Seven years of serving the governed and not the Governors! Happy Anniversary Barak Bulletin

Seven years ago, Barak Bulletin took its first courageous step into the world of journalism. Today, as we mark our seventh anniversary, we reaffirm our commitment to shining a light on the stories that matter, even if—especially if—they challenge entrenched interests and ruffle the feathers of the mighty. After all, as Maria Ressa famously said, “We will not be intimidated. We will not be silenced. We are journalists, and we will keep telling the story.”

Since our inception, we have published 10,458 stories and have never been compelled to retract a single one. This remarkable record is not a point of vanity; rather, it reflects the painstaking rigour we bring to every piece we publish. We never rush to be first at the cost of accuracy, and we do not submit to pressure—be it from political figures, corporate entities, or any authority that would see news as merely a tool for self-congratulation. Our steadfast belief is that journalism should hold the powerful to account, not act as their unofficial public relations wing. Indeed, we do not crawl when asked to bend; on bad days we just report stories, and on good days, our stories trigger an action.

The past seven years have not been a bed of roses. More than ten cases have been lodged against Barak Bulletin—some in Assam, but also in other states—where non-bailable charges were pressed in an effort to muffle our reporting. Offers of substantial sums have been made by bureaucrats through highly influential and respected industrialists, in exchange for deleting or softening certain stories. Yet we have consistently refused to succumb to these inducements. To barter truth for profit is an offence far graver, in our eyes, than any penalty or punishment inflicted upon us. Our calling is not to uphold the comfort of those in power, but to ensure the governed are fully informed—even when that means exposing failures, injustices, or corruption at the highest levels. The words of Thomas Jefferson still ring true centuries on: “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.”

At times, the price for our independence has been steep, not only in terms of legal jeopardy but also in practical, day-to-day realities. We do not shy away from admitting that, occasionally, there have been delays in disbursing salaries to our correspondents and editorial staff—especially when mounting expenses and financial constraints have tested the resilience of our organisational framework. Yet, even when salary day arrived late, our reporters never abandoned their duty. They have ventured into conflict zones, confronted unyielding bureaucracies, and pored over documents with unwavering commitment, refusing to compromise the standard of journalism that our readership deserves. Lately, we have adhered to paying everyone by the first week, but the key message remains: with or without prompt remuneration, our team’s pursuit of truth remains unbowed.

Ironically, as legal and financial pressures mounted, new competitors also began to appear on the scene—glossy publications backed by wealthy investors, ambitious industrialists, and at times even political patrons. Some believed that Barak Bulletin, with its humble resources, would wither in the face of such opposition. Yet, our average growth in unique readers has remained above thirty per cent year on year, a figure that speaks less of our marketing prowess than it does of the community’s trust in our work. We now welcome roughly four lakh unique readers every month, who together contribute to over one million pageviews. Remarkably, sixty per cent of those readers live outside Assam, and more than thirty per cent access our stories from outside India altogether. This global diaspora—along with local residents—has chosen Barak Bulletin as a bridge to their homeland, trusting that our words hold a mirror to reality, not a distorted lens.

Numbers, of course, do not capture the human sweat and tears invested in every article. They do not show how often a journalist braved intimidation or how many nights were spent refining a piece so that it might do justice to those whose voices are seldom heard. They do not capture the warmth that emanates from personal stories of Silchar’s unsung heroes, or the difficult decision to stand by an editorial angle when outside influencers would have preferred we took a safer route. Yet these very numbers reinforce that people want accountability in public life. They want to read about the teacher who overcame systemic neglect to educate children in remote corners of the valley, or the rightful outrage of a community that remains unheard in the corridors of power.

We reserve our deepest admiration for every member of the Barak Bulletin family, past and present. Our current team of journalists stands on the shoulders of those who came before—young dreamers who honed their craft under our banner and later moved on to pursue their ambitions. Their dedication, both to the craft of storytelling and the principle of illuminating truth, helped shape Barak Bulletin into the publication it is today. None of us would be here without the unflinching courage of our correspondents, photographers, editors, technical staff, and volunteers who believed that words can indeed move mountains. Their tenacity echoes that timeless conviction: “The press was to serve the governed, not the governors,” in the wise words of Justice Hugo Black.

Even now, when faced with intimidation or lucrative temptations, each member of our team knows that a compromise of conscience is a price too high to pay. They have reported on everything from municipal water crises to harrowing border conflicts, from tragic accidents to uplifting human-interest stories that celebrate the indomitable spirit of Barak Valley. To those who left to follow new paths, we say: thank you for being part of our journey. Your fingerprint on our collective story can never be erased.

None of this would be possible, of course, without you—our readers. You have stood by us through thick and thin, offering constructive criticism when we strayed and unwavering support when we stood our ground. You shared our articles beyond the boundaries of Barak Valley, bridging geographical divides and creating a community that transcends physical distance. In many ways, you have been the wind beneath our wings: your engagement has spurred us to dig deeper, demand answers from reluctant sources, and amplify unheard voices. For your loyalty, encouragement, and fierce advocacy of truth, we are profoundly grateful.

Seven years on, we reaffirm our promise: no matter how formidable the challenges or how enticing the bribes, we will continue to serve the governed. We will forever be guided by the conviction that journalism is a public trust, to be upheld with dignity and courage. It is our readers—scattered across Assam and beyond—who remind us that this commitment has value and significance. Together, let us look forward to the next seven years, and may our shared pursuit of truth burn brighter than ever. From all of us at Barak Bulletin, thank you for believing in our mission and for giving us the strength to fly.

We are 100% bootstrapped. We have not taken any ads from any political parties. We carry government releases if we find them important but we do not take ads from the government.

We dedicate our seventh year to Journalist Mukesh Chandrakar who was killed for filing a story. A part of us died with you!

Founders of Barak Bulletin

Reach Us at: barakbulletin@gmail.com