Adieu Ankhijhyal

Reporter's Notebook

Two and half years ago, Sudheer Sharma, I and Dinesh Wagle scratched our heads to begin a brand new column for soon-to-be-weekly newsmagazine. We decided that a two-page news tidbits column with graphics, milestone, and numbers would be perfect. The column, named Ankhijyal by me in a spur of the moment, encompassed the news from Nepali Diaspora in New York to a finding that revealed that carrying cell phones in pant's pocket may cause sperm count decrease! Later, I knew that NEFEJ too has a TV program called Ankhijhyal.

Thus was born a serendipitious column Ankhijhyal and I was assigned as its coordinator, a thankless job indeed. For two years, this column consumed most of my time at office. I received good number of comments on its variety and style of on-your-face presentation.

Six months ago, as Nepal Weekly saw a new editor, the column too underwent changes. I bade farewell to time-consuming graphics, numbers, and milestone. My job was easier now. I focused mainly on human-interest news. Kantipur reporters Benup Bhattarai (Ilam) and Ghanashyam Khadka (Tanahu) have contributed immensely. These gregarious reporters are also best staffs Kantipur has in its disposal.

Also noteworthy is the contributions by colleagues Sarojraj Adhikari and Dineshjung Shah. Their small-but-sweet pieces always shone. Three months ago, a column featuring the important events of week (Gata Sata) was added in it. Peshal Acharya has been looking after it and henceforth, he will be coordinating Ankhijyal.

We journos grow with such columns–it's so much part of our lives. As a coordinator, I learned so many things and now time has come to move ahead bidding it a no-hard-feelings goodbye. Adieu Ankhijhyal!