Why this blog, why now

Yes, why now, after years of being quite content with the hard copy of the paper, the magazine, the book containing my story or article? Why now, after I had decided, a while ago, along with some friends, that blogging is not for us, though reading blogs certainly is? Why at this point, suddenly?

   Actually, one cannot live in today’s world, and express oneself through words, without a blog. Over the past few years, increasingly, I have been asked by readers, “What’s the name of your blog?” I have had to admit, always shamefacedly, that I have none. This question has been asked by youthful readers, of course, but also, increasingly, older ones. It seems that it is taken for granted that anyone who writes has to have a blog.

   Of course it makes sense. It always did. It was just that I never got around to blogging. Too lazy? Too newbie? Too complacent? Maybe.

 And then, this trigger. At a recent literary event the registration form required, besides the name, address, email ID, also the name of the resource person’s blog. Mine was the only blank space in that column that bristled with intriguing names. That was the point at which I decided, ok, it’s time. Blogging, here I come.

  And so this blog. Actually, on examination it turns out that the reason I had feared blogging doesn’t really exist. That reason was: I thought I didn’t have the time to fill it up with material. I had always looked at a blog as some demanding, red tongued goddess with yawning mouth that demanded a constant feed of words, essays, stories, that I would need to shovel into her, with mounting desperation.

    As always, it was a young person who pointed out that it was not going to be nearly as demanding as that. After all, I already have a column. This comes out in both hard and soft versions of a widely read newspaper. Ah yes, I thought. So I asked the management of The Assam Tribune if they would let me use the column for my blog, after it came out in the paper, of course. They readily agreed. And so here I am, hoping to reach out to all of you. Knowing, in any case, that this communication through the electronic medium, will bring me at least as much satisfaction as my column does.

    But it will not be only my column on my blog. I will put in other writings as well, many written especially for this River Song. It will be my log, only not a hard bound diary, but a weblog.

   And yes, why River Song? Because this blogger loves music. And she loves the vast river that flows by the side of her city. And because a blog is also, in a way, a song, a river of song, an individual’s very personal way of communicating to the world.

   I look forward to interaction with my blog followers, to discuss with them, to learn from them, to argue with them. What fun!