GUWAHATI, May 24 � Mail Today scribe Nishiraj A Baruah has tendered apologies �to all concerned� for his report on Majuli that appeared in the Mumbai daily on May 20. In a letter to president of the Tour Operators� Association of Assam (TOAA) Tridib Sarma and all TOAA members, Baruah said that he is �deeply upset by the reactions to his story on Majuli�.
In his letter, Baruah said, �Being an Assamese myself, it hurts more, for the last thing I would want is to antagonise my own people.� But he maintained that it would have been a great story only if he had the proof to back the issues raised by him in the story. However, he had no proof, he said.
�It�s just that while I was talking to a few Satra kids (six to 10 years old) about their life, etc., I (and my fellow journos) had a distinct feeling that all was not well there. And hence the questions on child abuse and homosexuality have unleashed an avalanche of protests. Since I am a travel and lifestyle journalist, I do not have the expertise nor the inclination to do an investigative piece. And since I thought the question is pertinent enough, I was hoping that someone will take it up further. But the �travel� section was not the place for such a story � my editor in chief Bharat Bhushan also pointed that out to me this morning,� said the Mail Today journalist.
He further added, �Like I said, Majuli is for the mind and it is not possible to read it over a night. I would love to go back to the island, spend more days and do some bigger and better stories. Assam is close to my heart and in all my previous stories on Assam � be it for The Indian Express, The Pioneer, Hindustan Times or Swagat (Indian Airlines magazine), I have always portrayed it for what it is: rich and colourful in its beauty, culture and tradition.�
�I also deeply apologise to the people of Assam and particularly to the people of Majuli.
�In tomorrow�s edition of Mail Today (May 25) we are carrying an apology letter regarding this,� he said.
