The first ever chartered flight ‘Fly Dubai’ with 189 passengers from Dubai to Guwahati, Assam took place on July 3, 2020.
The second chartered flight ‘Indigo’ with 171 passengers from Dubai to Guwahati took place on July 23, 2020. Each flight ticket costs over Rs 30K. Then, how much would it cost for 300+ passengers?
The man behind this mission is David Lalzakham Tusing, a journalist and editor in Dubai City.
Here are excerpts from the interview with Mr Bruce K. Thangkhal, Joint Editor, Zogam Today.
Zogam Today (ZT): Hello Mr David, we appreciate your work in Dubai. Can we have a talk?
David Tusing (DT) : Thank you. It will be my pleasure.
ZT: Can you share us about yourself?
DT: I was born in Hill Town, Churachandpur. I am the middle child with 4 other siblings. Growing up, my father owned a chain of book stores called Book Centre as well as a printing press, L&R Printing Press. My mother was a housewife who was deeply involved in social work and church activities.
ZT: Where did you complete your high school?
DT: I was one of the first ever students of Lapuithluaii Foundation School. Although I moved schools a lot, I eventually came back to Foundation School and finished my Class 10 there. 
ZT: What was your childhood dream?
DT: I was a loner growing up and was often bullied and made fun of at school because I was different. So I found comfort in books. I read a lot. Also, since my dad owned book stores, I would sit all day at the shop and read and read. That’s why, ever since I was a young boy, I wanted to be a writer.
ZT: Where did you complete your Graduation and PG?
DT: When I finished my Class 10 after two attempts (I failed the first time), I went to Kotagiri, a small hill station in The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, about an hour’s drive from Ooty. I did my Class 11 and 12 there. Then, upon graduation, I went to Mysore to do my Bachelor’s in Journalism. After that, I came to Bangalore to do my Master’s Degree in Media Studies.
ZT: What's your job at present?
DT: After 15 years working with different newspapers, I have decided to go freelance. So I am currently a free agent, contributing for different newspapers and magazines.
ZT: Which beat are you dealing?
DT: Ever since I started in journalism, I have been focused on lifestyle and entertainment. And that’s the beat I have been doing for the last 15 years. I have however also written on various topics outside of my main interest.
ZT: How do you landed in Dubai?
DT: While I was studying in Bangalore, I was freelancing for a newspaper in Dubai called Emirates Today. They were very impressed with my work and offered me a job. That’s how I landed in Dubai in 2006.
ZT: How do you get internship with CNN in London? Wasn't there an opportunity to work with CNN after your internship?
DT: I won a global journalism award in 2004 called the Ibda’a Media Students Award, organized by the Dubai Media City. I competed against more than 80 journalism students from around the world to win the title. My prize was an internship with CNN International in London, with all expenses paid for by Dubai Media City.
No, I did not work at CNN after the internship because the UK has strict rules about residency visas for non UK citizens and it was too complicated to pursue.
ZT: What was your first job in Dubai?
DT: I came to Dubai in 2006 and worked as Features Writer with Emirates Today, an English daily that is no longer in publication.
ZT: How long have you been working in Dubai?
DT: I’ve been in Dubai now for 14 years.
ZT: Isn't Dubai expensive? How do you balance your life?
DT: Yes, Dubai is expensive. But since I’ve been here for so many years, I’ve learned how to balance things.
ZT: We heard that you did a commendable work in helping many Indians, especially the North East Indians, to reach home safely from Dubai? How do you do that?
DT: Thank you. I was only a small part of a group of volunteers who came together to help our stranded people go home.
When the Lockdowns began in March, many UAE residents who’ve lost their jobs could not go home. And as the lockdowns extended, they were running out of money.
I am quite active on Twitter and someone sent me a tweet asking of I could help them. That’s how it all started for me. I was just sitting at home and watching Netflix. I thought it might be better if I did something in my free time.
ZT: How many North East Indians have been helped during the global pandemic?
DT: Honestly, I have lost count and I never counted. We've repatriated two full flights to Guwahati. I’ve also been involved with a number of groups and charities who were active during the lockdowns. There have also been situations when we’ve received distress calls, from people who cannot pay their rent or have food to eat, and we’ve been able to find ways around that.
ZT: During the repatriation of overseas Indians, some said there is no Indian flights availabe for the North East states. What do you think?
DT: Absolutely. The North East region continues to be ignored. And in our time of need, no one was there to look out for us. Other states like Kerala had multiple flights and communities who came together to help their people. For the North East, there were none.
ZT: How can we improve/encourage the NE people when facing this kind of situations? How can we collectively work?
DT: We need to create a platform or some form of social organization that can be the one source of help in situations such as the global pandemic. We’ve been thinking about this and will probably work on setting up one.
ZT: What kind of compliments have you received?
DT: Just lots of good wishes and thanks.
ZT: When was the campaign for Repatriation Flights began?
DT: I had lots of co-volunteers without whom I couldn’t have done any of what we did. I had leaders from the Mizo, Eimi and Tangkhul communities who were part of my core group.
ZT: You broke a record in Mysore University. Can you share us?
DT: Thank you. I did my Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism in Mysore. It’s a three-year course. Upon graduation, at the valedictory, they award gold medals to the highest scorers in each subject, and I won for Journalism. It was quite an achievement as there are more than 200 institutions under Mysore University.
ZT: Is there any possibility for North East people to work in Dubai?
DT: Of course. There are many from the North East working here in Dubai.
ZT: You may heard "Racial discrimination" against the North East people in India. What is your reaction?
DT: Yes, I have, and have been a victim many times, back in India and many places around the world I’ve travelled to. Racism is mostly due to ignorance and the best way to tackle it is to calmly and firmly try to explain to the perpetrator why what they’re saying or doing is hurtful. Education is key.
ZT: How can we make Manipur a better state?
DT: Corruption is the root cause of many of our problems. But also, apathy from our political leaders who are not in it for the people they represent but for themselves. If we start voting for leaders who will take care of us as a people, we will go a long way. We desperately need real leaders.
ZT: What example can we draw from Dubai?
DT: Dubai is known for its vision. Sure, the discovery of oil changed the lives of people forever. But it is how they’ve used that oil money to transform their city that’s really inspiring. There is a lesson there for everyone.
ZT: How do you see us -- local dailies and journalists? Any suggestion?
DT: We still have a long way to go in terms of real journalism. True journalism is to serve the public, to give them an unbiased and unfettered picture of the world around them. That also includes asking tough questions and exposing the truth, no matter how uncomfortable or sometimes dangerous. We are yet to get to that point in Lamka. The risks are just too high, and no one’s willing to take them yet.
ZT: Who inspired you to take up this challenges, Repatriation Mission?
DT: My mother. Growing up, she’d always taught us that the more we give, the more we receive. She spent her life giving and giving. I probably got it from her.
ZT: Is there any bitter moment which you won't simply forget?
DT: There were many hardships and there were many days I had to to just switch off my phone because it was becoming too much to handle. The stories were all heartbreaking and that was the only thing that kept me going.
ZT: What's your plan?
DT: I would like to come back to Churachandpur, own a little farm, eat off the land and read lots and lots of books the whole day. Jokes aside, I’d like to continue my social work and turn it into something big. Let’s see.
ZT: What do you like to convey to our readers?
DT: I still see a lot of the new generation stuck in their old ways, too comfortable to be where they are. We need to dream bigger and aim higher. There is nothing we cannot do if we try. There is no place in the world we cannot conquer.
ZT: Thank you for sparing your valuable time.
DT: Thank you for the opportunity.
~ Zogam Today | 30-10-2020
(Zogam Today completed 8 years on this day)
*Bruce K. Thangkhal is also the editor of Khalvontawi.Com.
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