Yesterday Once More

Memories of the momentous summer of 1995 when it all began continue to be as thrilling

- Pritha Sen

THINKING back to three decades ago, I realise that there’s been nothing as exciting in my professional journey than being part of the core team launching a brand new publication called Outlook. More so working with legendary editor Vinod Mehta and branding wonder boy Deepak Shourie. When we moved into our spanking new office in Safdarjung Enclave from the musty corridors of Lodhi Hotel in mid-1994, the first thing Mr Mehta told us was, “Let’s all work hard, but let’s not take ourselves too seriously.” Needless to say, we took the second part of his advice a tad too seriously. We worked round the clock for the hard hitting, explosive first issue but made sure it was one long party that invariably ended on a moss-ridden terrace with loud camaraderie and bonhomie, well into the night. Outlook was also the only publication then that dropped an issue at the end of the year, so that all of us could go on a ten-day break, rejoining work well after the New Year’s haze had lifted.