to engage in people-to-people business. We began this campaign in 2008, soon after talks began between the two countries. Last month, Trade Minister Tim Groser told a business gathering that FTA “is not the only route to improving bilateral trade’ and that such pacts were becoming irrelevant
There are more on record.
We are not braggadocios but our readers have often asked why we failed to stake our rightful claim over achievements.
“It’s not in our wont to do so,” we replied.
“But modesty is the lowest of virtues and those who undervalue themselves are justly undervalued by others,” Wellington reader Maheshbhai Patel wrote, quoting William Hazlitt. He was hurt by the unjust claims made elsewhere.
On introspection, followed by in-house discussions, we felt the interests of Indian Newslink and its readers should not be undermined.
And hence if we appear a little unabashed from now on, please forgive us.
We have been told by our readers to move with the times.
