We have broken our own previous "international readership" record!

This week I have decided not to talk of others in this column. The reason is simple but very important and encouraging for us all associated with this newspaper.

The event about which I’d dare to write in these columns this week might not arouse interest among readers within and without, but I can’t help restrain my temptation to share my pleasure with all those who one way or the other have remained instrumental in bringing in this pleasure to our door steps. It is you, my dear readers, specially living abroad, who must be thanked by the men engaged in the publication of the Telegraph Weekly.

My salute to you all.

The event is definitely associated with the international readership of this modest but yet strongest weekly in Nepal. We are strongest in the sense that we see none in the political arena to be pleased or should be extend extra favors. We are strongest in the sense also that we never cared for any material or for that matter political gains from those who manned the system since all along 1990s. And what made us strongest is that we took or say acquired completely a new and very much independent political line which fortunately or even unfortunately my colleagues missed or have neglected so far. In acquiring that posture vis-à-vis Nepal’s existing politics, our comments/analyses were not only appreciated by the highly qualified readers residing far from their own motherland but were apparently taken into account very seriously. We have no words to appreciate the feelings of our compatriots living abroad who in all likelihood were pained looking at the kind of sad events unfolding in their dear motherland. This is very much understandable. However, I believe it is this pain in their hearts that they all wish to remain completely abreast with the events and the impacts of such events in the country’s body-politic.

Perhaps it is here that Telegraph as a news analysis weekly having extended uninterrupted twenty years of dedicated service to this sector apparently contributed extensively in quenching the thirst of the Nepali national living in an alien country. And it is also perhaps our analyses were adjudged "if not very good, not bad either" which ultimately provided us in the Telegraph weekly to break our own previous record of our international readership.

To come to the point, last year we had managed the international readership to the tune of 82,000 only. This year we have apparently taken a quantum jump. Beginning last year’s, read 2001, December 20, our news weekly exactly crossed the unimaginable and unexpected tune of ONE LAKH readership. What one lakh means in Nepali you all, gentlemen know better and hence I must not emphasize on that numerical strength.

It was an addition of some eighteen thousand plus from our own previous claim. After all, who made us to attain this height? Readers in Nepal? Certainly not. They have yet to develop a sense of reading Nepali publications more so those in English language. However, they do not forget to buy alien English language newspapers at the cost of Nepali publications. I can’t imagine what sort of nationalism our radical nationalists possess? It is you gentleman who have encouraged us in the Telegraph which resulted in the emergence of this swelling figure. What else I can extend to you as the chief editor of this weekly other than to extend a very sincere thanks. Please accept my heartfelt thanks for what you as individuals have done to enhance the prestige of this newspaper among the comity of my own professional sector. A remarkable contribution from your side indeed. This will definitely give a boost to our moral courage which will ultimately get reflected in our fair analyses in our coming issues.

Allow me to thank you all again.

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