Veteran scribe passes away

SHILLONG, Sep 28: Meghalaya on Tuesday lost another veteran journalist, Tilak Rai, founder of the state’s first online news portal called Oh Meghalaya. He was 56.
Tilak Rai began his journalistic foray with U Lum Shyllong, a popular Khasi weekly in 1990-91, which was published by Bindo M Lanong. Then when the rush of print journalism arrived, he even had a brief stint with The Shillong Times after which he continued his writing with Meghalaya Guardian.
He then joined the Indian Express in 1997, where he not only interviewed numerous dignitaries and celebrities, but closely interacted with quite a few of them. He then quit the Indian Express in 2003 to introduce a new concept of news dissemination with the launch of Evening Mail, an evening daily which hit the stands at 4 pm every day.
Tilak then started the online news portal, Oh Meghalaya, in 2008, which still receives ample visitors till date.
The Shillong Press Club (SPC) has expressed profound grief and sorrow at the unfortunate passing away of Tilak Rai.  “In his passing away, the journalist fraternity has lost a great soul, learned journalist & scholar, humble personality and above all, a towering elder brotherly figure, who will be extremely tough to replace. May he rest in eternal peace with his Creator,” the SPC said as it conveyed its condolences to the bereaved family members of Tilak.